Blessed People from Psalm 1

Today I am commenting on Psalm 1, which reads:  

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. 

This Psalm vividly describes the distinctive way that blessed people live. To really get a feel for the significance of this Psalm, let’s flash forward to James 4:1-4 in which James, in an equally vivid way, rebukes some members of the early church for their carnality:

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 

FIRST, WE SEE THEIR PURITY:

In the first verse, the Psalmist notes that blessed people are distinguished by their purity, which is found in three things that they don’t do. They don't live their lives like the world does. They don't think the same way the world does. They don't talk the way the world does.

Yes, blessed people might fall into the ways of the world at times because they are human, frail and fallible.  People do make mistakes. The difference is that blessed people don’t make this a way of life. In Hebrew the word seat means dwelling place, the place where one resides. This is like the difference between falling into the mud and wallowing in it.

In short, there is a qualitative difference in the lifestyle of blessed people. It’s not about how much money people have, but what they do with it. It’s not how much people produce, but how good it is. It isn’t how often people do something, but how well they do it.

SECOND WE SEE THEIR PIETY:

In the second verse, the Psalmist tells us that blessed people have two spiritual emphases: They love to know God's Word and they live it out the best they can!

God's Word is the desire of blessed people. They find pleasure in their pursuit of it and they want more and more of it. God's Law that the Psalmist refers to here is all God's Revelation and blessed people love studying it, and they never stop being life-long learners about God’s Word.  But, blessed people do more than study the Word, they also meditate on it. 

The word meditate here means literally to mutter, to mumble.  It connotes pondering aloud as one makes decisions. Pilots talk with their copilots and to themselves as they complete checklists and make decisions about takeoffs, landings, and other maneuvers as they fly aircraft. They do this so that they don’t miss something important. In the same way, blessed people remind themselves and their family and friends about what the Word says as they make the Word part of their everyday life.

James 1:22, says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves . . .” and blessed people study God's Word so that they can live it out.

NEXT WE SEE THEIR PROSPERITY:

The third verse tells us that the prosperity of blessed people stems from their way of life. They are pure in their hearts because they follow God's Word. This causes them to be like a tree planted by a river, being refreshed and nurtured by the flow of abundant water.

When I served in Iraq as a chaplain, I had never been in such a dry place before. I traveled all around Baghdad and the surrounding areas and every where you looked was a shade of brown or tan. One day, however, we travelled to visit some troops at a camp located on the banks of the Tigris River south of the city. The contrast was amazing. Along the river there was lush green grass where cows could graze, and tall sturdy trees. Although the rest of our area of operations was barren desert, the Tigris valley was a long, beautiful oasis. Blessed people are like that; they are an oasis of beauty in the barren landscape of the empty and futile way of the world.

We have to understand two important words in this verse. First, season means that prosperity comes in due time, in proper time, which implies in God’s timing. Next, the word does implies many things (twenty-three synonyms in fact) including: work, labor, toil, create, build, accomplish, earn, acquire, fulfill, happen.

So like King Midas, everything blessed people touch will turn to gold, but in God’s timing.

The prosperity that blessed people will realize comes in two different time frames. We know that Jesus said that He came to give abundant life and we know that Romans 8:28 tells us that all things are used by God to bless His people. So, from this we can know that, blessed people will enjoy both temporal, or earthly abundant life, which is the main emphasis of the Psalmist, and eternal abundant life, which was Paul’s main emphasis in Romans.

In essence, blessed people have the best of both worlds, in the here and now and in the hereafter as well, and so this leads to the Psalmist’s final point.

LAST, WE SEE THEIR PROSPECTS:

The last three verses of this Psalm tell us that the prospects of blessed people are different than those without a relationship with God. 

The Psalmist says that the ungodly are blown away like chaff. When wheat is being threshed, even a light breeze will suffice to separate the grain from the chaff; such is implied here by the term wind which really more akin to  breath. Those without God can't stand a proper, righteous judgment and their way shall perish. It will face destruction and desolation. They will be like a nation which is utterly defeated.

In contrast the way of blessed people is known by God.  He has a plan for them and a way for them to follow. He has a life for them to enjoy. The children of God are like those of a king whose lives are planned and who have every advantage life brings them.

CONCLUSION:

So, what lessons can we take from this passage? 

• First, to be like the blessed people described by the Psalmist, we must avoid the pitfalls of following the world.  
• Next, we should desire God’s Word and embed it in our beings so that we live it out.  
• Finally, we must trust God and allow Him to bless us instead of struggling to make our own way in the world using the world’s methods and mores.

If we do these things, we will be blessed, both in this world and in the next.

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

Giving Caesar His Due from Matthew 25

Today I am commenting on Matthew 25:15-22 which reads: 

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

If you haven’t noticed, 2020 is not only a year of pandemics and riots, it is also an election year. Also, if you haven’t noticed, the political climate in our country has become more and more divisive and our country is divided and fragmented in any number of ways. What should we, as Christians and members of God’s Kingdom think about these things? What should we do? 

As is always a good idea, let’s consider what the Bible tells our attitude should be.

Participation:

The Scriptures clearly indicate that we should participate in the political process. Jesus clearly taught that in secular matters (taxes) we should obey our secular authorities. Paul expanded upon this point in Romans 13:1-7 saying that we have nothing to fear from government if we obeyed the law. I frankly find both of these passages remarkable and challenging.

Let’s remember that Jesus lived under the rule of the Sanhedrin and the Roman Empire, neither of which we view today as being righteous or just institutions. Paul did use his Roman citizenship to his advantage, but the Book of Acts closes with him in chains in Rome, even though he had not broken any Roman laws. So, just like Proverbs telling us to train up a child in the correct way is not an absolute guarantee of success, neither is following the examples of Jesus and Paul a guarantee of political success and community harmony. Still, we must engage with our government, because we have no choice.

In past eras, the Anabaptists of the 1500’s, the English Separatists of the 1600’s, and the Fundamentalists of the 1900’s all tried to withdraw from public life, and all found that it was impossible. In fact, the current Evangelical movement was sparked by CFH Henry’s book “The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism” which pointed Biblical conservatives back to engaging the culture surrounding them, which, of course, includes government and politics.

So, as Christians we must engage government and politics.

Expectation:

Although we must engage government and politics we must do so with the correct level of expectation. Like any institution of mankind, politics and government are imperfect. The Preamble to the US Constitution states that its purpose is to form a more perfect union, but not the perfect union. No perfect form of government exists. 

God warned Israel about having a king, yet they ignored Him with spotty, and ultimately disastrous, results. We believe in democracy, and indeed, Baptist churches are governed through congregational decision making which employs democratic processes, but democracy isn’t perfect either. As Winston Churchill infamously said, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” Again, no government is perfect, and we should never expect that one can be.

We also need to remember that this world will not last forever, and in the end, God will consume it in fire and start over with a New Heaven and a New Earth. No human Government can provide utopia and we never should expect one to.

In short, we need to be realistic about government and politics without being jaundiced and disconnected.

Intercession:

Finally, and most importantly we should bathe our government and political processes in prayer. As Paul told Timothy, “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.” While we cannot make a government good, God can. God can change hearts, minds, and lives and we must petition Him to do that in our country, our state, and our local communities.

When we intercede for people through prayer, we bring them to the Throne of Grace and into the very presence of God Almighty. What greater work can we do for the cause of peace and good governance?

Christian, pray for your government, your politicians, and all your leaders. 

Conclusion:

In many ways, Americans are rebellious people. Our nation was born in rebellion, and much of our national culture is a rebellious and stiff-necked culture. Like Biblical Israel, our legacy is one of rejecting God’s way and God’s will. As Christians, we must learn to oppose wrong without being rebellious. We need to revitalize and reimagine the role of “loyal opposition” and we need to bathe our government and leadership in prayer.

Finally, regardless of the outcome of the election (or any election for that matter) we need to remember that our God is the Sovereign Lord and we serve Him in anticipation of that day when the trumpet sounds and we meet Him in the air.

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

The Prospects of the Church From Isaiah 25

Today I am commenting on Isaiah 25:1-9 which says:

Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. You have made the city a heap of rubble, the fortified town a ruin, the foreigners’ stronghold a city no more; it will never be rebuilt. Therefore strong peoples will honor you; cities of ruthless nations will revere you. You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall and like the heat of the desert. You silence the uproar of foreigners; as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is stilled. On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

INTRODUCTION:

One thing that parents guard jealously for their children are their prospects for the future. This is particularly true in the case of their future spouse; classically a father would quiz a suitor for his daughter to make sure that the boyfriend had good prospects for the future. A favorite humorous story centers on this type of concern for a daughter's prospects. 

A father invited his future son-in-law to dinner to quiz him about how he was going to care for his daughter and future grandchildren. He asked the young man how he was going to provide financially for his daughter, and he replied, “God will provide.” The man asked the groom how he was going to pay for a house, and he replied, “God will provide.” Finally, the man inquired about plans for paying for his grandchildren's education and the man replied, yet again, “God will provide.” 

Later, the man’s wife asked about how things went with the future son-in-law and he replied, “Well, he doesn’t have a clue about how the world works, but at least he thinks that I’m god!”

Obviously, this man was skeptical of the young man’s prospects in life. With the Year 2020 being what it has been, some of us may be wondering about the prospects for the church, and for God’s people. In His wisdom and foresight, God addressed that issue long ago through the ministry of Isaiah. In short, our prospects are good. Very good in fact.

THE PROSPECT OF PRAISE:

One fact that we have forgotten is that people were made to praise God. Verse 1, reminds us that we were made to fellowship with Him and love Him. We were made to worship Him and exalt Him. He should be the true object of all of our bragging. After all, this is what we will be doing in Heaven! Those who don’t enjoy worship here on Earth might find themselves in an unfamiliar situation when they get there!  

To be real, and to be honest, we know that sometimes our circumstances don’t favor worship. As we can see simply by reading, all through the Bible God’s people have had hard times. One thing that is common to all people is trouble. Sometimes it is our fault, sometimes it is not. Some Biblical examples of this might include:

Abraham and Sarah not being able to have a child.

Job losing all of his family, and all of his property, and all of his health.

David mourning the death of his baby son.

Isaiah proclaiming judgment on Israel. 

Paul and Silas being cast into prison in Philippi.

The truth is that our circumstances should not hinder our worship, because God is the object of worship and He deserves it! Their circumstances did not prevent any of these above from worshipping God. Each of these and others, too, were justly proud of God and they loved Him.

Even though Isaiah was troubled by Israel’s sin, and he was sent to warn Israel because of it, Isaiah found he was able to worship God. Why?  Why can we worship God despite trouble? How?  How can we worship God despite loss and grief? Isaiah tells us as we continue to investigate our prospects.

THE PROSPECT OF POWER: 

Verses 2-5 tell us that the first reason we can worship God is His power.  God is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and ever present. These factors mean that His power is active in our lives.

Isaiah reminds us that His power is greater than any stronghold. Fortified cities were virtually impervious to attack in ancient Israel. Israel had no artillery, siege engines, or airplanes but this was no problem for God, however as He demonstrated by the fall of Jericho.

The city referred to in this passage probably wasn’t Jericho because the city that Isaiah referred to would be so destroyed it would never be rebuilt. The power Isaiah was speaking of was more in the line of the conversion of the pagan Roman Empire. Christ overcame a culture that had defeated all who had challenged it in the past. In the same way there is no stronghold in our lives that God can’t defeat.

It is also vital to see that God’s power is not only for battle, but also for building. Armored vehicles and tanks are great for battle, but not for reconstruction. Likewise, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines can control the sea, but they can’t carry the goods that build an economy and a way of life. God, however, can do more than defeat our enemies. 

God can bring to us peace and refuge. Modern Israel has never lost a war, but it also has never been at peace, either. God, in contrast, completes His tasks in a way that brings everlasting peace. As John 14:27says, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

War is hideously expensive, and it destroys prosperity, but peace is fertile soil for it.

THE PROSPECT OF PROSPERITY: 

We live in the richest country on earth and, in truth, we are getting richer by the day! But as hard as we try, we can’t take our wealth with us when we die. He who dies with the most toys is still dead and regardless of how many toys we have, they will not last! That’s why we have yard sales and flea markets!

God, however, wants to give us good things that last! In His spiritual economy we will live on the mountain top, not in the “Valley of the Shadow of Death”. We will feast at His table burdened with food. We will drink of His cup, not of punishment like Jesus, but of blessing! As we used to say in the south, “We’ll be living in high cotton!”

God can also take away the threats to our prosperity that possessions cannot. Possessions can’t comfort us in our loss. They can’t remove the grief or depression that settles on us like a blanket after we lose a loved one. Possessions can’t remove the sting of defeat, neither can they remove the regret over our sin and mistakes either. God can remove that pall, however. When He does, He will dry our eyes and give us the peace we need.

THE PROSPECT OF PEACE: 

Power and prosperity are good, but what we really want is peace!

We want to have peace with God.

We want to have peace with people.

We want to have peace with creation.

We want to have peace with ourselves.

e are just not able to achieve any of this in our own power. We can’t please God on our own because of our sin. If we appease others, we hurt ourselves. If we appease ourselves, we irritate our neighbors. Finding peace is so hard that we often just adopt the philosophy of the song lyrics that say: “You can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself.”

However, nothing is impossible with God.  He has given us the power to be at peace. He has given us the prosperity to be at peace. And, because we are at peace, we can focus on God instead of these other things and we can praise and worship Him!

CONCLUSION:

As one who was alive during the social upheaval that took place in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s I certainly have never encountered any period of time like 2020, and I pray that I never do again. That being said, I would like to put current events into a different perspective.

What we must realize is that the church has lived through turbulent times before, and indeed it was born both during a turbulent time and during a violent situation. Just hours after Jesus had celebrated Passover and instituted the Lord’s Supper, something He and no doubt the Disciples had looked forward to with great anticipation, Jesus was arrested, beaten, scourged, and hung on a cross between two common thieves. The crowd in Jerusalem had chosen to free a radical terrorist murderer over the One whom the Disciples considered their Lord and Teacher. Less than a day after their intimate and richly meaningful celebration, Jesus had died on that cross and had been buried in a borrowed tomb. Besides all of this, they had personally abandoned and betrayed their Lord. With all the pain, suffering, and turmoil of current events, nothing we have yet seen could be as soul-shattering and disillusioning as what the Disciples experienced that first Easter weekend. Their entire world and everything they had believed in was turned upside-down.

Had that been the end of the story it would have been overwhelmingly sad, but, as we know, it wasn’t the end of the story. Not by a long shot! Jesus rose from the dead, sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and God has used His church since that time to minister hope in His Name. We who are alive today and who are members of His Kingdom are living proof of the power of God to overcome all obstacles and all the efforts of evil to defeat Him and His ministry of grace, mercy, peace, and reconciliation.

The church not only began in a time of turmoil, but it has grown during all manner of difficulties, almost like these are the fertilizer which makes it grow and flourish. Not for nothing did Tertullian say, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” While 2020 has been a challenge to us, we certainly have not had the experience of martyrdom, and so we need to adjust our mindset some.

In truth, our disobedience is the only thing that can hold back the ministry of God’s church. I am more and more convinced that discipleship is far more a matter of commitment than it is knowledge. Peter and Paul had vastly different levels of education, but both were completely committed to the Lord and the Gospel ministry. So, let us dig a little deeper into our lives and find our first love again for Our Lord and Savior. A new year is approaching, one with its own challenges and with its own blessings, but if the Lord tarries, it will also be a new year in which to minister the Gospel in His Name. Let us not waste a minute more fretting over 2020, but instead, as Paul urged the Ephesians, 

“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” 

Our best is yet to come!

Every blessing, 

Dr. Otis H. Corbitt, III