What Your Neighbor Believes Matters

I. Not Believing Anything Is Foolish

A. Whatever a person may say, down inside a person with no concept of God opens the heart to corruption; picture surfing the Internet without virus protection. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Psalm 14:1)

B. People with no conviction of God correspond to mice collecting trap loads of cheese without consideration of the danger implicit in the “cheese trays” they amass. “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:3)

C. People who do not respect God have no capacity to discern what actually is in their best interest; people who cannot learn are dangerous to everyone around them. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)

D. Remember what life was like without God; does anyone deserve that? “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Ephesians 2:12)

E. The fool does not have the capacity to evangelize himself; someone must perform a spiritual Heimlich maneuver. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” (Psalm 10:4)

II. Believing the Wrong Thing Is Dangerous

A. Man-made gods are not substantially superior to atheism. “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.” (Psalm 115:4-8)

B. Idolatry may seem like a good idea at the time but it misleads; a chauffeur faithfully following a corrupt map will trouble passengers more than one with no map. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” (Romans 1:20-23)

C. What appears to be pious faithfulness actually compounds evil for idolaters, polluting society; the abortion industry is an old and disgusting form of idolatry. “Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,” (Psalm 106:37)

D. Normal Christianity will turn people away from idolatry and its consequences; saved people do not destroy their own children. “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;” (1 Thessalonians 1:9)

E. The common Biblical word for hell derives from the place where the ancient Jews built facilities to destroy their children in the service of man-made wisdom. “And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom [Gehenna], to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.” (Jeremiah 7:31)

III. Silence Isn’t Golden

A. To love God, a Christian must believe in Him totally and care enough about other people to keep them from both atheism and idolatry; a Christian cannot be content to let other people go to hell in their own way. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

B. The proper response to foolishness and corruption is evangelism; silence is sin. “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

C. A church which is correct in every doctrinal and formal feature but which does not warn the dying is a beautiful corpse, effectively dead. “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. ” (Revelation 3:1)

D. People with the gospel are called to bear witness to God and to expose idolatry. “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” (Isaiah 43:10)

E. People who accept the American proposition that religion is a private matter will have a difficult time with Jesus on Judgment Day; evangelism of atheists and idolaters is both possible and obligatory. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

The Holy Love Song

Psalm 45

I. A Love Song Follows

A. The psalmist’s heart bubbled with the love story he was about to celebrate with the best skills at his command. “To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” (Psalm 45:1) Shoshannim is a lily or six-string instrument decorated with lilies. Inditing refers to bubbling with enthusiasm.

B. Christ [the Messiah King] is more appealing in every respect than all other people. “Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.” (Psalm 45:2)

C. The Book of Hebrews identifies the Lord as the Son of God and King who brings eternal joy. “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” (Hebrews 1:8-9)

II. The King Appears in Glory

A. Christ cannot be praised too highly; His virtues triumph. “Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.” (Psalm 45:3-4)

B. Ultimate power over all opposition appears in King Jesus. “Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter.” (Psalm 45:5-6) “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Psalm 2:6)

C. Absolute justice both loves and hates, producing exquisite joy. “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.” (Psalm 45:7-8)

D. The church stands in derivative majesty beside the King. “Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.” (Psalm 45:9)

III. The Bride of Christ Is the Church

A. What awaits the Bride of Christ is far above all that came before; pay attention to Him. “Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;” (Psalm 45:10) A bride must be separated to her husband.

B. Separation to Him makes the bride desirable and attractive to the King. “So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour.” (Psalm 45:11-12) Note the mystical union which exists between Christ and His church.

C. The church which has suffered and been degraded in the world will be grand beyond imagination when brought to the eternal wedding day. “The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.” (Psalm 45:13-15)

1. Believers face the future with the anticipation of an happy bride. “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10)

2. Christ has made the church His own with all the rights, benefits, and pleasures which accompany the wedding. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2:9)

3. Behold the happy bride in her white dress. “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (Revelation 19:7-8)

D. The future of the bride of Christ grows progressively more wonderful. “Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.” (Psalm 45:16-17) As long as time shall last, the true apostolic succession will flourish.

Tradition

Isaiah 29:1-14; Mark 7:1-13 / Malachi 2:17--3:5

I. Form Can Obscure Purpose

A. The religious leaders of the day noticed that Jesus was not following expected patterns; holiness had become a matter of external practice. “Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.” (Mark 7:1-3)

B. Jesus did not compel His followers to observe the traditions added by the historic schools of Jewish thought. “For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.” (Mark 7:3-4)

C. What was Jesus doing? “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?” (Mark 7:5)

D. People living by their own private agendas will do what is necessary to call into question the simple directions of God. “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” (Daniel 6:4-5)

II. Jesus Was Exposing a Major Religious Flaw

A. When form substitutes for substance, all that remains is hypocrisy. “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Mark 7:6)

B. Instead of making people holy, traditions were drawing vacuums in people’s hearts. “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:7)

C. Human analysis had replaced heaven’s revelation. “For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.” (Mark 7:8)

D. History is filled with disasters which flow from taking the world rather than the Word as life’s standard. “And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus. And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar. And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar. And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by. Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.” (2 Kings 16:10-16) Ahaz burned his babies and bowed to Baal.

E. Believers must always be on guard against the enemies of sovereign grace. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8) “(Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:21-23) Transition from Puritan to Presbyterian can carry the same risk; some denominations live by their forms of government rather than by God’s Constitution.

III. Tradition Must Never Cancel Truth

A. The reasoning which leads to the problem is clever but deadly. “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” (Mark 7:9)

B. The false teachers started with truth. “For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:” (Mark 7:10)

C. Living trusts had become substitutes for filial piety. “But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;” (Mark 7:11-12)

D. Anything which cancels truth is fundamentally wrong. “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” (Mark 7:13) “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Luke 4:8)

In the Days of Disaster


Psalm 44



I. God Takes Care of His Own


A. The Bible and the church it directs are intensely historical; telling the story of grace defines the culture of the saved. “To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.” (Psalm 44:1) Believers share testimonies. See Deuteronomy 6.

B. Grace drove the pagans from the Holy Land and gave it to the Chosen People; hell is as deep as heaven is high. “How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out. For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.” (Psalm 44:2-3) “He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.” (Psalm 78:55)

C. Grace and success are always gifts from God; believers have evidence for praise. “Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.” (Psalm 44:4-8) “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)

D. The prophets continually instructed believers to teach the history of grace. “Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.” (Joel 1:3)

II. National Disaster Comes


A. Sometimes God steps back and enemies prevail without any apparent advantage to the church. “But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies. Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves. Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen. Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.” (Psalm 44:9-12) “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?” (Deuteronomy 32:30)

B. Even the holy people experience disaster. “Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us. Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people. My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me, For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.” (Psalm 44:13-16)


III. Apostasy and Idolatry Are Not the Only Causes


A. Disaster sometimes comes when the people are faithful. “All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant. Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way; Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.” (Psalm 44:17-19) Victory must wait for God’s time.

B. Sometimes the only interpretive parallel is sacrificial sheep. “If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.” (Psalm 44:20-22)

C. Martyrs have always been the seed of the church; following in the way of the cross brings nations to their knees before the Lord of Grace. “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” (Romans 8:36) “Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”(Hebrews 11:35-38)


IV. Disaster Tests Loyalty

A. Faithful people draw close to God in the face of disaster; it propels them toward their only comfort. “Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.” (Psalm 44:23)

B. Disaster reminds people that all things serve God’s purpose; if God had wanted peace and prosperity, it would have prevailed. “Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?,” (Psalm 44:24) “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7)

C. The way out of disaster is only through God’s gracious providence. “For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth. Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.” (Psalm 44:25-26)

Start Where God Starts

I. God Is God-Focused

A. Serious students of the Bible come up with one primary insight into how life works and what God expects. “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” (Luke 10:27)

B. Moses used even fewer words than the gospel writer to make the same point. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)

C. God is so great that He can’t really be called the best; there is no god to compare with Him. “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11)

II. Draw the Obvious Conclusions

A. Serve God without reservation or evasion; the alternative is eternity in hell. “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)

B. Serve God on His terms rather than someone else’s plan; march to the beat of the ultimate drum. “Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:” (Deuteronomy 26:17)

C. Tell everybody about God and what He says He wants. “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” (Isaiah 43:10)

D. Christ gave the church a summary of this primary doctrine as He left for heaven. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

E. Worship and glorify God appropriately; if it is not the Bible way, it is hell’s way. “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,” (Psalm 95:6-7) “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Matthew 4:10)

F. Meditate on the ways of God; fill the mind with truth and the history of grace. “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” (Malachi 3:16) “When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.” (Psalm 63:6)

G. Act now; do not put off getting to know God and His ways. “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;” (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

III. Worship Actively

A. Honor God in obvious ways. “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?” (Malachi 1:6)

B. Spread the gospel passionately; forget multiculturalism and neutrality. “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” (Isaiah 45:23)

C. Always seek the Lord’s way and deliberately choose it over all other options. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15) “And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.” (Joshua 24:22) “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” (Revelation 3:15-17)

D. Delight in God. “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4)