Do Not Depart

Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

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Ebenezer at the Ready

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A long line of Ebenezer stones stands behind me. I know because I placed them there. With thanksgiving for God’s unfailing love and mighty deeds in past days, I raised each stone as a memorial to God’s faithfulness.

For comfort in loss. For encouragement in disappointment. For friends’ salvation. For divine protection. Each act deserving of a rock of remembrance.

Trials of Life

But today, grief clouds my eyes with tears and the stones blur. God’s past mercies dim with the intensity of present trials. The weight of new worry distracts me from the truth I know.

Will God move in my present like He did in my past? Does He see? Does He care?

Sometimes my emotions take me hostage and I question God. But then He gently reminds me of His promises:

  • Where are You?  “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
  • Are You able? “I can do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).
  • Do You love me? “I love you so much I died for you” (1 John 4:7-12).
  • Do You see? “I know your every need. Look to Me and do not worry.” (Matthew 6:25-34).
  • Don’t You care? “With compassion, I will comfort you in all your troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
  • How can I go on? “I will ease your weariness and renew your strength” (Isaiah 40:27-31).

God is Faithful

So once again, I will choose to place my hope in the God of my salvation. I will cling to truth in the midst of questions. I will wait on Him to act in my present circumstances. And I will have an Ebenezer stone at the ready.

 

Death is Defeated

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Image from zardoz.net

Do you believe in life after death? If your answer is “yes,” then you agree with 72% of Americans.

Although this widely-held belief in an afterlife includes a wide range of unbiblical ideas such as reincarnation and communicating with the dead, it does demonstrate that we humans don’t want this present existence to be the end. We want more than just this physical life.

But death seems so final. How is “life after death” possible?

Yesterday we celebrated Easter to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus’ resurrection not only makes our own resurrection possible, but without it our Christian faith is “futile” and “useless.”

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith… And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.    1 Corinthians 15:14, 17, NIV

Jesus’ death paid the penalty for our sins but His resurrection validated its sufficiency. If Christ has not been raised, then we are still dead in our sins, with no hope for eternity. If our faith is only good for this life, then it really is no good at all and we should be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19).

But Christ has indeed been raised (1 Cor 15:20)! He has conquered death! Death and the grave have been swallowed up in victory! (See 1 Cor 15:54.)

Even before He was arrested Jesus knew that His death would not end in the grave. He anticipated His resurrection and what it would accomplish.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. John 11:25, NIV

Jesus’ resurrection not only broke death’s hold on our Savior, it also broke death’s hold on those who belong to Him and paved the way for our future. Here’s a summary of what Christ’s victory over death accomplished for us:

  • Confirms the forgiveness of our sins by His death (1 Cor 15:17). His resurrection proved His sacrifice was sufficient.
  • Broke the hold of death on us: Because Jesus conquered death it no  longer has a grip on us (1 Cor 15:54-57).
  • Paves the way for our own physical resurrection: Jesus was the “first fruits.” When He returns, those who belong to Him will also be raised (1 Cor 15:23).
  • Provides the example for our resurrection body: Our glorified body will bear the likeness of Jesus’ resurrected body (1 Cor 15:49).
  • Makes it possible for us to inherit the Kingdom of God: Our perishable physical body cannot inherit the imperishable, but our imperishable, resurrected bodies will be able to (1 Cor 15:50).

Praise God! Death has been swallowed up in victory!

Have you thought much about what Christ’s resurrection accomplished for you?

Is there a truth discussed above that you haven’t thought much about before now?

Recommended reading:

  • 1 Corinthians 15:12-58
  • Romans 6:1-14
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Links to surveys on Americans’ beliefs about life after death:

Chocolate bunnies, plastic eggs, and the Cross

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image from candyblog.net

Easter is just a week away. Plastic eggs, chocolate bunnies, colorful baskets, and my favorite — Cadbury Mini Eggs — fill the stores.

But is that the best Easter has to offer us today? We get a new dress, stuff ourselves with chocolate, and maybe go to church. Or is there more?

Easter commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus. This one weekend in human history changed everything. During April, here at Do Not Depart, we will be exploring the impact Christ’s actions have on our life now and eternally. What did Jesus’ death accomplish for us? What victory did His resurrection gain? And how should that affect us in our daily lives?

Let’s start talking now! What did Christ’s death and resurrection accomplish for you?


If you are looking for a way to celebrate a Christ-centered Easter with your family, a great resource is Katie’s newly released 8-day Easter plan: Find More Jesus: How to Make Easter All About Jesus.

I Dwell, He Strengthens (Run to Him – Psalm 84)

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image from 303magazine.com

Do you ever have a deep, intense craving? I often find myself drooling over the cartons of Blue Bell Ice Cream at my local grocery store. (If you aren’t familiar with Blue Bell, it may be because this creamy, decadent indulgence is only available in 20 states. But it’s worth moving to Texas for!)

No other kind of frozen treat will do. No other brand of ice cream will suffice. It must be Blue Bell and it must be a lot of Blue Bell.

In Psalm 84, the psalmist expresses a yearning that can only be satisfied by the presence of God. Nothing and no one else will satiate the deep longing of his soul. He is so desperate to be with God, he would trade 1,000 days of being anywhere else for just one day of being with the LORD.

In his book “Reflections on the Psalms,” C.S. Lewis calls this an “appetite for God.” Do we have an appetite for God that can only be satisfied in His presence?

According to biblical scholars, this psalm may have been sung by pilgrims on their way to the temple. Any Jews that lived outside Jerusalem made pilgrimages to the temple three times a year – for Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, and Pentecost. The temple symbolized God’s presence. These pilgrimages into the presence of God were considered rare and special. During the journey they anticipated the blessing and joy of once again being close to Yahweh.

You and I don’t have to travel long distances or wait for months to enter His presence. As believers we can enjoy constant communion with our holy God. His presence is a place of safety and security. Like the sparrow who built a nest near the altar, the LORD Almighty welcomes and protects the lowly and weak.

As I studied this psalm, I was impacted by the transforming power of God’s presence. Just this one chapter alone shows us at least three ways His nearness satisfies our longings.

  1. When we are vulnerable, He makes us safe and secure.
  2. When we are weak, He fills us with His strength.
  3. When we have need, He provides in abundance.

I particularly love verse 7:

They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

Our lives are a pilgrimage to heaven where we will finally see our Savior face-to-face. Meanwhile, He brings us “from strength to strength,” giving us what we need to take that next step of obedience, whetting our appetites for the full and glorious revelation of His presence.

What does your soul yearn for? Have you tasted the sweet presence of God? Do you long for more?

Context is King!

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“Stop, you’re killing me!”

Which of the following scenes produced the statement above?

  • A teenage boy won’t stop tickling his little sister.
  • A middle-aged woman just scored 75 points against her Scrabble partner.
  • A masked man is beating a defenseless elderly woman.

Does it matter? Absolutely! In the first two cases, the statement is meant to be teasing and playful. But the last scenario is life and death and someone needs to call the police!

Context does indeed matter in our daily life and in our study of God’s Word.

The Apostle Paul writing on a clay tablet. www.visualbiblealive.com

Unfortunately, many Christians fail to consider the context of a biblical passage before they come to a conclusion about what it means. As one of my seminary professors used to say, “A passage can never mean what it never meant.” In other words, every verse in the Bible has the same meaning today that it had when it was written. It may have unlimited applications depending on the individual and her circumstances. But God’s meaning never changes.

But here’s our problem: “the Bible was written in a foreign language to people who lived a long time ago in a different part of the world with a different way of life.”[i] In order to discover the original – and therefore current – meaning, we must consider the original context of the passage.

Biblical Context to Consider

Although numerous volumes have been written on the subject, there are a few things we can quickly consider to help us deal correctly with God’s Word.

  1. Literary Genre – Is the book you are studying poetry, wisdom, prophecy, narrative, or apocalyptic literature? The genre of the book affects the interpretation. For instance, narrative simply tells us what happened and not necessarily what we are supposed to do in a given situation. And wisdom literature, like Proverbs, states general life principles and not solid promises of God.
  2. Literary Context – Every sentence is part of a paragraph. Every paragraph is part of a larger passage. Every passage is part of an entire book. We cannot assign meaning to a verse without considering the greater context. For instance, knowing that Jacob stole the birthright from his brother Esau in Genesis 25 and Esua’s blessing from his father in chapter 27 helps us understand why Jacob was afraid of him in chapter 32.
  3. The Context of the Book – It matters who the author was, who he was writing to, and why he was writing. For instance, knowing that the author of the book of James was the half-brother of Jesus and not James the Apostle, definitely changes the way we understand the letter.
  4. Historical-Cultural Background – Every book of the Bible was written in a specific time in history, to a specific people, in the midst of a specific set of circumstances. We cannot accurately understand them outside of that context. The political climate, current customs, and speech idioms are just a few of the things that impact the original meaning of a passage. For instance, the book of Hebrews is packed with references to Jewish religious practices. Its rich meaning will be lost on us unless we go back and study things like the Day of Atonement and the Levitical priesthood.

A few resources to help with context

We cannot begin to cover everything here, but if you’d like to look deeper into the context as you study, here are a few suggestions:

  1. Read the introduction to a Bible book in your study Bible.
  2. Get a good Bible Dictionary. I have a copy of Eerdman’s Dictionary of the Bible.
  3. Another great resource is the two-volume set of The IVP Bible Background Commentary.
  4. Bible handbook like the classic Halley’s Bible Handbook 

Have you ever misunderstood God’s Word because you failed to consider the context? What is a verse that you think is regularly taken out of context?

[i] Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, Klein, Blomberg, Hubbard, Word Publishing, 1993, pg. 155.

10 Churchy Words We All Need to Know

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Last fall, I spent two weeks in Moldova. Most of the people speak Russian. Since I don’t, I often wondered what people were talking about. Translators helped, but I longed to understand and speak the language.

Christians have a unique language too. Theological words and “Christianize” pop-up constantly in church services, Bible studies, and conversations. For long-time church-goers, words like “saved,” “lost,” and “repentance” come naturally. But others often wonder what we’re talking about. And sometimes even Christians can’t explain them.

So, should we just toss them out? No, these words – which come straight from Scripture – richly express the truths of our faith. Instead, we must define them and help others to understand them too.

Here’s my list of the top ten “churchy” words you should know, complete with Scripture references and definitions:

  1. Born Again (John 3:3-8) – Jesus coined this phrase Himself referring to being spiritually reborn or born from above; this term is synonymous with “Christian.” The phrase “born again Christian” is redundant.
  2. Lost (Luke 19:10; Matt 10:6) – Jesus used this term to refer to those who are alienated or separated from God. The same Greek word is translated as “perish” in John 3:16! The Greek means “to destroy, kill, or to declare that one must be put to death.” Christians use “lost” to refer to those who are spiritually dead in their sin and separated from God.
  3. Salvation/Saved (Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9) – Delivery from sin and its consequences; the present and eternal spiritual condition granted by God to those who believe in Jesus and His saving work.
  4. Repent/Repentance (Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38; 2 Cor 7:10) – The Greek noun and verb translated as “repentance” and “repent” means to “change one’s mind or purpose.” The Bible uses this word specifically to refer to changing one’s mind and behavior regarding sin and evil.
  5. Faith (Ephesians 2:8; James 2:14) – having a solid confidence, trust, hope and active reliance in God and His promises. This firm conviction produces full acknowledgment and personal surrender.
  6. Sin (Romans 3:23) – to “miss the mark” as an arrow missing a bull’s-eye; to deviate from the norm. The Bible uses “sin” to refer to anything that deviates from the perfect pattern God established for mankind. “Sin” refers to our wrong thinking actions, and corrupted nature.
  7. Justification (Romans 3:24; 4:25) – to make or declare one to be righteous. Our sin earned the guilty verdict, but Jesus paid our penalty and gave us His righteousness.
  8. Redemption (Romans 3:24) – a releasing or deliverance bought with a ransom. Christ bought our “redemption” from sin, spiritual death, and separation from God with His own life, given on the cross.
  9. Righteousness (Romans 3:25; 2 Cor 5:21) – the quality of being right or just; conformity to God’s perfect moral standard. Righteousness is impossible to accomplish on our own. But Jesus gives His righteousness to those who trust in His death for salvation.
  10. Sanctification/Holiness (Romans 6:19; 1 Thess 4:3; Hebrews 12:14) – separation of the believer from anything sinful. It requires conscious action and submissive obedience to God’s will and way. It is an ongoing process that begins at salvation and continues throughout this life.

Are you still with me or do you feel like you just got thrown into the deep end of the pool? Although these “churchy” words can be confusing, understanding them will deepen our understanding of our great salvation.

I’d love to know what “churchy” words you love and hate! What “churchy” word do you struggle to understand or use? What “churchy” word do you just love because it conveys so much meaning?

Five tips for setting goals for spiritual growth in 2012

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What do the following things have in common?

  • Exercise more
  • Lose weight
  • Improve my relationships
  • Pay off debt
  • Get organized
Image from sheknows.com

Every year these items pop up in lists of the Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions. Did you make any resolutions for 2012? The first of the year is a great time to start fresh, set goals, and begin something new. In fact, it’s the perfect time to evaluate our spiritual health and set some goals for growth.

We can’t cause our spiritual growth. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to transform us into the image of Christ (2 Cor 3:18). But God does expect our obedient and active cooperation (1 Cor 9:24-27). One way we can purposefully “train ourselves to be godly” (1 Tim 4:7-8) is through spiritual evaluation and goal-setting.

Resolutions and goals can be hard to keep. Statistics show that, at best, only 46% of New Year’s resolutions are still kept six months into the year. Often, people lose their resolve so quickly because they set unattainable goals.

  1. Concentrate your efforts. Set just one, two, or three goals at a time. Don’t spread yourself too thin. When you experience success then add another goal.
  2. Be realistic. Set goals that are attainable. If you don’t read your Bible regularly now, don’t set a goal to read the entire Bible in three months. Instead commit to read it 3 to 5 times per week.
  3. Think concretely. Set goals so progress can be measured. For instance, this goal is too ambiguous: I’m going to spend more time with God. Instead be concrete: I will read one Bible chapter and pray for 10 minutes five times a week.
  4. Include strategies. Develop strategies designed to move you toward your goals. If one goal is to memorize Scripture, determine how you will do that. What verses you will memorize? How often you will tackle a new one? What memorization techniques will you use?
  5. Create manageable steps. Break your overall goal into a series of smaller goals that are doable and will foster success.

To get started, first take a serious look at your spiritual health. You may use the free “Discipleship Evaluation” download. This tool covers 17 different key discipleship areas. Your weakest areas can be great growth this year.

Next, set spiritual growth goals using the five tips above. Planning is not unspiritual. Living a life that glorifies God will not happen by accident. The free “Spiritual Goals” worksheet lists specific areas of discipleship such as time with God, ministry, service, and Christian education.

Most importantly, ask God to guide you as you evaluate your spiritual health and set goals for growth. He will bring the spiritual transformation as you strive to live a live that pleases Him.

Let’s talk! What goals for spiritual growth have you set?

You’ve got to have a plan

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Can you hear the countdown yet? A new year arrives in less than 48 hours and 2011 will be history. Are you ready? Have you made plans for 2012?

I’m not talking about vacation plans or career plans or plans to renovate your kitchen, though those all need thought and preparation. No, I’m talking about purposeful plans to spend time with God in 2012.

Many of us start the year with good intentions, but regular time with God in His Word often falls by the wayside because we’ve failed to put a plan in place. Planning is not “unspiritual.” Paul told Timothy to “train yourself to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7) because real spiritual growth takes discipline and purposeful intent.

A great place to begin is with a Bible reading plan. Haphazard reading will always be just that – haphazard. If you have a plan, then you have direction and structure. You never have to wonder, “What will I read today?”

If you’d like to have both a reading plan and group accountability I invite you to join me as I use the “Chronological Bible Story” Reading plan. I’ve invited all my Facebook friends and I have a nice big group joining in. I’ve established a Facebook group where we can talk about what we’re reading, ask questions, and be encouraged.

Won’t you join us? Here’s the group entitled “Reading the Bible Together in 2012”. You can access the reading plan there, or here.

If this plan does not meet your needs, I have several other Bible reading plans on my website. You are welcome to use any of them. Be sure to check out the other discipleship resources as well like the “Quiet Time Tips” and Prayer Helps.

Have you used a Bible reading plan before? What are your goals for getting into God’s Word in 2012?

 

Little Faith, Big God {Believing Better}

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If you had to rate your faith on a scale of 1 to 10, how would your faith score? A “1” means your faith is hard to find. A “10” means your faith impacts everyone you encounter. If I am totally honest I would have to say it depends on the day.

If you had to describe your faith using adjectives, which ones would you use? I would love to say “strong, unwavering, passionate, and big.” And some days I could use those words to describe my faith. But there are other days. Days when I would have to say, “weak, shaky, dry, and small.”

Recently, God reminded me of something during my time with Him: The reality of my faith does not depend on feelings. My feelings fluctuate depending on my circumstances. Sometimes my faith feels weak because I’m battered by the world or I’ve yielded to temptation. But other times – like when I’ve witnessed God do something awesome – I feel like my faith can move mountains.

The truth is, the true quality of my faith depends on the Object of my faith. My faith may be small, but my God is infinitely big. My faith may be weak, but my God is stronger than I can comprehend. He is the Mountain-mover. Not me.

Photo Credit

Daily, I must remind myself that my faith does not depend on my feelings or my circumstances. Those things change constantly. My faith must be grounded in the Person of God. Who He is and what He does.

A big faith will not make me believe better. But faith in our Big God will. I cannot live a Christ-like life by depending on a big faith. But I can faithfully follow Christ and please the Father when my faith rests in my Big God. 

Just how big is our God? He has all power. Scripture tells us He hung the moon and stars in the sky (Psalm 8:3). He marked off the heavens with the breadth of His hand and weighed the earth’s mountains on a scale (Isaiah 40:12). Nothing is too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:17)!

God also has all authority. God not only has the power to do anything, He also has the right. He establishes kings and deposes them (Acts 17:25-27). He controls life, death, and eternity (Ephesians 1:20-22).

What matters most is not the size of our faith but the size of our God. It is not my faith that resists temptation, obeys God’s will, or moves mountains. It is the Object of my faith working in me.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  Eph 3:20-21, ESV

How would you describe your faith today? Now, how would you describe your God?

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For the month of December we are sharing posts and quotes to help us escape the Cycle of Try Harder, through Believing Better.

Read more Believing Better posts here.

Finally!

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Eager anticipation dominated the Christmases of my childhood. All the traditions of the season promised the arrival of the big day – the tree, the brightly wrapped packages, the lights, and the music. These things by themselves were not Christmas, but they signaled its coming. When I woke on the morning of December 25th all these traditions found their full expression.

Although I loved all the Christmas activities, I did not appreciate their full meaning until years later. (If you’re interested, here’s a great article from the Crosswalk.com archives that gives the spiritual significance of many well-loved Christmas traditions.)

Like the Christmas activities point to Christmas, so the Old Testament points to Jesus.

The Law, the sacrificial system, the feasts, and prophecies all find their full expression in the person of Christ. The Old Covenant that God made with the Israelites anticipates the New Covenant found only in the Son.

For the last three weeks here at Scripture Dig we have been exploring the “I Came” statements of Jesus. As we celebrate His birth, we did not want to miss the reason Jesus came. Here is what we’ve discovered:

Today, on our final post of this series, we see that Jesus came to “fulfill” the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). Everything in the Old Testament pointed to Christ. Jesus was the goal, the purpose of the Law and the Prophets. Here are a few examples:

  • The Passover – Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).
  • The Sacrificial System – Jesus, the “once for all” sacrifice, provided what the blood of bulls and goats never could (Hebrews 10:1-10).
  • The Day of Atonement – Jesus is our High Priest who enters the actual Holy of Holies on our behalf (Hebrews 9:11).
  • Manna, bread in the wilderness – Jesus is the Bread of Life, the true bread from heaven (John 6:30-32).

Jesus has always been God’s plan for establishing a relationship with His people. Jesus was not the backup plan when all else failed. Even before God created the world, He determined that Jesus would die to provide salvation for mankind (1 Peter 1:20). The Old Testament – the Law and the Prophets – anticipate the fulfillment of God’s plan. They find completion and full expression in Christ. Finally! He’s here!

What is your favorite picture of Christ in the Old Testament?

Why did Jesus come?

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Every year at this time we begin counting the days until Christmas. Only 27 days left for shopping, cooking, and wrapping until the big day is here. Hopefully we also spend the days thinking about the reason for the celebration – the birth of Jesus.

Many churches and individual Christians observe the four-week season of Advent as a way to celebrate Christ’s birth. The word “advent” means a coming into view or arrival. For Christians, “Advent” specifically refers to the eager anticipation of the arrival of God’s long-awaited Messiah. Christian Advent officially began Sunday, November 27th. Observers may pray, fast, and read Scripture while waiting for Jesus’ “coming,” celebrated on December 25th.

With the busyness and commercialization of Christmas, Advent is a wonderful way to keep Christ in the forefront of our minds. However, we shouldn’t limit our reflection to the truth that Jesus came to earth; we should also remember why He came. That’s exactly what we’ll be doing for the next three weeks here at Scripture Dig.

Why did Jesus leave the glory of heaven to be born as a human in a stable in Bethlehem? Many times I’ve heard the statement, “Jesus came to die.” And that is true. But did you know that was only part of Jesus’ mission?

Jesus told us why He came. The Gospels record more than a dozen “I came” statements of Jesus. We will be exploring many of these over the next few weeks. Christmas took on a deeper and richer meaning for me after I first studied these statements of Christ several years ago. This year we want to share them with you. We pray God will use His Words to enrich your Christmas celebration and grow your understanding of Him.

What are some things you and your family do to help you stay focused on the true reason for the Christmas season?

 

The Lamb of God

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About fifteen years ago, friends invited our family to share their Passover Seder. Since they knew all about our faith in Jesus they graciously encouraged us to talk to our children during the ceremonial meal about the Christian significance of each element.

I will never forget the experience. We were so honored to be included in this special occasion, but more than that we were overwhelmed by how completely and thoroughly everything pointed to Christ and the salvation He offers.

God established Passover with the nation of Israel at the end of their Egyptian slavery. It was to be a lasting observance to remind them of His dramatic deliverance (Exodus 12:14). Pharaoh had hardened his heart through the first nine plagues God brought on Egypt. The tenth plague would be the last, but God had to provide a way to protect His own people.

Through Moses, God instructed each household to kill, roast, and eat an unblemished lamb. They were to smear some of the lamb’s blood on the doorposts of their home. The blood would be a sign to God as He brought the death plague to all the firstborn males in the land. God would see the blood and “not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you” (Exodus 12:23).

Passover stands as a permanent reminder to Israel of God’s salvation. The blood of the lamb without spot or blemish covered them and protected them from death. There would have been no salvation without the blood. There would have been no blood without the death of the lamb.

Image from VisualBibleAlive.com

The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ is our Passover lamb.

  • John the Baptist proclaimed it. “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
  • Jesus’ trial and crucifixion corresponded with the “Day of Preparation” and the slaughtering of the Passover lamb in the temple (John 19:14, 31,42).
  • Jesus Christ, our spotless Lamb (1 Peter 1:19) was sacrificed for our salvation (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Only the blood of the spotless Lamb of God can take away our sin and provide eternal life. No death, no blood. No blood, no salvation.

If you’d like to find out more about a traditional Jewish Passover check out these links:

Judaism 101: Passover

Guide to Passover Seder

If you’re interested in celebrating a Christian Seder, check out these resources:

Introduction to a Christian Seder

The Christian Seder Haggadah (the telling)

The Passover was established as a permanent reminder of God’s salvation. What ways do you purposefully work to remember the salvation provided by your Passover Lamb?

Adonai – The Lord of lords

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This time last week I was walking the streets of Paris. I had the wonderful opportunity for a two-day layover on my way home from teaching for two weeks in Moldova. My traveling companion and I visited many of the well-known sites such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre.

Statue of Napoleon inside the Hotel de Invalides in Paris

The long, rich history of this beautiful city probably struck me more than anything else. For more than 4,000 years earthly leaders have fought over this geographic area. Powerful rulers like Julius Caesar, Charlemagne, and Napoleon Bonaparte have laid claim to the city on the Seine. Because they had power and authority over Paris, they could be considered “lord” over the city.

Many people in the Bible were also called “lord.” This title of respect was used by Sarah to refer to her husband Abraham and by David to refer to King Saul. The Hebrew word translated as “lord” in the Old Testament is the singular noun “adon.” Adon is used hundreds of times to refer to a human in a position of leadership. It means “lord, master, owner, ruler, commander, or one with a position of authority.” It signifies the relationship between the authority and those under the lord’s authority.

But no matter how great these earthly lords, there is One greater. Our God is Lord of lords and King of kings. The Hebrew word translated as “Lord” (with a capital “L” rather than a lower case “l”) in the Old Testament is “adonay” or “Adonai.” It is a plural noun with a first person singular suffix. Adonai, the plural form of adon, denotes intensity. God is not simply a lord. He is the Lord of lords. Napoleon may have been lord of Paris, but God is the Lord of everything.

Psalm 136:3 shows this distinction:

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever.

When you read the Bible, watch for “Lord” with the capital “L” as opposed to “lord” with the lowercase “l.” That is Adonai. Very early in the history of Israel, devout Jews began to use Adonai as a substitute for God’s covenant name Yahweh. Since “Yahweh” was too holy to be spoken, they would say Adonai instead. (For more information on Yahweh, see an earlier post.) In Scripture, these two names are sometimes used together. In the verse below “LORD” in all caps is Yahweh in the Hebrews. “Lord” is Adonai.

For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Psalm 135:5

How should the truth that God is “Lord” impact us today? Remember that “Lord” describes the nature of a relationship. If God is Lord then I we are His vassals. If God is Master, then we are His servants. The Psalms tell us our Lord acts with everlasting kindness (136:3) and that is understanding is infinite (147:5). Our God is not a lord that merely subdues. He is the Lord that rules in all power, authority, and love.

Let’s express our devotion today to the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Share your words of praise!

 

What is your name again?

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There’s so much about God that I don’t understand. For instance, why He loves me and how He keeps the universe spinning along. But possibly the hardest thing to get my puny mind around is His eternal, self-sufficient existence.

There has never been a time that God was not, or a moment when He will not be. He exists because of Himself and He needs nothing outside of Himself.

God’s name “Yahweh” (also known by the Christian transliteration “Jehovah”) signifies His timeless, ever-present existence. The root word of Yahweh means “to exist,” “to be.” In fact, some scholars suggest that “I am that I am” in Exodus 3:14 would be better translated as “I am He who exists” or “I am He who is.”

illustration by visualbiblealive.com

This is the name God gave when Moses asked Him:

“Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13, NIV)

Since God’s name identifies his nature, when Moses requested his “name” he was asking about God’s character. Can we trust you to be with us? Can we believe that you can deliver us?

God’s answer: “Yahweh.” I am the One who exists. I have no source, yet I am the Source of everything. If nothing else was, still I would be.

God chose the name Yahweh for Himself. It is His personal name by which He related specifically to His chosen people. It is His covenant name, particularly in His relationship with the nation of Israel.

Yahweh is first found in the second chapter of Genesis. Abraham (Gen 12:8) knew God by this name. Adam probably did as well since we are told during the lifetime of his son, Seth “men began to call upon the name of the LORD (Gen 4:26).”

Yahweh is God’s most sacred name. Scripture speaks of it as “this glorious and fearful name” (Deut 28:58) or simply “the name” (Lev 24:11). The Jews would not speak it out of reverence, but generally substituted another name such as Adonai.

Because the sacred name was not spoken, precise pronunciation is uncertain. This problem is compounded by the fact that Hebrew was written without vowels until about 850 BC. YHWH or Yahweh, the personal name of God occurs more than 5,000 times in the Old Testament. In your Bible, it is typically designated by all caps: LORD.

According to the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, the name Yahweh connotes “God’s nearness, his concern for man, and the revelation of His redemptive covenant.” Oh, there is much in a name!

What does it mean to you personally that God is “He who exists?”

She fears God and nothing else!

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So how do you feel about the Proverbs 31 woman now? Still a bit intimidated? Well, don’t lose heart! Today’s characteristic is more than just another attribute on a long list. It’s key to her overall success. And ladies, if we work on nothing but this one, we will go a long way toward becoming that rare wife of noble character.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.                                                              Proverbs 31:30, ESV

The Proverbs 31 woman fears the Lord. I believe this specific characteristic has much to do with the existence of the others. The book of Proverbs repeatedly connects godly fear with wisdom and knowledge of God (see Proverbs 1:7, 1:29, 2:5, 3:7, 9:10, 15:33.) The fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom (9:10). It is the beginning of knowledge (1:7). In other words, if we want to know God more intimately and walk in His wisdom, we must fear Him.

Because she fears the Lord, our P31 woman knows God and His character, she has gained His wisdom, and knows how to apply it to life. Here are just a few connections that Proverbs makes between godly fear and navigating life. Those who fear the Lord will:

  • Follow the right path (Proverbs 14:2)
  • Find security (Proverbs 14:26)
  • Escape death (Proverbs 14:27)
  • Be protected (Proverbs 19:23)

We see one more exciting result of the fear of the Lord in the life of the P31 woman: because she fears the Lord, she doesn’t have to fear anything else! Godly fear produced godly wisdom for life. She doesn’t have to fear winter (31:21), because in wisdom she has made warm clothes. She doesn’t have to fear the future (31:25), because in wisdom she has prepared for it.

Jesus taught this truth to His disciples. He told them not to fear anything that man could do to them. Only fear the One that has all power over life and eternity (Matthew 10:26-28). God has authority over every circumstance of life – hardship, persecution, grief, and trial. Whether He chooses to deliver you from something or through something, He will deliver you! Fear Him and not the circumstance. Trust in His wisdom and guidance and don’t let difficulty cause you to take your eyes off of Him.

So, what does it mean to fear God? I actually wrote an entire Bible study on that topic, but we only have a few minutes together today! The Hebrew word most often translated as “fear” is yare’. Here’s a quick definition from Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words by W.E. Vine.

Used of a person in an exalted position, [yare’] connotes “standing in awe.” This is not simple fear, but reverence, whereby an individual recognizes the power and position of the individual revered and renders him proper respect.

If you looked up all the passages in the Bible that include this word, you would find that over and over God equates fearing Him with worship and obedience. In other words, if we recognize the true power and position of God (godly fear) then it will cause us to obey Him and give Him the proper worship.

The P31 woman recognized the power and position of God. Therefore, in godly fear, she spent her life obeying and worshipping Him, and living in His wisdom. Her “noble character” (31:10) was a direct result of her attitude toward God.

Do you “fear God?” Before today, what did you think it meant to fear God? If you lived a life of godly fear, how would it be different?

 

If you want to learn a little more about what it means to fear God, check out this 4-minute video teaching by Kathy.

Good or Bad?

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Every person in our life affects us in some way – either for good or for bad. Individual relationships can help or hinder. Build up or tear down. Bring joy or pain. Foster peace or turmoil. Encourage or discourage.

Think about the people in your own life. How do you feel about the people who hinder, tear down, cause pain, foster turmoil, or discourage? You probably want to get as far away from them as possible.

Now think about the ones who help, build up, bring joy, foster peace, and encourage. Feel all warm and fuzzy? Those are the people you can’t get enough of. You want to be close to them. To spend as much time with them as possible.

Our Proverbs 31 woman was someone we would have wanted as a friend. She would have done us “good,” not bad. Proverbs 31:12 specifically tells us how she treated her husband:

She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.  Proverbs 31:12, ESV

First, she did not do him “harm.” The virtuous woman does not treat her husband wickedly or mischievously. She does not injure him in any way. I find it quite telling that the Hebrew word translated as “harm” can also mean “malignant.” A wife who does her husband harm is like cancer to the body. She eats away at him, killing his joy and injuring his spirit.

Instead, the virtuous wife does her husband “good.” This Hebrew word means “good, pleasant, beautiful, excellent, lovely, delightful, convenient, joyful, cheerful, kind, righteous, fruitful, pleasant…” Stop! I had to edit for time’s sake. I could have gone on, but you get the idea.

What I find interesting is that this word has practical and economic implications. She didn’t simply make her husband feel good (though I’m sure he definitely felt good). She helped him in ways that provided practical and financial benefits. She encouraged him in all aspects of life.

Imagine how her husband felt about her. She spent her life doing him “good,” not “harm.” She was his primary encourager. I’m sure he cherished her. Don’t you want to be cherished? I certainly do.

Let’s be honest with each other today. Do you feel you have brought your husband “harm” or “good?” Do you encourage or discourage him? In what ways?

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