August 9, 2011 (Ruth 2; Acts 27; Jeremiah 37; Psalm 10)

So here is the situation in Acts 27. After being wrongly and unjustly accused of sedition Paul is arrested in the temple and beaten almost to death (Acts 21:27-36). He is then made a prisoner in a Roman jail and forced to stand before various government officials and counsels to defend his innocence (Acts 22-26). During this time Paul is mocked for his belief in a resurrected Messiah, wrongly held as prisoner in the hopes that someone might ransom him, and is the subject of a death plot that he just nearly escapes. So now he is bound on his way to Rome to appear before wicked Caesar to give an account of his innocence. The boat he is on goes through a violent storm (in which he advised them to wait before they set sail. His advice was not taken) and all the crewmembers fear that death is imminent.

As all this is happening Paul sees a vision from God and is told that he and all who were with him will make it to land alive and well.(v.22-24) Now here is the really amazing thing, namely, Paul’s response:

“So take heart men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.” (v.25)

What a basic definition of faith. Faith is really just believing what God tells you. It is taking Him at His word. And this simple faith in God works itself out in love towards others. Notice how Paul encourages the crew and helps them in their fears. True faith working itself out in real love. That is Christianity and it is what the world desperately needs to see.

August 10, 2011 (Ruth 3-4; Acts 28; Jeremiah 38; Psalms 11-12)

Psalm 12 provides us with an excellent memory verse for today in our meditation:

“The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.” (v.6)

August 11, 2011 (1 Samuel 1; Romans 1; Jeremiah 39; Psalm 13-14)

Two of the passages interrelate in a way that is worthy of mention today. Psalm 14:1 says that “The Fool says in his heart that there is no god.”  The Hebrew word behind what we render in the English as “fool” is much stronger than its English counterpart. The word does not signify only stupidity and ignorance but also moral perverseness.  This is what Paul has in mind when he writes Romans 1:18-32. “Claiming to be wise they became fools” (v.22) and exchanged the obvious truth about God for lies of their own inventions. Atheists are fundamentally atheists because they have a moral problem, not an intellectual problem. When the truth is suppressed long enough and hard enough (v.18) it must be replaced by something else. And on God’s part when man is happy to indulge in such replacement He “gives them over to do so” (v.24,26,28). This is the most profound expression of God’s wrath (v.18) that is now being revealed. In light of this would it be more precise to say that God’s wrath is coming to our country, or has already come?

August 12, 2011 (1 Samuel 2; Romans 2; Jeremiah 40; Psalms 15-16)

Romans 2:14-15 is often misinterpreted. Here is the text:

14] For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. [15] They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

Some take this to mean that the proverbial man on the island or “noble savage” who has never heard the gospel or the name of Jesus may somehow be saved possibly. They assume this because Paul says that they “by nature do what the law requires.”, and their consciences defend them. This is not what Paul means. Listen to D.A. Carson on this point:

Paul is not arguing that there is a subset of Gentiles who are so good that their consciences are always clean, and therefore they will be saved. Rather, he is arguing that Gentiles everywhere have some knowledge of right and wrong, even though they do not have the law, and that this is demonstrated in the fact that they sometimes do things in line with the law, and have consciences that sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them. His argument is not that some are good enough to be saved, but that all display, by their intuitive grasp of right and wrong, an awareness of such moral standards… that they too have enough knowledge to be accountable.”

Paul will make explicitly clear later in this letter (10:17) that it is only faith in Jesus that saves. General revelation and our conscience is enough to condemn but not enough to bring about faith. So then, those of us who know this Jesus, what kind of attitude should that birth in us for those who have still not heard?

August 13, 2011 (1 Samuel 3; Romans 3; Jeremiah 41; Psalm 17)

Romans 3:21-26 is one of the most beautiful descriptions of how the gospel works for us. After describing in chapters 1 and 2 how all (Jew and Gentile) are utterly hopeless before holy God Paul gives us this paragraph. Because of what God has done in sending His Son to bear the wrath for us we can now freely receive life and righteousness from Him. All we do is believe. This is why Paul then in v.27 rhetorically asks what place human boasting can now have. The answer is no place. Below are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs that elucidate this glorious truth. I boast no more by Caedmon’s Call. If you know it sing it this day, if not read the words and glorify God for His mercy!

No More My God, I boast no more

Of all the duties I have done

I quit the hopes I held before,

To trust the merits of Thy Son

No more my God


No more my God


No more my God


I boast no more

Now, for the loss I bear his name,


What was my gain I count my loss


My former pride I call my shame


And nail my glory to His cross

Yes, and I must, I will esteem
All things but loss for Jesus' sake
O may my soul be found in Him
And of His righteousness partake
Amen, amen

The best obedience of my hands


Dares not appear before Thy throne


But faith can answer Thy demands


By pleading what my Lord has done

August 14, 2011 (1 Samuel 4; Romans 4; Jeremiah 42; Psalm 18)

By 1 Samuel 4 God’s people are in a mess, nationally and spiritually. Nationally the fearsome Philistines are threatening invasion. Morally, the priesthood has been corrupted by Eli’s wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas. What is the most deplorable thing, however, is the people’s view of God. It has become so distorted that they see God as nothing more than an oversized good luck charm meant to do their bidding when beckoned.

This is what is behind the Israelites decision to bring the ark of God into the battle with the Philistines (v.1-9).  They think they can use God like a rabbits foot while they live any way they please. Well, God allows his ark (the symbol of His presence) to be captured, and allows the two wicked priests to be killed, and allows the High Priest Eli to die upon hearing the news. All this prompts the daughter in law of Eli to go into labor. Upon giving birth she names her child Ichabod.

When we read Ichabod we normally think of headless horsemen and sleepy hallow, but the word really means, “Where is the glory?” or “The glory has departed.”  With all that had transpired, especially with the capturing of the ark of God it was as if His glory (His abiding and manifest presence) had left.

I wander how many churches in America today should be called “Ichabod Baptist”. Do we have a sense of God’s glory and presence when we meet or is it mere ritual? The answer to that question will depend, in large part, to how we view God. Indeed our view of God is the most important thing about us. Is our image of God nonsense or Biblical?

August 15, 2011 (1 Samuel 5-6; Romans 5; Jeremiah 43; Psalm 19)

This meditation will build off yesterdays. Lest anyone think that the sacking of the ark of God means God’s defeat the author of Samuel gives us 1 Samuel 5-6. In these two chapters we have a description of how God decides to work by Himself for His own sake. God does not need His people to bring glory to His name. He is quite capable of winning glory to His name all by Himself. Indeed if we read our Bibles rightly we will understand that this is exactly God’s goal in all He does. We, God’s people, however have the privilege of being instruments in His hands. If, however, those instruments prove themselves worthless God is not obligated to use them.

Both with the pagans and with His own people God takes pains to cause His Name to be revered. The question asked in 6:20 is the main point of these two chapters, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this Holy God?” What is unfortunate is that those who ask this question do not intend to learn the ways of holiness and thus dwell with this Holy God. Rather, they ask this question as the preamble to getting rid of this holy God (the exact thing that the pagan Philistines did). 

God will not be treated with contempt. It is sad however, when God tries to teach His people this truth and they respond by running farther away from Him. Are you being taught any hard lessons by the Lord right now? If so, is the “hardness” driving you toward Him or away from Him? (chew on Proverbs 3:11-12)