Author: Penuel Baptist Roch

October 12th 2025: Ian Jones

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Reading: Joshua 2.
Text: Hebrews 11:31.

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Introduction.

            The story of Rahab’s salvation is set within the context of the Lord’s conquest of Canaan led by Joshua. In Joshua chapter 2 we find two spies are sent out into Jericho. We should remember that many years before this, twelve spies were sent out to spy Canaan by Moses. Why did Joshua need to spend out more spies? He probably had all the intelligence he needed from the more comprehensive exploration done by the twelve spies under Moses. It seems to me that the main point of Joshua chapter two is to show us the salvation of Rahab, the Jerichoite prostitute. We are reminded of Jesus’ visit to see the woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well in John chapter four. He was determined to go north through that region in order to meet with her, rather than go the normal way which would have avoided travelling through Samaritan lands. It is very likely therefore, that the Holy Spirit wants us to know that the reason for the two spies trip to Jericho was (in the main) to effect the salvation of Rahab.

            God had been at work in Rahab’s life. Consider what she confesses, how she helped the spies, and her desire for her family to be saved. Now we shall consider as our text the commentary on Joshua chapter two which we find in Hebrews 11:31.

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews wants his readers, (Jewish Christians), to see Rahab’s faith in the midst of great difficulties. See here a woman whose nation and peoples faced imminent death and destruction, but Rahab’s faith saved her! In many ways we too are in the same boat. Jericho was about to be destroyed, but the whole world awaits the coming judgment of God when Christ returns. And here we see Rahab trusting in God. Her faith is very visible. It is not merely an intellectual agreement but something living and active. Now Jericho is the first city that would fall in Canaan, and given what we read of in the opening chapter we might have expected that such would be the focus of chapter two. But what we see instead is the mercy of God! There is no doubt that Jericho deserved God’s judgment, but before we see that we are presented with this historical tale which speaks of God’s grace and mercy! The Lord says in Ezekiel that He has “no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). And then what is even more remarkable is the object of the Lord’s mercy. Whom would we think of rescuing from such a place about to be destroyed? One with great intellect? Or one who shows great promise for the future? Or maybe one who is greatly wealthy or able to make money? Or perhaps someone who might seem to deserve rescuing? A noble or one of royal birth? What we find though is that it is a prostitute (“harlot”) who is rescued. Oh the mercy of God! None is too much of a sinner that cannot be rescued! But are we willing? Are we like Rahab who had heard about Israel and God and was prepared to go against her own folk and trust in the God who judges sin?

            As a youngster I remember that children’s chorus: ‘wide, wide as the ocean.’

Wide, wide as the ocean, high as the heaven above
Deep, deep as the deepest sea is my Saviour’s love
I, though so unworthy, still am a child of His care
For His Word teaches me that His love reaches me everywhere!

The Lord’s love reaches into everywhere, even into the city doomed to destruction! Why did the Lord save me? Of all the people He could have saved – but I need to remember that there is no depth and no height that He could not reach to. Amazing grace that saved a wretch like me! Salvation is of grace and by no means something we can drum up by self effort or earn. Rahab’s saving faith separated her from the rest who were doomed to destruction.

            Let us look at four features of Rahab’s faith.

[1] By faith.

            Everyone in Jericho knew about Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea, and of the defeat of the two Amorite kings across the other side of the Jordan. Look at what she declares speaking on behalf of all the people of Jericho:

For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. (Joshua 2:10).

She also testified to the great terror and fear that the people felt.

I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are faint hearted because of you. … And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you. (Joshua 2:9,11).

Now Rahab believed and had faith in the God of Israel, whereas all the rest of Jericho did not. Perhaps the others in Jericho thought that the Israelites were never likely to be able to cross the Jordan, or perhaps they thought that the walls of Jericho were impregnable, or maybe they thought they had an unbeatable army? But Rahab had true faith. How do we know that she had true faith? Look at which she personally declares:

I know that the Lord has given you the land … for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. (Joshua 2:9,11).

Rahab heard the same news that everyone in Jericho had heard, but the difference between her and the rest was that she believed in the God of the Israelites and the rest did not. Rahab asks the spies for some “true token” that will bring salvation to her and to her family (Joshua 2:12). Rahab knew that Jericho was doomed, but she displays faith in God. Consider the thief on the cross who asked the Lord Jesus to remember him when the Lord came into His kingdom. And the Lord replied: “today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Now even today, whoever hears the Lord’s word (as Rahab did) will receive everlasting life (John 3:16,36).

[2] Rahab’s faith is self denying faith.

            Rahab dared to risk her whole life. If it had been found out that she had been hiding the spies, there is no doubt that she (and her own family) would have been executed. The Amorites were a wicked people. James points out that Rahab’s faith is observed by the works that she did:

Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? (Joshua 2:25).

Maybe we might think that Rahab should have been loyal to the people of Jericho? But these were a wicked people, and Rahab was prepared to give her loyalty to Israel and Israel’s God. She hid the spies, and she sent the king away on a wild goose chase! Her faith is demonstrated by her actions. Moses forsook the pleasures of Egypt because he saw “Him who is invisible” (i.e. The Lord) (Hebrews 11:24-27). Rahab was not moved by fear of the people or by the king of Jericho. She demonstrated her faith in her actions in keeping the spies safe so that they would return.

[3] Rahab’s faith is a sympathising faith.

            We also see how Rahab was not just concerned for herself, for she asks for mercy for her whole family too:

12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. (Joshua 2:12,13).

Do we not also want our families to share in the salvation we know? When the Lord opened our eyes and showed us the truth, was it not so wonderful that we wanted our nearest and dearest to come to know it all too? Where true faith is seen, that is, where a person has been brought to true faith, there is also a desire within such a saved person that others might know the same joy of salvation. It is impossible to see the true value of salvation without also wanting others to share in what you have come to know. The gospel accounts show that the Lord Jesus had amazing compassion. Are we not like Him?

            There was no guarantee that any would be safe outside Rahab’s house where the red cord was placed. If they remained within Rahab’s house then they would be safe and their blood would be the responsibility of the Israelites. But if they stepped outside their blood was on their own heads. This meant that each member of the family must come into Rahab’s house. Go out and you face judgment, come in and your life is secure. It was the responsibility of each member of Rahab’s family to come into the house where the scarlet cord was found. That scarlet cord represents the blood of the Saviour. In the Exodus the Israelites had to daub the blood of  lamb on the lintels and doorposts of their doors to escape the judgment from the angel that was passing over. Are we looking to the shed blood of Christ?

[4] Rahab’s faith is a sanctifying faith.

            Scripture refers to Rahab as a harlot. But she was not going to continue in such a profession. Her faith was that which also led to her sanctification. Rahab was given special privilege among Israel after being rescued (Joshua 6:25). And then wonderfully we discover that Rahab becomes mother to Boaz, who married Ruth the Moabitess, from whom came Obed, then Jesse, and then David. Boaz was a godly man as the record in Ruth shows. Where did he gain such godliness? Surely, he would have learned from his mother Rahab who was saved out of Jericho? Rahab features in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 1:5). Rahab, a Gentile prostitute, by faith in the Lord,f comes to feature as an ancestor of the Lord Jesus! How great is our God!

October 5th 2025: Peace Choi

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Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7.

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Introduction.

Genesis 1:1 declares to us that God created all things in the beginning and Genesis 1:31 tells us that everything He created was very good. But in Genesis 3 we have a catastrophe. This is probably the darkest time in earth history. For in Genesis 3 we are informed about our first parents Adam and Eve and their disobedience and rebellion against God. The Lord had given them just one command not to eat of one tree in the garden warning them that if they did then they would surely die (Genesis 2:17), but they disobeyed God and as a result the whole world was placed under a curse. Adam and Eve were expelled and banished from the garden of Eden, and their relationship with God was broken. This same pattern is repeated in all of mankind. We are sinners because of what Adam did in the garden, but we all disobey God from our own choice too. None can pass the blame. Eve may have blamed the serpent and Adam may have blamed Eve, but both were culpable, and both sinned by themselves. But just as Adam and Eve disobeyed the command of the Lord so too do all mankind. Consider three examples in the Old Testament.

King Saul disobeyed the Lord.

            Think of the first king Saul. He was told to go out and destroy the Amalekites. But he failed to do this even though he was commanded by the Lord. Saul rather made up his own mind to save the animals and bring the king of Amalek to a position of humility. But the Lord wanted Amalek wholly destroyed. The Lord knows what is best and right in all situations. So we can only assume that like Sodom and Gomorrah there was no means by which the Amalekites could be turned around. But Saul chose his own means and way to deal with them. When Samuel the prophet heard the sheep and the cattle coming by he asked why Saul had saved these, to which Saul replied so that they could offered in sacrifice to the Lord. (1Samuel 15:14,15). Samuel had already been told by the Lord that Saul had not followed Him in His commands, but now after a brief interaction between the two, Samuel gives the Lord’s reply to Saul’s disobedience:

22 So Samuel said: “has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.” (1Samuel 15:22,23).

Note here that rebellion is no better and just as bad as “the sin of witchcraft,” and stubbornness is like idolatry. So when we disobey God’s word this is rebellion against God.

King Solomon disobeyed the Lord.

            Sometimes we make excuses. Sometimes we think that the commands of the Lord do not apply in our case. Perhaps we may think that our poor upbringing or the harsh life we have had to live excuses us from obedience to God’s commands. This, I believe, is what Solomon did. He thought that he could marry many foreign wives. Perhaps these were engaged in to make alliances with other peoples? Now the Lord had told the Israelites that they were not to intermarry with foreign women, and He told them the reason for this, for it would draw them away from faith in the Lord to serve other gods and incur the wrath of God (Deuteronomy 7:3,4). But Solomon ignored this command and (presumably) thought he was fine to do so because he was wise and he was king. But that was not true. The record of 1Kings is clear:

Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David.  (1Kings 11:6).

I wonder, do we make similar excuses as Solomon? They may not be so grand and obvious as the sin of Solomon, but do we excuse certain sins or certain wrong attitudes?

Israel disobeyed the Lord.

            What also of the twelve spies sent to survey the land prior to Israel’s entrance? There were only two good reports, for ten of the spies brought back a bad report which lacked faith and simply spewed forth the fear of man. The Israelites ended up in a very sorrowful state bemoaning their lot and longing to return to Egypt where they had cucumbers (Numbers 11:5)! So they called for a leader to lead them back to Egypt (Numbers 14:4). The people poured scorn and showed utter contempt for the Lord’s command to go in and possess the land of Canaan.

Disobedience to God’s word is rebellion, arrogance, and shows contempt.

            In our disobedience to God’s word, we are showing rebellion, acting arrogantly, and displaying contempt for what God has said. How can we expect God to look on us with blessing if we treat God’s word in such a way? Do we want things to be good and better in life? Satan rejoices if we talk about God’s word but fail to obey it. He loves it when all we do is talk but are not keen to change our lives to follow His ways. Disobedience to God’s word is a serious affair. Never take it lightly. We are not only to listen to the word of God, but we are to be doers of it also (James 1:22). Remember that disobedience to God’s word leads to separation from God in relationship and to a catastrophe. The wages of sin is always death. Sin destroys and brings havoc in its wake. We ought to be dead serious about our obedience to the word of God.

Jesus Christ the obedient Son.

            The Lord shows His desire for our obedience in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, who lived a perfectly, righteous, sinless, life, and who could say:

My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me. (John 4:34).

I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. (John 5:30).

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (John 6:38).

I always do those things that please Him. (John 8:29).

Our Lord and Saviour lived as man ought to live, wholly pleasing the Father. Now Christ declared to His disciples that His Father had commissioned Him to lay down His life and to take it up again (John 10:17,18). The death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the only means by which salvation could be brought to mankind. The Lord Jesus gave up His life and took it up again in accordance with the will of the Father, so that people could be saved. Jesus fully obeyed His Father. He obeyed God even to the point of death. In the garden at Gethsemane He prayed with tears and sweat of blood that the cup might be removed but ended His prayers with those incredible words “not My will but ours be done” (Luke 22:42).

What should God’s people be like?

            Matthew 12:46-50, Mark 3:31-35, and Luke 8:19,20 all speak about the characteristics of those who are truly of the Lord’s household and family. Those who are truly of the Lord’s family are those who having heard the word of God, go on to do the will of the Father (Matthew 12:50; Mark 3:35; Luke 8:21). So Jesus considered obedience to God’s will from His word as characteristic of those who are part of the true family of God. The Lord Jesus went on to say: “If you love Me, keep My commandments ” (John 14:15). To those who take hold of what God has revealed and seeks to do what he has been asked, the Lord Jesus declared that these are the ones who love Him, and then He goes on to say that “he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (John 14:21). Do we love the Lord? Yes! Do we always do what He asks? Not always. How many times do we fail to keep His commands?

The grace of God!

            Now in order to obey the Lord, to do His will, to carry out His commands we need grace! We need His strength. We cannot do this by ourselves. There are two sides to the one coin of faith. On the one side we have our love to God. And on the other we have our obedience to the Lord. We cannot really have love for God if we fail to obey what He commands. To love God is to obey Him. And so we need His grace and His strength. If we say that we love the Lord but chose which commands to obey and which to ignore or pass over, we are in very dangerous waters. Disobedience to God is detestable in His sight. This is because all He says and commands is good and it is the best. The opposite is always bad, evil, and not good. We cannot make excuses when we come up against commands we do not like. Faith cannot be separated from obedience. True faith in the Lord contains within it obedience to what He says (Romans 1:5). The Israelites of old heard the gospel but failed to heed what they heard (Hebrews 4:2). They failed to act in faith upon what they heard.

            Take the problem of anxiety. The Lord calls us not to fear many times and He says for us not to be anxious. We ought not to be anxious at all. But we are often. What should we do? Remember when the disciples were in the violent storm on the Sea of Galilee and the Lord rebuked them for their anxieties saying “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). Well, of course, this incident was brought about to show the disciples’ hearts and the Lord was leading and teaching them about their little faith. When we come up with anxious thoughts we must run to the Lord for His help (Psalm 94:19).

            We understand that we must obey all that the Lord commands, and we see the Lord Jesus doing this completely with perfection. But then we run into a dilemma. We simply cannot do what He asks of us. We ought to do what He asks, and we know that what He asks is always right, but we simply cannot do it – at least not for any sustained length of time. What should we do? As we cannot put God’s word into practice by our own strength and will, we must use the strength that the Lord supplies! We must therefore pray to God for His help. This is why the Lord Jesus came! He did not simply come to die and pay for all our sins. (He did that and such is wonderful of course). He came also to live the life we could not live and He gave that to us too! We live by His strength, and by His righteousness. We can truly say: “for me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). So when we sit under the word of God we ought to pray: ‘Lord increase my faith, empower me to obey what you speak to me.’ Remember too that God wants us to put into practice His word more than we want to do it. Therefore pray for grace and strength to follow His will.

September 26th 2025 – Harvest Service: Norman Gilbert

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Ruth

At this harvest time I was reminded of the book of Ruth which has harvest at its centre. I have recently preached a series of sermons on Ruth but tonight I want to look briefly at the whole book. In it we see both the providence of God and the story of redemption. We also see a story of romance. But not one of sentimentality, rather one of true godly love.

The book of Ruth is set in the context of the Judges (Ruth 1:1). This was a terrible time in Israel’s long history. It was a time of trouble and departure from God only reversed on occasion by the Spirit’s grace. We shall consider this book using three headings:

[1] A poor decision.

[2] God’s provision.

[3] God’s promises.

[1] A poor decision.

            Not all harvests are great. Times of famine and poor harvest were seen as the judgement of God. Of course, the outcome of a harvest is not in the hands of man. The rain and the sun are governed by the Lord. But man must do his part, of course. He must plough and till. He must root out weeds and stones. He must sow and water. But ultimately the fruit of harvest is all because of God’s grace. Now at this time in Israel there was “a famine in the land” (Ruth 1:1). We are not told why there was this famine. In other Scriptures we are told. For example, in the time of Ahab Elijah was called upon by the Lord to announce a famine on the land (1Kings 17:1). This was undoubtedly on account of the wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel at that time.

            Now Elimelech made a very poor decision (Ruth 1:1,2). He decided that on account of the famine in Israel he would take his family to Moab. We all have to make decisions in life, but Elimelech’s decision was a poor one. He was leaving the land of promise to go to a land of people who hated Israel, who were often enemies of God, and whose ways were not of the Lord – they were a pagan people. Perhaps Elimelech thought that the ‘grass was greener’ in Moab? Elimelech’s name means ‘God is King’ but he seems to have forgotten this. He ought to have known enough of God and His ways to cause him to stop and rethink this course of action.

            Remember that the Lord is always sovereign. He overrules in our mistakes. So Elimelech took his wife and his two sons to dwell in Moab. Consider the consequences of this action. Whom would his two sons marry? There were only pagan girls in Moab. They would no longer enjoy an Israelite God-given environment but one which did not follow God. And then in the course of time Elimelech died leaving his wife Naomi as a widow but still with her two sons Mahlon and Chilion. What was Naomi to do? Well, it appears that her two sons gained Moabite wives and they dwelt there for about ten years (Ruth 1:3,4). Maybe things will work out?

            But then we learn that both the sons die, and Naomi is left a widow with two Moabite daughters-in-law who were also widows (Ruth 1:5). Three widows in distress. There was no welfare state. What a turn around in fortunes! From an Ephramite family of four living in Bethlehem, we come to a woman with two Moabite daughters-in-law destitute in Moab. It was at this point in her life in Moab that Naomi hears that “the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread” (Ruth 1:6). So she takes her two daughters-in-law and sets off to return to Bethlehem where she was from. On the way she stops and warns both of her daughters-in-law that there would be no hope for them (Ruth 1:8-10). Could she provide more sons for them as husbands (Ruth 1:11-13)? The idea is preposterous. Now after some tears we find that Orpah decides to go back to Moab but Ruth is determined to continue on with Naomi (Ruth 1:14-17). We need to remember that Israelite culture was very different from Moabite ways. So Ruth’s determination is something rather special. She pleads with Naomi not to send her back, she states that she will go wherever Naomi went, and she will lodge wherever Naomi was to lodge. This is nothing other than a wholesale giving up of her Moabite life for a life with her Israelite mother-in-law. She continues saying that Naomi’s people will now be her people, and that Naomi’s God will also be hers. Where Naomi was to die and to be buried, there too would Ruth die and be buried (Ruth 1:16,17). Such a series of statements amounts to a true confession of faith in the God of Israel. Ruth here makes a big decision and it is the right one!

            As the two arrive in Bethlehem people recognise Naomi and there is some excitement but there is some sadness too. The people say: “Is this Naomi” (Ruth 1:19)? The rhetorical question has the thought of disbelief. She does not appear the same as when she went. The name ‘Naomi’ means ‘pleasant,’ but Naomi does not want to be known by that name anymore. She wants people to call her “Mara” because, she declaims “the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20). she then adds that she “went out full,” but that the Lord has now brought her home again but “empty” adding that the Lord had “testified” against her, and had “afflicted” her (Ruth 1:21). The truth is that she only went out full in the sense of earthly blessings, but now she has been reduced and made low and she is back in the land of promise where the Lord will bring blessing. It looks bleak form her perspective but she does not yet know what God will do! Naomi and Ruth are two destitute widows. They have returned empty. What should they do? There was no social security nor welfare state. Ah but there was God and there was God’s man.

[2] God’s provision.

            When thinks look the bleakest the Lord is always there. Jewish law provided for the poor in a wonderful way that other nations knew nothing about. There was this rule of ‘gleaning.’ Farmers and growers of crops were to harvest with an eye out for the poor. In this day and age every square inch of a field is harvested and all of the grain is hovered up by machines. But in these ancient days when the harvest was gathered by the hands of men it was always possible for parts to be missed, and for grain or fruit to be left behind. The law stated that they were not to “wholly reap the corners” of the field and they were not to “gather the gleanings” of the harvest (those bits that were missed) (Leviticus 19:9), for these left-overs were to be for the poor and for the stranger (Leviticus 19:10).

            The Christian message is truly glorious. We can see in this account the wonderful providence and provision of God. It so happened that Naomi and Ruth returned “at the beginning of barley harvest” (Ruth 1:22). The doctrine of God’s providence is a wonderful thing for believers to hold. Creation is not simply time and chance as modern people believe, for God is Creator and Sustainer. All things are under His control. The sun, rain, wind, and the harvest are all His. Our times are in His hand and He knows His business of leading and guiding best. The Lord provides everything we need (2Peter 1:3). he brings the things we need across our path. Nothing happens by chance. All is according to God’s good will (Romans 8:28). There is a reason for things turning out the way they do, for with God things don’t just happen. We often only see the hand of God guiding when we look back at the events of life.

            And so it just so happened that when Ruth asks to go and glean in the fields to provide for their needs, the very field she enters belongs to a man called ‘Boaz’ (Ruth 2:2,3). This man was a kinsman of Naomi. Was this chance? By no means! All things are in the hands of God. He promised to keep them and here they are gleaning in the field of a relative who is described for us as “a man of great wealth,” and “of the family of Elimelech” and so a near kinsman (Ruth 2:1). Now Boaz was a true man of God (Ruth 2:4). When Boaz sees Ruth it seems clear that he has an ‘eye’ for her (Ruth 2:5-9). He tells his men to give her respect and to aid her in her gleaning (Ruth 2:9,14,15).This whole account in Ruth 2 is one of great wonder and joy. A young woman who had no real hope and was so poor that she is reduced to gleaning for the left-overs is now being given honour and privileges. She even gets to have a meal with the regular workers and can drink the drinks provided for Boaz’s men (Ruth 2:9,14).

            Now verse 12 is key: “the Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” Boaz acknowledges Ruth’s faith. Throughout this account in Ruth chapter 2 we see the hand of God’s providence. God is in control. She did not go anywhere else but stayed in the fields of this relative who was a true man of the Lord. We see also that a kinsman could act as a ‘redeemer’ buying back the land that was originally theirs provided in the land of Israel by lot. We can read about this right of redemption in Leviticus 25:25f. The land could not be sold permanently and when a person became poor they had the right and chance to redeem or buy back what they had lost. This was a great thing of grace and mercy, and it points forward to the Lord Jesus Christ who is our ‘Kinsman Redeemer.’

[3] God’s promises.

            At the end of the harvest there was still a job to be done. The seed must be separated from the husks or the chaff. This was known as ‘winnowing.’ The grain was hoisted up into the air by a winnowing fork and the wind allowed to blow through the hoisted material. The wind would catch the light husks and chaff and blow them away, whilst the heavier grain would fall back down to the ground. It was also a time of much rejoicing and merriment.

            At the end of the harvest when the winnowing was taking place, Naomi tells Ruth to do something rather strange and wonderful (Ruth 3:1-4). Ruth is told to go to the winnowing house where Boaz was busy and to present herself to him as a prospective wife! Ruth is told to make herself ready as only a woman knows how with her “best garment” on and all spruced up to boot (Ruth 3:3). She must not make herself known to Boaz, but find out where he was going to sleep (Ruth 3:3). Then, when he is asleep she was to go to his place and lie down at his feet having uncovered them (Ruth 3:4). Now Ruth is quick to obey (Ruth 3:5,6). After Boaz had had his fill of good food and drink he went to sleep by some grain and Ruth went to lie at his feet (Ruth 3:7). In the night Boaz awakes and sees a woman at his feet and on asking discovers that it is Ruth (Ruth 3:8,9). When asked Ruth declares her intentions saying: “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative” (Ruth 3:9). This was a proposal! She was asking to be Boaz’s bride. Boaz’s reply is truly wonderful and fully agrees to this plan (Ruth 3:10,11). However, there was another kinsman who was closer in relation than Boaz so he must first be consulted for he could redeem them first (Ruth 3:12). We discover something of Boaz’s appreciation of Ruth here. She is blessed of the Lord on account of her kindness to Boaz in not going after the younger men (Ruth 3:10). Boaz informs Ruth that everyone was aware that she was “a virtuous woman” (Ruth 3:11). We also see Boaz’s faith here (Ruth 3:13). Boaz is about to take things into his own hands and Ruth will be redeemed. It is just at this point we do not know whether this will be by Boaz or by the closer relative.

            And so Ruth lays at Boaz’s feet until the morning and before anyone gets up she returned to Naomi and told her all that Boaz had done for her. Boaz had given her some provisions too to ensure that she would not return “empty-handed” (Ruth 3:14-17). Here we observe the kindness and faith of this man of God. Boaz immediately sets about the task of redemption. Before he can redeem Ruth he must first meet up with the closer relative, and it just so happened that this man was walking by the gate as Boaz was there to bring his case!

Again, we have the wonderful providential provision of God. Boaz goes to the gate to start proceedings (for the gate was where the rulers and elders met to make decisions), and then “Behold, the close relative … came by” (Ruth 4:1). How marvellous is our God!

            Now Boaz tells this man that he could redeem the piece of land that once belonged to Elimelech (Ruth 4:3,4). He mentions also that if he does not want to redeem it then Boaz would. Presented this way the offer seems like a great deal, so the close relative says that he will indeed redeem the land (Ruth 4:4). And then Boaz adds something which gives the closer relative pause for thought. He states that when he redeems the land he must also take Ruth as wife to perpetuate Elimelech’s name in Israel. Hearing this the close relative changes his mind, and it appears that he is concerned that his inheritance will be affected by Ruth and Naomi’s presence. So, the close relative gives Boaz what he has hoped for – the chance to redeem the land and take Ruth for his wife. The deal is then legally ratified before witnesses (Ruth 4:6-10).

            In all of these events we are meant also to see Christ Jesus as our Kinsman Redeemer. At this point we are shown that through Ruth will come first Obed and from him Jesse who was the father of David. In David we see the promise of the Christ. All of this story occurs in Bethlehem, where Christ Jesus was eventually to be born. Matthew records this genealogy we have in Ruth 4:18-22 as an important link in the chain which gives us Christ born of the virgin Mary. Some twelve centuries will need to pass by before we reach the Lord Jesus, but in this short story we see much of the grace and glory of the gospel. Christ is the one who redeems us from our sins and lost estate. We have seen not only that God overrules in the affairs of people in a wonderful way, and that He is also showing us how it will be that he will save us from our sins. In Ruth and her story of redemption by Boaz we can see the great goodness of the Lord’s redemption of lost sinners. She was a Moabitess, and so despised by Israel. But she came to faith in God and was given a lot more than she ever bargained for!

            There is coming a greater harvest one day. May we be among those whom the great Kinsman Redeemer has chosen as His wife!

September 21st 2025: Jeremy Bailey

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Isaiah 42:1-17

           The first word in our text is “behold.” It comes the idea of gazing intently upon someone or something. This is essentially the main point of the passage and of our message today. Do you remember when you were first saved and entered into the way of Christ? You could not get enough of this wonderful Jesus! Before you conversion you never gave Him a thought, but now you love Him and you begin to love what He loves. You love the brethren and the church, then you begin to develop a great love for the Bible.

            But then there is this great difficulty. The Bible is made up of 66 different books and some of them, like Isaiah, are quite long. Maybe as a young believer you started with the New Testament. I was encouraged to read Mark’s gospel to start with. It’s all about Jesus. Its quite short. It is dynamic with things happening straight away or immediately. The other gospels gather attention next because they too are about Jesus. Then we look at the letters which explain things concerning Jesus and the gospel. This is a message for and to all of the world not just to a single nation (Israel). Even if we are unsure about the teaching of Revelation at least we come to know the certainty of Christ coming back once more.

            What about the Old Testament? To many it is just ‘old’ and so not so important as the New Testament. But we do know differently don’t we? All Scripture is God-breathed and God has spoken through the prophets o old. Isaiah is made up of 66 chapters and in a way it is a mini Bible. There are some difficult and tough parts, but it is all about Jesus too! We learn this from what Jesus said to the disciples after the resurrection (see Luke 24:26,27,44-46). Whilst the New Testament announces the arrival of Jesus Christ and concerns His appearing, ministry, and the implications of all He did, the Old Testament prepares the way and continually points towards the first advent of Christ. There is much in the Old Testament which describes both the Person and the work of Christ. In Isaiah we have a number of ‘Servant Songs’ of which our passage is one example. And in it we get a glimpse of the nature and work of the prophesied Messiah.

            Now in our text we see three wonderful pictures of Christ. First, He is a great King. Before Isaiah 6 we have a series of sermons from the prophet, but then in chapter 6 we are hear of the death of king Uzziah. Wonderfully, it was at this very point in time that Isaiah “saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6:1). When a monarch dies there is a great period of uncertainty. How will the successor to the throne act? What will their reign be like? Isaiah might have thought that the next king would not be as good as Uzziah? But Isaiah is given this vision of a King who would never die and is way above all others. The apostle John quoted from Isaiah and identified this One whom the prophet saw with the Lord Jesus (John 12:37-41).  Second, from Isaiah 35 to 55 the focus is upon the coming One as “the Servant of the Lord.” Chapter 42 begins with the Father speaking of His Son. Our Lord and Saviour did not come to rule as an earthly king but came as a servant and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28; Mark10:45). Third, in the last section, from chapter 56 up to chapter 66, we see the promised Messiah depicted as the One who conquers.

            In our passage we have Christ as the “Servant of the Lord.” How can we be sure that this is a picture of the Lord Jesus? After healing a man with a withered hand on the sabbath, the Pharisees wanted to destroy Him (Matthew 12:13,14). And when Jesus knew of their plots He withdrew from that place but continued to heal many warning them not to make Him known, and then Matthew comments that Christ’s actions were prophesied of by Isaiah quoting our passage of Isaiah 42 (Matthew 12:15-21). So Jesus Christ is clearly “the Servant of the Lord” as depicted in Isaiah.

            I want to draw from Isaiah 42 three themes in relation to this “Servant of the Lord.”

[1] The Servant of the Lord and His commission.

            God the Father invites us to consider, or to “behold,” this delightful One known as “the Servant of the Lord.” We are to think deeply, to gaze intently, and to meditate thoughtfully on this dear One. Now God has many servants at His disposal. There are the angels, for example, who do His will (Psalm 104:4). There are His people called to various tasks. But the work of saving people form their sins and disaster was so special and intricate a task, that He was never going to trust it to men nor to angels. Men, of course, were discounted because of being sinners. Angels are mightily powerful but only His Son could do this vital task. Salvation is of such importance that only the Son of God was called upon to carry out this mission. ?

            Do you struggle with difficulties? Are you depressed and set about with anxious thoughts? Are you suffering grave temptations that are difficult in your life at this time? Our great problem is that we focus on the problem. We look to ourselves, our condition, our troubles, when all we really need to do is to “behold” the Lord’s Servant,Jesus Christ.

            There is a tiny village chapel like Penuel near to Colchester in Essex. It is sited on a high hill near to a road called ‘artillery street.’ In 1850 there sat a young man in the pews by the name of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He couldn’t get to his normal place of worship due to the snow, so he ended up in this little chapel. The man due to speak was taken ill, and so one of the church members got up to preach. His text was:

Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. (Isaiah 45:22).

The man speaking was not particularly gifted but he pressed his text earnestly upon the congregation and even pointed directly to Spurgeon saying ‘young man you look particularly miserable, look to Christ.’ It was at this point that Spurgeon came to faith in the Lord, merely by looking with intent at the Saviour. As an aside there was a young man in our church called ‘Jonathan’ who had Down’s Syndrome. The young people used to leave after the third hymn for their youth teaching and as he was leaving he looked back at us in the congregation and said ‘cheer up!’ Sometimes Christians can look and appear so dour!

            In the New Testament we see the Lord Jesus calling Nicodemus to do what the Israelites did in the wilderness when they were plagued by snakes. Do you remember that incident? It is recorded in Numbers 21:7-9. The people had sinned and were plagued by snakes. After praying the Lord told Moses to make a bronze pole with a snake on it. The people were told to look to the pole and they would be healed. The Lord Jesus made reference to this and transferred the focus to Himself:

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:14,15).

Look to Jesus! The Father sent the Son and upholds the Saviour who died for sins. The Holy Spirit honours the Saviour and convicts sinners of their need applying all that the Lord Jesus gained to those who look to Him. This is a work of the blessed trinity, Father, Son,and Holy Spirit. Have you looked to the Saviour?

[2] How the Servant of the Lord carried out His task.

            The Lord Jesus Christ carried out His wonderful work of salvation with modesty and with gentleness. He did not shout out in the street (Isaiah 42:2). The Lord was not given to raising His voice, except briefly in regard to the Pharisees upon whom He pronounced several woes (Matthew 23). For the vast majority of His life He lived quietly as a carpenter in Galilee. When He began His ministry there was no fanfare or trumpeting, and there was marketing or publication. He simply went and preached the good news. He was especially gentle in His dealings and interactions with people. He was no ‘pushover,’ but He was never belligerent nor bombastic, demanding to be heard. He understood the people and their need. He did not ‘pull His punches,’ and always spoke the truth. To the woman of Samaria He pointed out her condition in sin, but He was always gentle leading people to see the truth and their need of Him. Matthew 11:28-30 records how He issued a general call for all who were burdened and laden down to come to Him. In Isaiah 42:3 we read these beautiful words:

A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. (Isaiah 42:3).

You often see reeds by the riverside bent over after a violent storm and rain. It is a simple matter to just break the bent reed as you pass by on your walk. Naturally the reeds are not easy to break due to the fibrous nature and structure. But if the reed is bent over by some violent force it becomes a lot easier to break off. We do not use candles very often but when they get down to the very bottom and the wick is sputtering and barely glowing it is a simple thing to lick your fingers and snuff the dying embers out. Now these two illustrations are pictures of fallen human beings. We can barely stand up among the forces that buffet us,and there are but the dying embers of life left. Hebrew is a very different language to English. The negative is put here to imply the opposite positive. In saying that this Servant of the Lord will not break a bruised reed and will not quench a smoking flax, the Lord is really saying that He would restore structure and bring back to life. The Lord will cup His hand around the smouldering wick and will gently blow upon it to fan the flames back to life! The Lord knows us. He knows our frame. He knows we are weak and frail. He knows we sometimes are clinging to life. Well He is gentle and incredibly loving! What-is-more, he is our Creator and knows what to do!

[3] The people to whom the Servant of the Lord came.

            Those who are not yet saved are bruised and smouldering. But even the saved are still bruised and still struggle with life ‘going out’ like a smouldering wick. We are works in progress. Our justification is secured, but we are in need of sanctification and ongoing repair. We mentioned Spurgeon’s conversion a moment ago. He was very miserable as a teenager and needed to hear the Lord’s call. He was, it seems, a very religious person, but he needed to be bruised before he came to faith. Mankind is very proud. If all is going well and there are no problems in view then what need does he have of God? He may be very successful in career, in family, in relationships and so on, so what need is there of God? He has great need, of course, but he is unaware of it and does not see his need. The Lord allows us to be bruised by the world, by our sin, and even by Satan’s misdemeanours. He does this to bring us to see our lost and hopeless condition. We are bruised and in need of repair. Think too of the prodigal son (Luke 15). He had to be brought to a point when he came to his senses and saw his desperately low condition, before he returned to his father. Man is bruised so that he can be led back to the Lord.

            Now even as Christians we are sometimes bruised and sometimes become like a smouldering wick. But why is this? It is so that we would value Christ even more. It is so that our hold of the things of this world will become lighter. It is so that we might become more holy, more like Christ, and more alive! See how the ‘giants of faith’ in Scripture were sometimes bruised. Peter was bruised by the Lord and made to see his over confidence in himself. David was bruised too. He was made to see the wickedness of his actions and brought to deep and sorrowful confession (see Psalm 38 and Psalm 51). Paul too was bruised. He had his ‘thorn in the flesh’ which the Lord would not remove to keep the apostle humble and trusting. Those whom Jesus has saved may be bruised at times, and this in order for them to gaze deeper into the Lord’s face. Even little children are forgetful of their parents until they fall and graze their knees. But them as they pour out their tears they look into the face of their mum or dad in hope that all will be made better. How much more will a bruised saint gaze into the face of Jesus who died for them? Remember this above all else. We have a Saviour who was “wounded for our transgressions,” and who was “bruised for iniquities,” (Isaiah 53:5). His bruising was for our salvation. Our bruising is for His glory and to make us more like Him.

September 14th 2025: Mike Viccary

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1 Corinthians 1:9

Introduction.

            A church is made up of sinners saved by the grace of God, but each member is a ‘work in progress.’ Now Paul is very clear about the nature of the church in Corinth. Here are some of the things he affirms concerning the Corinthian believers from chapter 1:

[1] They are “the church of God” (v2).

[2] They are the “sanctified in Christ Jesus” and so are united with Him (v2,30).

[3] They are “called to be saints” (v2).

[4] They are among a very great number of others all of whom “call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” (v2).

[5] They are the recipients of “the grace of God” given freely “by Christ Jesus” (v4).

[6] They have been “enriched in everything by Him” (v5).

[7] They have “the testimony of Christ” within and this confirmed even to the end when Christ returns (v6).

[8] They have received gifts of the Spirit (v7).

[9] They are ones who see “the message of the cross” as “the power of God” (v18).

[10] Though they be weak and foolish in the world’s sight yet they are chosen of God so that “no flesh should glory in His presence” (v29).

And yet there were some serious problems in the Corinthian church! Such is true to varying degrees of all churches, otherwise we would have none of Paul’s epistles or the opening chapters of the book of Revelation! What we read of in Hebrews is pertinent here:

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14).

We have been saved and justified, but we are still being sanctified and made holy. Now I do not want to focus upon the issues noted here in verses 10 through to 17. What I want us to do is to focus our attention on verse 9:

God is faithful,

by whom you were called

into the fellowship of His Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul was adept at making sure and certain statements about God and His work which formed the basis and ground for his application to those to whom he was writing. These statements in 1Corinthians 1:9 are universal. They are truths which form the very essence of our faith. So today we are simply going to draw some thoughts from verse 9 as it stands. My aim is to encourage you to love Jesus Christ more!

[1] God is faithful.

            In Scripture there are a number of “God is” statements which tell us important things about the nature of God and about His attributes:

  1. God is God of gods and Lord of lords. (Deuteronomy 10:17).
  2. God is the King of all the earth. (Psalm 47:7).
  3. God is greater than all gods. (2Chronicles 2:5).
  4. God is not a man, that He should lie. (Numbers 23:19).
  5. God is a consuming fire. (Deuteronomy 4:24).
  6. God is great. (Job 36:26).
  7. God is a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 6:15).
  8. God is merciful. (Psalm 116:5 – See Deuteronomy 4:11).
  9. God is gracious. (2Chronicles 30:9).
  10. God is a just judge. (Psalm 7:11).
  11. God is the God of salvation. (Psalm 68:20).
  12. God is a sun and shield. (Psalm 84:11).
  13. God is holy. (Psalm 99:9; 1Corinthians 3:17).
  14. God is righteous in all the works. (Daniel 9:14).
  15. God is true. (John 3:33).
  16. God is Spirit. (John 4:24).
  17. God is light. (1John 1:5).
  18. God is love. (1John 4:8,16).

We also have the statement from 1Corinthians 1:9 that “God is faithful,” and Paul repeats this truth a further two times  (1Corinthians 10:13; 2Corinthians 1:18). There are many other “God is …” statements which have to do with Him being our refuge, our strength, and so on. [God is your refuge. (Deuteronomy 33:27). God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect. (2Samuel 22:33). God is a merciful God. (Deuteronomy 4:11)]. All of these statements tell us what God is like.

            The statement “God is faithful” is interesting because it brings certainty and true confidence to mind. The term “faithful” indicates an attitude of being true and reliable to someone or something. It speaks about being trustworthy and reliable. There are three key aspects to this term “faithful” which we should consider:

            [a] Constancy,

[b] Truth,

[c] Faith.

[a] Constancy

            Perhaps the first idea that comes to mind in this term “faithful” is the idea of loyalty or stick-ability. The faithful wife or husband does not cheat. The faithful employee does his/her job. We need to ask a couple of questions at this point. First, how is the faithfulness of God described for us in Scripture? In Jeremiah’s book Lamentations His faithfulness is described as being great (Lamentation 3:23). This truth is shown elsewhere in Scripture, for example in the Psalms where we read that the Lord’s faithfulness “reaches to the clouds” (Psalm 36:5). The Lord is described as “a faithful Creator” (1Peter 4:19), and therefore His faithfulness “endures to all generations” for He “established the earth, and it abides” (Psalm 119:90). The Lord is, of course, always faithful because it is impossible for Him to be anything else but true: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2Timothy 2:13). Man’s faithfulness (if he is ever faithful) is always limited. He may be a faithful employee but a hopeless family man! With the Lord we may even say that He exudes faithfulness or that His faithfulness is the very atmosphere and environment He dwells in because the Psalmist declared that there was none mighty like Him for His faithfulness “surrounds” Him (Psalm 89:8). And as if that were not enough we are also taught in the same Psalm that the Lord will “not allow” His “faithfulness to fail” (Psalm 89:33).

            Our second question about the faithfulness of God is to ask: in what way is God faithful? How do we see His faithfulness in action? Well I can see seven areas where the Lord God is and has always been faithful. First He is faithful to His word. The Lord told John twice in the vision he experienced that the words He was giving John were “true and faithful” (Revelation 21:5; 22:6). The Psalmist tells us that “all” of God’s “commandments are faithful,” that His “testimonies” are “very faithful,” whilst Isaiah informs us that His “counsels of old are faithfulness and truth” (Psalm 119:86,138; Isaiah 25:1). Second, we learn that the Lord is faithful to His covenants (agreements), for He is “the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy” (Deuteronomy 7:9). Third, the Lord is faithful in His high priestly functions, for He is  “a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17). Fourth, as a result of His sacrifice for sin He is faithful in forgiveness: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). Fifth, we find the Lord faithful in regard to help when we face temptations: “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able” (1Corinthians 10:13). Sixth we find also that the Lord is faithful in our sanctification. We are not alone! The Spirit aids us. Paul prayed that the Lord would “sanctify” the Thessalonians “completely” and went on to state that “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1Thessalonians 5:23,24). Sometimes our sanctification involves afflictions, but these too are faithfully given to us by the Lord: “I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me” (Psalm 119:75). Seventh the Lord is faithful in protecting us from the evil one: “but the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one”  (2Thessalonians 3:3).

[b] Truth.

            To be faithful also means to be true. It means to be accurate. It means to be precise. Three times the Lord Jesus is called “faithful” in Revelation, and twice this attribute is linked with truth. He is “the faithful witness,” “the Faithful and True Witness,” and He is “Faithful and True” (Revelation 1:5; 3:14; 19:11). No one has ever see God at any time but the Lord Jesus having come from heaven has declared the whole truth to us. The Lord was true to the Father and revealed exactly those things the Father wanted us to know, as well as those things we needed to know (John 5:19,30). The night before He died in His ‘High priestly’ prayer the Lord could say these words to God the Father:

  • I have finished the work which You have given Me to do (John 17:4).
  • I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. (John 17:6).
  • I have given to them the words which You have given Me. (John 17:8).

Truth is vital. We live at a time when truth is what a person decides to be true. But there are absolute truths and these stem from the fact that Jesus Himself is “the truth,” and He also stated that the word of the Lord was “truth” (John 14:6; 17:17) and it is by this truth that we are to be sanctified:“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17).

            God is true. Four times He is described as the “God of truth” (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 31:5; Isaiah 65:16(x2)). God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18). So the faithfulness of God is demonstrated in that He is always true and always speaks truth. Since Scripture, (what is written) is His word, it follows that the Bible is true.

[c] Faith.

            To be faithful means to be always true to someone or something. To be faithful means to be trustworthy, that is one that you can trust and rely on. To be faithless means that you have no trust nor faith in someone or something. Paul wrote: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2Timothy 2:13). Saying that God is faithful amounts to saying that He is trustworthy. You can trust Him! As God is faithful, and we have been given faith (the ability to trust in God and all He has done), let us continue in faith (Psalm 37)!

            Now this incredible faithfulness of the Lord leads us to ask this question: how should we then live? Well, to begin with, remember as a born again believer, born of the Spirit of God, that faithfulness is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). These fruits are born out of our love for the Lord and they are to be evident in our lives. Are we faithful to the Lord? Surely seeing the Lord’s faithfulness to us will lead in turn to our faithfulness to Him. And so this means that we will continue in faith. We will exercise the faith that God gives to us. Consider this exhortation from Hebrews:

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  (Hebrews 10:23).

To aid us in our faithfulness to the Lord we should feed on the faithfulness of God as the Psalmist tells us: “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness” (Psalm 37:3). And then also we should give testimony to the faithfulness of God in our lives:

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 89:1).

[2] by whom you were called.

            The calling of the Lord is a wonderful truth to behold. God calls people not to a system nor to a rule, but to Himself.

28 Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

As always we learn that what the Son does is none other than what the Father and the Spirit do too. Our Lord Jesus taught that those who come to Him were in fact called of, or taught by the Father. He said: “everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me” (John 6:47). The Lord Jesus also spoke about the Father’s electing love and declared that “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37). And then at the very end of Scripture we find that the Spirit too calls people to join the Lord:

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17).

And so we learn from all of these words that it is God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working in unison who have called us. This calling gives us immense confidence because God is faithful. He who calls is He who can save. He who calls is He who can deliver! The world makes a grave mistake in thinking that the Christian faith is all about mankind seeking God. Ask anyone in the world and they will probably tell you that to be a Christian is to make a conscious choice or decision to throw in one’s lot with God. But this is very far from the truth. Paul quoted from Psalm 14 and 53 showing plainly that no one seeks God:

10 As it is written: “there is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. (Romans 3:10,11).

The entire Bible is testament to this truth. Ever since Adam sinned in the garden, man has continually run away from God desperate to seek answers for himself, but in His grace God has constantly pursued man. But not all who hear the calling of God – the preaching of His word the gospel – will take notice of it. To the one who hears the message of God’s calling and who embraces all that God has said there is greater blessing. But to the one who hears the calling of God in the gospel and turns aside and pays no heed to it, there is only one outcome: they will perish.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1Corinthians 1:18).

But this idea of calling also has within it the notion of being named.

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1).

There is within this calling of the Lord the idea of redemption and even adoption. Bathe yourself in these words that the apostle John wrote:

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. (1John 3:1).

Think of the many times that the Lord came to various peoples such as Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses … who all received Him and were led by Him throughout their lives! Paul speaks about this type of calling being part of the great work of God in the salvation of many:

28 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. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30).

If you have heard the call of God and have run to Him in repentance and faith, then know that the faithful God has already secured your glorification – your place in heaven is secured (see John 14;1f). But we need to be clear what is entailed in this calling. We are not called into a club or society where there may be some benefits and some responsibilities. Many who belong to such do not see themselves as wholly or exclusively linked to such. But for the Christian, to be called, is to be called out of this world and into the Lord. There is no neutral ground. We cannot consider ourselves called of God if we think of it like being a part of a club or society. It is either all or nothing. To be called is to be brought completely into the Lord. When God calls someone He does not just arrest their attention, but He brings in the whole plan of salvation. We are called “according to His purpose,” “in the grace of God,” and “by our gospel” (Romans 8:28; Galatians 1:6; 2Thessalonians 2:14). We are called “into the fellowship of His Son,” “into His own kingdom and glory,” “out of darkness into His marvellous light,” with an “upward call,” and a “heavenly calling” (1Corinthians 1:9; 1Thessalonians 2:12; 1Peter 2:9; Philippians 3:14; Hebrews 3:1). We are called “to be saints,” as “sons of the living God,” and as “children of God” (1Corinthians 1:2; Romans 9:26; 1John 3:1). We are called “in one body,” “in holiness,” “with a holy calling,” “to peace,” and we are to be “worthy of the calling” (Colossians 3:15; 1Thesalonians 4:7; 2Timothy 1:9; 1 Corinthians 7:15; Ephesians 4:1). We are called “in one hope,” to “eternal life,” to an “eternal inheritance,” to “His eternal glory,” and to “the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Ephesians 4:4; 1Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 9:15; 1Peter 5:10; Revelation 19:9).

[3] into the fellowship of His Son.

            Here in our text we see that we have been called into “fellowship” with the Lord Jesus. Note to begin with, that “fellowship” is one of the key marks of a Christian church, listed second to “the apostles’ doctrine,” and before “the breaking of bread,” and “prayers” (Acts 2:42). This is no  mere association or membership of a club as the world might think of the word.  So what then is meant by this term “fellowship”? Well first and foremost, it is “the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” This fellowship belongs to the Lord Jesus and consists in being in communion and knowing Him. Christ Jesus alone is Head of the church. In Philippians Paul uses this term “fellowship” three times, teaching us some important things for us to grasp when we consider our fellowship. First, there is true fellowship only in the gospel: “for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5). How marvellous is the gospel? It is unique. It is simple to express, and yet profound in its outworking.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).

You cannot add to the gospel and you cannot take from it either. There is nothing needed above and beyond the gospel because in truth it is “the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1) which Paul describes in these wonderful words:

… the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:2-4).

Second, there is true fellowship only for those born again of the Holy Spirit, for Paul speaks about our “fellowship of the Spirit” (Philippians 2:1). Such communion cannot be shared between people unless they are indwelt by the Spirit of God, for this fellowship is with God and so a person must be made holy to benefit from such a wonderful thing. Unbelievers may enjoy what they see and experience in our fellowship but they cannot actually fellowship with us, until they are born again. Third, there is true fellowship only for those who have forsaken this world which is at war with God, because our Christian fellowship is described as “the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3;10). We read elsewhere that true fellowship cannot be with “the throne of iniquity” or with “unbelievers,” with “lawlessness,” or with “darkness” (Psalm 94;20; 1Corinthians 10:20; 2Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:11). And we are taught clearly by the Lord and by Paul that if we want to love and know the Lord Jesus we will know “tribulation” and will suffer “persecution” (John 16:33; 2Timothy 3:12). This is because the world is at loggerheads with the Lord, and to know the Lord is to turn from and reject this world (1John 2;15-17).

            Perhaps the best description of true fellowship comes in the apostle John’s first letter and chapter one. John starts by pointing to the “Word of life” who was manifested and who appeared in the flesh so that he and others could ‘handle,’ and interact with in a physical sense. This wonderful person who is described as “that eternal life which was with the Father” which John and others saw and heard, they in turn ‘declared’ the truth to others (such as to whom John was writing). The grand purpose of this declaration was so that those who heard John may have “fellowship” with John and the other eye-witnesses, and then we learn that such “fellowship” is in fact truly “fellowship … with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” So the declaration of the truth as expressed in Christ Jesus – the gospel – is the basis upon which we have fellowship with the Lord. As we have noted already, this fellowship with the Lord Jesus can only be known by those who have been called by God into His kingdom, who have been saved by the gospel of grace and so have been adopted into His family by the work of the Spirit, and who have forsaken this world.

            At this point we should ask ourselves the question: what is such communion and fellowship like?Over 100 times in the Old Testament we read that “the word of the Lord came to…” God takes the initiative. His word has gone forth. First the Lord brought His message to many various prophets, then He came in person as the “Word of life” and now He comes to us by the Spirit through His revealed word. There is no more revelation in terms of Scripture, but the Lord, the True Word is continually manifesting Himself through His word the Bible. At the end of His High priestly prayer the Lord Jesus said:

And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:26).

Earlier on in His teaching the Lord said this:

21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. … 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.  (John 14:21,23).

There is, then, this wonderful promise of the Lord Himself coming to us by His Spirit to commune and dwell with us! But this fellowship is always in connection to the gospel, (we dare not boast in anything else), by the Holy Spirit (no ingenuity or strength of man will avail), and in conformity with a rejection of this world (for it is all darkness).

[4] Jesus Christ our Lord.

            What is in a name? Sometimes Scripture uses one or two and sometimes three names/titles for the Our calling and our fellowship is always with and in the Lord Jesus Christ.

  1. He is Jesus – the sinless man who alone can save people from their sins.
  2. He is Christ – the promised One from Genesis 3:15 and spoken of throughout all of Scripture.
  3. He is Lord – Jehovah or Yahweh – very God.

This understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ is essential. Anything less than this means our fellowship is flawed. We have understood that the Lord takes the initiative in calling and that He wants communion with His people – He is Immanuel – God with us. We have noted that the only means by which true fellowship can be experienced is in the gospel, with the aid of the Spirit, and in forsaking this world. Now we recognise that the very centre and sum of our fellowship – the Lord Jesus Christ – must be known for whom He is. I love the hymn: ‘Be Thou My Vision.’ The second line of the first verse highlights this point:

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

He, our wonderful Saviour, is to be nothing other than what He has revealed. There are many different representations of Jesus and the gospel. Make sure you come to know the Jesus of the Bible only. There is only one gospel and only one Christ Jesus (Galatians 1:6-8).

            This leads to the thought that doctrine and teaching are therefore very important. Sadly, doctrine and teaching are heavily frowned upon today. And yet the very first mark of a true believing church is “the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). I mention doctrine (teaching) at this point because Paul is conscious of declaring the truth and getting things concerning Christ Jesus fully right. To the Galatians he wrote these searching words:

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. 11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:6-12).

It is pretty evident in his letters that he is concerned to teach things which must be believed. But what do we mean by this term “doctrine,” and what constitutes that which we ought to teach? The Bible speaks  about different types of doctrine (teaching). There is the “worthless doctrine” which stems from idolatry or a false ground or basis and not stemming from God. (Jeremiah 10:8). Similarly there are doctrines taught by “the commandments of men” or those ideas generated within man and from man rather than from God. (Matthew 15;9; Mark 7:7; Colossians 2:22). Then there is the “doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:12). The former taught that the law could be kept but only through man-made instruction, the latter denied spirit, resurrection and the supernatural. There is a great variety of doctrines among men which leads to people being “tossed to and fro” and then “carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men” who act in “cunning craftiness,” and “deceitful plotting” (Ephesians 4;14). There are doctrines of demons (1Timothy 4:1). There are strange or foreign doctrines (Hebrews 13:9; Revelation 2:14,15,24).

            But then, wonderfully, there is the doctrine which comes from God Himself. The Lord Jesus declared to us that His “doctrine” was not His own but was “His who sent” Him (John 7:16 – see also 1Timothy 6:1, Titus 2;10 and 2John 1:9,10). Those who heard the Lord Jesus speak and act declared openly that such was a “new doctrine” and one which was “with authority” (Mark 1:27). We are taught also that the doctrine God teaches through His word is “sound doctrine,” “good doctrine,” and “the doctrine which accords with godliness” (1Timothy 1:10; 4:6; 6:3; 2Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1). Now such doctrine is to be learned and heeded (1Timothy 4:13,16; 5:17; 2Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:7).

            But this leads to another question: how then can we discern the true and good doctrine from the false and empty? Is it down to intelligence or learning? Of course not! Does it depend upon your church fellowship or association? Not really? Will not the God who created all things and who sent His Son to die for sins lead us? I think David had it right when he said these words:

1 To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. 3 Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. 4 Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. … 14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. (Psalm 25:1-5,14).

Notice the dependence and submission of David. He lifted up his soul to the Lord. He asked the Lord for help because He alone was the one who saved him. He waited on God. He feared the Lord – that is he put the Lord first.

            We conclude this fourth point on going deeper in doctrine to note that this is a corporate act. We have a corporate faith. Peter speaks to his readers as those who have “like precious faith” (2Peter 1:1).Notice in our text that the name is given as “Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus Christ must be your Lord and He must be my Lord. But there is great joy and much blessing when believers fellowship together. He is “our Lord.” Our fellowship is dependent upon each one of us knowing the Lord. But our fellowship is equally dependent upon all of us expressing our love for the Lord.

September 7th 2025: Nathan Munday

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Genesis 40.

Introduction.

            I wonder if you were aware how often the phrase “third day” comes in this passage? This is a key thought which leads us directly to the gospel. I remember when I was young my first ever novel was by Alexandre Dumas entitled ‘The Count of Monte Cristo.” It speaks of a man by the name of, Edmond Dantès, who is falsely accused of treason. Imprisoned he does not waste the opportunity to get ready, to learn patience, and to plot an escape, and he declared: “God has sustained me” in the afflictions of his imprisonment.

            In this sermon we shall confide our thoughts to the two men imprisoned by Pharaoh, the chief butler and the chief baker. We are presented with two men, two dreams, and two destinies. The setting is in a place of darkness where there is no hope. And into this dire setting the Lord sends His servant Joseph, for it was Joseph alone who could interpret the dreams and show them the way out. We shall consider these two men and their experiences under three headings:

[1] Rebellion.

[2] Revelation.

[3] Reward.

[1] Rebellion.

            These men were not simply household servants, (butler and baker), as may be imagined in some grand household of old, for they are both termed “chief” in their respective positions. In modern terms we might liken them to a high cabinet position in the government (home secretary, or foreign secretary perhaps). In verse 1 we learn that both had “offended” Pharaoh, although we are not told how. This word “offended” is more often translated as “sinned.” They had both sinned against Pharaoh. Both the chief butler and the chief baker were responsible for ensuring that Pharaoh had all he needed and was not given anything bad or offensive. These two were Pharaoh’s closest advisers. It might have been tempting, for example, for the chief butler to squeeze more grapes into the wine diluting it down. This suggestion is not in our text. We have no idea what it was that offended the Egyptian king. Perhaps it was a coup attempt? But the fact that it is not detailed means that we can apply this to all offence or sin against God, for just as these two sinned against Pharaoh, we too have become an offence against God.

            Both the chief butler and the chief baker deserved to be in the prison. Joseph did not deserve to be there. And by nature we are all revolutionaries and rebels. Does not mankind shake his fist against God? Are not many so indifferent to Him that they could not care? Are not all rebels before the Lord? What of Frank Sinatra’s most famous song “I did it my way”? Isn’t this our way too? We like to think that as people we can chart our own course, but such thinking is all wrong. We either live life God’s way or we live it in some fashion according to mere men. There is no third or neutral way. David declared that we were born in sin (Psalm 51:5). We know that we are guilty before God. We are in the same boat that these two men found themselves in. In the same way the two thieves on either side of our Lord as He hung on the cross were thoroughly guilty deserving of death. From Luke’s account we hear one of these thieves blaspheming the Lord as He was there on the cross. The other thief answered in rebuke and pointed out that they were both guilty whereas concerning the Lord Jesus he stated “but this Man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:39-41). After this he then asks the Lord to remember him when He would come into His kingdom, to which the Lord replied “assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:42,43).

            Sin always leads to misery. Nothing good comes from sin. In fact the very wages of sin is death. Far too often we think that the world revolves around us and we feel aggrieved when things do not go our way. Now imagine the International Space Ship. What would happen to it if a needle pierced the outer casing through to the interior? Surely if it is not attended to quickly the end result will be the utter destruction of the whole ship? Heaven is a glorious and wholly pure place. It is impossible for even the tinniest of sins to be found there. Nothing can pierce into heaven to bring destruction. The thought is laughable because God inhabits heaven. The problem of sin is a grave one (excuse the pun). If we are to enter heaven (the place where God dwells in eternity) then we cannot bring our sin with us. It must be removed. Both the thieves were guilty. Both of Pharaoh’s close advisers were guilty. One thief was brought into glory with the Saviour and one was left to pay for his own sins. In the same way one of Pharaoh’s two advisers was restored to his former position and one was hanged.

[2] Revelation.

            The dreams of both men were simple and straight forward enough. The great problem was that neither man understood what they meant. It is very clear from the text that these dreams were supernatural somehow. Both men appeared very sad as a result of these dreams, a fact which Joseph noted. But then into this sad and desperate situation comes Joseph, God’s man. Now Joseph acknowledges that revelation must come from God (“do not interpretations belong to God?” Genesis 40:8). We are not told how Joseph received this revelation. Earlier encounters with this man Joseph show that he was a man of God who could receive revelation. Now Joseph does not hold back on the truth here. To one man (the chief butler) the news is good news, but to the other (the chief baker) the news is bad news. As ministers of the gospel, and as born again believers who must pass on the truth, we cannot simply tell people the good news. The bad news that sin must be paid for must be delivered as well as the good news that Christ has made the way of redemption and forgiveness.

            Now in both dreams we have this recurring phrase “within/are three days” (Genesis 40;12,13,18,19). Both are told that “within three days” they will each be lifted up (Genesis 40:13,19). The word “three” comes five more times in the passage so that this repeated theme is surely significant (Genesis 40:10,12(x2),13,16,18(x2),19). Thus day three is the key date. We are alerted to the fact that our Saviour rose from the dead on the third day (1Corinthians 15:4)! On the third day one would be lifted up to be restored and the other would be lifted up to his death. Now in all of this we can see the Lord’s kindness. There were three days for the chief baker to prepare himself for what was to come. Time is short. In many ways life on earth is a bit like life on the Titanic – the ship that was doomed on its maiden voyage. We think we have plenty of time but we do not! We have but a short time to prepare ourselves to meet with the Lord. How much better if we do it now? The Old Testament is not without witness to this idea of three days or of life being restored on the third day. Consider Jonah who was in the belly of a great fish and was vomited up on the third day (Matthew 12:40). Or what about the prophecy found in Hosea 6:2: “after two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight”?  These all point to the greatest lifting up of all time! On the third day Christ arose from the grave! This is good news! This has changed the world. The good news is not: ‘copy Jesus and be like Him,’ as many may say, but hear the word of life and be born again for Christ is risen! It is not ‘try your best’ but realise your sinful state and know that Christ has done what you could not and has given you life! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will have everlasting life. We have been restored by all that Christ has done. We are being restored as we seek Him and walk in His life. We will be restored when Christ comes again to judge the living and the dead. We do not yet have our resurrection bodies but we are new creatures and the old has passed away. The story of these two close advisers to Pharaoh pictures mankind teetering on the brink of eternity. There are but three days! It was Joseph (a type of Christ) who observed the sadness of these two men and brought hope.

[3] Reward.

            God is kind. It was Pharaoh’s birthday and so there was a celebration or feast. For these two close advisers there is triumph and there is tragedy. For you and I death will result in this same outcome: triumph or tragedy. Now Pharaoh granted pardon to one of his subjects (the chief butler), but how? We are not told, but he was restored to his former position. The chief baker, however was hanged as an example to all. Both of the thieves who died besides the Lord Jesus had an opportunity to turn from their wicked ways towards the Saviour in their midst, but only one entered Paradise. Now in verse 13 we find that the chief butler did not remember Joseph when he had been restored. But the greater Joseph (our Lord Jesus) remembers us! What makes you consider the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you for or against Him? What do you think of the Lord Jesus Christ? Make no mistake He is the revealer of truth and he is the Saviour of the world (exclusively). Do not rely on ‘cultural Christianity’ which is all the vogue today. Christ was lifted up as the spotless Lamb of God even though considered a rebel and a criminal. He died to save us from sin and He rose to bring in new life. What think ye of Him? Our reaction to Him is determinative for our destiny.

            It is very interesting that in the narrative of the four gospels no one dies in the presence of the Lord Jesus. Mary and Martha said that if the Lord had been with them and their brother Lazarus, he would not have died. But the Lord Jesus responded to these sorrowing sisters by saying that He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). Christ is life! Take hold of Him. Listen to the third verse of Hark the Herald:

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.

Part of this comes from Malachi:

But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings … (Malachi 4:2).

May you know the healing of your soul unto life!

August 17th 2025: Ian Middlemist

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Psalm 3

            This is a Psalm of the morning. It is a Psalm of David, who was, by and large, a good king. But he wasn’t perfect. He did some things wrong. He was adulterous and even though he repented of this sin, there were things that came to pass in consequence of his wrong actions. His own son Absalom took it upon himself to get into such a position by deceit so that he could usurp authority in the nation. David did not correct Absalom properly and so, little by little, Absalom rose to prominence and power so that he brought civil war upon the land and David had to flee. David recognised that he had few amongst his number that could contest with Absalom’s army and so he fled, for the odds were stacked against him. But, following this Psalm, we learn that even though he was in such a dire situation, he was enabled to have a good night’s sleep! He awoke in praise to God, for He alone is Almighty.

[1] David in trouble.

            Sometimes people find themselves between a rock and a hard place. This is where David ended up. Some today may ask the question: how can troubles come to those who have put their trust in God, who are saved, and who are seeking to follow Him? We know surely whether we are young or old, in whatever circumstance, that believers face troubles. It may be in school, or in the workplace, or wherever you live and do your normal things. But Christians have additional troubles too, apart from the normal heartaches which are as a result of the fall. Christians can be left out of things, may not be free to share in the jokes told, and are separate on account of their walk with the Lord, and so face these additional irksome troubles. There is a tension because they are not part of this world’s order and ways even though they must mingle in the world. Troubles come in all sorts of ways. It may be through sickness, or on account of finances. It may be through ill health or advancing age. Now there are two kinds of troubles we can face.

[a] Troubles we bring upon ourselves.

[b] Troubles given to us.

David brought the trouble he faced upon himself. Absalom’s behaviour ought to have been challenged and corrected. Now when we put a foot wrong and commit sin, and then repent, even though our sins are all paid for by Christ, He does allow the consequences of our sinful actions to play out as chastisements upon us.

            Now there are troubles that we do not bring upon ourselves. If we face a difficulty, and if after examining our hearts we see nothing which needs repenting of, and we are suffering, then we must realise that even though this is not consequential from a sinful act, it is nevertheless given to us. We are, and always will be, under the sovereign hand of the Lord. This trouble is not a punishment from the Lord, although He may be using it to chastise or correct us, to sanctify us. We know that all sins are fully paid for by Christ. He was judged in our place. So there is no thought of condemnation or judgement at all. Troubles come to enable the Lord to bring us into conformity to His Son. These troubles are there to bring in growth. They are brought to us to bring in our spiritual growth. Whatever the difficulty may be, do remember that the Lord knows all about them. Even those internal struggles and troubles that cannot be spoken nor shared, know for sure that He understands and knows them truly. These difficulties and troubles are not to lead us to despair. They are not hopeless, they are not random, but are necessary for our spiritual growth.

            The process of growth is often hard. When I was young my mother dressed me! She used to say: ‘vest in pants, shirt in trousers’ to ensure I got everything tucked in properly! But now I can dress myself. I do not need my wife to come in and help. I do not struggle to get my socks on! I have grown. All of these troubles are designed by God to bring about growth. They lead us not to independency but to deeper dependence upon God.

[2] David at prayer.

            David is at prayer. When he wakes in the morning his first thing is to pray. He cries out ‘O Lord.’ What is the first thing we do when faced with trouble? We ought always to cry out to the Lord. In this modern age we tend to rely on our phones, or on ‘Google’ don’t we? As youngsters perhaps we called out ‘mum!’ or ‘dad!’ when in trouble and danger. We need to call out to the Lord as David did.

            Sometimes people act in a petulant manner and slam the door or blurt out in anger when faced with trouble. Some blame God for the situation, thinking (wrongly) they are beyond reproach and should not have to face this trouble. But as David experiences this trouble he is moved to prayer and he is brought to blessings! He discovers that in the place of true prayer he notes those things which God has done and is still doing.

[a] God is a shield, (v3).

            The first thing David observes in the place of prayer is that God is a shield to him. However great the trouble may be the Lord is David’s protector. Nothing can get to him save that which the Lord uses for his sanctification and growth. God is good and only does good. So He protects David but allows some things to come which will hone him and cause him to rely more upon the Lord.

            When I was in primary school we used to play a game of imaginary fighting. One would come up and pretend that he’d shot an arrow to me claiming it had met its mark, but I would reply ‘my chain mail has saved me!’ Undeterred my friend would say ‘I have a machine gun so you must be dead,’ and I would reply ‘but I am wearing armour plating.’ This game would soon escalate to ridiculous heights involving nuclear weapons and lasers, until it came to a point in which it was impossible to carry on when one of us would say ‘I have an infinite measure of protection and the ultimate weapon against all opponents’! There was no beating that! Now the point is that as Christians we do in fact have the ultimate protection against all opposition! God is truly our protector and nothing can get through Him! Nothing can harm you, and nothing can happen to you, except that which the Lord allows, and that for our ultimate good. Satan is not all powerful. He does have some power but he is defeated and defenceless against the Lord.

            We have trouble and difficulty. These are painful and they are real. But the Lord has the victory over all. He has made us secure as we are taken through such troubles and difficulties. This shield is all around you. There is no chink or gap. We may like to think of it as a ‘force field’ in modern thought, but it encompasses us all around. As a result we are enabled to move forward, to carry on, to live through these difficulties.

[b] God is the lifter up of our head (v3).

            David knows this truth in the place of prayer. We need to lift up our heads! We need to set our hearts and minds on the things above. Many hang their heads in shame when troubles come. Maybe they have lost money through no fault of their own. Perhaps they have been made redundant or other failures have reared their ugly heads. But in the place of prayer David knows that even if the kingdom is taken from him, even if none are with him, and even if there appears to be no hope, yet still the Lord is the lifter of his head.

[c] We are never far from God (v4).

            David mentions here ‘the holy hill.’ But he has had to flee from Jerusalem where the holy hill could be found! This was the place of sacrifice and worship. It had been settled in Jerusalem in the temple. But David recognises that it is not the literal site that is vital, but what it stands for in spiritual terms. David’s security does not lie in Jerusalem where the ‘holy hill’ was to be found, but in the Lord Himself and in that which the ‘holy hill’ showed forth – the death and resurrection of the Christ. So he was never far from God, even though he was no longer in Jerusalem.

[3] David at peace.

            David knew peace because the Lord was his shield. In verse 5 we see David can sleep. If we knew that many enemies were on the horizon I do not think we would hasten to sleep. But the Lord is such a shield to David that he can sleep and be at peace.

            Peace is linked to courage. A lack of courage is linked to those who do not know peace. So in his peace, David can now arise. Peace leads to an outward, onward march to glory. It leads us through the battlefield for God is our shield. In our long-term troubles we know we can move forward because the Lord has secured us, and He has given us all the love we need alongside His peace. David calls upon the Lord to bring about salvation for him. Are you sure that God has given you salvation? Are you sure that God is now with you? If not then maybe you have yet to really pray?

            We must rely totally on Him for safety, security, and courage, all of which we find in the place of prayer unto the Lord. In verse 2 the enemies taunt and bring doubts saying that there is no help or salvation from the Lord. But in verse 8 we read that salvation belongs to God. God is with us if we are His.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6,7).

Amen.