How Ya’ Smellin’?

Posted on April 26, 2010 by Pete
 

If it’s a fair application of Scripture, then I have an odor.  If, what Paul says concerning himself also applies ot me, then I emit a particular scent.  Not a literal smell, but a spiritual emanation.  So, I guess the question could be asked, “How am I smelling?”

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” — 2Cor. 2:14-15

In describing his ministry, “to preach the Christ’s gospel” (2:12), Paul likened it to God diffusing, or manifesting, “the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.” The knowledge of God has a certain “air” about it . . . a distinctive savor . . . a particular aroma. For some, those who have eyes to see and hears to hear (and, I guess, noses to smell), the fragrance is very attractive . . . drawing them to the Source . . . creating a desire to fill themselves with the sweet-smelling aroma of the love and grace of God as shown in and through His Son. For others, though, it is a distasteful smell . . . it repels them . . . it is the aroma of death (2:16) . . . a smell that causes them to hold their noses and seek to escape. But, despite how it was received, Paul saw himself as a vehicle through which God emitted the fragrance of the knowledge of Himself.

But not only did Paul see himself as sending off an “odor” to those around him, but, led by the divine authorship of the Spirit, Paul said that He also was a fragrance to God . . . the fragrance of Christ. Different Greek word used here. While a general term for savor or odor is used in verse 14 . . . we emit an certain odor which is the knowledge of God . . . in verse 15 the word is literally “a sweet smell”, a “sweet savor”, . . . the same descriptor attached to the Old Testament sacrifices, a thing well-pleasing to God. So Paul saw himself emanating a particular scent both to those around him and to heaven itself. For those who encountered his smell, it was either life-giving or had the stench of judgment and death upon it. To those who picked it up in the heavenlies, it was a sweet smelling savor. The God who saved Paul and called him to serve for the kingdom could breathe deep and take in the wonderful aroma of a life given to sacrificial service for the One who saved him. It had the same nuance as His Son, the One “who loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering, a sweet-smelling savor, to God” (Eph. 5:2) . . . the same aromatic beauty . . . evoking the same deep pleasure. So you gotta ask yourself, “How ya’ smelling?”

What kind of scent am I putting off? . . . to those around me? . . . to the God who loved me? When people are with me, what are they picking up in the air? As they breathe deep of the stuff I’m sending off, is it fresh and alive? . . . or kind of stale? When God breathes deep of the fragrance of my life does it have that sweet-smelling nuance of sacrifice? I’m not sure how to know exactly the answers to these questions . . . but I’m thinking they’re worth asking.

Sound intimidating? Yeah! To Paul too! . . . “And who is sufficient for these things?” (2:16b)

Not me . . . at least not on my own. I can desire to “smell good” . . . I can seek to cultivate that right mix of ingredients that will result in a pleasant and enticing perfume . . . but God is the Perfumer. He takes the unique composition of “ingredients” willing given to Him, and works it to create a spiritual, one of a kind, “Designer” fragrance that we wear. The ingredients we bring to the table are mixed with His grace and enhanced by His Spirit and are turned into an aroma we wear for His glory. And who’s sufficient for these things? . . . God . . . Jesus . . . the Spirit . . . the One who declares, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2Cor. 12:9).

Oh, that I might be a sweet smelling savor! That, apart from words, those I come in contact with would pick up on a certain scent emanating from me . . . something a bit out of this world . . . something that speaks of a God who so loved the world. That I might be an aromatic offering ascending to the throne . . . that God might detect the fragrance of His Son on me . . . that in all things His Son might have the preeminence . . . that in all things He might have the glory. Father, by Your grace help me to “smell” like Your Son . . . amen!

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Sing, Sing, Sing!

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Pete

I can’t imagine a church where there’s no singing. It is such a natural response . . . or is it a supernatural response? . . . to the glory and grace of God. I find it sad to see members of the family of God who can be gathered in the assembly of His people, surrounded by music (whether a voice leading in a cappella praise, or a piano, or a guitar, or a full band) and not find their voice . . . who appear to be disinterested. I don’t think it’s about whether or not your “musical” . . . I think it’s about whether or not you’ve entered into the wonder of the God of your salvation. I’ve read Psalms 95 and 96 this morning . . . and they crying out to me, “Sing, sing, sing!”

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song!” (Ps. 96:1a)

That’s the “what” . . . a new song. It’s the song of the redeemed . . . the song of deliverance . . . the song of hope . . . the song of “I once was blind, but now I see!” It’s fresh . . . His mercies and compassions are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23) . . . He provides strength for the day . . . each morning He is present . . . how can the song not be fresh? It doesn’t grow old . . . it’s not the “same old, same old” . . . no, it’s a new and vibrant song because it is founded in His glory . . . it’s a new song because, while the words might be familiar, their subject is so beyond familiarity. The Lord is great, and greatly to be praised (96:4) . . . Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary (96:7) . . . how awesome is our God! . . . sing a new song!

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth” (96:1b)

That’s the “who” . . . all the earth. God’s people are called to sing certainly, but God’s creation is called to sing, as well. ” . . . let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; Let the field be joyful and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord” (95:11-13a). There is a song for all the earth to sing. Creation declaring His glory and proclaiming His infinite wisdom and creativity, while the people of God are to ascribe to Him glory and strength . . . to give to Him the glory due His name (96:7-8).

“Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.” (96:2)

And there’s the “why!” Our song’s grand theme . . . that which drives us to bless His name with whatever melody our hearts and souls and feeble voices can muster up . . . the theme of our melodic offering is the good news of His salvation. Maybe that’s what behind “songless saints” . . . they’ve lost sight of glorious wonder of their salvation. If the psalmist was moved by what he knew of God’s salvation back then, how much more should those who know about the cross, offer songs of worship? Oh, the depth of love shown by God in sending His Son to rescue us from sin and death. Oh, the grace of God in paying in full the debt I owed through the blood of His anointed, Jesus my redeemer. Oh, how can I keep from singing?

Sing, sing, sing . . . to the Lord. He is our audience. We worship in the beauty of holiness (96:9). His holiness . . . and the holiness that is ours in Christ. By His blood and through His Spirit we enter onto holy ground . . . we enter into the holy of holies . . . and we are asked to sing . . . to sing to the Lord. We don’t have to wait for Sunday morning . . . we don’t have to be great tenors or sopranos . . . but, I think, we do have to sing . . . sing . . . sing.

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Asking for Jehovah

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Pete

Unless you’re reading in the NKJV or ESV you won’t catch it . . . the “double-take” won’t happen . . . the nuance probably won’t be contemplated. In other versions you might applaud Hannah as she “gives” (NIV, NLT) her baby boy, Samuel, to God’s service . . . in other versions you might be in awe to the degree to which this once barren mom “dedicates” (NASB, MSG) her son as God’s child . . . but in the NKJV and ESV you might scratch your head in a bit of confusion when you read Hannah’s words, “Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord, as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord” (1Sam. 1:28). Lent? Yup, lent!

That kind of caught my attention this morning. Hannah lent Samuel to the Lord. You read that, and on the surface, it comes across at first that Hannah’s consecration of her son was less than 100% . . . that she was retaining some “rights” to her son. But she “lends” him to the Lord for “as long as he lives”, so you know there’s no sense of retained ownership here. Then you dive a bit deeper and check out the use of the original language and your respect for this lady just grows.

The word translated “lent” or “give” or “dedicated” is really the same word already used three times in this chapter, each time translated “asked”. In his first meeting with her, Eli blesses Hannah, asking that the God of Israel would “grant your petition which you asked of Him” (1:17). When Hannah conceived and bore the little boy, she named him Samuel (literally “Heard by God”) because “I have asked for him from the Lord” (1:20). And as she worships and dedicates her son to the Lord at the temple she brings the child to Eli informing him, “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition when I asked of Him” (1:27).

And so a literal translation of verse 28 would be something like, “I have caused him to be asked for Jehovah, all the days that he hath lived — he is asked for Jehovah.” She didn’t lend him to God as we think of lending. She asked for a son as evidence that His favor was upon her, she in turn promised that she would give this son of her asking to the Lord all the days of his life (1:11). So her prayer was for the Lord. Her giving of her son was what she prayed for. She asked for Jehovah . . . she gave to Jehovah.

Asking for Jehovah . . . praying for His benefit . . . supplicating for His glory.

It’s not that Hannah didn’t bring before the Lord the desires of her heart. She went to the Lord in “bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.” She asked Him to look upon her barrenness, to remember her in her affliction, to show her that He had not forgotten her — and she would know that He knew her if she conceived a child (1:11). But it wasn’t all about her . . . she asked of God . . . but she also asked for God. As important as a child was to her, more important was knowing God’s active presence in her life . . . and so her petition was blessing for her, and a man of God for the Lord. And so, fulfilling her vow, Hannah left her young son at the temple in service to God because she asked for Jehovah.

And this little “rabbit trail” sparked by the word “lent” in my NKJV has me thinking about the degree to which I ask for Jehovah . . . maybe if was asking more for Jehovah, I’d be giving more to Jehovah. Not just material stuff . . . but talents, . . . time, . . . my family, . . . myself. I’m not talking about making vows I can’t fulfill . . . but I guess I’m thinking in lines of Paul’s exhortation “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1Cor. 10:31). Ask for it all . . . enjoy it all . . . but ask for Jehovah, that it all might be given back to Jehovah . . . that, at the end of the day, it really is all about Him and all for Him.

I need to be “lending” more to the Lord, I think . . . . for His glory . . . amen!

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We Shall All Be Changed

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Pete

The promises of Scripture are manifold . . . not only in number but in variety. Conditional promises . . . unconditional promises . . . promises concerning what God can do . . . promises concerning what we can do through Him . . . promises for the “here and now” . . . promises to be realized at the “there and then”. It’s one of those “there and then” promises that has just grabbed me this morning . . . “we shall all be changed!” (1Cor. 15:51)

You got to love 1Corinthians 15 . . . what a tragedy if it’s only considered at Easter. Shouldn’t we seek to live in the reality of the resurrection on a moment-by-moment basis? It’s the foundation of our faith . . . it is the consummation of our salvation . . . it should also be the motivation for a holy determination to walk in a manner worthy of our calling as Christians. And one of the most amazing parts of this altogether amazing portion of Scripture is Paul’s answer to the question, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” (1Cor. 15:35b)

Paul’s answer is amazingly (there’s that word again) simple for such a profound question. We see the concept of resurrection every time we plant a seed. A seed is planted in the ground and “dies” in its current form only to be “made alive” as it emerges from the dirt in a different form. God gave the seed one “body form” before it was planted and God determined another “body form” as it transformed into a living plant. There are different types of “human bodies” . . . those suited for earth and those that are suited for heaven. Both are amazing bodies (there I go again with that word, amazing) . . . the wonder of how our flesh-and-blood bodies are fit together and how they function is the study of a lifetime . . . similarly the heavenly body will be beyond our ability to imagine and may, for eternity, evoke within us a wonder at how it is fashioned.

And just like the seed, the earthly body of the believer is “planted” at death and will emerge in new form at the resurrection. “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” (1Cor. 15:42-44). As amazing as this body is, my next body will be even more so . . . raised in incorruption . . . a spiritual body . . . a powerful, glorious body . . . a body fashioned in the likeness of the risen Son of God.

“The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” (1Cor. 15:47-49)

We shall bear the image of the heavenly Man . . . we shall put on the likeness of the risen Son of God who dwells with the Father in unapproachable light . . . we shall be clothed with the same form born by the King of kings and Lord and lords. Not only do we have the hope of being with Him, but we will be like Him. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Cor. 15:50) . . . so we will be raised with a body that can inherit the riches of heaven . . . we shall all be changed!

How amazing (what other word are you going to use?) is that? Pretty amazing!

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1Cor. 15:57-58) Amen!

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Mara

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Pete

Ok . . . so I’m not gonna lie . . . I’m glad to get out of the book of Judges. Those last chapters are really kind of “out there.” Accounts of the vilest sin . . . acts of unimaginable horror . . . slaughter of tens of thousands . . . a weird approach to “match making” on a mass scale . . . all culminating in this one sentence conclusion, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 19:1 – 21:25). I know that all Scripture is “God-breathed” and profitable for training in righteousness, but I’m glad to be moving beyond the lessons there. I actually woke up this morning and was excited about starting in on Ruth . . . aah! . . . an oasis . . . can’t wait to drink of the sweet water . . . a story with a happy ending just waiting for me . . . a God is working story . . . let’s do it!

But as I read the first chapter of Ruth this morning, it occurred to me that sweet water sometimes comes from a bitter source. Naomi, literally “Pleasant” or “Delight”, returns to Bethlehem having buried her husband and her two sons in a foreign land. Not unusual that a woman buries her husband, but that a parent should have to bury their child, much less all their children, is a grief that bows the back of even the mightiest. And so she returns to her homeland and says, “Do not call me Naomi [Pleasant]; call me Mara [Bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20). And you read the lament of Mara repeatedly in this first chapter: ” . . . the hand of the Lord has gone out against me! (1:13) . . . the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me (1:20) . . . the Lord has brought me home again empty (1:21) . . . the Lord has testified against me (1:21) . . . the Almighty has afflicted me (1:21).”

Mara . . . bitter of soul . . . yet I don’t sense bitter or angry toward God. Just an honest assessment of her situation . . . not blaming God but kind of the logical conclusions if one believes that God is Sovereign and in control of all things. He allowed the famine . . . He had led them to move to Moab . . . He had allowed her husband to die before the boys grew up to marrying age . . . He had provided wives for her sons . . . after 10 years, no grandkids, but they were doing ok as a family . . but then both the boys died — perhaps at the same time — God had allowed that too . . . and so “the woman survived her two sons and her husband” (1:5) and was left with two widowed daughters-in-law, a heavy heart, and a bitterness in her soul. Not mad at God necessarily, but disillusioned with “His plan” for her life. In fact, she shows an abiding faith in God as she encourages her daughters-in-law to remain in their homeland and asks God’s blessing upon them: “The Lord deal kindly with you . . . the Lord grant that you may find rest” (1:8-9). Not mad at God . . . but bitter of soul . . . Mara.

The sole (and the soul’s) “ray of sunshine” in her life at this time? Ruth. Ruth, a Moabitess. A young widow. A woman in love with her mother-in-law. A woman devoted to supporting her mother-in-law . . . a woman ready to take on a new citizenship . . . a woman prepared to embrace the God of Mara (1:16). How amazing is that?!?

I’ll be honest, knowing how the story turns out, helps a lot in dealing with the sadness of this opening chapter. Knowing that a love story of epic proportions is soon to follow helps deal with the cloud that hangs over Mara as she returns to Bethlehem. Knowing that Ruth is destined to become the great-grandmother of David, future King of Israel establishing the royal line of the Savior . . . that overshadows the story of Mara with a triumphant sense of hope. But if your Mara . . . if your living the bitterness . . . it’s hard to understand how this too will “work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). Hard to understand but essential to believe. And so, Mara went on . . . she didn’t turn her back on God . . . she returned to the place He said He’d be . . . . and took her daughter-in-law with her. She didn’t give up on life and live in the bitterness of the past. Though not denying the heartbreak she bore, she focused on Ruth . . . and the future . . . how to support her . . . how to be used of God so that she might find favor.

And so, while the “happy music” isn’t playing yet in Ruth . . . and though God has allowed tragedy upon tragedy to fill a season of her life . . . there’s a sense, that for those whose God will be their God, a hope exists . . . a better day is anticipated . . . that Mara will give away again to Naomi . . . by God’s grace . . . according to God’s plan . . . all for God’s glory. Amen?

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I Can See Clearly Now . . . Sort of . . .

Posted on April 19, 2010 by Pete

The account of the healing of the blind man at Bethsaida is unique to Mark’s gospel (Mark 8:22-26) . . . and it is unique among the miracles of Jesus in that it involved a two phased healing process. And you have to ask yourself, “Why did Jesus choose to restore this man’s sight in stages?” Had Jesus wanted to, He could have simply touched the man’s eyes and “poof!” instant 20/20 vision. But Jesus didn’t do that . . . He led the blind man out of town . . . rubbed the man’s eyes with spit (too loosen the eyelids maybe?) . . . and then asked the man if he saw anything. The man looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” Then Jesus put His hands on the man’s eyes again and, when the man looked up, “he was restored and saw everyone clearly.” This guy would have had to sing the hymn a little differently . . . I once was blind . . . and then I wasn’t so blind . . . but now I see! How come?

I don’t really know . . . other than Jesus can heal how He wants to . . . I’m not going to “put Him in a box” and say that He only works in these mysterious ways but not in those mysterious ways. But I do wonder if it doesn’t have something to do with setting up the next few verses in Mark’s gospel (8:27-30). There Jesus is on the road with just His disciples . . . He has taken them out of town as well. And He asks them a question, “Who do men say that I am?” And the disciples respond that some say Jesus is John the Baptist, some say He’s Elijah, and others say Jesus is one of the prophets. And then Jesus asks them a second question, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter nails the answer, “You are the Christ.” But you know that they didn’t fully understand what being “the Christ” really meant.

So, is there something in the parable that speaks of a little understanding growing into greater understanding? Many of the people had their eyes opened to some degree by the miracles and preaching of Jesus. While they didn’t fully understand who He was, they knew He was something more than just an ordinary man . . . while there eyes were more open than before, they just saw “men like trees, walking.” They saw someone who looked to be more than just a man, but they didn’t see that He was Messiah. And even those nearest Him, whose eyes had been opened a bit more, recognized Him as the Christ, but they didn’t understand that “the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again” (8:31). Though their blindness was “more removed” than many, they too weren’t seeing with “perfect vision.”

And as I think about . . . it kind of puts me in my place . . . humbles me somewhat. By God’s grace, my eyes too, have been touched by the Savior. And what started out with some foggy recognition of spiritual realities eventually turned to recognition of Christ as Redeemer and Lord. Over the years, I think I’ve gained some measure of understanding of the ways of the kingdom and calling of the King’s people. There are things that once were hidden and now I see.

But as I chew on this parable, I’m feeling like I need to be careful about thinking I’ve got more figured out than I really do. I need to be aware that, while Jesus has, over the years, given me some insight through His Word, there is much still to be learned . . . still a lot that’s fuzzy . . . but through faith, and by His grace, will become clearer as I continue to seek the mind of Christ. Just the other day I read Paul’s words, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (1Cor. 13:12) . . . I need to be reminded that, regardless of how clearly I think I might see, “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2Cor. 5:7).

Father, thank You for the degree to which You have given me “eyes to see” . . . thank You for that which has been brought into focus . . . thank You that I can see clearly now . . . sort of. Continue to open my eyes . . . through Your Spirit and by Your grace help me to see Your Son in all His majesty and beauty . . . I look forward to that day when faith will give way to sight and I will have “perfect vision” and behold Him face to face. Until that day, keep working on my sight . . . for Your glory . . . amen.

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Edify

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Pete

It’s not a word that, I think, is used much in everyday conversation. In fact, as I think on it a bit, I’m not sure it’s a concept or a principle or a goal that many would consciously be led by or would purse. Edify . . . edification . . . I think those are words we should be using more . . . an outcome that we should be pursuing more.

Based on my “Bible helps”, the original word in the Greek is a combination of two other Greek words . . . one is the word for house or dwelling, the other is based on the root “to build”. So literally, to edify is to build something . . . to construct something. It has the idea of strengthening, fortifying . . . of building up. And what’s put “edify” on my mind this morning, is 1Corinthians 14 where, in the first 26 verses, the word is found 7 times. You think Paul wants to make a point?

Paul’s talking about doing church . . . specifically talking about the relative merits of speaking in tongues and prophesying aka speaking forth that which can only be known by divine revelation. And the measure by which something should be valued in the church is the degree to which it edifies the church . . . the extent to which it builds up the body.

“But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men (14:3) . . . He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, he who prophesies edifies the church (14:4) . . . he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification (14:5) . . . Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel (14:12) . . . For you indeed give thanks well [in tongues] but the other is not edified (4:17) . . . Whenever you come together . . . Let all things be done for edification (14:26).”

Edification . . . building one another up . . . that should be one of the priorities and one of the hallmarks of the church. When we come together, one of our driving purposes should be to strengthen each other . . . to refill the tank . . . to bulk out the body. Gathering with God’s people should a time when we build up and when we are built up. This body dynamic should be most apparent and most effective when we, as believers, get together . . . “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from Whom the whole 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 (“edifying of itself” in the NKJV) in love” (Eph 4:15-16 ESV).

That’s what we should be expecting when we walk through those doors on Sunday morning, “Oh boy, oh boy! Here it comes! I’m gonna get revived this morning . . . this will help me get in shape . . . I’m gonna bulk out spiritually . . . bring on the edification!” And not only should we come expecting to be edified but we should also be on the prowl for those we can build up . . . ready to encourage . . . ready to comfort . . . prepared to strengthen another part of the body. Think about a Sunday morning where everyone came ready to build up others and anticipating being strengthened in their own faith . . . wouldn’t that create a certain dynamic . . . wouldn’t that set a certain air of expectancy . . . wouldn’t that electrify things a bit? I’m thinkin’ so . . .

When we come together . . . let it all be done for edification (14:26). All . . . everything . . . from teaching Sunday school to eating donuts . . . from the worship to the fellowship . . . from the speaking from the pulpit to the talking to one another over a cup of coffee . . . nothing done that isn’t done with a mindset of edifying the body of Christ. Kind of makes you wanna be there on Sunday, doesn’t it?

The church isn’t perfect . . . I know that . . . hey, I’m part of it! But it is God’s vehicle for His people to mutually build one another up. It’s the divine mechanism He has ordained for weary saints to be revived . . . it’s the living organism where our mustard seed of faith can be nurtured into a mighty tree.

Edify . . . that verb should be a well-used part of my “action arsenal” . . . for the building up of His people . . . for the glory of His name . . . amen!

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Grace for the Goofy

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Pete

The era of the judges was kind of a goofy time. The people of God had, in general, lost the connection to their Head . . . they had lost their way . . . “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 18:6) . . . they did whatever they felt like doing (MSG). You know, I might have excluded this stuff from Scripture . . . it’s kind of embarrassing . . . both for Israel . . . and, in a way, for God. This is the sort of stuff from the past you want to forget . . . these are the “photo’s” you’d just as soon loose. Apparently, according to a the commentators I read this morning, some of the early transcribers of Scripture felt this way as well.

You don’t notice it if you’re reading the NIV or ESV . . . and you wouldn’t notice it if you only read the NKJV or NASB . . . but read them together and, apparently, in some of the early manuscripts, the transcribers tried to change the names to protect the innocent . . . rather to protect the revered. Here’s what I’m talking about . . .

NKJV: “Then the children of Dan set up for themselves the carved image; and Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.” (Judges 18:30)

NIV: ” There the Danites set up for themselves the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land.” (Judges 18:30)

Notice the difference? In the manuscripts used by the NKJV translators it’s “Manasseh” . . . in the manuscripts used by the NIV translators it’s “Moses”. I guess it’s widely held that out of reverence for his reputation, some transcribers purposefully altered the spelling just enough such that Moses could be understood as Manasseh. So what were they trying to protect?

As I said, it was a goofy time . . . with a lot of goofy stuff being done by God’s chosen people. You read Judges 17 and 18 and you read of a guy named Micah who steals a bunch of silver form his mom, and then gives it back for fear of the curse she’s pronounced on the thief. Mom then takes some of the silver and has some idols made. Micah takes these idols and decides to set up his own “mini temple” . . . all he’s missing is a priest. Enter a young Levite . . . aka Jonathan . . . who’s out of work (what does that tell you about the state of worship in Israel at the time) . . . and Micah offers him a salary, food, and lodging if he will be Micah’s priest. So you have a thief who has set up worship to a idol made of silver who has bought himself a priest and he concludes, “Now I know the Lord will be good to me, since I have a Levite as priest!” (Judges 17:13) Weird. Everyone doing what was right in his own eyes.

But it gets weirder as you read chapter 18 . . . a bunch of guys from Dan find out about Micah’s priest and offer him a promotion. They rip off the idols at Micah’s place and reason with the Levite, “Is it better for you to be a priest to the household of one man, or that you be a priest to a tribe and family in Israel?” And the young priest likes the offer, his “heart was glad” (18:19-20). Everyone’s doing what’s right in their own eyes.

And this young Levite was the son of Gershom . . . looks like the same Gershom who had been born to Moses (Ex. 18:3). The grandson of the great deliverer of Israel . . . the one who talked to God “face to face, as a man speaks to a friend” (Ex. 33:11) . . . this grandson was now a priest for hire . . . his marketing slogan might have been, “Have stolen idols, will worship” . . . or “Rent-a-religion . . . looks like the real deal . . . kinda . . .”

No wonder some scribe may have decided to disguise the name a bit . . . to protect the reputation of a such a revered icon of Israel’s past. But God doesn’t gloss over sin . . . He graces over sin. He doesn’t pretend it didn’t happen . . . He paid the price for it’s atonement with His one and only Son. He knows the goofy stuff . . . and He’ll chastise and there will be consequences . . . but He’ll also forgive and restore when His people call to Him in repentance. The stuff I might exclude . . . or the stuff some scribe might try to hide . . . is the stuff Jesus came to die for. His grace if sufficient even for the goofy stuff. Truly His grace is greater than all our sin . . . amen?

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A "One-Two" Punch

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Pete

It was a “one-two” punch that got me this morning. Set up by “the jab” in Mark’s gospel . . . and then the “knock out” blow delivered in the Psalms. You gotta love the word of God! Amen?

The latter part of Mark deals with a couple of miracles. First, a Syro-Phoenician woman’s young daughter is delivered from a demon that had come upon her. Imagine that . . . a little girl tormented by the forces of hell . . . released by the command of Jesus, the true Ruler of all principalities. Then, Mark writes of a deaf man who could hardly talk who is brought to Jesus. And touches the man . . . physically and spiritually . . . “At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly” (Mark 7:35). And here’s the “setup jab” . . . “They were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well . . . ‘ ” (7:37).

Astonished beyond measure (NKJV) . . . overwhelmed with amazement (NIV) . . . beside themselves with excitement (MSG) . . . blown out of their minds (Hippie-speak, 1960’s) . . . Jesus does all things well! Ya’ think? But how often do I take time and pause, reflect, and just say, “Wow!!!” I read this and my spirit joins with His Spirit and whispers into heaven, “Yes Lord, You do all things well. I am overwhelmed with amazement!” So much to distract us . . . so prone to becoming complacent . . . so easy to take Him and His works for granted . . . but then, you read the Word . . . and a phrase like this leaps off the page and into your heart . . . and afresh you see Jesus . . . and in awe and wonder, beyond measure, you say, “Yes!!! He really does all things well!”

And that’s what set me up for my reading in Psalm 89. Just the first 18 verses this morning . . . but in those verses, two words are repeated 4 times, and they delivered the “knock out blow” . . .

“With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations (89:2) . . . Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens (89:2) . . . And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints (89:5) . . . O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You (89:8).”

He does all things well . . . that includes His faithfulness . . . His steadfastness . . . His stability . . . His firmness . . . His fidelity. God is true . . . our Father is faithful. Yes! Amen! Wow!!!

When things are failing . . . or flailing . . . when stuff starts going south . . . when the seas get choppy . . . when my faithfulness is far from unwavering . . . yet, He remains faithful. His faithfulness is established in heaven . . . it surrounds Him. “What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar.” (Rom. 3:3-4). Our God can be can be counted on . . . when He says that He will never leave us or forsake us, we can rest in it. His promises are true . . . established on the foundation of His faithfulness.

And so, not only will the heavens praise Your wonders, O Lord, but too, the “assembly of the saints” will praise Your faithfulness . . . and with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness. You do all things well . . . Your faithfulness endures forever!

One-two . . . overwhelmed with amazement . . . His faithfulness, the praise of my lips . . . knock out! . . . wow!!!

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Mysterious Ways

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Pete

“The Lord works in mysterious ways.” Ok, so maybe it’s an overused phrase . . . maybe it’s one of those “pat answers” used to say something when we don’t know what to say . . . one of those explanations we have for what is, quite frankly, unexplainable . . . one of those “go to” phrases, when things don’t line up within the confines of our thinking. Call it what you will . . . but it’s true . . . and, as I’m reading the first part of the story of Samson this morning, I don’t know how you can reach any other conclusion. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

That Samson was “a chosen one” is beyond dispute. God Himself visits his barren parents through the Angel of the Lord and informs them of the special calling He will have on the son to be born to them. Their soon-to-be-conceived son is to be set apart from birth. He is to be raised according to the Nazirite vow, as a someone consecrated to and for the Lord . . . God having chosen him to “begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” (Judges 13:5).

Ok, if I were take just that and write the rest of the story, it would look so different from how it actually played out. My Samson would grow up to look like a well-chiseled movie star, and to act like Moses at the height of his ministry. My Samson is carrying around rolls of Scripture (maybe even the actual tablets from the Mount themselves) . . . quoting them left, right, and center. My Samson is full of “God-speak” . . . my Samson is “the believer’s believer” . . . he’s praying 25 hours a day . . . he’s helping poor ladies across the street. Whatever “almost perfect” looks like, that’s the guy I’d write in to the story . . . because He was raised in a God-fearing home . . . and because he was set apart from birth by God Himself . . . and because He was called to serve God’s mighty purposes . . . and because the Holy Spirit regularly came upon him.

That last one, especially, is what makes Samson such an enigma for me. In my reading in Judges 13 through 15, four times the Spirit of God is mentioned in regards to Samson. As he grew as a child, “the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to move upon him” (13:24-25). Later, as a young man, he is attacked by a lion, “and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him” and he tears the lion apart (14:6). Again, in Judges 14:19 and 15:14, I read that “the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him” . . . and I guess that’s why I think this guy should have been such an example of “a man of God” . . . ’cause I guess I have this thought that the Spirit only comes upon “godly people” . . . like they deserve it, or something. But, as I read it, Samson played fast and loose with his Nazirite vow. First, he lusts after Philistine women . . . doesn’t align with God’s instructions not to get tangled up with the people of the land. Then, he’s eating honey out of the dead lion’s carcass . . . in direct violation of his Nazirite calling (Num. 6:6-7) . . . then he starts gambling with the friends of his Philistine bride-to-be . . . which just leads to things unraveling in a big way.

So what’s up? He’s not fitting my image of what guys act like who regularly have the Spirit come mightily upon them. Answer: God works in mysterious ways. This isn’t about Samson really . . . it’s about God’s determination to loosen the strangle hold the Philistines had over Israel for the past 40 years (13:5). And God had determined he would accomplish His purposes through Samson . . . even using Samson’s wandering eyes for the foreign women. When his parents tried talking Samson out of pursuing this Philistine beauty from Timnah, it says, “But his father and mother did not know it was of the Lord — that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines” (14:4). If God was ready to move against the Philistines, why do it this way? Why use a guy with clay feet? Why use a guy with a high calling and such a high opinion of himself that he re-writes the rules as he goes? I don’t know . . . God works in mysterious ways.

But work He does! And in His Sovereign determination, He chooses to come upon this less than holy Nazirite with His Holy Spirit. He uses “playing loose with the rules” to play out His purposes. It’s not really about the Samson upon whom the Spirit comes . . . but all about the Spirit who uses the imperfections of God’s chosen to work God’s power and plans. Oh, what an awesome God is our God . . . mysterious? . . . yes . . . mighty? . . . you bet . . . worthy of all glory and praise? . . . amen!

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