Psalm 15
David asks question of the LORD verse 1
LORD – who shall abide in YOUR tabernacle?
who shall dwell in YOUR holy hill?
David’s description of a righteous person verse 2- 5
He that walks uprightly – works righteousness
speaks the truth in his heart
He that doesn’t backbite with his tongue
does no evil to his neighbor
nor take up a reproach against his neighbor
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned
BUT he who honor them that fear the LORD
He who swears to his own hurt – and does not change
he that puts not out his money to usury
nor takes reward against the innocent
he that does these things shall NEVER be MOVED
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
:1. “LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your
holy hill?” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982) (1481 גּוּר, גּוּר, גּוּר [guwr /goor/] 1 to sojourn, abide, dwell in, dwell with, remain, inhabit, be a stranger, be continuing, surely. 1A (Qal). 1A1 to sojourn, dwell for a time. 1A2 to abide, stay, temporarily dwell. 1B (Hithpolel). 1B1 to seek hospitality with. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 7931 שָׁכַן [shakan /shaw·kan/] to settle down to abide. 1A2 to abide, dwell, reside. 1B (Piel). 1B1 to make settle down, establish. 1B2 to make or cause to dwell. 1C (Hiphil). 1C1 to lay, place, set, establish, settle, fix. 1C2 to cause to dwell or abide. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon
DEVOTION: A question is posed by the psalmist to the Lord in verse one and it is important for us today as well. Who can abide or dwell? While the two words are different Hebrew words both have the idea of settling or remaining in a place for a timeframe. The word “abide” has the idea of a temporary residence and perhaps that is why it is used with the tabernacle. The Word “dwell” has a more permanent connotation and presents the image of lodging together. Both words indicate a relationship and union between the Lord and the individual in question.
He answers the question by describing the person in v.2-5a and then makes a strong statement to conclude the psalm with “he…shall never be moved.” Holiness is depicted not only by confession of faith but also by a faithful lifestyle.
CHALLENGE: How intimate is your relationship with the Lord? Are you abiding in the tabernacle or dwelling in the holy hill? Evaluate your work, speech, relationships and spending habits today! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 2 “He that walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.” (Walketh, 1980 הָלַךְ [halak], to go, walk, come.)
DEVOTION: The Christian life is described as a walk with God (Romans 6:4, 2 Corinthians 5:7, and Ephesians 5:8). That suggests an intimacy with God as we go together through the life that HE has given us, communicating with HIM as we go. Nowhere does the Bible describe the life of one God’s children as a run. However, often we are tempted to dash or sprint through life as though today is the only day that matters.
The idea in the Hebrew concerning the type of walk that we are supposed to have is one of integrity or completeness. That means that all parts of our lives match up with each other, and no one can point out hypocrisy in our lives. That means that no secret sins are to live in the life of the believer in God.
The remainder of this psalm describes what walking with integrity with God is supposed to look like. The first thing that is mentioned is working righteousness. Our lives should match our speech, so they should be full of good works (Ephesians 2:10). The second is speaking the truth in our hearts. Our hearts should be telling us the truth about ourselves and others, and the only way that this can be true is if we are filling our minds with Scripture.
So what holds you back in your walk with God? Are you willing to go all out for God and risk everything for HIM? Is there an area of righteousness or truth that God is asking you to commit to HIM?
CHALLENGE: Make this year the year that you dedicate every aspect of your life to serving the Lord!! (Dr. Marc Wooten – board member)
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: 3 He that backbites not with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor
takes up a reproach against his neighbor. (7270 “backbites” [ragal] means
slanders, to spy out, to charge falsely or with malicious intent, or attack
the good name and reputation of someone)
DEVOTION: We find that there are many in our world who like to put down everyone they know, some even their friends to make themselves look better. It is sad but true that there are people who pretend to be a friend but behind your back they like to say bad things about you.
We seem to live in a world just like the world that David lived in where people have not changed too much. Everyone wants everyone else to think that they are better than any other friend the person has. However, it seems that they do it from on person to another, so in reality no one is good enough for this individual.
Those who claim to know Jesus Christ should not be that way. We should be individuals who don’t share all we know about someone else unless it is good. If we know things that are bad we should be the first to pray for them and try to encourage them to get rid of the bad habits and establish good habits.
If we are in leadership we need to make sure that we are not at board meeting talking about people that would hurt them rather than help them. Our responsibility is to pray for those we know who are not doing what the Bible says is right to ask the LORD to show them where they need to change.
CHALLENGE: Gossip is never right for a believer!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honors them that fear the LORD. He that swears to his own hurt, and changes not. (959 “contemned” [bazah] means dispise, contemptible, disdained, think lightly of, caused to despise, or to be looked down on with disdain and possible hatred.)
DEVOTION: There are a lot of things that change throughout our life. We grow older and hopefully wiser with age but it is important to remember that the LORD wants us to grow in our knowledge of HIM through HIS word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
It is important to realize that this world is not our home we are just passing through. Heaven is the home of the believer. It is something to look forward to each day of our lives. It we keep this in mind we will want to please the LORD each day that we live.
The majority of the world doesn’t want to please the LORD. They just want to please themselves. They do and say things that are not pleasing to the LORD most of the time. This is not to be our lifestyle.
In order to fear the LORD properly we need to understand the Word of God. We need to study it each day and ask the Holy Spirit to instruct us in our proper lifestyle and walk with HIM.
Once we realize this fact, we can understand that the majority will not be doing this, so our lifestyle will be different. It will be God-pleasing and not man-pleasing. Our attitude will show through our lifestyle.
The fear of the LORD with the study of the Word of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit will help us face each day with confidence that we are living in a way that is pleasing to the LORD.
CHALLENGE: We will meet many vile people in our lifetime. We need to make sure we don’t copy them.
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: 5 He that puts not out his money to usury, nor takes reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. (7810 “reward” [shachad] means present, bribe, or gift.)
DEVOTION: One of the great things about the Christian life is that God never gives up on us once we are one of HIS children. This psalm describes actions of those who are followers of the LORD. They are not part of our salvation but a sign that we are genuinely saved. We want to serve the LORD. We love to serve the LORD.
David is concerned about those who will be able to go to heaven. He knew that it was on the basis of faith in the coming Messiah. However, there are obligations for those who are followers of the LORD.
This psalm gives us some of the obligations. This verse deals with two obligations each follower of the LORD, has to obey.
One is to not lend out money to those in need with interest attached to it. Those asking for money must really need it and if they are brothers in the LORD, we should make it available to them if we have it. Remember that the LORD determines “if we have it.” We are not to be enablers to those who don’t want to work but there are some who work and still have a hard time making ends meet at times. These are the ones we are to help. Sometimes the LORD even wants us to give money to those we know are in need and if we give with the right attitude, we will receive a reward. We are not to tell anyone about our gift to them or bring it up to them in the future.
The second obligation in this verse deals with judges or leaders taking a bribe to rule against those who are innocent. One of the problems in David’s day and in our day is that we have leaders and judges who rule not on the evidence but on the pocketbook of those coming before them. This is not the Biblical way to handle judgment. We are not to take a bribe from anyone. But here, David tells, that the person who knows that someone is innocent and still charges him is not going to make it to heaven.
In David’s day the world was corrupt. In our day it has not changed. We have individuals who know that a person is innocent and yet put him in jail or prison if he will not pay a large price to go free. There is nothing new under the sun. It happened in David’s day and it happens in our day too. We just should not be a part of it. If we meet all the obligations in this psalm, we will be in fellowship with the LORD. Are we in fellowship with HIM today?
Those who are going to heaven try to get their relationships with others and their money in order. We are to be givers and not takers. We are to give people help when needed. Our speech and our money show how close we are to the LORD!!!
CHALLENGE: What are they saying to those around you?
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Never be moved verse 5
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
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)
Puts not his money to usury verse 5
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)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Abide in LORD’S tabernacle verse 1
Dwell in LORD’S holy hill verse 1
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 4
Tabernacle verse 1
Holy Hill verse 1
Fear the LORD verse 4
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
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)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Neighbor verse 3
Vile person verse 4
Innocent verse 5
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Backbiting verse 3
Evil verse 3
Reproach a neighbor verse 3
Vile verse 4
Usury [interest] verse 5
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Walk uprightly verse 2
Works righteousness verse 2
Speaks the truth in his heart verse 2
Doesn’t backbite verse 3
Treats neighbor well verse 3
Not listening to gossip verse 3
Vile person is contemned verse 4
Swears to own hurt verse 4
Does go back on their word verse 4
Honor those who fear the LORD verse 4
Keeps promises verse 4
Lends without interest verse 5
Doesn’t take a bribe to hurt innocent verse 5
Never be moved verse 5
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
King David wrote this psalm verse 1- 5
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
The answer: The righteous may abide (15:2–5)
15:2a–b. The question in verse 1 is answered in summary fashion first (v.2a–b) with two descriptions, and then delineated (vv. 2c–5) with an additional eight. The acceptable person is one whose walk is (a) blameless. Also his actions are (b) righteous. The metaphor of the “walk” is used throughout the Bible for one’s pattern of life and conduct (cf. 1:1). “Blameless” (tāmîm) means complete, sincere, or perfect. A blameless person lives in obedience to God and maintains a life of integrity.
His activities are in harmony with God’s standards, that is, they are righteous. David thus declared that if someone were to go into the presence of the Lord in Zion, he must be an obedient and righteous servant. The wicked and the hypocritical did not belong in the sanctuary.
15:2c–5a. After the general statement in the first two lines of verse 2, David spelled out what such a flawless person’s character is like.
(1) The first characteristic of the righteous is that he speaks … truth sincerely. He is not like double-minded flatterers (cf. 12:2). (2) A righteous person does not slander maliciously. (3) Nor does he harm or (4) discredit his neighbor. A neighbor (or friend) is anyone with whom he comes in contact. A blameless individual’s remarks do not harm or destroy any neighbor.
(5) Also a righteous person despises … vile people and honors believers who fear the Lord. A person who is “vile” (from mā’as, and therefore not the same word for vile in 14:1) is a reprobate, one who is worthless. But one who fears the Lord is living a life of faith and obedience.
(6) A righteous person also keeps his oath even when it hurts. Even if he took an oath rashly (Lev. 5:4), he would conscientiously keep his word.
(7) He does not lend his money for usury (lit., “he does not put the bite on them”). He does not take advantage of one who must borrow. Taking interest from fellow Israelites was forbidden as unbrotherly (Ex. 22:25; Lev. 25:36).
(8) A righteous person does not take bribes against the innocent. The Law of course forbade this (Deut. 27:25). Instead a righteous person champions the cause of the innocent and the needy.
15:5b. David concluded that one who follows this pattern of life will never be shaken (cf. 16:8; 21:7; 30:6; 62:2, 6; 112:6). Not only will he enjoy fellowship in the Lord’s presence, but also he will experience divine blessing and security.
The fact that there are 10 descriptions of one who qualifies to abide with the Lord (sincere, righteous, honest, without slander, without doing wrong, without reproaching, distinguishes between good and evil, keeps his oath, does not take interest, does not accept bribes) suggests a comparison with the Ten Commandments (though the two lists do not correspond in every item). Obedience to God’s revealed will is the requirement for full participation in the sanctuary. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 803). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Obeying God’s precepts (vv. 2–5a)
Three basic areas of life are named in verse 2—blameless character, righteous conduct, and truthful conversation—and then these are applied specifically and practically in verses 3–5a. If we are right in these basic virtues, we will “work them out” in every area of life and be obedient to the Lord. Walk, work, and speak are present participles, indicating that the dedicated believer is constantly obeying the Lord and seeking to please Him.
Integrity—blameless character (vv. 2a, 4a, 4b). What we are largely determines what we do and say, so the first emphasis is on godly character. (See Isa. 33:14–16; 58:1–12; Jer. 7:1–7; Ezek. 18:5–9; Hos. 6:6; Mic. 6:6–8; Matt. 5:1–16.) “Blameless” doesn’t mean “sinless,” for nobody on earth is sinless. Blameless has to do with soundness of character, integrity, complete loyalty to God. Noah was blameless (Gen. 6:9), and the Lord admonished Abraham to be blameless (Gen. 17:1), that is, devoted wholly to the Lord. (See 18:13, 23–25; 101:2, 6; Deut. 18:9–13; Luke 16:13.) People with integrity will honor others who have integrity and who fear the Lord (15:4; 119:63). They will not be deceived by the flatterers (12:2–3) or enticed by the sinful (1:1). When godly people endorse the words and deeds of the ungodly, there is confusion in the church. “Like a muddied fountain and a polluted spring is a righteous man … who compromises his integrity before the wicked” (Prov. 25:26, amp).
Honesty—righteous conduct (vv. 2b, 5a, 5b). People who “work righteousness” are honest in their own dealings and concerned that justice be done in the land. In the ancient Jewish monarchy, there wasn’t much the average citizen could do about crooked judges or extortion (Eccl. 3:16–17; 4:1–3), but in today’s democracies, each qualified citizen at least has a vote. Someone defined “politics” as “the conduct of public affairs for private advantage,” and too often that is true. In verse 5, David applied the principle of honesty to two areas: asking for exorbitant interest and accepting bribes. Both were “sins in good standing” in the days of the divided kingdom, and the prophets preached against both sins (Isa. 1:23; 5:23; 10:2; Ezek. 22:12; Amos 5:11–12). The Jews were not permitted to charge other Jews interest (Ex. 22:25; 23:7–8; Lev. 25:35–38; Deut. 23:20), and judges were warned not to accept bribes (Ex. 23:8; Deut. 10:17–18; 27:25; 2 Chron. 19:5–7). There can be no justice in a society where money tells the court what is right or wrong.
Sincerity—truthful conversation (vv. 2c, 3–4c). Truth is the cement that holds society together. If people can get away with lies, then every promise, agreement, oath, pledge, and contract is immediately destroyed. The false witness turns a trial into a travesty and causes the innocent to suffer. But we must speak truth in love (Eph. 4:15) and use truth as a tool to build relationships as well as a weapon to fight deception. When truth is in the heart, then the lips will not speak lies, spread gossip (Lev. 19:16), or attack the innocent. People with truthful hearts will keep their vows and promises (Deut. 23:22–24; Eccl. 5:1–5). People of integrity don’t have to use oaths to strengthen their words. A simple yes or no carries all the weight that’s needed (Matt. 5:33–37). More trouble is caused in families, neighborhoods, offices, and churches by gossip and lies and the people who keep them in circulation than by any other means. The Lord wants truth in our innermost being (51:6), and He wants us to love the truth and protect it.
The Lord is blameless in what He is (1 John 1:6), righteous in what He does (Ezra 9:15), and truthful in what He says (1 Sam. 15:29), and He wants His guests to have the same characteristics. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be worshipful (1st ed., pp. 62–64). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
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Psalm 15. The Hebrew heart longed for acceptance with God. Here, a poet sets out succinctly the conditions of that acceptance. To be welcomed by God, a worshiper must be a good man, whose conduct is blameless, right, and sincere; a good neighbor, neither doing nor saying anything harmful to others; and a good citizen, scorning those who undermine morality, upholding the godly, honoring his bond at great cost, never exploiting the poor for usury, and abhorring corruption. Such a man will dwell near God, unshaken. (White, R. E. O. (1995). Psalms. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 376). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)
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Ver. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, &c.] Is not a slanderer, a defamer, a tale-bearer; a backbiter is one who privately, secretly, behind a man’s back speaks evil of him, devours and destroys his credit and reputation: the word here used comes from רגל, which signifies the foot, and denotes such a person who goes about from house to house, speaking things he should not, 1 Tim. 5:13 and a word from this root signifies spies; and the phrase here may point at such persons who creep into houses, pry into the secrets of families, and divulge them, and oftentimes represent them in a false light. Such are ranked amongst the worst of men, and are very unfit to be in the society of the saints, or in a church of Christ; see Rom. 1:30; 2 Cor. 12:20. Nor doeth evil to his neighbour; to any man whatever, good or bad, friend or foe, whether in a natural, civil, or spiritual relation, either by words or deeds, to his person, property, or good name. Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour; does not raise any scandalous report on him himself, nor will he bear to hear one from another, much less will be spread one; nor will he suffer one to lie upon his neighbour, but will do all he can to vindicate him, and clear his character. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 580). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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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!!)
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There’s something poetic about sending the famous Captain Kirk from Star Trek to space, for real, and his emotional response after touching back down was priceless. As he told Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, “I hope I never recover from this. I hope I can maintain what I feel now… I don’t want to lose it.”
Here’s a 90-year-old in childlike wonder, experiencing that almost spiritual part of space travel reflected by many astronauts throughout history. Often called the “overview effect,” space tends to raise deep longings for significance.
Pioneers of travel by plane probably thought that it could never bore anyone. But, it does, like anything that becomes normal. Maybe it’s because the only thing that can permanently ground our sense of wonder is God Himself, who put eternity in human hearts and placed us in an incredibly created universe that ultimately points us to Himself. The only thing BIG enough to sustain our wonder. (Break Point)
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Philippians 2
We are exhorted to be like Christ, who practiced only selflessness.
INSIGHT
Selfishness is the source of most interpersonal conflict. Someone is taking something from us (materially, emotionally, socially, etc.) that we don’t want to give, and we fight to keep or gain our desires. Unselfishness is the source of most interpersonal harmony. Think about the people you really like – even famous people you don’t know personally. Usually, the reason you like them is because they are gracious and kind, and give of themselves. If you want to be a harmonious, likable person, you must be unselfish.
(Quiet Walk)
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SINLESS PERFECTION?
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning….Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin. 1 John 3:8-9
The man or woman who is righteous will show that by living a righteous life; the one who is not righteous shows it by not living a righteous life. That is why this reference to the devil is so significant: “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.” That is his characteristic, his nature, his habit; that is his way of living. That is the thing that is so true of the devil: He sins from the beginning; he goes on sinning. “And that man,” John says in essence, “who goes on sinning is therefore the man who is proclaiming that he has the kind of nature that the devil has. He does not have the new nature that the Christian has
We must remember that the apostle here is speaking about all Christians. Now some of the people who believe in sinless perfection tell us that the apostle here is only talking about some Christians. But at this point they become inconsistent, because they forget the message of verse 6; they say he is only speaking about some, but John is speaking about all Christians: “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not.” If a man does not abide in Christ, he is not a Christian at all; to be a Christian means to be abiding in Christ. Now there are some who would have us believe that you can be a Christian without abiding in Christ, but surely that denies the whole doctrine of rebirth. We are in Christ or we are not, and if we are not in Christ we are not Christians at all. “If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9); if we have not been born of the Spirit, we are not Christians. You cannot be in Christ one day and out the next; every Christian is in Christ and abides in Him. John is not only speaking to certain Christians—he is speaking to all Christians.
A Thought to Ponder:We must remember that the apostle here is speaking about all Christians. (From Children of God, pp. 76-77, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Bringing Up Children
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)
This verse, together with the parallel passage in Colossians 3:21, is probably the key New Testament instruction specifically dealing with the training of children. “Nurture” is from the same Greek word that is translated “chastening” in Hebrews 12:5, 7, and “instruction” in 2 Timothy 3:16. It has particular reference to carrying out child training with both firmness and gentleness, as needed and appropriate in each particular case.
The term “admonition” is from a Greek word meaning “putting in mind.” Thus, the “admonition of the Lord” implies teaching the ways of the Lord by using the Word of the Lord. There is no substitute for implanting a knowledge of God’s Word in the minds of our children. Even if they should drift away for a while in later life, the Lord can use His Word in their hearts to bring them back.
Both types of training—through action and through verbal teaching—are said in this passage to be primarily the responsibility of the father. The first reference in the Bible to training children deals with Abraham’s responsibility to bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (see Genesis 18:19). Mothers, of course, also have much responsibility and ability in this ministry (see Proverbs 1:8, and the example cited by Paul himself of how Timothy’s mother and grandmother had taught him—2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15). Fathers, too, sometimes delegate certain teaching responsibilities to tutors (Galatians 4:1-2), but the overall responsibilities are theirs.
And all of this training should be done in love. “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). Then we trust the Lord and pray.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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The Testing
Some time later God tested Abraham. Genesis 22:1
The first time I took my sons to hike a Colorado Fourteener—a mountain with an elevation of a least 14,000 feet—they were nervous. Could they make it? Were they up to the challenge? My youngest stopped on the trail for extended breaks. “Dad, I can’t go any more,” he said repeatedly. But I believed this test would be good for them, and I wanted them to trust me. A mile from the peak, my son who’d insisted he could go no further caught his second wind and beat us to the summit. He was so glad he trusted me, even amid his fears.
I marvel at the trust Isaac had in his father as they climbed their mountain. Far more, I’m undone by the trust Abraham had in God as he raised his knife over his son (Genesis 22:10). Even with his confused and wrenching heart, Abraham obeyed. Mercifully, an angel stopped him. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” God’s messenger declared (v. 12). God never intended for Isaac to die.
As we draw parallels from this unique story to our own with caution, it’s crucial to note the opening line: “God tested Abraham” (v. 1). Through his test, Abraham learned how much he trusted God. He discovered His loving heart and profound provision.
In our confusion, darkness, and testing, we learn truths about ourselves and about God. And we may even find that our testing leads to a deeper trust in Him.
(By Winn Collier, Our Daily Bread)
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THE PLACE OF THE MIND
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:29
I am not suggesting that the gospel is irrational, nor am I simply proclaiming that because it is miraculous and supernatural it is therefore unreasonable. Not at all! What I am saying is that we are here entering a realm that we cannot enter by reason alone. It is not unreasonable, but it transcends reason. It is not unreasonable for me to believe that when God acts, I cannot understand Him; and that is precisely what we are confronted with when we come to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let no one imagine, therefore, that the teaching is that we just leave our intellects outside when we come into the house of God and abandon ourselves in a passive state to any feeling that may come or to any kind of emotion. Far from it! But we do say that when God does something, we must accept it as being supernatural and miraculous, and we must not, therefore, be surprised when we find that it is so.
We must believe and accept what God has done and then proceed to understand. To me the argument comes in this way: As a human being in this world I have been conscious of the need of rest. I have used my mind and my reason, I have listened to the world and its teaching and all its philosophies, but I find that they cannot give me rest and I am at the end of my tether. Then I am here confronted with a new offer that says, “Listen to this.” I say it is reasonable to listen, and the moment I do so, I begin to find that what Christ has to say is indeed essentially different.
A Thought to Ponder: We are here entering a realm that we cannot enter by reason alone. It is not unreasonable, but it transcends reason. (From The Heart of the Gospel, p. 183, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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God instructs Samuel to anoint Saul as the first king over Israel.
INSIGHT
The sovereignty of God is a difficult concept to keep in balance. Often we find ourselves making too much or too little of it.
It is true, however, that many of the events in our lives, which seem to come at random with no significance, are actually events that the Lord is using to orchestrate His purpose in our lives.
For example, Saul goes looking for donkeys and ends up discovering that he will be king of Israel. We should always bathe our daily activities in prayer, for we never know what the Lord might be preparing for us. (Quiet Walk)
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In what I have to say I may not be joined by any ground swell of public opinion, but I have a charge to make against the church. We are not consciously aware of God in our midst. We do not seem to sense the tragedy of having almost completely lost the awareness of His presence…. Revival and blessing come to the church when we stop looking at a picture of God and look at God Himself. Revival comes when, no longer satisfied just to know about a God in history, we meet the conditions of finding Him in living, personal experience…. Modern mankind can go everywhere, do everything and be completely curious about the universe. But only a rare person now and then is curious enough to want to know God. ( A. W. Tozer, Men Who Met God, 121-122,127)
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