March 13, 2016
Scripture:
Ministry:
Earlier we were thinking about the counsels of God in the past eternity and what His thoughts about us were. Here at the beginning of Psalm 45, we can see what our thoughts about Him are. The title say that it is a “song of loves.” Read v. 1. “Indicting” means overflowing with good thoughts; Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings. He is the Saviour of sinners and the Redeemer of a ruined race. Read v. 11. We spoke earlier about the King’s beauty, and here it says that He desires us; it reminds us of the story of the pearl of great price. He saw something beautiful in us, although we were lost and ruined. He loved the sinner and hated their sin.
Now let’s turn to Song of Solomon 1:12. He is sitting at a table and we are with Him. The main application of this verse is to Israel, but we can also see it as us as His heavenly bride. We have come this morning to meet with Him around the table. In the verse, she brought something very costly and precious. We find the same thing in Matthew 26:6. A heart that knew where the Lord was and wanted to be in His presence. We can also be there and bring something with us. Read vv. 6 & 7. The Lord had come as the Messiah and here His head was anointed; although he had been rejected, He was still the King of kings and Lord of lords. But we have come to remember Him as our Saviour. There was nothing physically beautiful about Him, but by faith we can draw nigh and see the beauty in Him. This was not a special occasion, but just an occasion where a heart knew where she could find the Lord. She brought something for Him, and we can too. Earlier we sang, “We praise, we worship, we adore” because He gave Himself. He could give no more than His life and would give no less; He brought salvation to us, even though the cost was Himself. Read vv. 8 - 13. This act of love by Mary was done in view of the Lord’s death. It was so precious to Him because she saw beauty in Him. She chose the good part by being at the Lord’s feet; and because she understood His heart, she could do this good work and it will not be forgotten. This morning we have had an opportunity to meet around Him at His table and bring something so precious to Him: an obedient heart, praise, worship, and adoration. Some would consider it a waste, but it is precious to Him. Mary saw an opportunity and took it, but it will not always be so. We have a wondrous hope of when these emblems will be replaced with Him for all eternity.
Hymn 355 - Safe in Christ, the weakest child
Prayer
Last time we read in Proverbs 2. We were talking about an “If, Then” sequence, and about knowing and understanding God.
We have talked about wisdom, knowing God, and applying understanding. God gives wisdom through His Word. He is a loving and giving God. He gave His own Son; which was the ultimate gift.
God’s gifts come down from above. Wisdom is one of them. He wants us to have wisdom for our pathway. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. She entered into His thoughts, and anointed Him for His burial. She learned from Him.
Studying and praying bring wisdom, and protection comes with it (v.7). A buckler is a type of shield. The Lord told Abraham that He would be his “shield and exceeding great reward.” There are those who are losing their life for their faith, but we are reminded here that those who seek to honour Him will be protected. James was killed for his faith, but Peter was saved from death.
In v. 7, another word for “uprightly” is “justly.” God wants to keep us from going the wrong way. There is one pilgrim pathway; there are no other roads. All other roads lead away from God. He preserves our way. We must look to Him to lead and direct in prayer. The Lord directed Abraham’s servant in the way. The Lord took him in the right way to the right place.
Let’s look at how this can be seen in the life of Daniel.
Daniel was known for praying every day. We also know that he read some of the Old Testament scriptures. He was given wisdom because of this.
King Nebuchadnezzar had had a dream and really wanted to know the meaning of it. The problem was that he had forgotten the dream. So, he called for his wise men and told them that they had to not only tell him what the dream was, but also its interpretation. If they didn’t do this, he would kill them all. They told the king, “That’s impossible. One could only do that if the gods told them.”
Daniel heard about all this when Arioch came to execute the wise men. Daniel went to the king and asked for some time so God could show him the dream and interpret it.
Daniel had complete faith that God would show him the dream. Daniel and his three friends prayed and asked God to show them the secret of the dream. God did in a night vision.
Daniel had been faithful. He was near to God, and had purposed not to defile himself. He had faith to go to the king, and complete confidence that God would tell him. He sought it in prayer; and looked to God to reveal it, and protect the wise men. All of them could have died including Daniel and his friends. God gave him an answer, and blessed his wisdom.
God wants to give us wisdom and He does so through His Word. His Word is a lamp to our feet. It shows direction for godly living. Remember this when reading God’s Word. God gives wisdom to keep us in the way; so continue to seek to learn His Word, and it will keep us in the right pathway.
Philippians 2:9-30
We saw the humbling of our Lord in verses 6-8 of this chapter, and His exaltation in verses 9-11. They really present the gospel: the Lord coming as a man, and going to Calvary for us. Because of His work there, God the Father exalted Him above everything. This is the center of the eternal drama. The world calls it petty foolishness, but to us it is the fullest manifestation of God’s love, justice, and righteousness. God was there, hanging on a tree, taking upon Himself the judgement for all of our sins. That’s wonderful.
It was God’s delight to glorify His Son, because His son had so glorified him at the cross. God’s hands were tied as He watched us grovel in our sins. He loved us, but He had to judge us righteously. Then Jesus died for us, exhausting the penalty of our sins—even over-paying for them—and God could justly forgive us. It was great news for us, and God could now accept us as part of His family, and give us to Christ as His Bride.
We then get a “wherefore.” Christ obeyed His Father’s requirements, even unto death. The Originator of life obeyed to death, but we were condemned to death. This chapter sets before us Christ our Pattern, or model, and we are required to obey because Christ obeyed. We’ve been brought out of death; therefore it behooves us to obey. It brought our Lord to death, but it brings us into the most blessing.
Some people act differently when their parents or boss is around. Paul was in prison—absent from Philippi—so he exhorted the Philippians to work out their salvation. Not work FOR their salvation, but work OUT their salvation. This is about how we behave after we’re saved. There are three salvations: the salvation of our souls (what Jesus died for), the salvation of our life, and the salvation of our body. We need to work out the salvation of our life; we need to obey the Lord so that we don’t waste our lives. It’s like the little boy with the coin who said, “I have this coin. It’s mine, and I can spend it any way I like. But I can only spend it once.” “Only one life, ‘twill soon be passed. Only what’s done for Christ will last” the poem says. We can’t take anything with us when we go, but we can send treasure on ahead.
Paul told the Philippians to work out the salvation of their life with fear and trembling. Does that mean we should always be scared? Not necessarily. The Philippians were going through some tough times. Persecution wasn’t uncommon, and it could have cost you your life to be an upstanding Christian in Philippi. Also, there was trouble within the assembly. Paul was exhorting them all to be of one mind, and that implies they weren’t. Other believers might take exception to your godly walk and cause trouble. Finally, we all must follow God’s commands, and should tremble to disobey. We need to guard against all that would not honour Christ.
There are a few “P” words that go with these verses. Verse 12 give us a PROCESS: working out our salvation. We don’t have to fear and tremble all the time, though, for verse 13 gives us the POWER to obey. It’s been said that, “No man goes to war at his own charges”; meaning that God will give us the strength and wisdom needed to serve Him. We are to work out our salvation, but He works within us to will and do His pleasure. Not only will He help us to do His will, but our God will also help us WANT to do His will. That’s precious. He works within us, but will give us credit when it’s all done; “Well done, good and faithful servant.” This is all to His pleasure. Verse 14 tells us that we have to do all things—including working out our salvation—without murmuring or disputing. There’s nothing that isn’t included in “all things”!
Hymn 201 - When we walk with the Lord
Prayer