God's Daily Indignation

Psalm 7:11

God is a righteous judge,
and a God who feels indignation every day.

...............

Whenever the Bible makes these kinds of blunt characterizations of God, we should stop and think about it for a while.

God is love.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
I am that I am.

These statements should give us pause to consider who God is in Himself. And this Psalm is inescapably about God's character as Judge.

Two points to note in this Psalm. One, this is a great example of David calling upon God for justice against his enemies, while also vindicating himself in light of his own integrity. This is a theme throughout the Davidic psalms. For instance:

The LORD judges the peoples;
judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness
and according to the integrity that is in me (7:8).

You begin to realize what a very bold statement David is making by the time you get to the end of the Psalm. Indeed, the second point in the psalm is that God's wrath is incredibly serious, unstoppable, and completely fair. We see in the verse at the top that God feels, that God not only feels love and joy, but also wrath, and that God feels this wrath everyday! This is very serious. "If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts" (7:12-13). So, we see that God feels indignation against sin, and that this wrath is serious and deadly. But, let's not forget that it is also fair. As David describes the targets of God's anger, he makes this statement:

His mischief returns upon his own head,
and on his own skull his violence descends (7:16).

While it is not common in devotional life to dwell on the wrath of God, we must stop and consider this part of God's feelings. I'm not so sure that wrath is "essential" to God's nature, as He surely had none in eternity past, when He lived in perfect harmony within the love of the Trinity. But, because of the Fall, He has justly responded to man's sin by first cursing us and then eventually bringing all thoughts and deeds into judgment. There will be a final separation, and God will be entirely just in letting man's mischief return "upon his own head."

The Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 13:44

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

...............

The parable of the Hidden Treasure falls in the middle of a collection of parables in Matthew 13, all of them concerning the nature of God's kingdom and the nature of those who are its citizens. The following will be merely a brief list of characteristics of this kingdom, based on themes that are found in many of these parables.

(1) Hiddenness. We have already seen in Matthew 12 that there were many times in Jesus' healing ministry that he commanded people to keep secret the miracles that he performed. And, we have already discussed how this secretiveness was not driven by fear, but more by Jesus' character and timing. Here, we see yet another reason for the early secretiveness in Jesus' ministry: the very nature of the kingdom of heaven is that it is hidden from some.

This hiddenness has often been distorted into a gnostic kind of mysticism, in which God is completely unknowable except through some ecstatic experience. These parables do not lead in that direction. Rather, the parables are poetic ways of describing what has been "hidden since the foundation of the world" (13:35). This verse, and the Isaiah passage quoted in 13:14-15, make very clear that the kingdom's hiddenness is rooted in mankind's chosen rebellion. I am reminded of the paradox of Pharaoh's hardened heart in the Exodus story. It is true that God hardened his heart, but many verses in Exodus also describe Pharaoh as hardening his own heart. We see this in Romans 1 as well, where those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness are ultimately given over to their desires, in a sense abandoned by God. The hidden nature of God's kingdom is somewhat paradoxical, rooted in our own chosen sinfulness, but also perpetuated by God who justly withholds light and knowledge from those who have chosen self-rule in their own kingdoms.

(2) Progressive Growth and Value. We see in the parables of the Mustard Seed, the Hidden Treasure, and the Pearl of Great Price that God's kingdom is coming with progressive growth and is of greatest value. Briefly, the reason why God's kingdom is of greatest value and should be sought after with joy, is that it is the essentially the wise and good rulership of our heavenly Father. Indeed, every treasure and joy of this life should be considered second-rate rubbish in comparison to this kingdom, to this reality. While we enjoy the goodness of this earth and its reflection of the Creator's goodness, we also look forward to the coming kingdom and its superior peace and wholeness. Thy kingdom come, indeed.

(3) Reward and Punishment. The Parable of the Weeds is explained by Jesus in verses 36-43. We see that there are two very distinct groups of people from the perspective of the kingdom of heaven: the "children of the kingdom" (13:38) and the "causes of sin and all law-breakers" (13:41). In this parable, and in the parables of the Sower and the Net, we see that there will be a final separation between these two groups, the first being granted eternal favor in God's presence, the latter being "thrown into the fiery furnace" where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (13:42). The fact that this is part of Jesus' literal explanation makes clear that he is not making some figurative reference to blessings and curses in this life alone. The literal King of the literal kingdom is literally coming to earth to make a final separation and bring his children home.

I pray that we are given eyes to see our King at work in this life, consider the surpassing value of His rulership and wisdom, and tremble at the reality of the coming judgment, when everyone will be held accountable for whose kingdom they were submitting to, their own kingdom or the kingdom of King Jesus.

SPECIAL REPORT - God is not Trite

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers,
by the mercies of God,
to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and acceptable and perfect.

...............

This has been on my mind all morning. I cannot help but write about it.

God is not trite.

He is not petty. He is not narcissistic, schizophrenic, unreasonable, or unstable. Why am I saying all of this? What is happening that makes God appear to be petty?

The Church.

The Church is what is making God appear so small, so irrelevant, and so detached from reality. It drives me mad just thinking about. Now, before I get into the details, this is not a full-fledged condemnation of God's church. The Church is God's holy bride that will be washed in his blood and taken into the new heavens and new earth to live with him forever. I love the church. That's why it's imperative that we call her out of darkness. And, the particular kind of misrepresentation that is driving me mad this morning is this: WORSHIP.

Consider, how many times does the New Testament make reference to singing? How many times in the book of Acts, for instance, do we see the early church singing? In Acts 4:42 we have a brief summary of the life of the church. "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Does anybody see singing in there?

The point is, worship is not what many people think it is.

Worship does not equal singing, raising your hands, trembling, feeling awe, getting slain in the Spirit, or any other ecstatic experience. God demands worship, in Spirit and in truth, and he promises eternal hell for those who do not worship him. I'll say that again: He promises hell for those who do not worship.

Whoa, wait a minute! Hell? For not singing? For not attending a weekly "worship" service? Why, God sounds like a petty, immature, narcissistic, maniac!! What a waste, why would I ever worship a God like that?!

And, those are the appropriate questions the church has to face. We've painted God to be petty and then demanded people to worship. Our children grow up thinking this way and they end up turning away by the time they hit college. The problem is, the Church continues to try and solve this problem in the wrong way. Emergent churches try to make "worship" more trendy and in line with the surrounding culture (God is somehow lagging behind culturally?). Mainstream churches make "worship" more formalized and liturgical, hoping to bring people a sense of reverence or nostalgia (God wants to be lagging behind culturally?). And, Evangelical churches just switch the music around, fire the choir, and hire a twenty-something guitar player to lead us in a "worship experience." All of this is under the pseudonym "worship."

Romans 12 gives us another definition of worship: putting every aspect of your life on the alter, and conforming those details to the will of God, rather than to the world. That is worship, in a nutshell. Doing EVERYTHING to the glory of God. But, it's not doing everything with a Jesus-stamp on it. It's not just slipping people a gospel pamphlet with their receipt at the register. Or, whispering prayers while you toss boxes or punch in numbers on the keyboard. No, doing everything to the glory of God is really seeing what you do in a new way. That may require some basic changes in what you do with the majority of your time. Or, it may mean merely changing the WAY you do what you do with the majority of your time. Either way, it is comprehensive, all-encompassing, and powerfully relevant.

God is not trite. He cares so much more about the ins and outs of your daily life than in whether you had a certain kind of experience or sang a certain kind of song on Sunday morning. And, when we start to see the comprehensive nature of the worship that He demands, it begins to make a little more sense why Hell is the alternative. For those who make their lives into a personal kingdom of self-rule and self-worship, Hell is the only logical destination. We condemn ourselves by making God into a petty, distant, immature music-leader. He doesn't just want our songs.

He wants our lives.

(P.S. I do enjoy singing and think the Church has plenty to sing about!)

He Will Not Quarrel

Matthew 12:19

He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice in victory;
and in his name the Gentiles will hope.

...............

I have been having the hardest time knowing what to say about this chapter. I have considered outlining the four accusations of the Pharisees that are recorded here. I thought about having a tangential discussion of the "unforgivable sin" in verse 31. I keep trying to find the common theme in the whole chapter, but I've realized that these chapter divisions are sometimes arbitrary; there may not be a common theme in some chapters.

So, let's talk about this Isaiah quotation and how in the world this passage was "fulfilled" by Jesus when he "ordered them not to make him known" (verse 16). Many have speculated on the secretive aspect of Jesus' early public ministry. He would often heal people and then tell them to keep it to themselves; don't tell anybody. And, just as often, they would go and tell everybody anyways! Was Jesus just afraid of the authorities? After all, they were conspiring against him, "how to destroy him" (verse 14).

Well, this passage makes clear that Jesus was not being secretive out of fear. Rather he was fulfilling an Old Testament description of the Messiah. If you are familiar with Isaiah 53, the prophecy of the Suffering Servant, than you are already acquainted with the "Servant Songs" of Isaiah. This quotation in Matthew 12 is just from another part of that Servant Song, Isaiah chapter 42. This passage says a number of things about what the Messiah will be like.

- He is chosen and beloved of God (verse 18 - notice the reference made to this at Jesus' baptism by the voice of God from heaven)
- He has the Spirit of God upon Him.
- He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles
- He will not quarrel
- He will not shun those of little faith (a bruised reed he will not break)
- He will bring justice to victory
- The Gentiles will hope in Him.

There is so much to be said about these few descriptions. But, the immediate context demands emphasis upon the fact that Jesus "will not quarrel." It's not that he was afraid of the Pharisees and their plot to destroy him; he knew all about that and where it would lead. But, his time had not yet come and he was not quarrelsome by nature.

He was not quarrelsome by nature.

Isn't that nice to know? That Jesus is not a "devil's advocate" (oh boy, that's obvious). He wasn't looking for a fight with the Pharisees. When he challenged them in public, it was not to be quarrelsome, but to pierce their hearts with the truth of the kingdom, to show them who was really king, and to denounce their false teaching publicly for the sake of his flock. We've seen in chapters 10 and 11 that Jesus was not afraid of publicly foretelling the downfall of his unbelieving enemies. He sounds rather judgmental at times (He is the Judge of all creation!). But, remember also that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. For those of little faith, he will welcome them without quarreling; he will not quench their smoldering flame of faith.

The Last Breath

Psalm 6:4-5

Turn, O LORD, deliver my life;
save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
For in death there is no remembrance of you;
in Sheol who will give you praise?

...............

There are some realities that are too full of emotion to put into words. That may sound trite, but consider how much poetry has been written through the centuries concerning the two great mysteries: love and death. Perhaps that is why so many believers have turned to the Psalms in their desperate hours, when life is hanging on by a thread because of some unspeakable injustice, or some stomach-turning grief.

David found himself at a loss for words. We don't know what the context of this Psalm was, what caused David's eye to waste away because of grief. But we do know that it shut his mouth.

Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled.
But you, O LORD---how long?

That last line resonates in my mind as I consider the pain I have witnessed this year in the hearts and in the eyes of some of my closest friends. When the sorrows come there can be only few words. And, even those few words may be truncated by tears or loss of breath. David can only get out that last line with trembling and quivering lips. Don't gloss over the words here; the sentence structure says it all. The pain is too great for exposition. Only emotion remains.

I notice the repetition of "O LORD" and wonder at the focus and direction of this prayer. He is fixated on the source of Life, his only hope in the midst of this disaster that threatens him. O LORD! O LORD! O LORD! Where else can I turn? And then he reasons with God, the best that he can in the midst of this.

For your sake, O LORD; for the sake of your reputation, deliver me. Who will praise you in death? Who will remember you by dying? Reach out and deliver me and let it be to your praise.

And he did. This time. God heard David's weeping and accepted his prayer. David's confidence grew and he began to trust that his enemies would be turned away and defeated. But, this is not always the case with sorrow.

But, before you despair of the pain and grief that God may choose to leave with you, consider also the Man of Sorrows. Turn to Isaiah 53. Consider His grief and wonder at the cross. It is a balm to the weary, and comfort to know that someone is with you, someone who cares is with you to hear your truncated prayers, to hear those last breaths, those wordless breaths, and he will never leave you nor forsake you.

SPECIAL REPORT - My Excellent Wife

Proverbs 31:10-11

An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trust in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.

...............

I had the rare opportunity last night to eavesdrop on a conversation between my wife and one of her best friends, Bethany. They were discussing parenting and getting into the details of correction and discipline, as well as the fundamentals of how we should view our children -- primarily as sinners, or as bearers of God's image. The more I listened, the more grateful and undeserving I felt. What a shame that I do not realize EVERY day what a treasure of wisdom and thoughtfulness I have here in my own house. I am so blessed to have a wife who is both my best friend and deepest love. I pray that she is blessed today in knowing how much I love and appreciate her...

Donna, you have given me every reason to trust in you.

You have carried our second child through months of sickness and weakness, all while caring for Gracie with your whole heart. You've given until it hurts, and then gave some more. You've prayed for me, encouraged me, and served me too many times to count.

I know that you will do me good, and not harm, all the days of your life.

You have proven time and again how to pinch a penny, make a dollar go farther, and find creative ways to get us through to the next paycheck. You've denied yourself dozens of times by putting off haircuts, buying generic off-brands, and considering the future before the decisions of today. You work your butt off, both in physical effort and intellectually, doing your research on parenting and real estate and cake decorating. These efforts, I truly know, are part of how you are strengthening this household.

You have dressed yourself with strength and made your arms strong.

I look to you before anyone else in my moments of doubt and confusion. You are a woman of incredible wisdom, not satisfied with pat answers, but digging deeply to find a genuine answer for the toughest questions. You are a woman of conviction, and you have stuck with your conscience so many times, even when there were few (or none) around you who agreed. That is true humility. You've put our family even above your own reputation, and I love you for it.

You open your mouth in wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on your tongue.

I am so very grateful for your sacrifice, for your constant affection and encouragement, and for the wisdom and thoughtfulness that you exude in every circumstance. You are truly praiseworthy, my bride and my friend. I will trust you all of my days, because I know that you are on my side, for my good, and for the good of our family.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her.
P.S. Thanks for packing my lunch today! You are so sweet!

Mistaken Identity

Matthew 11:27

All things have been handed over to me by my Father,
and no one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

...............

This appears to be a rather cryptic statement in the middle of Jesus' public ministry. No person knows the Son unless the Son chooses to reveal himself to them? How can that be? There were plenty of people who could see Jesus in the flesh, who witnessed His miracles and acts of mercy, and even those closest to Him heard His teaching about Himself in very intimate encounters. Surely, somebody knew Him. This "knowing" must refer to some deeper kind of knowledge, right? The "knowing" of a Father-Son relationship, perhaps? Yes, I think that is part of what Jesus is saying -- this is the intimate knowing that is equivalent to being reconciled with God and being "chosen" by Jesus to have eternal life. I completely agree with the Calvinistic/Reformed usage of this verse in that regard.

But, I think this "knowing" is also referring to a more basic kind of knowledge -- identity.

I get that idea from the rest of the chapter, which can be seen as a kind of case study in mistaken identity. The fallen world of common man appears in this chapter to be completely at a loss when it comes to identifying spiritual realities. These people really were "dwelling in darkness" (Mt 4:16). Here are some examples of mistaken identity from Matthew 11.

(1) "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" (Verse 3). If anybody should know that Jesus was the Messiah, it was John the Baptist. Not to say that John was living in total darkness. He understood more than most about who Jesus was and what kind of ministry he came to carry out. However, when he was locked up in prison, John could not escape the nagging doubts that Jesus might not be who he thought he was. John needed some confirmation. So, he sent messengers to ask and he received in response a description straight from the Old Testament -- a description of a healer, a preacher, and a leader who could be none other than the Messiah himself (Isa. 61:1-12; see also Luke's account of Jesus describing himself with these very words, Lk. 4:18-19).

(2) "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds" (Verses 18-19). The second case of mistaken identity in this chapter concerns both John and Jesus. The crowds are likened to children who are not satisfied with mirth or tears, joy or solemnity. They are essentially always looking for an excuse to ignore the teachings of these men. So, they accuse John of having a demon, and they accuse Jesus of being a drunkard. Nothing is good enough for these people, no matter how many types of prophets God sends to them. They are stubborn-hearted and set in their ways. But wisdom will be justified by her deeds; that is, the rightness of their teaching will eventually be justified by the fruit it bears and the victory it attains.

(3) "Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent" (Verse 20). Finally, the fact that these cities refused to turn from their ways in the face of such astonishing miracles is further proof that they just didn't get it. They knew that Jesus was an amazing person, perhaps even a prophet. But the kind of knowledge that is necessary for repentance and faith was sorely lacking. It will be more bearable for Sodom on the last day, than for these unrepentant cities.

In case you are feeling a bit pessimistic about this fallen world and its perpetual darkness, remember there is a sign of hope after all this. In true prophetic fashion, Jesus concludes this segment of righteous indignation and warning with a message of genuine hope and invitation (verses 28-30). May we consider the sad reality of this dark world and be motivated to turn back to Christ, whose arms remain open to welcome us to a true knowledge of himself:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.