Month: July 2017

41. No Lack 

Psalm 23.1

I shall not want.

 “Want” is a quaint and beautiful Old English meaning, which is interestingly related to the present day meaning. We may translate, “I have everything I need,” or “I lack nothing.” We can also say, “I really don’t want anything more than my Shepherd has already provided. I am so content with all the blessings He has granted for my care and well being, I can honestly say, ‘I am rich and full; I do not want a thing.’” It would admittedly take some kind of saint to actually believe and say that, but if we really believed the Shepherd and His promises we could say it boldly and proudly.

“Not want” means I have everything needed for the support and wants of the body and soul, that I am not lacking anything needful. But, even more, I am happy about that: “I am content, completely satisfied with everything that I currently have; I don’t want a thing.” Jesus and I may argue about what my wants and needs really are, but He always wins the argument; and so I learn to be content with what I have until He decides in mercy to grant me more.

This unconditional promise stands on the surest of grounds, for it is legitimate deduction from the first sentence (the Lord is my shepherd). I may not know what my earthly lot shall be, but I know what it shall not be: no matter what, no needful blessing for body or soul shall be wanting, neither poverty nor riches. The true riches of godly peace and contentment far surpass pride and ambition. He who is content with everything allotted feels no want.

The Lord, as our Shepherd, elicits confidence. Unbelief deprives us of His blessings. A contented mind is a continual feast. We are enabled to leave everything to God’s judgment and not become our own gods, thinking I know what I need. All is regulated by His unerring wisdom, even the hairs of your head. Leave it all up to Him. You can be master over yourself, even if you cannot be master over your circumstances. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33.

40. Reward

Psalm 19.11

In keeping of them there is great reward.

 This is a classic expression of the conditional promise of blessings and good consequences resulting from keeping the commandments. The reward is bountifully spelled out in several parts of the Torah. Every Jew knew and no Israelite doubted the blessings from obeying and the curses from disobeying. Taken as a whole the blessings come not only from keeping the commandments in the narrow sense, but also the rewards that come from believing the promises of the Lord and receiving with thankfulness all that God gives. Great reward is the consequence of well doing, bringing peace of conscience, elevation of soul, and like-mindedness with God. The Law of Commandments is a part of the wonderful things God gives for which the believer gives thanks. The Torah also grants unconditional promises and blessings of mercy and forgiveness. Believing God and His promises is just as important as doing His commandments.

Internalizing and externalizing the entire Torah embedding it into our faith and life is meant by “keeping of them.” If you keep the Law, then there is great reward. Reward is not related to merit, as in a child getting gold stars for doing the chores and then getting a reward for the number of stars earned. As a reward of merit a “reward” is given for doing something, just for doing it. The reward in this promise is related to grace, not merit. The reward does not come from “doing the chores,” but the reward is the good things that result from the work, like a clean room, washed dishes, dogs fed, etc., in addition to the strength of character that is built into the obedient person. Rewards are intrinsically related to believing and keeping the Torah: just two small examples: a stable and happy family results from honoring parents and not committing adultery; a safe community results from not killing and not stealing and not lying. These kinds of rewards are intrinsically connected to attitude and behavior, even if it is hard to connect the dots. Faith is necessary, for it alone sees. The Faith Chapter of Hebrews 11:6: “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

These intrinsic rewards are directly related to conditions, but they are not easily seen; therefore, the connections must be believed. Why do I have to…? Because I said so! Trust me; your great reward will come in time.

Remember: the Ten Commandments themselves were given as a blessing and grace from a loving God for the purpose of giving us a happy and blessed life. The Gospel is given as a blessing to forgive our failure to keep the commandments, and to give the power of the indwelling Spirit to actually keep the commandments better. Repent and believe the Gospel: that’s how we claim the reward.

39. Enlightening

Psalm 19.8

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The Word of God brings light to hearts darkened by misunderstanding, doubt, unbelief, pride, and fear. The eyes that are enlightened by God’s pure commandment are the eyes of the heart, “the mind’s eye,” the eyes of faith. Faith sees; faith enables the heart to see, to comprehend, to take hold of, to possess, and to internalize the truth and make it my own.

Once the promise is fulfilled in me, once the eyes of faith are enlightened by the pure Word of God, once I can see clearly the grace and truth of Jesus Christ, then I can live life to the full and walk into the glories of heaven on earth that the Lord has prepared for me by His Cross and Empty Tomb. Faith enjoys the promises of God and the blessings He has reserved for us in this life and the next. Psalm 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, an a light unto my path.”

Faith is the eye that sees; “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1). The Word enlightens the eyes, or opens them so that we see, hear, understand, believe, and live accordingly.

In a more physical sense, enlightened eyes are not only able to see better, they also look better.  Enlightening the eyes to receive outside information coming in from the Lord through the Word also brightens the eyes so that they shine. The eyes of the believer, purified by the Word, shine brighter and more sharply than the normal “dead eyes” of unbelievers. Enlightened eyes shine with the love of God for other people as genuine care and concern shines forth from the heart that has been transformed. What a blessing to have not only enlightened eyes of the heart, but enlightening eyes through which the love of God in the heart passes out into the world of people around us.

This is quite a promise: Enlightened and enlightening eyes.

38. Rejoicing

Psalm 19.8

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:

 The Word of God is right, and that is good, but that is not all; it also rejoices the heart. The promise is that the Word will bring joy to the heart. The joy of the Lord will be your strength. The deep, inner, abiding joy of God shall dwell deep within the heart so solid that no fear, no worry, no threat, no sadness, no danger, and no darkness can touch the joy of the heart worked deep into it by the Word of God. Great joy results from understanding the Word of God: Nehemiah 8:12: “And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.” It is like the joy of a Christmas holiday when we understand the words of God to us. “I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.” (Psalm 119:14).

The statutes of the Lord are right, and the guarantee is that when they are kept joy comes into the life because rightness and uprightness belongs to the Lord. The joy of life and the joy of living with God cannot be taken away. When the laws of God are followed joy follows, because joy is the natural product of right living and because there is joy and satisfaction in knowing that we have done the right thing. Even doing the wrong thing and being convicted of the error by the Word of God is a blessing for it brings one to repentance and restoration to favor by faith in Christ. This rejoices the heart. The joy of doing the right thing because God says it is right is it’s own reward, just in the action of doing it, but the added blessing and promise is that it rejoices the heart; it plants and grows up joy so strongly and solidly that such abiding joy will carry us over and through many rough patches of life.

Let the Word of Christ dwell in your hearts by faith so richly that you not only hear and believe and do but also rejoice.

37. Making Wise

Psalm 19.7

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

 The promise is that the Word of God will be used by God to make the simple wise. There is a condition: one must be simple. “Simple” means open to teaching, open to learning more; it means not being already a “know-it-all,” proud of my knowledge, smug and secure in myself. Simple means being humble enough to receive some gift, some treasure, some insight, some revelation, some rebuke, some chastening, some grace, some forgiveness, and some compassion. When I am open and empty and ready to receive what God what God has for me then the promise is that He will make me wise. Wisdom = knowledge about practical living that brings benefit and blessing into life; how to live a good life.

This wisdom comes from down from above, not from below, and it is not worldly wisdom: this kind of wisdom lead to death, not life, destruction, not building up, breaking down, not restoring. The wisdom from God is life and health. The one who fears God and hears His Word is made wise for wonderful living. “The holy scriptures are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:16).

The testimony of the Lord is sure = the Word of God is true, efficacious, and inerrant. The Word of God can be trusted to be the Wisdom and Truth of God for an ordered and blessed life in His Creation. It is sure; one can count on it; one can stake one’s life on the Word of God. One can believe the Word and trust in its promises and commandments, even though the world fights tooth and nail with every proposition from God’s Word: “That command is impossible; that promise is not true; that threat will never happen. Do you believe this stuff?” On and on doubts assail us, but the sure Word stands up strong.

To the world the simple believer in God’s Word may appear truly simple, in the sense of dumb and stupid, unsophisticated and uneducated, but the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of the world. So we take God at His Word and trust that His way is the best way to live, in spite of what the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh may say. Without wisdom life would culminate in the disasters of folly.

Which way do you wish to be wise? Worldly or godly? From above or from below? Which wisdom do you seek?

36. Converting

Psalm 19.7

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:

 Conversion of the soul is an unconditional promise: that the Lord will convert the soul, but the implied condition is that we must read, hear, learn, or in some way receive the Law of the Lord. The Lord promises to use the Word of God to convert the soul.

The law of the Lord is the Torah, or the Book of Moses, the first five books of the Hebrew Old Testament. Torah means “Instruction” and Torah then means it includes the entire instruction from God about life: where it comes from, what it is, what it means, where it is going, and how to live a good life. It is considered the manufacturer’s manual for the proper operation of the universe. The “Law of the Lord” can be narrowed to one command: “Love God and love neighbor.” It can also be widened to include the entire revelation of the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament. The “Law” of the Lord also includes the Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. Law = Word.

This Word of God is perfect, complete, whole, without error, and effective in purpose. The Word will accomplish that for which it was sent: Isaiah 55:11: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” In that sense the Word is perfect: it will accomplish conversion.

Converting the soul means to turn the soul around completely from going in the wrong direction to going in the right direction. Conversion, a complete turning around of life’s direction, happens when one comes to a saving faith in Jesus Christ by the working of the Holy Spirit though the Gospel. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 11:17). Faith converts a person from darkness to light, from death to life, from sin to righteousness, from hell to heaven. That faith comes through the Word, more precisely, it is the Holy Spirit creating faith in the soul though the hearing of the Gospel. This makes him a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come.

This total turn around conversion may happen in a moment or over time from our own experience of it. But one time conversion is not enough to maintain the overcoming Christian life on a daily basis. We may have been transformed once, but we all need continual transforming and restoring. The word “convert” can also mean “restore, revive, or refresh.” This is our need and this is God’s promise. “He restoreth my soul.” (Psalm 23: 3). Life, surrounded by sin, death, and devil has a way of draining life, sapping energy, putting things in disarray, and messing things up. We need the restorative powers of the Word of God on a regular basis, not just to be fed, but also to be converted and restored.

Life cannot be fully lived without this enduring inner good; and God gives it freely. If you like your life the way it is, don’t seriously read your Bible because the results for your life will be serious.

35. Buckler

Psalm 18:30

He is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

 A buckler is a large shield that covers nearly the whole body so that the warrior may be protected from arrows and spears during battle. The believer is always and ever in this life involved in spiritual warfare since the devil, sin, and death are relentlessly present to fight against his soul and diminish his life. He cannot fight and protect himself very well without a shield. The Lord Himself is that shield; He is our defense and our protector.

The Lord, our Great Warrior, puts us behind the buckler, behind Himself, so that the enemies cannot harm us. He will not stop the slings and arrows, spears and javelins, from being thrown our way. Some new attack comes at us every day. Every day we put on the armor of God; we live our lives safely enjoying His blessings under his protection and behind His shield and buckler.

This promise of protection is conditional: it is for those who trust in him. Placing one’s trust in Him is a matter of believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, acknowledging my sin and guilt, recognizing my weakness and need, confessing and repenting, believing Jesus died and rose for me, receiving the forgiveness of sins, and trusting in Him to give me eternal life today. Led by the Spirit to make that simple transaction I am trusting in him. Trusting in Him, seeking His refuge, I claim the promise of God being for me a buckler. He daily overcomes sin, death, and devil. I am secure; I am content.

The word for “buckler” can also be translated “Suzerain.” Suzerain is a covenant protector, the stronger of two kings entering into covenant agreement to protect the weaker if the vassal king pays tribute and loyalty. The picture of a strong ally who will protect us weaklings from the marauding enemy is also a valid interpretation. Either way, I am safe in Him.

34. Enlightenment

Psalm 18.28

For thou wilt light my candle:

The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

 Light comes from God and He will give us light. God promises to enlighten my darkness so that I can see where I am and where I am going. He promises to light my candle so that I can see my way. Luke 1:79: “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Without God’s light and enlightenment I am in darkness and I cannot see. I cannot see God; I cannot see His blessings and gifts; I cannot see my pathway; I cannot see life; I cannot even see myself, where I fit in to God’s scheme of things, who I am, where I come from and where I am going. In the darkness I wander around, groping and lost, looking for some glimpse of light and hoping for something. The spiritual darkness in which I am lost is because of my own sin; I brought on my own darkness by my own sin and guilt; I separated myself from God and so I lost the light and the life of God. I could not find my way out of the darkness of death. The Lord Himself, my Light and Life, had to come to where I was and be the Light for me and by His grace bring me into the light.

The Holy Spirit enlightens my dark heart with Truth and Life in Jesus Christ, while He gives me faith in Christ. Now I see God, His grace, His love, His forgiveness, His truth, the meaning of His death on the Cross, the glory of His Resurrection; and I see the promises fulfilled in my life and the hope planted in my spirit. I see the glories of the invisible kingdom; I see the beauty of the future Kingdom; I see the King in all His glory welcoming me with open arms and receiving me to Himself.

When the Lord lights my candle it is more like the Sun shining on a clear day. This promise is always held before us, so that we can ever more clearly see by faith the wondrous things God has done for us and given to us.

33. Save the Afflicted

Psalm 18.27

For thou wilt save the afflicted people;

But wilt bring down high looks.

 God promises to save the afflicted from whatever they are afflicted with; and He will save the afflicted from those who afflict them. When we are afflicted by anything for any reason we only need to look to this promise from God: He will save the afflicted people. When we are afflicted we are more likely to turn to the Lord for help and salvation than when we are smug and secure in our own right. God loves all people and would save everybody, but those who are smug with “high looks” do not need help and do look to the Lord for salvation. But God loves the high and mighty, too, and so He brings them down and afflicts them, in order that they might call on the Lord and that they might receive His Salvation. Poverty of spirit is willinging to receive a gift. Psalm 34:19: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” James 2:5: “Hath not God chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to those who love him?”

The old saying used by preachers who remind themselves to preach Law and Gospel goes like this: “The Word of God comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.” The proper distinguishing of Law and Gospel is to know when and to whom the Law or the Gospel should be preached. And I individually need to know when I need to apply one or the other particularly to my own heart. There are seasons when I feel pretty comfortable and at ease, smug and on top of the world: those times I need to hear the Law to bring me down to repentance in dust and ashes, to let the Law afflict me with guilt and shame and fear that I might repent and turn to the Lord for Salvation. There are other seasons when I feel down, blue, and afflicted with guilt and weakness and despair and in need of help: those times I need to hear the Gospel to lighten my spirit, lift my burden, fill by heart with joy, forgive my sins and save me from my afflicted feeling.

God always resists the proud and hates pride in anyone. He will correct it in His people and punish it in His enemies. His threat will always come true: he that exalts himself shall be abased; “He will bring down high looks.” The humility of Christ subdued the pride of Satan; my very salvation depends on the outcome of that contest between these two principles in my heart.

True happiness and the joy of life in part comes from knowing the difference: when I need Law or Gospel; affliction or comfort; salvation or conviction; repentance or faith. Either time, the point is always the same: to save the afflicted people; two different and contradictory “words from God” have the same purpose, salvation. God’s wisdom will be shared with us so that we will know when and how to appropriate the promise at the right time.

31. Hear

Psalm 17. 6

I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God:

Incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

 The promises of God to hear our prayer are numerous in Scripture; the commands to pray are also plentiful. We pray because God commands it and because God promises to hear it. Believing in a God who promises to hear our prayers makes all the difference in the world for our faith, our regular lives, and for our eternity. There are two kinds of people who believe in a prayer hearing God: 1) those who believe God hears our prayers because they have heard the Gospel and believe in the goodness and mercy of God in Christ Jesus and therefore have a personal relationship with a merciful God who hears and cares; 2) those who think God hears prayer when they do it right or do it rite, who treat God like a superstition that responds to the proper ritual or to a “holy man.”

God is a prayer hearing God who wants me to talk to him (and listen) because He desires an ever-increasing intimacy with me developed through communication. God hears because of His Son, Jesus Christ, who has interceded for us and brought us to the Father as forgiven children, whom He loves and cares deeply about. God hears our prayers simply because He is a prayer hearing God; that is His nature, for God is Love. The childlike believer who knows God loves him just talks to Him, naturally praying about the things of life, and doesn’t wonder if God hears: he knows. The compassion of God consists in this that He hears when we call.

 

Our pleadings, as the pleas of the Psalmists, are not manipulations but confident requests made in quiet response to a God who promises to hear.