God's ever-present faithfulness

This morning I was reading in Judges as part of my devotions, and I was again reminded in a powerful way of the faithfulness of God. The book of Judges seems to progress with a constant refrain that goes something like this: “Then the people did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord raised up enemies who enslaved the people and caused them to suffer. Then the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord delivered them and sent a judge. For a time, the people did what was good in the eyes of the Lord, and the Lord blessed them. Then the people again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. . .”

It’s so easy to look at the book of Judges and scoff at Israel. After all, they “had it so good”! God was visibly and powerfully blessing them when they obeyed! His hand was present among them in an amazing way! What could possibly induce them to turn away from Him?! It’s easy to shake one’s head and wonder at “poor, blind Israel.” But if I examine my own life, what do I see? How often does my own life run with the same refrain as the book of Judges? God has given me so much—He has blessed me with shelter, food, clothing, all the necessities of life, and far beyond these, He has given me a family, friends, a church family, so many comforts beyond what I actually need, He’s given me love I couldn’t imagine. . . the list goes on and on. Most of all, He has given me salvation through Christ. My blessings are perhaps even greater than those the children of Israel had, in many ways! And yet what is my response?

How easy it is to take all of these things for granted; to assume that God will continue to bless us, as if He is somehow “obligated” to do so. Wake up call: God is not “obligated” to do anything for us. When we turn away, He would be perfectly justified in turning away His face, in staying His hand and never once blessing us again. But He doesn’t. He chastises us in love when we fall away and then gently leads us back into the fold. Why?! “How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out.”

Thoughts on a sermon 3: Paul's Great Doxology

(Written last night after evening church.)

I think one of my favorite parts about coming home from a vacation is being back in our home church again. It’s been a wonderful trip, and we were blessed to fellowship with a precious congregation in Nevada during our absence from Grace, but it is truly so good to be back. Everyone is thrilled to have us back, and the warmth and love that is always such a part of our congregation seems even sweeter than ever. Best of all, though, is the preaching. It’s easy to forget how “spoiled” we are at Grace, sitting under such a marvelous ministry of the Word each week, but it is really brought home afresh after a time of absence. Pastor Shaun is on vacation right now, and thus was not preaching today, but Pastor Dave Bush, from another OPC in our presbytery, preached this evening from Romans 11:33 – 36, the passage he called “Paul’s Great Doxology.” This passage has always been one of my favorites, and Pastor Dave’s exposition of it was wonderful. He unpacked how Paul ascribes glory to God for His omniscience, His providence, His eternality, and His sovereignty, and as he was applying what Paul says about God’s sovereignty, he gave an illustration that has really “stuck out” in my mind. In verse 33, Paul writes, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable (or unfathomable) are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (unfathomable)” In explaining the word “unfathomable” to the children, Pastor Dave illustrated by reminding us of one of the original uses of the word “fathom,” in measuring depth of water when a ship was at sea. Sometimes the line would not be long enough to reach the full depth of the water and measure it, and in much the same way, our “line” of comprehension will never be long enough to “reach bottom” in understanding the ways of God. We can keep letting that line out farther and farther and farther, but we will never be able to hit bottom and fully understand God’s providence. His ways are not our ways. His ways are beyond finding out. We may be able to apprehend, but we will never be able to comprehend this side of heaven. Unfathomable. Beyond finding out. Such is God’s providence, and our finite minds will never understand completely in this life. But we can understand that God is good, in everything He does “behind the scenes.”

How comforting is that thought?! Even when my tiny brain cannot comprehend the providence of God—even when my circumstances seem anything but good—I can still trust in the knowledge that God is still good. What a blessing! Even when my head whirls with the attempt to understand what God could possibly be doing in any given circumstance, I don’t have to understand it completely in order to trust that God’s work is still for my good. It is so easy to forget, but it is something I must be trusting in each and every day. I have to be reminded of it over and over again. How easily we forget, and how easily we stray away. But how faithful God is to always bring us back to the fold. Why does He do it? “How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”

Go here for the audio recording of the sermon: http://www.graceopcmodesto.org/audio/2006/Aug06/se082706pm.m3u

Ah, the joys of music. . .

Every once in awhile, in the vast world of modern music, there comes a song that is so absolutely beautiful, you can only sit back in awe. Such a song requires near-obsessive listening for no small number of days, in order to drink in the fullness of its beauty. Beware, O gentle reader, for I have found such a song!

Very well, perhaps I'm waxing a bit too poetic about it, but nevertheless. I had a dear friend over earlier this week, and while we were following our usual tradition of talking a mile a minute while listening to music at high volumes, she suddenly asked me if I had heard Sarah Brightman singing "My Heart Will Go On" in Italian. My initial reaction? "SARAH BRIGHTMAN?! No, please no..." Forgive me, Sarah Brightman fans, but I've never been a fan of the aforementioned singer's voice, based on the sampling I've had so far. In addition, "My Heart Will Go On" happens to be one of my very favorite songs, as performed by the ever-wonderful Celine Dion. However, since I trust my friend's opinion, I did eventually hear the Sarah Brightman version, and lo and behold! It is impossibly beautiful. The first handful of minutes are somewhat unremarkable, and her voice does not reach its usual opera fullness--but then the music changes keys triumphantly, and her voice changes to full-fledged opera for the final repetition of the chorus. It ends too soon after that. You can't help wishing it could keep going. Glorious.

But don't take my word for it. Go look for "Il Mio Cuire Va" from Sarah Brightman's album Eden. Listen for that key-change, and tell me it doesn't put chills up and down your spine!

I'm beginning to think Sarah Brightman might be worth listening to after all. . . ^_^