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A Reflection on Psalm 2

What makes God laugh out loud? Does chuckle as something unexpected? What about a practical joke? Maybe a good joke makes Him smile?

The Scriptures tell us that God laughs when the rulers of the earth try to overturn the Kingdom of Heaven. Psalms 2:4 says the Lord “scoffs at them,” which can also mean to mock or ridicule them. God is not impressed with the political planning, the military tactics, or the red-faced bluster of a king.

Verses 7 to 9 explain the Heavenly Father’s eternal promise to give His Son, the Messianic, all there is an inheritance. God’s champion is the king of the kings and the lord of all the lords in the world. His sovereignty is beyond comparison.

I’ve never been asked to run a country, but I have run from God’s calling on my life. I’ve never planned a military operation, but I have fought back against the authority of God’s Word. I’ve never organized a multi-national treaty, but I have rationalized some bad behavior in my days; and I’ve seen some pretty powerful and celebrated people do the same things.

God is not threatened or intimidated. He is amused, but as the Psalmist closes, He will not be amused forever.

Covenant Principles Make Good Friends

Jonathan and David built their friendship on covenant principles. What help can these principles give to those who want to build good friendships today?

David and Jonathan struck up a surprising friendship in 1 Samuel 18:1-5. Jonathan was the heir to the Israelite throne and David was his biggest rival, so it was amazing that the two got along so well. Jonathan publicized their support for one another by giving David his royal coat, armor, and weapons.

Their commitment was tested a few chapters later when king Saul publicized his own plan to kill David. (1 Samuel 20). The duo renewed their relationship with one another in a way that was shaped by God’s covenant relationship with his people. There are four covenant principles that are highlighted in their agreement and these principles helps us understand what it means to be a good friend in any era.

Helping out in tough times. Ancient near-eastern covenants were common among tribes and nations with an imbalance in power. That may seem oppressive by today’s standards, but it was much better than the alternative of total destruction. The stronger party offered certain benefits (like protection), and the weaker party offered their own benefits (like loyalty).

We have all been on both side of this equation in our interpersonal relationships. Sometimes we are the ones in need and sometimes we are the ones who are able to help. This dynamic is the lifeblood of most good friendships. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (NASB).

Staying true to one’s commitments. Jonathan and David made a number of serious pledges to one another in 1 Samuel 20:12-17. In essence, they promised to protect one another and their respective families as long as they lived. Few friendships are this formal, but every one that I know of will grow stronger if it’s kept up over time. a truth punctuated by Proverbs 18:24.

Persevering under pressure. The crown prince came under intense pressure to betray David. Saul insulted Jonathan, commanded him to betray his friend, and then tried to kill him (his own son!). Years later when David was king, he rejected the idea of “doing away with” with his rival’s family by taking care of Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson. Once again, the book of Proverbs puts this principle in action: “Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend.” (27:10a).

Trusting in God’s faithfulness. David and Jonathan appealed to God’s faithfulness multiples times throughout this encounter (v. 8, 12, 16, 23, 42). This helps us to see that faith in God is the best foundation for a friendship. The parable of the three-fold chord in Ecclesiastics 4:9-12 is a tactile illustration of this forth principle.

David was a good king because He was loyal to God’s covenant relationship with Israel. He was a good friend because He patterned his relationship with Jonathan after His relationship with God. You and I become good friends to those we care about if we take this covenant principle to heart.

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A Reflection on Psalm 4

How can you find peace and safety in the middle of conflict?

The 4^th Psalm is often paired with the 3^rd Psalm and categorized as parallel prayers of trust in God; one for the morning and one for the evening. Since David was running for his life from his son, Absalom, this Psalm has a lot of credibility.

David’s quest for peace and safety involves three steps in this portion of Scripture. First, he calls out to God and asks for help. He talks to God about the people who want to do him in. He anticipates a good night’s sleep in spite of his troubles.

Next, he seems to call out to his adversaries in verse 6. These are the ones who “love what is worthless” and “aim at deception” (v. 2). David’s previous prayer allows him to stand up to their pressure.

Finally, he crawls into bed in peace. After all is said and done, David renews his trust in God. He finds his gladness and security in God, not in what others are scheming or saying about Him.

This Psalm is an invitation to join David on his quest for peace and safety. We have to same opportunity to call out to God before calling out to our adversaries. Speaking of this dynamic, Charles Spurgeon said, “He who dares to face his Maker will not tremble before the sons of men.” If we approach our own quest in this order, we have a good chance of arriving at our destination, safe and sound.

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Three Book Recommendations for Studying Angels after Christmas

Want to know more about angels, Satan, demons, and spiritual warfare? Here are 3 books that can help.

The story of Christmas can’t be told without including the activity of angels. It was an angel in Matthew’s Gospel who delivered the news of Mary’s virgin birth to Joseph in a dream. An angel visited Mary too and told her about her miraculous pregnancy. A multitude of angels appeared to shepherds watching over their sheep outside of Bethlehem to tell them about coming of the Savior. Spiritual agents, both good and evil, play a critical role in God’s overall story of redemption.

Here are three great books to help you study Angelology and Spiritual Warfare this season:

1. Angels and Demons by John R. Gilhooly

John R. Gilhooly has become a well-know authority on angelic beings and the spiritual world. This new book defines angels and demons and then traces their respective activities through the Old and New Testaments. Gilhooly also includes a lengthy chapter that answers twelves of the most common questions about angels and demons. This book is great for those who want a Biblical overview of the spiritual world without begging bogged down in theoretical questions and for those who have a specific question about angels.

2. Discipled Warriors by Chuck Lawless

Chuck Lawless has a unique blend of pastoral and academic experience, which makes this book very approachable. In it, Lawless explains and applies a model church health to the various facets of our struggle against Satan. Each chapter contains practical applications as well as tips for further reading and study. This book is perfect for the church leader who wants to organize his congregation for maximum effectiveness and spiritual vitality. Rank-and-file Christians will also benefit from this actionable approach to engaging the spiritual world.

3. Against the Darkness by Graham A. Cole

This book is part of a larger series on evangelical theology. Graham Cole makes a huge contribution to that series with this book on angels, Satan, and demons. Cole includes a string of rich theological insights on these topics that includes a throughful understanding of the extra-Biblical writing. The chapter on Satan as the “Malevolent Spoiler” is particularly valuable. This book is ideal for the Bible student who is chasing a deep understanding of angels and wants to know what various authorities have had on the subject through the years.

These books are available at your favorite retailers and may even be found in your local library.

You can find an introduction to my “Three Things” series here: https://wp.me/p1hRxR-lc

A Reflection on Psalm 3

David literally ran for his life on more than one occasion. In 1 Samuel 19, he ran from Saul after the unhinged king tried to kill him four times. David stayed in hiding from Saul for the next 10 chapters. Later on, in 2 Samuel 15, David ran away from Jerusalem to as his son, Absalom, made a claim to the throne.

The inscription given to Psalm 3 explains that it was written around the time David fled from his son, Absalom. Even though the inscription is not inspired by the Holy Spirit, it gives modern readers a starting place to evaluate the king’s comments. David had the right to speak about these issues because he has seen the worst kinds of battles.

This Psalm is sometimes described as a morning prayer of trust in God. In four short stanzas, David ran from his enemies and ran to God for help. Instead of focusing on threat that rose up all around him, David focused on the protection that God would provide. His faith in God drove Him to trust in the One who is a “shield” around His people.

A Reflection on Psalm 1

The first Psalm is a vivid call to live with Biblical insight according to the way of righteousness.

C. S. Lewis wrote a book titled Reflections on the Psalms. In it, he hoped that his words might interest and help other “inexpert readers” of the Bible’s most poetic book. This reflection on the first Psalm is offered with the same spirit.

The first Psalm is a vivid call to live with Biblical insight according to the way of righteousness. The way of righteousness is set in sharp contrast with the way of wicked. The righteous person finds his or her wisdom in the Scriptures and the fool finds his or her wisdom in other self-absorbed fools.

The picture of success could not be more attractive. The person who values God’s wisdom is described as a healthy tree with access to an endless supply of water. The tree is a joy to the landowner because it gives off a continual supply of fruit. The person who despises God’s wisdom is a tumble weed that rolls around in the wind, swept aside without a thought.

This description of the righteous way of life is a warning and an encouragement. It’s a warning to those who would discount the Psalms that follow it; and an encouragement to those who take them to heart.

Should We Read the Psalms in Church?

Should we read out of the Book of Psalms together as a part of a public worship service? At first glance, they may seem hopelessly outdated or intended only for private study. Some of the Psalms contain sentiments that are so severe and malicious they are hard to square with Christ’s teaching about loving one’s enemies. When these shallow impressions are pushed aside, the Book of Psalms becomes a rich resource for gathered worship. Here are five reasons why.

The Psalms are part of the history of worship. The Psalter had a prominent place in ancient Israel and the early church. Paul calls first-century believers to “teach and admonish one another” with “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” in Colossians 3:16. In a world before the Contemporary Christian Music establishment, this is a clear reference to the Psalms of the Old Testament.

The Psalms are deeply personal. Composed by various authors and collected over many centuries, the Psalms were written as a response to Israel’s covenant relationship with God. They address a wide range of human experiences, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows and they do so, often, in the first person.

The Psalms use evocative language. The poetic form and terminology of the Psalms draws the reader into a spirit of adoration. The vivid imagery and colorful language begs for a response. These passages of Scripture are meant for a worship setting, by design.

The Book Psalms is organized into user-friendly parts. The 150 individual psalms can be organized into five books. These books contain passages that are all 50 verses or less, except for Psalms 18, 89, 78, and 119. Even these longer portions can be subdivided easily to be include in a public worship setting.

The Psalms are interconnected with the rest of Scripture. According to the Luke 24:44, the Psalms were considered the most important part of the Old Testament’s primary divisions: “The Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” The 90^th Psalm is based on the so-called “Song of Moses” in Exodus 15. The historical books of 1 & 2 Samuel provide the historical background for many of the psalms attributed to King David. The Psalms are quoted in the New Testament more than any other book. These links all show how central the Book of Psalms is to the rest of the Bible.

1 Timothy 4:13 says in part, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture.” This expression may take on many forms in a gathered worship service, but it can only be enhanced by reading the Psalms.

A Biblical Pattern of Repentance

Repentance is deeper and more active than a feeling or an emotion Repentance is the pathway to God’s blessing.

Samuel had enough spiritual sense to know that God’s people would not experience God’s blessing without repentance. He knew that repentance is deeper and more active than a feeling or an emotion. The well-respected prophet outlined a pattern for biblical repentance in 1 Samuel 7:2-6. That pattern included three steps.

Step 1: Wake Up to What God’s Word Says. Verse three is attributed to Samuel, but it’s really based on the promises of Deuteronomy 30:1-5. The blessings and curses section of the Covenant Law is capped off with the promise of restoration and deliverance if God’s people return to Him with their whole hearts. The first step of repentance starts when sinners become attentive again to the truth and authority of God and His Word.

Step 2: Take Responsibility for Missing the Mark. This step included two sub-steps: stopping and starting. Instead of giving excuses for their actions, the Israelites stopped worshipping the false gods that they had added to their spiritual life. They removed the idols that crowd out their worship of the One, True, and Living God.

The second sub-step was starting – they started worshipping God alone. They served the Lord with a renewed sense of enthusiasm, unhindered by fake alternatives.

Step 3: Make a Confession of Your Sin: Samuel also gathered the people for a time of confession where they acknowledged their sin together. This final step included a ceremonial pouring out of water and a day of fasting. This was appropriate and needed since the Israelites had broken God’s trust together.

Common wisdom suggests that effective confession should involve those who have been affected by the sin. This always involves God and the individual offender. In some cases, larger groups like a family or even a church congregation should be involved if they are aware of and significantly impacted.

The New Testament teaches us that repentance should be an ongoing experience for those who’ve placed their faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, 1 John 1:8-9). Salvation doesn’t erase the believer’s lifelong struggle with sin, it just changes the ultimate outcome.

Samuel’s pattern for repentance can serve God’s people well, even today. Attention, correction, and confession should be a regular part of a believer’s life, not items lost to an ancient era. These three steps are strides toward experiencing God’s blessing.

Should I Say Something?

How do you know when you should speak up and when you should stay silent? Here are five questions to consider as you “one another.”

The book of James says a lot about the words we speak. Readers are encouraged to listen before they speak in James 1:19. They are also warned against paying lip-service to religious conviction in James 2:15-16. Chapter 3 contains an extended lesson about the destructive power of the tongue and danger of false teaching (James 3:1-12). Students of the Bible are cautioned several times against quarreling and conflicts (James 3:14, 4:1).

With all this seriousness, it may seem like silence is best choice. Just keep quiet and avoid all the problems. But silence isn’t always an option.

The other books of the New Testament contain a slew of verses on how believers should view and treat one another (the term “one another” is used 100 times in 94 verses). The second greatest commandment is based on love that longs to do what is best for the other person, which has to including loving interaction as some point (Matthew 22:36-40).

So how do you know when to speak up and when to say silent?

Here is a list of questions to consider before tacking a tough situation with your tongue:

Can you speak constructively? James 4:11 warns against “attack” speech, which can include slander, gossip, and false or unfair accusations. The goal is to build the other person up, not to tear them down. Constructive criticism is very different from criticism for the sake of criticism.
Do you have a relationship with this person? The majority of these passages are set in the context of a personal relationship between fellow believers in the fellowship of a local church. A tough truth is received easier if it given by a friend. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”
Are you living by the same standard? It can be easy to magnify someone else’s problems or weakness while ignoring our own. James says the standard for all our behavior is God’s law – a standard we all fall short of. Be very careful about addressing an issue with someone that you know every little about.
Are you able to speak directly? Talking about someone is not as effective as talking to them. You may have a concern, but you don’t have the ability or the access to speak to them directly.
Are you motived by love? The background for these instructions in the New Testament is love. Avoid speaking to others about their problems because you want to get something off your chest or because you want to prove that you are right about something. Tough conversations can’t be about you, they need to be about the other person.

Should I say something? That’s a complex question that deserves a thoughtful response. These questions can help as you as you build live-giving relationship in today’s world.

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Three Book Recommendations From My Recent Sermons in 1 Samuel

It’s time to revive my “Three Things” series where I suggest three resources or ideas on a particular topic. Most of my entries in this series are focused on three books that I think are important to know about. I restrict my list to three to keep things simple and memorable.

Without further ado, here are three book recommendations from my recent sermons in 1 Samuel.

1. God in the Dock by C. S. Lewis

Clives Staples Lewis may be the most famous for his The Chronicles of Narnia series, but he also wrote several books on Christian apologetics. As a scholar and a theologian at Oxford and Cambridge, Lewis looked for ways to present the claims of Christianity to the modern world. This book is a collection of essays and speeches on ethics and theology. The title is taken from the layout of a courtroom, where the defendant is seated in “the dock” awaiting the conclusion of the trial.

2. He is There and He is Not Silent by Francis Shaeffer

Francis Shaeffer is another familiar name in the area of Christian apologetics, philosophy, and ethics. His writings helped believers counter the claims of peers who were swept up in the secularization of the Western world in the last century. This book has helped shape my understanding of the dynamics that went on during Israel’s search for a king. Invisible does not mean non-existent, uncaring, or uninvolved.

3. I & II Samuel: A Commentary by Robert P. Gordon

This recommendation may be a little too “on the nose,” since it’s a commentary on the text. But this book has a lot of value as a study companion for the books of Samuel. Dr. Gordon balances length with depth while providing some rich theological insights. He includes some deeply devotional nuggets without falling into the trap of making the story all about the human actors. The book’s outlines follow the narrative of the Biblical text, making it easy to access.

These books are available at your favorite retailers and may even be found in your local library.

You can find an introduction to my “Three Things” series here: https://wp.me/p1hRxR-lc

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