Before we know joy, we need to see Christ as He is and ourselves for who we are...
Sight: He saw the Lord (Isa. 6:1–4)
When your world tumbles in, it is good to look at things from heaven’s point of view.
Insight: He saw himself (Isa. 6:5–7)
The sight of a holy God, and the sound of the holy hymn of worship, brought great conviction to
Isaiah’s heart; and he confessed that he was a sinner. Unclean lips are caused by an unclean
heart. Before we can minister to others, we must permit God to minister to us. Before we
pronounce “woe” upon others, we must sincerely say, “Woe is me!” Isaiah’s conviction led to
confession, and confession led to cleansing
Vision: He saw the need (Isa. 6:8)
The nation needed the Lord, and the Lord wanted a servant to minister to the people.
Blindness: The nation could not see (Isa. 6:9–13)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Psalm 2 (prophetic)
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
"Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us."
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
"As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill."
I will tell of the decree:The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel."
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
"Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us."
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
"As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill."
I will tell of the decree:The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel."
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Psalm 1 (a wisdom psalm) Jer. 17:5–8
Blessed (he is right with God and enjoys the spiritual peace and joy that results from that relationship) is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the LORD knows (watches) the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Blessed is he who does not walk in the state of mind which the ungodly cherish, much less that he should associate with the vicious life of sinners, or even delight in the company of those who scoff at religion. The description now continues with כִּי אִם (imo si, Ges. § 155, 2, 9): but (if) his delight is, = (substantival instead of the verbal clause:) he delights (חֵפֶץ cf. Arab. chfḍ f. i. with the primary notion of firmly adhering, vid., on Job 40:17) in תורַת ה׳ , the teaching of Jahve, which is become Israel’s νόμος, rule of life; in this he meditates profoundly by day and night
The green foliage is an emblem of faith, which converts the water of life of the divine word into sap and strength, and the fruit, an emblem of works, which gradually ripen and scatter their blessings around; a tree that has lost its leaves, does not bring its fruit to maturity.
will be condemned by God when they are judged. --- will not stand in judgement... Not will not go to judgement.
The Lord guides and protects the righteous.
The chief thing in life is the counsel—plan, ruling principles, and maxims—by which it is guided. E.g. one man’s aim in life is “to die rich;” another’s motto, “Short life and merry;” another’s, “To me to live is Christ.”
Still, they knew that God heard and answered, not according to their thoughts, but according to his loving-kindness; hence they poured out their whole souls to God, whether in gladness or sadness. And so may we; and God will do exceeding abundantly for us above all that we ask or think.
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the LORD knows (watches) the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Blessed is he who does not walk in the state of mind which the ungodly cherish, much less that he should associate with the vicious life of sinners, or even delight in the company of those who scoff at religion. The description now continues with כִּי אִם (imo si, Ges. § 155, 2, 9): but (if) his delight is, = (substantival instead of the verbal clause:) he delights (חֵפֶץ cf. Arab. chfḍ f. i. with the primary notion of firmly adhering, vid., on Job 40:17) in תורַת ה׳ , the teaching of Jahve, which is become Israel’s νόμος, rule of life; in this he meditates profoundly by day and night
The green foliage is an emblem of faith, which converts the water of life of the divine word into sap and strength, and the fruit, an emblem of works, which gradually ripen and scatter their blessings around; a tree that has lost its leaves, does not bring its fruit to maturity.
will be condemned by God when they are judged. --- will not stand in judgement... Not will not go to judgement.
The Lord guides and protects the righteous.
The chief thing in life is the counsel—plan, ruling principles, and maxims—by which it is guided. E.g. one man’s aim in life is “to die rich;” another’s motto, “Short life and merry;” another’s, “To me to live is Christ.”
Still, they knew that God heard and answered, not according to their thoughts, but according to his loving-kindness; hence they poured out their whole souls to God, whether in gladness or sadness. And so may we; and God will do exceeding abundantly for us above all that we ask or think.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Love
Love... I have never seen a word more confused or misused.
When Paul speaks about love, his starting point is the love of God (Rom 5:8; 8:37; 9:13; 2 Cor 9:7; 13:11, 13; 1 Thess 1:4) which he has shown in Christ (Romaniuk). God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). “God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (v. 8). The hymnic passage in Rom 8:31–39 (see G. Schille, ZNW 59 [1968] 230–44; P. Fiedler, ZNW 68 [1977] 23–34), which begins with the question, “If God is for us, who is against us?” concludes with the assurance that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The ἀγαπήσας (v. 37) is Christ, who has shown his love (v. 35) on the cross (2 Cor 5:14f.) and reigns as the Exalted One. He “loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20).
When Paul speaks about love, his starting point is the love of God (Rom 5:8; 8:37; 9:13; 2 Cor 9:7; 13:11, 13; 1 Thess 1:4) which he has shown in Christ (Romaniuk). God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). “God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (v. 8). The hymnic passage in Rom 8:31–39 (see G. Schille, ZNW 59 [1968] 230–44; P. Fiedler, ZNW 68 [1977] 23–34), which begins with the question, “If God is for us, who is against us?” concludes with the assurance that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The ἀγαπήσας (v. 37) is Christ, who has shown his love (v. 35) on the cross (2 Cor 5:14f.) and reigns as the Exalted One. He “loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20).
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mary's Joy
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
megalunei ‘magnifies’.
47 and my spirit (emotional centre) rejoices in God my Savior,
agalliaō ‘to be overjoyed’, ‘to exult’, always has a religious connotation: a joy or rejoicing due to the Holy Spirit or brought forth by an act of God (as here).
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
The term mercy often implies not only a sympathetic consciousness of another’s situation but also a readiness and/or activity to help him in distress.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
brachiōn (‡) ‘arm’, often as a symbol of God’s active power,
proud because of honoured position’ (used here), ‘proud because of strength’, ‘proud because of intelligence’
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
land exalted those of humble estate;
‘he has torn rulers from (their) thrones’
‘the great ones, he has made them down, those who are not great, he has made them up’
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
megalunei ‘magnifies’.
47 and my spirit (emotional centre) rejoices in God my Savior,
agalliaō ‘to be overjoyed’, ‘to exult’, always has a religious connotation: a joy or rejoicing due to the Holy Spirit or brought forth by an act of God (as here).
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
The term mercy often implies not only a sympathetic consciousness of another’s situation but also a readiness and/or activity to help him in distress.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
brachiōn (‡) ‘arm’, often as a symbol of God’s active power,
proud because of honoured position’ (used here), ‘proud because of strength’, ‘proud because of intelligence’
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
land exalted those of humble estate;
‘he has torn rulers from (their) thrones’
‘the great ones, he has made them down, those who are not great, he has made them up’
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Hannah's Joy
Hannah’s Prayer
Hannah’s prayer becomes the model for Mary’s song of praise in Luke 1.46–55. The themes of the reversal of human fortunes and God’s exaltation of the lowly are prominent here. Another possible heading that is slightly more specific is “Hannah thanks the Lord”
In contrast to the prayer that came from her bitterness (1:10), Hannah prayed from joy in these verses. The prominent idea in Hannah’s prayer is that the Lord is a righteous judge. He had brought down the proud (Peninnah) and exalted the humble (Hannah). The prayer has four sections: 1) Hannah prays to the Lord for His salvation (vv. 1, 2); 2) Hannah warned the proud of the Lord’s humbling (vv. 3–8d); 3) Hannah affirmed the Lord’s faithful care for His saints (vv. 8e–9b); 4) Hannah petitioned the Lord to judge the world and to prosper His anointed king (vv. 10d-e). This prayer has a number of striking verbal similarities with David’s song of 2 Sam. 22:2–51: “horn” (2:1; 22:3), “rock” (2:2; 22:2, 3), salvation/deliverance (2:1, 2; 22:2, 3), grave/Sheol (2:6; 22:6), “thunder” (2:10; 22:14), “king” (2:10; 22:51), and “anointed” (2:10; 22:51).
And Hannah prayed and said,
My heart exults in the Lord;
my strength (horn KJV) is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
2:1. Hannah, with clear reference to her rival Peninnah, spoke of her joy in the Lord who had helped her achieve satisfaction at last. Horns, used by animals for defense and attack, symbolized strength. Thus Hannah spoke of her horn in describing the strength that had come to her because God had answered her prayer.
Mine horn is exalted in the Lord—Allusion is here made to a peculiarity in the dress of Eastern women about Lebanon, which seems to have obtained anciently among the Israelite women, that of wearing a tin or silver horn on the forehead, on which their veil is suspended. Wives, who have no children, wear it projecting in an oblique direction, while those who become mothers forthwith raise it a few inches higher, inclining towards the perpendicular, and by this slight but observable change in their headdress, make known, wherever they go, the maternal character which they now bear.
The words heart, strength (literally “horn”) and mouth are figures of speech where these parts of Hannah represent the whole person. The heart is the seat of the emotion of joy expressed by the mouth. The “horn” represents her vitality or strength.
My mouth derides my enemies is literally “my mouth is open wide over my enemies.” The image of a mouth open wide is an expression of contempt (see Psa 35.21; Isa 57.4). The use of the body part (mouth) performing the action as the subject of the sentence is quite normal in Hebrew, but it may be awkward if translated literally into other languages. As in my heart above, it is often much more natural to use the first person singular pronoun instead. Various expressions capture the meaning in English. “I gloat over my enemies” “I can laugh at my enemies”.
The image of a mouth wide open may also express the idea of “swallowing up” (see Psa 69.15; Isa 5.14).
The tradition of the Jews is that when Hannah bore one child Peninnah buried two.
2 “There is none holy like the Lord;
there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
God is said to be a “holy God” in 6.20. The translation of the word holy is particularly difficult in some languages. It is used throughout the Old Testament to qualify more than fifty different nouns. In most cases the primary component of meaning is “set apart from ordinary use” or “dedicated to God.” The idea of moral purity is a secondary component in some contexts. When God is said to be holy, the focus is on the separateness, the absolute difference, and the remoteness of God from all that is part of normal human experience (see Psa 113.4–6).
3 Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
proudly … arrogance. The majestic and powerful God humbles all those who vaunt themselves against Him. The idea of God’s humbling of the very proud is shown throughout 1, 2 Samuel, toward Peninnah, Eli’s sons, the Philistines, Goliath, Saul, Nabal, Absalom, Shimei, Sheba, and even David.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
“Bows of the heroes” stands for heroes carrying bows. For this reason the verb is to be taken in the sense of confounded, not broken, especially as, apart from Isa. 51:56, חָתַת is not used to denote the breaking of outward things, but the breaking of men.
The feeble. the word used here is related to “stumbling” (mft), “faltering” (njps), or “tottering” (nab, njb). cev translates “everyone who stumbles.” But the word also has connotations of weakness, which causes people to stumble.
Seven contrasts are found in these 4 verses: 1) mighty and weak; 2) full and hungry; 3) barren and fertile; 4) dead and alive; 5) sick and well; 6) poor and rich; and 7) humbled and exalted.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
...has borne seven. This is not a personal testimony since Hannah bore only 6 children (2:21). “Seven” here is a general reference to women whom God blesses.
6 The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
Brings low is the opposite of exalts. The vocabulary used here is very similar to certain New Testament passages (Matt 23.12; Luke 14.11). But the difference is that here it is stated clearly that it is the Lord who does both the humbling and the exalting.
The verb exalts may be translated in some languages as “causes to be respected” or “causes people to honor.”
8 He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.
The pillars of the earth. the Israelites, like other people in the ancient world, believed that the earth was flat and was supported by pillars (see 2 Sam 22.16; Job 9.6; Psa 75.3). Since the words pillars and earth are connected by the preposition “of” in English, the relationship between the two words may be ambiguous. In view of the beliefs of the people of the Old Testament, it is reasonable to translate “The Lord is the owner of the foundations on which the world sits” or, as cev has translated the last two lines together, “You set the world on foundations and they belong to you.” Regarding the words on them he has set the world, compare also Psa 24.1–2.
9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
He will guard the feet. the future tense in rsv may be misleading if translated literally. This is not something that Yahweh will do at some future time. Rather it is his habitual behavior. njb rightly translates “He safeguards the steps of his faithful.” The word feet is here an example of a figure of speech called synecdoche, in which a part is substituted for the whole.
He will keep the feet of his saints. There are a people in the world that are God’s saints, his select and sanctified ones; and he will keep their feet, that is, all that belongs to them shall be under his protection, down to their very feet, the lowest part of the body. If he will keep their feet, much more their head and hearts. Or he will keep their feet, that is, he will secure the ground they stand on, and establish their goings; he will set a guard of grace upon their affections and actions, that their feet may neither wander out of the way nor stumble in the way. When their feet are ready to slip (Ps. 73:2) his mercy holdeth them up (Ps. 94:18) and keepeth them from falling, Jude 24. While we keep God’s ways he will keep our feet. See Ps. 37:23, 24.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the power of his anointed.”
10. the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth … exalt the horn of his anointed—This is the first place in Scripture where the word “anointed,” or Messiah, occurs; and as there was no king in Israel at the time, it seems the best interpretation to refer it to Christ. There is, indeed, a remarkable resemblance between the song of Hannah and that of Mary (Lu 1:46).
Praise is our rent, our tribute. We are unjust if we do not pay it. The mercy she had received was an answer to prayer, and therefore she thought herself especially obliged to give thanks for it. What we win by prayer we may wear with comfort, and must wear with praise.
Hannah’s prayer becomes the model for Mary’s song of praise in Luke 1.46–55. The themes of the reversal of human fortunes and God’s exaltation of the lowly are prominent here. Another possible heading that is slightly more specific is “Hannah thanks the Lord”
In contrast to the prayer that came from her bitterness (1:10), Hannah prayed from joy in these verses. The prominent idea in Hannah’s prayer is that the Lord is a righteous judge. He had brought down the proud (Peninnah) and exalted the humble (Hannah). The prayer has four sections: 1) Hannah prays to the Lord for His salvation (vv. 1, 2); 2) Hannah warned the proud of the Lord’s humbling (vv. 3–8d); 3) Hannah affirmed the Lord’s faithful care for His saints (vv. 8e–9b); 4) Hannah petitioned the Lord to judge the world and to prosper His anointed king (vv. 10d-e). This prayer has a number of striking verbal similarities with David’s song of 2 Sam. 22:2–51: “horn” (2:1; 22:3), “rock” (2:2; 22:2, 3), salvation/deliverance (2:1, 2; 22:2, 3), grave/Sheol (2:6; 22:6), “thunder” (2:10; 22:14), “king” (2:10; 22:51), and “anointed” (2:10; 22:51).
And Hannah prayed and said,
My heart exults in the Lord;
my strength (horn KJV) is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
2:1. Hannah, with clear reference to her rival Peninnah, spoke of her joy in the Lord who had helped her achieve satisfaction at last. Horns, used by animals for defense and attack, symbolized strength. Thus Hannah spoke of her horn in describing the strength that had come to her because God had answered her prayer.
Mine horn is exalted in the Lord—Allusion is here made to a peculiarity in the dress of Eastern women about Lebanon, which seems to have obtained anciently among the Israelite women, that of wearing a tin or silver horn on the forehead, on which their veil is suspended. Wives, who have no children, wear it projecting in an oblique direction, while those who become mothers forthwith raise it a few inches higher, inclining towards the perpendicular, and by this slight but observable change in their headdress, make known, wherever they go, the maternal character which they now bear.
The words heart, strength (literally “horn”) and mouth are figures of speech where these parts of Hannah represent the whole person. The heart is the seat of the emotion of joy expressed by the mouth. The “horn” represents her vitality or strength.
My mouth derides my enemies is literally “my mouth is open wide over my enemies.” The image of a mouth open wide is an expression of contempt (see Psa 35.21; Isa 57.4). The use of the body part (mouth) performing the action as the subject of the sentence is quite normal in Hebrew, but it may be awkward if translated literally into other languages. As in my heart above, it is often much more natural to use the first person singular pronoun instead. Various expressions capture the meaning in English. “I gloat over my enemies” “I can laugh at my enemies”.
The image of a mouth wide open may also express the idea of “swallowing up” (see Psa 69.15; Isa 5.14).
The tradition of the Jews is that when Hannah bore one child Peninnah buried two.
2 “There is none holy like the Lord;
there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
God is said to be a “holy God” in 6.20. The translation of the word holy is particularly difficult in some languages. It is used throughout the Old Testament to qualify more than fifty different nouns. In most cases the primary component of meaning is “set apart from ordinary use” or “dedicated to God.” The idea of moral purity is a secondary component in some contexts. When God is said to be holy, the focus is on the separateness, the absolute difference, and the remoteness of God from all that is part of normal human experience (see Psa 113.4–6).
3 Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
proudly … arrogance. The majestic and powerful God humbles all those who vaunt themselves against Him. The idea of God’s humbling of the very proud is shown throughout 1, 2 Samuel, toward Peninnah, Eli’s sons, the Philistines, Goliath, Saul, Nabal, Absalom, Shimei, Sheba, and even David.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
“Bows of the heroes” stands for heroes carrying bows. For this reason the verb is to be taken in the sense of confounded, not broken, especially as, apart from Isa. 51:56, חָתַת is not used to denote the breaking of outward things, but the breaking of men.
The feeble. the word used here is related to “stumbling” (mft), “faltering” (njps), or “tottering” (nab, njb). cev translates “everyone who stumbles.” But the word also has connotations of weakness, which causes people to stumble.
Seven contrasts are found in these 4 verses: 1) mighty and weak; 2) full and hungry; 3) barren and fertile; 4) dead and alive; 5) sick and well; 6) poor and rich; and 7) humbled and exalted.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
...has borne seven. This is not a personal testimony since Hannah bore only 6 children (2:21). “Seven” here is a general reference to women whom God blesses.
6 The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
Brings low is the opposite of exalts. The vocabulary used here is very similar to certain New Testament passages (Matt 23.12; Luke 14.11). But the difference is that here it is stated clearly that it is the Lord who does both the humbling and the exalting.
The verb exalts may be translated in some languages as “causes to be respected” or “causes people to honor.”
8 He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.
The pillars of the earth. the Israelites, like other people in the ancient world, believed that the earth was flat and was supported by pillars (see 2 Sam 22.16; Job 9.6; Psa 75.3). Since the words pillars and earth are connected by the preposition “of” in English, the relationship between the two words may be ambiguous. In view of the beliefs of the people of the Old Testament, it is reasonable to translate “The Lord is the owner of the foundations on which the world sits” or, as cev has translated the last two lines together, “You set the world on foundations and they belong to you.” Regarding the words on them he has set the world, compare also Psa 24.1–2.
9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
He will guard the feet. the future tense in rsv may be misleading if translated literally. This is not something that Yahweh will do at some future time. Rather it is his habitual behavior. njb rightly translates “He safeguards the steps of his faithful.” The word feet is here an example of a figure of speech called synecdoche, in which a part is substituted for the whole.
He will keep the feet of his saints. There are a people in the world that are God’s saints, his select and sanctified ones; and he will keep their feet, that is, all that belongs to them shall be under his protection, down to their very feet, the lowest part of the body. If he will keep their feet, much more their head and hearts. Or he will keep their feet, that is, he will secure the ground they stand on, and establish their goings; he will set a guard of grace upon their affections and actions, that their feet may neither wander out of the way nor stumble in the way. When their feet are ready to slip (Ps. 73:2) his mercy holdeth them up (Ps. 94:18) and keepeth them from falling, Jude 24. While we keep God’s ways he will keep our feet. See Ps. 37:23, 24.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the power of his anointed.”
10. the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth … exalt the horn of his anointed—This is the first place in Scripture where the word “anointed,” or Messiah, occurs; and as there was no king in Israel at the time, it seems the best interpretation to refer it to Christ. There is, indeed, a remarkable resemblance between the song of Hannah and that of Mary (Lu 1:46).
Praise is our rent, our tribute. We are unjust if we do not pay it. The mercy she had received was an answer to prayer, and therefore she thought herself especially obliged to give thanks for it. What we win by prayer we may wear with comfort, and must wear with praise.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Finding Joy
Psalm 105:3-4
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
4 Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
4 Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Joy In God
Depression, Sadness, Intense Longing, Dispair
Psalm 42:1 As the deer 2pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”
4 When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
His sadness is coming from his circumstances.
Then comes honest self interrogation...
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.
This is an important point in the Psalm. He says "Hold it right there"!
Then we are back in depression... One breaker hits after another... Blow on blow and I can't escape...
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And kin the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
He knows the answer... Find Joy in your God not in your circumstances...
He knows this and it cycles and cycles. He can not transfer his joy to His God and not his circumstance.
Joy is a gift from the Holy Spirit. A gift from God through Jesus Christ. Not related to circumstances, but focused on eternal glory.
Joy of recollection - where is your joy focused? Is it selfless? Is it focused on prayer for others? That their needs may be met.
Joy of intercession.
Joy of participation (fellowship) thrilled with the privilege of being in God's church.
Joy of anticipation. being excited over the future instead of depressed in the present.
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure (absolutely convinced) of this, that He who began (salvation) a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Salvation is a work of God.
Psalm 42:1 As the deer 2pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”
4 When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
His sadness is coming from his circumstances.
Then comes honest self interrogation...
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.
This is an important point in the Psalm. He says "Hold it right there"!
Then we are back in depression... One breaker hits after another... Blow on blow and I can't escape...
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And kin the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
He knows the answer... Find Joy in your God not in your circumstances...
He knows this and it cycles and cycles. He can not transfer his joy to His God and not his circumstance.
Joy is a gift from the Holy Spirit. A gift from God through Jesus Christ. Not related to circumstances, but focused on eternal glory.
Joy of recollection - where is your joy focused? Is it selfless? Is it focused on prayer for others? That their needs may be met.
Joy of intercession.
Joy of participation (fellowship) thrilled with the privilege of being in God's church.
Joy of anticipation. being excited over the future instead of depressed in the present.
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure (absolutely convinced) of this, that He who began (salvation) a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Salvation is a work of God.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
James 1:2-4
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
I will consider it all joy whenever I fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of my faith produces endurance. And I will let endurance finish its work, so that I may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. If I lack wisdom, may I ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to me. (James 1:2–5)
The Greek verb hēgeomai (consider) is an imperative because joy is not the natural human response to trouble. Christians are under divine command not simply to be somewhat joyful in their trials but to look upon them with all joy. That phrase is variously interpreted by commentators as meaning pure joy, unmixed joy, complete and total joy, or sheer joy. From the context, it seems that all of those meanings are fitting. James is speaking of a unique fullness of joy that the Lord graciously provides His children when they willingly and uncomplainingly endure troubles while trusting in Him—regardless of the cause, type, or severity of the distress. He will always use them for our benefit and for His own glory. It is not because of some sort of religious masochism, but rather a sincere trust in the promise and goodness of our Lord, that we can look on trials as a welcome friend, knowing with Joseph that what may have been meant for evil against us, God means for good (Gen. 50:20; cf. Rom. 8:28).
In his commentary on James, Warren Wiersbe writes, “Our values determine our evaluations. If we value comfort more than character, then trials will upset us. If we value the material and physical more than the spiritual, we will not be able to ‘count it all joy!’ If we live only for the present and forget the future, the trials will make us bitter, not better” (The Bible Exposition Commentary [Wheaton, Ill.: Victor, 1989], 2:338).
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
I will consider it all joy whenever I fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of my faith produces endurance. And I will let endurance finish its work, so that I may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. If I lack wisdom, may I ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to me. (James 1:2–5)
The Greek verb hēgeomai (consider) is an imperative because joy is not the natural human response to trouble. Christians are under divine command not simply to be somewhat joyful in their trials but to look upon them with all joy. That phrase is variously interpreted by commentators as meaning pure joy, unmixed joy, complete and total joy, or sheer joy. From the context, it seems that all of those meanings are fitting. James is speaking of a unique fullness of joy that the Lord graciously provides His children when they willingly and uncomplainingly endure troubles while trusting in Him—regardless of the cause, type, or severity of the distress. He will always use them for our benefit and for His own glory. It is not because of some sort of religious masochism, but rather a sincere trust in the promise and goodness of our Lord, that we can look on trials as a welcome friend, knowing with Joseph that what may have been meant for evil against us, God means for good (Gen. 50:20; cf. Rom. 8:28).
In his commentary on James, Warren Wiersbe writes, “Our values determine our evaluations. If we value comfort more than character, then trials will upset us. If we value the material and physical more than the spiritual, we will not be able to ‘count it all joy!’ If we live only for the present and forget the future, the trials will make us bitter, not better” (The Bible Exposition Commentary [Wheaton, Ill.: Victor, 1989], 2:338).
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Paul experienced an inexpressible and irrepressible joy--an abiding feeling of peace, calm, tranquility, contentment, delight, and satisfaction that flows from within. It is the expression of the presence of God imprinted on the soul and the product of a conscience void of offense toward God.
A key to joy in the Christian life is to be able to recall the goodness of people--to look past imperfections to capture broader and sweeter realities. A heart dominated by the joy of the Holy Spirit remembers the sweet things in life without dwelling on the distressing things. It savors thoughts of another's goodness, kindness, love, compassion, gentleness, sacrifice, and care. It forgives the rest.
A heart where the Spirit of God is not in control tends to focus on everyone's unkindnesses, ingratitude, faults. Such a heart must learn to walk in the Spirit. Bitterness, unforgiveness, and a constant dwelling on evil are the works of the flesh. Paul's joy was expressed in pleasant memories, which is a work of the Spirit in the hearts of believers.
A key to joy in the Christian life is to be able to recall the goodness of people--to look past imperfections to capture broader and sweeter realities. A heart dominated by the joy of the Holy Spirit remembers the sweet things in life without dwelling on the distressing things. It savors thoughts of another's goodness, kindness, love, compassion, gentleness, sacrifice, and care. It forgives the rest.
A heart where the Spirit of God is not in control tends to focus on everyone's unkindnesses, ingratitude, faults. Such a heart must learn to walk in the Spirit. Bitterness, unforgiveness, and a constant dwelling on evil are the works of the flesh. Paul's joy was expressed in pleasant memories, which is a work of the Spirit in the hearts of believers.
MacArthur On Joy
Men talk about happiness and perhaps we ought to define happiness, at least in a very simple way, happiness is an attitude of satisfaction or delight based upon some present circumstance. Happiness is related to happenings. Happiness is related to happenstance. Happiness is related to hap which is a word that basically conveys the idea of chance. Happiness is that which you really can't plan and program, it may happen, it may not happen and it seems so elusive. But it is related to the delight or the satisfaction that is tied to an occasional happening, a chance circumstance. And that's the best that men can do.
On the other hand, when we talk about joy we're not talking about something that's related to chance at all. We're not talking about something that's related to circumstances at all. We're talking about a deep down confidence that all is well, no matter what the circumstance, no matter what the difficulty, no matter what the problem. And that's very different from happiness. Joy, to be understood in a biblical sense, must be understood to be related to God. It must be understood to be that which becomes yours in Christ. It must be understood to be a permanent possession of every believer, not some whimsical delight that comes and goes as chance may offer it opportunity. We're talking about joy, much much different than happiness.
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