March 3, 2021 -- Psalm 5:11-12 -- Semi colon because the story is not done

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;

let them ever sing for joy,

and spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may exult in you.

For you bless the righteous, O LORD;

you cover them with favor as with a shield.

Psalm 5:11-12 English Standard Version

In case my parents are reading this, be assured I’m not getting a tattoo. Okay, that is out of the way. If, hypothetically, if I did get a tattoo, it’d be a semi-colon on my wrist. Others with the same struggle I have will immediately recognize it and those who are informed or taught will understand. A semi colon ( ; ) indicates a pause in a sentence. It is a symbol to declare the one so marked has paused and reconsidered the act of suicide. It means the person has decided his story is not done.

The psalmist began this Psalm lamenting, belly-aching grief poured out in prayer before the LORD. He has prepared his sacrifice and watched. Perhaps his attentiveness on the LORD has lasted a long time with no sense of the LORD’s nearness or love. The story is not done.

Whether or not the LORD responded, the psalmist has preached to his own soul. Let all who take refuge in You rejoice. This is a decision. There is a prayer and plea—spread your protection over them. It is a vow of trust. It might well be that before the LORD has acted in faithfulness, in advance of God’s responding to the prayer of His servant, the servant, recalling past evidences of the LORD’s goodness, remembers this: “For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as a shield”—and the psalmist will not let his groaning overwhelm him, he will watch in attendance on the LORD. There is no better refuge. The story is not done. He will live to write again.

https://youtu.be/979JrZs1log

Psalm 5 is the song and prayer today. It is very much a lament, yet the tune offers some hopeful notes as well. Hope it is a blessing and inspiration.

Listen to my words, O LORD; Know the whispered things I say.

Heed my crying out for help—God, my King, to You I pray.

Hear me in the morning, LORD, When I lift my voice on high,

Setting forth my plea to You, looking out with watchful eye.

For I know that You, O God, Find in evil no delight;

Evil cannot dwell with You, Nor the proud stand in Your sight.

You hate all who practice sin. You destroy the one who lies;

For the LORD abominates Those who schemes of blood devise.

Yet in Your abounding love, To Your house will I drawn near,

Bowing to Your holy place, Worshiping in rev’rent fear.

Since, O LORD, my enemies All around me lie in wait,

Lead me in Your righteousness; Make Your way before me straight.

In their mouth there is no truth; All their heart destruction seeks,

Like an open grave their throat, Whole their tongue with honey speaks.

Make them bear their guilt, O God; Snare them in the things they planned!

Cast them out for all their sins, Rebel who against You stand.

Yet let all who trust in You Sing for joy through all their days.

Guard all those who love Your name; Let them give You joyful praise.

Blessing to the righteous one, You, O LORD, will surely bring;

With your favor, like a shield, You will give him covering.

Joseph Parry, 1879 tune Abertystwyth 77.77.D

The ARP Psalter

March 2, 2021 -- Psalm 5:9-10 -- Discerning what's around you

For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.

Psalm 5:9-10 English Standard Version

After the soaring words of verses 7 & 8 our text today seems like quite a come down. It is very damning against false flatterers and the forked tongue peoples all around. When you engage the text one thing you’ll notice is a sense of the dialogue—first between the Psalmist and God and then a sense of dialogue cataloguing something in the Psalmist’s own heart.

As the Psalmist recognizes there is no truth in their mouth and hears the false flattery of such people around him, he is making the distinction Psalm 1 spoke of—blessed are those who do not walk with the wicked or stand with sinners or sit with scoffers. A Psalm 1 man or woman, who desires to be blessed, carefully discerns the words and actions of the people all around. Sometimes you meet someone who seems well-intentioned, but the more time you spend, the more you realize how deep is their perfidy. When you hear and realize the wicked intentions of the heart and understand the speech for what it is, then leave that person and situation and delight in the Law of God.

Secondly, the Psalmist, in noting all these things is calling down the consequences of God on the heads and life of the transgressors. Why? Is it because he thinks he’s better? Not at all. Instead, the Psalmist realizes, unless one sees the full weight of his sin and knows how odious it is before God and the people of God, such a person will wade deeper and deeper into the foul sewage of his life. By allowing someone to see the consequences of their sin, to understand that sin is in fact sin, one is faced with a choice, either to go deeper or to cry out for help from God, Who displays the magnificence of His rescue story in Jesus Christ.

Great LORD, my King and my God, give me a discerning heart today so that I will recognize sin at its first appearance and when the first tendrils of temptation seek to entangle me at that exact moment by Your Word and Spirit help me to run from evil. Triune God of great compassion make the sinners all around bear their guilt so that they will be driven into Your arms for rescue. Thank You, Faithful God, that You delight to save in the powerful Name of Jesus. Amen.

https://youtu.be/9Yr48Berkqc

March 1, 2021 -- Psalm 5:4-8 -- Wicked rags or righteousness wrapped

For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;

evil may not dwell with you.

The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;

you hate all evildoers.

You destroy those who speak lies;

the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

Psalm 5:4-6 English Standard Version

There are enough people who proclaim the God of the Old Testament is angry while Jesus proclaims love. However, even a cursory reading of the New Testament will reveal statements like: “Woe to you [Pharisees]! For you are like unmarked graves, and the people walk over them without knowing it” (Luke 11:44). When Jesus pronounced “woe” He was speaking of the curse of God against the actions and attitudes of the wicked.

Who can stand up under the scrutiny with which Jesus examined the lives of the Pharisees? Who can declare his heart clear of all such sins are are described in the text today? Not one of us. This is why the Bible describes God as “God our Righteousness”. When we are confronted with the vicious words we’ve poured out against others immediately we realize this passage is cutting open our own heart and attitude. A passage like this either makes us turn away and sigh—”at least I am not like that person” or it will reveal again, with great precision, the urgent need we have for the cleansing work of Jesus.

Aware of his own great sin and the greater mercy and forgiving love of God the psalmist then declared his sure hope. Hope which for him looked forward to Christ and for us is anchored in God our Righteousness, Jesus—Whom the Spirit has revealed. This is our prayer today:

“But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,

will enter your house.

I will bow down toward your holy temple

in the fear of you

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness

because of my enemies;

make your way straight before me.”

Psalm 5:7-8 ESV

https://youtu.be/UiJiDphZvbs

February 26, 2021 -- Psalm 5:1-3 -- Grieved groanings or giving glory

Give ear to my words, O Lord;
consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Psalm 5:1-3 English Standard Version

Strange, isn’t it, how the Psalms seem to go from mountaintop experiences of blessing and joy, to valleys of grief and sadness. How truly this reflects our daily experience. Psalm 4 ended with that sense of peace and sleep and security and now Psalm 5 opens with emotional turmoil and upheaval. Makes sense to me. That is how life is lived. Right now the province where I has incredibly low numbers of Covid cases—yet the provinces is still in orange—a very restrictive stage. There are nattering fears expresses by the media and health officials that there will be a third wave, worse than the others. It is as if the government is shouting “there are lions in the streets of Moncton, everyone stay indoors.” (This is a reference to the Proverbs 22:13)—there is no real danger, there is no lion, but it is the cry of the sluggard who refuses to engage in the work necessary for full and active living.)

Rather than remain mentally locked on the source of his groaning, the Psalmist looks to the LORD his God He prepares the morning sacrifice. Among the people of God a morning and evening sacrifice were always offered at the temple of the LORD. As New Testament Christians, we offer the sacrifice of praise. Such sacrifices orient our vision from merely looking at our circumstances or our helplessness to seeing with faith the glory of our God and King Who rules over all. We watch to see the salvation of God which will unfold, no matter the machinations of sinful man. The LORD is our King! He directs our feet and our path and our future. Blessed be His Name.

O LORD, God of our fathers and mothers through-out the generations, You Who guarded Your people and by Your Spirit led them into the righteousness of Jesus Christ—hear our groaning. As we are Covid-weary and in news-overload help us all to serve You in our homes and workplaces, in schools and family activities, restrictions or no restrictions. We will run in the way of Your commanded blessings when You enlarge our hearts. May the light of Your glory shine from us in this day! May Jesus Christ receive the glory due His Name until the whole world sees the Hand of God at the Dreadful Day of Judgment where God the Triune will make all things rights by His just and holy judgment. Hallelujah. Amen.

https://youtu.be/KpMCE1G3N7Q

February 25, 2021 -- Psalm 4:8 -- Peace which no chaos can disrupt

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 English Standard Version

Remember when Jesus was in a storm-tossed boat with His frightened disciples? What was He doing? He slept. (Mark 4:35-40). While in prison, the night before his big trial, Peter was sleeping even while he was chained to two guards (Acts12:6). When the beloved child of the Father is where he or she is supposed to be, nothing can shatter the experience of peace.

Christians know there will be trials and persecutions and suffering. Jesus clearly foretold it. The world will hate believers in Jesus because the world hates Jesus Himself, their Master and Teacher (John 15:18). Such trials come to test your faith. Hatred and enmity hurled at you cannot overcome the greater love and peace which pour down on you because you belong to the King of kings and LORD of lords. The world can take every single thing we own—but one thing it can never take from us— our strong and unshakeable faith in Jesus Christ.

When Jesus suffered, He experienced agony, pain beyond description and grief—but Hebrews noted: “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross despising its shame” 12:2). What was the joy set before Him? It was pleasing His Father in heaven. It was the steadfast assurance of Psalm 1 that the LORD watches over the way of the righteous. It was the joy that Father has the full weight of eternity in His hand with which to bless His people. Jesus knew His suffering, greater though it was than what any person in all of history ever has or ever will suffer, would bring many sons and daughters into the knowledge of the safety of belonging to God.

O God of our Righteousness, You are blessed and true. This day we confess all the things that trouble the waters of our peacefulness—things like our agitation at what other Christians are doing. To our greater shame before Your throne we confess we get angry so that instead of praying for them and encouraging them we tear and bite at them. We confess we hear the voices of mocking—from friends, our own inner thought life and enemies alike—and allow ourselves to be weighed down. Lift up the light of Your face on us, O LORD, that we may be, by Your Word and Spirit, restored to the peace which has been so richly given in Jesus Christ. Help us now, more than ever in these chaotic Covid times, to live as Christians who love one another truly and richly in Christ and who seek to press in ever closer to Jesus in Whom we find our great unity. Amen.

https://youtu.be/5UvBH9lPU1I

February 24, 2021 -- Psalm 4:4-5 -- Righteous anger without sin

Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.

Psalm 4:4-5 English Standard Version

The root verb for “be angry” is to tremble or quake. You can just see how it is the root of anger. Someone can be so angry that their body shakes with rage—and now notice the command which follows it: do not sin! Why combine these two verbs? In order to make a change, a deep and true and lasting change in one’s life, you need to hate sin so much you tremble in rage against it and hate it—whether it is your own sin or the sin of others. And then you need to control this anger so you are not so blinded against this one sin that you turn and in hot rage pursues another sin.

Pondering such on your bed is to keep you from renewing your devotion to the sin which just caused the trembling. How often have I said in my heart “I am never going to sin in that way again?” Only to pick up that exact sin in the morning again. Psalm 1 told us the path of the righteous, those who delight in the Law of the LORD and on His Word meditate day and night.

Why are Christians so neutered in these pandemic times? It is because Christians are posting silly memes against this person or that leader. Unless Christians hate the sins of their own life and the sins of this generation and the sins of government and tremble with rage against them—against the sins of our lives, the sins of our communities and the sins of our government and land—nothing will change. Then ponder the power of God. Then day and night go to the throne room of God, bringing His Word and His promises to Him. It is the LORD our God Who places leaders in power and it is the LORD Who overthrows them so that great is the splash of their fall. Steadfast Christian—pray. That is the most powerful weapon the LORD has placed into your hands.

Be silent. Stop gossiping. Stop berating the various leaders on social media. It is a useless peeing against the wind to do so (the author of Ecclesiastes has a more eloquent “vanity, vanity, a chasing after the wind”). Into the times of quiet, remind yourself of the precious promises of God and the power of His Word and salvation shown so clearly in Christ. Notice, an editor felt it appropriate to call readers of the psalm to stop, reread and reflect (in silence so the heart is correctly oriented towards the LORD).

Finally, offer the sacrifices of praise—that is what Hebrews 13:15 describes as right sacrifices—the fruit of lips that openly profess Jesus’ Name. It is the work of the Spirit to recalibrate hearts in this way. If you find you are trembling with rage against this person and that situation and against brothers and sisters in the LORD, slow yourself down, be silent and ponder in your heart the might and magnificence of God. Sing praises to the LORD your God—this is the right sacrifice and renews your trust in the LORD our God. He knows the end from the beginning—God’s got this!

Prayer—portions of Psalm 104

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

O LORD my God, you are very great!

You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

covering yourself with light as with a garment,

stretching out the heavens like a tent.

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;

I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

May my meditation be pleasing to him,

for I rejoice in the LORD.

Let sinners be consumed from the earth,

and let the wicked be no more!

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Praise the LORD!

Psalm 104:1-2,33-35 English Standard Version

https://youtu.be/J1QTJvGtoQA

February 23, 2021 -- Psalm 4:2-3 -- Forgiven and Forgiving

O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.

Psalm 4:2-3 English Standard Version

Got an email recently. It was unexpected. This email is from someone with whom I’d had a sharp falling out. So it was necessary last year to guard my heart and set a watch over my mouth so that I didn’t diss him publicly nor do so in my heart. Thinking of that email brought home the psalmist’s words as particularly pertinent to me.

While feeling the sting of rumours and gossip started by this person against me, I must ask myself how often have I been the source of such things against others? It is easy to lick one’s lips against the sins and wrong-doing of others all the while holding tightly to one’s own as-yet-undiscovered wickedness. No wonder the Spirit causes the godly to pause, reread and reflect on these words and examine his own heart before going on. [Selah is the musical expression used to call the reader to pause, reread and reflect on what has just been read.]

The godly are not perfect. The godly are not faultless. The godly are the ones set apart by God who have experienced His profound forgiveness. The godly know how deep is the need for the LORD’s mercy so that they are ever appealing to the LORD for such mercy. And such mercy received should result in mercy being extended to those who have fallen out—in the form of praying for such persons. In a heart ready to forgive. A life that is prepared to call out sin for what it is: sin. And having called out sin, to deal with it in light of the spacious grace, love and kindness of God poured out on all who repent. The psalmist is reminding us here on earth, the Father in heaven Who has forgiveness us in Christ has created every opportunity for restoring community and fullness of life among all fellow believers. What a glorious goal and hope.

With the hymn-writer it is stirring to cry out to You, God of my righteousness—”My sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.” Spirit of God, having applied the righteousness of Christ to the hearts of all who cry out to Jesus, please now guard the hearts of Christ’s flock so that we do not on the one hand accept forgiveness and on the other hold out resentments against those we perceive are wronging us. Triune God, give us the wisdom from on high to withstand evil, the mercy to negotiate forgiveness with those who hurt and wrong us, and serenity to accept whatever we cannot change. Let our hearts ever sing Your praises for the relentless tides of Your mercy and love and patience exercised on each of us. Amen.

https://youtu.be/0nJ6wQpLmuo

February 20, 2021 -- Psalm 4:1 -- Answer Me, God, When I Call

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

4 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
    You have given me relief when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

Psalm 4:1 English Standard Version

Dear people of God our Righteousness—didn’t you just read Psalm 3 and hear the psalmist cry out to God in turmoil because he was surrounded by many enemies? Yes you did, and now Psalm 4 has the psalmist crying out to God again asking for relief. Life for Christians is not an unbroken series of trouble-free and bliss-full steps tiptoeing lightly through flowers fields and tulips until one finally achieves eternity. Not at all! Life as a Christian is hard-slogging and difficult because the one who seeks to serve God is at odds with everyone else on the planet.

Fellow Christians find in one another a refuge-place of joy and peace because only fellow Christians know the anguish of living among a planet of full of people who hate God—the very Father Who gave ungrateful people life, breath, intelligence, the splendour of creation to declare His glories every single day and the Word which reveals Him so the heart delights and the soul swells with anticipation of eternity in uninterrupted worship and adoration of His magnificence. Fellow Christians point each other to the throne room where God the gracious brings relief and life. Fellow Christians remind the wounded, weary brother or sister that sins do not have ultimate victory, instead, Jesus Christ has removed God’s wrath from them and given His extravagant forgiveness and peace.

Fellow Christians sing—note this Psalm is for the choir-master and meant to be sung. Why? Music is like a brain worm. It wriggles in and out of the grey matter so that all the day long hearts are filled with a song that describes the difficulties of life but more importantly, shouts the mighty Glory of God the Gracious Who is bringing His relief. Tomorrow is Sunday. Plan on getting to a place of worship. Petition the government, church is essential.

Thank You, God of Salvation, that Your Word accurately reflects the things your people encounter and Your Word leads in the way of salvation, life and victory. Thank You for the fact that Your people, who cry out in distress and weep in frustrated confession while in sitting the ashes of old familiar places where their sins are overwhelming them—these same Christians find Your forgiveness and restoration over and over again until the day when sin shall be no more and the victory of Jesus will become sight. Spirit of God, sustain us this day in God, the God of my righteousness Who has been perfectly revealed, finally revealed, in Jesus Christ. Amen.

https://youtu.be/vFVFV4jfHSc

February 19, 2021 -- Psalm 3:7-8 -- The Warrior King Strikes His Enemies

Arise, O LORD!
    Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
    you break the teeth of the wicked.

8 Salvation belongs to the Lord;
    your blessing be on your people! Selah

Psalm 3:7-8 English Standard Version

The expression “arise, O LORD” at the start of our reading today is one often used when Israel is going to war. It is the LORD Who is “a man of war” (Exodus 15:3). Jesus is called “Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war” (Revelation 19:11). As New Testament believers you know your lives are filled with all kinds of warfare—political leaders celebrate abortion, the murderous practice that stops a beating heart. Chaplains in various positions in Canada are commanded not to proselytize—that is, chaplains paid by the government cannot actively evangelize the people with whom they are working. So much wickedness promulgated by government—overwhelmed, the psalmist cries out to God—Save your people!

The Psalmist has personally felt the attack of enemies, the taunts and mocking of those arrayed against him and prays—strike all my enemies on the cheek. The verb strike includes a range of meaning from hitting with force to incapacitating and on to striking so that someone dies. The writer is crying out to the LORD Who is the just judge to apply the force He knows is right so that the enemy will be vanquished or will be converted to be a fellow follower of the the LORD the Warrior-King.

The Psalmist finally knows he needs the LORD to conquer the most persistent enemy—the soundtrack of his brain—the very taunts of his enemies which have become the verbal sticks and stones which are crushing his bones and grinding his hope into dust “many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God”. Once again the writer asserts the Living God will bring His salvation. Any and every enemy will be defeated. Oh, take new courage believers—the LORD is the God of Salvation and Victory The eyes of faith see this. Read this psalm, pray it until the truth of God’s victory moves you to new boldness in His holy Name.

Our prayer today is Psalm 3.

O LORD, how many are my foes!
    Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul,
    “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah

3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 I cried aloud to the LORD,
    and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

5 I lay down and slept;
    I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
    who have set themselves against me all around.

7 Arise, O LORD!
    Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
    you break the teeth of the wicked.

8 Salvation belongs to the LORD;
    your blessing be on your people! Selah

ESV

https://youtu.be/juPIwHavIq0

February 17, 2021 -- Psalm 3:5-6 -- Christ puts fretful fears to death

I lay down and slept;

I woke again for the LORD sustained me.

I will not be afraid of thousands of people

who have set themselves against me all around.

Psalm 3:5-6 English Standard Version

When your mind is filled with anxious thoughts of enemies, of your wrong-doing and the nagging notion God is far from you, can you sleep? No. Most people cannot sleep when there is so much turbulence churning in their hearts and minds. The psalmist set his fears and fretful thoughts before the LORD in prayer. And he slept.

What a profound lesson for the world today. How many Covid variants are there out and about now? Will the vaccine work? Will I be employed tomorrow? Will the cancer diagnosis sweep me away into death? What if poverty overtakes me like a bandit? What if I am never reconciled with the person who hates me? What if the judge is cruel and I am sentenced for a much longer prison term than has been suggested by the defense and prosecutor’s joint pre-sentencing submission? What if my sins find me out?

Real world questions and distressing thoughts can only be brought to submission before the LORD Who is your shield, He is your glory and He is the One Who can lift your head from despair and bring your life to victory no matter your circumstances. Jesus, while on a boat with His disciples, in the middle of a wicked storm which threatened to swamp them, slept peacefully. Why? Because the LORD answers His people from His holy hill. No matter what is in store for you, the LORD knows your past, your present and He holds your future.

Confess your sins. Christ has taken away God’s wrath against them. Trust God in the roller coaster ride of fears and diagnoses and times you feel helpless. Your life, and your death, these are in the hand of Your Father in heaven Who will bring you safe to Himself. Live submitted to Jesus Christ and by the power of His Spirit do what you know to be right. And beloved of the LORD sleep in peace. Blessed be His Name.

LORD our God, You Who answers His people from His living space of power—hear the pleas and cries of Your people. Hear now all those who have kissed the Son and submitted to His Kingly Rule. Spirit of the Living God, drive us into the arms of the Father, where Christ has made open our place of refuge. Amen.

https://youtu.be/oVurrAuobKU

February 16, 2021 -- Psalm 3:1-4 -- Defeating the Internal Monologue

O Lord, how many are my foes!
    Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul,
    “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah

3 But you, O LORD are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 I cried aloud to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

Psalm 3:1-4 English Standard Version

What you are reading is the interior monologue in the psalmist’s brain. It is the constant voice in your own head talking at you. For the psalmist he is letting the foes, his enemies—whatever they are, whether physical, mental, spiritual or emotional—he is letting them gain the upper hand. In fact, his troublers don’t even have to lift a finger against the writer of this psalm because the psalmist’s own brain is defeating him for them. Verse 2 ends with a mocking statement that made the author pause. Notice the musical term “Selah”.

Scholars are divided as to what “Selah” means. It makes the most sense to interpret Selah as pause, re-read what was stated before and reflect. This action stirs the psalmist to remember he is praying to the LORD and the LORD is not mocked and the LORD is not silent!

Look at the strong names used: LORD—this is the Name God revealed to Moses Exodus 3:14. He is the personal God Who keeps covenant. He is the God Who is outside of time and is Mighty. The LORD is a shield. He stands over His people, when you feel weak, defeated and worn and shields you from all the attacks of the enemy. He is the glory of His people.

The LORD saves His people and crowns them with love and compassion. He is the Lifter of our Heads—we are not bowed down in weakness and sin, but the LORD has raised us up and called us beloved daughters and sons! This is the work of Jesus Christ—He has defeated the devil. Jesus has taken your place at the cross and received the punishment your sins deserved. Jesus had given you His righteousness! No wonder New Testament readers of Psalm 3 shout for joy!

God of Infinite Power blessed are You. O God Hope of the helpless and strength of the defeated, hear the cries of Your people this day. The world is awash with confusion and trembles at things which are foolishness and laughs at the Splendor of Your Name—and as Your beloved children we confess this is all so chaotic and messes with our thinking. Spirit of God direct our thoughts as You did for the Psalmist who then experienced and prophesied: our Shield, our Glory and the Lifter of our Head—all this we ask in the Name of Jesus our Warrior-King! Amen.

Delight in this children’s song which reminds us so powerfully of the truth which this psalm is communicating to your head and heart.

https://youtu.be/LXYr0IswMQg

February 15, 2021 -- Psalm 2:7-12 -- Cast all mocking aside

I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 2:7-12 English Standard Version

What a perverse sense of right and wrong our world has right now. Today is “Family Day” in Canada. Stores are shut up tight. However, Sundays are truly the day for families. It is the day designated by the Father and Christ His Son for worship. Single or married, young or old, all are invited to be joined with the Family of God and glorify the Son. Yet, on Sundays stores are wide open so that people can bring their gifts to the altars of consumerism. Why does this matter? Psalm 2 is calling on kings and legislators, prime ministers and premiers, and all ‘ordinary Christians’ to be wise, not in the eyes of society, but to be wise in the eyes of the LORD.

There are two ways to “kiss the Son”—Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus with a kiss. It was the height of mocking and cursing. Yet, many Christians betray Jesus in the same way. They follow Jesus in public, but watch porn in private. They praise Jesus in church and curse out their sister in their hearts. Kissing the Son, paying merely lip service to Jesus, is not acceptable.

The believer is warned by these words! To kiss the Son in truth is to bring your life into conformity with His rule in public and private. It is to take refuge in Jesus while the storms of life rage and temptations assault you incessantly and you know, with trembling in your heart, unless the Spirit of God moves in and through you, sin will master you. To kiss the Son is to confess you sin and call out to Him, save me—fill me with Your Spirit so that my life public and private, free time and working time all flow together bringing honour and glory to the Father.

Your majesty is dreadful and great, LORD God of Heaven and Earth. Hear Your people as we confess the hollowness of our worship and the times we “do devotions” in order to check this off our list and then go and do the things our wayward hearts clamor for us to do thereby merely kissing the Son in mocking. Spirit of God apply the Word to us as the restraining grace of Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus, by the Spirit and His lightning illumination of the Word may our lives thunder in praise to God the Great and Glorious Judge. Bring many into real and deep fellowship with You, Father-Son-Holy Spirit One God blessed now and forevermore. Amen.

https://youtu.be/ieOL4X3nk2c

February 14, 2021 -- Psalm 2:1-6 -- What Faith Sees

Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
    on Zion, my holy hill.”

Psalm 2:1-6 English Standard Version

What a radically different picture of the Mighty Warrior of Heaven is given here which so directly challenges the wimpy love, love, love view of God that is prevalent today. What is happening to the wicked, who seem so powerful in the eyes of the world and so powerful in their own minds? The LORD’s prophet by way of this Psalm is declaring their ruin is already sure.

The LORD knows the end right from the beginning—no petty prime minister, nor taunting president, nor bullying despot has any chance against the LORD of Glory and Power. While the people squirm under the heels of health ministers and petty officials—who take away God-given rights and even trample the charters of their own administrations—may now see only from an earthly perspective, the LORD here gives a glimpse from the throne room of heaven. The LORD of heaven laughs in derision. He mocks the puny ones whom He has set up in authority who are trying to defy Him. The LORD has given and the LORD will take away.

The LORD has set up the King—as New Testament Christians we know this King to be Jesus. He is seated at the Right Hand of the Father bringing all things—all rulers, powers and authorities, yes even one day death itself—into submission to the Father in heaven. The time is short—the righteous are called to serve the True King of heaven. The righteous comprehend the battle of the ages, where tiny creatures and Lilliputian kings and despots, government ministers are trying to over-rule the True King of Heaven. So the righteous, undaunted, carry on serving the One Enthroned.

The LORD has given this Psalm as a warning—so it is a merciful psalm as well. When the LORD speaks of His terrible power it is always an opportunity for the wicked to repent of their planning which is self-directed rather than carried out in submission to His Holy Name. Therefore the righteous must pray. Therefore knowing God’s warning hangs over the heads of the wicked, the righteous, those whose way the LORD watches over, must urgently and fervently pray for the leaders who are increasing the wrath of God being heaped on their heads. May the LORD bring these leaders to holy repentance so that nations who once took counsel against the LORD, now newly submitted to Him will laugh in the sunshine of His favour. Where kings and prime ministers, presidents and despots have repented they will lead their people in revival blessings. Oh God the Blessed and Abounding in Covenant Faithfulness, increase our faith so that we pray with such vision!

Blessed Father in heaven, You have appointed Christ the Resurrected One, as True King over all in this cosmos. Thank You for the eyes of faith which perceive this Truth by the Spirit’s revelation. Thank You Father in heaven for the beauty of Your Word which teaches us to see what the world seeks to obfuscate. LORD Jesus Christ, send Your Spirit to open the eyes of blind rulers and wicked leaders who make decisions without reference to Your Mighty Reign. Cause the blinders of self-importance and worldly agendas to fall from their eyes so that Your True Power and Reign fill their thoughts and vision. May there be a holy revival which sweeps through our land. Let Christ be recognized as the One enthroned as King so that leaders and those who are led alike shout and sing causing His praises to fill the land from sea to sea to sea. Amen.

https://youtu.be/GzlponYvF30

February 12, 2021 -- Psalm 1:4-5 -- How are the wicked and the righteous really any different?

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous;

for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1:5-6 English Standard Version

You might be saying under your breath: “Did I miss something? This morning’s passage is so black and white.” On reaching the final line maybe become indignant and whisper “I know a lot of good people, moral people, who are kind to others, shoveling their elderly neighbour’s snow-drifted-to-the-height-of the-door-of-the-car driveways without expecting pay. Is the LORD stating that good people who don’t know Him are rushing headlong into the gaping maw of hell?”

Typical of human nature, isn’t it? Looking for a loop-hole is so common. Psalm 1:1-3 described the wicked perfectly. (Read it again, I don’t mind waiting. Yeah, seriously, re-read it!) The wicked are the mockers, the sinners, and those whose advice seems good, but any suggestion and all advice is offered without reference to the Living God and His ways. The wicked are not only actively evil they are also passively rebellious against the Sovereign Ruler of All. Rather than looking to the Law of God for their delight and their source of counsel, they drink from broken cisterns—basically they seek their refreshment anywhere, everywhere other than in Him Who is the Source of every good gift and all wise counsel. The passage today begins with a “therefore”—all that has gone there before is the grounds for the summation found in the reading today.

Therefore the wicked, for their active evil and passive rebellion against the Living God Who made them, gives them breath and sustains them, the wicked will fail in the Day of Judgment. All sense of hubris, any inkling of “when I see God I will tell Him what I think” fades into pitiable silence. The wicked are by their actions and their choices rushing towards hell. It is shocking and grievous. It is the reason believers are compelled to stand and tell others about the glory of God the Judge. Hell which awaits the wicked and the mocker and the sinner is agony beyond description

The righteous are directed by the LORD their God. He refreshes their souls. The righteous see how close their thoughts are to those of the wicked and confess these thoughts. The righteous know it is the Spirit of God Who restrains their sinful impulses. The righteous delight in the Law of the LORD because they know that they are saved by the intervention of the Father in heaven Who has given the Son for the complete forgiveness of all their sins. The righteous have no reason for boasting nor any grounds for feeling superior—the righteous realize this—it is grace, from start to finish, from top to bottom and through-out the fabric of their lives, it is the grace of God injected into them by the Spirit of God which makes them righteous.

Therefore the righteous are confirmed in their walking away from the counsel of the wicked; this is the reason why the righteous do not stand around with sinners—they know the familiar pull of temptation which would lead them back into sin and wickedness. The righteous are not “holier-than-thou”, they are self-aware enough to realize walking, stopping and finally sitting down with sinners is the entranceway leading them right back to the all-too-near old patterns of sin and hateful disrespect of the Glorious God Who has lifted them from this pathway and set their feet on the path of life. When the righteous see the deeds of the wicked, they are drawn to the Word of God, given as the preventative cure of terminal temptations of sin. Blessed be the LORD our God Who richly blesses His children with life and hope and strength for new paths.

O God, the Holy Spirit, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son~have mercy on me.

Increase my faith in the clear knowledge of atonement achieved,

expiation completed, satisfaction made, guilt done away,

my debt paid, my sins forgiven, my person redeemed, my soul saved,

hell vanquished, heaven opened, eternity made mine.

O Holy Spirit, deepen in me these saving lessons.

Write them upon my heart, that my walk be sin-loathing, sin-fleeing,

Christ-loving;

And suffer no devil’s device to beguile or deceive me.

^We give thanks to You, LORD of Lords,

for Your steadfast love endures forever.

the prayer begins with a quotation of: The Spirit’s Work from The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions and the final two lines are adapted from Psalm 136:3.

https://youtu.be/OYJK6wjhUuM

February 11, 2021 -- Psalm 1:1-4 -- A warning and an invitation

Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
    but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Psalm 1:1-4 English Standard Version

How much time do you spend planning the next movie channel series you are going to watch? You have seen adverts for it and you have been thinking about binge watching. You really don’t have a block of time like that, in fact, other things are unattended, sleep is pushed too deep into the night in order to imbibe in the obsession. Perhaps it is not even planned, the series just sort of falls into your lap and you are hooked.

The Psalmist is describing the Word of God in this way. It is something he cannot get enough of. It consumes his thinking. When he is not actively reading the Word of God, he is thinking about it. It replenishes his enthusiasm for the task at hand, knowing once this is done, he will be able to drink deeply of the Word of God. Jesus described Himself as Living Water (John 4). His Word and His refreshing presence well up within the believer such that all else fades from prominence and urgency.

Perhaps you do not experience the presence of the LORD in this way? Perhaps you find the Word dry and boring? That is the experience of chaff—the outer husk of wheat that is beaten off the wheat and when the wheat and chaff are tossed up into the air, the wind carries away the near weightless chaff into oblivion and the weighted wheat falls into a pile at the feet of the Master Who is threshing His wheat.

This Psalm is both a warning and an invitation. Examine your life. If you are not finding delight in the Word of God—something is seriously wrong with your life. The chaff, those who love mockers, sinners and scoffers will find one day that they are driven away from the Word and their fall and destruction are sure. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the time to return to your first love. Ask the Spirit of God to change you from the inside-out so that the Word takes its rightful place in your heart and mind. Cut out the nonsense you are filling your mind with now so that having removed the detritus of your mind, there is room for delight in the Word and more importantly, there is room for the adoration of the Person Jesus.

The invitation. Read the Word. Study it until your mind’s eye and your faith see Jesus in dreadful Majesty. Spend time with it until you get to know the main characters, the plot lines, the story arcs and it moves from being unfamiliar to something that fills your heart with joy and blessedness. Pray for the Spirit of God to renew your delight in the Word so that when your assigned time for reading it is done, you find you are still lingering, squeezing out some more time so that you can drink in all the delights of it. You find yourself thinking about Jesus and His glories and this overshadows your day and fills your nights. The promise pictured in this Psalm is that those who live in this way will find their lives yielding fruitfulness and abundance—even when the rest of the world is in drought and in a famine for hearing the Word of the LORD—your heart, soul, and mind are being constantly replenished.

  O God the Holy Spirit,

Thou who dost proceed from the Father and the Son,

have mercy on me.

When thou didst first hover over chaos,

order came to birth ,beauty robed the world, fruitfulness sprang forth.

Move, I pray thee, upon my disordered heart;

Take away the infirmities of unruly desires and hateful lusts;

Lift the mists and darkness of unbelief;

Brighten my soul with the pure light of truth;

Make it fragrant as the garden of paradise, rich with every goodly fruit,

beautiful with heavenly grace, radiant with rays of divine light.

Fulfil in me the glory of thy divine  offices;

Be my comforter, light, guide, sanctifier;

Take of the things of Christ and show them to my soul;

Through thee may I daily learn more of his love, grace, compassion,

faithfulness, beauty…

The Valley of Vision “The Spirit’s Word”

https://youtu.be/8C3WQ1G1Uso

February 10, 2021 -- Psalm 1:1-2 -- Walking in Blessedness

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2 English Standard Version

The Psalms are the prayer-book of the Bible. Each psalm is packed with Spirit-fueled insight so that the believer can grow in his prayerful-walk with the Living God. Today is the launch of a new series, a study-devotional of the Book of Psalms.

Psalm 1 stands as the introduction to the whole and what the Spirit teaches the believer is important to help you understand the rest of the book. There is one way of faithfulness, drenching one’s life in truth, which is obedience to law of the LORD. Obedience to the Living God is the evidence, the fruit, of a life dedicated to the Father in heaven—Who is the source of every good gift. Every other path, every other life-style that touts itself as truth without delight in the Law of God is, in fact, a lie forged in hell to chain people in the way of disobedience and death which ultimately leads to eternity in hell.

Jesus lived out such delightful obedience to the Father in heaven. In fact, He is the only, perfectly and fully obedient One Who ever lived. In His obedience believers are credited with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. In His Person He took on our sins and our sins were fully punished so that all who believe in Jesus have had their sins removed and His obedience to the Father is credited to us! The Spirit of the Living God fills believers with the ever-increasing desire for obedience to the way of God. These laws give expression to and practical form to thankful living.

Walking in the way of Jesus Christ is living in Spirit-directed compliance to the Word of God, a pathway filled with challenges. Like the Master Jesus, believers face scoffers and mockers, bad worldly counsel and persecution. Even so, the believer has experienced the fact that any other pathway, all other religions and all other advice which is merely from the world, is the road which leads to death. Therefore the blessed man, the blessed woman, the blessed child fix their eyes on Jesus. Such blessed persons walk in submission to the authority of the God of all Power Who is the Source of Every Blessing. In so walking they count all things as loss and dung except this: ever more fully and deeply knowing Jesus Christ and by the Spirit’s power walking in His way all for the glory of the Father in heaven.

Who is like You, O God our Father? There is none like You in neither in the outer reaches of the cosmos, nor on the earth, nor under the earth! You are merciful in the salvation You have shown and radiantly continue to show us in Jesus Christ. You are the Way-Maker, through Jesus Christ, bringing lost and ruined sinners to the place where salvation is richly poured out. Who is like You, Faithful Father, giving believers the Spirit of God, the same Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead, so that believers can walk in obedience to the Word of God and find delight in submission to You, no matter the slings and the arrows of the rebellious people, rulers and peers of our times. Strengthen our conformity to Your will and Your way so that beauty of Jesus Christ shines out from us, re-convincing us daily of our devotion to Him and convicting the people around us, of His splendour and Terrible Sovereignty. Amen.

https://youtu.be/zOpt_bulJxY

February 8, 2021 -- John 21:24 -- Jesus is proved true

This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

John 21:24 English Standard Version

Odd snippet of text to have as the focus of this day, isn’t it? The disciple John overhead the exchanges between Simon Peter and Jesus. How Jesus restored Simon Peter and gave him the honourable task “feed my lambs, feed my sheep”. Then Jesus foretold of Simon Peter’s martyrdom—indeed, as he’d previously vowed to be faithful to Jesus no-matter-what, and failed—now Jesus told Peter he would be martyred. As the reader follows in Acts, Simon Peter he would be empowered by the Spirit of God and prayed for by Jesus so he could stand with Jesus in the days of his witnessing, testing and martyrdom.

The disciple Jesus loved, John, heard all these things and now bears witness to them. It was by the design of the Spirit that John should hear these things and preserve them. John’s witness shows to believers how Jesus takes sinful men and women and restores them. Jesus, by His Spirit, empowers those who repeatedly fail and by His redeeming sacrifice and His intercessory work (that is, Jesus’ faithful prayers for His people at the Father’s right hand) Jesus preserves those who in their own strength can never follow Him.

John’s testimony is true—because it is Spirit led. John’s testimony is true, the Bible bears it witness to it, Peter becomes a faithful witness to Jesus Christ despite persecution and imprisonment. He still stumbles, at times significantly. He still has to grow in his faith and re-learn some of the basics, but he becomes an early leader in the New Testament Church—faithful to Jesus Christ. John’s testimony is true, just as Jesus worked in Peter’s life, Jesus takes you and He works His salvation into every part of your life so that your boast is ever, always, and only Jesus Christ. He is your glory; He is the lifter of head so that His salvation is proved to be a work of your Father’s electing love. Jesus is true, He is your salvation and this is so because His Spirit will not let you go nor stumble beyond the grip of Jesus’ saving grace. This is John’s true testimony. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Today’s prayer is the soaring Psalm 113:

Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
    praise the name of the Lord!

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
    from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised!

4 The Lord is high above all nations,
    and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
    who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
    on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
    making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord

Psalm 113 Biblegateway

https://youtu.be/3GH0aLQwhRY

February 5, 2021 -- John 21:21 -- Fully Engaged

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”

John 21:21 English Standard Version

Peter is the disciple I can most relate to in my own life. His mouth is often going before his brain has had a chance to fully engage. Once again this is the case. Peter has just had Jesus restore him—three times Jesus asked Peter—’Do you love Me?” Jesus asked these questions, one time for each of Peter’s previous denials. Then Jesus gave Peter a task, the work evidencing his restoration—”feed my lambs” and twice commanding “feed my sheep.”

And Peter, without even taking time to process what Jesus had spoken to him, saw John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, and asked Jesus “what about him?” Peter no doubt knew Jesus had business with John the beloved disciple as well.

This is why “twitter” is always exploding with this scandal or that gossip—people want to know everyone else’s business. It is easy to think “Me and God, we’ve got this…now, what about that person or look at the antics of her life!” Your life and your own heart and the purpose for which you have been restored laid are out before you—engage in the task Jesus has given you.

Give thanks to God the Father for the great salvation given to you in Christ Jesus the Savior-King! This is your life’s greatest purpose—offering thanks and praise, honour and worship poured out to God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Ask the Spirit of God to renew you in holy zeal so that you will live up to the purpose and task for which the Father has restored you in Christ.

Do what you know is right! Even in Covid times. Even when you are locked down. Write a letter of encouragement. Call a friend who you know needs encouragement. Spend time, focused time with each of your children at home and show them the joyful way of salvation. Study a portion of Scripture you’d always meant to learn. Memorize.

Pray. The government at all levels needs wisdom, needs Christians to rise up and give wise counsel and advice. The world is a mess—Christians are being persecuted in record numbers, and this is neglected by the news media. There are unreached people groups who need the Gospel—pray.

Blessed Father, thank You for the salvation You have so richly given in Jesus Christ! Forgive us, oh, forgive us for all the times we look around and ask “what about him” or “what about her” instead of confessing our own sins. Spirit of the Living God, as You apply the glorious forgiveness of Jesus cause us to rejoice in the extravagant gift of forgiveness and new life which is continually given us in Christ! Mighty God, You have ennobled us in Christ Jesus so that we are sons and daughters of the King Most High, therefore, Spirit of God, strengthen us to live up to our high calling. Amen.

https://youtu.be/j5slD2aSKKY

February 4, 2021 -- John 21:16 -- Restoration

He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

John 21:16 English Standard Version

Jesus, speaking to Simon Peter who denied Him three times, now asks Simon Peter a second time: “do you love me?” Jesus’ questions go to the very depths of Simon Peter’s denials and require an answer from a heart and mind in process of being sanctified, that is, being made holy. As Simon Peter answers Jesus he is being restored. Whenever the devil would later on seek to plant a seed of doubt—can Jesus really love you? Did He really restore you? Simon Peter will recall these questions and remember Jesus’ persistence in asking and Jesus’ purpose for restoration.

Notice also Jesus’ response to Simon Peter’s affirmative answer: “tend my sheep”. Jesus did not say to Peter, that’s it, you are going to have to wait four months and prove yourself penitent. No, Jesus restored Simon Peter and gave him an important task to do. The task confirms the veracity of Jesus’ forgiveness. The work of tending Jesus’ sheep, (these sheep are the people who soon would be without the presence of Jesus their Shepherd because He would be ascending to heaven) would confirm Simon Peter’s forgiveness and teach others the way of forgiving love and restoration in Jesus’ Name. Tending the sheep would give shape and help Simon Peter express his thanks and praise to God.

I wonder how many forgiven people languish in the uncertain place of being told they are forgiven, but not having any meaningful or useful task to do. It makes the forgiveness seem incomplete and the awkwardness between the one forgiving and the one being forgiveness unnecessarily extended. Most beautifully Jesus, our Saviour and Reconciler, teaches us the way of forgiveness—believers are called to tend other believers, to help in their restoration, or their growth in faith, or their work in living as Christians. In so doing the rich blessings of Jesus Christ are worked into and through-out the whole Christian community and the world notices and says “see how those Christians love one another!”

O Holy Spirit,

As the sun is full of light, the ocean full of water,

Heaven full of glory, so may my heart be full of thee.

Vain are all divine purposes of love and the redemption wrought by Jesus

except thou work within, regenerating by thy power, giving me eyes to see Jesus,

showing me the realities of the unseen world.

Give me thyself without measure,

as an unimpaired fountain as inexhaustible riches.

I bewail my coldness, poverty,

emptiness, imperfect vision, languid service, prayerless prayers, praiseless praises.

Suffer me not to grieve or resist thee.

Come as power, to expel every rebel lust, to reign supreme and keep me thine;

Come as teacher, leading me into all truth, filling me with all understanding;

Come as love, that I may adore the Father, and love him as my all;

Come as joy,

to dwell in me, move in me, animate me;

Come as light, illuminating the Scripture, moulding me in its laws;

Come as sanctifier, body, soul and spirit wholly thine;

Come as helper, with strength to bless and keep, directing my every step;

Come as beautifier, bringing order out of confusion, loveliness out of chaos.

Magnify to me thy glory by being magnified in me,

and make me redolent of thy fragrance.

“Spiritus Sanctus” The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions

https://youtu.be/tQUTvMtUhw4

February 3, 2021 -- John 21:15 -- Jesus' difficult question to you

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Fed my lambs.”

John 21:15 English Standard Version

With the arid smell of the charcoal fire still in his nostrils, his belly filled with the breakfast Jesus had provided, Peter was asked: “Do you love me more than these?” The question needs to be asked—more than these what? It seems a bit ambiguous. Does it refer to the fishing nets and the joy of working? It might. R.C. Sproul suggested it was a much sharper question: “Do you love Me more than these other men here love Me?”

According to Luke 7:42-43, those who have had greater debts forgiven, love with greater depths. Jesus has shown Simon Peter great compassion—not ostracizing him, not heaping scorn on his head—Jesus provided a great catch of fish. Jesus provided His Own company. Jesus provided breakfast. All this to Simon Peter, the man who denied Jesus three times. The man who disassociated himself from Jesus. Jesus did not distance Himself nor deny him.

Do you feel as if your sins are too great to be forgiven? Do you feel as if God the Father is more likely to scold you than to rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)? Let this passage sink into your mind and soul. In love Jesus approached Simon Peter and began the process of restoring him. So too Jesus has approached You by His Word and Spirit. You can love Him “more than these”—whoever or whatever used to be dear, such people and things have faded into obscurity in view of Jesus—Who has purchased your soul with His blood. Rejoice. He has set your soul free!

Today’s prayer of praise is drawn from Zephaniah, already referred to in the devotional. The prayer includes these terms Daughter of Zion and Daughter of Jerusalem which are references to the much loved people of God. Jesus is the Holy Bridegroom—He will return to claim His Bride (the daughters of Jerusalem and Zion) and bring her to the new heavens and new earth, clothed in holiness and joy. As forgiven people, washed by the blood of Jesus Christ, we are part of this joy-filled, rejoicing and exulting redeemed people!

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
17 The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

Zephaniah 3:14-17 ESV from Biblegateway

https://youtu.be/fAJyGZlbeTg