7/26/19 

II Samuel 12:7

⁷ Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.

There is a lesson to be learned from David’s sin for which he is called to account  in 12:7.

First a man’s sin is personal.  “You David” are the one who is guilty.  You and you alone must bear the guilt of this deed.  The deceit by which you did it does not change the fact that you sinned.

Secondly, sin is unique.  The command, “You shall do no murder,” when it is applicable, has no default because of status , previous obedience, or other deeds of service.  The guilt is attached to David as saint, king, and David’s unique position of being God’s king in Zion.  Nothing can relieve him of his responsibility.

Third, none are immune from sinning .  David is a man who would have seemed above this deed.  He loved God and His law supremely until they conflicted with his lust.  As Nathan reminded him, God would have given him anything lawful.  It was his for the asking.  But when lust had conceived that was not enough.  When Rockefeller was asked, “how much money do you want?”, his answer was, “Some more”.

Do not make the mistake of thinking you are better or stronger than David.  You can be “the man”.

7/23/19 

Matthew 13:44-46

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 

⁴⁶ who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The parables in Matthew 13 are all Kingdom parables.  In vs 11 Jesus tells His disciples that parables are means to teach them “the secrets of the Kingdom”, while to those who are not His disciples this has not been given, but is a part of keeping the Kingdom for believers.

In the two parables in vss 44-46 Christ introduces them with the words “the Kingdom of Heaven is like”.  We begin with the understanding that Jesus is using an analogy.  And as both parables have a similar plot to understand them it is best to find likenesses and the differences.

A.       The likenesses: 

1.       Both are about a valuable item.

2.       The valuable item is found.

3.       The finder’s intent to have that which he found.

4.       He sold everything he had.

5.       He used the gain from his sale to purchase the valuable item.

B.      The differences: 

1.       In one he finds, in the other he goes looking. 

2.       In one he finds and hides, in the other he bought it. 

3.       In one he buys the field to get the treasure, in the second he buys the pearl.

The common factors are: 

1.       There is a searcher/purchaser. 

2.       He sells all he has to make the purchase, it comes at the price of all that he has.

There are a few things about parables that we should consider.

A.       Parables ordinarily have a singular meaning.

B.       The incidentals of a parable may be or may not be important.

C.      Every event or character need not be explained or applied.

What is important in this parable.

1.        The price that was paid.  “All he had.”

2.       The desired items were purchased because of the value to the buyer.

3.       To the purchaser the items were of great value giving the reason for the sacrifice.

I do not see this as a Christian’s giving everything he or she has for salvation. cf Titus 3:5.

⁵ he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

 There is one sacrifice and one purchase that this description fits. 

Romans 5:8 ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ;

II Corinthians 5:21   ²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 8:34 ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

7/22/19 

Psalm 139:19-22

¹⁹ Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me!
²⁰ They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
²² I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.

This is, as I understand, the most theological of all Psalms.  It is noteworthy that it discusses God’s omniscience, His omnipresence, His mercy, His grace, and by implication His omnipotence.  These are to the author cause for greatest praise and his delight.

But particular is the notice of enemies, both of God and of the saint.  In vs 20 God’s enemies are those who have no regard for the third commandment.  It is both men who hate God and men whom God holds in the utmost of displeasure that are described here.  Look, Romans 8:7 describes this same enemy to God and His law.

 ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

But we are not left indifferent to the enemies of God.  In vss 21-22 the Psalmist assumes his responsibility toward God’s enemies.  And it is worth our attention that those of whom the writer notices are here described for one reason, they are God’s enemies.  He is not neutral toward them.  He “hates” them with a perfect hatred.  This is a responsibility that must be held in tension with that of loving our neighbor.

7/12/19 

Genesis 4:9

⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?”

We do not know how soon after the sin of Adam and Eve this event occurred.  But it was long enough for both men to be born, grow to manhood, have a vocation and establish a character.

Abel was a herdsman.  He was a congenial man, willing to be agreeable with his brother in their daily fellowship.  He understood his responsibility for substitution in a blood offering and the true worship of God.  He was a trusting brother who gave and expected love from his brother.

Cain was a gardener.  He appeared to be moody and by Apostolic testimony was jealous and vindictive.  But it is his relationship with God that is so revealing.  He, again by Biblical testimony, has no sense of sin, and at the best is disrespectful toward God and at the worst blames God for his faults.  His fault, from I John, was jealousy of the favor his brother Abel had with God so he murdered him.  The charge is murder and God convicted him, passed sentence, and left him as an example.

But about Cain’s question.  He refused any responsibility for the whole of second table of the Law.  But we should expect this for he in his sacrifice had witnessed to his refusal to recognize God in his person and offices.  Refusing fidelity to God he could not be expected to love his brother as himself.

Looking at Cain we see a person without a sense of sin, without an understanding of God, without repentance, and never more than remorse for any hardship he suffered.

The drunkard wakes the morning after his party and hates his hangover but says “when will I get some more.”

7/11/19 

II Peter 2:15-16

¹⁵ Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, ¹⁶ but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

One, among others, true enigma of the Old Testament is Balaam.  As much of a mystery as Balaam is, we do not know how he knew so much about Israel and Israel’s God.  Or how he had gained such a mighty reputation.  But between Peter and Jude we do know something about his character and there is nothing good in it.

Peter tells us:

1.       His life and activity were dominated by greed.  “He loved unrighteous gain.”

2.      He was a transgressor.  His donkey rebuked him for his transgression.

3.      He was prone to great foolishness.  His donkey restrained “his madness.”

4.      He has become a proverb for all those who sell themselves into wickedness over their love for gain no matter how wicked their activity is.

There is nothing redeeming about Balaam.  He thought he was smarter than God and was proved to be dumber than a donkey.

Those who worry about a donkey speaking and fail to see the folly of Balaam is no better than he is.

It is noteworthy that Balaam”rose up early to go to his call to destruction.”

7/09/19 

Psalm 40

This Psalm is a Messianic Psalm and of great value in devotional meditation.  Lets look together at some of the helpful truths in it.

1.      Vs 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

 Our trials in our Christian walk leave us with “waiting patiently for the Lord to incline to us”.  This is not often what we would choose but the deliverance is more than worth the waiting.

2.      Vs 3 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

  The result of believer’s joy and praise is often given an evangelistic outcome.  Our joy in God’s grace is used for God’s glory; “ never despise the small things.”

3.      Vs 4 Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud,
    to those who go astray after a lie!

   Remembering the “blessed man” from Psalm 1 we can add to his identity that he     steadfastly trusts in God and has no confidence in man to be his deliverer.

4.        Vs 5c  I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.

  We can never use up the witnesses to all of God’s wonders.  When we end we will have only begun to tell of what is, “more than can be told.”

5.        Vs 12  For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head;  my heart fails me.

This verse in a description of Messiah’s trials make us aware and should awake in us wonder at the greatness of the evil He had to overcome.  There is no reason not to take this statement very literally.  “For evils have encompassed me without number.”  “More than the hairs of my head, my heart fails me.”

7/10/19 

II Corinthians 1:3-5

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

The Scriptures are plain about the benefits of suffering.  The content before us is about suffering and one of its purposes with the benefit.

1.       As Christ was afflicted while here in the flesh so we his followers must expect be afflicted for being His disciples.

2.      A benefit of the afflictions which believers experience is to demonstrate that we are his disciples.

3.      Our afflictions which we experience as followers of Jesus and the Apostles prepare us to be examples to others who suffer afflictions.

4.      As Christ comforts us in our afflictions even so we are to comfort others in their suffering.

5.      The comfort we have received qualifies us to comfort those who have needs.

6.      This comfort we give others which is beneficial through our experiences is needed and beneficial.

7.      The comforts we receive and give others is beneficial only as it is Christ’s comfort we have received.  cf Philippians 1:29

⁹ For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,