A People for His Name

God Does Pay Attention to the Instrumental Music Used to Worship Him!

December 9, 2014

Every time that I read Amos 5, I am struck by what God says at the end of the passage concerning the instrumental music that His people offer to Him in their worship. Although I am still working on understanding the full significance of this passage for the debates about worship music in our day, I am convinced that it has great relevance to those issues.

Amos 5 and Divine Attentiveness to Instrumental Music

Because of the extreme offensiveness of His people’s religious hypocrisy, God made known that He intensely detested their ungodly worship. Tellingly, He said that He would not accept the things that they would offer Him:

Amos 5:21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

²² Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.

²³ Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.

²⁴ But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

Remarkably, God rebuked His people by saying that He hated the special occasions of divine worship that He Himself had ordained for them!

It is noteworthy that God specifies here that He commanded them to take away the noise of their songs from Him and made known that He would not listen to the instrumental music that they would offer up to Him in their hypocritical worship. By direct and necessary implication, verse 23 reveals that God listens intently to the instrumental music that His people use in their worshiping Him and any music that is part of divine worship must be music that is a delight to Him.

Conclusion

Contrary to the notions that some believers seem to have, this passage makes clear that believers cannot legitimately hold that God only cares about the words that are sung to Him and doesn’t pay attention to the instrumental music that is used to worship Him. God has made known plainly in Amos 5:23 (and in other passages) that He does pay attention to the instrumental music used to worship Him!

In CCM, Exposition, Interpretation, Theology

Zechariah 8 and the Glorious Future of National Israel!

December 5, 2014

When I recently read through the Minor Prophets, I was struck again by how much revelation they contain that plainly points to a glorious national future for Israel. Zechariah 8 is one of many chapters that have multiple statements that teach this truth.

Zechariah 8:3-6

At its beginning, Zechariah 8 speaks of a time when the Lord will dwell in Jerusalem and Jerusalem will be spoken of in a distinctive manner that has never been true of it:

Zec 8:3 Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

From the time when Zechariah wrote this book until now, Jerusalem has never been called “a city of truth.” The next verses make clear that this is not some symbolic description of the eternal state and the New Jerusalem:

Zec 8:4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.

⁵ And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.

The eternal state will not have people that age coexisting with a multitude of boys and girls. It is incomprehensible to me how any serious Bible interpreter could accept a symbolic interpretation of these verses.

The passage plainly sets forth the glorious national future that Israel will have in the Millennium!

Zechariah 8:18-23

The chapter concludes with revelation about a time when people from all nations will come to Jerusalem “to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and pray” before Him (Zech. 8:22). They will be convinced to seek out those who are Jews because they will have heard that God is with them (Zech. 8:23).

These statements have never been true in the history of Jerusalem since the time of Zechariah, and they certainly are not true today. They again set forth the marvelous glory that will be Israel’s in the Millennium!

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20) and “restore again the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1:6)!

In Interpretation, Theology

My Testimony of Praise for Reading the Entire Bible in Spanish in 2014

November 30, 2014

About three years, God began directing me in a path that I had never expected that He would. A pastor of a local Spanish church called me and asked if I would come and teach guitar at his church.

Although I had been praying for some time for an opportunity to teach guitar classes again, I had never thought about doing so in a Spanish church. The only Spanish that I had had was one semester in Junior High, so I was quite surprised to get such an opportunity.

As I began teaching the class, I soon became convinced that I really needed to learn Spanish so that I could communicate better with my students and teach them better. I began trying to learn Spanish, especially terms related to guitar and music theory.

Although trying to learn the language proved very challenging, God gave me many encouragements along the way. In spite of my having found it hard on several occasions to understand from a larger perspective why God would lead me in this direction that had never occurred to me, I did come to realize early on that learning Spanish and ministering in Spanish makes great sense for me because of how popular the guitar is in Spanish contexts.

Starting to Read the Bible in Spanish

As I continued to teach guitar classes in Spanish and have some opportunities to minister musically in a few churches, I became more convinced that God was directing me to learn Spanish for the sake of ministering in Spanish. I praise God that He blessed me with wonderful fellowship with many dear brethren throughout this time!

I began trying to read the Bible in Spanish and found it to be very difficult. At times, it would often take me many minutes to read and understand even one verse. Still, I managed in 2012 to read the book of Psalms in Spanish.

In 2013, I continued to try to learn Spanish on my own. I finished the Gospel of Matthew early in 2013 and made it through James, Galatians, and First, Second, and Third John by the end of the year.

Reading Through the Bible in Spanish in 2014

I began 2014 with an intense desire to read the entire Bible in Spanish this year. Reading in the Old Testament, especially in the Pentateuch, was incredibly hard, and I wondered if I would make it through.

God remained faithful to me even though there were times that I would find myself wondering again what am I doing trying to learn Spanish and minister in that language. In spite of many difficulties, God has allowed me to make much progress during the year so that my reading speed has continued to increase substantially.

Praise God, last Sunday, on November 23, 2014, I was able by the grace of God to finish reading through the Reina Valera in 2014! Wherever God leads us, as He has done with me in leading me down the completely unexpected path of learning Spanish for ministry, He is faithful to give us the grace to follow!

In Bible reading, Spanish, Testimony

Guitar Music for “Ora a tu Dios”

November 29, 2014

This PDF provides the guitar music for the melody (in my number format) and first stanza of “Ora a tu Dios.” This song is played on the second string.

In Guitar Music, Spanish

Should Certain Christians Be Far Better Than Everyone Else Is in Their Realm of Expertise?

November 28, 2014

Daniel 1 recounts the fascinating account of what Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah experienced after they were forcibly taken into captivity in Babylon. Every time that I read this passage, I am struck by how the passage ends by relating the incredible superiority of these four youth—“In all matters of wisdom and understanding, that [King Nebuchadnezzar] inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm” (Dan. 1:20)!

Unlike all my previous reading of this passage, this time I discovered that even their tenfold superiority is highlighted in a striking way in the passage. Moreover, I found myself thinking all the more about the current ramifications of this highlighting of their superiority.

A Remarkable Emphasis in Scripture on the Superiority of Certain Believers

Several features of Daniel 1 combine to provide us with a passage that emphasizes highly the superiority of four young believers. Noting them reveals that the Holy Spirit has emphasized that reality in a remarkable way.

Their Uncommon Excellence Prior to Being Taken Captive

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were among a group of uncommonly distinguished youth:

Dan 1:4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

Beyond being physically attractive, they all were highly intelligent and capable young men who had an aptitude for learning what was necessary to “stand before the king” (Dan. 1:5).

Their Distinctive Excellence in Their First Three Years of Captivity

Unlike their peers, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were so highly devoted to their God that they remained true to Him in the face of great spiritual adversity that they faced in their first three years of captivity (Dan. 1:5-16). God uniquely favored them (Dan. 1:9) so that they did not defile themselves during this time, as all the others did, and after their initial period of facing a difficult spiritual challenge, they all were “fairer and fatter in flesh” than all their peers were (Dan. 1:15).

Moreover, God gave them “knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams” (Dan. 1:17). These four men were thus divinely enabled to excel in everything that they were taught at this time, and Daniel was given unique ability that the other three were not.

The Extraordinary Extent of Their Superiority after Three Years of Captivity

At the end of the first three years of the captivity, the king found these men to be uniquely excellent (Dan. 1:18-20). In fact, he found them to be ten times better than everyone else was:

Dan 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

Furthermore, through noting the sevenfold repetition of the word all in Daniel 1:15-20 in statements referring to the distinctive excellence of Daniel and his three friends, we learn that the Holy Spirit has underscored their tenfold superiority all the more:

Dan 1:15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

Dan 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Dan 1:19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

Dan 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

The various features of this passage that we have looked clearly bring out a remarkable emphasis on their superiority.

Points to Ponder

One wonders what specifically the full extent of their excellence entailed for them to have been ten times better in every matter of wisdom and understanding than all of Nebuchadnezzar’s wise men in all of his vast kingdom! In addition, based on this passage, should certain Christians today be far better than anyone else is in their realm of expertise?

I hope to explore this matter further in a future post. In the meantime, I would love to hear from you what you think about this subject.

In Exposition, Interpretation

Six Principles for Deciding Christian Liberty Issues

November 23, 2014

In his message tonight, Pastor Mark Minnick first rehearsed six principles that 1 Corinthians 8-10 provides us with for deciding Christian liberty issues.

1. Christian liberty issues concern matters that are not actually stipulated or specified in Scripture.

2. Nevertheless, they are Scriptural issues because there are Scriptural considerations that apply to these matters about which there is not explicit teaching.

3. These issues, therefore, are significant—they are not inconsequential.

4. The answers to these issues are not always short.

5. The answers to these issues are not always simple.

6. The answers to these issues are not always the same.

He then exposited 1 Corinthians 10:28-30 at some length to explain how the answers to these issues are not always the same. I highly commend his message Abstaining to you.

In Mount Calvary Baptist Pulpit

¡Alabado sea Dios!

November 23, 2014

Comencé este año con la meta de leer toda la Biblia en español este año. Por la gracia de Dios, esta mañana he terminado de leer toda la Biblia en español para este año. ¡Alabado sea Dios!

In Bible reading, Spanish, Testimony

94 Chapters To Go!

November 19, 2014

I have only 94 more chapters to read in the Reina Valera this year to finish reading through the whole Bible in Spanish this year! Praise the Lord!

In Bible reading, Spanish

Does God Hold People Responsible for Not Following in the Ways of Imperfect Men?

November 14, 2014

You have probably heard someone say something along the lines of the following: “I am not a follower of any man; I am a follower of Jesus.” Is this what God expects every believer to think and do?

A remarkable passage in 2 Chronicles 21 instructs us that this pious sounding sentiment is actually a seriously erroneous approach to the Christian life. This passage does so by revealing a profound truth of what God expects from people concerning their following the examples of other people.

A Profound Truth from God’s Rebuke of King Jehoram

King Jehoram was the son of godly king Jehoshaphat of Judah (2 Chron. 21:1). Jehoram was a very wicked king who sinned greatly against the Lord (2 Chron. 21:4-11).

Through a writing from the prophet Elijah to Jehoram, God declared to him,

2Ch 21:12 Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,

¹³ But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, which were better than thyself:

¹⁴ Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:

¹⁵ And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.

God rebuked Jehoram for not walking in the ways of his father Jehoshaphat and in the ways of his grandfather Asa (2 Chron. 21:12). Yet both of these men were imperfect men who sinned in the sight of God (Asa [2 Chron. 16:7-10; 12]; Jehoshaphat [2 Chron. 19:2; 20:35-37]).

God thus rebuked Jehoram for not walking in the ways of two imperfect men! We might have expected God to rebuke him by having Elijah write to him about how he had sinned by not walking in the ways of the Lord, but that is not what God did!

New Testament Confirmation of This Profound Truth

From 2 Chronicles 21:12, we have seen that God required that Jehoram would walk in the righteous ways of two of his godly but imperfect predecessors. The New Testament confirms the teaching that God demands that His people follow in the righteous ways of imperfect men.

Paul repeatedly commands believers to be followers of him:

1Co 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Phi 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

He also commends them when they have been faithful to do so (1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14; 2 Thess. 3:7, 9). These same statements also reveal that Paul repeatedly spoke of believers following not just him but also others who were godly:

1Th 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

1Th 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

2Th 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

⁹ Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

The writer of Hebrews similarly commends and commands believers to be followers of other believers:

Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Because Paul and all the others whom these New Testament statements commend to believers as people whom we are to follow were imperfect men, it is clear that God wants us to follow in the righteous ways of imperfect men!

Conclusion

Passages in both Testaments (2 Chron. 21:12; 2 Thess. 3:7) teach us that God does expect us to walk in the righteous ways of imperfect men whom He has allowed us to have the privilege of observing, knowing, and being influenced by.[1] If we fail to do so, God will hold us responsible for not walking in their ways.

We must not say that we are followers only of Jesus. God has called us also to be followers of the righteous ways of the good but imperfect people in our lives who as followers of Christ themselves have walked in His righteous ways.

[1] Many other verses in the Old Testament point to the same truth: 1 Sam. 8:3; 1 Ki. 8:25; 9:4; 11:33; 14:8; 2 Ki. 22:2; 2 Chr. 6:16; 7:17; 11:17; 17:3; 20:32; 34:2

In Discipleship, Exposition, Theology

¡Un nuevo himno para los niños!

November 10, 2014

Recientemente, escribí un nuevo himno para los niños! Que Dios usarlo en gran medida para su gloria.

Padre quiero amarte

Padre, quiero amarte, sólo tú eres Dios.
Sólo tú eres digno de mi devoción.
Padre, cómo quiero ser más como Tú.
Por tu gracia me das esta bendición.

Padre, quiero amarte por tu gran bondad.
Sólo tú mereces mi adoración.
Padre, cómo quiero ser más como Tú.
Por amor a Ti escucha mi oración.

Padre, quiero amarte y agradarte a Ti.
Sólo tú mereces mi veneración.
Padre, cómo quiero ser más como Tú.
Por favor concede esta petición.

You may use this song in a ministry context provided you do not change any of the words and you provide copyright information to anyone whom you distribute it to. Please contact me for any other use of the song.

Escuchar la melodía de este himno:

In Guitar Music, Spanish

Amos 5 and Divine Attentiveness to Instrumental Music

Conclusion

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Zechariah 8:3-6

Zechariah 8:18-23

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Starting to Read the Bible in Spanish

Reading Through the Bible in Spanish in 2014

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A Remarkable Emphasis in Scripture on the Superiority of Certain Believers

Their Uncommon Excellence Prior to Being Taken Captive

Their Distinctive Excellence in Their First Three Years of Captivity

The Extraordinary Extent of Their Superiority after Three Years of Captivity

Points to Ponder

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A Profound Truth from God’s Rebuke of King Jehoram

New Testament Confirmation of This Profound Truth

Conclusion

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