God's Word and Ours

There may be times when people have risen to the occasion when given responsibilities when they had shown little responsibility previously--but this is the exception to the rule.  The one who cannot or will not keep pace with the footmen cannot match the speed of horses.  Until people have a genuine change of heart and mind, they will continue to do as the Steely Dan song goes:  "You go back, jack, do it again...wheel turning round and round."  In the song a man swears he is not a gambling man, but finds himself back in Vegas with a handle of a slot machine in his hand and playing cards with hopes to win big money.  What people say is no guarantee they will ever do as they say.  From history and experience, it is more likely the opposite will eventually be true.

In 2 Chronicles 15, Azariah the prophet spoke to king Asa of Judah and encouraged him to seek the LORD, to exert his strength to put away idols in his kingdom and turn to God.  The king and people did so with one heart, and Israelites from the northern kingdom flocked to Asa in Jerusalem because they saw God was with him.  Asa removed idols from Benjamin and Judah, restored the altar of God, and offered many sacrifices to the LORD.  In the fervor of this revival the people made a covenant with God, an oath that whoever among them who would not seek the LORD would be put to death.  They rejoiced to make this promise because they sincerely did so with one heart, and the LORD was found by them.

There is nothing wrong with the enthusiasm the people showed in seeking the LORD, but the oath they made with God certainly raised my eyebrows:  they had not been faithful to keep God's law concerning executing idolators (Deuteronomy 13:6-18), yet they would go beyond the Law of Moses to execute anyone who did not seek the LORD ?  What was their definition of "seeking" God?  How was this determined?  Any metric for discerning this likely boils down to appearances, what a person does or does not do--and cannot address the heart.  This passage shows enthusiasm for God, sacrifice, unity in a cause and oaths uttered before God does not provide the ability to follow through and keep promises.  As Samuel told Saul, "To obey is better than sacrifice."  It is better to heed God's word and follow it than put ourselves under oaths to require more of ourselves than God does--as if our oath is more important than God's commands.

The failure of Asa and his people to obey God's law (much less their oath) is found in the passage that immediately follows in 2 Chronicles 15:16:  "Also he removed Maachah, the mother of Asa the king, from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah; and Asa cut down her obscene image, then crushed and burned it by the Brook Kidron."  Maachah was removed from her royal duties (which was unprecedented under previous kings) but still stopped short of obedience to God's law.  Under law, what was done to her obscene idol is what ought to have been done to her.  I do not fault Asa for what he did, but in his actions we see the folly of thinking we are capable to do ourselves more than God requires of us.  If I cannot bench press 100 kilos, it would be silly to load the bar with an additional 200 kilos and imagine I can rise to the challenge because the stakes are higher.

James 5:12 teaches us, "But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment."  James tells us what we don't think we need to hear, for like Asa and the people, we easily slip into making promises we do not keep.  We have a tendency to put our word above God's word in a sense, making more of an effort to keep our word for the sake of our pride and keeping up appearances rather than simply obeying God's word for His sake and glory.  There is no point in saying we will do God's will if we will not do it.  God's desire is that without making promises we would heed His word and walk in His ways because of what He has said, we love Him and delight in seeking Him.  Talk is cheap, but what we do speaks truly.

A Lonely, Broken Heart

"Owner of a Lonely Heart" was a number one song in 1984, the most popular song by the progressive rock band Yes.  When I was in high school, the song was played occasionally on the local classic rock radio station.  It has a catchy chorus, and catchy songs are usually among the more popular ones.  It is amazing that I have not heard this song played for a very long time, yet it was ringing in my ears clearly for no obvious reason this morning.  It occurred to me that the reason I was reminded of the chorus of this song was to ponder the question:  is the message true?

Overall the song smacks very much of self-help books that focus on your responsibility to take charge of your life to improve it--to take your chances by making a move.  The basic message of the chorus goes, "Owner of a lonely heart (much better than a) owner of a broken heart."  From a biblical perspective, there is no need to be lonely when we have the LORD who will never leave or forsake us.  Having been born again by faith in Jesus, He adopts us as His own children and makes us members of His body, the church.  While He connects us with a global community that meets in small groups everywhere, people cannot satisfy our need for belonging and love like He does.

Jesus said those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are blessed because they will be filled.  In a similar way it can be said blessed are the broken hearted because they have the sure hope of healing by faith in Jesus Christ.  God is attracted to the owners of broken hearts as it is written in Psalm 34:18:  "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."  I suspect the broken heart referenced by the band may be more hurt than humbled, yet pain has a way of humbling us as well where we realise we need help.  Jesus fulfilled the words He read in Isaiah 61:1:  "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound..."  Blessed are the brokenhearted, for Jesus has been sent to heal them.

Feelings of loneliness are good when they result in us seeking the LORD, and blessed is the the owner of a broken heart because it prompts them to find healing and rest by faith in Jesus.  There are many Christians who struggle with loneliness and broken hearts even after coming to Christ.  This does not bring salvation into doubt, but God would have us learn what Jesus understood and taught in John 8:29:  "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."  Jesus had fellowship with the Father He obeyed, and the same is true for Christ's followers.  Jesus had many disciples and followers, but Jesus did not rely upon them for love and companionship He enjoyed with God the Father.  Despite betrayal and being abandoned, Jesus was not lonely or brokenhearted as John 16:32 says:  "Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me."

I have heard it said "It is lonely at the top," but this does not take Jesus Christ or His doctrine into account.  No one is higher than Jesus, yet He humbled Himself beneath all others to suffer and die on the cross.  As a man Jesus humbled Himself before God and mankind, and when He was left alone He was never alone.  The one who is proud will be lonely, because the proud do not have fellowship with God.  It is the one with a contrite, humble heart the LORD draws near to and heals, and our hearts are warmed knowing we are never alone--because God is with us.

Distinguishing God's Service

Many Christians who have come to faith in God through Jesus look at the Law of Moses as ridiculously complex and burdensome--even unnecessary due to the Gospel.  It would be unwise to hold to this view, especially since the lawgiver Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."  Since God does not change, this was true for the Jews who kept the Law of Moses by comparison to all other masters to whom they bound themselves.  As keeping God's commandments was His will for His people, He was always faithful to help them walk in His ways.  No man ever kept the Law perfectly because no man (except Christ) is perfect.

The children of Israel toiled under cruel taskmasters in Egypt and they groaned to God in bondage.  They were forced to bake bricks and build cities while Pharaoh decided to slaughter their male children in the river because they had grown strong.  God delivered His people from their crushing burdens and gave them His Laws.  He was the generous provider of all they sacrificed and offered to the LORD, and He made a covenant with them to bless them.  God gave them freedom in His service and did not force them to do anything, and He was gracious to warn them of consequences should they rebel and sin.  Sin was a more brutal dictator than the Egyptians ever were, for the soul that sins will surely die.  There is no escape possible from the sinful plagues of the heart that bind a man body, mind and soul except through the atonement God provided graciously in His covenant.

After the Hebrews were established in the land of promise, they asked Samuel to anoint a king over them who would go before them and fight their battles like all the other nations, God directed Samuel to warn the people what they were asking for.  The king who would rule over them would not rule them gently as God did.  Saul would tax them heavily, take their daughters to be his bakers and their sons to fight in his wars.  In asking for a human king they were requesting someone they would need to support and would be dependant upon their provision.  This was not the case with God as King, for He is not dependant on anyone; He is a provider, protector and fights His people's battles without needing weapons or an army.  Unlike human kings, God is not self-serving, proud, unjust or oppressive.  Serving the LORD according to His Law was a lighter load than what Saul would require of them.

Another example of how serving God is different than serving idols, men or ourselves is seen during the reign of Rehoboam in Jerusalem.  Having been established in his kingdom, Rehoboam forsook the Law of the LORD and God allowed Shishak of Egypt to plunder him.  God sent a prophet to instruct Rehoboam that his rebellion against God was the cause of his defeat, and he and his people humbled themselves before God.  2 Chronicles 12:7-8 says, "Now when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. ⁸ Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations."  God allowed the people of Judah to serve Shishak to learn to distinguish his service from the service of other kingdoms.  For three years they served the LORD with gladness, and when they rebelled from God the heavy yoke of Shishak was placed on them--a much heavier yoke that left them weak, plundered, facing threats of retribution, fears and worries. 

If we feel serving God is a heavy burden and difficult chore, remember the other yokes that dragged us down over the years and rendered us helpless and hopeless to deliver ourselves--sins, addictions, pride, people-pleasing and selfishness.  It is true what Jesus says, that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  In His service we discover peace in Him and rest for our souls.  There is joy and gladness in knowing God is with us, helps us, and loves us with an everlasting love.  The apostle writes of the new covenant in 1 John 5:3:  "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."  Those who love Jesus will keep His commandments, to love the LORD and one another as Jesus loves us.  Christ's yoke is easy and His burden is light because He lifts us up and fills us with the Holy Spirit.  He provides divine resources of wisdom, strength and understanding to do God's will, and He is faithful.  God's desire is we would learn to depend upon Him entirely, distinguish His service from all others, and delight to serve Him with gladness.

God's Completed Wrath

I was encouraged while reading Revelation 15 when John observed seven angels parading plagues out of the temple of God in heaven.  Each of them was given a bowl that was filled with the wrath of God that would be a manifest judgment of God through the plague poured out.  It struck me how these plagues came from God and were intended to accomplish His perfect will at the right time.  Though we cannot see a plague as a good thing in itself, knowing God is wise, sovereign and good moves us to worship God when He administers judgment and wrath.

It occurred to me I have often expressed gratitude and praise to God that He is just, but I have neglected to worship God for His wrath He has revealed and will one day pour out bowl after bowl.  Because God is good and righteous, every judgment He makes and action He takes is upright and good.  His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and thus it is faith in God that enables us to thank and praise God like the martyrs, psalmists and children of God for His righteous judgments.  When a judge on earth pronounces a judgment and sentence, we have opinions whether "justice" was served or not.  But we must realise God is not at all like a judge under law and guided by precedent:  He is the lawgiver and the law is beneath Him.  He is not beholden to any law like a human judge, for He is also KING OF KINGS.

In the seven plagues carried by the angels, God's wrath was complete.  It is awesome God's love, grace and mercy have no bounds, and this is revealed by His choice to restrain and limit His wrath.  In light of God's wrath martyrs for the sake of Christ in the Great Tribulation will sing:  "...Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! ⁴ Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested." (Rev. 15:3-4)  Those people who refuse to draw near to God at the revelation of divine love through Jesus Christ on Calvary may indeed be moved by the manifestation of His judgments in wrath.  The glorified believers do no wring their hands at the prospect of the devastation and destruction that will result, but worship the LORD God Almighty for His great and marvelous works and His ways that are just and true.  Nations will come and worship God because He is in Himself glorious and worthy, able to do what we cannot.

The song of Moses ends in Deuteronomy 32:43:  "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people."  The wise who fear God are called to worship and rejoice in God who will avenge the blood of His servants, render vengeance upon His enemies, and provide atonement for the land and His people.  If we will praise God He is just, that He is loving and merciful, we also can praise Him for the righteous administration of His wrath in judgment.  The trusting soul delights to do this, for God does all things perfectly in righteousness.  Praise the LORD for His wrath, and that one day it will be completely finished.