29 August 2010
Psalm 148, 149, 150; Job 11:1-9,13-20; Rev. 5:1-14; Matt. 5:1-12

Zophar piles on his own judgment. He is convinced that Job has sinned greatly, based on the measure of his misery. Zophar sees Job’s suffering and misery and concludes that his sin must be nearly unimaginable. His prescription for Job is that he get right with God, Job surely has concealed his sinfulness but if he makes a clean breast of things then he will find everything changed and set right in his life. The formula is a familiar one in western Christianity and it is incredibly destructive. It allows us to feel better about ourselves when we are not suffering and it makes suffering worse for it says that it is all our fault. The other major problem with such doctrine is that it fails to distinguish between forgiveness and consequences. I can be forgiven by God for my sin but still pay a price for that sin. If I cheat on my wife the Lord might forgive me for it and so might my wife but she also might never trust me again and our marriage will be diminished, at least in the short term. Repentance for sin does not imply that our lives will be free of pain and suffering because of sin.

Jesus gives his first major teaching on the kingdom of heaven and in it we see the true ethics of God. Paul covers some of this ground in practical ways in Romans 12. We are to recognize the sinfulness of the world and the sin in our own lives and to mourn over the brokenness of the world but also to be those who move beyond mourning to seeking true righteousness. We are to set the world’s opinion of us aside and seek after God’s favor. All our hope and all our joy is to be found in Him and as we seek Him we will find our hopes realized in the coming of His kingdom both now through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, and in the fullness of the coming kingdom. We will be able to longingly pray the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

If we would truly know something of the surpassing greatness of Jesus, we would seek to see and know what heaven knows here. The fourth chapter of the Revelation shows us the worship of heaven for the Father and here we see Him sharing His glory and worship with the Lamb. If heaven recognizes Jesus as worthy of the worship directed to the Father then we should recognize what a great savior He is and what a great salvation we have received through Him. This passage represents what happens next after Jesus’ ascension in Acts 1, after He passes from earthly sight by ascending into the clouds, He next comes to the throne for glorification. His work of redemption is complete and now comes the judgment of the world and sin but it is accomplished with mercy for those who believe.

Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with victory.
29 August 2010
Psalm 148, 149, 150; Job 11:1-9,13-20; Rev. 5:1-14; Matt. 5:1-12

Zophar piles on his own judgment. He is convinced that Job has sinned greatly, based on the measure of his misery. Zophar sees Job’s suffering and misery and concludes that his sin must be nearly unimaginable. His prescription for Job is that he get right with God, Job surely has concealed his sinfulness but if he makes a clean breast of things then he will find everything changed and set right in his life. The formula is a familiar one in western Christianity and it is incredibly destructive. It allows us to feel better about ourselves when we are not suffering and it makes suffering worse for it says that it is all our fault. The other major problem with such doctrine is that it fails to distinguish between forgiveness and consequences. I can be forgiven by God for my sin but still pay a price for that sin. If I cheat on my wife the Lord might forgive me for it and so might my wife but she also might never trust me again and our marriage will be diminished, at least in the short term. Repentance for sin does not imply that our lives will be free of pain and suffering because of sin.

Jesus gives his first major teaching on the kingdom of heaven and in it we see the true ethics of God. Paul covers some of this ground in practical ways in Romans 12. We are to recognize the sinfulness of the world and the sin in our own lives and to mourn over the brokenness of the world but also to be those who move beyond mourning to seeking true righteousness. We are to set the world’s opinion of us aside and seek after God’s favor. All our hope and all our joy is to be found in Him and as we seek Him we will find our hopes realized in the coming of His kingdom both now through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, and in the fullness of the coming kingdom. We will be able to longingly pray the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

If we would truly know something of the surpassing greatness of Jesus, we would seek to see and know what heaven knows here. The fourth chapter of the Revelation shows us the worship of heaven for the Father and here we see Him sharing His glory and worship with the Lamb. If heaven recognizes Jesus as worthy of the worship directed to the Father then we should recognize what a great savior He is and what a great salvation we have received through Him. This passage represents what happens next after Jesus’ ascension in Acts 1, after He passes from earthly sight by ascending into the clouds, He next comes to the throne for glorification. His work of redemption is complete and now comes the judgment of the world and sin but it is accomplished with mercy for those who believe.

Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with victory.