Happiness of Those Trusting in God

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 34:1-22

 

Psalm 34:1-3

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
² My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
³ Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

(NKJV)

 

When we find ourselves in trouble, our response may be to go somewhere safe. For David who was fleeing for his life from Saul, it meant going to Achish the king of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10). If Gath sounds familiar, it is also where Goliath was from, and in fact, David had gone to Gath with the sword of Goliath (1 Samuel 21:9). Perhaps David realized where he was and whose sword he had and out of fear of attack from king Achich, faked being mad to escape attack (1 Samuel 21:12-15). This is the historical context of when David wrote Psalm 34, a psalm of praise to God even in these troubling circumstances.

 

Psalm 34 begins with David declaring he will bless the Lord at all times with His praise continually in his mouth (Psalm 34:1). His soul will also make its boast in the Lord with the humble hearing it and being glad with David inviting everyone to join him in magnifying the Lord and exalting His name (Psalm 34:2-3). David sought the Lord when fearful, and the Lord heard and delivered him with those looking at David radiant and unashamed (Psalm 34:4-5). David, as a poor man, cried out to the Lord and was heard and delivered (Psalm 34:6). David declares that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and they are delivered (Psalm 34:7).

 

David invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good with those placing their trust in Him, blessed (Psalm 34:8). David invites us to fear the Lord, for there is no need for those doing so (Psalm 34:9). Young lions lack and suffer hunger, but those seeking the Lord lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10).

 

David then invites the children to come and learn from him about the fear of the Lord (Psalm 34:11). A man who desires a long life to see good must keep his tongue from evil, speaking deceit, and depart from doing evil, doing good, and seeking peace (Psalm 34:12-14). The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous with His ears open to their cries, with the face of the Lord against those doing evil, cutting their remembrance off from the earth (Psalm 34:15-16). When the righteous cry out, the Lord hears and delivers them from their troubles (Psalm 34:17). The Lord is near to those with a broken heart and saves those with a contrite spirit (Psalm 34:18).

 

The righteous have many afflictions, but the Lord delivers them out of them all, guarding their bones so not one of them is broken (Psalm 34:19-20). Evil shall slay the wicked with those hating righteousness condemned (Psalm 34:21). In contrast, the Lord redeems the soul of His servants with no one trusting in Him condemned (Psalm 34:22).

 

The context of the writing of this Psalm is when David pretended to be mad before King Achish, with him driven away (1 Samuel 21:10-15). This leads to the question of why David would experience happiness in trusting God at this time. The answer lies in the source of David’s happiness. During this time in David’s life, his circumstances were not good, and if he based his happiness on these circumstances, he would be unhappy. However, David’s happiness was not based on his circumstances but on his trust in the Lord, who he knew would deliver him from all his fears (Psalm 34:4). David could experience sustainable happiness and joy because it came from an unchanging God.

 

We may find ourselves in unusual or even strange circumstances with no seeming possibility of happiness or joy, yet David shows us it is possible when we trust in God. If my happiness and joy are based on circumstances in my life that constantly change, I will find myself on a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. One of the benefits of living with a trust in God is the stability of joy and happiness that is not based on one's circumstances, but on trust in an unchanging God.

 

When Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water with Jesus, it was because his eyes were on Jesus (Matthew 14:29-31). However, when he looked at the storm going on around him, his circumstances, Peter began to sink. Such is our joy and happiness when we focus on our circumstances and take our eyes off the Lord. To do this, one must have a relationship with God through what Jesus did by confessing our belief in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 10:9-10), opening the door for us to build our life on the stability of an unchanging God. If you are reading this and have never made this confession of faith, I invite you to do so now by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I urge you to find a Church teaching the truth of God’s word so you can have sustainable joy built on this foundation of truth. May God challenge and empower everyone reading this post. 

Warfare on Two Fronts

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 18:28-40

 

John 18:39-40

“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

⁴⁰ Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

(NKJV)

 

In the passage of John 18:28-40, we see Jesus as the focal point of warfare on two fronts, spiritual and political. While what is occurring in this passage is chaos and something out of control, with an innocent man tried and even the Roman leader of the region finding nothing wrong, this is part of God’s plan. Jesus came into the world to die as the Lamb of God and then to resurrect from the dead in victory over death with these events the fulfillment of this plan. God’s plans often do not play out according to how we think they should, but they are God’s plans and something we must follow.

 

After His mock trial before the Jews, Jesus is taken to the Praetorium early in the morning to face a Roman trial (John 18:28). The Jews could not go in with Jesus so Pilate went out to the Jews, asking why they have brought Jesus to him (John 18:29). The Jews tell Pilate that if they did not believe Jesus was an evildoer, they would not have brought Jesus to him to which Pilate responds, telling them to try Jesus according to Jewish law (John 18:30-31). The problem for the Jews is that it is unlawful for them to put anyone to death with this fulfilling how Jesus said He would die (John 18:31-32).

 

Pilate returns to the Praetorium and asks Jesus if He is the King of the Jews, to which Jesus responds by asking Pilate if he is saying this of Himself or based on what others have said (John 18:33-34). Pilate responds, asking Jesus if he is a Jew, reminding Him that His own nation and chief priests have delivered Him to him, asking what He has done (John 18:35). Jesus tells Pilate that His kingdom is not or this world, otherwise His servants would fight to rescue Him from the Jews (John 18:36). Pilate then asks Jesus if He is a king to which Jesus responds with that being the reason He was born with a mission of bearing witness of the truth (John 18:37). Pilate asks Jesus what truth is and immediately goes out to the Jews, declaring he finds no fault in Jesus (John 18:38).

 

Hoping to defuse the situation, Pilate reminds the Jews of his custom of releasing someone to them at the Passover, asking them if they want him to release Jesus, the King of the Jews (John 18:39). The Jews ask for Barabas, a robber instead of Jesus (John 18:40). This leaves Pilate with only one solution if he wants to avoid a volatile situation, release Barabas and execute an innocent man.

 

Jesus’ hour has come, and after a mock trial before the council of the high priest, Jesus is delivered to Pilate, setting in motion the fulfillment of prophecies about how Jesus would die. The spiritual front of this war against Jesus is the result of Satan blinding the eyes of the Jewish religious leaders to the fact Jesus is their Messiah (Isaiah 6:10; John 12:40). However, the Jewish leaders have a problem, their law forbids killing Jesus so Pilate returns to Jesus, asking if He was the King of the Jews (John 18:31-33). Jesus tells Pilate he has come to bear witness of the Truth, with Pilate asking Him what truth is. Returning to the Jews, Pilate tells them he finds no wrong in Jesus (John 18:36-38).

 

Now we see the political front of this war over Jesus. Pilate has a custom of releasing someone to the Jews during Passover and believes they will release Jesus since He has done nothing wrong, calming the volatile situation. However, when the Jews ask for Barabas, a robber instead of Jesus, Pilate has no choice if he wants to prevent a riot but to offer an innocent man up to death. All of this is according to God’s plan for Jesus to be the ultimate Passover lamb offered up for the sins of the world.

 

The Church is engaged in spiritual warfare between truth as expressed in the Word of God in print and in the flesh in Jesus Christ (John 1:1). However, the Church is not fully engaged in the battle and is therefore lukewarm and weak. When the political whims of a woke culture are against the Church, many will cower in fear and fail to speak out against atrocities that go against the Word of God. It is easier for the Church to preach a feel-good message of prosperity to avoid speaking out for truth, like the Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-17). Instead of preaching the Gospel and the need for salvation from sin through the blood of Christ, many churches tickle the ears of the congregation with a self-help message, leaving their first love, Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:4-5; 2 Timothy 4:3-4). The Church must repent of its apostasy and return to the Great Commission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).

 

If you are a Church leader and have fallen away from sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I invite you to repent and return to what Jesus commissioned the Church to do. If you are part of a Church that has fallen away from preaching the Gospel, leave and find a Church that does. If you are reading this and have never prayed to receive salvation by a profession of faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I invite you to pray with me now.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I pray the Church returns to a Church that turns the world upside down, or right side up, like the Church in the Book of Acts (Acts 17:6). 

Joy in Forgiveness from a Sovereign God.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 32-33

Psalm 32:1-2

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
² Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

(NKJV)

 

Our salvation comes by the grace of a sovereign God and not by our own efforts, no matter how good we may be (Ephesians 2:8-9). This is what separates Christianity from other religions. With other religions, one must obey a set of rules and hope their efforts are sufficient to gain their god's favor. Christianity teaches the gospel with God doing the legal work of restoring one to right standing with God, giving people an opportunity to believe and receive eternal life (John 3:16). This does not mean one can continue in sin after expressing this belief because God paid a great price for our salvation, the death of God’s son so one obeys out of gratitude for God’s grace.

 

Psalm 32 begins with a declaration that one is blessed whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sin is covered with the Lord not imputing iniquity upon him or her (Psalm 32:1-2). David then tells of how his bones grew old when he kept silent through his groaning all day long (Psalm 32:3). David tells of how the hand of the Lord weighed heavily upon him until he acknowledged his sin before the Lord and was forgiven (Psalm 32:4-5). Forgiveness is the cause for which we should pray so that the flood, the great waters of God’s wrath, do not come upon us (Psalm 32:6). The Lord is David’s hiding place, the one who shall preserve him from trouble, and surround him with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32:7).

 

It is the Lord who instructs David in the way he should go and it is the Lord’s eye that guides him (Psalm 32:8). David uses the illustration of a horse or mule which must be guided by bit and bridle because they lack understanding (Psalm 32:9). The wicked have many sorrows but those trusting in the Lord receive mercy (Psalm 32:10). The righteous can be glad in the Lord and rejoice, shouting for joy from an upright heart (Psalm 32:11).

 

The author of Psalm 33 is unknown, but like many of David’s psalms, it begins with a call for the upright to praise the Lord with the harp and ten-stringed instrument, singing and playing skillfully with joy (Psalm 33:1-3). The word of the Lord is right with all the work of the Lord done in truth (Psalm 33:4). The Lord loves righteousness and justice with the earth full of the Lord’s goodness (Psalm 33:5). It is the word of the Lord that created the hosts of the heavens and gathered the waters of the sea together (Psalm 33:6-7). Because of the power of the spoken word of the Lord at creation, all the earth should fear the Lord, and its inhabitants should stand in awe of Him (Psalm 33:8-9).

 

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, and the plans of His heart are for all generations, but the counsel of the nations will come to nothing with the plans of the people having no effect (Psalm 33:10-11). A nation chosen as the Lord’s inheritance, whose God is the Lord, is blessed (Psalm 33:12). The Lord looks down from on high and sees all the sons of men and individually fashions their hearts, considering all their works (Psalm 33:13-15). A king is not saved by the multitude of an army, nor is a mighty man delivered by great strength, even the great strength of a horse is insufficient to deliver (Psalm 33:16-17).

 

The eye of the Lord is on those who fear him and hope in His mercy for deliverance from death and life in famine (Psalm 33:18-19). The souls of those choosing to fear the Lord wait for Him because He is their help and shield (Psalm 33:20). Because they trusted in the Lord, their hearts rejoice (Psalm 33:21). The psalmist asks for the mercy of the Lord to be upon the people as they hope in Him (Psalm 33:22).

 

The Psalms are emotional expressions to the Lord. In Psalm 32, David rejoices in the Lord's forgiveness. While David did not have the benefit of the gospels recording the historical ministry of Jesus and His death, burial, and resurrection pointing to our salvation from sins by the grace of God, he had faith in the promises that a savior would come (Genesis 3:15). While David needed faith to look forward to the coming Messiah, we need faith to believe the message of the Gospel because none of us has personally seen Jesus. Even those who walked with Jesus needed to have faith that He was who He claimed to be (John 8:12). The bottom line is that no one can please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6).

 

In Psalm 33, an unidentified psalmist praises the Lord’s sovereignty in both His creation and throughout history. All people are without excuse when it comes to seeing the sovereignty of God, for it is present in all creation (Romans 1:20). Unfortunately, this is not enough for some, as Paul observed in the Roman and Greek worship of many gods, worshipping at temples built by men worshipping idols made by men (Romans 1:21-23). However, if this is not enough to point to the sovereignty of God, we must look at history. Joseph was preserved in Egyptian captivity to be used of God to deliver his family from famine (Genesis 50:20). This same God would later deliver the nation of Israel from Egyptian slavery in a demonstration of his power as recorded in the book of Exodus. However, the greatest historical demonstration of the sovereignty of God is his conquest of death by resurrecting Jesus from the dead.

 

Jesus said that true worshippers of God do so in Spirit and truth (John 4:24). Unfortunately, in many churches, there is truth but no Spirit, and in other churches, there is worship in Spirit with little or no truth. Total emphasis on truth presents biblical truth but lacks the transformative power of the Holy Spirit to change lives. Total emphasis on worship in the Spirit can lead to people worshipping to receive an emotional experience instead of a heart transformation based on biblical truth. What Jesus is saying in John 4:24 is to have a balance of worship in Spirit and truth, experiencing heart transformation (Romans 12:2).

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to receive God’s free gift of salvation by confessing your belief in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection or have drifted away in your relationship with God, I invite you to pray with me now.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, bless, and encourage everyone reading this post. 

Fear is a Liar and a Trap

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 18:12-27

 

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

(NKJV)

 

Decisions motivated by fear often lead to poor outcomes, made to avoid a potential calamity that may or may not materialize. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that fear is not from God and to live our lives empowered by the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Word of God, to live lives of loving for one another, and to have a sound mind. Unfortunately, even in the Church, decisions are made out of fear with poor or even disastrous outcomes. Let us not fall into the trap of fear.

 

Jesus is taken to Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest (John 18:12-13). Caiaphas, the high priest had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die for the people (John 18:14). Peter followed Jesus along with another disciple who was known to the high priest (John 18:15). Since the high priest did not know Peter, he could not go in with the other disciple and had to stand outside but was allowed in after the other disciple spoke with the servant who kept the door (John 18:16). When the servant girl keeping the door asked Peter if he was a disciple of Jesus, he denied it (John 18:17). Peter then went over to where the officers and servants had made a fire to keep warm (John 18:18).

 

The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and doctrine (John 18:19). Jesus had not been ministering in secret but did so openly in the synagogues and temple, so he told the high priest to ask the disciples because they knew what He said (John 18:20-21). This response prompted one of the officers to strike Jesus with the palm of his hand, telling Jesus if that is how He answers the high priest (John 18:22). Jesus told the officer to let him know what evil he had spoken and if not why did he strike him (John 18:23). With this, Annas bound Jesus and sent Him to Caiaphas the high priest (John 18:24).

 

Meanwhile, Peter is warming himself around the fire and one of those by the fire asks him if he is one of Jesus’ disciples and Peter denies it (John 18:25). Then one of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, asks Peter if he saw him in the garden with Jesus (John 18:26). Peter denied this again and immediately a rooster crowed (John 18:27).

 

The time is approaching when Jesus will be crucified. Peter, who claimed to know who Jesus was (Matthew 16:15-16) is in the courtyard with some of those who arrested Jesus, but instead of coming to the defense of his Messiah and Lord, he cowers in fear, denying Jesus three times. Proverbs 29:25 reminds us that the fear of man is a snare or trap. For Peter, it was a trap that separated him from Jesus during His time of greatest need. For Peter it may have been fear for his life or fear that if he claimed to be a disciple of Jesus, he could not resume his fishing business after Jesus’ death. In either case, Peter is caught in the snare of denying his Messiah. The good news for Peter is that Jesus resurrected from the grave and when Peter met him later, he was forgiven (John 21:15-19). We also observe this once fearful Peter standing up in front of a crowd, many of whom may have been in the crowd calling for the crucifixion of Jesus, boldly declaring Jesus as Messiah (Acts 2:14-39). Peter did not fall into the fear trap again.

 

The modern Church is often like Peter, cowering in fear of a woke culture instead of standing for godliness. During the Covid pandemic, churches remained shut down while other places were allowed to open because they were deemed necessary. This is not unlike churches in Nazi Germany remaining silent about the atrocities against the Jews. While it is sad that it took the martyrdom of someone outspoken about Jesus Christ to wake believers up, we must follow Charlie Kirk's fearless example and speak out boldly about our faith and belief in the truth of the Word of God. This is not the time to be like the church in Ephesus who forgot their first love (Revelation 2:1-7). It is not the time to be lukewarm like the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). It is a time to rise like Peter who knew Jesus died, was buried, and arose from the grave to forgive his sins and declaring that truth. The question is, will those of you reading this join me in courageously declaring the Gospel?

 

If you are reading this and have either denied Jesus or become lukewarm in your faith and want to dedicate your life to following Jesus, I invite you to pray with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I encourage everyone to be like the Samaritan woman and go into your communities and declare the Gospel (John 4:28-30). May God bless, encourage, and empower everyone reading this post. 

The Fortress of the Lord

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 31:1-24

 

Psalm 31:3

For You are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for Your name’s sake,
Lead me and guide me.

(NKJV)

 

In the time of David, cities had walls providing a fortress of protection from enemies attacking the city. Walls would not provide much protection for a city today because of aerial attacks. However, when David wrote Psalm 31, he would have envisioned the Lord as a fortress or wall of protection around him. From the context of this perspective, let us now look at this psalm and envision the Lord as our fortress of protection against all enemies and adversities that may come against us.

 

David begins the psalm by declaring his trust in the Lord for deliverance according to the righteousness of the Lord (Psalm 31:1). David then asks the Lord to hear him and be his speedy deliverer, providing a rock of refuge and a fortress of defense to save him (Psalm 31:2). David declares the Lord as his rock and fortress and asks Him to lead him and guide him, delivering him from the net his enemies have laid for him (Psalm 31:3-4). David commits his spirit to the Lord who has redeemed him as the Lord of Truth (Psalm 31:5). David hates those trusting in useless idols and places his trust in the Lord (Psalm 31:6). David’s trust is based on the Lord considering his trouble, knowing his soul was in adversities (Psalm 31:7). The Lord has not handed David over to his enemies but set his feet in a wide place (Psalm 31:8).

 

David then asks for mercy from the Lord because he is in trouble with his eye, soul, and body wasting away in grief (Psalm 31:9). David has experienced a life of grief with his strength failing and bones wasting away (Psalm 31:10). David is a reproach to his enemies, repulsive to acquaintances, and forgotten like a dead man, a broken vessel (Psalm 31:11-12). David hears the slander of many who scheme to take away his life (Psalm 31:13).

 

However, despite all of this, David still trusts in the Lord as God, with his times in the hands of God, trusting God to deliver him from the enemies who persecute him (Psalm 31:14-15). David asks for the face of the Lord to shine on him for His mercy’s sake and not to allow him to be ashamed but instead for his enemies to be ashamed and silent in the grave (Psalm 31:16-17). Let lying lips be silenced who speak against the righteous (Psalm 31:18). David praises the goodness of the Lord laid up for those who fear Him and place their trust in Him in the presence of men (Psalm 31:19). The Lord shall hide those who fear and trust Him in His presence and in a secret pavilion from the strife of tongues (Psalm 31:20).

 

Blessed be the Lord who has shown marvelous kindness in a strong city (Psalm 31:21). In haste, David said he was cut off from the Lord but now knows the Lord heard him when he cried out to Him (Psalm 31:22). David concludes by telling all the saints to love the Lord and to be of good courage because the Lord will strengthen the heart of those who hope in Him (Psalm 31:23-24).

 

David faced many adversities in his life, but through them all, he trusted the Lord as his fortress of protection from His enemies. David faced adversity as a young boy, facing the giant Goliath with five stones and a slingshot when Goliath who had a sword (1 Samuel 17:45-51). David survived the death threats of King Saul, even resisting the temptation to kill him when it was presented to him (1 Samuel 19, 24). David even faced treason by his own son (2 Samuel 15:1-12). While we do not know when this psalm was written, it is possible that it was written late in David’s life after facing these adversities. It is not important when this psalm was written, just that it shows the heart of David, trusting God as his fortress through it all.

 

None of us is immune from adversities in life, with Jesus even promising they would come (John 16:33). David provides an example of one who trusts in the Lord through all of life’s adversities. Adversities come at us in many forms. It may be health adversities, financial adversities, or even threats of harm or death. The Lord promises healing from health adversities (1 Peter 2:24) and a new body upon our death (1 Corinthians 15:35-49). He promises to provide for all our needs (Philippians 4:19). He promises protection when threatened (1 Corinthians 15:55). The 2 Corinthians 5:21important thing is to trust in the Lord as our fortress in all adversities.

 

The greatest adversity all face is separation from God by sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23). The good news of the Gospel is Jesus who knew no sin took our punishment for sin upon himself on the cross providing a fortress from sin by his shed blood (2 Corinthians 5:21). All one must do to enter this fortress is confess their belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 10;9-10). If you are reading this and have not done so, I invite you to pray with me now.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Your sins are now forgiven, and Jesus is your Lord and Savior. I invite you to find a local church that teaches the truth from the Bible, the word of God, so your new relationship with God can flourish. May God convict, challenge, and encourage everyone reading this post.

Betrayal and Arrest of the Sinless One

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 18:1-11

 

2 Corinthians 5:21

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

(NKJV)

 

For those of us who know Jesus as our savior, it is difficult to understand why everyone does not accept the gift of God’s grace. The reason is that just as in the time of Christ, there is much misunderstanding over why Jesus came. Some believe it is important to renounce sin and begin living a sinless life before receiving salvation, while others believe one can continue in sin with God’s grace excusing them. We can find the truth of the Gospel in a balance between these two extremes.

 

After having dinner with the disciples and praying for them, Jesus takes His disciples with Him to a garden (John 18:1). Knowing this garden was where Jesus usually took His disciples, Judas receives a detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees and takes them to Jesus with lanterns, torches, and weapons (John 18:2-3). Jesus knows all things and knows why these men are there with Judas and asks them who they are seeking (John 18:4). They tell Jesus they seek Jesus of Nazareth to which Jesus replies “I am He.” (John 18:5). When Jesus answered with “I am He”, the men drew back and fell to the ground (John 18:6).

 

Jesus asks the men again who they seek, and they answer Jesus of Nazareth (John 18:7). Jesus tells them He already told them he was Jesus of Nazareth and tells the men to let the others go in fulfillment of the prophesy that Jesus would lose none of those given to Him by the Father (John 18:8-9). Peter reacts by taking his sword and cutting off the servant of the High Priest’s ear (John 18:10). Jesus reprimands Peter, telling him to put His sword away, reminding him that He must drink the cup the Father has given Him (John 18:11).

 

To complete God’s plan of redemption for fallen humanity foretold in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15), Jesus is betrayed and arrested in another garden. Jesus lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21) yet willingly offered Himself up as the spotless Lamb of God to cleanse humanity of sin. The entirety of Scripture from Genesis till now has been building up to this point with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Messiah, about to complete the mission given to Him by God the Father. While the death of an innocent person is normally not a happy ending, this story has a happy ending with Jesus resurrecting from the dead (John 20:11-18). Some did not understand the significance of what was occurring, like Peter, who reacted by cutting off a servant of the High Priest’s ear (John 18:10-11). Later, an angry mob will call for the crucifixion of Jesus, many of whom might have been present when Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. These individuals had nonbiblical expectations, believing Jesus as Messiah would march in and throw out their Roman oppressors, only to have Jesus go into the temple and throw out those desecrating His Father’s house (Matthew 21:1-17).

 

Those of us living today may observe Passover, but it does not come with the requirement that we travel to Jerusalem because we have a High Priest, Jesus Christ, who has paid the price once and for all for our sins (Hebrews 4:14-15). However, just as it was in the time of Christ, many do not understand the significance of what Jesus did on the cross. Some adhere to legalism, believing one must straighten out the sin in their lives before finding salvation, while others, adopting cheap grace, believe they can continue in sin to demonstrate God’s grace. The truth is, we are saved by grace, not our works (Ephesians 2:8-9), with cheap grace condemned by Paul (Romans 6:1-2). The truth is a balance between these two extremes that the father demonstrates in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The father gladly accepted back his wayward son, who repented of his sin and reprimanded his older son, who did not extend grace to his brother and instead touted his righteousness.

 

The truth of the Gospel is that salvation comes by the grace of God and not our works, with one accepting God’s grace finding salvation and seeking to please God for the rest of their lives out of love for what Jesus did for them. A believer lives to please God, not to find salvation, but out of love for God who extended grace to them through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If you are reading this and have never confessed your belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I encourage anyone who has just prayed to find a church that is obedient to the word of God and teaches truth from the Bible. This way, you can grow in your knowledge and obedience to God. May God convict, challenge, and encourage everyone reading this post. 

God’s Holiness and Majesty and the Blessedness of Answered Prayer.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 29-30

 

Psalm 30:11

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

(NKJV)

 

The Book of Psalms is the songbook of the Bible, containing emotional and heartfelt praise to God. The psalms of this test are psalms praising the holiness and majesty of God and the blessedness of answered prayer. David had many struggles and trials as the King of Israel but found comfort in praising God as his mourning turned to dancing. May we learn the power of praise when we experience struggles and trials in our lives.

 

Psalm 29 begins with David giving the Lord glory and strength that is due His name and worshipping the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Psalm 29:1-2). The voice of the Lord is over many waters with the God of glory thundering (Psalm 29:3). The voice of the Lord is powerful and full of majesty (Psalm 29:4). The power of the voice of the Lord breaks and splinters the cedars of Lebanon, making Lebanon and Sirion skip like a young wild ox (Psalm 29:5-6). The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire and shakes the wilderness, even the wilderness of Kadesh (Psalm 29:7-8). The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, and strips the forest bare, with everyone in His temple saying “Glory!” (Psalm 29:9). The Lord gives strength to His people and blesses them with peace (Psalm 29:10-11).

 

Psalm 30 begins with David extoling the Lord because He has lifted him up and not allowed his enemies to rejoice (Psalm 30:1). David cried out to the Lord and was healed, with the Lord bringing his soul up from the grave so he would not go down into the pit (Psalm 30:2-3). David tells the saints to sing praise to the Lord and to give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name (Psalm 30:4). The Lord’s anger is for only a moment with weeping enduring for a night, but the Lord’s favor is for life and joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

 

In his prosperity, David said he would not be moved, and by the Lord’s favor, his mountain stands strong with him troubled when the Lord hid his face (Psalm 30:6-7). David makes his plea and supplication to the Lord, for his blood has no profit if he goes down to the pit, for the dust cannot praise the Lord or declare His truth (Psalm 30:8-9). David pleads for the Lord to have mercy on him and to be his helper (Psalm 30:10). The Lord has turned David’s mourning into dancing and removed his sackcloth and clothed him with gladness (Psalm 30:11). To his end, David will sing praise to the Lord and not be silent, giving thanks to the Lord forever (Psalm 30:12).

 

David was a great King of Israel despite his faults with the Lord calling him a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22; 1 Samuel 13:14). In Psalm 29, David praises the holiness and majesty of God. David, as a man after God’s own heart, knows that all holiness, majesty, and power belong to God, which is why his heart praises the Lord. May we all follow David’s example of praise and worship to God.

 

In Psalm 30, David praises the blessedness of answered prayer. David’s praise of the holiness and majesty of the Lord has enabled him to cry out to the Lord and receive healing (Psalm 30:2). David’s mourning has turned into dancing, as he removes his sackcloth and puts on the garments of gladness. Oh, the power of praise offered to the Lord. May none of us professing our belief in Jesus as our savior downplay the power of praise and thanksgiving to God, looking to David as a model worship leader with a heart of praise to God.

 

While it is great to have talented musicians and singers leading the congregation in worship in our churches, we must remember they are not performers but worship leaders. In the church I attend, the lyrics to the songs are up on the screen, not for the benefit of the worship leaders on the stage, but for the congregation to join them in praising the Lord. Even if we cannot carry a tune, the Lord wants to hear our praises offered up to Him, reminding us to make a joyful noise unto Him (Psalm 100:1-2). You can also speak the words of the song outload, thinking about what they mean, It is also not wrong to raise your hands in surrender to the Lord who has our best in mind (Jeremiah 29:11). In these psalms we see why David was a man after God’s own heart who had no problem with offering praise to God, knowing God heard and answered his prayers.

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed, confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior. I invite you to do so now.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Your sins are now forgiven, and Jesus is your Lord and Savior. I invite you to find a local church that teaches the truth from the Bible, the word of God, so your new relationship with God can flourish. May God convict, challenge, and encourage everyone reading this post.