January 02-14, 2015
The voice comes as the problems mount. You are in that place of waiting. The Deceiver of circumstances wants you to agree…nothing will ever change…the job won’t come…the bills are unpaid…the sickness won’t go away…it is too late…no one will ever pay any attention…you are forgotten by God. It is a place where your emotions are so brittle it only takes a cross look to make you weep – or sometimes simply a kind word.
Everyone else seems to be doing well. They work, they prosper, they build, they plant, they travel, they share their energetic moments with such zeal; and they seem to think that the rest of the world is just as elated. “Why can’t you get it together,” their eyes silently ask, as their unspoken question stands just out of earshot. I know. I’ve been on both sides of the conversation.
Silencing the Mouth of Doom
David the shepherd, David the warrior, David the future king of Israel intimately knew such a place, as he ran and hid from the wrath of Saul the reigning king of Israel.(1) David ran for his life for almost 15 years. He learned how to talk to himself in those impossible moments. “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”(2)
Statements like these are one of the reasons that David’s writings in the Psalms are so enduring – they document and help comfort. The Psalms lighten the burden of waiting – and the place of brokenness – which is part of the human experience.
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends His love and His faithfulness.”(3)
Moses, Abraham and just about everyone of merit mentioned in the scriptures, walked through these same soul conflicts. Even Jesus knew such a place. His friend Lazarus knew that place. Lazarus felt the sting of death, the betrayal of his body to overwhelming sickness; and the finality of the burial cloths. He surrendered to decay in the grave and the silence of Sheol. The sisters cried, as they watched the men roll the stone over the mouth of the cave, locking their beloved brother away from the world. “Jesus, if you had only been here, our brother would not have died!”(4)
Jesus saw their tears, their frustration with His inaction…their disappointment in His response. The text makes it clear He knew that Lazarus’ sickness would not end in death. He wept, I think, not only for his dead friend, but mostly for their broken heartedness towards Him and the Father’s delay plan. He only did what His Heavenly Father said to do…He only moved when His Father said “go”.(5) He felt their pain, their frustration – and even their anger.
“Take away the stone,” He said.
“But Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
“Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that IF you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When He had said this, Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes, and let him go.”(6)
Why did God wait? It was only in the totality and the stench of death that God’s resurrection power could be properly revealed. Resurrection is an interesting word found only in New Testament writings. All of the gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), as well as Paul and the writer of Hebrews, grasped the unusual concept often debated among the Jewish religious sects.
[G#386 anastasis (an-as-tas-is) a standing up again; literally from death; or figuratively, a moral recovery of spiritual truth; from G#450](7)
[G#1454 egersis (eg’-er-sis) a resurgence (from death); a rousing; used in Matthew 27:53 regarding Jesus’ resurrection](8)
[G#1815 exanastasis (ex-an-as’-tas-is) resurrection; a rising from death; from G#1817](9)
The Apostle Paul knew that place of trauma, waiting and frustration; and it is a dark night of the soul. His painful words to his spiritual son Timothy document this moment, as he languished in a Roman prison: “Even Demas has deserted me…and at my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me, the message might be fully proclaimed and all…might hear it.”(10)
Learning To Share The Cup
Between the Old and New Testaments, the condition of the heart (i.e. the contents and actions coming out of the heart of man) is discussed almost a 1000 times! Jesus discussed this crucial subject over 45 times. The Hebrew word for heart first shows up in Genesis at an ominous place – just before the flood of Noah’s day.
“When men began to increase in number on the earth…the Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that He had made man on the earth and HIS HEART was filled with pain.”(11)
Another telling fact makes its first appearance in scripture: God was grieving over the way His creation had turned out. God was feeling such pain He had to take drastic actions. I personally think the massive downpour that covered the face of the earth, once the fountains of the deep broke open, just may have been the very tears of God.
[H# 3820 leb (labe) the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything.](12)
[H# 6087 ’atsab (aw-tsab’) properly, to carve; i.e. fabricate or fashion; hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or anger; displease, grieve, hurt, make, be sorry, vex, worship, wrest](13)
Several thousand years later, new parents Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus up for dedication. The prophet Simeon took him from Mary’s arms and said: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”(14)
Pain is never wasted by God. The question becomes, just like Jesus asked the disciples (who were jockeying for position around His future throne in glory): “Will you indeed share My cup?”(15) His cup was a chalice of pain, suffering and death on a cruel Roman cross. Historical records show that most of the disciples suffered extensively and died for their faith in the deity of Jesus.
What is God doing through these times of great adversity? God is not wasting the circumstances. He uses these situations to search our heart and examine our mind – and He digs deep.(16) He already knows what’s there, He just wants us to see the depth of our need for Him, and His plans and His ways; and for us to come into agreement with Him. He promises that “in” all things, He is working for our good.(17) He also uses these opportunities to show us His glory. Just like in Lazarus’ story, it took death to showcase God’s resurrection power.
The Real Prodigals
What is God after? For one thing, I believe He’s after the conversations we have with ourselves deep in our own heart.
1. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord…I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed…I call to remembrance my song in the night; I commune with mine own heart…Is His mercy clean gone forever?(18)
2. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”(19)
3. If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to an [idol], would God not have discovered it, since He knows the secrets of the heart?(20)
4. Blessed are the pure in heart…(21)
5. Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.(22)
6. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.(23)
7. One of them, an expert in the Law, tested Him [Jesus] with this question: Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”(24)
8. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence, whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything.(25)
We all have to face those moments in life when we don’t understand God’s actions. It is at these strategic inflection points of life that we choose how we will respond to the concept of God as our Heavenly Father. Those who have known the truth of God’s love and His ways, yet they choose to walk away and abandon their previously held convictions – they remain the hardest to understand and reach.
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does He not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until He finds it?”(26)
In some respects, I believe, the refining fire of trust; or the stress and weight of the waiting was too much. Or maybe just like Lazarus, their flesh betrayed them – and they died to their previous way of believing in God’s plans for their lives. Maybe like Martha and the mourners, they became impatient and angry… “Lord, if YOU had been here…none of this would have happened.” Like Mary, maybe they don’t even respond anymore, when they hear of the nearness of Jesus.
However, it is in these fiery moments when the beauty of pure trust is refined and polished by His loving hands. I believe this kind of trust is the purest form of worship offered up to God. Jesus promised to go after the real prodigals. I know. He went after me in 1987.
Elpizo – Hope and Trust
The Old Testament story of Job documents his incredible season of adversity. After 37 chapters of feeling sorry for himself, Job finally replied: “Yeah though You slay me, still I will trust You.”(27)
How should we respond? TRUST! Over and over again, this key issue is presented by and through life events to every man and woman. Our nation was founded on these same seasons of adversity and the belief that God was behind the creation of a nation that would allow mankind to have this conversation with God without the use of force. In 1864, the phrase “In God we trust” first appeared on US coinage.(28) Our nation chose to make this scriptural declaration official in 1956, and began printing or minting this phrase on the very foundation of our commerce – all American currency. I think it is interesting that this simple scriptural phrase has made it to almost every corner of the earth because of US currency.
[Greek # 1679 elpizo (el-pid-zo) from G#1680; to expect or confide; hope, trust](29)
Theos Elpis – The God of all Hope – At Work
The Apostle Paul gave us a powerful secret: trust like this steps over the line of the impossible and becomes a powerful, living force called HOPE – especially when our focus is on the God of Abraham, the God of the Bible, the Eternal One Jesus came to reveal in all of God’s fullness.
“May the God of all Hope [Theos ho Elpidos – the God of the expectation] fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in HIM – so that you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”(30)
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, WILL guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”(31)
[Greek # 1680 elpis (el-pece) expectation or confidence – faith, hope!](32)
Additional Study Notes:
Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too, am working….by Myself, I can do nothing…for I seek not to please Myself but Him who sent Me.”(33)
“For it is God who is at work in you; both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”(34)
Some things done in/to the heart :
• thoughts of the heart (Genesis 6:5)
• said (say) in His heart (Genesis 8:21)
• laugh in his heart (Genesis 17:17)
• set his heart (Ex. 7:23)
• judgment upon his heart (Ex. 28:29)
• seek God with all your heart (Deut. 4:29)
• consider it in your heart (Deut 4:39)
• love the Lord with all your heart (Deut. 6:5)
• serve Him with all your heart (Deut. 11:13)
• to turn away in your heart (Deut 17:17)
• to keep and do with all your heart (Deut 26:16)
• to fear in heart (Deut. 28:67)
• to walk in the imagination of your heart (Deut. 29:19)
• to allow God to circumcise your heart (Deut. 30:6)
• great thoughts of the heart (Judges 5:15)
• great searchings of the heart (Judges 5:16)
• to tell or show all of your heart (Judges 16:18)
• to whisper or speak only in your heart (I. Samuel 1:13)
• to rejoice in your heart (I Samuel 2:1)
• **God changes Saul’s heart (I Samuel 10:9)
• **God searches out a man after His own heart (I. Samuel 13:14)
• laid up these words in his heart (I. Samuel 21:12)
• she despised him in her heart (II Samuel 6:16)
• to take a thing to heart (II Samuel 13:33)
• to bow or subdue the hearts of others (II Samuel 19:14)
Interesting heart conditions:
• grieved in heart (Genesis 6:6)
• evil heart (Genesis 8:21)
• integrity of my heart (Genesis 20:5)
• hearts failed them (Genesis 42:28)
• glad in heart (Ex 4:14)
• hardened in his heart (Ex 4:21; Ex. 7:3)
• cause sorrow of the heart (Leviticus 26:16
• discouraged in heart (Numbers 32:9)
• obstinate in heart (Deuteronomy 2:30)
• uprightness of heart (Deut 9:5)
• deceived in heart (Deut 11:16)
• to be hot in heart; i.e. in the act of slaying someone (Deut 19:6)
• blindness and astonishment of heart (Deut. 28:28)
• joyfulness and gladness of heart (Deut. 28:47)
• trembling heart (Deut 28:65)
• a heart to perceive (Deut. 29:4)
• a heart that has melted (Joshua 5:1)
• comforted in heart (Judges 19:5)
• merry in heart (Ruth 3:7)
• in the naughtiness of thine heart (I Sam 17:28)
• an offended heart (I Samuel 25:31)
• to have the heart of a lion (II Samuel 17:10)
• the king’s heart was toward his son (II Samuel 13:33)
• heart in anguish (Ps 55:4 ) – H2342 chuwl (khool); to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner); i.e. (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition – childbirth) or fear; fig; to wait, to pervert, to bear, to make bring forth, to calve, dance, drive away; fall grievously (with pain), etc.
Endnotes:
(1) I Samuel 15-31; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; pages 735-781.
(2) Psalm 41:5-6; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 1427.
(3) Psalm 57:2-3; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 1449.
(4) John 11:1-44; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; pages 2729-2733.
(5) John 5:16-30; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 2705.
(6) John 11:17-44; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; pages 2731-2733.
(7) Greek #386 anastasis; “The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible”; Strong; James, LL.D.,S.T.D; copyright 1995,1996; Thomas Nelson Publishers; Nashville, TN; page 7.
(8) Greek #1454 egersis; “The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible”; Strong; James, LL.D.,S.T.D; copyright 1995,1996; Thomas Nelson Publishers; Nashville, TN; page 25.
(9) Greek # exanastasis; “The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible”; Strong; James, LL.D.,S.T.D; copyright 1995,1996; Thomas Nelson Publishers; Nashville, TN; page 32.
(10) II Timothy 4:9-18; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; pages 3073-3075.
(11) Genesis 6:1-8; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 15.
(12) Hebrew #3280 leb; “The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible”; Strong; James, LL.D.,S.T.D; copyright 1995,1996; Thomas Nelson Publishers; Nashville, TN; page 68.
(13) Hebrew #6087; “The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible”; Strong; James, LL.D.,S.T.D; copyright 1995,1996; Thomas Nelson Publishers; Nashville, TN; page 109.
(14) Luke 2:21-35; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 2593.
(15) Matthew 20:20-28; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 2487.
(16) Jeremiah 17:5-10; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 1937.
(17) Romans 8:28; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 2883.
(18) Psalm 77:1-8 paraphrased; The Comparative Study Bible – King James Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; pages 1478-1480.
(19) Psalm 53:1; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 1443.
(20) Psalm 44:21; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 1431.
(21) Matthew 5:8; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 2435.
(22) Matthew 6:21; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 2439.
(23) Matthew 12:34-35; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 2459.
(24) Matthew 22:36-40; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 2495.
(25) I John 3:19-20; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 3161.
(26) Luke 15:3-7; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 2649.
(27) Job 13:15; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; pages 1307.
(28) “In God We Trust”; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_we_trust ; accessed January 14, 2015.
(29) Greek #1679 elpizo; The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible”; Strong; James, LL.D.,S.T.D; copyright 1995,1996; Thomas Nelson Publishers; Nashville, TN; page 29.
(30) Romans 15:13; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 2901.
(31) Philippians 4:7; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 3023.
(32) Greek #1680 elpis; “The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible”; Strong; James, LL.D.,S.T.D; copyright 1995,1996; Thomas Nelson Publishers; Nashville, TN; page 29.
(33) John 5:16-30; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 2705.
(34) Philippians 2:13; “The Comparative Study Bible – The New International Version”; copyright 1999; Zondervan Publishing; Grand Rapids, MI; page 3019.
Not A Matter of Talk 