"THE SECRET THINGS BELONG TO THE LORD" Bible Reading Thoughts for May 12th

Deuteronomy 29:29 - we read the wonderful privilege we have, who like Israel have been called out from darkness.  God reveals things to us, so that we may do.

"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are REVEALED belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may DO all the words of this law."

When we think of God revealing things to us, we are taken to the Lord Jesus Christ who has also revealed to us (those who will hear, understand and do) what would come to pass through history to his return:

"The REVELATION of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified (Greek - to make known) it...Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and KEEP (do) those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."

“THE SECRET THINGS BELONG TO THE LORD”

            How meaningful are the words Moses uses as he is completing his last message to the nation.  Ch. 29 of Deuteronomy today ends with these very interesting words, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

            God has “secret things” that he chooses not to reveal to his chosen people, or even to Moses. One of those “secret things” is how he created the world, the simple fact is that he created it, as the beginning of Genesis tells us; doing so in daily stages.  We can see it had to be this way as several of these stages depended one upon another.

            It is very interesting that when God finally revealed himself to Job (his book is contemporary with Genesis), he asks him questions – but does not reveal the answers,  He asks, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? … Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?  Tell me if you have understanding …” [ch. 38 v.2,4]  Job confesses to God, “I know that you can do all things … I have uttered what I did not understand, things to wonderful for me, which I did not know.” [ch.42 v.2,3]

            God told Moses he had revealed the things that are essential for us to know.  This is a vital point for us to acknowledge, especially in the 21^st Century when men and women of science – want to believe they can know and understand the nature of everything.

                We started today to read the remarkable prophecies God gave to Isaiah.  God says, “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow … if you are willing and obedient …” [v.18,19]  The world around us does not want to reason in this way, they want to reason there is no God – but look what  increasing chaos and evil is developing in the world as a result!  Let us be “willing and obedient” to leave “the secret things … to the LORD” for those who think they are starting to discover them are only fooling themselves – in the age to come when those who have reasoned together (with the Lord) are made, said Jesus, “equal unto the angels” [Luke 20 v.36]– then they will know the wonder of “the secret things.”  

"THESE BLESSINGS SHALL COME" Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings - May 11th

“THESE BLESSINGS SHALL COME”                                                                                         

Deuteronomy Chapter 28 starts, “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments … these blessings shall come upon you … [v.1,2]. It is very sad that the succeeding generations failed to be careful to do this, so God’s blessings ceased and later, curses came upon them instead (read v.15 on).

In Acts we have been reading how Paul first preached Christ to the Jews but there was great opposition from many of them so God said, as he quoted to King Agrippa in today’s reading, “I will send you far away to the Gentiles” [Acts 22 v.21]    Now Paul has meaningful things to say about this when he wrote to the Romans. The failure of the Jews to accept Christ “means riches for the Gentiles” [11 v.12]  Paul describes the Gentiles as being grafted in to God’s olive tree to replace “some of the branches (that) were broken off” [v.17].  But then Paul warns these Gentile branches that have been grafted in and are receiving God’s blessings to “stand in awe for if God did not spare the natural branches neither will he spare you” [v.20,21]

We could not but think as we read the Deuteronomy chapter that some of the warnings against natural Israel about what would happen if they let God down can now be applied in the 21^stCentury to the largely faithless “Christian”(?) nations.  For example, “From heaven dust shall come down upon you until you are destroyed” [v.24] “The LORD will strike you with … confusion of mind” [v.28]  “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore …” [v.47] 

Many nations, like Israel of old, have experienced abundance, but what kind of “joyfulness and gladness” has resulted?   Peter quoted David in the Psalms and the experiences among the first generation of believers was a fulfilment of this. “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence” [Acts 2 v.28].

Let us live so that all the blessings we read of today come upon us.  Our knowledge and belief in the truth of God’s word can give us a foretaste now, but what wonderful future blessings are promised!   While knowledge and belief are an essential foundation, prayerful godly living is needed to complete the character of Christ being formed in us. Let make sure we are doing this.

"CURSED BE ANYONE WHO ..." Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings - May 10th

“CURSED BE ANYONE WHO …”

            We continue reading Moses’ final instructions to his people before they cross the Jordan into the promised land without him.  When they enter the land they are to build an altar to the LORD.  On the stones of the altar they are “to write … all the words of this law very plainly” [ch. 27 v.8]

            Moses and the Priests then say “to all Israel, ‘Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the LORD your God.  You shall therefore obey  the voice of the LORD …”[v.9,10]

            We can draw a comparison in this with the day when we took on the name of Christ in baptism (or when we do do so).  Moses then says that when they have come into the land “the Levites shall declare to all…”[v.14] certain specific warnings about behaviour God hates, for they, as the people of God, members of his chosen nation, bring dishonour upon themselves and, in a sense, upon him should they do so.  Most of these are equally applicable to those who take on the name of Christ through baptism and then dishonour the name of Christ in aspects of their behaviour.

            Moses says, when they are in land,  “ … the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel with a loud voice [v.14] such things as, “Cursed be anyone who dishonours his father or his mother.  And all the people shall say, ‘Amen’” [v.16]  Similarly, “Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due  to the sojourner, the fatherless and the widow,  And all the people say, ‘Amen.’ [v.19] – And by saying that they acknowledge awareness of this warning.

            There are curses on a variety of sexual misconduct, also, “Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe …” [v.25]  And the final verse, “Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.  And all the people shall say ‘Amen’ “  

 Is it the same with following the teachings of Christ?  Yes, but we can be most thankful that there is the principle of grace.  But, Paul asks believers, “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  By no means!  How can we who died to sin still live in it?” {Rom. 6 v.1,2]  Let us all “live in” service to Christ, using our various individual talents and opportunities to bring honour to his name.

Deuteronomy 27:2 we read of the stones which we covered:
"...that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister"

The stones were covered, why were they covered? For Gods word to be written on (v3)
"And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law..."

For what purpose? For all to see (v8)
"And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly"

We are stones, which have received a covering through Christ our Master and Saviour. We are to have the word of a God written on us, and that dwells in us richly. When we think of the word "plainly", our minds are taken to the whole purpose of the word of God written on stones:

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare PLAINLY that they seek a country" (Heb 11:13-14)

The Septuagint has the word "plaister" as the Greek used of Jesus' words of the the rulers being hypocrites and WHITED sepulchres. Our lives are to exude the character of those in Hebrews 11 and PLAINLY show Gods word, showing the word of God as much more than an observance, it was their whole way of life. May we follow these faithful examples set before us for our learning.  

The Commandments of Christ for your Phone

"....WITH ALL YOUR HEART" Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings - May 9th

“ …. WITH ALL YOUR HEART”

            Sometimes we use the phrase ‘half-hearted’ meaning – we do not feel total commitment to what we are doing.  We cannot follow God and His Son, who died for us, in this frame of mind.  Our chapter in Deuteronomy today contains a powerful appeal by Moses to the people he will soon leave - about the frame of mind they should set themselves to possess when they start to live in the promised land and enjoy its blessings.   They will need full sincerity of heart in serving their God who has given them these blessings, fully realizing he is the only real God.

            Moses words contain several passages which are powerful exhortations for us in the 21^st Century and our anticipation of an utterly wonderful ‘promised land.’  He writes, “You shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the LORD your God is giving you …and you shall go to the place that the LORD your God will chose to make his name dwell there.”   [26 v.2]  Then Moses briefly gives a history of the formation of the nation from the days of Abraham to the time when “the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds …”[v.8]. 

            At this coming time of entry into their promised land, he tells them, “you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you …” [v.11]  Moses reminds them of all the statutes and rules … the LORD your God commands” adding  “ You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul.” [v.16]  He reminds them that they “have declared today that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in his ways …”[v.17]

            The parallel to our commitment to Christ reaches a higher dimension with Moses next words, “… you are a people for his treasured possession .. he will set you in praise and in fame and in honour high above all nations … you shall be a people holy to the LORD your God.”  They briefly achieved this under Solomon, but then God had a greater Son of David in view, and a wonderful promised land for those who follow him. Peter was granted a wonderful comprehension of this that he, with all who follow this Son, “are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession …” [1 Peter 2 v.9]

            Let us make sure we are “careful ..with all (y)our heart” to show by our words and actions that we belong to this holy spiritual nation now, for the time is surely close when our faith will be turned to sight.

"SPEAKING TWISTED THOUGHTS" Bible Reading Thoughts for May 8th

“SPEAKING TWISTED THINGS”

            In today’s 20th chapter in Acts we have the account of a long conversation Paul had with “the elders of the church” [v.17] at Ephesus whom he called to see him at the port of Miletus.  He told them then “that they would not see his face again’ [V.38].

                It was obviously an intense discussion.  He tells them,  “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock …  I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert …”  [v.27-31]

            It is natural for most of us to want to try to avoid all problems, all controversy, to ignore it if we can.   But what does that achieve?  Does it bring us closer to God and to Christ?  We have many lessons on this from Christ himself in the gospels.  Of course the circumstances in Ephesus are different, it is an entirely Gentile community – but what is not different is human nature – and the only solution to that is the development of a genuine Christ-like frame of mind.  The foundation ingredient for do that, especially for us today, is the meditative reading of God’s word.

            Bible reading is the only way to untwist things that have been twisted.   With what intensity did Paul seek to do this! We might think he did this by intense study, reasoning and constructive argumentation, and we see some of this in his letter to them – but what does the text in Acts say? 

What is the point he makes in reminding them of the spirit of mind he showed when he was among them?   “…. Be alert  remembering that for three years I did not cease night and day toadmonish everyone with tears.”  [v.31]  A most challenging example to follow. The lesson is clear – academic reasoning is not the major part of dealing with “twisted things”. 

Paul left Timothy at Ephesus [1 Tim 1 v.3] and he ends his letter to him by saying, “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions …”  We must do the same

"SHOWING BY THE SCRIPTURES THAT ..." Bible Reading Thoughts for today - May 7th

“SHOWING BY THE SCRIPTURES THAT …”

            The references to “the  Scriptures” in the New Testament refer to the use of the ‘Old Testament’ in the preaching of the message of Christ.  It is very disappointing that so many who see themselves as ‘Christians’ today only read the New Testament and sometimes have a Bible that omits most – or even all of the Old Testament.

            We read today in ACTS of a powerful preacher, “a Jews named Apollos … an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures” [18 v.24] who, when he came to Achaia, “he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus” [v.27,28]   

            We add great strength to our understanding and preaching when we gain a good knowledge of the Old Testament, we notice how often they are quoted in their preaching and writing – as a stimulous to the first generation of believers.  We notice how many times passages in Deuteronomy, that we are currently reading, are quoted – Jesus quoted from it in refuting the temptations that came to him when the Spirit led him into the wilderness.

            We are also reading the Song of Solomon and this is largely understood as a poetic parable that can be applied to the bride of Christ awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom [3 v.6,7] and how the bride, made up of genuine believers, should make themselves spiritually beautiful in his eyes.

            Today’s chapter 4 starts with the bridegroom saying “Behold you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful.” - and we can interpret the description of the physical beauty as applying toaspects of character that Christ will 'embrace' when he returns.  Paul's words to the Philippians are very appropriate; "it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure ... that you may be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights ... holding fast to the word of life " [ch.2 v.13,15,16]  How much are you shining and "holding fast" ?  What are you "showing by the Scriptures"?