Giving the Sense

"So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading."

Nehemiah 8:8

After the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, all who had understanding gathered to hear the Word of God.  Ezra the scribe is described as standing upon a pulpit of wood designed for this purpose, and read the Law to the attentive assembly.  He and others helped the people to understand what the Law said, what it meant, and therefore how it should affect them.  This approach to teaching the Bible is desperately needed today.

The value of inductive Bible study and teaching cannot be overstated.  Instead of bringing our bias to the text, it is important to realise we are handling the absolute truth of God's Word.  Whilst it is true there can be various interpretations and applications of a single passage of scripture, Nehemiah 8:8 emphasises readings from "the book" have concrete meaning because they gave "the sense."  The priests, Levites, and scribes did not give their personal opinions or spin on what the reading meant.  Their knowledge of God through the entire written Word of God enabled them to draw conclusions through observation, interpretation in context, and personal application.

The Bible is more than a text to be studied but wisdom to put into action.  When the light of God's word shines upon us, it should provoke an obedient response.  The people were grieved by the weight of their sin, but Nehemiah reminded people of how they were to conduct themselves on a holy day in Nehemiah 8:9-10:  "And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  There are fitting times both to mourn and celebrate, and Nehemiah directed the people to rejoice in God rather than to mourn their sin.  Mourning gave way to repentance and agreement with the God who rejoiced over them, having graciously provided them land, homes, and food.  In light of all God had done for them, they were to joyfully do for others.

Did you read the Bible today?  It is good to read, but did you understand what you read?  Having understood, have you put into personal practice the things God has revealed?  Praise the LORD for the teachers He gives us but most of all for the indwelling Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth.  How privileged and blessed we are to commune with God through opening our hearts and minds to His Word.

Go to the Ant!

Verses familiar to me as a young child are found in Proverbs 6:6-8:  "Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, ⁷ which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, ⁸ provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest."  As long as this world endures, there likely will be sluggards and ants.  It is estimated there are 1 - 1.5 million ants per person on the earth!  The term "sluggard" is seldomly used in common speech today, not unlike the word in the Strong's Concordance which defines it:  indolent.  To be "indolent" as defined by Webster's 1828 edition is "habitually idle or indisposed to labour; lazy; listless; sluggish; indulging in ease; applied to persons."

Solomon directs the indolent and lazy person to the ant, an industrious insect whose qualities and characteristics outshine the sluggard in every way.  Sluggards are idle and only move when it stands to benefit them, but ants labour for the good of the entire colony.  Sluggards love their sleep and like a door turning on its hinges, roll over in bed after hitting the snooze button again and again if they bother to set their alarm at all.  Ants do not need their mum to remind them it is time to rise from bed or to be bribed with goodies to contribute for the good of the household.  Ants prepare tirelessly to seek and procure necessary food for themselves and the colony so their stores will be well-stocked for winter.  Though some species of ants are practically blind, they demonstrate more foresight than the sluggard who boasts two good eyes.

I learned recently that ants have two stomachs:  one for themselves, and the second stomach to store food for other ants.  Paul rebuked the Cretians for being liars and lazy gluttons (Titus 1:12), which sounds very much like the description of the sluggard who lives only for himself and to fill his belly.  He always finds a reason to put off necessary labour like it says in Proverbs 20:4, "The lazy man will not plow because of winter; he will beg during harvest and have nothing."  I have seen many ants scurrying around, but I have never seen them begging.  Did you know since ants do not have lungs their physical activity and movements aid in respiration?  Like most insects they have tiny openings called spiracles in their sides which connect to tubes in their bodies to distribute oxygen and release carbon dioxide.  For an ant, labour literally sustains their lives.

God forbid we would see labour as a bad thing, something to be avoided!  God created man for work, as we see Adam was given responsibility by God to tend and keep the Garden of Eden.  After Adam was sacked of his landscaping gig and thrown out of Eden because of his sin, God told Adam the ground would be cursed, producing thorns and thistles.  In the sweat of his brow he would labour for food.  Sluggards make the mistake of thinking hard work is a curse, but this is not the case.  Indolence is a result of the curse of sin!  Paul laid down a principle in the early church for people who hoped for handouts without labour in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13:  "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. ¹¹ For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. ¹² Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. ¹³ But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good."  Eating is a privilege obtained by working.  Those who refused to labour would be refused food without pity.  To be given a job and responsibility by God is a blessing, and praise the LORD for His provision.

Some might ask, what about retirement?  Retirement from formal employment does not mean retirement from work, for there are good works all are called to do.  Even retirement is no excuse for sloth and indolence.  Indolence is a mind-set, a self-centred perspective which places more value on ease for self than obedience to God or service towards others.  Some of the hardest working Christians I know are retired from their careers, but will never retire from working for the LORD until God retires them.  Go to the ant, sluggard!  Every person is potentially a sluggard so the lesson is useful for all.  Praise the LORD for the satisfaction of a job completed and to hear from our Saviour, "Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of the LORD."

The Daily Call

The term "calling" is often used vaguely in Christian circles, even as the "will" of God is left to the imagination.  The call of God is multifaceted like His will, and we do not need to be ignorant of either.  God's Word speaks specifically on the will of God and how Jesus called people to follow Him.  Os Guiness wrote an excellent book titled "The Call" which speaks in detail of the general call to believers and specific calls God makes upon His people.

I appreciate the clarity of the Bible, how God spells out the truth for us in black and white.  Last night I was reading through 1 Peter 2 with the family, and I was blessed to read of calls of God we often don't hear about.  People talk about being "called" as a missionary or a pastor, but answering the call of God for all believers is the path to answering every specific call God makes.  For example, God has called all Christians to "love one another."  The man convinced he has been called to pastoral ministry is in no way precluded or hindered from loving others, even if he is not yet ordained by men.  In fulfilling a general call to love others he will be more suited to answer the specific call to be a pastor.

1 Peter 2:9 says God has "...called you [Christians] out of darkness and into His marvellous light."  We are called to forsake sin and wickedness and enter into Jesus the Light of Life.  In the passage Peter explains specifically what sins to avoid and how we ought to submit to God and those in authority.  We should all take God's Word personally, and the sharp truth of God's call pierces home in 1 Peter 2:18-25:  "Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. ¹⁹ For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ²² "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth"; ²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

Did you see what followers of Jesus are called to?  We are called to do good as Jesus did, and should we suffer for it to take it patiently.  Christian, this is what you are called to!  Consider how Jesus only did good - speaking the truth in love, healing people, visiting outcasts, the Servant of all - and boy did He suffer!  When Jesus suffered, He didn't deserve to.  When people turned against Him He continued to speak righteously, did not treat others like He was shamefully treated, did not threaten, but trusted God to the point of dying on Calvary's cross.  This sheds light on the profound meaning the words of Jesus in Luke 9:23:  "Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."  The call of Christ is to deny self and do as Jesus did.  Jesus took up the cross once for all, but we are to take up the cross daily.  Daily we are to do good even if it means suffering, and when we suffer we are to endure patiently, trusting God will make us fruitful even in death.

We were all once like wayward sheep, but Jesus has called us to Himself.  We have all suffered the consequences of our foolish decisions and stubborn rebellion, but when we suffer for doing good we can rejoice to identify with our Good Shepherd.  We are exhorted to fix our eyes beyond our suffering to Him who suffered for us in Hebrews 12:3:  "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."  Jesus endured, and since the Holy Spirit dwells within us we too can endure by God's grace.  The next time you feel your suffering is unfair, remember the gracious call of God.  Consider what hostility Jesus endured and the end of it:  His resurrection and glorification!  This is the future God has for us experienced today with our risen LORD.

Prayer for Needs

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:16

We all realise there is a difference between "wants" and "needs."  Because of Christ's atoning sacrifice on Calvary, by faith we have the privilege of an audience with the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth.  To appear before a king at an appointed time is a amazing honour, but to have access to the gracious King of Kings through prayer at all hours is nothing short of miraculous.

When you draw near to God in prayer, is it typically because you want or need something from God?  Our response to this question may indicate why prayers go unanswered.  If we are praying for our wants or what think is best for others, we may be asking amiss.  Just like we can miss where we are aiming in darts or billiards, our prayers can be off the mark.  James had strong words for these sorts of prayers - prayers where the desires of self or others are central rather than the God we seek.  James 4:1-3 says, "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."

After reading the Hebrews passage, I was struck many times my prayers regard wants or desires for convenience.  Do you know what we all need?  Mercy and grace from God in time of need.  What demands could we rightfully make before God?  The fact we can approach and stand before the holy God is because of the mercy and grace extended to us through the Gospel.  We have been invited into God's throne room of grace because of His grace.  We are born needy and remain that way all our lives.  We need to breathe air, drink water, eat food, and for our hearts to keep circulating blood through our bodies.  If our respiratory or circulatory systems shut down even for a few minutes the consequences would be life threatening.  Praise the LORD He knows what we need, even when our faith is small or neglect to ask.

In time of need, let us boldly approach the throne of grace.  Should God ask you, "What is your request?" consider what your needs truly are.  Instead of seeking to obtain our desires from God, let us seek to obtain mercy and find grace to help.  God has sent the Helper, the indwelling Holy Spirit, to guide us into all truth.  He will lead us to pray according to the will of God revealed in scripture.  Our greatest need is for God, and how blessed we are to know and speak with Him.