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A Godly Exchange

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“…emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant…” – Philippians 2:7a

Seeing Clearly

We have spent the last couple of studies looking at the glory of God, discussing the fact that nothing on earth is more “valuable”.  We also looked at the foolishness of exchanging God’s glory when nothing can compare to it.  I wanted to write the prior two studies as a means of putting todays into perspective.  The better grasp we have of the glory of God, the more clearly we will understand the sacrifice Christ made.  The more clearly we understand the sacrifice Christ made, the less likely we will exchange the glory of God.

Glory Concealed

Philippians chapter two gives us Christ’s example of humility.  We are told, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in the human form,  he humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:4-8).  In contrast to man, who exchanges the glory of God for an image, the Son of God empties himself and takes on the form of a servant!  In other words, Christ “covered” His glory with flesh and blood.

Jesus did not lay aside His deity, but in a sense He willingly restricted it.  Like a strong man that ties one arm behind his back.  He doesn’t have less strength, he just restricts the strength he has.  So it was when Christ became a man.  He yoked His deity with humanity.  For thirty years his flesh “hid” His glory.  During the last three years of His life, the radiance began to break through more frequently.  On the Mount of Transfiguration, the inner circle was given a glimpse of what the flesh was covering for a season. “And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light” (Matthew 17:2).

Why?

Why did Jesus “hide” His glory for a season?  So we could enjoy it for eternity.  Jesus temporarily “exchanged” His glory for servanthood because He loves us.  More importantly, because He loves the Father.  “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  Jesus is jealous for the glory of God.  Jesus knows nothing is more precious.  Therefore, “though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.”  Rather than clinging to what was rightfully his with a clenched fist, He emptied Himself with open hands praying, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42b).  A lesson in humility indeed.  “Have this mind among yourselves.”

Our Savior sweat drops of blood.  Our Creator carried a cross.  Our God will be glorified.  Sin has consequences.  Especially for the sinless Savior.  No one was more familiar with sin’s consequences than Jesus.  No one was more familiar with the sacrifice that had to be made to atone for sin than the Lamb of God.  Looking around Heaven for someone to fix man’s dilemma wasn’t an option.  Waiting for mankind to solve their problem wasn’t going to work either.  Man’s only hope was God in the flesh.  Deity yoked with humanity.

Glory Revealed

In the manger, Our Savior was born in “the likeness of men.”  On the cross, He hung in “human form.”  The flesh could only conceal the glory for so long.  Mary covered Jesus’ humanity with “swaddling cloth and laid him in a manger” (Luke 2:7a).  God revealed Jesus deity by rolling away the stone and raising Him from the grave.  The grave cloths were left behind.  A resurrected Savior doesn’t need burial cloths.  God’s glory never again needs to be covered.  Before His prayer of submission in the garden, Jesus offered up another prayer, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.  And now, Father, glorify Me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (John 17:4-5).

Rewarding Exchange

Jesus exchanged His glory for servanthood.  He died for our sins.  He glorified the Father by accomplishing the work the Father gave Him to do.  Jesus is now glorified in the presence of the Father with the glory He had with Him before the world existed.  May we learn from the humility of Christ.  May our desire be to glorify the Father on earth by accomplishing the work He has given us to do.  It will often require laying aside our pride and taking on the form of a servant.  For the child of God, it may be the most rewarding exchange.

“I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” – John 17:26

“Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father.” – Philippians 2:9-11

A Foolish Exchange

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“They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.” –  Psalm 106:20

Similar Value?

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines the word exchange as such, “An occurrence in which people give things of similar value to each other.”  Imagine how you would feel if you opened your safe and discovered an item(s) of great value was missing.  Perhaps a family heirloom.  Perhaps an item of great sentimental value.  Maybe your “love” letters from years ago.  Imagine your disappointment to learn that your child took this item from the safe and traded it at school for a stick of gum or perhaps a frog.  What seemed like a good exchange to your child would be laughable to you (once you stopped crying).  It would certainly be a teachable moment about trading (and stealing).  You wouldn’t want your child to repeat such a foolish exchange.  Nor does God want His children to.  We can forgive a child for a foolish act done out of ignorance, but what excuse do we have as adults to make an even more foolish exchange on a regular basis?

Jealous God

El Qanna.  In Exodus chapter 20 verse 4, God tells the Israelites they are not to make idols.  In verse 5, he continues by telling the Israelites they are not to worship or bow down to idols because He is El Qanna.  A jealous God.  God is jealous for His reputation.  He is jealous for His name.  Exodus 34:14 says, “For you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”  God alone is to be worshiped.  He alone is worthy.  In Psalm 106 from which today’s passage comes, the Psalmist asks the question, “Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all His praise” (verse 2)?   Despite the fact that God miraculously delivered the Israelites from Egypt and parted the Red Sea for them to cross on dry ground, the Israelites “forgot God’s works” (verse 13) and then “forgot God, their Savior” (verse 21).  It is difficult to utter the mighty deeds of the LORD if we are forgetful them.  It is easy to make a bad exchange if we are ignorant of worth.  We need to hold in higher esteem the glory of God.

Worthless Idols

When held as slaves in Egypt, the Israelites were introduced to Apis, an idol in the form of a bull.  When Moses and Aaron arrived, the Israelites were “introduced” to Yahweh.  It was His power that performed the miracles.  It was His power that parted the Red Sea.  It was His hand that wrote the Ten Commandments.  The Pillar of Fire, the manna, and the quail, all were of God.  Apis, however,  was powerless.  Yet when Moses spends time with God on a mountain, the Israelites “resurrect” Apis.  In our self-righteousness, we ask, how?  In our self-centeredness, we do the same thing.  Like the foolish child we take what belongs to God and give it to Apis.  Not an ox to feed our family.  Not an ox to pull a plow.  The image of an ox that eats grass.  What a foolish exchange.  We might be further ahead with a stick of gum or a frog.

Costly Ignorance

Yesterday we looked at the relationship between the glory of God and His works.  In His works, God manifests His character.  Today’s text shows us the danger of forgetting God’s works.  Forgetting His works can lead to forgetting Him.  Forgetting God results in a foolish exchange.  Ignorance may be an excuse for a child, but not for us.  We have the Living Word.  We have the indwelling Spirit.  We have access to the Throne.  We have a testimony.  We have no excuse to “forget” the works of God.  We have no justification to “forget” God.  I believe the best way to avoid making a bad exchange like the Israelites did is to practice what the Psalmist asks rhetorically in verse 2, “Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all His praise?”  A child of God can.  A child of God must.

Wise Investments

Nothing is more “valuable” than the glory of God.  God is jealous for His name and we should be too.  We need to spend time in the Word getting to know God more intimately.  We need to spend time in prayer and being still before God.  We need to be sensitive to the moving of the Spirit and not quench Him.  We need to fellowship with other Believers and sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron.  We need to be more eternally focused and not allow the world to draw us back to Apis.  We need to utter the mighty works of God, beginning with the cross.  We need to declare His praise.

Some day we will be gathered in Heaven.  The streets will be pure gold.  The foundations will be precious jewels.  We will be surrounded by a wall of jasper.  As valuable as these things may be, they will seem worthless compared to the glory of God, whose presence will outshine them all.  If the building materials of heaven cannot compare to the glory of God, certainly nothing on earth can.  If there is nothing of similar value, why are we so quick to exchange it?

Don’t be foolish.  Don’t steal from God.  Don’t exchange His glory for the image of an ox.  Instead of imitating the Israelites, may we have the passion of Moses.

“Please show me your glory.” – Exodus 33:18

The Heavens Declare

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“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” – Psalm 19:1

Heavenly Lessons

How wise we would be to imitate the heavens.  Declaring the glory of God and proclaiming His handiwork.  Isn’t that why we were created?  Isn’t that why we were redeemed?  We like to “make much” of ourselves.  Too much.  When we are caught in the trap of thinking the world revolves around us it is good to look to the heavens.  The heavens don’t declare your greatness.  They certainly don’t proclaim my handiwork.  We didn’t hang the stars in their places.  We didn’t give each of them a name.  As large and as bright as they are we can’t even see them all.  The heavens don’t exalt mankind, rather they humble us.  As does nature in general.  Whether it is the grandeur of a mountain or a sunset or the sheer power of a tsunami or an earthquake, we are reminded that we are mere worms (Job 25:6).  Thinking of ourselves as worms is not flattering, but it is a good perspective from which to “view” and appreciate the glory of God (Isaiah 41:14).

God’s Glory

We often speak of the glory of God, but what exactly does that mean?  In the Old Testament, two of the Hebrew words translated in English as glory are Hod and Kabod and in the New Testament, the Greek original is Doxa.  These words, respectively, mean splendor, weight, and judgment (opinion).  By extension, majesty, important, honor.  Although God’s glory is intrinsic, I am going to define it as simply, the manifestation of God’s character.  You are welcome to disagree with my definition.  But some things are not debatable.  What is more important to God than the manifestation of His character?  Doesn’t He want to make Himself known so He can be worshiped?  What is the purpose of His works?  Why did He inspire the authors of the Bible to write?  Why did He reveal Himself using different names?  God wants His name to be famous!  We should want nothing less.

God’s Manifestation

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20).  If manifesting His character is so important to God, what does that say about our obligation to know Him?  Moses prayed to God, “Please show me your glory”  (Exodus 33:18).  A.W. Tozer once said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”  Jesus lived to make the Father known to us.  He died to bring Him glory.  “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you…” (John 17:1b).  Christ glorified the Father by revealing Him to us.  We “glorify” the Father by accepting Christ and making Him known.

It Is Jesus

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15).  “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3a).  The author of Hebrews states succinctly that all of God’s revelations of His character culminated in His Son.  The author of Hebrews tells us that the heavens that declare the glory of God are the works of Christ’s hands.  It is He who upholds the universe by the word of His power.  It is Jesus that made purification for sins.  It is Jesus that sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High.  It is Jesus that all of God’s angels worship.  It is Jesus whose throne is forever and ever.  It is Jesus that is a merciful and faithful high priest.  It is Jesus that is the apostle and high priest of our confession.  It is Jesus who has passed through the heavens.  It is Jesus that is a guarantor of a better covenant.  It is Jesus that always lives to make intercession for us.  It is Jesus who is holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.  It is Jesus, the Son, who has been made perfect forever.  It is the blood of Jesus that gives us the confidence to “enter the holy places.”

Pursuing God

What comes to your mind when you think about God?  Tozer was correct, the most important thing you can do with your life is to pursue God in Christ.  That is why you were created.  That is how God is glorified.  The heavens declare the glory of God.  God has revealed Himself to us.  He is glorified when we enter the holy places and approach Him as Abba Father.  He hung the stars in place to shout to us to look to Him.  He hung a star over Bethlehem to lead the wise men to the babe.  His Son hung on a cross so we could come to Him.

“To God be the glory, great things He has done, so loved He the world that He gave us His son.”

Order of Melchizedek

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“The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.'” – Psalm 110:4

Exclusive Order

The order of Melchizedek is very exclusive.  In Psalm 110, David adds the promised Messiah to the list.  So now the order consists of Melchizedek and the Messiah.  David is adamant that the role of a priest is clearly God ordained for the Messiah.  God has sworn and will not change His mind!!  God has determined it.  God has commissioned it.  He will not repent.  It is settled.  The promised Messiah will fulfill the role of priest, and He will do so forever.  After the order of Melchizedek.

War & Lot

We are introduced to Melchizedek in Genesis chapter 14.  Or should I say He appears out of nowhere?  Before Melchizedek makes his appearance it might be good to look at the context.  Genesis 14 records the first war in the Bible.  The king of Sodom along with his allies, consisting of the kings of four other cities, had decided to stop paying tribute to the government of Chedorlaomer.  After twelve years of paying tribute, they decided to revolt.  Chedorlaomer did not take kindly to the revolt.  If the tribute was not paid “voluntarily” he would take it by force.  And so he did along with his allies, consisting of three other kings. They laid waste to the land and took spoils from it.  While the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, their enemies took “all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way.”  When plundering Sodom and Gomorrah, Abram’s nephew Lot and his possession were also carried away.

Melchizedek & Blessings

“I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  This was the promise God made to Abram in Genesis chapter 12 when He called him out of his native country.  When Abram left his country to go to a land God would show him, his nephew Lot went with him.  God’s promise was quickly tested.  When Lot was carried away, Abram was pulled into the conflict.  Upon hearing the news of Lot’s captivity, Abram assembled his men and rescued his nephew and his possessions.  As Abram and his men were returning with Lot, the King of Sodom met them at the Valley of Shaveh (King’s Valley).  It is at the King’s Valley that Melchizedek makes His mysterious appearance.  We are told that He is the King of Salem and that He brought out bread and wine.  And Moses adds, “He was priest of God Most High.”  Then an interesting exchange takes place.  Melchizedek blesses Abram, and Abram gives Melchizedek a tithe. And nothing more is mentioned of Melchizedek.  For a thousand years.

Jesus & Melchizedek

Not until David penned the words quoted above from Psalm 110 is any mention made of Melchizedek.   As stated above, David tells us that the promised Messiah will be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.  After Psalm 110, nothing is recorded about Melchizedek until Hebrews is written.  The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus, the promised Messiah fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 110.  He is the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.

We are told that Melchizedek literally means King of Righteousness.  Jesus told us that only God is righteous.  Melchizedek is also King of Salem, which means King of Peace.  Isaiah referred to the Messiah as the Prince of Peace.  Melchizedek brought Abram and his men bread and wine.  When Jesus instituted the Lords supper he passed the bread and wine as representatives of His body and blood.  When Melchizedek came before Abram, Abram received His blessing and paid him tithes, recognizing Melchizedek’s superiority.  When the Jews asked Jesus if He was greater than Abraham, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).  The author of Hebrews tells us that Melchizedek is without genealogy and without beginning of days or end of life, made after the likeness of the Son of God.  Jesus is the eternal Son of God made after the likeness of Melchizedek.

Perfect Forever

The Priesthood of Melchizedek is a priesthood of Grace, therefore it is superior to the Levitical priesthood which was based on Law.  The law appointed men in their weakness to serve as priests, the New Covenant appoints a Son who is perfect forever (Hebrews 7:28).

Standing with Melchizedek

Let’s go back to the Valley of Kings.  Here stands Abram, chosen by God, asked to leave His country for a better promise.  Abram believed God and was made righteous because of his faith.   Here stands the king of Sodom, the representative of the city forever associated with immorality, fire, and brimstone.  Here stands Melchizedek, King of Righteousness, King of Peace.  And here you and I stand represented by Lot.  When given his choice of land, Lot chose to live in Sodom.  He lifted his eyes and saw the fertile land of Sodom and moved his tent there.  Lot saw a chance for material prosperity, yet this is what God saw, “Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord” (Genesis 13:13).

Saved by Melchizedek

“Do not love the world or the things in the world…For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life-is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:15a-16).  Like Lot, we were from the world.  Captives of sin, in the midst of a spiritual war. Born into the order of Adam we needed rescue.  We needed One from the order of Melchizedek.  We needed a Messiah, commissioned by the Father to be a perfect, eternal High Priest.  Into our spiritual war the King of kings appeared.  He offered his body and blood for our redemption.  He saved us from our spiritual Sodom and the wrath to come.  Like Abram, we are saved by grace through faith.  Like Lot, there is no turning back.  God’s not.  He has sworn and will not change His mind.  “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”  And because God did; and Jesus is; our eternity is secure.  Sodom has been exchanged for Heaven, where our High Priest is making intercession for us.  Certainly beats fire and brimstone.  Don’t you agree Lot?

The order of Melchizedek is exclusive.  Jesus is the only member.  He alone is qualified.  He alone is sufficient.

“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.  He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people,  since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.” – Hebrews 7:26-27

Say So

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“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” – Psalm 107:1-2a

Can’t I Get a Witness?

Do you find it interesting that the Psalmist, (King David), has to encourage the redeemed to testify?  It is human nature to want to discuss our problems.  “Misery loves company,” we say.  If we are having a bad day it is easy to complain.  If someone wrongs us we want to advertise it.  Why do we speak when we should be silent, and why are we silent when we should speak?  If we are so quick to bemoan trivial trials, why are we reluctant to give thanks to the LORD for His steadfast love?  In the grand scheme of things what can compare with our redemption?  Nothing.  So why don’t we take the advice of the Psalmist and say so?

Troubles

Every man is encountered with troubles.  Psalm 107 speaks of those God has redeemed from troubles or the hand of the foe (verse 2).  Verse 3 tells us that these redeemed have been gathered from the four points of the compass, “from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.”  David then proceeds to give four illustrations as if matching them with the compass points.

Exiles

Beginning with verse 4, David looks at those in exile.  Those wandering in desert wastes and finding no way to a city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty their soul fainted within them.  And then we see the beginning of a theme in this Psalm.  “They cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress”  (Verse 6).  How?  “He leads them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in” (Verse 7).  What should be the response?  “Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!  For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things” (Verses 8 & 9).

Ever wandered in the desert?  Sure you have.  You are in exile now.  You may have an earthly address, but your citizenship is in Heaven.  Remember those days when you were looking for meaning?  Your soul fainted within you as you hungered and thirsted for a purpose.  Your soul wanted a home.  Your soul needed rest.  In your despair, you cried out to the Lord and He delivered you from your distress.  He revealed to you the Way and filled you with the Holy Spirit.  Now Christ has gone to prepare your home, and some day you will be brought safely to the Heavenly city where you will dwell forever with God.  What should your response be?  Give thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love!  In Christ has God satisfied your longing soul?  Has He filled your hungry soul with good things?  Say so.

Bondage

Beginning in verse 10, David looks at those in bondage. Those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.  Prisoners in affliction and in irons.  Their bondage a direct result of disobedience to God’s word. Like the exiles, David tells us that the prisoners cried out to the LORD in their trouble and He delivered them from their distress.  “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart” (Verse 14).  Although their trouble was different, David expects the same response, “Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!  For He shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron” (Verses 15 & 16).

Remember those days in spiritual prison.  I am confident you do.  Satan’s deception had you sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.  Sin’s irons held you in affliction.  Your bondage was a direct result of disobedience to God’s word.  Know a better definition of sin?  In your distress, you cried out to God and He delivered you from your distress.  The light of God’s Truth penetrated the darkness of your cell.  Satan’s deception is no match for God’s Truth.  “You will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free” (John 8:32).  Like Paul and Silas, you learned that God can open any prison.  The Word of God is a spiritual earthquake that shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.  You have been set free.  What should your response be?  Give thanks to the Lord for His steadfast Love!  Has the Light of the world repelled the shadow of death you were sitting in? Has the Incarnate Word freed you from sin’s irons?  Say so.

Illness

Beginning in verse 17, David looks at those suffering from illness  Because their illness is a direct result of sin, David calls them fools.  They loathe food and they are on death’s doorstep.  Once again, we are told that this group cried out to the LORD in their trouble and He delivered them from their distress.  “He sent out His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction” (verse 20).  The expectation is the same, “Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!  And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His deeds in songs of joy” (Verses 21 & 22)!

You were once on your spiritual death bed.  You were born with a terminal illness.  Sin.  You too were a fool, saying in your heart there is no God.  In your pride, you loathed spiritual food.  When you were on life support, you cried out to God and He delivered you from your distress.  God inclined your heart towards His truth.  Wisdom’s seed was planted. “No God,” was replaced by the “fear of God.” God sent you bread from Heaven and you ate it.   Christ paid for your sins on the cross.  What should your response be?  Give thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love.  Are you satisfied with the Bread of Life?   Were you healed by Christ’s stripes?  Say so.

Overwhelmed

Beginning in verse 23, David looks at those who are overwhelmed.  Doing business on the sea, this group encounters a violent storm.  While their ship is being tossed by the waves, their courage is melting.  Although they were reeling like drunken men and were at their wits’ end, they had enough sense to cry out to God.  By now you know that God delivered them from their distress.  “He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.  Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and He brought them to their desired haven”  (Verses 29 & 30).  You also know what is now expected of them, “Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!  Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders” (Verse 31 & 32).

Remember being tossed around by life’s circumstances?  The waters were calm when the voyage began.  You were in control of the situation, or so you thought.  Then the winds began to pick up and the sky became ominous.  As the waves began to rise your self-confidence began to sink.  How quickly we learn in a storm that God is so much above us.  A few waves and we begin to reel and stagger in our self-sufficiency.  When you were at your wits’ end, you cried out to God and He delivered you from your distress.  With the command of, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39), Christ stilled the storm and hushed the waves.  The storm that scared you sunk your self-sufficiency and brought you to Christ.  When you were overwhelmed, God’s grace replaced your works.  You were glad the waters were quiet, and Christ brought your soul to your desired haven.  What should your response be?  Give thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love.  Are you relieved that Christ has replaced your storms with His peace?  Are you thankful that your sins were drowned when you embraced Christ’s grace?  Say so.

Testimonies

The day is coming when God will gather His children from every people group.  They will be gathered, “from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.”  Their testimonies will be as unique as snowflakes, and yet they will all be the same.  “They cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.”  In a very real sense, Heaven is going to be a great big “Say so” gathering!!  If you are looking forward to it, say so!

“Thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!”

“Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD” (Verse 43).

Suffering

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“As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not that this man sinned or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.'” – John 9:1-3

The Problem of Suffering

Today in Sunday School we discussed the problem of suffering.  If God is loving, why is there suffering?  It’s the age old question. Certainly, the sufferings of man must prove that either God is not truly a God of love, or He is impotent.  To go one step further, perhaps suffering proves that God doesn’t exist.  You have heard all of the arguments.  You have also heard the answer, suffering exists because of the fall.

Sin & Suffering

If Adam and Eve hadn’t disobeyed, we would not have suffering.  This is true.  But how about the more specific question.  Why me?  Why do I suffer and my neighbor doesn’t?  I have a healthy lifestyle.  I watch what I eat.  How did I end up with cancer when so and so who lives on fast food doesn’t?  These questions become a little more difficult to answer.  It is the question the disciples put before Jesus regarding the blind man.  They knew that there was a correlation between sin and suffering.  But is it always a direct correlation?  If not how is God being fair?

Stephen & Saul

When Stephen was stoned to death, Saul witnessed the stoning and approved of it.  Stephen didn’t question his suffering.  He used it as an opportunity to witness and he kept his focus on God.  He was rewarded with a vision of Jesus at the right hand of God.  None of his murderers saw what Stephen did.  Not even Saul.

James & Peter

When Herod decided to attack the early church he killed James.  Intending to do the same with Peter he had him put in prison. Unlike James, Peter was miraculously saved.  Despite being chained between two soldiers, an angel freed him and his life was spared.  Why?  Was this fair to James?

Peter & John

When Jesus restored Peter on the beach, He told him what kind of death he would endure.  Looking behind them Peter saw John and asked about his fate.  To which Jesus replied, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”  As history records, Peter was crucified for his Savior while John would outlive any of the other Apostles.  Fair?

Paul & His Thorn

When Saul was in the midst of persecuting the church, he encountered Jesus.  Blinded by His radiance, Saul was commissioned to take the gospel to the Gentiles once his physical and spiritual eyes were opened.  However, Paul would have to minister with a thorn in the flesh.  Despite praying for the thorn to be removed, Paul apparently carried it to his grave.   I can only think of one other person who had a more effective ministry.  Jesus.

Our Suffering Servant

Isaiah refers to our Savior as the Suffering Servant.  And so He was.  He did not suffer for His sins.  Yet his suffering was the result of sin.  Ours.  The scourging.  The mocking.  The agony in the garden.  The crown of thorns.  Slapped.  Spit upon.  Called the devil.  Called crazy.  Crucified.  Worse of all, His Heavenly Father turned away when He bore our sins.  Fair?

Suffering & Sovereignty

I believe sometimes we ask the wrong questions.  Like Peter did.  Like the disciples did.  There are things the Bible doesn’t address.  We can’t explain everything.  That would make us like God.  His ways are so much higher than ours.  We have to trust His love.  We have to bow to His sovereignty.  But for those who are suffering, it is best to dwell on what we do know.  That is where the Hope is.

Redeemed From

God is able to redeem us from our suffering.  Like Peter, He may choose to free us from the bonds.  Like the blind man, Jesus is capable of giving us sight.  God can answer prayers in the affirmative.  But He does not obligate Himself to do so.  Like Paul, we can pray for the thorn to be removed.  If it is not removed, we can echo Paul’s sentiment, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11b-13).

Redeemed In

God often chooses to redeem us in our suffering.  How many people have to hit rock bottom before they will look up?  Suffering has a way of removing pride’s blinders.  As the expression says, “it is only when we come to the end of ourselves that we come to the beginning of God.”  Pride comes before a fall.  Often, God uses a fall to bring us to Himself.  Suffering can be the most effective tool to get our attention.

Redeemed

God wants to redeem our suffering.  When people are suffering, they often blame God.  As Christians, we tend to want to play God.  Unfortunately, we don’t have all the answers.  We can’t remove everyone’s pain.  Instead, we should seek the face of God.  In the midst of our suffering, we need to imitate Stephen and keep our eyes heavenward.  Instead of asking why me, we should ask, “What is it you are trying to teach me?”  “Do I have unconfessed sins?”  “How will this make me a better person?”  “How will this suffering enable me to better minister to others?”  “How will this suffering draw my closer to you?”  “How will this suffering bring You glory?”  Jesus prayed for Peter so that his ministry would be more effective after Satan sifted him.  (Luke 22:31-32)  Listen to Second Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Why You?

Why specifically are you suffering?  I don’t know.  Are you defined by your suffering?  No.  Is there hope?  Yes.  When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, they were not alone.  They were miraculously joined by one whose appearance was like “a son of the gods.”  In the midst of our pain, we can have peace.  In the midst of our suffering, the Son of God joins us.  It is wrong to assume that a God of love doesn’t allow suffering.  To the contrary, the greatest symbol of love the world has ever known is a blood stained cross.  In the midst of your suffering, cling to it.  It has a way of keeping things in perspective.

“From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” – Matthew 16:21

For YOU!

Heaping Burning Coals

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“To the contrary, ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.'” – Romans 12:20

To The Contrary

It is not in our nature to love our enemies.  We would rather practice an eye for an eye.  You knock out my tooth I’ll knock out yours!  Vengeance is mine declares our pride!!  “Vengeance is mine.”  God reminds us.  To the contrary…Heap burning coals on your enemies heads! I can live with that. That sounds more like our flesh speaking.  Or does it?

God tells us that vengeance is His.  He will repay our enemies.  Our command is to meet their needs.  If they are hungry we are to feed them.  If they are thirsty we are to give them something to drink.  It is difficult to set aside our pride to meet the needs of others.  Especially those we deem our enemies.  In our society, not many of us probably encounter a lot of people who are in dire need of food or drink.  But how about meeting the needs of those with spiritual hunger and thirst?  Our enemies may have the greatest needs.  Where do burning coals come into play?

Burning Coals

Some believe that by caring for our enemies, we will shame them and hence the term heaping burning coals on their heads.  I prefer another interpretation.  In the ancient world, a fire in the home was critical.  It was necessary as a source of heat and for cooking.  If your fire went out you could be in a desperate situation.  Quickly starting a fire was not an option.  Instead you were at the mercy of your neighbors.  Apparently, the practice in such a situation was to carry a clay urn on your head and go to your neighbors asking for burning coals from their fires to carry home for the hearth.  To fulfill such a request was to do them a great favor.  Both interpretations are possible, but I believe the second fits the context better.  How does it look in practice?

Starting a Fire

Working with a Pregnancy Care Center years ago I remember reading a very touching story.  Day after day a certain doctor would make his way to work showered with jeers and threats.  He worked at an abortion clinic and the protesters let him know what they thought of his profession.  Among the crowd of protesters stood a pastor.  He did not shout at or threaten the doctor.  Vengeance wasn’t his objective.  To the contrary, each day as the doctor walked past him the pastor would simply tell this doctor, whom spiritually would definitely be his “enemy”, that God loved him, and so did he.  In time the pastor gained the trust of the doctor and the two agreed to meet for lunch.  Eventually, the abortion doctor became a born again Christian and left his practice.  Spiritual enemies became spiritual brothers.  Not only did the doctor quit taking the lives of babies, but he would become a great voice in the battle to protect the unborn.  The doctor had a great need.  The pastor heaped burning coals on his head.

Genuine Love

Let’s go back to Romans chapter twelve.  Most of us are familiar with the first two verses about offering our bodies as a living sacrifice and being transformed by the renewing of our minds.  But how does this flesh out? Look at verse nine.  “Let love be genuine.”  Do you think the motive of this pastor in regards to the abortion doctor was to shame him?  Or did he see a man who needed his (spiritual) fire lit and therefore chose to heap burning coals on his head from the fire of Christ’s love?  That is not to say that our enemies won’t be shamed.  Godly sorrow leads to repentance.  Obviously that is a good thing.  But some of us may be more concerned about the shame than the repentance.  My concern is not just the action but the motive.  To serve with a desire to shame feels a little like a tinge of vengeance.  To serve because we see the needs of our enemies and to meet their needs without a shadow of self pride feels more like genuine love.  I can’t be too dogmatic, but it is food for thought.

Vengeance and conviction belong to God.  Our calling is to love.  Genuinely.

Fire Starters

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32

“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:15

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.  Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”  – Luke 6:35-36

Have an enemy in need?  Worried about revenge?  Let love be genuine.  Be a contrarian.  Heap burning coals on their heads and let God take care of the rest.

“Let love be genuine…Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’  To the contrary, ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:9, 17-21

Fig Trees and Faith

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“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” – Habakkuk 3:17-18

Hard Work & Faith

Ever since the ground was cursed by God in the Garden of Eden, man would have to eat in pain and by the sweat of his face.  Seeds would need to be sown.  Trees would need trimming.  Plants would require pruning.  Hard work is necessary, but in itself insufficient.  Faith would have to be exercised.  Human effort is no guarantee of a bountiful harvest.

Man must do what he is able, and then pray that God will bless his work.  Only He can provide sufficient rainfall.  Sunshine and temperatures are His departments.  When the seeds are planted in the ground, they are planted with hope.  When the plants are pruned they are done so with expectation.  What is true in the realm of horticulture is equally true in the realm of livestock.  Folds are made for the sheep.  Stalls are made for the cattle.  Not only must the livestock be protected, but they are nurtured from birth as well.  A lot of toil goes into feeding them and keeping them healthy.  Man must do what he is able, and then pray that God will bless his work.  One predator can wreak havoc on the flock.  One disease or catastrophe can eliminate the herd.  Then what?  What happens when expectations are not met?  What happens when hopes are crushed?  What becomes of faith?

“Though the fig tree should not blossom.”  

Despite all of our hard work, we did not get the promotion.  We looked to the fig tree for its sweet fruit.  We ended up with a sour taste in our mouth.  “Nor fruit be on the vines.”  We nurtured and loved, but our child is not living for the faith.  The fruit of the vine is supposed to bring gladness of heart, but our hearts are pierced by a wayward offspring.  “The produce of the olive fails.”  We did everything the doctor recommended, but the results came back positive.  The millstone is ready but there is no oil to cook with or light the lamps.  We hoped for an encouraging report.  The doctor says it is terminal.  “The fields yield no food.”  We planted barley and wheat.  We have a field of weeds.  We look to the fields for subsistence, our eyes behold disappointment.  Not only have we lost our health, we have lost our job.  Where will the next meal come from?  How will we make ends meet?  “The flock may be cut off from the fold.”  We prayed for a hedge of protection, but our spiritual leader fell.  We looked to the sheep for wool, instead, the wool was pulled over our eyes.  Who knew Satan could so quickly scatter the flock?  “And there be no herd in the stalls.”  We did everything we could to make the stalls.  Despite our best efforts to protect, we have buried a child.  Accidents can’t always be avoided.  We don’t have a drug for every disease.

“Though the fig tree should not blossom”…our faith can!

“In the morning, as He was returning to the city, He became hungry.  And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, He went to it and found nothing but only leaves.  And He said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’  And the fig tree withered at once.  When the disciples saw it, they marveled saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither at once?’  And Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.  And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.'” – (Matthew 21:20-22)

What did Jesus do when He encountered a fig tree without fruit?  Used it as an object lesson.  He was hungry for its fruit.  His disciples needed its seed.  The cross was on the horizon.  They were going to be separated from Jesus.  Persecution was coming.  They left everything to follow Jesus.  What would they have after His death?  A seed of faith.  With a few simple words, Jesus withered a fig tree.  With a few simple men, He would move mountains.  With the help of a barren fig tree, faith would grow.

Fig Trees and Your Faith

“Though the fig tree shall not blossom.”  With faith, barrenness can lead to growth.  With faith, bad new can result in rejoicing.  Amazing how different a barren fig tree looks when we have faith.  You can take my job.  You can take my health.  You can even take my loved ones.  But you can’t touch my faith.  You can’t take my salvation.  Our worldly expectations may not be fulfilled.  But in Jesus, we will always have hope.  A barren fig tree is no match for the Savior of our souls.  Do not despair.  Do not doubt.  Have faith.  Some day soon, all fig trees will blossom.  For all of eternity.  In heaven, expectations are exceeded.  Enjoy the sweet fruit of your faith!

“In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.” –  Zechariah 3:10

“Though the fig tree shall not blossom..Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

Yahweh

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“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.  So shall they put My name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.” – Numbers 6:24-27

Yahweh

God has commanded the Priests to bless His people.  The blessing is three poetic lines.  In each of the three lines, it is God Himself who is the subject.  When He refers to Himself He uses the name, Yahweh.  The great I Am.  The eternal I Am.  I Am with you.  I desire to bless you.  Yahweh is active in the three lines on behalf of His people.  He wants to bless them and keep them.  He wants to make His face shine upon them and be gracious to them.  He wants to lift up His face upon them and give them peace. And then he concludes with today’s verse.  So.  So shall they put My name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.

What’s In a Name

Yahweh is the author of this blessing.  The great I Am is no pagan idol.  Yahweh is capable of bringing peace and prosperity.  He is no scarecrow in a cucumber patch (Jeremiah 10:5)  What Yahweh promises He has the power to fulfill.  What Yahweh promises He has the wealth to give.  What Yahweh promises He has the love to follow through.  Only Yahweh can ultimately protect us.  Only Yahweh can show us saving Grace.  Only Yahweh can give us perfect peace.  When He says He wants to put His name on His people He is backing up His words with His attributes.  There is a sense in which He is putting His reputation on the line.  The name of the Lord is tantamount to the Lord Himself.  Think about Proverbs 18:10.  “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”  Yahweh is putting His name on His children.  There is no greater blessing.

Blessed to Bless

By repeating this blessing over the people on a regular basis, the sacred name of Yahweh was “put” into the hearts and minds of the Israelites, and thus they were blessed.  Because His name is virtually the same as the Lord Himself, this blessing becomes a petition that God might live among His people and meet all their needs.  The prayer is designed to help the people experience the reality of the blessing of the Lord.  But the blessing doesn’t end with God’s people.  It “begins” with them.  God blesses His people so that through them the nations may be blessed.  As beautiful and uplifting as these verses are, they are not about us. Ultimately, they are about God and His glory.  When we looked at the LORD’s shining face we looked at Psalm 67:1 which says, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us,” to which verse two adds, “that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.”  When we looked at the LORD’s lifted countenance, we looked at the humility of Christ as recorded in Philippians chapter two.  Verses nine through eleven of this chapter continue, “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

A Name Above…

Under the Old Covenant, God’s name was put on His people.  Theirs was a privileged relationship.  As they stood in the temple, the priests would recite this blessing over them.  They delivered it with joy.  They delivered it with passion.  We have a New Covenant.  We have a great High Priest.  He was highly exalted.  God bestowed on Him a name that is above every name.  If you have bowed your knee to Him and confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord, you too have a new name.  Christian.  You have been blessed.  God has not only put His name upon you, He now indwells you in the person of the Holy Spirit.  You are God’s temple.  Ours is a privileged relationship.  Our blessing was delivered with joy.  Our blessing was delivered with passion.  Your responsibility?  Give Him glory.  Point others to the One whose name is above all names.    The One whose name we bear.  The One who made Yahweh known to us.  The great I Am incarnate.

God’s name upon us.  Three poetic lines fulfilled by a Triune God.  What a Blessing.  May we continue to make His name known.

“I Am has sent me to you.” – Exodus 3:14

“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.'” – John 8:58

“I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” – John 8:26

The LORD’s Peace

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“The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” – Numbers 6:26

Shalom

As we come to the end of this blessing we see God invoking peace.  Shalom.  As mentioned in a prior lesson this is not just the absence of conflict.  “Shalom means fullness of life and wholeness in all areas of life: material, societal, and religious.  It is a state of fulfillment that results from God’s presence.”  I like that last sentence.  A state of fulfillment that results from God’s presence.  How else can we have wholeness in all areas of life?  Let’s look at just the three listed.

Material Wholeness

Do you ever worry about finances?  How about struggling with covetousness?  Keeping up with the Jones’s?  Any anxiety about your retirement account?  Stressed about the new furnace you need or the roof repair?  How heavy is the debt load on your back?  Shoulders getting tired from the financial burden?  Are you fretting over the loan that hasn’t been paid back to you?  Are you keeping score of who owes for the next meal?  Are you afraid you are being taken advantage of?  We never have enough and what we do have is decaying.  Just like us.  God’s remedy.  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). Need more convincing?  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.  For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing…And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried…Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.  Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions, and give to the needy.  Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:22-23, 29, 31-34).  We are to be wise stewards, but we are also to place our faith in God who has promised to give us the kingdom.  Worry is a lack of faith.  God offers peace.

Societal Wholeness

Can’t we all just get along?  Look at what divides us.  Abortion rights.  Gay marriage.  Religious freedom.  Euthanasia. Immigration.  Gender identity.  Government mandates.  Unfortunately, the list of things that divide us as a society seems to be multiplying exponentially.  Worse yet, the divisions seem to be getting deeper.  How can we have peace in this area?  What does wholeness at the societal level look like?  Space doesn’t allow for all of the passages, but God is not silent on these issues.  The Bible addresses the sanctity of human life.  Marriage between a man and a woman was God’s idea.  Same with Governments to reward good and punish evil.  God has established lines of authority for the home and church as well.  The problem isn’t that God is silent.  Society at large has chosen to ignore Him.  We’ve given into pride and sin is running rampant.  I believe that most of our societal issues stem from relational problems.  Our problems are many, but we have a great weapon.  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).  I am not promoting compromising Biblical Truth.  We are to be salt and light.  But if we are going to make any progress, we need to be the hands and feet of Christ.  We have to win the lost with His love.  Ultimately we have to rest in His sovereignty.  In His time He will make all things right.  Until then, “You shall love your enemy as yourself” (Mark 12:31).

Religious Wholeness

This is where it all begins.  We are born in sin.  We are born dead; dead in our trespasses and sin. We struggled with our bondage to Satan.  Although spiritually dead we feared physical death.  The father of lies wanted to keep us in darkness.  We wanted peace but we looked for it in all the wrong places.  Nothing the world has to offer could fill the void in our souls.  But light entered our dark world and penetrated our souls.  We exchanged the lies of the world for the Truth of the Gospel.  “You will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free” (John 8:32).  Because we embraced the Gospel and put our faith in the atoning work of Jesus we became Sons of God instead of His enemies.  “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him” (Colossians 1:21-22). We cannot have shalom unless we have peace with God.   His enemies will never experience fullness of life.  They cannot have wholeness in any other area of their lives apart from Him.  But as His children, we can.  When He offers us shalom, that is what He is blessing us with.  A state of fulfillment that results from God’s presence.  

In Jesus, the peace of God was made incarnate.  He is the Prince of Peace.  He offers a peace that passes all understanding.  He provides the peace that puts everything else in perspective.  “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).  “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way.  The Lord be with you all” (1 Thessalonians 3:18).