Glory in God

"Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; ²⁴ but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD."

Jeremiah 9:23-24

It is natural for people to be pleased with what they have earned or accomplished.  God reveals in this passage to make a show of or the celebration of our abilities and possessions (which are gifts received from Him) is misguided.  Man habitually glories in what is not God, and whether we view ourselves as wise, mighty, or rich, this passage aims straight at our hearts with divine correction and instruction.

What are things you "glory" or take pride in?  The way we reveal this pride is often not through overt boasting and bragging, talking loud so everyone can hear.  It can manifest itself by downplaying compliments, by asking questions of others with the aim of sharing your accomplishments, telling a story that is more amazing or exiting than the one just told, or false modesty through humblebragging.  We can delight to be recognised, respected, and recommended.  The things we take pleasure in can be fine in themselves, but when we glory in self or stuff we have it is a dangerous shift towards idolatry.

Instead of glorying in our assets or abilities, God directs those who glory to glory in understanding and knowing God.  This is wisdom, riches, and might that cannot be bought, sold, or earned.  The LORD and knowledge of Him is far beyond price because He is glorious in Himself.  To glory in ourselves is to praise the beauty of a grain of dust compared to the light of the shining sun.  God's glory far outshines the sun in strength and power, for He is the LORD.  The supreme, all-powerful God of all exercises "lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth" and delights in them.  Isn't it crazy we can be more impressed with money, looks, or recognition from people rather than understanding and knowing God?

What a blessing it is to understand and know God because we have a relationship with Him through faith:  faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Understanding and knowing God is more than reading or hearing about Him:  it begins with being born again through faith in Jesus and the transforming power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  How delightful it is to meditate on the goodness of God and how He delights to exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.  People post videos of their exercise routines for peak physical fitness for bodies which will ultimately break down with injuries, weaken and perish.  God demonstrates His lovingkindness continually which is eternal, and we are partakers of His love which never fails.  When we delight in God, we will delight to do as He does and glory in Him.

Christ In Sight

You don’t need to live long to suffer much.  One aspect of God’s character is He is a Redeemer:  He is able take the suffering of one person and make it a source of comfort for others today.  Christians have eternity to look forward to, yet there is also great comfort for us to receive now.  We imagine the best source of comfort is for our circumstances to change for the better, but people who have suffered and are suffering can provide an unexpected source of encouragement when they endure and rejoiced in the LORD.

I recently received shocking and sobering news of friends in the States whose property and house burned to the ground.  I have never personally known such a loss, and I am grateful to have been spared from this trial.  I am also thankful beyond words for the God-fearing, trusting, and celebrating attitude from my friends despite their loss.  I am reminded of the exhortation they are fulfilling in 1 Peter 4:12-13:  "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."  Pain can numb us to the love of God He graciously demonstrates through His word, His people, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

True are the words Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5:  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ."  How amazing God makes the ones who have suffered to be comforters through the power of the Holy Spirit!  At the sight of the devastation and total loss I was grieved and then surprised to be suddenly greeted with testimonies of praise and thanksgiving unto God.  Having received the comfort and consolation which is in Christ, victims become victors who shine radiantly with the joy of the LORD.

Giant sequoias have an intriguing relationship with fire.  Being so tall they are often struck by lightning which can start fires sequoias need to reproduce.  The heat of flames is required to crack open their cones to release seeds that can remain locked away for 20 years.  Fire also stimulates growth in giant sequoias, and these trees continue to grow as long as they live.  Isn't it amazing how the fires of trials and tribulations can be a boon to the faith of those who look to the LORD and those who witness their genuine peace?  Fires are deadly and destructive, and it takes the power of God to miraculously use them to accomplish His good purposes in nature and in the lives of His people.  May I learn to praise God always despite of fiery trials because Jesus Christ is in my sight.

A Life With Boundaries

"And you shall divide the land by lot as an inheritance among your families; to the larger you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give a smaller inheritance; there everyone's inheritance shall be whatever falls to him by lot. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers."

Numbers 33:54

God provided an inheritance of land for His people to be divided by lot.  The Hebrews were not called to global conquest but were given land with clearly defined borders:  God would drive out the inhabitants of the land before them, and they were called to enter in and take possession of it.  Each tribe and family (save the Levites) were given a parcel of land which would be passed down through generations.  The arid land God gave His people was a small fraction of the land available, and it was sufficient for His people.

It is telling God gave His people land with borders and boundaries.  The Law of Moses forbade the moving of landmarks, and each person was to be content with the land God graciously provided for them.  Some people had running water, others had fields fit for flocks and herds, and others had rocky hills.  It would have been easy to look with longing eyes on land beyond your borders which looked like an oasis compared to your own dusty, rocky patch.  In providing boundaries God taught His people lessons concerning contentment.  Instead of looking to enlarge their borders, they were to put their hand to the plow and make the most of where God sovereignly placed them.

The boundaries God made for His people provides an insightful and instructive lesson for people today.  We all have boundaries in our lives we can view as restrictions that prevent us from fulfillment, satisfaction, profitability, and fruitfulness.  We imagine if we had a role at work with more responsibility we would be content; if our church was bigger our efforts to serve would be more useful.  Because of lack of faith and rest in God's sovereignty we can grow to resent the boundaries God has graciously established for our good.  We can be filled with envy our neighbour's property has a running stream and waterfront property while we must toil to dig a well.  We think happiness and contentment is somewhere to be found outside our borders.

Friends, let us endeavour to trust God, His wisdom, provision, and plans.  There is security and rest in all the boundaries God has given us and what He has chosen not to give us.  It is not in lands, flocks, herds, and waterfalls where we find satisfaction and rest but in the LORD Himself; it is not in proficiency in every spiritual gift we are fruitful but to make the best use of the one God has given us.  Envy stifles the gratefulness and thanksgiving which ought to mark our lives as children of God for whom He has provided all things concerning life and godliness.  Regardless of what has fallen to us, let us rejoice and be satisfied in the goodness, generosity, and kindness of our LORD.

The Blessed Rehearsal

"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side," let Israel now say--² "If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us, ³ then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us; ⁴ then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul; ⁵ then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul." ⁶ Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth."

Psalm 124:1-6

Repetition is a feature of Jewish poetry which is a useful literary device to make strong emphasis.  Psalm 124 caused people to remember and acknowledge the help and deliverance by God in the past.  Passages like this have reminded people in all seasons of life to proclaim the goodness and salvation of God.  In times of peace and prosperity even God's people can forget about Him, so it is profitable to rehearse the many times God has been faithful to protect, provide, and save us.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 was a mandate to the children of Israel to continually teach their children about God and bring Him to remembrance:  "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! ⁵ You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ⁶ "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."  God and His righteous ways are to be at the forefront of the minds of those who love Him.  More important than learning a trade or earning a degree was to hold God in honour and high esteem in all aspects of life because He is our life.

A compelling event occurred when Amalek fought against the Hebrews after their deliverance from Egypt.  When Moses held aloft the rod of God the children of Israel prevailed over their enemies, but when his arms dropped Amalek and his people gained the advantage.  Aaron and Hur helped steady the arms of Moses until nightfall while Joshua routed the Amalekites by the power of God.  The victory was not because of the rod of God, the calling of Moses, the quick-thinking and support of Aaron and Hur, or Joshua's skill in battle:  they were victorious because of God alone.  After the battle Exodus 17:14-16 states, "Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." ¹⁵ And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner; ¹⁶ for he said, "Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."

The KJV says God told Moses to "rehearse" the memory of this battle in the ears of Joshua, the man God had chosen to lead the people after him.  At a rehearsal of a play lines and scenes are repeated and practiced over and over to gain mastery for a future performance.  Just as parents were to teach their children of God and His deliverance, Moses was to rehearse the victory God had won over Amalek that day--with the knowledge battles with the Amalekites would continue for generations.  In the heat of battle Joshua may not have noticed what Moses, Aaron, and Hur were up to, and a day would come when he would face battle without these men of God.  The victory that day and in every future battle would be won due to Jehovah-Nissi, the LORD who would be Joshua's banner when he looked to Him in faith.

Because the LORD was on the side of His people David concluded his song in Psalm 124:6-8, "Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. ⁷ Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. ⁸ Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth."  We make the mistake of hoping for help from someone rather than placing our hope in the LORD who was a Banner of victory for Moses, Joshua, and David.  Let us rehearse with others what God has done to deliver His people in the past and acknowledge the salvation and victory we have also received by His grace--not only so we will be strengthened and comforted but so the generation to come will know, praise, and hope in the LORD God.  Blessed be the LORD who is our Banner!