Devotions

20230514

ritual or righteousness

Psalm 105:43-45 (JDV)

Psalm 105:43 He brought his people out with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy.
Psalm 105:44 He gave them the lands of the nations, and they inherited what other peoples had worked for.
Psalm 105:45 All this happened so that they might keep his prescriptions and obey his instructions. Praise Yah!

God miraculously provided rescue and blessing for his people so that they could honor him by obeying his commands. The problem was, they decided to obey only some of his commands — the rituals — while disregarding the moral commands. Humphreys gives this example: “that is where the problems arose, for it was easy for the people to slip into ritualism and ignore the moral commands. That is, they often ignored the moral commands but carefully observed the sacrifices which the Lord had provided for the cleansing of sins. This meant, for example, that a powerful man could steal a defenseless widow’s land and add it to his own, then use her as a servant, and then offer a large sin offering to cover his sin. This kind of practice occurred frequently in Israel during the time of the divided kingdom” (27).

Modern-day evangelicals are not immune to the temptation to substitute ritual for righteousness. We need to be all in with God. If we say he has saved us by his grace, then we need to respond to that grace by obedience to the commands of his Son. After all, he is our king.

Humphreys Fisher. The Nature of God. Broadman Press 1985.

20230512

the missing step

Psalm 105:37-38 (JDV)

Psalm 105:37 Then he brought Israel out with silver and gold, and no one among his tribes stumbled.
Psalm 105:38 Egypt was glad when they left because the dread of Israel had fallen on them.

Some theologians today will gladly point to this passage as proof of their view that God’s people will get both prosperity and power by exercising their faith. But such thinking is missing a step — an all-important step. The Israelites did gain both silver and gold, and the fear of the Egyptians. Yet they gained these blessings not because they claimed a promise by faith, but because they obeyed Moses and did what God wanted them to do.

If we follow God in obedience, he will take us where he wants us to go, and supply our needs as we walk. Prosperity without obedience is not following God.

20230511

God or Pharaoh?

Psalm 105:26-36 (JDV)

Psalm 105:26 He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
Psalm 105:27 They performed his miraculous signs among them, and miracles in the land of Ham.
Psalm 105:28 He sent darkness, and it became dark – and they did not defy his commands.
Psalm 105:29 He turned their water into blood and caused their fish to die.
Psalm 105:30 Their land was overrun with frogs, even in their royal bedrooms.
Psalm 105:31 He spoke, and insects came – gnats throughout their country.
Psalm 105:32 He gave them hail for rain, and lightning throughout their land.
Psalm 105:33 He attacked their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their territory.
Psalm 105:34 He spoke, and locusts came – young locusts without number.
Psalm 105:35 They devoured all the vegetation in their land and consumed the produce of their land.
Psalm 105:36 He attacked all the firstborn in their land, all their first progeny.

If you read this text in various translations, you will find a good deal of difference in how verse 28 is rendered. It is not clear who the “they” represents in that verse. I have the “they” agreeing with the “they” in the previous verse, a reference to the obedience of Moses and Aaron — in contrast with the disobedience and rebellion of the Egyptians.

The reason Moses and Aaron were able to perform the miraculous signs is that they had chosen not to defy God’s commands, even if that meant going against the wishes of Pharaoh.

Our challenge today is to trust God and stand against the will of a world which is choosing to disobey him. If we dare to take our stand, God’s power will be available to vindicate us. If we choose to do nothing, we are siding with Pharaoh.