7/23/2024 Yesterday Tomorrow
Proverbs 30 - 31
Proverbs 30
The Words of Agur
Proverbs 30:1 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.
The man declares, I am weary, O God;
I am weary, O God, and worn out.
2 Surely I am too stupid to be a man.
I have not the understanding of a man.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
Surely you know!
5 Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
7 Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the LORD?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.
10 Do not slander a servant to his master,
lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
11 There are those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers.
12 There are those who are clean in their own eyes
but are not washed of their filth.
13 There are those—how lofty are their eyes,
how high their eyelids lift!
14 There are those whose teeth are swords,
whose fangs are knives,
to devour the poor from off the earth,
the needy from among mankind.
15 The leech has two daughters:
Give and Give.
Three things are never satisfied;
four never say, “Enough”:
16 Sheol, the barren womb,
the land never satisfied with water,
and the fire that never says, “Enough.”
17 The eye that mocks a father
and scorns to obey a mother
will be picked out by the ravens of the valley
and eaten by the vultures.
18 Three things are too wonderful for me;
four I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a virgin.
20 This is the way of an adulteress:
she eats and wipes her mouth
and says, “I have done no wrong.”
21 Under three things the earth trembles;
under four it cannot bear up:
22 a slave when he becomes king,
and a fool when he is filled with food;
23 an unloved woman when she gets a husband,
and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.
24 Four things on earth are small,
but they are exceedingly wise:
25 the ants are a people not strong,
yet they provide their food in the summer;
26 the rock badgers are a people not mighty,
yet they make their homes in the cliffs;
27 the locusts have no king,
yet all of them march in rank;
28 the lizard you can take in your hands,
yet it is in kings’ palaces.
29 Three things are stately in their tread;
four are stately in their stride:
30 the lion, which is mightiest among beasts
and does not turn back before any;
31 the strutting rooster, the he-goat,
and a king whose army is with him.
32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
or if you have been devising evil,
put your hand on your mouth.
33 For pressing milk produces curds,
pressing the nose produces blood,
and pressing anger produces strife.
Proverbs 31
The Words of King Lemuel
Proverbs 31:1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
2 What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?
What are you doing, son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to take strong drink,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress;
7 let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
The Woman Who Fears the LORD
10 An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
What I'm Reading
The Triune God: Good, Beautiful, and True
By Harry L. Reeder III 9/1/2010
Compare this Psalm with the three statements that follow: One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the
Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
I believe that I shall look upon the
goodness of the Lord in the land
of the living! (Ps. 27:4, 13).
(2) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
(3) You have your truth, and I have my truth.
If one stops and thinks through these three statements, it does not take long to realize they are patently absurd. All three illustrate concepts that dominate the way our culture thinks about goodness, beauty, and truth. As a result, all three are undermined in our culture, often perverted, and at best minimized. This has been accomplished very simply. We are preoccupied with ourselves. Self-actualization and self-esteem have become the highest goods of life, where we give all of our affection and adoration. Each of us is an abettor in the relativization of goodness, beauty, and truth, claiming that there is no true truth, only “my truth,” which may or may not be “your truth.” “True truth” is not to be expected. There is no objective beauty; all is simply a matter of personal taste. Certainly nothing is intrinsically good — though it may be permissible to assign goodness out of personal preferences — but unless something is politically incorrect, it cannot be identified as good or bad. It can only be declared as preferred.
The Word of God clearly challenges our attempt to relativize truth, beauty, and goodness, first by declaring the Word itself true, beautiful, and good, then by revealing these as attributes of the triune God. Truth is a reality because God is truth and cannot lie. Therefore, what God says does not contain truth or become truth — it is truth: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).
Beauty does not claim to be a product dependent upon the evaluation of an onlooker. In other words, beauty is not in the eye of the beholder, it is the Lord who is beautiful. He is the God of beauty. In Psalm 27:4, David declares a single prayer — that he “might dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” not simply to be in His presence, but specifically “to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.” A beholder may or may not have the ability to appreciate beauty, but one thing is clear, the beholder does not make beauty, for God is beauty. It is one of His attributes, and therefore what He says and does is beautiful. The question for us is simple, yet profound in its implication: Do we have the Godgiven ability to see the beauty of the Lord, affirm that beauty, and then use His beauty to rejoice in the Lord for His own glory?
Concerning goodness, do we long to embrace the goodness of the Lord? This is not the flimsy imposter in our society that is determined by the collective assent of what is permissible behavior in a narcissistic culture, nor what is in vogue as a passing fad. The Lord is good. In the same Psalm, David hopes that he will “look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
So here are two wonderful facts for every Christian: First, truth, beauty, and goodness are living realities because they are the attributes of the living and triune God. His Word reveals Him and, therefore, what is true, what is beautiful, and what is good. His Word warns as to the reality and perversity of the lie, the ugly, and the evil. The warning includes the fact that we bring these from our unassisted hearts as we suppress the glory of God and exalt ourselves. Our sinful hearts have destroyed our ability to love truth, to appreciate beauty, and to do good.
But the second wonderful fact is the glorious blessing that God, in His grace and glory, hears us when we call upon Him by faith and repentance in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our Redeemer will deliver us from our sin so that we might not only behold truth, beauty, and goodness, but so that we will love truth, beauty, and goodness because we first love Him, the Lord of truth, beauty, and goodness.
David desired to continually abide “in the house of the Lord” because it is in His sanctuary that we meet the true, the beautiful, and the good. He is the Sanctuary, and now, amazingly, He makes us into His sanctuary. We are the temple of the Lord. So, let’s expand our prayer: O Lord, allow us to behold the One who is true, beautiful, and good. Make us a sanctuary that others may see the truth, beauty, and good of the triune God in Your church. By Your spirit, through Your Son, and for Your glory, may they see You, for there is none like You. True are You, O Lord. Beautiful are You, O Savior. Good are You, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
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Harry L. Reeder III earned an MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary and a DMin from Reformed Theological Seminary. He is senior pastor of the 4,000-member Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham.
The Grace of Cheerful Giving
By Frank Cavalli 9/1/2010
In the last few years, the U.S. economy has faced its greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, and Americans are not out of the woods yet. This financial debacle, fueled by failed mortgages, has rippled through every sector of the economy. The values of homes and investments have plummeted. Consumer confidence has fallen to an all-time low. Millions are out of work, wondering how they will make ends meet. Since charitable giving is one of the first areas to suffer in an economic downturn, churches have felt the pinch and many have been forced to slash budgets and lay off staff. There’s no question we live in challenging times, but with each new challenge comes opportunity.
Through this crisis, when the idols of our materialistic culture lie shattered on the floor, like Dagon before the ark of the Lord, and the nation’s sense of security is in jeopardy, God has given the church an opportunity to demonstrate to the world that allegiance to Christ results in a distinct set of values and priorities. As we find our joy and treasure in Christ we are set free from debilitating worries about money and an insidious slavery to things. In Adam we worship and serve “the creature rather than the Creator” (Rom. 1:25). In Christ our hearts are set aright. Our perception and response to this global economic meltdown ought to be different because we are a peculiar people, a people who no longer belong to this world but to God. Jesus taught that if we love only those who love us and fail to love our enemies, we are no better than the pagans. Likewise, if we are generous and cheerful in our giving only when times are good and our bank accounts are robust, how are we different from the world? Christians in the West have enjoyed an extended season of plenty. In this season of want, perhaps God intends to teach His people some fresh lessons about the grace of giving.
In his second letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul exhorts the church to give selflessly and cheerfully, inspired by the magnanimity of the Macedonians and Christ Himself. In chapter 9 he offers this summary statement: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (vv. 6–8). It is unbelief and fear of loss that constrain our liberality, but here Paul compares giving to sowing. Seed sown in the soil seems lost, but the farmer knows a season of harvest will follow. As we sow bountifully with faith in the benevolence of God, not only can we expect to reap a harvest of earthly blessings, but we store up for ourselves a good foundation for our eternal future (1 Tim. 6:19).
In one sense, how we give can be more important than what we give. We must be cognizant of how our giving appears in the sight of God, for He loves a cheerful giver. To give cheerfully is to give without grieving — to give with ease, spontaneity, and pleasure. It is necessary to honor God with our tithes and offerings, yet no sacrifice is pleasing to Him unless it is voluntary. Our Father desires the cheerful obedience of His children.
Paul cited the Macedonian Christians as exemplars of this spirit. In spite of their poverty and affliction, their joy in Christ resulted in abounding liberality. “For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part” (2 Cor. 8:2). Severe affliction and extreme poverty do not usually add up to a wealth of generosity. Such circumstances would seem to provide justification for withholding whatever resources one has left in the interest of self-preservation. But their joy in Christ was so abundant that it could not be contained. Joy, like gratitude, seeks expression. The question for the Macedonians was not “How little?” but “How much?” If God’s grace has truly gripped our hearts, we will not be calculating the minimum we can offer, but the maximum we can give to Christ and His church. Cheerful givers always wish they could give more. Our tendency today is to spend beyond our means, but the Macedonians gave beyond their means: “for they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints” (vv. 3–4). Pleas from the pulpit and desperate appeals from the deacons were unnecessary. God’s people begged to help their brethren in Jerusalem. That’s not something you hear very often.
How do we account for their extraordinary munificence? Paul attributed it to the grace of God (v. 1). To give sacrificially with joy is not natural; it is supernatural and requires the presence and prompting of the Holy Spirit. Giving is an act of worship and a work of grace.
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Rev. Frank Cavalli is senior pastor of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Winter Park, Florida. Before the Beginning Began
Mishlei-Proverbs 29 Rashi
Rashi: Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki 1040-1105
1 The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh, the prophecy; the words of the man concerning, "God is with me; yea, God is with me, and I will be able."
The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh: אגור בן יקה, the words of Solomon, who gathered (אגר) understanding (בינה) and vomited it (והקיאה). The Sages interpreted it in this manner.
the prophecy: He said this prophecy on that matter.
the words of the man concerning, “God is with me;: said the man that is Solomon this prophecy concerning himself because of איתיאל because he relied on his wisdom to increase gold, horses and wives, which he was forbidden to increase, and so he said, ” God is with me, and I will be able. I will increase wives, and they will not turn my heart away; I will increase gold, and I will not turn away; I will increase horses, and I will not take the people back to Egypt."
yea, God is with me, and I will be able “: Since he said,” God is with me, and I will be able to do it, and I will not stumble.“ לאיתיאל, because of ” God is with me, “ as in (Ex. 14:3 ): ” For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel (לבני) ," meaning of the children of Israel.
2 For I am more boorish than any man, neither do I have man's understanding.
For I am more boorish: Because I relied on my wisdom in a matter that the Holy One, blessed be He, is concerned lest one come to sin.
3 Neither have I learned wisdom, nor do I know the knowledge of the holy ones.
Neither have I learned wisdom: nor do I know the knowledge of the holy ones, for I subtracted or added to the words of Moses.
4 Who ascended to heaven and descended? Who gathered wind in his fists? Who wrapped the waters in a garment? Who established all the ends of the earth? What is his name and what is the name of his son, if you know?
Who ascended to heaven: like Moses?
Who gathered wind: The soot of the furnace.
Who wrapped the waters: (Ex. 15:8 ): “The depths were congealed” ; (ad loc.): “The floods stood upright like a heap,” through Moses’s prayer.
Who established: the Tabernacle, through whose establishment all the ends of the earth were firmly established. In this way, it is expounded in the Pesikta.
What is his name and what is the name of his son: If you say that there already was one like him, tell me what his son’s name is; i.e., what family is descended from him, and we will know who he is.
if you know: if you know who he is. Now how did you not fear to transgress His words?
5 Every word of God is refined; He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.
Every word of God is refined: Heb. צרופה, refined, and He did not write anything unnecessary. [Therefore,] I should have been careful.
6 Do not add to His words, lest He prove to you, and you be found a liar.
lest He prove to you, and you be found a liar: He will prove to your face that through your addition you have come to sin, and certainly if you subtract.
7 I ask two [things] of You; do not withhold them from me before I die.
I ask two [things] of You: Now he addresses the Holy One, blessed be He.
8 Distance falsehood and the lying word from me; give me neither poverty nor wealth; provide me my allotted bread,
poverty: Heb. ראש, poverty.
provide me: Heb. הטריפני, an expression of food, and similarly (Ps. 111:5): “He has given food (טרף) to those who fear Him.”
9 lest I become sated and deny, and I say, "Who is the Lord?" And lest I become impoverished and steal, and take hold of the name of my God.
lest I become sated: from wealth.
and deny: the existence of the Holy One, blessed be He, out of my extreme haughtiness. Now what is the denial? And I say, “Who is the Lord?” Meaning, there is no God.
and take hold of the name of my God: to become accustomed to swearing by it falsely.
10 Do not inform on a slave to his master, lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.
Do not inform: Do not deliver your case against a person to complain about him to the Holy One, blessed be He, even if he is wicked, who curses his father and possesses all the abominations mentioned here, and the proof of the matter is from Hosea son of Beeri, as is stated in Pesachim (87b) in the chapter entitled “The Woman,” that he informed on lsrael and said, “Exchange them for another nation.” Replied the Holy One, blessed be He, “Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry” (Hos. 1:2 ).
11 A generation that curses its father and does not bless its mother.
12 A generation that is pure in its eyes, but is not cleansed of its filth.
13 A generation-how lofty are its eyes! And its eyelids are raised.
A generation-how lofty etc.: This refers to haughtiness.
14 A generation whose teeth are [like] swords, and its molars are [like] knives, to devour the poor of the land and the needy of men.
A generation whose teeth are [like] swords: [These are] the outer [teeth].
and its molars: Its inner teeth.
15 The leech has two daughters, "Give" and "Give." There are three that are not sated, and four that do not say, "Enough!"
The leech has: Menachem interprets עלוקה according to its apparent meaning. We learn that it is Arabic, but the commentators say that it is an expression of the grave and the descent. Indeed, we learn this in Midrash Psalms (31:9 ), which interprets the “two daughters” as Paradise and Gehinnom. This one says, “Give me righteous people!” and this one says, “Give me wicked people!”
four that do not say, “Enough!”: Heb. הון, lit. wealth. We have much [wealth].
16 The grave, the confined womb, and the earth, which is not sated with water, and fire, which does not say, "Enough!"
the confined womb: Sexual intercourse.
17 The eye that mocks the father and despises the mother's wrinkles-may the ravens of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles devour it.
the mother’s wrinkles: Heb. ליקהת, the wrinkles that gather (נקהין) in his mother’s face, from the expression of (Gen. 49:10): “a gathering (יקהת) of peoples.” The “yud” is a radical, like יפעת, splendor; (יעלת חן) (Prov. 5:19 ), a graceful mountain goat.
pick it out: Heb. יקרוה, an expression of (Num. 16:14 ): “will you pick (תנקר) ” (Ex. 33:22 ) “In the cleft (בנקרת) of the rock.” Forer in French, to bore through. Let the raven, which is cruel to its young, come and pick it and not eat it and not derive benefit from it, and let the eagle, which is compassionate with its young, come and eat it and derive benefit from it. The raven is cruel, as it is stated (Ps. 147:9): “to the young ravens which cry,” and the eagle is compassionate, as it is stated (Deut. 32:11 ): “It bears its young on its wing.”
18 There are three things that are concealed from me, and four that I do not know;
are concealed from me: They are covered after they passed from my eyes, and I do not know where they went, because they hasten to hide from the eye.
19 The way of the eagle in the heavens, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the heart of the sea, and the way of a man with a young woman.
20 So is the way of an adulterous woman; she eats and wipes her mouth, and she says, "I have committed no sin."
and [she] wipes: Heb. ומחתה she turns over her lower orifice, as it is written (II Kings 21:13): “as one wipes (ימחה) a dish, he wipes (מחה) and turns it upside down.”
she eats: Scripture speaks euphemistically.
21 Under three things the earth quakes, and under four it cannot endure;
22 Under a slave who rules and a wretch who is sated with food;
23 under a hated woman who is married, and a maidservant who inherits her mistress.
24 There are four small creatures on the earth, yet they are exceedingly wise;
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in summer.
26 The hyraxes are a people not strong, yet they make their home in the rock.
27 The locusts have no king, yet they all go out in a troop.
28 The spider grasps with [her] hands, and she is in a king's palaces.
The spider: Erinee in Old French. [Araignee in modern French.]
grasps with [her] hands: With her hands she grasps and clings to the walls.
29 Three are outstanding in their step, and four are outstanding in their walk;
outstanding in their step: They walk and succeed with their might.
30 The lion is the mightiest of the beasts, who is undaunted by anyone.
31 The greyhound and the he-goat, and the king against whom no one dares to rise up.
The greyhound: Heb. מתנים זרזיר. I do not know what it is, but from the context appears to be an animal with weak loins.
and the king against whom no one dares to rise up: Heb. ומלך אלקום I do not know what it is according to its simple meaning, but the Aggadic midrashim interpret these five sections of four as corresponding to the four kingdoms. Since their rule over Israel was strengthened because of the iniquity of having transgressed the five Books of the Pentateuch, Scripture mentions them five times.
[16] The grave and the barren womb: The grave represents the kingdom of Babylon, for it is stated regarding Nebuchadnezzar (Hab. 2:5 ): “who widened his desire like the nether-world.” And the barren womb, that is Media, in whose time mercy (רחמים) was held back from Israel, as it is said (Esther 3:13 ): to destroy, kill and cause to perish."
the earth, which is not sated with water: This represents Greece, which was not sated with issuing decrees on Israel.
and fire, which does not say, “Enough!”: Corresponding to Esau, who acted with burning wrath against Israel, for he said to destroy children and women in one day. And likewise…
[19] The way of the eagle: This is Babylon, the great eagle, with the long wings (Ezek. 17:3 ).
the way of a ship in the heart of the sea: This represents Greece, who was swift with its decrees.
serpent: This is Media.
the way of a man with a young woman: This represents Edom, who said, “I will be a mistress forever.” [גבר is interpreted as גברת, a mistress, and בעלמה as לעולם, forever.]
[20] So is the way of an adulterous woman: The people of Israel brought this evil upon themselves because they played the adulteress with idolatry, and they deserved that the retribution should befall them.
[21] the earth quakes: This refers to Eretz Israel.
and she says, “I have no committed no sin.”: As it says (Jeremiah 2:35 ), “Behold, I contend with you concerning because you say, I have not sinned.” (Until this point are the words of Rashi [as they appear] in Mikraoth Gedoloth.)
under a slave: This refers to Nebuchadnezzar, who was the slave and secretary of Merodach-baladan, as appears in Hullin. [To my knowledge, this does not appear in Hullin, but in Helek, the eleventh chapter of Sanhedrin, 96a.]
and a wretch who is sated with food: This refers to Ahasuerus, who made a banquet for one hundred and eighty days
[23] a hated woman who is married: Corresponding to Greece.
and a maidservant who inherits her mistress: This refers to Esau, who should have served Jacob, but the matter was reversed.
[25] The ants are a people not strong: This refers to Babylon, as it is stated (Isa. 23:13 ): “Behold the land of the Chaldees, this people has never been.”
[26] The hyraxes are a people not strong: This refers to Media and Persia.
yet they prepare their food in the summer: [This refers to] Nebuchadnezzar, who performed one [act of] honor to the Holy One, blessed be He, in the days of Merodach-baladan, when he sent letters to Hezekiah, and wrote therein, “Peace to King Hezekiah; peace to city of Jerusalem; peace to the great God.” Nebuchadnezzar was the one who wrote his letters, but he was not there that day, and when he came and they told him what they had done, he responded, “You call Him the great God, yet you address Him last!” He ran after the messenger and brought him back. For that [act of] pursuit, he merited the kingship. This is how he “prepared his bread in the summer,” like the ant.
yet they make their home in the rock: For they built the Temple.
[28] The spider grasps with its hands: This refers to Esau, as it is stated (Gen. 27: 22 ): “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”
in a king’s palaces: That he [Esau] entered the Temple of the King and destroyed it.
[30] The lion is the mightiest of the beasts: This is Nebuchadnezzar, as it is stated (Jer. 4:7 ): The lion has come up from his thicket."
the one who girds his loins: This refers to Media and Persia, who girded their loins and assassinated Belshazzar and seized the kingdom of Babylon.
[31] and the he- goat: This refers to Greece, as it is stated (Dan. 8:21 ): “And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece.”
and the king against whom no one dares to rise up: This is Edom, who says, “I am it, and there is none besides me.” No one opposes him. אלקום, no one stands with him.
32 If you have been put to shame, you will be in your ascendency; and if you thought evil, put your hand to your mouth.
If you have been put to shame, you will be in your ascendency: If you were put to shame through your speech, that you derided yourself, you will ultimately ascend in the matter.
and if you thought evil: in your heart to quarrel, put your hand onto your mouth and remain silent.
33 For pressing milk will give out butter, and pressing the nose will give out blood, and pressing anger will give out strife.
For pressing milk: For, just as butter will come out by pressing milk and blood by pressing the nose too much, so will strife come out of pressing the nostrils of anger.
pressing: Heb. מיץ, pressing, preindre in Old French, as in (Jud. 6:38 ): “and wrung (וימץ) dew, etc.” And our Sages explained (Ber. 63b): If you were put to shame because of the words of Torah, by seeking and asking your doubts of your mentor, even if you appear to him as a fool without intelligence, you will ultimately be exalted; ואם זמות, but if you placed a muzzle on your mouth and muzzled it, and you did not ask him anything, your end will be that when they ask you a matter of halachah, you will put your hand to your mouth and you will be dumb, for you will not know to reply anything about it. Just as pressing milk gives out butter, so will pressing anger that your mentor is wroth with you for not understanding readily and you were put to shame because of it, eventually bring out of your mouth after a time many (רבות) halachoth and instructions.
Beyond Reason?
By John C. Lennox 9/1/2010
Although science with all of its power cannot address some of the fundamental questions that we ask, nevertheless the universe contains certain clues as to our relationship to it, clues that are scientifically accessible. The rational intelligibility of the universe, for instance, points to the existence of a Mind that was responsible both for the universe and for our minds. It is for this reason that we are able to do science and to discover the beautiful mathematical structures that underlie the phenomena we can observe. Not only that, but our increasing insight into the fine-tuning of the universe in general, and of planet earth in particular, is consistent with the widespread awareness that we are meant to be here. This earth is our home.
But if there is a Mind behind the universe, and if that Mind intends us to be here, the really big question is: What is the purpose of our existence? It is this question above all that exercises the human heart. Scientific analysis of the universe cannot give us the answer. But true science is not embarrassed by its inability at this point — it simply recognizes that it is not equipped to answer such questions. Therefore, it would be a serious logical error in methodology to look only within the ingredients of the universe — its material, structures, and processes — to find out what its purpose is and why we are here. The ultimate answer, if there is one, will have to come from outside the universe.
But how shall we find this out? I have spent much time over the years arguing that there is evidence of a Mind behind the universe, a Mind that intended us to be here. We too have minds. It is, therefore, not illogical that one of the major reasons why we have been given minds is not only that we should be able to explore our fascinating universe home but also that we should be able to understand the Mind that has given us the home.
Long before Aristotle, the book of Genesis was penned. It starts with the words: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This statement stands in complete contrast with the other mythical cosmogonies of the time — like the Babylonian, in which the gods were part of the stuff of the universe, and in which the world was made out of a god. Genesis claims that there is a creator God who exists independently of the universe, a claim that is foundational to Christianity. The apostle John puts it this way in his gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1–4).
In Greek, the term translated “Word” is logos, which was often used by Greek philosophers for the rational principle that governs the universe. Here we have the theological explanation for the rational intelligibility of the universe, for the fine-tuning of its physical constants as well as its biological complexity. It is the product of a Mind, that of the divine Logos. For what lies behind the universe is much more than a rational principle. It is God, the Creator Himself. It is no abstraction, or even impersonal force, that lies behind the universe. God, the Creator, is a person, and He is not part of the stuff of His universe.
Now, if the ultimate reality behind the universe is a personal God, this has far-reaching implications for the human search for truth, since it opens up new possibilities for knowing ultimate reality other than through the (scientific) study of things. For people communicate in a way that things do not. People can reveal themselves in speech and thereby communicate information about themselves that the most sophisticated scanner applied to their brains could not reveal. Being people ourselves, we can get to know other people. Therefore, the next logical question to ask is: If the Creator is personal, has He spoken directly, as distinct from what we can learn of Him indirectly through the structures of the universe? Has He revealed Himself? For if there is a God, and He has spoken, then what He has said will be of utmost importance in our search for truth. Here we once again encounter the biblical claim that God has spoken in the most profound and direct way possible. He, the Word who is a person, has become human, to demonstrate fully that the ultimate truth behind the universe is personal. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (v. 14).
This statement is highly specific. It asserts that at a certain time and place, God the Creator encoded Himself in humanity. It is, of course, a staggering claim to supernatural activity of the highest order. Yet, science has not and cannot eliminate the supernatural.
I submit that, far from science having buried God, not only do the results of science point toward His existence, but the scientific enterprise itself is validated by His existence. Inevitably, of course, not only those of us who do science but all of us have to choose the presuppositions with which we start. There are not many options — essentially, just two. Either human intelligence ultimately owes its origin to mindless matter or there is a Creator. It is strange that some people claim that it is their intelligence that leads them to prefer the first to the second.
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John C. Lennox is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science at Green Templeton College. He lectures on Faith and Science for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics.
Biblical Objectivity
By Nick Eicher 10/1/2010
My colleague Marvin Olasky tells the story of meeting J.I. Packer prior to a conference at which both were slated to speak on different topics in different rooms at the same time. Dr. Olasky lamented the scheduling and observed that he personally would prefer the theologian’s explication of eternal verities to his own observations on the state of Christian journalism.
“Nonsense,” replied Dr. Packer. “Think of what revitalizing journalism would do for the cause of Christ in America! It is the most needed sort of pre-evangelism, it is training in Christian worldview, it is an aid to sanctification, and you need to teach people how to do it.”
That was more than two decades ago, when modern “mainstream” journalism was by some measures near its peak in power and cultural influence in the United States — and Christian alternatives were on the outside looking in. Since then, Dr. Olasky and others have been laying a foundation for revitalized Christian worldview journalism in American culture, and at the same time the economic model that once prospered the news industry as a whole began to collapse.
What an influential annual media study called in 2007 a transformational moment for the news industry, possibly on par with the invention of the printing press, had by 2008 become a full-blown “crisis in journalism.” That crisis would give way to the “bleakest … annual report” in 2009, followed by more of the same this year. “[T]he metaphor that comes to mind is sand in an hourglass,” says the 2010 State of the News Media Report released this spring. “The shrinking money … is the amount of time left to invent new revenue models… . The industry must find a new model before that money runs out.”
The pace of decline (about 30 percent) has accelerated. At the time of the Packer-Olasky dialogue, the size of the workforce serving America’s newspaper newsrooms had just about reached its high and had remained relatively stable for twenty years: the difference in the number of working journalists at newspapers across the country in 1987 versus 2006 was just a half a percentage point. But in 2007 and 2008 combined, the rolls declined 15 percent — with further decline predicted.
What does this mean for God’s people? I would urge that we not rejoice at what might be called a longoverdue comeuppance for a profession so characterized by arrogance, elitism, and cynicism. I want to suggest instead that this represents an opportunity for Christian worldview journalism to grow and be heard, to make a substantial impact on the culture. For just as news media economic models are up for grabs, so too are the journalistic models.
The prevailing ethic has been “journalistic objectivity,” but that has proven to be a slippery concept. The idea was the journalist would quote the observations of Person A, balanced by the observations of Person B, scrupulously providing equal time to these views in the hope that the truth would emerge from the middle.
So journalistic objectivity degenerated into little more than a cynical balancing of relative subjectivities. The only remaining “objective truth” was that objective truth is in the eye of the beholder. But if everything is true, then nothing is true. Ask yourself: If nothing is ultimately true or false, right or wrong, good or evil, then what is the point of any journalistic enterprise?
America’s modern journalistic elite resembled Isaiah’s grim vision of a people who so thoroughly reject a fixed standard of justice and righteousness that “truth has stumbled in the public squares” (Isa. 59:14). But unlike modern journalists, Isaiah emphasized the eternal covenant and pointed to a future redemption. Our Redeemer, in His Farewell Discourse and final prayer, prayed that His redeemed would think and live according to the truth — and added, “your word is truth” (John 17:17). Not that God’s Word is merely true, an adjective, but that God’s Word is truth, the English translation of a Greek noun, the standard of truth against which everything else is evaluated. That is the foundation for a journalism style Dr. Olasky calls “biblical objectivity.”
“If we value the sola scriptura principle with its emphasis on scriptural clarity concerning essential matters, biblical objectivity makes sense and other approaches have logical flaws,” Dr. Olasky wrote in Journalism and Humility. “After all, if the Bible is God’s Word, can any other words trump His? Since only God knows the true, objective nature of things, doesn’t His book, the Bible, present the only completely objective and accurate view of the world? Shouldn’t our goal be to see the world as much in biblical terms as our fallen and sinful natures allow?”
What a great calling on the life of a Christian: to seek to chronicle what God is doing in the world — in culture and education, in communities and families, in church and state — and report that in a vivid and engaging way. As “creative destruction” reshapes the field of journalism, I pray that God would stir His people to answer the call to Christian worldview journalism — and provide the reading public to support it.
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Nick Eicher is publisher of World magazine and CEO of God’s World Publications. He has been a journalist for twenty years.
Lucifer And The Fallen Angels
By Robert Jeffress 2023
Lucifer And The Fallen Angels
Lucifer was an angel created by God. However, unlike other angels, Lucifer misused the free will God gave him. Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 portray Lucifer as a proud, vain being who became overly impressed with his own beauty, intelligence, and power. Jealous of the honor and glory that belonged to God alone, he led a doomed rebellion of angels against the Creator.
Lucifer and his followers were banished from living in heaven, although Lucifer — who is now known as Satan — still has access to it. Satan’s purpose now is to thwart God’s work and destroy His people.
Demons also defy our expectations in their attitude toward Jesus. We would certainly expect them to oppose Jesus’s work on earth, and they did. They viewed His arrival as an invasion of their territory. Jesus came to reclaim this world from the grip of Satan and deliver it back to God. When He died on the cross, Jesus broke Satan’s stranglehold. The nature of Jesus’s mission explains why demons were more active in the world during His lifetime than at any other time in human history. They worked overtime to stop His plan from being fulfilled.
Yet demons were also staunch believers in Jesus. They couldn’t help but be. They were witnesses to everything He did. They saw His birth as clearly as Mary and Joseph did. They saw Him counter every temptation their leader threw His way. They saw His miracles. They saw His crucifixion. They saw His empty tomb.
The New Testament author James wrote his letter to a group of Jewish Christians who prided themselves on believing that God is one, a basic principle of Judaism. Look at how James punctured their misplaced spiritual pride: “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (James 2:19). In Luke 8:28, a man under the control of demons acknowledged Jesus as the Son of the Most High God.
Demons never put saving faith in Christ, but they did believe Jesus was who He claimed to be. And that belief gave them some dangerous insight into the nature of human beliefs.
Demons Attempt to Lead Unbelievers Astray
The twisted irony is that even though demons recognize the truth about Jesus, their goal is to lead people as far from the truth as possible. Their work in the lives of unbelievers is to exploit and redirect the innate human desire to know God and worship something greater than ourselves. Their first course of action is to lure people away from the true God using false gods.
The Old Testament contains only two references to demons, and both involve false gods. In Deuteronomy 32:17, Moses wrote, “They sacrificed to demons who were not God, to gods whom they have not known, new gods who came lately, whom your fathers did not dread.” Moses was talking about the Canaanite gods the Israelites started worshiping after they entered the promised land. The Israelites thought they were making sacrifices to false gods such as Baal, Molech, and the like. As it turns out, they were actually sacrificing to demons.
Up Close And Personal With Demons
Luke 8 tells of Jesus’s confrontation with demons who were tormenting a man in the country of the Gerasenes. From this encounter, we discover four things about demons:
1. Demons have intellect. They immediately recognized Jesus as the Son of the Most High God.
2. Demons have emotions. They were afraid of being cast into the abyss.
3. Demons have a will. They offered Jesus an alternative solution: to be cast into a herd of swine. When Jesus agreed, they submitted themselves to the will of God and entered the swine.
4. Demons have names. The chief demon identified himself as Legion, a military term for a group of six thousand soldiers.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we need not fear demons, but we do need to understand them.
Thousands of years later, the ruse continues. Behind every false god in the world today is a very real demonic power. Do you think it’s any coincidence that two of the fastest-growing false religions in the world today, Islam and Mormonism, both have roots in angelic revelation? In AD 610, Muhammad claimed that the angel Gabriel gave him the revelation that became the Qur’an. In 1827, Joseph Smith claimed that the angel Moroni showed him where certain golden plates were buried. Smith said he used those plates to publish the Book of Mormon.
It’s very likely that Muhammad and Joseph Smith did receive revelations from angels. But they weren’t God’s angels; they were Satan’s. The Bible tells us that Satan can appear as an angel of light, a messenger. That’s why we must remain steadfast in our beliefs. Any religion that denies that salvation is exclusively through the Lord Jesus Christ is a false, demonic religion being used by evil forces to lure people away from the true God.
An even more insidious way that demons lead unbelievers astray is by subtly tweaking aspects of the true gospel. For example, in the first-century Galatian church, a group known as the Judaizers taught that a person had to trust Christ for salvation — and also keep the Old Testament law through circumcision and dietary restrictions. Doing all those things would lead to eternal life, they said.
They lied. Theirs was a false gospel that denied the sufficiency of Christ’s death and resurrection. It added to the simple gospel message that salvation is by faith in Christ alone. If you think you have to trust in Christ plus do anything else for your salvation, then you’re being deceived by demons. That’s why John warned, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
Demons Attempt to Harm Believers
Of course, demons aren’t content merely to focus on unbelievers. Satan, their master, has a plan for believers as well — one his demons are only too happy to carry out. If Satan can’t rob your soul for all eternity, then he wants to destroy every good thing in your life. Let’s look at five methods demons use to accomplish his plan.
First, demons can work through nature. In Ephesians 2:2, Satan is called “the prince of the power of the air.” God has given him and his demons limited authority over the natural elements in this world, such as wind, rain, hurricanes, and tornadoes. They can use the forces of nature to bring discouragement and loss into our lives, as they did with Job in the Old Testament.
Second, demons can work through physical illness. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul explained that his “thorn in the flesh” — which was likely some physical ailment — was “a messenger of Satan.” But he went on to say that God was using it for a good purpose, so that Paul wouldn’t become proud and so that the power of Christ would dwell in his life. So even though a demon brought his ailment, ultimately it was under God’s control.
Third, demons can work through mental illness. Our thoughts and emotions are more than a series of chemical and electrical impulses. External spiritual sources can affect them as well. In Philippians 4:6–7, Paul identified prayer as a positive spiritual exercise we can engage in to relieve anxiety. And if there’s a positive spiritual force that can affect our thinking and emotions, then doesn’t it stand to reason there are also negative spiritual forces that can impact them?
Now, let me be clear: it’s a mistake to say all mental illness is a result of demonic activity. I remember asking a Christian psychiatrist, “How do you account for what the Bible calls demonic activity in relation to modern medical diagnoses of mental illness? Do you believe demons are responsible for these kinds of mental disorders?” The psychiatrist asked me a very good question in return. He said, “If all mental illnesses were the result of demonic activity, then why do the symptoms of mental disorders disappear almost completely with the right medical treatment?” The fact is, it’s possible for chemical reactions and electrical impulses in the brain not to respond as they should. And many times those things should be treated with medicine.
Fourth, demons can work through suicide. We see this dark strategy in Mark 9, where a boy controlled by a demon is said to have thrown himself into fire and water. Demons are able to override our natural instinct for self-preservation and cause us to want to destroy our lives.
In John 8:44, Jesus refers to Satan as a liar and a murderer. Satan knows that when we get discouraged, we’re vulnerable to his lies. That’s when one of his demons starts whispering, “Your situation is hopeless; there’s no way out of this.” Or, “Nobody cares about you; nobody loves you.” Or, “You’ve become a burden to your loved ones; it would be better for everyone if you just ended your life.” Those thoughts don’t come from God. They come from our enemy.
Fifth, demons can work through people. Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, offers a solemn reminder of this. Every time I’ve taken a group there, we’ve emerged from it speechless at the horror of the torture and murder the Nazis inflicted on the Jewish people. When you see those horrific images, you wonder, How could one human being do that to another human being? The answer is in the question itself. It’s not one human being doing it; it’s demonic influence.
Where Is Satan Right Now?
Even though Satan’s work is being done on earth, he’s not necessarily the one doing it. According to Revelation 12, Satan is in heaven, where he levels constant accusations against believers. He is doing everything he can to get God to change the deal He made with us for eternal life. Satan points at our sins and says, “Look at what she’s doing. How can she call herself a Christian?” Or, “Why would You want to spend eternity with him? Let me have him.”
The good news is that every time Satan levels an accusation against Christians, Jesus acts as our Advocate (1 John 2:1). Seated at the right hand of God the Father, He counters Satan’s charges by reminding His Father of the price He, Jesus, paid for our sins.
Of course, demonic work through other people rarely goes to such extremes. Remember, subtlety is the demons’ specialty. Demons are content simply to deceive you into disobeying God. Their deception may involve an old flame who suddenly reappears during a rocky time in your marriage, tempting you to do something immoral. Or demons may try to discourage you by using someone who’s willing to write a hateful email or social media post. They want you to feel so depressed and insecure when you read it that you can’t focus on anything else. Their goal is to keep you from accomplishing God’s purpose in your life.
Read The Psalms In "1" Year
Psalm 78
Tell the Coming Generation78 A Maskil Of Asaph.
17 Yet they sinned still more against him,
rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18 They tested God in their heart
by demanding the food they craved.
19 They spoke against God, saying,
“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
20 He struck the rock so that water gushed out
and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread
or provide meat for his people?”
21 Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath;
a fire was kindled against Jacob;
his anger rose against Israel,
22 because they did not believe in God
and did not trust his saving power.
23 Yet he commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven,
24 and he rained down on them manna to eat
and gave them the grain of heaven.
By John Walvoord
The Cup of Divine Wrath
Jeremiah 25:15–29. God instructed Jeremiah to take “the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it” (v. 15 ). When they drank it, they would “stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them” (v. 16 ). Though Jeremiah obviously could not make the nations drink of the symbolic cup, this prophecy described the fact that Jerusalem would be the first to be judged (vv. 17–18 ). After Jerusalem was judged, other nations would be judged as well as those itemized in the verses that follow (vv. 19–26 ). These nations are the ones the Babylonians conquered, their judgment would continue after Babylon was destroyed. Shehach has been taken by some to be a reference to Babylon. God’s judgment would bring disaster first on Jerusalem, but then on the others who lived wickedly (v. 29 ). These prophecies were fulfilled in history and prophecy.
Poetic Description of the Coming Judgment
Jeremiah 25:30–38. This poetic section describes God as coming from heaven with a mighty roar and bringing judgment on all mankind, a judgment that will not occur until the second coming of Christ.
A graphic description is also given of those who were killed in judgment by God. The wicked will be shattered like fine pottery (v. 34 ). The Lord will destroy shepherds as well as their pasture (vv. 35–37 ). The coming of the Lord is compared to a lion leaving his lair (v. 38 ).
Jeremiah Threatened
Jeremiah 26:1–24. Jeremiah was commanded by God to stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s house and deliver God’s message of coming judgment unless Judah repented (vv. 2–6 ). However, the people would not heed Jeremiah’s warning. Instead of following Jeremiah’s prophecy, the people declared that Jeremiah himself must die (vv. 7–8 ). The matter was presented formally to the officials of Judah (vv. 10–11 ).
Jeremiah asserted that the prophecies he gives are those commanded by the Lord. If the officials kill him, they will be guilty of innocent blood (vv. 12–15 ). After Jeremiah’s reply, his word was recognized as coming from the Lord (v. 16 ).
The prophecy of the Lord, given in the time of Hezekiah, that Jerusalem would be destroyed was heard and believed by Hezekiah ( Isa 37:1–7 ), and the result was that the disaster did not fall on them ( Jer. 26:17–19 ). When Uriah delivered the same prophecies as Jeremiah, even though he fled to Egypt, he was brought back and killed (vv. 20–23 ). But Jeremiah was delivered through the influence of Ahikam and not put to death (v. 24 ). His prophecies were fulfilled in the Babylonian captivity.
Jeremiah Commands King Zedekiah to Submit to Babylon
Jeremiah 27:1–22. Using the symbolism of a yoke and crossbars, such as are used on oxen, Jeremiah informed the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon that God “will hand all your countries over to my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him. All nations will serve him and his son and his grandson until the time for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate him” (vv. 6–7 ).
God predicted that any nation that would not bow to Nebuchadnezzar would be punished “with the sword, famine, and plague” (v. 8 ). Accordingly, Jeremiah warned them not to listen to prophets or interpreters of dreams that told them not to serve Babylon (v. 9 ). Nations that bowed to Babylon would be allowed to stay in their own countries, but those who resisted Nebuchadnezzar would be carried off (vv. 10–11 ).
The same message previously given to other nations was delivered to Zedekiah, king of Judah. Jeremiah warned him that he should serve Babylon or be consumed by sword, famine, and plague (vv. 12–13 ). Accordingly, Zedekiah should not have listened to prophets who told him not to serve Babylon (vv. 14–15 ).
Jeremiah told the prophets that they were prophesying lies when they urged the king to resist Nebuchadnezzar. Instead, Nebuchadnezzar would take away the remaining treasures in the palace and in the house of God and would take them to Babylon (vv. 16–22 ). Jeremiah’s prophecies were fulfilled in the Babylonian captivity.
The False Prophecies of Hananiah
Jeremiah 28:1–17. The prophet Hananiah predicted that the yoke of Babylon would be broken (vv. 1–2 ) and that within two years the articles taken by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon would be brought back to Jerusalem and the control of Babylon over Jerusalem would be broken (vv. 3–4 ). Hananiah continued his prophecy that the yoke of Babylon would be broken, but Jeremiah replied that the test would be if the prediction came true (vv. 9–11 ).
God told Jeremiah that instead of Babylon’s yoke breaking, He would put “an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals” (vv. 13–14 ).
Jeremiah denounced Hananiah as a false prophet and predicted that Hananiah would die within the year (vv. 15–16 ). In the seventh month of that year Hananiah died (v. 17 ). The prophecies of Jeremiah were fulfilled in connection with the Babylonian captivity.
Jeremiah’s First Letter to the Exiles: The Captivity to Last Seventy Years
Jeremiah 29:1–23. Jeremiah sent word to the surviving elders and priests and prophets who had been carried off by Babylon into exile, to make the best of their new home, build houses, marry, and increase in number (vv. 4–7 ). They were told not to listen to prophets who prophesied otherwise (v. 9 ).
The Lord revealed to Jeremiah a very important prophecy that after seventy years of captivity in Babylon the people of Israel would be allowed to return (v. 10 ). God promised then to bless them and to hear their prayers (vv. 11–12 ). God would then bring them back from their captivity, gather them from the various nations to which they had gone, and bring them back to the place from which they were carried off into exile (v. 14 ). The seventy years of captivity was an important prophecy of Israel’s future.
In regard to those who remained in the land and were not carried off to Babylon, God predicted that they would suffer “the sword, famine and plague” (v. 17 ), and that He would make them like “poor figs” (v. 17 ). God would not bless those who remained in the land during the captivities. God predicted that those who were prophesying contrary to His truth would be put to death for their wickedness and for their lies (vv. 21–23 ). These prophecies were fulfilled in the history of the captivity.
Shemaiah, the False Prophet, to Be Punished
Jeremiah 29:24–32. Shemaiah complained to Zedekiah and to some priests about what Jeremiah had told the captives in Babylon that they would be there a long time (vv. 24–28 ). Zephaniah the priest, however, read the letter of Shemaiah to Jeremiah (v. 29 ). Jeremiah replied that God “will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants” (v. 32 ), They would be cut off from their posterity because he had preached false prophecies (vv. 31–32 ). This prophecy was fulfilled ( 2 Chron. 36:11–15 ).
The Restoration of Israel to Her Land
Jeremiah 30:1–11. This section is a far-reaching prophecy from Jeremiah concerning the ultimate regathering of Israel and restoration to her land (vv. 2–3 ). In particular, the Lord prophesied a time of distress for Israel such as she had never experienced before (vv. 4–7; cf. Matt. 24:15–30 ). God assured Israel, however, that “he [Jacob] will be saved out of it” ( Jer. 30:7 ).
God further predicted that Israel’s slavery would end, and instead of serving foreigners, she would serve God and David her king (vv. 8–9 ). The timing of this prophecy is of great significance because it was linked to the resurrection of “David their king, whom I will raise up for them” (v. 9 ). David’s resurrection will be connected with the second coming of Christ and will be part of the resurrection of Old Testament saints that will also occur at the time of the second coming (cf. Dan. 12:2–3 ). This prophecy has never been fulfilled and was part of the revelation contained in many Old Testament passages concerning the restoration of Israel to her land. This prophecy supports the chronology of pretribulationists that Israel must undergo an unprecedented time of trouble before the second advent, will be rescued by Christ at His coming (coinciding with David’s resurrection), and will enjoy deliverance and blessing in the time period following the second coming.
God exhorted Israel not to be dismayed (v. 10 ) because God would surely save her out of a distant place, including her descendants from the land of her exile (v. 10 ). God promised that Jacob would have peace and security, and there would be no one to make him afraid (v. 10 ). God promised to save Israel. Even though He completely destroyed the other nations, He would never destroy Israel (v. 11 ). He would, however, discipline her and not leave her unpunished (v. 11 ).
Israel’s Judgment Inevitable
Jeremiah 30:12–15. In regard to the generation of Israel living at the time of Jeremiah, God declared her wounds incurable (v. 12 ). He declared that Israel’s guilt and sin were so much that they made necessary God’s judgment (vv. 13–15 ). This was fulfilled in the Babylonian captivity.
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The Continual Burnt Offering (Luke 13:11)
By H.A. Ironside - 1941
July 23
Luke 13:11 And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. ESVThis afflicted creature was one whose condition pictured that of all men until touched by divine grace. She was helpless and hopeless as far as her own ability to improve her condition was concerned. Therefore she needed the great Physician, who always delights to undertake for those who admit they can do nothing to deliver themselves. He saw her need and immediately met it. His voice of power told of His determination to set her free. He knew her as one who had faith in God and He responded to the unspoken desire of her heart.
As He laid His tender hands upon that deformed body, a thrill of new life went through her whole being, and for the first time in eighteen years she stood erect, praising God for her remarkable healing. She was made straight. This is most suggestive. The Lord is still engaged in straightening crooked lives to His glory.
I thought I needed many things
Along life’s toilsome way,
When days were long and heavy cares
Left scarcely time to pray.
I thought I needed many things
For those I held most dear,
When they were sad and longed for rest
Or change of portion here.
When it was Thee I needed, Lord,
To satisfy my heart.
To fill my days with rest and peace,
And every grace impart.
--- Grace E. Troy
The Continual Burnt Offering: Daily Meditations on the Word of God
The Institutes of the Christian Religion
Translated by Henry Beveridge
30. But from whom, pray, did they receive their unction? They answer,
that they received it from the sons of Aaron, from whom also their
order derived its origin (Sent. Lib. 4 Dist. 14, cap. 8, et in Canon.
Dist. 21, cap. 1). Thus they constantly choose to defend themselves by
perverse examples, rather than confess that any of their rash practices
is of their own devising. Meanwhile, they observe not that in
professing to be the successors of the sons of Aaron, they are
injurious to the priesthood of Christ, which alone was adumbrated and
typified by all ancient priesthoods. In him, therefore, they were all
concluded and completed, in him they ceased, as we have repeatedly
said, and as the Epistle to the Hebrews, unaided by any gloss,
declares. But if they are so much delighted with Mosaic ceremonies, why
do they not hurry oxen, calves, and lambs, to their sacrifices? They
have, indeed, a great part of the ancient tabernacle, and of the whole
Jewish worship. The only thing wanted to their religion is, that they
do not sacrifice oxen and calves. Who sees not that this practice of
unction is much more pernicious than circumcision, especially when to
it is added superstition and a Pharisaical opinion of the merit of the
work? The Jews placed their confidence of justification in
circumcision, these men look for spiritua1 gifts in unction. Therefore,
in desiring to be rivals of the Levites, they become apostates from
Christ, and discard themselves from the pastoral office.
31. It is, if you please, the sacred oil which impresses an indelible
character. As if oil could not be washed away by sand and salt, or if
it sticks the closer, with soap. But that character is spiritual. What
has oil to do with the soul? Have they forgotten what they quote from
Augustine, that if the word be withdrawn from the water, there will be
nothing but water, but that it is owing to the word that it is a
sacrament? What word can they show in their oil? Is it because Moses
was commanded to anoint the sons of Aaron? (Exod. 30:30). But he there
receives command concerning the tunic, the ephod, the breastplate, the
mitre, the crown of holiness with which Aaron was to be adorned; and
concerning the tunics, belts, and mitres which his sons were to wear.
He receives command about sacrificing the calf, burning its fat, about
cutting and burning rams, about sanctifying ear-rings and vestments
with the blood of one of the rams, and innumerable other observances.
Having passed over all these, I wonder why the unction of oil alone
pleases them. If they delight in being sprinkled, why are they
sprinkled with oil rather than with blood? They are attempting,
forsooth, an ingenious device; they are trying, by a kind of patchwork,
to make one religion out of Christianity, Judaism, and Paganism. Their
unction, therefore, is without savour; it wants salt, that is, the word
of God. There remains the laying on of hands, which, though I admit it
to be a sacrament in true and legitimate ordination, I do deny to have
any such place in this fable, where they neither obey the command of
Christ, nor look to the end to which the promise ought to lead us. If
they would not have the sign denied them, they must adapt it to the
reality to which it is dedicated.
32. As to the order of the diaconate, I would raise no dispute, if the
office which existed under the apostles, and a purer Church, were
restored to its integrity. But what resemblance to it do we see in
their fictitious deacons? I speak not of the men, lest they should
complain that I am unjustly judging their doctrine by the vices of
those who profess it; but I contend that those whom their doctrine
declares to us, derive no countenance from those deacons whom the
apostolic Church appointed. They say that it belongs to their deacons
to assist the priests, and minister at all the things which are done in
the sacraments, as in baptism, in chrism, the patena, and chalice, to
bring the offerings and lay them on the altar, to prepare and dress the
table of the Lord, to carry the cross, announce and read out the gospel
and epistle to the people (Sent. Lib. 4 Dist. 24, cap. 8; Item, Cap.
Perlectis, Dist. 25). Is there here one word about the true office of
deacon? Let us now attend to the appointment. The bishop alone lays
hands on the deacon who is ordained; he places the prayer-book and
stole upon his left shoulder, that he may understand that he has
received the easy yoke of the Lord, in order that he may subject to the
fear of the Lord every thing pertaining to the left side: he gives him
a text of the gospel, to remind him that he is its herald. What have
these things to do with deacons? But they act just as if one were to
say he was ordaining apostles, when he was only appointing persons to
kindle the incense, clean the images, sweep the churches, set traps for
mice, and put out dogs. Who can allow this class of men to be called
apostles, and to be compared with the very apostles of Christ? After
this, let them not pretend that those whom they appoint to mere
stage-play are deacons. Nay, they even declare, by the very name, what
the nature of the office is. For they call them Levites, and wish to
trace their nature and origin to the sons of Levi. As far as I am
concerned, they are welcome, provided they do not afterwards deck
themselves in borrowed feathers.
33. What use is there in speaking of subdeacons? For, whereas in fact
they anciently had the charge of the poor, they attribute to them some
kind of nugatory function, as carrying the chalice and patena, the
pitcher with water, and the napkin to the altar, pouring out water for
the hands, &c. Then, by the offerings which they are said to receive
and bring in, they mean those which they swallow up, as if they had
been destined to anathema. There is an admirable correspondence between
the office and the mode of inducting to it--viz. receiving from the
bishop the patena and chalice, and from the archdeacon the pitcher with
water, the manual and trumpery of this kind. They call upon us to admit
that the Holy Spirit is included in these frivolities. What pious man
can be induced to grant this? But to have done at once, we may conclude
the same of this as of the others, and there is no need to repeat at
length what has been explained above. To the modest and docile (it is
such I have undertaken to instruct), it will be enough that there is no
sacrament of God, unless where a ceremony is shown annexed to a
promise, or rather where a promise is seen in a ceremony. Here there is
not one syllable of a certain promise, and it is vain, therefore, to
seek for a ceremony to confirm the promise. On the other hand, we read
of no ceremony appointed by God in regard to those usages which they
employ, and, therefore, there can be no sacrament.
OF MARRIAGE.
34. The last of all is marriage, which, while all admit it to be an
institution of God, no man ever saw to be a sacrament, until the time
of Gregory. And would it ever have occurred to the mind of any sober
man? It is a good and holy ordinance of God. And agriculture,
architecture, shoemaking, and shaving, are lawful ordinances of God;
but they are not sacraments. For in a sacrament, the thing required is
not only that it be a work of God, but that it be an external ceremony
appointed by God to confirm a promise. That there is nothing of the
kind in marriage, even children can judge. But it is a sign, they say,
of a sacred thing, that is, of the spiritual union of Christ with the
Church. If by the term sign they understand a symbol set before us by
God to assure us of our faith, they wander widely from the mark. If
they mean merely a sign because it has been employed as a similitude, I
will show how acutely they reason. Paul says, "One star differeth from
another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead" (1 Cor.
15:41, 42). Here is one sacrament. Christ says, "The kingdom of heaven
is like to a grain of mustard-seed" (Mt. 13:31). Here is another
sacrament. Again, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven" (Mt.
13:33). Here is a third sacrament. Isaiah says, "He shall feed his
flock like a shepherd" (Isaiah 40:11). Here is a fourth sacrament. In
another passage he says, "The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man"
(Isaiah 42:13). Here is a fifth sacrament. And where will be the end or
limit? Everything in this way will be a sacrament. All the parables and
similitudes in Scripture will be so many sacraments. Nay, even theft
will be a sacrament, seeing it is written, "The day of the Lord so
cometh as a thief in the night" (1 Thess. 5:2). Who can tolerate the
ignorant garrulity of these sophists? I admit, indeed, that whenever we
see a vine, the best thing is to call to mind what our Saviour says, "I
am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman." " I am the vine, ye
are the branches" (John 15:1, 5). And whenever we meet a shepherd with
his flock, it is good also to remember, "I am the good shepherd, and
know my sheep, and am known of mine" (John 10:14). But any man who
would class such similitudes with sacraments should be sent to bedlam.
35. They adduce the words of Paul, by which they say that the name of a
sacrament is given to marriage, "He that loveth his wife loveth
himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and
cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: for we are members of his
body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave
his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two
shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning
Christ and the Church" (Eph. 5:28, 32). To treat Scripture thus is to
confound heaven and earth. Paul, in order to show husbands how they
ought to love their wives, sets Christ before them as an example. As he
shed his bowels of affection for the Church, which he has espoused to
himself, so he would have every one to feel affected toward his wife.
Then he adds, "He that loveth his wife loveth himself," "even as the
Lord the Church." Moreover, to show how Christ loved the Church as
himself, nay, how he made himself one with his spouse the Church, he
applies to her what Moses relates that Adam said of himself. For after
Eve was brought into his presence, knowing that she had been formed out
of his side, he exclaimed, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of
my flesh" (Gen. 2:23). That all this was spiritually fulfilled in
Christ, and in us, Paul declares, when he says, that we are members of
his body, of his flesh, and of his bones, and so one flesh with him. At
length he breaks out into the exclamation, "This is a great mystery;"
and lest any one should be misled by the ambiguity, he says, that he is
not speaking of the connection between husband and wife, but of the
spiritual marriage of Christ and the Church. And truly it is a great
mystery that Christ allowed a rib to be taken from himself, of which we
might be formed; that is, that when he was strong, he was pleased to
become weak, that we might be strengthened by his strength, and should
no longer live ourselves, but he live in us (Gal. 2:20).
36. The thing which misled them was the term sacrament. [680] But, was
it right that the whole Church should be punished for the ignorance of
these men? Paul called it a mystery. When the Latin interpreter might
have abandoned this mode of expression as uncommon to Latin ears, or
converted it into "secret," he preferred calling it sacramentum, but in
no other sense than the Greek term mustepion was used by Paul. Let them
go now and clamour against skill in languages, their ignorance of which
leads them most shamefully astray in a matter easy and obvious to every
one. But why do they so strongly urge the term sacrament in this one
passage, and in others pass it by with neglect? For both in the First
Epistle to Timothy (1 Tim. 3:9, 16), and also in the Epistle to the
Ephesians, it is used by the Vulgate interpreter, and in every
instance, for mystery. Let us, however, pardon them this lapsus, though
liars ought to have good memories. Marriage being thus recommended by
the title of a sacrament, [681] can it be anything but vertiginous
levity afterwards to call it uncleanness, and pollution, and carnal
defilement? How absurd is it to debar priests from a sacrament! If they
say that they debar not from a sacrament but from carnal connection,
they will not thus escape me. They say that this connection is part of
the sacrament, and thereby figures the union which we have with Christ
in conformity of nature, inasmuch as it is by this connection that
husband and wife become one flesh; although some have here found two
sacraments, the one of God and the soul, in bridegroom and bride,
another of Christ and the Church, in husband and wife. Be this as it
may, this connection is a sacrament from which no Christian can
lawfully be debarred, unless, indeed, the sacraments of Christians
accord so ill that they cannot stand together. There is also another
absurdity in these dogmas. They affirm that in a sacrament the gift of
the Holy Spirit is conferred; this connection they hold to be a
sacrament, and yet they deny that in it the Holy Spirit is ever
present.
37. And, that they might not delude the Church in this matter merely,
what a long series of errors, lies, frauds, and iniquities have they
appended to one error? So that you may say they sought nothing but a
hiding-place for abominations when they converted marriage into a
sacrament. When once they obtained this, they appropriated to
themselves the cognisance of conjugal causes: as the thing was
spiritual, it was not to be intermeddled with by profane judges. Then
they enacted laws by which they confirmed their tyranny,--laws partly
impious toward God, partly fraught with injustice toward men; such as,
that marriages contracted between minors, without the consent of their
parents, should be valid; that no lawful marriages can be contracted
between relations within the seventh degree, and that such marriages,
if contracted, should be dissolved. Moreover, they frame degrees of
kindred contrary to the laws of all nations, and even the polity of
Moses, and enact that a husband who has repudiated an adulteress may
not marry again--that spiritual kindred cannot be joined in
marriage--that marriage cannot be celebrated from Septuagesimo to the
Octaves of Easter, three weeks before the nativity of John, nor from
Advent to Epiphany, and innumerable others, which it were too tedious
to mention. We must now get out of their mire, in which our discourse
has stuck longer than our inclination. Methinks, however, that much has
been gained if I have, in some measure, deprived these asses of their
lion's skin.
__________________________________________________________________
[664] Ambros. de iis qui init. Mysteriis et de Sacrament.
[665] Calv. adv. Concil. Trident. Præfat. in Catechis. Latinum. Viret.
de Adulter. Sacrament. cap. 2-5.
[666] French, "en laquelle toutesfois ils n'ont rien semblable a eux,
sinon une folle et perverse singerie";--in which, however, they have
nothing like them but a foolish and perverse aping.
[667] The French adds, "du ternps de Sainct Augustin;" --of the time of
St Augustine.
[668] De Consecr. Dist. 5, Concil. Aurel. cap. Ut Jejuni de Consecr.
Dist. 5.
[669] French, "Auquel ils font semblant de porter une reverence
inviolable;"--for whom they pretend to have an inviolable respect.
[670] August. Quæst. Vet. Test. Lib. 3 De Bapt. Parvul. De Bapt. Cont.
Donat. Lib. 5
[671] The French adds, "Car, comme nous avoos assez declairé ci dessus,
la promesse des clefs n'appartient nullement a faire quelque estat
particulier d'absolution, mais seulement à la predication de l'Evangile
soit qu'elle soit faite ou a plusieurs, ou a un seul, sans y mettre
difference; c'est a dire, que par icelle promesse notre Seigneur ne
fonde point une absolution speciale qui soit faite distinctement à un
chacun mais celle qui se fait indifferement a tous pecheurs, sans
addresse particuliere."--For, as we have sufficiently shown above, the
promise of the keys pertains not to the making of any particular state
of absolution, but only to the preaching of the Gospel, whether it is
made to several or to one only, without making any difference; that is
to say, that by this promise our Lord does not found a special
absolution which is given separately to each, but one which is given
indifferently to all sinners, without particular application.
[672] Sent. Lib. 4 Dist. 14, cap. 1. De Poenit. Dist. 1, cap. 2.
August. Dictum in Decret. 15. Quæst. 1, Cap. Fermissime.
[673] John 9:6; Mt. 9:29; Luke 18:42; Acts 3:6; 5:16; 19:12.
[674] 134 D134 This distinction in no way calls into question the value
of the various sacraments which, in distinct ages, God has been pleased
to appoint. To the contrary, it affirms their integrity and value as
signs and seals of God's covenant of grace, while emphasizing the fact
that they are specifically designed for, applicable within, and valid
for particular historical contexts. Calvin draws the obvious inference:
some sacraments are not intended for the present age.
[675] The French adds, "Comment accorderont ils cela avec ce qu'ils
veulent faire accroire"?--How will they reconcile this with what they
wish to be believed?
[676] Isa. 11:2; Ezek. 1:20; Rom. 1:4, 8:15.
[677] Isidor. Lib. 7, Etymolog, allegatim, cap. Cleros. Dist. 21, 33,
cap. Lector, et cap. Ostier.
[678] John 2:15; 10:7; Luke 4:17; Mt. 7:33; John 8:12; 13:5; Mt. 26:26;
27:50.
[679] The French adds, "Voila comment la tonsure n'estoit point une
chose speciale aux clercs, mais estoit en usance quasi à tous."--See
how the tonsure was not a thing peculiar to the clergy, but was used,
as it were, by all.
[680] French, "Ills ont eto trompé du mot de Sacrement qui est en la
translation commune."--They have been misled by the word Sacrament,
which is in the common translation.
[681] Lat. Lib. 4 Dist. 26, cap. 6, et in Decret 27, Quæst. 2, cap. Quæ
Societas, etc. Gloss. eod. c. Lex Divina. Ibid. Lib. 4 Dist. 33, cap.
2. et in Decret. 33, Quæst. 2. cap. Quicquid
__________________________________________________________________
Christian Classics Ethereal Library / Public Domain
Institutes of the Christian Religion
My God Remembers – Zechariah
By Charles L. Feinberg - January 1965
The message symbolized by the surveyor is thus twofold: (1) the character of the prosperity promised to Jerusalem, and (2) the manner of its preservation. In verse 9 the prophet sets before us (1) the protection of God, and (2) the presence of God. What good words, words of consolation are these for Israel!
In verses 10-17 of our chapter there is fuller explanation of verses 8 and 9 which give the meaning of the symbolical action of verses 5-7. The mind of the prophet is turned by the inditing Spirit of God from the far - off future to the then present need. He calls to his fellow countrymen:
Zechariah 2:10–11 (NASB95) 10 “Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion;
for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the LORD.
11 “Many nations will join themselves to the LORD in that day
and will become My people.
Then I will dwell in your midst,
and you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
The particle hoy not only calls attention, but onomatopoetically conveys the thought of pain or compassion (cf. Jer. 22:18; Amos 5:16.)
Jeremiah 22:18 (NASB95) 18 Therefore thus says the LORD
in regard to Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah,
“They will not lament for him:
‘Alas, my brother!’ or, ‘Alas, sister!’
They will not lament for him:
‘Alas for the master!’ or, ‘Alas for his splendor!’
Amos 5:16 (NASB95) 16 Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts, the Lord,
“There is wailing in all the plazas,
And in all the streets they say, ‘Alas! Alas!’
They also call the farmer to mourning
And professional mourners to lamentation.
This is a summons to the Israelites still in Babylon to flee, before the wrath of God is poured out. Some, because of senility, infirmity, or ties of one character or another, had chosen to remain in the heathen capital rather than assay the trying journey to the desolated home of their forefathers. The prophecy had a primary, though only partial, reference to the prophet's time. (Cf. Isa 48:20; 52:11; Jer. 51:6, 9, 45.)
Isaiah 48:20 (NASB95) 20 Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans!
Declare with the sound of joyful shouting, proclaim this,
Send it out to the end of the earth;
Say, “The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob.”
Isaiah 52:11 (NASB95) 11 Depart, depart, go out from there,
Touch nothing unclean;
Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves,
You who carry the vessels of the LORD.
Jeremiah 51:6 (NASB95) 6 Flee from the midst of Babylon,
And each of you save his life!
Do not be destroyed in her punishment,
For this is the LORD’S time of vengeance;
He is going to render recompense to her.
Jeremiah 51:9 (NASB95) 9 We applied healing to Babylon, but she was not healed;
Forsake her and let us each go to his own country,
For her judgment has reached to heaven
And towers up to the very skies.
Jeremiah 51:45 (NASB95) 45 “Come forth from her midst, My people,
And each of you save yourselves
From the fierce anger of the LORD.
It is indeed difficult to comprehend upon what basis a fine student of the Scriptures like Hengstenberg is proceeding when he can state of this cry, "an appeal which was not intended to be put in practice any more than the similar appeal in Jeremiah 51:6" No declaration of God is meant to be without effect; surely not here when there was ample warrant for such an exhortation. The land of the north is unquestionably Babylon, which, though a southeastern power in relation to Palestine, is so called because invasions and caravans coming from Babylon to Jerusalem came from the north (cf. Jer.1:13-14).
Jeremiah 1:13–14 (NASB95) 13 The word of the LORD came to me a second time saying,
“What do you see?”
And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.”
14 Then the LORD said to me,
“Out of the north the evil will break forth
on all the inhabitants of the land.
The warnings to flee in verses 10 and 11 imply threatening peril upon Babylon, which did come upon her two years after this prophecy, in the fourth year of Darius. There has been difference of opinion regarding the rendering of perasti. Keil (taking the same position as the English versions) says, "For apart from the fact that paras almost always means to spread out, and has the meaning to disperse at the most in Psalm 68:15 and Ezekiel 17:21,
Psalm 68:15 (NASB95) 15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan;
A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
Ezekiel 17:21 (NASB95) 21 “All the choice men in all his troops will fall by the sword,
and the survivors will be scattered to every wind;
and you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.”
this meaning is altogether unsuitable here."" He feels that, if all lands were meant, then the charge would be to flee from them all, not Babylon alone. He takes the verb as prophetic perfect signifying the purpose of God to spread Israel out to the four corners of the globe (cf. Isa. 27:6).
Isaiah 27:6 (NASB95) 6 In the days to come Jacob will take root,
Israel will blossom and sprout,
And they will fill the whole world with fruit.
If this be true, then what connection is there between this spreading out and the fleeing from Babylon? The difficulty here is that, although paras is used of dispersion, "It is nowhere used of diffusion, only of the spreading out of what remained coherent, as hands, wings, a garment, tent, veil, cloud, letter, light." The scattering is not said to be to the four winds but as the four winds, with a violence such as would result from the combined action of all the winds of the heavens. They were enjoined to flee from Babylon, because they had been so violently scattered there. It was assuredly comforting to the exiled people to be addressed still as Zion. The connection between verse 9 and verses 10 and 11 is this: Jerusalem is yet to be restored and enjoy the presence of God; come, share in the blessings and escape the judgments.
The protecting provision of God for His people is further set forth:
Zechariah 2:12–13 (NASB95) 12 “The LORD will possess Judah as His portion in the holy land,
and will again choose Jerusalem.
13 “Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD;
for He is aroused from His holy habitation.”
The moving agent here is the Angel of Jehovah, who is discernible from the repeated thought of sent me (note the many occurrences of these words in John's Gospel) and from the exhibition of power stated in verse 13. There are two main views as to the meaning of the words 'ahar kabhodh. The first maintains that it has reference to the glorious appearing of the Messiah to Israel promised in verse 9. (So Kimchi, Dennett, Kelly, Hengstenberg, Chambers, and others.) It is doubtful whether the appearing in glory of the Messiah would be designated by the indefinite kabhodh. The second view holds that it points to the vindication, display, and the procuring of the glory of God. The Messiah is sent for the glorification of the father. (So Von Orelli, Baron, and others.) With the position just stated we do heartily agree. 'Ahar is a preposition here and thus connected with the following work by a conjunctive accent (munach). When it is used adverbially before a noun, it is marked by a disjunctive. (Cf. Psa. 73:24 [Hebrew).)
Psalm 73:24 (NASB95) 24 With Your counsel You will guide me,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Psalm 73:24 (JPS 1917) 24 Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel,
and afterward receive me with glory.
The interpretation with the first view is: the Messiah, after His glorious appearing, is sent to chastise the nations in executing God's judgments upon them. The second view conveys the thought: the Messiah is sent by the Father for the vindication of His glory on the nations that have spoiled Israel, for God's cause and glory are inseparably linked with the fortunes of His people. The humiliation and subjugation of Israel by the nations must be avenged by the One who is dishonored in their dejected condition.
How tender the affection of God is for Israel is to be seen in the words babhath 'eno, literally, the gate through which the light enters the eye, so the pupil. Babhah here is equivalent to the word 'ishon in Deuteronomy 32:10
Deuteronomy 32:10 (NASB95) 10 “He found him in a desert land,
And in the howling waste of a wilderness;
He encircled him, He cared for him,
He guarded him as the pupil of His eye.
which means little man, and like our pupil, little boy. The pupil or apple of the eye is a proverbial figure for that which is most precious, most easily injured, hardest of repair, and most demanding of protection and care. This is a most fitting symbol for Israel, because, just as the light comes through the pupil, so the light of salvation has come through the Jews (Jn. 4:22).
John 4:22 (NASB95) 22 “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Note the provision for the protection of the pupil: (1) strong frontal bones (from a blow); (2) the brow and eyelash (against dust); (3) the lid (from painful glare); (4) the tear glands (for continuous cleansing). Some maintain that the original reading seems to have been 'eni. Though several MSS. have this reading, the better supported reading is 'eno. Those who contend for the first, claim that the alteration was made that the text might be referred to the apple of a man's eye; that is, whoever touches Israel, touches the apple of his own eye, doing himself irreparable damage. In our opinion Deuteronomy 32:10 will allow no such interpretation, nor is it the more forceful here. True, that a man's touching of the pupil of his own eye will bring him injury in a most sensitive part, but how much more is this truth if he touch the apple of God's eye?
The complete reversal of position between masters and servants harks back to the prediction of Isaiah 14:2.
Isaiah 14:2 (NASB95) 2 The peoples will take them along and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them as an inheritance in the land of the LORD as male servants and female servants; and they will take their captors captive and will rule over their oppressors.
When Israel's oppressors have become their servants, then God's people will know experientially the work and mission of the Messiah. Israel seeks after signs and she will have them in abundance. An interesting historical fulfillment of the prophecy of the judgment of God upon Babylon, although only a partial one, is the following. In the fourth year of Darius, the Babylonians, after much plotting, revolted and shut themselves up in their city, ready for a long siege. Zopyrus, Darius' friend and general, cut off his own ears and nose, and by pretending that he had been thus mutilated by Darius, gained entrance into the city and the confidence of the besieged ones. By his craft the gates were opened to the Persians, and when the city was mastered thousands of Babylonian nobles were crucified. Surely, uneasy should lie the head that plots evil against Israel, and woeful indeed will be the fate of such. (alas my USA) This was in 1965. How much more now with Biden and the Democrats!
The prophecy of the glorification is seen as already fulfilled, hence the words:
Zechariah 2:10 (NASB95) 10 “Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion;
for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,”
declares the LORD.
Zechariah 2:14 (JPS 1917) 14 ‘Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion;
for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee,
saith the LORD.
The rejoicing is to be over the presence of the Lord and His glory among them (v. 9). A comparison with 9:9 shows the Person is none other than Messiah Himself. The coming here suggests His incarnation to be completed by His return in glory (John 1:14 with Rev. 21:3).
John 1:14 (NASB95) 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us,
and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
Revelation 21:3 (NASB95) 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying,
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men,
and He will dwell among them,
and they shall be His people,
and God Himself will be among them,
The emphasis here is on the joy at His second coming as it is at His first coming in 9:9. The immediate effect is thus stated.
Zechariah 2:11 (NASB95) 11 “Many nations will join themselves to the LORD in that day
and will become My people.
Then I will dwell in your midst,
and you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
Zechariah 2:15 (JPS 1917) 15 And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day,
and shall be My people,
and I will dwell in the midst of thee’;
and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
The prophetic Scriptures are in harmony here as elsewhere: whenever Israel is in full possession of her glory, then the nations are joined (nilwu is the same word from which Levi comes) to the Lord. (Cf. Psa. 67:2-3 [Hebrew); 72:7 Isa. 2:1-4; 19:23-25; 60:1-3; Zech. 8:20-23.) The nations are unwittingly awaiting this very hour. Note that the goyim rabbim will be so unified as to become one 'am.
Psalm 67:2–3 (JPS 1917) 2 God be gracious unto us,
and bless us; may He cause His face to shine toward us; Selah
3 That Thy way may be known upon earth,
Thy salvation among all nations.
Isaiah 2:1–4 (NASB95) 1 The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 Now it will come about that
In the last days
The mountain of the house of the LORD
Will be established as the chief of the mountains,
And will be raised above the hills;
And all the nations will stream to it.
3 And many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
That He may teach us concerning His ways
And that we may walk in His paths.”
For the law will go forth from Zion
And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 And He will judge between the nations,
And will render decisions for many peoples;
And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they learn war.
Isaiah 19:23–25 (NASB95) 23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria,
and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria,
and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.
24 In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria,
a blessing in the midst of the earth,
25 whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying,
“Blessed is Egypt My people,
and Assyria the work of My hands,
and Israel My inheritance.”
Isaiah 60:1–3 (NASB95) 1 “Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
2 “For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And deep darkness the peoples;
But the LORD will rise upon you
And His glory will appear upon you.
3 “Nations will come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
May 19, 2024 Churches Praying For Israel
Isaiah 49:24-25 “Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? For thus says the LORD: ‘Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken and the prey of the tyrant be rescued for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.’”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we believe You can reveal the hostages’ location. We humbly ask You, Lord Jesus, to guide the IDF or anyone You choose to find the hostages and safely return them to their families. Please comfort the families of those who have been killed. Lord, please rescue the lost. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray for the safety and protection of innocent civilians in Israel and Gaza. May they find refuge from danger. We ask for Your divine protection over this region. Keep women, children, and innocent people from being shields and tools for terrorists. Give them a way of escape. Shield the little children from harm’s way we pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Psalm 121:7-8 “The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”
Prayer: Lord, we pray for Israel’s protection from harm. Please be with the IDF and the brave men and women who are in harm’s way. Lord, we ask that You shield them from their enemies and surround them with Your divine protection, to allow them to act effectively to bring peace to the region. We ask that You confuse and thwart the assaults of Israel’s adversaries. Lord, please defeat Israel’s enemies, but also convict them and redeem them. Lord, we also ask for your mercy to fall on Israel, Gaza, and the entire region. May all innocent ones be protected from harm. May all evildoers be stopped in their tracks by you, Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Prayer: Lord, we ask that You safeguard the religious freedom of all faith communities in Israel. Lord, we ask that You protect and open doors of conversation so that the gospel can be freely shared with Jews, Muslims, and atheists. While our desire is that all worship You as Lord and Savior, we do pray that religious persecution and animosity would cease, and that You would use religious freedom as a tool for peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, strengthen the people of Israel in times of adversity. Strengthen all those – whether in Israel, Gaza, or the surrounding region – who are seeking you and trying to do right as best they know how to do. Lord, I ask they find courage and strength in You. Lord, may they come to know You as their refuge and strength. May they rely on You amid their battles. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Prayer: God, we ask that you grant strength and courage to those working for peace. May your Holy Spirit empower them to pursue Your will. May they protect the innocent and put an end to evildoers. I pray that any action they take would not be from hatred or sin, but that they would rely on Your guidance to do what is right. Please show them what You want them to do and how You want them to do it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help the people of Israel to honor You in everything they do. May they see You more clearly through this adversity and draw close to You in their time of need. We ask that Israel would be a blessing to their neighbors, not a hinderance. We ask that You protect them from wicked nations. May they ultimately find their help and comfort in you, Lord Jesus. We ask that they would then be Your instrument of salvation, pointing others to Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Proverbs 11:14 “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we ask You to grant wisdom and discernment to Israel’s leaders, so they govern with integrity and seek Your guidance in every decision. Surround them with wise counsel and shut out the talk of evil or foolish men. Lord, we ask for leaders in Gaza who will truly look out for the interests of their people, and seek their welfare. We ask you to cause a change of heart in the leaders of Gaza so they will bless their people and not oppress them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Proverbs 21:15 “When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we come before you, asking that justice and fairness prevail in resolving this conflict. Lord, only You can give true justice. Each of our hearts is corrupt and biased. You see every wrong, You alone can correct and make every mistake right. May decisions in this war be honoring to You. Be with the leaders in this conflict and convict their hearts to pursue Your justice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jeremiah 30:17 “For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the LORD, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’”
Prayer: Lord, we pray for emotional and psychological healing for those traumatized by this conflict. Restore hope and wholeness to them, and bring comfort to those who have experienced loss. Lord, bind up those who have been physically harmed, help them to recover both physically and emotionally. May You use what man intended for evil for good and for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask that You break free the people of Israel and Gaza free from burdensome yolks, and that they would surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. Lord, please send your helpers to fight the spiritual darkness in this region. Please bring healing to the injured and brokenhearted. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ephesians 2:14 “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.”
Prayer: Lord, we pray for healing and restoration in Israel and Gaza, and between Israel and Gaza. Lord, I ask that You heal past wounds and reconcile communities so that they may experience Your peace and wholeness. We ask for a new day to dawn in the Middle East, that is marked by Your presence. Lord, even in this conflict and confusion we trust that You are fulfilling Your plans and purposes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Psalm 46:9 “He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.”
Prayer: Father, we pray for an end to the violence and hostilities between Israel and Hamas. Lord, we ask You to open doors for dialogue and reconciliation. We ask that You bring this conflict to a swift and decisive conclusion and beat back the forces of darkness. We ask for Your justice and mercy to reign. We trust that all things work together for good, for those who are called according to Your purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Psalm 122:6 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!”
Prayer: Father, grant peace within Israel’s borders. Let tranquility reign in Jerusalem and throughout the nation, and may Your peace surpass all understanding. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”
Prayer: Lord, bring unity among the diverse people of Israel and throughout the Middle East. May they stand together in peace, choosing life over death, despite their differences. But most importantly Lord, may they surrender their hearts to You Jesus, and so be empowered by Your love that they may love one another. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Prayer: Lord, please grant hope to those affected by conflict. We cannot imagine the horror this war has caused in so many lives. May the civilians and leaders hold fast to You alone as their source of hope. We ask that You display Your mighty hand in an unmistakable way and use this conflict to draw the lost to You and that there would be peace and reconciliation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Prayer: Dear God, we are grateful for your ultimate provision. You are the source of all things; You are our great provider. We humbly ask for Your mercy and guidance to secure humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict. We pray that as their basic needs are met, they may also come to know You as their Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Acts 5:31 “God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You for the Jewish believers in Israel and worldwide. Please burden the hearts of Jewish Christians to share with all Jews that You are the Messiah and Savior. Please grant favor to Messianic Jews and stir them up to encourage their neighbors to surrender their lives to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.”
Prayer: Lord, please pour out Your Holy Spirit upon Israel and Gaza and ignite a spiritual revival, transforming lives with Your power and awakening hearts to Your truth. May countless come to faith in Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
- Joshua 4:1-24
- Acts 2:32-41
- John 13:1-17
#2 Greg Wills
So Baptist Theological Seminary
#3 Aubrey Sequeira
So Baptist Theological Seminary
Devotionals, notes, poetry and more
12/1/2014 Which Christ?
Christianity is a creedal religion. You cannot separate Christianity from its ancient creeds. In fact, every true Christian adheres to the ancient creeds of the church, whether he knows it or not. We all have creeds. Whether formal or informal—whether written or unwritten—in one way or another, we all have creeds in which our beliefs are expressed. Many Christians have formal, written creeds to which they adhere. Other professing Christians have informal, unwritten, and unorthodox creeds that can easily change and often do change according to the whims of the individual or his pastor.
Creeds are concise doctrinal summaries of the doctrines of Scripture, and creeds are subordinate to Scripture as our only infallible rule for faith and life. Although we do not by any means believe creeds are infallible, we do believe that creeds are authoritative insofar as they accurately summarize the teachings of Scripture. While we may not know all the creeds by heart, if we are Christians, we will wholeheartedly affirm them, confess them, and teach them to our children. For if we were to reject the church’s ancient creeds, we would be rejecting Christianity; and if we were to deny an essential creedal formulation about the person and work of Christ, we would be denying Christ.
On occasion, however, I have heard people passionately reply, “I don’t need the ancient creeds of the church—my only creed is Christ.” But as soon as I ask the question, “Which Christ?” they are quick to provide me with their personal creed about the person and work of Christ. Their personal creed is often heretical, unbiblical, and out of accord with the church’s ancient creeds. I will then patiently try to explain to them that if they do not believe in the Christ of Scripture but believe in a christ of their own making, they will find themselves among those to whom Christ will say, “Depart from me, for I never knew you.” For if it is the Christ of the Bible who saves us, we must affirm the one, true Christ of the Bible in order to truly possess the salvation of the God of the Bible.
Whenever we sing simple songs of faith to our children, such as “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so,” we have formulated a creedal statement about Jesus, His love, the object of His love, our assurance of His love, and the nature of biblical authority. This is the aim of the ancient creeds as they pertain to the person and work of Christ; namely, to help us believe, confess, and proclaim the truth about Christ from sacred Scripture—which Christ Himself authored, fulfills, defends, and proclaims. If we are true Christians who have put our trust in the Christ of the Bible, it is impossible for us not to affirm the church’s ancient creedal statements on the Bible’s teaching. What’s more, we are living in a day when we must not only affirm them but defend them against the onslaught of heretical teachings about the person and work of Jesus Christ.
click here for article source
Dr. Burk Parsons (@BurkParsons) is editor of Tabletalk magazine, senior pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., a visiting lecturer at Reformed Theological Seminary, and a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow. He is editor of John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology.
Ligonier coram Deo (definition)
by Bill Federer
He was the only person to sign all four of America’s founding documents: the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Articles of Association and the U.S. Constitution. A shoe cobbler by trade, he was also a surveyor and merchant prior to his political career. As a Congressman, he help write the First Amendment, and at age 70 was elected U.S. Senator. Who was he?… Roger Sherman, who died this day, July 23, 1793. Upon hearing the British had surrendered over 5000 troops to the Americans at Saratoga, Roger Sherman exclaimed: “This is the Lord’s doing and marvelous in our eyes!”
American Minute
Compiled by Richard S. Adams
God never usurps the will
or the personality of the believer.
Satan makes slaves;
God makes sons.
--- Derek Prince
We are not at peace with others
because we are not at peace with ourselves,
and we are not at peace with ourselves
because we are not at peace with God.
--- Thomas Merton
Those Evening clouds, that setting ray,
and beauteous tints, sure to display
their great Creator’s praise;
Then let the short-lived thing called man,
whose life’s comprised within a span,
to Him his homage raise.
--- Sir Walter Scott
If it seemeth to thee that thou knowest many things and understandest them well, know also that there are many more things which thous knowest not. Be not high-minded, but rather confess thine iignorance.
--- Thomas A Kempis
... from here, there and everywhere
Thanks to Meir Yona
What is the case of five hundred cities of Asia? Do they not submit to a single governor, and to the consular bundle of rods? What need I speak of the Henlochi, and Colchi and the nation of Tauri, those that inhabit the Bosphorus, and the nations about Pontus, and Meotis, who formerly knew not so much as a lord of their own, but are now subject to three thousand armed men, and where forty long ships keep the sea in peace, which before was not navigable, and very tempestuous? How strong a plea may Bithynia, and Cappadocia, and the people of Pamphylia, the Lycians, and Cilicians, put in for liberty! But they are made tributary without an army. What are the circumstances of the Thracians, whose country extends in breadth five days' journey, and in length seven, and is of a much more harsh constitution, and much more defensible, than yours, and by the rigor of its cold sufficient to keep off armies from attacking them? do not they submit to two thousand men of the Roman garrisons? Are not the Illyrlans, who inhabit the country adjoining, as far as Dalmatia and the Danube, governed by barely two legions? by which also they put a stop to the incursions of the Daeians. And for the Dalmatians, who have made such frequent insurrections in order to regain their liberty, and who could never before be so thoroughly subdued, but that they always gathered their forces together again, revolted, yet are they now very quiet under one Roman legion. Moreover, if eat advantages might provoke any people to revolt, the Gauls might do it best of all, as being so thoroughly walled round by nature; on the east side by the Alps, on the north by the river Rhine, on the south by the Pyrenean mountains, and on the west by the ocean. Now although these Gauls have such obstacles before them to prevent any attack upon them, and have no fewer than three hundred and five nations among them, nay have, as one may say, the fountains of domestic happiness within themselves, and send out plentiful streams of happiness over almost the whole world, these bear to be tributary to the Romans, and derive their prosperous condition from them; and they undergo this, not because they are of effeminate minds, or because they are of an ignoble stock, as having borne a war of eighty years in order to preserve their liberty; but by reason of the great regard they have to the power of the Romans, and their good fortune, which is of greater efficacy than their arms. These Gauls, therefore, are kept in servitude by twelve hundred soldiers, which are hardly so many as are their cities; nor hath the gold dug out of the mines of Spain been sufficient for the support of a war to preserve their liberty, nor could their vast distance from the Romans by land and by sea do it; nor could the martial tribes of the Lusitanians and Spaniards escape; no more could the ocean, with its tide, which yet was terrible to the ancient inhabitants. Nay, the Romans have extended their arms beyond the pillars of Hercules, and have walked among the clouds, upon the Pyrenean mountains, and have subdued these nations. And one legion is a sufficient guard for these people, although they were so hard to be conquered, and at a distance so remote from Rome. Who is there among you that hath not heard of the great number of the Germans? You have, to be sure, yourselves seen them to be strong and tall, and that frequently, since the Romans have them among their captives every where; yet these Germans, who dwell in an immense country, who have minds greater than their bodies, and a soul that despises death, and who are in rage more fierce than wild beasts, have the Rhine for the boundary of their enterprises, and are tamed by eight Roman legions. Such of them as were taken captive became their servants; and the rest of the entire nation were obliged to save themselves by flight. Do you also, who depend on the walls of Jerusalem, consider what a wall the Britons had; for the Romans sailed away to them, an subdued them while they were encompassed by the ocean, and inhabited an island that is not less than the [continent of this] habitable earth; and four legions are a sufficient guard to so large all island And why should I speak much more about this matter, while the Parthians, that most warlike body of men, and lords of so many nations, and encompassed with such mighty forces, send hostages to the Romans? whereby you may see, if you please, even in Italy, the noblest nation of the East, under the notion of peace, submitting to serve them. Now when almost all people under the sun submit to the Roman arms, will you be the only people that make war against them? and this without regarding the fate of the Carthaginians, who, in the midst of their brags of the great Hannibal, and the nobility of their Phoenician original, fell by the hand of Scipio. Nor indeed have the Cyrenians, derived from the Lacedemonians, nor the Marmaridite, a nation extended as far as the regions uninhabitable for want of water, nor have the Syrtes, a place terrible to such as barely hear it described, the Nasamons and Moors, and the immense multitude of the Numidians, been able to put a stop to the Roman valor. And as for the third part of the habitable earth, [Akica,] whose nations are so many that it is not easy to number them, and which is bounded by the Atlantic Sea and the pillars of Hercules, and feeds an innumerable multitude of Ethiopians, as far as the Red Sea, these have the Romans subdued entirely. And besides the annual fruits of the earth, which maintain the multitude of the Romans for eight months in the year, this, over and above, pays all sorts of tribute, and affords revenues suitable to the necessities of the government. Nor do they, like you, esteem such injunctions a disgrace to them, although they have but one Roman legion that abides among them. And indeed what occasion is there for showing you the power of the Romans over remote countries, when it is so easy to learn it from Egypt, in your neighborhood?
The War of the Jews: The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem (complete edition, 7 books)
by D.H. Stern
because his hands refuse to work—
26 he covets greedily all day long;
but a righteous person gives without holding back.
Complete Jewish Bible : An English Version of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and B'Rit Hadashah (New Testament)
by Frank W. Boreham
Carlyle, as everybody knows, once wrote a Philosophy of Clothes, and called it Sartor Resartus. He did his work so thoroughly and so exhaustively and so well that, from that day to this, nobody else has cared to tackle the theme. It is high time, however, that it was pointed out that with one important aspect of his tremendous subject he does not attempt to deal. Surely there ought to have been a chapter on Ready-made Clothes!
I am surprised that Henry Drummond never drew attention to the glaring omission, for, if Drummond hated one thing more than another, he loathed and detested ready-made clothes. They were his pet aversion. Ready-made clothes, he used to say, were things that were made to fit everybody, and they fitted nobody. Men are not made by machinery and in sizes; and it follows as a natural consequence that clothes that are so made will not fit men. The man who is an exact duplicate of the tailor's model has not yet been born. How Carlyle's omission escaped the censure of Drummond I cannot imagine. It is true that Drummond was not particularly attracted by Carlyle; he preferred Emerson. I am certain that if Drummond had read Sartor Resartus at all carefully he would have exposed the discrepancy, and Carlyle is therefore to be congratulated on a very narrow escape.
Drummond's hatred of ready-made clothes is the essential thing about him. I happened to be lecturing on Drummond the other evening, and I felt it my duty to point out that Drummond would take his place in history, not as a scientist nor as an evangelist, nor as a traveller, nor as an author, but as the uncompromising and relentless assailant of ready-made clothes. Unless you grasp this, you will never understand him. He scorned all affectations and imitations. He would adopt no style of dress simply because it was usual under certain conditions. 'He was,' as an eye-witness of his ordination remarks, 'the last man whom you could place by the woman's canon of dress. And yet his dress was a marvel of adaptation to the part he happened to be playing. On his ordination day, when most men assume a garb severely clerical, he was dressed like a country squire, thus proclaiming to fathers and brethren, and to all the world, that he was not going to allow ordination to play havoc with his chosen career. Now this was typical, and it is its typical quality that is important. It applied not to dress alone. It applied to speech. Drummond would affect no style of address simply on the ground that it was usual upon certain platforms or in certain rostrums. Did it fit him? Was it simple, natural, easy, effective? If not, he would not use it. Nor would he adopt a course of procedure simply because it was customary and was considered correct. If, to him, it seemed like wearing ready-made clothes, he would have none of it. Here you have the key to his whole life. Everything had to fit him like a glove, or he would have nothing to do with it. His scientific lectures, his evangelistic addresses, his personal interviews with students, even his public prayers, were modelled on no regulation standard, on no established precedent; they were couched in the language, and expressed in the style, that most perfectly suited his own charming and magnetic individuality.
Professor James, of Harvard, said of Henri Bergson, the Parisian philosopher, that his utterance fitted his thought like that elastic silk underclothing which follows every movement of the skin. Drummond would have considered that the ideal. Generally speaking, he was impervious to criticism; but if you had told him that a single phrase rang hollow, or that some expression had savoured of artificiality, or that even a gesture appeared like affectation, you would have stabbed him to the quick. It was a great question in his day as to whether he was orthodox or heterodox. Drummond regarded all standards of orthodoxy and of heterodoxy as so many tailors' models.
Orthodoxy and heterodoxy stand related to truth just as those wonderful wickerwork stands and plaster busts that adorn every dressmaker's establishment stand related to the grace and beauty of the female form. If you had asked Drummond to what school of thought he belonged, he would have told you that he never wore ready-made clothes.
I tremble lest, one of these days, these notions of mine on the subject of ready-made clothes should assume the proportions of a sermon, and demand pulpit utterance. There will at any rate be no difficulty in providing them with a text. The classical instance of the contemptuous rejection of ready-made clothing was, of course, David's refusal to wear Saul's armour. There is a world of significance in that old-world story. Saul's armour is a very fine thing—for Saul! But if David feels that he can do better work with a sling, then, in the name of all that is reasonable, give him a sling! If he has to fight Goliath, why hamper him with ready-made clothes? I began by saying that Carlyle omitted to deal, in Sartor Resartus, with this profound branch of his subject. But he saw the importance of it for all that. In his Frederick the Great, he tells us how the young prince's iron-handed father employed a learned university professor to teach the boy theology. The doctor dosed his youthful pupil with creeds and catechisms until his brain whirled with meaningless tags and phrases. And in recording the story Carlyle bursts out upon the dry-as-dust professor. 'In heaven's name,' he cries, 'teach the boy nothing at all, or else teach him something that he will know, as long as he lives, to be eternally and indisputably true!'
Now what is this fine outburst of thunderous wrath but an emphatic protest against the use of ready-made clothes? A man's faith should fit him like the clothes for which he has been most carefully measured, if not like the elastic silk to which the Harvard professor refers. A man might as well try to wear his father's clothes as try to wear his father's faith. It will never really fit him. There is a great expression near the end of the brief Epistle of Jude that always seems to me very striking. 'But ye, beloved,' says the writer, 'building up yourselves on your most holy faith.' That is the only satisfactory way of building—to build on your own site. If I build my house on another man's piece of ground, it is sure to cause trouble sooner or later. Build your own character on your own faith, says the apostle; and there is sound sense in the injunction. It is better for me to build a very modest little house of my own on a little bit of land that really belongs to me than to build a palace on somebody else's soil. It is better for me to build up my character, very unpretentiously, perhaps, on my own faith, than to erect a much more imposing structure on another man's creed. That is the philosophy of ready-made clothes, disguised under a slight change of metaphor.
I have heard that some people spend their time in church inspecting other people's clothes. If that is so, they must be profoundly impressed by the amazing proportion of misfits. The souls of thousands are quite obviously clad in ready-made garments. Here is the spirit of a bright young girl decked out in all the contents of her grandmother's spiritual wardrobe. The clothes fitted the grandmother perfectly; the old lady looked charming in them; but the grand-daughter looks ridiculous. I was once at a testimony meeting. The thing that most impressed me was the continual repetition of certain phrases. Speaker after speaker rang the changes on the same stereotyped expressions. I saw at once that I had fallen among a people who went in for ready-made clothes.
The thing takes even more objectionable forms. Those who are half as fond as I am of Mark Rutherford will have already recalled Frank Palmer in Clara Hopgood. 'He accepted willingly,' we are told, 'the household conclusions on religion and politics, but they were not properly his, for he accepted them merely as conclusions and without the premisses, and it was often even a little annoying to hear him express some free opinion on religious questions in a way which showed that it was not a growth, but something picked up.' Everybody who has read the story remembers the moral tragedy that followed. What else could you expect? There is always trouble if a man builds his house on another man's site. The souls of men were never meant to be attired in ready-made clothes. Somebody has finely said that Truth must be born again in the secret silence of each individual life.
For the matter of that, the philosophy of ready-made clothes applies as much to unbelief as to faith. Now and then one meets a mind distracted by genuine doubt, and it is refreshing and stimulating to grapple with its problems. One respects the doubter because the doubt fits him like the elastic silk; it seems a part and parcel of his personality. But at other times one can see at a glance that the doubter is all togged out in ready-made clothes, and, like a bird in borrowed plumes, is inordinately proud of them. Here are the same old questions, put in the same old way, and with a certain effrontery that knows nothing of inner anguish or even deep sincerity. One feels that his visitor has seen this gaudy mental outfit cheaply displayed at the street corner, and has snapped it up at once in order to impress you with the gorgeous spectacle. How often, too, one is made to feel that the blatancy of the infidel lecturer, or the flippancy of the sceptical debater, is simply a matter of ready-made clothes. The awful grandeur of the subjects of which they treat has evidently never appealed to them. They are merely echoing quibbles that are as old as the hills; they are wearing clothes that may have fitted Hobbes, Paine, or Voltaire, but that certainly were not made to fit their more meagre stature. Doubt is a very human and a very sacred thing, but the doubt that is merely assumed is, of all affectations, the most repellent.
If some suspicious reader thinks that I am overestimating the danger of wearing ready-made clothes, I need only remind him that even such gigantic humans as James Chalmers, of New Guinea, and Robert Louis Stevenson feared that ready-made clothes might yet stand between the Church and her conquest of the world. Some of the missionaries insisted in clothing the natives of New Guinea in the garb of Old England, but Chalmers protested, and protested vigorously. 'I am opposed to it,' he exclaimed. 'My experience is that clothing natives is nearly as bad as introducing spirits among them. Wherever clothing has been introduced, the natives are disappearing before various diseases, especially consumption, and I am fully convinced that the same will happen in New Guinea. Our civilization, whatever it is, is unfitted for them in their present state, and no attempt should be made to force it upon them.'
With this, Robert Louis Stevenson most cordially concurred. Nobody who knows him will suspect Stevenson of any lack of gallantry, but he always eyed the arrival of the missionary's wife with a certain amount of apprehension. 'The married missionary,' says Stevenson, 'may offer to the native what he is much in want of—a higher picture of domestic life; but the woman at the missionary's elbow tends to keep him in touch with Europe, and out of touch with Polynesia, and threatens to perpetuate, and even to ingrain, parochial decencies far best forgotten. The mind of the lady missionary tends to be continually busied about dress. She can be taught with extreme difficulty to think any costume decent but that to which she grew accustomed on Clapham Common; and to gratify her prejudice, the native is put to useless expense, his mind is tainted with the morbidities of Europe, and his health is set in danger.' We remember the pride with which poor John Williams, the martyr missionary of Erromanga, viewed the introduction of bonnets among the women of Raratonga; but it was not the greatest of his triumphs after all. The bonnets have vanished long ago, but the fragrant influence of John Williams abides perpetually. We sometimes forget that our immaculate tweed trousers and our dainty skirts and blouses are no essential part of the Christian gospel. As a matter of fact, that gospel was first revealed to a people who knew nothing of such trappings. We do not necessarily hasten the millennium by introducing among untutored races a carnival of ready-made clothes.
And it is just as certain that you do not bring the soul nearer to its highest goal by forcing on it a fashion for which it is totally unsuited. And here I come back to Drummond. During his last illness at Tunbridge Wells, he remarked that, at the age of twelve, he made a conscientious study of Bonar's God's Way of Peace. 'I fear,' he said, 'that the book did me more harm than good. I tried to force my inner experience into the mould represented by that book, and it was impossible.' In one of Moody's after-meetings in London, Drummond was dealing with a young girl who was earnestly seeking the Saviour. At last he startled her by exclaiming, 'You must give up reading James's Anxious Enquirer.' She wondered how he had guessed that she had been reading it; but he had detected from her conversation that she was making his own earlier mistake. She was trying to think as John Angell James thought, to weep as he wept, and to find her way to faith precisely as he found his. Drummond told her to read nothing but the New Testament, and, he said later on, 'A fortnight of that put her right!'
There lies the whole secret. Our souls no more resemble each other than our bodies; they are not made in a mould and turned out by the million. No two are exactly alike. Ready-made clothes will never exactly fit. Bonar and James, Bunyan and Law, Doddridge and Wesley, Müller and Spurgeon, may help me amazingly. They may help me by showing me how they—each for himself—found their way into the presence of the Eternal and, like Christian at the Palace Beautiful, were robed and armed for pilgrimage. But if they lead me to suppose that I must experience their sensations, enjoy their elations, pass through their depressions, struggle and laugh and weep and sing just as they did, they have done me serious damage. They have led me away from those secret chambers in which the King adorns the soul in beautiful and comely garments, and they have left me a mere wearer of ready-made clothes.
Mushrooms on the Moor (Dodo Press)
A Daily Devotional by Oswald Chambers
Sanctification
Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us … sanctification. --- 1 Cor. 1:30.
The Life Side. The mystery of sanctification is that the perfections of Jesus Christ are imparted to me, not gradually, but instantly when by faith I enter into the realization that Jesus Christ is made unto me sanctification. Sanctification does not mean anything less than the holiness of Jesus being made mine manifestly.
The one marvellous secret of a holy life lies not in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfections of Jesus manifest themselves in my mortal flesh. Sanctification is “Christ in you.” It is His wonderful life that is imparted to me in sanctification, and imparted by faith as a sovereign gift of God’s grace. Am I willing for God to make sanctification as real in me as it is in His word?
Sanctification means the impartation of the holy qualities of Jesus Christ. It is His patience, His love, His holiness, His faith, His purity, His godliness, that is manifested in and through every sanctified soul. Sanctification is not drawing from Jesus the power to be holy; it is drawing from Jesus the holiness that was manifested in Him, and He manifests it in me. Sanctification is an impartation, not an imitation. Imitation is on a different line. In Jesus Christ is the perfection of everything, and the mystery of sanctification is that all the perfections of Jesus are at my disposal, and slowly and surely I begin to live a life of ineffable order and sanity and holiness “Kept by the power of God.”
My Utmost for His Highest
the Poetry of RS Thomas
The Belfry
I have seen it standing up grey,
Gaunt, as though no sunlight
Could ever thaw out the music
Of its great bell; terrible
In its own way, for religion
Is like that. There are times
When a black frost is upon
One's whole being, and the heart
In its bone belfry hangs and is dumb.
But who is to know? Always
Even in winter in the cold
Of a stone church, on his knees
Someone is praying, whose prayers fall
Steadily through the hard spell
Of weather that is between God
And himself. Perhaps they are warm rain
That brings the sun and afterwards flowers
On the raw graves and throbbing of bells.
Selected poems, 1946-1968
D’RASH
There was a well-known song several years ago entitled “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places.” The lyrics spoke to a real problem. Just as “you’ll never find a Kohen in a cemetery” because it’s the wrong place to look, so too love often can’t be found in many of the places we search for it.
Some people think that just because an establishment is called a “singles’ bar,” it’s a good place to meet like-minded and interesting singles. But there are many stories (some would call them horror stories) of life in singles’ bars, and how unsuccessful, dehumanizing, and demeaning that experience can be. One has only to think of the crude terminology used to describe such a place—a “meat market”—to understand what many people really think.
Love may not necessarily be found by looking for it, but rather by looking for people who possess it. College students who take a Jewish studies course may find someone who loves to read, to learn, to expand her or his mind. If they attend a Shabbat program at the local Hillel, they’ll likely brush shoulders with those who love to socialize with like-minded people. If they help out at a nearby soup kitchen, they may just bump into someone special, someone whose love of humanity is as great as their own.
There is nothing wrong with being at a cemetery; in fact, at times, it is a mitzvah. But if we’re looking for a Kohen (at least one with a traditional bent), we’re less likely to find him there than in other places. Similarly, if we’re looking for a soul mate, lover, ideal spouse, or friend, our choice is not only whom to look for, but also where to look.
ANOTHER D’RASH
Did Moses and Aaron actually call Pharaoh an idiot to his face, as the Midrash reports? Such name-calling was not likely to endear the two brothers to the Egyptian leader. Diplomacy requires showing respect to the people we negotiate with, even if they are our enemies. Insults are just not the best way of getting results. “Idiot” was probably an editorial comment added by the Rabbis as they retold the story.
What about the servant in the cemetery: Did someone actually use the insulting word to him? Though the story is a parable, it is certainly more believable that someone would have called him an idiot not only because he did something foolish, but also because he was a servant. (If people tend to be too respectful of “high” authority, they also show little consideration for those of “lowly” status.) Despite what might have been said to him, we still have to say that it shouldn’t have been said. The word idiot is an inappropriate label with which to tag someone. Not only is it hurtful, it is counter-productive.
Think about how many times we hear a person apologize before he or she asks something by saying “I know this may sound dumb …” or “I have a stupid question to ask.…” And then consider how many questions never even get asked because of such embarrassment. People will do almost anything to avoid looking foolish. (Perhaps this is the reason that people say that men are notorious for not stopping and asking for directions!)
Maybe, too, this is a reason why so many Jews stay away from synagogue services: It’s not that they don’t believe in God or in prayer. Rather, they are terrified that if they do come, they will end up looking or feeling foolish because of what they do not know. How much more so if they are offered an honor or are asked to participate in the service!
The publishing industry has capitalized on this human aversion to looking like a fool by issuing dozens of basic primers in any number of fields with the title “An Idiot’s Guide To …” or “… for Dummies.” This was an ingenious marketing decision. When we’re walking through a bookstore, our eyes are caught by the catchy titles. We can all relate to the sense of inadequacy and the fear of looking like an idiot. We buy the books and only the cashier has to know that we consider ourselves “dummies.” (Of course, if questioned, we can explain that the volume is a gift for someone else.…) We take the book home and study it, so that at least in this field, we never have to appear … like an idiot.
We don’t know what kind of teacher Rabbi Levi was, but his casual use of the term “idiot” suggests that he could learn a lesson from the poor servant. When someone doesn’t understand what seems to be obvious, maybe it isn’t so obvious after all. What the servant required was not an insult, but instruction.
Searching for Meaning in Midrash: Lessons for Everyday Living
July 23
Christ… the wisdom of God. --- 1 Corinthians 1:24.
While in all the regions of creation may be seen portions of this wisdom [of God], only in the Son of God—in Christ Jesus, the incarnate Word—is the mighty whole contained. (Horatius Bonar, “Divine Philosophy,” in Family sermons He, and he only, is “the wisdom of God.”
By the expression, “the wisdom of God,” is not merely meant that Christ is wise but something more comprehensive. To say that he is infinitely wise is one thing, but to say that he is the wisdom of God is another. We say of the Father, he is infinitely wise, but we cannot say of him, he is the wisdom of God. Of the Son alone can this be said. He is infinitely wise, and he is the wisdom of God.
All that is in God, all that can come forth out of God is contained in Christ. He is the full representative of the invisible and incomprehensible Jehovah. He is the brightness of Jehovah’s glory and the express image of his person. In the works of creation God has displayed portions of his wisdom, but in Christ he put forth the whole of it, so it can be said of Christ, he is the wisdom of God. Thus, the knowledge of Christ not only transcends all other knowledge, but includes them all; the study of this embodiment of all that is in God is not only superior to but embraces all other studies. Here, we cannot see how Christ could be the discovery of all science, all nature, all things in heaven and earth; hereafter we shall find it so.
Wisdom is one of the last things that we connect with the name of Christ. We connect with that name salvation, pardon, righteousness, love—but not wisdom. Yet it is wisdom that God especially associates with Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” He is perfection, but specially the perfection of wisdom, so that, while each perfection is in him, it is in him in such a way as to demonstrate the wisdom of God. Holiness is in him, but in such a way as to show forth not only itself, but wisdom as well. Each perfection becomes thus not merely a display of itself, but an illustration or embodiment of wisdom.
It is this wisdom that says, “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old. I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.”
--- Horatius Bonar
Take Heart: Daily Devotions with the Church's Great Preachers
Arise, It Is Day! July 23
Protestantism came of age amid the perils and persecutions of sixteenth-century England partly because of a brave man who was neither preacher nor politician—printer John Day. He was born during the reign of Henry VIII and entered his profession at age 22 during Edward’s brief Protestant rule. He became the most prominent publisher of Protestant materials in London, and was appointed at age 30 by King Edward to publish Poynet’s Protestant catechism. It was a feather in his cap. But when the king was succeeded by his Catholic half sister, “Bloody” Mary, the feather in his cap became a stone around his neck. His best authors perished at the stake, and he himself was imprisoned before somehow escaping abroad.
John Day spent his European exile traveling around, learning all he could of new printing methods, meeting young apprentices, and planning future work. When Protestant Elizabeth became queen, Day returned to London better equipped than ever. He was the first to print music; to cut, cast, and use Anglo-Saxon type; to introduce mathematical signs; and the first to make Roman and italic types used on the same line as regular print. He included pictures (woodcuts) in his books. And he was the first to print smaller sections of the Bible, which he advertised like this: “Printed in sundry parts for these poor, that they which are not able to bie the hole, may bie a part.”
After settling securely back into England, Day published all of Latimer’s RS Thomas, then Ridley’s “Friendly Farewell.” But his most famous book was John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, which went through repeated printings and became the most important book of its … well, of its Day. Business soared, forcing him into larger quarters near St. Paul’s Cathedral. The sign in front of his new shop featured a man pointing to the sun, saying, “Arise, For It Is Day.”
And many more Days followed. John had 13 children by his first wife and another 13 by his second. When he died on July 23, 1583, his son Richard carried on the family business of publishing quality Bibles and Christian materials for England and the world.
The Law of the LORD is perfect; it gives us new life.
His teachings last forever,
And they give wisdom to ordinary people.
The LORD’s instruction is right;
It makes our hearts glad.
His commands shine brightly, and they give us light.
--- Psalm 19:7,8.
On This Day 365 Amazing And Inspiring Stories About Saints, Martyrs And Heroes
Daily Readings / CHARLES H. SPURGEON
Morning - July 23
“Even thou wast as one of them.” --- Obadiah 1:11.
Brotherly kindness was due from Edom to Israel in the time of need, but instead thereof, the men of Esau made common cause with Israel’s foes. Special stress in the sentence before us is laid upon the word thou; as when Caesar cried to Brutus, “and thou Brutus”; a bad action may be all the worse, because of the person who has committed it. When we sin, who are the chosen favourites of heaven, we sin with an emphasis; ours is a crying offence, because we are so peculiarly indulged. If an angel should lay his hand upon us when we are doing evil, he need not use any other rebuke than the question, “What thou? What dost thou here?” Much forgiven, much delivered, much instructed, much enriched, much blessed, shall we dare to put forth our hand unto evil? God forbid!
A few minutes of confession may be beneficial to thee, gentle reader, this Morning. Hast thou never been as the wicked? At an Evening party certain men laughed at uncleanness, and the joke was not altogether offensive to thine ear, even thou wast as one of them. When hard things were spoken concerning the ways of God, thou wast bashfully silent; and so, to on-lookers, thou wast as one of them. When worldlings were bartering in the market, and driving hard bargains, wast thou not as one of them? When they were pursuing vanity with a hunter’s foot, wert thou not as greedy for gain as they were? Could any difference be discerned between thee and them? Is there any difference? Here we come to close quarters. Be honest with thine own soul, and make sure that thou art a new creature in Christ Jesus; but when this is sure, walk jealously, lest any should again be able to say, “Even thou wast as one of them.” Thou wouldst not desire to share their eternal doom, why then be like them here? Come not thou into their secret, lest thou come into their ruin. Side with the afflicted people of God, and not with the world.
Evening - July 23
“The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” --- 1 John 1:7.
“Cleanseth,” says the text—not “shall cleanse.” There are multitudes who think that as a dying hope they may look forward to pardon. Oh! how infinitely better to have cleansing now than to depend on the bare possibility of forgiveness when I come to die. Some imagine that a sense of pardon is an attainment only obtainable after many years of Christian experience. But forgiveness of sin is a present thing—a privilege for this day, a joy for this very hour. The moment a sinner trusts Jesus he is fully forgiven. The text, being written in the present tense, also indicates continuance; it was “cleanseth” yesterday, it is “cleanseth” to-day, it will be “cleanseth” tomorrow: it will be always so with you, Christian, until you cross the river; every hour you may come to this fountain, for it cleanseth still. Notice, likewise, the completeness of the cleansing, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”—not only from sin, but “from all sin.” Reader, I cannot tell you the exceeding sweetness of this word, but I pray God the Holy Ghost to give you a taste of it. Manifold are our sins against God. Whether the bill be little or great, the same receipt can discharge one as the other. The blood of Jesus Christ is as blessed and divine a payment for the transgressions of blaspheming Peter as for the shortcomings of loving John; our iniquity is gone, all gone at once, and all gone for ever. Blessed completeness! What a sweet theme to dwell upon as one gives himself to sleep.
“Sins against a holy God;
Sins against his righteous laws;
Sins against his love, his blood;
Sins against his name and cause;
Sins immense as is the sea-
From them all he cleanseth me.”
Morning and Evening
July 23
O THAT WILL BE GLORY
Words and Music by Charles H. Gabriel, 1856–1932
God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (Revelation 21:4)
Think of stepping on shore, and finding it heaven!
Of taking hold of a hand, and finding it God’s hand,
Of breathing new air, and finding it celestial air;
Of feeling invigorated, and finding it immortality,
Of passing from storm and tempest to an unbroken calm,
Of waking up, and finding it Home!
--- Unknown
The text for “O That Will Be Glory” was inspired for author and composer Charles Gabriel by his good friend Ed Card, superintendent of the Sunshine Rescue Mission of St. Louis, Missouri. Ed was a radiant believer who always seemed to be bubbling over with the joy of the Lord. During a sermon or prayer, he would often explode with the expression, “Glory!” (Incidentally, there is a biblical precedent for this practice. See Psalm 29:9.) Ed Card’s smiling face earned him the nickname “Old Glory Face.” It was his custom to close his own praying with a reference to heaven, ending with the phrase “and that will be glory for me!” It is said that Mr. Card had the joy of singing this hymn just before his home going—with the pleasure of knowing that his Christian life had been its inspiration.
Charles H. Gabriel was one of the best-known and most prolific Gospel songwriters of the early 20th century era. For most of his hymns, Gabriel wrote and composed both the words and music. His Gospel songs were especially used during the large Billy Sunday evangelistic campaigns of the 1910–1920 decade. “O That Will Be Glory” has been translated into many languages and dialects.
When all my labors and trials are o’er and I am safe on that beautiful shore, just to be near the dear Lord I adore will thru the ages be glory for me.
When, by the gift of His infinite grace, I am accorded in heaven a place, just to be there and to look on His face will thru the ages be glory for me.
Friends will be there I have loved long ago; joy like a river around me will flow; yet, just a smile from my Savior, I know, will thru the ages be glory for me.
Chorus: O that will be glory for me, glory for me, glory for me; when by His grace I shall look on His face, that will be glory, be glory for me!
For Today: 1 Corinthians 13:12; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Revelation 14:13
Reflect on this truth—One moment of heavenly glory will outweigh a lifetime of suffering. Live with the assurance that God’s tomorrow will make today’s struggles worth it all. Anticipate this joy by singing as you go ---
Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions
Martin Luther | (1483-1546)
Sect. XCV. — I NOW return to Paul. If he does not, Rom. ix., explain this point, nor clearly state our necessity from the prescience and will of God; what need was there for him to introduce the similitude of the “potter,” who, of the “same lump” of clay, makes “one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour?” (Rom. ix. 21). What need was there for him to observe, that the thing formed does not say to him that formed it, “Why hast thou made me thus?” (20). He is there speaking of men; and he compares them to clay, and God to a potter. This similitude, therefore, stands coldly useless, nay, is introduced ridiculously and in vain, if it be not his sentiment, that we have no liberty whatever. Nay, the whole of the argument of Paul, wherein he defends grace, is in vain. For the design of the whole epistle is to shew, that we can do nothing, even when we seem to do well; as he in the same epistle testifies, where he says, that Israel which followed after righteousness, did not attain unto righteousness; but that the Gentiles which followed not after it did attain unto it. (Rom. ix. 30-31). Concerning which I shall speak more at large hereafter, when I produce my forces.
The fact is, the Diatribe designedly keeps back the body of Paul’s argument and its scope, and comfortably satisfies itself with prating upon a few detached and corrupted terms. Nor does the exhortation which Paul afterwards gives, Rom. xi., at all help the Diatribe; where he saith, “Thou standest by faith, be not high-minded;” (20), again, “and they also, if they shall believe, shall be grafted in, &c. (23);” for he says nothing there about the ability of man, but brings forth imperative and conditional expressions; and what effect they are intended to produce, has been fully shewn already. Moreover, Paul, there anticipating the boasters of “Free-will,” does not say, they can believe, but he saith, “God is able to graft them in again..” (23).
To be brief: The Diatribe moves along with so much hesitation, and so lingeringly, in handling these passages of Paul, that its conscience seems to give the lie to all that it writes. For just at the point where it ought to have gone on to the proof, it for the most part, stops short with a ‘But of this enough;’ ‘But I shall not now proceed with this;’ ‘But this is not my present purpose;’ ‘But here they should have said so and so;’ and many evasions of the same kind; and it leaves off the subject just in the middle; so that, you are left in uncertainty whether it wished to be understood as speaking on “Free-will,” or whether it was only evading the sense of Paul by means of vanities of words. And all this is being just in its character, as not having a serious thought upon the cause in which it is engaged. But as for me I dare not be thus cold, thus always on the tip-toe of policy, or thus move to and fro as a reed shaken with the wind. I must assert with certainty, with constancy, and with ardour; and prove what I assert solidly, appropriately, and fully.
The Bondage of the Will or Christian Classics Ethereal Library
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