Today in Psalm 119:33-40, we see that the Psalmist asks God specifically for the application of seven works of God into his life – specifically – teaching (verse 33); understanding (verse 34); direction (verse 35); redirection of his heart and eyes (verses 36-37); preservation (verses 37 and 40); perfection of God’s promises (i.e., fulfillment or completion, verse 38); and cleansing (verse 39). The Psalmist’s purpose in asking God for these works is to “keep and obey God’s law that he might fear God and avoid selfish gain and worthless things” (verses 33-38). This section of Psalm 119 helps us to realize that – on our own – we ourselves could never attain any of the spiritual virtues for which this Psalm was written. We recognize how much we need a loving and merciful God to elevate us from our spiritual shabbiness and lift us out of our intrinsic ignorance. He alone can lead and guide us away from the flaws of our hearts and the futility of our eyes and help us to overcome our universal uncertainty, our dreadful deficiencies, and our continual contamination. Apart from God, we exist in hopelessness – a truth known to the Psalmist – and shared with us. Here, we see that God abundantly matches His love, mercy, and grace to our every need.
In Jeremiah 29:24-31:14, we see God’s defense of Jeremiah’s indictment of Shemaiah, another false prophet. The LORD spoke to Jeremiah about this (cf., verse 30) and told him to tell Shemaiah that God would punish him – “he would have no one left among this people, nor would he see the good things that God would do for His people” (verse 32). Several times in our readings this year, we have seen the extreme consequences for anyone who would presume to speak for God apart from His authority. Misrepresenting the Word of God is a very serious sin. In chapters 30-31, we see that God promises to restore Israel. “‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,’ says the LORD” (verse 3), and “He Who scattered Israel will gather them” (verse 10). May I say to you, what God has verbally promised to His people, let no man deny. Clearly, God is not finished with Israel, and He will fulfill His promises to that nation. These promises obtained, not only after the exile, but they will also obtain into the future. A day is coming when Israel’s enemies “will be devoured, plundered, and despoiled” (cf., 30:16). May it be soon!
In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul addresses “the man of lawlessness” (verse 3), and he counteracts the deceptions that surround the return of our Lord. Like Jeremiah, Paul also warns that a day is coming. The day of the Lord will not come until the rebellion occurs” (verse 3). The rebellion will be led by this man of sin, who will “proclaim himself to be God” (verse 4). Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit, “Who now holds back the power of lawlessness … will be taken out of the way” and the powerful displays that serve Satan’s lies will all precede Christ’s return; He will “overthrow the lawless one with the breath of His mouth and by the splendor of his coming to destroy him” (verse 8). Paul explains that “people who refuse to love the truth and choose to believe the lie” are deluded by a God-given, “strong delusion because they delight in wickedness” (verse 11). As a result, Paul calls us to “stand firm” in our faith (verse 15).
Comments