Reporting to the Master

I have some thoughts on Mark 6:30 that I wish to convey to you.

Mark 6:30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

Our Lord had sent out His disciples to preach, to heal, to raise the dead, and to cast out devils (MAR 6:7; MAT 10:5-8). The disciples did as they were instructed. Now in our verse above we see those disciples coming to our Lord and reporting to him what they had done and had taught. I see here a great principle we need to incorporate into our lives.

We are certainly familiar with telling the Lord our sins, the things we do wrong. But do we also tell the Lord the things we do and say that are good, that are in obedience to His commandments? For example, when the prophet Isaiah informed King Hezekiah that he was going to die, Hezekiah confessed to God the good that he had done in his life.

Isaiah 38:2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,
3 And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

Or consider the prayer of David. Observe in the bold print David’s report to God of the good he had done.

Psalms 26:1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

Or consider the example of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 13:10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

In the world of business, it is expected that men give an account to their superiors as to what they have done with the responsibility and resources they have been given. It is no less true in the realm of service to God. In the great Day of Judgment we shall all give an account of ourselves to God.

Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

It would be a good idea for us all to get a head start by doing that know. Like the disciples, learn to report to your Lord all things, both what you have done, and what you have taught. In his comments on Mark 6:30, G. Campbell Morgan said it well: “Regularly to do this would be to make us more than ever careful in all our doing, and all our teaching.”

And, now, O Lord, I have written this devotional to impress upon my readers the importance of being accountable to Thee. Behold how I love these Thy people and how I yearn that they live unto Thee. Remember this good deed that I have done and wipe it not out. Through Jesus Christ our Lord I pray. Amen.

Omnipresence

I skipped sending a devotional to you last week. Some weeks I am too busy to do one. Also, I do not want to overload you with e-mail. Some of you get so much e-mail that these devotionals could become just one more thing to read, which could in turn reduce their effectiveness.

My thoughts today are upon the omnipresence of God, that attribute of God that makes God present everywhere at all times. The Psalmist David describes this attribute of God in the following verses.

Psalms 139:1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7 ¶Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

David begins by dealing with God’s omniscience, the fact that God knows everything. Then he blends the thought of God’s omniscience with the thought of God’s omnipresence. It follows that if God is everywhere all the time, then God always knows everything that is happening, because He is there to see it happening. Because God is everywhere all the time, there is no place I can get away from Him. And since He is everywhere at all times, there is nothing I can think, say, or do that He is not aware of. It is as God said in Jeremiah 23:24:

Jeremiah 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

The awareness that God is present everywhere should have two effects on us. First, as children of God for Whom God cares as our heavenly Father, it should bring us great comfort to know that God is omnipresent. Since God is everywhere all the time, God is always there to help and relieve us. We are never beyond God’s reach in any place or situation we may be in. Wherever we are, God is there. But it is also true that wherever our enemies are, God is also there to restrain them. Our security lies in the fact that God is everywhere at all times.

And God’s omnipresence should have another effect upon us. It should serve as a deterrent to sin and a motive to obedience. Whenever you are tempted to sin, consider that God is right there watching your thoughts, hearing your words, and seeing your actions. How many sins we would avoid if we more diligently maintained an awareness of God’s presence! Are there sins that you commit that you would not commit if you knew that your brethren or your pastor were watching? If so, then why do you commit them when God is watching? Is God less than your brethren or your pastor? Or is it that you do not really believe God is present everywhere at all times watching everything you do? Just remember this:

Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

We do well to continually remind ourselves as did righteous Job.

Job 31:4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

The fact that sin is committed in the very presence of God makes it all the worse. Observe how the prophet Nathan charged David with his sin:

2 Samuel 12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

What David did, he did in the sight of God. When David confessed his sin, he acknowledged that he had sinned in God’s sight, which served to justify God’s verdict against him.

Psalms 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

How does one claim innocence before the person that was there and saw him commit the crime?

The awareness that God is ever present seeing all we think, say, and do, should spur us to avoid sin and obey God’s commandments. This is just the effect this awareness had on the Psalmist.

Psalms 119:168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

I close with this reminder: God is everywhere at all times; yea, God is here right now watching me as I write this and watching you as you read it. Be aware and beware!

Rock

My meditation today centers around this expression found in PSA 18:2: “The LORD is my rock.” In several other Psalms God is referred to as the rock. Why is God described as a rock? A good place to begin in answering that question is considering the definition of a rock.

Rock – 1. A large rugged mass of stone forming a cliff, crag, or natural prominence on land or in the sea. 2. In figurative or allusive uses: a. A source of danger or destruction, usually with allusion to shipwreck. b. Something which affords a sure foundation or support; something which gives shelter or protection; used esp. with reference to Christ.

Obviously, the Creator of all rocks is not Himself a mass of stone. The word rock is being used here figuratively. However, the figure is derived from the primary meaning of the word. When we know what a rock is primarily, then we can learn why God is described as a rock. Something about a rock tells us something about our God. It is interesting to note how the Holy Spirit draws from things in the creation in order to reveal God to us. James Jordan had this interesting insight:

We simply cannot grasp God’s infinite tri-personality all at once. For this reason, God chose to reveal the infinity of His personality in the diversity of this world. Various things in the world reveal various things about God.

As Scripturally informed believers we can find reflections of God throughout His creation. In describing God as a rock, the Holy Spirit reveals to us what we can experience in a relationship with God.

The above definition says that a rock is a figure of something which affords a sure foundation or support. It provides us with strength to bear us up. We have strength to stand and withstand our troubles because we have a sure foundation beneath us giving us support. Hence, God as our rock is a source of strength.

Psalms 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

A rock is also a figure of something which gives protection. Therefore, as our rock God is a source of defence to protect us.

Psalms 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

If you are “stedfast and unmoveable” in your Christian profession, it is because your rock is defending you. He is protecting you from whatever is beyond your ability to bear. As our rock, God is a refuge to which we may flee when we perceive danger. We flee to Him to protect us.

Psalms 94:22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

And then a rock is something which gives shelter. In the blistering heat or in a raging storm, what better place to be than under the shelter of a mighty rock, where one can find refuge, rest, and relief? And such is our Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, the God-Man.

Isaiah 32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

For centuries believers have found comfort in this revelation of God as their rock. Many songs have been composed which celebrate this theme. In our congregation we sing, “On Christ the solid Rock I stand”; “Rock of ages, cleft for me”; “In the rifted Rock I’m resting”; “O Thou blessed Rock of ages, hide thou me.” Indeed, the very survival of the church of Jesus Christ is owing to the fact that its Rock has strengthened and defended it.

Matthew 16:18 …Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Another thought that emerges from this description of God as a rock is that of constancy. A rock is a sure foundation, shelter, and defence because of its permanence and stability. A massive rock does not move. It does not collapse under pressure. It abides. One quality we look for in human relationships is the quality of constancy, dependability, faithfulness. We want someone who will always be there for us, someone we can count on. How we need constancy in a shifting, changing, dying world! But, alas, all human supports are limited and temporary. No creature can always be there for us. At some point any human being will let us down. And then there is always death, the Grim Reaper, to snatch away those on whom we depend. That is why we must always look beyond creature supports to God as our ultimate support. Only God can be a rock in the fullest sense of all that a rock implies. He is the only one who can always be there for us, the one we can always count on. Hence, we do well to say with the Psalmist regarding our God:

Psalms 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

In closing, observe in the definition above that a rock is also a figure of a source of danger or destruction. The comforting figures that arise from the description of God as a rock belong to those who can say with the Psalmist, “The LORD is my rock.” If you have no personal relationship with God, then these comforts do not belong to you. If God is not your rock, then to you He is a source of danger or destruction. When speaking of Himself as the Stone (Rock) the Lord Jesus Christ had this to say:

Luke 20:17 …What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? 18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ? Is He your Lord Whom you obey? Are His commandments the rule by which you govern your life? Is he your rock? Or have you rejected Him? If you have, then you will find Him a crushing source of destruction. For myself, I am
standing on, trusting in, and sheltered under the LORD, my Rock.

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.

Faith

The following verse has been on my mind of late and I would like to relate to you some thoughts I have on it.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Of course, there are those who abuse this text by teaching that it gives us a blank check to get from God whatever we want. The sovereign God is not a magic genie at our service to grant our any and every wish. Scripture has examples of faithful souls who desired things and prayed for them, yet they did not receive that which they desired. Moses desired and prayed to enter into the Promised Land, but he was denied (DEU 3:23-26). David prayed for his baby son to live, but the baby still died (2SA 12:15-19). Paul besought God three times to remove his thorn in the flesh, but it remained (2CO 12:7-10). Nowhere does Scripture ascribe God’s denying the desires of these men to their lack of faith. So how do we reconcile this with our verse in MAR 11:24?

One of the rules of studying Scripture is to compare “spiritual things with spiritual” (1CO 2:13). These spiritual things are the things of Scripture. So we must compare Scripture with Scripture to get the full picture of what Scripture is teaching. If we compare the promise of MAR 11:24 with 1JO 5:14-15 we will find the boundaries of “what things soever ye desire.”

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Observe that we may “ask any thing.” And we are assured that “whatsoever we ask” we will have. That sounds just like our Lord’s promise in MAR 11:24. However, notice that “anything” and “whatsoever” are qualified by the prepositional phrase “according to his will.” We may ask anything that is according to the will of God. And when we do so, we can be assured that “we have the petitions that we desired of him.” The key is asking according to the will of God. And we can know the will of God because it has been revealed to us in His written word.

Now consider some things that Scripture teaches are the will of God. It is God’s will for us to work to earn our own bread.

Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

It is God’s will for us to control our tongue and our anger.

Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

James 1:19 ¶Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

It is God’s will for us to attend church.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

It is God’s will for us forgive those who trespass against us.

Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

It is God’s will that we not live in the fear of man, or things, or events.

Luke 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

1 Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Now if we ask God to help us to do these things, we are asking according to His will. And asking according to His will, we are assured that “we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” However! Our verse in MAR 11:24 places one more condition on our receiving “whatsoever we ask” and that is the condition of faith. Read it again:

“What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

If, for example, I ask God to help me control my anger, I must believe that He will do what I ask. If I do not believe He will help, then I will not receive the help. It is as simple as that. So the reason we do not make more progress spiritually, is because we lack faith! It is as our Lord said to his fearful disciples on one occasion:

Mark 4:40 Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Am I facing difficult decisions? Do I need wisdom? James teaches that it is ours for the asking provided we ask in faith.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

So considering that a lack a faith lies at the heart of our lack of spiritual progress, we would do well to adopt this prayer:

Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

“Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (EPH 6:23).

Purposes, Part 2

I wish to follow up on the meditation I sent to you last week regarding purposes. This meditation will be more specific. The following verse sets forward a purpose we would all do well to adopt:

Psalms 17:3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

David expressed this purpose again in the following verse:

Psalms 39:1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

Notice that David’s resolve was expressed in the future tense. Taking heed to his ways in order to avoid sins of the tongue, and keeping his mouth with a bridle, were things David set before himself to be done, which is to purpose by definition.

This subject hits close to home for me. I am a Mott and Motts are quite the talkers. A first cousin of mine once remarked: “A picture is worth a thousand words. But with a Mott you get a picture and a thousand words.” That statement would be funnier if it weren’t so true.

Scripture has a lot to say about sins of the tongue. James gives a graphic destruction of the destructive potential of the tongue.

James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Our tongue is a world all unto itself, even a world of iniquity. Now that is a lot to get under control! The tongue is a fire kindled by hell itself. It is unruly. We must force it into subjection. One will never tame it as one might tame some animals. Anything this destructive certainly needs to be bridled. It requires careful attention (heed) to keep the tongue under control. Hence, David purposed that his mouth would not transgress and took heed to his ways in order to avoid sinning with his tongue.

As we noted in our meditation last week, improvement in this area will only occur as we determine, as we resolve, as we purpose to improve. It will not be enough just to wish that we didn’t run off at the mouth so much. We have to set the control of our mouth as something before us to accomplish. It takes determination to do this, especially considering the resistance we will get from this unruly evil.

But just resolving to get the tongue under control is not enough. We will need God’s assistance. It is as our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Indeed, we must watch. As David said, we must take heed to our ways. But in addition, we must seek God’s help. Otherwise, our most firm resolutions will collapse in defeat because we are up against an evil that is greater than we. Therefore, we also find David praying this prayer:

Psalms 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

God must stand guard at the door of our lips to prevent temptations that would be beyond our ability to bear. This prayer is another way of saying: “Lead us not into temptation.”

In order to drive home the importance of bridling the tongue, consider the following verses.

James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect (spiritually mature) man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

Proverbs 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Proverbs 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain (unprofitable, useless, worthless).

So if we would be spiritually mature; if we would control our whole body with it various passions and lusts, if we would be wise, if we would preserve our life, if we would practice a religion that is worthwhile, we must bridle our tongue. We need to adopt the resolve of the Psalmist and say: “I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.”

I close with this thought: “A loose tongue will get you into a tight spot.” The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Purposes, Part 1

I have been reading through the book of Daniel. There is an expression that I came across in chapter one that has been lingering in my thoughts. By the way, we should think about things we read in the Bible. It is called meditation and it is a most healthy spiritual exercise. The verse that I have been thinking about reads as follows:

Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

The expression that has captured my attention is the expression: “Daniel purposed in his heart.” Let this expression spur us to think about our purposes.

First, true to our method of teaching, let us define the word purpose both as a noun and as a verb.

Purpose – sb. Purpose - That which one sets before oneself as a thing to be done or attained; the object which one has in view. Without a or pl. The action or fact of intending or meaning to do something; intention, resolution, determination.

Purpose - v. To set before oneself for accomplishment. To place before oneself as a thing to be done or attained; to form a purpose of doing (something); to design or resolve upon the performance of.

When “Daniel purposed in heart” not to defile himself with the king’s meat and drink, he set that task before him as something to be accomplished. Having purposed to do it in his heart, he proceeded to order his conduct and circumstances to accomplish that objective. Daniel’s purpose was more than a passing wish. It was a resolve, a determination to make something happen, if at all possible.

If you read the entire chapter of Daniel 1, you know that Daniel sought out a way to remain true to his purpose not to defile himself with the king’s meat and drink. God blessed Daniel with good success in fulfilling this purpose. He was permitted to eat another diet and he fared better on that diet than the others did on the king’s diet. But this good success all began with Daniel purposing in his heart. It is amazing what people can accomplish if they but purpose in their hearts to do something. It is also amazing how God will assist those who purpose in their hearts to do right things.

Remembering that these things in Daniel “were written for our learning” (ROM 15:4), there is something here for us to apply to ourselves. The way you order your conduct and circumstances flows out of what you purpose in your heart. A great deal can be known about the things that you set before you to accomplish, by the things you choose to do and not to do.

Examine your spiritual life, your Bible reading, your prayer life, your church attendance, what you get out of the church service, what you contribute to the church, your personal holiness, your walk, your attitude, your talk. Need improvement? Bear in mind that there will be no improvement without your doing what Daniel did. You must purpose in your heart to make things better. You will make no progress in any of these areas I have suggested until you set it before you as something to be accomplished, until you resolve or determine within yourself to improve.

Consider the following passage spoken of Barnabas when he went to Antioch to see the work of the Lord being done there.

Acts 11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

That word cleave is an interesting word to consider.

Cleave - To stick fast or adhere, as by a glutinous surface. To adhere or cling to (a person, party, principle, practice, etc.); to remain attached, devoted, or faithful to.

Barnabas exhorted these brethren to “cleave unto the Lord,” that is, to be attached, devoted, and faithful to the Lord. Just how attached, devoted, and faithful to your Lord are you? Do your decisions reflect that you cleave unto Him? Does your daily spiritual life reflect that you cleave unto Him? Does your attentiveness to the worship of God show that you cleave unto Him? Do the choices you make between His church service and your personal ambitions and pleasures show how much cleave unto the Lord?

Now if you would be more attached, devoted, and faithful to your Lord, be advised that this will only occur when you do so “with purpose of heart,” just as Barnabas said. Cleaving to the Lord will only happen as you set it before you as something to be accomplished. As you resolve and determine in your heart to cleave unto the Lord, that purpose will be seen in how your order your conduct and circumstances. It will show itself in the kind of job you select, the shift you choose to work, the kinds of friends you make, how you plan your vacations, etc. So far as it is possible, you will make choices that will facilitate your cleaving unto the Lord. You will do this because this is what you purpose in your heart.

So examine your purposes, dear brethren. I close with the words of this song:

Standing by a purpose true, heeding God’s command,
Honour them, the faithful few! All hail to Daniel’s Band!
Dare to be a Daniel. Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known!

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Darkness

This morning my Bible reading took me to the second chapter of Daniel. As I read I noted especially the words of verse 22:

...he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

Daniel was in the service of King Nebuchadnezzar as a wise man, with whom the king consulted. The king had had a disturbing dream that he could not only not understand, he could not even remember it. He could only remember that he had had a disturbing dream. As to the substance and meaning of the dream, the king was in darkness. He did not know. In this verse Daniel was informing the king that the God of heaven knew, because this God "knoweth what is in the darkness."

From time to time the righteous finds themselves in the darkness. They do not know why things are happening the way they are. They are unsure of the outcome of something. They pray for answers and yet the answers they expect are not forthcoming. Will I heal of this illness? Will I get a job? Will I keep my job? How will changes in the company affect me? Will my business succeed or fail? What is going to happen to the economy? How will my children get on in such as world as this? Will my children be converted? Will our church survive or fall apart as other churches have done? On and on we could go. All of these kinds of questions reveal a struggle with the unknown or, in other words, a struggle with darkness, with that which we cannot see. I myself struggle with it. I see things that threaten the ministry of the word and its impact in your lives, and wonder what the ultimate effect of those things will be. I start a little church and wonder if it will survive. I wonder how the members of my church will survive a weak job market, escalating prices, and so forth.

It has long been a comfort to me to realize that the good and godly of the Bible have also had their struggles with the unknown, with the darkness. Job certainly wrestled with this.

Job 19:7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

The Psalmist experienced it.

Psalms 88:6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

Jeremiah complained of it in his Lamentations.

Lamentations 3:2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.

Our beloved apostle Paul also had his times when things did not make sense to him.

2 Corinthians 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

To be perplexed is to be bewildered, puzzled, or confused. If you are perplexed, things are unclear to you. In other words, you are in darkness.

So if you are struggling with darkness today, do not despair. Godly men, men of faith, have also had similar struggles. You are not alone in this struggle.

And here comes relief with the verse I have selected in Daniel 2. Although we do not know what is in the darkness - and that unknown can cause a lot of anxiety - God knows what is in the darkness. He understands what is going on and why. He calls upon us to trust His knowledge and understanding. Charles Spurgeon said it so well:

"Continue with double earnestness to serve your Lord when no visible result is before you. Any simpleton can follow the narrow path in the light: faith's rare wisdom enables us to march on in the dark with infallible accuracy, since she places her hand in that of her Great Guide."

How good God is to provide us with light in the midst of our darkness, in the midst of the unknowns and uncertainties of life. We who are converted have even now "the light of the glorious gospel of Christ" (2Corinthians 4:4). We know God in and through Jesus Christ our Lord. We have a personal relationship with the One Who knows what is in the darkness and Who has secured our everlasting good.

I close with this beautiful prospect. One of the descriptions given of the New Jerusalem, our eternal home, is this:

Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

We are tending toward a home where agonizing unknowns and uncertainties will be no more. I decided to try this means to pass onto you a blessing I received from daily Bible reading. I submit these thoughts for your encouragement. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all together will my love in Christ Jesus.