Read Psalm 109
Read Joshua 18
In Psalm 109, David cries out to God for salvation and vindication. He is surrounded by traitors, false witnesses, liars, and those who seek his downfall. In this psalm, David is very much alone, being taken advantage of by evil men, with no human help available. Only God can save. To God, David cries.
This psalm is very much a Messianic psalm, where David (prophesying in the Spirit) prays and communicates the very situation of the coming Christ. He is the Righteous One who would be slandered, falsely accused, hanged on a cross to die. Judas' fellow disciples would later apply verse 8 of this psalm to Judas, and then use this Scripture to justify appointing another apostle - an important point to make when interpreting the psalm. It's clear the NT recognizes this psalm as one that tells us about Christ.
This is a Savior who led a perfect life, yet was killed because he was hated by the world. For all his loving words and actions, they rewarded him with hate. For all the good he's done, they respond with evil. And "they" aren't the only ones. We too, by nature, were enemies of God. We were enemies of God. But this is a Savior who loves his enemies, died for them, and rescues them. We have so much to be thankful for! Though we did not desire salvation, salvation came anyway, unearned, undeserved, unexpected. What a Savior!
But now as his disciples we see the hate and the evil continue towards Christ and his Christians. We should expect it. Yes, we should be offended by it, but we should expect it. And we should not let the hate and the evil stop us from proclaiming the Good News. Why? Aren't those who hate Christ, speak evil of him, and revile him unworthy of him? Yes. But so were we. He gives himself to them anyway. And if that doesn't stop the love of Christ, it shouldn't stop our love either.
So, as we go out and live for God's glory, we should expect to hear awful things about Jesus and awful things about Christians. Let's go out boldly and prove them wrong. Let us go and show love, let us do what is right, let us live a blameless life, let us proclaim peace. We Christians have a special ability to interact in a meaningful way with those around us. That "special ability" is the Holy Spirit, given to us by our Savior. He helps us to love with his love, to speak his words, and to return good for the world's evil.
Ask Yourself:
Where do you see Christ hated?
Where do you see Christians reviled and hated?
How can you live for Christ even in the midst of ridicule and disdain?
Pray:
Pray from your heart today. Pray for the persecuted Christians that they would persevere in faith and witness. Pray for yourself that you might stand firm in the face of evil. Pray that God might use you to overcome evil with good.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
We Shall Do Valiantly
Read Psalm 108
Read Joshua 17
Psalm 108 begins with praise for the steadfast love of God. It certainly is a good way to start a psalm, or a day for that matter. It then rejoices in the promise of God, and uses that promise boldly to hold God to his word. David then implores God to be present. It seems as if God had left them and let their armies struggle. But David asks God to be near and to fight for them and with them.
David has no confidence in shield or spear or chariot. He does not trust in the salvation that man can bring. He has full confidence in God. And he says that with him, they will do "valiantly." That means that with God the armies are brave, fierce, and successful.
Joshua assures Ephraim and Manasseh of the same thing. They think that the space given to them is too small. Joshua assures them that they can clear out some forest and have that space to dwell. He also tells them they can have a certain plain. But the descendants of Joseph were concerned about the chariots of the Canaanites. It almost seems as if Joshua brushes them off. But he is not so casual and flippant with them. Rather, he knows that with the Lord, we do valiantly.
The battle is his. Victory is his. Salvation is his. Thanks be to God, who triumphs over the enemy through the cross of his Son, Jesus Christ!
What is our spiritual battle? In what fights are we trusting ourselves too much? When do we trust God too little? Think about the phrase of the psalm today, and be assured that with God, you can do valiantly. You can be brave, fierce against the enemy, and victorious! Thanks be to God.
Pray:
Pray from your heart today concerning the spiritual warfare in your life. Ask God to be with you and to fight for you. Ask him to be victorious. Then believe his promise and say "amen" with conviction!
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Read Joshua 17
Psalm 108 begins with praise for the steadfast love of God. It certainly is a good way to start a psalm, or a day for that matter. It then rejoices in the promise of God, and uses that promise boldly to hold God to his word. David then implores God to be present. It seems as if God had left them and let their armies struggle. But David asks God to be near and to fight for them and with them.
David has no confidence in shield or spear or chariot. He does not trust in the salvation that man can bring. He has full confidence in God. And he says that with him, they will do "valiantly." That means that with God the armies are brave, fierce, and successful.
Joshua assures Ephraim and Manasseh of the same thing. They think that the space given to them is too small. Joshua assures them that they can clear out some forest and have that space to dwell. He also tells them they can have a certain plain. But the descendants of Joseph were concerned about the chariots of the Canaanites. It almost seems as if Joshua brushes them off. But he is not so casual and flippant with them. Rather, he knows that with the Lord, we do valiantly.
The battle is his. Victory is his. Salvation is his. Thanks be to God, who triumphs over the enemy through the cross of his Son, Jesus Christ!
What is our spiritual battle? In what fights are we trusting ourselves too much? When do we trust God too little? Think about the phrase of the psalm today, and be assured that with God, you can do valiantly. You can be brave, fierce against the enemy, and victorious! Thanks be to God.
Pray:
Pray from your heart today concerning the spiritual warfare in your life. Ask God to be with you and to fight for you. Ask him to be victorious. Then believe his promise and say "amen" with conviction!
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Say So
Read Psalm 107:1-22
Read Joshua 15
In Joshua 15 we hear a very long description of the allotment of land for Judah. To the modern reader, this might be a little more dry, a little more (dare I say it?) boring. But I guarantee that it was not dry and boring to the Israelite who just experienced the passing into the Promised Land and the conquest of the Lord over the enemy. Think about entering your own Promised Land (Heaven) and the Lord would show you the terrain and the features, the rivers, trees, the Holy City! We would listen attentively and thankfully, and soak it all in.
Indeed, we can do this already. Although we only have a few descriptions of the New Heaven and New Earth that God will make for us on the Last Day, we can begin to picture it already. We know it will also surpass everything we can think and imagine.
But in a sense we have already begun to come into the promise. We can rejoice that we have new life, we have peace and hope, we have joy and love. Already God is pleased to dwell with us, and to continue to come to us in love and strength through the means of grace. Already we can "see" with eyes of faith the defeat over the enemy and the abundant blessing of God. We can already experience this because Jesus suffered the punishment of our sins for us. And God has given already (and promised the future fullness of it) this blessing to us in baptism, and renews it daily through His Word and in our remembrance of baptism. It is renewed as well in the Sacrament of the Altar. Thanks be to God!
Can we see how far our blessing goes? Can we see the abundance in our lives? Can we see that God is defeating sin, death, and the devil before us? Can we see that we have peace and rest already now? Then, let us do as Psalm 107 encouraged. It says, "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble." (v. 1-2). God is good. His love endures forever. Therefore, we who are redeemed should "say so!" Tell someone. Share your joy. You can see and experience your salvation already. God has done this good thing. Say so!
Pray:
O Lord, let us never forget your steadfast love that delivers us. Help us not to be overwhelmed by the confusion and conflicts, the struggles and sin around us. You have restored us to yourself through the cross. You have given us the peace for which we have longed. You are bringing us into the Promised Land, our Heavenly home. Thank you. Amen.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Read Joshua 15
In Joshua 15 we hear a very long description of the allotment of land for Judah. To the modern reader, this might be a little more dry, a little more (dare I say it?) boring. But I guarantee that it was not dry and boring to the Israelite who just experienced the passing into the Promised Land and the conquest of the Lord over the enemy. Think about entering your own Promised Land (Heaven) and the Lord would show you the terrain and the features, the rivers, trees, the Holy City! We would listen attentively and thankfully, and soak it all in.
Indeed, we can do this already. Although we only have a few descriptions of the New Heaven and New Earth that God will make for us on the Last Day, we can begin to picture it already. We know it will also surpass everything we can think and imagine.
But in a sense we have already begun to come into the promise. We can rejoice that we have new life, we have peace and hope, we have joy and love. Already God is pleased to dwell with us, and to continue to come to us in love and strength through the means of grace. Already we can "see" with eyes of faith the defeat over the enemy and the abundant blessing of God. We can already experience this because Jesus suffered the punishment of our sins for us. And God has given already (and promised the future fullness of it) this blessing to us in baptism, and renews it daily through His Word and in our remembrance of baptism. It is renewed as well in the Sacrament of the Altar. Thanks be to God!
Can we see how far our blessing goes? Can we see the abundance in our lives? Can we see that God is defeating sin, death, and the devil before us? Can we see that we have peace and rest already now? Then, let us do as Psalm 107 encouraged. It says, "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble." (v. 1-2). God is good. His love endures forever. Therefore, we who are redeemed should "say so!" Tell someone. Share your joy. You can see and experience your salvation already. God has done this good thing. Say so!
Pray:
O Lord, let us never forget your steadfast love that delivers us. Help us not to be overwhelmed by the confusion and conflicts, the struggles and sin around us. You have restored us to yourself through the cross. You have given us the peace for which we have longed. You are bringing us into the Promised Land, our Heavenly home. Thank you. Amen.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Promise Kept
Read Psalm 106:24-48
"The 106th psalm is a psalm of thanks in which the psalmist acknowledges all the sins that the people of Israel had committed against God, by which they had made themselves unworthy for all His grace and blessings. Therefore, it says constantly that God has done all these things for His name's sake and for the remembrance of His covenant. Moses also says this (Deuteronomy 9:6), therefore they cannot glory in themselves except in His grace alone - as we can have no other glory." (Reading the Psalms with Luther, CPH)
Read Joshua 14
God had promised that Caleb would enter the Promised Land because of the faithful and trusting report that he (and Joshua) had brought when they had spied out the land. Here we learn that Caleb was 40 years old. Of course he was fit and strong then. But what about now, 45 years later?
We would expect him to have weakened. But apparently, that's not the case! God wanted Caleb and everyone to be so convinced that he would keep his promise to Caleb, he didn't even let Caleb become frail, weak, and tired like every other 85-year-old would be. No. God was going to keep his promise, and keep it in a dramatic way!
And God keeps his promises to us in dramatic ways. The question is, do we see that to be the case? Do we see it true in our life? We should - for it is true! God promises to forgive us, and he does! God promises never to leave our side, and he is with us always! God promises to give us strength, and we are helped! God promises to lead and guide us, and we see his plans come to pass in our lives! How great God is! How good and marvelous! Let us always be thankful.
And let us always remember that it is because God kept his promise to send a Savior. Indeed, the Father promised a Savior to rescue us, and his Son, Jesus Christ, did that very thing. Dying on the cross, Jesus won everything for us: he won our forgiveness, our peace, our life (now and everlasting), and he won for us the assurances that God keeps his promises!
What promises of God keep you going today? What promises of God do you look forward to seeing fulfilled? Think about that today.
Pray:
"Lord Jesus, we give You most hearty thanks because You have revealed to us the saving truth of Your Gospel. Grant us grace to continue in Your Word, that we walk not after our own thoughts, but worship You in spirit and in truth. Preserve Your Word for our children, that they may walk in Your ways and remain Your people for generations to come. Amen." (Reading the Psalms with Luther, p. 257).
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
"The 106th psalm is a psalm of thanks in which the psalmist acknowledges all the sins that the people of Israel had committed against God, by which they had made themselves unworthy for all His grace and blessings. Therefore, it says constantly that God has done all these things for His name's sake and for the remembrance of His covenant. Moses also says this (Deuteronomy 9:6), therefore they cannot glory in themselves except in His grace alone - as we can have no other glory." (Reading the Psalms with Luther, CPH)
Read Joshua 14
God had promised that Caleb would enter the Promised Land because of the faithful and trusting report that he (and Joshua) had brought when they had spied out the land. Here we learn that Caleb was 40 years old. Of course he was fit and strong then. But what about now, 45 years later?
We would expect him to have weakened. But apparently, that's not the case! God wanted Caleb and everyone to be so convinced that he would keep his promise to Caleb, he didn't even let Caleb become frail, weak, and tired like every other 85-year-old would be. No. God was going to keep his promise, and keep it in a dramatic way!
And God keeps his promises to us in dramatic ways. The question is, do we see that to be the case? Do we see it true in our life? We should - for it is true! God promises to forgive us, and he does! God promises never to leave our side, and he is with us always! God promises to give us strength, and we are helped! God promises to lead and guide us, and we see his plans come to pass in our lives! How great God is! How good and marvelous! Let us always be thankful.
And let us always remember that it is because God kept his promise to send a Savior. Indeed, the Father promised a Savior to rescue us, and his Son, Jesus Christ, did that very thing. Dying on the cross, Jesus won everything for us: he won our forgiveness, our peace, our life (now and everlasting), and he won for us the assurances that God keeps his promises!
What promises of God keep you going today? What promises of God do you look forward to seeing fulfilled? Think about that today.
Pray:
"Lord Jesus, we give You most hearty thanks because You have revealed to us the saving truth of Your Gospel. Grant us grace to continue in Your Word, that we walk not after our own thoughts, but worship You in spirit and in truth. Preserve Your Word for our children, that they may walk in Your ways and remain Your people for generations to come. Amen." (Reading the Psalms with Luther, p. 257).
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
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