SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/29/2012 6:16:32 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Seeing some of God’s Attributes
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 79:5-13
Message of the verses: We will continue to look at Psalm 79 in today’s SD. Warren Wiersbe writes the following near the end of his introductory commentary: “We see Asaph playing four different roles as he contemplates the defeat of Judah by the Babylonians.” We looked at the first role in the last SD.
The Sufferer: Feeling God’s Anger (vv. 5-8): “5 How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out Your wrath upon the nations which do not know You, And upon the kingdoms which do not call upon Your name. 7 For they have devoured Jacob And laid waste his habitation. 8 Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers against us; Let Your compassion come quickly to meet us, For we are brought very low.”
In verse five we see two questions from Asaph which he asks of God. How long will you be angry is the first question, but we really don’t get an answer from God at this time in the Psalm, but we know from Jeremiah 25:11 that God had promised to bring the children of Israel back into their land. Next we see that Asaph wants to know about the jealousy of God. Dr. Wiersbe points out that “God is not jealous of anyone or anything, for He is wholly self-sufficient and needs nothing, but His is jealous over His land and His people. He is jealous for His name, His land , and the His inheritance (Zech. 1:14).
Asaph wants the Lord to take care of the nations that have attacked Israel, because they don’t know the Lord and have destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. Then Asaph asks the Lord not to remember the sins of his forefathers against Israel and asks for compassion. Asaph knew that the punishment that the Lord had given to Israel was just, for God is a just God, but because of the sins of the forefathers the wrath of God had built up and because of God’s holiness, He had to move on them. Let us look at Genesis 15:16 “"Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.’” In this passage God is speaking to Abraham, telling him that in four hundred years his offspring will return to the Promised Land and conquer it then because the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete. The way that I look at this passage is that I picture a bottle in heaven that God’s puts His wrath into and when it is full He has to act. I don’t just see this happening to those nations who existed in the OT, but to nations in today’s world, and when that bottle is full God will act for He is not only just and loving but holy. Dr. Wiersbe writes “We are guilty before God for only our own sins (Deu. 24:16; Jer. 31:29-30; Ezek. 18), but we may suffer because of the sins of our ancestors (Ex. 20:5; 34:7; 2Kings 17:7ff; 23:26-27; 24:3-4; Lam 5:7; Dan. 9:4-14).”
The Intercessor: Pleading for God’s Help (vv. 9-11): “9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; And deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake. 10 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Let there be known among the nations in our sight, Vengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been shed. 11 Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You; According to the greatness of Your power preserve those who are doomed to die.”
We see that Asaph was concerned about the glory of God and His name, and this shows that he was not selfish, just trying to look out for himself, but cared about God’s glory and His reputation too. Moses interceded with God on behalf of the children of Israel in like matter when he pleaded with God to forgive them of their sins that they had committed in the wilderness. In ancient times we saw that each nation had their own god and when they defeated another nation they would taunt them about how weak their god was and how strong their own god was. Asaph knew that there was only one God and all the rest of the gods were idols. This is what Moses had said to God that the nations would say of the children of Israel that there God was not strong enough to bring them into the land He promised them.
Asaph wanted vengeance for the blood that the Babylonians had shed, for blood was precious to the Jews for they saw the blood of the animals shed in order to have their sins covered and now they were seeing the blood of the Jews shed by the Babylonians and this greatly concerned and angered Asaph. He may have though that God did not love them any more because of the blood that was being shed. As believers today we know that because of the blood that Jesus Christ shed for us shows that God loves us. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
The Worshiper: Promising to Praise God (vv. 12-13) “12 And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom The reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord. 13 So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture Will give thanks to You forever; To all generations we will tell of Your praise.”
In verse 12 Asaph asks the Lord to return to those who had devastated the nation of Israel seven times, something we see in other OT passages (Lev. 26:18, 21, 24, 28; Deut. 28:7). God had told His prophets that He was going to use the Babylonians to bring about His wrath upon Judah, but they seemed to enjoy doing this more than they should have and so a bit later God will use the Medes and the Persians to destroy them and it will take place in one day. (See Dan. 5)
God wanted the children of Israel to reach out and witness to the nations around them about the greatness of their God and tell them about their God so that they too could know Him. Israel failed to do this, but Asaph wants God to allow them to still do this and if He allows them to do this then they will praise the Lord and tell all generations about the Lord. We do know from the OT prophets that wrote after the exile of Jews to Babylonian that some of them did speak to their captors about the Lord. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel did this.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I see in these three sections of Psalm 79 God’s justice, God’s holiness, God’s mercy, God’s love, and God keeping His promises that He had made. These are all attributes of God and by seeing them in action I know that they are true, and I also want to worship God because of His attributes, for He is worthy of my worship.
My Steps of Faith for Today: I desire to trust the Lord and to give Him glory for the great salvation that He had provided me with. I pray that the Lord will continue to teach me contentment.
4/29/2012 7:35:41 AM
Monday, April 30, 2012
"Restor Us" Part One (Psalm 80:1-3)
SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/30/2012 9:41:04 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Psalm 80 PT-1 “Restore Us!”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 80:1-
Message of the verses: We will begin to look at Psalm 80 in today’s SD by looking at several introductions to the psalm by different Bible Commentators.
“TITLE: To the Chief Musician upon Shoshannim Eduth. For the fourth time we have a song upon Shoshannim, or the lilies; the former ones being Psalms 45, 60, and 69. Why this title is given it would be difficult to say in every case, but the delightfully poetical form of the present Psalm may well justify the charming title. Eduth signifies testimony. The Psalm is a testimony of the church as a "lily among thorns." Some interpreters understand the present title to refer to an instrument of six strings, and Schleusner translates the two words, "the hexachord of testimony." It may be that further research will open up to us these "dark sayings upon a harp." We shall be content to accept them as evidence that sacred song was not lightly esteemed in the days of old. A Psalm of Asaph. A latter Asaph we should suppose, who had the unhappiness to live, like the "last minstrel," in evil times. If by the Asaph of David’s day, this Psalm was written in the spirit of prophecy, for it sings of times unknown to David.
“DIVISION: The Psalm divides itself naturally at the refrain which occurs three times: "Turn us again, O God," etc. #Ps 80:1-3 is an opening address to the Lord God of Israel; from #Ps 80:4-7 is a lamentation over the national woe, and from #Ps 80:8-19 the same complaint is repeated, the nation being represented in a beautiful allegory as a vine. It is a mournful Psalm, and its lilies are lilies of the valley.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)
“This is Asaph’s prayer to God on behalf of the Northern Kingdom (‘Israel, Samaria’) after it was taken captive by Assyria in 722-21 B. C. while ‘Joseph’ can refer to the whole nation (77:15; 8-:4-5), the mention in verse 2 of Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph’s sons) and Benjamin (Joseph’s brother) suggests that the Northern Kingdom is meant. These are the children and grandchildren of Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife. Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom, was located in Ephraim. The temple was still standing in Jerusalem (v. 1), and the fall of Samaria should have been a warning to Judah not to disobey the Lord. That Asaph would pray for Samaria and ask God for restoration and reunion for the whole nation indicates that some of the old rivalries were ending and that some of the people of Judah were concerned over ‘the ruin of Joseph’ (Amos 6:6). It’s unfortunate that it sometimes takes dissension, division, and destruction to bring brothers closer together. Joseph and his brothers are a case in point. The refrain ‘Restore us’ (vv. 3, 7, 19) marks out the three requests Asaph made to the Lord for both kingdoms.” (Warren Wiersbe)
“Save Your Flock” (vv. 1-3): “1 ¶ «For the choir director; set to El Shoshannim; Eduth. A Psalm of Asaph.» Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth! 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Your power And come to save us! 3 O God, restore us And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.”
Asaph begins this psalm in verse one by asking God to Shepherd Israel, thus we see a very common metaphor from the Scriptures and that is that God’s children are called His flock and of course He is our Shepherd. We see this many times in both the OT and NT, but I want to just mention one occasion from the OT that is very familiar to us all and that is Psalm 23. This psalm begins with the very familiar words “The Lord is my Shepherd,” and the whole psalm speaks of how the Lord cares for His sheep (His children). In John chapter ten we see the Lord Jesus speak of Himself being “The Good Shepherd” and goes on to speak of how He will die for His sheep. In 1Peter 5 we see the terms Chief Shepherd, who is Jesus Christ, and also the shepherd, which is speaking of the pastors or the leaders of the local churches. God is called “Shepherd of Israel” in verse one of Psalm 80.
As Dr. Wiersbe wrote in his introduction we see from verse two that Asaph is praying on behalf of the Northern Kingdom of Israel asking the Lord to save them. We know that the Northern Kingdom was made up of ten tribes who split off from the whole nation of Israel after Solomon died, and although from a human point of view this seemed wrong, or at least not good, we read that it was the plan of God for this to be done. We read this in 2Kings.
Just a note here: My computer is not working right. I had this devotion done and somehow a portion of it got deleted. This was very upsetting to me, but I know who is in charge of all things, but I also know that the enemy of all of us does not want me to do these SD’s each day and could be the one who causes these kinds of problems.
I want to write about the refrain that is seen in three different verses in Psalm 80 beginning in verse three, and that refrain is “restore us.” Asaph is asking the Lord to restore the children of Israel to their God is how I see this verse and that reminds me of revival. I think that there are some people in the Church today who do not understand what revival is all about. We have to have something given to us and then not take advantage of it in order for us to get it back. Asaph is saying restore us and that means to me to get something that perhaps we have lost. I am in no way saying that a true born again believer in Jesus Christ can lose his or her salvation, but they can grow cold in their walk with the Lord and loose fellowship with Him They can give up on praying, going to church, reading and studying their Bibles and spending time with fellow believers to mention a few things, but not lose their salvation. Dr. Wiersbe quotes and old Scottish Pastor in many of his commentaries who said “The secret to the Christian life is a series of new beginnings.” I love the meaning of this statement, and it has meant a lot to me in hearing them and thinking about them because even though I am a born again believer in Jesus Christ I fall into sin on occasions and just as Jesus washed the feet of His disciples telling them that walking around in the world will cause one’s feet to get dirty, so when we walk around in the world we sin and are in need of getting clean. 1John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Psalm 139:23-24 says “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” These verses teach us the need for “a series of new beginnings.”
How does revival begin? I have heard that major revivals began with one person praying for a revival, and then others joining him and then the flames of revivals start to burn and as the song says “It only takes a spark to get a fire going,” revival begins and spreads and eventually God’s children are seeking the Lord in ways they had not done for a while, and they are going out and telling others about the saving power of Jesus Christ and out of the revival of God’s children comes new people being born again. It seems to me that Asaph is asking God to revive the children of Israel.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I desire the Lord to restore me and begin a revival in my heart and pray that it will spread all around the world.
My Steps of Faith for Today: God begin a revival in my heart and fill me with Yourself so that I will desire the things that You desire.
4/30/2012 11:52:37 AM
4/30/2012 9:41:04 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Psalm 80 PT-1 “Restore Us!”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 80:1-
Message of the verses: We will begin to look at Psalm 80 in today’s SD by looking at several introductions to the psalm by different Bible Commentators.
“TITLE: To the Chief Musician upon Shoshannim Eduth. For the fourth time we have a song upon Shoshannim, or the lilies; the former ones being Psalms 45, 60, and 69. Why this title is given it would be difficult to say in every case, but the delightfully poetical form of the present Psalm may well justify the charming title. Eduth signifies testimony. The Psalm is a testimony of the church as a "lily among thorns." Some interpreters understand the present title to refer to an instrument of six strings, and Schleusner translates the two words, "the hexachord of testimony." It may be that further research will open up to us these "dark sayings upon a harp." We shall be content to accept them as evidence that sacred song was not lightly esteemed in the days of old. A Psalm of Asaph. A latter Asaph we should suppose, who had the unhappiness to live, like the "last minstrel," in evil times. If by the Asaph of David’s day, this Psalm was written in the spirit of prophecy, for it sings of times unknown to David.
“DIVISION: The Psalm divides itself naturally at the refrain which occurs three times: "Turn us again, O God," etc. #Ps 80:1-3 is an opening address to the Lord God of Israel; from #Ps 80:4-7 is a lamentation over the national woe, and from #Ps 80:8-19 the same complaint is repeated, the nation being represented in a beautiful allegory as a vine. It is a mournful Psalm, and its lilies are lilies of the valley.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)
“This is Asaph’s prayer to God on behalf of the Northern Kingdom (‘Israel, Samaria’) after it was taken captive by Assyria in 722-21 B. C. while ‘Joseph’ can refer to the whole nation (77:15; 8-:4-5), the mention in verse 2 of Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph’s sons) and Benjamin (Joseph’s brother) suggests that the Northern Kingdom is meant. These are the children and grandchildren of Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife. Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom, was located in Ephraim. The temple was still standing in Jerusalem (v. 1), and the fall of Samaria should have been a warning to Judah not to disobey the Lord. That Asaph would pray for Samaria and ask God for restoration and reunion for the whole nation indicates that some of the old rivalries were ending and that some of the people of Judah were concerned over ‘the ruin of Joseph’ (Amos 6:6). It’s unfortunate that it sometimes takes dissension, division, and destruction to bring brothers closer together. Joseph and his brothers are a case in point. The refrain ‘Restore us’ (vv. 3, 7, 19) marks out the three requests Asaph made to the Lord for both kingdoms.” (Warren Wiersbe)
“Save Your Flock” (vv. 1-3): “1 ¶ «For the choir director; set to El Shoshannim; Eduth. A Psalm of Asaph.» Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth! 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Your power And come to save us! 3 O God, restore us And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.”
Asaph begins this psalm in verse one by asking God to Shepherd Israel, thus we see a very common metaphor from the Scriptures and that is that God’s children are called His flock and of course He is our Shepherd. We see this many times in both the OT and NT, but I want to just mention one occasion from the OT that is very familiar to us all and that is Psalm 23. This psalm begins with the very familiar words “The Lord is my Shepherd,” and the whole psalm speaks of how the Lord cares for His sheep (His children). In John chapter ten we see the Lord Jesus speak of Himself being “The Good Shepherd” and goes on to speak of how He will die for His sheep. In 1Peter 5 we see the terms Chief Shepherd, who is Jesus Christ, and also the shepherd, which is speaking of the pastors or the leaders of the local churches. God is called “Shepherd of Israel” in verse one of Psalm 80.
As Dr. Wiersbe wrote in his introduction we see from verse two that Asaph is praying on behalf of the Northern Kingdom of Israel asking the Lord to save them. We know that the Northern Kingdom was made up of ten tribes who split off from the whole nation of Israel after Solomon died, and although from a human point of view this seemed wrong, or at least not good, we read that it was the plan of God for this to be done. We read this in 2Kings.
Just a note here: My computer is not working right. I had this devotion done and somehow a portion of it got deleted. This was very upsetting to me, but I know who is in charge of all things, but I also know that the enemy of all of us does not want me to do these SD’s each day and could be the one who causes these kinds of problems.
I want to write about the refrain that is seen in three different verses in Psalm 80 beginning in verse three, and that refrain is “restore us.” Asaph is asking the Lord to restore the children of Israel to their God is how I see this verse and that reminds me of revival. I think that there are some people in the Church today who do not understand what revival is all about. We have to have something given to us and then not take advantage of it in order for us to get it back. Asaph is saying restore us and that means to me to get something that perhaps we have lost. I am in no way saying that a true born again believer in Jesus Christ can lose his or her salvation, but they can grow cold in their walk with the Lord and loose fellowship with Him They can give up on praying, going to church, reading and studying their Bibles and spending time with fellow believers to mention a few things, but not lose their salvation. Dr. Wiersbe quotes and old Scottish Pastor in many of his commentaries who said “The secret to the Christian life is a series of new beginnings.” I love the meaning of this statement, and it has meant a lot to me in hearing them and thinking about them because even though I am a born again believer in Jesus Christ I fall into sin on occasions and just as Jesus washed the feet of His disciples telling them that walking around in the world will cause one’s feet to get dirty, so when we walk around in the world we sin and are in need of getting clean. 1John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Psalm 139:23-24 says “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” These verses teach us the need for “a series of new beginnings.”
How does revival begin? I have heard that major revivals began with one person praying for a revival, and then others joining him and then the flames of revivals start to burn and as the song says “It only takes a spark to get a fire going,” revival begins and spreads and eventually God’s children are seeking the Lord in ways they had not done for a while, and they are going out and telling others about the saving power of Jesus Christ and out of the revival of God’s children comes new people being born again. It seems to me that Asaph is asking God to revive the children of Israel.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I desire the Lord to restore me and begin a revival in my heart and pray that it will spread all around the world.
My Steps of Faith for Today: God begin a revival in my heart and fill me with Yourself so that I will desire the things that You desire.
4/30/2012 11:52:37 AM
Saturday, April 28, 2012
It is all about God (Psalm 79:1-4)
SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/28/2012 10:27:16 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Psalm 79 PT-1
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 79:1-4
Message of the verses: We begin to look at Psalm 79 in today’s SD and will first look at several introductions from different Bible commentators of which the first one will be Charles H. Spurgeon: “Title and Subject. A Psalm of Asaph. A Psalm of complaint such as Jeremiah might have written amid the ruins of the beloved city. It evidently treats of times of invasion, oppression, and national overthrow. Asaph was a patriotic poet, and was never more at home than when he rehearsed the history of his nation. Would to God that we had national poets whose song should be of the Lord.
“Division: From #Ps 79:1-4 the complaint is poured out, from #Ps 79:5-12 prayer is presented, and, in the closing verse, praise is promised.”
“This psalm, if penned with any particular event in view, is with most probability made to refer to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the woeful havoc made of the Jewish nation by the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar. It is set to the same tune, as I may say, with the Lamentations of Jeremiah, and that weeping prophet borrows two verses out of it (#Ps 79:6-7) and makes use of them in his prayer, #Jer. 10:25. Some think it was penned long before by the spirit of prophecy, prepared for the use of the church in that cloudy and dark day. Others think that it was penned then by the spirit of prayer, either by a prophet named Asaph or by some other prophet for the sons of Asaph. Whatever the particular occasion was, we have here,
“ I. A representation of the very deplorable condition that the people of God were in at this time, #Ps 79:1-5.
“ II. A petition to God for succour and relief, that their enemies might be reckoned with (#Ps 79:6-7,10,12), that their sins might be pardoned (#Ps 79:8-9), and that they might be delivered, #Ps 79:11.
“ III. A plea taken from the readiness of his people to praise him, #Ps 79:13. In times of the church’s peace and prosperity this psalm may, in the singing of it, give us occasion to bless God that we are not thus trampled on and insulted. But it is especially seasonable in a day of treading down and perplexity, for the exciting of our desires towards God and the encouragement of our faith in him as the church’s patron.”
“God gave His people victory over Egypt (77) and helped them march through the wilderness and then conquer Canaan (78). He also gave them King David who defeated their enemies and expanded their kingdom. But now God’s people are captive, the city and temple are ruined, and the heather nations are triumphant. (See also 74 for parallels: 79:1/74:3, 7; 79:2/74:19; 79:5/74:10; 79:12/74:10, 18, 22) We see Asaph playing four different roles as he contemplates the defeat of Judah by the Babylonians. Each division of the psalm opens with an address to Jehovah: ‘O God’ (v.1); ‘O Lord’ (v. 5); ‘O God our Savior (v.9); and ‘O Lord’ (v.12).” (Warren Wiersbe)
I will begin looking at this psalm using the different verses from 79 and 74 that Dr. Wiersbe has written about in his introductory commentary.
Ps. 79:1 “1 ¶ «A Psalm of Asaph.» O God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance; They have defiled Your holy temple; They have laid Jerusalem in ruins. /Psalm 74:3 & 7 “3 Turn Your footsteps toward the perpetual ruins; The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary. 7 They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name.”
Psalm 79:2 “2 They have given the dead bodies of Your servants for food to the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth. / Psalm 74:19 19 Do not deliver the soul of Your turtledove to the wild beast; Do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.”
Psalm 79:5 “5 How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire? /Psalm 74:10 “10 How long, O God, will the adversary revile, And the enemy spurn Your name forever?”
Psalm 79:12 “12 And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom The reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord. /Psalm 74:10 “10 How long, O God, will the adversary revile, And the enemy spurn Your name forever? Psalm 74:18 Remember this, O LORD, that the enemy has reviled, And a foolish people has spurned Your name. Psalm 74:22 Arise, O God, and plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You all day long.”
The Mourner: Beholding God’s Judgment (vv. 1-4): “1 ¶ «A Psalm of Asaph.» O God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance; They have defiled Your holy temple; They have laid Jerusalem in ruins. 2 They have given the dead bodies of Your servants for food to the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth. 3 They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem; And there was no one to bury them. 4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and derision to those around us.”
The first thing that I want to look at here is the reproach that Israel had become to their neighbors which is seen in verse 4. “Deuteronomy 28:37 You will become an object of horror, ridicule, and mockery among all the nations to which the LORD sends you.” (NLT) “You make us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to those around us.” (Psalm 44:13) You make us an object of contention to our neighbors, And our enemies laugh among themselves.” (Psalm 80:6) GOD, remember those Edomites, and remember the ruin of Jerusalem, That day they yelled out, "Wreck it, smash it to bits!’ (Psalm 137:7 Message) In the 25th chapter of the book of Ezekiel, which has 17 verses in it, the prophet gets a Word from the Lord that says He is going to destroy these nations because of how they acted when Israel was being ravished by the Babylonians. This leads me to the second point that I want to make from this section and that is that the Land of Israel was God’s inheritance and He shared it with the children of Israel. God made a covenant with Israel and they did not fulfill their part of the covenant and so they were invaded by the Babylonians and taken into captivity, which was part of the covenant that God had made with Israel, that if they did not follow the Lord He would lead them into captivity.
There is one more thing that I want to mention here and that is what we read in verse one “Your Inheritance” and “Your holy Temple” and in verse 2 “Your servants.” Asaph realizes that all of this that has happened, the defeat by the Babylonians, the mocking of the neighbors, the burning of Jerusalem, and the temple, and the awfulness that was done to the bodies of the children of Israel was done to God because it is all Gods. There are times, too many times, when all we are thinking of is ourselves and not about the holiness of God. If you are a born again believer in Jesus Christ you belong to God and be thankful for that for otherwise you would belong to Satan and the world and end up in hell. Our lives are all about God and we need to live for God. There is a gospel going around called the health and wealth gospel, where if you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior you will be blessed with health and wealth, but that is not at all what God has promised for believers. What happened to all of the Apostles of Jesus Christ? All but one of them were martyred for the cause of Christ. I have read that in today’s world there are 1000 people each day in this world of seven billion souls that dies for the cause of Jesus Christ. This is a far cry from the health and wealth gospel that is being preached in today’s world.
THE SHORTER CATECHISM EXPLAINED
QUESTION 1: What is the chief end of man?
ANSWER: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
This comes from the West Minster Catechism and gives the first question and the answer to the first question, and it says that as believers, we are to bring glory to God, and we are also to enjoy God forever. The question and answer is Scriptural, but there is nothing in this to show that we are to expect in this life wealth and health. Asaph realized this when he wrote Psalm 79, he also realized that it was all about God. When we look at the prayers in the ninth chapter of Ezra, and also the ninth chapter of Daniel we see both Ezra and Daniel confessing to God the sins that the people had committed that caused them to be captive in Babylon, but they also put themselves in that same category as those who had sinned against the Lord. Both Ezra and Daniel knew that they were born sinners and that is probably why the put themselves with those who had sinned against the Lord, but they also knew that it was all about God and not about them and so did Asaph.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I want to remember that I am to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Bring glory to my Lord this day. Continue to learn contentment.
4/28/2012 11:52:27 AM
4/28/2012 10:27:16 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Psalm 79 PT-1
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 79:1-4
Message of the verses: We begin to look at Psalm 79 in today’s SD and will first look at several introductions from different Bible commentators of which the first one will be Charles H. Spurgeon: “Title and Subject. A Psalm of Asaph. A Psalm of complaint such as Jeremiah might have written amid the ruins of the beloved city. It evidently treats of times of invasion, oppression, and national overthrow. Asaph was a patriotic poet, and was never more at home than when he rehearsed the history of his nation. Would to God that we had national poets whose song should be of the Lord.
“Division: From #Ps 79:1-4 the complaint is poured out, from #Ps 79:5-12 prayer is presented, and, in the closing verse, praise is promised.”
“This psalm, if penned with any particular event in view, is with most probability made to refer to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the woeful havoc made of the Jewish nation by the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar. It is set to the same tune, as I may say, with the Lamentations of Jeremiah, and that weeping prophet borrows two verses out of it (#Ps 79:6-7) and makes use of them in his prayer, #Jer. 10:25. Some think it was penned long before by the spirit of prophecy, prepared for the use of the church in that cloudy and dark day. Others think that it was penned then by the spirit of prayer, either by a prophet named Asaph or by some other prophet for the sons of Asaph. Whatever the particular occasion was, we have here,
“ I. A representation of the very deplorable condition that the people of God were in at this time, #Ps 79:1-5.
“ II. A petition to God for succour and relief, that their enemies might be reckoned with (#Ps 79:6-7,10,12), that their sins might be pardoned (#Ps 79:8-9), and that they might be delivered, #Ps 79:11.
“ III. A plea taken from the readiness of his people to praise him, #Ps 79:13. In times of the church’s peace and prosperity this psalm may, in the singing of it, give us occasion to bless God that we are not thus trampled on and insulted. But it is especially seasonable in a day of treading down and perplexity, for the exciting of our desires towards God and the encouragement of our faith in him as the church’s patron.”
“God gave His people victory over Egypt (77) and helped them march through the wilderness and then conquer Canaan (78). He also gave them King David who defeated their enemies and expanded their kingdom. But now God’s people are captive, the city and temple are ruined, and the heather nations are triumphant. (See also 74 for parallels: 79:1/74:3, 7; 79:2/74:19; 79:5/74:10; 79:12/74:10, 18, 22) We see Asaph playing four different roles as he contemplates the defeat of Judah by the Babylonians. Each division of the psalm opens with an address to Jehovah: ‘O God’ (v.1); ‘O Lord’ (v. 5); ‘O God our Savior (v.9); and ‘O Lord’ (v.12).” (Warren Wiersbe)
I will begin looking at this psalm using the different verses from 79 and 74 that Dr. Wiersbe has written about in his introductory commentary.
Ps. 79:1 “1 ¶ «A Psalm of Asaph.» O God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance; They have defiled Your holy temple; They have laid Jerusalem in ruins. /Psalm 74:3 & 7 “3 Turn Your footsteps toward the perpetual ruins; The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary. 7 They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name.”
Psalm 79:2 “2 They have given the dead bodies of Your servants for food to the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth. / Psalm 74:19 19 Do not deliver the soul of Your turtledove to the wild beast; Do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.”
Psalm 79:5 “5 How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire? /Psalm 74:10 “10 How long, O God, will the adversary revile, And the enemy spurn Your name forever?”
Psalm 79:12 “12 And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom The reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord. /Psalm 74:10 “10 How long, O God, will the adversary revile, And the enemy spurn Your name forever? Psalm 74:18 Remember this, O LORD, that the enemy has reviled, And a foolish people has spurned Your name. Psalm 74:22 Arise, O God, and plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You all day long.”
The Mourner: Beholding God’s Judgment (vv. 1-4): “1 ¶ «A Psalm of Asaph.» O God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance; They have defiled Your holy temple; They have laid Jerusalem in ruins. 2 They have given the dead bodies of Your servants for food to the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth. 3 They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem; And there was no one to bury them. 4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and derision to those around us.”
The first thing that I want to look at here is the reproach that Israel had become to their neighbors which is seen in verse 4. “Deuteronomy 28:37 You will become an object of horror, ridicule, and mockery among all the nations to which the LORD sends you.” (NLT) “You make us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to those around us.” (Psalm 44:13) You make us an object of contention to our neighbors, And our enemies laugh among themselves.” (Psalm 80:6) GOD, remember those Edomites, and remember the ruin of Jerusalem, That day they yelled out, "Wreck it, smash it to bits!’ (Psalm 137:7 Message) In the 25th chapter of the book of Ezekiel, which has 17 verses in it, the prophet gets a Word from the Lord that says He is going to destroy these nations because of how they acted when Israel was being ravished by the Babylonians. This leads me to the second point that I want to make from this section and that is that the Land of Israel was God’s inheritance and He shared it with the children of Israel. God made a covenant with Israel and they did not fulfill their part of the covenant and so they were invaded by the Babylonians and taken into captivity, which was part of the covenant that God had made with Israel, that if they did not follow the Lord He would lead them into captivity.
There is one more thing that I want to mention here and that is what we read in verse one “Your Inheritance” and “Your holy Temple” and in verse 2 “Your servants.” Asaph realizes that all of this that has happened, the defeat by the Babylonians, the mocking of the neighbors, the burning of Jerusalem, and the temple, and the awfulness that was done to the bodies of the children of Israel was done to God because it is all Gods. There are times, too many times, when all we are thinking of is ourselves and not about the holiness of God. If you are a born again believer in Jesus Christ you belong to God and be thankful for that for otherwise you would belong to Satan and the world and end up in hell. Our lives are all about God and we need to live for God. There is a gospel going around called the health and wealth gospel, where if you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior you will be blessed with health and wealth, but that is not at all what God has promised for believers. What happened to all of the Apostles of Jesus Christ? All but one of them were martyred for the cause of Christ. I have read that in today’s world there are 1000 people each day in this world of seven billion souls that dies for the cause of Jesus Christ. This is a far cry from the health and wealth gospel that is being preached in today’s world.
THE SHORTER CATECHISM EXPLAINED
QUESTION 1: What is the chief end of man?
ANSWER: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
This comes from the West Minster Catechism and gives the first question and the answer to the first question, and it says that as believers, we are to bring glory to God, and we are also to enjoy God forever. The question and answer is Scriptural, but there is nothing in this to show that we are to expect in this life wealth and health. Asaph realized this when he wrote Psalm 79, he also realized that it was all about God. When we look at the prayers in the ninth chapter of Ezra, and also the ninth chapter of Daniel we see both Ezra and Daniel confessing to God the sins that the people had committed that caused them to be captive in Babylon, but they also put themselves in that same category as those who had sinned against the Lord. Both Ezra and Daniel knew that they were born sinners and that is probably why the put themselves with those who had sinned against the Lord, but they also knew that it was all about God and not about them and so did Asaph.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I want to remember that I am to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Bring glory to my Lord this day. Continue to learn contentment.
4/28/2012 11:52:27 AM
Friday, April 27, 2012
Appreciating the Present (Psalm 78:65-72)
SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/27/2012 7:51:56 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Appreciating the Present
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 78:65-72
Message of the verses: In today’s SD we will look at the last main section in Psalm 78. Once more I want to quote from Dr. Wiersbe’s introductory comments in order for us to better understand this psalm. “Since Israel is a covenant nation, she has the responsibility of obeying and honoring the Lord, and this psalm presents three responsibilities God expected His people to fulfill.”
Appreciating the Present (vv. 65-72): “65 Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep, Like a warrior overcome by wine. 66 He drove His adversaries backward; He put on them an everlasting reproach. 67 He also rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, 68 But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved. 69 And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has founded forever. 70 He also chose David His servant And took him from the sheepfolds; 71 From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. 72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them with his skillful hands.”
The time in which Asaph wrote Psalm 78 is not clear, for he may have written it before Israel was divided into two nations or he may have written it just before that happened. We do know that the temple had been built, for he speaks of it in verse 68, so his writing of Psalm 78 took place after the death of David. If he is writing this psalm after Israel split, then he is warning them not to follow the ways of the Northern Kingdom that is not to follow the idolatrous ways of the Northern tribes.
Verse 65 is speaking metaphorically, for God does not get drunk, and God does not sleep. Asaph is stating that when God chose David to led Israel as their shepherd it was as if God had woke up from a long sleep and began again to work in the nation of Israel. We know from Genesis 49:10 the following, “"The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” Jacob is saying that Israel’s king will come from the tribe of Judah and from that line the Messiah will come.
Asaph is saying in verse 67 that the Lord had rejected the tribe of Joseph, that is Ephraim as having the temple built there, and also God rejected the tribe of Benjamin as the tribe where the king would come from, for Saul came from Benjamin.
Like Moses before him David was a shepherd and it was from the sheepfolds that the Lord took both of them to lead the children of Israel. The kings Israel were called shepherds for they were to lead and shepherd the flock of Israel. When we look at 1Peter 5 we will see that the leaders of the local churches today are called shepherds, that is the Pastors or Elders are to shepherd the flock of God. We sometimes wonder if God made sheep in order to compare them to humans for there are many similarities between sheep and humans.
We read the following statement from the end of Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on Psalm 78 as he is writing on the integrity of leaders like David. “Integrity and skill need each other, for no amount of ability can compensate for a sinful heart, and no amount of devotion to God can overcome lack of ability.” We know from studying the life of David and other leaders from the pages of Scripture that this is a true statement.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: It is my prayer that God has given me an ability to serve Him so that my service will bring glory to my Lord, and with this God given ability I will serve Him with integrity.
My Steps of Faith for Today: I pray that the Lord will continue to use me in whatever way He desires to use me and that I will do it with integrity, and that as I serve Him He will continue to teach me contentment.
4/27/2012 8:29:34 AM
4/27/2012 7:51:56 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Appreciating the Present
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 78:65-72
Message of the verses: In today’s SD we will look at the last main section in Psalm 78. Once more I want to quote from Dr. Wiersbe’s introductory comments in order for us to better understand this psalm. “Since Israel is a covenant nation, she has the responsibility of obeying and honoring the Lord, and this psalm presents three responsibilities God expected His people to fulfill.”
Appreciating the Present (vv. 65-72): “65 Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep, Like a warrior overcome by wine. 66 He drove His adversaries backward; He put on them an everlasting reproach. 67 He also rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, 68 But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved. 69 And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has founded forever. 70 He also chose David His servant And took him from the sheepfolds; 71 From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. 72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them with his skillful hands.”
The time in which Asaph wrote Psalm 78 is not clear, for he may have written it before Israel was divided into two nations or he may have written it just before that happened. We do know that the temple had been built, for he speaks of it in verse 68, so his writing of Psalm 78 took place after the death of David. If he is writing this psalm after Israel split, then he is warning them not to follow the ways of the Northern Kingdom that is not to follow the idolatrous ways of the Northern tribes.
Verse 65 is speaking metaphorically, for God does not get drunk, and God does not sleep. Asaph is stating that when God chose David to led Israel as their shepherd it was as if God had woke up from a long sleep and began again to work in the nation of Israel. We know from Genesis 49:10 the following, “"The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” Jacob is saying that Israel’s king will come from the tribe of Judah and from that line the Messiah will come.
Asaph is saying in verse 67 that the Lord had rejected the tribe of Joseph, that is Ephraim as having the temple built there, and also God rejected the tribe of Benjamin as the tribe where the king would come from, for Saul came from Benjamin.
Like Moses before him David was a shepherd and it was from the sheepfolds that the Lord took both of them to lead the children of Israel. The kings Israel were called shepherds for they were to lead and shepherd the flock of Israel. When we look at 1Peter 5 we will see that the leaders of the local churches today are called shepherds, that is the Pastors or Elders are to shepherd the flock of God. We sometimes wonder if God made sheep in order to compare them to humans for there are many similarities between sheep and humans.
We read the following statement from the end of Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on Psalm 78 as he is writing on the integrity of leaders like David. “Integrity and skill need each other, for no amount of ability can compensate for a sinful heart, and no amount of devotion to God can overcome lack of ability.” We know from studying the life of David and other leaders from the pages of Scripture that this is a true statement.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: It is my prayer that God has given me an ability to serve Him so that my service will bring glory to my Lord, and with this God given ability I will serve Him with integrity.
My Steps of Faith for Today: I pray that the Lord will continue to use me in whatever way He desires to use me and that I will do it with integrity, and that as I serve Him He will continue to teach me contentment.
4/27/2012 8:29:34 AM
Thursday, April 26, 2012
More on the Power of God (Psalm 78:40-64)
SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/26/2012 10:04:44 AM
My Worship Time Focus: More on the Power of God
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 78:40-64
Message of the verses: This is the third SD on Psalm 78 as it is a very long psalm with 72 verses in it. Dr. Wiersbe in his ending commentary on the introduction for this psalm writes the following: “Since Israel is a covenant nation, she has the responsibility of obeying and honoring the Lord, and this psalm presents three responsibilities God expected his people to fulfill.” We looked at the first responsibility in the first SD on Psalm 78 and half of the second responsibility and will pick it up now trying to finish the second responsibility in this SD. The second responsibility is entitled “Understand the Past.”
The forgotten lessons of Egypt (vv. 40-53): “40 ¶ How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness And grieved Him in the desert! 41 Again and again they tempted God, And pained the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember His power, The day when He redeemed them from the adversary, 43 When He performed His signs in Egypt And His marvels in the field of Zoan, 44 And turned their rivers to blood, And their streams, they could not drink. 45 He sent among them swarms of flies which devoured them, And frogs which destroyed them. 46 He gave also their crops to the grasshopper And the product of their labor to the locust. 47 He destroyed their vines with hailstones And their sycamore trees with frost. 48 He gave over their cattle also to the hailstones And their herds to bolts of lightning. 49 He sent upon them His burning anger, Fury and indignation and trouble, A band of destroying angels. 50 He leveled a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, But gave over their life to the plague, 51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, The first issue of their virility in the tents of Ham. 52 But He led forth His own people like sheep And guided them in the wilderness like a flock; 53 He led them safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea engulfed their enemies.”
I want to again quote Mark 6:52, a verse that I have been reading most every day as I make my way through the book of Mark studying one chapter a month. The background of this verse is Jesus feeding the 5000 with five loaves and two fish. His disciples did not understand the significance of that miracle, and the children of Israel, as reported in these verses did not understand the significance of the miracles that the Lord did in order to bring them out of Egypt. “For they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.” Having hard hearts is mentioned to the generation that came out of Egypt, and it was because of their unbelief and heard hearts that they all died in the wilderness with the exception of Joshua and Caleb.
I have highlighted a couple of portions of different verses in the text above that help me to understand this passage. “And pained the Holy One of Israel,” and this is something that the children of Israel did when they rebelled on many different occasions while in the wilderness. This is something that I do all too often, but it is something that when I do it, it pains my heart too because of all that the Lord has done for me in providing a great salvation for me. The second highlighted portion is “They did not remember His power,” and this is the reason that Israel did the terrible things that they did in the wilderness. The situation was that when Israel was camped at Kadesh Barnea, which is right across the Jordan River from the Promised Land the people wanted to send spies into the Promised Land to make sure that they could defeat the nations living there. Now when you read this account in Numbers you do not realize that it was the people who wanted to send out the spies, but in Deuteronomy you read that Moses says that it was the idea of the people. They spent twelve spies out to spy out the land and ten came back and convinced the people that they could not defeat the people in the Promised Land because there were giants in the land. When we read that Israel did not remember the power of the Lord, I believe that it means that they did not remember the ten miracles that the Lord did to bring Israel out of Egypt along with not remembering that God split open the Red Sea so Israel could cross on dry land and then the Egyptians were all drowned when God closed up the sea on them.
In the section above Asaph mentions six of the ten miracles that God did when He brought Israel out of Egypt, but did not mention the gnats, the boils, the killing of the livestock, and the three days of darkness, which happened right before the killing of the first born of Egypt.
The sins in Canaan (vv. 54-64): “54 So He brought them to His holy land, To this hill country which His right hand had gained. 55 He also drove out the nations before them And apportioned them for an inheritance by measurement, And made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents. 56 Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God And did not keep His testimonies, 57 But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers; They turned aside like a treacherous bow. 58 For they provoked Him with their high places And aroused His jealousy with their graven images. 59 When God heard, He was filled with wrath And greatly abhorred Israel; 60 So that He abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh, The tent which He had pitched among men, 61 And gave up His strength to captivity And His glory into the hand of the adversary. 62 He also delivered His people to the sword, And was filled with wrath at His inheritance. 63 Fire devoured His young men, And His virgins had no wedding songs. 64 His priests fell by the sword, And His widows could not weep.”
Asaph then picks up the story when after thirty-eight years God brings the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. Once again they find themselves at Kadesh Barnea (Deu. 1:1-2), and this time Joshua brings them into the Promised Land through the dried up Jordan River, that the Lord dried up so Israel could walk through on dry land.
Whenever you read through the book of Judges you get depressed because of the downward spiral of sin and it is not until you get to the reign of David that Israel begins again to have great revival in the land. Before this we read in 1Samuel about how the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant from Israel. The Ark was in a tent at Shiloh, in the territory of Ephraim and the children of Israel decided to take it with them into battle as kind of a good luck charm, but God allowed it to be captured by the Philistines who took it into the temple of Dagon who was their god, and the next morning Dagon had fallen down before the Ark so they set it up again, and the next day it fell and was broken. They then moved it to another city and the people got sick there and so they finally sent it back to Israel on a cart. What I can see here, but did not see before, is that God was bringing the Ark out of Ephraim and moving it into Judah because it was God’s plan to have His temple built in Jerusalem for God had chosen Judah as the kingly tribe way back in the 48th chapter of Genesis.
Asaph speaks of the children of Israel offering sacrifices on the “high places,” which is something that we see throughout the OT, something that angered the Lord.
We mentioned the “faulty bow” in an earlier SD because it was also mentioned earlier in this psalm and it is also mentioned in Hosea 7:16: “They turn, but not upward, They are like a deceitful bow; Their princes will fall by the sword Because of the insolence of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.” I looked up the two different words “deceitful” and “treacherous” and they both come from the same root word which means “1) laxness, slackness, slackening, deceit, treachery.” Asaph says that they turned aside like a treacherous bow, and it means that they turned aside like a bow that was not working correctly, like a bow that perhaps had the string loose on it and therefore would not shoot correctly because it was lazy. Charles H. Spurgeon says the following about this verse: “They were turned aside like a deceitful bow, which not only fails to send the arrow towards the mark in a direct line, but springs back to the archer’s hurt, and perhaps sends the shaft among his friends to their serious jeopardy. Israel boasted of the bow as the national weapon, they sang the song of the bow, and hence a deceitful bow is made to be the type and symbol of their own unsteadfastness; God can make men’s glory the very ensign of their shame, he draws a bar sinister across the escutcheon of traitors.” The dictionary says the word escutcheon means “a plate or shield fixed around something such as a light switch or keyhole, as an ornament or to protect the surrounding surface.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: From this section of Scripture along with the section of from Mark six I see that I am to remember what the Lord has done for me. I can say that the Lord has provided a place for me to remember what He has done for me when it comes to my salvation, and that is the celebrating of the Lord’s Supper. I have to remember the power that He demonstrated through His death, burial, and resurrection. Paul writes in the book of Ephesians that believers have the same kind of power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead. I don’t avail myself to that power as much as I should.
My Steps of Faith for Today: I want to remember the power of God and how He used it to save me. I want to continue to learn contentment.
4/26/2012 11:56:49 AM
4/26/2012 10:04:44 AM
My Worship Time Focus: More on the Power of God
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 78:40-64
Message of the verses: This is the third SD on Psalm 78 as it is a very long psalm with 72 verses in it. Dr. Wiersbe in his ending commentary on the introduction for this psalm writes the following: “Since Israel is a covenant nation, she has the responsibility of obeying and honoring the Lord, and this psalm presents three responsibilities God expected his people to fulfill.” We looked at the first responsibility in the first SD on Psalm 78 and half of the second responsibility and will pick it up now trying to finish the second responsibility in this SD. The second responsibility is entitled “Understand the Past.”
The forgotten lessons of Egypt (vv. 40-53): “40 ¶ How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness And grieved Him in the desert! 41 Again and again they tempted God, And pained the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember His power, The day when He redeemed them from the adversary, 43 When He performed His signs in Egypt And His marvels in the field of Zoan, 44 And turned their rivers to blood, And their streams, they could not drink. 45 He sent among them swarms of flies which devoured them, And frogs which destroyed them. 46 He gave also their crops to the grasshopper And the product of their labor to the locust. 47 He destroyed their vines with hailstones And their sycamore trees with frost. 48 He gave over their cattle also to the hailstones And their herds to bolts of lightning. 49 He sent upon them His burning anger, Fury and indignation and trouble, A band of destroying angels. 50 He leveled a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, But gave over their life to the plague, 51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, The first issue of their virility in the tents of Ham. 52 But He led forth His own people like sheep And guided them in the wilderness like a flock; 53 He led them safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea engulfed their enemies.”
I want to again quote Mark 6:52, a verse that I have been reading most every day as I make my way through the book of Mark studying one chapter a month. The background of this verse is Jesus feeding the 5000 with five loaves and two fish. His disciples did not understand the significance of that miracle, and the children of Israel, as reported in these verses did not understand the significance of the miracles that the Lord did in order to bring them out of Egypt. “For they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.” Having hard hearts is mentioned to the generation that came out of Egypt, and it was because of their unbelief and heard hearts that they all died in the wilderness with the exception of Joshua and Caleb.
I have highlighted a couple of portions of different verses in the text above that help me to understand this passage. “And pained the Holy One of Israel,” and this is something that the children of Israel did when they rebelled on many different occasions while in the wilderness. This is something that I do all too often, but it is something that when I do it, it pains my heart too because of all that the Lord has done for me in providing a great salvation for me. The second highlighted portion is “They did not remember His power,” and this is the reason that Israel did the terrible things that they did in the wilderness. The situation was that when Israel was camped at Kadesh Barnea, which is right across the Jordan River from the Promised Land the people wanted to send spies into the Promised Land to make sure that they could defeat the nations living there. Now when you read this account in Numbers you do not realize that it was the people who wanted to send out the spies, but in Deuteronomy you read that Moses says that it was the idea of the people. They spent twelve spies out to spy out the land and ten came back and convinced the people that they could not defeat the people in the Promised Land because there were giants in the land. When we read that Israel did not remember the power of the Lord, I believe that it means that they did not remember the ten miracles that the Lord did to bring Israel out of Egypt along with not remembering that God split open the Red Sea so Israel could cross on dry land and then the Egyptians were all drowned when God closed up the sea on them.
In the section above Asaph mentions six of the ten miracles that God did when He brought Israel out of Egypt, but did not mention the gnats, the boils, the killing of the livestock, and the three days of darkness, which happened right before the killing of the first born of Egypt.
The sins in Canaan (vv. 54-64): “54 So He brought them to His holy land, To this hill country which His right hand had gained. 55 He also drove out the nations before them And apportioned them for an inheritance by measurement, And made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents. 56 Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God And did not keep His testimonies, 57 But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers; They turned aside like a treacherous bow. 58 For they provoked Him with their high places And aroused His jealousy with their graven images. 59 When God heard, He was filled with wrath And greatly abhorred Israel; 60 So that He abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh, The tent which He had pitched among men, 61 And gave up His strength to captivity And His glory into the hand of the adversary. 62 He also delivered His people to the sword, And was filled with wrath at His inheritance. 63 Fire devoured His young men, And His virgins had no wedding songs. 64 His priests fell by the sword, And His widows could not weep.”
Asaph then picks up the story when after thirty-eight years God brings the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. Once again they find themselves at Kadesh Barnea (Deu. 1:1-2), and this time Joshua brings them into the Promised Land through the dried up Jordan River, that the Lord dried up so Israel could walk through on dry land.
Whenever you read through the book of Judges you get depressed because of the downward spiral of sin and it is not until you get to the reign of David that Israel begins again to have great revival in the land. Before this we read in 1Samuel about how the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant from Israel. The Ark was in a tent at Shiloh, in the territory of Ephraim and the children of Israel decided to take it with them into battle as kind of a good luck charm, but God allowed it to be captured by the Philistines who took it into the temple of Dagon who was their god, and the next morning Dagon had fallen down before the Ark so they set it up again, and the next day it fell and was broken. They then moved it to another city and the people got sick there and so they finally sent it back to Israel on a cart. What I can see here, but did not see before, is that God was bringing the Ark out of Ephraim and moving it into Judah because it was God’s plan to have His temple built in Jerusalem for God had chosen Judah as the kingly tribe way back in the 48th chapter of Genesis.
Asaph speaks of the children of Israel offering sacrifices on the “high places,” which is something that we see throughout the OT, something that angered the Lord.
We mentioned the “faulty bow” in an earlier SD because it was also mentioned earlier in this psalm and it is also mentioned in Hosea 7:16: “They turn, but not upward, They are like a deceitful bow; Their princes will fall by the sword Because of the insolence of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.” I looked up the two different words “deceitful” and “treacherous” and they both come from the same root word which means “1) laxness, slackness, slackening, deceit, treachery.” Asaph says that they turned aside like a treacherous bow, and it means that they turned aside like a bow that was not working correctly, like a bow that perhaps had the string loose on it and therefore would not shoot correctly because it was lazy. Charles H. Spurgeon says the following about this verse: “They were turned aside like a deceitful bow, which not only fails to send the arrow towards the mark in a direct line, but springs back to the archer’s hurt, and perhaps sends the shaft among his friends to their serious jeopardy. Israel boasted of the bow as the national weapon, they sang the song of the bow, and hence a deceitful bow is made to be the type and symbol of their own unsteadfastness; God can make men’s glory the very ensign of their shame, he draws a bar sinister across the escutcheon of traitors.” The dictionary says the word escutcheon means “a plate or shield fixed around something such as a light switch or keyhole, as an ornament or to protect the surrounding surface.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: From this section of Scripture along with the section of from Mark six I see that I am to remember what the Lord has done for me. I can say that the Lord has provided a place for me to remember what He has done for me when it comes to my salvation, and that is the celebrating of the Lord’s Supper. I have to remember the power that He demonstrated through His death, burial, and resurrection. Paul writes in the book of Ephesians that believers have the same kind of power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead. I don’t avail myself to that power as much as I should.
My Steps of Faith for Today: I want to remember the power of God and how He used it to save me. I want to continue to learn contentment.
4/26/2012 11:56:49 AM
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Understanding the Past Part-One (Psalm 78:9-39)
SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR4/25/2012 9:41:24 AM
4/25/2012 8:39:25 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Understanding the Past
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 78:9-64
Message of the verses: In yesterday’s SD we began to look at the first section in Psalm 78, as psalm that is longer than others that we have looked at. Dr. Wiersbe in his closing comments from his introduction writes the following: “Since Israel is a covenant nation, she has the responsibility of obeying and honoring the Lord, and this psalm presents three responsibilities God expected His people to fulfill.”
Understanding the Past (vv. 9-64): We will begin to look at the different ways that Israel, in the past had disobeyed the Lord.
I have been listening to the sixth chapter of Mark for the last week or so and there is a story in that chapter that reminds me of what Israel missed, or better why Israel missed understanding the miracles that the Lord had done for them when He took them out of Egypt. It was because they had missed the meaning of the Exodus that caused them to fall at the different times in their history that Asaph will write about in this section. The incident from the book of Mark is like a condensed version of what happened to Israel that Asaph will describe in verses 9-64. “49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, "Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid." 51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52 for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.”
The apostasy of Ephraim (vv. 9-11): “9 ¶ The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows, Yet they turned back in the day of battle. 10 They did not keep the covenant of God And refused to walk in His law; 11 They forgot His deeds And His miracles that He had shown them.”
You can see from verse 11 the similarities with Mark 6:52.
I was a bit confused why Asaph would begin this section of Psalm 78 with a more recent story than he will then get into, but Dr. Wiersbe points out that the reason he begins with this story is so that Judah would not follow in the rebellious past of the ten tribes who broke off from Judah.
Ephraim was an adopted son of Jacob, as he was actually the son of Joseph but on Jacob’s death bed he adopted he and his brother Manasseh as his sons. You can read this story in Genesis 48:8-20. Ephraim replaced Jacob’s first born son and I believe that is because his first born son had slept with one of Jacob’s wives.
Joshua was from Ephraim and that tribe gave problems to him as seen in Joshua 17:14 along with Hosea 7:16. Another thing to remember about Ephraim is that the tabernacle was first placed in Ephraim at Shiloh and then it was later moved to Jerusalem by David.
The nation’s sins in the wilderness (vv. 12-39): “12 He wrought wonders before their fathers In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap. 14 Then He led them with the cloud by day And all the night with a light of fire. 15 He split the rocks in the wilderness And gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths. 16 He brought forth streams also from the rock And caused waters to run down like rivers. 17 Yet they still continued to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert. 18 And in their heart they put God to the test By asking food according to their desire. 19 Then they spoke against God; They said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? 20 "Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?" 21 Therefore the LORD heard and was full of wrath; And a fire was kindled against Jacob And anger also mounted against Israel, 22 Because they did not believe in God And did not trust in His salvation. 23 Yet He commanded the clouds above And opened the doors of heaven; 24 He rained down manna upon them to eat And gave them food from heaven. 25 Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance. 26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens And by His power He directed the south wind. 27 When He rained meat upon them like the dust, Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas, 28 Then He let them fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their dwellings. 29 So they ate and were well filled, And their desire He gave to them. 30 Before they had satisfied their desire, While their food was in their mouths, 31 The anger of God rose against them And killed some of their stoutest ones, And subdued the choice men of Israel. 32 In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. 33 So He brought their days to an end in futility And their years in sudden terror. 34 When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God; 35 And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. 36 But they deceived Him with their mouth And lied to Him with their tongue. 37 For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant. 38 But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger And did not arouse all His wrath. 39 Thus He remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passes and does not return.”
Dr. Wiersbe quotes George Santayana in his commentary which gives us insight into understanding this section of Scripture from verse 9-64, and it will also help all of us in our lives: “Those who cannot remember the pas are condemned to repeat it.” How true this statement is.
The section above is a very long section, but after reading it one can remember from the stories that are found in the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy where Asaph read about what He wrote.
I have often wondered how I would have acted when God brought all the children of Israel out of Egypt by performing ten great miracles and then in the wilderness the children of Israel began to rebel against the Lord. Would I have been like Joshua and Caleb? I hope that would be the case and that I would not be like those who constantly rebelled against the Lord. While studying the book of Exodus I remember that in his commentary on that book, Dr. Wiersbe mentioned that there was a certain people who were not Jewish, but came along with Israel, who started most of the rebellions, but surely not all of them.
When the children of Israel asked the Lord for meat he gave them so much meat that he told them that it would come out of their noses. I think, at times, the worst kind of discipline from God can be giving us what we ask for, for when we get what we want it is often times something selfish. When we trust the Lord to give us what He wants us to have we will surely draw closer to the Lord.
In an effort not to make my Spiritual Diaries to long I will conclude with this section and begin to pick up in the next SD.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: Paul writes to the Corinthians that the reason for having all of the stories in the NT was for us to learn from them so we do not repeat their sins, and I am glad that this great history is found in my Bible so I can learn from it. I can learn to trust the Lord more by reading about the great saints of the OT, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with Moses and David and also Daniel. There is Job who, although I don’t truly understand all of what his friends said to him, I can learn that having trouble come my way does not mean that I am living a sinful lifestyle, but perhaps I am being tested like Job so that I can come out like gold.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord and continue to strive to learn contentment.
4/25/2012 9:41:24 AM
4/25/2012 8:39:25 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Understanding the Past
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 78:9-64
Message of the verses: In yesterday’s SD we began to look at the first section in Psalm 78, as psalm that is longer than others that we have looked at. Dr. Wiersbe in his closing comments from his introduction writes the following: “Since Israel is a covenant nation, she has the responsibility of obeying and honoring the Lord, and this psalm presents three responsibilities God expected His people to fulfill.”
Understanding the Past (vv. 9-64): We will begin to look at the different ways that Israel, in the past had disobeyed the Lord.
I have been listening to the sixth chapter of Mark for the last week or so and there is a story in that chapter that reminds me of what Israel missed, or better why Israel missed understanding the miracles that the Lord had done for them when He took them out of Egypt. It was because they had missed the meaning of the Exodus that caused them to fall at the different times in their history that Asaph will write about in this section. The incident from the book of Mark is like a condensed version of what happened to Israel that Asaph will describe in verses 9-64. “49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, "Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid." 51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52 for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.”
The apostasy of Ephraim (vv. 9-11): “9 ¶ The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows, Yet they turned back in the day of battle. 10 They did not keep the covenant of God And refused to walk in His law; 11 They forgot His deeds And His miracles that He had shown them.”
You can see from verse 11 the similarities with Mark 6:52.
I was a bit confused why Asaph would begin this section of Psalm 78 with a more recent story than he will then get into, but Dr. Wiersbe points out that the reason he begins with this story is so that Judah would not follow in the rebellious past of the ten tribes who broke off from Judah.
Ephraim was an adopted son of Jacob, as he was actually the son of Joseph but on Jacob’s death bed he adopted he and his brother Manasseh as his sons. You can read this story in Genesis 48:8-20. Ephraim replaced Jacob’s first born son and I believe that is because his first born son had slept with one of Jacob’s wives.
Joshua was from Ephraim and that tribe gave problems to him as seen in Joshua 17:14 along with Hosea 7:16. Another thing to remember about Ephraim is that the tabernacle was first placed in Ephraim at Shiloh and then it was later moved to Jerusalem by David.
The nation’s sins in the wilderness (vv. 12-39): “12 He wrought wonders before their fathers In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap. 14 Then He led them with the cloud by day And all the night with a light of fire. 15 He split the rocks in the wilderness And gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths. 16 He brought forth streams also from the rock And caused waters to run down like rivers. 17 Yet they still continued to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert. 18 And in their heart they put God to the test By asking food according to their desire. 19 Then they spoke against God; They said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? 20 "Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?" 21 Therefore the LORD heard and was full of wrath; And a fire was kindled against Jacob And anger also mounted against Israel, 22 Because they did not believe in God And did not trust in His salvation. 23 Yet He commanded the clouds above And opened the doors of heaven; 24 He rained down manna upon them to eat And gave them food from heaven. 25 Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance. 26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens And by His power He directed the south wind. 27 When He rained meat upon them like the dust, Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas, 28 Then He let them fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their dwellings. 29 So they ate and were well filled, And their desire He gave to them. 30 Before they had satisfied their desire, While their food was in their mouths, 31 The anger of God rose against them And killed some of their stoutest ones, And subdued the choice men of Israel. 32 In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. 33 So He brought their days to an end in futility And their years in sudden terror. 34 When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God; 35 And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. 36 But they deceived Him with their mouth And lied to Him with their tongue. 37 For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant. 38 But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger And did not arouse all His wrath. 39 Thus He remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passes and does not return.”
Dr. Wiersbe quotes George Santayana in his commentary which gives us insight into understanding this section of Scripture from verse 9-64, and it will also help all of us in our lives: “Those who cannot remember the pas are condemned to repeat it.” How true this statement is.
The section above is a very long section, but after reading it one can remember from the stories that are found in the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy where Asaph read about what He wrote.
I have often wondered how I would have acted when God brought all the children of Israel out of Egypt by performing ten great miracles and then in the wilderness the children of Israel began to rebel against the Lord. Would I have been like Joshua and Caleb? I hope that would be the case and that I would not be like those who constantly rebelled against the Lord. While studying the book of Exodus I remember that in his commentary on that book, Dr. Wiersbe mentioned that there was a certain people who were not Jewish, but came along with Israel, who started most of the rebellions, but surely not all of them.
When the children of Israel asked the Lord for meat he gave them so much meat that he told them that it would come out of their noses. I think, at times, the worst kind of discipline from God can be giving us what we ask for, for when we get what we want it is often times something selfish. When we trust the Lord to give us what He wants us to have we will surely draw closer to the Lord.
In an effort not to make my Spiritual Diaries to long I will conclude with this section and begin to pick up in the next SD.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: Paul writes to the Corinthians that the reason for having all of the stories in the NT was for us to learn from them so we do not repeat their sins, and I am glad that this great history is found in my Bible so I can learn from it. I can learn to trust the Lord more by reading about the great saints of the OT, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with Moses and David and also Daniel. There is Job who, although I don’t truly understand all of what his friends said to him, I can learn that having trouble come my way does not mean that I am living a sinful lifestyle, but perhaps I am being tested like Job so that I can come out like gold.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord and continue to strive to learn contentment.
4/25/2012 9:41:24 AM
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Desiring to Serve Christ Alone (1Peter 5:4)
SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/24/2012 9:45:20 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Desire to please Christ Along
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 1Peter 5:4
Message of the verse: 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” (NASB) “4 And then, when the Chief Shepherd reveals himself, you will receive that crown of glory which cannot fade.” (Phillips)
We have been looking at 1 Peter 5 for some time and in Warren Wiersbe commentary on the book of 1 Peter he has entitled chapter eleven “How To Be A Good Shepherd,” and this chapter covers the first four verses of 1Peter 5. We will be looking at the last main point from this chapter which he calls “A Desire to Please Christ Alone.”
A Desire to Please Christ Along: (v. 4): “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” (ESV)
Warren Wiersbe entitles his commentary on 1 Peter “Be Hopeful,” and what can be more hopeful than the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is what is mentioned in the verse we are looking at.
The main job of a faithful Shepherd is to please the Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Wiersbe writes about a man who commented in the following way to him: “It must be hard to keep all these people happy,’ a visitor said to me after a church service. I replied with a smile, ‘I try to please the Lord, and I let Him take care of the rest.’”
We know that Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who died for the sheep, “"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.’” (John 10:11) We know that He is the Great Shepherd and He lives for the sheep, “20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21) there is one more thing we know that is seen from 1Peter 5:4 and that is that Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd who comes for His sheep.
James said in his letter “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.” One of the qualifications of an Elder is that he is able to teach, he should have the gift of teaching, but is seems that James is speaking of people who have a desire to teach others, but they do not have the gift of teaching and therefore will not fulfill the position of teaching the way that it should be fulfilled for they will be doing it in their own effort, and not like an elder who has the gift and calling from the Lord.
We see here in verse four of 1Peter 5 that the Chief Shepherd will come and give to those faithful Elders, or Pastors and unfading crown of glory. He will not give this to the one who has not been gifted for this position, but to those whom He has called and to those whom He has called who are faithful. We know that Peter was writing about hope in times of tribulation, and it is hopeful for a local church to have a faithful Pastor during these hard times.
Dr. Wiersbe writes of a faithful Pastor: “One summer day, I stood amid the ruins of a church near Anwoth in Scotland. The building at one time seated perhaps 150 people. By modern standards, it would not have been a successful church. But the man who pastured that flock was the saintly Samuel Rutherford, whose Letters of Samuel Rutherford is a spiritual classic. His ministry continues, though today his church building is in ruins. The Chief Shepherd has rewarded him for his faithful labors, which included a great deal of persecution and physical suffering.”
During the time of Peter’s life there were Olympic games and the winner of certain events would win a crown which would have leaves or flowers or both on it, and this crown would quickly fade away. The crown that will be given to faithful pastors will never fade away for it will be an unfading crown of glory.
There are many “pastors” today and probably down through the church age that are working for their own crowns. We see in today’s world pastors who are trying to build crystal cathedrals or drive big cars and have their own airplanes to get around in, and people fall for this and support their “ministries.” Peter is not writing about those kinds of pastors but pastors who are called by the Lord and are faithful to the Lord and these will receive the unfading crown of glory to which they will be able to place it at the feet of Jesus. “The twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying.” (Rev. 4:10) The twenty-four elders represent the Church age.
Dr. Wiersbe concludes his commentary from this section with these important words: “Everything in the local church rises or falls with leadership. No matter how large or small a fellowship might be, the leaders must be Christians, each with a vital personal relationship with Christ, a loving concern for their people, and a real desire to please Jesus Christ.
“We lead by serving, and we serve by suffering.
“This is the way Jesus did it, and this is the only way that truly glorifies Him.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I am happy that most of my Christian life I have been serving the Lord under Pastors that are like the ones that Peter is writing about.
4/24/2012 10:41:23 AM
4/24/2012 9:45:20 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Desire to please Christ Along
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 1Peter 5:4
Message of the verse: 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” (NASB) “4 And then, when the Chief Shepherd reveals himself, you will receive that crown of glory which cannot fade.” (Phillips)
We have been looking at 1 Peter 5 for some time and in Warren Wiersbe commentary on the book of 1 Peter he has entitled chapter eleven “How To Be A Good Shepherd,” and this chapter covers the first four verses of 1Peter 5. We will be looking at the last main point from this chapter which he calls “A Desire to Please Christ Alone.”
A Desire to Please Christ Along: (v. 4): “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” (ESV)
Warren Wiersbe entitles his commentary on 1 Peter “Be Hopeful,” and what can be more hopeful than the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is what is mentioned in the verse we are looking at.
The main job of a faithful Shepherd is to please the Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Wiersbe writes about a man who commented in the following way to him: “It must be hard to keep all these people happy,’ a visitor said to me after a church service. I replied with a smile, ‘I try to please the Lord, and I let Him take care of the rest.’”
We know that Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who died for the sheep, “"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.’” (John 10:11) We know that He is the Great Shepherd and He lives for the sheep, “20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21) there is one more thing we know that is seen from 1Peter 5:4 and that is that Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd who comes for His sheep.
James said in his letter “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.” One of the qualifications of an Elder is that he is able to teach, he should have the gift of teaching, but is seems that James is speaking of people who have a desire to teach others, but they do not have the gift of teaching and therefore will not fulfill the position of teaching the way that it should be fulfilled for they will be doing it in their own effort, and not like an elder who has the gift and calling from the Lord.
We see here in verse four of 1Peter 5 that the Chief Shepherd will come and give to those faithful Elders, or Pastors and unfading crown of glory. He will not give this to the one who has not been gifted for this position, but to those whom He has called and to those whom He has called who are faithful. We know that Peter was writing about hope in times of tribulation, and it is hopeful for a local church to have a faithful Pastor during these hard times.
Dr. Wiersbe writes of a faithful Pastor: “One summer day, I stood amid the ruins of a church near Anwoth in Scotland. The building at one time seated perhaps 150 people. By modern standards, it would not have been a successful church. But the man who pastured that flock was the saintly Samuel Rutherford, whose Letters of Samuel Rutherford is a spiritual classic. His ministry continues, though today his church building is in ruins. The Chief Shepherd has rewarded him for his faithful labors, which included a great deal of persecution and physical suffering.”
During the time of Peter’s life there were Olympic games and the winner of certain events would win a crown which would have leaves or flowers or both on it, and this crown would quickly fade away. The crown that will be given to faithful pastors will never fade away for it will be an unfading crown of glory.
There are many “pastors” today and probably down through the church age that are working for their own crowns. We see in today’s world pastors who are trying to build crystal cathedrals or drive big cars and have their own airplanes to get around in, and people fall for this and support their “ministries.” Peter is not writing about those kinds of pastors but pastors who are called by the Lord and are faithful to the Lord and these will receive the unfading crown of glory to which they will be able to place it at the feet of Jesus. “The twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying.” (Rev. 4:10) The twenty-four elders represent the Church age.
Dr. Wiersbe concludes his commentary from this section with these important words: “Everything in the local church rises or falls with leadership. No matter how large or small a fellowship might be, the leaders must be Christians, each with a vital personal relationship with Christ, a loving concern for their people, and a real desire to please Jesus Christ.
“We lead by serving, and we serve by suffering.
“This is the way Jesus did it, and this is the only way that truly glorifies Him.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I am happy that most of my Christian life I have been serving the Lord under Pastors that are like the ones that Peter is writing about.
4/24/2012 10:41:23 AM
Protecting the Future (Psalm 78:1-8)
SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/24/2012 7:54:34 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Protecting the Future
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 78:1-8
Message of the verses: In Today’s SD we will begin a rather long psalm; Psalm 78 has 72 verses in it so it will probably take a few days to complete it. We will first take a look at sever introductions from different commentators and then begin to look at the psalm.
“Some think David was the penman of it; but from the latter part of it, in which mention is made of him, and of his government of the people of Israel, it looks as if it was wrote by another, and after his death, though not long after, since the account is carried on no further than his times; and therefore it is probable enough it was written by Asaph, the chief singer, that lived in that age: whoever was the penman of it, it is certain he was a prophet, and so was Asaph, who is called a seer, the same with a prophet, and who is said to prophesy, #2Ch 29:30 #1Ch 25:1,2 and also that he represented Christ; for that the Messiah is the person that is introduced speaking in this psalm is clear from #Mt 13:34,35 and the whole may be considered as a discourse of his to the Jews of his time; giving them an history of the Israelites from their first coming out of Egypt to the times of David, and in it an account of the various benefits bestowed upon them, of their great ingratitude, and of the divine resentment; the design of which is to admonish and caution them against committing the like sins, lest they should be rejected of God, as their fathers were, and perish: some Jewish writers, as Arama observes, interpret this psalm of the children of Ephraim going out of Egypt before the time appointed.” (John Gill)
“TITLE. Maschil of Asaph. This is rightly entitled an instructive Psalm. It is not a mere recapitulation of important events in Israelitish history, but is intended to be viewed as a parable setting forth the conduct and experience of believers in all ages. It is a singular proof of the obtuseness of mind of many professors that they will object to sermons and expositions upon the historical parts of Scripture, as if they contained no instruction in spiritual matters: were such persons truly enlightened by the Spirit of God, they would perceive that all Scripture is profitable, and would blush at their own folly in undervaluing any portion of the inspired volume.
“DIVISION. The unity is well maintained throughout, but for the sake of the reader’s convenience, we may note that #Ps 78:1-8 may be viewed as a preface, setting forth the psalmist’s object in the epic which he is composing. From #Ps 78:9-41 the theme is Israel in the wilderness; then intervenes an account of the Lord’s preceding goodness towards his people in bringing them out of Egypt by plagues and wonders, #Ps 78:42-52. The history of the tribes is resumed at #Ps 78:53, and continued to #Ps 78:66, where we reach the time of the removal of the ark to Zion and the transference of the leadership of Israel from Ephraim to Judah, which is rehearsed in song from #Ps 78:67-72.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)
“This is a history psalm; see 105, 106, 114, 135, and 136. The German philosopher Hegel said that the one thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history. If you study the Bible and church history, you discover that God’s people make the same mistake. As Asaph reviewed the history of his people, he saw a sad record of forgetfulness, faithlessness, foolishness, and failure, and he sought to understand what it all meant. These things were written for the benfit of believers today (1 Cor. 10:11-12), so we had better heed what Asaph says. As A. T. Pierson said, ‘History is His story.’
“The psalm concludes with the coronation of David, but the mention of the temple in verse 69 indicates that David’s reign had ended. ‘Ephraim’ in verse 9 probably refers, not to the tribe, but to the Northern Kingdom (Israel) that had split from Judah and Benjamin when Rehoboam became king (1Kings 12). The leaders of Israel abandoned the faith of their fathers and established a religion of their own making, while the people of Judah sought to be faithful to the Lord. In this psalm, Asaph warned the people of Judah not to imitate their faithless ancestors or their idolatrous neighbors and disobey the Scriptures and teach them to their children. Judah had the temple on Mt. Zion, the covenants, the priesthood, and the Davidic dynasty, and all this could be lost in one generation (see Judges 2). Since Israel is a covenant nation, she has the responsibility of obeying and honoring the Lord, and this psalm presents three responsibilities God expected His people to fulfill.” (Dr. Warren Wiersbe)
Protecting the Future (vv. 1-8): “1 ¶ «A Maskil of Asaph.» Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. 4 We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. 5 For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, 6 That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, 7 That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments, 8 And not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart And whose spirit was not faithful to God.”
The first verse sounds to me a bit like verses in Proverbs, when Solomon was teaching his son things that were important for him to learn. We read in the 6th chapter of Deuteronomy and other places that the fathers were to teach their children the things of the Lord, for if they did not pass the truth of God’s Word to their children then the next generation would not know the truth. Paul writes to Timothy these words, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
We read these word of Jesus from Mathew 13:35: “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.’” Asaph writes these words in verse two of Psalm 78. Asaph goes on to say that these words have been known by their fathers, for they have told them to their sons. Then he says that these words must be taught to the children.
Just think if the nation of Israel and not taken the time to write down all of God’s Word so that it could be passed on to the next generation. This was a painstaking job for these scribes, for they would count all the letters that they would write and if they came up one short of how many they were copying then they would through it away and begin again. This took a great deal of work and dedication.
Dr. Wiersbe writes “Asaph helped his readers understand an enigma in their history. He explained why God rejected the tribe of Ephraim and chose the tribe of Judah, and David to be king, and why He abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh and had a temple built on Mt. Zion.” This was very important for his readers to understand so they would obey the Lord. Asaph will tell about the rebellious generation that came out of Egypt and all died in the desert. He will tell of the generation who lived in Canaan and turned to idols, and about the division of the ten tribes as they set up their own blasphemous religion. Asaph did this so this generation would understand what God wanted them to know and follow the Law of the Lord and therefore be blessed.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: There are two things that I can learn from this section and from this Psalm 78 that are important for me to know. I know that I can praise the Lord that through the Holy Spirit of God He has kept the Word of God intact so that I can read, study, meditate on it and know that what I am reading is God’s truth. History is important and I can learn from the history of the nation of Israel and not follow their mistakes. “11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to study the Word of God in order to learn what the Lord has for me each and every day. Continue to trust the Lord to teach me contentment through the trials that I face, trusting that God has a definite plan for my life.
4/24/2012 9:01:42 AM
4/24/2012 7:54:34 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Protecting the Future
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 78:1-8
Message of the verses: In Today’s SD we will begin a rather long psalm; Psalm 78 has 72 verses in it so it will probably take a few days to complete it. We will first take a look at sever introductions from different commentators and then begin to look at the psalm.
“Some think David was the penman of it; but from the latter part of it, in which mention is made of him, and of his government of the people of Israel, it looks as if it was wrote by another, and after his death, though not long after, since the account is carried on no further than his times; and therefore it is probable enough it was written by Asaph, the chief singer, that lived in that age: whoever was the penman of it, it is certain he was a prophet, and so was Asaph, who is called a seer, the same with a prophet, and who is said to prophesy, #2Ch 29:30 #1Ch 25:1,2 and also that he represented Christ; for that the Messiah is the person that is introduced speaking in this psalm is clear from #Mt 13:34,35 and the whole may be considered as a discourse of his to the Jews of his time; giving them an history of the Israelites from their first coming out of Egypt to the times of David, and in it an account of the various benefits bestowed upon them, of their great ingratitude, and of the divine resentment; the design of which is to admonish and caution them against committing the like sins, lest they should be rejected of God, as their fathers were, and perish: some Jewish writers, as Arama observes, interpret this psalm of the children of Ephraim going out of Egypt before the time appointed.” (John Gill)
“TITLE. Maschil of Asaph. This is rightly entitled an instructive Psalm. It is not a mere recapitulation of important events in Israelitish history, but is intended to be viewed as a parable setting forth the conduct and experience of believers in all ages. It is a singular proof of the obtuseness of mind of many professors that they will object to sermons and expositions upon the historical parts of Scripture, as if they contained no instruction in spiritual matters: were such persons truly enlightened by the Spirit of God, they would perceive that all Scripture is profitable, and would blush at their own folly in undervaluing any portion of the inspired volume.
“DIVISION. The unity is well maintained throughout, but for the sake of the reader’s convenience, we may note that #Ps 78:1-8 may be viewed as a preface, setting forth the psalmist’s object in the epic which he is composing. From #Ps 78:9-41 the theme is Israel in the wilderness; then intervenes an account of the Lord’s preceding goodness towards his people in bringing them out of Egypt by plagues and wonders, #Ps 78:42-52. The history of the tribes is resumed at #Ps 78:53, and continued to #Ps 78:66, where we reach the time of the removal of the ark to Zion and the transference of the leadership of Israel from Ephraim to Judah, which is rehearsed in song from #Ps 78:67-72.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)
“This is a history psalm; see 105, 106, 114, 135, and 136. The German philosopher Hegel said that the one thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history. If you study the Bible and church history, you discover that God’s people make the same mistake. As Asaph reviewed the history of his people, he saw a sad record of forgetfulness, faithlessness, foolishness, and failure, and he sought to understand what it all meant. These things were written for the benfit of believers today (1 Cor. 10:11-12), so we had better heed what Asaph says. As A. T. Pierson said, ‘History is His story.’
“The psalm concludes with the coronation of David, but the mention of the temple in verse 69 indicates that David’s reign had ended. ‘Ephraim’ in verse 9 probably refers, not to the tribe, but to the Northern Kingdom (Israel) that had split from Judah and Benjamin when Rehoboam became king (1Kings 12). The leaders of Israel abandoned the faith of their fathers and established a religion of their own making, while the people of Judah sought to be faithful to the Lord. In this psalm, Asaph warned the people of Judah not to imitate their faithless ancestors or their idolatrous neighbors and disobey the Scriptures and teach them to their children. Judah had the temple on Mt. Zion, the covenants, the priesthood, and the Davidic dynasty, and all this could be lost in one generation (see Judges 2). Since Israel is a covenant nation, she has the responsibility of obeying and honoring the Lord, and this psalm presents three responsibilities God expected His people to fulfill.” (Dr. Warren Wiersbe)
Protecting the Future (vv. 1-8): “1 ¶ «A Maskil of Asaph.» Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. 4 We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. 5 For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, 6 That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, 7 That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments, 8 And not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart And whose spirit was not faithful to God.”
The first verse sounds to me a bit like verses in Proverbs, when Solomon was teaching his son things that were important for him to learn. We read in the 6th chapter of Deuteronomy and other places that the fathers were to teach their children the things of the Lord, for if they did not pass the truth of God’s Word to their children then the next generation would not know the truth. Paul writes to Timothy these words, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
We read these word of Jesus from Mathew 13:35: “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.’” Asaph writes these words in verse two of Psalm 78. Asaph goes on to say that these words have been known by their fathers, for they have told them to their sons. Then he says that these words must be taught to the children.
Just think if the nation of Israel and not taken the time to write down all of God’s Word so that it could be passed on to the next generation. This was a painstaking job for these scribes, for they would count all the letters that they would write and if they came up one short of how many they were copying then they would through it away and begin again. This took a great deal of work and dedication.
Dr. Wiersbe writes “Asaph helped his readers understand an enigma in their history. He explained why God rejected the tribe of Ephraim and chose the tribe of Judah, and David to be king, and why He abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh and had a temple built on Mt. Zion.” This was very important for his readers to understand so they would obey the Lord. Asaph will tell about the rebellious generation that came out of Egypt and all died in the desert. He will tell of the generation who lived in Canaan and turned to idols, and about the division of the ten tribes as they set up their own blasphemous religion. Asaph did this so this generation would understand what God wanted them to know and follow the Law of the Lord and therefore be blessed.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: There are two things that I can learn from this section and from this Psalm 78 that are important for me to know. I know that I can praise the Lord that through the Holy Spirit of God He has kept the Word of God intact so that I can read, study, meditate on it and know that what I am reading is God’s truth. History is important and I can learn from the history of the nation of Israel and not follow their mistakes. “11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to study the Word of God in order to learn what the Lord has for me each and every day. Continue to trust the Lord to teach me contentment through the trials that I face, trusting that God has a definite plan for my life.
4/24/2012 9:01:42 AM
Monday, April 23, 2012
The Day of Delliverance (Psalm 77:13-20)
SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/23/2012 10:56:02 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The Day of Deliverance
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 77:13-20
Message of the verses: In Today’s SD we will look at the last section of Psalm 77 and again I want to insert what Dr. Wiersbe has written at the end of his introductory commentary in order to better understand this psalm. “In this psalm, he described how he moved from disappointment and despair to confidence that the Lord would care for His people.”
The Day of Deliverance (vv. 13-20): “13 Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. 15 You have by Your power redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. 16 The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were in anguish; The deeps also trembled. 17 The clouds poured out water; The skies gave forth a sound; Your arrows flashed here and there. 18 The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way was in the sea And Your paths in the mighty waters, And Your footprints may not be known. 20 You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron.”
“13 O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? 14 You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. 15 By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Interlude 16 When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths. 17 The clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed. 18 Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook. 19 Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters- a pathway no one knew was there! 20 You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.” (NLT)
We see a change at this point in this psalm as Asaph does not use words like “I” and “my” but he now speaks of the Lord using “You” and “Yours.” He began to look to the Lord and away from himself in trying to solve the circumstances that he found himself in. The circumstances did not change by the way that he looked at them did change. Dr. Wiersbe writes these wise words: “When we look at our circumstances, we focus on ourselves and see not hope, but when we look by faith to the Lord, our circumstances may not change but we do.”
When we read verses 13-15 we can see that Asaph looked up by faith and he rejoiced in the greatness of our God. He writes that God’s ways are always holy and goes on to say that God is great and He works great wonders. In showing the greatness and great wonders of the Lord Asaph then looks back to the Exodus from Egypt which truly show the awesomeness of the Lord. We have mentioned before in commenting on this psalm that it is good to look back at how the Lord has worked in your life, and mentioned that it is good to remember how the Lord brought you along in order to save you. I know personally that I can think of things back when I was twelve years old that the Lord was using in my life to bring me into a saving knowledge of the Lord. I did not get saved until I was almost 27 years old, but looking back there were many things that the Lord was doing to prepare me for salvation.
As Asaph looks at the Exodus he may have been asking himself would God go to all of that care in bringing Israel out of Egypt and put them into the Promised Land to completely destroy them? He would only have to look back at some of the promises that God gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob along with David to see that God still has plans for Israel. This is, of course, still true today as God has brought Israel back into their land for the third time and all of the promises that I am writing about that were given to the people of Israel are still promises that will be fulfilled as when the rapture of the Church takes place God will once again focus in on the nation of Israel. There are seven more years left on the prophecy from Daniel chapter nine that have not been fulfilled and as soon as the antichrist signs a defense pack with Israel that will usher in the last seven years of Daniel’s prophecy which we call the tribulation. Well I don’t want to get too far off the track here but prophecy is the tool that the Lord used to draw me to Himself and I have always loved to study it.
We as believers look back to Calvary where the Lamb of God gave His life for us. When Israel came out of Egypt the celebration of Passover began as a lamb had to die in order to shed its blood on the doorposts of the houses of the children of Israel so that the death angel would pass over their house. The Passover lamb was killed at 3:00 in the afternoon the very same time that Jesus died for our sins as He was our Passover Lamb. The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world as John the Baptist said before the baptism of Jesus. Because of the death of Jesus Christ we as believers have a wonderful future. When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we look back at the death of Jesus and we should also look forward to His coming again to take us to be with Him.
We see in verse 20 that Asaph sees the Lord as our Shepherd who leads His flock. Moses and David were Shepherds and the Lord has used them in a mighty way. I suppose that when Moses and David were shepherding their flocks that it was wonderful training for them to shepherd the people of God. Jesus stated that He was our Shepherd and Peter picks up on this in the fifth chapter of Peter’s first letter calling Jesus the Great Shepherd.
Dr. Wiersbe writes in the conclusion of his commentary these words: “Asaph had some struggles during this difficult period in his life, but in the end he knew he could trust the Lord to work out everything for good, and like an obedient sheep, he submitted to the Shepherd. That is what we must do.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: God’s Word is always on time for the situations that come along in my life and that is surely true today and I am always thankful for the Word of God and how the Holy Spirit speaks to my heart through it.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord in the circumstances of life so that as I trust Him more and more He will guide me beside the still waters and feed me from His Word. I desire to continue to learn contentment through the circumstances of life.
4/23/2012 11:47:26 AM
4/23/2012 10:56:02 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The Day of Deliverance
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 77:13-20
Message of the verses: In Today’s SD we will look at the last section of Psalm 77 and again I want to insert what Dr. Wiersbe has written at the end of his introductory commentary in order to better understand this psalm. “In this psalm, he described how he moved from disappointment and despair to confidence that the Lord would care for His people.”
The Day of Deliverance (vv. 13-20): “13 Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. 15 You have by Your power redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. 16 The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were in anguish; The deeps also trembled. 17 The clouds poured out water; The skies gave forth a sound; Your arrows flashed here and there. 18 The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way was in the sea And Your paths in the mighty waters, And Your footprints may not be known. 20 You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron.”
“13 O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? 14 You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. 15 By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Interlude 16 When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths. 17 The clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed. 18 Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook. 19 Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters- a pathway no one knew was there! 20 You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.” (NLT)
We see a change at this point in this psalm as Asaph does not use words like “I” and “my” but he now speaks of the Lord using “You” and “Yours.” He began to look to the Lord and away from himself in trying to solve the circumstances that he found himself in. The circumstances did not change by the way that he looked at them did change. Dr. Wiersbe writes these wise words: “When we look at our circumstances, we focus on ourselves and see not hope, but when we look by faith to the Lord, our circumstances may not change but we do.”
When we read verses 13-15 we can see that Asaph looked up by faith and he rejoiced in the greatness of our God. He writes that God’s ways are always holy and goes on to say that God is great and He works great wonders. In showing the greatness and great wonders of the Lord Asaph then looks back to the Exodus from Egypt which truly show the awesomeness of the Lord. We have mentioned before in commenting on this psalm that it is good to look back at how the Lord has worked in your life, and mentioned that it is good to remember how the Lord brought you along in order to save you. I know personally that I can think of things back when I was twelve years old that the Lord was using in my life to bring me into a saving knowledge of the Lord. I did not get saved until I was almost 27 years old, but looking back there were many things that the Lord was doing to prepare me for salvation.
As Asaph looks at the Exodus he may have been asking himself would God go to all of that care in bringing Israel out of Egypt and put them into the Promised Land to completely destroy them? He would only have to look back at some of the promises that God gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob along with David to see that God still has plans for Israel. This is, of course, still true today as God has brought Israel back into their land for the third time and all of the promises that I am writing about that were given to the people of Israel are still promises that will be fulfilled as when the rapture of the Church takes place God will once again focus in on the nation of Israel. There are seven more years left on the prophecy from Daniel chapter nine that have not been fulfilled and as soon as the antichrist signs a defense pack with Israel that will usher in the last seven years of Daniel’s prophecy which we call the tribulation. Well I don’t want to get too far off the track here but prophecy is the tool that the Lord used to draw me to Himself and I have always loved to study it.
We as believers look back to Calvary where the Lamb of God gave His life for us. When Israel came out of Egypt the celebration of Passover began as a lamb had to die in order to shed its blood on the doorposts of the houses of the children of Israel so that the death angel would pass over their house. The Passover lamb was killed at 3:00 in the afternoon the very same time that Jesus died for our sins as He was our Passover Lamb. The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world as John the Baptist said before the baptism of Jesus. Because of the death of Jesus Christ we as believers have a wonderful future. When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we look back at the death of Jesus and we should also look forward to His coming again to take us to be with Him.
We see in verse 20 that Asaph sees the Lord as our Shepherd who leads His flock. Moses and David were Shepherds and the Lord has used them in a mighty way. I suppose that when Moses and David were shepherding their flocks that it was wonderful training for them to shepherd the people of God. Jesus stated that He was our Shepherd and Peter picks up on this in the fifth chapter of Peter’s first letter calling Jesus the Great Shepherd.
Dr. Wiersbe writes in the conclusion of his commentary these words: “Asaph had some struggles during this difficult period in his life, but in the end he knew he could trust the Lord to work out everything for good, and like an obedient sheep, he submitted to the Shepherd. That is what we must do.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: God’s Word is always on time for the situations that come along in my life and that is surely true today and I am always thankful for the Word of God and how the Holy Spirit speaks to my heart through it.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord in the circumstances of life so that as I trust Him more and more He will guide me beside the still waters and feed me from His Word. I desire to continue to learn contentment through the circumstances of life.
4/23/2012 11:47:26 AM
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Asaph Makes a Decision (Psalm 77:10-12)
SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/22/2012 8:50:00 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Asaph Makes a Decision
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 77 PT-2
Message of the verses: We will take up where we left off from yesterday’s SD when we looked at the introduction and the first nine verses of Psalm 77. Dr. Wiersbe wrote the following at the end of his introduction: “In this psalm, he described how he moved from disappointment and despair to confidence that the Lord would care for His People.”
The Dawn of Decision (vv. 10-12): “10 Then I said, "It is my grief, That the right hand of the Most High has changed." 11 I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. 12 I will meditate on all Your work And muse (ponder) on Your deeds.”
“10 And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.’’ 11 But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. 12 They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.”
Whenever we come to a crisis in life there are times when we feel sorry for ourselves and we wonder how the Lord could allow such things to come into our lives. We read in 1Thes. 5:16-22 the following words that Paul penned in order to help us in times of trouble: “16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.” When we read these words and do as the psalmist did and remember what the Lord has already done for us and promised to continue to do, like the best thing that has ever happened to us, the salvation of our souls, and the promise of eternal life in heaven with the Lord. When we think on these things then it is like shaking ourselves out of the pity we are in and again begin to trust the Lord.
We read in verse ten that Asaph wrote “It is my grief, that the right hand of the Most High as changed,” but this is not true for God does not change and this was evidence that Asaph was feeling sorry for himself, for it says in 1Samuel 15:29 “"Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.’” However Asaph was right when he abandoned his former posture of doubt and determined to see the matter through not matter what happened. When he decided to begin to meditate on the former things that God had done this was the beginning of having his mind changed to the right things.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: What I have learned from this section is very important, and that is that when trouble comes and trouble seems to know where I live lately, I am to give thanks, rejoice because of the fact that God is in control, and God does not change His mind, so the things that I read in the Scriptures are true and trustworthy. Then I am to think about the things that God has done in the past, especially the day when I was saved from my sin and my sins and turned to the Lord seeking His mercy and grace, confessing my sins before Him and inviting Him into my life to be my Savior and Lord. I can think of how the Lord has used me to tell others about His saving grace and they too have become believers. I can think about His promise to never leave me nor forsake me and to one day take me home to be with Him forever. What wonderful promises to behold.
My Steps of Faith for Today: To truly be a thankful person. To be a person who trust the Lord fully knowing that He never changes. To remember that the crisis of life help me to grow in my walk with the Lord and teach me contentment.
4/22/2012 9:26:01 AM
4/22/2012 8:50:00 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Asaph Makes a Decision
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 77 PT-2
Message of the verses: We will take up where we left off from yesterday’s SD when we looked at the introduction and the first nine verses of Psalm 77. Dr. Wiersbe wrote the following at the end of his introduction: “In this psalm, he described how he moved from disappointment and despair to confidence that the Lord would care for His People.”
The Dawn of Decision (vv. 10-12): “10 Then I said, "It is my grief, That the right hand of the Most High has changed." 11 I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. 12 I will meditate on all Your work And muse (ponder) on Your deeds.”
“10 And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.’’ 11 But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. 12 They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.”
Whenever we come to a crisis in life there are times when we feel sorry for ourselves and we wonder how the Lord could allow such things to come into our lives. We read in 1Thes. 5:16-22 the following words that Paul penned in order to help us in times of trouble: “16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.” When we read these words and do as the psalmist did and remember what the Lord has already done for us and promised to continue to do, like the best thing that has ever happened to us, the salvation of our souls, and the promise of eternal life in heaven with the Lord. When we think on these things then it is like shaking ourselves out of the pity we are in and again begin to trust the Lord.
We read in verse ten that Asaph wrote “It is my grief, that the right hand of the Most High as changed,” but this is not true for God does not change and this was evidence that Asaph was feeling sorry for himself, for it says in 1Samuel 15:29 “"Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.’” However Asaph was right when he abandoned his former posture of doubt and determined to see the matter through not matter what happened. When he decided to begin to meditate on the former things that God had done this was the beginning of having his mind changed to the right things.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: What I have learned from this section is very important, and that is that when trouble comes and trouble seems to know where I live lately, I am to give thanks, rejoice because of the fact that God is in control, and God does not change His mind, so the things that I read in the Scriptures are true and trustworthy. Then I am to think about the things that God has done in the past, especially the day when I was saved from my sin and my sins and turned to the Lord seeking His mercy and grace, confessing my sins before Him and inviting Him into my life to be my Savior and Lord. I can think of how the Lord has used me to tell others about His saving grace and they too have become believers. I can think about His promise to never leave me nor forsake me and to one day take me home to be with Him forever. What wonderful promises to behold.
My Steps of Faith for Today: To truly be a thankful person. To be a person who trust the Lord fully knowing that He never changes. To remember that the crisis of life help me to grow in my walk with the Lord and teach me contentment.
4/22/2012 9:26:01 AM
Saturday, April 21, 2012
The Darkness of Despair (Psalm 77:1-9)
SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/21/2012 9:57:09 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The Darkness of Dispair
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 77 Pt-1
Message of the verses: We will begin to look at Psalm 77 in today’s SD, and will begin by looking at several introductions from different commentators.
“TITLE. To the Chief Musician, to Jeduthun. It was meet that another leader of the psalmody should take his turn. No harp should be silent in the courts of the Lord’s house. A Psalm of Asaph. Asaph was a man of exercised mind, and often touched the minor key; he was thoughtful, contemplative, believing, but withal there was a dash of sadness about him, and this imparted a tonic flavour to his songs. To follow him with understanding, it is needful to have done business on the great waters, and weathered many an Atlantic gale.
“DIVISIONS. If we follow the poetical arrangement, and divide at the Selahs, we shall find the troubled man of God pleading in #Ps 77:1-3, and then we shall hear him lamenting and arguing within himself, #Ps 77:4-9. From #Ps 77:10-15 his meditations run toward God, and in the close he seems as in a vision to behold the wonders of the Red Sea and the wilderness. At this point, as if lost in an ecstasy, he hurriedly closes the Psalm with an abruptness, the effect of which is quite startling. The Spirit of God knows when to cease speaking, which is more than those do who, for the sake of making a methodical conclusion, prolong their words even to weariness. Perhaps this Psalm was meant to be a prelude to the next, and, if so, its sudden close is accounted for. The hymn now before us is for experienced saints only, but to them it will be of rare value as a transcript of their own inner conflicts.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)
“This psalm illustrates one cure for depression. The psalmist does not explain the cause of his despair, but he definitely locked into gloom. When he thought about God, it only caused him to complain bitterly. But beginning in v. 10, the psalmist’s mood starts to change because he commits himself to focusing on God’s goodness and past acts of deliverance. His lament then changes into a hymn of praise.” (The John MacArthur Study Bible)
“This appears to be a companion psalm to 74, which also lamented the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of Israel. Both deal with the Lord’s apparent rejection of His people (74:12-15; 77:16-19). When Jerusalem fell, many Jews were slain and many were taken captive to Babylon. Asaph may have been in Jeremiah’s ‘circle’ and left behind to minister to the suffering remnant (Jer. 30-40). But Asaph himself was suffering as he lay in bed at night (vv. 2, 6) and wrestled with the meaning of the terrible events he had witnessed. In this psalm, he described how he moved from disappointment and despair to confidence that the Lord would care for His people.” (Dr. Warren Wiersbe)
The Darkness of Despair (vv. 1-9): “1 ¶ «For the choir director; according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.» My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God, and He will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted. 3 When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Selah. 4 You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, The years of long ago. 6 I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders: 7 Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again? 8 Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious, Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah.”
“1 ¶ For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of Asaph. I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! 2 When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. 3 I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. Interlude 4 You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray! 5 I think of the good old days, long since ended, 6 when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now. 7 Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me? 8 Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? Interlude” (NLT)
We see Asaph unable to sleep in the first two verses of this psalm and then he will move into remembering the good old days in verses 3-6, and will finally find himself questing God in verses 7-9. We see from the NLT that Asaph reports that he is too distressed to even pray, where the NASB does not say pray but speak. I think that there are times in a person’s life when he could be in a position where he is unable to pray because of dread and then I have to remember what Paul wrote to the Romans in Romans 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;.”
Asaph was a man of God who sang songs in the temple and led the worship in the temple, and now he has seen something that has caused him to even lose confidence in God for a short while. Perhaps Asaph was thinking that God had let His people down, but the truth of the matter is that God was fulfilling His covenant that He had made with Israel, in that if Israel sinned that God would not bless them, but allow them to be captured by other nations. This may have been the background for this psalm. Does this mean that God does not love His people? 11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, 12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” (Proverbs 3:11-12)
I will quote from Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary at this time because his commentary is so good and understandable. “It’s isn’t a sin to question God, for both David and Jesus asked the Lord the same question (Psalm 22:1; Matt. 27:46), but it is a sin to demand an immediate answer or to suggest that God needs our counsel (Rom. 11:33-36). Asaph asked six questions, all of which dealt with the very character and attributes of God.
“Has He rejected us? No! He is faithful to His Word (Lam. 3:31-33).
“Will He ever again show favor to Israel? Yes! (Ps. 30:5. Isa. 60:10.
“Has His unfailing love vanished forever? No! (Jer. 31:3)
“Have His promises failed? No! (1Kings 8:56)
“Has He forgotten to be gracious? No! (Isa. 49:14-18)
“Is He so angry, He has shut up His compassions? No! (Lam. 3:22-24)
“It has well been said that we should never doubt in the darkness what God has told us in the light, but Asaph was about to do so. No matter what His hand is doing in our lives, His heart has not changed He still loves us and always will.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: In a small way I can understand the feelings that Asaph is having, and I suppose all those who name the name of Christ are put through difficult situations, sometimes because we need discipline from the Lord and other times we are in “Job” moment where God is doing something in our lives to continue to make us more like Jesus Christ.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord in the good times and in the not so good times, and continue to seek to learn contentment as I walk with the Lord.
4/21/2012 11:12:49 AM
4/21/2012 9:57:09 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The Darkness of Dispair
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 77 Pt-1
Message of the verses: We will begin to look at Psalm 77 in today’s SD, and will begin by looking at several introductions from different commentators.
“TITLE. To the Chief Musician, to Jeduthun. It was meet that another leader of the psalmody should take his turn. No harp should be silent in the courts of the Lord’s house. A Psalm of Asaph. Asaph was a man of exercised mind, and often touched the minor key; he was thoughtful, contemplative, believing, but withal there was a dash of sadness about him, and this imparted a tonic flavour to his songs. To follow him with understanding, it is needful to have done business on the great waters, and weathered many an Atlantic gale.
“DIVISIONS. If we follow the poetical arrangement, and divide at the Selahs, we shall find the troubled man of God pleading in #Ps 77:1-3, and then we shall hear him lamenting and arguing within himself, #Ps 77:4-9. From #Ps 77:10-15 his meditations run toward God, and in the close he seems as in a vision to behold the wonders of the Red Sea and the wilderness. At this point, as if lost in an ecstasy, he hurriedly closes the Psalm with an abruptness, the effect of which is quite startling. The Spirit of God knows when to cease speaking, which is more than those do who, for the sake of making a methodical conclusion, prolong their words even to weariness. Perhaps this Psalm was meant to be a prelude to the next, and, if so, its sudden close is accounted for. The hymn now before us is for experienced saints only, but to them it will be of rare value as a transcript of their own inner conflicts.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)
“This psalm illustrates one cure for depression. The psalmist does not explain the cause of his despair, but he definitely locked into gloom. When he thought about God, it only caused him to complain bitterly. But beginning in v. 10, the psalmist’s mood starts to change because he commits himself to focusing on God’s goodness and past acts of deliverance. His lament then changes into a hymn of praise.” (The John MacArthur Study Bible)
“This appears to be a companion psalm to 74, which also lamented the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of Israel. Both deal with the Lord’s apparent rejection of His people (74:12-15; 77:16-19). When Jerusalem fell, many Jews were slain and many were taken captive to Babylon. Asaph may have been in Jeremiah’s ‘circle’ and left behind to minister to the suffering remnant (Jer. 30-40). But Asaph himself was suffering as he lay in bed at night (vv. 2, 6) and wrestled with the meaning of the terrible events he had witnessed. In this psalm, he described how he moved from disappointment and despair to confidence that the Lord would care for His people.” (Dr. Warren Wiersbe)
The Darkness of Despair (vv. 1-9): “1 ¶ «For the choir director; according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.» My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God, and He will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted. 3 When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Selah. 4 You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, The years of long ago. 6 I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders: 7 Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again? 8 Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious, Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah.”
“1 ¶ For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of Asaph. I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! 2 When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. 3 I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. Interlude 4 You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray! 5 I think of the good old days, long since ended, 6 when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now. 7 Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me? 8 Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? Interlude” (NLT)
We see Asaph unable to sleep in the first two verses of this psalm and then he will move into remembering the good old days in verses 3-6, and will finally find himself questing God in verses 7-9. We see from the NLT that Asaph reports that he is too distressed to even pray, where the NASB does not say pray but speak. I think that there are times in a person’s life when he could be in a position where he is unable to pray because of dread and then I have to remember what Paul wrote to the Romans in Romans 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;.”
Asaph was a man of God who sang songs in the temple and led the worship in the temple, and now he has seen something that has caused him to even lose confidence in God for a short while. Perhaps Asaph was thinking that God had let His people down, but the truth of the matter is that God was fulfilling His covenant that He had made with Israel, in that if Israel sinned that God would not bless them, but allow them to be captured by other nations. This may have been the background for this psalm. Does this mean that God does not love His people? 11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, 12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” (Proverbs 3:11-12)
I will quote from Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary at this time because his commentary is so good and understandable. “It’s isn’t a sin to question God, for both David and Jesus asked the Lord the same question (Psalm 22:1; Matt. 27:46), but it is a sin to demand an immediate answer or to suggest that God needs our counsel (Rom. 11:33-36). Asaph asked six questions, all of which dealt with the very character and attributes of God.
“Has He rejected us? No! He is faithful to His Word (Lam. 3:31-33).
“Will He ever again show favor to Israel? Yes! (Ps. 30:5. Isa. 60:10.
“Has His unfailing love vanished forever? No! (Jer. 31:3)
“Have His promises failed? No! (1Kings 8:56)
“Has He forgotten to be gracious? No! (Isa. 49:14-18)
“Is He so angry, He has shut up His compassions? No! (Lam. 3:22-24)
“It has well been said that we should never doubt in the darkness what God has told us in the light, but Asaph was about to do so. No matter what His hand is doing in our lives, His heart has not changed He still loves us and always will.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: In a small way I can understand the feelings that Asaph is having, and I suppose all those who name the name of Christ are put through difficult situations, sometimes because we need discipline from the Lord and other times we are in “Job” moment where God is doing something in our lives to continue to make us more like Jesus Christ.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord in the good times and in the not so good times, and continue to seek to learn contentment as I walk with the Lord.
4/21/2012 11:12:49 AM
Friday, April 20, 2012
Fear & Obey the Lord (Psalm 76:7-12)
SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/20/2012 10:41:37 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Fear and Obey the Lord
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 76-PT-2
Message of the verses: In yesterday’s SD we learned as part of the introduction that Dr. Wiersbe said the following “Asaph shares four basic truths about Jehovah God.” We looked at the first truths about Jehovah God yesterday and we will look at the next two in this SD.
God Wants Us to Fear Him (vv. 7-9): “7 ¶ You, even You, are to be feared; And who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? 8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was still 9 When God arose to judgment, To save all the humble of the earth. Selah. 9 When God arose to judgment, To save all the humble of the earth. Selah.”
7 ¶ No wonder you are greatly feared! Who can stand before you when your anger explodes? 8 From heaven you sentenced your enemies; the earth trembled and stood silent before you. 9 You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God, and to rescue the oppressed of the earth. Interlude. (NLT)
We see that the psalmist writes about the fear of the Lord in verses 7, 8, 11, and 12, but what exactly is the fear of the Lord. A. W. Tozer writes “No one can know the true grace of God who has not first know the fear of God.” Dr. Wiersbe points out that “God’s people love Him and rejoice in Him, but they also ‘worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling’ (Psalm 2:11). Jesus Christ paid for the sins of those who will trust Him as their Savior and therefore they need not fear Him in the same way that those who have not trusted Him. To believers fearing the Lord means the reverential awe, the respect and veneration that can only belong to God.
God was patience with the army of Sennacherib who had blasphemed Him up to a point and then judgment came upon them as seen in verse 8.
There is a question asked in verse seven that is also asked in Revelations 6:17 and also Psalm 130:3 and the answer is given in Ezra 9:15: “"O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day; behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.’”
Dr. Wiersbe writes “According to verses 9 and 10, God’s judgments accomplish at least three purposes: they bring glory to God as they reveal His justice and holiness; they punish the wicked for their evil deeds; and they bring salvation those who trust the Lord (See 72:4)”
God Wants Us to Obey Him (vv. 10-12): “10 For the wrath of man shall praise You; With a remnant of wrath You will gird Yourself. 11 Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; Let all who are around Him bring gifts to Him who is to be feared. 12 He will cut off the spirit of princes; He is feared by the kings of the earth.” (NASB)
“10 Human defiance only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon. 11 Make vows to the LORD your God, and keep them. Let everyone bring tribute to the Awesome One. 12 For he breaks the pride of princes, and the kings of the earth fear him.” (NLT)
We see in verse ten that man’s wrath brings praise to God. I suppose that this does not seem right to some people who have read this but never the less it is true. While studying the attributes of God I learned that all of God’s attributes bring glory to God. It is easier to see how the attributes of goodness, and love bring glory to God, but harder to see how God’s justice bring glory to Him.
While studying this subject of the attributes of God I came across something that at first was hard for me to understand, but after thinking about it for a while it seems that the Holy Spirit of God has made it clear to me. When a believer in Jesus Christ dies we read that those remaining are not to grieve as those who have no hope grieve. Unbelievers who die have no hope, but believers are transported right to be with the Lord for “6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord- 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight- 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” It is easy to believe that when a believer dies that they bring honor and glory to the Lord, but harder to believe that when an unbeliever dies that they too bring glory to the Lord. However this is true for the reason that God’s justice brings glory to Him just as God’s love and goodness bring glory to Him. The justice and judgment of a believer has been taken out on Jesus Christ on the cross for them, while the justice and judgment of God is taken out on the unbeliever who has not accepted God’s grace through Jesus Christ and must pay for their own sins.
Dr. Wiersbe concludes his commentary by writing “The psalm begins at Jerusalem and its environs (vv. 1-6), then moves to the entire land of Israel (vv. 7-9), and now it reaches the whole earth (v. 12). There will be a day when the rulers of the earth will bow to Jesus Christ and worship Him as King of Kings (Isa. 2:1-4; 11:1ff.; Rev. 19:11-16).”
For those who obey the Lord they will receive eternal life, and will not encounter the wrath of God like the army of the Assyrian’s did when the angel of the Lord killed 185,000 in one moment. We must remember that God is not a God who desires to get even like we humans tend to do, but God is a God who is completely Holy and cannot stand for sin and therefore has to judge sin one way of the other.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: The more that I study about God the more I see His holiness and the more I see my sin in all of its ugliness. Then the more I am amazed by the grace of God.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to learn more about our glorious God, and continue to learn contentment that causes me to trust the Lord more and more with whatever He brings into my life.
4/20/2012 11:36:30 AM
4/20/2012 10:41:37 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Fear and Obey the Lord
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 76-PT-2
Message of the verses: In yesterday’s SD we learned as part of the introduction that Dr. Wiersbe said the following “Asaph shares four basic truths about Jehovah God.” We looked at the first truths about Jehovah God yesterday and we will look at the next two in this SD.
God Wants Us to Fear Him (vv. 7-9): “7 ¶ You, even You, are to be feared; And who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? 8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was still 9 When God arose to judgment, To save all the humble of the earth. Selah. 9 When God arose to judgment, To save all the humble of the earth. Selah.”
7 ¶ No wonder you are greatly feared! Who can stand before you when your anger explodes? 8 From heaven you sentenced your enemies; the earth trembled and stood silent before you. 9 You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God, and to rescue the oppressed of the earth. Interlude. (NLT)
We see that the psalmist writes about the fear of the Lord in verses 7, 8, 11, and 12, but what exactly is the fear of the Lord. A. W. Tozer writes “No one can know the true grace of God who has not first know the fear of God.” Dr. Wiersbe points out that “God’s people love Him and rejoice in Him, but they also ‘worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling’ (Psalm 2:11). Jesus Christ paid for the sins of those who will trust Him as their Savior and therefore they need not fear Him in the same way that those who have not trusted Him. To believers fearing the Lord means the reverential awe, the respect and veneration that can only belong to God.
God was patience with the army of Sennacherib who had blasphemed Him up to a point and then judgment came upon them as seen in verse 8.
There is a question asked in verse seven that is also asked in Revelations 6:17 and also Psalm 130:3 and the answer is given in Ezra 9:15: “"O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day; behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.’”
Dr. Wiersbe writes “According to verses 9 and 10, God’s judgments accomplish at least three purposes: they bring glory to God as they reveal His justice and holiness; they punish the wicked for their evil deeds; and they bring salvation those who trust the Lord (See 72:4)”
God Wants Us to Obey Him (vv. 10-12): “10 For the wrath of man shall praise You; With a remnant of wrath You will gird Yourself. 11 Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; Let all who are around Him bring gifts to Him who is to be feared. 12 He will cut off the spirit of princes; He is feared by the kings of the earth.” (NASB)
“10 Human defiance only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon. 11 Make vows to the LORD your God, and keep them. Let everyone bring tribute to the Awesome One. 12 For he breaks the pride of princes, and the kings of the earth fear him.” (NLT)
We see in verse ten that man’s wrath brings praise to God. I suppose that this does not seem right to some people who have read this but never the less it is true. While studying the attributes of God I learned that all of God’s attributes bring glory to God. It is easier to see how the attributes of goodness, and love bring glory to God, but harder to see how God’s justice bring glory to Him.
While studying this subject of the attributes of God I came across something that at first was hard for me to understand, but after thinking about it for a while it seems that the Holy Spirit of God has made it clear to me. When a believer in Jesus Christ dies we read that those remaining are not to grieve as those who have no hope grieve. Unbelievers who die have no hope, but believers are transported right to be with the Lord for “6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord- 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight- 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” It is easy to believe that when a believer dies that they bring honor and glory to the Lord, but harder to believe that when an unbeliever dies that they too bring glory to the Lord. However this is true for the reason that God’s justice brings glory to Him just as God’s love and goodness bring glory to Him. The justice and judgment of a believer has been taken out on Jesus Christ on the cross for them, while the justice and judgment of God is taken out on the unbeliever who has not accepted God’s grace through Jesus Christ and must pay for their own sins.
Dr. Wiersbe concludes his commentary by writing “The psalm begins at Jerusalem and its environs (vv. 1-6), then moves to the entire land of Israel (vv. 7-9), and now it reaches the whole earth (v. 12). There will be a day when the rulers of the earth will bow to Jesus Christ and worship Him as King of Kings (Isa. 2:1-4; 11:1ff.; Rev. 19:11-16).”
For those who obey the Lord they will receive eternal life, and will not encounter the wrath of God like the army of the Assyrian’s did when the angel of the Lord killed 185,000 in one moment. We must remember that God is not a God who desires to get even like we humans tend to do, but God is a God who is completely Holy and cannot stand for sin and therefore has to judge sin one way of the other.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: The more that I study about God the more I see His holiness and the more I see my sin in all of its ugliness. Then the more I am amazed by the grace of God.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to learn more about our glorious God, and continue to learn contentment that causes me to trust the Lord more and more with whatever He brings into my life.
4/20/2012 11:36:30 AM
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Knowing & Trusting the Lord (Psalm 76:1-6)
SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/19/2012 8:14:02 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Knowing & Trusting the Lord
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 76 PT-1
Message of the verses: We will begin looking at several introductions to Psalm 76 in order to better understand what the psalm is all about.
“This psalm teaches that God is willing to use His great power for His people. Some commentators, including the editors of the LXX, have suggested that this psalm was written to celebrate the destruction of Sennacherib’s Assyrian army in 701 B.C. as well as the subsequent assassination of Sennacherib himself (vv. 5-6; cf. 2Ki. 18, 19; Isa. 36-37). The psalm also includes eschatological overtones (especially vv. 8-12), when Jehovah will defeat His enemies and bring them into judgment.” (The John MacArthur Study Bible)
“The background of this psalm is probably God’s judgment of the Assyrian army as recorded in Isaiah 37-38 and 2Kings 18-19. Other ‘Zion’ psalms include 46, 48, 87, 126, 132, and 137. But the emphasis in this psalm is on the God who accomplished the victory and not on the miracle itself. God’s might works reveal the greatness of His character and His power (75:1). Sennacherib’s officers boasted of their kin and his conquests, but their dead idols were no match of the true and living God (115:1-18). Asaph shares four basic truths about Jehovah God. (Dr. Warren Wiersbe)
God Wants Us to Know Him (vv. 1-3): “1 ¶ «For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph, a Song.» God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel. 2 His tabernacle is in Salem; His dwelling place also is in Zion. 3 There He broke the flaming arrows, The shield and the sword and the weapons of war. Selah.” (NASB) “1 ¶ «TO THE CHOIRMASTER: WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. A PSALM OF ASAPH. A SONG.» In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. 2 His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. 3 There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah” (ESV)
In 722 B. C. the Assyrians captured the northern tribes of Israel, which had been divided from Judah since Solomon’s son became king in Judah. The northern kingdom was very ungodly and in all of its history had never had a godly king. Their religious system did not follow the Law of God and so many godly people left the northern kingdom and came to Judah where they could worship the Lord in the way that the Lord had set up in His Law. We see in verse one that this is spoken of when we read that “In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel,” and then in verse two we see that God’s abode is in Jerusalem in the temple that Solomon had built.
It has always been the desire of God to have all people’s know Him, and Israel was chosen to make God’s name known to others around Israel. One of the ways that God was known by the peoples around Israel was through His mighty power and in 701 B.C. the Assyrian’s were ready to attack Jerusalem and they were bragging about their god’s and saying that Judah’s God was weak. The angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian’s in one night and later on their king was killed in the temple of his god by his sons.
Jesus said to the woman at the well that “Salvation is of the Jews.” The Bible was written by the Jews and Jesus Christ, the Son of God was born into the family of David who was surely Jewish. In order to truly know the God of the Universe one must accept His Son as their Saviour and Lord, the One who paid for the sins of the world while suffering and dying on the cross.
God Wants Us to Trust Him (vv. 4-6): “4 You are resplendent, More majestic than the mountains of prey. 5 The stouthearted were plundered, They sank into sleep; And none of the warriors could use his hands. 6 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep.” (NASB) “4 Glorious are you, more majestic than the mountains of prey. 5 The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; all the men of war were unable to use their hands. 6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse lay stunned.” (ESV)
God wants us to trust Him, and King Hezekiah, along with the prophet Isaiah, and the elders of Judah trusted that God would keep Jerusalem safe from the invading Assyrians. When you read the story in Isaiah’s account and the account in 2Kings you will find that Hezekiah was in a most difficult situation as the officers of the Assyrian army came and read a letter to the people of Jerusalem stating what they would do to them. In that letter they were blaspheming the God of Jacob and so when the letter was given to King Hezekiah he laid the letter down before the Lord and prayed to the Lord: “14 Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15 Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 "Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 17 "Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands 18 and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. 19 "Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God." (2Kings 19:14-19)
When I was a new believer in the Lord I went to our church one day for something, I don’t remember exactly what it was, but while there we happened to come into the office of our Pastor who was laying sheets of paper on the floor of his office. I have always thought that he was doing like Hezekiah did in laying his prayer requests out before the Lord.
We see in the account of Hezekiah that he put his faith in the living God in this very hard situation and God answered His prayers and saved Jerusalem. I think of the three men in the book of Daniel who told the king of Babylon who was about to put them into a fiery furnace to kill them because they would not worship him, and they told him that their God was able to save them from the furnace, but if He chose not to do so He was still God. He chose to save them from the furnace.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I had to trust God in order to know Him, for when I was an enemy of God far from Him, He saved me and I became His child. I know that there will be difficult times for me in which I must continue to trust the Lord whom I now know and by trusting Him it will bring honor and glory to Him.
Hezekiah had a remarkable faith and I desire to have such a faith as that, trusting the Lord in difficult situations.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord and as I trust the Lord He will continue to teach me contentment.
4/19/2012 9:16:21 AM
4/19/2012 8:14:02 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Knowing & Trusting the Lord
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 76 PT-1
Message of the verses: We will begin looking at several introductions to Psalm 76 in order to better understand what the psalm is all about.
“This psalm teaches that God is willing to use His great power for His people. Some commentators, including the editors of the LXX, have suggested that this psalm was written to celebrate the destruction of Sennacherib’s Assyrian army in 701 B.C. as well as the subsequent assassination of Sennacherib himself (vv. 5-6; cf. 2Ki. 18, 19; Isa. 36-37). The psalm also includes eschatological overtones (especially vv. 8-12), when Jehovah will defeat His enemies and bring them into judgment.” (The John MacArthur Study Bible)
“The background of this psalm is probably God’s judgment of the Assyrian army as recorded in Isaiah 37-38 and 2Kings 18-19. Other ‘Zion’ psalms include 46, 48, 87, 126, 132, and 137. But the emphasis in this psalm is on the God who accomplished the victory and not on the miracle itself. God’s might works reveal the greatness of His character and His power (75:1). Sennacherib’s officers boasted of their kin and his conquests, but their dead idols were no match of the true and living God (115:1-18). Asaph shares four basic truths about Jehovah God. (Dr. Warren Wiersbe)
God Wants Us to Know Him (vv. 1-3): “1 ¶ «For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph, a Song.» God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel. 2 His tabernacle is in Salem; His dwelling place also is in Zion. 3 There He broke the flaming arrows, The shield and the sword and the weapons of war. Selah.” (NASB) “1 ¶ «TO THE CHOIRMASTER: WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. A PSALM OF ASAPH. A SONG.» In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. 2 His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. 3 There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah” (ESV)
In 722 B. C. the Assyrians captured the northern tribes of Israel, which had been divided from Judah since Solomon’s son became king in Judah. The northern kingdom was very ungodly and in all of its history had never had a godly king. Their religious system did not follow the Law of God and so many godly people left the northern kingdom and came to Judah where they could worship the Lord in the way that the Lord had set up in His Law. We see in verse one that this is spoken of when we read that “In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel,” and then in verse two we see that God’s abode is in Jerusalem in the temple that Solomon had built.
It has always been the desire of God to have all people’s know Him, and Israel was chosen to make God’s name known to others around Israel. One of the ways that God was known by the peoples around Israel was through His mighty power and in 701 B.C. the Assyrian’s were ready to attack Jerusalem and they were bragging about their god’s and saying that Judah’s God was weak. The angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian’s in one night and later on their king was killed in the temple of his god by his sons.
Jesus said to the woman at the well that “Salvation is of the Jews.” The Bible was written by the Jews and Jesus Christ, the Son of God was born into the family of David who was surely Jewish. In order to truly know the God of the Universe one must accept His Son as their Saviour and Lord, the One who paid for the sins of the world while suffering and dying on the cross.
God Wants Us to Trust Him (vv. 4-6): “4 You are resplendent, More majestic than the mountains of prey. 5 The stouthearted were plundered, They sank into sleep; And none of the warriors could use his hands. 6 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep.” (NASB) “4 Glorious are you, more majestic than the mountains of prey. 5 The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; all the men of war were unable to use their hands. 6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse lay stunned.” (ESV)
God wants us to trust Him, and King Hezekiah, along with the prophet Isaiah, and the elders of Judah trusted that God would keep Jerusalem safe from the invading Assyrians. When you read the story in Isaiah’s account and the account in 2Kings you will find that Hezekiah was in a most difficult situation as the officers of the Assyrian army came and read a letter to the people of Jerusalem stating what they would do to them. In that letter they were blaspheming the God of Jacob and so when the letter was given to King Hezekiah he laid the letter down before the Lord and prayed to the Lord: “14 Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15 Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 "Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 17 "Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands 18 and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. 19 "Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God." (2Kings 19:14-19)
When I was a new believer in the Lord I went to our church one day for something, I don’t remember exactly what it was, but while there we happened to come into the office of our Pastor who was laying sheets of paper on the floor of his office. I have always thought that he was doing like Hezekiah did in laying his prayer requests out before the Lord.
We see in the account of Hezekiah that he put his faith in the living God in this very hard situation and God answered His prayers and saved Jerusalem. I think of the three men in the book of Daniel who told the king of Babylon who was about to put them into a fiery furnace to kill them because they would not worship him, and they told him that their God was able to save them from the furnace, but if He chose not to do so He was still God. He chose to save them from the furnace.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I had to trust God in order to know Him, for when I was an enemy of God far from Him, He saved me and I became His child. I know that there will be difficult times for me in which I must continue to trust the Lord whom I now know and by trusting Him it will bring honor and glory to Him.
Hezekiah had a remarkable faith and I desire to have such a faith as that, trusting the Lord in difficult situations.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord and as I trust the Lord He will continue to teach me contentment.
4/19/2012 9:16:21 AM
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
A Loving concern for God's Sheep Pt-2 (1Peter 5:2-3)
SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
4/18/2012 11:08:27 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Take the oversight
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 1Peter 5:2
Message of the verse: “2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; (NASB) “2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; (ESV)”
I will be looking at the second sub-point under the main point “A Loving Concern for God’s Sheep (1Peter 5:2-3) in today’s SD. After working mostly in the OT and taking as much as a paragraph to a chapter in one SD it is a bit different going back to the NT and taking a verse or a part of a verse in one SD.
The pastors job in the church is different than others who are a part of the local church in that he is among them and also over them and this can be a problem if it is not understood by all of the sheep in the flock. Some of the sheep may look at the shepherd as just one of them, but he has been called to a leader over them, and some may want to put him on a pedestal and make him a “super saint.” We have to remember that the Lord Jesus is the head of the Church and in His great wisdom He has put the pastor (elder, bishop, or shepherd) over the local church. It is His design. Going back to when the Church began we see that the Lord Jesus Christ while on earth trained twelve men and chose them to be His apostles. Christ then died for the Church leaving these twelve men to carry on His new ministry, the Church. The Church was built upon the Lord and then the Apostles, and then we see that after local churches were started that these apostles would go into these local churches to appoint elders or pastors to lead over the church. It is God’s design to speak through these elders or pastors to convey His message to them so that they can grow up in the Lord and be able to go and tell others about the Lord and how they can be saved from their sins by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ into their lives. If one looks back at how the Lord started with the twelve men He chose then they might not believe that through these twelve men the Roman world was turned upside down. How can we explain this? It was the plan of God and we surely see His attribute of wisdom in all of this. I also see that it is a “God Thing” that caused all of this to happen, for when one looks at the true church today and how it functions, and who is being used to do the will of God one can only give glory to the Lord. If the church is running in the way that the Lord has designed it to run then it will bring glory to the Lord and part of the process is the Holy Spirit of God speaking to the Pastors that He has chosen to shepherd the local flocks by teaching and preaching and leading the flock.
Peter mentions sins that the shepherd can surely be tempted by and the first sin we will call laziness. Dr. Wiersbe points out that he knew a man who was a pastor who played golf most every day and then on Saturday he would listen to other pastor’s sermons and preach them to his flock on Sunday. He then adds “He seems to be getting away with it, but what will he say when he meets the Chief Shepherd?”
A Pastor has to have a pastor’s heart, and that means that he loves the sheep and serves them because he wants to, and not because he has to. A lazy shepherd does not have a pastor’s heart.
The next sin Peter mentions is covetousness and a Pastor must not serve the Lord to get rich, but again because he loves the sheep. This is one of the qualifications that Paul writes to Timothy about in explaining the qualifications of a Pastor in 1Timithoy 3:3. There are times when a pastor has to have a “Tent making” ministry like Paul had, but it is better when the flock can fully support the shepherd so that he has more time to fulfill his ministry among the sheep.
Dr. Wiersbe writes the following in explaining the words “ready mind.” “It is the same word that Paul used in Romans 1:15—‘I am so eager to preach the Gospel’ (NIV). It means a willingness to serve because of a readiness and an eagerness within the heart. This is the difference between a true shepherd and a hireling: a hireling works because he is paid for it, but a shepherd works because he love the sheep and has a heart devoted to them.” He then suggests reading Acts 20:17-38 to see this in action.
Be an example to the flock (v. 3): “3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.” (NASB) “3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” (ESV) “ 3 You should aim not at being dictators but examples of Christian living in the eyes of the flock committed to your charge.” (Phillips) “3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.” (NLT)
Whenever I read this passage I think of two different animals. I think of cattle and sheep and I remember watching many “cowboy” movies where there are cattle drives as part of the movie. The cowboys would have to get behind the cattle on their horses and drive them in order to make the get to where they wanted them to go. Sheep are different for they have to be led, led beside still waters because they will not drink fast rushing water for they are afraid of it. Sheep are not smart and on occasions they will follow the wrong sheep and get themselves into a lot of trouble that they can’t get out of. When sheep are about to be killed for their meat the place where this takes place will put a sheep in front of them and lead them to the place where they are to be killed. They call this sheep the “Judas” sheep. I suppose that there are a lot of these kind of “sheep” who are in the pulpits of churches around the world today leading their fellow sheep to an eternity in hell.
The shepherd is to be a good example to his flock and follow his good examples. I can think that a good shepherd will study the Word of God in order to have the Holy Spirit speak to his heart in order to equip the saints to do the work and will of the Lord and this is a good example to follow. Visiting the sick and lonely is something good shepherds do and set an example for others to follow. A good shepherd will tithe from his income showing a good example for others to follow.
I personally do not want to follow a Pastor who gives me the impression that I am to do what he says and not do what he does. I desire to follow a pastor who does the things that bring honor and glory to the Lord and so teaches me to do those things.
Lording it over the flock is like driving cattle and not leading sheep.
4/18/2012 12:23:22 PM
4/18/2012 11:08:27 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Take the oversight
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 1Peter 5:2
Message of the verse: “2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; (NASB) “2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; (ESV)”
I will be looking at the second sub-point under the main point “A Loving Concern for God’s Sheep (1Peter 5:2-3) in today’s SD. After working mostly in the OT and taking as much as a paragraph to a chapter in one SD it is a bit different going back to the NT and taking a verse or a part of a verse in one SD.
The pastors job in the church is different than others who are a part of the local church in that he is among them and also over them and this can be a problem if it is not understood by all of the sheep in the flock. Some of the sheep may look at the shepherd as just one of them, but he has been called to a leader over them, and some may want to put him on a pedestal and make him a “super saint.” We have to remember that the Lord Jesus is the head of the Church and in His great wisdom He has put the pastor (elder, bishop, or shepherd) over the local church. It is His design. Going back to when the Church began we see that the Lord Jesus Christ while on earth trained twelve men and chose them to be His apostles. Christ then died for the Church leaving these twelve men to carry on His new ministry, the Church. The Church was built upon the Lord and then the Apostles, and then we see that after local churches were started that these apostles would go into these local churches to appoint elders or pastors to lead over the church. It is God’s design to speak through these elders or pastors to convey His message to them so that they can grow up in the Lord and be able to go and tell others about the Lord and how they can be saved from their sins by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ into their lives. If one looks back at how the Lord started with the twelve men He chose then they might not believe that through these twelve men the Roman world was turned upside down. How can we explain this? It was the plan of God and we surely see His attribute of wisdom in all of this. I also see that it is a “God Thing” that caused all of this to happen, for when one looks at the true church today and how it functions, and who is being used to do the will of God one can only give glory to the Lord. If the church is running in the way that the Lord has designed it to run then it will bring glory to the Lord and part of the process is the Holy Spirit of God speaking to the Pastors that He has chosen to shepherd the local flocks by teaching and preaching and leading the flock.
Peter mentions sins that the shepherd can surely be tempted by and the first sin we will call laziness. Dr. Wiersbe points out that he knew a man who was a pastor who played golf most every day and then on Saturday he would listen to other pastor’s sermons and preach them to his flock on Sunday. He then adds “He seems to be getting away with it, but what will he say when he meets the Chief Shepherd?”
A Pastor has to have a pastor’s heart, and that means that he loves the sheep and serves them because he wants to, and not because he has to. A lazy shepherd does not have a pastor’s heart.
The next sin Peter mentions is covetousness and a Pastor must not serve the Lord to get rich, but again because he loves the sheep. This is one of the qualifications that Paul writes to Timothy about in explaining the qualifications of a Pastor in 1Timithoy 3:3. There are times when a pastor has to have a “Tent making” ministry like Paul had, but it is better when the flock can fully support the shepherd so that he has more time to fulfill his ministry among the sheep.
Dr. Wiersbe writes the following in explaining the words “ready mind.” “It is the same word that Paul used in Romans 1:15—‘I am so eager to preach the Gospel’ (NIV). It means a willingness to serve because of a readiness and an eagerness within the heart. This is the difference between a true shepherd and a hireling: a hireling works because he is paid for it, but a shepherd works because he love the sheep and has a heart devoted to them.” He then suggests reading Acts 20:17-38 to see this in action.
Be an example to the flock (v. 3): “3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.” (NASB) “3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” (ESV) “ 3 You should aim not at being dictators but examples of Christian living in the eyes of the flock committed to your charge.” (Phillips) “3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.” (NLT)
Whenever I read this passage I think of two different animals. I think of cattle and sheep and I remember watching many “cowboy” movies where there are cattle drives as part of the movie. The cowboys would have to get behind the cattle on their horses and drive them in order to make the get to where they wanted them to go. Sheep are different for they have to be led, led beside still waters because they will not drink fast rushing water for they are afraid of it. Sheep are not smart and on occasions they will follow the wrong sheep and get themselves into a lot of trouble that they can’t get out of. When sheep are about to be killed for their meat the place where this takes place will put a sheep in front of them and lead them to the place where they are to be killed. They call this sheep the “Judas” sheep. I suppose that there are a lot of these kind of “sheep” who are in the pulpits of churches around the world today leading their fellow sheep to an eternity in hell.
The shepherd is to be a good example to his flock and follow his good examples. I can think that a good shepherd will study the Word of God in order to have the Holy Spirit speak to his heart in order to equip the saints to do the work and will of the Lord and this is a good example to follow. Visiting the sick and lonely is something good shepherds do and set an example for others to follow. A good shepherd will tithe from his income showing a good example for others to follow.
I personally do not want to follow a Pastor who gives me the impression that I am to do what he says and not do what he does. I desire to follow a pastor who does the things that bring honor and glory to the Lord and so teaches me to do those things.
Lording it over the flock is like driving cattle and not leading sheep.
4/18/2012 12:23:22 PM
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