The Annunciation

Luke 1:26-38

Today I am departing from my usual practice of looking at a psalm early in the week.  Instead, since this Wednesday is March 25th, and that date is the Feast of the Annunciation, I thought we would look at the Scripture associated with that holy day.  The Annunciation is a very important event in the salvation of mankind, so let’s take a closer look at this.

The word “annunciation” comes from the Latin word “annunciatio”, which means announcing or announcement.  This is what occurred when the angel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary and announced to her that she had found favor with God, and would bear His Son.  Gabriel is one of the three archangels, and was frequently the one who brought important messages from God to mankind.  His presence signals a major moment in redemptive history.  He was sent by God to the Virgin Mary who resided in Nazareth (vs. 26-27).  Mary was a young woman who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David.

The angel Gabriel greeted Mary with the statement that she was highly favored by the Lord, and that she was blessed among women (vs. 28-29).  She was a recipient of God’s grace, and chosen for a unique role.  Mary was troubled by this statement.  She was not afraid, but was wondering what this type of greeting was.

Gabriel proceeded to tell Mary that she would conceive and bear a Son, and that this Child would be the Son of God.  He continued by describing His eternal throne and reign (vs. 30-33).  The archangel gave five truths about this Child that Mary would bear.  First was that His Name would be Jesus, which means God saves.  This identified His mission, that He is the Savior.  Next was that He would be great, not just great among men, but is inherently great.  This child would be the Son of the Highest, a clear declaration of His deity.  He is the eternal King who will be given the throne of His father David (Isaiah 9:6-7).  This is a literal, future, and earthly kingdom.  Finally, His reign is eternal.  It is Davidic, Messianic, and eternal.

Mary then asked the angel a question, as to how this would happen since she was a virgin (vs. 34).  Unlike Zachariah (Luke 1:18-20), Mary did not doubt God’s words to her.  She just asked how she would conceive since she was a virgin.  Zachariah didn’t believe God could do it.  Mary trusted that He could, but wondered if there was something she should do.  She asked in faith, seeking understanding.

Gabriel then explained this miracle (vs. 35-37).  This act would be creative, not sexual.  The same God who created life in Genesis 1 would now create life in Mary’s womb.  Jesus would be fully God, fully man, and without sin.  The Virgin Birth is essential because it avoids Adam’s sin nature (Romans 5:12).  The Savior needed to be sinless in order to be the sacrifice for sin.  The Virgin Birth also fulfilled prophecy (Isaiah 7:14), and it established His divine sonship.

Those who cast doubt on the truth of God’s Word, the Bible, will often doubt the Virgin Birth, and the fact that Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus.  However, if Mary was not a virgin, then she would have been a liar about what she said happened.  She would have been unfaithful to Joseph.  Then Jesus would have been illegitimate with no divine nature.  He would have been a crazy man who claimed to be the Son of God.  We cannot accept Jesus without believing in the Virgin Birth.  Apart from the Virgin Birth, Jesus would have been just another man, and unworthy of anyone’s faith.

The angel Gabriel gave Mary a little boost for her faith, by telling her about Elizabeth (vs 36-37).  This was a confirmation, not because she doubted, but because it would strengthen her faith.  By visiting her relative she could strengthen her faith, and also have a safe place to stay till her parents and Joseph would accept her news.

Mary then accepted this news and gave her consent (vs. 38).  By doing so she forever changed her life.  Being found pregnant before marriage was much, much more serious at this time than it is today.  Betrothals or engagements were as binding as marriage, and any unfaithfulness could bring the penalty of being stoned.  When Mary accepted this from God, she knew the cost, but trusted God anyway.  She accepted the shame, the misunderstanding, the social rejection.  She also accepted the weight of raising the Messiah.  Mary yielded herself to God completely, and trusted Him.  She yielded to God’s will without conditions and trusted His Word above her own understanding.

As we close, we can look at the Blessed Virgin Mary as one of the greatest examples and models of faith and trust in God.  Can we respond to God’s Word with her spirit of submission?  “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”  That is the heart posture of a mature believer.  The Blessed Virgin Mary’s humility is a model for all who serve the Lord.  Also, do we trust God’s power when His promises seem impossible?  God delights to work where human ability ends. 

The Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:1-14

A valley filled with hundreds of bones.  Seeing that you might think that you are watching some horror movie.  And then these bones rise up and start attaching themselves together, making a skeleton.  Now that is scary!  But that’s not all.  Then muscles, and body organs, and then skin and hair start to come on them. However, this multitude of bodies are still dead. Although they are standing there, there is no life in them.  Again, this sounds like something from a very scary movie, something to give one nightmares.  Instead, this is something that the Lord showed the prophet Ezekiel, and it had a very important meaning.  Let’s look at today’s Old Testament Scripture and see what this is all about.

The exact dates of Ezekiel’s birth and death are not known, though it is believed that he was born around 623 BC and died sometime shortly after 571 BC.  He was a major prophet during the years of the Babylonian captivity.  The Lord gave Ezekiel many visions which are recorded in his book of prophecy in the Bible, and today we will look at when He brought the prophet to the valley of dry bones, and what this signifies.

At this point in history, the Jewish people had gone into exile in Babylon, their capital city Jerusalem had fallen, and their Temple had been destroyed.  The people felt discouraged, even hopeless.  In the midst of this, the Lord brought them a message, not only for encouragement, but also to show at a future day there will be a national restoration.  Just as God will resurrect the dry bones He showed Ezekiel into a living army, one day He will restore Israel, both physically and spiritually.

As our Scripture passage opens, the Lord brought Ezekiel to a valley filled with very dry bones (vs. 1-2).  The fact that these bones were “very dry” emphasizes that they have been dead for a long time.  That is a picture of hopelessness.  There is absolutely no hope of life in these bones.  They are way past any human help.  That, though, is just the type of condition that the Lord often likes to work with, a humanly impossible situation where His power will be unmistakable.

God asked Ezekiel one question to test his faith - can these bones live? (vs. 3).  Ezekiel knew that if the Lord wanted, He could do anything, so Ezekiel responded that He (God) knows.  Ezekiel didn’t know how God would work, but he knew who God was, that He could do anything He desired.  The Lord then told Ezekiel to preach to these bones, to tell them His Word.  He promised that as the prophet did so, breath would come into them, along with muscles, flesh, and skin (vs. 4-6).  He would bring life to these bones.  The Word of God is the instrument through which God brings life, even to the dead.

Ezekiel obeyed the Lord and spoke His Word to the bones (vs. 7-8).  As he prophesied, the bones started to rattle.  Then they moved together, assembling themselves together into a skeleton.  Muscle, body organs, and skin came upon these bones.  However there was no breath in these bodies.  They were not alive.

This had a spiritual meaning, that the people of Israel would be regathered together.  This regathering would first be a physical regathering, but they would not be restored spiritually.  The people would return to their land after about seventy years of captivity, however most of the people only gave lip-service to God. They did not give Him their heart.  Then after 70 AD, following the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, the Jewish people were scattered all over the world.  In 1948 Israel became a nation again, but as most of the Jewish people have never accepted Jesus as their Messiah, there is no spiritual life in them.  They are like the skeleton with skin on it, but no breath of life within.

The Lord proceeded to tell the prophet Ezekiel to speak His Word again, telling breath to come into these bodies, which the prophet did (vs. 9-10).  The Spirit of the Lord came into the bodies, bringing spiritual life to them.  Spiritual life is not produced by human effort, but by the sovereign work of the Spirit of God.  Those bones are the people of Israel (vs. 11).  God proceeded to give a promise to His people.  There would be a physical restoration to the land, and also there would be a spiritual regeneration (vs. 12-14).  Though they have been physically restored to the land God promised Abraham, there has been no spiritual life.  They are like the standing, but dead bodies.  Jesus brought the New Covenant, and when He returns they will see Him whom they have pierced, leading to national mourning and repentance, where they will be spiritually reborn (Zechariah 12:10).

This message from Ezekiel is a picture of national resurrection, both physically and spiritually.  Life came when Ezekiel preached.  God’s Word, the Bible, is His chosen instrument of revival.  It is His Word that brings us spiritual life, and will bring Israel spiritual life.  Israel’s future spiritual restoration is literal.  God’s covenants with Israel, and with us, are unconditional.  No program, effort, or emotion can produce spiritual life.  Only the Holy Spirit can.  There is no situation, person, or nation who is beyond God’s power to restore.  Ezekiel preached to bones.  We are told to bring God’s Word to spiritually dead hearts, and God gives spiritual life.  God has promised to keep His covenant with Israel, and He will also keep all of His promises to us.

I Was Blind, But Now I See

John 9:1-41

Today’s Scripture gives the account of a significant miracle of Jesus, one only recorded in the Gospel of John.  With most of the miracle healings that Jesus performed, the people were healed and went on their way, perhaps giving God thanks, perhaps not.  Their lives were changed, but we hear nothing more about them.  However, with this healing we learn much more.  We learn some background information, and we especially hear about how the religious authorities reacted, and the lesson that Jesus desired to teach through this event. This was like a living parable, where Jesus wanted us to learn some important truths.  Let’s take a look.

One day Jesus and His disciples encountered a man who was known to have been born blind.  Many people in that day believed that suffering and illness was directly tied to a specific sin, and the disciples wanted to know who had sinned in this case, since he was born blind (vs. 1-3).  Jesus let them, and us, know that some suffering exists so that God’s works may be displayed.  The man’s blindness was not a result of sin, and it was not meaningless.  It had a divine purpose, which would shortly be evident.  Jesus then made a bit of clay and put it on the man’s eyes, and told him to go to the pool and wash.  He did so, and returned with his blindness healed (vs. 6-7).  The Light of the world gave sight to the blind, bringing light into his life.

This miracle was undeniable.  This was a man who was born blind, and even today with modern surgery it is extremely rare for sight to be given to someone born blind.  He was changed so dramatically that people hardly recognized him (vs. 8-12).  This gives us a picture of salvation - when Jesus spiritually opens a person’s eyes, and they accept Him as Savior, the transformation is unmistakable.

As our Scripture continues, we see that the Pharisees began to get involved.  They had heard about this miracle, and wanted to question everyone, the man healed, his parents, and any who had witnessed the healing (vs. 13-34).  They especially fixated on the fact that this healing was done on the Sabbath, just as they had done on numerous other occasions.  They felt that no one who did anything on the Sabbath could possibly be a man of God.  However the man who was healed, not only had his physical vision healed, but was gaining spiritual vision, as well.  When first interrogated by the Pharisees he called Jesus a prophet (vs. 17).   They next interrogated the man’s parents, questioning whether he was actually born blind and how this was done.  The Pharisees struck fear into everyone, including these parents, because of their opposition to Jesus (vs. 18-23).

The Pharisees then turned back to the man healed, and told him that Jesus must be a sinner because He healed on the Sabbath.  This man used logic and common sense with the Pharisees.  How could a “sinner” heal anyone, much less a man born blind?  As they argued and threatened him, he gave a simple but powerful testimony: “One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.”  After exposing the Pharisees illogic with courage, they cast this man out of the synagogue.  That was more than just forbidding him to attend worship services, it was a very strict form of shunning, banning anyone from employing him or socializing with him.  He would be an outcast in the neighborhood.  This confirmed the Pharisees own spiritual blindness.

After hearing what happened, Jesus sought the man out, bringing him to the point of personal faith (vs. 35-38).  This second encounter of Jesus with this man is the climax of the whole event.  First Jesus brought him physical sight, now He brought him spiritual sight and saving faith, resulting in the man worshiping Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  The Pharisees had rejected Jesus, but this humble man received Him.  Loyalty to Jesus may cost us earthly acceptance, but He never abandons His own.

Our Scripture concludes with Jesus pronouncing judgment (vs. 39-41).  He explains the spiritual meaning of this miracle - those who admit their blindness receive sight, while those who claim that they see remain blind.  We are born spiritually blind, and only Jesus can give us spiritual sight.  This is the heart of the Gospel - Jesus Christ saves the humble but resists the proud.  We are never told this man’s name or anything else of what happened to him, and it is quite possible that he spent the rest of his life telling people what Jesus did for him, and that He was the Messiah.

In closing, we need to trust God’s purposes in any suffering or hardship we may face.  Our trials may be the stage on which God will display His glory, as He did with this man.  Like this man, we need to boldly testify of Jesus Christ.  We don’t need a theological degree to say that we know that Jesus changed us.  Finally, just as this man did, we must stand firm, even when rejected by others. If following Christ costs you relationships or acceptance, He Himself will draw near.

Walk as Children of Light

Ephesians 5:8-14

Do you prefer to be in the light or in the dark?  I think that most people, most of the time, would prefer to be in the light.  It’s true that we like a darkened room to sleep in, and like darkness for stargazing, but generally we prefer to be in the light.  That is why one of the first things I do every morning is open up the window shades to let the light in.  How about in our spiritual lives?  Do you want to be in spiritual light or prefer to remain in spiritual darkness?  In our Scripture today, St. Paul instructs believers that as children of the light we need to be walking in the light.  Let’s take a look to see what that entails.

The Book of Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Ephesus.  In this passage of Scripture he contrasts between the Christian’s new life in Christ and the old life of sin, highlighting in particular the believer’s identity as light in the Lord, and our responsibility to live in a way that exposes the darkness of sin.

As Paul begins this portion of his epistle, which was written to believers, he did not say that we were currently in darkness, but that we were darkness before we were saved (vs. 8).  The unbeliever’s very nature is sinful (Romans 5:12).  Our union with Jesus makes us light in the Lord.  Paul instructs us to walk as children of light because that is what we are.  Our lifestyle ought to reflect our new nature.

The Bible often speaks about producing fruit for the Lord.  Fruit is the outward evidence of our inward spiritual life.  Paul speaks here of three qualities or “fruit” that a Christian walking in the light should exhibit (vs. 9).  Goodness is showing moral excellence, generosity, and Christlike kindness.  Living a righteous life is conforming our life to God’s standards, and showing the fruit of truth is being honest, living with integrity, and having doctrinal purity.  Light will produce visible fruit.  If there is no fruit, there is reason to question whether one actually has a saving relationship with Jesus, and the light is actually present.

As a child of God, our aim in life should not be seeking what is acceptable to ourselves, but instead seeking what is acceptable to the Lord Jesus (vs. 10).  This requires our getting into the Scriptures to know what the will of God is (Romans 12:2).  When we approach any decision, we should ask whether it pleases the Lord Jesus.  What the world thinks about sinful behavior should not sway us.  All that matters is what God thinks, and He has made His views very clear in the Bible.  If we trivialize our sins, it shows that we don’t understand how holy and just God is.

Next we come to a verse that some people don’t really care for.  In verse 11 the Lord instructs His children to have no fellowship with those in darkness.  “No fellowship” means no participation, no partnership, and no approval.  Those who have not accepted Jesus as Savior are unfruitful, they produce nothing of eternal value.  We must expose and confront the sin with truth and holiness.  This separation from sin is not optional.  God has commanded this.  Silence in the face of sin is not being neutral as some might prefer to do, instead it is compromising with sin.

Those who live in darkness, prefer it that way, as sin thrives in secrecy and darkness (vs. 12).  Some sins are so vile that believers should not dwell on them or sensationalize them.  As Christians we should avoid entertainment that normalizes or glorifies sin, as within a short while we become desensitized to evil.  Things that were once expressly forbidden to be shown or said on TV are now a normal and daily occurrence.  We should keep our mind under guard.

If we are controlled by lust, hate, or other evil traits we are actually choosing to live off of the garbage of the world.  As believers, we have the Word of God and the help of the Holy Spirit.  We have no excuse for groveling in the dirt of sin when the power of God is at our disposal.  When we live holy lives, sin is exposed because light exposes what darkness hides (vs. 13).  The Gospel is a light that exposes sin and offers salvation.

Paul closes this portion of Scripture with what some have believed to be an ancient Christian hymn (vs. 14).  We are urged to get out of our spiritual lethargy and drowsiness, and live out the resurrection life.  Jesus gives us light, not just to bring salvation, but also to guide our daily life.

As we close we should remember that the fruit of living in the light versus living in the dark is clear.  Are we pursuing to bear fruit for the Lord, and desiring to find out what pleases Him?  As those who are children of light, we should have nothing to do with those whose lives are in darkness. No participation, no association, and no approval or implied endorsement.  When we are saved, it matters what we do.  It matters to God what His children do!

Secure in our Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-3

Feeling secure is a state of being that most of us would desire.  We like to know that our safety is secure, along with our health.  We would like a secure job, and to know that our relationships with family and friends is also secure.  However, in this world today very little is secure.  In many places people don’t feel safe in their neighborhoods.  All too frequently jobs aren’t secure.  Our health fails and relationships crumble.  Where can we find the security that we crave?  Our Scripture today gives us a picture of the security we can have if we look in the right place.

This week’s psalm is probably the most favorite one in the Bible, and one of the most familiar passages in all the Bible, as well.  Hundreds of full-length sermons could, and probably have been written on this Scripture, so with limited space and time, I am focusing just on the first 2 ½ verses.

Psalm 23 was written by King David.  For a number of years before he became king, he was fleeing for his life from King Saul.  His life was in danger, and he had to frequently hide out in some very rugged areas.  Later as king, there were some times when he had to flee, such as when his son Absalom attempted a coup.  These times certainly were not the picture of security.  During those years he might have thought back to the days when he watched over his father’s flock of sheep.  When the sheep have a good and caring shepherd, they don’t have to worry about food or safety. When he was a shepherd, he made sure that the sheep were in plentiful fields, and he kept them safe from predatory animals.  Wouldn’t you want someone to watch over and care for you in life?

As we read our selected verses, we see that David looked for a shepherd to care and provide for him throughout his life. Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God, was the Shepherd that David wanted and needed, one who personally guided him.  David knew that he would not be in need of anything because of the shepherding care of the Lord.  Shepherds look after their sheep in every way.

This is a very personal psalm, as the Lord isn’t just “a shepherd”, or even “our shepherd”, but He is “my shepherd” (vs. 1).  This foreshadows the Lord Jesus who calls Himself the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), as He cares for each of His children individually. Jesus tells how a shepherd not only protects the sheep under his care, but will gladly lay down their life for their safety (John 10:12-16).  Just as a shepherd knows his sheep, and the sheep know their shepherd and his voice, so Jesus knows us, His children, and we can know His Voice by studying His Word, the Bible, and through prayer.

When David claimed that with the Lord as his Shepherd, “I shall not want”, that is not a promise of living in luxury, but of having sufficiency for our needs (vs. 1).  When the Shepherd leads, the sheep lack nothing essential for God’s will in their lives.  It does not mean that we get everything that we want, but it means that the Lord can and will provide everything that we need.  Thus, no uncertainty should ever frighten us.

David continued in his psalm by stating that the Good Shepherd will make His sheep to lie down in green pastures (vs. 2).  Sheep only lie down when they are free from fear, and from friction with other sheep.  Also when they are free from pests, and are well-fed.  God gives us rest because He removes what would keep us anxious, hungry, or troubled.  His shepherd’s staff has two purposes.  First it is used as a weapon of protection against predatory animals.  The shepherd goes first, and the sheep safely follow.  Second, the crook in the staff is used to gently guide the wandering sheep back to safety.  Jesus does the same for us.  When we are closely following Him, He keeps us safe from Satan’s attacks, and when we start to go astray, the Holy Spirit will guide us back.

Still waters are places of rest, quietness, and refreshment.  We can find that when we get spiritual nourishment through the Bible, God’s Word.  We won’t find rest in the world’s entertainment, but our Shepherd will give us true soul-rest.

Finally, as this look at the opening verses of Psalm 23 comes to a close, David told us that Yahweh, our Good Shepherd, restores our soul (vs. 3a).  He restores it first and foremost when we come to Him for salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Then He continues to restore it with ongoing spiritual renewal when we are weary, wounded, or prone to wander.  He not only forgives us, but He restores us.

When we are desiring security in our life, we need look no further than to the Lord Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd.  His care is never lacking, providing for us spiritually and physically.  Are you a part of His flock today?  If so, we can lay down in His fields, content from all anxiety or worry.  If not, turn to Jesus and call upon Him as your Savior.  Then you, too, can be one of the sheep in His flock.

The God Who Sees the Heart

I Samuel 16:1-13

When I was a child I used to enjoy watching beauty contests on TV, such as the Miss America contest and the Miss Universe contest.  I loved to see those beautiful young women, especially in their evening gowns.  However, as I grew older, I came to see that not all beautiful people, men or women, are beautiful on the inside, where it counts.  One can be the most beautiful woman in the world, or as handsome as a movie star, but have the nastiest personality around.  They can sometimes be mean and hurtful people, abusive to their family, whereas someone who is homely and not much to look at, can sometimes have the nicest personality, and be the best friend or spouse one could want.  In our Scripture for today we will look at the problem of judging by outward appearances.

Earlier in the book of I Samuel, we read about how the nation of Israel wanted a king so that they could be like other nations.  Saul, who was tall and handsome, was chosen.  However, despite his being extremely good looking, his character was lacking, and he was disobedient to the Lord.  The prophet Samuel, who had spent many years trying to mentor King Saul, and encouraging him to be obedient and follow the Lord, was grieving that God had now rejected him as king (vs. 1).  Instead, God sent Samuel to anoint someone whom He had chosen.  The people had chosen before, someone who looked good on the throne, but was a loser.  This time God would make the decision.

The Lord sent Samuel to the town of Bethlehem where the family of Jesse lived.  It was from his family, one of his numerous sons, that the next king would come from.  The prophet was afraid to go through with this task, as Saul had grown to be a very jealous and suspicious king, and would likely kill Samuel if he knew what he was up to (vs. 2-3).  The Lord told him to answer, if asked, that he was there to offer a sacrifice.  God never asks His servants to act foolishly.  He provides wisdom for obedience.

Samuel’s arrival caused fear (vs. 4-5).  He was God’s prophet, and his presence often meant judgment.  A holy life and faithful ministry can create a weighty reputation.  Samuel’s integrity was known by the people.  When he arrived at Jesse’s house, he told Jesse to gather all of his sons together for the sacrifice.  Jesse gathered all but his youngest son, David, leaving him behind in the fields with the sheep.

When the oldest son, Eliab, was presented Samuel thought that this one was surely the man that God would pick, as he was a very handsome young man.  However, God warned Samuel to not judge on outward appearances.  That was what had been the problem with Saul.  God said that He had refused Eliab, as rather than looking at outward appearances, He looks at a person’s heart (vs. 7).  When we go to judge or critique a  person we must not judge externals, like wealth, popularity, looks, or position.  Eliab did not have a loving or charitable heart, as we see later when David was sent to bring provisions to his brother in the army camp.  Eliab acted nastily to David for no reason (I Samuel 17:28).

God checks our heart and our motives.  Wrong motives will not please Him.  We can fool men, who look at the outward demonstrations.  God knows the truth of what’s in our heart.  Our heart attitude should be to please God, not ourselves, and to give Him pleasure.  He is pleased when our motives and hearts are selfless instead of selfish.  God’s choices are based on His perfect knowledge, not human criteria.  Outward qualifications, such as appearance, charisma, or stature, are not what He values.  God sees the heart, our character, humility, faith, and obedience.  We need to learn to evaluate others by spiritual character, not worldly metrics.

When Samuel got to the end of the line and knew that God hadn’t chosen any of them, he questioned Jesse whether these were all of his sons, as he had asked for (vs 8-11).  Why had Jesse neglected to bring David to the sacrifice and feast?  We don’t really know why his father slighted him.  However the one that Jesse didn’t even consider was the one God had chosen.  The one that the family had forgotten, God declared was His chosen, the one Samuel was to anoint (vs. 12).  God’s calling is sovereign and unmistakable.

Samuel anointed David in the presence of his father and brothers, and the Holy Spirit came upon him from that day forward (vs. 13).  David’s anointing foreshadowed Jesus Christ, the ultimate Anointed One, the Messiah.  When God calls us, He equips us.  His Spirit empowers His servants for their appointed work.

God chooses whom He wills, and it is often contrary to human expectations.  Where we value how pretty or handsome someone is, or their witty comments, their bank account, or university degrees, God values humility, faith, obedience, and integrity.  We should be like that, as well, looking for someone with a heart that pleases God, someone who is faithful to His Word, the Bible.  God often works through unexpected people.

A Divine Appointment

John 4:5-26, 39-42

When she woke up that morning, little did the woman know that events that day would change her life forever.  Most women would go to the well in town first thing in the morning to get water for the day.  She didn’t go then, though, as she was a social outcast.  She would always wait until noon when no one else would be there.  Fortunately that day she did go at noon, and not a little bit earlier or a little bit later, as she would encounter Someone there who would change her life forever.  Our Scripture today tells of this event.

As our Scripture opens, Jesus and His disciples had been in Galilee, and were now headed south to Jerusalem.  Frequently, on such a trip, most Jews would take the longer route crossing west of the Jordan River rather than going through Samaria, as they hated the Samaritans.  However, Jesus took His group right through Samaria, and this day even stopped in a village where He instructed His disciples to get some lunch while He rested at a well (vs. 5-8).  While resting, Jesus met this woman who had come to the well thinking no one would be there, and she could avoid people.  This was no accident, though.  It was a divine appointment for her with the Savior.

This woman was shocked on several levels.  As mentioned earlier, Jews rarely came through Samaria, so she was surprised to see a Jewish man there.  Then He spoke to her when He asked for a drink (vs. 7-9).  In that era men did not typically speak to women alone in public.  And as we shall see, this woman was publicly shunned for her immoral lifestyle.  However, Jesus did not pay attention to these, as He saw a lost soul in need of salvation.

Jesus then shifted the conversation from His physical thirst to her spiritual need (vs. 10-14).  She needed the living water which could only be found in Him.  This is not literal water, nor a mere religious experience.  This is eternal life which Jesus alone can give (John 7:37-39).  The earthly water from the well is temporary, and must be drawn repeatedly.  Earthly water only satisfies the body.  However, the living water for our spiritual need is eternal, it springs up, continually available to all who come to Jesus, and it satisfies the soul.  Only Jesus can satisfy the deepest thirst of the human heart.  Religion, relationships, and rituals cannot.

Next, Jesus addressed the condition of this woman’s heart (vs. 15-18) .  He told her to call her husband, which she replied she didn’t have.  Jesus then revealed her past and present immorality.  He didn’t do this to shame or condemn her, but to bring her to conviction, and to show that salvation requires dealing with sin.  How infrequently do we ever hear from the pulpit about sin or immorality.  However, in order to have salvation we need to recognize our sins, take responsibility, and turn to Jesus as the only remedy.  Grace does not ignore sin.  It heals it.

This woman must have felt worthless, abandoned, and unloved after being divorced by five husbands, and now involved in a sinful relationship.  Jesus knew her pain, heartache, and shame.  She had dipped her bucket repeatedly into the well of human love to get the acceptance that she hoped would make her whole.  But each experience left her thirsty.  Standing before Jesus she was a broken soul and social outcast. He offered her forgiveness and love.

The woman attempted to deflect the conversation off of herself and on to a religious debate as to who was right, the Jews or the Samaritans (vs. 19-24).  Jesus responded that worship is not tied to a location, but true worship is in spirit and truth.  It is in spirit in that it is from the heart, not mere ritual, and is in truth, according to God’s revelation, not human invention.  Worship is not about style, place, or emotion.  It is about a heart aligned with God and grounded in the Bible.  God is not confined to a body in the way human beings are (vs. 24).  He is not bound to time or space.  He cannot be confined by physical boundaries.  God’s love has no restrictions, and His mercy is without end.

Jesus then plainly and clearly revealed to this woman that He is the promised Messiah (vs. 25-26).  He revealed Himself first, not to a Pharisee or a religious ruler, but to a broken, sinful Samaritan woman.  This woman then becomes a most unlikely evangelist, as she returns to the village where she had been shunned and a social outcast.  She told them about Jesus and how He saved her soul (vs. 39-42).  Her simple witness led many to faith in Jesus.

Do you feel like this woman, that if others knew all the secrets hidden in your soul, they would cast you away like they did her?  Do you sometimes feel that this would include even God?  Well, God knows your past, everything about you, just as He did this woman, and He still loves you.  He sees your deepest needs, and will meet them with His love, forgiveness, and grace.  Like this woman, no one is beyond the reach of God’s saving power.  Turn to Jesus today, partake of His living water, and find forgiveness, love, and salvation.

No Longer an Enemy

Romans 5:1-11

Is there someone in your life that you have a difficult time with?  Perhaps both you and that person count each other as enemies.  It’s not easy to make peace with someone who’s your enemy, and sometimes it helps to have someone else help out by being a go-between.  They step in and try to smooth the way.  Sometimes that helps, but sometimes it doesn’t.  In our Scripture today from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, we read about how Jesus brought peace between ourselves and God.  He brought not only peace, but so many more blessings that we do not deserve.

As we look into and study this passage of Scripture, we find that because believers are justified by faith in Jesus alone, they now enjoy peace with God.  They also have access to grace, a hope of glory, joy and peace in trials, assurance of God’s love, deliverance from His wrath, and reconciliation through Christ’s death and resurrection.  Previously, in chapters 3 and 4 of Romans, Paul spoke of the doctrine of justification.  Now he speaks about the results of justification and what it means for the believer's present and future.

As we begin in verse 1, the word “therefore” is there for a reason - to connect what he is now saying with what he taught before, that justification is by faith alone, without works.  Those who put their trust and faith in Jesus are now declared righteous on the basis of His death on the cross.  That act of His sacrifice has brought us peace with God.  The enmity between mankind and God has been removed, and the war is over.

Our justification through Jesus now brings us access with God (vs. 2).  If I had something to tell the President, King, or Prime Minister, I can’t just walk into his office, and it’s not at all likely I would ever be able to make an appointment to, either.  However, if I knew a good friend of theirs, they might be able to get me access to the President or King.  Jesus Christ is that Mediator, and when we have a saving relationship with Him, He gives us access to God.  We now stand in grace, not in condemnation.

Paul continues by describing the chain of spiritual growth that Christians can experience in their lives (vs 3-4).  He tells us that Christians can glory or rejoice in the trials they go through.  We can rejoice, not because trials are pleasant, but because of how God can use them if we allow Him to.  The tribulation we go through can bring perseverance or endurance.  That will strengthen and mold our character, which in turn, helps to grow our hope, all if we allow God to work that in and through us, rather than getting angry and bitter. Trials do not have to weaken our hope, they can strengthen it by proving God’s faithfulness.

A Christian’s hope is not wishful thinking (vs. 5).  It’s not like I hope that it won’t snow anymore this winter.  It is the confident expectation of future good based on God’s promises.  It is anchored in God’s love for us.  Our hope and assurance in God’s promises is not rooted in our performance of good works, but in the Holy Spirit’s witness of His love.

As you look over people that you know, are there any that you would literally die for?  Perhaps your spouse or your children, but it’s not likely that you would actually give up your life for someone.  Certainly not that enemy that we talked about at the beginning of this study!  However, that is exactly what God did (vs. 6-8).  Jesus didn’t die just for the good and morally worthy people, for as we learn in Scripture, there aren’t any.  We are all ungodly, morally corrupt and opposed to God.  And yet Jesus died for us.  Humans would rarely do anything for the unworthy, but God’s love is demonstrated, it is proved and displayed at the cross.  We were and are sinners, yet Jesus died for us!

That is not all of the good news!  Since God justified us when we were sinners, how much more will He save us now that we are His children? (vs. 9).  The wrath that we are saved from is the future judgment that the unsaved will ultimately face at the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).  Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior will not have to face the wrath of God then.  Justification guarantees final salvation.

Jesus’ death on the cross reconciled us to God.  It removed all hostility between God and man, and now His resurrection life guarantees our ongoing salvation (vs. 10-11).  The living Christ keeps us saved just as surely as the dying Christ saved us, and brings us peace, hope, and joy.

If today you are having a hard time finding things to thank the Lord for, and finding it hard to rejoice in Him, just reread today’s Scripture.  We each were once enemies of God, with all that that entails, but for those who have called upon Jesus, we now have peace with Him.  We have been justified and assured of our salvation.  He loved one each of us to die for us, and who can we say would ever do that for someone who hated them?  And then Jesus also has saved us from any and all of God’s wrath!  All of this good news in just a small handful of verses today!

Come, Worship, and Listen

Psalm 95

Many of us have had someone tell us that they have both good news and bad news to tell us.  Sometimes they will ask us which we want to hear first, the good news or the bad news.  Our psalm for today contains both some good news in the form of praise to the Lord, and then some bad news in the form of a warning to us from the Lord.  Let’s take a look at what God’s Word says to us today.

Psalm 95 can be divided into two very distinct parts.  The first part, verses 1-7a are a joyful and reverent call to worship the Lord.  The second part, verses 7b-11 is a solemn warning from the Lord for us to not harden our hearts against Him.

As we begin our look at the psalm, we are called to come and worship the Lord God, singing with joy, thanksgiving, and praise to Him (vs. 1-2), for He is the Rock of our salvation.  Yahweh is not an actual rock, of course, but He is like a rock.  A large rock is secure, and not likely to move, and similarly God is an unshakeable foundation for us.  One can find shelter from a storm behind a large rock, and also safety from attack.  God is our source of strength, refuge, and shelter in times of trouble.  He is constant, dependable, and will never fail.

We are called to actively direct our worship to the Lord, not to ourselves or to our emotions.  Joyful worship should not be irreverent, nor entertainment-driven, but instead be God-centered.  We are called to shout joyfully to the Lord.  This should not be done chaotically, but instead when we come into the Lord’s presence we should prepare our hearts to bring sincere and genuine praise rooted in truth.  Worship should not be casual.  It is holy and should be done with a reverent heart.

As we continue, we see that we should worship the Lord because of who He is (vs. 3-5).   He is great, far greater and above any of the false, so-called pagan gods.  He is the Creator of all, from the depths of the sea to the highest of mountains on dry land.  Yahweh is sovereign.  Everything belongs to Him for He created it all, and He rules over all.  God’s creation should stir our hearts with awe to praise and trust Him.

The next couple of verses call upon us to reverently submit to the Lord (vs. 6-7a).  Worship involves humility, which here is shown by bowing and kneeling before Yahweh.  This is a physical act, but it is more importantly a reverent heart attitude before Him.  True worship is not merely emotional expression.  It is submission to God’s authority.  We should bow our will, not just our knees.

Throughout Scripture God is frequently referred to as our Shepherd, and here in Psalm 95 we see one such reference (vs. 7a).  He is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep.  This is covenant language, as He cares, guides, protects, and disciplines us, just as a shepherd does his sheep.  This is imagery that foreshadows the Lord Jesus, who is our Good Shepherd (John 10:11-16).

Now we come to the solemn warning from God to not harden our hearts against Him (vs. 7b-11).  This sudden shift is intentional, as worship without obedience is hypocrisy.  The rebellion, the trial in the wilderness that is referenced here, is the event that took place at Meribah and Massah in Exodus 17:1-7, where the people complained against God because of lack of water, where they had no faith in God or His goodness.  The Israelites tested God there, and refused to believe His promises.  God was grieved with that generation, and because of their unbelief, they were kept from entering into His “rest”, into the Promised Land.

This warning applies to us believers today, as we read in Hebrews 3:7 - 4:11.  Hardening of one’s heart is a progressive spiritual danger.  It doesn’t usually happen overnight, but happens gradually as we lose our spirit of thankfulness, trust, and faith in God.  The Lord takes unbelief seriously, even among His children.

An important word in our Scripture is the word “today”.  We need to respond to God’s Word today, not someday.  Don’t put off turning to the Lord for another day, because that day may never come.  We are never guaranteed tomorrow.  We must also make a concerted effort to guard against complaining, being spiritually apathetic, and delaying our obedience to the Lord.  Don’t harden your heart.  Instead, keep a soft heart, for a soft heart is a worshiping heart.

Is The Lord Among Us Or Not?

Exodus 17:1-7

Oh, how quickly we humans are to forget things!  I am not referring to anyone who might have some type of dementia.  That would be a legitimate excuse to forget some things that occurred just a few weeks earlier.  However, when folks with otherwise no memory problems conveniently forget some fantastic events and blessings in their lives, even becoming ill-tempered and ornery when similar situations arise, that is a problem.  Today’s Old Testament Scripture recounts just such an occurrence.  Let’s see what we can learn from God’s Word.

As our Scripture begins, the people of Israel had arrived at a place called Rephidim.  God had done a lot in their lives in the last few weeks.  First, He parted the waters of the Red Sea for them to cross and escape from Pharaoh’s army (Exodus 14:10-31).  Then a few days later He turned the bitter waters at Marah sweet so they could drink (Exodus 15:22-25).  Then, a few days after that, God miraculously provided manna and quail for the people to eat (Exodus 16:11-15).  God was visibly, miraculously, and consistently providing for the people, yet in our Scripture today, just another few days later in Exodus 17, the people had forgotten and were full of unbelief, and were testing God.

In chapter 17, the Israelites were in the deserts of Rephidim and they were running low on water and were thirsty (vs. 1).  As they traveled towards the Promised Land, God had been leading them by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.  It was no accident that they had arrived there, a place with no water, as it was the Lord who had led them there.  God often leads His people into situations where their faith must be exercised.  A Christian can be in the center of God’s will and still face hardships.  Obedience to the Lord does not always exempt us from facing trials.

When the people found no water there, rather than remembering all of the times God had previously provided for them, instead they were angry with Moses (vs. 2).  They quarreled against him, angrily complaining and striving with him.  They blamed Moses for this situation, demanding water, and not trusting God.  The people even went so far as to accuse Moses of bringing them to this place to kill them! (vs. 3).  They had so conveniently forgotten when God sent the plagues in Egypt, how not one of those fell on them, along with the deliverance at the Red Sea, and the manna they were still receiving.  How often when we face a dilemma in our path do we likewise forget all that the Lord has previously done for us, and start complaining, whining, and become filled with fear and worry?

So what did Moses do when the people started ganging up on him?  He did what the Israelites should have done at the beginning.  He turned to the Lord in prayer (vs. 4).  Moses cried out to Him, as the crowd was beyond angry and he rightly feared for his life.  The Lord then told him to go before the crowd, along with some of the elders, and to bring his rod.  He was to stand before a large rock and to strike that rock with his rod, and water would come forth (vs. 5-6).  God told Moses that He would be standing there with him before that rock.

This is a typology of the Lord Jesus, the Smitten Rock.  The Apostle Paul explicitly identified the rock as Jesus (I Corinthians 10:4).  The rock is Jesus Christ, the rod is the judgment of God.  Moses striking the rock is a picture of God pouring His wrath against sin upon Jesus while on the cross.  The water that came forth from the rock is a picture of the life-giving Holy Spirit and salvation that comes from Christ.  All spiritual life flows from the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Israel’s sin is summarized in one question “Is the Lord among us or not?” (vs. 7).  This was not a request for reassurance.  Instead it was a rebellious accusation.  They denied God’s presence despite overwhelming evidence.  They wanted proof of His presence on their terms, which is the opposite of faith.

Moses believed the Lord’s Word, obeyed Him, and struck the rock, and the water poured forth.  However, Israel would not consistently follow Moses’ example of faith (Hebrews 4:2).  Our life can be like an arid desert.  God, though, can quench our spiritual thirst.  When by faith we believe the promises of God’s Word, we can experience rivers of living water and grace for our daily needs.

Looking back over this Scripture, we can learn several things.  One, ending up at Rephidim was not a mistake.  Sometimes God will lead His people into trials.  Another lesson is that forgetfulness fuels unbelief.  We need to rehearse God’s faithfulness and remember His past mercies.  Complaining is a form of unbelief.  Grumbling is not a small sin.  It is a lack of faith in God’s love and His character. However, God’s grace will exceed our failures.  Israel deserved God’s judgment, but instead, He gave water. His grace triumphed.

There is Only One Way to Heaven

John 3:1-17

Today’s Scripture passage from this week’s Lectionary from the Book of Common Prayer contains one of the most well-known verses, and familiar passages of the Bible.  In this Scripture we read of the necessity of the new birth, the nature of saving faith, and the heart of God in sending His Son for our salvation.

As we begin, we read that a man named Nicodemus came to see Jesus one evening (vs. 1-2).  Nicodemus was a devout Pharisee who meticulously followed the Old Testament Law and religious rituals.  He was also a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish religious and legal court, which held some power under Roman occupation.  Nicodemus had heard Jesus preach and teach on several occasions, seen some of the miracles, and was interested in learning more, but because his peers within the Pharisees and Sanhedrin, he was afraid to do this publicly, so he came to Jesus at night.

Jesus welcomed Nicodemus and the two conversed.  However, Jesus made it clear right from the start that religious knowledge, moral living, and even respect for Himself was not the same as salvation.  People today, as well as back then, often think they are the same.  They believe that if they go to church, have a passing knowledge of the Bible or other religious writings, live a good moral life, and even hold Jesus in the highest regard, that this will get them to heaven.  As Jesus clearly states in our Scripture today, that is not the case!

Jesus doesn’t waste any time discussing nonessentials.  He comes right to the point immediately, and tells Nicodemus that he must be born again.  He needs salvation if he wants to see the Kingdom of God, to go to heaven (vs. 3).  Nicodemus misunderstood Jesus, thinking that He was somehow talking about physical birth, and how that could be at all possible (vs. 4).  Jesus was not talking about physical birth, but spiritual birth, one produced by the Holy Spirit (vs. 5-6).  He clearly stated that this is necessary for every person, regardless of their religious background.  It was necessary then, and it is necessary today.  People are not born again, or saved, because of who or what they are.  It doesn’t matter what religion one’s parents are, or how devoutly they practice any religious rituals.  One must be born again to get to heaven (vs. 7).

Being “born of water and the Spirit” (vs. 5), is not baptismal regeneration.  One is not born again because they have been baptized.  Any number of heinous criminals and dictators were baptized as babies, and they most probably were not saved.  Water refers to the cleansing work of the Word of God, as we read in Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Ephesians 5:26.  The Spirit refers to the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.  Being born again, or saved, is a supernatural act of God, not achieved by human effort.  When we are born again, we become children of the living God, and rightful heirs to every good thing that He has to offer.

Despite being a religious leader and teacher, Nicodemus still did not understand, and Jesus gently rebuked him (vs. 9-10).  The Old Testament had already promised a new heart and Spirit in those verses from Ezekiel mentioned above, but Nicodemus had missed the meaning of God’s promise.  Jesus then shifted from the new birth to the basis of salvation - that of His own person and work (vs. 13-15).  The Lord used as a reference the picture of when God sent fiery serpents as judgment on the Israelites, and the cure was to look at the image of a serpent Moses put on a pole (Numbers 21:4-9).  Israel was dying from these serpent bites, and God provided only one remedy - to look at the lifted-up serpent.  Those who looked lived.  This was an example of what Jesus would accomplish when He died on the cross.  The people couldn’t use whatever cure they wanted to make up.  They had to use God’s cure.  It is the same with salvation.  We can’t decide what sounds good by today’s modern standards.  We are only saved by God’s way.  Salvation is by faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone.

Next comes one of the most well-known verses in the Bible, verses 16 and 17.  This is not a vague sentiment, but a purposeful, sacrificial love towards undeserving sinners.  God gave, not merely sent, His only begotten Son to die for sinners.  And no matter who you are, if you believe and put your faith in Jesus, you will receive eternal life.  The Gospel is rooted in God’s love, accomplished through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, and received by faith.

The Bible, and Jesus Himself, say that He is the only way of salvation (I John 5:11-12; John 14:6).  If you want to get to heaven, Jesus is the only One who can take you there.  We can trust God, because He has given us exactly what we need most - salvation.  He did not do this because He owed us anything, or because of any inherent good within us.  God saved us for one reason, and that is because of His all-surpassing love.

Works Versus Faith

Romans 4:1-17

Have you ever gotten a flyer in the mail saying to come by a store or showroom and receive a free gift.  Since often these things are not exactly as they seem, we might wonder if there is some catch.  Will we have to make a purchase, or sign up for some subscription, or watch some presentation in order to get the “free gift”, or are they being honest, and no purchase is necessary.  Just show up and get your gift.  People have wondered about that regarding salvation.  Is it really just believe and one is saved, or do we have to do all sorts of works in order to be saved?  All too often various groups have tried to teach that there are certain things one must do in order to be saved.  However, in our Scripture today we will see exactly what God has said in His Word about this matter.

As we open our Scripture, Paul gives us the example of the Patriarch Abraham for us to look at.  He is the most revered figure in Jewish history, and Paul uses him as an example to prove that faith, and not works, has always been God’s way of salvation, for if Abraham was justified by faith, then no one can claim salvation by keeping the Mosaic Law or any other type of works.

If Abraham, or any of us for that matter, were justified by our works, then we could boast about that (vs. 1-3).  One could brag that they went to church every time the doors were open, never missing a single time.  Another could brag about how much money they gave in the offering.  And another could brag how they never broke a single commandment in the Bible.  However, we cannot boast before God.  Abraham, our spiritual father, believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6).  The word “accounted” in verse 3 in Greek is “logizomai”, and is an accounting term.  God credits righteousness to the believer’s account.  Justification is a legal declaration, not a reward.

As we continue, Paul contrasted two systems - those of works versus faith (vs. 4-5).  They are mutually exclusive.  Works are wages that are owed to you.  You worked for them.  Whereas faith is the righteousness credited to the ungodly without their having to work for it.  God justifies the ungodly, not the morally impressive.  This is the heart of the Gospel, that God saves sinners, not the self-righteous.

Paul then goes on to quote Psalm 32:1-2 where he states that God will forgive the sins of those who come to Him, and not impute, or put them on the account of that person.  Justification has two sides.  On the negative side, God removes the guilt of the sinner.  On the positive side, He imputes or credits the righteousness of Jesus to them.

In the days of the very early Church, there were some who went around teaching that one could not be genuinely saved unless they kept the Mosaic Law, particularly they stressed that of being circumcised.  Paul very clearly answers that argument by referring to when Abraham was justified, and that it was before he was circumcised by several years (vs. 9-12).  The ritual of circumcision was described in Genesis 17.  Abraham believed God and was justified by faith in Genesis 15, which is before chapter 17.  Circumcision did not contribute to his salvation, and we see that rituals cannot save.  Abraham is the father of all who believe - circumcised or not.  There is no religious ceremony, whether it is baptism, communion, or any other, that can justify us.  We should be baptized and receive communion, but they do not save us.

God made a promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars (Genesis 17:4-6; Genesis 22:17).  This promise was not by keeping the Law of Moses, which was given over 400 years later.  This promise was given through the righteousness of faith that Abraham had.  If we had to keep the law, whether the Mosaic Law or any list of works that some denominations say we should keep, in order to be saved, then faith is void and God’s promises would be meaningless.  The Law reveals sin, but it cannot remove it.

Paul concludes that the promise is by faith, by grace, and it is certain (vs. 16-17).  If salvation depended on human performance, no one could be certain.  How would we know if we had done enough works?  Would it be one a day, ten a day?  However, because it depends on God’s grace, the promise is secure for both Jewish and Gentile believers.

So as we see through our Scripture today, justification is by faith alone.  Salvation has always been by grace through faith.  It has never been by works, rituals, or keeping the Mosaic Law.  Abraham was justified by faith apart from any works, and all who believe, whether Jewish or Gentile, are saved the same way.

Who to Trust in Uncertain Times

Psalm 33:12-22

All throughout history there has been fighting between people.  We see it between two individuals, between gangs and clans, all the way up to nations.  It has been said that since the beginning of recorded history there has not been any one period of time where there hasn’t been some type of fighting somewhere on earth.  If there was peace in one portion of the world, there was always some type of fighting going on somewhere else, even if it wasn’t officially declared a war.  Though many of us have never experienced a war of any level, some of you may have, and we can all imagine how terrifying and devastating it would be.  Who are you trusting at that time?  Your political leaders?  Your military generals, and the strength of your army?  Your underground bunker, or financial resources in order to make an escape?  Our Scripture today, from the second half of Psalm 33, directs us in whom we should trust when the world is blowing up around us.

As our Scripture opens, the author lets us know that those who trust in the Lord are blessed (vs. 12).  He speaks of the largest possible group, a nation, that if they trust in Yahweh, including following and obeying His Word, they will be blessed.  Perhaps there might have been some time in the past where possibly a nation, the majority of its people, trusted and followed Jesus, but I don’t think that is the case anywhere today. True national blessing is tied to acknowledging and honoring Yahweh as God.  Blessing is not rooted in political strength but in a relationship with God.  His people are His possession - chosen, loved, and protected.

As we read on, we are told that God sees and knows all (vs. 13-15).  He sees all - nothing is hidden from Him.  He also understands all, knowing every heart.  And He is the Creator and Judge of all.  Nations will rise and fall, but God alone rules.  This should be both comforting and convicting for us, as He knows our motives, our fears, and desires perfectly.  God knows where each of His children are, and what help they need.

Next we read something that everyone should take note of, and that is that no king is saved by his army, and that their military horse or their strength cannot deliver them (vs. 16-17).  No political leader, whether king, president, or prime minister, and the people of their nations, should trust in the size of their armies, nor in military weapons and equipment.  The psalmist reminds us that we are not delivered by any of that, whether it was a historic war horse or today’s most technically equipped fighter jets.  None of that can guarantee a victory.  Strength without God is vain, empty, powerless, and deceptive.  God resists the proud, those who trust in their own power, as the Apostle James tells us (James 4:6).

Our focus now shifts from the nations in general to the faithful remnant.  God has watchful care for those who fear Him (vs. 18-19).  God’s eye is on those who fear Him, who have reverence, and obey and trust His Word.  He will deliver them from death, and sustain them during famine.  This is not a promise of a trouble-free life, but of God’s faithful presence and preservation.  God’s care is personal, intentional, and is rooted in His covenant love.

So, if we shouldn’t put our trust in military leaders, armies, or equipment, who or what should we trust in to protect us in times of war and danger?  Who or what will protect us?  Our psalmist says that the Lord is our help and shield (vs. 20).  In ancient times a shield was necessary against swords and arrows.  Though today’s weapons are far more sophisticated and deadly, He still protects His children and those who trust in His Holy Name (vs. 21-22).

As this portion of Psalm 33 teaches us, God is sovereign.  He rules over nations and individuals.  Trusting in our national or personal strength apart from God is worthless.  In times of war and danger we should remember that God watches over and sustains the people who have put their trust in Him.  His mercy is the foundation of our hope.

In closing, as believers we need to remember to trust in God, rather than the resources of anyone or anything else.  God sees our heart, and He knows where we are, what is happening around us, and what we need.  The people of the world need to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ, and that true blessings come from Him.  When circumstances feel uncertain, wait on the Lord, for He alone is our help and shield.