Mercy vs Judgement in Leadership - 1 Kings 1-4

 1 Kings 1:49-53 (ESV)

Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his own way. And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. Then it was told Solomon, “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” And Solomon said, “If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”

The above passage is at the end of the narrative about Solomon becoming king.   His brother, mentioned above (Adonijah) had already “appointed” himself to be the king, subsequent to their father David’s death.   However, David made Solomon king.  This left Adonijah on the outside of the power and political framework.   One of Solomon’s first decisions was what to do with his brother, Adonijah?   In the above passage we read that Solomon choose mercy for his brother.   This is a grand act as compared to most kings of his day.  Unlike other kings and the patterns they follow, Solomon did not kill everyone that “might” want his job as king. Instead he choose mercy.  This alone would be a great story and a great lesson for all leaders.  Mercy triumphs over judgement.   We all ought to show mercy to those who could me or might be or will be our enemies.  God will honor that point.   However, this act of mercy by Solomon toward Adonijah is not going to be the last word in this story.   Note;

1 Kings 2:19-25 (ESV)

So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right. Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife.” King Solomon answered his mother, “And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my older brother, and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah.” Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, “God do so to me and more also if this word does not cost Adonijah his life! Now therefore as the LORD lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today.” So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.

Even though Solomon showed Adonijah mercy, his brother still continued to undermine his position and power.   For this Adonijah would lose his life.  Although there is a time for mercy, there is also a time for judgement.   God would want us to know the difference and He gave Solomon that wisdom to discern between the two.   Mercy triumphs over judgment, but judgment is a co-companion of mercy when it comes to leadership.   

Purpose of Our Treasures - Exodus 33-36

 Exodus 33:4-6 (ESV)

When the people heard this disastrous word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. For the LORD had said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you.’” Therefore the people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward.

The “disastrous word” that the people heard was a word from God, spoken to Moses:

Exodus 33:2-3 (ESV)

I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”

This was a word that God would remove His glory from the nation.   Later Moses will plead with God for the people and will ask God to remember that this nation was to be separate from all nations and could only do so if God was among them:

Exodus 33:15-16 (ESV)

And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

Because the people feared not having God’s presence, they took off their ornaments.   The significance of this is two-fold.   God had allowed them to leave Egypt and plunder Egypt.  The Egyptians actually gave them the ornaments and jewelry as Israel left the country.   In the previous chapters, however, we read that the nation used some of that material good to make a golden calf to worship.   God was obviously displeased with that act of idolatry, which is why He stated He would not go with them into the land He promised them.  They had used the plunder God allowed them to have for the purpose of self-gratification idolatry.  

But, the other aspect of this sin was that God would want them to use that plunder as material for the building of the Tabernacle.   Notice what will happen in a just a couple of chapters:

Exodus 35:20-22 (ESV)

Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD'S contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the LORD.

When we use our resources for our own pleasure that hinders us from using those same resources for God’s plans, purposes and pleasures.   

Pray for Truth and Perfection - 2 Corinthians 11-13

 2 Corinthians 13:7-10 (ESV)

But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

Whenever we read this second letter to the church at Corinth we have to recall what Paul was facing in this church.  False teachers have wandered into the church to pad their own pockets by diminishing Paul’s ministry.   This is why Paul repeatedly told them he didn’t take any support from them (chapter 11).   He struggles showing his “authority” to them (chapter 12), but needs them to know that he will not tolerate someone leading them astray, or their disobedience that is caused by following these false teachers.  This letter is a classic read on the leadership-followership dynamic.   In the above passage, Paul lays out a key element for all faith-leaders.   Paul tells them that he wants to come to them to correct, face-to-face, these false teachers, but, before he comes he is going to bath them all in prayer.  This is a key element to Paul’s ministry throughout the N.T.    In the above text he specifically states two areas he is praying for them:

1. That they would do right (vs. 7)!   It is the role of the church leader to pray that the members of their Body do what is right.  He does not want them to continue in their disobedience.   He knows that his presence can correct that, but he also knows that the power of God can correct that before he comes.  He wants them to find truth and follow truth.  He knows that giving them truth will allow them to be free from the false teachers.   Truth is the cure for falsehood.  

2. That they would be restored (vs 9)!    The Greek word for “restoration” in the above text is “katartisis.”   Of this word, Vine states:

“A making fit,” is used figuratively in an ethical sense in 2 Cor. 13:9, RV, “perfecting” (KJV, “perfection”), implying a process leading to consummation (akin to katartizo, see perfect, B, No. 3).

Paul wants this group of believers to reach the perfections that God intended them, in Christ.  He does not want to the linger and wallow in the false teachings of those around them.  That false teaching is not leading them to perfections in Christ.   

Paul prays that these believers will do right and reach the maturity that God intends them to reach.  One cannot reach maturity in Christ if one is constantly following false teachers.   The role of the leader of the church is to confront teachers and pray over their members that they will do right, so that they can reach the perfection Christ demands and supplies.  

Grace to Others - Luke 5-6

 Luke 6:37-38 (ESV)

37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 

38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

In the above couple of verses we have a great truth about the relationship between forgiveness and God’s blessing on our lives.  Many false teachers love to preach on verse 38.   The “prosperity gospel” movement is all centered around God making you prosperous “if you give” to the ministry of the false teacher.  It is actually an artfully devised scam.   They can actually point to a verse that seems to indicate that the more I give (money to them) the more God will give me blessing in “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over ...”.    This is the hook line.   

However, they seldom preach and teach about verse 37.  If would be very unusual for them to tie the truth of verse 38 to the truth of verse 37.   Jesus is telling His disciples that our “giving” ought to be centered around giving grace and forgiveness to those who offend us.  We are not to judge them but give them forgiveness.   Those who give forgives will have, as well, forgiveness (in good measure, pressed down, etc.).    Jesus is teaching that the measure of grace and forgiveness we give others will be given to us.   We tend to like others to give us grace and mercy and to not judge us.   However, Jesus was teaching nothing about money.  He was teaching about the heart of a person and how they treat others.   As we treat others with grace, so will we be treated with grace in great measure, pressed down and running over.   To this phrase, one commentator stated this:

(MacArthur New Testament Commentary Set (33 Vols.)) The Lord’s illustration, taken from a scene His hearers would be very familiar with, vividly pictures the blessing the disciples will receive. J.Jeremias writes,

The measuring of the corn is a process which is carried out according to an established pattern. The seller crouches on the ground with the measure between his legs. First of all he fills the measure three-quarters full and gives it a good shake with a rotary motion to make the grains settle down. Then he fills the measure to the top and gives it another shake. Next he presses the corn together strongly with both hands. Finally he heaps it into a cone, tapping it carefully to press the grains together; from time to time he bores a hole into the corn and pours a few more grains into it, until there is literally no more room for a single grain. In this way the purchaser is guaranteed an absolutely full measure; it cannot hold more (cited in Darrell L. Bock, Luke 1:1-9:50, The Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994], 607-8).

God’s grace is extended to us by His Devine mercy.  He wants us extend the same mercy to others, in the same way it is extended to us: In full measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, poured out into their laps.  

Failure to Obey Results in Discipline - Jeremiah 42-46

 Jeremiah 43:1-7 (ESV)

Jeremiah Taken to Egypt

When Jeremiah finished speaking to all the people all these words of the LORD their God, with which the LORD their God had sent him to them, Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the insolent men said to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie. The LORD our God did not send you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to live there,’ but Baruch the son of Neriah has set you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may kill us or take us into exile in Babylon.” So Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces and all the people did not obey the voice of the LORD, to remain in the land of Judah. But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took all the remnant of Judah who had returned to live in the land of Judah from all the nations to which they had been driven— the men, the women, the children, the princesses, and every person whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan; also Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah. And they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD. And they arrived at Tahpanhes.

Disobedience is infused into the nature of mankind.    Judah was taken captive by the Babylonians and a remnant was left in the land.   God had promised, through the prophecy of Jeremiah, to care for and sustain this remnant.    They had just seen their fellow country men carried off to Babylon because of their sins, but they were promised forgiveness and blessings if they just stayed in the land.   They came to Jeremiah and asked him to pray to God for them.   Jeremiah does so and delivers God’s message to them.   The message was one of blessing and care by God, IF THEY STAYED IN THE LAND: 

Jeremiah 42:10 (ESV)

If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you.

After hearing this message, they, instead, run off to Egypt.   This disobedience was baked into their nature.    Instead of obedience they responded to Jeremiah with insolence.   God will punish them (see chapters 44-46).   Just as man’s sin in woven into their nature, so too, God’s judgement is the core of His nature.  His righteousness demands justice.  His mercy and wrath are never out of sync with each other.    When we choose disobedience vs walking by faith, God must exercise His judgment and wrath.  Even on the remnant of His people.   Failure to obey God results in discipline by God.  

An Audience with God - Job 40-42

 Job 40:1-2 (ESV)

And the LORD said to Job:

“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

In the middle of God’s speaking to Job, God inserts the above statement.   During Job’s discourse with his friends, he had begged for an audience with God that he might plead his case before God:

Job 16:20-21 (ESV)

My friends scorn me;

my eye pours out tears to God,

that he would argue the case of a man with God,

as a son of man does with his neighbor.

Job 31:35 (ESV)

Oh, that I had one to hear me!

(Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!)

Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!

As a result of these words, God does give Job an audience.  The proceeding chapters have been God unfolding His omnipotence and His omniscience displayed in His creation.   Job has been humbled, as result.  Notice Job’s response to God’s rebuke of him:

Job 40:3-5 (ESV)

Then Job answered the LORD and said:

“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

I have spoken once, and I will not answer;

twice, but I will proceed no further.”

God will go on, but this interlude is to capture Job’s mind and correct his presumptuous attitude about God.  God will give us an audience, but it is not an “on-demand” action.    God wants to speak to us.   He desires that we reach out to him.  But, in the above rebuke we see God telling Job, “I am here, I am giving you your audience. Do you still wish to tell me I have been wrong, or do you want to correct me in my plans, purpose and practices?”   God is giving Job the very thing Job wants.  Job wanted God to show and tell his three friends that he was innocent.  God will actually do that in chapter 42.  He will correct Job’s three friends and Job will be vindicated.  But, first and foremost, God wants Job to learn of His power and purposes.  Job is, rightly so, put to silence.   Job received the audience he wanted with God, but just not the God he thought he would see in that audience.  

A Man of Character - 2 Samuel 20-24

2 Samuel 23:39 (ESV)

Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

In the end of chapter 23 we are reading about “David’s mighty men.”    The narrative is about these nightly men and their accomplishments for and with David.   The list gives longer narratives for some vs others.   There are some excited, brief stories outlined for us to consider. Here is one example:

2 Samuel 23:18-19 (ESV)

Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. And he wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them and won a name beside the three. He was the most renowned of the thirty and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.

However, there is a long list of just the names.  That long list ends with the above verse about Uriah.  The names on the list have little context and we would be hard pressed to find some of their names listed in any other part of God’s Word.   However, the story of Uriah is well known.   After having sexual relationships with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, and then covering it up by having Uriah placed in the front of the battle (to be killed by the enemy ... for David’s guilt).   It is interested that Uriah has his name on this list.   He was indeed a mighty man.  His boss, David, ordered him killed.  Uriah was willing to fight for the man who actually would order him to be killed.  He kept his integrity, despite the situation.   That is the mark of a mighty man.   

God Knows Our Sin! Exodus 30-32

Exodus 32:7-10 (ESV)

And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.”

God knows our sin!!  He is not blind, absent, or on vacation or having a spa day.   God is very cognizant of sin in mankind’s life.   Take a look a these other places where we read about God’s knowledge as to the sin of mankind:

Genesis 4:10 (ESV)

And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.

Genesis 6:5 (ESV)

The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Genesis 11:6 (ESV)

And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.

Genesis 3:9-10 (ESV)

But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

Joshua 7:10-11 (ESV)

The Sin of Achan

The LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.

2 Samuel 12:7 (ESV)

Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.

Luke 22:31-32 (ESV)

Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Matthew 26:20-21 (ESV)

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

Acts 5:3 (ESV)

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

God knows our sin!!! 

God Designs Our Ministry - 2 Corinthians 9-10

 2 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.

In the book of 2 Corinthians, Paul was writing in to the church for many reasons. In chapter 9 he addresses a financial gift that they should have ready to give to the churches throughout the world that were hit with both a world-wide famine and a Rome inflicted persecution.  As he moves to chapter 10 he is addressing false teachers who have come into their church, with false claims of qualification and grandiose credentials for the purpose of promoting themselves and to diminish Paul’s authority. 

Paul could respond to these pompous egomaniacs in multiple ways.   Throughout chapter 10 we can see some great principles of how to conduct our ministry when someone is questioning our authority and/or promoting themselves by stepping on us.  In the above verse we read one of those principles.  Paul is telling the Corinthian believers that he is content to stay in his land.  He has such confidence in God’s call of his life and God’s design for his service, that he simply states that he has no reason to try to “one-up” his credentials to match theirs.  He is not going to get into a contest about who is more prepared, more called, or more qualified to speak into the lives of these believers.   His call was his call.   He stayed in line with the purpose AND position God gave them.   We remember from 1 Corinthians of how this church thought one gift was MORE important than other gifts.   Now, using their greedy hearts, false teachers were controlling the church to believe one person with some credentials is to be listened to (and obeyed) over another.   Paul will have none of this reasoning.   He will only “boast” in regard to the area  that God has given him influence.  His ministry was designed by God, not a weapon to be used to conquer the self-serving and self-indulgence of others.  Paul knew who called him, why he was called AND the extent of that call.   We are to be content in the ministry that God calls us.  We are to do that ministry to the glory of God, in the power of God, and with excellence for God.   We are not to attempt to expand our ministry beyond what God has given us for our own gain, or, for what WE think might be better for the church.   God has put us in the ministry He designed for us.  That thought was good enough for the Apostle Paul and it ought to be for us, as well. 

Prayer During Temptation - Luke 3-4

 Luke 4:1-3 (ESV)

The Temptation of Jesus

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

In the above passage we start reading about the temptation of Christ, by Satan, in the wilderness.  There are all kinds of truths to learn from this story.  One take-a-way is to look at the temptation and learn how it can help us prepare for life.   For my own prayer life, I took this temptation of Christ as a way to focus on praying seven things over my life, when temptation comes: 

MON

Even being the Son of God did not exempt from temptation - but being the the Son of God empowers you through temptation. 

TUES

Even being “full” of the Spirit does not exempt from temptation - but being full of the Spirit of God equips you to fight temptation 

WED

Even being “led” by the Spirit does not exempt from temptation - but being led by the Spirit escorts you through the temptation 

THUR

Even being in an act of worship (fasting) does not exempt us from temptation - but being in an act of worship enables you to resist temptation 

FRI

Satan will tempt us in our time of vulnerability - but being in a state of vulnerability empties us of ourselves to be filled by the Spirit 

SAT

Satan will tempt us with what we may “need” most by tempting us how to obtain it in the wrong way (Genesis 3) - but being in a place of need makes us eager for something from God satisfied the right way.  

SUN

Satan will tempt us with “if” propositions to doubt our identity in Christ - but it is in those if times of life we find ways to escape danger through Christ. 

God Is Not Unjust To Overlook Your Love - Jeremiah 37-41

 Jeremiah 38:7-13 (ESV)

When Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern—the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate— Ebed-melech went from the king's house and said to the king, “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.” Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, “Take thirty men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.” So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the house of the king, to a wardrobe in the storehouse, and took from there old rags and worn-out clothes, which he let down to Jeremiah in the cistern by ropes. Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Put the rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.” Jeremiah did so. Then they drew Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.

Jeremiah 39:15-18 (ESV)

The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard: “Go, and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day. But I will deliver you on that day, declares the LORD, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the LORD.’”

The above verses tell us a marvelous truth about God.   God notices the good we do.   I love what the writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews wrote to encourage the first century church:

Hebrews 6:10 (ESV)

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

God does not overlook the good we do.  The world may not see it, but the good we do in faith for Christ is notice by God.  How we treat those in trouble (in this case Jeremiah) God takes notice.  God will (in time) honor us for that goodness.   God us not unjust to overlook our work of love!

God Confronts to Comfort - Job 38-39

 Job 38:12-15 (ESV)

“Have you commanded the morning since your days began,

and caused the dawn to know its place,

that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,

and the wicked be shaken out of it?

It is changed like clay under the seal,

and its features stand out like a garment.

From the wicked their light is withheld,

and their uplifted arm is broken.

God is now confronting Job.  For 37 chapters the story of Job has unfolded.   We have heard the narrative of what actually happened to Job, both the visible and the backstage shots.  We have sat in the front row as three of his friends attempt to paint him as a wicked man, while at the same time listening to Job defend his honor, albeit claiming a purity, even he did not possess.   We also, in the last few chapters read about Job’s younger friend, Elihu, who attempts to give them all perspective by simply asking, “What about God?  What does He think?”   

In the midst of Job’s suffering no one but Elihu suggested why don’t we ask God?   This is, no doubt, the number one issue with modern day counseling, but outside the Body of Christ and, regretfully, within the walls of the Church.   What does God have to say?  Well, in the rest of the chapters of Job that is what we get to hear.   God is now confronting Job.  Something we all must face.   Notice how God approaches the “counseling” session.  There is no couch, coffee or consoling.   God begins to “help” Job out of his suffering by challenging his mindset.   He (God) wants Job to consider how great and how big God is.   For these remaining chapters God asks questions about Job’s ability to know how He works in creation.  Oddly, God NEVER speaks to Job’s suffering.  God NEVER answers the questions He asked Job.  He simply makes Job see how awesome God is by asking questions Job could not answer.  That is God’s counseling method.   

In the above text, God asks Job:

1. “Job, do you order the sun to appear in the morning, at a set time, like a father commands his children?”  The answer is no, God does!!

2. “Job, do you take the earth and, like a rug, shake out the dirt and debris that has polluted God’s creation?”  The answer is no, but God does!

3. “Job, do you, like a signet ring pressed in clay that changes the very form of the clay, take the earth each day and shape and change it under the image of God?”  NO!  But, God does!!

4.  “Job, do you have the ability to correct, punish and confuse the wicked with your awesome power?”  No, but God does each day!!

Job is being confronted the way someone in depression and suffering should be confronted: With the knowledge of the awesome power of God.   

Philippians 2:12 (ESV)

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Memorialize Trauma - Psalms 57-59

Psalms 59:1-2 (ESV)

Deliver Me from My Enemies

TO THE CHOIRMASTER: ACCORDING TO DO NOT DESTROY. A MIKTAM OF DAVID, WHEN SAUL SENT MEN TO WATCH HIS HOUSE IN ORDER TO KILL HIM.

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;

protect me from those who rise up against me;

deliver me from those who work evil,

and save me from bloodthirsty men.

Probably most of us have never been on the run, attempting to avoid certain, carried out by the warriors of the King.   That situation does not come across our path much, if ever.  But, that is the setting for the above passage.  David, on the run from King Saul, is being hunted like a dog.  He is hiding in caves and behind rocks and in crevices of darkness.  He fears for his life.   He has no power.  He has as his own “army” only a small band of men (mostly wanted, dead or alive, also).  Out maned, out matched and out maneuvered, David has one KEY help available:  David has God on his side.  Remember, it was God early, through the prophet Samuel, who anointed David to be king instead of Saul.  This is, of course, Saul’s problem.  Saul wants to destroy David, so he can remain on his throne and in power.   But, David has God.  In Psalm 59 we have David’s plea for help from God.   Although he is in a cave and on the run, David takes a moment to pen a song.   After David becomes king, this “song” will be presented to the “choirmaster” to be used in worship services.  Here is a key for our musings and meditations.   David had an experience in his life that would fit our description of a life trauma.   In the midst of the trauma, David does allow it to crush him, he turns to God for support. He sings praises to God for His power and HIs deliverance (even though David won’t actually experience that for years to come).  In faith David waits upon God for protection and for God to fulfill His promises and allow David to become the king.  BUT, David also memorializes his trauma.  He does not bury it or suppress it, he turns it into a song he can use later to praise God, teach his nation and encourage those who follow in faith (like us).  We may not ever have to be on the run from the government that is trying to kill us (although we grow closer to that situation every day), but we can rejoice that when suffering at the hands of others comes, we don’t have to be conquered by it. We have a God who walks with us in it and will carry us through it.   

Responding to a Curse - 2 Samuel 15-19

2 Samuel 16:5-14 (ESV)

Shimei Curses David

When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! The LORD has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.”

Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today.” So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust. And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.

What is our attitude toward those who “curse” us?   Imagine the above scene being played out in corporate America.  HR would be on this right away.   David, in this story, is fleeing Jerusalem because his son Absalom is forming a coup to take over the city.   A David flees he has some join him and some desert him, to serve Absalom.   Sheimei, a descendent of King Saul, takes the opportunity to curse David on his way out of town.   David is still king.  David still has his mighty men.  David still has an army of thousands, with him.  David could have had the man destroyed, or killed him by himself.  Yet, David’s state of mind is to trust in God, who judges all men.  Note how Peter stated this when he was writing about how Jesus was cursed and treated unjustly by the world:

1 Peter 2:23 (ESV)

23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

David, like Jesus would years later, committed himself to “him who judges justly.”   In our era of life we have many who like to be like Shimei.  They like to curse those around them that they disagree with, or have a false narrative about, or, like in the case of Shimei, have a grudge from years gone by (Shimei was King Saul’s relative and David had received the throne from Saul).   Our greatest character is revealed in times like this.  Our flesh would want to lash out, like the sons of Zeruiah, above.   Yet, David is Spirit controlled and does not allow that to happen.  He practices grace and extends that to Shimei.  He does it now and will do it when he returns as the victor and Shimei comes, asking for forgiveness (2 Samuel 19:16-23).   David give us an example of how to handle adversity and give God glory in the midst of being cursed by the world around us.  

Obey Every Word - Exodus 25-29

 Exodus 25:10-16 (ESV)

The Ark of the Covenant

“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it. You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you.

The above passage gives us the measurements of the Ark of the Covenant.  In our measurement system the Ark would be:

45 inches long

27 inches wide

27 inches high

You could say that the Ark, without the Mercy Seat and the Cherubim,  was about the size of a tall coffee table.  The Ark would serve as the center of all the priest functions.   This was the first element of the Tabernacle describe and the most important piece. This is where the sacrifices would be made and God’s glory would reside.   

One of the key components of the Ark was the description of the four rings that would be used to carry the Ark, with two poles.    Since the Ark was overlaid with gold and had the Mercy Seat and one Cherubim on one end and one Cherubim on the other end, the Ark would be quite heavy.   Four priest would carry the Ark on their shoulders whenever God asked the nation of Israel to move.     This might look like a minor point in the entire instructions about the Ark and the Tabernacle, but say that to a man named Uzzah.  Note the following story when, instead of “carrying” the Ark with the poles and four priest, King David decided to put the Ark on a wagon and have oxen pull it:

2 Samuel 6:5-7 (ESV)

Uzzah and the Ark

And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.

The lesson here is obvious.  There is NOTHING insignificant in God’s Word and instructions to us that we are to ignore or simply forget.   God is specific about what He says and how we are to, by faith, obey His Word.   Uzzah lost his life because King David missed this single command.  It is quite plain!  Imagine your car dealer telling you that to keep the car going you have to put oil in the engine.  But, you ignore that part as you read the owner’s manual.  Do you think the car dealer will take the car back and return your money?   Yet, we think God will ignore our failings and simply look the other way.  God demands we follow His Word to the letter.   If not, we will suffer the consequences.    

Married or Single? 1 Corinthians 6-8

1 Corinthians 7:25-28 (ESV)

Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.

In chapter seven of this letter to the Church, Paul is outlining his teachings on the marriage relationship, especially as opposed to remaining single.   He has some basic principles he wants them to follow.  Three are in the following verses and these three correlate with the one more, in the above section. 

#1 - One principle Paul is emphasizing is to not seek to “change” your status once you are a believer.  Many people were coming to Christ and their spouses were not.  Paul gives a basic principle he wants everyone to follow: 

1 Corinthians 7:12 (ESV)

To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.

#2 - In Paul’s mind, a second principle is mentioned in regard to someone who loses his/her spouse.   To Paul it was “better” for them to remain as a widow and not marry again:

1 Corinthians 7:40 (ESV)

Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

#3 - Paul wishes, if possible, everyone was like him, single and focused on the things of the Kingdom of God and not how to please his/her spouse.  This a paramount truth to Paul.  He was not condemning marriage, he was just being the realist and knew that if you are married you MUST concern yourself about the things of your spouse and your mind will be divided.  Note:

1 Corinthians 7:6-7 (ESV)

Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

1 Corinthians 7:32-34 (ESV)

I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.

What is going on in Paul’s mind.   The above verses (25-28) might give us some clue as to Paul’s motivation and thought pattern for what he is writing.  He is writing to them this way because of some “present distress.”  Paul was, most likely, speaking about the present and impending persecution on the church.   He was very much in tune to the world’s system and saw the difficulty of managing the Christian walk in the midst of the World’s highways.   Paul is NOT forbidding them to marry.  He just was willing to recognize the tension between marriage and living your life for Christ.   Christ demands our full devotion.   But, especially in the world’s system and thoughts about marriage, so too there is a demand for full devotion to one’s spouse.   Paul recognizes that and simply states that if you are married, stay that way.  But, if you are free, let that go and be fully devoted to Christ.   Paul, single himself, is so committed to devotion to Christ, he has no other obligations.  He is not saying it is bad to be married.  He is just saying it is better, in a Christian walk while serving Christ, to be single.    Being single and devoted to Christ is not for everyone.  Married or single, as Paul states, is a gift from God.   In light of the impending doom of persecution, Paul was teaching that circumstances (as well as other factors) determine our marriage status.  The world has a mindset about marriage.  Paul is simply telling us there are other factors that should be considered when determining if we should marry, stay married, or remain single.   

Parenting - Luke 1-2

 Luke 2:40 (ESV)

And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

The above verse is speaking about the time immediately after Jesus birth.   After his birth there was a time of his circumcision (8 days after his birth) and then another 33 days for the mother, Mary, to be purified.  So, this statement is about a month and one-half after Jesus birth.   We don’t read again about Jesus, until the next verse, where we read that every year Jesus is taken to the Temple of Passover, but Luke starts with Jesus’ 12th year arriving in the Temple to unfold His life.  From this 40 day visit to the 12th year visit, we know nothing about Jesus, except what we read in the above text.   

What we read is that Jesus’ formative years provided that he would be growing in strength, wisdom and in the “favor” (the Greek word for “grace”) of God.   The natural growth process takes care of Him growing “strong.”  We have no belief that Jesus possessed super-human strength.    However, the fact that Luke, through the power of the Holy Spirit, tells us He grew in wisdom and in grace, we see that God provided something in the life of His Son, that flowed from God’s amazing grace.  This is the point of practical truth for all parents.   Nothing happens in the life of a child, no matter the parent’s skills, style or sense of knowledge of parenting.   Mary and Joseph were first time parents.  They had no parenting classes and no parenting books to read.  They had little interaction with their own parents, at least what we read in Scripture.  They had no “church” support.  Because Jesus was a wanted “man,” immediately after His birth they moved around, meaning the family structure was not there to help raise Him.  Mary and Joseph were alone as parents.  Not just with a baby boy, but with the very Son of God; the creator of the universe.  Their utter dependence for raising Him was not their skills, it was by faith in the “favor” of God - God’s grace - on their lives.  No child is ever raised by parents for good, because of the awesome skills of the parent. Any good that comes into and out of a child’s life is from the power of God’s favor upon that child.  Period!!   That does not take away the responsibility of the parent to teach the child God’s Word, to pray over the child and to interact with the child about spiritual things.  The key is to rely upon these things, to allow God to use those tools to shower the child with His amazing grace.   The number one responsibility of a parent is to create avenues for God’s grace to be unfolding in the child’s progressive walk with God.  The only way for a child to grow in the right way, is through the “favor” of God - through His amazing grace.  

God Uses Man to Reach Mankind - Jeremiah 32-36

 Jeremiah 32:1 (ESV)

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.

If you do a quick search in an electronic copy of God’s Word for the words, “The Word of the Lord Came to ...”, you will see the word appear in that combination almost 150 times.  If you add to those words the prophet Jeremiah’s name, it appears over 30 times in the prophet’s book.   Look at some of the examples:

Isaiah 38:4 (ESV)

Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: 

Daniel 9:2 (ESV)

in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

Ezekiel 1:3 (ESV)

the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.

Jonah 1:1 (ESV)

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

Micah 1:1 (ESV)

The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

We could go on and on.   We have no idea “how” the Word of the Lord came to these prophets and others.   We only know from all these references that God has chosen to speak to man, through man.  This is God’s plan, method, strategy.    Now all these references are in the Old Testament.  However, notice how God kept His approach moving. In Jesus, God’s Word became flesh and it was through Jesus that God spoke to mankind:

John 1:14 (ESV)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 1:2 (ESV)

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

And, Paul continued to be part of God’s approach to reaching others for Christ and actually passed that on to others:

2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

God has chosen to use man to reach man.  He sent His Son as the prime example and the final word to mankind.  He is still using us, as His tool to reach the masses for His Glory, through His Son:

Romans 10:14-17 (ESV)

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

God Upholds the World (And Our Condition) - Job 37

 Job 37:15-16 (ESV)

Do you know how God lays his command upon them

and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?

Do you know the balancings of the clouds,

the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,

The next time you come across an atheist, you might want to ask him these two questions Elihu asked Job.  This friend of Job is trying to get him to reflect and consider the power and greatness of God as opposed to Job’s condition and situation.  Job is simply asked to explain how the lighting shines and the clouds float.   Of course, our modern day scientist would burst into the argument, at this point, and explain that in the day that the Bible was written, they did not understand such things.  But, today, we have great truth and great knowledge and we know these things.    The struggle with those types of arguments (for the elite and scientific mind) is that they can explain what they see from a science point of view, the what and the how, but they can’t explain the way.   The question Elihu is not only asking Job the “how” but he is also wants Job to explain the “why” of God’s work.  Mankind has successfully figured out “how” God’s creation works and in many of their minds even the “why” it works the way it does. But, the atheist and the scientist that refuses to acknowledge the power of God forgets one man point (which is Elihu’s point to Job).  The writer of Hebrews, in speaking about Jesus Christ, states:

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power ... 

Jesus “upholds the universe by the word of his power.”   That is the “why” behind the “what and how.”    Job is in a bad situation, do doubt.  His first three friends attempted to get him to look inside his being to identify this faults and failures.  This would prove to Job, they thought, that it was his sin that caused the problem.  Young Elihu comes along and asks God to look up, rather than within.   Elihu is not concerned about the “why” of Job’s conditions.  He already knows the “why.”  God is high and lofty and controls all things by the word of His power through His redemptive plan.  That is the “why” the scientist and the atheist can’t wrap their brains around.   

Keep Your Vows to God - Psalms 54-56

 Psalms 56:12 (ESV)

I must perform my vows to you, O God;

I will render thank offerings to you.

God takes our vows to Him seriously.   Solomon warned us about making a rash vow:

Proverbs 20:25 (ESV)

It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”

and to reflect only after making vows.

The prophet Malachi warned about making a vow and changing it:

Malachi 1:14 (ESV)

Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.

God holds us to our vows.  Why?   Because God keeps His vows to us.   We have heard that a man is only as good as his word.   That thought rises out of the character of God.  We can come to God and count on Him because He keeps His vows.    Because He keeps His word to us, He demands we keep our word to Him.   When we vow something to God, He expects that we will keep that vow.  That is what David is saying in the above text.   He is telling God that he will “perform” the vows he made to God.  We do know that David failed.   Psalm 51 is David’s own confession that he did not, in the sin with Bathsheba, keep his vow to God.   But, never-the-less, God demands that we we keep our vows to Him.   We may forget them, but He does not, nor should we. 

Overcoming Sin and Guilt from Sin - 2 Samuel 10-14

 2 Samuel 12:19-23 (ESV)

But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

God was displeased with David because of his affair with Bathsheba.   Not only did David commit adultery (one of the Ten Commandments), but also he had Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, killed (also against the commandments).  To kill Uriah he abused his power and sent other troops into harms way, who also died.   Finally, because of these acts of sin, God would take the babies life.   In the above passage we read David’s response to the death of the child.   We have to remember that a lot was going on in David’s mind, heart and will, that is not recorded in the above passage.   Most would agree that the great Psalm 51 was written at this very moment.   This is a time of great reflection and confession for David.   His conclusion, above, is the result of spending a week in prayer and fasting and coming to grips with his own sin.  He has caused the death of many warriors, all for one night of sex with Bathsheba.  He has caused the death of a child.  He has caused the death of his own reputation.   Yet, in the midst of this, David finds both forgiveness from God and from himself.   He is leaving that behind because there is no more condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).   He has not only been set free from the spiritual separation from God, that one would expect, but has been brought back into fellowship with God.  He has put his theology into practice and has been given peace in his heart, despite his grievous sins.   Think about this mental state!  David could be locked into morose feelings of doom.   Instead, he is focused on the belief that he will someday be united, in some form, with this child.  He is not fearful of death and dying.  He rejoicing in the fact that despite his sin, he is safely in the hands of God’s constant care.   

God Demands Justice - Deuteronomy 21-24

Exodus 23:6-8 (ESV)

6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. 7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. 8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.

Before understanding the above command of God through Moses, it would be good to read David’s words stated much later than Moses’:

Psalm 15

1 O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

and speaks truth in his heart;

3 who does not slander with his tongue

and does no evil to his neighbor,

nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

but who honors those who fear the LORD;

who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

5 who does not put out his money at interest

and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved.

God is concerned about justice.  He is a God of justice.  Therefore He expects His children to be of justice as well.  God was sending the nation to live among the Gentile nations to be their light. Light can’t have a tint of darkness and still be light.  Injustice is the avenue of darkness.  Bribes in particular are a slight of hand in regard to truth.  God does not take bribes.  We can’t buy Him off.  

Micah 6:8 (ESV)

8 He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

Antidote for False Teaching - 2 Corinthians 4-5

 2 Corinthians 5:11 (ESV)

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, again, to continue to spur them onto to holiness, but also, regretfully, to defend his ministry.  There were false teachers who had entered the church and were attempting to diminish Paul’s influence on the church’s direction, but also demonize Paul himself.   All of this book is written with that theme in mind.   He has just finished, in chapter four, explaining to the church the reason for his ministry.  He is telling them that the god of this world has blinded the eyes of the unbeliever and it is his role, in the Body, to provide truth to make sure the Saints are not equally blinded.   That is the point of the above verse.  He does not want them lead astray to follow doctrine not based upon truth.  This is what motivates him.  He is motivated by the “fear of the Lord.”    We wants to “persuade” others to make sure they are not blinded by these false teachers.  Notice how differently this Greek word is translated in our English Bible:

Translated as persuade 22x, trust 8x, obey 7x, have confidence 6x, believe 3x, be confident 2x, misc 7x

The point Paul is trying to make is that he is going to go to any extreme to make sure they are not following false teaching, but rather the Gospel, has he first presented it them.   The antidote for false teaching is truth, motivated by the fear of the Lord.  

Kosmos or Ethnos? We Still Must Go! Mark 15-16

 Mark 16:14-15 (ESV)

The Great Commission

Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Each week, on my prayer list, I have a list of missionaries to pray for.  On one day, I pray for three missionaries.  One couple is in Bosnia, one is in Chile and one is in Kentucky, USA.   Metaphorically speaking that might cover the above text.  I love that day because it reminds me to be equally committed to my neck of the world.   We tend to like to go to our own people, but we don’t necessarily have as much enthusiasm, however, for those in other ethic groups.   It is interesting that Mark says go into all the world (Greek “kosmos” ... which means all the places of the world) but Matthew says go into all the nations. That is the Greek word, “ethnos,” which means “ethnic” groups.  Together we see that our role is to go to all places and speak to all types of races.   We are not just to talk to the people we are familiar with about the love of God through the sacrifice of Jesus.   Jonah had a problem with that.  He was a prophet to Israel and spoke to his people (2 Kings 14:25).  But, when he was asked to go to another part of the “kosmos” to speak to another “ethnos” of people, he refused.   Do we believe in the power of God to speak to people in our back yard, in the hills of Kentucky, the land of Chile and/or the nations like Bosnia?  That is the command.  

Behold, God is Great! Job 35-36

 Job 36:26-33 (ESV)

Behold, God is great, and we know him not;

the number of his years is unsearchable.

For he draws up the drops of water;

they distill his mist in rain,

which the skies pour down

and drop on mankind abundantly.

Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,

the thunderings of his pavilion?

Behold, he scatters his lightning about him

and covers the roots of the sea.

For by these he judges peoples;

he gives food in abundance.

He covers his hands with the lightning

and commands it to strike the mark.

Its crashing declares his presence;

the cattle also declare that he rises.

Behold, God is Great!!    There are times in God’s Word where the author of the text simply wants to extol and magnify God for the purpose of taking the eyes of the reader off one thing and onto a great thing.  This is one of those times.    Job has his eyes firmly fixed on the boils of his skin and the destruction of his life and family.   Most of us, if not all of us, would.   In times of great despair where else would the average person look.   Job’s three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar) were not much better.  They came to him and, also, looked that the sores on his body and the destitute on his face and not only didn’t change his perspective, but blamed him for the cause.  This new friend, Elihu, comes along and speaks a different truth to Job.  He is younger, admits he is not wiser, but offers Job a perspective the others simply missed.  Job is in a bad place and no fault of his own.  But, the others are pushing him to look at himself as cause and he, naturally, defends.   Elihu does not address Job’s challenges.  Elihu, especially in the above passage, simply tells Job about the greatness of God.  This will actually usher in to Job’s world the actual voice of God in the following chapters.   When men of God speak truth about God it allows the voice of God to be heard in the darkest of night.   Elihu will be used by God to change everything for Job.  He didn’t focus on Job, he brought Job’s eyes to the greatness and power and majesty of God.     

Nature of Mankind and the Remedy for Mankind - Psalms 51-53

 Psalms 51:5-6 (ESV)

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,

and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

I am full of iniquity but God wants truth!  My heart is full of sin since my conception but God wants to teach me wisdom in the secret places of my heart!   That is the dilemma of mankind.   We have what we are and we have what we ought to be.   In the above two verses, we have the description of our current state and we have the design of our intended being.  

God wants us to be holy.  That is why He provided His Son to make a way for that holiness.  Jesus Christ took on our sin and grave us His righteousness, to make sure the above two verses can become one plan and part of our lives.   We are full of corruption but God wants to remove the sin we received from birth (and validate as existing in our lives every day) by providing us “truth” on the inward parts.    David wrote another song that mirrors these two verses:

Psalms 15 (ESV)

Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?

A PSALM OF DAVID.

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

and speaks truth in his heart;

who does not slander with his tongue

and does no evil to his neighbor,

nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

but who honors those who fear the LORD;

who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

who does not put out his money at interest

and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved.

That is the person who God delights in with blessings, honor and life.   But, that can’t happen without Jesus Christ’s providing the righteousness as He took our inward sin on the cross.   

Celebrating in the Spirit - 2 Samuel 5-9

 2 Samuel 6:20-23 (ESV)

And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD—and I will celebrate before the LORD. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

Apparently David’s celebration about bringing the Ark back to Jerusalem did not sit well with David’s wife, Michal.   As she observed out the window, she saw him “dancing before the Lord,” but interpreted it that David was flirting with the young females watching and possibly celebrating as well.   We have to understand, first, that the Ark returning to Jerusalem was the pinnacle of David’s life.  He will later want to build a house for it, a Temple.    David had just lost the life of one of his men, Uzziah, when he first attempted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.   Michal did not share this enthusiasm and, instead, became resentful.  It would be a good guess that she resented that she was not the center of attention vs this Ark and the David’s fellow worshippers.   But, her suspicions were completely wrong.  David was in a state of worship.  Notice, however, how she mistook it for pleasure for David vs a sacrifice or praise.   This same thing happened in Acts 2 when the church was anointed with the Spirit.  Note:

Acts 2:12-13 (ESV)

And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Those observing the disciples thought they were drunk with wine.   This might be why Paul used that word picture to tell us what it looks like to be filled with the Spirit of God:

Ephesians 5:18 (ESV)

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Apparently there is some likeness to the celebration in the Spirit and the being under control of pleasure and new wine.  Perhaps the outward appearance is the same, but the inward motivation is not.   One is indulgence in self-gratification.  The other is self-sacrifice in Spiritual indulgence.    David was truly in the Spirit and rejoicing in the hope that God was now with them in visual form via the Spirit of God.   This is the joy that came to David’s heart that came out in song and dance.   We don’t celebrate enough like this before God and His people.   We are so worried about the world’s view of our celebration we fail to say what David said to Michal:

It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD—and I will celebrate before the LORD. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes.

Blessings for Obedience - Exodus 17-20

 Exodus 19:1-6 (ESV)

Israel at Mount Sinai

On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

God wants to bless His people.   In the above verses we read about the nation of Israel and one of their early encounters with God.  God would speak to them both through Moses and, apparently, in auditable voice from the mountain.   In the above verses we read that God called to Moses “out of the Mountain.”  This must have been very strange to the people.  They could hear the voice, but see no one.  They could see the impact of God’s presence on the mountain.  Latter, at the end of this chapter, that will look like a storm with thunder and lighting and smoke.  The amazing part of the above verses is not how God chooses to communicate with the nation, but what He says to the nation. He gives them a promise that obedience equals blessings.   They agree to obey, but we know, based upon their long history that was not going to happen.   However, God still offers the convents with them.  God’s covenant with man has always been a covenant of obedience for obeying His Word.  Because He knows our sin and our failure to do so, He sent His son to obey His Word for us and now He writes that Word (that covenant) on our hearts through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  The nation of Israel could not obey and inherit the blessing.  We inherit the blessing through Christ and are given the power to obey through the Spirit. 

Hebrews 8:10-12 (ESV)

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds,

and write them on their hearts,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor

and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

for they shall all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,

and I will remember their sins no more.”

Church Discipline - 2 Corinthians 1-3

2 Corinthians 1:23 - 2:1 (ESV)

But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.

For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you.

The two letters written to the church at Corinth are a great look into early church polity (how churches out to be governed and by who) and politics (how churches are actually governed and by who).   The Corinthian church was a political church, meaning they had many leaders leveraging their position to have authority over others.  Paul had begun the church on his second missionary journey.   Paul was, by all accounts the established leader of the church.  But, false prophets came into the church and not only preached against Christ, but also, against Paul.  Paul sent the first letter to correct them.  He then sent another letter (never actually discovered), referred to in 2 Corinthians 2:4.   Paul then writes 2 Corinthians (shouldn’t it be referred to as 3rd Corinthians in light of 2:4?).  In this letter he is attempting to defend himself and his ministry, while not defending himself.  He wants the fruit of his ministry to defend himself.  So, he is recalling to them his work among them.  

This all brings us to the above passage.  Paul would like to come to them again, but he wants them to have time to respond to this “severe letter” he wrote to them:

2 Corinthians 2:4 (ESV)

For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

He does not want to lord over them his authority, but wants to give them time and space to respond to his letter and take the necessary correction, on their own, they should.  This teaches us much about Paul and how to correct the waywardness of others.   Paul wants to come to correct them face-to-face.  But, he also wants them to grow by grace and allow them to self-correct.  Of this passage note what one historian said:

(MacArthur New Testament Commentary Set (33 Vols.)) He knew that, as Augustine wrote, “As severity is ready to punish the faults which it may discover, so charity is reluctant to discover the faults which it must punish”

That should be how love for others manifests itself.  We know we have to have discipline and be severe about it (it is about the reputation of God).  But, we also know that we have to love about it, for love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).   So, it is important to let others hear the word of correction they need to hear and we are to communicate that to them.  But, it is equally true we need to give them time and space to take that correction and make the necessary changes in life to align again with the Word.   This is Paul’s demonstration of how to correct wayward believers in the Body of Christ.   He was righteous enough to address them, but he was gracious enough to allow them to change.   That is spiritual authority at its best.