Bible Insights
Some reading this page are already fully aware of why the Bible is a serious subject for study. Some are not. To be clear, skeptics assume it to be a book of outmoded thinking because one thing or another fails to make sense. With that in mind it is obvious to question the whole volume. But the true student of Scripture knows how informative a bit of knowledge of the historical context and the conditions under which its 40 authors wrote its 66 books over the course of 1500 years. The imprimatur to exercise free thought in the interpretation of passages which seem at the surface to conflict or to not address issues in full arises from such considerations. In the end a deep and incisive analysis helps us find it to be a book of wisdom worthy of acceptance as guidance to live by. In regard to freedom of thought, I think we are given the gift of original thinking for an extremely good reason. I like a book very, very much which stands up to deep analysis and brings forth many new thoughts when you delve in boldly. The following studies were done for a weekend radio show on 96three FM in Geelong.
In Genesis chapters 6 & 7, the Bible tells us about the calling and work of Noah. This is a story that has been contorted badly and had things added to it by populists. The Biblical story is pretty basic and it reads like a lot of stories from antiquity.
The story of the crucifixion is one of a man of fame who could have continued to rise in power, but who chose the humiliating, horrifying death of the lowest of criminals. Without Jesus’ sacrifice of his life, and importantly his lack of self-interest, we would have no eternal destiny.
In Psalm 119:130 the Bible says: The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Think of times when you have read the Bible or listened to a sermon and not just heard the words of God being recited, but you felt them.
In Isaiah 41:10 the Bible says: Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. It is promises from God like this one which we as believers live by every time we encounter a difficulty.
The Sermon on the Mount occupies the whole of Matthew chapter 5. The first 12 verses constitute what we know as the Beatitudes. This can be read as a series of random sayings espousing various virtues, but if you take the list as a whole, you see a common theme emerge from them.
Throughout Psalm 119 the writer prays with palpable fervency to God, about obedience to the Laws of God. This could read as a the writer’s submission to a heavy burden. But if you read it from the perspective of one who obeys God passionately, it takes on an infinitely more meaningful tone.
In Nehemiah 8:10 the Bible says: This day is holy to the Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Some of us are old enough to remember folks treating the weekly Sabbath as a day for austerity, inactivity and disciplined religious devotion.
In Proverbs 10:28 the Bible says: The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. I want to begin this study by saying that its coming from someone who has seen a lot of disappointment and been stung by it. Life throws many uncertainties and upsets at us.
In Proverbs 20:3 the Bible says: It is to one’s honour to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. A fool is a person who has no understanding of God or His ways. A fool does not think of higher things, but is preoccupied with more immediate gain in worldly or fleshly matters.
In Psalm 147:3 the Bible says: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Why does the Bible make so much of healing and reassurance? I know this is a pretty basic question to be asking, but there are some points we can discern in the answer that may be quite informative.
In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus gave a teaching which heralded the end of a system of ritual sin and righteousness, and the beginning of a system based on one’s state of mind in acting – a first principles approach to sin and righteousness based on whether we love God and love each other.
To sacrifice power is essentially a simple act of saying no to temptation as the use or enjoyment of power is very pleasing to the ego. There are few things that feel so right, and to a person who is morally weak, it is addictive. Letting go of power, then, can be very difficult.
The term “staying power” is one form of persistence: the ability to keep at a task, showing relentless discipline, and in the absence of a real incentive. To show staying power shows the inner strength to keep up an effort that is not paying off. But does the Holy Spirit himself push us to stick at things?
The word, persistence, refers to acting continually both in spite of hardship, and in spite of frustration or improbability. The former meaning is related to staying power, while the latter meaning which we will study, relates to reaching for an incentive.
In Proverbs 20:3 the Bible says: It is to one’s honour to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. A fool is a person who has no understanding of God or His ways. A fool does not think of higher things, but is preoccupied with more immediate gain in worldly or fleshly matters.
Courage is a thing which, in times past, was required for anyone to function normally in day-to-day life because almost everything carried grave risk. Only in recent decades has it been unnecessary in the material world. Let’s have a look at a story where God honoured someone for incredible courage.
The Virtue of Courage, Part 2
Now we must consider the line between Godly bravery and recklessness. The ultimate go-to passage is the temptation of Jesus. Satan challenged him to launch himself off the top of the temple in Jerusalem, going so far as to quote scripture to establish that Angels would catch him.
In Psalm 25:4-5 the Bible says: Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me… This prayer seems to celebrate a relationship of friendly familiarity between the writer and God and in these two verses God is asked to impart wisdom as to what He requires of us.
At present the world is on edge over COVID-19. Although the Old Testament plays heavily on the theme of Divine paternalism, to say plagues are curses for sin is to cast a dim light on the idea of forgiveness as we who are forgiven and actively serve the Lord also suffer like those who do not.
In Philippians 4:8 the Bible says: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Light and the colour white are used throughout the Bible as a symbol of God, of truth and the gospel message, of His creative power, of His purity or holiness, of personal goodness and purity in character, of God’s presence, and of guidance from the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
By having no faith a person falls short of pleasing God, but does that also read correctly in the converse? Does the existence or use of faith unequivocally please God? We see no evidence of this in the 10 Commandments, nor did Jesus ever hint at it.
Fighting and running – in terms of sporting competition and training for it – are metaphors the Apostle used elsewhere for attaining the disciplines and virtues of the Christian life. It takes discipline to give your all to serving the Lord.
When God Draws the Line
When Jesus acknowledges a believer before the God the Father, it is equivalent to the very fact of them having been forgiven through accepting him as Lord. Likewise the opposite case is equally serious and it shows what a deal-breaker it is with God that you should disown him.
It is not deep knowledge of the law, but the faith and obedience of the heart that is determinative of salvation. Suppose everyone in the crowd knew the religious leaders to be completely crooked and hypocritical.
The immovability of rock represents a characteristic of God that his word does not change, making him dependable, while all else is changeable and therefore not dependable. The ending of absolute calamity for the foolish man is equivalent to the distinction between the saved and unsaved.
We have theology and logical minds for excellent reasons. But rather than turning our rationale into a source of inertia, when the Spirit of God moves requiring childlike trust, we have to balance correctly between rational skepticism and spiritual excitement.
Noah and the Lesson of Persistence
In Genesis chapters 6 & 7, the Bible tells us about the calling and work of Noah. This is a story that has been contorted badly and had things added to it by populists. The Biblical story is pretty basic and it reads like a lot of stories from antiquity. One is tempted to consider it to be pure allegory.
Noah had a lot of hard work ahead of him building a seaworthy vessel of the vast stated dimensions. There is no evidence to suggest that he knew how long it would take. All we can know is that there were few hands at work because any outsider would have found such employment macabre at best, so it was a monster of a job to do alongside normal activities. I’m sure that in keeping with normal experience also, the scale of the task would have been in no way apparent at the beginning.
As the story goes, it was at the end of the job that God unleashed judgment. The ark was proven seaworthy only at the last moment when the flood came.
Noah and his sons must have been exhausted by the end. They must have been dreaming of carpentry every single night and seeing timber whenever they shut their eyes. The prospect of resting while floating on a massive global flood may actually have been welcome by then.
Now lets think more about the human story here. It’s a lesson in persistence. If the job, however daunting and costly, was not done, then the only animal and human life set aside to be preserved would have perished. If Noah was a quitter that’s the outcome. If his sons were quitters it would have tempted the whole family to do the same. Think also of the grit it took for Jesus to submit willingly to the pain, shock and humiliation of crucifixion – to be tortured to death, when he could have used his miraculous power to escape.
In 1 Timothy 6:12 we are told:
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called….
Victory accrues to those who work hard for it, who don’t quit. While salvation is given for free, the something more we are called to requires effort.
He Will Lift You Up
The story of the crucifixion is one of a man of fame who could have continued to rise in power, but who chose the humiliating, horrifying death of the lowest of criminals. Without Jesus’ sacrifice of his life, and importantly his self-interest, we would have no eternal destiny. If he grasped at worldly success it would have been a disaster.
The Lord makes it clear that he loves humility, saying in Isaiah 66:2:
These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.
We know almost nothing about Jesus’ personal backstory, but of Jesus it is prophesized in Isaiah 53:3:
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
That is the sort of man whom the Father called to take on the greatest task of all and to qualify for the greatest honour.
Now there are people in great careers who develop some prodigious skill sets and hit the top of their field, amassing fortunes and fame. There are people who could do a lot of benefit to the Kingdom of God by turning their skill, work capacity and vision to bear on its work. But this seldom happens in spiritual leadership. Usually the real miracle workers and genuine saints have had a background full of failure, grief and humbling experiences.
After a long time, setbacks, betrayal and inner pain become ingrained and result in magnanimity and a lack of interest in your own honour. Then it becomes possible to achieve highly without it going to your head. You lose your focus on yourself, seeking only the end result and not the prestige that comes with it.
We have to ask ourselves, therefore, why would or should the Almighty share his glory with someone who will try to take glory for themselves? It is His way instead to bestow glory on the ones who lose interest in it and just try to serve.
That’s why in James 4:10 the Bible says:
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
And in James 4:6:
God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 16 August 2020
The Unfolding of God's Word
In Psalm 119:130 the Bible says:
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Think of times when you have read the Bible or listened to a sermon and not just heard the words of God being recited, but you felt them. Sometimes it can be challenging, but always it is enlightening and for those who respond dutifully, it is uplifting. For those in fear or despair it is encouraging and a source of strength. For those who are substantively in error the Word of God does not just conflict with their views, it gives light to their path in way that transforms the heart.
The Gospel of John introduces the concept of the Christ in a highly metaphysical way, going back to the creation itself. John 1:1 says:
In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God.
In short, Christ is one and the same with the Word of God. When we receive of the revelation of the Word of God, then, we are not merely receiving concepts into our minds, but we are receiving something supernatural. Something of immense power and integral to the existence of all things and able to save us and direct us on the true path. It is because of this that it is a wholesome, helpful experience to be guided spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and practically, by God’s Word.
We know from repeated experience that God is gentle and considerate in spite of his overwhelming power. So too is His Word. As we look into it we see by its enlightenment, but when we look away, it does not continue to dominate our thinking. Though a good thing, we can choose to be without it.
When that light shines brightest in our lives is when we transition from total or near-total darkness into the light. The contrast is so dramatic, it can cause real joy and uplifting of the heart, and it feels so right. That’s because it is so very much a right thing. The French philosopher Blaise Pascal put it this way, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man.”
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 9 August 2020
My Righteous Right Hand
In Isaiah 41:10 the Bible says:
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
It is promises from God like this one which we as believers live by every time we encounter a difficulty. It is so easy to imagine that our God is not watching or is testing us and will let calamity strike with justification in the form of what character development you will attain as a result.
One thing we have to get clear in our minds is that, the Creator from whom all things are derived is not in a position of need that He would resort to false or misleading statements to get what He wants from us. It makes no sense to allege that God would blacken his name by behaving with mischief or trickery, or that He would do anything that shows moral weakness.
He made for himself a position of weakness by imparting to us the ability to make our own choices and by giving us the power to give or withhold love and faith. It was to that end that he sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins – our refusal to remain in relationship. Rather than just cooking the books like a human might for convenience, he went through, as the Son himself, not just as the Father looking on, the pain, shock and humiliation of crucifixion. He paid for our sins himself rather than merely judging them.
That’s why we can draw near to God in confidence rather than wondering whether he will do something unexpectedly harmful. For that reason He tells it like it is and demands that we accept Him at His word. He is righteous, meaning he goes by the rules always. He sets the rules, but he also adheres to them. He has pledged love and faithfulness, and unless we turn our backs deliberately in treason, He will uphold us always in his righteous right hand. And yes, challenges do occur, but only when the outcome will be better than if you were spared them.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 26 July 2020
Those Who are Pure in Heart
The Sermon on the Mount occupies the whole of Matthew chapter 5. The first 12 verses constitute what we know as the Beatitudes. This can be read as a series of random sayings espousing various virtues, and quoted alone as they often are, that impression is easily conveyed. But if you take the list as a whole, you see a common theme emerge from them.
Each verse identifies a type of person – a social group – and states what shall be done for them. These are each Christlike virtues where a person either loses something or expends effort for a higher purpose. And God is depicted as providing for those people’s resulting needs. Our God does not leave us to fend for ourselves for life. We are picked up and attended to lovingly at some point.
Those who are poor in spirit – who feel they deserve nothing – own the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who mourn are to be comforted. Those who have achieved the Christlike virtue of meekness will inherit the earth – which is symbolic of finding a distinct position of power or victory.
But what about those pure in heart, who will see God? Looking into this closely, those who are pure tend to look upon people, things and events around them in a way that those who are impure do not. You see a wallet lying around – is it an opportunity to get some extra cash or a duty to find the owner and see that they get back what is theirs? You have a colleague at work who is overly trusting and unguarded – is this a chance to manipulate a situation and gain credit with your boss at their detriment, or is this someone whose honesty and simplicity you find refreshing and who you may feel you need to look out for? A prime example is to be found where the question of adultery arises.
Those who are pure in heart may miss out on opportunities that the base or sinful nature would desire. But what they will see is God who calls them to be pure, and it is God who is their opportunity and source of benefit in the end.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 12 July 2020
A Love Song to God: Psalm 119
Throughout Psalm 119 the writer prays with palpable fervency to God, about obedience to the Laws of God. This is the sort of scripture you could read as a dreary recital of basic, obvious things; the writer’s submission to a heavy burden. But if you read it from the perspective of one who obeys God passionately, it takes on an infinitely more meaningful tone. From the standpoint of the Old Testament in which ritual obedience was paramount, Psalm 119 could even read like a love song to God. Jesus taught a higher and more inspirational spirituality that that, but still many of these points hold true in the life of a believer. In verses 54 to 55 it says:
Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. In the night, Lord, I remember your name that I may keep your law.
That is to say the writer is continually thinking of and mulling over our God and his ways and his requirements of us. This is a hallmark of one who is passionately devoted to God.
Verse 60 says:
I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.
We put off what we find a burden and are quick to do what we find exciting. Why should a person who loves God with a whole heart ever find it burdensome to obey Him, except amid the direst of testing? To earn His pleasure is in itself a worthwhile thing to do.
Verse 19 says:
My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.
This picture of obsessive longing conjures up a picture like lovers longing for each other. It is best thought of as a longing for God Himself. It was through the written law that God had revealed himself most substantively at the time of writing. The Holy Spirit communes with our spirits directly now, guiding us in His very subtle, yet effective manner. So, if you cannot relate to Psalm 119 as a passionate outpouring of the heart then the Holy Spirit may not be having His way with you in like He wants. Remember that it is through our drawing near to Him that He brings all spiritual goodness into our lives.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 5 July 2020
The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength
In Nehemiah 8:10 the Bible says:
This day is holy to the Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength
Some of us are old enough to remember folks treating the weekly Sabbath as a day for austerity, inactivity and disciplined religious devotion, rather than simply as a day of rest and repose. I recall stories like this within living memory. This kind of approach to the Christian faith has been blamed for much of the push-back experienced in Western countries over recent decades.
Maintaining a depressive attitude in relation to anything is psychologically a burden in all situations. While negativity can elicit greater effort in the short term, extending it to become habitual, or the basis of doctrine itself, saps the emotional energy out of people, out of institutions and traditions, and out of society itself. People lose their way and run out of motivation or succumb to pressure without a clear sign in their hearts of the coming fulfillment of their hopes. Fear and stress are best dealt with by knowing what you want to avoid is finite and manageable, for which we often need a fundamentally optimistic mindset.
When you draw spiritually close to the Lord in prayer or worship, the emotional effect is always uplifting and positive. Have you ever wondered why, when Moses would leave God’s presence after speaking with him, Joshua felt inclined to remain behind? The activity of the Spirit of God recorded in the Book of Acts and the Gospels is almost consistently to bring goodness upon people, for this is what He desires to do, rather than to punish and condemn.
I can tell you from personal experience how closely one’s faith is affected by one’s underlying mood. When the joy of God’s presence is felt, or the unpleasant aspects of life are simply neglected, it can be a game changer in the life of a believer. Putting doubt aside and trusting God implicitly, and taking in the presence and emotional elevation of his Spirit, and dwelling on this, will lead to a better life both emotionally and spiritually.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 28 June 2020
Our Destination is Joy
In Proverbs 10:28 the Bible says:
The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
I want to begin this study by saying that its coming from someone who has seen a lot of disappointment and been stung by it. That’s enough about me. Life throws many uncertainties and upsets at us. There are situations like that of Job who endured massive spiritual attack and suffered profoundly. There can be one sore point that grabs all of your attention as in the case of Abraham and Sarah who needed a miracle to conceive a child. Some of us are called to suffer with a sense of purpose like Jesus and the early apostles. Suffering is worst when you see no point in it.
Amid the chaos that life brings, some people find opportunities they can take advantage of, while others get stuck in a backwater of life. An element in this is also your degree of natural talent and your emotional or mental preparedness for what presents itself. The world is fundamentally unfair.
But compare the situation of those who go through the mud and mire of disappointment or the fire of temptation, for that matter, having the Holy Spirit as a guide – whether He makes himself apparent or not – and those who go through this without Him. Even if you fail many times in what you should do, He maintains unconditionally in Romans 11:29 that:
God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
…which means you will arrive where you are meant to be, which is where you will find fulfillment at the Lord’s side and not in spite of Him. Furthermore in Jeremiah 29:11 we are taught that:
I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans for a future and a hope.
It is with goodness in mind that we are permitted to suffer and to think we are lost. But in the end if you have been made righteous by the forgiveness of sins and hold on to the Lord, he will guide you through life to a joyous destination.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 21 June 2020
Wisdom and Love
In Proverbs 20:3 the Bible says:
It is to one’s honour to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
A fool is a person who has no understanding of God or His ways. A fool does not think of higher things, but is preoccupied with more immediate gain in worldly or fleshly matters. The fool’s path spiritually is paved with strife and leads to death but the wise person submits to God and inherits eternal life.
It would be fascinating to study all that it means to be foolish or wise, but lets just zoom in on this one aspect.
How many times have you been faced with someone provoking you to get into an argument with them? They might be failing the attitude test in flying colours. Or it might be some issue to do with politics. What about that other major argument topic – religion. Sharing the gospel in love is one thing, but churlishly contesting opinions about the Word of God is another.
If you want to correct someone, take a look at your motives. Is it more about making that person more pleasant for you to be around, or is it for their sake that you want to inspire personal betterment? Are you trying to correct what might be a costly error, or are you just trying to wipe out all that you disagree with? It is a fool who is quick to act with selfish or insular motives, but a wise person holds back and shows graciousness. Just think – even if someone is headed for disaster through their own lack of understanding, how would a loving and kind person get into such a frame of mind that they end up berating and condemning them for their error? Although it has often been pointed out that you don’t have to be nice to be in right standing with God, in matters like this, gentleness and kindness really are hallmarks of Christian love.
And so we have in this one issue a window into the nature of the Godly wisdom described in Proverbs. Without love there is no wisdom. The display of Godly wisdom is to quite an extent a display of Christlike love.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 14 June 2020
Healing the Brokenhearted
In Psalm 147:3 the Bible says:
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Why does the Bible make so much of healing and reassurance? I know this is a pretty basic question to be asking, but there are some points we can discern in the answer that may be quite informative.
The obvious, go-to answer is that God is compassionate. Compassion emanates from love. The more loving a person is, the more often and the more readily they will put another person’s interest ahead of their own, and I think therefore that love emanates from the quality of seeing someone else as being at least as important as yourself in some way, at some time, in some context.
The Lord looks upon our problems as more important than anything that may interest Him directly. This implies that even the pain He feels in seeing someone commit sin, is overshadowed by the pain he feels when we suffer, whatever the suffering is about. Remember, though, the consequence of sin is a massive additional problem to bear.
The Bible tells us that our God heals, saves, delivers, restores, rebuilds and reassures. It also speaks of protection, prevention of disaster, aversion of trouble, and miraculous escapes. Psalm 91 is notable on this. But it is the former cases and not the latter in which the love of God is most profoundly stated. In fact the most compelling of Bible and personal stories, are those where danger did come close, or where loss was suffered, or where harm was experienced, but then the Lord came to the rescue or brought restoration.
Compare this with the arrow that flies by night and the pestilence that stalks in darkness. You don’t even know it was there. How can you develop faith out of what you never knew about? Faith building lessons would be scant and impotent.
The Lord would certainly gain satisfaction, delight and relief by preventing all harm, but the world would stop working as it naturally does and our spiritual and moral development would be stunted. While our pain hurts Him, He will gain for us something of eternal worth in the building of faith and character by healing wounds, not just preventing them.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 7 June 2020
Love Your Neighbour as Yourself
In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus gave a teaching which heralded the end of a system of ritual sin and righteousness, and the beginning of a system based on one’s state of mind in acting – a first principles approach to sin and righteousness based on whether we love God and love each other. Saying that “all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments” means for example that stealing food for a starving person is not a sin, and facilitating someone to escape a perpetually abusive marriage does not sever what God has joined together.
This can be read as inviting a highly libertarian teaching allowing all manner of spurious justifications for whatever proclivity and whatever cunning scheme and whatever form of abuse the heart conjures up, as long as you don’t mean to do damage to anyone who seems innocent. Neither we as individuals nor as a society with the rule of law, can live with a value system as loose as that, and it makes a mockery of the fact that strict laws ever were given.
What then does it mean to love God and to love your neighbour? If you love someone you keep their feelings and needs in mind, not merely as a function of what you think they should be, but with respect for that person’s feelings and understanding. If you love someone you maintain awareness of what foreseeably could go wrong and do what you can to provide for that. To love your neighbour is a commandment first given in Leviticus 19:18 which says:
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbour as yourself.
In this we have an example of what it is to love – that is, to forgive wrongdoings and misfeasances. For some revenge is a big deal and seems necessary to prevent further wrongs. Self defence against a committed aggressor is one thing, while revenge coming from the heart is another. Yet how do you distinguish the two in the heat of the moment? Only through rigorous and deep self examination, the deferral of self interest and the abrogation of the ego. These are lessons we all need to learn.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 31 May 2020
The Virtue of Courage - Part 2
This is the second part of the first of four studies on four Godly virtues that get little attention, both in scripture and in Christian teaching. These are courage, persistence, staying power, and the sacrifice of power.
Last time we saw how God led Jonathan, son of King Saul, on an incredibly dangerous mission and gave him success in spite of massive odds, and how it precipitated an overall turn in a smouldering war. Indeed, how would Jesus have chosen to undergo crucifixion if he shrunk from the prospect of a torturous death?
But now we must consider the line between Godly bravery and recklessness. The ultimate go-to passage is the temptation of Jesus. Satan challenged him to launch himself off the top of the temple in Jerusalem, going so far as to quote scripture to establish that Angels would catch him. The Bible describes this is Luke 4:9-12. But Jesus, instead of seizing the opportunity to prove the power and faithfulness of God in public, retorted with famous words:
It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’
Therefore, the intention to glorify God is not the litmus test.
Imagine having to act swiftly to save your children from themselves. Suppose you have a small child standing up high on a tree branch and they spontaneously launch themselves into your arms. All they are thinking is that you will never fail them. Or consider an infant having no concept of danger, needing you to intervene suddenly and prevent disaster. But then imagine a child seeking attention, seeking control, or stretching their thrill-seeking recklessly far too often and making a chore out of parental vigilance. Such acts normally deserve punishment.
We must examine our hearts when considering a dire risk in the light of faith. What are our motives, and how does it impact our relationship with God? Jesus had many opportunities to demonstrate God’s power, and none involved grandstanding or making the Father act unbecomingly in protecting a foolish son from himself.
As said last week, it is time for us to rediscover true Godly courage, but we add now, only if distinguished from ungodly recklessness.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 3 May 2020
The Virtue of Persistence
This is the second of four studies on four Godly virtues that get little attention, both in scripture and in Christian teaching. These are courage, persistence, staying power, and the sacrifice of power.
The word, persistence, refers to acting continually both in spite of hardship, and in spite of frustration or improbability. The former meaning is also touched on by words like perseverance or staying power, while the latter meaning does not have any common synonym. It is the latter meaning we will study.
In Matthew 18:2-8, a victimised widow brought her case before a judge who had neither regard for God nor respect for his fellow citizens. It was not the strength of her case, but her persistence which drove the judge to make a finding for her. This is compared with God who happily sees that justice is done for we who appeal to him day and night. We are told thereby to show persistence in prayer.
In other verses we are told to persist in doing good, such as in Galatians 6:9 which says we will reap a harvest is we do not give up. Romans 2:6-7 says:
He will pay back according to his deeds [justly, as his deeds deserve]: to those who by persistence in doing good seek [unseen but certain heavenly] glory, honor, and immortality, [He will give the gift of] eternal life.
You can do a good deed now and then and receive credit for it from God. But reaching out again and again and again, regardless whether it seems worthwhile, is goodness on a whole different level. The person who works day after day to establish a ministry or charity earns far more in God’s sight than the wealthy benefactor who simply funds the operation. Likewise, while a miracle might follow compliance with a special command, miracles do not follow a great deed of virtue done at will.
To be persistent is to act with discipline and repetition in seeking a worthy end, which is a matter of good character. We are called to persist because it develops good character even if our aims are worldly. How much more does the Lord delight in those who strive for Him against opposition?
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 10 May 2020
The Virtue of Staying Power
This is the third of four studies on four Godly virtues that get little attention, both in scripture and in Christian teaching. These are courage, persistence, staying power, and the sacrifice of power.
The term “staying power” can be seen as synonymous with persistence, but it is only one form of it: the ability to keep at a task, showing discipline or toughness, in spite of the unpleasantness of it, or the endlessness of the commitment, and the absence of a real incentive. To show staying power shows the inner strength to keep up an effort that is not paying off.
We all know this is a virtue. Anyone my age or older grew up being taught about the value of sticking at a task. But what makes it a Godly virtue? Is it more a case of cleanliness is next to Godliness, or does the Holy Spirit push us to stick at things? There are several verses which attest to it being a Godly virtue. Many Old Testament stories depict incredibly long waiting periods when the promises of God seem unreachable. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to pray without ceasing, not just when something comes up.
In 1 Corinthians 15:58 we are told:
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
In Romans 2:7 it says:
To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
By these verses we can see that there is a requirement for consistently doing what is right, day-in, day-out.
Now let me ask you, what is more virtuous? To do good because you can get something you want, or to do good only because it is right? This is altruism, which is fundamental to Christlikeness. Staying power as a worldly virtue is all about rugged discipline, but the Holy Spirit would encourage altruism which makes striving for spiritual or compassionate aims an easier and obvious thing to do. When the discipline of earthly staying power is combined with Godly altruism, this can transform a person of faith and talent into a ministry powerhouse.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 17 May 2020
The Virtue of Sacrificing Influence
This is the fourth of four studies on four Godly virtues that get little attention, both in scripture and in Christian teaching. These are courage, persistence, staying power, and the sacrifice of power.
To sacrifice power is essentially a simple act of saying no to temptation as the use or enjoyment of power is very pleasing to the ego. There are few things that feel so right, and to a person who is morally weak, it is addictive. Letting go of power, then, can be very difficult thing for many people and an act that some are so disinclined to undertake that they will hang on long after they ceased to be of benefit in the relevant position.
We can see how the early life experiences of Joseph, son of Jacob, and King David would have prepared them to accept the reigns of power with a sense of realism about themselves and a sense of responsibility before God.
Joseph, with his young, naïve mind was uplifted by the dreams he had which showed him his superiority over his brothers. In the end as prime minister of Egypt, he was vastly superior, but getting there was a journey in which his brothers jealousy gleamed down on him in gaol. David at a young age found out what it was like to be a national hero and then got to see the workings of royal power. But suddenly he was a fugitive running for his life for several years.
Years of humiliation and hardship can take the shine off being you, and the Holy Spirit, gently, can open you up to inner transformation. Only by getting used to the sacrifice of self and depending on God, can get you through this refining fire emotionally intact. But if you’ve not been through the wringer, you’re vulnerable to pride and the attraction of power and attaining it is a poison challice.
You have to ask where is your commitment. Are you devoted to God's Kingdom, your organisational goals, or the people you lead? Or is there a big slab of self interest involved that sees power as a means of self-expression or just reward?
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 24 May 2020
Listen to the Holy Spirit
In Psalm 25:4-5 the Bible says:
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me…
This prayer is part of a psalm which was written by King David. It seems to celebrate a relationship of friendly familiarity between the writer and God and in these two verses God is asked to impart wisdom as to what He requires of us. Being about a deeply personal relationship, the tenor is not one of arm’s length imposition of knowledge, but rather of teaching as part of a wider relationship. A personal encounter that must surely occur again and again.
This reflects what Jesus taught his disciples in John 16:12-13:
I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
As you experience the inner presence of God’s spirit, you find that he is continually bringing guidance. He prompts you maybe to do something differently, to honour Him in a certain way, take a step of faith and throw caution to the wind, or to step back and show common sense. Through this we can learn more about how to interpret the Bible and acquire an intuitive understanding of God’s heart and our relationship to Him.
Above all when in difficult or dangerous situations, you can find that the Lord brings peace and reassurance, if you are willing to discount your perception of the dangers around you. But not only that, when He brings that reassurance, it is in effect a promise – to be fulfilled – that all is in hand. If you read Hebrews 11:1 in the Amplified version it says:
Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].
With that in mind, the inner leading of the Holy Spirit is a solid guide as to what will be, not a mere platitude or aspiration, and a source of confidence.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 5 April 2020
Is God in Control?
I saw a post on Facebook from 2 Chronicles 7:13 which states that when God causes drought, sends locusts or a plague on his people, they are to turn from their wickedness and humbly seek Him. Many such passages are used to identify contemporary events as a trigger for revival.
At present the world is on edge over a viral epidemic and the challenge to faith is formidable. As many an atheist would point out, if God is loving, why does he allow this to happen? Although the Old Testament plays heavily on the theme of Divine paternalism, to say COVID-19 is a curse for human sinfulness is to cast a dim light on the idea of forgiveness as we who are forgiven and actively serve the Lord also suffer like those who do not.
There is a different perspective which can be helpful. When God created the universe, He designed it to run by itself. The laws of physics and logic govern all that happens materially, so it is independent of His will. He ceased to be almighty, in the complete sense, at the moment of creation, and when giving humans free will, he relinquished further control. This is because the Lord does not re-work his rulings. He does not keep on interrupting the laws of nature either, except in events we call miracles. This is why, so often, we find prayers answered through everyday events working together to produce the desired effect, rather than through stunning miracles.
So, to explain the current epidemic, there is no more need to associate it with Divine will than there is if your children catch colds in winter. Atheists insist that everyone who believes in God thinks of God as a mother who cannot allow her babies to suffer, but this is precisely because it is untenable to think that. The Lord permits suffering, but He provides spiritual and emotional support. Material support provided inconspicuously limits the real damage. It usually takes a solid reason for the Lord to work miracles. He will support you and your family if you reach out to Him and your suffering and loss will be limited to what is going to make you stronger in your faith.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 29 March 2020
Think on Such Things
In Philippians 4:8 the Bible says:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
We are advised here to let good things occupy our minds rather than bad things. This verse occurs in a context full of exhortations and encouragement and well-known quotable quotes. It’s veritably a passage full of hit singles with a similar tone. But not one of these can be thought of as a commandment the abandonment of which might be a prima facie sin, but more as excellent advice. After all our minds are to be used for whatever requires attention and sometimes truly horrid things come up.
What if we abandoned this instruction and filled our minds constantly with unclean, violent and hateful things? As a consistent pursuit over years, such thinking begets inward ugliness. There is a standard of personal excellence that befits a Christian and here is a way to maintain it. This passage tells us not about maintaining personal piety, but about living happily and presenting Christ to the world.
Many years ago, suffering depression and frustration, afer going home from evening church, I would switch on the television and watch gruesome shows like CSI. I overcame that depression completely long, long ago and lost all interest in gruesome subject matter. Now even tactless negative talk is distasteful to me. My point is essentially it was a heart darkened by years of negative experiences and feeling out of sorts which found morbidity and criminality entertaining. Conversely, keeping positive themes in front of you all the time is a symptom of the opposite.
If you find it a challenge to keep a positive lifestyle and mindset, then get assistance, or get people praying for a major turnaround. Meanwhile God is not angry because you’re angry or depressed, nor are your misadventures and missed opportunities signs of Divine displeasure. Sometimes the Lord is just waiting for His servants – fellow believers – to pray with faith and intentionality before He will act.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 15 March 2020
God is Light
In 1 John 1:5 the Bible says,
This is the message we heard from Him and declare to you: God is Light and in him is no darkness at all.
Light and the colour white are used throughout the Bible as a symbol of God, of truth and the gospel message, of His creative power, of His purity or holiness, of personal goodness and purity in character, of God’s presence, and of guidance from the Holy Spirit.
God gives us light that we may see spiritual truth and know the path we are to keep to, he cleanses us in terms of forgiveness and development of Christ-like character, which helps us to reflect His light and show the way to others. But this statement from John is much more profound as it goes to the very heart of God’s character. Along with love, we find light. The implications are somewhat extreme if you unpack them with care.
If you have a sheet of pure white paper, it’s white because it reflects so much of the light falling on it. Yet hold it next to a bright white light and it looks dull and grey. Place that light next to an even brighter one and it will fade to a dull colour. Compare any artificial light to the sun and the same effect happens. There is no upper limit on whiteness or brightness of light as it is energy. The creator of the universe could be said to have infinite light. That is, infinite holiness, clarity, goodness and truthfulness.
He is holy and evil cannot exist in his presence. Evil evaporates from its very temporal roots in God’s intimate presence. This is both uplifting for all who are forgiven, and terrifying on account of those who are not yet. Balancing His purity with His altruistic love creates a picture which ought to inspire. Thinking on God as being this holy, and in love drawing us in rather than repelling us away, to participate with Him ought to make life’s pain and difficulty seem small.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 8 March 2020
The Greatest Commandment
In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus was approached by a rabbi who asked him which is the greatest commandment. By this time Jesus was well established as a public figure and his opinion mattered.
Instead of just giving a limited, direct answer, the Lord made a very important point. He explained not only which commandment was greatest, but also which was second, and then led into a statement of momentous significance. He said:
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
In that one last statement he is saying that loving God and loving others – which we take to be in action, not just in sentiment – is all that is required. A fitting corollary to this is if you perform acts in obedience to a specific command, but with a begrudging heart, and without any altruistic motive, then your obedience is less than acceptable.
There is lots of scripture supporting the primacy of motives as the touchstone of sin and righteousness. But Christian teachings over many centuries have favoured highly particular commandments, even ritualism and irrational perspectives on God’s character. This practice has generated massive doctrinal conflict and misunderstanding and has made God seem irrelevant in a modern, rational society. Jesus instead provided a teaching here that gave a clear triage to the commandments that revealed something very clear-headed and rational about our relationship to our Creator. For instance, instead criticising drug addicts for ingesting substances, we should focus on the meaning of their behaviour. Though dreading the moral degradation of society, we have to rise to the challenge that strict rationalism presents, and know that God has a solution already.
The focus of rational, proportional theology, and of all that is Divine, is love. Without denying the holiness or purity of God, we must accept that any attempt the Lord makes to discipline or guide us is as much out of love as when he brings blessing, and that this love is unqualified, being couched not in merit but in His forgiveness, accepted through faith.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 1 March 2020
Faith Alone
In Hebrews 11:6 the Bible says:
…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
By having no faith a person falls short of pleasing God, but does that also read correctly in the converse? Does the existence or use of faith unequivocally please God? We see no evidence of this in the 10 Commandments, nor did Jesus ever hint at it. Statements of what is required generally focus on fundamental, first-principles virtue and obedience. As an example, in Micah 6:8 we are told:
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
This cannot be taken as all-encompassing or final, because it does not mention faith. Yet faith’s ability to get results from God is, as source of spiritual principle, hollow and pointless. It’s like having the spiritual gifts without love, as put in 1 Corinthians 13:2:
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
So it is possible to have faith without any Christlike virtue. In fact, over a year before I made Christ Lord of everything in my life, I prayed once in desperation and experienced the answer. It was because I earnestly believed that God would come to the rescue. I had not passed any mark, and had little understanding of God’s grace. He responded simply to faith. This may be why Jesus cajoled and berated his disciples to increase their faith themselves rather than telling them to wait on God for it. Such treatment would have focussed their minds, for sure.
So faith alone, though effective, is not enough. Faith with love for God and love for others, with virtue - and yes, with good works - defines the Christian life. Do not think that you are saved merely because you have certain beliefs and God has answered some prayers. Rather check whether you are developing Christlike character with ever increasing love for God and others, as well as receiving His help, assurance and guidance.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 23 February 2020
Finishing the Race
In 2 Timothy 4:7-8 the Apostle Paul wrote:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day…
Fighting and running – in terms of sporting competition and training for it – are metaphors the Apostle used elsewhere for attaining the disciplines and virtues of the Christian life. It takes discipline to give your all to serving the Lord. It takes real focus on things above and determination to put worldly aims second when what is above is invisible and intangible and when we are surrounded by the temptations of the flesh and of worldly success, all the time.
I recall Dr David Yongi Cho preaching in Adelaide saying there are three stages to the Christian life. There is the honeymoon, when, right after salvation, the Lord shows you that He is part of your life and is attentive to your needs and prayers. Then following that are many years of hard work. A process of scouring away the sinful attributes, personal weaknesses and of building faithfulness and obedience. Thirdly when that is complete the Lord makes things easier and begins to reveal the full extent of his love. A relationship of emotional intimacy begins.
As a personal note I spent my whole life until recently wishing and waiting to reach that third stage. By the time I reached it I had learned actually to value humiliation and embarrassment because of the character-building effect it has, instead of balking at the pain it produces.
Paul seemed to recognise, above, that there is an end to the hard work of the Christian life if you go the whole distance. What happens after that is up to God. You have to be willing to go around all over again if you are ever to reach the crowning glory at the end, though. There is a special place in heaven for those who do God’s will to the end.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 16 February 2020
When God Draws the Line
In Matthew 10:32-33 Jesus said:
Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.
When Jesus acknowledges a believer before the God the Father, it is equivalent to the very fact of them having been forgiven through accepting him as Lord. It is a guarantee that you belong in Heaven and not someplace else. Likewise the opposite case is equally serious and it shows what a deal-breaker it is with God that you should disown him.
By extension, a matter of attitude or preparedness to act is to be considered. If you cultivate a will to keep your faith a big secret or to act so as to hide your association with Christ, then in as much as this involves conscious decisions, it is equally an offence before the Lord.
The Bible is so full of expressions of grace and sacrificial love flowing from Christ. His innocent death is an all-sufficient payment for whatever we do wrong when we repent. But he was very strong on the topic of a few sins: most notable was hypocrisy. Seeing denial of faith this from His perspective, imagine if you went to great pain and effort to help someone in dire need, and instead of giving you credit and befriending you, they denied ever knowing you and kept away from you. How insulting would that be?
Basically, if you are clear, by a decisive statement or act, or by a period of contingency planning, that you don’t want to be associated with Christ, then he will decide likewise before the Father. Don’t let this happen.
Fortunately, just earlier in the same statement in Matthew 10, Jesus was giving assurances that we are worth a great amount to God and he does not want the slightest thing to go wrong. He would happily provide for every need, but sometimes a test of faith is a shot in the arm we can do well from.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 2 February 2020
The Law Fulfilled – How?
In Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus was carrying on teaching straight after the famous Sermon of the Mount where He imparted the Beatitudes. The following remarks come across rather cryptically. It seems he was finding a brief way to say lots, and that he was leaving out something profound without explanation.
In summary he said:
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He was not on Earth to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them,
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The law and prophetic writings would not change until all was fulfilled
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No-one is allowed to set aside anything in them
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Unless people rise above the (ethical or spiritual) level of the Pharisees and Rabbis (of Christ's time) they will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
And yet we see elsewhere that Jesus treated the Sabbath very lightly, he associated with people who were just waking up to their sinfulness, and he walked such a fine line that he was accused sometimes of ritual neglect and even debauchery. How then could he assert that the common people must do better than their religious leaders?
It is not deep knowledge of the law, but the faith and obedience of the heart that is determinative of salvation. Suppose everyone in the crowd knew the religious leaders to be completely crooked and hypocritical. They still had to be told that a lack of leadership did not let them off the hook and they should choose a path different from their leaders. Although Jesus taught at various times that it’s an honest and well-meaning heart that God values, here he is emphasizing strict obedience. As long as you can obey, even if no-one else does, you must.
But what about when the law and prophets are fulfilled? At that time when all that is predicted in the human world comes true and someone or some people at some point will have attained true and complete Godliness, the condition for possible change will have emerged. This can mean nothing other than the dawning of a new era in God’s Kingdom. Perhaps this will be the onset of the Millenial Kingdom? It will be something to look forward to, but I have to say a topic for another day.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 19 January 2020
Rock and Sand
In Matthew 7:24 the Bible says:
…everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
This is an often-quoted verse warning against going beyond the tried and true inferences of scripture. The wise man built his house on rock and it withstood a storm, while the foolish man built his house on sand, and it collapsed immediately. It tells us to focus our minds on what is written and to expunge thoughts incompatible with scripture.
There are two ways of understanding this. One is that the immovability of rock represents a characteristic of God that his word does not change, making him dependable, while all else is changeable and therefore not dependable. The ending of absolute calamity for the foolish man speaks of an eternal consequence. This is equivalent to the distinction between the saved and unsaved.
Another perspective is the rock represents real truth as opposed to mere human opinion. Bedrock fixes things in place, whereas sand gets carried along by water and wind. So often when we get a depth sounding in the intangible, we are influenced by current thinking. An un-anchored imagination can produce diabolical results if trusted too much. Many who claim to have a higher truth on their side are sometimes no better than those influenced by the popular memes of the day. Think of the liberal humanist conceptions expressed so often in movies which sometimes even blur the line between good and evil. What sort of spiritual teaching is that? So too, churches relying on self esteem as a substitute for finding peace with God after painful self-examination.
Any confidence while relying on what is beyond objective observation requires the existence of One who is reliable, responsible and compassionate, and who forms a bedrock foundation; one who responds to our calls for help and whose response is consistent.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 12 January 2020
Doctrinal Inertia and Spiritual Inspiration
In Matthew chapter 4 the Bible tells us about Jesus at the beginning of his ministry walking beside the sea of Galilee and calling the first four disciples.
In Verses 18 to 20 it says:
…He noticed two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, throwing a dragnet into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. At once they left their nets and became His disciples.
It is highly likely that Simon and Andrew had responsibilities back in town. Families to support, parents to answer to, equipment and homes to care for, relatives to assist. They might have the support of close relatives for immediate issues, but we see not a jot of evidence that they hesitated in leaving everything to follow the Lord. The story is the same when Jesus, further along the shore, called James and John.
I think it is possible that Jesus had preached and healed in the town already, maybe even just that day. They would already have known who this was calling them. What’s remarkable, though, is the total lack of any demand to prove his authenticity as a prophet counteracting teachings based on Moses. Salvation by repentance was a brand-new idea, introduced only by John the Baptist.
It is likely they had been raised on a spiritual diet of complex ritualism steeped in Rabbinical tradition. And yet they trusted Jesus enough to walk away from everything. How different and anonymous would their lives have ended up had they taken the cool-headed, sensible option and ignored the apparent prompting of the Holy Spirit?
We have theology for excellent reasons. We have logical minds capable of erudite reasoning and are supposed to use them. But rather than turning our rationale into a source of inertia, when the Spirit of God moves requiring childlike trust, we have to balance correctly between rational skepticism and spiritual excitement. One must allow the Lord to administer his responsibility to defend us as we seek the best he has for us.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 22 December 2019
The Virtue of Courage - Part 1
This is the first of four studies on four Godly virtues that get little attention, both in scripture and in Christian teaching. These are courage, persistence, staying power, and the sacrifice of power.
Courage is a thing which, in times past, was required for anyone to function normally in day-to-day life because almost everything carried grave risk. Only in recent decades has it been unnecessary in the material world. When the Bible was written people had just their family and community and that was it.
Let’s have a look at a story where God honoured someone for incredible courage. The story is that of Jonathan and his youthful armour bearer going alone to meet a group of Philistines for an armed skirmish. They told no-one and it seems Jonathan just went with feelings. It is obvious he was being led by God, but he never stopped to consider anything. There’s no evidence of preparation or planning. He just talked it over briefly with his boy and the two went to meet the enemy.
The Bible quotes Jonathan to his armour bearer in 1 Samuel 14:8-10:
Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.”
All this looks like nothing more than reckless abandon resulting in painful lessons in adult responsibility. The Philistines looked from their outpost and saw the two. Fatefully the Philistines told them to approach.
What followed was a slaughter, not of two Israelites, but of 20 Philistines within about half an acre. Furthermore, we are told, the entire Philistine army panicked and the Israelite army pounced. Jonathan’s gut instinct was right. By putting himself and his child accomplice in terrible danger he won the day in the name of the Lord.
There is such a thing as putting the Lord to the test and godless reckless abandon, but courage is such an underrated virtue. It’s time to reawaken courage in the name of the Lord.
This Bible study went to air on 96three FM on 26 April 2020