This morning, in my daily Bible reading, I read Luke 9. In this chapter is the account of the Transfiguration.
Luke 9:28 – 36
28. And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
29. And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering.
30. And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31. Who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.
32. But Peter and they that were with Him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him.
33. And it came to pass, as they departed from Him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
34. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
35. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son: hear Him.
36. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Then, while reading Haldane on Romans 8:18, he referred to the Transfiguration in the following way.
Romans 8:18 – “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Haldane:
The Apostle had been reminding those to whom he wrote, that their sufferings with Christ is the way appointed by God to bring them to glory. Here he encourages them to endure affliction, because there is no comparison between their present sufferings and their future glory. In order to encourage the Israelites to sustain the difficulties that presented themselves in their entry into Canaan, God sent them of the fruits of the land while they were still in the desert. Our blessed Lord, too, permitted some of His disciples to witness His transfiguration, when His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as light. This was calculated to inspire them with an ardent desire to behold that heavenly glory, of which, on that occasion, they had a transient glimpse, and to render them more patient in sustaining the troubles they were about to encounter. In the same manner God acts towards His people when they suffer in this world. He sends them of the fruits of the heavenly Canaan, and allowing them to enjoy a measure of that peace which passeth all understanding, He favors them with some foretastes of the glory to be revealed.
Sometimes I have thought, What was the purpose of the Transfiguration? It used to seem like a disconnected event to me. Sure, it gave further proof to the three apostles that was the Son of God. They heard Him conversing about His upcoming death at Jerusalem. It gave them much to contemplate and proclaim later. But it seemed disjointed to me. Over the years I have come to think otherwise. Haldane’s reference to it as an inspiration to be kept in mind during the trials make it more integral to the Christian experience. Praise God.
This morning I read my daily chapter of Proverbs. Since it is the third day of the month, I read chapter 3.
Then I went to the New Testament to read the next chapter in my daily reading of the Epistles, which was James 4.
In James 4:6 there is a quotation from Proverbs 3:34.
James 4:6 – “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
Proverbs 3:34 – “Surely He scorneth the scorners: but He giveth grace unto the lowly.”
Before reading this I was struggling with unrighteous thoughts. I was tempted to avoid reading my Bible. Instead, by God’s grace, I decided to read despite my thoughts and emotions. So I read Proverbs 3 out loud. That helped me to pray, to consider trusting the Lord with all my heart and leaning not to my own understanding, to acknowledge Him in all my ways so that He would make my paths straight, to even pray for help on a work related issue where my path is currently not straight and clear.
Then I flipped over to James. The first half of the chapter spoke directly to me in my exact current frame of mind as far as the unrighteous thoughts go. James cuts right to the heart.
James 4
1. From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2. Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye might consume it upon your lusts.
4. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6. But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.
This passage was so mightily helpful to me this morning. The “coincidence” in my reading made me smile as soon as I saw it. The thought of being an enemy of God by being a friend of the world made me recoil from my unrighteous thoughts. The idea that friendship with the world makes me an adulterer made me think that I want nothing to do with such a shameful thing. Therefore, I prayed, I read more Scripture, I wrote this – instead of allowing worldly thoughts to dominate me first thing in the morning.
“God, grant me Your grace to carry on through the day on a straight path. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.”
I have been blessed in reading this commentary by William Hendrickson lately, specifically the section on Galatians 5:13 – 26. This is the passage where Paul urges us to “walk in the Spirit.” If we “live in the Spirit,” we ought to “walk in the Spirit.” As Hendrickson says, “Let them [Christians] be in practice what they are in principle. The passage contains Paul’s comparison between the “works of the flesh” and the “fruit of the Spirit.” This passage is fundamental to what it means to live as a Christian.
I am blessed with a good number of Bible commentaries. Reading and studying them is richly edifying to my heart and mind. Therefore, in this post, I wish to share some quotes from William Hendrickson, words that touched me.
Galatians 5:13 – 26:
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
(All following quotes are from William Hendrickson)
Galatians 5:13 – For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
The Christian religion resembles a narrow bridge over a place where two polluted streams meet: one is called legalism, the other libertinism. The believer must not lose his balance, lest he tumble into the refined (?) faults of Judaism on the one side, or into the gross vices of paganism on the other. He must tread the safe and narrow path. Whether fashionable or coarse, both kinds of evils are products of “the flesh,” this is, of sinful human nature.
Vice can only be conquered by virtue, which is the Spirit’s gift, man’s responsibility.
Galatians 5:14 – For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25 – 37) proves, moreover, that, instead of asking, “But who is my neighbor?” each person should “prove himself a neighbor” to the one whom he is able to benefit in any way.
Galatians 5:17 – For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
The believer, while still on earth, experiences an agonizing conflict in his own heart, but in principle, has already gained the victory, as the very presence of the Holy Spirit in his heart testifies. In full measure this victory will be his portion in the hereafter.
Galatians 5:18 – But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
What then does the leading of the Spirit – to change from the passive to the active voice, for the sake of the definition – actually mean? It means sanctification. It is that constant, effective, and beneficent influence which the Holy Spirit exercises within the hearts of God’s children whereby they are being directed and enabled more and more to crush the power of indwelling sin and to walk in the way of God’s commandments, freely and cheerfully.
Galatians 5:19 – 21 – Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
One of the most soul-destroying vices is envy, an evil which, as the probably etymology of the Greek word implies, causes one “to waste away.” Has not envy been called that vice whose rage nothing can allay, “the eldest born of hell”? Is it not “the rottenness of the bones” (Prov. 14:30)? Our English word envy is from the Latin in-video, meaning “to look against,” that is, to look with ill-will at another person because of what he is or has. It was envy that caused the murder of Abel, threw Joseph into a pit, caused Korah, Dathan, and Abiram to rebel against Moses and Aaron, made Saul pursue David, gave rise to the bitter words which “the elder brother” (in the Parable of the Prodigal Son) addressed to his father, and crucified Christ. Love never envies (1 Cor. 13:4).
Galatians 5:22, 23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
In connection with the preceding context, which speaks of strife in its various manifestations (see verses 20, 21), it would seem to be proper here to interpret the next item, namely, meekness, as gentleness toward one another and toward all men, Cf. 1 Cor. 4:21. Also this virtue reminds one of Christ (Matt. 11:29; 2 Cor. 10:1). Meekness is the very opposite of vehemence, violence, and outbursts of anger.
By saying that there is no law against such things he [Paul] is encouraging every believer to manifest these qualities, in order that by so doing, the vices may be annihilated.
The incentive to exhibit these fine traits of character was furnished by Christ, for it is out of gratitude to Him that believers adorn their conduct with them. The example, too, in connection with all of them, was given by Him. And the virtues themselves, as well as the strength to exercise them, are imparted by His Spirit.
Galatians 5:24 – And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Christ Jesus had been openly displayed to them [Christians] as the One who had been crucified for their sins (Gal. 3:1). They had seen His amazing love, and along with it they had learned to recognize the horrible nature of their sins which had required such a death. And they themselves had accepted this crucified Savior as their own, had reposed their trust in Him, and through union with Him had made a definite break with “the flesh,” their old, evil nature. By God’s grace they had administered the death-blow to it. They, like Paul, had been crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20). Let them therefore be what they are. Let them be in practice what they are in principle, for in principle they had crucified their old human nature, together with its sinful yearnings, whether these be viewed more passively as passions (probably the evil promptings working within their subconsciousness) or actively as desires (the wicked cravings which they consciously support and enliven).
Galatians 5:25 – If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Because of the supreme importance of living a consistent Christian life, that is, of being in practice what one is already in principle, this thought is now rephrased as follows: “If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.” This translation, favored also by A.R.V., is better than the one that is found in A.V., R.S.V., N.E.B., and others. It preserves the chiastic structure of the original. The phrases “by the Spirit,” “by the Spirit” are in the center, and thus receive the strongest emphasis. Nevertheless, by means of placing the words “if we live” at the very beginning of the sentence, and the words “let us also walk” at the very close, the contrast between living and walking, as these terms are here employed, is brought out with full force. Meaning: “If the source of our life is the Spirit, the Spirit must also be allowed to direct our steps, so that we make progress, advancing step by step toward the goal of perfect consecration to the Lord.” This walking by the Spirit is the only way to administer the finishing touch to that which has already been dealt a mortal blow. It is the only way to deal with “the flesh along with its passions and desires.” We should destroy the power of the negative by means of The Invincible Positive, the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:26 – Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
In other words, “Let us neither brag about that which we have (or think we have), thereby calling forth equally pretentious swagger on the part of the person to whom we are speaking, nor grudge that other person what he has.” Haughtiness and conceit, the “know-it-all” attitude, brutal aggressiveness, these ill become those who claim to be followers of Him who was always showing the very opposite spirit (Isaiah 42:2; Zech. 9:9; Matt. 11:29; 20:28; John 13:5; 2 Cor. 10:1; Phil. 2:8). God does not approve of windbags.
Charming
I can’t resist remarking here that perhaps the most charming sentence I’ve read in any commentary is this one: “God does not approve of windbags.”
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Bread of Deceit
Yesterday, I wrote about the struggle with sin and how it is like venom of poisonous serpents. (“Of Mercy, Truth, Departing from Evil, Walking in Integrity, and Redemption”) “Just as the Israelites in the desert turned their eyes upon the brass serpent and were healed from the deadly venom of serpents, so I must look to Jesus only as the antivenom for my iniquity.” Today, I was impressed by the deceitfulness of sin when I read Proverbs 20:17: “Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.” Yesterday, my thoughts were on the “afterwards,” the mouth full of gravel, the venom in the veins. But it’s the lure that gets one there. It starts with the deception. That’s the sweetness, the delicious bread. It ends with a mouth full of rocks.
There are some verses in Job that make the same connection between the deceitful sweetness and the bitter end result. Job 20:4, 5 says: “Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?” Several verses below we find:
12. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
13. Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:
14. Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
15. He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
16. He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.
Job 20:12 – 16
It’s impossible for my mind to not go straight back to the Garden of Eden when reading this. To be right there in that time of old, “since man was placed upon earth,” and to hear the tempter, “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world,” (Revelation 12:9) saying, “You shall not surely die,” and to see Eve look upon the pleasant and desirable fruit… until Adam ultimately joined the feast and we all ended up with mouths full of gravel.
Hear a quote from Charles Bridges on Proverbs 20:17:
It is with deceit, as with every other sin, Satan always holds out the bait; always promises gain or pleasure as the wages of his service, and as surely disappoints the victims of his delusion.
Lead Me Not Into Temptation
Yesterday, I used the heading, “Deliver Me From Evil.” This morning I need to step back in my heart and pray, “Lead me not into temptation.” If the battle with sin is present every day, if I still have tendencies to indulge my flesh, if it remains so until I die – then I cannot flirt with temptation and expect to not experience the consequences. I shouldn’t even look at the deceitful bread, let alone pick it up and put it in my mouth. My eyes need to be elsewhere. They need to be on Jesus Christ. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of my faith.”
In the End
I will close this brief blog post with another quote from Bridges on Proverbs 20:17, as well as the words of Scripture from James.
Holiness is sweet in the way and in the end too. Wickedness is sometimes sweet in the way, but always bitter in the end. Whatever be the tempter’s proffered advantage, his price is the soul, to be paid in the dying hour. Oh! The undoing bargain! An eternal treasure bartered for the trifle of a moment! Charmed we may be with the present sweetness; but bitter indeed will be the after-fruits, when the poor deluded sinner shall cry – “I tasted but a little honey, and I must die.” (1 Samuel 14:43) So surely is the bitterness that springs out of sin the bitterness of death.
13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man:
14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16. Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for His mercy endureth forever.
O give thanks unto the Lord of lords: for His mercy endureth forever.
To Him alone who doeth great wonders: for His mercy endureth forever.
Psalm 136:1 – 4
Deliver Me From Evil
I did not sleep well. I woke up with anxious thoughts about work and the temptation to indulge sinful imaginations, the lure of escaping into a fantasy realm that is ultimately vain, empty, not satisfying, which ends up causing me shame and regret.
Then this Scripture entered my mind:
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
Proverbs 16:6
So I got out of bed. I would rather give up sleep, or the attempt at sleep – which wasn’t going to happen because the pull to indulge was growing. I got up to reflect on God’s mercy and indulge in His truth instead. In this manner I sought to have this particular iniquity purged from my heart. I departed from the evil that was embracing me as I lay in bed. “Up and at ’em, fella! Time to seek the Lord!”
Integrity
The first thing I turned to was Psalm 26, which was the next one on my list of random Psalms to read. (The second one was Psalm 136.)
Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.
Psalm 26:1
Oh! My integrity seems so flimsy compared to the statements that David confidently made! But in my weakness I did trust in the Lord. I did make an effort to maintain integrity. My track record in maintaining inner integrity – there in my heart where only God can see – is so very far from flawless. That’s for sure! There is no perfection here. But David had a questionable track record at times too. Didn’t he? He should have fled off his roof instead of indulging his lust for Bathsheba. (See 2 Samuel 11) “Flee fornication, David!” (1 Corinthians 6:18) I humbly thank God that He gave me grace to shut the eyes of my mind to the Bathshebas of fantasy and seek His word instead this morning.
As for my flimsy integrity,
This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13, 14
It is God’s mercy that has purged me from iniquity this morning. “Therefore I shall not slide.” I cannot worry about later or tomorrow. I must look to Jesus. Just as the Israelites in the desert turned their eyes upon the brass serpent and were healed from the deadly venom of serpents, so I must look to Jesus only as the antivenom for my iniquity. (See Numbers 21 and John 3:14, 15)
Mercy and Truth
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For Thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in Thy truth.
Psalm 26:2, 3
How similar in theme are these two verses and Proverbs 16:6.
EXAMINE me. PROVE me. TRY my reins and my heart.
By mercy and truth iniquity is PURGED.
Thy LOVINGKINDNESS is before mine eyes.
By MERCY… iniquity is purged.
I have walked in Thy TRUTH.
By… TRUTH iniquity is purged.
It is all so beautiful.
Redemption
But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
Psalm 26:11
David’s immediate flip from a declaration that he will walk in his integrity to a prayer for redemption and mecy causes me to see that integrity includes the acknowledgement that I need redemption. I need mercy. The act of turning from my self-confidence and relying on God’s redemption in Jesus Christ is fundamental, is necessary, is essential to my integrity – regardless of the stability of my integrity. Without this foundational acknowledgement of my need for salvation, I have no true integrity. Iniquity is still present with me. I can’t ignore that glaring fact of my daily experience. I can’t pretend that I don’t sin. I can’t pretend that I don’t struggle. I can’t pretend that I don’t often lose the struggle. To ignore the venom is to die. Both the need to live and the battle for integrity demand that I cry out to God for mercy and that I look to Jesus Christ as my Savior in this battle. He is my redemption – not just from the penalty of sin, which I deserve, but also from the ravages of this war with sin (aka – “sanctification”).
Of course, St. Paul said this so much better:
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
But I see another law in my members, WARRING against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
The last word:
O give thanks to the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever!
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