A God of Second Chances

So, I'm not really sure why, but this has been on my mind today -- that God is a God of second chances. I imagine that this phrase has been thrown out many a time before, and I'm not trying to copy it if it has been...I just want to elaborate a little on my thoughts, because isn't that what a blog is for?

From The Pilgrim's Progress: I am about to finish this book finally. I read through the first part (in Old English) when I was in college and never finished it...we studied the first part of the book in our Monday night Bible study a few months ago, but didn't finish it, but now I'm about to finish the second part -- and I can't help but be reminded about the nature of God when I read about Christiana (Christian's wife) and her journey. From the beginning of the book, this is what we read about her: "His family members were deeply troubled at this declaration, not because they believed what he told them but because they thought some form of insanity had gotten into his head." If you haven't read the book, you may be lost, but let me fill you in very quickly. The main character, Christian, is moved by God to go forth on a Christian pilgrimage, and his family (including his wife Christiana) is anything but encouraging, choosing not to go along but to mock him instead. The entire second part of the book is about Christiana's pilgrimage, as she got a second chance. She became convicted of her sin and how she deprived her children of a pilgrim's life and chose a Christian's life as well, following the example of her husband. Soon after changing her mind, Christiana busts out this line,"God, have mercy on me, a sinner." And God did. Great book, the best fictional book ever in my opinion.

From the Bible: Oh, man, where to start? Adam & Eve definitely got a second chance, as they messed things up for us all yet were still given mercy. Moses was a murderer yet was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel. Gideon fought was one of God's most miraculous battles but questioned and challenged God when his calling came. David was an adulterer and a murderer yet but was still chosen to produce a family line to Christ. Oh dear, and how many second chances did Israel get?? God's mercy and patience with his people is amazing. It's amazing he hasn't wiped us all out and started over. The scene with Jesus and the woman caught in adultery is one of my favorites...Christ telling her that he nor anyone condemns her and challenges her to a pure life from that point on. Paul, another murderer, is chosen by God to do mighty things in the name he at one timed scorned. I can go on and on, but I won't. And then there's me... A self-righteous and proud young man goes into college, ready to set the world on fire with all that he could do (on his own), gets confronted with the fact that life is to be lived for something bigger than self, and that boy was given a second chance on life -- to be a self-righteous proud man who hates that he is, grateful only to God for anything good that may come out of him. I'm thankful that God hands out second chances, for I wasted a million talents for 19 years and used them for self.

SONG SPOTLIGHT: "Walls and Tall Shadows"

Song Title: Walls and Tall Shadows
Artist: Waterdeep
Album: Everyone's Beautiful
Writer: Lori Chafer

Carrie was stretching out on the harbor
She was just trying to let it all go
Down came the rain and waves and thoughts of her father
Down came the old black hole

Carrie, don’t go down there
We all know it’s not fair
Even parents can lie
Carrie, don’t close your eyes
And give way to the lies
That tell you you’re all alone

Ruby came home from the store with a bottle
All of her dreams had been locked up inside
Since she was fourteen, she’d let out the throttle
And choked out her life

Ruby, don’t look that way
You could start again today
You know your real Daddy smiles and smiles
Ruby, you know it’s great-
Who you are- it’s not too late
You’re a child of the King

Kelly’s been living under walls and tall shadows
She never lifted a finger to build
As for the sun well she can’t seem to handle
That it brings to light to all she’s killed

Kelly, don’t look that way
It’s time to come out and play
I know a safe sun to play in
Kelly, you look so frail
Like you’ve been in a jail
Pretty soon you will strengthen

Why this song: Once again, the lyrics alone can't do the song justice. Another great tune from Waterdeep. I think of this song as the song of second chances. To be honest, I didn't like it at first, but I think that the key to a good song is one that when you hear it over and over again, it's gets better and not old. I love it now and probably always will, as long as I still hold in my head that God is a God of second chances -- and I got one too.

Why I like it: I'm not totally sure. I don't really relate to the characters: Carrie, Ruby, or Kelly. Of course, I'm not a woman and am actually quite fond of my dad. But since I probably watch too much television, I am reminded all too often that there are a lot of young people out there that have it rough -- and whether or not they brought it on themselves or may be able to blame society or even their parents isn't really what's important. What's important is that the King of the Universe stands even today offering a second chance and a place in the royal family to anyone who believes on the Son. It's mind-blowing really. In our world, one must be born into royalty; it's not something given away freely at the cost of the prince's life.

Related Scripture: Romans 8:13-15, John 1:11-13

Favorite Line: " Who you are- it’s not too late, You’re a child of the King" -- Of course, I don't really believe that everyone can really go around claiming to be a child of the King without good reason -- but the invitation is there, and it's not too late. What this song does a good job in communicating is that it doesn't matter who you are, what you have done, or even what you haven't done, you can still be a child of the King. Just like Jesus said in Mark 2:17 -- "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Hymn Spotlight: "Rock of Ages (When the Day Seems Long)"

Song Title: Rock of Ages (When the Day Seems Long)
Artist: Sandra McCracken
Album: The Builder and the Architect
Writer: Sandra McCracken

Rock of Ages, when the day seems long
From this labor and this heartache I have come.
The skies will wear out, but You remain the same
Rock of Ages, I praise Your name.

Rock of Ages, You have brought me near.
You have poured out Your life-blood, Your love, Your tears
To make this stone heart come alive again.
Rock of Ages, forgive my sin.

Rock of Ages, when in want or rest
My desperate need for such a Savior I confess
Pull these idols out from my heart embrace.
Rock of Ages, I need Your grace.

Rock of Ages, broken, scorned for me,
Who am I that You would die to make me free?
To give me glory, You took the death and pain
Rock of Ages, my offering.

Rock of Ages, "It is done," You cried
The curtain's torn and I see justice satisfied.
Now write Your mercy here on my heart and hands
Rock of Ages, in faith I stand.

Rock of Ages, my great hope secure,
Your promise holds just like an anchor to my soul.
Bind your children with cords of love and grace.
Rock of Ages, we give You praise.

Chorus:

Rock of Ages, Rock of Ages
Bind your children til' your kingdom comes
Rock of Ages, Your will be done.

Audio Sample: Here

Why this hymn: If you notice the words, you'll see soon that this isn't the "Rock of Ages" song you grew up singing in church (though that too is a good hymn). Recently written by Sandra McCracken, this is definitely one of my favorite hymns -- and it appears on my absolute favorite CD -- "The Builder and the Architect." My feeble words cannot express how great this album is. The CD is not really even mine, as my sister got it for my wife for Christmas in '05. I remember the first couple of times I listened to the CD, I didn't make it to the last song. I didn't know what I was missing. The lyrics alone don't do it justice, as I love how Sandra sings. I will probably do a hymn spotlight on half the songs on this CD eventually.

Why I like it: Five minutes and thirty-six seconds of listening bliss. There's something about hearing the words "when the day seems long" in the first line or two of a song that grabs my attention, because I heard this song for the first time while I was at work on a long day indeed. And at first the sound, it captured me, and then it broke me when the fourth stanza rang out. I know one day I sat and listened to the song for over an hour straight, which doesn't exactly answer the 'why I like it' heading for this paragraph, but maybe you get me anyway. I guess what I like best is how much this song seems to glorify Christ -- it starts by the the heavy-laden sinner coming to Christ for comfort, while the middle is packed with confession and adoration along with a story of sacrifice, all while the sinner announces a desire for God's will to be done, and at the end, this saved sinner rests on the fact that God's love and grace is what really keeps us secure. Christ is our surety. Amen to that.

Related Scripture: Hebrews 13:8, Hebrews 1:1-10, Mark 15:37-39

Favorite Line: "Rock of Ages, my offering" -- Really, my favorite part is the whole 4th stanza: "Rock of Ages, broken, scorned for me, Who am I that You would die to make me free? To give me glory, You took the death and pain, Rock of Ages, my offering." Now, even after hearing the song probably more than 100 times, I have a hard time holding back the tears when fully engaged in listening to this song. In the Old Testament, innocent animals had to be slain so that their blood would temporarily pay for the sin of the people, but Christ as God himself had to be slain so that his blood would forever pay for the sin of all who believe in Him. God had no other choice, for 'without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness." And then it hits me. It wasn't just that Christ's blood was shed for all my sins, but in doing so, Christ had to be separated from the Father when wearing the coat of my sin -- and somehow I still have the rottenness in me to despise it all and sin some more. This breaks me. I like songs that break me.

October 27th - "The Due Date"

October 27th, 2006: As you may or may not know (and you probably don't), I was supposed to be a dad tomorrow. I discovered in late February that my lovely wife Whitney was pregnant, which was certainly welcome news, as we had been working on it since October of the previous year. Young couples often don't really know how easy or hard it will be for them to have a child until they try. "Well, that wasn't hard," I thought to myself. We did some handy calculations and confirmed that our due date of our first child was to be October 27th, 2006.

The Scene: So, a couple of weeks went by, and we were definitely sure Whitney was pregnant. Being the engineer that I am, I had her use three different brands of pregnancy tests at three different times of day, and when they all came out positive, I was convinced at last. It was soon time to go in for our first ultrasound appointment (and my first trip to the OBGYN). It was certainly an interesting experience. Finally, the time came for us to see what God had made inside of Whitney on the ultrasound. And there he/she was -- a little nugget of a boy -- or girl! Little did I know that something wasn't right. I sat there and just stared in awe as the doctor kept measuring the baby over and over again on the screen. Then the doctor says in a timid voice, "What I'm not hearing is a heartbeat." "Maybe you should turn the volume up," I think to myself. And then it hit me as I looked into the faces of all the women in the room. Our baby's heart isn't beating. He/she is only 8 or 9 weeks old, but might have only made it to 7. In a whirlwind of emotion, the next thing I know is that we're scheduling a surgery for Whitney to "clear the contents." In a period of 5 minutes I go from seeing proof of my first baby to hearing the same proof being referred to as "contents." I hold back the tears the best I could, and we finally and mercifully leave the hospital several mintues later.

Thoughts: So, believing in a God who is in control of all things, even the suffering of his own, I immediately had the thought go through my head that God took my baby away -- but not in an accusing tone or even in a questioning tone, but more like what Job went through when he said, "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." Then I think stupid things such as "perhaps I'm being punished for something I've done -- no, Eric, Jesus was punished for your sins, God wouldn't do that" or "did I do something wrong to hurt the child?" Pointless thoughts. And not profitable. God is in control and works all things for my sanctification, so that is what is being done. And then it hit me as we drove home... That song! That song makes sense now!
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HYMN SPOTLIGHT: "Sometimes A Light Surprises"

Song Title: "Sometimes A Light Surprises"
Artist: Indelible Grace, Lead Vocal: Derek Webb
Album: Pilgrim Days
Writer: William Cowper

Sometimes a light surprises, The Christian while he sings
It is the Lord who rises, With healing in His wings
When comforts are declining, He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining, To cheer it after rain

In holy contemplation, We sweetly then pursue
The theme of Gods salvation, And find it ever new
Set free from present sorrow, We cheerfully can say
Let the unknown tomorrow, Bring with it what it may

Tomorrow can bring us nothing, But He will bear us through
Who gives the lilies clothing, Will clothe His people too
Beneath the spreading heavens, No creature but is fed
And He who feeds the ravens, Will give His children bread

Though vine nor fig-tree neither,
Their wonted fruit should bear
Though all the fields should wither,
Nor flocks or herds be there
Yet God the same abiding, His praise shall tune my voice
For while in Him confiding, I cannot but rejoice!
For while in Him confiding, I cannot but rejoice!

Why this hymn: Not only does this song speak to suffering, but rejoicing in suffering because we know a God who is full of provision, and when we really think of what we've been given in life through Christ, we have no choice but to rejoice. After the miscarriage, I listened to this song probably around 300 times in a two week period -- and probably 100 times since. No joke. It became my favorite song and may always be. I can think of no better song to relate this painful experience to.

Why I like it: Well, it doesn't hurt that Derek Webb is the lead singer of the particular song I listened to, since he is one of favorites, and it certainly doesn't hurt that the song was written by William Cowper, who also wrote "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood" among other great ones. I became familiar with Cowper through John Piper's "The Hidden Smile of God." I love the wealth of scripture in this song. I love it that it deals with suffering but overcomes it in each stanza. And when in a period of suffering, I think the best medicine may be a reason to rejoice.

Related Scripture: Matthew 6 :25-34, Jeremiah 5:16-18, Habakkuk 3:17-18

Favorite Line: "For while in Him confiding, I cannot but rejoice!" I can't help myself. Each time the song comes to this point, I want to yell it (also because I can't sing). It's truly the pinnacle of realization of all things considered: what God provides, how faithful God is, what I've been saved from, what it cost to save me, etc. Time for rejoicing indeed.
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Moving On: I'm not really sure "moving on" is the best title of this paragraph, but whatever. You can't really move on, but we took some steps. We named our child that never made it past 7 weeks "Deron" after my favorite basketball player Deron Williams. He too left a little early, going pro after his junior year at Illinois, and he now plays for the Utah Jazz. It may sound weird, but I can't see him without thinking of his great performance on Easter Eve, 2004 -- and the joy that it brings me. Whitney never liked the name "Deron," but it fits this situation -- as we found out that the name means "belongs to God." Yes indeed.

Present Day: Well, now I have about a half hour or so until 2006 OCT 27 is here. I still have random times when I am saddened about that tough March day and simply cry. Sometimes it last seconds, sometimes minutes. And each time I see a baby now I weep some on the inside and hold it in. And believe me, I see a lot of them. But God is good. He will give us a child if he deems it best, and the day will come in tune with his perfect timing. I have a feeling that our day may come sooner rather than later. We'll see.

For Parents: If you are a parent, don't take it for granted. One day I hope to be able to read this book I bought - "The Duties of Parents" by J.C. Ryle. Here are some duties you have if you have children:

1.) First, then, if you would train your children rightly, train them in the way they should go, and not in the way they would.
2.) Train up your child with all tenderness, affection, and patience.
3.) Train your children with an abiding persuasion on your mind that much depends on you.
4.) Train with this thought continually before your eyes -- that the soul of your child is the first thing to be considered.
5.) Train your child to a knowledge of the Bible.
6.) Train them to a habit of prayer.
7.) Train them to habits of diligence, and regularity about public means of grace.
8.) Train them to a habit of faith.
9.) Train them to a habit of obedience.
10.) Train them to a habit of always speaking the truth.
11.) Train them to a habit of always redeeming the time.
12.) Train them with a constant fear of over-indulgence.
13.) Train them remembering continually how God trains his children.
14.) Train them remembering continually the influence of your own example.
15.) Train them remembering continually the power of sin.
16.) Train them remembering continually the promises of Scripture.
17.) Train them, lastly, with continual prayer for a blessing on all you do.

Suffering & the Sovereignty of God - Chapter 1

Chapter Title: "Suffering and the Sovereignty of God: Ten Aspects of God's Sovereignty Over Suffering and Satan's Hand in It"

Author: John Piper

Intro: So the adventure begins -- and what a treat it should be -- going through this interesting book on our sufferings and God's part in it all. And those who wrote the book have gone through much suffering, so it's real. The first chapter starts the book off with a bang, using several examples from the Bible of how God is in complete control of what happens on his earth. Satan may be the "ruler of this world," but he can only do what God allows. God is sovereign. Satan is not. That is the main point of this chapter. My guess is that the main purpose in beginning the book this way is to eliminate the false view that when bad things happen to people, even 'good' people, then Satan is to blame, and God wouldn't have anything to do with it. Well, to the contrary, the fall of man is to blame, and God allows whatever he deems best. And yes, he gets to decide what is best. Our lives are not about us and us alone. We are here to glorify God -- because he demands it. Join me in bowing down and accepting that.

A Different Top 10 List: Well, the chapter title pretty much demands that I list out the ten aspects in view:

1.) Let us celebrate that God is sovereign over Satan's delegated world rule.
2.) Let us celebrate that God is sovereign over Satan's angels (demons, evil spirits).
3.) Let us celebrate that God is sovereign over Satan's hand in persecution.
4.) Let us celebrate that God is sovereign over Satan's life-taking power.
5.) Let us celebrate that God is sovereign over Satan's hand in natural disasters.
6.) Let us celebrate that God is sovereign over Satan's sickness-causing power.
7.) Let us celebrate that God is sovereign over Satan's use of animals and plants.
8.) Let us celebrate that God is sovereign over Satan's temptations to sin.
9.) Let us celebrate that God is sovereign over Satan's mind-blinding power.
10.) Let us celebrate that God is sovereign over Satan's spiritual bondage.

Bold Statements Above: Yeah, so those are some really bold statements above. Perhaps I should give a short summary of each and some Scripture to back them up.

1.) Bottom Line: God is in control of who the world leaders are. He puts them in power, can take them out of power, and in essence has them all on a leash that cannot escape the bounds of his sovereign will. Scriptures: Daniel 2:20-21, Daniel 4:17, Proverbs 21:1, Psalm 33:10-11

2.) Bottom Line: Spiritual warfare is real. Satan's demons have a lot of power and do a lot of damage here on earth, but even they cannot escape God's control and must obey him if called. Scriptures: Daniel 10:13, Matthew 8:29-32, Mark 1:27

3.) Bottom Line: Satan may use evil people to persecute Christians (or even Christ himself), sometimes even to the point of death, but God wills that sort of suffering for our good. Scriptures: 1 Peter 3:17, Luke 22:52-53, John 10:18

4.) Bottom Line: Satan is a murderer, but God is in control of life and death. Scriptures: John 8:44, Duet. 32:39, James 4:13-16

5.) Bottom Line: Satan approached God in Job, which led to two natural disasters, but Satan had to approach God because he didn't have the power to do it himself; only God did. Scriptures: Job 1:11-21, Job 37:10-14, James 5:11, Mark 4:39

6.) Bottom Line: Satan may oppress us with sickness, but God is the one who allows it and can heal it. Scriptures: Luke 13:16, Job 2:7-10, Job 42:11, Exodus 4:11

7.) Bottom Line: Plants of animals of this world can certainly cause us suffering, but they too must obey God. Scriptures: 1 Peter 5:8, Jonah 1:17, Jonah 2:10, Jonah 4:6-7

8.) Bottom Line: Satan is definitely an evil tempter and loves when we sin, but through the power of God, we can be delivered. Scriptures: Luke 22:3-4, Acts 1:16, Acts 2:23, Luke 22:31-32

9.) Bottom Line: Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers, but God has the power to give us light. Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 4:4-6, Ephesians 2:5

10.) Bottom Line: Satan has many captives to sin, but God can deliver us. Scriptures: 2 Timothy 2:24-26, Romans 8:31-37

Favorite Quote: "The church has not been spending its energy to go deep with the unfathomable God of the Bible. Against the overwhelming weight and seriousness of the Bible, much of the church is choosing, at this very moment, to become more light and shallow and entertainment-oriented, and therefore successful in its irrelevance to massive suffering and evil. The popular God of fun-church is simply too small and too affable to hold a hurricane in his hand. The biblical categories of God's sovereignty lie like land mines in the pages of the Bible waiting for someone to seroiusly open the book. They don't kill, but they do explode trivial notions of the Almighty."

Hymn Spotlight: "Come, Ye Sinners"

Song Title: Come, Ye Sinners
Artist: Matthew Smith
Album: Even When My Heart is Breaking
Writer: Joseph Hart

Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus, ready, stands to save you,
Full of pity, joined with power.
He is able, He is able;
He is willing; doubt no more.

Come ye needy, come, and welcome,
God's free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.
Without money, without money
Come to Jesus Christ and buy.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Bruised and broken by the fall;
If you tarry 'til you're better,
You will never come at all.
Not the righteous, not the righteous;
Sinners Jesus came to call.

Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.
This He gives you, this He gives you,
'Tis the Spirit's rising beam.

Lo! The Incarnate God, ascended;
Pleads the merit of His blood.
Venture on Him; venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude.
None but Jesus, none but Jesus
Can do helpless sinners good.

Why this hymn: Well, this could have easily been chosen for the blog theme hymn, but it's too obvious. Like I've said before, when I can find a hymn to match the other things I'm writing about, I will, and I believe this wonderful hymn fits the below discussion on Matthew 11:28-29 very well. I had the pleasure of singing this song in church Sunday, and I've been thinking of it since. I really took a liking to this song when Matthew Smith put a version on his first solo CD, "Even When My Heart is Breaking." Matthew actually sang this song at our church a month or two ago when he led the worship back-to-back weeks. Man, I really enjoyed that.

Why I like it: There is so much meat in each stanza...I just don't know where to start. We have an invitation, a picture of a Jesus who is ready to save, and a constant reminder that Jesus wants us to come just as we are, and not only is he the only one who can save our wretched souls, but it is necessary that we do indeed come to him -- and we should do it now! I think what I like best is how the words humble the one singing it...it's almost impossible I'd say to be singing this song fully engaged without seeing yourself as a wretched sinner in need of God's grace and mercy.

Related Scripture: Matthew 11:28-29, Matthew 9:11-13

Favorite Line: " If you tarry 'til you're better, You will never come at all." Isn't this the truth? I think this line can work for both Christian and non-Christian alike. As a Christian, I know there have been times in my life in which sin has plagued me (and there will be more, probably tomorrow), and if I try to fix it by making myself better - on my own - then I will struggle for a long time and never get better. I have to go to God for help in overcoming sin. And for the non-Christian, there is no need to clean yourself before you take a shower, just as there is no need to try and make yourself good enough to be washed new by Christ -- because the sad truth is that we haven't the ability to help ourselves. I guess there's an old saying that 'God helps those who help themselves,' but I'm here to say that God helps those who admit they can't help themselves.

More on the Blog Theme

In Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

I wanted to throw these comments down before I forget to -- sometimes the old guys say it best -- here's a brief excerpt from J.C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels concerning this passage:

"Mark what a simple request Jesus makes to the laboring and heavy-laden ones. 'Come unto me: Take my yoke upon you, learn of me.' He interposes no hard conditions. He speaks nothing of works to be done first, and deservingness of His gifts to be established. He only asks us to come to Him just as we are, with all our sins, and to submit ourselves like little children to His teaching. 'Go not,' He seems to say, 'to man for relief. Wait not for help to arise from any other quarter. Just as you are, this very day, come to me.'"

Note especially that Jesus does not speak of works to be done before coming to him. Christ is not as much concerned with what your works are until you are his. Notice how God gave his law to his chosen people, Israel (after he chose them as a nation). Notice how Christ tells the adulterous woman to leave her life of sin after he had already told her that he had forgiven her. This should go without saying that what we do after professing Christ is very important. What we do is evidence of a changed heart -- and without the evidence of fruitful perseverence, then we should question whether we were really his to begin with. To all who may stumble upon these few words who don't have this rest Christ speaks of, I simply ask you to quite simply go to him just as you are.

Let Me Take You Through -- "Suffering & the Sovereignty of God"

Alright, so I received a couple of new books in the mail yesterday: "Suffering and the Sovereignty of God," edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor and "What Jesus Demands from the World" by John Piper. I sort of have a rule about books because I've been burned in the past: don't start a new book until you finish the one you're on. Well I'm going to break it. Even though I'm currently reading "Elijah" by A.W. Pink, I'm going to start the book you see pictured for this blog. Periodically, I will go through this book on this blog, writing about whatever impacts me as I read. I think you and I will find this book to be right in line to other things I post about in the near future, from songs & hymns that deal with this subject, my own personal experiences, and some scriptures as well. In fact, the book addresses the 1 Kings 22 situation described a few days earier in its second chapter -- and other similar Biblical moments.

Book Description from Desiring God: In the last few years, 9/11, a tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and many other tragedies have shown us that the vision of God in today’s churches in relation to evil and suffering is often frivolous. Against the overwhelming weight and seriousness of the Bible, many Christians are choosing to become more shallow, more entertainment-oriented, and therefore irrelevant in the face of massive suffering.

In Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, contributors John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, Steve Saint, Carl Ellis, David Powlison, Dustin Shramek, and Mark Talbot explore the many categories of God’s sovereignty as evidenced in his Word. They urge readers to look to Christ, even in suffering, to find the greatest confidence, deepest comfort, and sweetest fellowship they have ever known.

Topics Addressed: The Sovereignty of God in Suffering (What is Satan's hand in it? Where is God when others hurt us?), The Purposes of God in Suffering (Why did Christ have to suffer? Why does God appoint suffering for his servants? What about suffering in missions? How can God allow ethnic-based suffering?), The Grace of God in Suffering (Where is God's grace in all of this? What about joy after weeping? What about hope?)

Hymn Spotlight: "Whate'er My God Ordains is Right"

Song Title: Whate'er My God Ordains is Right
Artist: Indelible Grace; Vocals: Matthew Perryman Jones
Album: Indelible Grace
Writer: Samuel Rodigast

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
His holy will abideth;
I will be still whate’er He doth;
And follow where He guideth;
He is my God; though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall:
Wherefore to Him I leave it all.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
He never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path:
I know He will not leave me.
I take, content, what He hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away,
And patiently I wait His day.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
His loving thought attends me;
No poison can be in the cup
That my Physician sends me.
My God is true; each morn anew
I’ll trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
He is my Friend and Father;
He suffers naught to do me harm,
Though many storms may gather,
Now I may know both joy and woe,
Some day I shall see clearly
That He hath loved me dearly.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Though now this cup, in drinking,
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it, all unshrinking.
My God is true; each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
And pain and sorrow shall depart.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet I am not forsaken.
My Father’s care is round me there;
He holds me that I shall not fall:
And so to Him I leave it all.

Why this hymn: Well, whenever I can, I'm going to try and match up the hymn and song spotlights with something else on the blog -- at least until I run out. Anyway, because of the discussion below on 1 Kings 22, I thought this would be a perfect time to spotlight this wonderful hymn as I thought of it often when pondering 1 Kings 22. To think, if it is true that whatever God ordains is right, and I certainly believe that it is, this truth can transform our thinking on many things: suffering, hardships, joys, how we interpret the Bible, etc. I know that I would hate to live in a world in which the one who controls it can do wrong.

Why I like it: First of all, I'm a big fan of what Indelible Grace is doing. Putting new music to new hymns and making them available is wonderful. I've been blessed so much to be able to listen to such wonderful music. The lead vocalist for this song on the first Indelible Grace CD is Matthew Perryman Jones, who I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of months ago, along with his wife Meghan. They really seem like great people, and Matthew is quite the singer. His new solo CD is pretty good, not hymns, but that's ok sometimes too. Anyway, what I love the most about this song is the powerful lyrics, written in 1676. It is quite often that a passage in the Bible or a circumstance in my life or a tragedy in the world makes people ponder on God and his role in all of it. Some may say God doesn't have a role in any of it, and some say God only has a role in the good things not the tragedies. But the Bible says that God has a hand in all of it and nothing happens without him allowing it. What this song brings out the most is that even in the toughest of times, God is behind it all and will not forsake those who are his.

Related Scripture: Genesis 45:5-7, Genesis 50:20

Favorite Line: "Whate’er my God ordains is right: Here shall my stand be taken; Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, Yet I am not forsaken." Those are some powerful words. I do think that a stand needs to be taken on this point, or one's faith may fail during the rocky or confusing times...and more than anything, know that God will work all things for his glory and will not forsake his own (unless you count Jesus, but yeah, that had to be done or we couldn't even have a relationship with God in the first place).

Response to 1 Kings 22: Yeah, that passage sure can be confusing, but if you believe the words in this song, your starting point becomes a whole lot easier in understanding things.

Investigation of 1 Kings 22

Introduction: The Monday night Bible study I'm a part of is nearing completion of our study of 1 Kings. The study wasn't as in depth as some, but some serious discussion was generated going 2 chapters at a time, seeing there was much more than simple history going on in 1 Kings -- as this particular Old Testament book has many relative themes including the importance of Godly leaders, the sovereignty of God, and the accountability of human obedience. Anyway, the last chapter, chapter 22, had an interesting passage that got us talking for quite some time. I thought I would take a deeper look to see what some famous commentaries had to say on the matter.

The Whole Chapter

1 Kings 22:19-23 - "And Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; and the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, 'I will entice him.' And the LORD said to him, 'By what means?' And he said, 'I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.' Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the LORD has declared disaster for you."

Key Background Info: Ahab was the King of Israel at this time, a very evil king at that. His latest evil involved allowing his wife (Jezebel) to basically plot a murder against a man named Naboth simply to gain a vineyard that Ahab wanted. Naboth had rightly refused to give up his vineyard, as it was land given from the Lord to his fathers. God had already send Elijah to inform Ahab of his pending judgment in 21:19 -- "In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood." With that in mind, chapter 22 opens with Ahab plotting with the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, to take the land of Ramoth-gilead from Syria (for this land once belonged to Israel). Anyway, the kings inquired of prophets to see if they should go to battle, and after 400 prophets lied to the kings to say what was pleasing to the ear, one prophet, Micaiah was thought to truly be a prophet who spoke the word of God. Micaiah basically tells Ahab that going to battle for the land will end in disaster -- and that is where the passage above picks up.

My First Thoughts: When I first came across this passage, I did not take it literally and really didn't even focus as much on what was happening in Micaiah's vision. Instead I was more interested in why God decided to choose this course of action. A couple of things: the lying prophets give Ahab a false sense of security, he obviously prefers lies to the true word of God, and I also notice that even though these 400 men are so called prophets, they lie, as we should be guarded still today of what we believe from people thought to be men of God.

Other Thoughts: With the way this all went down, it appears that God may need to be justified in his actions. Is this literal? Who is consulting with, good angels, bad angels, or both? If good angels, then why are they deceiving? If bad angels, then why is God consulting them? Is God approving evil? Worse, can he be an author of evil? Where is Satan in all of this? Why is Ahab judged this way? These are all some questions that popped up during Bible study, and I after reading a few commentaries on the passage, I thought it would be interesting to lay some side by side to see the differences.

Matthew Henry: "This matter is represented after the manner of men: we are not to imagine that God is ever put upon new counsels; or that he needs to consult with angels, or any creature, about the methods he should take; or that he is the author of sin, or the cause of any man's telling or believing a lie."

John Gill: "Since he had represented what he had said as proceeding from hatred to him, he would make it clear and plain that what he had said was the word of the Lord, and according to his mind; and that what the other prophets had said was owing to a lying spirit in them, which the Lord suffered for his ruin; all which are represented as in a vision, in which things are brought down to the capacities of men, and not as really transacted: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne; so it was represented to his mind, as if he had seen with his bodily eyes the divine Being in a glorious form, as a king sitting on his throne, to do justice and judgment; as Ahab and Jehoshaphat were now sitting on their thrones, only as a far greater King, even the King of kings, and in a more splendid manner: and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left the ministering angels ready to do his will."
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Not that it can be supposed that the Lord entered into a consultation with the angels upon this subject; only that it was the decree of God that he should go thither, and fall by the hand of the man whom he had let go, as a just punishment of him: and one said on this manner, and another said on that manner; not that there was such an altercation among them; it only signifies, that there are various ways and means, by which the purposes and decrees of God may be and are brought about.
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And there came forth a spirit,.... Not from the heavenly host on the right hand or the left, for they are pure and holy spirits, and impeccable, and cannot lie or deceive; but the evil spirit, Satan, the father of lies, the old deceiver, who came forth from his own place and his own company: and stood before the Lord presented himself before him, as Satan did (Job 1:6) and said, l will persuade him; or prevail upon him; evil spirits love to be employed in doing harm to men, they go about seeking whom they may devour. "

Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown: "Since Ahab was disposed to trace this unwelcome truth to personal enmity, Micaiah proceeded fearlessly to tell the incensed monarch in full detail what had been revealed to him. The Hebrew prophets, borrowing their symbolic pictures from earthly scenes, described God in heaven as a king in His kingdom. And as earthly princes do nothing of importance without asking the advice of their counsellors, God is represented as consulting about the fate of Ahab. This prophetic language must not be interpreted literally, and the command must be viewed as only a permission to the lying spirit (Romans 11:34)."

C F Keil & F Delitzsch: "The vision described by Micah was not merely a subjective drapery introduced by the prophet, but a simple communication of the real inward vision by which the fact had been revealed to him, that the prophecy of those 400 prophets was inspired by a lying spirit. The spirit ( haaruwach (OT:7307)) which inspired these prophets as a lying spirit is neither Satan, nor any evil spirit whatever, but, as the definite article and the whole of the context show, the personified spirit of prophecy, which is only so far a pneu'ma (NT:4151) aka'tharton (NT:169) tee's (NT:3588) pla'nees (NT:4106) (Zech 13:2; 1 John 4:6) and under the influence of Satan as it works as sheqer (OT:8267) ruwach (OT:7307) in accordance with the will of God. For even the predictions of the false prophets, as we may see from the passage before us, and also from Zech 13:2 and the scriptural teaching in other passages concerning the spiritual principle of evil, were not mere inventions of human reason and fancy; but the false prophets as well as the true were governed by a supernatural spiritual principle, and, according to divine appointment, were under the influence of the evil spirit in the service of falsehood, just as the true prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit in the service of the Lord. The manner in which the supernatural influence of the lying spirit upon the false prophets is brought out in Micah's vision is, that the spirit of prophecy ( hnbw'h rwch ) offers itself to deceive Ahab as sheqer (OT:8267) ruwach (OT:7307) in the false prophets."

My Final Thoughts: Wow. Some totally contradict even thought their doctrine wouldn't -- which just shows how difficult this passage can be. I'm led to believe that 1.) this passage should not be taken literally, 2.) the lying spirits are not 'good angels,' 3.) God in no way is causing Ahab to believe lies; in fact, he is telling him that they were lying, 4.) God is also not the author of these lies, and finally, 5.) God in every way is justified in carrying whatever form of judgment he appoints for Ahab.

Blog Theme Hymn -- "Jesus, I Long For Thee" by Red Mountain Church

Song Title: Jesus, I Long For Thee
Artist: Red Mountain Church
Album: The Gadsby Project
Writer: John Berridge

Jesus, I long for thee
And sigh for Canaan's shore
Thy lovely face to see
And all my warfare o'er
Here billows break upon my breast
And brooding sorrows steal my rest

I pant, I groan, I grieve
For my untoward heart;
How full of doubts I live,
Though full of grace thou art!
What poor returns, I make to thee
For all the mercy shown to me!

And must I ever smart
A child of sorrows here?
Yet, Lord be near my heart
To soothe each rising tear;
Then at thy bleeding cross I'll stay,
And sweetly weep my life away.

Audio Sample: Here

Why I like it: I will start by saying that I absolutely love the work that is being done in Birmingham, AL, by Red Mountain Church and their music. If you are a lover of God-centered hymns, I would highly suggest buying all 4 of their CDs immediately -- a link can be found to the right on this blog. Better yet, this particular song is sung by Ashley Spurling, who is without a doubt my favorite singer. She has a stunning voice and ever more when singing such beautiful words. Of course, in just a few words, one should be able to see why this hymn is a good fit for the blog's theme hymn. Though this song was written in the 1700s, I can totally relate to it -- feeling as though this world and sin is wearing me out, and I deeply long to be with Jesus, in my resting place, away from it all.

Related Scripture: Luke 7:37-38, Hebrews 4:8-11

Favorite Line: "What poor returns, I make to thee, For all the mercy shown to me!" This line kills me every single time I hear it. Ouch. There isn't a whole lot that does a better job of making me humble and grateful of God than when I think of how my Godly deeds compare with the mercy God has given me. It's not even close. Good thing we have Jesus.

Blog Theme Song -- "Hush" by Waterdeep

Song Title: Hush
Artist: Waterdeep
Album: Everyone's Beautiful
Writer: Lori Chaffer

When you feel like the days just drone on and on and on
And you feel like the nights are quickly gone

And on the inside your heart is gaping wide
And on the inside you feel like no one’s on your side
Well, I am

When you thought you could rest, but you found out you were wrong
And there’s another need another battle
Another one more thing that comes along

And on the inside
You hear the fall but you hate the falling sound
And on the inside
You can’t pick another broken piece up off the ground
Well I know

CHORUS

Hush little baby don’t say a word
Daddy’s gone and bought you a great big heaven to rest in
He’s bought it with blood and put the seal in your heart
It’ll give you the hope you need to get up and start again

When all the things you thought you left behind are still hanging on
And everything you try to do right ends up all wrong

And on the inside everyone else seems basically fine
But on the inside even they won’t let go of the dead and cling to what’s alive
Well I AM

Disclaimer: I know very very little about music. The following words mean nothing to me: key, pitch, harmony, rhythm, etc. I will not be commenting on how well songs and hymns are sung during my postings, but that's all for the better. What I do know is whether or not a song is consistent with the Bible and whether or not it glorifies God.

Why I like it: I have decided this song would be a great fit to be the blog's theme song. (A blog theme hymn will be chosen shortly, perhaps tonight!) For starters, let me begin by saying the words alone don't do justice to how great the song is -- Waterdeep does a fantastic job of making this song truly beautiful. I listen to this song at work a lot, and don't get me wrong, I love my job, but I feel those first two lines many a day! The basic idea of the song is that some sort of tired or weary soul is a mess inside but God can offer hope and fulfillment. This is so true, and exactly what Jesus was talking about Matthew 11:28 at the top of the page. I think those comments from Jesus can be applied to Christians and non-Christians both, as can this song.

Related Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Favorite Line: "Hush little baby don’t say a word; Daddy’s gone and bought you a great big heaven to rest in." Gotta love it. So often I should just shut up and let God be God and trust in the greater things to come instead of being overly worried or concerned about the meaningless things going on in this life.

Major Blog Changes

For starters, let me begin to talk about the changes to say I'm actually going to start posting consistently...at least so I think. What started as a semi-private place for me to record my thoughts slowly became another blog with three posts and very little future. I have decided to change that.

Another major change is that I've now made this available to the public. I might even get around to sending the link out to a few people...friends, family, whoever. I'm sure some people will stumble on this from time to time. I could really care less how many people visit my blog, for there are thousands to choose from, but I would like to accomplish three things through this: 1.) Be accountable to myself. If I can make 4 or 5 posts a week, which is my goal, then that's four or five 20 minute segments when I'm in deep thought about my Christian walk...and that's a good thing. 2.) Be accountable to others. I want people in my life to know me. I can be a quiet guy, but that's not really me. 3.) Hopefully provide some encouragement for other believers. I'll probably fall short here a lot, but maybe every once in awhile something I have to say or something I've gone through will help a fellow believer out. 4.) Show nonbelievers how great our God is. I know he's great, but many don't. He's done so much for me in my life, all of which I don't deserve at all. If I can reach one person for Christ from this blog in the next 30 years, I'll be overflowing with joy. 5.) Finally...I just want to glorify God. If my aim becomes anything else, I'll probably quit, or at least I hope I quit.

What I plan to include: 1.) I will try and comment on what I get from the Scriptures here and there, not every day, but every now and then. 2.) I will comment on the books I'm reading, previews, reviews, and hopefully something in between. 3.) I will share songs and hymns that have impacted me. In fact, this is probably how I'll begin. 4.) Anything else in my life that may pop up, but the boring details of my every day life, I'll keep to myself. And for my thoughts on baseball (mostly during the season), I'll refer you to Ground Rule Triple.