Save Us

 Today we start worship with:

John 12:13

So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”

This verse, written in Greek, contains the spontaneous shout in Hebrew from the crowd, "Hosanna" (hōsanna).  

That, in turn, comes from two words, "save" (yāša) and "we pray" nā'.

It is a short, submissive, respectful prayer.  Another example would be when Moses asked God:

Exodus 33:18

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”

Amen, may it be so. 

No Backup Plan

 As we worship this morning we are directed to:

Psalm 62:5-7

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

    for my hope is from him.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my salvation and my glory;

    my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Two sets of words jump out of this passage that indicate a very personal and exclusive relationship.

If I were to highlight the word "my", it would be so distracting the rest of the passage would be obscured.  That is a very personal psalm.

Then twice the exclusive nature of the relationship is called out.

Today, we have friends (plural), second homes (plural), second cars (plural), multiple TVs (plural), bathrooms, . . . OSHA and AARP articles have taught to climb a ladder only moving one hand or foot at a time.  We have 401Ks and IRAs . . . 

We mitigate risk.

Our faith, however, rests solely on God.  We do not need a backup plan.

Our Servant

 This morning we start worship with:

Philippians 2:9-11

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Out of this verse leaps the word "every".  What Jesus has done is of such a degree that He has been exalted to such a place that everyone, without exclusion will confess that Jesus is Lord.

Let's peek back to what He did:

Philippians 2:6-7

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Jesus emptied (kenoō) himself.  He took off the crown, that was rightfully His, and stepped down to become a servant.

Yes, we know that Jesus became a servant of the Most High God, but that is too lofty a picture.  I have chatted with the executive assistant of the CEO of Wells Fargo.  That is not the picture that this passage wants to convey.  Let's recall the Upper Room . . .

John 13:5

Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Jesus emptied himself and became our servant.

With that in mind, let's take one more peek back as to why Paul would want to bring our focus so low.

Philippians 2:4-5

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus.

We are to follow His example and set aside our rights and privileges to become each other's servant.

Boast!

 This morning we are called to worship with:

Galatians 6:14-15

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Here the word "boast" (kauchaomai) is used in contrast to the shame of the cross.  

When playing in a school yard, if one has ever experienced a child getting stuck, the teacher must come quickly to their aid, because of the torment that is instantly unleashed by their classmates.

In the 1700s and the 1800s, the shame of being punished by being placed in stocks was sufficient to prevent many crimes.

The horrific death on a Roman cross was preceded by days of torment, not by soldiers, but by people.  Soldiers were present to prevent people from not only giving aid to the convicted, but also to prevent such heinous acts that would shorten the duration of the crucification.

Not one, but two crucification occur in this verse.  The first is of the world and the second is of Paul, himself.  When the world is crucified, its authority over Paul is ended.  He is internally freed to enjoy the blessing of his salvation, in which he now boast.  That while, Paul's own crucifixion is ongoing, and he continues to receive what torment they would devise.

If God, then man.

 Today as we start worship we are asked to meditate on:

Psalm 65:4

Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,

    to dwell in your courts!

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,

    the holiness of your temple!

As a reformed congregation we sometimes get accused of concentrating on the doctrine of predestination. Raised a Baptist myself, the reformed faith rocked my world.  Going from "accepting" God to being "chosen" by Him was a hard thing to grasp.

But as you read scripture the thread, or rather the foundation, of God's sovereignty is present everywhere.

Listen to Elihu (the fourth friend of Job) as he stumbles through the doctrine:

Job 33:22-28

His soul draws near the pit,

    and his life to those who bring death.

If there be for him an angel,

    a mediator, one of the thousand,

    to declare to man what is right for him,

and he is merciful to him, and says,

    ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;

    I have found a ransom;

let his flesh become fresh with youth;

    let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;

then man prays to God, and he accepts him;

    he sees his face with a shout of joy,

and he restores to man his righteousness.

    He sings before men and says:

‘I sinned and perverted what was right,

    and it was not repaid to me.

He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit,

    and my life shall look upon the light.’

It is faith building to see across scripture the order repeated 'If God, then man', for truly if the Bible was of man's authorship, the central theme would be 'If man, then God'.

Sometimes we need to be reminded.

 This morning we start worship encouraged by:

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Sometimes we need to be reminded.

Possibly the most dreaded scolding from a parent is "Didn't I tell you . . .?"

The command here is to be strong (ḥāzaq).  Funny thing about strength is that it can, generally speaking, be improved.  It is not like other physical characteristics that cannot be changed.

We are also commanded to be courageous ('āmēṣ).   This is a different kind of strength and yes, it too can be improved.  But unlike physical strength, which may take weeks of training to improve, courage can be improved instantaneously.  Courage is a decision.

We are not to be frightened (ʿāraṣ).  Literally trembling.

We are not to be dismayed (ḥāṯaṯ).  Literally laying down mentally.

Now we are given one reason . . . God.  When we are reminded that God is present, everywhere, at all times, in every situation, in the past and in the future, then it is easier to make the decision to be courageous and to daily take up our training.

Yielding to the Groomer

 Today begin worship with:

Isaiah 26:7-8

The path of the righteous is level;

    you make level the way of the righteous.

In the path of your judgments,

    O Lord, we wait for you;

your name and remembrance

    are the desire of our soul. 

Few of us take paths these days.  But when this was written paths were important.  They were the means of travel.  To get from one place to another you took a path.  Isaiah is praising the Lord because He has made level the path before the righteous.

We had a real-life example of that this weekend.  We are up north enjoying the snowmobile trails.  With use, however, they become rutted and bumpy.  The trails across the state are maintained by a patchwork of clubs.  Each club owns what's called a groomer which must regularly be dragged down the trail to "make level the way".

Yesterday, we reached a trail that had not been recently groomed.  The going was tough.  We nearly turned around.  It was a relief when we once again returned to a smooth trail.

How does God make level (pālas) our path?  

Isaiah 26:9 

My soul yearns for you in the night;

    my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.

For when your judgments are in the earth,

    the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

God's law lays out a path of righteousness.  When he removes his favor, His judgements teach us that simple lesson, that you must always yield to the groomer.

Our Approach

 On this Sabbath we begin worship with:

Hebrews 10:19-22a

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith . . .

How often do we do anything with confidence?  Do you trust your latest decision, action, or purchase?  Has COVID not filled our life with a series of daily concerns?  Did we wash enough?  Are they sitting far enough away?  Will my company survive the pandemic?  Will the vaccine  work?

But in this verse the confidence is not in ourselves or our circumstances.  It is in our Savior.  He has opened a new way to the very mercy set of God.  His blood.  His righteousness.  He has accomplished what was necessary.

That said, the verse does command us to do something.  We are not to be idle or passive.  We must “ draw near”.  And that we must do it with a “true”(alēthinos) heart.  

The idea here is that what is on the outside is the same as what is on the inside.  Recently a cruel picture of a Krispy Kreme box of donuts was circulated on social media, which when opened revealed celery and carrots all neatly arranged complete with a side of ranch dressing!

Unlike that, we should make our approach being sincere in our preparation.  As you worship today, take this moment to align your heart for the task that was so important that the blood of our savior Jesus Christ was spilt.

Thy kingdom

This morning we begin worship seeking:

Luke 12:29–31

And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

But when you are in the army, you do not worry about what you are going to eat, or what you are going to wear, or where you are going to sleep.  That is all provided for you.  We are in God's army and in His kingdom.

But somehow we are to "seek" the kingdom.  One can seek (zēteō) by locating, by thinking, by striving, or by demanding.  We are told later that it certainly does not need to be "found":

Luke 17:20–21

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

But people stumble on this word "midst" (entos) and are still trying to find it.  Like when you are staring into the fridge looking for the pickles and your wife yells from the other room "They are right there!".  God's kingdom is never found by looking.  Jesus used the word to explain that it had already come not where it was to be found.

So we need to stop using the phrase "where is it?" and switch to "what is it?" in our seeking.

Simply understood, a kingdom is where the will of the king is done.  Anywhere the king's will is not done is not part of the kingdom.  That is why these two phrases were spoken together:

Matthew 6:10

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

Search me

 This morning to begin worship we read:

Jeremiah 23:24

Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.

One of Job's friends, Eliphaz, thought that God could not see through dark clouds (Job 22:13-14).  Laban thought that his god could be stolen (Genesis 31:30)!  But when David explored God's omnipresence in Psalm 139, he was awestruck:

Psalm 139:6

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

    it is high; I cannot attain it.

When his thoughts settled, he knew how this great truth could be used:

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

    Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting!

You see, in every dark alley, in every corporate boardroom, at every dinner table, at every marital spat, on every walk with a child, in front of every internet screen, between you and the COVID virus, . . . is God.

Two loaves

 This morning we read in preparation for worship:

Psalms 37:7

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,

    over the man who carries out evil devices!

The english word "fret" might be a little light.  It describes the bubbling of fermentation.  The Hebrew word charah describes a burning fire of your own making.   You look to your neighbor's condition and burn with envy.  You follow the rules.  They don't.  They prosper with immediate satisfaction.  You are asked to wait!

Many years ago, after nine years serving at the home office of the SIM missionary agency, I was let go as a prudent cost-cutting measure when software became available off the shelf.  We found ourselves unemployed and with small children.  Yes, I "fretted".  

But one morning, during quiet time, I read this Psalm.  Then I went to church to pick up groceries that the women of children's ministry purchased for us.  Two large paper bags (remember them?).  To pick them up I had to bear hug the pair of them.  I could barely see over the top of them because sticking out the top were loaves of fresh bread that criss-crossed my face.

Psalm 37:25-26

I have been young, and now am old,

    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken

    or his children begging for bread.

He is ever lending generously,

    and his children become a blessing.

Not only does the LORD care for our current circumstances, this Psalm reminds us that those circumstances must be held in an eternal perspective.

Psalm 37:28

For the Lord loves justice;

    he will not forsake his saints.

They are preserved forever,

    but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

Evil will end.  What we will enjoy will not.