TheHighCalling.org: Daily Reflections

What Comes Before the Law?

Mark D. Roberts — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Last week we began looking at Exodus 20:1-17, the revelation of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. I had promised to examine each of the commandments carefully. But before I fulfill this promise, I’d like to look at what the Lord says before issuing the first commandment: “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery” (20:2).

Why did God say this? Wasn’t it obvious to all that the one who was going to lay out the terms of the covenant was the same God who had delivered the Israelites from Egypt? Why underscore this truth?

The Lord reminded the Israelites of who he was and what he had done for them to lay the foundation of his covenant with them. Their sacred relationship, though it would require Israel’s obedience, was not based on their works, but on God’s gracious salvation. He saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt before he established the covenant with them, before they did anything in particular to honor him.

Though our relationship with God takes on a different shape because it is based on what Christ has done for us, in some ways it is similar to the covenant between the Lord and Israel. We too are brought into relationship with God through his grace. And we too are expected to do good works that God has planned for us (Eph. 2:10). We do these things in gratitude for God’s salvation and in response to his love for us.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Why do you obey God? What motivates you to obey, especially when it’s hard?

PRAYER: Gracious Lord, you are indeed the God who rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt. And you are indeed the God who rescued me from slavery to sin and death. How I thank you for being my Savior!

Help me, dear Lord, to live my life in response to all that you have done for me. May I be so caught up in your grace that I’m drawn to give you all that I am, all the time. Yes, I am called to obey you, and indeed I should. But my obedience is not a means to earn your favor, but rather a way to express my gratitude for abundant favor already given.

All praise be to you, for you are the LORD, the Savior of Israel and my Savior too! Amen.

READ Exodus 20:1-17

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.”

Exodus 20:2

The Sacrifice God Desires

Mark D. Roberts — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 06:00:00 GMT

In yesterday’s reflection on Psalm 50, I noted that God, who set up the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, says he doesn’t need sacrifices. Rather, he desires worship and obedience. Psalm 51 offers even more insight into the sacrifice that God desires.

In Psalm 51, David confesses his sin without holding back. He implores the Lord to forgive him and create within him a clean heart. Then David adds that God does not “desire a sacrifice” or a “burnt offering.” Yet there is a sacrifice that is pleasing to the Lord. “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God” (51:17).

When we sin, God is not impressed by the things we try to do to atone for ourselves (as if we could!). We cannot offer any goods or services to the Lord to motivate him to forgive us. After all, God can produce all the goods and services he needs. But we can offer that which we alone can give to the Lord: our open hearts, our sorrow over our sin, our fervent intention to repent. This is the “sacrifice” God desires from us.

How do we become broken over our sin? There is no simple answer. Sometimes we are shattered by the sorry results of sin. Sometimes we are so overwhelmed by the grace of God that we hate anything in us that dishonors him. But, in all times, genuine sorrow over sin comes as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Through the Spirit, God helps us to see our sin as it is and to yearn for cleansing and a new, holy life.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Have you ever offered to God the sacrifice of a broken spirit? When? What helps you to feel genuine sorrow over your sin? What helps you to turn from it?

PRAYER: Gracious, Holy God, I cannot offer you anything to make you forgive my sin. Your forgiveness comes as a free gift through Jesus Christ. For this I am eternally grateful.

But, when I sin, I can offer the sacrifice of a broken spirit and a repentant heart. I can offer my true sorrow over how I have wronged you. I can present my desire to turn from sin so that I might live my life for you.

Help me, dear Lord, to be able to offer the sacrifice that you desire. Keep me from tolerating my sin. Penetrate my defenses and rationalizations, so that I might see my sin as it is. By your Spirit, give me a passionate desire for you and your righteousness.

Indeed, create in me a clean heart, O Lord. Amen.

READ Psalm 51:1-19

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Psalm 51:16-17

What Really Matters to God

Mark D. Roberts — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Every time I read Psalm 50, I am startled. In this psalm, God recognizes that the Israelites are properly offering the sacrifices God himself had required in the law. Yet he says that he doesn’t need these sacrifices. What God wants most of all from his people is not proper religious activity, but faithfulness in worship and true obedience: “But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God” (50:23).

Let’s face it. It’s easier to put on a good show of religiosity than to live a life of genuine gratitude and faithfulness to God. Though we Christians aren’t offering literal sacrifices, we often focus on doing all the “right things” that show others what fine Christians we are. Yet, in private, our lives can be far from God’s intentions for us. We can look great on Sunday morning. But how do we look on Monday evening when nobody’s watching . . . nobody except the Lord, of course.

Nothing in Psalm 50 suggests that we should stop gathering with God’s people for worship or singing the songs or praying the prayers. But it does challenge us to take a good look at our whole lives. Are we living each day for God and his purposes? Are we honoring him when we’re alone? in our daydreams? in our finances? in our secret ambitions? What really matters to God is not that we excel in religious activity, but that we offer our whole selves to him in every moment. As Jesus made clear, our highest calling is to love God with all that we are and to love our neighbors as ourselves . . . every moment of every day.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Are you ever tempted to put on a religious “show” for the sake of others? When? Are you living your life with a consistent awareness of what matters most to God?

PRAYER: O Lord, when I read Psalm 50, it’s as if I heard you say “Gotcha!” You know how hard I work to look good to others. I can put on a show of my religion. But what about my hidden thoughts? What about my daily living? Do I offer myself to you fully, consistently? You know the answer to this question.

Forgive me, Lord, for all the times I live as if you weren’t there or as if you didn’t matter. Forgive me for my shallowness and hypocrisy. Help me, by your Spirit, to live for you completely, giving you all that I am every moment. What matters most to you is all of me: heart, soul, mind, and strength. May I offer my whole self to you this day and every day ahead.

To you be all the glory! Amen.

READ Psalm 50:1-23

I have no complaint about your sacrifices
or the burnt offerings you constantly offer.
But I do not need the bulls from your barns
or the goats from your pens.

Psalm 50:8-9

Are the Ten Commandments Relevant to Us?

Mark D. Roberts — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Yesterday I began reflecting on Exodus 20:1-17, the Ten Commandments that constitute the core of Israel’s covenant obligation. Today I continue to focus on this passage, and will stick with it for quite a few days. Few biblical texts are more important, not only for our understanding of God and his purposes, but also for learning how we should live. I want to reflect on each of the ten “words” and consider briefly how they might impact our lives today. Of course, I can barely scratch the surface, so I hope my reflections will encourage you to consider in greater depth how you can honor God in your daily living.

Before I examine the individual commandments, however, I need to make a couple of prefatory comments. One has to do with the relevance of the Ten Commandments. I’m not thinking primarily of whether or not the Decalogue matters for civic law. Nor am I going to deal with the legal question of whether the Ten Commandments should appear on government property. Rather, I want to address the question of whether these commandments are relevant to Christians.

We Christians are people of the new covenant. We are bound to God, not through the law, but through the death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus, who perfectly fulfilled the law, invites us into a relationship with the Triune God based on faith—our trust in God—rather than works of the law. Thus we Christians are not bound to obey the Jewish law in its entirety.

Nevertheless, the theological and moral aspects of the law are still there to teach us, to guide us, and to lead us to Christ. Though we should never think that by keeping the Ten Commandments we can make ourselves right with God, we should also never think that it’s now fine to practice idolatry and adultery, or to dishonor our parents or bear false witness.

As we read and reflect upon the Ten Commandments in light of Christ, God will help us know him better and know how to live better. His authoritative guidance for Israel remains valid for us, and not just valid, but helpful, and not just helpful, but extraordinarily relevant to the challenges and opportunities of our lives.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: In what ways have the Ten Commandments impacted your life? Do you ever think about these “words” as you make difficult moral decisions? Why or why not?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, though I am not camping in the wilderness by Mt. Sinai, and though my life is in many ways vastly different from the Israelites who first heard your “ten words,” nevertheless, these words have power to teach and to guide me today. So I thank you for this extraordinary revelation of how I am to live.

Keep me, Lord, from a legalism that falsely assumes I can win your favor through keeping the law. Similarly, keep me from thinking that because I am forgiven through Christ, I really don’t have to worry about what’s right or wrong. Help me to have a right understanding of how your law should guide my life. May I receive this guidance with gratitude and a desire to obey. Amen.

READ Exodus 20:1-17

Then God spoke all these words.

Exodus 20:2

All These Words

Mark D. Roberts — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:00:00 GMT

In Exodus 19, the Israelites came to Mt. Sinai and set up camp. Through Moses, the Lord expressed his intent to make a covenant with Israel. They would become his special people and live for his special purposes. Before revealing to the people exactly what their covenantal obligations would be, the Lord called them to prepare themselves, and he astounded them with dramatic demonstrations of his awesome power. In this context, “God spoke all these words” (20:1).

We refer to all these words as the Ten Commandments. Though they certainly are commandments, the Hebrew text calls them “words,” not “commandments” (devarim, not mitzwot). This explains why Jewish people refer to this set of ten imperatives as “The Ten Words.” Sometimes, English speakers refer to the Ten Commandments as The Decalogue, from the Greek word dekalogos, which means “ten words.”

Curiously, there is not one set numbering for the Ten Commandments or Words. Some traditions combine “you must not have any other god” and “you must not make for yourself an idol” into one commandment. In order to get a total of ten, they divide the prohibition against coveting into two commandments (“You must not covet your neighbor’s house” and “You must not covet your neighbor’s wife.”) The standard Protestant number splits the first two and regards the commandments against coveting as one. Since I am a standard Protestant, I’ll use this division.

Of course, none of this makes much of a difference for our reflections on this passage. I mention these curiosities because they can sometimes confuse people. There’s no need to worry if your Jewish friend refers to the Ten Words or your Christian friend from a another tradition employs a different numbering system.

It is worth noting, however, that God spoke the Ten Words to the Israelites. Almost all of the Jewish law came to the people in writing through the scribal activity of Moses. But the Ten Words were different. God actually spoke them to all the people, according to Exodus 20:1.

Why is this important? For one thing, the fact that God spoke to all the people emphasizes the personal, relational nature of the covenant. God didn’t just give his people a bunch of rules to follow. Rather, as we saw in Exodus 19, he invited the Israelites into a living relationship with him. Yes, this relationship would include plenty of dos and don’ts. But the rules were always meant to be secondary to the central relationship between God and his people.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: When you think of the Ten Commandments, what thoughts, feelings, or memories come to mind, if any? What difference would it have made if God had given the Ten Words to Israel in writing rather than in speech? How do you sort out the relationship between obeying God and having an intimate relationship with him?

PRAYER: Gracious Lord, I am impressed today by the fact that you spoke the Ten Words to your people. Even in revealing to them the core of their covenant obligations, there was an essentially personal, relational quality to your communication.

And so it is with me. Though I know you in truth through the written word, this word bears witness to your revelation in spoken words, and most of all in the Word made flesh. Moreover, though I have never heard your voice with my ears, I have heard the still, small voice of your Spirit. Thank you, gracious God, for making yourself and your will known to me in such a personal and tangible way. Amen.

READ Exodus 20:1-17

Then God spoke all these words.

Exodus 20:1

The Awesomeness of God

Mark D. Roberts — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:00:00 GMT

As the Lord prepared to reveal the full covenant to the Israelites, he warned them to stay away from Mt. Sinai. If any were to touch the mountain, they would die.

When I first read this, I cringed. Why would God want to keep his people away? The answer to this question comes, in part, from the ancient notion of sacredness. People knew that they were not to touch sacred objects. So God’s prohibition about touching the mountain made it dramatically clear that Mt. Sinai was special.

But this is not the whole story, I believe. God made Mt. Sinai out of bounds to underscore his awesome power. This fact was also communicated through stunning natural phenomena: lightning, thunder, clouds, smoke, earthquake. It was as if God was shouting: “I am awesome! I am not to be trifled with!”

I’m glad that God no longer threatens us with death if we were to approach his holy places. But I do think we’ve lost something of God’s awesomeness. For many of us, he is rather like Santa Claus in the mall, a jolly old elf whom we approach when we want him to know what we need. The truth is that we can come before God with bold confidence, laying our concerns before him (Heb. 4:16). But this opportunity becomes even more wonderful and amazing when we realize whom it is we approach, not some Santa in the sky, but the awesome, all-powerful, holy God who revealed himself on Mt. Sinai.

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION: When have you been impressed, perhaps even overwhelmed, by the awesomeness of God?

PRAYER: Holy, mighty, all-powerful God, as I read Exodus 19, I’m reminded of your incomprehensible awesomeness. And I’m also reminded of how readily I forget your majesty and power. Forgive me, Lord, when I treat you as some sort of cosmic Santa Claus, when I approach you with boldness, but also with nonchalance.

Help me to keep your awesomeness in mind even as I draw near to you. When I receive your fatherly embrace, may I realize just how amazing it is to have such a relationship with the King of kings and Lord of lords. When I come before you in worship, may I come with reverence even as I come with childlike openness.

All praise be to you, mighty, holy, awesome God! Amen.

READ Exodus 19:7-25

“Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death.' "

Exodus 19:12

“My Holy Nation”

Mark D. Roberts — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Yesterday we saw that the Lord designated Israel to be his “kingdom of priests.” This meant, not only that Israel would have priests, but that the priests would guide the nation. Moreover, Israel had a priestly role within the whole world as the nation through which God would make himself known to all nations.

A similar meaning adheres to the phrase “my holy nation” (goy qadosh in Hebrew). Holiness has to do with something being set apart for a special, sacred purpose. As a holy nation, Israel will not be like the other nations. This will be fleshed out in specific beliefs and practices, such as: monotheism, the Sabbath, rule by judges, etc. Yet Israel’s holiness is not simply a matter of separateness from the world. It also elucidates Israel’s special calling as God’s representative in the world. Israel will be different, not simply for the sake of differentness, and not only for relationship with God, however crucial this may be. Rather, Israel’s differentness allows the nation to fulfill its role as the one through whom all families on earth will be blessed (Gen.12:1-3).

As Christians, we are a holy people. Like Israel, we have been set apart from this world for relationship with God and to fulfill his purposes. Our holiness consists, not just in our being different from our neighbors, but also in our devotion to God’s mission through us. If you are holy in your workplace, for example, this does not mean you must speak in “Christianese” and display Christian symbols in your office. It does mean that you will choose to be a person of integrity and compassion, reflecting the truth and love of Christ in your daily work. It does mean that you will see your workplace as a primary context for you to live out your high calling to serve the Lord. From God’s perspective, when you are at work, you are a “saint,” a holy person set apart for his purposes. Together, we are God’s holy nation, both when we are gathered for worship and fellowship and when we are scattered into the world as God’s special representatives.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: When you think of holiness, what images, actions, or ideas come to mind? How can you be a holy person in your workplace? family? neighborhood? church?

PRAYER: Holy God, even as you once set apart Israel as your holy people, so you have set us apart to know you and serve you. How thankful I am to be one of your “saints.” This is nothing I’ve earned, as you know. It is what you, by your grace, have called me to be.

Help me, dear Lord, to live as a holy person. Preserve me from thinking that my holiness has to do with a show of religiosity. Rather, may I be holy as you are holy: truthful, compassionate, forgiving, loving. Help me to live out this call to holiness in every aspect of my life. Amen.

READ Exodus 19:1-6

“And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.”

Exodus 19:6

“My Kingdom of Priests”

Mark D. Roberts — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Last week I began reflecting on Exodus 19:1-6, one of the watershed passages in all of Scripture. Here, the Lord explained the covenant he was making with Israel. He reminded his people that he had saved them from the Egyptians, revealing that the fundamental foundation for the covenant was his own grace. Moreover, the Lord made it clear that he had saved the Israelites, not only so that they might participate in his mission in the world, but also so that they might be in relationship with him as his “special treasure.”

According to Exodus 19:6, the Lord designated Israel to be “my kingdom of priests.” As you might expect, scholars debate the precise meaning of the Hebrew phrase behind this translation (mamlekhet kohanim). Yet it does seem that this Hebrew phrase means more than simply that Israel would have priests. Every other nation in the ancient world had priests, after all. But what Israel would be, in particular, was a nation that would be led by God. Therefore, the priests would serve a broader leadership role within Israel. Moreover, Israel itself would have a priestly role in the wider world, representing God to the gentiles. Even as the Lord would make himself known to the Israelites through the ministrations and declarations of the priests, so he would reveal himself to the nations through Israel.

From a New Testament (new covenant!) perspective, we recognize that Israel’s priestly role in the world was focused in Jesus, who perfectly revealed God through the Incarnation, and whose death was the ultimate priestly service. Now, we who are in a covenant relationship with God through Christ, have assumed the priestly role within the world. We exist on this earth to represent the Lord and to tell the world of his wonders. As it says in 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are not like [those who stumble], for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Do you ever think of yourself as a “priest” in this world? How might you be a “priest” in your workplace? your family? your neighborhood? your church?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, sometimes I can forget that you have chosen to make yourself known through me. Oh, I’m fine with this idea when I’m doing obvious “spiritual” work, like writing these Reflections! But when I’m “just a guy,” when I’m shopping in the grocery store or talking with folks in Home Depot, I can completely forget my priestly calling.

Help me, Lord, to represent you in every aspect of life, when I’m at work and at home, when I’m at church or in the neighborhood. May I be a faithful “priest,” along with my fellow believers.

Help your church, Lord, to fulfill our high calling as a kingdom of priests in this world. Amen.

READ Exodus 19:1-6

“And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.”

Exodus 19:6

The Inevitability of Death

Mark D. Roberts — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Psalm 49 isn’t exactly what you’d call cheery. Its main point is that the rich will die just like everybody else. The psalm ends on this note: “People who boast of their wealth don’t understand; they will die, just like animals.” Not exactly an upbeat thought, is it?

Yet Psalm 49 offers us the possibility of looking at our lives differently, of living with deeper purpose and wider vision. Even if we’re not striving for riches, most of us spend generous amounts of time and effort seeking that which, in the end, will be left behind. We worry about so many things that don’t matter when we look at life from the perspective of death’s inevitability. Psalm 49 gives us the chance to see life from the point of view of death, and therefore choose to live with significance.

As a pastor, I’ve spent more time in memorial services than just about anybody I know. You might think this is a downside of ordained ministry. But, in fact, I consider it a blessing. I’ve officiated in memorial services where eulogies have been relatively empty because the deceased lived their lives devoted to emptiness. And I’ve overseen memorial services that are joyous celebrations of lives well led. What makes the difference? Not wealth. Not position or power. Not even success, as the world defines it. Lives that matter even after death were focused on loving God and loving others. It’s really that simple. So when I’m reminded, either by my involvement in memorial services or by Psalm 49, that I will die, I’m encouraged to live this day with eternal significance. Today I want to be a person of love.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: When you reflect on your own death, what thoughts or feelings come to mind? What are the things in your life for which you strive, and which really don’t matter all that much? Given the inevitability of your death, how will you live differently today?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for Psalm 49. When I first read it, I must confess I felt rather distressed. I wondered why I had to think about death today? But the more I have reflected upon this psalm, the more I have come to appreciate its sober reminder.

Yes, Lord, the day will come when I will die. On that day I will leave behind my possessions and obsessions. When I stand before you and have my life examined, will you and I rejoice over what you have done through me? Will I have loved you with all that I am? Will I have loved my neighbor as myself? Will I have invested my life in the things that last forever?

Thank you, dear Lord, for the reminder to live fully for you this day. May I live today, and each day ahead, with the wisdom that comes from knowing my days on this earth are numbered. Amen.

READ Psalm 49:1-20

Those who are wise must finally die,
just like the foolish and senseless,
leaving all their wealth behind.

Psalm 49:10

Why Do We Praise God?

Mark D. Roberts — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

In the late 1970s, I first heard a praise song that greatly impacted my understanding of worship. It began: “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.” Though I didn’t realize it at the time, Robert Ewing had simply taken the opening words of Psalm 48 in the King James Version and put them to music.

His setting of these verses helped me to think about why we worship God. Yes, we worship because Scripture tells us to do so. Yes, we worship because, as we do, we often feel God’s presence. And yes, we worship because in this context we learn through singing, reading, and hearing the Word of God preached. But, even more fundamentally, we worship because God is worthy of worship. We praise God greatly because God is great. His nature calls forth our worship.

Since I first began, over thirty years ago, to think about why we worship, I’ve watched as Christians have come to a new appreciation of and zeal for worship. Many of us have discovered the vitality of more exuberant and expressive praise. Others have learned to be moved by the profound words of classic liturgy. Still others of us have experienced God through silent worship. This is all fantastic. But sometimes we can get so impressed by the feelings associated with worship that we can begin to think the main reason for our worship is experiencing certain feelings. This neglects the fundamental truth that we worship because of who God is. He is the King of kings before whom we bow in submission. He is the great God to whom we offer great praise. He is our gracious Savior who is worthy of our thanks and devotion.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What motivates you to worship God . . . really? When you’re in a worship service, what do you expect? What do you think about or do to encourage your worship? Can we worship God through our daily activities? How?

PRAYER: O Lord, you are great, and therefore worthy of great praise. The more I recognize your greatness, the more I am drawn to extol you. The more I receive your great grace, the more I am eager to offer you my thanks. The more I know how much you love me, the more I am able to love you in return.

O Lord, though in worshiping you I receive so very much, may my first intention always be to give you the praise you deserve. May worship be a place for me to offer you all that I am. You deserve this, and so much more! Amen.

READ Psalm 48:1-14

How great is the LORD,
how deserving of praise,
in the city of our God,
which sits on his holy mountain!

Psalm 48:1

“My Own Special Treasure”

Mark D. Roberts — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

As the Lord established his covenant with the Israelites, he reminded them that he had saved them from Egypt. He not only carried them “on eagles’ wings,” but he also brought them to himself. This relational implications of this statement are strengthened in the next verse, when the Lord said that if the Israelites keep his covenant, then they will be his own “special treasure from among all the peoples on earth” (19:5). The Hebrew word translated as “special treasure” (segulla) denotes valuable, personal property. For example, it was used by King David when he said, “And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction” (1 Chron. 29:3).

God entered into covenant relationship with the Israelites so that they might obey him, serve him, and represent him in the world. Through the people of Abraham, God intended to bless all of the families of the earth (Gen. 12:3). So, to be sure, God saved the Israelites so they might honor him and participate in his work in this world. But we mustn’t overlook the striking relationship God established with Israel. He brought them to himself. They were his treasured possession. They were not only to do God’s work, but also to know him and live in a love relationship with him.

And so it is with us. We have been called as disciples of Jesus to do his work, making disciples of all nations. As Christians, we have a job to do. Yet God has drawn us first and foremost, not to a mission, but to himself. We fulfill our calling to serve the Lord only when we are in a deep, consistent relationship with him (John 15:1-8).

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Do you ever think of yourself as God’s “special treasure”? If not, why not? Do you find it easy to put the duties of the Christian life ahead of intimate relationship with God? What helps you to live each day in a loving relationship with him?

PRAYER: O Lord, I am struck today by the fact that you saved the Israelites, not only so that they might serve you, but also so that they would be in relationship with you as your special treasure. How easily I forget this, both when it comes to my understanding of Israel and when it comes to my own relationship with you.

How I thank you for saving me, not just so I might serve you with my whole life, but also so that I know you, walk with you, and experience your love. Help me, dear Lord, to grow in my relationship with you. May I live as your special treasure today in all that I do! Amen.

READ Exodus 19:1-6

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.”

Exodus 19:4-5

“On Eagles’ Wings”

Mark D. Roberts — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

As the Lord began to reveal his intentions for his covenant with Israel, he reminded the people that he had saved them from the Egyptians. The image of being carried on eagles’ wings is a powerful one, even if scholars are not exactly sure what kind of large-winged bird is denoted by the Hebrew word nesher. We picture a mighty, majestic mother bird carrying her young, protecting and guiding them. That’s how the Lord brought his people out of Egypt.

It’s important for us to note that while the Lord’s covenant with Israel will involve contingency—God will bless the people if they obey him—the basis for this covenant is God’s amazing grace. He saved Israel before the covenant was established, not on the basis of Israel’s good works, but on the foundation of his faithfulness and mercy. It is common to think of the old covenant as one of law. Indeed, the law is absolutely central to Israel’s covenant faithfulness. But even the old covenant itself is based on grace, not on law.

What’s true of the old covenant is also true of the new covenant, perhaps even more profoundly. God established the terms of our covenant with him: we have relationship with him through the shed blood of Christ. This “new covenant” rests on the grace and mercy of God revealed and enacted in the cross of Jesus. Through the cross, God has carried us on eagles’ wings, away from sin and death, and into the new life of his kingdom.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How have you experienced God as an eagle bearing you on its wings? What difference does it make that your relationship with God is based, not on anything you do, but on the grace of God in Christ? Do you live in that grace each day?

PRAYER: O Lord, you have indeed carried me on your wings. By your mercy, you have delivered me from sin and death. You have set me free from their bondage. Once I was a slave, but now I am free to be your servant. Thank you, Lord.

Even as I seek to live faithfully as a child of the new covenant, help me to live each day by grace. May I continue to ride on your wings as you guide and empower me to serve you in every aspect of my life.

All praise be to you, gracious Lord, because you carry me on your wings. Alleluia! Amen.

READ Exodus 19:1-6

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”

Exodus 19:4

Keep My Covenant”

Mark D. Roberts — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

For two months after their miraculous departure from Egypt, the Israelites had been traveling through barren wilderness. Finally they arrived at Mt. Sinai, where they set up camp. Even as the Israelites remained in this location for a while, so we will spend several days reflecting on this crucial passage of Scripture. Few texts in the whole Bible are more foundational to our understanding of who we are as God’s people.

As the Lord spoke to Moses words that he was to pass on to the Israelites, he used a word that is one of the most significant in all of Scripture: covenant. Moses was to say to the people: “Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant . . .” (19:5). In the ancient world, a covenant (berit in Hebrew) was a binding agreement between parties. One type of covenant, called by scholars a suzerainty treaty, established a relationship between a suzerain (regional overlord) and those under his authority. This covenant was initiated by the suzerain. It spelled out the terms of his reign, what was expected of his subjects, and what he would do for them if they honored the covenant.

The Mosaic covenant between God and Israel has much in common with the suzerainty treaties of the ancient world. As always, God made himself known in culturally familiar ways that people could understand. As was common in a suzerainty treaty, the Lord established the terms of relationship. He revealed the nature of the covenant. Israel had the opportunity to accept or reject God’s terms, but not to negotiate them or offer an alternative covenant. Indeed, the Lord who sought relationship with Israel was not just a local deity, but the God of the whole earth. He had the authority to determine the nature of his relationship with his people.

Today, it is common for people to want relationship with God, but on their own terms. We who are so used to political and economic freedom think we can exercise similar freedom when it comes to God. But he is still the Lord of heaven and earth. God alone has the authority to determine the terms of our relationship with him. We’ll learn more about these terms in future reflections. For now, we’re reminded by Exodus 19 of God’s sovereignty over the whole world, including us.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Do you ever try to relate to God on your terms, not on his? How? Why? How has God chosen to shape his relationship with you? What is the nature of your covenant relationship with God?

PRAYER: King of kings and Lord of lords, today I’m reminded that my relationship with you comes on your terms, not mine. You have determined how I might know you and live in a covenant relationship with you. This isn’t something I can make up or shape to my liking, even though I try to do this very thing.

Forgive me, Lord, when I pretend as if our relationship is my responsibility. Forgive me when I try to make things right with you through my efforts rather than through your grace. Forgive me when I receive your grace, but don’t let it impact my whole life. Help me, Lord, to live with you according to your terms, to know you each day through your grace in Jesus Christ. Amen.

READ Exodus 19:1-6

“Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant . . .”

Exodus 19:5

Getting Help, Part 2

Mark D. Roberts — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

In yesterday’s passage from Exodus, we saw how Moses needed to get help from two of his key supporters. I suggested that God was teaching Moses to be a leader who depended on others, someone who would get the help he needed to succeed. Today’s passage underscores that lesson. This time, God uses Moses’ father-in-law to teach him about delegation.

Moses’ father-in-law, a Midianite named Jethro, had heard of his son-in-law’s amazing accomplishments. He came to visit Moses in the wilderness, bringing along Moses’ wife and two sons, who had not accompanied Moses on his trip back to Egypt. Moses filled in Jethro on all that had happened, and how God had “rescued his people from all their troubles” (18:8). Jethro joined Moses in offering praise to the Lord.

The next day, Moses sat in his place of authority as the Israelites came to him with their disputes. He spent the whole day listening to people’s complaints and trying to resolve them. Apparently, this happened regularly (18:15-16). Jethro was concerned: “You’re going to wear yourself out . . . This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.” So Jethro suggested that Moses become more of a teacher for Israel than the judge of petty disputes. He urged Moses to appoint capable people who could take from him the burden of solving the day-to-day problems of the Israelites. “They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you,” Jethro explained (18:22).

Moses followed his father-in-law’s advice, appointing people to serve as judges for the people. Moses continued to be like the Supreme Court, where major cases were settled. But he was able to get the help he needed, just as Jethro had suggested. Thus Moses could focus on what mattered most, doing as a leader that for which he was uniquely suited. He was preserved from exhaustion, and the people no doubt received prompt assistance with their troubles. It was a win-win situation for all parties.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Are you able to get the help you need from other people? Do you ask for help? If you’re in a position of authority, do you delegate to others certain tasks so you can focus on what’s crucial for you?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for this wonderful story from Exodus 18. It reminds me of how I need to be faithful in delegating to others certain tasks so I can focus on what is most important. In my work, help me to be an effective delegator.

Thank you, Lord, for those who handle so very well the tasks I give to them. You have given me such fine colleagues! How grateful I am for them.

Thank you also, Lord, for the “Jethros” in my life, for those who care for me and teach me how to be a better leader . . . and a better person. Help me to listen well to them. Preserve me from defensiveness. Give me the humility to receive wise counsel with gratitude and an open heart. Amen.

READ Exodus 18:1-27

“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.

Exodus 18:17-18

Getting Help, Part 1

Mark D. Roberts — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

As the Israelites made their way through the wilderness, they were attacked by the Amalekites. Moses commanded Joshua, who at that time was one of Moses’ lieutenants, to get together a small force in order to defend Israel. During the battle, when Moses held his staff up in the air, the Israelites would prevail. If he lowered his staff, their advantage would disappear. But, in time, Moses became weary. So two of his assistants, Aaron and Hur, found a stone that Moses could use as a stool. As he sat, they held up his hands so that he could continue to raise his staff. The result was a stunning victory for Israel.

I wonder why God worked through Moses in this unusual way. Surely the Almighty could have come up with other ways for Israel to be victorious over the Amalekites. It seems as if the Lord wanted to teach Moses a lesson. Even though he was unquestionably the leader of Israel, he needed to rely upon others. His strength was inadequate for the job. But, with trusted assistants holding up his hands, Moses was able to hold his staff high. God was teaching Moses to get the help he needed so that he might be the leader God had called him to be.

As I think about my service to the Lord, I am grateful for those who have “held up my hands” so that I might be the leader God has called me to be. I remember a time during my tenure at Irvine Presbyterian Church when I was deeply discouraged, even questioning whether I was the right person to pastor the church. One of our elders, a friend named Hugh, sensed my despair. He took me out for coffee and spent time listening to my concerns. Then he took time to draw my attention to all the ways God was using my leadership in the church. He helped me gain perspective I had lost. By the end of our time together, I felt encouraged, ready to continue to lead the church in spite of the challenges I faced. I will always be thankful for the way Hugh “held up my hands” that day over a cup of coffee.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Have there been times in your life when people have “held up your hands” to encourage and empower you? Are there people in your life whose hands you hold up? Are there people who need your help today?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, first I want to thank you for those who have “held up my hands” so that I might serve you effectively even when I was weak and discouraged. Thank you for the people in my life who hold up my hands even now. What a gift they are to me!

Teach me, Lord, to get the help I need as a leader. You know how I tend to rely too heavily on myself, rather than upon others. May I learn to receive the gifts you give me in people to support and encourage me.

And may I be such a person for others. Give me eyes to see where I can hold up the hands of my colleagues and partners. Help me especially to fulfill this role with my family, so that those closest to me might be all that you have designed them to be.

Finally, I thank you, dear Lord, for being one who holds up my hands. I am eternally grateful for your power and encouragement in my life. Amen.

READ Exodus 17:1-16

Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.

Exodus 17:12

Clap and Shout!

Mark D. Roberts — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

In yesterday’s reflection, I mentioned that I am not wired for stillness, but rather for activity and worry. So I need the invitation of Psalm 46:10 to challenge me to be still and know that God is God.

Well, in truth, I’m not wired for clapping my hands and shouting to God, either. My ancestors came from northern Europe, where people associate reverence with reservation. Something in my genes prefers to worship God quietly and carefully. Thus it’s no surprise that I found a home within the Presbyterian church. We’re happy to have our choirs singing joyously about clapping and shouting. But we certainly don’t want to do it ourselves! That feels almost indecent and disorderly.

There is surely a time to worship God in quiet and stillness. Psalm 46:10 suggests this. Habakkuk explicitly calls for silence in response to God’s holy presence (2:20). Yet Scripture repeatedly calls us to worship the Lord with vigorous physical expression. Psalm 47:1 joins a chorus of passages that call us to use our bodies in worship by clapping, shouting, standing, singing, lifting our hands, and so on.

Why is this important? Psalm 47 explains that physically expressive worship is a fitting response to God’s awesomeness and power. Even as a crowd would cheer for a king, so we ought to honor the King of kings. Moreover, when we invest our body in active worship, we often find that our hearts are stirred with love for God. Plus, we get to practice loving God with all of our strength, so that we might live fully for him each day.

Some Christians need to learn how to worship with greater zest, yes, even with more volume. Other Christians need to learn how to be quiet in God’s presence, so they might hear the still, small voice of his Spirit. Frankly, I need both.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Do you find it easier to be quiet before God or to clap and shout? Why? What helps you to be freer in offering yourself in worship to God?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, you know I don’t find it natural to clap for you or shout my praise to you. I know that you receive my worship with gladness, even when it’s quiet. But I also know that I need to discover the freedom of greater expression in worship. Help me, Lord, to offer you more of myself, more of my body, more of my voice, more of my whole self to you.

Even as I need to grow in being still before you, I also need to become more expressive of my love for you. By your Spirit, I ask for new freedom and joy in worship. May I hold nothing back as I love you with all of my heart, all of my soul, all of my mind, and all of my strength. Amen.

READ Psalm 47:1-9

Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
Shout to God with joyful praise!

Psalm 47:1

Be Still!

Mark D. Roberts — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

“Be still and know that I am God!” There are few verses in the whole Bible that I need to remember more than this one. Unfortunately, I am wired for anything other than stillness in knowing that God is God. When I face challenges or setbacks, even in doing work that I fully believe to be God’s work, my first inclination is to get moving and solve problems. Moreover, my soul isn’t particularly suited for stillness in situations like these. I find worry so much more natural, as if by fretting about something I could make it better. That’s why I need to hear the call of God to stillness in the knowledge that he is God, and I am not.

The verb translated as “be still” (raphah in Hebrew) is a curious one. Literally, it means “to let something drop, to let go, or to abandon something.” In this verse, God is inviting us to let go of our busyness, to give up our empty striving, to abandon our worries. In place of our flurry of activity, both physical and emotional, we’re to rest in the knowledge that God is God, that he is in control, that he is sovereign over our lives, even as he is Lord of heaven and earth.

Do you need to hear this invitation as much as I do today? Maybe this is God’s word for you right now: “Let go, be still, and know that I am God!”

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: When are you tempted to be rushed and worried rather than trusting God? What helps you to be still and know that God is God?

PRAYER: Thank you, gracious God, for this verse from Psalm 46. You know how much I need it. You know my ways, Lord, how easily I can rush about in anything but stillness, trying to solve the problems of my life. And if there’s nothing I can do actively, I’ll worry. I know this is silly, not to mention unfaithful. But I come by frantic activity so naturally. Ugh!

Help me, dear Lord, to let go of my need to control, of my worries, of my fears. Help me to drop my tendency to try and do it all myself, as if I were God. Instead, may I learn to be quite enough to know that you are God, that you are gracious and good, that you are in charge. May I rest in your strength, and thus be still. Amen.

READ Psalm 46:1-11

“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”

Psalm 46:10

Just Enough

Mark D. Roberts — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

In Exodus 16, the Lord began to provide food for the Israelites. It came in the form of quail for dinner and a strange white, sweet substance for breakfast. This mysterious food was called “manna,” presumably getting its name from the Hebrew word man, which asked the question “What?”

Not only did manna appear miraculously. It also had the unusual ability to supply sufficient nutrition for people no matter the quantity they collected. With manna for food, the Israelites had “just enough.”

“Just enough.” That phrase aptly describes how we experience God, at least some of the time. To be sure, there are moments when the Lord pours out his grace upon us and we have much more than enough. Yet, often we find ourselves with “just enough” . . . just enough faith for today, just enough wisdom for the challenges of the moment, just enough clarity concerning God’s future for us that we can move forward in obedience.

But with “just enough,” we have to trust God for what we’ll need next. We can’t tuck away God’s grace in some safe place so that we can rely on the grace and not God. Rather, in our walk of faith, we need to trust him each and every day. God gives us just enough so that we are richly blessed, but not so much that we can live without him. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we depend upon God each day for what we need for that very day. And, like the Israelites, we discover that God is faithful if we trust him.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: When have you received from the Lord “just enough” to keep you going but not so much that you could stop trusting him? Why do you think God wants us to trust him each day?

PRAYER: Gracious Lord, as I think about the wide scope of my life, I’m blown away by your grace to me. Indeed, you have showered me with blessings, and for this I give you thanks and praise.

But, in living each day, it seems that you often give me “just enough.” You supply everything I need, but not so much that I can stop trusting in you. Thank you, Lord, for helping me to stay in touch with you, to keep depending on you. May I live this way today, and each day of my life. Amen.

READ Exodus 16:1-36

But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.

Exodus 16:18

Why Obey God?

Mark D. Roberts — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

As the Israelites began their journey from Egypt to Mt. Sinai, they soon ran out of water. When they finally discovered a well-watered oasis, it turned out that the water there was bitter. So they complained to Moses, who passed on their complaint to the Lord. He responded by making the water good to drink.

But then the Lord added a conditional promise: “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians” (15:26). Here is a classic covenantal statement, in which God’s blessing is contingent upon the people’s obedience. It provides a rationale for obedience: If you obey, you will be rewarded.

Yet God provided another reason for obedience. After promising that if the Israelites obey him he will preserve them, he added: “for I am the LORD who heals you” (15:26). God is not just any old god, but the one who revealed himself to Moses as the Lord, “I AM WHO I AM.” This Lord, a God of grace and mercy, is Israel’s healer. In this context, healing is a metaphor for deliverance from Egypt. So the Israelites should obey God, not only because of what he will do for them, but also because of who he is and what he already did for them.

And so it is with us. We obey God, in part because we know that obedience leads to blessing, but, more basically, because of who God is and what God has done for us in Christ. We live a life of obedience in response to God’s grace poured out upon us.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Why do you obey God? What motivates you? When you struggle to obey, what helps you to do it?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for the rewards of obedience. Even as you promised to bless Israel if they obeyed you, so you have promised to me. Help me, I pray, to live a life open to your blessings.

But, beyond this, may I obey you because of who you are and what you have already done for me. May my obedience be an act of gratitude, a worshipful response to your grace in Christ. Amen.

READ Exodus 15:19-27

He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.”

Exodus 15:26

The Redeemer Is Our Guide

Mark D. Roberts — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

The first part of Exodus 15 is a song in which Moses and the Israelites celebrate their deliverance from Egypt. They praise the Lord for his superior strength and victory.

But this song also looks ahead to what is yet to come. Deliverance from Egypt was wonderful, but it still leaves the Israelites out in the middle of nowhere, vulnerable to attack and to the elements. Verse 13 adds to the celebration the fact that God’s help doesn’t end at the Red Sea. Rather, God continues to lead and guide his people all the way to his “sacred home.”

When I think about my relationship with the Lord, I am eternally grateful for the time he first saved me from sin and death as I put my faith in him. But I am also grateful for the fact that God didn’t leave me at that point to muddle through my life until the moment of death, when I would be beamed up to his presence. Rather, God has been faithful to me again and again as my leader and guide. To be sure, there have been times when I have rejected God’s guidance. But his unfailing love has outlasted my hardness of heart. He continues to guide my steps if I pay attention to him.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How has God guided you since the time you first put your trust in him? What helps you to pay better attention to God’s guidance?

PRAYER: O Lord, even as you first redeemed and then guided Israel, so you have done with me. Thanks be to you, O God, for your faithfulness as my leader. Thanks for your patience when I am slow to follow. Thanks for your forgiveness when I reject your path. Thanks for reaching out to me and putting me back on “the straight and narrow.”

Help me, dear Lord, to pay better attention to you, to listen to the whisper of your Spirit, to follow you wherever you lead me. Amen.

READ Exodus 15:1-18

“With your unfailing love you lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your might, you guide them
to your sacred home.”

Exodus 15:13

Trustworthy Leadership

Mark D. Roberts — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Exodus 14 describes the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites as the Lord guided them through the Red Sea and then swamped the armies of Egypt. The children of Israel marveled at the power of God and “were filled with awe” before him (literally, “they were afraid”). As a result, “they put their faith in the LORD and in his servant Moses.”

To this point in the story, the people had followed the Lord and Moses, but with lots of hesitation. Though they had trusted Moses enough to follow him as he left Egypt, they nevertheless felt afraid that they would be destroyed by the awesome might of the Egyptian armies (14:11-12). But after witnessing the miracle of the Red Sea, the Israelites finally trusted in God, and not just in God, but also in Moses—at least for now!

Why did the people put their faith in Moses and his leadership? Because he had demonstrated his trustworthiness. What he had promised actually happened. He had endured multiple challenges with commitment. He led his people with a steady hand, waiting for God’s ultimate action to save Israel.

We live in a day when people are not inclined to trust leaders. Too often our leaders in government, business, church, and family have let us down. So, just because you’re in charge, this does not mean people will freely put their faith in you. Such trust must be earned, slowly, patiently, over time. It comes only when you prove that you are worthy of trust by your own faithfulness, wisdom, and commitment.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What helps you to trust your leaders? How can you be a leader whom people trust?

PRAYER: Lord, in today’s biblical text, the Israelites finally put their faith in you and also in Moses. I’m struck by the inclusion of Moses here. I can imagine how frustrating it must have been to him to lead people who did not trust him. Yet he persevered, serving you faithfully. In time, the people recognized that he was reliable, that you were truly working through him. So they put their trust in Moses.

Help me, Lord, to be a leader worthy of people’s trust. May the people for whom I am a leader put their trust in me because I have earned it. Let this be true for my family, my colleagues, and all who are exposed to my ministry.

When I do not receive the trust I think I deserve, help me to be patient, Lord. May my faithfulness and commitment as a leader bear the fruit of well-earned trust. To you be all the glory. Amen.

READ Exodus 14:15-31

When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

Exodus 14:31

The Lord Will Fight for You

Mark D. Roberts — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

As the Israelites left Egypt, they were pursued by the Egyptians. Fearful of the awesome power of Pharaoh’s army, the people of Israel were gripped with fear. They complained to Moses that they would rather be slaves in Egypt than corpses in the wilderness.

Moses sought to reassure his people with the promise that God would rescue them that very day. Though they could never overcome the military might of Egypt, they did not have to worry because, “The LORD himself will fight for you” (14:14).

Do you need to hear this reassurance in your own life? I know I do. When I feel overwhelmed, when the challenges before me are more than I can handle, I am naturally wired for worry. My mind can spin out of control, envisioning all sorts of terrible outcomes. In these situations, I need to hear that God is on my side, that the Lord will fight for me.

This does not mean, of course, that everything I choose to do will be blessed by God. Nor does it mean that my life will be free of hardship and suffering. But, if I am committed to the kingdom of God and seeking to live for God’s purposes and glory, then my battles are really God’s battles, and he will fight for me. I can be strong, therefore, “in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Eph. 6:10).

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you need the Lord to fight for you today? What would you attempt for his glory if you were sure that he would fight for you?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, today I’m feeling overwhelmed, not so much by the difficulty of the tasks before me as by the number of them. I wonder how I can get everything done that I need to do today. So I ask you to fight for me. Give me the strength to do what I cannot accomplish on my own. Help me to trust you, to follow your lead, to offer myself to you in all that I do.

By the end of this day, may I be able to say, “Yes, Lord, you fought for me today! Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord.”

And may every day of my life be just like this! Amen.

READ Exodus 14:1-14

“The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Exodus 14:14

Defending Truth, Humility, and Justice

Mark D. Roberts — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

When I was a boy, I loved watching the Adventures of Superman on our black-and-white Motorola television set. How I longed to be just like that “strange visitor from another planet” who fought a “never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way.”

Superman, ironically enough, has much in common with the king who is praised in Psalm 45. This psalm is unusual in that it is addressed, not to God or to the people of Israel, but to the king on the occasion of his wedding (45:13-15). In verse 4, the psalmist urges the king to “ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice.” That’s not exactly “truth, justice, and the American way,” but two out of three ain’t half bad.

When we pray for our leaders, as Scripture urges us to do (1 Tim. 2:2), we should ask the Lord to lead them in the ways of truth, humility, and justice. Yet Psalm 45:4 also provides a model for our behavior in the world. We too are to be people of truth, humility, and justice.

As people of truth, we will speak and live in a way that reflects God and his revelation. In a world of falsehood, in which truth itself is under attack, we will seek the truth in all things, stand for the truth in what we say and do.

As people of humility, we will never speak the truth in a way that is haughty, as if the truth belongs to us. Moreover, we will always see ourselves as subjects of the King of kings, and offer our lives to him and to others as servants. Thus we will imitate the humble servanthood of Jesus.

As people of justice, we will treat all people fairly and will work for a world that offers justice to all. We will be especially committed to doing justice for the poor and powerless. Where we have been given authority, in our work, our families, our churches, or our community, we will strive for just systems that reflect the character of God.

When you “ride out” today into the world, defend truth, humility, and justice as God’s viceroy, God’s servant.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How can you express your commitment to truth today? How can you live with humility? How can you seek God’s justice in your part of the world?

PRAYER: O Lord, even as the king was to be a person of truth, humility, and justice, so am I. You have called me to speak and to live truthfully. I am to imitate the humility of Jesus and to seek your justice in all things. Help me, dear Lord, to be this kind of person in all that I do.

Even as I go through this day, may your Spirit bring to mind ways that I can be more truthful, more humble, and more just. To you be all the glory. Amen.

READ Psalm 45:1-17

In your majesty, ride out to victory,
defending truth, humility, and justice.
Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!

Psalm 45:4

Wake Up, O Lord!

Mark D. Roberts — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

This is one of my favorite passages in all of the Psalms. There are several like it throughout the book. Each time we come across such a text, I will pause to reflect upon it, even if my reflections might be a bit redundant. I believe that you and I need the permission and invitation found in passages that model boldness in prayer.

Psalm 44:23-24 comes in the context of an extended lament, in which the psalmist accuses God of mistreating his people, even though they have not broken his covenant (v. 17). The lament concludes with this gripping verse: “But for your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep” (v. 22).

In desperation, the psalmist cries out to God as if he were sleeping: “Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up!” (v. 23). I love the honesty of this cry. It hasn’t been cleaned up theologically. It’s bold, brash, and one might almost say, inappropriate. Who would assume to speak to God in this way? Only one who had confidence in God’s ability to hear with grace. Only one whose relationship with God was intimate enough to risk such open-hearted prayer. Only one who felt safe revealing the depths of his or her heart to the Lord.

If you’ve walked with the Lord for some time, you have no doubt experienced times of desperation in your relationship with him. You have known moments when it seems as if God is sleeping. You have felt as if God was ignoring your suffering.

I remember a time when my son was an infant. He was terribly sick, with a fever over 105 degrees. I was up with him for most of the night, trying to let my wife get some rest. Nathan spent most of that night crying in agony. I felt consumed by worry for my son, not to mention exhausted from lack of sleep. I had been praying on and off for hours. Finally, at about four in the morning, I yelled at God through my tears. I told him I would never let someone I love go through this. I said things to God that I would never put in writing. They were too terrible, too personal.

Now, as I look back on that moment, I marvel at the freedom I felt to tell the Lord exactly what was on my heart. He didn’t consume me with holy fire or throw me into the pit. Rather, he used that experience to reassure me that I can open my heart to him, confident in his mercy.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Have you ever cried out to God in the mode of Psalm 44? When? What happened? What gives you confidence to be honest with God?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, today as I reflect upon this psalm, I am not in a place of desperation. But I remember times when I cried out to you as if you were asleep and ignoring me. How I thank you for the freedom you give me to be honest with you, to hold nothing back. How gracious you are, King of kings, to let me speak my mind and share my heart with you. What a privilege this is, Lord, what a privilege!

Help me, dear Lord, to trust you enough to pray with boldness. May I always have the freedom to open my heart to you, no matter what. Amen.

A P.S. from Mark

My book No Holds Barred: Wrestling With God in Prayer is based on the psalms. In this book, I let the Psalms teach us to pray with greater freedom, depth, and breadth.

READ Psalm 44:1-26

Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
Get up! Do not reject us forever.
Why do you look the other way?
Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?

Psalm 44:23-24

Back to Egypt?

Mark D. Roberts — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

For centuries the Israelites served as slaves in Egypt, until the Lord finally delivered them. He did not, however, take them to the Promised Land by the most direct route. Why make the trip more difficult by adding miles to what must have been a challenging journey? Because the shortest route passed through Philistine lands, and God knew that if the people encountered an army along the way, “they might change their minds and return to Egypt” (v. 17).

You might think this sounds ridiculous. Would the people actually go back to something so unfruitful as slavery in Egypt just because of potential conflict? Wouldn’t they trust that the God who brought them to that point would be faithful to protect them?

I’m sad to say that I completely understand God’s fear that the people would prefer the secure suffering of Egypt to the unknown of God’s promise. I have seen this sort of thing happen dozens of times in churches. For example, a church I knew felt called to reach out to their community in a new way. Church leaders spent months studying Scripture, discussing, seeking the Lord in prayer. They finally chose to lead their church in a new direction so as to reach out to their neighbors. Most of the congregation responded positively to this new initiative. But, predictably, some were negative, criticizing the leaders for messing around with “our church.” In response to this criticism, the leaders lost heart. They reversed ground and returned to where they had been before.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Have you ever experienced something like what I’ve just described in your church? What about in your personal life? Have you ever stepped out in faith, only to retreat when you faced unexpected challenges?

PRAYER: O Lord, your wisdom is seen so clearly in this story. But not just your wisdom. I also see the sad truth about human nature. How easily we lose heart when we face conflict and challenge. How readily we return to what is safe, even if we know that safety is far less than what you would have for us.

Forgive me, Lord, for all the times I have done this in my life. Forgive me for letting fear control my decisions, rather than faith.

In my personal life, help me, Lord, to trust you even and especially in difficult times. May I continue to press forward in faith, confident that you will prevail.

Help me also, dear Lord, as I seek to lead others, in my work, in my family, and in my church. May I lead with confidence, trusting you all the way. Amen.

READ Exodus 13:17-22

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”

Exodus 13:17

Making Faith Personal with Our Children

Mark D. Roberts — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

At several points in the story of the establishment of the Passover, children are mentioned specifically. Not only do they participate in the feast, but also they learn from this tradition the story of the Exodus.

Exodus 13:8 adds a personal dimension to the involvement of children in the Passover. In this verse, parents are instructed to tell, not just the story of Israel, but their own story as well. Each parent should explain to his or her child: “I am celebrating what the LORD did for me when I left Egypt.” Not us, but me, what the Lord did for me.

Of course, in a sense, only those parents who had actually been a part of the original Exodus could speak this way to their children. Yet I am impressed by the example of parental witness to children in this passage. I know many parents who talk about Christian ideas with their children, but feel uncomfortable sharing their own personal faith and experience of God with them. What these parents do is fine. But Exodus 13:8 encourages them to go a step further, and share their hearts with their children.

If you are a parent, this passage offers a direct challenge and encouragement to you to be more open about your personal faith with your children. But if you don’t have children, this text urges you to be candid about your relationship with God when you are with children in your extended family, or the children of your friends, or those you teach in Sunday School, or. . . . The next generation needs to hear from us, not only what we believe and why, but also how we know God’s love and grace in our lives.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: If you are a parent, do you ever share your personal faith with your children? What might encourage you to be more open about your relationship with God in the future?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I am struck today by your instruction to parents to tell their children how they personally experienced the Exodus. I must confess that I find it much easier to talk Christian theology with my children than to share with them my intimate relationship with you. I know many, many parents are just like me. So I ask you to help me, Lord, and so many others, to be more open about our experience of your grace. May we pass on to the next generation both the substance of the faith and our living relationship with you. Amen.

READ Exodus 13:1-16

“On the seventh day you must explain to your children, ‘I am celebrating what the LORD did for me when I left Egypt.' "

Exodus 13:8

A Long, Long Time

Mark D. Roberts — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

As we read the account of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, we come upon a comment that the Lord kept his promise by bringing his people out of the land after 430 years of captivity. Scholars debate the details, but the main point of the narrative is clear. The Lord was faithful and this faithfulness must be celebrated.

I believe this and can join in the celebration. But I must confess that 430 years seems like an awfully long time. It’s hard even for me to wrap my mind around so many years. Exactly 430 years ago today, the English sea captain Sir Francis Drake was exploring what we know today as the coast of California. That was almost thirty years before the founding of Jamestown in Virginia, and more than forty years before the Puritans landed in Plymouth. 430 years ago, almost everyone believed that the earth was the center of the universe. Galileo was only fifteen years old at the time, and wouldn’t get in trouble with the Church over his heliocentric views for thirty-seven years. 430 years ago, there were no pianos, telescopes, pencils, toilets, or mercury thermometers. 430 years is a long, long time.

I believe God is sovereign over history and that he is also gracious and merciful. He must have had good reasons for allowing his people to suffer in slavery for over four centuries. But I must confess that I find this puzzling. I am reminded today that God’s thoughts are nothing like mine (Isaiah 55:8), especially when it comes to the perception of time. As we read in Psalm 90:4: “For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.”

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you deal with the fact that God’s timetable is often not your own? What helps you to trust the Lord when his timing seems so very slow?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I know the point of this passage is the fact that you saved your people, miraculously delivering them from bondage in Egypt. Here I see a powerful image of your saving power, and in this I rejoice.

But, Lord, I must confess that I get tripped up by the 430 years part of the story. I think of all the people, generations upon generations, who languished in Egypt, who never had the slightest hope of being free. I wonder why you waited so long to act.

I don’t expect an answer, Lord. I know I don’t deserve one. You are God, and you know what you’re doing. Today, I just want to say that your timing can perplex me. Sometimes I wish you were easier to figure out. Amen.

READ Exodus 12:28-51

The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years.

Exodus 12:40

Remembering in the Family

Mark D. Roberts — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

One of the striking features of the Passover feast established in Exodus 12 is that it happens in the context of a family meal. This setting intentionally anticipates the presence of children and even their questions. In fact, the Passover Seder as practiced among Jews today includes a specific role for the youngest child, who asks: “Why is this night different from all other nights?”

Today, most Christians celebrate Communion in church, not at home. There are solid historical and theological reasons for this practice. But the earliest Christians, who didn’t have buildings set apart for their religious practices, received Communion in homes as part of a shared meal. I wonder sometimes how our sense of the Christian life would be changed if we shared the Lord’s Supper at home. What might happen in our family relationships? Would we be more forgiving to one another if we remembered together how God has forgiven us in Christ?

I am not suggesting that we Christians should stop receiving Communion in church gatherings. Nor am I saying that we should start having Communion at home. But I am asking us to think about how we might enrich our faith and our family life by engaging in spiritually powerful traditions. (Those who do not live with their biological families could develop such practices with their friends or small groups.)

For example, my family’s Thanksgiving traditions have been typically American: getting together for turkey, pumpkin pie, and watching football. None of this is wrong, of course (unless you count the sin of gluttony!). But, several years ago, we added to our traditions a time of going around the table and sharing what we’re thankful for. Such a simple addition to our Thanksgiving celebration has not only deepened our experience of God’s grace, but also drawn us together as a family. Our time of shared thanks is now my favorite part of Thanksgiving Day (well, except for the pumpkin pie).

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Do you have any family traditions that deepen your relationship with God and with your relatives? How might you and your family (or friendship group) share together in remembering God’s grace?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thanks for the example of family celebrations in this chapter. I’m encouraged by what I read to think of how better to feast upon your grace when I’m with my family and friends. Give us wisdom as we consider how better to share you together.

To you be all the glory! Amen.

READ Exodus 12:21-27

"Then your children will ask, ‘What does this ceremony mean?’ And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.' "

Exodus 12:26-27

Memorial Day, Part 2

Mark D. Roberts — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

In last Friday’s reflection on Exodus 12, I noted how striking it is that God wove together both the experience of the Passover and the formation of traditions to foster remembrance of what happened in Exodus. I suggested that we need traditions like this in our lives.

Of course, we who are Christians have one such tradition, which we call by various names: Communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, the Mass. This tradition was formulated by Jesus even as he was about to experience that which Communion signifies, a clear parallel to the establishment of the Passover feast in Exodus 12.

Moreover, the similarities between Communion and the Passover are numerous and essential. Even as Passover celebrates God as Savior, so Communion celebrates Jesus, God with us, as Savior. Even as the events of the Exodus included the death of firstborn sons, so Communion highlights the death of God’s own Son. Even as the shedding of blood allowed the Israelites to be spared the fate of the Egyptians, so the shedding of the blood of Jesus allows us to be spared from the fatal wages of our sin.

Of course these striking parallels also highlight profound differences between the Exodus and the death of Jesus. In Exodus, the firstborn sons of the Egyptians perished. On the cross, God’s very own firstborn Son died. The blood that protected the Israelites belonged to lambs or goats (12:3). The blood that leads to our forgiveness belonged to the Lamb of God, Jesus himself. Thus, in Communion, we remember how God set us free through the sacrifice of his Son, who freely chose to die so that we might live. Our Savior is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION: How does your experience of Communion refresh and deepen your faith?

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for establishing for us the traditions that help us to remember your death and its meaning.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, firstborn Son of God, for dying that I might live.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for shedding your own blood for my forgiveness.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being my Savior and my God! Amen.

READ Exodus 12:1-20

“This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the LORD. This is a law for all time.”

Exodus 12:14

Hope in God!

Mark D. Roberts — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

If Psalm 43 seems strangely familiar, that’s because it is the ending of the psalm we know as Psalm 42. This is clear from the themes as well as the exact echo of 42:11 in 43:5.

In Psalm 43, the writer continues his desperate cry for help even as he wonders why God has tossed him aside (v. 2). He anticipates going to the Temple in Jerusalem. At the altar of God, he will be refreshed by God’s presence (vv. 3-4). The psalm ends by repeating a previous refrain: “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (v. 5).

This translation misses a nuance of the original Hebrew. The verb translated here as “I will put my hope” is actually an imperative, meaning “Hope!” (yachal in the hiphil). So this verse allows us to listen in as the psalmist talks to himself (literally, his soul). He begins: “Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so sad?” But then he urges himself to redirect his thoughts and emotions: “Hope in God!” In this hope, he looks forward to the time when he will once again praise God his Savior.

Psalm 43:5 dramatizes the inner dialogue of faith. Discouragement and sadness are a normal part of our relationship with God. When we feel such emotions, we would do well to imitate the psalmist, reminding ourselves to put our hope in God. Biblical hope doesn’t deny the pain of the present. Nor is it wishful thinking. Rather, true hope is “in God,” in the one who is fully, and finally, reliable.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Have you ever had an inner dialogue like that of Psalm 43:5? What helps you to hope in God?

PRAYER: Gracious Lord, first of all, I thank you for the honesty and realism of this psalm. There are times in my relationship with you when I feel discouraged and downhearted. Thus I can relate to what the psalmist is feeling here, and I’m grateful for this connection.

Help me, dear Lord, to hope in you. When circumstances feel overwhelming, when I wonder how things will turn out, may I put my full confidence in you and you alone.

All praise be to you, O Lord, because you are my Hope, my Savior, my God. Amen.

READ Psalm 43:1-5

Why am I discouraged?
     Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
     I will praise him again—
     my Savior and my God!

Psalm 43:5