MARCH EDITION- 2019- Wonderful Words of Life...Blog...by Dr. Keith J. Wise
Introduction: March is an interesting month. This year on the weekend of the 9th and 10th we will turn our clocks "ahead" one hour. Daylight savings time. Winter here in the mid-west in 2019 has been especially brutal. I think more than a few of us are looking forward to spring. Hope your spiritual calendar is on pace as we daily seek to anticipate Resurrection Sunday April 21st. Keep looking up, it is the only way to go...
DIGGING DEEPER... A Continued Look at Matthew...Did He Have An Agenda?
The Gospel of Matthew provides an insight into one of the most interesting of the early Apostles and his writing. It appears he was well versed in the Hebrew Scriptures and his gospel is often called a "bridge gospel" from the Old Testament. His agenda appears to be a systematic rereading of the Hebrew Scriptures to demonstrate that Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets. Matthew the ultimate Proclaimer and Teacher of God's Kingdom and of God's ways through Christ Jesus the Lord. As we read Matthew we find him providing a litany of Biblical quotes in the most emphatic but Biblical fashion. We see the total of which amounts to some sixty references, with a wide selection of books. These range from Genesis, Deuteronomy, and Psalms, to Hosea, Isaiah,and Jeremiah to mention just a few. We might even note some countless allusions.
His favorite quotation formulas are: "...in order to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophets" (or: "by the prophet" Isaiah: 1:22;2:15,23:4:14;8:17;12:17;13:35;21:4;26:56), or "have you not read what David did...have you never read in the scriptures/in the law...?" (12:3,5;21:42). Undeniably, Matthew expects from his readers that they care a lot about understanding Scripture and about understanding Scripture and about making it alive in their community so as to confess its fulfillment in Jesus as the Christ. In short, Matthew is a Christian scribe searching the scriptures and inviting his own community to do the same exercise. In this fashion, Matthew's response to the resurrection in Matthew 28 verses 5 and following are simple, powerful and meaningful: "Do not be afraid..." "Come and See..." "Go and tell..." Beloved, much could be and is told by Matthew in his gospel, but these three directives speak volumes to the Jewish community and to the world, the community we call the Church.
DID YOU KNOW???
I subscribe to a great little magazine entitled Bible Study Magazine by Logos. It often has some great insights and backgrounds to enhance one's bible study of scholarly information for the scholar or teacher. In the March/April issue 2019 Dr. Craig Evans presents some fairly new bits of information for the teacher or student interested in Archaeology in the Biblical world. He subtitles these as "Recent Discoveries Sharpen Our View of the Ancient World." The golden crown of Archaeology is the acknowledgement of personalities, kings, and geographic places from scripture that are verified in tangible pieces of remains that confirm many such people lived and existed. Dr. Evans lists several that are interesting and I thought I would list some of these in my blog. He noted last year a clay seal(called a bulla) that read "Isaiah the prophet." Two years earlier another seal had been found near this one which reads "Hezekiah." He was the king of Judah and they were contemporaries.(see in books of Isaiah and II Kings) Evans goes on to note portion of an inscription on a limestone column in which was inscribed the name "Jerusalem," fully spelled out in Aramaic as Yerushalayim. This first century B.C. inscription gives the word Jerusalem validity since it rarely has had verification in that geographic area. As we see these pieces unfold through the efforts of dedicated Archaeologist, new light and interest are placed on the world of the Bible.
NUGGETS OF NOURISHMENT... A Sermon on "Preparation" from Psalm 141
Text: Psalm 141
Introduction: As we move into spring, and the chill of winter subsides, we graciously look to the future in preparation. Many of us who were boy scouts remember their standard motto, "Be Prepared." All of us are called on to be prepared physically, mentally and morally for the hazards we all must face in life as we look to our heavenly home. There are some great recommendations from the Psalmist in terms of a preparation as we each know we will face crisis of many kinds like King David the author of Psalm 141. This Psalm is a prayer!
A. I Will Turn to God...First. (vss. 1-2)
This is the Psalmist David speaking and indicates this should be our first reaction when crisis come. Question: What is your default mode? We all have one when plan "A" doesn't work. Usually our plan A is of our own devices, and as the old hymn says, "the arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own" has been all of our tendencies. The worldly response when crisis comes and events are not working out is to get angry, swear, worry or withdrawal. Let God through Christ Jesus be your every button not just your default response. Illust: Joseph Scriven, an Irish gentleman from Dublin explained his journey to God being his fist and final default. The day before his wedding, his fiance was drowned in a swimming accident and he soon migrated to Canada. Years later, when news came concerning the illness of his mother he scribbled the words to the poem "What A Friend We Have In Jesus."
B. I Will Ask God to Post a Guard. (vss. 3-4)
How many of us need this prayer as we begin our day? Look at verse 3: "In the morning, O Lord you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my request before you and wait in expectation." Before this it was not that "he" put the guard over his lips, but that "God" put the guard to protect him. He wanted the evening "sacrifices" to be view. vs.2. (these started at 3:00 pm our time.) David also talks about the morning sacrifices in Psalm 5. If you want to study more about this, go to Exodus 29:38-42. These sacrifices took Time, Energy, and were often Costly. In reflection Psalm 141 is a templet for prayer. In reality, our prayer lives become what our hearts speak through our mouths. C.S. Lewis said: "All mortals tend to turn into the things they are pretending to be." Let me pray with MY MOUTH, MY LIPS AND MY HEART!!
C. I Will Welcome Criticism or Reproof. (vs.5)
Read and note the following Scriptures from Proverbs...very informative and spiritually helpful- Proverbs: 9:9; 15:5; 17:10; 25:12; 27:6- This will help you get your mind around such a directive from David. It comes from a well of resources.
D. I Will Let God Judge My Enemies. (vss. 6-7)
Since this Psalm is a prayer, let prayer be our only weapon against our enemies.
E. I Will Keep My Focus on God. (vss.8-10)
Consider the "snares," "traps," and "nets" that others lay before us.
CONCLUSION: With a prayer like this from the mind of King David and the inspiration of the the Holy Spirit, let us come to an application for a practical life-style. This Psalm can be a blessing to you and to everyone who will apply these systems of truth.
IV. QUOTABLE QUOTES... Something to Think About...
1. Here is a story about Hecklers from the life of Benjamin Franklin-
With his sagacity and wit, Franklin was a man who thoroughly enjoyed trimming hecklers down to size. During the early days of the American Republic, he spoke many times on the great document, the Constitution of the United States. After one such stirring speech an uncouth fellow rose and boldly walked a few paces toward the platform. "Aw, them words don't mean nothin' a-tall!" he shouted at Franklin. "Where's all that happiness you say it guarantees us?"
Franklin smiled benevolently at the questioner, and quickly, blandly, Old Ben replied, "My friend, the Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself!
2. We live in the present, dream of the future, and learn wisdom from the past.
3. Strike while the iron is hot because it is little use to hammer cold metal.
POEM: A LIGHTHOUSE
Let me so live that I may be
A lighthouse standing by life's sea.
When storm clouds sweep across the skies,
Let me light hope in weary eyes.
When stars blink out, and wild winds blow,
Let me show men the way to go.
When faith grows weak, and hope is lost,
Lord, let me guide the tempest-tossed.
Let me so live that I may be
A lighthouse by life's troubled sea. (Anon.)
