Daniel 1:7,8 – “Integrity”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

⁷And the chief of the court officials set to them names and he set to Daniel, Belteshazzar and to Hananiah, Shadrach and to Mishael, Meshak and to Azariah, Abednego. ⁸And Daniel set upon his heart which he [would] not defile himself with the food of the king and with the wine of his drinking, and he sought from the chief of the court officials which not he [would] defile himself.

Well, here we are at Daniel 1:8. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.” Literally volumes have been written on this verse.

I said when I started this study that it particularly interests me because Daniel, like us, has to live in a world that could care less about God. Most of the Old Testament and a good part of the New is written about people living in Israel, where there was at least an outward assent to issues of right and wrong. When the church left Palestine and headed out into the Roman world, it went to an utterly pagan place with no respect for God. Now, in a limited sense, our Western culture has mimicked Israel’s theocracy for several hundred years. In the America I grew up in, the Bible was respected and even wicked people thought about heaven and hell.

But of course, in these last 50 or so years, Western culture has nearly repudiated the Bible and cast itself on the sea of moral relativity. We are quickly becoming again (and perhaps have become) the same pagan world in which the church had to proliferate, and the same kind of world Daniel and his friends had to live in. That said, there is much to learn from Daniel, simply by watching what he does, listening to what he says and prays, and learning from his example.

Interesting to me, first of all, something in the Hebrew from verse 7 to verse 8. In verse 7, Ashpenaz is giving the boys Babylonian names, while in verse 8 Daniel is “purposing in his heart.” In my translation above, you’ll note that in both verses the Hebrew says something like Ashpenaz “set to them names,” while Daniel “set upon his heart.” It’s the same verb and I suspect it is deliberate. Ashpenaz thinks he can “set” on the boys names that will turn them into Babylonians. Daniel responds by “setting” on his heart that he will not. And can we inject that this kind of resolve, this setting on our hearts, is the stuff that heroes are made of.

It is also interesting to note that, even in Babylon, this name Belteshazzar wouldn’t stick on Daniel. Although the king himself might refer to him as Belteshazzar, he calls himself Daniel (7:15; 8:1,5; 9:2; 10:2,7), the angel Gabriel calls him Daniel (9:22), the Angel of the Lord calls him Daniel (10:11,12), the Queen mother calls him Daniel (5:12), and even the king himself in 6:20 calls out to him, “Daniel …!”) In the ancient world, as with the American Indians, names were very important and reflected a person’s character and life. The fact that this Babylonian name “didn’t stick” is probably because everyone knew that Daniel had nothing to do with the Babylonian god Bel, and it made no sense culturally to call him by a name that didn’t apply. Everyone knew he was Daniel, “God is my Judge.”

Incidentally, a great deal has been written over the years about the meanings of the Babylonian names. For my two cents worth, I think the bottom line is that no one knows. No one really knows exactly what each of the names means or with some of them, even what god they’re referring to. What is obvious, however, is the simple attempt to Babylonianize the boys. And that is precisely the battle we all face living and working in our pagan world – everywhere we go, everything we do, everyone we talk to would have us Babylonianize. They want us to be like them, to eat like them, drink like them, talk like them, think like them. They would “set” to us the names of their gods. But we have to “set” upon our hearts that Jesus is Lord.

Another aspect of this passage about which a great deal has been written is the question of exactly what Daniel and his friends were concerned about. Some have suggested they were concerned about the laws of clean and unclean meats or the prohibition to eat meat that was left with the blood still in it. Others suggest the problem was that the meat had possibly been part of a sacrifice to a Babylonian god and even the drink itself could have been dedicated to a god. Still others suggest that perhaps it was simply an effort on the boys’ part to resist their being “Babylonianized.” Perhaps they were wise enough to know the power extravagant foods and drinks can have over a person and just wanted to maintain an element of self-discipline. Others have even suggested the possibility that they were being overly-scrupulous, as young men tend to be once they do get on a cause.

I think the bottom-line is that no one knows. The text doesn’t say. It could be any one of these things or even “all of the above.” I think, seriously, what we all need to take from it is just the lesson in and of itself – that when we are called to live and work in a totally pagan world, there will be points in time where we have to draw lines. In itself, I find instructive the very ambiguity of Daniel’s decision. What I mean is that we can sit around all day and try to decide what exactly Daniel was concerned about and whether it was really that big a deal or not – but the bottom-line is that, in his own mind (and that of his friends), there was some kind of an issue and they were convinced they must draw that line. That question of “Is it really that big a deal?” is the ever-present specter that haunts a believer’s mind as he maneuvers his way through his pagan world. But then, sometimes things just convict us, “I’m not going there” over issues about which others may question our judgment. But in the end each of us must make those decisions, implore the Lord’s help, and stand for integrity in our pagan worlds.

I remember one young Christian husband and father who was told he would have to drive around the entire night-shift with a very attractive young woman. He drew the line and said he would not, that his marriage and family were too important to even risk putting himself in that kind of temptation. Another young woman was told by her sales manager, “Tell people whatever you have to in order to get the orders. If they want it by Friday, tell them you can have it by then. Whatever it takes, just get the order.” She drew the line and said, “I will not be dishonest with my clients. They call me precisely because they trust me.” She wasn’t fired and in fact went on to have the highest sales in the company. I was once told to fill out some paperwork and lie about some illegal activities that were going on. I simply had to draw the line and tell them, “I cannot put down information I know is not true, and then sign it.” Another time I was asked to change the dates on some samples and again, had to refuse. Somewhat like the young father, I once had a very attractive young saleswoman come to my plant for something, then wanted me to go out to lunch with her. I knew that she was way, way too attractive for me to be out with her alone, so I declined her offer.

Such is life living and working in a pagan world.

Our commitment to the Lord means we can and must be people with integrity. We must be people who are guided by the right. Most of the time that actually wins the favor of our bosses and co-workers and others, but sooner or later it means we’re drawing lines, often at the peril of losing our jobs or relationships. Esther had to “break the rules” about entering the king’s presence uninvited. Her last words before she went in were, “If I perish, I perish.”  Resolve. Joseph wouldn’t yield to Potiphar’s wife and it got him in prison.

Integrity. It’s something that usually fares us very well in this world, but can also get us in a lot of trouble.

Daniel and his friends had only been in Babylon a short time and already they were having to make integrity decisions. Today we admire their virtue and their courage. But the truth is, we live in the same world. And we have to make the same decisions.

Daniel’s message down through the ages is, “Stick to your guns. Be a person of integrity. Draw lines when you must.”

God help us.

Daniel 1:3-6 – “When It Gets Personal”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

³The king said to Ashpenaz the chief of his court officials, “Bring in from the sons of Israel and from the seed of the royalty and from the nobles ⁴children whom not in them [is] any blemish and good of appearance and having understanding in all wisdom and knowing knowledge and understanding learning and whom in them [is] strength to stand in the palace of the king and to teach them the writing of and the tongue of the Chaldeans, ⁵and the king assigned to them a portion of a day in its day from the food of the king and from the wine of his drinking and to cause them to grow three years and from the end of [them] they stand to the face of the king,  ⁶and it was among them from the sons of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

As we’ve been following along in the opening two verses, the world is falling apart around Daniel. His good king Josiah died four years earlier only to have his wicked selfish son Jehoiakim take the throne. Then suddenly the city is besieged by the most powerful king of the day and the great Jerusalem falls. Then the pagans start carting out the vessels of the temple to haul them away. It is a time that would call for great faith from people like Daniel to believe that God is still on the Throne, that He is still the Adonai, the Master of it all.

But it gets worse. Suddenly Daniel himself is called out. Suddenly it gets very personal.

No one knows for sure why and it’s somewhat risky to speculate, but I personally think Nebuchadnezzar is being a brilliant administrator when he directs Ashpenaz to select out of the captured city their brightest and most promising young men to enroll them in Babylon University and prepare them to serve in his court. It of course has always been the usual procedure of conquering kings to kill everyone they might consider a threat (like royal families). But Nebuchadnezzar, I believe, had a better idea – let’s turn them into Babylonians! Let’s bring them to Babylon, wine them and dine them, teach them our language and our customs, and let them strengthen our nation! I suspect it would have the further advantage that the people “back home” would be more easily subjugated if they think their youngest and brightest actually serve in the palace and are, from there, watching out for their people. It’s “dangerous,” in a sense, for Nebuchadnezzar if he thought these bright young men might rise to subvert his kingdom. But, again, I think he is being a brilliant administrator. I think he realizes that isn’t human nature. Especially for young men, to offer them wealth and power if they only “conform,” is an almost irresistible temptation.

And so that’s the plan. And that’s when it gets personal for Daniel. Suddenly he finds himself called out with his three friends (and probably many others). This man Ashpenaz calls them out and then informs them what’s ahead. Suddenly Daniel is torn from his family, his home, his city, maybe even his girlfriend, from the Lord’s temple and the Promised Land. One can only imagine the heartbreak of Daniel’s parents. No doubt they were very good godly people to have such a fine son – but now he’s going to be drug 1500 miles away to the far side of the Fertile Crescent to be made into a Babylonian! To be robbed of their son had to be bad enough, but they would have feared greatly for him spiritually. What will become of him? Will he let the Babylonians lure him into their immorality and the worship of their gods? Is he not only gone forever physically, but have we lost him spiritually? One can only imagine their tears and heartache.

But, as we said earlier, this is Daniel’s world. He doesn’t get to choose whether he wants to be a part of this world, only what kind of person he’ll be in it.

And again, I find great comfort in realizing that this Daniel lives in a world very similar to ours. He lives in a world that couldn’t care less about our God and certainly couldn’t care less about what He says is right and wrong. He is enrolled in Babylon U. He has to go to a school that not only doesn’t respect His God, they have no intention of it. He’s to learn the language and writings of Babylon. He will have to sit in classes and “learn” things he’d rather not hear about. Every single day he’ll face things that challenge his beliefs and his morals.

And he has no choice. That’s the way it is.

Kind of like us.

And once again, who does Daniel tell us in verse 2 is making all this happen? Adonai. The Master.

Faith is always a pleasant subject when we get to see it tested from afar. I’m always brave “when the battle is distant.” It’s another thing when the troubles of this world get personal.

But who is behind it all? Our Adonai. Our Master. The good, the wise, the kind King of it all, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the One who died for us all. “He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?” It is interesting to me that in verse 5 the words “the king” appear three times. It’s “the king” who assigns them a portion of food and wine from the table of “the king” and they’ll be trained three years to stand before “the king.” The king, the king, the king. Pretty important guy, yes? Pretty powerful, yes? … It certainly seems that way. But who is really behind it all? Adonai. The King of kings and Lord of lords. Our Adonai. Our King of kings and Lord of lords.

Oh, God. Give us eyes of faith to see Your hand behind the events of our lives. Though people and events seem so ominously powerful and threatening. And not just when the “battle is distant,” but when it gets personal, when we ourselves are caught in the crossfire of this world’s endless churning. Help us see the hand of our Adonai … like Daniel, so that is our faith that rules our hearts and our decisions … like Daniel.

Daniel 1:1,2 – “Adonai”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

¹In the year of third to the reign of Jehoiakim the king of Israel came Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babel [to] Jerusalem and besieged it. ²And Adonai gave in[to] his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah and part of the vessels of the house of God and he brought them [to] the house of his god and brought the vessels [to] the house of the treasure of his god.

As related in the last post, the young man Daniel is living his life in 605 BC when suddenly the wickedness of his king brings the most powerful man on earth right to the very gate of his city. But this is not just any city, it is Jerusalem, the City of David, the home of the temple of the true and living God. Just a little over 100 years before, the most powerful man of that day, Sennacherib the king of Assyria, came and besieged Jerusalem and what happened? The Angel of the Lord slew 185,000 Assyrians and sent Sennacherib back home in disgrace. But, what will happen now?

It had to be a fearful thing to look out over the city wall and see the vast and powerful Babylonian army surrounding the city. If the siege goes on for months or even years, will the people all starve to death? If the Babylonians breach the wall or get into the city, what will happen? Will they abuse people? Will they kill everyone? Daniel would have reason to fear not only for himself, but also all of the people he cared about – his parents, his brothers and sisters, his relatives, his friends. One has to realize the situation is not just scary, it is terrifying.

Daniel, his family and his godly friends must have been praying fervently for the Lord to defend them as He had earlier against Sennacherib.

But what happens? Somehow, the Babylonian army is suddenly inside the city. It is possible they quickly found a weakness and breached the wall, but I think it more likely Jehoiakim “chickened out” and surrendered. Regardless, the City of David is suddenly a conquered city.

Then what should happen? Nebuchadnezzar takes some of the vessels from the very temple itself! Not only has he made it inside the city, but now his evil minions are carting away the golden vessels of the very temple of God! And to do what with them? To put them in the temple of their idols!

To every appearance, this world has gone completely out of control. Godly King Josiah is dead and his wicked selfish son is sitting on the throne. Now the city of Jerusalem has fallen and godless men are carrying away the vessels of the temple as trophies of their idol gods! “Where is God?” the people would be asking.

Verse 2 makes a startling statement, “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim into his hand along with some of the vessels from the temple …”

“The Lord gave …”

Let all the world know, it was not the might of Nebuchadnezzar that conquered Jerusalem or even gave him the power to carry off the temple vessels. But let me also add, neither was it the weakness or even the wickedness of Jehoiakim. It was the Lord.

Interestingly, the Hebrew here even emphasizes this point. When it says “the Lord,” in Hebrew it is not the usual Yahveh (the great I Am) or even Elohim (God). In Hebrew it is His name Adonai (Ah’-doan-eye), which means Master. Even in speaking God’s name, Daniel recognizes the truth of this whole affair – the Lord is still the Master.

Is this not one of the most important truths in life to learn? Our great God is Adonai, the Master. Even here, the “great” Nebuchadnezzar thinks he’s the master. But it won’t be long and he’ll be crawling around eating grass like a cow until he acknowledges that “the God of Daniel, the Most High, rules.” He will find out soon enough who is the Master. This same God said to Pharaoh, “Let My people go,” and in his arrogance, the Pharaoh replied, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey Him?” Wow did he find out.

I love this name of God. Out of all His names, it is probably my personal favorite. Adonai. Master. King of kings and Lord of lords. Amy Grant included this name of the Lord in her song, “El Shaddai,” which I love, and then the group Avalon did a beautiful song actually entitled "Adonai," sung by Nikki Hassman. Both songs rate high on my list of favorites. Adonai. Master.

Of course it is true that, in our sinful hearts, we chafe at anyone ruling over us. But, as a believer, I long ago found I actually want the Lord to rule my life. For myself, it was even more His rule than His forgiveness that brought me to Jesus for salvation. I wanted Him to change me, to rule over me, to help me live. I wanted Him to rule over me. Once I was reading and someone related that back in the days of slavery, one might see a wagon full of slaves enter town and see them all bedraggled, clothed in rags, skinny, and miserable. Then another wagon would appear loaded with smiling, healthy, well dressed slaves. One could ask, “What makes the difference?” The answer? “Who’s their master?”

“Who’s their master?”

And here I sit loved, well-provided for, surrounded by blessing and so much more. And why is that? “Who’s my Master?” Adonai. It is an unfathomable blessing to know that the King of the Universe is my Master, the God of love, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the One who “opens His hand and satisfies the desires of every living thing.” It is wonderful to live every day knowing He is watching over me, that He will only do me good.

But, like Daniel, it isn’t always so obvious. Most of the time, in one way or another, it looks fearfully like evil has finally won. Our world is a scary place. Not just in the big huge political world (though that is bad enough!), but also in the ebb and flow of our minute to minute lives. Life is just plain scary.

And sometimes, in spite of our earnest prayers, things not only don’t get better, they get worse. What is our hope in those times? Adonai. Our God’s name is Adonai.

It was Daniel’s hope in 605 BC when his world was collapsing around him.

And it is our hope today.

Lord, help us today, to live the faith of Daniel. May we rest in the arms of Him whose name is Adonai, Master. Help us give You our fears and may we live in the freedom of love because, no matter what, we trust our Adonai.

Daniel 1:1 – “My World”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

¹In the year of third to the reign of Jehoiakim the king of Israel came Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babel [to] Jerusalem and besieged it.

I have been enjoying my study through the book of I Thessalonians but I need to take a break and do some OT study for a while and then come back to it. I don’t like to spend too long away from either Greek or Hebrew. That being the case, and needing some OT exercise, I have long loved the book of Daniel and it is a delight to actually slow down, exegete the Hebrew, ponder over each verse, and see what the Lord would teach me.

The study also possesses two personally pleasant aspects for me, one being that I’m studying the book specifically at the suggestion of my mother, who enjoys these studies with me, and the second being that my son’s name is Daniel. Not only is the mere mention of his name a delight but it also gives me great pleasure to note that, from his very birth, he has always lived up to his name. Just like his Biblical namesake, he’s always been a man you could count on to do the right thing. It was quite the pleasure for me to realize that even at a very young age, I already could respect and admire my son!

This study is also a considerable pleasure for me because I love history. Like our own, the world in which our Biblical Daniel lived was a world of rapidly changing politics, with the fortunes of four great ancient empires – Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Medo-Persia – rising and falling, while his own nation Israel was seemingly caught squarely in the middle (or should I say “cross-fire?). It is fascinating to me to understand some of the history that was happening even as our book of Daniel was unfolding.

It is also fun as a portion of the book is actually written in Aramaic, which was the lingua franca of the ancient world. (The actual language of Babylon itself was Akkadian). Aramaic is very similar to Hebrew, yet not the same, so I get to explore yet a third ancient language in the course of my studies.

Finally, I want to say it is a particularly pleasant prospect for me to embark on a study of this book because I have always found it to be of profound practical implications. So much of the OT is set in the context of the nation of Israel where the Lord Himself is at least supposed to be King. In the book of Daniel, we find a godly man living in a world that feels no obligation to even acknowledge the God of Heaven, much less respect His will. Much like us Gentiles, Daniel had to live out his faith in a completely pagan world, and, in that, I find his example to hold what I believe are profound implications for your life and mine.

And so we embark. May the Lord richly bless the study of His Word and may He through it enable us to live more holy and faithful lives, even as the political landscape of our own world rises and falls around us like a storm-tossed ocean.

I could probably write for months on this one verse, but perhaps I should refrain? I’ll try. The year is about 605 BC. For centuries Egypt has been a dominant power in the Middle East. For at least a couple of hundred years, that power has been challenged by the kings of Assyria. But a new power has risen in the east, the kingdom of Babylon. In this year of 605 BC, young Nebuchadnezzar has fought a decisive battle in Carchemish, north of Palestine, and forever broken the power of Assyria and Egypt. Jehoiakim was a vassal to Pharaoh Neco of Egypt, so no doubt in order to protect his western wing, Nebuchadnezzar determines he will subjugate Jerusalem and besieges it.

The very good and godly king Josiah was killed just four years earlier in 609 BC at Megiddo by the same Pharaoh. Josiah was actually a supporter of the Babylonian empire and went to Megiddo to stop or slow the Pharaoh on his way to battle with Nebuchadnezzar’s father Nabopolassar. Following that battle, Jehoiakim was actually placed on the throne of Judah by Neco himself.

So the world is in convulsions politically. No matter who you side with, you may end up dead.

On the home front, Jehoiakim is a completely inept and wicked king. He learned nothing from his father Josiah. In Jeremiah 22:13-19, we find him building for himself a lavish palace and then refusing to pay the workers when they’re done. What can they say? He’s the king. Then in Jer 36:23ff, we find the account of Jehoiakim impudently cutting up Jeremiah’s scroll and burning it in his fire. One can only imagine the heartbreak and consternation of the godly people in Judah who only four years earlier had Josiah for their king. While the rest of their world is in complete turmoil, in their own land, they have a godless, wicked king.

And now, to top it all off, this new powerful king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem.

Pretty encouraging world to live in. Yes? Obviously, no.

But this is the world that Daniel lives in.

Here he is in the year 605 BC. He’s probably 15 to 20 years old. The events of world history are swirling around him. His nation is led by a godless man whose wickedness has brought disaster to the very gate of his city.

But this is the world that Daniel lives in.

The choice before him is not whether he wants to live in this world or not, but only how will he live in this world?

And actually, as we all know, it’s going to get worse. Soon.

Sound familiar? It should. It’s your world and mine.

I don’t think I’m being morose to say we too live in a world of political convulsions and godless leadership that is sure to bring down tragedy and hardship on the heads of us and our children. But this is the hope of the book of Daniel. We’re about to wade through glimpses of the life of a man who lived in our same world but lived it well.

It will be a fun study!

I Thessalonians 2:19,20 – “People”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

¹⁹For, what [is] our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing – is it not even you – before our Lord Jesus in His coming? ²⁰For you are our glory and joy.

This passage is a delightful expression of exactly what the Lord’s presence ought to do in every life – make us love people above all else in this world. Jesus’ words were clear that only two things ultimately matter – to love God and love people, and obviously Paul is a living expression of that truth.

As I read the words, their first expression is, of course, the love of a minister for his people. His people are and certainly ought to be his greatest reward simply and in and of themselves. Further, the words would express the joy any of us have if we think we were instrumental in any way in someone else’s salvation. But then, being a parent, they express what I think are the very deepest expressions of my own thoughts toward my children and grandchildren. Compared to them, nothing else even matters in this world. My children are, in fact, my “hope and joy and crown of rejoicing,” my “glory and joy.” Being a man, I can’t imagine how much more deeply these words express the love of a mother. I hope it true of myself but it is definitely true of mothers that they would happily die rather than see their children deprived of the slightest necessity. One hears occasionally of the mother who miraculously lifted a car off her child – the same woman who one minute later couldn’t even budge the thing. From the time a woman conceives, she begins dying for her child. To be a mother costs her everything – her health, her time, her own personal dreams (whatever they may have been dissipate in the face of her baby), her money, even her vanity – she happily sheds it all that her child may prosper. So it is in our passage here.

People. Others. Our children. They are the good and proper and right receptor of our deepest affections in this world.

All that said, I’d like to take this passage in perhaps a very different direction than pretty much anyone else I’ve ever heard or read. Almost unanimously, commentators limit this passage to the ministers themselves, or at least to the business of soul-winning. What they write I believe betrays an attitude that in the end is actually destructive to the success of the Gospel in our world. What they essentially imply is that the work of a minister or soul-winner is the only work that really matters to God. The real truth, they think, is that everyone else is a second-class Christian. Those of us who work for a living have settled for something “second-best.” If we were all truly spiritual, we’d quit our jobs and engage in some full-time ministry.

One author wrote: “The merchant rejoices over his gains, the warrior over his victories, the artist over the achievements of genius; but there is no joy so sweet, so exquisite, so abiding, as the successful winner of souls.” Of course, if all the merchant sees is his “gains,” if all the warrior sees is his “victories,” theirs will be a hollow end. However, for those of us who do love God and want to be used of Him, what does this man’s thinking imply? It directly implies that what the merchant does all day every day is worthless. The efforts of the warrior really don’t count for anything, or the artist’s either. I actually heard a minister say from the pulpit, “Your job is just how you make money” – once again implying that what we all do all day every day doesn’t really count for anything. His clearly stated implication was that only the time spent in “ministry” mattered.

Is this bifurcation really Biblical? Is it true that ministry work is all that matters in this world and that we all face only two choices – to be in full-time ministry or to waste our lives on something less? I would like to assert that I Thessalonians 2:19,20 does not teach this bifurcation. Paul’s words were not intended to imply any comment on the fact that most believers always have and always will be people who spend most of their time simply living. That wasn’t his point at all. In fact, I would suggest, a proper understanding of what he is saying would energize God’s people. I would suggest it is an enormous tragedy that this very subtle error actually robs the church of what should be one of its greatest powers to advance the Gospel.

As you and I go about those “useless,” “second-class” lives – while we go to work, and buy groceries, and go to the dentist, and attend our kids’ track meets – where are we and who are we with? We are exactly where Jesus wants His church – in the world. In the world – rubbing elbows and intricately intersecting the lives of the very people who need Jesus. I believe it is actually the genius of the church that God gave us the Gospel and then called just a few men to actually teach and preach it full-time, then designed that the vast majority of believers would, by the very reality of their lives, spread out to literally fill the world all day every day with born-again people. Think about it – a minister may prepare and preach a powerful sermon on Sunday morning. But how far do his words carry? They don’t even reach 99.9% of the people who need to hear them. But then what happens? That little motley crew he calls his congregation goes out to spend all day every day in that very world that needs that very message. Jesus’ message then becomes a message written not on tablets of stone but on the hearts and lives of people.

I would suggest the problem is not that people spend all day every day simply living. The problem is when they don’t see how important that very “living” is to God. The problem is precisely when all the “merchant sees is his gains, and the warrior his victories …” What did Jesus say is all that matters in life? To love God and to love others. If that is true, then what should the merchant and the warrior and the artist see? People. The problem is when we fail to see that those lives are ultimately about people.

Here’s another assertion I’d like to make: In the end, no matter what you do for a living, in one way or another, your job is to do good for other people. Your job is to love and give. It is not just “how you make money” – it is your calling to do good to the people of your world. The Bible says “…and so David served his generation, and then he died.” It says of Jesus Himself, He was “a man ordained of God, who went about doing good...” As God’s people go about their lives, being born-again doesn’t mean suddenly they’re wasting their lives on something “second best.” It means suddenly they are free to realize that every moment of every day becomes precious in the sight of God, that as they go out to live their lives they are about something so much greater than just their paychecks. They are “serving their generation.” They are “going about doing good.” Everywhere they go they carry in their very bodies the Holy Spirit of God and the Presence of God. They literally are Jesus to the people they interact with. While you and I go about our daily lives, what matters is the people we touch.

And just so I’m not misunderstood, I am emphatically not saying that as we go about our lives, all that matters is that we are passing out tracts and starting Bible-studies over lunch. Those things may be fine in their time, but the first and most important thing you and I do is simply be faithful. Titus 2 says us workers ought to be found faithful to our employers and that, when we are, we “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” The first most loving thing I do at my job is simply to do my job. Everyone else is counting on me. If I don’t do my job, it makes someone else’s day miserable. Part of the “people” and part of the “love” is simply being faithful. Beyond that, there is the kindness with which we treat people, being considerate of their lives, their time, their jobs. There is the caring about those young people who are just starting their lives and their careers. They need someone to be patient with their youthful arrogance, to be willing to spend that extra minute explaining things they need to know, the effort to remember to ask how that baby is doing, to be genuinely excited for them when they’re buying their first house, etc. What matters all day every day is the people and that we genuinely love them, whoever they are, in whatever ways are truly love at that time and in that situation.

As you and I go about that loving, as we sincerely try to live Jesus everywhere we go, God will touch people. People will see your “good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” There will be people who will come and “ask a reason of the hope that is in you.” And at the end of your life, what will matter is not how much money you made, but how many people’s lives you touched.

I would suggest that, no matter what you do, when it’s well done, it will leave you saying, ^“For, what [is] our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing – is it not even you – before our Lord Jesus in His coming? For you are our glory and joy.”

It’s about the people. No matter what you do. Whether you’re in full-time ministry or changing diapers. It’s all about the people.

God help every one of us believers to see our world through Jesus’ eyes all day every day no matter what He’s called us to do at those moments. May the Lord through us “spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.” May we be “an aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”

May it be our greatest joy to say to the Lord, “Behold, here am I and the children you have given me.”

I Thessalonians 2:17,18 – “Figuring It Out”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

¹⁷But we, brethren, endeavored exceedingly earnestly to see your faces in much desire, being torn away (painfully) from you toward a short season, to face, not to heart.¹⁸Because we, even I Paul, wished to come toward you even once and twice and Satan hindered us.

This passage brings up a subject I’m not so sure I understand completely, and that is exactly how to figure Satan into my thinking.

Paul here is telling the Thessalonians how much he wanted to come see them, but then says he had not specifically because Satan had hindered him.

For myself, I have absolutely no problem believing that Satan exists. I have no problem believing that, in a sense, the world in which we live is the grand battlefield of Gen 3:15, the war between the Seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. Satan is a murderer from the beginning, a liar and the father of lies, the one who deceives the nations, the great red dragon, the ancient serpent, the devil, the roaring lion who roams the earth seeking whom he may devour. He and his minions are the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience, masquerading as angels of light, and blinding the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ. I also believe that he is a defeated foe, the one who on the Cross struck Jesus on the heel, but Jesus crushed his head. His doom is already sealed. He will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire while Jesus and His people enjoy endless happiness in a new heavens and a new earth.

So what is my problem? What is it I’m not sure I understand? I will try to explain it. I pretty much try to fill my heart and mind with the truth of Romans 8:28, that in all things my great God is working for the good of us who love Him. As I have often bemoaned, I am an incorrigible worrier and want desperately to learn to see the Lord above every moment of my life, to trust Him implicitly, even recklessly, and He has helped me in this immensely just in the last year. I want to see that everything that happens, every moment, every situation, every pain and fear and hardship is Him working in my life to do me good, to help me put off my old man, to make me more like Jesus, to make me kinder, more patient, more gracious, more loving to others.

I’m trying to learn to see everything as coming from the hand of the Lord. And I think the Bible clearly teaches that is exactly the case, that this is the ground of hope and strength in our lives.

It is clear in the Bible that Satan cannot do anything except what God allows. Even his horrific, evil assaults on poor Job had to have the Lord’s permission.

The Lord reigns.

So why do I have to think about Satan at all? It seems like I could just forget about him and focus totally on the Lord. Of course he would still be there, plotting my murder and trying to feed me lies, but I’d be living inside the hedge the Lord keeps about me.

Clearly, in spite of all the teaching on the Lord’s providence and sovereign control, He still wants me to know about Satan, to be “sober and vigilant,” and to not be “ignorant of his devices.” Paul in our passage says he wanted to visit the Thessalonians – then does not say, “But the Lord did not allow it.” He rather says, “But Satan hindered me.” In II Cor 12, although the “thorn in his flesh” was given by the Lord “to keep him from becoming conceited,” yet Paul calls it “a messenger of Satan to torment me.” Peter told the Jews, “Jesus was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the Cross” (Acts 2:23).

Although the Lord does reign, although He is totally in control and works all things together for our good, yet He still wants you and me to recognize the malevolence of Satan, his minions, and people who follow him.

It suddenly makes sense to me that this is another example of the dignity the Lord grants to us. He is in total control, He certainly doesn’t need us, and He will work out His good plan with or without us. Yet He invites us to be His servants, to be involved in that mighty work – again, not because He needs us, but just because He’s kind. I think of Jesus’ words, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).

I never cease to be amazed at the Lord’s endless kindnesses, but this one always floors me – when I see that He has granted me dignity, that He has allowed me some honor. It’s like when the children are small and you go on a trip. They don’t know anything about the route or maps or anything. They just play and sing and color blissfully while Dad and Mom take care of “getting there.” Yet, at some point, a good father says to the oldest, “I want you to help me,” gets out the map, explains the route and engages that child to “watch for signs.” It is much the same. The father really doesn’t need the child’s help. He would see the signs. He would get there with or without that child’s help. But it is a great honor to be asked “to help” and of course a great learning tool.

It suddenly makes sense to me that is why the Lord wants us to know about Satan and why we should be involved in the fight against him. The Gen 3:15 battle is the Great Warfare and the Lord wants us to join Him in it, to fight beside Him and under Him. Like Job we can daily place each of our children before the Throne of Grace. Like Daniel, we are allowed to know that “the prince of Persia” is warring against us, yet Michael is fighting for us. We can see that our warfare is not “with flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places,” and so “put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.” We can see at times that our afflictions really are “messengers of Satan to torment us.” We can see that our Gospel really does turn people “from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God.” We can see that our sins “give Satan a foothold.” And we are called to be “sober, be vigilant,” recognizing that “the devil, like a roaring lion, roams the earth seeking whom he may devour.” We actually can hear the Savior say, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

Hmmmmm. Interesting. This is something I’ve pondered for years and never quite understood – how a knowledge of Satan is important to me when I live under a good God who is in absolute control. Now I see it is another one of His dignities that He grants to us humans, an honor to be a part of what it is He’s doing.

Lord help me always to fill my mind with You, but at the same time may I see Your enemy clearly, may I in fact be sober and vigilant, and may I work and pray as a faithful soldier in Your good army.

I Thessalonians 2:14-16 – “Calling Facts Facts”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

¹⁴For, brothers, you became imitators of the churches of God being in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you suffered the same [things] under your countrymen just as they [suffered] under the Jews, ¹⁵the ones both killing the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuting us and not pleasing God and opposing all men, ¹⁶preventing us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, into the filling up always of their sins, but the wrath has come upon them into [the] end.

In v14, Paul offers as another evidence of the Thessalonians’ genuine conversion the fact that they too suffered for their faith. In the first century, of course, to become Christian was to choose persecution. I would consider us all fortunate in America that such has not been the case for us.

But then Paul goes on in verses 15 and 16 to present a very unflattering description of the Jewish people. I think it is worth pausing to think about this. Read those verses again.

In our day, these words would be termed anti-Semitism. We’re just not supposed to say such things. It seems, if we do allow such things to be said about the Jewish people, it can only lead toward another Holocaust.

The problem, of course, is that what Paul is saying is true. And this is precisely where I think some pondering is needed. As I have studied these verses and thought over them for at least a couple of weeks, I am struck by the Bible’s ability to see the world as it really is and yet still come out loving. At least in America, we have developed into a culture that is forever playing “the Emperor’s New Clothes,” always saying and thinking what is “correct” regardless of whether or not it is true. We have become utterly unable to simply acknowledge the facts and then deal with them accordingly. The Bible, and this passage in particular, I think would call us back to a life of common sense.

What do I mean? Once again, the plain simple fact is that what Paul is saying is true. It is not anti-Semitism. It is a statement of facts. The words could certainly be an expression of anti-Semitism. In fact, if spoken only by themselves, they could even promote anti-Semitism. But, again, the plain simple fact is that what Paul is saying is true. Jesus Himself said,

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar… Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing” (Matt 23:32-37).

Although it was the Romans who actually crucified Jesus, the Bible itself is abundantly clear the guilt of that unjust murder falls squarely on the Jewish people. In Acts 2:23, Peter tells them, “…you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.” Even secular writers down through the centuries have condemned the Jewish people, like Tacitus describing them as “… cherishing hatred against all others.”

However, Moses tells this same people in Deut 14:2, “… you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be His treasured possession.” And of course we always have the Lord’s promise to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen 12:3). Further, although Jesus’ condemning words there in Matt 23 were very sharp, they were spoken in love. “… how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings …” Finally, the same Paul who authored our words in I Thess 2:14,15, is the one who says in Romans 9 & 10,

“I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit -- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, … my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.”

Both Paul and Jesus could call facts facts and still come out loving people.

Could I suggest that is one of the freedoms of real love? Real, genuine, godly, Christlike love allows me to see the truth clearly because I don’t need to fear it. It is what it is. I can face it and know that, whatever it is, whatever it means, love will still guide my conclusions and my response. In fact it is the lack of love which means we all have to hide from the truth. We have to play the Emperor’s New Clothes all the time precisely because we can’t handle the truth ... precisely because we don’t truly love.

In our graceless world, love is always performance-based. If you do well, if you please people, then you can be loved. When you don’t do well, when you displease others, your name is mud. Only grace says, “I love you because I love you. I will always love you,” so then can say, “Now, let’s look at the facts.”

I wish for my country that genuine godliness could reign in people’s hearts. Grace would free us to be people who call facts facts and yet go on loving people … just like Jesus, and our friend Paul.

I Thessalonians 2:13 – “The Root of It All”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

¹³And because [of] this, we also give thanks to God continually because, receiving from us [the] Word of God of hearing, you received not [the] word of man but, as it truly is, [the] Word of God, which also works in you the believers.

Yes. Yes. The root of it all. The Word of God. The words of the living God. This one verse is worth and pause and ponder. E. Cooper said, “Ministers and hearers are alike responsible, the one for preaching and the other for receiving. The Word of God is not to be trifled with. It is either a savour of life unto life, or the reverse.”

Looking at this passage, I suspect practically every sermon ever preached on it probably focused on how important it is for the people to approach church sermons and lessons as the Word of God. I’ll come back to that. However, I think there is an enormous issue which ought to get pondered first – is what the people hear in fact the Word of God? Paul could commend the Thessalonians for receiving his teaching as the Word of God – but that’s because it was.

I suppose evangelicals and conservatives can easily condemn “those liberals,” those pastors and churches who teach what is obviously not the Word of God. But I fear what those same evangelicals and conservatives do is perhaps worse, for the very reason that they do claim to teach the Word of God. But do they? How much of what they say from the pulpit is actually the Word of God … and how much of it is not? I know for myself, having done a lot of teaching in my life, I do not think there was the holy awe I should have born, even the fear, that I must speak only God’s words and no more and no less. We are only messengers. We have no right to add to or take away from His message. Paul could commend the Thessalonians for receiving his teaching as the Word of God – but that’s because it was. Is ours?

As I have studied the Bible over the years and come to know the Lord much more, I can look back now and see how little I even understood back then. I almost wish someone would have told me to “sit down and be quiet.” I wish someone would have told me to keep studying, keep growing, living, learning how to walk by faith, and wait until I honestly knew the Lord Himself was ready for me to be His messenger. I honestly suspect there’d be few young men in the ministry if that were the case. And I’m not so sure it would be a bad thing.

And then there’s us – those who gather to listen. God help us all be like the Thessalonians. If we aren’t there to hear a message from God, then why, pray tell, are we even there? Unfortunately, I wonder how few really gather to hear a message from God. Church is just something “we do.” It’s Sunday morning, so there we are sitting in a pew or seat.

I think about the verses that fire me up:

“And if you know the truth, the truth shall set you free!”

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

“The Word of God is alive and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword …”

“Thy words were found and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart, for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of Hosts.”

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

I am so thankful one of the first books I ever read as a Christian was “How Shall We Then Live,” by Francis Schaeffer. In it, he carefully explained how important the Word of God is to us. It is important because we need absolute truth to build our lives on. People’s opinions, no matter how seemingly wise or appealing, are still just that – opinions. We can only build strong lives, strong families, and strong nations if we first embrace the absolute truth of the Word of God. G. Swinnock said, “Man yearns for certainty, and is unhappy till he find it. He cannot find it in philosophy and speculation, but he can in Him who is “the Truth,” who reveals Himself and speaks in the Word.”

Finally I want to note how Paul refers to how the Word “works in you the believers.” This is that subjective element which is nevertheless true. How do I know it’s the Word of God? There is a very real sense in which I know it is the Word of God because I know it works in me. I feel its power. I know how it jumps off the page and arrests my heart. It changes me from the inside-out. I know it. God’s plan is that I should be a living epistle, known and read by everyone. Let us all hope and pray that in fact the Word would do its work in us and that work will be so obvious that people around us will know that our God is powerful, when they see what He does in us, when they see it make us into people who love and people whom others can count on to be where we should be, doing what we should do, when we should be doing it.

It’s all the Word of God. But it must be the Word of God.

It is the root of it all.