April 12

Leviticus 16; Psalm 19; Proverbs 30; 1 Timothy 1

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 71: WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The fifth commandment forbids neglecting or offending the honor and duty which belongs to every one in their various places and relations.
Scripture: Proverbs 30:17; Romans 13:7, 8.

Leviticus 16

What I notice here in this chapter about the Day of Atonement is that the high priest is delicate and steps are taken that he not die and he must offer atonement for himself first and then for the people and also for the tabernacle itself since it has presumably been misused and not kept as holy and clean as the Lord would have it.  Some offerings and sacrifices are an abomination and I presume that some of the sacrifices during the year came on behalf of persons whose heart was far from the Lord and who were not repentant and who defiled the tabernacle in some ways (Prov 21:27; Is 1:11-17; Hos 6:6).  Also interesting was the fact that sacrifices are made throughout the year for individuals and thus this is some catch-all ceremony that is needed and this one occurs within the veil in the most holy place.  It seems perhaps that there can be a parallel to my daily acknowledgement and confession of sins whereby I am forgiven and cleansed and the singular act of Christ to take away my sins and to absorb the wrath of God for me on the cross.  I take from this a need to continual confession and forgiveness even though in Christ all my sin is already atoned for and cast off and cancelled.  So then I have security and hope and joy and confidence as I approach the throne of God to confess and to receive cleansing and to be empowered to true repentance.

Psalm 19

I see three parts in this wonderful Psalm.  There is a celebration of the general revelation of God in his creation, which is here given voice and speech.  There is no stopping the story that the heavens tell!  Then at verse 7 begins a celebration of the special revelation of God in His law (the Bible).  The law is celebrated because it gives guidance and direction and it offers freedom from guilt and shame if we would but follow the revelation of God.  Our hearts can rejoice and we can walk in communion with God rather than in rebellion.  To the one who comes to understand the fear of the Lord (Prov 2:1-5) he gains the knowledge of God and he comes to know the Word of God as sweetness and as life.  Like the tree by the waters is the man who meditates day and night on the Word (Psalm 1:2-3).  Then the third section, beginning at verse 12, is a response or a telling of the lessons that are learned from both.  Without the special revelation from God we cannot even know our errors and thus he is merciful to us in revealing his law and in telling us of our wickedness.  He grants us a way to know and to then rely upon him.  Psalm 19:13 speaks of presumptuous sin and I hear a message of willing or intended sin that the psalmist is asking God to keep him from by use of the law as a means of grace.  Translate to: Lord I will hide your Word in my heart that I may not sin against thee…or God help me to be in your Word and to remember what you tell me there so that when temptation comes to go back to that willful and nagging sin that haunts me, then I will remember your law and your promises and I will turn from the sin and trust you.  Let me not be ruled by the wickedness that wants to spring from my wayward heart O God!  If I am kept from the sin that my heart wants to plan and to intentionally continue in then I will be free from the guilt and effects of such wickedness and I will be walking in freedom.  Then verse 14 is a conclusion that the psalmist wants to have thoughts and prayers that are acceptable to God and that walking blamelessly with God, by his grace, he would celebrate his solid redeemer.  What a great Psalm.  Look to the heavens…look to God’s Word…and be kept from willful sin…and walk joyfully with your God and enjoy his blessings and freedom and be a pleasing sight to your redeemer!  Do this in us O God.

Proverbs 30

This a a unique proverb and it contains an introduction where the writer calls out to God in prayer for wisdom and provision.  It seems he is acknowledging his humanity and his need before God before dispensing wisdom.  At verse 10 he begins the proverb and after the first warning he goes into a repeating theme of “there are those” who do this or do that.  He gives four sets of four observations that are scaled in their introduction by a literary device of 3 and then 4.  The items must be related and a thread of commonality must be intended in order to draw the lesson.  Verses 32-33 seem to be the conclusion that draws from the whole proverb and the takeaway is along the lines of “stop exalting yourself”  “stop planning evil and thinking that you get away with it”.  "You are not so great as the ant”…"you are not so powerful as the lion”…"you are not so untraceable as the eagle in the sky”…"your wicked heart is unquenchable and you know it”.  "Stop it!”  "Your God sees and knows and you ought to cover your mouth”.  "Don’t press this…you will lose the battle.  Repent and serve the Lord!”  "Put away falsehood and be content with what the Lord provides in want or in plenty.”

1 Timothy 1

     v. 1-4. Paul begins by reminding Timothy of his previous instructions regarding ensuring that the people in Ephasus are not taught a different doctrine and that they do not focus on speculation rather than on stewardship.  It sounds like they just wanted to argue and speculate on worthless topics rather then getting busy loving one another and serving one another and on seeking the Lord.  I see the grace - mercy - peace progression in verse two and wonder if indeed there is not a respecting of the grace of God initiating a redemption and the mercy of God being therefore given and then the resulting peace with God by reconciliation.
     v5. Paul clarifies that the whole goal in ministry is to get people to love (God and others) from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  They are to repent and walk in assurance of their forgiveness by trusting the blood of Jesus and they are to act upon this sincere belief by loving other as they have been loved. Maybe pure heart means one goal, one mission, one desire, no competition for top shelf in devotion and desire.  Perhaps good conscience is confession and no hiding of sin.  Perhaps sincere faith is faith that takes action because it is sincere and there is no doubt but only trust in God.  I wonder about this heart, conscience, faith being a progression by which we have right desires (motives) followed by right actions (and corresponding conscience due to this alignment) and then a sincere faith is therefore achieved as we are not bound to pass judgement on ourselves for what we have approved as in Rom 14:22, which calls this keeping the faith you have between you and God.  Maybe a sincere faith comes from the first two things?  This also accords with 2 Cor 11:3, a pure and sincere devotion to Christ being at risk due to their thoughts being led astray.
     v6-7. He warns that some have begun worthless discussions regarding the law and they don't even know what they are talking about.  People are trying to teach of what they are ignorant.  O Lord let me not do this but let me indeed seek to present myself approved!
     v8-10. Here Paul clarifies that the purpose of the law is not righteousness but knowledge of sin (see Rom 4:15 and 3:20).  So the law is to point sinners to Jesus and not to make his disciples righteous by some demonstration of merit.  Jesus is the end of the law for righteousness Rom 10:4.  The law serves it purpose in humbling and should in now way be used as a scale of righteousness (pride).
     v11. This use of the law for recognizing the need for a savior is the beginning of the gospel message. The glory of God is served by pointing out how we fail to reflect his glory Rom 3:23.
     v12-14. Paul reflects on the fact that it was the grace and mercy and strength of God alone that brought him out from such a terrible spot.  I do not see him assuring that God had mercy in response to Paul’s “ignorance” nor that God saw in Paul a faithfulness and therefore appointed him.  To the contrary I suggest that Paul here tells us that he was judged faithful in the way I am judged righteous.  God declares me righteous on the merit of Christ and not by my own righteousness.  I think Paul is demonstrating by his blaspheming, persecution and insolence that he was quite unfaithful (unlike Simeon, for example).  A faithful Jew is not a Jew who rejects the Messiah!  Paul was judged faithful…God decided that Paul would be faithful by his grace.  And Paul received mercy not because of his ignorance and unbelief but for his ignorance and unbelief.  Romans 1:18-21 make it clear that claiming ignorance does not take away accountability and guilt before God.  Paul is not claiming that ignorance made him acceptable and worthy of mercy…he is explaining that it made him needful of mercy.  In other words I would restate the end of verse 13 as “I received mercy for my ignorance and unbelief”.  This reading accords with the rest of his case and supports, rather than contends with his whole point.
     v15-17. He gives glory and thanks to God for using himself as an example to all sinners that God has the power to change us.  We are not defined by our failures or errors.  God had mercy upon Paul in order to use him as a mouthpiece and as an example.
     v18-20. His charge to Timothy here is to wage the good fight.  To keep faith and good conscience.  It seems that some others have failed and fallen away due to this failure to trust Jesus and remain repentant and devoted. Here he also introduces the concept of church discipline where he has put these men out- handing them over to Satan for sifting that they may learn to repent.  So this is still seeking restoration.  He lets them go in the way they are choosing and hopes and prays that God will bring them back around through the experience that they may be more than conquerors in the end.

Soli Deo Gloria!