Welcome to another week of study! Today God speaks to us in Psalm 11 and Genesis 11.
Before we get to the study, however, I just want to remind you to check back at earlier posts if you left a question or comment. I will do my best to reply to all postings that require a follow-up, but it may take me a day or two. Also, if any other readers of this blog can answer any questions that might come up, by all means do! And share your insight as well. This is not "my" tool. This is something I am doing for "us." May we all be edified by God's Word.
Now, to our study.
Read Psalm 11
There are some themes in this psalm similar to previous psalms concerning the wicked and their oppression of the righteous. We are reminded that God will indeed see their wickedness, and so we even ask God to "rain coals on the wicked." Such strong language. We need to humbly remember our own sin, recalling that we deserve flaming coals rained down upon us, and recall that we are saved by grace. Only forgiven by Christ and humble about our own condition can we pray such a bold prayer!
But maybe even more striking is the conclusion of the psalm. David assures us "The upright shall behold His face." Really? His bright and glorious face? Even Moses was not permitted to behold the full glory of God's face (Exodus 33:18-23). Who then is upright enough to behold his face?
We are. We are righteous enough only because of Christ. But we do not see God yet! Still we struggle with sin, and will continue until God calls us home. Then sin will no longer be a part of us! Yes, as great, grand, and glorious as Heaven will be, and as much as we long to see our loved ones, and the Holy City, and the river clear as crystal (see Revelation 22), how much more glorious will it be to see God's face! We can't even imagine. But soon we won't have to imagine. Now we walk by faith. Then we shall walk by sight, and see God face to face. Amen!
Read Genesis 11
Wow! Too much to talk about. First of all we see the Tower of Babel incident. We see that man is becoming arrogant. They are not filling the earth as God commanded. Plus they thought they could challenge heaven by their own construction, works, and endeavors. God sees that their wickedness will only increase if he doesn't act and complicate things. And complicate them he does. He mixes their language up so that they are forced to spread out. It is kind of hard to conspire wickedness with someone you can't understand!
Yet another curse the Gospel must overcome. And overcome it certainly does! Yes, these days communication barriers stand in our way as we try to evangelize the nations. But with Christian people of all kinds who speak all sorts of languages, who can also translate the Bible into all those languages, those barriers are being overcome. And before the translators were on the job? God has his people speak in tongues to jump start the church's evangelism. Think about Pentecost. The disciples spoke in all sorts of tongues, and here Babel is reversed. Language is not confused, but barriers are overcome! Nothing can stop the Kingdom of God!
After the Babel account, we see Shem's line traced to Abram. So in Genesis we've seen genealogies traced from Adam to Noah, Noah to Eber, now Shem all the way to Abram. And Abram's wife is barren. Oh, here is a problem for the genealogy, the blessed line of the Messiah! Another result of the curse that God must overcome. And we'll have to wait to see how this serious problem is resolved. More than Sarai's grief and Abram's frustration are involved here (Though real and problematic emotions in their lives, I'm sure). The seed/offspring of the woman is supposed to help and save. But will it happen? Keep reading with me, and we'll see God's solution.
On an unrelated side note, have you noticed that by the time we get to Abram the lifespan of people on this earth has been dramatically reduced? There are guesses that the pre-flood environment was better for life. Perhaps now conditions are harsher and cause humans more grief. Perhaps as a result of the Fall, now viruses and bacteria are becoming more and more deadly, animals (on whom the dread and fear of man has fallen) are lashing out more and more, birth defects, inherited diseases, problems of all kinds are increasing. I don't know that I know all the reasons (or even the reason if there is just one), but lifespans were greatly shortened. Let this serve as a reminder for us of our mortality and our desperate need for a Savior.
Ask Yourself:
Do I long to see God's face? Do I long to see it often enough?
Where do we see the arrogance, pride, and rebellion of mankind today?
How can I support the spread of the Gospel as it overcomes language barriers?
Pray:
Pray from your heart today, asking God to help and strengthen you to overcome the challenges in your life, even as God has overcome your sin through the death of his Son on the cross.
Study with me tomorrow.
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Raining fire and sulpher? I don't think too many today see this as anything more than science fiction. This portion of Psalm actually made me, a New Testament guy, remember the story of James and John asking Jesus if they should do this. (Luke 9:51-56)
ReplyDeleteI know that they were referencing something Elijah did, (not because I know the story, but because my concordance tells me) but I have a hard time picturing any disciple at this point, especially John asking this of Jesus.
I guess where I'm going with all this is, how do we as Christians balance forgiveness with this attitude of raining fire on the wicked?
Thoughts Pastor Jon? DCE Tim? Anyone else who reads?
Yes, Elijah called down fire from heaven in the "competition" against the 450 prophets of Baal (see 1 Kings 18). I think you'll remember the story when you see it. Elijah taunts them as they fail, and then has water poured on his offering, which God burns up (offering, water, wood, stone, and all).
ReplyDeleteBut you ask a tough question. I think it is important to remember that we are first asking God to defeat the wickedness and evil within us. Then also within the world. Remember we're not the ones raining coals, we're asking God to avenge. And he has promised that vengeance is His. But we also remember at the same time that God does not desire the death of the sinner, but that the sinner repent and live.
So I think in our prayer life it is well and good to voice our need for justice, vengeance, and the defeat of the wicked. But we also then work hard to convert the wicked (by praying for them, sharing the Good News, being good examples, by being ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us).
Indeed, if you listen, you hear incredible stories of Christians in prison praying (for example) for the defeat of godless communism all the while they prayed for, showed love to, and converted their communist captors.