Breaking Sin's Cycle

"As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly."

Proverbs 26:11

Like seasons are cyclical and predictable, so we sinners tend to repeat our sins.  Like in the Steely Dan song "Do It Again," the gambler who swore he didn't have a gambling problem found himself back in Vegas with a handle in his hand without explanation.  Almost like by instinct, people are driven to sin and find themselves enslaved to it.  Though people have been created by God in His image, our freedom to choose and make wise decisions can be forfeited when we feed our flesh and go our own way.  Like babies born addicted to narcotics, all humanity lies under the curse of sin passed down from Adam, a chain broken only by Jesus Christ.  Without God's gracious intervention, we will continue pursuing and practicing what works to harm and destroy us forever.

In Psalm 73, Asaph wondered why those who continued in their sin seemed to flourish and not suffer trouble--despite their proud arrogance and rebellion against God.  He mused over what was the point of seeking God and doing good, receiving correction and chastening from the LORD, when others seemed to be prosperous without fear of God and without a care in the world.  But when Asaph drew near to God in worship in His sanctuary, it hit him:  the prosperity of people who remain in sin was an illusion, for God would bring them to destruction in a moment, and there would be no remedy.  Asaph was convicted of envy in his heart and ingratitude for God who loved him enough to chasten him so he might repent and be saved.

Asaph sang in Psalm 73:21-26:  "Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind. ²² I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. ²³ Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. ²⁴ You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. ²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. ²⁶ My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."  In the light of God's revelation of Asaph's folly, he compared his behaviour and thinking to that of a senseless beast, an animal driven by instinct that cannot help itself.  I have observed behaviours in animals that are completely irrational but predictable.  Growing up, our dog would always lick the flyscreen and run on the sliding glass door even though he was not allowed inside.  No amount of speaking to him was able to part him from this odd habit.  Asaph was a stark contrast to Slicker, our Cocker Spaniel, because he responded to God's guidance and counsel.  Faith in God caused Asaph's desires to change from his natural selfishness to satisfaction because God was the strength of his heart and his portion forever.

God allows this beastly condition of sin to bring us to our senses, even like the young man in the parable who demanded he be given his inheritance immediately.  It was after he spent all the money and began to be in want, he realised in a paddock with pigs how wonderful his father had been to him.  Remembering the goodness of his father prompted him to return willing to serve.  Proud and powerful Nebuchadnezzar was naturally full of himself, and God caused him to suffer a seven-year season of insanity.  He went completely feral, was unable to speak or listen to reason, ate grass like an ox, and lived outdoors night and day.  His hair was matted in dreadlocks and his nails grew long like eagle claws.  His senseless, irrational behaviour was a picture of how the sin of pride rendered him spiritually:  incapable of hearing God, receiving correction or changing his ways.  Seven years was a long time, but it lead to a most valuable lesson being learned by Nebuchadnezzar we can all benefit from.

Daniel 4:34-35 says, "And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. ³⁵ All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?"  Nebuchadnezzar being restored to his throne is a lovely parallel of what God desires in the hearts of all people:  God would have us look to Him in humility and praise Him.  When we receive God's correction and repent of our sins, our understanding returns to us.  The perpetual cycle of sin is broken by His power, and we ought to be moved to praise, extol and serve God who is wisdom, strength and salvation for us.  Because Jesus lives in Christians, we are delivered from darkness, granted the ability to overcome every instinct to sin, and can now live in the way that fully pleases God as His adopted children (Colossians 1:9-17).

Known By Judgment

"The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah"

Psalm 9:16

I have been meditating on this verse lately, thinking about God's judgments according to His righteousness.  Though He is absolutely just, He remains gracious, compassionate and full of mercy.  His desire is not to destroy but to draw people to Himself to be delivered and saved from sin and death.  God's judgments are inescapable, yet He provides sure deliverance for all who trust in Him.

The LORD is known to be sovereign over all creation because He judged the whole earth with the great flood.  He observed humanity, not only their wicked deeds, but how the imaginations of their hearts was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5).  He did not spring the coming judgment upon unsuspecting people without warning, but explained what was coming through Noah who built the ark and was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5).  God followed through on exactly what He said He would do, and that world that perished in the deluge.

God is known by His ability to do the miraculous by bringing 10 severe plagues upon Egypt.  After many warnings by Moses and Aaron, Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to let the children of Israel go from bondage.  God made clear the 10th plague would affect every household as is written in Exodus 12:12:  "For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD."  Those who refused to believe God invited death into their households, and the Egyptian idols were powerless to protect or save people from the consequences of unbelief.

The almighty God is known to be powerful over heaven and earth by suddenly rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom and the surrounding cities for their wickedness.  God came down and spoke with Abraham, revealing that the cry of Sodom was great and reached up to heaven.  Judgment came in a moment for Sodom's iniquity (Lamentations 4:6) so escape was impossible.  After the flood God promised He would never again destroy the world with water, and has held back judgment that will one day come upon this world with fire as spoken in 2 Peter 3:7:  "But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."  The LORD has shown Himself sovereign, able and powerful to do exactly as He has said.

One thing all these severe judgments have in common is God preserved a remnant of people who trusted in Him.  Though the flood was global, the plagues widespread and fire raining down on Sodom instantly, God preserved those who believed and obeyed Him.  In every case, all who trusted God were saved.  Noah, his family and animals were saved from the flood.  The Hebrews were spared from plagues in the land of Goshen, their firstborn was spared by putting the blood of the Passover sacrifice on the doorposts of their homes, and they passed safely through the Red Sea on dry land whilst the Egyptians drowned. Lot was taken by the hand by angels who led him with his family out of Sodom before it was utterly consumed.  In all these judgments is seen God's grace, compassion and salvation for those who fear Him.

God is known by the judgment He executes, and the wicked are ensnared by their own hands.  God does not trick or entrap people because He desires their destruction, for man is the one responsible for his own sin God will hold to account.  Because God loves sinners, He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to provide atonement for sin, to die on the cross so those ensnared and enslaved by sin could be set free and saved from the wrath to come.  God's righteous justice has been satisfied by the death of Jesus, for the wages of sin is death.  The gift of God is eternal life given by our Saviour who is risen from the dead and will one day return to judge the world in righteousness.  The wise know God by judgment He executes, and thus bow the knee in reverence before Jesus Christ as KING OF KINGS--the God who alone saves.

Lifting Up the Horn

"'I said to the boastful, 'Do not deal boastfully,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up the horn. ⁵ Do not lift up your horn on high; do not speak with a stiff neck.'"

Psalm 75:4-5

What goes up must come down, the cliche goes, and and those who are lifted up with pride God can easily bring low.  On the other hand, those who humble themselves God will exalt.  The Bible is filled with examples that illustrate God's ability to bring low the proud whether it be king Saul, king Nebuchadnezzar, Haman--or even Satan himself.  Asaph urged people not to be proud or boastful when they were promoted or advanced in stature, for he remarked in Psalm 75:6-7:  "For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. ⁷ But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another."  One distinction between God and all other judges is He is perfectly just and remains gracious and merciful.  Sometimes there is no justice possible from earthly courts, and the judgments of men according to law can lack mercy and compassion.

In the book of Ruth, Haman was a man who boasted greatly about his high-ranking position, and he gathered family and friends to speak of his frequent access to royalty and the power bestowed upon him by his king.  It was in this lofty role he was arrogant, proud and despised those he viewed as below him--people like Mordecai the Jew.  When Mordecai did not bow or give him reverence when Haman sauntered past, Haman was incensed and decided to use his power to annihilate all the Jewish people.  He made a massive gallows with the sole purpose of hanging Mordecai, yet when his wicked scheme was uncovered the haughty Haman was brought low.  He was publicly hung on the gallows, and all Shushan could see Haman's meteoric fall from grace when he was executed high in the sky.

Haman was a man who lifted the horn in pride to his own destruction, even as an ox uses his strength to thrust with horns and inflict damage.  Bull calves are not born with horns, but they grow as they mature and gain strength.  Under Mosaic Law, if an ox gored a person to death, the ox would be stoned and the flesh not eaten.  The owner would bear the loss of his valued working animal for the damage it had done.  Exodus 21:29 says, "But if the ox tended to thrust with its horn in times past, and it has been made known to his owner, and he has not kept it confined, so that it has killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death."  The implication is if an ox was known to be a danger to people because it aggressively lifted the horn, the owner needed to take all precautions to protect people by removing the horns, keeping the animal in a fenced paddock, or if all means failed it would become food for the next BBQ.  The meat would be eaten, and the hide of a stiff-necked ox that refused to heed commands and lifted the horn would be made into leather goods like saddles and sandals--objects that would be sat or walked on.  In some cases a dangerous ox could be more valuable and useful to the owner dead than alive.

Our strength, status or roles that men pride themselves in are the very things which ought to humble the child of God, knowing we are chosen and blessed by God's grace.  Should the LORD grant us horns like a mature bull, we must be wise and gentle in our use of them.  Balaam chose to ride a donkey that was faithful and dependable, one that humbly responded to his guidance by a light tug on a rope.  In a similar fashion, we are called by Jesus to take His yoke upon us and to learn from His example of meekness and lowliness.  Rather than having a stiff neck and refusing instruction, we ought to humble ourselves to yield to God's guidance without the need of bit, bridle or whip.  Knowing we are called to a relationship with the living God ought to humble us rather than puff us up with pride.  Psalm 65:4 reads, "Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple."  How humbling it is to know as Christians we are the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, and our satisfaction ought to be in God rather than ourselves or our promotion.

Ascribe Strength to God

"Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds. ³⁵ O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!"

Psalm 68:34-35

Because God is awesome and strong, the outlook of Christians should never be grim.  When we focus on the problems in the world, regrets of our past or feelings of anxiety, it is natural for us to be overwhelmed and to despair.  This was our lot before coming to Jesus Christ as Saviour, but we cannot justify our procrastination of God's praise any longer due to fear or cares of this world.  God allows unhappy situations so we might be drawn to Him who gives fullness of joy and peace that passes understanding.

Psalm 68 is wonderful as it extols the awesome strength and salvation of God, and I also love the descriptions of God's people throughout the chapter.  These are not people hunkered down in foxholes at war against fearsome foes, but people publicly and joyfully praised God without a sword, shield or bow among them.  These are people who celebrated and worshipped the almighty God who had taken captivity captive, who delivered them from death, who had gifts for them and graced them with His presence.  One would think they did not have a care in the world apart from glorifying God, and this is a snapshot of the joyous life God supplies for all who fear Him.

The glad countenance of the people described in this chapter is a far cry from the kind of Christian who is quite taken with their own spiritual authority, who expend their energies in forcefully rebuking Satan when praising God would have greater impact to shine for Christ.  When God arises His enemies scatter, and there is nothing we can do or say to add greater effect to His powerful words and judgments.  There is a Christian who imagines walking in victory depends on their knowledge and verbiage when the experiences of Jehoshaphat and countless other believers by faith stood still and saw the salvation of the LORD who fought their battles.

As Paul said, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, rulers of darkness in the heavenly places where God reigns as sovereign KING OF KINGS!  The purpose of our wrestling is not to take the devil to the mat and pin him, but that we would be strong in the LORD and the power of His might to stand and not remain cast down.  God grants victory, not to those who are strong to tout their divine authority, but who recognise Christ's supremacy and humble themselves before Him by faith and obedience.  Rather than wasting our breath rebuking Satan, how about praising and thanking God who is already victorious?  Isn't blessing God with praise and gratitude in tough times walking in victory Jesus has provided by His grace?

He Is All Fair

 "You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you."

Song of Songs 4:7

In the love story Solomon penned, the Beloved and the Shulamite had a romantic relationship that resulted in an unlikely but happy marriage.  Both husband and wife were enraptured in the love of one another, and in their eyes their spouse was perfect in every way.  This is how people can be in the throes of romantic love, so smitten with happy emotions they overlook faults which become plain to them over time.  Though we admit theoretically no one is perfect, when someone exceeds our ideals we imagine we have found a person who is an exception to the rule.  Modern rates of infidelity and divorce suggest the discovery of flaws in one once chosen to be their lifelong partner.

I have found the greater my familiarity is with something or someone, their flaws become more apparent.  Take the purchase of a house, for example.  No matter how carefully I have observed the structure, appliances, roofing, flooring and landscaping, it is not until I have lived in the house for weeks and months I suddenly become aware of imperfections and faults that escaped my notice previously.  Some issues could not be seen on the surface, like a loose wiring connection to an aerial or a faulty globe in a garage door opener.  My focus in testing the door was making sure the door opened--not that the light was working.  Other things were in plain view the whole time, yet were easily overlooked because I had not shined light directly upon them or run my hand across the uneven surface.

It was not until months after moving into our current house I noticed a crack in the wall where a previous repair had come loose.  I tackled the project, imagining I was fixing the only gyprock damage in the house.  In the midst of the repair I began scouring the house, making sure there was no other significant damage.  I found a few more dents and holes I patched and primed--only to find more faults--which included affixing the whole ceiling of one room that was sagging from the ceiling joists.  There have now been three occasions I believed I was done with screws, fiberglass tape, mud, sanding, primer and paint only to start right back at the beginning because I discovered more problems.  The faults were always there, and it took close examination to notice them.  It would be utter folly to suggest the walls and ceilings are in pristine condition, for even my repairs are imperfect.

What is wonderful about Jesus Christ is the exact opposite is true:  the closer we examine Him and the more familiar with Him, His righteousness, goodness and holiness exceeds our wildest imaginations.  He who loves us is all fair, and there is no spot in Him.  The longer I have followed Jesus, the more impressed with Him I am.  The Queen of Sheba was overwhelmed when she came to visit Solomon in person, for the stories she had heard did not do him justice.  I have found this to be even more the case with Jesus, for He routinely impresses me and blows my mind.  He is continually faithful, true, gracious, keeps His promises and never disappoints.  He does not forget or forsake us.  The more I grow to know Him, the more His perfection appears.  I am convinced there is nothing or no one remotely like the almighty God who is perfect in all His ways.  I will joyfully stake my life on the reality of the perfection of my God and Saviour Jesus, and I urge you to do the same.

Yes and Amen

"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."

 2 Corinthians 1:20

People are not strangers to caveats and limited-time offers, how in marketing the bold print gives but the fine print takes away.  The little asterisk next to an incredible deal often leads to the realisation the advertised deal wasn't as great as initially thought.  I have also had the experience of buying what I believed was an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) product only to find it was a very cheaply made knock-off.  Several times I returned products to sellers that assured me a full refund of money but never paid.  Prompt communication fooled me into thinking a company had good customer service until they failed to follow through--and all communication on their end went silent.

In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul reminded believers they were assured God was faithful to keep His promises in 2 Corinthians 1:18-23:  "But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us--by me, Silvanus, and Timothy--was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. ²⁰ For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. ²¹ Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, ²² who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."  The Gospel that assures forgiveness of sins and salvation not wishy-washy, but in Christ is Yes and Amen.  The faithfulness of God has been demonstrated continually through His word, covenants and promises kept.  All the promises of God are affirmed by Jesus Christ the Son of God and in Him Amen--all to the glory of God through us.

Someone who receives a good price offered for a limited time realises others may miss out on the bargain.  But Christians can have complete assurance everyone who repents from their sin and believes on the LORD Jesus Christ shall be saved.  We have no need to look for miraculous confirmation of God's promise or wait for a warm feeling to know the prayers of humble sinners are heard and answered by God in the affirmative.  When born again Christians ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can have all confidence we will receive based on God's word that reveals God's will as spoken by Peter on Pentecost in Acts 2:39:  "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."  Jesus Himself said in Luke 11:13, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"  All the promises of God in Christ are Yes and in Him Amen, and what confidence we can have to ask God believing His word in accord with His revealed will.

The blessings, feasts and promises contained in the Law merely hinted and alluded to the substance we have fulfilled in Person in Jesus Christ.  The Law of Moses gave no promise of eternal life, but Jesus made this promise plain to all who received Him.  Jesus said in John 10:27-28:  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."  How glorious is our Good Shepherd and Saviour forever, for all the promises of God in Jesus are Yes and Amen.  In Christ we find rest for our souls all can experience today regardless of circumstances, weather, bad news, feelings and failures.  The LORD has spoken truth and still speaks.  Blessed be the LORD whose mercies are new every morning, for great is His faithfulness.

Moved With Compassion

God spoke a timeless truth to prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, that God does not see as man sees.  Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart.  The most discerning people cannot know exactly the motivations and feelings in the hearts of others, and we cannot even plumb the depths of our own hearts.  After being born again there are aspects of my flesh and tendencies of my character which the Bible has illuminated and the Holy Spirit has convicted me as sinful, and praise the LORD He is able to purify and transform us from within.  In my life God has purposed to refine and transform parts of my life I never had a problem with, and as we embrace our sanctification this is a continual process God's people can rejoice to submit to.

I was recently both convicted and blessed by how different the observations of Jesus are from my natural perspective when I read Matthew 9:35-38:  "Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. ³⁶ But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷ Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. ³⁸ Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."  Because Jesus is good, loving and God, there is hope for everyone by His grace.  Jesus went all throughout Israel teaching, preaching and healing all the people who came to Him.  Jesus was not put off by their heresies, sinful practices, sickness or weakness.  After being completely spent day after day serving everyone, Jesus did not grow weary of doing good for unworthy and often ungrateful people.  We see multitudes and think, "Oh no, what now?" but Jesus was moved with compassion for them.

When Jesus saw crowds of people, He saw people who were weary and scattered, and they resembled sheep without a shepherd.  I like the NIV rendering of this which describes the multitudes as "harassed and helpless."  Instead of seeing people as rabble rousers (which they can certainly be), Jesus knew they were harassed and troubled by many things physically, socially and spiritually.  They were scattered and helpless like sheep are to deliver themselves from their many specific health ailments, parasites, bullying of the flock and their own skittish, fearful nature.  The Jews in the synagogues did not receive salvation by dead works or spiritual guidance only Jesus Christ provides being the Way, the Truth and the Life, and thus they were troubled by sin and lacked peace with God.  Without a shepherd, sheep can be weighed down by wool, without protection from theft or predators, and unable to thrive without rest.  I likely would have seen the Pharisees as arrogant hypocrites without compassion, but Jesus was moved by compassion to help them and everyone else.  Aren't we blessed to have Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep out of love for us?

Moved by compassion for the harassed and helpless, Jesus directed His disciples to pray the LORD of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd who does everything, yet more labourers are needed with His love, compassion and grace to toil in His bountiful harvest.  A blind person does not perceive all they cannot see, and no sensible person faults them for what they cannot see.  From the cross Jesus prayed for people who did not realise their sin for His Father to forgive them, for they knew not what they were doing.  The compassion of Jesus, His love in action and practical affection towards the weary and scattered ought to move us to seek to demonstrate His compassion to all.  Let us pray the LORD would send labourers into His harvest, rejoicing to be an answer to Christ's prayer request (and our own prayers) to labour ourselves for His glory and the good of others.

The God of Jacob

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! ¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah"

Psalm 46:10-11

Through the psalmist the LORD addresses the reader of His word with a command, to be still and know that He is God who will be exalted!  As much as we like to multitask, our capacity to focus on several things at once reduces our ability to pay full attention.  Being still also does not guarantee our focus on the LORD, for we are easily distracted and ideas flood into our brains without invitation.  When Jesus spoke to the raging waves of Galilee saying, "Peace, be still!" it is almost a taller order to still us because we have our own will we must submit before the LORD in faith and obedience.  God is able to still us, but He desires our willing cooperation.

Since God will be exalted among the nations and earth, how fitting it is for His people to exalt Him with praise, thanksgiving and adoration.  How blessed we are to know the LORD of hosts and that He is with us, and the God of Jacob is our refuge.  In considering these verses throughout the day, it proved beneficial to consider the many things God did for Jacob.  God knew Jacob, that though he was younger than Esau he would receive his father's birthright and blessing.  The LORD preserved Jacob, despite his deceitful ways, delivered him from the murderous intentions of Esau, saved him from the schemes of Laban and the dramas of having wives and many children.  God revealed Himself to Jacob, blessed him and protected his family when his sons stirred up trouble.

God made amazing promises to Jacob He was faithful to fulfill--even in the midst of a foreign land and a severe famine.  Genesis 46:3-4 says, "So He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. ⁴ I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes."  Because God was with Jacob, he did not need to fear anything or what seemed an uncertain future.  Before Jacob's decease, Genesis 48:3-4 states:  "Then Jacob said to Joseph: "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, ⁴ and said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.'"  God spoke to Jacob, blessed him, made him fruitful, gave him a new name and an everlasting possession--all things Jesus will do for all who believe in Him.

Because God has revealed Himself to us, we can be still and know He is God.  It is in Jesus Christ we find rest for our souls, perfect peace, fulness of joy and spiritual fruitfulness.  The LORD of the hosts of heaven is with us, and He has promised never to leave or forsake us.  The God of Jacob is our refuge, and considering how God protected, provided for and blessed Jacob we see foreshadowing of the sure hope we have in Christ.  Our days on earth may be few and evil--and we may never attain to the level of our fathers--but like Jacob we can testify God has been good to us and with us all the way.  May God's people know the LORD Jesus, seek refuge in Him and exalt Him now and forever.

Salvation of my Countenance

"Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."

Psalm 42:11

There are occasions in the book of Psalms David gave himself a pep talk, rousing himself from a spiritual malaise brought on by a combination of factors.  The circumstances of David's life, how he was feeling and stress from enemies who rose against him contributed to David being downcast.  Everyone can relate to this, for disappointments and hardships are sure to come.

The way people are feeling is often expressed in the face, and David's soul--his entire being--was cast down and troubled.  David knew the divine remedy for his depression was to put his hope and trust in God.  This would work to shift his perspective from David's problems to his God, from feelings of hopelessness and failure to his glorious Saviour.  In light of God's goodness, glory and power, ought not David's countenance reflect it with gladness rather than gloom?  But David realised he was downcast, so he reminded himself of God's praiseworthiness and His salvation.

The KJV I read this morning reads, "...the health of my countenance."  The Hebrew word translated "help" and "health" is defined "help, salvation, acts of salvation" in the Strong's Concordance.  The Bible connects the appearance of a person's countenance with light, lightning, even the sun shining in its strength.  The priestly blessing in Numbers 6:26 says, "The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace."  David requested God's favour in Psalm 4:6:  "There are many who say, "Who will show us any good?" LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us."  Knowing God looked upon His people with grace, salvation and help, David was comforted as he waited on the LORD.

The questions David asked are good for us to consider personally:  why do we remain cast down when there is hope in the LORD?  Why complain and be troubled over situations out of our control when God is the sovereign ruler over all who looks upon us favourably?  When David's countenance turned to God in gladness, his downcast soul was sure to rise.  Looking to Jesus our Saviour helps us to regain the proper, God-glorifying perspective and to experience fullness of joy by exercising faith in Him.

Pleasure In Prosperity

"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."

Psalm 35:27

David exalted and magnified the LORD who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servants.  It occurred to me there can be a disconnect with the meaning of the passage if we limit the words "pleasure" and "prosperity" to their most common, modern-day implications.  These words generally mean one thing to people now, but it is helpful to consider their use in the Bible to better comprehend them.

When we speak of "pleasure" today, it has almost exclusively been limited to concern sensual or sexual pleasure.  While this is one way to define it, the word has much more broad scope.  In addition to appealing to the senses, pleasure means to take delight in and to be pleased with, and in relation to God Webster described it as approbation--which is to approve of, like, and to be in favour of.  A different Hebrew word is translated into "pleasures" in Psalm 16:11:  "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  The Strong's Concordance defines these pleasures as "pleasant, delightful, lovely and happiness."  It is clear therefore that "pleasure" should not confined to sensual satisfaction, and can have eternal implications.

The word "prosperity" is also a word generally viewed as present wealth and success.  Webster defines it as, "Advance or gain in any thing good or desirable; successful progress in any business or enterprise; success; attainment of the object desired."  What is largely neglected from such definitions are the spiritual aspects of prosperity, the eternal salvation and sanctification of the human soul.  The apostle John connected the two in his epistle to Gaius in 3 John 1:2:  "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."  Some might desire their spiritual prosperity would match their prosperity in business, yet John put it the other way round.  A person who soul prospers by faith in Jesus Christ is most prosperous indeed, and it is unlikely our efforts and health could possibly rise to such a level in this life.  In a biblical sense, without Christ the most prosperous people on earth cannot prosper but resemble chaff the wind drives away.

David urged believers to shout for joy and be glad, to magnify the LORD who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant David and in all His servants.  God does not show partiality, only favouring men of the tribe of Judah, shepherds, kings or psalmists, for He is gracious and generous to all who fear Him.  God not only takes pleasure in the prosperity of our souls, but that our prosperity presently would increase by faith and praise of Him.  Our portfolios may diminish and our health can fail, but we can prosper despite these things today because we look to God who alone can help and redeems us.  David concluded the song in Psalm 35:28, "And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long."  May God's people be pleased to proclaim praises of God continually, for He is righteous and takes pleasure in the eternal prosperity of His people.

New Spiritual Wardrobe

Deciding what clothes to wear can be quick and easy for some people, and for others it resembles an arduous chore.  I suspect if we are looking for comfy clothes to wear around the house or clothes for work it is easier than finding suitable clothes for a fancy formal or party.  Such occasions can overwhelm us and suddenly we exclaim, "I have nothing to wear!" though our closet and chests of drawers are full of clothes, shoes and accessories.  We feel a twinge of horror to go to a luxurious event with a dress code without wearing something new.  Praise the LORD God provides His own righteousness to clothe us when we enter into His presence for eternity, for our best works are filthy rags by comparison.

David sang in Psalm 30:11-12, "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, ¹² to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever."  What an exchange God offered David, for his mourning was turned into dancing in the presence of the LORD.  David credited God for putting off his sackcloth and clothing him with gladness.  I suspect David did not rejoice in painful and sorrowful circumstances of his past, but by faith in God and His goodness he was enabled to rejoice in God presently moving forward.  Wearing sackcloth was a strong statement of grief and mourning, rough clothes worn to proclaim great depth of sorrow.  God was not cruel or unkind to remove David's sackcloth, for the LORD would not leave him naked and exposed:  God clothed David with gladness.

God gave David a choice and capacity he did not possess on his own in the midst of sorrow and mourning, for the LORD divinely, miraculously provided David a change of clothing.  Putting on clothes is merely an external exercise that cannot change the person, yet laying aside sackcloth and donning gladness was a result of an inner work by faith in God.  This prompts questions we ought to consider personally:  should we continue to mourn our past or what is lost when we can praise God for His presence today?  Should we perpetually mourn for ourselves over what we cannot change when God draws near to change us and make us more like Him?  Do we believe God is able to turn our loses and griefs into net gains we would not trade for the world through His love, grace and mercy?  David could have clung to his sackcloth, yet he welcomed the joyous change God ushered into His life.

Did you see God's purpose in turning David's mourning into dancing, putting off sackcloth and clothing him with gladness?  It was to the end that David's glory would sing praise to God and give thanks to the LORD forever.  The Messiah was anointed for this purpose in Isaiah 61:3:  "To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."  Hebrews 1:9 says Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness more than His fellows, and being born again by faith in Jesus means we are of God and have more than consolation--also oil of joy in exchange for mourning and the clothing of praise for the spirit of heaviness--so He might be glorified.  This is the new spiritual wardrobe God has provided us as His children, and it is our choice if we will gladly wear it.

Blaming God?

"Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; ¹² for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision."

Galatians 2:11-12

When things are wrong, our natural inclination is to determine what was the cause or who was to blame.  This can be done with various motivations:  to pin blame on others and excuse ourselves, in the aim to identify the problem to avoid repeating it going forward, to confirm what we predicted indeed came to pass, and the list goes on.  Because we often have vested interest in where blame is placed and insistent to avoid being blamed, we may blame others wrongly.  Adam attempted to shift the blame of his disobedience to Eve, and Eve sidestepped the accusation to blame the serpent.  I included Paul's testimony of Peter's hypocrisy because it demonstrates there are occasions where a person (even apostles!) can be rightly blamed for doing wrong.

While people are sometimes worthy of blame, the righteous God and Creator of all things is never to be blamed--because He cannot do wrong and blame implies having a fault.  God can be blamed in the sense that people may disagree with Him, but based on the good, perfect character of God, all condemnation and censure of Him is without any sound basis.  Skeptics and unbelievers will not accept this and likely would accuse those any make this claim as biased, yet I would counter it is a view based on knowledge and experience.  In the Paul and Peter example, Jews who observed the Law of Moses believed Peter's behaviour was right and justifiable, but after Paul's eyes had been opened by faith in Christ and born again he was able to see the situation clearly.

I remember a chat with a teenage girl during a camp years ago when she confided her concern that troubles and difficulties were "pushing her away" from God.  In a sense, she blamed God for painful circumstances in her life, for feeling rejected.  While I sympathised with the girl's struggles, God was not to be blamed for her response to trouble.  Her situation was revealing of a heart that was not trusting God or seeking Him.  She viewed trials and pains as attacks from God against her when He was using them to draw her to Himself.  The testimony of scripture shows God allows trials and troubles to prompt those who trust and fear Him to seek Him, for God never pushes people away:  it is people who turn from God.  For those who believe God heals and saves, trouble prompts us to seek Him earnestly rather than depart from Him.

The almighty God is a redeemer and saviour of all who cry out to Him.  David sang in Psalm 25:15-16, "My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net. ¹⁶ Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted."  See the confidence David had that God would deliver him from the net and would be merciful to him.  David admitted he felt desolate and was afflicted, yet he acknowledged God was his only possible source of hope and help.  When we are tempted to blame God or feel victimised, our eyes ought to look to the LORD who looks to show Himself strong on behalf of all those whose hearts are loyal to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).  For our sin we are to be blamed, and the glorious, gracious God is merciful to forgive even the trespass of wrongly blaming Him when we repent.

Count It All Joy

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."

James 1:2-3

Verses like these demonstrate how profound our need is for God's word, for God's ways are often a stark contrast to our expectations and reactions.  Even though Christians have been born again by faith in Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit, when we face trials and tribulations we see them as foreign intruders rather than friendly visitors (1 Peter 4:12-13).  Various trials are not in themselves good, yet the child of God can rest knowing God is able to redeem and use them all for good.  He can take troubling, pressure-packed circumstances to exercise our faith and work to make us more like Him.

As the beloved family of God we can be joyful in the midst of various trials, and James explained one purpose of trials God allows:  the testing of our faith produces patience.  Blessed are those who endure  by faith in Jesus without losing heart.  Patience, we are told by the apostle Paul in Galatians 5, is a fruit of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.  Experiencing trials, coupled with presence of the Holy Spirit, produces patience when we obey God to count it all joy.  I think it was Alan Redpath who connected our personal spiritual growth with our obedience to God in a sermon, and this is true.  Knowing what is right is not as important as doing what is right for the right reasons--in joyful obedience to God.

It is instructive that James says, "count it all joy" because our joy is not to be based on how we feel about things, something subjective.  We could call it Christian maths, a thought process as simple and straightforward as adding and subtracting whole numbers.  When we fall into various trials--tests that challenge us, difficulties that trouble us--we are to count it all joy.  Through the lens of God's word, we can view trials like when a corporate executive is pleased to receive a monetary bonus for meeting benchmarks that will boost his savings or allow him to afford travel.  Patience and wisdom for a Christian are not like a dream holiday that never eventuates, for trials are a vehicle God uses to help our lives produce these good, godly qualities.

The testing of our faith is more than an one-off exam we pass or fail but are tests designed by God that put our faith under stress to strengthen it through exercise.  No one can avoid the trials God allows, but we can count it all joy facing them knowing the testing of our faith produces patience.  If we do not count it all joy, it may be we are content with our current low-level of patience rather than trusting God has better plans in mind so we might grow.  If I could only grasp that the way I go through a trial impacts the lasting end result of a trial, that the redemptive aspects are bettered by my exercise of faith by obedience or hindered by my refusal to trust God to count it all joy knowing God is determined to produce patience in my life.

I have heard people quip (in jest) that praying for patience is an invitation to fall into various trials, and thus one ought to think carefully in praying that.  This is a foolish notion and a bad joke.  Consider what the next verse says in James 1:4:  "But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."  Those who shrink from trials that produce patience in our lives will continue to lack what God promises to supply by His grace.  God's plan is for us to be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  Isn't that what we want for our lives--what God wants?  Since that is the case, let us learn to count it all joy to fall into various trials, for the testing of our faith produces patience which labours within us perfectly to make us perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  Isn't it amazing God uses various trials we hate and would rather avoid at any cost to provide us patience beyond price? 

Kept from My Iniquity

"I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity."

Psalm 18:23

In Psalm 18, David affirmed the rewards God gives those who are righteous before Him, and Christians are accounted as righteous by faith in Jesus Christ.  No Christian is a perfect person.  By virtue of being a Christian, it is an public acknowledgment of being a sinner and needing a Saviour.  David said he was blameless before God, and he kept himself from his iniquity.  This dynamic is very insightful for God's people to understand--how we are drawn away by our own lust, and when we are enticed to satisfy lust it conceives and brings forth sin which results in death (James 1:13-15).

Jesus has cleansed Christians by providing atonement by shedding His own blood, and though believers are completely forgiven of sin we continue to live in physical bodies that have been corrupted by sin.  We have been born again and given new hearts, yet living in a body of flesh in a fallen world with ever-scheming Satan prowling around means temptation persists.  Having our sins forgiven does not mean our minds are wiped from memories or that our bodies suddenly lose all fleshly appetites.  As drips of water over time can wear away stone, so sinful suggestions and temptations can wear down the believer's resolve:  our minds remember what we would rather forget, and our flesh hungers for selfish satisfaction of its senses.  Joseph was pestered by Potiphar's wife, and youthful lusts can seductively beckon the most august saint.

David said he kept himself from his sin, sin that was harboured in his heart and members, sin that lies dormant and keen to awaken like weeds that spring up when conditions are hospitable.  To avoid the stirring of our desire coupled with opportunistic action, we might prefer to live in a perpetual spiritual winter where snow blankets the ground and weeds cannot possibly grow.  Yet the frozen earth of winter means there can be no cultivation of crops and no fruitfulness.  God has wisely employed a cycle of seasons with a time for every purpose under heaven.  A season of cultivation, growth and bountiful harvest does allow for unwelcome weeds that shoot up and propagate unless they are quickly uprooted.  Similar to what we observe in nature, prime times of spiritual growth can also include opportunity for sin to spout and spread.

The child of God must remain vigilant to keep God's ways, remember His judgments, keep ourselves from iniquity, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth, convicts us of sin, and empowers us to be faithful witness of Jesus.  Having been forgiven, cleansed of guilt and born again, we are to guard our hearts and labour to remain pure from our defilements that corrupt us from within.  David did not only keep himself from iniquity, but his iniquity.  It was not "sin" in a general sense but specific and personal iniquity that arose in his own heart and mind, the natural tendency of his human frame to lead him away from obedience to God and feed the flesh.  Knowing we are kept by God who loves us and who demonstrated this by giving us His only begotten Son Jesus, we ought to keep ourselves from our iniquity.  By God's strength and grace, we can.

Our Stubborn Way

"And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way."

Judges 2:19

A student of the Bible ought to be a careful observer of words and their meaning.  Since God has chosen to communicate with people through His written word, it remains a primary way of effectively communicating with others.  Confusion and consternation is caused when the definition of a word used does not agree with how others define it.  Over time the meaning of words can change and some of the intrinsic implications can erode, and it is beneficial to retain the original definition of words when they have been hijacked by modern sensibilities or through ignorance.  And I am not speaking about Hebrew or Greek, for the working knowledge of our own language lays a solid foundation of understanding that can be built upon.

Even as muscles atrophy from lack of use, the definition of words can become flabby and weak.  Meaning once clearly conveyed can be slowly lost over time.  While studying Judges recently, I happened upon the word "stubborn" several times, and I looked into how it is defined and the way it is used in the Bible.  I have heard people call others stubborn as a negative trait, and the same person can use the same term to refer to themselves in a positive sense.  As is typical with words, there is a range of definitions to filter through.  The Cambridge Dictionary defines "stubborn" without passing judgment:  "A stubborn person is determined to do what he or she wants and refuses to do anything else."  The 1828 Webster's Dictionary is a bit stronger:  "Unreasonably obstinate; inflexibly fixed in opinion; not to be moved or persuaded by reasons."  The word is described as "refractory" which means, "Sullen or perverse in opposition or disobedience; obstinate in non-compliance."

Looking at the word "stubborn" from a biblical perspective, it is always spoken of in a negative sense and is often coupled with rebellion.  While people may use the word stubborn to indicate a person who is resolute, steadfast, perseverant and persistent--all good traits when applied to doing what is right--the Bible does not use it in this sense.  "Stubborn" is a good description of people determined to go their own way; it is one who is unreasonable and will not be persuaded by any evidence.   Biblically speaking, someone who is stubborn will not submit to God or His correction and remains unwilling to listen to or be moved by Him.  Psalm 78:8 says it indicates one whose heart is not right, disloyal to God and unfaithful to Him.  Deuteronomy 21:18-21 shows under Mosaic Law a stubborn and rebellious son who persisted in disobedience, who refused to be corrected of gluttony and drunkenness despite discipline, was to be brought to the elders and face the death penalty "...to put away the evil from you, and all Israel shall hear and fear."

So the next time you refer to someone else or yourself as stubborn, consider the biblical implications of this word.  It may be a badge of honour among some to be stubborn, but to me it conveys foolishness and rebellion against God I want no part of.  Knowing how the Bible speaks of stubbornness also makes me careful not to flippantly brand others of being stubborn.  In using this word I will yield to the perspective of Scripture, lest God show me to be stubborn myself--full of my own thoughts and ways with no consideration of Him.  Blessed are those who are persuaded by God's word and yield to Him, for He is truth and wisdom.

The Blessing Cycle

"Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. ⁶ Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. ⁷ God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him."

Psalm 67:5-7

In our Bible study last night at church, we discussed how the psalmist illustrated how God's blessing of the earth leads to the praise and worship of God who will bless His people.  It is what I termed the "blessing cycle" of God that is continuous.  God blesses all people because He is good, and when His people praise Him God's blessing is multiplied so people shall fear Him to the ends of the earth.

After God created the heavens and earth and established His divine order in the world, the water cycle has been a means of God watering the earth and providing for the needs of all living things.  Water on the earth evaporates by the heat of the sun, condenses in clouds, falls to the earth in precipitation, and gathers in streams, lakes and the ocean.  At all times this cycle is at work throughout the globe without beginning or end.  As the earth speeds along on its tireless circuit around the sun as it moves through our galaxy, so the water cycle perpetuates like clockwork by God's power continuously.

The basic concept of the water cycle parallels the words of the psalmist who began the song by confidently asking God for mercy and blessing even as farmers pray for rain to fall on parched fields.  When rain does fall, consider all the drops of rain that fall upon lawns, gardens, and are gathered in gutters and are funnelled into rainwater tanks for future use.  There are many more raindrops that fall in the streets, footpaths and carparks that sweep away down storm drains to the sea.  Sometimes the downpour can be so great our rainwater tanks and dams fill and water spills over.  But none of those drops are lost, for they are gathered and in time evaporate to drop down again.

So it is with blessings from God:  He showers them liberally upon all people, and those who fear Him praise Him for great and glorious things He has done.  David said because of God his "cup runs over" and this is true concerning God's blessings which exceed our capacity to receive or acknowledge fully.  Having been thus blessed by God, the result is the praise of God who is blessed beyond measure.  God then rains more blessing upon us than we can contain day after day.  Our lives are sustained by the water cycle God upholds to provide water, and being blessed by God moves us to praise Him continuously.  Because we are blessed by God we can have confidence like the psalmist we will be blessed now and forever.

May our hearts sing forth as David's did in Psalm 103:1-5:  "Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! ² Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: ³ Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."  Hasn't God been good to us?  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

All for Christ's Honour

I watched a show where a character aspired to be a "man of the people," one revered and well-remembered by the masses.  The irony was, the villain was a narcissist who did not love or care for anyone at all besides himself.  Others were only a means to achieve and receive what he wanted and felt entitled to.  It is a strange thing to desire honour from people he deemed disposable.  It also flies in the face of logic for God's people to serve in the hope of receiving honour from men when our lives are to be lived for God's honour.  It should not matter to us that our names be known or remembered, as long as Jesus Christ is honoured through our lives.  A child of God can be content to be anonymous if it means God is made famous.

King Saul is a solid example of one chosen and anointed by God who became quite a somebody in his own esteem, and as a consequence he cared more about His own honour than God's.  When he was confronted for disobeying the prophet Samuel and offering sacrifices he had no right to offer, he brazenly remarked in 1 Samuel 15:30:  "Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honour me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God."  For Saul, confession of sin before Samuel was merely saying what he believed Samuel wanted to hear so he would comply with Saul's request.  He had no desire to worship God in public or private, but doing so was a means by which Saul could receive honour from men.  See how pride led to Saul being central and desirous of the spotlight rather than giving glory to God with sincere humility, contrition and repentance.

The apostle John wrote concerning Jewish rulers in Jesus' day in John 12:42-43:  "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."  To be put out of the synagogue and excommunicated from fellowship was a greater concern for these rulers than acknowledging Jesus Christ as their Messiah.  John provided insight into their character, that they "...loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."  They valued and cherished the honour they received from people more than "Well done, good and faithful servant!" spoken to them by the mouth of God.  Another way to read this is they preferred men praising them more than the privilege of praising God themselves.  Perhaps they ignored the consequences Jesus warned in Matthew 10:32-33:  "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."

See how pride, love of man's praise and desire for honour corrupts all good man can do and undermines our integrity!  The worship of God can be thus polluted, service of God made to serve man's selfish ends, and motivation to good works can be driven by greed for honour.  Titus 1:15-16 reads, "To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work."  How we need the Holy Spirit to give us pure hearts, for in our flesh no good thing dwells.  It is by faith in Jesus sinners are born again and made new creations, and Jesus cleanses us from sin and works to purify our minds and conscience with His word.  God has created us to do good works and ordained we walk in them for the praise of His glory.  As the song goes, "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness."  May all God's people be those who boldly profess faith in Christ and by our works honour Him.

Rebels Against the Light

"There are those who rebel against the light; they do not know its ways nor abide in its paths."

Job 24:13

During Job's discussion with his friends, he spoke of murderers, adulterers and thieves who operated under the cover of darkness.  Their sin was premeditated and meticulously planned, for they made disguises to avoid detection and scoped out properties during the day to return to plunder after dark.  These are those who "rebel against the light," who know what they are doing (and are planning to do) is wrong, but they choose to do it anyway.

God who created the sun to shine by day and the moon to shine by night has given every man the light of his own conscience, the ability to reason and make judgments and provided the light of God's word.  Even young children have a sense of morality built into them and express their displeasure over what seems unfair.  This concept of fairness is not cast off in our adulthood but further refined according to our worldview.  No other beast or creature God made on earth possesses this capacity for convictions we can declare, promote and live by.  Human beings by God's design can override the mindless reactions of instinct, follow our convictions and walk guided the light of our conscience when others walk in darkness.

It is a grave thing indeed to rebel against the light, for it is willful departure from what we know is right.  People wrongly paint God as a cruel ogre who punishes people for what they are ignorant of, but the truth is He will hold all accountable for the light they have been given, what they know and have chosen to intentionally violate.  Sin against the light is blatant hypocrisy and rebellion God will certainly hold to account.  God did not only cause the light of the sun to shine or the light of His Scripture the Bible, but He sent Jesus Christ as the Light of the World to plainly speak and demonstrate what righteousness looks like:  love from a pure heart.  It is by knowing Christ by faith and abiding in Him we can walk in the light.

Jesus revealed Himself to be the true Light that shines in the darkness, and He said in John 3:19:  "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."  John 8:12 says plainly, "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  Seeing light shine is one thing, but walking in the light by following Jesus in submission and obedience and having the light is another.  Those who rebel against the light rush to ruin though they reign on earth, for God will bring such down to the dust in death and to hell forever for their folly.  Let us choose to walk and abide in the Light rather than rebelling against light we have received and know.

Taught to Know War

While listening to a sermon the other day, it occurred to me when people face opposition, trials and difficulties they can lean towards identifying these as "attacks of the enemy," evidence the devil is actively seeking to thwart or distract them from good they are doing.  Others tend to see negative situations as God exposing their own sin or teaching them a lesson--and the sooner they "learn the lesson" the problems will resolve quickly.  Because God and His ways are higher than ours, I believe the LORD is at work to redeem our situations for good in countless ways whether we realise it or not.  It may not be possible to reduce the reason we are experiencing a particular trial to one primary reason, and I do not think it necessary to do so.

Case in point:  after the children of Israel did not drive the inhabitants from the land, God allowed their enemies to remain for many reasons which God plainly stated in His word.  Judges 3:1-4 says, "Now these are the nations which the LORD left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan ² (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), ³ namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. ⁴ And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses."

God could have driven out the inhabitants of Canaan without a fight, yet there were several practical reasons for allowing them to remain:  to test Israel, to teach them war because their generation had never known it, to prove His people, and to see if they would keep God's commands or not.  There is a kind of test we can pass or fail, and there are also tests we can practice to knock off rust, that measure our speed or show improvement, that enable us to exercise at our present level with an aim to grow.  "Passing" one test is preparation for facing another test we must practice to pass, so God's testing can take a new form that challenges us in unexpected ways.

Of all these reasons given, it may be a surprise God would have His people who are ignorant of war to learn war.  There is a time for peace, and there is a time for war.  When we choose to be God's people by faith in Him, there is no shortage of conflict even within ourselves because we continue to live in a human body.  God desires His people would be battle-hardened in trusting and obeying Him, even as warriors looked to their superiors for guidance and provision.  Rather than being careless and taking peace for granted, God wanted His people to learn how enemies looked for lapses of defenses and vulnerabilities, and how their own carelessness and lack of obedience to God undermined their own safety and prosperity.  It would take time for the Hebrews to realise it was God who fought their battles, and how their part was to honour Him with obedience and submission to His commands.

Those who have personally observed the horrors of war wish more than anything their children would be spared such suffering and pain, yet like the Hebrews there is no one who fears God who can avoid the war that breaks out after being born again by faith in Jesus and continuing to live in our bodies of flesh in a corrupt world.  As the Lord of the Rings character Aragon said, "Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not."  It is not a question if we can avoid conflict and spiritual warfare, but whether we take steps by reliance on God coupled with obedience to undergo testing and refinement through many failures.  We cannot say or know why a particular trial overtakes us, but we can know God remains good and allows it as a tool to accomplish His redemptive purposes.  As much as the devil can trouble us, God's ability to help us and redeem every trial for good is infinitely greater.  What will you do:  curse the devil or glorify God with gratitude for His love, grace and mercies?

God's Service

We can view deliverance as all or nothing, yet God was intentional to grant His people some deliverance.  Because His people humbled themselves before the LORD, He decided not to pour out His wrath on Jerusalem by Shishak, king of Egypt.  But He said in 2 Chronicles 12:8, "Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations."  This made me consider:  how is the service of God distinguished from the service of the kingdoms of the nations?  Only after personally experiencing the two options the wise of God's people would come to appreciate and love God more because His yoke is easy and His burden light by comparison.

When God appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and later revealed Himself to the Hebrews on Sinai, God made a covenant with them.  He made promises to make them great and prosperous, to provide for their needs, protect them from enemies and establish them in their own land as an inheritance.  He chose them, not because Abraham or the Jewish people were the mightiest people, but because He is a gracious, merciful and awesome God who chose them.  In the Law of Moses God gave His people statutes to keep and sins to avoid, and He did all this for their good and to enable privileged fellowship with Himself.  God gave His people a covenant and precious promises He would be faithful to keep, and they were beneficiaries of His goodness and generosity.

Shishak, on the other hand, was all about taking anything he wanted from the Jewish people.  He only sought to enrich himself from their labours.  He was not interested in helping or giving them anything.  There was absolutely no love, kindness or relationship to be enjoyed.  The children of Israel found themselves impoverished and lacking with no promise of prosperity or protection.  They were slaves to a cruel master who did not care about them, their children or future.  Compared to God Shishak had no power at all, yet the power he had was never inclined to be used for their good.  There was no satisfaction of a job well done but a fear of reprisal if Shishak was ever displeased--and it is doubtful he was ever pleased with them.

The children of Israel experienced the difference between serving to be blessed and serving because they were blessed.  They could never earn the favour or approval of Shishak, for this was never an option on the table.  They worked to placate an adversarial ruler, avoid punishment and grimly hang onto survival.  The service of God was completely different, for the LORD loved His people as the apple of His eye.  He cared for them like a good shepherd who led his flock, provided for their needs and protected them from harm.  Shishak would suddenly come with demands and leave, but the LORD dwelt among His people as their God who fought their battles, was faithful to bless and gave them peace.  The children of Israel had no idea how good life was under God, so God gave partial deliverance so they could compare serving God or Shishak.

To people weary and burdened by the cares of life under Roman occupation and the demands of lifeless religion, Jesus called in Matthew 11:29-30:  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  How blessed we are to serve alongside Jesus Christ because of His humility, gentleness and generosity.  He truly loves us like no one else would or could.