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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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Haggai 1:12-15, Isaiah 43:1-5

You Are Not Alone

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
September 15, 2023

Haggai called the returning remnant of Israel to think about their situation. They had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, but they had focused their attention on building lives for themselves. They expected God to bless them as they built their lives on the land of promise. God did not bless them. Their crops did not produce as expected. The work was hard and tedious and showed little progress. The people were discontent and discouraged. God has brought about in your lives situations to remind you that life without God is genuinely meaningless and unproductive. Haggai challenged them all to see the situation as it was. The people listened! Haggai 1:12-15 says, “Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord. Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, I am with you, declares the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius, the king.”

No matter what’s going on in your life, “I am with you, declares the Lord.” He is especially with us when He calls us to fulfill our missions in life. When Jesus was about to depart from the earth for the last time, he gave his followers a commission. Just as Haggai gave the Israelites a commission from God, Jesus gave his followers a commission from God. He tells them to make disciples of all nations and adds, “Behold, I am with you always.” Acts 18:9-10 tells us that one night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision saying, “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you.” The Handbook of Bible Promises informs us that Jesus is with us in every situation of life. “He encourages us in times of difficulty.” Jesus sent Paul to Rome in Acts 23, and the text tells us that Jesus “stood next to Paul and said, ‘Take courage.’” Jesus is also with us when it hurts. “He comforts us in times of sorrow. Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” In addition, He is with us in our failures and frailties. “He strengthens us in times of weakness.” In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul tells us what he learned about Jesus as we face our weaknesses. He says, “I will boast about my weaknesses.” He adds that by doing so, Christ’s power will rest on him.”[1]

Haggai wants the returning remnant to realize that they are not alone. God is with them.  You and I are not alone, either.  This realization will stir up the spirit in our lives. There is nothing that might enter our lives that will destroy us. God’s assurances to His people in the Prophets are God’s assurances to us as well since we have been adopted into God’s family. We read in Isaiah 43:1-5, “Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. If you cross over water, I am with you, or over rivers. They will not overwhelm you. If you pass through the fire, you will not be scorched. The flames will not burn you, for I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. For you are precious in my sight; you are honored, and I love you. So I set aside people in your stead, nations in exchange for your life. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.”[2] I like what Colin Smith says, “You will face many struggles and will have defeats as well as victories, but you are not alone in this battle: The Spirit of God is within you, and that is what makes the Christian life possible. The Christian life is all about the proper application of overwhelming force. Never say you are Helpless when the Spirit of God lives in you.”[3]

[1] Beaumont, Mike, and Martin Manser. 2020. The Handbook of Bible Promises.

[2] Blenkinsopp, Joseph. 2008. Isaiah 40–55: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 19A. Anchor Yale Bible. New Haven; London: Yale University Press.

[3] Smith, Colin S. 2002. Unlocking the Bible Story. Vol. 4. Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

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Zephaniah 1:10-11

Economic Disaster

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
September 14, 2023

Zephaniah calls the Nation to repent of its evil ways, especially for having embraced the Baal worship of Jezebel.  The only reason they have not faced God’s judgment so far is that God is patient. The prophet explained that God’s patience with their idolatry would not last forever, and He would soon act to bring justice to the poor and redeem those oppressed. Zephaniah knew that the hearts of the nation’s kings and priests had become hardened and would never turn back to God. Like Pharaoh in the Exodus, the hardened hearts of the leader will bring destruction to the whole population. That time is at hand, Zephaniah 1:10-11 explains, and the suffering will be great, “On that day, declares the Lord, a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills. Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! For all the traders are no more; all who weigh out silver are cut off.” What we see in this passage is a monetary collapse in Jerusalem, the New York City of the nation of Judah. Bentley says, “Zephaniah is obviously very familiar with the layout of the city. He knows the market district. The Fish Gate was situated in the most vulnerable part of the city; it was not surrounded by hills. The prophet is also familiar with the New Quarter. All of these places were centers of trade and industry. They were also likely to be the seat of much corruption and dishonesty, where, as always, the poor were the losers.”[1]

Just like today, much of the stability of a nation is dependent on its economy. We’ve had tough times in the history of our nation and know what this means. October 29, 1929, has become known as “Black Tuesday.” Black Tuesday is known for being the worst day in the U.S. stock market. Throughout the 1920’s stock prices reached new heights, more than quadrupling in value. But on Black Tuesday, the bubble burst, and by 1933 prices were down about 80% from the heights of the late ’20s. The great crash of 1929 plunged the U.S. into what is known as “The Great Depression.” Between 1930 and 1933, about 9,000 banks failed. Production in U.S. industry hit rock bottom and left millions of Americans out of work, and the rest, struggling to survive. A proud nation found itself filled with soup lines, hobos, and shanty towns.”[2] I have photos of my father standing in one of those soup lines.

Everything that builds and sustains a solid citizenry and stable living situation is connected to the moral fiber of the nation. The well-being of all its citizens is a responsibility of everyone to some extent. The early Christians, according to Luke, shared all things when things got tough, and this is still a principle we should live by today. Because of the great depression and other hard times, we sometimes want to withdraw from society and take care of ourselves, hiding in well-supplied bunkers. Some take warnings like this passage in Zephaniah, and others panic into unchristian behavior. Sailer rightly concludes, “To predict imminent economic ruin for a nation because of moral bankruptcy is to misrepresent God’s purposes in Christ. To encourage believers not to cling to the things of the world and share with those in need is consistent with the gospel. To frighten them into hoarding resources to survive the supposed impending economic collapse is without a biblical mandate or example.”[3] When such an attitude is embraced, only the poor will suffer.

[1] Bentley, Michael. 2008. Opening up Zephaniah. Opening Up Commentary. Leominster: Day One Publications.

[2] Benfield, Chris. 2015. “The Collapse of Babylon (Message #41) (Revelation 18:9–24).” In Pulpit Pages: New Testament Sermons, 1878. Mount Airy, NC: Chris Benfield.

[3] 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.

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Habakkuk 1:5, Psalms 37:7-9

Fret Not!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
September 13, 2023

In the course of everyday life, it often seems that God doesn’t care about the oppressed. He allows the wicked to have their way in the world. The prospering of the wicked is a frequently mentioned theme in the bible. A Bible thesaurus points this out in detail, “The wicked prosper (Ps. 10:5); I saw the prosperity of the wicked (Ps. 73:3); the wicked spend their days in prosperity (Job 21:13); robbers prosper (Job 12:6); her enemies prosper (Lam. 1:5); he will prosper until the time of wrath is completed (Dan. 11:36); he will succeed in what he does (Dan. 8:24); the horn prospered (Dan. 8:12); evildoers prosper (Mal. 3:15); why does the way of the wicked prosper? (Jer. 12:1); do not fret over him who prospers (Ps. 37:7).”[1] No one could identify with that better than the Northern Kingdom of Israel when they were conquered by the pagan Assyrian Nation. How can God allow such a thing? In Habakkuk 1:5, God assures his people that He is not inactive. He is behind the scenes even now working out justice against the oppressors. He says, “Look among the nations and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.”

 But God’s people were suffering at the hands of the wicked at the moment! Just like God’s people today, we look around and see it all and wonder how God can allow this situation to continue. We have the exact instructions for us that Habakkuk gave to Israel. His key phrase in the whole book, which is often quoted in the new testament, is “the just shall live by faith.” We are to live our lives trusting God. He makes all things right in the end. It will come about in a way we probably would never imagine, but He has promised us that all things, both good and bad, will work out in the end for our good. We are called to trust God regardless of the situation in our own lives and the unjust situations we might see around us.

Psalm 37:7-9 contains one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. I’m sure Jesus is thinking about this when he tells us not to worry. Paul was thinking of it when he said, “Be anxious for nothing.” It reads, “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! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.” Butler comments on this verse, “The word translated ‘fret’ comes from the Hebrew word which involves a number of related attitudes. It can involve anger (we are angry with God for letting the wicked prosper), jealousy (we are jealous of the successes of the wicked), and even grief (the success of the wicked hurts). Fretting is easy to do. It comes naturally to most of us. We do not have to be taught to fret, for we seem to possess skills in fretting that need no teaching to improve them. It is not easy to see the wicked prosper and get ahead through their evil methods, but God has told us to ‘fret not.’”[2]

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

[2] Butler, John G. 2014. Sermon Starters. Vol. 3. Clinton, IA: LBC Publications.

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