The inscrutable ways of God's mercy

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching the blog archives for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog. As you read, I encourage you to record any reflections or comments you may have, for the entries here serve best as the first remarks in a conversation.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will

Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Devotions: Ps 38; 119:25-48; Josh 3:1-13; Rom 11:25-36; Mt 25:31-46

Lord, I’m bruised this morning; please don’t rebuke me in Your anger. I’m outweighed by my own sins and folly, and I’m crushed by the resentment and scorn of others. I groan because of the tumult in my heart and my spirit. You know all my pains and longing, YHWH. My vitality is sapped. I am attacked on every side; I work hard, but accomplish little. I am like a deaf man, unable to hear; like a dumb man, incapable of making myself understood. I have no resistance to the crushing critiques I receive from every quarter. So, Lord, I wait for You. Let my enemies not rejoice over me. I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. But many hate me without good cause. Do not forsake me, Lord; stay close, please. Make haste to help me, O Lord of my salvation! My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me by Your word, I pray. Make me understand Your precepts, Father; help me meditate on Your wondrous works. Put false ways far from me, and graciously teach me Your law. I will run in the way You command, when You enlarge my understanding. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to meager gain. Turn me from vanities and give me life in Your paths. Turn away the reproaches I dread, for Your ordinances are altogether good. Let Your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, and Your promised salvation! Then I’ll have an answer for those who taunt me. Fill me with Your truth, and I will walk in liberty and testify for you to anyone. I revere You and Your commands, dear Lord, and I will dwell on Your words.

Joshua led the people to the east bank of the Jordan; there, they spent three days preparing to cross. The officers told the people to follow when the priests carried God’s ark, so that they would know the way they should go. But the people must leave about 3000 feet between themselves and the ark. Joshua told the people to sanctify themselves, and then told the priests to take up the ark of the covenant. YHWH told Joshua: ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that I Am with you as I was with Moses. Command the priests who bear the ark that when they come to the brink of the Jordan, they are to stand still in the waters. So Joshua summoned the people and told them to hear the words of YHWH their God: ‘By this you will know that the living God is among you, and He will not fail to drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites before you. Behold: the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is to pass over before you into the Jordan. Therefore, choose twelve men, one from each of Israel’s tribe. And when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of YHWH, Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters, the Jordan will be stopped from flowing and the waters shall stand in a heap upstream.’

Paul continued his discourse on the salvation history of Israel: Understand this mystery, my brothers and sisters: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of Gentiles whom God will save has come in. All Israel will be saved, as scripture attests: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob” and “this will be My covenant with them when I take away their sins.” These Jews are God’s enemies as regards the gospel, for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved because of their forefathers. God’s gift and call are irrevocable. You were once disobedient to God, but have now received mercy because of their disobedience; likewise, they were disobedient in order that by the mercy God shows to you, they also may receive mercy. God has consigned all humans to disobedience, that He may have mercy on us all. O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable are His ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory for ever. Amen.

Jesus taught concerning the Great Judgment: When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them, as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at His left. Then the King will say to those at His right, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him: ‘Lord, when did we do all these things?’ And the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, as you did these things to one of the least of My brothers and sisters, you did it to Me.’ Then, He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me; I was naked and you did not clothe Me; I was sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ The condemned will answer, ‘Lord when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ And He will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, as you did not do these things for one of the least among my brothers and sisters, you did not do them for Me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.