How to Handle Rejection (Thoughts on Psalm 22)

Posted on March 31, 2024 by Wayne Davies

Here are some thoughts on the death of Jesus – based on Psalm 22, the Bible’s most graphic description of the crucifixion.

We all face rejection; it’s a given. If you haven’t been laughed at yet, you will be. Virtually all of us have experienced the derision of our peers at a young age and remember well the emotional pain that our so-called friends inflicted upon us.

As we get older, the stakes get higher. Whether it’s unrequited love or the rejection letter from a potential employer, disappointment can be our closest friend.

As a Christian, being mocked by the world is par for the course. Jesus promised that we’d suffer abuse from unbelievers, for the gospel is an offensive message. “No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20).

The apostle Paul — no stranger to the whip of the wicked — told Timothy that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). And Peter wrote, “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

Knowing all this doesn’t make the pain any easier to endure, however. What should be our response to such unjust treatment and ridicule?

I believe that Psalm 22 provides a model for us to follow. David wrote this psalm, and he, too, was well acquainted with persecution. But this psalm finds its primary fulfillment in the gruesome death of our Savior. This psalm is the prayer of Jesus, for David’s words became the cry of the Messiah on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1, Mark 15:34).

What did Jesus do when faced with the most horrifying affliction known to man? Yes, he expressed his despair. He told God exactly how he felt. He bore his soul while bearing our sin. God was unleashing his wrath upon his only begotten Son – what could be more excruciating than that? Jesus was serving the death sentence for our crimes and he let God know how agonizing it was to provide the salvation which the Father and Son had planned from eternity past.

But Jesus did something else on the cross: he worshipped his Father. “Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises” (Psalm 22:3). Amazingly, Jesus did not remain focused on himself and his pain. Instead, he looked away from himself and worshipped God for his holiness.

The English Standard Version renders the first part of verse 3 as “You are holy” – an even more succinct and powerful expression of praise. When faced with the ultimate test of his love for the Father, Jesus was thinking of God’s righteousness. He knew that God’s holiness was the reason he was on the cross. Since a holy God cannot allow unforgiven sinners into his presence, Jesus’ sin-covering crucifixion was the only way we could ever enter into a right relationship with God. The holiness of God motivated Jesus to pay the ultimate price to liberate us from slavery to sin, death, and the devil.

If Jesus worshipped God for his holiness while on the cross, shouldn’t we do the same while taking up our cross?

We are called to a life of suffering; it is the will of God. By focusing on God’s perfect character, we remind ourselves that he remains in control of our lives even when it may appear otherwise.

When faced with persecution, like Jesus, the best thing we can do is cry out to God, “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel” (v. 3, ESV). No matter what people do to us, our sovereign God continues to reign over all.

Psalm 22: Questions for Further Study, Reflection and Discussion

1. Psalm 22 is mentioned 15 times in the New Testament, causing Christians throughout the centuries to call it “the fifth gospel” and “the Psalm of the Cross.” This passage was written by David about 1,000 years before the death of Christ, yet it is the most graphic description of the crucifixion found in all of Scripture. Let’s take a closer look at five verses that predict what would happen to Jesus on the cross.

Compare the verse from Psalm 22 with the New Testament verse. In your own words, write out a description of each prophecy and its fulfillment.

Psalm 22:1 and Matthew 27:46
Psalm 22:7 and Matthew 27:39
Psalm 22:8 and Matthew 27:43
Psalm 22:18 and John 19:23-24
Psalm 22:31 and John 19:31

2. Why did Jesus believe that his Father had forsaken him? (v. 1) What does this prayer reveal about the thoughts and feelings of Jesus when he was on the cross? What does this abandonment of Jesus by the Father teach us about what his death accomplished for guilty sinners like us?

3. When Jesus was on the cross, why did people mock and ridicule him? What was the intent and purpose of this contempt and derision? (v. 7)

4. The people taunted Jesus with sarcasm: “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him.” (v. 8). Why would these comments have been especially painful for Jesus to hear?

5. What do the soldiers’ words and actions tell us about their attitude toward the death of Jesus? (v. 18). What is the irony of this behavior?

6. “He has done it!” (v. 31). According to this psalm, what has God done, and what has God not done (see v. 24)?

7. Psalm 22 has two distinct yet related parts:
Part 1 – verses 1-21
Part 2 – verses 22-31

How would you summarize Part 1?
How would you summarize Part 2?
The tone and content of Part 2 are dramatically different from that of Part 1. What has happened to the speaker (Jesus) that would account for this change?

NOTE: The above comments and questions are an excerpt from the book, How to Pray Like David: A Bible Study on Psalms 1-41 (Volume 1 – Psalms Bible Study Guides).
You can download a free copy at https://payhip.com/b/3iQfu
Also available in Kindle and paperback formats here:
https://www.amazon.com/How-Pray-Like-David-Psalms-ebook/dp/B09SNX3853/

Posted in Jesus Christ, Suffering, Thoughts on the Psalms | Leave a comment

How to Go to the Cross with Jesus

Posted on March 29, 2024 by Wayne Davies

The week before Easter I like to read the Gospel accounts of the last week of Christ.

You can see how I do that in this blog post:
https://godwrotethebook.com/what-the-bible-says-about-jesus-last-week/

 

This year I’m reading Luke’s account, chapters 19-24, a chapter each day. This is one way to walk with Christ all the way to the cross and the empty tomb. Would you like to join me?

I am also reading J.C. Ryle’s commentary on Luke. He’s one of my favorite Bible teachers and offers many profound insights on the meaning of the text. (To get your free copy of this book, visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JVL32NN )

For example, let’s discover what J.C. Ryle says about Luke 19:28-34, when Jesus tells two disciples, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here” (v. 30).

Here are Ryle’s comments. (Note his use of parallel passages to explain the meaning of this passage. I love how he does that.)

“Let us mark, for one thing in these verses, the perfect knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We see Him describing what they will see and hear with as much confidence as if the whole transaction had been previously arranged. In short, He speaks like one to whom nothing in all creation is hidden from His sight; everything is uncovered and laid bare before his eyes. He speaks like one whose eyes were in every place, like one who knew things unseen as well as things seen.

“An attentive reader will observe the same things in other parts of the Gospel. We are told in one place that “He knew the thoughts” of His enemies. We are told in another chapter that “He knew what was in man.” We are told in another that Jesus “knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him” (Luke 6:8, John 2:25, John 6:64).

“Knowledge like this is a particular attribute of God. Passages like these are meant to remind us that the man Christ Jesus is not only man, but He is also God blessed forever (Romans 9:5).

“The thought of Christ’s perfect knowledge should alarm sinners and awaken them to repentance. The great and righteous judge knows them and all their doings. The judge sees them continually and marks down all their ways. “There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves” (Job 34:22). If they go into the secret chamber, the eyes of Christ are there. If they privately scheme villainy and plot wickedness, Christ knows it and observes it. If they speak secretly against the righteous, Christ hears. They may deceive men all their life long, but they cannot deceive Christ. A day is coming when, “according to the gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus” (Romans 2:16).

“The thought of Christ’s perfect knowledge should comfort all truehearted Christians and quicken them to increased diligence in good works. The master’s eye is always upon them. He knows where they dwell, and what are their daily trials, and who are their companions. There is not a word in their mouths, or a thought in their hearts, but Jesus knows it altogether. Let them take courage when they are slandered, misunderstood, and misrepresented by the world. It matters nothing, so long as they can say, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You” (John 21:17).

“Let them walk on steadily in the narrow way and not turn aside to the right hand or the left. When sinners entice them, and weak brethren say, “Spare yourself,” let them reply, “My Master is looking at me. I desire to live and move as in the sight of Christ.”
END OF QUOTE.

Reality Check: Does the omniscience of Jesus alarm you, or does it comfort you?

Have a great week remembering and celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus!

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34 Bible Reading Questions Answered

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Wayne Davies

Do you have questions about how to read the Bible? See below for 34 of them.

You’ll find answers to all these questions in the new book, Ask Pastor John: 750 Bible Answers to Life’s Most Important Questions. (“Pastor John” is John Piper, who spent 33 years as a pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.)

Chapter 1 is all about reading the Bible, and you can download a free copy of Chapter 1 here:
https://www.desiringgod.org/books/ask-pastor-john

Here are the 34 Bible reading questions:

  1. Why do we read the Bible?
  2. Why read the Bible daily?
  3. How do I get the most from my Bible reading?
  4. What should we expect on our first read through the Bible?
  5. How do we stay passionate about Bible reading for a full year?
  6. Where should I help a new believer begin his journey into the Bible?
  7. What are the essential components of daily Bible reading?
  8. How many Bible versions should I read?
  9. Ink or pixels?
  10. How do I find the meaning of a Bible text?
  11. Should we read the Bible for breadth or depth?
  12. How do we accomplish deep reading with pens and paper and marked-up texts, but also simply read the Bible devotionally?
  13. How do we piece together chapters of Scripture?
  14. How do I read the Bible topically?
  15. What happens when you pray over Scripture?
  16. How do I pray before reading the Bible?
  17. How do I prepare my soul to encounter Christ through Bible reading?
  18. Isn’t the Bible old and irrelevant?
  19. How do I battle doubt and cynicism in Bible reading?
  20. Why is the Bible so violent?
  21. Is Bible reading only profitable if we come away with application?
  22. How do we avoid intellectualism with the Bible?
  23. Do I love Bible insights more than I love God?
  24. How do I read the Bible in dark seasons?
  25. I’m too busy and exhausted—when should I read the Bible?
  26. Should we use audio Bibles for daily devotions?
  27. I have one hour to read. How much Bible? How much other books?
  28. If I listen carefully to sermons, why do I need to read my Bible?
  29. If I read my Bible, why do I need preachers?
  30. When does my Bible neglect become sin?
  31. What is the final goal of Bible reading?
  32. Bible memory: essential or optional?
  33. What are your suggestions for Bible memorization?
  34. What are essential Bible texts for life’s hardest battles?

Enjoy!

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The Meaning of Ephesians 4:15

Posted on March 15, 2024 by Wayne Davies

I love reading stories of how people become Christians. The Bible is filled with God-glorifying conversion accounts – from the woman at the well (John 4) to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).

Here’s a story of how a woman became a Christian in the late 1800’s in Chicago. It’s told by Reuben Torrey, an associate of D.L. Moody and like Moody, one of the great evangelists in church history. It’s an excerpt from his book, How to Be Saved and How to Be Lost. (To get a free copy of this book, see the link at the end of this post below.)

BEGINNING OF EXCERPT:

One night at a late meeting in Chicago, as I passed through the innermost inquiry room, a lady of substantial culture sat among the inquirers. This woman held two or three university degrees; she was a professional and one of the most highly cultured women who attended our church. As I passed by, she said, “Mr. Torrey, will you speak with me?”

I replied, “If you will wait a few moments until I speak to these poor creatures over yonder,” as I looked toward some poor outcasts grouped together in a corner of the room. “I will come back and speak with you.” These poor outcasts knew that they were sinners, and they accepted Jesus Christ. Then I came back to the lady, drew up a chair, sat down in front of her, and asked, “What can I do for you?”

She replied, “Mr. Torrey, I have not had a satisfactory Christian experience.”

I replied, “I do not think you have had any Christian experience at all.”

“Why,” she replied, “I am a church member.”

I answered, “Unfortunately, that does not prove anything. I am sorry to say that I have known many church members whom I could not believe were really saved.”

“But,” she said, “I am a Sunday school teacher.”

I said, “Unfortunately, that does not prove anything. I am sorry to say I have known not a few Sunday school teachers of whose salvation I was not at all sure.”

“But,” she replied, “I am the widow of a minister.”

“Well,” I said, “unfortunately, even that fact does not prove anything. I do not read anywhere in the Bible that anyone is saved by marrying a pastor. Now, I do not believe that you ever in all your life came to God as a poor, vile, worthless, miserable, hell-deserving sinner – not essentially better than those poor creatures over in the corner.”

She immediately straightened up, and her eyes flashed as she replied, “No, I never did, for I am not.”

I looked at her and quietly said, “You are about as full of spiritual conceit as anyone I ever met.”

She gasped out, “Mr. Torrey, you are cruel.”

“No,” I replied, “I am kind. It is not cruel, but it is kind to tell people the truth. Now, you are a physician, are you not?”

She said, “Yes, I am.”

I said, “Suppose you had a patient who had a great big tumor, and you took a sharp knife and cut it out. Would that be cruel?”

“No,” she answered, “that would be the kindest thing I could do.”

“Well,” I said, “you have a great big tumor of spiritual pride, and by the grace of God, I will cut it out tonight.”

The woman had sense even if she was proud. She immediately dropped on her knees and came to God as a poor, vile, worthless, miserable, hell-deserving sinner, and she got a satisfactory Christian experience. But there are some of you who have never done it, and some of you who are determined that you never will do it. Well, you will, or you will spend eternity in hell.

Come, my good-natured, upright, polished, perfect gentleman; you must come and take your place as a sinner if Jesus Christ is to take any interest in you and save you. Come, my fine lady with your fair and attractive life, beautiful character, generous culture, winsome personality, and honored place in society; you too must come to your right place before God as a sinner if Jesus Christ is to save you.

Yes, you must get down right alongside your sister from the slums, for Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and He saves nobody else. Are you one? Are you a real, genuine sinner? If not, Christ did not come for you. We have thousands in our churches today who have never taken their places as lost sinners before Jesus Christ, and, of course, they have never been saved.

END OF EXCERPT

This is a wonderful example of “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Here we see Mr. Torrey telling this woman what she needed to hear to become a Christian. She was a proud woman and this pride prevented her from humbling herself as a sinner before God.

God can’t save us until we realize how lost and wretched we are, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). The good news of the gospel begins with the bad news of our utter depravity.

May God give us the humility to see our sinful condition and cry out to him for mercy. And may he give us the boldness to share the gospel with others – one beggar telling another beggar where to find food.

How to Be Saved and How to Be Lost: The Way of Salvation and the Way of Condemnation Made as Plain as Day, by Reuben Torrey, is available for free in Kindle format here.
https://www.amazon.com/How-Saved-Lost-Salvation-Condemnation-ebook/dp/B09NMTM8Q1

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How to Have More Hope

Posted on March 8, 2024 by Wayne Davies

There are two kinds of people in the world: the hopeless and the hopeful.

According to the Bible, Christians should be the hopeful. Because of God’s grace and the promises found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, our hearts can be filled with “the full assurance of hope” (Hebrews 6:11 ESV).

You just read God’s definition of hope. It is “full assurance” rather than wishful thinking. It’s the certain and confident expectation of God’s now and forever goodness toward his people.

The best way I know to maintain and increase our hope is to focus on God’s precious promises found in Scripture. Here are seven of them. Meditate on these words and God will fill your heart with hope. Each of these promises is fulfilled when we experience the presence of God, as indicated by the italicized words.

Psalm 16:11 – Eternal Life, Joy, and Pleasure
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 49:15 – Redemption from Death
But God will redeem me from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.

John 14:1-3 – Being with Jesus in the Father’s House
1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

John 17:24 – Seeing the Glory of Christ
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

2 Corinthians 5:6-9 – Being at Home
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

Philippians 1:21-23 – The Gain of What is Far Better
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far

1 John 3:2-3 – Being Like Christ
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Which of these promises resonates most in your heart today? And why? I’d love to hear from you, so please leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts.

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The Foolishness of Grace

Posted on March 3, 2024 by Wayne Davies


Why do so many people reject the gospel?

Here’s a verse that answers that question quite well.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV)

The truth about Jesus and what He did through His death is rejected because non-believers find it “absurd and illogical” (Amplified Bible). In a word, it is “nonsense” to them (J.B. Phillips New Testament).

Here’s an example of this phenomenon.

In late 2023 I wrote a book entitled Why Bad People Go to Heaven and Good People Go to Hell. Here’s what one reader thinks of this book. In a scathing 1-star review on Amazon, she wrote:

“Ok I’m a kid and this book is just stupid! First of all good people go to heaven bad people go to hell! This called common sense like come on. I what this book gone. I’m reporting this book! What is even the reason of this book? I’m can’t… wow I’m a kid and I know more than u!”

She is so upset, she vows to report this book. The phrase “I what this book gone” probably has a typo and should be “I want this book gone.”

It is sad but oh so prevalent to believe the false gospel of salvation by works rather than grace. This young reader has accepted the conventional wisdom that “all good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell.”

“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12 NIV)

I remember well having an even more foolish mindset than this reader. After graduating from Bible college and seminary, I decided that Christianity was irrelevant and “stupid.” I turned my back on God, His Word, and His people and lived as an atheist for over 20 years. I viewed Christians as fools and loved to mock them. I was the fool who said “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1). What could be more stupid than that?

Who do you know who needs to hear the “foolish” message that Jesus saves us “by grace . . . through faith” because “it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

A free copy of my 31-page book is available on Amazon in Kindle format here:
https://www.amazon.com/People-Heaven-Good-Hell-Part-ebook/dp/B0CLLJPS3X

Or as a free PDF here:
https://payhip.com/b/54GdA

Or in paperback here:
https://www.amazon.com/People-Heaven-Good-Hell-Part/dp/B0CMM18B8V

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Am I Really A Christian? (8 Doubts Answered)

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Wayne Davies


Do you ever have doubts about your salvation?

Do you ever wonder whether you are really a Christian?

I recently came across a helpful little booklet that addresses eight reasons that believers may question the genuineness of their conversion:

Am I Really A Christian? Eight Doubts Answered
by Thomas Boston

The author begins by acknowledging that “True Christians sometimes have serious doubts.” Then he explains eight specific doubts and how to overcome them.

DOUBT #1:

“Not knowing exact time of conversion.
I doubt I am really born again because I do not know the exact time of my conversion. Neither can I trace the steps that led me to becoming a Christian.

Answer: Though it is desirable to be able to describe the beginning of the Lord’s work in your life and the gradual growth you’ve enjoyed, this is not necessary to prove that you truly are a Christian. We must remember that the work of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. In the Gospel of John, we read about Jesus healing a blind man. This man simply said, “One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). When we see a flame, we know there is a fire, even if we don’t know how it began.

Even so, we can know we are Christians, even if we do not know how or when it all happened. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you repented from your sins? Has there been a change in your soul? Does your mind have light? Do you want to obey God in everything for the sake of Jesus, Who died on the cross? Do you love other believers? Do you flee from the evils in this wicked world? If you answer “yes” to such questions, then you do not need to trouble yourself with this doubt.”

DOUBT #2:

“Struggle with sin.
If I am really a Christian, a new creature in Christ, why do I continue to struggle with sin?

Answer: We certainly do not want to lay down pillows so that hypocrites can rest easy with indulging their sin and making God’s grace a slave to their lusts. On the other hand, we need to remember that “all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). Sin may prevail at times even over the children of God. Are you groaning under the weight of sin and the corruption of your nature? Are you disgusted with yourself for the sins of your heart and life? Are you striving to put your lusts to death, fleeing daily to the blood of Christ for pardon and looking to His Spirit for sanctification? Though you might say with Psalm 65:3, “Iniquities prevail against me,” remember that this verse ends, “As for transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.”

The new creature in Christ is like a man who does not live in a house alone: an ill-tempered neighbor lives in the same house with him. His name is “remaining corruption.” These two constantly struggle with each other for control: “The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh” (Gal 5:17). Sometimes old “corruption” prevails and makes the child of God a captive to the law of sin (Rom 7:23). Do not let his occasional victories make you conclude that you are not a child of God! Instead, let it humble you. Let it make you more watchful. Let it make you thirst even more intensely for Jesus Christ, His blood and Spirit. The principle of grace within you, the new birth in Christ, will seek the destruction of the very sin that so often defeats you.”

I find these words most helpful. How about you? If you find this resource beneficial, let me know by leaving a comment below.

To get a free downloadable copy of this 16-page booklet, visit:
https://www.chapellibrary.org/book/aira/am-i-really-a-christian-bostonthomas

NOTE: This booklet contains selected sections from Human Nature in Its Fourfold State, by Thomas Boston, modernized for easier understanding by today’s reader. Jeffrey T. Riddle, pastor of Christ Reformed Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, provided the abstraction and modernization. Copyright 2015 Chapel Library. www.ChapelLibrary.org

 

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Where Do You Go During the Storm? (Thoughts on Psalm 46)

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Wayne Davies

Scripture is abundantly clear that the life of faith will never be a trouble-free existence. Far from it.

God is the God of promises, and one of his promises is that we will experience many hardships in this life.

 

Yes, a stressful life is something God has guaranteed for us. “Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Jesus himself predicted that “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33).

Even though God has made it clear that our lives will be filled with suffering, when it comes, our response can be one of surprise, anger, frustration, and despair. “Why me, Lord? What did I do to deserve this? This is not fair.”

What do you do when faced with a difficult situation? The question isn’t whether we will face turmoil, but what will be our response. How will we handle it? Can we be thankful and even joyful in the heat of battle, or will we be bitter, resentful, and mad at our Maker?

Psalm 46 offers a solution to the pain that is sure to come. Verse one begins with some of the most hope-filled words in the Bible: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (v. 1). For centuries the people of God have turned to these words for comfort in times of calamity.

According to Psalm 46:1, the antidote to the certainty of hardship is the presence of God. The psalmist describes God as our refuge, our strength, and our ever-present help in trouble. The never-failing presence of God is a recurring theme in this psalm, for the psalmist refers to it by repeating these words in verses 7 and 11: “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

What is a refuge? It is a shelter, a place to go during a storm to find protection from danger. This word is used often in the book of Psalms, and its frequent use helps us to better understand its meaning.

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
(Psalm 9:9)

For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
(Psalm 61:3)

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
(Psalm 91:2).

I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
(Psalm 142:5)

When facing the storms of life, the primary issue is not so much the type of storm or how long it will last, but where we go during the storm. God wants us to know that he is always there for us in the pain –  to be our stronghold, strong tower, fortress, and portion. He wants to be the place to which we go – before, during, and after the trial.

It is relatively easy to trust God when things are going well. The test of true faith is whether we continue to trust him when the tide turns against us. This is the message of Psalm 46. Is God your refuge and strength, your ever-present help in trouble? I pray that he is for me, and I pray that he is for you.

Questions for Further Study, Reflection, and Discussion

  1. Jesus predicted, even promised, that “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). Yet when trouble comes our way, we are often surprised, disappointed, frustrated, and even mad. Why is that?
  2. This psalm is filled with several descriptions of trouble. Make a list of all the specific references to trouble in this psalm. How many of these “troubles” do you see in our world today? What form do they take? In terms of current events, what do they look like?
  3. Verse 2 mentions a common response to trouble: fear. Why are we so prone to fear? What causes you to fear? And why?
  4. Verse 2 makes the bold statement that in the midst of trouble, “we will not fear.” How can the psalmist say that? What is the psalmist’s antidote for fear? In your own words, how would the psalmist finish this sentence: “We will not fear because ______________________________.” (Go ahead and fill in the blank.)
  5. This psalm is filled with descriptions of God. Make a list of all the words and phrases used in this psalm to describe God: both what He is and what He does.
  6. Which of your answers to Question 5 is most meaningful and precious to you lately? And why?
  7. This psalm is filled with the voice of God. In verse 10, when God speaks, what does he say? What two commands are found in verse 10? Specifically, what do you do to put these two commands into practice? When you obey these instructions, what does it look like? When trouble and fear dominate us, what role should listening to God play in our lives?
  8. This psalm is filled with the presence of God. What verse is repeated twice? Make a list of all the words and phrases used to describe God’s presence with his people. What can you do to cultivate a greater awareness of the presence of God?
  9. This psalm is filled with the praise of God. What phrase is repeated in verse 10? Take time now to write out a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God for all that this psalm teaches us about him: who he is, what he does, what he says, and how he is with us always.

NOTE: The above content is an excerpt from Wayne’s book How to Pray Like David, Volume 2 (A Bible Study on Psalms 42-72), available on Amazon in Kindle or paperback here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJMG8S1F

For a free PDF of this book, visit https://payhip.com/GodWroteTheBook

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What the Bible Says about Joy

Posted on February 11, 2024 by Wayne Davies

I’ve been doing an in-depth study 1 Peter chapter 1. Verse 8 speaks of joy that is “inexpressible and filled with glory.”

Meditating on that phrase led me to do a deeper dive into the meaning of biblical joy. As you may already know, the Bible has much to say about joy.

Here are some thoughts on the joy that you and I can have today and forever.

1. God is the source of true joy.
It is a gift from our triune God (Father, Son, and Spirit). More specifically, joy is the joy of Jesus which God the Son gives to us through the work of the God the Spirit. Scripture also says that God the Father fills us with this joy.

Biblical joy is the joy of Jesus that he gives to us. Christ told the apostles: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:12). Jesus has infinite and perfect joy; note how He speaks of “my joy.” And he wants us to have that joy – his joy. His desire and will for us is that his joy be in us. He wants his joy to be our joy; he speaks of “my joy” and “your joy” in the same breath. His joy becomes our joy because he gives it to us.

He wants us to have his joy in abundance; the result of God’s gift of joy is that our joy “be full.” “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24), “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves”(John 17:13).

2. Jesus gives us his joy through the work of the Holy Spirit.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace” (Gal 5:22). “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 13:52). “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17). “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess 1:6).

3. God provides joy to believers in Jesus, to people with faith in Christ.
Like salvation, biblical joy is Christ’s gift and this gift is received by faith. In 1 Peter 1:8, we see the relationship between faith and joy. Peter tells his readers, “Though you do not see him (Jesus), you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.” Our joy in Christ is the result of our faith in Christ.

Paul also wrote about the connection between faith and joy:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13). God fills us with joy because we are “believing” in him. “Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.” (2 Cor 1:24)

4. 1 Peter 1:8 teaches us two key characteristics of biblical joy: it is “inexpressible” and “filled with glory.”
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.”

Biblical joy is “inexpressible.”  The KJV translates this as “joy unspeakable.” Phillips renders this as “a joy that words cannot express.” The NET (New English Translation) uses the word “indescribable.” Yes, the Christian’s joy is indescribable, yet here I am trying to describe the indescribable – to define it and explain what it is with words that cannot do it justice. This is the wonder of God’s goodness to us!

The Greek word for “inexpressible” (aneklaletos) is only used two times in the New Testament, once by Peter here in 1 Peter 1:8, and once by Paul in 2 Corinthians  9:15, “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” God is the great Giver of gifts. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). He gives us countless gifts, and Jesus is arguably the greatest of these gifts. God’s gift of Jesus to the world is truly inexpressible! We do our best to explain Jesus with words, but his infinite worth goes beyond words. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

Biblical joy is “filled with glory.” Philips expresses this thought well: our joy “has in it a hint of the glories of Heaven.” The joy we experience in this life is a foretaste of the perfect joy we will have in the next life, and therefore it is “glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy” (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).

5. Biblical joy is a painful joy.
Peter knows that these believers are being persecuted for their faith and therefore “have been grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:6). God’s people have been oppressed by unbelievers for centuries. Jesus was brutally honest with his disciples in this regard, predicting that “In the world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). What kind of trouble? Christians can expect to be hated by the world. “Because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). The world’s hatred of believers will result in persecution. Jesus experienced rejection, slander, and physical abuse to the point of death. We will get the same treatment because “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).

In fact, like Jesus, some believers will be unjustly killed for their faith, ironically, in the name of God: “Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God” (John 16:2). This was Peter’s own experience; according to church history, he was crucified for following Jesus. Later in 1 Peter he writes, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13). Even though we suffer physical pain and deep sorrow from persecution, we are not to be startled by it or view it as “strange.” The path to glory is a journey of grief and suffering. Jesus walked this path, and we are following right behind him, all the way to heaven.

For many believers, the Christian life is hard, a “fiery trial” (1 Peter 4:12). Somehow, by the power of God’s Spirit who indwells us, we can rejoice in these fires because we are sharing the same paradoxical mixture of pain and joy that Jesus felt. This is why we are “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).

The simultaneous experience of suffering and joy is a recurring topic in the New Testament. Paul told the Corinthians, “In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy” (2 Cor 7:4). He described the Macedonians believers with these words: “For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part (2 Cor 8:2).

The writer of Hebrews reminded his readers that “you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one” (Heb 10:34).

And James, the brother of Jesus, told believers to “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:3-4).

So it is possible to have joy while suffering. This was the lot of Jesus and the early church. By the grace and power of God, this can be our experience, too. The apostles even rejoiced because of their suffering: “When they (the Sandredin) had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” (Acts 5:40-41).

6. We rejoice even while suffering because our joy is in God and his salvation.
The first four words of 1 Peter 1:6 contain the key to biblical joy: “In this you rejoice.” What is “this”? God and his salvation.

In verses 3-5, Peter begins the letter with a doxology of praise to God for the mercy he demonstrated through his provision of salvation. He blesses (praises) God for . . .

** His incredible mercy – “According to his great mercy”
** The new birth – “he has caused us to be born again”
** A life of hope – “to a living hope”
** The resurrection of Christ – “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”
** God’s promise of a rock-solid inheritance in heaven – “to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you”
** God’s powerful protection – “who by God’s power are being guarded”
** God’s gift of faith to receive all the blessings of salvation – “through faith”

Peter is saying, that in light of who God is and what he has done for us, rejoice! His merciful character is magnificent. No matter what happens to us, God’s salvation is a sure thing, and therefore, “in this” God and “in this” salvation we can rejoice, even though we face sorrow and hardship during our sojourn on earth.

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Is It Wrong to Drink Coffee during a Worship Service?

Posted on February 3, 2024 by Wayne Davies

I love a good question, especially when we can go to the Bible for help in answering it.

John Piper, one of my favorite teachers and authors, has been answering Bible-related questions on his podcast “Ask Pastor John” for years. There are now over 2,000 episodes at https://www.desiringgod.org/ask-pastor-john

Here are some recent episodes that you might find edifying.

 

On Coffee-Sipping in the Sanctuary
Is it wrong to drink coffee during corporate worship?
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/on-coffee-sipping-in-the-sanctuary

Leading a Church out of Casual Culture
How might churches move away from casual culture toward heartfelt, happy reverence on Sunday morning?
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/leading-a-church-out-of-casual-culture

Strategies for Building a Reverent Church
In a day starving for transcendence, how might church leaders arrange every element of the Sunday gathering to promote joyful Godward reverence?
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/strategies-for-building-a-reverent-church

 

Another great website for getting answers to thousands of Bible questions is GotQuestions.org.

Here are some questions that got my attention.

Does God hate? If God is love, how can He hate?
https://www.gotquestions.org/does-God-hate.html

Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people?
https://www.gotquestions.org/good-things-bad-people.html

How were people saved before Jesus died for our sins?
https://www.gotquestions.org/before-Jesus.html

I hope you’ll find these resources helpful. They are not necessarily an exhaustive “final word” on these difficult issues, but I think they do well to get us started in the right direction.

Enjoy!

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