No Longer Prey!

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Pete

Continuing to read in Ezekiel and John this morning, and the two readings come together.

In Ezekiel, while there’s been a whole lot of judgment pronounced thus far upon the nation of Israel, the Judge’s focus now turns to Israel’s shepherds. While God’s flock will be accountable for their own sin, God’s shepherds — beyond being responsible for their own iniquity — are held accountable for the manner in which they neglected to shepherd. They did not tend the flock. They did not strengthen the weak, heal the sick, nor did they bandage the injured. They did not bring back the strays. They did not seek the lost. Instead, they ruled over their charge with violence and cruelty (Ezek. 34:3b-4).

Thus, these shepherds had direct culpability for a flock which had been scattered, a flock which had gone astray. And a scattered flock is an endangered flock. A flock gone astray is a flock in peril.

“They were scattered for lack of a shepherd; they became food for all the wild animals when they were scattered. . . My flock, lacking a shepherd, has become prey and food for every wild animal . . .”

(Ezekiel 34:5,8b CSB)

Wayward, wandering, wicked Israel — sheep without a shepherd — had become prey. Left with no spiritual leadership, they were left as food for every wild animal. With no direction, they were being served up for dinner. Lacking correction, they were ripe for consumption. With no shepherd, they were left as supper for any adversary prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But God would do what Israel’s shepherds did not. God would search for His flock. He would look for His flock. He would rescue His flock. And He would shepherd His flock. God would tend them in good pasture, and they would lie down in good grazing places. (34:10b-15). He would do what they should have done.

“I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak.”

(Ezekiel 34:16a CSB)

And what really grabs me this morning is the twice repeated declaration that God’s flock would no longer be prey.

“I will save My flock. They will no longer be prey . . . They will know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the power of those who enslave them. They will no longer be prey for the nations, and the wild creatures of the earth will not consume them. They will live securely, and no one will frighten them.”

(Ezekiel 34:22a, 27b-28 CSB)

No longer prey! That is the declaration of all who had gone astray but now are in the fold. That is the victory cry for every sheep once lost but now found. That is the reality of all those under the loving care of the Good Shepherd, God the Shepherd.

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. . . . My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” ~ Jesus

(John 10:14-15, 27-30 CSB)

No longer prey. No longer feasted on by a flesh-ruled heart. No longer dinner for a destitute world. No longer lunch for a roaring lion. Safe in the hands of the Son. Secure in the hands of the Father.

The LORD is my shepherd . . . I am no longer prey.

Oh, what wondrous grace! To God be the glory!

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We Have an Anointing

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Pete

John has already warned them of the dangers from “out there.” He’s just exhorted them not to love the world — not to esteem how it thinks, not to covet what it offers, not to be molded by how it is motivated (1Jn. 2:15-17). There’s deception and destruction out there — don’t fall for it, John says.

But what about from “in here”? Especially “in here” during the “last days”? How do we recognize and deal with the deception sourced within the walls of our fellowship? John deals with that next.

Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.

(1John 2:18-19 CSB)

It’s the last hour. Jesus has come, died, risen, and ascended. So, what’s left is for Jesus to come again. It’s the last hour. But before Jesus comes again in power and might, first comes the anti-Jesus in opposition and misrepresentation. While we wait for the Jesus from heaven there will be an uptick in anti-Jesus sentiment on earth, fueled by anti-Jesus influences from hell. And some of this “went out from us.”

Enemies of the cross robed in fake garments of righteousness, once singing from the same hymnal (off the same large screen), once present at the same communion table. They looked like a duck, talked like a duck, but they weren’t no duck. And eventually, they left us. Yet, they still talk to us that they might enlighten us. They still pursue us, promising us a better way. They still end up in our social media feeds as they use enough of our words to make it into our algorithms. They didn’t remain with us, but they remain attached to us. So how you gonna recognize these imposters? How you gonna discern that their better way is really an anti-Jesus way? Cue the anointing.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

(1John 2:20 CSB)

It’s gonna take some effort to recognize what’s false, but you have an anointing . . .

We have a chrisma, an unction, a smearing. We’ve been covered, head to toe, inside and out. At the moment we responded to the call of God the Father and believed in God the Son, we were anointed with God the Spirit. And because of that, all of you know the truth.

Not that we were given full and perfect knowledge concerning all things. But we were given all we need to share in the divine nature (2Pet. 1:3). And the includes the tools necessary to discern what is true and what is false, what is pro-Christ and what is antichrist. With the word of God in hand and the Spirit of God within, all of you know the truth.

Ours is to mature in the word as we practice applying the word so that our “senses” will be “trained to distinguish between good and evil” (Heb. 5:12-14). And that is only accomplished through our anointing, by the One in us who will guide us into all truth (Jn. 16:13).

Thus, in order to know the truth we seek to cultivate the supernatural dynamics of our anointing. Aware of the Spirit on us and in us, we purpose to “walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16), “live by the Spirit” , “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25), and “sow to the Spirit” (Gal. 6:8). We don’t want to “grieve the Spirit” (Eph. 4:30), nor “quench the Spirit” (1Th. 5:19), so that, without hindrance, we might be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18b).

Then will this Anointing enable us to know the truth. To discern when these antichrists who were once with us are now just wanting to deceive us. To take the word we have read and the word we have been told and infuse within as a supernatural filter to sift the veracity of what we’re being sold.

We have an anointing. We know the truth.

Amen?

By His grace. For His glory.

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Do Not Love the World

Posted on November 6, 2023 by Pete

As far as “commands to obey” go, I’m guessing it’s pretty well known among believers. Probably among the first we learned when first we were coached on what it means to die to self, take up the cross, and follow Jesus. That if I had decided to follow Jesus, then “the cross before me” meant I was prepared to give my back to “the world behind me”. Taught early on that, while we were still in the world, we were not of the world and so, we shouldn’t love the world.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world ​— ​the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions ​— ​is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.

(1John 2:15-17 CSB)

I look at the western church today, and though I am a big fan of her, I can’t help but feel that, at least in some ways, the world has co-opted her. While in many ways she’s maintained her distinctives from the world, in other ways she seems sometimes way too dialed in to the world. And I wonder if it’s because when we learned this verse way back when, we were quick to talk about the things in the world which we were not to love, and the things we were not to do, but weren’t as aware or laser-focused on the ways of the world we should not adopt. That we were so quick to create a list of behaviors to avoid that we weren’t picking up on the list of beliefs we should guard against.

Beliefs like “expressive individualism”, that a relentless focus on being me is best for me, rather than the belief that I thrive when I am functioning within community and submitting to the family to which I belong. Beliefs like, in order to be salt and light, we need to do all we can to maintain a moral majority rather than fulfill our remnant call as a prophetic minority. Beliefs like, in order for the mission to make it, we need to have our own brand of celebrities to lead it. Beliefs like, in order to stand firm, we need to take a “might is right” approach rather than take Jesus at His word and that the meek really will inherit the earth.

Do not love the world. Do not agape the world.

I see that word, agape, and immediately I think do not sacrificially love the world. But probe the word agape a bit and, at its core, it’s about love based on what is esteemed rather than love founded on affection. A response to what one highly regards. A reaction to what is ighly valued. So, when examining whether or not I’ve been drawn into loving the world, though my behaviors may be far from the world’s, I might want to test how my beliefs about living in the world may have been influenced by the world.

Not sure I’m making sense here. But what I think I’m trying to say is that, if we really want to be on guard against loving the world, perhaps we need to be examining our ways of engaging the world rather than just evaluating our works against the world’s.

Only by His grace. Always for His glory.

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We Give Glory to God!

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Pete

What’s new under the sun? Nothing (Eccl. 1:9). Cancel culture, too? Yup, it’s been there done that.

Reading in John 9 again this morning — in the middle of three days of some of my favorite readings in my reading plan. Love setting the table every fall with the account of the seeing blind man.

Born blind from birth, this man encounters Jesus. And with a little spit and a little dirt, Jesus puts a mud pack on the guy’s eyes and says, “Go wash it off in the pool of Siloam.” The guy goes, the guy does, and the man born blind “came back seeing.” Now things get interesting.

Enter the Jews. Not happy about a seeing blind man who says Jesus was the one who gave him sight. Sounds like a God thing. But they refuse to believe Jesus is from God. So they spin the God thing as really being an evil thing, because the day on which Jesus made mud to open this guy’s eyes was the Sabbath. Sounds like Jesus is a Sabbath-breaker to them. Forget that He’s also a blindness-breaker and sight-giver. Interrogation time.

First they talk to the guy. But hard to have an argument with a blind guy about him being healed of his blindness when that guy’s looking you straight in the eye. Time to grill his parents.

The Jews did not believe this about him ​— ​that he was blind and received sight ​— ​until they summoned the parents of the one who had received his sight.

They asked them, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”

“We know this is our son and that he was born blind,” his parents answered. “But we don’t know how he now sees, and we don’t know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he’s of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him as the Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue. This is why his parents said, “He’s of age; ask him.”

(John 9:18-23 CSB)

Banned from the synagogue. Kinda’ sounds like cancel culture to me. Being shunned for looking at the same facts and coming up with a different conclusion — even when that conclusion seems to be the most plausible conclusion. And so, the seeing blind guy’s parents take the Fifth. Despite the fact that their kid is now looking into their faces for the first time, they are not prepared to call it a miracle or to consider that Jesus, the One who gave their boy sight, possibly is the Messiah. Nope, not going there. ‘Cause they want to go to church on Saturday.

But their boy? Well, a seeing blind guy doesn’t have the luxury of not taking a stand.

So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”

He answered, “Whether or not he’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see! . . .

“. . . Throughout history no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

(John 9:24-25, 32-33 CSB)

Give glory to God, they say. I will, he says. Tell us the One who healed you is a sinner ’cause He did it on the Sabbath, they say (remember, they’re not disputing the miracle — after all they are nose to nose with this guy, looking into his twinkling eyes). Can’t tell you that, the seeing blind guys says. All I know is that I once was blind but now I see. And Jesus did it! To God be the glory!

Canceled or not, we can’t help but testify of what Jesus has done for us . . . and to us. Foolishness or not, the cross is our confession, Popular or not, the blood is our belief. Deemed in our right minds or not, the resurrection is the reason we own Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Blind people seeing; that’s who we are. Once in darkness, but now children of light. Once in bondage, but now free.

Canceled or not, because of the grace of God we can’t help but give glory to God!

Amen?

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That God’s Work Might Be Displayed

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Pete

I read in Job before reading in John this morning. In Job, Job’s buddy miserably “comforts” him with, “Man, your kids are dead, and it must be because of their sin and rebellion. You’re not, so cast yourself upon God’s mercy for whatever you’ve done that’s deserving of such suffering (8:4-6).” Cause and effect, says his friend, that’s what you’re dealing with, cause and effect.

Then, reading in John, Jesus’s disciples draw a similar conclusion.

As He was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

(John 9:1-2 CSB)

Blind at birth. Makes no sense. God is Sovereign. No random accidents. So, conclude the disciples, someone must have done something wrong to warrant such seemingly unfair and harsh circumstance. Whodunit?, they ask, who sinned?

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.”

(John 9:3 CSB)

So that God’s works might be displayed. Hmm . . . chew on that.

Sometimes tough stuff happens not because of what someone has done, but simply because of what God wants to do. Not because they are wrong, but in order to be part of God’s mighty work. Not because they deserved it, necessarily, but that the presence and power of God might be displayed through it.

Jesus isn’t saying that his guy, or his parents were perfect, just that it would be wrong to equate the state of their holiness as the reason for their heaviness. To sort of quote Casting Crowns out of context; it wasn’t because of who they were, but because of what God had done; not because of what they’d done, but because of who God is. And He is the God who is Sovereign over all and seeks to make Himself known to all — to all who have eyes to see (pun intended) and ears to hear.

That God’s work might be displayed. Satisfying for the “whys?” of hardship, and trial. Maybe not always . . . okay, maybe rarely. But while it may not be satisfying it can still be soothing? Submitting our situation to His sovereign purposes has a way of calming the storm. Acknowledging by faith that a good God has allowed/orchestrated less than good circumstances for His purposes, can bring a certain rest. Putting my situation within the context of His presence and power and promises, evokes a certain peace. While the “sea billows roll” it can yet be “well with my soul” (Horatio Gates Spafford).

So wait, weary saint. Wait upon the Lord. Believe, battered believer. Believe that if God is for us nothing can ultimately stand against us. And keep on keepin’ on, so that God’s work might be displayed in your circumstance.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Grow!

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Pete

Peter wrote to remind them of ” these things” — things they already knew, things upon which they already stood firm (2Pet. 1:12). Things which Peter very much wanted them to be able to recall at any time (1:15). Things essential for grace and peace to be multiplied (1:2). Things needful for usefulness and fruitfulness (1:8). Things, though spoken by men were not of men — things from God by the Holy Spirit (1:20-21).

But things which could be twisted by false teachers (2:1). Things which could be derided by scoffers (3:3). Things which could be distorted, sowing doubt as to whether or not the power of God was sufficient to fulfill the promises of God (3:4). Things which, unless error were guarded against, could be undermined, thus undermining their foundation (3:17).

And so, Peter concludes his second letter with one final exhortation. A final command to obey to ensure they would always stand fast in “these things.”

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.

(2Peter 3:18 CSB)

But grow. How’s that for a command to obey? Chew on that for a bit.

Short and sweet and simple.

But a gimme? Nope. It’s gonna take “every effort” (1:5, 1:10, 3:14). But worth the effort? I’m thinkin’ . . .

Continually moving forward is effective preventative maintenance for falling back. Persistent progress in seeking what is true, a great countermeasure against being fooled by what is false. Increasing, a sure way to avoid eroding. Adding, helpful when you want to stay away from atrophying. So, says Peter, “Grow!”

Grow in “these things.” Grow in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord (1:2). Grow in supplementing your faith (1:5-7). Grow in making your “calling and election” sure (1:10). Grow in your familiarity of the prophetic word (1:19). Grow in your understanding of the apostolic word (3:2). Grow in the hard-to-understand stuff of Paul’s word (3:15-16).

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Whatever you do, grow!

Like I said, simple. But the laziness of the flesh and the lies of the enemy would redirect our “every effort” into a million other things instead of advancing in “these things.”

So be on your guard (3:17) . . . and grow!

Grow in the grace of Jesus. Grow in the knowledge of Jesus. Grow for the glory of Jesus.

Amen?

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Really My Disciple. Really Free.

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Pete

Authenticity. It’s always been a big deal. Perhaps today, in an age of Photoshopped images and a plethora of fake news sources, it’s an even bigger deal. Sometimes it’s really hard to know what’s really real and what’s really not, what’s really true and what really isn’t. Big deal for Jesus too. Especially when it came to really being a believer.

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

“We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered Him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will become free’? “

Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”

(John 8:31-36 CSB)

Many believed in Him, but not all really believed. Many were ready to sign up if it meant they wouldn’t die in their sin (Jn. 8:24), but Jesus knew that not everyone who was willing to signup was willing to enlist. Not all who really wanted to dodge judgment had really decided to follow Jesus. And so, He provides a simple authenticating test.

Continue in My word? You really are My disciple.
Really my disciple? Then you are no longer a slave to sin, you really will be free.

Really my disciple. Really free. That’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

If the word that we said we believed in, is the word we continue to abide in, then we’re really His disciples. If the truth that turned us to Jesus, is the truth that tethers us to Jesus, then we’re for sure His followers. Not to oversimplify, but that’s a pretty good initial test of whether our confession of faith is really real.

But wait, there’s more.

Continuing in His word, abiding in the truth, is authenticated by a life marked by being free from sin. Not talking free of sin but free from sin. Not without sin — for “If we say, ‘We have no sin,’ we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1Jn. 1:8) — but a life where sin doesn’t perpetually rule over us or master us. Where, when sin entraps us or trips us up, by confessing our sin and repenting of sin, sin is nailed again to the cross. And at the cross we are forgiven our sin and cleansed from all unrighteousness (1Jn. 1:9).

Thus, free from sin. Free indeed — really free — because, while we may not yet be delivered from the presence of sin, nor from the old nature’s propensity to sin, through abiding in His word and His word abiding in us we have been released from the power of sin.

Really His disciples, really free, if we really remain . . . abide . . . not depart . . . continue in His word.

Only by His grace. Always for His glory.

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Atonement for All You Have Done

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Pete

Hovering over an Old Testament story. In my CSB the translators have entitled the chapter “Parable of God’s Adulterous Wife.” And what a story it is.

A story told by the LORD God in His own words. A story of love told in graphic detail, speaking of the best of love and the worst. A rags to riches story, which tragically ends up again in rags. A story of beauty given and, gut-wrenchingly, beauty exploited. A story of rescue and then of wrath.

But the story concludes with a “but”. You know, one of those “but God” sort of buts. One of those plot-reversing “buts” that we’ve come to recognize in the New Testament where despite our lost rebellion God makes a way for found restoration (e.g. Eph. 2:1-5).

” ‘For this is what the Lord God says: I will deal with you according to what you have done, since you have despised the oath by breaking the covenant. But I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish a permanent covenant with you.’ ”

(Ezekiel 16:59-60 CSB)

Though her heart would be inflamed with lust, He would still love her. Though she would trust in her beauty and give herself away in her fame, He would remain faithful to the promise He made to her on the day He took her for His own. Though, unlike most prostitutes, she would descend to the depths of debauchery where she would pay her lovers, He would ultimately determine to pay her debt.

I will establish My covenant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD so that when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed.

(Ezekiel 16:62-63a CSB)

Not if, but when — WHEN I make atonement for all you have done.

To be sure, she would know His righteous wrath. She would feel the severe discipline of His hand of justice. She would be ashamed. She would bear her disgrace. But His covenant with her would not cease. She would again know that He is the LORD. He would still be in her midst, and she would again abide in His presence. She would know that He is the LORD, and she would always be His bride.

When I make atonement for all you have done. Not for some of what you’ve done. Not only to a point and then no more. But God shows His faithfulness to His promises in paying in full the debt she would never be able to pay.

Ezekiel 16 is an Old Testament parable. The cross of Christ is a New Testament reality. Atonement for all I have done.

By His grace. For His glory.

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They Feast With You

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Pete

Arrogant people, so full of themselves they have no fear of slandering anyone else or anything else. Creatures driven by base instinct, following the polluted desires of their flesh, and with no regard for authority. Jazzed by doing what shouldn’t be done and doing it in broad daylight, always on the prowl for the next piece of forbidden fruit. With their hearts trained in greed, on the look out for unstable people to seduce. Welcome to church (2Peter 2:10-14).

What!?!?

This morning I was arrested by a phrase of just a few words but with profound implications. Ended up chewing on something quite bitter.

They are spots and blemishes, delighting in their deceptions while they feast with you.

(2Peter 2:13 CSB)

They feast with you. That’s what caught my attention this morning. These creepy cads, these despicable degenerates, these sin-driven scoundrels, they feast with you. You, as in the people of God to whom Peter is writing. They, as in false teachers among the people of God who “bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them” (2Pet. 2:1).

Say it isn’t so!

If it wasn’t, Peter wouldn’t have written. If it couldn’t happen, the Spirit wouldn’t have said it could happen. If it could only happen somewhere else, then why was this written for our instruction?

And so, I noodle on this disturbing description of those who feast with you and wonder how we could end up at the same table . . . and with me picking up the check to boot?

Well, I think there’s a clue given in this passage as to how spots and blemishes end up feasting and fellowshiping among the people of God.

They have gone astray by abandoning the straight path and have followed the path of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of wickedness.

(2Peter 2:15 CSB)

I’m guessing that not many heretics begin with a decision and determination to be a heretic. That few sit down at a white board to brainstorm their life’s mission statement and come up with “Go to Church and Deny Jesus!” That few meet with a committee charged with filling the pulpit on a Sunday morning and handout business cards with the tag line, “Bringing Something Better than Good News, Bringing Feel-Good News.” Probably not how it happens.

Instead, at least in part, it begins by going astray and abandoning the straight path. Not talking about a seismic shift initially, just a slight “course correction.” Finding the straight path a somewhat restrictive path, wandering just a little bit off the path. Finding the way of the kingdom impractical at times when it comes to navigating the way of the world, willing to improvise and ad lib in order to make things more palatable and enjoyable.

And what fuels which is, at first, but a slight variation of the truth so that it becomes full-blown heresy? Those willing to listen. Those willing to follow. Those willing to buy in (literally) and pay out to these false teachers the wages of wickedness. Remember, they feast with you.

False teachers thrive where there are followers open to false teaching. Those themselves who, either deliberately or ignorantly, are willing to abandon the straight path. Those ungrounded in the Scriptures, or too grounded in themselves, who are willing to follow their own instincts rather than commit to knowing and obeying God-breathed instruction. The fact that these false teachers feast with you is not just a warning about deceptive sellers of truth but also a warning about being an unawares, or unconcerned consumer of what’s being sold as truth. They feast with you.

O that we would be so grounded in what’s true we would discern immediately what’s false. So committed to the straight path that we have no interest in those who talk of some new and improved path. So abiding in the shadow of the Master’s cross that we would repel anything which hints of wavering from the Master’s call.

Only by His grace. Only for His glory.

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Two Words of Wisdom

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Pete

It’s wisdom literature — sometimes I forget that. That Proverbs is wisdom literature is a gimme. So too with Ecclesiastes and the Psalms. All of these clearly providing divine insight for the meaning and maneuvering of life. That Song of Songs is wisdom literature might be less intuitive because it’s more focused on celebrating one specific facet of life, a facet which foreshadows the greatest love story ever written. But Job? That Job is wisdom literature is sometimes lost when I read it. Maybe because the facet of life it focuses on can hit so close to home and can be so overwhelming. Hard to learn from suffering when you are in the midst of suffering. Hard to understand what God’s purposes are when you’re wondering where God’s presence is.

But wisdom literature it is. And so, amidst the destruction, the depression, and the dialogue that carries Job’s storyline, you shouldn’t be surprised if along the way there’s a gem or two worth taking note of. Something to observe about God. A diamond amidst of all that’s so rough, worthy of being added to wisdom’s treasure chest, kept for future reference, reflection, and rejoicing. Came upon one of those this morning.

After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born.
He said:
May the day I was born perish,
and the night that said, “A boy is conceived.”
If only that day had turned to darkness!
May God above not care about it, or light shine on it.
May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it.
May what darkens the day terrify it.
If only darkness had taken that night away!
May it not appear among the days of the year
or be listed in the calendar.

(Job 3:1-6 CSB)

Job’s at the end of his rope. Though he would still bless God after losing fortune and family (ch. 1), and though he would not sin and curse God under the adversity of severe bodily harm (ch 2.), in chapter three, he’s done! Curse the day of my birth. Strike it from the annals of history. Oh, that the day had never been marked on any calendar. If this is what I was born for, then I wish I’d never been born.

Yet in the midst of Job’s lament, a gem. A truth about God to be observed. A divine reality to be pondered. Something worth chewing on. A word of wisdom. Actually, two words of wisdom. God cares.

May God above not care about it . . .

Job’s discourse is calling for things that are true to not be true. That the night he was born, didn’t happen. That the light that was seen by a small baby on that day had never occurred, but had been enveloped with the darkness of a miscarriage or a still birth (3:11, 16). But the night did happen. The light did shine. And so when Job despairingly wishes that God above did not care about the day he was born, it’s because God did care. God cared about the day Job was born.

He who fearfully and wonderfully formed Job in the womb cared when Job emerged from the womb. God who is Sovereign and had determined Jobs days before even one came to pass was deeply, personally invested in that day when Job breathed his first breath. And God would continue to care until Job breathed his last. Did God care amidst Job’s suffering. O yes, He cares.

There’s a hymn that comes to mind as I meditate this morning on these two words of wisdom. A hymn that has come to mind at least 8 times during my morning meals over the past 6+ years, first appearing in one of these musings shortly after my wife went home to be with the Lord. A sacred song able to comfort the storm-tossed soul.

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief I find no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks
Is it aught to Him? does He see?

O yes, He cares, I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

(Frank Ellsworth Graeff, 1901)

Job, in His sorrow, wished that the day of his birth had never happened, that God hadn’t cared about that day. But God did.

Does God care? O yes, He cares!

Pouring out His abundant, all-sustaining grace, even as we seek to walk in wisdom for His all-deserving, everlasting glory.

Amen?

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