April 24

Numbers 1; Psalm 35 ; Ecclesiastes 11; Titus 3

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 80: WHICH IS REQUIRED IN THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The eighth commandment requires that we pursue lawful and useful work to provide for our needs and for those unable to provide for themselves.
Scripture: Ephesians 4:28; Proverbs 27:23; Leviticus 25:35; Deuteronomy 15:10; 22:1-4.

Numbers 1

This chapter simply brings my mind back to the golden calf episode in Exodus 32:26 where Moses, after making the Israelites drink the ground up idol then called out “Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me.”  Only the Levites, his own tribe, came to him.  Here the Levites were charged with the holy task of killing all the idol worshipers they could find from among their people, the Israelites (Ex 32:27).  3,000 men were killed that day and the Levites were consecrated into the LORD’s service (Ex 32:28-29) and it would later be explained that they replaced the first-born of all Israel (Num 3:11-13) that would have been tasked with the priesthood of caring for and guarding the Tabernacle.  So the Levites are here in Numbers 1:53 tasked with keeping the people away from the tabernacle that they might not be killed by the wrath of God as they were at the base of Sinai following the golden calf incident. 

Psalm 35

This psalm never has a conclusion where it is obvious that the Lord answered his prayer, as is the case with some others.  In this case David is string out and asking that the Lord take action.  It seems that he is growing impatient and that God seems to not be intervening and the circumstances are not improving.  Through verse 8 David is basing his request upon his own protection and based upon wanting to be delivered.  At verse 9 he begins to relate it to the glory of God and the purposes of God in the world.  David speaks of his personal reaction that would take place inwardly verses 9-10.  In verses 11-16 he goes back to explaining why he feels this frustration and we learn that he had been compassionate toward these people who now are ruthlessly against him.  From verse 17 to the end he alternates from voicing his concern to crying for intercession to explaining how it will result in praise and thanks to God.  Most notably in verse 24 he asks that the LORD vindicate David according to the LORD’s righteousness and not because of David specifically deserving to be delivered!  Here he is appealing purely to the character of God and looking for the glorification of God and the exalting of his name.  From this point on he is pretty well focused on making the case of how the LORD will be lifted up and shown to be glorious by the rescue of David.  This is a good lesson in prayer and in appealing to God not based on our merit or our comfort, but based on his glory and his purposes among the peoples of the world and among his sheep.  Hallowed be thy name!  My prayers should not be so focused upon my comfort and my protection that I am not thinking of my purpose here and his purpose here.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done!  Will my rescue magnify his name or just keep me from losing money or something else I idolize?

Ecclesiastes 11

Over-all, and captured well in verse 5, it sounds like Solomon is saying to invest one’s self broadly because we do not know what will happen and where there will be success or failure.  He suggests in verse 6 to be busy about laboring to sow and to work hard.  This seems and encouragement to not lose heart when things are not going our way and to continue on and to trust that the Lord will bring the growth and the return in his timing.  Verse 8 seems to suggest that there will be dark days so rejoice when things are good.  Knowing, however, that there will be a judgement and that we are all accountable to God he warns that we are mindful of honoring God in our rejoicing and our enjoying of prosperity.  So the close in verse 10 is to remove vexation (frustration) from the heart and to put away evil from the body.  Perhaps this is a picture of the double mindedness (James 1:8, 4:8) that can befall us if we are trying to enjoy both the world (and the sin that comes with that) and God.  The heart will surely be troubled and frustrated since we know that we cannot serve both God and money (Matt 6:24) and we cannot love the world and claim to love God (1 John 2:15).

Titus 3

Titus is facing some hard people within these churches.  Paul is really hitting him with some hard things and some real corrections.  Paul references how everyone was at one point led by the flesh but that now, as believers, we should know the power of the goodness and loving kindness of our great God.  Now we should experience the washing of the Spirit in new birth and the renewal of our minds by the Spirit.  We have been made right with God and are heirs hoping now for an eternal redemption.  So how can we still behave as we did before?  Paul urges Titus to insist on this and that they be devoted to good works and that they drop their arguments and quarrels about things that do not matter.  He suggests that two times is enough when dealing with someone decisive in the congregation and then they should simply be put out.  Disagreement is one thing, but divisiveness and failure to submit to the authority within a church body is not to be tolerated.  Paul finally urges Titus to be sure that the people are fruitful and are looking to be generous and help others who are in need.  It sounds like Titus is dealing with a tough crowd!


Soli Deo Gloria!

April 22

Leviticus 26; Psalm 33; Ecclesiastes 9; Titus 1

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 79: WHICH IS THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The eighth commandment is, “Thou shalt not steal.” Scripture: Exodus 20:15.

Leviticus 26

This chapter covers blessings and punishment with regard to Israel’s faithfulness to the Mosaic covenant where they agreed to live under covenant by the statutes of the LORD (Ex 19:5, 8, 24:3).  Fortunately the chapter also speaks of another covenant.  It speaks of the covenant made by God (unilaterally) with Abraham, which was extended necessarily to Isaac and Jacob and to all the true children of Israel (Gen 15:17-21).  If god merely expected us to live up to the law (Mosaic covenant) then we would be without hope and we would only suffer the punishments detailed in this chapter.  But thanks be to God that he remembers his covenant with Abraham that came 430 years earlier (Gal 3:17-18; Lev 26:).  It is the covenant with the forefathers that rules!  So we have a terribly contingent covenant at Sinai that requires our detailed and full obedience that is somehow supported and guaranteed by the unilateral covenant that preceded it.  In Genesis 17:4-7 God declares to Abraham that he has already accomplished and fulfilled the covenant and it is a certainty, though he rehires Abraham to "walk blamelessly before him”.  I take that God is extremely serious about the keeping of covenant and that he will surely punish the guilty law breaker, but that his promise supersedes and his mercy is given preference and he ultimately accomplishes the newer covenant in a way that respects the previous one.  He accomplishes the fulfillment of the Mosaic covenant in his children by the perfect obedience and sacrifice of their big brother, their king (Rom 8:3-4).  His obedience made him an appropriate sacrifice (John 1:29; Heb 4:15, 9:12-15).  His humanity and freedom from the stain of a sin nature made him a federal representative, like Adam (1 Cor 15:20-23, 45; Rom 5:14).  His obedience fulfilled the law’s negative requirements of righteousness (Rom 8:3-4; Phil 2:8).  His sacrifice fulfilled the law’s positive requirements to love God and love neighbor (Matt 5:17; Rom 13:8, 10; Gal 5:14).  His sacrifice fulfilled the requirement that sin be punished by death and separation from God (Rom 6:23; Is 59:2; Ezek 18:4).  Note that the covenant with the forefathers is “remembered” by God when the people repent.  Enter the Holy Spirit!  We will only find repentance when the Holy Spirit breaks through our hard and uncircumcised heart to give us new life, circumcising our hearts and giving us the gift of faith and repentance (Eph 2:8-9; Acts 11:18; 2 Tim 2:25; Ezek 36:26-27; Deut 30:6; Rom 2:28-29).  But why does the Holy Spirit choose to break in like that and grant us sight and hearing?  Enter the earliest covenant of God…the covenant of redemption whereby he determined to rescue a people before he ever created them and he determined to do this by the blood of his Son before time began (2 Tim 1:9; Eph 1:4-6; Rev 13:8; Rom 8:29-30).  Yes Abraham, you will indeed be the father of many nations, and no I will never leave you or forsake you! 

Psalm 33

The steadfast love of the LORD is our only hope and it is all the hope we could ever need!  All he does is upright and faithful.  he loves righteousness and justice (Ps 33:4-5).  But this is a huge problem!  We are unrighteous and sinful and if he is faithful to his name then we will receive due payment for our sin.  Ah!  But the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD (Ps 33:5)!  We live and breath today because of his steadfast love.  The continued existence of mankind is a testament of his loving kindness.  Truly his mercies are new every morning as the sun rises again over the wicked and the righteous (Lam 3:22-23; Matt 5:45-46).  Let us fear the LORD and honor his name because he freely chooses mercy and he chose to create us knowing that is would put his Son on the cross for the sake of love (Ps 33:8-9)!  Our God males plans and they stand forevermore…never are his plans frustrated (Ps 33:10-11).  We cannot be delivered by might or by deeds (Ps 33:15-17), but we are saved by his steadfast love toward those who fear him (Ps 33:18-19).  Therefore let our souls wait upon the LORD and be glad in him, the one in whom we trust (Ps 33:20-21)!

Ecclesiastes 9

Solomon reflects on the poor situation we are in under the curse of sin (Eccl 9:3).  The righteous and the wicked alike suffer consequences to sin in this life.  We both die.  We both suffer.  He suggest that we enjoy the blessings that we receive and that we walk uprightly before God (Eccl 9:7-9).  He prefers wisdom to weapons if he were to go into battle and he acknowledges that sin is damaging (Eccl 9:18). 

Titus 1

Paul writes a very strong pastoral letter to Titus, who seems to be overseeing some churches in and around Crete.  Paul opens his letter with a clear delineation that those who come to a saving knowledge of God are his elect, who were chosen and given promise before all time (Eph 1:4-7; 2 Tim 1:9).  He says that this knowledge of the truth accords with (or is consistent with) godliness.  He makes reference to a proper time upon which the elect are brought to salvation through hearing the word preached.  He seems to setup this theology at the outset of his letter in order to be a foundation to support what he will be telling Titus.  He then leads into directions on appointing elders (overseers) in the churches.  These are men who will lead the church and be responsible for the teaching/preaching.  These men must evidence maturity in Christ and they are to be able to rebuke others and defend the gospel and the truth of God’s Word.  These men are not to be loose and wild, but respectable and self-controlled.  They are to be knowledgeable in the Bible and able to discern theological errors.  They must have the guts to be able to call people out and to chase out the wolf.  The chapter ends with Paul telling Titus that there are many who do not low God, as evidenced by their deeds, although they claim to be believers.  He says that their works expose them and that they are detestable and unfit for any good work (like being an elder).  Paul clearly recognizes that a profession of faith and salvation are not the same thing.  He will go on in the next chapter to expound on this for us a bit.  Paul denies that cheap grace…grace that grants license is true grace.  The grace of God is powerful and transforming…if indeed it is able to save us from our sin!

Soli Deo Gloria!

April 21

Leviticus 25; Psalm 32; Ecclesiastes 8; 2 Timothy 4

Daily Catechsism

QUESTION 78: WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The seventh commandment forbids all unchaste thoughts, words and actions.
Scripture: Matthew 5:28-32; Job 31:1; Ephesians 5:3, 4; Romans 13:13; Colossians 4:6.

Leviticus 25

This chapter covers the Sabbath Year and the Year of Jubilee as well as the general redemption of property and slaves.  It also covers caring for poor relatives.  The sabbath year gives rest to the land and establishes that the LORD is the provider and sustainer of his people and that the land is ruled by him.  The Jubilee expresses that all land and all persons belong to the LORD.  It seems that there is a lack of evidence that the Jubilee was ever actually followed by the Jews and there is direct evidence that it was at least for a time, not honored (Lev 26:34; 2 Chron 36:20-21).  Farmland that was sold would have to be calculated with a proration due to the fact that in the 50th year it wold return to the original owners, regardless of the sale.  Slaves would be freed as well.  Jubilee makes clear that land and slave possessions were not forever.  Some exceptions were walled homes and the fields of Levites.  Walled homes could not be redeemed after one year (except for the Levites) and the Levites farmland could never be sold in the first place.  Here we see the use of the Biblical term “redemption” and understand that it is a purchasing back of freedom or ownership.  The redemption price depends upon the number of years to Jubilee, which was like an auto-redemption accomplished by God without a redemption price.  

Psalm 32

Great teaching on repentance. 
v1-8.  These verses alternate between action and a response (or result) that follows.
v1-2.  Begins with the forgiveness and justification but it is for the one who’s spirit is not deceitful.
v3-4.  Then he describes the state of the sinner who recognizes his sin and fails to confess.
v5.  Moves then to the confession and resulting forgiveness.
v6-7.  Encourages all to take this similar step in the present for preservation.
v8-9.  The Lord teaches repentance now as the refuge and the preservation…this is a very practical preservation.
v10-11.  Sorrowful will be the one who does not repent and confess his sin, but glad in the Lord will be the one who enjoys the righteousness of Christ!

Ecclesiastes 8

Ultimately we cannot know the precise will of God and it seems that he is pleased sometime to allow the wicked to prosper (for a time) and the righteous to be afflicted.  In the end (eternally, at the very minimum) the righteous will do well and the wicked will suffer harm.  Fearing God is the difference between the two groups.

2 Timothy 4

Paul gives a stern charge to Timothy here to preach the Word.  He references the judgement of Christ as to suggest that Timothy’s calling is such that he would be judged for not preaching the Word.  He is to be ready always and he is not to hold back punches.  He is to thoroughly utilize the scripture to teach and to train the flock.  He is to be patient and know that there will be opposition and troubles.  Paul give examples of the opposition he has faced as encouragement for Timothy to fight the good fight and not give up.  He speaks of those who will want to be taught what they want to hear rather than the full counsel of God.  Preaching to the desires of the people is a bad idea.  It takes devotion and endurance and labor to fulfill the ministry of the Word.  Paul speaks of rewards in heaven in his reference to his crown of righteousness.  He indicates that there will be crowns for all who wait eagerly for the Lord’s coming, not just for the preachers.  Verse 18 reveals that the rescue Paul has in sight is an eternal one and not a temporal one…and for this Paul rejoices! 

Soli Deo Gloria!

April 20 (Resurrection Sunday!)

 

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!

April 19

Leviticus 23; Psalm 30; Ecclesiastes 6; 2 Timothy 2

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 76: WHICH IS THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The seventh commandment is, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
Scripture: Exodus 20:14.

Leviticus 23

I take the main point to these celebrations that the LORD wants his people to remember.  He wants them to ingrain into the fabric of their lives a reverence for him and a remembering of God’s work to deliver them and to set them apart.  He wants them to know that they have a special purpose and that they were chosen by him apart from their works.  The law and the special ceremonies, however, become a source of pride and stumbling for the Israelites (Rom 11:9-11).  But this stumbling was for the salvation of the world and will ultimately pass (Rom 11:13-14, 23-24, 25-26). 

Psalm 30

I will praise you and my heart will rejoice because you sustain me always and you hear me when I call out to you (Ps 30:1-2).  You lift my countenance when I am low O God and you restore me when I am tired or weak (Ps 30:3).  May you always move me and all the saints to praise your name and to give thanks when you have lifted our head and given us joy and satisfaction (Ps 30:4).  Your discipline is real but it leads to joy in the end and I thank you that weeping may come for a season, but indeed joy comes in the morning (Ps 30:5).  May you remind me in times of prosperity not to trust in myself or in my circumstances that I would not be arrogant and that I would not begin to love or enjoy the gift more than the giver.  It is you who give abundance Lord and it is you who take it away (Ps 30:6-7).  Let me always remember Lord that it is mercy I need and not wages.  You do not owe me but you give because you love me and because it is your good pleasure to bless me (Ps 30:8).  It is mercy Lord that you would allow me to remain and to labor for your kingdom…please grant me great resolve to praise you and to tell of your faithfulness (Ps 30:9-10).  Lord you rescue my thoughts whenever I am distressed and you have turned my attitude to gladness even when circumstances are hard in order that your name may be exalted and that I may have the great joy of reflecting your glory (Ps 30:11-12).   

Ecclesiastes 6

I see that Solomon points out the folly of toiling to whet an appetite that is never able to be fulfilled (Eccl 6:7).  He indicates that the difference between the wise and the fool in this is that the wise will find satisfaction in what he sees (what he already has) and the fool will continue to hunt after what he does not yet have (Eccl 6:8-9).  Our life is but a shadow and if we live merely for stuff and things we will surely levee no legacy or impact on this place or on our children’s children.  Let us live to the glory of God and hope for what is unseen (Rom 8:23-25)!   

2 Timothy 2

     v1. Paul prays for strength for Timothy.  The servant of the Lord must be strengthened for the service he is to provide.  Delivering the Word of God and leading a people in his way is not a simple task and it takes rigorous work and diligence.  Note that he prays it be the grace in Christ Jesus that strengthens him.  He wants Timothy to rely on what he himself received from Jesus…the hope and joy and forgiveness and the satisfaction he gets in Jesus should give him strength to labor for others.  Grace here is the power of God and not anything like license or a hall pass.  Grace is the transforming power of God to bring change and glory to his name.
     v2. He wants Timothy to pass along the teaching to faithful men who will do the same.  This is the multiply model of biblical discipleship.  This is the small group concept of focused attention (sometimes one on one) and is different than congregational teaching.
     v3-7.  Here Paul tells him to share in sufferings as a good soldier.  He then switches analogies a couple times to indicate essentially that there will be much labor and struggle involved and that there will even be danger.  No shortcuts.  You will suffer with the Lord and this should be your aim.  Seeking creature comforts is a distraction.  Don't look to build up the bank account and enjoy the offerings of the world.  No- you are a soldier on point here.  You need to compete by the rules that God assigns and he does this by suffering and he shows that the hard worker gets the harvest, not the sluggard.  Labor for your flock and be not distracted by the world.  My family is part of this army Lord and may you help me to lead them and point them to the battle and to support them and to not leave them as easy picking for the enemy.  Help me to live this message in context of family as well as ministry and make me always a faithful shepherd.
     v8.  If the suffering begins to get to you…remember Christ.  He rose from the dead.  You too will live and do even now.
     v9. And remember those that suffer even more than you do for his name.  No suffering or struggle can keep back the Word of God.
     v10. So when Paul thinks of Christ and the gospel he is motivated to endure anything at all because he knows that his service is used to call the sheep and to gather the choir of lights for King Jesus.  Jesus saw his offspring, his brothers and sisters, Jesus saw and was satisfied to suffer for their sake (Is 53:11).  So too Paul is willing and we aught also to be willing to suffer for the sake of the elect.  This is calvinistic evangelism 101.  Evangelize at great cost precisely because God has chosen to save some.  Seek them out…the reward is sure.
     v11-13. Difficult passage here.  I think context immediate and large is needed and still I am unsure.  This sees to be a parallelism where he contrasts two sets of statements.  First is about positive statements with positive outcomes... if we are united in him and references Rom 6:5 and Rom 5:17.  Then switches to negative with negative outcome.  Matt 10:33 and then Matt 7:21-23 suggest that denying Jesus could result in Lord Lord.  This seems an unsaved state and condemnation when our would be savior does not confess his union with us.  If we are faithless he remains faithful- for he cannot deny himself.  So here is the most debatable part.  Does this refer to his faithfulness to us or to himself?  I think it is clear actually because of the final statement that he cannot deny himself.  So this faithfulness here is about God being faithful to himself…yet does this swallow us up in it because of our union with Christ and the indwelling Spirit?  Or does this indicate that he is faithful to himself and therefore condemns just like he will be faithful to himself and fully righteous to condemn the world? See Rom 3:3-8.  There the judgement of God proves the righteousness of God.  This even is against the chosen people (Israel) if they are faithless.  It is not so much God's faithfulness to the one who is faithless as it is his faithfulness to himself and also, consequently, his faithfulness to uphold his righteousness for the sake of the faithful ones who trust in him.  He killed his Son and vindicated this righteousness and he will not deny Jesus.  He will not deny the need for his sacrifice and the fact that he must be received by faith or there is no hope of salvation.  I believe this passage is not granting unending hope to the faithless... but warning.  This again is why Paul labors so for the elect.  Not because people are slam dunk when they profess faith but because they must endure and they must remain faithful or else there is hell to pay.  Back to the exegesis.  Remember the first half…if they have died, they live.  If they endure, they reign.  Living and reigning is a contrast to the outcome of denying a righteous God who is faithful to his righteousness and to the dying vindication of His Son.  Remembering Peter tells us that a temporal denial and temporal faithlessness is not the problem but a failure to endue to the end is.  The elect will return from faithlessness and strengthen their brothers (Luke 22:31-32) and the others will not (Matt 27:5).
     v14. Paul further tells Timothy to remind the men who will pass along the message of this so they will be motivated to avoid quarreling over words that ruin the hearers and focus on the truth that will help them remain faithful.
     v15.  Prepare and know the Word.  Suffer and come through approved after testing.  Do not be slack but come in from battle with a message from the king!  Labor and come in with a right and sound word that you need not be ashamed about.  Do not pick it up at a drive through window with no labor or toil or validation or confidence.  But suffer and work and try and pray and pour yourself over the text and come in with confidence that you have handled the Word of God well.
     v16.  This is to avoid irreverent babble that would take people into more ungodliness.  So this might be talking about things that are not really from the Word or that are not of eternal consequence or that are not thoroughly vetted in the Word.  If it does not take the death and resurrection of Jesus for the message to make sense then it is irreverent to be taught in the house of the Lord to the children of God and thus is not worship and has no place there.  If the house of the Lord on the Lord's day be a place for anything but worship and feeding the sheep from the Word of God what will be faithful and beneficial for their soul and their eternal state, then there is irreverence before the holy God that we serve.
     v17-18.  Also the irreverent babble could be unconfirmed and un-vetted statements that are really not researched that could lead to false ideas and teaching to spread because if the shepherd does not see fit to validate his sermon, then how likely are the sheep to look further into it.  And if he is careless in the words he uses and the impression he gives the sheep likewise may be careless and /or they may take away an unintended concept and spread it.  This could kill and be used by the devil to poison and devour and indeed here it has.
     v19. God' firm foundation of holiness stands and thus a sign of his disciples, and shepherds, is increasing personal holiness (sanctification).
     v20-21.  Know that there will be some among you who are vessels of wrath.  So you can recognize the honorable vessels because they repent and they are made holy by their holy God.  They are useful for the cause and they are prepared to do good for the kingdom.
     v22. So spend your free time with those that are seeking the Lord with a pure heart.  Flee from the passions of the flesh and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.  Love issuing from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.  1 Tim 1:5
     v23-26.  Stay away from arguments and controversies.  Do not give in to the cat fighting and the temptation to make a point and be right.  As a servant of the Lord you must be kind to all (unbelievers as well as believers with differing opinions) you must be able to teach even those that disagree on some points.  Can this be possible if you hurl insults and condescension at them?  Patiently endure…so they may be off base and you may have to endure their comments and their failure in not acknowledging the holiness or sovereignty of God but this is for the sake of their souls and for their faith!  Suffer as a good soldier!  You may very gently correct them and pray that God might grant them repentance.  God may yet grant them knowledge of the truth for their salvation or for the building of their faith.  The last verse seems to make it sound like these people are unsaved and so these would be arguments with unbelievers who want to debate.  Perhaps these could also be saved people that are still doing the devils bidding (the flesh is ruling by default due to a lack of seeing and engaging in the battle) and they can be won unto faithfulness to their calling and like Peter, can return to even strengthen others.

Soli Deo Gloria!

April 18

Leviticus 22; Psalm 28-29; Ecclesiastes 5; 2 Timothy 1

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 75: WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The sixth commandment forbids the taking of our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, including whatever acts tend to this loss.
Scripture: Genesis 4:10, 11; 9:6; Matthew 5:21-26.

Leviticus 22

This chapter seems to be a bit of a summary regarding the offering of sacrifices and it has a focus on the cleanliness of the priest and it revisits the theme of the prologue to the law with a new clarification.  Lev 22:32-33 now includes the thought that the LORD if to be sanctified among his people.  I see this not as his people making him more holy that he was a moment ago, but as his people revealing him as holy.  We are to live in a manner that shows the holiness of God to the world!  He is the one who sanctifies us just as he is the one who brought his people out of Egypt.  Our God can do impossible things and the more impossible the better!

Psalm 28-29

David cries out to be heard and to not be left to himself like the wicked are.  He knows that there are things that will limit his prayer and he wants nothing to do with that.  He desires to connect to God and to be heard.  A theological statement is made in Psalm 28:4-5 that correlates with Romans 2:6-11 and Romans 4:4-6.  David asks the LORD to give to the wicked according to the work of their hands…to give them their due reward.  And the reason he gives is key.  He says “because that do not regard the works of the LORD or the work of his hands”!  So David is preaching to us a substitutionary righteousness and a warning that if we will not trust in God’s work then we will suffer the payment for our own work.  God’s work results in gift to us but our work results in due payment by God and the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23).

Ecclesiastes 5

Here Solomon warns against being flippant or overly comfortable before the LORD.  He tells us that our words should be few and we should mostly listen, not speak.  We are to bring the Lord our worries and our troubles with confidence that he wants to hear from us (Phil 4:6-7) but we need to remember whom it is we are addressing (Matt 6:9).  Perhaps we should see Jesus more as our king and less like our homeboy?  Error can be made either direction here no doubt. 

2 Timothy 1

     v1. Paul now writes knowing that he will be put to death soon.  Paul in this opening verse of the letter to Timothy adds "according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus."  So what kind of life is this and how is it found "in Christ"?  How is the life in him a promise related to me?  The reality of the resurrection makes all his promises supremely valid.  Yes he is alive and indeed he is interceding for me!  One aspect of this life could be his current office.  Another could be the newness of life I walk in when I am in Christ.  This activates and unites me to all promises as I am now a child of Abraham and an heir of God and co-heir with Christ.
     v2. Paul loves Timothy and is very endearing to him.  It seems that he pours himself out for this man and perhaps Lord you would allow me so to pour myself in discipleship into my son and that he would follow me into ministry or at least into a servant's heart and that even in whatever capacity he could be on fire for your cause O Lord.
     v3. Paul says he serves God with a clear conscience here, like his ancestors did.  He must refer to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob I suppose and by clear conscience I wonder what he means.  That he is walking above reproach or that he has been faithful to give Timothy all he needed or that he has given the message he was called to give, he has fulfilled his ministry to his ability and beyond?  Remembering Timothy seems to have something to do with it…
     v4. The sharing of the faith and a joy in the Lord and the struggles of ministry unite these two and there is a kinship that is sweet.  Paul is filled with joy as he thinks on this young man.
     v5. Paul speaks here of a faith that seems to be handed down through generations in their family.  He talks about faith like it is a thing, like it is a spirit that can indwell one and then another.  It is a sincere faith.  Share in the faith of our father…walk in the footsteps of the faith of our father…
     v6. So God put something into Timothy that sits in wait.  It needs fanning…it needs care and grooming and awakening.  He tells Timothy to tend it.
     v7. He tells him not to be afraid to tend to this gift of teaching and leading.  He bolsters him referring to how God has given him a spirit of power and love and self control, not fear.  So this power and love and self-control are key in ministry.  How? Power could be unction and insight and anointing and being a mouthpiece to reach heart.  Love can be that we do not teach information and we do not download truth but we live truth and we love others and we care for them.  We love the Lord and we love others, not just love information or doctrine.  Self control could be in the maintenance of our qualification for ministry and the witness of our life matching up with our message.  Lord let me maintain and build a love and affection for Jesus and a union with him and an abiding in you that would carry me through this life in the flesh such that I would never return to my former vomit and that I would serve you faithfully for the remainder of my existence here on earth and into eternity.
     v8. Here he ties Christ's suffering to ours.  He warns that we not be ashamed of his suffering nor our own.  He wants us to gladly own suffering by the power of God.  I aught to recognize the tie between these sufferings and rejoice in it.  What is it to be ashamed of suffering…of Christ's or Paul's suffering?  Is it to have no answer for why and so avoid it?  Is it to think that it is not needed?  Is it to think that God is not ordaining it?  Is it to think that is has no purpose?  What is it?
     v9. This verse helps answer because he saved us and called us for his purpose and he did this before the ages began. He has a purpose and he needs to suit us to it.  He picked us for this not because of anything in us (Rom 9:11-16).  So my calling to ministry is not because I am all that or because I am super special or because I work hard to study the Word or because I wake up early or because I have impressed God with my power of mental gymnastics…ha!  No, not at all.  For he chose me before the ages and he looked not upon my ability, but his.  His purpose first- the mission.  Then his grace- the calling and enabling and anointing for service.
     v10.  The covenant of redemption where he wrote my name in the book of life (Rev 13:8) was manifested at the coming of Jesus (Gal 4:4; Eph 1:10) to ratify and fulfill the requirements of the Abrahamic covenant in my place (Deut 30:16; Rom 10:5; Rom 8:3-4).  Life, immortality, and light…see Rom 4:17; Rom 8:11; 2 Cor 4:6.
     v11-14.  These verses are about guarding what God has placed in us and about the Holy Spirit being the key to this.  He has entrusted a message to us and the Holy Spirit will see that it is delivered.
     v15-18.  He then speaks of some who did not guard the deposit but turned away.  But there are others who hold fast and serve the Lord.

Soli Deo Gloria!

April 17 (happy birthday Nicole!)

Leviticus 21; Psalm 26-27; Ecclesiastes 4; 1 Timothy 6

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 74: WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The sixth commandment requires all lawful efforts to preserve our own life and the life of others. 
Scripture: Ephesians 5:29, 30; Psalm 82:3, 4; Proverbs 24:11, 12; Acts 16:28.

Psalm 26-27

In Psalm David looks for the LORD to vindicate him.  He believes that he has walked uprightly and he hope that the LORD and by the end of the Psalm it seems that his request is to not end up with the same fate as the wicked.  He hopes for deliverance and for some kind of meaning and joy and fulfillment in this life.  He seems to conclude that he will walk in his integrity and trust that the LORD will redeem him and be gracious.  Lord, I too hope for your blessing in this life and that your gracious hand would be upon me and that you would cause me to be a light to the world by my unwavering trust in you and my suffering for the sake of Christ and I pray you would indeed sustain me in all circumstances.

In Psalm 27 David exults in his knowledge that the LORD is his light and his salvation, his stronghold (Ps 27:1).  He has no fear because of this, even though there are threats against him.  This is a wonderful place to be and a trust that does not rely on circumstances.  He references his adversaries falling so he is experiencing the protection of God in his circumstances that is feeding his confidence it seems.  But he makes clear what he delights in and it is not victories, but it is seeking the LORD and gazing upon his beauty (Ps 27:4).  David is confident in the promises of the LORD to bless his throne and to maintain his throne forever and be believes that the LORD can deliver.  He celebrates that the LORD is his defense, not swords and armor, not might and skill (Ps 27:7).  Indeed LORD, let me exult in you and trust not in my own devices to protect me or my family from danger or evil but let us wait upon you and trust you and walk in your wisdom trusting you to get us through.

Ecclesiastes 4

Solomon takes note of the oppressed and those who toil just out of coveting their neighbor or out of envy that they don’t want other to have better than themselves.  This is the American Dream!  He wrestles with how worthless it seems to toil and strive just for things.  Nobody is ever actually satisfied and thus he sees it as a striving after the wind.  It is a never-ending task and it get us nowhere.  But he breaks out with some positive wisdom in friendship or partnership whether in spiritual or earthly focus.  Two are better than one and a third is even better…not quickly broken.  Men need a a close band of three guys who share life together and who are vulnerable with one another and who pray for one another and who ask the hard questions and who sacrifice rights and comfort and resources for one another. 

1 Timothy 6

     v1. Respect authority so as not to turn others against God or the teaching of his ministers.  This is what happens when people see hypocrites.  It damages the work of the laborers.  Let us respect and honor our teachers and ministers.
     v2. Don't use your Christian connection to take advantage of people who have authority over you but remain under them and respect their authority.
     v3. Do not listen to any teaching contrary to Christ or that leads aways from godliness.  Don’t let your flesh interprets grace and license but understand that grace is the power of God to kill sin in your life (Titus 2:11-14).  Grace is freedom from sin and nor freedom to sin!
     v4.  The one who teaches such is puffed up with conceit and knows nothing.  He craves controversy and quarreling.  This is a pretty apt description of someone who merely wants to debate theology and shows no fruit of godliness in his life.
      v5.  There is constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of truth.  Their thinking is not according to grace and is still stuck in sin and they are not being fed the truth.  They are thinking that godliness is a way to get something else they want.  Let not godliness be a means to gain something before men.
     v6-7.  The truth is that godliness with containment is the gain.  Being content to just be godly!  Not be godly in order to get some other great stuff…amounting to idols.
     v8-10.  Let us be pleased to have basic provision and he warns against desiring to be rich as it is a trap of the devil.  Love of money is a root of many evils.  Many are led away by the devil by this and they face many struggles.
     v11. But the man of God is not like that.  He flees such things and seeks after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.
     v12.  Fight! Take hold of what is yours even now…wait not for the future.  Be not idle with triflings but go after it!  Be zealous and fervent in spirit- Rom 12:11.
     v13. Like our Lord and savior gave confession before the one who would slay him, we too aught to give the good confession in our lives before this world who hates us.  Jesus confessed to be the King of the jews and said that this is why he came.  We were called and we remain for the furthering of the cause of Christ.  He was given human life in order that he may bear witness to the truth- to reveal God to his sheep.  Now we are alive for this purpose as well.
     v14. Be godly and do not forsake the commandments but remain firm until the end…until his coming.
     v15-16. He will declare when the time is right so you just focus on the task at hand.  he is in control.  he knows what we face.  He is ultimately and supremely powerful so do not fear!
     v17-19. Those who are rich- do not trust in your riches but hope in God.  Be rich toward God for he supplies all we need and with everything that is to be enjoyed.  Riches are fleeting and uncertain.  God is forever the giver.  These are to be full of good works and generosity Rom 12:8, 13.  Giving away is storing up! Give to truly live!
     v20. Guard the truth.  Guard the message.  Do not get tricked into focusing on meaningless babble and contradictions.  Do not join in the fight over men and over creeds.  Serve the Lord.

Soli Deo Gloria!

April 16

Leviticus 20; Psalm 25; Ecclesiastes 3;1 Timothy 5

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 73: WHAT IS THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The sixth commandment is, “Thou shalt not kill.” Scripture: Exodus 20:13.

Leviticus 19-20

"You shall be holy, for I the LORD am holy.”  “You shall do this or not do that: I am the LORD your God.”  “Keep my statutes and do them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you.”  “You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and I have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.”  All of the statutes in the law, in addition to following the prologue of “I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt…”, relate to these statements above.  God has chosen a people thought whom to reveal himself to all people of the earth.  This is a high calling and a wonderful blessing for the Israelites.  He is revealing mysteries of creation and of morality and of human nature and of our purpose and of his own glory, and he is doing it through the Jews.  They are not to be holy to save themselves or to earn redemption, but they are to be holy because they are his family and they are to bear his likeness.  We, as children of Abraham by faith are also part of this covenant people of God.  We are to be holy, not to prove something to God or others but to reveal God to the watching world.  We are to treasure Christ and to show the world the glory of God.  Psalm 23:3 says that the LORD leads us in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake…not ours.  We are living our purpose in this and we are to celebrate the fact that is is indeed the LORD who does this sanctifying (setting apart) work in us.  We do not struggle merely in the flesh but we rely on the Spirit to change our desires and drives and attitudes and emotions.

Psalm 23-25

You lead me in paths of righteousness not for my sake LORD but for the sake of your name (Ps 23:3).  You glorify your name in your people.  Because you are my shepherd LORD I know that I will dwell in your house forever (Ps 23:1, 6).  All of creation belongs to you O God (Ps 24:1) and which of your creatures may approach you to know you without being destroyed by your holiness and glory (Ps 24:3)?  You sanctify your children O God (Lev 20:8) and you clothe us in your own righteousness (Is 61:10), which we receive from your hand (Ps 24:5) thanks to the great exchange with your Son (2 Cor 5:21).  Because you are holy and we have union with your Son, we are holy and yet becoming holy.  We receive righteousness from the God of our salvation, from the King of glory, the LORD of hosts!  Let us wait upon you Lord and will you lead us in your ways for the sake of your name (Ps 25:5).  Remember me, for whom Jesus died, and not my sin that is a foreign invader within me (Ps 25:7; Rom 7:20).  Make me humble Lord that I will not be hardened against your teaching and your instruction.  Let me hear and let me be a doer by your gracious working upon my soul (Ps 25:9-10; James 1:22).  Let me know my guilt and own it Lord and let me know friendship with you by a fear that honors you and not by a pride or a sense of entitlement that dishonors you.  Let me understand that I do not deserve your love in the slightest and let me then exult in your favor that it has pleased you to pour upon me (Ps 25:11-12, 14-15).

Ecclesiastes 2-3

The main takeaway I see is to know the God is in control and that our striving does not make a difference (Eccl 2:11, 3:11, 14), it is our trust in God and our relating to him that brings knowledge and joy (Eccl 2:25-26).  We will all die and since we do not see what comes after death we rely on what we do see and we know ourselves by this life and so we ought to enjoy the labor that the Lord has given us here rather than waste time here waiting for eternity to begin (Eccl 3:21-22).  What is our labor, those who trust in the Lord?  Stop for a second…how do I read the Bible?  Is Ecclesiastes somehow unique that I should read it and understand it in a vacuum or is it like every other book of the Bible?  Should I not interpret it in light of the whole of scripture (Prov 23:4, 28:20; Mark 10:23; Phil 2:4, 3:8)?  Indeed!  Now, what is our work?  It is to love the Lord and to love others and to make disciples and to enjoy our God forever.  Let us never grow weary in doing good (Gal 6:9; Heb 12:3; 1 Cor 15:58) and let us enjoy this labor and its fruit!

1 Timothy 4-5

     v1-2. In later times people will fall from the faith due to deceitful teaching of demons through liars with seared consciences.  Joseph Smith and others? 
     v3. He likely speaks of the Gnostics of the first century who taught asceticism due to a belief that the body and the physical world altogether was evil.  Today this could relate to folks teaching yoga and vegetarianism and even homosexuality as some type of spirituality? 
     v4-5. All food is ok to eat as God made all things good and they are enjoyed with clear conscience by thanking God in prayer.  Keeping with the unity of scripture I cannot take this verse to be a license to enjoy wickedness because “everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected”…I am to hate what God hates (Rom12:9).
     v6. Here and verse 11 we are told to teach these things.  Unclear if simply the preceding statements or more than that.  At least teaching that some will fall away and why.  And training in godliness we are to teach.
     v7-9. Here is a great charge to spiritual discipline in our life.  We are to be godly and this takes discipline.  Our bodies too are trained by discipline but spiritual discipline is of greater value because (in part) it serves us now and into eternity.  So something about our degree of godliness here means something in heaven (even though we are changed in an instant and will all have no sin any longer and all that ).  So this can refer to rewards and authority and gifts to the feet of God etc.
     v10. We toil and strive to bring all we can to the place of love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith because we don't know who will believe.  We don't know who, for God desires all to be saved.  Thus he has no ill will for the lump but he is just.  We are to be indiscriminate in our efforts.  We don't know who will remain or fall away.
     v11-12. Command these things. Have authority.  Don't be held down due to your youth but set and example that they might not question your authority in this noble task.  Act like a man.
     v13-15. Do not be slack.  Preach and teach and labor and use your gifts.  Immerse yourself in the work of the Lord so that you improve along the way.
     v16.  And watch you heart and your teaching and stay pure to the doctrine you were given and what is reveled in the Word.  You will not only save yourself in this way (remember reference to guys he has handed to the devil) but you will save others.  The Word the flock receives impacts them and the mishandling of the Word can injure them!  Protect me O Lord and teach me and lead me and let me not do it in my strength!


Chapter 5...
     v1-2. Paul explains how to rebuke those older than you and of each gender.  Rebuke is not even the word to use for those older than you- encourage.  He stresses the respect of those senior to us and brotherly affection to our peers.  We must also do so with purity.  Perhaps he means not sinning in the way we rebuke and surely not sinning sexually with any woman or opposite gender.  Perhaps rebuking the younger woman as sisters "in all purity" could be taken to mean something like- rebuke and counsel young women with someone as witness and do not leave room for reproach or the appearance thereof.  Yes Lord give me brotherly affection for those that I need to call out and let me do so in love always and let me be discerning and wise in your counsel in this area now and into the future.
     v3-16.  This whole section deals with widows and how the church should only really care for widows who are truly alone and who love the Lord. Also if she has only had one husband and if she is over 60 years old.  Young women are to remarry and bear more children and be cared for by her new family in old age.  Caring for my family (even extended) is important and it speaks loudly against me if I do not step up and help the elderly in my family.  Here Paul says that I deny the faith if I do not love my family enough to care for their welfare.  Verse 16 can be taken to mean that the church should not spend its resources helping people that are able to help themselves and that we should help the ones who are truly helpless.
     v17-18. Something here about honoring the shepherd and paying him decently and not stopping him from teaching or speaking the truth.
     v19. Charges against elders should be considered with caution and need two or three witnesses due to the honor and expectation of holiness that is put upon them.
     v20.  But those in leadership who are found in unrepentant sin are to be rebuked in front of the whole congregation as a message of holiness and the expectations of the role of elder.
     v21-22. Do this and don't be hasty about ordaining elders or pastors.  Don't take part in the sin of others.  Rebuke people.  Take a stand.  Set them out of ministry when needed.  When the hidden sins come out they come out.  Do not hide and allow them to remain.
     v24-25.  Hidden sin and hidden good works come out eventually.

Soli Deo Gloria!

April 13

Leviticus 17; Psalm 20-21; Proverbs 31; 1 Timothy 2

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 72: WHAT IS THE REASON ADDED TO THE FIFTH
COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The reason added to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve God’s glory and their own good), to all who keep this commandment.
Scripture: Exodus 20:20; Ephesians 6:2, 3.

Leviticus 17

In this chapter the Lord directs Moses in not allowing sacrifices to be made other than to the Lord and he also commands them to never eat the blood of any creature.  The point is made that sacrifice and devotion belongs only to the Lord and to bring our worship and devotion to something other than him is idolatry and cannot be tolerated.  Those who offer sacrifices to anything but the Lord are to be “cut off” from among the people…this means killed.  Then the blood.  The life is in the blood.  God says that he has given the blood to them to make atonement by the life (Rom 5:9-10).  Here in Leviticus, God speaks of the indestructible life of his Son whom he offered up for our atonement, by the blood of the Son who willingly chose the cross (Rom 3:23-25; Gal 2:20).  Jesus will tell us in John 6 that we must eat his flesh and drink his blood and it becomes apparent then that this prohibition against drinking blood has to do with respecting the fact that the only life we are to be united to by blood is the life of the Son.  We are to be united to Christ and are to feed on his flesh alone.  We do this, symbolically, in the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper and we do it more realistically when we wake and when we seek the Lord in his Word and when we accept suffering in our flesh for the sake of others and for the cause of love.  May we not offer sacrifice to the god of consumerism or the god of security or the god of comfort or the god of leisure or the god of accomplishment or the god of acceptance…but may we offer our sacrifice to the Living God who gave his Son for our life and who calls us to live radically in surrender to his Son and to love others and lead them to find their gladness in God.

Psalm 20-21

These Psalms seem to be a pair and this is helped along by reading some commentary in the ESVSB.  Israel here prays for their King and we see the Lord answer and the celebration and thanksgiving to God.  I not that they ask that the sacrifices and offerings of the King will have been regarded with favor and I presume this means that they are praying that the King has been true and that he has walked uprightly and has not been held under the dominion of willful sin, but that his heart has been indeed devoted to the Lord and that he came with true offerings from the heart in worship and thanks and in dependence (Prov 15:8; Gen 4:3-7).  The Lord desires out hearts and not our sacrifices (Hos 6:6).  Trust in the Lord and not in the strength or might of man (Psalm 20:7)!  Be glad in God and desire his presence…trust in him and you will not falter (Psalm 21:6-7)!  May our lives demonstrate the mighty hand of God (Psalm 21:13)!

1 Timothy 2

     v1-2. Paul urges (pretty serious) us to pray for all people.  This is also to include kings and those in authority in order that we might live peaceful and quit lives.  God wants us to live with dignity and godliness.  Adding the insight from below I see that he wants us to pray for all because we know not whom God will save and we see that he desires all to come to repentance.  Thus we pray indiscriminately for all people and not for the ones only whom we think "fit the mold" or seem like they would become a christian.  This is God's- ours is to be faithful.  Exclude no one!
     v3. This quiet and peaceful life is pleasing to the Lord.  So we need not see great wars and battles and such.  Trials are not mandatory but useful and here he seems to indicate the Lord delights to provide peace and tranquility.
     v4. This verse can be seen as a challenge to the Calvinistic viewpoint as it indicates that the Lord desires all to be saved and to understand the truth.  Yet not all do.  So what is the message here?  There is some kind of desiring that God can have that does not result in the fulfillment of the desire.  Ultimately I relate this to his revealed will in the form of the law.  He desires that all would worship him alone, yet not all do this.  So therefore I glean that God allows for what he does not desire.  This is perfectly harmonious as he is not the author of sin and he is pure and lovely and has mercy even on the non-elect.  God here indicates that he would receive all if they would but come.  Yet, sadly, due to the depravity of man only those whom he calls will come.  Therefore God does not desire their destruction, which would be a supralapsarian view of God creating man neutral and then causing them to sin.  But rather, I see here that God is beneficent and he created man with a knowledge of their innate inability to be holy on their own and that anything less than himself would ultimately fail and he therefore makes man with a view of their fall and his allowance of sin does not indicate a desire for their destruction but rather a desire for their freedom and their knowledge of his mercy and love.  No doubt a mystery at the outset of evil (by the fall of the angels and how we get there) but his thoughts are higher than ours. Cross-reference to Ezekiel here indicates that God does not delight in the death of anyone but that it is not their start that indicates whether they have new hearts and His Spirit within them but their finish.  This harmonizes with Paul's concept of endurance of the faith and holding fast to the end etc.  Ezekiel 18:31 suggests that repenting makes yourself a new heart and a new spirit.  So either it causes the new heart or it evidences its presence.  Perhaps as peter writes of confirming your election this too is confirming your new heart.  Further, the fact that God allows something to over-rule his desire that none should perish points to a higher desire within God.  Does he limit the fulfillment of this desire for the sake of his glory in his purpose of election (Rom 9:10-13) or for the sake of his glory in his purpose of man’s autonomy?  Who’s freedom is God seeking to glorify by not causing universalism in condemnation…or in salvation?
     v5. I should study this more regarding how it correlates to the preceding verse but not enough time or energy now.  But knowledge of the truth surely includes this truth that there is but one God and one way to be at peace with him.  There are not multiple paths for people to follow so do not assume that some may be excluded because they already have their own path.  Nope- Islam, Judaisn, Hindus…they all need Jesus and do not exclude them.  Pray for all of them.
     v6-7. Paul indicates that Christ was a ransom for all of these whom we need to pray for.  This was a testimony by God at the right time to vindicate his righteousness and to indicate that it is his work and to his glory-  Rom 5:6-9, Rom 3:25-26.  Paul is engaged in this ministry of delivering this message.
     v8. So men everywhere should be praying and should be holy and not fighting amongst themselves.
     v9-10. Women also should be holy and should not be making themselves desirable with adornment but should be doing this with good works instead.
     v11-12.  Women should learn and submit to the authority of the man of authority (pastor-husband). 
     v13-14.  The reason for this arrangement is in following of the design and pattern that God has made evident.  And because the story of our first parents indicate that the women is more prone to deception and the man must stand for the truth.
     v15.  Tough verse here about her being saved through childbearing but perhaps it refers to all mankind being saved through Mary bearing Jesus.  Adam called Eve the mother of all the living.  They had children after the fall and so without a redeemer they would remain forever separated from God and expelled from the garden.  But through her childbearing (Seth) they begin the redemptive clock of delivering Jesus unto mankind for our ransoming.  But like men also- the women, including Eve, would need to continue in faith and evidence her new heart and spirit as referred above in verse 4 in the Ezekiel reference.

Soli Deo Gloria!

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!

Men, lead your family

Here is a short video encouraging and teaching us how to lean into the task of leading our family.  A related blog post is also linked right below the video...


Men, Lead Your Family from Desiring God on Vimeo.

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/how-a-man-loves-a-woman

April 11

Leviticus 15; Psalm 18; Proverbs 29; 2 Thessalonians 3

Yes Papa, I started adding comments for the full one-year M'Cheyne plan rather than the two-year plan.  Sorry to mess you up!  You can grab the one-year plan now in the Resources page right below the two-year version.

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 70: WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The fifth commandment requires that we preserve the honor and perform the duties which belong to every one in their various roles as authorities, subordinates or equals.
Scripture: Leviticus 19:32; 1 Peter 2:17; Romans 12:10; 13:1; Ephesians 5:21-22; 6:1, 5, 9; Colossians 3:19-22; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; Hebrews 13:7, 17.

Leviticus 15

The biggest thing I notice in this chapter is a summary statement that might apply rightly to chapters 11-15.  Lev 15:31 puts a bow on the topic of uncleanness and the reason for all the rules and processes.  The Lord is protecting them and instructing them as he did at the death of Nadab and Abihu in chapter 10.  In Lev 10:3 the Lord said that those who are near him he will be sanctified and before the people he will be glorified.  This was Moses' answer to Aaron at the death of Aarons sons.  It seems that the Lord wants unclean persons to know their uncleanness so that they will rightly be kept far from the tabernacle (God’s presence with the nation of Israel) so that they are not consumed like Aaron’s sons (Lev 15:31; Lev 10:1-3).  Sin still separates and will hinder my prayers (Is 59:2; 1 Pet 3:7; Prov 28:9) but I need not fear death if I am coming into God’s court by faith in the Son (Eph 3:11-12; Heb 4:16, 10:19-22).

Psalm 18

A focal point in this Psalm is the basis for David’s plea to God.  From verse 20-24 David speaks in a way that seems to be claiming merit before God as if the Lord owes him deliverance.  He speaks of God dealing with her according to his righteousness and the cleanness of his hands.  He speaks of keeping the ways of the Lord and being rewarded for his righteousness according to the cleanness of his hands in God’s sight.  This can seem odd but David clarifies his argument from verse 25-39.  At verse 25 he reveals that God shows his mercy through his people meting merciful and his righteousness (blamelessness) through his people walking blamelessly.  This is a clue as to the cause and means of David’s obedience.  It is the Lord exalting his own name and empowering David to walk sanctified to the praise of the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Clearly in verse 27 David acknowledges that the Lord saves the humble and thus his claims of righteousness would be odd if they were a self-righteous claim before God.  Every verse from 28-39 gives further argument for the fact that it is the Lord who is accomplishing righteousness in David.  He is even giving him wide and clear ground on which to step…he is making it easy for David!  Could I seriously boast in myself that I have not committed such and such sin in more than two years when the reality is that the Lord has placed my feet on solid ground and the place for my steps are broad?  If he has removed temptation and there is indeed no borage of slippery slopes and uneven ground then where can my claim to owning this righteousness possibly come from?  May the Lord indeed equip us for battle by giving us strength and blamelessness.  May he indeed give us the righteousness of Christ and may the others see our works and glorify God (1 Peter 2:12; Matt 5:16)!  May he equip us to keep from our guilt (Psalm 18:23)!  Thank you Lord that you rescue us because it is your delight and not because you have found merit in us (Psalm 18:19).  Thank you Lord that you do not deal with us according to our sin (Psalm 103:10) but as David says here according to our righteousness (Psalm 18:20), which is Christ’s (2 Cor 5:21).

Proverbs 29

Sin is a snare but obedience lightens the heart and give joy even in rotten circumstances (Prov 29:6).  There is hardly a reason to be arguing with a fool (Prov 29:9).  Maintaining thoughts and grievances within until all information is gathered and understood is wise.  It is foolish to react immediately only to find that I did not consider something and now it is me who is the fool (Prov 29:11).  Children cannot raise themselves and they need constant direction and discipline and instruction (Prov 29:15).  The first will be last and the last will be first (Prov 29:23).  If I am acting in a way to please man and keep his favor then I will make terrible decisions and end up in a bad way…but if I fear the Lord and act to please him then my way will be secure (Prov 29:25)!

2 Thessalonians 3

Paul prays here that the Lord would direct their hearts to the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ (2 Thess 3:5).  He knows that it is the Lord’s influence upon our hearts that brings change within us.  I cannot muster change or fruit…it is granted by God.  He admonishes us to warn those who are idle and are not working to support themselves but taking advantage of the hospitality and generosity of the church and to not associate with them (2 Thess 3:6, 10, 14-15).  He urges us to support ourselves and to not grow weary of doing good.  We are not to treat the idle as enemies but we are to be faithful brothers to them and admonish them.  He prays that the Lord would grant us peace always in all circumstances and so I pray that he would indeed!

Soli Deo Gloria!

April 10

Leviticus 14; Psalm 17; Proverbs 28; 2 Thessalonians 2

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 69: WHICH IS THE 5TH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The fifth commandment is, “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gives thee.”
Scripture: Exodus 20:12.

Leviticus 14

Here Moses writes about the regulations for how someone who is healed of their leprosy goes about becoming ceremonially clean.  This person would have been living alone outside of the camp until such a time as the disease seems to be healed.  Then the priest would again examine him and if the disease did seem to be healed they would begin a process as described.  A sin and a guilt offering are made to atone for the healed persons sins…their inclusion back into the covenant people of God requires this. 

Psalm 17

The psalmist prays to be preserved and the method of prayer is to appeal to the manner in which this rescue will be a wonderful displaying of God’s steadfast love (Psalm 17:7).  A good prayer method is to appeal to God and his character and his glory and his plan and his kingdom and to make our plans and our kingdom and our desires and our glory not the point of appeal.  We will be most satisfied when we are caught up in his glory, not wallowing in our feeble glory (Psalm 17:15).  Let us not be so focused on the world that our satisfaction and joy and concerns are all focused upon what is seen (Psalm 17:14). 

Proverbs 28

The righteous can face adversity and trouble with confidence because their Abba Father maintains the universe and nothing is outside of his control (Prov 28:1).  The children of God know justice and they fight for it.  There is a place for the political maneuvering and the social efforts to bring things like abortion to an end and to offer help to those who are devastated by such injustices (Prov 28:4-5).  Do I strive against evil?  If I stop hearing and listening to God it seems that he returns the favor (Prov 28:9).  It is critical that I do not ignore my sin and that I take the time to reflect and consider my motives and attitudes and that I actually open my mouth or my thoughts in prayer and confess my sins to my God and I also need to turn from my sin rather than simply plan for the next episode (Prov 28:13-14).  Taking no action to prevent me from returning to my vomit is not a turning from my sin.  Serial repentance may not be repentance.  Do I hate my sin?  Do I seek riches or faithfulness to the Lord with my life?  What message do I want my life to speak (Prov 28:20)?  Is it ok to ignore every person I encounter who is in need (Prov 28:27)?  Are there some who should receive some compassion and mercy from me?  Am I more worried about being taken advantage of than I am worried about my possible sinning against the Lord by hiding my eyes?  Which is worse?  Which do I know better…the poor person’s history and situation or my heart?  Can I pick up some sub-way gift cards at the super market and keep them handy?  There are millions of poor people who can’t get to the boulevard with their family to show themselves to me…do I see them?  Are my eyes open?  Where is my treasure?

2 Thessalonians 2

Paul attacks their fears and misunderstandings here.  He assures them that the second coming has not yet occurred and he uses evidence of other occurrences that must precede it.  There is debate over the teaching of this chapter with regard to a rapture and the possibility that it is the Holy Spirit indwelling the church of God that is restraining the man of lawlessness right now.  For certain there is coming a day when the guilty, those who remain in guilt because they do not trust in Jesus for justification, will be judged by God and they will perish.  But Paul offers the Thessalonians assurance that they have been chosen by God, called by God, loved by Jesus and that the Holy Spirit is at work in them to sanctify them and prepare them as the bride of the lamb (2 Thess 2:13-14).  When I walk in the truth and I am experiencing the sanctifying work of the Spirit then I am seeking after glory (Christ's) and honor (God’s) and immortality (eternal life effected in me by the Spirit and consummated at my bodily redemption) (Rom 2:6-7, Rom 8:23).  Paul prays for them that they would be comforted here and now in their daily circumstances and motivated at a heart level by the God who has granted eternal comfort and hope through his grace.

Soli Deo Gloria!

April 9

Leviticus 13; Psalm 15-16; Proverbs 27; 2 Thessalonians 1

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 68: WHAT ARE THE REASONS ATTACHED TO THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The reasons attached to the fourth commandment are, God’s creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh and his blessing the Sabbath day.
Scripture: Exodus 20:9-11; 31:16, 17; Genesis 2:2, 3.

Leviticus 13

This chapter is devoted to describing leprosy and the process of determining someone ceremonially unclean.  The priest essentially served as a public health agent here and there was a separation made between the unclean and the clean and the unclean were put far from the tabernacle to ensure they would not come in contact with anything holy and incur judgement.  There are allusions in the NT that uncleanness is, in one sense, a metaphor for sin but forgiveness and cleansing is given to us in Christ (Matt 23:37; Rev 21:22-27).

Thinking more on the use of this chapter this morning I am hit with the contrast of the priest here who can merely observe and judge as to the presence or absence of uncleanliness to the great High Priest who is the source and cause and accomplisher of our cleansing.  The rich young man in Mark chapter 10 wanted Jesus to observe for cleanliness.  The blind beggar in Mark chapter 10 knew he needed Jesus to create cleanliness.  Am I trying to display my cleanliness to Jesus as if he were a mere human priest or am I coming to him broken and seeking his righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit?  May we receive a washing and not merely a judgement!  See that Jesus heals the leper in Matthew chapter 8 and tells him to go to the priest to be judged clean according to the law.  The great High Priest accomplishes the cleansing and then sends him to the human priest to see that it is so.  Let us not look to ourselves or to other men to do what only the living God can do in us.

Psalm 15

This Psalm begins with a very familiar question and the answer is given direct to the fruits and not to the cause.  The blameless person that does what is right is no more than Jesus.  The only way for me to fit this description is by substitution and then the in working sanctification of the Spirit brining change to my soul.  It would seem that the one who dwells with the Lord is the one who trusts Jesus and who walks in surrender to the Spirit of God…thus they are seeing the fruit of the Spirit and the sanctification of their soul.  I should not suppose that if I am unrepentant and walk knowingly in sin that I should have a place at the communion table with the Lord.  One who communes with God also does not take advantage of his fellow man.  The Psalm closes with reference to usury and the extortion of money from the poor and helpless.  See Lev 25:35-36 regarding caring for a poor brother and 1 Tim 5:8 regarding relatives.  This can bring up some issues to wrestle with regarding caring for aging relatives or family members in tough spots. 

Spurgeon on verse 1- "Members of the visible church, which is God’s tabernacle of worship, and hill of eminence, should diligently see to it, that they have the preparation of heart which fits them to be inmates of the house of God. Without the wedding-dress of righteousness in Christ Jesus, we have no right to sit at the banquet of communion. Without uprightness of walk we are not fit for the imperfect church on earth, and certainly we must not hope to enter the perfect church above."

Psalm 16

This Psalm contains a very well known closing verse that is precious to many.  This Psalm helps establish that a self denial of the crap I used to call pleasure or fulfillment is not an ultimate self denial of rejecting happiness or joy in my life, but rather it is a refining and an acceptance of true happiness and joy.  In the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy and nowhere else!  Our great God desires that we enjoy him and that we experience great joy and fulfillment and this is not a legalistic dutiful following of God but a joyful and free chasing of him in devotion and surrender.  The Lord is not only our refuge from trouble but he is the very source of joy.  It is no wonder why the Psalmist would declare that The LORD is his chosen portion!

Proverbs 27

No reason to boast about what I may accomplish tomorrow when it may never come.  I ought to do today what is important and living for the future (in this life) is a loser.  I ought to live for my eternal future and I ought to plan for tomorrow, but not have unquestioned expectation or sense of entitlement that it will arrive.  I should be eagerly awaiting the bridegroom!  Praise is a difficult thing (Prov 27:21).  Verse 2 and verse 21 speak of this and I see the first step in not being your own source of praise and then the next step being the right handling of the praise of others, should it come.  How do we rightly receive such praise?  Do we reject it?  Do we ignore it?  Do we kindly accept and then secretly pray to the Lord that we will discard it?  Do we adequately guard our heart against relishing it and taking it as a reward?  What does my heart do when someone praises me?  My heart reflects me and so how do I observe my heart?  Do my words expose my heart?  Do my desires and drives speak of my heart?  There is some direction in the proverb about friendship and the way we are honest and faithful friends.  The true friend wounds when it is needed (Prov 27:6) and gives good counsel and in these ways, and others, he is a source of sharpening to another (Prov 27:17).  Rebuke can be loving (Prov 27:5).  There is also instruction about remaining in the home and caring for the family and not running off leaving the family vulnerable (Prov 27:8).

2 Thessalonians 1

Paul gives thanks to God for the fact that their faith is growing and their love for one another is growing.  God is at work in them!  How is my faith and how is my love for the church of God?  Paul even boasts about the way the believers there are holding up under the pains of persecutions and afflictions.  He is rejoicing that he Lord is strengthening them and making them resolute and solid in their trust.  They are not fickle and fair whether Christians but they are followers of Jesus.    It seems that they had developed a misunderstanding, however, about the 2nd coming of Christ.  It seems maybe that they were wondering if he had indeed already returned (mostly clarified in the next chapter).  Here Paul lets them know that when Christ returns there will be no missing it and that he will come with flaming vengeance upon the unbelievers.  There will be great destruction and those who do not know God (presently) will never know God’s presence in eternity.  This reminds me of a quote by John Owen in The Glory of Christ-  “No man shall ever behold the glory of Christ by sight hereafter, who does not in some measure behold it by faith here in this world.”...“Nay, persons not disposed hereby to it cannot desire it, whatever they pretend; they only deceive their own souls in supposing that so they do”.  So the question arises, am I enjoying the presence of the Lord and the glory of his might?  Am I finding my joy on his holy hill or am I finding my satisfaction in the world?  Am I desiring of his glory now or do I just think I will want that later?  Do I seek him?  How do I do that?  Paul speaks of living worthy of the calling and fulfilling every good work of faith.  This is all to the end that the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified in us.  By the grace of God, we can glorify our savior in the way that we live and in the way that we seek him and in the way that we find joy and satisfaction in him rather than in the world.  Does my faith grow?  Does my love for the church (all believers) grow?  Do I live for the glory of God or my own?  And how does this relate to putting the kids to bed or making the bed or doing the dishes or leading the family in a devotion or in rushing home from work or in making time for someone in need or...


Soli Deo Gloria!