In my last post I mentioned the importance of watching the pronouns the Psalmist uses when he writes. Psalm 34 is a great example. If you are reading haphazardly you may miss this:
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
In this passage we see that the righteous are spoken of once in the plural (them) and once in the singular (him). The singular use is a prophecy. It is telling us that when Jesus is afflicted the Lord will deliver him and not one of his bones will be broken. This is exactly how John read the Psalms here when he wrote his gospel (chapter 19):
33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness— his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth— that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken."
I hope this encourages you to read carefully and meditate on the Word.
Blessings,
TG
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Psalter and Pronouns
As some of you know, recently one of my favorite books in the Bible has been the Psalter, or as you may call it - Psalms. I love this book because its size and themes make my mind wonder how the book works. The book makes me slow down when I read. The book helps me see the Messiah.
The past two times I have read the book I have tried to read the book through in the order that it was written and see how the different chapters work. As I read, I try to note common themes and language. The book is full of both of these.
I must admit my bias. When I read the book now-a-days I am assuming that there is purpose in the structure of this book (this is important because some think the book does not have a purpose as a whole). I also must admit that I am really looking for Jesus in every chapter (not just David). So with that I will tell you something I have noticed that may help you or you may just think "Tanner, you are a little slow." No matter what your response here it is:
Read carefully the pronouns in the book. The language of the Psalter will move quickly from hims to thems and then back from thems to hims. The singular to plural or the plural to singular switches in the language happen fast and sometimes you may not notice it, but I do think that it is important and I will try to show you why in future posts.
With that captain obvious post I am out.
Good night and God bless.
TG
Friday, June 26, 2009
Gospel to the Unevangelized
Acts 8:26
Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. NKJV
There is a question that has lingered through the years which has the purpose of attacking the justice of God and the fairness of the Gospel: “What about those who have never heard the name of Jesus?” This question implies that it is not fair for people who have never heard the name of Jesus to be condemned to hell, because they never had a chance. First, this question is built upon an incorrect notion of lostness that people are condemned because they have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. People are condemned because they have rejected God who has revealed Himself through creation (Rom. 1), the conscious and the Law (Rom. 2). Therefore, all men are without excuse. Belief in the atoning work of Christ is the remedy of man’s condemnation and not the source. This leads to another question, “What about the man who receives the light given to him and yearns to know the God of creation yet has not heard of Jesus?” This answer to this question can be found in the passage of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8) as we discover that God will get His message to a longing heart. In this text we find that God snatches Philip from a great revival in Samaria and sends him to the desert road toward Gaza. This may appear contrary to modern mission tactics, but God knew there was a heart longing to know more of Him and God sent a missionary with the glorious message of Jesus Christ. For those who accepted the light given to them God will provide more light even if it is to send a missionary in the middle of the wilderness.
Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. NKJV
There is a question that has lingered through the years which has the purpose of attacking the justice of God and the fairness of the Gospel: “What about those who have never heard the name of Jesus?” This question implies that it is not fair for people who have never heard the name of Jesus to be condemned to hell, because they never had a chance. First, this question is built upon an incorrect notion of lostness that people are condemned because they have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. People are condemned because they have rejected God who has revealed Himself through creation (Rom. 1), the conscious and the Law (Rom. 2). Therefore, all men are without excuse. Belief in the atoning work of Christ is the remedy of man’s condemnation and not the source. This leads to another question, “What about the man who receives the light given to him and yearns to know the God of creation yet has not heard of Jesus?” This answer to this question can be found in the passage of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8) as we discover that God will get His message to a longing heart. In this text we find that God snatches Philip from a great revival in Samaria and sends him to the desert road toward Gaza. This may appear contrary to modern mission tactics, but God knew there was a heart longing to know more of Him and God sent a missionary with the glorious message of Jesus Christ. For those who accepted the light given to them God will provide more light even if it is to send a missionary in the middle of the wilderness.
Friday, May 15, 2009
High Places
1 Kings 22:43 And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. NKJV
The spiritual evaluation of every king of Judah in the post David era includes reference of whether the high places were removed or not. The question did not end with whether the king of Judah did right in the eyes of the Lord or evil, but also whether or not he removed the high places.
High places were historically elevated areas where worshippers would erect idols and build altars to worship their gods. It was Solomon whose heart was turned from Jehovah by his pagan wives and and as a result built up the high places in Judah for the worship of their pagan gods . Every king thereafter would be judged by what he did with the high places. Even kings such as Jehoshaphat whom the LORD admittedly said did what was right in His eyes but yet also said about him, “Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. 1 Kings 22:43 NKJV. All kings that followed Solomon, whether they did right in the eyes of the Lord or evil kept the high places until Hezekiah.
Why was this so important to the LORD? One cannot fully serve the LORD until all the high places are removed out of his/her life. Not only must the idols be destroyed but the very places where the idols are kept must be removed to avoid any temptation to return. Sadly, most Christians filling our churches today are like Jehoshaphat. They love the Lord and seek to do what is right. They are not evil, but they have not removed all the high places and thus have robbed themselves of the full blessings of Christ
The spiritual evaluation of every king of Judah in the post David era includes reference of whether the high places were removed or not. The question did not end with whether the king of Judah did right in the eyes of the Lord or evil, but also whether or not he removed the high places.
High places were historically elevated areas where worshippers would erect idols and build altars to worship their gods. It was Solomon whose heart was turned from Jehovah by his pagan wives and and as a result built up the high places in Judah for the worship of their pagan gods . Every king thereafter would be judged by what he did with the high places. Even kings such as Jehoshaphat whom the LORD admittedly said did what was right in His eyes but yet also said about him, “Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. 1 Kings 22:43 NKJV. All kings that followed Solomon, whether they did right in the eyes of the Lord or evil kept the high places until Hezekiah.
Why was this so important to the LORD? One cannot fully serve the LORD until all the high places are removed out of his/her life. Not only must the idols be destroyed but the very places where the idols are kept must be removed to avoid any temptation to return. Sadly, most Christians filling our churches today are like Jehoshaphat. They love the Lord and seek to do what is right. They are not evil, but they have not removed all the high places and thus have robbed themselves of the full blessings of Christ
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Wisdom of Solomon
1 Kings 3:7-9, 28
7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" …………28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. NKJV
One question about Solomon has always puzzled me, “How can a man be so wise, but yet be so stupid?” The Scripture is clear that God gladly answered the request of Solomon for wisdom and understanding to judge his people and immediately that wisdom was put to the test with the two women claiming the same child. The record is also clear that Solomon was a great builder and organizer of the kingdom of Israel which brought marvel and praise from the rulers of the world. He was proficient in almost all studies whether it concerned economics, politics, biology, horticulture, or architectural engineering and design. His accomplishments were simply a wonder to all. But his personal life proved to be a mess. His decisions on wives were disastrous as they ultimately turned his heart from the very God who had so richly blessed him. He would admit later in his life the vanity of all his accomplishments. Again, how could a man so wise make such unwise decisions? First, the wisdom granted to Solomon was the wisdom of judgment for the people. This was a direct answer to his prayer. Solomon had great wisdom to judge other people but he was lacking in judgment for himself. Next, from the life of this “wise” man we should learn that we all have blind spots and areas of deficiency. Being wise or proficient in one area of our lives, no matter how astute it may be, does not necessarily equate to wisdom in other areas of our lives. We must not allow ourselves to think that we have become so wise that we have not need of God. Regardless of who were are, even if we become as great as Solomon, we must daily stay on our face humbly before God seeking His wisdom in every area of our lives.
7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" …………28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. NKJV
One question about Solomon has always puzzled me, “How can a man be so wise, but yet be so stupid?” The Scripture is clear that God gladly answered the request of Solomon for wisdom and understanding to judge his people and immediately that wisdom was put to the test with the two women claiming the same child. The record is also clear that Solomon was a great builder and organizer of the kingdom of Israel which brought marvel and praise from the rulers of the world. He was proficient in almost all studies whether it concerned economics, politics, biology, horticulture, or architectural engineering and design. His accomplishments were simply a wonder to all. But his personal life proved to be a mess. His decisions on wives were disastrous as they ultimately turned his heart from the very God who had so richly blessed him. He would admit later in his life the vanity of all his accomplishments. Again, how could a man so wise make such unwise decisions? First, the wisdom granted to Solomon was the wisdom of judgment for the people. This was a direct answer to his prayer. Solomon had great wisdom to judge other people but he was lacking in judgment for himself. Next, from the life of this “wise” man we should learn that we all have blind spots and areas of deficiency. Being wise or proficient in one area of our lives, no matter how astute it may be, does not necessarily equate to wisdom in other areas of our lives. We must not allow ourselves to think that we have become so wise that we have not need of God. Regardless of who were are, even if we become as great as Solomon, we must daily stay on our face humbly before God seeking His wisdom in every area of our lives.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Into the Land we will go
There was no post on Joshua and while I don’t have a post with a cohesive theme, I thought I would write some observations I noted from Joshua.
Observation 1:
The book opens and closes with the Law of Moses. In chapter 1, the LORD commanded Joshua “to be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you do. This book of the law shall not depart from you mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night.” Throughout the book, the reader is reminded that Joshua does as Moses has written. In the conclusion of the book, Joshua gathers the people together and tells the to “Be very firm, then to keep and do all this is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aide from it to the right hand or to the left.” Beginning with Abraham, Joshua reminds the people of who God is and how he has been with them since the beginning. He pleads with them not to turn to other gods but in this new land with cities and vineyards and olive groves that the people did not work for or plant, to serve the LORD faithfully. This remembering and mediating on the Law of Moses seems to be a central theme in Joshua. It is the Book of Moses that teaches the people about the LORD and reminds them to be faithful.
Observation 2:
The LORD fought for Israel. In Exodus, the LORD took the Israelites out of Egypt and while they cowered at the edge of the Sea, Moses reminds them that, “The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.” And the LORD was faithful and fought for them. However, the people quickly forget and once again cower on the edge of the land that was promised to them. The people finally make it into the Land under the leadership of Joshua and time and again, the LORD proves faithful and fights for Israel. After the battle with the five kings at Gibeon, Joshua declares that, “the LORD fought for Israel.” As the Israelites conquer the land it is noted that “because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.” The LORD protected and was faithful to his people and when they trusted him, he conquered the land for them.
Observation 3:
In Genesis 17, Abraham is promised a son. God says that he will make Abraham exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. The sign of this covenant was the act of circumcision. Immediately following the command, Abraham circumcised his family. In Joshua, immediately after crossing the Jordan, Joshua was commanded by the LORD to circumcise the people, and like Abraham Joshua immediately obeyed the commanded and performed the sign of the covenant affirming God’s covenant with Abraham and the people of Israel.
(The conclusion of these three observations is that Joshua seems to be a fulfillment and playing out of the commands of the Law of Moses. The sign of the covenant remains to show that one day, a king will come out of Israel. The LORD will fight for Israel and to be a faithful nation, they must mediate of the Law of Moses.)
Observation 4: I also noted some similarities or parallels to the division of the land and Genesis 49, but I need more time to think about it and I should probably start reading Judges. If any of you noticed anything, let me know.
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