A People for His Name

A Key Truth from First Kings 3

June 14, 2011

Early in the reign of Solomon, God appeared to him in a dream and gave him an incredible opportunity: “Ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon’s request teaches us a key truth about him as the king that many believers may have overlooked:

“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (3:9).

Given the opportunity to ask for whatever he wished, Solomon asked for wisdom so that he could judge God’s people. His request, therefore, shows that he viewed his work as the supreme judicial agent of God over His kingdom as uniquely important.

God was greatly pleased with Solomon’s request (3:10) and gave him far more than what he asked for (3:11-13). The record of God’s great pleasure over Solomon’s request and His richly rewarding him for making that request strongly suggests that Solomon asked for something that was of unique importance for him as the king of Israel.

By following this account immediately with a record of Solomon’s use of his excelling God-given wisdom to judge a dispute among God’s people (3:16-27), the inspired author confirms this interpretation. Moreover, by then stating the nationwide effect of his superlative display of divine wisdom to judge, the writer further confirms this interpretation:

“And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment” (3:28).

Through the inspired record that plainly stresses Solomon’s God-given wisdom to judge His people, we should learn that being the chief judge for God over His people, Israel, was of unique importance for Solomon as the king of Israel. What, then, should we understand about the work in the kingdom of God that was (and is and will yet in a special way be) of unique importance for Jesus Christ, the King of Israel (John 1:49), who was (and is and ever will be) greater than Solomon was (Luke 11:31)?

In Interpretation

The Birth of the Church

June 13, 2011

While on vacation the past few days in TN, I had the privilege of teaching Sunday School at Calvary Baptist Church in Cookeville. I taught on the birth of the Church from Acts 2.

I. When was the Church born? On the day of Pentecost, which was on the day after the Sabbath.

Application: The Church must set continue to set apart the first day of every week as a special day to the Lord on which those who are in a local church assemble together.

II. How was the Church born? Through the repentance of and believing response by those who heard Peter’s preaching of the Word of God.

Application: When they do assemble together on the Lord’s Day, the Church must continue to magnify the preaching of the Word of God as the God-ordained means of building the Church.

III. What was the result of the Church’s being born? They devoted themselves to the doctrine of the apostles, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and prayers.

Application: The Church must continue to emphasize these four aspects in their assembling together. Believers must accept that meeting regularly for taking the Lord’s Supper and for corporate prayer is essential for the Church to be what it was born to be.

In Interpretation

Halfway done!

June 10, 2011

On day 161 of 2011, I reached the halfway mark for reading through the LXX this year: 461 chapters/920 total! Lord willing, I may yet make it through the Bible in Greek this year!

In Bible reading

"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"

June 8, 2011

Saint Augustine noted long ago a lack of proper consideration by man of the marvelous nature of the creation of man by God:

Men go abroad to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering. —Quoted in Fearfully & Wonderfully Made: A Surgeon Looks at the Human & Spiritual Body, 5

More recently, Spurgeon made comments along the same lines:

We need not go to the ends of the earth for marvels, nor even across our own threshold; they abound in our own bodies. —The Treasury of David, Vol. III, 262

In support of these remarks, consider that

the simple act of walking into a room and immediately recognizing all the objects in it requires more computing power than a dozen of the world’s top supercomputers put together. —The Wonder of Man, 19

The human frame is so admirably constructed, so delicately combined, and so much in danger of being dissolved by innumerable causes, that the more we think of it the more we tremble, and wonder at our own continued existence. . . . To do justice to the subject, it would be necessary to be well acquainted with anatomy. I have no doubt that a thorough examination of that ‘substance which God hath curiously wrought’ (verse 15), would furnish abundant evidence of the justness of the Psalmist’s words; but even those things which are manifest to common observation may be sufficient for this purpose. —TOD, 277

Those who were skilful in Anatomy among the ancients, concluded from the outward and inward make of a human body, that it was the work of a Being transcendently wise and powerful. . . . Galen was converted by his dissections, and could not but own a Supreme Being upon a survey of this his handiwork. —Ibid, 280

We today have much more knowledge of anatomy than any of the ancients ever had. For example, imagine putting the whole Bible onto one photographic slide in such a way that it would still be readable. Though doing so would be an incredible feat, compare that with the fact that to put the equivalent of the information contained in one DNA molecule onto one photographic slide would require our being able to put 7.7 trillion readable copies of the whole Bible onto that one slide:

If we want to obtain the DNA packing density on a [single] photographic slide . . . we would have to divide its surface into 2.77 million rows and 2.77 million columns and copy an entire Bible in a readable form in each of the tiny rectangles formed in this way. . . . Even if it were possible to achieve such a photographic reduction, then we would still only have a static storage system, which differs fundamentally from the dynamic storage system of DNA. —In the Beginning Was Information, 192-93

Learning of such wonders as that of the DNA molecule certainly supports the following comments:

The all-seeing God is also almighty, the resources of whose power are already revealed to me by the amazing complexity of my own physical body, which he made for me. Confronted with this, the psalmist’s meditations turn to worship. —Knowing God, 86

Has it ever been the case for you that contemplation of your physical body has led you to worship God, its Creator, for how fearfully and wonderfully He has made you?

In Quotes

The Pervasive New Testament Emphasis on the Agency of Jesus as God's Christ

June 7, 2011

The books of the NT in their canonical form are twenty-seven books that were inspired by God as whole documents, and not as separate discourses, chapters, or verses. Because God did not inspire any particular parts of any book independently of the rest of the book, a right assessment of the any NT book is impossible without appropriate consideration of what each book as a whole communicates. An examination of the books from that perspective reveals that teaching about God permeates the NT since every book explicitly speaks of Him.

Furthermore, every book clearly refers to God as the Father and Jesus as the Christ, except Third John, which has three occurrences of “God” (1:6, 11 [2x]; likely references to the Father) and one mention of the Name (1:7; likely a reference to Christ). Thus, twenty-six of the twenty-seven NT books explicitly present Christ as distinct from the Father. Because the term Christ in Scripture signifies an anointed one who was “chosen, accredited, and empowered” by God for one or more particular tasks, this nearly universal use of that term for Jesus shows that the NT pervasively communicates His agency.[1]

Moreover, each book does so at the beginning of the book:

God as the Father is mentioned in distinction from Jesus of Nazareth in the first chapter of each book by the use of one or more of the following titles for Jesus: “Son” (Heb.); “Jesus” (Luke, Acts); and, “Christ” (all the remaining books except Matthew and 3 John). Matthew speaks of Christ as distinct from the Father through references to the Father as Lord (1:20, 22, 24). Third John likely presents Christ as “the Name” in distinction from the Father as God.

Teaching that communicates the agency of Jesus as God’s Christ, therefore, is a pervasive emphasis of the NT.

[1] I formulated this explanation of what the term Christ signifies from combining the following sources: Thomas R. Schreiner teaches, “The term ‘Messiah’ . . . designates someone who is anointed by God for a particular task.” New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ, 197-98. Michael P. V. Barrett explains, “Three common features applied to all ‘messiahs.’ They were chosen, accredited, and empowered.” Beginning at Moses: A Guide to Finding Christ in the Old Testament, 35.

In Dissertation, Interpretation

Quotes from Flavel and Barrow

June 5, 2011

This last act of Christ, namely, his judging the world, is a special part of his exaltation and honour bestowed upon him, ‘because he is the Son of Man,’ John v. 27 . . . In this will the glory of the Christ’s sovereignty and power be eminently and illustriously displayed before angels and men. And this is that great truth which he commanded to be preached and testified to the people, namely, that it is ‘he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.’

—Sermon XLII. Christ’s Advent to Judgment, being the fourth and last degree of his Exaltation, illustrated and improved in The Works of John Flavel, Vol. 1, 525

THESE words are part of a sermon preached by St. Peter to Cornelius and his friends, wherein the apostle briefly declareth unto them the chief particulars in the history of Christ, together with some main points of Christian doctrine most fit for them to know; particularly he doth in these words express the point concerning the future judgment; reporting that our Lord especially did charge his apostles to preach unto the people and testify; that is, first publicly to declare and explain, then by convenient proofs, especially by divine attestations, to evince and persuade this point; the importance whereof, and eminence among other Christian doctrines, doth hence plainly appear, that the author of our faith did make so especial provision, and gave so express a charge concerning the promulgation and probation thereof: the which circumstance is indeed remarkable and weighty; but I shall insist on it, meaning immediately to set upon considering the point itself, as it is here laid down in these terms; that it is he which was ordained by God to be Judge of quick and dead: in which words are couched three particulars most considerable.

—The Works of Isaac Barrow, D. D. with a Life of the Author, 383-384

In Quotes

"I Will Praise Thee"

June 4, 2011

In Psalm 139, God gives to us His mind concerning our bodies. Since He made our bodies, to view our bodies as He would want us to view them is vital. To that end, consider this: how would you compare God’s work of making our bodies to His other works?

Now compare your thoughts with the revelation of God in Psalm 139. When the Holy Spirit wanted to reveal to us the mind of God about our bodies, He did not think that one word was sufficient. He piled up three striking words one upon another in quick succession in the same verse to indicate the magnificence of His work in creating the human body: “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”

A carefully examination of each of these three words highlights the importance of our having a proper viewpoint of our bodies:

(1) “Fearfully” – “The same Hebrew word . . . and the same idea of God’s infinite power, being such as to inspire reverential fear, occurs in Ps. lxv. 5; 2 Sam. vii. 23.” (A Commentary, Vol. II, 395) When we consider our bodies, are we moved to an awe of God? Does the fear of God come upon us when we think about our bodies? Does the fear of God control our decisions pertaining to our bodies?

(2) “Wonderfully” – Do we recognize the extraordinary nature of our bodies? Have we ever been gripped with astonishment and wonder at what God has done in making our bodies?

(3) “Marvellous” – God uses this same word in Psalm 119:18 about what is in His Word, and in Psalm 118:23, He uses this same word to speak of His work in raising Christ from the dead! How many of us view what God has done in making our bodies as being even remotely at the same level as what He has done in these other works of His?

Let us praise our God for His wondrous work of making our bodies the way He has!

In Interpretation

Guitar Music for "Like A River Glorious"; Sermon

June 3, 2011

Melody and chords for Like A River Glorious in my format for guitar.

My sermon from Wednesday night: Honor God by Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

In Guitar Music, Ministry, Preaching

New Honor Students and Sports Champions on Judgment Day?

June 2, 2011

Many students have cheated on assignments, tests, and projects over the centuries that there have been schools. Many of them have been caught, but many have not. Will they not be held to account for their cheating?

How many teachers have played favorites with students and not graded assignments, projects, and exams impartially? Will God not one day expose them for their favoritism? If so, will honor rolls, dean’s lists, and award recipients in schools and colleges be changed and will students who were cheated out of honors that they had earned finally be honored the way they should have been?

Many athletes have cheated in sports competitions and not been caught. Will they not be held to account for their cheating at the Judgment?

Only God knows how many unrighteous referees have knowingly made bad calls to favor certain teams and players. What will their being brought to account mean concerning the crowning of new champions for both individual and team sports?

In college, my floor hockey team was in the championship game. I had a penalty shot that I know went into the top corner of the net. My team should have won that game. Because the referee, however, said my shot was not a goal, my team ended up losing the championship in an overtime that never should have happened.

I am not saying that the referee knowingly made a bad call in my case—I would like to think that he did not. I wonder if I will ever find out whether or not we were the real champions that year.

In the 2009-10 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics lost the championship to the Lakers in the seventh game. I believe that Pau Gasol of the Lakers should have gotten a foul for going over the back of Rajon Rondo for a crucial rebound late in the game. Similarly, I believe that Gasol should have been called for another key infraction late in the game.

Had those calls been made the way that I think they should have been made, the Celtics would likely have won the game. If my perspective on those two calls proves to be right, will the Celtics yet be crowned the NBA champions for 2009-10? Perhaps, instead, there will be so many changes in the scores of the games that some other team will be crowned the actual champion for that year as well as for many other years.

I wonder how many such changes there may be in individual and team honors on Judgment Day.

In Theology

Honor God by Being Filled with the Spirit!

June 1, 2011

Tonight, I had the privilege of preaching at my church, Mount Calvary Baptist, in Greenville, SC. I preached from Acts 6-7.

This passage reveals at least four ways that we are to honor God by being filled with the Holy Spirit:

The record of his initial selection to his ministry shows emphasis on Stephen’s being filled with the Spirit (6:3, 5). His being first on the list of exemplary men among the multitude of disciples shows that he was a man whose life openly honored God (good reputation; full of faith, wisdom, and power). He thus first exemplifies the truth that God wants us to honor Him by being filled with the Spirit in our daily living.

Stephen honored God in his subsequent ministry because he was filled with the Spirit (implicit in the miraculous ministry that he had [6:8] and explicit in the irresistible ministry that he had [6:10]). His irresistible ministry through the Spirit was a fulfillment of promised help from Jesus (Luke 21:15; Mark 13:9).

Like Stephen, second, God wants us to honor Him by being filled with the Holy Spirit in our ministering for Him. The gospel is to come to people through us not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance (1 Thess. 1:5).

Because of his faithful ministry for God, Stephen faced persecution by unrighteous authorities (6:11-8:1). He honored God in how he faced such persecution.

Stephen faced his persecutors by confronting them with a lengthy message (7:2-53) that showed that he had allowed God’s words to dwell richly in him. The Spirit guided him as he defended the faith, using the truths that he had no doubt stored up in his heart over the years.

Stephen bore abundant testimony to God and Christ by speaking of God more than 30 times. Through a lengthy recounting of Israelite history, he challenged these people about their always resisting the Holy Spirit, even as their fathers had (7:51). His doing so implies his being filled with the Spirit.

He then bore testimony to the chief way in which they had resisted the Spirit: they martyred the Just One of whom the prophets had spoken (7:52). They were persecuting Stephen for his testimony to Jesus about what He would do to the temple and the Law; Stephen turned the tables on them by showing how God does not dwell in temples made with hands and that they therefore had a misplaced focus on the physical structure (7:48-50) and how they had not kept the Law themselves (7:53).

His testimony climaxed with testimony to Christ as the One standing on the right hand of God. Luke’s record emphasizes that truth through two successive statements (7:55-56).

Stephen’s Spirit-filled identification and glorification of Jesus as the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God was another fulfillment of Jesus’ promise (Mark 13:11). His use of both Daniel 7 (passage from the OT that is the most used by the NT writers) and Psalm 110 (passage from the OT that is the most quoted by the NT writers) shows strong emphasis on Jesus as the Judge at the right hand of God (cf. “And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man” [John 5:27]).

In the midst of gross injustice, Stephen bore Spirit-filled Christlike testimony to Jesus as the Judge at the right hand of God. Powerless to resist their perversion of justice, Stephen entrusted himself to the One who is ready to Judge the living and the dead.

From his Christlike example, we see, third, that God want believers who, for their faith, face persecution to honor Him by bearing Spirit-filled, Christlike testimony to Jesus as the supreme judicial Authority at the right hand of God.

Because he honored God in defending the faith in the midst of official persecution, Stephen was martyred (7:57-8:1). From his example, we learn fourth that God wants believers who face martyrdom to honor Him by Spirit-filled Christlike prayer.

Jesus had prayed, “Father into Thy hands I commend My Spirit” (Luke 23:46). He thereby entrusted Himself to the One who judges righteously (1 Pet. 2:23). Stephen’s first prayer (7:59) displayed his entrusting himself to the One whom He believed judges righteously, Jesus as the God-exalted Son of Man.

Stephen’ second prayer honored God by displaying his Christlike desire and request that his persecutors would not have their sin laid on them (7:60). Jesus had prayed for His persecutors, “Father forgive them” (Luke 23:34). Stephen prayed to Jesus, the Son of Man, who, even when He was on the earth did supernatural works to prove to people that He had authority on earth to forgive sins (Luke 5:24-25). Having been given all authority in heaven and earth, He now is the Son of Man at the right hand of God who forgives people’s sins.

Stephen’s unnatural prayer—he did not pray for vengeance—revealed the control that the Spirit exerted in his life so that he was what Jesus wants us all to be: people who “pray for them which despitefully use [us], and persecute [us]” (Matt. 5:44).

His prayer displays the heart of God who does not take any pleasure in the death of the wicked and does not want anyone to perish; in fact, He is a God who delights in mercy!

Through the account of Stephen’s life and martyrdom, God wants us to learn to honor Him by being filled with the Spirit 1) in our daily lives, 2) in our ministering for Him, and 3) in our facing persecution (and perhaps even martyrdom for some) for the faith by bearing Spirit-filled Christlike testimony and praying Spirit-filled Christlike prayers.

Let us all honor God by being filled with the Holy Spirit!

In Discipleship

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