About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

Hebrews 5

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. Hebrews 5:11

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. This morning, I maintain my focus on Hebrews 5:11-14, as I lean on my commentary and explore what the commentary describes as the first division "The Diagnosis: Dull Hearing," which looks at Hebrews 5:11. Here, the commentary describes how the author pauses a discussion started in chapter 4 about how Jesus is an infinitely better Great High Priest, and while the author seeks to continue on this topic (writing we have much to say) - appears to be frustrated with the audience who has "dull become of hearing."  The commentary writes: "Those who are trained in Scripture and are progressing in the faith are better equipped to understand Christ’s priesthood, but those who shut their ears to God’s Word regress in their faith and fumble in their comprehension. Spiritual concepts like Christ’s priesthood are difficult only for the spiritually immature, those who have become “too lazy.” The spiritually mature, on the other hand, have the energy to investigate and understand spiritual concepts that are hard to explain." The commentary goes on: "In the case of the Hebrews, the congregation became intellectually sluggish by their own negligence. Their spiritual immaturity was their fault. They grew intellectually dull because they became sluggish of heart. Christ’s priesthood became difficult to understand because their hearts became indifferent to Scripture. Thus, the author must stop explaining Christ’s priesthood in order to admonish his people and prod them out of their lethargy." Believers, we are urged to shake off our lethargy and to hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6), and to, as John Piper puts it, "savor [H]im above all else."  Pray that God give you this hunger and thirst for righteousness!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has done an amazing transformation in my heart, and life and You have saved me - from eternal damnation and so much more! Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such 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.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.....I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

Pages: 117-133, Psalm 1, 119

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.....I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. John 15:11, 17:13

This afternoon, I continued with John Piper's Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture, covering chapter seven - Reading to Savor His Excellence, Part 2. Here, Piper seeks to continue unpacking the fourth of six implications that flow from the ultimate goal of reading the Bible (as listed here); this implication is "that we should aim in all our seeing to savor his excellence above all things." As stated in my post yesterday, Piper writes that the process through which we savor God's glory through reading/seeing is a two-step process - the first of which is covered in chapter six. Piper's focus today, in this chapter, is that "[s]cripture connects savoring the glory of God explicitly with reading the scriptures themselves."  Piper points to both John 15:11 and 17:13 to demonstrate the Word has been given to us "so that we might share in [Jesus'] joy."

While additional scriptural references are provided, Piper states that "the first psalm and the longest psalm (119) are both devoted explicitly to [the] savoring of God's word."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your Word is alive, active and perfect - and it is my sustenance - I cannot exist without it and I know I would descend into sin without it.  Thank Your Jesus for giving me salvation, Your Spirit, and Your Word...I am not deserving of such blessings. I worry 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.

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Pages: 99-115

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalms 19:7-11

This morning, I continued with John Piper's Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture, covering chapter six - Reading to Savor His Excellence, Part 1. Here, Piper seeks to continue unpacking the fourth of six implications that flow from the ultimate goal of reading the Bible (as listed here);this implication is "that we should aim in all our seeing to savor his excellence above all things."  It is not enough to simply read the Bible to see God's glory, we must savor - of course Piper rightly states that "seeing precedes savoring." He further explains that "seeing the glory of God as we read the Bible should never be an end in itself.  We read in order to see in order to savor.  We seek insight in order to enjoy."  He then points out that this our savoring may include not just pleasant emotions, but also "painful emotions" that lead to savoring. Piper's writes that the process through which we savor God's glory through reading/seeing is a two-step process - the first of which is covered in this chapter.  And in this chapter specifically, "[s]criptures encourage us to pursue joy in God generally[.]"

Piper provides six arguments that scripture encourage us to pursue joy in God:

1. "we are commanded to be joyful in God" (Psalms 37:4, 32:11, 100:1-2, Philippians 4:4, 3:1, Matthew 5:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:16, etc.)
2.  "God threatens us with trouble if we don't pursue satisfaction in God" (Deuteronomy 28:47-48, 2 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Peter 5:2, Psalm 100:2)
3. "saving faith contains joy in God" (John 1:11-12, Matthew 13:44, John 6:35, etc.)
4. "evil is forsaking happiness in God" (Jeremiah 2:12-13, Romans 1:22-23)
5. "deny the self every comfort that would diminish joy in Christ" (Mark 8:34-36, Hebrews 11:25-26, etc.)
6. "love for people presses us on to pursue our joy in God" (1 Corinthians 13:3, Acts 20:35, 2 Corinthians 9:7)
7. "God is glorified in us when we are satisfied in Him" (Philippians 1:20-21)
   

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father, Jesus, Your glory is amazing and I see it in all things and I see it in my life - You are worthy of my praise and worship - white hot worship and praise to that.  You bless me immeasurably and Your mercies for me never cease.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such mercies and blessings.  I worry 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.