Author: Terry Wil Robinson

Learn about me at jonahzsong.blog.

“When you cannot be safe in God’s place of worship, where can you be safe?”

Fox News reports that “A pistol-packing pastor shot and killed a man who was allegedly trying to attack him with a brick on Sunday in the vestibule of a Detroit church, police said.

“Cops say Deante Smith, 25, attacked the unidentified pastor and threatened several parishioners of The City of God church with a brick and hammer, FOX2reported. Police said the attack was not random; the pastor and Smith knew each other and the two have had problems in the past.

“Assistant Detroit Police Chief Steve Dolunt said a previous police report had been filed against Smith, The Detroit Free Press reported. ‘The pastor pulled out his Glock and fired several shots,’ said Steve Dolunt, asst. Detroit police chief

“ ‘The pastor had had issues with the man before,’ Dolunt told the Detroit News. ‘He had been threatening to do him bodily harm. He walked into the service and went after the pastor with a brick. The pastor pulled out his Glock and fired several shots. I think he hit him four or five times, and the man died.’

“Sunday’s incident occurred just before 2 p.m. as church was ending, Detroit Police Sgt. Cassandra Lewis told WWJ.

FOX21019
 “ ‘We’re not sure at this point whether the man had mental problems or what,” Dolunt said. ‘It’s still under investigation.’

“No one else was hurt during the episode, according to FOX2. The pastor has been questioned by police.

“City of God is a non-denominational church, according to its Facebook page.

“ ‘The reality is, things can happen anywhere now,’ ” City Councilman Andre Spivey told the Detroit News. ‘[Church] is a haven of rest and safety…when you cannot be safe in God’s place of worship, where can you be safe?’ ” (Published October 19, 2015 Fox News)

The Huffington Post’s report omitted City Councilman Spivey’s quote, while adding this: “The incident touches on a growing issue for parishioners who worry about the threat of violence in places of worship, particularly following the deaths of nine people in Charleston, South Carolina, and the rise in burnings of predominantly black churches.

“One church leader has urged his congregation to apply for concealed weapons permits; another pastor has taken it upon herself to obtain a concealed carry permit in order to protect her congregation.” (Posted 10/19/2015 Huffington Post)

Another attack on Christians at a community college in Roseburg, Oregon, was reported by Mark Baker in The Register-Guard on Oct. 06, 2015.

“‘Are you a Christian?’ he [the community college shooter] would ask them,” Stacy Boylan said during an interview outside the hospital [where his daughter had been taken after being shot]. “And, ‘If you’re a Christian, stand up.’

“And they would stand up and he said: ‘Good, because you’re a Christian you’re going to see God in just about one second.’ And then he shot and killed them. And he kept going down the line and doing this to people.”

Mr. Baker, in his article, also mentions other attacks and alleged attacks that singled out Christians.

Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master. ’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

—John 15:20

Numbers-6-24-26 - 1

Fear of the LORD

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. (Psalm 111:10)

Matthew Henry commented that: “No man is wise who does not fear the Lord; no man acts wisely except as influenced by that fear. This fear will lead to repentance, to faith in Christ, to watchfulness and obedience. Such persons are of a good understanding, however poor, unlearned, or despised.”

The Fear of the LORD is also addressed in Psalm 34 verses 12 through 15. “Since David speaks in this Psalm of the extraordinary care G-d grants to those who fear Him, David saw fit to advise us how we can achieve this stature.  He instructs that fearing G-d requires discipline and discretion in speech, action and thought: avoiding inappropriate or hurtful speech, refraining from misconduct, performing Mitzvot, and pursuing social harmony.

“This chapter thus speaks of the benefits of Yir’at Hashem (Fear of G-d), and of what it means to live a life of Yir’at Hashem.  David reminds us here that fear of G-d guarantees a person protection and blessing, and that fear of G-d is well within the reach of every individual who is prepared to commit himself to the values and laws of the Torah.” Daily Tehillim.

As I think about discipline and discretion in speech, action, and thought, I think about not only refraining from the negatives in each area, but also of the positives. Take speech for instance. While in the book of James, we are instructed about controlling our tongues, we are told by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians (4:25) “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” This means that we are obligated to not only refrain from hurtful speech, but to speak out based upon our love of G-d, and truth.

For some of us, it is difficult to hold our tongues, to not say what is on the top of our minds. It is easy, then, to let loose an uncontrolled tongue, to lash out. This is the tongue that James says needs to be controlled. This is the tongue that spews forth venom. But for some of us, it is easy to hold our tongues, to control them and not speak. We are the doormats. It is to those of us that Paul speaks. For we too easily  withhold truths from people that maybe necessary for growth.

Balance. The Fear of G-d results in wisdom, a wisdom producing the balance necessary for righteous speech that speaks the truth in love.

Numbers-6-24-26 - 1

 

Goodness and Mercy Follows Believers

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever. Psalm 23:6

King David experienced the goodness and mercy of G-d and, according to Rabbinic tradition, “composed this Psalm upon arriving in the Charet Forest during his flight from King Shaul (Shemuel I 22:5).  This was a particularly arid and barren region, which offered David no hope at all for survival. According to tradition, G-d miraculously provided David with “the goodness of the world to come” to sustain him during his stay in the otherwise uninhabitable forest. David responds by giving praise to G-d for His ability to provide a person’s needs under even the harshest conditions.” (Daily Tehillim)

In his commentary, The Reverend Matthew Henry wrote “Past experience teaches believers to trust that the goodness and mercy of God will follow them all the days of their lives, and it is their desire and determination, to seek their happiness in the service of God here, and they hope to enjoy his love for ever in heaven. While here, the Lord can make any situation pleasant, by the anointing of his Spirit and the joys of his salvation. But those that would be satisfied with the blessings of his house, must keep close to the duties of it.”

Experience. Both Kind David and Rev. Henry experienced hardship during their lives.   Like King David, Rev. Henry knew G-d as Shepherd as well as Father and King. I suppose that they each, as they aged, were able to look back upon their lives and see the signs that G-d was ever presence. They testify to all Believers that despite how we may feel during what we perceive as a crisis in our lives, G-d sustains us, will take us through times that seem devastating, yet when we look back upon them later, they were but shadows of death.

Point One: “Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow. . .” shows boldness and intimacy concerning the LORD. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need,” wrote the author of Hebrews in 4:16. Confidence is displayed in King David’s bold proclamation. It is no simple prayer requesting goodness and mercy, but a statement that it goodness and mercy not only do at the present time follow, but have followed King David in his walk with the LORD, and will continue to do so.

I did a quick web search on “building confidence” and came back with 28 million results in .38 seconds. The first page contained links that all dealt with having self-confidence and boosting self-confidence. King David was a fine leader and military commander, yet his confidence was not in himself, but in the G-d of Israel, our G-d. King David was quick to point out that there was someone greater than he, to Whom his knee bowed. “Surely mercy and goodness shall follow me. . .” declares that the King of Israel was not greater than the least in the nation, for all are sheep in the Shepherd’s flock.

Point Two: King David wrote that the LORD “makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters,” (Psalm 23:2). Green pastures and tranquil water. We, too, as followers and believers, are led across green pastures; we walk beside tranquil water. We don’t always see these pastures. We don’t always notice the still water. We look with our physical eyes, rather than with the eyes of our hearts. Are we not myopic? We become obsessed with the valley of darkness that looms over us? Our immediate crisis takes over our lives, seemingly trying to possess us. The Lord is our refuge: He’s our ever-present green pasture offering the solace of still, untroubled waters. We need only seek Him, and with the eyes of our hearts see the green pasture in which we may reveal. In Him we are drawn into the peace of tranquil waters. “Surely goodness and mercy” follow us all the days of our lives.

Point Three: Daily Bread. Daily Sustenance. The goodness of the LORD follows us daily. This is a principle that drives our journey with our Lord: we must look daily for the sustenance He provides. “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not,” (Exodus 16:14). Y’shuaJesus reiterated this principle when He taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” (Matthew 6:11). Our Shepherd knows us. Too little and we are tempted to steal, too much we are tempted to ignore our Provider.

“After the things of God’s glory, kingdom, and will, we pray for the needful supports and comforts of this present life. Every word here has a lesson in it. We ask for bread; that teaches us sobriety and temperance:and we ask only for bread; not for what we do not need. We ask for our bread; that teaches us honesty and industry:we do not ask for the bread of others, nor the bread of deceit, Proverbs 20:17; nor the bread of idleness, Proverbs 31:27, but the bread honestly gotten. We ask for our daily bread; which teaches us constantly to depend upon Divine Providence. We beg of God to give it us; not sell it us, nor lend it us, but give it. The greatest of men must be beholden to the mercy of God for their daily bread. We pray, Give it to us. This teaches us a compassion for the poor. Also that we ought to pray with our families. We pray that God would give it us this day; which teaches us to renew the desires of our souls toward God, as the wants of our bodies are renewed. As the day comes we must pray to our heavenly Father, and reckon we could as well go a day without food, as without prayer,” wrote Rev. Henry.

Summing it up, We display in our lives boldness and confidence in Y’shuaJesus, so that like King David, we may declare that goodness and mercy follow us. Look again at the words of Rev. Henry, “experience teaches believers to trust that the goodness and mercy of God will follow them all the days of their lives.” We learn to trust through the lives of others who have experienced the way of G-d. We gain this experience our selves, as we live and walk with the Lord. In both these ways we set aside the physical eyesight, to see with the eyes of our heart, to walk at peace with the Lord. Finally, we walk with the Lord, like the cliche, “one day at a time.” He is our Daily Bread, the Bread of Life.

Numbers-6-24-26 - 1

 

 

Another View of Jesus

In his blog In a Mirror Dimly: An Imperfect, Sarcastic Perspective on Following Jesus, Ed Cyzewski began a post saying: “With all of our talk about gender roles and the place of men in society and the church, I think we tend to overlook Jesus.” He suggests some areas we overlook when considering Y’shuaJesus: “Jesus Was Homeless; Jesus did not provide financially; Jesus was single; Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.” Take a look at what he says about each area here.

Mr. Cyzewski goes on to ask, “Should we imitate Jesus’ version of manhood?” He says “the complexity of the biblical story that presents us with a series of paintings that illustrate what it looks like to be followers of God in a particular time and place rather than nailing down a specific way to meet with God at all times and all places.” So perhaps you and I can follow Y’shuaJesus while having a house, a job, a wife, a few kids, and not have to wash the feet of those that enter our houses. Mr. Cyzewski does point out, however, that “in our rush to fit in with our Christian and Western culture, it’s easy to lose sight of how counter cultural and even revolutionary Jesus was in his own time and would be in our time. His ministry would not be the kind hailed at conferences and his manhood the model we’d think of imitating.”

What I really like about this particular blog by Mr. Ed Cyzewski is his closing paragraph: “There is no blueprint for a “godly” home, ministry, or man. There is God’s calling on our lives, and obedience to that calling is what Jesus modeled for us and expects us to imitate. The details are incidental—home or no home, job or ministry support checks. When Jesus says, “Follow me!” We obey because there is no other source of hope or life.

Mr. Cyzewski is an echo of a distant voice:

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God. John 6:68,69

Numbers-6-24-26 - 1

 

Jesus Models Authentic Manhood

The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 1 John 2:6, NASB

10 Ways Jesus Models Authentic Manhood*
by Thomas Garrett

As both the Son of God and Son of Man, there is no greater model of authentic manhood than Jesus. I’ve observed 10 qualities of authentic manhood I believe are instructive to men—and women—today. Let’s take a look at them:

1) Jesus allowed the Father to affirm His identity. Before Jesus faced the devil in the wilderness and before He ever performed one miracle, He was affirmed by His Father: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17, KJV). A man exhibits authentic manhood when he allows the Word of God and the Spirit of God to affirm his identity as a son.

2) Jesus was focused on His Father’s business. Even at the young age of 12, Jesus possessed a keen sense of awareness that He was on an assignment given to Him by the Father: “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). While others were busy about the normal activities of life, Jesus gave Himself to discovering God’s plan for His life on earth. A man exhibits authentic manhood when he is focused on his God-given assignment.

3) Jesus practiced self-control. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus was tempted in every category of sin and knows what the “pressure of the flesh” feels like, yet He did not yield to the pressure—showing us that we can endure temptation and do not have to yield. A man exhibits authentic manhood when he practices self-control of his body, his thoughts and imaginations, and his words.

4) Jesus lived dependent upon God. Although Jesus was endowed with miracle-working power and supernatural wisdom, He did not act independently of God. He was completely dependent upon the Father’s direction. He said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do” (John 5:19). A man exhibits authentic manhood when he lives dependent upon the Lord’s direction in the various areas of his life.

5) Jesus was His brother’s keeper. Conscious of Satan’s desire to destroy His disciple Peter, Jesus did not stand idly by but prayed for His friend and encouraged him: “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee” (Luke 22:31-32). A man exhibits authentic manhood when he looks out for the spiritual welfare of his brothers in Christ.

6) Jesus walked in humility. Although Jesus was “in the form of God” (Phil. 2:6), He laid aside His rights to operate like God, became a man, and died on a cross to save His creation. The Creator dying at the hands of His creation—there is no greater display of humility. A man exhibits authentic manhood when he humbles himself for a cause beyond and greater than himself.

7) Jesus expressed His need for others. In His greatest moment of temptation, Jesus was honest about His need for help: “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me” (Matt. 26:38). Jesus demonstrated the strength to be transparent with those He could trust and did not pretend that everything was OK. A man exhibits authentic manhood when he is honest to express his need for help with other godly men.

8) Jesus was zealous for the house of God. Jesus did not have a casual attitude about the house of God. When He saw merchants misusing the temple, He drove them out with a whip, turned over the tables and poured out the money (John 2:13-17). A man exhibits authentic manhood when he demonstrates zeal and enthusiasm for God’s house and contributes to its purposes.

9) Jesus lived to serve others. “For even the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, ESV). A man exhibits authentic manhood when he allows God to use him to serve others.

10) Jesus played through the pain. “For the joy that was set before Him [Jesus] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). From the Garden of Gethsemane until the moment He gave up the ghost, Jesus did not focus on His own agony. Instead, He focused on what would be accomplished if He followed through with the Father’s plan. A man exhibits authentic manhood when he is willing to carry out his assignment—focusing on the long-term reward, not focusing on the temporary pain.

*Published in Charisma Magazine Sep. 03,2013

Thomas L. Garrett is senior pastor of Faith Christian Center in Tampa, Fla. He is an honor graduate of the Word of Faith Bible Training Center and a graduate of Lawrence Tech University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

 

Numbers-6-24-26 - 1

Bobby’s Rant

The_ScreamBobby recently vented his frustration. He said his wife, Donnybrook, “found some of my stashed food stocks. She tossed some into the trash, then put bags of rice and beans in her car trunk, saying she would give it to Salvation Army.” Bobby’s anger, barely contained, was thrust into his stomach. Several antacids later, he still felt the burning in his throat. Bobby is a passive man, and a doormat Christian. I’ve talked about Bobby and his Borderline Personality Disordered (BPD) wife. Bobby takes all Donnybrook dishes out and tries his best to smile, say he’s sorry, and forever and ever respond to all that she says with a polite, albeit meaningless, “Yes, Dear.” Poor Bobby.

Bobby is one of the many “passive men” in America. While the causes differ, Bobby said he “was raised in a home where my father doted upon my mother, yielding to every whim and fancy. All of it translated to me learning to submit totally to women.” Bobby went on to say, “It’s a generational defect: my grandfather did the same thing, and probably his father, too.”

Passive men are the feminized men of a Twenty-First Century American in decline. A report by Steve Connor, of The Independent – UK, speaks to feminization of men as displayed in a reduced sperm count, and he reports on the research into such reduction. Theories abound, of course. One is that males eating ever-increasing amounts of fat are increasing the oestrogens that interfere with male reproductive function. Another theory is that oestrogens are in the water. Connor reports that “environmentalists have suggested that it could be ‘gender-bending’ chemicals – endocrine disrupters – in the environment that are the cause of the gradual feminisation [sic] of men. But despite intense research to find these endocrine disrupters, the precise reasons for the problems have not so far been identified.”

There is some evidence that the feminization of men today is a product of our increasingly liberalized culture. “We could devote an entire book to examples of how our culture is confused (at best) about what a man is and vilifies (at worst) what it does know,” wrote Paul and Sandy Coughlin in their book, Married But Not Engaged.

What has happened over the past fifty years is that American society views women in a much more positive light that ever before, while at the same time denigrating its men. “The root idea: Men are a serious problem that must be fixed, not a gender to be appreciated. Men are not okay as men. Masculinity, in and of itself, is negative,” say the Coughlin’s. One need only turn to Hollywood, to whom the American public honors as a view of what American culture is to be. Where are the programs like Father Knows Best, Leave It To Beaver, Sea Hunt, Maverick, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Dragnet, and a whole bunch of others with strong male leads, respectful characters? In those shows men were, well, men. What do we have for the television line up this year, and for the past several years? We have programs dominated by strong women and sniffling men. Family life, as modeled by Father Knows Best and Leave It To Beaver, has been replaced with Modern Family. GAG! Today, Hollywood shows us that when men try to be men, they are evil and deserving of criminal status. Where are the John Waynes, the Ronald Reagans, the Charles Hestons? Today, mostly, we have whiney men that portray whiny men for which women berate.

Today we have pseudo-men like Bobby who don’t fully appreciate that passivity, total appeasement of women, is sin. Bobby virtually puts his head between his knees and avoids any thought of the conflict that would ensue should he “resist the evil manipulations of a decisive, self-centered, wicked woman,” as he, himself, has described her ways. She is a Twenty-First Century Jezebel! “She condemns any opinions, any actions, that are different than hers. She presents to the world that she is always right,” said Bobby. “She works only with women, has no need for men. A modern Jezebel who need no man.” Except perhaps virtually neutered, emotionally dead, Bobby that serve her every whim and fancy. “When a man does not feel needed, something in him dies. Even an emotionally healthy man turns passive and loses energy,” say the Coughlin’s. Thus, satan wins in the continued seduction and fall of Adam.

Numbers-6-24-26 - 1

A Devotion from “The Supplied Life,” by Bill Freeman

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin:He condemned sin in the flesh. Romans 8:3

“Whether or not we understand all that is in the law of the Spirit, when we touch this law we get all that is in God. So it is a great matter to be a person oriented to the Spirit, to be according to the Spirit. It is not a small thing to wake up in the morning and find your orientation to yourself by contacting the Lord– by fellowshipping with Him, opening to Him, interacting with Him, surrendering afresh to Him, that His life could be lived out. This means stopping yourself and taking every problem– whether at the start of it, in the middle of it, or near the end of it– wherever you find yourself, and bringing yourself to the Spirit. It is in the realm of the law of the Spirit that everything has been accomplished and all our problems are solved.

The Supplied Life, by Bill Freeman is available on Amazon
The Supplied Life, by Bill Freeman is available on Amazon

“It is a marvelous thing to interact with the realm of the Spirit. This realm is not just a feeling, not just our emotion. We are interacting with the Father’s sending of the Son and with the Person of the Son and His full accomplishment. This includes everything that is incorporated into Him. Christ has become a life- giving Spirit to give us His kind of life. He is giving us His own incarnated life, His human life, His crucified life, His resurrected life, and His ascended life. This is the kind of life He is giving. This is the only kind of life He gives. He does not give any other kind of life. Thus, the life we experience in Him will be conformable to His human living, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.”—from THE SUPPLIED LIFE, by Bill Freeman.

 

Bill Freeman has ministered the Word for over forty years in California, Arizona, and Washington. He is the editor of a periodical publication called The Christian, and founder of Ministry of the Word, Inc., a ministry serving the Body of Christ through publications, the Internet, and conferences. Bill is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary and has written over forty books, booklets, and outline studies on the believer’s experience of Christ in daily life and its practical relationship to the church.

 

Numbers-6-24-26 - 1

Life is a Balancing Act

Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores the fortunes of His people,
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.
Lord, who can dwell in Your tent?
Who can live on Your holy mountain?
The one who lives honestly, practices righteousness,
and acknowledges the truth in his heart —
who does not slander with his tongue,
who does not harm his friend
or discredit his neighbor,
who despises the one rejected by the Lord
but honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his word whatever the cost,
who does not lend his money at interest
or take a bribe against the innocent —
the one who does these things will never be moved. Psalm 15

“David here outlines the virtues that render a person worthy of dwelling in Hashem’s “tent” and residing in His “sacred mountain.”  According to the Radak, David refers here to the resting place of the soul in the afterlife; it is thus here where we are told how a person earns his eternal share in the world to come.  The Radak draws proof to this reading from the chapter’s final clause, where David exclaims, “he who does these shall not falter, forever.”  The term “forever” implies that David refers here to eternal peace, which would suggest that he speaks of the soul’s reward in the afterlife.

“In listing these virtues, David focuses first on proper interpersonal conduct: honesty and integrity (verse 2), and refraining from crimes such as gossip, causing others harm, and nepotistic protection of unworthy relatives (verse 3).  In verse 4, he imposes an important qualification on the virtues of loving kindness and concern for others: “Nivzeh Be’einav Nim’as,” which Rashi translates to mean, “The shameful one is despicable in his eyes.”  Although this prototype acts with love and sensitivity, he is at the same time prepared to confront evil and its advocates, rather than extend to them the same kindness and compassion he shows generally.  He respects those who deserve respect, while condemning behavior that warrants condemnation.

“The Ibn Ezra and Radak explain this verse differently, as meaning that the person sees himself as “shameful” and “despicable.”  Despite his many fine qualities, he recognizes how much more he has to grow and accomplish in order to achieve perfection.  Rather than falling into the trap of stifling complacency, he constantly strives to improve and to accomplish more.

“The message conveyed by this Psalm is thus a dual one.  On the one hand, David promises eternal life to everyone who lives in accordance with the basic values of honesty and Godliness; the world to come is not reserved for only the great Tzadikim who have reached the highest levels of spiritual devotion.  At the same time, however, to earn eternal life one must spend his life in the pursuit of perfection, working each day to grow and become better than he is.  This Psalm does not demand that everybody be perfect, but it does not demand that everybody work towards and strive for spiritual perfection.” —Daily Tehlllim Psalm 15

“Here is a very serious question concerning the character of a citizen of Zion. It is the happiness of glorified saints, that they dwell in the holy hill; they are at home there, they shall be for ever there. It concerns us to make it sure to ourselves that we have a place among them. A very plain and particular answer is here given. Those who desire to know their duty, will find the Scripture a very faithful director, and conscience a faithful monitor. A citizen of Zion is sincere in his religion. He is really what he professes to be, and endeavors to stand complete in all the will of God. He is just both to God and man; and, in speaking to both, speaks the truth in his heart. He scorns and abhors wrong and fraud; he cannot reckon that a good bargain, nor a saving one, which is made with a lie; and knows that he who wrongs his neighbor will prove, in the end, to have most injured himself. He is very careful to do hurt to no man. He speaks evil of no man, makes not others ‘faults the matter of his common talk; he makes the best of every body, and the worst of nobody. If an ill- natured story be told him, he will disprove it if he can; if not, it goes no further. He values men by their virtue and piety. Wicked people are vile people, worthless, and good for nothing; so the word signifies. He thinks the worse of no man’s piety for his poverty and mean condition. He reckons that serious piety puts honor upon a man, more than wealth, or a great name. He honors such, desires their conversation and an interest in their prayers, is glad to show them respect, or do them a kindness. By this we may judge of ourselves in some measure. Even wise and good men may swear to their own hurt:but see how strong the obligation is, a man must rather suffer loss to himself and his family, than wrong his neighbor. He will not increase his estate by extortion, or by bribery. He will not, for any gain, or hope of it to himself, do any thing to hurt a righteous cause. Every true living member of the church, like the church itself, is built upon a Rock. He that doeth these things shall not be moved for ever. The grace of God shall always be sufficient for him. The union of these tempers and this conduct, can only spring from repentance for sin, faith in the Savior, and love to him. In these respects let us examine and prove our own selves.” —Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Two perspectives on a psalm of King David. One from a Jewish Commentator; the other from a Christian commentator. Both perspectives point to the obligations to live in the balance between justice and kindness. Rev. Henry wrote: “The union of these tempers and this conduct, can only spring from repentance for sin, faith in the Savior, and love to him. In these respects let us examine and prove our own selves.” From Tehillim we learn that “. . . to earn eternal life one must spend his life in the pursuit of perfection, working each day to grow and become better than he is.  This Psalm does not demand that everybody be perfect, but it does not demand that everybody work towards and strive for spiritual perfection.”

The only difference I find between the Jewish and Christian way of living is those who know Y’shuaJesus as Messiah have accepted they work toward perfection so that they may live eternally in the House of the LORD, yet understand it  is never earned, but granted by the one Who gave His life, that died, rose, and lives so we may live today without regret and live forever with Him in the House of the LORD.

Numbers-6-24-26 - 1