The Joy of Glory

Jeremiah 32:32-35 (click here)
They have turned to me their back and not their face. And though I have taught them persistently, they have not listened to receive instruction. (Jeremiah 32:33)

Reflection
When is the last time God spoke to you?

Can you remember it? Can you recall what he said and how it felt to hear him speak? For many people, these questions cause feelings of doubt and despair because they feel as though all they receive from the Lord is silence.

But is that true? Is God silent… or are we not listening?

In Jeremiah 32, God says that he has taught his people persistently, but they have not listened. What does he mean? His voice has not boomed from the heavens. None of these people had encountered a burnish bush, an angelic messenger, or seen ignored signs in the sky.

So how had he been speaking? The answer is not flashy. The answer is rather plain. God had been consistently speaking to his people through his Word. The priests taught the Word and the Prophets proclaimed the Word. God spoke constantly to his people through his Word, but they turned their back to him, not their face, by ignoring his Word.

God still speaks through his Word. You can hear his voice right now! Pick up the Scriptures, read and hear the very voice of God! God is persistently speaking to you through his Word written and his Word proclaimed!

All too often we turn our backs to the Word because that is not the WAY we want him to speak to us. It’s not flashy enough… it is too plain. We desire a mystical experience like a burning bush, an angelic messenger, or a sign in the sky.

We’re like Naaman, who was told that to cure his leprosy he need only to dip seven times in the river Jordan. In his pride, he almost missed out on healing because he wanted to be given a great task that emphasized his own greatness. To bathe in the Jordan would take humble obedience that placed all emphasis and glory on the gracious power of God.

We have told that hearing from God persistently happens through bathing in his Word. Such an act does not make us look grand and super-spiritual, like having awesome mystical experiences would. No… such an act requires humble obedience and places all emphasis and glory on the graciousness of God to speak to us through his Word.

Don’t turn your back to the Lord! Hear his voice today by turning your face towards his Word. He is persistently speaking to you.

Are you listening?

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Isaiah 5 (click here)
Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them! They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands. Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge; their honored men go hungry, and their multitude is parched with thirst.

Man is humbled, and each one is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are brought low. But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness. Then shall the lambs graze as in their pasture, and nomads shall eat among the ruins of the rich. (Isaiah 5:11-13 and 15-17)

Reflection
I remember the first time I heard the story of the Titanic. The world’s largest cruise ship, filled with partying and revelry from the top deck to the bowls of the ship. I remember feeling the irony of people partying as they literally sailed toward death, completely unaware of where they were headed.

It was a party on the way to perishing.

In Isaiah 5, God points out that his people are partying on their own Titanic, but they are not about to run into an iceberg but the wrath of God! They are blind to what is coming and this is the very reason they are headed towards perishing! “…they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or SEE the work of his hands. THEREFORE my people go into exile for lack of KNOWLEDGE…”

Because they do not see the massive reality of who God is, because they do not know him, their lives are about to run aground on the reality of his wrath.

It is a party on the way to perishing.

God’s wrath is righteous and just. He is not lashing out in an uncontrolled fit of rage. No. His wrath is the perfectly right and just response to sin. These people had exalted themselves as if they were god and were committing all sorts of atrocities. It was sheer mercy that God held back his righteous wrath at all… sheer grace that he had given these people any time to repent and return to him. It is sheer grace that he does this for any of us.

But his wrath will not be stayed forever. He will do what is right, what is just, what is good and loving. I say this is “good and loving” because how often have we found ourselves looking at the injustices of the world and crying out “how long O Lord?” Will all the wrongs ever be set right?

We look at our world and it seems there is no final justice! But that is why the wrath of God is good and loving news! There is final justice! All wrongs will be set right! All evil and injustice removed and perfect peace and justice will reign!

“Man is humbled, and each one is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are brought low. But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness. THEN shall the lambs graze as in their pasture, and nomads shall eat among the ruins of the rich.”

The rebellious party of sin ends in perishing… and peace is ushered in for all who trusted in the Lord! They will graze like lambs in the pasture of grace!

Take heart dear Christian… this world will not always be a place of injustice, oppression, and death! Sin is headed for a head-on collision with the wrath of God where it doesn’t win… it ends!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Proverbs 1:20-33 (click here)
Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. (Proverbs 1:20-23)

Reflection
Have you heard Wisdom’s cry?

Proverbs pictures wisdom like a woman calling out in the streets… surrounding us with offers to listen to her voice, but we are stubborn and ignore her at every turn. Yet, I have never heard wisdom calling out to me! Where are these supposed countless offers of wisdom calling? Surely, I’m not so dense as to ignore wisdom’s great wealth if it actually surrounds me… or am I?

Each morning, the sun rises… proclaiming to me the wisdom of the one who created the sun and all it shines upon. Yet, I neglect to speak to him in prayer. I’m in a hurry with too much to do.

Throughout my day, I neglect what others have to say. Many of these are people the Lord has placed in my life to provide wise counsel… but how often do I heed what they have to say?

Sunday after Sunday, I hear God’s Word proclaimed… and perhaps it entertains me, but it does not enter my heart and actually change who I am, how I think, act, and love. I keep the wisdom of the word at arms distance and admire it from afar.

And perhaps the most glaring manner in which wisdom calls and I ignore her is through my own copy of the Scriptures. Day after day, the Holy Spirit of God beckons to be heard through the words he inspired. But, I don’t have time. I leave the Bible on my bedside table as I rush out the door… and that evening I continue to ignore the wisdom that is available within its pages.

“If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.”

The Holy Spirit of the living God, poured out as he illumines the words he inspired to give us wisdom unto salvation! This is the ultimate cry of wisdom that surrounds us every day! Do we hear and heed the call?

Have you heard wisdom’s cry?

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.