THE LORD SPOKE (June 15)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Chronicles 14-15)

David's success as king is outlined by the chronicler. Beginning with the building of the royal house (14:1-2), it moves to the growing royal household (14:3-7). Next come two accounts of military victory over the Philistines (14:8-16). All that is followed by the story of bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem (ch. 15) in preparation for building the Temple there.

David had tried to do that once before. The first time it appears that his motivation was not entirely right, for God "broke out" against him and his hand-picked man Uzzah was struck dead (13:7-13 - Heb. peretz, a recurring theme in this story). We're not given all the details but it's clear from the description in chapter 15 that far greater care was taken the next time around. Years earlier the Israelites tried using the Ark of the Covenant in battle against the Philistines (I Sam. 4:3-6) and a worse disaster ensued. Thirty thousand soldiers were killed, Hophni and Phinehas (Eli's sons and potential successors to the position of High Priest) died, and the Ark itself was captured and taken to Philistine territory (I Sam. 4:10-11) where it was placed in a temple to their god Dagon.

So, if David's motivation to bring the Ark into Jerusalem was tainted in any way by "god-in-a-box theology", he learned quickly that, like Aslan, God "is not a tame lion". We do not call the shots. "It is not for us to wonder why; it is for us to do or die." Meaning? Don't try to negotiate with God. Don't ever substitute your own innovations where He has given clear written instructions (15:15). Make sure your heart is in the right place and, like David, you can then be gung ho (look that one up in Webster's!) in your service for Him.


New Testament: Galatians 4

Does the use of an allegory constitute allegorization of a text? Absolutely not! An allegory is generally defined as an extended metaphor. Both involve an analogy but a metaphor usually just emphasized a single comparison whereas an allegory is more complex, with several points of contact.

Allegorization on the other hand, especially when employed in biblical interpretation, is a methodology which frequently ignores or even denies the historicity of the people or events under comparison. It became a common hermeneutic under Greek influence in the early church. Many fanciful “interpretations” replaced the literal meaning of the biblical text.

Augustine enshrined allegorization in the practice of the Roman Catholic system by making it one of the four possible approaches to Scripture. Within a short while, the more fanciful the allegory, the more it was preferred over any “plain” literal sense of the sacred text. Man’s inventive fancy became the key to interpretation. Imagination became the preferred norm.

Was that what Paul was doing in Galatians 4:24-26? Not at all! When he says, “which things are an allegory” (KJV, or “these things may be taken figuratively” in NIV), he is employing a metaphor. Never does he deny the historicity of Hagar and Sarah or of Mt. Sinai and Jerusalem. He is simply drawing an analogy from those O.T. pictures.

Hagar (the slave wife) and Mount Sinai (where the Law was received) form an analogy with the Old Covenant. It was a good thing (a wife) but could only produce a limited result (slave children). The Mosaic Law came from the very hand of God and it accomplished everything that He intended. But it was never designed to produce freedom.

Now here is the interesting analogy: “the present city of Jerusalem” is the same. In Paul’s comparison, Jerusalem and Sinai are not contrasted - they are compared as similar pictures. It’s “the Jerusalem that is above” that is contrasted to Mt. Sinai. It is “the Jerusalem that is above” that produces “children of promise”. It is “the Jerusalem that is above” that is “our mother”.

Like Isaac, who was the fulfillment of the promise through Sarah, we are born to freedom in Christ. Unlike Ishmael, who was born to Hagar the slave woman, we are not the progeny of the Old Covenant from Mt. Sinai. Though our roots are in the Judaism of the Old Testament, we are not to fall back to the rabbinic system of good works that binds. Paul is next going to emphasize to the Galatians their freedom in Christ (ch. 5). Sometimes, we need to be reminded of the same.

THE LORD SPOKE (June 14)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Chronicles 12-13

Some started coming to David already at Ziklag. He'd fled the murderous presence of Saul and found temporary safety among the Philistines. The first twenty-three who came were from Saul's own tribe (I Chron. 12:2-7) and he could ill afford to lose them. The next eleven (Gadites) came all the way from Transjordan (I Chron. 12:8-15). Another handful followed from Benjamin and Judah (I Chron. 12:16) with seven more from Manasseh (I Chron. 12:19). Day by day the number grew until David had a great army of loyal followers who recognized God's hand upon him and wanted to be a part of his success (I Chron. 12:18,22).

The numbers thereafter swelled greatly. Taken at face value, they rose to over 300,800. Given the ambiguous nature of the Hebrew word aleph, meaning "one thousand" or "chieftain" (modern Hebrew aluf = "general"), those numbers could be significantly lower but still they comprised a vast "army of God" (I Chron. 12:22). A glance at the qualities they brought to the job would be enough to excite any leader. Eisenhower on D-Day didn't have any more to work with than David did here:

• military prowess and skill in weaponry (I Chron. 12:3,8,15,18,21,24,25,33,35,36)
• brave as lions (I Chron. 12:8)
• fast as gazelles (I Chron. 12:8)
• worth one hundred to one - some more! (I Chron. 12:14)
• spiritually attuned (I Chron. 12:18,26)
• loyal (I Chron. 12:18,29)
• well-informed (I Chron. 12:32)
• well-armed (I Chron. 12:24,34,37)
• united in their thinking (I Chron. 12:38)
• well-provisioned (I Chron. 12:39-40)
• happy (I Chron. 12:40)

David's heart is revealed in what follows. He welcomes the rest of the Israelites to join and specifically invites the priests and Levites. With their spiritual leadership and his own desire to determine God's will (I Chron. 13:2), he leads the people in making the Ark of the Covenant, which represented the very presence of God, central in the life of the nation once again (I Chron. 13:3f).

This band of brothers was knit together and found, as they did in the days of Nehemiah, that "the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Neh. 8:10). It made them unstoppable. How's your joy today? Do you need once again to make God's presence the main thing driving your life?


New Testament: Galatians 3

Promise ➔ Law ➔ Faith

Abraham received the Promise. For it to take effect, all he had to do was believe. Since it was a unilateral covenant, there was nothing he should do or could do to ratify it. God flat-out promised him that He would bring it about. This promise is identified as “the gospel announced in advance” (Gal. 3:8) and it involved the Christ, the Messiah. He would be the fulfillment of the Promise and its Guarantor. And here comes the big surprise - all those who believe are Abraham’s children so that this promise extends to all the nations of the earth. Through the Promised Seed, the Messiah, the promise that was made to Abraham reaches all the way to me, a Gentile.

Promise ➔ Law ➔ Faith

So why was the Law necessary? Why was it inserted 430 years later (Gal. 3:17)? At this point, Paul gives us three answers to exactly this question: (1) It establishes the fact that justification must be by faith, not works, since it is impossible “to do everything written in the Book of the Law” (Gal. 3:10-11). (2) It was added to (specifically, did not replace!) the promise in order to reveal sin (Gal. 3:22). (3) It acts as a teacher (Greek = paidagogos; actually, more like “baby-sitter” than “professor”) to bring us to the knowledge of Christ (Gal. 3:24). Take note: the Law was in effect “until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come” (Gal. 3:19).

Promise ➔ Law ➔ Faith

Faith was operative from the start for “without faith it is impossible to please God”. Paul chides the Galatians for thinking they could attain the goal by human effort (Gal. 3:2-5). Just as Abraham believed God, so they must approach God by faith. In fact, Gentiles too may be justified by faith (Gal. 3:8). There is no other way!

THE LORD SPOKE (May 14)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Kings 2

I Kings 2:1-4

A man's last words on earth ought to be significant. We've all read the records of deathbed statements. Some have spoken foolishness. Others have left a profound reminder that life is short and must be lived well. Frequently, those parting words are heavily freighted with counsel and encouragement to do what is right, learned from the speaker's own experience. It might be, "do what's right, because I've learned how good it is to do so" or it may be, "don't make the mistakes I've made; learn to do what is right".

David's last words are recorded for us in I Kings 2 and they are, indeed, very significant:

• "observe what the Lord requires" - The prophet Micah answers, in part, this question very directly: "He has showed you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8). That will keep you busy for the rest of your days! Define justice. Practice mercy. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God.
• "walk in His ways" - Paul encourages us to "find out what pleases the Lord" (Eph. 5:10). Have you discovered something of this for yourself? There are many indicators in Scripture, but in our personal friendship with God, He also gives us individual guidance as to how we should walk with Him. His Word is a "lamp for our path", showing the way to walk. His Spirit is a Guide, leading us on the path of truth.
• "keep His decrees, commands, laws, and requirements as written in the Law of Moses" - This constituted the whole of Scripture when David spoke these words. If he were to speak today, he would have included the remainder of the OT and the NT. So, how are you doing? Does God's Word provide the pattern for your every thought and deed? Are you reading it daily? Do your actions demonstrate an awareness of and a desire to follow every word of God? Is the Bible your only rule of faith and practice?

Personal Note:

Mom tells me that some of the last words she heard Dad speak on earth on June 2, 1980, were, "I sure wish we could make it through II Samuel." What a godly heritage he left me. A love for Scripture and a desire to hear the Lord speak.

What will be your last words on earth? Do you have a message worth leaving?


New Testament: I Corinthians 1

There are only two places where the phrase “the church of God” appears in Scripture - here in I Corinthians 1:2 and in Acts 20:28. Paul is also the one speaking in the Acts passage and he refers to the fact that the Lord purchased the church “with His own blood”. Here He refers to the church at Corinth and says they are “sanctified in Christ Jesus”.

The church as Corinth? Sanctified? What follows in this book would hardly be a picture of sanctification. But that’s our problem exactly. We’ve come to think that sanctification is the result of living a holy life. Not so! Sanctification is first and foremost a setting apart for the Lord’s use. We are “made holy”. It is a positional sanctification wherein we are declared holy through faith in what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross.

That is followed by a progressive sanctification which the Holy Spirit accomplishes in us. As our conduct is corrected and conformed to His image, we begin to display the fruits of the Spirit. We can resist Him and not progress in that sanctification or we can submit to Him and see the results of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control blossom in our lives (Gal. 5:22-23).

That’s the second part of the phrase here in I Corinthians 1:2 - “sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy”. It is our job to be holy. We can’t begin to do it on our own but He has “given us everything we need for life and godliness” (II Pet. 1:3).

Peter adds his own list of the fruits of the Spirit in what follows:

...Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is near-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:5-11)

THE LORD SPOKE (May 12)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: II Samuel 23-24

II Samuel 23:1-5

David's epitaph is found in the opening words of II Samuel 23. The words he wanted on his tombstone were:

• "the man exalted by the Most High"
• "the man anointed by the God of Jacob"
• "Israel's singer of songs"

No mention of Goliath! No mention of driving out the Philistines. No mention of uniting the kingdom of Israel, or establishing Jerusalem as the capitol, or any of David's other exploits. David wants to be remembered as a man of God who shared that relationship with His people in the psalms he left behind.

Most important in his mind was that "the Spirit of the Lord spoke through me, his word was on my tongue" (II Sam. 23:2). Two beautiful metaphors describe the results of this:

• "like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning"
• "like the brightness after rain that brings the grass"

Have you been there before? Watching the sun come up and feeling its warmth spread over the land. Seeing the brilliant colors when the dust is washed away. So it is when we hear the Lord speak to us through His word. It may be through David's songs or it may be through the record of Jesus' earthly ministry in the Gospels. It might be the life of Abraham in Genesis or Paul's joy in "the God who gives endurance and encouragement" (Rom. 15:5 in today's reading). But it will happen every time. When we listen for God to speak to us, He does so at the very point of our need.

David knew this and he reveled in it. Are you listening to Him today?


New Testament: Romans 15

There once was a king who loved classical music. Being a king, he had the means to indulge his interest and so assembled a mighty orchestra of the finest musicians. Every week they would prepare hard and then, on Saturday night, they would perform one of the great classical pieces - Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, or other - for the king’s court.

But there was one problem. The king insisted on absolute perfection. If any musician goofed and played a wrong note or missed his part, he would receive his pink slip and be sent packing the next week. Turn-over was a problem but the quality was so high that there was always a replacement to fill in the orchestra.

For a time. But the musicians were so cautious to not make a mistake that it affected their playing. More and more made mistakes and the size of the orchestra dwindled. They still had some marvelous chamber music and string quartets. Finally, one excellent musician continued to perform some superb solos. And then he goofed once too.

Through all this, there was another king in the neighboring realm who also loved classical music. Though he looked for quality too, he was not so exacting with his musicians and, you guessed it, his orchestra grew on a weekly basis. As he picked up star musicians one-by-one, his concerts became the biggest attraction around. His orchestra performed with great gusto and his musicians outdid themselves in trying to please him with fine music. Years later his castle still rang with melodious joy - long after the first kings chambers were echoing with dreadful silence.

..........

In Romans 15, Paul tells us that our God gives us endurance and encouragement, and that this comes through the Scriptures (Rom. 15:4-5). The endurance is what keeps us keeping on. The encouragement is what helps us to pick up after a fall, to press forward when we’re tired, and to perform at our best even when we may not be perfect. God gives us hope (Rom. 15:4). In fact, He fills us with joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that our hope overflows - go read it again in Romans 15:13.

Remember and don’t ever forget, it comes to us through the Scriptures. That endurance and encouragement will keep you going for a long way - all the way to Glory. Aren’t you glad?

THE LORD SPOKE (May 7)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: II Samuel 12-13

At the Passover seder, the Jewish people sing a song called Dayeinu. The multiple stanzas, which sometimes stretch to dozens, list God's many blessings and after each repeat the title, "It Would Have Been Enough For Us". It's as if to say, if God had stopped at any point we would still consider ourselves greatly blessed, but He didn't. He just kept heaping on more and more of His grace.

Nathan's bold story and it's application, "You are the man!" (II Sam. 12:7a), remind David of where he was and to where God had brought him before his sin.

I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. (II Sam. 12:7b-8)

In return, David did evil but did you notice what exactly was his sin? It was to "despise the word of the Lord" (II Sam. 12:9). How might I be guilty of the same sin?

1. by disobedience to clear commands of Scripture
2. by grieving or quenching the Holy Spirit when He bears witness with my spirit
3. by resistance to His leading in all the details of our daily affairs
4. by not listening to the Nathans God puts in my life

The answer? Read how David repented and responded to God's grace in Psalm 51. Read it now!


New Testament: Romans 10

It all begins with (1) a preacher sent from God. Without a doubt, God has done His part. Throughout time, He has consistently called out and equipped men and women to be His instruments of grace through whom He will give His word. That requires their obedience individually and, by His design, it requires our participating in the "sending" process. He has chosen to work through people and we have the responsibility to fulfill His calling and to assist those who do so (financially, prayerfully, emotionally, and in every other way).

Then there must be (2) the proclamation of the message. If we fail to speak the words of truth the process comes quickly to a grinding halt. This is so often the problem with a so-called "silent witness" - he’s only about 50% successful! There must be verbalization of the message. It must be in a language and at a level that the receptor is able to receive. It needs to be contextualized. But, before anything else can happen, it must be proclaimed in a clear and understandable way.

Which leads to (3) the hearing of the message. It’s not enough to just throw it out, to simply broadcast it in monotone, or to dump the entire encyclopedic version on unsuspecting victims. True enough, some seed will fall on stony ground. But our communication of the message must take into consideration the receptivity of those who hear it - otherwise, how can it be said that they hear it? Do they have some responsibility in this also? Yes, of course, and that’s the beautiful part of this cooperative project. The Holy Spirit prepares both us with the precious seed and them as the receptive soil so that when the two come together there is germination. That germination is called "regeneration".

That’s what (4) believing the message involves. God Himself makes that seed open up in their hearts. New life is brought forth. A soul is redeemed.

But it all must begin with a preacher....

THE LORD SPOKE (May 6)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: II Samuel 9-11

Blow-outs are rare. Much more often, a flat tire is the result of a slow leak. All too often, we even know about it beforehand but fail to take care of it. This chapter is a sad record of David's failure. We can learn much from observing it if we do something to fix the slow leaks in our own lives.

Here's how it came about:

1. "at the time kings go off to war...David remained in Jerusalem" (II Sam. 11:1) - being in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong things
2. "one evening (Heb. = "moment of evening", i.e. late afternoon) David got up from his bed" (II Sam. 11:2a) - sleeping when he should have been leading the battle
3. "saw...sent...[sinned]" (II Sam. 11:2-4) - sounds like the progression of sin in I John 2:16
4. "so David sent this word..." (II Sam. 11:6f) - imagine the contorted machinations David had to go through to devise this plan (he even had a Plan B and a Plan C ready)
5. he hardened himself (II Sam. 11:11) - look at what he had to ignore:

• the Ark which was his link back to Samuel and which he loved and brought to Jerusalem
• all Israel who loved him deeply and followed him
• Judah, his own tribe and the people who proclaimed him king first
• tents, he was an outdoor-type and loved to be "camped in the open fields" with his men
• Joab, his faithful general
• the men whom he'd fought with and who had risked their lives for him

All of these were powerful reminders. It's as if God was saying, "Are you sure you want to give up all this?" It's the I Cor. 10:13 in this passage! Instead, David:

• made sure Uriah was killed dead
• implicated others (Joab, lower officers, the messengers) in the cover-up
• pulled out a farcical explanation ("it's too bad, but people die in war")
• followed through in his adultery

"But the thing David had done displeased the Lord." (II Sam. 11:27b).

As a boy, I memorized two verses (the second one was on a plaque over my bed) that helped me many times to keep from sinning: "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:23) and "Thou God seest me" (Gen. 16:13). Oh God, don't let me ever forget that truth. Help me detect and fix those slow leaks.


New Testament: Romans 9

It sounds like doublespeak. “Not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.” (Rom. 9:6). That is, it sounds like it unless you read the attached explanation. Then it becomes very clear.

Abraham has physical descendants through Isaac (a not-to-be-forgotten theological truth for our day!) but these “natural children” are only considered “God’s children” if they are “children of the promise” (Rom. 9:8). And how does that happen? Paul already answered that back in chapter four. If they “believe the promise of God” and have “the faith of their father Abraham” they are Abraham’s offspring (Rom. 4:13-24). If not, then they’re not!

Now Romans 9 introduces another thought: ”God’s purpose in election” (Rom. 9:11). It is illustrated by the story of Jacob and Esau. God chose Jacob but He rejected Esau (Rom. 9:13). Natural man reacts to the truth of election in two ways and Paul answers both in this chapter. First, many will say, “that’s not fair”. We have the idea somehow that everyone deserves something better, that all men should have the same chance, that justice requires that every individual be “equally elect”. But Paul has labored up this point in the book to prove exactly the opposite! All men are sinners. All are condemned. There is no solution, or hope, or ghost of a chance for natural man apart from God’s regenerating work. We all and only deserve damnation. God, in His mercy and grace, has reached down and snatched some - the Scripture says “many” - for salvation. This is His sovereign action, and choice, and power, and right. “God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden” (Rom. 9:18).

So that leads to man’s second objection: “Then why does God still blame us? For who can resist his will?” (Rom. 9:19). If it’s as you say, how can we be held accountable? Paul has already answered that question also. Back in chapter one he demonstrates how and why man is accountable for his own sin. Here in chapter nine, he’s quite blunt. Read it for yourself in Romans 9:20. Twice Paul quotes from Hosea, and twice from Isaiah, to prove his point - he could have gone to hundreds of other texts for it’s written on every page; God is sovereign and man a sinner, so salvation is of the Lord.

And don’t forget the punch line here! This salvation has been extended to Gentiles also (Rom. 9:24,30). By the infinite grace of God the door of salvation has been opened to us also.

THE LORD SPOKE (May 5)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: II Samuel 7-8

At just the right moment, God brought another friend into David's life. Jonathan's death left a great hole in David's soul. Then God provided the prophet Nathan to fill it. What a friend! He jumped to encourage David (vs. 3) but then was spiritually sensitive enough to hear God's word (II Sam. 7: 4) and gently apply it as a balm to David. Take a look at the promises God gave David through Nathan:

• David wanted to build a house (temple) for the Lord but the Lord promised to build a house (dynasty) for him (II Sam. 7:5,11)
• David began as a "lowly" shepherd where he learned just the skills that the Lord required for governing the people of Israel (II Sam. 7:7-8)
• David heard the Lord say, "I have been with you...now I will make your name great...your kingdom will endure forever before me" (II Sam. 7:9,16)
• David received a promise that any father longs for - a son who would love the Lord (II Sam. 7:12,14)

And, did you take note of David's words on this day?

• "Who am I...that you have brought me this far?" (II Sam. 7:18-21) = genuine humility before God and man
• "How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you...." (II Sam. 7:22-24) = genuine praise from the depths of his soul
• "Do as you promised...[and] men will say, 'The Lord Almighty is God...'." (II Sam. 7:25-26) = genuine concern for others' spiritual state
• "Your words are trustworthy...for you, O Sovereign Lord, have spoken...." (II Sam. 7:27-29) = genuine trust in the Word of God

The Lord spoke a lot on that day! The Davidic Covenant (II Sam. 7:12-16) was not only a wonderful promise to David, it still rings with Messianic over-tones as we await the day when David's greater Son will sit on that throne in Jerusalem (Lk. 1:32-33; Acts 2:30f; 13:22-23; Rom. 1:2-4; Rev. 22:16).


New Testament: Romans 8

Being driven by desire will get you in trouble every time. Because that drive, whatever it is, will so easily blind you to other considerations, you end up not seeing clearly and, therefore, not judging correctly. Your focus on that particular desire will so quickly dominate all your thinking that you will fail to see otherwise perfectly clear road signs intended to keep you on the right path.

It can happen with a relationship, sports, a job, a hobby. It can be a perfectly good thing of itself but it’s the driven-ness of that desire that blunts your spiritual edge. This is what Paul means when he says “those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires” (Rom. 8:5a). It can be an addiction to food, to physical exercise, or to some other perfectly good activity but, because our desires focus so on that objective, it gets all our spiritual priorities out of whack. It begins to take over, to drive us, to make our direction other than God-honoring.

Being driven by desire will get you in trouble every time. But for one! Desiring God is the one desire that will balance and overcome all wrongly-directed desires. It’s what Augustine meant when he said, “Love God and do as you please.” This is the one desire that can’t be over done. It brings all other desires into their proper balance. Paul says, “those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Rom. 5:8b). The result is that you “are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit” (Rom. 8:9).

Now, that puts all other desires in right perspective. Many of those desires can be perfectly good things, unless or until they are in the driver’s seat. When they begin to drive us we lose the direction that God desires for us. In the second half of the chapter, Paul describes the power that is unleashed by desiring God.

First, sin no longer has sway over us (Rom. 8:10). We safely trust in God (our Abba Father) and no longer have reason to fear (Rom. 8:15). We have an increasing share in His glory (Rom. 8:17-18) and begin to produce the fruits of the Spirit (Rom. 8:23). We can overcome weaknesses in His power (Rom. 8:26) and experience an on-going cleansing of our hearts (Rom. 8:29). As we are “conformed to the likeness of God’s son” (Rom. 8:29) we grow ever closer to God and our desires become one with Him - like the sympathetic vibrations of a sound chord with a tuning fork.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

THE LORD SPOKE (May 1)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Samuel 29-31

I Samuel 30:6a - "David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him, each one was bitter in spirit..."

What did David do in this situation?

1. his first thought was to inquire of the Lord (vs. 7b)
2. he sought out a spiritual adviser (7a)
3. he listened (vs. 8) - It's one thing to seek advice. It's another to listen to it! And, did you notice? "The Lord spoke."
4. he started moving immediately in response (vs. 9)
5. he didn't try to "go it alone" (vs. 9-16)
6. he took bold, decisive action (vs. 17-20)
7. he did not retain bitterness towards those who had opposed him (vs. 22)
8. he gave God the glory (vs. 23)
9. he acknowledged the team effort that was necessary to bring success in the battle (vs. 24-25)
10. he didn't use the experience to build up himself but generously blessed others (vs. 26-30)

I Samuel 30:6b - "But David found strength in the Lord His God."

Is that any surprise? When a man follows God so whole-heartedly and with such grace, God is pleased to shower His blessings not only upon him but also on all those around him. In this case it was several thousands of people: the six hundred mighty men, his own family and the other people of raided Ziklag, the elders of Judah, the inhabitants of Bethel, Ramoth Negev, Jattir, Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, Rachal, the Jerahmeelites, the Kenites, the inhabitants of Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach, Hebron, and right on down to us today!


New Testament: Romans 4

If you follow rabbinic Judaism, what’s left? Paul knocks out all the arguments in this section of his treatise. Remember, this has been his own training and background prior to his conversion. So these are the answers his own struggle with truth produced.

1) Salvation is not to be obtained through mitzvot (works) - Romans 4:2-8. Neither the quality nor the quantity of good works is sufficient to bring justification before God. He must credit our account with righteousness and He does that only on the basis of our believing in Him. It’s by grace, through faith.

2) Salvation does not come with a brit (circumcision) - Romans 4:9-12. It may have been the sign of the covenant but it never saved anyone - neither before nor after the Promise. Even those who are circumcised must follow in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham. It’s by grace, through faith.

3) Salvation does not come from Torah (law) - Romans 4:13-15. Though the Law reveals our sin and desperate need of a Savior (it’s a “schoolmaster to bring us to Christ”, Gal. 3:24), it cannot produce righteousness. Abraham received the Promise before the Law existed and he did so by grace, through faith.

So Paul nails home the conclusion: “the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace” (Rom. 4:16). And here’s the glorious part of this truth: it’s not just for “those who are of the law” (Abraham’s physical descendants), it’s also for “those who are of the faith of Abraham” (Gentile believers).

Later, when Paul gives his testimony (Phil. 3:4-6), he recalls his own faulty thinking and all the effort he had expended to attain a righteous standing with God:

...though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more; circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

Most of us probably couldn’t use the word “faultless” of ourselves in any category but no measure of self effort is sufficient. “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not of works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:8-10)

THE LORD SPOKE (April 30)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Samuel 26-28

I Samuel 26:20,23 - "Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord.... The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness."

David desired with all his heart, and demonstrated throughout all his life, that he wanted to be faithful to the Lord. There were times when he failed, but in each case he got back up and stuck to the course.

Stick to the course! We have other ways of saying it: during the dark days of World War II, Churchill used to remind others to "KBO" ("keep buggering on"); my Dad used to say, "I know how to plod"; in the Iditarod it's, "die in the traces"; in Dodge City it was, "die with your boots on". I like, "fail falling forward".

David's commitment, and God's hand upon him, was recognized:

• by the evil king, Saul (26:25) - "May you be blessed...you will do great things and surely triumph."
• by the enemy king, Achish (27:12; 29:6,9) - "Achish trusted David and said...'You have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me'."

Being committed to death or committeed to death won't do it. David wanted to be committed until death. His prayer was that he would die close to the Lord. Mine too!


New Testament: Romans 3

The “Romans Road”. It used to be known to every believer. Now, it’s more likely that some might confuse it with the “Via Appia” or some other boulevard in ancient history.

The “Romans Road is a string of important verses in the book of Romans that summarize succinctly God’s plan of salvation for man. By following this path one is brought to understand the essence of what is necessary for saving faith. It’s a valuable tool for presenting the Gospel message.

Beginning at Romans 3:23 we find the reason why man needs to be saved. He is a sinner. Every man is a sinner and cannot reach up to God on his own. Isaiah tells us that even our righteous acts are like filthy rags. They’re worthless to attain salvation. Because of our sin, we fall short of God’s righteous standard every time.

From there go to Romans 5:8 for the marvelous discovery that God loves sinners. In spite of our sin, God has demonstrated His wonderful love for us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place. He took the penalty for our sin, by dying to set us free from the debt we owe.

Romans 6:23 elaborates on that. The just recompense for our sin is death - eternal separation from God. “But” (that’s mercy) “the gift” (that’s grace) of God is to give us eternal life. That union with Him is found in the Lord Jesus. But how?

The answer comes in Romans 10:9-10. We must first believe it in our heart. Justification (which means “just as if I’d never sinned”) comes by believing what God has said in His Word. It is necessary to confess that with your mouth - to say it! A verbal affirmation of your trust in Jesus as Lord of your life is necessary. That’s what Paul meant when he said, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The first thing you need is to have that down deep in your own heart. Then, be so familiar with it that you can easily share it with a friend or someone who is seeking to know the Lord.

Tip: If you have a hard time remembering the sequence of verses, try penciling in the margin the next reference so you know where to go next (3:23 ➔ 5:8 ➔ 6:23 ➔ 10:9-10,13). That way all you need to remember is Romans 3:23.

THE LORD SPOKE (April 28)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Samuel 20-22

You might say Saul had Jonathan "in his pocket". In spite of his miserable recent actions, he still had the loyalty of his son. Jonathan told David, "...My father doesn't do anything, great or small, without confiding in me" (20:2).

Scripture tells us that "Jonathan became one in spirit with David" (18:1). He "made a covenant with David" (18:3) and "spoke well of David to Saul his father" (19:4). Herein lies the reason for Saul's duplicity with his own son. Saul saw Jonathan's loyalty as his way to get at David (20:3). Now Saul plays his second card. He was adept with the spear. Notice how often and against whom he uses it:

18:10-11 - he hurls it at David twice
19:9-10 - and then again
20:33 - then he hurls it at his own son, Jonathan
22:6 - it's close by his side while he plots against David and issues the order to kill the priests at Nob
26:7,11-12,16,22 - again it's nearby while he hunts down David who removes it from him in self-defense and as a lesson to both Saul and General Abner
II Sam. 1:6 - it's still with him (Saul) at the moment of his death

That would be quite some piece for the Antiquities Museum of Heaven! Do you want to have some fun? Trace out the references to David's sword (remembering chapter 17) starting at 20:9-10.

How different this all could have been if Saul had just acknowledged his sin and asked God to forgive him. He was, after all, the one God had chosen to be the first king. Certainly, God would have been quick to forgive him and he could have still been useful as the King of Israel. I once heard Warren Wiersbe say, "It's not the weapon in your hand, but the integrity in your heart that God honors and uses." That was what Saul lacked. How is it with me?


New Testament: Romans 1

The description of sins at the end of Romans 1 sounds just like any normal day’s programming on TV. The paragraph concludes with the condemnation of those who approve of such practices. Wouldn’t watching them repeatedly constitute some form of approval? At the very least, that’s what keeps them on the air.

When we continue in such practices, we run the risk of falling under the judgment of God similar to another example in this chapter. Three times regarding sexual depravity, it says, “God gave them over” to their sin (Rom. 1:24,26,28). When we stay fixed on a sin or sins, we push God’s grace to the limit. There comes a time when God says, “Enough! Have it your way.” God will allow sin to run its course.

It’s not only the heathen who are “without excuse” (Rom. 1:20). True, there is just basis for their condemnation in the fact that they have all the necessary evidence to respond properly to God. The evidence of the created world is sufficient to know two things: (1) that there is a God, and (2) that He is all-powerful, i.e. I must bow before Him.

But willful ignorance of God is no worse than willful abandonment of the ways of God. Knowing God’s righteous standard and willfully turning away from it, or worse, applauding those who do, leads to a depraved mind (Rom. 1:28,32). That depravity will manifest itself in the ugly litany of sin found listed in Romans 1:29-31.

There’s hope. If you peek ahead to the next chapter, you read that “God’s kindness leads you toward repentance (Rom. 2:4).

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

THE LORD SPOKE (April 27)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Samuel 18-19

H.G. Wells said about one of his characters, Mr. Polly, "He was not so much a human being as a civil war." That surely fits King Saul. David's success caused Saul to give him "a high rank in the army" (18:5) but when everyone was talking and singing David's praise, "Saul was very angry... [and it] galled him.... And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David" (18:8-9). It became a self-destroying obsession for him. During a Churchillian "black dog" day, he tried to kill David - twice (18:10-11). Look what else he did in just these two chapters:

18:13 - gave David an army but then tried to make him disappear
18:15 - withheld the daughter he'd promised (Merab) as David's wife
18:20-21 - knowingly gave David a bad wife (Michal) to ensnare him
18:25 - tried to set David up for an easy Philistine kill
19:1-2 - no longer even tried to hide his murderous motives from others
19:6 - lied with an oath
19:10 - attempted murder
19:15 - plotted murder
19:18-21 - sent out a hit squad (3x!)

This man was putting in lots of overtime on his twisted job! Contrast David's actions throughout this same time period:

18:1-4 - began a deep friendship with Jonathan
18:5-7 - remained faithful and enjoyed success from the Lord
18:10 - remained faithful in trying to minister to Saul
18:18,23 - remained humble
18:27 - went beyond the call of duty and did more than was expected of him
19:7ff - received and followed through on wise counsel from a friend
19:18 - sought wise counsel from a spiritual mentor

The obvious conclusions are drawn out for us in Scripture (18:12-16): "Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul.... In everything [David] did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns."


New Testament: Acts 28

As the book began, so it ends. In Acts 1:3 we’re told that during His last days on earth, Jesus “spoke about the kingdom of God”. From his Roman imprisonment at the end of the book, Paul “preached the kingdom of God” (Acts 28:31). At the end of his life, it was also among the last words he ever penned. Paul was confident that the Lord would “bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom” (II Tim. 4:18).

That last phrase in Acts has an additional point that must not go unnoticed. The preaching of the kingdom of God is best done when we “teach about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:31). That’s exactly what Paul was actively doing during his time in Rome. Enjoying certain liberties because of his “house arrest” (Acts 28:16,30), Paul was able to engage the Jewish community which came to hear him “in large numbers”.

From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. (Acts 28:23b)

All the Bible is occupied with the clash of kingdoms. God’s kingdom vs. Satan’s kingdom. There is no fence to sit on between the two. Either you’re on one side or you’re on the other. Being on God’s side means that you’ve “heard and understood”, you’ve “seen and perceived”, and you’ve “understood and turned” to God’s salvation (Acts 28:26-28; from Isa. 6:9-10).

It involves studying the Scriptures (the “Law and the Prophets” of Acts 28:23). When you are fully convinced about Jesus it floods your soul with delight. “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Ps. 34:8).

Pagan King Nebuchadnezzar was brought to his knees to realize that “the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men” (Dan. 4:25,32) and came to declare, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just” (Dan. 4:37).

THE LORD SPOKE (April 26)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Samuel 17

The emphasis of this chapter is not Goliath. It's not the war between the Israelites and the Philistines. It's for sure not Saul (he's been one of the central figures up to this point but he's already a failed king). It's not even David. He made sure of that by always directing our attention away from himself.

• vs. 15 - he was his father's willing helper ("back and forth to tend sheep")
• vs. 20 - he was quick to obey his father ("early in the morning")
• vs. 26 - he was more concerned about his Father's reputation than his own
• vs. 34-37 - he was quick to give his Father the glory and not take it for himself
• vs. 45-48 - because he trusted his Father, he was undaunted in his courage

Note the response of those around him:

• vs. 28-29 - Big brother Eliab had it wrong! (Was maybe he the one who was "conceited and had a wicked heart? That's usually how it works; we accuse others of the very sin we are guilty of because that's a good way to hide.)
• vs. 37 - Saul: "Go and the Lord be with you." He was ready to stake his whole army and personal success on David?!
• vs. 49 - Goliath "fell down dead"
• vs. 51 - the Philistines "turned and ran"
• vs. 52 - the Israelites "surged forward" (Sometimes it takes a leader like David to get people off dead center.)
• vs. 55 - the king and the general pretend they didn't know him (Okay, maybe they're just trying to get information from the battlefront but do you really think they weren't watching the whole scene very carefully given the earlier part of this chapter?)
• 18:6 - all Israel literally sang his praises publicly and abroad (see 29:5)

David's answer to Eliab (vs. 29) is admittedly very hard to translate from Hebrew but I think my Nearly Inspired Version (NIV) got it wrong here. There's no personal pronoun in David's question (NIV: "Can't I even speak?"). That misses the tone not only of the passage but, especially, of David's life. "Is there not a cause?" is a better translation. David reminds us all that we have a charge to keep. I am under the mighty hand of God and all things (my life included) are meant to bring greater glory to Him. Amen - may it be so.


New Testament: Acts 27

Seven Lessons on Leadership from Paul the Prisoner

1. A leader takes charge. Like oil rising to the surface, a leader will come to the top because he takes the initiative. It’s a character quality that is recognized by others. The centurion’s first reaction was to ignore Paul (Acts 27:11) and go with what the pilot and ship’s owner said. After three days of terrible storm, Paul spoke up again (Acts 27:21) and this time they were ready to listen to him. Subsequent cases (Acts 27:31,33) solidified their trust in him and his leadership.
2. A leader is trustworthy. Paul had several opportunities to make a break or to barter for his freedom but he didn’t take them. He did his part and more to save the ship, to encourage both the guards and the prisoners, and to maintain discipline both on deck and on shore. Though a prisoner, Paul’s character set him apart. Even his guards knew they could trust him (Acts 27:32,43).
3. A leader speaks with authority. Paul didn’t know as much about ships and sailing but he did know God and the Scriptures. And, he knew God’s call upon his life. There was no possible way he could die at that point because God had called him to future ministry (Acts 27:23-25). That was the basis of his authority.
4. A leader knows how to motivate others. Both by his words and his personal example, Paul sparked others to action. He identified the problem, devised a solution, and convinced others that it would work. Rather than issuing commands, he said, “Follow me.” People will follow someone who knows where he’s going and how to get there. “He that thinketh he leadeth...and hath no one following him...only taketh a walk.” (John Maxwell)
5. A leader is enthused. Paul’s optimism was genuine. Not the kind to look back or to hesitate for fear, his enthusiasm was an encouragement to others. Genuine enthusiasm ought to be a characteristic of every believer for it comes from two Greek words that pack a powerful message - en (in) + theos (God).
6. A leader demonstrates good judgment. A good leader may have an elevated vision but it’s realistic. He may dream but he doesn’t have his head in the clouds. He counts the cost and moves ahead with the plan. He may occasionally have to back up and move to “Plan B” but he maintains momentum. He takes risks, but they are calculated risks and, if they fail, he’s ready to handle the consequences.
7. A leader focuses on the goal, not the problems. C.S. Lewis said, “Do you know what happens to people who set about with a determination to get no falls? They fall as often as the rest of us, and they cannot skate in the end.” A leader faces all the same problems that anybody else does but because he has his eye on the final goal, he gets past the problems. When the glory of God is that final goal, nothing can stop him!

THE LORD SPOKE (November 27)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Ezekiel 46-48

Here’s a hot fishing tip for the Millennium! Get yourself a spot on the NW shore of the Dead Sea.

Ezekiel describes a miraculous river which flows out of Jerusalem, coming from under the threshold of the Temple (47:1). As it flows east it cuts to the south side of the altar and exits the Temple compound south of the closed eastern gate (47:2). After 1500' it is flowing at a depth of 4-5 inches. Without tributaries, the flow increases dramatically as it drops. By 3000' it’s already 20" deep; by 4500' it’s up to 40"; and by 6000' it’s too deep to wade across anymore. The drop in elevation from Jerusalem is dramatic, about 3700' in 15 miles.

Today the course of this river would take it through a barren wasteland for the most part. Except for a some seasonal watercourses and a few small springs, there is little water to be found in the Judean Desert and vegetation is scarce, found in small pockets near the water. But Ezekiel’s river is bordered by “a great number of trees” (47:7). They will be plentiful and will produce a variety of fruit and medicine throughout the year (47:12).

The water of the Dead Sea will “become fresh” whenever it comes in contact with the crystal flow. Today the salt and mineral content of the Dead Sea is such that nothing lives in its waters. But this miraculous stream will heal the salty waters. En Gedi (“spring of the goat”) is a well known oasis on the west shore but En-Eglaim (“spring of the two calves”) is unknown. Its probable location is somewhere on the east shore, such that the whole north end of the lake will become fresh water while the south end (“the swamps and marshes” of vs. 11) will remain salty. P.S. Salt will be needed for the sacrifices at the Temple (43:24).

This river was “seen” by several others in Scripture:

• David in Psalm 36:8 - “your river of delights”
• the sons of Korah in Psalm 46:4 - “there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God”
• Joel in 3:18 - “a fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house and will water the Valley of Acacias”
• Zechariah in 13:1 & 14:8 - “living water will flow out from Jerusalem...the river of the water of life”

Now compare this river with John’s vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21-22. He describes a river there which,

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Rev. 22:1-2)

Beautiful to imagine! Hard to wait to see it, huh?


Psalms 143-144

...My soul thirsts for you like a parched land. (Ps. 143:6)

Frequently in Scripture, the analogy that is used to express our longing for God is that of thirst. Living, as he did, and tending his flocks in the barren Judean wilderness, David knew something of parched land. No doubt there were many times he longed for some refreshing stream in the baked countryside.

When David brought together the various psalms to compose the Psalter, the first one he chose for Book II was from the sons of Korah and begins with these words: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God?” (Ps. 42:1-2)

David himself wrote: “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Ps. 63:1)

The prophets often picked up on the same theme. Isaiah said: “They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.” (Is. 49:10) and “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters...” (Is. 55:1).

Jesus completed that invitation when He said: “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.... He who believes in me will never be thirsty.... If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (Jn. 4:14; 6:35; 7:37-38)

The promise is repeated with great joy by the hosts of heaven in Revelation 7:15-17 where it says, “never again will they thirst...for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.”

All my life-long I had panted
For a drink from some clear spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.

Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings,
Through His blood I now am saved.

Poor I was, and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy,
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul’s sad cry.

Well of water, ever springing,
Bread of life so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
My Redeemer is to me. (Clara T. Williams)

THE LORD SPOKE (November 25)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Ezekiel 42-43

What good is a temple without the presence of God? Ezekiel saw the glory of God departing to the east (11:2) and now, in vision and audition, he sees it return (43:4). God’s glory is always on the move in Ezekiel (3:23; 9:3; 10:4,18; 44:4). Its sound is “like the roar of rushing waves” (43:2; compare Rev. 1:15; 14:2; 19:6). The temple plan, so intricately described in chapters 40-42, is blessed now by the return of the Shekinah with a radiance like that of a rainbow (see 1:28).

But as beautiful as was the building, the architectural focus is on the altar (43:13-27). Over 20' tall, it took a pyramidal shape with three stacked layers of decreasing size. The top level is called the “altar hearth” (43:15; literally, “the mountain of God”, harel). From its surface (called “the lion of God”, ariel, in 43:15,16) projected four horns. These offer asylum for the accused person (Ex. 21:12-14) and are where the blood of the sacrifices will be sprinkled. Unlike previous altars, this one will have stairs leading to its top (40:17; compare Ex. 20:26).

No ark or mercy-seat is mentioned in this temple because propitiation for sins has been accomplished once-and-for-all at the death of Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29). The reason for the altar and the sacrifices that will be carried out on it is not to take away sin (Heb. 10:4 tells us they could never do that) but to look back at the supreme Sacrifice which solved the sin problem once and forever. They will serve as a memorial of His death and the solution for sin which God accepted on our behalf.

Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
And did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?

Was it for crimes that I have done,
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut its glories in,
When God, the mighty maker, died
For his own creature's sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While his dear cross appears;
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.

But drops of tears can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe.
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
'Tis all that I can do.

Isaac Watts


Psalms 139-140

You’d think a king would be able to hide away if need be. Surely a sovereign could obtain secrecy. But David knew from experience that his sin could not be hidden. He’d found out the hard way the truth of Moses’ words: “you may be sure that your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23).

But David’s relationship with the Lord was such that he invited God’s scrutiny and asked Him to reveal even his unperceived sin. The purpose was that he might then walk “in the way everlasting”. Like bookends, Psalm 139 has this thought at the beginning and at the close:

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.... Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Ps. 139:1-2,23-24)

It takes a genuine relationship with the Lord and a strong desire to please Him to pray such a prayer. Those words inspired J. Edwin Orr to write the words to the well-known song, Cleanse Me. Think through each stanza carefully and then sing it as your own prayer to God.

Search me, O God, and know my heart today,
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin and set me free.

I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word and make me pure within.
Fill me with fire where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.

Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine.
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
I now surrender Lord - in me abide.

O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival, start the work in me.
Thy Word declares Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.

THE LORD SPOKE (August 9)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalms 31-34

Most of us can handle most of the stuff that comes at us. There are maybe some times when we’re particularly fragile and even the littlest things can get us down. But normally we know enough, we’ve been through enough, we’ve walked with the Lord enough, that we’re able to deal with the big stuff in the power of the Lord. But have you ever noticed how it’s usually a little thing that can get us down. It’s the little pebble in our shoe, like the proverbial straw on the camel’s back, that makes us limp or flat out stops us in our tracks. This psalm promises repeatedly that the Lord delivers us from all our fears (Ps. 34:4) and all our troubles (Ps. 34:6,17,19).

Think about David’s life at the time he wrote this. The superscription (Ps. 34:1) tells us it came just after his experience with Achish, king of Gath. Actually, it says “Abimelech” but that’s a dynastic title used by several Philistine kings (see Gen. 20,21,26). The story is told in I Samuel 21:10-15. David had been running from Saul for months. Some of his own Judeans had ratted on him to Saul by revealing his hiding place and he’d finally gone over to the Philistines. After Gath, he holed up in a bat-infested cave and 400 men joined him - “all those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him and he became their leader” (I Sam. 22:2). Now, instead of one trouble (Saul), he had 401 troubles.

Go back to Psalm 34:6-10. Speaking of himself, David says, “This poor man called and the Lord heard him; he save him out of all his troubles.... Taste and see that the Lord is good [advice for the distressed]; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him [in a cave?]. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing [advice for those in debt]. The lions may grow weak and hungry but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing [advice for the discontented].” Or, look at it this way:

• Taste the Lord (Ps. 34:8)
• Fear the Lord (Ps. 34:9)
• Seek the Lord (Ps. 34:10)

“A righteous man may have many troubles [401?!], but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Ps. 34:19) when he walks with God as David did.


New Testament: James 4

Finish this sentence: “God helps him who helps __________.”

Conventional wisdom says, “God helps him who helps himself” and turns it into a phrase for praising independent initiative. In other words, don’t be dependent on someone else. Don’t be a moocher. Get busy and get the job done yourself. Then God will help you. He doesn’t help a lazy bum.

But James put a different twist to it and the message is nearly the opposite. Quoting Proverbs 3:34, James tells us that God helps him who humbles himself (Jas. 4:6,10). Rather than promoting independent self-reliance, James is recommending quiet submission.

This is a message that rings out from many Scriptures. Here’s how God said it through Isaiah some 700 years earlier: “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word” (Is. 66:2). Or consider the message through Peter, who also quoted Proverbs. 3:34 and went on to say: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s might hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (I Pet. 5:6).

Of course, our next question should be, how? How are we to “humble [ourselves] before the Lord”? James gives us ten quick commands (Jas. 4:7-10) - all imperatives in Greek - to tell us how:

1. submit to God
2. resist the Devil
3. come near to God
4. wash your hands
5. purify your hearts (#4 & 5 have to do with cleansing)
6. grieve
7. mourn
8. wail (#6-8 have to do with repentance)
9. change
10. humble yourself before the Lord

James then follows that with two examples of how to put this into practice:

1. Don’t slander or judge your neighbor (Jas. 4:11-12). In doing so, you set yourself above him. In fact, you set yourself above the law as if you were the judge. There is a Judge to do that - not you.
2. Don’t boast about tomorrow (Jas. 4:13-17). Go ahead and make plans - that’s not wrong - but always preface them with “God permitting”. Remember that He is in control - not you.