eternity

Seeing Isn’t Always Believing

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A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

1 O LORD, God of my salvation,
    I cry out day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer come before you;
    incline your ear to my cry!

3 For my soul is full of troubles,
    and my life draws near to Sheol.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
    I am a man who has no strength,
5 like one set loose among the dead,
    like the slain that lie in the grave,
like those whom you remember no more,
    for they are cut off from your hand.
6 You have put me in the depths of the pit,
    in the regions dark and deep.
7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
    and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah

8 You have caused my companions to shun me;
    you have made me a horror to them.
I am shut in so that I cannot escape;
9     my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call upon you, O LORD;
    I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you work wonders for the dead?
    Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah
11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave,
    or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Are your wonders known in the darkness,
    or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But I, O LORD, cry to you;
    in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 O LORD, why do you cast my soul away?
    Why do you hide your face from me?
15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up,
    I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.
16 Your wrath has swept over me;
    your dreadful assaults destroy me.
17 They surround me like a flood all day long;
    they close in on me together.
18 You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;
    my companions have become darkness. – Psalm 88:1-18 ESV

The pessimism of this psalm makes most believers a bit uncomfortable. We might be able to relate to his rather refreshingly honest assessment of his condition because most of us have been there before. We’ve all experienced moments when life’s circumstances overwhelm us, leaving us exasperated and perplexed. Overwhelmed by unexpected and inexplicable trials that seem to come in waves, we feel compelled to express our frustration and defend our integrity. In the face of unwanted difficulties, we cry, “Why?”

O LORD, why do you cast my soul away?
    Why do you hide your face from me? – Psalm 88:14 ESV

Like the psalmist, we demand answers and explanations from God. We want Him to explain His seeming disinterest in our predicament or to justify His role in bringing it about. But we find the psalmist’s unbridled and brutally blunt attacks on God go further than most of us would ever dare. He pulls no punches and displays no fear of offending the Almighty. In fact, he is unapologetic in blaming God for his circumstances.

You have thrown me into the lowest pit,
    into the darkest depths.
Your anger weighs me down;
    with wave after wave you have engulfed me. – Psalm 88:6-7 NLT

You have driven my friends away
    by making me repulsive to them. – Psalm 88:8 NLT

Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me.
    Your terrors have paralyzed me. – Psalm 88:16 NLT

You have taken away my companions and loved ones.
    Darkness is my closest friend. – Psalm 88:18 NLT

These are the words of a man who believes in God’s sovereignty. In his spiritual worldview, Yahweh is in full control of everything, meting out blessings and curses as He sees fit. From the psalmist’s earthly vantage point, it appears as if he has done something to get on God’s naughty list, but he can’t imagine what it is. From his perspective, Yahweh’s anger is unjustified, and his suffering is undeserved.

While we know little about Heman, the author of this psalm, we can relate to his frustration. We might not dare to express our words as bluntly as he does, but we’ve all had moments when we wanted to put God on trial and cross-examine Him for His mismanagement of our affairs.

It’s impossible to read Psalm 88 without thinking about Job’s plight, which is recorded in the book that bears his name. According to the book’s prologue, Job “was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil” (Job 1:1 NLT). This glowing assessment of Job was not just the opinion of the book’s author; it came directly from God Himself.

“Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” – Job 1:8 NLT

According to God, Job was a righteous man whom He had blessed with wealth, an impeccable reputation, and a large family. But the story goes on to reveal that Satan questioned the source of Job’s allegiance to God. He accused Job of being a fair-weather God-follower who served for purely selfish reasons.

“Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” – Job 1:9-11 NLT

Satan believed Job was in it for what he could get out of it. In other words, his faithfulness was motivated by selfishness. To prove his point, Satan proposed a test that he believed would expose Job as a fraud. In fact, he convinced God to sanction a series of life-altering disasters that would rob Job of everything he had, including his wealth, health, reputation, and children. When the dust settled, Job was left a broken and embittered man who felt betrayed and abandoned by God.

For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows.
    Their poison infects my spirit.
    God’s terrors are lined up against me.
Don’t I have a right to complain? – Job 6:4-5 NLT

Like Heman, Job believed in God’s sovereignty, which made his suffering so difficult to understand. His well-meaning friends didn’t make things any easier when they accused him of only getting what he deserved. From their perspective, Job’s suffering had to be tied to sin. He had done something to offend God and would continue to suffer until he confessed and repented. But Job rejected their logic and refused to accept responsibility for his circumstances. Instead, he blamed God.

Why won’t you leave me alone,
    at least long enough for me to swallow!
If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
    O watcher of all humanity?
Why make me your target?
    Am I a burden to you? – Job 7:19-20 NLT

Both Job and Heman called on God. In their pain and suffering, they directed their questions to the One they believed was responsible and capable of turning their fate around.

O LORD, God of my salvation,
    I cry out to you by day.
    I come to you at night.
Now hear my prayer;
    listen to my cry. – Psalm 88:1-2 NLT

“You must defend my innocence, O God,
    since no one else will stand up for me.” – Job 17:3 NLT

Though Job and Heman lived centuries apart, they were kindred spirits. Both of these men were God-followers who clung to their belief in His sovereignty and held onto their hope that His love and compassion would come through in the end.  They feared death and longed for deliverance. Abandoned by their friends, they turned to Yahweh for help and hope.

But this psalm seems to end on a purely negative note.

You have taken away my companions and loved ones.
    Darkness is my closest friend. – Psalm 88:18 NLT

Unlike Job’s story, Heman’s plight has no resolution or happy ending. There is no last-minute reprieve or divine intervention that produces a storybook ending  At least Job got to see the salvation of the Lord.

…the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring.

So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.

Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life. – Job 42:10-17 NLT

Yet, as Derek Kidner notes, Heman’s story ends in darkness.

“With darkness as its final word, what is the role of this psalm in Scripture? For the beginning of an answer we may note, first, its witness to the possibility of unrelieved suffering as a believer’s earthly lot. The happy ending of most psalms of this kind is seen to be a bonus, not a due; its withholding is not a proof of either God’s displeasure or His defeat. Secondly, the psalm adds its voice to the ‘groaning in travail’ which forbids us to accept the present order as final. It is a sharp reminder that ‘we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies’ (Rom. 8:22f). Thirdly, this author, like Job, does not give up. He completes his prayer, still in the dark and totally unrewarded. The taunt, ‘Does Job fear God for naught?’, is answered yet again. Fourthly, the author’s name allows us, with hindsight, to see that his rejection was only apparent (see the opening comments on the psalm). His existence was no mistake; there was a divine plan bigger than he knew, and a place in it reserved most carefully for him.” – Derek Kidner, Psalms 73—150. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series

So, what are we to make of Heman’s psalm? How do we apply this rather bleak and pessimistic “song” to our daily lives? Its lack of resolution should not surprise or disappoint us because we know God was not done with Heman. While we don’t know the outcome of Heman’s circumstance, we can rest assured that God was fully aware of its cause and its outcome. There is much in this life that we will never comprehend. Our earth-bound, limited perspective prevents us from seeing things as God does. When surrounded by darkness and unable to see any semblance of light on the horizon, we must trust that God knows all and sees all. Like Heman, when we see no way out, we must cry out to God for help. He may delay, but He will never refuse to hear and answer. The salvation we long for may not come as expected, but it will come. Our God is faithful, and His timing is perfect. But more importantly, our God is eternal and not limited by time and space. We demand answers now. We expect an immediate resolution to our present problems. But God operates on a divine schedule that always has the end in mind.

“Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” – Revelation 21:3-5 NLT

Father, in this life things don’t always go as expected. Difficulties come. Pain and suffering are daily realities. Death is an unavoidable part of living in a fallen world. But You are never out of control or out of reach. You never turn Your back on us or fail to know what is happening at any given moment. And You always have a plan that is perfect, just, and righteous. I may know it or understand it but I can trust You with it. Help me to live with an eternal perspective that focuses on Your faithfulness and rests in Your promise to make all things new — in Your time. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Don’t Worry About the Wicked

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A psalm of David.

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
    and wither like the green herb.

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
    trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
    Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
    though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
    and delight themselves in abundant peace.

12 The wicked plots against the righteous
    and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the LORD laughs at the wicked,
    for he sees that his day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
    to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those whose way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
    and their bows shall be broken.

16 Better is the little that the righteous has
    than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
    but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless,
    and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
    in the days of famine they have abundance.

20 But the wicked will perish;
    the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures;
    they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
    but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land,
    but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
    when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the LORD upholds his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously,
    and his children become a blessing.

27 Turn away from evil and do good;
    so shall you dwell forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice;
    he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
    but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
    and dwell upon it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
    and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
    his steps do not slip.

32 The wicked watches for the righteous
    and seeks to put him to death.
33 The LORD will not abandon him to his power
    or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way,
    and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
    you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
    spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
    though I sought him, he could not be found.

37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
    for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
    the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
    he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him. – Psalm 37:1-40 ESV

It’s hard not to worry about the wicked. They’re all around us. Many of them are in positions of power and influence in our country. Others are considered celebrities and stars. They write books, have their own TV shows, create music and art, and define what is in when it comes to everything from clothing to hairstyles. The wicked come in all shapes and sizes, and their wickedness is not always readily apparent or easily recognized. They seem to live lives marked by success, happiness, affluence, and popularity. So it’s sometimes easy to envy or desire to be like them. But David tells us not to worry about the wicked or to covent their lifestyles, because their days are numbered. Yet, we often find ourselves getting angry over the apparent lack of justice in a world where the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer.

Some of these people prosper despite lifestyles marked more by sin than anything else. David reminds us that “it is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich” (Psalm 37:16 NLT). To drive the point home, David provides a running contrast between the wicked and the godly. He paints a clear and memorable picture of the stark difference between these two lifestyles.

The wicked will soon fade.
But the godly will find shelter in Him.

This life is temporal, and its rewards are fleeting and ephemeral. While the wicked may appear to enjoy the good life in this life, they face a future judgment. The righteous may suffer in this life, but they have the assurance of God’s presence, protection, and provision — right here, right now.

The wicked will soon wither.
But the godly will never slip from His path.

Things are not always what they seem. What appears to be prosperity and unbridled success is often accompanied by discontentment and dissatisfaction. Wealth and fame cannot immunize anyone from disease, disappointment, or death. The wicked can hide behind the temporal trappings of worldly success, but their sins will find them out (Numbers 32:33). Yet, the righteous will find security and safety in this life by faithfully following the ways of God.

The wicked will be destroyed.
But the godly will be rescued by God.

The wicked stand opposed to God, and He has a way of holding them accountable for their actions. Their present prosperity and seeming immunity from justice will not last. God will have the last word when it comes to their eternal judgment. In the meantime, the righteous must maintain their confidence in God and trust that His eternal reward is far greater than any temporal treasure or pleasure a life of wickedness may offer.

The wicked will disappear.
But the godly will trust in the Lord and do good.

Leave the fate of the wicked up to God. He knows what He is doing and is not fooled by the deceitful ways of those who ignore His will and reject His sovereignty. Their cleverness and covertness make them feel invincible, but their fate is sealed. Nothing is hidden from the eyes of God and no sin goes unpunished. So, rather than worry about the wicked, the righteous need to spend their time doing what pleases God.

The wicked will be gone.
But the godly will never fall.

The righteous must maintain an eternal perspective. This life is not all there is. We are eternal creatures who have a long future ahead of us. This present life is just a blink of the eye in God’s plan for His children’s prosperity. While there will be trials and tribulations in this life, the one to come will be free from sin, suffering, sorrow, and loss.

The wicked plot against the godly.
But God will take care of the godly because they are innocent.

This world is not always fair, and things don’t always turn out how we think they should. But God is in control at all times, and His ways are always just and righteous — even when circumstances paint a very different picture. Because we are finite creatures living in a temporal world, we can’t see the big picture. Present pain has a way of clouding our future perspective. But we must rest in knowing that God sees all and knows all. He has a firm grasp on what is going on in His world and has a flawless plan to mete out justice and reward the righteous — in His time.

The wicked snarl at them in defiance.
But God will expose the justice of the cause of the godly.

The prosperity of the wicked won’t last forever. It may appear that they get away with murder and escape any form of justice, but God is not done yet. We can’t see what He is doing behind the scenes, but we can know that He will leave no sin unpunished and no wicked individual free from His judgment.

The wicked draw their swords and string their bows.
But God is the fortress of the godly.

The wicked may appear to be powerful and unstoppable. Their string of victories over the righteous seems endless, but they are no match for Jehovah-Sabaoth, the LORD of Hosts. They may win their fair share of battles, but the war between the righteous and the wicked has already been decided.

The wicked kill the poor and oppressed.
But the godly live in peace and prosperity.

Despite all the injustice and inequities in this world, those who place their hope and faith in God can rest assured that He is with them and fights on their behalf. They are not alone and far from defenseless. Yes, evil exists, and atrocities happen, but that does not mean God is powerless or impotent. His ways are not our ways. His methodologies may confuse and confound us, but we must trust that He always knows what He is doing and His ways are always just, righteous, and good.

The wicked slaughter those who do right.
But the Lord directs the steps of the godly.

There are two opposing forces at work in the world. Satan, the prince of this world, has aligned himself against all that is good, righteous, and godly. He and his demonic minions stand in opposition to God and pour out their hatred on His children. The wicked of this world are in Satan’s grip and do his bidding, but their actions are limited by the sovereign power of God. As they do their worst, God is directing the steps of His people, guiding, protecting, and blessing them even as the enemy attempts to destroy them.

The strength of the wicked will be shattered.
But the godly will be taken care of by God.

Give God time. Let Him finish what He began and complete the plan of redemption He put in place before He laid the foundations of the world. Our victory is assured. The future is secure. God’s plan has an end, and the outcome has never been in question.

David continues his comparison between the wicked and the godly, pointing out the glaring differences between the two.

The wicked will die.
But the godly will possess the land.

The wicked will disappear like smoke.
But the godly will never be abandoned.

The wicked borrow and never repay.
But the godly give generous loans to others.

The children of the wicked will die.
But the children of the godly are a blessing.

The wicked wait in ambush for the godly.
But God will honor the godly by giving them the land.

The wicked look for an excuse to kill the godly.
But God teaches the godly right from wrong.

The wicked will not succeed.
But the godly will live safely in the land and prosper.

The wicked will be destroyed.
But a wonderful future awaits the godly.

The wicked will appear to flourish, then are gone.
But the godly will not be disgraced in hard times.

The wicked have no future.
But a wonderful future awaits the godly.

David wasn’t a glass-half-full, perpetual optimist who refused to acknowledge the disparities and difficulties of life. He was painfully aware of the presence of the wicked. He struggled with their apparent success and seeming immunity from judgment. But he trusted God and knew that justice would be served. The wicked would get what they deserved and the godly would be blessed — in time and according to God’s perfect plan.

As believers, we are to put our hope in God. We are to confidently and faithfully trust the path He has chosen for us to follow and not worry about what might appear to be the unfair advantages of the ungodly. God is just, and He will deal with them in His own way and time. I can leave them in God’s hands and concentrate on honoring Him with my life and trusting Him with my future. He will not let the wicked succeed or the godly be condemned. He has it all under control. So don’t worry.

Father, thanks for this timely reminder from the pen of David. The wicked have always been around and they have always given Your people cause for consternation and concern. They appear so happy and so together. They seem to be getting away with their lifestyle of open rebellion to You, but You are not done yet. You are a just and righteous God who will make sure that all things are taken care of rightly and justly. They will not escape Your notice or Your judgment. I can leave them in Your hands and rest in the knowledge that You have me securely in Your loving grasp as well. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Totally Dependent Upon God

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A Miktam of David.

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names on my lips.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. – Psalm 16:1-11 ESV

In Psalm 15, David asked, “Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1 NLT). His answer was simple: “Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts” (Psalm 15:2 NLT). But this begs another question: Because of sin, how can anyone hope to measure up to God’s exacting and unflinching standard of righteousness? In Psalm 14, David acknowledges humanity’s desperate plight.

The Lord looks down from heaven
    on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
    if anyone seeks God.
But no, all have turned away;
    all have become corrupt.
No one does good,
    not a single one! – Psalm 14:2-3 NLT

But in Psalm 16, David provides the answers to his own questions concerning God’s righteous standards and man’s inability to measure up. He has to trust in God.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.” – Psalm 16:1-2 ESV

David knows the source of his integrity, honesty, proper conduct, and pure motives. It’s Yahweh. So, David asks God to keep him safe, to literally put a hedge of protection around him. He knows that it is only through God’s help that we can come into His presence. He says, “You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.” In other words, only God can make a man good enough to enter His presence. God makes it possible for sinful men to live the life David described in Psalm 15. Left to our own devices, we will always disqualify ourselves from ever enjoying access to the throne room of God.

David owes all that he has to God. That includes his health, wealth, power, position, and any semblance of righteousness he may exhibit in his life.

Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
    You guard all that is mine.
The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
    What a wonderful inheritance! – Psalm 16:5-6 NLT

David recognized that his status as king was due to God’s gracious hand. He had not earned the right to be king over God’s people. The Almighty had sovereignly selected David, not because of his prowess or accomplishments, but because he displayed a heart for God.

The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people. – 1 Samuel 13:14 ESV

Another Psalmist discloses that David was hand-picked by God while he was nothing more than a shepherd of his father’s flocks.

He chose David his servant
    and took him from the sheepfolds;
from following the nursing ewes he brought him
    to shepherd Jacob his people,
    Israel his inheritance.
With upright heart he shepherded them
    and guided them with his skillful hand. – Psalm 78:70-71 ESV

David, the lowly shepherd boy, eventually became the king of Israel and, according to God’s own assessment, this former herder of ewes became a skilled and accomplished leader of men. And in Psalm 16, David acknowledges that he owed everything to God.

I will bless the Lord who guides me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
I know the Lord is always with me.
    I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. – Psalm 16:7-8 NLT

His ability to care for the people of Israel with “a true heart” and “skillful hands” (Palm 78:71 NLT) was God’s doing and not his own. He could enter God’s presence not based on his own merit but because of God’s mercy and grace. He recognized the hand of God in his life and was willing to acknowledge that he owed God a debt of gratitude for all He had done for him. He also knew that his eternal future was in God’s hands.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
    My body rests in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead
    or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever. – Psalm 16:9-11 NLT

David knew death was inevitable and inescapable, even for a king, but he was confident that the grave would not be his final destination. God had plans for him that would extend well beyond his final breath. Because of the Almighty’s grace and mercy, David could enter God’s presence in this life and would continue to do so in the afterlife. The God who sustained and empowered David on earth would grant him the joy of dwelling in His presence for eternity. For David, this future hope was worthy of his present praise and worship.  It also motivated him to seek the company of other godly men and women whose lives were preserved and empowered by the gracious hand of God.

The godly people in the land
    are my true heroes!
    I take pleasure in them!
Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
    I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
    or even speak the names of their gods. – Psalm 16:3-4 NLT

David chose to associate with like-minded people who shared his love for God and displayed a dependence upon Yahweh’s help to walk blamelessly and do what was right. Had David been able to read the words of God later recorded by the prophet Isaiah, he would have readily agreed with them.

“I have chosen you
    and will not throw you away.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” – Isaiah 41:9-10 NLT

David knew his righteousness was a gift from God, not the byproduct of self-effort. He also knew that he could depend on the Almighty to guide and direct him in this life and the one to come. His hope was in the LORD. This confidence is fully displayed in another of David’s Psalms.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
    for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will not be shaken.
My victory and honor come from God alone.
    He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
O my people, trust in him at all times.
    Pour out your heart to him,
    for God is our refuge. – Psalm 62:5-8 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Do Not Be Anxious

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25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” –  Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

If, as Jesus has suggested, we are supposed to lay up treasures in heaven and not on earth, then why would we need to worry so much about the things of this earth? And if, as He has already pointed out, our hearts are to focus on heaven, where our treasure is, then the things of this earth should have far less appeal to us than they normally do. And yet, as followers of Christ, we find ourselves just as anxious about and attracted to the things of this earth as anyone else. We have financial concerns. We worry about how to pay the bills and how to put food on the table. We get anxious about everything from the brand of clothes we buy to where we will take our next vacation. But Jesus reminds us “not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25 NLT).

Those in Jesus’ audience that day were probably a lot more justified in worrying about these kinds of things. They were most likely common laborers, farmers, and fishermen. Their daily lives were marked by a constant struggle to provide food and decent clothes for their families. For the fishermen, the next catch was never a sure thing. For the farmer, his hard work of preparing the soil and planting the crops could never guarantee a good harvest. He was at the mercy of the weather and the whims of nature. So, when Jesus tells them not to worry about life, it is as if He is telling them not to breathe. 

The real issue Jesus seems to be addressing here is faith or the lack of it. He even calls them “you of little faith” (Matthew 6:30). Their worry and anxiety reveal their lack of trust in God. Part of their problem was that they were putting all their stock in the things of this world, not the next. They were consumed by worry over earthly possessions or temporal matters. Their “treasure” was not in heaven because they were expecting all of God’s blessings to come in the here and now in the form of tangible gifts or much-needed necessities. They weren’t even trusting God to provide those things. Instead, they worked for and worried about them. They struggled to provide for themselves, rather than trusting God to give them what they needed.

Like so many today, they believed the solution to their problems was always more money. And yet, Jesus told them, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24 ESV). In their culture, money was a sign of God’s blessing; it was tangible proof that you were approved by God. But Jesus told them something quite different. Followers of God were to put their trust in God. They were to turn to Him for all their needs, including food and clothing. But while God may choose to provide money as a means to meet those needs, money is not to be seen as our savior. He alone provides what we need, and He may choose to bless us with little or with much. He may determine that our needs are far less than we believed them to be. The clothes God provides for us may not be the brands or styles we prefer but if our real worry is about being clothed, that shouldn’t matter to us.

The problem seems to be that our worry revolves around status, not survival. Few of us are anxious about where we will get our next meal, but we do get concerned about how many times per week we get to eat out. Our worry is not about putting food on the table, but about the quality of life we desire.

Our constant worry and ever-present anxiety reveal our lack of faith in God. It also exposes our love affair with the things of this earth. Too often, we seek our satisfaction in things and attempt to find our self-worth in the quantity and quality of our possessions. Our houses, clothes, and cars become outward symbols of our status. Yet, Jesus asks, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matthew 6:27 NLT).

He wants to know why we don’t trust God to meet our needs. God cares for the birds of the air and the flowers in the field, so what are we so worried about? Jesus even reminds us that thoughts of food and clothing “dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs” (Matthew 6:32 NLT). God knows our needs better than we do and He can discern the difference between wants and legitimate necessities. So, maybe we would be better off using Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD Who Provides, what our real needs are. Instead, we bring him our list of needs and demand that He provides all that we ask for. When He doesn’t, we get concerned and, sometimes, even angry. We doubt His faithfulness and question His love for us. But too often, we have turned wants into needs. We have allowed our love for the things of this earth to replace our love for God and our trust in His faithfulness. We measure His goodness based on what we believe to be His generosity. The more He gives us, the more we think He loves us. But Jesus reminds us that God promises to meet all our needs.

As disciples of Jesus, we should share the outlook of the apostle Paul.

I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:11-13 NLT

Contentment versus covetousness. That’s the problem. We must learn to trust God, to put our faith in Him, knowing that He loves us and has His best in store for us. God has promised to meet our needs, and He has also assured us that our greatest treasure is laid up for us in heaven, not on this earth. We are citizens of another kingdom. This world is not our home, and the things of this earth that we spend so much time coveting and worrying about will not last. They will all rust, decay, and fall apart because they are temporal. They are the things the unbelievers seek and desire because they have no idea of an afterlife. But for children of God, our treasure is to be elsewhere. Our hope, satisfaction, and contentment are to come from something other than the things of this earth.

We are to trust in God for everything. This is why Jesus tells us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 ESV). We are to seek His kingdom, not our own. We are to seek His brand of righteousness, as made available through faith in Christ. The quantity of our earthly treasures is not an indicator of our right standing with God. The number of material possessions we enjoy on this earth should fool us into thinking we are somehow blessed by God. Our treasures are in heaven. Our hope is in God. And our faith is strong because our God is faithful.

The apostle Paul taught his disciples to follow the command of Christ. He told them, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6 ESV). Then he added this important disclaimer: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 ESV). Notice that he doesn’t promise that God will give us all we request. When we share our needs with God, He will replace our anxiety with peace as we recognize His love and concern for us. Jesus reminds us, “Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs” (Matthew 6:32 NLT). Peace comes when we recognize this fact and rest in His ability to provide all we need according to His sovereign will and perfect timing.

The kingdom life is an other-worldly life marked by…

…heavenly values, not earthly ones

…an eternal perspective, not a temporal one

For the average Jew, material prosperity was viewed as a sign of God’s blessing. Affluence was proof of God’s approval. To have much was to be loved much by God. But in this section of His sermon, Jesus refutes that mindset.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures in earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19, 20, 21 ESV

Jesus knew that His fellow Jews were predisposed toward a life focused on the here and now. Their desires were driven by the temporal pleasures this world offers. Even King Solomon, the son of David, shared their propensity for earthly pleasures and treasures.

I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.

I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!

So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. – Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 NLT

In the end, Solomon sadly concluded that It was all meaningless because you can’t take it with you. None of it was capable of delivering what it promised. That is why Jesus warned, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own…a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God” (Luke 12:15, 21 NLT).

The problem is not with the temporal things themselves but with our affection for them. Paul provides us with some insight into how we should refocus our attention on those things that truly matter.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. – Colossians 3:1-4 NLT

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. – 1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT

Money and materialism are not the cause of our problems; it is our inordinate love of them that produces so much pain and sorrow.

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. – 1 Timothy 6:6-10 NLT

The treasures of this earth offer short-term returns on our investment in them. They are temporal, not eternal. Instead, we are to treasure that which is lasting.

This is about loyalty. It forces us to ask the question, “What do we love most, the things of this earth or the kingdom of God?” During trials, our true allegiances are revealed. When we face the potential loss of those things we love dearly, our true affections get exposed.

You can’t serve the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this earth equally. That’s why Jesus calls us to have an eternal perspective. When we love the things of this world, it becomes obvious, and our love shows up in the form of anxiety. Worry is a common malady for all men, regardless of income level or social status. We worry about not having enough or losing what we already have. Five times in 10 verses, Jesus uses the word “anxious,” and He ties it to temporal, earthly things:

  • Life
  • Food and drink
  • The body
  • Clothes
  • The future (on earth)

In contrast, Jesus reminds us that those who are approved by God trust Him for all of the following things:

  • Life
  • Food and drink
  • Our bodies
  • Our clothes
  • The future

Worldly pleasures and treasures produce divided allegiance and result in worry and stress. But when we make God our focus and the treasures He has laid up for us our greatest desire, we will be truly blessed and find that there is no reason for worry. Our God will meet all our needs, both now and for eternity.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Rejoice and Be Glad

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11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” –  Matthew 5:11-12 ESV

This command, given at the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, must have sounded strange to His Jewish audience. He had already dropped eight other truth bombs on them that, to their Jewish sensibilities, would have made little sense and offered little in the way of comfort or hope.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – vs 3

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” – vs 4

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” – vs 5

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” – vs 6

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” – vs 7

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” – vs 8

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” – vs 9

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – vs 10

Each of these sentences contains a non sequitur, a statement that does not follow logically from or is not clearly related to anything previously said. Jesus was relating entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven with attitudes or actions that seemed antithetical to the Jewish way of thinking. For the average Jew, meekness was viewed as a weakness, not an attribute to be admired. Poverty in any form, whether spiritual or physical was seen as a curse, not a blessing. Mourning was associated with suffering and was to be avoided at all costs. As an overtaxed and oppressed people, the Jews were all too familiar with hunger and thirst and saw no connection between those dreaded conditions and righteousness. In their role as unwilling subjects of the Roman Empire, mercy was something they longed for but rarely received. So, the thought of extending mercy to others was not a high priority for them. They would have viewed purity of heart as impossible because they knew what the Scriptures said.

The Lord looks down from heaven
    on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
    if anyone seeks God.
But no, all have turned away;
    all have become corrupt.
No one does good,
    not a single one! – Psalm 14:2-3 NLT

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. – Ecclesiastes 7:20 ESV

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” – Jeremiah 17:9 NLT

For the Jews in Jesus’ audience, peace was in short supply. As long as the Romans ruled over Palestine and dictated every aspect of their lives, there would be no peace. For them, the concept of peace was closely associated with a lack of trials and troubles. It was less an attitude than it was a condition of existence. So, the only way they could envision the presence of peace would be through war with and victory over the Romans. The thought of being persecuted for being righteous was nonsensical and unattractive. Righteousness was meant to bring blessings from God, but Jesus associated those blessings with persecution.

The entire opening sequence of Jesus’ message was a rapid-fire barrage of mind-blowing statements that linked the Kingdom of Heaven with ideas the Jews found far from attractive. Then Jesus ended the prologue to His sermon with a command to rejoice about all of it.

“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.” – Matthew 5:11-12 NLT

Why would Jesus command them to rejoice when being persecuted, mocked, and slandered? What blessings could come from suffering those kinds of indignities? The Greek word translated as “blessed” in this passage is makarios, and it conveys the idea of being fortunate or well-off because of God’s favor of God. But to the Jews, the blessings of God were always associated with abundance and riches, not poverty, deprivation, and persecution. Yet, Jesus was commanding them to “be happy about it!” 

It is important to remember that Jesus always spoke with His 12 disciples in mind. His messages were primarily aimed at those men who had chosen to leave everything behind and follow Him. They had committed their lives to serving as His disciples (mathētēs – learner, pupil). So, while everyone on the hillside that day heard what Jesus had to say, His words were intended for His 12 students, who would have also struggled with the content of His message.

At this early stage of Jesus’ ministry, these men were unaware of the true nature of His coming. They had suspicions that He was the long-awaited Messiah, but they had no idea that His ministry would be accompanied by poverty, suffering, persecution, sorrow, hunger, thirst, and, ultimately, death. Over the next three years, they would see Him model meekness, mercy, and purity of heart. They would witness Him pursuing peace with all men, including Gentiles, tax collectors, prostitutes, and even Romans. In time, they would watch as their Rabbi, teacher, and friend was persecuted despite living a righteous, God-honoring life.

Jesus would later warn His disciples to expect the same treatment.

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.” – John 15:18-21 NLT

Yet, Jesus expected His disciples to rejoice and be glad when they faced reviling, persecution, and slander when serving on His behalf. But what was to be the focus of their rejoicing? Was it their suffering? Jesus made it clear when He said, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 12 ESV). They were to keep their eye on the prize, that future award that awaited them in heaven.

Later in His ministry, Jesus sent 72 of His followers “two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go” (Luke 10:1 ESV). When they returned, they joyfully reported, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” (Luke 10:17 ESV). But Jesus somewhat burst their bubble when He redicted the focus of their joy. 

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” – Luke 10:19-20 ESV

Long after Jesus was crucified, resurrected, and ascended, the apostle Peter continued this theme of rejoicing in the reward to come.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 1:3-7 ESV

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. – 1 Peter 4:12-13 ESV

James also promoted a future-oriented perspective that focused not on the trials themselves but on the glorious outcome they would produce.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:1-4 ESV

Paul was also a proponent of living with the end in mind. He told the believers in Colossae to keep their focus on the final phase of God’s redemptive plan when Jesus returns to earth to establish His Kingdom.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. – Colossians 3:1-4 NLT

The 12 disciples expected Jesus to set up His Kingdom the first time He came, and nothing would have brought them more joy than to watch Him destroy the Roman occupiers and put Israel back on the map politically and militarily. But He was operating on a different timeline. Their hopes of a restored earthly kingdom would come in time, but not before their King suffered, died, and was raised back to life. Even after His resurrection, the disciples wondered if that was the sign He was about to inaugurate His Kingdom.

“Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” – Acts 1:6 NLT

But Jesus told them that the next phase of the plan would require work on their part. They had a job to do before the Kingdom would come.

“The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:7-8 NLT

And while they waited, they would suffer just as He did. But they could rejoice because He promised to return one day and take them to be with Him.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” – John 14:1-3 NLT

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again.” – John 14:27-28 NLT

So, disciples of Jesus can rejoice and be glad because their future is secure. Even in the face of trials, difficulties, and persecution, Christ’s followers can find peace and motivation to rejoice in whatever comes their way in this life because the Kingdom is coming.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Lay Up Treasures In Heaven

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19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21 ESV

Just a few verses earlier, Matthew records Jesus saying, “Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” (Matthew 6:8 NLT). Later in this same sermon, Jesus states, “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:31-33 NLT). 

But what was the real point behind these messages concerning earthly things and the Kingdom of God? What was Jesus trying to tell His unbelieving audience? They were attracted by His miracles and message. Some were intrigued by the rumors that He might be the long-awaited Messiah. But even that remote possibility conjured up images of a conquering king who would restore Israel’s fortunes and return the nation to prosperity. After centuries of occupation by foreign powers, the Israelites focused on prophetic passages that promised a conquering king who would be like David reincarnated.

“My servant David will be their king, and they will have only one shepherd. They will obey my regulations and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They and their children and their grandchildren after them will live there forever, generation after generation. And my servant David will be their prince forever. And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever. I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” – Ezekiel 37:24-27 NLT

“For the time is coming,”
    says the Lord,
“when I will raise up a righteous descendant
    from King David’s line.
He will be a King who rules with wisdom.
    He will do what is just and right throughout the land.
And this will be his name:
    ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’
In that day Judah will be saved,
    and Israel will live in safety.” – Jeremiah 23:5-6 NLT

For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
    will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
    for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    will make this happen! – Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT

So, when John the Baptist appeared on the scene declaring, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2 ESV), the Jews had one thing in mind: The Messiah had finally arrived. That idea produced a variety of expectations among the impoverished and oppressed people of Israel. If Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophecies, then He would right all wrongs by overthrowing the Romans and blessing God’s chosen people with peace, prosperity, and a permanent place in His earthly kingdom. 

But in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus surprised His audience by telling them to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20 ESV). If His arrival marked the coming of the Kingdom, why did He tell tell His listeners to “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33 NLT)?

Earlier in His sermon, He shocked the gathered crowd by telling them the Kingdom they sought belonged to the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3) and the persecuted (Matthew 6:10). None of this made sense. His words were confusing and contradictory. But as Jesus later told the Roman governor, Pilate, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom…my Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36 NLT).

What the Jews failed to understand was that Jesus was the fulfillment of all the prophetic passages concerning the Messiah. He was the King they had long dreamed about and He would establish His Kingdom on earth, but it would be according to God’s perfect plan and in keeping with His timeline. Jesus had come to bring about a revolution but not according to their expectations. He later revealed the nature of His revolution by quoting from the prophet Micah.

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

‘I have come to set a man against his father,
    a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
   Your enemies will be right in your own household!’

“If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” – Matthew 10:34-37 NLT

For Jesus, it was about priorities. It was about the temporal versus the eternal. That seems to be the primary focus of His teaching in this passage. The Kingdom He came to bring was a spiritual one that was not of this world. There would be no coronation, palatial royal residence, or golden crown to place on His head. The only indications of His Kingship would be a crown of thorns and a hastily crafted sign that read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37 ESV).

The entire Sermon on the Mount was intended to reorient the minds of His audience. When He began His earthly ministry, Jesus repeatedly echoed the words of John the Baptist, stating, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17 ESV). That word “repent” is metanoeō in Greek and it carries the idea of changing one’s mind. It has less to do with behavior modification than a drastically altered mindset. Jesus wanted the Jews to rethink everything they thought about God, the Messiah, salvation, righteousness, the coming Kingdom, and the blessings it would bring. That is why He repeatedly called them to take their minds off earthly things and focus on what really mattered.

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. – Luke 12:31-34 ESV

He has just warned His audience about the leaven of the Pharisees. These were men who placed a high priority on the here-and-now. They live for the immediate reward of men’s praise. Jesus compared them to hypokrisis – actors in a play whose sole job is to convince their audience that they are someone other than who they truly are. Jesus addressed this kind of lifestyle in His Sermon on the Mount.

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 6:1 NLT

Jesus went on to describe how these kinds of people were more obsessed with the praise of men than they were with pleasing God, and He warned His audience to avoid emulating their ways.

“When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.” – Matthew 6:2 NLT

The Pharisees had perfected their outward behavior to such a degree that they guaranteed themselves a heavy dose of reverence and respect from the common people. They were viewed as spiritual rock stars who displayed an unprecedented degree of religious zeal and discipline. But Jesus saw through their all their pretense and warned that their obsessive-compulsive desire for the temporal praise of men would eventually prevent them from experiencing the eternal reward of God. And Jesus continued to drive home the seriousness of this message.

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.” – Matthew 6:5 NLT

“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.” – Matthew 6:16 NLT

Temporal recognition in place of eternal rewards. That doesn’t sound like a particularly equitable exchange and yet, that is the danger we all face if we are not careful. That’s why Jesus repeatedly exhorted His listeners to seek the eternal reward that only God can give. He stressed the fact that men can thrill us with their words of praise or frighten us with their threats of death, but their power over us is limited.

“…don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.” – Luke 12:4 NLT

They are temporal creatures with a temporary capacity to either praise our life or take it from us. But Jesus warned, “Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell” (Luke 12:5 NLT). God not only has the power to reward, but He also possessed the authority to condemn – for eternity.

But all of Jesus’ words seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. Luke indicates that someone in the crowd called out, saying, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me” (Luke 12:13 NLT). It is immediately clear that this individual’s focus was on the here-and-now, not the hereafter. This person was thinking about the immediate gratification that an earthy inheritance would bring: Land, money, and temporal treasures that had once belonged to his earthly father. 

But Jesus responded in frustration, revealing that this man had brought his selfish request to the wrong judge. Jesus had not come to earth to settle disputes over earthly inheritances. He had come to provide sinful men and women with the eternal reward of justification before God Almighty. And He has just finished telling the crowd about a much greater reward that awaited them in eternity.

“…everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.” – Luke 12:8 NLT

This man wanted Jesus to acknowledge the validity of his claim on the family inheritance. But Jesus was asking him to acknowledge His claim to be the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Yet this individual had his eyes focused on the wrong things. He saw Jesus as some kind of arbitrator who could help settle his petty dispute with his brother but failed to recognize Jesus as the mediator between God and man. And Jesus pointed out the flawed focus of this man’s thinking.

“Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” – Luke 12:15 NLT

This man was demanding that Jesus help him get what he believed to be rightfully his. But Jesus wanted him to know that nothing on this earth was worth having if it took precedence over Him. And this was not the first time that Jesus had warned about avoiding a fixation on present comforts over future rewards.

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” – Mark 8:35-38 NLT

And this man’s request led Jesus to tell a short, but powerful parable about a rich man who allowed greed and an obsession with earthly rewards to blind him to the temporal nature of life and the reality of eternity. And Jesus summarized the sad state of the character in His parable by stating, “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God” (Luke 12:21 NLT).

And Luke indicates that Jesus used this entire exchange as an opportunity to instruct His 12 disciples on the necessity of proper priorities. Unlike the man who wanted Jesus to help him get his hands on his inheritance, the disciples were to avoid wasting their time worrying about food and clothing. They had more important things to do, and they needed to understand that “life is more than food, and your body more than clothing” (Luke 12:23 NLT). In a world where success was measured by the outward trappings of materialism, the disciples were being instructed to focus on those things that matter for eternity.

The eternal was to take precedence over the temporal. Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that their focus needed to be on the Kingdom to come, not the kingdom they had hoped for. God was going to meet their greatest need; He would provide them with eternal life and unending fellowship with Him. It would be made possible through His Son’s sacrificial death on the cross. And if God was ready, willing, and able to secure their greatest need, why in the world would they waste time worrying about food and clothing? This is why Jesus told them, “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32 NLT).

The Kingdom was the goal,  and if the disciples learned to live with their eyes on the prize, the things of this world would play a far less significant role in their lives. That is why Jesus told them, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Luke 12:34 NLT).

This was the central focus of His gospel message. He was the King who had come to inaugurate the coming Kingdom. He was the eternal one who had entered into time and space, taking on human flesh and living among men so that He might offer Himself as the atonement for the sins of humanity. He didn’t come to offer men their best life now in the here-and-now, but abundant life in the hereafter. That’s why He strongly encouraged His followers to set their sights on things to come. They were to make the future reward of the Father their highest priority.

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” – Matthew 6:19-21 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Do As You Have Spoken

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18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! 20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 24 And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. 25 And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 26 And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 27 For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”– 2 Samuel 7:18-29 ESV

One of the keys to understanding David’s lasting legacy as Israel’s greatest king is found in this marvelous prayer he offers to God. As the Scriptures make painfully clear, David was far from perfect. Yes, according to God’s own estimation, David was a man after His own heart, but he also had a heart that was strongly attracted to women. He also had an impulsive streak that continually got him in trouble and an equal predisposition toward inaction that caused him great difficulty. But when all is said and done, and the evaluation of David’s life is complete, it is difficult not to conclude that he was a man who loved God and understood the unique nature of their relationship.

In this prayer, David repeatedly refers to himself as the servant of God, and another eight times he calls God his master. This speaks volumes regarding David’s comprehension of his role and God’s rule. David may have been the king of Israel but God was the King of the universe. David understood that he served at the behest of the sovereign Lord and he had been the unworthy recipient of God’s grace and mercy. His rise from a lowly shepherd boy to the most powerful position in the land had been totally undeserved and David acknowledged that fact. His humility shines through as he expresses his amazement that God had chosen to use him.

“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” – 2 Samuel 7:18 NLT

As David reflected on the charmed nature of his current life and considered the implications of God’s promise of an everlasting dynasty, he couldn’t help but confess that none of it had been his own doing.

“Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness…” – 2 Samuel 7:21 ESV

David didn’t see his elevation to the throne as something he deserved or had earned. It had been in fulfillment of God’s promise and was an outward demonstration of God’s faithfulness and sovereign power. He had been the recipient of God’s unmerited love and favor. And David’s past experience confirmed that the Almighty always fulfills what He promises because He is the faithful, covenant-keeping God.

As king, David enjoyed all the perks and benefits that came with the job. He was a man who wielded great power and influence. He was revered by his own people and feared by the enemies of Israel. He possessed great wealth and a reputation as a mighty warrior. But David was far more impressed with the greatness of God.

“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!” – 2 Samuel 7:22 NLT

This man who helped put Israel on the map militarily and politically knew that God was ultimately responsible for its existence. It had all been according to His sovereign will. David understood that the only reason he had a nation over which to rule and reign was because God had ordained it. There would have been no Israel had God not chosen an obscure pagan named Abraham to whom He promised to form a great nation. There would have been no exodus unless God had chosen to step in and rescue His people from their slavery in Egypt.

“What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt.” – 2 Samuel 7:23 NLT

David knew that God had been the one to lead the people of Israel out of bondage, across the wilderness, and into the land of Canaan. It was God who had performed miracles along the way and provided victories over the inhabitants of Canaan.

“You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way.” – 2 Samuel 7:23 NLT

It did not escape David that there would have been no land for him to rule over had God not made it possible, and he was blown away by it all. Now, to top it all off, God promised to “build a house” for him. This wasn’t about a residential upgrade. God wasn’t guaranteeing David the promise of a grand palace made with great stones, massive wooden beams, precious metals, and rare jewels.

No, God was promising to expand David’s kingdom and extend his dynasty for generations to come. His would not be a one-and-done reign like that of Saul, whose dynasty died with him. David would see his kingdom thrive and flourish under the leadership of his own son, Solomon. David’s reign would eventually come to an end, but God promised that his fame and renown would long outlast him.

“Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!” – 2 Samuel 7:10 NLT

“Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:16 NLT

What an amazing promise. The staggering significance of those words did not escape David because he knew just how fleeting a king’s reign could be. He had personally watched Saul’s reign come to an abrupt and ignominious end and knew that kingdoms could end just as easily as they began. David understood that the key to his kingdom’s longevity was tied directly to God’s sovereignty. So David asked God to graciously extend his kingdom forever. 

“…now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!” – 2 Samuel 7:29 NLT

God had made the promise and now David was humbly asking Him to graciously fulfill it. This was not an expression of doubt on David’s part. He was not questioning the faithfulness of God but was simply acknowledging his fear of doing anything that might jeopardize its outcome.  He knew that the length of his legacy was tied directly to the depth of his dependency upon God. As long as he recognized God as the ultimate King of Israel, his kingdom would flourish and his legacy would last. David knew that the blessings of God were bound to his own obedience as king. He stood as the representative for God’s people, serving as their proxy or stand-in. His faithfulness was to reflect the hearts of the people. His leadership would inform and influence the nation.

There is an old proverb that says, “As the king, so are the subjects.” The truth of this statement can be seen in the lives of Israel’s kings as evidenced in the books of First and Second Kings. In these ancient texts, a repeated pattern emerges that chronicles the disobedience and unfaithfulness of Israel’s kings. Time and time again, these men chose to worship false gods and, in so doing, they led their subjects away from the one true God. They sacrificed their dependence upon God in exchange for the false assurances of idols and unreliable alliances with foreign nations. They turned their backs on God and, eventually, God was forced to turn His back on them. Despite His calls to repent, the kings refused to obey. Their stubborn resistance to His will resulted in the northern kingdom of Judah being conquered and enslaved by the Assyrians. Hundreds of years later, the southern kingdom of Judah would suffer a similar fate, falling to the Babylonians and suffering seven decades of enslavement and subjugation.

Yet, God would remain faithful. He would keep His covenant promise to David. The throne of David remains empty to this very day. The nation of Israel has no king at this moment in time, but God is not done. A King is coming. One day, Jesus Christ the Messiah and descendant of David will return to claim His rightful place as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He will establish His throne in Jerusalem, ruling as the rightful heir of David the King, and His reign will be an everlasting one. Not only that, but His rule will be marked by righteousness, justice, and holiness. When that day comes, there will be no other kings and no other kingdoms to stand against His because there is no God beside Him. Jesus Christ will be the final fulfillment of God’s promise to David.

“Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:16 NLT

The greatest news is that David’s kingdom did not end with his death or with that of his son Solomon. It didn’t end with the captivities of Judah or Israel. It didn’t end with the fall of Jerusalem or the destruction of the Temple. There is a day coming when God will fulfill His covenant with David. He will send His Son back to earth to take His rightful position as the heir to David’s throne, where He will rule and reign in righteousness. And it is to the promise of that day God’s people look and hope.

As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. – Daniel 7:13-14 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

My Redeemer Lives

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1 Then Job answered and said:

2 “How long will you torment me
    and break me in pieces with words?
3 These ten times you have cast reproach upon me;
    are you not ashamed to wrong me?
4 And even if it be true that I have erred,
    my error remains with myself.
5 If indeed you magnify yourselves against me
    and make my disgrace an argument against me,
6 know then that God has put me in the wrong
    and closed his net about me.
7 Behold, I cry out, ‘Violence!’ but I am not answered;
    I call for help, but there is no justice.
8 He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass,
    and he has set darkness upon my paths.
9 He has stripped from me my glory
    and taken the crown from my head.
10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone,
    and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.
11 He has kindled his wrath against me
    and counts me as his adversary.
12 His troops come on together;
    they have cast up their siege ramp against me
    and encamp around my tent.

13 “He has put my brothers far from me,
    and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.
14 My relatives have failed me,
    my close friends have forgotten me.
15 The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger;
    I have become a foreigner in their eyes.
16 I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer;
    I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.
17 My breath is strange to my wife,
    and I am a stench to the children of my own mother.
18 Even young children despise me;
    when I rise they talk against me.
19 All my intimate friends abhor me,
    and those whom I loved have turned against me.
20 My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh,
    and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
21 Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends,
    for the hand of God has touched me!
22 Why do you, like God, pursue me?
    Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?

23 “Oh that my words were written!
    Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead
    they were engraved in the rock forever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
    and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
    yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself,
    and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
    My heart faints within me!
28 If you say, ‘How we will pursue him!’
    and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’
29 be afraid of the sword,
    for wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
    that you may know there is a judgment.” – Job 19:1-29 ESV

Job’s response to Bildad echoes his earlier speeches and continues to reflect his unwillingness to concede defeat or confess his innocence. He is worn out and begs his friends to show him some mercy to balance out their relentless attacks.

“How long will you torture me?
    How long will you try to crush me with your words?
You have already insulted me ten times.
    You should be ashamed of treating me so badly.” – Job 19:2-3 NLT

Their better-than-thou approach to counseling has left Job feeling beaten down rather than lifted up. Their constant displays of moral superiority and self-righteous certainty have done more damage than good.

“Even if I have sinned,
    that is my concern, not yours.
You think you’re better than I am,
    using my humiliation as evidence of my sin.” – Job 19:4-5 NLT

And Job reminds them once again that his real adversary is God. He is the one behind all his pain and misery.

“God has blocked my way so I cannot move.
    He has plunged my path into darkness.
He has stripped me of my honor
    and removed the crown from my head.
He has demolished me on every side, and I am finished.” – Job 19:8-10 NLT

In the midst of all his pain, abandoned by family and friends, Job begs Bildad, Zophar, and Eliphaz to show him a bit of compassion.

“Have mercy on me, my friends, have mercy,
    for the hand of God has struck me.
Must you also persecute me, like God does?
    Haven’t you chewed me up enough?” – Job 19:21-22 NLT

Then suddenly, as if a light switch was turned on in a darkened room, Job makes this incredibly optimistic statement.

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
    and he will stand upon the earth at last.
And after my body has decayed,
    yet in my body I will see God!” – Job 19:25-26 NLT

Job is suffering inexplicably and unexpectedly. He is being relentlessly attacked and accused by his friends for his apparent wickedness. Yet, he is somehow able to cry out, “I know that my Redeemer lives!”

What is he saying? At the least, he is expressing belief in a God who will one day vindicate him and prove him to be innocent. He holds out hope that his sufferings are not the result of sin and are not some form of divine punishment for wrongs done. Job knows that he will be redeemed in the end. He may die, but he will stand before the Lord with a new body and be innocent of any wrongdoing.

The word Job uses for “Redeemer” is  גָּאַל (ga’al, “to redeem, protect, vindicate”). Listen to what the Net Bible study notes have to say about this rich word:

“The word is well-known in the OT because of its identification as the kinsman-redeemer (see the Book of Ruth). This is the near kinsman who will pay off one’s debts, defend the family, avenge a killing, marry the widow of the deceased. The word ‘redeemer’ evokes the wrong connotation for people familiar with the NT alone; a translation of ‘Vindicator’ would capture the idea more. The concept might include the description of the mediator already introduced in Job 16:19, but surely here Job is thinking of God as his vindicator. The interesting point to be stressed here is that Job has said clearly that he sees no vindication in this life, that he is going to die. But he knows he will be vindicated, and even though he will die, his vindicator lives. The dilemma remains though: his distress lay in God’s hiding his face from him, and his vindication lay only in beholding God in peace.”

In the face of the unrelenting onslaught of his friends’ accusations, Job is anxious for someone to vindicate him (to clear, as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like: to vindicate someone’s honor). He longs to have someone stand up for him and he knows that the only one who can and will do so is God Himself.

His friends seem unwilling to show him mercy, so Job is left with God alone as his future source of hope and restoration. He has resigned himself with his pending death but he believes that he will stand before God one day with a new body and a clean record.

“I will see him for myself.
    Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
    I am overwhelmed at the thought!” – Job 19:27 NLT

Job was able to face death because he placed his hope in the reality of eternity. In his desperate situation, his only recourse was to trust in a God who would one day redeem him and restore him. As bad as his life was, Job could face it only because of his belief in God and his hope in an eternal destiny.

So what about us? How do we face the trials and tests of life? Where do we focus our attention? Yes, Job was fully aware of his suffering. He was not living some Pollyanna dream where he refused to face reality. He was in pain. He was hurting. But he kept going back to the only thing he could trust – God.

There was a lot he didn’t understand about God and his own circumstances, but he did know that God was just, righteous, and merciful. He also held on to his fragile belief that there was more to life than the here and now. He had to keep believing that there was a future life ahead of him and it was there that his vindication would be complete. His honor would be restored. Even his body would be renewed. It was that belief that kept Job going in the face of extreme difficulty. And we have the same hope.

We have a Redeemer who will one day vindicate us. He will welcome us into His presence as righteous and completely sinless. We will have restored bodies and hearts that are free from sin. And in the last part of Job’s statement, I think we get a glimpse of the future reality of Christ’s triumphant return to earth as the conquering Messiah. “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last” (Job 19:25 NLT).

There is a day coming when Jesus Christ will return to earth, not to suffer and die, but to rule, restore, and reign. That is our hope. That is our future. That is why we can cry out along with Job, “I know my Redeemer lives!”

He will set all things right. He will vindicate and avenge His own. And we will be revealed to be what we have always claimed to be: God’s children.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Hope of Resurrection

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1 “Man who is born of a woman
    is few of days and full of trouble.
2 He comes out like a flower and withers;
    he flees like a shadow and continues not.
3 And do you open your eyes on such a one
    and bring me into judgment with you?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
    There is not one.
5 Since his days are determined,
    and the number of his months is with you,
    and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,
6 look away from him and leave him alone,
    that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day.

7 “For there is hope for a tree,
    if it be cut down, that it will sprout again,
    and that its shoots will not cease.
8 Though its root grow old in the earth,
    and its stump die in the soil,
9 yet at the scent of water it will bud
    and put out branches like a young plant.
10 But a man dies and is laid low;
    man breathes his last, and where is he?
11 As waters fail from a lake
    and a river wastes away and dries up,
12 so a man lies down and rises not again;
    till the heavens are no more he will not awake
    or be roused out of his sleep.
13 Oh that you would hide me in Sheol,
    that you would conceal me until your wrath be past,
    that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14 If a man dies, shall he live again?
    All the days of my service I would wait,
    till my renewal should come.
15 You would call, and I would answer you;
    you would long for the work of your hands.
16 For then you would number my steps;
    you would not keep watch over my sin;
17 my transgression would be sealed up in a bag,
    and you would cover over my iniquity.

18 “But the mountain falls and crumbles away,
    and the rock is removed from its place;
19 the waters wear away the stones;
    the torrents wash away the soil of the earth;
    so you destroy the hope of man.
20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes;
    you change his countenance, and send him away.
21 His sons come to honor, and he does not know it;
    they are brought low, and he perceives it not.
22 He feels only the pain of his own body,
    and he mourns only for himself.” – Job 14:1-22 ESV

Job has reached the far-from-optimistic conclusion that life is short and then you die. Through the pain-clouded lens of his own life, he has determined that the time span from birth to death is a relatively short one and the period in between is filled with troubles of all kinds. But his dour assessment does not provide an accurate reflection of his own life. Up until recently, he had enjoyed a trouble-free existence, complete with wealth, good health, and a vibrant family life. He had been a respected member of the community and was considered “the greatest of all the people of the east” (Job 1:3 ESV). But then tragedy struck. In a series of bizarre disasters, Job endured the loss of his fortune, the deaths of his ten children, and the failure of his health. And the sheer emotional weight of these unexpected and unexplained losses led Job to reach his inaccurate but very heartfelt conclusion.

Because of all that had happened in his life, Job was having a difficult time remembering the “good old days.” His memory was clouded by his pain. His ability to recall the many years of blessing had been greatly diminished by the severity of his most recent losses. He was living in the moment and evaluating the success of his entire life through tear-stained eyes and a broken heart. We may judge his view as myopic and self-centered but his words were coming from a place of pain. That is what led him to be so brutally blunt with God.

“You have decided the length of our lives.
    You know how many months we will live,
    and we are not given a minute longer.
So leave us alone and let us rest!
    We are like hired hands, so let us finish our work in peace.” – Job 14:5-6 NLT

His unabashed honesty with God makes us uncomfortable. We can’t imagine getting away with that kind of in-your-face approach to God. Yet, there have probably been times when we have thought what Job dared to say. On those occasions, we felt the desire to shake our fists in the face of God and declare our dissatisfaction with His handling of our lives. But lacking the boldness of Job, we just kept our thoughts to ourselves and weathered the storm.

But Job wasn’t willing to back down or shut up. He felt like he had been backed into a corner and was being falsely attacked by his friends. His integrity was under assault. Not only had he lost everything near and dear to him, but he was being systematically robbed of his reputation. Still reeling from his most recent losses, Job was having to sit back and listen as his name was dragged through the mud by his supposed friends. And it was all too much for him to bear. That’s what drove him to take his case to God. That’s what emboldened him to say things that make us gasp in shock.

“I wish you would hide me in the grave
    and forget me there until your anger has passed.
    But mark your calendar to think of me again!” – Job 14:13 NLT

Job was asking God to kill him. He would rather die than continue to endure the sorrow and suffering that marked his earthly existence. He saw no light at the end of the tunnel. There was no silver lining to the dark cloud that had settled over his life. He had lost all hope and was desperately pleading with God to intervene; to do something, anything to relieve his pain. Even death would be preferable to more despair.

In his monologue, Job reveals a rather embryonic and as-yet-incomplete understanding of the afterlife. He seems to believe in a life after death but is not quite sure what it entails. His mention of Sheol is a reference to the grave. He knows his life will end in death but is not certain of what will happen next. He hints at a belief in some kind of resurrection or release from Sheol or the grave.

“Can the dead live again?
    If so, this would give me hope through all my years of struggle,
    and I would eagerly await the release of death.” – Job 14:14 NLT

If he could be certain of life after death, he would have reason to hope. But for Job, death was like a door that opened into an unknown realm. He didn’t know what was beyond the threshold of death, so all he could do was focus his attention on this life. And from his vantage point, the future was far from bright.

Job wanted to believe in a resurrection from the dead. The concept was comforting and encouraging.

“You would call and I would answer,
    and you would yearn for me, your handiwork.
For then you would guard my steps,
    instead of watching for my sins.
My sins would be sealed in a pouch,
    and you would cover my guilt.” – Job 14:15-17 NLT

He envisioned God calling him from the grave and restoring him to life. He imagined his past sins being forgiven and forgotten by God as he began his new resurrected life in the presence of God. But then his pessimism kicks back in and he reverts to his old tried-and-true, dark-and-gloomy view of life.

“But instead, as mountains fall and crumble
    and as rocks fall from a cliff,
as water wears away the stones
    and floods wash away the soil,
    so you destroy people’s hope.” – Job 14:18-19 NLT

Job couldn’t bring himself to see past the present. His world was relegated to the here and now, which kept him from believing in any kind of hereafter. With his myopic outlook on life, he couldn’t imagine a better tomorrow or the possibility of a blessed eternal state.

This poor man had reached rock bottom. He was depressed, distressed, disappointed, and totally devoid of all hope. His final statement in this morbid monologue reflects the depth of his despair.

“You always overpower them, and they pass from the scene.
    You disfigure them in death and send them away.
They never know if their children grow up in honor
    or sink to insignificance.
They suffer painfully;
    their life is full of trouble.” – Job 14:20-22 NLT

As far as Job could tell, death was a dead end. He had no assurance of a future resurrection, so he assumed the worst. For Job, death was a black hole from which he would lose all touch with this world. From his gloomy perspective, Job assumes that the dead can’t look back and see what happens to their loved ones. From their vantage point in Sheol, the dead don’t have access to this world. They can’t watch their grandchildren grow up. They don’t have the hope of looking back and seeing their loved ones carry on after their deaths. This sullen outlook about the future led Job to view his current circumstances with even greater despair.

Job saw the grave as his only escape from the pain of this life but, at the same time, it filled him with fear because he didn’t know what lay beyond death’s door. Job didn’t know what the apostle Paul knew. He wasn’t privy to the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ. He was living on the other side of the cross. But as New Testament believers, we can find hope, assurance, and peace in the words that Paul penned.

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Grace to Grow

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12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. – Hebrews 12:12-17 ESV

Even with your eyes focused on Jesus, the Christian life can be difficult. As sons and daughters of God, we will experience His loving discipline so that we might share in His holiness. As the author of Hebrews reminded us, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11 ESV).

Learning to live a life of holiness in the midst of a world and culture that is diametrically opposed to it is anything but easy. But holiness is to be our goal because holiness is God’s will for us.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification… –1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV

Sanctification refers to our ongoing transformation into holiness marked by the increasing presence of righteousness. Ultimately, God’s goal for us is our glorification, the day in which we will be completely free from the influence of sin and totally righteous in His eyes, both positionally and morally. Paul puts it this way: “but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved” (Romans 8:23-24 ESV).

He told the Galatian believers, “For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness” (Galatians 5:5 ESV). Redeemed bodies, free from the effects of the fall and a righteousness unhampered by a sin nature – that is to be our hope. That is to be our goal. Yet, while it is something promised to us in the hereafter, we are to strive for it in the here and now.

We are to “strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 ESV). The Greek word translated “strive” is diōkō and it means “to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire” (Greek Lexicon :: G1377 (KJV). Blue Letter Bible). But it can also mean “to persecute, in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one.”

In this world where enmity and hostility are the norms, we are to pursue peace with all men. When the world returns our love with hatred, we are to persevere and continue to love regardless of what happens. And we are to pursue holiness in the same way, persistently and purposefully. It will not be easy. That’s why the author tells us, “take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong” (Hebrews 12:12-13 NLT).

Notice that this is not to be an individual journey, but a shared one. The life of sanctification is to be a community affair.

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless… – Hebrews 12:15-16 NLT

We have a mutual responsibility to our brothers and sisters in Christ to see that we all strive after holiness. No one is to be left behind. The pursuit of holiness is not a solo event; it is a team sport. We are members of the body of Christ and so, we are in this together.

The author warns us against three things: gracelessness, bitterness, and unholiness. Back in chapter four, he wrote, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 ESV). Grace is undeserved favor or “the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith” (Greek Lexicon :: G5485 (KJV). Blue Letter Bible).

Grace is made available to us by God. But to live gracelessly is to attempt to live our lives without His help and apart from His strength. Yet, holiness is impossible without God’s help. We can’t make ourselves holy; it is a work of the Holy Spirit within us. But we can become grace-less through prayerlessness. We can fail to tap into God’s life-giving grace when we refuse to spend time in His Word and the fellowship of His people.

And gracelessness can lead to bitterness. When we fail to live in God’s grace, availing ourselves of His power, we become defeated. Our pursuit of holiness becomes nothing more than a self-fueled effort in futility. We try and fail. We strive, in our own strength, and experience nothing more than disappointment and disillusionment. This “root” can spread unseen through the body of Christ, strangling the life out of the fellowship and damaging its witness. When we see our brothers and sisters in Christ failing to avail themselves of the grace of God, we must be willing to step in and speak up. Gracelessness is infectious and highly dangerous. It can become like cancer, spreading unseen through the body of Christ, sapping the life and vitality of the people of God.

And the end result of gracelessness and bitterness is unholiness. The author describes it as defilement. The Greek word is miainō and it means “to defile, pollute, sully, contaminate, soil” (Greek Lexicon :: G3392 (KJV). Blue Letter Bible). It was a word often used to refer to the dyeing or staining of a cloth. Gracelessness can lead to bitterness and bitterness can end up contaminating the body of Christ, leaving it less than holy.

The author uses Esau as an example of unholiness. The slightly older twin brother of Jacob, Esau sold his birthright to his younger sibling for a bowl of porridge. Driven by his passions and his physical appetites, he gave up what was of value for what was temporal and, ultimately, worthless. And while he would live to regret his decision, it was irreversible. Esau was consumed with the here and now, and for the fleeting pleasure of a bowl of stew, he sold his future birthright. John Calvin describes someone like Esau as…

“…those in whom the love of the world so holds sway and prevails, that they forget heaven as men who are carried away by ambition, addicted to money and riches, given over to gluttony, and entangled with other kinds of pleasures, and give the spiritual kingdom of Christ either no place or the last place in their concerns.” – William B. Johnston, trans., Calvin’s Commentaries: The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews and the First and Second Epistles of St. Peter

The walk of faith can be long and arduous, but it is not impossible. Peter would have us remember, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire” (2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV).

Through His grace, we have what we need to strive after holiness. We may experience drooping hands and weak knees, but we have the power of the indwelling Spirit at our disposal. Holiness is not only possible but it is inevitable for the Christ-follower because it is the promise of God. And our pursuit of it in this life reveals our confidence that we will receive it in full in the life to come.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.