Journal for Christ: April 2021

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

DESPITE...

April 26, 2021

Worship in WORD

Ps 31

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the Lord. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. 8 You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.

NIV

Ps 31

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

6 I hate those who worship worthless idols. I trust in the Lord. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. 8 You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place.

Ps 31

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.

7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

KJV

Ps 31

Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. 7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, 8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.

ESV

I. Hope – vv. 1-8

A. Verse 1: Action

B. Verse 2: Appeal

C. Verses 3 & 4: Acknowledge

D. Verse 5: Abandon

E. Verse 6: Abhor

F. Verses 7 & 8: Acclaim!

II. Help! – vv. 9-20

III. Hail – vv. 21-22

IV. Heart – vv. 23-24

E. Abhor – v. 6

As I contemplated some more on verse 6, something stood out to me that I didn’t notice before. David says, “I trust the LORD.” He did not say, “I love the LORD.” That would seem to be the appropriate contrast implied here. But I think David uses trust specifically to express how his love is expressed towards God. Love and trust should go hand in hand, but we know in this world that is not always so. Love is often betrayed by those who profess to love someone. But David knows his love will not be betrayed because God is the “the God of truth. (v 5)” Furthermore, he knows that God loves him. We see that confession in verse 7:

“I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love...” (7a)

David said this when by all outward appearances, those he hated had the upper hand. This makes the contrast between his hate and trust more powerful and poignant. Hate involves distrust. David distrusted the ways of the idolaters and their false gods. In contrast, he trusted in the faithful covenant-keeping LORD, the only true God. Despite his circumstances, he refused to capitulate to his enemies but yielded himself fearlessly to the Lord.

Worship in Witness:

May this be my confidence as well, Lord. Despite desertion. Despite debt. Despite my present battle with Covid-19 and the weakness (and yes, worry) it has brought me. May I declare authentically: “I trust in the LORD” and “I rejoice in Your love!”

Worship in Promise, Poetry, Prayer, and Praise:

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSju1nB6NbLLRFihZrdHcWsB3BoagyfZf7jOg&usqp=CAU

https://64.media.tumblr.com/0be3ec1cb0a4d1f143674488ff646153/tumblr_pfewreKbhU1u342cjo1_1280.jpg

Your Praise Will Never Go Silent

Not howling wolf or singing Lark

Nor blazing sun or even a quark

Are beyond Thy almighty hand

On this truth, we firmly stand

You, who created the Universe

Whose will upon it, doth traverse

Who rules and reigns upon the earth

To Thee, we sing of Thy glorious worth

The starry heavens declare Thy glory

Your eternity and power are its story

The land and sea affirm Thy praise

With them, our voices, we raise

Marred and ruined by Adam’s sin

Sickness and death did enter in

Satan sought to hush creation’s voice

Through this deadliest of all choice

But Your praise will never go silent

Even though all became ugly and violent

Thou didst send Your only begotten Son

And in Him, over the enemy have won

Thy Word declares a greater glory

Your love and redemption its story

The heavenly host affirm Thy praise

With them, our voices, we raise

O Lord, My Rock and Redeemer by Sovereign Grace Music

O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer

Greatest treasure of my longing soul

My God, like You there is no other

True delight is found in You alone

Your grace, a well too deep to fathom

Your love exceeds the heavens’ reach

Your truth, a fount of perfect wisdom

My highest good and my unending need

VERSE 2

O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer

Strong defender of my weary heart

My sword to fight the cruel deceiver

And my shield against his hateful darts

My song when enemies surround me

My hope when tides of sorrow rise

My joy when trials are abounding

Your faithfulness, my refuge in the night

VERSE 3

O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer

Gracious Savior of my ruined life

My guilt and cross laid on Your shoulders

In my place You suffered bled and died

You rose, the grave and death are conquered

You broke my bonds of sin and shame

O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer

May all my days bring glory to Your Name

Music and words by Nathan Stiff © 2017 Sovereign Grace Worship/ASCAP (adm worldwide at www.CapitolCMGPublishing.com, excluding the UK & Europe which is adm by Integrity Music). From Prayers of the Saints Live. Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Churches. All rights reserved. www.SovereignGraceMusic.org CCLI #7096627

Lyrics: https://search.pch.com/pysearch?q=lyrics+to+o+Lord+my+Rock+and+Redeemer+by+sovereign+grace&wunv=2

Video: https://youtu.be/yx5BB2J7R-8

Some Further Notes & Quotes:

Psalms 31:6-8

Many vain cheats are impudent to deceive us. Riches, honor, titles, reason, intellect, invite us to rely on their aid. But they are empty bubbles. Their promises are fraud. The believer flees with abhorrence from those who walk in these deceits. He has a large volume of experience. In trouble he has found that God's thoughts were on him. All his adverse circumstances have been lovingly regarded. In all his ways of sorrow God has been by his side. Deliverance and enlargement have been near. Great mercy has been shown; great gladness will acknowledge it.

Psalms 31:5

Men are sure to have some kind of trust or other on which they rely. In David’s day, some trusted to false gods, others relied upon their own strength; the psalmist does not speak in soft tones concerning these people, but he says, “I could not bear them. ‘I have hated them that regard lying vanities.’ I would not come into their secret, or have any connection with them. I was astonished at them, that they should turn away from God; but as for myself, ‘I trust in Jehovah.’” See how he comes back to the note with which he started: “In thee, O Jehovah, do I put my trust;” and now he repeats it, “I trust in Jehovah.” It is an unfashionable thing, many will not do it yet David says, “I trust in Jehovah,” as if he dared to stand alone, and did not mind how singular he seemed to be.

Monday, April 19, 2021

The Hate of Love

April 13, 2021

Worship in WORD

Ps 31

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.

NIV

Ps 31

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

5 I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, LORD, for you are a faithful God.

Ps 31

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David

5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.

7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

KJV

Ps 31

Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

ESV

I. Hope – vv. 1-8

A. Verse 1: Action

B. Verse 2: Appeal

C. Verses 3 & 4: Acknowledge

D. Verse 5: Abandon

E. Verse 6: Abhor

F. Verses 7 & 8: Acclaim!

II. Help! – vv. 9-20

III. Hail – vv. 21-22

IV. Heart – vv. 23-24

E. Abhor – v. 6

If you have been keeping up with my blog, you might have noticed this about my outline. I have been dwelling for some time under the heading of “Hope.” It covers verses 1-8. However, up until now, my subpoints just covered verses 1-5. I cannot remember why that is so. Perhaps I only could think of things that started with an “A” to cover the first five verses at the time. Whatever the reason, I think these last two subpoints adequately describe David's tone and actions in summing up this first portion dealing with his hope.

I have already expounded on the content of verse 6 as it pertains to the preceding verses. Especially verse 5, where David calls the LORD “the God of truth.” There I contrasted God’s character as truth and faithfulness with the idols that David’s enemies worshipped. Those false gods were characterized as worthless lying deities.

Now I want to focus on the word “hate” David uses in verse six that some may find objectionable. Not that they find the word hate, in itself, is offensive. What they find troubling is David’s object of hatred. David’s object of hatred was the people who worshiped the false gods. If the target of his hatred were the “worthless idols,” there would probably be no objection. However, David does not say that. Instead, he said, “I hate those who cling to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD. (NIV ‘84)”

However, I don’t think this should cause us to reject this sentiment as “sub-Christian” or “Old Testament inferior ethics” as some do. The word “hate,” like the word “love,” has various shades and intensities of meaning. I don’t think I have to waste time illustrating this because you all know this is true. I have approached this subject before*. In fact, I spent three journal entries on the topic back in March of 2017. I will leave the links to them below. If you don’t have the time to read all of them or prefer not to 😁, then I would suggest reading the third link.

* Here are the links

https://journal4christ.blogspot.com/2017/07/love-hate-part-1.html

https://journal4christ.blogspot.com/2017/07/love-hate-part-ii.html

https://journal4christ.blogspot.com/2017/07/love-hate-part-iii.html

Worship in Witness:

I think David loved the Lord so much that he abhorred being around those who practiced idolatry (but see my discussions on hatred in the links above). An idolatry that was not only false, but involved depraved immorality such as prostitution, orgies, and child sacrifice. All these things brought dishonor to the true God which David worshiped. Hate, therefore, is a hatred of all that God hates. This hate not only extends to the sin but the sinner themselves. His wrath is stored up against all the wicked and unrepentant. We are not to involve ourselves in their practices (Ps. 16:4; Josh. 23:7; 1 Cor. 15:33) nor have extended fellowship with them (2 Cor. 6:14-17; Eph. 5:11). Nevertheless, we are also to love them as God loves them in His common grace:

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Matt 5:45-46 NIV

We are to hate them in the sense of abhorring the sin they practice and in knowing their destiny apart from the Lord. We agree with God that His wrath and judgment are right and just (but leave vengeance and judgment in His all-wise and righteous hands). We do not involve ourselves with them and join in their sinful practices nor attend the places they frequent (if at all possible), nor are we to revel in their sin.

We are to love them enough to hate them for what they are and do apart from Christ. This kind of love/hate leads us to pray for their salvation and seeks to do them good. There is no tension between love and hate when understood in this way. So let us “hate the sin and love the sinner.” But let us also hate the sinner enough to love them in a way that might lead them into the kingdom and save them from the wrath of God, which we all deserve apart from Christ.

Ø I have included a helpful article below in my notes and quotes section. It probably explains it much better than I have. This is a complex subject to discuss because of the dichotomy that exists today between these two words. It is difficult to explain because of the subjective feelings we attach to each of these words - feelings that shape our thoughts that may not be biblical.

Worship in Promise, Poetry, Prayer, and Praise:

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.5nkhimhUX_VimPDotWb5twHaHa%26pid%3DApi&f=1

Do I Love You, Lord?

Do I love You, Lord?

Is it You, I worship

And the world abhor?

Do I love You, Lord?

Or is there an idol

That I hold more vital?

Do I love You, Lord?

Your word, do I keep

Do I feed Your sheep?

Father,

You are my refuge and my fortress—the One whom I trust. As I examine myself and my love for You, reveal any snares I am trapped in and deliver me. Lead me in Your way, oh God of truth. Please help me to yield to Your will as Your Son did on the cross. May I die to me and rise in Thee. Victorious over my enemies. Those lying idols, who seek to entice my eyes, take hold of my heart, manacle my mind, and shackle my spirit. In Christ's name, amen.

Savior, Lead Me

Author: Frank M. Davis

Tune: [Savior, lead me lest I stray] (Davis)

Published in 263 hymnals

1) Savior, lead me lest I stray,

Gently lead me all the way;

I am safe when by Thy side,

I would in Thy love abide.

Refrain:

Lead me, lead me, Savior,

lead me, lest I stray;

Gently down the stream of time,

Lead me, Savior, all the way.

2) Thou the refuge of my soul,

When life's stormy billows roll;

I am safe when by Thy side,

All my hopes on Thee rely. [Refrain]

3) Savior, lead me, then at last,

When the storm of life is past;

To the land of endless day,

Where all tears are wiped away. [Refrain]

Lyrics: https://hymnary.org/text/savior_lead_me_lest_i_stray#tune

Video: https://youtu.be/yMe0Ryg_W8w

Some Further Notes & Quotes:

Article by

Jonathan Parnell

Pastor, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Jesus said to love our enemies.

That is what he said, as Matthew recounts his words from the Sermon on the Mount:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” (Matthew 5:43–44, emphasis added)

And when Jesus said “love,” we should be clear that he didn’t mean hollow good will, or some bland benevolence, or a flakey niceness that hopes our enemies stop being so cruel. Jesus never talks about love that way. A category for love like that — the anything-goes, pat-on-the-head, can’t-we-all-just-get-along kind of love — is a phenomenon peculiar to our own day. When Jesus says to love our enemies, he means that we love them with a lay-your-life-down type of love — the type that comes from the heart and desires the other’s good, and sacrifices for it, when no one else but God is watching.
And it’s the type of love that includes hate.

The Hate of Love

In fact, if the love is real, it must include hate. We’ve seen or experienced something like this before, though it might be more complex than we first thought. Love that rightfully includes hate needs to navigate between the two ditches of unhelpful generality and selfishness in disguise.

In other words, to only say that we must “love the sinner but hate their sin” oversimplifies things, glossing over the inseparable connection at work in the evildoer and his evil. At the same time, to only hate the sin because of how it affects us is actually superficial virtue, not love. But real love, and therefore rightful hate, sails beyond these docks to drop anchor an extra mile down.

On one hand, righteous hatred is expected because evil acts are morally repugnant and offensive to God (Psalm 97:10). Evil belittles God’s holiness and evidences that his name is not hallowed. We hate evil because it is wrong. But on the other hand, if this hatred is part of loving our enemies, we must hate the evil of our enemies because of what the evil means for them.

With Them in View

Expounding Jesus’s love command, John Piper writes that we cannot claim to truly love someone while being indifferent toward what destroys them. If we love our enemies, then we must hate the evil of our enemies that makes them so. That evil — the evil for which they are culpable and liable for eternal punishment — is therefore at odds with love’s interest in their eternal good. “We do not hate God’s judgment. That is just and wise. But we do hate the evil that leads a person to oppose God and incur his judgment” (What Jesus Demands from the World, 224).

To be sure, our enemies aren’t mere victims of evil’s tyrannical force, and we don’t parse individuals away from their actions. ISIS does evil and is evil — and our love for them means we hate both. We hate that they are blinded by darkness, that they are trapped by Satan’s schemes, that they are following the course of this world and ignorant of it all (Ephesians 2:2; 4:18).

But that hate, if we are obeying Jesus, means that we hate them not only because of their disgusting injustice, but for what that injustice means for their souls. Piper explains, “There is a kind of hate for the sinner (viewed as morally corrupt and hostile to God) that may coexist with pity and even a desire for his salvation” (222).

Love for our enemies means, fundamentally, that we hate our enemies for wholeheartedly joining in the evil that will ultimately cause their damnation (John 5:29). That is the kind of hate — the kind of love — that might look on them and say, in the spirit of our Savior, Father, forgive them for being so oblivious to what they’re doing. Open their eyes.

Jonathan Parnell (@jonathanparnell) is the lead pastor of Cities Church in Minneapolis–St. Paul, where he lives with his wife, Melissa, and their seven children. He is the author of Mercy for Today: A Daily Prayer from Psalm 51.

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/do-you-love-your-enemies-enough-to-hate-them