Sometimes, My Opinion Doesn't Matter

JOB 40:4-5 "I am unworthy--how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer-- twice, but I will say no more" (NIV)

I cannot forget that poster posted inside a tricycle of which I was a frequent passenger:
     The image: a bunch of penguins
     The text: I don't remember the exact words but it's point is that these penguins would like to talk to God for the purpose of suggesting a few improvements.

Perhaps they would complain about the way they walk (hindi kaya ayaw nila ng pakendng-kendeng?) or perhaps they  want wings that would make them soar like eagles. Or maybe they just want a colorful appearance.

It's simply ridiculous how a penguin could ever think that there is something lacking in the wisdom of God. Yet that poster wasn't penguin-made; it's man-made. Thus it represents the arrogance of man.

We think we have brilliant opinions and God must hear them so he could fulfill his role as Deity better. We even grumble about the manna and say in our hearts that if God is good and wise, he would have given us meat.

Our Text: Job 40:3-5
We know the background behind our text:
~A righteous man named Job lost his possessions
~a righteous man lost his children
~a righteous man lost his health. A skin disease covered him from the soles of his feet to the crown of his had

Then everybody pontificates about the tragic event: his wife, his friends and even Job himself.

God begins to speak in chapter 38 of that long book. He did not explain why Job is under such circumstances. He just appealed to his wisdom and power:

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand." (Job 38:4)

God's first speech consists of chapters 38 & 39; there is more to come but God's first speech was enough for Job's submission

He realized how small he was-- "I am of small account" (ESV). Compared to God, he is reduced to insignificance. After seeing his self compared to God, Job apprehended that his opinions are insignificant too compared to the perfect wisdom of God. He decides that the best thing he could do is to cover his mouth and shut up in humble submission to God.

Job 42:3 ""Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know."

Isa. 55:9- "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

The thoughts and deeds of the Lord are beyond human comprehension. What he has revealed unto us, we must fully accept. And for the things he has hidden in mystery, we must trust his goodness and wisdom (Deut.29:29)

Thanks be to God for the gifted teachers in the church. We can always go to them whenever we have biblical/theological questions. Yet there are times when those who are most biblically and theologically perceptive among us should say "I'm sorry! I can't answer your question. I really don't know. It's beyond human comprehension. But these I know:
     God is always right
     God is always good
     and we should submit ourselves to his wisdom."
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Photo credit:  http://www.thelifeaquatic.org

Matthew Henry: Sin's Aggravating Factors

Factors that make our sins
"MORE HEINOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, AND MORE DANGEROUS TO OURSELVES"
 

1. The more knowledge we have of good and evil, the greater is our sin

2. The greater profession we have made of religion, the greater hath been our sin

3. The more mercies we have received from God, the greater has been our sin.

4. The fairer warning we have had from the word of God, and our consciences, concerning our danger of sin, the greater is the sin if we go on in it.

5. The greater afflictions we have under for sin, the greater is the sin if we go on in it.

6. The more vows and promises we have made of better obedience, the greater has our sin been.

Matthew Henry

A Method For Prayer

cited in The Devoted Life

Eds: Kelly Kapic & Randall Gleason

The Temple Tax and the Coin in the Fish's Mouth (Matthew 17:24-27)

 Matthew 17:24-27: After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"

"Yes, he does," he replied.
    When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes--from their own sons or from others?"

"From others," Peter answered.
    "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours." (NIV)

Unlike the taxes levied by the Roman Empire, the temple tax is not burdensome for a devout Jew. The collection shall not go to the treasury of any foreign power, rather it would be used for the maintenance of  the temple services. It is for their religion. It is for their worship. It is for the house of God.

It is due. It must be paid immediately. Yet Jesus has not paid it yet. So the tax collectors approached the leading disciple of Jesus. They asked him, ""Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" Embedded in this question is the message that if Jesus doesn't pay the temple tax, then he is not devout in the faith. In other words, the reputation of Jesus is at stake. Every faithful Jew must pay the temple tax.

Eager to defend his teacher's honor, Peter quickly replied, "Yes, he does". Yet he was not so sure after all. When he arrived at the house where Jesus is staying, he wants to ask his Master about it. But Jesus, displaying his omniscience knew what is in Peter's heart so he spoke even before Peter could say something.

 "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes--from their own sons or from others?" It is implied here that ancient kings collected tolls and taxes from their subjects and not from their sons. Peter replied correctly, "From others". Jesus then concluded "Then the sons are exempt".

The temple as God's house must be supported. God Almighty has levied this annual tax upon his subjects and they must comply. Yet Jesus as God's son is tax-exempt. He is the heir of all things and he is creator himself (Heb. 1:2). In Rev. 17:14, he is called King of kings. He is not subject to any tax because he is the owner of the earth and everything in it. (Psalm 24:1)

Yet during his humbled state on this earth, he laid this privilege aside. He continues, "But so that we may not offend them... " He avoided unnecessary offense that will make it difficult for people to hear his message. This same principle was followed by the Apostle Paul-- to the point of giving up some rights that would "hinder the gospel of Christ" (1 Cor.9:12).

The way he provided for the payment of the temple tax is an exciting one: "...go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."

He is not only the Creator and owner of all things, he also controls them all. He summoned a fish to swallow a coin at the bottom of the lake and summoned it again to submit itself to Peter's hook. The coin inside the fish's mouth was enough to pay not just Jesus' tax but Peter's also. Elsewhere, he summoned a large school of fish to submit themselves to Peter's net in broad daylight- an unlikely time for fishing. The catch was so great that the net began to break. (Luke 5:1-6)

He could do that because he is in control over all the marine creatures. He is in control on how this earth's resources are disposed: all the pearls; all the gold; all the silver; all the oil. If you are a jeepney driver, he summons passengers for you. If you are a businessman, he summons customers and clients for you. If you are a farmer, he summons rain for your crops. Everything and everyone in the universe is under his control. "he holds all creation together" (Col. 1:17 NLT)

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Works Consulted:

Carson, D.A.,  Matthew, Vol.1 (Ch. 1-12), The Expositor's Bible Commentary 
Keener, Craig, Matthew (IVP New Testament Commentary Series)

Kistemaker, Simon, The Miracles: Exploring the Mystery of Jesus's Divine Works 

Photo Credit: Christian Clipart

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Komentaryo ni Kuya Arnel sa Jer. 2:24

Ang lakas ng dating sa akin ng mensahe ni Ptr. Jun Malazo noong araw ng Linggo. Mula sa mga kabanatang 2, 3 at 4 ng Jeremias,  ipinakita niya ang kahinaan (vulnerability) ng isang taong nanlamig ang pag-ibig sa Panginoon. Tila ba nawawala ang immune system mo kapag backslider ka na. Nawawalan ka ng lakas upang labanan ang kasalanan.

Ang talagang kumintal sa isip ay ang implikasyon ng Jer.2:24:

"a wild donkey accustomed to the desert,
    sniffing the wind in her craving--
    in her heat who can restrain her?
  Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves;
    at mating time they will find her." (NIV)

Dito ay inihalintulad ang kalagayan ng mga backslider sa isang inahing asno na nag-iinit naghahanap ng makakatalik. Hindi na raw mahihirapan ang mga barako na suyuin siya. Mula dito ay sinabi ni Ptr. Malazo na madaling bibigay sa kompromiso ang isang backslider. 

Sakay pa lang ako ng dyip papauwi ay gumawa na ako ng resolusyon na  magsasaliksik tungkol dito.

Malaki ang respeto ko sa mga iskolar ng bibliya kaya naman madalas akong sumangguni sa kanila. Inisip ko, anu-ano ba yung mga komentaryo sa Jeremias na accessible sa akin. Aha! Nandiyan si J. Andrew Dearman, Academic Dean sa Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Nandiyan din si Charles Feinberg, mentor lang naman siya ng kagalang-galang John Macarthur noong nag-aaral pa siya sa Talbot. Ngunit sa pagkakataong ito hindi sila ang kailangan ko. Sa Jer.2:24, may kilala akong higit na dalubhasa sa kanila. Bagamat ang nasa Jer.2:24 ay tungkol sa asno, sa aking palagay ay may mga ugali naman ang mga asno na hindi nalalayo sa mga baka.

Bago lumipad patungong Inglatera si Kuya Arnel, hilig niya talaga ang pag-aalaga ng baka. Nasa sinapupunan pa lang siya ni nanay, magkasama na silang nagpapastol ng baka.Sa katunayan, nang minsang umuwi siya dito sa Pinas, isa sa mga bida sa kanyang camera ay ang kanyang naiwang alagang baka.

Sa kabutihan ng Panginoon, nakasabay ko si Kuya Arnel Lunes ng madaling araw. Sinamantala ko ang pagkakataon upang hingin ang kanyang expert opinion. 

Ayon sa kaya, kung wala pa sa mating period and isang baka, hindi niya hahayaang makasampa ang barakong toro. Magpapakita ito ng resistance. 

Subalit 'pag nasa mating period na ang isang inahing baka, hindi ito mapapakali. Ang dating ayaw masampaan ay siya na mismong sasampa-- sa kapwa niya inahing baka; sa sarili niyang anak-- sa LAHAT ng makikita niyang baka. Kaya naman kapag inilapit mo siya sa barakong toro, walang kahirap-hirap. Game na game ang inahing baka.

Ganun pala ang kalagayan ng backslider. Maaaring malakas siya noon. Ni hindi makalapit sa kanya ang mga masasama. Subalit kapag nanlamig ang pag-ibig niya sa Panginoon. magkakaroon siya ng isang 'di mapipigilang pagnanasa na gumawa ng masama. Siya na mismo ang maghahanap ng paraan upang makagawa ng hindi kanais-nais. Kapag niyaya siya ng mga hindi mananampalataya upang maligo sa dagat ng basura, mauuna siyang lulusong.

Panginoon, pakaingatan mo ang aming mga puso.

Huwag nawa kaming humantong sa ganito.

Nawa'y ikaw lagi ang aming iibigin.

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81-year old blogger: Donn Arms explains why Jay Adams (born Jan. 30, 1929) is blogging

"... while he is enjoying a degree of good health he is not able to travel far from the 'Adams compound' in rural Spartanburg county in South Carolina. We are thankful that today’s technology enables him to continue to have a wide ministry.

The psalmist wrote:

    The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age, they shall be full of sap and very green.
                                                                        Psalm 92:12-14

I believe you will find, as you read Dr. Adams’ blog, that he is still ”full of sap and very green!” (-Donn Arms, read the whole thing here)

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Books by Dr. Jay Adams:

Competent to Counsel

The Christian Counselor's Manual

Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the Bible

How to Help People Change

A Theology of Christian Counseling

Christian Living in the Home:

The Biblical View of Self-Esteem, Self-Love, and Self-Image

Solving Marriage Problems

Ready to Restore

From Forgiven to Forgiving

How to Overcome Evil

Handbook of Church Discipline

Preaching with Purpose 

Shepherding God's Flock

Roman Catholic apologist Jimmy Akin explains how the "Infallible" church handles Scripture

"Well there's not a single Catholic understanding of almost any passage in the Bible. The Church does not have an official commentary on either the Old or the New Testament. There are certain verses that the Church has said that they mean 'at least this much' but that's not to exclude other interpretations that may be there in addition. I can give you an interpretation of this that is catholic but I can't give you an official one." (Jimmy Akin, transcribed from James Swan's Xanga Audio Page)

In CASH & in KIND: an illustration of God's sacrificial love

Namumuhay na ng payapa't tahimik si Hosea. Iniwanan siya ng kanyang asawa-- ang taksil na si Gomer. Mag-isa niyang pasan-pasan ang responsibilidad ng pagpapalaki at pag-aaruga sa kanilang tatlong supling. Ngunit 'di na bale. "It's time to move on" ika nga.

Subalit pagdating sa kabanata 3, ginambala ulit ng Panginoon ang payapang buhay ni Hosea. Ang utos:

"Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes." (Hosea 3:1 NIV).

Kailangan niyang tubusin ang kanyang asawa. Mangyari kasi ay ibinenta ni Gomer ang kanyang sarili bilang alipin. Ginawa iyon ni Gomer upang matustusan niya ang kanyang mga pangangailangan mula nang lisanin niya ang tahanan ni Hosea.

Bilang isang masunuring propeta, tumalima si Hosea sa tinig ng Panginoon. Habang siya'y nagbibilang, natuklasan niya na hindi sapat ang kanyang salapi. Kulang ang hawak niyang "cash". Panandaliang nag-isip si Hosea. Aha! Naalala niya ang nakatagong barley na kanyang inuunti-unting ipinapakain sa kanyang pamilya. Ngayo'y nakahanda na siyang tubusin si Gomer (3:2).

"That the payment is both in money and in kind is curious; it suggests that Hosea had difficulty in coming up with enough money to purchase her." (Duanne Garrett, Hosea, Joel; New American Commentary).

Pagdating sa pamilihan, matindi ang tawaran na naganap.

"... the Hebrew word translated as "bought" includes the idea of haggling." (Duanne Garret, NAC)

haggle- "to argue over something such as a price or contract in order to reach an agreement" (Encarta Dictionaries)

Perhaps you  are ready to spend your fortunes to save the life of a loving and deserving wife. But will you do the same for a blatantly unfaithful wife?

Remember that the story of Hosea and Gomer was meant to illustrate God's love for his people.

Romans 5:7-8 "Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (NIV)

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Robert Stein: Literacy rate in biblical times

William Harris- 5-10% (Ancient Literacy)
Catherine Hezser- 10-15% (Jewish Literacy in Roman Palestine)
Harry Gamble- 15-20% (Books and Readers in the Early Church)

• Col. 4:16
• 1 Thess.5:27
• Rev.1:3; 22:18
• 1 Tim. 4:13
• Acts 15:21,31
• Luke 4:16-21

"These, and the other letters of the New Testament, were meant to be read aloud. If, as I assume, Paul was a careful writer, he would therefore have penned these letters more for his readers' ears than for their eyes"

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"... the New Testament writers anticipated that the members of this corporate audience would not have individual copies of their works before them, but that someone would read aloud what they have written... The main sense involved was not their eyes but their ears, and the experience was not a visual one but an auditory one.

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"... the person who brought  the gospel to them... knew the context of the work and may very well have practiced reading the gospel aloud before he read it publicly..."

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"In this respect it is probable that the bearers of Paul's various letters brought with them, not only the letters themselves, but an understanding of the content of those letters from the Apostle. Thus such messengers would have been able to provide a "commentary" and answer questions that the hearers might have had."

Robert Stein

Is Our Reading the Bible the Same As the Original Audience's Hearing It?

- A Case Study in the Gospel of Mark

 Journal of Evangelical Theological Society (March 2003)