"Mapalad ang mga Mahabagin" (The Beatitudes, part 6)

"Mapalad ang mga mahabagin,

sapagkat kahahabagan sila ng Diyos" (Mateo 5:7)

Ubos na ang kanilang mga bala. Sila ay mga sugatan. Walang kalaban-laban. Subalit tinuluyan pa rin silang pinagbababaril ng mga pinagsama-samang puwersa ng MILF, BIFF, at iba pa. Hindi na iginalang ang kanilang uniporme na patunay na sila ay mga awtoridad na ipinadala ng pamahalaan. Ngunit bago pa man nangyari ang lahat ng ito, ang kawalang-habag ay matagal ng nakapasok sa ating daigdig. Sa mga anak pa lang nina Adan at Eva ay naipamalas na ang kawalang-habag ng paslangin ni Cain ang kanyang kapatid na si Abel.

Ikaw ba ay mahabagin? Siguro nga ay wala ka pang napapatay o nakakagawa ng anumang karahasan, subalit hindi lamang naman doon nakikita ang kawalang-habag. Naantig pa ba ang ating mga damdamin kung may nakikita tayong naghihirap o nagdurusa? Ang pagkamahabagin ay isang katangian ng Diyos na dapat tularan ng kanyang mga anak. Kapag ang katangian ng Diyos na ito ay nababanggit sa bibliya, ito ay madalas inilalakip sa dalawa pang ibang katangian: ang grasya at pasensya ng Diyos (tignan sa Exodus 34:6 at Psalm 103:8). Maaari rin na ituring ang tatlong ito bilang tatlong aspeto ng kabutihan ng Diyos¹

Ang kanyang habag ay tumutukoy sa kanyang kabutihan sa mga nahihirapan.
Ang kanyang grasya ay tumutukoy sa kanyang kabutihan sa mga karapat-dapat parusahan.
At ang kanyang pasensya ay tumutukoy sa kanyang pagpipigil sa pagpaparusa sa mga nagkasala na madalas ay umaabot sa mahabang panahon.

Ang pagiging mahabagin kasama ang dalawang katangian madalas na kalakip nito (grasya at pagpapasensya) ay kabilang sa mga tinatawag na communicable attributes of God o mga katangian ng Diyos na maaaring tularan ng kanyang mga anak². Sa sinumang nagsasabi na siya ay anak ng Diyos, marapat lamang na tularan niya ang mga communicable attributes ng kanyang Ama sa langit (Colosas 3:10). Kung ikaw ay mahabagin, magpapakita ka ng kabutihan sa mga taong naghihirap. Gagawa ka ng mga hakbang upang maibsan ang kanyang pagdurusa kahit na ang pagdurusang ito ay bunga ng sarili niyang kagagawan.

Idinugtong rin ni Hesus na ang mga mahabagin ay kahahabagan din. Sa isang taong mahabagin, ito ay patunay na ang Diyos ay kumilos na sa puso niya upang siya ay maging kawangis ng mahabaging si Kristo at magkakarooon siya ng kapanatagan na ang habag ng Diyos ay higit sa mga parusang nararapat sa kanya³. 

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FOOTNOTES

1. "God’s mercy, patience, and grace may be seen as three separate attributes, or as specific aspects of God’s goodness. (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology)
2. "Communicable attributes: Aspects of God’s character that he shares or “communicates”with us." (Jeff Purswell, the glossary section of Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology)
3. "The presence of love (or mercy) shows that God has performed a work of grace in the believer's heart, making him like Christ. As a result, he can have confidence when he is judged.(Donald Burdick's commentary on James 2:13 in Expositor's Bible Commentary, 1st edition)

BEYOND "God Knows HUDAS not Pay"

Photo Credit: Arkibong Bayan

There is something frightening at the thought of God's omniscience. This attribute is often employed to warn people from doing bad things. Children are taught to sing: "O be careful little eyes what you see... O be careful little ears what you hear... O be careful little hands what you do... O be careful little feet where you go... O be careful little mouth what you say" for God watches from up above. Inside many public utility jeepneys, we see stickers with these words: "God knows HUDAS not pay", a reminder to passengers that even if Mamang Tsuper doesn't know, even if Mamang Konduktor doesn't know, God knows who the robbers are and he will hold them accountable for their deeds.

Is such fear healthy? I say "Yes!". We should have an awareness that God knows us exhaustively and one day we will give an account before him. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to  whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13 NIV 1984). But in this post, I will tackle some of the blessings we get from the omniscience of God on the positive side-- that is this particular attribute as a source of hope, comfort and encouragement for his children.
 
God's omniscience gives us hope that we will be purified.
As we turn our bibles to Psalm 139, we read that God knows the psalmist exhaustively (verse 1). Even before a word is spoken, he knows it completely (verse 4). He doesn't just know all the future days of the psalmist's life, he ordained them (verse 16). There is no place in the universe where we could hide from him (verses 7, 8, 11 & 12). The psalmist ends with a request: 

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (verses 23-24)

God knows us very well, even in areas where we don't know ourselves. With a desire to be purified, the psalmist earnestly asked the Lord to search him and reveal the blind spots that he may be led "in the way everlasting."
 
God's omniscience protects us from evil-minded men
There was an impending attack from King Saul on Keilah. David isn't sure if the people there were on his side. So he inquired of the LORD, "Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?". The LORD answered, "They will." (1 Sam. 23:12). So David and his men left Keilah and moved from place to place. In the same way, even though we don't know the evil intentions of the people around us, we are certain God knows their secret thoughts. Therefore, he knows how to rescue us from them.
 
Since God is omniscient, he is neither shocked nor caught surprised by anything that happens in our lives and in the world.
 In Isa 46:10, YHWH declares: 
 I make known the end from the beginning,
    from ancient times, what is still to come.
  I say: My purpose will stand,
    and I will do all that I please. 

He knows about future storms, future earthquakes, future ailments, future terrorist attacks, future famines, future persecutions, futures deaths of loved ones, etc. These things don't ruin his good plan for us, rather they are all parts of the plan-- a plan that is not for our harm but for our welfare. Whatever takes place, his promise remains intact. He causes all things to work together for the good of those whom he loves and whom he called according to his purpose (Rom.8:28)

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Recommended Books:

No Other God (by John Frame)

God's Lesser Glory (by Bruce Ware)

Knowing God (by J.I. Packer)

Mata ng Diyos (Wolfgang)

Rev. 6:16

They called to the mountains and the rocks,

"Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!"

Mata ng Diyos

Wolfgang

Pagdilat ng kanyang mga mata, ang buong paligid ay makulay. Siya ay gumising sa umagang ubod ng ganda. Subalit ang kaligayahang kanyang nadarama ay biglang napalitan ng takot na walang kapantay. Ang sumira sa kanyang payapang araw: siya ay tinitigan ng Diyos na hukom.

Ipinakita sa kanya ang lahat ng kanyang pagkakasala at sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay kanyang napansin ang bahid ng dugo sa kanyang mga kuko. Kumaripas siya ng takbo papalayo mula sa mga nanlilisik na mata ng Diyos, ngunit sino nga ba ang makakaiwas sa presensya ng Diyos? Wala.

Ang Pahayag 6:12-16 ay pangunang-silip sa kung ano ang mangyayari sa oras na mabatid ng mga tao na ibubuhos na ng Diyos ang kanyang poot sa daigdig. Sa kaganapan ng dakilang lindol, pangingitim ng araw, pamumula ng buwan at pagkahulog ng mga tala, magigimbal sa takot ang mga 'di mananampalataya. Iiwanan nila ang kabihasnan at ikukubli ang kanilang mga sarili sa mga yungib at mga kabundukan . Ngunit higit sa lahat ng kanilang mga kinatatakutan ay ang pagharap nila sa Diyos Ama at sa kanyang Kordero. Mas nanaisin pa nila na sila ay bagsakan ng mga bato at bundok kaysa sila ay titigan ng napopoot na Diyos.

Iyan nga ang sasapitin ng lahat ng hindi nanampalataya sa Korderong Tagapagligtas. Subalit sa atin na pinagkalooban ng pananampalataya, walang tayong dapat ikatakot o ikabahala.

1. Sa mga mata ng Diyos, tayo ay napatawad na. Tayo ay katanggap-tanggap sa kanyang harapan. May kapayapaan na sa pagitan natin at ng Diyos (Roma 5:1)

2. Sa mga mata ng Diyos, tayo ay malinis na. Wala na ang bahid ng dugo sa ating mga kuko. Ang kanyang dugo ang siyang naglinis sa atin (Heb. 9:14)

3. Sa mga mata ng Diyos, tayo na mga makasalanan ay ibinilang bilang matuwid. Sa ating pakikipag-isa kay Kristo, ang kanyang katuwiran ay ibinilang na atin. (1 Cor.1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21)

4. Sa mga mata ng Diyos, tayo ay mga sinisintang anak. Hindi mga rebelde o mga kriminal na dapat puksain ang tingin niya sa atin. Malaya tayong tawagin siyang "Ama" (Juan 1:12; Gal. 4:6); tayo ay mga anak na kanyang inaalagaan, iniingatan at pamamanahan ng 'di mabilang at 'di masukat na mga pagpapala. Hindi panlilisik ng mata ang sasalubong sa atin kundi mga sulyap ng pag-ibig.

An Illustration: The Mockery of Leaving the Guilty Go Unpunished

For the IBF Bantamweight Title

Abner Mares vs. Joseph Agbeko

Referee: Russell Mora

August 13, 2011

The Holiness of God as Our Assurance that Evil and Corruption Will Be Eradicated Soon

There may be others but I could only think of three reasons why political leaders fail to eradicate graft and corruption:

1. Lack of political Will
 
2. Limitation in power-- corruption is deeply embeded in the system that it takes absolute power to eradicate it.
 
3. The political leaders themselves are wicked-- Ironically, if you fill what is lacking in #2-- that is if you grant absolute power to a political leader to enable him to fight corruption, he might turn out to be the problem himself. Remember the maxim, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

In God's kingdom, the three things mentioned above doesn't exist.

1st, God rules with perfect political will. He says "Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; As I have puposed, it will stand" (Isa. 14:24)

2nd, God is unlimited in power. It is written, "For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, who can turn it back?"

3rd, the maxim stated above doesn't apply to God. His absolute power will not corrupt him because God is light and in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). There will never be an iota of dirt in the character of God. He alone can combine absolute power with absolute holiness.

Since the three problems in human governments are absent in God's rule, evil and corruption will not exist in the King's abode.

1 Cor. 6:9-10 "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
 

"Woe is me! Will I be outside the gate?"

When I was a university student, there was a sign I see daily. It was posted at the gate: No ID, No Entry. What is required for us to enter God's abode is perfect righteousness. The heavenly policy is: No Perfect righteousness, No Entry

Revelation 21:27 "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful..."

We also know that none among us possesses this requirement. Romans 3:10 "There is no one righteous, not even one"

Will we be then outside the gate?

The complete Revelation 21:27 reads "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Though many will not be able to enter in, the Lamb keeps a book of names-- names of those who will be richly welcomed in God's dwelling place. I list here three aspects of what the Lamb has secured when he was sacrificed at the cross:

1. By the Lamb's sacrifice, believers were made POSITIONALLY holy. That is they are not actually holy, but "God justifies the wicked" (Romans 4:5) as they receive by faith what Christ did for them at the cross. In theological jargon, this is JUSTIFICATION.

2. By the Lamb's sacrifice, believers are PROGRESSIVELY being made holy. Here we are "being transformed into his likeness" (2 Cor. 3:18). In theological jargon, this is SANCTIFICATION. Believers will be excited to enter heaven because they have experienced the joys of holy living here on earth.

3. By the Lamb's sacrifice, we will be made INSTANTLY holy. 1 John 3:2 says that when Christ appears the second time, we will be like him. Because God is holy, he will not leave those whom he loved in their sinful state. When time ends and eternity begins, there will not even be a hint of sin on the present bad boy Manny. In theological jargon, this is GLORIFICATION.

So we should be glad that this dreaded holiness of God is our assurance that our future dwelling place will be free from all evil and corruption-- including the evil and corruption presently in us.
 

The Holiness of God as Our Assurance that He Will Fulfill His Promises

A neighbor preparing for his birthday banquet comes to you and says: "May I borrow your large cooking pot? I will return it tomorrow after the banquet." After a dozen tomorrows, he still keeps your large cooking pot.

Men are unholy. They don't honor their word. They place little value on integrity. But God is not like unholy men. He is absolutely holy. Thus, when God promises something, he will surely fulfill it. In Psalm 89:35, he says: 

 "Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness--

and I will not lie to David--"

Such is the character of God. You cannot find any hint of falsehood in him.

You know that he promised that he will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5). Because he is holy, we have the assurance that in the most difficult circumstances, he is with those whom he has redeemed. "Is he a million miles away?" No! He is a God so near.

You know that he has promised that whoever hears his word and believes will no longer face judgment (John 5:24). Because he is holy, he will fulfill it. You don't have to worry about paying for your own sins. No condemnation awaits you for you are in him.

He promised that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Because he is holy, he will fulfill it. You don't have to be anxious about that present trouble ruining you. It will only be for your welfare to bring you closer to God.

Numbers 23:19---"God is not a man, that he should lie,
    nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
  Does he speak and then not act?    Does he promise and not fulfill?" (NIV)

The Holiness of God as a Source of Comfort

The holiness of God is one of the less popular topics for a sinful generation. It certainly doesn't tickle their itching ears. They don't want to be told that the shows they watch, the music they listen to, the sites they visit and the magazines they browse are abominable before the pure eyes of God. They will really be offended when you tell them that the thoughts that cross their minds, the words they speak and the life they live are repugnant before the holy God. They find no comfort in the fact that God is holy.

For the next two posts, I will discuss two things about the holiness of God that brings comfort to believers:

1st, The Holiness of God as Our Assurance that He Will Fulfill His Promises

2nd, The Holiness of God as Our Assurance that Evil and Corruption Will Be Eradicated Soon

Tomorrow, I will touch on the first one and on Saturday, the second one.

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Suggested Reading:

 The Holiness of God (R.C. Sproul)

What's Ethical and What's Not?

"...God is light and there is no darkness in him at all" 

(1 John 1:5)

Scripture quotations in this post are taken from the New Living Translation

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

May 10, 1973, President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 187, "Prescribing the use of the metric system of weights and measures as the standard measurement for all products, commodities, materials, materials, utilities and services and in all business and legal transactions."

If that law was not implemented, perhaps until now we have to say "pabili nga ng isang salop" whenever we buy rice.

We use to measure length by our body parts like "dangkal", "dipa", and "dali". The problem is different people have different body sizes. So it is not unusual that the six "dangkals" of rope I possess is shorter than the six "dangkals" that you have. This is one of the problems solved by P.D.187, it has set a STANDARD by which we measure things.

One branch of philosophy deals with the study of what's right and what's wrong. This is called ETHICS.

Though men believe that there are ethical and non-ethical acts (right and wrong), their problem is that they don't have an objective standard to determine what is ethical and what is not. Relativism is inevitable in this system. What is right for you may be wrong for me; and what's right for you may be wrong for me.

In this area, the Christian Worldview shines! We do have a standard by which we measure which acts are good and which acts are bad. This standard is two-fold:

1. God's Nature- Whatever conforms to God's nature is good. Whatever is contrary to his nature is bad.

2. God's Affections- Whatever God delights in is good. Whatever grieves or angers him is bad.

This is our two-fold standard. Why is this so? Because God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). In biblical usage, light refers to truth; darkness refers to falsehoods and lies. Light also refers to whatever is holy and pure; and darkness is sin and wrongdoing.

God is all light; there is no falsehood in him (Heb.6:18). He is perfectly holy and pure. There is not even a hint of sin in him (Habakkuk 1:13)

Because of this, it makes perfect sense that we should make him the STANDARD by which we measure what's ethical and what's not.

Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path"

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Deu.32:4 "He is the Rock; his work is perfect. Everything he does is just and fair.He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!"

Isa.45:19 "... I, the Lord, speak only what is true and right."

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William Paul Young Believes My God is a Monster

“I don’t need to punish people for sin.
Sin is its own punishment, devouring from the inside. It’s not my purpose to punish it; it’s my joy to cure it”

- says Papa in William Paul Young's The Shack

In my previous post, I referred you to James De Young's list of comparison between The Shack and the creeds of Universalism. Number 2 in that list is:

"There is no eternal punishment for sin. The creed of 1899 again asserts that God “will finally restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness.” Similarly, Young denies that Papa (God) “pours out wrath and throws people” into hell. God does not punish sin; it’s his “joy to cure it” (p. 120). Papa “redeems” final judgment (p. 127). God will not “condemn most to an eternity of torment, away from his presence and apart from his love” (p. 162);"

In June this year, Ray Yungen of Lighthouse Trails Research visited Concordia University in Portland, Oregon just to hear the voice of William Paul Young  (WPY).

Yungen reports the following:
1. WPY rejects the evangelical doctrine that God will judge the unbelievers.
2. WPY rejects the substitutionary view of the atonement.
3. WPY says: "the God of evangelical Christianity is a monster."
4. WPY refers to the evangelical view as "darkness" and exhorts the audience to get rid of it.

It is very clear; William Paul Young hates the God of Evangelicalism-- he hates my God!

See this post from the Lighthouse Trails Research blog.

God's Sovereignty Over the Wills and Desires of People Around Us

Photo Credit: Jonathan Farrington's blog: http://www.thejfblogit.co.uk/2009/08/04/successful-networking-means-taking-an-interest-in-anybody-everybody/

Much of what we are today were shaped by the wills and desires of people around us; and much of what we will be in the future is contingent upon other people's future courses of action.

If God is not in control over  man's “free will”, then I will suffer from non-stop anxiety over what other people might do. One action from a neighbor could ruin my life. But thank God I don't have to worry about that because the Bible reveals that God is Sovereign even in the wills and desires of people around me. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”. “All things” in that verse certainly includes men's decisions or else the word “all” would lose its meaning.

Proverbs 21:1 says “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes."

That is demonstrated when Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken in the entire Roman world. He thought he was in control; he thought he was calling the shots. He doesn't know however that his heart is in the the hands of the Sovereign God. Because of that census, Joseph and Mary were compelled to travel from Nazareth to Joseph's hometown to comply with the king's order. Thus, the prophecy that the Messiah will be born in the little town of Betlehem was fulfilled (Micah 5:2).

Another demonstration of God's sovereignty over the wills and desires of the people around us is that when the Egyptians who were by nature  harsh in their treatment of the Israelite slaves suddenly became very generous towards their subjects. They were economically depleted because of the nine recent plagues that fell on them but when the Israelites asked for articles of gold, silver and clothing, they gave abundantly that by this means, the Israelites plundered the Egyptians. How could that be? It was because “The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people” (Exodus 12:36)

This is astonishing! There were more than 50 million registered voters for this year's national elections and God is sovereign over the wills and desires of every one of them-- even for those who have chosen to abstain!

This also means that for every Administrative Order that will be issued by Malacanang and for every bill that shall be passed or rejected by both houses of Congress for the next six years, God is in control. He is working for your welfare not just through good laws and policies but through the bad ones as well.

If you are a job seeker, you don't have to worry about the number of applicants falling in line or by the toughness of the competition. When the boss says “You're in”, God is at work; When the boss says “You're out”, God is also at work. In both cases, God causes all things to work together for your good.

When you are a businessman, you should thank God for every customer or client that approches you. The only reason why he did not go to the other store or dined at the other restaurant is because God is Sovereign over his wills and desires.

If you're dreaming to study in a prestigious university in Metro Manila or somewhere else and you're parents shouted “NO, study in Dagupan!”, you are not missing anything. You are studying in Dagupan according to God's purpose and it is good for you.

God was Sovereign when your father courted your mother. When your mother said “Yes” to your father, God was at work. Thank God then for you were born because of God's Sovereignty over the wills and desires of your parents.

If you are a young man, and you have pounded the doors of heaven until your hands are swollen; yet your dream girl rejects you in favor of another guy, rejoice in the Lord! God caused the rejection to happen for your good.

If you are a young woman and you have spent half a decade on your knees asking God for that handsome gentleman; yet he fell for your best friend, rejoice in the Lord! By his wisdom and goodness, God withheld what you are asking for in exchange of something (or someone???) better.

And how were you saved? Someone shared you the gospel in obedience to the Lord's Great Commission. God worked in the heart of that person both to will and to act according to God's good purpose (Philippians 2:13). If God did not work in his heart, he will not even have the desire to obey the Great Commission.

The people around us, including the really irritating ones are God's servants for your good. Praise the Lord!

Restrained or Unrestrained, Evil-minded Men Can Only Work for our Welfare.

Like many in his time, Guido de Bres suffered the pains of persecution because of his belief in Reformation theology. On May 31, 1567 he was hanged to death after being tried before the Spanish Inquisition. But before he died, he penned this words:

"We believe that this good God, after he created all things, did not abandon them to chance or fortune but leads and governs them according to his holy will, in such a way that nothing happens in this world without his orderly arrangement.

Yet God is not the author of, nor can he be charged with, the sin that occurs. For his power and goodness are so great and incomprehensible that he arranges and does his work very well and justly even when the devils and wicked men act unjustly." (The Belgic Confession, Article 13)

We have seen in the previous post that God is sovereign even over the wills and desires of evil-minded men. Why then does he not restrain ALL wickedness?

Why did he not subdue the wills and desires of Joseph's brothers when they were planning to sell him to merchants. Why did he not subdue the evil plans of Potiphar's wife when she was falsely accusing Joseph of attempted rape?

Genesis 50:20
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (NIV)

It is because God is infinitely rich in wisdom that he could use even the evil intentions of men for the fulfillment of his perfect purposes.

The greatest crime in world history is that when men crucified God's Son. God has all the power to subdue the wills and desires of the religious and civil leaders of that time but he did not. He could even send multitudes of angels to execute judgment upon these men while they were arresting Jesus at Gethsemane, but he did not.

For it was his will to give his Son for the redemption of souls-- a purpose that he has foreordained even before the foundation of the world.
  
Acts 2:47-48
Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. (NIV)

Restrained or unrestrained,

evil-minded men can only work for our welfare.

The Sovereignty of God Over the Wills and Desires of Criminal Minds

 Exodus 34:23-24

“Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD, the God of Israel.  I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the LORD your God.”

One way to measure a king's majesty is by the size of his empire. And it was an era when kings enlarge their territories by conquering weaker kingdoms

Look at the situation: God commanded the men of Israel to go up to Jerusalem three times a year:
1.Feast of the Unleavened Bread
2.Feast of Harvest
3.Feast of the Ingathering

All the men of Israel including their best warriors are in Jerusalem three times a year. What's left in the other towns and cities are the women and children. It will be natural for a greedy king nearby to take advantage during these times when Israel's defense amounts to ZERO.

But look at God's promise in verse 24: “no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the LORD your God.”

God promises that no one will even desire to take their lands.This shows the sovereignty of God even in subduing the desires of brutal men. Isn't this the same message of Proverbs 21:1

"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases."

It took faith for the men of Israel to leave their families and go up to Jerusalem while cruel enemies may be lurking around. I take it as an application that we should trust the Lord in obedience for whatever he requires of us. If we do, we don't have to worry about the criminal minds surrounding us for he is able to restrain them.

But what about those times when criminal acts against God's people are not restrained? That question will be tackled in a separate post.

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Photo Credit: Thanks to Simon Howden who has kindly offered the image I used above at freedigitalphotos.net. Howden's portfolio is found here

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