Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

 1 Corinthians 7

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Romans 11:33

As I continue to ponder what to study next, my Bible study this morning once again leans on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today draws on history to describe how Abraham Lincoln leaned into God, despite likely earlier skepticism, during a time of both personal and professional anguish.  John Piper shares how after the passing of his 11-year old son Willie, "Lincoln turned to Phineas Gurley, pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington."  Piper also highlights how the Civil War raged at the same time, and that Lincoln - as president, sought solace from from Willie's passing and the unimaginable death and destruction that accompanied the war, which in many instances was fought within earshot of the White House.  Other sources point to how Lincoln turned towards God during this time.  Piper records Lincoln's turn towards God by noting: [t]he horrors of the dead and wounded soldiers assaulted him daily. There were fifty hospitals for the wounded in Washington. The rotunda of the Capitol held two thousand cots for wounded soldiers. Typically, fifty soldiers a day died in these temporary hospitals. All of this drove Lincoln deeper into the providence of God. 'We cannot but believe, that He who made the world still governs it.'"  Piper points to one additional source where we see a more mature Lincoln faith - as demonstrated in his second inaugural address - as he notes that God is not "a simple supporter for the Union or Confederate cause. God has his own purposes and does not excuse sin on either side."  Piper concludes the devotion by praying for readers that for those of us "who suffer loss and injury and great sorrow that it will awaken for you, as it did for Lincoln, not an empty fatalism, but a deeper reliance on the infinite wisdom and love of God’s inscrutable providence."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Your riches and wisdom and knowledge are great and Your justice is perfect - Your mercies are new every morning and they never cease....amazing that You love me, saved me and never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  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 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.

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.

2 Thessalonians 1

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7

I continue my pause on my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Today, I my focus is 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12, assisted by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series volume for 1-2 Thessalonians unpack the text. 

For this text, the commentary's: 

• Title: When God Balances the Books 
  
• Main idea:  "When Jesus is revealed from heaven, He will bring relief to those who love Him and retribution to those who reject Him."
• Introduction (excerpts): God's people [almost certainly true of Thessalonians] often struggle to understand "the pain, affliction, and suffering that is often associated with following Christ. God’s people have always desired to know “how long” until God would bring an end to such injustice, to right all wrongs, and to judge those who harm His followers."  We are referred to Habakkuk 1:2-3 and Psalm 13:1-4 for scriptural examples where God's people demonstrate this struggle.  Luke 12:2-8 is also provided as it shares how "God is not offended by such questions. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that He told us to ask them."
  

Divisions provided by the commentary:

1. The Hopeful Future of Those Who Are Faithful (1:6-7, 10-12): "One of the most difficult things to do when walking through painful times is to keep the proper perspective. A loss of perspective is almost always followed by a loss of purpose. When our mind becomes fixed on what we don’t like about our circumstances, we will invariably fail to consider what God may be doing in our circumstances."  Believers are encouraged to draw near to God and remain near to God through spiritual disciplines and faith - we are referred to Isaiah 46:9-10 as the commentary provides this text for us to maintain a Godly perspective on our circumstances - to look towards the eternal for hope, rest, and rewards. Paul is seeking to do this for the Thessalonians as they face persecutions and affliction.  The commentary also points to the text and how it seeks for us to maintain a Godly perspective in our prayer lives.  God knows all of our needs and He provides - such prayers for temporal circumstances are "not sinful." However, "Jesus expects that our prayers will be focused on much more significant matters like glorifying His Name, expanding His kingdom, and accomplishing His will (Matthew 6:9-13, 32-33). We must learn to view the temporary things through the lenses of God’s eternal plans." The commentary also shares how Paul pivots from an encouragement that comes from having a Godly eternal perspective on our daily lives to a reminder in v11 that as we wait for Christ's second coming, there is more work to do, and that we focus on God's glory in all that we do.
   
2. The Fateful Future of Those Who Do Evil (1:6, 8-9): Here of course, we are reminded of the harsh punishment that awaits those who deny God and who are the source of persecution and affliction.  Believers should not worry about justice - God's justice is perfect.
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  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 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.

[Y]our steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring... is evidence of the righteous judgment of God...since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels[.]

2 Thessalonians 1

[Y]our steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring... is evidence of the righteous judgment of God...since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels[.] 2 Thessalonians 1:4b-7

Today I pause on my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  For the next five days my focus is 2 Thessalonians 1 - today I read and did an unassisted (no commentary) study of this text.  Here, Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica, a church that he started (with Silas and Timothy) on his second missionary journey.  He is thankful for this church for their growing faith (v3), and their love for one another (v3) (with the latter being the 2nd greatest commandment - see Matthew 22:34-40).  He offers words of encouragement to the church in Thessalonica to continue to endure persecutions and afflictions (v4), emphasizing how their steadfastness and faith (v4)  in the face of persecutions and afflictions is evidence of God's righteous judgement (v5).  This righteous judgement makes them worthy of the kingdom of God (v5) because the faith and strength to endure this suffering brings glory to God because this suffering is for the sake of the church and the church's mission to serve and bring glory to God.  This is evidence of God's righteous judgment BECAUSE God - when He returns again for Judgement Day (second coming of Christ) -will repay those afflicting and persecuting the church, and will reward believers who suffer due to their faith (vv6-10).  Paul then closes the text in this chapter by offering encouragement via prayers for the Thessalonians (v11-12). 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus!  Thank You Jesus for revealing Yourself to me in Your Word.  I am not deserving of how You speak to me and for Your 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 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.    

I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

Isaiah 61-63

I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. Isaiah 63:7

I resume my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  My study of Isaiah moves on to day 5 (of 5) of week 22, which looks at Isaiah 61-63.  Day 5 focuses on a more detailed examination of how Isaiah 63 depicts judgement day.  My study includes comparisons of Isaiah 63 to Isaiah 61:2, 59:15-16, Joel 3:9-17, Zechariah 14:1-19, Revelation 14:14-20, and 19:11-16.  My study urges me, and all believers to live a holy, Godly life, maintaining faith and trust in God as I prepare for judgement day.  Isaiah 63:7 helps in this regard by constantly reminding myself of all the blessings God has poured out for me - and His steadfast love and compassion. My study also refers me to 2 Peter 3:11-12 as preparation for judgement day:

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father Jesus, You are an amazing God and You are judge and justice - and Your justice is perfect and You are perfect in all of Your ways.  We cannot fully appreciate Your ways and thoughts and know as we live an earthly life, but we can rest knowing that You alone are our refuge, now and forevermore!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love, grace, and compassion.  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 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.  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.

Our Redeemer—the Lord of hosts is his name—is the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 47-50

Our Redeemer—the Lord of hosts is his name—is the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 47:4

I resumed my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series - today moving on to Lesson 18 day 1, which focuses on Isaiah 47.  Here, God is describing impending punishment for Babylon, which we know from previous chapters comes about through God's orchestration of an attack from the Medo-Persian armies led by Cyrus of Persia. The study asks how might Israelites at the time have felt about this prophecy.  For me, the obvious thought is that the Israelites might gain a measure and hope that God is just - and of course He is. God's justice is perfect!  God seeks for all to be saved, but there are those who reject and refuse God. Believers are not spared suffering nor consequences of our sins, but we should recognize that we don't get what we deserve (death) as described in Romans 6:23; instead we get mercy! We get what we don't deserve, but don't get what we do deserve!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are just and merciful among Your many attributes - worthy of honor, glory and praise - forever and forever!  I am not deserving of the mercy You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it is 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 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.

For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.

Isaiah 26-27

For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain. Isaiah 26:21

I continue with my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 10, Day 3, the focus continues with Isaiah 26-27, primarily on Isaiah 26, where my commentary indicates that while Isaiah 24-25 describe "triumphant prophecies of final victory by the Lord over all tyrants who oppress God’s people in this world[,]" God's people seek encouragement and guidance about how to endure in the present while waiting for God's promised end times judgement of the whole world.  My study urges me to look at various scripture examples of how natural disasters are God's hand - we are referred to the following examples to learn about God and His role and designs for natural disasters:

• Isaiah 26:9 > inhabitants of the world learn righteousness
  
• Isaiah 45:6-7 > that people may know there is none like Him
  
• Amos 3:6 > Lord causes disasters
  
• Jeremiah 14:1,22 > God brings rain
  
• Psalm 148:8 > Fire, hail, snow, mist, and story wind fulfill His word
  

In contrast to a post a couple of days ago, which focused on end times and the creation of the new heaven and new earth where the faithful will live for eternity with God, in Isaiah 26:21, we see a picture of how God punishes the wicked. While we all sin, the difference between our own wickedness and unbelievers is how we placed our faith in Jesus to wipe away our sin. God's justice is perfect. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who gives me the gift of forgiveness of sin and eternal life - amazing grace indeed!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  My sin continues.  Please forgive me 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 sposues 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.

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

Revelation 17-19

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” Revelation 19:1-2 

I wrapped my D-Group's study for the week of Revelation using Stephen Witmer's commentary and study guide - reviewing once again the key themes for Revelation 17-19, including my memory verse - v19:1-2. With today being Easter, the memory verse for this week is particularly appropriate because God has defeated sin and death, and He did so in order that those who believe have salvation - the greatest gift of all time.  This is worthy of celebration and the worship we offer is worthy the God who gives it to us out an abundance of grace. In his defeat of sin and death, God demonstrated attributes of love but also perfect justice. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have risen indeed.  You have defeated sin and death and You are worthy of my white-hot worship - for You saved me and give me the same power that rose Your body from the grave.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues.  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.

And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father's place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments. He shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.

Leviticus 16

And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father's place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments. He shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. Leviticus 16:32-33

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter fourteen - God Forgives and Removes Sin - covering Leviticus 16:1-34, looking specifically at the third theme for the chapter - God Offers Atonement for Sin.  Here, the commentary starts by stating that "atonement" appears fifteen times in Leviticus 16.  Atonement is required by God for our sin - it is, according to the commentary, "doing what God says is necessary to reconcile us to Him."  The commentary also talks about the role of judges in God's justice.  It first describes the role of judge in Israel's history (see Exodus 23:6-8 and Deuteronomy 1:16-17).  It then discusses how sin must be punished by the judge and it states that "[a] judge who lets a guilty person go free with no punishment for his wrongdoing is not a good judge; he is not upholding justice."  The commentary then moves to how God solves the "tension between His justice and mercy.  However, God must let guilty people go free if He is going to save guilty sinners like us.  God is merciful and loving, so He doesn't want us to perish for our sin....God expressed His justice against sin in the death of the sacrifice, and God expressed His mercy to the sinner by allowing the sacrifice to substitute for the sinner....The old covenant sacrifices atoned for sin, they taught the world the meaning of sacrificial atonement, and they prepared the world for the sacrifice of Jesus."  See also this post from DesiringGod.com.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You provided the "once and for all" sacrifice for me and for all of humanity!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such an incredible gift of grace.  My sin of worry, etc. continues.  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.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Romans 9

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

This afternoon, 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 9:14-18, which my commentary refers to under the heading Truth 2: God's Ways Are Just and His Salvation Is Merciful.  Yesterday, I discussed in v6-13 how God's word does not fail and how Paul's anguish over unbelieving Jews should be considered as part of God's perfect design and plan. In v14, we see Paul look at injustice and of course because we all sin and are deserving of death (Romans 3:23, 6:23), Paul correctly answers that there is no injustice.   In v15-16, Paul quotes Exodus and explains further by indicating that it is up to God how He is to be compassionate and His ways are perfect. When someone does not receive compassion, it is not that God does not have compassion it is that God has another plan and again a plan that is perfect.  With v17, Paul once again uses Exodus and the example of how God hardened Pharaoh's heart so that God's name "be proclaimed in all the earth." Just as God's Word does not fail, God is just.

My commentary goes further, quoting John Stott: "[t]he wonder is not that some are saved and others not, but that anybody is saved at all.  For we deserve nothing at God's hand but judgement.  If we receive what we deserve (which is judgement), or if we receive what we do not deserve (which is mercy), in neither case is God unjust. We are encouraged to see "election" as a mystery and where we see election we should see mercy. Indeed, God is merciful.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are merciful indeed and I experience Your mercies as new every day - thank You Jesus for the mercy and compassion You have poured out for me.  I am not deserving...by a long shot....I have gossip, anger, worry, etc. 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.

Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”

Romans 3:1-8

Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” Romans 3:4

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I moved on to the next chapter Why We Need the Gospel: No One is Righteous: Romans 3:1-20.  I start section one - In the Classroom with Paul: Romans 3:1-8.  Without my commentary, as I transition from Romans 2, in light of Jewish hypocrisy, I see how Paul questions what advantage the Jews may have.  They may have been the chosen people, and to be given God's lay, but they weren't very obedient and trusting - nor did they walk the walk.  He sees God's grace, righteousness, and glory in God's judgement of the Jews. 

My commentary starts with the description of Paul as an attorney delivering an opening statement with all of humanity on trial - we are all sinful.  He describes the Jews as perhaps having an advantage but they squandered it because they did not see Jesus as the promised Messiah from scriptures (see John 5:39-40).  The commentary goes on to show how Paul then is describing how although the Jews were unfaithful, God was not (v4) - God's faithfulness does not depend on Israel's faithfulness.  My commentary points to how Paul referred to Psalm 51:4 to agree with King David after his affair with Bathsheba that God is "justified in his words" when judging us. God is both faithful and just.  Paul then answers the question of whether we are doing God a favor by sinning (v5-8) and of course the answer is no.  My commentary points to how it is strictly a "human argument" to see how "unrighteous conduct could ever serve a good purpose of enhancing God's righteous character." God is also not magnified when we lie - He is not pleased. The commentary shows how v1-8 echo Romans 6 where Paul answers no to the question whether we should continue in sin so that grace is multiplied. We are warned not to "play games" with God and the Bible.  We are to "[s]ee the plain teaching of Scripture and respond in humble repentance and faith."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You are both faithful and just and I am grateful that You are both.  I can depend on You and Your promises are satisfying!  Unlike anything else - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You are faithful and just.  My sin continues...including impatience, etc. 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 what should we say about this? Is God unfair? In no way.

Chapter 27: Pages 390-395

So what should we say about this? Is God unfair? In no way. Romans 9:14

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 6 "Providence Over Sin" - moving to chapter twenty-seven "Things We Know and Things We Do Not Need to Know".

Here Piper prepares us for chapters 28-33 where he focuses on God's providence over sin.  The key takeaway from this chapter is that God governs and has "providence over explicitly sinful choices and their effects." He writes that such "providence is all encompassing and hopeful."

We are encouraged to look for how this is so from Scripture alone and also encouraged to avoid looking to the world for answers as the world assumes that "humans (not God) must provide the final and decisive cause in the instant of decision, or else the decision cannot be justly praised or blamed.  That is, they insist on ultimate human self-determination in the act of choosing, if there is to be moral accountability."  Piper rejects such a view.

As a cornerstone to the next six chapters, Piper seeks for us to trust in the view that "God, in his infinite wisdom and goodness and holiness and justice, knows how to govern the good and evil choices of all humans without himself sinning and without turning human preferences and choices into morally irrelevant, robot-like actions."  We are also asked to avoid seeking full disclosure "how God can govern sin and not be a sinner."  We can take comfort in Paul's words that God justice is perfect. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who reigns in all matters, over life and death, and over sin - and Your justice is perfect, just as Your love, compassion and mercy are - thank You Jesus for how You reign in my life and how You are full of mercy and compassion for me.  I am undeserving.  I worry far too much - and I should not worry at all.  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.

He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice....The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?

Job 32-37

He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice....The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart? Job 34:11-12, 37:23-24

Day 259 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 Job as Elihu, who's been observing the interactions between Job and his friends, steps in to address Job in his prideful state (suffering as well):

But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused. Job 32:2-5

Elihu, like others who are young in age relatively speaking, respectively lets Job's older friends speak but then offers these nuggets which serve to encourage younger believers about how it is the Spirit who speaks and works through us and God works through people of all ages.

“I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right. Job 32:6-9

Other nuggets, include:

For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it. Job 33:14 [in response to those who don't see God at work or are unable to feel God talking to them]

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are perfect in all of Your ways, including Your perfect justice - I never have to lose hope that I do not have rewards in Heaven nor do I ever have to feel that all are not accountable for their lives - we will all face You and be accountable....and I know Your ways are perfect.  Thank You for the peace You provide in being perfect and in being with me always.  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin...daily, including pride and 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 I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 1-3

Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:16-19

Day 216 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 pause in my study of Jeremiah to look at Habakkuk, whom my commentary* refers to as a "contemporar[y]" of Jeremiah. Although the MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase) indicates that "as with many of the Minor Prophets, nothing is known about [Habakkuk] except that which can be inferred from the book". MacArthur agrees with LaGard Smith that Habakkuk was a contemporary of Jeremiah and further describes how Habakkuk "prophesied during the final days of the Assyrian Empire and the beginning of Babylonia's" rise.

LaGard Smith* writes that "Habakkuk, poses the profound theological question which must nag at anyone who is seriously listening to the prophets. It may even be a question which the various prophets themselves have considered. Certainly Habakkuk is concerned about it. The question is this: How can a righteous and holy God use a wicked nation like Babylonia to bring punishment against God’s own people, rebellious and sinful though they may be? Are not the ruthless Babylonians and the other oppressors of Judah merely acting on their own in great arrogance and with no thought whatever of achieving any divine purpose? How then can God permit these unrighteous nations to succeed in their evil oppressions? And the question stretches beyond even the present conflicts to other related issues. How can God permit the wicked to prosper, often at the expense of the righteous? How can a righteous God permit evil to exist at all?"

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

On the latter question, we know that sin exists because of Adam and Eve's sin in the very beginning - what is referred to as The Fall (Genesis 3).  LaGard Smith* writes that God addresses the "central question" by responding to Habakkuk that "evil, wherever it is found, always bears within it the seeds of its own destruction. Judah’s sins have condemned it to inevitable destruction. The particular agency by which that destruction comes is of no consequence."  LaGard Smith* summarizes a key point for this morning: "[o]nly in righteousness is there life; sin always brings death".

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Believers concerned about justice can have peace and take comfort that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16) and also have peace and take comfort in knowing that God's justice is perfect. 

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who comforts me and gives me peace - during good and bad times.  Thank You Jesus!  I know You never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  I sin...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 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.

And when the people ask, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.’

 Jeremiah 5:14-6

And when the people ask, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.’ Jeremiah 5:19

Day 207 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 Jeremiah.  Jeremiah delivers God's word of judgement to Judah, and a warning, that they will be overtaken by Babylonia and taken captive.  God is angry...yet He has every right to be angry.  In fact, God's justice is perfect - He acts out of both love and justice and He only disciplines those He loves.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me...and who disciplines me because You love me and I need discipline.  I am grateful for how You have refined me...including through fire.  I am not deserving of Your love and instruction. I gossip, worry, etc. 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.

I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head.

Micah 1-2
 

I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. The  One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head. Micah 2:12-13

  

Day 175 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 a study of the prophecies of Micah, as my commentary* indicates that God uses Micah to deliver a message of judgement against covetousness, greed, and a desire for false prophets. Micah's prophecies outline how Samaria's [Israel's] "plague [has] spread to Judah" (Micah 1:9).  Just as God promises punishment for those who have fallen away, deliverance and restoration is promised for those who are faithful.  

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

I am reminded of how God is perfect - including His perfect justice.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and You have disciplined me because You love me - thank You Jesus.  Your blessings for me are more than I deserve.  I worry and I have other sin, including impatience and anger.  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.

When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.

Psalm 75, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, and 100 

When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. Psalm 98:3

Day 119 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 my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and I continue today with the group: "Psalms of Joy and Praise".

Today's psalms focus on praise to the great Judge of the earth, for God's majesty and holiness, for God's discipline of man and nations, rejoicing because of God's righteousness and justice, for the salvation of the Lord, for exaltation of the God who is holy and just, and for joy of being children of a loving and faithful God.

God judges with righteousness and equity (Psalm 98:9).  He does so because He is in control (Psalm 75:3, 93:1), knows everything about us (Psalm 94:11, nothing is hidden), and He loves us (He disciplines those He loves). This should give us peace - that the God who is sovereign loves us now and will never stop loving us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed perfect in all of Your ways, including perfect in righteousness and justice.  I know You know everything about me, including my sin, yet You still love me and You even died for me.  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry, etc. and I have other sin.  Thank You for Your great compassion and mercy but I seek Your forgiveness.  Help me 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. 

God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day..... He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.

Psalm 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11

God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day..... He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.  Psalm 7:11, 11:4

Day 107 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context.  My study groups 112 of David's psalms into five major topical areas, starting today with "Psalms of the Troubled Soul".

I have often seen evil and injustice in the world and from time to time it frustrates me that I don't see justice or punishment for the purveyors of evil or perpetrators of injustice.  Yet as I posted a few days ago, nothing is hidden from God and all will be held to account at the final judgement and

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Portions of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21

Day 57 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on directives from God through Moses for the punishment of crimes, including murder, assault, kidnapping, rape, and theft.

The giving of the law allows for proportional punishment - with one example taken from Exodus 21: 

"But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise." Exodus 21:23-25

Such language is often used as justification to exact justice as they see fit.  Yet we must be clear that God alone is judge and it is He who exacts justice. 

Using Romans 12:19-21 John Piper provides this excellent post regarding God and His anger vs His vengeance and how God's wrath is "never less than a perfect, judicial decree, but is always more than a perfect, judicial decree because it is always full of right and fitting fury."

God is also clear that we as believers should love and pray for our enemies - see also this post from DesiringGod.com. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your justice is perfect and I have felt Your discipline in my life and I am grateful for it.  Thank You Jesus for molding me into more of Your image and for Your patience with me.  I am not deserving of such love and patience.  I know there is much work in me to do.  Please forgive me for my sins of omission and commission - my sins are great and daily.  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 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.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim Range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.”

Numbers 27,32-35, Deuteronomy 4:41-43

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim Range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.” Numbers 27:12-14

Day 44 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the selection of Joshua by the Lord to succeed Moses as leader of Israel, and in preparation for battle to secure and settle in the Promised Land, God orders complete destruction of the inhabitants of the land.  He also gives detailed instructions regarding the borders of the land, as well as assignment of leaders by tribe to assist in the allocation of the land.

Prominent in today's scripture are the consequences of sin experienced by Moses who has otherwise been a faithful servant of God.  God may forgive our sin but this does not mean we get to avoid the consequences of sin - of course this is in God's hands as He is Judge and His justice is perfect.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and whose justice is perfect - I am grateful for how You have exercised compassion and mercy in my life and grateful as well for the discipline I've received as well - Your justice is perfect.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God - Abba - as You.  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 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.

I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name.

Revelation 15-16

I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. Revelation 15:1-2

Session #8 of David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) focuses on Revelation 15-16.

Quick Review of book and what has been covered so far in Revelation - apocalyptic visions filled with prophetic pronouncements written as letter to 1st century church.  Climax of all prophecies in the Bible.  Implications for all churches throughout history.  Not intended to create divisions in the church through various interpretations, instead to provide unshakable hope and encouragement as we endure to avoid sin and seduction.  It refutes deception and encourages mission.  The book should drive us to Christ.

These visions include various symbols and numbers (which often lead to various interpretations) - we should avoid too much focus on any interpretation but instead grab hold of the core truths of this book and gospel - to which we should all agree.

Visions are arranged cyclically, not chronologically.  Seven letters, seals, trumpets, visions, bowls...with each cycle things intensify.

God will one day pour out His wrath fully and finally on the earth and everyone will drink His judgement forever.

How do we worship God in His wrath?  We can understand in the following context.

1. We must start with a high view of God; song in Revelation 3; God is sovereign over all.
2. God is feared by all.  King of all nations.  
3. God is glorified above all.  
4. God is Holy in all of His attributes.
5. God is righteous in all of His ways.
6. God is loving toward all His creation.

We then move to a humble view of man (who has denounced the sovereignty of God, who has disregarded the fear of God, who has defamed the glory of God, who has dishonored the holiness of God, who has despised the righteousness of God, who has denied the love of God) leading us to a view where God is infinitely worthy of eternal worship! Man is infinitely deserving of God's eternal wrath!

Land on the hope of the gospel!  God has sent His Son - Jesus Christ - who died for sinners.  God expressed His wrath towards sin so that believers would be spared.  At the cross, God has endured His wrath against sin, enabling salvation for sinners.

Don't underestimate the seriousness of Your sin - repent!

Followers of Christ - walk in purity and endure!  Witness with urgency. Worship with sincerity!  His wrath is not just evidence of His anger but also His love.  God's love without wrath would be indifferent.  Love requires wrath - to oppose that which destroys what we love.  God's justice without wrath would be ineffective. God's love, justice and wrath together are indescribable.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is worthy of worship indeed both because of Your love and Your justice - both of which are perfect and Holy.  Thank You for adopting me into Your family and saving me from eternal damnation.  I am not deserving.  I gossip and have other sin - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You and 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.