Delighting in God’s Word (Part 3): Obedience Because of Grace

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Ephesians 2:8-9

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast.

 (CSB)

The classic philosophical argument over what came first the chicken or the egg applies to the gospel but before those reading this brand me as some heretic let me explain.  Most religions teach adherence to some set of standards or principles and promise that when one meets and obeys all these standards, they receive salvation.  According to T.A. McMahon, we can categorize the many religions of the world into two classifications, those teaching human achievement and those teaching divine accomplishment.  (1)  While the words of Ephesians 2:8-9 make it clear that our salvation is a divine accomplishment and not due to human achievement, some Christian denominations teach a salvation by works doctrine.  Unfortunately, despite these words in Scripture, many Christians believe in salvation by works.  One possible explanation is an innate desire of each of us to be in control of our destiny.  Another possible reason is our lack of understanding of the extent of our sinfulness and the extent of the holiness of God.  (2) The chicken and egg scenario involves the issue of obedience with the chicken involving I obey God and God saves me and the egg representing Jesus completed my work of salvation and I obey out of love for what God’s grace has provided.    

Psalm 119:17 is a plea by the psalmist for the grace of God with a promise to then keep God’s Word.  The gospel is about the divine accomplishment of Jesus on the cross (Romans 5:8,19), our acceptance of this gift of grace (Romans 10:9-10), and our obedience not out of compulsion to receive salvation but love for the God who saves us (1 John 5:3).   In addition to teaching obedience in response to God’s grace, Psalm 119:17-24 teaches us,

1)      The need for the Holy Spirits illumination (Psalm 119:18-19) – Without the aid of the illumination of the Holy Spirit, what is read in the Word of God is perceived as foolishness (1 Corinthians 2:14).  To obey the Word of God we must first understand it but since this understanding requires the illumination of the Holy Spirit, we must find out how one can receive this illumination.  Once again, we find a solution to this dilemma in that our salvation is not based upon our human achievement but the divine accomplishment of Jesus on the Cross.  Because of Jesus provision of forgiveness and salvation from our sins, the Holy Spirit can dwell in us (Ephesians 3:14-21) providing the illumination we need to understand and obey the Word of God. 

2)      The importance of a strong longing for truth from God’s Word (Psalm 119:20) – Just as a thirsty deer longs for life giving water, we must long for the life giving words of Scripture (Psalm 42:1).  All the illumination of the Holy Spirit is useless unless we take the time to read the words.  Obedience to God involves the illumination of the Holy Spirit coupled with a desire to know and meditate on the truths contained in the Word of God.

3)      Rebuke of those arrogantly rejecting God’s Word (Psalm 119:21) – Failure to act on what we learn from scripture through the illumination of the Holy Spirit subjects us to rebuke, preventing us from fully enjoying the benefits of obedience.  This does not negate our salvation for that is due to our acceptance of the finished work of Jesus on the cross but subjects us to a life of misery by not enjoying the benefits of the promises contained in the Word of God.

4)      Removal of insult and contempt through obedience to God’s Word (Psalm 119:22) – The only way to remove the rebuke of rejecting God’s Word and the insult and contempt accompanying this rejection is obedience to it. 

5)      Speaking God’s Word despite public opinion or political correctness (Psalm 119:23) – A world dominated by evil is full of those speaking evil against God and His Word.  The Apostle Paul suffered much for just speaking the truth of God’s Word (2 Corinthians 11:24-29) and yet at the end of his life he spoke of running the race of his life well and looking forward to a reward of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:6-8). 

6)      To find counsel and delight in the Word of God (Psalm 119:24) – The psalmist of Psalm 119 ends this section of the Psalm by expressing his finding counsel and delight for the Word of God.

The Word of God provides instruction for Godly living.  It is how we discover the grace of God and what Jesus did for fallen humanity through His death on the Cross.  In response to this great sacrificial gift, we respond and obey the Word of God out of love and not obligation.  However, to receive the illumination necessary for learning and obeying the Word of God, we must accept God’s gift of salvation.  We do this by asking God to forgive our sins, so I invite those reading this that have not already accepted this gift to do so by praying 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, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

I now encourage you to respond by learning and obeying the instructions in the Bible, the Word of God.  Find a church teaching the Bible and join a small group where you can interact with other believers.  I also encourage you to study the Bible for yourself asking the Holy Spirit to provide illumination, so you can begin understanding what the Bible says.  This does not mean you will understand everything you read for God reveals His Word to us little by little as we mature in our faith (Hebrews 5:11-14). 

May God bless everyone reading this.

1. McMahon, T.A. The works-salvation delusion. www.thebereancall.com. [Online] The Berean Call, June 1, 2010. [Cited: January 28, 2018.] https://www.thebereancall.org/content/works-salvation-delusion.

2. Gotquestions.org. Why is salvation by works the predominantly held viewpoint? www.gotquestions.org. [Online] GotQuestions.org. [Cited: January 28, 2018.] https://www.gotquestions.org/salvation-by-works.html.

Making America Great Again, Lessons from Nehemiah: Introduction

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Nehemiah 1:1-3

During the month of Chislev in the twentieth year, when I was in the fortress city of Susa, ² Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah, and I questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile. ³ They said to me, “The remnant in the province, who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned.”

(CSB)

On June 16, 2015, then businessman and reality TV star Donald Trump announced his candidacy for President of the United States.  (1)  Soon after the announcement the comedic and even disgusting jokes and GIFs began.  (2)  However, despite the jokes, Donald Trump won election to the Presidency, (3)  but the end of the election did not end the attacks on Trump and his family, with some even promising violence.  (4)  What we lose in all the rhetoric is why a successful billionaire and media star would subject himself and his family to such abuse.     

I strive to maintain a Christian worldview when it comes to current events and see a parallel in Donald Trump and Nehemiah in the Bible.  For those not familiar with Nehemiah, there is an entire book in the Bible about how he rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem.  In the time of Nehemiah, walls served an important function for they were a city’s defense against foreign invaders.  Today, walls would do little to defend a city for militaries can attack from the air.  The wall, however, is not the focal point of my view of a parallel between Donald Trump and Nehemiah but instead is the common passion they each had for their nations. 

Nehemiah 1:11 tells that Nehemiah held the important position of cup bearer to the king.  With the constant threat of someone poisoning the king, the cup bearer was more than just a waiter serving the king something to drink, but someone protecting the king from poisoning.  (5)  With this important position, the King would insure someone he trusted held this position and make sure they were well taken care of.  Nehemiah could have spent the remainder of his life serving the king in the palace living the good life. 

However, upon hearing of the plight of the Jews in Jerusalem and the fact that they were unprotected (Nehemiah 1:1-3) from enemies because the wall protecting the city was broken down, he immediately sought the Lord in prayer (Nehemiah 1:4-11).  Nehemiah’s fervent prayer did not go unanswered for when Nehemiah took wine to the king, the normal function of his job, the king noticed Nehemiah was sad (Nehemiah 2:1-2).  Knowing the reason for his sad heart and not wanting to lie to the king, Nehemiah was full of fear for he knew he must ask the king for permission to travel to Jerusalem, a request that could cost Nehemiah his life (Nehemiah 2:3-5).  Fortunately for Nehemiah God protected him for the king not only granted his request but also granted safe passage to Jerusalem and building materials (Nehemiah 2:6-10).   

Donald Trump shares a similar passion for the United States.  While he is a business entrepreneur and not in the employ of someone else, his immense wealth would have been sufficient to provide a secure comfortable life.  However, Trump saw the invasion at the unsecured southern border of the United States and like Nehemiah had a sad heart.  (1)  He also witnessed the plight of hard working Americans seeing their jobs going to other countries with leadership telling them this was the new normal in the United States.  (6)

Over the next several Saturday postings we will be engaging in a study of the Book of Nehemiah in the Bible with the purpose of establishing a biblical worldview of the leadership of Donald Trump.  We are in no manner equating Donald Trump with Nehemiah in the Bible but instead seek to view how we as the people of God should react to the opposition we see occurring around Donald Trump.  It is my intention for this study to provide biblical insight as we continue to pray for needed changes in our nations.  Please return next Saturday and invite your friends.   

1. DelReal, Jose A. Donald Trump announces presidential bid. www.washingtonpost.com. [Online] The Washington Post, June 16, 2015. [Cited: January 21, 2018.] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/06/16/donald-trump-to-announce-his-presidential-plans-today/?utm_term=.5fddcc82a600.

2. GIPHY. Explore Donald Trump is running as a joke. giphy.com. [Online] GIPHY. [Cited: January 21, 2018.] https://giphy.com/explore/donald-trump-is-running-as-a-joke.

3. Barbaro, Matt Flegenheimer and Michael. Donald Trump is Elected President in Stunning Repudiation of the Establishment. www.nytimes.com. [Online] The MNew York Times, November 9, 2016. [Cited: January 21, 2018.] https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/09/us/politics/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-president.html.

4. Hudson, Daniel Nussbaum & Jerome. 15 Times Celebrities Envisioned Violence Against Trump and the GOP. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, June 14, 2017. [Cited: January 21, 2018.] http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2017/06/14/15-times-celebrities-envisioned-violence-against-trump-and-the-gop/.

5. Jewish Virtual Library. Encyclopedia Judaica: Cupbearer. www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. [Online] Jewish Virtual Library. [Cited: January 21, 2018.] http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/cupbearer.

6. Hoft, Joe. FLASHBACK: Obama Says Manufacturing Jobs Aren’t Coming Back – Then Trump Sets Record of 40,000 Manufacturing Jobs in One Month. thegatewaypundit.com. [Online] Gateway Pundit, December 7, 2017. [Cited: January 21, 2018.] http://thegatewaypundit.com/2017/12/flashback-obama-says-manufacturing-jobs-arent-coming-back-trump-sets-record-highest-number-new-manufacturing-jobs-month-ever/.

Delighting in God’s Word (Part 2): A Treasure of Eternal Value

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Matthew 5:18

For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

(ESV)

Luke 12:34 reminds us that where our treasure is, our hearts will also be.  This passage of scripture appears at the end of Jesus’ teaching on anxiety contained in Luke 12:22-34.  In a world full of things that cause anxiety, we would do well to learn from the teaching of Jesus on anxiety. 

Considering Jesus’ teaching, we must pause to ask ourselves what we treasure when we begin feeling anxiety.  One way of determining this is to look at what we are anxious about for that is usually the thing we are treasuring.  For example, if our anxiety is over politics or government, our treasure is in government.  If we are anxious about technology such as our smartphone, tablet, or computer, we treasure technology.  Even other people, including our children, spouse, or family, causing us anxiety shows that we treasure them.  Even though it is not inherently wrong to value these things, they each have their flaws and when they do not live up to our expectations, cause anxiety.  However, there is something that will never fail us, and thus never cause us anxiety. 

Psalm 119:9-16 provides insight on what we should treasure that will never fail us, God’s Word.  Hebrews 4:12 teaches us that the Word of God is like a sword.  However, the Word of God is unlike any other sword we may have seen for it is living and effective, separates soul and spirit like a physical sword can separate joints and marrow, and is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  This sword is also a part of the armor of God (Ephesians 6:17).  In fact the prophecy of Simeon over eight-day old baby Jesus spoke of Him being a sword that would pierce the souls of his parents, revealing the thoughts of many hearts (Luke 2:33-35). 

The psalmist in Psalm 119:9-16 treasures God’s Words for they,

1)      Keep our lives pure through obedience (Psalm 119:9) – Youth in our modern culture are educated in institutions working under the philosophy of postmodernism.  (1)  They are also avid consumers of media, which also works under this philosophy.  (2)  With the philosophy of postmodernism denying any absolute truth, including the Word of God (3), it should not surprise us to see the deviant and perverted behavior of youth, and not so young people, educated and surrounded by this philosophy.  The call of the psalmist is to return to the truth of the Word of God and through it find purity in our lives.   

2)      Keep us from sinning against God (Psalm 119:10-11) – Sin is anything that separates us from God, something that began when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).  The cause of Adam and Eve’s banishment was disobedience.  As we study the Word of God, it reveals sin in our lives that separates us from God.  However, the sword of God’s Word does not need to separate us from God but through repentance and seeking forgiveness from God, acts as a surgical instrument removing the sin and restoring our connection with God. 

In response to this great treasure the Psalmist then,

1)      Asks God to teach or reveal the truth of His Word to him (Psalm 119:12) – To establish a stronger more intimate relationship with God our creator we must allow the truth in God’s Word to teach us and reveal sin that separates us from God.  The psalmist is expressing a desire to undergo the surgical scalpel of scripture to remove the cancer of sin in his live and restore spiritual health.  We must also ask God today to create such a desire for the restoration of our spiritual health. 

2)      Vows to verbally proclaim the truths in the Word of God (Psalm 119:13) – In a world dominated by bad news, good news must be declared when discovered.  With the greatest news being the news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I encourage everyone to not fear speaking it out loud with our mouths, keyboards, and smartphones. 

3)      Rejoice in the discovery of the truths of God’s Word as if it was the discovery of great riches (Psalm 119:14) – While most of us would be thrilled at winning the lottery, we all have access to something far more valuable in the Word of God.  This valuable treasure is also not rare but readily available at most bookstores, through the printed word, and now at the tips of our fingers through our smartphones and computers.  We would run to buy a winning lottery ticket so why not run to get a copy of the Bible which is much more valuable.

4)      Meditate on what God’s Word teaches (Psalm 119:15) – When we think of meditation, we picture someone sitting in a lotus position on a floor chanting some mantra.  Biblical meditation, however, is focusing our thoughts and pondering the truths we read in the Word of God.  (4)  This requires not just reading the Bible to check it off our daily to-do list but to read with specific intent to learn and apply it to our lives. 

5)      Delight and not forget God’s Word (Psalm 119:16) – Prior to easy access to Scripture as we have today, people would memorize scripture.  Those engaging in this activity demonstrated an immense delight for God’s Word and also a desire never to forget what they learned.  Even though we have easy access to Scripture today due to technology and the printing press, we should also memorize scripture especially important in our lives. 

The Bible, the Word of God is a treasure of immense value and something we must value in our lives.  God’s Word reveals sin in our lives and acts as a surgical scalpel removing its cancer from our lives.   The question we must all answer in our lives is will we embrace its truth, or run from it and allow sin to separate us from an intimate relationship with God. 

1. Sanbonmatsu, John. POSTMODERNISM AND THE CORRUPTION OF ACADEMIC INTELLIGENTSIA. socialistregister.com. [Online] Socialist Register. [Cited: March 31, 2017.] http://socialistregister.com/index.php/srv/article/viewFile/5851/2747.

2. Saugstad, Andreas. Postmodernism and the Media. bolesblogs.com. [Online] November 20, 2000. [Cited: March 31, 2017.] https://bolesblogs.com/2000/11/20/postmodernism-the-media/.

3. Dulgnan, Brian. Postmodernism Philosophy. www.britannica.com. [Online] Encyclopedia Britannica, October 31, 2014. [Cited: March 31, 2017.] https://www.britannica.com/topic/postmodernism-philosophy.

4. Bible.org. Biblical Meditation. bible.org. [Online] Bible.org. [Cited: January 21, 2018.] https://bible.org/article/biblical-meditation.

Beyond Belief: Learning from Shiphrah and Puah

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Exodus 1:15-16

The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives—the first whose name was Shiphrah and the second whose name was Puah— ¹⁶ “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them as they deliver. If the child is a son, kill him, but if it’s a daughter, she may live.”

(CSB)

While the name of Pharaoh is never mentioned in the entire book of Exodus, the names of the two Egyptian midwives Shiphrah and Puah are given mention in Exodus 1:15.  This is because their rebellion against Pharaoh saved the lives of many Hebrew children, possibly even Moses, unlike Pharaoh who called for genocide.  Exodus 1:17 tells us that these midwives also feared God indicating a belief in God.  However, a fear of God indicates something that goes beyond belief. 

The Christian band Petra sing a song entitled Beyond Belief.  I encourage you to click on the video link of the song here to watch it.  (1)  The lyrics of the song speak of a higher place than just belief in God.  The highway in the video represents our life journey and as we can see from the video, the young man in the car encounters many problems in his journey, finally ending up at a dead end.  The Jews enslaved in Egypt had flourished from an initial 70 people (Exodus 1:5) to an estimated 2 million counting the women and children (Exodus 12:37). 

This vast number of people represented a threat to Pharaoh, so the oppression began (Exodus 1:8-11).  However, the more Pharaoh oppressed God’s people, the more they flourished (Exodus 1:12).  The rebellion of Shiphrah and Puah is another miracle of deliverance for the Nation of Israel, rescuing future generations from genocide.  The source of this miracle was Shiphrah and Puah moving beyond belief in God to a reverential worship of God that forbid them from harming God’s people.

In our troubled times, we as God’s people often find ourselves on a journey like what we see in the video.  Our life’s journey will consist of,

1)      Winding roads (John 16:33) – It would sure be easy if after we accepted Jesus as our savior, life became easy and smooth with a straight wide path to heaven.  Fortunately, however, Jesus promised us trouble (John 16:33).  I say fortunately for it is through these winding twists and turns of life we become stronger (Romans 5:3-5). 

2)      Flat tires – Just when we think our road in life is becoming easy, some unexpected emergency, financial crisis, loss of job, or illness occurs.  Fortunately for the young man in the video, he limps into a repair shop in the middle of nowhere and gets the help he needed.  When we find ourselves at a time in life where all we can do is limp down the highway of life, we can go beyond belief and on to trust in God, finding a solution to our situation even in the wilderness. 

3)      Running out of Gas – At times on our life’s journey we may feel a lack the energy to go on, essentially running out of gas.  Fortunately for the young man in the video, a good Samaritan comes along offering help (Luke 10:25-37), and even when the young man in the video has no money to pay for his gas, the good Samaritan and owner of the gas station give him the needed gas for free.  While modern technology lets us to attend church services on line, something necessary for those unable to attend services, there is also a need for face-to-face fellowship with other believers who may be our good Samaritans when trouble comes. 

4)      Mistakes – A Police officer pulls over the young man in our video, most likely for speeding and then the young man makes a wrong turn.  The speeding was the young man’s fault, but the wrong turn was not for the detour sign was down.  We will all make mistakes in our life, some of which are our fault for which there is full forgiveness (1 John 1:9).  Other mistakes in our lives are due to bad advice or possibly no warning as occurred in the video with the broken detour sign.  However, once again we see help coming with a gracious police officer letting the young man continue and someone coming with a map showing the young man the path back to the main road.  Both Judas and Peter made a mistake in their lives by betraying Jesus in His time of greatest need.  For Judas the remorse for his mistake led to his taking his life (Matthew 27:3-5).  For Peter, however, the remorse led to repentance (Matthew 26:75) and receiving full forgiveness and reinstatement as leader of the early Church (John 21:15-19). 

When our walk with the Lord moves beyond belief and on to trust in God, the winding roads of life, flat tires, running out of gas, and mistakes will not sidetrack us in carrying out God’s will in our lives.  We can persevere through these challenges not because we have some super level of faith but because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).  We must remember that the thief, Satan, has one purpose, to steal, kill, or destroy us (John 10:10), but Jesus has come to give us abundant life even in the middle of the enemy’s efforts to destroy or sidetrack us.  May we all move from just belief to trust and a reverential fear of God like that of Shiphrah and Puah. 

1. metalfranlazar777(Lazaro Ochoa). www.youtube.com. Petra - Beyond Belief Song (Original Music Video). [Online] You Tube, April 12, 2010. [Cited: January 14, 2018.] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KY7jLQGHA0.

Delighting in God’s Word (Part 1): Following the Instruction Manuel

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Psalm 119:1

How^[a] happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk according to the Lord’s instruction!

(CSB)

In the Declaration of Independence, one of the founding documents of the United States, it states that one of the unalienable rights of each individual is the pursuit of happiness.  (1)  It is interesting to note that the authors of this historic document did not say we had the right to happiness but just the pursuit of it.  In Psalm 119:1-8 we see both a path to the achievement of happiness but also the psalmists admission of his failure to achieve that happiness ending with a call on God to not abandon him despite his failures. 

When we think of happiness, we think of an enjoyable time with friends or family that is free from trouble.  We think of times of laughter or things that bring a smile to our faces.  However, the word translated happy in Psalm 119:1-2 is esher (2) which also means blessed.  This expanded definition leads to the conclusion that a blessed and happy life comes from seeking God and living a life of obedience to His Word (Psalm 119:1-3). 

While God commands that His precepts be diligently kept, the author of the Psalm admits to not diligently keeping the statures of God (Psalm 119:4-5).  This leads to a feeling of shame on his part (Psalm 119:6).  This part of the Psalm ends with the psalmist praising God upon learning God’s righteous judgments, a commitment to keep God’s statutes, and a plea for God not to abandon him (Psalm 119:7-8). 

The words some assembly required strike fear in anyone who has spent Christmas Eve night laboring over the instructions on assembly of a present our children desperately want.  Generally, the failure to properly complete the assembly of the present is the result of not properly following the assembly instructions.  I believe this is the feeling of the psalmist at coming to the honest realization of not diligently following God’s Word even though it was right in front of him. 

Diligence in following the principles of the Word of God starts when we accept Jesus as our savior for this rids our hearts of sin, allowing us to begin understanding the Bible.  I therefore want to urge anyone reading this who does not have a personal relationship with God through Christ 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, were buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Congratulations on taking the first step to biblical happiness.  While this step is crucial, diligence in following the precepts of God is an ongoing process involving,

1)      Communication (Psalm 119:18-24) – Communication in any relationship involves both listening and speaking.  We speak to God through prayer which does not need to be some eloquent use of words but a simple conversation with God.  I try to begin each day with prayer and find that beginning the day in that way enables me to continue the conversation throughout the day. 

2)      Learning (Romans 12:2) – The learning process when it comes to the Bible is an ongoing process of transformation of our minds.  Prior to accepting Jesus as our savior our minds were carnal and tarnished by sin (Romans 7:14).  We must therefore transform our minds through diligent study to learn more about God’s Word.  We do this through a combination of corporate study from a pastor/teacher at church and personal study. 

3)      Empowerment (Luke 24:49) – Jesus, knowing what was ahead for His followers after he left them, was not about to throw them to the wolves without first empowering them with the power of the Holy Spirit.  We see the results of this empowerment in the transformation of Peter in Acts 2 from a timid fearful man denying Jesus to a man boldly declaring the message of the Gospel to people that just a few days earlier were calling for the crucifixion of Jesus. 

A biblically happy and blessed life is the result of obedience to the precepts of the Bible, the Word of God.  Like the psalmist of Psalm 119, none of us has lived in total obedience to the Bible.  However, God has not abandoned us (Hebrews 13:5) but provided restoration and salvation through Jesus.  As we then continue communication with God, diligent study to learn the precepts of the Bible, and allow the Holy Spirit to empower us, we can begin to enjoy a blessed life in Christ.  While this does not insure a life free from trials, we can be joyful in these times (James 1:2) knowing that God’s plans for our lives are good (Jeremiah 29:11) and that all things will work for our good (Romans 8:28). 

1. ushistory.org. The Declaration of Independence. www.ushistory.org. [Online] [Cited: October 30, 2016.] http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/.

2. Strongs Concordance. Esher. www.godrules.com. [Online] Godrules.com. [Cited: January 14, 2018.] http://www.godrules.net/library/strongs2a/heb835.htm.

Following God to the Fullest: Leadership Lessons from Josiah

By:  Dale Weckbacher

2 Chronicles 35:18

No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as was kept by Josiah, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

(ESV)

2 Chronicles 34-35 records the account of the reign of Judah’s King Josiah.  While most of us think of David or Solomon when thinking of Kings of Judah or Israel, King Josiah had a major impact on Judah as a leader doing what was right in the Lord’s sight (2Chronicles 34:2).  In our modern age of leaders and celebrities behaving inappropriately, we can learn much from looking at how Josiah led Judah and is recorded in history, for eternity, as a leader doing right in the Lord’s sight.

Since Josiah was only eight when becoming King of Judah, we can rule out age as a requirement for Godly leadership (2 Chronicles 34:1).  Eight years into his reign at sixteen scripture tells us that Josiah began to seek God (2 Chronicles 34:3).  Four years after beginning to seek the Lord, Josiah goes to work cleansing Judah and Jerusalem of their articles of pagan worship (2 Chronicles 34:7).  Godly leadership must begin with the removal of everything pointing to ungodliness in the nation.  Individually we must also remove the ungodliness in our lives for God commands us not to have any other gods in our lives (Exodus 20:3).  Scripture also tells us to not seek conformity to the world’s method of thinking but to allow God and His Word to transform our minds (Romans 12:2). 

The next phase of the transformational reign of Josiah is the restoration of worship.  In the Old Testament, those worshiping God were to do so at the Temple in Jerusalem.  However, in the time of Josiah the Temple was in total disrepair and in need of restoration.  Six years after the beginning of cleansing the land of pagan worship, the Temple restoration program began (2 Chronicles 34:8).  We will all worship something in our lives so just removing the idols we may worship (i.e. wealth, pleasure, career, etc.) without replacing them with worship of our creator will result in more or even worse idolatry.  Since under the New Testament, we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, we must work like Josiah to insure our Temple is a place bring glory to God our creator. 

The third phase of the transformation came because of the discovery of the Book of the Law in the Temple (2 Chronicles 2:14).  After hearing the words of this book, we see Josiah tear his clothes as a demonstration of repentance for the sins of the nation (2 Chronicles 34:19).  Josiah ordered Hikiah, Ahikam, Abdon, Shaphan, and his servant Asaiah to inquire of the Lord regarding the great sins of Judah and Israel.  The prophetess Huldah informed them of the pending disaster coming to the nation due to their sin, but that God would honor the repentance of Josiah by insuring he would not live to see this destruction (2 Chronicles 34:22-28). 

The final phase was restoration of observance of the Passover (2 Chronicles 35:1-19).  This represents a public demonstration and celebration of how God saved His people.  The Passover observance is a reminder for God’s people of the miraculous deliverance of God’s people from their Egyptian bondage. 

Within the process of the reformation of Judah during the reign of Josiah, we find the message of the Gospel for it tells us,

1)      We must receive forgiveness from sin (Ephesians2:8) – Difficult as this may appear, this is the easy part for Jesus did all the work on the cross.  As John 3:16 reminds us, salvation comes from believing with a reward of eternal life. 

2)      We must make God the object of our worship (Matthew 6:21) – What we value in our heart becomes the object of our worship.  Just as Josiah began restoration of the Temple, the place of worship for the people of God after removal of the pagan places of worship, we too must discipline ourselves through the practice of spiritual disciplines as a means of preventing ourselves from falling back into idolatry.  (1) 

3)      Humble service to God (James 1:21) – As people of God, God calls us to live lives set apart for service to our God.  This does not mean we must necessarily abandon our jobs to become full-time ministers but instead a dedication to serve God in whatever situation we find ourselves.  This occurs as we allow the double-edged sword of the Word of God to work on our hearts (Hebrews 4:12). 

4)      Publicly declare our faith (Romans 10:9-10) – Most evangelical churches, encourage new converts to Christianity make a public declaration of their faith through water baptism.  Like the celebration of Passover by Josiah, water baptism symbolizes our deliverance from sin through the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Perhaps you are reading this and have never heard the message of the Gospel or have heard the message many time and rejected it.  If you are reading this and find yourself in one of these situations, I urge 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, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

I now urge everyone to follow through on their cleansing of their lives from sin by making God the object of your worship through the practice of spiritual disciplines.  (1)  I then encourage everyone to find a place of service unto God.  Finally, and most importantly, follow through on your commitment through water baptism. 

May God bless everyone reading this post.

1. Daniels, Dharius. 5 Spiritual Disciplines that Will Change Your Life. www.crosswalk.com. [Online] Crosswalk.com, January 9, 2015. [Cited: December 3, 2017.] https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/5-spiritual-disciplines-that-will-change-your-life.html.

Hilkiah’s Great Discovery

By:  Dale Weckbacher

2 Chronicles 34:14

 While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord given through^[a] Moses.

(ESV)

While media focuses our attention on the negative aspects of our society, we also live in an amazing world of technological discovery and advancement.  (1)  The greatest technological advancement, however, may be the invention of the printing press for with its invention knowledge through the printed word became affordable and available to the masses.  (2)  Now, with the printed word going digital, knowledge through the printed word has never been more readily available and affordable to the masses.  (3)

If there is a bad side to the abundant knowledge available through either the printed or digital word, it is we may lessen its value in our lives.  This was not the case, however, with the discovery of The Book of the Law of the Lord given through Moses in the Temple during the time of Hilkiah.  Since books were rare at this time in history, Hilkiah knew that what he had discovered was a rare artifact, explaining why he quickly arranged for Shaphan to deliver it to the King (2 Chronicles 34:15-18).  However, much as the physical book had immense value due to its rarity in the time of King Josiah, the most valuable aspect of this discovery was the priceless knowledge contained within the covers of the book. 

King David understood the value of The Word of God and in Psalm 19:7-14 places, as best words will allow, value upon the words contained in the book of the Law discovered by Hilkiah and why Josiah reacted as he did.  God’s Word is,

1)      Perfect (Psalm 19:7) – The spoken words of God are what created our world (Genesis 1) and as Genesis 1:31 reminds us, the results of the creation by God's Words was very good or perfect.  However, when Satan deceived Adam and Eve into believing the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was good, thus disobeying God, the perfection of God’s creation became corrupted by sin.   The good news of Psalm 19:7, however, is that the power of God’s Word at creation also provides renewal for our lives. 

2)      Trustworthy (Psalm 19:7) – While technological changes can enhance our lives, economic, political, and cultural changes bring uncertainty and skepticism into our lives.  The trustworthiness of The Word of God is something upon which we can anchor our lives.  

3)      Right (Psalm 19:8) – Pilate asked Jesus what truth was in John 18:38. This question came because of Jesus saying that testifying to the truth was why he was born (John 18:37).  After asking this question John 18:38 tells us that Pilate went out to the people, telling them he found no grounds to charge Jesus.  This either means Pilate did not want to hear the answer to his question or that he understood the answer and did not want to be the one ordering the purveyor of truth murdered.  Regardless of why Pilate left before receiving the answer to his question, we can rest in knowing that not only are the Words of God in Scripture trustworthy, they are right and something solid upon which to build our lives. 

4)      Radiant (Psalm 19:8) – The first words at creation were “Let there be light (Genesis 1:3).  However, with the creation of the sun not occurring till day four of creation, the light on the first day was the light of God’s glory which is what will light the world in the coming Kingdom of God on Earth (Revelation 21:23).  Since the sun continued to shine after the fall of Adam and Eve, the light snuffed out by the sin of Adam and Eve was the light of God’s glory which initially lit the earth.  The radiance of the Word of God, however, restores that light for those choosing to make Jesus their savior and now illuminates our path in life with Godly guidance (Psalm 119:105). 

5)      Pure enduring forever (Psalm 19:9) – Psalm 19:9 tells us that the fear of the Lord is everlasting.  What motivated Josiah to act out of fear of the Lord’s wrath was the revelation that Israel had not been obeying the instructions contained within The Book of the Law (2 Chronicles 34:21).  Josiah  understood the perfection, trustworthiness, rightness of the Word of God.  When the radiance of the Word of God shed light upon the sins of the people, Josiah knew the nation must change direction. 

6)      Reliable and altogether righteous (Psalm 19:9) – We need not question the words we read in scripture for they come from a righteous God and are something we can totally rely on.  The challenge we all face is living our lives in obedience to the words we read in scripture. 

Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the longest book of the Bible is a passage of scripture with the purpose of teaching us to find delight in the Word of God.  In our continually changing world governed by a philosophy of truth defined as whatever one believes to be true (4), the need of a solid foundation of scriptural truth is extremely important.  With this in mind, over the next several Wednesday postings we will be conducting an in-depth study of Psalm 119 to solidify the foundation of truth in our lives.  I encourage everyone reading this to bookmark this page and return to it each Wednesday and to also invite friends by sharing the link to this page with others. 

May God bless everyone reading this post.

1. H., Petr. 25 Biggest Scientific Discoveries in the History of Mankind. list25.com. [Online] List 25, June 28, 2017. [Cited: January 7, 2018.] https://list25.com/25-biggest-scientific-discoveries-in-history-of-mankind/.

2. Peterson, Valerie. Learn About Johann Gutenberg. www.thebalance.com. [Online] The Balance, August 28, 2017. [Cited: January 7, 2018.] https://www.thebalance.com/gutenberg-and-the-invention-of-the-printing-press-2800098.

3. Glor, Jeff. How e-Books Are Changing the Printed Word. www.cbsnews.com. [Online] CBS News, January 10, 2010. [Cited: January 7, 2018.] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-e-books-are-changing-the-printed-word/.

4. Dulgnan, Brian. Postmodernism Philosophy. www.britannica.com. [Online] Encyclopedia Britannica, October 31, 2014. [Cited: March 31, 2017.] https://www.britannica.com/topic/postmodernism-philosophy.

Repentance Versus Apology

By:  Dale Weckbacher

2 Chronicles 33:12-13

And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. ¹³ He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

(ESV)

Romans 3:23 reminds us that we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard for our lives.  As such, we have all done things in our lives that we later came to regret.  However, when this regret goes public because someone is a public figure, a public apology usually follows.  While apologizing to those we have wronged by our actions is important, restoration to God also involves repentance. 

Unfortunately, celebrity apologies have become formulaic in nature and are not genuine but an attempt to cover and maintain a positive public image.  In fact, there is even a “Celebrity Perv Apology Generator” to help public figures with developing an apology for their actions.  For Harvey Weinstein the apology consisted in blaming the culture of the 60’s and 70’s in which he grew up.  (1)  Charlie Rose claims to have learned a new respect for women due to these events.  (1)  Mr. Rose, are you speaking of the events with these women or the event of them going public with the events.  If the events you are apologizing for are these women going public about your actions, the apology is shallow and an expression of guilt at the allegations going public. 

For Matt Lauer, the apology claims some untruth in the allegations against him but also that enough truth exists to cause embarrassment and shame.  (1)  However, Mr. Lauer’s apology comes closer to expressing repentance for he goes on to express a desire to repair the damage his actions did by going through a time of soul searching and taking a hard look at his troubling flaws.  With repentance defined as “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life”, (2) Mr. Lauer’s apology is closer to an expression of repentance.  What remains for the public to see is if Mr. Lauer will continue his 180 degree about face in behavior. 

The Bible has much to say about the need for sinners, of which we all are (Romans 3:23), to repent.  Ezekiel 18:30 speaks of repentance as one turning from their transgressions.  This is the first step in salvation for without the realization of sin in our lives and the need to turn from it, there can be no genuine turning of one’s life over to Christ.  Jesus speaks of the absence of repentance leading to one perishing (Luke 13:3).  The Apostle Peter urged those listening to him to repent and be converted so their sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19).  Peter later said that repentance was a command of God for people everywhere (Acts 17:30). 

According to Billy Graham, repentance is not,

1)      Penance – Penance is an admission of guilt for one’s actions but does not necessarily indicate a change of character.  (3)  While one’s actions do have consequences, the suffering of a penalty for sins does not guarantee one will not continue in their sinful behavior as evidence by the high recidivism rates among those released from prison.  (4) 

2)      Remorse (3) – Judas and Peter both experienced remorse for their actions (Matthew 27:3-5, Luke 22:54-62).  The difference between Judas and Peter was that Judas experienced remorse but instead of repenting and seeking forgiveness from God, he hung himself while Peter went out and wept in repentance and received forgiveness (John 21:15-19). 

3)      Self-condemnation – Condemning ourselves for our sins only serves to heap more guilt upon ourselves instead of healing the wounds caused by our sins.  (3)  The penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23), but instead of leaving us all to die, God sent us his son to provide atonement for our sins.   However, the first step in receiving this atonement is a genuine desire to turn from these sinful behaviors. 

According to Billy Graham, repentance consists of three elements,

1)      Conviction – This is a realization prompted by the Spirit of God that our life is going in the wrong direction and needs a change of direction.  (3)

2)      Contrition – This is a brokenness of heart that draws us near to God (Psalm 34:18).  It is a Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10) and not a shallow sentiment or show of empty emotion.  It is this element of contrition that is missing from most of the apologies we see from public figures caught in their sins.  Peters tears of contrition (Matthew 26:75) are what led to the third element of repentance and receiving full forgiveness from God.

3)      Changing your mind – Biblical repentance involves a change of direction.  (3)  We close the loop of repentance when we vow to change the direction of our life and not venture back into the sinful lives we once led.  2 Corinthians 7:10 reminds us that godly sorrow (contrition) leads to repentance and then to salvation. 

Repentance goes beyond just an apology to others for the wrongs we have done to them and involves a soul searching and turning to God vowing to change the direction of our lives.  The recent sexual allegations of public figures in politics and entertainment are disgusting but even more disgusting are the empty apologies that do not close the loop into repentance, insuring these disgusting allegations will end at some point.  May we be like Peter who turned from his path of denial through genuine repentance into one who led the early church. 

1. Eckardt, Stephanie. Ranking the Absolute Worst Apologies by Men Accused of Sexual Assault Post-Harvey Weinstein in 2017. www.wmagazine.com. [Online] W, November 30, 2017. [Cited: December 31, 2017.] https://www.wmagazine.com/story/worst-apologies-by-men-harvey-weinstein-kevin-spacey-charlie-rose.

2. Merriam-Webster . Repent. www.merriam-webster.com. [Online] Merrian-Webster Dictionary. [Cited: December 31, 2017.] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repent.

3. Graham, Bily. True Repentance, Real Change. billygraham.org. [Online] Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, December 1, 2006. [Cited: December 31, 2017.] https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/january-2007/true-repentance-real-change/.

4. Zoukis, Christopher. Report Documents U.S. Recidivism Rates for Federal Prisoners. www.huffingtonpost.com. [Online] Huffpost, December 6, 2017. [Cited: December 31, 2017.] https://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-zoukis/report-documents-us-recid_b_9542312.html.