Ruth 4:13-22 - A Story of Hesed

Ruth 4:13-22

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he had relations with her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son...they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. (v.13, 17)

Message: A Story of Hesed

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: Well, Boaz now marries Ruth. "He went into her." She gave birth to a son as "the Lord enabled her." The women of Bethlehem or the area let Naomi know God has provided a redeemer. They call her "Blessed." God has provided. This is a blessing of the Lord - God's provision. Reminds me in the moment of what God has blessed me with and provided me. My wife Pamela, my children - Tyson, Megan, Derek. These are God's gifts. He provides these gifts and I need to be more appreciative - every day. Forgive me Lord. 

The women go on in verse 15 to continuing words of encouragement. These are good women and say things that need to be said and say things that God has done. He is "a restorer of life." Despite all that Naomi lost and Ruth lost by losing the men of their life, God brought her home and he has restored her life. He has been "a sustainer of your old age." Again, God supports and nourishes her and provides what she needs. "Your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons." Sons are more important than daughters always. This is how the name is carried on. And yet they exclaim that Ruth is better than 7 sons. Seven even being a number in the Bible that is often showing completeness or perfection. But, no, Ruth is better. 

Then the women name Ruth's son - Obed (v. 17). 

And then a history lesson is given: generations of Perez: Perez - Hezron - Ram - Amminadab - Nahshon - Salmon - Boaz - Obed - Jesse - David. 

Naturally, all culminates with David. 

Hesed is kindness, but it goes beyond mere kindness to a covenantal kindness. It is unwavering commitment and refers often to God's unchanging love for Israel and for David. Ruth showed this type of commitment to Naomi by staying with her, even after her husband died. Boaz showed this type of care and kindness by caring about Elimelech and his family name, above his own. These individuals showed a loyal love to one another, an unwavering commitment that culminates in the royal line of David. 

Summary: Boaz marries Ruth and they give birth to Obed. The women of Bethlehem speak blessings on Naomi. 

Promise: God has shown us unwavering covenant loyalty and love—hesed—and we are to show the same in return to Him and to His people.

Prayer: Oh Father, you are eternally blessing me and showing your favor on my life. You have provided for me and sustained me. You have an amazing commitment to me and I praise you. Thank you for these words and the blessing they are to me. Give me strength each day. Help me to love others and be committed to them as you have blessed me. 

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

Ruth 4:1-12 - Boaz Redeems Elimelech’s Line

Ruth 4:1-12

Furthermore, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be eliminated from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.

Message: Boaz Redeems Elimelech’s Line

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: I left off the last chapter with Ruth placing Boaz into a precarious position in which he was being asked to redeem Ruth and her family by carrying on her deceased father-in-law‘s name and heritage (the family name Ruth married into when marrying Mahlon, son of Elimelech. Boaz was an honorable man and seems to have Ruth and her family‘s best interest in mind. But he wants to make sure he’s doing things correctly and so he mentions that he needs to first make sure that the closest relative is given the opportunity to be that redeemer.

Chapter 4 begins with Boaz making contact with that other relative, and also doing it in front of many-- the leaders of Bethlehem. This is good accountability and a reminder to me that when I have something important to impart, it is good to have witnesses. The situation is Naomi is preparing to sell her husband’s land in order to raise funds and Boaz asks the relative if he will buy the land and thus take over its use and the family name. He also clarifies that if you buy the land, then you also take Ruth the Moabite as your wife and promise to carry on the family name which would include the offspring being the benefactor of future land rights. But in verse 6, this no-named other relative says that if he does this, then he potentially loses the inheritance of his family. So he’s not willing to be that redeemer because he’s more concerned about his current situation. Boaz, however, does the unselfish thing as he previously has shown towards Ruth, Naomi, and their family, and now he is free to take her as his wife, and take ownership of the land of their family.

This is a great story. It’s interesting. This book is called Ruth. And yet Boaz is the one who redeems the family, although it happens, because Ruth commits to stay with her mother-in-law and support her. I suppose the name of the book could go either way. 

Summary: Boaz checks with the other relative about fulfilling the redeemer role. He’s not interested so Boaz marries Ruth. 

Promise: The Boaz selflessness in which we put others ahead of ourselves is a character trait toward which all believers must strive. 

Prayer: Father, I thank you, that I can understand these truths in the story and I can see how you work through the choices of these individuals to bring about your perfect plan. As I have been thinking about prayer as well, and I need to pray, come and help me to continue to speak to you so that I understand your will. 

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

Ruth 3:6-18 - Ruth Asks Boaz to Redeem Her

Ruth 3:6-18

And it happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward, and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. And he said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative." (verse 8-9)

Message: Ruth Asks Boaz to Redeem her

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: The last lesson ended with Naomi giving instructions to Ruth to basically court Boaz and serve him in a way that puts him in a position to hopefully marry Ruth. This is to fulfill a law that states when a wife's husband is deceased, someone from the family, preferably the brother, will marry the widow an Naomi hopes that Boaz will be this person towards Ruth. 

Ruth does as Naomi says and Boaz reciprocates with honorable words toward Ruth. In verse 11, "And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that are a woman of excellence." In verse 9, Ruth appeals to the idea of Boaz being a close relative and he agrees in verse 12, though he mentions a closer relative. Boaz will ask him to redeem Ruth, but if he does not then Boaz will follow through on that redemption. 

Ruth returns to her mother, but with a gift - barley. It shows that Ruth came to Boaz to receive Barley. Ruth left early so as to not be seen by others. Perceptions are important and Ruth and Boaz made sure that although they were not doing anything wrong, they still made sure to convey to others that there was not question of what they were doing alone. Naomi felt good about how things had gone, agreeing that Boaz will not settle today until the matter is resolved. 

One of the lessons Tabletalk mentions today is "When we see a possible answer to our prayers, we should pursue it if that possibility is righteous." This is what Naomi did with Ruth towards Boaz. She seized the day. She was involved in the answer to prayer, not simply waiting for things to occur but giving it an opportunity for success. This is a good reminder to me. We are not simply passive in our walk with God, but taking advantage of opportunities as they get presented. 

Summary: Ruth follows threw on Naomi's advice in going to the threshing floor to pursue Boaz. He complies but wants to make sure there isn't another relative who will fulfill the close relative obligation toward Ruth. 

Promise: When we have prayed and we see a possible answer to our prayer, we are free to pursue it. We should be willing to be the answer to our own prayers.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this message and reminder that when you are leading me in a direction, I should seize the day and the opportunity. You make things possible and I need to step into them. Give me wisdom and discernment to know what steps I need to take. Thank you for working everything out for my good. 

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

Exodus 12 - The Lord's Supper as Remembrance

Exodus 12 - 7 Moreover they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it...11d you shall eat it in haste--it is the Lord's Passover...13b and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt...14 Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance. 

Message: The Lord's Supper as Remembrance

Time: Moses is the most likely author of this book. His education and early tradition make him the likely author and it says in Exodus 24:4 that he wrote what the Lord said. The title Exodus means departure of Israel from Egypt by the hand of God. The book covers 80 years, from 1526 to 1446 with the events at Mount Sinai. God fulfilling promises and his story of redemption are the central ideas.

What the Lord is Saying: John Calvin said, "The new covenant does not destroy the old in substance, but only in form." In today's lesson, we remember the Passover and we also see how the Lord's Supper is linked to it. We previously saw with the sacrament of baptism a link between it and circumcision. Thus, these sacraments differ in their administration, but their substance is the same. Baptism, like circumcision, points to regeneration while the Lord's Supper, like the Passover, points to redemption. 

As I have stated before and believe--God's redemption of His people does not change throughout history. One of the reasons I reject the claim that many today make that baptism is needed for salvation is I don't agree that salvation changes. The Bible has always pointed or looked forward to Jesus and His sacrifice. John 8:56 is an interesting verse by Jesus in which He says, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." Jesus even follows this up by saying, "Before Abraham was born, I am." Whoa! Jesus here is engaging with people about the relationship between Himself, God and Abraham, showing that He was promised by Abraham. And Abraham saw the future. And now today, as we live past Bible times, we look back to Jesus and His sacrifice. 

Before Christ and His final atonement there was the sacrifice of animals offering done to atone for sin. It was regular but through blood--sin was covered. In Christ, the perfect sacrifice, atonement is permanent, once for all (Hebrews 7:27). And Hebrews also records 10:18, "Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin." Jesus has forgiven sin once and for all. 

The text today refers to the old testament sacrament of atonement and redemption. The blood from an animal - a lamb - was placed on doorposts to signify that those within those walls would not receive judgement for their sin. God judged those in the land of Egypt, as Pharoah led these people to reject God. Blood in essence forgave people of their sin. I think this is important because sin was similar or the same in these people. But one was saved and the other not. This is also a sobering truth. For God does not save all. Some will reject Him and some will turn from God and His ways. All of the onus is  on God for what is occurring - saving some, not saving others. God is choosing. People may not like this. They make it think it unfair. So I think what man does then is set up a system of religion that is instead based upon the faithfulness or good deeds of a person. At least that is my thinking. Man has this desire to put the credit on himself. We like that plan. Our world works in this manner so we want things with God to work the same way. 

And yet does our world work this way? I often wonder why some people have good paying jobs while others do not. I mean God has granted me with gifts and I have utilized them and grown through the ranks to achieve what I have, getting paid in the process. I look at people that play sports or sing songs and the world pays them in huge riches. We are all different, each with different gifts. Not all of us can rise to this level so isn't all of life lived in God's sovereignty. Is He not in control of everything? And yet each person still has accountability to their lives. I think of people dealing drugs, trafficking women, abusing innocent people -- are these people under God's control as well. I've been reading Jeremiah and God uses Babylon as His instrument to judge others. Horrible things occur to nations. I'm sure somewhat innocent people are saved while others are redeemed. 

But again for this lesson, in reviewing the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Sacraments, as I have seen are about remembrance of an event already that has occurred. The Passover was celebrated to remember God redeeming His people. The Lord's Supper therefore also is now celebrated, after Jesus paid for sin, forgiven sin, to remember that He has redeemed us. It was instituted prior to Him fully redeeming us. And yet for us now, we practice it after Jesus has fully redeemed us. 

Summary: The Passover remembered God saving the people of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The Lord's Supper remembers Jesus saving us all from eternal damnation because of our great rebellion to God. 

Promise: As we take the supper, let us remember that because Christ paid the price for us, we owe Him everything that we are. 

Prayer: O God, you are great. You are powerful. You are in charge. You have redeemed mankind and redeemed me. You have placed your Spirit in me so that I will know and worship You and make you known throughout this world, living as your vessel to encourage others in the same way. You have chosen me for this time. Each day is a gift from You. Each moment. I look at my wife and am amazed at the gift you have given to me in her. The joy of being with her. And thankful also for people you have placed in my life. Everyday is a celebration of your providence. Lord, you gave us the Lord's Supper a gift to come together and celebrate your great love for us in redeeming us not simply for a moment but for an eternity. Lord, would you help that observance time for me to be a sweet joy and a sweet time of remembering. Plant in that time I take the cup and the bread the realization that without You I am nothing. Lord, I think you know I seem to struggle with that time. I know it is needed and I want to do it, but often I miss or don't feel its connection or treat it as a celebration. Maybe I am a person that struggles with those type of events and yet simply enjoy the moment my moment of living with You as my Savior and Redeemer. I am not sure, but I do thank you for this time to spend in Your word and reflect on You and what You have done for me. I still don't know why I am so blessed. 

Exodus 3:18 - Redeemed to Worship

Exodus 3:18 - And they will pay heed to what you say; and you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt, and you will say to him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please, let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.'

Message: Redeemed to Worship

Time: Moses is the most likely author of this book. His education and early tradition make him the likely author and it says in Exodus 24:4 that he wrote what the Lord said. The title Exodus means departure of Israel from Egypt by the hand of God. The book covers 80 years, from 1526 to 1446 with the events at Mount Sinai. God fulfilling promises and his story of redemption are the central ideas. 

What the Lord is Saying:

While this is the 9th topic explored in these studies commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, with the first 8 so far focused on doctrinal reform, John Calvin actually listed the reform of Christian worship first in his explanation of the why the Reformation was necessary. 

Previously, I looked at one of the chapters of the Westminster Confession of Faith as I looked at the doctrine of the church and here today am reminded of the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism which says:

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, [a] and to enjoy him for ever. [b]

[a]. Ps. 86:9; Isa. 60:21; Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 6:20; 10:31; Rev. 4:11

[b]. Ps. 16:5-11; 144:15; Isa. 12:2; Luke 2:10; Phil. 4:4; Rev. 21:3-4

A catechism is a doctrinal manual. It is a summary of doctrines and used to teach children and adult converts. The shorter Westminster Confession of Faith catechism was written in 1646 and 1647 by the Westminster Assembly, a group of 121 theologians that was put together to restructure the church of England more in line with the Church of Scotland and help put to rest some of the  doctrines that were attempting to divide the church. It is in a question and answer format which Martin Luther had used to help children learn. Previously, the practice of memorizing the Lord's Supper, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles Creed had been the means to learn Christian doctrine prior to the Reformation. One must remember that the printing press and the practice of getting the Bible into individuals hands didn't begin until the 1600s so memorization and listening to lectures early on the Christian faith was the main means of learning Christian doctrine. The scriptures above were added in 1978 by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.   

So in teaching about Christian doctrine, the first question offered had to do with the chief end of man and that is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Thus, we were made to worship the Lord. And so when we practice worship in our life we are fulfilling our purpose for living. 

In Romans 1, my favorite passage of scripture, verse 19-23 speaks to the idea that God is evident in each person for God made this to be and though God is clearly seen through His creation, many people do not give thanks to Him and they exchange the glory or worship of God for something else. It is a reminder that worship is a part of every person. If a person rejects God, they do not cease to worship, instead they worship something else. 

The 7th day of creation and the Sabbath day are a day to set aside work and set aside the day as Holy. Genesis 2:3 says, "Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it..."  The Sabbath day is a day to recall what God has done and remembering what God has done is a part of worship. In Exodus 3:18, the passage highlighted today, the Lord told Moses to go to Pharaoh and command the king to free the Israelites so that they could sacrifice to God or worship Him. 

I am reminded of the Song - We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise written in 1980 in which the first 2 lines echo Jeremiah 33:11

The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, "Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, For the Lord is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting"; and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the Lord. 

Summary: We are people that are meant to glorify God, to worship the Lord. 

Promise: Worship is not incidental -- it is the reason for our existence. In praising the God who made you, you are fulfilling your purpose for existence.

Prayer: As always God, I am marveled by your Word and thankful for the reminder that Life is about giving glory to You. This is why you made me. You have provided so much for me and I am to remember this and thank you for this continually. Thank you for the Westminster Confession and rising up these leaders to express truths that carry on today and speak to the truths of your Word. What a great joy there is in uncovering and rediscovering these truths. Thank you now for this new study I embark on regarding Worship and give me an open mind and heart to what you want to teach me. Help me God to have worship a part of my life. I thank You for the joy in music and the people you have gifted to share music with me that often helps me worship You and remember what You have done for me. 

My Utmost for His Highest - June 21 - The Ministry of the Interior

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; - I Peter 2:9

    By what right do we become “a royal priesthood”? By the right of the Atonement. Are we prepared to leave ourselves resolutely alone and to launch out into the priestly work of prayer? The continual grubbing on the inside to see whether we are what we ought to be generates a self-centred, morbid type of Christianity, not the robust, simple life of the child of God. Until we get into a right relationship to God, it is a case of hanging on by the skin of our teeth, and we say — “What a wonderful victory I have got!” There is nothing indicative of the miracle of Redemption in that. Launch out in reckless belief that the Redemption is complete, and then bother no more about yourself, but begin to do as Jesus Christ said — pray for the friend who comes to you at midnight, pray for the saints, pray for all men. Pray on the realisation that you are only perfect in Christ Jesus, not on this plea — “O Lord, I have done my best, please hear me.”

    How long is it going to take God to free us from the morbid habit of thinking about ourselves? We must get sick unto death of ourselves, until there is no longer any surprise at anything God can tell us about ourselves. We cannot touch the depths of meanness in ourselves. There is only one place where we are right, and that is in Christ Jesus. When we are there, then we have to pour out for all we are worth in this ministry of the interior.

My Notes

Multiple thoughts here. How is it that I am chosen and a royal priesthood? Definitely because of anything in me so never think about myself as doing that work. I am only right in Christ Jesus. Ministry starts from the interior. This is where prayer starts. And this is what our lives are to be about - listening to the Holy Spirit speak to us and tell us who we are to be praying for. 

 - From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition

Malachi 3:6 - The God Who Never Changes

Malachi 3:6
For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

Message: The God Who Never Changes

Time: Malachi delivers a message to the Judean people who worship at the temple, but our turning away from the true worship of the Lord. This is after the completion of the second temple. Late 5th Century BC, possibly during Nehemiah's return to Persia, around 433-424 BC.

What the Lord is Saying:

The message here is simple: God does not change. These are the words spoken by Malachi, a prophet of the Lord. His book is the final book of the Old Testament, about 450 years before Christ. This idea only should bring comfort to us - that God does not change. Malachi was speaking a message to his people here in chapter 3 of purification by a messenger. As we study and look back at this message, knowing Jesus came, we naturally want to see this as a prophecy of Jesus and His coming to cleanse the temple, cleans the people. However, the text is not completely clear that this is about Jesus. What it is clear in addressing is the need for the people of Judah to be cleansed, to be purified. In verse 7, they have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. He speaks of the kinds of people that are present: the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me. 

And in between these words is the proclamation that I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. By not changing, to me, this means that the Lord's expectations on His people does not change. He still remains a selfish God that wants His people to honor Him and worship Him. He gives them statutes for them to be kept. He expects his people to honor him and not seek their own way. When they do this they become human idol factories, thinking that their own way is the better way. 

What is clear is that the Lord will purify His people. This is a message from God that has remained throughout history. God is our redeemer. And yet this call to purification still requires a response. God may choose us, but there still is a response that is required from man. In verse 7 he says, "Return to Me." 

We think at times that the message of the New Testament, of repentance and love is so very clear, but it is the same message, but simply has a more clear presenter: Jesus Christ. But the message remains: God redeems. Man returns to Him. Our God does not change. 

That's His message and we can accept it or reject it, but that is His message. God will not change. He sits outside of time. One of my brothers in the Lord begins our prayer time weekly with, "Thank you for a new day." It is a reminder that we change. We celebrate with jubilation the turning of time, the beginning of a new year recently. It is 2019. Time is growing. Life is changing. We are growing daily, aging. We are changing. But, our God does not change. We look forward to a day of no change when things will remain the same and when our true relationship as true worshipers will be present. 

Promise: Each day I can rely on the One who is incapable of changing and will never allow His promises to fail. My security remains in Him. He promises to always keep me safe, safe in Him. 

Prayer: Lord, you do not change. You remain the same and your Ways remain the same. Thank you for being that anchor, the rock, the fortress, the horn of our salvation, our stronghold. I love You Lord. You are great. I need this reminder in my life daily that though I live in a day of improvement and wanting each day to be better than the next, I can rest in the idea that You never change. You desire me and desire people to know you and listen to You. You are a selfish God and you always know what is best for me. Lord, I want to return to You. Each day Lord I want to return to You. I want to listen to these words you have spoken through your prophet Malachi 2500+ years ago that remain true to this day: Return to You. As I live and move and change, keep pulling me back to your message, reminding me that you are still there. You still want me. I can still return to You. Lord, I admit my ideals are often the ideals of this world - for daily happiness and enjoyment and peace and security and comfort -- and even as those things are okay, help me have a stronger love for You and seeking you and desiring to never disappoint You. I know you will always take me back, but still I want my life to honor You. You deserve it. And I need it. It is the only way to live.


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 January being about the doctrine of God.

Jude 5 - The Trinity and Redemption

Jude 5
Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.

Message: The Trinity and Redemption

Time: Jude, half-brother of Jesus, not the apostle Jude. His full name is Judas though shortened to Jude due to the problem with the name Judas (the disciple who betrayed Jesus). Jude placed his faith in Jesus after the resurrection and ascension. The book was probably written between AD 67 and 80, though it is difficult to date. Jude in his writing wants to expose false teachers in the Christian Community and encourage followers to stand firm in their faith.

What the Lord is Saying:

I must admit, these concepts at times are a little difficult to understand and write about and I'm not sure I'm doing a very good job at explaining. As a believer of 51, having trusted in Christ 1 month shy of my 15 birthday I'm discovering now in these lessons some doctrinal understandings I never knew. I'm still piecing them together. But, it is good for there are things about God and my understanding of Him that I know I haven't delved into much. I suppose there is a tendency in life to focus on those things that one is most comfortable understanding. Even as I try to understand this it is somewhat non understandable. There is a mystery to it. But that doesn't mean that faith is blind, just more intellectual than we often give it credit.

The primary subject of late is one of the doctrine of inseparable operations. This doctrine says that each person of the Trinity has the same divine attributes, but each person acts in a manner fitting to His unique personal properties. Unbegottenness is the unique personal property of the Father, begottenness is the unique personal property of the Son, and procession is the unique personal property of the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Godhead existed at the same time and has always existed at the same time. Thus there is a unity of essence among the persons of the triune God. Every act of God is from the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit. There is togetherness, unity, yet personal.

The doctrine of redemption - God redeeming or saving or rescuing His people - is the thrust of salvation for each person. For me to say that God has saved me is to mean that prior to my salvation, I was in bondage to living a life apart from God, not of God, not pleasing to God, but pleasing to self and sin. And I'm seeing more and more that this idea of redemption or a need to be found is being weeded out more and more in society. I firmly believe that this societal focus on tolerance has made us all think that whatever one thinks about themselves and their own desires, they are fine to think this and we should all move to accept everyone for the way they seem to be. And yet fear and anxiety and depression remain a part of defining many people as there are extreme societal pressures to achieve and succeed.

The statement that every act of God is from the Father though the Son and in the Holy Spirit - is a compelling statement. This verse from Jude 5 will show that the act of God saving His people from Egypt is here spoken of something Jesus had done. The verse states the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt. The Lord is the Greek word Iēsous which means Jesus or Jehovah is salvation. Thus, Jude states the act of saving a people out of the land of Egypt is something that Jesus did. Deuteronomy 5:6 says - ‘I am the Lord (Yahweh) your God (Elohim) who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.' Thus, in these verses the Lord Yahweh and Jesus are saving people from the land of Egypt. God works from the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit. The act of redemption or sanctification is subscribed also to the Holy Spirit like In 2 Thessalonians 2:13 - But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. The work therefore of saving and redeeming God's people is performed by God, the triune God.

Promise: God loves his people. But we come to Him in need, not already complete. God saves us through the work of the Father though the Son by the Spirit.

Prayer: God, I praise you for loving me and knowing what I need. You have saved me and I thank you for helping me see my need for you. I'm saddened by the state of our world and how we often think we don't need you. Lord, change hearts and help people to see their sin. Give me patience with people everywhere. Work through the lives of my children. Keep them safe and draw them each to yourself.

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 January being about the doctrine of God.

John 1:1-18 - God the Son

John 1:1-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John *testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Message: God the Son

Time: While John does not admit to have written this gospel, there is ample evidence from others that he did. It was most likely written in Ephesus around 85-95 AD and is the fourth gospel. John provides a Jesus more clearly as the Son of God. John cites Jesus' seven "I Am" statements, mentions many miracles of Jesus, signifying Him as God's Son. He is the Son of Man and atoned for our sins and the Son of God with eternal implications in rising from the dead.

What the Lord is Saying:

This book opens up not with the story of the nativity scene. Like the Book of Mark, Jesus comes on the scene immediately, but John also takes us back to creation showing that Jesus is not a created one, but was in the beginning as creator and in the beginning with God. This is a text that some beliefs have changed the meaning of as it clearly shows Jesus as God (the Word was God) while those beliefs make it to read Jesus was a god.

John came to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus to get people ready in the belief that Jesus is the Light, sent from God, to witness of Him. It was true that some received Him and some did not. But to receive Him meant that they to would be children of God.

While the Law was duty and keeping commandments, Jesus was about grace and truth. The biblical narrative has always been about redemption. God has redeemed His people. They walk away or turn away and He brings them back. He restores His relationship with them. But, not all believe.

Jesus is God and there are many other examples of this throughout the scripture and gospel writings. For example, Mark 2:1-12 records Jesus claiming the authority to forgive sins. Even in Jude 5, Jesus saved a people out of the land of Egypt. The Old Testament attributes this to Yahweh but Jude attributes it to Jesus. He was God and was with God. While coming to live and walk the earth alongside us Jesus came to redeem and save people. God is still in the work of redemption.

Promise: Only those with hardened hearts ill deny that the Bible reveals Jesus as the Lord God Almighty, worthy of all our love and worship.

Prayer: O God, thank you for redeeming mankind, for continually bridging the gap. Our effort to come to You remain efforts but our attempts our always not sufficient, but you came to earth and saved us. I receive You and want to always receive You. Forgive me when I get to prideful and too concerned with my own name and ways and don't receive You. Thank you for bearing my sin and saving me. Thank you for being the light for all the world. I pray that people would continue to seek You and desire to know you. Help me to communicate that love to others in as many ways as I can.



Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Mark 3:27 - Binding the Strong Man

Mark 3:27
But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.

Message: Binding the Strong Man

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Previously, yesterday, in looking at the preface to this verse, I saw that the scribes are saying that Jesus is possessed, demon-possessed. They mention an illogical argument, namely that Jesus as a demon is casting out a demon. But he clarifies the argument that a demon can't cast out a demon, but instead something different from a demon, namely Jesus, comes to the rescue. Thus, we need mediators in our lives. We need different perspectives. We need someone to come in and save the day.

But also, here, Jesus is needed to restore people to the Father. Jesus has authority over demons and so he can cast them out.

Jesus said earlier in verse 23 that he would speak in parables and he continues that here in verse 27. Jesus further enforces his point here in verse 27. But no one can enter the strong man’s house -- or Satan's house -- and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house. Jesus is the one who liberates people from their sin. He is the Messiah and he has come to save us from our sins, from ourselves and release us.

Every person, without Christ, has a demon possession of sorts, a natural and sinful possession, a will contrary to the Spirit of God. Jesus is the one that comes to overthrow that will. He comes to save. Jesus frees people from the grasp of Satan every time a person is saved.

Promise: No matter how much evidence we are given for the work of God and the identity of Christ, we will not believe unless we are granted new hearts to submit to the Lord's revelation.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for saving me a sinner from the grasp of Satan and being a life long slave to sin. You are the Savior of the world. You are the only one that can save mankind and I pray that you would draw people to yourself and overthrow sin in people's lives. Thank you for the work that only you can do and for the authority only You have.

Psalm 119:153-160 - Seeking God's Statutes

Psalm 119:153-160

¹⁵³ Look upon my affliction and rescue me, for I do not forget Your law.
¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word.
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes.
¹⁵⁶ Great are Your mercies, O Lord; revive me according to Your ordinances.
¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies.
¹⁵⁸ I behold the treacherous and loathe them, because they do not keep Your word.
¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.
¹⁶⁰ The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

Message: Seeking God's Statutes

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: As I read through this passage the first time, on the heels of the last set of verses in Psalm 119 that spoke of the nearness of God and Your commandments are truth, and to know Your testimonies, the challenge here to me is to know the Word of God and it a light to my paths. But, again, in looking at that nearness and pondering it, the Word of God and God's Laws and his truths remain near to me. The true believer does not waiver in His beliefs because of difficult circumstances, but instead it makes him cling every more tightly to the truths and his total dependency on God. The way we got through affliction and how we are rescued is by not forgetting the Law and God redeems me. Set me right Lord, according to Your Word. 

 [Lord, I talk to many that are wanting out of circumstances they view bad or not of success, bring these people back to the Word of God so that they will see the truths and promises of what you have commanded and can then approach their circumstances in a new way. Daily, I walk with You Lord and throughout all of life's circumstances You breath life into them and you work them out for Your glory. I think of Derek and his smoking habit that he has gotten in at a young age. Lord, that has been a difficulty I wish on no one, yet through that challenge you reveal to me the importance of my relationship with my wife and with You, that I can remain committed to you and I must. And that these problems we have in our life are at the most basic level -- sin. And for any sin, I need to turn from it and recognize You as Savior and Lord. This is what I pray for My Son Derek, that he would know You as Savior and Lord. I pray that the truth of who you are would permeate his life so that he is defined by the truth of Gospel and his goal is to seek and follow You.]

[And, too, I look at my daughter, who is struggling with preparing for a wedding, while also navigating her own health challenges. Keep her on the right course. Give her hope and keep her instructed by Your word, and that you are fully capable of walking with her and healing her from this that ails her. Help her and Brandon to communicate better, not by text, but by talking. Cement that in their lives. Lord, we can thank you for these trials because you use them to align us more closely to You.]

In verse 155, I am reminded that Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes. The truth of who you are is far from those who daily practice wickedness. Wickedness is subtle in this world, not because sin is less clear, but society has made it less clear. I was looking at this article yesterday in the WSJ and it was addressing titles of books that are made up of curse words and the author of the article stated that society has now deemed those words less offensive and so they can be used as titles for book. Lord, it is disheartening to hear of how sin is changed in its definition and moved more and more to acceptable behavior. May that be not so in my life. Keep me on the course where my words do not even hint at caving and marching to the tune of society. People so often do not keep your statutes as this verse states and yet we act surprised that they don't therefore align with our principles. I find it so tragic because our view of ourselves and our view of sin is what helps us to see our need for a Savior. Lord, may you help people see the truth of their sin. May you bring to light sin in this life. 

Great are Your mercies, O Lord; revive me according to Your ordinances. I Love this proclamation that the Mercies of God are great. Lord, you have had mercy on me a sinner, a law breaker, by allowing me to go free. Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, I do not turn aside from Your testimonies. Many are against me. That is the truth that we don't see because people present themselves like they agree with me, but many are my adversaries, but keep me charged and guided and not turned aside from Your testimonies. I behold the treacherous and loathe, because they do not keep Your word. I am saddened by those that do not keep your word. I have many, like Derek in London that spends his times denying you and not keeping your word and finds joy in religion washing away. Draw him to you. Help me be a lover of your precepts. Revive me (and him), O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness. It is your love that sets us free, your love for me from all eternity to know that I needed a Savior and substitute for my sin. The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. You are truth and every one of your commands is everlasting.

Promise: The Law cannot save, but the Law does show us our need for a Savior.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for saving me and thank you for showing me my sin and my incredible need for You Lord, My Savior. Thank you for continually exposing the sin in my life and helping me see a sin of being unthankful or having anxiety or being discontent. Help me to accept and be content in any situation. Lord, I don't want to live in the realm that life is not complete unless I have freedom from financial situations, but true freedom is found in You Lord for you give peace in all circumstances.

Ephesians 1:13-14 - God's Gift of Perseverance

Ephesians 1:13-14
¹³ In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Message: God's Gift of Perseverance

Time: Paul wrote this letter while in prison, probably in Rome about 60AD. He wrote to the churches around Ephesus to display the scope of God's eternal plan for all humanity-for Jews and Gentiles alike.

What the Lord is Saying:

The first 3 chapters of Ephesians focus on what a person should believe. Paul here defines faith. He defines grace. In this first chapter, Paul reminds us of what we now have in Christ. He states he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing (v.3): 

• He chose us
• He predestined us
• In Him we have redemption through His blood 
• He made known to us the mystery of His will 
• In Him also we have obtained an inheritance 
• In Him you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit 

It is this last point that I focus on today, from this reading. After listening, having believed, I am sealed in Him. The crux or the turning point of faith remains one thing: belief. The turning point of salvation remains here, believing in the gospel, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for the redemption of our lives. And once we believe, it brings in a litany of blessings. And the first step toward believing is listening. I think of a gal in my office who has begun going to church and is enamored by the music and the message. Lord, may she believe. 

The Spiritual blessings mentioned above all define our new condition in Christ, but the last one, being sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit means that my new new condition has been given a helper. It means that a torch has not simply been passed and I must now run this race on my own. Instead, God remains with me, in the work of the Holy Spirit, enabling me to will and work for his good pleasure. Works have been created for me for in advance. And to carry those works out I will need a helper to guide me into all truth. The natural world will continue to try to place its mark on me and my life, despite my new condition in Christ. I will continually be pulled into the marketplace, to believe what the culture is putting forth for my life. So I need and must have His Presence with me, guiding me, strengthening me, carrying me, instructing me. Thank You God for sending your son, for dying for me, redeeming me, and setting me apart for your will and service. And thank you for not leaving me alone to live and work, but for sending your Spirit to come alongside me and live in Me so that I can navigate each day. Help me to remember this Lord. You are not simply near. You are here, with me.   

Promise: He remains within us to move us effectually to persevere.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 - The Vain Search for a Righteous Man

Ecclesiastes 7:20
Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

Message: The vain search for a righteous man

Time: Ecclesiastes: 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:

From Tabletalk lesson of the same title:

The doctrine of total depravity emphasizes that sin corrupts everything about us, including our hearts, minds, and wills. Consequently, since wickedness has perverted us so thoroughly, not one of us will make it through life without having sinned. We will commit sins of omission (failing to do good) and sins of commission (transgressing what is good), for no one “does good” (omission) and “never sins” (commission).

I notice this at my job, at work, especially in the discipline that I find myself to be in, accounting, and government accounting at that, which is generally under the rule of auditors and reviewers. These individuals of oversight are constantly reviewing work to determine what you are not doing right, what rules you have failed to follow in carrying out your duties. It's interesting because it doesn't matter how well we might be doing something, if we goof up one time, and they happen to check on it, then it is assumed we have not done anything right.

This can be difficult because we want to be viewed as above reproach. We measure ourselves often by having adhered to all the rules. It's hard at times as it knocks at our pride, at our since of hard work, and the reality that our best is not ever viewed as enough.

Scripture is clear that mistakes will happen. We will live in a way that is not right. As hard as we try, we are not perfect. Yet, people view themselves often by noting they are good enough or have done more wrong than right -- and so they get a good grade. They view their spiritual condition like sitting in a school classroom, with the teacher passing out the grades from the recent test. Everyone in the class, except maybe one is hoping that they at least didn't fail, but others have higher standards. In the end, the performance expectation is not perfection, but generally passing with a high grade. This is somewhat hard to digest because we as people tend to view ourselves similar to the way the world defines it, arriving at the pearly gates with a perspective of being more right than wrong, in how our life has been lived.

Yet, it really looks more like the accountant and the auditor and finding one error. The intent of salvation and being accepted by God is not on the basis of how good we are. But, rather, whether there is any sin in us. One imperfection makes us unacceptable, even though the reality is we have many more than one imperfections. Solomon here, the Preacher. simply notices something that he has noticed throughout this 7th chapter, that what we see or know is not always the truth, and no one never sins. Yet God is holy and so everyone needs a substitute or a way to be redeemed. That is the simple truth of the Gospel: I have sinned. I am not perfect. I need a Savior. God has provided the means for me to be accepted by Him. I have a decision to trust and obey. There is no other way.

Promise: We can find no person that has never sinned.

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.

Job 4:7-11 - The Response of Eliphaz

Job 4:7-11

⁷ “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright destroyed?
⁸ “According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity
And those who sow trouble harvest it.
⁹ “By the breath of God they perish,
And by the blast of His anger they come to an end.
¹⁰ “The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion,
And the teeth of the young lions are broken.
¹¹ “The lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the whelps of the lioness are scattered.

Message: The Response of Eliphaz

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:

Review

Chapter 1 and 2 opened up this book with the proclamation of a great man - Job - Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. And then enter in Satan and the sons of God (angels) roaming on the earth and they came before God. This is interesting for it should remind us that there is a another world going on beyond what we can see. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

I still am not sure I know and understand this. I still do not comprehend this unseen world that is going on. Naturally, I suppose, it is a challenge, because it is unseen. But Satan and the sons of God (angel) are all about this unseen world. They are roaming the earth. 

In this instance in Job, God says, "Have you considered my servant Job?" 

Overview
In the commentaries I've read about the three friends of Job that show up, it mentions that there words have some truth to them, but they also do harm. In my first reading of Chapter 4, there are some interesting phrases but overall I'm left with the feeling that Eliphaz is saying to Job that it is odd how Job has been a life long encouragement to others when they experience trials, but now based upon Chapter 3 his outcry is one of anger in his birth and wishing he had never been born. Verse 6 states, "Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?"

So perhaps through verse 6 Eliphaz words are fitting and okay.  

But in verse 7 Eliphaz switches to words that say basically a person's actions in life result in their outcome. In verse 7, the innocent do not perish nor are the upright destroyed. So those who live squeaky clean lives do not perish or are destroyed. While those that live bad lives perish; "those who sow trouble harvest it." And yet chapters 1 and 2 show that Job's loss of possessions and family and his own health was the result of Satan's hand. So at times, we cannot say that the loss we experience is the result of a bad life led. Eliphaz is wrong to set up this karma like situation in life. Karma is, by definition, the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences. 

I remember being at an LDS service, that I agreed to go to after missionaries came to our church, where several people stood up in their pulpit and offered this idea, that our actions decide our fate. I get confused by this because Galatians does talk about reaping what you sow, but I don't think we can say that those who are righteous will never experience malady for this is what happened to Job who lived an upright life and yet he experienced difficult situations. So, I guess the LDS person could be right but not in a formulaic manner. In all these situations we must trust God for the outcome. It is true, sometimes it will seem unfair to us. We will want to see the 1:1 correlation. And yet what Eliphaz expresses is man's honest reflection sometimes based upon what he sees. In our eyes, there is a correlation between works and outcomes.

Eliphaz concludes his talk, in the verses following verse 12 speaking of a vision that he received. Verses 12-16 simply talk about the process of receiving the vision and then in 17-21 is the vision and the central idea of this vision is realizing the proper place of man before God. Mankind cannot be just before God. Man and God are different. Man is not pure, especially before God. 

But then Eliphaz goes on. I think what's missing in this chapter is the relationship God has with man. Man and God are viewed as completely distinct, that they each carry on their lives separate from one another. Their is no bridge whereas in Chapters 1 and 2, Job a blameless and upright man still received calamity and God remained in community with Job. So Eliphaz wasn't seeing the entire picture. Despite what our eyes see at any one moment, community is possible between God and man. Despite what we see and naturally conclude, God does find value in man whatever his circumstances. His grace is not looking for good people, but God's grace is given irregardless of man's condition and life lived. This is what Eliphaz misses. Yes, man and God are separate in their natures, but God is still with man.

Promise: Tabletalk states here -- the presence of sin means that sometimes people suffer the effects of the fall in ways that are unrelated to their specific, personal sin. While our suffering may be due to a specific sin, this is not always the case, and we should not assume that our pain automatically means that God is displeased with us. Always, God is there to rescue man.

Romans 15:30-32 - Paul's Appeal for Prayer

Romans 15:30-32 - ³⁰ I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, ³¹ that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ³² so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

Message: Praying for Missionaries

Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome

What the Lord is Saying:

Paul is making an appeal to his brothers in Christ to pray with him. He is not asking simply for them to pray, but that they would pray with him. I find this interesting because this is often how we are not asking for prayer. We generally don't petition requests, by asking people to come alongside us and pray with us. 

Also, there is nothing wrong with asking for prayer for oneself. It is also necessary to pray for ourselves. Paul makes this clear. 

His request is that:

• He would be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea
• His service for Jerusalem would be acceptable  
• He would come to those in Rome
• He would be refreshed in his visit

Appeal/Urge
Appeal - this is the Greek word parakaleo which means "alongside call" or to give strength or aid; it was used to describe the defense counsel in a court of law who functioned as the advocate and pled the cause of the accused. Paul is making an appeal or urging his brothers and sisters in Christ to pray. 

This is an example of prayer for missionaries. 

Romans 5:5 says, "the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." The Holy Spirit is who gives us this love of God in our hearts. Galatians 5:22 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love."

Paul is appealing to the believers because of the Love of the Spirit in the believer's life. The Spirit gives this love to believers for God and bringing petitions to Him for others. So the Love of the Spirit will be fulfilled when we pray. And Christ will be honored. Jesus and His love for us quickens us to pray.

Over and over, Paul is presenting the idea that we need to be there for one another. I need to come alongside others in prayer. I am to lift people up. I am not to bring them down or be a stumbling block in their lives.

Strive Together
This is the Greek word sunagonizomai that means to strive together or contend for victory. It is two competitors coming together to run a race. Our English word is agonize. So, why is it so important to strive together? Because the enemy, the prince of this world, doesn't want to see a victory for God or for His people. Could it be that we do not pray because we do not really believe the enemy is that active in this world? I find that I often do not pray much or my urgency to pray is not that great. I pray because someone has a need and I want God to help them, but this is a striving together in prayer for those that are contending for the faith. Paul is on a mission to help people and he needs people to pray for him, so that the enemy would not be victorious, but God would win. But, it is not fighting with God, it is working hard together. Pray is work. I know in my Christian life prayer is something that happens last, not first.

I Be Delivered
Paul's request in verse 31 is "that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea." But, as is stated later on his requests, the reason for being delivered was to be freed from suffering or pain, but so that he can continue in his ministry. I am so adverse to pain and suffering. I would almost say that it is something that I fear. I read about martyr's of the faith and I fear that. I could be a martyr but I admit I don't want to suffer or face that horrid pain. My friend shared with me recently about a couple of people that died for preaching the name of Jesus. Someone just shot them and it was over for them on this earth. That is a fear, but I need to trust the Lord's timing and trust His plan.

The Greek word delivered is Rhuomai which in secular writing described a soldier going to a wounded comrade on a battlefield and carrying him to safety. God, through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, has delivered me from the dominion of Satan. I think of my mom and her prayers for me. They have been consistent. She has been a prayer warrior. She has battled on the battlefield for people. I know she is battling for my children. That isn't just a nice thing that she is doing for them, but she is striving for Satan to not win in these people's lives, but instead God would win in their lives. I can't wait to get to heaven and God tell me what those prayers of my mom meant and their far-reaching effect.

I also think of the Lord's prayer and one of the last phrases as recorded by Matthew in 6:13, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." This is an amazing part of the prayer. Jesus is asking us to ask the Father to not lead us into temptation, where Satan lurks, where evil lurks, where evil waits to trounce on the Christian, but instead that God would deliver (Rhuomai) us or carry us to safety. It is true that temptations are not a sin, but the prayer is that we would be led not in the direction of a temptation. 

I Thessalonians 1:10 says, "wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come." Again, rescues is the word Rhuomai. Rhuomai is in the present tense indicating that is our Savior continually delivering us. The middle voice is reflexive {"He Himself rescues us"} and emphasizes His personal involvement in the rescue. He initiates the rescue and participates in the carrying out of the rescue.

In reading the Old Testament, the Septuagint translates the word Redeem as Rhuomai or rescue as in Exodus 14:30, "Thus the Lord saved (Rhuomai) Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore." Who delivers us? Jesus. And Paul understands as he asks for prayer that God would deliver him from those enemies in Judea.

And this it to be delivered from the unbelievers. This is another interesting word for it isn't a momentary disbelief among these people. It is apeitheo. In the King James it says those that do not believe. This is a willful disobedience. I think of the atheist that I speak to as well as others that willfully disregard the Bible. I need to be praying that I would be delivered from that type of thinking. That as I speak to that man his words would not ever rub off on me, but I would always be free from them. This word is in the present tense and so it is their lifestyle.

Acceptable Service
Paul wants them to pray that he would not simply serve the people in Jerusalem, but that his service to them would be acceptable. That is interesting. How often do I just serve thinking I am doing what I think is best, but don't take time to really see if my service is acceptable to others. I know words of affirmation are important to me. My mom was someone that always gave me affirmation. She spoke to me my love language. I served. I know I did. I tried to see things that were hard for her to do, like clean the house or do the dishes, and then I tried to do them for her at times. And in return, she responded with words of thanks and appreciation. That was really important to me. I must admit this is something I struggle with today. I like to serve and give to others, but there are few in my life that give me any words of affirmation. They happen. My boss gives me words occasionally as does Pamela. I wonder if I have given my kids much affirmation.

I will always remember Tyson scoring a basket in Upward's basketball and immediately looking at me. That is one of my greatest memories in life. There was another time, when he was little, that I got mad at him regarding something and he went and painted me a picture, remembering the good time we had at a Lobo football game I took him to. He wanted to make sure everything was okay between us and he used that picture to say he was sorry.  I still have that picture in my office. Tyson didn't always know how to communicate with words, but he did with looks and actions. He has emotions that are so precious. He needs my prayer. I regret so much the many times that I did not appreciate him. He is so special and now he isn't around as much.

Come to you with Joy
In verse 32, Paul asks that "I may come to you with joy." CS Lewis stated that the biblical meaning of joy is an “unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction.” He says joy is distinguished from happiness and pleasure. It is the word chara and means inner gladness or delight. It is not based upon good circumstances, but it is to know that all is well between a person and his God.

Refreshing
And Paul wanted his visit to refresh him. Despite a fatiguing ministry, he needed to be refreshed. Our missionaries, who are serving in other countries, often need breaks to come to the country and simply be refreshed. We all need this time to stop and refuel and be reminded why we work so hard.

Promise: Prayer is to be more important in my life. Trust it. Work hard at it, interceding for others and not forgetting to ask prayer for oneself. 

Romans 14:9 - Lord of the Dead and the Liviing

Romans 14:9 - For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Message:  Lord of All

Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome

What the Lord is Saying:

What is this freedom I now have in Christ? What is this peace that passes understanding? What is this assurance of my salvation? It is that I belong to the Lord Jesus and therefore I am completely accepted by God. Man and mine's deepest desire is to belong and be accepted; it is to be a part of something bigger than me. This is what I have in Christ and this is the meaning of this verse. "For to this end." In verse 8, "whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's." This is why Christ died.

This is why Christ dead. This is the message that everyone needs to hear. Why did Christ die? Because I was dead. In my sin, as a fallen creature, I was dead. And Christ's death gave me a new life. When I have money, when I have things, when I have creature comforts, when I have few obstacles and problems, when I have all of this, then I think I don't need anything and that means, I don't need God. I don't need a Savior. I can hold myself up. It is through weakness and life in all its imperfections that I discover I can't do it on my own.

I remember this song from Resurrection Band, from their "Mommy Don't Love Daddy Anymore" LP, called "Can't Do it On my Own:"

I've tried to understand what went wrong and tried to figure out why it took so long,
I've tried to go back through my past and just undo the selfishness,
I've tried to turn my heart from stone into a heart of tenderness. 

But I can't do it,
I can't do it on my own,
I can't do it,
I can't do it all alone,
I can't do it,
I can't do it on my own.

I try and try and try, but I can't do it on my own. But, people in life like to see if they can.

He died and rose again. This confirms the reason for his death and resurrection.

Wayne Barber always says, "God never said we could. He can, and He always said He would."

Promise: From Tabletalk, "Christ made the ultimate sacrifice to buy us back, and because He paid the price, He alone has the right to judge His people."