Category Archives: Morning Thoughts

Morning Thoughts (Job 9:34-35)

Morning Thoughts,

Job 9:34-35, “Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.”

This morning, God receives less respect from the world at large than perhaps any other time in recent history. While the wicked, ungodly, unregenerate populace are just as disrespectful as at any other time, today’s world also drives up the disrespect factor through the behaviour of many professing Christians. They view God as their “pal,” “friend,” “daddy,” etc. while Jesus is our “buddy,” “boy,” “JC and crew,” etc. These monikers mark clear disrespect to the God who deserves more honour in our address with him than that. At my workplace, my superior laments a marked decline in professional respect from when he first became a business professional. The former days could be characterized by professional addresses of “Mr. So-and-so” and “Ms. So-and-so” with the last name being the preferred designation. Nowadays, people speak without the “Mr.” or Ms.” and use the first rather than the last name.

Considering aspects of God from the pages of Scripture, we should be able to glean many necessary points that lead us to the highest plane of respect and awe for and to God. Upon reaching that plane of respect, we will find no place for the popular addresses of and to God today. Our study verses above follow Job’s declaration of inferior position to God. At this point in Job’s conversation with his three miserable comforters, he cannot see something that he later recalls in Job 19:25-27. In chapter 19, Job recalls to mind and realigns his sight upon the coming Redeemer who not only would come into this world, but would also ultimately raise up Job’s body to be with Him in heaven. In chapter 9, Job cannot see this like he does 10 chapters later.

To start the chapter, Job declares some knowledge and lack of knowledge. Verse 2 shows what he does and does not know. Knows: man is just with God. Knows not: how that is possible. It is indeed a Biblical truth that an innumerable company of men from Adam’s race are just with God, but Scripture is also just as abundantly clear how that is possible. Matthew 1:21 gives as succinct an answer as there is: His people were saved from their sins by the efforts of the Saviour Jesus Christ. How are we just with God? His work plus nothing. However, Job continues speaking through chapter 9 by contrasting his inferior position with God’s superior position. In doing so, Job correctly articulates and expounds upon man’s inability to please God and honour Him acceptably by his own efforts. The reason is that man is too puny and small in and of himself to be able to meet with and sit with God – he is far too filthy to do so as well.

The verse before ours (Verse 33) employs a word that is quite necessary for us to understand Job’s mindset in our verses. The word daysman from that verse speaks of one that is able to sit as a mediator between two parties. Now, from chapter 9’s language, the two parties are God and man. If sitting as a mediatorial judge between those parties is necessary, then there must be a problem between them and a wedge that prevents reconciliation. Job’s problem is that he cannot see any daysman to sit with (or between) him and God. Without this one, Job cannot come unto God nor reason with Him in judgment or other matters. (Verse 32) While Job’s sight did find the daysman later, understand that without knowledge of our Daysman or His character, we would have every reason to look at God the way that Job does in our study verses.

The last phrase of verse 35 “it is not so with me” shows that without an understanding of the Daysman, we would have His rod forever upon us, His fear forever terrifying us, and never able to speak without fear unto and with Him. There are countless reasons why this is so, but let us investigate a few of them this morning for a two-fold purpose. As we research what characteristics of God (as compared to us) should strike fear into the heart of man, let us also discover how those characteristics of God – while true – should not give us fear today but also keep us cognizant of the respect that He deserves.

God is perfect. Everything He does is just, without iniquity (Deuteronomy 32:4), and no blight or blemish could possibly be attributed to Him. Due to this impeccable nature, He is purer than to even behold sin itself. (Habakkuk 1:13) This means that anything with the impurity that sin brings does not have the right to speak with Him or approach unto Him – which includes us. His presence demands spotless perfection. Imperfect, spotted things have not the right to stand in His presence. Seeing then that we fail on this count, man has every right to be nothing less than terrified in His presence and afraid of His speech.

God is infinite. Since His mind and understanding have no bounds (Psalm 147:5), He comprehends everything both seen and unseen. Just looking at the finite realm of this created universe for a moment, what percentage of it do we mortals understand? Excepting everything in the universe save the earth for a moment, just how much of the earth do we understand? These are just things seen of a natural order. The Bible speaks of things unseen and of a spiritual order. How much of that do we understand? Now, take that minimal amount of knowledge and understanding and compare it with the boundless and ceaseless concept of eternity and God’s eternal existence. Without beginning and without end, compared to a mere fraction of understanding in the finite world and universe. Do we have any reason to expect audience with Him? On those grounds, no. Do we have every reason to cower in fear before Him. On those grounds, yes.

God is unequaled. With no one like Him (Isaiah 46:10-13), who can talk with Him or be counted worthy of audience with Him? Everything both seen and unseen – save God – has a beginning. On that point alone, He is unequaled. He knows not only what has happened, but what will happen, and what could have happened. (Hebrews 4:12-13) He is without peer on this as well. None can match His power, glory, majesty, or countless other qualities and traits. Therefore, with no equal, terror by His inferiors is the logical end.

These three concepts should suffice us to understand that God is worthy of our terror when considering His person compared to ours. As inferior, finite, and imperfect beings, what reason would there be – using this comparison – for us to have anything less than abject dread when considering Him? Yet, the Bible also abundantly teaches us that we should not live in fear, but that our fear or respect of God should abound with thanksgiving, praise, and joy. (Philippians 4:4, Hebrews 13:11) So, the question ultimately becomes, how can we do that when simple observation of God and man’s characters demands otherwise?

For us to be able to approach unto God, we have to be perfect. Of ourselves we are not. However, our Daysman did come and show forth perfection in character, coupled with perfection in action. Jesus Christ – no less God than the Father or Holy Ghost – is no less perfect than God, for He is God. (John 1:1-3) Furthermore, after His work on this earth was fulfilled, He ascended to intercede (as our Daysman) at the right hand of the Father for us. (Hebrews 9:24) Therefore, as God the Father looks at us today, He looks through the perfection that is His Son and sees the ultimate complete perfection that will embody us in the resurrection. Are we perfect? Of ourselves no! Through Him and in Him, yes! Should we live in fear as imperfect people? No; we should rather live in joy at being made perfect and complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10), and seek to emulate that in our lives. (Matthew 5:48, I Peter 1:16)

To be able to talk and fellowship with God, requires His equal and fellow. Considering that He is without equal, how is a fellow (equal) with God found? Since Jesus Christ (as shown above) is no less God, He is God’s fellow. (Zechariah 13:7) However, since that same One is a man, He is our fellow as well. Consider the awesome mystery of such a thing! (I Timothy 3:16) The One who is God’s fellow as God is man’s fellow as man. We have the right to sit and speak with Him, and He has the right to sit and speak with God. Truly, God is still without equal, but He has made Himself in the Person of His Son our equal as well by taking part of the same flesh and blood – sin excepted – that we have. (Hebrews 2:14, 16) Should we fear talking with another man? We should not, nor do we on a regular, daily basis. Therefore, we should have no fear talking with God, for He is also a man – yea even still today – for us to be able to approach Him and converse with Him.

Finally, and the hardest to comprehend is that we have the right to talk with God being made without spot and perfect. To think of us in that regard is hard to imagine and comprehend. Yet, what does the Bible say about it? Indeed, this old man is still corrupt and the body of death still plagues us. However, something inside of God’s regenerate children is perfectly suited for heaven, as the change of soul and spirit is forever and effectual. Upon the death of the body, soul and spirit immediately fly back to God ready at this time for that moment to be with Him forever. Is that just? Absolutely, for the change worked in our inward parts is perfect and perfect forever. (I John 3:9) Even though the body is still corrupt, yet one day it will stand before God in perfection as well. Legally, we are wholly perfect already in the Person of Christ. Vitally, we are already wholly perfect in the new man. One sweet day, we will be wholly perfect in body, soul, and spirit in heaven and immortal glory. (I Thessalonians 5:23)

Looking at God’s character and nature, we have been made fit recipients of those same things by His power. (II Peter 1:4) Being made a partaker of His nature shows that we have the right to approach unto Him, talk with Him, and walk with Him without fear. We have been made just with God, and the reason is by and through the Daysman Jesus Christ. Now, as we come to the close of this writing, let us go back to where we began: respect. Seeing where we were and where we are now, what has not changed and what has? What has changed through that whole ordeal is us, and we even yet await the final installment of the change. Something else that changed is that God took upon Himself something that He was not before: human manhood. What has not changed is the righteous character of God and His divine qualities.

Therefore, if we have changed and still yet change and He was willing to become something that He was not before for our required change yet without ever harming or rendering His character guilty, how should we view His unchangeableness? How should we view His righteous character even with the knowledge of undergoing human suffering for us? How should we view our standing with Him with the knowledge of what it took to get us there? All of these questions are answered with Him deserving the highest of respect from us. He is not worthy of our chipper and trite monikers. He is not worthy of our casual thoughts towards Him. Christ is God’s fellow and equal, and Christ respected His Father in all things. Truly, as a man, He is still yet above us. So, we are without excuse to render unto our God the highest of respect, even though it can and should be done without fear and full of thanksgiving unto Him for all of His benefits toward us.

In Hope,

Bro Philip

Morning Thoughts (II Timothy 2:15)

Morning Thoughts,

II Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

This morning, feelings of entitlement abound. Modern day society deems hard work and sustained, long-term effort to be needless. Rather, society thinks that things are “deserved” and not “worked at.” While Scripture undoubtedly refutes the “worked at” notion of getting to heaven – it is a free gift of grace and mercy by Almighty God – Scripture also just as plainly refutes the entitlement concept that is void of labour. For an example of free grace, Paul employs Ephesians 2:8 and II Corinthians 8:9 for that purpose. For an example of working at things in this life, Paul asserts the necessity of work for food itself in II Thessalonians 3:10. Part of the reason for the prevailing mindset of less work and more benefit is that life is full of more creature comforts and “extras” than ever before. Considering what we have versus what we need, the possessions of life today for most far outweigh the actual needs that we have.

Something that must be worked at, consistently and fervently, is the study of God’s word. No one can just claim to be entitled to knowing what it means and deserving of its teachings. Rather, effort of the faculties must be employed coupled with the fervent prayer and desire of Almighty God that He season the study and sweeten it by His Spirit. Paul asserts to the young minister Timothy the absolute necessity of it. Paul’s language in this verse is not some optional suggestion, but rather, Paul speaks matter of factly about the authoritative command to study, the manner of study, and the effect of study. Command: study to shew thyself approved unto God. Manner: rightly dividing the word of truth. Effect: a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.

Recently, my thoughts were pulled back to this basic concept of Scriptural study when I was asked point blank how I studied and what a typical day was for me while submersed in the word of God. While no two people are going to study the word of God exactly the same (our minds work in different manners), I do believe there are some general principles to follow that serve us well in this regard. Sadly, I have not employed them nearly as I should, but when they are put in motion, there is no reason to be ashamed, for it is a sweet time to walk with God and feel His approval as we delve into the sacred pages.

Something I seek to impress upon anyone that sincerely desires to know guidelines for the study of God’s word is the value of consistent, daily, chronological reading. Many times, we as people can become so involved in minute studies of small little details and facets that we miss “the big picture” of things. There is little doubt from clear Scriptural statement that reading blesses and benefits God’s people. (Revelation 1:3) Indeed, there is more to study than this (as we shall discuss), but without a good foundation of consistent cover-to-cover reading, we may end up ignorant of huge portions of Scripture. One of the things my late father used to say when people asked him how he remembered or memorized Scripture was this, “It’s not hard to remember what you just read.” His goal was to read the Bible through over and over and often enough that it was all “fresh” to him making remembrance of it easier.

Once the foundation of solid, consistent reading is set in our minds, we now take up the examination of fine-tuned study. While I do not plan to go into all the avenues of word study, phrase comparison, or original language investigation in this piece, those different study methods do have place and profitable aspects to them. However, we today would like to look more generally at how one arrives at the proper conclusion of “rightly dividing the word of truth.” Paul encouraged the young minister to that end in his efforts. Paul was not telling Timothy to have two great big buckets with “Truth” and “Error” marked on each one, tossing Scriptures and phrases into the appropriate bucket. Should that be the case, one bucket would overflow and the other left empty. (II Timothy 3:16-17) Rather, Paul encouraged Timothy to rightly apply the specific aspect of truth to the right passage.

Whenever a farmer plants a field, he seek to keep the corn with the corn, the potatoes with the potatoes, etc. So it is with Scripture. We should keep eternal principles of God’s grace and salvation unto His elect family with the right verses, and we should keep the daily cross-bearing admonitions and encouragements with the right verses. We should apply things as they should be. Doubtless, our first goal is to be sound in our espoused principle, but ultimately, we should also desire to have our thoughts on a verse, phrase, or passage fixed upon the intended teaching and rightly applied. How do we do that? What do we look for when trying to get to the bottom of the verse’s meaning?

The first principle to consider when studying a verse in such a manner is to understand the meanings of different words. Three little words that I despised hearing from my parents while growing up was “look it up.” While I hated hearing those words (for they meant effort on my part instead of being handed an easy answer), they did provoke me into some good habits for later use in the investigation of God’s word. If we are reading the Bible or looking at a verse and have no idea what a word means, by all means look it up. Without an idea of what words mean, we cannot possibly hope to arrive at the intended teaching.

If we understand what the words of a verse mean, we should then examine the verse’s tense. Is this event past tense, presently happening right now, or yet to come in the future? The Bible can show from the tense that God’s work in salvation is done (Romans 8:29-30), proper worship of God is yet ongoing right now (John 4:23-24), and heaven awaits for all of the purchased possession at the resurrection in the future. (Job 19:25-27) What would happen if we referred to heaven and the resurrection as past? We would be guilty of preaching the same vain and profane babbling that two did a couple of verses later. (II Timothy 2:16-18) What would happen if we spoke about salvation of God’s family as something yet to come or ongoing right now? We would be guilty of Scripture contradiction that declares His work fulfilled and done. (Hebrews 10:14) And, what would happen if we referred to our work and labour as past and not needful for the future? We would be guilty of teaching that over half of the New Testament’s present tense admonitions are meaningless and “outdated.”

So, after we understand the verse’s word meanings and tense, we then need to examine its context. What do the verses just before ours say? What about the verses just after? What is the setting of the account or epistle? Who is being spoken to, by whom, and when? The answers to all of these questions can be easily resolved by taking a few moments to consider the verse’s surrounding verses and the opening and close of the book we are in. The books of the Bible often open with the answers to some of those questions, they close with answers to other of those questions, and the surrounding verses answer the rest of those questions. Both the immediate context and “book context” can prove vitally useful in discovering what a verse’s correct application is.

Yet, how long does it take us to look up words, discover the tense, and peruse the immediate and/or book context? Those three exercises can often be performed in 5-10 minutes. Looking up words like propitiation, justification, imputation, and purloining are done in seconds to minutes with a good dictionary. Discovering the past, present, or future aspect of a verse’s language takes just seconds. Looking at the immediate and book context can take just a handful of minutes. Is this all there is?

The fourth thing to consider when studying a verse’s meaning is to discover how it fits within the overall framework and harmony of God’s word. Many times, I get asked questions about verses I do not understand – from say Revelation or Ezekiel – and I have to say, “I don’t know.” When they hear me admit that I do not know what the answer is, they oftentimes promote their answer (which is what they really wanted to tell me anyway). After listening to them lay out their thoughts on the verse’s meaning, I many times say, “That is not what it is saying.” This answer coupled with my clear admission of ignorance as to the right application is met with awe. “How can you say it is not when you admit you don’t know what it is.” The simple answer is that a clear, undeniable verse in another place contradicts the teaching that they ascribe to the verse in question.

So, while I may not know what a verse is saying, I need to be familiar enough with the overall harmony of Scripture to be able to identify things it is not saying by being able to detect unsound principles. While the verses and passages do describe different areas of truth, they fit together like nothing else that has ever been written fits together. Every word is just as it needs to be, with every mark just as God intended for it to be. (Psalm 12:6-8) Our job while studying its content is to ascribe the proper area of thought within the framework to the associated verses that teach those points. This brings us back to the first principle of study: reading. How can we possibly fulfill the injunction to overall Scriptural harmonization without going through all of the pages on a consistent basis?

On one occasion many years ago, I received quite a shock as a young minister when I heard an older minister – who had been preaching longer than I had been living – admit that he had never read different portions of Scripture. Most of the things he had never read were the prophets at the end of the Old Testament like Haggai, Nahum, Obadiah, etc. However, what if I believed something about the Bible when one of those “little” books from some “minor” prophet gave a clear rebuttal of my thoughts? Having never read that portion of Scripture, my thoughts would violate the overall harmony of Scripture, based on my neglect to read it all in study as I should.

Friends, our daily routines may vary. How we approach it might deviate from person to person. However, words have meaning, tense has place, context is important, and Scripture never violates itself. Keeping these things in mind while daily reading and searching will get us closer to the right applications while ultimately seeking the favour and approval of Almighty God. One thing that pleases Him is when we do this for Him out of love for Him. We sing a song sometimes called “I Want to Love Him More.” If we read and study because we love Him and we want to love Him more, the final and best advice about study that I give all who ask is to study “more.” Do more today than yesterday. Do more tomorrow than today. Read the Bible more this year than last and next year than this year. By doing so, we show more manifest love for God, find less shame as a workman, and more favour as His faithful followers.

In Hope,

Bro Philip