the wisdom of God

Nothing Is Too Hard For God.

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Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts, great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. – Jeremiah 32:17-19 ESV

Jeremiah 32:17-25

The armies of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon were besieging the gates of Jerusalem. Everything Jeremiah had been warning the people of Judah would happen is about to take place. The end is in sight. Jeremiah had been placed under arrest by King Zedekiah because he didn’t like the tone or content of his message. It seems that the king thought that by locking Jeremiah up he could alter the inevitable. But God’s will was going to be done. Jeremiah had simply shared the word of the Lord. “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it; Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye. And he shall take Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall remain until I visit him, declares the Lord. Though you fight against the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed’” (Jeremiah 32:3-5 ESV).

In the midst of all this chaos and confusion, and with the Babylonians poised to take possession of the land of Judah, Jeremiah received a personal word from the Lord telling him to buy a piece of property. As crazy as it may have sounded, Jeremiah did what the Lord instructed him to do, because God had given him the assurance, “Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land” (Jeremiah 32:15 ESV). Based on the promise of God and in spite of what he knew was about to happen, Jeremiah obeyed. He bought the land and he put the deeds in an earthenware jar and buried it in the ground so that it would last a long time, just as God had instructed him. And then Jeremiah prayed.

“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” Things may have appeared bleak and despairing from Jeremiah’s perspective, but he knew that God had it all under control. The same God who had created the entire universe would have no problem handling the Babylonian situation. In fact, it was all His doing. He had sent King Nebuchadnezzar and his troops to besiege and conquer the land of Judah, taking the people captive. And He would fulfill His promise to restore them to the land because nothing is too difficult for him. Jeremiah acknowledged that God had shown unbelievable love for and patience toward the people of Judah for generations. But the consistent rebellion of the people and their constant sinning against Him was about to catch up to them. Their stubbornness and insubordination could be traced back all the way to the generation that He had set free from captivity in Egypt. And their propensity for sin had been passed down from one generation to the next until God had deemed it necessary to put an end to it all. But rather than question the wisdom of God, Jeremiah acknowledged His character. “O great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts, great in counsel and mighty in deed.” He knew God was in the right. From Jeremiah’s perspective, God was all-wise and all-powerful. He was great and mighty. And as the Lord of hosts, He was ultimately in charge of everything and everyone, including Nebuchadnezzar and his troops. Not only that, Jeremiah knew that God’s “eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.” No matter how unfair things may have appeared to Jeremiah, he knew God was justified in His actions. He was righteous in all His ways.

This simple introduction to Jeremiah’s prayer, when taken in the context of all that was going on, gives us a wonderful reminder to always give greater significance to God’s character than to our circumstances. God never ceases being the Lord of hosts. He is always in control and never lacking in power. Nothing is ever too difficult for Him. We must always balance the knowledge of God’s everlasting love with His divine duty to discipline those He loves. God could not allow the people of Judah to continue to dishonor His name and flaunt their privileged position as His people. Sin always has consequences. But in the midst of it all, Jeremiah kept his eyes focused on God. The eternal, unchanging nature of God was his rock in the middle of the storm. He knew he could count on God to come through in the end and fulfill His promise of future restoration. When everything around us is unstable, we need to rely on the One who is always a rock and firm foundation. When surrounded by uncertainty, we must place our trust in the One who never changes or proves Himself unreliable. Nothing is too hard for Him.

2 Samuel 1-2, 1 Corinthians 3

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The Wisdom of this World.

2 Samuel 1-2, 1 Corinthians 3

 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. – 1 Corinthians 3:18-19 ESV

After years of running for his life, you would have thought David would have rejoiced over the news that his archenemy was dead. But instead, David mourned, wept and fasted. He found no joy in Saul’s death, and even executed the young man who claimed to have taken his life. Having come upon the slain body of Saul, this young Amalekite came up with the brilliant idea to take Saul’s crown and arm band, bring them to David, and present himself as the one who took the life of Saul’s mortal enemy. Conventional wisdom told him that David would reward him. But instead, he was put to death. “David said to him, ‘How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?’” (2 Samuel 1:14 ESV). God had not given David permission to take the life of Saul, so why did this young man think he could do so? Worldly wisdom proved to be folly in his case.

With David’s anointing as king over Judah, there appears to be a turning point in the life of the people of God. He will prove to be a different kind of leader than Saul. David was a man after God’s own heart. He had a sensitivity to God and a desire to do things God’s way. When he heard the news of Saul’s death, he didn’t rush into Israel demanding to be crowned king. He had every right to do so, because he had been crowned king by the prophet of God. Instead, he sought the mind of God. He wanted to know what God would have him do. He wanted God’s wisdom, not the wisdom of men. This characteristic of David would set him apart from his peers. It would mark him as God’s servant. He didn’t always act wisely or seek God’s will entirely, but David attempted to live his life according to God’s direction.

What does this passage reveal about God?

God had always wanted to guide and direct the lives of the people of Israel. He wanted them to submit to His will and obey His commands. He had promised to bless them if they would. But they had a track record of disobedience and unfaithfulness. They had an insatiable love for the world. Paul could have been referring to them when he wrote, “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh” (1 Corinthians 3:1 ESV). They were driven by their passions and controlled by their sinful nature. You see in this story the actions of sinful men acting out in selfish, unspiritual ways. Abner refuses to recognize David as king, anointing Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, the king of Israel instead. There are murders, intrigue, deception, political positioning, and revenge killings. Everyone is doing what they perceive to be right. But few, if any, of them are doing what God would have them do. The only one who seems interested in seeking the will of God is David. Everyone else simply does what is right in their own eyes. But Paul reminds us, “He catches the wise in their craftiness” (1 Corinthians 3:19 ESV) and “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile” (1 Corinthians 3:20 ESV).

What does this passage reveal about man?

It was God’s will that David be the next king of Israel. But men muddied the water. Abner refused to acknowledge David as king, putting the heir of Saul on the throne instead. So for a number of years, there was a divided kingdom. On top of that, there was war between the people of Judah and the people of Israel. This unnecessary conflict resulted in the deaths of countless Israelites, including Asahal and Abner. It resulted in a curse on the house of Joab. The wisdom of this world is futile and results in folly. No matter how good it may sound, worldly wisdom will always disappoint. It will never deliver as promised. It is marked by jealousy, strife and conflict, because it is almost always self-centered and selfishly motivated. It is centered around man’s glory, instead of God’s.

How would I apply what I’ve read to my own life?

When Paul accused the Corinthians of being people of the flesh, he was referring to their petty divisions regarding who had baptized each of them. They had actually allowed divisions to develop within the church over who was baptized by Paul and who was baptized by Apollos. Some were claiming to be followers of one or the other. And Paul told them that they were “behaving only in a human way” (1 Corinthians 3:3 ESV). Rather than focusing their attention on God, they were making it about men, and they were missing the point. The key to discovering true wisdom is recognizing our own stupidity. Without God we are all lacking in wisdom. What we have is a human wisdom that is ultimately futile and foolish. God is not impressed with our wisdom. “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile” (1 Corinthians 3:20 ESV). So we need to recognize that man’s wisdom, no matter how impressive it may appear to be, is no match for the wisdom of God. And there is no reason to boast about or place our hope in men. Like David, we must turn to God. We must seek His will and desire to know His wisdom. James tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5 ESV). God’s wisdom is available at all times. He desires to give it. All we must do is recognize our need and ask Him for it.

Father, I need Your wisdom each and every day. There are so many things that happen in a given day that require me to make decisions or choices. If I rely on the wisdom of this world, it almost always results in disappointment. I need Your wisdom. I want to live according to Your will. Help me recognize my need and turn to You for help. And give me the patience to wait until I hear from You. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

 

1 Samuel 29-30, 1 Corinthians 1

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The Wisdom of God.

1 Samuel 29-30, 1 Corinthians 1

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. – 1 Corinthians 1:25 ESV

From an outside perspective, it would appear that David’s life was one huge train wreck. He had been anointed to be the next king of Israel, and yet he was living as a fugitive in the land of the Philistines, the enemies of God. He had a bounty on his head and found the only way to escape the constant pursuit of Saul was to live as a guest of Achish, the king of the Philistines. Even his life among the Philistines was a very carefully conceived ruse, where he feigned allegiance to the king, but was actually going out on secret raids against the enemies of Israel. Nothing about David’s circumstances appears to be what you would expect for someone who had been anointed the next king of Israel. And things went from bad to worse when the Philistines determined to go to war with the people of Judah. David now found himself in the awkward position of having to choose sides. King Achish expected David to fight by his side because he had been fully convinced by David’s deceptive behavior that he was on his side. David was faced with the prospect of having to go to war against his own people or show his true colors and risk the wrath of the Philistines. But God intervened.

What does this passage reveal about God?

David had gotten himself into this mess, but God would graciously get him out of it. There is not indication in the Scriptures that David sought out God’s advice when he determined to flee to the Philistines for protection against Saul. He simply decided that hiding out amongst the enemies of Israel would prevent Saul from seeking him, and it worked. When Saul became aware that David was hiding out in the land of the Philistines, he gave up the chase. But this doesn’t mean David’s decision was right or godly. It would lead to the predicament in which he found himself, as well as the ultimate capture of his two wives and all the Jews who were living with him in Ziklag. Sometimes our decisions, when made independently of God, will result in less-than-perfect circumstances. But God is able to use even our poor decisions to bring about His divine will for our lives. He lovingly protects us from ourselves and graciously provides us with a way of escape. While David had made some foolish decisions, God’s wisdom would prevail. The apostle Paul reminds us, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31 ESV). At the end of the day, God wants our trust to be in Him. He wants our decisions to be based on His counsel and His wisdom. He wants us to live according to His direction and not our own, so that when all is said and done, we will have every reason to boast in Him and not ourselves.

What does this passage reveal about man?

God provided David with a way out of his predicament. The commanders of the Philistines knew David’s reputation as a great warrior for Israel, so they didn’t trust him. They feared that as soon as they went into battle against the people of Judah, David and his men would turn against them. So they demanded that King Achish send David home. God would use the influence of these pagan Philistine commanders to prevent David from having to go into battle against his own people. But David was still going to experience the painful consequences of his decision to live among the Philistines. When he and his men returned home to Ziklag, they found the city had been raided and burned to the ground by Amalekites. All the women and children had been taken captive, including David’s two wives. Suddenly David found himself threatened with stoning by his own people. They blamed him for their circumstances. So faced with one of the darkest moments of his life, David turned to God. “And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul,each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6 ESV). David sought God’s will, because he realized he was going to need God’s help to get out of this fix. And God responded. God delivered. They recaptured all their women and children, alive and well, along with a great deal of spoil. God turned David’s mess into a victory. And David knew that it was God’s hand that had made it all possible. “He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us” (1 Samuel 30:23 ESV). David boasted in the Lord and gave Him the glory.

How would I apply what I’ve read to my own life?

In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul reminds us that God, in His infinite wisdom has provided us with victory over sin and death through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. The whole idea of salvation made possible through death seems foolish and ridiculous to most people. It makes no sense. The idea of a single man living a sinless life and dying as the sacrifice for the sins of all men sound ludicrous and far-fetched. Human wisdom would say that the favor of God must be earned through self-effort. The violent death of a single, obscure Jew could do nothing to satisfy the demands of a holy God. But Paul would disagree. “…but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:23-25 ESV). “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV). Mankind got itself into the mess in which it found itself. Separated from God and incapable of living up to His righteous standards, we found ourselves in a hopeless situation. Then God stepped in. He did the impossible and improbable. Contrary to the wisdom of this world, God provided a way for men to be made right with Him. “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21 ESV). God graciously provided a solution to man’s problem. He stepped into our mess and made it right. “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31 ESV). God saved David. God has saved me. When I was at my weakest, when I lacked wisdom, when I was hopeless, God stepped in and provided salvation. So that I have no reason to boast in myself. My salvation is His work from start to finish.

Father, You saved me. You redeemed me. You did what only You could do through Your Son Jesus Christ. It makes no sense. It sounds far-fetched and unbelievable. But Your foolishness is wiser than men and Your weakness is stronger than men. It doesn’t have to make sense for it to be true. I don’t have to fully understand it for it to be effective. Your salvation is real and Your solution to my problem has been life changing for me. So I have no reason to boast or brag. I played no part in it. I am the undeserving recipient of Your grace and mercy. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Ephesians 3:1-13

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God’s Mysterious Plan.

Ephesians 3:1-13

God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 3:10 NLT

As a God-ordained spokesman of the Good News regarding Jesus Christ, Paul was given inside information or understanding that had been hidden from others for centuries. Like all the authors of the Scriptures, Paul was given insight from God through the Holy Spirit into things that others had been unable to comprehend or see. In this section of his letter to the Ephesian believers, Paul refers to God’s “mysterious plan” regarding Christ. He discusses God multifaceted wisdom and uses the Greek word, polypoikilos, which means “variegated or made up of different kinds.” And this wisdom is displayed through the rich variety of the church. “The church as a multi-racial, multi-cultural community is like a beautiful tapestry. Its members come from a wide range of colourful backgrounds. No other human community resembles it. Its diversity and harmony are unique” (John Stott, The Message of Ephesians).

Paul makes this mysterious plan clear when he says: “Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6 NLT). This is the remarkable thing about the church, the body of Christ. Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, everyone enjoys the same promise of blessings. We all get to experience the same gift of grace and take advantage of God’s forgiveness and reconciliation made possible through Jesus’ sacrificial death in our place. In Paul’s day there had been a division between Jews and Gentiles. In fact, there was a great degree of animosity and hatred between these two groups. The Jews looked down on Gentiles and considered them less than dogs. And yet, here was God uniting these two groups into one family. This would not have been dreamed of by the Jews of the Old Testament. They would  never have imagined that the Gentiles would someday be viewed by God as their equals. For generations they had been the chosen people of God. Now God had opened up the Gospel to all people, and Paul had “been given the privilege of serving him by speaking this Good News” (Ephesians 3:7 NLT). “…he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ” (Ephesians 3:8 NLT).

Because of Christ, all men can enjoy a right relationship with God. It is not reserved for some specific group or based on ethnic identity. Anyone who accepts God’s free gift of grace through Jesus Christ “can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence” (Ephesians 3:12 NLT). Redemption and restoration are available to all. And as a result, the church is made up of all kinds of people, from all walks of life. There are Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, males and females, slave and free, servants and masters, the influential and the seemingly insignificant. The common bond we all share is faith in Christ. It is what He has done for us that links us together as one body. Regardless of our background, we all needed the same thing: His righteousness and God’s forgiveness. And God has placed us all in this unique institution called the church. Together we “display his wisdom in its rich variety.” Even the angels are amazed at what they see. The church should not work. It is a recipe for disaster. The very idea of bringing so many who are so different together, and expecting them to live in love and unity, is insane. It shouldn’t work. But it has for centuries and continues to do so, revealing God’s infinite wisdom. “. . . the church is to be an audio-visual display of God’s reconciling work. In this primary way she testifies to God’s grace and wisdom. So Paul encouraged living life in Christ in such a way that reconciliation is the dominant feature of church life” (Darrell Bock, A Biblical Theology of the New Testament).

Paul wanted his readers to understand just how special this thing called the church really was. He didn’t want them to take it for granted. It was not a man-made institution, but something God had ordained and orchestrated. The diversity of the church is one of its distinctives. The rich variety of individuals who have been chosen by God and placed into His family is a testimony to His great love and grace. The very fact that we can live in unity together is a vivid illustration of His power and presence among us. God not only reconciles men to Himself, He reconciles men to one another, erasing man-made lines of distinction and eliminating the prejudices and animosities that have long plagued mankind. Like the Jews and Gentiles of Paul’s day, we are all “part of the same body and … enjoy the promise of blessings because [we] belong to Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6 NLT). One body. One family. One church.

Father, thank You for saving me, but more importantly, thank You for placing me in Your family, the Church. Give me a growing appreciation for just how rich and diverse the Church really is. Never let me lose sight of the miracle of grace that has brought together so many who are so different under one common cause and all as a result of Your great love and Christ’s great sacrifice. Amen.

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Proverbs 26c

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Be Wary of Words.

“Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty blaze covers a clay pot.” – Proverbs 26:23 NLT

It is amazing how much the Book of Proverbs has to say about the topic of what comes out of our mouths. From flattery to lying, gossip to arguing, and rumors to wise words, there are countless passages dealing with the topic of the tongue. Much of the time it is warning us about watching what we say. It is challenging us to keep a close eye on our tongue and the words that we speak. But as in the case of today’s verse, it also warns us to be wary of the words others speak to us. It is amazing just how susceptible we all are to the words of others. As human beings, we can be so desperate for praise that we become easy prey for those who have less-than-righteous objectives. That is why flattery and false praise can be so dangerous and we can so easily taken in by it all.

Solomon warns us to look beyond the words themselves to the heart of the one speaking. Words can be used to hide true motives, disguise intent, and distract the hearer by telling them what they want to hear. Like colorful glaze used to cover a drab clay pot, smooth-sounding words may be just a cover up to dress up what’s really there. Solomon gives us an everyday life example. “People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you” (Proverbs 26:24 NLT). These kind of people know full well what they’re doing. They’re hiding from you what is really in their hearts and attempting to make you think that all is well. This can happen between a husband and wife, a parent and child, two friends or two fellow believers. “They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them,” Solomon warns (Proverbs 26:25 NLT). The real danger is that because we can be so susceptible to smooth words, we can actually soak in what they’re saying like a dry sponge. We so want to hear words of praise and flattery, that we can fail to consider the source or think about the intent. Solomon makes it clear that he is talking about those who have wicked hearts that are filled with evil. He is warning us against people who have a reputation for hatred and wrongdoing. And yet, we can find ourselves actually buying into their lies because we so want to hear what they have to say to us. We can be so desirous of kind words, that we will take them from just about any source. But Solomon warns, “Don’t believe them!” They’re lying. They don’t believe what they’re saying and you shouldn’t either. Consider the source. Think carefully about the heart of the one praising you. “A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin” (Proverbs 26:28 NLT). Do not allow your need for praise to numb you to the truth. Don’t listen to the Siren’s call.

In Greek mythology, the Sirens were portrayed as dangerous and devious creatures, who usually took the form of beautiful women in distress and lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices. Casting caution to the wind and falling prey to the flattering cry of the Sirens, these seasoned sailors would steer their ships directly into the rocks along the coastline, resulting in their own death. Remember, “They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils” (Proverbs 26:25 NLT). The wisdom of God gives discernment. It opens our eyes to the truth. Without it, we will listen to the smooth words and deceived by the glossy veneer. To our own detriment.

Father, words are powerful. They can lull us into a sense of stupor and self-satisfaction. We are all so easily deceived by the words of others. Give us the wisdom to hear what is really being said. May our desire for You be greater than our desire for flattery and false praise. May we find our worth in You so we are less prone to seek our worth in the words of others. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org