God's Favour is Life

"Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. ⁵ For His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

Psalm 30:4-5

God is worthy of all praise and thanksgiving.  How marvelous is God's grace to make redeemed sinners His singers, servants, and saints!  The remembrance of His holy name ought to prompt celebration and awe in His power, wisdom, and goodness.  Words fail to adequately describe His immutable goodness and righteousness.  The living creatures around God's throne do not rest day or night as they repeat continually, "Holy, holy, holy, LORD God almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!" (Revelation 4:8)  God is the sovereign LORD of all, and one day all will acknowledge this.

In my Bible the description of the psalm says, "A song at the dedication of the house of David."  David praised the LORD who had established him as king over Judah and all Israel, gave him victory to take the stronghold of Jerusalem, and favour with King Hiram who supplied cedar for his palace.  David endured many hardships, sleepless nights, and painful trials before and after he became king, but God remained the same.  His anger, though fierce, was not without a just cause or without a swift end.  God who created man in His own image is gracious and His favour is for life that endures beyond our time on earth.  Jesus came to earth in human form (as the Life) to give His life as a ransom to make sinners God's saints.

Praise, thanksgiving, and rejoicing are the hallmarks of God's saints.  Our guilt and need for repentance brings sorrow, being chastened for our iniquities is painful, but joy comes in the morning.  The darkness of the night flees away at the rising of the sun.  The joy of the LORD is more predictable and enduring than the light of the sun which can be obscured by clouds.  The sun that shines today will not shine forever, but the light of God's favour will eternally shine upon our souls.  After affirming by the power of God He was faithful to keep His people, Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:6-9:  "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls."

In the storm Jesus cared about His disciples, and in our trials God has not forgotten about us.  Even in the midst of persecution and grievous circumstances believers are exhorted to greatly rejoice because God employs such things to prove the genuineness of our faith.  Peter said, "if need be" meaning there is a divine purpose behind our pains.  If gold could feel pain it would seek to avoid the fiery crucible, yet the melting of the precious metal is needed to bring greater purity and value.  David endured a long seasons of trials which only seemed a night in comparison to the greatness of the joy he experienced through His gracious Saviour and Deliverer.  So great is our fullness of joy through faith in Jesus Christ we are enabled to praise, honour, and glorify God night and day.  Even as the grace and goodness of God is beyond description, so our joy is inexpressible and full of glory knowing our God whose favour is life.

God Knows Why

It is easy to feel discouraged when we step out in faith and the result is unexpected.  God appeared to Moses and directed him to go to Egypt because God heard the cries of His oppressed people and would deliver them.  After Moses and Aaron confronted Pharaoh he made life harder for the Hebrew slaves.  He accused them of being idle, refused to provide straw for bricks, and kept their quota the same.  When the Hebrews were unable to meet the daily demands they were beaten.  This was not what Moses was expecting, though God told him beforehand Pharaoh would not let his people go.

The rulers of the people came to Moses with their complaints for the trouble he caused them.  "The LORD judge between you and us," they said.  It is evident they already formed their judgments of the involvement of Moses in their affairs and it was not a positive assessment.  Instead of arguing with them, Moses questioned what God was doing in Exodus 5:22-23:  "So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? ²³ For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all."  I appreciate the honesty and candor in Moses before the almighty God who knows the hearts of all men.  He wondered why God would allow trouble and why God sent him.  At the time Moses felt like God had not done what he promised and told Him so.

This interaction gives me pause.  How often have you felt like Moses?  I certainly have.  You have done what you believed God instructed you to do but only hardship and difficulties arose.  The problems people have are overwhelming and out of your control.  Knowing God knows about our troubles doesn't explain why He allows them.  It is a good thing Moses had faith in God and did not lose heart despite the troubling circumstances and reactions of his fellow Hebrews.  This is why it is so important for believers to keep trusting God whatever befalls us, knowing nothing happens to us beyond God's control and He will ever be faithful.  God would deliver His people in a miraculous way which no man could have predicted or known.  Isn't that what a miracle is, God working in a way that transcends human ability and expectation?  When things looked like they couldn't become worse (and still did!), and Moses already was dealing with feelings of insecurity and ineptitude, God remained faithful.

Take heart, believer!  Don't allow trying times or unanswerable questions keep you from seeking the LORD and trusting in Him.  The next chapter begins, "Then the LORD said unto Moses..."  God knew what He was doing and His people were safe in His hands through oppressed, overworked, beaten, and confused.  Our hopes often rise and fall based upon what we can see or feel at the time, yet the one who looks to God will be established on solid ground like a house built on the rock.  Our expectation and desire is for God to deliver sooner than later, yet every day of our lives are known by God.  He knows what He doing despite our pains that will result in deliverance, freedom, salvation, and rest.  When we wonder why God knows the answer, and more important than why is who God is and our relationship with Him.

Living Water Today

When Jesus walked and taught as He passed through Israel, He always drew a crowd.  People pressed near to hear His wisdom and see the miraculous deeds which caused His fame to spread like the light of the sun when it rises over hills dotted with flocks of sheep.  Jesus went to the lost sheep of Israel to seek and save the lost, to people who had entered into a covenant with God.  Through the Law of Moses and the prophets the God of Israel was revealed and known.

What I find fascinating is how people familiar with the scriptures didn't recognise Jesus though they could have.  This was all part of God's divine plan, that unbelief in Jesus would cause blindness in the Jews and salvation through the Gospel would come to both Jew and Gentile.  Just last night I read concerning how the glory of God would break forth with salvation in Isaiah 35:5-6:  "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. ⁶ Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert."  Jesus did these things with regularity:  He caused people born blind to see, opened deaf ears, healed the lame, and at His command the mute spoke plainly.

Beyond the physical healing Jesus ushered in a spiritual revival by offering the Living Water of the Holy Spirit to those who trusted in Him as Messiah and Son of God.  Souls that were parched wastelands would be flooded with the presence of God who brought eternal life and spiritual fruitfulness.  This scripture also has a future fulfillment in the millennial reign of Jesus Christ after His return in person to Jerusalem, having taken vengeance upon His enemies.  Water will flow from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea and cause it to become an oasis teeming with life (Zechariah 14:8; Ezekiel 47:8-10).  The waters of the Dead Sea are currently receding at a great rate, but this trend will someday be miraculously reversed.

What we see foretold in scripture is what can be the spiritual reality right now in the hearts, minds, and lives of people through the Gospel.  The spiritually blind, deaf, lame, and mute can be miraculously made to see, hear, leap with joy, and praise the LORD with song.  Only God knows times and seasons which are in His own power concerning the future, but in a spiritual sense blind eyes and parched hearts need wait no longer:  Jesus Christ has come and offers Living Water to all who thirst springing up into everlasting life (John 4:13-14).  He provides salvation for the condemned and heals the brokenhearted.  May God open our eyes to our need for Him, that He is the only means of quenching our thirst for love and belonging, and Jesus is the Messiah we have long sought.  Like the old song goes, "Flow, river flow. Flood the nations with grace and mercy.  Send forth your word, LORD and let there be light."

Jesus is a Wise Foundation

How important it is to maintain a God-centred perspective, to humbly seek God in good and in hard times.  It is easy to allow news reports, bad feelings, or our own thoughts to shape our mindset and outlook instead of being grounded in God's word and our unchanging God who was, is, and is to come.  Since God is the source of all wisdom, He is always able to guide and direct us.  The one who has an established relationship with God by faith in Him is like a tree planted by rivers of water that is fruitful and evergreen.  Those who mock and scorn God and the scriptures David in Psalm 1 compared to chaff the wind drives away and is no more.

There is a huge difference between a fruitful tree and chaff blown by the wind.  Chaff is at the mercy of even a gentle breeze which sweeps it away and it is lost forever, while a tree with roots deep in the earth is solid, secure, and so predictably in place it makes a good landmark.  Trees like the giant sequoia, olive, and eucalyptus are hearty and can survive a fire and continue to grow but chaff is consumed in a moment.  Jesus made another contrast between those who hear His words and do them with those who hear and do not put them into practice:  one is like a house founded securely on a rock, and the other is a house built on sand.  Enduring storms reveals the soul fixed securely to Christ in faith will endure forever.

Paul wrote to followers of Jesus in 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--³¹  that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."  Having been born again through faith in Jesus, He has become for us wisdom from God.  Jesus spoke to disciples who had been exposed to the wisdom of the world, the teaching of parents and religious rulers, and lived in a society that was a complete contrast to the nature of Jesus Christ and what He taught.  His hearers were amazed at His doctrine because it was shockingly different than what they thought and how they lived.  There was no doubting the wisdom of His teaching, but who could live up to that standard of perfection?  Those who would build their life on the Rock of Salvation Jesus Christ needed to trust Him as His words exposed their lives as flimsy shelters cobbled together with cardboard, twine, and tin without a foundation:  if they wanted to experience a relationship with God, it could only be on Christ's terms.  Would they trust Him enough to pull those shelters down and built their lives and outlook upon Him alone?

You've heard of Jesus, but have you heard Jesus?  Have you considered His words and surrendered to His divine wisdom in agreement and obedience?  A strong wind blows today not of the Holy Spirit but of the world and humanism, a breeze chilled with worries, fears, and doubt.  Jesus Christ who is wisdom for us remains steadfast and true, and those who look to Him in faith can be unmoved like a giant sequoia in a grove.  Lightning strikes do not need trouble us, and we can continue growing all our days.  It takes the heat of fire to open the cones of a giant sequoia for seedlings to sprout, and God at times employs trials to test our faith, strengthen it, and makes us fruitful for His glory.  Keep your eyes on Jesus and seek Him always, for He in His wisdom will never lead us astray.

God Meant it for Good

I find the life and character of Joseph son of Israel in scripture inspiring.  What I find more amazing than God's divine favour to promote him from imprisoned slave to second in command of all Egypt is the heart of love and forgiveness he showed towards his brothers who hated him and caused him great suffering.  The faith in God Joseph demonstrated when addressing his painful past was a gift from God he received with relish.  When he had the power to punish and persecute his brothers for their transgressions and remain bitter, his contrite heart remained humble before God and men.

After Israel died, the brothers of Joseph suspected he was like them after they had been wronged:  murderous, vengeful, bitter, and held grudges.  They made up a story about what their father supposedly said to them concerning Joseph, that he ought to forgive them for their sins against him.  They played on his raw emotions, and with a desire to turn away any thought of vengeance they brought out the "God" card:  "forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy Father."  At these words Joseph wept.  Genesis 50:19-20 records his response:  "Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."

Joseph had the power to do unto his brothers as they had done unto him, but the impact of Joseph's faith in God and fear of God was far more powerful.  He did not deny his brothers did evil unto him.  His focus, however, was not on his painful past or years of feeling abandoned but upon His good God who meant all his suffering for good.  With eyes of faith he was able to perceive God's hand upon him working for ultimate good and the salvation God wrought through him.  Joseph's brothers wronged him in the past and suspicion caused them to wrong him with deceit and lies, yet Joseph humbled himself before God.  Joseph viewed the good God did as greater than all the wrongs his brothers did.  Should he have entertained suspicion of his brother's deceptions it would have been confirmed:  what then?  Would stewing or lashing out in revenge cleanse his heart of bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness?  No.

I am convinced the work God does in a person can be as great and even greater than the work He does through that person.  The God who made man out of the dust of the ground can do everything, and all He does is marvelous beyond reckoning.  So often we are motivated to tolerate or forgive others because of the vain hope of people changing for the better, but it is God who washes away our sin, heals our broken hearts, and opens our eyes to perceive His redemptive purposes in everything.  Don't allow the pains of the past to blind you to the goodness of God, for even things meant for evil against us God means for good.  May enduring humility, grace, and fear of God demonstrated by Joseph be evident in my life and in all God's people.

The Gathering

"And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people."

Genesis 49:33

This verse, and others like it, show the life of a human being does not end when our bodies die on earth.  Jacob blessed and commanded his sons concerning his burial, gathered his feet into the bed, and breathed his last.  He body was entirely still as his heart stopped beating.  Yet there was something that happened at that sorrowful moment which cheers the soul that fears God:  Jacob was gathered unto his people.  His body would be left in a grave purchased by Abraham yet his soul--the spiritual and eternal being that was fundamentally Jacob--was gathered with the people of God in eternal rest.

Out of curiosity I found in addition to Jacob the phrase "gathered to his people" is connected with the passing of Abraham, Isaac, Aaron, and Moses.  Though the Bible describes the death of many people, I did not find this phrase ever used with those who died without faith in God.  The death of the body brings finality to life on earth but for believers is a glorious entrance into the presence of God and His people.  It is well said by the psalmist in Psalm 144:15:  "Happy are the people who are in such a state; happy are the people whose God is the LORD!"  The wicked are scattered like chaff into eternal destruction, and the righteous by faith in God are gathered like a farmer brings all his grain into his barn.  Being "gathered" speaks of belonging, being viewed as precious and of great value.

The scripture is clear the identity of God's people extends beyond Jewish ethnicity and to every nation, tribe, and tongue who fear and love God almighty.  Jesus said in John 10:14-16, "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ¹⁵ As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ¹⁶  And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd."  Jesus went to seek and save the "lost sheep of Israel" but also called out to whosoever would heed Him and come to Him in faith.  These are those who are born again through faith in Jesus having received the Gospel.  All who are spiritually regenerated by the Holy Spirit experience the living presence of God now and when we breathe our last will be gathered to our people, to God's people who will celebrate, praise, and serve Him forever.  What a joyful gathering this will be!

The Victory of Faith

It is amazing how Jesus makes those who follow Him "more than conquerors" by grace through faith.  I don't know about you, but at times I would be pleased to settle with being a conqueror.  Everyone would love to walk in victory, overcome all obstacles, and have success in our endeavors.  The victory Christ provides, however, does not mean we always "win," experience the triumph David did in slaying Goliath of Gath, or involve public recognition.  This spiritual victory is primarily internal:  the choice to deny self, refuse to sin, and humble ourselves.  It is David refusing to slay King Saul when he had opportunity and encouragement to do so--and also refused to even speak against God's anointed.  It was not by might or power but by the Spirit of God David overcame and was more than a conqueror.

The apostle made this connection with overcoming the world and faith in 1 John 5:1-5:  "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. ⁵ Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"  God is infinitely greater than this world, and those born of God through faith in Jesus overcome the world.  Jesus overcame sin and death not by conquest but by humbling Himself in obedience to His Father in heaven.  Reliance upon God by the weak and meek enables us to walk in victory and be more than conquerors.  Walking in love towards others begotten of God is evidence our faith in God is genuine.

Jesus commanded His disciples, "Love one another as I have loved you."  This command of Jesus is not burdensome because He has supplied an example to follow and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to do so.  Paul begins his description of God's love in 1 Corinthians 13 by saying this love "suffers long and is kind."  It is love marked with enduring suffering and continuing to be merciful, compassionate, and caring.  This selfless love was manifested continually in the life of Jesus and ultimately was demonstrated on Calvary.  Our feelings of love are temporary; our storehouses of love have their limits.  Having been overcome by the eternal, infinitely love of God we are compelled by God's grace to love others.  It is faith that surrenders to God which removes the mountains of ungrace and selfishness in our hearts and causes us to overcome the world.

Everlasting Strength

"In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. ² Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. ³ You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. ⁴ Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength."

Isaiah 26:1-4

Verse 4 has been rattling around in my mind this morning.  We should trust in God forever because in the LORD is everlasting strength.  I was never the strongest of my peers, and as I have grown older my strength has lessened.  God's strength, however, remains complete and beyond reckoning forever.  God's great love, His power, and sovereignty offers perfect peace to all who trust in Him.

Students of the Bible will notice this chapter begins with, "In that day..." meaning the thought continues from the previous portion of scripture.  It speaks of the coming of the Messiah for whom the Jews waited long.  Isaiah 25:8-9 states, "He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. ⁹ And it will be said in that day: "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."  Jesus claimed to be the "resurrection and the life" and immediately following raised Lazarus from the dead--who had been already dead four days.  Before Jesus went to the cross He said He would rise from the dead on the third day.  After His words came to pass Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples and proved He is the Door, the gate of righteousness we enter through faith to receive perfect peace and eternal life.

Those who proclaim Jesus Christ as LORD and own Him as Saviour can say, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us.  This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."  From that day forward we can proclaim with the prophet Isaiah, "We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks."  During Abraham's pilgrimage as he dwelt in tents he looked for a city with foundations whose builder and maker is God, an eternal habitation which would someday be provided him by God.  He is an example of faith we are to follow, for he believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness.

Christ's resurrection in eternal glory is not for Him alone but for all who receive the Gospel and are born again.  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57:  "So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." ⁵⁵ "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  The Messiah spoken of by Isaiah is none other than Jesus the only begotten Son of God, the One we are to be glad and rejoice in.  One day we too will be forever physically changed, given glorified and incorruptible bodies through the victory Jesus Christ accomplished on Calvary.

Even in these ageing, failing bodies we can joyfully proclaim, "This is the day (a day of salvation and strength!) that the LORD has made."  We are kept in perfect peace as our mind is fixed on the LORD because we trust in Him.  In our weakness we discover the LORD's everlasting strength.

Jesus is the LORD

I enjoy reading the Psalms, songs bursting with praise to the LORD.  Four times in Psalm 107 (verse 8, 15, 21, 31) the psalmist exclaims, "Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"  Packed within these songs of worship and thanksgiving are references to Jesus Christ and things He would fulfill.  The Saviour of the world told His disciples after His resurrection in Luke 24:44, "Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

Last night after reading Psalm 107:23-30 the miraculous deeds of Jesus on the Sea of Galilee came to mind:

"Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters,
²⁴  They see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.
²⁵  For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea.
²⁶  They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble.
²⁷  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
²⁸  Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.
²⁹  He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.
³⁰  Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven."

When Jesus directed His disciples to cross over to the other side in a boat, while He slept a great storm arose on the water.  Though many of the disciples were expert sailors the boat began to fill and they feared for their lives.  In desperation they cried out to Jesus and Mark 4:39-41 reads, "Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" ⁴¹  And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"  Psalm 107 answers their question:  Jesus is the LORD who commands the wind to blow, calms the storm, and brings those who seek Him out of their distress.  The One who brought them safely to shore will also usher all who trust in Him into eternal glory with Him.

Instead of being afraid or marveling Psalm 107 provides the fitting response to Jesus Christ and all He has done in verses 31-32:  "Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! ³² Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders."  In thanking Jesus we thank the LORD as He is the only begotten Son of the Father, the Messiah who humbled Himself and the LORD has exalted above all others.  Jesus has fulfilled the passage, and let us fulfill it as well.  Praise the name of Jesus, believer!  Consider His goodness, wonderful works, and divine guidance, for Jesus is worthy to be praised. 

The Awesome I AM

It is one thing to strap on a parachute and walk to a plane, but it is entirely different experience to jump out of the plane with the expectation of survival because of that parachute.  There is a time when the safety demonstrations are over, the consent forms have been signed, the equipment inspected and fitted, and it is "go time."  I do not believe a skydiver would jump out of the plane who is not convinced the odds of survival are high, but it requires a degree of faith in your training and equipment to do so.

It can take a life or death decision for people out of desperation to trust God.  Similar to couch potatoes avoiding physical exercise, the tendency of people is the desire to avoid needing to trust God.  We seek out easy and quick options to overcome obstacles or anything that offers a guarantee of success.  We are ever seeking to reduce risk, limit liability, and make life carefree.  But everyone living faces the necessity of dying, and even when immediate death is not a potential issue the cares and worries of life overwhelm us.  It is only when we reach the end of our resources and ourselves that procrastinating is overturned by throwing ourselves upon the mercy of God like we should have done all along, resting and confident in His love and sovereignty.

Jacob believed God and he also procrastinated when faced with a dilemma:  there was a terrible famine, there was an abundance of food in Egypt, Simeon had been jailed in Egypt, and his release was possible only if he would send his youngest son Benjamin back to Egypt.  Jacob didn't like his options and he delayed until the food had almost run out.  There was no scheme to circumvent the inevitable, no way of wriggling off the hook.  Faced with the prospects of starvation of his household out of necessity Jacob sent all his remaining sons to Egypt and said in Genesis 43:13-14:  "...Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. ¹⁴ And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!"  Though Jacob knew the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and to him, he was unsure how things would end.  "May God give you mercy, and whatever happens will happen."

Jacob's words bear a resemblance to those of Esther who also faced a life and death decision.  She too was reluctant to take action because of the law of the Medes and Persians which gave the sentence of death to all who appeared before the king uninvited.  As king he had the privilege to overturn the death penalty by extending the royal sceptre.  Mordecai the Jew urged Queen Esther to use her privilege and access to beg for the lives of the Jewish people who had been condemned to death.  He told Esther not to deceive herself to think she would escape the consequences of the law penned by wicked Haman, and that God would bring salvation to His people somehow.  Her response in Esther 4:16 was, "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"  Again, Esther trusted in God because the circumstances demanded it.  She knew God but did not know what the future held:  "If I perish, I perish."

These statements lead me to consider something Jesus Christ said when He looked towards Calvary.  Jacob and Esther hoped not to die but didn't know what would happen:  Jesus knew He would die and what God would accomplish through it.  After Jesus prayed the Father would glorify His name and was answered with an affirmative by a voice from heaven, He said in John 12:30-33, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. ³¹ Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. ³² And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." ³³ This He said, signifying by what death He would die."  Jesus knew He would be lifted up from the earth like Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness and would draw all people to Himself to be saved.  Through the death and resurrection of Jesus atonement was provided for the sins of the world and all who trust in Him receive forgiveness and eternal life.  Because of who Jesus is we can face even life and death decisions with assurance of help, hope, and salvation because He has drawn us to Himself and holds us safe in His arms.

Our perspective can shift from "If I am bereaved, I am bereaved" or "If I perish, I perish" to what Paul was assured of:  "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."  This moves us beyond the "What will be will be" mindset to knowing what God has promised will ultimately come to pass in His sovereign way and in His time.  We can go from saying, "It is what it is" to "I trust the awesome I AM."  No one can snatch us out of His hands, and nothing can separate us from the love in Christ Jesus.

Disappointment Dashed

Man was created in the image of God but let us never assume He is like us.  Being all-knowing and all-powerful and without sin God is shockingly different to us in every regard.  Psalm 50:21 shows man can presumptuously think erroneously about God because He says, "These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes."  The God who gave us freedom to choose always employs His will to do righteously.  Our thoughts and emotions can be so hardwired into our flesh we don't consider that God cares how we feel but doesn't feel like we do.

As I mulled over this concept, I came to the conclusion God does not experience what we call "disappointment."  We are disappointed when our expectations are unmet, yet this cannot be the case for a Being who knows all things before they occur, the One who speaks and it is exactly as He said.  A couple weeks back I dropped by Hungry Jacks after church to bring home lunch after taking orders from the family.  There was a new burger on the menu for a limited time which on advertisements looked simply enormous.  As I checked the order in the bag the underwhelming size of the burgers was immediately clear.  Based on the ads these burgers were disappointing to the grown men of the household.  Instead of being disappointed at the cost or size of the burgers, it was an opportunity to praise the LORD for His gracious provision.

Since God knows all He is not caught off guard, tricked, taken in, or fooled by anything which happens in the world.  Jesus was not "disappointed" with Judas for betraying Him or with Peter for denying Him because He knew these events would take place.  When our expectations are revealed to be false assumptions it is good to replace this bad feeling with aligning our perspective with God's almighty awesomeness.  Genuine believers all have much room to grow in this area.  When Jacob heard Simeon was being held in a prison in Egypt and the only way he would be released was after his youngest son Benjamin went to Jerusalem Genesis 42:36 reads, "And Jacob their father said to them, "You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me."  Jacob believed Joseph was dead and viewed Simeon (who was in prison with a promise of conditional release) the same way.  He focused on himself and the pressing situation and saw all as against him instead of remembering God was for him.  Huge difference!

I do not question the genuine faith of Jacob nor of Job who received the news of the death of his 10 children in a moment.  Upon hearing this devastating news Job tore his clothes in mourning, fell down on the ground, and worshipped God.  Job 1:21 states, "And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD."  I have never suffered as Job, nor has my faith shone so bright to do as he did in the face of unspeakable tragedy.  His words remind me of what Paul wrote, a man who suffered much for the sake of Jesus Christ.  Disappointment almost seemed a foreign concept for this man who looked to the sovereign God who rules in heaven and earth.  Romans 8:31-37 reads, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." ³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

Allow the potentially disappointing situations (and even portion sizes!) to direct our eyes and hearts toward the LORD who loves us.  Is any lingering disappointment towards God or men ever justified when God rules over all?  In the dark valleys may our souls shine bright with praise and our mouth exalt the LORD on high who is for us and makes us more than conquerors through Him.  Abiding disappointment is a symptom we have refused to yield ourselves to God in humility and faith.  In our lives may all disappointment and dashed dreams fall down flat before the KING OF KINGS in worship and adoration because He alone is worthy.

The Greatest

Jesus spoke against the Pharisees who did good works to be seen and recognised by men.  They were fond of titles, admiration, to be respected, and to have their expert opinion sought.  Jesus countered this by explaining the conduct He expected of His servants in Matthew 23:5-12:  "But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. ⁶ They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, ⁷ greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' ⁸ But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. ⁹ Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. ¹⁰ And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. ¹¹ But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹² And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Jesus was not laying down a new law to prohibit the use of names or titles but to demonstrate His supremacy over all.  How easy it was for man to take the place of God in their lives!  They naturally looked to be taught by their rabbi, to their own father with reverence, and for insights from the experts of the Mosaic Law.  Twice in this section Jesus emphasised, "...for One is your Teacher, the Christ."  In following the example of Jesus who always did the will of His heavenly Father, followers of Jesus were to humble themselves and be the slave of all.  After Jesus girded Himself and washed the feet of His disciples after the Passover feast He provided them a pattern they were to heed themselves:  in washing the feet of one another they served the LORD.

A few chapters earlier the disciples bristled when the mother of James and John asked Jesus to appoint them to places of great honour in His kingdom.  She expressed the desire for them to sit on His right and left hand.  Jesus responded bluntly with, "You do not know what you are asking."  Honour and authority in the Kingdom of God looks very different than the honour afforded in the world.  Jesus gathered the 10 indignant apostles and Matthew 20:25-28 tells us:  "But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. ²⁷ And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."  Selfish ambition for greatness and to be first is misguided, for that is the spot for Jesus.  The way we can become great is when we serve others like Jesus did who gave His life as a ransom for many.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.  It is God who will bring this to pass in His time and wise way.  Just like we ought not to look to men instead of God, we ought not to think it falls to us to play God with men.  The greatest men are those who submit to God's authority, not because they desire greatness, but because they know God as the greatest of all.

Fullness of Joy

Jacob loved his son Joseph and had a special colourful coat made for him.  The favour his father showed him made Joseph the envy of his 10 older brothers.  It didn't help his relationship with them when he shared dreams where they bowed down before him.  When he obediently went at the request of his father for a status report from his brothers who were shepherds Genesis 37:18-20 reads, "Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. ¹⁹ Then they said to one another, "Look, this dreamer is coming! ²⁰ Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, 'Some wild beast has devoured him.' We shall see what will become of his dreams!"  From a great distance Joseph's colourful coat caused his brothers to recognise him and they plotted how they might destroy him.  The obvious favour of his father made Joseph a target.

Reading this passage reminds me of similar treatment Jesus the Son of God was subjected to by priests and Pharisees.  Instead of a coat of many colours, Jesus was adorned spiritually with a robe of righteousness and the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Some people see Jesus with a stoic and almost unhappy demeanor, but this is not true.  The writer of Hebrews connected Psalm 45:7 with the Messiah Jesus Christ as only begotten God's Son in Hebrews 1:8-9:  "But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. ⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions."  Jesus was a man of sorrows yet also was anointed with the oil of gladness more than anyone else.  The One who gives fullness of joy was Himself joyful, and of that we can be certain.

The glad countenance of Jesus, the attentiveness of the people to hear Him, and the favour of God upon Him exposed envy in the hearts of the religious rulers as we see in Luke 19:47-48:  "And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, ⁴⁸ and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him."  When Jesus was arrested and brought before Pilate, he knew they delivered Jesus to him out of envy.  Joseph's brothers decided against murdering Joseph and sold him into slavery.  According to God's redemptive purposes this turned out to be their salvation.  In this way God orchestrated the sending of Joseph ahead of his family where over a decade later was promoted to second in command over all Egypt, and Joseph was used by God to save many people alive--including his own family and brothers who once hated him--from a great famine.

The chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees would be successful in their aim to execute Jesus on trumped up charges of blasphemy and anti-Roman sentiment.  Jesus died on the cross and by the glorious purposes of God in doing so provided atonement for sinners and salvation for souls.  Joseph supplied grain for food eaten by people and animals, yet Jesus the Bread of Life supplied salvation for all who believe in Him through the Gospel.  The envy and hatred of men was redeemed in a miraculous way to benefit those who least deserved it.  Here is the grace of God and how good He is to offer it freely to all!  The suffering of Joseph and Jesus was not without a redemptive purpose according to God's will, and we can be assured our faithful God will continue to redeem even our pains for His glory and the ultimate good of others and ourselves.  Jesus said in John 15:9-12, "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. ¹² This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."  Let us rejoice in our God who gives fullness of joy.

The Trouble of Conspiracies

Based on my experience we seem to be living in the not-so-golden age of conspiracy theories, but the Bible says this is nothing new.  It may be the distrust in government and media are at all time highs yet skeptics, doubters, and those touting hidden agendas have been around since the beginning.  Satan very well might be the first one who promoted a conspiracy when he said to Eve, "Has God really said you cannot eat from the tree in the midst of the garden?"  Lies mixed with truth proved a deadly combination.

It feels like wherever I look there is more evidence of a conspiracy mindset taking hold.  On my news feed I read about anti-vaxers, 5G and COVID combo, and anti-maskers; Christian bookstores sell paperbacks about government schemes and inter-dimensional portals; billboards go up warning about the day the world will end.  Countless documentaries are churned out annually that follow the same pattern:  what you have been led to believe is wrong, hidden evidence with sinister motives is presented to draw possible conclusions, experts are lined up to contribute their opinions, and stay tuned for the next installment--and people pay to eat this stuff up.  Armed with this new knowledge the watcher becomes a walking and talking advertisement campaign designed to prey upon people's fears.  Why pay for advertisement when others do it for free?

Like I said before, conspiracy is nothing new.  Last night I was reading in Isaiah 8 and how God directed His people to look to Him alone when the claims of conspiracy swirled around.  God revealed Israel would fall before Assyria and Ephraim would no more be a people, but He would protect and deliver Judah.  Isaiah spoke the truth in the name of the LORD and when God does the talking let all on the earth take notice.  Time would make the truth of what Isaiah said plain.  If he was wrong one time he was not to be feared or listened to ever again (Deut. 18:20)--and it is wise to put modern-day prognosticators to the same test.  If only people who are put in fear by alleged government conspiracies or a hidden satanic agenda would have the God-confident perspective presented in Isaiah 8:10:  "Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak the word, but it will not stand, for God is with us."

The prophet continued with words which spoke to my heart in Isaiah 8:11-13:  "For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying: ¹² "Do not say, 'A conspiracy,' concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. ¹³ The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread."  Conspiracy preys on fear.  It may be the fear of ignorance, fear of death, and the fear of being controlled and manipulated which only increases with knowledge rather than being lessened.  Isaiah was told not to be afraid of potential threats but to fear the LORD.  It was God who is a stable rock of refuge He was to seek rather than casting his eyes upon a shadowy and foreboding future.

People have always been fascinated by what the future holds and for what is hidden to be made known.  People these days seek counsel on online chats, buy books on how to interpret dreams, and obsess over the implications of a new documentary.  They immerse themselves in online resources and through knowledge gain a sense of control in a mad world.  In Isaiah's day people would go to mediums and wizards to do a similar thing, to tap into the knowledge of spirits to know how to live their lives and have future success with money and relationships.  Mediums claimed to be able to contact souls who had died to be consulted by the living.  Isaiah 8:19-20 says, "And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? ²⁰ To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."  God told His people instead of looking to spirit guides they ought to seek their God!  What could the dead do to assist the living?  Is not God the almighty, living God who created all things whom we fear?  Is God in any way threatened by the schemes of Satan or man?

God directed His people to look to the law and the testimony, to the word of God for guidance.  The fear of the LORD strips us of all fear of man, the unknown, and death.  Jesus Christ is the Light of the World who alone has the words of life.  Books and articles have their benefits but God's Word is all we need.  This may seem boring and cliche to believers or people who are rightly concerned about the bleak outlook for this world or what may be "going on behind the scenes."  Every preacher and pastor will answer to God for how they have interpreted and taught the Bible, and only the LORD knows the heart.  Instead of being afraid of deception or conspiracies, our call is to fear God, know He is with us, and to seek the LORD.  Let us speak according to God's word and walk according to it, not using scripture dishonestly to prop up conspiracies.  Are you afraid of potential threats and troubled?  If you fear the LORD you don't need to be.

Are You Alright?

I recently watched a few videos our ministry team put together with a youth group years ago.  One of the films has a song by Sanctus Real which repeats the chorus:  "I'm not alright, I'm broken inside, broken inside.  And all I go through leads me to you, leads me to you."  These may seem rather depressing lyrics but actually the message is uplifting and true.  We are all broken inside and out in a broken world, yet for a child of God the trials and difficulties of life lead us to seek the LORD who is our refuge and help.

It isn't until we are convinced there is something wrong we will investigate to fix the issue.  A decrease of power in an engine that blows smoke, poor performance of an appliance, or symptoms of illness prompt us to take action.  We live in a world permeated with themes of self-empowerment that are a complete lie, and swallowing them leads to disillusionment and despair.  Only the ones who realise they are indeed broken beyond repair and are introduced to the hope, strength, and redemption through Jesus Christ can avail themselves of the healing and restoration found through Him.  Through a pesky messenger of Satan that buffeted him Paul realised when he was weak he was strong because through faith discovered God's power beyond himself.

I have no desire to be controversial nor intend to make a political statement:  whether we tout our "willpower," "manpower," "Girl Power," "Black Power," or any other power it has a limit, therefore has an end, and will end in futility.  The power of mankind cannot compare to the power of God which is infinite and eternal.  Historically mankind has used power to abuse and oppress others but God's power is to save rather than destroy.  Jesus came to set captives free from the prison of sin, bondage to Satan, and the shackles of self.  He laid down His own life on Calvary to provide the means for sinners to become saints, for spiritual inner transformation which will become evident to all.  Admitting our need for forgiveness and salvation is the necessary step to receiving it.

The song "I'm Not Alright" continues this modern day psalm directed to the almighty God:  "Burn away the pride, bring me to my weakness until everything I hide behind is gone.  And when I'm open wide with nothing left to cling to only you are there to lead me on 'cause honestly, I'm not that strong."  No matter your physical and mental strength it can be exhausted, and what a joy it is to realise brokenness leads desperate people to the LORD every day.  If we could we would be foolish enough to create a world that resembles our conceptions of heaven, it would be a place where there is no sickness, sadness, or sorrow, a place where miracles are unnecessary, a utopia where restoration or redemption is impossible, a place without need of God.  How good God is to prompt us to seek Him out and choose His love, to redeem our brokenness for healing and our weakness for strength.

The Word Who Speaks

Today an electrician and apprentice did some wiring for me.  I had met the duo previously months ago when they installed a few LED signs.  "I think we've met before," the apprentice said.  "I recognise your voice."  I have been told on several occasions I have a "distinct" voice, and I'm not sure what makes it so.  Apparently it is a primary distinguishing characteristic that is more memorable than a buzz-cut and questionable taste in apparel.

Interestingly Jesus compared Himself to a Good Shepherd whose sheep know His voice.  From a great distance sheep will respond to the call of their shepherd, and it is a great analogy of how those who know Jesus as LORD will sense His leading.  It may not be with audible voice we hear with our ears but a thought that comes to us which was not our own:  it does not align with our fleshly desires, nor is it a conclusion we arrived at by consideration.  It can be very brief but profound, is well-directed to speak to our hearts, agrees with scripture, and corrects with a loving tone.  Our response to the voice of our Saviour Jesus indicates He is our LORD and draws us into fellowship with Him as we meditate on God's Word.

Jesus said in John 10:11-18, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. ¹² But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. ¹³ The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ¹⁵ As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."

Jesus was sent to the "lost sheep" of Israel, and He also called sheep "not of this fold" (Gentiles) that would hear His voice and respond.  We who were afar off have been invited to draw near by the grace of God, brought into the kingdom of God, and adopted by God as His beloved children.  Jesus called to those who were weary and heavy laden, to those who thirst, to all sinners, to whosoever will respond and receive forgiveness of sins by God's grace.  Isn't it wonderful that God who gave Himself for us continues to speak to us?  He has called us to Himself and also communes with us as friends.  When we speak to Him He hears our voice, and it brings delight to Him beyond words.

The Righteous Key

With the current study of the Gospel of Luke at Calvary Chapel Sydney, I have been reminded of the importance to refrain from "spiritualising" scripture and especially parables.  This happens when we move away from the plain meaning of the text to create an allegory.  Spiritualising makes scriptural interpretation bow to arbitrary keys inserted to supposedly unlock hidden truth.  Try to use the incorrect key on a security door on a house and you will be denied entry, but using the incorrect key to allegedly unlock a parable has led to misinterpretation and wrong application.  I am not suggesting there is only one correct interpretation or application of a particular passage:  my intent is to warn against the error of spiritualising parables, a practise that is more common than one may think.

We are blessed many parables include an explanation from Jesus Himself.  The Parable of the Sower is one of the most famous as it is referenced in the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  Without the explanation of Jesus we would be left to guess what the seed, birds, and different soils represent.  In Mark 4 Jesus provided keys to understand the significance of these aspects:  the seed is the word of God, the birds that ate seed on the footpath is the devil who steals the Word away, and the shallow, weed stricken, and good soils represent the conditions of the hearts of hearers to receive the word and be fruitful.  Because a key works on one lock it does not necessary fit another.  For instance, not every time seed is referenced in a parable it is God's Word, nor does it mean birds in parables always allude to satanic influence.

Proof of this is seen in Matthew 13.  Directly after the Parable of the Sower Jesus taught using the Parable of the Wheat and Tares and explained it.  In this parable a man sowed good seed in his field yet during the night an enemy came and sabotaged his efforts by planting tares--a weed that has no nutritional value and to the undiscerning eye looks like wheat.  While the explanation of the sower remains the same, the seed in this parable means something different than before.  In response to the request of His disciples Matthew 13:37-39 tells us, "He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. ³⁹ The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels."  In this parable the good seeds are the "sons of the kingdom."  If we assume the seed was God's word we would misinterpret what Jesus said.  The logic follows we would be wrong to assume every time birds were referenced in a parable they allude to Satan.  We must take great care not to assume or suppose because when we do--not being God and His ways being higher than ours--we can be wrong.  And in the case of those who teach, we can lead others astray.

Parables are examples from the natural world used to teach spiritual truth to those who hear believing, and the same conceals truth from unbelievers.  Each parable stands on its own merit and the explanation of Jesus--coupled with the context--aids us in rightly interpreting and understanding them.  It is true that some parables are not explained by Jesus and thankfully we are not without the context or the ability to cross-reference passages to see what circumstances prompted a parable, who Jesus was speaking to, or why He said what He did like in Luke 18:9:  "Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others..."  Through the entire testimony of scripture with the aid of the Holy Spirit there can be a variety of correct interpretations and great latitude for personal application.  Jesus is able to open our understanding to comprehend the scriptures (Luke 24:45), and may we learn to rightly divide them for His glory.  LORD, teach us to prepare our hearts to receive your Word that we might be fruitful.

Walking With God

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Micah 6:8

The context of the Micah passage is the controversy God had with His chosen people.  He had birthed the nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt with miraculous deliverance, revealed Himself to them, provided His Law, and brought them into the land of promise.  Not a word failed of His good promise to them, yet they failed to keep His covenant.  They sinned more than the nations He displaced out of Canaan and He judged them with the curses written in the Law of Moses.

Micah, a God-fearing prophet, wondered what needed to be done for the nation to be restored, to show contrition for sin, and to take steps to revival.  The prophet asked God rhetorically in Micah 6:6-7:  "With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? ⁷ Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"  Micah realised all the sacrifices a man could offer was not suitable to cover the greatness of their sin and transgression.  Even if they were to go beyond the Law and offer their beloved children as burnt offerings it would in no way wash them of their guilt.  So what did they need to do?

Then God spoke.  They did not need a new revelation from heaven, for God had already shown them what is good and what God requires of His people:  to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with their God.  The LORD's answer reminds me of David's words in Psalm 51:16-17:  "For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--these, O God, You will not despise."  God looks upon the heart, and praise the LORD we are given new hearts through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  There is nothing we can do to earn God's favour, no sacrifice possible to wash ourselves from guilt and shame.  He has provided His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for sin and has given us an example of justice, love of mercy, and humility in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ gave His disciples a new commandment, that they should love one another as He loved them.  By faith in God we can extend love, grace, and mercy that trumps our natural abilities.  His love is patient and kind, does not envy, boast, or keep record of wrongs.  This divine love bears all things, even endures the pain of betrayal, and seeks restoration of relationship.  To walk humbly with Jesus is to walk in the wisdom James spoke of in James 3:17 that is in stark contrast to the wisdom of this age, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."  Jesus has shown us how to live, and by the power of the Holy Spirit He empowers us to do so.  As we walk with Jesus by grace through faith, He always leads us in righteousness.

Pleasure in Prosperity

We humans have a thing about convenience.  If we can find machines and devices to makes life easier, we are all for it.  There was a time when people needed to stand up and turn on the television manually and adjust an antenna for the best reception.  Then came cable TV and remote controls.  We can push a button and recline our seat with minimal effort while experiencing surround sound.  VHS (video home system) tapes gave way to DVDs that do not need to be rewound with superior audio and clarity.  Our penchant for convenience spills over into work and jobs we need to do.  We often have the luxury of waiting for a convenient time because our lives do not depend on it.

This same tendency to make plans based upon what is convenient was observed by king Solomon.  He recognised a desire for convenience and minimal risk actually hindered necessary work from being done.  He wrote in Ecclesiastes 11:4-6:  "He who observes the wind will not sow,and he who regards the clouds will not reap. ⁵ As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything. ⁶ In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good."  One farmer may work rain or shine, but another might not sow because of the chance of rain.  To prevent potentially being soaked to the skin (if it did actually rain) the farmer puts off work he needs to do for a harvest.

Solomon explained that there are things we can predict but there are also many things we cannot know or fully understand.  We don't know where the wind comes from nor how the bones of a baby develop in the womb of a pregnant woman.  God's works and ways are also unknown to us, though we see the result of His work all around and within us as His people.  Solomon's advice is to do the job God has given to us without making excuses.  The weather might be threatening on a particular morning, but it could start sunny and suddenly start raining as well.  If we are governed by what is convenient or how we feel, the important task may never begin.  If we are paralysed by fear or failure, getting wet, and wasting our efforts, we are wasting valuable time and opportunity God has given us today.

So do not withhold your hand, Christian!  If we hold back from service to God because it isn't convenient or out of fear our labour will be in vain we will miss the chance of a great harvest.  Better to take a risk of sowing on an overcast morning than leaving the seed in the bag because seed in the bag never grows:  it rots and is ruined.  When we are about God's business, whatever the weather, He will cause our efforts to be fruitful according to the riches of His grace.  Even when the rain is pouring down and outside work is impossible Psalm 35:27 rings true:  "Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, "Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."  Praise Him who makes us to prosper!

Instruction and Inspiration

How important context is in helping us understand what is being said.  Have you ever come into a conversation "at the wrong time" and what was being discussed by others was bizarre, strange, and required an immediate explanation to keep from walking away?  Having the reason for a topic explained to us clarifies misunderstandings and brings us up to speed with why what was said is appropriate and reasonable.  This situation can be amusing in a friendly conversation, but it can have serious consequences if we approach passages of scripture in similar fashion.  Jumping from book from book, chapter to chapter, and verse to verse means statements used to prop up an interpretation have meaning beyond face value.

A very useful book titled Basic Bible Interpretation by Roy B. Zuck is a terrific resource to help readers of scripture to accurately interpret it.  I am convinced the best meals are cooked from scratch using fresh ingredients, and reliance upon Bible commentaries instead of learning to study the Bible yourself is like eating frozen dinners with high salt content.  Buying packaged biscuits is the quick and easy option for a snack that will never be as good as something you prepared yourself from scratch.  When it comes to studying the Bible we must be born again so we can be taught by the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth.  I am not for a moment suggesting sermons or commentaries have no place in the lives of believers, but it is better to teach a person to study and glean the rich goodness of God's Word for themselves than to train them to put on a bib and wait to be spoon-fed.

When I was young my mother took pains to teach me to bake and cook from scratch.  I started with very simple dishes like scrambling eggs, hot dogs, and instant noodles.  At a point I moved to mixing and cooking pancakes and cookies.  I learned to read recipes, set the temperature of the oven or electric skillet, where the ingredients were stored, how to measure and mix the ingredients together, how to set a timer, and clean up after myself.  My mum started the ball rolling which has continued to this day.  From an early appreciation of baked goods and tasty food I have expanded far beyond my original skill and have tackled dishes I never ate growing up.

I remember watching Martin Yan on the show "Yan Can Cook" on PBS as a kid and was entranced by his cheerful demeanor and the constant affirmation of his unseen viewers:  "When this is nice and done, so beautiful!  See, how easy!  You can do this at home!"  His aim in cooking delectable food was more than eating himself but to invite, instruct, and inspire people to do the same in their own kitchens.  This is what teachers of God's Word ought to do, to provide concrete examples with basic instructions people can learn and run with.  With the Word of God lighting our path and the Holy Spirit guiding us, we will advance in knowledge of God and His truth.  Not everyone may be gifted by the Holy Spirit to teach, but all God's people are called to study, learn, and rightly divide the word of truth.  The truth God teaches us from His word is like a delicious meal He has prepared for us.  It is too much to possibly eat it all by ourselves and are prompted to share joyfully with others.