The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands,forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Exodus 32-34

The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands,forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6-7

I have completed my study of Numbers, but before I move on to my next study (TBD), I pause for today to review text covered today in church - Exodus 32-34 - including for our small group time.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God is a jealous God as He is jealous for Himself when the people of Israel do not follow His commandments, particularly those commandments to love Him and not to put other gods before Him. God burns with anger (32:7-10) when Israel creates a golden calf (32:1-6) as they await Moses to come down from the top of Mount Sinai.  In Exodus 33, God shares (33:3) that He will not be with the people as they continue in their journey to the Promised Land and the people mourn.  God is "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (34:6), and He renews the covenant He made with Israel (34:10-27) - an act of incredible grace and mercy as Israel does not get what they deserve and they do get what they don't deserve. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Moses intercedes (32:11-13, 32:31-32) on behalf of the people - and God relents (v14). In 32:15-35, Moses punishes the people and God follows with a plague. After God shares that He will not be with the people as they continue in their journey to the Promised Land, Moses once again intercedes on behalf of Israel - 33:12. Moses also asks the Lord to show Himself and His glory, and to see Him face to face but God will not allow Moses to see His face - 33:23.  Moses goes back up to the top of Mount Sinai in Exodus 34, recreates the tablets with the Ten Commandments and intercedes once more on behalf of the people - 34:9. After Moses came down from Mount Sinai it was clear that He spoke with God because his face was radiant and shone from His glory (34:29-35). 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid taking matters into Your own hands when you believe that God is not hearing you or not responding - He is always at work.  Claim the promise that God is faithful, but that if you seek Him with all of your heart, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  Follow the example of Moses who served God faithfully and drew near to Him. Trust God that He is faithful (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  You are slow to anger, abounding in love, and rich in mercies - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Numbers 21:4-9

So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. Numbers 21:9

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 21:4-9, the people once again grumble and complain against the LORD, yet God is abounding in love, relents from His punishment and provides a way out.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God sees grumbling and complaining as a sin, so Israel is punished - v6.  Yet God is merciful and He responds to prayer as the people confess and seek for Moses to intercede - v8.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The people are not yet in the Promised Land, and of course one can imagine the people (as we would) seeking the quickest way possible to get to their destination.  Impatience can be seen as a childish behavior (are we there yet?), but it afflicts adults just as well.  The pattern of Israel's grumbling and complaining, and of God showing mercy, is staggering - God not only provides second chances, but third, fourth, etc.  Yes, many are harshly punished, but we have to acknowledge that we ALL sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). So we don't deserve God's mercy - yet He provides a way out.  Jesus is this way out - if we confess, like Israel does here in v7 and we have someone like Moses who intercedes on our behalf (we do in Jesus), we can be assured of forgiveness and of salvation (Romans 10:9-10).  Yet we cannot prevent punishment as this is for God alone to determine and we must see punishment as love from the Father for good.  Israel should have seen this in how they remained in the wilderness.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Do not grumble and complain.  Claim the promises that God disciplines those He loves, and God forgives and saves.  Follow the example of Israel who confessed - and the example of those acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Be thankful in all circumstances. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed.

Mark 12:1-12

When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. Mark 12:2-5

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 12:1-12.  Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the first (of three) division (vv1-5):

• The title of this chapter for the commentary is "God Sent His Son and We Killed Him" and the main idea is: "To reject the Son is to reject the Father who sent Him."
• "In “the parable of the wicked tenants,” Jesus tells a story of judgment and mercy, grace and wrath, Christmas and Easter. The meaning can scarcely be doubted: God sent His Son, and we killed Him."  
• "Jesus has recently entered Jerusalem to the shouts and applause of the people (11:1-11). A couple of days later He enraged the religious leaders by cleansing the temple (11:15-19). The tension grew worse as He embarrassed them in a public showdown over the source of John the Baptist’s ministry and His own (11:27-33). Now He will inflame their hatred even more with a parable that will expose their evil hearts and their long-intended goal: to “destroy Him” (3:6; cf. 11:18; 14:1-2)."  
• "The story Jesus tells is really an allegorical parable drawn from Isaiah 5:1-7." In the text from Isaiah, God is the One who plants and the master of the vineyard, and Israel is the vineyard.  The tenants are the religious leaders of Israel.    
• The title of the first division per the commentary is "God Is Patient When Sinners Resist His Wooing."
• The parable is directed towards the religious leaders of Israel much like the "clever trap" set by Nathan for David in 2 Samuel 12:1-5.  "It is a story of Israel’s relationship to the Son of God. It is a reminder of the extraordinary restraint of a God who, as 2 Peter 3:9 teaches, 'Is patient with [us], not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.'  Like David [the religious leaders] knew their guilt. Unlike David they did not repent." 
• "[God] went to great expense on behalf of the vineyard and had every right to expect a bountiful harvest. However, the vineyard failed in its assignment."
• The faithful servants the vineyard master sends in the parable represent the many prophets God sent to Israel such as Jeremiah, etc. and Hebrews 11:35-38 records these faithful servants and how they served yet were treated harshly like the parable in Mark 12:1-12.
• We are referred to Matthew 23:34-35 for Jesus' description of the messengers he sends and how they also will be harshly treated - in His name. 
• "God’s gracious patience was extended repeatedly, but rebellious sinners like you and me resisted His wooing. We took His good things and turned them into god things thereby making them bad things. We took what was His and in rebellion said it was ours!"

We should all recognize that we are the ones that should have been nailed to the cross - we deserved the death Jesus died.  Instead we received mercy and salvation - something we don't deserve.  Once we recognize this our response is one of humility and gratitude.  It is also one whereby we embrace Jesus and seek to please Him, knowing that we exist to bring Him glory in all that we do.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who is full of incredible grace and mercy - seeking to save as many as You can - all of whom, including myself, are deserving of death due to our sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the grace You pour out for me and for my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

Mark 6:45-56

But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Mark 6:50b

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 6:45-56.  Excerpts from the commentary for the introduction to the entirety of the text and for the first (of two) division (vv45-52):

• The main idea for the entirety of the text is "Jesus’ miraculous acts of walking on water and healing point to His true identity as the great 'I AM.'"  
• The title for the first division is "Jesus Is the One in Whom We Should Have Faith."  
• "Jesus has just fed 15 or 20 thousand people (Mark 6:30-44). Messianic excitement is at a fever pitch. The crowds want to make Him king now (John 6:14-15). However, it is neither the time nor the means whereby He would receive His kingdom. A throne awaits Him, but there is a cross on the way." 
• In vv45-52 we see Jesus command the disciples to get into the boat and they then find themselves in rough seas.  The commentary shares: "Jesus may indeed send us into trouble and difficulty but with a redemptive purpose. There our understanding of His providence and power is increased. There our faith and dependence on Him and Him alone grow. His plans are not always easy or what we want, but they are always best. Believe! Don’t doubt." 
• RE: v46 where Jesus prays: "[p]rayer for Jesus was intense. It was war. John Piper well says, “Until you believe that life is war, you cannot know what prayer is for” (“Prayer”). Jesus knew this better than any of us. He sought His Father in the heat of the battle raging about Him. No doubt He prayed for Himself. No doubt He prayed for the crowd for whom He had compassion. And I suspect He prayed for His disciples who were in need of His prayers and His power." 
• Vv48-51 is unpacked by referring us to Exodus 33:18, 20-23 and 1 Kings 19:11 where God reveals His glory to Moses and Elijah. Jesus' response to the disciples fear is the same as what God spoke to Moses in Exodus 3:14 about who He is. 
• V52 shares that the disciples still did not see and understand. Yet the disciples still do not "receive [a] rebuke from their Master, the compassionate Shepherd (Mark 6:34). He knows they still have much to learn and endure. He will not give up on them. Praise God, He did not give up on us in our ignorance and hard-heartedness either!"

Indeed, there are many times throughout our lives when we question who God is, that He exists or that He is at work or working for us - all of which should be without question.  The great news is just as Jesus did not give up on the disciples during their times of doubt, He does not give up on us either - we just need to press on, bringing our cares and concerns to Him.  He hears and responds to our cries. I am drawn to the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:1-20 where even in her struggles she found the power to pray. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God the never stops working for me, and You hear my cries and respond to all of them.  You are SO good.  You also save!  Thank You Jesus for saving me and for Your great patience even as I struggle and doubt.  I am not deserving of how You are so full of grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[A] bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench[.]

Matthew 12:20

[A] bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench[.] Matthew 12:20

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 21: The Patience of Jesus where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• "[Patience is] calmly waiting for something hoped for...[and] the uncomplaining endurance of tribulation."
• "But would you see patience in both its forms raised to its highest power without a defect and without a flaw, you will find it in Jesus of Nazareth."
• "Think of what delay must have meant to Jesus. How his blood must have boiled in little sleepy Nazareth as he dreamed of the mighty things which ought to be done and which he felt he could do in the great arena. As man after man brushed by him on his way to success and renown his soul must have been agitated, he too must have felt the fever to hasten on. Think of what his dream was and you will understand how it must have tugged at him and made the years seem interminable in drowsy, prosaic Nazareth. But he waited.  At twenty-one he said, Not yet. At twenty-five, Not yet. At twenty-eight, Not yet. It is in the twenties that the blood is hottest and the soul is most eager to get on. Through all the blazing years of youth Jesus waited in Nazareth. It was not until he was in his thirtieth year that he said to himself, The time has come."
• "A man at thirty is more than one-third of the way through life, and since Jesus has so much to do, certainly now that he has been baptized he will plunge into his work with alacrity, and push his projects with a vigor which will startle his contemporaries. Not so. He will calmly meditate on the best ways of helping his day and generation. The leaders of the people were looking for a man who would imitate the methods of the men who had hitherto proved themselves masters of the destinies of nations. In imagination he saw himself on the top of a lofty mountain with the kingdoms of the world lying stretched out below him. He saw how he might gain possession of them by adopting methods employed by those who had lived before his day. But having considered the whole situation he said, "No, I will not do what others have done, I will choose the slow and toilsome way; I will not cut the knot, I will untie it; I will not push the world, I will draw it; I will not subdue the world by military methods, I will heal it by the sympathy of human hearts." With this conviction firmly established in his soul he began his ministry in Galilee."
• "But when [His disciples] urged him to hurry, his reply was, " Are there not twelve hours in the day?" or, "My hour is not yet come." And instead of setting all the land afire he tried, so it seemed, to suppress himself, to hold his disciples back, to keep his name from becoming glorious. When he healed sick men he said to them, 'Tell no man." When his disciples saw him all radiant on the mountain he cautioned them to keep still. The result was that at the end of his life he had made only one hundred and twenty disciples. What a pitiful outcome of a life so arduous, of work so strenuous and so unceasing! But the sight of a hundred and twenty men did not daunt him, he died with contentment in his heart. 'Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.'  When? Not then, not a hundred years after his death, nor a thousand years, nor ten thousand years after. Nevertheless he has the tone of victory in his voice, knowing that in spite of all the obstacles, delays, and retrogressions, the outcome is absolutely certain."
• "Wherever he went he was pursued by men who were his enemies. They watched him in order that they might trip him. They questioned him in order that they might get him into a trap. How difficult it is to speak if one is speaking in the presence of people who are watching each sentence, determined if possible to catch the speaker in an error. Wherever he went his conduct was scrutinized by eyes that were green with envy. Everything he did was criticized, every action called forth a storm of fresh abuse. His enemies gathered around him like a swarm of mosquitoes biting him, like a swarm of hornets stinging him — but he never complained. They nagged at him, pelted him with abusive epithets, sowed the land with lies about him, but he never grew bitter."
• "The disciples to whom he gave himself with a devotion that has never been equaled were constantly failing to catch the import of the things he told them. They were slow and stupid, petty and selfish, unable to take in the great things he had to say — but he was patient with them."
•  "To every follower of Jesus the Almighty is a long-suffering God. He has vast plans running through the ages, and He is willing to wait for their fulfillment."

Frustration results when we believe that something should have happened did not.  We want things to go our way.  This is certainly true for myself - a sinful posture indeed.  I need Jesus to continue a work in me in patience - as a parent, including for a special needs child, God has equipped me with greater patience.  Yet I need to see things as Jesus does, that there is a plan for me and for the details of my life and I need to slow down and see what God is doing because He is in control (Colossians 1:15-17).  It is with this perspective where I can become content and thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that has demonstrated immense patience with me - never giving up on me even when I fall down in the mission You give to me.  Thank You for the mercies that are new every morning and that never cease.  I am not deserving of my salvation, nor any of the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.      

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.

Zephaniah 2:1-3

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD. Zephaniah 2:3

I resume my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is an unassisted review of Zephaniah 2:1-3.  Here, Zephaniah pivots from chapter 1 where as messenger of the Lord he shares God's anger at Judah and how God will soon declare judgement and punish Judah.  As chapter 2 opens, we see a pause in tone from God as Zephaniah shares that "perhaps [Judah] may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD" (v3b). God's wrath has yet to come to pass and He is giving Judah an opportunity to repent "before there comes upon you the burning anger of the LORD" (repeated 2x in v2). Before judgement day is upon anyone - and it will be upon everyone - God gives unbelievers an opportunity to repent and be saved by confessing sin and believing in Jesus.  This is Good News indeed.  Zephaniah 2:3 in full gives us what God seeks from us - humility, obedience to God, and righteousness.   

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - my sin is great yet You continue to offer mercies that are new every morning and never cease.  Thank You Jesus! Of course, I am undeserving.  My sin IS great and continues daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.

Zephaniah 1:7

Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. Zephaniah 1:7

I continue my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my study focus is an unassisted review of the third division per my commentary: v7.  Here, we have a scene much like that of a court room where in vv1-6 Zephaniah lays out the charges against Judah (see previous posts) - see vv4-6 where Zephaniah shares God's judgement that Judah has worshiped other gods besides the One True God, and by definition Judah has turned away from God and not "inquired of Him." This is a very serious charge considering how we are to love God first and others second as the most important commandments (see also Matthew 22:36-40, Exodus 20).  The wages of sin - ALL sin - are death; see Romans 6:23. In light of the charges against Judah and how the punishment previously described by Zephaniah (see vv2-4) - how God will destroy everything, including Judah - Zephaniah now turns to Judah (and by implication all believing readers) to sit in silence as it is now God's time to force Judah's hand into listening to Him, something they should be doing daily.  God wants us to love Him, listen to Him, be obedient to Him, and ultimately to glorify to Him - this is why we exist.  We don't exist to pursue whatever dreams WE think we want.  Our dreams - if not aligned with God's will - will become idols just as those pursued by Judah.  Much like a parent disciplines a child, in v7 Zephaniah is seeking Judah's silence because God is full of love, patience, etc. and while He could have wiped out Judah WITHOUT any warning, He sees a teaching moment and ultimately out of his compassion, He is preparing an opportunity for Judah to repent. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is full of patience and grace - often giving those who fall away opportunities to repent and return to Your love arms.  Thank You Jesus for saving me and for the grace You give me.  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us led Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

 

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory[.]

Romans 9

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory[.] Romans 9:22-23

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I started chapter thirteen God's Word Has Not Failed, which covers Romans 9:1-29.  My focus today is Romans 9:19-23, which my commentary refers to under the heading Truth 3: God Has the Right of a Potter over His Clay.  In these verses, Paul continues to make the case for the gospel.  He poses several rhetorical questions, including how can we resist God and what standing do we have to question God? He responds by using a reference to Old Testament imagery as found in Jeremiah 18 (see also Isaiah 29, 45) and elsewhere.  God, as the Potter can do as he chooses with us, just as He does with His clay - we are clay in His hands...and we are to remember most importantly v23 in that we exist for God's glory and not for our own.

My commentary describes how Paul skirts the question of human responsibility and instead focuses on the questioner's pride, which Paul knows is a key obstacle to faith. It goes on to state that while we are not "mere lumps of clay, but the analogy is fitting: [God] is free, and he has the right to do with the clay as he pleases.  We are encouraged to see how scripture is clear on this by looking at Psalm 115:3, and at Job 42:1-6, where after God's rebuke, Job submits to God and has a more clear view of who God is and how God reigns. Finally in v22-23, we are reminded to see how God is merciful and He has "endured with much patience" our sin and disobedience and we are to see how God does this so that we can make much of God and glorify Him with our lives as a response.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of patience and mercy for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and how You pour these out for me daily.  My sin of anger, harsh words, etc. continue.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Job 1-42

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Job: God's Presence in the Storm*".

*Title of lesson two from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day four starts with Max Lucado pointing out how Job, once God is finished responding to Job, is speechless.  There are no words to respond to God. Lucado uses the following verse to show us how Job is speechless:

“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer—twice, but I will say no more.” Job 40:4-5

Lucado wants us also to be speechless, but more so not that we never speak to God or never respond to Him, but that we hold God in awe and that we truly seek God's name to be hallowed (holy, sacred, or revered per dictionary). We are also encouraged to look at how God seeks to get our attention. Lucado points to how God appeared to Elijah when he ran for his life after hearing of Jezebel's death sentence for him in 1 King 19:1-18. God seeks to comfort and provide for Elijah, and although God demonstrates his power through a wind, earthquake and fire, "God is not in" any of these as it appears He did not want to be appear to be angry with Elijah.  Instead God wanted to appear full of love so it says God appeared as a "gentle whisper".  God does want Elijah to stand firm in his faith but He is not angry at Elijah when he runs.  Time and time again we see how God is full of love for even those who either lack faith or who whose faith lapses for a period. Jonah, the Prodigal Son, Peter, Paul, etc. I know I can be included in this crowd of faithless or even faithless for a period.  Yet God is full of love, mercy, compassion, and patience.  

Lucado uses the story of Job to encourage us to listen to God vs talking to God in prayer - to be still, or to be silent and to focus on God. 

I am reminded of how Moses encourages the Israelites to be still in the face of looming death as the chasing Egyptian army bears down on them on the edge of the Red Sea.

Comment on and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who is full of mercy, compassion, and patience for me. You have helped me see through many a storms in my life and I am grateful.  Yet I am undeserving.  I continue to sin...worry, etc. Please forgive me Lord - help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Jude 1

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:22-23

Day 354 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this morning I read Jude. My commentary notes: "Jude is trying to combat a widely believed philosophy which denies that the sins of the flesh can affect the soul—a philosophy which, naturally enough, has led to flagrant immorality. In order to stress the potentially dangerous consequences of such teaching, Jude uses both Old Testament and extra-biblical writings (the book of Enoch) to remind his readers of God’s judgment upon the ungodly."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

I have previously posted on Jude, John MacArthur* provides additional commentary on those deserving of mercy here: "[t]here are several textual variants here which could result in either two or three groups being indicated. They are: (1) sincere doubters who deserve compassion (v. 22); (2) those who are deeper in unbelief and urgently need to be pulled from the fire (v. 23); and (3) those declared disciples of apostasy who still deserve mercy, but are to be handled with much fear (v. 23; included in better manuscripts), lest the would-be-rescuer also be spiritually sullied. Given the manuscripts evidence and Jude’s pattern of writing in triads, three groups is the more likely scenario."

"These victims of the apostate teachers need mercy and patience because they have not yet reached a firm conclusion about Christ and eternal life, and so remain doubters who could possibly be swayed to the truth. 23 others save. Others, who are committed to the errors taught by the apostates, need immediate and forthright attention before they are further entrenched on the road to the fire of hell (cf. v. 7) as a result of embracing deceptive lies. with fear. This third group also needs mercy, even though they are thoroughly polluted by apostate teaching. These people are to be given the true gospel, but with great fear, lest the deliverer be contaminated also. The defiled garment pictures the apostate’s debauched life, which can spread its contagion to the well-meaning evangel."

*MacArthur, John F.. The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 

MacArthur's insights this morning provide great help in emphasizing how we are to not hold back mercy, even for those whom we might otherwise believe are beyond the point of no return with regards to apostasy.  Jude does also emphasize how we are to exercise caution here but we are nonetheless to be generous with our mercy.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is MORE than generous with Your mercy for me - thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving for how You distribute mercy - I worry, lack patience, etc. and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.

Psalm 78

Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath. Psalm 78:38

Day 272 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as my commentary* uses 11 psalms (over several days) to describe "praise to God for hearing the people’s prayers in captivity and for being faithful in his promises of restoration".

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Psalm 78 describes how Israel and Judah got itself into trouble by failing to truly worship God and remember all that He has done and who God is. Verse 38 nicely summarizes God mercies not just for the Jewish nation, but for all of us as believers.

God is merciful indeed - not giving us what we deserve (Romans 6:23) but giving us what we don't deserve. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are merciful and compassionate - full of patience and mercy for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such mercy and compassion.  My sin continues - I often lack patience for others and am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“So I will put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you. You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.”

Ezekiel 23, 2 Kings 24-25, 2 Chronicles 36, Jeremiah 39 and 52 

“So I will put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you. You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 23:48-49

Day 230 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Ezekiel. My commentary* this morning describes what has long been prophesied by Ezekiel and many other prophets regarding the sin of both Judah and Israel.  God gives Ezekiel a message to deliver to both Judah and Israel that my commentary* describes as "probably no more graphic an indictment...in all of Scripture.  Modern readers are almost offended by the candid exposure of two promiscuous sisters, representing Israel and Judah. One gets at least some idea of the degree to which God himself is offended by his people’s infidelity."  My commentary* goes on to describe how "God feels deeply the shame and disgrace that his “bride” has brought him. Her disrespect for his spiritual leadership, her chasing after material satisfaction, and her many adulteries with lesser gods have left him no choice. Israel must be put away until she repents. The time has come. Even now it [siege of Jerusalem] begins."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Yes...God is slow to anger and abounding in love, but God's patience is not unlimited (see also RC Sproul on this).  That is why believers are commanded to snatch others from the fire as this "the fire" will be the destination for those who do not accept Jesus - either when they die or when Jesus returns (whichever comes first). 

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:22-23

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and You have snatched me from the fire - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom, energy and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.