Jacob’s Portion

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Pete

It’s the second time I’ve encountered this name for Jehovah while reading in Jeremiah. A few weeks ago it didn’t register much on the “chew-o-meter.” This time? It spikes the needle.

Hovering over a a two-word moniker (in the CSB) for God. An alias for the LORD of Hosts, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. A way to refer to the One Jeremiah has just reminded his people is He who

made the earth by His power
established the world by His wisdom,
and spread out the heavens by His understanding.
When He thunders,
the waters in the heavens are tumultuous,
and He causes the clouds
to rise from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain
and brings the wind from his storehouses.

(Jeremiah 51:15-16 CSB)

And what is the Name of the Creator? How might we address the Source of thunder and lightning? In contrasting Him to the lifeless, inert, carved images of Babylon, Jeremiah refers to Him in this manner;

Jacob’s Portion is not like these
because He is the one who formed all things.
Israel is the tribe of His inheritance;
the Lord of Armies is His name.

(Jeremiah 51:19 CSB)

Jacob’s Portion. Huh?

Jacob? Like in Jacob the “heel-catcher”? Jacob the supplanter? Jacob the schemer?

That Jacob, who scammed his brother’s birthright (Gen. 25), has a claim on the Creator God? The Almighty is part and parcel of his share? Even though Israel is the LORD Almighty’s inheritance, the LORD Almighty is Jacob’s portion? Yup. (And who said grace was a New Testament thing only?)

Is there a sense in which God has given Himself to His people? Yeah. Promised in Genesis as part of the Old Covenant (17:7-8) and declared three times in Jeremiah as Jeremiah reveals the New Covenant (24:7, 31:33, 32:38), though God says those He redeems will be His people, He also declares, “I will be their God.” Thus, He is our Portion. Huh!

How do you take that in? Try making sense of that wisdom. Jacob, though he became Israel, was still Jacob, still the schemer. He didn’t earn a stake in the Creator. Yet, He was made in the image of the Creator and thus pursued by the Creator and promised of the Creator to be redeemed by the Creator. That God was Jacob’s Portion was not something to boastfully assert but to humbly wonder at.

I am His. I get that. Because of the work of the cross, I have been purchased with the price paid for my sin. But that He is mine? In a sense, it makes no sense apart from a grace which is amazing beyond comprehension.

Jacob’s Portion, not because of Jacob’s prowess, but only because of God’s promise. Jacob’s Share, not because Jacob earned it, but because God determined it. Jacob’s Part, not because God owed Jacob something, but because God unconditionally and eternally gifted Jacob something.

To mess with John Mark McMillan’s words a bit:

So He is our portion and we are His prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.

Jacob’s Portion.

My Portion, too? I’m thinkin’ . . .

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

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Look Who’s Talking

Posted on October 13, 2023 by Pete

Honestly, I haven’t studied the Song of Solomon enough to really understand how it was put together. I know that the headings within the text of my bible aren’t inspired, they weren’t breathed out by God, those handy-dandy summaries weren’t put there by the Spirit. And I’ve been challenged more than once to try and read my bible without relying on them, not counting on these add-ons of men to supplant the illuminating work of the Spirit. But when it comes to the Song of Songs, I’d be lost much of the time without them. Who’s on first?

Sure, sometimes it’s pretty obvious who’s speaking, the man, the woman, or some third party. But others times, maybe not so much.

For example, almost all of Song of Songs 4, in both my ESV and CSB, is attributed to the “Man.” The bridegroom expressing his love for his bride to be. And most of the language in the chapter makes that pretty clear as he talks to his “darling” (4:1), his “bride” (4:8), his “sister” (12). But looking at one of my online helps this morning, I’m asked to entertain the possibility that amidst the doting of the love struck bridegroom there is embedded within it a response by his sought after bride.

You are absolutely beautiful, my darling;
there is no imperfection in you.

(Songs of Songs 4:7 CSB)

So, who’s talking here?

Context says this continues to be the bridegroom’s heart towards his betrothed. What’s more, the original word for darling here is apparently the feminine rendering of a word for companion, friend, or lover. So pretty sure it’s the man speaking. But it’s not a stretch if it were the bride to be who’s responding. Is it?

Hmm . . .

And if I then put on the allegorical filter and chew on this ancient love story as a type of Christ and His church, it still would make sense if either Christ or the Church were the ones uttering such words.

We know that Christ so loved His bride, the church, that He gave Himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so that He could present her to Himself “in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that” (Eph. 5:25-27). And so, hear the words of our beloved Bridegroom say to His blood-bought bride:

You are absolutely beautiful, my darling;
there is no imperfection in you.

Yeah, we’re not there yet, but the work is finished, and the outcome is sure. When He sees us, He beholds us as we will be, He dotes on us as He will when we are presented before Him with all the glory He has purposed to clothe us in. Yeah, hear the words of our Beloved, “You are absolutely beautiful!”

But could these be words spoken by the bride as well? Could the church not say also of the One who loved us unto death, redeemed us unto life, and has set us apart for the beauty of holiness:

You are absolutely beautiful, my Darling;
there is no imperfection in You.

I’m thinkin’ . . .

Greatest love story ever told. Greatest love story ever experienced.

I am my Beloved’s, and He is mine. His beauty is mine. His perfection is mine. And, wonder beyond wonder, His affections are mine.

Not because of who I am, but because of what He’s done. Not because of what I’ve done, but because of who He is. For He is altogether lovely and there is no imperfection in Him.

Beautiful in grace. Beautiful for His glory.

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Favor With God, Favor From God

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Pete

What a big ask! (Actually, it’s a command). If yesterday’s ask was huge, today’s, it seems to me, is even huger (I think that’s a word). Submitting to every human authority (even when that authority is Nero), as Peter commanded in yesterday’s reading, ain’t no gimme. But to submit also to some nobody, cruel taskmaster? Really? Yeah, really.

Why? What’s in it for me?

Other than obeying the God who is to be obeyed? Well, there’s grace.

Household slaves, submit to your masters with all reverence not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel. For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

(1Peter 2:18-20 CSB)

It brings favor . . . this brings favor with God. That’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

5485, that’s the Strong’s number here for favor. Charis, that’s the original word, the word used commonly throughout the New Testament for grace. So, where the CSB (and NASB) say that such unwarranted submission is a favor thing, the ESV says it’s a “gracious thing.” The NIV and NKJV say it’s a “commendable” thing. I’m just thinking it’s an amazing thing.

God has established lines of authority, all lines of authority. In its time, domestic servant to domestic servant’s master was permitted to be one of those lines. Not a line dependent on the human character of the master, but a line determined by the sovereign purposes of the Creator. And in that line, slaves submit to masters. And when they do, whether to masters kind or cruel, it brings favor, favor with God.

The sense here among the translators is that it pleases God when, because of a conscious desire to obey God, “we endure undeserved pain without vindicating self or fighting back” (William MacDonald). But isn’t there also the sense that when doing that which is at the limits of what we think we can do as humans it also brings favor from God? It beckons grace? It invites a strength and a power beyond ourselves to do that which we are not sure we can do by ourselves? I’m thinking.

In only doing what we want to do, in only doing what we’re pretty sure we can do, we succumb to the temptation towards self-sufficiency, and can fall to the sin of self-reliance. But to submit to someone else, especially when that someone else is a creep boss, is to put ourselves in a place of compromise, a place of vulnerability, a place of weakness, a place of needing something more than us. Cue Paul . . .

Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

(2Corinthians 12:7b-10 CSB)

Paul’s willingness to concede to his thorn in the flesh brings favor — not only favor with God but favor from God. His submission, despite his insufficiency, effectively attached himself to a divine fire hose from which abundant grace, sufficient grace, power-giving grace could overflow into his compromised and weak situation. While he knew the cruelness of this taskmaster sent from Satan, he also knew experientially the power of the risen Christ in him as the Spirit of God lived through Him.

Doing the hard thing because of a consciousness of God invites the favor thing, beckons the grace thing, gets us ready for the-power-of-Christ-in-me thing. It brings not only favor with God, but also brings first hand experience with favor from God.

Such is His amazing grace. To Him be all the glory.

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Slave or Free? Yes!

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Pete

If you’ve ever heard me talk about it, you know that one of the things which I think has weakened the North American church has been a generation of seeker friendly church.

In the name of trying to remove barriers for unbelievers, I wonder how much we also succeeded in toning down the offense of the cross. That many came to Jesus not only because His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Mt. 11:30), but because, as it was presented, His cross was also portrayed as comfortable, and His call compatible with our goals for life. As someone has said, “What you win them with you will need to keep them with” and so, it becomes a pretty hard push to transition people who believed in Jesus in order to fulfill themselves to then buy into the fact that to follow Jesus they must die to themselves (Mt. 16:24, Rom. 6:6, Eph. 4:22). After all, who really knew they were signing up for that?

Why has this come to mind this morning? Something that I’m chewing on in 1Peter.

For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.

(1Peter 2:15-16 CSB)

Free people or God’s slaves. Which is it?

You’d think that being exiles and living as strangers in a hostile land would cut you a bit of slack in also trying to live as the people of God with a holy calling to be holy as God is holy. Evidently not.

So far in Peter’s first epistle, there’s just as much “to do” as there is “to know.” While being reminded of the nature of their salvation and the surety of their hope is vital for keepin’ on keepin’ on as they suffer grief in various trials, so too, it would seem, is being exhorted to live out the life they were born again to live out. And so, says Peter, “Wanna know what God’s will is? It’s doing good. For by your conduct you’ll answer the world’s criticism.”

What’s the conduct in question in particular here? “Submit to every human authority . . . whether to the emperor (aka crazy, anti-Christian Nero) . . . or to governors” (2:13-14). And how come? “Because of the Lord.” Because it’s God’s will.

So, why submit? Because you can. You are free people. Citizens of a different land. Looking for rest, ultimately, in a different city. Storing up treasure in a different place. Living for an inheritance valued by a different economy. Not only freed from the bondage of sin, but freed from the tappings of this world. Free people. Free to submit. That’s who we are.

Why submit? Because we must. Because we are also God’s slaves. Freed to be bond servants. Freed not to live for ourselves — for “you are not your own, you were bought with a price, so glorify God in your body” (1Cor. 6:19b-20). Freed to serve our Redeemer. Freed to obey our Master. Freed to live in subjection to our King. And if that means submit, then submit we must.

Hmm . . .

So, is the way of the cross the way of flourishing or of hardship? Yes. In Christ am I to live or to die? Yes. In doing life on a day-to-day basis am I to walk as slave or free? Yes.

Only by His grace. Always for His glory.

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Wanting More

Posted on October 10, 2023 by Pete

“Please sir, I want some more!” Now that’s a dickens of an incentive for obedience.

Better than following the rules just because they’re the rules is playing the game for the sheer enjoyment of playing it. Better than doing what you know you should do grudgingly is pursuing what you long to pursue enthusiastically. And how come? Because you’ve experienced something wonderful. You’ve had an encounter with something pleasurable. You’ve tasted something which is so good. So please sir, I want some more!

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, if you have tasted that the Lord is good.

(1Peter 2:1-3 CSB)

Living as exiles (1:1), yet still called to be God’s holy people (1:16). Suffering grief in various trials (1:6), yet still expected to be obedient children (1:14a). So, lay aside, says Peter, the “desires of your former ignorance” (1:14b). Rid yourselves of all malice, deceit, and hypocrisy. Put off envy and slander. And the best way to walk away from something? Pursue something in its stead. Grow up into your salvation. Become less like your old self as you become more like Jesus. Supplant “me” with “He”.

And how you gonna do that? Desire the word. Hunger after it as would a newborn after milk. And that too, not of obligation only, but because of experience. Because you have tasted the Lord is good! So please sir, I want some more!

Isn’t that the turning point in our pursuit of Christ? When what we should do we want to do? When the theory of knowing His active agency in your life manifests itself in actuality? When the God we know to be good is actually experienced as good? I’m thinkin’ . . .

For too many, I fear, living the Christian life is more of a “what I gotta do” rather than a “what I get to do.” And that, not because they haven’t tasted that the Lord is good, but they haven’t recognized it. Or haven’t savored it. Or, perhaps, have become so busy with so much other stuff, they’ve just forgot it. Or maybe, the grief of various trials has sucked the life out of it.

Yet, putting away the old nature is gonna be a tough slog if we are not nurturing and growing up into the new nature. And being force fed isn’t the answer. It comes from desiring the pure milk of the word. And that comes from having tasted the Lord is good.

Pause and ponder His graciousness. Reflect and remember His faithfulness. Check all the activity and chew on His goodness.

And then open the word . . . and open wide your mouth (Ps. 81:10) . . . and cry to the Spirit who feeds to filling us up, “Please sir, I want some more!”

By His grace. For His glory.

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One Shepherd with a Capital “S”

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Pete

Of all that’s been written in Ecclesiastes, Solomon may have been the Teacher (Eccl. 12:10 CSB, NIV, NLT) or, if you like, the Preacher (ESV, NASB, and NKJV), but he wasn’t the originator.

In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs. The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately. The sayings of the wise are like cattle prods, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd.

(Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 CSB)

The sayings are by one Shepherd. That’s what caught my eye, this morning. In particular, the capitalization of the Shepherd who is the one.

Don’t think I ever noticed it before. Though the footnote in my bible says that it could be translated with a lowercase “s”, thus referring to Solomon, the CSB intentionally uses an uppercase “S” — as do all the other major translations I looked at. Thus, to the degree that biblical translators are also biblical teachers, this morning I’m reminded again by these teachers that the word of God is sourced by the God of the word. That “all Scripture is inspired (literally, breathed out) by God” (2Tim. 3:16 CSB).

And it’s the reference to God as one Shepherd that’s given me something to chew on this morning. Honestly, I read Shepherd and immediately I think Jesus. He is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (Jn. 10:11). He is also the Good Shepherd who, like all good shepherds, feeds the sheep. And so, Jesus is the source of Solomon’s wisdom. For the sayings are given by one Shepherd.

But as I chew on it a bit more, I think to myself, “Wait a minute self, while our God is one God, our God is also known in Three Persons.” So, the Father must also be the one Shepherd who gives us these sayings.

For the LORD gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

(Proverbs 2:6 CSB)

And if the Father is one Shepherd, and the Son is one Shepherd, then so too must the Spirit be the one Shepherd who gives us His word.

Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.

(1Corinthians 2:12-13 CSB)

Ecclesiastes may be Solomon’s compilation, but it is one Shepherd’s communication. Sent of the Father, embodied in the Son, delivered by the Holy Spirit.

The Father knowing fully the frustration of life lived only in the flesh, life under the sun. The Son having experienced practically the frailty of life dependent on the flesh, life under the sun. The Spirit conveying accurately the futility of life lived only for the flesh, life under the sun. So says the one Shepherd through all Three Persons, “Remember your Creator” (Eccl. 12:1a).

So, I remember my Creator. Even as I sit in awe over this physical book and pause to consider for a moment that I’m also interacting with a mind-blowing, spiritual dynamic — the Triune God. For these sayings, and all others I have read this morning, are given by one Shepherd. And that’s one Shepherd with a capital “S”.

Oh, what grace! To God be the glory!

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The Happiest of Endings

Posted on October 6, 2023 by Pete

I think I’ve mentioned it before, I’m a sucker for happy endings. I always want the guy next door to find the girl next door. For the girl next door to find her Prince Charming and with him live together happily ever after. I want clean resolutions, everything coming together as the band plays and the sun shines, and all the loose ends are wrapped up with a bow on top. As I think about it, though I’m not much of a Hallmark movie watcher, I probably should be.

But as I read in 1Peter this morning, I realize that even if every season had a happy ending, that if every trial and testing experienced in this life cleanly produced a positive outcome, that it would be but a happy ending for a fleeting, temporal sub-plot. For Peter, in writing to believers who are going through the ringer, encourages them to keep on keepin’ on by never losing sight of the happiest of endings.

They were living as exiles (1:1). They were suffering grief in various trials (1:6). And, says Peter, they were receiving the goal of their faith, the salvation of their souls (1:9). Though it was a perpetually rocky road, they needed to be reminded they were on the path to the promise. Though they felt like strangers in the land, they mustn’t forget that their pilgrimage was toward a heavenly homeland, a better place yet to come “whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10,14-15). That while a happy ending for their current season might bring welcomed respite, the happiest of endings awaited them through the fullness of their redemption.

Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

(1Peter 1:13 CSB)

A lot of things we can hope for. But, says the Spirit, Set your hope completely on the grace to brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Regardless of the game we think we’re playing; the ultimate endgame is that Jesus is coming again. Regardless of how we think a current situation should work out, or how we would desire a difficult season to play out, the Spirit says, in effect, “Get your head in the game, thinking clearly about your future, and aim for nothing less than the prize of the promise of the fullness of grace to be realized when you see your Savior face to face.” That’s the happiest of endings.

Not that desiring relief here and now is wrong or inappropriate. But realizing that relief here and now really isn’t the prize, nor is it promised. But what is sure, is that Jesus is coming again.

And when that day comes, this guy will have found something so much better than the girl next door. And that girl will behold a Bridegroom far beyond anything she could have imagined. The band will play but there’ll be no need for the sun to shine, for the Lord God will be our light (Rev.22:5). And the i’s will be dotted, the t’s will be crossed, as all things will be made right. The bow on top of it all? Jesus Himself!

“Look, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me to repay each person according to his work.” ~ Jesus

(Revelation 22:12 CSB)

O’ Lord, let me not be concerned about, nor content with happy endings of my own design and liking. But help me set my hope completely on the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

By Your grace. For Your glory.

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Joy, Unspeakable Joy (2013 Rerun)

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Pete

Written 10 years ago. Could have written it this morning . . .

As I worked my way through my reading plan this morning, I was pretty aware of how distracted I was. A number of concerns . . . over a wide range of areas . . . that filled my mind and weighed down my heart. As I’m reading the written word, there’s kind of an on-going conversation happening with the Living Word. And then I get to 1Peter and start in on this letter. And Peter quickly encourages his readers that their various trials are, in fact, a testing ground . . . circumstance which proves the genuineness of their faith. A faith which loves Him whom we have not seen. Though we don’t see Him now, a faith which believes in Him still and, what’s more, produces joy, unspeakable joy.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

(1Peter 1:6-9 ESV)

It’s that phrase, you “rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,” that grabs me. And it occurs to me that it might be a bit dumb to try and write on something that is inexpressible . . . to put a few thoughts down on something that is unspeakable . . . to try and communicate about something that is better felt than tell’t. But, let’s give it a try anyway . . .

That we can be grieved by various trials isn’t a surprise to anyone. No one is exempt . . . not even people of great faith. Yesterday the sermon pointed out that the first mention of tears shed in the Bible is by the great man of faith, Abraham, when he wept over the death of his beloved Sarah. In our Sunday School class we spent some time considering John the Baptist . . . cousin of Jesus . . . preparer of the way of the Lord . . . of those born of woman among the greatest (Matt 11:11) . . . and yet, he languished alone in Herod’s prison. No one is exempt from trials.

And maybe that’s why the joy that Peter talks about is inexpressible. Because, apart from faith, it makes no sense . . . because it comes from a place which is unseen, a place untethered to our circumstance . . . because its source is not found in the state of affairs around us, but in the Spirit of God who lives in us. When our trials cause us to run to the Rock . . . when our worries compel us to quiet ourselves before the Sovereign . . . there, at His feet, we marvel anew at such access . . . and are reminded of the price paid, the love shown, and the grace poured out to make open such access . . . and our concerns are trumped by our love for Him who first loved us . . . though now, we do not see Him. And in that faith fueled love there is a joy, an unspeakable joy.

It is a joy filled with glory. The glory of the living hope we have been born again into . . . that of “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1:3-4). It is the glory of interacting with the power of God guarding us through faith . . . the inner workings of our spirit with God’s abiding Spirit in our lives. It is the glory spilling into our lives through the abiding presence of the King of Glory . . . a glory which helps us put our here-and-now in the context of His promised there-and-then. It is an intangible glory . . . producing an unspeakable joy.

Praise God in the distractions . . . bless Him in our concerns . . . believe in Him . . . love Him . . . rejoice in Him . . . with joy, unspeakable joy.

Amen?

By His grace. For His glory.

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Satisfied

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Pete

It occurred to me this morning that I most often read the prophets with the hard-hearted in mind. As I read Jeremiah this morning, for example, I know that he knows that the LORD knows that, by in large, his prophetic message will fall on deaf hears. Not only deaf ears, but hostile ears. That not only will the majority reject Jeremiah’s plea on the Lord’s behalf, but they will also attack Jeremiah’s person. Thus, so often when I read the prophets I wonder at the state of heart and mind which would give God its back and not its face.

But this morning, I’m reminded of the remnant, those waiting and wanting the Lord. That for some, though a minority, while the words of judgment cut deep, in contrition they admitted the faithlessness of their people. Thus, any words of hope spoken by the weeping prophet would be a welcome lifeline as they clung to the promises of restoration from a faithful God. That’s the filter which this morning allows these words to provide a well-received meal.

This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “When I restore their fortunes, they will once again speak this word in the land of Judah and in its cities: ‘May the LORD bless you, righteous settlement, holy mountain.’ Judah and all its cities will live in it together ​— ​also farmers and those who move with the flocks ​— ​for I satisfy the thirsty person and feed all those who are weak.”

(Jeremiah 31:23-25 CSB)

I satisfy the thirsty person and feed all those who are weak.

Who likes being perpetually parched? Who’s jazzed by being forever faint? Not this guy.

But who doesn’t know the pleasure that’s experienced when such a thirst is quenched, or the adrenaline rush of again standing strong? And having tasted such, who doesn’t want to experience it again . . . and again . . . and again? But there’s only the “again” of being satisfied and fully fed when there is also the “again” of being thirsty and weak. One flows from the other.

I can only be replenished when there is first a deficit. I can only be filled when I’m first running on empty. And He who promised to satisfy, He who promised to feed, is He who is faithful and is He who will do it.

So, Jesus would say:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

(Matthew 5:6 CSB)

So, Paul would say:

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

(2Corinthians 12:9-10 CSB)

And so, the psalmist could sing:

God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You.
I thirst for You;
my body faints for You
in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.
So I gaze on You in the sanctuary
to see your strength and Your glory.
My lips will glorify You
because Your faithful love is better than life.
So I will bless You as long as I live;
at Your name, I will lift up my hands.
You satisfy me as with rich food;
my mouth will praise You with joyful lips.

(Psalms 63:1-5 CSB)

You satisfy me.

Satisfied.

Lord, You satisfy as You saturate the dry ground of a weary soul with the living water of Your Spirit. You satisfy as you satiate the hunger pangs of the famished spirit with the meat of Your Word.

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses.

Only by Your grace. Only for Your glory.

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Good Figs in a Bad Land

Posted on October 2, 2023 by Pete

Babylon, bad! Isn’t that how we tend to think about “that place.” You know, that place of exile. That place where the people, who had polluted their own land through their spiritual adulteries, had been sent for a 70-year timeout. That pagan place. That place in which the songs of lament supplanted the songs of Zion. That place that screamed, “This is not my home! I don’t belong here!” Babylon. Can any good thing come out of Babylon? Evidently.

The word of the LORD came to me: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Like these good figs, so I regard as good the exiles from Judah I sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. I will keep my eyes on them for their good and will return them to this land. I will build them up and not demolish them; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God because they will return to Me with all their heart.”

(Jeremiah 24:4-7 CSB)

The LORD was always coming up with object lessons for Jeremiah to help the prophet convey the truth of the reality in which the people of God found themselves. In Jeremiah 24 it’s an object lesson using two baskets of figs. “One basket contained very good figs, like early figs, but the other basket contained very bad figs, so bad they were inedible” (24:2). The bad figs represented those who would remain in the ruins of Judah, the land which had once been widely regarded as a “godly nation”. The bad figs were those who clung to a reputation of what they perhaps were once while the reality of what they were now indicated something very different. Those who sought to still claim the glory of the good old days when, in fact, the glory had departed. Bad move (or lack thereof) on their part. Bad figs.

The good figs, on the other hand, where those who submitted to exile. Those who allowed a foreign land, “that place”, to once again fan into flame a whole-hearted desire for their faithful God. For in “that place” they would know again that their God was the living God and not at all like one of those lifeless idols they had come to bow to for so long. A living God who had claimed a living people for Himself.

A living God able to form such a people through with his living “I will”. One who would keep His eyes on them for their good. One who, amidst the trials of exile, would build up within them the spiritual muscle which had long ago atrophied. One who would plant them firmly, establish roots deeply, even as He called them to Himself eternally. One who would give them new life as He implanted within them, by His Spirit, a new heart — a heart to know Him as they had never known Him before, and to love Him as they were meant to love Him. A living God who would bring them again into the land of the living because He would work within them to “return to Me with all their heart.”

Maybe Babylon ain’t so bad after all. Not that it’s easy, but that it’s necessary. A place to be stripped of our idols. A place to be humbled in our arrogance. A place to be awakened to the reality that we may not have really been the moral majority we thought we were once were. Instead, to realize that we have been called out to be a prophetic minority, God’s holy, set apart people living in a dark world that needs some light and in a rotting world that needs some salt. A land full of bad news in need of some good news.

So, let’s be good figs. Longing for the promised land but realizing this isn’t it. Living for the Redeemer even as we know the Redeemer is keeping His eye on us. Waiting for that city to come but knowing that it’s in this city — right here in Babylon — where He will build, He will plant, and He will grow within us a heart that knows Him.

Good figs in a bad land.

By His grace. For His glory.

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