I’m hung up on a word lately…Foundations. And maybe you know where I am going with this, so I appreciate you humoring me by reading along. A foundation is something of vital importance so as to be able to be built upon solidly. Anything built on an insecure foundation will fall, not "might" fall, but WILL fall. I challenged my son the other day to see who could build a taller “card house” using those square restaurant coasters. I quickly managed two stories, as did he, and we were both using the same number of building pieces. OK, I had one less, but I’m Dad, so I let him have the extra, figuring I’d beat him anyway.
I thought the contest was over, as nothing had been erected for a time, and then he looked at me with joy in showing me his three-story winner. A simple design, and when I tried to duplicate it, I failed repeatedly. He then showed me how he did it, and he emphasized the importance of a very stable first level, or foundation. After a few tries, I, too was able to reach three stories. A simple illustration, I know, and it makes the point so very clear. If you don’t start with a solid foundation, what can you really build on top? And secondarily, when one understands the foundational basics, he needs to share and pass knowledge along.
In construction, you really don’t see the foundation, but it has to be there and be secure for a building to last. And if that foundation is not settled and is likely to move and shift, then the stability of anything built upon it will be short-lived.
So I’d like to take a few days to discuss the foundations we as Christians must build upon. Psalm 11:3 says “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” And what is meant here by “destroyed” is essentially the equivalent of thrown away, torn down, or broken down. In all we will discuss, the ultimate foundation is the Word of God, not even debatable. And we know that God’s Word, The Word Himself, will endure forever, so it will never, ever be destroyed. So think of it this way, the base foundation, like the ground (or think bedrock) is used to build the next level foundation, such as pillars. But it may not be clear enough to say that God’s Word is that which all of life is built upon, as true as that it. 1 Peter 1:3 tells us that God’s Word is completely sufficient for all aspects of faith and practice, so I hope to examine those aspects of faith and practice which rest upon the sheer authority of God’s Word.
A main point along the way is that we as humans have so many other options to use for foundational “building material”. Our challenge then as Christians is to seek and use that which has eternal value, not just earthly value, since we realize that this world will someday pass to make way for that new creation of Revelation 21.
I hope I have whet your appetite to follow along, and I pray that we will all be encourage to study His Word along the way. Think on the foundations that we can find in the Bible. There are several, so where should we start? How about the beginning?
Monday, May 23, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Literally speaking...
Literally speaking, the Bible is God’s Word. Surprisingly, this might shock many today, even many Christians who take very little time for the reading and studying of His great revelation to us.
What usually stops people in their tracks when it comes to the Bible is the word “authority”. We tend to not like being under the authority of anyone or any thing else. Or put it this way, when it comes to the Bible, we say that we believe it is indeed authoritative, and as soon as that becomes troublesome or problematic, we leave the authority aspect on our lips, and choose to walk as though that authority is only related to part of life, as opposed to all of it.
I was taught, and still believe, that a good place to start with evangelism is John 12:48, which says “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.” Jesus, who is the Word (John 1:1) is the one and only, final authority. If someone will not accept the Bible as the authority, it may very well be impossible to accept the Gospel.
But let’s step back a bit from that. If I expect someone to accept the authority of Scripture, then they may well want to explore other areas of the Bible, which seems perfectly reasonable. And if I want to tell someone about John 12:48, and John 3:7, and John 3:16, and hey, why not toss in the Romans road, we are no doubt going to have to talk about sin. Since Romans brings Adam into the picture, that takes us back quite far in history, actually, very far, all the way back to the beginning.
Want to get a good debate going among friends, among church-goers? Try getting adamant about Creation being finished over a literal six-day period. You are likely to have strong disagreement among “Bible believers” when you do so. Yet God simply and plainly had Moses inscripturate the Creation account, and told him and us that six days (what we know today to be 24-hour periods) is correct. How much authority do you think that statement carries today? Churches have left that doctrine behind in favor of more pleasant topics these days. Isn’t it all about the Gospel anyway?
I challenge us to explain the Gospel, share Christ with someone without mentioning Genesis. We can’t do it, or we can’t share the Gospel properly if we do so. And just as literally as we take the death, burial, resurrection and coming again of Christ, so too much we take the literal-ness of what Colossians 1:16 says, that all things were created by Him, speaking of Christ. Who is Christ? Well He is the Word, according to John 1:1, and He was “in the beginning”, which is where we find ourselves when we turn to Genesis 1:1. We don’t even have to read very closely to find Christ there and immediately following, doing His creative work, literally, in six days.
Is there really any harm in believing the Gospel and also accepting evolution of man over millions or billions of years, or accepting a billions-of-years-old earth? Yes! Quite a bit. To believe such undermines the authority of Scripture, from the very beginning of Scripture. If I can make Genesis say something contrary to reality and actuality, then I can do the same with John 3, with Romans, with Revelation, and so on. Why should someone accept the authority of Christ and His Word, when we Christians are willing to compromise His very Word, because “science says so”? It is very much time that we get back to the foundational truths of Scripture, that we let the Bible speak, and then see clearly how science and everything else falls in line.
2 Peter 1:3 explains that the Bible is sufficient and authoritative for “everything pertaining to life and godliness”, and that includes anything and everything it touches. The Bible touches science, and history, and every other topic we can imagine, as well as human souls. I pray that we cherish just how firm a foundation we have in God’s literal six-day creation. It sets up the rest of time and eternity. And salvation rests upon it as well.
What usually stops people in their tracks when it comes to the Bible is the word “authority”. We tend to not like being under the authority of anyone or any thing else. Or put it this way, when it comes to the Bible, we say that we believe it is indeed authoritative, and as soon as that becomes troublesome or problematic, we leave the authority aspect on our lips, and choose to walk as though that authority is only related to part of life, as opposed to all of it.
I was taught, and still believe, that a good place to start with evangelism is John 12:48, which says “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.” Jesus, who is the Word (John 1:1) is the one and only, final authority. If someone will not accept the Bible as the authority, it may very well be impossible to accept the Gospel.
But let’s step back a bit from that. If I expect someone to accept the authority of Scripture, then they may well want to explore other areas of the Bible, which seems perfectly reasonable. And if I want to tell someone about John 12:48, and John 3:7, and John 3:16, and hey, why not toss in the Romans road, we are no doubt going to have to talk about sin. Since Romans brings Adam into the picture, that takes us back quite far in history, actually, very far, all the way back to the beginning.
Want to get a good debate going among friends, among church-goers? Try getting adamant about Creation being finished over a literal six-day period. You are likely to have strong disagreement among “Bible believers” when you do so. Yet God simply and plainly had Moses inscripturate the Creation account, and told him and us that six days (what we know today to be 24-hour periods) is correct. How much authority do you think that statement carries today? Churches have left that doctrine behind in favor of more pleasant topics these days. Isn’t it all about the Gospel anyway?
I challenge us to explain the Gospel, share Christ with someone without mentioning Genesis. We can’t do it, or we can’t share the Gospel properly if we do so. And just as literally as we take the death, burial, resurrection and coming again of Christ, so too much we take the literal-ness of what Colossians 1:16 says, that all things were created by Him, speaking of Christ. Who is Christ? Well He is the Word, according to John 1:1, and He was “in the beginning”, which is where we find ourselves when we turn to Genesis 1:1. We don’t even have to read very closely to find Christ there and immediately following, doing His creative work, literally, in six days.
Is there really any harm in believing the Gospel and also accepting evolution of man over millions or billions of years, or accepting a billions-of-years-old earth? Yes! Quite a bit. To believe such undermines the authority of Scripture, from the very beginning of Scripture. If I can make Genesis say something contrary to reality and actuality, then I can do the same with John 3, with Romans, with Revelation, and so on. Why should someone accept the authority of Christ and His Word, when we Christians are willing to compromise His very Word, because “science says so”? It is very much time that we get back to the foundational truths of Scripture, that we let the Bible speak, and then see clearly how science and everything else falls in line.
2 Peter 1:3 explains that the Bible is sufficient and authoritative for “everything pertaining to life and godliness”, and that includes anything and everything it touches. The Bible touches science, and history, and every other topic we can imagine, as well as human souls. I pray that we cherish just how firm a foundation we have in God’s literal six-day creation. It sets up the rest of time and eternity. And salvation rests upon it as well.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Oh that I can restrain my lips...
Just a simple summary today, out of Proverbs 10.
Verse 19:
"In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." (KJV)
"When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise." (NASB)
If you are anything like me, you may tend to talk too much or continue on to drive home a point. We like to be right. Man, that's me, and I have grown to despise that aspect of my communication. For me, though, much of this conversation, much of the "too many words" takes place in my head, and I can end up frustrated and aggravated. On occasion, this has led to conversations that went too long with no real goal of agreement in mind, and the only result of such dialogue is sin, plain and simple.
As chapters 1-9 speak much on wisdom, chapter 10 begins to put some feet to wise living, and this verse lays so much groundwork for wise communication. Join me in repentance to God for failing to live up to His standards. He is so ready, faithful and willing to forgive, Amen!
Please pray along with me today that our conversation, our communication would be wise, full of well-chosen words, as we strive to properly fear our Lord, and seek to live and represent His Son in a way which pleases Him. He's sure to provide us with more opportunities, probably sooner than we expect.
Verse 19:
"In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." (KJV)
"When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise." (NASB)
If you are anything like me, you may tend to talk too much or continue on to drive home a point. We like to be right. Man, that's me, and I have grown to despise that aspect of my communication. For me, though, much of this conversation, much of the "too many words" takes place in my head, and I can end up frustrated and aggravated. On occasion, this has led to conversations that went too long with no real goal of agreement in mind, and the only result of such dialogue is sin, plain and simple.
As chapters 1-9 speak much on wisdom, chapter 10 begins to put some feet to wise living, and this verse lays so much groundwork for wise communication. Join me in repentance to God for failing to live up to His standards. He is so ready, faithful and willing to forgive, Amen!
Please pray along with me today that our conversation, our communication would be wise, full of well-chosen words, as we strive to properly fear our Lord, and seek to live and represent His Son in a way which pleases Him. He's sure to provide us with more opportunities, probably sooner than we expect.
Monday, May 9, 2011
The House of Wisdom
The ninth Proverb seems very appropriate for today, even for life in the 21st century. Wisdom is featured prominently. I pray this is a blessing for you as it was me when I read this morning.
Wisdom again is depicted as a woman who is prepared and invites those who would listen to her call. Here, she has built a ‘house’. Note this is different than the word for ‘tent’, sometimes used in the Old Testament as a dwelling place. A tent, or tabernacle, on the contrary, was temporary, to be portable. This house built by Wisdom is a firm, permanent dwelling, with seven pillars, a display of incredible strength. And within these walls awaits all the comforts of home. With her house prepared, she invites all to forsake their folly and live.
With wisdom comes proper, or skillful spiritual living. Correction and reproof are a part of the wise life, both in the delivering and reception of these aspects of the Godly life. And when we try to correct a scoffer, we can get our own dishonor. Think of a scoffer one who talks arrogantly or in a mocking (other Bible versions use “scorner” or “mocker”). Further, if we reprove (correct, rebuke, judge, etc.) someone who is wicked, we will get insults back as a result. That scoffer will hate us.
A wise person will take correction and reproof with love, according to verse 8. A wise person is seen to increase in wisdom by being corrected, or instructed. A righteous person’s learning is increased by teaching. Communication is therefore so vital. We must deliver correction and reproof properly. We must receive both equally as properly. Much, much easier said than done.
Where do we begin? The fear of the Lord, that’s where. The healthy, reverent, awe and respect for God is where wisdom begins. Wisdom is an eternal attribute of God, “she” was there before in the beginning with God (Prov. 8:22). Today, just as in all times past, we need a good and healthy fear of the Lord in our lives. With that fear comes wisdom, followed by knowledge, and understanding. To understand how we properly relate to God and to others first requires that we understand God and who He is. Really knowing God shapes and frames everything else in life.
The other “woman” we keep running into is Folly (the adulteress, the wicked, etc.). She, too, has a house, and she has placed it in a prominent location, also easy to see and find. Recall from verse 4 that Wisdom calls the naïve, and in verse 13 Folly is called naïve. But Folly does not heed that call; rather, she spends her time calling to, inviting those who are trying to make their paths straight. We see clearly here that some walk that path upon which Wisdom has placed them, and yet they are enticed by what is ultimately a death trap. The point seems to be that just because we get on the right path, we are not home free, at least regarding the skillful spiritual life. No, it takes continual effort to live wisely, and not naively. This is a clear pattern in the first nine chapters of Proverbs.
The encouragement is that wisdom CAN be attained to; skillful spiritual living can indeed be a realistic goal for the God-fearer. And it begins with that fear of the Lord, because only He, with His wisdom, using our knowledge and understanding of Him, can make that wise path clear to us. I pray that we all, naturally self included, will make good choices today, with a healthy fear of the Lord in mind. All the “stuff” that is not wise will certainly entice, even today. The challenge is to proverbially seek out the house built by Wisdom; this is the most secure place, covered by trusting in our great God.
Wisdom again is depicted as a woman who is prepared and invites those who would listen to her call. Here, she has built a ‘house’. Note this is different than the word for ‘tent’, sometimes used in the Old Testament as a dwelling place. A tent, or tabernacle, on the contrary, was temporary, to be portable. This house built by Wisdom is a firm, permanent dwelling, with seven pillars, a display of incredible strength. And within these walls awaits all the comforts of home. With her house prepared, she invites all to forsake their folly and live.
With wisdom comes proper, or skillful spiritual living. Correction and reproof are a part of the wise life, both in the delivering and reception of these aspects of the Godly life. And when we try to correct a scoffer, we can get our own dishonor. Think of a scoffer one who talks arrogantly or in a mocking (other Bible versions use “scorner” or “mocker”). Further, if we reprove (correct, rebuke, judge, etc.) someone who is wicked, we will get insults back as a result. That scoffer will hate us.
A wise person will take correction and reproof with love, according to verse 8. A wise person is seen to increase in wisdom by being corrected, or instructed. A righteous person’s learning is increased by teaching. Communication is therefore so vital. We must deliver correction and reproof properly. We must receive both equally as properly. Much, much easier said than done.
Where do we begin? The fear of the Lord, that’s where. The healthy, reverent, awe and respect for God is where wisdom begins. Wisdom is an eternal attribute of God, “she” was there before in the beginning with God (Prov. 8:22). Today, just as in all times past, we need a good and healthy fear of the Lord in our lives. With that fear comes wisdom, followed by knowledge, and understanding. To understand how we properly relate to God and to others first requires that we understand God and who He is. Really knowing God shapes and frames everything else in life.
The other “woman” we keep running into is Folly (the adulteress, the wicked, etc.). She, too, has a house, and she has placed it in a prominent location, also easy to see and find. Recall from verse 4 that Wisdom calls the naïve, and in verse 13 Folly is called naïve. But Folly does not heed that call; rather, she spends her time calling to, inviting those who are trying to make their paths straight. We see clearly here that some walk that path upon which Wisdom has placed them, and yet they are enticed by what is ultimately a death trap. The point seems to be that just because we get on the right path, we are not home free, at least regarding the skillful spiritual life. No, it takes continual effort to live wisely, and not naively. This is a clear pattern in the first nine chapters of Proverbs.
The encouragement is that wisdom CAN be attained to; skillful spiritual living can indeed be a realistic goal for the God-fearer. And it begins with that fear of the Lord, because only He, with His wisdom, using our knowledge and understanding of Him, can make that wise path clear to us. I pray that we all, naturally self included, will make good choices today, with a healthy fear of the Lord in mind. All the “stuff” that is not wise will certainly entice, even today. The challenge is to proverbially seek out the house built by Wisdom; this is the most secure place, covered by trusting in our great God.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
If, Then...
Sinning, Rebuking, Repenting, Apologizing, Forgiving…
Today my thoughts continue to rest on a few concepts we are familiar with, and while I am not writing on a specific text, if I had to pick one it would be Luke 17:3-5. Very simple biblical commands of “if this, then that”.
Sinning really does not need much explanation, I trust that is a fair statement. We are good at sinning. And where there is sin, there needs to be repentance and forgiveness. God’s plan is very clear in very simple fashion in this text. I’m also fairly certain that when we sin, we know we do. Yet it can often happen that we are convinced of something one way or the other, and we may sin against someone and not be readily aware that the other party was sinned against. So we sin, agree?
Now, if someone sins against me, I am to rebuke that person (I’ll use “he/him” just to make things easy to type). If he sins against me, I must rebuke him. Note that Christ does not say “you can rebuke him if you like”, rather “if he sins, rebuke him.” We can talk proper rebuke another time; let’s just keep in mind that rebuke, whether gentle or harsh, is to be for the purpose of restoring a relationship, not destroying it. And in the Luke account here, the word form used in the word “rebuke” is indeed actually a very gentle form. In other NT references, when apostles are challenged with heresy, the rebuke is harsh and designed to preserve sound doctrine. Both rebukes are serious, and when dealing believer to believer, firmness with a gentle spirit is the desired form.
OK, rebuke takes place, now what? Repentance. If he repents (implying that he actually may not), then forgive him. Forgiveness is not a choice if he repents. So, a word (OK, several) on forgiveness. Biblically, the word is literally to mean “not remember”. And just to sound confusing, this is NOT forgetting. That is, “to not remember” is different than “forgetting”. The implication is that I could remember, but I choose not to. God could remember our old lost state, but since we have been saved, He looks on Christ, and chooses to “not remember” as it pertains to salvation. That is one amazing forgiveness! Naturally, the point is then if God can forgive me, surely I can forgive another.
And forgiveness is total. I must choose to “not remember” or “not recall” the sin to that person, to others, or to myself in my thoughts. If believers could get good at repenting and forgiving, wow, how great our relationships would actually be! And the process repeats, because we sin repeatedly, as seen by verse 4. If he sins against you again, and repents, then forgive.
Side note, we get “apologetics” from “apology”, which is actually a defense of one’s position or statements. In essence, to “apologize” is to defend one’s actions, and is greatly different from repenting. There is a time and place for both, and when we sin against another, we are to repent. “I’m sorry for_________, please forgive me.” No excuses. If explanation is needed, we should allow for that, and then ultimately we still need to end on repentance if sin has occurred.
I’m not sure which hurts more, being sinned against, or being unforgiven. Then again, I suppose they are the same. If someone has repented and not been forgiven, then the person who is not doing the forgiving is also sinning, so in essence being sinned against and being unforgiven will likely produce the same empty feeling. And they do. Just as not forgiving someone else leaves that same emptiness. “But he doesn’t deserve it!” Yeah I know, just like we did not deserve forgiveness through Christ. Praise God we are forgiven!
And I’m also not sure which gives a greater feeling, being forgiving TO someone or being truly forgiven BY someone. I say we try our hand at good repenting, and good forgiving, and God will work it out to His wonderful glory.
Verse 5: “Increase our faith.” Indeed. May that be our prayer as well.
Today my thoughts continue to rest on a few concepts we are familiar with, and while I am not writing on a specific text, if I had to pick one it would be Luke 17:3-5. Very simple biblical commands of “if this, then that”.
Sinning really does not need much explanation, I trust that is a fair statement. We are good at sinning. And where there is sin, there needs to be repentance and forgiveness. God’s plan is very clear in very simple fashion in this text. I’m also fairly certain that when we sin, we know we do. Yet it can often happen that we are convinced of something one way or the other, and we may sin against someone and not be readily aware that the other party was sinned against. So we sin, agree?
Now, if someone sins against me, I am to rebuke that person (I’ll use “he/him” just to make things easy to type). If he sins against me, I must rebuke him. Note that Christ does not say “you can rebuke him if you like”, rather “if he sins, rebuke him.” We can talk proper rebuke another time; let’s just keep in mind that rebuke, whether gentle or harsh, is to be for the purpose of restoring a relationship, not destroying it. And in the Luke account here, the word form used in the word “rebuke” is indeed actually a very gentle form. In other NT references, when apostles are challenged with heresy, the rebuke is harsh and designed to preserve sound doctrine. Both rebukes are serious, and when dealing believer to believer, firmness with a gentle spirit is the desired form.
OK, rebuke takes place, now what? Repentance. If he repents (implying that he actually may not), then forgive him. Forgiveness is not a choice if he repents. So, a word (OK, several) on forgiveness. Biblically, the word is literally to mean “not remember”. And just to sound confusing, this is NOT forgetting. That is, “to not remember” is different than “forgetting”. The implication is that I could remember, but I choose not to. God could remember our old lost state, but since we have been saved, He looks on Christ, and chooses to “not remember” as it pertains to salvation. That is one amazing forgiveness! Naturally, the point is then if God can forgive me, surely I can forgive another.
And forgiveness is total. I must choose to “not remember” or “not recall” the sin to that person, to others, or to myself in my thoughts. If believers could get good at repenting and forgiving, wow, how great our relationships would actually be! And the process repeats, because we sin repeatedly, as seen by verse 4. If he sins against you again, and repents, then forgive.
Side note, we get “apologetics” from “apology”, which is actually a defense of one’s position or statements. In essence, to “apologize” is to defend one’s actions, and is greatly different from repenting. There is a time and place for both, and when we sin against another, we are to repent. “I’m sorry for_________, please forgive me.” No excuses. If explanation is needed, we should allow for that, and then ultimately we still need to end on repentance if sin has occurred.
I’m not sure which hurts more, being sinned against, or being unforgiven. Then again, I suppose they are the same. If someone has repented and not been forgiven, then the person who is not doing the forgiving is also sinning, so in essence being sinned against and being unforgiven will likely produce the same empty feeling. And they do. Just as not forgiving someone else leaves that same emptiness. “But he doesn’t deserve it!” Yeah I know, just like we did not deserve forgiveness through Christ. Praise God we are forgiven!
And I’m also not sure which gives a greater feeling, being forgiving TO someone or being truly forgiven BY someone. I say we try our hand at good repenting, and good forgiving, and God will work it out to His wonderful glory.
Verse 5: “Increase our faith.” Indeed. May that be our prayer as well.
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Lord Has...
When we praise God, when we worship Him, we ought to be taking some time to tell Him just how great He is. One reason the psalms are so powerful is because they serve as a great reminder of how great God is, often with a focus of the things He has done and continues to do for His people. The psalmists, mostly David, consistently and continually mention the great works of God in the lives of believers.
In reviewing Psalm 118 one more time, I specifically listed the ways this psalm completes the phrase “The Lord has…”
“…answered me.” David was in great peril, distressed, and he cried out to the Lord in prayer. We might not have real enemies trying to find us and physically kill us, yet we live in a fallen world, and can just as easily be distressed, and God wants to hear from us.
“…helped me.” David knew God helped him. We know it, too. But I am sure we have no real idea, that we cannot even fathom just how much is involved in God helping us. The degree to which He does so will not be realized this side of glory.
“…become my salvation.” David knew that God was the only one who could save him. Granted, David does not have justification in mind here, but to him, God was the great deliverer. God’s love for David had never changed, and by saying that God “has become” clearly implies that David had to choose to accept that deliverance, at least yield to the power that was offering such provision. Obviously, God becomes our salvation when we accept His Son.
“…disciplined me.” Not for a moment do we think David was perfect. On the contrary, we can often think we are nowhere near as bad as he was at times, and God called him a man after His own heart. David owned up to his sin, and he knew how to get right with God. And we are no different. We need to own our sin, get squared away with God, and yes, He might discipline us, too, to show us how much He still loves us.
“…not given me over to death.” Maybe it’s just me, I wonder at times why God spares my life, why He still feels the need to use me for His purposes and His plans. As David likely did, we, too, should be thanking God daily for giving us another day to serve Him. He certainly owes us nothing of the sort.
When we understand who God is, and that He consistently not only does all these things, but also much more, we should feel confident to approach Him, just as David does. “Do save.” “Do send prosperity.” Wealth and materialism are not what God had in mind for David or for us, but rather He desires our hearts. Some of His blessing may indeed be in the form of life’s pleasures, yet we must never forget He, and only He, is God. He will surely provide all we could ever need and hope for.
This psalm closes very fittingly. Is there really more to add to this?
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
In reviewing Psalm 118 one more time, I specifically listed the ways this psalm completes the phrase “The Lord has…”
“…answered me.” David was in great peril, distressed, and he cried out to the Lord in prayer. We might not have real enemies trying to find us and physically kill us, yet we live in a fallen world, and can just as easily be distressed, and God wants to hear from us.
“…helped me.” David knew God helped him. We know it, too. But I am sure we have no real idea, that we cannot even fathom just how much is involved in God helping us. The degree to which He does so will not be realized this side of glory.
“…become my salvation.” David knew that God was the only one who could save him. Granted, David does not have justification in mind here, but to him, God was the great deliverer. God’s love for David had never changed, and by saying that God “has become” clearly implies that David had to choose to accept that deliverance, at least yield to the power that was offering such provision. Obviously, God becomes our salvation when we accept His Son.
“…disciplined me.” Not for a moment do we think David was perfect. On the contrary, we can often think we are nowhere near as bad as he was at times, and God called him a man after His own heart. David owned up to his sin, and he knew how to get right with God. And we are no different. We need to own our sin, get squared away with God, and yes, He might discipline us, too, to show us how much He still loves us.
“…not given me over to death.” Maybe it’s just me, I wonder at times why God spares my life, why He still feels the need to use me for His purposes and His plans. As David likely did, we, too, should be thanking God daily for giving us another day to serve Him. He certainly owes us nothing of the sort.
When we understand who God is, and that He consistently not only does all these things, but also much more, we should feel confident to approach Him, just as David does. “Do save.” “Do send prosperity.” Wealth and materialism are not what God had in mind for David or for us, but rather He desires our hearts. Some of His blessing may indeed be in the form of life’s pleasures, yet we must never forget He, and only He, is God. He will surely provide all we could ever need and hope for.
This psalm closes very fittingly. Is there really more to add to this?
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)