Daily content

Men,

I am now posting most days to the blog at Crossroad Church.  You can find more content there but I am no longer going to be posting here except for occasional entries. 

Get the Great Exchange Tract (GET)!

The Great Exchange Tract

Men- Click and download this tract and open it in ibooks for an easy to use digital tract!

Today will be day number 1 of street evangelism.  I will be planning more events this summer but call me if you want to join today.  1pm Beach blvd on the beach path in HB!

Soli Deo Gloria!

June 6

Deuteronomy 10; Psalm 94; Isaiah 38; Revelation 8

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 101: TO WHOM IS BAPTISM TO BE ADMINISTERED?
Answer: Baptism is to be administered to all those who actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ; and to no other.
Scripture: Acts 2:38; 8:12, 36; 10:47, 48; Matthew 3:6; Mark 16:16.

Deuteronomy 10

Circumcise your heart (Deut 10:16)…I will circumcise their hearts (Deut 30:6; Rom 2:29).  I will harden Pharoah’s heart (Ex 4:21, 7:3, 9:12, 10:1, 10:20, 27, 11:10, 14:4, 8)…Pharaoh sinfully hardened his own heart (Ex 8:15, 32, 9:34; 1 Sam 6:6).  Your ways are higher than my ways O God.  The antinomy of your sovereignty and human responsibility is surely hidden from me and is beyond my comprehension to reconcile, but I trust that both are true and that you are just and the justifier! 

Psalm 94

v 12-15.  The LORD will not forsake his people and his law will serve its purpose for us.  He will discipline us and train us according to his perfect law.  Note that the law is not cast aside in order to not abandon us...but it is righteousness and justice that indeed has accomplished our salvation.  Because Jesus was utterly forsaken on the cross, we who trust in Jesus will never be forsaken.  Thank you Lord for your holy law and for your Son's perfect fulfillment of this law on our behalf!  Make us more like Jesus each day O God.

Isaiah 38

I focus on verses 18-19 and I notice that God is indeed the God of the living!  Compare to Rom 13:7-12 and Matthew 22:31-32.

Revelation 8

The 30 minutes of silence stands out to me.  The worship stops.  The living creatures and elders and the church and the angels are silent for 30 minutes…wow.  The judgment of God being poured out upon the earth is serious.  Serious enough to bring darkness and an earthquake upon the earth at Calvary.


Soli Deo Gloria!

May 23

Numbers 32; Psalm 77; Isaiah 24; 1 John 2

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 100: WHAT IS BAPTISM?
Answer: Baptism is a holy ordinance, in which immersion in the water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, signifies our being joined to Christ and our sharing the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.

Scripture: Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:27.

Numbers 32

This chapter seems to be a near tragedy that is resolved by the heads of Gad, Rueben, and Manasseh agreeing to fight with the rest of the nation when they cross the Jordan but they have requested the land on the east side of the river due to it being excellent land for livestock.  Moses explains to the men that the same trouble plagued the nation 40 years ago and was the cause of their wandering and he warns them that “If you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness…”.  This puts responsibility on the shoulders of the people to keep their part of the covenant but the unilateral nature of this covenant from Gen 15 comes out when Jer 32:40 is considered and we see that God intends to put in them a fear that will indeed keep the true Jews (circumcised of heart- the remnant within) faithful.  In the end Moses agrees to the plan and the three tribes (two and one-half) will return to this land and meet up with their wives and children after Canaan is conquered and the rest of the nation receives their inheritance.

Psalm 77

Asaph looks to recall the mighty works of God recorded in his Word when he feels a sense that God is quiet and that he is not currently seeing his hand at work.  Perhaps at the end of the Psalm he realizes that God is at work but his footprints are not seen right now…though he leads even now by the hand as he did in the days of Jacob and Moses and Aaron.

Isaiah 24

A picture of the last days where God judges the world and all his creation, including the angels.  He speaks of them being shut up in a prison before being punished as in the millennial description.  So are they shut up in prison for many days now?  Is it yet to come?  In what sense are they shut up?  There are a number of views here regarding end times and the ESVSB summarizes them (including diagrams) in the introduction to Revelation.

1 John 2

Sometimes making a brief outline of a chapter may help us to rephrase the teaching and to consider the relationships of the statements and may instigate some reflection and further searching of the scriptures. Here is such an outline for 1 John 2 from today...

1. Do not sin. (v1)
2. Christ is our advocate (representative) and our propitiation (peacemaker) when we (all believers, not just Jews) do sin. (v1-2)
3. Those who know him long to keep his commands from an obedience of faith…a love for our king. (v3-6)
4. If Christ is in you, you will love your brothers…we are one body (v7-11)
5. Spiritual teaching from youth to the end of life (v12-14)
   
   1. Milk for children is knowing the Father loves them and has forgiven them… and not based on their own merit
   2. Strength for life and growth is abiding in the Word and standing firm in holiness
   3. The end state of fathers is resting in the knowledge of God and his redemption, planned from the beginning, that came from the Father, was accomplished by the Son, and was applied by the Spirit. I am thinking a big picture understanding of where we fit in God's grand story.
6. The child of God cannot love the world, rather he does the will of God (v15-17)
   
   1. True children remain and false are exposed in time…enter by the gate! (v18-19)
7. The Father and Son are one and the Son cannot be denied (trinity) without denying the Father (v20-23)
   
   1. Abide in the Father and in the Son for eternal life (v24-25)
8. You have what you need in his Word and you need no teacher to tell you other than what has been revealed (v26-27)
9. Children…abide and grow strong that you will not shrink back and that you will have no reason for shame at his coming…for his children practice righteousness. (v28-29)

Soli Deo Gloria!

May 21

Numbers 30; Psalm 74; Isaiah 22; 2 Peter 3

Romans 7:21-23 tonight at Crossroad at 6:30.  All are welcomed!

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 99: HOW DO BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER DIFFER FROM
THE OTHER ORDINANCES OF GOD?

Answer: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper differ from the other ordinances of God in that they were specially instituted by Christ to represent and apply to believers the benefits of the new covenant by visible and outward signs.
Scripture: Acts 22:16; Matthew 26:26-28; 28:19; Romans 6:4.

Numbers 30

This chapter covers the topic of vows for women who live under the authority of a man in their home in the context of father and also husband.  The headship here depicted gives the man the authority to nullify or establish vows on behalf of the woman, but he must nullify the vows as soon as he learns of them or else he will bear the iniquity of turning her back on them later.  Interesting concepts here.  Authority brings responsibility.  Submission brings protection. 

Psalm 74

Asaph straight-up asks God to take his hand out of his pockets and to come help.  In this Psalm he is clearly weary and feels like God has been silent and inactive in the current situation.  He speaks of God’s past actions and he speaks of his might as if to instigate God to take powerful action again.  Teach us O God how to come before you with humble contrite hearts that long for you and that love to see your hand in action.  Teach us to be jealous for your name and how to call upon you for the sake of it.

Isaiah 22

I take note in this chapter of verses 12-14.  In verse 12 God is calling for his people to mourn and to weep for their condition.  He is calling for a brokenness and a contrition, but they do not offer this.  Instead, they offer a party in verse 13.  The response of the people is to ignore God and to presume that he is powerless and they seem settled to enjoy whatever fleeting thing they can as they perceive no hope beyond what they have immediate control over.  Paul refers to this exact thing in 1 Cor 15:32 when he considers the implications if Christ has actually not raised from the dead.  Paul uses the same phrase in doing so he declares that without a resurrection we have no hope in God and we are on our own and that there would be no reason at all to follow the precepts that we thought were from God but that we would be best served by seeking whatever fleeting pleasure we could find.  His point is not to do this but it is to highlight the importance of the resurrection and the exceeding value of its historical truth.  If Christ is not who he claimed then we are lost!  Our entire hope is upon his identity and his work. 

2 Peter 3

     v1.  Peter intends to remind the reader of truth and a to spur them to meditate upon and consider it for the motivation of their own mind and for their sincere devotion to Christ.
     v2.  Here Peter teaches that the Apostles issue commands on behalf of the Lord.
Peter urges us to remember that things have not simply cruised along unchanged but God actually destroyed all life on the planet because of wickedness so we should not now consider that he would tolerate it forever.  True, he will not destroy life on earth by a flood…but he will do it by fire.
     v9.  The promise mentioned here in verse 9 is a promise of wrath and judgment upon sin and wickedness.  He is patient in delivering this promise for the sake of the elect.  He wants to gather his church before unleashing final judgement (Rom 11:25).  This verse is commonly used to suggest that God does not elect certain people unto salvation and that each individual is autonomous and they determine their fate based upon their choice to repent or not.  I concur that there is a clear desire on the part of God that all would come to repentance but that this means we are autonomous and that his internal effectual call is not required for this repentance cannot be taken from this (in my opinion).  His desire that we should come to repentance must be reconciled with the fact that we do not all come to repentance and therefore it seems that there is some alternative desire in God that keeps him from exercising his authority and power to bring about precisely what he desires.  One answer could be the glory of his purpose of election (Rom 9:11) and another answer could be the glory of his purpose in human autonomy.  There is the fork in the road.
     v11.  What sort of people ought we to be?  Let us hasten the coming of the day of God!  Bring on the new heavens and the new earth O God!

Soli Deo Gloria!

May 20

Numbers 29; Psalm 73; Isaiah 21; 2 Peter 2

Romans 7:21-23 tomorrow!

Tomorrow night at 6:30pm I will be preaching from Romans 7 at Crossroad Church in Tustin.  Come join us if you like.  2472 Walnut cross of Tustin Ranch Road.
 

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 98: HOW DO BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER BECOME EFFECTIVE MEANS OF SALVATION?
Answer: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper become effective means of salvation, not from any virtue in them or in him that administers them, but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in those who by faith receive them.
Scripture: 1 Peter 3:21; 1 Corinthians 3:6, 7; 12:13.

Numbers 29

This chapter is devoted to the specific offerings to be made for the feast of trumpets, the day of atonement, and the feast of booths.  Various quantities of animals to be sacrificed and various grain and drink offerings and fasting and no work on certain days.  Passover was in the first month so here we are six months later entering into another series of feasts to observe.  The Feast of Booths is a seven day event whereas the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement were only single day affair.  About 10-11 days out of the seventh month were devoted to these ceremonial observances.

Psalm 73

This Psalm is a confession by Asaph whereby he lays forth his repentant heart and describes the thoughts he was having as he watched the wicked being blessed and fat and happy even in their folly.  He was bitter of heart and was questioning God's goodness and provision (implied).  He was certainly envious.  He was looking horizontally and allowing himself to have a sinful attitude where he thought it was in vain that he had kept his heart clean and had innocent hands…ironically, he no longer was doing this due to this heart attitude.  He felt like God was striking him and rebuking him and he couldn't tell anyone he was having this struggle.  In verse 16 he turns to God and seeks him and in verse 17 he receives an answer and he begins to understand his heart and the fate of the foolish.  He realized how sinful he was when he was in the former state and he acknowledges how the Lord brought him through and restored his heart.  He then exults and extols the Lord in praise and in reliance in the ever glorious words of verse 25-26.  He has nothing but God and that is more than enough because God is his strength and God is his portion so he need not be concerned with anyone who has lesser things for he has everything!  He rejoices in being near that Lord because God is his refuge so that he can tell of His works rather than rely on his own story.  Thank you for the Psalm of Asaph in Psalm 73 Lord and for his heart turn to you after being envious of evil doers.  He demonstrates that repentance can be sweet and that our heart attitudes matter greatly and that you will rescue us from such attitudes when we come to you broken and contrite and acknowledging our sin.  And it is not so much about resolving against the sin as it is seeking you in your sanctuary O God (Rom 6:13).  May you put his restored heart in me as well Lord that I might see you as all my portion and that you alone would be the strength of my heart because anything else will fail me and leave me bitter and disappointed or disillusioned. 

2 Peter 2

I grab one point specifically from this reading in chapter 2.  Peter calls out false teachers who would teach believers to embrace sensual passions.  He says that these teachers are deceived and have eyes full of adultery and they are insatiable for sin.  They are slaves of corruption teaching slavery as freedom!  May we never let our ears be tickled by teachers who would abandon the clear teaching of the Bible against sensuality outside the bond of marriage, as defined by God.  Let us rejoice that although we live in a depraved culture that celebrates sin, we know that our God knows how to deliver us from under this influence (2 Pet 2:9)!

Soli Deo Gloria!

May 17

Numbers 26; Psalm 69; Isaiah 16; 1 Peter 4

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 97: HOW IS THE WORD TO BE READ AND HEARD THAT IT MAY BECOME EFFECTIVE FOR SALVATION?
Answer: That the Word may become effective for salvation we must attend to it with diligence, preparation and prayer, receive it in faith and love, lay it up in our hearts and practice it in our lives.
Scripture: Proverbs 8:34; 1 Peter 2:1, 2; 1 Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 2:1, 3; 4:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:10; Psalm 119:11; James 1:21, 25.

Numbers 26

So 24,000 Israelites die by the plague in chapter 25 due to their worship of Baal.  Now in chapter 26 God calls for them to take a census of the people and Moses learns that only Caleb and Joshua and himself remain from all the generation that wandered in the wilderness after the rebellion in chapter 14 where they refused to go into Canaan due to the bad report of the spies.  Now the time has come!  The only thing is that Moses also cannot enter.  In Num 20:12 God declared that Moses and Aaron would not enter the land due to their sin.  So now we are staged for the new generation to enter the promised land again (remember that Abraham was already there in Genesis 13:12 and Jacob took the family to Egypt in order to survive the famine).  We learn in Num 20:11 that Korah’s sons did not die in the earth splitting open event so reviewing that text in chapter 16 shows that the sons of Dathan and Abiram (his cohorts in the rebellion) appeared to have been at their side and likely died but the sons of Korah are not explicitly stated to have been present.  Good thing, since their lineage becomes part of King David’s praise band (Ps 42:title; etc.)! 

Psalm 69

This Psalm is drawn upon by Paul (Rom 15:3, 11:9-10), and John (John 2:17, 15:25, ) and it depicts some occurrences in the death of Jesus (e.g., Ps 69:21).  But the real meat seem to be verses 29 to the end.  Praise and thanks are given to God and there is a sacrifice being spoken of that will be better than those blood sacrifices offered in the past.  David surely speaks of offering thanksgiving (Ps 50:14) but those who see the sacrifice of Christ with humility will be glad and their hearts will be revived (Ps 69:30-32)…indeed!  At Ps 69:35-36 there is reference to offspring inheriting the occupation of the City of God and it seems similar to enduring "for the joy set before him” (Heb 12:2) and this being the seeing of the offspring to come in Jesus' inheritance of the saints (Is 53:10-11).

1 Peter 4

Taking this chapter broadly I see the following main points.  First a theme of the flesh suffering and dying and being afflicted but that the spirit of the man is entrusted to God and is blessed in the dying of flesh.  Do not keep living in the flesh as you did…live no longer for human passions but for the will of God!  Here we are called to a hope in God and a longing for God and a desiring of God and a focus upon God that is opposed to the world, rather than in love with it.  1 Pet 4:6 and 1 Pet 4:2 seem related to Rom 8:10 and Rom 7:25 in the mortal body only having sin and death to offer to us (prior to is glorification) but the spirit having the ability to live for God.  Every person who hears the Gospel is a dead man walking (Matt 8:22; Eph 2:1; Col 2:13) but he can respond from a place of new birth by the Spirit of God (1 Pet 3:18; Eph 2:5; 1 Cor 15:22).  Use your gifts for the time is short and the end is coming.  Verse 11 urges the servant of the Lord to serve in the strength he provides and not to rely on his own abilities or cunning.  He is to speak as one speaking the oracles of God and this cannot be done when he is filling thrust of the message with stories from his life or with current opinions or with news or with surveys or with other content that is not from the inspired Word of God.  Expect the difficult trial and rejoice when you suffer because you share with Christ and you are thus united in a death like his and the promise is a resurrection like his (Rom 6:5) when his glory is revealed.  Compare 1 Pet 4:13 with Romans 8:17.  Do not suffer for ungodly behavior but suffer for no reason or for standing for Christ and know that your suffering is in accord with the will of God and entrust your soul to him for he is doing you good!  Rom 8:28, Eph 1:11, Jer. 32:40-41.  It seems there is no explicit promise in 1 Peter about suffering being God’s will (though surely part of his will in the form of discipline or teaching) when it is for unrighteousness (1 Pet 2:20, 3:17, 4:15) but surely we see that when suffering comes as a result of following God, this is God’s will (1 Pet 4:19)!

Soli Deo Gloria!

May 14

Numbers 23; Psalms 64-65; Isaiah 13; 1 Peter 1

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 96: HOW IS THE WORD MADE EFFECTIVE FOR SALVATION?
Answer: The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto salvation.
Scripture: Psalm 19:7; 119:11, 18; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:1, 2; Romans 1:16.

Numbers 23

Interesting that Balaam continues to go along with Balak on this tour of Moab.  It seems expressed by God here through Balaam that when he sets his will upon blessing a people…this shall come to pass (Is 46:10).  There is no buying of the favor of the LORD.  There is no turning of the LORD against his people.  There is no coming against the plan and covenant and love of God (Ps 33:11; Deut 7:9; Rom 8:38-39). 

Psalms 64-65

The righteous, those who trust in the LORD, will rejoice and take refuge in God because they know that he will deliver them.  They are satisfied with God (Ps 65:4) and they recognize the work of Christ as their hope (Ps 65:5).  The creation that he has made sings his praise and offers provision to his people and gives revelation of his eternal power and divine nature (Rom 1:20).  

Isaiah 13

The ESVSB and the title of the section indicates that this prophecy is about the judgement of Babylon but there are verses that seem to indicate a more end time judgement of God.  Verse 5 says the host coming for battle come from the end opt the heavens and they will destroy the whole land.  Sounds like the great Day of the Lord vs. a lesser judgement of a day past in Israel's history at this point to me.
v9.  Presents his judgement and the pouring of wrath and the destruction of sinners.
v11.  He will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity.
v16.  Very serious description of the violent wrath that is to come upon them
v20-22.  Describes desolation resulting and only animals living in what was babylon…

1 Peter 1

     v1-2.  The opening straight up goes right after the providence of God and an immediate understanding that all is in his hands and he is not unawares of our suffering.  There is a call to obedience that is to be brought by the purification process we see in suffering!  Their election is announced to be by the foreknowledge of God and for obedience to Jesus.  He acknowledges that the full trinitarian involvement with purpose in our struggles.  God plans that we will rely on his Spirit to sustain us to obedience and devotion to Christ!
     v3.  The resurrection of Christ “caused” us to be born again into a living hope!  And it is by mercy- we are all from the same lump.  This agrees with the Pauline theology of the mercy of God being the active agent in salvation as we are all from the same corrupt and guilty mass of humanity.  Romans 9:14-21
     v4.  This new birth ushered us into an inheritance that is indestructible
     v5.  We are being guarded by God’s power but the weapon he wields to guard us is our faith!  Wow- secure but directly involved and such our faith remaining is key to the power of God being evidenced.  More so the salvation is not really revealed until the end!  No false hope!  With the context of the letter it is likely that this was not to warn half hearted believers as much as to excite the believers to look forward the the salvation that will be revealed sometime ahead that they are having a hard time seeing in the midst of their persecution.
     v6.  This supports my previous point.  Rejoice in your hope of future redemption even though you suffer for a little while.
     v7  The faith that God is using to hold us secure (related to the Holy Spirit no doubt) is tested in these trials and is shown to be true!  And this to the glory of God since it is from him and not our own!  This revelation of Jesus Christ could refer to the end times but might better here be said to be the manifesting of Jesus in their life and the unseen sight of him at work in them and their resulting joy and hope.
     v8.  This verse support my point above about joy from hope.
     v9.  The outcome of this tested and abounding faith that is God’s gift and assurance is the final salvation of our souls- now indeed referencing the end times.
     v10-12.  He here establishes that the prophets discerned that they were writing for our benefit some time in the future and that they and the angels both longed to see these things come to be.
     v13 and forward…Here is it seems the revelation of Jesus Christ is future indeed and he is urging them to set their minds there on the future grace and the unseen (like Paul).  Also like Paul here he is urging that they not return to their former passions but to holiness by this setting of their mind upon their future redemption and knowledge of Jesus.  In this they will be prepared for action and sober minded like a good soldier.  This fits the persecution they are suffering.  Stand firm!  Hold your ground!  If we call upon him we ought to walk in obedience to him rather than live like the people attacking us and expect that he will deliver us from them when we are alike.  We came into this future hope by adopted inheritance as we were strangers (like Paul asserts in Ephesians).  It was Christ that brought us in (nigh) by ransom payment.
     v20.  The Son’s taking on of humanity and his death was foreknown before the ages and thus the book of the Lamb and the election of his church before they were even created.
     v21.  We are believers through Christ…he has given us the belief by a mighty work of obedience and sacrifice.
     v22-25.  Because we have been born again into this imperishable hope, which keeps due to the living and abiding Word of God (Christ in us and his Word being our daily bread), we are purified and obedient to truth (obedience of faith in Romans) and this leads to sincere brotherly love from a pure heart.  So love one another during this time and be strengthened by the Word of God!  All flesh will wither but your hope will remain.

Soli Deo Gloria!

May 13

Numbers 22; Psalms 62-63; Isaiah 11-12; James 5

Daily Cateshism

QUESTION 95: WHAT ARE THE OUTWARD AND ORDINARY MEANS BY WHICH CHRIST COMMUNICATES TO US THE BENEFITS OF REDEMPTION?
Answer: The outward and ordinary means by which Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are his ordinances, especially the Word, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper and Prayer; all of which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.
Scripture: Romans 10:17; James 1:18; 1 Corinthians 3:5; Acts 14:1; 2:41, 42.

Numbers 22

Here is the infamous speaking donkey.  Balaam seems to be a man who has had influence on others and has been a non-Israelite prophet of sorts.  Although he worshiped other gods, it seems that he had demonstrated some kind of “power” in his blessing or cursing of others.  Here he prays to the living God and asks permission to curse this people who came out of Egypt and is denied.   The strange back and forth of his welcoming the messengers and going with them after first declaring that he would not in response to God’s direction seems reconciled by Peter in 2 Peter 2:15 where he makes it clear that Balaam was interested in the money more than in following God’s direction.  So we have someone who has a front of submission and or prayerful engagement with God but down deep he is motivated by greed.  Verse 20-22 are hard to reconcile because it seems that God gives his direction to go (odd in itself) and then judges him for going immediately.  So is God tricking Balaam?  No.  God does not tempt us (Jas 1:13).  Taking scripture as unified we must find another answer to this paradox.  “Go…I am angry that you went?”  Remember the directions in verse 20…”If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”  Perhaps Balaam set out with a mindset not of doing the LORD’s bidding but of obtaining the price that was being offered.  Ultimately God makes it clear to Balaam that he has been blinded by greed (Can’t see the angel) and he was nearly killed if it were not for the Donkey’s sense of survival that saved him.  God uses many means to accomplish his will and he does not need anything more than a rock to sing his praises or a Donkey to reveal his will.  Balaam needed a heart check in order to keep him from falling to the greed that was in his heart.  Praise God that he sends hardship or other things into our lives in order to keep us from making dumb errors as well.  Praise God that he knows our hearts and he trains us if we will just see and hear and surrender.  If we wait until times get tough to be in a habit of listening and meeting with God then it may take a donkey to get our attention. 

Psalms 62-63

The psalmist in these two psalms waits upon the LORD in his distress.  He does not depend upon his strength or cunning but he waits upon the LORD and focuses and setting his heart to worship.  He feels battered and attacked by the lies of those who would want to throw him down from his rule.  He is relying on God to be his rock and the foundation, not his own righteousness.  He urges the people of God to trust the LORD even in circumstances like this.  He warns against becoming comfortable and putting stock in riches if they come by the grace of God.  Psalm 63:1 is a great picture of the heart of a man who loves God and knows that he alone can satisfy.  Ps 63:3 establishes a foundation for Paul to say in Philippians 1:21 “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Restated it might be said like this- "There is nothing life can give me and nothing death can take from me that is more valuable than the steadfast love of the LORD!”  The psalmist wants to feast upon the LORD (Ps 63:5; John 6:54-56).  He meditates upon the LORD in the watches of the night!  There is no time that it is inconvenient for his to seek the LORD.  He does not have trouble finding time to meet with God because his soul clings to him as his very life.  In the end he returns to his troubles and he expresses assurance that the LORD will claim victory over David’s enemies and that their lying mouths will be stopped. 

Isaiah 11-12

11 is a difficult chapter in many ways and the prophecy can be understood as fulfilled and yet to be fulfilled or it can be taken very broadly as Calvin takes it in his commentary on Isaiah.  The dispensational view of Dallas (BKC) suggests certainly a pure national Israel view of this prophecy and speaks mainly of past events in the return of Israel and the unification of the northern and southern tribes.  Yet then a future return in the beginning of the millennium.
     v1-5. So a shoot from the stump of Jesse probably speaks of David (shoot) and Jesus being the branch from his roots (Jesse's root being Abraham).  Israel is the root and so salvation is only found here in this family.  We must become Jews by inward circumcision of the heart!  This branch, unlike any other, will bear fruit because it abides and it does not dry up.  However the imagery is specifically seen, the idea is doubly presented that David will come and that Christ will come.
     v 2-5 seem primarily to apply to Christ as it mentions judging not by what he sees or hears and that the rod of his mouth shall strike the earth and such.  Here the armor of God that Paul visualizes in Eph 6 is partially revealed in the belt of his waist and the belt of his loins.  Righteousness rests upon faithfulness in this imagery as the breastplate of righteousness rests upon the belt of truth by Paul.  There is no mention of armor that is faithfulness in the NT so perhaps truth is a restatement of what is here faithfulness.  Rom 15:8 says that Jesus came as a servant of the jews to show God's truthfulness.  His truthfulness is here reference to him keeping his promises.  This can easily be equated to faithfulness and certainly faithfulness rests on the concept of truth.
     v6-9.  Here some imagery is presented that can represent actual animals maybe in the new heaven and earth or perhaps nations in the millennial kingdom.  Either way the point is clear for our use today…Jesus changes everything!  He indeed is the prince of peace.
     v10.  Here Jesus is setup as a signal for all of salvation and people from all nations come to him.  He draws his sheep from the whole world.  Jn 3:16.
     v11.  He extends his hand a second time…perhaps this is reference to the first extension being declined by his people and thus their sin resulted in salvation coming to the gentiles (Rom 10:21, 11:11).  This second time perhaps is specifically for the remnant and is effectual as was his drawing of the elect from the gentiles and Israel (Rom 11:7).  This can be a full saving of Israel as in Rom 11:26.  Here he refers to the remnant that remains of his people.
     v12-16.  He speaks of a return and a unification of the tribes and of nothing stopping this and yet Christ is setup as the force brining them together so perhaps it is accurately taken by Calvin as working across time and ages rather or if I had to choose then I would put it future since Christ was not a signal to the OT jews who returned from exile.  He speaks of assembling the banished of Israel and this could easily be the "rejected" in Rom 11:15 are here accepted and this is ushering the resurrection from the dead in the coming of judgement day now that the sons of God have been fully revealed (Rom 8:19) and now the creation is ready to be freed from bondage and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God (Rom 8:21).  The reference of Israel leaving Egypt is more telling of complete salvation than crossing the Jordan similarly on dry land as some tribes did not enter the promised land but remained transjordanian.

Chapter 12  picks up in that day where they are delivered across the river and God is their deliverance and they will give thanks.
     v1.  We will recognize that God was rightfully angry but that he has turned his anger away in order to comfort me. 
     v2.  Behold, this great God who holds me accountable for my sin has now become my salvation!  I need not be afraid if I will but trust him because he is my strength and my song.  He is my rock and my joy.  He is my foundation and my hope. 
     v3.  With joy will I draw from the wells of salvation!  I will receive from the endless provision of this great God. 
     v4.  Then I will say again to all who will listen…give thanks to the LORD all you who fear and are weighted with sin.  For you can call upon him now in your despair.  I shall make known his deeds in how he has delivered me from my sin and from hopelessness.  I will proclaim that his name is exalted!  Yes, he is trustworthy and true and powerful and he is a God of action. 
    v5.  I will praise him because he has done glorious things and he has shown us his power and his love.  Let us take this message and create worshipers across this world!
    v6.  Shout and sing for you are now citizens in the City of God as members if his family by gracious adoption.  And you are near, not far…you have been brought near to the Holy One of Israel by the blood of the lamb (Eph 2:13)!

James 5

A few points made here about riches and suffering and faith and about restoration.  There is the famous verse about Elijah being a man of our same nature and yet his prayer was powerful.  Also the slightly difficult verse about the prayer of a righteous person is powerful as it is working.  Hmmm…as it is working.  Also here is let your yes be yes and do not swear on anything.  However there are places elsewhere where it is clear that this is a general thing and not an absolute command against all oaths…but against false oaths for sure.  There is also the bit about returning a sinner form his wandering and how his soul is saved from death and a multitude of sins are covered.  We must come back from our wandering because in the end our faith must prevail since the love of God has been poured into our hearts…if the love of God has been poured into our hearts (Rom 5:5; 8:9).

Soli Deo Gloria!

May 12

Numbers 21; Psalms 60-61; Isaiah 10:5-34; James 4

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 94: WHAT IS REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE?
Answer: Repentance unto life is a saving grace, by which a sin- ner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, does, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it to God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.
Scripture: Acts 2:37; Joel 2:13; Jeremiah 31:18, 19; 2 Corinthians 7:10, 11; Romans 6:18.

Numbers 21

In this chapter Israel becomes impatient and speaks against the LORD again and fiery serpents come and begin to kill those in the camp.  Moses prays when they come to him with repentance and asking for help.  The LORD tells Moses to put up a bronze serpent and tells him that if they are bitten, they must simply look to the serpent and believe that God will heal them and they will live.  This is referenced by John in his Gospel (John 3:14-15).  In the same way we are to trust in Jesus, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification (Rom 4:25). 

Psalms 60-61

In Psalm 60 David’s attitude and approach tells that he believes God is utterly in control of the circumstances they face.  He says that God has broken down their defenses, not the enemy.  He says that their struggles in battle is the God rejecting them.  These thoughts tell of the sovereignty of God in all things.  In 61 David recognize that his energy and zeal and strength is not boundless and that he is sometimes faint and that he needs to be relying upon God.  His image of relying upon God seems explained in verse 4 and it is dwelling in his tent.  This would be a picture of intimate communion with God.  David then prays for the kings to follow him upon the Davidic his promised unending throne.  David trusted God’s promise and leaned into praying in accord with what God said he would do.  May you cause us men to pray in accord with your promises O God and may you cause us to desire intimacy with you over the distractions of this life and may you be our refuge when we are weary.  Bless our children and may you sustain them and teach them and may you use us to train them up as you would desire.

Isaiah 10:5-34

Wow, the first verse opens with him cursing the ones who oppress the widows and orphans!  At the end of the last chapter he said that he would not have compassion on them but now he is calling woe upon the person who carries this out!  Matt 26:24- The Son of Man goes as is written but woe to the one who betrays him!  The Lord hardens but holds accountable yet.  Rom 9:18.
     v3-4.  If we turn from God then to whom do we run in our trouble!  We have only to die!
     v5-11.  He turns here to the very rod of his wrath and says that they go as he commands them.  He says that they don't do his command with hearts committed to him but with hearts devoted to themselves and to pride and to falsehood.  They are lackeys working evil and it is serving the sovereign purposes of God!
     v12.  When God has finished "his work on mount Zion and in Jerusalem", being the judgement that Assyria is waging against them…then he will judge Assyria for their pride and arrogance!
     v15.  He makes excessively clear here that the axe is not to be proud for what the axe wielder accomplishes.  The axe merely does that for which the willer wills.  Can the creature turn and wield the creator???
     v16.  He calls the Assyrians his stout warriors but announces the he will send a sickness to waste them away.  In Is 37:36 the angel of the Lord kills 185,000 Assyrians in their sleep.
     v17-19.  Depicts God judging Assyria and it is the Holy One who does it.  Perhaps this Angel of the Lord in Is 37:36 is pre-incarnate Jesus?  God is the burning source of the condemnation upon Assyria that the angel will bring.  Perhaps also this could be a reference to Calvary and the destruction of sin in one day (three hours).  Assyria is brought to nothing.
     v20-27.  He comforts Israel against worrying about what the Assyrians will do because they will be delivered and he will turn his wrath against the Assyrians.
     v33-34 he says that the Assyrians will be "loped down" with terrifying power (killed in the night)!  This was in response it would seem to Hezekiah's prayer (Isaiah 37:14-20) under threat of the Assyrian King Sennacherib.

James 4

There are a number of themes or points made in this chapter that each deserve careful study:     

1. Our sin and the battle within brings us to mistreat one another.
2. Our desires that are not for God hurt us.
3. We do not have what we need because we are not asking for what we need and when we do ask for something it is again for evil purpose of selfish ambition and collecting of the world.
4. We are adulterous people by seeking the world or considering that we might please God in law keeping.  We are the bride of Christ and should not whore ourselves to the world or to a law that we were freed from to serve and be joined to another (Rom 7:4, 6).
5. Friendship with the world is the antithesis of humble service to God and these are mutually exclusive.
6. Process and results of surrender to God.  Draw near with repentant, humble hearts and a contrite spirit...that he may draw near and exalt.
7. Slander and the inappropriate judging of brothers or of neighbors is a judging of the law...and is wrong.
8. Self confidence and boasting is to be put down in favor of relying upon the goodness of God and recognizing his work with gratitude.

Soli Deo Gloria!

May 8

Numbers 16; Psalm 52-54; Isaiah 6; Hebrews 13

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 93: WHAT IS FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST?
Answer: Faith in Jesus Christ is saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, trusting him to forgive our sins, and guide us to eternal joy, on the basis of his divine power and atoning death.
Scripture: Hebrews 10:39; John 1:12; 6:35; Philippians 3:9; Gala- tians 2:15-16, 20; Matthew 14:31.


Numbers 16 and Isaiah 6 hit us with a double dose of the holiness of God.  Our God is a consuming fire and to fear him is not optional.  His children fear him differently than his enemies but fear is a natural response to being confronted with the holiness of God in our sinful flesh.  It has been said that the more one grows in their Christian walk the more they fear God, not the less!  See how Isaiah reacts to seeing God and also see how God reacts to the lack of fear on the part of Korah and his fellow rebels…

“1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”” (Isaiah 6:1–5, ESV)

Here Isaiah fears the LORD due to his knowledge of his own sin and that of his people.  So too, our only boldness should be by the blood of the lamb (Eph 3:11-12) and not in ourselves.  The LORD looks to dwell in the humble and contrite person who trembles at his Word (Is 66:1-2).  Isaiah fit this picture as he was prostrate before Almighty God.  Do we ever imagine what it would be like to stand before Almighty God?  How would it feel to be known so thoroughly and piercingly in his presence?  How would it feel to have his knowledge go through me like an x-ray and to be completely inside out before him?  What kind of terrifying exhilaration would it be to be in the presence of the one who holds all things in existence by the Word of his power?  Surely it is only be cause our brother has gone ahead and stands at the throne that we can approach while his smile is upon us!

Contrast Isaiah’s hallowing of God with Korah’s rebellion against God’s chosen mouthpiece…

“3 They [Korah and 250 chiefs of the people] assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”” (Numbers 16:3, ESV)

The LORD indicates that he will destroy them all outright but Moses intercedes and God will only destroy the individuals (and their families) who are guilty…

“24 “Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.” 25 Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins.”” (Numbers 16:24–26, ESV)

In order that there would be no mistake in who caused the death of these men, God does it immediately and in precisely the fashion Moses declared.  There is no doubt that God takes seriously his means of revelation and the priesthood.  Judgement is swift and righteous.

“31 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.” (Numbers 16:31–33, ESV)

May we never doubt the righteous judgements of God.  May we always keep ourselves under the authority of his Word and may we always recognize our need for mercy and our reliance upon Jesus.  God is indeed holy and righteous and it is this very righteousness that would destroy us that has become our salvation in the person of Jesus Christ!

Soli Deo Gloria!

May 7

Numbers 15; Psalm 51; Isaiah 5; Hebrews 12

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 92: WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF US, THAT WE MAY ESCAPE HIS WRATH AND CURSE, DUE TO US FOR SIN?
Answer: To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption.
Scripture: Acts 20:21; 16:30, 31; 17:30.

Numbers 15

This chapter is difficult because of the concept of there being no sacrifice available for “high handed” sin.  I can take this to be the “presumptuous sin” mentioned in Ps 19:13.  It may be willful sin committed with full knowledge or maybe even pre-meditated.  But the problem is that if there was no provision in the law to bring sacrifice of atonement for this type of sin, then what does that mean under the New Covenant?  We only see blasphemy of the Holy Spirit mentioned as “unforgivable” but here this sin has no means of forgiveness and the example of the man collecting sticks makes it clear that there is no offering or atonement for this man, only death and then the judgement of God.  I can only thick that perhaps there is more to “high hand” than willful or planned…maybe it is more of an arrogant mockery of God in flaunting a choice to sin against his law as if to taunt him or challenge him.  This would fit since no child of God would do this.  There is another element here in that this law is for those in the covenant family of Israel so a foreigner who is not circumcised into the family could not commit this crime and would not be accountable for it unless they came into the family by circumcision.  This correlates to the New Covenant in that many unbelievers may do this up until the Lord gets ahold of them and converts them.  No doubt the LORD takes sin seriously and the guilty will not go unpunished (Num 14:18)…praise the name of Jesus that he bears the punishment of those who put their faith in him.

Psalm 51

This Psalm is quite well known and represents David’s confession and repentance following adultery and murder.  Considering the reading in numbers 15 it should be clear that the murder, at least, was pre-meditated and this may be an example of sin that was done willfully yet is not in the category of “high handed”.  David is guilty and Nathan has helped him to acknowledge this (2 Sam 12:9).  Now we hear the cry of David’s convicted heart and his plea for mercy.  He acknowledges that God would be perfectly just and right to punish him and this is why it is pure mercy that he asks for.  What he is concerned with before God is the sin against him not against Uriah even.  Surely he sinned against Uriah but wrapped up in that sin is a greater sin against God.  I don’t take this as David excluding any of his actions as not being sin but I think he is ascribing the highest guilt being that his sin is rebellion and enmity against the holy God of all creation.  David acknowledges that he was born into sin and teaches us of our guilt in original sin (Adam’s fall).  David is looking for relief of his pain and he is looking for a restoration of his joy and assurance and he is asking for repentance.  He asks God to give him the willing spirit that Jesus spoke of in the Garden (Ps 51:12; Matt 26:41).  He moves on to make a case that is greater than simply restoring him, but he makes a case that his restoration will result in returning other wayward sinners as well.  We see this plainly that when one person comes to grips with their sin and acknowledges it before God and man, there are others watching who walk in the same sin.  When a testimony of a brother coming to repentance is given it can be a means of grace whereby the Spirit of God moves in the heart of other men to bring them to that same place of contrition and repentance.  This is the work of the Spirit!  I harm my brothers by denying or hiding or ignoring my sin.  David seems to negate the need for sacrifices according to the plain law of God but I believe he is negating sacrifice that is given from a proud and impenitent heart.  This heart is heaping up wrath still (Rom 2:5).  David may have been speaking about the time between his sin and his current repentance…clearly in verse 19 he makes it known that there are good and right sacrifices that delight the Lord and these he will no doubt offer.  The key here is that the Lord desires that we come to a place of brokenness and acknowledging our sin and our rebellion.  We must come humble before the Lord and not as a cheap grace "box-checker" who says…"thank you may I please have another pardon?”  This is empty religion and there is no love for our savior there…where there is no love for Jesus there is no salvation (1 Cor 16:22).

Isaiah 5

This long chapter God is basically questioning Israel as to why she does not listen and why she is disobedient and why the vineyard yields wild grapes.  He declares judgement and an abandoning of the vineyard for its destruction.  This passage would have been ringing in the ears of the Pharisees as Jesus spoke in Matt 21:33ff about the vineyard and how the gentiles were given the vineyard in place of the Jews who killed the master’s servants and even his son.  He rebukes heavy drinkers who do not regard the deeds of the LORD.  Verse 13 says he sends his people into exile for "lack of knowledge" and this accords with proverbs 2 and the "knowledge of the God".  They lack a treasuring and a seeking and a knowing of God.  They squander the revelation of himself to them.  From verse 26 he could be speaking of the Assyrian exile.  Verse 16 is pretty huge- here God announces that he is exalted in justice and that the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness…this speaks to Rom 3:25-26 (vindication of righteousness) and Rom 3:4-8 (upholding of justice).  He warns those who would twist good into evil and who would call evil good.  He declares clearly that those who are great at partying are cursed…woe to them!  Same for those who are wise in their own eyes and shrewd in their own sight.  Help me O Lord to not be wise or shrewd in my own sight but make me humble and meek and reliant upon thee. 

Hebrews 12

Run the race (Heb 12:1)!  Remember what our king endured for us (Heb 12:2)!  For the joy set before him!  Let us endure as our king did…for the joy that lies ahead.  May our blessed hope give us endurance and train us to renounce ungodliness (Titus 2:11-14) as we wait for our bodily redemption (Rom 8:23-25).  Isaiah 53:10-11 indicates that our king saw his offspring…the inheritance of the saints before him (Eph 1:18; Rom 8:29)…he saw us!  And he endured for the joy of it.  May the love of our savior warm our hearts and put fire in our souls.  He bore our shame and guilt for the joy of knowing that he was saving his bride.  Let us not pretend that we have suffered as he did (Heb 12:4).  Know that discipline comes for our good...for our holiness (Heb 12:10-11).  Be strengthened by your consideration of Jesus and by the unshakeable kingdom that he has established (Heb 12:3, 12, 28).  Don’t quench the Spirit but listen to him and hallow the name of God and receive his guidance (Heb 12:25).  Offer true worship from the heart (Heb 12:28-29)! 


Soli Deo Gloria!

May 6

Numbers 14; Psalm 50; Isaiah 3-4; Hebrews 11

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 91: WHAT DOES EVERY SIN DESERVE?
Answer: Every sin deserves God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and in that which is to come.
Scripture: Ephesians 5:6; Galatians 3:10; Proverbs 3:33; Psalm 11:6; Revelation 21:8.

Numbers 14

Led and motivated by the spies bringing the pessimistic report of their chances to return to the promised land (which Abraham was already in before he went to Egypt due to the plague), the people rebel and plot the choosing of a new leader and a return to Egypt (Num 14:4).  The Lord makes his presence known and he brings judgement.  Moses intercedes to reduce the judgement from death of the nation to death of the spies and wandering of the nation until the generation dies off in the wilderness.  This is a big event and this 40 years of wandering is a heavy judgement.  Only Caleb and Joshua will enter the promised land with those who are currently under 20 years old.  God’s timing is his own.  Moses appeals to the steadfast love of the LORD and to the preservation of the name of the LORD as his rationale for the forgiveness of Israel.  He does not offer up the great worthiness or dire need of the people but he makes a case on the glory of God.  May we never shrink back from trusting you to keep your promises O God and may we ever praise you for your sacrifice and the deliverance that you have brought in your Son.  Interestingly, a group dives into battle in some weird kind of reaction even after Moses tells them not to and that the LORD has spoken and they shall not enter the land for 40 years…these men die in the battle at the hand of the Amelikites and Canaanites.  Let us hear and listen to your instruction and let us value your Word O God.

Psalm 50

God is the perfect judge who needs nothing and who does not keep silent but who will speak judgement.  He is looking for our thanksgiving (Rom 1:21; Col 3:17) as an offering from the heart and he wants our obedience (Ps 50:14).  He wants our dependence (Ps 50:15).  He warns against those who walk in rebellion thinking that his promises apply to them (Ps 50:16-20).  God does not send judgement immediately (Rom 2:5) so let us not be fooled (Ps 50:21-22).  Thanksgiving and obedience are traits of the one whom God has given salvation…let us rejoice and give thanks!     

Isaiah 3-4

Here he speaks of judgement upon both Northern and Southern tribes and this is due to their speech and conduct being against the Lord as they defy his glorious presence.  How many people live like this where they claim him yet their speech and lifestyle deny him?  This is addressed in Titus and certainly John’s epistles.  Chapter 4 opens with what might be a picture of desolation where Israel's women are abandoned and looking for protection.  Then it switches to hope in describing what might be the grafting in of the natural branch in the millennial kingdom (Rom 11).  Alternatively the branch may be referring to Jesus (Jer 23:5).  So these chapters illustrate judgement that befalls the wicked and the righteous are sustained to survive and experience life in Jerusalem.  This can surely be reference to the tribulation and the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:12).

Hebrews 11

The opening of this chapter captures the point that is over and again illustrated by the examples of the faith of his children.  Those who trust the LORD have a future oriented hope that is founded in God’s omnipotent goodness and his resulting ability and intention to do exactly what he has said he will do.  They take him at his Word.  This is the kind of faith that God reckons as righteousness (Gen 15:6; Rom 4:3).  It is clarified here (Heb 11:7) that the faith itself is not the righteousness but it is merely what connects us to the righteousness of God (Rom 3:21-22).  Example after example is given and the point is not their faith as praiseworthy but they are a pile of witnesses attesting to the trustworthiness of God.  If all these can trust God in the face of impossible circumstances and difficulty, shouldn’t I?  We cannot please God without trusting him (Heb 11:6; Rom 14:23; 8;7-8).  Verse 6 seems to explain the elements of saving faith as 1.  Acknowledgment of God 2. Seeking of God (following, desiring)  3.  Trusting in his revelation (by the law and prophets and in his Son) 4.  Trusting that he judges righteously.  None of these people had a hope that was contained in the present place or circumstances (Heb 11:10; Rom 8:23-25).  Toward the end after verse 32 the writer explains the suffering that was endured on behalf of this trust in God’s omnipotence and goodness.  The world does not recognize that a simple trust in God to be who he says he is and to do what he says he will do is the greatest thing man can offer.  He closes with an acknowledgement that with all the examples given, they did not yet realize the full object of their hope.  God has designed to unite his church by the Spirit and this through the death of his Son to redeem us and this new covenant in Christ is the better thing and the unification of the body of Christ by his Spirit is the means by which they (faithful saints of old) shall not made perfect apart from us.


Soli Deo Gloria!

May 5

Numbers 12-13; Psalm 49; Isaiah 2; Hebrews 10

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 90: ARE ALL TRANSGRESSIONS OF THE LAW EQUALLY HEINOUS?
Answer: Some sins in themselves and by reason of several aggravations are more heinous in the sight of God than others.
Scripture: Ezekiel 8:13; John 19:11; 1 John 5:16.

Numbers 12-13

Chapter 12 gives an account of envy that overtook Aaron and Miriam and their interest seemed to be themselves and not the glory of God or the good of the people.  They were challenging Moses’ authority as the mouthpiece of God.  The people were living in a theocracy where God himself was their king and he spoke to his people though his servant Moses, unlike he has done through any of the Patriarchs before him (Num 12:6-8).  It seems that the LORD speaks to Moses in a more plain and direct manner than he ever did with others.  God has broken through in greater revelation in this age and he has clearly chosen to use Moses.  For some reason his family did not seem to like his wife and this was what tipped them in their frustration.  Perhaps I will not like a decision or a judgement of my shepherd, but this does not give me the right to let my sinful envy break out or bitterness to take root.  The LORD backed up Moses quite readily.  In chapter 13 there is quite a test for Israel.  Only Caleb (and Joshua in the next chapter) returns a positive report of encouragement that the land can be taken, while the others all report the hopelessness of attempting to take the land.  The spies do see the value of the land but they fear the people in it.  They fear that they cannot overcome them and that they would be devoured.  This sets up a judgment of God in the next chapter but the important thing here is that the spies, other than Caleb, were not trusting in God to deliver to them his own promise.  God clearly told them that he would give them this land and that he would drive out the inhabitants (Ex 23:20, 27-28, 31).  These spies did not walk in the footsteps of the faith of their father Abraham (Rom 4:12), who believed God able to do the impossible (Rom 4:20-22), and thus were not true Jews (Rom 2:28-29; Gal 3:7; Rom 9:8). 

Psalm 49

God will ransom my soul from the power of death…how about you (Ps 49:15)?  Do you trust in your riches or in your ability to ransom yourself or another (Ps 49:6-7)?  Do you think that you can pay the cost of redemption?  The price is infinite and the payment can never be made in an eternity of lifetimes (Ps 49:8).  So do not be concerned about wicked men gaining riches…they amount to nothing and you are not missing out (Ps 16ff).  So when the times of trouble come and I am poor and I have no resources and I am left with nothing but my God…then I am rich!  For my soul will be ransomed at great price and he will receive me into his courts!  So let us not be envious of fleeting riches and success that will not last, but let this hope and this joy be a sustaining force in our lives when we face hardship. 

Isaiah 2

He seems maybe to describe the millennial kingdom or the new heaven and earth here in verses 1-5 (there are various views about the “Millennium” and the future reign of Christ).  There is definitely peace between the nations here.  From verse 6 onward seems to be speaking of events preceding this reign since there is conflict and a putting down of idols and a judgement that maybe ushers in the previously described period.  In large part, I take this from the transition from verse 5 to 6.  Note the conjunction “for” that places the second portion as a support or a cause of the first.  Furthermore, the conjunction is placed in the past tense “for you have rejected…”.

Hebrews 10

This chapter works to explain how we shall be sanctified into the perfection that Christ accomplished for us through his life, death, and resurrection.  It argues for necessary sanctification and a perseverance that is not only in title but in substance.  No cheap grace here but a transforming grace that makes us like Jesus.
     v1. The law was perfect for its intended use, which was to reveal what was to come.  The law had a foreshadow of the coming Christ and it heralded our need for a savior in God precisely because he is a righteous God.  Is 45:21.  The true form I take to be a willing and submissive and obedient heart and a life wholly surrendered unto God.  The law does not have this and cannot produce this because it is external and it is a letter rather than an empowerment.  We may draw near to the law, as Israel did in "seeking a law that would lead to righteousness”- Rom 9:30, but it is indeed chasing our own shadow!  Interesting that it has a shadow of “the good things to come”.  Perhaps the good things to come is best understood to be the true tabernacle and the true offering and the true place of holiness and petition to our great God.  This means the good things to come are Jesus himself and his close fellowship with the Father in his very presence having made purification for sin and being glorified.  Perhaps also there is the fullness of time that needed to come such that the Father would roll out his eternal purpose in the person of his Son.  Good things could be his obedient life (broken body) and his holy and perfect sacrifice (blood).  Add to this the understanding that the blood is the sacrifice and Jesus is the priest as well so the eternal priesthood and the presence of this high priest with God at his throne and in glory is also part of the “good things”.  Thinking now later of these three:  a fulfillment, a renewal, and a keeping.  A fulfilled covenant in perfect bodily obedience, a new covenant by blood sacrifice of one for another exchanging the fulfillment for the condemnation of death, and the priesthood that empowers us to keep this effective covenant forever.  Recall that in Heb 9:11 that the good things have come now…no longer future.  This is a reference therefore back to the function of the law that is here fulfilled in Christ who is himself the good things that were for long ages the mystery “to come”.  He is the priest offering these (his obedience “behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.”).  Sacrifice is a shadow of true obedience.  His broken body fulfilled the first covenant according to the law and revealed the true substance of the covenant and then his blood ushered in (by the flow of grace as it were) the new covenant in a perfect sacrifice that was not made due to a broken covenant on the part of the priest but was wholly offered for the sake of his friend (his bride) in the lying down of his life, the spilling of his blood.  Heb 8:8 says that the new covenant is the placing of the law in the mind leading to the writing of the law on the heart, by the Spirit, and this will by resurrection power usher in the substance of true obedience in the person as he bears the divine Spirit of Christ within and this is holiness that emanates outward.  “Holiness is Christ in me"
     v2.  Would not the first sacrifice have been enough since it should have cleansed the nation and they would then no longer sin or have any thought or conscience of sin…would they not be perfected?  A mere foreshadow does not perfect, but it teaches.  Instructed through the law (Rom 2:18)!  It refers to the worshiper being made perfect as in Heb. 9:9 and reminds me of Rom 12:1 where the living sacrifice of my body is my spiritual worship.
     v3-4.  But the act of coming yet again every year to make this sacrifice reminds us that we are not perfected and that the reality is that these sacrifices do not take away sins…they clearly remain.  Which brings up the common use of the idea “take away my sins” and the begging question of the meaning.  Does it refer to the removal of guilt alone or the removal of guilt and power of dominion or does it mean the removal of the guilt, dominion, and presence of sin?  Here in this verse it seems plain to reference the latter or fuller sense.
    v5-7.  The quote of Psalm 40 here is interesting.  Christ is not recorded to have spoken these words that I know of.  He did quote Psalm 61 when he began his ministry in Galilee and coming to Nazareth he spoke this quote and identified himself as fulfilling the prophecy in his flesh and in their presence!  Jesus heralded the arrival of the kingdom of God!  But with the Psalm 40 passage it seems the writer here means to say that his life spoke this psalm…he lived it.  Yet I see some reference that he must have spoken these words that were simply not recorded in the gospels.  The reference of Christ coming into the world confirms his eternal existence as the second person of the trinity and yet there is a begetting that puts him in a body prepared by the Spirit in the womb of Mary.  There is even a comparison or parallel in verses 5-7.  1.  He does not desire sacrifice of apology and covering of sin as the law brought due to the weakness of the flesh.  2.  He prepared a body in the begetting of the Son (Christmas day incarnation).  1. Repeated again in verse 6 is the lack of pleasure in the sacrifices.  2.  Jesus announces that he has come (in the prepared flesh) to do the will of God…the true worship and the substance of the law.  This doing of the will of God seems two-fold in that he perfectly obeys the law of God but not as a neutral agent simply cruising through this life without purpose.  He lives amazing purpose of coming to die for the people and to free them as announced in Luke 4:16-21.  So his obedience is purposeful and specific and pointed and complete.  He even adds “written of me”.  Of note in verse 6 is the added detail from the general statement in verse 5 regarding the type of sacrifices that he does not take pleasure in.   
    v8-9.  Here Christ announces that the old way of rule following and of offerings to cover for our failure to follow it is now gone- fulfilled by him and now obsolete.  He had to do away with this in order to establish the second and better way.  Note that it is done away with!  Never to return to such a belief that God saves by our works of compliance and ceremonial offerings of dead animals.  This is replaced with Christ actually doing his will.  Not a whole system about fixing the fact that we don’t do his will, but now actually doing it.  Obedience in the place of sacrifice.  He also in this announces the doing away with the first covenant to make way for the second.  The first had to be fulfilled in the perfectly obedient and broken body of Christ (Phil 2:8).  Then he introduced the new covenant promise in his blood to be the effective working of our salvation and the writing of the law of God on our hearts.  The law of the Spirit of life.
     v10.  By that will…which will?  My will…no.  Rom 9:16.  It is by the will of God that I have been sanctified (made holy and separate from the dying world that remains in bondage to sin).  This by the offering of Christ once for all.  God’s will to sanctify me is accomplished through the offering of Christ on the cross and my sanctification is past tense here owing to the already and not yet concept that is later solidified in verse 14.
     v11-14.  The human priests are continually working and never done with the task before them but Christ enters a rest and a presence of the Father whereby the work of sacrifice is complete.  He maintains a permanent status of communion in the most holy place (where he now lives to make intercession for us and we much more are saved by his life- Rom 8:34, Heb 7:25, Rom 5:9-10) which is starkly different that how Moses would come from the presence of God and his shining face would fade over time until he again went into God’s presence.  Here he patiently waits for the enemy to be brought under his feet through somehow the outworking of his accomplishment in the church.  His body now needs to complete the mission we were given and we are to be used to crush Satan under our feet by the grace of Jesus Rom 16:20. We are already perfect in God’s eyes and so we have a guarantee, those who have the Spirit of Christ and therefore belong to him body and soul.  Those who are “being sanctified” are this who are perfected already.  So if I am not “being sanctified”, me who has been once for all sanctified by the sacrifice of Christ, if I am not becoming what God has made me in Christ then God did not make me thus in Christ.  Sanctification is necessary…I cannot remain a “carnal Christian” and have any hope of heaven.  Progress is evidence of the perfection already accomplished.
     v15.  Therefore we have need of considering this subjective assurance and knowing the witness of the Holy Spirit in us as to remind us our identity in Christ as a child of God Rom 8:16.
     v16.  He promises to put obedience in us…in our wanting and in our doing.  In our hearts and minds.  He will not leave us struggling in our deadness alone (1 Thess 5:23-24). He gives us the helper!  Here in verse 16 he quotes Jer 31:31-34!
     v17.  He will take away our guilt and give us a freedom to be accepted and we may look forward rather than backward in our identity and our communion with him.
     v18.  For where he has forgiven sin, there is no longer any offering to be given.  We need not beat ourselves or offer something to him but our trust.  There is no offering to be made since it is complete and we are forgiven.  Payment is made by another and we need not bring a thing except to present ourselves as one brought from death to life Rom 6:13.  There remains no process or covenant for offerings.  There is only a covenant of vicarious obedience and a working of this sanctification within us in God’s timing and way.  There is no additional offering by Christ but one.  Mass here is excluded per the writing of Calvin in his commentary of this verse.  The Catholic concept of mass suggests another offering.
     v19-20.  Here he establishes a confidence in our access to God.  This entry is by the blood of Jesus by where we were justified and where we went from being enemies to being thus reconciled.  Rom 5:9-11.  We enter the most holy place because the priesthood is destroyed and the tabernacle replaced and the better things have come in Christ.  This is by the new and living way, by the Spirit and not by the written code Rom 7:6.
     v21-22.  Since we now have a great and eternal priest and all things are new, let us rejoice and let us draw near.  Thanks to the cleansing of our hearts and minds and bodies by the blood we can come by faith with true hearts in full assurance in the blood and in the promise of God Rom 4:20-24.  The heart cleansing (by the Spirit) seems to be from a conscience that chooses evil and so is our thoughts and desires.  The body washed with pure water must be the actions which are purified by the indwelling Spirit.  This is the taking away of sins, not just the guilt removal from the sins.
     v23.  The previous verse feeds directly into this one.  Holding fast the confession of our hope…a confession is outward as is the view of our purification in verse 21-22.  Perhaps he means that it is the faithfulness of God that will make us to hold fast this confession that was spoken of above.  It is the faithfulness of God unto his glory that will bring us and keep us walking in newness of life Rom 6:4.  Our hope is secure because the promise was not based on our actions but on his Word and his will.  Shall he write the law on my heart?  Shall he cause me to fear him and not turn away?  Jer 31:31-34 and 32:40 and Exek 36:26-27.

Observation:
Note the list of things that flows from the assurance of our standing and our representation by Jesus…1. Draw near to God  2.  Hold fast the confession of hope  3.  Stir one another up to good works (Do not neglect to meet and encourage one another).

     v24-25.  As the days go on and our redemption nears (Rom 13:11) we are to meet together all the more and encourage one another in order to stir up good works in accord with this assurance.  These works are contrasted in the next verse with sin…
     v26-27.  Here it is presented again that there be no further sacrifice for sin available.  There is only one that cleanses sin.  So if we go on sinning and thus show that we are not sprinkled clean and washed with the Spirit then we remain now in fearful expectation of judgment as that that comes to the adversaries of God, of which we are among.  See Rom 6.  This is the case for the one who has received the “knowledge of the truth” which I presume would be the gospel message faithfully delivered unto them and even acknowledged and possibly embraced to some level since it was “received”.  Note the significance of the word “deliberately”.  Here is a qualifier that rescues the reader from the obvious problem that all os us continue to sin.
     v28.  The clarification here is the the sacrifice of atonement was for “accidental” sins and those who willfully and knowingly broke the law of God were taken out and killed if there were witnesses to testify as to their guilt.
     v29.  So now if we have someone who has confessed and represented themselves in the family of God and has espoused that they have been washed by the blood of the lamb and yet they willfully walk in the darkness (liar according to 1 John) then this person is worse than that one who was taken out and killed in the OT.  Our willful sin is an outrage to the Holy Spirit if we claim to be set apart (sanctified by Him) in the family of God.  Since God is faithful to complete the work he began and to be sanctified is to be in the golden chain of salvation and since it is dependent upon God and not us (phil 1:6, Rom 8:29-31, Rom 9:16, 1 Thess 5:23-24) then I conclude that this reference to “by which he was sanctified” to be as the translator previously translated the same greek word hagiazo as “consecrate” where Jesus in John 17:19 says that he consecrates himself and is made perfect through suffering (his flesh made perfect in obedience) Heb 5:9.  So I take hagiazo as speaking of Christ in this verse.  The BKC commentary suggests otherwise and they suggest that damnation is not the penalty referenced here but this seems to me inconsistent with the conclusion that those who shrink back (from obedience and living faith) are destroyed and the others (who have real faith) preserve their souls.  See below that trampled and profaned are past tense, not active.  This is a clue, I believe that this is the end state of the person who shrinks back ultimately.
     v32-38.  Here he gives a case of how we are not of the fiber that shrinks back.  We endure!  So do not throw away our faith by continuing to sin deliberately and therefore give up our confidence in subjective assurance.  This confidence has great reward and here may reference salvation rather than just earthy reward.  We need this endurance s that we will keep the faith and that we will receive the prize of eternal life.  We must endure or be left in the desert.  The righteous after all, will live by faith!  God has no pleasure in the one who shrinks back from this faith but this clearly must be in a final and ultimate shrinking back lest Peter be in this category.  Similarly the one who currently sins deliberately can surely turn to God and reform by his grace and mercy until the day of the Lord or his own death.  I Notice that trampled is past tense and profaned is past tense.  It could be here that this is not condemning the person who is trampling or profaning but the one who finishes the race this way.
     v39.  Praise the Lord for the writer’s conclusion in this verse that we, however, are not of those that shrink back but of those that have faith and persevere to the preservation of our souls!  The righteous shall live by faith and he will surely not condemn those counted righteous!  Heb 3:12-14 says that we share in Christ if we hold our original confidence to the end…and we do!  All this also, recall, was about deliberate sinning so how I walk is critical to the evidence of my faith and my standing with God!

Soli Deo Gloria!

May 4

Numbers 11; Psalm 48; Isaiah 1; Hebrews 9

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 89: WHAT THEN IS THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW SINCE THE FALL?
Answer: The purpose of the law, since the fall, is to reveal the perfect righteousness of God, that his people may know the path of faith that leads to life, and that the ungodly may be convicted of their sin, restrained from evil, and brought to Christ for salvation.
Scripture: Psalm 19:7-11; Romans 3:20, 31; 7:7; 8:13; 9:32; 12:2; Titus 2:12-14; Galatians 3:22, 24; 1 Timothy 1:8; Luke 10:25-28.

Numbers 11

This chapter is an amazing depiction of desire and lust.  The people were blinded by their desires and they lost their gratitude and their trust in God and they were even blind to his warning to them that they would in fact choke on this meat that they so desired.  There was something that this people wanted from God that they wanted more than him.  God was now not a bountiful provider but a genie.  They demanded something more than what God offered.  He made clear here that he has the ability to give them anything whatsoever he chooses and so they hold learn to be perfectly content with his wise choice opt provision and they should wait upon him.  The sin of gluttony and ingratitude and lustful desire was here punished by God with an unclear plague that killed many.  In Psalm 78 the psalmist recounts many lessons handed down in the nation of Israel and one if the lesson of this day.  Ps 78:25-31 presents the plague in the quail.  Let 1 Cor 10:6 be a reminder that we should learn from episodes like this and not make the same error.  We serve the same God as they and our sin will incur the same wrath…the difference is that this wrath, against his children, has been completely satisfied upon the brow of our king.  Jesus has absorbed all of this wrath but may we resolve to adore our king and our savior and to serve our God in gladness and not to heap wrath upon our brother and our redeemer.  May we weep over the Son and his sacrifice and may we eat manna with joy and gratitude in our hearts, knowing that he has delivered us from wrath forevermore.

Psalm 48

Some will panic and take flight at a sight of the City of God.  Some will rejoice and be glad in it.  Let us consider our God and his glory and let us be a people who long for the coming kingdom and who rejoice in the wise judgements of God.  Remember that he serves justice when he forgives the sins of those who put their faith in his Son.  This is amazing justice…mercy has become justice thanks to our Lord and King.  Nothing is impossible with God!

Isaiah 1

This opening chapter pretty much goes right into judgement upon Israel for disobedience and verse 90 indicates that if it had to been for the remnant of surviving offspring (elect) that they would have been completely depraved and destroyed.  The idea of being given up to the lusts of their hearts…Romans 1:24-32.  In verse 11 he shows that sacrifice without contrition and true worship is empty and useless and he hates it.  This must put fear into us and let us know that we can not offer him vain and empty ceremonies but that he wants our hearts.  We cannot simply try to appease this God as if he is a bother to us and we need to get back to our lives.  No- this is our creator and he deserves the highest honor because he is the highest being and he loves us and he gave his Son for us!  We are to worship for our joy and for his glory.  We cannot have a cheap grace the offers us salvation without surrender.  For when we do this verse 15 tells me that he will not hear our prayers and he will not listen to our petitions since we remain guilty.  He is faithful and just to forgive when we acknowledge our sin and repent and lay it at the feet of Jesus…not when we still own it and carry it off with us to enjoy again.  This is empty religion.  Verses 18-19 bring hope and speak of the remission of sins and cleansing…but it is for those that are described as willing and obedient only and specifically not for those that are refusing and rebellious. 

Hebrews 9

     v1-5.  He begins a description of the first covenant’s place or worship and holiness (maybe speaking of purification).
     v6.  The holy place was for all priests to perform their duties and to help prepare the high priest
     v7.  The most holy place with the mercy seat and the ark and the tablets was only for the high priest once a year for atonement.  He entered only with blood having sacrificed outside for his own sins and he enters with blood for the people’s “unintentional” sin.  Unsure here since Calvin claims this is not merely for what we might call unintentional or ignorant sin.  He says all sin is thus since none would headlong into God’s judgment.  Perhaps this is helpful as a dividing line of believer and unbeliever.  Or is it that willing sin even for a believer was not forgiven in this atonement?  I am inclined to think that even my worst decidedly rebellious sin is put upon Jesus and that God is faithful and just to forgive whence I indeed acknowledge, confess, and repent.
     v8.  The new way not yet open as long as first section still stands.  Maybe the idea of anyone but a high priest making contribution to the process of atonement?  The idea is plain that for the first section to go away it would need be combined with the most holy.  Thus the tearing of the curtain effectively consumes the first area into the second.
     v9-10.  The first area represents the present age and this age goes away with the cross.  This verse could be a great argument for the dispensationalist!  Under this old arrangement, however, the rituals did not have the power to truly clear the conscience of the worshiper.  Perhaps this is a concept of ritualistic things happening outside of me can never clear my knowing conscience of my inward sin of the heart and my knowledge of my rebellion to God.  How could it!  But the implication is that the new arrangement could!  There would come a time when I can have a clear conscience…1 Tim 1:5 pure heart, good conscience, sincere faith.  The power of the Spirit is to purify my heart not just cover my sin.
     v11. Christ appeared as high priest of “the good things that have come” is interesting.  Perhaps the good things that have come are the work of Christ in his life, death, and resurrection?  Then through the greater and more perfect tent he entered…following the resurrection is the ascension and this fits the sequence of the sentence and the concept well to support the "good things” as I described.
     v12.  He entered thus by his own blood that is far greater than any created beings blood…this is eternal.  He was begotten in the womb of Mary and this is different than created.
     v13.  If the shadow of things can sanctify (so we understood and expected)…
     v14.  How much more will the blood of the Son of God!  He offered himself without blemish.  The improvement is here mentioned as it compares to verse 9 regarding the conscience.  Here with the eternal sacrifice the conscience of the worshiper is perfected!  This perfection is not a covering of a still dead heart that runs from God.  This perfected conscience is one that now oversees a heart that longs for God…it no longer performs dead works or selfishness and moral efforts or worse (unrestrained sin).  It now serves the living God!  This sacrifice purifies me and makes me to walk with God from the inside out.
     v15. Jesus alone is the mediator.  The covenant is new and is bound in his blood.  As mediator, in this blood covenant his death has secured the redemption of those who are called.  They receive eternal life because they have been redeemed from their transgressions that were committed under the first covenant.  Thus there is no neutrality of my existence but as a guilty party I stand under judgement of the Christ who stood to display the fulfillment of the first covenant to which I failed miserably and am due to die.  The called receive eternal inheritance…but who is called?  All?
     v16-17.  A will is a document that dictates who will receive what in a family estate and it takes effect once the subject person dies.
     v18-20.  Even the first covenant was made with blood through Moses’ actions.  He sprinkled both the book as well as the people.
     v21.  He also sprinkled the place where the people meet their God.
     v22.  Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.  There must be sacrifice offered.  There must be death for there to be life.  The death of self.  The death of the flesh, of sin.  God does not simply forgive sin with no satisfaction of justice and respect of holiness.
     v23.  So the copies on earth were thus purified by ritual representative of the true sacrifice by Christ.  It says “but the heavenly things with better sacrifices than these”.  Hmmm.  I think it speaks of the living sacrifice of our bodies as Romans 12:1 speaks.  Sacrifice of something other than myself is lesser and a sacrifice of myself is better than these.  Christ offered himself once so that I might be empowered to offer myself daily. For he does not truly desire sacrifice as we knew it (sacrifice of something outside of us) but he desires the sacrifice of our rights and our hearts and our very lives unto him as a loving sacrifice that he might be God of the dead and the living.  Rom 14:9, Heb 10:5 & 8, Hos 6:6.  He wants our steadfast love, not our apology.
     v24.  But the real act has now come as Christ entered not into a tent but into the very presence of God on our behalf after making offering for our sins.  The tearing of the vail signifies his entering in.
     v25.  This sacrifice he makes only once because it is perfect and there is no dominion of sin any longer over his sheep.  The sheep must only now come to understand and believe and walk in this truth.
     v26.  A glimpse here into Rom 3:25-26 as the writer references the potential need to suffer over and over since the creation of the world.  But Jesus did not suffer until he walked the earth and the sins for many years prior were “passed over” based upon God’s view of the cross.  This sacrifice would come “at the end of the ages” or “in the fullness of time” or “at the right time”.
     v27-28.  Christ dies once and then comes for his sheep that eagerly await him.  Men die once and then stand before God as one eager and delivered by the King or as one ashamed and condemned.  Titus 2:11-15 describes how the grace of God trains us in holiness and causes us to wait eagerly for the coming of our redeemer.  He dealt with sin the first time he came as the Son of Man.  Rom 8:3-4.  Now he comes as the King of Kings and only those who belong to this King will be excited at his home coming.

Soli Deo Gloria!