Hairstylist

My thoughts today are much upon Paul’s instructions on hair lengths for men and women found in 1CO 11:1-16:

1 Corinthians 11:1 ¶Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

It is obvious in this passage that God requires a clear distinction between men and women with respect to hair. Men are to have short hair and women are to have long hair. This is to make a visible distinction between men and women in order to symbolize the hierarchy of authority. If the length of the hair on a man and the hair on a woman is the same, then no distinction in hair exists. Nowadays it is common to see boys, or men for that matter, with their hair growing down over their ears and necks. It is also common to see women with their hair cropped very close all over their heads or over their ears and their necks. This blurs the distinction between the sexes as it pertains to hair. Observe in verse 15 that hair is given to a woman for a covering, but it must be long hair to do what it was given to do. Long hair is a glory to a woman “for her hair is given her for a covering.” If her hair is not covering her head, it is not long enough. Hair is to cover a woman's head and not to cover a man's head. Of course, this raises the argument of how short is short and how long is long? If this passage is carefully thought through, the answer to that question becomes quite clear. A man’s hair is to be short enough not to cover his head whereas a woman’s hair is to be long enough to cover her head. But more about this as we go along.

An interesting passage in connection with this thought is Revelation 9:7-8:

7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

John saw locusts ascending out of the bottomless pit that “had hair as the hair of women.” Now just exactly how does one distinguish the hair of women? The hair of the two sexes cannot be distinguished by either colour or texture since all hair colours and textures can be found on both men and women. The only other way to distinguish the hair of the two sexes is by length.

Now with respect to the issue of hair length, I have gained a fresh insight into Paul’s line of reasoning. Let’s hone in on verses 5-6 of our passage.

5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

In this passage long hair and shaved hair are extremes of contrast. If a woman’s hair is not long enough to cover her head, then she might as well be shaven. But Paul clearly teaches that it is “a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven.” Now, true to our form, let’s define our terms. Bear in mind that the word shorn is the past participle of shear.

Or – conj. A particle co-ordinating two (or more) words, phrases, or classes, between which there is an alternative.

Shave – To cut off (hair, esp. the beard) close to the skin with or as with a razor.

Shear – To remove (the hair or beard) by means of some sharp instrument; to shave (the head or face); to cut (the hair) close or short; to cut or shave (the hair or beard) of (a person).

Observe that while shearing may be shaving, it may also be just cutting the hair close or short, or even cutting it at all. I suppose that is why scissors are also called shears. Therefore, we can say that all shaving is shearing, but not all shearing is shaving. That would explain why Paul uses the word shear as an alternative to the word shave. Shaving is cutting the hair right down to the skin, whereas shearing can be just cutting the hair close or short.

It is very clear in our passage that God wants a woman’s hair to cover her head.

Cover - To put or lay something over (an object), with the effect of hiding from view, protecting, or enclosing; to overlay, overspread with.

Therefore, a woman’s hair needs to be long enough to cover her head. As long as a woman’s hair is long enough to cover her head, then it is long enough. It does not have to be long enough to cover her back. It need only cover her head. Therefore, she is permitted to cut her hair to some extent. She may cut it up to the point where it still covers her head. Beyond that she must not go. Therefore, as far as Scripture is concerned, we can throw out that definition of shear which simply defines the term as cutting the hair. This leaves us with the definitions of shaving the hair or cutting the hair close or short.

It is very interesting that it is believed that the word short has the same roots as the word shear. In fact, in tracing the etymology of the word short, The Oxford English Dictionary refers the reader to the word shear. So when a woman tells her hairdresser that she wants her hair short, or that she wants the back of her hair short, or she wants the back and sides of her hair short, she is in essence saying that she wants it shorn. And that, says Paul, is a shame for her!

Now let’s come to the issue of the hair covering the head. This is easy to understand if we simply apply some reasoning to Paul’s statements. The hair is not to cover the head of the man, but it is to cover the head of the woman. A covered head is the exact opposite of an uncovered head. By definition, this means the hair should not be long enough to hide the head of the man from view, but it should be long enough to hide the head of the woman from view. Since, as we noted above, a woman’s hair must be long enough to cover her head, we can say that logic dictates that uncovered means not having long hair. Now in reasoning this out, it is obvious that God does not require that the face be covered with hair. A woman was given hair for a covering, yet she is given no facial hair. A man may cover his face with hair and yet his head still be considered uncovered. Our blessed Lord had a beard. Furthermore, since any hair at all will cover the scalp, covering the head must entail more than the scalp. Short hair is obviously allowed on a man, yet short hair will cover the scalp. So covering the head excludes the face and includes more than the scalp. So what is left to be covered? In view of the obvious exceptions, a covered head entails covering the ears and the neck. A man's hair should not be long enough to cover his ears and neck. He may wear a fuller cut so long as his hair isn’t long enough to hang down over his ears and neck. On the other hand, a woman's hair should be long enough to hang down over her ears and neck. If these guidelines are followed, there will be no difficulty in distinguishing the hair of the sexes no matter how the hair is styled. And thus God's objective will be achieved!

Or consider this, when looking at someone from behind when their hair is hanging down, if the contour of the head is clearly visible, the head is not covered. If the contour and shape of the head is not visible, then the head is covered. So a man’s hair should be short enough to leave the contour of his head visible, whereas a woman’s hair should be long enough to hide the contour of her head.

I note that many women wear a hairstyle in which the hair is long enough to cover the ears, but it is closely cut in the back so that the neck in not covered. This is not long enough. God said cover the head, not half the head. Then there are woman who wear longer hair on the top of their heads, but the hair is cut close over the ears and the neck. This simply does not meet the Biblical standard for long hair.

Now, believe me, I can understand that shorter hair is much more convenient. I wear very short hair. I love the low maintenance. So I do not envy you women having to wear the longer hair, but I did not write the rules. God has His reasons and it is our duty to conform to His standards no matter the inconvenience. But perhaps I can do something to empathize with you. I am allowed facial hair. Maybe I could grow a longer beard that would require more maintenance such as hair conditioner, constant clipping of wild hairs, and more brushing. In that case I could say to you ladies as former President Bill Clinton was heard to say, “I feel your pain.”

This has been a longer meditation. I trust I have not wearied you. Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things. As a pastor I fill many roles. Today I am your hairstylist pastor.

As the Lord Commanded

Yesterday I completed reading through the book of Exodus. I try to read one chapter per day. In connection with that chapter I like to read the thoughts of one of my favourite commentators, G. Campbell Morgan. Mr. Morgan pointed out something in his comments on EXO 39 that arrested my attention. I would like capitalize on his observations by expanding them with my own.

EXO 38-39 record the act of constructing the tabernacle, its furnishings, and the clothing of the priests, who ministered in the tabernacle. EXO 40 records the actual setting up of the tabernacle and its consecration. Mr. Campbell based his comments on EXO 39:43.

Exodus 39:43 And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.

Pay careful attention to the words in bold print. All the work of the tabernacle and its furnishings had been done as the Lord commanded. Mr. Campbell went on to note that the phrase as the LORD commanded Moses is repeated seven times in EXO 39. It occurs in verses 1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, & 31. Verse 32 also states the point.

Exodus 39:32 ¶Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

Then in chapter 40, the phrase as the Lord commanded Moses occurs seven more times in verses 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, & 32.

Remember that this is Holy Scripture. These words are being given by the inspiration of God. It is God Who is continually reminding us that Israel was carrying out His service as He had commanded. Therefore, we come to the avoidable conclusion that it is very important to God that we execute His service according to what He commands us.

When God originally commissioned Israel to make Him a tabernacle, He gave this instruction:

Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Exodus 38-40 records the fact that Israel had done precisely what God originally commissioned them to do. There was nothing in that tabernacle of Israel’s own devising. Everything was done to satisfy God’s requirements. Nothing was done to please the people. And God was obviously pleased with what had been done because God filled the tabernacle with His glory (EXO 40:34).

Although we do not live under Moses’ law, the principle that was here observed is carried over in the New Testament. Note this principle in our Lord’s Great Commission to His apostles:

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

God’s service is to be kept according to His commandments as delivered unto us by His holy apostles. We are not at liberty to add or subtract anything according to our own tastes and preferences. And this brings us back to what I preached about last Sunday when I taught on why we do not observe religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter. These were celebrations that predated the establishment of Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church simply adopted the traditions of those pagan celebrations, gave them Christian names and symbols, and incorporated them into the service of the church. This is not executing God’s service as the Lord commanded. God strictly forbids this and instead charges us in these words:

Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

To give someone a gift simply as an expression of respect or affection to that person is one thing. People do it all the time and there is no law of God against that. But to give someone a gift in order to celebrate the birth of the Son of God is something else entirely. This is an attempt to honour Christ according to one’s own taste and preference as opposed to honouring Christ as the Lord commanded. If one wishes to honour Christ, then why not be baptized in His name and added to His church? Why not go to His house and join with His saints in singing His praise, calling upon His name, and hearing His gospel? Why not sit with His saints at His table and remember Him according to His holy commandment by eating the bread and drinking the cup? Why not give to poor saints in need when there is a need and not just on a holiday? After all, these are the things which He commanded us to do to honour Him.

Remember this most important fact as stated in the following verse:

Psalms 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

If God’s way is perfect, then how can we possibly improve it? Why not serve God God’s way? After all, His way is perfect. When it comes to serving God, our mandate is simple and clear. Do it as the Lord commanded.

Destruction and Rejoicing

Last Sunday I discoursed on Psalm 5, a psalm of David. As I began to deal with the last verses of that Psalm, time was giving out. I can sense when a congregation is becoming saturated with information. When that happens, it is time to start winding down. However, being one who likes to milk all he can out of a verse, I was frustrated that I was not doing justice to the last verses of the Psalm. I was merely hitting the high points. Because of this, I felt let down after the sermon. Such are some of the peculiar trials that belong to preachers. So I will ease myself of this frustration by commenting on those verses in a written meditation.

Psalms 5:10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. 11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

In this Psalm David is interceding to God against his enemies. He prays to God to destroy his enemies. Observe in verse 10 that David’s enemies have also rebelled against God. Those who rebel against God will also oppose God’s servants. When David prays to God to destroy his enemies, he is asking God to do what God has already purposed to do. David had just said in verse 6:

Psalms 5:6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

Our Lord Jesus taught us to pray that the will of our heavenly Father be done. When we see God destroy the wicked, we are seeing that prayer answered. Notice that connected with the destruction of the wicked is the rejoicing of the righteous. When the wicked are destroyed the righteous are shouting. Now just why is this?

In verse 11 David acknowledges that God defends the righteous. A vital part of that defense is the destruction of the wicked. If the wicked were not stopped at some point in the pursuit of their counsels, they would completely destroy the righteous. This fact is vividly expressed in Psalm 124.

Psalms 124:1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; 2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: 3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

That the righteous are still numbered among the living in this earth is owing to God’s judgment of the wicked throughout history. Therefore, when the enemies of God’s people are destroyed, the righteous should rejoice. And we see this pattern in Scripture. When the wicked Egyptians, the oppressors of Israel, were drowned in the Red sea, Israel sang for joy (EXO 15:1-21).

Or consider the wicked Athaliah, who destroyed all the royal seed in Judah save one and seized the reigns of power. Observe God’s people rejoicing when she was destroyed.

2 Chronicles 23:21 And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.

The wise man Solomon said it well.

Proverbs 11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

When God destroys Mystery Babylon, which has persecuted the apostles, the prophets, and the saints, God calls upon His servants to rejoice.

Revelation 18:20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

But, as I noted in closing last Sunday, the ultimate answer to the prayer of Psalm 5:10-12 will be realized at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, “Who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom” (2TI 4:1). Paul describes what will occur at this time.

2 Thessalonians 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Observe that at Christ’s appearing, the wicked will be destroyed from the presence of the Lord. This fulfills the petition of PSA 5:10:

Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

The wicked do not want God. That is their counsel and by that counsel they shall fall. God will grant their desire and forever banish them from His presence. At this time also the Lord will be glorified and admired “in all them that believe,” that is, in “all those that put their trust in thee,” as PSA 5:11 states it. Then the righteous will inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world (MAT 25:34). They shall “come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (ISA 35:10). This ultimately fulfills the petition of PSA 5:11:

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

So the last three verses of Psalm 5 express in prayer of the yearning we have for the coming of our Lord. In view of the final overthrow of all our enemies and the everlasting joy that shall accompany that event, we do well to sum up PSA 5:10-12 in this simple prayer:

Revelation 22:20 Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Excellence or Seduction, Part 2

Last week I sent you a meditation on the first half of Proverbs 12:26:

The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

Today I would like to deal with the second half of that verse regarding the way of the wicked.

Notice first that this verse is a sentence. A sentence is a unit of thought. Therefore, the words and the arrangement of the words in this sentence are conveying an overall thought. This sentence consists of two independent clauses. An independent clause contains a complete thought and can stand alone as a separate sentence. The first independent clause is this statement: "The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour." The second independent clause is this statement: "The way of the wicked seduceth them." These two independent clauses are contrasted by the conjunction but. An overall idea is being expressed by these contrasting statements. The overall idea is the difference between the righteous and the wicked showing that the righteous is superior to the wicked.

The second clause deals with the way of the wicked. It teaches that their way seduces them. Now let’s define some terms.

Way – Course of life or action, means, manner.

Seduce - To lead (a person) astray in conduct or belief; to draw away from the right or intended course of action to or into a wrong one; to tempt, entice, or beguile (deceive) to do something wrong, foolish, or unintended.

Deceive - To ensnare; to take unawares by craft or guile; to overcome, overreach, or get the better of by trickery; to beguile or betray into mischief or sin; to mislead.

The way of the wicked is the course of life and action that they choose to pursue and how they pursue it. Now it is the way itself that seduces them. That is, the way they conduct their lives is itself leading them astray and drawing them from the right course of life and action. The way itself beguiles or deceives them to do wrong, foolish, or unintended things. Once they are is in the wrong path, one wrong leads to another wrong. Wrong decisions lead to more wrong decisions. In other words, the way itself seduces them. And the sad thing about being seduced or deceived is that it can happen to a person unawares. He may not realize that he is being led astray. Even if he knowingly does wrong, if he keeps doing wrong he will eventually think it is okay. When that happens, then the way of the wicked has seduced him.

Therefore, a wicked man can think he is doing what is right and best for him when in reality he is doing what is wrong and worst for him. His way looks good. It seems advantageous. It looks more excellent than the way of righteousness. But in reality his way is seducing him.

In the light of these facts consider this verse:

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Here is a man, who thinks his way is right; but that way certainly ends up in a place he did not intend. His way has seduced him. His way seemed to offer advantages that it could not deliver in the end.

It is for this reason that Solomon gives us this advice:

Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

If you would avoid being seduced by the way of the wicked, then take the following steps. First, ask God to show you any errors in your way.

Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

If you resist reproof and the exposure of errors in your way, then you will never find the right way.

Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Proverbs 10:17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

Then open your Bible with a prayer to God to teach you His way.

Psalms 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

Psalms 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

And when God’s way is made plain to you in His word, then follow it.

Psalms 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

In so doing, you will avoid the seduction and destruction of the way of the wicked. You will be found among the righteous. You will have made the more excellent choices. And, therefore, as our verse says, you will be “more excellent than your neighbour.”

Proverbs 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

May this message find you and me in that more excellent way of righteousness.

Excellence or Seduction, Part 1

I always want a Bible in close reach. This is not a bad idea since man lives “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). For example, I keep a Bible in the glove compartment of my car and one by my bedside. Sometimes before I go to sleep, I will open the Bible by my bedside and just glance in it. I try to light on one verse and read it just to seal the day with a word from God before I sleep. One night as I did this, I lighted upon this verse:

Proverbs 12:26 ¶The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

Of course, this is a verse from the book of Proverbs, which is one of the Poetical books of the Bible. The Poetical books abound in the Hebrew poetic form known as parallelism, in which poetic rhythm is achieved by the repetition of ideas. In the case of this verse, this is an antithetical parallelism because the ideas are in contrast. The contrasting ideas in this verse are the ideas of excellence verses seduction.

"The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour." First of all, who are the righteous, especially considering that Romans 3:10 teaches that “there is none righteous, no not one”? Enter the grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ! Our Lord Jesus came into this world to save God’s elect from their sins and to make them righteous before God.

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Jesus Christ) shall many be made righteous.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Sinners are made righteous by the obedience and blood shedding of Jesus Christ. By their obedience to God’s commandments, the elect manifest that they are righteous. We do not become righteous by doing righteousness, as most believe. Rather, we do righteousness because we are righteous.

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Now if you would know if you are one of the righteous, then do righteousness. And if you are one of the righteous, then you are more excellent than your neighbour.

Consider the definition of excellent.

Excellent - Of a person or thing: That excels or surpasses in any respect; preeminent, superior, supreme.

The saints (holy persons) that are in this earth are called “the excellent” in Psalm 16:3:

But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

Your neighbour may have more wealth, power, education, and fame in this world than you, but if you are righteous, you are superior to him in the eyes of God. And will you vastly surpass him in the Day of Judgment. The Psalmist had this to say concerning those who glory in their worldly riches:

Psalms 49:11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. 12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. 13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. 14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. 15 ¶But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. 16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; 17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. 18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. 19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. 20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

The honoured and esteemed of this earth, those who excelled according to men of this world, are compared by God to “the beasts that perish.” When the morning of that eternal day dawns, it is the righteous (the upright) who shall dominion over the great of this earth. Being the excellent, they shall excel in that day. This being the case, doesn’t it make sense to heed the words of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness:…

Would you be a more excellent person, a more excellent parent, a more excellent son or daughter, a more excellent student, a more excellent employer or employee, a more excellent neighbour? If you would truly excel, seek righteousness. Seek the right Bible. Practice the right faith. Go to the right church. React to stress, provocation, and offences in the right way. In short, do righteousness and so manifest that you are righteous. Then you will be truly excellent, yea, more excellent than your neighbour.

There is much to be said for the second half of our verse, but that will have to wait. I am like Elihu today in that “I am full of matter” (Job 32:18). Therefore, you may be receiving more meditations “from the pastor’s study.” God grant you all grace to excel.