God's Steadfast Love

It is possible to hear the truth so often it can sound like an empty cliché.  A song taken from scripture called "The Steadfast Love Of The Lord" goes, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end.  They are new every morning, new every morning.  Great is thy faithfulness (oh Lord), great is thy faithfulness."  One might imagine these words were spoken by a person who reveled in the blessings of God away from all trouble, one who celebrated countless blessings of health and wealth, without an enemy or care.  To the contrary:  these words are taken from the Lamentations of Jeremiah who, as he put it, was a "man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath."

The wisdom and faith demonstrated by this revelation of God's mercies was forged in the worst human suffering.  If you have doubts, read the first three chapters of the book of Lamentations.  You will read of the sufferings of a person who did not blame the enemies who besieged and starved people, but by the hand of God who was like an enemy when He chastened the nation of Israel for their sin.  It is one thing when we are buffeted by an adversary we can see and overcome by our might or wits, but another thing entirely to face the wrath of God meted out in judgment by whatever means He determines.  The Law contained blessings and curses for those under rule of the Law of Moses, so the sober warnings of the devastation of sin should not have been a surprise.

Nothing could have prepared the people for the intense suffering they would endure days on end.  Jeremiah and the children of Israel felt forgotten by God in their troubles; their prayers were not heard.  Victims young and old lay in the streets without burial, and people resorted to cannibalism to stay alive.  Though Jeremiah was afflicted and horrified by the devastation of Jerusalem and her people, he realised their only hope was in God.  The only reason why they existed or endured to go into captivity was because of the mercy of God.  Lamentations 3:21-25 reads, "This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. ²² Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. ²³ They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ²⁴ "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I hope in Him!" ²⁵ The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him."

Oh, that such wisdom would abide in our hearts when we suffer!  Many foolishly cast off their confidence and hope in God because of their pains, questioning or blaming Him for trials He allows.  Jeremiah read in the Law why God allowed such suffering, and we may not always have that luxury.  But we can understand and appropriate what Jeremiah discovered in the midst of intense suffering, that God is merciful, compassionate and faithful at all times.  It is always fitting to place our hope in the LORD, to wait on Him and seek Him especially when we are hurting and everything seems against us.  Since we are in Christ by grace through faith, we know He is for us and the suffering He allows has a constructive, corrective and conditioning purpose that glorifies Him.  During the siege of Jerusalem God's steadfast love was on display and His mercies were new every morning because He is faithful.  We cannot possibly overstate the mercies and compassion of our great God in all seasons of life, for He is only good and does not change.

Favour in God's Sight

In the book of 1 Chronicles, Achan is referred to in a genealogy as "the troubler of Israel" because he took of the accursed things and led to Israel's defeat at Ai (2:7).  Before they took the city, Joshua strictly warned the people not to take of the spoil for themselves because it was the LORD's.  After God caused the walls of Jericho to fall the the city was taken, Achan coveted gold, silver and clothing he found, stashed it in his tent and brought a curse upon the nation.  Soon thereafter 36 men perished in a battle as a consequence of his decision, and the nation was indeed troubled until the truth came to light.  Having been identified by God Achan confessed his sin, the stolen goods were recovered and he was executed for his rebellion and disobedience before God.

This situation is reminiscent of how the sin of Adam brought sin and death to the world which has been troubled ever since.  Jesus came to provide atonement for sin and destroy the curse which doomed all humanity to everlasting destruction.  Though the work of atonement and forgiveness of sin was complete by Jesus on Calvary for all who are born again and trust in Him, sin will continue to trouble those who practice it without confession and repentance.  We can be justified before God and "have the victory" like Achan did, yet at the same time cause trouble for ourselves and others by our sin.  Achan's punishment was punitive under Law, but we are disciplined and corrected by God not for our destruction but restoration of fellowship with God and increased fruitfulness.  There are troubles God allows Christians to face not as a direct consequence of their own sin, but the point is sin brings trouble to ourselves and others.

Consider the New Testament exhortation to believers in Hebrews 12:14-16:  "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; ¹⁶ lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright."  The text is clear anyone can fall short of the grace of God and result in bitterness.  When a person is bitter, it is evidence of a lack of grace in the heart.  Like weeds that spring forth from a bare patch in turf, the root goes down and the bitterness puts out runners that spread to others.  A person who is bitter will spread their toxic response to offense and cause others to be troubled too.  By this, the writer of Hebrews warns us, many become defiled.  Those who are embittered often have legitimate concerns but lack the sweetness of God's grace and love they are called to walk in.  As the example of Esau shows, bitterness does not find its root in circumstances or others:  it is a problem between that person and God.

When Hannah was in bitterness of soul because of her barrenness and the provocation of Peninnah, she sought the LORD in 1 Samuel 1:10:  "And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish." After being assured by the high priest Eli she had been heard by the LORD, see the difference in her outlook and disposition in 1 Samuel 1:18:  "And she said, "Let your maidservant find favour in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad."  We have a far greater high priest than who was in office in Hannah's day, for Jesus Christ is our great high priest who has sat down at the right hand of the Father.  Jesus is the Minister of a better covenant who made a new and living way for us to approach God, and we can approach Jesus at all times as it is written in Hebrews 4:14-16:  "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  Having been justified by grace through faith in Jesus, let us be done justifying our bitterness.  When a weed springs up in our lawn we pull it, and when bitterness rears up in our hearts let us come boldly to God, confess our bitterness of soul and know we have found favour in God's sight.

Ruling Well

"Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and doctrine."

1 Timothy 5:17

Passages such as this one are not to be used by those in church leadership for self-serving purposes, but hold forth the practical value of godly leadership the Body of Christ benefits from.  Paul went on to say this "double honour" can involve financial support.  Though he worked as a tent maker to support himself during his missionary journeys so the Gospel would be without charge, it was fitting for him to be supported with practical provision in exchange for spiritual truth which is beyond price.

In our western mindset, we need context about what it means to "rule well."  In the modern-day west, people place great value on personal freedoms as individuals and have no desire to be "ruled" by anyone.  Perhaps verses like this provoke wariness in people whom have experienced or seen abuses justified by those who claimed to wield spiritual authority from God.  It would be wrong to assert the elders ruled well by heavy-handed policies and authoritarian demands, living like kings who imposed their will on others.  Some wonder if they have the right to even "speak against the LORD's anointed," that it could be sinful to oppose or even question those in authority.  It is not a systemic problem but always a personal one, for God has showed us by example what ruling well looks like in the person of Jesus Christ.  Ruling is not about being "in charge" but rather choosing to humble self under God's charge.

The one who rules well must submit to be ruled by God and to walk in His ways.  When God acquiesced at the demand of His people Israel to have a king rule over them, it was required by God in Deuteronomy 17:18-20:  "Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. ¹⁹ And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, ²⁰ that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel."  Kings were not to lord over the people of God but humbly submit to His rule, writing a personal copy of the Law to increase his knowledge of God and His ordinances.  It was not enough for a king to know the Law but needed to keep it himself and view his "subjects" as brethren, all under the authority and grace of God.

The disciples of Jesus were annoyed when James and John sought a privileged position of authority by Jesus' side, and by extension to be promoted over the other disciples.  Matthew 20:25-28 reads, "But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. ²⁷ And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave--²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."  The Gentiles wielded their authority over others to benefit themselves, but the responsibility of those who rule in the church is to be the servant of all, to take the lowest place, to make more sacrifices than others for the glory of God and His kingdom.  Ruling does not mean controlling others or demanding respect, but submission before God in serving one another.  Those who are under God's authority in leadership do not pine for the adoration and accolades of men, for their aim is to direct all attention to Jesus Christ.

On the night Jesus was betrayed He girded Himself with a towel and washed the feet of the disciples.  In doing so He provided an example they and we are to follow:  the Master and Messiah crouched on His knees to wash the feet of Judas who would betray Him and of Peter who would deny Him.  Jesus knew all the feet He  washed would run away and forsake Him in His hour of need, but that did not keep Him from what the Father commanded Him.  The conduct of Jesus honoured His Father even when He would be dishonoured, and such is the lot of all those who rule well.  It is continuing to seek God and trust Him faithfully in all seasons, and it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit Who guides us into all truth we can endure.  Ruling well is never an easy gig because it is frankly impossible for man, but what is impossible for men is possible with God.  All honour for ruling well goes to God, and praise Him for those He guides and sustains to provide faithful examples among His people.

The World Behind

Today I was considering the parable Jesus told of the son who returned to his father, the greedy son who demanded his inheritance only to waste it on prodigal living.  Once the man had money in hand, he went far from his father to a distant land and wasted all by his "riotous" or dissolute lifestyle in pursuit of all pleasures of the flesh.  Luke 15:14 says, "But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want."

The party was over and all his money was spent, but this was not enough to cause him to return to his father who loved and provided everything for him.  He left off the partying and pursuit of pleasure for his survival, but perhaps he held out hope he could earn money and continue in a life of sin.  The man chose to join himself to a citizen of that country hoping to enrich himself.  He was not working to earn money for a return trip home, for as the parable related abject poverty and uncleanness did not prevent him from finding his way home to his father if he wanted.

Luke 15:17-19 says, "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."  It took being destitute for the man to start working, and it was the love of his father which brought him to his senses of how awful life had become away from him.  The fog of folly finally cleared, and the man was determined to go home to his father--not to use him, but to serve him.  All desire to return to the previous life of sin was gone.  He went to his father having left his drunkenness, philandering and scheming behind with a humble heart of repentance and sought to serve.

The father saw his son returning a long way off, had compassion on him and ran to embrace him.  God is also gracious to receive His lost and backslidden children who can only truly return when they have left the old life behind.  Had the man hung onto a hope to return to the old life, he would not have returned to serve but to use:  to use his old man for whatever he could get from him.  It is a scene of great rejoicing and celebration when the lost son returned, for a work was done in his heart through experience which moved him to confess his sin, repent and serve faithfully, expecting nothing in return.  He was then able to receive the grace and love of his father, and a life better than he ever imagined unfolded when he was home at his father's side.

"The cross before me, the world behind me," the song says.  If we will return to God our Father in faith, we must leave the old ways and selfish schemes behind.  We are not worthy to serve the LORD, yet He receives us as sons by grace through faith.  No man can do this for another, and God is faithful to even use our wanderings to prove His worthiness to be sought and served.