I Chronicles 21

David ordered Joab to number Israelverses 1-2

And Satan stood up against Israel

and provoked David to number Israel

And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people

Go – number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan

bring the number of them to me that I may know it

Joab resists taking censusverse 3

And Joab

answered

The LORD make HIS people an hundred times

so many more as they be – but – my lord the king

Are they not all my lord’s servants?

why then does my lord require this thing?

why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

Joab took census of Israelverses 4-6

Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab

wherefore Joab departed – and went throughout all Israel

and came to Jerusalem

And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David

and all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and

an hundred thousand men that drew sword

But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them

for the king’s word was abominable to Joab

David asks LORD for forgiveness for censusverses 7-8

And God was displeased with this thing

THEREFORE HE smote Israel

And David said to God

I have sinned greatly – BECAUSE I have done this thing

BUT now – I beseech YOU

do away the iniquity of YOUR servant

for I have done very foolishly

LORD sends prophet Gad with three choicesverses 9-10

And the LORD spoke to Gad – David’s seer

saying

Go and tell David

saying

Thus says the LORD – I offer you three things

choose you one of them – that I may do it to you

Gad gives David three choicesverses 11-12

So Gad came to David

and said to him

Thus says the LORD

Choose you

Either three years’ famine

or three months to be destroyed before your foes

while that the sword of your enemies

overtakes you

or three days the sword of the LORD

even the pestilence in the land – in the land

and the angel of the LORD destroying

throughout all the coasts of Israel

Now therefore advise yourself what word I shall bring again to

HIM that sent me

David chooses being in hand of LORDverse 13

And David

said to Gad

I am in a great strait – let me fall now into the hand of the LORD

for very great are HIS mercies

BUT let me not fall into the hand of man

Angel of the LORD kills 70,000 peopleverses 14-15

So the LORD sent pestilence on Israel

and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men

And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it

and as he was destroying

the LORD beheld – and HE repented HIM of the evil

and said to the angel that destroyed

It is enough – stay now your hand

And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite

David sees angel of the LORDverses 16-17

And David lifted up his eyes

and saw the angel of the LORD stand

between the earth and the heaven

having a drawn sword in his hand

stretched out over Jerusalem

Then David and the elders of Israel – who were clothed in sackcloth

fell on their faces

And David

said to God

Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered?

even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed

but as for these sheep

What have they done?

Let your hand I pray YOU O LORD my God – be on me

and on my father’s house – but not on YOUR people

that they should be plagued

Angel of the LORD gives instructions to Davidverses 18-21

Then the angel of the LORD

commanded Gad to say to David

that David should go up

and set up an altar unto the LORD

in the threshingfloor of

Ornan the Jebusite

And David went up at the saying of Gad

which he spoke in the name of the LORD

And Ornan turned back – and saw the angel

and his four sons with him hid themselves

now Ornan was threshing wheat

And as David came to Ornan – Ornan looked and saw David

and went out of the threshingfloor

and bowed himself to David

with his face to the ground

David offers to buy field from Ornanverse 22

Then David

said to Ornan

Grant me the place of this threshingfloor

that I may build an altar therein to the LORD

You shall grant it me for the full price

that the plague may be stayed from the people

Ornan offers to give everything to Davidverse 23

And Ornan

said to David

Take it to you

and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes

LO – I give you the oxen also for burnt offerings

and the threshing instruments for wood

and the wheat for the meat offering

I give it all

David refused offerverses 24-25

And king David

said to Ornan

Nay – BUT I will verily buy it

for the full price

FOR I will not take that which is yours for the LORD

nor offer burnt offering without cost

So David gave to Ornan

for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight

David offers sacrifice and praysverses 26-27

And David built there an altar to the LORD

and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings

and called on the LORD

And HE answered him from heaven by fire on the

altar of burnt offering

And the LORD commanded the angel

and HE put up HIS sword again into the sheath thereof

LORD answers David’s prayerverses 28-30

At that time when David saw that the LORD

had answered him in the threshingfloor of

Ornan the Jebusite

then he sacrificed there

FOR the tabernacle of the LORD

which Moses made in the wilderness

and the altar of the burnt offering

were at that season in the

high place at Gibeon

BUT David could not go before it to inquire of God

for he was afraid

because of the sword of the angel of the LORD

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. (5496 “provoked” [cuwth] means to mislead, incite, entice away, to provoke someone to do something through deception or persuasion, or instigate)

DEVOTION: The LORD allows the enemy of believers to exist for HIS own reasons. We would like to see Satan and his angels put in the lake of fire right now, so that, they could not tempt us to do evil against the LORD.

We are tempted by the world, the flesh and the devil as recorded in the Word of God. So we have three areas from which we receive temptation to go against the commands of the LORD. We can’t just blame the devil for all our sins as a well know comedian used to do on television. His favorite statement was “The devil made me do it!” This is not a biblical statement.

We are responsible for our actions no matter what source we claims caused us to make the decision. Our final decision is our own and we have to answer for our decisions.

David was willing to listen to the enemy and number Israel because he thought if the numbers were good then his nation was strong. This was a human trusting in humans for strength rather than the LORD.

We need to be trusting in the LORD and not in the number of dollars we have in the bank. We need to be trusting in the LORD and not in the numbers of the people in our church.

The LORD wants us to trust in HIM alone. If that is in our thought process we will go to HIM at all times for all decisions. Though the ministry of HIS Word and the Holy Spirit we can receive an answer from HIM regarding what actions we should take in any given situation.

CHALLENGE: Are you trusting in human numbers or in the LORD???? Are you allowing the enemy a foothold in your life? David did and it cost him and the nation.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 8 And David said to God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech YOU, do away the iniquity of YOUR servant, for I have done very foolishly. (5528 “foolishly” [cakal] means to behave in a way that shows a lack of wisdom or understanding good judgment, to frustrate, make a mockery of, or implying that a standard or law has been violated)

DEVOTION: David realized too late that he had done something wrong in the eyes of the LORD. Joab had warned him not to take a census of the army. He didn’t listen to advice and did what he wanted to do without concern for what the consequences would be.

We sometimes make these types of decisions and then repent and think that there will be no consequences for our actions. This was not true for David and it is not true for us. We have to live with our decisions and the consequences of them whether we want to or not.

Here we have David confessing his sin and realizing that he had acted foolishly. The LORD gave him three choices regarding the consequences of his actions. We usually don’t have someone come to us from the LORD and give us the choices like David received but we do have an influence over the consequences of our actions.

Our Biblical choice is to go to the LORD in confession and wait on HIM regarding what HE expects us to do after we have disobeyed HIM. This should be a time period of prayer and fasting. This should be a time when we humble ourselves before the LORD and watch what HE wants to happen to cause us to grow in our relationship with HIM.

Remember every temptation has a way to escape but if we don’t chose to escape HE will chasten us for our sin because HE loves us and wants us to mature in our relationship with HIM. We can either establish a better relationship with HIM or become bitter which cause us more chastening.

Our time of chastening can only last as long as we refuse to listen to what HE wants us to do in a given situation. Once we are obedient the chasten ends and our fellowship with HIM is reestablished. That is HIS desire.

CHALLENGE: What is our desire?

: 13 And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are HIS mercies: but let me not fall into thehand of man. (7356 “mercies” [racham] means compassion, tender love, a deep awareness of and sympathy for another’s suffering, or very tender affection)

DEVOTION: David understood the difference between how God treated people and how fellow humans treat people. Humans seem to like to see others judged and hurt because they like to have something happen to others that they don’t want to happen to them.

Humans like to see others suffer for their wrongs rather than being forgiven as the LORD is willing to do after confession of sin. Humans think that others deserve more punishment than they receive because they think that they have suffered more than they really have.

We can all understand what it is to have the mercies of the LORD when we do something that we know is wrong. We want to go to the LORD and confess our sin and ask HIM to be just in HIS dealings with us and pray that HE will not give us what we do deserve for our actions.

Today we need to make sure that we are not like the people David was afraid of in his world. He knew the hearts of those who would like to see him suffer more than he was. He knew that the LORD was more merciful than those who were around him.

We need to realize that the LORD wants us to confess our sin and allow HIM to judge us with tender affection as we try to treat our children when they do wrong.

Our responsibility to others is to have them understand that we are not going to be cruel to them if they do something wrong to us but we are going to forgive them and their actions will not receive the greatest punishment we can give them.

CHALLENGE: We have to have mercy if we want to receive mercy.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 18 Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. (559 “commanded” [’amar] means to say, appoint, charge, declare, demand, or talk.)

DEVOTION: We find that David wanted to total the fighting men of Israel. Why? It seems that it was a numbering that would add to the pride of David. It seems that David wanted to depend on the number in the army instead of the LORD. This action is credited to a temptation of Satan. David yielded to the temptation.

The LORD sent judgment. The LORD gave David three choices. He chose the three days of pestilence. David didn’t want to fall into the hands of human because he knew that the LORD was merciful. He was depending on the mercy of the LORD.

The LORD commanded the angel to stop at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. David saw the angel stand there. Ornan and his sons saw the angel. All of the people were afraid of the angel.

Here we find the angel of the LORD telling Gad the prophet to speak to David regarding a solution to the pestilence the LORD was sending. A regular angel would say “the LORD says” but here we have the angel giving the orders.

Is this the pre-incarnate Christ? Is this a theophany? As we study this angel throughout the Old Testament, we find HIM giving orders to many of God’s servants.

We know that the Jesus was sitting on the right hand of God before HE came to earth as a baby. We know that Jesus was active in the Old Testament. HE has no beginning or end. HE is God. HE is equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Once HE came and died for our sins, we have an advocate with the Father. Christ wants us to mature in our faith. Trials help us mature in the faith. David is going through such a trial here in this chapter. He yielded to temptation. He confessed his sin. He asked the LORD to just judge him and not the people. He took full responsibility for his sin.

He is told to offer a sacrifice to the LORD at the location that the angel of the LORD stopped. We find that this same threshingfloor is the future location of the Temple of the LORD that Solomon built.

Christ is in heaven now helping us in our daily relationship with God. As we go through our trials, are we maturing? Are we listening to HIM speak to us? The LORD wants us to sacrifice properly to HIM. What are we giving to the LORD???

David is commanded to sacrifice to the LORD after his confession of sin. His confession caused the LORD to be merciful to him and to Israel. Once we confess our sin. We need to move on in our relationship with the LORD. David did. He was not willing to take anything from anyone – it had to cost him something to serve the LORD. It has to cost us something to serve the LORD. Salvation is free – service is an act of gratitude.

CHALLENGE: Gratitude is essential to service. Be thankful for all your blessings. Remember the LORD is merciful to HIS children.

: 30 But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD. (1204 “he was afraid” [ba‘ath] means terrified, troubled, or be overtaken by a sudden terror)

DEVOTION: David realized that what he had done was a sin. He was facing the LORD because of his sin. He had chosen to have a pestilence come to the children of Israel. He had seen the angel of the LORD outside of Jerusalem. He was overtaken with the fact that more people could be killed because of his sin.

He asked the LORD to stop killing the people or sheep that were under his reign because it was him who had sinned and not them. He would have his family suffer rather than the nation. He wanted the LORD to forgive the people for his sin.

His reaction was one of terror at the fact that what he had done causes so much pain to the nation. He was even terrified to go to the LORD and ask for forgiveness. He wanted to know if the LORD would give him a good answer.

Most of the time our sins don’t just affect us alone, they affect all those around us. We need to realize when we make a decision that affects others we need to pray about those decisions. David was warned by his general not to number his army because it was a pride thing rather than a good decision.

Numbers mean nothing to the LORD. HE can conquer a thousand with one man. David was putting his confidence in the size of his army rather than in the LORD. This displeased the LORD. HE judged the nation on the basis of the actions of the king.

Churches can rise or fall by a decision of the pastor. This can cause the testimony of the church to be tarnished for a time period because of bad decision.

Families can be affected by the decisions of the parents. Children have to live with some of the decisions of their parents. They are not supposed to blame their parents and make the same decisions in the future that their parents made in the past. The blame game doesn’t work with the LORD. After we are adults, we can understand that our parents made bad decisions and learn from their mistakes or sins. The LORD wants us to make wise decisions and then we don’t have to be troubled about our decisions.

Are you troubled about coming to the LORD because of bad decisions you have made in the past? If so, go to HIM in repentance and ask HIS forgiveness and HE will reestablish fellowship with you. HE wants to have fellowship with HIS children. We should want to have good fellowship with HIM as well. This only happens if we keep short accounts with the LORD regarding sin in our life.

CHALLENGE: We are to reverence the LORD by coming to HIM in repentance when we have sinned. Don’t keep a distance from the LORD because you are not willing to confess sin to HIM.

DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sackclothverse 16

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Without cost – not honoring LORDverse 24

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

David prayed for people of Jerusalemverse 17

David called upon the LORDverse 26

Answered pray with fire from heavenverse 26

David didn’t inquire of the LORDverse 30

Because of the sword of the

Angel of the LORD

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Set up an altarverses 18, 26

Altar unto the LORDverse 22

Meat offeringsverse 23

Burnt offeringverses 24, 26

Peace offeringsverse 26

Sacrificed at threshingfloor of Ornanverse 28

Tabernacle at Gibeonverse 29

Altar of burnt offeringsverse 29

High place at Gibeon

DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 3, 10-19, 22, 24, 26-30

God – Elohim (Creator)verses 7, 8, 15, 17, 30

God was displeasedverse 7

smote Israel

LORD offered David three thingsverse 10

Hand of the LORDverse 13

LORD sent pestilenceverse 14

LORD repented (relented)verse 15

LORD my Godverse 17

Name of the LORDverse 19

LORD answered David verse 26

By fire from heaven

LORD commanded the angelverse 27

to put up sword

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)

Pre-incarnate Christ as the Angel of the LORDverses 12, 15, 16, 18, 20, 27, 30

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Satan – Devil – fallen angelverse 1

Angel of the LORD (Christ)verses 12, 15, 16, 18, 20, 27, 30

Stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite

Angel in Jerusalemverse 16

Angel commanded by LORD verse 27

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Numbering Israelverses 1, 17

Trespassverse 3

Abominableverse 6

Displeasing LORDverse 7

Sinnedverses 8, 17

Iniquityverse 8

Done foolishlyverse 8

Evilverse 17

Afraidverse 30

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Prayer to take away sinverse 8

Servantverse 8

Seerverse 9

Choice verse 10

Advise yourselfverse 12

Merciesverse 13

Sheepverse 17

Speak in the name of the LORDverse 19

Paid full priceverses 22, 24, 25

Call upon the LORDverse 26

Enquire of Godverse 30

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Israelverse 1

Davidverses 1-30

Wanted the people numbered from Beer-sheba to Dan

Talked with God

Called himself a servant

Acknowledged his foolishness

Picked pestilence (plague)

Didn’t want to fall into hands of man

Saw angel of the LORD at threshingfloor

Ornan he Jebusite

Lifted up eyes

Called people sheep

Gad told him to set up an altar on

Threshingfloor of Ornan

Paid full price for threshingfloor

600 shekels of gold

Did as Gad said

Built and altar

Saw that the LORD had answered him

Joabverse 2

Called numbering people a trespass

Gave a number to David

1,100,000 warriors in Israel

470,000 in Judah

Did not include tribe of Levi and

Benjamin

Rulers of the peopleverse 2

Jerusalemverses 4, 16

Gad – LORD talked to himverses 9–13, 18

Gave him three choses for David

3 years of famine

3 months of facing foes

3 days of pestilence

Spoke in name of the LORD

Seventy thousand men dieverse 14

Ornan the Jebusiteverses 15, 18-28

David asked to build altar on threshing floor

Elders of Israelverse 16

Clothed in sackcloth

Fell on their faces

Mosesverse 29

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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QUOTES regarding passage

Though men may be the occasion of terror (e.g. Est 7:6; cf. Job 13:11), it is primarily Yahweh that strikes terror. David is terrified (bāʿat) when confronted with the sword-carrying angel (I Chr 21:30). Saul was terrorized (bāʿat) by an evil spirit from Yahweh (I Sam 16:14). Visions, regarded as from God, bring terror, as shown in the account of Eliphaz (Job 4:14ff.) and Job’s comment (Job 7:14). (Martens, E. A. (1999). 265 בָּעַת. (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke, Eds.)Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press.)

Though the context of David’s action was a military one, he seems to have forgotten that the people were not his but God’s. His self-centred motive expressed itself in one or more of the following errors: (i) he did not raise the halfshekel poll-tax mentioned in the Mosaic law, an omission which might result in a plague (Exod. 30:12); (ii) he failed to recognize that God’s people could not ultimately be numbered because of the nature of God’s promise (v. 3; 27:23–24); (iii) whereas all other Old Testament censuses anticipated a particular God-given purpose, this one seems to have been an end in itself. (Selman, M. J. (1994). 1 Chronicles: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 10, pp. 213–214). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

21:1–7. The chronicler did not state David’s motivation for taking a census of Israel except to say Satan … incited him to do so and David wanted to know how many … fighting men there were. In 2 Samuel 24:1, however, the historian revealed that the Lord was angry with His people and used David’s census as an occasion to punish him and them. No contradiction is here for the Lord simply let Satan tempt David to undertake the census, much as He permitted Satan to attack Job (cf. Job 1:12 and comments on 2 Sam. 24:1–3). In His sovereignty God’s ultimate authority extends even to the workings of Satan. David’s immediate purpose was to assess his military strength (1 Chron. 21:5). This incurred divine displeasure because it suggested that he was relying more on military capabilities than on God’s power. Probably that is why David admitted that his action was sin (v. 8). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Chronicles. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 610). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

21:26–22:1. After David built the altar he offered up burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, the former to plead God’s forgiveness of his sin and the latter to speak of the renewal of unbroken covenant relationship which would follow. God’s response was favorable as indicated by His answering with fire from heaven. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Chronicles. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 611). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

Ver. 30. But David could not go before it to inquire of God, &c.] Which yet was the proper place to seek the Lord in: the reason follows, for he was afraid, because of the sword of the angel of the Lord; which had so terrified him, that he was so weak that he could not go; and he feared that, should he attempt to go, whilst he was going thither, at such a distance, the angel would make a terrible slaughter in Jerusalem, and therefore he durst not go and leave it; and besides, as the Lord had commanded him to build an altar there, he might fear it would displease him, should he depart from it; and the rather, as hereby he pointed out to him the place where the temple should be built, and sacrifices offered, as appears from what he says in the beginning of the next chapter. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 30). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

Intimate with Jesus

Have I been so long with you, and yet hast thou not known Me? John 14:9.

These words are not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus is leading Philip on. The last One with whom we get intimate is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One Who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18–20 ). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come—“I have called you friends.” Friendship is rare on earth. It means identity in thought and heart and spirit. The whole discipline of life is to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His word, but do we know Him?

Jesus said—“It is expedient for you that I go away”—in that relationship, so that He might lead them on. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to step more intimately with Him. Fruitbearing is always mentioned as the manifestation of an intimate union with Jesus Christ (John 15:1–4 ).

When once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely, we never need sympathy, we can pour out all the time without being pathetic. The saint who is intimate with Jesus will never leave impressions of himself, but only the impression that Jesus is having unhindered way, because the last abyss of his nature has been satisfied by Him. The only impression left by such a life is that of the strong calm sanity that Our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him. (Chambers, O. (1986). My utmost for his highest: Selections for the year. Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering.)

On Being A Pastor by Derek J. Prime & Alistair Begg

A pastoral objective is to see others grow in their likeness to their Lord and Master, and we must not neglect that priority ourselves. (p. 85)

By professionalism, we have in mind the snare of reading the Scriptures principally with a view to their application to others, rather than first and foremost to applying them to our own lives; or praying for others publicly in a way we do not pray for ourselves in private; or doing things that are expected of a shepherd and teacher simply because they are expected, rather than out of joy because we know they please God. (p. 85)

Some lessons we learn slowly, and one that we have found particularly difficult is that God wants quality of life from us rather htan quantity of service, and that the latter is no substitute for the former. (p. 87)

The professionalism we have warned ourselves of must be avoided especially when we read the Scriptures. We cn so easily handle them with others in view, rather than for our own benefit. (p. 91)

As shepherds and teachers, we will be familiar with most of Scripture, and so there is the danger of our reading a passage with such familiarity that we do not really take it in or look for anything new. (p. 92)

Shepherds and teachers are the enemy’s prime target, and his most powerful and sustained attacks will be upon our walk with God. (p. 95)

He knows, even if we forget, that if we neglect our fellowship with God, we will lose our assurance of God’s presence, the certainly that we are in the right place, and the power to succeed in the tasks to which God has called us. (p. 95)

Increasingly threatened with a future of economic and cultural instability, the Chinese government has worked hard to guarantee public safety and deliver a kind of domestic tranquility that only comes by limiting freedoms. For example, several sources are reporting that yet again, Beijing has increased pressure on religious groups. Beginning this year, all “approved” religions must conform to its new Administrative Measures for Religious Institutions. As Cameron Hilditch put it in National Review:

The Chinese Communists aren’t trying to extirpate every last trace of theism … Instead, they’re attempting to enervate religious opposition to the regime by taming and co-opting domestic religious belief, turning it into another thoroughfare for the regime’s agenda of social control.

Despite Beijing’s formal claims that “[c]itizens of China may freely choose and express their religious beliefs,” this isn’t freedom. It isn’t toleration. It cannot even be called benign neglect.

This is an empty permission to only obey. Going forward, religious groups and individuals will be “free” to practice their faith only if that faith actively conforms to and works under state authority.

Under these orders, not conspiring against the state or even passively complying with Beijing’s orders will not be enough to avoid trouble. Proactive support of tyranny is required. In no way can the precepts of heaven be allowed to challenge the mandates of the state.

Of course, Xi Jinping’s regime, like most totalitarian powers, likes to style itself as the frontline of innovation. In reality, he’s in a long line of tyrants who, through the ages, tried and failed to unseat God by compromising the loyalties of His people. Think of Daniel’s friends refusing to bow before Nebuchadnezzar, to Daniel himself refusing to kowtow to a Persian emperor’s vanity, to Christians facing down Roman Caesars. Like Xi, these tyrants didn’t care to whom or to what God’s people prayed, as long as that worship didn’t spoil their worship of the tyrant. In Rome, Christians only had to accommodate the state with a little incense offered to the empire alongside their loyalty to Christ. This was a line they would not cross. They would not subject the claim Christ had on their lives and all of reality to the demands of Rome and the “gods” of their age.

1 Kings 7
King Hiram of Tyre supplies artisans and craftsmen to finalize the glorious temple.
INSIGHT

Not only is the work of the temple designed to reflect the splendor and glory of God, but also the layout of the temple is designed to reflect His work in atoning for our sin. The bronze laver, the candlesticks, the tables of showbread, the Holy of Holies-all are designed to picture for us the atoning work of Christ. All this is in keeping with what Paul wrote in Romans 15:4: “Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

(Quiet Walk)

PSEUDO-INTELLECTUALISM
Quench not the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19

Some people are so afraid of emotionalism that there is an absence of a true and a healthy and a God-given emotion among them.
What is this all due to? I believe it is due to a pseudo-intellectualism, a false sense of what is respectable, and I am profoundly convinced that this may be one of the greatest hindrances to revival. You see, we pride ourselves on our learning.
One of the greatest intellects that this world has ever known was the apostle Paul. But look at him as he is moved by a grand sweep of emotion. He starts off on a point, but suddenly he names Christ, and he is lost. He forgets what he is saying, and he bursts into magnificent eloquence. And then he comes back to his point again. Disorder, if you like, inconsistencies —use your own term. Yes, but it is the glory of the man; this giant intellect, who could be moved by the truth, was moved to tears
As George Whitefield was preaching about the glories of grace and salvation, tears were pouring down his cheeks, and those who listened to him were weeping, too. It is true of all these men; yet we may be so hard and so intellectual and so controlled. This is not a plea for emotionalism, which I have denounced—it is a plea for emotion. God save us from being so afraid of the false that we quench the Spirit of God and become so respectable and so pseudo-intellectual that the Spirit of God is kept back, and we go on in our dryness and aridity and in our comparative futility and helplessness and uselessness. Let us approximate a little more closely to the church as she is depicted in the pages of the New Testament. “Quench not the Spirit” but at the same time “prove all things; hold fast that which is good (5:21).”
A Thought to Ponder: This is not a plea for emotionalism—it is a plea for emotion.
(From Revival, p. 79, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones).

Likeminded
“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2)
This emphatic command, along with the parallel terms, helps us understand the concept of “thinking” the same thing. “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:16).
Such thinking also includes “having the same love.” There are two aspects of this love. First, the term itself (agape) would demand that all of Christ’s disciples “love one another: for love is of God” (1 John 4:7). This is often repeated to born-again believers so that our love for each other is so obvious that “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples” (John 13:35).
Godly love then produces “being of one accord.” This phrase is the translation of the Greek word sumpsuchos, which is a compound of the preposition most often translated “with” and the word for “soul.” Thus, the agape that we are to share results in a connection “with-soul” that binds the “likemindedness” in agreement with the mind and spirit of the Creator God.
We are finally commanded to be of “one mind”—slightly different from the “likeminded” opening charge of Philippians 2:2. The initial words are auto phroneô—“his thinking.” The last use is en phroneô—one (way of) thinking.
The entire context of the opening verses of Philippians 2 is to think like Jesus Christ thinks. “Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). “Set your affection [phroneô] on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). This kind of “thinking” must have God’s love and soul embedded in the very core of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)

I’ve spent the last 17 years working as a music teacher and crisis counselor for teens. My students’ struggles include all the usual teen troubles (anxiety, social pressures, conflicts with parents, questions of identity and belonging) and several more serious ones (abuse, self-harm, mental illness, bullying). But, one over-arching theme that greatly helps or hinders teens is their perception of love and support from their parents. These six principles represent lessons I have learned along the way.

1. Be relational, but not their best friend.

God has created us as relational beings, which means that no matter your children’s temperament, they want you to know them. All students I’ve counseled deeply desire a healthy relationship with their parents. But teen years are hard.

During high school, students are shifting from childhood to adulthood. At the same time, hormones are raging and fluctuating, and the brain’s prefrontal cortex (responsible for time management, good judgment, organization, controlling impulses, setting goals, and understanding long-term consequences) is still developing. Plus, both parents and teens are simultaneously navigating new waters and new roles.

Add basic counseling principles to your parenting during these years. Ask lots of questions, but also study body language and mood (remember the raging hormones),=. Realize that sometimes your presence and listening ear are everything required, while at other times you will find opportunities for conversation.

When does your teen seem to be most talkative? Notice patterns and create space for those times if at all possible. For instance, if your child talks more at night than on the ride home from school, make it a point to start making chocolate-chip cookies right around prime time.

All students I’ve counseled deeply desire a healthy relationship with their parents.

In the teenage years, your children need you more than ever before, even if they don’t say it, and they need you to be there when they’re ready to talk. When they open up, make sure to listen, observe, and wait. They don’t want you to treat them like a best friend; they need you to be their parent.

And they need a different kind of parent than when they were 10. Look for and rejoice in grace in their lives, and make sure you’re encouraging and cheering far more than nagging and reminding. In short, constantly pray for wisdom about when to let them fail, leave their problems unfixed, confront them, or patiently pray as you slowly prepare them to leave the nest.

2. Convey enjoyment of them.

We all know the striking contrast between duty and delight. Teens usually know deep down that you love them; be sure they also know you enjoy them. Whether you’re going to the grocery store or making dinner, communicate how much you enjoy being in their presence.

One primary way to accomplish this is to enter fully into their hobbies, interests, and delights. Whether it’s photography, gaming, horseback-riding, or baking, become enthralled with what they love. The best relationships develop and blossom out of mutually enjoyed activities. Learn and enjoy alongside them. The quality time and strong bond that ensues just might surprise you.

3. Know what technology changes.

Parents who have fond memories from high school naturally want their kids to have the same wonderful experiences. But your memories of sports, student government, dating, or football games are less similar to your child’s than you could probably imagine.

The mere fact that smartphones, email, and the internet didn’t exist during your childhood radically changes things. When one of my friends wanted to talk, that meant calling my house on a landline. My parents could pick up the phone at any point and listen in. Other than in-person interaction and handwritten letters, that was the only way to interact with peers.

Fast forward to today, and teens can interact on screens in the privacy of their bedrooms at night while their parents sleep. Think about how technology has transformed your teen’s world. It is much harder for a child to talk to parents about sexting or cyberstalking if parents don’t have even a basic understanding of how the technology works. Seek to learn and understand the technologies your child is using and the mountains of temptation that face her and her peers.

Further, you can begin to help them learn a healthy stewardship of their time and attention, which may carry them through college and beyond. Whether you specify a nightly time that your teen turns in electronics, or monitor their usage through Covenant Eyes or some other protective accountability program, teens need your help navigating the challenges that face them due to technology, particularly in self-control (remember the undeveloped prefrontal cortex).

Technology invades your teen’s world at every turn. Removing it or preventing usage is not a long-term option. Instead, learn it and help your teen build a foundation of using technology for good and not for evil.

4. Expect failure along with success.

Teens want to know you’re their biggest fan and you believe they can reach for the stars. But it’s equally important to see them for who they are: a human being living in a fallen world, just like you. They will, we hope, leave the world a better place, but they will also make some bad decisions.

Let them fail. Expect it. Avoid a helicopter-parenting mentality that always swoops in to save the day. Most success is a result of learning from past mistakes.

Don’t excuse sin, but don’t act shocked by it either.

Don’t excuse sin, but don’t act shocked by it either. The biggest roadblock to a teen’s willingness to share struggles is the parent acting uncomfortable or mortified by that information. Invite your teens into your world of struggles, and why you so desperately want them to avoid sin because you know it will ultimately destroy them. Let them know you understand how hard it is, and that you are there with them in the fight each day.

5. Care deeply, but care about other things too.

Teens need to know that someone will be there for them, no matter what. When teens know their parents will walk out of an important meeting at work or cancel a night out with friends because they need something, teens feel loved and secure.

Your teens are growing more independent, and they know when they’re your whole world. They can tell if there is nothing else fueling excitement, creativity, and purpose in your life apart from them—and this brings related pressures and vices. Explore the passions God has given you, take care of your well-being, seek the Lord about whom you can serve, but always be willing to put these things aside for your child.

6. Trust that God’s plan outshines your dreams.

You love your children more than anything in the world, and would even give your life for them. Still, good parents don’t equal good kids. Despite all that you pour into your children, they may still push it all away. Even so, persevere in loving, praying, and trusting that God loves them even more than you do.

As my former pastor often said, “Where there is life, there is hope.” They may graduate from high school entrenched in sin, but their story isn’t over yet. Be faithful by loving and caring for them today, and trust God to ultimately write a better story for your child than you could imagine.

Editors’ note:

A version of this article appeared at the Biblical Counseling Coalition. Used here by permission.

Leia Joseph loves teenagers and has spent many years working as a crisis counselor for teens. She holds a BM and MM from The Catholic University of America as well as an MA in Biblical Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Her husband, John, is the lead pastor at Cheverly Baptist Church just outside of Washington, D.C., where they reside with their four children: Jack, Knox, Grace, and Caroline.

(Christian Living)

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