John 7:53-8:6 - The Woman Caught in Adultery

John 7:53-8:6

7:53 And everyone went to his home. 

8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3. And the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" 6 And they were saying this, testing Him, in order that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground.

Message: The Woman Caught in Adultery

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: This passage which begins with verse 53 of chapter 7 up to verse 11 of chapter 8 is footnoted in my Bible as saying, "Not found in most of the old manuscripts." This is true. That said, the church has thought that it records an authentic episode from the life of Christ, but even here, in looking at the "I am" statement that begins in verse 12, it seems that it is inserted here in this passage. It is a passage that is not even clear that it belongs to the writings of John as one manuscripts has it with Luke. So as we read the first two verses, they are not referring to the conversation that most recently occurred at the end of chapter 7 and in verse 1 of chapter 8 as it mentions the Mount of Olive, this is not elsewhere mentioned by John. 

Now, as the passage explains Jesus has returned to the temple where people were coming to him and he was teaching them. Of note is that temple teaching is a practice that we continue to teach today as we assemble regularly at our churches, bible studies, weekly gatherings to listen to teaching and be taught. Jesus practiced this and we as well. And as was the occasion when He taught, the Pharisees and scribes were present to catch him hopefully with an error. His authority obviously bothered their authority. 

As the passage records, these Jewish officials bring a woman. Only a woman. Not a man also as two would be responsible. The Law mentions in Leviticus 20:10 that both the man and the woman were to be punished, not only the woman. But these officials seem to only be concerned about the woman or she is all they could find as the purpose here is to trap Jesus. And the trap was set. If Jesus agrees with punishment then he would side with Rome, enforcing capital punishments. If he excused her behavior, then he could be accused of not following the Law. So he writes in the dirt, buying a little time, having them wait for his answer. 

Summary: A woman is brought by Jesus officials which Jesus is teaching at the temple, stating the woman has been caught in adultery and Jesus is asked to determine her fate. 

Promise: As God's people, we must be concerned with justice, with making sure the innocent are protected and the guilty held accountable. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, than you for your grace and for extending it to me, though I am guilty of many of crime and sin against You, against my neighbor, family, self and others. But you forgive and thank you for forgiving. Thank you for making me whole and thank you for the examples you have in scripture of the way you taught and how we are to live. Thank you for the manuscripts that were discovered and have given us these texts today to read and study and apply to our lives. Thank you for that lasting message. You have gifted so many people and your grace is extended to many and your living waters of goodness, love and mercy are ever present. You are praised and lifted high. 

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

TABLETALK - October 2017

I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. Each month of 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. 

• October - Sacraments (December 16, 2022 - March 7, 2023)
• September - The Reformation of Worship (July 20, 2022 - December 15, 2022)
• August - The Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation (April 14, 2022 - July 19, 2022)
• July - The right use of God's Law (May 23, 2021 - April 13, 2022)
• June was justification by faith alone (February 14, 2021 - May 22, 2021)
• May, Christ Alone (September 3, 2020 - February 13, 2021)
• April, salvation by grace alone (March 6, 2019 - September 2, 2020)
• March, the sovereign providence of God (January 28, 2019 - March 5, 2019)  
• February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture (January 8, 2019 - January 27, 2019)
• January, the doctrine of God (December 16, 2018 - January 7, 2019). 

The Efficacy of the Sacraments

Signs and Seals of the Covenant of Grace - Sacraments are signs that point beyond themselves to something else and convey the promises of grace and God. The Sign and the Thing Signified - There remains an importance in participating in the sacraments. And in this participation a union or relation between the sign and the thing signified. Word and Sacrament Together - These acts or rites we observe are empty without the words of God bringing these acts into significance with what Christ has done on our behalf.

Baptism

The Institution of Baptism - Baptism is commanded in Scripture following conversion and it is to be instituted in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, but the method can be any form with water over the person. Baptism and Regeneration - Baptism has regenerated all who believe in Christ alone for salvation. Baptism and Forgiveness - People who have repented need to be baptized. It confirms their new birth to the visible church. Baptism and Union with Christ - Baptism gives us a sign but in being baptized there also occurs a mystery - union with Christ in his death and resurrection. Baptism and Circumcision - Both circumcision and baptism are signs of the new life we have with God in Christ -- having been set apart from all the world to Him. Baptism and Time - Is baptism a new covenant sacrament and regeneration the same today as it was with circumcision in the old covenant? The idea here is that since regeneration occurred separate from circumcision, then with baptism this is also so. Baptism and Children - Baptism can include children of a believing parent to provide evidence of the sign of regeneration for the entire family. One Baptism - We are united with Christ in baptism. Baptism presents a picture of unity and I believe as a command it can be more than once if the person sees a value in this.

The Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper Commanded - The Lord's Supper has significance in light of the Passover. We are united with Christ and remember His Body and Blood Sacrifice. The Lord's Supper as Remembrance - 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. The Lord's Supper and Proclamation -  When I practice the Lord's Supper I am proclaiming Christ and what He has done for me in breaking His body and pouring out His blood to save me. The Lord's Supper and Feeding on Christ - Jesus is the Bread of Life. Like bread and wine (drink) I need to want him every moment of every day and I need Him to nourish me. The Lord's Supper and Examination - In coming to have the Lord's Supper, examine oneself, treat this meal as different from other meals and if there is a problem, don't partake of it till it is cleared up. The Lord's Supper and Fellowship - The Lord's Supper is an offering to the Lord of thanksgiving, peace, and fellowship whereby we partake of the body and blood of Christ in remembrance of his goodness and redeeming us.

The Preaching of God's Word

Preaching and the Preacher's Task - Sacraments must carry with them the study and preaching of God's Word. Confident in the Truth - Life will shift, will ebb and flow, grass will wither, flowers fade, but God's word remains and we remain confident in the truth of God. Law and Gospel - The Law shows us we are lost. Through faith we are saved or justified. Novelty in Preaching - There is novelty in preaching to encounter God's word and discover truths that we have not seen before. Our Highest Calling - We are to have a high value on our pastors and preachers who are our leaders in bringing the good news of the Gospel and God's word to the people.

The Power of the Gospel - Buck Parsons (editor of Tabletalk magazine, copastor of Saint Andrew's chapel in Sanford, FL) - The apostles, the church fathers, and others were forerunners to the Reformation that Luther helped usher in 1517. And yet Luther himself voiced in a sermon in 1522 that we preach, teach, and write, but we do not force, "for faith must come freely without compulsion." It is a reminder that it is the Holy Spirit who brought revival and reformation to people. 

The Trauma of Holiness - RC Sproul (founder of Ligonier Ministries, founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., and first president of Reformation Bible College) - This article begins with RC telling us about 19th century atheists like Sigmund Freud who tried to figure out why there is religion at all. It seems to be because people have fears. People that murder can be dealt with somewhat through advancements of technology as well as bargaining with people through peace treaties. But nature is a natural terror and how do you bargain with nature. Granted, science can help us anticipate hurricanes and get us ready but still it comes. And so Freud argued that humans personalized nature and made gods so they could try and negotiate with these gods through pleading, praying, making sacrifices, repenting before. And eventually humans consolidated all gods into one. It is possible there could be religion without God. And yet the God of the Bible inspires far greater trauma than nature. Uzzah was struck dead by God when trying to steady the ark (2 Samuel 6:1-10). Isaiah was undone by meeting the God of Israel. So why would we create a God of terror when our aim is to combat terror? Thus, why would man create a holy God? Thus the reformers saw that the only way to endure God's judgment was being covered in the holiness and righteousness of Christ. 

Why the Reformation Still Matters - Michael Reeves (President and Professor of Theology at Union School of Theology) - On October 31, 2017 Pope Francis said that after 500 years Protestants and Catholics can mend the fences and move beyond disagreements. And yet, still to this day there remains a difference in theology. The reason the reformation occurred was at the start of the 16th century Europeans had been without a bible they could read for 1000 years. Instead of a gift they were led to believe that one had to earn their salvation and it would be presumptuous for anyone to believe they knew for certain their eternal outcome. It was Martin Luther who had a similar angst wondering if he died if he was really going to heaven. He was terrified of death. Thus the reformation gave people the good news that God saves sinners by His grace. 500 years ago it was not simply a reaction to a problem of the day. Yet today we still succumb to the idea that to be loved, we need to be attractive. And our culture of positive thinking and personal self-esteem has wiped away a need for a sinner to be justified. But Luther states that sinners are attractive because they are loved; they are not loved because they are attractive. We need to continue to hold scripture and the Gospel high for all to see. 

Luther and His Significance - Stephen J. Nichols (President of Reformation Bible College and chief academic officer for Ligonier Ministries) - Prior to 1544, protestant churches in Germany had been converted Roman Catholic sanctuaries but the Castle Church in Torgau, Germany was possibly the first protestant church. At its dedication, Luther declared that the only reason for the church is that the Lord will speak to us through His word in this place. 27 years had passed since he posted his Ninety-Five Thesis and had taken a stand on being saved by grace through faith alone and yet this moment committed people to worship God. Luther had committed his life to God and at first this commitment was a struggle as he saw the sinner that he was. It was not simply recognizing that he had sinned but that his sins were so numerous so he had no chance before God to be declared righteous. But he didn't have to earn it as righteousness was imputed to him (Romans 4:3). Interesting, but once he discovered this and was about this, preaching became what he loved and he did it often. After establishing that church, he would die 2 years later. And yet the Light of God's word continues to shine forth. 

Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide - Guy Prentiss Waters (Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi) - Even before the reformation the Bible was seen as authoritative. The Reformation challenged the idea that other authorities in the church were seen as equivalent to Scripture: veneration of Mary and saints, purgatory. Calvin upheld creeds and councils of the church. He simply wanted to surrender these to Scripture. Justification by faith has been taught by Roman Catholic church but it is seen as a lifelong process rather than a point in time justification. Thus, grace is progressive throughout a person's life, even leading up to advancing more after they die in purgatory. Reformers taught that our justification is not based on our deeds, but what Jesus has done. This justification produces good works and not a license to sin. 

The Geography of the Reformation - Ryan Reeves (associate professor of historical theology and assistant dean of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) - The land of the reformation speaks to how our nations have embraced or rejected the Reformation. Germany was still the Holy Roman Empire in the 1500s. The emperor was elected by seven electors throughout Germany. It was the Habsburg dynasty that held title then and later to Napoleon. Luther went on trial at the Diet of Worms and yet Frederick, an elector believed his condemnation was not just and Luther was allowed to remain leader of the Lutheran church for 25 years rather than being executed. Nearby what we know as Switzerland today was Geneva, a city somewhat separate from rulers. The Netherlands was also separate from the influence of foreign rulers. A separation occurred with the North kind to Calvin and the South largely Roman Catholic. The biggest rival to Germany was France led by Francis I, a humanist initially kind to Calvin but later mocked him. England seemed least likely to embrace Protestantism if not for Henry VII taking the crown. He wanted to root out Protestantism, but he had conflict with the Roman Catholic church when he wanted to divorce his wife after her miscarriages and marry his brother's wife.  England's rival to the north was Scotland. Jon Know fled to Scotland but then had an adversary in Mary, Queen of Scots until she had to flee to England after the murder of her husband. Reform began and King James VI supported the English Bible translation that bears his name. Presbyterian was established in Scotland by Knox's death in 1572. 

The Women of the Reformation - Rebecca Vandoodewaard (mother and blogger and author of several books) - Interesting article that is a good reminder that while the men of the faith tend to get all of the notoriety because of their writings, there are women there supporting them, teaching children, and ministering as well to men that come to visit. In many ways, a man's vocation is singular while a woman's is much more multi-faceted and engaging in many different activities. Katharina Luther (1499-1552), wife of Martin Luther; Anna Bullinger (1504-1564), wife of Heinrich Bullinger (head of the church of Zurich);  queen Jeanne d' Albret (1528-1572); Katharina von Zimmern (1478-1547); Marguerite de Navarre (1492-1549); Katharina Zell (1497-1562); Charlotte de Mornay (1550-1606). 

Continuing the Reformation - W. Robert Godfrey (President and Professor of Westminster Seminary California) - We need to continually be about "reformed and always reforming." "We also agree with the Reformers that various traditions of the church, from ancient and medieval times, drifted away from the Word of God and therefore had to be reformed or corrected by the Bible." We do make changes in history of how the message of truth engages with culture. John Calvin believed in a state religion while others today believe in a separation. Remember, the great commission is the program for the church. Christ has authority always over the church. We are to preach, teach, and baptize. We are to preach all of Christ and His teachings. Jesus will always be us. 

The Examined Life - Rev. Jason Helopoulos (senior pastor of Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan) - We must always examine our ways and life. Socrates stated, "The unexamined life is not worth living." Our adversary distracts us with the cares of this world. It is okay to enjoy things, but don't let that enjoyment take over your life. "What am I living for?" "What is the final destination of my soul?" Death will impact everyone. May we examine the state of our soul. 

When Temptation Comes Knocking - Melissa R. Kruger (women's ministry coordinator at Uptown Church in Charlotte, NC) - I Corinthians 10:13 remains a great verse reminder about temptation. Today I want to focus on the phrase, "common to man" and how much my pride doesn't want to know this. Instead my pride wants to think that my experiences are unique, different from others, so that people will sympathize more when they hear my circumstance and also understand better when I give into sin. But the Spirit wants to show me that others have faced this and I can be like them and get out of the sin. The key is that in our temptation, Christ is there, and I can choose instead to walk in His ways. 

What Should I Do - Thomas Brewer (Managing editor of Tabletalk magazine) - We ask ourselves this question in many different forms a lot. God gives us freedom but we need to stay in His parameters even when it comes to eating, working, traveling, and living. Remember I Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Do the basics at the very least. 

Love the Church Over Its Health - Dr. Jonathan Leeman (editorial director of 9Marks; elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC) - As leaders and people in church we need to remember people are at church and they need our love. We need to not be so shut off towards people that disobey or do things in an unorthodox way, like allowing their unregenerate children to observe the Lord's Supper. This should mean to us that we need to do a better job educating them, but in the meantime people still need to be loved. We do this because of what Christ has done for us, not because of what they do. 

Daily Gifts - Nathan W. Bingham (vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries) - My oldest daughter is having a birthday. Birthday signs are overhead and she will receive gifts. Parents will experience this joy of seeing this from their kids. Gifts are free, but often we receive gifts with ingratitude, preferring something else or boasting, very proud that we have it. We often boast in life, over our achievements and yet scripture says, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord (I Cor. 1:31)." The Christian life is a gift. Every breath is a gift. Prayer is a gift as well, giving thanks to God. This is the Christian's daily anthem. 

Why We Protest - R. Albert Mohler Jr. ((President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky) - 500 years ago, the Reformation affirmed that the Bible alone is the final, infallible authority for life and doctrine (Sola Scriptura). This gave reformers courage to separate from Rome. The inspiration, inerrancy, and authority of Scripture was under attack then and it continues today. After the Reformation came the Enlightenment period which dominated Europe (17th and early 18th centuries) with the claim that only scientific data (not scripture through special revelation) can be objectively understood, objectively defined, and objectively defended; it did not allow for special revelation or the possibility of supernatural intervention in history. The church in crisis, it continues. In the US, pragmatism voiced that truth is relative to the time, place, need, and person. Truth is a matter of social negotiation. Ideas are tools and their truthfulness determined whether it meets the particular needs of the time. And then postmodernism continues the assault on truth. Postmodernists are committed to total war on truth itself -- a deconstructionist project bent on the casting down of all religious, philosophical, political, and cultural authorities. But as Christians, we must return to the doctrine of revelation - having confidence in God's word in spite of the philosophical and theological problems of the age. God speaks. And He speaks to us in a way we can understand, revealing Himself. As such, the people of God remain in crisis; the war against the authority and truth of Scripture remains. Even in our evangelical institutions, the full truth of the Bible is challenged. For the Christian, the Reformer, the disciple, the Christ follower, scripture is the ultimate authority for life and doctrine. We must stay adhered to Scripture in our preaching. And so we protest - for Scripture to be rightly proclaimed, the church built up, and the message of the gospel reach to every corner of the earth. The health of the church is directly connected to the strength of our commitment to the authority and truthfulness of Scripture.

The Ninety-Five Theses - Martin Luther, October 31, 1517 - 1,2,3 - a life of repentance, not penance, inward, but also outward. 4,5,6,7 - Penalty of sin continues; the Pope cannot remit penalties or guilt, but pope can grant remission. God remits guilt. 8 - Penitential (penances) canons only on living. 9 - Holy spirit works through the Pope. 10,11,12. no Purgatory penances. 13,14,15 - The Dying freed from all penalties; imperfect love of dying brings fear. 16, 17, 18, 19 - Hell, Purgatory, Heaven differ; souls in purgatory; outside of ability to increase love or able to increase blessings; 20, 21, 22, 23 - Pope has limit to full remission of sins. Pope cannot free all. Pope remits not for those in purgatory. Remission only granted to most perfect (few). 24, 25, 26, 27 - People deceived to hear promise of release (by Pope) from penalty. No power over purgatory. Pope can only intercede. The soul can't be fly out of purgatory. 28 to 32 - Only power of God to intercede for church. no one can be sure of his own contrition. true repentant man is rare. those who think they are pardoned or sure of their salvation will be condemned eternally. 33, 34, 35, 36 - men must guard against thinking the pope reconciles people to God. only grace pope gives is sacramental pardons. every person must be truly repentant to be have full remission. 37, 38, 39, 40 - God grants benefits, not letters of pardon. 38 - Yet church remission and participation still needed by the pope; most educated it is difficult to grant pardons; true contrition seeks and loves penalties; 41, 42, 43, 44 - papal indulgences with caution; people should not think they are preferred; pope does not intend buying of pardons; better to give to poor or lend to needy; love works; 45, 46, 47, 48 - if see a man in need and passes him to give him money for pardon is an indignation; use money wisely, free will buying of pardons only not commandment; the pope needs prayer more than money; 49 to 54 - do not trust in pope's pardons; keep fearing God. no value in indulgence preachers; assurance of salvation by letter of pardon in vain; need to preach the Word of God not prefer preaching of pardons; 55 - the gospel is the greatest thing to be preached; 56, 57, and 58 - treasures of church, temporal treasure; grace inner, cross, death, hell for outward man; 59, 60 - St. Laurence treasure is church's poor; keys of church are that treasure; 61 to 66 pope power is sufficient for remission of penalties; most treasure is Holy Gospel of grace of God; makes first last; treasure of indulgences makes last first; so treasure gospel; fish for men; 67 to 72 - indulgences preachers cry are to promote gain; but actually smallest graces; admit papal pardons with reverence; pope's commission valued; don't preach against papal pardons; guard against lust/license of pardon preachers; 73 to 78 - harm to traffic pardons; madness to consider papal pardon of an impossible sin; pope does not remove venial sins; pope should focus on gospel. 79 to 89 - the work of the cross is greatest value; then mentions questions voiced that are voiced by the pope instead of gospel. 90 to 95 - Christians are to be diligent in following Christ, enter heaven through tribulation rather than false assurance of peace. 

My Utmost for His Highest - April 19th - Is It Not in the Least Likely?

Now the news came to Joab, for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he had not followed Absalom. And Joab fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar. - I Kings 2:28

    Joab stood the big test, he remained absolutely loyal and true to David and did not turn after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom, but yet towards the end of his life he turned after the craven Adonijah. Always remain alert of he fact that where one man has gone back is exactly where anyone may go back (see 1 Cor. 10:11-13). You have gone through the big crisis, now be alert over the least things; take in calculation the "retired sphere of the leasts."

    We are apt to say--"It is not in the least likely that having been through the supreme crisis, I shall turn now to the things of the world." Do not forecast where the temptation will come, it is the least likely thing that is the peril. In the aftermath of a great spiritual transaction the "retired sphere of the leasts" begins to tell; it is not dominant, but remember it is there, and if you are not warned, it will trip you up. You have remained true to God under great and intense trials, now beware of the undercurrent. Do not be morbidly introspective, looking forward with dread, but keep alert; keep your member bright before God. Unguarded strength is double weakness because that is where the "retired sphere of the leasts" saps. The Bible characters fell on their strong points, never on their weak ones.

    "Kept by the power of God (I Peter 1:5)"--that is the only safety.

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

- Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition. 

My thoughts

He talked of being ready always to hear His voice -- in the previous devotional, and now today we need to be alert to temptation. Temptations often hit us in the little areas, and then they become big. Beware. Yet, do not examine yourself, as if you are looking for it. Be careful examining the sin too much. I've seen this. At times it leads me into allowing the sin into my life. 

News

Jordan Wesley Birthday 1996

My Utmost for His Highest - March 27th - Vision By Personal Character

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” - Revelation 4:1

An elevated mood can only come out of an elevated habit of personal character. If in the externals of your life you live up to the highest you know, God will continually say--"Friend, go up higher (Luke 14:10)." The golden rule in temptation is--Go higher. When you get higher up,  you face other temptations and characteristics. Satan uses the strategy of elevation in temptation, and God does the same, but the effect is different. When the devil puts you into an elevated place, he makes you screw your idea of holiness beyond what flesh and blood could ever bear, it is a spiritual acrobatic performance, you are just poised and dare not move; but when God elevates you by His grace into the heavenly places, instead of finding a pinnacle to cling to, you find a great table-land where it is easy to move. 

Compare this week in your spiritual history with the same week last year and see how God has called you up higher. We have all been brought to see from a higher standpoint. Never let God give you one point of truth which you do not instantly live up to. Always work it out, keep in the light of it. 

Growth in grace (2 Peter 3:18) is measured not by the fact that you have not gone back, but that you have an insight into where you are spiritually; you have heard God say 'Come up higher," not to you personally, but to the insight of your character. 

"Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do (Genesis 18:17)?" God has to hide from us what He does until by personal character we get to the place where He can reveal it. 

Oswald Chambers - From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

- Underlines and highlights are courtesy of Mom from her Print Edition

Luke 4:1-13 - Obedience in Temptation

Luke 4:1-13

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days; and when they had ended, he became hungry. And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone.'" And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, "I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be yours." And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'" And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will give His angels charge concerning You to guard You.' and 'On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.'" And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 

And when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. 

Message: Obedience in Temptation

Time: Luke, a non-Jew, written in Theophilus, by a physician, is a careful chronological rendering of the events of Christ's life. Luke takes his writing from primary sources - those people who had witnessed the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Luke wrote this probably from 58-60 AD as he accompanied Paul. His second volume was Acts. He writes of salvation to all men. 

What the Lord is Saying:

Christ Alone or He alone saves. In this we have studied that Jesus is the God incarnate creator, has a human nature, is the last Adam according to the principle as our Federal Head and that of being in Christ, is the True Israel, Messiah or God's anointed, rescuing or delivering us from the discord between God and Man, and always obeyed His Father and never failed, discharging our debt before God and paying the penalty for our sins. This obedience included baptism. And now this obedience included resisting temptations. 

All of Jesus' days He kept the commandments of God. Hebrews 5:8-10 says, "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek." 

Paul called Jesus the new Adam, and as we have discussed He is the last Adam. Like Adam, Jesus faced temptations. Adam, in the garden, was tempted by Satan. God had given Adam the command of all that he was in charge of in the garden but not to eat of one tree. Satan came to Adam to tempt him to be like God. The alternative is to trust God. 

It is clear and obvious that after not eating, we are at our weakest. In my lifetime, I have only gone without food I can think of, for 1 day. Jesus went without food for 40 days. The danger when facing temptation is to try combat it alone. The model Jesus has given us is to resist it by looking to scripture. God's word is the only thing that can shield us or protect us from temptations that we experience. We must stand on the authority of scripture, as Jesus did. In resisting temptation, Jesus quoted scripture and succeeded where Adam had failed. 

Only looking at Jesus' answers is (1) we need food, but we need God to live, (2) we shall worship God and serve Him only, (3) you shall not put God to the test. Take God as He is. 

Promise: If we want to grow stronger against sin, we must grow in our understanding of God's Word. 

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for helping me return to Your word and rest in it. I need you Jesus and thank you for saving me and saving me alone. You are perfect and lived a perfect life. You paid the penalty I have incurred, discharging my debt before God. Thank you for showing me what it means to be obedient and resist what Satan throws at me and he continues to do this. He continues to try to forge an opening in my life, but keep me closet to You and Your word, reminding me of truths that I need. 

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 celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of May is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January was about the doctrine of God.

- The Divine Nature of Christ, The Human Nature of Christ, Jesus the Last Adam, Jesus the True Israel, Jesus the Messiah, Obedience in Childhood, Obedience in Baptism, Obedience in Temptation

James 1:12-18 - The Goodness of God

James 1:12-18
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

Message: The Goodness of God

Time: James is thought to be the brother of Jesus. He did not follow Jesus while he was on the earth, but became a follower and leader of the church at Jerusalem after Jesus' resurrection. It is written about AD 45-48. It is practical application of living a holy life. Faith produces a real change in a person.

What the Lord is Saying:

Our creator is incapable of doing evil. Instead God can only do good. Trials or difficult times are a part of the live that we live on earth. James points out that Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. So the person who perseveres under a trial is blessed. I've often personally said that trials are times of being mad, sad, and then glad. The calling card though of being human is experiencing trials. Jesus after being baptized immediately experienced trials for 40 days.

In the realm of trials James wants to clarify that God is not tempting us. God is never the agent in moving us away from righteousness.  Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. While God doesn't tempt us from righteousness He is a God that carries out His justice. He is good and just. Divine justice serves God's goodness to his creation.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above. James is remarking that people were often putting God's goodness to trial.

God is good toward his people, working out all things for the good of His people (Romans 8:28). He manifests goodness in punishing our sins. God still loves what is good but as a judge of evil His believers are judged in Christ. God disciplines us for our own good. He has mercy toward us.

While God is good and he never has anything to do with tempting us, He does discipline us. Discipline may produces a trial in our lives. But, trials that are a result of sin are nothing that God directly does to us.

Promise: Let us proclaim all aspects of God's goodness and call people to repent so that they will receive God's goodness and mercy.

Prayer: Lord, there are a lot of truths here that you are expressing to me. You are a good God and yet you discipline me because you do not want to see your people stray from truth. You don't tempt people an cause them in any way to do evil. Thank you for the trials in my life that are there for you teaching me and thank you for using all things in my life to work together for good. Help me to keep my focus on You at all times and lean on You and trust You. I thank you for mornings for when I am sharp and focused on You.

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.

Mark 1:12-13 - Tempted in the Wilderness

Mark 1:12-13
12 Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness.13 And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.

Message: Tempted in the Wilderness

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:

Immediately after being baptized the Spirit impelled or drove Him to go out in the wilderness. It wasn't that Jesus didn't want to go there, but he was led by the Spirit. This expresses to me the work of the Spirit not only in Jesus' life, but also in my life. Mark uses a stronger word than Matthew and Luke. But, the idea is the Spirit led Him. I think it could probably be described many times in my own life that the Spirit has led me. In the mall there were times when the Spirit did indeed led my friend and to specific people. As I looked previously in verse 8 about being baptized by the Spirit, I saw that the Spirit convicts people of sin, enlightens and teaches, comforts in the absence of Jesus, and changes hearts. The Spirit is present in my life. As I train myself daily for Godliness (I Timothy 4:7), the Spirit leads me and directs me to paths I need to take.

Here, Jesus is taken into the wilderness And He was in the wilderness for forty days being tempted by Satan. 

• Israel was tempted for 40 years in the same wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:1-2)
• Moses, the representative of Israel, spent 40 days on Mount Sinai at a critical point in his ministry (Exodus 24:15-18)
• Elijah, a representative old covenant prophet, stayed 40 days in the wilderness (I Kings 19:1-8)

Thus, Jesus' time in the wilderness, 40 days, is a parallel to the history of Israel.

Jesus was tempted by Satan. It is interesting that Mark is brief in his description of this temptation. Matthew gives us much more detail. While Mark is brief, he must have been intentional. He mentions that Jesus was with the wild beasts and the angels were ministering to him. Thus, it was Satan tempting with wild beasts and the angels were present. It could be that he had left Nazareth for the first time when he came to be baptized and now he was being tempted with wild beasts. He was in an unfamiliar place. His senses were being assaulted from every dimension. Yet, he was not alone. God provided angels to minister to him.

These verses, in a simple manner, are a reminder that even in the midst of temptation, God is there and we don't go it alone. We have help. There is a temptation to provide all of the details of the other gospels, but I somewhat want to understand Mark's telling, almost as if I don't have the other descriptions from the other gospels. Just looking at this from Mark, the Spirit led, Satan tempted, the angels ministered. To me, it is a great reminder that despite the temptations and wild beasts, the angels ministered to Jesus. It could have been that the temptation period lasted for a period, with wild beasts present, and afterwards, recovery occurred by the angels ministering to him.

Promise: In this description there is no mention of sin. There is no mention of failure. The specifics, maybe are not necessary. It was clearly difficult, but I think Mark wants to show that Jesus is not alone. He is led and the angels minister to him. God provides everything he needed in this difficult circumstance.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the brief description that Mark provides that actually still has an abundance of information. You Lord are present. You provide me what I need in difficult circumstances as you provided Jesus' what he needs. Remind me more of this. Always remind me that I am not alone through life's difficulties. Please remind my children of this as well. More and more I hear of people needing substances, such as drugs of different types, to deal with the anxieties present in this world. But, Lord you are there. Help them to surrender to you, and may the Spirit of God be present in their lives and the angels be active in ministering to them, helping them stay afoot.

Proverbs 6:27-29 - Fire Safety

Proverbs 6:27-29
27 

27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest
and his clothes not be burned?
28 Or can one walk on hot coals
and his feet not be scorched?
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife;
none who touches her will go unpunished.

Message: Fire Safety

Time: King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon's proverbs were penned around 900 B.C. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

What the Lord is Saying:

The message in these verses is simple: "Don't play with fire; if you do, you will get burned." Verse 27 is almost a verse a humor acknowledging the ridiculous of carrying fire next to his person and yet thinking that he can do this and not get burned. We often do the same with sin. We listen to music that we know has a bad message, but I remember saying as a kid, I just ignore the words and enjoy the music. We do the same with TV shows and movies, loving parts, and saying we ignore the rest. But, it is having an affect on us.

These verses are a caution statement to the sin in our lives. Most notably here is the sin of adultery. It amazes me how much the Bible is a book about avoiding sexual sin. And yet we find ourselves living in a day and age when sexual immorality and temptations is everywhere in our world. As a man, I see that I am weak in those areas. Perhaps it was being tempted to look at a magazine when I was a young man, before the age of 10 and then again in middle school when my hormones were on high alert. And this temptation has carried with me in life, despite having a beautiful and wonderful wife who fulfills all of my needs and desires. It continues. The temptation continues despite my circumstances. The media puts out the message continually because they know it is something that people want and desire. Hugh Hefner just died and in many ways he is thought to be a revolutionary person and yet he gave permission to something that really was a taboo throughout scripture, but he helped normalize it so that the sin became acceptable behavior.

This is the danger I have seen with sin in the 21st century and post 1960's, it is the rewriting of it, to make it seem acceptable. We have focused instead on "If it feels good, do it" and even the idea of tolerance in which we respect anyone's desire to like whatever they desire. We are riding down a slippery slope and in many ways, getting further away from God as a country (USA). And many people don't care because as long as our comfort, safety, and entertainment is in check, we don't care about what is going on around us.

It's an interesting sin in society. We have so many messages that joke about it, but we still call out people that get caught in these behaviors. A famous Hollywood producer just got caught because he pressured women to be involved with him (the accusation). I don't think the act is being judged but rather what is being judged is the infringement of another person's rights. It's just so ironic when it is a message that is continually sold in society.

The message here is clear: don't go near it. Stay far from it. That's the only way to get out unscathed.

Promise: Knowing our own weaknesses, we should avoid those occasions, people, or places where we might find ourselves playing with the fire of sin. If we do not do that, we will set ourselves up for failure and compromise the holiness to which God calls us.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the truth of your word, even words written by a man that lived about 3000 years ago still resonate with us today. Despite our advances in a myriad of ways these same principles hold true to our lives. Lord, give us your power to resist these sins. Lead us not into temptation. When we do sin, deliver us from evil. Thank you for being a God of forgiveness and cleaning us from all impurity. Now, help us to walk each new day - clean.

Proverbs 7:21-27 - The Gatekeeper of Death

Proverbs 7:21-27
With her many persuasions she entices him; with her flattering lips she seduces him.
Suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as fetters to the discipline of a fool,
Until an arrow pierces through his liver; as a bird hastens to the snare, so he does not know that it his life.

Now therefore, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth.
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths.
For many are the victims she has cast down, and numerous are all her slain.
Her house is the way to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.

Message:  The Gatekeeper of Death

Time: King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon's proverbs were penned around 900 B.C. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Background
For me, the crux of the first 20 verses of Proverbs 7 is the pleading from a father to his son to treasure the commandments that he is passing along. Treasure the words of the sage, of the Father God. Stay close to them. Adhere to  them in your life, for only then will you be able to withstand the temptations that will be present in this life. And temptations will be many. But, the sexual temptations, or the carrying away of ourselves to abandon our principles will be the strongest. We can't even give them a moment. The door opens when we allow ourselves to be in a dangerous environment. For the young boy, it is walking down the road of the adulteress, where she lives. There are other ways to get to our destination, so we should not even go there. 

The Problem
These remaining verses catapult the encounter and we get to witness first hand what is in store for the person that gets pulled away. I must admit, as a man, these verses resonate with me because I am pulled away too easily, it would seem. The clothing manufacturers have continued to make clothing that simply show off too much of a woman. I struggle with my eyes and it is a struggle when people are bending over in front of you or wearing short dresses. I'm captivated by my wife, but would prefer it in the privacy of my own home. It's really a horrible thing for the man to live with for it is everywhere. And the phone makes it worse. It is too easily accessible. Thus, the title of this message: the gatekeeper of death.

Studying this passage
Verse 21 begins "with her many persuasions." Again, these to me are not just verbal, but they are visual persuasions. They could be a glance, an alluring look, but most likely they are the way a person carries oneself. 'Many persuasions' also speaks to the many different ways we are confronted with this. The temptation now shows itself in so many different ways. But also in these verses is the inference that the person is reluctant because "she entices" and "she seduces." Thus, even in these verses, one could apply I Corinthians 10:13 in that there is a way out when the temptation presents itself.

And then the striking words of verse 22 "suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to slaughter." The road to death is set. The man is walking it. He is captivated, and yet, his life will never be the same. The visual expression of an ox going to slaughter is such an assault; it is such a picture of what the sin does to us. It because a drug that overtakes all of our senses. The ox is obviously not realizing his destination. The ox is being led somewhere that it is thought will only yield good outcomes. The "slaughter" represents the end, not the journey. But "he does not know it is his life." He is consumed with the moment, not the end. The consequences or results of this act are not overtaken by the momentary high.

And so the chapter ends the way it begins. There are words from the wise one to the son, "Listen to me" and "pay attention." Here is the reason: "Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways" and "do not stray into her paths." In these words is the idea I think of 1 Corinthians 10:13 and it is "don't go there." Don't put yourself in a position that is hard to come back from. Once the ox is on the way to the slaughter, it is too late. I must think about this in my life. For instance, I just realized that when I am down on life, or angry, then it is not good to have my phone with me and so, like going to bed - don't bring it to bed. Leave it in the other room. 

At the end of this passage is more ammunition. It is the father building the case. He hopes that the son would simply listen to his words. He would hope that this is compelling enough. But, he also then shows the son the results of the sinful lifestyle. This paints the picture of any addiction in our lives.

For many are the victims she has cast down, 
and numerous are all her slain.
Her house is the way to Sheol, 
descending to the chambers of death.

The language is final. They are victims. They are numerous. This is a problem many have. They are slain - again death. Her house is on the trek to death. Her house is lower than any person really wants to go. It should be clear, but instead deception has taken over. 

Promise: The foolish young man who heeds the call of the adulteress will find nothing but destruction in her arms.

Prayer: Oh Lord, I need help in this. I am not strong. I am too easily lured away. Once the sin starts, it just continues to be a problem. I'm embarrassed as to what this sin has done to me over the years. To think that I can be so easily enticed. Lord, place a hedge around me. I need your protection. Give me strength. Give me rest today. Lord, I want to be free. I hate the feeling of being a slave to it. I want to follow you. Help me Lord. 

Proverbs 7:1-20 - Wisdom and the Forbidden Woman

Proverbs 7:1-20
¹ My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.
² Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching as the apple of your eye.
³ Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding intimate friend;
⁵ That they may keep you from an adulteress, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.

⁶ For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice,
⁷ And I saw among the naive, discerned among the youths a young man lacking sense,
⁸ Passing through the street near her corner; and he takes the way to her house,
⁹ In the twilight, in the evening, In the middle of the night and the darkness.
¹⁰ And behold, a woman to meet him, dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart.
¹¹ She is boisterous and rebellious, her feet do not remain at home;
¹² now in the streets, now in the squares, and lurks by every corner.
¹³ So she seizes him and kisses him and with a brazen face she says to him:
¹⁴ “I was due to offer peace offerings; today I have paid my vows.
¹⁵ “Therefore I have come out to meet you, to seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you.
¹⁶ “I have spread my couch with coverings, with colored linens of Egypt.
¹⁷ “I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
¹⁸ “Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with caresses.
¹⁹ “For my husband is not at home, he has gone on a long journey;
²⁰ He has taken a bag of money with him, at the full moon he will come home.”

Message:  Wisdom and the Forbidden Woman

Time: King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon's proverbs were penned around 900 B.C. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

What the Lord is Saying:

Keep, Treasure, Bind

My son

• Keep my words
• Treasure my commandments
• Keep my commandments 
• And live
• Keep my teaching as the apple of my eye 
• Bind them on your fingers
• Write them on your heart
• Wisdom is my sister
• Understanding is my intimate friend

I look at these opening verses and its clear that a parents words hold value to our children. The words of those over us, that have wisdom have value to us. They are to be a treasure, or of value in our lives. These verses don't express mere listening. Listening is assumed. Words are to be kept. They are to be followed. They are to kept as I live. They are to be wrapped and memorized and held onto in our lives, in our heart. Foolishness comes when we live to our own way. Without the Holy Spirit at work, living in us, we look foolish. There is a desire for wisdom and understanding because it's worth is clearly seen. We want it.

Resist Temptation
Why is it so important to keep the words, and treasure these commands? Because sin is lurking. Sin is waiting. Temptations are near and all around. In this passage, the danger is personified in an adulteress, luring us away. While adultery is the subject here, the issue here is one of being enticed away. The purpose of adhering to the commandments is they:

• Keep you from an adulteress
• From the foreigner who flatters with words

This is the entire purpose of this passage, to keep us free from what is present in this world in which we live. The adultery is real. The foreigner is real. These are not people that may be present. They are present. They are active and present in our lives. And keeping the commandments and words are meant to keep us from these people, from being swayed away. People will flatter us with words, but we must keep God's word close to our heart.

Looking in the wrong places
The Father will now tell of a story, of a situation of a young man, lacking sense. And now we will see why this young man lacks sense.

He says, this young man was Passing through the street near her corner; and he takes the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, In the middle of the night and the darkness. This is huge. The young man didn't just go any way, but purposely passed through the street near the adulterers corner, taking the way to her house. And he was at night, in the middle of the night, amidst darkness. He put himself in harms way. He didn't take precautions. Maybe he thought he could handle it. Maybe he was going somewhere else, and had no intention of seeing the adulteress, but he put himself in the way. He gave in to his trigger. 

In life, we have to stay out of harm's way. 

And this woman shows all the danger signs: And behold, a woman to meet him, dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart. She is boisterous and rebellious, her feet do not remain at home; now in the streets, now in the squares, and lurks by every corner. This woman goes to meet him. She isn't waiting. And she is dressed for her role. She is cunning. She is boisterous and rebellious. She does not reside at home, but lives really in the streets. She may sleep at home, but she doesn't live at home. Her business is in the streets. 

Verses 13-20 focus on her seizing this young man, taking him back to her place. Her husband is gone so they can have fun. There is a big danger here. But, it started with the son not keeping the commandments, but desiring to go his own way. 

Promise: We are to stay close to keeping the commandments and treasuring them so we will be kept out of the wrong places and be able to resist temptations. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the clarity of you Word. Thank you for showing us the importance of staying close to your commands. You are concerned about my forever, not just my today. Help each of my family members, my children to be able to resist temptations. Give them the power to flee from things that will bring them down. Help them to keep commandments and treasure the words both that we put forth as parents and from the Words of the Lord. Place them in Christ. 

Psalm 78:40-66 - Idolatry and Restoration

Psalm 78:40-66

^40-44 How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert! Again and again they tempted God, and pained the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power, the day when He redeemed them from the adversary, when He performed His signs in Egypt and His marvels in the field of Zoan, and turned their rivers to blood, and their streams, they could not drink.
^45-51 He sent among them swarms of flies which devoured them, and frogs which destroyed them. He gave also their crops to the grasshopper and the product of their labor to the locust. He destroyed their vines with hailstones and their sycamore trees with frost. He gave over their cattle also to the hailstones and their herds to bolts of lightning. He sent upon them His burning anger, fury and indignation and trouble, a band of destroying angels. He leveled a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, but gave over their life to the plague, and smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the first issue of their virility in the tents of Ham.
^52-55 But He led forth His own people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock; He led them safely, so that they did not fear; but the sea engulfed their enemies. So He brought them to His holy land, to this hill country which His right hand had gained. He also drove out the nations before them and apportioned them for an inheritance by measurement, and made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents. 

^56-58 Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep His testimonies, But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers; they turned aside like a treacherous bow. For they provoked Him with their high places and aroused His jealousy with their graven images. 
^59-64 When God heard, He was filled with wrath and greatly abhorred Israel; So that He abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh, the tent which He had pitched among men, And gave up His strength to captivity and His glory into the hand of the adversary. He also delivered His people to the sword, and was filled with wrath at His inheritance. Fire devoured His young men, and His virgins had no wedding songs. His priests fell by the sword, and His widows could not weep.

^65-66 Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep, like a warrior overcome by wine. He drove His adversaries backward; He put on them an everlasting reproach.

Message: Idolatry and Restoration

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 some ways not much is different in this passage than what was presented in the previous reading from Psalm 78. This Psalm continues to speak of people rebelling, the Lord continues to guide them and yet people respond by turning their back on Him. And so God puts forth his wrath on people. And still he is merciful toward them.

There is an idea in these verses that seems a little baffling to me and that is that God isn't forcing himself on people. He is providing for them over and over and he believes that through this providence and his rescuing that people will find their refuge in Him. Sometimes his wrath will be displayed. He is a God who is to be praised, but the goal is for people to respond to Him. The goal is for each of us to turn from our ways and acknowledge Him as Lord and God.

They did not remember his power
In verses 40-44 this is the message I see. People did not see His power. We do this today. We look at weather and we have an explanation. We look at storms and we have an explanation. We look at all these events and we simply say there are patterns of weather that are making things happen. Sometimes we call this "Mother earth" but there is a growing trend to not call them acts of God. Our rebellion towards God must grieve Him. Man just doesn't acknowledge God's power. 

They went their own way
Also in verses 40-44 is the action of turning away from God. They rebelled against Him. They tempted God. They did not remember all God did for them. I get too distracted with the immediate and I forget the good times.

He tried to get their attention
In verses 45-51, God did things to these people. He used animals and weather, bad things to get their attention. If they don't acknowledge God, he will show them his power. But, no one wants to say these tornadoes or tsunami's or hurricanes come from the Lord. They only want a God that does good things to them. I don't blame them. When good happens, we are fine, but when bad happens we often turn away. It is only when the matter gets beyond our control that we turn to God.

He led his own people. 
There is a contrast here that God led his own people in verses 52-55. So far what I have read in this section is the people did not remember his power and they went their own way, yet God tried to get there attention and through it all he led them. God is leading us. God is leading us and often I need to remember this. I think I get too focused on what I see. He uses the sheep and shepherd idea here. The shepherd is always leading, but at times I go off track or I wander, but this doesn't mean God has stopped leading. I need to trust in God more through each day, each moment. I need to believe that He is at work. I stare too much at my surroundings and not enough at God. I live too much of my life focused on what I want and sometimes I forget to see what God has already provided and I forget to be thankful.

Yet, we turn aside
Verses 56-58 speak that even though God led his people, we rebel. I am a sinner. I sin. I doubt and I question God. He knows this is going to happen. He knows I will rebel and not keep commandments, turn back and act unbecoming to people around me. And through it all I also start looking to other things that I think will satisfy me. 

God can get mad
And I need to remember that God can be bothered at times by my actions as it describes in verses 59-64.  I need to remember that I measure myself each day not against other people but against Jesus and his standard. And if I'm not perfect, I'm a sinner and I deserve his wrath. I spend too much time looking at other people and what they have and wonder why I don't have the same thing. Help me God to be more focused on my relationship with you and not on other people and what they have or don't have. Everyone is different and my job is to trust you with where I am at right now. I can pray for something better and it may result but through it all I can trust you. And if bad things happen, you have your reasons. This nature gets further from you and we now have more natural disasters and more people killing one another and you are showing us racism is a problem and yet we act surprised when things don't go well. Lord, could you be mad at us? If so, help us see that the answer is us to follow you.

God hasn't left
In these final 2 verses, I remember God that you are still there. You haven't left. From my vantage point, you coming to the rescue looks like to me that you finally woke up. But you never sleep. Again, Lord, help me trust in You.


Promise: No matter what, God rescues His people.

Job 1 - The Trials of Job

Job 1
    There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
    Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.
    Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and  behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

Message: The Trials of Job

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:

I've always enjoyed this chapter and studied it often. I have many notes in my Bible about it. There is much debate as to the dating of this book. I'm not sure what to conclude. It's possible that this is a story and not even true. Would that matter?

Description of Job
I often like how Job is described in verse 1. He is (1) blameless, (2) upright, (3) fearing God, (4) turning away from evil. He almost sounds like a Christlike figure. He is blameless so he is innocent of wrongdoing. He is upright or honest and true to His word. He fears God. He turns from evil.

He has 10 children and his possessions are not measured by gold or silver, but by the number of livestock that he has. He had many servants. He was a wealthy businessman.

Job was a man of piety. He loves his children and he prayed for them. He made offerings for them on their account. Their sins were his responsibility. He sought pardon for them, for their known sin and what he did not know of them. They were children. They had wealth and they loved feasts. They drank aplenty.

God and Satan Talk
Again, Job was blameless, upright, feared God, and turned from evil. And evil was brought against him often. Verse 6 picks up on a meeting, probably from above, in the invisible world, between Satan and God. Satan and his entourage have been roaming about the earth, looking for people to sway away from the Lord and worship Satan and his ways. God diverts their attention to Job. The text doesn't say that Satan is looking for people, but he is roaming, so I think it is inferred.

This is interesting. God shows Satan Job. Could it be that because Job was upright, he could handle Satan's work? Satan is fallen and will work, so God turns Job to him. He knows that the strong one will not be swayed. Satan is challenged to do his worst; man to do his best.

Satan makes a guess as to why Job is so great: he has been given a lot of good, family, and possessions and he has protection from God's enemies. Satan thinks he may have faith because he has great provision. God gives him permission to put him to the test.

The Trial
Job's messengers come to him while he is feasting with his family and begins to tell him bad news.(1) The oxens and donkeys have been taken and the servants have been killed by Sabeans; (2) fire burned up the sheep and servants, killing them; (3) the Chaldeans took the camels and servants and slew them; (4) a strong wind came and struck a house with your children in it and they died.

The Response
Job worshiped God and said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

Promise: Job understands that God is sovereign and everything we gain and everything we lose falls under the sovereign ordination of our Creator.

Proverbs 5:1-14 - The Trap of Adultery

Proverbs 5:1-14
¹ My son, give attention to my wisdom, incline your ear to my understanding;
² That you may observe discretion and your lips may reserve knowledge.
³ For the lips of an adulteress drip honey and smoother than oil is her speech;
⁴ But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
⁵ Her feet go down to death,  her steps take hold of Sheol.
⁶ She does not ponder the path of life; her ways are unstable, she does not know it.

⁷ Now then, my sons, listen to me and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
⁸ Keep your way far from her and do not go near the door of her house,
⁹ Or you will give your vigor to others and your years to the cruel one;
¹⁰ And strangers will be filled with your strength and your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien; 

 ¹¹ And you groan at your final end, when your flesh and your body are consumed;
¹² And you say, “How I have hated instruction! And my heart spurned reproof!
¹³ “I have not listened to the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to my instructors!
¹⁴ “I was almost in utter the midst of the assembly and congregation.”

Message: The Trap of Adultery

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:

The focus of today's passage is on adultery. This is long because it is meant to be clear. This is not fire to play with.

One thing that I looked at and noticed in my study yesterday of Proverbs 1, was that people are enticed and taken away by something often in their life. I often call this a temptation or that I have wandered off path and are engaging in sin. In actuality, in the Bible, this is referred to as having an idol in our lives. Idolatry is anything in our lives that we do to bring us joy and we do it in order to give us peace about life. We do it to give us joy. Our joy is not found in Christ, but it is found in this other thing that isn't just a part of our life but it becomes often what keeps us going. It becomes what we spend our money on or what we spend most of our time on. It becomes what we think about. And over time, God and His word are replaced more and more. No longer am I surrendering to God and His word and thinking that God's word is the highest source of good in my life. Now, I see this idol as that which can give me joy.

Their is idolatry in: video games, TV watching, Movie watching, eating, shopping, music, smoking, drinking alcohol, drugs, friends. There are many different idols in our lives, some not even so sin apparent.

This is rampant in our lives. The idol could be anything and often with people, it is anything. And yet what most people find, when they are honest with themselves is this idol does not necessarily bring them lasting joy. There isn't a peace in life like there is when Christ is on the throne. Testimonies from people resonate this when they say, "I tried ........ and it never brought complete satisfaction, but then I turned my life over to Christ and let Him take the reins and life became fulfilled."

In Proverbs 1:10-19 the enticement was friends that lured the pupil away to do things that were impure. The passage spoke of evil things but that evil could be anything. The key was it was with the wrong people, doing bad stuff, and that bad stuff ended up having a consequence. The last phrase of verse 19 says, "It takes away the life of its possessors." It's end is death. And today in this passage is immediately an equal warning as Solomon says in verse 5, "her feet go down to death; her steps take hold of Sheol."

What is it that I have done in my life to try and replace God in order to give me the peace and enjoyment that only He can bring? For me, money comes to mind. It's not that I have a lot, necessarily, but I often think that if I just had enough then life would be simpler. I say this because our wants are abundant and so I think that by having those things that I desire, and my family desires, that then I will be satisfied. Yet, I know it will be momentary because our desires never cease.

Very Important Subject Matter
First of all, I like how Solomon begins. Son, (1) Give your attention to me. Not an easy task sometimes in life to get someone to concentrate on what the other person is saying. Solomon clearly is saying that "I have something important to say. (2) Incline your ear to my understanding. Bend your ear not just to listen, but understand. We hear a lot of things each day, but how much do we really internalize or then practice? Solomon is saying to his pupils, what I have to say is meant to be followed. (3) That you may observe discretion. Retain these words in your heart. These words are my counsel to you. (4) Your lips may reserve knowledge. Literally, this is "Thy lips shall keep." This is life long understanding. This is life long "watch out." This is not momentary or just for a season. This is long-term. You need to be able to speak these words back to me. This is how important these words are. You need to be able to state this in your own words.

Warning
Verse 3 is interesting for the translation I have used has translated the word zur to mean adulteress. Zur is translated in the KJV as strange. The meaning is this is an apostate Israelite woman gone over to the idolatrous impurities of heathen religion. The idea of adultery here is someone that has traded in something they have been called to be for something else. It is not necessarily speaking of a woman that has started out with a husband and decided that her husband did not satisfy her desires, for whatever reason, and so is seeking out something else, not God-given, but what man has provided. God has been traded in for what people think is something better.

James 4:4 is a verse I have tried to memorize. It says, "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James is speaking to people that have chosen to trade or replace God with the things of the world and for this he speaks to the people as adulterers.

This is significant because what is being spoken of here is not simply reserved for married people that are seeking after other people in their life and are practicing sex with someone else in their life. It is true that is adultery. God has given you a gift of a mate and you are saying to God, "The gift that you gave me is not what I think I need; I choose someone else and I think that person will fulfill my needs."

The application then for Proverbs 5 is far reaching. Adultery here is actually treason or any idol that we might have in our life.

And the idol or whatever we are being tempted to have in our life drips with honey. It is sweet. It is appealing. It suits my tastes. It drips honey and smoother than oil is her speech.  I can see why the word adulteress was chosen because this woman is using flattering speech, smooth talk, offering something which man desires, alluring speech. This is not, "Come over and clean the toilet" no this is come experience your wildest dreams. 

Not as it appears
Verses 4-6 then basically say, "things are not as they appear." Though this strange woman has spoken with flattery and allured you in her direction, in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps take hold of Sheol. She does not ponder the path of life; her ways are unstable, she does not know it. 

Wormwood is an herb and an eastern medicine this was looked upon as being poisonous. Wormwood is the complete opposite of wormwood. It reminds me of the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the man that lured people by showing them sweet candy on his truck and then when they crawled in the truck it turned into a cell block. It went from sweetness to being a prisoner. 

Solomon says it affects the body (feet go down to death) and affects the soul (steps take hold of Sheol/grave/hell). Idols in our life don't just want a part of our life, but they want your entire life. She does not ponder the path of life. In her is not a big picture. If we could see our entire life in a moment, upon making a decision, it would affect our decision making. There are ramifications for our choices, but if we train ourselves into not looking at those consequences then over time we no longer have any long-term perspective thinking.

Heinrich Albert Schultens (1749-1793) stated that the design of the wise man seems to be, to point out the inconstancy, irregularity, and wickedness, of the strange woman's life. Her ways are inconstant; she is not attached to her husband, or to any one man, but abandons herself to the first comer; has neither knowledge, wisdom, nor discernment; she has no other rule than her passion, no other end than her pleasure. She is profligate, and wholly lost; affected neither by the fear of God, nor the care of her own salvation.

Second Warning
As if one warning was not enough, Solomon gives a second warning. This is a very significant event. In verse 7 and 8 he states further to: (1) Listen to me; He said previously that he wanted the pupil's attention and wanted his ear bent to understand. He says again, "listen to me." Listen to what I am going to tell you. The pupil will now hear of the consequence. (2) Do not depart from the words of my mouth; Don't choose the path; do not depart from my words. (3) Keep your way far from her; The last warning I saw in Proverbs 1:10-19 was Keep your feet from their path. With this issue the feet are to be far from the path. (4) Do not go near the door of her house. To clarify further, do not even go near the door of the house. We all know that going inside is a disaster, but do not even go near the door. 

A Hard Life
In a way this final part is similar to "God gave them over" found in Romans 1 (one of my favorite passages). The warnings have occurred. The danger sign is in place. "Keep Out" has been posted. But, if that isn't enough, he will now detail the results of going down that wrong path.

Or you will give your vigor to others and your years to the cruel one - Your strength; your person; your life and your future, will be handed over to the cruel one. The idea of vigor is what your life has meant thus far. Other translations use the word honor. Who you are is being given away. 

And strangers will be filled with your strength and your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien. Everything you have worked for is gone.  

And you groan at your final end, when your flesh and your body are consumed; And you say, “How I have hated instruction! And my heart spurned reproof! I have not listened to the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to my instructors! I was almost in utter the midst of the assembly and congregation.” Pride has taken over. Recovery in this moment is practically hopeless. 

Promise: Beware. Beware. Beware. Adultery always has destructive consequences.