Jesus, the Great Protector
July 29, 2020 at 4:26 pm | Posted in Biblical Greats, Uncategorized | 4 CommentsTags: arrest of Jesus, Caiaphas, commentary on John, Jesus's arrest, John 11, John 18, Peter, Sunday School lessons on John
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
John 18:1 (emphasis added)
“These words” could indicate the prayer of John 17, but more likely indicate the preceding five chapters of discourse: the time of the Passover meal and Jesus’s private meeting with the Disciples.
There is some dispute over whether Jesus prayed the John 17 prayer while still in the room or somewhere on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane, which is the garden referred to in 18:1 – probably an enclosed olive tree orchard approximately 200 feet downhill from the Temple, reserved for Jesus and His followers while they were in Jerusalem for Passover week. Jesus went there intentionally, knowing that Judas would know that He could be found there.
And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
John 18:2-3 (emphasis added)
This lets us know that Pilate had already been apprised of the Sanhedrin’s intent to charge Jesus with a crime that would also be a crime against Rome. Judas was not placed in charge of this “band” (a word which could mean up to a thousand, but likely was far fewer on this occasion) of Roman soldiers. They were not really there to make the arrest (that was left up to the Temple guards), but to stop a possible riot or serious outbreak of violence. They had lanterns and torches because, obviously, it was nighttime.
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
John 18:4
Jesus took the initiative to protect His Disciples. Having declared to the Father in prayer that He had lost none of them, He meant to accomplish this spiritually, but also physically.
They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
John 18:5 (emphasis added)
This was an ironic or double-meaning “I am” statement.
As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
John 18:6
We are tempted to read this as a demonstration of Divine revelation – sort of a “Theophany” – but most likely they stepped back in revulsion or shock over His bold use of the “I AM” and bumped into those crowding behind, causing more of a Three Stooges pratfall than a moment of supernatural swooning.
Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
John 18:7-8
Once again, He made sure that only He was arrested. He intended to go through the upcoming “trial” (in both senses of the word) alone. Jesus, in a manner of speaking, endured His passion alone, so that you and I would have the blessing of ministering in the company of others.
That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
John 18:9
This is the reference I mentioned earlier, where Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of saving His elect Disciples not only eternally, but temporally as well. Peter, however, was not on board, and he had his blood up.
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
John 18:10
Do you admire Peter for this, or condemn him? It was certainly brave. It is an act which is often portrayed, like the falling down of the arresting party, as an almost solemn occasion where he gallantly drew a long King Arthur sword and stood in His Lord’s defense, making a precise stroke with his blade, but that is a false picture, I think. Peter, a fisherman (not a master swordsman or even a soldier), in a moment of consternation – possibly a mixture of loyalty and fear – drew out a dagger-like “sword,” and exhibited such poor aim that he only managed to slice off an ear when he meant to go for the head.
Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
John 18:11
The prayer of Gethsemane is not recorded in the Gospel of John, but there is a clear reference to it here, as well as to the Chapters in Isaiah (40, et seq.) which talk about the Suffering Servant drinking the cup of God’s wrath on behalf of His people.
Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
John 18:12-13
Annas, a High Priest who was supposed to have served in that position for life, had been removed from the office by the Roman governor, but was still considered the “real” High Priest privately and popularly by four of his sons and one son-in-law (Caiaphas) who held the office after him.
Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
John 18:14
This refers back to Caiaphas’s ironic statement in Chapter 11 after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead:
Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
John 11:45-53 (emphasis added)
The Gospel of John: That Ye Might Believe
July 21, 2020 at 4:24 pm | Posted in John | 9 CommentsTags: Book of John, commentary on John, Gospel of John, John, Sunday School lessons on John
The purpose of the Gospel of John is stated near the end of the book:
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 20:31 (emphasis added)
1. Believe:
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13
a. Belief is the gift of God (to them GAVE He this power).
b. Belief is not a “work.” It is not “doing” something to earn a reward from God. It is trusting in Who Jesus is and what He has “done.”
2. Christ:
He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
John 1:41
a. This was a title known to Jewish people in the Old Testament.
b. It was the title for the One Who was “anointed” by God to fulfill all the Old Testament types: Man and God; the Lamb; the Great High Priest; the Shepherd.
3. The Son of God:
Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
John 1:49
a. Although having a human body, He was still God. He was God the Son, Who showed the nature of God the Father on earth.
b. He was the TRUE KING of God’s people.
4. Life:
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:15-16
a. This life is an escape from death as the ultimate end.
b. It is life that is eternal.
The purpose statement – and the main theme – of the Book of John is very evangelistic in nature, but John is a book that also serves a didactic purspose for new believers.
Here are links to the lessons in the series on the Gospel of John:
1. Life and Light (1:1-5)
2. Light Produces Life (1:4; 8:12; 9:5; 11:25)
3. The Father of Lights (1:4-9; 3:21; 8:12)
4. The New Girl Arrives (1:6-12; 8:12)
5. Power Foretold and Prophecy Fulfilled (1:6-41)
6. Light Measures Time (1:9; 12:35-36)
7. Discipleship Lesson 1: Salvation (1:12-13; 3:3,36; 6:47; 8:44)*
8. Discipleship Lesson 2: Everlasting Security (1:12-13; 6:37; 10:27-29; 14:26)
9. Objections To the Doctrine of Everlasting Security Answered (Objection 2) (1:12-13)
10. Big Words of the Christian Life: Regeneration (Part 1) (1:12-13; 3:1-7)
11. Safe and Secure: Salvation Is of the Lord (John 1:12-13; 6:34-37)
12. Safer and Secure: Eternally Ovine (John 1:12-13; 6:39; 10:27-28)
13. Incarnation (1:14)
14. Power in Many Voices (1:14)
15. Catechism Question 14 (1:14; 3:16)
16. The Command, Calling, and Consequences of Following the Christ (1:42-47)
17. Do You Have Plans for Lunch? (1:43-44; 6:5-9)
18. A Greater Ladder (1:50-51)
19. Jesus Saves the (Wedding) Day (2:1-11)
20. Eaten Up with It (2:4-17)
21. Here’s Your Sign (2:18-3:3)
22. The Water-Spirit Birth (3:1-10)
23. Salvation Is Not Like Shongaloo (3:3; 10:9)
24. Big Words of the Christian Life: Regeneration (Part 2) (3:3,7)
25. Discipleship Lesson 9: The Holy Spirit (3:5; 14:16-18,26; 16:7-8,13-14)
26. The Competition (3:7-4:2)
27. Getting Full (Part 2) (3:8; 6:53; 7:37-39)
28. Catechism Question 17 (3:14; 19:18)
29. Snakes on a Plain (Part 3) (3:14-15)
30. Reintroducing John 3:16 (3:14-16)
31. Lifting up the Son of Man (3:14-18)
32. Do Some Christians Irritate You or Make You Feel Uncomfortable? (3:19-20; 15:18-19)
33. Performing a Biopsy on Your Marriage (3:22-30)
34. Light Shows the Truth (3:21)
35. Meeting up for a Drink with Jesus (4:3-11)
36. The Humanity of Jesus (4:6; 11:35; 19:28)
37. The Woman at the Well Who Well Said (4:16-26)
38. Worship as a Means of Grace (Part 1) (4:20-24)
39. True Fulfillment (4:31-34)
40. Watering Down the Truth about Jesus (4:46-5:3)
41. Rising above the Rules (5:2-10)
42. Beware Flaky Firmness (5:5,14-15)
43. Tattletaling on God (5:11-22)
44. The Relationship between Sin and Disease (5:13-14)
45. From Feeding to Fearing to Following to Failing (6:13-32)
46. Warning Sign #6: Visualization Techniques (6:19; 12:21)
47. Hard Sayings (6:35-44)
48. The Slave (His Obligations) (6:37; 15:14-15)
49. Ordinance, Not Sacrament (6:52-52)
50. Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles (6:65-7:35)
51. The Bookends of Faith (Part 1) (6:26-51; 8:12; 10:9; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1,4)
52. The Bookends of Faith (Part 2) (6:34-50)
53. Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth (7:37-51)
54. Witnesses to the Light (8:12-30)
55. Here’s Mud in Your Eye (8:28-9:7)
56. Catechism Question 15 (8:29,46)
57. The Stones of Condemnation (8:7-9)
58. The How versus the Who (9:8-10)
59. Blindly Riding the Hobby Horse (9:13-34)
60. The Door and the Good Shepherd (10:1-10)
61. Warning Sign #2: A Fixation on “Abundance” (10:10)
62. Living Your Best Life (10:12-11:16)
63. The Legend of the Unsaved Christian (10:28-30)
64. The One Question You MUST NOT Get Wrong (10:30)
65. Did Jesus Claim to be God? (10:30)
66. The Stones of Complacency (11:5-44)
67. The Smell of Death and the Sound of Life (11:14-57)
68. Get a Life (11:25-26; 14:6)
69. A Worker, a Worshiper, a Wrongdoer, and a Witness (12:2-15)
70. From Dark Death to Living Light (12:24-46)
71. Light Is Stronger than Darkness (12:46)
72. Prophetic Foot Washing (13:1-19)
73. Humility, Holiness, Happiness, and Hypocrisy (13:1-19)
74. A Secret at Supper (13:21-30)
75. The Prepared Place (14:1-3)
76. Letter to a Grieving Mother (14:1-3)
77. The Particular Path (14:4-11)
78. Do You Know the Truth? (14:6)
79. Don’t S.W.I.M. Subjectively (14:6; 17:17)
80. The Power of Prayer (14:12-14)
81. Catechism Question 22 (14:15)
82. Three Reasons for Ten Commandments (Revelatory) (14:15,21)
83. The Promise of the Paraclete (14:15-26)
84. Objections To the Doctrine of Everlasting Security Answered (Objection 1) (14:16-17)
85. Teaching / Temptation (14:26-27)
86. World Peace: Overrated (14:27-30)
87. The Provision of Peace (14:27-31)
88. The Bookends of Faith (Part 3) (15:1-4)
89. The Bookends of Faith (Part 4) (15:5-12)
90. Who Chose Whom? (John 15:16)
91. The S.H.A.R.K. Priniciple (lesson 1) (15:23-25)
92. Whom to Expect When You’re Expecting (15:25-16:7)
93.The Double-Layered Meanings of Three Kinds of Reproof (16:8-33)
94. The Sending of the Holy Spirit (16:9)
95. The Prayer for the Chosen (17)
96. A Courageous Marriage (17:14-15; 18:36)
97. Jesus, the Great Protector (18:1-14)
98. Quarterback Commandment No. 10 (18:10-11)
99. Who Was Really on Trial? (18:15-38)
100. Truth, Torture, and Trepidation (18:29-19:8)
101. Purple or Scarlet? (19:2)
102. Who Carried the Cross? (19:16-17)
103. A Less Lurid Account of the Crucifixion (19:16-31)
104. Did Jesus Cancel Our Debt? (19:30)
105. Pierced and Buried (19:31-42)
106. Seeing, Touching, Hearing, Reading, and Believing (20:19-31)
107. Expecting Jesus (21)
108. John Eliot Helped People to S.W.I.M. Plainly (21:15)
109. Even Warren Wiersbe Likes to “S.W.I.M.”
110. Faith in the Gospel of John?
*most-viewed post in category
Divide and Conquer
July 20, 2020 at 3:58 pm | Posted in Joshua | 7 CommentsTags: Biblical battle strategies, Biblical battles, commentary on Joshua, Hazor, Jabin, Joshua 11, Psalm 20, Sunday School lessons on Joshua
You may have heard the expression “divide and conquer.” Joshua had successfully divided the land of Canaan, conquering several of its major cities and strongholds, notably Jericho. He had also successfully conquered – or at least broken the resistance of – the southern section of Canaan.
Hazor was probably the biggest obstacle in the northern section, and the king of Hazor, Jabin, was not deterred by the failure of the southern alliance from forming his own alliance. He had two perceived advantages that the southern tribes did not: a varied geography of plains, foothills, and mountainous regions, which gave him the high ground; and he believed he had superior advantages in the form of mounted troops and iron chariots. The Israelite soldiers were foot soldiers.
And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
Joshua 11:4-5
The preceding verses list the names of the kings that made up the coalition, and the Holy Spirit listed them partly for historical accuracy, but also partly to really drive home the point that this was not a “fair fight” numerically speaking. Joshua and his men were great fighters, but their ability is deemphasized in light of Yahweh’s superior power, and their courage is specially defined as a feature of their trust in Him.
And the Lord said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
Joshua 11:6-7
This sudden sneak attack on Jabin’s forces at Merom was the Lord’s idea, and it was very smart, of course. Merom was about 4000 feet above sea level – a great position for defense, but not so great for maneuvering chariots. Time and time again in Joshua we see that God’s sovereign decree does not invoke apathy, but incites action. It should be the same way with us, as Christians. We KNOW we’re on the winning side, so why resist sin and serve in uncomfortable circumstances and give sacrificially and endure hardship? Because, since we’re on the winning side, we will conquer sin and overcome our circumstances and find unexpected joy in hardship and receive great blessings in return for sacrificial giving!
And Joshua did unto them as the Lord bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
Joshua 11:9
When we read that they cut the horses’ hamstrings and burnt the chariots, we might think this sounds unwise or wasteful. Couldn’t the Israelites have used these vehicles in future battles? That’s probably the point. God didn’t want them to trust in chariots.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
Psalm 20:7
Don’t let your trust in technology or worldly resources replace your trust in God. Hazor was a big place, with “upper” and “lower” sections covering an area of around 205 acres. The Israelites were way outnumbered, and, from an earthly perspective, they stood little chance against Jabin’s mounted troops and the superior technology of their iron chariots. Thankfully, though, the Lord God Almighty cares nothing for “odds,” “chances,” or earthly estimates. Opposed by His power, the northern alliance would be reduced to crippled horses, smoldering wagons, and hillsides littered with bloody corpses. I don’t want to discount the sagacity of Joshua’s battle strategies or the bravery of his troops, but let’s face it, God’s people don’t win victories on their own. No human technologies, plans, or precautions will stand against the Lord’s might. By the same token, you might dump a 50 gallon drum of Clorox over your head every morning, pour a quart of Purell in each ear, wrap yourself in a big ball of radiated bubble wrap, distance yourself from every sniffling toddler, wash your hands ’til your knuckles bleed, and strap IV vaccinations to every vein on both arms, but, ultimately, you are subject to God’s sovereign decree, and He has not given you a spirit of fear (I Timothy 1:17), unless it is the fear of the Lord (Proverrbs 1:7, 9:10).
And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms. And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.
Joshua 11:10-11
Don’t miss another important point:
As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.
Joshua 11:15
Joshua was very concerned (which the Holy Spirit highlights) with carrying out this conquest in direct compliance with the Law of Moses (sometimes called the “lawgiver” although what he delivered was actually God’s law). Here is the the kind of leader God wanted, and a model for future kings of Israel: not a lawbreaker, certainly, but not a lawmaker, either. Not a lawbreaker or a lawmaker, but a law “taker,” taking the law of God into the new land and establishing it: a law keeper; law obeyer; guardian and doer of the rule of God’s law.
The second part of Joshua 11, beginning in Verse 16 is a summary of the cities defeated and sometimes destroyed by Joshua, both in the south and the north. This is a short summary of a war that lasted five to seven years.
Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
Joshua 11:18
Even though God has predetermined our victory, do not presume that it will happen right away, or that we won’t need perseverance. That is more often than not God’s pattern for sanctification.
Once Jabin’s alliance was routed, the other groups in the north continued fighting even though it must have seemed like a lost cause at that point.
There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle. For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses.
Joshua 11:19-20
God is free to take sinful unrepentant hearts, at any point in time, and harden them. Exposure to light can be a welcome epiphany or it can burn the eyes, expose beloved sin, and cause hatred, fear, and flight. As Warren Wiersbe often wrote, the same sun that melts the ice, hardens the clay.
Finally, Chapter 11 puts a bow on the “fear not” package that God is constantly delivering to his people.
And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities. There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
Joshua 11:21-22
The giants that had so terrified all the spies except for Joshua and Caleb were cut down. They were big and bad and they lived high up in the world, but no one is higher than God. He’s not big and bad, but He’s immense and immanent and He is not only undefeated, but undefeatABLE.
So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
Joshua 11:23
Was Jesus Late?
July 10, 2020 at 1:59 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 5 CommentsTags: birth of Jesus, Ephesians 1, Galatians 4, God's timing, good timing, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, perfect timing, sovereignty of God, time
Question: While everybody was singing along, I was reading the words to “Hark the Herald Angels” up on the screen, and one of the lines bothered me. It said, “Late in time, behold Him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb.” This is talking about Jesus’s birth, obviously, but why does it say, “Late in time?” What about the Bible verse that says God is always right on time?
Answer: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is the most theologically-rich of the popular Christmas hymns, and we will miss out on one of the greatest purposes (Colossians 3:16) of these hymns if we just sing along mindlessly without focusing on the truths being expressed, so I want to commend you for paying close attention to the lyrics. Far too many Christian songs (including Christmas songs) these days have words that are simply vapid.
To answer your question, I agree that God was not “late” concerning the timing of the birth of Jesus in the way we use the word “late.” In other words, God was not tardy in the sense that He wanted, but failed, to accomplish the timing of Jesus’s birth at an earlier date. While “God is always right on time,” is not really a Bible verse, and is really more of a Christian cliche’ that is likely to be printed on a coffee mug or social media meme, it is a statement that does happen to be Biblically correct. God, Who is immutable, is not really subject to “time,” which is a measurement of change. Therefore, when He ordains, controls, decrees, orchestrates, and intervenes in the events of the world, He always does so in a way that is perfectly sovereign and impeccably timed.
What I think the author of the song (Charles Wesley) was probably trying to express, though, was the idea found in Galatians 4:4 and Ephesians 1:10. The incarnation of Christ occurred at a pivotal point in history, and it was an event for which God had been preparing the world since its foundation. Think of it like this: When we are waiting for a vessel to be filled with water, the very last thing that happens before it overflows is that it reaches its maximum “fullness;” it is “filled” only “late” in the time of filling.
The birth of the Savior happened many hundreds of years after its prophecies had been pronounced and its preparations had been planned, and in that sense, it was “late in time.”
Behind the Scenes of Suffering
July 6, 2020 at 4:03 pm | Posted in Job | 8 CommentsTags: 2 Chronicles 16, Biblical patience, commentary on Job, James 5, Job 1, Job 2, Psalm 37, Revelation 12, Sunday School lessons on Job
Lord, I ask You to protect new believers. Thank you for the ordinance of baptism. Thank you for opportunities to disciple them. Let these new Christians be inroads into unsaved families. Grant us patience and endurance. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
If you were asked to guess the most famous doctor in the whole Bible, would you guess Luke? Or would you guess Job, because he had the most “patients?” I know, it’s a bad joke, but I couldn’t resist.
The Book of Job may have been the first book of the Bible to be written down, and the human instrument that the Holy Spirit inspired to write it is not definitely known. While it may have been the first written book of the Bible, its events do not take place first, chronologically. They are believed to have occurred in what is known as the Patriarchal Age, well after the time of the events recorded in the first couple of chapters of Genesis.
As mentioned in the previous attempt at humor, Job is known for his “patience,” even though the word “patience” does not appear in the Book of Job, or even in the entire Old Testament. The word “patient” appears only once in the Old Testament. The popular allusion to Job’s patience comes from this New Testament verse:
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
James 5:11
More than a book of patience, the Book of Job is really a book about endurance, especially endurance in suffering.
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
Job 1:1
Job was not “perfect” in the sense of being sinless, but there was something extraordinary about his character and his life.
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
Psalm 37:37
Job was perfect in the sense of being “complete:” totally committed to serving the Lord. A man who lives an upright life before the Lord will not necessarily have a life filled with nothing but peace, but the END thereof is peace.
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
II Chronicles 16:9
Christians are miraculously and gloriously forgiven by the MERCY of God, and He does want us to be perfect in our commitment to Him. As the popular sermon poem goes, “There are only two choices on the shelf: pleasing my God, or pleasing myself.”
Job had a secret for being perfect and upright: he feared God. Do you fear God? We are often quick to proclaim that we love God, or even that we have a healthy respect for Him, and the idea of correctly fearing God is not to have a panic-stricken, paralyzing fear of Him, but we should have a genuine fear of displeasing Him.
In addition to fearing God, Job eschewed evil. This was more than a mere, casual avoidance of evil. I generally try to avoid celery, but, here in South Louisiana, it is a main ingredient in so many delicious Cajun dishes that I would be seriously missing out if I truly eschewed it. The word eschew is from an ancient French word, eschiver, which looks like “shiver,” and meant to avoid something out of great fear. For Job, eschewing evil meant that he was terrified of it.
We might get the impression that Job was one scared dude. He was scared of God and he was scared of evil, but those two attitudes actually go together. If we don’t fear evil and sin – if we just have a vague idea of generally avoiding them – we may end up getting near enough to them to get tempted into participating, and this is an indication that we don’t fear God the way we should.
Job 1:3 tells us “that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.” This means that he was wealthy, influential, and powerful.
And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
Job 1:5
Job prioritized worshiping God, and he was concerned about his family. There is nothing more important that you can do for your family than honoring the Lord with your life. Job was consistent. He didn’t honor God once in while, or just on certain special occasions. He wouldn’t have been one of those Christians who only come to church on Easter and Christmas, or only after hunting season is over. He wouldn’t have used the excuse of being tired. He worshiped and interceded for his family “continually.”
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:6
There is some debate as to whom “the sons of God” refer to here, but they were probably angels, and Satan was among them. Satan is not sitting on a throne in hell, getting a kick out of torturing lost souls who are imprisoned there. No, he is going to and fro like a roaring lion, and, at least on this occasion, and probably several others, he went into the presence of God.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Job 1:7
Satan is subject to God’s commands. He is the liar of all liars, but when God commands, even the devil must tell the truth.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job 1:8
God actually bragged on Job. Some Bible commentators will say that, since all suffering is caused by sin, or at least unbelief (this is a favorite staple of the “Word-Faith/Prosperity” movement), Job must have had secret sins, but that is refuted by God’s statement and the suffering that is to follow. Not all suffering is caused specifically by the sins of the person suffering.
Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:9
I said earlier that God bragged on Job, but what must not be overlooked is not only what Satan did say when God asked Satan if he had considered Job, but what he didn’t say. He didn’t say, “Who??!” Satan knew Job’s name. Does Satan know your name? You can’t make a bargain with him, but if you’re not on Satan’s radar, you’re probably not doing anything significant for God. Revelation 12:10 tells us that Satan is the accuser of the brethren. That’s what he was doing here to Job. Satan goes before God and accuses you and me, as Christians. I’m afraid that’s one of the few times he tells the truth. He accused Job of having an ulterior motive for fearing God and doing right. He got permission from God to attack everything Job had, but not to touch Job himself.
Job suffered a tremendous loss, but he did not lose everything. Thank God for His restraining power. Satan can cause some serious destruction in a short period of time. Job lost his wealth, his children, all his livestock, but he did not lose his wife. She’s still around in Chapter 2 to prove it.
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
Job 2:9
Satan didn’t kill Job’s wife, even though God had not specifically forbidden it. This may have been because Job and his wife were “one flesh.” God didn’t even have to say it.
Job’s reaction was truly astounding and admirable:
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Job 1:20-22
Heavenly Father, please help us to worship You when You give, and to worship You when you allow what You’ve given to be taken away. Blessed is Your name, Lord. We know there is purification and sanctification in suffering, in adversity. The wicked have no peace, but, Lord, if we’re righteous – made righteous by faith in Christ and the Cross – then we know the end of our suffering is peace. In His holy name I pray. Amen.
The Deep End 
Christmas Trees in the Bible?
July 31, 2020 at 12:31 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 3 CommentsTags: Advent, Advent devotions, Christmas, Christmas devotions, Christmas trees, commentary on Jeremiah, Incarnation, Jeremiah, Jeremiah 10, Sunday School lessons on Jeremiah
Question: Are the trees mentioned in Jeremiah 10 possibly Christmas trees, and what are your thoughts on that possibility?
Answer: That is a good question. To my embarassment, I had never noticed the similarities until reading through those verses recently.
Jeremiah 10:1-5
First, let me say that I don’t think that Christmas trees, per se, are what Jeremiah was dealing with. Obviously, our celebration of Christmas came centuries after his ministry. Jeremiah was addressing the idolatry of the people of Judah who, in imitation of the pagan nations around them, had adopted the sinful practice of bringing idols into their homes and worshiping them as the representations of false gods – specifically Asherah and Baal, the worship of which often involved groves of trees and carved wooden poles.
HOWEVER, I don’t think we can just dismiss out of hand the idea that these verses might have some application to our modern Christmas tree tradition, in principle if not in precept.
For instance, the idol-trees were cut down elsewhere and then brought into the home for a specific purpose, like our Christmas trees (unless you have an artificial tree) (Verse 3). They were decorated with festive colors (Verse 4), just as we do with Christmas trees. The people tried to stabilize them (also Verse. 4), just as we do with our Christmas trees (a source of much contention early in my marriage, and still a source of humor for us now each year). They did their best to make them stand up straight (Verse 5), just as most people do with their Christmas trees. They had to be carried into the home (also Verse 5), just like Christmas trees. Finally, the people superstitiously believed that these totems could impart evil or good to them (Verse 5 again). While 21st Century American Christians do not believe that their Christmas trees are sentient, the vast majority do try their dead level best to convince their children that some magical being watches their behavior throughout the year, or at least during the Christmas season, to determine whether they will receive good or evil in the form of presents or the lack thereof left under these trees.
Is it possible that the Holy Spirit was looking ahead in Jeremiah 10 to our modern times and warning us to be careful about what we bring into our homes that might have its origin in pagan idolatry? It is certainly possible, but I think an in-context reading of Jeremiah Chapter 10 puts the burden on each individual Christian today to examine his conscience and decide for himself what a Christmas tree means to his or her household, and what it does or does not do to glorify God and honor the incarnation of Christ. Some traditions are just fun and harmless, but it is also good to always be examining and reevaluating why we do what we do with an open Bible and a tender conscience before us.