Minor Disobedience?

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Pete

I encountered rebellion again this morning in the book of Numbers. Yesterday (Numbers 16) it involved Korah & Co. who made a play for the priesthood, standing up against Moses and Aaron. Didn’t end very well . . . the ring leaders were swallowed up by the earth . . . the 250 who partnered with them were consumed by fire from heaven . . . and, before the insurrection could be completely quelled and atonement made, 14,700 had died from a God sent plague. The punishment was extreme . . . but so was the nature of the pride-fueled rebellion against God’s anointed. This morning, the rebellion seems far less serious . . . but the consequences are just as severe . . . and, it involves God’s anointed . . . and some “minor disobedience.”

“And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them . . . Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.’ . . . And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain.” (Numbers 20:12, 24, 28 ESV)

The rebellion occurred at Meribah. There was no water for the congregation . . . they were thirsty . . . and so, as they were so prone to do, they “assembled against Moses and against Aaron” . . . and whined . . . and complained . . . and quarreled . . . “why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place . . . there’s no water to drink!” (20:2-5). Good grief! . . . . again and again with the “life was better in Egypt, Moses” stuff . . . and so Moses and Aaron go to the tent of the meeting, fall on their faces and cry out to God. And the glory of God appears to them . . . and God speaks to them . . . “Take your staff, assemble the people before the great rock and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. And then watch the water flow from the rock . . . enough water for them and their livestock” (20:6-9 paraphrased).

Moses takes the staff . . . gathers the people . . . and rebukes them, “Shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” Wait a minute! Back up the bus! Moses, who’s going to bring the water out of the rock? And then, Moses lifts up his hand and strikes the rock twice with the staff . . . and water comes flowing forth in abundance (20:10-13). Mission accomplished? Yup. Damage done? Yup, again. There it was . . . that’s the rebellion of Numbers 20 . . . instead of speaking to the rock as God commanded, Moses, in his frustration, whacks the rock . . . and God says, “For such rebellion, you will not lead this people into the land I’ve promised them.”

That’s it? Hitting the rock versus speaking to the rock? After all Moses and Aaron had endured with these people . . . after all they had done for God . . . That’s the big rebellion? That’s enough to be excluded from setting foot in the promised land? Yeah . . . that’s it . . . “Because you did not believe in Me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land” (20:12). That was the rebellion of Moses and Aaron at the waters of Meribah . . . they did not trust God enough to demonstrate His holiness to the people (NLT).

Not that the people noticed . . . the water gushed forth — still a miracle of epic proportions . . . the Lord showed Himself holy (20:13) . . . but Moses and Aaron improvised with the command of God . . . for whatever reason, they did what they thought would work, what had worked in the past (Ex. 17:6) . . . and God called it for what is was, they rebelled . . . through unbelief they acted in a manner which compromised the glory of God . . . and for it, there was a consequence. Ouch!!!

Let me read about Korah and I can easily distance myself from that kind of rebellion. But let me read about Moses and Aaron . . .unbelief failing to uphold the holiness of God . . . “minor disobedience” equated with rebellion . . . and I can relate way too much with stepping on to this “unholy ground.” My God is holy . . . and those who are His are to be holy . . . and uphold His holiness . . . in faith and obedience . . . that His glory might be known. Oh, that by His grace and for His glory, I would be faithful . . .

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Blinding Ambition

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Pete

“You have gone too far!” That was the charge they made against Moses. “We’re all God’s people . . . all holy . . . all set apart . . . the Lord is with us all. So how come you exalt yourself above the assembly of the LORD?” (Numbers 16:3 ESV). “And besides,” they would go on, “is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us? Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards” (16:13-14 ESV). They were done . . . they were starting a movement . . . my Bible subtitles it “Korah’s Rebellion” (Num. 16:1-35) . . . I’m thinking it was blinding ambition.

What was going through their head? . . . or, as the case may be, what wasn’t going through their head? What was it that had caused them to revise recent history? Blaming Moses for bringing them out of the land of milk and honey . . . are they talking about Egypt? . . . really? . . . that was paradise? . . . that was the promised land? Had the forgotten the straw? . . . the bricks? . . . the back-breaking labor? . . . the bondage? . . . really, that was what Abraham had left his home for? . . . sign me up! . . . not so much!

And yeah! . . . they had seen Moses lead them out of the land. So, how had they forgotten the plagues? . . . how had they let slip from their mind that night of Passover? . . . what had caused them to not recall walking out of Egypt and through the Red Sea? And, had they not been there when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, face aglow? Had they forgotten how Moses would enter the cloud of the glory of God and enter the tabernacle and have One-on-one briefings with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? . . . I’m guessin’! So, what caused them to forget everything that pointed to Moses as God’s man for God’s purposes in delivering God’s people? Blinding ambition . . . ambition which makes one blind.

Moses saw it and called them out . . . ““Hear now, you sons of Levi: is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, and that He has brought you near Him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also? Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have gathered together.” (Num. 16:8-11 ESV)

They wanted the priesthood . . . they wanted the top spots . . . they wanted the recognition . . . they wanted the power . . . they wanted what God had not called them to, but had appointed for others. And, in their ambition, they went stupid . . . the old synapses in the brain started misfiring . . . they had forgotten, or ignored, everything they had known and witnessed of God’s call on Moses’ life and his role in their deliverance from slavery. They failed to appreciate their calling as Levites . . . specially selected to minister in things of the tabernacle . . . called to among the few that could draw near to the presence of Jehovah . . . invited to participate in making welcome the glory of God in their midst. Instead, they wanted to offer the fire . . . they wanted to burn the incense. And, why not? . . . “We’re all holy?” . . . so they reasoned . . .

You just kind of cringe when you think of this arrogant guy . . . and his buddies, Dathan and Abiram . . . and 250 of their closest, influential friends (16:1-2) . . . deciding to go toe-to-toe with Moses. How dumb can pride make you? . . . pretty!!! And the consequences were severe . . . not just for them, but for their wives, their sons, and their little ones (16:27). The rebellion leaders, were literally swallowed up as the earth split apart beneath them and they “went down alive to Sheol” (16:33). And the other 250 who joined them in pretentiously offering fire to heaven, were all consumed with fire from heaven (16:35).

And I can’t help but ask myself, “Self, what are you going to learn from this?” Oh, to be careful of despising the call of God and wanting someone else’s call. Oh, to not grumble about the role in the Body of Christ He has asked me to play. Oh, to beware of pride-fueled ambition! To know that it can happen to me . . . confused thinking birthed from a prideful and rebellious heart. Oh, that I might be faithful to that which God has called me to . . . for His glory . . . amen.

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Glory Giving & Faith Filling

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Pete

This morning I read two accounts concerning faith, or lack thereof. One a huge disaster . . . the other precedent setting. One opportunity to exercise faith ended in abject failure . . . a promise missed . . . and resulted in forty years of wilderness wandering. The other call to believe resulted in a child . . . and a promise realized . . . and became the means for blessing to generations upon generations. And it seems that the key to both stories . . . the factor upon which faith failed or faith triumphed . . . the turning point for victory of defeat, hinged on how people responded to the glory of God.

“No distrust made [Abraham] waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was ‘counted to him as righteousness.'” (Romans 4:20-22 ESV)

The ESV reads a little differently here than the other translations in that it says “he grew strong in faith as he gave glory to God” . . . that little word “as” emphasizing a “cause and effect” dynamic between the active agency of faith and the response to God’s mighty deeds. Where glory is given to God faith increases . . . where that which should testify of the glory of God is ignored and unrecognized, faith fails. Two cases in point . . .

Numbers 13 & 14 . . . the nation of Israel on the border of the promised land . . . the territories which God had pledged to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob . . . the blessing for which God had delivered them from Egypt . . . “a land that flows with milk and honey” (Num. 14:8). There they were . . . it was theirs for the taking. Sure, there would be battles to be fought, but not alone . . . God promising to go before them . . . to deliver to them that which He had said He would make theirs. But they refused . . . concluding the battles could not be won . . . that the inhabitants of their promised land were too big to displace . . . in effect concluding that their God was too small to make it happen. How come? Because despite all that they had seen . . . from the ten plagues that led to their freedom . . . to walking out of Egypt . . . to walking through the Red Sea . . . to being fed manna from heaven . . . despite all they had been through with God, they refused to give him glory . . . and thus, their faith wavered.

And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? . . . truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers.” (Num. 14:11, 21-23 ESV)

They had seen the glory of the Lord, but refused to give the Lord the glory . . . and so they would die in the wilderness coming up short of the promise. How tragic. Contrast that with Abraham . . . the other “story” I read this morning.

In Romans 4 Abraham is the precedent setter . . . “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Rom. 4:3). Unlike the desert dwellers of Moses’ day, Abraham fully entered into the promise . . . through faith . . . “in order that the promise may rest on grace” (4:16). Abraham being fully convinced that what God had said He would, He could do . . . growing strong in his faith as he gave glory to God . . . responding to past blessings and the previous evidences of God’s hand at work, and ascribing to God the glory. And it seems, as he recognized God in the call to leave his homeland for a destination unknown . . . as he saw God’s protecting hand upon him and his wife, even as they sometimes stumbled and faltered . . . that, as he gave glory to God, his faith grew stronger . . . becoming fully convinced that God was able to do what God had promised to do . . . Glory giving leading to faith filling

O’ that I might see Him in His awesome creation . . . that I might know Him and His hand in the details of my life . . . and that I might give Him the glory due His name and wondrous works. That I too, might grow in faith . . . fully convinced He is able . . . for my blessing . . . and for His glory . . . amen.

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A Full Course Meal

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Pete

Romans 3 is the perfect set up for Psalm 51 . . . the doctrine of Paul’s letter being the perfect back drop for entering into the desperation and deliverance recorded in David’s song. In Romans 3 we understand the problem of sin . . . in Psalm 51 we experience the pain of sin. In Romans 3 we are taught that there is a righteousness to be received by faith . . . in Psalm 51 we see modeled the manner in which such faith is exercised. In Romans 3 we have explained the salvation which results in justification . . . in Psalm 51, we see the dynamics of this salvation which results in joy. One is the foundation . . . the other is the realization. One is tell’t . . . the other, felt. One is the main dish . . . the other, the dessert. And together they are a full course meal.

“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God . . . no one does good, not even one . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:10-12, 23). There it is . . . the problem . . . a big, big, problem! Sin is part of the human DNA . . . and sin separates. David knew it . . . up close and personal . . . “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight . . . Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Ps. 51:3-5).

Sin is not just some doctrine to be understood . . . but a desperation to be experienced. It is the problem that drives one to seek the solution. “Have mercy on me, O God . . . blot out my transgressions . . . wash me thoroughly from my iniquity . . . cleanse me from my sin . . . create in me a clean heart . . . deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God!” (Ps. 51:1-2, 9-10). Spend any time lingering over David’s song, written after his adultery with Bathsheba was exposed, and you can just sense the oppression of sin . . . the anguish of separation . . . and the desperation to know again the joy of salvation. If you were to put music to these lyrics it would be in minor chords . . . a dirge . . . slow and pensive . . . blues to the nth degree. There is no sacrifice to offer for such failure save “a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Ps. 51:16-17).

“But now” . . . O’ glorious word, “But”!!! . . . “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law . . . the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe . . . justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus . . . so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:21-26). Yes!!! The ground upon which God hears the sinner’s plea . . . the work upon which God bridges the gap and makes way for the sinner to enter His sanctuary. Christ was put forward as a propitiation, or atoning sacrifice, by His blood, to be received by faith (Rom. 3:25) . . . and for those who have faith in Jesus, there is forgiveness, and justification — declared righteous in Christ.

This is the basis upon which David might presume to know cleansing for such terrible transgression. It is the work that opens heaven’s ears to David’s cry, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Ps. 51:11-12).

And the grand doctrine of justification through faith becomes the song of the redeemed . . . “my tongue will sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise” (Ps. 51:14b,-15). It’s not just some theology to noodle over, it is a reality to enter into . . . not to be sliced and diced and debated ad nauseam, but to be experienced . . . the cleansing to be known . . . the guilt to be gone . . . the praises to be sung.

Yup, read these two passages of Scripture together and it’s a pretty powerful one-two punch . . . Romans 3, the sufficiency of the blood of Jesus to declare the sinner righteous . . . and Psalm 51, the work of the cross in action . . . the blood applied through confession and repentance . . . cleansing realized through contriteness . . . joy restored because of justification . . . together, they really are a full course meal. Amen?

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A Matter of the Heart

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Pete

Circumcision . . . not exactly a word used a lot today . . . not really a procedure talked about at social gatherings . . . but, in the economy of God, it’s kind of a big deal . . . even today. Paul brings it up this morning, as I continue in Romans, as he calls out those who claim to be God’s chosen people but whose lives don’t bear it out . . . “For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified” (Rom. 2:13). It’s not heritage . . . it’s not who was given the law . . . it’s not who has the physical sign of covenant relationship . . . it’s not a matter of anything done in the flesh . . . instead, it’s a matter of the heart.

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (Romans 2:28-29 ESV)

“Cutting around” . . . that’s the literal meaning of the word . . . and it was commanded of God to Abraham and established as a national ordinance for his descendants. It was the sign of covenant (Gen. 17:10-11) . . . it symbolized consecration . . . it was the mark of those chosen . . . it was an outward sign that was private. And, it had become a matter of boasting for the Jew . . . it had become the “proof” by which they claimed sole possession of being God’s people . . . regardless of the degree to which they sought (or didn’t) to live like God’s people.

And so, Paul calls them out . . . “circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision” (2:25). God delights in obedience over sacrifice (1Sam 15:22) . . . He seeks walk over talk . . . He desires righteousness above ritual. The issue was not about what they had cut away or given up, but what they had embraced and were determined to pursue. And this pursuit could not be sourced in the external and physical, but was internal and of the heart.

A matter of the heart, not the flesh . . . a work of the Spirit, not the letter of the law . . . performed by God, not by men . . . that, says Paul, is the true mark of the people of God. “In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Col. 2:11-12).

Oh, to know the reality of a circumcised heart . . . the things of the flesh cut away . . . the seal of the covenant embedded on my inner man . . . the essence of consecration wired into my DNA . . . the reality of “the procedure” evident through the life that is led. Oh, to submit to God’s on-going work of cementing such a mark upon my heart . . . recognizing that some things may have to go . . . understanding that it can sometimes be painful . . . believing and knowing that, always, it will be worth it all . . . as a friend says, “For my goodness, and for His glory.”

It’s a matter of the heart . . .

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Mutually Encouraged

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Pete

Talk about your holy ground . . . talk about entering into the deep things of God . . . talk about the gospel, the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes . . . and, you’re talking about Paul’s letter to the Romans. And while I anticipate a “refresher course” in things concerning the sin of all men . . . justification by faith . . . reconciliation through faith . . . putting off the old man and becoming slaves of righteousness . . . new life in the Spirit . . . God’s never ending love . . . His absolute Sovereignty in matters of our free-to-chose salvation . . . and the host of practical implications which result from such truth . . . while there’s going to be a lot of “schooling” over the next few weeks, it’s something in Paul’s introduction to this letter that grabbed me this morning. The thought of mutual encouragement . . .

“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you–that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (Romans 1:11-12 ESV)

Paul wanted to go to Rome. Not to see the city . . . not to visit the place where “it was happening”, the home of the emperor and the seat of power founded in the senate . . . not to take in it’s cutting edge architecture, the fine buildings, the arts, the riches, grandeur . . . not the city’s glory . . . but he wanted to go to Rome to see the believers, those “called to belong to Jesus Christ . . . loved by God and called to be saints” (1:6,7). They were the prize of Rome . . . God’s people . . . and Paul so wanted to do some face to face time with them.

He wanted to impart to them some spiritual gift. While some would say the “gift” was some extraordinary signs and wonders type of gift, my thinking would align more with those who’d say it was the gift of teaching and exhortation . . . passing on to them some of the spiritual insight he had received from the Lord and from racking up a few miles in spreading the gospel throughout Asia minor. Stories? Paul had stories to tell. Lessons learned? He had a few of those as well. Theology? Yup, he could spend a few hours laying out, precept by precept, the deep things of God. Application? You bet . . . there would be a few “therefore’s” as he preached among their gathering or as they conversed over the dining room table. Paul wanted to be with them to strengthen them in their faith.

But get this . . . for Paul it wasn’t just about imparting . . . but he knew that, to be with them, would be to receive as well. He had hung out with God’s people enough to know the reality of the “iron sharpening iron” (Prov. 27:17) dynamic of quality fellowship. Sure, these Roman believers hadn’t been schooled in the Old Testament as Paul had been in his Pharisee days . . . and they certainly couldn’t have imagined the crash course Paul took at THU (Third Heaven University, 2Cor. 12:2-4) where he was tutored one-on-one by the risen Lord Himself (Gal. 1:11-12) . . . but, there’s something about hanging out with people who keep on keepin’ on for Jesus that has a way fueling the tank.

There’s a dynamic that should exist when God’s people get together . . . whether to “do church” on Sunday . . . or during the week for home study . . . or over the kitchen table, playing games or just talking through life together . . . a dynamic of mutual encouragement. Each giving . . . each receiving . . . each being comforted as they share the faith together. It’s the dynamic spoken of by Paul in Ephesians where he says that we are a body, “joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Eph. 4:16). A body whose head is Christ . . . a body which, when it comes together, whether as whole or just a couple of members, has the ingredients for a mini-revival meeting . . . each imparting spiritual gifts born out of walking with Jesus . . . and each receiving encouragement as they work through together what it means to walk by faith.

Oh . . . to know such sweet fellowship! How you gotta love God’s people . . . hangin’ with them . . . being encouraged by them . . . perhaps, by God’s grace, being a bit of encouragement to them. Now, that’s holy ground! Amen?

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No Need for Animals

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Pete

I don’t think I’d every really noticed how similar the end of Leviticus is to the end of Deuteronomy. Both books of Moses, after having laid out in explicit details the “do’s” and “don’t’s” of atoning sacrifices . . . and pleasing aromas . . . and moral imperatives . . . and ceremonial instructions . . . and social parameters . . . at the end of it all comes some pretty simple, but very directed, “straight talk.” “Walk in my statutes, observe my commandments and do them,” says the LORD, “and you will know blessing and I will make My dwelling among you” (Lev. 26:3, 11). “But if you will not listen to me and will not do my commandments . . . I will set My face against you . . . I will discipline you” (Lev. 26:14, 17a, 18a). How clear is that? . . . pretty!

These were the rules of engagement . . . twenty-five chapters worth in my English Bible . . . do it, and it’s good . . . don’t do it . . . mmm, not so good. How do a not-so-holy people live in the presence of a holy God? . . . follow the rules for atonement . . . over and over and over again . . . bring lots of animals. How do the seed of Adam, fallen in nature, live with each other? . . . follow the rules for community conduct . . . try to repress the sin nature . . . power up the self-will and self-discipline . . . and, when you fail, bring lots of animals. Keep trying . . . resolve to keep the commandments . . . bring lots of animals . . . and know the blessing of the Lord. I’m way over-simplifying, but I think, in essence, that’s kind of how it worked.

The alternative was to quit trying . . . to not worship in the prescribed way . . . to live for self and reject the rules of neighborly conduct . . . to not honor God as God alone but to look to the nations for cues on how to seek the favor of deities. And for those who chose to walk in a different way . . . to offer unauthorized fire . . . God would discipline them sevenfold for their sins (26:18, 21, 24, 28). To say sin would lead from things going from bad to worse to catastrophic is understating it. God doing what would be necessary to bring His people to confession of sin (26:40), to a humbling of their uncircumcised heart (26:41) . . . in order to remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (26:42, 44-45).

And so, concludes Leviticus, “these are the statutes and rules and laws that the LORD made between Himself and the people of Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai” (Lev. 26:46, 27:34).

Oh, to be sure, there is much in this “rule book” that I would do well to heed. Moral commandments as relevant today as they were then, for my God is an unchanging, holy God. There is much to be learned from the principles surrounding the need for uncleanness to be dealt with in order to know God in the midst. And there is depth of understanding concerning the work of Christ on the cross to be gained through appreciating the nuances of the different sacrifices brought to the altar . . . all Scripture being God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2Tim. 3:16)

But at the end of the day, I can’t help but praise God that, as said so well by Matthew Henry, “we are not under the heavy yoke of the law . . . a yoke which neither they nor their fathers were able to bear (Acts 15:10), but under the sweet and easy institutions of the gospel, which pronounces those the true worshippers that worship the Father in spirit and truth, by Christ only, and in His name, who is our priest, temple, altar, sacrifice, purification, and all.”

Not that obedience isn’t necessary . . . not that worshipping in the simplicity of spirit and truth will be easy . . . but . . . I don’t need to bring lots of animals.

Jesus paid it all . . . His shed blood sufficient for all my sin . . . past, present, and future. And through faith in Him, I have received a new nature, subject not to the taskmaster of the law but to the leading of the Spirit of Christ in me . . . such that His yoke is easy and “the burden” of obedience is light (Matt. 11:29-30) . . . He being the enabling power within me to be holy as God is holy. Oh praise God for the gospel . . . praise God for His Son . . . and praise God . . . no need for any animals.

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A Pleasing Theme

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Pete

It’s amazing how a portion of Scripture can capture the imagination . . . how something written so long ago can have such a present impact by bringing into focus a future reality. That’s Psalm 45.

You know that Psalm 45 is about Messiah, about Jesus. If there’s any doubt it’s dispelled when you get to verses 6 and 7, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” Hebrews 1 says that this refers to the Son. So the theme of this Psalm is my Lord.

And verse 1 says it is a “pleasing theme” (ESV) or a “noble theme” (NIV) and the psalmist’s heart is “overflowing” with this theme. To read of Jesus, to think of Messiah, stirs the inner man in a way that nothing else does. Just reading the first 9 verses evokes a sense of awe and adoration.

He is fairer than the sons of men . . . grace is poured upon His lips . . . He is the Mighty One with glory and majesty . . . His throne is forever . . . He is King of righteousness . . . anointed of God . . . His garments emit a sweet sweet smell from His ivory palaces. If the Psalm were to stop here it is enough to drive me facedown in worship. But it doesn’t stop there!!! In fact, it brings me into the picture . . .

The focus shifts in verse 10 from the King to His bride. She is called to forget her people and her father’s house for then “the King will desire your beauty.” (v.10-11) The NIV says, “The King is enthralled by your beauty.” Let that sink in!!!

If this Psalm is about Messiah the King, aka my Jesus (and it is) . . . and if it talks about His bride (and it does) . . . then the connection needs to be made to the church. And if it’s painting a picture of the church then I’m kind of in the picture too . . . and the King greatly desires my beauty. Really, Jesus? My beauty? But I know it’s not “my beauty” but how beautiful I am in Him. I know that any beauty I possess is solely because of the grace of God and who I am in Christ. Nothing of this man . . . all of His Savior . . . an ugly duckling made a beautiful, desired bride by the King Himself, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.

So the King greatly desires her beauty . . . and she shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors . . . with gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; they shall enter the King’s palace. (v.14-15) O’ what a pleasing theme! What a noble theme! What a glorious theme!

“The bride eyes not her garment . . . but her dear Bridegroom’s face . . . I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of grace . . . Not at the crown He giveth . . . but on His pierced hand . . . the Lamb is all the glory . . . of Immanuel’s land.” (Immanuel’s Land, Anne R. Cousin, 1876)

And so, I respond to the Psalmist’s call . . . “Since He is your lord, bow to him” (v.11b) . . . worship Him . . . Jesus, You are my pleasing theme this morning . . . You set my heart to overflowing . . . thank You for redeeming this lost soul and making Him part of Your beautiful Bride . . . I enter into Your palace by faith this morning clothed in garments of righteousness purchased by Your blood . . . and soon, faith will give way to sight and with gladness and rejoicing we will enter the King’s palace for eternity.

“Therefore nations will praise You forever and ever.” (v.17) A pleasing theme indeed . . . Amen!!

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He Is the LORD

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Pete

I’ll take “Levitical Commands” for one, two, three, four, and five hundred, Alex. Okay, then, here’s your first answer in this category . . . this is the principle underlying the command to not profane the name of the Lord . . . What is “I am the LORD”? . . . correct! Next . . . the motivator for not turning to and not making yourself idols . . . Uh, what is “I am the LORD”? . . . right again! The next answer in this category is . . . the driving force for loving your neighbor as yourself . . . Whew boy, this is getting tough . . . how about what is “I am the LORD” . . . right again! . . . you’re on a roll. Next answer . . . this is the foundational consideration for pursuing justice . . . Hmmm, could it be, what is “I am the LORD” . . . yup, you got it! Okay . . . one last answer in this category . . . the answer for “Levitical Commands” for 500 is, the mainspring principle for the people of God to pursue the holiness of God even as God Himself is holy. Wow! . . . that’s tough . . . what would motivate anyone to strive to such a high and lofty calling? . . . could it be, . . . What is “I am the LORD your God?” Yeah . . . that would be it.

Okay . . . so I don’t how the above will read . . . but it’s what came to mind as I read Leviticus 18 through 20 this morning. Three chapters of rapid fire commandments by God. And you can’t help but notice as you read them this recurring phrase, “I am the LORD” . . . sometimes it’s “I am the LORD your God.” It shows up again and again . . . stated clearly as the reason why God’s people were to conduct themselves as God commanded. As I read this I can see myself as a little kid being told to do something by my dad . . . and me asking him, “How come?” . . . and him replying, “Because I’m your father . . . I know best.” True enough . . . love ya’ Dad . . . I’ll do it.

And it’s not like you can distance yourself from Leviticus because it’s “the Old Testament” . . . or because we are “no longer under law but under grace” . . . God’s people, whether then or now, are still God’s people . . . and God is still God . . . and so, His requirement is unchanging:

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1Peter 1:13-16 ESV)

“I am the LORD your God” . . . therein lies the motivation for obedience . . . the underlying principle for living in a manner which reflects my calling as a child of God . . . the mainspring for pursuing, by His grace and through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, holiness. Sure, it’s best for me . . . and there is blessing for obedience . . . but the ultimate reason for being holy is because He is holy. Not only does He command our allegiance . . . He alone is worthy of our best efforts to submit to His sanctifying work within us.

“I am the LORD” . . . literally “Jehovah” . . . that should be the motive for my manner. He who is the Creator should be worshipped by the creation. He who is love . . . and demonstrated His love through the cross . . . should be loved in return. He who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords should have His subjects bow the knee in humble submission to His will and ways. He is the LORD!

Yes . . . I’ll take “Spirit-powered Holiness” for 500, Alex . . . for the glory of God . . . for He is the LORD . . . amen!

Posted in 1Peter, Leviticus | 1 Comment

My Scapegoat

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Pete

Hovering over Leviticus 16 this morning . . . The Day of Atonement . . . Yom Kippur . . . the one day a year when the high priest enters the Most Holy Place with sacrificial blood to make atonement for himself and the people. A lot here . . . needed some help from one of my commentaries to help me get clear on the order of events. But one thing I didn’t need a lot of help with was noticing the two goats.

Along with the bull to be offered as a sin offering, Aaron also brought two goats. One of the goats was “for the Lord” and the other for “Azazel” (16:8). Only the ESV and MSG use the literal Hebrew term “Azazel” . . . other translations say “the scapegoat.” One of the goats was to be used as a sin offering . . . to be killed and its blood brought into the tabernacle, into the Most Holy Place and sprinkled on the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat (16:15). The other goat was presented alive . . . Aaron laying his hands on “Azazel”, the scapegoat, and confessing over it all the iniquities of the people . . . all the transgressions of their sins. He put on the head of the goat all their sin and then the goat was led out . . . to bear all their iniquities on itself in a remote area . . . to carry their sin into the wilderness (16:20-22).

One goat, though its death, dealt with the problem of the unclean amidst the holy . . . the two being mutually exclusive. And so, atonement was made . . . the way for the high priest to continue ministering on behalf of the people was secured . . . through the blood. In a sense, access to the holy was secured for another year because blood was shed and applied. In like manner, Jesus “entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12). And, through the blood of Jesus, I have confidence to enter boldly into the Holy of Holies, into the presence of God (Heb. 10:19). The blood of Jesus, the once for all sacrifice, having forever made clean the unclean so that I might know unfettered access to God . . . having prepared the way for me to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience” (Heb. 10:22). O, praise God for cleansing! Praise Him for a way into the most holy . . . that I might have opportunity to behold the glory.

But, having the way “made open” was only part of the deal . . . the “baggage” of sin was not permitted. That needed to be left at the door . . . more yet, it needs to be put away . . . far, far away. Thus the scapegoat. Place the sin on the head of the other goat . . . send that goat into the wilderness . . . let it bear the sin to a place of no return. And in this picture, I can’t help but be moved as I consider that Jesus was not only my blood sacrifice . . . but also my “Azazel” . . . my scapegoat.

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) The Lamb of God was the scapegoat, the One who takes way my sin. The perfect, spotless, Son of God allowed me, as it were, to place my hands upon Him and convey my sin to Him. “For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2Cor. 5:21 NKJV).

Isaiah prophesied of the lowly Servant of God who would fulfill the role of “Azazel” . . . “He shall bear their iniquities” (Isa. 53:11) . . . “He bore the sin of many” (Isa. 53:12). Peter knew what it was to have the baggage of sin removed, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1Peter 2:24). Through death He carried my sins to a remote wilderness . . . “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). Gone . . . gone . . . gone . . . gone . . . all my sins are gone!!!

A way made into the Holy of Holies . . . and a means to check all my baggage at the door . . . to have it forever removed . . . to never be picked up again.

Hallelujah! What a Savior! Amen?

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