The LORD Lives

"The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!"

2 Samuel 22:47

Only the living God who created all things can save.  The One in whom is life was able to create life from nothing, and He alone can save our souls for eternity.  God can do everything because He is alive.  He is infinitely greater than man, but in living men we see a shadow of God's greatness.  The God who created the eyes of men to see sees all; the One who made ears to hear also hears all.  This God who formed man's mind to consider and think possesses infinite wisdom and knows all.  He created the mouth of man to speak intelligible words can speak clearly to all people.  Whatever a man can do God does infinitely greater.

No spirit, man, thing made by man, or beast can be likened unto God or rightly compared with Him.  He alone is God and is exalted forever without end.  How can an idol of wood, stone, silver, or gold compare with the living God?  God lives, and this is a primary distinction between Him and all others.  He does not only live today but He has always lived in eternity past.  He was not imagined or created but existed before time and the creation of the earth.  God also will always live, for He is not subject to time nor will He ever be.  For an eternity after this world is dissolved and time as we know it is not remembered by a soul, He will live and remain the Rock of my salvation.

God is exalted whether men think to praise Him or not.  If there is anything in this world which fills us with awe and wonder, that is the worship God deserves for He is greater still.  Though He is greater and over all things, God has revealed Himself to lowly man.  When God descended and communed with Moses on the mount Exodus 34:6-8 says, "And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, ⁷ keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." ⁸ So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped."  People and generations pass away, but God remains.

How good it is to serve a living God who speaks with us, who has come to us in Jesus Christ, and is risen from the dead.  Therefore let us bless and exalt our Rock of Salvation, the LORD who lives!

Reasoning Together

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Isaiah 1:18

There is a great example in the Bible of people reasoning together during the siege of Abel.  After David was restored to the throne in Jerusalem, a rebel named Sheba the son of Bichri blew a trumpet and gathered men after himself.  Joab received word that Sheba had taken shelter in Abel of Bethmaachah, and therefore he built a siege mound and battered the wall to bring it down.  2 Samuel 20:16-19 records, "Then a wise woman cried out from the city, "Hear, Hear! Please say to Joab, 'Come nearby, that I may speak with you.' " ¹⁷ When he had come near to her, the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Hear the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening." ¹⁸ So she spoke, saying, "They used to talk in former times, saying, 'They shall surely seek guidance at Abel,' and so they would end disputes.¹⁹  I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?"  Some people were prepared to hunker down behind their walls without negotiation, but not this wise woman.

2 Samuel 20:20-22 says, "And Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy! ²¹ That is not so. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city." So the woman said to Joab, "Watch, his head will be thrown to you over the wall." ²² Then the woman in her wisdom went to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. Then he blew a trumpet, and they withdrew from the city, every man to his tent. So Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem."  Joab informed the woman he held no ill will against her or the city, nor was he intent on destroying Abel.  The problem was a rebellious man had sought shelter within Abel, and if she would agree to deliver him all would be well.  The woman said decisively, "His head will be thrown to you over the wall."  She consulted with the people in the city and they agreed:  why risk the safety of their families, children, home and future to shelter a wicked man?  Once his head was thrown over the wall and identified, Joab called off the siege and returned to Jerusalem.

The situation in Abel is one which commonly plays out in the lives of God's people.  At times our hearts, minds, and deeds are rebellious before the LORD and we bring ourselves under His judgment.  We do not reason with Him as equals but as His subjects - like the wise woman with the general of the army of Israel who acted on king David's command.  The woman and the people of the city were free to harbour the king's enemy, but if they chose this course they would be forced to deal with the consequences.  Only after the head of Sheba was thrown over the wall was the siege lifted and the city safe from harm.  Assurances of Sheba's innocence or claims the king's demand was unreasonable were not enough to call off the attack of the city, and refusal to heed God's commands leads to discipline and strong judgment.  If the people of the city saw the sense in surrendering the head of Sheba to save themselves, city, and families, why don't we always see the sense in surrendering our sin or weights which easily encumber us?  Should we defend what God has condemned?

Consider the practical implications for a city besieged by a strong army.  At first there may only be a negligible effect, but the inhabitants of the city are forced to wait around to die.  When a city is besieged no one is permitted to enter or leave so trade and communication ceases.  Before long those under siege suffer shortages of food and water, their homes, gates, and walls take damage from barrages, and the mental strain of having the enemy at the gates quickly begins to take a physical and mental toll.  Would you say this city under siege well represents a soul labouring under sins not repented of?  Praise the LORD God has drawn near to us with conditions of peace through the Gospel:  if we will confess our sins and repent, He is faithful to forgive us.  But understand that if we will not surrender Sheba or whatever is demanded by our King we will have no peace.  Those are His conditions, and they are altogether reasonable.  What a joy to have the siege lifted and once again have freedom, good food, clean water, communication, and security restored!

Blessed In All Things

"Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things."

Genesis 24:1

When I read this verse last night, a slow smile spread across my face.  Think of it!  The LORD had blessed Abraham in all things:  he had been blessed in his travels, in his marriage, with his children, in necessities, in growing older, and even concerning his temporal and eternal future.  There was no part of his life which had not been blessed by God.  This means he was blessed by God even before he knew God or believed Him!  How great is our God to bless in such a manner.  But having said this, often our ability to receive and walk fully in the blessings God provides is conditional.  

Do you want to be blessed by God?  Blessed is the man who delights in God's Law and shuns evil (Psalm 1).  The one who has clean hands a pure heart by grace through faith in God is blessed (Psalm 24:3-6).  Jesus listed many conditional blessings in Matthew 5:3-12:  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

This list provided by Jesus reveals our natural concept of "blessings" and God's descriptions are often fundamentally different from one another.  We think we are "blessed" with good health, and so we are.  But God is able to bless us in poor health, even as God blessed Abraham in all things.  We think of being blessed when we have a near-miss which could have been disastrous, but God blesses us in disasters.  When the world is falling apart and we are splitting at the seams, through faith in God we are blessed in all things.  Praise the LORD His blessing is not dependent on circumstances or our perfect performance, but is according to His grace, goodness, and unfailing promises.  Can you identify with these words spoken of Abraham, that the LORD has blessed you in all things?  May He open our eyes to say with all our hearts, "Yes, indeed He has!"

Standing Firm

Yesterday the results of the Australian same-sex marriage survey were revealed.  The LGBTI community and their supporters celebrated a strong majority result.  Though the laws have not yet been changed to reflect this result, the government and members of parliament are working to pass legislation changing the Australian constitution to approve gay marriage.  In the context of our secular society this result does not at all come as a surprise to me.  I am without fear; I am not worried for in Christ I stand firm.  I am resigned to acknowledge the opinion of the majority of Australians, but that does not deem it righteous.

And this is the place where the victory for same-sex marriage rings hollow:  even when the government legalises and acknowledges gay couples as married, the perversion of God's institution of marriage will never be acceptable in the eyes of God and many who hold a biblical worldview.  My heart breaks to consider the smiles and celebrations will quickly fade into disillusionment, frustration, and anger this result will not provide the kind of acceptance and "equality" many long for.  I am convinced the definition of marriage established by God cannot be altered by the legislation of men.  God's Word cannot be broken, and in Him I place my trust.  His approval is everything.  I love people who identify as gay and understand their desire to marry even as heterosexuals do, but my loyal adherence to the scriptures will likely be viewed as hate and bigotry.  Such is life for born again Christians.

People in the world will do what is right in their own eyes, but followers of Christ are exhorted to hold fast to God's righteous standards as revealed in scripture.  The Bible which clearly illuminates the way of salvation through the Gospel also says all will be judged by God according to their works.  All professing Christians ought to take heed to God's warning, for He has pronounced great woe upon His people who forsook His ways and approved of wickedness as it is written in Isaiah 5:20-21:  "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²¹ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"  Many believers have been duped to think they can follow Jesus and celebrate abomination, but this is impossible.  The New Testament passage Romans 1:32 plainly states those who approve and consent to any manner of depravity endanger their own lives and souls.

When we chose to follow Jesus, remaining loyal and obedient to His Word is what we signed up for.  Whilst the world celebrates and rejoices Australia is now "on the right side of history" concerning the approval of gay marriage, I rejoice to hold fast to the truth of God's Word without apology.  I make no claim of perfection or being "holier than thou," but by God's grace He will enable me and all God's children to stand firm in the faith.  These are troubling times, but we have all the security, joy, and hope we need in Jesus.  We ought to rejoice and lift our heads because the day of our salvation draws nigh.  All is exactly as our Saviour foretold in His Word, and He will never leave or forsake us.  He gives peace not as the world gives, an enduring peace which passes understanding.