Like Jewels in a Crown

Posted on December 20, 2023 by Pete

I’ve never undertaken the exercise, but I wonder how many different ways the people of God are described in Scripture, other than as the people of God. What comes to mind immediately are the metaphors of a flock and a bride. Then there’s a family, a body, and a building. I noodle a bit more and that we’re God’s inheritance comes to mind. And I think if I spent some more time trying to search the archives of my memory, I might come up with a few more. But I doubt I would retrieve from memory the image which every year stirs my soul when I encounter it in Zechariah’s prophecy.

The LORD their God will save them on that day
as the flock of His people;
for they are like jewels in a crown,
sparkling over His land.
How lovely and beautiful!

(Zechariah 9:16-17a CSB)

They are like jewels in a crown. I know the strict interpretation points to a specific subset of God’s people who are rescued on the day God judge’s Zion’s enemies, saving His own, and establishing them in His holy city under His personal rule. But I think there’s reason to think of ourselves too as part of that crown, as one of those jewels, a different type of “living stone” than perhaps we usually think of.

For just as the crown points to a victor’s crown, with the jewels as the demonstrable glory and beauty of that crown, we too, like those precious gems, are the tangible evidence of Christ’s triumph over sin and death. Trophies of grace, we are the spoils of His conquest on display for all heaven and earth to behold. Just like jewels in a crown . . . how lovely and beautiful.

Our loveliness not in ourselves, our beauty the imputed splendor of Another. Not intended to draw attention to the crown but to the One who alone is worthy to wear the crown.

One reason this verse so stirs my heart is because it always triggers a hymn I learned well before I knew what the hymn was referring to. A hymn learned as a young Christian with limited knowledge of the written word, but one which evoked a sense of well-being and wonder, of awe and adoration, because of the Living Word. You can listen to it by clicking here.

When He cometh, when He cometh
to make up His jewels,
all His jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
they shall shine in their beauty,
bright gems for His crown.

He will gather, He will gather
the gems for His kingdom,
all the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His loved and His own.

Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
they shall shine in their beauty,
bright gems for His crown.

Little children, little children
who love their Redeemer,
are the jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
they shall shine in their beauty,
bright gems for His crown.

William Cushing (1856), Public Domain

Like jewels in a crown . . .

The evidence of God’s amazing grace. A declaration for God’s all-deserving glory.

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The Day of Small Things and The Big Picture

Posted on December 19, 2023 by Pete

“Return to me.” It sounds like something one of the prophets would say on behalf of the LORD of Hosts — and it is. This morning it’s Zechariah who’s the conduit for God’s call to His people to repent.

But what I take note of is that the call is not to those who were in rebellion during the days of the monarchy before God’s discipline and the exile. Nor is it directed to those in Babylon who were left to process God’s discipline during 70 years of exile. Instead, it is directed to those who, 20 years or so after the exile, have returned to Judah to rebuild the temple. To those we might consider to be “the obedient ones.” The first to leave the bleak rivers of Babylon and embark on a mission to restore the glory of God in Jerusalem. It’s to these saints that the LORD through the prophet says, “Return to Me . . . and I will return to you” (Zech. 1:3).

Huh? How come? Aren’t these the good guys? Aren’t they doing the right work? What’s this return and repent stuff?

Well, first there’s no one good (Rom. 3:12). But yeah, they were working on good stuff. However, years of hard work, constant opposition, and relatively little to show for it was causing these post-exiles to become somewhat discouraged and thus a little distracted. The work on God’s house had stalled. Their hands had found other stuff to do which resulted in more immediate benefits — like building their own houses (see Haggai). Basically, they were struggling to keep on keepin’ on.

Cue the prophet. Send in a guy to stir things up. To recast the vision and do so with a whole bunch of weird visions. Visions not only of the immediate future, but of the far distant future as well. Cue the prophet, because that’s what’s needed to encourage faithfulness in the day of small things.

Then the word of the LORD came to me: “Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you. For who despises the day of small things? These seven eyes of the LORD, which scan throughout the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the ceremonial stone in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

(Zechariah 4:8-10 CSB)

Noodle on it a bit and you can kind of get why it may have been easy for the remnant who returned to look at what they were doing and conclude that theirs was the day of small things. Even though the temple had begun to be rebuilt, though some rejoiced at what was rising from the ruins, others wept to see that what was taking shape was but a shadow of its former glory (Ez. 3:12). This was no Solomon building program. What’s more, locals in leadership who feared the Jews return to the land opposed the building program and sought to subvert the work (Ez. 4:1-2). When that didn’t work, they out-and-out got in the faces of the returned remnant and “discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid” (Ez. 4:4). So, what’s the point, they may have thought? Faithful obedience seems useless. Maybe it makes more sense to live our best lives now and not keep banging our heads against a wall (aka the temple wall).

So, what’s the remedy for discouragement in the day of small things? Like I said, cue the prophet and repaint the big picture. Shift the focus from the work on earth to the purposes and promises from heaven. Expand the vision from what they’re trying to get done this week and turn their gaze upon the work God has said He would do in a coming day. Or, as Paul writes to the Colossians, the Corinthians, and the Romans:

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

(Colossians 3:1-2 CSB)

Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

(2Corinthians 4:16-18 CSB)

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

(Romans 8:18 CSB)

The big picture is the counterbalance for the day of small things. Heavenly insights, the antidote for feelings of habitual insignificance. God’s promises, the offset for today’s pressures and problems. Remembering what the Father has purposed and His power to accomplish it, the energy boost which keeps us faithful.

Praise God for the day of small things. For in them we get to build as we wait for the day of His return.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Think Carefully

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Pete

Not many of us have a prophet by our side interpreting the seasons for us. We don’t have someone linking together for us an under-performing harvest with our failure to have put first things first. We don’t have someone connecting the dots between a lack of fruit for our efforts with a lack of focus on God’s commands. Nobody to point out, “Your home is looking pretty fine after all your reno work but did you notice the Lord’s house remains in ruins? That’s why ‘you have planted much but harvested little.'”.

So no, we don’t have a prophet interpreting for us the signs and times and how they may be related to our sin and failure. But we have the prophet’s words preserved. Inspired words. God-breathed words. And we have the breath of God, the Holy Spirit, present within us — His Spirit hard-wired to our spirit. And so, while we don’t have an audible prophet, we do have an internal Teacher and Revealer of truth.

I’m reading Haggai this morning and can’t help but think of how timely it is. I’m not a New Year’s resolution sort of person, but I am an end of year reflection and renewal sort of person. That’s why I think the prophet’s words which echo throughout the book resonate so deeply within my heart. Think carefully about your ways.

The word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while [the house of the LORD] lies in ruins?” Now, the LORD of Armies says this: “Think carefully about your ways . . . ”

(Haggai 1:3-5 CSB)

Haggai is writing to those who have returned to Judah from the Babylonian exile. Those who acted upon a Persian ruler’s decree that any of God’s people who wanted to could “go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel” (Ezra 1:1-4). So they went. They moved back to the land of promise and were gung-ho to move forward in rebuilding the temple. But, home improvement projects evidently started taking priority over temple rebuilding projects. The time, treasures, and talents that should have been funneled to the work on the holy mount were instead first funneled to work on the homefront.

Nice houses, says Haggai, but check out your fruitless fields — there’s a connection. Think carefully about your ways.

Five times in these two chapters and thirty-eight verses, the LORD of Hosts’ prophet exhorts God’s people, “Think carefully” (vv. 1:5, 1:7, 2:15, 2:18). “Consider” (ESV), “Give careful thought to” (NIV), “Take a good hard look . . . think it over” (MSG).

Whether in a season of bounty or barrenness, I’ve got to think that pausing every so often to think carefully about my ways has benefit. That taking some time to step back from the rigor and routine of what seems to be working might be beneficial in order to assess the alignment of my ways with God’s ways. To consider my daily walk and calibrate it against the daily work I know God has asked me to do.

Think carefully. It can be an uncomfortable exercise, especially when the “prophet within”, the Holy Spirit, starts pointing how much has been completed on our own “to do” list while so much is left undone on God’s “to be” list.

Only as we trust the gospel are we ready to see things in ourselves that we’d rather not see. Only as we believe the blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin — past and present — would we be willing to be shown how we have left the Lord’s house unfinished because we’ve channeled the best stuff into building our own house.

Only as we truly believe that Jesus wants us to return to our first love and first works (Rev. 2:4-5), only as we trust Him that He alone can provide what we need to truly be rich, clothed, and able to see clearly (Rev. 3:18), are we able to ask the Spirit within, “Search me, O God” (Ps. 139:23) and help me to think carefully about my ways. Only as we believe that we are loved of the Father will we be ready to be rebuked and disciplined by the Son, so that, by the Spirit, we would repent and recommit (Rev. 3:19).

Think carefully about your ways.

I may not have a prophet chirping in my ear, but I do have the Spirit speaking to my soul.

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts . . . (Hebrews 3:15a).

Trusting in His grace. Wanting to live for His glory.

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The God in Our Midst (2008 Rerun)

Posted on December 15, 2023 by Pete

Going back 15 years and pulling something from the early archives — the days when my morning posts were morning e-mails. What triggers it? The CSB’s alignment with the NASB, both speaking of a God in our midst who not only rejoices over us and delights in us but who, sometimes it would seem, is also content to just be quiet over us. Here’s how I noodled on it in 2008 . . .

So . . . because my reading plan has 4 different passages to read each morning, it’s not uncommon that each year something different will “grab me” from the readings so that one year I might jot down a few thoughts from one of the passages and the next year a few thoughts from another. But, in some cases it’s the same passage, year after year, that ignites my imagination. I checked back on today’s reading and sure enough, for the third year now, it’s Zephaniah 3:17 that impacts me from my set of readings.

“The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

(Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV)

The NIV translates it very much the same. But the NASB, which is reported to be the most literal of the major translations, is slightly different:

“”The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”

(Zephaniah 3:17 NASB)

Now, I know that there is some danger in “mixing and matching” from different translations in order to convey the meaning that suits your particular bias, but I also think that, removing bias to a single translation allows you to gather from a wide range of insight as to how the original languages might be set forth in English. With the little “behind the scenes” work I did this morning with my handy dandy Bible program, the NASB rendering of Zephaniah 3:17 has a lot of merit. Enough with the academia . . . onto the wonder . . .

The context is God’s promise to establish a faithful remnant out of His judgment of Israel, “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord . . . a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord” (Zeph. 3:9, 12). And that’s my connect point . . . part of a people chosen by God . . . given a new song . . . calling upon the name of the God I once shunned . . . desiring to serve Him . . . humbled by His great love and the sacrifice paid for my sin . . . trusting in His name.

And to such a people the Word says, “The LORD your God is in your midst.” And that in and of itself is amazing enough. That God would seek to “hang out” with His creation. Paul tells the Ephesians that, as God’s people, they were being formed into a holy temple in order to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit (Eph. 2:21-22). God in the midst . . . we often are seized with awe at the thought of entering the holy of holies to be in His presence . . . but to realize that He desires to come into our presence starts to open up just how much God loves us. But Zephaniah’s prophecy gets better . . .

And here’s what really impresses me this morning . . . sometimes this victorious warrior — this Mighty One who has done battle to save us — sometimes His love for us causes Him to “be quiet” . . . I know the NKJV and NIV say His love will “quiet you” but the word “you” is not specifically in the original . . . the idea of God quieting Himself in His love is also a possible rendering. And so, could it be that God sometimes sits back in awe of His people? Not that we command any “awe factor” in and of ourselves . . . but that the Mighty Victor is captured by the wonder of the prize purchased by the blood of the Lamb. Or as an earthly father will sometimes sit back and dote over his children, “That’s my girl!” . . . could God in the same way be so overwhelmed by His love for us that He simply just quiets Himself and enjoys just being in the midst of those who He has called out of darkness and into His marvelous light?

And, if God will from time to time be quiet in His love, check out the contrast as the prophet also says that He will rejoice over us with shouts of joy or with singing. Oh, that God is so crazy in love with His people that He would shout to the heavens with joy . . . that He would sing a song of gladness . . . it’s almost too much to imagine. What does it sound like when God shouts? How beautiful the voice of God must be when He sings! And it’s all over His people . . . amazing!!!

He deigns to be in our midst . . . He quiets Himself as He loves on us . . . He lifts the roof off of heaven with shouts of praise and with singing because of His joy and exultation over us . . . oh, if God be for us! . . . who can be against us!

Father, I really don’t fully grasp the meaning of this small verse hidden within this somewhat obscure prophet’s writings . . . but it does capture my imagination . . . and lifts me to respond . . . to desire to come into Your presence . . . to quiet myself as I consider Your love for me and price paid for my redemption . . . and to shout the song of a redeemed soul, offering glory and honor and adoration to the Godhead who alone is worthy of my sacrifice of praise . . . be in the midst, O God . . . thank You . . . amen!

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I Will Wait. I Will Celebrate.

Posted on December 14, 2023 by Pete

Can I summarize Habakkuk this way: I will complain; I will push back; I will stand; I will watch; I will wait; I will celebrate? I guess so, I just did.

Ask me yesterday what I know about Habakkuk and I would have been pretty quick to talk about the first four “I will”s in that list. But it’s the last two that I’m chewing on this morning.

Habakkuk starts out with “How long must I?” and “Why do You?” How long do I have to keep calling for help and You are silent God? Why do You put up with the wickedness among Your people (Hab. 1:1-4). And God condescends, answering the prophet’s questions in order to provide the prophet’s message. Your right, says God, enough’s enough! I’m going to deal with it . . . but in a way that you will find unbelievable. I will raise up the Chaldeans, “that bitter, impetuous nation”, and they will be My rod of discipline for My people. (Hab. 1:5-6).

Wait a minute, responds Habakkuk. Them? Those guys? Really? “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing” so how can You judge Your rebellious people with an even more wicked people? I don’t get it. (Hab. 1:12-17).

Nuff said. You are God and I am not. While I might know some things, You know all things. So, I will stand, and I will watch. Stand where You’ve called me, when You’ve called me, for what You’ve called me to. And I will watch to see what You have to say about “my complaint” (Hab. 2:1).

And God has something to say. After I have disciplined My people, says the Almighty, I will judge the Chaldeans (Hab. 2:2-20). Though it might not happen fast enough of you, Habakkuk, wait for it. It will happen for sure according to My perfect timing (Hab. 2:3b). Justice will prevail. Sin will be silenced. My right will overrule man’s might. For “the LORD is in His holy temple” (Hab. 2:20).

Message received, says Habakkuk (Hab. 3:1-15). How will I now respond?

Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress
to come against the people invading us.
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there is no fruit on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though the flocks disappear from the pen
and there are no herds in the stalls,
yet I will celebrate in the LORD;
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!

(Habakkuk 3:16b-18 CSB)

I must wait quietly . . . I will celebrate. How’s that for a response to knowing that, though things are eventually gonna get better, first they’re gonna get worse?

I will wait. In a sense, Habakkuk didn’t really have much of a choice. Sure, he could continue to “how long?” and “why do You?” at God but knowing that he was but a man and that God was the Most High God, at some point you just hunker down, buckle up, and hold on tight. As the psalmist put it, you try and calm your soul and quiet your mind and settle into the arms of God “like a little weaned child with its mother” because matters of global justice and infinite grace, of coming judgment and merciful patience, are matters “too great or too difficult” for us to really get too involved with (Ps. 131). So, you wait.

And I can kind of get that. That’s what hope in God’s faithfulness does, it anchors the soul, enabling you to wait out the storm. But I will celebrate?!?

Though everything tanks, though nothing goes right, though bad goes to worse, yet I will celebrate in the LORD. In my quiet waiting You will assure my soul, and, by faith, I will know that what You have said will be, will be. It is finished. Wrong will be set right, sorrow will cease, and every tear will be wiped away. The victory is won, we’re just waiting for the parade. Thus, says Habakkuk, I will celebrate. I will “jump for joy”, at least on the inside, because I know that in You we win.

I will wait quietly. I will be still and know that You are God. And through Your Son, and by Your Spirit, I will also celebrate knowing by faith that Your love is steadfast and Your promises are sure.

By Your grace. For Your glory.

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Be Careful. Remember.

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Pete

Every year there comes a point as I read in the latter chapters of Job where I ask myself, “Self, what do you make of Elihu?” You know, Elihu, the fourth man in the fray.

Not one of the three friends that came to Job to sympathize and comfort him after his world imploded (Job 1:11), Elihu’s someone who saw the crowd and decided to join the parade as a silent observer. But the eavesdropper eventually has enough of the back-and-forth between Job and his council of three and so decides to weigh in. Where Elihu came from we’re not entirely sure, but it’s trying to understand where he’s going that can produce a blessing.

While his discourse echo’s similar strains of the three caballeros, he contends there’s “still more to be said on God’s behalf” (Job.36:2b). He’s frustrated that Job indicts God as unjust (Job 32:2b, 34:5) and that Job’s life circumstance has tempted Job to conclude, “A man gains nothing when he becomes God’s friend” (Job. 34:9). Elihu’s also bent out of shape at Job’s three miserable comforters “because they had failed to refute [Job] and yet condemned him” (Job 32:3). So Elihu takes the mic and presents a third way of engaging in the argument.

Rather than Job’s “I am righteous, therefore God must be wrong” or the testy trio’s “God is righteous, therefore you must have done something terribly, terribly wrong”, Elihu seeks to refute Job by refocusing on God. To that end, Elihu sort of becomes the “opening act” to the main event of the book which is when, in chapter 38, God Himself takes center stage and says, “Listen up!”

So, while all of Elihu’s conclusions may not be entirely correct, it seems I’d do well to take note of what He has to say about God. For when we are clear about God, it has a way of bringing clarity about ourselves and our situations.

I’m reading in Job 36 this morning, but up to this point there’s been a number of redemptive hints dropped by the young orator. He’s spoken of God wanting to turn a person from his actions (Job 33:17), of God wanting to spare a person’s soul from the Pit (33:18), of finding a ransom which keeps someone from going down to the Pit (33:24), and of God intervening so that a person doesn’t get what they deserve but is instead redeemed so that they can continue to walk in light (33:27-28). While condemning Job’s condemnation of God, Elihu doesn’t so much condemn Job as he does exhort Job.

Yes, God is mighty, but He despises no one;
He understands all things.

If people are bound with chains
and trapped by the cords of affliction,
God tells them what they have done
and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
He opens their ears to correction
and tells them to repent from iniquity.

Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity,
for that is why you have been tested by affliction.

Remember that you should praise His work,
which people have sung about.
All mankind has seen it;
people have looked at it from a distance.
Yes, God is exalted beyond our knowledge;
the number of His years cannot be counted.

(Job 36:5, 8-10, 21, 24-26 CSB)

Lot of truth about God in this morning’s reading. But a couple of exhortations, a couple of commands to obey, as well. Be careful! Remember!

Affliction, it can make or break you, Elihu seems to be saying. It can turn your face toward God, or it can tempt you to shake your fist at Him. It can be your redemption and renewal, or it can be your ruin. So be careful. Your affliction is testing you. It’s trying your faith. It’s authenticating your standing as a son or daughter of the Father. It’s sealing the deal on your sanctification.

So, be careful. But be careful AND remember. Remember that God should be praised. Praised not for how He may be blessing (or not so much) in our current circumstance or season but for who He is in all circumstances and seasons. Remember, God is exalted beyond our knowledge — whether you choose to do the exalting or not. But it is better — so much better — if you continue to sing the song that countless have sung through the ages who have found God greater than any situation and faithful through all situations.

Be careful. Remember.

Only by and because of God’s grace. Always for God’s glory.

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Do the Math

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Pete

666. If ever there was a number known far and wide, it’s that number. Whether you’re a Christian who knows something about their bible, or a horror movie buff who knows something about dealing with demons, you know that number is bad news. It surfaces, this morning, as I read in Revelation at the end of a chapter full of bad news.

A dragon, the same serpent who infiltrated an ancient garden, is unleashed — his deception in the garden only a small foreshadowing of the deception and havoc he would continue to wreak through the ages upon the whole earth (Rev. 12:9). And the dragon begets a beast from the sea (Rev.13:1), and the beast leads people to worship the dragon (13:4). The dragon gives the beast power, a throne, and great authority (13:2). The beast, in turn, blasphemes God and wages war against God’s people (13:6-7). And the economy of these last days will be founded upon a mark which must be borne by “everyone — small and great, rich and poor, free and slave” — which signifies their allegiance to the dragon and his beast, “so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of its name” (13:17). And what’s the number of its name?

This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a person. Its number is 666.

(Revelation 13:18 CSB)

Do the math, says the Spirit. Me=6. Myself=6. I=6. Me, myself, and I = 666. It is the number of a person. The number of a man (ESV). It is man’s number (NIV). It’s a human number (MSG). It’s our number.

The word translated here is anthropos, from which we get out word anthropology, the study of all things human, the science of human beings. Peer into the face of the beast and see yourself. Consider what gives it its fundamental power and understand it’s you. When me, myself, and I rule, then the mark of the beast has been taken. When our anthropology concludes, “In the beginning, man . . . ” rather than “In the beginning, God . . . ” then be forewarned, it’s only a matter of time. When prevailing wisdom says that we are created in our psyche’s image rather than in God’s image, know that things are on their way to wrapping up.

What a sobering warning in this western age of expressive individualism, when being the authentic you trumps everything else. A sobering warning not just for those “in the world” but for the western church, as well, who may have had her eye on the wrong ball when it came to not being “of the world.” We stayed away from the occult, but could we have been deceived by the serpent’s subtle suggestions to fix our eyes on ourselves — on me, myself, and I?

Don’t know that I’ve ever really paused to noodle on this verse before. But tell me that in our age when the person is king — when my experience is authoritative simply because it is my experience — we aren’t in danger of ceding authority to the deception of the serpent and his beast, because it’s the beast within.

The risk is real, I think. The mitigation? It’s even real-er.

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

(Galatian 2:20 CSB)

I have been crucified. I no longer live. There’s goes that 6.

Christ lives in me. He gave Himself for me. There’s goes that 6.

I live not for myself nor according to myself, but by faith in the Son of God. There’s goes that 6.

Do the math. Mark be gone!

Only by God’s grace. Only for God’s glory.

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Hope Amidst the Siege

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Pete

Hovering over Micah 5:2 this morning, a word of hope. A promise meant to provide some encouragement.

But before the good news, the table is set with the reality of the bad news of Israel’s desperate times.

Now, daughter who is under attack,
you slash yourself in grief;
a siege is set against us!
They are striking the judge of Israel
on the cheek with a rod.

(Micah 5:1 CSB)

The “daughter” under attack? Jerusalem. The siege is in progress. The oppression and humiliation of Babylon is present — even as Israel’s king is subject to the humiliation of the enemies rod to his face.

But, when it comes to the posture to be taken, the CSB departs significantly from other translations. Slash yourself in grief. Lament! Inflict pain upon pain. Acknowledge fully the hopelessness of your situation. Other translations, however, indicate a different posture: “Muster your troops” (ESV); “Marshal your troops” (NIV); “Gather yourself in troops” (NKJV). Prepare to defend yourself against the enemy’s incursion (even though you will not prevail).

Which is it when it comes to the reality of being under attack from a power beyond your own power? Lament or defend? Accept and mourn the worst or assemble and fight until the end? Hmm . . . Maybe it’s not an either/or. Could be a both/and.

Whichever it is, both carry the sense of being in what seems by all accounts to be a losing battle. Of facing the reality of a fight without any apparent way to win. And it’s under the dark cloud of that depressing reality that the prophet provides this ray of light.

Bethlehem Ephrathah,
you are small among the clans of Judah;
One will come from you
to be Ruler over Israel for Me.
His origin is from antiquity,
from ancient times.

(Micah 5:2 CSB)

Babylon is at the door. She is breathing down their necks. Situation hopeless. But, says the prophet, turn your eyes away from Babylon and behold Bethlehem.

Bethlehem, there hope is birthed. Small among the clans, but ready to present a King above all kings. A city of little renown yet ready to produce a Ruler unlike any other who has ever reigned over Israel. One whose origin is from old, from times before time, from “everlasting” (NKJV) — from before the foundation of the world.

He will stand and shepherd them
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majestic name of the LORD His God.
They will live securely,
for then His greatness will extend
to the ends of the earth.
He will be their peace.

(Micah 5:4-5 CSB)

He will stand. He will shepherd. His greatness will be greatly known. There will be peace. And we will live securely. Amen, to that!

But for now, it can feel like we’re under siege — and we are! And it can look like the world is winning even as the enemy can be plainly seen mocking.

And yet, right now, during this advent season, we too can look afresh to Bethlehem. Though she is small among the clans, she has sent us a Great Ruler. Producing long ago “just” a babe in a manger, yet one day providing us a King in His majesty who will reign in glory.

One who has already defeated death. One who has already redeemed and rescued us from the flesh. One who already reigns in our hearts, shepherds by His Spirit, and stands ready to return when the last soul written in His book of life is secured.

That’s what can make Christmas a season of fresh hope. The light of Bethlehem shining amidst the sense of siege.

By His grace. For His glory.

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To What Lengths Would God Go? (A 2018 Remix)

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Pete

Tweaking and rerunning some thoughts from 5 years ago. This morning, I had the same “ain’t it funny, aka weird,” reaction to reading Jonah’s story, but didn’t connect it with my reading in John as I did back in ’18. Connecting Jonah to Jesus . . . it’s the right thing to do. Jesus said so Himself (Jn 12:39).

There’s an irony in Jonah that has a way of making me smile. For example, Jonah self-identifies as a “a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven” (1:9). Yet, when told by the God of heaven he “fears” to go east, Jonah goes west. On the other hand, his pagan cruise mates who are open to calling out to any god who might benefit them, when they hear of Jonah’s God, they “feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows” (1:16). Funny . . . not ha ha, but weird. Kind of ironic.

And then there’s Jonah’s pouting. After having exited Tarshish Cruise Lines and being redirected to Nineveh via Big Fish Excursions; and after obeying God’s command to call the wicked Ninevites to repentance; and after seeing them actually repent; Jonah’s bummed because he thought they deserved judgment. And here’s the other make-me-smile part:

Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious. He prayed to the LORD, “Please, LORD, isn’t this what I said while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster.”

(Jonah 4:1-2 CSB)

“I knew it!” says a spitting mad Jonah. “I just knew that if I obeyed, and they believed, then You’d relent. That’s just the sort of thing You’d do because You are gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Aaargghh! I just knew it!” Funny. Maybe even “ha ha” funny. Definitely weird funny. Kind of ironic.

You pause and noodle for a minute after reading Jonah and you can’t help but think, to what lengths will a gracious, merciful, abounding in love God go to so that He might rescue a people in need of rescuing? (Or, to recalibrate a prophet in need of recalibrating?)

And then I turned to my reading in John’s gospel and realized I hadn’t seen anything yet. How far would a patient, gracious God go in order to redeem a world in need of redemption?

The high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching.

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered him. “I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews gather, and I haven’t spoken anything in secret. Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”

When He had said these things, one of the officials standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”

(John 18:19-22 CSB)

One of the officers standing by Jesus struck Him with his hand.

What was it for the Father to see that dustball slap the eternal Son He had loved since before the world’s foundation (Jn. 17:24)? Did the crack of that man’s hand on the Creator’s face reverberate into heaven? Did it require the hand of God to restrain the holy angels from instinctively swooping down and exacting some justified tit-for-tat? On earth the Savior’s face started to welt. But in heaven did they begin to weep?

To what lengths would a gracious and merciful God go to in order to redeem people of darkness? How far would a slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love God allow Himself to be pushed so that He could rescue enemies enslaved in the bondage of sin?

The Son was struck by a sinner. The King of kings was mocked by a mob. He for whom the crown was destined, first endured the cross. The Lord of heaven was birthed into our world to be the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world.

Nothing funny about that. But only that which invokes awe and adoration.

Jesus, the greater Jonah. Perfectly obedient to the Father’s will. Heralding good news. Despising the shame for the joy that many would believe. Even if it meant being in the heart of the earth for three days (Matt. 12:39-41).

Jesus, the personification of the lengths to which God would go to show mercy and grace. His last hours before the cross declaring what it looks like for God to be slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Oh come let us adore Him!

Because of grace. For His glory.

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The Given

Posted on December 7, 2023 by Pete

Hovering over John 17 this morning. Oh, what a glorious eavesdrop this is! To listen in on the Son as He communes with and petitions the Father concerning His aspirations for His people. There’s a number of repeated themes through this heavenly prayer. Among them, themes of Jesus’ “sent-ness”, of the Father and Son’s “one-ness”, and of the believers’ “given-ness.” And it’s that latter theme which occupies my mind this morning, the contemplation that I am given.

Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You, since You gave Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to everyone You have given Him. . . .

“I have revealed Your name to the people You gave Me from the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. . .

“I am not praying for the world but for those You have given Me . . .

“Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am . . . ”

(John 17:1-2, 6, 9a, 24a CSB)

Those You have given Me . . . chew on that for a bit.

We call ourselves Believers, Followers, and Disciples. We take the moniker, Christian, and glory in the designation of being Saints. But what about thinking about ourselves as simply the Given.

Given by the Father to the Son. Why? We really don’t know, do we?

Apart from God’s sovereign determination, bound up in His faithful love and His overflowing grace, there is no reason why we should be the Given. No right, no merit, no intrinsic quality, except that we who were created in the image of God were also purposed by God to have that image recreated in us through the redemption found in Jesus, God’s blessed Son.

To say, “We found Him,” is to claim some work of our own. But to remind ourselves that, while we might have believed it was only because He first chose us to be given, is to remind ourselves that our salvation is all of Him and all for Him.

Given to Jesus, so that He might give us eternal life. Given to Jesus so that He might reveal the Father to us. Given to Jesus so that He would pray for us. Given to Jesus so that, one day, He will come and take us to be where He is.

We are the Given.

Bask in the warmth of that light. Glory in the implications of that reality. Rest secure in the assurance of that divine transaction.

The Given.

Only by God’s wondrous grace. Only for God’s everlasting glory.

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