The Shepherd's Voice

The Law of the Lord II (Ps. 119:17-32)

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Deal bountifully with your servant,
    that I may live and keep your word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold
    wondrous things out of your law.
I am a sojourner on the earth;
    hide not your commandments from me!
My soul is consumed with longing
    for your rules at all times.
You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
    who wander from your commandments.
Take away from me scorn and contempt,
    for I have kept your testimonies.
Even though princes sit plotting against me,
    your servant will meditate on your statutes.
Your testimonies are my delight;
    they are my counselors.

My soul clings to the dust;
    give me life according to your word!
When I told of my ways, you answered me;
    teach me your statutes!
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
    and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
My soul melts away for sorrow;
    strengthen me according to your word!
Put false ways far from me
    and graciously teach me your law!
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    I set your rules before me.
I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
    let me not be put to shame!
I will run in the way of your commandments
    when you enlarge my heart! — Psalms 119:1-16

When traveling to another country, we often encounter different cultures and social rules. A traveler from America going to France, for example, might be quite confused with the differences in culture. A traveler from Japan visiting America would definitely be shocked at some of our cultural differences. One can even see differences in culture traveling to different parts of the same country.

A Sojourner in Another Country

If one were only visiting for a short time, such things might only become a nuisance. but if one is planning to live in the new country, many problems can arise. This is the situation in which the Psalmist finds himself in this part of Psalm 119. Notice what he writes in verse 19: I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! The word translated sojourner simply means “a guest, visitor, foreigner.” The Psalmist finds himself in a place that is not home but in which he has to live. It’s the same idea employed by the writer of Hebrews when talking of the saints of old: 

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth (Hebrews 11:13, emphasis added).

So, the Psalmist, like the other Old Testament saints is acknowledging that he too is in a place other than home, a place through which he is passing. Notice what he says after that acknowledgment: don’t hide your commandments from me! Translation? “I’m in a strange and unfamiliar place, a place in which I don’t know how to live. Tell me how to live here!”In fact, this part of the Psalm opens with a plea for grace: Deal bountifully with your servant . . . open my eyes . . . (vv. 17-18). He continues to ask God for mercy and grace to understand His ways. 

He wants to know the Lord’s ways for living so intensely that his “soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times” (v. 20). He knows that the Lord rebukes and disciplines “the insolent, accursed ones who wander from your commandments” (v. 21). He reminds the Lord that he longs to know and obey the Lord’s ways, to avoid that scorn and contempt. Indeed, he doesn’t care if the power people of the land sit plotting against him; the Psalmist’s mind will be on the Lord’s ways (vv. 23-24).

Difficulties on the Journey

The Psalmist’s journey is hard, he says. Notice the two examples he gives:

My soul clings to the dust . . . 
My soul melts away for sorrow . . . 

What does he say each time?

Give me life according to your word!
Give me strength according to your word!

The Psalmist says the Lord’s word is what he needs. Can’t you hear him say to the Lord, “When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes” (v. 26)? Not only did he tell the Lord how difficult his way has been but this also has the idea of confession–wandering from the path. Again, he implores the Lord to teach him. 

As the Lord teaches him, the Psalmist changes his position, so to speak. At first his soul was clinging to the dust, now he says, “I cling to your testimonies, O Lord” (v. 31). He has begun to walk in the ways of the Lord, holding fast to His statues and testimonies.

A Word for Today

Like the Psalmist and the saints of the Old (and New) Testament, we are also sojourners, aliens and strangers on this earth. Though we are fallen (and redeemed), we were not created for the fallen world we live in. Thus, we need the Lord to show us how to live in this world. The Psalmist reminds us to cling to the Lord and His Word–not only referring to the written Word, also to the ultimate Word, Christ.

As we do cling to His precepts and testimonies, an amazing thing begins to happen. Notice the last thing the Psalmist says. He is now not walking but running “in the way of your commandments” (v. 32). Though the ESV translates it as “when you enlarge my heart,” it may also be translated as “when you set my heart free.” This is perhaps a preferable translation, and that is exactly what the Lord does for us at salvation. He frees us to know, live in, walk in, and eventually run in His ways.

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The Shepherd's Voice

The Law of the Lord I (Psa. 119:1-16)

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Blessed are those whose way is blameless, 
    who walk in the law of the LORD! 
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, 
    who seek him with their whole heart, 
who also do no wrong, 
    but walk in his ways! 
You have commanded your precepts 
    to be kept diligently. 
Oh that my ways may be steadfast 
    in keeping your statutes! 
Then I shall not be put to shame, 
    having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. 
I will praise you with an upright heart, 
    when I learn your righteous rules. 
I will keep your statutes; 
    do not utterly forsake me!  

How can a young man keep his way pure? 
     By guarding it according to your word. 
 With my whole heart I seek you; 
     let me not wander from your commandments! 
 I have stored up your word in my heart, 
     that I might not sin against you. 
 Blessed are you, O Lord; 
     teach me your statutes! 
 With my lips I declare 
     all the rules of your mouth. 
 In the way of your testimonies I delight 
     as much as in all riches. 
 I will meditate on your precepts 
     and fix my eyes on your ways. 
 I will delight in your statutes; 
     I will not forget your word (Psa. 119:1-16)

With this post we begin a series on Psalm 119—the longest chapter in the Bible. It is, however, also one of the most foundational chapters when it comes to dealing with the subject of God’s standards. Because Psalm 119 is such a long chapter, we won’t be dealing with every single verse, and these posts will likely be longer than the average. We will, however, seek to draw out some important truths from the text. 

Psalm 119 is an acrostic. Each stanza starts with the same letter in the Hebrew alphabet, for a total of 22 stanzas. The entire Psalm focuses on “God’s law, statutes, and decrees.” For the Psalmist, this primarily is expressed in the law as given to Moses. More universally, the phrases refer to God’s ways and standards that reflect His character and will. 

Stanza #1: Aleph (vv. 1-8) 

The Psalmist starts off by pronouncing a blessing on a certain group of people. In the Bible, a blessing was said in the name of the Lord, and for those walking with Him, was given with His authority. Who are these people on whom the Psalmist pronounces a blessing? They are people 

  • whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.  
  • those who keep His testimonies, who seek after him with their whole heart.  
  • who do no wrong, but walk in His ways.  

Do I have to be perfect? 

We need to first look at that word translated “blameless.” What does it mean? Does it mean morally perfect, without sin? The Hebrew word is תָּמִים (tamiym). It has the primary meaning of “complete, whole, entire, sound.” Though it can be translated as “perfect” in the sense of without blemish, that is generally only applied to animals used for sacrifice in the Old Testament (they had to be without blemish or spot, not injured, but perfect—complete). 

This idea is reinforced in v. 2, where the Psalmist writes, “Blessed are those who . . . seek Him with their whole heart.” This idea is also why Jesus could say, as the Divine Lawgiver, that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all that we are—heart, mind, soul, strength (Mark 12:30). 

One who is blameless, then, is walking with God in completeness. For Abraham and the OT saints, that mean keeping His entire covenant—including the sacrifices for sin (which is why we can say that blameless does not mean morally perfect). For those of us under the New Covenant, where the sacrifice has been made once-for-all, this means we walk with the Lord as best we know, keeping our hearts pure with regular confession to Him, walking in the light (1 John 1:5-10).  

A Prayer for Help 

The Psalmist then moves from the general (“blessed are those”) to himself. He reminds the Lord, “You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently” (v. 4), and immediately cries out in v. 5, “Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!” This at first may seem like just an exclamation, but it’s really a prayer. The word rendered “steadfast” by the ESV is more properly rendered “established.” So, the Psalmist is asking the Lord to establish his way, in order that he may keep the Lord’s statutes and precepts. 

Then, he writes, he will not be put to shame (before the Lord and others). Why will he not be put to shame? Because his eyes are “fixed on all your commandments” (v. 6). Not only will the Psalmist not be put to shame, but also his heart will be made upright. He reminds the Lord, “I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules” (v. 7). The sense of the verse is that, “My heart is crooked (deceitful, evil) and I do not know how to praise you. But when I learn and apply your statues, then my heart is changed, becoming straightened, upright.” 

Finally, the Psalmist ends with another cry for helps. “I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!” The picture one might get from this is, “Father I’m learning to ride this bike, but I can’t do it on my own! Don’t leave me!” The Psalmist longs to obey the Lord and walk in His ways, but realizes that His own motivations and willpower fall far short of what’s needed to do so. 

Stanza #2: Beth (vv. 9-16) 

Verse 9 starts the second stanza, and the Psalmist begins it by asking an important question: How can a young man [or woman] keep his way pure?  

The first thing to look at is the idea of “keeping his way pure.” The phrase rendered “keep his way pure” is a translation of the Hebrew זכה (zakah). It simply means “to be morally pure.” So, the question may rightly be translated, “How can one be morally pure before God?” 

How can we stay pure before a holy God? The Psalmist recognizes that this world is full of sin and opportunities to deviate from God’s path—and he has already admitted his own weaknesses with his cries for help. No doubt his heart is in the right place, longing to stay pure before God. At the same time, he could echo Paul’s words:  

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. . . . So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand (Rom. 7:18-19, 21). 

The Psalmist then answers his own question: By guarding it according to your word. (The NIV translates it as “living according to your word.”) The word here is the Hebrew שָׁמַר (shamar). It generally means “to keep, tend, watch over.” Taken together, this gives the sense of “Watch over your ways, let nothing cause you to stumble on the path, be careful to live according to God’s Word.” 

The Whole Person 

The Psalmist wants to remember, however, that outward actions aren’t enough. In the rest of this stanza, the writer returns to a familiar concept: wholeness. Earlier (v. 2), the idea of seeking the Lord with the whole heart was introduced. In v. 10, that idea is repeated: 

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! (emphasis added) 

 Here, however, the writer expands the idea to the whole person. Notice what the Psalmist says: 

  • The heart:  I have stored up your word in my heart (v. 11a). The one who would be pure must start from the inside, at the heart. 
  • The lips: With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth (v. 13). The Psalmist speaks out or confesses the Word of the Lord. The more we speak the Word, the more it becomes part of us. 
  • The emotions: In the way of your testimonies I delight (v. 14, see also v. 16). Here the Psalmist tells us that as the heart is changed, he beings to delight in God’s law. He praises God for His just and right decrees (v. 7).  
  • The mind/will: I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways (v. 15). Meditation is done in the mind, as the Psalmist thinks on the ways and laws of the Lord. Paul gives a similar command when he speaks of renewing the mind in Rom. 12:2.  

How then are we to remain pure before the Lord? The Psalmist tells us that to do so requires that we give all of ourselves to Him, that we seek Him, not with just the heart or the mind or the will, but with our whole self. As we do that, we can be sure, as the Psalmist is sure, that the Lord walks with us, helping us stay on His path, as we know His character, ways, and His laws. 

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The Shepherd's Voice

Politics and the Gospel: A Special Message

Posted on by The Shepherd's Voice

Two years ago I posted a blog (We Interrupt This Program…., 11/5/18) “on the eve of one of the most watched elections in US history, at a time when the country is more divided than ever” On the eve of the US Presidential election, those words seem even more accurate–and more ominous. What is most disconcerting, however, is this simple fact:

Not only is the country divided, but the church is more divided than she has ever been since the time of the American Civil War.

That might seem a shocking statement. But, if one just looks around at the manner in which Christians speak to each other about the election (and about each other, if they happen to hold opposing views), and the truth of that statement becomes undeniable. One look at social media, whether it be Twitter or Facebook will also corroborate the truth of that statement. 

What is the problem here? Is it that some are in error and have misunderstood biblical teachings? Certainly that is part of the problem. Is it that we have given into the flesh to the extent that we think we are right even at the expense of losing our moral compass? That too is a contributor. There are likely others. But those are only the symptoms of a bigger issue.

The church in America has forgotten her identity and her mission.

That again may sound like a shocking statement–and one that most churches and believers would deny. But think about it. Some have the idea that we are what we do. But that’s not true. We do what we are. A sinner can’t help but sin. A saint, one saved and bought by Christ, can’t help but grow. Unless he forgets his identity. Our thoughts and behaviors spring from two things: our perception of who we are (identity) and what we want to accomplish (goals).

So, we must ask ourselves, what is the identity of the church? Who are we as disciples? Looking at the behavior of many who claim the name of Christ, one would be justified in thinking that they view themselves simply as agents of change–and for many of them, any means are justified.

The Mission of the Church

Jesus gave one command to the disciples before His ascension. Most of us know it well:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

We often hear this called the Great Commission. It’s similar to a couple of other commands that Jesus identified for the disciples:

“[Y]ou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”’ The second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).

Wouldn’t you agree that those make up the top three commandments for the Christian?

Love God with everything you are.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Go out and make disciples.

Is this what we are seeing in the American church today? By and large, no. Many segments of “conservative Christianity” have become nothing more than another political action group. It’s common on social media to see more about the election and politics from Christians than messages about the gospel and encouraging other believers.

Some might object that we are supposed to go out and be the light, and be productive members of society, responsible citizens, etc. Yet, Jesus didn’t say “go out and be the light.” Here are His words:

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:13-16).

He said disciples are already salt and light. And in this passage, He says nothing about going. The tone of the passage is more, “As you are going and doing what I’ve commanded, let your light shine.” Yes, we should do “good works.” In the context of the times, however, it’s doubtful that Jesus (and later the NT writers) intended that to mean politics. Good works in those days always meant helping others.

Civilian Entanglements

Paul wrote to Timothy these words:

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him (2 Timothy 2:3-4).

What counts as a civilian pursuit? Anything not related to the soldier’s job. What is our job as soldiers of Christ? Referring back to our top three commandments:

Love God with everything you are.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Go out and make disciples.

Somehow those seem to preclude arguing with, bashing, and questioning the salvation of a believer with a different political perspective. We should remember that the Way of Christ is not a political philosophy. It rises far above and beyond any political systems and philosophies. It is not another way of life, whereby I impose my laws onto you. It is the good news that there is a way, through Christ, to have a relationship with God and be partakers of a far better world.

When we get entangled in civilian pursuits, we are divided. We must choose between our pursuits and what Jesus told us to do, which was to spread the gospel. If Paul could counsel Christians to not marry to avoid divided loyalties, isn’t it very likely he would give the same opinion about getting entangled in politics?

Questions and Answers

So, what are we saying here? That Christians shouldn’t vote? That Christians should stay out of politics altogether? As with many issues, there is no hard and fast rule to apply here. That would make things too easy, and not of faith.

First, nothing in this post is meant to suggest that a Christian should not vote as their conscience directs them–or to abstain as their conscience directs them. Voting is a right in America–and many say a responsibility in a republican society; we won’t tackle that thought here.

Here is John Wesley’s advice to voters in 1774:

1. To vote for the person they judged most worthy
2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against
3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side

Looking at the current state of affair, it would seem Christians would do well to remember points 2 and 3.

Second, Christians should consider their level of politics. Contrary to certain political slogans and the still-present “Kingdom Now” theology, this country–and the world–continues to spiral downhill morally. Even with the best, purest motives and intentions, it’s inconceivable that a Christian man or woman can enter politics (either as a candidate or a serious voter) without being changed for the worse. When we consider the increasing hostility toward Christians and the gospel, that becomes even more problematic. But that also leads to another question, one that might trouble Christians, as it should:

Are believers becoming so involved in politics because they a) are scared to preach the gospel and see politics as the way of change; and/or b) do not fully believe the gospel and see politics as the way to effect change?

No doubt there will be strong reactions to this question. Many will reject it outright. Yet, the Bible tells us that, 

  • The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water (Proverbs 20:5). When we look at deep water, we cannot see what lies beneath. Often we act on motives that we ourselves don’t understand.
  • The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Often we don’t know our own hearts. We must ask the Lord to search us and know us, to see if there be any wicked way in us (Ps. 139:23-24).
  • There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death (Proverbs 14:12). Man’s way always leads to division, destruction, and death. The way of the cross, however, leads to life (though there is a death involved, it is death to the flesh).

That question is one that only the individual can answer, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. No one else, no matter how spiritual, can answer it for you. 

What is the solution then? As with all spiritual matters, repentance is the solution. We must change the way we are thinking, and then act accordingly. If, in the political struggles of this election cycle we have injured other brothers and sisters in the faith, then we have a mandate from Christ to go to them and seek to repair those breaches. 

The church must pray. The church must reclaim her identity as the Body of Christ, left here on earth to spread the gospel, both in word and deed. Politics will not have the eternal change that is found in the gospel. The church must pray that she will again be united–not as a massive political organization, but as the one voice of the Lord here on earth to speak His saving truth until He returns. Yes, we must pray for our nation and it’s leaders. We are commanded to do so. But the church must reclaim her identity–or risk losing the very witness that the Lord left her on this earth for.

When the church does these things, then she will be obeying those tope three commands:

Love God with everything you are.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Go out and make disciples.

[Note: For a similar but different perspective, see this wonderful blog that a friend shared while this blog was being prepared: Stepping Away From Un-Christian Politics (8/11/20).]

[For those of you reading this blog outside the US, please pray for the church, as we pray for you. Please also share this post, and see how the truths spoken of here apply to your country.]

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The Shepherd's Voice

Homesick–Living Life in the Minor Key

Posted on by The Shepherd's Voice

Most of us in the church are familiar with Hebrews 11, the so-called “Hall of Fame of Faith.” Many of us can recite at least portions of the great events mentioned. And countless sermons and messages have been preached on faith from this passage. This post is not intended to add to that collection. Rather, we are going to look at a part of the chapter that is often missed and overlooked. In the middle of the passage, we find these words:

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city (Heb. 11:13-16).

Did you catch that first sentence? The heroes of the faith all died, NOT having received the things promised. That should cause us to stop and think for a moment. It’s easy to miss that in the midst of all the grand statements of what the heroes of faith were able to accomplish through the Lord. We often hear that great faith can accomplish great things. And that is absolutely true.

At the same time, we must say with the writers of Scripture that the ultimate longings of faith will not be realized in this life. The longing to be with the Lord, be fully transformed like Christ, and to dwell with God forever. Yet we, as they did, can “[see] them and [greet] them from afar.” This is the vision of faith. Until those things are realized, until we are truly Home, we live life in the minor key. 

If you know anything about music, you know what is meant by “the minor key.” When something is played in a minor key it often has a darker, sadder, sometimes even morose tone. As believers living in the midst of this sin-stained fallen world (and highly aware of our own sin), we live in that same minor key. The heroes of old understood this well.

Aliens and Strangers

The Old Testament faithful, we are told, “[A]cknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (v. 13). They realized that this world was not their home. They were made for a perfect world and their world was not it. Pain and suffering, war, death, and famine were all around them. And that doesn’t even mention their own personal failings and sin.

Sounds a lot like the conditions of our world, doesn’t it?

In truth, nothing has changed. It can be safely said that, had God not made a covenant with Noah to never again destroy the earth with a flood to kill all humanity, He probably would have started over again–and again, and again. While we live in this world, we find moments, and even seasons, of peace, love, joy, and even happiness. Those, however, are the mountain top experiences. If we are honest, most of our lives are spent on the plains and in the valleys of life.

Bills to pay
Work schedules to keep
Sickness and death of family members
Relationship failures
Threats of war
Global pandemics

The list could go on and on. Even when not in the dark valleys of life, we are on the plains and plateaus of life, doing our best to let life not become a drudgery. The ultimate joy we long for is far off. Because we are not home yet. This world is not our home. 

Looking Forward

As the passage tells us, “For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland” (v. 14). They were looking toward eternity, toward something better. Like them, that is the key for how we are to live life. Yes, we can and will see those times of true joy in the Lord as we walk closer and closer with Him, as our flesh is crucified and we are transformed more into His image. 

But our hope for joy must not be set on this life. We will be disappointed too many times if that is where our eyes and hearts are fixed. Instead, we must keep our eyes forward, looking toward that Day.

A City Prepared

Notice what the Lord’s reaction to this thinking is: “Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God” (v. 16a). He is not ashamed to be called their God. And we can rightly read this sentence as, “Because these people were looking toward that heavenly place and the eternal joy, God is not ashamed (and is instead happy) to be called their God.” 

Why is God not ashamed? The last part of the verse tells us: “For he has prepared for them a city” (v. 16b). He has already prepared a place for them to dwell. Those words apply to us as well, not just them. Jesus echoes a similar thought:

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also (John 14:2-3).

Just as God had prepared a place for the Old Testament faithful, Christ is preparing a place for us. He meant those words as a strong encouragement and comfort, because He said, “Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). Translation? “You don’t have to be afraid. You’re going to see what your hearts long for, that better dwelling place with Me and My Father. You can count on it.”

That Kind of Faith

To return to our passage, we will look at one more important thing. Did you notice that verses 17-38, which catalog their mighty deeds, come after that description of faith?

By faith, Abraham . . .
By faith, Isaac . . .
By faith, Jacob . . . 
By faith, Joseph . . .

This is the kind of faith that does those great things. It is not a faith that is simply pumped up. It is a faith that has absolute trust in God, having set the eyes of the heart on eternity and scorning the treasures of this world. We know that their faith produced these results because we are told “[A]ll of these [were] commended through their faith” (v. 39a). Those mighty deeds were the proof of their faith. Yet, the writer feels the need to repeat an earlier statement. These mighty people of old, though they were commended by their faith, did not receive what was promised. 

Why did they not receive those things in this life? Because “God had provided something better [for them and] us” (v. 40). They, and their faith, were our examples. As God has prepared a place for them, we have the same hope.

When you feel that tug in your heart that things just aren’t right here, when you feel life is a drudgery, when you wonder “Is this all there is?,” remember that what you are really feeling is homesickness. You were created for something better. And God is pleased to give us glimpses of that eternal joy here, to remind us of what awaits us in eternity.

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The Shepherd's Voice

A Father’s Cry

Posted on by The Shepherd's Voice

Many years ago, the Christian artist Mark Schultz came out with a song entitled “He’s My Son.” It’s a powerful song about the desperate cry of a father’s heart. Though some see it as a sad song, unworthy of a Christian listening to it, it captured my heart. Songs of honesty always have. This is the chorus of the song, and it is a good summary of the pain that people often feel.

Can You hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can You make him feel alright?
If You can hear me
Let me take his place somehow
You see he’s not just anyone
He’s my son.

For too long in the church, people have denied and covered up the pain they feel when desperate prayers seem to go unanswered. Endless questions flood the mind about both our own character, as well as the character and heart of the Father. I empathize with that chorus, as I’m sure most of us (if we are honest) do. Whether it’s a prayer to heal a spouse, mother, father, brother, sister, or a prayer to save a marriage, or to ease the ache of loneliness, or any number of things, the cry is often the same.

Where is God?
Does He know what’s going on?
Does He even care?

Those questions make many in the church uncomfortable. They try to direct the focus somewhere else–to cover up the pain from the same questions tearing at their own heart. There are no easy answers, and this certainly won’t try to give such pat and superficial answers (which often make things worse). We simply don’t have the capacity to fully understand God and all His ways.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa. 55:8-9)

There are, however, some things that we can know about both the Lord and the world around us. They may seem to provide little comfort at times–when we want Him to do something, not just be. But, if we take them to heart they are likely to give us a larger (and better) perspective.

#1: This fallen world is not our home.

When God created Adam and Eve, they were perfect and living in a perfect environment. Everything functioned as it should. They were in fellowship with God and in tune with the world around them. Humanity, you see was created for a perfect world. Yet, we know that we live in a world that is far from perfect. Nothing works perfectly–not us, not the environment. And that is a result of the Fall. You see, the Fall not only affected Adam and Eve, but all of creation. Paul tells us,

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Rom. 8:22-23).

Thus, because we were created for a perfect place, we must keep in mind that this world is not our home. We are created and called for something better. At the end of time, this world will be destroyed and a new heavens and new earth created (Rev. 21:4). Until then, we will continue to live in a world filled with death, sorrow and grief.

#2: The Lord is good.

While we do live in a fallen, sin-sick world, we also must remember that the Lord our God is good. He has good plans for us (Jer. 29:11). He describes Himself firstly as gracious and compassionate (Ex. 34:6-8). And part of those good plans is a story of redemption. Not only redeeming us from sin through the death of Christ, but redeeming all that we go through for His glory and our ultimate good.

Notice the qualifier there: our ultimate good. We may not see it here. We may not understand how good can come from it. We may not understand what the Father is doing.  Yet we have His Word, His very promise: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28, emphasis added). Some half-jokingly call this the “all things clause.” What they mean is, “You know that’s really bad what happened…but, there’s the ‘all things clause.’” Not one thing in our lives is pointless from His perspective. Not one thing is wasted.

#3: The Lord understands our pain.

Not only is the Lord good, but He understands what we go through. God is a personal being, and He feels emotional pain. He is said to feel anger, joy, and other emotions. Jesus, as the perfect representation of the Father, showed many of these emotions. He is not sitting on the throne wondering what that must be like, having no clue to how we feel.

The ultimate example of the Lord understanding our pain is in the death of His Son. Christ even pleaded with the Father: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me” (Mark 14:36, emphasis mine). Can’t you hear the pleading of Jesus? And how such pleading must have torn the Father’s heart. Max Lucado captures it well:

Oh, my Son, my Child. Look up into the heavens and see my face before I turn it. Hear my voice before I silence it. Would that I could save you and them. But they don’t see, and they don’t hear. “The living must die so that the dying can live. The time has come to kill the Lamb.

Can you hear the Father’s heart? He knows our pain because He has experienced it. Not only has Christ been tempted in all points as we have, but the Father Himself has experienced the emotional pain of seeing His Son die.

This, I think, might be close to the Lord’s answer to the father’s cry in Mark Schultz’s song:

Can You hear Me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see Him?
See Him hanging on the cross for you?
If You can hear Me
Know He took your place somehow
You see He’s not just anyone
He’s My Son

The next time you are tempted to wonder if God knows what you are going through, if He cares, remember that He does understand. He knows. He weeps with you. And He is making all things right, all things new, for our perfect home.

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The Shepherd's Voice

Asking the Wrong Questions

Posted on by The Shepherd's Voice

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” . . .

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him (Luke 1:5-25, 57-66).

We in the church often talk about God as one who can do the impossible. That is most certainly truth. It’s borne out time and time again in Scripture. What we seem to forget, however, is that not only is God the one who can do the impossible, but that He does! And when He does, He brings glory to himself, through the testimony of many. The birth of John the Baptizer is a classic example.

Touched By an Angel

Let’s visit the Temple and eavesdrop on a conversation with Zechariah. This isn’t any ordinary conversation, though. He’s on duty in the Temple, offering incense. He “just so happened” to be chosen by lot to enter the Temple and burn incense. Luke tells us, “And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him” (Luke 1:11-12).

That seems to be a common reaction, doesn’t it? One sees an angel and trembles with fear. (Why else would an angel’s first words need to be, “Do not be afraid?”) The angel tells the frightened priest that very thing: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord” (vv. 13-15). Let’s pause here for a moment. Luke has told us that Elizabeth was barren and “advanced in years.” They were too old to have a child. In that culture and time, to be barren was considered (as Elizabeth called it) a reproach, a sign of disfavor from the Lord. No doubt they had prayed for a long time for a child, and now they were too old. But now was the time the Lord chose to send His messenger.

Your wife will conceive and have a son, and you’ll call Him John.

What was that Mr. Angel? A son, you say? (Must have had too much wine.)

Yes, a son. And not only will you rejoice but his birth will cause many to rejoice.

Oh man.

The implication here is this: the word the angel spoke was not only for Zechariah and Elizabeth but also for those around them. We saw the same thing in the Lord’s promise to Abram (Gen. 12:1-3). Abram is told that through him (his descendants), all the families of the earth would be blessed.

But, Zechariah has a problem. He can’t get past the little detail of age. He and Elizabeth are “advanced in years.” That likely means well past what we would consider “middle age.” Elizabeth’s body had become “barren,” sterile. A literal definition might be hard (the sense being something that is drying up). To be fair, those are rather daunting details for a human to consider. So, he asks a question:

Mr. Angel, how will I know this will happen? After all, I’m an old man and, and my wife is advanced in years (not to mention barren).

At first glance, it seems a reasonable question. Yet it shows traces of unbelief (which is different than simple doubt). Mary asked a similar question (to the same angel, no less): “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). Sounds almost like the same question, doesn’t it? But there’s a subtle difference. Zechariah asked, “How will I know this?” and proceeded to list the reasons why it couldn’t be. He was asking for a sign of confirmation—much as the Jews of later years would ask of his son and Jesus. Mary, on the other hand, asked for a simple explanation. “I don’t understand how this can happen. I am a virgin. Joseph and I aren’t married yet.” The angel answered her question simply, “The Lord will overshadow you.” For Zechariah, however, the response was different:

I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time (Luke 1:19-20).

They seem pretty harsh. Why did Gabriel feel the need to give his name? His job is as a messenger. A messenger speaks on behalf of another. Thus, “I am Gabriel who speak to you, and the words I speak are not my own, but God’s, in whose presence I stand.” The words have the feel of almost an oath. Because God has spoken, His words are to be believed, and Zechariah’s question borders on calling Gabriel a liar—and thus God. Thus, to prevent Zechariah’s unbelief from spreading, Gabriel mutes him. One interesting thing of note is that even though Zechariah “made signs” to the people after he finished in the Temple, there’s no record that he told anyone besides Elizabeth what specifically was said to him.

God’s Word to One and Many

As we know, Elizabeth did conceive. She hid herself for five months, rejoicing that the Lord had taken away her reproach. After the child was born, everyone came to the circumcision event (which was also when the baby was named). They assumed he would be named after his father (a common practice). And she shocked everyone:

No, his name is John.

John? Did you say “John?” (Did she say “John?”)

That’s what I heard too.

There’s no one in your entire family that is named John!

His name is John.

Let’s ask Zechariah.

They gave Zechariah a writing tablet, and he wrote, “His name is John.” Well, he certainly had an eye-opening (or mouth-opening) moment! As soon as he writes those words, Luke reports, “His mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God” (v. 64). He would utter a prophecy about his son (vv. 67-79). God had fulfilled His word to this couple.

Don’t miss the rest of the story though. Luke tells us that “Fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, ‘What then will this child be?’” (Luke 1:65-66, emphasis added). Because of the circumstances of John’s birth, fear of the Lord spread throughout the whole region. When the Lord gives us a word of promise—whether it be for healing, ministry, restoration, whatever—it is not only for us, but He will use it for the good of those around us. All we need to do is believe and hold fast to that word.

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The Shepherd's Voice

Looking Forward not Behind

Posted on by The Shepherd's Voice

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained (Phil. 3:2-16).

In the last post, we looked at the contrast between true and false believers, specifically with Paul’s emphasis of putting no confidence in the flesh. In this post, we are going to continue thinking about that, using Paul’s example of his own life. We’ll look at the question, “What does it mean to put no confidence in the flesh, and what should the believer instead be doing?”

Having it All

After contrasting the false and true believers, Paul then turns to his own life in a bit of an autobiographical moment. He lists his own qualifications to show why even they don’t matter in the light of eternity. To the people of that day (and especially among the Jews), they would be impressive:

  • circumcised on the eighth day, 
  • of the people of Israel, 
  • of the tribe of Benjamin, 
  • a Hebrew of Hebrews; 
  • as to the law, a Pharisee;
  • as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; 
  • as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

That’s a pretty impressive list. Paul came from the right family, the right tribe, kept the law, was sure he was doing God’s work with zeal, and was sure he stood blameless before the law. He could have also added that he had studied under the great Gamaliel, grandson of one of the great teachers of the law, Hillel. He definitely had all the right credentials. Yet, look what he says about this:

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith–that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead (vv. 7-11).

Did you catch that? He counted all those qualifications as rubbish. Why? Because they simply do not compare to the worth of knowing Christ. And if you read it carefully, you’ll see that his last statements (“know the power of His resurrection . . . attain the resurrection of the dead”) depend on the former statements (“count all as loss for the sake of knowing Him”). The idea is that one can only know Christ and the power of His resurrection to the extent that he lets go of the idea of attaining righteousness by human effort. One cannot do both. We might rightly summarize his teaching here as, I had it all, but I did not have Christ. And now that I have Christ, nothing else compares.

Before continuing, we should pause here and ask the question, “Are those ‘credentials’ bad in themselves?” The answer is, of course not. Paul was not condemning those things. He was only saying that they were neither the goal in life nor the measure of one’s righteousness or usefulness to God. It’s clear from biblical history that God gifted and fashioned Paul in many ways to reach a large group of people–both Jews and Gentiles. But those things (family background, expertise in the law, formal training) were just tools in the hand of the Lord.

Pressing Toward the Goal

Notice what Paul’s concern is here. He’s counted all for the sake of “knowing Christ.” He wants to be found in Christ. He wants to be found having the righteousness of Christ, not a righteousness based on the law–another great contrast. Before Christ, it would have been tempting for Paul to think, “I’ve arrived.” After all, he reported that he kept the law blamelessly. That is a common attitude for those who seek a righteousness based on the law.

Yet, though he has the righteousness of Christ, he realizes that he has not arrived. He plainly says, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect . . . “ So, he hasn’t gotten there. What does he resolve to do? “I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” The phrase press on in the Greek (diōkō) means “to pursue; persecute.” He now takes that same zeal that he used in persecuting the church and turns it to press toward knowing Christ and being found in Him. Likewise, the phrase make it my own in the Greek (katalambanō) means “to grasp; lay hold of.” With these words, Paul communicates his earnest desire to have the full knowledge of Christ. He realizes that he won’t get there until eternity, but that does not stop him from striving through Christ. Because Christ has “laid hold of” Paul (the same word that Paul uses to describe his pursuit of Christ), Paul will seek to lay hold of Christ.

How does Paul plan to accomplish this goal? By having this mindset, which he puts into an analogy of a footrace: “One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Picture a runner so fixated on the finish line that nothing else around him catches his attention, and you have an idea of the picture Paul paints. Notice the first thing that Paul says here: forgetting what lies behind. This obviously doesn’t mean he’s forgotten or obliterated the past. After all, he just listed his own history. What he means is that he refuses to live in the past, let it absorb his attention, or allow it to hinder him from reaching the goal.

Not only does Paul forget what is behind, but he presses forward toward the goal of the heavenly calling of Christ. He fixes his whole being–eyes, mind, heart, body–on that goal. He will settle for nothing less than the prize that awaits him at the finish line. It brings to mind the parables that Jesus told of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price:

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matt. 13:44-46).

Like the men in the parables, Paul says he has found a treasure of such value that nothing on earth can compare to it, and thus he has forsaken all–even the privileges that he has had as a well-known member of the Jewish nation–to obtain it. Then he gives an urgent plea to the believers: “Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” A mark of the mature believer is that he likewise will focus his energies on pursuing Christ and His kingdom, rather than the things of this world.

The questions that Phil. 3:2-16 call us to ask of ourselves are these:

  • Are we part of the true circumcision, or is our “faith” in works and deeds only?
  • Are we pressing toward the goal of knowing Christ, or are we allowing worldly things to hinder us?
  • Have we been captured by Christ to the extent that nothing in this world matters but knowing, loving, and serving Him?

In the chaos of today’s world, these are the questions that need our answers. Let us therefore follow the example of Paul–as he followed the example of Christ.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:1-2).

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The Shepherd's Voice

Getting Rid of the Rubbish

Posted on by The Shepherd's Voice

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God[a] and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,[b] blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained (Phil. 3:2-16). 

Beginning with this post, we’re going to take some time to look at Paul’s teachings in this passage. Parts of this passage are well-known, particularly vv. 10-14. However, in order to understand and appreciate those verses, we should first look at what leads up to that. 

Mutilators of the Flesh

Paul begins this section of the letter with a strong warning: The Philippian believers are to “watch out for” a certain group of people (Greek blepete, “to see or behold”). Though he uses three different phrases to describe them, they all refer to the same group of people. He calls them:

  • dogs – wild, vicious animals, used to describe people of moral impurity
  • workers of evil – those who practice evil (often under the guise of good).
  • mutilators of the flesh – those who insist on cutting the body as a religious duty.

Paul then zeroes in on the last phrase, by using a contrast. He says, “But we [meaning true believers] are the circumcision” (emphasis added). What does this mean? Circumcision was commanded of all males under the law, as a sign of the covenant between God and Israel. If a foreigner wanted to become part of God’s people (Israel), all the males in the household were required to be circumcised, and the household would then be obligated to keep the law.

By the time of Jesus and Paul, observance of the law had become a purely outward observance. One measured his or her righteousness by the degree that he or she kept the law, including circumcision, saying the right prayers, and avoiding moral and ritual defilement. Some of these folks had infiltrated the church by Paul’s time. Their motto was, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” (Acts 15:2, which is why the translators of the NLT render verse 2 as “those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved”). Paul objected strongly to anyone adding anything to the gospel of faith. What he is saying in essence is, “Their ‘circumcision’ has no value, it’s just a mutilation of the flesh.”

The True Circumcision

He contrasts that with what he calls the “true circumcision.” In Romans 3:28-29, he tells us that the true believer is one who has been circumcised in the heart. For this person, God’s Spirit has performed heart surgery, and has given him a new heart according to the New Covenant. Now, his outward obedience comes from a changed heart, not merely a religious duty.

As he used three phrases to describe the people that believers are to beware of, now Paul gives us three things that characterize a true believer. 

The true believer worships by the Spirit of God. The true believer’s worship is not merely outward, being controlled by religious duty or rules. His worship comes from the very presence of God’s Spirit within him. Jesus told the Samaritan woman much the same thing, when He said, 

The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).

The true believer glories in Christ Jesus, not himself or his own works. The word translated “glory” literally means “to boast” (Greek kauchaomai). Even Paul, as he writes in just a few verses, could have reason to boast himself, he disclaims any right to do so. Instead, he resolves “to know nothing. . . except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). 

The true believer puts no confidence in the flesh. As Paul has just said, the true believer, the one who is circumcised in the heart, will boast only in Christ Jesus and what He has done. It’s common in the world for people to boast of their (or others’) credentials and accomplishments–even in the church. One is often called “Dr.” before “pastor,” as though the title gives him more credibility. The true believer recognizes that human effort does not earn the favor of God.

These are the enduring marks of the true believer. We should ask ourselves, “Are we only glorying in our religious duty, marking off our checklist, or are we the real deal?” In the next post, we will take a closer look at this, by listening to what Paul has to say about his own credentials.

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The Shepherd's Voice

Looking into the Mirror: The Root of Sin

Posted on by The Shepherd's Voice

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s (Exodus 20:17).

If the first commandment God gave His people (“no other gods before Me”) set the tone for their relationship with Him, then this last of the Ten Commandments summarizes the relationship of a man to his neighbor. Do not covet . . . anything that is your neighbor’s. As we will see, this verse underlies all the sins that have been mentioned before–murder, adultery, dishonor to parents, stealing, false witness. All spring from the heart, and the heart is where covetousness lives.

Desiring Good Things

The word covet has as its root a word that means “pleasant; delight, beauty.” The word itself (Hebrew chamad) generally means “desire.” Most often it is used in a negative or bad sense, though Paul tells the Corinthians to covet, or earnestly desire, the best spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:31). Notice that the Lord lists things that, at face value, are good. This should remind us of Eve’s experience in the Garden of Eden. After the serpent tempted her, we read that

[she] saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise (Gen. 3:6, emphasis added).

There are those words again: good, delight, desire. The things that Eve desired were good. In fact, as one writer said, she was not tempted by the evil side of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She was tempted by the good things. 

The Root of the Problem

As James says, that desire then gives birth to sin. He tells us,

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions (James 4:2-3).

As we have said in previous posts, it is the nature of the flesh, of fallen man, to try to arrange for his own satisfaction, security, and happiness. He decides what he needs, then devises plans to get it. Often, he tries to enlist others (willingly or unwillingly). Yet, James points out that we often do not have because we do not ask. And when we do ask, we ask with wrong motives–to satisfy our fleshly desires. Instead of trusting God as a Father who wishes to give good gifts to His children, asking Him becomes simply another way to get what we want.

James calls such things “friendship with the world,” and he says that people who engage in such thinking are adulterers in their heart (James 4:4). How is this adultery? It is adultery because one has turned from God and turned to the world to supply those things that only God can supply. Such a person has now placed the world above God. What we learn here is this: one cannot walk as a friend of the world and a friend of God at the same time.

The Cure for the Problem

What is the solution to this? Like all sins we have talked about, real change must begin with repentance. To repent is to first change our thinking. We have attempted to do things our own way, provide for our own wants and needs, and turned away from God in the process. We must instead see Him as our loving, trustworthy Father, who provides all that we need. Then, we must turn to Him in dependence and trust, instead of the world.

We should also bear in mind that He really is good. In fact, He is so good that He promises this:

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday (Ps. 37:4-6).

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The Shepherd's Voice

Looking into the Mirror: A True Witness

Posted on by The Shepherd's Voice

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (Exodus 20:16).

When Peter and John were arrested by the Jewish leaders for preaching the resurrection of Christ, they defended themselves by saying, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). In this simple statement we find the definition and duty of a witness. Christ had promised His disciples would be witnesses (Acts. 1:8). Against that background stands the command to not bear “false witness” against a neighbor.

To Witness Falsely

What does it mean to bear false witness? The Hebrew phrase (`anah sheqer `ed) literally means “to give false/deceptive/lying witness/testimony.” The original meaning is likely connected to the judicial process. The phrase “against [lit. in the case of] your neighbor” refers to a reciprocal relationship between two people. Jesus defined “neighbor” broadly, and it’s best to see a broad application of this term as well.

If a witness is to testify about what he has seen and heard, then it follows that giving false testimony is to say what is untrue (ex: “I saw John coming out of Joe’s house at 1pm,” when in fact it was actually 2:30pm). Of course, false testimony need not be that blatant. Most falsehoods are far more subtle.

The Wider Context

Being a witness is not limited to judicial proceedings, however. As we pointed out earlier, Jesus says that His disciples will be His witnesses (i.e., witnesses of Him and His work). We also act as witnesses when we speak of other people in everyday conversations. The commandment is meant to protect the reputations, and giving false witness, either intentionally or carelessly, has the effect of damaging reputations. If we are to honor this commandment, then its words should have a sobering effect on what and how we speak.

In the account of Job, we found an example of what it means to be a false witness regarding God. For some context, remember that Job’s three friends came to comfort him in his time of grief after the loss of all he had. After their conversation (and God’s conversation with Job), we read these words,

After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has” (Job 42:7-8).

This is a rather serious charge. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar had spoken about God things that were untrue. The penalty under the law for testifying falsely was severe (though this event likely happened before the law was given). God tells the three that unless they make sacrifice and Job prays for them, He will deal with them “according to [their] folly.” 

Paul gives another example of being a false witness in his discussion of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. There he writes,

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either (1 Cor. 15:14-16).

Paul’s comments here are unmistakable. Anyone who says Christ was not raised from the dead is guilty of breaking the ninth commandment, since God has indeed raised Christ from the dead (this is the clear implication of his argument). 

These examples should give us pause when we consider how we speak about God to others today. In the context of bearing false witness, how does that apply when speaking of God? Violations of this commandment might include portraying God as:

  • judgmental apart from being compassionate
  • simply overlooking our sin
  • unconcerned with the needs of His people
  • anything less than absolutely sovereign and holy

Of course much more could be added to the list. The thing to bear in mind is that our portrayal of God should be according to Scripture, not what we think God should be like.

One final note is in order here. As witnesses, we not only witness with our words but with our lives. If our lives don’t match our words, we still run the risk of being false witnesses. Therefore, we must endeavor to fulfill Paul’s command to the Ephesians: 

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ (Eph. 4:15).

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