#748 1689 Confession Holy Scriptures Part 2

8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you embraced, let him be under a divine curse! 10Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.…Galatians 1: 8-10

1:6 The whole counsel of God concerning everything essential for His own glory and man's salvation, faith, and life is either explicitly stated or by necessary inference contained in the Holy Scriptures. Nothing is ever to be added to the Scriptures, either by new revelation of the Spirit or by human traditions. Nevertheless, we acknowledge that the inward illumination of the Spirit of God is necessary for a saving understanding of what is revealed in the Word. We recognize that some circumstances concerning the worship of God and government of the church are common to human actions and organizations and are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian wisdom, following the general rules of the Word, which must always be observed. 

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me— 46not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father.… John 6: 44-46

10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.… 1 Corinthians 2: 10-12

1:7 Some things in Scripture are clearer than others, and some people understand the teachings more clearly than others. However, the things that must be known, believed, and obeyed for salvation are so clearly set forth and explained in one part of Scripture or another that both the educated and uneducated may achieve a sufficient understanding of them by properly using ordinary measures.

15Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. 16 He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.…2 Peter 3: 15-17

6It rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. 7The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.…Psalm 19: 6-8

129Wonderful are Your testimonies; therefore I obey them. 130The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple. 131I open my mouth and pant, as I long for Your commandments.…Psalm 119: 129-131

1:8 The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, the native language of the ancient people of God. The New Testament was written in Greek, which at the time it was written was most widely known to the nations. These Testaments were inspired directly by God and by His unique care and providence were kept pure down through the ages. They are therefore true and authoritative, so that in all religious controversies the church must make their ultimate appeal to them. All God's people have a right to and a claim on the Scriptures and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them. Not all of God's people know these original languages, so the Scriptures are to be translated into the common language of every nation to which they come. In this way the Word of God may dwell richly in all, so that they may worship Him in an acceptable manner and through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures may have hope. 

1What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.…Romans 3: 1-2

14Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own. 15The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: 16‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,…Acts 15: 14-16

38nor does His word abide in you, because you do not believe the One He sent. 39You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me, 40yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.…John 5: 38-40

God told Abraham that through his offspring all the nations of the earth would be blessed. 

1:9 The infallible rule for interpreting Scripture is the Scripture itself. Therefore, when there is a question about the true and full meaning of any part of Scripture ( and each passage has only one meaning, not many), it must be understood in light of other passages that speak more clearly. 

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. 21For no prophecy was ever brought about through human initiative, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1: 20-21

26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Acts 20: 26-27

1:10 The supreme judge for deciding all religious controversies and for evaluating all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, human teachings, and individual interpretations, and in whose judgment we are to rest, is nothing but the Holy Scriptures delivered by the Spirit. In this Scripture our faith finds its final word. 

Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven. 31But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you:…Matthew 22: 29-31

19Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens of the saints and members of God’s household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. 21In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.…Ephesians 2: 19-21

22But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.” 23So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. 24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.… Acts 28: 22-24

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#747 1689 Baptist Confession - The Holy Scriptures

15From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.… 2 Timothy 3: 15-17

I hadn't read the 1689 Confession in quite some time, but we recently moved to St. Cloud and as much as I am tempted to be an island unto myself, content to study alone, I realized I was ignoring an important means of God's grace. He has commanded us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and also made clear that we are part of a body, which is all believers everywhere. He has demonstrated community, in the love He has to the Father and given us of His Spirit. I will touch on that more later, but I wanted to find a church for my family, and so as a parent it was important to know what the people in that congregation believed, what did they confess? Are they people of the book? If myself and my children are going to sit under the preaching of a pastor, I want to know that he holds himself accountable to the Word of God, that He is more interested in the Author's intent than his whims, that even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, this pastor will lift up Christ and honor God above himself. I love these old confessions, how well they have held up over the years, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever. I am going to take a break from Psalms and go through each part of the 1689 Confession, and I am using the modern English version by Stan Reeves with supporting Scriptures. Here goes:

1:1 The Holy Scriptures are the only sufficient, certain, and infallible standard of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. The light of nature and the works of creation and providence so clearly demonstrate the goodness, wisdom, and power of God that people are left without excuse; however, these demonstrations are not sufficient to give the knowledge of God and His will that is necessary for salvation. Therefore, the Lord was pleased at different times and in various ways to reveal Himself and to declare His will to His church. To preserve and propagate the truth better and to establish and comfort the church with greater certainty against the corruption of the flesh and the malice of Satan and the world, the Lord put this revelation completely in writing. Therefore, the Holy Scriptures are absolutely necessary, because God's former ways of revealing His will to His people have now ceased. 

19When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. 21They will roam the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged; and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God.… Isaiah 8: 19-21

29But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’ 30‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”… Luke 16: 29-31

…15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 16But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.… Romans 10: 15-17

1:2 The Holy Scriptures, or the Word of God written, consist of all the books of the old and New Testaments. 

1:3 The books commonly called the Apocrypha were not given by divine inspiration and so are not part of the canon or standard of the Scriptures. Therefore, they have no authority for the church of God and are not to be recognized or used in any way different from other human writings.

26Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself. 28As they approached the village where they were headed, He seemed to be going farther.…Luke 24: 26-28

43and He took it and ate it in front of them. 44Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” 45Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.…Luke 24: 43-45

2Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. 3What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? 4Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”…Romans 3: 2-4

1:4 The authority of the Holy Scriptures obligates belief in them. This authority does not depend on the testimony of any person or church but on God the author alone, who is truth itself. Therefore, the Scriptures are to be received because they are the Word of God. 

19We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation. 21For no prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.…2 Peter 1: 19-21

12We encouraged you and comforted you as we urged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 13And we continually thank God that in receiving the word of God from us, you did not accept it as the word of men, but as the true word of God— the word now at work in you who believe. 14For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews,… 1 Thessalonians 2: 12-14

8the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement. 9Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son. 10Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.… 1 John 5: 8-10

1:5 The testimony of the church of God may stir and persuade us to adopt a high and reverent respect for the Holy Scriptures. Moreover, the heavenliness of the contents, the power of the system of truth, the majesty of the style, the harmony of all the parts, the central focus on giving all the glory to God, the full revelation of the only way of salvation, and many other incomparable qualities and complete perfections, all provide abundant evidence that the Scriptures are the Word of God. Even so, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority of the Scriptures comes from the internal work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts. 

13However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. 15Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you.… John 16: 13-15

10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.… 1 Corinthians 2: 10-12

19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. 20You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21I have not written to you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you have it, and because no lie comes from the truth.… 1 John 2: 19-21

26I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His TRUE and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught. 28And now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.… 1 John 2: 26-28

There are ten sections to this first part of the confession about The Holy Scriptures, so I will take a pause or Selah here, and then continue with the other 5 tomorrow. May God bless the reading of His Word and keep us from the errors that we as men are so prone to fall into. Thank you, Lord, for Your revelation to us in the Scriptures.

13children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God. 14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”… John 1: 13-15

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#746 My Mouth Promised

Shout for joy to God, all the earth;

2 sing the glory of his name;

give to him glorious praise!

3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!

So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

4 All the earth worships you

and sings praises to you;

they sing praises to your name.” Selah

5 Come and see what God has done:

he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

6 He turned the sea into dry land;

they passed through the river on foot.

There did we rejoice in him,

7 who rules by his might forever,

whose eyes keep watch on the nations—

let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

8 Bless our God, O peoples;

let the sound of his praise be heard,

9 who has kept our soul among the living

and has not let our feet slip.

10 For you, O God, have tested us;

you have tried us as silver is tried.

11 You brought us into the net;

you laid a crushing burden on our backs;

12 you let men ride over our heads;

we went through fire and through water;

yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings;

I will perform my vows to you,

14 that which my lips uttered

and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.

15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals,

with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;

I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,

and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

17 I cried to him with my mouth,

and high praise was on my tongue.

18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,

the Lord would not have listened.

19 But truly God has listened;

he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God,

because he has not rejected my prayer

or removed his steadfast love from me! Psalm 66 ESV

A Psalm and song to the chief musician.

All the earth - It is He that has made us and not we ourselves. There is no one on earth of their own doing, creation, life and everything that any of us enjoys or even suffers is good enough reason to praise God, Who is above all these things. God is not God of the Jews only, He is God only, period, the word of God is His revelation to us about who and why we are, and Christ is the reconciliation, the Word promised and among us.

Glory of His name - Quoted from Spurgeon Treasury of David

- The honour of God should be our subject, and to honour him our object when we sing. To give glory to God is but to restore to him his own. It is our glory to be able to give God glory; and all our true glory should be ascribed unto God, for it is his glory. "All worship be to God only, "should be the motto of all true believers. The name, nature, and person of God are worthy of the highest honour. Make his praise glorious. Let not his praise be mean and grovelling: let it arise with grandeur and solemnity before him. The pomp of the ancient festivals is not to be imitated by us, under this dispensation of the Spirit, but we are to throw so much of heart and holy reverence into all our worship that it shall be the best we can render. Heart worship and spiritual joy render praise more glorious than vestments, incense, and music could do. -C. H. Spurgeon

Your enemies come cringing - Fear is only the beginning of knowledge, those that come to love God have known the fear of God, yet by faith have received the gift of salvation. They, that never come to love Him, will one day come only to the fear of Him. 

Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.… Romans 14: 10-12

Come and see what God has done - The Psalmist describes something from the history of Israel's past, that they walked through the sea as on dry land. Standing at the Red Sea, they were not warriors, they were blocked in, and were being approached as prey. It is only a shadow of salvation, and draws upon the deeps of the great flood, there is safety on the opposite shore, but what can bring this many people safely to the other side? It is a shadow of something even more inconceivable, it escapes the minds of every complaining heart, God has to make the Way. If you believe this really happened, then why not trust Him today, it is the same God as then, whether through the sea or the storm, He is able.

Red Sea 1

Closing Sea

"What ailed thee, O thou mighty sea?

Why rolled thy waves in dread?

What bade thy tide, O Jordan, flee

And bare its deepest bed?" 

"O earth, before the Lord, the God

Of Jacob, tremble still;

Who makes the waste a watered sod,

The flint a gushing rill." - poem from Treasury possibly by Spurgeon, but I am not certain.

The rebellious exalt themselves - Selah, pause, reflect on this, and I scream at myself, for there is no logical foundation for pride, to exalt myself before God, to choose my way over His.

Has not let our feet slip - Even more reason not to be proud, God hath chastened us yet held us, refined us by His Spirit, not our stoic resolve, not with the might of men.

- Blessed be God, who, having put our souls into possession of life, has been pleased to preserve that heaven given life from the destroying power of the enemy. And suffereth not our feet to be moved. This is another and precious boon. If God has enabled us not only to keep our life, but our position, we are bound to give him double praise. Living and standing is the saint's condition through divine grace. Immortal and immoveable are those whom God preserves. Satan is put to shame, for instead of being able to slay the saints, as he hoped, he is not even able to trip them up. God is able to make the weakest to stand fast, and he will do so. C. H. Spurgeon

You have brought us into the net - Oddly, but most human in it's reasoning, that we are in the net, that we are tested or that we experience any suffering, is the excuse of so many a heart, their argument against God. There is Christ though, walking willingly to Calvary, yet we only want prosperity, the place where we say we will acknowledge there is a God, the place where men say they have no need of God. In prosperous times we should be all the more guarded against the vanity of our hearts. 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.…Romans 8: 35-37

When I was in trouble - "Oh God, if you just get me out of this." This will never be enough for the grateful, for those lost that are found, for those sick that were healed. Those that understand the mercy they have received will magnify God even more, and still wish they could give the more.

- We should magnify the Lord with the great and the little. None of his ordinances should be disregarded; we must not omit either the bullocks or the goats. In these three verses we have gratitude in action, not content with words, but proving its own sincerity by deeds of obedient sacrifice. Selah. It is most fit that we should suspend the song while the smoke of the victims ascends the heavens; let the burnt offerings stand for praises while we meditate upon the infinitely greater sacrifice of Calvary. C. H. Spurgeon

What He has done for my soul - This is your testimony, He has tried you, exposed the wantonness of a heart born to be at enmity with Him. He did not come to save the righteous and so I must know that I am not righteous, that no man can be, without the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. He has not only showed me my wretched state, but brought me to the foot of the Cross.  

Cherished iniquity in my heart - The prayer of those that deny sin in their life, hold that idol up upon the mantle of their heart, and yet wonder why God will not answer, we pray not to the God of the Bible, but to the one we fashioned that does not hate sin. 

If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people, 14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.… 2 Chronicles 7: 13-15

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#745 When We Were Overwhelmed

Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;

to you our vows will be fulfilled.

2 You who answer prayer,

to you all people will come.

3 When we were overwhelmed by sins,

you forgave our transgressions.

4 Blessed are those you choose

and bring near to live in your courts!

We are filled with the good things of your house,

of your holy temple.

5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,

God our Savior,

the hope of all the ends of the earth

and of the farthest seas,

6 who formed the mountains by your power,

having armed yourself with strength,

7 who stilled the roaring of the seas,

the roaring of their waves,

and the turmoil of the nations.

8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;

where morning dawns, where evening fades,

you call forth songs of joy.

9 You care for the land and water it;

you enrich it abundantly.

The streams of God are filled with water

to provide the people with grain,

for so you have ordained it.

10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges;

you soften it with showers and bless its crops.

11 You crown the year with your bounty,

and your carts overflow with abundance.

12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;

the hills are clothed with gladness.

13 The meadows are covered with flocks

and the valleys are mantled with grain;

they shout for joy and sing. Psalm 65 NIV

A Psalm of David, a song. The title uses both psalm and song, maybe to denote a congregational reading as well as use in singing. Sometimes I have sang a song but not had that Selah or understanding that came later when I read and meditated on the words. Horatio Spafford wrote the wonderful song, "It is well with my soul", and I remember singing this in church when I was a child, but a few years ago I came to know the back ground story. Do yourself a favor and research it, what an amazing hymn.

Praise awaits You - Those that are redeemed feel praise welling in the soul, but those that are redeemed are also dumbfounded by the presence of God. We look forward to that day in a way that human words are insufficient to express, the majesty, the wonder of God. I know somewhat of how I came to be standing here, but why?

“Certainly, when the soul is most filled with adoring awe, she is least content with her own expressions, and feels most deeply how inadequate are all mortal songs to proclaim the divine goodness.” (Spurgeon)

“The word translated ‘waiteth’ [awaiting] comes from a root meaning to be dumb…. This does not mean that there is no praise, but on the contrary that praise is so complete that at first it can find no utterance.” (Morgan)

Our vows will be fulfilled - There is a sense in our culture that words are beautiful and that "it is the thought that counts." When we take communion we don't comprehend always that we are acknowledging, or should be, with the deepest reverence, that we are not saved by merit, but by grace. No one should drink the cup in an unworthy manner, no one should drink refusing the sight of our sin and the atonement which was necessary to redeem us. When you are baptized, you are saying that I now identify with Christ, that the old man is buried with Him and a new life has started. Or, you were just satisfied with making words.

Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 We therefore were buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.… Romans 6: 3-5

…26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.… 1 Corinthians 11: 26-28

When we were overwhelmed by sins - God is always ready to hear the prayer of the penitent, so let us be sincere in our request. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and not only that but to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It is not a repentant heart that refuses to see that God is Holy, that He must hate sin, and that He must hate it eternally, that all sin is against God, He is Owner and Creator of life. What good are words to Him if He looks upon an empty soul, if I tell my landlord that I intend to pay my rent, but then buy a boat for myself instead, what good are my words?

Blessed are those You choose - That we come is not of our own doing. We have found many idols, but to know the One true God, is by His revelation to us, through His words, His sacrifice. There was nothing here in a fallen world that could atone for sin or lead men to a proper understanding of God outside of His intervening love and grace. We were all dead in our trespasses and sins, it is God Who raises the dead, it is God Who draws men to Himself. It is God Who reveals sin through the law, and God Who provides an acceptable sacrifice. 

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you.And I appointed you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 17 This is My command to you: Love one another.… John 15: 15-17

The hope of all the ends of the earth - The revelation of God to Israel, the setting apart of the Jewish nation from the world, the sacrifices and the law all given to them is also a revelation through them, to all the world. "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." These truths taught to Israel are universal, there is only one God, one mediator between men and God, and that is Christ Jesus.

17 I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. 18 And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,because you have obeyed My voice.” 19 Abraham went back to his servants, and they got up and set out together for Beersheba. And Abraham settled in Beersheba.… Genesis 22: 17-19

You care for the land - So what if I till the soil and plant crops, God made the land. Men are so far removed from this thought in our day, but David doesn't even mention his own works, without the rain they would whither away. I am ever amazed by technology, even in drought men can pump water from the ground, we can grow enough food to feed the whole of the world. But the water in the ground, the materials that make the pump, the tractor, the harvester, even the intellect of the engineers, yep, all provided by the One Who created them. If you only know the grocery store, then you are disconnected from the reality of what goes into your each and every meal, there is no place for ingratitude, no place for indifference, only awe and humble thanks.

For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, 11 so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.12 You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.… Isaiah 55: 10-12

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#744 My Complaint Psalm 64

Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;

protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,

from the plots of evildoers.

3 They sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.

4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;

they shoot suddenly, without fear.

5 They encourage each other in evil plans,

they talk about hiding their snares;

they say, “Who will see it?”

6 They plot injustice and say,

“We have devised a perfect plan!”

Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

7 But God will shoot them with his arrows;

they will suddenly be struck down.

8 He will turn their own tongues against them

and bring them to ruin;

all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

9 All people will fear;

they will proclaim the works of God

and ponder what he has done.

10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord

and take refuge in him;

all the upright in heart will glory in him! Psalm 64 NIV

A Psalm of David to the chief musician. There is nothing in the title to direct us to the setting or place, but as always, a prayer well worth repeating. 

Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint - No one can judge like God, even the motives of my own prayers can be fraught with the delusion of self righteousness. Rather than praying to God, pouring out my soul to Him, Who should be my only refuge, I search for the lesser, human ear. It is easy to tell people only so much, to manipulate speech as to show a good face, but it is a mask that God does not recognize, it is a waste of words and a fool's errand to be dishonest before God. Oh that I would remember always to pray, that I would pray before I speak, pray before I read, pray before my mind runs away with the anxiety of things outside of my control. Pray until I realize that God is in control.

The plots of evil doers - Those that you would like to confront in truth, that you would like to contest upon the battle ground of reality, will often slander you behind your back. These are their weapons, lies and secrecy, but you, oh man of God, must not stoop such means, which means you may find yourself in dread of what others think, but David wants God to help him not be afraid. 

They shoot from ambush at the innocent - There was no one in the king's court equal to Daniel, there were none of such integrity in Babylon like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, yet for envy and spite, the politicians of the place flattered the ears of the king, brought him to place an edict that these men could not comply with, or else they were false to their God. Daniel was guilty of civil disobedience and so were his friends, but they could hold a clear conscience before God. Those who spoke against slavery, against racism, spoke against the laws of the land, yet they spoke well and from eternity. Those that speak today in support of life and against abortion, speak out on behalf of those that are yet unable to speak for themselves. Those that share the undiluted gospel in our day will be hated, mocked and accused of that which is not even in their hearts, but blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you for Christ's sake, rejoice and be exceeding glad. 

They encourage each other - I remember hearing John MacArthur speak and wishing that he would stop, wishing that he would fall, that he would be humiliated, because he said things that I did not want to hear. I could find a billion voices that would echo back my complaint, that I was good, that the things I held dear must be good as well, and all that he ever did to offend me was to repeat what God had already said, that sin had come into the world, that my actions came from a fallen nature, a nature that wanted it's own way. I wanted to live in two different worlds, to be of this world, and yet not have to fear the next. I looked for companions that would agree with me, that I was a good drunk, a good fornicator, a good friend, and much more compassionate than those who refused to tell people what they wanted to hear, refused to bow to their idols. Please, stop encouraging me, tell me what God says, that is all that matters. God, let me not worry what others think or say about me, what do You say about me? 

They encourage themselves: “Good men are frequently discouraged, and not unfrequently discourage one another, but the children of darkness are wise in their generation and keep their spirits up, and each one has a cheering word to say to his fellow villain.” (Spurgeon)

He will turn their own tongues against them - Do not let the weapons of your enemy, the lying tongue, pride, deceit, false humility (which is but pride), slander or all other evil that men may think is just retribution, be found in us. "They started it", children say, but let us be spiritually mature, grown men and women, let God, Who is truth, judge between us. Their own words bring them judgement, their own words given in secret will be brought to light, and that should cause us much sorrow for we were born like them, and it should cause us much joy that God is sanctifying us to be made in the image of His Son. 

They will proclaim the works of God - Did not 3 enter the furnace? Who is the fourth man? Were not the lions hungry? Where is the body of my Lord, they laid it here in this tomb, but the stone has been rolled away? There were so many who spoke so often against him, yet look, David is now the king, just like the prophet Samuel had spoken, just like Balaam could not help but speak. Even the wicked will one day be forced to tell the truth. 

The upright in heart will glory in Him - God's justice must come for Him to be called just or Holy, and for that we glory in Him, not that we had all our lives abstained from injustice, were pure in our every thought and motive, but that He has called us out from sin and unto repentance. He has drawn us to forgiveness, to forsake that which He hated, and to humbly trust in the righteousness that comes from Him. Let them talk, for it has nothing to do with me, let it be between them and God, and God keep me from the sin of worry, let me put down the weapons of their warfare and take up my cross and come follow You.

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