2 Chronicles 3:17: "He (Solomon) erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz."
There is a beauty even in the naming of the pillars of Solomon's temple, for the pillars in effect guarded the entrance way into the very presence of the Holy God. Once Solomon had constructed the temple (taking seven years to do so [see 1 Kings 6:38]) and had presented a prayer of dedication, "fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple." Although God was not restricted to specific places to receive the worship and sacrifice of man, He chose this temple as a place for His covenant people to worship Him (see 2 Chron. 7:12). God offered Himself to His people, and they were permitted to come into His presence with offerings for sin and offerings for thanksgiving for His goodness to them.
As one faced the entrance to the temple, the pillar to the left was named Jakin, which means "He shall establish." The pillar to the right was named Boaz, which means "In His strength." It seems that God desired for the place where the people would make sacrifice for the atonement of their sins be symbolically guarded by two supports which would remind the people that a holy God establishes His accessibility (afforded through His grace) through His strength alone.
Of course, God too gave stern warning to His people that if they turned away from their surrendered obedience and devotion to the Lord that He would uproot them, reject their temple that had been crafted, and would make His people an object of ridicule and their worship place a heap of rubble (see 2 Chron. 7:19-21). Sadly, the Israelites would do the very thing that the Lord warned them of, and He sent the invading Babylonians into the land. They destroyed the temple, taking the very pillars and the other precious articles of the temple away to Babylon (see Jeremiah 52:17, 2 Kings 25:13).
This is a good word for us, for we know that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). So also, we as the Church are collectively the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). We celebrate that it is solely through the strength of God that He has established our redemption; namely, it was through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ that we were afforded the hope of accessibility to a Holy God, where we are privileged to offer our worship, our sacrifice, and our thanksgiving.
Still, we know that our God is not duplicitous. Just as He rejected His covenant people for their wayward rebellion, so too our God will reject our worship of Him, if we choose to worship other people or things more than the One True Lord. God has established a covenant bond with us through the cross, but He will not permit His holiness to be treated with contempt, through our rebellion/disobedience. So let us not collectively as the Church or individually as dwelling places for His Spirit treat such a privilege with contempt, that it would bring the judgment of God upon ourselves.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Living Water
John 4:10: Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.'"
As one reads through the fourth chapter of John, one is taken back by the powerful exchange that Jesus would have with a Samaritan woman. Previously, at the beginning of the chapter, one finds that the Pharisees received news that Jesus' disciples were baptizing more people than John's disciples. To be sure this would have been news that would have caught the attention of the religious leaders, for John already had seen a tremendous response of people in the region to his baptizing and calling to repentance.
The Pharisees knew that Jesus was a great teacher who had come from God, for they knew that "no one could perform the miraculous signs . . . if God were not with him" (John 3:2). Jesus then left the area and returned to Galilee. Although there is no explanation of why Jesus quickly left Judea, I believe that Jesus did not want His ministry to bring exaltation to Himself, outside the calling and will of the Father who sent Him. In fact, Jesus later shared with His disciples that His "food" was "to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work" (4:34).
On His way to Galilee, the Scripture says that Jesus "had to go to Samaria" (4:4). Even though Jews did not associate the Samaritans on account of their centuries of intermarrying with non-Jewish people (even refusing to traverse the ground on which the Samaritans lived), Jesus determined to go right through the region. It was important for Jesus to demonstrate to His disciples that His salvation was not restricted to the Jewish people alone; it was for all people. During the trip, He became tired and stopped to rest at the watering hole known to be the great patriarch's (Jacob's) well in the land near Shechem. It was here that Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman with quite a checkered past. She had been married on five previous occasions and the man with whom she now lived was not her husband. The woman was quite taken back at the initiative of Jesus in talking with her, for she knew of the disdain that the Jewish people had for the Samaritans. But Jesus was determined to share with her the hope of salvation through the Living Water (Jesus Himself).
The woman did not see the significance of Jesus' statement about His providing Water to her, for she lapsed into the pragmatism of how He would get the water drawn from the well. Apparently, she expected Jesus to have His own jar or pot to draw the water and questioned Jesus' petition given His lack of supplies. She too questioned Jesus' boldness to offer Living Water, which appeared to be a statement of superiority even to the patriarch in whose name the well had been known well over a thousand years.
Jesus was not deterred in His Word to the Samaritan woman. He exclaimed that the water from Jacob's well would not bring lasting relief; however, the Water that He was able to give her would satisfy her forever. This Water was from a "spring, welling up to eternal life." The woman was intrigued. In a rather blunt exchange, she said, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." Knowing that the woman was responsive to His initiatory calling to receive His Water, Jesus then addressed her sin problem. He knew that she had lived a wayward life, having been in and out of a number of relationships and most recently living with a man who was not her husband. So, when she denied that she had a husband, Jesus challenged her denial by sharing her past with her. The woman perceived Jesus to be a prophet, but He told her that salvation was coming through the Jews, and the promised Messiah was in fact He! Jesus would be the one that true worshippers would worship in spirit and in truth. He was the One in whom people would find the Water that would bring eternal life
The woman went back to the town in haste and shared with the people that Jesus had recounted her past, and she asked "Could this be the Christ?" Many of the townspeople returned to the place where Jesus was and a number of them put their faith in Him. The woman's testimony sparked an interest to the point that the people responded by seeking out this proclaimed Messiah, and when the people heard for themselves the gospel (good news) of Jesus, they believed that Jesus was indeed the Savior of the world.
This is a good word for us today. In the midst of "living water substitutes" (i.e. false religions and philosophies) that are not the way to salvation, Jesus Christ Himself has come into the world to bring the true Living Water of God's grace to those who yearn to be quenched by it. He is the source of eternal life, for it is His death and resurrection that provides the atonement for our sins. What we must do is respond like the Samaritan woman and those within her community. We must believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world. We must confess our sins against Him, and we must receive His gift of mercy offered through His own death and resurrection. We too must surrender our lives to His rightful reign over us. By this, we receive the gift of God's pardon and adoption, and we are granted eternal life. It is then that the thirst of our souls is quenched forever. Thanks be to God for His Living Water!
As one reads through the fourth chapter of John, one is taken back by the powerful exchange that Jesus would have with a Samaritan woman. Previously, at the beginning of the chapter, one finds that the Pharisees received news that Jesus' disciples were baptizing more people than John's disciples. To be sure this would have been news that would have caught the attention of the religious leaders, for John already had seen a tremendous response of people in the region to his baptizing and calling to repentance.
The Pharisees knew that Jesus was a great teacher who had come from God, for they knew that "no one could perform the miraculous signs . . . if God were not with him" (John 3:2). Jesus then left the area and returned to Galilee. Although there is no explanation of why Jesus quickly left Judea, I believe that Jesus did not want His ministry to bring exaltation to Himself, outside the calling and will of the Father who sent Him. In fact, Jesus later shared with His disciples that His "food" was "to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work" (4:34).
On His way to Galilee, the Scripture says that Jesus "had to go to Samaria" (4:4). Even though Jews did not associate the Samaritans on account of their centuries of intermarrying with non-Jewish people (even refusing to traverse the ground on which the Samaritans lived), Jesus determined to go right through the region. It was important for Jesus to demonstrate to His disciples that His salvation was not restricted to the Jewish people alone; it was for all people. During the trip, He became tired and stopped to rest at the watering hole known to be the great patriarch's (Jacob's) well in the land near Shechem. It was here that Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman with quite a checkered past. She had been married on five previous occasions and the man with whom she now lived was not her husband. The woman was quite taken back at the initiative of Jesus in talking with her, for she knew of the disdain that the Jewish people had for the Samaritans. But Jesus was determined to share with her the hope of salvation through the Living Water (Jesus Himself).
The woman did not see the significance of Jesus' statement about His providing Water to her, for she lapsed into the pragmatism of how He would get the water drawn from the well. Apparently, she expected Jesus to have His own jar or pot to draw the water and questioned Jesus' petition given His lack of supplies. She too questioned Jesus' boldness to offer Living Water, which appeared to be a statement of superiority even to the patriarch in whose name the well had been known well over a thousand years.
Jesus was not deterred in His Word to the Samaritan woman. He exclaimed that the water from Jacob's well would not bring lasting relief; however, the Water that He was able to give her would satisfy her forever. This Water was from a "spring, welling up to eternal life." The woman was intrigued. In a rather blunt exchange, she said, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." Knowing that the woman was responsive to His initiatory calling to receive His Water, Jesus then addressed her sin problem. He knew that she had lived a wayward life, having been in and out of a number of relationships and most recently living with a man who was not her husband. So, when she denied that she had a husband, Jesus challenged her denial by sharing her past with her. The woman perceived Jesus to be a prophet, but He told her that salvation was coming through the Jews, and the promised Messiah was in fact He! Jesus would be the one that true worshippers would worship in spirit and in truth. He was the One in whom people would find the Water that would bring eternal life
The woman went back to the town in haste and shared with the people that Jesus had recounted her past, and she asked "Could this be the Christ?" Many of the townspeople returned to the place where Jesus was and a number of them put their faith in Him. The woman's testimony sparked an interest to the point that the people responded by seeking out this proclaimed Messiah, and when the people heard for themselves the gospel (good news) of Jesus, they believed that Jesus was indeed the Savior of the world.
This is a good word for us today. In the midst of "living water substitutes" (i.e. false religions and philosophies) that are not the way to salvation, Jesus Christ Himself has come into the world to bring the true Living Water of God's grace to those who yearn to be quenched by it. He is the source of eternal life, for it is His death and resurrection that provides the atonement for our sins. What we must do is respond like the Samaritan woman and those within her community. We must believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world. We must confess our sins against Him, and we must receive His gift of mercy offered through His own death and resurrection. We too must surrender our lives to His rightful reign over us. By this, we receive the gift of God's pardon and adoption, and we are granted eternal life. It is then that the thirst of our souls is quenched forever. Thanks be to God for His Living Water!
Monday, April 27, 2015
Trusting in God
Habakkuk 3:17-19: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."
Habakkuk lived during a time just prior to the Babylonian invasion of the region of Palestine (ca. 608BC). He had seen his fellow Israelites live in such brazen rebellion to the LORD, and yet to that point they seemed to thrive in the midst of their disobedience. Habakkuk was quite transparent in asking God how long before He would respond to the violence and wickedness of His people. Interestingly, God gave an answer to Habakkuk, though the answer did not necessarily address all of the points that Habakkuk was presenting. Still, God did answer Habakkuk with the assurance that He was in control and that He would deal with the wickedness of the Israelites through an invading nation (Babylon) that would be quite ruthless in their dealings with the people.
When Habakkuk heard the response of the Lord, he registered another concern as to why God would permit a wicked, pagan nation to prevail over God's people. To Habakkuk, it did not seem right that God's people, though deserving of judgment, should have to endure such harsh treatment at the hands of an even more debased nation like the Babylonians.
Again, God responded to the inquiry. The Lord knew of the wickedness of Babylon, for in His response to Habakkuk, the Lord declared a number of "woes" against them for their rebellion. He called out the Babylonians' greed, their desire to dominate, their atrocities of bloodshed and crime, their debauchery, and their idolatry. God wanted Habakkuk to understand that the Babylonians were not immune from God's wrath; they simply were the instruments that God would use to bring judgment upon Israel. In due time judgment would befall Babylon as well.
It was then that Habakkuk entered into a prayerful spirit of worship. He exclaimed that he was in awe of God's workings, and he petitioned the Lord to show mercy in the midst of judgment. Habakkuk too recounted the history of God's involvement with His people though the centuries. Habakkuk remembered the days of the exodus from Egypt when God displayed His might over the oppressors of His people. Habakkuk too remembered how God was faithful to deliver the Israelites from the Cushites and the Midianites . . . people whom God used to bring judgment against the Israelites only later to bring deliverance from them through His appointed judges. And it was in Habakkuk's remembrance of God's ways in the past that he was able to trust that God would be faithful again in the present. This is why Habakkuk proclaimed that He would rejoice in the covenant God who was determined to save His people. Habakkuk trusted in the sovereignty of God . . . that He was working out His plans in what otherwise seemed to be unsettling and out of control. Habakkuk was reassured that the LORD would be his strength and would help him reach grander heights than might otherwise be quite treacherous.
This is a good word for us today. How often are we perplexed by the uncertainty of events that are before us. When the winds of dismay blow against us, are we not often led to fear and disillusionment, wondering why God is permitting such events to unfold before us? In fact, we can become so despondent that we begin to question the goodness of God . . . or worse, even the existence of God. God certainly is big enough to handle our pleas for answers; still, He wants us to know that He is the same God that delivered His people in the past. Nothing catches Him by surprise or frustrates His purposes. We can trust in His strength, and through our faith, reach places that we otherwise might never have imagined we could reach . . . in His timing, through His power, and for His glory.
Habakkuk lived during a time just prior to the Babylonian invasion of the region of Palestine (ca. 608BC). He had seen his fellow Israelites live in such brazen rebellion to the LORD, and yet to that point they seemed to thrive in the midst of their disobedience. Habakkuk was quite transparent in asking God how long before He would respond to the violence and wickedness of His people. Interestingly, God gave an answer to Habakkuk, though the answer did not necessarily address all of the points that Habakkuk was presenting. Still, God did answer Habakkuk with the assurance that He was in control and that He would deal with the wickedness of the Israelites through an invading nation (Babylon) that would be quite ruthless in their dealings with the people.
When Habakkuk heard the response of the Lord, he registered another concern as to why God would permit a wicked, pagan nation to prevail over God's people. To Habakkuk, it did not seem right that God's people, though deserving of judgment, should have to endure such harsh treatment at the hands of an even more debased nation like the Babylonians.
Again, God responded to the inquiry. The Lord knew of the wickedness of Babylon, for in His response to Habakkuk, the Lord declared a number of "woes" against them for their rebellion. He called out the Babylonians' greed, their desire to dominate, their atrocities of bloodshed and crime, their debauchery, and their idolatry. God wanted Habakkuk to understand that the Babylonians were not immune from God's wrath; they simply were the instruments that God would use to bring judgment upon Israel. In due time judgment would befall Babylon as well.
It was then that Habakkuk entered into a prayerful spirit of worship. He exclaimed that he was in awe of God's workings, and he petitioned the Lord to show mercy in the midst of judgment. Habakkuk too recounted the history of God's involvement with His people though the centuries. Habakkuk remembered the days of the exodus from Egypt when God displayed His might over the oppressors of His people. Habakkuk too remembered how God was faithful to deliver the Israelites from the Cushites and the Midianites . . . people whom God used to bring judgment against the Israelites only later to bring deliverance from them through His appointed judges. And it was in Habakkuk's remembrance of God's ways in the past that he was able to trust that God would be faithful again in the present. This is why Habakkuk proclaimed that He would rejoice in the covenant God who was determined to save His people. Habakkuk trusted in the sovereignty of God . . . that He was working out His plans in what otherwise seemed to be unsettling and out of control. Habakkuk was reassured that the LORD would be his strength and would help him reach grander heights than might otherwise be quite treacherous.
This is a good word for us today. How often are we perplexed by the uncertainty of events that are before us. When the winds of dismay blow against us, are we not often led to fear and disillusionment, wondering why God is permitting such events to unfold before us? In fact, we can become so despondent that we begin to question the goodness of God . . . or worse, even the existence of God. God certainly is big enough to handle our pleas for answers; still, He wants us to know that He is the same God that delivered His people in the past. Nothing catches Him by surprise or frustrates His purposes. We can trust in His strength, and through our faith, reach places that we otherwise might never have imagined we could reach . . . in His timing, through His power, and for His glory.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Effective Leadership
I Chronicles 29:20: "Then David said to the whole assembly, 'Praise the LORD your God.'"
Reading through the final chapter of I Chronicles presents some insightful ingredients of effective leadership, demonstrated by King David just prior to his death. To be sure, David previously had great expectations of building the temple of the Lord, but the LORD came to the king and told him that he would not be the one to build the place of worship. Instead, the calling to lead the people in the constructive efforts would be David's young and inexperienced son, Solomon (I Chronicles 22).
Rather than becoming distraught that God was not commissioning him to the task that he desired to fulfill, David prepared for the appropriate transition in such a way that the will of God would be accomplished smoothly. David did not sulk in self-pity and misery at lost opportunity; instead, he saw that the purposes of God were bigger than himself (even though he was the king of Israel), and he simply wanted to be an instrument used of the Lord, no matter to what degree he was involved.
In I Chronicles 29, we find some wonderful ingredients of effective leadership by the King:
1. Leadership transparency: First, David shared with the whole assembly that his Son, was "young and inexperienced." David knew that the people would need to rally around the new king, and they would need to support him in the task to which God had called him. David didn't masquerade his son as something that he wasn't. He was honest and forthright with the people.
2. A recognition that the calling of God was a great one: Any calling of God is of tremendous importance and therefore is worthy of our greatest efforts. David did not discount the calling or trivialize it as just another activity in the people's lives. This calling was of utmost importance.
3. A clear understanding of the purpose: David knew that the temple was being constructed for God's glory. It was not for a spectacular presentation of such grandeur that the people should swell up with pride. Rather, it was for God and God alone.
4. A willingness to use his own resources: Not only did David use the national treasuries for the construction of the temple, but he also used his own personal resources for the work of the Lord.
5. The king was devoted: In I Chronicles 29:3, David states that he was devoted to this cause. He might not be the one in charge of building the temple, but he certainly was devoted to the preparations necessary to get the people ready for its construction.
6. The king rallied the people: David summoned the people and asked, "Who is willing to consecrate himself today to the LORD?" Leadership necessitates not only mobilization but also motivation.
7. The king intentionally set aside a time for corporate prayer: David recognized that all that was being done was for God. It was important that the people would remember that God was the only One to be glorified. Therefore, David prays a prayer to God and celebrates God because He is great, He is LORD, He is everlasting, He is omnipotent, He is glorious, He is majestic, He is splendid, He is Sovereign, He is Ruler, and He is Strength. With this mindset, David could not help but be thankful to God for all of His goodness to the people of Israel.
8. David recognized that everything came from God: He wanted it to be known that the generous gifts given by the people were in fact only possible because God Himself had been gracious to His people in providing the blessings to them.
9. David understood that God tests the heart and is pleased with integrity: Just as David himself was tested with the denial of building the temple, so too he wanted the people to understand that times of testing would come from God to see what was in the people's hearts. Would they trust God? Would they follow Him even in the difficult times?
10. David expressed joy at seeing the people respond to "the cause": David was not self-consumed, being more interested in his own legacy or accomplishments. He genuinely loved the people and celebrated the collaborative efforts of all the people.
11. David loved the people: The king prayed to God pleading that He would keep the people engaged in the passionate desire of giving and loyalty. Again, the king was not disinterested in his subjects; rather, he was deeply concerned for them and wanted them to reach their fullest potential.
12. David directly called the people to praise God: Again, the king wanted the people never to lose sight of the important fact that everything that was being done was not for themselves but for God.
As leaders, called by God to His service and for His glory, let us not soon forget these principles of effective leadership; for by attuning out hearts to them and faithfully following them, we will be the effective leaders that our Lord has called us to be.
As leaders, called by God to His service and for His glory, let us not soon forget these principles of effective leadership; for by attuning out hearts to them and faithfully following them, we will be the effective leaders that our Lord has called us to be.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Living a Worthy Life
Ephesians 4:1-3: "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
Paul's letter to the Church at Ephesus was written during a time when he was imprisoned in Rome. He previously had lived among these Ephesian Christian brothers and sisters for several years, and now Paul was following up with them with a letter, delivered by Tychicus, as a word of encouragement for them to stay the course of obedience in their faith.
As I read through these first verses of the fourth chapter of Ephesians, several things come to mind. First, the Greek sentence structure suggests that the words "I urge" are very emphatic. Paul wants to communicate strongly his pleading that the believers at Ephesus take to heart his charge to them. This instruction is given to the believers in view of their being called by God to salvation (1:5), thus being lavished with all wisdom and understanding (1:8), and being granted the hope of the riches of God's glorious inheritance for the saints (1:18). And for these reasons, Paul wants to quicken the attention of his readers to take serious note of the words that he is about to share.
Secondly, Paul identifies himself as a "prisoner for the Lord." He is not merely giving his own personal beliefs or convictions about the matter; rather, he is heralding the directive will of the Lord Almighty, even though previously such proclamations often brought suffering and persecution to the messenger (see 2 Timothy 1:11-12). Paul knew how important it was to reveal to everyone the truth of God's Word, so that they might experience the blessing of His favor for their faithful fulfillment of His requirements.
Thirdly, we find that Paul charged the people to "live a life worthy of the calling [they] had received." The "calling" was everything for his readers in Ephesus. The fact that God so loved them that He offered His one and only Son as the payment for the sin in their lives, so that they might receive His righteousness and His eternal favor and blessing, was motivation enough for them to strive to be all that they might be for their Lord. The word for "worthy" suggests balancing the scales. There is absolutely no way they could ever balance the score card with God. But through the death and resurrection of Jesus they were absolved completely of the judgment for their sins, giving them the honor of living out their lives as an expression of their deepest gratitude for His imputed righteousness and His imparted Holy Spirit, who was a "deposit, guaranteeing [their] inheritance" (Ephesians 1:14, 2 Cor. 1:22).
Paul, the pragmatist, wanted the believers at Ephesians to have examples of how they could live the "worthy life." First he called them to be completely humble. Humility suggests lowliness and meekness. This does not mean that one has no value, but it does mean that one realizes that his purpose is not about himself but his Righteous King. When one capitulates to God's will and His leading in his life, he is presenting a thank offering to the Lord in response to the grace already imparted to him.
So too, Paul called the Ephesian believers to be gentle, patient, and willing to bear with one another. The word for "patient" suggests a reluctance to avenge wrongs . . . willing to endure the frustrations that come one's way from those in their lives. And the word for "bearing" literally means "holding up." Thus, Paul wanted the people to love everyone (even those who may be prone to irritate them) and hold others up in view of the love that had been given to them in Christ Jesus. Paul, continued by imploring the believers to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." The word for making every effort is the word used of a gladiator striving for victory. Paul wanted them to have a strong determination even in difficulties to labor for peace, harmony, and unity. He knew that if they grasped the reality that they had been given everything in Christ, they would be able to be at peace no matter the circumstance.
These words are good for us to hear today. We know that cannot receive the favor and forgiveness of God by our actions; this is why Jesus had to come. But in view of what we truly deserve (namely God's fullest pouring out of wrath upon us for all eternity) and what we have received instead (pardon, adoption, the blessing of His eternal presence, the indwelling of His Spirit within us . . . ), we should live our lives in such a way that we worship Him through our obedience. We would do well to reflect upon the tangible ways that Paul shares in these verses, so that we can live lives worthy of our calling. Are we completely humble and gentle with others? Are we striving for patience with them, even if they don't meet our timely expectations? Are we holding up others in love and striving to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace? Interestingly, the Greek word Paul uses for "live" is the word for "walking around." In other words, in every facet of our lives, we should be "walking around" bringing glory to God by doing the very things that have been given explicitly to us to follow. Again, we do this because in Christ we already have been declared "worthy" if we have put our faith in Him and surrendered ourselves to His Lordship. So let's be a people who love others and in so doing, live our lives worthy of the calling that we have received.
Paul's letter to the Church at Ephesus was written during a time when he was imprisoned in Rome. He previously had lived among these Ephesian Christian brothers and sisters for several years, and now Paul was following up with them with a letter, delivered by Tychicus, as a word of encouragement for them to stay the course of obedience in their faith.
As I read through these first verses of the fourth chapter of Ephesians, several things come to mind. First, the Greek sentence structure suggests that the words "I urge" are very emphatic. Paul wants to communicate strongly his pleading that the believers at Ephesus take to heart his charge to them. This instruction is given to the believers in view of their being called by God to salvation (1:5), thus being lavished with all wisdom and understanding (1:8), and being granted the hope of the riches of God's glorious inheritance for the saints (1:18). And for these reasons, Paul wants to quicken the attention of his readers to take serious note of the words that he is about to share.
Secondly, Paul identifies himself as a "prisoner for the Lord." He is not merely giving his own personal beliefs or convictions about the matter; rather, he is heralding the directive will of the Lord Almighty, even though previously such proclamations often brought suffering and persecution to the messenger (see 2 Timothy 1:11-12). Paul knew how important it was to reveal to everyone the truth of God's Word, so that they might experience the blessing of His favor for their faithful fulfillment of His requirements.
Thirdly, we find that Paul charged the people to "live a life worthy of the calling [they] had received." The "calling" was everything for his readers in Ephesus. The fact that God so loved them that He offered His one and only Son as the payment for the sin in their lives, so that they might receive His righteousness and His eternal favor and blessing, was motivation enough for them to strive to be all that they might be for their Lord. The word for "worthy" suggests balancing the scales. There is absolutely no way they could ever balance the score card with God. But through the death and resurrection of Jesus they were absolved completely of the judgment for their sins, giving them the honor of living out their lives as an expression of their deepest gratitude for His imputed righteousness and His imparted Holy Spirit, who was a "deposit, guaranteeing [their] inheritance" (Ephesians 1:14, 2 Cor. 1:22).
Paul, the pragmatist, wanted the believers at Ephesians to have examples of how they could live the "worthy life." First he called them to be completely humble. Humility suggests lowliness and meekness. This does not mean that one has no value, but it does mean that one realizes that his purpose is not about himself but his Righteous King. When one capitulates to God's will and His leading in his life, he is presenting a thank offering to the Lord in response to the grace already imparted to him.
So too, Paul called the Ephesian believers to be gentle, patient, and willing to bear with one another. The word for "patient" suggests a reluctance to avenge wrongs . . . willing to endure the frustrations that come one's way from those in their lives. And the word for "bearing" literally means "holding up." Thus, Paul wanted the people to love everyone (even those who may be prone to irritate them) and hold others up in view of the love that had been given to them in Christ Jesus. Paul, continued by imploring the believers to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." The word for making every effort is the word used of a gladiator striving for victory. Paul wanted them to have a strong determination even in difficulties to labor for peace, harmony, and unity. He knew that if they grasped the reality that they had been given everything in Christ, they would be able to be at peace no matter the circumstance.
These words are good for us to hear today. We know that cannot receive the favor and forgiveness of God by our actions; this is why Jesus had to come. But in view of what we truly deserve (namely God's fullest pouring out of wrath upon us for all eternity) and what we have received instead (pardon, adoption, the blessing of His eternal presence, the indwelling of His Spirit within us . . . ), we should live our lives in such a way that we worship Him through our obedience. We would do well to reflect upon the tangible ways that Paul shares in these verses, so that we can live lives worthy of our calling. Are we completely humble and gentle with others? Are we striving for patience with them, even if they don't meet our timely expectations? Are we holding up others in love and striving to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace? Interestingly, the Greek word Paul uses for "live" is the word for "walking around." In other words, in every facet of our lives, we should be "walking around" bringing glory to God by doing the very things that have been given explicitly to us to follow. Again, we do this because in Christ we already have been declared "worthy" if we have put our faith in Him and surrendered ourselves to His Lordship. So let's be a people who love others and in so doing, live our lives worthy of the calling that we have received.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
The Loss of Community
Daniel 9:4: "I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: 'O LORD, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our father, and to all the people of the land.'"
Oftentimes, when pastors have preached through the visionary chapters found in the book of Daniel, their focus has been upon the end-of-times, apocalyptic themes. They have attempted to adapt their sermons to the prophetic undertones found within the text, with the purpose of associating the events prophesied with the modern-day episodes found around us. As much as these themes warrant a time of discussion, I do believe that an equally important revelation found in these chapters is overlooked and as such reveals a tragic reality within the walls of our churches.
When we read through Daniel, we find that this man of God has been introduced through dreams to the magnificence of the Lord and His will for His people. We too find that Daniel becomes acutely aware of the sins that have been committed against the Sovereign One. And as Daniel begins to confess His sins to the Lord, he does not limit his petitions for his own benefit, but He is intentional as he uses plural pronouns in his address, so that his prayers for God's mercy might encompass the entire community of faith. There is a "we're in this together" mindset in the prophet's mind . . . a collective journey of a people who are seeking the pardon and blessing of God. There is no sense of individuality of faith; rather, Daniel sees the importance of a unified, collaborative movement of the Israelites in captivity . . . desiring to see God's deliverance leading to their redemption.
In contrast to Daniel's notion of community, we seem to find within modern, American evangelicalism an embracing of the individualism and consumerism that so pervades our culture. Oh to be sure, we might sing songs exclaiming our oneness in the bonds of love, but our behaviors betray such notions. Little do we commune with each other outside the prescribed meeting times once a week. Seldom do we pray for one another and check on one another throughout the week as our days already are filled with activity to help us fulfill our notions of the American dream. Then we wonder why there is a staleness in our corporate worship . . . why God does not seem to be a part of it . . . and why we feel so disconnected from the very people we consider to be our eternal brothers and sisters.
The apostle Paul addressed such issues in his letter to the church at Ephesus. Specifically, he urged the followers of Christ to life a life "worthy of the calling you have received" (Eph. 4:1). The word for "worthy" in Greek suggests bringing up the other side of a measuring scale. Now, we know that we will never be able to give back to God with full weight of payment for His glorious grace, which cost Him the very death of Jesus Christ. Still, we are to live our lives constantly expressing our gratitude for His lovingkindness made manifest through the cross. The way that Paul suggests that we do that is to be "completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love . . . making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Eph. 2-3).
With these commands in view, let us as a church not fall prey to the self-absorbing enticements of the world; rather, let us love one another. Let us be humble, and receptive, and encouraging, and supportive of one another. By doing so we express to our Lord the desire to live our lives as an expression of our deep appreciation to the Lord for the calling we have received to be His children.
Oftentimes, when pastors have preached through the visionary chapters found in the book of Daniel, their focus has been upon the end-of-times, apocalyptic themes. They have attempted to adapt their sermons to the prophetic undertones found within the text, with the purpose of associating the events prophesied with the modern-day episodes found around us. As much as these themes warrant a time of discussion, I do believe that an equally important revelation found in these chapters is overlooked and as such reveals a tragic reality within the walls of our churches.
When we read through Daniel, we find that this man of God has been introduced through dreams to the magnificence of the Lord and His will for His people. We too find that Daniel becomes acutely aware of the sins that have been committed against the Sovereign One. And as Daniel begins to confess His sins to the Lord, he does not limit his petitions for his own benefit, but He is intentional as he uses plural pronouns in his address, so that his prayers for God's mercy might encompass the entire community of faith. There is a "we're in this together" mindset in the prophet's mind . . . a collective journey of a people who are seeking the pardon and blessing of God. There is no sense of individuality of faith; rather, Daniel sees the importance of a unified, collaborative movement of the Israelites in captivity . . . desiring to see God's deliverance leading to their redemption.
In contrast to Daniel's notion of community, we seem to find within modern, American evangelicalism an embracing of the individualism and consumerism that so pervades our culture. Oh to be sure, we might sing songs exclaiming our oneness in the bonds of love, but our behaviors betray such notions. Little do we commune with each other outside the prescribed meeting times once a week. Seldom do we pray for one another and check on one another throughout the week as our days already are filled with activity to help us fulfill our notions of the American dream. Then we wonder why there is a staleness in our corporate worship . . . why God does not seem to be a part of it . . . and why we feel so disconnected from the very people we consider to be our eternal brothers and sisters.
The apostle Paul addressed such issues in his letter to the church at Ephesus. Specifically, he urged the followers of Christ to life a life "worthy of the calling you have received" (Eph. 4:1). The word for "worthy" in Greek suggests bringing up the other side of a measuring scale. Now, we know that we will never be able to give back to God with full weight of payment for His glorious grace, which cost Him the very death of Jesus Christ. Still, we are to live our lives constantly expressing our gratitude for His lovingkindness made manifest through the cross. The way that Paul suggests that we do that is to be "completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love . . . making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Eph. 2-3).
With these commands in view, let us as a church not fall prey to the self-absorbing enticements of the world; rather, let us love one another. Let us be humble, and receptive, and encouraging, and supportive of one another. By doing so we express to our Lord the desire to live our lives as an expression of our deep appreciation to the Lord for the calling we have received to be His children.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
From the Depths of the Pit
Lamentations 3:55-57: "I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: 'Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.' You came near when I call you, and you said, 'Do not fear.'"
As Jeremiah shared these words from the book of Lamentations, one might conclude that the prophet was reflecting upon the very difficult experiences that he endured for his warnings of God's coming judgment against the wickedness of Judah. To be sure, the leaders of Judah hated the prophet's declarations against their wicked ways and they determined to destroy this man of God for his meddling in their affairs. None of these events came as a surprise to God, for in Jeremiah 1, the Lord commanded the prophet not to be afraid of these men who would fight against him when he shared the Words that God wanted uttered against them (Jeremiahs 1:19). Still, these persecutions were very real and very painful to the prophet, as he expresses to God in Jeremiah 20:
"I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.
Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction.
So the Word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach
all day long . . . . I hear many whispering, 'Terror on every side!
Report him! Let's report him!' All my friends are waiting for me
to slip, saying, 'Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail
over him and take our revenge on him.'"
The listing of persecution against Jeremiah is long and exhausting:
1. As soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets, and all the people seized him and said, "You must die! (Jer 26:8).
2. King Jehoiakim had Jeremiah and his scribe, Baruch, arrested for the words of judgment written on a scroll (Jer. 36:23).
3. Jeremiah was arrested again under the reign of King Zedekiah. The officials of the king were so enraged at the prophet that they had him beaten and imprisoned in a vaulted cell, where he remained for a very long time (Jer. 37:1-15).
4. Later the officials instructed King Zedekiah that Jeremiah should be "put to death." They lowered Jeremiah into a cistern of mud. Their hope was that he would waste away in the dark, dank pit, eventually starving to death (Jer. 38:4-9).
It is in this latter event that Jeremiah recounts his thoughts and feelings in the book of Lamentations. Not only was he lowered into the pit to be left to waste away, but his accusers pummeled him with stones as he stood helpless beneath them. Jeremiah wondered if he was about to perish, and so he called out to God, pleading that the Lord's ears be attune to the prophet's fretful circumstances. And it was just at that time that the LORD called out to His chosen messenger and exclaimed, "Do not fear." God intervened at just the right time to comfort and encourage Jeremiah to press on and be faithful to the calling to which he was assigned. God assured Jeremiah that He was with His prophet. All Jeremiah needed to do was trust his Lord and obey His calling.
This did not mean that Jeremiah from that point on would be immune to the difficulties that he previously faced, for though he eventually was freed from the pit, the prophet later would be taken by army officers against his will to the land of Egypt (Jer. 42-43). God still had before his prophet certain challenges; still, the Lord would not abandon Jeremiah. In Egypt is where the story of the life of Jeremiah ends. It was not a wonderful storybook ending for the prophet; still, it was right where the Lord determined him to be . . . being used for His glory.
This is a good word for us, for we know that in our own lives we face many different and difficult experiences along the way. And though we are not assured that we will be delivered from the calamities that befall us in this life, we are reminded that our Lord is with us in the midst of our circumstances and we too know that He calls out to us not to fear but to trust Him. So when we face the painful trials in our lives, let us do as the prophet Jeremiah did . . . let us cry out to the Lord to hear us and intervene in our circumstances, and let us attune our ears to His response, knowing that He will comfort us in our difficulties and will remind us to press on in our faith and trust in Him.
Monday, March 9, 2015
The Lord is Like an Enemy
Lamentations 2:5: "The LORD is like an enemy; He has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed her strongholds. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for the Daughter of Judah."
Oftentimes, we hear in today's churches an emphasis upon the love, grace, and mercy of God. And to be sure, these are wonderful attributes of our Lord that should be celebrated passionately and frequently. However, no one will ever appreciate the magnitude of God's grace, if he is unwilling to fathom the tremendous judgment of God upon the abhorrent sinful treason of man against God's rightful reign.
In the case of the Israelites of Jeremiah the prophet's day (ca. 598 BC), God had endured enough of their chronic rebellion and wicked behavior to the point that He in fact had become their enemy. From the very beginning of the book of Lamentations, one reads of the Israelites that they
once had been prosperous, but now had become a wasteland
once were esteemed, but now they were enslaved to their enemies
once had been supported, but now they were betrayed
once had been at home, but now they were far away from their homeland
once were at rest, but now they had become restless
once inhabited celebration and ceremony, but now were full of misery and hopelessness.
And as the people wasted away in the horror of their besieging and captivity, they thought of the prior days of glory when God had showered them with blessing and treasure. Once they had been called the "perfection of beauty" and the "joy of the whole earth." Now, the days of their future looked like an abysmal reality of shameful loss and destitution, for the hand of God's favor had been removed from them, and their enemies now had free reign to wield oppression and destruction upon the once favored people of God. God, who once inhabited the sanctuary of His people and received their altar sacrifices, now had withdrawn from them, leaving them to the consequences of their betrayal of surrender to Him as their sovereign Lord. And the greatest tragedy in all of the oppressive aggression of the evil nations around Israel was that God was using these pagan people as the instrument to bring His wrath upon His once chosen people. The graphic nature of the severity of His judgment is recorded in Lam. 2:12:
"They (the children) say to their mothers,
'Where is the bread and wine?'
as they faint like wounded men
in the streets of the city,
as their lives ebb away
in their mother's arms."
God had become the Israelites worst nightmare . . . their greatest enemy.
As difficult as this passage is to read. It is a sobering reminder of the effrontery of sin in the eyes of God. God will judge sin, and the sternness of His judgement is evidenced in the example found in Lamentations. Still, God is rich in grace and mercy. He will forgive us of our sin, if we would repent of our wicked ways, capitulate our selfish pursuits by submitting ourselves to His lordship over us, and receive His gift of His own death and resurrection to satisfy fully His righteous requirements for the atonement of our sin.
So let us not forget from that which we have been forgiven through the blood of Christ. Let us appreciate the grace, love, and mercy of God, but let us also be reminded of the severe wrath of God that should be poured out upon us were it not for His forgiveness, afforded through the cross and the resurrection. The more we see the gravity of that which we have averted because of His love, the more we in fact will appreciate His grace.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Don't Be Engrossed in Temporal Things
I Corinthians 7:29-31: "What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away."
There is a noticeable tension that we face when we wrestle with the "now" and the "not yet." All of us are tempted to succumb to the temporal things . . . investments, promotions, houses, relationships, retirement accounts, etc. And if we were honest with ourselves, we would have to admit that though we may profess "all to Jesus, I surrender," we repeatedly fix our hearts and desires on things that this world has to offer. Sometimes, our passion for these things will cause us to spend inordinate time and energy in the pursuit of these things. We become mesmerized with their blessings and benefits, even to the point that we place our pursuit of God and His righteousness secondary to these desires. Tragedy however, in its various forms, will reintroduce the reality that all that we have in this life is fleeting. It will not endure, and it can be taken from us in an instant. And the more that we are consumed with the temporal things of this life, the more we will struggle when these things are taken from us.
What we must remember from the above mentioned verses is that our time in this life is too short to be consumed with these things. Disciples of Jesus Christ should live their lives always with the perception that it is fleeting. Thus, when life events unfold that would otherwise make us ecstatic (like buying a new car or a house, getting a new job or a promotion, entering into a new relationship), we always should keep the brevity of our lives within view. And when difficult times come our way (the loss of a loved one, a misfortune or loss), we should not mourn like those who have no hope. Instead, we keep our eyes on the prize for which our glorious Lord has prepared for those who have put their faith and trust in Him. And anything that we acquire in this life should be seen as something that we will not keep. We must see ourselves merely as stewards of those items . . . to be used for our Lord's glory. Even with the love that we have for our immediate family members, we must remember that these relationships in their present reality will not endure, and we must release these loved ones to the Lord and consider the fact that the beauty of such companionships will be magnified greatly in eternity for true believers in Christ Jesus.
For the one who truly can grasp this concept, there is freedom in being able to release such enticements that can become entrapments if we allow the "here-and-now" to become our "all-in-all." Let us realize that this world in its present form is passing away. Let us always keep our mortality in view, and let us remember that the blessedness of our lives will be in the joy that awaits when our Lord Jesus Christ comes to receive those who have put their faith and trust in Him.
There is a noticeable tension that we face when we wrestle with the "now" and the "not yet." All of us are tempted to succumb to the temporal things . . . investments, promotions, houses, relationships, retirement accounts, etc. And if we were honest with ourselves, we would have to admit that though we may profess "all to Jesus, I surrender," we repeatedly fix our hearts and desires on things that this world has to offer. Sometimes, our passion for these things will cause us to spend inordinate time and energy in the pursuit of these things. We become mesmerized with their blessings and benefits, even to the point that we place our pursuit of God and His righteousness secondary to these desires. Tragedy however, in its various forms, will reintroduce the reality that all that we have in this life is fleeting. It will not endure, and it can be taken from us in an instant. And the more that we are consumed with the temporal things of this life, the more we will struggle when these things are taken from us.
What we must remember from the above mentioned verses is that our time in this life is too short to be consumed with these things. Disciples of Jesus Christ should live their lives always with the perception that it is fleeting. Thus, when life events unfold that would otherwise make us ecstatic (like buying a new car or a house, getting a new job or a promotion, entering into a new relationship), we always should keep the brevity of our lives within view. And when difficult times come our way (the loss of a loved one, a misfortune or loss), we should not mourn like those who have no hope. Instead, we keep our eyes on the prize for which our glorious Lord has prepared for those who have put their faith and trust in Him. And anything that we acquire in this life should be seen as something that we will not keep. We must see ourselves merely as stewards of those items . . . to be used for our Lord's glory. Even with the love that we have for our immediate family members, we must remember that these relationships in their present reality will not endure, and we must release these loved ones to the Lord and consider the fact that the beauty of such companionships will be magnified greatly in eternity for true believers in Christ Jesus.
For the one who truly can grasp this concept, there is freedom in being able to release such enticements that can become entrapments if we allow the "here-and-now" to become our "all-in-all." Let us realize that this world in its present form is passing away. Let us always keep our mortality in view, and let us remember that the blessedness of our lives will be in the joy that awaits when our Lord Jesus Christ comes to receive those who have put their faith and trust in Him.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
How Unfitting is Honor for a Fool
Proverbs 26:1: "Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool."
At the beginning of the book of Proverbs, the fool is identified as one who "despises wisdom and discipline." There is no fear of the Lord in this person's heart; rather he is wayward and complacent, filled with a passion to satisfy his own wanton desires and lusts (Proverbs 1:7, 29-32). And though the fool believes his actions are right, in the end his ways will bring ruin and the rejection of the Lord (Proverbs 10:29-30).
As I read through these passages in Proverbs, I am reminded at how our world has given honor to foolish people, who do not follow the Lord. Now, these people may have accomplished some feat or attained some goal, but they live their lives with such selfish, reckless abandon that they bring no glory to God in their pursuits . . . and their lives seem to display a repeated series of topsy-turvy episodes that should bring the pity and reproach of those who have contemplated exalting such personalities.
Sometimes, our culture even esteems people for no other reason than they are popular icons, who are venerated for their physical beauty, their humor, their wit or charm, their scholastic aptitude, or even their political prowess. And at the same time, those who desire to bring glory to God and follow His expressed will (through His Holy text of Scripture) are ridiculed as extremists and bigots, who do not follow the mainstream of society.
Inserted in the book of Proverbs is the above cited verse about the fool. As I read through this text, several things come to mind:
1. Snow in summer is untimely and out of place. As beautiful as snow can be in the wintertime, when it suddenly shows itself during the time of anticipated harvest, it is quite destructive to the produce of the land. No planter desires to see such an unexpected visit of frozen precipitation; and many times the one who has invested his time and resources into his garden will take extraordinary measures to protect his crops from the damaging effects of the snow . . . because he knows the devastating outcomes that await if he fails to take action.
2. So too is rain an unwelcomed sight to the harvester. To be sure, rain is a vital necessity for crops to come forth from the ground and thrive into the rich, productive fruits and vegetation that it is supposed to be. But when torrential rains come at the time of the harvest, all is lost. The produce is not able to withstand the effects that wind and heavy rains bring to the land, and the losses can be irrecoverable. One can vision the sadness of the farmer as he looks heavenward with a look of somber realization that all of his efforts and resources have gone for nothing, and he begins to wonder if he will be able to provide for his family and pay the debts that he owes. A sense of dread and uncertainty overcomes the man, as he walks away from what once promised to be a blessing; for in the end, he has been cursed by the very thing that under the right timing and circumstances would have brought blessed nourishment for his crops. It is the twisted irony of the realization that the source of life and harvest now has brought destruction for no other reason than it was out of place.
With these powerful illustrations given in God's Word, we would do well to reconsider whom we honor. Do we celebrate those who have yielded their lives to the LORD and are producing the fruits of obedience? Or do we follow the trends of popular culture that seek to exalt people for things that have nothing to do with faithfulness, righteousness, and Godly integrity? To honor such foolishness is worthless and vain.
Let is not forget the imagery of untimely snow and unwelcomed rain. Let us be reminded that when we honor the fool, we are making a value statement as to what is of primary importance. And if we seek to exalt things that are not honoring of God, we will fall under their alluring enticements. It is then that we should expect to find our spiritual harvests to be ravaged by unexpected and untimely consequences.
At the beginning of the book of Proverbs, the fool is identified as one who "despises wisdom and discipline." There is no fear of the Lord in this person's heart; rather he is wayward and complacent, filled with a passion to satisfy his own wanton desires and lusts (Proverbs 1:7, 29-32). And though the fool believes his actions are right, in the end his ways will bring ruin and the rejection of the Lord (Proverbs 10:29-30).
As I read through these passages in Proverbs, I am reminded at how our world has given honor to foolish people, who do not follow the Lord. Now, these people may have accomplished some feat or attained some goal, but they live their lives with such selfish, reckless abandon that they bring no glory to God in their pursuits . . . and their lives seem to display a repeated series of topsy-turvy episodes that should bring the pity and reproach of those who have contemplated exalting such personalities.
Sometimes, our culture even esteems people for no other reason than they are popular icons, who are venerated for their physical beauty, their humor, their wit or charm, their scholastic aptitude, or even their political prowess. And at the same time, those who desire to bring glory to God and follow His expressed will (through His Holy text of Scripture) are ridiculed as extremists and bigots, who do not follow the mainstream of society.
Inserted in the book of Proverbs is the above cited verse about the fool. As I read through this text, several things come to mind:
1. Snow in summer is untimely and out of place. As beautiful as snow can be in the wintertime, when it suddenly shows itself during the time of anticipated harvest, it is quite destructive to the produce of the land. No planter desires to see such an unexpected visit of frozen precipitation; and many times the one who has invested his time and resources into his garden will take extraordinary measures to protect his crops from the damaging effects of the snow . . . because he knows the devastating outcomes that await if he fails to take action.
2. So too is rain an unwelcomed sight to the harvester. To be sure, rain is a vital necessity for crops to come forth from the ground and thrive into the rich, productive fruits and vegetation that it is supposed to be. But when torrential rains come at the time of the harvest, all is lost. The produce is not able to withstand the effects that wind and heavy rains bring to the land, and the losses can be irrecoverable. One can vision the sadness of the farmer as he looks heavenward with a look of somber realization that all of his efforts and resources have gone for nothing, and he begins to wonder if he will be able to provide for his family and pay the debts that he owes. A sense of dread and uncertainty overcomes the man, as he walks away from what once promised to be a blessing; for in the end, he has been cursed by the very thing that under the right timing and circumstances would have brought blessed nourishment for his crops. It is the twisted irony of the realization that the source of life and harvest now has brought destruction for no other reason than it was out of place.
With these powerful illustrations given in God's Word, we would do well to reconsider whom we honor. Do we celebrate those who have yielded their lives to the LORD and are producing the fruits of obedience? Or do we follow the trends of popular culture that seek to exalt people for things that have nothing to do with faithfulness, righteousness, and Godly integrity? To honor such foolishness is worthless and vain.
Let is not forget the imagery of untimely snow and unwelcomed rain. Let us be reminded that when we honor the fool, we are making a value statement as to what is of primary importance. And if we seek to exalt things that are not honoring of God, we will fall under their alluring enticements. It is then that we should expect to find our spiritual harvests to be ravaged by unexpected and untimely consequences.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
A TIme to Bear Testimony
Luke 21:12-15: "Before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict."
In all four gospel books is recorded the words of Jesus addressing the reality of coming persecution for the disciples. To be sure, Jesus had in fact commissioned His disciples to preach the gospel message and make disciples, and He gave them power and authority over evil spirits so that they might do the work of the Savior who sent them (Matthew 10:1). Jesus too sent them out in groups so that they might work together, strengthening and complementing each other's work in the Lord (Mark 6:7).
Still, Jesus gave His disciples a strong warning of the coming persecution that would be unfurled upon them for the gospel that they proclaimed. In seething hatred, the aggressors would drag the disciples before kings, governors, and councils; and they would be flogged in various places (even houses of worship) on account of the Name of Jesus Christ [Matthew 10:17-18, 22]. Jesus too shared that if the wicked would slander Him as a devilish Beelzebul, how much more would they "malign those of His household" (Matt. 10:25, John 15:20-21). The worst tragedy of those who accosted the disciples was that they believed that they were offering service to God (John 16:2), and these convictions fueled their militancy. Jesus proclaimed that on account of the "multiplied wickedness" of evil men, their love (for the Lord and His gospel) would grow cold (Matthew 24:12). Even the closest of family and friends would betray the true followers of Christ; they would persecute them and even have them executed for their faith (Mark 13:12-13).
Jesus wanted to share this with His disciples in advance, for He wanted them to know that the Sovereign Lord was fully aware of what was to happen, and He shared with them that in the very hour of their persecution would be the opportunity for them to bear testimony for the Lord. Jesus too shared with the disciples that they were not to worry about how and what they were to say to their accusers at that time, for the Holy Spirit would put into their hearts, minds, and mouths the very words of which "no adversary would be able to withstand or contradict" (Luke 21:15). What was important for the disciples was to endure and bear testimony of the Christ and His glorious gospel offered for the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life with the Lord Almighty.
This is a good word for us today. We know that if we stand for the Lord Jesus Christ and His glorious gospel, we will suffer the indignity of persecution in this world. As the love for the truth of God grows cold, man will become ever more impassioned to persecute those who are true followers of Christ. Just as the persecutions occurred when Jesus walked the earth 2000 years ago, so too will the persecutions continue today and in the future.
We must not worry about how or what we will say at the moment when such conflicts arise, for the Holy Spirit will give us words of truth that will not be discredited . . . for they represent the power of God and His glorious will. Now, this does not mean that we are not to be prepared to give an answer for the hope that we have (I Peter 3:15); nor does it mean that we should not actively be in the Word of God to show ourselves approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15). Still, we can be assured that when such times of persecution come our way, we will have the presence, the provision, and the power of the Holy Spirit with us!
What we must realize is that God has willed for us to bear testimony of Him . . . for His glory. No matter what the consequence is for taking a bold stand for the Lord and His gospel, we know that we have followed obediently the command of our Lord, our Master, and our King to "go out into all the world and make disciples" (Matthew 28:18-20). So let us not falter in our commissioning. Let us press on in the full assurance that we are right where the Sovereign Lord desires for us to be . . . doing exactly what He wills for us to do.
In all four gospel books is recorded the words of Jesus addressing the reality of coming persecution for the disciples. To be sure, Jesus had in fact commissioned His disciples to preach the gospel message and make disciples, and He gave them power and authority over evil spirits so that they might do the work of the Savior who sent them (Matthew 10:1). Jesus too sent them out in groups so that they might work together, strengthening and complementing each other's work in the Lord (Mark 6:7).
Still, Jesus gave His disciples a strong warning of the coming persecution that would be unfurled upon them for the gospel that they proclaimed. In seething hatred, the aggressors would drag the disciples before kings, governors, and councils; and they would be flogged in various places (even houses of worship) on account of the Name of Jesus Christ [Matthew 10:17-18, 22]. Jesus too shared that if the wicked would slander Him as a devilish Beelzebul, how much more would they "malign those of His household" (Matt. 10:25, John 15:20-21). The worst tragedy of those who accosted the disciples was that they believed that they were offering service to God (John 16:2), and these convictions fueled their militancy. Jesus proclaimed that on account of the "multiplied wickedness" of evil men, their love (for the Lord and His gospel) would grow cold (Matthew 24:12). Even the closest of family and friends would betray the true followers of Christ; they would persecute them and even have them executed for their faith (Mark 13:12-13).
Jesus wanted to share this with His disciples in advance, for He wanted them to know that the Sovereign Lord was fully aware of what was to happen, and He shared with them that in the very hour of their persecution would be the opportunity for them to bear testimony for the Lord. Jesus too shared with the disciples that they were not to worry about how and what they were to say to their accusers at that time, for the Holy Spirit would put into their hearts, minds, and mouths the very words of which "no adversary would be able to withstand or contradict" (Luke 21:15). What was important for the disciples was to endure and bear testimony of the Christ and His glorious gospel offered for the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life with the Lord Almighty.
This is a good word for us today. We know that if we stand for the Lord Jesus Christ and His glorious gospel, we will suffer the indignity of persecution in this world. As the love for the truth of God grows cold, man will become ever more impassioned to persecute those who are true followers of Christ. Just as the persecutions occurred when Jesus walked the earth 2000 years ago, so too will the persecutions continue today and in the future.
We must not worry about how or what we will say at the moment when such conflicts arise, for the Holy Spirit will give us words of truth that will not be discredited . . . for they represent the power of God and His glorious will. Now, this does not mean that we are not to be prepared to give an answer for the hope that we have (I Peter 3:15); nor does it mean that we should not actively be in the Word of God to show ourselves approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15). Still, we can be assured that when such times of persecution come our way, we will have the presence, the provision, and the power of the Holy Spirit with us!
What we must realize is that God has willed for us to bear testimony of Him . . . for His glory. No matter what the consequence is for taking a bold stand for the Lord and His gospel, we know that we have followed obediently the command of our Lord, our Master, and our King to "go out into all the world and make disciples" (Matthew 28:18-20). So let us not falter in our commissioning. Let us press on in the full assurance that we are right where the Sovereign Lord desires for us to be . . . doing exactly what He wills for us to do.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Deliverance From All Fears
Psalm 34:4-5: "I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame."
Psalm 34 is considered to be an acrostic poem, with each verse beginning with the next letter in the Hebraic alphabet. The importance of such a strategy cannot be overstated, as it can reasonably be assumed that this lettering was designed for the hearers to learn/memorize the verses, to have them ready in their hearts should the circumstances warrant their recall. And when one reads through this chapter in Psalms, one can see that it is a word of direction and encouragement for those who face difficulties and the fears that can come from those painful ordeals.
One of the first things that is highlighted in the chapter is the need to "extol the LORD at all times" (34:1). The word "extol" means "to praise highly, to glorify." Notice that the command is for us to praise and glorify the LORD all the time . . . even in the difficult trials that come our way. Why would such a directive be given? I believe that the more that we keep our focus on the LORD, the more we are able to find the comforting assurance that He is with us, He is in control, and He is desiring us to depend on Him and grow closer to Him in the process. And as we keep our focus on the LORD, we too are able to have a perspective that is more in line with His divine perspective of our circumstances . . . that He is working out His plans and purposes in the midst of our difficulties. This is how we are able to "boast in the LORD" when our circumstances seem to be out of control and are attempting to draw us into utter despair.
When one reads the historical circumstances during the time David penned Psalm 34, one will see that David himself sought the LORD in the midst of his fretful ordeal (I Samuel 20-21). Even though David struggled with his fears initially, eventually he would gain a firm confidence that God would answer him and deliver him from ALL his fears.
David likely wrote this psalm while he was being pursued by King Saul, who determined to destroy David's threat to his throne. Once David received word from his trusted friend, Jonathan, that the king was in hot pursuit of him, David fled into the land of the Philistines. David then was taken to King Achish of Gath, where David's reputation as a mighty warrior was discussed in the court of the king. Fearing that his life was in further danger, David began acting like a mad man, knowing that pagan nations considered such an affliction to be of the gods and that a man like this would not be harmed but treated as holy. This was a way that David sought to take care of his own fears and vulnerabilities, rather than trusting in the LORD to bring deliverance.
Once David was given permission to leave Gath, he fled to the protection of the cave of Adullam, but he did not stay there long. He then went to the stronghold at Mizpah in Moab, but the prophet Gad was sent to David and told him that he couldn't stay there. Instead, God summoned David back to Judah (and presumably back into the danger zone, within reach of King Saul's army). As David made his trek toward the forest of Hereth, one can imagine the fears that he had, for he knew that his presence would soon be discovered by Saul's men (which it was). Still, at some time along the journey, God gave to David the words of comfort and assurance that He was with David. David knew to seek the Lord, and He would deliver David from all his fears. David too knew that the more he kept his focus on the Lord, the more he would reflect the glorious radiance of God in the mist of his ordeal. It is then that David could "taste and see the the LORD is good . . . . a righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all . . . The LORD redeems His servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him" (Psalm 34:8,19, 22).
This is a good word for us. How often to we attempt to help God out by taking control of our own circumstances . . . attempting to remedy them solely through our efforts rather than His? We need to seek the Lord, knowing that He will answer us in our time of need. God will hear our prayers. He will bring about good things to those who seek refuge in Him. And along the journey, we can know that God will rescue us from the fears that wage war against our hearts. We can know the sweetness of God's presence, protection, and vindication. So let us taste and see that the LORD is good!
Psalm 34 is considered to be an acrostic poem, with each verse beginning with the next letter in the Hebraic alphabet. The importance of such a strategy cannot be overstated, as it can reasonably be assumed that this lettering was designed for the hearers to learn/memorize the verses, to have them ready in their hearts should the circumstances warrant their recall. And when one reads through this chapter in Psalms, one can see that it is a word of direction and encouragement for those who face difficulties and the fears that can come from those painful ordeals.
One of the first things that is highlighted in the chapter is the need to "extol the LORD at all times" (34:1). The word "extol" means "to praise highly, to glorify." Notice that the command is for us to praise and glorify the LORD all the time . . . even in the difficult trials that come our way. Why would such a directive be given? I believe that the more that we keep our focus on the LORD, the more we are able to find the comforting assurance that He is with us, He is in control, and He is desiring us to depend on Him and grow closer to Him in the process. And as we keep our focus on the LORD, we too are able to have a perspective that is more in line with His divine perspective of our circumstances . . . that He is working out His plans and purposes in the midst of our difficulties. This is how we are able to "boast in the LORD" when our circumstances seem to be out of control and are attempting to draw us into utter despair.
When one reads the historical circumstances during the time David penned Psalm 34, one will see that David himself sought the LORD in the midst of his fretful ordeal (I Samuel 20-21). Even though David struggled with his fears initially, eventually he would gain a firm confidence that God would answer him and deliver him from ALL his fears.
David likely wrote this psalm while he was being pursued by King Saul, who determined to destroy David's threat to his throne. Once David received word from his trusted friend, Jonathan, that the king was in hot pursuit of him, David fled into the land of the Philistines. David then was taken to King Achish of Gath, where David's reputation as a mighty warrior was discussed in the court of the king. Fearing that his life was in further danger, David began acting like a mad man, knowing that pagan nations considered such an affliction to be of the gods and that a man like this would not be harmed but treated as holy. This was a way that David sought to take care of his own fears and vulnerabilities, rather than trusting in the LORD to bring deliverance.
Once David was given permission to leave Gath, he fled to the protection of the cave of Adullam, but he did not stay there long. He then went to the stronghold at Mizpah in Moab, but the prophet Gad was sent to David and told him that he couldn't stay there. Instead, God summoned David back to Judah (and presumably back into the danger zone, within reach of King Saul's army). As David made his trek toward the forest of Hereth, one can imagine the fears that he had, for he knew that his presence would soon be discovered by Saul's men (which it was). Still, at some time along the journey, God gave to David the words of comfort and assurance that He was with David. David knew to seek the Lord, and He would deliver David from all his fears. David too knew that the more he kept his focus on the Lord, the more he would reflect the glorious radiance of God in the mist of his ordeal. It is then that David could "taste and see the the LORD is good . . . . a righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all . . . The LORD redeems His servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him" (Psalm 34:8,19, 22).
This is a good word for us. How often to we attempt to help God out by taking control of our own circumstances . . . attempting to remedy them solely through our efforts rather than His? We need to seek the Lord, knowing that He will answer us in our time of need. God will hear our prayers. He will bring about good things to those who seek refuge in Him. And along the journey, we can know that God will rescue us from the fears that wage war against our hearts. We can know the sweetness of God's presence, protection, and vindication. So let us taste and see that the LORD is good!
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Reshaping
Jeremiah 18:3-4: "So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him."
Jeremiah was a prophet that lived in Jerusalem six hundred years before Christ. To be sure, it was a very difficult time for the true prophet of God, for the people of that day were quite rebellious against the LORD. They chose to follow their wicked desires rather than submitting themselves to the plans that God had for them as His chosen people. Even as God was commissioning Jeremiah to be a prophet heralding His truth, God told the prophet that the people would "fight against (him)" (Jeremiah 1:19). They did not want to hear truth; rather, they wanted their own approved priests and prophets to continue exonerating their wicked ways so that they might feel vindicated in the evil decisions that they were making. These rebellious people lashed out at Jeremiah with their tongues, they ignored anything that he had to say, and they determined to capture him in hopes of destroying the messenger of God (Jer. 18:18-22).
God sent Jeremiah to observe the workings of a potter in Jerusalem to illustrate how He Himself would handle His people, whom He had crafted to be His chosen people to bring forth His oracles and ultimately His Messiah. They were designed to be a people of distinction, a bastion of light in an otherwise dark and evil world. They were to be faithful to His will for them as was proclaimed by His prophets, and they were to produce the fruits of righteousness and holiness to bring Him glory.
As Jeremiah observed the potter working with the clay, hoping to fashion it into his intended purpose, the material suddenly lost its form and was marred. One can only imagine the frustration that the potter might have had, seeing that all the time and effort he had invested in his project did not yield the intended product (a pot). Now, the craftsman was determined to start again, reshaping the clay into something different (another pot), so that it would be useful for his purposes. He would not permit the clay to exist simply as unshaped material; rather, the potter would make certain that it would fulfill His purposes for it. Nothing would frustrate the potter's ultimate plan for the clay!
Ultimately for the Israelites, God would reshape His people through judgment rather than the blessings He had given them over the years. God had desired to use His people through His provision and protective blessings for them, but the people in their prosperity had forsaken the very Hand that had brought the abundant blessings to them in the first place. Now God would use His judgment upon them, so that His plans and purposes would prevail. He knew that the only way to get the attention of His wayward people was to bring hardship, trials, and tribulations . . . this was His re-crafting of His "clay."
This is a good word for us. We must understand that the "plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations" (Ps. 33:11). We may find ourselves attempting to defy His will for us, but we will never prevail in our stubborn disobedience. God will take us, much like a potter with his clay, and begin recrafting us to serve His purposes. If His blessings will not cause us to respond with singular devotion to Him and His will for us, then His judgments will. We would be wise to understand that we will not be able to frustrate Him, for He is the Sovereign Lord over all things, and His plans will be accomplished. It would be much better for us to capitulate our wills to His glorious will, so that His intended purposes for us would be fulfilled without His having to reshape us all over again.
Jeremiah was a prophet that lived in Jerusalem six hundred years before Christ. To be sure, it was a very difficult time for the true prophet of God, for the people of that day were quite rebellious against the LORD. They chose to follow their wicked desires rather than submitting themselves to the plans that God had for them as His chosen people. Even as God was commissioning Jeremiah to be a prophet heralding His truth, God told the prophet that the people would "fight against (him)" (Jeremiah 1:19). They did not want to hear truth; rather, they wanted their own approved priests and prophets to continue exonerating their wicked ways so that they might feel vindicated in the evil decisions that they were making. These rebellious people lashed out at Jeremiah with their tongues, they ignored anything that he had to say, and they determined to capture him in hopes of destroying the messenger of God (Jer. 18:18-22).
God sent Jeremiah to observe the workings of a potter in Jerusalem to illustrate how He Himself would handle His people, whom He had crafted to be His chosen people to bring forth His oracles and ultimately His Messiah. They were designed to be a people of distinction, a bastion of light in an otherwise dark and evil world. They were to be faithful to His will for them as was proclaimed by His prophets, and they were to produce the fruits of righteousness and holiness to bring Him glory.
As Jeremiah observed the potter working with the clay, hoping to fashion it into his intended purpose, the material suddenly lost its form and was marred. One can only imagine the frustration that the potter might have had, seeing that all the time and effort he had invested in his project did not yield the intended product (a pot). Now, the craftsman was determined to start again, reshaping the clay into something different (another pot), so that it would be useful for his purposes. He would not permit the clay to exist simply as unshaped material; rather, the potter would make certain that it would fulfill His purposes for it. Nothing would frustrate the potter's ultimate plan for the clay!
Ultimately for the Israelites, God would reshape His people through judgment rather than the blessings He had given them over the years. God had desired to use His people through His provision and protective blessings for them, but the people in their prosperity had forsaken the very Hand that had brought the abundant blessings to them in the first place. Now God would use His judgment upon them, so that His plans and purposes would prevail. He knew that the only way to get the attention of His wayward people was to bring hardship, trials, and tribulations . . . this was His re-crafting of His "clay."
This is a good word for us. We must understand that the "plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations" (Ps. 33:11). We may find ourselves attempting to defy His will for us, but we will never prevail in our stubborn disobedience. God will take us, much like a potter with his clay, and begin recrafting us to serve His purposes. If His blessings will not cause us to respond with singular devotion to Him and His will for us, then His judgments will. We would be wise to understand that we will not be able to frustrate Him, for He is the Sovereign Lord over all things, and His plans will be accomplished. It would be much better for us to capitulate our wills to His glorious will, so that His intended purposes for us would be fulfilled without His having to reshape us all over again.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Is God a God of Wrath?
Nahum 1:2-3: "The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished."
So often in today's nefarious climate, there is an attempt by many in our world to redefine God into a deity that always loves, always supports, and always condones the behaviors of people, even when those actions clearly contradict His prescriptive will in the Bible. To be sure, God is love; in fact, His love is great and He is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4-5). His love is so wonderful, that we should understand that it is better than our very lives (Psalm 63:3). Still, God is not the grandfather-like figure that sits on His throne and just winks every time that we engage in sinful behavior. He too is not One who encourages us to live our lives however we choose, wanting us to experience solely what our own hearts desire. If God indeed were like this, then we should shutter in absolute fear, for we would have to conclude that God is duplicitous and unrighteous. He would be a God of contradiction, who in His capricious whims would allow people to engage in thoughts and actions that were noticeably dissimilar (digressing from any standard of righteousness and consequently destructive) and yet be equally sanctioned by His ultra-permissive disposition. This fickleness of character should incite the greatest insecurity within humanity, as we never would know what God deemed to be good; in fact, goodness would no longer be such, because it is not based upon a standard of righteousness but a whim. So too, we would have to acknowledge that God was not loving and righteous, for in His impulsiveness and unpredictability, He would be inconsistent with Himself and would leave us in a darkened world of uncertainty of what was right, just, holy, and true.
In the above cited verses, the LORD identifies Himself as the supreme covenant God, who is filled with wrath against those who would defy His will. He is "jealous" (the Hebrew word here suggests a protective zeal) for His declarative standard of righteousness, and He will maintain His vengeance upon those who are His enemies. There is no fickleness here! God is a God of constancy, as He is unchanging in the "perfection of His character, nature, purposes, and promises" [see John Davis, Handbook of Basic Bible Texts (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing, 1984), 24].
God is not reactive, having a knee-jerk reaction to our ways; for the passage tells us that the LORD is slow to anger. Because the LORD is rich in mercy, He is patient with us; and He gives us opportunity to repent of our sins and turn to Him. Still, He is great in power and will not leave the guilty unpunished. To allow those who defy His will to go unpunished would be to contradict His own righteousness and holiness . . . and this will never happen. Praise the Lord for the immutability of our Lord.
This is a good word for us. As much as we often attempt to justify our sins by conjuring up in our minds a God that is hyper-tolerant of our behaviors and actions, let us never forget that to have such a God would be the most chaotic and insecure reality we would ever face. Let us celebrate that we have a God who is righteous and holy, who has a standard of righteousness and has given it to us in the Holy Scriptures, and who maintains His wrath against those who defy His will through their wicked pursuits.
Let us too humbly understand that we all are due His wrath, because we all have defied His will. So let us thank Him for His mercy afforded through the death and resurrection of His Son. Let us receive His forgiveness by receiving His grace through Christ Jesus, and let us press on through the power of the Holy Spirit to live our lives in obedience to His Word that He has given to us.
So often in today's nefarious climate, there is an attempt by many in our world to redefine God into a deity that always loves, always supports, and always condones the behaviors of people, even when those actions clearly contradict His prescriptive will in the Bible. To be sure, God is love; in fact, His love is great and He is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4-5). His love is so wonderful, that we should understand that it is better than our very lives (Psalm 63:3). Still, God is not the grandfather-like figure that sits on His throne and just winks every time that we engage in sinful behavior. He too is not One who encourages us to live our lives however we choose, wanting us to experience solely what our own hearts desire. If God indeed were like this, then we should shutter in absolute fear, for we would have to conclude that God is duplicitous and unrighteous. He would be a God of contradiction, who in His capricious whims would allow people to engage in thoughts and actions that were noticeably dissimilar (digressing from any standard of righteousness and consequently destructive) and yet be equally sanctioned by His ultra-permissive disposition. This fickleness of character should incite the greatest insecurity within humanity, as we never would know what God deemed to be good; in fact, goodness would no longer be such, because it is not based upon a standard of righteousness but a whim. So too, we would have to acknowledge that God was not loving and righteous, for in His impulsiveness and unpredictability, He would be inconsistent with Himself and would leave us in a darkened world of uncertainty of what was right, just, holy, and true.
In the above cited verses, the LORD identifies Himself as the supreme covenant God, who is filled with wrath against those who would defy His will. He is "jealous" (the Hebrew word here suggests a protective zeal) for His declarative standard of righteousness, and He will maintain His vengeance upon those who are His enemies. There is no fickleness here! God is a God of constancy, as He is unchanging in the "perfection of His character, nature, purposes, and promises" [see John Davis, Handbook of Basic Bible Texts (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing, 1984), 24].
God is not reactive, having a knee-jerk reaction to our ways; for the passage tells us that the LORD is slow to anger. Because the LORD is rich in mercy, He is patient with us; and He gives us opportunity to repent of our sins and turn to Him. Still, He is great in power and will not leave the guilty unpunished. To allow those who defy His will to go unpunished would be to contradict His own righteousness and holiness . . . and this will never happen. Praise the Lord for the immutability of our Lord.
This is a good word for us. As much as we often attempt to justify our sins by conjuring up in our minds a God that is hyper-tolerant of our behaviors and actions, let us never forget that to have such a God would be the most chaotic and insecure reality we would ever face. Let us celebrate that we have a God who is righteous and holy, who has a standard of righteousness and has given it to us in the Holy Scriptures, and who maintains His wrath against those who defy His will through their wicked pursuits.
Let us too humbly understand that we all are due His wrath, because we all have defied His will. So let us thank Him for His mercy afforded through the death and resurrection of His Son. Let us receive His forgiveness by receiving His grace through Christ Jesus, and let us press on through the power of the Holy Spirit to live our lives in obedience to His Word that He has given to us.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
The Forgiveness of God
Psalm 130:3-4: "If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared."
If there ever were a passage of Scripture that captured the magnitude of God's grace, it would be the 130th chapter of Psalms. The psalmist first begins his conversation with God by petitioning Him from the depths. The word used here denotes an abyss that is dark and fearful. It is a place of dread and seeming hopelessness, for it is here that one who is immersed in the plurality and magnitude of his sins finds himself. It is here that the person sees the gravity of his treason against the One True Lord of hosts and understands the despair of deserving the full measure of God's wrath for his rebellion. It too is here that the person reaps the consequences of his sinful behavior and suddenly realizes that the promises of the enticing sins in his life have betrayed him and have turned now into paths of pain and destruction.
It is at this point that the psalmist cries out to the Lord to hear his plea. The word for Lord here is Adonai, which is a name used to describe the sovereign ruler that God is over all creation. Thus, this is a calling by one in utter despair, for the supernatural deliverance by the only One who can make it happen . . . the only One who can redeem that person from the miserable plight in which he finds himself. This is a prayer for the attentive invention of mercy from the very One who should rather pronounce judgment for the waywardness and rebellion of His subjects who were commissioned to tend to and administrate His earthly kingdom (Genesis 1:28).
To further this imagry, one can imagine a kingdom that is ruled by a good and righteous king, whose subjects have determined to assert their own quest to dethrone the king in favor of their own personal reign instead. And now that the subjects' plots have been foiled, they are brought before the king with nothing but their pleadings for mercy to assuage the justice that is due them. And this is the verbiage that the psalmist uses, for he begs the Lord to be attentive to his voice and his cry for mercy.
The psalmist then recognizes the gravity of his sin and its due punishment when he says, "If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?" The Sovereign Creator and King of all things has entered into a covenant relationship with us to give us His blessings if we would be faithful to Him, but the cumulative weight of our rebellion is so great that we can not stand up under its impressive indictments against us. So now, we must beg for mercy.
But here is where our God is so amazing, because with Him there is forgiveness. The word here for "forgiveness" is the word "pardons," and its plural form suggests the infinite amount of grace that is afforded to those who would come to the throne of God seeking mercy. This is love at its finest. This is goodness at its fullest. This is grace at its greatest!
And it is for the sheer amazement of God's grace and the sacrifice that it cost Him through His Son's (Jesus Christ) death and resurrection, that we respond with fear, awe, reverence, and obedience. It is now the redeemed ones that wait for the LORD in anticipation of His leading and calling. The redeemed ones see themselves as willing servants ready to do their Master's bidding, out of the deepest thanksgiving that can be expressed. These servants too put all of their hope in the Word of God and eagerly await the Lord like watchmen waiting for the morning. There is a deep yearning for the radiant presence of the Lord, for these redeemed understand the "unfailing love and full redemption" that is found in Him.
This is a good word for us, for all of us have "sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and (yet) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24). May we not treat such forgiveness with contempt. May we rather fall before a gracious Lord and King of many pardons and seek His infinite grace that is available to us, if we simply would repent of our sins and yield ourselves to His rightful reign over us. May we not have a proud and defiant heart that resists the Creator's love; for if we "reject such a great salvation, how shall we escape (His judgment)?" (Hebrews 2:3).
If there ever were a passage of Scripture that captured the magnitude of God's grace, it would be the 130th chapter of Psalms. The psalmist first begins his conversation with God by petitioning Him from the depths. The word used here denotes an abyss that is dark and fearful. It is a place of dread and seeming hopelessness, for it is here that one who is immersed in the plurality and magnitude of his sins finds himself. It is here that the person sees the gravity of his treason against the One True Lord of hosts and understands the despair of deserving the full measure of God's wrath for his rebellion. It too is here that the person reaps the consequences of his sinful behavior and suddenly realizes that the promises of the enticing sins in his life have betrayed him and have turned now into paths of pain and destruction.
It is at this point that the psalmist cries out to the Lord to hear his plea. The word for Lord here is Adonai, which is a name used to describe the sovereign ruler that God is over all creation. Thus, this is a calling by one in utter despair, for the supernatural deliverance by the only One who can make it happen . . . the only One who can redeem that person from the miserable plight in which he finds himself. This is a prayer for the attentive invention of mercy from the very One who should rather pronounce judgment for the waywardness and rebellion of His subjects who were commissioned to tend to and administrate His earthly kingdom (Genesis 1:28).
To further this imagry, one can imagine a kingdom that is ruled by a good and righteous king, whose subjects have determined to assert their own quest to dethrone the king in favor of their own personal reign instead. And now that the subjects' plots have been foiled, they are brought before the king with nothing but their pleadings for mercy to assuage the justice that is due them. And this is the verbiage that the psalmist uses, for he begs the Lord to be attentive to his voice and his cry for mercy.
The psalmist then recognizes the gravity of his sin and its due punishment when he says, "If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?" The Sovereign Creator and King of all things has entered into a covenant relationship with us to give us His blessings if we would be faithful to Him, but the cumulative weight of our rebellion is so great that we can not stand up under its impressive indictments against us. So now, we must beg for mercy.
But here is where our God is so amazing, because with Him there is forgiveness. The word here for "forgiveness" is the word "pardons," and its plural form suggests the infinite amount of grace that is afforded to those who would come to the throne of God seeking mercy. This is love at its finest. This is goodness at its fullest. This is grace at its greatest!
And it is for the sheer amazement of God's grace and the sacrifice that it cost Him through His Son's (Jesus Christ) death and resurrection, that we respond with fear, awe, reverence, and obedience. It is now the redeemed ones that wait for the LORD in anticipation of His leading and calling. The redeemed ones see themselves as willing servants ready to do their Master's bidding, out of the deepest thanksgiving that can be expressed. These servants too put all of their hope in the Word of God and eagerly await the Lord like watchmen waiting for the morning. There is a deep yearning for the radiant presence of the Lord, for these redeemed understand the "unfailing love and full redemption" that is found in Him.
This is a good word for us, for all of us have "sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and (yet) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24). May we not treat such forgiveness with contempt. May we rather fall before a gracious Lord and King of many pardons and seek His infinite grace that is available to us, if we simply would repent of our sins and yield ourselves to His rightful reign over us. May we not have a proud and defiant heart that resists the Creator's love; for if we "reject such a great salvation, how shall we escape (His judgment)?" (Hebrews 2:3).
Friday, February 6, 2015
Refuge Versus Ruin
Proverbs 10:29-30: "The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land."
One thing that is a certain truth is that God's way (i.e. His sovereign, supreme will) will prevail. And all of us would be wise to see that the blessedness of life, both now and in eternity, will be impacted by the way we respond to this truth. Those who would yield themselves to the way of the Lord will find refuge. It is a wonderful sanctuary, for those who are obedient to the King of Glory are assured of His favor, His blessing, and His abiding presence. These righteous ones will never be shaken or uprooted from His protective hand; and for this reason, they will stand secure in His power for all eternity (see Romans 8:38-39, Proverbs 10:25b).
Conversely, those who obstinately defy the will of the Lord will only find ruin. As the storm surge of God's wrath is poured out in its fullest measure, the wicked will be swept away (see Proverbs 10:25a). They never will experience the joy of His favor and His blessing; rather, God Himself will be their worst dread, as He judges them for their abject rebellion against His rightful reign . . . and that dread will overtake them (Proverbs 10:24). And whereas the righteous will inhabit the very eternal Promised Land that is granted to those who would receive God's amazing grace, the wicked will not be permitted to abide there. They will be uprooted and thrown into the place where the fullness of God's judgment will be poured out upon them.
C.S. Lewis in his work, The Weight of Glory, has penned a provocative reflection on this very reality:
"In the end, that Face which is the delight or the terror of the universe must be turned upon each of us either with one expression or the other, either conferring glory inexpressible or inflicting shame that can never be cured or disguised."
So, if we have yielded ourselves to His Lordship and received His gift of pardon through Jesus Christ, let us respond with awe and gratitude that we have received the fullness of His love and the declaration of adoption as His children (I John 3:1). And in response to this awesome reality, let us do as Proverbs 16:3 tells us . . . let us "commit to the LORD (in) whatever (we) do." The word "commit" can be translated "roll," and to roll, we must first be low and we must be moving. Let us fall before the LORD in humility and surrender. Let us not think ourselves too highly or attempt to assert our own wills above His own. And let us move ever closer to Him in a spirit of contrition and obedience, knowing that this is how we demonstrate our love for Him (John 14:23).
One thing that is a certain truth is that God's way (i.e. His sovereign, supreme will) will prevail. And all of us would be wise to see that the blessedness of life, both now and in eternity, will be impacted by the way we respond to this truth. Those who would yield themselves to the way of the Lord will find refuge. It is a wonderful sanctuary, for those who are obedient to the King of Glory are assured of His favor, His blessing, and His abiding presence. These righteous ones will never be shaken or uprooted from His protective hand; and for this reason, they will stand secure in His power for all eternity (see Romans 8:38-39, Proverbs 10:25b).
Conversely, those who obstinately defy the will of the Lord will only find ruin. As the storm surge of God's wrath is poured out in its fullest measure, the wicked will be swept away (see Proverbs 10:25a). They never will experience the joy of His favor and His blessing; rather, God Himself will be their worst dread, as He judges them for their abject rebellion against His rightful reign . . . and that dread will overtake them (Proverbs 10:24). And whereas the righteous will inhabit the very eternal Promised Land that is granted to those who would receive God's amazing grace, the wicked will not be permitted to abide there. They will be uprooted and thrown into the place where the fullness of God's judgment will be poured out upon them.
C.S. Lewis in his work, The Weight of Glory, has penned a provocative reflection on this very reality:
"In the end, that Face which is the delight or the terror of the universe must be turned upon each of us either with one expression or the other, either conferring glory inexpressible or inflicting shame that can never be cured or disguised."
So, if we have yielded ourselves to His Lordship and received His gift of pardon through Jesus Christ, let us respond with awe and gratitude that we have received the fullness of His love and the declaration of adoption as His children (I John 3:1). And in response to this awesome reality, let us do as Proverbs 16:3 tells us . . . let us "commit to the LORD (in) whatever (we) do." The word "commit" can be translated "roll," and to roll, we must first be low and we must be moving. Let us fall before the LORD in humility and surrender. Let us not think ourselves too highly or attempt to assert our own wills above His own. And let us move ever closer to Him in a spirit of contrition and obedience, knowing that this is how we demonstrate our love for Him (John 14:23).
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Revering the Sacrifices of Others
Photo Courtesy of biblewalks.com
The events that occurred in this passage have been attributed to the time when David had just become king over Israel (see 2 Samuel 5). When the Israelites fiercest enemy at that time, the Philistines, heard of David's coronation as king in the town of Hebron, they went up "in full force" to find (and presumably destroy) him, and they camped in the Valley of Rephaim. David was notified of his enemies' intent, and he removed himself beyond the encampment of the Philistines to the stronghold mount of Adullam where amongst the caves he would spend time with the Lord and inquire as to his military movements against the Philistines. David was very intentional at petitioning the Lord as to whether he should move against his enemy and the method in which he should do so. God first gave Him the blessing to attack, which David did at Baal Perazim (place which means "the lord who breaks out") and had such victory that in a hasty retreat the Philistines left their idols behind. And then a second time, David inquired of the Lord, who told the king not to make a direct assault against the Philistines, but rather they were to circle around their enemy and attack from the rear. God instructed David to wait for the sound of marching troops marching in the tops of the balsam trees as evidence that the Lord had gone before His people to strike down the Philistine army. David was obedient to the Lord's command, and God gave him such victory that he drove the enemy north and westward over 15 miles to Gibeon and Gezer. It was a huge military victory for the Israelites.
Even so, there was a period of time that David had to wait before God summoned the king to advance on the Philistines. As David awaited word from the Lord, he looked across the valley eastward from Adullam toward his homeland of Bethlehem, and he yearned for a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem. As one looks at the picture above, one can imagine David looking back toward the land where he was born and reared, longing to be there but knowing that the enemy was impeding this passionate desire. And anyone from the Israelite camp so daring to wander through the Valley of Rephaim (where the Philistines were) to Bethlehem (where a Philistine garrison was) would be doing so at almost certain risk of death. Still, three of David's mighty men heard their king and made the decision to risk their lives and break through the enemy lines in order to secure the very water of David's hometown.
When the three returned from their emboldened pursuit for the king, David refused to drink the water. He knew what great sacrifice these three made to cross enemy lines to secure what he longed to have. And instead of quickly consuming the gift to gratify himself, David instead offered the drink as a libation to the LORD. David would not treat such sacrifice with contempt, just to satisfy his own desires; he revered too much the valor and courage of the men who gave it to him. And for this reason, he gave it to the Lord.
This is a good word for us, for we see in the king a reverence for acts of love demonstrated toward him. Rather than trivializing the gift, David offered it to the Lord, who was worthy of such a gift. When we ourselves receive gifts of love and sacrifice from others, how do we respond? When we see circumstances in our lives act like formidable enemies, impeding the longings of our hearts, only then to find a friend coming to our rescue to bridge us to blessings, do we celebrate their selfless acts of kindness and devotion? And on the other hand, are we willing to place our own lives on the line to help others who are struggling with painful ordeals and yearn for the waters of blessing in their lives?
Most importantly, do we see the desires of our King, Jesus Christ, as expressed in His Holy Word, and do we desire to fulfill His longing for us by sacrificing ourselves to bring Him glory? Are we willing to put everything on the line to satisfy the longing of His heart? Much like David pouring out the water as an act of worship to the Lord, so may we see that when we serve the Lord, we are expressing through our sacrifices our worship to Him as an expression of love and thankfulness for all that He already has done and continues to do in and through us.
Most importantly, do we see the desires of our King, Jesus Christ, as expressed in His Holy Word, and do we desire to fulfill His longing for us by sacrificing ourselves to bring Him glory? Are we willing to put everything on the line to satisfy the longing of His heart? Much like David pouring out the water as an act of worship to the Lord, so may we see that when we serve the Lord, we are expressing through our sacrifices our worship to Him as an expression of love and thankfulness for all that He already has done and continues to do in and through us.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
When Personal Benefit Sways One From Truth (and Life)
Matthew 28:12-15: "When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, 'You are so say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.' So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day."
Every time I read this account of the events following the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I am quite perplexed concerning the actions of the soldiers in their interaction with the chief priests in Jerusalem. These guards had been placed at the tomb by the Pharisees, who knew that Jesus had promised that after three days He would rise again. So troubled were these religious figures at the possibility of the One they called "the imposter" having his body stolen by His disciples and then venerated into the very divine one He claimed to be, that they requested that Pilate approve the posting of guards at the tomb. Pilate agreed to the Pharisee's request, and they made haste to seal the stone and to set guard over it.
All four gospels record the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, but only the gospel of Matthew records the events that occurred at the time of the stone's removal. The soldiers had seen the angel of the Lord, who had come down from Heaven, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it (John's gospel uses the Greek word, hermenon, which suggests that the angel adorned with brilliant light, lifted and threw the stone away . . . a pretty powerful scene for sure!). The events were so overwhelming to the soldiers that they shook in fear and fainted, becoming like dead men. One would think that this spectacular work of our Redeeming Lord would have made such an indelible mark on the guards, that they would have at that instant given their lives to Jesus Christ as their Savior and King.
What we do find in Matthew's text is that SOME rather than all of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened (Matt. 28:11). The chief priests immediately assembled the elders for a counsel meeting and determined to manipulate these guards with fear and bribery. So darkened were these religious leaders, that rather than investigating the veracity of the events as shared by the guards, they resolved to put an end to the rumor of Jesus' resurrection. Specifically, the religious leaders told the guards present to tell people that Jesus' disciples came in the night while they were sleeping and stole the body. The priests then told the guards that they would go and appease the governor so that nothing terrible would befall them for their not fulfilling their responsibility to guard the tomb. And then to sweeten the deal, the priests offered a some of money to these guards to incentivize their lying about the circumstances. These measures by the chief priests were as dark as their prior response to Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave, when they determined to kill Jesus and to kill the raised Lazarus as well to get rid of the miraculous evidence of Jesus as the true Messiah (John 11:53; 12:10).
The fact that the guards would accept the bribe and perpetuate the lie about the events of the resurrection says much about the sinister nature of these guards. Rather than celebrating the hope of the promised Messiah, coming into the world and fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament (see Psalm 16:10 as an example), these guards were opportunists and self-preservationists. They saw the opportunity to exploit the situation for monetary gain and they took the offering. They too realized that their very lives could be on the line if the governor believed that they had failed their post, and so they seemed to appreciate the "graciousness" of the priests in offering to go and assuage the anger of Pilate in response to the dereliction of their duties. The consumption of "self" superceded their supportive response to Jesus as Lord. Their actions revealed who really was on the throne of their lives!
This is a good word for us today. We know that Jesus has risen from the grave; and by doing so, He has conquered sin and death. It is by His death and resurrection that we have the hope of eternal life, if we would surrender ourselves to His Lordship over us, repent of our sins against Him, and receive His offering of grace through His death and resurrection. Sadly, there will be those self-consumed opportunists who will refuse the truth because it does not bring the personal benefits that they desire most of all. Those who seek to exalt themselves and satisfy their desires above the King of kings will reply much like those certain guards who believed that the better option was to gain personal wealth and protection rather than profess Christ as Lord.
May we never find ourselves like the guards mentioned in this text; for we know that they again would see the exalted, risen Lord in eternity. And if they never yielded themselves to Christ as Lord, then the Christ that they would see would be the wrathful Judge over all, who would pronounce damnation for their cosmic treason against Him and their forsaking His offering of mercy and grace that would have saved their souls from eternal death.
Every time I read this account of the events following the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I am quite perplexed concerning the actions of the soldiers in their interaction with the chief priests in Jerusalem. These guards had been placed at the tomb by the Pharisees, who knew that Jesus had promised that after three days He would rise again. So troubled were these religious figures at the possibility of the One they called "the imposter" having his body stolen by His disciples and then venerated into the very divine one He claimed to be, that they requested that Pilate approve the posting of guards at the tomb. Pilate agreed to the Pharisee's request, and they made haste to seal the stone and to set guard over it.
All four gospels record the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, but only the gospel of Matthew records the events that occurred at the time of the stone's removal. The soldiers had seen the angel of the Lord, who had come down from Heaven, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it (John's gospel uses the Greek word, hermenon, which suggests that the angel adorned with brilliant light, lifted and threw the stone away . . . a pretty powerful scene for sure!). The events were so overwhelming to the soldiers that they shook in fear and fainted, becoming like dead men. One would think that this spectacular work of our Redeeming Lord would have made such an indelible mark on the guards, that they would have at that instant given their lives to Jesus Christ as their Savior and King.
What we do find in Matthew's text is that SOME rather than all of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened (Matt. 28:11). The chief priests immediately assembled the elders for a counsel meeting and determined to manipulate these guards with fear and bribery. So darkened were these religious leaders, that rather than investigating the veracity of the events as shared by the guards, they resolved to put an end to the rumor of Jesus' resurrection. Specifically, the religious leaders told the guards present to tell people that Jesus' disciples came in the night while they were sleeping and stole the body. The priests then told the guards that they would go and appease the governor so that nothing terrible would befall them for their not fulfilling their responsibility to guard the tomb. And then to sweeten the deal, the priests offered a some of money to these guards to incentivize their lying about the circumstances. These measures by the chief priests were as dark as their prior response to Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave, when they determined to kill Jesus and to kill the raised Lazarus as well to get rid of the miraculous evidence of Jesus as the true Messiah (John 11:53; 12:10).
The fact that the guards would accept the bribe and perpetuate the lie about the events of the resurrection says much about the sinister nature of these guards. Rather than celebrating the hope of the promised Messiah, coming into the world and fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament (see Psalm 16:10 as an example), these guards were opportunists and self-preservationists. They saw the opportunity to exploit the situation for monetary gain and they took the offering. They too realized that their very lives could be on the line if the governor believed that they had failed their post, and so they seemed to appreciate the "graciousness" of the priests in offering to go and assuage the anger of Pilate in response to the dereliction of their duties. The consumption of "self" superceded their supportive response to Jesus as Lord. Their actions revealed who really was on the throne of their lives!
This is a good word for us today. We know that Jesus has risen from the grave; and by doing so, He has conquered sin and death. It is by His death and resurrection that we have the hope of eternal life, if we would surrender ourselves to His Lordship over us, repent of our sins against Him, and receive His offering of grace through His death and resurrection. Sadly, there will be those self-consumed opportunists who will refuse the truth because it does not bring the personal benefits that they desire most of all. Those who seek to exalt themselves and satisfy their desires above the King of kings will reply much like those certain guards who believed that the better option was to gain personal wealth and protection rather than profess Christ as Lord.
May we never find ourselves like the guards mentioned in this text; for we know that they again would see the exalted, risen Lord in eternity. And if they never yielded themselves to Christ as Lord, then the Christ that they would see would be the wrathful Judge over all, who would pronounce damnation for their cosmic treason against Him and their forsaking His offering of mercy and grace that would have saved their souls from eternal death.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
The Benefit of God's Punishment and Restoration
Ezekiel 11:11-12,17-20: "I (God) will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be the meat in it; I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. And you will know that I am the LORD. For you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you . . . . This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again. They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.'"
Ezekiel was a prophet and priest who had been taken with many other Israelites into bondage at the hands of the Babylonians. King Josiah (a godly king that had removed pagan idols from Israel, had repaired the temple, and had God's Law read aloud), was tragically killed at the hands of the Egyptians at the Battle of Megiddo in 609 BC. His wicked son, Jehoiakim, was installed as a puppet king by the Egyptians; however, the Babylonians would soundly defeat the Assyrians and Egyptian alliance at the Battle of Carchemesh in 605 BC and would begin to wield their power and influence in the land of Canaan. A number of prominent nobles and their families were exiled to Babylon during this time (Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego). King Jehoiakim in 597 BC attempted to rebel against the Babylonians, but this act brought even further retrobutive measures against the Israelites. King Jehoiakim would be killed, and the Babylonians would exile 10,000 more Jews from Palestine to Babylon, including Jehoiachin (Jehoiakim's son) and the prophet Ezekiel.
Despite being in exile, Ezekiel had a call from God to pronounce judgment upon the Jewish people for their continuous rebellion against the LORD. Though a number of radical displays, Ezekiel warned the Jewish people in Babylon that any hope of restoration of the Promised Land would not come until the people repented and acknowledged the One True Lord of Hosts. Sixty-five times, God decreed through His prophet that His judgment was to drive into the people's hearts of stone that they would not prevail in their rebellion; instead, they would know who was the Supreme Sovereign over all of creation.
In chapter 11, Ezekiel was taken by the Holy Spirit from captivity in Babylon to the eastern gate of Jerusalem to see what was happening in the land. He found key leaders of the people plotting evil and proclaming that the time of difficulty would soon be over. These leaders, who had been quite ruthless in their treatment of the people there, had begun prophesying a false hope that things would return to normal and they would begin to rebuild their houses. There was no acknowledgment of sin, just a declared conviction that things would magically return to normal . . . in effect, there would be no consequence for their wickedness.
God through His prophet Ezekiel, proclaimed that the very thing that these leaders feared would come upon them. God would bring the sword of the Babylonians to destroy them. The military might of Babylon would drive these people from the protective walls of Jerusalem, and they would perish by the sword. It would be then that these leaders and the people would know who the real God was and that they were being judged for conforming to the pagan ways of the nations around them.
Still, God was not finished with His people. Even though many had been taken captive and carted hundreds of miles from home . . . even there He was a sanctuary for them. And in keeping with His covenant that He had made to Abraham, God would gather a remnant from those far reaches and would return them to the Promised Land. And as these exiles returned to the land given to them by God, they then would acknowledge God as sovereign, would remove the detestable idols in their midst, and would be singularly focused in their devotion to the Lord. No longer would they have a hardened, stubborn heart of rebellion; rather, their hearts would be softened and receptive to God and His law. They would understand that rather than asserting their own wills (and in effect attempting to declare themselves their own lords), they would capitulate their selfish wills to God and surrender to His rightful reign over them.
This is a great word for us, for we recognize in these Israelites of Ezekiel's day our own proclivity toward rebellion and an assertion of our own quest for lordship. All of us have attempted to ururp God's rightful reign in our lives by sinning against Him. And as God brought judgment in the lives of the Israelites of Ezekiel's day to punishment them for their treason, so too God will not let us go unpunished for our rebellion against Him. Sin always brings the righteous wrath of the King of Kings, and we know that this wrath has been displayed not only in the curse of physical death for us, but also eternal separation from Him.
Were this the end of the story, it would paint a rather bleak future for us all. But this is where the love of God has been displayed through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because Jesus loves us and desired to show to us the "fullest extent of His love" (John 13:1), He came to the earth to die on a cross and pay the sin penalty that we could not pay ourselves. And by His glorious resurrection, He displayed His victory over sin and death and affords to us the opportunity of forgiveness and restoration with the Father. So too, God initiates a redemptive work in our lives by transforming our calloused hearts into softened, receptive hearts so that we will be responsive to His offering of grace. And for those who would receive such a precious salvation as this, God promises to be our God. He will grant to us the hope of eternal life with Him in His marvelous Promised Land.
Let us not be like the rebellious Israelites that determined to live their own lives the way that they desired and to worship whatever gods they chose. Instead, let us respond to God's lovingkindness ultimately displayed through His Son. And as we see our hearts becoming hearts of flesh, let us surrender our lives and our wills to His reign over us. Let us live our lives as an expression of awe and gratitude that we have not been left to the consequences of our sins. Let us praise the Lord, who is rich in love and mercy and who desires to be our God for all eternity.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Does the Lord Cause Disaster?
Amos 3:6: "When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?"
The prophet Amos lived around 760 BC and was called to herald God's warnings of judgment to those in the region of Judah. Israel during that day was in a spirit of optimism and confidence, because they had experienced much prosperity during the robust reign of Jeroboam II (786-746 BC). Yet, just like generations before them, these people were swayed into worshipping pagan gods like the Canaanite storm god, Baal, who the pagan nations believed was responsible for fertility and great agricultural harvests. These Israelites too began to manipulate and abuse the egalitarian, covenantal stipulations found in the law, by embracing the feudal practices of the pagan nations. Suddenly, those who were with much financial means began to exploit the needy and impoverished, and a deep chasm opened between the exceptionally rich and the poor. It was for this reason that the prophet Amos (whose name means "load" or "burden") was summoned by God to warn the people of His imminent judgment if they did not repent of their idolatry, wickedness, and exploitation.
As Amos began his proclamation first against the neighboring pagan nations around Israel, one can imagine the smug, arrogant disposition of the people of Judah. After all, they were God's chosen people. They weren't expecting any such proclamation from a prophet of God, for they believed that they were immune from any punitive decrees from God. But suddenly, their pompous demeanor would change when the summary judgment would be decreed against them too. God through His prophet indicted the Israelites for "selling the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals . . . trampling on the heads of the poor, denying justice to the oppressed." So too they were excoriated by the prophet of God for engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior, thereby "profaning (God's) holy name." In their houses of sacred worship, the people of Judah brazenly enjoyed the bounty of their exploitations of others. And they even caused those who had vowed abstinence for God to break their vows, and they threatened any prophet who would decry or protest what they were doing.
In response to the people's wickedness and sacrilege, God would burst forth in His proclamation much like a roaring lion ready to attack its prey (1:2). He decreed that He would crush the wayward Israelites like a "cart crushes when loaded with grain" (2:13). God too reminded the people that they once were helpless and in utter dispair in bondage to the Egyptians, but God in His mercy rescued them and set them on a pilgrimage toward the Promised Land. They were the esteemed people of all the earth, and they should have responded with awe, thankfulness, and obedience; however, they chose to treat His favor and His blessings (which brought prosperity) with disdainful contempt. They were so brazen that they held religious feasts to God, offering burnt offerings to Him in an attempt to validate their supposed spirituality; but God was angered by their insidious acts of sacrilege. He told them to stop their ridulous singing and perfunctory worship. He did not want any of it, since their lives were full of injustice and righteousness. And it is for this duplicity that God vowed to punish them for all their sins (3:2). Even though the people were reaping the blessings of prosperity at the time of Amos' proclamations from God, the day was coming when God's wrath would overtake them, bringing disaster.
This is a good word for us today. We as a nation have received many blessings from the Lord, as we have experienced a level of prosperity and abundance like no other time in history. Still, if we were honest with ourselves, we can see how very similar to the people of Judah we are behaving as a nation. The way in which our nation treats God with contempt (even though many go through the perfunctory rituals of worship), and the way we exploit each other for personal gain is the indicting evidence that God will use against us, unless we repent and return to Him. We must once again embrace justice and righteousness, and appreciate that our liberation from the bondage of sin has come through His death and resurrection. His grace has given us hope, so let us repent of our waywardness and our exploitations, and turn again to the Lord. God is full of love and mercy, and He will pardon our sins and restore unto us the blessedness of His divine favor. If we forsake such an offering of forgiveness, we can only expect a coming day when disaster from the Lord will overtake us.
The prophet Amos lived around 760 BC and was called to herald God's warnings of judgment to those in the region of Judah. Israel during that day was in a spirit of optimism and confidence, because they had experienced much prosperity during the robust reign of Jeroboam II (786-746 BC). Yet, just like generations before them, these people were swayed into worshipping pagan gods like the Canaanite storm god, Baal, who the pagan nations believed was responsible for fertility and great agricultural harvests. These Israelites too began to manipulate and abuse the egalitarian, covenantal stipulations found in the law, by embracing the feudal practices of the pagan nations. Suddenly, those who were with much financial means began to exploit the needy and impoverished, and a deep chasm opened between the exceptionally rich and the poor. It was for this reason that the prophet Amos (whose name means "load" or "burden") was summoned by God to warn the people of His imminent judgment if they did not repent of their idolatry, wickedness, and exploitation.
As Amos began his proclamation first against the neighboring pagan nations around Israel, one can imagine the smug, arrogant disposition of the people of Judah. After all, they were God's chosen people. They weren't expecting any such proclamation from a prophet of God, for they believed that they were immune from any punitive decrees from God. But suddenly, their pompous demeanor would change when the summary judgment would be decreed against them too. God through His prophet indicted the Israelites for "selling the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals . . . trampling on the heads of the poor, denying justice to the oppressed." So too they were excoriated by the prophet of God for engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior, thereby "profaning (God's) holy name." In their houses of sacred worship, the people of Judah brazenly enjoyed the bounty of their exploitations of others. And they even caused those who had vowed abstinence for God to break their vows, and they threatened any prophet who would decry or protest what they were doing.
In response to the people's wickedness and sacrilege, God would burst forth in His proclamation much like a roaring lion ready to attack its prey (1:2). He decreed that He would crush the wayward Israelites like a "cart crushes when loaded with grain" (2:13). God too reminded the people that they once were helpless and in utter dispair in bondage to the Egyptians, but God in His mercy rescued them and set them on a pilgrimage toward the Promised Land. They were the esteemed people of all the earth, and they should have responded with awe, thankfulness, and obedience; however, they chose to treat His favor and His blessings (which brought prosperity) with disdainful contempt. They were so brazen that they held religious feasts to God, offering burnt offerings to Him in an attempt to validate their supposed spirituality; but God was angered by their insidious acts of sacrilege. He told them to stop their ridulous singing and perfunctory worship. He did not want any of it, since their lives were full of injustice and righteousness. And it is for this duplicity that God vowed to punish them for all their sins (3:2). Even though the people were reaping the blessings of prosperity at the time of Amos' proclamations from God, the day was coming when God's wrath would overtake them, bringing disaster.
This is a good word for us today. We as a nation have received many blessings from the Lord, as we have experienced a level of prosperity and abundance like no other time in history. Still, if we were honest with ourselves, we can see how very similar to the people of Judah we are behaving as a nation. The way in which our nation treats God with contempt (even though many go through the perfunctory rituals of worship), and the way we exploit each other for personal gain is the indicting evidence that God will use against us, unless we repent and return to Him. We must once again embrace justice and righteousness, and appreciate that our liberation from the bondage of sin has come through His death and resurrection. His grace has given us hope, so let us repent of our waywardness and our exploitations, and turn again to the Lord. God is full of love and mercy, and He will pardon our sins and restore unto us the blessedness of His divine favor. If we forsake such an offering of forgiveness, we can only expect a coming day when disaster from the Lord will overtake us.
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