Divine Training Regimen

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Text: “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

Question: How many of us have begun a training regimen but later abandoned it? Perhaps we took up a different regimen. Perhaps we relapsed into habitual patterns. There’s no paucity of justifications we might proffer for not seeing our training through—not enough time; life events; too busy; too difficult, etc. The list could go on.

Context, Context, Context: The book of Ezra hinges on Cyrus’ degree that the elect exiled Jews be able to not only return to their nation but also that the temple be rebuilt in Jerusalem. God was keeping his covenant promise (Ezra 9:13). The years were the 450s-430s B.C. This was the period of time of these exiles that Nebuchadnezzar had captured to taken to Babylon (modern-day Iraq).

Teaching: Ezra was a priest. He took his vocation seriously. It wasn’t “a job.” It was a calling. He loved the Lord and the Lord’s people. So, what sort of divine training regimen did Ezra inculcate? It’s right there in verse 10: “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” It was trinitarian:

  • A heart to study
  • Obedience to do, not just say
  • A teaching ministry

Encouragement: First, he was a student of the Lord. Second, he practiced what he preached. Third, he taught and shepherded others to do likewise. Why would anyone take issue with such a divine training regimen. Press on, soldier. Do things the right way, with the right motive, and teach all who will learn.

Crooked vs. Straight vis-a-vis Wisdom

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Text:

31 Do not envy a man of violence
    and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. (Pr 3:31-33)

When Solomon is instructing his son in this section of Proverbs, Solomon delivers some negatives. That is, he tells his beloved son what not to do. In v. 31 he tells him not to envy a man of violence. Solomon’s father, David, wrote similar wisdom: “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!” (Ps 37:1).

It’s interesting when you step back and look at how the minds of father and son, David and Solomon, ran parallel at times. Both were brilliant men; both were kings; both were wealthy; both were massively faithful at times and egregiously sinful at other times. Both were writers who penned much of the wisdom literature of the Bible. And both wrote much about how to be godly amidst a wicked environment, about how to remain unsullied in a environment of hazardous materials and/or personnel.

A recurring theme in the writings of both men is this emphasis upon keeping one’s distance from devious, jealous, envious people. Solomon calls them in Pr 3:32 “an abomination to the LORD.” That’s strong language. They’re pictured as those whose paths are crooked (Pr 2:15).

Solomon stresses to his son in Proverbs to seek the Lord’s blessing, not to curry favor with the devious. Why? Well Pr 3:33 is straightforward: “The LORD’S curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.”

Thoughts on Foundations

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When I was a boy, I was fortunate to be surrounded by builders. My stepfather amazed me in the ways he intuitively understood how anything was put together. He seemed to just “get it” when it came to construction, electrical work, masonry, etc. His father was the same way. He understood engines, masonry, roofing, wiring, et al. I was amazed. I have an affection for all of the above but I don’t have the aptitude. That’s simply not where my strengths lie.

This morning I was completing my reading through 2 Chronicles and then later found myself in Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” And there was the same principle: the beginning. The foundation.

“The end depends upon the beginning,” is a common aphorism from the classics. It’s sage counsel. There are exceptions, of course. We all know of people who had rocky starts but then surprised us all by the way they turned out. I remember when I was still teaching full-time and had some students that I had serious doubts about, but somehow they pulled through, and I’m thrilled they did.

But in theological terms, Solomon’s aphorism is spot-on: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Pr 1:7). If the foundation is unsound or faulty or cracked or weak, all that’s built upon it is compromised. This is why first things matter so much–our presuppositions.

Sometimes when I look at the culture, I sense that it is unraveling. Things seem to be upside-down. Somehow things that seemed to have been obvious are suddenly not obvious. And it results in things like moral crassness and loss of civility. Whatever happened to “Please” and “Thank you”? People might scoff at such things now. How antiquated, they might say. Well, yes! But what’s wrong with antiquated? Civility is better than what we have now.

But that’s exactly what Solomon was laboring to get us to understand. It’s the moral fool who scoffs at righteousness. The fool is a scoffer; he’s a mocker. He’s the smart aleck, if you will. He mocks the holy. But he’s living a life built upon a faulty foundation. How and where one begins is of crucial significance. I’m with Solomon.

When I reflect on the many times I had to dig footers and mix the concrete, I didn’t realize at the time that the same logic applied in the moral and theological world. But I look back now and am grateful.

Leadership Lesson from Uzziah

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Question: Do you recall what Scripture says about what precedes a fall/destruction? Proverbs 16:18 answers that question: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Sadly, that pattern remains largely unbroken. Consider the case of Uzziah in the 700s B.C. He started off well, but his pride soon entered.

Text: “He [Uzziah] set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper” (2 Ch 26:5). If that were the whole story it would be great. But that is not the whole story.

Text: “But when he [Uzziah] was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD is God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense” (2 Ch 26:16). Incense was a duty of the priests. Uzziah was not a priest. Uzziah grew pompous and affronted God’s holiness by treating worship and the temple with a cavalier manner. And God humbles the proud. “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. God out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the LORD God” (2 Ch 26:18).

Encouragement: Godly leadership entails serving the people by respecting our proper lanes. That is, none of us is good in all areas. It takes a team. Wise leaders lead well but humbly. Because we should know by now what precedes a fall.

White Dogwood by the Water

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Noticing: White dogwood blossoms overhung the pond’s bank. Small ripples topped the pond’s surface and lapped the banks. Soft light grayed the surface of the water. Cars with drivers pulled up to the gate; the drivers mashed remote controls to open the arm of the gate or otherwise scanned badges and waited upon the arm of the gate to lift. Meanwhile the yellow canoe behind the white dogwood lay upon leaves unnoticed and a white blossom from the dogwood pinwheeled onto the pond’s surface and at least one heart leapt for this swatch of spring. Passersby surfed phones while the white dogwood by the yellow canoe launched pinwheel blossoms onto the water beneath the gray sky. 

Encouragement: One of the evidences of the Christian worldview is beauty. We are drawn to it. We seek it. Think of the cosmetics industry, e.g. Think of plastic surgery. Think of hair dyes and tanning booths and liposuction. There’s no end to which some people will not go to pursue what they desire as beautiful.

I, too, pursue beauty. Usually it’s my favorite regions to hike, or the sound of a good cast as it hits its target when I fish, or when I just notice what has been provided for us to steward. Sometimes it’s just the pinwheeling white dogwood blossom gliding upon perfect pedalled wings upon the surface of the water for a soft landing. One would be shallow to claim it’s all random and/or undesigned, would he not? 

Thoughts on Stewardship

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A mentor of mine said to me, “Those that care, will.”

Context, Context, Context: One time I was listening to a podcast during my commute. In the course of that day’s conversation, one made the comment that we ought to leave the park a little cleaner than we found it. That stuck with me. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t enjoy a clean park. If it has nice paths, bike trails, clean restrooms, enough garbage cans, clean lawns, a playground for the kids, etc. a park can be one of life’s really simple but great beauties. But we’ve probably all been to parks that are quite different—where there’s litter, empty beer cans and Coke cans, trash in the ditches, filthy restrooms, and garbage cans that overflow with rubbish. The grasses grow out of control, and the playground equipment is in disrepair. And you know what happens? People who care don’t go back to such parks. The nefarious people set in, drug users and homeless set up camp, and, well, you know the drill.

Encouragement: “Those that care, will.” What did my mentor mean? He meant that if we’re out for the betterment of a park, a church, a business, the Army, etc., we’ll lead by example. We’ll pick up the litter. We’ll police our area, as we say in military parlance. Scripture teaches the same principle. In the creation mandate, Moses records the following: “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Gen 2:15). Work it and keep it. In short, wise stewardship. Or as my mentor said, “Those that care, will.”

The Perils of Half-hearted Obedience: Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #420

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Bottom line up front: The peril of half-hearted obedience

Text: 7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless  toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time. 11 The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but sought help from physicians.  (2 Chr 16:7-12)

Teaching: Until that time, Asa had been a solid leader. He had purged many of the idols from Israel. He had helped turn the people back to Yahweh. But he grew unwise in time. He grew comfortable. He trusted those he shouldn’t have. The king of Syria is just one example of untrustworthy people here. And the prophet Hanani, the truth-teller, rebuked Asa for his shortsightedness, lack of faith in God, and sin. And what’s worse, rather than owning up to his own half-hearted obedience, Asa “inflicted cruelties” upon other people. That’s key, folks. We sinners love to deflect; we love to project our own issues and sins onto others rather than owning our sins and having God rebuke us via truth-tellers like Hanani in this passage or God the Holy Spirit.

Encouragement: Asa began well but ended poorly. We need to learn from his example. Were we half as concerned with our standing before God as we are with comfort, how might that change our spiritual trajectory and witness before God and men?

Friday Evening Reflections

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In my favorite book of Scripture, there are many lines that resonate with me. One of those is this one: “Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot” (Eccl. 5:18).

This morning I officiated at another military funeral honors at the military veterans’ cemetery in our town. Today’s ceremony was for a Marine. I chatted with the firing team before the ceremony, the men who’d fire the volleys as taps was played. I spoke with the two young Marines, too, who’d unfurl and refold the flag. Both were logisticians as Marines, and the senior NCO, a GySgt, and I spoke of his upcoming transfer out to Washington from Georgia, and of his bride-to-be, a woman completing graduate school in Georgia.

When I concluded my remarks at the funeral honors, and told the Marines, “Proceed with honors!” and the bugler began playing taps, the next-of-kin, the wife of the deceased Marine, burst into tears. It’s not uncommon, but it’s always visceral–to see the tears come, then the shaking, then the wailing.

The Marines folded the flag and presented to the Marine’s bride. She clutched the flag and her whole body shook as she wept. The Marines and I marched back to our cars after we concluded our roles. I shook hands again with the young Marines and we all went our separate ways.

After the day wore on, it occurred to me it was Friday evening. I took CJ out to a steakhouse chain we frequent. We had a wonderful waitress, Yolanda, who chatted with us about our mutual love of dogs. She spoke of Bailey, her bulldog, and we listened and smiled.

We ate our salads and I ate my steak, and we drove afterwards to pick up a sportcoat for me from a local retail store, and then came home for the evening. I read for a bit, and then graded some of my college students’ papers, and reached over to pet our family dog, Ladybug, with regularity, where she snored on her chair beside my desk.

After a few more papers, I’ll read until I grow tired. I have an early morning tomorrow, as I’ll go to pick up supplies from a fellow pastor-friend of mine. Their church has graciously come alongside ours to support us. In ministry, such like-minded brothers are a blessing.

CJ is in the living room working on music for Sunday at church, and as I sit with papers to grade before me and listen to Ladybug snore, and my belly is full from a good meal, my cup is full. I am like the man in Solomon’s Ecclesiastes 5:18. I love my toil, the fatigue that comes at the end of the evening as the wind comes through the window screens, and CJ plays upon her piano, and as we prepare for gathering with the saints this coming Lord’s Day at Christ Covenant Church, my cup is full and I am grateful.

Understanding the Temple

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There is no paucity of zeal surrounding the understanding of “the temple” from myriad spheres–Christian, Muslim, political, etc. But what is the Bibe’s own testimony regarding the temple? Is it a building that is to be the focus? Is it a place of real estate that is to be the focus? How should Christians understand “the temple”? How do our understandings of the temple affect the person and work of Christ?

Text:

18 “But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! 19 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you, 20 that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have promised to set your name, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 21 And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. (2 Chronicles 6:18-21)

Context, Context, Context: In the passage above, King Solomon was dedicating the temple in Jerusalem. Notice the question asked up front: “But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth?” (2 Chr 6:18a). Will God be amongst his people? Will God manifest himself? Will God take on flesh?

The second half of verse 18 answers the question. The answers? No, heaven cannot “contain” God, much less any house or temple. Folks, that’s crucial to understand. Yes, God will be amongst his people. Yes, God will manifest himself. Yes, God took on flesh. That’s the very definition of incarnation.

Christianity is not about a building, a piece of real estate, a political identity, or any such thing. It’s about God. It’s about Christ. Jesus is the temple.

All of the Bible coheres; it all tells one coherent, interconnected, unified story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. If we misunderstand the temple, we misunderstand the Christian worldview.

Revelation 21:22 reads, “And I [John] saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” How clear is that? Crystal.

Encouragement: The temple was God tabernacling among his people. It was a picture of what God would do in the Son’s incarnation–dwell among us. What happened in the incarnation of the Christ? John 1:14 reads, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt [tabernacled] among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”