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Ezekiel 1:4, Various

The Rider on the Storm

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 24, 2023

Ezekiel says that in his vision the heavens were opened and he saw visions of God. He said, “As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal.” The first thing I noticed was the thought of God coming into this world on a “Storm.” Back in the ’60s, Jim Morrison and the rock group, the Doors, sang “Rider on the Storm.” The lyrics made little sense to me then and other than one observation it is about the same now. He sings, “Riders on the storm, Riders on the storm, into this house, we’re born, into this world, we’re thrown, Like a dog without a bone, an actor out on loan. Riders on the storm.” That’s just a bunch of nonsense to me except for the refrain, “Rider on the Storm.” Jim Morrison is setting a mood by using a biblical image of God’s activity in our world. William Cowper wrote a marvelous little poem using this same imagery. He writes about God, “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants His footsteps in the sea. And rides upon the storm.”

In the Door’s song, it appears that we all are the riders on the storm. Because we’re just thrown into the world with no help at all, “Into this world we’re thrown” and we are on our own. Nobody will throw us a bone! I guess there are times in our lives when we feel like we’ve been left to ride out the storms of life on our own, but the Bible teaches us that God is the one that rides the storms of life. The Bible uses Storms as pictures of the power and might of God. Psalm 29 is one example of that. Picking and choosing from its verses we read, “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;  The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;  The Lord sits enthroned over the flood…” The storm is like a mighty stallion breaking into our lives at times. It appears to be completely out of control, but there is always a rider in control. As the disciples found in the boat as they found themselves pounded by the storm on the Sea of Galilee, there was someone who could tame all storms. He controls the storm like an expert rider controls his steed. This Psalm lets us know that “the Lord sits enthroned” over the storm.

Cowper ended his poem that way. He wrote, “Ye fearful saints fresh courage take, the clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust him for his grace; behind a frowning providence, he hides a smiling face.” As the disciples in the boat with Jesus learned, He makes the winds and the waves obey. With just one quick word, Jesus tells the storm to be still, and it becomes still. The disciples marveled at Jesus’ authority over the storm. I find that comforting during stormy times in my life. Faith in Christ is never misplaced. If He can calm the storms of the sea with one word, He can calm the storms of life as well. In Romans 10:11, according to the New American Standard Version of 1995, “whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” Most translations say believers will not be put to shame or ashamed. Regardless of the translation, we can be assured that God will always honor our faith in Jesus.

 

 

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Lamentations 3:1, Various

The Devastation of Sin

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 23, 2023

For thousands of years, the Jews have lived as foreigners in the world. They have had no homeland and even the land they are attempting to claim in the 21st century is in constant conflict with its neighbors. She is always at war. I find Jeremiah’s cry in the book of Lamentations significant for every generation of the Jews, not just those going into exile in Babylon at the time of his writing this bible book. Lamentations 1:3 seems to capture the entire history of the Israelites, “Judah has gone into exile because of affliction and hard servitude; she dwells now among the nations but finds no resting place; her pursuers have all overtaken her in the midst of her distress.” Israel’s chosen status and her subsequent failure in their call to be God’s people left her aliens in the world. Not even God pitied her. The depth of her despair is seen in her early history where she hangs up her musical instruments and cannot sing songs of Zion while a slave in Babylon. David wrote songs about his great love for God and God’s instructions for holy living. Psalm 119 is one of the longer songs that praised God’s laws and David’s passion to live by them. That Psalm has 22 divisions. Each one with 8 verses and each verse begins with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet to show the completeness of his love. This is repeated for the entire Hebrew alphabet.  Lamentations has a similar pattern. Ironside observes, “In Ps. 119 we have twenty-two divisions of eight verses each, similarly arranged, as even the ordinary English Bible shows. There, every letter of the alphabet (which represents the whole compass of man’s speech) is used in the praise of the perfect law of the Lord. In Lamentations, every letter is required to express the sorrows following upon the neglect and breaking of that law.”[1]

The personification of the destroyed Jerusalem as a woman bereaved of her husband and children has been the subject of some interesting artwork, painting as well as sculpture. Ryken tells of one of the more famous pieces. He writes, “She sits among the ruins, slumped slightly to one side. Her elbow rests on the arm of her throne, supporting her chin. Her gaze is turned downward in a resolute frown. Her aspect reveals that she has endured great suffering, a grief too deep for words, perhaps even for tears. Though the crown on her head gives her a regal air, she is despondent. The queen who answers to this description was carved into stone by William Westmore Story (1819–1895). Story’s sculpture establishes an imposing presence in the galleries of Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. The inscription at the base of the woman’s throne identifies her as ‘Jerusalem in Her Desolation.’ The queenly city William Story carved into stone is Jerusalem personified, the Jerusalem that barely survived the tragic events described at the end of the book of Jeremiah. She had already experienced all the indignities and indecencies of the Babylonian assault. After a long siege, the city finally fell to Nebuchadnezzar in 587 b.c., and her citizens were deported to Babylon. Story’s sculpture depicts the aftermath—a city still numb with grief. The crumbled bits of mortar around her suggest a city in ruins. Yet the most significant detail is the tiny serpent slithering near the queen’s feet. The serpent stands for sin, showing that Jerusalem’s desolation was the result of her disobedience.”[2]

It’s hard to imagine that all of man’s toils, troubles, and trials are the result of taking a bite of one apple. All pain and hardships in life have their roots deeply embedded in sin. Adam and Eve started it, but we’ve all participated in perpetuating it. Like the Israelites in captivity, sin always leaves its impact. One web blogger says, “As we make our way through this life we have endless opportunities to encounter sin. Sometimes this is our own sin and sometimes this is the sin of others. Sometimes this sin is pre-meditated and carefully constructed to bring the greatest devastation. Other times this sin is inadvertent, negligent, thoughtless, based on omission rather than commission. Of course, the motive behind the sin does little to lessen its pain and impact. No matter where the sin comes from, no matter the intention or lack of intention behind it, we encounter sin and are harmed by it. What we find as we examine sin and its consequences are that sin leaves a trail behind it. Sin isn’t here for a moment and then gone. No, sin is so evil that it leaves its lingering scent behind.”[3] Only in Jesus Christ can we find salvation. Jesus’ first words when He began His ministry were, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” What is the good news? “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Then in Romans 6:23, we read, that the devastation of sin is death, but “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

[1] Ironside, H. A. 1906. Notes on the Prophecy and Lamentations of Jeremiah. Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.

[2] Ryken, Philip Graham. 2001. Jeremiah and Lamentations: From Sorrow to Hope. Preaching the Word. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

[3] https://www.challies.com/articles/the-utter-devastation-of-sin/

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Jeremiah 7:20, Various

Our Curse Bearer!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 22, 2023

Because of his people’s rebellion, God will pour out his judgment on “this place.” Jeremiah 7:20 says, “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, my anger, and my wrath will be poured out on this place, upon man and beast, upon the trees of the field and the fruit of the ground; it will burn and not be quenched.’” Some argue that “this place” refers to either the Temple where the Israelites had corrupted the worship of the one true God or the land of Israel that had been given to the Jews as their dwelling place upon the earth. But “this place” in the context used by Jeremiah refers to the physical realm as a whole, all the earth. When man sinned, God cursed the ground. He said that because of man the ground from which man was taken shall be cursed. Man’s sin brought a curse upon the whole creation. God’s curse upon the created order is also mentioned by Hosea. Hosea 4:3, also speaks of God’s justice being poured out on the created order. It reads, “Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away.” The creation was made for man and now that creation would suffer for man’s sins. Calvin said, “Strictly speaking, God does not punish animals and trees; this happens because of mankind, so that this spectacle may fill men with fear.”[1]

Filled with fear! The most frightening aspect of this verse is the phrase, “and it shall not be quenched.” God’s anger and wrath shall be poured out on earth and upon man forever and ever. This has been used by some of the more ancient commentators to support the theme of eternal torment. John Donne, writes, “God threatens that for their grievous sins he will multiply lives upon them and make them immortal for immortal torments. They shall be ‘a generation of his wrath’; for they shall die in this world in his displeasure and receive a new birth, a new generation in the world to come with a new capacity for new miseries; they shall die in the next world every minute, deprived of the sight of God and every minute receive a new generation, a new birth, a new ability to experience real and sensible torments.”[2] This has filled every generation with fear.

But God promised a remedy for both the created order and for the children of Adam. Isaiah 11:1-3 says, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.”  Nick Batzig, of Ligonier Ministries, writes, “In the Gospel, God promised to redeem–not just His believing people, but also the whole of the cosmos. The promise of redemption is the promise to all those who have trusted in Jesus, the second Adam, that they will live forever with Him in the New Heavens and the New Earth. When He sweat a great drop of blood in the Garden, the blood of the Second Adam fell into the cursed ground. When He hung on the tree, with a crown of thorns on his head, He shed His blood into the ground. The writer of Hebrews draws out this parallel between the blood of Abel (which cried out to God from the ground for judgment on Cain) and the blood of Jesus ‘speaking better things than that of Abel.’ Jesus’ blood cries out for mercy. There is a sense in which we can say that Jesus’ blood–being poured out into the cursed ground–also secures the new creation. There are depths here–depths that ought to make us fall on our knees, confess our sin and worship the God who sent His eternal Son to become the sin-bearing, curse-removing Second Adam!”[3]

[1] Calvin, John. 2000. Jeremiah and Lamentations. Crossway Classic Commentaries. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

[2] Tyler, J. Jeffery, and Timothy George, eds. 2018. Jeremiah, Lamentations: Old Testament. Vol. XI. Reformation Commentary on Scripture. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press.

[3] https://feedingonchrist.org/the-curse-reversed/

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Isaiah 1:3, Psalms 69:20-21, 51:17

A Broken Heart

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 21, 2023

In the Israeli agricultural society, everyone knew their animals well. The ox and the donkey were known as loyal animals and were “loyal and faithful animals.”[1] So, Isaiah compares the fickle Israelites to these animals. He writes, “The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” These are just dumb animals but at least they are loyal. I like the way Ortlund describes this situation, “God’s children make animals look intelligent. Oxen and donkeys are stupid. Even as animals, they’re dense. But they know enough to go find their master. After all, he feeds them. But we are often unmoved by God’s love. We wander from one false master to another—hungry, empty, frustrated, wondering why God seems unreal. But the name ‘Israel’ declares that God still longs to bless us (cf. Genesis 32:22–29; 35:9–12). The words ‘my people’ show how closely God identifies with us. What madness is this, that we treat God our generous Father as a problem to work around, while we get on with the real business of life! The prophet is saying, ‘That’s stupid.’ And it breaks God’s heart.”[2]

During the creation account, we see that God only has to speak to bring things into existence. The whole creation obeys his word. He says “let there be light” and light appears. He says “let the plants appear on the dry ground” and they appear. He says “let the planets appear” and we have them in their particular orbits. He “let there be animals on the earth” and they appear. The birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and the beasts of the land all respond to His voice with obedience. But not mankind! We are the highest of his created order. God shared himself with us by creating us in His image. All the created order is pronounced good except man. We have been pronounced, “very good.” Briley adds to this thought, “It is a great irony that human beings are the creatures with whom God desires the most personal, intimate relationship, yet we alone consistently fail to honor and respond to him.”[3]

God had acted completely out of his love for mankind. He created us out of his love. This is so obvious to me. He filled the world with color and gave us eyes to see. He filled the world with flowers and fragrances and gave us noses to experience them. He filled the world with foods to eat and made us with taste buds to enjoy them all. He put us in bodies and made us male and female and blessed us with the command to multiply and fill the earth. But we look around us and complain about what we see. We dislike some odors, we don’t like some foods, and we are unhappy with limits being placed on our physical pleasures. We blame God for there being any kind of unhappiness or pain or sorrow in the world. We ignore the blessings and focus on the pains and then blame God. Although death came in response to our rebellion as promised by God originally, we blame God for all suffering in the world. Again, out of His great love for us, God sent his son into the world to save the rebellious. He came dealing with the pain and healing the sick and raising the dead and his most precious creation, mankind, hung him on a cross. God took upon himself the suffering we experienced to demonstrate that love for us while we were yet sinners. Our rebellion, like that of a beloved child, broke God’s heart. Psalm 69:20-21 speaks for Messiah. This is the greatest expression of God’s love for mankind and it was scorned and rejected. “They have broken my heart by saying evil things about me. It has left me helpless. I looked for pity, but I didn’t find any. I looked for someone to comfort me, but I didn’t find anyone. They put bitter spices in my food. They gave me vinegar when I was thirsty.” The Psalmist also tells us what God desires from us. Psalm 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

[1] Friesen, Ivan D. 2009. Isaiah. Believers Church Bible Commentary. Scottdale, PA; Waterloo, ON: Herald Press.

[2] Ortlund, Raymond C., Jr., and R. Kent Hughes. 2005. Isaiah: God Saves Sinners. Preaching the Word. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

[3] Briley, Terry R. 2000–. Isaiah. The College Press NIV Commentary. Joplin, MO: College Press Pub.

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Song of Solomon 1:3, Various

Another Silly Love Song!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 20, 2023

In the movie “Michael,” John Travolta plays the Archangel. All the girls are drawn to him in the movie because of his smell. The girls all said he smelled like cookies and they all wanted to be close to him. This reminded me of the third verse of the first chapter of the Song of Solomon. His lover says, “Your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore, virgins love you.” I’ve never had aftershave or cologne that smelled like cookies, but I always tried to smell good around the girls. I don’t worry too much about that anymore, although my wife advises me at times when I should do something about my odor. Man, I hate getting old!

Many of the commentators will allegorize this book and make it the general description of God’s deep and sacrificial love for his bride the church. Yet, when reading this book, it’s really hard not to see it as a human love song. The subject of our music in my life has been dominated by the subject of love. My parent’s generation had the same focus and I’m thinking that it’s always been that way and always will be. The music group, “Wings” led by one of the Beatles sang, “You’d think that people would’ve had enough of silly love songs. I look around me, and I see it isn’t so. Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs.” I would venture to say that from the dawn of man the only adequate expression of human love has been poetry and often poetry that’s set to music.  Isn’t the song of Solomon an ancient love song? Another 70’s group, Three Dog Night sang an “Old Fashioned Love Song, “Just an old-fashioned love song playing on the radio, and wrapped around the music is the sound of someone promising they’ll never go. You swear you’ve heard it before…” Well, of course, we’ve heard it before, in every tongue in every generation. Yes, Hubbard is correct, “Lovers have always known that song was the only adequate expression for feelings so strong, delight so high, commitment so deep. Only poetry with its combination of excess and austerity, of release and discipline can capture the aspirations and frustrations of love.”[1]

After a discussion with my teenage grandson about all the questionable behavior in the Bible, disappointed that I couldn’t fully answer all his questions, I simply told him I don’t have all the answers about why there is evil in the world and why God called for war in the Old Testament, but I’ve been persuaded through the love of God demonstrated through Jesus Christ that He is real, He loves me, and He will care from me even through the confusion of this life. Yes, there is evil in the world, but there is more good than evil. That good is only appreciated in a positive view of God. I don’t have to know much. I just have to know that he loves me. I think that might be the subject of the Song of Solomon. I can’t help but notice how all the physical senses come into play in this song. I believe they are all part of God’s expression of his love for me. God filled the world with color and gave me eyes! God filled the world with sound and music and gave me ears. He filled the world with fragrances and gave me a nose. He filled the world with great things to eat and gave me the ability to enjoy it. He made us male and female and created an attraction that finds fulfillment in the pleasures of marriage. Isn’t that enough to prove that God loves us? No, wait. Even more than all that. When we ignored all those things and turned against God he so loved us that he moved with the greatest act of love possible. God so loved us, that He gave His only begotten Son so that anyone who would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. Believing in Jesus means understanding and accepting God’s wonderful love for each of us. Paul adds more to John’s declaration of God’s love and says, “While we were yet sinners, (ignoring the obvious expressions of God’s love” Christ died for us, thus demonstrating the greatest possible love. There is no greater love!

[1] Hubbard, David A., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. 1991. Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon. Vol. 16. The Preacher’s Commentary Series. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.

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Ecclesiastes 1:3-4, Isaiah 64:6, Ephesians 2:8-9

By Grace Through Faith

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 19, 2023

Some questions in the bible assume an answer. Some assume a positive answer. “You really liked that present, didn’t you?” The answer expected is “yes I did.” You didn’t like that present, did you?” Expects, “No, I didn’t.” There are other questions that do not imply any kind of an answer. I think the question posed to the reader in the third verse of the first chapter of Ecclesiastes, is assuming a negative answer. It asks, “What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” It could be answered in either way but the wording in the original language and the following discussion will tell us that the answer is “nothing.” There is nothing to be gained in the long run from all of man’s labor in this life. Verse 4 explains the answer, “A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.”

The Hebrew word for “teacher” that shows up in Ecclesiastes is “Qoheleth.” The Greek translation of the Hebrew word is “Ecclesiastes” which is where we take the English name for the book. The ecclesia is the gathering or “collecting” of people. It’s the assembly. So, the teacher in Ecclesiastes is the guy who collects the people to teach them. The Hebrew Qoheleth is sometimes defined as “collector.” This is interesting because Solomon was a great collector. He collected great wealth of course. He collected a large number of horses. He collected wives and concubines (The pleasure of men). He collected servants and gardens and crops and he also collected wise sayings as we see in the book of Proverbs. Yes indeed. Solomon was a collector. He gathered the people together because he had something very important to teach them. In Ecclesiastes, he describes all his “collecting” as being exercises in futility. As Ryken says, “Qoheleth takes the whole sum of human existence and declares that it is utterly meaningless. Then he takes the next twelve chapters to prove his point in painful detail, after which he returns to the very same statement: “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 12:8). So the book begins and ends with the same idea: everything that man does is futile, it’s all just smoke and mirrors!

Surely there is profit in hard work! Yes, Solomon affirms that truth in Proverbs. He is not speaking of the things that will profit us in this life. He’s speaking in an eternal sense. The old Pulpit Commentary of 1909 observes, “If all things are vain and vanity, wherefore were they made? If they are God’s works, how are they vain? But it is not the works of God that he calls vain. God forbid! The heaven is not vain; the earth is not vain: God forbid! Nor the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, nor our own body. No; all these are very good.” After each day of creation in Genesis God pronounced the created order as being good. Solomon, the collector-teacher, is talking about the brevity of life and facing the vast beyond. Nothing we can do in this life will expand our life. As the songwriter crooned, “all your money won’t another minute buy.” Money, power, pleasure, possessions, or wisdom will win for you something beyond the pale. There is no fountain of youth in Florida. No medicine can keep us alive forever, there is nothing man can do for himself when the angel of death comes calling. Everything we do is useless. This is why Isaiah 64:6 tells us that all of Man’s righteous works are as filthy rags to God. Man can never earn or deserve God’s favor, but he can receive it by God’s grace through faith alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 says it clearly, “it is by grace you are saved, it’s not of works, lest anymore should boast.”  This goes against our human nature. One of man’s basic desires is to be in control of his own destiny, and that includes his eternal destiny. Salvation by works appeals to man’s pride and his desire to be in control. Being saved by works appeals to that desire far more than the idea of being saved by faith alone.  “Because salvation by works appeals to man’s sinful nature, it forms the basis of almost every religion except for biblical Christianity. Proverbs 14:12 tells us that: ‘There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.’ Salvation by works seems right to men, which is why it is the predominantly held viewpoint. That is exactly why biblical Christianity is so different from all other religions—it is the only religion that teaches salvation is a gift of God and not of works.”[1]

[1] Got Questions Ministries. 2002–2013. Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

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Proverbs 1:3-6, James 1:19

A Teachable Spirit

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 18, 2023

The book of Proverbs is a wealth of wisdom imparted from a father to his son. It’s not just any father, but it’s from the wisest man in the world, Solomon. It is sometimes suggested that it was written specifically to his son Rehoboam who would take the throne after him. Ralph Drollinger, who leads a bible ministry to our congressional leadership in Washington, D.C., says, “When one analyzes the Old Testament wisdom literature of the Book of Proverbs, which is mainly about a father preparing his son to serve in public office, you will discover that the book contains a total of 915 passages pertaining mostly to pithy sayings that are intended to prepare Rehoboam, the author’s son, to effectively serve as the future King.”[1] I find it interesting that a book 3000 years old is speaking to us about how to live today. The world’s economy used to be based on agriculture. During the industrial revolution, the economy shifted to an economy of production. The age of the machine took over as the basis of the economy. Now we’re in what is called the “information age.” Since the advent of the computer, knowledge has increased exponentially and there is now at your fingertips more information about absolutely everything in the world than has ever been available before. Although there is more information and more knowledge available at any time in history there seems to be an increasing lack of wisdom. “Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?” asked the late British poet, T.S. Eliot.

No time in the history of man is the need for wisdom more acute than it is today. I especially appreciate Dollinger’s ministry with our leadership in Washington. If there was ever a place for the need for wisdom instead of just knowledge, it’s there. As Solomon attempted to prepare his son for such duties, he gave advice that should serve not only those in public office but everyone who needs to work with others. Of course, that’s all of us! Warren Wiersbe said it well, “What’s needed today is wisdom. The Book of Proverbs is about godly wisdom, how to get it and how to use it. It’s about priorities and principles, not get-rich-quick schemes, or success formulas. It tells you, not how to make a living, but how to be skillful in the lost art of making a life.”

With the increase of knowledge everywhere, we all think we know it all! This has crippled good relationships with others. Solomon wants his son who is to become King after him to always maintain a teachable spirit. He explains why he’s putting all this in writing for his son and says in Provers 1:3-6, “to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.” James writes, “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” (1:19). The Greek word for hearing includes not simple sound recognition but also responding to what is heard by understanding and heeding, or obeying. The Hebrew word for it which is used here means the same thing: comprehend, give earnest heed, and obey.  What does it mean to be teachable? Merriam-Webster says, “teach is a general term for causing one to acquire knowledge or skill, usually with the imparting of necessary incidental information and the giving of incidental help and encouragement.” William Barclay comments on the above-quoted verse from James’ Epistle and says, “No one can ever find one English word to translate what is a one-word summary of the truly teachable spirit. The teachable spirit is docile and tractable, and therefore humble enough to learn. The teachable spirit is without resentment and without anger and is, therefore, able to face the truth, even when it hurts and condemns. The teachable spirit is not blinded by its own overmastering prejudices but is clear-eyed to the truth. The teachable spirit is not seduced by laziness but is so self-controlled that it can willingly and faithfully accept the discipline of learning.”[2]

[1] https://capmin.org/four-benefits-of-being-teachable/

[2] Barclay, William, ed. 1976. The Letters of James and Peter. The Daily Study Bible Series. Philadelphia: Westminster John Knox Press.

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Psalm 5:3, Various

A Regular, Persistent Prayer Life

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 17, 2023

I’ve had serious disagreements with people regarding early morning devotions or late at-night devotions. Many have argued that they are not morning people so it’s not good for them to do their devotions or prayer time in the morning. I’ve always been a morning person. I expect that the Navy taught me that over my many years with them. I wasn’t always a morning person. The Navy made me adjust my life to become one. I didn’t like it, but I changed, and it has served me well for the rest of my life. As I write this now, it’s 6 am and I’ve been awake for about an hour enjoying my coffee and some quiet time. Even on shore duty in the Navy and while at Seminary I would be the first one to class or in the office most days and would have productive days. During my 30+ years in the pastorate, I always made sure I was the first one to church on Sundays. I would have early prayer meetings with the staff to start the worship day off by looking to the Lord. A nice side effect of getting up early in the morning is that I would be tired and ready for bed when it was time. I think I always slept better. In Psalm 5, verse 3, David shares his daily routine with us. He says, “O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.” He makes a similar claim later in Psalm 119:147 when he says, “I rise before dawn and cry for help.” It appears that this was Jesus’ habit as well. Mark 1:35 says, “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”

It’s always good to study the Bible and pray, no matter what time of day or night. Having regular personal devotional time is very important to maintaining a strong and growing connection with God. While it is certainly not “wrong” to have your devotions at night before going to bed, it has been a blessing to me to start with God in the morning. I need my coffee. But not as much as I need God. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread (food) alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” A web blogger asks some very interesting questions, “Why do you think Job said he treasured God’s Word more than his necessary food? Why do you think Jeremiah said he ate God’s Word when he found it? Why do you think David said God’s Word was more valuable to him than thousands of pieces of gold and silver?”[1]

Regardless of whether you seek God in the morning or the evening, one thing that is implied by this verse is that the Psalmist was persistent in his prayer life. Boice explains this well, he says persistence is “seen in the repeated phrase ‘in the morning; (v. 3). It carries the ideas of ‘as soon as it is morning’ and ‘every morning.’ It reminds us of the Lord’s teaching about the unjust judge who did not want to help a poor widow but who eventually gave her justice just to escape her constant petitions. Jesus concluded, ‘And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?’ (Luke 18:7). His point was that we are to persist in prayer even if, for reasons unknown to us, the answer of God is delayed. God will not refuse to act forever.”[2]

[1] https://kingdomnomics.com/2017/03/26/gods-word-food-for-the-soul/

[2] Boice, James Montgomery. 2005. Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

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