No Excuses—7 Helps in Overcoming Temptation (1 Cor. 10)

[This article was originally posted on my Our Long View blog]

While this topic sounds a little heavy on self-effort, it actually is more of a response of love to the love which God has poured out into our hearts. However, following Christ doesn’t mean that the testing times of adverse circumstances go away. With that, we will continue to be tempted to take things into our own hands. Our current culture is biased towards a non-faith position—that God either doesn’t exist or that if he does he doesn’t reward those who seek him (contra Heb. 11:6). The Apostle Paul knew that the life of a follower of Jesus is one that requires us to not let our defenses down because temptation will come.  

The purpose of temptation is to cause us to be disqualified from the race entirely, or at the very least to prevent us from winning the reward by:

Dragging down, puffing up, wearing down, breaking up, putting out, working in, walking out, sucking in, sneaking around, racing through, getting by, laughing at, running away, leading astray, skimming through, sweeping under, exalting over, leaving behind,

& It comes near by . . . accommodating, accessing, accusing, back-biting, blaming, blaspheming, convincing, confusing, compromising, criticizing, deceiving, defiling, denying, depriving, desensitizing, devastating, dishonoring,

distracting, doubting, embittering, entangling, exhausting, fearing, killing time, lusting, minimizing, mocking, quitting, rationalizing, sensationalizing, satiating, seducing, slandering, self-destructing, slothfulness,

                                   . . . and a lot more ways if I really wanted to list them!

In 1 Corinthians 10, the concept of disqualification continues as Paul writes about those Israelites who were disqualified in the wilderness…

1 Corinthians 10:1-14

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,

that our fathers were all under the cloud,

                           and all passed through the sea,

                           and all were baptized into Moses

                                             in the cloud and

                                             in the                 sea, 

                          and all ate the same spiritual food, 

                          and all drank the same spiritual drink.

                        For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them,

                                                               and the Rock was Christ.

  Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased,  

                         for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

  Now these things took place                   as examples for us,

that we might not desire evil as they did. 

                Do not be idolaters 

                         as some of them were; as it is written, 

“The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 

       We must not indulge in sexual immorality 

                          as some of them did,

                                              and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 

       We must not put Christ to the test, 

                          as some of them did

                                              and were destroyed by serpents,

                      nor grumble, 

                          as some of them did

                                              and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 

Now these things happened

                                         to them as an example,

                                                  but they were written down for our instruction, 

                                                         on whom the end of the ages has come. 

   Therefore 

                  let anyone who thinks that he stands

                                     take heed lest he fall. 

                                   No temptation

     has overtaken you that is not common to man.

 but God is faithful,

and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability,

                     but with the temptation

       he will also provide the way of escape,

                      that you may be able to endure it.

How Can We Be Victorious Over Temptation? A good place to start is to stop making excuses! Here are several Scriptural ingredients in the recipe for overcoming temptation successfully. Let's take a moment to examine them.

1) Learn from the mistakes of others (v.1-11)

• Avoid Their Idolatry—They worshipped other gods (v.7; Exodus 32:6).
• Avoid Their Immorality—They indulged in sexual immorality (v.8; Ex. 32; Num. 25:1-3 & Psalm 106 are similar but not the same).
• Avoid Their Ingratitude—They murmured or grumbled at the providence of God. It was an indictment of his character. (v.10; Num. 11, 14:2,29-37).

I find that Psalm 106 is a great Psalm of “National Confession” for all these sins in the wilderness as opposed to Exodus 32:21-24, which contains Aaron’s lamest excuse ever!  
   “So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ 
    So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

 Excuse Dealt With…"I didn't know." Idolatry, sexual immorality, and grumbling are never OK, and we have been warned about them in advance.

In v. 12-13, we find quite a few other important excuse-busters…

    Therefore 

                  let anyone who thinks that he stands

                                     take heed lest he fall. 

                                   No temptation

     has overtaken you that is not common to man.

       God is faithful,

and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability,

                     but with the temptation

       he will also provide the way of escape,

                      that you may be able to endure it.

2)    Be Watchful, Wise, and Humble (v.12)

       “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

This command to “take heed” (Greek blepo) means to be able to see; to perceive while looking. To both see and understand. When we think we are strong and secure, we tend to stop watching with vigilance. The Bible tells us to wise up and learn from others’ failures, humbling ourselves to the idea that we are fallible. We are told the attack is coming ahead of time so that we can be ready when it comes. The late Ron Mehl used to say, “You can’t prepare for a crisis in a crisis. It must be done ahead of time.” The Bible helps us in many ways, including warning us ahead of time and removing one of the most common excuses.

Excuse Dealt With …“I wasn’t ready!”

3)    Realize Your Case Is Neither Unique Nor Unbearable (v.13)

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man”

This phrase, "Except such as is common," is both humbling and encouraging. It is humbling because it tells us not to flatter ourselves by thinking that we are "special cases" who are suffering under some exceptionally irresistible temptation. We encounter nothing that is not a "common" temptation. The NIrV says, “You are tempted in the same way all other human beings are.” At the same time, we can, and should, be encouraged that others have faced and overcome what we may be facing right now. We are not alone in our fight, nor are we the sole focus of all the attention of the enemy.

Excuse Dealt With…"I’m an exception. No one's had to go through what I have."

4) In the Midst, Remember What Our God Is Like (v.13)

       "[but] God is faithful"

This simple phrase in the midst of this passage raises the shield of faith with the vitality of a champion! We are reminded that when faced with grave temptation, we must believe that God really does care about us! I am convinced that all temptation comes at this point, whether we believe that God is faithful or not. In the wilderness, Satan tempted Jesus (as he had tempted Adam & Eve) to believe that God really didn't care or have his best interest at heart. Yet, Jesus clung fiercely to the truth that the Father is faithful, whether we can understand it all or not.

Excuses Dealt With… "God doesn’t care", or "God can't be trusted to provide what I really need."

5) Stop Enabling Your Failure and Start Seeking the Solution (v.13)

    “he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability…”

Tied to the concept of God’s faithfulness is the promise that no temptation will come upon us that will be beyond our ability (in Christ, by the Holy Spirit) to bear. We will certainly face that which is beyond our individual strength, but Jesus doesn’t leave us alone. At a later date, Paul would write to these same believers about his own experience while ministering in Asia Minor,

“For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” (2 Cor. 1:8-9)

Jesus will not allow us to face a situation where we will have to fail, for he desires not that we should fail the test, but has done everything so that we might pass.

Excuse Dealt With…“I couldn't help it.”

6) Start trusting in God’s provision for your needs

       “But with the temptation will also make the way of escape,”

"He will make a way! He will provide a way out": How can we deal with temptation successfully?  By using the "way out" that our faithful Lord provides.

Paul’s imagery is that of an army trapped in a rugged country, which manages to escape from an impossible situation through a mountain pass. I am reminded of the Exodus march as the Israelites were pursued down a wadi to the beach of the Red Sea. They were utterly trapped until God parted the Red Sea and enabled them to cross while destroying the pursuing army. Then in the wilderness, how many ways did he provide for his people? It is absolutely stunning to consider. So when we are at the breaking point, how many times has he sent us encouragement from his Word, kindness from a stranger or friend, a financial gift we were not expecting, healing from illness and injury, etc?

Just as Jesus, our example, was never in a situation where he was "forced to sin" by choosing the “lesser of two evils” we are never in such a situation…if we make timely use of "the way out" that God provides. We find that way out in the person of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Word of God.

 Excuse Dealt With…“I couldn't escape it. It’s hopeless to try.”

7) Stand firm in Jesus’ Strength

"So you may be able to bear it  (Greek hupophérō = to stand up or bear up under it)":

This doesn't necessarily mean the removal of all tempting circumstances. While we need to use wisdom and avoid those situations that we know will cause temptation, what about those situations we cannot change? This verse teaches us that by making use of "the way out," we can be victorious by endurance and patience while still in the situation. The “way out” or “way of escape” mentioned doesn’t promise the removal of the circumstances; rather, God makes it possible for us to "stand up under it!" Think of Jesus' compassionate words in Matthew 11:28-30,

^“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

  Excuse Dealt With… "I can't take it anymore."

So much more could be said about the way of escape that Christ provides, but I will close this post by simply listing three ways we can begin to recognize it. I will also include Bible references for you to use in your personal devotions on this subject.

• By Praying Regularly: The first ingredient in personally overcoming the temptations we face, and making use of the way of escape, is prayer. We need to be in constant relationship with our Deliverer, the One who is the "way of escape." We petition the Lord to lead us away from temptation. We can’t do it on our own, but when we bring it all to Jesus and ask for direction, he shows us the path to follow, transforms our hearts to want to follow it, and strengthens us to actually do it. Without the ongoing relationship and gratitude of prayer, we will most likely be found "easy pickings" by the temptations of pride and self-reliance. (Matthew 6:13; 26:41; Mark 14:38)
• By Knowing, Obeying, & Applying the Word of God: The way in which we come to the place where we can overcome in the midst of a wicked and evil generation is the way of the Word. We must diligently study, meditate, and search the Scriptures for God's loving answer and then obey what he says and trust in his promises. If we "hear and do" what the Word says, then we will not fall before the floodwaters of temptation, no matter how strong or how sudden its onset. It is the Spirit that gives the Scriptures life and power. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to quicken the Scriptures to our souls and illuminate the "way of escape" brighter than any green "Exit" sign ever appeared. Brother Yun, in The Heavenly Man, wrote, "You can never really know the Scriptures until you're willing to be changed by them." May we know the Word because we welcome the change Jesus brings! (Psalm 119:9; 1 John 2:14b; Matthew 7:24-25; James 1:25; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16)
• By Resisting the Devil: When we resist the devil, in the authority of Jesus Christ, then the devil must flee. Finally, in our struggle against temptation, we need to remember that temptation is not yet sin, and that instead of beating ourselves up because some ungodly thought crossed our minds, we need to immediately turn to resist the one who put that thought there — the enemy of our souls. We must resist the devil in the armor which God provides (Eph. 6), humbly submitting ourselves to God's care. It is important to know that for us to resist, we need to be on the lookout for the attacks that will come. It is much harder to prepare once you are in the midst of temptation. Let us be wise and prepare ourselves before temptation comes and live our lives watchfully. We only need to outlast the devil by a fraction of a second, and we will have won the victory.  (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-10; James 1:12)

And what is that crown called here in 1 Corinthians? An imperishable crown (v. 25), something far better than celery! 

Bring the Book! (A SOAP Journal from Nehemiah 8:1-3, 8-9)

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

In addition to regular articles, I regularly post some simple SOAP journals that were produced during a regular small group gathering to read, journal, pray, and encourage one another. These are not exhaustively studied as they are generally the work of 20 minutes of reading, 20 minutes of writing, and 20 minutes of sharing with each other what we have written. Whether we are Christian leaders or new believers, this group approach to Bible journaling is encouraging.
If you are not familiar with the term, we used the SOAP acronym as a simple devotional guide, standing for:

• Scripture—what verse or short section caught my attention today? 
• Observation—what can I briefly notice that the passage specifically says?
• Application—what will I do differently as a result of having read this today?
• Prayer—what will I ask the Triune God to do for, in, and through me today?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

S = Nehemiah 8:1-3, 8-9

And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate.

And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses

    that the Lord had commanded Israel. 

                So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly,

         both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, 

on the first day of the seventh month.

And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate

                               from early morning until midday,

                              in the presence of

          the men and the women and those who could understand.

And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law…

v. 8-9

        They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, 

  and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

 And Nehemiah, who was the governor,

 and Ezra the priest and scribe,

 and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, 

         “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.”

                                  For all the people wept

      as they heard the words of the Law.

Photo by Nicole Honeywill on Unsplash

O = In this passage, we read about a unique request. The people gathered “as one man” and told Ezra to “bring the Book” (of the Law) and read it. As a pastor and Bible teacher for over 30 years, I love it when people want to know more about what God has said in the Bible, and then they respond to it on a heart level. In Nehemiah 8, it was not the priest, prophet, or governor who called for the reading of the Law, but the people who said, “Bring the book!”

It is quite possible that they realized that their re-entering the land was a new start and remembered something about how Joshua had gathered the Israelites at Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim (in obedience to the Lord) to publicly read the Law and declare the covenant blessings and curses at the beginning of the campaigns of conquest (Joshua 8). The reading by Ezra was explained by faithful men so that all could understand. But their understanding was not just on an intellectual level; at this moment, the hearts of the people were softened to respond. Their reaction to hearing and understanding the Law was to weep, likely with conviction and shame, for as a people and as individuals, they had all violated the law. The Law also makes it clear that they could not hope to stand on their own and they had to be encouraged that “the joy of the Lord was your strength” (v.10). Despite their unworthiness, they could rejoice that “his steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136). The same is true for us today, as it is written,

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:4-10)

Photo by KEEM IBARRA
on Unsplash

A = In this passage, the reading of the Law was done publicly, and the explanation was public as well. Theological concepts and terms were interpreted so that all those gathered that day could understand. The law of God was not about secret knowledge for an elite few but was given as a gracious message for all—men, women, and children alike. In applying this passage, I find myself asking questions like: How eager am I to hear the Word of God? How well can I explain it to others? How readily do I respond on a heart level to God’s written Word?
This passage, in concert with many others, is a reminder to me of my need to hear, understand, and respond to the Word of God together in community, not just in introverted isolation. To the degree that I understand the Word of God, I should respond in humility, but also in the faith that it is the Lord who lifts my head and strengthens me with his joy! This situation reminds me of Luke 15:21-24, where the prodigal son comes back “weeping” but is gathered up into the joy of the Father’s overflowing love. Just as the father rejoiced in the return of his “unworthy” son, and picked him up off the ground, clothed him in a special robe, restored him with a ring, and prepared a feast for him, the Lord Jesus does the same for us! How can I not repent and return to him?

P = O Lord, let not my heart become disinterested in what you would say, nor let it become hardened to my need to hear from you, the Lover of my soul. May my heart respond in mournful humility for I regularly fall short, but also in joyful faith because you have made a way and desire to share your joy with us! May I, like Ezra, “bring the Book” to read it not only to others but to allow it to read me and conform me to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29)

Are We Merciful or just Mean? (Psalm 41)

This post was originally published on one of my other blogs, but because of its application to pastors and Christian leaders, I am reposting it here. As leaders, every word we speak, print, or post has the potential to bring healing or great harm (Prov. 12:18). Likewise, we are often the targets for those who are auditioning for Satan’s (i.e., accuser) job. Will we be revealed to be men and women of great mercy or as mean as a snake? This meditation on Psalm 41 considers both possibilities and suggests ways that we can keep from becoming more hurtful than healing. 

Psalm 41:1-3

Blessed is the one who considers the poor!

    In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;

the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;

    he is called blessed in the land;

    you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.

The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;

    in his illness you restore him to full health. 

Photo by Shail Sharma on Unsplash

In a previous post on Psalm 40, we saw the psalmist testify about the good that God had done for him, and we see that here in Psalm 41 as well… in the person of the Lord himself and in the one who represents him well. 

     “Blessed is the one who considers the poor!” (v.1)

Here is a question... are verses 1b - 3 a description of what God does for the poor or what God will do for the one who cares for the poor? Perhaps both. Willem Van Gemeren, in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, notes that,

“The Father in heaven looks for those who wisely conform to his heavenly kingdom on earth: righteousness, holiness, love, and justice. He cares for the oppressed and delights to see his children's concern with the things that are important to him: concern for those in need (cf. 35:13-14; 112:9 –Emphasis mine).”[1]

We should also observe that David ended the previous psalm with the cry,

 As for me, I am poor and needy,
    but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    do not delay, O my God! (40:17)

David might have been establishing a case whereby the Lord would do merciful things for him since he was also in need. It is also possible that he was emphasizing the importance for those who have power over the poor/weak/sick/powerless to use that power to help and not to harm. This idea may be supported by the title of this psalm in the Syriac, which says, “It was a Psalm of David when he appointed overseers to take care of the poor.” (Adam Clarke)

This psalm seems to suggest that how we treat “the poor” in their day of trouble influences how we will be treated in our own day of trouble. Jesus picked up on this prophetic message (and others such as Psa. 18:25-26 and Micah 6:8) in the Sermon on the Mount when he said, "Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy" (Matt 5:7). Later James, Jesus' half-brother and leader of the Jerusalem church, wrote that pure religion is evidenced in our treatment of “widows and orphans” and not just some abstract form of personal piety (James 1:27).

Nineteenth-century preacher Charles Spurgeon, in his classic Treasury of David, elaborated on how the faithful servants of the Lord are both relationally wise and merciful in their consideration of the poor, “They do not toss them a penny and go their way, but enquire into their sorrows, sift out their cause, study the best ways for relief, and practically come to their rescue; such as these have the mark of the divine favor plainly upon them…“The promise is not that the generous saint shall have no trouble, but that [they] shall be preserved in it, and in due time brought out of it.”[2]

Certainly, these verses depict the kindness and grace of God, shown to those who are “poor”— a word that depicts the marginalized in every society on earth, but also in the Hebrew context that specially referred to those who were humble before the Lord, confessing their sin. In the New Testament, we see both aspects on the lips of Jesus in Matthew 5’s “poor in spirit” and Luke 6’s “poor” in an economic/power sense.

I am touched by the merciful kindness shown to "the poor" in verses 1-3 of this psalm. I am also disturbed by the contrasted meanness of others in verses 5-10 — the malicious, the slanderers, the whisperers, the scandalmongers, the prognosticators, and the betrayers!

Have you ever been “visited” by such as these? David had...

And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,

    while his heart gathers iniquity;

    when he goes out, he tells it abroad. (v.6)

Pigpen by Charles Schultz

I don’t want to be the “utterer of empty words” nor one with a heart that “gathers iniquity” like velour gathers lint. I don’t want to spread abroad the iniquity I gather like so much sticky pollen and dust due to the negative charge of a fallen world. Instead, I want to spread the goodness of God, which I have received. God doesn’t want his people to be the spiritual/relational equivalents of the Peanuts character “Pigpen,” whose very presence continuously broadcasts dirt and dust. I also don’t want to imagine the worst for others (v.7), even though we are often faced with the reality of it.

Photo by Elijah O'Donnell on Unsplash

How can we keep from being mean like those described in v. 5-10? I don’t think that too many people set out to speak hurtfully or even use mean words, but the less we listen to the heart of God and more to the selfishness and demands of the world we start to sound like those to whom we listen. I was in a man’s office recently and noticed that his bookshelves were covered in a thick layer of dust. It didn’t happen all at once, but a little bit at a time, so gradually that he had not noticed it. But when I walked in for the first time, I noticed it right away. It is not fun when the light of God’s Word is focused by the Spirit on some areas of our hearts that have become clogged with the dust and disease of selfish pride, but it is therapeutic for it leads us to confession and cleansing!

What else can we do? Having confessed our sins to God and asked for mercy and grace to speak the truth in love, always looking to build up rather than tear down, there are several other safeguards, I would suggest that will prevent us from becoming one of those odious individuals mentioned in v.5-6 that hurts others verbally. We can...

1. Know that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit delight in you! Jesus was prepared for his times of greatest testing by the knowledge of his Father's love and acceptance (Matt. 3:16-17; 17:5). The triune God knows your flaws already and still delights in you! Publishing and critiquing the perceived faults of others does not enhance your standing before the Lord. It is not like playing “king of the hill,” where we climb higher by pushing and throwing others lower. (--> Romans 5:6-11)
2. Know that our enemy, whose very name means “Accuser”, will not have the last word. And when the accuser is silenced by the manifested love of God in Christ, let us not play “devil’s advocate” and take up his taunts against others for whom Jesus died. (--> Rev. 12:10-11; Romans 8:31-34)
3. Know that we are secure in the loving presence of the Lord Jesus forever. We don’t have to be overcome with anxiety, insecurity, or discouragement at our own shortcomings. We are not called to climb up to heaven to win God’s favor; rather, he came down to us to set us free from all that brings guilt and shame! (--> Romans 8:14-17, 35-39) It is his love that transforms our hearts!
4. Know that our words quickly reveal the condition of our hearts. So, when we (or others) notice our words growing more caustic, impatient, overly sarcastic, let it be like an early warning system that our heart is no longer responding to the lovingkindness of the Savior, but has begun to go astray to gather and broadcast iniquity. (--> Matt. 15:1-20; 12:34; Mark7:1-23; Luke 6:45)
5. Know that you will always need God’s help and make a practice of asking for it, as the psalmist models for us in Psalm 141:3-4,

     Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;

         keep watch over the door of my lips!

     Do not let my heart incline to any evil,

         to busy myself with wicked deeds

     in company with men who work iniquity,

         and let me not eat of their delicacies!

As recipients of great mercy, even before we knew we needed it, let us extend mercy to others, though they may not know they need it too! But having received it they will be changed. May the Heavenly Father and Christ the Son use us to pour his love into the thirstiest of hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit this week! 

And for those of us who face the hour or day of trouble, may we embrace the Lord's delivering presence in and through it! 

"Blessed is the one who considers the poor!

    In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him..." (v.1)

---

[1] Willem A. Van Gemeren in EBC Vol. 5, Psalms—Song of Solomon, Zondervan. 325.

[2] C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, Vol. 2 Psalms 27-52, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 283-284.

Dry for the Sake of Others (Proverbs 31:4-9)

The following reflection comes from a recent Bible journaling experience with a great group of brothers in the Lord. Our assigned text for the day included Proverbs 31:4-9...

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
      it is not for kings to drink wine,
      or for rulers to take strong drink,
lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
      and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,
      and wine to those in bitter distress;
let them drink and forget their poverty
      and remember their misery no more.
Open your mouth for the mute,
      for the rights of all who are destitute.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
      defend the rights of the poor and needy.

It should be noted that the king’s wise mother, not just his father, taught him important lessons about life and about how to govern wisely. Since it seems that we live in a dearth of governing wisdom, I come looking to learn from this passage. 

Photo by Felipe Ponce
on Unsplash

Secondly, I observe that Lemuel was immediately counseled to avoid alcohol for the sake of justice and mercy. This is such an odd concept since in our Northwest culture, even Pastors and Christian leaders freely partake of local wine, whiskey, and microbrews. We don’t like anyone telling us what to do, and indulgence is often taken as a sign of spiritual maturity…that somehow we are past all that old-fashioned legalistic stuff. 

However, the reason that the king was to abstain wasn't immaturity but as an expression of the love of God for his people. It was so that the ruler might consistently be both just and merciful. This means subordinating personal freedom for the sake of the community's good. It was the king’s job to preserve justice so that the laws might be kept fairly and the rights of the afflicted might not be perverted. Sadly, history is not lacking in examples of kings who put their appetites first to terrible effect on their people. Maybe they didn't have a wise mother to instruct them.

Instead of consuming in privilege, this text may suggest that the king should also be

Photo by Rachael Henning
 on Unsplash

generously involved in providing merciful “medication” to help meet the needs of those who are suffering. This is something addressed in the New Testament as Paul declared to the Galatian churches,

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. 
Only do not use your freedom as 
an opportunity for the flesh, 
but through love serve one another. 
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 
'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Gal. 5:13-14)

Thinking of others first is always a virtue to be pursued. However, our indulged appetites can impair our judgment and lead us to treat other people like things rather than as human beings created in the image of God. What does this passage say to those with cultural privilege in the face of human suffering? How would the Spirit have you apply this concept in your context?

"I am a man" Protest Mural in Memphis, TN
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten
 on Unsplash

Thirdly, the king was not merely to "do no harm" through selfish consumption but was to actively advocate for the voiceless, the powerless, and the resourceless, not for those who already have more than they need. Verses 8-9 make a strong statement that we should not miss. The king was instructed,

Open your mouth for the mute,
             for the rights of all who are destitute.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
      defend the rights of the poor and needy.

This passage serves to help me remember that, to whatever degree I am a godly leader, it is to share God’s goodness with others and not to serve my own appetites. To whatever degree I have influence, I should leverage it for the benefit of the underdog, the poor, and the needy. If I am to do this, then I need to be saturated with the Word of God and filled with the Holy Spirit, rather than drunk and otherwise altered by the excesses that the world might provide to one who walks in privilege.

Will I stop talking long enough to listen? 
Will I stop consuming enough to give? 
Will I stop posturing long enough to advocate for others? 
Too often, I do not, will not, and craft excuses that exempt me from any self-recrimination.

O Lord, may I become more sensitive, more aware, more responsive, and more loving towards your children (though they may walk disguised). As you have shared with me, gifted me, provided for me, and defended me… work through me to share all the goodness of your love with others.

Righteous Plowing and Planting (Hosea 10)

The following reflection comes from a recent Bible journaling experience with a great group of brothers in the Lord. Our assigned text for the day included Hosea 9-14. Several of us chose to focus on the following passage from Hosea 10:1-2, 12-13:

Israel is a luxuriant vine
    that yields its fruit.
The more his fruit increased,
    the more altars he built;
as his country improved,
    he improved his pillars.
Their heart is false;
    now they must bear their guilt.
The Lord will break down their altars
    and destroy their pillars…

Newly Plowed Field in Israel

Sow for yourselves righteousness;
    reap steadfast love;
    break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the Lord,
    that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

You have plowed iniquity;
    you have reaped injustice;
    you have eaten the fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted in your own way
    and in the multitude of your warriors,
therefore…

Israel, the vine God had lovingly planted (see Isaiah 5:1-5), had been deceived by their own self-love and pride and came to believe that the economic and political blessings they enjoyed resulted from their manipulating the gods of the land rather than a gracious gift of God. As a result, they trusted their own efforts and wisdom instead of following the Lord in obedience. God repeatedly warned the unfaithful people through authentic men and women called prophets. In this book, the prophet Hosea consistently declared that judgment was at hand. 

Even still, in the face of shameless wickedness, the Lord through the prophet called Israel to repent and plant the seed which yields good fruit. Planting “righteousness”—a heart that loves God will also do what is right as an expression of that love. As John would later write, “We cannot love God and hate our brother (in word or deed).” While this passage is an extended exploration of the “you reap what you sow” motif, God doesn’t delight in their destruction, but promises their eventual redemption and return. We should notice that Hosea is an affectively-charged book that serves as a window into the heart of God as he wrestles with the reckless disregard of his children (I have long used chapter 11 as a case study for the father-heart of God). 

It is amazing to me how faithful God is to repeatedly tear down the idolatrous altars of our fleshly infatuations and the false trusts of our minds that clamor for our attention, including the skillfully-wrought towers of pride and self-sufficiency. He doesn't turn and walk away. For all our faithlessness and filthiness, it doesn't distance him from us. He watches over us, providing for us unrecognized (11:4), 

What is the righteousness I should plant today? What ground of my heart has lain fallow as I have sought my own pleasure and profit instead of heeding the just and gracious words of the prophets? What injustice have I readily harvested? What lies have I eaten because of my self-confidence and the human power and might of my people? Have I begun to desire the destruction of those not like me? 

I am not sure that I want to know the answers to these questions. It hurts too much. Thankfully, while some introspection is helpful, I don’t have to list all of my many faults; I only need to humble myself and respond to the love of the Lord today, for...

• He will plant his righteousness in my formerly barren heart.
• He will love me faithfully and heal my wanderings.
• He will take my solitary nature and set me in a family, his family, and he will call me his people!

O Lord, deliver me from the idol-makers guild. Please lift my head to see you as you are, and may my heart be filled with love for you alone. You so desire to bless the lives of your people, may I not accumulate your blessings only to name them as my own, but may I share what you have given me with others in humble gratitude and faith.