The title appears nowhere in the content of this journal entry, but it sums up succinctly the message I wanted to convey in this journal entry.
Journal entry from:
November 23, 2015
Worship:
“Call It Grace”
It’s the light that pierces through you
To the darkest hidden place
It knows your deepest secrets
But it never looks away
It’s the gentle hand that pulls you
From the judgement of the crowd
When you stand before them guilty
And you got no way out
Some may call it foolish and impossible
But for every heart it rescues, it’s a miracle
It’s nothing less than scandalous
This love that took our place
Just call it what it is, call it grace
Call it grace
It’s the breath that’s breathing new life
Into what we thought was dead
It’s the favor that takes orphans
Placing crowns upon their heads
It’s the hope for our tomorrows
The rock on which we stand
It’s a strong and mighty fortress
Even Hell can’t stand against
Some may call it foolish and impossible
But for every heart it rescues, it’s a miracle
It’s nothing less than scandalous
This love that took our place
Just call it what it is, call it grace
Call it grace
Call it grace
Amazing, unshaking
This is grace, this is grace
Unchanging, unfailing
This is grace, this is grace
Some may call it foolish and impossible
But for every heart it rescues, it’s a miracle
It’s nothing less than scandalous
That Jesus took our place
Oh call it what it is, just call it what it is
Call it grace
To the darkest hidden place
It knows your deepest secrets
But it never looks away
It’s the gentle hand that pulls you
From the judgement of the crowd
When you stand before them guilty
And you got no way out
Some may call it foolish and impossible
But for every heart it rescues, it’s a miracle
It’s nothing less than scandalous
This love that took our place
Just call it what it is, call it grace
Call it grace
It’s the breath that’s breathing new life
Into what we thought was dead
It’s the favor that takes orphans
Placing crowns upon their heads
It’s the hope for our tomorrows
The rock on which we stand
It’s a strong and mighty fortress
Even Hell can’t stand against
Some may call it foolish and impossible
But for every heart it rescues, it’s a miracle
It’s nothing less than scandalous
This love that took our place
Just call it what it is, call it grace
Call it grace
Call it grace
Amazing, unshaking
This is grace, this is grace
Unchanging, unfailing
This is grace, this is grace
Some may call it foolish and impossible
But for every heart it rescues, it’s a miracle
It’s nothing less than scandalous
That Jesus took our place
Oh call it what it is, just call it what it is
Call it grace
Video: https://youtu.be/AAMU68NTVQw
“Good Good Father”
Oh, I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think you’re like
But I’ve heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night
And you tell me that you’re pleased
And that I’m never alone
You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am
Oh, and I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching
For answers only you provide
Cause you know just what we need
Before we say a word
You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am
Cause you are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us
Oh, it’s love so undeniable
I, I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable
I, I can hardly think
As you call me deeper still [x3]
Into love, love, love
[x3:]
You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am
You’re a Good, Good Father
(You are perfect in all of your ways)
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
(You are perfect in all of your ways)
It’s who I am, it’s who I am it’s who I am
But I’ve heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night
And you tell me that you’re pleased
And that I’m never alone
You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am
Oh, and I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching
For answers only you provide
Cause you know just what we need
Before we say a word
You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am
Cause you are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us
Oh, it’s love so undeniable
I, I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable
I, I can hardly think
As you call me deeper still [x3]
Into love, love, love
[x3:]
You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am
You’re a Good, Good Father
(You are perfect in all of your ways)
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
(You are perfect in all of your ways)
It’s who I am, it’s who I am it’s who I am
Video: https://youtu.be/GjzmITQhhYI
Witness:
It’s late. In fact, it’s actually Tuesday as I write. It has been a long day. I finally have a blog site. Someone I met at Church said they could help me create one. He came over today and helped me get started. I have spent most of the day working on my introduction and purpose for my blog. I almost didn’t go to my mom’s for dinner as is my custom since I returned home from staying with here for the first few months after my wife left me. She finally called me when I hadn’t called or showed up. Upon returning from dinner, I continued working on it till late into the night. I have not actually launched it yet. I need to do a few more things to tweak it and I want another’s opinion on what I have said in my intro. The irony is that if you are reading this now, it will mark the day my blog was about to launch, but you will not be reading it until a few months later. If you are reading this then that is good news for me, because that means that you stuck with me on the journey. That is my hope and that is my prayer. Soli Deo Gloria!
WORD:
Ps 23:5-6
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV |
Ps 23:5-6
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
KJV
|
It’s late and I have one more thought to say about the first half of verse 6.
I am looking specifically at the phrase “all the days of my life”. David could say with confidence that this was true in the past, but what makes him so sure of the future?
Barnes says of this verse:
[All the days of my life] Through all its changes; in every variety of situation; until I reach its close. Life indeed would end, and he does not venture to conjecture when that would be; but as long as life should continue, he felt confidently assured that everything needful for him would be bestowed upon him. The language is the utterance of a heart overflowing with joy and gratitude in the recollection of the past, and full of glad anticipation (as derived from the experience of the past) in regard to the future.
(from Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
The Pulpit Commentary says:
Verse 6. – Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. The past is an earnest of the future, As God’s “goodness and mercy” have always followed him hitherto, David has no doubt that they will continue to cling to him while his life continues.
(from The Pulpit Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Spurgeon quotes William Perkins in his classic book on the Psalms:
Ver. 6. Mark David’s resolute persuasion, and consider how he came unto it, namely, by experience of God’s favour at sundry times, and after sundry manners. For before he set down this resolution, he numbered up divers benefits received of the Lord; that he fed him in green pastures, and led him by the refreshing waters of God’s word; that he restores him and leads him in the paths of righteousness; that he strengthened him in great dangers, even of death, and preserveth him; that in despite of his enemies, he enriches him with many benefits. By means of all the mercies of God bestowed on him, he came to be persuaded of the continuance of the favour of God towards him. — William Perkins.
(from The Treasury of David, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
I think they are correct in what they are saying, but it goes deeper than experience. Experience, in this case, is the outward evidence of an inward immutable truth. What do I mean? It goes back to what God say’s about Himself in Exodus and in the Prophets and what is even declared of the Son of God.
Exodus 3:14 says:
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” NIV
Again I refer back to my seminary days where my OT professor says this can be translated, “I shall be what I have always been”.
I believe this verse speaks first to God's self-existence, and secondarily, but importantly to His immutability or unchangeableness. Therefore He is faithful and can be trusted.
The Bible knowledge commentary says:
God told Moses to tell them, I am who I am (‘ehyeh ‘ašer ‘ehyeh, 3:14; cf. “I will be,” ‘ehyeh, v.12) and I AM (‘ehyeh) has sent me to you (v. 14). This One said He would be with His people in their time of trouble and need. ‘Ehyeh is probably a wordplay on Yahweh (LORD) in verse 15. Thus, the name Yahweh, related to the verb “to be,” probably speaks of God’s self-existence, but it means more than that. It usually speaks of His relationship to His people. For example, as Lord, He redeemed them (6:6), was faithful to them (34:5-7), and made a covenant with them (Gen 15:18).
(from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries; Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.)
In Malachi the LORD (Yahweh) declares:
“I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
Mal 3:6 NIV
James the brother of our Lord says:
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17-18 NIV
The author of Hebrews declares this of Jesus our Lord:
Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?”
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Heb 13:1-8 NIV
Notice in all these passages there is the immutability of God and the correlating faithfulness that stems from it.
Therefore, going back to the question I posed at the beginning, “David could say with confidence that this was true in the past, but what makes him so sure of the future?” I believe and will state again, “Experience, in this case, is the outward evidence of an inward immutable truth.” That immutable truth is the unchangeableness of God. That He is immutable.
Louis Berkhof defines this attribute of God in his classic book on Systematic Theology:
It is that perfection of God by which He is devoid of all change, not only in His Being, but also in His perfections, and in His purposes and promises. In virtue of this attribute He is exalted above all becoming, and is free from all accession [i.e. addition] or diminution [i.e. reduction] and from all growth or decay in His Being or perfections. His knowledge and plans, His moral principles and volitions remain forever the same. Even reason teaches us that no change is possible in God, since a change is either for better or for worse. But in God, as the absolute Perfection, improvement and deterioration are both equally impossible.
ISBE puts it succinctly this way:
IMMUTABILITY
It is the perfection of Yahweh that He changes not in character, will, purpose, aim (Mal 3:6; so of Christ, Heb 13:8). See FAITHFULNESS ; UNCHANGEABLE .
(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Notice “Faithfulness” is used as a cross reference!
Let us, therefore, declare with the psalmist:
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