Monthly Archives: March 2017

Numbers 12

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In Numbers 12, we learn of the special relationship God had with Moses. God describes Moses as “my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord.”  This occasion is the first of 5 when God’s glory is shown, and on each occasion it is because of Israel rebelling against God. Moses himself was “very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth”; any questioning of his authority was responded to by God directly. Moses was not proud of his special relationship with God, he didn’t use it to his advantage.

As disciples of Christ, covered by his sacrifice, we enjoy a close relationship with God. It’s not because of our own ability, but a gift from God. We should approach challenges with meekness and humility, allowing God to deal with them as He sees fit. This meekness was seen in Christ’s attitude towards the Romans during his trial, “he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter”. He “suffered unjustly”, as Peter encourages us to do, placing trust in God.

 

 

Proverbs 7, Luke 21

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Proverbs 7 provides the last of 4 warnings about the dangers of being unfaithful to Wisdom, in vivid and graphic detail, designed to help avoid the unfaithfulness of sin. Solomon precedes the warning by saying “My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; write them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”

Solomon’s advice was a treasured possession for his son, designed to occupy his heart and focus. We’re familiar with the idea of a treasured possession, that feeling we have when we finally get something we’ve been eagerly waiting for; we’re so careful with it when we finally get it, whether a new phone or a long-anticipated pet or a fresh bag of coffee beans. God’s word should be treasured and nurtured like that.

Jesus tells his disciples, “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”. Like Solomon, Jesus’ words provided advice to all generations, regardless of political climate. It’s important for us to treasure these words in our heart, allow them to affect us and guide us.

Proverbs 5, Luke 19

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Solomon writes, “My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.” Wisdom is not some passive thing that can be gained once then forgotten. It requires constant attention and maintenance, active participation. 

Solomon warns about the “forbidden woman”, attractive to those who have stopped listening to wisdom. “Keep your way far from her… For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.” Sin is so attractive,  deceitful and dangerous, Solomon advises to avoid it, to keep away from situations that will lead to sin.

The Pharisees took this idea to extremes, attempting to avoid sin by avoiding sinners. But as Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” At various stages of life we are all lost, having wandered too far down that path leading away from God. Fortunately, Jesus was sent to save people just like us.

Proverbs 1, Luke 15

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Wisdom is personified as one calling out in the streets, offering knowledge to all. Although rejected by many, she notes “whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

We’ve been blessed to receive God’s word, the chance to “hear and increase in learning”. This doesn’t make us more special than anyone else, but it does give us hope and comfort, an understanding of God and His plan.  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”.  If we are to be wise in heavenly wisdom, then we need to really listen and allow it to affect our lives, to turn knowledge into action, following the path of Wisdom.

At various stages in our life, we all can be lost coins or lost sheep, temporarily lost or distracted from the path of Wisdom. Jesus’ parables about the lost are really encouraging, “there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  The act of returning to God, or of helping one of our peers return to God, results in rejoicing in heaven.

Luke 13-14

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In Luke 13 and 14, Jesus gives several parables to describe the kingdom of God. One of those parables starts, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many… but they all alike began to make excuses”. They made weak, trivial excuses for not attending the feast. Instead opportunity was given to the poor and crippled and blind and lame, then to those in the highways and hedges. 

Although we can interpret this parable to mean that the Jews rejected the invitation to the feast, allowing the Gentiles an opportunity, it also applies to our response to our calling. 

Jesus later says, “any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple”. This is a really challenging idea. It shows the importance of putting God first in our lives, to allow our relationship with Him pervade our whole life, as leaven affects flour.

Psalms 140-142, Luke 10

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In Psalms 140-142, David describes his reliance on God, “Deliver me”, “Guard me”, “You are my God”, “O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation”, “my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge”.  David is once more writing about the trials of his daily life, yet in those difficulties he maintains his reliance on God, doesn’t sever that relationship but seeks refuge in it instead.

In Luke 10, Jesus explains to his disciples how blessed they are to understand the gospel. “Many prophets and kings desired to see what you see…and to hear what you hear” about Christ and the salvation that would be offered through him.  Jesus prays to God, thanking God for revealing this hope. This hope is “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”; a hope hidden from the “wise and understanding” of the world, revealed instead to those who demonstrate trust in God like a child trusts a parent.

Psalms 131-134

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Psalms 131-134 form part of the songs of ascent, short poignant songs that seem designed to have been sung. All 15 of them focus on hope, most in a cheerful manner.

Today’s Psalms encourage the listener to be quiet and calm of mind, remind of God’s choice in Israel and Zion, and use a similie to describe the benefits of unity.

“I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul… O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.” There were many events in David’s life that could not readily be understood or fixed. Rather than worrying over things outside his control, David instead meditates, focusing on God and the eternal hope He had promised. 

We can use the same approach to avoid being overcome by the cares of the world that can choke the word, leading us to become unfruitful. Instead, take the advice of Jesus, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.

Luke 4

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In Luke 4, we find Jesus reading Isaiah 61 in the synagogue on the Sabbath day, two short verses that encapsulated the hope of the gospel. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Truly this scripture has been fulfilled, and it is now up to us to share that hope with those around us, just as Jesus did. “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

Psalm 119v129-176

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Psalm 119 continues with more of David’s thoughts on his relationship with God. He tries to follow God’s commandments, “Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them” but is not always successful, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.” David is thankful for God’s mercy, “Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!… Great is your mercy, O LORD; give me life according to your rules.” and realises that it is only God who can provide life.

Our relationship with God has many similarities to David’s. Like David, we too “rejoice at [God’s] word like one who finds great spoil.”  We find hope and comfort in what God has done for us and what we have been offered, just as David did when he wrote “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.”

Psalm 119v81-128

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David continues to focus on God’s word and promises in Psalm 119v81-128. “My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word”. He contrasts God’s sure word with those around who persecute him, “Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens… I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life… They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts”. God’s word provided encouragement and guidance to David, so he considers God’s word to be the most valuable thing a person could have, “I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold”.

The very existence of earth confirms David’s hope, “Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast”. As the earth continues to exist, we know that God’s promises to us stand sure as well. David also writes, “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.” Let us do likewise, finding joy in serving God now, confident of that future eternal joy when we can serve God forever.