Ecclesiastes 9:5b-6: "The dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun."
One of my delights in life is touring historical sites and learning about the people who lived there in centuries past. Recently, I had the privilege of visiting an old city in eastern North Carolina; and as expected, I scheduled as many historical attractions into my weekend as I could muster.
One of my stops took me to a rather old cemetery that had in its yard the interred remains of several prominent people in the life of that city over the past two hundred years. As I walked through the cemetery, I enjoyed reading the epitaphs inscribed on the headstones of the dead; still, one crypt stood out to me for its magnificence. It seemed as if the person interred there wanted to impress the occasional stroller to walk over to his plot and pay homage. I mused at the crypt, that now was showing the signs of deterioration (broken brick and mortar, weeds, etc.).
Later that week, I purchased a historical book of that particular city, and as I began to read its contents, I noticed that the person whose name was on the crypt was mentioned in the book. Of course, this fascinated me, and I was determined to learn about this person. The historical book did not present a favorable opinion of the man. He was known as a shrewd politician of the mid-nineteenth century, who used his political position to profit personally. He, for example, used convicts of the state and slaves as free labor to work his expansive agricultural fields and his railroad company. This man was able to become quite wealthy by taking advantage of others; and with this wealth and political stature, he was able to assume a high level of influence in the community.
I guess the tragic irony of this story is found in this man's death. When he drew his last breath, everything that he had acquired (or rather usurped) was lost to him. No longer would he have the prestige and affluence that he had experienced in his life. Now, his memory was relegated to a few choice words in a historical book and a rapidly deteriorating (albeit impressive) crypt.
The writer of Ecclesiastes aptly recognizes this fate by saying that the dead "have no further reward and even the memory of them is forgotten." With hyperbolic sarcasm, the writer wants the reader to understand that the vain, temporal pursuits of this life are meaningless. If we are consumed with power, recognition, or wealth, we will find that our energies will be ill-spent.
An occasional stroll through a graveyard can be a good reminder to a follower of Jesus Christ that he need not scurry about with the world in the rat race to accumulate the vanities of life; rather he should be focused on cultivating his intimate relationship with Christ and follow Him obediently. It is to Christ that the believer's soul will return (see Ecclesiastes 12:7), and eternity will become his experiential reality. Once a man dies and is interred in the ground, his memory will fade not unlike the fading of the lettering inscribed on the headstones of the dead. All will be lost in this temporal world; thus, he should be motivated to prepare himself for his eternal dwelling with the Lord.
Rick Warren has said that "Christians should carry spiritual green cards to remind us that our citizenship is in heaven." If we have everything to gain in eternity and everything to lose here, it sounds like we should be motivated by what we will experience just over the horizon.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Discerning the Origin of Life
Ecclesiastes 8:17: "Then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it."
As one gazes upon the world around him, he cannot help but be overwhelmed with its beauty and its order. One only need to stand at the edge of a tall mountain and look at the world below him or sit on the beach and watch the waves crashing on the shore to see that this world is a magnificent sight.
Recently, I had the opportunity of watching Ben Stein's movie, Expelled. It saddened me to see scientific minds adamantly concluding that the universe was the chance assimilation of proteins to form life. These "intellectuals" had rather far-fetched notions of the origins of life; some even concluded that crystals or aliens might have been the catalyst for life to begin. The Darwinists in the documentary seemed to be so adamant that they had figured out how life began; yet, their theories were disturbingly inconclusive. Although these minds were rather hostile to the thought of "intelligent design," their flawed opinions left much to be desired.
We find in the passage quoted above that man is not able to comprehend fully the work of God in this world. To be sure, God has revealed His "eternal power and divine nature" through His creation so that no one can say, "there is no God" (see Romans 1:20). The beauty and expansiveness of the universe necessitates that we must consider that something or someone greater than ourselves has brought this to pass. What God has chosen to tell us in His Scriptures is that He is the One who has created everything (see Genesis 1). His revelation to us and our sensory reflection forces us to a point of crisis where we must respond by faith to the conclusion that He is the Sovereign Creator. And, of course, if one will affirm God as Creator, one must also understand that God has the right and the power to call the shots. This necessitates a second crisis point of submission to God's rightful Lordship. I believe that this second decision highly influences the decision of the origins of life for the evolutionist. That is, the evolutionist is not willing to surrender himself to God; he would rather see himself as his own lord. He wants to call his own shots without any accountability whatsoever. This is why these evolutionary "intellectuals" are so hostile to the teaching of "intelligent design" in educational settings. They are quite averse to any notion of Divine creation being taught, even though some of these brilliant minds will conclude that aliens or crystals were the creative spark starting life.
As I have conversed with Darwinists, I have yet to have the question answered, "From where do the foundational elements that started evolution originate?" Each Darwinist will scurry from answering that question, for they cannot assert their conclusion with 100% certainty. One atheist from Europe with which I had a dialogue about 5 years ago said quite tellingly, "No one for certain can know where the primordial elements originate." To which I replied, "Then your assertion that evolution is science is in actuality a theory." There was no returned response.
Each of us must come to the point of crisis in which we must affirm or deny that the Sovereign Lord is the Creator of the world and is thus worthy of our submission. My hope for you is that the Lord will reveal to you that He is in fact the Creator!
As one gazes upon the world around him, he cannot help but be overwhelmed with its beauty and its order. One only need to stand at the edge of a tall mountain and look at the world below him or sit on the beach and watch the waves crashing on the shore to see that this world is a magnificent sight.
Recently, I had the opportunity of watching Ben Stein's movie, Expelled. It saddened me to see scientific minds adamantly concluding that the universe was the chance assimilation of proteins to form life. These "intellectuals" had rather far-fetched notions of the origins of life; some even concluded that crystals or aliens might have been the catalyst for life to begin. The Darwinists in the documentary seemed to be so adamant that they had figured out how life began; yet, their theories were disturbingly inconclusive. Although these minds were rather hostile to the thought of "intelligent design," their flawed opinions left much to be desired.
We find in the passage quoted above that man is not able to comprehend fully the work of God in this world. To be sure, God has revealed His "eternal power and divine nature" through His creation so that no one can say, "there is no God" (see Romans 1:20). The beauty and expansiveness of the universe necessitates that we must consider that something or someone greater than ourselves has brought this to pass. What God has chosen to tell us in His Scriptures is that He is the One who has created everything (see Genesis 1). His revelation to us and our sensory reflection forces us to a point of crisis where we must respond by faith to the conclusion that He is the Sovereign Creator. And, of course, if one will affirm God as Creator, one must also understand that God has the right and the power to call the shots. This necessitates a second crisis point of submission to God's rightful Lordship. I believe that this second decision highly influences the decision of the origins of life for the evolutionist. That is, the evolutionist is not willing to surrender himself to God; he would rather see himself as his own lord. He wants to call his own shots without any accountability whatsoever. This is why these evolutionary "intellectuals" are so hostile to the teaching of "intelligent design" in educational settings. They are quite averse to any notion of Divine creation being taught, even though some of these brilliant minds will conclude that aliens or crystals were the creative spark starting life.
As I have conversed with Darwinists, I have yet to have the question answered, "From where do the foundational elements that started evolution originate?" Each Darwinist will scurry from answering that question, for they cannot assert their conclusion with 100% certainty. One atheist from Europe with which I had a dialogue about 5 years ago said quite tellingly, "No one for certain can know where the primordial elements originate." To which I replied, "Then your assertion that evolution is science is in actuality a theory." There was no returned response.
Each of us must come to the point of crisis in which we must affirm or deny that the Sovereign Lord is the Creator of the world and is thus worthy of our submission. My hope for you is that the Lord will reveal to you that He is in fact the Creator!
Monday, April 28, 2008
It's the Inward Change that Counts
Joel 2:13: "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."
The prophet Joel arrived on the scene in Israel as the messenger of God during a severe locust plague in Palestine. In an ironic twist of loyalty, the people of Israel had forsaken the very hand of God that had brought prosperity to them. As they gorged themselves on the abundant harvest of the land, they fell into the trap of thinking that they were self-sufficient. These covenant people did not think that they needed to follow the Lord, rather they believed that they were on the throne of their lives and should satistfy their own desires above anyone else, including God. Oh, they were good at holding religious services, and they even thought they were spiritual people. But in reality, their hearts were far from surrender to the One True God.
In turn, God brought a severe plague and a drought upon the people to get their attention. Even as God was using Joel to speak a message of the coming day of ultimate judgment (i.e. The Day of the Lord), He encouraged His people to respond with true repentance. This was not a mere outward ceremony of allegiance to the Lord (again, the people of Israel were great at external show without internal substance); rather, God expected that the people change ("rend") their hearts. If the people would respond to God's judgment with a true spirit of contrition and repentance, God would return the blessings that they had enjoyed previously. God declared Himself to be "gracious, compassionate, and abounding in love." He desired to bless His people, but He knew that they first must respond with loyalty to Him above all other things (including themselves).
We always must remember that merely going through the motions of spirituality will not impress God. What God expects is a heart completely surrendered to Him. Begin today by working on the person within, and commit yourself to Him wholely and obediently. God is the Sovereign One who blesses those who are found faithful.
The prophet Joel arrived on the scene in Israel as the messenger of God during a severe locust plague in Palestine. In an ironic twist of loyalty, the people of Israel had forsaken the very hand of God that had brought prosperity to them. As they gorged themselves on the abundant harvest of the land, they fell into the trap of thinking that they were self-sufficient. These covenant people did not think that they needed to follow the Lord, rather they believed that they were on the throne of their lives and should satistfy their own desires above anyone else, including God. Oh, they were good at holding religious services, and they even thought they were spiritual people. But in reality, their hearts were far from surrender to the One True God.
In turn, God brought a severe plague and a drought upon the people to get their attention. Even as God was using Joel to speak a message of the coming day of ultimate judgment (i.e. The Day of the Lord), He encouraged His people to respond with true repentance. This was not a mere outward ceremony of allegiance to the Lord (again, the people of Israel were great at external show without internal substance); rather, God expected that the people change ("rend") their hearts. If the people would respond to God's judgment with a true spirit of contrition and repentance, God would return the blessings that they had enjoyed previously. God declared Himself to be "gracious, compassionate, and abounding in love." He desired to bless His people, but He knew that they first must respond with loyalty to Him above all other things (including themselves).
We always must remember that merely going through the motions of spirituality will not impress God. What God expects is a heart completely surrendered to Him. Begin today by working on the person within, and commit yourself to Him wholely and obediently. God is the Sovereign One who blesses those who are found faithful.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Finding the Will of God
Psalm 5:8; Prov 2:3-9 "Tell me clearly what to do, and show me which way to turn . . . . And if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as hidden treasure then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-every good path."
If we are looking for the will of God in our lives, we must first seek the Lord! Although this statement may seem a bit elementary, it nonetheless is missed by most people looking for God's will. We must seek the Lord as seeking for hidden treasure.
I often have used an illustration to prove this important point. In my teaching I have asked people what they would do if someone walked into the class and told them that they had a chest full of priceless jewels buried in their back yard. Without hesitation, every person in the class said that they would leave immediately, grab a shovel, and start digging. Nothing would thwart their determination to dig up the chest to get the treasure. This is how we are to pursue God. We are to be consumed with a passionate pursuit of Our Lord above all other persons and things, and it is when we are intent at seeking Him first that He begins to reveal His truth and will for our lives.
The opposite is true as well When a person gives to God the leftovers of his life . . . when he doesn't seek the Lord first but inquires of the Lord only when it is expedient, God tends not to answer. For God to respond at the beckoned call of the person who sees Him as a cosmic bellhop to be summoned only when a need arises would be to reinforce a attitude of indifference to His Holiness. God will never contribute to any apathy that we may have toward Him; He will close the portals of heaven until we seek Him purposefully and intently. Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we are inclined to look toward heaven with unadulterated focus on the Lord. And though this downward spiral is a painful one, it nevertheless teaches us that our hope and purpose are found in God alone.
No one who has determined in his heart to seek the Lord first in his life has later regretted it. To the one who truly seeks the Lord, He in turn will provide knowledge and wisdom, victory and protection, intimacy and purpose.
Jeremiah 29:13 reinforces this profound truth: "You (oh man) will find me (God) when you seek me with all your heart." Let us strive with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength to pursue the Lord first in our lives!
If we are looking for the will of God in our lives, we must first seek the Lord! Although this statement may seem a bit elementary, it nonetheless is missed by most people looking for God's will. We must seek the Lord as seeking for hidden treasure.
I often have used an illustration to prove this important point. In my teaching I have asked people what they would do if someone walked into the class and told them that they had a chest full of priceless jewels buried in their back yard. Without hesitation, every person in the class said that they would leave immediately, grab a shovel, and start digging. Nothing would thwart their determination to dig up the chest to get the treasure. This is how we are to pursue God. We are to be consumed with a passionate pursuit of Our Lord above all other persons and things, and it is when we are intent at seeking Him first that He begins to reveal His truth and will for our lives.
The opposite is true as well When a person gives to God the leftovers of his life . . . when he doesn't seek the Lord first but inquires of the Lord only when it is expedient, God tends not to answer. For God to respond at the beckoned call of the person who sees Him as a cosmic bellhop to be summoned only when a need arises would be to reinforce a attitude of indifference to His Holiness. God will never contribute to any apathy that we may have toward Him; He will close the portals of heaven until we seek Him purposefully and intently. Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we are inclined to look toward heaven with unadulterated focus on the Lord. And though this downward spiral is a painful one, it nevertheless teaches us that our hope and purpose are found in God alone.
No one who has determined in his heart to seek the Lord first in his life has later regretted it. To the one who truly seeks the Lord, He in turn will provide knowledge and wisdom, victory and protection, intimacy and purpose.
Jeremiah 29:13 reinforces this profound truth: "You (oh man) will find me (God) when you seek me with all your heart." Let us strive with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength to pursue the Lord first in our lives!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Mourning Better Than Feasting?
Ecclesiastes 7:2-3: "It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart."
Boy, these verses sound like the ultimate "downer." If one were to open the Scriptures for the first time and read this passage, he might think, "Well I was hoping to find some encouragement from the Bible, but all I get is this depressed guy telling me that I need to be sad rather than happy because death is staring me in the face."
Boy, these verses sound like the ultimate "downer." If one were to open the Scriptures for the first time and read this passage, he might think, "Well I was hoping to find some encouragement from the Bible, but all I get is this depressed guy telling me that I need to be sad rather than happy because death is staring me in the face."
We must remember that this writer of the book of Ecclesiastes had it all. According to Ecclesiastes chapter 2, he had all the pleasures of life; he completed great building projects, and he collected vast amounts of silver and gold. In 2:10, he said, "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure." Again, this guy had it all according to earthly standards, but as he surveyed the temporal reality of life, he realized that everything that he acquired would be handed over to someone after him.
A better way to understand the writer's words in the verses cited above is to see that the writer wants each reader to have a proper perspective on life. Those "fools" as he calls them, seem to deny the ephemeral nature of life; they progress through it not stopping with sobering reflection to understand what life is all about. In the gaiety of their haphazard pursuits, they live for the moment . . . their motto is "Who cares about tomorrow, for today I can have it all."
By encouraging the reader to mourn instead of feasting and laughing through life, the writer wants people to stop and think about life's ultimate purpose. Life certainly is not about the fulfillment of our selfish desires, but it is an understanding that I am created with a purpose, which is to glorify God. Contrary to eastern mystical thinking, we only have one shot at this life. We are given a set number of days to be all that we can be for the Lord and His kingdom (Psalm 139:16). And YES, we are all staring death in the face. For some of us, it will be sooner than later, but for all of us, it will beckon us to follow in due time. Thus, no matter how much we enjoy life, we always are brought back to this ultimately reality. It sobers us and forces us to repeatedly ask, "Am I fulfilling my purpose in life?"
I believe that the writer of Ecclesiastes gives us an idea of what we should be pursuing in 7:1: "A good name (Hebrew: shem) is better than find perfume (Hebrew: shemen). In this literary passage of alliteration and assonance, the writer wants to drive home the point that material acquisition and consumption is not the purpose of life, and the man who is consumed with such superficial passions is the ultimate fool. Instead, a man should be driven by the understanding that he must live a life of obedience to a Righteous and Holy God (see Ecclesiastes 12:13); fortunately, his reflection upon his eventual death should motivate him to ask the tough but right questions about life. And if he is willing to contemplate these realities, then what has been said by the writer is true: "mourning is better than feasting."
Monday, April 21, 2008
Stop Talking and Start Listening
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2; 6:11: "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few . . . . The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?"
We live in a world today where there is a lot of talking and not a lot of listening. You only need to watch television talk shows to see that people have opinions and want others to know it; few are willing to stop their exhaustive speech to listen for a change.
The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us that the more that one spews out the product of his tongue, the less profit it has for the hearers. A man will talk incessantly to "win" an argument or impress his hearers; but in the end, it's just a bunch of bunk. It has no substance whatsoever.
Particularly when we approach the Lord, we should have a reverential respect and an openness for Him to impart His truth to us. We should never approach God thinking that we're going to tell Him a thing or two; God despises such haughtiness. Our disposition should be one of humility and contrition. We should confess our sins to Him and permit Him to pour into us His eternal Word. We need to stop talking and start listening!
And when we have been transformed by the Lord, we will find contentment within Him; thus, we will be able to share His Word with others in a spirit of love. We will not feel as if we are on a debate team and must vanquish our philosophical foes by winning the "God" argument. To be sure, we must share the propositional truths of Scripture, but we do so in a spirit of love with the hope of transforming redemption for the hearers. We must remember that we are not the ones who "save" people. It is the Holy Spirit who transforms lives (see I Corinthians 12:3).
So let's stop following the trend of the babbling world, that uses a lot of words to say nothing substantive. Let us instead present God and His offering of grace by our spirit of meekness, humility, and love for others. A few words of truth shared through the power of God are as beautiful as "apples of gold in settings of silver" (Proverbs 25:11).
We live in a world today where there is a lot of talking and not a lot of listening. You only need to watch television talk shows to see that people have opinions and want others to know it; few are willing to stop their exhaustive speech to listen for a change.
The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us that the more that one spews out the product of his tongue, the less profit it has for the hearers. A man will talk incessantly to "win" an argument or impress his hearers; but in the end, it's just a bunch of bunk. It has no substance whatsoever.
Particularly when we approach the Lord, we should have a reverential respect and an openness for Him to impart His truth to us. We should never approach God thinking that we're going to tell Him a thing or two; God despises such haughtiness. Our disposition should be one of humility and contrition. We should confess our sins to Him and permit Him to pour into us His eternal Word. We need to stop talking and start listening!
And when we have been transformed by the Lord, we will find contentment within Him; thus, we will be able to share His Word with others in a spirit of love. We will not feel as if we are on a debate team and must vanquish our philosophical foes by winning the "God" argument. To be sure, we must share the propositional truths of Scripture, but we do so in a spirit of love with the hope of transforming redemption for the hearers. We must remember that we are not the ones who "save" people. It is the Holy Spirit who transforms lives (see I Corinthians 12:3).
So let's stop following the trend of the babbling world, that uses a lot of words to say nothing substantive. Let us instead present God and His offering of grace by our spirit of meekness, humility, and love for others. A few words of truth shared through the power of God are as beautiful as "apples of gold in settings of silver" (Proverbs 25:11).
Saturday, April 19, 2008
A Pursuing Faith
Mark 5:8;17;27-29;32-34: "Jesus said to him (the demon-possessed man), "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" . . . . Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. . . . . When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake . . . A woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years . . . . When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, 'If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.' Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering . . . Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.'"
In this gospel account, Jesus was traveling through the Galilean region praying (Mark 1:35), preaching the Word of the grace of God (Mark 1:14, 2:2), and healing people of their illnesses (Mark 1:42; 2:11; 3:5). With all of the healings that were taking place, large crowds started to follow Jesus; people were coming from as far away as Judea, Idumea, and areas across the Jordan region. Despite receiving such a popular response, Jesus decided to leave the crowds behind and board a small boat with His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee and minister to the Gerasenes on the other side. During the trek, a "furious squall came up," and the disciples feared that the boat would be sunk. They called out to Jesus who was sleeping during the episode, and after rebuking them for their lack of faith, Jesus calmed the storm. The disciples' fear of the storm was transferred to this man that they were following; in fact, the original Greek translation could be read "and they were feared with great fear (at Jesus)." They kept saying to each other in the boat, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"
When Jesus and the disciples arrived to the other side of the large lake, He was met by a man possessed by evil spirits. This man dwelt among the tombs and hills crying aloud and cutting himself. The people of the town had tried on several occasions to subdue him with chains, but he was able to break the chains and return to his place among the tombs. As soon as the demons that indwelt the man saw Jesus coming, they forced the possessed man to run to the Messiah and beg not to be tortured. The demons knew who the Messiah was, and they respected His Divine power to subdue and punish them. Jesus knew that these demons were attempting to save themselves, as they pleaded not to be sent out of the area. Jesus then permitted them to indwell 2000 swine who were feeding on a hillside; but when they entered the animals, the pigs rushed frantically down a steep bank and were drowned in a lake.
When word of these events reached the local townspeople, they were quite alarmed. They went out to where Jesus and the man were, and they saw the once disheveled man now sitting calmly before the Savior. Instead of celebrating this victory, the people were afraid of Jesus and they asked Jesus to leave the region. Maybe they were angered because they liked the status quo and didn't like people coming into town stirring up change. Maybe they thought they at least were able to control the situation by letting the insane man roam around the graves and the hills. Now that he had been healed, they would have to deal with his re-assimilation into their community.
Jesus consented to their requests and he boarded the boat again and crossed back over the sea. He again found a large crowd awaiting His arrival, and they pressed upon Him for His healing and His teaching. At this point in the story, we find a woman in the crowd who had had a bleeding disorder for 12 years. For years, she had consulted doctors concerning her illness, but she was not able to find relief. By the time she had met Jesus, she had spent all of her money on treatments. This woman could have become an embittered person. She could have stayed at home, thinking "what's the use . . . if the doctors haven't been able to do anything for me, then certainly Jesus can't help either." In reality, this woman's faith in Jesus caused her to want to approach Christ, not avoid Him or ask Him to leave. She just wanted the chance to touch his cloak, believing that God could heal her. When the woman touched Jesus' cloak, she was healed of her sickness and responded by falling at His feet. Jesus was aware that power had gone out from him, because someone had approached Him in faith. His response was telling, "Daughter, your FAITH has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
This woman's faith resulted in her pursuit of God, not a distancing from God. And this faith brought incredible results. Whereas the people of the region of the Gerasenes wanted nothing to do with Jesus, the woman wanted nothing less than Jesus.
Jesus never returned (to my knowledge) to the Gerasenes again. They would not experience the power of God in their lives anymore. In contrast, the healed woman was transformed for life. She had experienced the power of God and would live the rest of her life proclaiming God's goodness to her. There is an incredible difference in these two accounts, namely that a faith that pursues the Lord will find His presence, His power, and His transformation.
In this gospel account, Jesus was traveling through the Galilean region praying (Mark 1:35), preaching the Word of the grace of God (Mark 1:14, 2:2), and healing people of their illnesses (Mark 1:42; 2:11; 3:5). With all of the healings that were taking place, large crowds started to follow Jesus; people were coming from as far away as Judea, Idumea, and areas across the Jordan region. Despite receiving such a popular response, Jesus decided to leave the crowds behind and board a small boat with His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee and minister to the Gerasenes on the other side. During the trek, a "furious squall came up," and the disciples feared that the boat would be sunk. They called out to Jesus who was sleeping during the episode, and after rebuking them for their lack of faith, Jesus calmed the storm. The disciples' fear of the storm was transferred to this man that they were following; in fact, the original Greek translation could be read "and they were feared with great fear (at Jesus)." They kept saying to each other in the boat, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"
When Jesus and the disciples arrived to the other side of the large lake, He was met by a man possessed by evil spirits. This man dwelt among the tombs and hills crying aloud and cutting himself. The people of the town had tried on several occasions to subdue him with chains, but he was able to break the chains and return to his place among the tombs. As soon as the demons that indwelt the man saw Jesus coming, they forced the possessed man to run to the Messiah and beg not to be tortured. The demons knew who the Messiah was, and they respected His Divine power to subdue and punish them. Jesus knew that these demons were attempting to save themselves, as they pleaded not to be sent out of the area. Jesus then permitted them to indwell 2000 swine who were feeding on a hillside; but when they entered the animals, the pigs rushed frantically down a steep bank and were drowned in a lake.
When word of these events reached the local townspeople, they were quite alarmed. They went out to where Jesus and the man were, and they saw the once disheveled man now sitting calmly before the Savior. Instead of celebrating this victory, the people were afraid of Jesus and they asked Jesus to leave the region. Maybe they were angered because they liked the status quo and didn't like people coming into town stirring up change. Maybe they thought they at least were able to control the situation by letting the insane man roam around the graves and the hills. Now that he had been healed, they would have to deal with his re-assimilation into their community.
Jesus consented to their requests and he boarded the boat again and crossed back over the sea. He again found a large crowd awaiting His arrival, and they pressed upon Him for His healing and His teaching. At this point in the story, we find a woman in the crowd who had had a bleeding disorder for 12 years. For years, she had consulted doctors concerning her illness, but she was not able to find relief. By the time she had met Jesus, she had spent all of her money on treatments. This woman could have become an embittered person. She could have stayed at home, thinking "what's the use . . . if the doctors haven't been able to do anything for me, then certainly Jesus can't help either." In reality, this woman's faith in Jesus caused her to want to approach Christ, not avoid Him or ask Him to leave. She just wanted the chance to touch his cloak, believing that God could heal her. When the woman touched Jesus' cloak, she was healed of her sickness and responded by falling at His feet. Jesus was aware that power had gone out from him, because someone had approached Him in faith. His response was telling, "Daughter, your FAITH has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
This woman's faith resulted in her pursuit of God, not a distancing from God. And this faith brought incredible results. Whereas the people of the region of the Gerasenes wanted nothing to do with Jesus, the woman wanted nothing less than Jesus.
Jesus never returned (to my knowledge) to the Gerasenes again. They would not experience the power of God in their lives anymore. In contrast, the healed woman was transformed for life. She had experienced the power of God and would live the rest of her life proclaiming God's goodness to her. There is an incredible difference in these two accounts, namely that a faith that pursues the Lord will find His presence, His power, and His transformation.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Frustration Vs. Contentment
Ecclesiastes 5:13-20: "I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him. Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand. This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has give him-for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work-this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart."
Whether one hoards or loses all of his money, both are seen as a great evil to the writer of Ecclesiastes. Whereas we might understand the egregiousness of one squandering his wealth away frivolously through gambling or irresponsible spending on luxury, we may be somewhat pressed to see the reasoning in the evil of "hoarding." After all, aren't we to save for the "rainy days" ahead? One might even quote Proverbs 13:11 in defense: "Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow."
Whereas we are called to be responsible with the money that God has entrusted to us, never are we called to hoard it. Hoarding is the behavior of those who crave the acclamation and security that wealth presents. In effect, the hoarder collects his money so that it can bring him the status and security that his soul craves. People who hoard money are saying, "I like how others respond to me because of my accumulated wealth, and I must collect more to impress more . . . to be praised more. I also don't trust that God will take care of me . . . Although I know I am called to use my resources to be a blessing to others, I must take care of ME first."
Again, the hoarder feasts upon the attention and power that is acquired through wealth; he is not about to release his "golden idol" to bless others, for he would lose the very thing that helps him assert his own lordship. Of course, the Scripture tells us not to be impressed with the accumulated wealth of a man, for his assets are a temporal possession: (Psalm 49:16-17): "Do not be over-awed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him."
The tragedy with hoarding wealth is in its inability to provide the satisfaction and fulfillment that the acquirer presumes. Ecclesiastes 5 tells us that the man consumed with the collection of money "eats in darkness (i.e. doleful gloom) with great frustration, affliction and anger." As this man passionately pursues the "Almighty Dollar," he lives a life of misery; and in the end, he leaves it all for someone else. I Timothy 6:10 reinforces this truth, when it says that those who are consumed with money "pierce themselves with many griefs."
This same chapter of I Timothy also tells us that "Godliness with contentment is great gain." The greatest fulfillment is found in one who is willing to put his faith and trust first in the Lord . . . serving Him above everything else, including asset accumulation. In his contentment, this man is able to enjoy the path of life, unencumbered by the toils and fears of collecting and losing what he has. The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us that ultimately it is God who gives wealth, and His gracious gift to us is the ability to be content with what we have, without the restless spirit of acquiring more. The person who is able to enjoy what God has given to him lives a life "occupied with gladness of heart." He does not feel the compulsion to acquire more to impress others; rather he feasts upon God's assurance that He "will never leave (him) nor forsake (him)" (Hebrews 13:5).
May we strive to seek the Lord first in our lives, not the pursuit of wealth. Wealth is fleeting, and in the end it will be lost; what we must do is work hard, provide for our necessities, and enjoy the few days that the Lord has willed for us to live on this earth, as we prepare for His glorious eternal Kingdom. We must remember that this contentment is a gift of God, to give us the ability to enjoy the life that He has entrusted to us.
Whether one hoards or loses all of his money, both are seen as a great evil to the writer of Ecclesiastes. Whereas we might understand the egregiousness of one squandering his wealth away frivolously through gambling or irresponsible spending on luxury, we may be somewhat pressed to see the reasoning in the evil of "hoarding." After all, aren't we to save for the "rainy days" ahead? One might even quote Proverbs 13:11 in defense: "Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow."
Whereas we are called to be responsible with the money that God has entrusted to us, never are we called to hoard it. Hoarding is the behavior of those who crave the acclamation and security that wealth presents. In effect, the hoarder collects his money so that it can bring him the status and security that his soul craves. People who hoard money are saying, "I like how others respond to me because of my accumulated wealth, and I must collect more to impress more . . . to be praised more. I also don't trust that God will take care of me . . . Although I know I am called to use my resources to be a blessing to others, I must take care of ME first."
Again, the hoarder feasts upon the attention and power that is acquired through wealth; he is not about to release his "golden idol" to bless others, for he would lose the very thing that helps him assert his own lordship. Of course, the Scripture tells us not to be impressed with the accumulated wealth of a man, for his assets are a temporal possession: (Psalm 49:16-17): "Do not be over-awed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him."
The tragedy with hoarding wealth is in its inability to provide the satisfaction and fulfillment that the acquirer presumes. Ecclesiastes 5 tells us that the man consumed with the collection of money "eats in darkness (i.e. doleful gloom) with great frustration, affliction and anger." As this man passionately pursues the "Almighty Dollar," he lives a life of misery; and in the end, he leaves it all for someone else. I Timothy 6:10 reinforces this truth, when it says that those who are consumed with money "pierce themselves with many griefs."
This same chapter of I Timothy also tells us that "Godliness with contentment is great gain." The greatest fulfillment is found in one who is willing to put his faith and trust first in the Lord . . . serving Him above everything else, including asset accumulation. In his contentment, this man is able to enjoy the path of life, unencumbered by the toils and fears of collecting and losing what he has. The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us that ultimately it is God who gives wealth, and His gracious gift to us is the ability to be content with what we have, without the restless spirit of acquiring more. The person who is able to enjoy what God has given to him lives a life "occupied with gladness of heart." He does not feel the compulsion to acquire more to impress others; rather he feasts upon God's assurance that He "will never leave (him) nor forsake (him)" (Hebrews 13:5).
May we strive to seek the Lord first in our lives, not the pursuit of wealth. Wealth is fleeting, and in the end it will be lost; what we must do is work hard, provide for our necessities, and enjoy the few days that the Lord has willed for us to live on this earth, as we prepare for His glorious eternal Kingdom. We must remember that this contentment is a gift of God, to give us the ability to enjoy the life that He has entrusted to us.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Be Prepared for Worship
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2,7b: "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few . . . . Stand in awe of God."
One of the tendencies that I see throughout Christendom is the unpreparedness of those who attend church to worship the One True God. It seems that many have compartmentalized God into one small segment of their lives. God gets an 11-12pm spot on Sunday; and even then, He gets a person who is detached from any true worship. Although the person is at church physically, he is checked out spiritually and emotionally. Why is this the case? Perhaps the person is too tired from a late Saturday night social, or is too distracted by what he needs to get accomplished after worship. Maybe he is so disconnected from any intimacy with the Lord throughout the week that his corporate worship experience is more a formality of familial or societal expectation. Maybe he notices that his spiritual life is lacking and comes to church hoping that the high-energy music will give him a "God-fix."
Even though he may sing songs of praise to the Lord, in his mind he is thinking about the Sunday afternoon football game, or what he will have for lunch, or the business transactions that need to be completed. His worship is uneventful, stale, and routine. In many instances, this type of worshipper will lose interest in church and cycle out of corporate worship. This disposition is commonly referred to as the "Revolving Door Syndrome." Almost as soon as this person pushes the figurative door to enter the church, he circles around and exits as quickly as he entered.
So what is the solution to such unproductive worship. First we must understand that our foundational purpose in life is not about ourselves; we are called first and foremost to glorify God! The passage above suggests that we are to approach our corporate worship experience in awe of God. We are not to treat such a time of collective worship with other believers as insignificant or uneventful; rather, we are to go with the expectation that we will encounter the Lord of Hosts . . . Our Sovereign Creator and Great God of Grace. We are to sing, speak, pray, and worship with thoughtful reflection that we are being ushered into the presence of the Almighty; if we understand that God is in our midst, then our self-absorbed notions of "eventful worship" will be squashed. We don't simply mutter words that have no significance or relevance in our lives, rather, we speak, sing, and pray with words that have been immersed in heart-felt reflection of our Loving Lord. When we approach worship with humility and passionate expectation of a Divine encounter, and we will fall before His throne to confess our sins and praise Him for His Holiness and His Goodness to us.
King David had a proper perspective of worship when he recorded these words in Psalm 51:16-17: "You (O Lord) do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." David was wise enough to know that simply going through the motions of worship would not accomplish anything; certainly, God was not pleased with such contemptible acts of uneventful praise. What God desires is a transformed heart that is willing to kick oneself off the throne of his life and surrender to Him as the One True God. God also sees as worship the person who in his vulnerability is willing to confess his sins and seek God's mercy. This person is also able to see that both his daily individual worship and his weekly corporate worship are a time for him to fulfill his ultimate purpose in life . . . to come before the presence of the Lord and give of his very best (his first fruits) in praise, thanksgiving, adoration, and celebration to God Almighty. As this person comes to worship the Lord with fellow believers, he already has examined his heart to make certain that he enters the presence of the Lord unencumbered by personal distractions. He has made it a point to focus himself throughout the week, especially the night before corporate worship, so that he is able to give the Lord his very best. God is not shuffled off to a small, rather insignificant place in the person's life experience; rather, He pervades the life of the worshipper in every part of his life. The true worshipper is so overwhelmed that God would desire to have intimate fellowship with him, that he can't wait to express his praise through song, study of the Word, prayer, ministry to others, etc. Worship is not an afterthought . . . it is everything.
Where are you in your times of individual and corporate worship? If you are finding worship to be rather dull and uneventful, maybe it's time to fall to your knees and confess to the Lord your indifference to His Lordship. Seek His Holy Spirit to bring to you a renewed appreciation of His Holiness, and commit yourself to a sacrifice of disciplined intimacy with Him each and every day. As your personal relationship with the Lord is strengthened, you will find that your corporate worship will truly express your heart of praise and thanksgiving for who God is and what He has done for you. Worship will no longer be stale; it will appropriately reflect the gratitude that you have for the Lord's transforming you into the person of passion that He has desired you to be from the beginning of time.
One of the tendencies that I see throughout Christendom is the unpreparedness of those who attend church to worship the One True God. It seems that many have compartmentalized God into one small segment of their lives. God gets an 11-12pm spot on Sunday; and even then, He gets a person who is detached from any true worship. Although the person is at church physically, he is checked out spiritually and emotionally. Why is this the case? Perhaps the person is too tired from a late Saturday night social, or is too distracted by what he needs to get accomplished after worship. Maybe he is so disconnected from any intimacy with the Lord throughout the week that his corporate worship experience is more a formality of familial or societal expectation. Maybe he notices that his spiritual life is lacking and comes to church hoping that the high-energy music will give him a "God-fix."
Even though he may sing songs of praise to the Lord, in his mind he is thinking about the Sunday afternoon football game, or what he will have for lunch, or the business transactions that need to be completed. His worship is uneventful, stale, and routine. In many instances, this type of worshipper will lose interest in church and cycle out of corporate worship. This disposition is commonly referred to as the "Revolving Door Syndrome." Almost as soon as this person pushes the figurative door to enter the church, he circles around and exits as quickly as he entered.
So what is the solution to such unproductive worship. First we must understand that our foundational purpose in life is not about ourselves; we are called first and foremost to glorify God! The passage above suggests that we are to approach our corporate worship experience in awe of God. We are not to treat such a time of collective worship with other believers as insignificant or uneventful; rather, we are to go with the expectation that we will encounter the Lord of Hosts . . . Our Sovereign Creator and Great God of Grace. We are to sing, speak, pray, and worship with thoughtful reflection that we are being ushered into the presence of the Almighty; if we understand that God is in our midst, then our self-absorbed notions of "eventful worship" will be squashed. We don't simply mutter words that have no significance or relevance in our lives, rather, we speak, sing, and pray with words that have been immersed in heart-felt reflection of our Loving Lord. When we approach worship with humility and passionate expectation of a Divine encounter, and we will fall before His throne to confess our sins and praise Him for His Holiness and His Goodness to us.
King David had a proper perspective of worship when he recorded these words in Psalm 51:16-17: "You (O Lord) do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." David was wise enough to know that simply going through the motions of worship would not accomplish anything; certainly, God was not pleased with such contemptible acts of uneventful praise. What God desires is a transformed heart that is willing to kick oneself off the throne of his life and surrender to Him as the One True God. God also sees as worship the person who in his vulnerability is willing to confess his sins and seek God's mercy. This person is also able to see that both his daily individual worship and his weekly corporate worship are a time for him to fulfill his ultimate purpose in life . . . to come before the presence of the Lord and give of his very best (his first fruits) in praise, thanksgiving, adoration, and celebration to God Almighty. As this person comes to worship the Lord with fellow believers, he already has examined his heart to make certain that he enters the presence of the Lord unencumbered by personal distractions. He has made it a point to focus himself throughout the week, especially the night before corporate worship, so that he is able to give the Lord his very best. God is not shuffled off to a small, rather insignificant place in the person's life experience; rather, He pervades the life of the worshipper in every part of his life. The true worshipper is so overwhelmed that God would desire to have intimate fellowship with him, that he can't wait to express his praise through song, study of the Word, prayer, ministry to others, etc. Worship is not an afterthought . . . it is everything.
Where are you in your times of individual and corporate worship? If you are finding worship to be rather dull and uneventful, maybe it's time to fall to your knees and confess to the Lord your indifference to His Lordship. Seek His Holy Spirit to bring to you a renewed appreciation of His Holiness, and commit yourself to a sacrifice of disciplined intimacy with Him each and every day. As your personal relationship with the Lord is strengthened, you will find that your corporate worship will truly express your heart of praise and thanksgiving for who God is and what He has done for you. Worship will no longer be stale; it will appropriately reflect the gratitude that you have for the Lord's transforming you into the person of passion that He has desired you to be from the beginning of time.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
The Blessing of Friendship
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three stands is not quickly broken."
About ten years ago, my father made a rather profound statement to me. He said, "Curt, in the final scheme of things, life is about faith, family, and friends." Not only do I wholeheartedly agree with this statement, but I also believe that the quality of one's life can be measured in terms of these relational categories. We were never created to live in isolation; in fact, one of the ways in which we are made in the image of God is that we are relational beings, capable of having close fellowship with God and other people.
The context of the passage cited above is found in the verses preceding it. The writer of Ecclesiastes shares the story of a wealthy miser, who consumed himself with the accumulation of money to the detriment of relationships. He presumably had no spouse, for he had no heirs to inherit his riches; he also had long since abandoned his birth family for his passionate pursuit of affluency. Now he finds himself all alone, but still unsatisfied with what he had accumulated. By his own lips, this miser complains that he is depriving himself of the enjoyment of life, for he has no one with which to share his life. He calls his plot utterly "meaningless, a miserable business." As I read this Scriptural account, I cannot help but remember the story of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Dicken's classic, A Christmas Carol. I can see Scrooge alone at his dark counting house, reviewing his books to see how much he has made in his business transactions . . . a poor, wretched soul who has forsaken the blessing of communion with others.
When we invest in the lives of others, we find that there is a reciprocal blessing to us in return. We find that if we "fall, (our) friend will help us up." Just as we would be ready to lend a hand when our friends are in need, so too we find open arms waiting for us in times of difficulty and despair. We become reciprocal agents of blessing for each other, and we find purpose in life by being in community.
It has been said that "you die like you live." That is, how one responds to the reality of death is a function of how one has prepared for that day by putting his ultimate trust in God. I would extend this proverb by saying that one's funeral can be a measure of one's investment in the lives of others. This reminds me of the tragic life of one who crossed my path some fifteen years ago (I will refer to him as "Jim"). Jim was a man who was self-absorbed; he alienated his family and friends, using them for his own selfish purposes. Seldom was there any effort on his part to minister to others without there being a "catch." I grieved for Jim, but being half his age, I was too intimidated to share truth with him. Jim was not connected to any church family, nor did he express his allegiance to Jesus Christ. He had been divorced several times, and he had ostracized his children. Jim lived a rather pathetic life of isolation by his own choosing.
One summer day, Jim died unexpectedly (he was only in his early 50s at the time). How sad it was to attend his funeral. There were not enough people in Jim's life to serve as pallbearers; the funeral home had to "recruit" others to help in that endeavor. No one was there to share how Jim had made an impact in his/her life. Although the pastor shared a few scripture passages hoping to comfort the few attendees, in the end, we all knew that Jim had lived a most wretched life. To be sure, there had been days in which Jim had accumulated sizable wealth; but he squandered it all away on himself. He never used what he had to impact the lives of others. Now when Jim should have had the honor of others verbalizing their love and admiration of him, the voices were noticeably silent.
We must remember that when we draw our final breath, we likely will not be consumed with our material acquisitions, our vast estates, our padded retirement accounts, etc. Rather, we will reflect upon those significant ones that entered our lives and enriched us. In the final scheme of things, life is truly all about faith, family, and friends.
About ten years ago, my father made a rather profound statement to me. He said, "Curt, in the final scheme of things, life is about faith, family, and friends." Not only do I wholeheartedly agree with this statement, but I also believe that the quality of one's life can be measured in terms of these relational categories. We were never created to live in isolation; in fact, one of the ways in which we are made in the image of God is that we are relational beings, capable of having close fellowship with God and other people.
The context of the passage cited above is found in the verses preceding it. The writer of Ecclesiastes shares the story of a wealthy miser, who consumed himself with the accumulation of money to the detriment of relationships. He presumably had no spouse, for he had no heirs to inherit his riches; he also had long since abandoned his birth family for his passionate pursuit of affluency. Now he finds himself all alone, but still unsatisfied with what he had accumulated. By his own lips, this miser complains that he is depriving himself of the enjoyment of life, for he has no one with which to share his life. He calls his plot utterly "meaningless, a miserable business." As I read this Scriptural account, I cannot help but remember the story of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Dicken's classic, A Christmas Carol. I can see Scrooge alone at his dark counting house, reviewing his books to see how much he has made in his business transactions . . . a poor, wretched soul who has forsaken the blessing of communion with others.
When we invest in the lives of others, we find that there is a reciprocal blessing to us in return. We find that if we "fall, (our) friend will help us up." Just as we would be ready to lend a hand when our friends are in need, so too we find open arms waiting for us in times of difficulty and despair. We become reciprocal agents of blessing for each other, and we find purpose in life by being in community.
It has been said that "you die like you live." That is, how one responds to the reality of death is a function of how one has prepared for that day by putting his ultimate trust in God. I would extend this proverb by saying that one's funeral can be a measure of one's investment in the lives of others. This reminds me of the tragic life of one who crossed my path some fifteen years ago (I will refer to him as "Jim"). Jim was a man who was self-absorbed; he alienated his family and friends, using them for his own selfish purposes. Seldom was there any effort on his part to minister to others without there being a "catch." I grieved for Jim, but being half his age, I was too intimidated to share truth with him. Jim was not connected to any church family, nor did he express his allegiance to Jesus Christ. He had been divorced several times, and he had ostracized his children. Jim lived a rather pathetic life of isolation by his own choosing.
One summer day, Jim died unexpectedly (he was only in his early 50s at the time). How sad it was to attend his funeral. There were not enough people in Jim's life to serve as pallbearers; the funeral home had to "recruit" others to help in that endeavor. No one was there to share how Jim had made an impact in his/her life. Although the pastor shared a few scripture passages hoping to comfort the few attendees, in the end, we all knew that Jim had lived a most wretched life. To be sure, there had been days in which Jim had accumulated sizable wealth; but he squandered it all away on himself. He never used what he had to impact the lives of others. Now when Jim should have had the honor of others verbalizing their love and admiration of him, the voices were noticeably silent.
We must remember that when we draw our final breath, we likely will not be consumed with our material acquisitions, our vast estates, our padded retirement accounts, etc. Rather, we will reflect upon those significant ones that entered our lives and enriched us. In the final scheme of things, life is truly all about faith, family, and friends.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Is Life Really Meaningless?
Ecclesiastes 1:2: "'Meaningless! Meaningless!' says the Teacher. 'Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.'"
When one begins to read the book of Ecclesiastes, one is taken back by the apparent hopeless resignation of the writer. In fact, if a reader were looking to the Scriptures as a source of hope, and if he opened the Scriptures to the first few verses of the book of Ecclesiastes, he might find himself disillusioned.
If the "koheleth" (or Teacher of 1:1) who is speaking these words is in fact King Solomon, then his words are even more perplexing. After all, Solomon was a man who had great wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34); great wealth (1 Kings 10:14,21), and many wives (1 Kings 11:3). He seemed to be lacking for nothing.
Yet as he surveyed the span of life, he concluded that it was utterly futile. With hyperbolic sarcasm, the "teacher" realized that there is not much that man gains for all of his toilsome labor under the sun. After all, his accomplishments and accumulated wealth amount to nothing in the end, for after death "there is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow" (1:11). The teacher realized that even the memory of a person and his accomplishments is lost forever with the passage of time. Although each generation seeks its own significance, in the end it repeats the same path of generations before it . . . . the path of obscurity.
To be sure, before drawing these conclusions, this teacher had embarked on a quest to find purpose in life. He first devoted himself to study so that he could "experience much of wisdom and knowledge"; but he found that this pursuit was no more than a chasing after the wind. He changed his course and indulged in the pleasures of life, but again he found that this "embracing of folly" was fruitless. The teacher then got busy with building projects and with amassing wealth; he built great buildings and gardens and he acquired vast amounts of silver and gold. He took temporary delight in his accomplishments, but in time he again concluded that all of his works were pointless and futile. This great and wise man came to hate life (2:17); yet after he had travelled all of these vain paths of perceived significance, he was ready for God to teach him the true purpose of life.
The teacher had his serendipity in 3:14 when he concludes, "everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him." The teacher now understood that a life lived devoid of a relationship with God was utterly meaningless; God's purpose for His creation is to glorify Him as the One True Lord . . . only the things of God will endure! Man's purpose is not found within his vain earthly accomplishments . . . they will quickly be forgotten; and if through his hedonism, man strives to assert his own lordship, he will conclude that life is utterly meaningless. This fatalistic conclusion will not necessarily come during the early stages of one's pursuit of wealth and happiness; in fact, many will jump into the hectic rat race of accumulation and consumption not knowing that these pursuits will not satisfy. But with the passing of time, all men without God will come to the sobering conclusion that life has lacked meaning and purpose.
Although many of us are uncomfortable with attending a funeral service, in reality these services are healthy reminders of the futility of a life lived in vanity. As we hear the eulogy and gaze upon the casket or urn before us, we realize that no matter what we have done on this earth or what we have acquired materially, we eventually find ourselves in the same place. I am reminded of a recent tour of Cades Cove near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in which I encountered a rather telling perspective of the temporal nature of life. I am a big history buff and enjoy touring old grave yards to read interesting facts engraved on the head stones. As I was walking through one ancient church cemetery, I noticed a choice set of words on a stone: "Do not weep for me . . . For where I am soon you will be too!" The brevity of life can be quite sobering to the one rushing through it without purpose.
So what is the answer to this rather depressing reality? The teacher gives us the answer in 2:25-26; 12:13:
For without him (God) who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. . . . Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Our ultimate purpose in life is to glorify God. We please God by putting our ultimate faith in Him as Lord (Hebrews 11:6). We realize that our purpose is not to assert our own will and pursue our own delights; rather, we are called to serve our Lord and be obedient to His will for our lives. The product of such a path of obedience is abundant life and happiness (see John 10:10). We find significance and purpose in life, and we realize that this temporal experience here on earth is but the prelude of our eternal abode before the throne of God in a place of indescribable beauty and glory.
Still, we have a role to play here on this earth; we are not merely to retreat within the walls of indifference. The teacher tells us in Ecclesiastes 2:24 that we are to "eat and drink and find satisfaction in (our) work." God determined before all time the setting in which we would live and when we would live it; He did this so that we would "seek (Him) and reach out for Him and find Him" (see Acts 17:26). To "eat and drink" is in essence to provide for one's necessities. God has an expectation that we work to provide for ourselves. Work was created at the beginning of time, even before sin entered the world; so we know that God has a positive valuation of our being diligent to provide for our needs. We are also called to find satisfaction in our work. Although we may not find our situation completely fulfilling, we can find purpose in it. The Apostle Paul tells us in I Corinthians 10:31: "whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it ALL for the glory of God. Irrespective of what we do, we are called to serve God by giving our very best to our endeavors.
Determine in your heart today that your ultimate purpose is to surrender to God as the Lord of your life; trust Him in faith, knowing that He is on the throne and is worthy of your praise. Be counter-cultural by not following the vain, material pursuits of others, rather find fulfillment in seeking the Lord above all things. Be diligent in providing for your necessities and do everything as if you are performing the service to God directly. Then take time to step back and see the hand of Divine blessing upon you, showering you with the abundance of His love and leading you to a life of purpose, fulfillment, and joy!
When one begins to read the book of Ecclesiastes, one is taken back by the apparent hopeless resignation of the writer. In fact, if a reader were looking to the Scriptures as a source of hope, and if he opened the Scriptures to the first few verses of the book of Ecclesiastes, he might find himself disillusioned.
If the "koheleth" (or Teacher of 1:1) who is speaking these words is in fact King Solomon, then his words are even more perplexing. After all, Solomon was a man who had great wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34); great wealth (1 Kings 10:14,21), and many wives (1 Kings 11:3). He seemed to be lacking for nothing.
Yet as he surveyed the span of life, he concluded that it was utterly futile. With hyperbolic sarcasm, the "teacher" realized that there is not much that man gains for all of his toilsome labor under the sun. After all, his accomplishments and accumulated wealth amount to nothing in the end, for after death "there is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow" (1:11). The teacher realized that even the memory of a person and his accomplishments is lost forever with the passage of time. Although each generation seeks its own significance, in the end it repeats the same path of generations before it . . . . the path of obscurity.
To be sure, before drawing these conclusions, this teacher had embarked on a quest to find purpose in life. He first devoted himself to study so that he could "experience much of wisdom and knowledge"; but he found that this pursuit was no more than a chasing after the wind. He changed his course and indulged in the pleasures of life, but again he found that this "embracing of folly" was fruitless. The teacher then got busy with building projects and with amassing wealth; he built great buildings and gardens and he acquired vast amounts of silver and gold. He took temporary delight in his accomplishments, but in time he again concluded that all of his works were pointless and futile. This great and wise man came to hate life (2:17); yet after he had travelled all of these vain paths of perceived significance, he was ready for God to teach him the true purpose of life.
The teacher had his serendipity in 3:14 when he concludes, "everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him." The teacher now understood that a life lived devoid of a relationship with God was utterly meaningless; God's purpose for His creation is to glorify Him as the One True Lord . . . only the things of God will endure! Man's purpose is not found within his vain earthly accomplishments . . . they will quickly be forgotten; and if through his hedonism, man strives to assert his own lordship, he will conclude that life is utterly meaningless. This fatalistic conclusion will not necessarily come during the early stages of one's pursuit of wealth and happiness; in fact, many will jump into the hectic rat race of accumulation and consumption not knowing that these pursuits will not satisfy. But with the passing of time, all men without God will come to the sobering conclusion that life has lacked meaning and purpose.
Although many of us are uncomfortable with attending a funeral service, in reality these services are healthy reminders of the futility of a life lived in vanity. As we hear the eulogy and gaze upon the casket or urn before us, we realize that no matter what we have done on this earth or what we have acquired materially, we eventually find ourselves in the same place. I am reminded of a recent tour of Cades Cove near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in which I encountered a rather telling perspective of the temporal nature of life. I am a big history buff and enjoy touring old grave yards to read interesting facts engraved on the head stones. As I was walking through one ancient church cemetery, I noticed a choice set of words on a stone: "Do not weep for me . . . For where I am soon you will be too!" The brevity of life can be quite sobering to the one rushing through it without purpose.
So what is the answer to this rather depressing reality? The teacher gives us the answer in 2:25-26; 12:13:
For without him (God) who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. . . . Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Our ultimate purpose in life is to glorify God. We please God by putting our ultimate faith in Him as Lord (Hebrews 11:6). We realize that our purpose is not to assert our own will and pursue our own delights; rather, we are called to serve our Lord and be obedient to His will for our lives. The product of such a path of obedience is abundant life and happiness (see John 10:10). We find significance and purpose in life, and we realize that this temporal experience here on earth is but the prelude of our eternal abode before the throne of God in a place of indescribable beauty and glory.
Still, we have a role to play here on this earth; we are not merely to retreat within the walls of indifference. The teacher tells us in Ecclesiastes 2:24 that we are to "eat and drink and find satisfaction in (our) work." God determined before all time the setting in which we would live and when we would live it; He did this so that we would "seek (Him) and reach out for Him and find Him" (see Acts 17:26). To "eat and drink" is in essence to provide for one's necessities. God has an expectation that we work to provide for ourselves. Work was created at the beginning of time, even before sin entered the world; so we know that God has a positive valuation of our being diligent to provide for our needs. We are also called to find satisfaction in our work. Although we may not find our situation completely fulfilling, we can find purpose in it. The Apostle Paul tells us in I Corinthians 10:31: "whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it ALL for the glory of God. Irrespective of what we do, we are called to serve God by giving our very best to our endeavors.
Determine in your heart today that your ultimate purpose is to surrender to God as the Lord of your life; trust Him in faith, knowing that He is on the throne and is worthy of your praise. Be counter-cultural by not following the vain, material pursuits of others, rather find fulfillment in seeking the Lord above all things. Be diligent in providing for your necessities and do everything as if you are performing the service to God directly. Then take time to step back and see the hand of Divine blessing upon you, showering you with the abundance of His love and leading you to a life of purpose, fulfillment, and joy!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Now This Is Love
Song of Songs 8:6-7: "Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned."
The story found in the Song of Songs is one of a beautiful love relationship between a husband and a wife, who are enjoying the intimate fellowship of each other. When one reads the verbal exchanges between the two, one quickly sees selfless passion and devotion. Both are demonstratively committed to each other; there is no doubt that they revere the vows that they have made to each other in marital covenant, and they enjoy the blessed fruit of intimacy that they are experiencing from this covenantal commitment.
Two of the most beautiful verses in the entire book are cited above. Here the wife (who has heard repeatedly her husband's vow of commitment to her) petitions her husband to "place (her) like a seal over (his) heart, like a seal on (his) arm." Whereas we might see this as an imperative response to her husband, it can equally be declarative in nature. She is merely affirming what she already knows in her heart. She knows that her husband is committed to her and loves her passionately. She knows that he delights in her presence and wants to minister to her to bring her blessing. She knows that he has sealed her and her alone over his heart; she is not worried that she is one of many who have the affection of her husband. She feasts upon the stability and security that he provides to her through his exclusive commitment to her.
This wife then intends to heighten her expression of the impact of the couple's love upon her by comparing it to death, the grave, and unquenchable fire. She proclaims that their love is "as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave." Why would she use such an analogy of love with death and the grave? I believe it is because she knew that her hearers would understand the power of death . . . to them, nothing could thwart its will. When death determined to take a life, it was not going to be challenged. So too could it be said of the determination of her and her husband's love. She knew that they loved each other with intentionality and power; she knew that no one would ever thwart the passion and commitment that the couple had for each other. Just as the grave is unwilling to yield those who are entered within, so too their love was unyielding to anyone or anything that would attempt to challenge and frustrate it. This "jealousy" that she mentions is not an insecure apprehension about the relationship but an impassioned focus exclusively upon each other.
She also describes their love as a fire burning "like a mighty flame (which) many waters . . . even rivers can not quench." This second illustrative analogy reinforces her strong conviction that their love is impenetrable and unquenchable. To her, the couple's love for each other cannot be denied.
This bride then interjects the absurdity of those who would believe that this type of love could be bought for the right price. She responds by saying that no amount of money could coerce this kind of love, and a person who would present such a idea would be utterly scorned. This love is not for sale; this love rises above any manipulative efforts.
Many people today are looking for love in all the wrong places. They see love more as an emotion than as a selfless commitment of passionate devotion. Tragically for these people, as the emotion starts to fade in their relationships, they begin to look for new opportunities for love. They bounce from person to person looking again for the "spark" of relational intensity that they once had in their previous relationships. This is NOT LOVE! Rather, it is self-idolization and self-consumption. This type of person is more interested in themselves than in loving anyone else. In the end they never find the love for which they think they are looking.
We all would do well to reflect again upon true love as is described beautifully in the Song of Songs. Blessed is the man (and woman) who can say that they are experiencing this pure, passionate, unadulterated love!
The story found in the Song of Songs is one of a beautiful love relationship between a husband and a wife, who are enjoying the intimate fellowship of each other. When one reads the verbal exchanges between the two, one quickly sees selfless passion and devotion. Both are demonstratively committed to each other; there is no doubt that they revere the vows that they have made to each other in marital covenant, and they enjoy the blessed fruit of intimacy that they are experiencing from this covenantal commitment.
Two of the most beautiful verses in the entire book are cited above. Here the wife (who has heard repeatedly her husband's vow of commitment to her) petitions her husband to "place (her) like a seal over (his) heart, like a seal on (his) arm." Whereas we might see this as an imperative response to her husband, it can equally be declarative in nature. She is merely affirming what she already knows in her heart. She knows that her husband is committed to her and loves her passionately. She knows that he delights in her presence and wants to minister to her to bring her blessing. She knows that he has sealed her and her alone over his heart; she is not worried that she is one of many who have the affection of her husband. She feasts upon the stability and security that he provides to her through his exclusive commitment to her.
This wife then intends to heighten her expression of the impact of the couple's love upon her by comparing it to death, the grave, and unquenchable fire. She proclaims that their love is "as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave." Why would she use such an analogy of love with death and the grave? I believe it is because she knew that her hearers would understand the power of death . . . to them, nothing could thwart its will. When death determined to take a life, it was not going to be challenged. So too could it be said of the determination of her and her husband's love. She knew that they loved each other with intentionality and power; she knew that no one would ever thwart the passion and commitment that the couple had for each other. Just as the grave is unwilling to yield those who are entered within, so too their love was unyielding to anyone or anything that would attempt to challenge and frustrate it. This "jealousy" that she mentions is not an insecure apprehension about the relationship but an impassioned focus exclusively upon each other.
She also describes their love as a fire burning "like a mighty flame (which) many waters . . . even rivers can not quench." This second illustrative analogy reinforces her strong conviction that their love is impenetrable and unquenchable. To her, the couple's love for each other cannot be denied.
This bride then interjects the absurdity of those who would believe that this type of love could be bought for the right price. She responds by saying that no amount of money could coerce this kind of love, and a person who would present such a idea would be utterly scorned. This love is not for sale; this love rises above any manipulative efforts.
Many people today are looking for love in all the wrong places. They see love more as an emotion than as a selfless commitment of passionate devotion. Tragically for these people, as the emotion starts to fade in their relationships, they begin to look for new opportunities for love. They bounce from person to person looking again for the "spark" of relational intensity that they once had in their previous relationships. This is NOT LOVE! Rather, it is self-idolization and self-consumption. This type of person is more interested in themselves than in loving anyone else. In the end they never find the love for which they think they are looking.
We all would do well to reflect again upon true love as is described beautifully in the Song of Songs. Blessed is the man (and woman) who can say that they are experiencing this pure, passionate, unadulterated love!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Ingredients for a Healthy Marriage
Song of Songs 1:2,9-11; 2:2,15: "(The wife says) 'Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth-for your love is more delightful than wine' . . . . (The husband says) 'I liken you, my darling, to a mare harnessed to one of the chariots of Pharaoh. Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels. We will make you earrings of gold, studded with silver . . . . Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens' . . . . (The wife says) 'He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love' . . . . (The husband says) 'Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.'"
In an age in which healthy, vibrant marriages are noticeably lacking, one would do well to consult the Holy Scriptures to find the ingredients that make the marital relationship everything that God intended for it to be. One great resource found with the Bible is the book entitled the Song of Songs. Whereas many would attempt to allegorize the book into an exclusively spiritual application of God with His bride, the covenant community, I believe that the passages contain abundant wisdom for human marriages today as well.
First, we find that the bride passionately desires to be with her husband; her time of fellowship with her love is something of which she longs intently. He is not an afterthought after she has had a long, tiring day. He does not play second fiddle to her friends, the kids, the soaps (or whatever was comparable then), her workout, or her daily tasks. Her husband is the delight of her life, and she longs for quality time with him.
This is a good word for wives today. Husbands long for their wives to show that they find their husbands desirable; husbands do not appreciate when they are perceived merely as human capital, designed solely to be an income producer for the family. In the Song of Songs, the wife lets her husband know that she desires him and delights in his fellowship: "How handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant" (1:16). This husband looks forward to coming home after a hard day at the office, for he knows that his wife loves him, looks forward to his arrival, and wants to express her delight in him.
In turn, the husband praises the loveliness of his bride, even though she may struggle with her perception of attractiveness. In the passage above, the wife has said that her own vineyard (i.e. her body) has been neglected due to the laborious work that she has done in the vineyards. The years of exposure to the sun's rays and the hot climate have taken their toll on her, at least in her own mind. And though she feels she has little beauty, her husband calls out to her telling her that she is as priceless treasure . . . as priceless as the revered animals that carried Pharaoh in his chariot. Although we may find it difficult to see the affirmation in one saying to his bride that he likens her to a "mare," in antiquity, it was understood that the Pharaoh would only select the choicest of animals to lead his chariot in a royal procession. Thus, this wife would have heard from her husband that she is the apple of his eye . . . . to her husband, she is a person to be loved and cherished. Her responsive words affirm her feelings: "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys." Her husband has communicated his love to her in such a way that she feels that she is very special and very beautiful.
This wife also feels protected and secure, for she says of her husband, "his banner over me is love" (2:4). Banners were used by kings to identify their subjects and to affirm the royal protective hand over them. This wife knows that her husband will provide the stability that she so earnestly desires. She never has to worry if her husband will be committed to her and will be a provider for her, and so she basks in the assurance that she is protected from anything that would harm her or her marriage.
There is a good word for the husbands here. Wives want to know that their husbands will provide them stability and security. They also want their husbands to love them and find them beautiful, irrespective of what time and/or life's experiences (e.g. children) will do to the body. We see the husband's most appropriate response to his wife in 2:2: "Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens." This husband is in effect saying to his love, "There is no comparison between you and other women . . . they are mere thorns compared to your loveliness." This wife knows that her husband is not "looking around" at other attractive women; rather, he is solely committed to her with a steadfast and exclusive love. In his exclamation of love, he cries out, "How beautiful you are my darling! Oh, how beautiful!"
Then as the spiritual leader of the home, the husband shares with his wife that they both need to "catch the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, (the) vineyards that are in bloom" (2:15). This husband recognizes that people and circumstances can creep into a marriage relationship and destroy it, and so he proposes that he and his wife be ready for anything that would attack their marriage. Just as a person would prepare in advance a lure and a trap to catch an animal that could destroy a vineyard, so too the couple has prepared their hearts in advance to deal objectively with anything that would begin to reek havoc and turmoil in their marriage. They "catch" the foxes by quickly addressing and eliminating any situation that would lead to unhealthiness in the marriage. They are motivated by their love for each other to protect each other and their marriage from outside predators.
Although there are many other passages in this book that could be used to illustrate the points mentioned above, what is telling is that this couple is committed to their covenant of marriage. They are are very aware and sensitive to the needs of their mate, for they love their spouse and want to be an agent of blessing. Both are affirmed and completely secure in the love that they receive from their partner; they never have to worry if there is a wayward heart found within their spouse. Because they are sensitive to the needs of each other, they both experience the vitality and fulfillment that God intended for a healthy marriage to present.
And why does God want each partner to experience this level of love in their marriage? For one thing, God wants us to know the beauty and security of loving and being loved unconditionally with no strings attached. And, it is when we experience this level of love that we in turn can appreciate more fully God's unconditional love and faithful fidelity that He has for each of us as His covenantal bride. No other relationship could better aid us in better appreciating God's love and commitment to us both now and for all eternity.
In an age in which healthy, vibrant marriages are noticeably lacking, one would do well to consult the Holy Scriptures to find the ingredients that make the marital relationship everything that God intended for it to be. One great resource found with the Bible is the book entitled the Song of Songs. Whereas many would attempt to allegorize the book into an exclusively spiritual application of God with His bride, the covenant community, I believe that the passages contain abundant wisdom for human marriages today as well.
First, we find that the bride passionately desires to be with her husband; her time of fellowship with her love is something of which she longs intently. He is not an afterthought after she has had a long, tiring day. He does not play second fiddle to her friends, the kids, the soaps (or whatever was comparable then), her workout, or her daily tasks. Her husband is the delight of her life, and she longs for quality time with him.
This is a good word for wives today. Husbands long for their wives to show that they find their husbands desirable; husbands do not appreciate when they are perceived merely as human capital, designed solely to be an income producer for the family. In the Song of Songs, the wife lets her husband know that she desires him and delights in his fellowship: "How handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant" (1:16). This husband looks forward to coming home after a hard day at the office, for he knows that his wife loves him, looks forward to his arrival, and wants to express her delight in him.
In turn, the husband praises the loveliness of his bride, even though she may struggle with her perception of attractiveness. In the passage above, the wife has said that her own vineyard (i.e. her body) has been neglected due to the laborious work that she has done in the vineyards. The years of exposure to the sun's rays and the hot climate have taken their toll on her, at least in her own mind. And though she feels she has little beauty, her husband calls out to her telling her that she is as priceless treasure . . . as priceless as the revered animals that carried Pharaoh in his chariot. Although we may find it difficult to see the affirmation in one saying to his bride that he likens her to a "mare," in antiquity, it was understood that the Pharaoh would only select the choicest of animals to lead his chariot in a royal procession. Thus, this wife would have heard from her husband that she is the apple of his eye . . . . to her husband, she is a person to be loved and cherished. Her responsive words affirm her feelings: "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys." Her husband has communicated his love to her in such a way that she feels that she is very special and very beautiful.
This wife also feels protected and secure, for she says of her husband, "his banner over me is love" (2:4). Banners were used by kings to identify their subjects and to affirm the royal protective hand over them. This wife knows that her husband will provide the stability that she so earnestly desires. She never has to worry if her husband will be committed to her and will be a provider for her, and so she basks in the assurance that she is protected from anything that would harm her or her marriage.
There is a good word for the husbands here. Wives want to know that their husbands will provide them stability and security. They also want their husbands to love them and find them beautiful, irrespective of what time and/or life's experiences (e.g. children) will do to the body. We see the husband's most appropriate response to his wife in 2:2: "Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens." This husband is in effect saying to his love, "There is no comparison between you and other women . . . they are mere thorns compared to your loveliness." This wife knows that her husband is not "looking around" at other attractive women; rather, he is solely committed to her with a steadfast and exclusive love. In his exclamation of love, he cries out, "How beautiful you are my darling! Oh, how beautiful!"
Then as the spiritual leader of the home, the husband shares with his wife that they both need to "catch the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, (the) vineyards that are in bloom" (2:15). This husband recognizes that people and circumstances can creep into a marriage relationship and destroy it, and so he proposes that he and his wife be ready for anything that would attack their marriage. Just as a person would prepare in advance a lure and a trap to catch an animal that could destroy a vineyard, so too the couple has prepared their hearts in advance to deal objectively with anything that would begin to reek havoc and turmoil in their marriage. They "catch" the foxes by quickly addressing and eliminating any situation that would lead to unhealthiness in the marriage. They are motivated by their love for each other to protect each other and their marriage from outside predators.
Although there are many other passages in this book that could be used to illustrate the points mentioned above, what is telling is that this couple is committed to their covenant of marriage. They are are very aware and sensitive to the needs of their mate, for they love their spouse and want to be an agent of blessing. Both are affirmed and completely secure in the love that they receive from their partner; they never have to worry if there is a wayward heart found within their spouse. Because they are sensitive to the needs of each other, they both experience the vitality and fulfillment that God intended for a healthy marriage to present.
And why does God want each partner to experience this level of love in their marriage? For one thing, God wants us to know the beauty and security of loving and being loved unconditionally with no strings attached. And, it is when we experience this level of love that we in turn can appreciate more fully God's unconditional love and faithful fidelity that He has for each of us as His covenantal bride. No other relationship could better aid us in better appreciating God's love and commitment to us both now and for all eternity.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Not Listening
Joshua 1:7-9; 2 Kings 25:5-7: (The LORD said to Joshua as he approached Jericho) "Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from you mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go . . . . But the Babylonian army pursued the king (Zedekiah) and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, and he was captured. He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where sentence was pronounced on him. They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon."
The conflation of these two stories from Scripture is presented to illustrate a point that is very relevant to us today. In the book of Joshua, we find that the Israelites were about to cross over the Jordan to inherit the land that God had promised to Abraham hundreds of years before. The Israelites had been in captivity under the oppressive Egyptians for over 400 years and had wandered in the Sinai wilderness for 40 years. Now the time had come for God's covenant community to enter the blessed land that had been secured by their LORD. God told their leader, Joshua to be courageous, for the LORD would bring success to the Israelites and He would accompany them wherever they went. The only stipulation was for the Israelites to live a life surrendered to the Lord by being obedient to His commands. God instructed the people to meditate upon the Scriptures throughout the day, so that God's Word would dwell within their hearts . . . convicting them of any sin and guiding them to the truth of obedience of God's Law.
To reinforce this dictate, God sent the Commander of His Heavenly Army with sword drawn, to appear before Joshua (see Joshua 5:14-15). Joshua was overwhelmed by the splendor of God's mighty presence and fell facedown to the ground in humble submission. Joshua knew that God's greatness was there, and the leader of the Israelites took off his sandals in respect of the holiness of God.
When we fast forward nearly 1000 years, we find the king of Judah, Zedekiah, fleeing from the Promised Land in response to the invading Babylonian army. Zedekiah was the last of a number of wicked kings who led the covenant community through centuries of abject rebellion against the LORD. To be true to His patience and longsuffering, the LORD sent a number of prophets to warn the people that rebellion against His holiness would end in utter disaster for the Israelites; but they would not listen. Many of these prophets of the One True God were executed for their proclamations of judgment; their messages were not the politically correct words of approval for the licentious behavior of the people. They enjoyed their gross immorality and wickedness and did not want anyone telling them that what they were doing was utterly detestable to God. They were not unlike the wicked man mentioned in Job 15 that "shakes his fist at God and vaunts himself against the Almighty." They wanted to do whatever their heart desired, even if that meant doing that which was counter to God's commands as mentioned in Scripture.
To be sure, the Israelites of the days of Zedekiah did not revere God's Word as God had instructed them to do in Joshua 1. They did not meditate upon its truths, but rather they shunned God's Word in favor of their own false reasoning. They were able to rationalize any type of behavior as being just, provided that it met their expectation of self-fulfillment.
God would be true to His Word! As He had promised in Deuteronomy 28:49-53, so He enacted His Righteous wrath against the covenant community. The days of God's patience were over; now He sent the mighty Babylonians to invade the Promised Land. Over a period of several decades, the Babylonians sacked the land, taking many of the Israelites into captivity and destroying the cities that had been built. In Jerusalem, the temple, the royal palace, and the city walls were all destroyed. Everything was left in ruins and would remain so for 70 years.
The irony is found in the 2 Kings passage quoted above, for we find that the last king of Judea, Zedekiah, is fleeing from Jerusalem and is moving east toward the Jordan River to escape the pursuing Babylonians. As the Lord would have it, Zedekiah was captured on the plains of Jericho . . . the very place where God had told the Israelites that their obedience would assure them victory and possession of the Promised Land.
King Zedekiah was captured and taken to Riblah where he was forced to watch the executions of his sons before he was blinded by his enemies, bound in shackles, and imprisoned in Babylon for the remainder of his life (see Jeremiah 52:11). The descendants of Abraham that had so much opportunity for blessing, lost everything because they stopped listening.
This is a good word for us today. Even now we see our nation following the same perilous path of disobedience against the commands of the One True God as the Israelites 2600 years ago. We are blessed that the Lord is patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (see 2 Peter 3:9). Still, to be true to His Holiness, the Lord will not permit the wicked to go unpunished.
What is the answer? First we would do well to heed the Words that God shared with Joshua, namely to meditate upon the Scriptures and to live a life of surrender to the One True God. Obedience to the LORD is the only way to divert God's Righteous wrath. Start today by confessing your sins against the Lord and receiving God's mercy through His Son, Jesus Christ. Commit yourself to the Lord and find salvation in Him!
The conflation of these two stories from Scripture is presented to illustrate a point that is very relevant to us today. In the book of Joshua, we find that the Israelites were about to cross over the Jordan to inherit the land that God had promised to Abraham hundreds of years before. The Israelites had been in captivity under the oppressive Egyptians for over 400 years and had wandered in the Sinai wilderness for 40 years. Now the time had come for God's covenant community to enter the blessed land that had been secured by their LORD. God told their leader, Joshua to be courageous, for the LORD would bring success to the Israelites and He would accompany them wherever they went. The only stipulation was for the Israelites to live a life surrendered to the Lord by being obedient to His commands. God instructed the people to meditate upon the Scriptures throughout the day, so that God's Word would dwell within their hearts . . . convicting them of any sin and guiding them to the truth of obedience of God's Law.
To reinforce this dictate, God sent the Commander of His Heavenly Army with sword drawn, to appear before Joshua (see Joshua 5:14-15). Joshua was overwhelmed by the splendor of God's mighty presence and fell facedown to the ground in humble submission. Joshua knew that God's greatness was there, and the leader of the Israelites took off his sandals in respect of the holiness of God.
When we fast forward nearly 1000 years, we find the king of Judah, Zedekiah, fleeing from the Promised Land in response to the invading Babylonian army. Zedekiah was the last of a number of wicked kings who led the covenant community through centuries of abject rebellion against the LORD. To be true to His patience and longsuffering, the LORD sent a number of prophets to warn the people that rebellion against His holiness would end in utter disaster for the Israelites; but they would not listen. Many of these prophets of the One True God were executed for their proclamations of judgment; their messages were not the politically correct words of approval for the licentious behavior of the people. They enjoyed their gross immorality and wickedness and did not want anyone telling them that what they were doing was utterly detestable to God. They were not unlike the wicked man mentioned in Job 15 that "shakes his fist at God and vaunts himself against the Almighty." They wanted to do whatever their heart desired, even if that meant doing that which was counter to God's commands as mentioned in Scripture.
To be sure, the Israelites of the days of Zedekiah did not revere God's Word as God had instructed them to do in Joshua 1. They did not meditate upon its truths, but rather they shunned God's Word in favor of their own false reasoning. They were able to rationalize any type of behavior as being just, provided that it met their expectation of self-fulfillment.
God would be true to His Word! As He had promised in Deuteronomy 28:49-53, so He enacted His Righteous wrath against the covenant community. The days of God's patience were over; now He sent the mighty Babylonians to invade the Promised Land. Over a period of several decades, the Babylonians sacked the land, taking many of the Israelites into captivity and destroying the cities that had been built. In Jerusalem, the temple, the royal palace, and the city walls were all destroyed. Everything was left in ruins and would remain so for 70 years.
The irony is found in the 2 Kings passage quoted above, for we find that the last king of Judea, Zedekiah, is fleeing from Jerusalem and is moving east toward the Jordan River to escape the pursuing Babylonians. As the Lord would have it, Zedekiah was captured on the plains of Jericho . . . the very place where God had told the Israelites that their obedience would assure them victory and possession of the Promised Land.
King Zedekiah was captured and taken to Riblah where he was forced to watch the executions of his sons before he was blinded by his enemies, bound in shackles, and imprisoned in Babylon for the remainder of his life (see Jeremiah 52:11). The descendants of Abraham that had so much opportunity for blessing, lost everything because they stopped listening.
This is a good word for us today. Even now we see our nation following the same perilous path of disobedience against the commands of the One True God as the Israelites 2600 years ago. We are blessed that the Lord is patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (see 2 Peter 3:9). Still, to be true to His Holiness, the Lord will not permit the wicked to go unpunished.
What is the answer? First we would do well to heed the Words that God shared with Joshua, namely to meditate upon the Scriptures and to live a life of surrender to the One True God. Obedience to the LORD is the only way to divert God's Righteous wrath. Start today by confessing your sins against the Lord and receiving God's mercy through His Son, Jesus Christ. Commit yourself to the Lord and find salvation in Him!
Friday, April 4, 2008
No Fear of Bad News
Psalm 112:1,7: "Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands . . . . He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD."
Here we find that the man who fears and delights in the LORD (i.e. has reverential awe of the LORD and yet enjoys intimacy with HIM) will not fear bad news that befalls him. Why? Because he is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His hope and desire are in the Lord, no matter what painful trials come his way.
This does not mean that he enjoys the bad news; in fact, he will likely agonize through the painful experience. Still he is able to endure through the power of the Holy Spirit. The strength of the Lord sustains him, irrespective of the severity of the trial in his life.
David demonstrated such resolve when his life was threatened by those who were determined to kill him with "the sword." As David was moving from place to place to stay one step ahead of his pursuers, he cried out the following Psalm (22:2,3,22-23a):
"O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night and am not silent. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel . . . . I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise Him!"
Despite David's perception that God wasn't answering his pleas in his time of trouble, still he was assured that God was still on the throne and thus in control. David was able to gain strength in this assurance and praised the Lord by faith. A life so transformed by the Lord is able to be renewed in times of difficulty and know that God is worthy of praise, irrespective of circumstances.
As painful as the trials of life are, they reveal the true person within us. Our reactions to difficult circumstances teach us if we trust the Lord in faith. When we remain in an intimate relationship with the Lord, we will find His strength to be steadfast during the turbulent times, and we will not fear what may come our way, for our strength is in the Lord!
Here we find that the man who fears and delights in the LORD (i.e. has reverential awe of the LORD and yet enjoys intimacy with HIM) will not fear bad news that befalls him. Why? Because he is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His hope and desire are in the Lord, no matter what painful trials come his way.
This does not mean that he enjoys the bad news; in fact, he will likely agonize through the painful experience. Still he is able to endure through the power of the Holy Spirit. The strength of the Lord sustains him, irrespective of the severity of the trial in his life.
David demonstrated such resolve when his life was threatened by those who were determined to kill him with "the sword." As David was moving from place to place to stay one step ahead of his pursuers, he cried out the following Psalm (22:2,3,22-23a):
"O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night and am not silent. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel . . . . I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise Him!"
Despite David's perception that God wasn't answering his pleas in his time of trouble, still he was assured that God was still on the throne and thus in control. David was able to gain strength in this assurance and praised the Lord by faith. A life so transformed by the Lord is able to be renewed in times of difficulty and know that God is worthy of praise, irrespective of circumstances.
As painful as the trials of life are, they reveal the true person within us. Our reactions to difficult circumstances teach us if we trust the Lord in faith. When we remain in an intimate relationship with the Lord, we will find His strength to be steadfast during the turbulent times, and we will not fear what may come our way, for our strength is in the Lord!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Don't Let Your Age Limit You
2 Chronicles 34:3-4: "In the eighth year of his (Josiah's) reign, while he was still young, he began to seek to God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles, carved idols and cast images."
Josiah is a king that teaches us that we are never too young to make an impact for the kingdom of God. Despite being born to a wicked father (King Amon), Josiah would not follow the ways of his predecessor, but would seek to obey the Lord. Josiah was just eight when he was declared king of Judah; his father had been assassinated at the hands of the royal officials, and the people of the land responded by the coronation of the young Josiah as their next king.
Scripture records that when Josiah was just 16, "while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David." By the time he was 20 he purged his kingdom of all the pagan idols and altars that his forefathers had built to defy the worship of the One True God. The description of this "purging" is rather graphic; words/phrases like "smash," "scatter," "cut to pieces," and "crush to powder" are used in Scripture to describe the way in which the idols were destroyed. I believe that such verbiage is used to let us know that Josiah was not half-hearted in his determination to rid his people of such spiritual filth. He demonstratively obliterated anything that would be used to circumvent his people's hearts from worshipping and obeying the Lord
exclusively. There was passion and strong conviction in the king as he resolved to serve God alone.
When he was 26, Josiah ordered that the temple of the Lord be repaired; he desired for his people to give of their very best to the place where the glory of God resided. If God was to be placed first in the lives of the people, he wanted to make certain that they were not merely giving to Him their leftovers. The Lord was worthy of their very best.
A beautiful thing occurred at this point. While the workers were repairing the temple, Hilkiah the priest found a scroll that had been hidden in the temple unbeknownst to anyone. It was given to Shaphan, the secretary of the king, who in turn read it to Josiah. When Josiah heard the Book of the Covenant read, he was cut to the heart. He tore his royal garments as a sign of mourning for the sins of his predecessors against the Lord. The king new that the Lord would be true to the pronounced curses that He would enact against the rebellious behavior of the covenant community. The king immediately sent the priest to the prophetess, Huldah, to inquire of the Lord if His judgment would be enacted during Josiah's reign. The prophetess in turn declared that God's righteous wrath would be poured out upon the kingdom, but not during Josiah's reign, for his heart had been responsive and humble when he heard the Book of the Law.
When the king received this word of reprieve, he went to the temple of the Lord and summoned all of his subjects, from the least to the greatest, to follow him there. As he had the Book of the Covenant re-read to the people, the king renewed his commitment to the covenant stipulations found in the Scriptures, and he had everyone in his kingdom pledge to be obedient to the law of the LORD.
The 26-year-old king then renewed the celebration of the Passover, remembering God's faithful deliverance of His covenant people from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. Scripture records that "the Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah" (2 Chronicles 35:18). The king knew of the importance of this celebration as an expression of thanksgiving for the sole provision of God in bringing deliverance for His people, and he took great measures to assure that his kingdom honored God because of His goodness to His people.
Although Josiah would live only to the age of 39, he ended up accomplishing more for the kingdom of God than most of the kings before or after him. Scripture in fact records that Josiah, "turned to the Lord . . . with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses." Despite his young age, Josiah knew that he still had a responsibility to be obedient to the Lord, and God used the king's faithfulness to bring revival to the people of Judah.
Remember, one is never too young to make a significant impact for the Lord and His kingdom. We must remember that our ability to accomplish anything for the Lord is birthed and empowered by the Holy Spirit who resides within the true believer of Christ. When we are yielded to Him as Lord and seek to obey His commands, we will find that the Lord will work through us to fulfill His will in us, no matter what our age may be.
Josiah is a king that teaches us that we are never too young to make an impact for the kingdom of God. Despite being born to a wicked father (King Amon), Josiah would not follow the ways of his predecessor, but would seek to obey the Lord. Josiah was just eight when he was declared king of Judah; his father had been assassinated at the hands of the royal officials, and the people of the land responded by the coronation of the young Josiah as their next king.
Scripture records that when Josiah was just 16, "while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David." By the time he was 20 he purged his kingdom of all the pagan idols and altars that his forefathers had built to defy the worship of the One True God. The description of this "purging" is rather graphic; words/phrases like "smash," "scatter," "cut to pieces," and "crush to powder" are used in Scripture to describe the way in which the idols were destroyed. I believe that such verbiage is used to let us know that Josiah was not half-hearted in his determination to rid his people of such spiritual filth. He demonstratively obliterated anything that would be used to circumvent his people's hearts from worshipping and obeying the Lord
exclusively. There was passion and strong conviction in the king as he resolved to serve God alone.
When he was 26, Josiah ordered that the temple of the Lord be repaired; he desired for his people to give of their very best to the place where the glory of God resided. If God was to be placed first in the lives of the people, he wanted to make certain that they were not merely giving to Him their leftovers. The Lord was worthy of their very best.
A beautiful thing occurred at this point. While the workers were repairing the temple, Hilkiah the priest found a scroll that had been hidden in the temple unbeknownst to anyone. It was given to Shaphan, the secretary of the king, who in turn read it to Josiah. When Josiah heard the Book of the Covenant read, he was cut to the heart. He tore his royal garments as a sign of mourning for the sins of his predecessors against the Lord. The king new that the Lord would be true to the pronounced curses that He would enact against the rebellious behavior of the covenant community. The king immediately sent the priest to the prophetess, Huldah, to inquire of the Lord if His judgment would be enacted during Josiah's reign. The prophetess in turn declared that God's righteous wrath would be poured out upon the kingdom, but not during Josiah's reign, for his heart had been responsive and humble when he heard the Book of the Law.
When the king received this word of reprieve, he went to the temple of the Lord and summoned all of his subjects, from the least to the greatest, to follow him there. As he had the Book of the Covenant re-read to the people, the king renewed his commitment to the covenant stipulations found in the Scriptures, and he had everyone in his kingdom pledge to be obedient to the law of the LORD.
The 26-year-old king then renewed the celebration of the Passover, remembering God's faithful deliverance of His covenant people from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. Scripture records that "the Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah" (2 Chronicles 35:18). The king knew of the importance of this celebration as an expression of thanksgiving for the sole provision of God in bringing deliverance for His people, and he took great measures to assure that his kingdom honored God because of His goodness to His people.
Although Josiah would live only to the age of 39, he ended up accomplishing more for the kingdom of God than most of the kings before or after him. Scripture in fact records that Josiah, "turned to the Lord . . . with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses." Despite his young age, Josiah knew that he still had a responsibility to be obedient to the Lord, and God used the king's faithfulness to bring revival to the people of Judah.
Remember, one is never too young to make a significant impact for the Lord and His kingdom. We must remember that our ability to accomplish anything for the Lord is birthed and empowered by the Holy Spirit who resides within the true believer of Christ. When we are yielded to Him as Lord and seek to obey His commands, we will find that the Lord will work through us to fulfill His will in us, no matter what our age may be.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Wisdom Vs. Folly
Proverbs 9:1-6; 13-18:
"Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city. 'Let all who are simple come in here!' She says to those who lack judgment, 'Come, eat my food and drink my wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding' . . . . The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits at the door of her house on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. 'Let all who are simple come in here!' she says to those who lack judgment."
In order that the writer of Proverbs 9 (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) might teach us the difference between wisdom and folly, he decides to personify these two dispositions.
The first to be mentioned is wisdom. She has a ministerial mindset to bless others, and she takes great care to prepare her house for those who would enter. She is disciplined in her preparation as she desires to delight those who would join her in her feast of blessing. She is not selfishly seeking an advantage over others but is looking to serve others. She proclaims at the highest point of the city for all to join; there is no restriction on who are invited to celebrate with her. The call for the simple (i.e. those who are empty-minded and thus prone to sin) is to provide opportunity to feast upon the treasures of her instruction. Wisdom knows that the simple will be blessed by their heeding of her savory morsels of truth.
What is necessary from the simpleminded man is to make the conscious decision to leave the dark, dingy streets of foolishness and enter through the threshold of Wisdom's beautiful home; she has the choicest feast prepared for those who would join her.
Folly also calls out for those on the streets of life. Although she selfishly has sought a house of prominence at the highest point in the city, she is undisciplined, unwise, and selfishly predatory. She is not motivated by principle but by opportunity. Rather than blessing others by preparing a feast of wisdom for her guests, she lazily sits at the door of her house, looking for a wayward victim to come her way. She knows no shame, for in her mind the end justifies the means. If others are hurt through her manipulation, so be it . . . as long as she benefits from their misfortune. Her house is set at the highest point of the city for she egocentrically craves to be above all others, and she uses her heightened position to lure others into her abode.
She also attempts to lure those who pass by with sensual things (see Prov. 9:17); she will pull out all of the stops to draw people through her doors. Tragically, there are many who walk by her door, and most will stop to hear her enticing solicitations. For those who consent to her wishes and walk through her threshold, she selfishly will feed on their misery; in the end she will bring disillusionment and death to them (9:18).
There is a great word of instruction for us as we reflect upon this personified story, namely that we all will hear the callings of wisdom and folly as we traverse the streets of life. We must remember that wisdom is the lover of our soul, and we know that Our Lord dwells within her midst. If we respond to her, we will be blessed in every way . . . for wisdom seeks our best; and we know that our best is a life surrendered to the Lordship of Christ.
Folly on the other hand will use us and ultimately destroy us. The blessing of the Lord is not found within her walls, for under her roof lies disobedience to the Sovereign Lord and His commands.
If we know that the fear (reverential respect) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7), we would do well to first find Him and reverently surrender to Him. He will lead us through the doors of wisdom's delight, and we will never later regret the decision to dine at her table.
"Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city. 'Let all who are simple come in here!' She says to those who lack judgment, 'Come, eat my food and drink my wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding' . . . . The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits at the door of her house on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. 'Let all who are simple come in here!' she says to those who lack judgment."
In order that the writer of Proverbs 9 (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) might teach us the difference between wisdom and folly, he decides to personify these two dispositions.
The first to be mentioned is wisdom. She has a ministerial mindset to bless others, and she takes great care to prepare her house for those who would enter. She is disciplined in her preparation as she desires to delight those who would join her in her feast of blessing. She is not selfishly seeking an advantage over others but is looking to serve others. She proclaims at the highest point of the city for all to join; there is no restriction on who are invited to celebrate with her. The call for the simple (i.e. those who are empty-minded and thus prone to sin) is to provide opportunity to feast upon the treasures of her instruction. Wisdom knows that the simple will be blessed by their heeding of her savory morsels of truth.
What is necessary from the simpleminded man is to make the conscious decision to leave the dark, dingy streets of foolishness and enter through the threshold of Wisdom's beautiful home; she has the choicest feast prepared for those who would join her.
Folly also calls out for those on the streets of life. Although she selfishly has sought a house of prominence at the highest point in the city, she is undisciplined, unwise, and selfishly predatory. She is not motivated by principle but by opportunity. Rather than blessing others by preparing a feast of wisdom for her guests, she lazily sits at the door of her house, looking for a wayward victim to come her way. She knows no shame, for in her mind the end justifies the means. If others are hurt through her manipulation, so be it . . . as long as she benefits from their misfortune. Her house is set at the highest point of the city for she egocentrically craves to be above all others, and she uses her heightened position to lure others into her abode.
She also attempts to lure those who pass by with sensual things (see Prov. 9:17); she will pull out all of the stops to draw people through her doors. Tragically, there are many who walk by her door, and most will stop to hear her enticing solicitations. For those who consent to her wishes and walk through her threshold, she selfishly will feed on their misery; in the end she will bring disillusionment and death to them (9:18).
There is a great word of instruction for us as we reflect upon this personified story, namely that we all will hear the callings of wisdom and folly as we traverse the streets of life. We must remember that wisdom is the lover of our soul, and we know that Our Lord dwells within her midst. If we respond to her, we will be blessed in every way . . . for wisdom seeks our best; and we know that our best is a life surrendered to the Lordship of Christ.
Folly on the other hand will use us and ultimately destroy us. The blessing of the Lord is not found within her walls, for under her roof lies disobedience to the Sovereign Lord and His commands.
If we know that the fear (reverential respect) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7), we would do well to first find Him and reverently surrender to Him. He will lead us through the doors of wisdom's delight, and we will never later regret the decision to dine at her table.
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