Don't Trust Yourself! Proverbs 21-25

There is nothing that you do that you do not have a good reason for doing. Even if you know it is wrong, you at least have a good excuse. There is nothing that you believe that you do not have good reason for believing, or at least sufficient reason to convince yourself. We always believe our opinions are right or else they would not be our opinions. We always believe our actions are justified or we would not pursue them. We always believe our convictions are true or they would not be our convictions.

The point in all of this is very simple: We always believe we are right!

The truth of the matter though is that we seldom are. We need to get outside ourselves to form our opinions, convictions, beliefs, and test our actions and motivations.

Proverbs 21:2 “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.”

By the time our “ways” are out in the open, we have justified them perfectly, its the manufacturing going on in the heart that is the problem! We need to set up guards in our lives to keep our “hearts” and “ways” pure. Here are a couple of ways to do so. Keep ourselves open before the Word. Whether private study or corporate worship, incline our hearts to the Word. It is the proper standard to test our actions and beliefs. Secondly, keep ourselves open to one another. Allow brothers and sisters to lovingly offer correction and insight. An accountability partner can see what we cannot see, and in order to keep our way pure, we need his insight. Whatever we do, we must not let ourselves be our only guide!

Plans and Lots - Proverbs 16-20

What are your best laid plans? Ever have them totally disrupted? We all have. The answer is simple. We make plans; God makes reality! And sometimes those two are headed in opposite directions.

Is it wrong to make plans? Absolutely not. Plans keeps us moving instead of becoming slothful, helps us be good stewards instead of wasteful. At the end of the day, though, God’s plan is the one that will unfold. Therefore, we should seek the Lord’s plan rather than developing our own. God’s purpose for us is always better than our best laid plans. Because He ensures that His purposes never fail, we are always the beneficiaries! It’s really a good thing that we don’t get our way and chart our own course!

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

Not only is the Lord directing our lives towards His purpose, He is also directing the seemingly unimportant details of life so that everything works to His glory and our good!

A lot is something like a dice. In the ultimate scheme of things, who really cares where the lot falls from a thousand different casters? God does. Every outcome has a role to play in the grand scheme of things! God is directing all of history and everyone in it! He is truly an awesome, Sovereign God!

Proverbs 16:33 “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”

Loving Discipline - Proverbs 11-15

In our day, spanking is viewed as an out-dated, abusive form of punishment. The question is posed, “How do you teach kids not to hit by hitting them?” Of course, it’s a loaded question. Spanking is not hitting. The words convey two very different notions. When you hit someone, you do so out of anger or self-defense. When you spank a child, you are punishing bad behavior and correcting them, out of love.

Proverbs 13:24 “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.”

The Bible is not advocating child abuse. There is a vast difference between conforming behavior and bodily harm! What the Bible is advocating is the necessary tough love in order to mold character and develop a child’s worldview. Loving discipline teaches a child that some barriers are not to be crossed. Loving discipline teaches a child that wrong behavior results in consequences. Loving discipline teaches a child that those consequences are undesirable. Loving discipline teaches a child that self-denial and submission to authority are expected and rewarded while selfishness and disrespect are punished. Loving discipline fosters maturity. Most importantly, loving discipline provides Gospel opportunities with children. The first Gospel lesson a child needs to learn is that breaking the law results in punishment. They need to be taught that they are lawbreakers in need of God’s grace in Christ.

“Time-out” just does not convey these lessons. The loving way is the biblical way. If you are still not sure, just observe the child who has no loving discipline in his life and the one who does!

The Grass is Not Greener - Proverbs 6-10

Oh it sure seems to be much greener. It has every appearance of complete and utter satisfaction. The more you look at it, the more you think about it, the more lush that field grows. It is the field of sexual immorality. The field of crossing the line before marriage or outside of marriage. It is enticing. It is pleasing to the mind and body. It promises to fill you. It charms you. It wines and dines you. And once you give in, it destroys you!

Adultery, fornication, pornography, and all sexual perversion are malicious facades. The outer shell gives the appearance of excitement, fulfillment, and understanding. The outer shell pretends to know you and offers itself for your needs. The outer shell promises to secretly satisfy. The outer shell, however, is very thin.

Once you enter into a forbidden relationship, the consequences follow you the rest of your life! What promised to fulfill, excite, and satisfy now haunts and destroys. Trust is broken. Covenant is transgressed. Sacred lines are crossed. People are abused. Marriages are corrupted and severed. Sex is perverted. Emotions are twisted. Sometimes lives are even taken. The grass on the other side of sexual fidelity is not greener. It just looks that way. It’s just painted by a fallen world, a selfish flesh, and a sworn enemy!

Proverbs 7:21-23 “With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life!”

Keeping oneself pure is the greenest, most satisfying, joyful field!

Trusting for Direction - Proverbs 1-5

I’ll take care of this. I need to make an informed decision. I have to do something about this right now. I feel like I’m lost. I don’t know which way to go. How did I end up here? Where do I go from here? I’ll never get out of this. What am I going to do with the rest of my life?

These are all reactions to crossroads and chaos. On our own, we make wrong turns down the road of life, choose wrong paths, avoid seen dangers only to fall into unseen pitfalls. We end up at dead ends. We end up in a world of turmoil. Or maybe we just need wisdom for life. Discernment for a decision. Wisdom to make the most excellent choice. Whatever the cause, we need God’s direction but words do not appear written in the sky!

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Having your paths made straight is music to our ears! It’s the three preceding conditions that trouble us! Trusting the Lord with all of our heart is difficult because we always want to keep a little corner for ourselves. To not lean on our understanding is not easy when our way seems to make so much sense. Keeping God in charge of every detail of life seems too intrusive because we want to do it our way!

The lesson is plain. As long as we keep holding back, the road keeps dead-ending! When we surrender everything to His will, the fog lifts, the sun shines, and the path is made clear. Trust and obey. There really is no other way!

It's Good to Know - Psalm 145-150

It’s good to know that God is good! He is not some detached Deity. He is not some unfeeling force. He is not an Almighty Dictator. He is Divine. He is the greatest force in the Universe. He is completely Sovereign. And . . . He is much more!

The Creator of the Universe is a Personal God who is personally involved in His creation. He is Triune. Therefore, He is and always has been relational! He did not create in order to pass the time. He created for purpose, our good and His glory.

He is not only ultimate existence, ultimate presence, and ultimate power, He is also ultimate love, ultimate grace, and ultimate mercy. The one true God of all is in Himself goodness and truth. He is a good God!

Psalm 145:17-19 “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He also hears their cry and saves them.”

Yes, He is good and He does good. We rightly fear Him because He is God. We rightly long to be near Him because He is Good and He is God! What joy and comfort to know He is righteous and kind, He will come near to those who call on Him in truth, He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him, and He saves them!

Praise Him today for He is a good God. He is good in His very nature, and He is good to us in Christ! God is good—all the time!

You Have Searched Me - Psalm 139-144

Psalm 139:1-6 “O Lord, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.”

You have no secrets hidden from God! That is what the psalm means when it says, “You have searched me and known me!” Nothing is tucked away in the history of your life, the corner of your mind, or the secrecy of times when you are alone that God does not know—fully! He is “acquainted” with all our ways. Whatever we are hiding, trying to cover, deny, suppress, or forget, He knows! He even knows those things we have forgotten!

His knowledge of us goes even deeper. We have no secrets kept from Him, but He knows secrets about us! He not only knows what we’ve done, said, and thought, He knows what we are going to do, say, and think! Furthermore, He knows the “why” behind all of our thoughts and actions. Finally, He knows the where, when, and how of our last action! He knows. He knows it all! This is all overwhelming to fathom. In fact, in agreement with the psalmist, it is too much to fathom.

We have been searched out by God. There is nowhere to run. There is nowhere to hide. Surprisingly, that is actually a good thing! For He created us, is mindful of us, and is for us! Knowing that He knows it all, we don’t have to run from Him any longer. Now we run to Him! Knowing that He knows all, we come before Him longing for Him to search us more!

The Steadfast Love of the Lord - Psalm 133-138

The love of the Lord is something to sing about! Indeed the whole of psalm 136 is rooted in this marvelous truth. Everything in the psalm is traced back to the love of the Lord. Not just some generalized, mushy notion of love, but rather the very specific, objective love of the Lord.

His love is said to be “steadfast” and it “endures forever.” Those are two very precious qualities of God’s love. It is “steadfast,” meaning it is unchanging, it is committed! It “endures forever,” meaning it will never tire or fail. God’s love for His people is an immovable, unalterable reality

The psalmist opens with thanksgiving concerning the nature of God (vv1-3). He then meditates on the great act of God in creation (vv4-9). After creation, the psalmist reflects on God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt (vv10-16). Next, he remembers how God enabled Israel to conquer and settle in the Promised Land (vv17-22). Finally, he rejoices in God special care for His people and His provision for all of His creation (vv23-26).

When we think of the nature of God, the act of creation, the exodus, and the conquest, we normally uphold God’s attribute of ultimate power. But not so in this psalm. Here the psalmist upholds God’s attribute of ultimate love for His children!

Look around you my friend. Journey through the Word my friend. And know that everything about God and everything God has done has a cord tied to it. Trace that cord and you will eventually find the other end tied to the love of God. His love is a vast, powerful, shoreless ocean, and if you are His child, you are in it!

While You Wait - Psalm 128-132

Waiting. Waiting in line. Waiting in traffic. Waiting for a special occasion. It’s difficult to wait. Whether it’s a five minute, five month, or five year wait, it seems like an eternity because it seems that we are not accomplishing anything while we wait.

The hardest wait for us to endure is to wait on the Lord. When we are waiting on the Lord we are usually in a state of desperation. We have normally run out of all other options. Now we stand at the door of heaven, and the Lord says, “Wait.” We know His will is best. We know His timing is best. But the last thing we want to do is wait because our future, our lives, our families, something extremely important to us is in the balance.

So what do we do while we wait? We don’t have to become a frantic bundle of nerves. We don’t have to grab a pill to numb our way through it. We don’t have to lose faith. God has granted us a most precious provision to cling to, to live by, while we wait. It is His Word.

There are hundreds of lessons the Lord has for us while we sit in the Lord’s waiting room, and patience is just skimming the surface! Waiting is for building faith. Waiting is for drawing near to Him. Waiting is for embracing and learning to love and live on the Word of God.

Psalm 130:5 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope.”

While you wait, you can hope! Turn to the Word. Turn to His promises. Turn to the Treasures of Scripture. If you find yourself in the Lord’s waiting room today, read The Good Book and cast yourself on It!

Count Your Blessings - Psalm 123-127

We are conditioned by our nature and surroundings to confine God’s blessings to the material realm. When we think of the blessings of God in our lives, we immediately think of our own health, our homes, our food, our vehicles, our clothes, and our bank accounts. There is no question, these are indeed blessings from God. We should be thankful for these things. However, our thanksgiving stops too short. If all we know of God’s blessings concerns the material blessings, it says something about our spiritual awareness and maturity. God’s blessings extends to all realms of life, and in fact, His blessings are right in front of us every day. It is tragic if we miss them.

One such blessing is the gift of children. In our hectic, selfish culture, children are so often viewed as hinderances, obstacles, and delays. We could do so much more and get so much more accomplished if we didn’t have to bother with children! It’s interesting how differently we respond to the blessing of children as opposed to the blessing of one million dollars. For the latter, with no hesitation, we would gladly receive it. With the former, we have to “plan,” prepare, and pray about it!

God’s word is clear—children are a blessing! They bring joy to the heart, responsibility to the home, and self-denial (finally!) to the parents. They are gifts, straight from the Lord. You don’t know the fullness of this until your little girl runs up and gives you a kiss for no reason at all! Or your little “buddy” cuddles with you in the recliner to watch the latest Disney film.

Psalm 127:3,5 “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward . . . Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!”

Looking for Help in the Right Place - Psalm 118-122

Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

It’s usually not the first place (or person) we go to for help. We have all heard the familiar phrase “Looking for love in all the wrong places.” It is our tendency to not only look for love in all the wrong places but to look for the fulfillment of all of our needs in the wrong places.

There are thousands of commercials, examples, people, sayings, feelings, and thoughts that tug us in every direction except the direction in which we should run! There are always other options rather than the One who alone can satisfy! They are always there. They are always promising. Their grass always appears greener. In the end, they are always empty, void, and destructive. Whether it be the charm of a forbidden lover, the luring of an addictive escape, or the fantasy of autonomy, all other forms of help, all other forms of love, all other forms of salvation are dead ends!

That is not the case with the Lord, however. After all, He made heaven and earth! He, all by Himself, with no external aid or existing provision, made everything! No question about it, He can tackle and handle our needs. Whether they be emotional, relational, physical, or especially spiritual, the Lord is our answer! The Lord is our help. The Lord is our salvation!

Are you weary and beaten down under a load of sin, addiction, sorrow, depression, loneliness, etc.? Lift your eyes to the heavens. Time to trade the momentary escapes for the lasting Answer. Our help will come from only one place, only one person, the Lord!

Becoming an Idol - Psalm 113-117

American culture is fascinated with pop stars, whom we call idols. Entire industries survive on “idol” news. Many dream to become a star, an idol.

The truth is that apart from Christ, we all become idols, just not the kind the paparazzi follow around! Psalm 115 speaks of the vanity of idol fabrication. Man-made gods do not speak, do not hear, do not see. They are spiritually useless and unable to help us. However, the worship of our own idols has a profound effect upon the worshipper. 115:8 “Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.” Idol worshippers eventually become idols! This is the case in at least these two ways.

First, as the idol itself is void of senses and life, so the idol worshipper is void of all spiritual sense and life! The idolator reflects the traits of the idol. The idol cannot see and neither can the idolator. He is spiritually blind, spiritually dead, and as long as the focus of his heart is directed to a dead, blind god, he will remain dead and blind as well!

Second, false gods are actually projections of self. We fashion idols in our own image according to our opinions. The result is that whether we are bowing down to a gold statute, a booming career, a pursuit of fame and power, or even our own interpretation of Scripture, we are essentially worshipping ourselves. Therefore, to worship an idol is actually to be an idol because we are worshipping ourselves! An idolator will eventually become an idol. We are not only guilty of discarding God for a false god, but at bottom, we replace God with our “self!”

May we tear down our idols and worship God alone!

Testimony Time - Psalm 109-112

Do you have something special to share with other believers? Has the Lord been gracious to you recently? Have you reflected on the great works of God throughout history and in our own day? What is it about God that has been an enormous blessing to you in recent days?

Did you know that a very vital component of gathering together in corporate worship is the sharing of testimonies? It doesn’t have to be a scheduled in the bulletin. In fact, it’s probably better for it not to be in order to avoid rigidity. The best way is for God’s children to just naturally share with one another about God’s greatness and goodness in ordinary conversation.

This takes some effort on our part. We do not naturally notice the hand of God around us nor do we understand the ways of God. We must become keen observers of our surroundings and astute students of the Word. It is work, but if you delight in the Lord, you joy in the work.

This kind of atmosphere results in many blessings. First, we are blessed when we keep an alert eye to the ways of God. We miss hundreds of God’s works because we simply do not pay attention. Through study of the Scripture and everyday life, we come to see the hand of God more and more. Second, as we share our findings with others, they are blessed. Third, if this is happening in large numbers, the whole fellowship of God’s people takes on a God-centered view of the world.

Psalm 111:1-2 “Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.”

Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So - Psalm 105-108

Speak up and speak out if you have been redeemed! It’s too good to keep in. It’s too exciting to keep quiet about it. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so! That is the upbeat, joyous tone of Psalm 107.

There are numerous ways the Lord redeems His people. The psalm mentions those who wandered in the desert searching for shelter. The Lord led them to a city. Some had rebelled against the Lord and this found themselves in prison on the verge of death. They cried to the Lord, and he delivered them. Some suffered from the consequences of their own sin. The Lord sent His Word and healed them. Some were caught in a storm on the sea. The Lord brought them to a safe haven.

The Lord performs great works for His people all the time. Don’t miss the hand of God in all these circumstances. He not only brought the seafarers to a safe haven, but He had brought the storm too! He “turns rivers into a desert” and “turns a desert into pools of water.” He shows us our need and then meets it! When we know we are spent, cry to the Lord, and see Him deliver, we then have something to sing about!

Of course, the greatest act of deliverance for His children is not from hunger, prison, or storm but from emptiness and sinfulness of soul! “For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things” (v9).

We, as God’s children, have much to sing about. God has delivered us in numerous ways but especially in a saving way! Let us “tell of His deeds in songs of joy” (v22). Say so—you who have been redeemed!

Bless the Lord - Psalm 101-104

What does it mean to “bless the Lord?” How can we finite beings perform any action that would result in blessing the Infinite? When we bless each other, we are essentially asking for God to place His divine favor upon one another. So how are we to understand blessing God? This is important to ponder because we are called to “bless the Lord” in the psalms. Therefore, we should look to the psalms for an understanding of “blessing the Lord.”

Psalms 103 and 104 are a good place to start. Both of these psalms open and close with the words “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” One can safely conclude that what is described throughout these two psalms is closely related. Here are a few pointers to help us purposefully “bless the Lord.”

Blessing the Lord involves describing the various graces God has bestowed upon us in our salvation (103:1-5, 10-13).
Blessing the Lord involves meditating on the wondrous attributes of God (103:6-9).
Blessing the Lord involves recounting the providential ways God especially cares for His children (103:14-19).
Blessing the Lord involves calling on all creation to join in praising His name because He is worthy of all praise (103:20-22).
Blessing the Lord involves listing all of the various miracles of God in the acts of creation and providence because these distinctly set Him apart from every other god as the true God (104).

Basically, to “bless the Lord” is to acknowledge, proclaim, and rejoice in the character of God, His mighty acts, and His grace to us in Christ with thankful, worshipful hearts. Tell your soul often, “Bless the Lord!”

The Lord Our God is Holy - Psalm 97-100

The key theme of Psalm 99 is that the Lord is holy, that is, He is totally different from all of His creation in every one of His attributes and entirely perfect in them too. He is more love, more pure, more just, more life, more grace, more wisdom, etc., etc. than we can ever imagine. And He is absolutely perfect in them all. He is holy.

Psalm 99 is structured so that there are three ways God’s holiness is addressed. The first is a description of proper response to the holiness of God. Psalm 99:1-3 “The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The Lord is great in Zion; He is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name! Holy is He!” Fear and Praise are proper responses to God’s holiness. Healthy fear is simply acknowledging that God is entirely holy and we are entirely sinful in and of ourselves. Healthy fear is understanding what we deserve in His presence and realizing we do not receive it! Therefore, what else can we do but praise Him?

Second, several aspects of God’s holiness are described. vv 4-5 “The King in His might loves justice. You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God; worship at His footstool! Holy is He!” God is absolutely just and righteous, and therefore, He is to be praised.

Third, God, who is so far above us in His holiness, has come down to us in His grace! This is the main point of vv 6-8, ending in v 9 “Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!” The end therefore of the holiness of God is the praise of His people!

All Other Gods - Psalm 93-96

There is a glorious, definite, clearly visible, divine distinction, namely, the God of the Bible is the one Lord of the universe and all other gods are false!

Psalm 96:5a “For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols” Notice three important elements of this statement. First, “all” is a very dogmatic declaration. There is no room left for maybes or possibilities. Every single other god is no god at all! Second, these gods are described as “worthless.” That is, they are of no saving, eternal, lasting benefit to their followers whatsoever. They are no good and can do no good. They cannot see. They cannot hear. They cannot help. They cannot save! Third, these gods are actually “idols.” In other words, they are not simply misplaced affections, they are intentional replacements to the adoration and worship of God. This means their followers are not seekers but rather idolators! They are enemies of the true God.

Now see the remaining half of this verse. Psalm 96:5b “but the Lord made the heavens.” In other words, it should be very evident to adherents of false religions that their gods are false! The Creator of the heavens is not contained in a form of iron, stone, or wood! The Creator of the heavens is not some person who lived long ago, made some philosophical observations, or wrote a few thoughtful words! Just one look at the heavens should clarify that God dwells not in our creations. However, that is exactly the point of created gods. If we can make our own god, we will not have to bow to the true God. Or so we think! Jesus, on the other hand, does not fit the mold of other gods. He came, lived perfectly, died willingly, and rose again victoriously, which unmistakably affirmed His deity!

Counting Days - Psalm 89-92

Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

“Our days” refers to our individual life spans. Interesting to note, Our life spans are referred to as “days” instead of “months” or “years.” And what’s more, they are countable, easy to number! That is, in the end, when the counting is done, they will be few! Sobering, huh?

Moses pleas for the Lord to “teach” him to number his days. Moses, like the rest of us, needed to be reminded of the brevity of life. We always assume we have plenty of time. We always assume we have tomorrow. That being the case, we become procrastinators in the most important areas of our short lives. We keep putting off the things of God like forgiveness, repentance, and godliness, because we are just too busy today and after all, we can begin working on that tomorrow. If we do not number our days, tomorrow never comes!

That is why Moses wants to be reminded often that he only has a few more days to live for the Lord and bring Him glory! The purpose of keeping up with our days is so that we may get a heart of wisdom. That is, that we may make every one of our countable days count! Wisdom is to quit putting off until tomorrow what we can do today, especially when it concerns the things of God! Wisdom is knowing that we need to make the best of this day for the glory of God because we don’t really have that many left! The purpose for our lives and the means of greatest joy is making the most of each day for the glory of God! At its heart, Moses’ prayer was asking God to make sure he doesn’t waste his short life! May we not waste ours either!

Grace to Know and Live - Psalm 85-88

Psalm 86:10-12 “For You are great and do wondrous things; You alone are God. Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Your name forever.”

When one comes to recognize that the Lord is God and that He is great and does wondrous things, that person has come to faith in Christ. Now he begins the Christian journey, and he will soon find out that just like his new birth, he will only know the Lord and live for the Lord by grace! This is why immediately after making the profession of faith in v10, the psalmist asks the Lord to teach him.

We need grace to know Him more. The eyes of our hearts are shaded and blurred and often focused on worthless things. We need the Lord to speak through His Word, to open our eyes to the Word, to open our hearts to the Word so that we “get” it.

We need grace to live for the Lord. This is exactly why the psalmist follows his request for teaching with a request for his heart, “unite my heart.” When the Lord teaches us, we will walk in His truth. When He unites our hearts to His, we will rightly thank Him and glorify Him.

As believers we want to know Him and live for Him so strongly. It is the desire of our new hearts to glorify Him. Without His grace though, we simply will not. Left on our own, we will live for self. With grace, we will live for Him. Since therefore all aspects of our salvation, new birth and new life, are by grace, God receives all the glory!

A Thousand to One - Psalm 81-84

Psalm 84:10 “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

Think of the most exciting, fun, thrilling place that you love to visit or would even live there if given the chance. Some would think of Disney World. Some would think of foreign, exotic places. Some would think of the warm beach or the cool mountains. Some would think anywhere with family. Some would think mission trip. The psalmist considers this question and thinks, “I would rather be near God than anywhere else on the earth!”

Let that sink in. Would we trade a thousand days at our favorite spot for one day in the Lord’s presence? Would we trade a thousand days of life on earth for one single day with the Lord? Yes and No; it depends. If we have known the thrill and satisfaction of the Lord, as does the psalmist, there really is no choice to make. Our cup overflows in His presence. There is nowhere else we want to be. Yes, we would give it all just to be with Him.

On the other hand, if we have not encountered the living Lord, we have no idea, nor can we imagine, just how captivating and blissful is the nearness of the Lord! If you haven’t tasted, you can’t know. If you have tasted, you can’t get enough!

The brilliant, soul-satisfying, glorious presence of the Lord overcomes, outshines, outlasts, and overshadows any other worldly pleasure. There is simply no comparison. You just think you have been to an awesome place. If you have not met Jesus, you “ain’t” seen nothing yet!

For the Glory of His Name - Psalm 77-80

There is no greater way to appeal to God than to appeal to Him on behalf of His name’s sake. This is true for at least two reasons. First, there is no higher appeal. We can appeal to Him based on His love for His creation or His love for us. That is certainly true, but it is not the chief motive for His actions. We can appeal to Him based on what we think would be good for us as His children. It is true that He is always loving and good toward His children, but sometimes conflict arises between what we call good and what is actually good for us in the long run.

Second, to act on behalf of God’s name is the desire of God’s own heart. When we appeal to Him on behalf of His name, we align ourselves with the will of God by seeking the glory that is due Him.

This is especially true concerning our salvation. God saves us by grace based on His love for us. True. God saves us by grace in order to do us good. True. Foremost, however, God saves us by His grace for the glory of His name! Just think about it. Who will receive 100% of the credit for our salvation? God. Who will we glorify forever for our salvation? God.

Psalm 79:9 “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for Your name’s sake!”

Learning to pray according to God’s will certainly involves a few key elements, but central to every prayer is the realization that every action of God has the same goal, the same ending, the same ultimate purpose in mind, the glory of God. He is the Giver of Life, the Fountain of Grace, and the Source of Salvation. Where else could the glory rightfully be placed?

Heaven and Earth - Nothing Without God - Psalm 73-76

Psalm 73:25 “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.”

Most people will reason, “If there is in fact a heaven, I want to go.” Surely all of their friends and family members will go to heaven too, right? The problem arises when people begin to explain why they should be able to go to heaven. “I’ve been a good person.” “I’ve done some good things for others.” “I’ve never really done anything terribly wrong or bad.” “When I get to the pearly gates, surely St. Peter will let me in!”

It’s not St. Peter people should be concerned about. Entrance to heaven is not up to him. The psalmist knows that God alone grants entrance to heaven by grace, through faith, in His Son Jesus Christ! It’s not that the psalmist does not care for the heroes of faith, the loved ones, and the angels who will be there as well, but in terms of salvation, if Christ is not our Advocate nobody may as well be there! If Christ is not for us in heaven, we have nothing!

If Christ does not rule our hearts while on earth, we have nothing! Sure, we may have houses, pleasures, indulgences, trinkets, gadgets, vacations, financial securities, luxuries, and be surrounded by people who love us. They fill the void temporarily. They satisfy temporarily. But sooner or later the thirst surfaces in our soul again that nothing on this earth can satisfy! If we do not have Christ, we have nothing!

May the Lord direct our hearts to that which alone can fit us for heaven and fill us on earth - the Lord Jesus Christ!

What Consumes You? Psalm 69-72

What stays at the front of your mind 24/7? Where are you directing your time, resources, and energy? What are you working toward, planning for, anticipating? What activity are found doing most often? What is the one thing that you simply cannot live without?

Are you consumed by a hobby? Are you constantly reading about it, watching shows about it, purchasing the latest gadgets for it? Are you consumed with work? Are you basically a stranger at home because you practically live at work? Are you consumed with a secret sin? Do you arrange your entire life around the next opportunity to indulge?

We are prone to think addiction is always bad, but that’s not true. Being consumed by someone or something else can be unhealthy or very healthy. David, for example, was consumed by God! Psalm 69:9 “For zeal for Your house has consumed me.” “House” can be understood in several ways. It can be the worship of the Lord, the place set aside to encounter the Lord, or even the people of the Lord. Whatever David had in mind, his point was that he was captivated by the things of God, he was “addicted” to God! That is the only kind of addiction that is good for you!

Out tendency is to be easily distracted by the things that matter the least. That item seems so essential. That activity would be so fun. That person could make life so special. We find ourselves in an endless race chasing down things that never satisfy. Let us give ourselves, our attention, our energy and our lives to that which fills every void! May we not avoid being consumed but may we be consumed by the greatest, most thrilling One of all, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Saved for a Saving Purpose - Psalm 65-68

The purpose for which we were saved does not end with us. Beyond our personal salvation lies a glorious, global, God-centered purpose. We were saved for a saving purpose!

Psalm 67:1-3 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us.” (The psalmist clearly has the blessing of Numbers 6:24-26 in mind here. This is a very important connection because it provides interpretation for the rest of this psalm. Remember the words of blessing in Numbers, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.” Asking for God’s face to shine upon you is to earnestly desire salvation. Therefore, the blessing of Psalm 67 is not a material blessing, but rather desiring the Lord to graciously grant eternal salvation!)

“that Your way may be known on the earth, Your saving power among all nations.” (The psalmist immediately begins to declare how his salvation will work towards the salvation of the nations. He knows his salvation is part of a global plan for others to be saved all over the world!)

“Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You!” (Every salvation ends in the glory of God! But note, the psalmist knows this, and he wants this! That is, he has learned to love and labor for that which God loves and sent His Son to die for, namely, the salvation of all peoples for the glory of God!)

Yes believer, you are a part of something immensely wonderful and eternal! May we desire its fulfillment and give ourselves in pursuit of it.

Desperately Craving God - Psalm 61-64

In absolute desperation for communion and intimacy and fellowship with Almighty God—that seems to be the exact state of David’s heart in Psalm 63. He is yearning, he is longing, and he will not be content until he is in enveloped in His presence. He feels as if he will die unless he knows in a real sense the embrace of the Father. That is his state of mind. How I pray it would be ours as well.

Psalm 63:1 “O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” How long can you go without water, especially when you realize you are in a dry land with no water and no water in sight. You become frantic, not necessarily because you have no water on hand but that you know a search for water is vain. David compares that state of frantic desperation with his desire for God! “I’m thirsty to the point of losing my mind, and only God can quench it!”

63:2 “So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, beholding Your power and glory.” David knows the only relief, the only answer, for the cry of his soul is to bask in the glory of God! That is what our souls are craving. Not this world. Not even love and relationships! Our souls crave to gaze upon Him!

63:3-4 “Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift up my hands.” As far as David is concerned, he would rather have God than life! He wants God more than he wants his next breath! Therefore, he spends in life in worship unto the Lord! May it be the same for us!

Treated Wrongly for Acting Rightly - Psalm 57-60

Receiving punishment for wrong behavior is entirely understandable. Whether the correction comes from parents or the courts, if you have done wrong, you realize you will have to face the consequences. You reap what you sow. When you sin, you harm, injure, or insult other people. Naturally, they seek justice. They desire to see you receive punishment in return. This is all easy to comprehend, even if you are the wrongdoer.

On the other hand, it is very difficult to understand why some will seek punishment for your good or right behavior! It’s not so much difficult to understand rationally. We understand persecution, rejection of Truth, envy of good, etc. It’s difficult to understand personally. In other words, when it actually does happen to us, we think, “Why would so-and-so treat me this way when I have done him no harm?” The truth is that not only will some desire your harm, but they will actually plot, scheme, and implement harm toward you in return for nothing you have done wrong. You may be treated wrongly for acting rightly, especially if you are a pastor!

Should this happen to us, the Christian response is to forgive those who mistreat us, seek reconciliation where possible, and rejoice in the Lord. In other words, continue to act rightly! Don’t allow being treated wrongly to influence you into wrong behavior! Remember sinless Christ on the cross!

The faith response is to rest in the Lord. Pray to Him. Give it to Him. Trust in Him. He sees. He knows. He will reward and punish accordingly. Let it go! Psalm 59:3-4 “For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see!”

When Friends Turn Against You - Psalm 53-56

Psalm 55:12-14 “For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.”

Prepare yourself. Expect it to happen eventually. Sooner or later it will happen, and it will hurt. Somewhere down the road of life, as you live imperfectly for the Lord, as you try to walk in love and integrity, a blinding blow will suddenly catch you off guard. A friend will betray. A friend will deny. A friend will oppose. A friend will depart. It happened to Jesus; it will happen to you!

The hurt runs deep because a relationship of trust has been severed. You became dependent. You learned to lean on it. You truly loved it. It will hurt when it is gone. It also hurts because it is so unexpected. You expect enemies to crucify you. You do not expect friends to take a shot or walk away too!

You could grow angry and bitter. You could decide to never trust again. You could walk away from all friendships so as to not get hurt again. Or, you could take the best action possible in this situation; you could run to God!

Psalm 55:16 “But I call to God, and the Lord will save me.” That may be the purpose for the severed relationship all along! Hardly nothing proves the Lord’s love, faithfulness, and goodness towards us like being greatly disappointed by others. Just remember, you’ve let friends down too!

What To Give The One Who Owns It All - Psalm 49-52

Each Christmas my wife and I face this challenge. What do you give someone who seemingly has everything? It’s a tough decision. We certainly want to give items that will be appreciated, but given our budget and given their possessions, that is a hard task. We have discovered that giving something with some kind of significance attached to it is the answer. Trinkets, toys, and techno gadgets are too expensive, too temporary, and too meaningless!

Now the task of giving becomes enormous when you turn from thinking of friends and family to thinking of God! He really and truly owns it all! In Psalm 50:10-12 the Lord declares that every beast, every cattle, every bird, everything that moves, the world, and all its fullness is His! The point was that when Israel sacrifices animals to God, they are not really “giving” Him anything. He already owns them.

What do we give God? Our lives? Not really, He owns those. Our breath? Not really, He owns that. Our tithe and offerings? Not really, He owns our money. What do we give to the One who owns it all?

Part of the answer is found in Psalm 50:23, “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me.”

Thanksgiving is giving to God because thanksgiving acknowledges it is all God’s to begin with! Secondly, thanksgiving gives the glory to God, and that is our chief end in life! Giving glory to God, glorifying God, living to and for His glory, these are ways in which we give to God. The ONLY ways in which we can give to God!

A Very Present Help - Psalm 45-48

Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”

That God is “a very present help” to us who believe is a profoundly, comforting truth! He is “present.” That is, He is never, ever, in any way imaginable absent! He is never missing. He is never sleeping, slumbering, unaware, unknowing, uncaring, unseeing. He is present. Always!

He is a “very” present help. He is not only there, He is really, truly, faithfully, lovingly there! He is “very” near us and with us. He is watching over us with an eternal love, an infinite wisdom, and a Father’s heart!

He is a very present “help.” He is always as close as our next breath, as our help. He is our true refuge and strength. Without Him, we could never make it. With Him, there is nothing we cannot make it through!

Since God is a very present help in trouble for us who believe, fear gives way to faith! Where God is present and trusted in, fear of others or circumstances is absent! Notice particularly the kind of earth-shattering, cataclysmic circumstances the psalmist describes here. He does not have little “bumps in the road” in mind here. No, he is thinking of overwhelming, traumatizing, excruciating experiences. The kind of “life” that feels like the Rocky Mountains just imploded! It is then, when life is enormous, shaky, and out of control, that we can rest in God. He is a “very” “present” “help,” especially “in trouble!”

Handling Spiritual Depression - Ps 41-44

Depression has become a very widespread diagnosis. Many are “clinically” depressed, and as a result, “chemically” dependent. Since we are dwelling in fallen bodies, the mind can fail just as any other part of the body might fail. There may be a chemical imbalance in the brain that, if treated carefully with medicines, enables one to regain composure and face life again. However, if the medication becomes an addiction or a means of “escaping” and numbing the mind, that’s not treatment; that’s enablement.

Many times depression is a spiritual condition not a physical one. When our focus has turned from the Lord to circumstances, when “self” has become the center of our world instead of Christ, when we cover sin, or when we live out of fellowship with God or our brother in Christ, we can become depressed. There are many reasons for and expressions of spiritual depression. How do we handle it? The psalmist gives us an example.

First, we should preach to ourselves! Keep telling yourself over and over the truth! Don’t allow yourself to believe a lie. Psalm 43:5 “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” Second, direct ourselves back to God! God is our refuge! God is the source of peace! “Hope in God” (v5). Third, believe that this state of depression is temporary and God will bring you out of it! “for I shall again praise Him” (v5). Fourth, remember to Whom it is that you pray! “my salvation and my God” (v5). If He is your salvation and your God, you are in no better hands than His!

When spiritual depression slams your soul, tell your soul the Truth and give your soul to God. The Lord will triumph over our spiritual depression!

Patiently Waiting - Psalm 37-40

The words “patiently” and “waiting” usually do not occur together unless we are confessing that we were NOT patiently waiting! We grow impatient rather quickly when we are forced to wait. Drive-thru lines at fast food restaurants, waiting rooms, waiting for a special delivery, and the slow driver in front of us all test our patience. Why are we so impatient?

Impatience is more than just a personality flaw; it is sin. Impatience uncovers an ugly truth about our nature, namely, we are selfish and self-centered. Why if those people or obstacles would get out of our way, then we could get what we want right now! You see? Impatience becomes even more disturbing when our it is directed toward God. Our impatience toward God says we believe God should be serving us instead of us serving God. It says that we are on the throne of our lives and not Christ!

Patience, though, quiet, resting, patience toward God communicates a far different message. Patience for God’s will in God’s timing says we know God is Sovereign and Father. He will act wisely, faithfully, timely, in our best interest, and for His greatest glory! Patience says “I trust Him! I submit to Him. I lean upon Him. I want what He wants for me!” That kind of patient resting in the Father’s will comes from the indwelling of the Spirit. We must pray for godly patience and fight against self-absorption!

Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”

A Taste Test - Psalm 33-36

A frequent dinner conversation between my parents and I has now become a frequent dinner conversation between my children and me. It goes something like this: Child: “I don’t like these vegetables.” Parent: “Have you tried them?” Child: “No.” Parent: “Then how do you know you do not like them if you haven’t tried them. Taste them. They’re good. You’ll like them.” Guess what? After a few tries, those green things did grow on me. I now love my vegetables; they are good! (Brussels sprouts excluded, of course!)

Some people treat God like their vegetables. They reason, “I’ll give Him a try, but if things don’t turn out like I want them to, then I’m done with this whole Jesus thing!” So they claim to have made a profession of faith, receive baptism, join the church, and even get involved in a few activities. Then, life comes at them fast and they blame God instead of clinging to Him! They conclude, “Well, I tried religion, but it didn’t work for me.”

The problem with those scenarios is that they tried “religion,” they tried “their own version of God,” and they tried “worshipping a god made on their own image to serve their own ends.” They did NOT try the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

When you truly “taste” the Lord, when you truly come in repentance and faith and surrender to Jesus Christ, you find nothing in Him but goodness, delight, peace, and joy! It is those who have truly tasted who joyfully declare, “He is good!” Go ahead. Taste and See!

It's Going to Take a Long Time - Psalm 29-32

When we get to heaven we will finally fulfill our created purpose. We will at last find ultimate satisfaction when the God-given yearning of our souls meets its God-given end! We strive toward that goal as believers in this life because we have new hearts, a new Guide, and we have been made new creatures. Yet, for all of this advantage and difference, huge barriers still exist which hinder us from completely becoming all that God means for us to be in Christ. Those barriers are sin, the flesh, and the Enemy. They are constantly attacking and distracting, therefore, we are constantly fighting. They hold our attention . . . for a while!

There is coming the day, however, when they will hold us no more! There is coming a day when their power and allurement will be snuffed out. Christ, the Victor over death, hell, and sin will finalize His victory and send every barrier to the lake of fire! Not only will our enemies be removed, but we will be better suited to serve our purpose. We will be glorified in body and spirit. We will never, ever want to sin again! We will be made able to stand before Him. We will see Him. It is then that what we have been created to do, what we have been commanded to do in this life, we will finally be able to do!

Psalm 29:2 “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” Can you imagine finally being able to do what we have been longing to do, the freedom and thrill of approaching Him, ascribing to Him the glory THAT IS DUE HIM, and worshipping Him in the fullness of His infinite holiness? It’s going to take a long time to adjust to our new setting! It’s going to take a long time to soak it all in! It’s going to take a long time to ascribe to Him His due glory! But we won’t mind at all. It’s what we’ve been waiting for!

When Is It Vain To Serve God? Mal 3-4

Malachi 3:14 “You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God.’” Where is a person in life when he reaches this startling conclusion? Namely that service unto the Most High is a waste of time, breath, and life! Service unto The Almighty is useless and worthless. When you sit and think about such a statement, it is shocking!

However, the really shocking truth is that if we are honest, we have thought or felt this before! We would never say it out loud, but we have we not wondered, “After all I have done for the Lord, why is this happening to me?” The logic is the same; serving God is vain. So how does one reach this conclusion, and how can we prevent this logic from settling in our hearts?

The conclusion that service to God is vain is easily reached when “we” are the center of our worlds instead of God! If we think everything revolves around us, if we think we “deserve” special treatment for our dedication, then we will soon decide that godly service is vain. If God becomes a means instead of our goal, we will inevitably conclude godly service is vain.

The reason why this conclusion is reached so quickly is because in reality God is the center and that reality will run head-on with our false notion of “self-centeredness!” In order to fight this temptation, we must take a heart check daily by practicing self denial. It’s difficult to keep “self” on the throne when you love and serve others! In addition, we must pray that God would ignite our hearts for Christ, meditate deeply on the Word, and keep reminding ourselves that everything (including us) exists for the glory of God! The more we embrace and pursue that truth, the quicker we will reach a far different conclusion, namely, serving God is satisfying and thrilling!

The Global Greatness of God - Mal 1-2

Malachi 1:5 “Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, ‘Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!’”

Malachi 1:11 “For My name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”

Malachi 1:14 “For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and My name will be feared among the nations.”

One clearly sees a major theme running through the first chapter of Malachi. The last word of prophecy before the 400 years of silence foretells the coming of Elijah, the coming of the Lord, and the coming day of the Lord which will result in the treading down of the wicked and rising of the righteous. All of these great, global, history-shaping, history-changing events flow from one central, core truth, namely, the greatness of God will be known, feared, and worshipped on a global scale!

The greatness of God is going global! The means of spreading God’s glory and greatness beyond Israel is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! Thus, the sending of a messenger followed by the Messiah! The message that Messiah has come and has brought true, eternal salvation shall continue to progress through the Church until it reaches the ends of the earth.

At that point, God’s greatness will be global by two means. First, there will be global justice! Every nation, every ruler, every person who is without Christ will face the judgment of God. Second, everyone from every tribe and language who is in Christ will be received into His kingdom!

The Lord Has Declared It - That Settles It - Zech 13-14

Zechariah 13:9 “And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is My God.’”

Salvation is God’s idea, not man’s. Salvation is planned by God, not man. Salvation is initiated by God, not man. Salvation is carried through by God, not man. Salvation is perfected by God, not man. Salvation is guaranteed by God, not man. Salvation is safe in God, not man. Salvation is of the Lord, not man!

Notice the Lord did not say, “Maybe they will call upon My name.” No, He said, “They WILL call upon My name.” Neither did He say, “I’m not sure what I’ll do then. It kinda all depends on them.” No, He said, “and I WILL answer them.” He will then declare them to be His people and they will respond by affirming that He is their God. God has declared that salvation will come. That settles it. Period. It will happen!

This is not to say man is totally removed from the process of salvation or that he is totally passive. Man will call upon the Lord. Man will respond to the Lord. And none of this is against man’s will but rather God has moved and the will has changed. The “will” that once refused God now yearns for Him!

This is only saying that after removing layer upon layer of salvation, when you reach bottom, God is there, not man! He is the Author, Accomplisher, and Achiever of our salvation.

True Repentance - Zech 10-12

When someone says they are repenting, our initial response should always be one of joy. However, what if their “repentance” is false, rooted in faux humility as when the child says “I’m sorry” only to avoid punishment? Is there a way to detect genuine repentance from false repentance? (We really need to know this since we may be falsely repenting!)

False repentance usually can be detected by its caveats! False repentance says, “IF I have sinned or done anything wrong . . .” or “I MAY have said the wrong thing . . .” False repentance is always hazy, indirect, and unclear. True repentance, on the other hand, is easily detected by its biblical traits. First, true repentance comes from God. God is the author and source of a truly repentance heart. Repentance is an “out of character” act for all of us! When it is present, God has granted it!

Second, true repentance acknowledges one’s need for grace and mercy. When one truly repents, the focus is on his sin, not his neighbor’s.

Third, true repentance is an eye-opening experience! One clearly sees and confesses his own sin instead of denying, rationalizing, and excusing it!

Fourth, true repentance manifests itself in visible, identifiable ways. True repentance is more than just “talk.” It has hands and feet! It seeks forgiveness, is broken over sin, and makes things right with man and God!

Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour out . . . a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on Me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him . . . and weep bitterly over Him”

Diamond-hard Hearts - Zech 7-9

Zechariah 7:12 “They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts.”

It is interesting that Zechariah describes the hearts of the people as diamond-hard. In other words, these hearts will not be touched, will not be moved, will not be penetrated. They are diamond-hard.

The truth is that apart from Christ all hearts are diamond-hard. There is a sense in which we can continue to grow harder and colder to the Lord, but the reality is that unless the Lord changes our hearts, they will not be moved!

This text not only describes the impenetrable nature of hard hearts but also how to identify them. A hard heart, a diamond-hard heart, is one that absolutely refuses to hear the word of the Lord! This is frightening because this level of stiff-arming the preachers of the Word is not only outside the church but inside as well! “I don’t like your style of preaching,” “I don’t like the length of your sermons,” and “I disagree with your interpretation of Scripture” are all ways diamond-hard hearts reject the Word!

As the text clearly says, this level of rejection angers the Lord! As preachers, we must stand firm and continue to preach the truth. The Word alone is powerful enough to cut a diamond heart! As believers, we must keep humbling and submitting ourselves to the Word lest we become hard as a diamond!

The Branch is The Builder - Zech 4-6

One of the central themes of Zechariah is the promise of the coming Branch. God has judged His people. Now God will restore His people, and the most glorious part of this restoration is that The Branch is coming! The Branch will make this restoration complete, final, glorious, and eternal!

One of the key identifiers of the Coming Branch is that He will be the Builder of the temple of the Lord. This raises the question, “If Jesus was indeed the coming Branch, when did He ever build the temple? Wasn’t it already built when He arrived?” Actually, everything Jesus said and did were acts of building the temple. All He ever did while He was on the earth was to build the temple!

Not the one man-made with bricks and mortar! This is the temple made by God with people made alive and indwelt by the Spirit of God! Jesus came to build the spiritual temple of God. That temple is the people of God, the children of God, the Church! Jesus came and fulfilled this prophecy to its fullest measure. He established, perfected, designed, and built the Church of God! Of course, His chief means of doing so was the cross. It is by the cross of Christ that we were purchased, ransomed, and redeemed. Through the cross, Christ gathered together the “bricks” (people) that the Spirit would put together (the regenerate Church)! God dwells in newly created hearts! That’s His temple! That’s His sanctuary. And Christ built it!

As a believer, you are part of something incredibly massive, glorious, and beyond imagination! The Temple of God includes saints from every age and every corner of the globe! One day, this Temple will come together in one place, before the throne of God!

All In A Day's Work - Zech 1-3

Zechariah 3:8-9 “. . .Behold, I will bring My servant the Branch . . . and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.”

The title is not meant to imply that this is the normal work day or work load! The emphasis is on the “All.” An infinitely, humanly immeasurable debt was paid in full in one day! To do so required divine intervention!

This task could not performed by anyone. The Lord would bring in the only qualified candidate! Apart from God sending His Son, iniquity would never be removed! Though many may try, though many sacrifices may have been offered, sin would never be taken away unless the Son came to do it!

What was so special about the Son? He was both Son of God and Son of Man. As God, He was totally divine therefore He alone could meet the standard of divine justice. As Man, He was able to bear man’s guilt. As Man, He lived a perfect life and therefore offered His body as a perfect sacrifice for sin. As God, He entered into the very presence of the Father to offer Himself. The only begotten Son is the ONLY ONE who could be both God and Man and thus achieve complete redemption!

This task was more than just meeting the qualifications though. The task itself was monumental, removing an infinite amount of horrible, God-cursing, God-hating sin! It takes a cross! It takes a broken body! It takes the pouring out of blood. It drove the Son to His knees in anguish and the Father from looking at His Beloved Son! The cross was Hell! The Son took it and accomplished what no one else could have; He removed iniquity in a single day! Trust Him as Lord and Savior, and your sin shall be removed!

Leaving God Till Later - Haggai

Haggai 1:2,4-5 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord...Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.”

The Lord says, “Stop for a minute, look around, and see how you are treating Me!” This text is not a defense for building multi-million dollar worship facilities! The point is that the great care given to their own houses coupled with the great neglect of God’s house signified deeper problems!

First, their “paneled” houses signifies the ever present trap of materialism! We want to have the best, latest, and most expensive, and we want others to know! Materialism devours hunger for God. God’s business can be done tomorrow. I need that paneling today!

Second, self has taken first place and pushed God to the side. Next to the temptation to “acquire in order to satisfy” is the temptation to “be your own boss.” We foolishly believe we are independent and so end up in a rat race. As a result, the most important thing, worshipping God, is neglected.

Third, making sure our own homes are glamorous while the Lord’s house is rotting says a lot about our hearts. The Lord does not need the most expensive building, but our full attention to self and total neglect of matters of worship indicates misplaced affections!

Maybe there are areas in our lives where we are “leaving God till later!” Maybe we need to “consider our ways!”

Irresistible Grace - Zephaniah

What does irresistible grace mean? Does it mean that no one can resist grace? No. Does it mean that man’s will is ineffective? No. Does it mean that God saves people who do not want to be saved, saves them against their will, or forces salvation upon people? No, no, and no.

Irresistible grace means that even though a sinner, dead in trespasses and sins, will freely reject the grace of God time and again, God can at any time sovereignly overcome or overtake man’s will, make him alive in Christ, and then he will want Christ more than anything else on earth. To him there is no choice between accepting or refusing Christ. He could not imagine refusing Christ because all he wants is Christ! God’s grace has become irresistible. The sinner’s heart has been changed, and therefore, he now freely wants Christ and must have Him! A passage in Zephaniah examples God’s irresistible grace.

3:9 “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve Him with on accord.” Who changes their speech to a pure speech at a pre-appointed time? God does. For what purpose does God change them? That they may call on the name of the Lord. What happens when they do this? They are saved (Joel 2:32). So who is ultimately causing their salvation, them or God? God.

This is irresistible grace. And it is a good and precious gift of God. Without it, we would always freely reject Christ. Irresistible grace is not God taking away our wills but rather it is God correcting our wills so that we see and freely want what is best, namely, Christ!

You Won't Believe This, But It's True - Habakkuk

Listen to how the Lord begins His reply to Habakkuk, “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told” (1:5).

If someone else were to have told this to Habakkuk, he would never believe it. What the Lord is getting ready to share with His prophet is absolutely unimaginable. Habakkuk wanted more than anything for God to act, but he would never have envisioned God acting in this way. It is totally unthinkable. This kind of response from God would never in a million years dawn on the prophet. So what was the Lord getting ready to do that was so hard to believe? God was going to use the most vile and evil people on the planet to bring judgment upon the people of God!

Habakkuk had asked for judgment, but not this way! How could God use wicked people to judge wickedness? Shouldn’t the Chaldeans be punished as well? Even more so since they were far more evil? Habakkuk’s reply is just as the Lord anticipated, “God, what’s going on here?”

Several things are here for us to learn. First, we will never totally understand God! His ways and thoughts are higher! Second, God is sovereign over the affairs of men and nations. God is going to discipline His children by bringing a nation against them from far away, and it happened just as the Lord said it would! Third, God uses even the wicked to accomplish His good purposes. Fourth, what seemed an injustice to Habakkuk was justice in the end. God would eventually judge Babylon for her wickedness. Let us learn then not to judge the Lord on what we know or see in the present. When His work is finished, it will be good and right!

God is Angry! Nahum

We do not want to hear it. We do not want to talk about it. Far worse, we do not want to believe it. Nonetheless, it is true anyway! God is angry! Yes, He is loving. Yes, He is gracious and merciful. Yes, He is patient and longsuffering. Yes, He is good. And yes, whether we like it or not, He is angry!

The fact of the matter is, it would not be right or righteous if He were not angry! Why? Because He is angry with sinners. He is angry with outright rebellion and declarations of war against Him. He is angry with the mockery, rejection, and denial of His Son, who He sent to die! He is angry with the humiliation of being replaced, substituted, and overlooked by those who prefer idolatry over worship. He is angry with those who constantly violate His law, indulge in wickedness, and love the unholy.

We often warn against being mad at God, but have we stopped to think that God may be mad at us?

Nahum 1:6-7 “Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by Him. The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.”

The truth is that the only way God is NOT angry with you is if you are in Christ; if you have taken refuge in Him, in His Son! His anger is removed when your sin is removed, and only Christ can do that! Without Christ, it is only indignation, anger, and wrath. But with Christ, God is to us a stronghold and a refuge!

Knowing and Living the Good - Micah 5-7

Knowing the Lord has always meant more than lip service. Knowing the Lord has always made an impact on how one lives. To know the Lord is to live for the Lord. Living a pleasing life to the Lord is evidence that one truly knows the Lord. One cannot live in order to know, but if one knows, it shapes how he lives!

The opposite then certainly applies. Living as to displease and dishonor the Lord is sure evidence that one does not truly, really know the Lord. You can make all the claims of faith you like, but if you do not live it, you do not have it! Micah 6:8 is a good starting point to see living faith.

Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Doing justice. Rewarding good and punishing evil. Giving everyone a fair shake. Operating from a basis of “loving your neighbor” instead of selfishness. Doing unto others as you would have them do unto you!

Loving kindness. Hating those actions, motivations, and words that cause harm to others. Practicing those actions, motivations, and words that help others.

Walking humbly. Daily realizing how dependent one is on the mercies and graces of God. Being thankful and not boastful. Grateful for every blessings instead of acting as if it was deserved or earned. Mindful that one is not receiving what he truly deserves but rather abundant grace!

What Happens If You Do Stop Preaching "That"? Micah 3-4

Yesterday’s devotion came from the antagonism that Micah faced as a preacher of judgment and repentance in Micah 1-2. The people did not want to hear what he had to say, so they essentially told him, “Stop preaching that!”

Today’s devotion comes from Micah 3-4. What happens if a prophet listens to the antagonists? What happens if you stop preaching “that?” What happens if you stop preaching the true message of judgment and repentance and replace it with a message of peace and safety?

You lose far more than you would by sticking with the Truth! It is true that if you maintain the Truth in the pulpit, you may find yourself in the unemployment line! You may face criticism. You may lose friends. You may find yourself on the street looking for shelter. You may see your family go without. Times may indeed become extremely difficult for you if you stand for and proclaim Truth. However, the cost of selling out is far more!

When you exchange the Truth for a message of comfort and job security, you become a false prophet! The consequences of misrepresenting the Lord are light years more dreadful than the response of men despising the Truth. Remember the people were telling Micah “Disgrace will not overtake us” (2:6). There were some prophets who were preaching that exact message. “No worries. No need to fear. No need to change. You are fine. Disgrace will not overtake us!” Hear the Lord’s reply, “The sun shall go down on the prophets...the seers shall be disgraced” (3:6-7). In other words, when the judgment of God falls, the false prophets will be first in line!

Stop Preaching That! Micah 1-2

The preacher who stands for Truth usually receives one of three responses to his message, if he receives a response at all. To those who agree with him, there comes the resounding “Amen!” To those who have been struck by Truth, there comes the sigh of “Oh my!” For those who reject the Truth, for those who refuse any scriptural correction, for those who pridefully deny any wrongdoing, there comes the raging challenge “Silence!”

There are some truths that people just do not want to hear! They do not want to hear that the things they love so, have grown so fond of, and have all good reason for are actually sin! They do not want to hear that God is angry with sin, specifically their sin! They do not want to hear that God will judge sinners, even saved sinners! They especially do not want to hear that continued, unrepentant sin indicates unbelief! If you find yourself preaching a text that brings up these issues, get ready! Someone is going to tell you, “We need to hear more about God’s love.” “You keep beating us up.” “Your preaching is too harsh.” “You are wrong.” “That’s not what the Bible says.”

Micah, God’s prophet, God’s spokesman, heard the same. Micah 2:6 “Do not preach”—thus they preach—”one should not preach of such things; disgrace will not overtake us.” As you can see, Micah should be doing exactly what they said he should not be doing! In fact, disgrace did overtake them because they did not repent; because they did not want to hear it!

To every preacher—keep preaching the Truth no matter how confrontational! To every listener—keep embracing the Truth no matter how painful!

Maintain Your Integrity, At All Costs! Psalm 25-28

When foes assail you, and if you live for the Lord, they will assail you, the presence or absence of integrity will make or break you! The integrity of the psalms is a fidelity to the Word of God, a willingness to stand upon it, an unwavering trust in it. Integrity in the Word is faithfulness to its Author!

When one determines and desires to be faithful to the Lord, the assaults and attacks will automatically and inevitably come, most from unexpected places. Accusations will fly. Slander and gossip will abound. The integrity of the one who holds fast to his integrity will be called into question. Charge after charge will be leveled. The faithful servant of the Lord will be weighed down at times with heavy opposition. All of the drama, shouts, name-calling, and implications might tear him down were it not for integrity. He knows the accusations are false! He knows in the depths of his heart he is not straying from the Lord or leading others astray. He knows, because he knows the Word, that he is loving his Lord and his neighbor, even though his neighbor denies it. His allegiance to the Word of God stabilizes him in the midst of the upheaval. If he didn’t have this, he would certainly drown.

That, however, is not the chief reason for maintaining one’s integrity at all costs. The primary motivation for maintaining one’s integrity even if it means defamation, loss of job, or persecution is that when one is true to the Lord, he can rest in the Lord’s presence, protection, and provision!

Psalm 26:1,11 “Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering...But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.” Keep it at all costs! If you have integrity in His Word, you have Him!

Complete Satisfaction - Psalm 21-24

Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” The first sentence serves as a title for the rest of the song, which is a list of reasons why having the Lord as shepherd removes all want. Without missing this connection, there is much to glean from verse 1! The end result of having the Lord as shepherd is complete, ultimate satisfaction! The search for fulfillment is over. What is it about the Lord being your shepherd that totally removes lack and need and emptiness and void from your life?

First, complete satisfaction is grounded in the identity of your shepherd. He is not just any shepherd. He is not an individual, who will let you down. He is not an ideology or philosophy that sounds good but doesn’t measure up with real life. You are not your own shepherd only to discover your own insufficiency. Your shepherd is the Lord! His arms are strong. His love is steadfast. His fields are eternal. The LORD is my shepherd.

Second, this is a reality. This is true. The Lord IS my shepherd! Faith in Christ results in union with Christ. You are His and He is yours!

Third, this union is a relationship. The Lord is MY shepherd. He is intimately acquainted with you. He knows you better than you know you. He provides exactly what you need when you need it. His correction is loving. His presence is joy. You belong to Him. He will never forsake you or lose you!

Fourth, He is watching over you. He is caring for you. He is providing for you. He is looking out for you. He is protecting you. He is nourishing you. He is comforting you. And He always will. The Lord is my SHEPHERD! All of these things result in complete satisfaction!

The Invaluable, Precious Word of God - Psalm 17-20

Psalm 19:7-11 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is Your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

These are some of the most beautiful, poetic descriptions of God’s Word found in all of God’s Word! To those who are separated from God, do not know Christ, and do not love the glory of God, the Bible is just another religious book. To those who deny God and detest the standard of holiness, truth, and justice found in the Bible, this book is claimed to be full of myth, error, fable, fiction, and contradiction.

However, to those who have been chased down and overcome by the saving grace of God, who have lovingly embraced Christ as Lord and Savior, and who have been brought to new life by the Spirit of God, the Bible is a treasure chest of holy joy! To them, the Bible is the source of all truth and is able to lead one to true salvation. The Bible is the perfect guide and counsel, sufficient not only for salvation but for every matter of life.

To those who know the Lord, not just by name or association, but by adoption through Christ Jesus our Lord, the Bible is their most precious material possession. They read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, share it, love it, devour it, apply it, embrace it, just like David in Psalm 19!

As Plain As Day - Psalm 13-16

One of the clearest, most evident truths is that there is a God. Several undeniable factors surround and confront us with this realization.

First, there is the weakness of man. Man is at the top of the “evolutionary” ladder right? Yet man, with all his abilities, is still weak, frail, and clearly not in control! There must be a higher power! Second, there is the sinfulness of man. Some men have been so terribly evil and wicked that the rest of humanity calls for justice. If there is no God to answer to, justice fails. Third, there is the moral standard of man. Man has inherently a moral line drawn in his heart that should not be crossed. The line may be different for different men, but there is a line somewhere in all men. From where does this universal notion of morality come? Fourth, there is the undeniable evidence of design in all of creation. The minute detail and precise function of every living being and inanimate object proves the presence of a Designer. Fifth, there are the Five Logical Proofs of God’s existence by Thomas Aquinas. There must be a First Cause, a First Mover, a Necessary Being, a Perfection or Standard, and an Intelligent Designer.

The evidence for God is as plain as day to anyone who will keenly observe his surroundings and rationally think about nature, processes, and creation. So why would anyone doubt or deny God’s existence? Psalm 14:1 “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” As sinners, we will deny the plain truth in order to avoid accountability! We want to be our own boss, call the shots, do our own things, and not be accountable to anyone. If God exists, we are not on the throne; He is. We don’t want this, so we deny Him. That’s foolish! Denying God’s existence does not make Him cease to exist! He is there! Just look around!

A Test You Want To Pass - Psalm 9-12

One of the reasons we breathe a sigh of relief upon graduating from our final alma mater is that we are finally finished with tests! No more pop quizzes, lengthy essay exams, or tricky true-or-false. Our education is complete and so is our test-taking! Or so we think!

Soon we realize that we are really never finished with tests. They just come in different formats! Our employer may test our skill. Our children may test our patience. We may take a vehicle on a test drive. There are all kinds of tests, and we are always taking them. However, there is a profound, fundamental test that we are all taking whether we realize it or not. We are all taking the test of our lives, and we all want to pass this one!

Psalm 11:4 “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes see, His eyelids test, the children of man.”

The Lord is the test-giver. His tests are fair, and His grading is accurate. There is no grade curve. There is only one question to answer which we answer with our lives not our lips. Are we with God or against God? Pass or Fail? Those with God are righteous in standing because of Christ’s righteousness and are daily pursuing righteous behavior. Those against God love wickedness and flee from righteousness.

11:5,7 “The Lord tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked...For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold His face.” There is only one correct answer for this test. Run to Christ and live for God! That, and only that, will always receive a “High Pass” or to say it biblically, to pass is to behold the face of God!

Joy Unending - Ps 5-8

As with many of the psalms, chapter five contains a great contrast. Most of the verses describe the offense and retribution of sinfulness. In fact one of the more alarming phrases of all the Bible is found in this context. Psalm 5:5-6 says, “You [God] hate all evildoers . . . the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” So much for “God loves the sinner but hates the sin!” God does not abhor some abstract notion or concept labeled “sin.” God hates the committing of sin, which is the committing of rebellion, idolatry, mockery, and rejection. To sin is to declare war on God. All sinners have announced by their sin that they will override God’s will and overtake God’s plan. The message of Psalm 5 is that God will retaliate!

Sinners will not win this war! The Lord will “make them bear their guilt,” because “of the abundance of their transgressions” [God will] “cast them out” (v10). We must be mindful, with fear and trembling, that God will not judge sin on the great and terrible Day of the Lord; He will judge sinners!

What are we to do since we are all sinners? Here is where the great contrast of chapter five arises. We are to flee to God in Christ for refuge, or to say it another way, for salvation from the punishment of our sin! Once we have embraced Christ and been reconciled to God, we no longer face terror but rather unending joy! 5:11 - “But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may exult in You.”

Can you imagine the elation of never more running from the fierce justice of God but finding ever more protection and joy in the embrace of God! When you embrace Christ, God embraces you, and that is joy unending!

Joy, True Joy - Ps 1-4

Despite all of the differences and diversity that abound among the human family, at the heart of each of us lies a desire which unites us all. We all long for joy. We desire to be happy, to be satisfied, to be fulfilled, to be complete, to be content, to be full. You will not find a single individual who will deny this unless he is not being honest. Joy is our uniting desire. Joy is our endless pursuit. Joy is so often out of our reach. Joy, when thought to be grasped, slips away so easily.

Why is the quest for joy in every human heart? Because God put it there. Why would God put such a desire in our hearts knowing that life is short and full of trouble? Does God mean for us to live miserable, unfulfilled lives? NO! God means for you to live an abundant, overflowing life. That is why He put that yearning for joy in your heart! Not so that you would search for it all of your life and never find it, but that you would find joy, true joy in Him!

Once this discovery is made, life changes and is never the same! Other joys are created, temporary joys at best or false, deceptive joys. God, however, is the Fountain of Joy. God is the source and supplier of all true joy. God is joyful, and He gives joy to all who know Him through Christ. The quest for joy is meant to bring you to true joy, that is, knowing, loving, worshipping the God of all peace and comfort! Worldly joys and seeking to fill our lives with others will always prove empty because true joy is delighting in and enjoying God!

Psalm 4:7 “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.”

He's Still Working On Me - Jonah 3-4

There is a children’s church song titled “He’s Still Working On Me.” The message is that God created the whole universe in 6 days, but “He’s still working on me”! Jonah could have sung that song in earnest!

When God finally convinces Jonah that preaching to Ninevah is a non-negotiable, the most unimaginable, unpredictable, miraculous event occurred; Ninevah repented! Jonah knew this would happen, and that’s why he didn’t want to go in the first place. He didn’t want Ninevah to repent. Now that they have repented, he would rather die! What!?! Why in the world would a prophet of God despise people repenting?

Ninevah was the most ruthless, cruel, pagan nation known to man during Jonah’s time. They were Israel’s worse nightmare; they were Israel’s enemies. And God sent His man with a message of judgment in order to bring them to repentance. Now Jonah would return home not just as a prophet, meaning he was disliked anyway, but as the prophet who was responsible for Ninevah’s revival. He would rather die!

So as this incredible, fast-paced, miracle-filled book comes to a close, it is not about big storms, big fish, or big revivals as much as it is about the ongoing, daily, patient, persistent work of God in the life of His servant Jonah! God uses a little worm to destroy a little plant, sends a scorching wind and searing heat, and teaches Jonah a lesson on compassion. The story ends. We know that Ninevah, those wicked, vile people, repented of their actions against God. We don’t know if Jonah, the prophet of God, repented of his sinful attitude. However, we do know that we have something in common with Jonah, “He’s Still Working On Me.”

God's Will Triumphant - Jonah 1-2

God’s plan for His glory and the good of His people will not be thwarted, diverted, changed, or cancelled! God’s will, in the end, is triumphant! That message is central to the book of Jonah.

God’s will triumphs over man’s will. It was God’s will for Jonah to go to Ninevah and call them to repentance. Jonah does everything in his power to avoid God’s will. He wills against God’s will, and by chapter 3, Jonah is standing in Ninevah calling them to repentance! Notice the lengths to which God will go in order to bend man’s will back to God’s will and accomplish His purpose. He sends a great storm and a great fish! The sooner we learn this lesson the better, our wills are not the center of the universe!

God’s will is not just for His plan but for His man! It is a good thing that God’s will triumphs over us because God’s will is not just for His glory but for our good. Our willing against God’s will can never be for our good or His glory! We are so self-absorbed that at first glance, we harshly reject the notion of God’s will bringing our will into subjection. But on further, closer observation we come to realize how infinitely better for us that God’s will wins the day!

God is not just after Ninevah; God is after Jonah! The great storm and the great fish are the best things that could have happened to Jonah! The worse thing that could have happened would be for Jonah to flee to Tarshish, go his merry way, and never be bothered! But no! God will have His way and His man, and thus Jonah 2 is a prayer of repentance! God’s will triumphed over Jonah’s will, and thanks be to God, it has triumphed over ours as well!

The Deception of Pride - Obadiah

Edom is going to face the judgment of God to such degree that in the end, Edom will be no more! God’s chief accusation against Edom is that he took advantage of and rejoiced in the judgment of Judah. Edom delighted in the downfall of God’s people, and they wouldn’t get away with it.

The root of Edom’s cruel actions towards Judah was pride. Edom rejoiced that Judah fell while he was still standing well and good. Edom boasted in his fortunes and fortress-like setting. Edom was filled with pride, and his pride had deceived him!

vv3-4 “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord.”

Pride is terribly deceptive in at least two ways. (1) It convinces you of self-sufficiency. Edom’s security was not in his brilliant location; it was in the hand of a sovereign God! (2) It leaves God out of the equation. Edom looked all around and asked rhetorically, “Who will bring me down?” He was so prideful he never thought to look up and ask that question!

God would not allow self-sufficient, God-ignoring pride to remain in Edom. He will not allow it to remain in us either! It is a constant temptation for us to think too highly of self, depend on self, and leave God out of the equation. He is able to hold us up when all we have is Him, and He is able to bring us down when we forget that all we have is Him!

The Worst Judgment of All - Amos 7-9

The judgments of the Lord against the evil and idolatry of Israel were no slaps on the wrist. They were harsh trials meant to startle and to emphasize the horrors of sin. Little bumps along the way would not adequately communicate the devastating nature of sin or its eternal consequences. Still, Israel did not heed God’s punitive actions.

As a result of their hardness, He would now send them the worst judgment of all. He would withdraw Himself from them and become silent! No matter how terrible a famine may be, in the end, better to have God speaking through a famine than God not speaking at all! At least if God is speaking through a prophet during a famine you would know how to interpret these events and how to respond. But if God stops speaking, you don’t know anything! No revelation from God equals no knowledge of God, which means no point of contact with God! When God stops speaking, God stops saving. A silent, shut heaven is the worst judgment imaginable!

8:11-12 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord...they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it.”

Two questions. How much do you appreciate the words of the Lord in the Bible located right in your own house? Your devotion to it answers that question. Is the word of the Lord heard when you attend church or is there a famine of God’s word? To put it another way, do you hear from the Bible or from man? If God’s word is spoken to God’s people, thank the Lord and appreciate your pastor!

He Said He Would - Amos 4-6

In Amos 4:6-11, the prophet reviews the judgments that the Lord has sent to Israel to awaken her out of her sin. He gave cleanness of teeth, that is, there was nothing to eat (v6), He withheld the rain (v7), He struck them with mildew (v9), He sent pestilence and sword (v10), and He overthrew some of them (v11). All of this was done to alert them to their sin and call them to repentance. It did not have its desired effect. Each description of judgment is followed by the chilling reality “yet you did not return to Me.”

Israel simply refused to admit they were dwelling in horrible sin and that these hardships were in fact judgments from God. Instead, they clung tighter to their sin while accusing God of neglect and abandonment.

However, they should have known exactly what was happening. God had said many years earlier that He would do these things should they turn from Him! In Deut 28, Moses outlines the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience. Guess what items are included in the list of curses? Pestilence (v21), mildew (v22), no rain (v23), overthrown (v25), and famine (vv52-57), and these are just a few.

He said that He would, and He did. He also said that they would, and they did. God had told Israel they would not heed His warning. They would turn from Him, commit vile transgressions, and face His judgments (Deut 31:29). Failure to keep the law with dire warnings and failure to repent under harsh judgment are telltale signs that we are truly totally depraved, and we desperately need saving grace! Thank God He also said He would bring a new covenant (Deut 30:6), and He did!

Everyone: Guilty - Amos 1-3

The prophets read as if you are in court. Entire nations are brought before The Bench. The evidence is presented, and the verdict is the same: guilty!In the opening chapters of Amos God is holding court, and many nations have been brought before Him. These cases are not drawn out and appealed though. There is nothing left to say when the evidence is presented!

Every nation surrounding God’s people is condemned. The indictment is read, the verdict is delivered, and the sentence is given. One right after the other. Justice is hammered out. Yet, after all these cases, there is still time for a couple more.

To their surprise, Israel and Judah, God’s people, are called before the Judge! To their greater surprise, their indictment, verdict, and sentence are the same as their neighbors! Why? Because they were the same as their neighbors! They did not live as God’s people. They lived as godless people, and they would face the same punishment.

Why should they believe Amos or pay him any attention? He was a prophet. He spoke God’s words. God did not act unless He revealed His actions through His prophet (3:7). Israel and Judah better take notice!

We better take notice! There is coming a final court when everyone will stand before the Judge, and the verdict will be the same for everyone: guilty! Some will escape judgment though because they have fled to Christ and found Him to be a sufficient Savior and an able Advocate! How do we know this is true? The prophets have said so!

That Day is Today - Joel

Romans 10:13 is one of the more beloved verses of the Bible. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Before Paul sent these words in an epistle, Joel declared these words as prophecy. Joel 2:32 “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Precious, powerful truths are revealed as this OT promise is now a NT reality. First, the day to come in Joel is today! Just as Paul quotes Joel in Romans, so does Peter in Acts 2 while delivering his Pentecost sermon. Peter announces Joel’s prophecy is fulfilled (Acts 2:16).

Second, Paul clarifies who the “everyone” of Joel is. Just before quoting Joel in Rom 10:13, Paul says in Rom 10:12, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him.” “Everyone” means the Gospel is not exclusive to one ethnicity but rather is extended to every tribe and language! Even though the Messiah is a Jew, His salvation is for “everyone,” that is, the Gospel is not restricted by lineage, gender, or social standing (Gal 3:28)!

Third, Paul equates “Jesus” in Rom 10:13 with “the Lord (Yahweh)” of Joel 2:32. There is no doubt that Joel is referring to Yahweh in Joel 2. In like manner, Paul is clearly means Jesus when he says “Lord” in Rom 10! Rom 10:9,13 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord (that is, that Jesus is Yahweh!) . . . you will be saved . . . For (that is, now comes the explanation) everyone who calls on the name of the Lord (that is, Jesus) will be saved!”

Fourth, today is then the day of salvation for EVERYONE who will believe, worship, and follow the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor 6:2)!