May 3

Numbers 10; Psalm 46-47; Song of Solomon 8; Hebrews 8

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 88: IS ANY MAN ABLE PERFECTLY TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD?
Answer: No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but daily falls short of inward and outward perfection.
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:20; Genesis 6:5; 8:21; 1 John 1:8; James 3:2, 8; Romans 3:23; 7:15; Philippians 3:12.

Numbers 10

Israel moves out for the first time since the erection of the tabernacle.  They are led by the cloud as a sign of the presence of God and they are heading to the promised land (Num 10:29).  God gives them a trumpet system whereby they are to blow the trumpets as an alarm or as a call to the people or to the tribe leaders and this would be used for battle as well.  He explains that the trumpets are to be a reminder to them so that they remember that The LORD is their God.  The LORD gives symbols and rituals and means of connection that establish a tangible culture that relies upon God. 

Psalm 46-47

God is present!  When we are in trouble and the earth seems to be failing and when all is falling apart…he is present and he is our refuge and strength!  We need not fear circumstances or enemies.  The LORD of hosts is with us!  This hosts word refers to armies…angelic armies.  Let us be still rather than panic…let us know that he is God and nothing is outside of his control and purpose.  So 47 moves on now to encourage us to lift our voices in praise to the King of the earth.  The “world”, the sinful world may be the enemy’s domain (2 Cor 4:4) for now (based on our first parent’s giving up dominion to him) but God is the king over the elements and the nations (Ps 47:2, 7, 8).  The actual earth and all the creation is his.  Satan owns the sin and the systems of rebellion…which impact the creation (as far as God allows) until it is all shut up in hell in the final day. 

Hebrews 8

     v1-2. He goes to make a conclusion or a main point of the previous statements about the eternal priesthood that Jesus serves in and the point is that this high priest is actually before the presence of God always and does not enter into a man-made tent that is a copy of something God showed Moses on the mountain.
     v3. This presence before God is needed because priest must bring gifts and offerings to the Lord somehow.
     v4-5.  The only priesthood that can be served on earth is one under the original covenant of the law.  There were already priests here serving that covenant and that was a mere shadow of what was to come.
     v6-7.  Jesus serves a greater ministry with greater promises of a heart change from the inside out worked by the omnipotence of God rather than an external law requiring our outward efforts and resulting in our failure to keep it.  Better promises.  This is awesome.  The first promise required our keeping of the external law and the new promise is that Jesus will keep it and write in us a spiritual law upon our hearts and that he will empower us to keep this law and he will work in us a salvation that depends not upon our righteousness, but only his own.  Better promise indeed!
     v8-13.  Here he explains the new covenant promise of the law being written on our hearts and that God will guarantee our salvation in knowing him and that this will be by his mercy…see Rom 9:16.  The old covenant was faulted due to our flesh so a better one was brought and sealed with the perfect keeping of the old one by our king and brother... see Rom 8:3-4.  A new covenant is established through the fulfillment of the old! This whole passage is speaking of the house of Israel and the house of Judah and Romans makes clear that this is for all (Rom 3:29), Jew and Greek and that we all become Jews by this inward heart circumcision by the Spirit (Rom 2:26-29).
     v13.  The old covenant is obsolete and is growing old and ready to vanish…hmmm.  ready to vanish but not gone yet.  When?  Probably still binding for those who have not entered the new covenant because it has not been sealed by blood.  There has been no entering into the new covenant and no fulfillment of the old for any that are not "in Christ" and so they are still under the old covenant and condemned therefore due to rebellion and enmity and failure.  This covenant will be fulfilled in them in the judgement day when the righteous judgment of God is revealed. Rom 2:5  Growing old because the days are passing and the day of judgement is coming.  He patiently waits for us to take hold of the promises of Christ in the new covenant and see the old fulfilled in love.  The law is here because of sin…once sin is finally dealt with then this could be the “vanishing" of the law.  Recall that the law is good and holy, not a bad thing (Rom 7:12-14).  So the law is not the problem…we are.  Our flesh is…our rebellion.

Soli Deo Gloria! 

May 2

Numbers 9; Psalm 45; Song of Solomon 7; Hebrews 7

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 87: WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE TENTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The tenth commandment forbids all murmuring over our own condition and all envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor, and all inordinate affections for anything that is his.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:10; James 5:9; Galatians 5:26; Colossians 3:5.

Numbers 9

This chapter explains how the nation of Israel camped or traveled by the LORD’s command based upon the cloud’s resting upon the tabernacle or its lifting. This is a great picture of waiting upon the LORD and resting in him.  They did not struggle and strive but merely took their lead from God and they followed. They were concerned with the presence and purposes of God as they woke each day with their tent turned toward the tabernacle they could see if the cloud remained or if it had lifted and it was time to pack up camp.  May we keep our tent turned to the LORD and may we indeed look for his guidance regarding packing up or setting down.  Let us hunger for his presence and his purpose more than for our next milepost or destination.  See Ruth 1:16.

Psalm 45

This psalm is interesting and a bit difficult to follow in terms of its messianic references vs its speaking of the literal King.   Verse 6-7 are the most obvious in having at least reference to Christ in part, even if the term Elohim (God) is possibly used in reference to the King.  Often there is a typology in scripture where there is a dual reference or meaning and it would seem likely here.  The throne could never be considered to be forever unless it is in view of Christ’s reign.  More typology in verses 16-17 as we know that Christ has made us kings and priests (Rev 5:10, NKJV)! 

Hebrews 7

A recounting of Abraham's running into this priest and his paying tithe to the priest is given for purpose of drawing conclusions about the priesthood that Jesus serves.  The writer establishes clearly that Abraham, though the patriarch, recognized one higher than him.  And thus, all tribes of Abraham should recognize that there is a priesthood greater than that established by the mosaic law in the Levites.  Aaron and the order of the high priest is by human lineage and is a shadow of the real priesthood that is by oath and that requires an indestructible life.
     v9-10.  A concept of federal representation here is given that can help to understand how we are all "in Adam" and that when he sinned we all became guilty.  It is said that Levi made tithe to Melchizedek before he ever lived.
     v11-12 speak of a priesthood that exceeds what is possible by the OT law and this priesthood requires a new law.  This is Jesus.  He fulfills the OT law and does what the law could not do in its weakness (flesh) Rom 8:3, 10:4.
     v13-18.  Jesus is from the tribe of Judah by maternal lineage but remember that he is begotten of God on the paternal side and thus without beginning and without end…by order of Melchizedek.  It matters not that moses mentioned no priesthood from Judah as this is not from where Jesus gets his priestly appointment.  His priesthood come from the oath of God and rests on his indestructible life.  The former priesthood is set aside and we take Christ!
     v19.  We have a better hope (one not based on the letter, but on the Spirit!) Rom 7:6, 5:5. Rom 3:21- now the righteousness of God is manifested apart from the law!
     v20-21.  The oath of Psalm 110:4 rests upon Jesus and this is greater than a physical priestly lineage.
     v22-25.  Never ending priesthood!  A better covenant!  This reveals his his resurrection established the evidence that he holds an enduring priesthood and he lives to bless us in this office of high priest.  Rom 5:10 tells me I am saved by his life!  Rom 8:34 tells me he intercedes for me as here I am told that he lives always to do this!  He prayed for Peter and maintained his faith and gave him purpose and power of restoration.  Luke 22:31-32.  He saves to the uttermost (completely and always) those who draw near.  And he has brought us nigh!  Ephesians 2:13-14 tells me the the blood of Christ has brought me near!
     v26-27.  Our priest is a man to represent us but he is God as well.  Jesus, the priest, is also the sacrifice!  Once for all is the same phrase from Rom 6:10 in dying to sin but living to God.
     v28.  The word of the oath came after the law…begotten in Mary.  New covenant is the word of oath in place of OT law.  By promise, not by letter.  Rom 4:16, 7:6.

Soli Deo Gloria!

May 1 (brief and late)

Numbers 8; Psalm 44; Song of Solomon 6; Hebrews 6

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 86: WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE TENTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The tenth commandment requires contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit towards our neighbor, and all that is his.
Scripture: Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:6; Romans 12:15; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Leviticus 19:18.

Hebrews 6

     v1-3.  Paul makes the case that there is elementary doctrine of Christ involving conversion and repentance and basic understanding of sacraments and understanding our future bodily redemption.  Some of this was contextually in their time and the struggles against the concept of resurrection.  But for my sake now it is helpful to relate this to the mention of milk vs solid food in the end of chapter 5.  So we need solid food but this is once we grasp the elementary principles of salvation.  Paul seems to indicate that the audience is at risk of being in the category of needing reminders about faith and repentance and elementary principles.
     v4-8.  Now the difficulty begins as Paul lays out an argument that it is impossible for one who has experienced in various ways membership in the family of God, and has subsequently fallen away, to be restored to repentance.  Hmmm.  Perhaps Paul means it is impossible for us to do anything about this because he has already been fed the Word and it is up to God to grant true faith and repentance and there is nothing more we can do for him.  It is impossible for me to do something more in order to win this person.  Nothing is impossible with God but I lack alternative means to conduit the Spirit unto this person and thus it is impossible for me to "save them" or "restore them" by returning to the elementary principles and thus it is pretty much to no avail.  He has heard…and he has been hardened.  Yet Paul leaves room for God to direct us to return to this elementary teaching for maybe two reasons.  Perhaps for the sake of the newcomer or perhaps for the sake of God's providence in determining to yet restore the one described despite Paul's assertion that there is no ability in him to do anything more for them…Some difficulty to my view here is verse 6-8 that speaks of a second crucifixion and an injury done to their soul in holding Jesus up to contempt.  Hmmm…Maybe as the mention of harm to the unbeliever who would partake in communion, similarly here is the breaking of the body of Christ on the cross which in the first experience with a supposed union with Christ in his death there was no effectual killing of sin and no genuine repentance.  Perhaps the same matter here is that there has been a trampling and a false testimony of what would look like a powerless salvation…a powerless grace.  Now this person has clearly not been saved if they are so plainly disowning of Christ who they supposedly belong to.  Maybe such dramatic falling away and denial of faith…but I really don't know at this point.  More study for sure needed here.
     v9. Never the less he gives hope to the reader that this is not their case and that they are indeed saved…hint to the status of the person above.  Never saved unless of course salvation can be lost (I don't carry that opinion based on sealing and hope and promise and predestination).
     v10.  Interesting the evidence he offers in this judgement is their work for the Lord and their love for the saints.  Love may be key here.
     v11.  They want this same subjective assurance for all in that they would walk faithfully and remain hopeful until the end.  Perhaps this indicates that there is a way to lack hope and yet be saved?  Certainly there are gradations of walking in faith and obedience and there must be something here in that the more you experience sanctification and the work of the Spirit in us the greater our hope and assurance.
     v12.  When we have a sure hope it seems that we do not lack zeal and energy and purpose.  As in Rom 8:23-25 we are admonished here to not be sluggish but to imitate those who have gone before us and demonstrated an unending faith and patience.  This reminds me of Rom 2:7 and 12:11-12 and Rev 1:9 and James 5:7-8.  We wait patiently for our redemption and hope in what is not seen vs in what is seen and we seek for glory and honor and immortality.  Patience is not slothful but zealous!
     v13-14. In promising Abraham a land and a people, he simply swore on himself…he gave no other reason for it to be so or no other authority by which he would give any collateral or evidence in the affirmative.  He alone is the source and the guarantee.  There is no guarantee in life greater than God's Word.
     v15.  Here is where there seems a part on the side of Abraham to understand.  He then waits patiently.  Having waited patiently, he obtained the promise.  What if he did not wait patiently?  Some do not wait upon the Lord but refuse the free offer and some remain hard hearted and corrupt.  Some do not obtain the promise as the promise is to the offspring of Abraham.  Romans 9:6-8 makes it clear that it is not children of the flesh but children of the promise that are counted as offspring.  Being counted by God is ultimate over any sense of having something in the flesh.  Note also that Abraham actually did wait patiently.  He actually did hope in the unseen and he did by patience in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality.
     v16. "By myself I have sworn" from Genesis 22:16 and now we are reminded that God's oath is final confirmation.
     v17.  No greater authority to be had for an oath
     v18.  So two things…God's unbreakable promise (and his inability to lie) combined with the eternal priesthood of Jesus gives us guarantee.  Romans 4:16 tells us the the promise rests on grace and this is the guarantee.  The fact is that it relies on God and not us…which is the teeth to grace (unmerited favor…unmerited).  God's unbreakable promise and the unending priesthood of our big brother…these are the two things that give me hope beyond hope.  Reconciling this unmerited favor with God's statement in Gen 22 that "because you have obeyed my voice" leaves me looking for dots to connect and a need to see that it was God who gave this obedience to Abraham (promise and not works).  Systematically I have no problem with that but I need to see the biblical evidence for the system in this specific context.  Maybe this is a good argument for necessary sanctification because the faith indeed resulted in obedience for Abraham.  Remember Rom 3:3 and that Abraham believed God and this was counted to him as righteousness and so he obeyed and he believed.  Maybe this is one thing, yes?  To obey is to believe according to John 3:36.  We may hold fast to hope and he will do it!
     v19-20.  The fact that it is up to God and not us (Rom 9:16) and his inability to lie plus the unending priesthood and advocacy of the Son gives my soul a sure and steadfast anchor…if only I will see it and will look at it continually.  My hope is not distant and external to me but resides within and has given me immediate access to the Father by the authority of the Son and the power of the Spirit!  My brother, my king, my savior, my healer has made the way and he has gone before me and he ever lives to aid me and lead me.  Consider if I let this anchor move me…do I let this anchor hold me and animate me?  Do I ignore this anchor and let fear come along?  Do I fail to rejoice over this anchor and do I distract myself from it?

Soli Deo Gloria!

April 30

Numbers 7; Psalm 42-43; Song of Solomon 5; Hebrews 5

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 85: WHAT IS THE TENTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The tenth commandment is, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man servant, nor his maid servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.”
Scripture: Exodus 20:17.

Numbers 7

This chapter documents the offerings made at the tabernacle after it was first erected and when Moses and Aaron had just finished consecrating it for service as described in Exodus 40.  It seems that these 12 days preceded the 7 days of ordination for Aaron and his sons in Leviticus 8-9.  Alternatively, the offerings depicted here may be what Aaron offered in Leviticus 9:15-24...but I like the previous idea better.  We see from Exodus 40 that there was at first an inability to enter the tabernacle due to the glory of God so filling it but it must be that shortly after Moses enters as depicted here in Leviticus 7 or the Exodus 40 ending was maybe a summary that does not depict a particular single day.  It is also unclear to me if Moses entered the Most Holy place or if he merely heard the voice of God from the other side of the veil since it only says that he entered the tent of meeting.  Either way, God was talking to him!  The tabernacle is where God was pleased to dwell among his people, but I recall Isaiah 66:1-2 and I know that God now dwells in the one who is humble, contrite, and trembles at his Word.  Let us tremble O God! 

Psalm 42-43

These two psalms are one.  Together they are a lament over spiritual dryness or depression.  The psalmist is hungry for God in a sense of feeling distant and wanting to be near.  He is recalling days of leading great procession and being very joyful and reflects upon why now is it not so.  He has hope that he will again praise the Lord gladly and he preaches to himself…”Hope in God”.  Let us preach to ourselves daily to hope in God, the one who is our salvation and our God.  He is not our salvation and our buddy.  He is also not our God and our condemner.  He saves and he rules.  He does not save and issue license.  He does not rule and convict.  We have a God who is both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom 3:26).  Let us hope in God as our savior and fear him as our God.  This is what the psalmist preaches to himself when he is low.  It seems that the sons or Korah (prominent temple singers along with Asaph and his sons) wrote this Psalm (2 Chron 20:19).  In Psalm 43 it becomes clearer that the psalmist is facing some oppression (spiritual attack?) and he is asking for God to lead him with light and truth.  I take this to mean that he is searching the scriptures and looking for God to lift his affect by the Word.  He hopes to come to the holy hill of God (Ps 15:1ff, 24:3-7).  This psalmist is the everyday believer who longs to wake in the morning with a song and a fire within but sometimes doesn’t.  Lord may we pray like this and may we seek you in your Word when we have an oppression or a heaviness or an unknown emotion that keeps us low.  May we hunger for you and ask with pure hearts that we may come up your hill and join you and commune with you.

Hebrews 5

     v1.  A high priest is chosen from men to serve on behalf of men in relation to God.  This is from the bottom up in the vertical relationship to God.  He must be a man and his job is to relate to God, to interact with God on our behalf.  He is to present gifts and sacrifices in order to follow God's precepts and the process he gave for the atonement of sins.  It must be a man, no angel, no God alone, but a man.  Jesus came not as God only, but as the God-man.  He is fully God and at the moment of the incarnation became forevermore also fully man.  We have a brother who holds the universe together.  A man stands at the throne of God praying for us!  A man holds the waters back and orders the universe moment to moment!  He was made for a time lower than the angels but in his glory man (like the man Jesus) is exalted above the angels.
     v2. Because he has his own failures and weaknesses he can deal gently with the people he represents.  Jesus dealt with all the weakness but conquering without sin he can sympathize with us an yet offer us his strength (Heb 4:15).
     v3.  These weaknesses actually require him to offer his own sacrifices to God to cleanse himself before he can deal on behalf of the people.
     v4.  This is a high honor that cannot be assumed by any man but is given by God alone, just as he called Aaron.  Ministers of the Gospel are called by God and not self-assigned.  Spurgeon speaks of the preacher being a man who knows there is nothing else he is to do.  The preacher is not the man who finds himself with no other option but perhaps to go into ministry…no.  The preacher knows that regardless of his current lot…preach he must do or die.  The preacher is called of God.
     v5.  Now enter Christ, who also did not assign himself as priest but was assigned at the time of his conception by God the Father.  The begetting of Jesus here is referred to be his physical body being made in the womb of Mary.  I think this speaks to him lacking a physical human body prior to this point.  The Son seems to have had some physical (at least visible) manifestation before his incarnation but not a "human" body (or soul) as we know it.  God claims this Son as his own and thus Mary is with child apart from human reproduction but by divine intervention to place in her the divine essence in a now human body and soul.  This Son is heir and is king but he also has no real beginning and will have no end and he is before Abraham as Jesus would later clarify.  Of note is that it says "today" and this clearly indicates an action in time…though planned from before time, it is executed in time and space and yet the divine Son created time and existed eternally as the begotten.  The begetting of the incarnation here depicted is plainly having to do with incarnation and not the eternal state of the Son in relation to the Father, which had no beginning in time.
     v6.  This priesthood will not end because Jesus will not remain dead after the crucifixion…his sacrifice will be once forever and he will then reign as king and priest and he will forever serve the people of God in this office of the king-priest.  This is the picture of the mysterious Melchizedek.  This King-priest who has no beginning or end and is somehow greater than Abraham, the Father of us all.  He seems outside of the lineage of God's chosen people in this sense.  The Patriarchal line of Jesus is nothing more than the great I Am.  The matriarchal line is from Judah.  Genesis 3:15 sets the seed of Adam against the seed of Eve.  Eve has no seed, but merely eggs so this can only speak of this begotten Son of Mary as God refers to the matriarchal line of Jesus here.  The seed of Adam would be all of mankind by where his sin is ours.  Mankind is set against the Son…set against God.  Only a man can serve as our priest.  Only God can do it perfectly and forever.  We needed the God-man.
     v7.  Amazing picture of the loud cries and supplications of Jesus while he walked the earth pleading with the Father.  Here it mentions "him who was able to save him from death".  It also says he was heard because of his reverence.  Do I pray with reverence always?  He pleaded with tears and was heard because though he pleaded it was with the highest reverence and may I say dependence upon the Father.  Is this a picture of Gethsemane where he asked for the cup to pass?  The Father surely heard that prayer but the answer was in the negative.  Or perhaps the answer was the sending of the ministering angels who strengthened him (Luke 22:42-44)?
     v8-10. Maybe the next verse helps…though he was a Son he was perfected through suffering.  The sacrifice was made perfect here in the Garden and up on that cross in suffering for his people, his co-heirs.  He learned obedience through what he suffered.  The garden and the cross were necessary for the Son of Man.  Avoidable for the Son of God because the Father was able to keep him from death…but needed for the perfection of the sacrifice and the perfection of the priesthood.  He took all our sin and we are united in his death and he knows each of us as he suffered the wrath and shame of all of my individual sins and my wickedness.  He became the source of "eternal salvation"…an unending salvation for those that obey him.  Not those that believe with a demon faith or a dead faith or a vain faith, but those that obey.  Good clarification that to believe is to obey and that our salvation is not something that is complete until the last day, but it is ever eternal and we are always "being” saved (1 Cor 15:1-2).  The idea of obeying Jesus being a reference to obeying the gospel or in other words…simply meaning to believe in the gospel can be an argument but I lean to the obedience=belief connection (Bonhoeffer).  God designated Jesus as our high priest forever.
     v11-12. The writer (probably Paul) gets hard here and tells them they have not progressed as they should have in their knowledge and faith.  They need to be taught again instead of doing the teaching they should be doing by now.  He says it is hard to explain to those who are dull of hearing.  Perhaps this is dullness in understanding due to sin or ?.  They need reminder of the basic principles of repentance and faith.
     v13.  Living on milk is for the unskilled in the word of righteousness (the scriptures concerning Jesus) since he is a child…newborn…new christian.
     v14.  But solid food is for the mature who has been seeking and renewing their mind in the word and who has, by testing, discerned what is the will of God and what is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom 12:2).  This person is ready for the harder things like understanding the priestly service of Jesus and his current office.  These things are beyond the idea of his death and resurrection and are important to our lives for encouragement but is takes some understanding and some surrender unto God.  If we are still working on repenting and really believing then these topics are not for us yet.  O God make us mature in Christ and cause us to devour your Word and to gain understanding by your Spirit and make us to know you and to make use of your Word in our lives!  Let us eat the solid food you offer and may you give us this hunger today.

Soli Deo Gloria!

April 29

Numbers 6; Psalm 40-41; Song of Solomon 4; Hebrews 4

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 84: WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE NINTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The ninth commandment forbids whatever dishonors truth, or injures our own, or our neighbor’s good name.
Scripture: Ephesians 4:25; Psalm 15:3; 2 Corinthians 8:20, 21.

Numbers 6

Here Moses covers the Nazarite vow that we will see Sampson, Samuel, and John the Baptist as life-long Nazarites.  The vow is a special devotion to God for either a specified period of time or even for a lifetime.  The chapter closes with a wonderful blessing that the Lord gives to Aaron to speak over the people...“23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:23–26, ESV)
 

Psalm 40

David begins this Psalm in celebration of what the Lord has done for him and he tells of his the testimony of his life has brought others to put their trust in the LORD or at least speaks of it futuristically.  May our lives be so transformed as we wait patiently upon the LORD that we would have a joy about us in all circumstances that others would see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.  In verses 6-8 David describes how our God wants our hearts and not our sacrifices.  He wants my devotion and not my apologies.  He wants me and not anything less.  May we live unto God and may we not be double-minded living yet unto the world and trying to justify our rationalize rebellion.  Verses 9-10 speak of evangelism and the obligation we have to others and to our God that we should be sharing this great deliverance that we did not deserve to receive in the first place.  Let us be telescopes that reveal the glory of God in the face of Jesus that others may be glad in God and not hide the treasure that we have been given.  From verse 11 to the end David seems to reveal that he was coming to God with a heavy heart and with a load that he wants removed but this did not stop his prayer fro beginning with praise and thanks and a seeking of the hallowing of God’s name!  Verse 17 captures a wonderful truth for the soul.  You take thought for me O God!  Regardless of my ups and downs of emotions or attitudes and regardless of my circumstances may I be able to slow and to ponder the fact that you in your omnipresent and omnipotent holiness take thought for me.  I am a spec in the universe but yet, you take thought for me!

Psalm 41

The big takeaway from this Psalm is reconciling the sin of verse 4 and the integrity of verse 12.  How does David confess his sin and then proclaim that the LORD has upheld him because of his integrity?  I think we have integrity when we confess our sin and when we repent of our sin and when we seek to not be guilty of presumptuous (willful) sin (Ps 19:13).  We will ever have sin and this does not compromise our integrity in the larger sense.  We can rightly hate sin but we will always still have confession to make before our God.  Another takeaway is the blessing that accompany a compassion and an active mercy for the poor.  Lord give us hearts that pour out for others and make us generous people! 
 

Hebrews 4

     v1. He speaks of the promise still being available so the "rest" he speaks of has not come and gone but is ever-present.  Yet there will be a time for each of us when we will be past the point of access to the promise (death).  He actually suggests that we have a healthy fear of God in this and that we take action now.
     v2. Hearing is not the only requirement.  We must have a specific type of faith that makes us one family united in the Lord.
     v3.  The fact that he mentions keeping some from entering his rest due to their unbelief, God affirms the possibility of entering it to suggest that his rest has not concluded even though he finished the act of creation long ago.
     v4-5.  The theme here is that although God spoke of resting long ago he also speaks as though this rest can be entered into today.
     v6. So since we can still enter and we know that the disobedient do not enter…
     v7. We are to listen for his voice and not harden our hearts due to the challenges or troubles or the need for faith and we are to hope in the unseen.
     v8. The rest is spiritual and not the physical coming into the promised land or God would not have spoken of this rest after Joshua brought the Israelites into Canaan.
     v9.  So the rest remains available to us, the people of God.
     v10.  When we enter God's rest we rest from our works and efforts to achieve a righteousness of our own based on these works.  We will rest in the work of God that is complete and we will joyfully be transformed in a state of rest.
     v11.  So let our striving not be to produce our own righteousness but to rest in the work of God and allow his Spirit to do this.  It is disobedience to do anything but rest in the work of Christ and this disobedience will preclude us from entering God's rest.  I must not have the disobedience of unbelief in the finished work of Christ to empower the fulfillment of God's promises to me and thus I must resolve to not turn back at the first sight of a challenge, but I must face it and march forward resting in Christ and his work.  I must be like Abraham who did not waver concerning the promise of God but grew strong in faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God could do what he had promised! Rom 4:20-21.
     v12-13.  This is a fine matter of the heart and a subtle thing and yet the God of creation can see and know where we stand…on our own merit or on Christ's.  Lord let me never stand on my own merits but let me whole heartedly rely on Christ and his work of redemption for my soul.
     v14-15.  Yes the Word of God pierces and tests and evidences and trains.  But we also have a mediator.  We have a high priest who knows us and who stands to give us mercy and grace.  Jesus, as our high priest, passed through the heavens…take this to mean came from deity and took on human form on our behalf or reverse in the ascension knowing that he is at the throne of God interceding for us.  We are told to hold fast our confession of faith because he is able to sympathy with us in our weakness.  So maybe don't freak out and walk from your faith when you have failures.  Know that Christ faced these things too, but he didn't fail!  This is our strength!  He knows what we face and that we are weak and that we will have failings.
     v16.  Because Christ will not be surprised by our struggles and because he waits there at the throne as our advocate and our brother and our king…we can approach the throne of God, trembling though we aught to be, with a confidence that it is not to our destruction but that we are in his rest and that the work is complete.  His throne is one of grace and we will find empowering grace and mercy when we are in need and we will receive help when we draw near in the confidence of our high priest.  Jesus knows us perfectly and walked in our shoes and he bids us "come".  This is enough…

Soli Deo Gloria! 

April 28

Numbers 5; Psalm 39; Song of Solomon 3; Hebrews 3

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 83: WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE NINTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The ninth commandment requires that we maintain and promote truth between persons and that we preserve the good name of our neighbor and ourselves.
Scripture: Zechariah 8:16; Acts 25:10; Ecclesiastes 7:1; 3 John 12; Proverbs 14:5, 25.

Numbers 5

Interesting passage here dealing with jealousy and potential infidelity in the marriage.  Our God is a jealous God and we are his bride.  May this sense of conviction and heart check come to un when we run from him.

Psalm 39

This is an interesting Psalm.  The commentaries and notes all seem to put David resisting expressing his sorrow perhaps in the form of speaking out against God and the impact this would have before unbelievers would be plainly damaging.  But I also wonder about this merely being a broader example of white knuckling and resisting the expression of sin by binding (muzzling).  I can setup restrictions upon my actions that keep me from outwardly sinning but this does nothing to address my heart and the turmoil and burning that can still well up and if only the muzzle fails then my sin breaks out.  This is the picture I see here and I see David cry out to God that he would have an eternal perspective and a heart change so that he would not sin on account of a new desire and not on account of a physical restriction.  He wants to hope in God and find deliverance from his sin from God and not from his own efforts of self help.  Toward the end after this prayer he seems to acknowledge now that he holds his tongue not by his power but he says that the Lord has done it!  In the end it looks like he comes back to a request for reprieve from whatever is brining him to this sin that would break out.  He is hoping for the lifting of the discipline of God.  Let us learn out lessons swiftly Lord!  Teach us to fight sin at the source and not just muzzle ourselves O God!

Hebrews 3

This chapter is about evidencing one’s self to be part of the body of Christ by the perseverance of faith.  Just like the Israelites were all part of the visible people of God but only those with faith in the coming offspring were saved (circumcision of the heart according to Deut 30:6; Rom 2:29-29), so too there is a visible church and an invisible one.  The pugs may be filled with unregenerate hearts that are still far from God.  My take is the the chapter here is not suggesting a falling away from God in a true individual sense of losing a salvation once had, but rather it is speaking of a falling away from the visible church by evidence that one was not part of the invisible church to begin with.  So the falling away is like a weed being plucked or a circumcised Jew coming to know that his heart remains yet uncircumcised and he finally splits.  We do not want to see this.  We want all the professing Christians around us to prove true and to hold fast and to evidence in the end that they indeed do have the Spirit of God.  Let us be part of God’s sustaining work by the power of his Spirit in the lives of our brothers and sisters!
     v3. he makes very clear to them that Jesus created Moses.
     v6.  We are the house of God (the church or the individual or both?)  If we hold our confidence to the end…individual!  See John 14:23 and Hebrews 3:12-14.
     v7-11. A reference here to the rebellion where God did not allow those whom were among his own people to enter the promised land due to their rebellion and disregard for his command.  They did not trust God and they were more interested in their own opinion and comfort.  God shows that this results in being outcast- eternal damnation for those who disregard him and do not obey. This is now paralleled to the one who hardens his heart among us…
     v12-14.  “Brother” here I take to be within the visible church or outwardly circumcised people of God.  He is addressing professing Christians even though some may not be true believers.  We must know that a profession of the mouth that does not come from a newly justified heart is not a saving confession (Rom 10:10; Matt 7:21-23).  Here the writer makes it clear that perseverance is a community project (Piper sermon title) and that we need one another.  It is clear that the one who does not hold fast to his faith until the end was not a believer in heart at all and so since we do not know hearts we are to encourage and exhort one another daily to avoid seeing this hardening happen.  Let us confirm our election!  It is the deception of sin that causes the hardening of our hearts.
     v15.  Do I have a hard heart that does not do but merely hears?  Do I have a hard heart that assumes I need not comply with God’s commands and instructions?  Do I have a hard heart that lives under the cheap grace of license rather than transforming grace of godliness?  Do I live in surrender or rebellion in my heart and in my mind…in my desires and drive and motives and hope…where is my real hope?  Search me O God and lead me in the way everlasting!
     v16-18 Ties the sin in with the reason for condemnation…unbelief is tied to disobedience.  These are hand in hand and so we have a warning and a clear reference to the opposite of fruit in the believer. 

Soli Deo Gloria!

April 27 (late entry)

Numbers 4; Psalm 38; Song of Solomon 2; Hebrews 2

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 82: WHICH IS THE NINTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The ninth commandment is, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
Scripture: Exodus 20:16.

Numbers 4

This chapter covers the listing of all the Levites among the sons of Kohath, Gershon, and Merari.  These three clans were given specific items of the tabernacle that they were responsible to carry when they packed up.  Aaron and his sons will cover all the holy things very carefully as directed by God here in this chapter and once the ark and all the holy things are covered, then the Kohathites may come in to carry them but they must only touch the poles and not the actual items.  There seems to be a message that it is a holy calling to be in the service of the Lord and yet there is an accountability and a responsibility to God in it.  It seems that the Lord does not take a time out and set his holiness aside during the move of the tabernacle.  Following these directions are a life and death matter as you would see in 2 Samuel 6:6-7 that Uzzah paid his life when he touched the ark rather than let it fall to the ground.  It seems there that we cannot decided when it OK to break God’s law based on our perceptions.  It has also been offered that Uzzah was wrong to think that the ground would defile the ark more than his hand would.  May we fear God and honor him in all we do!

Psalm 38

David confesses to God and laments the state of his mind and heart that his sin has caused.  He is very affected by the conviction of God and he desires to be rescued from this weight.  He is asking for help from the pain of sin.  May we hate our sin and feel its impact so much that it would be like poison to our bones and it would drive us to Jesus like this and may we seek repentance like water in a dry desert. 

Hebrews 2

There is a lot in this chapter and there are a couple ways to look at it also.  One proposition made at the outset is very applicable.  We must listen carefully, observe carefully, let we fall away from the truth.  We cannot be flippant about our beliefs and about what we hear in the Word of God, but we must search the scriptures and we must know the message.  Let us not neglect such a great salvation.  If this is real, if God came as a man and made a way for us to have fellowship with him by the blood of his Son, then let us seek him and know him and be confident of his teaching to us.
     v3.  Declared first (resurrection or Mosaic law?), attested to by those who heard (apostolic teaching or prophets?), God bore witness by signs and wonders (apostolic miracles or those of Jesus?), gifts of the Spirit (apostles or us?).
     v6-8. Man is so small and yet you love us.  Not only this but you took on flesh and became as lower than the very angels you created for a time to save us!  Jesus is now crowned with glory and honor and he rules but yet there is a battle that evidences not all is perfectly subject to him yet.  He announced that he has been given all authority in heaven and on earth at the great commission so this verse must indicate that perfect subjection is different than authority.  You have given Jesus authority over all things and in the end of redemptive history you will put the final rebellion under subjection to man in the person of Jesus!!!  So in putting everything under Jesus’ authority, you leave nothing outside the control of the Son of Man.  Our big brother is king and it will be perfectly evident in heaven when we see all things subjected to him!
     v9. By the grace of God and due to our common humanity you have given that Jesus should suffer and die for the sake of, and in the place of, his bride (Heb 9:15).  He only tastes death because death no longer has dominion over him once he tastes it.  He spits it out defeated and he wins.  Rom 6:9.
     v10.  God had used suffering and discipline in the history of Israel leading up to the cross and so it is fitting that this too is the way of perfection for the Son of Man.  The sacrifice and the plan or redemption are completed or “perfected" in suffering.
     v11. Jesus and us all have one source…Hmmm.  The feeling here is our common humanity clearly so I may incline to the source being Abraham.  No Adam because he speaks of us being brothers and we now that Rom 9:8 tells us that it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God.  Yet at the same time God is also our common source since we are created by him in his image.  Jesus not being created but for his flesh…his flesh was indeed created by the Spirit of God in the womb of Mary.  Jesus sanctifies by his blood and those whom he sanctifies are the elect children of God.  He is not ashamed to call us brothers because we are children of promise…counted as offspring by God himself.
     v13.  The children given to Jesus by the Father will put their trust in the Father.
     v14. Since we have physical bodies that suffer and die, he too took this on that he might effectively destroy the devil who holds the power of death (deception is his only power) until he is finally subjected to christ.  It is the power of God that judges and condemns and this is to his glory…make no mistake here.  Clarified in v15
     v15. Here we see the power spoken of is of deception to get us living in fear of death, thus keeping us from trusting God.
     v16.  He does not help the angels but the offspring of Abraham (another hint at the common source being humanity or God’s image).
     v17. In order to serve as our representative (priest) and to make payment for our sins (propitiation) he needed to be one of us (human).
     v18.  Because he suffered and understands our body and human soul directly, he is able to help us who are tempted as he was.  Now it would seem that nothing could stop him from helping us but somewhere it is on our end that our knowledge of his common experience helps us to trust or see or recognize his ability to relate to us and to help us from a point of common experience.

Soli Deo Gloria!

April 26

Numbers 3; Psalm 37; Song of Solomon 1; Hebrews 1

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 81: WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The eighth commandment forbids whatever would unjustly withhold or diminish a person’s possessions or attainments.
Scripture: Malachi 3:8; Ephesians 4:28; Romans 13:7.

Numbers 3

In this chapter the Levites are substituted for the firstborn of all the tribes of Israel.  The firstborn are redeemed by the Levites.  The LORD had determined back at Sinai at the golden calf incident that he would replace the first-born of all Israel with the Levites and they were consecrated into the service of the LORD by putting the idol worshipers to death at the command of Moses.  So now it is the Levites that devote their lives to service of the LORD in the protection of, care of, working of the tabernacle.  They will not go to battle and they will not be called upon for other duties that to keep others away from the tabernacle and to care properly for it during moves or during encampment.  There was nearly an identical number of Levites to replace the firstborn of Israel and a redemption price was paid for the gap.  Within the Levites there are various clans with various specific jobs since the entire tabernacle must be packed up and moved as the nation travels.  They were to camp surrounding the tabernacle and Moses and Aaron and their sons camped to the east at the opening of the tabernacle.

Psalm 37

A key verse of the Bible in whole is found here in this psalm.  Ps 37:4 tells me to delight myself in the LORD and he will grant me the desires of my heart.  God wants me to enjoy him and he plans to be a river of delight to me as I set my mind upon him and as I spend my lifetime learning of him and connecting with him in his Word and in prayer and in fellowship and in giving and in all the “means of grace”, which are the means by which we are empowered to experience God.  I am to commit my way to him and he promises to bring forth my righteousness as the light.  This sounds similar to Isaiah 58:8 where the Lord explains the type of spirituality he prefers from us and how it is this type of spirituality that he will honor and that will result in his bringing forth our growth and maturing and our sanctification.  The picture there is not an isolated spirituality but one that pours out for the good of others.  Back to Psalm 37 David tells me to be still before the LORD and to wait upon him and to not be all bothered by the apparent prosperity of the wicked (Ps 37:7).  Soon enough the wicked will be gone and only the righteous will be preserved.  Recall that the righteous are those who trust in the Lord and bear the righteousness of God, by faith, and not the ones who wash the outside of their dishes.  There is encouragement here to remain blameless even when the wicked seem to be doing just fine in their sinful state…our eyes are to be upon the unseen and not the seen.  We are to take God at his Word.  David contrasts the generosity vs the selfishness of the righteous and the wicked.  Psalm 37:23 is key in that it captures the attitude and the blessing that accompanies trusting in the sovereignty of God.  When we trust his omnipotent goodness to be at work for us we can delight in the way of the Lord regardless of the temporary outcomes (like being thrown into an oven).  When we take our delight in the way of the Lord, he establishes our steps and we know that we are ending up in the place he would have us (even if its in an oven).  We may stumble but like Peter, we can trust that Jesus is praying for us (Rom 8:34) and that our faith will ultimately not fail (Luke 22:31-32).  Verse 31 tells me that when I keep the law of the Lord on my heart I will not slip.  I can kill presumptuous sin in my life by being in the Word daily and by memorizing the Word and by delighting in the Word of God.  Though the enemy will surely call me to trial and place blame on me whenever I fail, I know that there is no condemnation for me and that I will be upheld because I bear the righteousness of God and not my own (Phil 3:9; Rom 8:1; Zech 3:1-5).  Let us take refuge in God alone!

Hebrews 1

Paul (possibly the author) lays out in the first couple verses that Jesus was directly involved with creation of the world and that he currently and continually sustains the existence of all his creation by the word of his power.  He tells us that God speaks to us now through Jesus rather than through prophets.  This was communicated well in the transfiguration (Matt 17:1-5) where Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus (representing the law and the prophets) and God spoke, telling the disciples to listen to his beloved Son…and then the others vanished and only Jesus remained there with the disciples. Back to Hebrews- the writer tells us that Jesus is the heir of all things.  The radiance of the glory of God pictures to me what we as children of God are to be.  We are to radiate his glory unlike Moses who reflected his glory until his face would fade (Ex 34:33-35; 2 Cor 3:13).  Jesus is an exact imprint of the nature of God…imprint suggesting that it is on something (someone) other than the Father…the Son is a separate person (the trinity).  The Son exists from all eternity as a subsistent manifestation of the Father’s knowledge of himself (technical way to describe what the Bible means by the Son being begotten, whereby the Father from all eternity knows himself and his perfections so well that the Son necessarily manifests as a separate person whom the Father loves and enjoys as a representation of himself).  Imagine being so infinitely powerful that as you contemplate your own perfections (using imagination!) and enjoy yourself that this contemplation burst into a separate person before you…not created by you, just mutually existent as a part of you but separate enough for your to have community with!  Now picture in that same eternal moment that the love and joy that the Father and Son share for one another necessarily proceeds to manifest as the person of the Holy Spirit (not begotten by the Father but proceeding from the relationship between the Father and Son).  Different, but not unlike the “spirit” among members of an organization where they share the same values and have a common mission (think of esprit de corps). Here is a picture of the trinity, the Godhead, that is one being (or substance) yet three persons.  The Son then receives a physical body at Christmas and his flesh is very much not God, but human.  Interesting that right after mentioning how he upholds the universe the author goes to the cross.  He goes right to the greatest pain and suffering of our Lord and says that after he made purification for sins he sits and the right hand of the Father.  Interesting that he has such control and has such a distinct plan and this cross and this people who jeered at him were themselves upheld by the word of his power that they were challenging. 

Soli Deo Gloria!

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!