Rajesh

The Vital Importance of Psalm 31:23 for Every Christian

December 3, 2012

Jesus taught that the first and greatest commandment was to love God with all one’s being (Matt. 22:37-38). Because He made known that loving God properly is the greatest priority of all, believers must focus foremost on loving God in their lives.

In keeping with that supreme priority and based on much Scriptural teaching, contemporary theology, preaching, teaching, and music all highly stress loving God because of what He has done and is doing to provide salvation for sinners through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. Similarly, believers today highly emphasize loving God for His care for His own.

Although appreciation for God’s providing salvation for sinners and for His caring for His own are both certainly reasons that we should love God, they are not the only reasons we should do so. To understand why, we must consider a key command that David gave to all believers:

O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer” (Ps. 31:23).

David here does command all believers to love God because He preserves the faithful (31:23a-b). He, however, does not stop there; he adds that all believers must love God also because He plentifully rewards the proud doer (31:23c).

To understand further this teaching from God, we must consider a closely related statement in the Psalms:

Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud (94:2).

Psalm 94:2 makes clear that God is the Judge who rewards the proud by judging them.[1] Based on the teaching, therefore, of Psalms 31:23 and 94:2, every believer must love God for His work as the Judge who fully repays proud doers!

Psalm 31:23 thus provides us with a vital insight into an essential aspect of our loving God. Because God gives us this truth in His inspired hymnbook, the Psalms, we must adjust our music so that we teach believers this truth through our singing.

Our theology, preaching, and teaching must also be adjusted so that we properly instruct all believers that loving God properly involves loving Him both for caring for His own and for judging the proud (cf. Paul’s love for the appearing of the Lord, the righteous Judge [2 Tim. 4:8]). Doing so, we will help disciple them fully to be the saints that Jesus wants them to be (Matt. 28:18-20).

Let us all love God properly by loving Him because He is the Judge who plentifully rewards the proud doer.

[1] Many other passages confirm that His doing so is His judging. For examples, see Leviticus 26:19; 1 Samuel 2:3-10; 2 Samuel 22:28; 2 Chronicles 32:25; Psalms 75:7-10; Proverbs 15:25; Isaiah 2:11; Daniel 5:20; and Luke 1:51.

In Exhortation, Exposition, Ministry, Music, Preaching, Theology

An Illustration That Helps Explain the Greatness of Our Sinfulness

December 1, 2012

When queen Vashti refused to heed the commandment of her husband, king Ahasuerus (Esth. 1:12), the king consulted with his wise men about what should be done to her (Esth. 1:13-15). Memucan, one of his princes, remarked that the queen had not only wronged the king by her disobedience to his commandment, but also she had wronged all his princes and all the people in all his provinces (Esth. 1:16). He thus regarded her rebellion against the king as a sin against him and all who were in his kingdom.

Scripture teaches that God is the eternal King of the universe (Ps. 29:10; Dan. 4:34-35; 1 Tim. 1:17). When we sin even once by breaking one of His commandments, we sin not only against God but also against all His subjects throughout His universal kingdom.

Viewed from this perspective, it is clear that all of us are exceedingly great sinners who have sinned against God and His universal dominion countless times. The infinite greatness of our sin required the payment of an infinite penalty if we were to be forgiven.

Praise God that Jesus is “the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2)! Thank you, Lord Jesus, for paying it all!

In Exposition

Sexton on Friendship

November 27, 2012

Friendship is one of God’s special gifts to the human race. It is more precious than we can imagine. Friendship begins with God. Most of us have the idea that people can be friends and never know the Lord Jesus Christ. But the truest friendship must begin with the Lord. . . .

Friendship is of divine design. It is the free (given without charge), spontaneous outflow of the heart, and it is a gift from the great Giver of our souls. It is never something we demand of another human being. It comes to us as a gift, and it must be cultivated in lovingkindness.

—Clarence Sexton, The Gift of Friendship, 7

In Quotes

Guitar Chords for Eight Spanish Hymns

November 21, 2012

Here are PDFs of the guitar chords and first lines for eight spanish hymns in my guitar format! If you have friends who play guitar and like to sing Spanish hymns, please let them know of these new resources on my site.

A Cristo coronad

A los pies de Jesucristo

Allá en el pesebre

Cristo me ama

Noche de Paz

Oh pueblecito de Belén

Qué me puede dar perdón

Sagrado es el amor

In Guitar Music, Spanish

Twenty Times through the Book of Psalms in 2012!

November 19, 2012

This morning, I read Psalms 102-118. Tonight, I read Psalms 119-150.

The Lord has now allowed me to read through the book 20 times this year, including once in the LXX and once in the Reina-Valera. I am now 80% done with my goal for this year—reading through Psalms 25 times.

Praise the Lord!

Update: Praise God that I made it through the Psalms 25 times in 2012!

In Bible reading, Testimony

Counsel from Psalm 62 for People Disheartened by the Recent Elections

November 17, 2012

The outcome of the recent elections has left many dedicated, honest people who love their country greatly disheartened. Psalm 62 provides some biblical counsel for such people.

Assailed by murderous (62:3), lying opponents (62:4), David counseled both himself (62:5) and others (62:8, 10) about who and what to turn to in such times of trouble. His counsel may be summarized in the following points:

1. Wait in silence for God alone to save you (62:1, 5)

David begins the Psalm by declaring that he was waiting in silence for help from God (62:1a) because his salvation was from God (62:1b), who alone was his rock, salvation, and stronghold (62:2a). In light of these realities, he was confident that he would not be greatly shaken (62:2b).

After inquiring of his enemies about how long they intended wickedly to assail him (62:3-4), he challenged himself to do the very thing that he had already been doing—wait silently for God only (62:5a). He understood that he should do so because his hope was in God (62:5b), who alone was his rock, salvation, and stronghold (62:6a). Being mindful of these truths, he assured himself that he would not be shaken (62:6b).

Repeating these truths in the psalm (62:1-2; 5-6), David emphasized their importance. He then added that his salvation and glory were resting on God (62:7a). His refuge, the “rock of his strength,” was in God (62:7b).

Believers should wait confidently and in quite repose for God’s deliverance. Despite the advancement of evil that is taking place, God is on the throne, and He alone is worthy of our hope and trust. In His time and way, He is going to deal righteously with the vicious, lying people who are assailing ordinary, God-fearing people with their media propaganda and pernicious policies.

2. Trust in God at all times (62:8a)

Based on God’s being both David’s refuge (62:7) and a refuge for His people (62:8a), they are to put their trust in Him at all times. Whether we experience political defeat or victory, our trust must be in Him. Now is the time for us to turn to God all the more.

3. Pour out your heart before Him (62:8b)

David conjoined trust in God with praying earnestly to Him with our whole heart. We need now to turn to God in prayer individually and corporately like we never have before. He is our only hope in these dark times.

4. Counsel yourself to think properly about people (62:9)

David reminded himself that both lowly men, who are only vanity, and men of high rank, who are a lie, are ultimately vain beings who are hopelessly underweight on God’s balances; in fact, both individually and corporately, they are lighter than breath (62:9). The recent advancement of many people to positions of power and influence, many of whom sadly will likely prove to be unrighteous public officials, should not deceive us into thinking more of them than is fitting. God is in control, and we should turn our entire focus towards His exaltation over all men, righteous and unrighteous, poor or rich, lowly or powerful.

5. Do not put your trust or hope in any evil means of earthly advancement (62:10)

David warns us not to trust in oppression, robbery, or increasing wealth. Although many oppressors are prospering materially in our day, their earthly advancement through unrighteous means is vain and will not be lasting. In a time when temptations to be unrighteous in our dealings with other people will undoubtedly increase, we must resolve that we will only advance in godly ways that display that our hearts are trusting wholly on God as our hope.

6. Hear what God has repeatedly spoken about His power and lovingkindness to repay every man according to his work (62:11-12)

Repeatedly hearing God’s speaking to him, David was solidly grounded in key ultimate realities: both power and lovingkindness are God’s because He is the Lord who is over all (62:11-12a). Because He righteously repays every man in keeping with his deeds, lovingkindess is His (62:12b).

Although evil men may advance in power, they do so only because God’s power has put them there for His own purposes. He will repay them for all that they do in their exercise of their God-given authority.

Similarly, when the righteous do not advance politically, they can yet be assured that God will repay them for their righteousness in spite of His not advancing them in that sphere. His lovingkindness will not allow them to be ashamed ultimately of their trust in Him.

God’s Counsel for Our Times

In the midst of the increasingly trying circumstances that righteous people will undoubtedly face as a result of the outcome of the recent elections, we must entrust ourselves wholly to the supreme power and lovingkindness of our God. No evil man will ultimately prosper because God the righteous Judge of all will repay him for his evil.

Moreover, no righteous man will ultimately fail to prosper because our Judge’s power and lovingkindness will repay us for our trust and hope in Him. Our God reigns—let us take heart, trust, pray, and do good to all men, especially our brethren, until our Lord comes.

In Exposition, Prayer

New Spanish Guitar Resources – 11.13.12

November 13, 2012

I have added PDFs and mp3s for two hymns (Estoy Bien, Noche de Paz) and for another study of sixteenth note rhythms:

Estoy Bien – PDF mp3

Noche de Paz – PDF mp3 mp3(slower)

Sixteenth Note Rhythm Study – PDF mp3 mp3(slower)

In Guitar Music, Spanish

The Ten Longest Chapters in Scripture (by Total Number of Words)

November 10, 2012

Based on my research using BibleWorks 7, the ten chapters in Scripture with the most words all have more than 1700 words each:

Leviticus 14 – 1713 words

1 Samuel 17 – 1719 words

Genesis 24 – 1816 words

Ezekiel 16 – 1820 words

Jeremiah 51 – 1853 words

Leviticus 13 – 1857 words

Numbers 7 – 1939 words

Deuteronomy 28 – 2075 words

1 Kings 8 – 2139 words

Psalm 119 – 2445 words

Some Interesting Stats for Bible Readers

In Bible reading

Does David's Choice Support Voting for the Lesser of Two Evils?

November 5, 2012

In the upcoming presidential election, many of us who are dedicated Bible-believing Americans may still be unsure about how we should vote. Ultimately, God’s sovereign control of all things has faced us with this situation, and we must decide what to do.

For quite some time, I have been very dissatisfied with the approach of voting for the lesser of two evils, which many have advocated should determine how to vote in such situations. I have been praying over much of that time for God to give me wisdom to know what to do.

Recently, God directed my thinking to a biblical account that seems to have some relevant parallels to some aspects of the upcoming presidential election.

2 Samuel 24 (1 Chronicles 21)

After David sinned by numbering the Israelites (2 Sam. 24:1-10; 1 Chr. 21:1-8), God gave Him a choice of three possible punishments (2 Sam. 24:12-13; 1 Chr. 21:9-12). He was thus unavoidably faced with the necessity of choosing among multiple undesirable choices.

David chose what he believed would be the least unfavorable one for him and entrusted himself to the Lord’s mercies in making his choice (2 Sam. 24:14; 1 Chr. 21:13). Although his choice still brought great suffering for him and his people (2 Sam. 24:15-25; 1 Chr. 21:14-27), he at least knew that he had made that choice believing that the outcome would have been worse with either of the other choices.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

We Americans collectively as a nation have been very sinful. For example, more than 50,000,000 unborn Americans have been aborted since 1973.

Many Christians hold that God is already judging us for our sinfulness. Whether or not we are directly experiencing His judgment in the current political challenge that we face, we know that He has providentially put us in a position that many of us believe forces us to have to make a difficult choice: not voting, voting third party, writing in a candidate, or voting for a Republican ticket about which many of us have serious reservations.

Of these choices, not voting clearly would increase the chances of a Democrat presidential victory, which would be, as best as I am able to determine now, the worst possible outcome of all. Because there is no realistic chance that a third party or write-in candidate could win this election, voting either of these ways would have the same ultimate effect as not voting would.

Choosing to vote for the Republican ticket, we would at least not contribute to a victory for the Democrats in this election. Even if we were to do so, however, God may yet judge us further by allowing the Democratic ticket to win on Tuesday.

Perhaps, however, He will have mercy on us and not allow them to win.

Applying David’s Example to Voting on Tuesday

David chose what he believed was the least undesirable choice among the only choices that he had in his situation. His ultimate trust was not in his choice but in the mercy of God.

In spite of the serious reservations that many of us may yet have about voting for the Republican presidential ticket on Tuesday, the Scriptural record of David’s choosing the least undesirable choice seems to me to provide some biblical basis for doing so. Like David entrusted himself to God’s mercy in making his choice, we too can confidently entrust ourselves to God’s mercy about many of the unknowns that we still will face in making such a choice.

In Theology

Does Pregnancy Caused by Rape Justify an Abortion?

November 4, 2012

Rape is a horrible atrocity that wicked people commit against their fellow human beings. When a woman who is raped becomes pregnant, is her suffering the brutal injustice of rape justification for her to have an abortion?

Many people believe that an unwanted pregnancy caused by rape is a legitimate ground for an abortion. They reason that the woman has already suffered horribly and that her carrying the child would only add to her suffering. What’s more, they argue that her seeing the child would be a perpetual painful reminder of the rape.

Others justify having an abortion in such cases because of the financial burdens having the child would inflict on the woman or because of her inability or unwillingness to accept the weighty responsibility of raising such a child. Ultimately, many assert that the woman’s body is hers, and she is free to do whatever she wants to do with it.

These arguments for aborting a baby conceived through rape focus on various aspects of the mother’s life after the rape. Do they, however, truly justify her having an abortion?

As a Christian who believes the Bible, I believe that the only way to answer this question properly is to allow everything in Scripture that pertains to it to bear on the position taken. Many have previously capably addressed this question from various scriptural perspectives.

This post approaches answering the question from the perspective of the Scripture’s emphasis on God as the sovereign One who alone enables any woman in any setting to conceive a child. Many passages highlight this truth in ways that directly bear on the question at hand.

God Alone Enables Women to Conceive

Human conception is not merely the automatic result of physical relations between a man and a woman. Scripture records the cases of many couples who were unable to conceive children, including the following:

Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 16:1-2; cf. 18:12-14; 21:2)

Isaac and Rebekah (Gen. 25:21)

Jacob and Rachel (Gen. 29:31; 30:1-2; 22-24)

Manoah and his wife (Judg. 13:2-3)

Elkanah and Hannah (1 Sam. 1:5, 19; 2:21)

A Shunammite man and his wife (2 Kings 4:14; 16-17)

Zacharias and Elisabeth (Luke 1:7, 24-25)

In each case, only supernatural intervention by God allowed these couples finally to have the blessing that they longed for but did not have for so many years.

These passages clearly imply that God alone enables any woman to conceive. Moreover, in various ways, many other Scriptures confirm the validity of this inference (Gen. 20:17-18; 29:32-33; 30:17; Exod. 23:26; Deut. 7:14; Ps. 113:9; 139:13-16; Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:20; Luke 1:36-37; Heb. 11:11).

Pregnancy Caused by Rape

Because God alone enables conception, women who become pregnant through rape thus become pregnant in the will of God.[1] God knows all about the horrible circumstances in which they became pregnant. For His sovereign purposes, He has allowed them to become pregnant in that way.

Viewed scripturally, when a pregnancy occurs as a result of rape, the woman can be confident that God allowed it to be so. Because God, who knows everything about her present circumstances (and also everything about what her future circumstances will be) has enabled her to conceive, she can be confident that God has willed for to be pregnant in this way at this time.

As difficult as it may be for her to accept this truth, she should by faith trust God and not abort the child that God has allowed her to conceive. If she truly is unable to care for the child, giving the child to be adopted after it is born is a way for both her and her baby to go on with their lives in the will of God.

Conclusion

For many reasons, including the truth that God alone enables any woman to conceive, a pregnancy caused by rape does not justify a mother’s having an abortion.

[1] Scripture records two instances of woman who were raped without any mention that they became pregnant: Dinah (Gen. 34); Tamar (2 Sam. 13). Although we cannot be dogmatic, the lack of mention suggests that we are to conclude that they did not become pregnant.

In Theology

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