Considering the Bible

Psalms for Psome – Ps 62.04

2024-07-13

Don’t you love it when, after years of reading the “Old Book” passages become alive, reinforcing old teachings or simply warming your heart.

This is the book of Psalms, and it is rich.

I pray I can communicate a portion of the blessing we receive from this wonderful book.

Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Let’s remember that David is in himself during this psalm, that he is ruminating on the goodness of God in a very difficult situation. He is all prayed out, made his requests known to God, struggled with his thoughts and concerns, and is now in a settled stage of waiting on the Lord.

Trust in him at all times.

As I consider the ramifications of this phrase, I want to consider an alternative frame of reference in a relationship with God. For you see, I have spent a good portion of my life in utter fear of God, not the type defined by respect and acknowledgement of His greatness, but paralyzed by fear, struck down by the sheer concept of the All Powerful.

In that fear, I had no freedom to ask a question, no rights of privilege before Him, no ability to please Him, for I could not perform all the requirements on my own, and I “knew” I couldn’t ask Him for help. The fear was paralyzing, but it is an experience that has taught me the blessings of trust.

Trust is a freedom to look to Him for decisions to be made, for outcomes to be controlled, to understand my weakness and failure, to consider Him as a loving Father, and not as a terror inducing All Mighty Person who only seeks to dominate and control.

Please do not misunderstand me. I am not seeking to relegate the Lord to a minor god, a weak kneed deity that has been cast aside by man. He is the Almighty. He has no challengers. He is the Creator of all, and the mighty Redeemer.

Yet we are to trust Him, as David exhorts us, and that implies a relationship similar to that of son and Father, of friend and friend. He is approachable due to the blood He has shed. He is One that has provided an open door policy due to His heart of love.

O people; pour out your heart before him

Out of this trusting relationship, David exhorts the people of God to pour out their hearts to Him. I don’t know about you, but I do not pour out my heart to my boss, or to any authoritarian figure in my life. Rare as it is, this exercise of shedding my cares onto someone is shared with only the closest of family or friend. It is a connection that provides safety and no condemnation, no fear of rejection, and the hope of solutions to be offered.

Do you see God in this way? Is He a Master over you, needing obedience of the law to be able to accept you, or a Father waiting for a deeper relationship, approachable and willing to hear of our fears, failures and frustrations.

God is a refuge for us.

My friends, do not abandon God as a refuge by not opening up to Him. The image of a refuge is often used to describe God and usually it is in the midst of trials that the people of faith are experiencing. As a refuge, He is there to protect, and to guard against the enemy, be they physical, emotional or spiritual.

He Himself has experienced torture and an excruciating death to prove His desire to be with us. Consider His love for you. Trust will be a natural response to such great love.

Trust in him at all times

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Names of God – CREATOR OF ISRAEL – 91

2024-07-12

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

91

CREATOR OF ISRAEL

Isaiah 43:15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”

In our last post, we considered God as Creator. He who created out of nothing, or as the ancients used to say “ex nihilo”. Our passage this morning speaks of God as Creator, using the same Hebrew word as in Gen 1:1, but in a different sense.

God created Israel, the nation now in captivity in Babylon. He is reminding the people who have been dragged off into captivity that He is their Creator. The nation would not exist with His active work in the world.

Consider the patient work performed in the creation of the nation. The calling of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the expansion of this dysfunctional family, the rescue of Israel from Egypt though the plagues, the exodus through the Sinai of a thankless people, the giving of the law, the invasion and domination of the land of Canaan, the provisions of judges to provide leadership, the rejection of His authority in demanding a king, the calling and equipping of prophets to warn the nation, and finally, at this point in their history, the humbling of the nation by a cruel Babylon.

God created Israel through many processes and was calling on them to recall their past, in that He is their Creator.

Only a few lines later, Isaiah draws their attention the the current activities of God, in that He is doing a new thing. His creative powers, in that of the nation of Israel in not finished. Babylon will not have the final word. God is actively working and doing a new thing in the history of Israel.

He will make a road in the wilderness (v 19), a path back to the land they have been carried away from. Their story wasn’t over yet, and if truth be told, the Way they would be provided would be greater than all their hopes and wishes.

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Conditional Security – 1 Timothy 2:11-15 A

2024-07-11

1 Timothy 2:11-15

11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve;
14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing–if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Is this a tough passage? Everyone says YES!

This is a difficult passage that creates more questions than answers. My intent isn’t to solve the mystery of what it means to be “saved through childbearing”, but to bring the last clause into focus.

This is an example of the topic of salvation being contingent upon continuance, by our perseverance, persistence and determination to practice our faith, love and holiness, with self control. This begs the question of our source of strength for only through our connection with the Savior, can we continue through His strength. Yet we are to follow, look to Him, seek His help, pray for His strength, ask for His wisdom and in every way we know, lean on Him for our every need.

Yet as I walk through these passages that speak of conditional security, I can see where this topic may foster an attitude of superiority, of a pride in persevering, of thinking haughty inner thoughts due to continuing in a religious life, of comparing your “living” faith with others who may be struggling.

My brothers and sisters, this is antithetical to true Christian life and exhibits a self reliance, a leaning on the strength of your own will. This pride of perseverance is the very sour air that turns so many away from the faith, and rightly so.

We desperately need to admit our weakness, our poverty, our neediness, our inabilities. Not only to ourselves, which is the first (and hardest?) step, but also to our family, our friends, our fellow workers, and dare I say it – even our enemies.

But alas, this requires great wisdom, and a true humility, where we don’t necessarily think lowly of ourselves, but that we don’t think of our selves at all. – What a blessing to be in that state!

Truly, to walk with the Lord is impossible without Him. It is just too deep, too broad, too high and too wide, for our feeble minds and weak hearts to fathom.

May we seek Him, and in the seeking find the strength He provides to humbly admit our weaknesses.

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you would like to receive daily posts from Considering the Bible, click on the “Follow” link below

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Life of David – 9.03

2024-07-10

Saul Tries to Kill David

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

In chapter 19, we see King Saul working out his previous decision, that Saul would be “David’s enemy continually” (18:29b). Let’s see how that works out for the King.

1 Samuel 19:11-17

11 Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, told him, “If you do not escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.”
12 So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled away and escaped.
13 Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats’ hair at its head and covered it with the clothes.
14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”
15 Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.”
16 And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at its head.
17 Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me thus and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” And Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go. Why should I kill you?’”

The last passage Saul’s son Jonathon stuck his neck out for David. Now his daughter is lying to her father for David’s sake. Or was she?

As we read this passage and compare Jonathon’s statements with Michal’s statements, it seems she didn’t have the spiritual legs that Jonathon stood on. Notice that when Saul finally confronts her, she claims David threatened to kill her, and that she reluctantly let him go.

Give me a break! She want ed him to run, stating that he would be dean if he stuck around till morning. And after three trips of Saul’s messengers to David’s house, Michal had to face the king.

Sure father – I am still on your side. He threatened me, how could I keep him for you.

Remember back in verse 4, where Jonathon spoke well of David, spoke of David’s service for the king, and calling David “innocent blood”. This trait of loyalty and truth speaking didn’t seem to carry through the entire family. Michal seemed to be one who was concerned of her own skin, and if a little lie here and there would help, she was good for it!

One item that seemed insignificant on my first reading, but actually may bear on the passage more than I first considered, is the reference to Michal using a tᵊrāp̄îm, the Hebrew term for idol. Specifically, it seems this idol was used as a household shrine.

What was that doing in David’s house? How large was this idol? Michal used the idol to mimic the size of an adult!

So Michal had placed this idol in a bed, in an effort to deceive her father’s messengers, and then when she was found out, blamed David and his threatening ways.

Something just doesn’t ring true with this lady! Whose side is she on? I suppose the idol deception may have been an effort to give David time to run, but when her father finally shows up, she throws David under the bus, claiming she tried to keep him for Saul, (so why the delay and deception with the idol) and then saying he threatened her with death, but never alerted her father the king, with this threat against her life.

Like I said – Michal seems to have some commitment to David, but it surely is not a deep and strong, self sacrificing love for him. If I were to guess, Michal is a woman of the situation. A woman who will tailor her story to suit the situation, to save her skin.

Although she noticed the messengers on the first night as they watched David’s house, she did alert David to the danger, Michal didn’t follow through as I imagine Jonathon might, defending his friend.

Somewhat of a compromised character in my mind. Might this character weakness reflect her commitment to the God of Israel? Was it not Paul who spoke the truth, that who we worship is who we are transformed into?

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.

Let us worship the true God and not another!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Jesus in the Old Testament – Abraham – 04

2024-07-09

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

SEEING JESUS IN

Abraham

Altar Builder

Genesis 12:7 So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
Genesis 12:8 And there he built an altar to the LORD
Genesis 13:18 there he built an altar to the LORD.
Genesis 22:9 Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

Hebrews 8:3
For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.

Early on in the Word, any place could be an altar, and Abraham in his travels built many altars. I often think of altars as places of quietness, calmness and peace. For those in the Old Testament, this might not be such an accurate picture, for the word altar, in the Old Testament can literally be translated as “a place of slaughter”.

I may have mentioned this in a previous blog, but my son took it upon himself to read through the Bible in a month, and in the reading, as he got through Leviticus, he made the following statement. Dang – those priest’s in the temple were more like butchers than religious priests today!

Sharp boy, that son of mine! He saw that the altar was a place of slaughter, blood and death. The slaughter of any animal has got to be a violent, possibly noisy endeavor, not to mention the gushing of blood, the experience of a life ending and the impact on the conscious of the one sacrificing.

The New Testament is no different, for it also refers to a place of slaughter. I am not convinced that the Altar was any less bloody during times of sacrifice, or that the practice was “sanitized” much from early times. To sacrifice an animal would be the forcing of one’s will upon a helpless victim, an animal with no choice.

Consider Jesus, who was not only the sacrifice, but the High Priest of the New Covenant. He officiated over His own sacrifice, and was the One who orchestrated the time, place and extent of His sacrifice.

He is the ultimate altar builder, and as such has eliminated the blood letting for His worshippers. There is no altar for the believer, no place to sacrifice an animal to appease God. This is an ultimate insult to consider this as being an acceptable approach to God. Our altar is Him, and our approach to the altar is to be in a state of humility, teachableness and with a thankful spirit.

Abraham was a shadow, but Jesus is the reality. Look to the Only Sacrifice offered up for your life!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Names of God – CREATOR – 90

2024-07-08

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

90

CREATOR

Romans 1:25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

When we think of creating a piece of art, making a machine, or writing a poem, we think we are creating something, that may have never been in existence before. Well – that may be true in some instances, but we should stop short of thinking we are creating in the same manner as God created.

We “create” out of a plethora of materials.

If we are making a piece of art, whether a painting, sculpture or a book, then all the material and subjects we broach in the art is found in the originally created world. We are merely recreating, or rearranging already existing thoughts feelings and ideas.

Similarly with the making of a machine. Whether that machine is a tractor, or a computer, the original machine is made from ideas and truths available to the one searching specific processes or methods already established and ready to be found in the originally created world.

In the writing of a poem or story, we are taking truths or observations and communicating these truths or observations in a hopefully unique way.

But in all these human creations, we can not claim that we are creating in the same way as God created the world we live in. For when we speak of God creating, He creates out of nothing.

He did not have any one previous to him to provide guidance in creation, or methods of creating, or materials to create out of. He did not have any materials to manipulate in order to create something new. He had nothing to work with, and by a simple spoken word, emptiness, what many call space, was created.

Space was created. Time was created. Material was created.

In the beginning (time), God created the heavens (space) and the earth (materials).

We have been made, created in the image of God, and yet though we are broken, we do mimic God in our creative efforts. But there are limitations to our mimicking, for He has provided us not only the materials and time to create from, but the space to perform all our necessary work.

He has established all things. We are simply trying to understand His creation, and in a small way create systems or things that may be of benefit for those around us.

There is a massive difference between our creating and His creating, and due to that huge distinction, He is truly the only actual Creator.

May His name be praised.

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Philippian Bits – 4:12

2024-07-07

For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

4:12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

In our last blog, we spoke of contentment

In the Christian life, I am convinced that contentment falls back onto our relation with the Lord and our understanding that His will is above our will. If we are constantly seeking our will, and struggling to attain our wishes, our wants, our desires, we cannot experience contentment.

Contentment has the meaning of being independent of external circumstances. As circumstances come into our lives, our very continuing dependence on the Lord is tested.

A tragedy coming into our lives may reveal a lack of correct dependence, and as such, should be considered a welcomed notification from our Father.

A more difficult circumstance is success. As we seek to be faithful to our God, others should see our desire to do things properly and correctly, and out of this recognition of character, may be provided greater responsibility and greater rewards for our service. The rewards are the problem, for we sometimes get distracted with the rewards and move away from a contented, well placed dependence on God.

One additional meaning of contentment is the realization that you are strong enough to need no aid or support from others.

This I fear is where the modern believer may suffer want. Not that we do not have all we need in our work or in our ministries, but that the tempting messages bombarding our senses every day teaches us we are not complete until we have the latest iPhone, or the fastest internet, or the tastiest hamburger.

To be content. It is a goal that we are constantly required to learn in this culture.

If you have a sense of contentment, you are a thankful person. If you do not live in a thankful spirit, check out your contentment meter.

You may be running on fumes!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion

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Psalms for Psome – Ps 62.03

2024-07-06

Don’t you love it when, after years of reading the “Old Book” passages become alive, reinforcing old teachings or simply warming your heart.

This is the book of Psalms, and it is rich.

I pray I can communicate a portion of the blessing we receive from this wonderful book.

Psalm 62:5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
Psalm 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
Psalm 62:7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

As we mentioned in an earlier post, this psalm does not ask anything of the Lord, but the psalmist is “in himself”, ruminating on the person of God, reminding himself of God’s active work in his life, of God’s presence and His character.

God

provides hope
is my rock
is my salvation (x2)
is my fortress
is my glory
is my mighty rock
is my refuge

Take a moment and consider each of these descriptors of God. Is there a common denominator, a common theme in these descriptors, something that indicates the condition of David’s heart as he reviews the character of God?

I would suggest that David is in a very difficult place, a place in which there appears to be no escape, no path to safety, no place of security or of strength, and no area that is stable, that is constant.

There are times when we, as believers will also experience this condition. In our lives, there appears to be many enemies, many difficulties, many obstacles and many temptations, that are seemingly insurmountable.

During these times, I have spent too much time looking for solutions, ways out of the problem, solutions to my difficulty. And in these difficult times, I have worried myself into a fit of doubt and despair.

But the rare time, I have turned introspective, remembered the goodness of God, His former guidance, His continued protection, (though not without some scrapes and bruising), and His constant care. During these times of dwelling on God, I have found that my worry machine has run out of gas.

Amazing – we can dwell on His goodness, on His person, on His care for us, or we can worry.

Let’s think on Him. He is good, and He is good all the time.

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Names of God – COVER OF YOUR PRESENCE – 89

2024-07-05

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

89

COVER OF YOUR PRESENCE

Psalm 31:20 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.

Decades ago, when I was courting my wife, we ended up in a little donut shop in my neighborhood, all alone with just the cashier behind the counter. It was a quiet area, and we were enjoying each others company (and a donut of course!) when it multiple groups of people entered the restaurant. Two young men, a couple on a date, some fellas from the bowling alley, three teenagers. It just seemed that the store was inundated with customers for no apparent reason.

After the crowds entered and we had finished our donut, we got up to leave and as we walked away, we both described a feeling of “apartness” or of being separate from “the masses”. It was a very identifiable experience that we both shared in, and though I am surely not implying those who entered the shop were of any malicious intent towards us, I think the experience is a parallel to David’s description of the Lord’s covering.

Other translations speak of “shelter of your presence” (NLT) or the “secret place of Your presence” (NKJV), even the “protection of Your presence” (CSB).

Make no mistake about our little experience. I am not claiming we were under any attack from anyone, but only that the experience of being separate, of experiencing being apart from others is my intent.

David speaks of this covering, of this protection as being God’s presence, which is a most audacious thing to say, for David must surely understand the presence of God is only in the Temple. Just as the believer may understand the presence of God may only be found in a church building.

David also brings this description to our attention due to the fact that he is under attack by the plots of men, and is the recipient of the strife of tongues. David was under attack, and yet he knew of God’s protection, of God’s active work in hiding him in plain sight.

It is a truly mysterious and glorious God that we serve. May we understand His many ways of working in our lives and be a thankful people.

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Conditional Security – Revelation 21:7-8

2024-07-04

Revelation 21:7-8

7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

John is coming to a close in the book of Revelation and enters into his description of the new heaven and the new earth. As he describes this new creation, and especially the provision of the water of life to those who conquer, he veers off and starts talking of some who do not conquer. The ones who are cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars will enter the second death.

But John – you are sending this book to the seven churches. Are you not concerned that some of the believers might see themselves in these descriptions. These are believers that will read this message and they may not realize you intend this for unbelievers.

That is the rub in this passage. Those in the church who may read this, if they are not hardened beyond repentance, will see this as a warning and return to the truth. John is actually evangelizing the saved, and is not providing a warning for those in the church to use when they are talking to the lost.

As a matter of fact, it occurs to me that many times when the apostles spoke to the lost, their emphasis was the risen Lord, and not the destination of those who may believe. In other words, it is rare when an apostle uses hell to “scare them into heaven”. If my reader has a portion of Scripture that I have missed, please provide, but the apostles emphasis was His resurrection and not our destination.

Nevertheless, this passage speaks of the believer who has apostatized, who has decided to walk away from the Savior, who has hardened their heart and stopped their ears, rejecting the leading of the Father.

The new heaven and the new earth is for those believers who have continued with the Savior through thick and thin, who have followed and kept the faith, not merely as a doctrine, but as a practice in their lives.

My friend – our lives are to be lives of repentance and faith, of realizing we are weak and that we need His strength, of understanding that we naturally fall, tend to wander and close our eyes to the light.

He is good. May we seek to follow, and by His strength and mercy, conquer.

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Life of David – 9.02

2024-07-03

Saul Tries to Kill David

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

In chapter 19, we see King Saul working out his previous decision, that Saul would be “David’s enemy continually” (18:29b). Let’s see how that works out for the King.

1 Samuel 19:8-10

8 And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great blow, so that they fled before him.
9 Then a harmful spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre.
10 And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.

At the end of our previous portion of Scripture, the very last phrase of verse 7, the author tells us

… Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.

Jonathon went out on a limb in front of his father, the king of Israel, to secure David back into the royal circle.

We dwelt last time on the gentle boldness of Jonathon in his approach to his father, and seemingly found success in providing a safe environment for David to return too.

Yet, in all the history we have seen with Saul and David so far, the fact that David would return into an environment with king Saul is quite remarkable. The king had reneged on promises, lied to him, shamed him with marrying off his betrothed on the day of the wedding, and on top of all that, had made numerous attempts to kill the young man.

What does that say about David and Jonathon’s friendship? The bond between these two men was anchored in a trust. How David must have trusted Jonathon, in that he came back into this unstable and potentially deadly environment.

Our passage speaks of another relationship also. Jonathon and Saul. Father and son. King and crown prince. User and used.

Saul used his son’s bond with David to pull him back into the inner circle, and for a period, there seemed to be a détente, a co-existence between the failed king and the young one destined for greatness. Of course Saul took advantage of David’s skill in warfare, for it seemed that Saul was regularity at war, so David’s presence was most likely spotty when it came to being in the kings presence.

But time dragged on, David continued to grow in abilities and victories, and Saul brooded. In the midst of victories for his nation, Saul could not rejoice in the national growth and prosperity the victories promised. No – Saul was under the influence of a harmful spirit, a spirit from the Lord.

The term “harmful” may be translated as bad, or evil, wicked, disagreeable, even malignant. This spirit from the Lord was not of the Lord. In the midst of this spiritual influence, Saul lost all resistance, forgetting his words to Jonathon, and attacked David with a spear. Now, whether he threw the spear at David, or ran at David to pin him to the wall, it doesn’t seem to be clear. What is clear is that Saul was not to be trusted, Jonathon lost face, and David was on the run, away from the the palace for 20 years, returning as the rightful King. But now, David was on the run, a fugitive until Saul passes from this earth.

Although this passage speaks volumes about the actions of a man in power doing insane acts (and the possible reason in the background for these insane acts), it also speaks of trust, and the willingness to forgive.

Trust between friends.

Jonathon and David remained close to the very end, and Jonathon’s trust in his father’s words did not seem to tarnish the bond these men had. It seems David understood the concept of love covering a multitude of sins, and knew that forgiveness is required attitude if relationships are to continue. I suppose that is the more important lesson for myself tonight as I write this, that to have relationship is to be willing to forgive for the sake of the other.

Relationship cannot exist without forgiveness!

Trust between father and son.

Jonathon and Saul were father and son, nothing could erase that bond, and yet each time a promise was broken, each time a word was taken back, the thread of experiential relationship between the two of them became thinner and weaker. It seems that though Saul was king, he was “relating” only to a harmful spirit.

In closing, let me ask – Have you a grudge against a friend this day? Go to him and ask for forgiveness. It will do your heart good!

Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

How about if a brother has something against you, even without cause?

Matthew 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Relationship will be strengthened when your brother sees you care enough to ask for forgiveness without prompting!

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Jesus in the Old Testament – Abraham – 03

2024-07-02

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

SEEING JESUS IN

Abraham

Offspring Benefits

Genesis 12:7
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

Hebrews 10:34
For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

Abraham as an 75 year old old man left his home, his land and his family, based on the message God provided him, that is a command to leave his home, family and country, in order to make him a great nation, give him a great name, and make him a blessing to all.

In the initial promise, it may safely be assumed that Abraham would have children, but the initial communication from the Lord did not specifically define any land that they would possess. Yes, the Lord told him that He should go to the land He would show him, but not until Abraham had committed, leaving family and friends behind, did the Lord mention the land as a possession of his offspring.

Abraham was on the move without a specific promise of a land as a benefit for his offspring, as a possession for his seed. Not until they came into the land of Canaan, did the Lord provide the promise of the land for his children.

He had the promise of a benefit for his children. Turns out it took centuries for the promise to be fulfilled, but a promise is not dependent on time, for a promise given 2,000 years is as valid as a promise given yesterday. For the promise is dependent on the promise maker, and our promise maker is faithful.

As Abraham, Jesus was provided promises of benefit for His offspring, a possession that is an abiding possession, based in the One who led the way. It is not a piece of real estate, but a real peace with God, and of God, a state of love and joy that far exceeds any benefit Abraham’s offspring was promised.

God the Father made promises to our “Abraham”, and by His faithful acts, and through the faithfulness of God, our possession is secure, and is waiting for us to enter into, to enjoy and to walk in.

May we find greater and greater joy in realizing the faithfulness of our God and His many mercies

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Names of God – COVENANT FOR THE PEOPLE – 88

2024-07-01

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

88

COVENANT FOR THE PEOPLE

Isaiah 42:6 “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,

Many times, in our self centered viewing of the Word, we do not see the Lord Jesus when God speaks of His Servant, as we see in this passage. Many may think this passage is referring to the nation of Israel, and reconfirming their mission to the gentiles, their calling.

The message was relevant for the nation at the time, for they were going into difficult times and needed to be reassured of their status before God. This is surely a blessing that Isaiah provides for the nation, yet if we consider the Christ centered message of the Word, it is obvious that the Lord is referring to Jesus in this passage.

Other passages refer to Him as a light to the nations, and as a Righteous Branch, or a Righteous Servant, but this post is going to consider Him as “a covenant for the people”.

To be a covenant is to be a pledge, or an alliance, even a treaty. Jesus has been given us as a treaty, a peace offering, a unilateral pledge of peace, if we will simply understand and trust Him.

I would like to emphasize that the Lord gave Jesus as a peace treaty, not as a negotiation or as a threatening offering, but that He gave Jesus. A gift.

Secondly, who did the Lord give Jesus, the covenant, the treaty to? The people. The people, in this verse are not active, but are the recipients of the peace treaty.

A gift to the people. A treaty, or an alliance offered to the people, without stipulation or caveat.

This verse is a clear expression of grace toward the people, toward those who were in covenant (the Jewish nation) and to those outside of the covenant – the Gentile nations. You may want to restrict “the people” in this verse to only those under the Mosaic covenant, and you have the freedom to do so, but as we enter the New Testament, we know that the covenant is for “the people”, for those who have blood in their veins and breath in their lungs.

And with this breath, we can praise the Lord for His tremendous Gift of Grace in Jesus!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

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Philippian Bits – 4:11

2024-06-30

For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Contentment.

In the advertising industry a contented customer is anathema. For a customer to be content means the wallet stays shut. They deal in providing us a constant diet of discontentment.

Contentment.

In the Christian life, contentment is not a natural state of being. It is not a fruit of the Spirit, or a gift that is provided to the believer. Paul says he has learned to be content.

He may have been without contentment at a time, like the Israeli’s who sought after the onions and leeks of the Egyption salvery they lived under.

But after years of ministry, and miles of travel, Paul says he has learned to be content.

But what is it to be content? Is contentment a feeling, a sense of well being, a feeling of peace? Might it be a state of being in which you are satisfied with your current life situation?

Contentment is more than a simple feeling that may come over us at times of peace. It is a learned behavior that, I fear in our culture especially, is constantly being challenged.

In our next verse, Paul speaks of different circumstances he faced that were opportunities to learn contentment. I am tempted to write on those things in this post, but am content to close with a simple challenge.

Are you content in the Lord?

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Psalms for Psome – Ps 62.02

2024-06-29

Don’t you love it when, after years of reading the “Old Book” passages become alive, reinforcing old teachings or simply warming your heart.

This is the book of Psalms, and it is rich.

I pray I can communicate a portion of the blessing we receive from this wonderful book.

Psalm 62:3 How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
Psalm 62:4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah

In our previous post, I sought to explain my understanding of this psalm, and that David was silent before God, that he was not making any petitions or requests before God in the psalm. He was silent before God.

Not so much in relation to those who had attacked him. Remember – the attacker is his son, who also had enlisted David’s trusted counselor Ahithophel, one who David considered a friend.

In his silence before God, he questions his attackers.

How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

As attackers, they naturally sought to find victory when their enemy was weak, like a leaning wall or a tottering fence. David was on the run, with his forces decimated, and unsure who was loyal to him. Who could be trusted, when his very friend Ahithophel had rebelled?

This attack had the smell of death, not only in its eventual outcome, which David could not admit to, but also in the intent of his enemies. Their attack had all the hallmarks of the evil one, saying one thing and doing the other. Hypocrites!

Verse 4 speaks of taking pleasure in falsehood. How foolish and short sighted. Do they not understand the fountain of all truth is the Lord, and that this treachery cannot succeed.

Remember David’s attitude when he was on the run? The rogue king Saul chased him and on multiple occasions, David had opportunity to strike him down, and yet he would not. He would not touch the Lord’s anointed. No success would come of it, and it would frustrate the will of God.

How could David reconcile that his son and friend were doing that which was abhorrent to him.

David could have justified an attack on Saul, since he had been anointed the king of Israel, yet he waited on the Lord. Absalom had no anointing, nor call of God on his life. He was simply a headstrong, deceitful, self willed, spoiled young man.

This rebellion was, from David’s standpoint, utterly spawned in falsehood. Absalom and Ahithophel surely had heard of the previous exploits of David in his ascension to the throne, yet they decided to pursue a completely different method of attaining power. Through falsehood. Through lies to the people of Israel and by deception to the king.

How utterly shortsighted.

And yet, if we consider our own lives, how often do we seek to short circuit God’s will with the same motivation, the same “pleasure in falsehood”, looking to find advantage through another’s weakness and by deception taking advantage of a weakness.

Ephesians 4:20, 25

But that is not the way you learned Christ!–
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

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Names of God – CORNERSTONE – 87

2024-06-28

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

87

CORNERSTONE

Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Jesus is referring to Psalm 118:22 when He speaks of the cornerstone being rejected by the builders.

This is a stinging prophecy Jesus is applying to the first century Jewish leadership. Although He speaks of Psalm 118, He also could have brought Isaiah 28:16 to the attention of the leadership.

Isaiah 28:16 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

Of course this passage doesn’t speak of rejection. May I suggest, this is the emphasis of Jesus using Psalm 118 when addressing those who were seeking His death.

Not only was it their responsibility not recognizing the Messiah, and that in rejecting the chief cornerstone, they rejected the very stone the building relies on, but Jesus also declares the Lord is in the midst of this.

God will use the wrath of man, the rejection of these leaders, to do a marvelous thing, a supernatural salvation, in front of their very eyes.

He is the cornerstone, the key to the church, the first of all stones to be laid, the sure foundation and the only One to provide the salvation promised.

As Psalm 118:24, the very next verse in the Great Hallel, states

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The day the Lord takes the rejected stone, and makes Him the cornerstone – this is the day that we are to rejoice in.

The day of salvation, of His work on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.

The Lord’s doing is truly marvelous! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Conditional Security – Revelation 2:18-26

2024-06-27

Revelation 2:18-26 18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,

This is a difficult passage! My first question is …

Who is the subject of this rebuke?

I am going to add my understanding to the verses on this passage below, to try to make sense of the intended audience, and then from that exercise, make some conclusions. Hopefully it brings some clarity and not confusion!

20 But I have this against you (Thyatirian Church Body), that you (Thyatirian Church Body) tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants (Thyatirian Church Individuals) to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her (Jezebel) time to repent, but she (Jezebel) refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her (Jezebel) onto a sickbed, and those (Thyratirian Church Individuals) who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they (Thyatirian Church Indiviuals) repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children (Jezebel’s followers) dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you (Thyatirian Church Individuals) according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira (Thyatirian Church Individuals), who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come.

As I have went through this passage trying to identify who Jesus is specifically calling out to, my issue becomes two fold. Is he speaking to the body of believers, or to individuals within the body?

Body

Is he talking to the church as a body alone, and as the church body, speaking of their survival as a witness in the city of Thyatira?

This approach is the way I approached the passage in my days when I clung to the OSAS (Once Saved Always Saved) teaching. I referred to verse 22 as a passage that spoke of a Great Tribulation coming upon the church in the end days, and was able to save my OSAS thinking, delegating those who follow this Jezebel to a small group within a church – not believers – in the last few years prior to eternity.

As you may know, this is not my thinking now, for why would the Lord speak to the first century church in Thyatira of a small group of people 2,000 years in the future?

Individuals

Or is he talking to the church, addressing individuals within the church, informing them that as they follow Jezebel, they are not following Him?

This makes more sense, though it is scarier for the individual if you are following the prophetess Jezebel. Those in verse 22 are responsible to repent of Jezebels works, responsible to change their thinking, their faith and their allegiance to this prophetess.

Note that verse 23 speaks of Jezebel’s children. May I suggest that those, in the church, who have fully given over to her teaching, are now classified as Jezebel’s children.

The very next verse, Jesus continues with .. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, (helping me understand that the audience is still the church in Thyatira) … this verse connects these children of Jezebel as a some part of the church of Thyatira. And the judgement upon these children is final!

Jesus will strike these children dead.

I find it interesting to say the least that a few translations refer to this death as a plague or pestilence.

‘And I will kill her children with plague, NASB
‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, LSB
‘I will strike her followers with a deadly disease, NET
‘And I will kill her children (followers) with pestilence [thoroughly annihilating them], AMP

No matter how you understand this last phrase, it surely is not associated with those who are actively seeking and following after the Savior.

If you are listening to any teacher that advocates any other god than the True God, a teacher that is alluring you away from Jesus and towards a spiritually adulterous faith, advocating sexual immorality in the believers life, and providing “grace” to eat foods sacrificed to idols – telling me of Jezebel’s advocating participation in idol worship, this is dangerous.

No matter how you understand this passage, whether you are simply loosing out on rewards (OSAS thinking) or walking towards death, take the Lord’s warning seriously, test your teacher’s doctrine and way of life, compare those you follow with the Word of God.

If those you follow are not of the Word, immediately run as far as you can from them. Cling to the Word and trust in the Savior only.

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Life of David – 9.01

2024-06-26

Saul Tries to Kill David

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

In chapter 19, we see King Saul working out his previous decision, that Saul would be “David’s enemy continually” (18:29b). Let’s see how that works out for the King.

1 Samuel 19:1-7
1 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David.
2 And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself.
3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you.”
4 And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you.
5 For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?”
6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death.”
7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.

It is somewhat incredible that the crown prince would fight to have David come back in his inner circle. We must remember that David seemed to be destined for the throne, at least in the eyes of the populace. They loved him. Couldn’t say enough about him!

Saul saw the writing on the wall, especially since Samuel had told him that his time on the throne was over.

Yet Jonathon did not hold onto his opportunity for a regal life, but gave up his standing in order for David to ascend. Whether Jonathon understood all the machinations that were working in the background or not, he sought the best for his friend, even to the point of entering a dangerous area with his father.

It was common knowledge that Saul had it in for David. Everyone in the royal circle knew it. By the time Saul had left the scene, he had sought to kill David, by his own hand, by supreme command, or by using those around him, like a daughter, to trap him, a total of 12 times. Twelve times my friend!

Check out the list of verses below, to get a handle on the frustration Saul must have felt and the protection God provided. Truly amazing!

1 Sam. 18:11
1 Sam. 18:17
1 Sam. 18:21
1 Sam. 19:1

1 Sam. 19:10
1 Sam. 19:11
1 Sam. 19:15
1 Sam. 19:20

1 Sam. 19:21
1 Sam. 19:22
1 Sam. 23:15
1 Sam. 26:2

By the time we get to this instance, where Saul is sending out his servants to kill David, Saul’s intent and heart towards David is clearly revealed. Jonathon must surely have recognized this, and confronts his father with the argument that he is sinning by seeking David’s life.

How bold for a young man to approach his father, the king of Israel no less, a man who has proven himself to be somewhat unbalanced, and to claim the king is in sin!

And yet the tenor of Jonathon’s approach seems to be tempered with Saul’s potential sins, with Jonathon not claiming a superior, judging attitude, but with a respect that surely must have made it easier for the king to accept. He didn’t shy away from the potential sin his father was going to commit, but logically argued that David had only done good for the kingdom, and that he risked his life for Saul.

No matter how Saul was to react, and we know he relented at this time, Jonathon proved himself to be a true ally to his friend David. He risked his standing with his father, and given Saul’s previous outbursts, opened himself up to anything from a tongue lashing to a physical confrontation.

Let’s remember that, not long before, Saul would have sacrificed Jonathon due to him eating some honey? How fragile a relationship they must have experienced. In the midst of a fragile relationship, Jonathon exercised a calmness, might I describe it as gentleness, and a fearless boldness defending his friend and confronting his father, that should impress us.

Jonathon was truly an image of the Savior in this instance. May we also carry a bold gentleness for those we need to confront.

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Jesus in the Old Testament – Abraham – 02

2024-06-25

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

SEEING JESUS IN

Abraham

Foreigner

Genesis 23:4
“I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”

John 1:11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

In our last post on Abraham we considered his accepted status as a a sojourner, or a tempory inhabitant of the land.

In this post lest us consider Abraham as a foreigner. One who is not like those he lives amongst. Someone who is different than the general public, than the masses.

This surely was Abrahams condition, being a monotheist in a land of polytheism, a stranger wandering about. It may have seemed to those he rubbed shoulders with that he may be running from something, or trying to hide from something. Being a foreigner, brings a suspicious eye from the populace.

He was so different!

This also is so true of our Savior, for though he arrived amongst those of His own, He was looked upon with suspicious eyes, seeing that He was different, so different that the average Israelite. As he revealed who He was for those who would accept it, His differences, when compared with the common Joe only increased!

Both Abraham and Jesus were foreigners amongst their neighbors, but how much more for Jesus!

Upon arriving on this globe, Jesus also lived a life of a temporary inhabitant, though He possessed all things, and would eclipse all authorities and powers through His ministry and sacrifice.

He has established a new nation. Don’t be a foreigner!

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Names of God – CONSUMING FIRE – 86

2024-06-24

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

86

CONSUMING FIRE

Deuteronomy 4:24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

A consuming fire. Moses wrote this by inspiration in relation to the topic of idolatry in the life of the faithful Israelite. Moses recounts to the faithful, in verse 15, that the nation “saw no form” when God spoke to them at Horeb.

There was no reason to resort to idolatry, for they had no form to duplicate. Of course they had the influence of their national neighbors, and of course a darkened heart that would expose itself as they sought to obey the law. These times of idolatry were inevitable without the faith that God was looking for.

Out of an idolatrous life, God would appear to be the consuming fire Moses warns them of.

The author of Hebrews resorts to this phrase, describing our God in relation to our refusing to hear Him who speaks (Hebrews 12:25).

In both of these verses, for the faithful Israelite and for the faithful believer, God is described as a consuming fire.
Once in relation to idolatry, and once in relation to refusing to hear Him. Might I suggest that idolatry, evil as it is in many forms, has one effect on the believer. A decision to elevate one authority over another.

In this context, when a believer falls into idolatry, he is considering that which he worships (the idol) to be more authoritative than God Himself.

This is a logical thought toward idolatry.

The fuller and more powerful thought regarding idolatry comes down to one thing.

Who ya gonna love?

Who will you choose to love? In the culture I live in, 21st century America, there are multitudes of idols seeking my attention. I would hope my reader would agree that this culture is no friend to the sole worship of our God.

It is a battle of the mind to decide to worship Him. This is the warfare we sometimes do not recognize being in the midst of. Let us remember that our allegiance, our loyalty, our attention and our devotion is to be directed to the Lord Himself.

It is also important to recognize this does not demand we generate a warm fuzzy feeling all the time, for even when we are not “feeling it”, to express our love and gratitude to Him, and to act in obedience to Him because we want to no matter the feelings – that my friend is a very real expression of rejecting idolatry.

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Philippian Bits – 4:10

2024-06-23

For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

4:10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.

A revived concern? What are you speaking of Paul?

Cold hard cash, or at least the equivalent of funds. But you see, Paul was a “classy fellow” when it came to this topic. He wasn’t in it for the money. Far from it. At times he would refuse any assistance from a church in order to keep his conscience clear.

The Philippian church was a different matter. The Philippian church was a major supporter of Paul in his journeys, and in an earlier posting, I offered some background to the following summary of gifts the church had provided to the apostle.

The Philippians had supported the Apostle in the following ways (that we know of).
When he left the Philippian church the first time
Twice in Thessalonica
At least once in Corinth
At least once in prison (the reason for the writing of this epistle)

The phrase that warms my heart this morning is that opportunity only provided the expression of their continual care they had for the apostle. He freely states that the church had an active and continuous care for him, and this care was expressed when then could, when they had opportunity.

Are we looking for opportunities to provide for those we say we are concerned for?

Proverbs 3:28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”–when you have it with you.

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion

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Psalms for Psome – Ps 62.01

2024-06-22

Don’t you love it when, after years of reading the “Old Book” passages become alive, reinforcing old teachings or simply warming your heart.

This is the book of Psalms, and it is rich.

I pray I can communicate a portion of the blessing we receive from this wonderful book.

Psalm 62:1 To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
Psalm 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

As I take my time through the Psalms, I have an increased realization of the impact family conflict has on the Psalmist.

The Psalm we are entering this morning has no petitions to God, pleadings to God, requests of God, or praising to God. The Psalmist is quiet before God, having expressed his concerns previously.

He is alone with God.

But ever the curious fellow, I sought to understand what prayers and petitions were offered to God in which David was resting upon, in which he could simply express that it was only him and the Lord, and that he was content in this situation. What I found, thanks to Blue Letter Bible, was a timeline of each of the Psalms and their likely cause of writing, along with the time of their writing.

This little table was somewhat shocking, for in it we find that the a greater number of Psalms were written due to Absalom than I would have guessed. He surely was a thorn in David’s side, and his petitions to God were many during this rebellion.

With this understood, let us remember that during the upheaval and treachery of this time, that David had sought refuge and response from his God. In this Psalm David expresses trust only.

Nothing else.

He is alone with God, waiting in silence.

Quite possibly the greatest challenge David faced in life, and he is silent before God. No requests, no wrestling with Him. Simply recounting that God is the decider, the One in charge, the One who is.

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Names of God – CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL – 85

2024-06-21

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

85

CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL

Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

The Consolation of Israel.

Consider Simeon. He was a righteous and devout man, and my assumption has always been that he was a priest, but when I read the passage above there is no indication he was of the priestly line.

He was, I suppose, a simple man who followed the Lord, and was given an opportunity to see his salvation, to hold his salvation, and to speak of his salvation’s mission to the nation of Israel and the gentiles.

But let us not forget that the Gentiles Simeon spoke of included the very people who were oppressing the people of Israel. Simeon’s waiting for Jesus, the Consolation of Israel, was in the midst of living under oppression. And yet Simeon had the foresight to describe Jesus, the Consolation of Israel, as the One would be a light of revelation to the oppressors, those gentiles that dominated the people of God.

Even before Jesus could speak, His life was described by Simeon as the One who would provide for His enemies a light for the Gentiles.

I can’t help but think that Simeon had recently, by the providence of God, read from the scroll of Isaiah, where the Lord speaks of the Servant of the Lord, our Messiah.

Isaiah 49:6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Simeon saw the writing on the wall, and though the physical nation of Israel was under oppression, a new nation would erupt due to the light extending to the nations, and that salvation would reach the ends of the earth.

For God had much bigger dreams for His creation than many had considered, and for that we should be eternally grateful.

We have a Consolation that provides light to those who oppress, to those who are enemies. Are we mimicking the Great Consolation?

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Conditional Security – Luke 8:11-15

2024-06-20

Luke 8:11-15

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.

14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

We all know this parable, or at least I think we do. I know that when I come to this passage, I tend to feel a bit sheepish toward it in that I am not a world evangelist, or the leader of a million person church.

But let us be sure that we all have levels of faith, and this passage speaks of life, (not faith) and the fruit that is the evidence of life.

It seems obvious that verse twelve speaks of the one who hears but is not impacted by the Word, one who is the victim of the devil’s thievery. No salvation for this one.

This situation seems obvious.

It also seems obvious that verse fifteen speaks of the fully mature believer, holding fast to the message, and refusing to let go, exercising a good and honest heart, which over an extended period of time develops mature fruit, which is the evidence of new life.

That seems obvious.

When we get to verses 13 and 14, the obviousness of the condition of the one being described becomes a little less obvious.

Let’s consider verse 14, for Jesus speaks of a life being choked, and that any fruit from this life does not come to maturity. He mentions fruit with this group and I understand that to indicate there is life resident in this group. A stunted life to be sure, a life that is less than hoped for, that may be a disappointment to the gardener, but a life none the less.

I know I have approached this passage with the verses out of order but it is verse 13 that is of interest to me and serves my purposes with this topic. Verse 13 actually speaks of one receiving the message with joy. Of course the debate over what it means to receive has caused much discussion, as to whether life had been received or simply a message, but this isn’t the main point I would draw your attention to in this passage.

The main point is the reference to a falling away that Jesus speaks of. I naturally assumed the Greek word would be related to, or would be the basis of our term “apostacy”, but I was wrong.

The Greek word used here when Jesus says “falling away” is ἀφίστημι aphístēmi, and it has multiple descriptions associated with it. Luke seemed to like this term, for he used it more than any other writer in the New Testament.

It speaks of deserting, withdrawing, leaving, shunning, fleeing, removing…. One shade of meaning coming out of this term is to “actively instigate to revolt”.

This is so interesting to me, for it helps me understand that conditional security isn’t a teaching that should be applied to one who has had a lapse in faith, or is struggling with faith – (which in my opinion is the essence of faith), but it speaks of a settled, active refusal to follow after, to reject that which was once precious as being refuse, that which is to be abandoned.

Note that this condition is not related to the victim of the devil (vs 12), or those who are distracted by cares and pleasures (vs 14) and it goes without saying that it does not apply to the victorious believer in vs 15.

This decision is made by those that “believe for a while” and then refuse, reject and run away.

My friends, stay active in your faith, for times of testing will come and may provide you opportunity to reject the Savior. Cling to Him at your every opportunity, so that when hard times come, it will only be “natural” to seek His aid.

Does this message not seem to be the obvious intent of the Word? Is that not an obvious benefit to us and an obvious blessing to others?

Obviously!

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