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Romans 1:7

E Pluribus Unum

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
September 23, 2023

Paul is writing to all believers in Rome in his Epistle.  I’d argue that he is writing to all of us as well. He explains his conviction that salvation is by grace through faith and not of works which he will expound on in the later passages of this letter. Salvation is not an issue of trying harder, doing better, giving more, or doing any other good work. He knows better than most that “all of our righteous deeds are as filthy rags” to the Lord. Yet he calls all the believers saints. In Romans 1:7, he addresses them, “To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” But he begins his address to them by telling them they are “loved by God.” Sproul says, “He states the destination of his letter, to all in Rome, and then in a very warm and personal way, he addresses his readers as those who are loved by God. That is a very pregnant, descriptive term because in the first instance and pre-eminently, it is Jesus Christ who is called ‘the beloved’ and the special object of God’s affection (Matt. 3:17; 17:5). In God’s economy of grace, however, his love does not stop with his only begotten Son, but pours out to those who are within his family, to those who are the adopted brothers and sisters of Jesus.”

Then Paul refers to the believers in Rome as Saints. As a matter of fact, there are at least 15 times in the New Testament where all believers are referred to as Saints.[1] I remember touring Boy’s Town not long ago and being shown Father Flanagan’s house. The tour guide told us that there is a petition to have him named as a saint, but they haven’t been able to verify the priest’s performance of a miracle yet, but they are still looking for it. I wanted to tell her that I was a saint and that the apostles had declared me as one, but I didn’t speak up. “There is a dual way in which the word ‘saint’ functions in Christian history. In Roman Catholic tradition, the term ‘saint’ refers to special Christians who have done extraordinary deeds of valor or made extraordinary contributions to the life of the church. A few such people the church has canonized, elevating them to a status of heroic proportions so that they are called ‘saints.’ But there is a broader sense in which the term ‘saint’ is used (in fact, the customary way in which it is used in the New Testament). It refers to the rank-and-file Christian. In the New Testament, the word translated as ‘saints’ is hagioi meaning the holy ones. They are not holy in and of themselves, not holy because they have reached an unthinkable level of virtue or righteousness. Rather, they are those who have been made holy by the fact of having been set apart by God and consecrated to him.”[2] This refers to all of us who believe in Jesus Christ.

As in other New Testament Epistles, Paul then commends grace and peace to his readers. Grace is the standard greeting to Gentiles. Peace is the standard greeting for Jews. By using both greetings, he is making the two who have historically been at odds with one another into a single body. These come from God the Father, who would be recognized as the God of the Old Testament for the sake of the Jews. Grace and Peace also come from Jesus Christ, representing believers who have not come up through the Jewish religion. The Gentiles were all the various ethnic groups in the world. They were all seen as one group of outsiders to the Jews. But Paul’s pronouncement brings them all together as one. Walton writes, “Consider the power of the cross to bring diverse people together. For example, the U.S. is a ‘melting pot’ of nationalities. Your one-dollar bill has the phrase E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one). The Lord’s church is a spiritual ‘melting pot.’ One body emerges from many diverse backgrounds at the Lord’s table in communion. Whether rich or poor, black or white, learned or unlearned, white collar or blue, city folks or country, ‘we who are many are one body.’ Only the power of God through the cross could bring imperfect people together by faith as one people.”[3]

[1] https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/All-Believers-Are-Saints

[2] Sproul, R. C. 1994. The Gospel of God: An Exposition of Romans. Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications.

[3] Walton, W. Frank. 1991. “Communion with One Another.” Christianity Magazine, 1991.

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Acts 1:9

The Power of His Ascension

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
September 22, 2023

Jesus’ disciples, who were with Him during his last minutes on earth, questioned Jesus about the timing of His return. He, in effect, told them not to focus too much on the timing of His return but on their mission of sharing Christ with the whole world as they were empowered by the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:8, he gave them the commission to spread the good news to the ends of the earth, and then He left them to it. Acts 1:9 inform us, “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” The commission of Acts 1:8 was a repetition of the call to spread the word that he made several times while upon the earth, as recorded in the Gospels. Being His last words on earth, they have occupied a central place in the life of the Church He left behind. Verse 9 might be seen as an exclamation point on Jesus’ final words to the church. It was extremely dramatic.

They saw it with their eyes. To prove the reality of his resurrection, he had once had Thomas touch him. He wanted reliable evidence that Jesus was not just an apparition. He also sat and ate with them once to demonstrate that he had a body and was not just a phantom. Here, he actually ascends in a way that they can marvel at His glory. Gaertner says, “The words of Jesus had hardly been spoken before the apostles were witnessing the Lord’s being lifted toward heaven. The language indicates that the event occurred before their very eyes. Christ’s ascension was unlike his many resurrection appearances to the disciples in which he suddenly appeared and then just as suddenly disappeared (as he did on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:31). Neither is there any sign of external forces such as a whirlwind or heavenly wonder (as with Elijah in 2 Kgs 2:11). No earthly power assisted in this ascension. Rather, Jesus simply began lifting into heaven in a way that may be described as dignified or majestic.”[1]

He was “lifted up.” Gaertner observed that no visible means of power or other force took Jesus from the earth. It was in his own power. He did not need a jetpack or even a tremendously strong wind like the one that took Elijah and his chariot into heaven. The resurrection was miraculous, of course. The resurrection coupled with this visible phenomenon started the church, which has lasted all these years. It wasn’t Christ’s death on the cross. The disciples would have just gone back to their everyday lives if the story of Jesus ended with his death. Peter, James, and John appear to have gone back to fishing after Jesus’ death. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were back to the regular duties of their daily lives. When Jesus appeared to them, they turned around and went back and gathered with those who then began the church. The cloud that received him was not just an ordinary cloud. It was the Shekinah cloud, wherein God dwelt and led them out of Egypt. It settled over the Tabernacle, and it appeared again when Jesus appeared with Elijah and Moses at His transfiguration.

Paul speaks about his infirmities and his many weaknesses. They are thorns in his side or his cross to bear, and he rejoices in them. He tells the Philippians that he longs to know Jesus and the power of his resurrection. He expected to experience the resurrection from the dead himself. It is knowing that through our faith in the risen and ascended Jesus, we will experience His power. We can’t always rejoice in our circumstances, and at times it would be ludicrous to suggest that we do. But we can always rejoice “in the Lord.” Christ has set us above our circumstances with his promise of the resurrection from the dead and eternal life, where the pain and suffering of this life will be resolved once and for all. Luke wrote to Theophilus and,  through him, to us. When things go poorly for Theophilus and us when the world falls apart, things come loose, and when chaos threatens, it’s good to know what awaits us.

[1] Gaertner, Dennis. 1995. Acts. The College Press NIV Commentary. Joplin, MO: College Press.

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John 1:9, Various

The True Story

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
September 21, 2023

John’s sole purpose was to be a voice. That voice would be the sound of one crying in the wilderness, pointing to the coming Messiah who would redeem the world of sin. He said he was not the light but that the light was coming. John the Baptist’s only goal was to point the way to the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. The coming one was light. John 1:9 tells us, “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”  The Venerable Bede suggested that the true light of the world, Jesus, makes stars seem dark. Even “The stars at the day of judgment will seem to be dark, not by any failure of their own luster, but in consequence of the increase of the true light throwing them into the shade.”[1] This true light will make everything clear, even to the blind.

Jesus, as the true light, fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy. Psalm 112:4 tells us about a light that “Dawns in the darkness.” This Psalm speaks to us of the righteous light that surpasses the righteousness of every man and yet shares his splendor with sinners. Isaiah helps us understand that man’s righteousness shines only when it finds its source in the Messiah. He is the “true light” of God’s righteousness that will come upon those who believe. The true light will be your light. Isaiah 60:1-3 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.  And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” It’s Daniel who tells us that this light is so bright that nothing can withstand it. All hidden truths are revealed. Daniel 2:22 says, “He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.” John is not the true light. We are not the light. The only true light is to be found in Jesus Christ. He is the demonstration of God’s love. We find refuge from our guilt and sinfulness only with Him. The Psalmist sings, “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.  For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see the light” (Psalm 36:7-9).

C. S. Lewis was a brilliant Oxford professor who had been an atheist since he was fourteen years old. He was fascinated by great stories, myths, and especially children’s fables and wrote several of his own. One day he spent the evening with his friend, J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings. They stayed up till past 3 am just talking. Tolkien asked Lewis why he was so fascinated by the children’s stories. Tolkien answered his own question and said that Lewis liked Sleeping Beauty because he knew deep down that there really was an evil prince that kept us under his spell, and it would take a kiss of grace to set us free truly. There is some revelatory light in these stories. They make us aware of certain truths. Tolkien went on to say these stories aren’t true, but they reflect a splintered fragment of “the true light.” The story of Christ is true. It’s the true story that touches the deepest needs of the human heart and changes lives when it is received and believed. Twelve days later, Lewis wrote to a friend, saying, “I have passed from believing in God to definitely believing in Christ and Christianity. My long night walk with Tolkien had a great deal to do with it.”[2]

[1] Oden, Thomas C., and Christopher A. Hall, eds. 1998. Mark (Revised). Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

[2] Morgan, Robert J. 2007. Nelson’s Annual Preacher’s Sourcebook. 2007 Edition. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

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Luke 1:12-13

The Graciousness of God

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
September 20, 2023

Chosen by casting lots, Zechariah performed the duties of offering incense in the temple at Jerusalem during the evening sacrifice. While the great multitude was praying for Zechariah as he performed his duties in the Holy place, Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and informed him that his prayers had been heard by God and were about to be answered. Luke 1:12-13 says, “And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.’”

The time of the evening sacrifice seems to be a time God often used to bring His message to His people. Gabriel had appeared some 500 years earlier to Daniel in Babylon. The appearance happened at the time of the evening sacrifice. Another communication from God that happened at the evening sacrifice is reported by Josephus, the ancient Jewish historian. When the high priest, Hyrcanus, was offering the evening sacrifice and was alone in the temple, God spoke to him and informed him of his son’s success in the battle against Antiochus.[1] It appears to have been just a voice from God. There wasn’t an angel or apparition of any kind associated with the voice. But Daniel, like Zechariah, saw the angel, Gabriel. He describes his response by saying, “I was terrified and fell prostrate” (Daniel 8:17). Our text tells us that “fear fell” upon Zechariah. Daniel tells us that he was temporarily rendered speechless (Daniel 10:15), which was the same result that Zechariah was to experience. Hughes maintains, “Daniel’s encounter and vision had to do with the revelation of future messianic times, and Zechariah’s encounter with Gabriel signaled the dawn of messianic times.”[2] It was Gabriel who made the announcement of Jesus’ birth to Mary. The specific communication from Gabriel was the announcement of a supernatural birth of a son to Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, even in their old age. Anyone familiar with the Old Testament would think of other births announced beforehand, like Samuel, Samson, and others. But this announcement is more like that made to Abram and Sarah of their son, Isaac.

The role of prayer is unmistakable. Luke told us that many people were outside the temple praying when Zechariah went in. The table of incense is often seen as the ascent of a sweet-smelling savor to God. This is a standard connection in the Bible. Colin points out several passages, “Golden bowls of incense which are the prayers of the saints (Rev. 5:8); incense was mixed with the prayers of the saints (Rev. 8:3–4); may my prayer be as incense (Ps. 141:2); people praying at the hour of incense (Luke 1:10); the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints (Rev. 8:4).”[3] The specific statement that his prayer had been heard and that his wife would bear a son lets us in on the fact that his specific prayer had been for a son of his own. For some time, Zechariah had prayed for a child. Perhaps by now, however, he had given up praying, resigned to the idea that God’s answer was “no.” Women carried the blame for barrenness. Gabriel mentions Zechariah’s wife by name! She will bear the son that Zechariah prayed for. He was then told what to name the son. He would be named after the nature of the event. John means “God has been gracious.” As Ryken puts it, “By the grace of God, new life would come from a barren womb.”[4] Just as Zechariah and Elizabeth held out hope that God would be gracious to them, we are encouraged by the outcome that God will also be gracious to us. Piper says, “If God were not a self-replenishing, all-sufficient, everlasting fountain of future grace, there would be no hope for sinners. If God has been gracious only in the past but will not be in the future, Christians are of all people most to be pitied. Our life hangs on future grace.”[5]

[1] Josephus, Flavius, and William Whiston. 1987. The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged. Peabody: Hendrickson.

[2] Hughes, R. Kent. 1998. Luke: That You May Know the Truth. Preaching the Word. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

[3] Day, A. Colin. 2009. Collins Thesaurus of the Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

[4] Ryken, Philip Graham. 2009. Luke. Edited by Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani. Vol. 1. Reformed Expository Commentary. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.

[5] Piper, John. 1995. Future Grace. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers.

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Mark 1:6, Various

The Greatest!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
September 19, 2023

The forerunner of the Messiah was said to come with the “spirit” of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. The very last passage in the Old Testament, Malachi 4:5-6, tells us what God will do when he begins to bring about His plan for man. It says, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers.” In John 1:21, John the Baptist denied that he was Elijah. It says, “And they asked him, ‘Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ And he answered, ‘No.’” But Jesus said in Matthew 11:13-14 “For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.” Mark 1:6 tells us some specifics about John the Baptist. He says, “Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.”

You can’t help but associate John with Elijah. In 2 Kings 1:8, Elijah is described as wearing the same garment: camel hair wrapped around by a simple leather belt. Hughes says, “John definitely was not making a fashion statement. His camel’s-hair robe was the kind worn by the very poor, and his belt, unlike the fancy belts so popular in those days, was simply a leather thong.” Then he mentions John’s diet. “His food was not very exciting either. His idea of eating out was to catch a few grasshoppers and visit the local beehive for dessert.”[1] He preached a very similar message to that of Elijah. He called for repentance and pointed his fingers at his day’s religious and political leaders. Elijah provoked Ahab and his pagan wife, Jezebel, to the extent that she wanted him killed. John provoked Herod and his wife, Herodotus, until she wanted John killed, also.

There are two significant differences between John and Elijah that shouldn’t be overlooked. Elijah performed many miracles. He raised a young boy from the dead. He made a small clump of dough at the bottom of the barrel to indefinitely feed a widow and her child. He called down fire from heaven to consume the prophets of Baal as well as other miracles. Jezebel had her husband, Ahab, send soldiers to kill Elijah. Elijah called down fire from heaven and killed two squads of fifty soldiers.  John the Baptist didn’t perform any miracles. He just pointed his finger at the sins of the rulers and called them to repent. He also pointed at Jesus and said he was the “lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” The second radical difference is that Elijah’s enemy, Jezebel, was defeated, and much of her was devoured by dogs. But in John’s case, his enemy, Herodotus, had John beheaded. But in spite of this, Jesus said, “Among those born of women, none is greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11 and Luke 7:28). He didn’t perform one miracle! He lost his confrontation with the sinful rulers of his day. Yet, Jesus calls him the greatest. In the same passages, notice that Jesus also says that the least of those in the kingdom of God is greater than John. A present-day believer in Jesus is the greatest!

[1] Hughes, R. Kent. 1989. Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior. Vol. 1. Preaching the Word. Westchester, IL: Crossway Books.

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Matthew 1:20

God Cares For The Brokenhearted

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
September 18, 2023

 Joseph was a just and compassionate man. He did not want to shame Mary for the presumed adultery and decided to divorce her quietly. I imagine how deeply hurt this man must have been. He had deep feelings for this girl, as is clear from the way he responded to her adultery. Think about it! The love of your life shows up pregnant by another man, presumably, and all your hopes and plans are washed away in an instant. There must have been a great internal struggle for Joseph between his desire to keep the law and his love for Mary. He chose to do the hardest thing and send her away. I can’t help but think of all the “lost love” songs of my day. How can I live if living is without you? The world ended when I lost your love. Like Toni Braxton, you plead with the lost lover to “unbreak my heart.” The hopes and dreams of a normal happy life are gone. What becomes of the brokenhearted? I wonder if Joseph found comfort in the Scriptures, which talked about God’s love for the brokenhearted. It’s in the Law, the Prophets, and the writings. “God has made me forget my trouble (Gen. 41:51); God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction (Gen. 41:52); God heals the broken-hearted (Ps. 147:3); he has anointed me to bind up the broken-hearted (Isa. 61:1); the Lord saves the broken-hearted (Ps. 34:18); he adds no sorrow with his blessing (Prov. 10:22).”[1]

One night when Joseph wrestled with his loss, he received a heavenly visitor that dealt with his broken heart. Matthew 1:20 says, “But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” An Angel told Mary to “fear not” when she was informed that she would have a child out of wedlock. She asks the angel “how can this be since I have not been with a man?” Mary knew that it was humanly impossible for her to have a child. The child would be a miraculous one conceived in her through the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Angel explains, and Mary accepts his answer. Joseph is also told not to be afraid because this conception is a supernatural one. This reminds us of the angel that appeared to Abram and Sarah in Genesis informing them in their old age that they will have a son. Sarah laughs. Abram thinks he’s too old to father children, but the angel asks, “Is there anything too difficult for God?” The assumed answer of course is “no, nothing is impossible with God.” Both Joseph and Mary accept the supernatural explanation. In spite of it being contrary to everything they know and see, they set aside their fears and believed in the supernatural.

We celebrate Christmas each year with the proclamation of our belief in this supernatural event in the life of Joseph and Mary. I know it’s not scientific. I know it’s against everything we know of life and see around us. I know many theologians today speak of the virgin birth of Jesus as a myth that was made up by his followers to add credence to his teachings. Atheists and agnostics reject the miraculous in nearly all of its forms, as presented in the Bible. Only Christians believe in the virgin birth of Jesus today, but even Christians are becoming more and more skeptical. A writer for the Christian Post said, “While some might expect nonbelievers to wrestle with doubts about the Christmas story as relayed in the Bible, the new research says there are actually signs of growing doubts from Christian groups as well.”[2] I don’t care. I still believe in it. It’s the supernatural fulfillment of all of God’s promises in the Old Testament. Jesus, born of a virgin, is the one that brings us eternal life. If his birth, as told in the Gospels, is just a myth. I have plenty of reasons to be afraid of just about everything in life, especially its ending. Death is all that there is for us on this earth. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid.” Don’t be afraid because God cares for the brokenhearted, and he sent Jesus to bind up our wounds. Oh, death, where is your sting?

 [1] Day, A. Colin. 2009. Collins Thesaurus of the Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

[2] Fewer Americans Believe Jesus Was Born of a Virgin: Study | U.S. News (christianpost.com)

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Malachi 1:6

Rebellion and Witchcraft

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
September 17, 2023

We rebelled against just about everything in the 1960s. We learned to question everything. Authority figures were not right simply because they were authority figures. “The Man” was our enemy. The “Establishment” was a force for tyranny that we had to stand against. I remember the song “Signs.” It was about rebellion against authority and ownership of private property. I expect that the socialistic influence of the day influenced a lot of this mentality. It says, “Sign, sign Everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, Breakin’ my mind Do this, don’t do that, Can’t you read the sign? And the sign said Anybody caught trespassin’ Will be shot on sight. So I jumped on the fence, and I yelled at the house. Hey! What gives you the right To put up a fence to keep me out But to keep Mother Nature in? If God was here, he’d tell you to your face, Man, you’re some kind of sinner.” The Bible is fairly clear on property rights and supports those who work for and earn what they have and deserve to own it. But the point in this verse in Malachi seems to be more concerned with rebellion in a general way. Malachi 1:6 says, “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? Says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’” It’s a general condemnation of parental authority as well as economic authority. The exciting closing phrase of this verse tells us that even the priests of Israel have rebelled against God’s authority. Malachi says that rebellion consists of despising the name of the authority, whether parent, employer or God himself. The sin of rebellion reached all the way up the ladder in Israel to its King.

Samuel confronted King Saul with this sin and explained what rebellion was like. In 1 Samuel 15:23, Samuel says to Saul, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.” Geisler comments, “Samuel forthrightly affirmed, ‘Rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry’ (1 Sam. 15:23). Solomon added, ‘An evil man is bent only on rebellion’ (Prov. 17:11). Nehemiah described Israel in these words: ‘They became stiff-necked and, in their rebellion, appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery’ (Neh. 9:17). God is King, and we, his subjects, have rebelled against His rule in our lives.”[1]

The Prophet, Samuel, speaking for God, confronts the religious leaders for their failure to honor, respect, and obey God’s instructions. Their minds and ministries have gone so wrong that they don’t even recognize what they have done. They enter into a dispute with God. “We have not done anything wrong,” they argue! The culture in Malachi’s day had evolved from a strict belief in God’s right to direct the behavior of humans to the idea that each man’s opinion was as valid as anyone else’s. Anyone can question the parent, the boss, or the priest about what is right and wrong. When one is confronted with sinful behavior, they challenge the confrontation. Unfortunately, in Malachi’s day, as well as our own, the abandonment of authority has become commonplace. Wiersbe observed, “Thanks to worldwide media coverage and the constant pressure for higher program ratings, sin has become an important part of international entertainment. Evil activities that we ought to be weeping over are now sources of entertainment; they are vividly displayed on movie and TV screens and discussed in depth in newspapers and magazines. The all-seeing camera moves into the bedroom, the barroom, and the courtroom and enables excited viewers to enjoy sin vicariously. Movies and TV are instructing generation after generation of children how to ridicule virginity, laugh at sobriety, challenge authority, and reject honesty. Actors, actresses, and advertisers have convinced them that ‘having fun,’ ‘feeling good,’ and ‘getting away with it’ are now the main goals in life.”[2]

[1] Geisler, Norman L. 2004. Systematic Theology, Volume Three: Sin, Salvation. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.

[2] Wiersbe, Warren W. 1996. Be Skillful. “Be” Commentary Series. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

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Zechariah 1:9-14, Various

Words Of Comfort

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
September 16, 2023

The Angel of the Lord, riding the red horse, asks God how long he will continue to have no mercy on the children of Israel that have been punished in Babylon for the past 70 years of captivity. The Lord answered and said, “And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem again.” The curious thing to me in this passage and others like it from the Old Testament prophets is that although they contain warnings of judgment upon the wicked, the point they all try to make is that God is always ready to forgive and receive back into fellowship. One Theological Journal recognized this in the poetry of Emily Dickinson, “Though American poet Emily Dickinson did not practice conventional Christianity, her poetry is suffused with the images and language of the Bible. She blamed clerics for deadening the Bible and aimed to make its message alive again. Her often subtle illusions reveal a very thorough knowledge of the Bible. She emphasized the compassion of God rather than his judgment.”[1]

I’ve always preferred to emphasize God’s love rather than His judgment. Without denying God’s judgment on sin, I will never forget the many passages about God’s comfort of people, even sinners. Collin’s Thesaurus of the Bible gives us a beautiful collection of God’s comforting words: “Your anger turned away, and you comforted me (Isa. 12:1); the Lord has comforted his people (Isa. 49:13; Isa. 52:9); you will be comforted for the evil I brought on Jerusalem (Ezek. 14:22); your rod and your staff comfort me (Ps. 23:4); God who comforts the downcast comforted us (2 Cor. 7:6); you have helped and comforted me (Ps. 86:17); the Lord answered the angel with gracious and comforting words (Zech. 1:13); I remember your ordinances and comfort myself (Ps. 119:52); the poor man was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22); the rich man saw Abraham and Lazarus in his bosom (Luke 16:23); Lazarus received bad things, and now he is comforted (Luke 16:25); the church was walking in the comfort of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31); my comfort is that you have revived me (Ps. 119:50).”[2]

In the midst of God’s great judgment upon the whole earth, He protected Noah and his family. He then protected Lot, the resident of Sodom and Gomorrah, when the fire and brimstone rained down.  “If he is powerful enough to save when the whole world is underwater, and when the skies are raining fire, then he can save his people through and from trials and bring them at last to glory.”[3] I find it interesting that Simeon was the priest at the Temple who rejoiced when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus. Luke 2:25 tells us that Simeon was looking for the “consolation of Israel.” In the midst of a sinful, rebellious people, Jesus is indeed the “comfort of Israel” as well as the comfort for all believers. He’s settled the score for us. He came and died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins and purchase for us a place in heaven which he offers to us as a free gift that can only be received through faith. He left us here at his ascension with some of the most encouraging and comforting words imaginable. He’s preparing a place for us in heaven and will return to take us home. One writer says, “He cannot prepare a mansion for us in heaven without first of all destroying the works of the devil, destroying sin and its dominion, destroying death and the grave. In addition to satisfying God’s justice and God’s holy law and offering this propitiation that removed the wrath of God, He had to do all that before He could prepare a place for us in heaven and then come back and receive us unto Himself, that where He is, we may also be.”[4]

[1] Sailer, William, J. Creighton Christman, David C. Greulich, Harold P. Scanlin, Stephen J. Lennox, and Phillip Guistwite. 2012. Religious and Theological Abstracts. Myerstown, PA: Religious and Theological Abstracts.

[2] Day, A. Colin. 2009. Collins Thesaurus of the Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

[3] Anderson, Clive. 2007. Opening up 2 Peter. Opening Up Commentary. Leominster: Day One Publications.

[4] Lloyd-Jones, David Martyn. 1996. God the Father, God the Son. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

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