A Boomer in the Pew

Grabbing God's ankles and striving to let go of everything else

Andrew Murray's "Waiting on God" (Day #31) - Only.

Psalm 62:5-6 - For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
 6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

I have spent untold hours reading, and studying God's word in the past three years.  My own Damascus road event, if you will.

Our culture would have us believe that man is inherently good.  Further, our culture would believe that our path to God is our ability to be good, at least more good then bad, and then God will find us pleasant in his eyes, and grant us into the rewards of eternal relationship in heaven.

The great problem with this thinking is that it is a lie.  It is not true.  Furthermore, if you read the Bible you will find God speaking directly against this falsehood.  We are selfish, prone to wander from God, and each desiring to seek our own way.

As we continue to read, and understand God's holiness, this becomes increasingly apparent as we see ourselves in comparison with perfect holiness. 

From this point a desperation begins to set in as you begin to understand your true nature.  And here it is that we begin a right relationship, a right understanding, and how desperately we need God to protect us from not only the onslaught of the world, but of our own selves.

Thankfully, God tells us that he will never let his true children go.  Once you are truly in his hand, you will remain there.  The paradox is that even so, we are still trapped in this earthly shell, and the temptation to run off is ever present.

Therefore, the true saint will daily hide in God's shadow, hang near the spring of everlasting life, and seek to grab hold of God's ankles. 

The temptations of the world, and of our selves are great.

Oh God, during these times of my spiritual youth, please keep me shackled close to you.  And, oh my soul, wait only on God, my rock, and my salvation.

What are we to learn from the stoning and burning of Achan's whole family?

"The Stoning of Achan",  unknown illustrator, Henry Davenport Northrup's "Treasures of the Bible", 1894.

ESV Study Bible Devotions

Joshua 7:25-26 - And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.

I was shocked this morning, as I returned to the account of Joshua.  Yesterday, albeit a difficult scene to behold, was one of Joshua's most famous victories.

Then, as I began to read chapter 7, the very first word started with "but", and I thought, oh no.

One of the important things to remember, as we read the Old Testament, is that God dealt with the whole nation of Israel as his chosen, no different then He now deals with us, individually, as his chosen.

So here we have this guy Achan, and he decided to steal a lifetimes worth of plunder, even though God had given very specific instructions against it.

So now the Israelites go out to fight the people of Ai, and they are defeated.  Joshua is beside himself, and God reveals that Israel is being punished because of Achan's sin.  Achan is revealed as the plunderer, and his whole family, and all of his possessions are stoned, and then burned.

Wow!  Once again, God displays severe judgment towards sin.  What are we to learn from this, with our 21st century view? 

• God will judge sin.
• Our view of sin, and God's view of sin, are not in agreement.
• The post-modern mind will cry foul.  "Not fair", they say.
• Some, to their own peril, will look at this and turn against God as a big bully.

I am reminded of three things from this reading:

• I need to be reminded that my sin, although now eternally forgiven, through my regeneration, is still a horrific affront to God.  God will not look upon sin.  He will judge it.  In the Christian's case, this judgment is not eternal damnation, but certainly can involve discipline.  It is clear that God disciplines his children.  It is foolish for us, even as Christians to defy God.  We must diligently work to make sin less a part of our lives.
• God has revealed himself in 66 inspired books.  For any of us to make judgments of his character, without reading his whole treatise is "not fair".  Before any of us has any right, whatsoever, we must read, and seek to understand the whole of his word.
• We need a Savior.  Like it or not, God will judge sin.  Through Jesus Christ, however, and his death on the cross, he bore the brunt of God's holy, and righteous judgment, so that we, those who are truly Christian, might be saved from this judgment, and live eternally with God as his sons.  This is the gospel message.  I am absolutely certain that these early Israelites would have loved to have Christ available to atone for their sins.

Although this account is very difficult to view, I have learned from it, and I will remember it.

How are we to view God's wholesale destruction of the Canaanites through Joshua at Jericho?

ESV Study Bible Devotions

Joshua 6:20 - So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.

Before we begin to consider the destruction of Jericho, and the Canaanites, it will likely do us well to consider Solomon's instruction from today's devotion as well.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 - Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2  Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.

Once again, I am bluntly reminded that I do not possess a full grasp of who God is.  Unquestionably, as any reasonable person reads, and seeks to understand this text, you will befall great challenges to your sensibilities.

Your paradigm of who God is will likely be completely shattered as you stare, face to face, with God's own proclamation of His identity, and character.

Nonetheless, as Solomon warns, we must tread very carefully.  This is God, we are the created.  We are not to superimpose our dreams of who God is, on the reality of who he is.

To the sensitive person, the wholesale slaughter of the Canaanites is very difficult to stomach.  We must remember that God is God, and we are not.  We do not have a full view of the situation.  We must accept that God is good, and further in this display, trust that there was complete and total evil present for God to pour his wrath upon these people in such a way.

The New Testament tells us that God is slow to anger.  However, the book of Revelation also tells us that similar eternal destruction awaits those who refuse God's call, in the end days.

These are all very difficult things to comprehend.  Nonetheless, we must all view the whole of God's word, and having done so, make our own individual decisions. 

As for me, and my house, we will serve the Lord.

If you would like a little further reading on this topic, I have copied the notes from my ESV Study Bible to help bring further understanding.  Please read on...

Night terrors for kings at the Hand of the Lord

ESV Study Bible Devotions

Joshua 5:1 - As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.

When you give yourself to the reading of the whole of God's word, your view changes.

Many months ago, I came to the realization that my view of God was a blinded view, and one that was more akin to a relationship with Santa Claus.  Although not a proponent of having my "best life now", I sure acted more in that persuasion than realizing that God was sovereign, and in complete, and absolute control.

In our vain pride, we may think we are the captains of our souls, but over, and over, Scripture teaches us that God is in control with his mighty right hand.

When challenges confront us, if we're not rightly thinking, we tend to quickly run to find our own solutions.  We seek to control destiny with our feeble right hands.

Here we see the Lord going before Joshua, even as they cross the Jordan, striking fear in the hearts of very powerful kings.  '...their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them...".

Before there was any face to face confrontation, God went before them, seized the kings hearts, and melted them with the fear of God. 

Contemplate what these kings must have been going through, in the dark of the night, as the Holy Spirit tormented them with the mighty, awesome power of God.  God is able to harden hearts, and God is able to melt hearts.

The lesson for us here is to wait upon God.  Going to battle, without the Lord in front, is certain defeat.  This too is made plain for us.

As we shall soon see, in the book of Joshua, the battle belongs to the Lord.  We do well to remember that, and seek only to obey his commands.

How wonderful to be a child of the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.  Sometimes, he melts our opposition before us, and thereby brings glory to himself.

William Ernest Henley's Invictus got it wrong, I am not the captain of my soul.

Photograph - William Ernest Henley, poet, (1849-1903)

Timothy McVeigh, the terrorist bomber of the Oklahoma City Federal Building, made no final remarks before he was executed for his horrible deeds.

However, he did leave behind, in his cell, the words of atheist William Ernest Henley's famous poem, "Invictus":

"Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul."

Here is a dramatic animation/reading of this poem.

I have seen this poem bantered about, in my many years of attending business conferences.  I can further profess that this poem has stirred many a great resolve, in business minds all across this land.

Further, I must profess, with my previous worldview, I too would have cheered the indomitable spirit that this poem seeks to praise, and promote.

But alas, I have been conquered.  I am not the master of my fate.  I am not the captain of my soul.

Hiding deep in the dark corners of my nature, lingers a small voice screaming, "You traitor! Are you nuts?  Have you gone off the deep end?  What do you mean you are not the master of your fate, and the captain of your soul?  YES, you are!"

"No", I say to this nagging voice, "I am dead to that thinking".  "Although culture everywhere around me holds this to be true, it is not."  "It is utterly impossible to read, and understand the Bible, and possess this view." 

Oh my soul, you are not the captain, you are the created, in service to the Creator.  To hold forth anything else is pride, arrogance, and an affront to holy God. 

Dear reader, I really am not crazy talking to myself in this manner.  I learned this from King David, in the Psalms.  He talked to, and instructed his soul all the time.  I figure that he, being God's "beloved", should serve as a role model.

So now, my inquiring minds asks, "What is to drive a man in the pursuit of business, if not to champion his fate?"

Answer?  Business....for the glory of God!  After all, according to the Bible, the end purpose of man is to glorify God. 

I must confess, I am not fully in custody of this credo.  But I am daily walking in its direction, and diligently seeking the wisdom of which the Bible speaks.

The hard part is that this is sheer nonsense to the natural mind, and frankly, I fear the dishonor of my friends.  However, I suppose my closest friends will understand my quest, and those who would intend to smear, were no friends at all.

God - "I will exalt over you with loud singing"

ESV Study Bible Devotions

Zephaniah 3:17 - The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

The book of Zephaniah is a prophetic book and speaks to us of "The Day of the Lord", the day when Christ will again come.

This post will be very short as we seem to be on very sacred ground.  Has not God revealed a great part of his character here?  Do not these words stir in us awe, wonder, hope, and a great inner touch?

I have never before considered that God might sing over us, with loud singing!  Who can read these words without being deeply, and profoundly moved?

Our culture has ruined the word awe, but here is its original meaning:  a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder. 

What must God singing loudly over us be like?

I am completely mute and awestruck. Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Why are we called to a Sightless Faith?

"St. Peter Walking on the Water", c 1590, by Alessandro Allori.

ESV Study Bible Devotions

This morning in my reading, I find God parting the flood waters of the Jordan for the people to cross, Jesus feeding 5,000, Jesus healing mobs of sick people, and Peter walking on water.

I found myself wondering, why does God calls us to a sightless faith.  God wanted the Israelites to know that Joshua was his man, so he parts the Jordan.

Over, and over, we see Christ performing miracles, and I find myself wondering, would belief be easier if I were such a witness?

If I walked on water, would my unbelief be such a present force in my life?

I suspect the answer lies in the Scriptures that I hold in my hand.  But the Hebrews of old had the Moses' Pentateuch, yet God was still visibly performing miracles.

When evil happens, such as the destruction on 9/11, millions pour into churches.  Their site, and their fears, drove them to seek God.

If seeing is believing, I wonder why God calls us to a sightless faith?  We all tend to disparage Thomas for his doubting, but can we all claim 100% faith without sight?  And even if we did see, would we then believe?  Many saw, and still did not believe.

As I continue this thought, is the answer in the call, and the miracle of the new birth?  Is the answer that Holy Spirit is now indwelt?  Is the answer my continued study of God's word, and His continual in-working?

Libertine - Liberty's Evil Twin Sister - Thoughts for the 4th of July

July 4th - America is a most blessed place to have been raised.  As I contemplate all the places in history, or all the places in the world to have been born, I marvel that I am here, and now.

July 4th is a day of celebration.  We celebrate the founding of our country, the Declaration of Independence, and words like freedom, the pursuit of happiness, self-government, self-determination, human rights, civil liberties, free will, and liberty.

These are wonderful things.  They are, and I am most pleased to live in a land where we can openly talk of such things.

However, I fear that a great deal of our inhabitants are actually under the spell of Libertine, and not Liberty.

Libertine is an unrepentant philanderer, a seductress, a playboy, a lecher, a womanizer, an adulterer, ladykiller, fornicator, Don Juan, Casanova, a debauchee.

Perhaps America is at a crossroad.  Will we be seduced by lady Libertine, and give away our precious liberties to this temptress?  Or, will we cherish our liberty, but again come to the realization that liberty is bought with individual responsibility.

Oh America, come to your senses.  We are in danger of destruction under the spell of the Libertine.  Seek wisdom, fight hard for what is right, love your neighbor as yourself, seek God with all your might, and pray that He, in His great mercy, might more fully shine the great light of His grace upon our land.

Proverbs 5:1-14

My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding,
 2 that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
 3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil,
 4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
 5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps follow the path to Sheol;
 6 she does not ponder the path of life;
her ways wander, and she does not know it.

 7 And now, O sons, listen to me,
and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
 8 Keep your way far from her,
and do not go near the door of her house,
 9 lest you give your honor to others
and your years to the merciless,
10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength,
and your labors go to the house of a foreigner,
11 and at the end of your life you groan,
when your flesh and body are consumed,
12 and you say, “How I hated discipline,
and my heart despised reproof!
13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers
or incline my ear to my instructors.
14 I am at the brink of utter ruin
in the assembled congregation.”

So, let's eat our hot dogs, let us sing our songs, let's watch our parades, and let us celebrate the wonder that is America.  But let us also, individually purpose, from this day forward, to pay strict attention to our personal responsibilities, while enjoying our individual liberties.

Otherwise, at some distant dreaded day in the future, we might find ourselves under the rule of the Libertine.

The surprising grace-filled story of Rahab the Prostitute

 "Rahab and the Two Spies", by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld

ESV Study Bible Devotions

I found the story of Rahab surprising in many respects:

• I wonder why God chose to use a prostitute here.  Furthermore, why did he bother to tell us of her profession?
• Earlier God told Moses that none of the Canaanites were to be spared.  Yet Rahab is to be spared.
• Rahab tells a lie to conceal the spies.
• I wonder what transpired between God and Rahab prior to our view?
• Most interestingly Rahab is mentioned in the genealogy of Christ, her faith is mentioned in Hebrews, and her good works mentioned by James.

Certainly this story is one of grace.  How Rahab came to her faith appears to be a mystery to us, but we know from Paul's teachings that God calls his elect.  Isn't it interesting that God calls a prostitute.  One to be despised, and worthy of stoning (in that culture), actually becomes an ancestor of Christ.

If God chose to use Rahab, in the bloodline of Christ, then certainly we are to understand that no matter where we come from, and no matter what we have done, God, through Jesus Christ, has provided the means for us to enter into a relationship as children, and co-inheritors with Christ.

Amazing isn't it?

Moses dies and Joshua, the Son of Nun, steps into leadership of Israel

"Joshua", sculpture c 1650, by Artus Quellinus

ESV Study Bible Devotions

There is a great succession of leadership taking place in Israel.  Moses has just died, and Joshua, the son of Nun, has been appointed by God to lead the Israelites.

I found it most interesting that God was the one to bury Moses, and that no one knows where this site is, except that it is in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor.

I also greatly appreciated God's final words of Moses:

Deuteronomy 34:10-12 - "And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel."

And now we find God's attention turned upon Joshua with these opening words from God:

Joshua 1:2-9 - “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Wow!  I find myself feeling a little jealous that God does not speak so directly to me.  I know that we are in the age of the church, and I further fully believe that Christ lives in me.  I have learned greatly to wait upon God, I am learning to understand the contentment that is found in Christ, but I have yet to more fully understand the communication that is to occur with my indwelt Savior.

I am looking forward to graduating from oatmeal with raisins, and almonds, to perhaps ground chuck in my spiritual diet.  As precious as the journey has been so far, I can't image what filet mignon must be like!