Then the LORD God ... breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. ... For the life of the flesh is in the blood.
Genesis 2:7, Leviticus 17:11
One of the greatest evidences, surely, for the Divine authorship of Scripture, is the discovery that there are things found within its pages that point to Divine knowledge - knowledge that the man who penned the words could not have had. Knowledge of the future - or fulfilled prophecy - has always been a favorite of apologetics students in their quest to point out the reasonable nature of Biblical claims. I submit for your consideration a different aspect of knowledge, contained in the Pentateuch: scientific knowledge. It is subtle, but quite real, and points to the infinite worth of the Maker who knows our make-up.
The creation account plainly states that the first man Adam, became a living creature when, and only when God had "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." Most of us understand the basics of respiration, and inhalation specifically: Air is drawn into the lungs, and oxygen is taken into the bloodstream. This coincides too perfectly with the fact that God's injunction against eating blood in Leviticus is based on the fact that the life is in the blood!
Moses was undoubtedly ignorant of what took place at the cellular level each time he drew a breath. He wrote the words that God gave him to write, in Genesis and Leviticus alike. Man became a living creature when he took in the breath of life from God, and that life - God's breath - is in the blood! None but the Creator could have known this when it was written, which is - if you'll pardon the pun - breathtaking evidence for Divine authorship of Scripture.
As a final point of interest, another word for inhalation is "inspiration". Fitting.
"And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh," declares the LORD. "But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go."
Jeremiah 45:5
This is the final word of the forty-fifth chapter of Jeremiah, a chapter that employs five verses - sandwiched in between a judgement... and a judgement - to communicate God's sovereignty and grace to Jeremiah's scribe, Baruch, who is overcome by the sorrowful nature of the messages the duo are being commanded to deliver. Baruch has been lamenting his scribal duties to the tune of: "Woe is me! For the LORD has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest." The LORD gives ear to Baruch's unsettled heart and commands Jeremiah to deliver a message, not to condemn idolatry or the nation of Egypt, but to give heart to his overwrought companion.
The first word that Yahweh directs Jeremiah to share with Baruch is: "Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up—that is, the whole land." At first glance, this hardly comes across as encouraging. What is the Creator conveying to the scribe? I believe this declaration is meant to remind Baruch that nothing unjust has befallen his countrymen. After all, every city upon which God has pronounced judgement, God built. Every nation that has incurred God's wrath, God planted. He is within His rights as the Maker of all things to break down what He has built, or pluck up what He has planted.
Next, God asks Baruch, "And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh." This is even less encouraging than the first word from the LORD! What is the correlation between God's injunction against ambition in Baruch's case, and the calamity He has decreed for all flesh? Perhaps the disaster in view is not merely that of the prophetic judgements that Jeremiah delivers, but the final wrath of the Lamb. In that case, the Lord's brother has much to say in this regard, in a passage that has a decidely Old Testament flavour. "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you," he says, noting among their sins that they "have laid up treasure in the last days."
Paul seems to be following a similar line of thought as that expressed to Baruch when he warns his charge Timothy of the pitfalls of desiring to be rich. The antidote to worldly ambition and avarice that Paul prescribes is "godliness with contentment." With what then should Baruch content himself? Whatever else he may endure in the world, Yahweh declares that his life is assured him. This is undeniably of grace, for the righteous God has declared His intention to break down, pluck up, and bring disaster, yet He promises the malcontented scribe his life as the spoil of war wherever he goes.
At the risk of appearing discontent with the admonition to be content, I ask: What is the end of "godliness with contentment"? The Greek word translated "contentment" in 1 Timothy appears only one other place in the New Testament, where it is again used by Paul, this time to exemplify God's grace to the Corinthian believers. He promises them that "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." That word "sufficiency" is our friend "contentment" with which Paul exhorted Timothy. God's grace, which is sufficient for us, and thereby a wellspring of contented joy in the necessarily sparse Christian life, empowers the believer for every good work "in all things at all times," or, as Jeremiah put it, "in all places to which you may go."
Father in Heaven, please grant me contentment. Let the truth that Your grace is sufficient for me penetrate to my soul and keep me from the desire to seek great things for myself. May I remember that You have given me my life as a prize of war to use for every good work to the praise of Your glory.
(Jeremiah 45:3, 45:4, 45:5, Revelation 6:16, James 5:1-6, 1 Timothy 6:9, 6:6, 2 Corinthians 9:8, 12:9)
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10: 24-25
Another of my experiences when younger was the habit of some to pit one Scripture against another in an effort to render both null and void. A case in point was the use of Matthew 18:20 to release the Christian from their responsibility to meet together as the author of Hebrews admonished. The thinking was that since a family contained two or three, "to meet together" did not require any larger body than the nuclear family. Thus a family Bible study could be substituted for fellowship with a local body without violating the Biblical injunction against "neglecting to meet together."
While two Spirit-filled members of the Church could definitely meet for coffee in the a.m. and have true fellowship, it should be noted that Jesus' words have a more specific application than this. The statement is made in the context of church discipline, specifically the authority granted to believers as they contend with the sin of an unrepentant brother. Jesus declared that "if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven," to the end that "not ... one of these little ones should perish."
It should be abundantly clear then, that the assurance of our Savior's presence with two or three of us does not absolve the believer from seeking a larger community in which to "meet together." Furthermore, the author of Hebrews unpacks for us what it means to "meet together," juxtaposing "neglecting to meet together" and "encouraging one another." So then, to avoid the error that "is the habit of some," we are called to a ministry of encouragement, and encouragement is, in the New Testament, a community endeavor.
In a benediction to the Roman believers, Paul says, "May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Here, he calls God the God of encouragement, and prays for the church's harmonious glorification of the Father. Togetherness and harmony are emphasized by their recurrence in the passage - and this blessing is not an isolated Scripture. Paul's categorical explanation of spiritual gifts describes prophesy as being for "upbuilding and encouragement and consolation," and says that "the one who prophesies builds up the church." Here, encouragement is found in the context of corporate worship. Lastly, Paul tells the Philippians, "If there is any encouragement, ... complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind."
So then encouragement, the activity which is set over and against the neglect of fellowship, is seen to be not merely a labor that is engaged in one-on-one, but in a larger community of believers. Corporate worship is not the Christian's duty only, but his privilege! It is intended by the God of encouragement to be for the encouragement of His children, and their unification through the same.
In closing, allow me to share with you the Biblical prototype for corporate worship. Following Peter's famous Pentecost Day sermon and the addition of three thousand souls to the body of Christ, those that were saved "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." This verse hardly bears any lengthy exposition: Assimilating sound doctrine in the company of like-minded believers, as well as common meals and corporate prayer, are natural and normal for even the most elementary Christian church.
Oh, God of encouragement, make me consider how I can encourage Your children, my brethren, and provoke them to love and good works as we enjoy the privilege of corporate worship with which You have blessed us. I love You, and Your body. Thank-You for Your unifying Spirit in Your body, the Church. Amen.
(Matthew 18:19, 14, Romans 15:5-6, 1 Corinthians 14:3-4, Philippians 2:1-2, Acts 2:42)
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ... For everything there is a season, ... a time for war, and a time for peace. Romans 12:18, Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8
I used to hear a lot of people ask, in an attempt to diffuse Scriptural arguments, the following question: "Is it a salvational issue?" This was employed as a last-ditch effort to avoid or put an end to heated confrontations in all arenas of Biblical interpretation. The foolishness of this question is apparent when it is reworded thus: "Is the saving work of Jesus Christ in question with respect to whomever is in error in this argument?" It makes accurate knowledge of the "essentials" of the Bible the basis for salvation, rather than the grace of God as executed in the cross.
Ironically, and at the same time, this question diminishes the importance of truth and doctrine for the Christian. It attempts to absolve either party of any responsibility for accuracy in their understanding of the greater portion of Scripture. Tolerance becomes the byword of fellowship. While there are certainly occasions when varied understandings of the Bible should result in no more than friendly discussion, there are also times when discernment should dictate that differing views should be compared and evaluated. Jesus told His disciples that the Spirit of truth, when He comes, will lead the elect into all truth. Do we not wish to be led? Do we not wish for a greater revelation of our Lord and King that we may praise Him for all that we understand of Him? Granted, we may praise Him for His goodness even when we do not understand Him, but whenever He gives me a clearer insight into His Word and His person as I muse on Him, my tongue is loosed to express how my heart has become hot within me!
Lord, please show me Your glory! Make all Your goodness pass before me, and proclaim Your name before me, Yahweh! Make my face shine, and make the earth full of the knowledge of Yahweh!
(John 16:13, Psalm 39:3, Exodus 33:18-19, 34:30, Isaiah 11:9)
"I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one ... Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
Luke 9:58, John 17:15
Jesus makes it clear that His desire is not for His Father to take out of the world those whom He has given Him. Though we are not of the world, we are sanctified in truth and sent into the world as Christ was. His Father is working until now, and so is He, and so must we be making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. How could I desire to hide in a fox hole while the war goes on all around, or try to soar endlessly as an eagle on drafts of super-spirituality without ever touching the ground? No, but rather I desire to be party to the warfare that is not of the flesh, having boldness in my God to declare the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. I will say with my Saviour, "I have nowhere to lay my head, only let me walk resolutely and tirelessly through the world as Your sanctified servant."
Father, keep me here until all Your hand and your plan have predestined to take place is accomplished in my life. Do not permit me to keep my head down in conflict, or try to "rise above" the realities that the world presents. As long as You are working, I work.
(John 17:16-18, John 5:17, Ephesians 5:16, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Thessalonians 2:2, Acts 4:28)
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
Every situation in the Christian walk calls for the implementation of the Shield of Faith. Satan, the father of lies, stands afar off and snipes at the pilgrim with fiery arrows, but the gift of faith MY Father has given me not only stops these deceptions before they can do me harm, but smothers the flaming pitch with which the enemy tips his darts. They are consumed by the fires of faith if, as Paul admonished Timothy to do, I will fan into flame the gift of God. This is the method of dealing with Satan's long-range attacks against my own soul.
When however, the battle comes to my friends, my family, or my neighbour, God has given me a weapon, but He will not abide that I should fight like the enemy. The Christian carries no quiver on his back, nor any bow on his shoulder. At my side, rather, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is at the ready to defend those around me. The flaming assaults of my adversary come from great distance, and the Shield of Faith protects me from them, but when the lie comes to fight at close quarters; when it coalesces into a writhing serpent to strike at the foundations of life, the Spirit - the Spirit of Power and Love and Self-Control - will give me the weapon to strike off the serpent's head and deliver the one I love. "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."
Lord, put me in proximity to those whom You have determined are in need of the deliverance that Your Word can provide. Grant me Your Spirit in full measure that Your Power will be the unmistakable source of the victory. I pray in Jesus' name.
(Ephesians 6:16-17, 2 Timothy 1:6-7, Romans 16:20)
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house."
Matthew 5:14-15
The light that shines from within me is not my own. Jesus is the self-proclaimed light of the world, and the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness has made His light shine in my heart to give me the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. I can barely begin to wrap my mind around what Paul is conveying in that phrase, but I do believe obedience to the gospel is essential to beginning to shine as lights in the world. To this end, Paul commanded the Philippians to do all things without grumbling or questioning.
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." I was meditating on this verse in its context, considering that God has mercifully given me the ability to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, and my mind was turned to the story of how Gideon defeated the Midianites. Gideon put a sword in the right hand of each of his three-hundred fighting men, and in their left, a jar with a torch in it. When the moment came to attack, and cry "For Yahweh and for Gideon!" every man broke his jar and revealed the light within. Perhaps Paul had this in mind when he spoke of our treasure in jars of clay. The surpassing power is of God, and I need to be broken and obedient before His light will be apparent to the world.
Lord, break me. Widen the cracks in my stubborn self so that Your light will begin to stream outwards from within my jar of clay where I have tried to confine it. Break me and get me out of the way so that Your power will bring victory. Exploit my weakness to show Your glory. I pray this in Jesus' name.
John 8:12, Philippians 2:14-15, 2 Corinthians 4:4-7, Judges 7:15-20
