16 June 2021

The LORD With Us

"And Phinehas the son of Eleazar had been the officer over them in time past; the LORD was with him."
1 Chronicles 9:20

Isn't this a wonderful testimony of God's grace and faithfulness, that He is with His people who trust Him?  Those who trust and look to Him in faith God rewards with His presence and perfect peace.  Through faith in Jesus Christ we too have this benefit, having been born again and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  It is awesome to consider we are now the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in Christians because we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus through the Gospel.

Phinehas was a man who was zealous for the glory of God and executed judgment according to God's command.  To him God offered a covenant of peace in Numbers 25:12-13:  "Therefore say, 'Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; 13 and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.'"  God would establish an everlasting priesthood through Jesus Christ, the one who provided atonement by shedding His own blood on Calvary.  Jesus is our peace, and those who regard God's presence will be profoundly impacted by Him in their own character.

God referred to David as a man after God's own heart.  When King Saul was plagued by an unclean spirit, notice what was said of the youthful shepherd in 1 Samuel 16:18:  "Then one of the servants answered and said, "Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him."  The LORD was with David, and this was greater than all his other skills combined.  Hands once skillful to play the harp can be stiffened with arthritis, the mightiest of men grow old and lose their courage, the most prudent can become foolish and the greatest beauty fades like a flower.  Because the LORD was with David, he was equipped for every task God called him to perform.  Whether he was tending his father's sheep or ruling God's people, the LORD was with David and upheld him continually.

Jesus assures united believers of His presence in Matthew 18:19-20:  "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."  The context of this passage is often ignored when referred to, as it is sandwiched in a section concerning dealing with offence among members in the body of Christ.  If an offender is not able to be reconciled alone, by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  The prayers of those united with Christ will be answered, and the agreement of the brethren is evidence Jesus is in our midst.  How pleasant it is indeed for brethren to dwell together in unity for we are assured of God's presence.

Hebrews 13:5 provides a directive and promise from the LORD to members of the church:  "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  God will never leave or forsake us, but it is evident we can leave and forsake Him.  On the night Jesus was betrayed all His disciples fled in fear when Jesus held His ground.  How important it is we learn to submit and humble ourselves before God, trusting His presence to guide, protect and provide for our every need.  The one God is with is also the one who obeys the LORD, who draws near to Him in faith, and rests in His goodness and promises.  When we abide in Christ who is our peace, we will experience peace with one another even should offences arise.  We are feeble and faint, but the LORD is faithful.

15 June 2021

How Do You Read God's Word?

It has been a running joke among Sunday School teachers as long as I can remember, that the correct answer to almost any question asked is "Jesus!"  Knowing the correct answer, however, does not mean we know why it is the correct answer or how to appropriate God's wisdom into our daily decisions.  Believers ought not to be satisfied with the ability to provide a correct answer to a question, as if this means we have nothing more to learn.  Knowing is a start, but walking in light of God's truth is paramount.

A common answer given concerning how believers can foster a closer relationship with God is to read the Bible.  Those who have learned to read likely read many things every day, but the way we read each source of information is different.  As a kid I skipped the front page of the newspaper entirely to find the sports page or comic strips; I scanned textbooks to find the answer to questions for homework.  I have read the ingredients of a packet to ensure it did not contain allergens.  I looked up words in a dictionary to discover the meaning of a word I did not understand.  There is a lot we skip over because it does not seem relevant to us at the time.  When I received a personal note from Laura (who later became my wife) I hungrily consumed every word, reading and re-reading everything again.  It is a good question to consider for ourselves:  how do we read God's word, the Bible?

I am reminded of what Jesus said when He followed on after the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8:16-18:  "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."  In the foregoing parable, Jesus compared the word of God to good seed which bears fruit in a humble heart.  A little seed buried in the soil would be evidenced by a plant that bore fruit, and Jesus explained one purpose God has in providing the scripture.  Just as a lamp is lit and placed in a position to provide light, so God's word is to be lived out in faith.  A good tree will be known by its fruit, and those who are genuinely "in the word" will walk according to it.

Jesus said people must "take heed how you hear."  It follows we must take heed how we read the Bible and why we read it:  do we read to find an answer to our questions, to learn doctrinal facts, to prove a point to someone else, for directives to obey or to better know God?  It is a valuable practice to read the Bible, yet unless what we read is combined with faith to obey the word will not be fruitful as it ought to be.  God brings believers into His secret wisdom and knowledge not only for our personal growth but for the purpose of leading others to God.  We ought not to be surprised by the concept of spiritual atrophy.  Those who know much yet practice little will spiritually waste away, whilst those who have received truth from God and walk therein will be provided and entrusted even more divine revelation.

Verse 18 suggests those who might seem to have all the answers may only "seem to have" the truth they proclaim.  That is why the examination of our hearts is so critical, that we do not exchange doctrinal knowledge for spiritual fruitfulness.  The seed sown indiscriminately on hard ground, shallow soil and areas choked with thorns were fruitless because hearts were not willing to receive and obediently walk in it.  Brothers and sisters, take heed how you hear (and read!) because it is assumed believers will read.  If we do not put in practice by faith personally what we read in the Bible, it will not make the fruitful difference it could.

13 June 2021

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.

10 June 2021

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.