Category: Christian life

A Reflection on Psalm 5

David experienced great hostility and persecution on his way to the throne in ancient Israel. At least one Bible commentator believes that this Psalm was written around the time when Doeg the Edomite betrayed David to King Saul in 1 Samuel 21. The would-be king called out to the Lord to acknowledge his struggles and punish his adversaries.

But what if our struggles aren’t against a specific person? What if we are aligned with David’s aspiration to lead a righteous, God-honoring life and we identify with his struggles, but we don’t have a human “foe” to pray against? Is this Psalm irrelevant to the modern reader?

It’s at least possible that the biggest danger for a modern-day pilgrim comes from a place instead of a person. It might be the lure of a consumeristic lifestyle that calls to us at every restaurant, mall, and car lot we drive past. Or it might be an invitation to join the boasting, hatred, and falsehood that it magnified through social media (v. 4-6). Social media may seem like it’s a personal form of communication, but it’s really not. It could also come from the entertainment industry that provides an endless supply of options, some which would clearly draw a believer off the path of righteousness. The biggest danger for someone today may a spiritual, if it’s not physical.

In either case, the admonitions in last two verses of Psalm 5 still applies. The weary traveler should find his or her joy in God and the resources that He provides, over and against their circumstances. In addition, the weary traveler should trust in God has his or her shield against life’s dangers. Clinging to these truths should provide protection no matter what kind of dangers one might face.

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. 

A Reflection on Psalm 4

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

The 4th Psalm is often paired with the 3rd 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.

Photo by John_Towner from Freerange Stock

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 90th 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.”
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

Image by Robin Higgins from Pixabay

Making Christ Your King

The Old Testament books of Samuel describe Israel’s quest for a human king. 1 Samuel compares the failed kingship of Saul with the successful monarchy of David. 2 Samuel connects the reign of King David with the coming reign of Jesus Christ, who stands in sovereignty over the hearts of God’s people until the end of time. The last book in the New Testament hails Christ as “The King of kings and the Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:16)

Israel’s ancient quest is a dramatic reminder that we are all searching for a king. It may be a higher power or a higher purpose, but we are all searching for something – no exceptions. Ecclesiastics 3:11 says that God has “set eternity in their heart,” which means that we all have an unquenchable thirst for purpose and meaning beyond the day-to-day.

What does it look like for someone to make Christ their King? How can we spot someone who has given their allegiance to the Son of God? Here are three things that are true of an individual who has fallen under the authority of Christ.

  • Loyalty to Christ. Saving faith is about a personal commitment to Christ, not a promise, a prayer, or a creed (John 3:16). It’s about what He has done for us, not what we have or will do for Him. This may sound obvious, but you can’t make Christ your King without making Christ your King.
  • A Changed Life. True faith always produces a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17). Some people may take longer than others. The opportunities and struggles will be unique to the individual, but no one walks away from a personal encounter with Christ unchanged.
  • A Love for the Things of God. It’s only natural that those who claim God’s name will have an affection for the things that are associated with Him. God’s Word (the Bible), God’s people (the local church), God’s will (the Great Commission) – these are things that will take over the heart of a person who is committed to Christ (John 14:5).

You can only have one sovereign in your life. You can worship a vague ideal, or you can worship the God who is revealed in the pages of Scripture, you can even worship yourself, but you can’t have more than one king. Those who make Christ their King will experience a very different reality than those who make another choice. So, choose wisely.