Leviticus 24; Psalm 31; Ecclesiastes 7; 2 Timothy 3
Daily Catechism
QUESTION 77: WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The seventh commandment requires that we preserve our own and our neighbor’s chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2; 2 Timothy 2:22; Matthew 5:28; 1 Peter 3:2.
Leviticus 24
This chapter deals with candles, bread, and capital punishment. Interesting mix. Perhaps the light speaks of your revelation to mankind and your presence with us and the bread your provision for us. In all you love us and care for us, your creation. Then you speak to the very creation that you are upholding and explain the seriousness of our blaspheming you. Moses then records additional sins that would result in capital punishment, such as murder and then the life of an animal for the life of an animal if a person kills another’s animal. A concept of justice is set forth here that reparation is due from the injured party to the guilty party and it is to be a full payment of debt. Justice is not served by mercy. Mercy is not justice. Mercy is a problem for justice, because where mercy is present, justice is not…unless there is a substitute.
Psalm 31
The psalmist here speaks of taking refuge in the righteousness of God. There is no protection to be had in my own righteousness that is mixed with sin and that fails. There is no refuge in my afforest to walk uprightly. There is only true refuge in the very righteousness of God that was manifested in his Son (Ps 31:1-2). Because my salvation depends upon the righteousness of God, then it is his name that is at stake. He upholds the glory of his name when he rescues me from my sin (Ps 31:3). Sin steals my peace and leaves me in a poor state (Ps 31:10). The goodness of God is stored up for those who fear him (Ps 31:19)! This contrasts to the wrath of God that is stored up for those who are hard hearted and presume upon God’s kindness and decide for themselves that repentance is not required (Rom 2:4-5). Presuming upon God’s kindness is surely the opposite of fearing him and thus we have a clear picture of the attitude of the believer vs the unbeliever. May we never allow a presumptive attitude to take root and trap us in the thorns of cheap grace that allows a skewed view of the grace of God to become license rather than transformation. Back to verse 19- the abundant goodness works for me! And it works for me here and now in the sight of all. His unstoppable power is directed at me to do me good (Jer 32:40-41; Eph 1:19-20)! He is risen in the power that works for my good each and every day! Let us love the LORD, all us who fear him and whip are preserved in our faith. The LORD repays the proud as owed with the wage of death (Rom 6:26, 3:23), but the broken spirit and contrite heart he does not despise (Ps 51:17).
Ecclesiastes 7
Death is highlighted over birth presumably because death is our bodily redemption or for the psalmist living before Christ he would recognize an end to suffering and a joining God. He repeatedly speaks of truth as dominant. The song of fools vs the rebuke of wisdom. Patience over pride. He urges us to consider that the LORD brings both prosperity and hardship (Is 45:7). Knowing that his goodness is always at work for me (Rom 8:28-29) I can rest in quiet assurance that his plan is good and wise. Therefore I can be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing (2 Cor 6:10) with indomitable joy. He speaks of a balance in righteousness and wickedness that I can only surmise would be not making much of any righteousness that God works in me (don’t be self-righteous and legalistic) and yet not allowing wickedness to reign in me (don’t be slothful, but put sin to death by the Spirit). The one who fears the LORD will not make either error (Eccl 7:17-18).
2 Timothy 3
v1. Times of difficulty for Timothy and the church in the last days.
v2-4. People will love self and he proceeds to describe modern attitudes and lifestyles of our day. v5. Another trouble will be people who appear to be believers and to be godly but do not have the transforming power of the Spirit in their life making them holy. We are too avoid them and the ESV SB suggests this means excommunication. The power of God’s grace in my life means transformation. A lack of repentance and the presence of presumptuous sins evidences a disqualified or dead faith (2 Tim 3:8; James 2:17).
v6. This is evident because they are adulterous and take advantage of weak women who are led astray
v7. Interesting here as statement that they are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the Lord. I think he speaks of the men, rather than the women. The men are the main topic here. They are educated and seek knowledge but not the knowledge of the Lord and perhaps it could even include bible knowledge but they do not seek to love God and to walk faithfully before Him. They are hard hearted and are not doers of the Word that they hear. So we will have unsaved people in our midst doing damage to our households.
v8-9. Men are corrupted in mind and disqualified in faith. Bad ideas and thoughts of God coupled with no real faith that is active and transforming…these men are not saved.
v10-11. But Timothy followed Paul's teaching and the way Paul lived and suffered.
v12. If you want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus you will be persecuted…no doubt here!
v13. Evil people and impostors will both deceive and be deceived themselves more and more.
v14-16. But you stay committed to what you learned from childhood and know that you can trust who you learned it from because of their witness and their holiness. The scriptures you were given are able to make you wise to salvation. They are breathed out by God (inspired) and useful to lead and correct and teach and train on righteousness (passive and active)
v17. Therefore be complete and equipped for every good work!
In summary, Paul teaches that there will be those who reveal a love for the world rather than a love for God and it is those who fear God and are transformed by his righteousness that truly know him. These are the ones who read and apply his Word and who live godly lives. These people are ready for battle and ready to labor for the kingdom even at the cost of their comfort or possessions or rights or safety.
Soli Deo Gloria!
