Psalm 12:6-7 (ESV)
The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. [7] You, O Lord, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever.
How different are the words of God from the words of man. Look at how the words of man are described: lies, flattery, idle, double-hearted, proud, boastful, and blasphemous. In contrast the words of the Lord are described as “pure words.” They are “purified seven times” seemly indicating absolute purity.
The purity of the words of the Lord mean that they are trustworthy and of high value. So, whatever the Lord has to say to us we know there is no chance of it misleading us. This can not be said for the words of man. The Word of God is often described as the only rule of faith and practice. This means that is speaks to us without error regarding all matters, both what we are to believe and what we are to do.
We ought to desire both. We need sound doctrine. How can we rightly obey, love, serve, and honor God if we do not know Him in His revealed beauty and worth. Doctrine motivates, encourages, strengthens, and balances. Doctrine is practical. Application and practice are important because otherwise doctrine becomes simple head knowledge never affecting the heart. Let us long to know the full counsel of God and not just what we want to here. Let us learn to the love the beauty of sound doctrine and sound practice.
Let us also learn from this Psalm to guard carefully our own words. As those who bear the name of Christ, and are sons and daughters of the Living God, we must seek to have our words be of the same purity as the Lord’s. We know that this is an impossible task. But by the grace of God and the work of the Spirit, it must be pursued. Our words do not bear testimony about ourselves, but about the God whom we serve.
Prayer points: (1) That we would love and cherish the pure word of God. (2) That we love pure doctrine and pure practice. (3) That we would guard our words, using them wisely and for God’s glory.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Psalm 10
Psalm 10:1 (ESV)
Why, O Lord, do you stand afar off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
The question of verse one seems to express the experience of the oppressed and the oppressor. Verses 2-11 demonstrate how the wicked act as if God does not exist or does not care. In verse 11 the psalmist says of the wicked, “He says in his heart, "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it."” Verse 13 suggests that they expect God not to act saying “You will not call to account.” But the righteous ought to know that God is close by though He may be unseen and His favor unnoticed.
But God does not hide like some coward, afraid to step out of the shadows and defend His honor. NO, God is long-suffering, acting according to wisdom, justice, omniscience and sovereignty. God knows best when and how to act to defend His name and bring about His desired end. Any “hiding” on the part of God is not an act of cowardice or fear. His actions are that of a sovereign God who sees more clearly and knows more completely that we could ever hope. If He stands far off or hides Himself in times of trouble, it is only to make His glory known when He does appear.
Matthew Henry provides us with excellent application regarding this Psalm.
In singing this psalm and praying it over, we should have our hearts much affected with a holy indignation at the wickedness of the oppressors, a tender compassion of the miseries of the oppressed, and a pious zeal for the glory and honor of God, with a firm belief that he will, in due time, give redress to the injured and reckon with the injurious. …In singing these verses we must commit religion's just but injured cause to God, as those that are heartily concerned for its honor and interests, believing that he will, in due time, plead it with jealousy.
May God give us the grace to not curse Him in seeming absence, but to trust in His unfailing love and desire for His own glory.
Why, O Lord, do you stand afar off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
The question of verse one seems to express the experience of the oppressed and the oppressor. Verses 2-11 demonstrate how the wicked act as if God does not exist or does not care. In verse 11 the psalmist says of the wicked, “He says in his heart, "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it."” Verse 13 suggests that they expect God not to act saying “You will not call to account.” But the righteous ought to know that God is close by though He may be unseen and His favor unnoticed.
But God does not hide like some coward, afraid to step out of the shadows and defend His honor. NO, God is long-suffering, acting according to wisdom, justice, omniscience and sovereignty. God knows best when and how to act to defend His name and bring about His desired end. Any “hiding” on the part of God is not an act of cowardice or fear. His actions are that of a sovereign God who sees more clearly and knows more completely that we could ever hope. If He stands far off or hides Himself in times of trouble, it is only to make His glory known when He does appear.
Matthew Henry provides us with excellent application regarding this Psalm.
In singing this psalm and praying it over, we should have our hearts much affected with a holy indignation at the wickedness of the oppressors, a tender compassion of the miseries of the oppressed, and a pious zeal for the glory and honor of God, with a firm belief that he will, in due time, give redress to the injured and reckon with the injurious. …In singing these verses we must commit religion's just but injured cause to God, as those that are heartily concerned for its honor and interests, believing that he will, in due time, plead it with jealousy.
May God give us the grace to not curse Him in seeming absence, but to trust in His unfailing love and desire for His own glory.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Heidleberg Reformation Association
The Heidelberg Reformation Association has been created to assist Reformed Churches in the retention and reclamation of Reformed theology as stated in the Heidelberg Catechism. Check it out online at http://hra.witnesstoday.org.
Howard
Howard
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
