Having Entered the Holiest

During the reign of king David for three consecutive years Israel experienced a famine.  David inquired of the LORD to determine the cause and it was revealed the famine was a consequence of "Saul's bloody house," the previous king who wrongly persecuted and slaughtered the Gibeonites who had entered into a covenant with Israel.  David then went to the Gibeonites and asked what could be done to atone for the wrongs against them, and they requested seven of Saul's descendants be hanged before the LORD in Gibeah.  The bodies remained night and day hanging until the rains came and ended the drought and famine.  Sin brought a curse upon the land and the justice meted upon the guilty brought restoration to the land.

2 Samuel 21:12-14 reads, "Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabesh Gilead who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them up, after the Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa. ¹³ So he brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged. ¹⁴ They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded the prayer for the land."  The principle at work here is atonement was needed before God was entreated for the land.  David, priests and the people prayed but the prayers were not heeded and answered until atonement was provided.

Through Jesus Christ a new and living way has been provided to boldly approach God because He has once for all offered Himself as a sacrifice for all sin.  Hebrews 10:18-22 reads, "Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. ¹⁹ Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, ²¹ and having a High Priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."  There is no offering or sacrifice man can make to enter into the presence of God boldly in prayer because Jesus has paid it all.  Those born again by faith in Jesus can draw near to God with full assurance of faith we will be heard, not because of our righteousness or good works, but because of what Jesus accomplished on our behalf on Calvary and now sits at the right hand of the Father.

We are undeserving of favour and acceptance from God, yet having received it by God's grace through faith we boldly draw near in agreement with the heavenly reality to entreat Him knowing we will be heard.  Ephesians 2:4-7 tells us, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."  No penance, no period of probation, no payment required to receive and walk in the grace God has blessed us with.  Jesus our great High Priest sits at the right hand of the Father because He has completed the work, and the spiritual reality is we have been justified and sanctified to sit with Him in glory, members of His own body.  When we abide in Christ by faith the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness towards us is proclaimed to all in heaven and earth.  How glorious and good is our God and Saviour! 

Running Well

An odd situation occurred after Joab slew Absalom on the field of battle.  Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok and fleet of foot, offered to run to King David to tell him the news of the battle.  2 Samuel 18:20-21 reads, "And Joab said to him, "You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king's son is dead." ²¹ Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran."  Joab said to a Cushite, an Ethiopian who was an eyewitness of what had occurred in the wood, to run and bring the message of the battle to King David at Mahanaim.

Ahimaaz was undeterred, despite lacking a message.  2 Samuel 18:22-23 says, "And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, "But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite." So Joab said, "Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?" ²³ "But whatever happens," he said, "let me run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite."  The burning question is, why was Ahimaaz compelled to run when he had no message ready?  He did not give Joab an answer to his most sensible question.  Joab would have news for Ahimaaz to carry on another day, but he insisted he be permitted to run.  Perhaps the answer to his desire to run was borne out of his great ability shown by overtaking the Cushite.  The running prowess of Ahimaaz, however, served no practical purpose or service to his general or king because he went on his own accord.

I am reminded of what Paul wrote to the church in Galatians 5:7-8:  "You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you."  He complimented their quick start in following Jesus, yet at some point their efforts were misdirected because they were persuaded to run in a way contrary to Jesus Christ.  In their zeal to honour God they left the grace of the Gospel behind and returned to the bondage of the Law.  Their efforts estranged them from fellowship with Christ.  They submitted to circumcision, sought justification by the law and gloried in their flesh rather than faith in Jesus working through love.  Ahimaaz was persuaded by his own desire to run, and the Galatians were persuaded by legalistic believers to return to Law as a means of finding favour with God.  These examples show us we can be persuaded by what hinders us from obeying the truth.  Supposed good intentions are misguided if we will not submit to God.

The one who desires to proclaim good news needs to be an eyewitness and have a message ready.  The one who wants to run their race well must be led by the Holy Spirit and God's word.  Much effort and time is wasted and errors are made when we are persuaded by what hinders us from obedience.  Ahimaaz was a fast runner told by his king to stand aside, and the circumcised Galatians received no commendation for the cutting of their flesh because in doing so they coddled the flesh.   Galatians 5:25-26 exhorts us all, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."  The race we run is to be enjoined at the pace Jesus sets for us, and He will always direct us righteously according to His good purposes.

Email Update!

Hello to all those who are using the automated email to receive updates from the blog!  I have been notified the Feedburner gadget I have been using will be discontinued in June and therefore blog posts will not be sent anymore.  I apologise for this...I have looked into setting up an automated service like Mailchimp but it is simply too much for me to navigate.  The content isn't the issue but figuring how to send out emails without causing confusion.  If you know me and have skill in the area please send me a message...otherwise to receive the content you will have to check the blog itself when Feedburner goes away. :)

The Fruitful Life

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; ² but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. ³ He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

Psalm 1:1-3

God who created trees designed them to produce seeds contained in the fruit.  Seeds make the propagation of more trees possible, and in this way seeds are cultivated to grow an entire orchard.  Before a tree can fruit in season it must be well-established in suitable soil.  Time is required for the roots to tap into the moisture and nutrients so trees will grow and bear much fruit.

The man who is blessed is the one who is rooted by faith in God and His word.  The author of this Psalm did not only read the Law but meditated in it day and night.  The revelation of God, His truth and commands, guided David and all who look to God for wisdom, discernment and strength.  It was not like a book that we read occasionally but divine inspiration to immerse ourselves in.  The one who delights in God and His word will be most fruitful by God's gracious design.  The one who treasures God in truth will refuse ungodly counsel, will not stand with sinners, or settle into scornful ways.

Our tendency is to read a book and move on to the next one; we read one verse or chapter and close the book to do something else.  We cannot read perpetually, yet when the book is closed our hearts and minds ought to remain open to the probing, searching word that refines and directs us.  The word of God exposes our errors, points out the dead works from a guilty conscience and guides us what thoughts must be taken captive to the obedience of Christ.  God's word is not something to lay aside on the path to maturity, for without the Living Water applying Gospel truth to our ways all our efforts will be fruitless.

In sport the best players cannot neglect the fundamentals, the rudimentary skills common among every participant.  The star players are those who do the most basic things best with consistency.  A tree, with a desire to be more fruitful, cannot abandon the connection between roots and soil.  A believer, no matter how well-meaning the motives, cannot safely move on from the gospel to seek deeper truth and revelations beyond the word of God.  The men of Israel facing judgment for their sin were keen to know the word of the LORD, but since they would not obey Him in the basics of faith they were cut off and cast away as dead branches fit for the flame.

How good it is for God's people to realise it is our connection to Jesus Christ by faith that makes us fruitful, and wherever He plants us we can be established and grow.  It is not going to another church that will make all the difference for our walk, nor will our role in a fellowship be a hindrance to personal fruitfulness.  When we are born again and abide in Christ by faith marked by obedience to His word, we will bear much fruit.  Based on God's word, like a tree planted by rivers of water the ones who delights in God's law and meditates in it will bring forth fruit in season, our leaf shall not wither, and whatever we do shall prosper.  Believer, do you truly believe this?