Lectio Divina

Inspiration

2011-02-02T06:28:00.000-08:00

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.

Contentment

2010-05-12T22:18:00.000-07:00

"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)

Encouragement

2010-04-20T20:48:00.000-07:00

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)

Accuracy

2010-04-02T21:35:00.000-07:00

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)

Resolution

2010-03-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

"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)

Proximity

2010-01-06T19:13:00.000-08:00

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)

Brokenness

2009-12-27T09:40:00.000-08:00

"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

Revival

2006-11-13T18:22:00.000-08:00

I said, I will take heed to my ways,
That I sin not with my tongue –
I will keep my mouth with a bridle,
While the wicked is before me.
I was dumb with silence,
I held my peace even from good,
And my sorrow was stirred.
My heart was hot within me –
While I was musing the fire burned.
Then spake I with my tongue,

Yahweh, make me to know mine end,
And the measure of my days – what it is,
That I may know how frail I am.
Psalm 39:1-4

A message I heard a couple of years ago used this text as an outline for four steps towards personal revival. Essentially, this is what Lectio Divina (the method and the blog) is about. I believe that adopting David’s desire for his Creator to give him the Divine perspective – that is, an understanding of his own frailty and impermanence and ergo, his reliance on God – is paramount to a sincere prayer life. David’s first resolution is to take heed to his ways – and how shall I cleanse my ways? By hiding Yahweh’s Word in my heart, so as not to sin against Him. This then, corresponds to the first moment of Lectio, which consists of reading the chosen passage several times and absorbing it. Next, David was dumb as a result of keeping his “mouth with a bridle.” So much can be said on the subject of silence as a spiritual exercise. James tells me that if I can bridle my tongue then I am spiritually complete, because in that case I am able to exert control over all my members. This agrees with the words of Christ, in that what I speak is from the heart. So then, reflective silence – diverting my soul’s attention to what is inward – harmonizes with Meditatio; reflecting on the passage and finding the personal application in it. A.W. Tozer said it is actually sinful to preach objective doctrine without moral application. …How shall I cleanse my ways?… The next distinctive phase of David’s revival is best expressed in his own words: “My sorrow was stirred [and] my heart was hot within me.” I believe this reverses the classical order of Lectio Divina, placing Contemplatio next, wherein I am to set aside my own thoughts, whether mundane or holy, and listen to God speaking to me. If God’s living Word is in me, will not my sorrow be stirred as I witness the abominations done in the midst of His people? Finally comes Oratio. After all that has gone before, David speaks out of the abundance of his heart. After I have read the word and absorbed it, taken time to consider it in silence, and listened for the still small Voice of the Lord, His revelation to me will be as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I will not be able to stay it as I respond to Him and speak to others.

(Psalm 119:9, 11, James 3:2, Matthew 15:18-19, Ezekiel 9:4, Luke 6:45, 1 Kings 19:12, Jeremiah 20:9)

*Thanks to Wikipedia, which I referenced to further educate myself on the four moments of Lectio Divina.

Violence

2006-11-06T18:05:00.000-08:00

And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven is being crowded into, and men of vital energy – those who are truly alive – appropriate it by force…These [are] more noble-minded…in that they seized on the word with superior passion, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
Matthew 11:12, Acts 17:11

*To begin, I warn the reader that the renderings of both scriptures above are my own, and should therefore be investigated and verified by your own study.*

Where is my passion? According to the Apostle Paul, the Lord foreknew me, predestinated, called and justified me, and I now live in the hope of being glorified. I am counted as a believer in the Son of God, and because of that, I have the Father’s affection and the right to become a son of God. So where is my zeal? Will I settle for “faith as a crutch” theology, or take hold of what is offered –more abundant life – with an iron grip? The fields are ripe for harvest. Men of vitality are crowding into the kingdom. If I resort to apathy, there will be no room left for me. I long to buy gold tried in the fire, white raiment, and eyesalve for my eyes, and for my heart to be hot within me!

(Romans 8:30, John 14:27, 1:12, 10:10, 4:35, Revelation 3:18, 15, Psalm 39:3)

Assurance

2006-11-03T17:07:00.000-08:00

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.
Hebrews 11:1

What is my Lord saying to me by this? That faith is a crutch to be leaned on and clung to tenaciously, in order that I can entertain a feeble, unfounded hope? Not at all! Then why settle for such a lame, fraudulent faith in place of what God supplies? The things for which I hope as a believer are assured to me – they are certain. Yahweh has made His case, presented the evidence, and I am convinced beyond a doubt of the things unseen. Faith must be much more than a mere anchor, for an anchor’s chain may break and the ship from which it hangs be battered to driftwood. Praise be to the Author and Finisher of my faith, it is the rock on which I stand! No matter from whence the storm comes, the rocky pinnacle of faith presents to me a leeward side, where my spiritual life finds refuge and protection. Like the earnest father seeking the Lord’s power to save, I cry, “I have faith. Give me more faith!”

(Hebrews 12:2, Psalm 40:2, Mark 9:24)

Community

2006-10-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

Every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
1 John 2:29, James 5:16

I pray for each and every one of my brothers and sisters in Christ. May you trust the Captain of your salvation to justify you by His blood before the Father. Why do I pray this way? Because in your justification the body of Christ is justified. The righteousness that He produces in you will cause your prayers to be a benefit to your brothers and sisters, whose faith you can likewise uphold. This way, the whole body – fitted together and connected by every spiritual supply line – can grow in grace for the purpose of edifying itself in love. This is the community to which I wish to belong: every member experiencing the pains or joys of each, so that each has his burden shared by others. So I pray that God grants you righteousness – or right standing before Him – so that your prayers will be effective. Then you can pray likewise for me, until the whole body is tempered together and has unity in the strength it receives from its Head, our Master and Maker, who alone has the preeminence.

(Hebrews 2:10, Romans 5:9, Ephesians 4:16, 2 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 12:26, Galatians 6:2, 1 Corinthians 12:24, Colossians 1:18)

Duplicity

2006-10-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

“How long will you linger between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him…And when you turn to the right hand or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way. Walk in it.’”
1 Kings 18:21, Isaiah 30:21

Why does confusion arise in my life? Isn’t it because of my own double minded instability? Fear that one choice – one particular course of action – will be less advantageous than another. But what should I fear? Of whom should I be afraid? The only opposition to my God is found in the Enemy, and he opposes me as I walk in the Spirit. But why even fear him? The One who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. The love I have when I am chosen – and choose that One who is in me – casts out fear. I have full confidence in His life dwelling in me, as I dwell in Him and His love.

(James 1:8, Psalm 27:1, Galatians 5:16, 1 John 4:4, 4:18)

Consequence

2006-10-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

But God…because of the intense love which He bestowed on us, caused us…to live with Christ…in order that…He might display in the ages to come the transcendent riches of His grace.
Ephesians 2:4-7

I used to believe that the meaning of John’s assertion that I love God because He first loved me, was limited to this idea: that knowing God, I recognize His love for me and reciprocate. I think there is something far richer to be understood in this claim, however. Isn’t it true that I would be unable to love – or even know, for that matter – my Creator if He had not first loved me? What kind of love is this that makes it possible for me to be called a child of God? John says, “This is love indeed – we did not love God, but He loved us and sent His Son to be an atoning sacrifice.” Not only was I not a lover of the Divine Providence, but His enemy – there is after all, no middle ground. So while I was at enmity with Him, He died to take the punishment for what I had done as His enemy. His love (which is Himself) dictated that He give His life for me so that I could be converted from hating Him to loving Him. He proved His love by dying for me without my asking Him to, and before I knew I even had a need to ask Him. Now I can love Him because of His love that floods my heart by His Holy Spirit that He gave me.

(1 John 4:19, 3:1, 4:10, 4:8, Romans 5:8, 5:5)

Crucifixion

2006-10-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

The High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy…
…has put eternity in the heart of man.
Isaiah 57:15, Ecclesiastes 3:11

Some Christian contemporary music speaks about a “God-shaped hole.” I think the scripture above justifies this idea. If God has intentionally placed in my heart a void in which He is meant to dwell, then he draws me to His Son. The salvation experience is too convenient in modern thinking. I’m supposed to pray “Come in, Lord Jesus – I welcome you” but what sort of surrender is that? If I begin my spiritual journey by commanding the Presence of Yahweh, what change can He make in me after that? But if He draws me, He invades and inhabits me, He makes His Life in me inconvenient and uncomfortable, then I think He’ll work in me. Robert Young’s Literal Translation renders Philippians 4:13 not “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me” – a Norman Vincent Peale sort of translation – but rather “For all things I have strength, in Christ’s strengthening me.” Here the subject of the verb – He Who wills and does – is not “I” but Christ. I wish to crucify the flesh and in doing so, find that the only Life left to me is His.

(John 6:44, Galatians 5:24, 2:20)

Reliance

2006-10-17T17:41:00.000-07:00

Then Jesus said to them… “I do nothing of Myself.”
“Without Me you can do nothing.”
John 8:28, 15:5

I don’t believe I should pray “Father, please help me to be or to do this or that” when all I have to do is step back and let Him do it. My idea of how to serve God is just that: My idea. There may be a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it only leads to death. Why pray for help to enact my own feeble plans, when Jesus wants me to let Him inhabit my life completely to carry out His own? Praying for “help” presupposes the idea that we can put forth some of the effort on our own. But I am powerless to do anything without the Master! My righteousness is as filthy rags. If the Son of God Himself was powerless apart from His Father, won’t I find my own efforts baffled if I fail to rely on the Divine Life within me to will and to do? I can only pray from the confidence that He Who has begun a good work in me will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ, just as it is right for me to think.

(Proverbs 14:12, Isaiah 64:6, Philippians 2:13, 1:6)