Ruth 1:15-22 - Ruth and Naomi

Ruth 1:15-22

But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people [shall] be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if [anything] but death parts you and me" (v. 16 and 17).

Message: Ruth and Naomi

Time: According to Jewish tradition, Samuel wrote the book of Ruth. The events of Ruth occurred sometime between 1160 BC and 1100 BC. This book stands as a ray of light, showing the power of the love between God and His faithful people, even during difficult times that were present. It is written from Naomi's point of view. Ruth is the gift God placed in Naomi's life. 

What the Lord is Saying: Naomi, after husband dies and her two sons as well die, after taken Moabite women as wives, decides to return to Judah. Where they have been is a famine. But she tells her two daughter-in-law that they should both return to their homeland rather than go with her. Orpah left, but Ruth clung to her mother-in-law. Ruth was determined and makes a statement that is now famous, "where you go, I will go." She commits to Naomi.

Naomi and Ruth come to Bethlehem. The city was stirred because of them (v. 19). Naomi says she should be called Mara (bitter) for the Lord has dealt with her (v. 20). 

Possibly, Naomi was a little bitter towards the Lord in disciplining her or afflicting her by taking the men in her life away. When she arrives in the city of Bethlehem, her home, the people are moved by her arrival. She is a prominent person it would seem and perhaps left the City with some level of anticipation and now she returns. The people are surprised probably, but whatever it is, they are moved by her return. Naomi though is feeling downcast. She is not returning in the way she would like and she takes on this complete picture of disappointment, all way to saying she should be called a different name. She is discouraged. And Ruth perhaps adds a little to the discouragement, for she returns not with a man, but another woman by her side. 

Summary: Naomi returns to Bethlehem, her home and Ruth clings to her stating where she goes, Ruth will go as well. Coming back home without men feels like being afflicted by God. 

Promise: Even in difficulty, we can recognize that God is doing something in our lives.

Prayer: Lord God, help to recognize everything in my life is you working. Give me strength today and help me to be focused on my day and what needs to be done. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 17-19 - Israel Becomes Sodom

Judges 17-19

All who saw it said, “Nothing like this has ever happened or been seen from the day when the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, take counsel and speak up!” (19:30)

Message: Israel Becomes Sodom

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: 

Judges 17 - Micah of Ephraim is on the scene with his mother with 1100 pieces of silver taken from her now back with him. Mother appreciates this. She dedicates the silver to the Lord but then has her son make a graven image. 200 pieces were taken for the image to be made by the silversmith. Micah made his son the priest with the idols. Note: no king at this time in Israel and "every man did what was right in his own eyes." Once again, people need a king to help them know what to do. A Levite from Judah came to stay with them. Micah promises 10 pieces of silver annually if he will stay. Micah believes with the Levite with him the Lord will prosper him. 

Judges 18 - The Danites, sons of Dan, are seeking an inheritance for themselves. They send out 5 men and came to Micah to lodge there. They recognize the Levite and question him. They ask the Levite if their way is to be prosperous by the Lord and he confirms this. They came to Laish and the Sidonians had no ruler. They believe this is the land to possess. So 600 men of war from Danites set out. They came to the house of Micah. The five men who were spies make a remark about the graven images being present. With the 600 men standing by they took the graven image from Micah. The priest is alarmed but goes with them as they say that is better to be with many rather than just one. But then those in the house of Micah overtook the sons of Dan. Micah and the men are bothered, wondering why the priest and the images have been taken from him. They arrive in Laish and burn the city, now calling the name of the city Dan. They set up the graven image. 

Judges 19 - once again, the chapter begins with a reminder that Israel has no king.  A Levite takes a concubine from Judah. Four months later, she leaves him. The Levite goes back to get the concubine. The father convinces him to stay another day as he is preparing to leave each morning. This goes on for six days and then he leaves. He and the concubine head to Jebus. But these are not Israelites so they go on to Gibran but no one took them in. They end up in a remote area of Ephraim. An older man offers to house them. But then some worthless fellows show up at the man’s house, and want to have sex with the Levite. The owner tries to dissuade these men from this wicked act. The concubine comes out, and the man raped her repeatedly. He tries to have the concubine go with him, but she does not move from lying at the threshold of the door. Ends up cutting her into 12 pieces And sending those pieces throughout the territory of Israel.

Kind of an unsettling set of chapters here. Idolatry is a common theme and also sodomy. All is done without a leader this stressing the importance of good leadership. But even the Levite does not conduct himself in an honoring way. Chapter 17 and 18 mention idolatry and yet people try to speak in a way that the Lord God approves by invoking his name. Overall I continue to see the impacts of allowing the Canaanites and the worlds ways to impact those called by God. We can clearly be impacted by the ways of the world if we are not careful. And we try to cover ourselves by invoking his name. 

I think we dance with danger but we can’t help but getting impacted by it. No matter who we are as even the Leviticus priest was callous. We must continue to surround ourselves with good people - good teaching - daily discipline in God’s word. God needs to be present in every part of our life. 

I am sitting in a doctors office patient room right now. On the wall is a vision statement of the practice and mission statement and 4 core values. The statements seem like common sense in a way. And yet they align everyone. Thus it seems important that they probably have this posted to remind themselves and their patients of these goals. They want to be accountable. This is who they are and want to be. 

In the same way I need to align myself with environment that extol my Christian beliefs. And I need daily reminders to stay on course. 

Summary: once again people did right in their own eyes , idolatry occurred as did sodomy and murder. 

Promise: be consistent with spiritual disciplines. 

Prayer: O Father - you provide me with so many different ways in which I can each day confirm in my life what is most important. Thank you for instilling in me a desire to get in the word and studying for understanding and application. Thank you for helping me be healthy and strong and taking care of myself. You have made me the way you have for a purpose and I have a responsibility to live at a high level in my life. In so many ways, my wife is easy. I see people experiencing challenges in their lives and struggles. I noticed in my life when things are hard and makes everything in life a little bit more difficult. I’m blessed and I thank you God for blessing me. Help me to not be so selfish as I know there’s a continual tendency in me train me to be more of a giving person and helping others.

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 16:1-22 - Samson Defeated

Judges 16:1-22

21 Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison. 22 However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it was shaved off.

Message: Samson Defeated

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: Verse 1 begins the continued weakness of Samson, after his nameless wife from Timnah is killed, as he travels to Gaza and upon arrival "saw a harlot there, and went in to her." It is 3,000 years ago and nothing has changed since then - harlots remain. 

The people of Gaza heard Samson was there and waited at the gate of the city to kill him. At midnight, he picked up the gates of the city and carried them up to the top of the mountain (v. 3). 

Then a curious story is told. He is found out to have an admiration for another harlot - Delilah. The plot toward him is set to discover the source of his strength. Delilah asks him and he tells her a tale. However, thinking it is the truth, she sets a trap for him only to find out that it does not hold him and he breaks through. This occurs 2 more times (v. 4 -14). The Philistines want him and they have corroborated with Delilah to discover this. 

Delilah asks again, but this time implores him by speaking of her love and how can love be present if there are lies. After being pressed, Samson is said to be annoyed or vexed. He is torn - love on the one hand, fear on the other. He lets his guard down though and gives in and she takes the information to use against him. Not sure where her loyalty resides. And yet Samson had the evidence over and over previously, that each time he shared with her non-truth, she attempted to use it against him. And yet, he does not learn and gives in to the grip that she has on him. He reveals to him the truth and she once again tells the Philistines - her payment is money. She is a harlot at heart who shows clearly her main ambition is money and acquiring it, at whatever cost that requires. Samson however has not a quest for money, his quest is lust. This is an interesting point I think in life - two of the biggest temptations or dangers of life here are mentioned: lust and money. These are two of the biggest inhibitors to quality of life for all people. 

The scripture states that without Samson's hair, "the Lord had departed from him." The Philistines seize Samson and throw him into prison and yet in verse 22, his hair begins to grow again. Good can be restored in a prison, just as Paul wrote many letters from prison. 

Summary: Samson continues to show his problem with lust, dealing with Delilah who has a quest for money. The Lord disciplines Samson as he ends up in prison. 

Promise: We must fight our sinful desires and not simply give into them. 

Prayer: O Lord God, you are merciful and good. Your ways are always right and true. You created me and understand my nature and my temptations. You are good and your precepts and commandments are what I need to live a life that is pleasing to you. Your word states, "You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed (Ps. 119:4)" and yet Lord our vices get in the way of this often as we surrender instead to them. Forgive me Lord for letting lust and the greed for more money take the place of your priorities and your precepts. Change my heart Lord. Help me to be more like you every day God. Thank you for this instruction and these verses today that remind me more and more of your right ways.  

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 6:1-32 - The Lord Calls Gideon

Judges 6:1-32

Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had spoken to him; and because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city to do it by day, he did it by night (verse 27). 

Message: The Lord Calls Gideon

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: Chapter 6 begins with familiar footing - verse 1 - "Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord." This seems to be the theme of this book. Back and forth. Evil. Discipline. Prayer. Restoration. When we sin or abandon the Lord, we receive punishment. The evil that is done is defined by the Lord. Verse 1 - "and the Lord gave them into the hands of Midian seven years." 

But it seems like there is this cycle of life - we live and trust God and then we go wayward - falling in line with the way of the world. Our hearts and our minds become far from God. And perhaps bad times come to our lives. Though we often don’t characterize these times as God judging us. Life does seem to be hard because that’s the way it is and then also hard though because of us doing evil. 

Verse 2 begins to describe what this discipline looked like to Israel. Israel had to hide in the mountains and caves because Midian was so cruel to them. Israel planted crops and Midian attacked them, destroying the crops and leaving them with nothing to eat. Eventually, the land was stripped bear. Israel was starving. Verse 6, "and the sons of Israel cried to the Lord." The Midianite people in stealing produce and taking livestock is partly the result of the oppression of Israel. 

We are like this. We get into the consequences of our actions, get disciplined and it begins to hurt us so much and at this low point we cry out to the Lord. "Please God - take this away." 

A nameless prophet is sent to Israel to speak to them on behalf of the Lord, telling them or reminding them of the works of God and how God had rescued them - "I who brought you up from Egypt and brought you out from the house of slavery." God did these things for us. God was faithful and delivered them (us). God directed them and told them what to do but they did not listen. It is important to God that his people underhand their wayward ways. We need to be convicted. God wants to get personal with us. 

The angel of the Lord visits Gideon and says in verse 12, "The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior." Gideon though doesn't understand for if God is with them then why have all of these bad things been happening to them. The hard times we experience could be God looking at all of us as a body rather than simple as individuals. In verse 14 the Lord says to Gideon, "deliver Israel from the hand of Midian." This will be the role of Gideon - to deliver the people. Again Gideon wonders and again the Lord says to him (verse 16), "Surely I will be with you." And Gideon asks for a sign of confirmation. 

I took a moment to study this idea of God speaking to the prophet and saying that He was with him. The prophet Isaiah foresaw the virgin birth of Messiah - stating Immanuel which means "God with us." Jesus is God with us. God had been with His people always—in the pillar of cloud above the tabernacle, in the voice of the prophets, in the ark of the covenant. Yes, prophets have been needed and they are a part of our history. But once Jesus came on the scene - God with us. God is with us. You and I have direct access to God. The writer of Hebrews said it, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son." Jesus is all we need now, but then we needed prophets to help us. 

Gideon asks for a sign from the angel of the Lord. He prepares a young goat, flour, and unleavened bread and brings it out to the angel of the Lord in a pot. He is told to lay them out on a rock, pouring broth over them. The angel put a staff out and fire sprung up and consumed the bread and meat. Gideon had received his confirmation. Yet even in this story we see the weakness of Gideon in not simply trusting the Lord. 

Verse 25 records direction from the Lord for Gideon to pull down the altar of Baal (sun god) and the nature goddess Asherah as these were important to his father and the entire community. Baal's altar must be overthrown before God's altar can be built. He does this by taking his father's bull and then another bull that is 7 years old and throwing it down upon the altar. He seemed to be exercising the sin of his father and the people. Following taking these down he built an altar to the Lord. But Gideon does it at night rather than be seen by all during the day. He is obedient but he will define how he will be obedient. The next day thought the men of the city arose and saw what had been done and upon inquiry discovered it was Gideon. The men want Gideon's father Joash to deliver Gideon over to them, but Joash somewhat refuses and saved his sons life in the process. Rather than the men killing him, the father states that Baal has the power to do it.  And his father names Gideon, "Jerubbaal" which means that he will contend with Baal. 

Judges is recording the trust that people place in other gods. Again, there is a difference among people - those that are saved and those that are not saved. There is clearly an opposition in the world of the things of God. We should not be surprised. What we can find comfort in is that God will care for us and always rescue us and always provide a way out of these non-Godly situations. 

Summary: The people are recorded once again as doing evil in the sight of God. God disciplines then and then provides Gideon to correct them though Gideon is stubborn in His trust of God. 

Promise. Let us continually guard against being feared by man. 

Prayer. God you are God and Lord. You are holy and my creator. You are faithful and my provider. You are persistent in caring for me and you continue to correct me so that I will fear you. I am a sinner. Thank you for these lessons and helping me see the condition of man that does not change despite different environments. Thank you for providing all that you have to help me be obedient but still I must act. Still I must trust You Lord. Thank you for giving me rest continually. And providing so many good opportunities for that. But help me to live in a manner that honors You continually. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 - The Mandate to Work

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 - 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.

Message: The Mandate to Work

Time: Paul visited Thessalonica to help start the church and then returned to Corinth to write these two letters around AD 51. He was concerned the church was being misguided so he thought to assure them of the authenticity of his letters and also to encourage them about end times in order to help establish them further in their work here on earth. 

What the Lord is Saying: The previous lesson to this one, which I did back on May 9 spoke to the idea that in working we serve others. We work so that we can serve others and give to others. I think this is an important lesson and in today's passage it is further clarified. 

I have struggled at times with those in our country that are not working and yet I do not think that means a person must always garner a paycheck in order to be seen as working. For instance, a mother staying home to raise children is working. Whether the children are homeschooled or not, children are at an age where they need guidance and nurturing and oversight and training. I am thankful for my mom that always at home while I grew up, interacting with us, preparing meals, preparing us as we returned home, helping us learn to make good decisions. It was important for her to give to ministries as well and I know my dad was willing to share his earnings with her in helping her to give to others. 

Other people retire but they still look for opportunities to serve through volunteer work. And I am impressed always of the number of people with disabilities that are continuing to work. In my work the vending machines are supported by the Commission for the Blind and we have certain city purchases that first must be looked to be provided by companies for disabled people. I like this and this encouragement that despite life challenges for mobility and reasoning that people can and are still working. I have a friend that has not worked for 15 years and it is hard for me to see this in him. He is quite defensive about his inability to work and at times he has volunteered, and at times served his parents like a parent would have served a child, but often I wonder if his daily activities are too involved in time passing by. I suppose I am thankful that up to this point I have not had to experience these challenges. So it is easy for me to be critical of others when I am not walking in their shoes. 

This passage also has application to me at my work and that I am not idle with my time and that I am a person that is busy while I work. I definitely have seen the struggle in my job to not work hard and instead dabble in other things. Rather than spending time with people after work, we often spend time at work, not doing our jobs so that we can visit. It is normal practice and yet I am not sure it is the best option. 

We are to be a people that works. "For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies." Paul mentions the need for us to discipline ourselves in I Timothy 4:7, one of my favorite passages. It is a reminder that each day we need to train ourselves to work. \

I know there are people that are unable to work, people with severe disabilities. But I think we need to be careful we do not too quickly move people over to that identification. Paul is clear that if you are willing to work then you should not eat. Those are tough words and yet we all have a tendency for laziness and our society is training us more and more in distraction. Let us make sure in life that believers are the best workers. 

Summary: We have a mandate to work, if we are able, and not only work, but to it to the best of our ability, not lazy, but striving to be the best worker possible. 

Promise: We love our neighbors through our vocation and hope that our neighbors see us as hard working and diligent workers. If we are not working at this level, then we are not loving our neighbors. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for instilling in me a desire to work and do my best. I have been trained well and encouraged always to find the vocation that is the best fit for me. I thank you for my father's leadership in this with aptitude testing. And thank you for tough bosses, like Roger Minke who woke me up and helped me see that I am to do my best always in my work. Thank you Holy Spirit for instilling this in me. Give me discernment in others and how I might help them. I pray for those I am in contact with that are working hard, but are not seeing lasting provision, bring that provision to them. Help them. And show me how I can help others continually through your Word and through in other ways you lead me. Help me to not be lazy in helping others. 

Matthew 18:15-20 - The Discipline of the Church

Matthew 18:15-20

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Message: The Discipline of the Church

Time: Matthew, one of the 12 apostles, is credited with this book, despite the fact that he did not sign it. Dating it's writing is difficult, but most agree it to be AD 60-65 since it does not mention the destruction of the temple in AD 70. A Jew, he includes 50 direct citations and many other indirect citations from the Old Testament. 

What the Lord is Saying: 

Church discipline is a defining characteristic of the church - whether it is a part of sacraments or a separate distinction it signifies that a person is not allowed to be a part of the visible church fellowship and therefore is not to partake of the Lord's Supper. 

The reason church discipline is important is the church is commissioned to walk in holiness and be free of flagrant sin and false teaching. I Peter 1:13-25 includes - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. In addition - love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. The church is the obedient children and we are not to engage our lives in a manner that mirrors our behavior and actions of our life before Christ. Instead, we are to be holy and act holy in all of our conduct. The congregation of the church or the visible church is meant to be different from the world. Yesterday, in Sunday School we talked about characteristics found in Christians that are distinct from the people of the world like Joy and Happiness (something I've always struggled displaying), forgiveness, be encouraging, showing comfort, humility, peace. Admitting your sin is one I hold in high value for I am a person that makes mistakes often and there is no harm in stating you made a mistake. I think also honesty is important. Thus, in church discipline we need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart. 

To me church discipline comes about when you have someone in the Body that does not agree that a sin has been committed or is not willing to change from their behavior. 

In this passage today from Matthew 18, Jesus is explaining the practice of discipline or seeing sin in your brother and confronting it. Step 1 in the process - see the sin and tell your brother you have seen it. I can't say in my life I have much experience in this. I think I attempt to bring attention to people their sin when we share the gospel and ask them questions about the ten commandments, but in general it is quite hard these days to confront sin. Step 2 is to bring someone else. Step 3 is to bring it before the church. Step 4 is to treat the person like an outsider in the church. Basically, if someone is unwilling to see their sin then they have no business being in the church. Sounds simple, but the practice I think is more difficult. 

Our goal in all of this is restitution. We do not treat the person as evil. We also hope that forgiveness will follow. Disciplined sinners that turn from their sin are to be restored. 

2 Cor 2:5-11 -- Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Summary: In church discipline, we need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart.

Promise: The most important thing we can do to advance the church's purity is to pursue holiness ourselves so that we need not come under official church discipline. 

Prayer: God, you are gracious and good. In life, you tech me that in me I struggle being good. There are times when we waiver further from you and your ways and seek after things that do not give you glory. We are called to be in a Body of believers and yet even in this community we can waiver from you. Discipline is difficult. Correction is hard, but help us Father to always lean toward grace and forgiveness while also dealing with sin. The church is meant to be a light for all to see and so if there are those in our community that are not living holy lives, show us who they are and then I pray that we would have the courage to confront them and they would have the courage and recognition to then turn from their sin. Lord, help us be always a holy people. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May, Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. Administering Sacraments - Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism especially) need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered.

My Utmost for His Highest - December 10 - The Offering of the Natural

Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. GALATIANS 4:22

Paul is not dealing with sin in this chapter of Galatians, but with the relation of the natural to the spiritual. The natural must be turned into the spiritual by sacrifice, otherwise a tremendous divorce will be produced in the actual life. Why should God ordain the natural to be sacrificed? God did not. It is not God’s order, but His permissive will. God’s order was that the natural should be transformed into the spiritual by obedience; it is sin that made it necessary for the natural to be sacrificed.

Abraham had to offer up Ishmael before he offered up Isaac. Some of us are trying to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God before we have sacrificed the natural. The only way in which we can offer a spiritual sacrifice to God is by presenting our bodies a living sacrifice. Sanctification means more than deliverance from sin, it means the deliberate commitment of myself whom God has saved to God, and that I do not care what it costs.

If we do not sacrifice the natural to the spiritual, the natural life will mock at the life of the Son of God in us and produce a continual swither. This is always the result of an undisciplined spiritual nature. We go wrong because we stubbornly refuse to discipline ourselves, physically, morally or mentally. “I wasn’t disciplined when I was a child.” You must discipline yourself now. If you do not, you will ruin the whole of your personal life for God.

God is not with our natural life while we pamper it; but when we put it out in the desert and resolutely keep it under, then God will be with it; and He will open up wells and oases, and fulfill all His promises for the natural. From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

My Thoughts

• Looking again at natural life - that which we see as good - and transforming our life into doing those things are instead God's best. 
• Sacrifice the natural - this is discipline

2 Samuel 7:1-17 - The Kingly Covenant

2 Samuel 7:1-17
Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains.” 3 Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But in the same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,5 “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? 6 For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.7 Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’
8 “Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth. 10 I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly, 11 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you. 12 When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” 17 In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

Message: The Kingly or Davidic Covenant

Time: Although the book does not name a specific author, the material was compiled from documents written and collected by the prophets Nathan, Gad, and Samuel. Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC).2 Samuel chronicles the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the expansion of Israel under God’s chosen leader.

What the Lord is Saying:

As a read through this passage in 2 Samuel 7, I took time to look at words in this passage that speak of God providing. God makes the way or is our provider in our lives. He is active. He is working and the passage talks of Him taking over, being with us, making our name great, appointing a place for His people, giving judges over them, giving them rest, raising up descendants, establishing the throne of His kingdom, being a father, correcting him, establishing them always. Over and over I think it is noteworthy to see this type of language and be reminded of the activity of God in our lives. God provides all that we need.

This idea of God's provision I think is the essence of grace which I am currently studying and seeing first through the covenants that God has given us. Yes they often have a command from God, but first and foremost they address God's providence toward us. Grace is necessary because we have broken the law of God, transgressed, eaten from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, been removed from the garden, from the tree of life - and so this grace is needed by God. It is not that good works replaces transgression. Grace replaces transgression.

In this Davidic covenant is another example of God taking David, God providing for David, in making him king. 2 Samuel 7:8 says, Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. Samuel would anoint David to succeed Saul as Israel's King. The anointing is what we see, but the Lord was active in carrying this out. I need to be reminded in my life that accomplishment is provided by the Lord. A simple example of this is when a sports figure wins a championship or even a game or an artist wins an award, the first thing they do is thank God. They may not realize what they are doing, but I think in this achievement they are acknowledging that God is the provider, is the one that first gets the credit.

Do I even do this when someone tells me that I have done a good job? How often does this not even enter my mind. I need to thank God more for His hand of providence in granting me my heart's desire, in doing more than I need.

David is now known as a man after God's own heart and yet his heart was very often deceitful. God made him to be one that would be intimate with Him. Again, to God be the glory.

As the Lord explains further what He will do in David's life - I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, he also stops and in a crescendo says - but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him. God's covenant with David is permanent. His love toward David is permanent. He will be a father. He will correct him. His love will never depart from Him. This is such a significant statement. God's love for us is not based upon our doing. It is based upon His grace and mercy.

The Father disciplines us. The Lord says that David and his sons will receive correction. But the discipline from God is not aligned with God's love for us. So is this love the same as our salvation? It would seem that salvation is the recognition that God is the provider of all.

This providence of grace is clearly seen in the life of Jesus. Jesus was our visible representation of God on this earth and it is through Him and His life that we clearly see our sins wiped away. Yet, this message of providence is a continuous message throughout the Bible.

Promise: God provides for His people from beginning to end, from the days of David to Christ to today.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for this scripture and showing me so clearly the message of Grace that is central throughout the entire Bible. Thank you for this clear message that explains Your hand of providence in the life of David. I need this message and I pray that people would recognize the truth of Your ways, that you save us by Your grace and we never are meant to save ourselves. You cleanse sin. We acknowledge we are sinners and then You make us righteous. Thank you Lord.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with the April devotional being about salvation by grace alone and how the Lord never fails to save the one whom He has purposed to save.

Genesis 2:15 - Taking Care of Home

Genesis 2:15
Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.
Message: Taking Care of Home

Time: Genesis is the first book and Moses is credited as authoring. The book spans 2400 years of time. It was originally written in Hebrew.

What the Lord is Saying: While the Lord own all and owns all of our resources, from the beginning, even before the Fall, Adam was placed in charge of the garden and tasked to cultivate it and keep it. 

As I read through different translations of this verse, the 1st part -- The Lord took the man and put him into the garden of Eden -- remains fairly unchanged from translation to translation. It is interesting because God didn't direct man and lead him to the garden but he took him and put him. This isn't a suggestion, but a mandate by God of man's purpose. This was to be his permanent home, dwelling place.

After placing Adam in it, he is tasked to dress it, work it, or cultivate it. The land was indeed paradise. Remember, there is no Fall at this point, but still the land needs tilled and sowed. Also, in the process he is told to keep it, take care of it, watch over it, guard it, and/or maintain it. Thus, it was possible for it to ruin. Thus, an unproductive harvest does not constitute sin. And there are animals that could hurt or destroy it. Despite sin not being present, it is possible the adversary was present. Adam is tasked to guard the land given him.

As such, I need to protect that which God has given me and count it as a gift what I have. I am to care for my home and keep it safe from intruders. There is a responsibility in having a home and possessing God's gifts. I am to care for these things.

Promise: Thus, we are responsible to use His resources to provide for our families, and we are to protect and increase what the Lord has given to us. God will hold us accountable for what we do with His creation.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your providence and providing what you have for me. Help me and remind me that it is yours and I am your servant caring for it. Keep me grateful and keep me diligent to care for it. Thank you for helping me to do this and providing me the means to care for it and those near me.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 - Working While We Can

Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

Message: Working While We Can

Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C

What the Lord is Saying: The previous verse spoke of the need to enjoy life, specifically, with your wife. What follows here is the admonition to work and work with all of your might. The pronouncement upon life is clear -- enjoy time with your wife and those that are your family, but work, and do it with all of your might. But, I need to remember, this doesn't mean that work is to take over my life. Yes, I need to work hard, but in this day and age that I live in, 40 hours a week is what is expected of me and what I need to do is make sure that in those 40 hours I am working to the best of my ability. Thus, do not goof off in those hours; do not surf the internet or spend excessive time visiting, but my time at work is to be about working.

From Tabletalk, September 11, 2015

Remember, when we die our work ceases. We are no longer able to accomplish things for God's kingdom--at least in the same manner that we could before we died. 

Promise: I need to take advantage of today and "such a time as this." There will never be a time like now.

Psalm 118:17-29 - The Cornerstone

Psalm 118:17-29
¹⁷ I will not die, but live, and tell of the works of the Lord.
¹⁸ The Lord has disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death.

¹⁹ Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the Lord.
²⁰ This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous will enter through it.
²¹ I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation.

²² The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.
²³ This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
²⁵ O Lord, do save, we beseech You; O Lord, we beseech You, do send prosperity!
²⁶ Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord; We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
²⁷ The Lord is God, and He has given us light; Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
²⁸ You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, I extol You.
²⁹ Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Message: The Cornerstone

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

Feeling the opposition of others
Taking a moment to go back and think about this chapter 118 and what it means to me. What I see is the psalmist walking through a stressful situation in life. But it isn't just a hard day, but feeling opposition. He is in distress (v. 5), feeling oppressed by man (v. 6), feeling the hate of man (v. 7), being surrounded (v. 10), being surrounded like a swarm of bees (v. 11), being pushed in order to fall (v. 12), and feeling like he is going to die (v. 17). This isn't simply a trial, but a feeling of being attacked. He is feeling oppressed, hated, surrounded, pushed, and near death.

No Matter What - I thank God
As he experiences this opposition, his response to those situations is to lean on God. The first thing the psalmist does is give thanks (v. 1) and speak of God's lovingkindness (v. 1-4). It is not that he is thanking God necessarily for the opposition or bad situation he is in, but his life perspective remains in thanking God. He continues to exercise thanks to God and his lovingkindness. The events of his life have not changed his thankfulness of God.

The Lord is for me 
At the first moment of him being in distress and feeling oppressed and hated, he calls upon the name of the Lord. He is reminded that God is there. He is reminded that God is for him. I need to know that though I am feeling alone, I am not. I am reminded of our recent trip to Block Island, off the coast of Rhode Island. My wife and I were riding bikes and we turned a corner and came upon a lake and a view of this large place with rolling hills, on this beautiful spring day. In my distresses and feeling oppressed, I get small and narrow. At times, I can't see but the closeness and immediacy of the trial. But, here, the psalmist says, "The Lord Answered me and set me in a large place (v. 5)." The Lord opened my eyes to show me that the I felt isolated, I am not alone and he is there, centered on me, and there is peace as it takes me to this large expanse and I can know there is more than this problem. The Lord is for me, my refuge is in Him, therefore my enemies are not big, but small.

The Lord is Victory over the Opposition
God is not just there, but God has given me victory over the opposition. In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off. I need to know that these forces, at times spiritual, Satan and his dominion will be defeated and cut from my life. In verses 10-12, it is repeated three times, "In the name of the Lord, I will surely cut them off." The Psalmist reminds me that victory is something God gives me and I get to carry it out.

The Lord Helps Me
The Psalmist begins with thanks, is reminded that Lord is for me, and then sees that victory can be had, and now sees that the Lord is my helper (v.13), my strength and song (v. 14), and my salvation (v. 14). I experience joyful shouting, like a crowd of people, cheering my victory. He is omnipotent or has all power. In verses 15-16, it says that the "Right hand of the Lord" which refers to God's omnipotent or all powerful way does valiantly and is exalted. To be valiant is to be boldly courageous.

I was reading this sermon online by Charles Spurgeon from 1872 - http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols58-60/chs3361.pdf

• At the red sea, God there overthrew the host of his enemies, by dividing the sea and Egypt swallowed up and the foes of Israel were swept away. 
• When the people of Israel, untrained for war, marched in the land of the Canaanites, they found that their enemies had chariots of iron, entrenched in their cities -- but the Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites could not stand against the 12 tribes of Israel
• David smote the Philistines hip and thigh with great slaughter
• the hosts of Sennacherib lay like the sere leaves of autumn when the breath of the archangel had blasted them

The right hand of the Lord does valiantly is repeated in verse 16. O how I need that reminder daily of the work God has done for His people, for His glory. The Lord helps me. He is there, against all odds, despite the way my circumstances may seem, the Lord is on my side. Help me O God to not forget this. Don't allow the world to squash you out and me forget the work you have done. Difficulties will arise, but I can know that you are there, to rescue.

Transition
I suppose the above is a different look of those first 16 verses of Psalm 118 and now we transition to the rest of this text.

Over and over this passage is about giving God thanks. There are tough times of oppression and feeling attacked from all sides in this passage, but the Lord still works valiantly in our lives. When we are rescued, God gets the praise. God gets the thanks. Lord, this is a chapter I need in my life. I need to give you thanks more for each day. You give me gifts and us gifts. There is too much of a feeling that man is the active agent and he bears good works. God is on the throne. God is to be praised. Turn me away from having a critical eye and help me to continually place my faith in you.

The Lord Disciplines
The reality is that hard times we have could be the result of God disciplining us. The passage speaks earlier of being in distress (v. 5) and surrounded (v. 10). While my attitude is one of thanks and dependence on God, I can't forget that God could be disciplining me and unhappy with me. I am too quick to think that I must just get out of this mess and figure out a plan. I do not look inward and ask myself, "Lord, is this happening for a reason? Is there something in my life that you want to correct or deal with? Or Lord, possibly it isn't even me. You could be dealing with the sin of society in which I am a member of or even the sin of this entire world. The reality Lord is you deal with sin." 

In verse 17 is the reminder that I am to recount the deeds of the Lord. He works and he works in people's lives and in my life and I am to voice this from the mountaintop. In verse 18, the Lord does discipline me, but not to the point of death. I am still here and still able to speak of him. Lord, make my words more eloquent in speaking of You.

Walk though the gates of righteousness
In response to discipline and perhaps sin, put me on the path of righteousness. Jesus, you are my righteousness. You are the perfecter of my faith. You are my redeemer and you are to live through me. Put me on the path of righteousness. As I live and walk in righteousness, again, I give thanks to the Lord (v. 19).

Answered me
I call upon the Lord and he answers me and I thank him for answering: verse 21, I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. What others reject, like Jesus and the Messiah, becomes the foundation or the cornerstone of my life. This it the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes....be glad in it (v. 22-24).

My confidence in me
Even in the reading of this text is my thinking that I give thanks because of what he is doing in my life. I need to be reminded that I give thanks because he is good. Who saves us? The Lord (v. 25). The Lord shines his light on me. You are my God, and I will give thanks to you (v. 28). Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever (v. 29). In conclusion, God is great. He is good. His love endures. 

Conclusion
I am realizing more and more that too much of my life is focused on me, my needs, my family needs, but my focus over and over should be on God and simply giving thanks for him being great. Lord, you are good. Your love endures forever. 


Promise: Ultimately, I deserve separation from God because of the sin in me, but he has rescued me nevertheless, but this doesn't mean that judgment still may not occur in my life or in life, in general. My Maker disciplines me, turns me from sin, and fights against my trials for me. You are my cornerstone Lord, my foundation.

Jesus Calling: November 3

Every time something thwarts your plans or desires, use that as a reminder to communicate with Me. This practice has several benefits. The first is obvious: Talking with Me blesses you and strengthens our relationship. Another benefit is that disappointments, instead of dragging you down, are transformed into opportunities for good. This transformation removes the sting from difficult circumstances, making it possible to be joyful in the midst of adversity.
     Begin by practicing this discipline in all the little disappointments of daily life. It is often these minor setbacks that draw you away from My Presence. When you reframe setbacks as opportunities, you find that you gain much more than you have lost. It is only after much training that you can accept major losses in this positive way. But it is possible to attain the perspective of the apostle Paul, who wrote: Compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, I consider everything I once treasured to be as insignificant as rubbish. 

Colossians 4:2
English Standard Version
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Philippians 3:7-8
English Standard Version
⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

My Prayer
Lord, I want to be a person that talks to people, talks to you, to people, to you - back and forth. I want my talk to you to just naturally outflow of me throughout my day, constantly consulting you, sharing with you; I don't want to get too caught up in the moment so that I can be joyful in the midst of adversity. Lord, I want to train myself daily to be Godly and respond to situations in a manner that will always glorify You. 

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Proverbs 20:30 - Discipline's Cleansing Rod

Proverbs 20:30
Stripes that wound scour away evil, and strokes reach the innermost parts.

Message: Discipline's Cleansing Rod

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Oh, the cleansing rod. This is a tough one as we learn that physical discipline is an act of love. There are lessons, as TableTalk says, that very young children will not learn without a spanking. The rod was something introduced in the Growing Kids God's Way curriculum we went through. We adopted it but probably used it too often out of exasperation rather than proper loving discipline. I think over the years it was a bad thing. I think it is one of the reasons Megan is in the condition she is today. She hasn't discovered this yet, but she has always really struggled with being corrected. She had a defensive mechanism that is stronger than others. Tyson and Derek dealt with it. Derek eventually threw the device we used away as we were told to not use our hand, so we nicknamed it the TLC, but we rarely prayed with the kids and Megan always wanted to make sure things were okay afterwards. I just don't think we did a good job recognizing Megan's plight and situation as her disobedience was at a stronger level. We know it now, but back then I was too caught up in correcting foolish behavior and yet for her it was more of her makeup of wanting to do what she thought was best. And now Derek is displaying himself in the same way. He wants to be in charge. He has this makeup about him that he wants to make the decision for his life. He's just been a more quiet strong willed kid. He at least talks to us, but he is getting to be more mischievous. So, this verse has history with me and us.

The message from TableTalk again says that physical discipline, though outward, hopefully effects inward change. That is what we are after here and yet our kids so far have not displayed this. Tyson bugs me by continually getting TV shows through illegal means because he thinks its okay because we don't have cable and his entertainment will not be compromised. It's this generation. We've tried to talk about it and that Challies book study we tried to do with T/Jordan one time was this desire, but he don't care for now. He knows its wrong, but he justifies the behavior and in this world of instant gratification with Youtube and the like, it is hard to discern what is right and wrong regarding viewing shows or listening to music. What is stealing, really?

As TableTalk says, physical punishment is no guarantee that the heart will be changed. Yes, from that standpoint, not sure what we didn't do right.

The bottom line is, with this passage, we need to be careful and look at what physical pain is teaching us. As we age and have ailments or tough situations, physical pain can occur more often. Maybe it is teaching us something. Like, is my hurt left foot pain teaching me something?

Promise: The rod can drive out the foolishness which is bound up in the heart. Look at the pain and see if there is a lesson there for inward change.

Promise:

Job 5:17-27 - Understanding God's Discipline

^{Job 5:17-27
17} “Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves,
So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
¹⁸ “For He inflicts pain, and gives relief;
He wounds, and His hands also heal.
¹⁹ “From six troubles He will deliver you,
Even in seven evil will not touch you.
²⁰ “In famine He will redeem you from death,
And in war from the power of the sword.
²¹ “You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.
²² “You will laugh at violence and famine,
And you will not be afraid of wild beasts.
²³ “For you will be in league with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
²⁴ “You will know that your tent is secure,
For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.
²⁵ “You will know also that your descendants will be many,
And your offspring as the grass of the earth.
²⁶ “You will come to the grave in full vigor,
Like the stacking of grain in its season.
²⁷ “Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is.
Hear it, and know for yourself.”

Message: Understanding God's Discipline

Time: The time of Job is unclear and commonly debated. Often the language of the book can give clues. It seems to be that Job had a lifespan of close to 200 years as Job 42:16 says he lived 140 years after the events in the book.

What the Lord is Saying:

From the Bible, wisdom involves knowing truth and then rightly applying that knowledge (from TableTalk). And truth is key here as a word for it also means that what you are seeking to know is the truth. There are many religions in this world that have their origin not on truth and not on truth from the Bible. And for those people what is often a tragedy is their application, albeit good has a non-truth origin. This has been one of the key tragedies of life. People spend much of life in application mode but rooted in the wrong place. 

But, back to the idea from TableTalk, once you know truth, one must rightly apply the truth in life. To me, it also interesting how many people side with the truth of the Bible and will quote verses and yet apply them in situations that are outside the context of the verse. But there isn't always necessarily a 1:1 ratio in regards to truth. The same truth may be applied differently, depending on the situation.

In the passage today, Job is on the aftermath of experiencing heartbreak, having lost his possessions and the people in his life and even his own health and dignity. He still praises God and still believes that God is over him, but he also begins to wonder why he was even born. God will be God no matter what. 

Job's friends enter and we start off with Eliphaz. In chapter 4, Eliphaz presented the idea that bad outcomes are because of good sowing. Life may have this appearance at times, but it is not always the case. In fact, I think many people see the complete injustice of there being a God with they see bad outcomes from good people, thinking that God is only allowed to be the God we want or think he should be. 

Here in chapter 5 is another instance of misapplication.

Verse 17 and 18 speak the truth that the Lord's discipline is something we can accept. Discipline reminds us we are God's children.

Now, just a note here, the issue with Job was he was being disciplined despite the presentation that he hadn't done anything wrong, per se, to have that discipline. I don't think any of us struggle with being disciplined when it is direct result of sin; the issue here is discipline that doesn't have to do with sin.

The word here in verse 17 is “correcteth” (יכח yâkach ) meaning to argue, convince, reprove, punish, and to judge. Does God sometimes ordain pain in our lives? Does God discipline people or correct them, not because they have done something wrong, but just because? I believe he does. Jesus was scourged for our sins and yet he did nothing wrong. Some people in life get a lot of good things just because.

God shows his love for us in that while we are sinners he dies for us. God overwhelms us with good despite the fact that we have been bad. We freely accept this, but not the reverse, receiving bad when we haven't done anything to merit it.

Promise: When the Lord disciplines us, it could be the result of sin, but it may be also to show us that he is sufficient. 

Psalm 119:73-80 - God's Word, Affliction, and Glory

Psalm 119:73-80
Your hands made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. May those who fear You see me and be glad, because I wait for Your word. I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. O may Your lovingkindness comfort me, according to Your word to Your servant. May Your compassion come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight. May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie; but I shall meditate on Your precepts. May those who fear You turn to me, even those who know Your testimonies. May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, so that I will not be ashamed.

Message: God's Word, Affliction, and Glory

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:
So after several stanza's on the need and love for God's word, the Psalmist takes a moment to mention that there was a time in his life when God was not on the throne and he turned away in his affliction. And in these verses he continues a little with those thoughts.

The first verse of each of these stanza's I notice end up being sort of a theme for the section. This is an acrostic psalm, a prayer, and each of the 22 stanza's begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Lord, your hands made me and fashioned me

There is maybe a new thought here, but I also look back and the preceding verses where he says, "It is good for me that I was afflicted that I may learn Thy statutes. The law of Thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver." God's law is of the highest value in my life. It is in my afflictions that I get to know this law better, that I get to know God better. Lord, I do hope this is what comes of difficult times, more devotion to You and Your laws.

Give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments
As my maker and my creator, my understanding is dependent on Him. Lord, I yield to You and ask that You teach me. I desire to be obedient to Your commandments and to learn them, but I need Your understanding. Give my children and wife understanding, that they may learn Thy commandments. Give the people that I speak to online and the people at church; help us be a people that are following You all of our days.

May those who fear Thee see me and be glad because I wait for Thy word
I desire to be friends to those that serve and honor You. The Christian desires to be around other good Christians. People don't want to be like evil, but want to be around those that are good. Lord, keep me in the path of the saints and keep my children and wife in those paths. I pray their highest desire and goal would be to be around other strong in faith people.

I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous
Lord, afflictions are right; they are indeed the highest form of being right; they are righteous. The goal of each person it to be seen right in the presence of God. Jesus, in dying for us, transfers his righteousness to us by faith. It is here I think about God's dealings with me in times of affliction. It is a good thing. It's funny we see these people and do not want to be like them and yet they appear to be the strongest people around, such as Joni Eareckson Tada or Nick Vujicic. It is amazing to hear them talk about the ministry they have. O Lord, I want to run from the darkness, but not from hard times. Show me what it is to be close to You in hard times.

And that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me
What an amazing thought -- that in God's faithfulness to me he has afflicted me. It was in my best interest. The affliction is not done in malice or by chance; it was because God saw a good reason why it must be done. It needed to be done. Again, I do not think this way, but affliction is a sign of God's faithfulness.

O may Thy lovingkindness comfort me, according to Thy word to Thy servant
It is through the mercy of God that I am comforted. God will comfort me. Everything else in life is a placebo that provides momentary comfort, but true comfort comes from God. It is through God's mercy that I have any happiness. God and His word brings me peace. Give me comfort God according to Your lovingkindness.

May Thy compassion come to me that I may live
It is the Lord's tender mercies that I need...to live. What a great promise that is found here in God's words. Lord let me experience thy mercy and favor.

For Thy law is my delight
I will find my happiness in obedience to Your words. God, protect me in times of trouble. You are able. You are completely everything to me.

May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie; but I shall meditate on Thy precepts
Light and darkness do not work together. It really should not be a big surprise when the lawless, arrogant, wicked ones treat God's children with contempt and lies. There is no reason that people should be mean and wicked, but they are. They do not like the light. The evil one does not want to change his ways so he will not be kind to the righteous.

May those who fear Thee turn to me, even those who know Thy testimonies
I need friends that are God's children. There may be those that are arrogant and wicked and living in darkness that do not desire my companionship, but O God, keep Your children near to me and in my sight. Keep me close to those that are near to You.

May my heart be blameless in Thy statutes, that I may not be ashamed
Lord, I pray that there is no defect in me, no imperfection in regard to Thy Laws and commandments; keep me close to them, guided by them because I do not want to be ashamed. Paul said he was not ashamed of the gospel meaning he had no reason to deny its power and his love for it as he speaks to others and so may my obedience to your statutes be in a way that I am not ashamed at how I live or am living.

Promise: Affliction sometimes is the result of evil people, not ourselves being evil.

Psalm 119:65-72 - The Word of God and Affliction

Psalm 119:65-72
You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word. Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes. The arrogant have forged a lie against me; with all my heart I will observe Your precepts. Their heart is covered with fat, but I delight in Your law. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Message: The Word of God and Affliction

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

In my reading of Psalm 119 thus far, I have looked at:

• The Blessedness of Keeping God's Law (v. 1-8)
• God's Word in the Heart (v. 9-16)
• A Longing for God's Word (v. 17-24)
• The Power and Desire to Obey (v. 25-32)
• A Heart Inclined to God's Law (v. 33-40)
• Saved to Testify (41-48)
• The Word of God in times of trouble (v. 49-56)
• Not Forgetting God's Law (v. 57-64) 

In just reviewing those passages, it is interesting the emphasis thus far by the author of this Psalm. I guess it is interesting in light of today's passage. The writer has been pressing forward that God's Law and it's keeping, its place in our heart, our desire for it, our longing, our desire to follow it and obey, being inclined to it, testify of it, it is there for us in times of trouble and we do not forget it. It is what we need. And today we see that God's word in his heart has not always been this way.

I just think about the author and what he penned. He is thrilled with God's Word and has seen there is nothing like it. It is everything to him, but he also wants to convey that life has not always been this way for him. He is real; he is human; he has made mistakes - "I was afflicted and I went astray." Sometimes pain sends us away from God. I need to always have empathy for others and the way they are reacting to god in the midst of trials. Our responses are not always wonderful and faith and trust based. Sometimes those responses are turning from God. But, what a great testimony that this person who just spent 64 verses speaking of the greatness of God's word was at another time at a low point.

He sees that afflictions were for our best. It is what we needed in our lives. He recognizes this now; he didn't recognize this before. Being afflicted gave him the instruction he needed to learn the statutes and laws of God.

Promise: Sometimes we do not understand the sweetness of the Law of the Lord. God disciplines whom He loves, and if we endure affliction at His loving hand, we are conformed more and more to the image of Christ.

Proverbs 3:11-12 - The Discipline of the Lord

Proverbs 3:11-12

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.

Message: The Discipline of the Lord

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

It is good to be corrected. This needs to be like a mantra in my life because correction is not seen as a good thing often in life. In school, students get graded and in a way, that is showing us where correction is needed, but sometimes the correction isn't requested. There is a difference between learning a subject and getting corrected on what you have learned and living your life and being corrected on your own decisions.

I also notice that in life we tend to only allow correction if the reason for the correction is clear and explained to us. But, do we really need to always have a clear reason? If God correct me, then I can trust that He knows why I need to be corrected. It is often through correction that enables me to have knowledge. It is funny because I think my children, at times, instinctively believe that they know what they are to do based upon experience; that learning and growth comes through repetitive behavior. But, it is through correction that they improve. I wonder if they see this. Why does a child kick or have a temper tantrum? Because the child doesn't want to be corrected and wants to have their own way.

I have a friend that recently experienced cancer. It was a surprise and it was intense. He began to describe that cancer as God disciplining him. It wasn't that he necessarily thought there was something specific in his life that he had done wrong, but he viewed the cancer as discipline from the Lord. One of my children is experiencing something in his life that has caused me to wake up and re-evaluate how I father. I am being disciplined by the Lord. The trials that I experience in life are often there to awaken me, thus discipline me, for what I should be doing differently; not always, but sometimes. I think this is one of the reasons James tells us to "consider it joy when you encounter various trials."

There is a significant phrase in this passage. Verse 12 states, "in whom he delights." The father corrects his son for a reason and that is because his son is his delight. He wants the best for his son and so he sees often things that need to be corrected. And often the son will not understand, but the correction still needs to take place.

Promise: Do not be surprised by discipline or correction. Pray that you would learn what needs corrected. God loves me and corrects me as see fit in order to make me mature in Christ.