8 June 2012

Psalm 40, 54; Eccles. 5:1-7; Gal. 3:15-22; Matt. 14:22-36

Keep your head down and your mouth shut.  That seems to be the advice Solomon gives here as he reverts to a more proverbial style.  The wisdom in these few verses could have come from the book of Job.  It sounds a bit like God’s question to Job, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”  Solomon says that we should be afraid to speak in the presence of the Lord as we should also be slow to make a vow.  In this last, Jesus certainly agreed when he said, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no.”  Our posture before the Lord of all should be one of reverence and awe even though we are in relationship with Him.  His voice is the one that matters in all things.  We are there to hear that voice speak to our hearts and instruct us that we might indeed gain wisdom.

A rabbi was more than the one who gave you insight and information.  You didn’t just learn to think like your rabbi, you imitated him in all things, manner of dress, comportment, etc.  Here Peter sees his rabbi walking on water and has faith enough to believe that if it is possible for Jesus to walk on water then he must have that same ability but he has enough sense to know that unless Jesus calls him to himself then he shouldn’t attempt it on his own.  If, however, Jesus calls him out, then it must indeed be possible for Peter. His faith, however, wavers after seeing the wind and waves.  We need faith always, particularly in the storms of life, to persevere in our walk with Him.  It is easy to take shots at Peter for failure of faith, but he is the only one with enough faith to step out of the boat in the first place.  This episode, however, does show us that vows are difficult to keep and that we should watch over our lips in this regard.  Peter will be able to say that he walked on water for a little bit, just like Jesus.

Paul’s argument here is sound, the covenant preceded the law by over 400 years, so how can the covenant be based on the law rather than grace and faith?  The law, in fact, only made it clear that the covenant relationship has to be faith-based because no one has kept the law perfectly other than Jesus.  They had to have faith that God had indeed accepted their sacrifices for sin.  Faith was always in a merciful and loving God who forgave sins because He had to if there was to be an everlasting covenant.  The law had become their god in many ways.  The law, however, is a vow no one has kept and under it, all deserved to die.

Set our feet on lofty places,
Gird our lives that they may be,
Armored with all Christ-like graces,
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
That we fail not man nor Thee,
That we fail not man nor Thee.

Tune