Our Strong Confidence

"In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. ²⁷ The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death."

Proverbs 14:26-27

Self-confidence is often viewed as beneficial but the Bible teaches preoccupation with self is a snare.  To put confidence in self is to put confidence in man, and Psalm 118:8 says plainly "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."  Better than self-consciousness is for God's people to be cognisant of God's presence and promises.

Many of the things which provide self-confidence for people are transient and dare I say--vain.  I grew up watching sport with ads on television aimed at balding men and how re-growing your own hair bolstered confidence in the workplace or with women.  Other ads targeted men who still had hair and in the space of time it takes to shower an ageing fellow could be "back in the game" with hair, eyebrows, and beard devoid of unsightly grey.  Samson was a young man with flowing hair who had self-confidence and women in ample supply yet this misplaced confidence led him to ruin.

It is a good thing when our self-confidence is shaken because it shows we have been relying on ourselves, abilities, or listening to the praises of people rather than seeking and relying on the LORD.  In Christian ministry self-confidence is a snare because we can only serve the LORD and walk uprightly through faith in Him.  Woe to the man or woman who brims with self-confidence to do the LORD's work!  When the criticism is relentless, people leave the church because of you (and tell you this to your face), and you feel an absolute failure, what good with self-confidence do you then?  In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and in Him we have a place of refuge.

How liberating and wonderful it is to be free of the snare of self-confidence which leads to the fear of man and vain effort to please men.  Degrees of success, however, allow self-confidence to secretly wrap its coils around our hearts again.  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life which gives us confidence our feet shall not be moved regardless of what happens to us because we stand by the grace of God on the foundation of Jesus Christ.  Having been called, chosen, and loved by God we submit humbly to His sovereign rule, bowing our grey and bald heads in praise and worship of One who alone is worthy.  He is our strong confidence Who endures forever.

The Freshness of the Old

While at Camp Kedron I had an amusing interaction with a camper.  Kids who did not bring Bibles were loaned a Bible for the duration of camp.  A older primary-aged girl came up to me and asked for a different Bible.  "Could I have a different Bible?  This one is old."  I glanced to see what version of Bible it was and found it was a contemporary English version.  Then I guessed what prompted her request:  that she noticed there was an Old Testament and she nodded.  I told her, "This Bible is perfectly fine for you.  In fact, you need to have the Old Testament to better understand the New Testament."  We live in a world where "old" is synonymous with "outdated" and "irrelevant," yet the the Old Testament contains fresh truth for those who glean among those ancient passages.

Today I read when God changed Abram's name to Abraham and made a covenant with him.  The first covenant God made with Abram required the sacrifice of animals the Spirit of God passed through.  God established an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants by commanding he and all his household be circumcised.  It was a covenant sealed with his own blood as he cut away flesh in an area required for human procreation.  God promised in the space of a year Sarai (whose name God changed to Sarah) would conceive and give birth to a son to be named Isaac in their old age.  Genesis 17:23 reads, "So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him."  Abraham's faith in God, obedience, and submission to God's ordinance is a timeless and powerful example to all.

Circumcision of males eight days old was later incorporated into the Law of Moses and has been followed religiously by Orthodox Jews and others until this day.  God spoke of a new covenant which would supercede the old in Jeremiah 31:31-33:  "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- ³² not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. ³³ But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."  This new covenant would not be limited to the Jewish nation only.  God offers this agreement freely by grace through faith to all people who trust in Jesus Christ and are born again by the Holy Spirit.  Instead of pride in our flesh followers of Jesus are humbled to have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them as a down-payment of their salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Abraham's willingness to circumcise himself, his sons, and all the males of his household has much to teach us today.  The Law alluded to physical circumcision as pointing to an inner work now made possible through the Holy Spirit.  Deuteronomy 10:14-18 says, "Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it. ¹⁵ The LORD delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day. ¹⁶ Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. ¹⁷ For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. ¹⁸ He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing."  In John 10:16 Jesus spoke of sheep from another fold He called to follow, Gentiles He called to follow Him so there might be one fold and one Shepherd.  Paul goes into great detail on this point in Ephesians 2-3.

Abraham did not earn God's favour by his obedience but willingly entered into it by doing as God said.  James 4:6-7 says, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." ⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."  Even as our love of God is practically shown towards our brothers, so our submission to God is evidenced in honouring governing authorities as it is written in 1 Peter 2:13-17:  "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--¹⁶  as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. ¹⁷ Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."  If David would not utter a harsh word against the murderous King Saul, should we speak ill of or despise those God has put in authority over us?

The lesson impressed upon me from Abraham's response to God is one of humility, submission to God, and obedience--three themes often repeated in the New Testament.  There is hardly a word more grating to a proud and independent soul than the word "submit."  Abraham was required to submit to a delicate surgery by his own hand, and the believer who submits to follow Jesus Christ in faith is also required to trust God when obedience to Him stings.  Consider the sufferings of Jesus Christ on the cross, pierced hands and feet, heart skewered through with false accusations and scornful words.  Abraham circumcised himself and Jesus humbled Himself, took the form of a servant, and embraced the cross in obedience to the Father's will.  Those who believe will obey and those who humble themselves before God He will exalt.  Praise the LORD there is healing in our God evidenced by our risen Saviour Jesus, and beyond this life of endless testing eternal glory awaits.

Giving God His Due

Words and events that impact us provoke prolonged consideration later.  This can happen sometimes when we read the Bible.  Like a person not content to look at an item behind glass and asks to hold it in their hands for closer examination, we can turn Bible passages over in our minds.  We consider the context and wonder why people said what they did.  I've been thinking over a case concerning what Abram did after God enabled him and his household servants to defeat kings and deliver Lot from their hands.

Genesis 14:18-20 reads, "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. ¹⁹ And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; ²⁰ and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all."  Abram and his 318 servants pursued 5 victorious kings during the night and defeated them completely.  Suddenly Melchizedek king of Salem and priest of God Most High appears to celebrate the victory of God through Abram.  Abram previously called on the name of the LORD, the Possessor of heaven and earth Who revealed Himself to him.  This was not Abram's victory but God's.  Abram immediately responded by giving Mechizedek a tithe of all plundered--10 percent of all that he recovered and possessed.  Abram refused to lay a hand on the spoil lest the king of Sodom claim he had made Abram rich.  By tithing of all and refusing a reward Abram credited God for his wealth and was content in Him.

Consider the purity of praise and thanksgiving in this act of Abram to give to God and keep none of the spoil to enrich himself.  The God who revealed Himself to Abram gave him all the land on which he tread and a notable victory over many kings.  Faith trusts God in the present and for the future, knowing we are safe and abundantly provided for.  There is something truly liberating when we honour God with our firstfruits and giving to Him what the world views as increase rightfully earned.  Let us not think giving is only about money or goods as Psalm 96:7-9 says, "Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, give to the LORD glory and strength. ⁸ Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts. ⁹ Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth."

Recognising the greatness of God and all we have received by grace through faith quickens generosity in His people.  Because we value Him over things we honour Him with our things and the life He has provided as a continuous act of worship for His glory.  Giving time and money as unto the LORD acknowledges His goodness, grace, and power to supply our future needs.  How great is the LORD who has given us all things to richly enjoy, celebrates His power through us, and receives from our hands rejoicing.  Through Jesus Christ God has supplied far greater victory than Abram enjoyed because He established a covenant with His own blood to give all who trust Him eternal life.  Since Jesus has given us His all to purchase us, we ought to give our all rejoicing in our Redeemer.

Choosing Good

A camper last week described his intentional effort to show self-control with his tongue.  His statement reminded me of myself when I was that age, measuring success primarily off what I avoided doing:  "I have only sworn twice all year!"  I commend the lad's efforts to stop cursing.  Jesus taught the words we use reveals the truth of the condition of our hearts, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34; Luke 6:45).  Trying to cease cursing with our mouths is futile without a change of mind and heart by God's grace.

When I heard the young man's comment I recalled the responsibility of believers not only to avoid sin but to do good, to speak the truth in love.  Better than avoiding gossip our words ought to encourage; rather than harsh censure we can edify others with gracious words.  Realising the Christian walk is more about doing good than avoiding evil was a revelation from God.  The call to self-control goes far beyond speaking and is shown by listening patiently and choosing to remain silent instead of speaking our mind.  We can demonstrate love by refusing to negatively judge or condemn people who do not seem to be making the concerted effort in areas we are.

How about you, believer?  Have you begun to embrace your sanctification beyond surface level and dealt with matters of the heart?  King Solomon gave instruction concerning folly to avoid and also directives to follow in Proverbs 4:20-27:  "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. ²¹ Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; ²² for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. ²³ Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. ²⁴ Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. ²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. ²⁶ Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. ²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil."

It is easy to trip when we are moving forward and our eyes are not on the path right before us.  Following the car in front of us can lead us to drift from the centre of the lane.  If we will walk uprightly, we must keep godly instruction from God's word in our hearts, be on our guard to avoid hypocrisy, ponder the paths of our feet, and walk in the way God has established.  It is Jesus Christ--the Way, the Truth, and the Life--who alone has the words of life.  His sheep hear His voice and we are to incline our ears to hear the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.  When we are convicted for sin it is good we remove our feet from evil:  let us take the next bold step of repentance to do what is right and pleases God.