Watching Daily At Wisdom's Gates

  Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit." Job 37:24 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/job.37.24.ESV Elihu seems to be having a not so subtle dig at Job here. Talk about kicking a man when he's down! Elihu has been accusing Job of speaking empty words, when he has simply been trying to express his anguish of heart to his miserable 'comforters'. As it turns out, God abruptly interrupts Elihu's outburst by condemning him with the very words he accused Job of- 'who is this who darkens my counsel with words without understanding'. Elihu has been to the theology school of Job's comforters, but God judiciously disqualifies them. It seems in this book that exactly what Elihu insinuated of Job here was true of him. God doesn't seem to have much regard for Elihu. It's almost like He can't bear to be misrepresented by him, so feels compelled to interrupt his rant. If we're honest, we the readers are in a

  For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. Job 33:14 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/job.33.14.ESV Elihu seems orthodox enough here. The fact God doesn't directly address him in the end leaves the jury out on his contribution. Job's comforters were rebuked, but interceded for. There's no mention of God's verdict on Elihu directly. He does seem to speak from Job's comforters playbook, so hopefully he repented of any idle words he may have spoken. He has a good point in this verse though. He's responding to Job who's moaning that God isn't responding to him. Unbeknownst to them, God was soon to speak out of a storm. For now, Elihu considers different ways God speaks. Even now, Biblical theologians would mention numerous ways God communicates with us. God communicates in creation, in our consciences, in His word, and in Job's case, audibly. The supreme communication of God to us is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of G

The Occilolist I love the folkiness of this track, which reminded me a bit of Stuart Townend's Vagabonds, or a Seth Lakeman song. I want a copy of the lyrics because they seemed intriguing! Whiskey and Wine The style of this song is slightly reminiscent of the band of some other friends: Tillerman Tomorrow I love the fact that the song title is juxtaposed with a wistful, nostalgic tone. There's a retro feel to this track. I love the backing harmonies too which give it a warm fuzzy glow :) Where Did You Go? This is a really sweet song. Steven's rich baritone is beautifully complimented by gentle harmonies. Song For You Nice song with an upbeat feel to it. The Heart is Not A Toy The most familiar song on the album as it was released a few years ago in another form. This version is more polished, like a finely honed jewel. One of the best songs lyrically on the album. Brittle Bones Lovely duet with a female vocalist who is well matched with Steven's dulcet to

  Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. Job 32:2 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/job.32.2.ESV The jury's out on Elihu. Some dismiss him as a young upstart, others applaud him for setting the stage for God's entrance onto the scene. I kind of sit on the fence about him- in my opinion it's not either/or but both/and. Elihu does seem to be cut from the same cloth as Job's comforters. He couldn't seem to acknowledge that Job genuinely did have integrity. Just as Job's comforters seemed to get hot under the collar, Scripture repeatedly tells us that he 'burned with anger'. When God bursts in and says 'who is this who darkens my counsel with words without knowledge', Elihu has just been speaking. So before we leap to the conclusion that Job (who responds) is being addressed, or his 'comforters', I think the most direct app

  How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure? Job 25:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/job.25.4.ESV These are good questions, but they're rhetorical. The questioner has already reached his conclusion. Bildad assumes that because we're all naturally evil, we all get what we deserve. Bildad was attempting to shoehorn Job and his situation into his own worldview. So as far as he was concerned, Job was getting what he deserved. Thankfully, his questions are answerable. Nothing we can do can make us right and pure before the Holy God. Thankfully, He Himself sent His Son to reconcile us to Himself. Jesus can make us right and pure before Father God. As Jesus Himself said, 'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God'. When we allow God to purify our hearts through the blood of Jesus, we get to see Him as He is. God is pure, yes, but He's also overflowing with mercy and grace. 'Merciful God, we're thankful t

 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless? Job 22:3 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/job.22.3.ESV Eliphaz's rhetorical question was pushing for a 'no'. He was almost a deist, seeming to think that God's not really bothered about us. When we consider God's greatness and our relative insignificance, we might be tempted to concur. Even though we're like ants in comparison to Almighty God, He genuinely does take pleasure in people doing the right thing. God isn't like the Islamic allah who's pretty ambivalent about humanity. He really does want what's best for us. God Himself is righteous. So it follows that He appreciates it when people are similarly righteous. God delights in turning sinners into saints. Eliphaz is quite horrible here to Job. He's basically saying that even if he was righteous (which he was), God wouldn't care. Thankfully, he couldn't have been further fr

  Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power? Job 21:7 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/job.21.7.ESV Job knew that his comforters' central hypothesis was wrong. They were very much into a form of karma or 'reaping what you sow'. They assumed that because Job was reaping suffering that he'd somehow done something to deserve it. Job contradicted his comforters' claim here in this verse. Very often, he observed, the wicked live to a ripe old age- they don't necessarily die young. Far from being weak, they often grow mighty in power. Sadly, experience proves Job to be right. Nice as it would be for the wicked to get their comeuppance in this life, it often doesn't happen like that. In fact, often the opposite happens. Not only do the wicked often thrive like weeds, but the righteous often really struggle, like Job was at this time. The key difference is faith in God. The righteous look forward to vindication by Him; whereas unrepentant e

  Surely now God has worn me out; he has made desolate all my company. Job 16:7 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/job.16.7.ESV I know Job is seriously depressed in this verse, but I really appreciate his recognition of God's sovereignty. He knew God is all powerful, and therefore allowed him to suffer like he did. Sadly, Job only seems to have had part of the picture. He didn't realise about the adversary of our souls. In his devout theism, he forgot about the evil one. This isn't to say we need a dualistic worldview. It's just that the Sovereign God sometimes allows the devil to afflict us. Satan can only attack us with God's consent. Thankfully, we'll never be tempted beyond what we can bear. Job suffered immensely, but he never lost his faith in God. God ultimately vindicated him. 'Sovereign Father God, thank You that when we belong to You, we can always trust that we will ultimately be vindicated. In Christ our Lord's name we pray, amen'

  and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. Job 11:6 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/job.11.6.ESV Job's comforters only seem to get worse as the book rolls on! Here, Zophar insinuates that Job is a fool, that he needs some divine wisdom. The deceitful thing about Zophar's speech is that by invoking God he gives it a faux-pious veneer. Job is revealed to have much more wisdom than his accusers, who mouth off empty nothings in accusation against him. He is shown to be a man of great integrity in the face of great suffering. O that we would display similar fortitude in difficult circumstances. Zophar however is like a dog with a bone. Together with his friends, they're like a pack of wild dogs. Talk about kicking a man (Job) when he's down! Horribly, to add insult to injury, Zophar says Job deserves worse than what he's getting. He can't seem to fathom

  "How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind? Job 8:2 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/job.8.2.ESV Bildad was even more of a 'Job's comforter' than Eliphaz. His faulty theology came before compassion for his friend Job. Because Job dared to contradict his beliefs, he raged at him in a stormy bluster. The irony is that when God finally breaks in on the scene, He literally storms in. He accuses Job's comforters of speaking a load of blustery nothings, and vindicates Job. What Job is accused of is what his friends are guilty of: mouthing empty nothings. Before we condemn Bildad, we would do well to search ourselves. Do we put our views before our friends? Do our friends play second fiddle to our hobby horses? Do we need to get off our high horses? Thankfully, God restored Job to a pedestal of prosperity to match his deserving integrity. Even if He hadn't have done so, God would still be just, and would have still vindicate

  Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees. Job 4:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/job.4.4.ESV 'Job's comforter' has become synonymous with someone who does a shoddy job of comforting someone. That said, the very first couple of verses of Job's first comforter's soliloquy are positive. Eliphaz can't help but concur with God's earlier assessment of Job as a man of integrity. Sadly, there's a 'but', and it's a big 'but'! For most of the rest of the book of Job, his comforters berate him for surely getting what he deserved. We all have an inate sense of justice- a desire and a wish that bad people get their comeuppance and that good people get vindicated. Sadly, it doesn't always happen in this life (although always in eternity). Eliphaz admitted that Job was a genuine encourager, the opposite of a Job's comforter if you like. If someone was going down the wrong track in life, Job

  And the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" Job 1:8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/job.1.8.ESV Job was the man with the most integrity of his generation. As you would expect, satan took exception to this. The devil claimed that Job's goodness was only because he was healthy and wealthy. Perhaps surprisingly, God allowed satan to afflict Job, seemingly to prove that his devotion to God was more than skin deep. Thankfully, Job passed the test. He didn't however seem to realise the back story of the celestial conflict behind the scenes. Proverbs 31 is famous for describing the ideal wife. If we were to fastforward to Job 31, we would see an exposition of this verse, detailing Job as an ideal husband. His wife wasn't ideal- at one point telling him to curse God and die. The fact they had more children after the ordeal was over sug

  But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? Genesis 50:19 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.50.19.ESV I love Joseph's humility here. We as Bible readers are tempted to visualise him as the upstart young son of Jacob. We can easily forget that by chapter fifty of Genesis he was the most powerful man in the world, running the world superpower of Egypt for the figurehead Pharoah. Joseph's brothers abducted him and sold him into slavery in Egypt many years before. Understandably, they had troubled consciences. They were paranoid Joseph would seek revenge, especially once their dad was off the scene. Thankfully, Joseph was in harmony with the latter verses of Romans twelve where Paul urges Christians to leave vengeance to God. He wasn't going to take God's law into judgemental hands. Neither should we. Joseph knew that God is judge. He also forgave his brothers, who had a hard time accepting his forgiveness. 'Dear Lord, please help

  But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." Matthew 16:23 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.16.23.ESV When we open our mouths, we can either be Christlike in what we say, or satanic. Let's make sure we're the latter! Peter had just confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, the statement upon which the church is built. On the rock of Christ, the Son of God, the church is built, not duplicitous Peter! Thankfully we're not on a shaky foundation but upon a firm one that cannot be moved. The church isn't about us; it's about Jesus. Sadly, as James talks about fresh and salt water, often, out of our mouths springs both good and bad content. We ought to be consistently Christlike. We who have the Spirit of God ought to live and speak like it. Peter thought He was doing Jesus a favour by speaking against His passion. Instead, He w

  And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. Genesis 45:5 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.45.5.ESV I love Joseph's genuine, conciliatory tone here. His brothers had sold him into slavery many years before, but due to a remarkable turn of events, he'd become prime minister of Egypt. Not only so, but his prudent leadership steered the world through a famine. Joseph had no animosity towards his troubled-conscience brothers. He could see that the twists and turns of events were all engineered by God. God isn't sadistic, He works all things out for good. I'm reminded of the Lord Jesus Christ. We could and should feel guilty of responsibility for His death for our sins. Yet He would assure us that He did that for us so that we might have eternal life. God can even work out the crucifixion of Christ for good. Because Jesus has now defeated death, we can enjoy new life in Him. All things

 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Matthew 15:27 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.15.27.ESV I love the importunity of the Canaanite woman. Her daughter was suffering from demonic oppression. Nowadays she would probably be characterised in the West as severely mentally ill. Jesus on the face of it seems dismissive of the poor woman, seemingly sanctimoniously stating that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. Muslims love that verse, because they claim Jesus isn't for Gentiles, unlike, they claim, Muhammed. The thing is, Jesus sent His followers out into the world to make Him known, not with armies, but with love. Jesus went on to say that it's not right to take the children's (Jews) bread and give it to the dogs (Gentiles). Seems downright xenophobic. See however the woman's response and His ensuing retort, and you get to appreciate the context and tone of what is said. Jesus is playing th

  he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. Matthew 15:6 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.15.6.ESV Sometimes religious people overemphasise a law of God at the expense of a contrasting law. For example, we should take rest as on the Sabbath, but not at the expense of doing good. This verse in context is another example. Religious people were failing to look after their parents because they prioritised tithes and offerings. If we're not going to look after our families however, God doesn't want our hypocritical offerings. It's not either/or God and family; it should be both/and. Of course it's good to contribute to God's work. Not however at the expense of our own families. If we don't look after our own families, why would we assume we should give to God's family? One of God's most important commandments is to honour our parents. One of the ways we can do this is financial. By honour

 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:46 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.13.46.ESV There are two possible readings of this parable. The pearl of great value could be the Kingdom of God. Jesus could be the merchant who gives everything for it. Alternatively, the pearl of great value could be Christ Himself, who is worth us giving up everything for. I tend to favour the latter explanation. As with much old testament prophecy, the answer could be both/and rather than either/or. Jesus really did give everything, even His very life for us. That shows how much He values us. We may be sinners, but we can be transformed into saints. Jesus really is worth giving everything up for. At the very least we should be willing to give up everything for Him, even if we don't ultimately have to. He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. 'Glorious God, we acknowledge the priceless value of being part

  For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, Proverbs 2:21 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.2.21.ESV Solomon seems very binary in this and the subsequent verse, where he says that the wicked will be cut off from the land. Even his own life was one of compromise, not pure integrity or even outright evil. The new testament seems to explain the contrast more clearly. We're all naturally bad. None of us deserve to inherit eternal life. We're all naturally destined for hell. Thankfully, through faith in Christ, we can be set upright. With the help of His Holy Spirit, we can develop integrity. Sinners like us can be transformed into saints. How to we get to that point? By humbling ourselves before the Holy One. 'The meek will inherit the earth'. 'Holy Lord God, please sanctify us by Your word of truth, so that we might dwell with You forevermore, for Your honour and praise, amen'

  As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. Matthew 13:22 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.13.22.ESV In my last writing, I suggested that the 'church in hard places' trend is unhelpful. This verse suggests it's inaccurate too. Hard places are places of persecution, not just of economic deprivation. This verse suggests almost the opposite to the 'church in hard places' philosophy. A field full of weeds is a hard place for a farmer, and that's how Jesus describes the deceitfulness of riches. Riches themselves may not be necessarily wrong, but they tend to deceive us that they rather than God will provide our daily bread. A poor neighbourhood could have a thriving church. A rich neighbourhood could be spiritually barren, or weedy at the very least. In another parable, Jesus suggests this world as a whole is pretty weedy. In the e

  Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, Matthew 13:5 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.13.5.ESV There's a trend in Christianity round my parts called 'church in hard places', meaning economically deprived places. Doesn't seem particularly Biblical to me. Jesus blessed the poor and pronounced woe upon the rich. The parable of the sower suggests that there are indeed 'hard places' for churches. Yet Jesus doesn't define 'hard places' in worldly economic terms. According to Him, hard places are the hearts of those (of whatever economic status) who initially receive the Word with enthusiasm but fall away when troubles come. The implication that wealthy people and areas make for 'churches in easier places' seems false. After all, who did Jesus Himself have the most joy amongst? Not many of His followers were rich, powerful or wise. In fact, the ric

  Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. Genesis 32:1 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.32.1.ESV Often, when we hear of angels, we hear of fantastical 'visions' that people seem to have dreamed up. The Bible is more matter of fact about these 'ministering spirits' who usually graft away in the background on our behalf for their Lord and ours. God ministers to us by angels often at our most acutely difficult times. Jacob was between a rock and a hard place. He fled his greedy uncle Laban, who fleeced him of his wages throughout years of hard graft. Now he was heading to meet his fraticidal brother Esau. Other times angels appear to other Biblical figures are at times of great affliction and stress. Angels met with Abraham just before rescuing Lot from the doomed city of Sodom. Even for Jesus, after temptation from the devil, and before He went to the cross, He was ministered to by angels. According to the Bible, angels sometimes go on undercover ass

  At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; Matthew 11:25 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.11.25.ESV Jesus's description of His Father seems humble to me. After all, isn't He Himself also Lord of heaven and earth? I'm reminded of His words that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him (therefore we're to call others to follow Him too). The wise and understanding tend to be spiritually clueless. Not many of God's people are especially clever. Why not? Because intellectual knowledge puffs up, whereas relational knowledge and love of God builds up. Fathers don't expect their children to necessarily surpass them intellectually. They do however expect some love in return for their sacrificial service of their children. Our Heavenly Father is no different in that respect. As Jesus said elsewhere, we have

  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.10.37.ESV There's nothing wrong with love, but we need to get our priorities right. If we love anything more than God, it's an idol. God is jealous in the best possible sense of the word- He deserves and demands to be number one in our lives. The temptation is to say that we won't serve God until our elderly parents have passed away, after all, we are to honour our parents. Otherwise, maybe we idolise our own children. Perhaps we say we're not going to serve God until our children have grown up. Of course, there's nothing wrong with parents and children. In fact, we should love them and fulfil our duties and responsibilities towards them. Still, God should be our number one priority. Jesus uses strong language here. He says that if we prioritise family over Him, we are not worthy

 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.10.31.ESV Sparrows were two a penny in Jesus's day. Even nowadays here in the UK, they're pretty common. Yet their heavenly Father looks after them. A sparrow doesn't die without God's says so. God's sovereignty doesn't just cover humanity. As one man famously said, there isn't a square inch of earth of which God doesn't say 'mine'. There's no need to be afraid if we know God is powerful and that God is good. In a way that is scary because we are weak and bad, but thankfully God is for us. So we don't need to fear. If God looks after sparrows, how much more will He look after us? We are made in His image and likeness as the pinnacle of creation. Of course He cares for us! 'Almighty Father God, please help us to trust in Your Sovereign care of us, and not to be afraid. In Jesus' name, amen'

  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.5.44.ESV Naturally, we love our lovers and hate our haters. Jesus calls us to a higher law however. He calls us to love our enemies. I love the proverb that says that when someone's ways are pleasing to God, they make even their enemies to live at peace with them. We do that by loving them despite their hatred. That's how God is with us. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. That's how God demonstrates His love for us. We ought to demonstrate our love even for enemies, even if they require our lives of us. It's one thing for someone to passively hate us. It's another thing if they actively persecute us. Even so, Jesus calls us to pray for those who persecute us. 'Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love. May we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. In Jesus' name, amen'

 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:39 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.5.39.ESV Jesus seems to contradict the old testament here. The old law is 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth'. Jesus directly contradicts that here. If someone takes your eye out, Jesus implies, don't seek to take their eye out. Jesus's way is of peaceful non resistance. What He is saying is to resist the temptation to return evil for evil. Jesus isn't calling for passivity here. He goes even further and famously says we should 'turn the other cheek'. When dealing with apparent contradictions in Scripture, context is key. Moses was delivering God's law. His judicious ruling was painfully fair- 'an eye for an eye' and by implication a life for a life: the death penalty. Jesus's context was very different- speaking to ordinary Jews under Roman occupation. If a civil

  "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.5.14.ESV Even Jesus's statement that He is the Light of the world is a bold one. The humble carpenter from Nazareth was claiming to be the Source of all life. This verse though is even more surprising. We are feeble creatures of the Creator and Source of the Light. Any light we have is like the moon reflecting the sun/Son of God. When we trust in Jesus, we reflect His light in this dark world in which we live. Nowadays, with electric light pollution, Jesus's statement is even more true than ever it was. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Its light will shine out across the surrounding countryside. Imagine being a weary traveller far away from home. The welcoming lights of a city on a hill would be a delightful vista. That's what the church of the Lord Jesus Christ should be like to the people of this world. 'Glorious God, may we refle

  And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Matthew 4:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.4.9.ESV In this temptation, the devil revealed his true colours. He offers the world, but he demands our very souls. There's no profit in gaining the world for a season if we lose our souls for eternity. In the previous temptation, the devil attempted to twist Scripture round on Christ to use it against Him. He failed miserably however, so tried one last throw of the dice. Because he failed with Christ, all of us who are in Jesus can have the victory over temptation as well. Of course, satan would have no authority if God didn't allow him. Yet scarily there's an element of truth to this temptation. The kingdoms of this world really are in thrall to satan, until they get swallowed up into the Kingdom of God. Ultimately however, satan is on a short leash for a short time before he's destroyed forever in hell. We need to pl

  And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; Matthew 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.3.16.ESV  I recently heard a talk about beholding Christ. It's an archaic word, but it carries more meaning than simply 'look!' It implies that we have serious regard for whatever we're observing.  We're all on a spectrum when it comes to regarding Christ, from outright dismissal to complete devotion. To be honest, most of us are in the middle. We admire Christ, but we're easily distracted by life.  Jesus didn't need to be baptised in the sense that He didn't need to repent and metaphorically wash any sins away. Yet His baptism was a picture of what He did for us- dying and rising again- like going under the water and out again. Plus, God the Father and Spirit validated Him at His baptism.  The Spirit of God descended

  And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt Matthew 2:14 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.2.14.ESV Recently, the UK has said it will deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. This makes it a less hospitable place than 1st century pagan Egypt, where the infant Jesus and His family fled from murderous king Herod. Even if Egypt was also in the Roman Empire, it was a different jurisdiction, like two countries within the European Union. The archbishop of Canterbury spoke against the UK's Rwandan plans, and was rebuked by a politician, who blasphemously claimed the plans were 'almost the Easter story of redemption'. How exactly the politician could dare attempt to rationalise that I don't know. Biblically, we should be hospitable and welcoming to refugees. The fact that the Lord of glory became a refugee Himself shows how God identifies with the poor and oppressed, the down and outs. We as God's people should care for those less well off t

  But the angel said to me, "Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. Revelation 17:7 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rev.17.7.ESV The Apostle John saw Babylon, the mother of all prostitutes, drunk with the blood of the saints, and he marvelled. Before we rush to the angel's response and sit in judgement over John, we ought to search our own souls. Do we who pay lip service to God yet indulge in sexual immorality? The world may look dazzling, but as the angel would warn us, we would do well to remember that however sexy it may look, it's beastly, and is passing away. Soon God will destroy this fallen world and forge a new creation. We need to become refugees from this passing age to the eternal Kingdom of God. I know it's hard to be too prescriptive with Revelation with it being so allegorical. Yet I take the whore Babylon to be a bastardised Jerusalem as it were, a counterfeit Ch

  Then Hezekiah said, "You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord." And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. 2 Chronicles 29:31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/2ch.29.31.ESV Hezekiah presided over something of a revival for the wayward people of God. Even we as the new covenant people of God can learn from this verse. Firstly, we need to consecrate ourselves to God: we need to commit our lives to Him. Secondly, we need to come near to God. As James also commands us, 'draw near to God', and he promises us that if we do, 'He will draw near to us'. We can only approach the Holy One through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thirdly, we need to be full of thanksgiving to God for Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. As God gave everything for us, so we should be willing to give everything for Him. God

  "My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the Lord of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his majestic steed in battle. Zechariah 10:3 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/zec.10.3.ESV Like Father God, like Son of God. In the context, God observes that His people are like sheep without a shepherd. That was Jesus's observation of the people He ministered to in Herod's day, and fed the 5000 men, plus women and children. Herod as king ought to have shepherded the people of Israel. Instead, he fleeced the flock and even had John the Baptist beheaded. We're told that Jesus tried to get away to mourn John's death. No doubt He was furious at such a miscarriage of justice, with a righteous anger. Jesus couldn't get away, because crowds flocked after Him. Sheep follow shepherds; they flee butchers. Jesus had a magnetism about Him because of His otherworldly compassion and grace. God cares for His peop

On that day the Lord their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. Zechariah 9:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/zec.9.16.ESV On what day does the flock of God get saved? Is it the day the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep? Is it the day the sheep first hear His voice individually? Or is it when the sheep are separated from the goats in the end? In the context, there seems to be an escatological (end times) slant to this verse, although salvation is a multifaceted thing. I love the pastoral illustration, but I also love the jewellery illustration. We could ask similar questions to before using that treasure imagery. Does God save us when He starts mining us as it were, when we're first created, or even when He chooses us in Christ before the foundation of the earth? Or is it when he 'digs us up' as 'rough diamonds', when we first come to faith in Him? Or is it when He's finish

  Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!" Revelation 12:12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rev.12.12.ESV When baddies get their comeuppance, goodies rejoice. Heaven is free from satan and his demons. Unfortunately, that's not quite the end of the story, because they're currently raging around the earth. Thankfully, the devil has no authority in heaven. He's no right to go there. He might have turned up to accuse Job, but now that Christ has defeated him by his death, resurrection and ascension, he can't even do that. Now he just rages around the earth trying to make life a misery for us. Sadly, the devil is an effective adversary in many ways. He does persistently trouble us. Yet  nothing can separate us from God's love- not even the devil. Even though the devil tempts us to idleness, laziness isn't something he

  And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rev.6.8.ESV I can't read the first half of this verse without hearing the voice of Johnny Cash in the song The Man Comes Around. I don't think the Apostle John is envisaging only the time of Christ's return in this verse. Instead, I think John is covering the entire era between Christ's first and second advents. Hasn't that been our human experience these past two thousand years? We've had wars, famines, pandemics and even (not so much in the UK of late!) death by wild beasts! If we include fleas and mosquitos in the wild beast category we could include the 'Black Death'/bubonic plague and malaria. Never mind the past two thousand years- if God hasn't used

  Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Psalm 119:133 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.119.133.ESV It's not the speed at which we go that really matters. What is most important is that we're heading in the right direction. Better is steady progress to heaven than fast progress to hell! God promises those who trust Him will assuredly make it to the new creation. We just need to plod on. We can be confident of reaching our final destination. As the writer to the Hebrews says, we need to cast off hinderences and entanglements of sin, and run with perseverance the race marked out for us. That is part of the answer to David's prayer. If we actively reject sin, it won't have dominion over us. Sadly, sin is insidious. It promises sweetness and delivers bitterness. The danger is we keep coming back for saccarine, counterfeit sweetness, forgetting the bitterly poisonous aftertaste. 'Father God, we echo David's

  Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. Proverbs 25:13-14 ESV These two proverbs contrast two men. The first is like the cold of snow in the time of harvest, he refreshes the soul of his masters. This is someone we want to emulate. We become like that man by being a faithful messenger. No one likes a bearer of bad news. But it's better to share the truth than to flatter with lies. The second man is not to emulate. He's like clouds and wind without rain. In the UK, where it often rains, that doesn't sound so bad. But in a dry and arid land, clouds and wind without rain promise much but deliver nothing. There's no point boasting of how generous we are if we're not. We deceive ourselves and our hearers, and give false hope if we do. That's not how we should be. "Dear Yahweh our Go

  A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear. Proverbs 25:11-12 ESV The blessings of "a word in season" doesn't mean to say that we should speak the Word of God when it feels like we're in a winter of spiritual deadness. Having said that, when the Word is well recieved, it's like beautiful ornaments. To know that we've said the right thing at the right time is a real blessing. We might not associate a telling off with a gold ring or ornament. But if it's said and taken in the right spirit, it has its desired effect and things are changed for the better. Don't be afraid of rebuke when you need it. None of us are perfect. So we need the honesty to face up to our faults, and sometimes that needs someone to reprove us. The word reprove sounds like you knew something good, but you forgot it and need it "re-proving" in your life. We all need

  What your eyes have seen do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour puts you to shame? Argue your case with your neighbour himself, and do not reveal another's secret, lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end. Proverbs 25:7b-10 ESV If you see something bad in your neighbour, speak to him in person first. Don't just rush to prosecute him. It's similar with brothers (certainly in Christ), we shouldn't be taking them to court at all. This proverb is a call to meekness. We might often equate that virtue with weakness. But more accurately, it is not insisting upon our rights, which takes real strength. Just because we might have a case against someone, doesn't mean to say we should press charges. With neighbours, we want to live in peace with them and not cause strife. Similarly with brethren (especially in Christ), we want to maintain unity. Solomon warns us against outing neighbours i

 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Haggai 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/hag.1.9.ESV Here's a convicting verse for me, being typical of my regional stereotype of stinginess. Yet we cannot afford to be stingy towards God. We can't just keep bemoaning the cost of living if we're not contributing to the upkeep of God's house, the church. Of course, we have a responsibility to upkeep our own households. No one else will do it for us. Yet the same applies to God's house- we the people of God have to contribute to its upkeep! The God of the angel armies is the same today as in Haggai's olden days. I'm sure this principle still applies even in new covenant days: if we're stingy towards God we'll struggle to make ends meet. On the other hand, if we're generous tow

  "For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord. Zephaniah 3:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/zep.3.9.ESV That time is the end of the world! As fans of dystopian films and literature will be aware, the end of the world tends to be seen as a bad thing. Even Biblically, it is often seen to be a time of judgement. Here though, Zephaniah has a more positive picture to paint. He envisages not just Jews, but all kinds of peoples being transformed by God to speak purely. Blessed are the pure in heart yes, but blessed too are the pure in speech, the overflow of a pure heart. All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. It doesn't matter whether we're Jew or Gentile, slave or free, men or women or whatever else. God doesn't show favouritism. Different peoples often don't get on well. There's often a culture clash. In God's Kingdom however, div

  Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. Proverbs 25:4-5 ESV Silver isn't dug out of the ground as a beautiful vessel, but as a metal tarnished with the impurities of dross. It needs to be refined by fire. Only then, once the scum has been skimmed away, can the silversmith make a precious artefact. Silver illustrates the reign of a ruler. The dross represents the wicked, and the silversmith represents the authority. Nowadays, we might have a separation of powers between executive and judiciary, but in Solomon's day, the king would deal with criminals as a judge. One of the main purposes of secular authority is to punish criminals and to reward the great and the good. If a dominion starts calling evil good and good evil, it's on shaky ground. Authority isn't just about might, but about using that power to do what is right.

  These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. Proverbs 25:1‭-‬2 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.25.1-2.ESV I love the fact that verse one illustrates verse two. Hezekiah was one of the most glorious kings of Judah, and one of the most gloriously enduring things he did was to search out some old proverbs of Solomon. He reminds me of people who go round collecting folk songs, except he did it with wise sayings. It might seems strange that God would conceal things. On reflection though, the fact He does demonstrates His wisdom. We couldn't cope with His pure, unadulterated glory. Jesus often spoke in parables. Parables are not dissimilar to riddles. Their truth isn't immediately apparent, but require digging out. Spiritually, God's people are a kingdom of priests. We are adopted children of the King of heaven. No wonder we seek to mine the u

As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. Proverbs 25:3 ESV It's not just God whose ways are inscrutable. King Solomon states that the heart of kings are unsearchable. I think of the Queen, hosting the President of the United States at the moment. She is the supreme diplomat, no one knows what she really thinks. Maybe that's why the US President isn't a king, because if you want to know what he thinks, you simply read his twitter feed. It's interesting because we have the song "as high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are Your [God's] ways to mine". It's true of royalty too. Who knows what the Queen, a professing Christian, makes of the moral decline during her long and peaceful reign? The heavens are high. The highest heaven is unattainable but for the grace of the King of kings. Why He choses to welcome us into His holy presence is for Him to know and for us to marvel at. If God is su

  I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. Proverbs 24:30-34 ESV Ancient Israel was an agrarian society. All but the poorest had their own plot of land- their field or vineyard. Nowadays the equivalent for our largely urban existences would be a garden. I find this proverb rather convicting, because I'm not the best gardener. I cut the grass, eventually. And I occasionally cut back the overgrown foliage of the borders. But that's about it, apart from a rare attempt to plant flowers. I wouldn't say I'm especially lazy. I would however admit to loving my beauty sleep probably more than I should. But this i

  Be not a witness against your neighbour without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done." Proverbs 24:28-29 ESV If your neighbour's moaned about your unkempt front garden, that doesn't mean to say you can refuse to take parcels for him when he's out and the postman comes round. "Two wrongs don't make a right"! Just because your neighbour might have bad mouthed you doesn't mean to say you can gossip about him. I think Solomon's on about something more serious than where our friends park when they visit our house. Maybe your neighbour blocked your planning application for an extention, and you want to block his. Don't, Solomon would urge. Revenge isn't a just cause to have a vendetta against our neighbours. Revenge is God's job, because only He can execute perfect justice. Of course, if a neighbour's guilty of a crime agains

  Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house. Proverbs 24:27 ESV The Bible famously says that if we won’t work, we won’t eat. This verse suggests that if we won’t work, we won’t have a roof over our heads. It gives us a Biblical order for our loves- sort work out before you try and build a home. So career should come before a place of our own. If we don’t have a job, how are we going to maintain our homes? Nowadays, we have a phenomena called the “boomerang generation”- young people returning to their parents after university because they can’t afford their own accommodation. Biblically, men would tend to build a career, set up a home, and get married. Thankfully the Bible isn’t too prescriptive, but there’s a helpful principle here. Set up shop, as it were, before you set up house. A courting couple need to sit down beyond the courting, lovey dovey language (which is good), and work out whether they can f inanci

  Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips. Proverbs 24:26 ESV If we took this literally, we'd know if someone was telling the truth because they'd kiss our lips! I think the NIV has a better, more dynamic equivalence of a translation than the ESV: "An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips". I think if we always try to be very literal we sometimes lose things in translation! Whatever the subtleties of translation, Solomon's point is clear, honesty is pleasurable. Arguably only a married couple should know about kisses on lips! But hopefully all of us can appreciate that honesty is the best policy. Hopefully, for those of us who are married, a kiss on the lips isn't just a pleasant surprise but a regular occurrence! Sadly, honest answers, especially to difficult questions, seem rather hard to come by. If we want to bless people, we need to be truthful, not economical with the truth. I know when I've given honest, but difficult answers to search

 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, Revelation 1:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rev.1.4.ESV John's initial greeting may have been to seven churches in what is now modern day Turkey, but as readers of his letter we can vicariously claim the blessing for ourselves. After all, he starts off by declaring his readership as blessed for reading his revelation. Grace and peace aren't limited to those seven churches, but are lavished upon all of God's people. God is gracious to all, especially to those who trust in Christ, the greatest gift of all. In Him we enjoy God's undeserved kindness and forgiveness. Peace with God doesn't guarantee world peace, although we're blessed if we're peacemakers. God is. This fact is a great assurance to His people. God isn't dead, He's living and active in the world today. God was. The God o

  the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, his cupbearers, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her. 2 Chronicles 9:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/2ch.9.4.ESV Solomon was magnificent, so much so that when the queen of Sheba came to witness his majesty first hand, she was left breathless. He was one of the richest and most extravagant men to have ever lived. Yet Solomon's glory pales into insignificance compared to another Son of David. He who was rich beyond all splendour, all for love's sake became so poor so that we, through His poverty, might become rich. There have been numerous gloriously rich men throughout the ages. How many of those however have chosen to humble themselves for the sake of others? Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The cattle on a thousand hills are His. Every last soul of mankind is answer

  yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:18 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/hab.3.18.ESV It's one thing to rejoice in God on a full stomach. It's yet another thing to rejoice in God in the midst of famine. Habakkuk's faith wasn't circumstantial. He trusted in the Sovereign Lord even when everything seemed bleak. His country was plagued by injustice. An even more unjust country was going to ravage them. Now, it seems that famine had descended. When the world offers nothing to rejoice in, God does, because He is literally out of this world. He promises those who trust in Him that we can transcend this 'vale of tears' and make it to a glorious new creation. There, He will wipe away every tear. How do we get to the heavenly city? Through faith in God. Why can we trust in God? Because He is the God of salvation, as gloriously revealed in Christ's death and resurrection on our behalf. 'Sovereign Lord, we tr

  Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 2 Chronicles 7:15 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/2ch.7.15.ESV The first time God appeared to Solomon and offered him a blank cheque is relatively famous. This second time not so much, although the verse beginning 'if my people called by my name' is admittedly well known. Solomon had dedicated his magnificent temple to God, and God blessed his efforts. Solomon often gets a bad press for straying off into idolatry in his later years. At the point of this verse however, things were looking good. God promised to tune in to prayers made in His temple. What does this all have to do with us? Solomon's temple is long gone. Even Herod's temple is destroyed. How can we get God to hear our prayers? Amazingly, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can get a direct line through to God. We can have the Holy Spirit of God take up residence in our hearts. He turns us ourselves into tem

  O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will not save? Habakkuk 1:2 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/hab.1.2.ESV Most people moan 'behind God's back' about injustices in the world. Habakkuk however did the right thing: he took his complaint directly to God. Not only so, but He acknowledged God's sovereignty, as the 'Lord', the eternal boss. If we have any sense of justice, like Habakkuk, we will long for an answer to his prayer. Thankfully, all we need to do is to read on and to apply the universal principles of God's word. Habakkuk was complaining about corruption in his country. God's response was unexpected. To deal with such corruption, the world's superpower was going to invade. The world superpower was even worse than Habakkuk's country- where was the justice in that? God's response was to declare that the righteous will live by faith. We trust that in eternity, jus

  We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.4.19.ESV I live this concurrently simple yet profound statement. Why do we love? Is it because it selfishly gives us some kind of evolutionary advantage? Not according to the Apostle John! We love because God first loved us. We're not original or unique in the fact that we love. We love because we're created in the likeness of God, and God is love. God created us because He didn't want to keep His love to Himself: He wants to share it with us. We naturally spurn God's love and are at enmity with Him. Thankfully, Father God sent His Son to reconcile us to Him. Jesus loves us so much that He gave His life for us. We should love Him and others so much that we're prepared to die to demonstrate our love for them. We're only capable of love because God instills His love within us. 'Loving Lord of glory, please help us to receive and to reciprocate Your love for us, to You an

  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.3.18.ESV The Kingdom of God isn't just a matter of talk but of action. What kind of action though: miracles, signs and wonders? That's not what John is on about here. John is referring to the kind of love God has for us. Christ loved us so much that He gave His life for us. Therefore, we should be prepared to lay down our lives for one another. John reminds me of James here. If we see a needy child of God, and have the means to help them, it's not enough to wish them well. Words are cheap. Charitable deeds are costly and valuable. If we claim to have faith in God, yet fail to serve His people, that faith is dead. Living faith is demonstrated not simply by words but by loving deeds. God, help us to serve You and one another well. 'Loving heavenly Father, please help us to love not simply in words but also in deed, to bless one another. In Jes

  Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 1 John 2:18 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.2.18.ESV Some professing Christians have an unhealthy obsession with who the final antichrist will be. John steers us away from such speculation however. He warns us that there are already many antichrists. What is John's definition of an antichrist? It is someone who denies Father God and the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. By that definition, Muslims are antichrists, because the worst sin in Islam is to say that God has a Son: the cornerstone of our faith as Christians Does this teaching about antichrists mean we should hate Muslims? Not at all! We should love them, pray for them, and declare the truth of God to them, in the hope that they come to repentance and faith in Christ. As Muslims demographically increase and the need for new spiritual birth amongst spiritua

  These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good. Whoever says to the wicked, "You are in the right," will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. Proverbs 24:23-25 ESV The Thirty Wise Sayings are concluded, but there's plenty more wisdom where they came from. Solomon goes on to refer to justice. In the justice system it should be a level playing field, everyone should be equal before the law. The rich shouldn't be able to buy acquittal. And the innocent poor shouldn't be condemned. If a judge tells a wicked man he's in the right, that judge is going to be despised the world over. A judge who rebukes the wicked will be celebrated, and will delight in the praise they get. Instead of being cursed for doing a shoddy job, they'll be blessed for doing the right thing. The whole point of the judiciary is to serve justice- if it doesn't th