Month: May 2011

The Presence of God

“My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am unable to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head; therefore my heart fails me.” (Psalm 40:12)

If we have never felt like the Psalmist, King David, it is doubtful that we have ever drawn near to God and doubtful that we are born of God. Entrance into the kingdom of God is by a broken and contrite heart before God seeking His forgiveness. This verse describes such a one. In our walk with the Lord He will frequently bring us back to this realisation. We are prone to trusting in our own ability to avoid or deliver ourselves from sin but He will endeavour to keep us from that by regular doses of the miry pit clay in a deep pit (v 2).

Anyone who has tried walking in a partially dry clay dam will understand the holding power of wet clay. It sucks off boots and will hold a foot with considerable strength. Add to that a pit and the helplessness of the victim is ensured. This is what King David is describing here. This is how he felt.

We may argue that David had done some grievous sin to provoke this desperate sensation. On another occasion he did sin greatly but that is not what he is describing in this Psalm.

He is describing what the apostle Paul would also describe in his letter to the church in Rome; “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24) Paul and David are describing the normal Christian life in which sin in the flesh wars against the Spirit – the new creation in Christ Jesus.

If we can only identify with the words of David and Paul then we should surely examine ourselves to see if we really are in Christ Jesus. We know we are in Christ Jesus when we know the feeling of anguish, sorrow and pain that David and Paul are expressing. This will not be a once in a life time experience but one that will be a regular visitor throughout our Christian life.

Some may attribute this experience to an attack of Satan and put it out of their mind. In so doing they miss the sweetest fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan may be the tool the Lord uses but ultimately God sends him on this mission for our blessing. “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust” (v 4).

There is truth in the statement often made by people who love each other that making up after a ‘fight’ is magic. There is something of the kind when our Holy God has revealed our desperately helpless sinful state afresh and then lifts us out of the “horrible pit” of “miry clay.” Then we will join with David in saying “He has put a new song in my mouth – Praise to our God” (v 3) and with Paul, “I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 7:25).”

God’s Part – My Part

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8)

Knowing the will of God can seem confusing but that may sometimes be because we forget what our role is and what God’s role in our lives is. If we try to do that which is God’s part we will certainly be confused as we will be if we neglect our part.

In this Psalm there are two places were God’s part and our part are noted.

Firstly, in verse five David writes that our part is to acknowledge our sin and iniquity (I am a sinner by nature), and confess known acts or attitudes of sin to the Lord. God’s part is that He will forgive our sin. Not surprisingly this Psalm begins by saying that the person whose sin is forgiven is in the most enviable position (vv 1, 2). David’s delay in confessing his sin only brought grief and sorrow (vv 3, 4). Any delay we make in confessing known sin to God will do the same for us.

Secondly, for the one whose sin is forgiven, God’s part is to instruct, teach and guide in a most intimate and personal way. Verse eight is one that many have memorised and taken as a promise but there is a condition attached.

Our part is to be teachable, easily led and gladly follow (v 9). This may be where many of us fail. God will not put a bridle, bit or harness on us even though we may wish He would. Our sin nature will resist any teaching, instructing and guiding by the Lord. His desire is that we gladly and voluntarily make ourselves disciples (learners and followers) of Jesus Christ.

In order for Him to instruct and teach us we must be in the right place and we have a key part in that. If we are to be led by Him we must settle that transaction with Him at some point in time. A teachable spirit with a receptive mind and humble heart, reading studying and meditating on God’s Word is the right place. This must also be accompanied by a willingness to be led wherever He chooses to lead. This will not be fearful to the one who knows the Lord.

The one who trusts the Lord will be swallowed up and encompassed by God’s loving kindness (v 10) and shout for joy (v 11). This is indeed a most blessed place to be in.

Four Generations

“Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?”

Job 2:10

It is perhaps more customary on Mothers’ Day to focus on mothers in the Bible who came through with “flying colours.” However, as with men, not many match their performances of faith. How can we identify with someone who shows great faith when we know that we have fallen short of that?

There are a number of mothers in the Bible who did not do so well for at least part of their lives yet they had a measure of faith in the Lord.

Job and his wife suffered great adversity, perhaps more than any other couple. When they married it is possible that Job was already wealthy materially or at least showed signs that he would be. His wife may have had certain expectations concerning their future and no doubt was overjoyed with the arrival of their seven sons and three daughters (Job 1:2).

The incredibly great sorrow and grief that she felt over the deaths of all her children in one event is released in her words, “Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). Job understood her deep sorrow and corrected her but did not rebuke her. He endeavored to give her a correct perspective even though he was floundering in similar grief.

Job’s wife must have accepted her husband’s correction because she apparently stuck with him. He was a faithful husband (Job 31:1) and she proved to be a faithful wife amidst the most trying circumstances.

What was her reward for her faithfulness?

The last few verses of the book of Job reveal that they had another seven sons and three daughters, not to replace the other ten, but in addition to the other ten.

All the material wealth of Job was returned two-fold (Job 42:10) and so were their children. The first ten would be waiting in the presence of the Lord (Job 1:5) and the second ten grew, married and had children. During the next 140 years Job and his wife rejoiced in their descendants for four generations (Job 42:16).

Job’s wife is not even named in the Bible and is not mentioned in Hebrews 11 but it would appear that she endured more than most women. Though in grief she may have faltered she ran the course of faith and received the reward.

The reward was a more intimate relationship with the Lord. Associated with that are the ten additional children and all their descendants. There were probably quite a number of them. The material wealth she eventually left behind, just as we all must, but this would not have been a concern to her after the proving of their faith in the Lord. Her security was now in the right place, in the Lord, and not in material things.

A Word Please!

“Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, that my Prosecutor had written a book!” (Job 31:35)

Job did not know why he had been singled out for such a painful end to his life. He did not die in this state but at the time he expected that he would.

When we read through his life testimony (esp. chapter 31) we must shudder because we have not lived out the righteous life that he has and yet he still suffered so greatly. Job knew the reality of the words, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding” and he had lived by them. He still believed them true but in his desire to know the truth he cries out for more revelation from God.

The Book that he cries out for is readily available to us today. May God graciously grant to us the same desire for it’s revelation that Job had.

Jesus said that the Ninevites who repented at Jonah’s warning would be a testimony against Israel and that the Queen of Sheba would be a testimony against Gentiles at the White Throne Judgment because they did not come to Him (Matthew 12:38-42). It may well be that Job will similarly be a testimony against Christians who, though they had ready access to God’s Word, did not avail themselves of it. At the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) where all believers will appear, we will receive reward according to how we lived in Christ.

No doubt many of us will go with hopes high expecting the “Well done, good and faithful servant” but instead we will find that we have not obeyed our Lord and will have mountains of wood, hay and stubble to see burned (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Why have we not obeyed our Lord?

Obedience to Jesus Christ is the expression and evidence that we have faith in Him and believe what He has said (cf. James 1:22; 2:20). Faith (believing God’s Word) comes from first hearing or reading His Word (Romans 10:14-17). Job says that a reverential fear of the Lord will motivate us to seek answers and when we have them obedience to them will bring understanding. Job longed for more revelation of and from God.

When we do not obey the Lord it may be because we do not know what He has said. We do not know what He has said because we do not read, study and meditate on His Word.

God has now written a book and Job will be a witness against us if we do not avail ourselves of the wonderful privilege of absorbing the knowledge, wisdom and understanding it provides. It really is the Bread of Life to our souls. Let us not starve!