What were Behemoth and Leviathan??

The short answer of the title question is: Uncertain. 

(But these creatures are important!)

Behemoth

The name Behemoth appears in the Bible only once (Job 40:15). Its description is that of a great and powerful creature. Some have suggested that Behemoth is the hippopotamus, while others think it is a reference to a mythological creature with symbolic significance, or perhaps, an extinct dinosaur. Each idea has merit, but also difficulties.

Leviathan

Following a description of Behemoth is a reference to Leviathan (Job 41). It is also a great and powerful creature. While Behemoth appears to have been a land creature, Leviathan was a sea creature. A series of rhetorical questions are asked about Leviathan, each suggesting a fierce creature that man cannot catch or overpower: “Lay your hand on him; remember the battle; you will not do it again!”

Suggestions for the identification of Leviathan range from crocodile to mythological creature to dragon to extinct dinosaur.

Making Sense of Behemoth and Leviathan

More important than the specific identification of these creatures is an understanding of why they appear in Scripture, namely in the book of Job.

God mentions Behemoth and Leviathan in a response to the man Job. It is possible that each creature symbolized something in the minds of the people of that day, similar to the way that a lion symbolizes courage to us.

Up to this point in the book, Job had endured terrible misfortune with regard to his family, his wealth, and his personal health. His friends were under the impression that since Job was suffering such misfortune, he must have sinned greatly. After all, according to their thinking, good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. However, Job insisted that his misfortune was not the result of sin. He was quite sure that if he could bring his case before God, the great Judge would vindicate him.

God did answer Job, but not as Job expected. Prior to mentioning Behemoth and Leviathan, God posed dozens of rhetorical questions to Job about creation. (See chapters 38 & 39.) God appears to have been pressing the point: I am Creator; you are not. Job understood and recognized his insignificance in comparison to his Creator. However, God was not finished.

Continuing to exalt Himself (It’s ok for God to do that; it’s not pride but truth.), God said: “Behold now, Behemoth, which I made as well as you…” (40:15). Then after a lengthy description, rich with symbolism of greatness and power, God concluded, “Can anyone capture him…?”

Then God spoke of Leviathan, presumably a creature that He had also made. It was a fierce creature that could not be caught or subdued by man. God concluded about Leviathan, “He looks on everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride.” (41:34) In other words, no one, not even man in his greatness, can match the power and fierceness of Leviathan.

Using two great and powerful creatures that God had created, Behemoth and Leviathan, His simple message to Job was, “You, little man, wish to bring your petty case of suffering before Me as Judge? I am Creator!”

God boldly asserted truth: “I am Creator; justice is mine.” In that, Job could rely on God’s justice even when he had experienced grave injustices. 

We may never know how to accurately identify these mysterious creatures. However, we can trust that our exalted Creator renders justice in all matters.

Mark Stinnett

August 24, 2025

A Forgiving Spirit

Forgiveness is difficult. Forgiveness is not fair. Yet, justice demands that the one who offends another pay for his offence.

Justice cries out, “An eye for an eye.” Justice demands equity. Equity demands restoration, but you simply cannot un-ring the bell. Even when the thief returns stolen goods, the theft still occurred. It cannot be undone.

Relationships are affected; trust is broken. Justice is never completely served. In the “eye for an eye” system of justice, equity demands a second injury after the first, but does it never equal the first?

When justice is demanded, does it ever satisfy? Does it take away the hurt and repair the damage? Does it balance out the wrong done?

We must realize that mankind is unjust. For that reason, no one deserves justice (fairness) from others. In contrast, God is just and He alone can demand justice. He is just because He is by nature pure and holy.

Forgiveness may appear to be the opposite of justice. However, God is, by nature, just; and God is, by nature, forgiving. He is not schizophrenic as if His justice personality and His forgiving personality battle each other. Both are part of His nature and He is not in conflict with Himself.

If we were to compare ourselves to God, we would see that we are flawed and incomplete. Such reflection should affect our attitudes toward others.

We desire forgiveness from God, and we desire forgiveness from other people. Every one has given in to sin yet desires mercy and forgiveness. Every one of us has wronged someone and yet we desire that they extend forgiveness. 

So, what does it mean to ask for forgiveness?

When I ask you to forgive me, it is because I have done something to hurt you; I have committed a wrong against you. To ask forgiveness is to ask you to bear the pain of that wrong and release me from the debt I owe. I am asking you to go on living as if the wrong had never occurred.

There are three grossly unfair aspects to forgiveness.

• First, the forgiver bears the pain.
• Second, the offender goes free.
• Third, the forgiver may be shamed and appears guilty.

Jesus taught that forgiveness has no restrictions. What limitation do you find in the following statement?

If you do not forgive men, your Father will not forgive your transgressions. 

—Matthew 6:15

When Jesus was crucified, He asked God to forgive his murderers. In reality, He asked God to place their guilt on Him. He would bear the pain; He would bear the shame; He would appear to be the criminal.

Jesus recognized that the people who crucified Him did not understand what they were doing. Do not take that statement lightly. Is it possible for us to adopt the same understanding about those who hurt us? They really do not know what they are doing. The question is whether we really know what we are doing when we refuse to forgive...and when we do forgive.

As saints in Christ, when we are faced with a decision to forgive, we should remember that we have been forgiven by God. It is true that nothing is fair about forgiveness! However, when we forgive, we are just like the Lamb of God who has taken away our sins.

Pursue a forgiving spirit. 

Pursue the heart of Christ.


Mark Stinnett

March 23, 2025

The Cost of Forgiveness

Perhaps it was your spouse or one of your children; perhaps a coworker or boss; perhaps a fellow believer…
When was the last time you sincerely and humbly asked, “Will you forgive ME?”
Whenever you asked for forgiveness, what did you expect? Did you expect to be forgiven?
When? Did you expect forgiveness now? Later today? Tomorrow? Sometime in the future?
The last time you asked someone to forgive you, were you forgiven?

Forgiveness is costly to the one that you asked to forgive you!

——————

Asking, “will you forgive me,” is not the same as, “Pardon me.” (Sometimes, “pardon me” has become more of a trite “excuse me” when you do something socially unacceptable. *Burp* — “Pardon me….”)

A governing official, like a president or king, may offer a pardon. That simply means that the one who is guilty does not have to bear the consequences for his crime/offense. The official decides to suspend justice. When a person is pardoned, justice is not served.

——————

Forgiveness is also about justice. Pardon and forgiveness may look similar to the one who is guilty. In either case, he is freed from his debt. However, forgiveness is far different from pardon when it comes to the one who has been hurt by the crime/offense. When a crime is committed (or any offense or sin), an injustice has been done. Someone else bears the pain of the injustice. It might be a minor injustice with minimal consequences, but it is still an injustice.

Pardon suspends justice, while forgiveness deals with justice in a kind of opposite way. Forgiveness is a gift that the injured person gives to the one committing the injustice. The person who is injured willingly shoulders the pain of the injury and allows the offender to go free.

Justice demands an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Forgiveness is one’s choice to bear the pain of the injury saying, “You hurt my eye, but I will suspend justice and endure the injury without demanding that you be injured in your eye. You do not have to pay what you deserve.”

And yet forgiveness is even more than suspending justice and enduring the injury. Forgiveness is about relationship. Forgiveness reaches out saying, “I value our relationship more than I value justice for me. For that reason, I’ll not demand payment for the injustice. In fact, I’ll bear the cost myself.”

——————--

Perhaps it was your spouse or one of your children; perhaps a coworker or boss; perhaps a fellow believer…
When was the last time someone asked you, “Will YOU forgive me?”
How did you feel when YOU were asked to forgive another person?
Would justice be served? Would it be fair to YOU?
Were you able to forgive, truly forgive?
What would your forgiveness require of YOU?
What would your forgiveness cost YOU??

The last time someone asked YOU to forgive them...are they still your friend?


Mark Stinnett

October 13, 2024

First Things First

For the most part, people assume that since they are alive, they deserve to be alive. (Many assume that they deserve a lot of other good things.) However, that is backward thinking. It begins with man and his aliveness as a starting point. The signers of the U. S. Declaration of Independence held that life was a self-evident unalienable right. Yet, they asserted that such a right was endowed by the Creator.

Whenever man and his aliveness serve as the backdrop to interpret one’s existence, and life, God and the wrath of God are sure to be misunderstood. On the other hand, when a person begins with God, life and God’s wrath come into focus. So, every person chooses to interpret his/her world based on the answer to the question: Which came first: God or man?

For those whose answer is man, then it must be acknowledged that the idea of God came from the mind of man. Taking this idea to its natural conclusion, God, Scripture and religion are all products of human imagination.

Many people accept this view as true. In many cases, they are driven to this conclusion because of the presence of evil in the world. They wonder, “How could a good God create a world in which there is evil and suffering?” Not finding a suitable answer, they dismiss God.

For those who answer that God existed before man, things look very different. First, the Bible stands as the revelation of God providing understanding to mankind. That is God’s claim.

God is presented as a being that existed before the universe and all things in it. He is the one who conceived of man and the universe in which man lives. He commanded all things into existence by His authority. By God’s own evaluation, all that He created was good.

However, man tainted God’s glorious creation when he rebelled. When man sinned, you might say that, from man’s perspective, God was presented a dilemma. Should He destroy something that was created as good, yet that had engaged in evil? Or should God show mercy toward these beings that were created in His image?

In reality, there was no dilemma. God acted according to His divine nature: love. He took His time in becoming angry: patience.

Then the Lord passed by in front of him (Moses) and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.

--Exodus 34:6

And yet, while God was patient and merciful, He did not sweep the dirt of sin under the rug. Without ignoring or tolerating sin, He demanded that there be payment for sin. That reveals another attribute of God’s divine nature: justice.

The Apostle Paul described God as being just but also the one who is the justifier (Romans 3:26). In other words, God deals fairly with man when He holds us accountable for sin. (That's justice.) Yet at the same time, He is the one who justifies people, that is, makes things right.

How is God the Justifier? He brought justice by providing the sacrifice that would be satisfactory for all sin for all people: Jesus.

Jesus was better than any other sacrifice...

• Because He was God’s own Son;
• Because He was a willing sacrifice;
• Because He had never sinned.

So, in reality, no one who has sinned possesses the right to live. All sinners deserve death! Yet, God values life. With patience He extends mercy and has provided the way to eternal life.

So, the only question is which makes more sense: man before God?? Or, God before man??

The Apostle Paul wrote that the existence of God is self-evident.

For since the creation of the world His (God's) invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they (unbelievers) are without excuse.

--Romans 1:20

 

Just look outside; you can’t miss it!

Mark Stinnett

January 1, 2023

(Photo by Mark Stinnett)

How Difficult is Integrity?

As a kid, the idea of integrity mostly began and ended with honesty, but now I know there’s more to it. What else should we be thinking about? What does the Bible say about integrity?

Depending on the translation that you use, the word integrity is found in the Bible only 25-45 times, and then, predominantly in the Old Testament. There, the word integrity translated a family of Hebrew words focusing on the idea of uprightness. So…?

A person who is upright, or full of integrity, certainly is one who is honest. This person does not tell lies. Yet, integrity impacts more than our verbal expressions. Integrity calls for honesty in communication, but also in one’s work and in one’s relationships.

A man or woman of integrity always does the best job he/she can do. Work includes a job for pay, volunteer work, an assigned task at school or at home, and even a self-assigned task. Each task will be considered important and will be completed.

A person of integrity works with the same effort and quality whether working for himself or working for someone else; whether working by himself or with coworkers; whether the boss is present or not.

Integrity means that you will be responsible with respect to your work. You will follow through with a task you’ve agreed to. You will complete a task that you’ve begun, even if it costs extra time and money.

In addition, you will decline to do things that you already know that you cannot do or do not have the time to do.

Paul encouraged workers to work with a good attitude as if they were working for the Lord.

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men. 

--Ephesians 6:5–7 (NASB95)

That is working with integrity.

Integrity also involves honesty in relationships.

In your relationship with God you keep His word. You value purity, morality, goodness, holiness and righteousness. In other words, you stay focused on the path of righteousness and avoid evil.

Do not turn to the right nor to the left; 

Turn your foot from evil.

--Proverbs 4:27 (NASB95)

If you make a promise to God, you keep your word. He considers it to be a vow and expects you to honor it.

Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words. When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
--Ecclesiastes 5:1–6 (NASB95)

A person of integrity abides by the law, but is also concerned with ethical behavior. It might be legal to take advantage of someone who is naïve or uninformed, but it is not ethical. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for being overly concerned with the letter of the law, yet neglecting “justice and the love of God.”

But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

--Luke 11:42 (NASB95)

A person of integrity is concerned about fairness whether it is beneficial for himself or not. He is concerned about the well-being of others, not just himself. This attitude translates into kindness and benevolence and generosity. (Remember Zacchaeus in Luke 19.)

A person of integrity looks at all people with value recognizing that he is really no different. He is not prejudicial, but treats everyone with respect. (Reflect on the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.)

Integrity describes a person who is righteous in all things, one who is complete in godly character, one who is of sound judgment. A person of integrity is honest, good, kind, responsible, dependable, fair, just and equitable. This person has a good reputation and values a good name.

Is integrity difficult? What do you think? It all depends on the things in life that you value.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. 

— Micah 6:8 (NASB95)

Mark Stinnett

November 14, 2021

Who Understands?

Listen to Solomon’s proverb:

Evil men do not understand justice,

But those who seek the LORD understand all things.

--Proverbs 28:5 (NASB95)

Do you think that there might be some evil people who understand something about justice? Maybe Solomon meant that they just didn’t apply justice properly.

And, seriously, do you think that those who seek the Lord truly understand all things??? After all, I once knew a guy who….

The Proverbs were not written for the purpose of our evaluation. They were not written for us to judge whether we think they hold true or not.

• Evaluate bumper stickers.
• Evaluate sayings on posters.
• Evaluate clever maxims on wall hangings.
• Evaluate the wise and witty sayings (memes) posted by all your friends on social media.
• Evaluate emotional verses of poetry set to music with stunning background photographs.

However, when it comes to The Proverbs, don’t spend your time thinking and wondering whether or not it is true. Don’t spend your time trying to come up with examples of exceptions. Even if you can come up with a true exception, it changes nothing.

Assume that you have found an exception. Is that how you want to live your life? Do you want to depend on the exceptional cases, or would it be wiser to listen to wisdom as it is presented?

Judge the value of human sayings but not The Proverbs in the Bible. Rather...

• Learn The Proverbs.
• Spend time in The Proverbs.
• Absorb The Proverbs.
• Live The Proverbs.

Then, you will surely live an exceptional life.

Sometimes you just need to give it a little time to soak in.

Evil men do not understand justice,

But those who seek the LORD understand all things.

Accept the Lord’s wisdom!

Mark Stinnett

June 20, 2021

Three Beautiful Injustices

We (humans) sure are concerned about justice, and it is not just in the present day. Justice has been a concern since the first capital crime. When God banished Cain after murdering his brother Abel, Cain cried to God, “My punishment is too great to bear!” (i.e. It’s not fair.) In reality, he was still alive, and that was not fair.

However, my attention is not on Cain, but three extreme occasions in which it was not fair, yet God did not step in. He allowed the injustice.

Esau and Jacob:
We are more accustomed to thinking Jacob before Esau, yet Esau was the first of the twin brothers. We say Jacob and Esau because the prophecy was fulfilled that said, “The older shall serve the younger.” But it was not fair.

When Isaac, the father of Jacob and Esau, was old and near death, he asked Esau to prepare him his favorite meal. He then planned to bless him. In the blessing the promises that God had first given Abraham (land, descendants, and a great future blessing) would be passed forward.

However, at his mother’s bidding, Jacob disguised himself as Esau and tricked his aging father into giving him the blessing. When Esau returned with the meal for his father, they were both alarmed at what had happened. Yet, acknowledging Jacob’s deceit, Isaac told Esau, “He (Jacob) shall be blessed.”

Why didn’t Isaac say, “Hey, that was deceitful on Jacob’s part; it didn’t count”? Why didn’t God step in and bring justice!?

Isaac’s word stood, just as he had spoken. In that day, you just didn’t break your word. Ever!

Job:
Job was a man who was devoted to God. When you read the descriptions of Job that are peppered throughout the book, you come away with one thought: Job was a good man. Yet, he suffered greatly, and God allowed it.

You might remember that the accuser had accused God of going easy on Job. That was his explanation for Job’s faithfulness to God. So, the accuser proposed that if God had not blessed him so richly, Job would curse God.

God allowed the accuser to bring terrible hardship into Job’s life. And that was NOT fair!

Of course, Job did not curse God, though he really didn’t understand what was going on. So, why didn’t God step in and stop the suffering?

Sometimes God allows our faith to be tested. The testing of our faith produces endurance and maturity—and that’s a good thing. (James 1)

Jesus:
Considering how much I benefit from the sacrifice of Jesus, I don’t often think about the injustice of the cross. I know that all the things that happened to Jesus leading up to His death were a terrible injustice. Yet, I really don’t want to ask why God didn’t step in and stop the cruelty. I depend on this injustice because of my sin!

And yet, I must ask, “Why? Why did God allow the awful injustice of the crucifixion of Jesus?”

The answer: Love and Life!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

The injustice Esau suffered reminds me to always be a man of my word. The injustice Job suffered encourages me to endure hardship. The injustice Jesus suffered—is LIFE!

Maybe I should take a different view toward the light injustices that I suffer in this life.

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

--2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NLT)

Mark Stinnett

January 31, 2021

"I AM": Just

Life’s unfair…

Kids come home from school and talk about their day:
     “The teacher said...and that’s not fair.”
     “My friend…and that’s not fair.”
     “It rained again; it’s just not fair.”

After supper mom and dad discuss their day:
     “The boss told us...and that’s not fair.”
     “I can’t believe what happened to…; that’s just not fair.
     “Did you hear what’s happening overseas? That’s really unfair.”

I’m not saying that people complain all the time (though some do). Rather, I think we spend a lot of time thinking about and talking about and wringing our hands about the many inequities of life, that is, the stuff that’s not fair.

The Psalmist often cried out to God because of the inequities of life. Yet, he concluded that God was his strength. He said that he “will wait upon the Lord.”

What does that mean, to wait upon the Lord?

In short, it means that a person is willing to endure the inequities of life and allow God to straighten everything out later. To wait upon the Lord means that, while the inequities in life are real, I will trust that God is also aware. I will be content to allow God to take action in His time as He sees fit.

So, is that really fair? Is God being fair?

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.   —Romans 12:19

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.    —Romans 12:21

The simple idea is that God understands that life is not fair and He promises to deal with the inequities of life. We just need to be patient… because...

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.    —2 Peter 3:9

From the opening pages of the Bible mankind has opposed God by declaring his selfish independence. The flood at the time of Noah dramatically shows what man deserves because of his arrogance: death. So, the question we should be asking is, “Why has God allowed us to live!?” The passage above answers.

The justice of God demands payment for sin; the justice of God demands death. Yet the love of God demands forgiveness, fellowship...life.

God will allow the guilty to live, but only if someone dies in their place, but who? Each person must bear his/her own guilt for sin. So, who is there to take my place, to take your place? The answer: Only someone who is sinless; someone who has no sin debt.

The prophet Isaiah wrote of the future Christ saying that God would be satisfied with his sacrifice. He went on to say that “He will bear their iniquity.” (53:11) Jesus, the Christ, was the satisfactory sacrifice for you and me because he was sinless. That’s not fair that he took my place and your place, but it is just! It satisfied the debt requirement for sin.

Is life fair??? No; you are still alive. 

Is life full of inequities??? Yes, but God is patient...are you?

It is as if God said to Moses, “I AM who I am...I am just.” And he did…

The LORD God...who will by no means leave the guilty unpunished….    —Exodus 34:7

Who Stands Against Injustice?

   Do not move the ancient boundary, 
   Or go into the fields of the fatherless.
   --Proverbs 23:10

At first glance you might think, “What does this have to do with anything?" Or, "What does this have to do with me?” For most of us boundaries and fields are not a major concern.

The next verse provides illumination:
   For their Redeemer is strong;
   He will plead their case against you.
   --Proverbs 23:11

The simple teaching is that God, “their Redeemer,” is watching. He is concerned about the weak and those who are victims of misfortune.

God expects his people to act with kindness and generosity toward others. He expects fairness, that is, justice. He expects his people to stand up for the weak and to help the poor. God expects his people to be like him.

'Moving an ancient boundary' meant that  a person moved the property line on someone else's land. 'Going into the field' means that a person used or harvested a field for their benefit. In this case, it was a field that did not belong to them. In both cases the proverb describes actions in which a person was taking advantage of someone who was weak in some way.

On the playground we call that person a ‘bully.’ Of course, the bully is not only found on the playground. He preys on the weak, the elderly, the sick, the uneducated, and the underprivileged. He steal money and personal possessions and property by deceit, manipulation, and/or brute strength. He might disguise himself as a good businessman or politician. He might take advantage of people by cleverly manipulating company policy or civil/social law. He behaves unjustly because he can get away with it.

God assures us that he is watching and that he will take up the case of injustice against the weak. He will speak when there is no one to speak. He will act when there is no one to act. He will demand justice, and do not think his justice will be kind.

How Great is our God!
Great in mercy.
Great in forgiveness.
Great in awesome power.

Great in JUSTICE!

If we are to be like God,
   ...we will be concerned (mind and heart) about the weak and the poor;
   ...we will be watching (eyes and ears) to make sure people are treated fairly;
   ...we will stand up (feet and hands) for the weak and poor where there are abuses.

Kill the Beast

Life is full of inequities. Or, expressed in the words of a child, “It’s not fair.”

How do you deal with the inequities of life? The rich and powerful often seem to take advantage of others. Random events in life often seem to work against people keeping them from achieving their goals. So many people feel like they can never get ahead. Many feel like victims to life and the people in their life.

When we allow ourselves to become worked up over the current issues of the day, whether personal issues or those on a larger national or global scale, we lose sight of reality. We forget our Savior and the power of our God. We forget that we have not been promised a problem-free life; rather, life will be filled with inequities. We forget that God is patient, even with evil people, even when they hurt other people.

We sometimes become so disgusted with the inequities in life that we want to lash out. We want someone to be held responsible. We want to ‘kill the beast’ who is heartless, ‘kill the beast’ who is arrogant; ‘kill the beast’ who hides behind wealth and power. Yet, when we allow ourselves to lash out, we become united with the beast. Then we react without any rational thought of our own.

     When my heart was embittered,
          And I was pierced within,
     Then I was senseless and ignorant;
          I was like a beast before You.
     —Psalm 73:21-22

It is as if the Psalmist has looked into the human soul. He sees us as we are. In the first verse of Psalm 73 he writes, “Surely God is good to Israel.” It sounds like a simple declaration of truth. Then, he writes, “But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling.” He knows the truth, God is good!, yet he feels that his world is an exception: inequities loom. Life is not fair. (He might stumble.)

The Psalmist sees the rich, the arrogant, and the wicked and he knows their evil character. Yet, he finds himself envious. They simply do not have the same troubles as ordinary men.

The Psalmist sees them mock God and treat people unkindly. He sees how easy it would be for him to be like them, but that would be betrayal. That would be going against the very things he believed to be true; the things he had taught his children and others.

So, how did the Psalmist resolve his dilemma?

     When I pondered to understand this,
          It was troublesome in my sight
     Until I came into the sanctuary of God;
          Then I perceived their end.

He realized that he could only make sense of the inequities of life when he turned to God.

When he turned to God’s divine counsel he was able to see beyond the inequities of this life. He was able to understand the ultimate end of the arrogant and the wicked. He was able to look beyond himself and beyond his problems and find refuge (peace and security) in God.

His confidence in God was restored. He better understood life. He realized why God was patient with the ungodly and he accepted that God will deal fairly with him and with the ungodly. In his mind he had solidified the truth of his opening statement. There was no longer any doubt based on his circumstances.

     Surely God is good to Israel,

     To those who are pure in heart!

Through faith, we must 'kill the beast' within ourselves.

Enjoy the security of living in peace with God through purity of heart.

Sheetrock and Social Injustice

My friend, Jeremy, and I were finishing sheetrock in a new room in his basement. After a little chit-chat I asked him, “How do you answer your generation concerning current social ills, the election, and clear misunderstandings of reality?” He asked for clarification.

Earlier that day I had gotten sidetracked on Facebook reading messages (rants) about politics, the environment, social concerns, etc.

I caught myself yelling in my mind, “Can you not see how you have contradicted yourself!” “Surely you are young; otherwise you would see things differently!”

I read posts by professed Christians on different issues, silently brooding: “Have you ever read your Bible! What kind of reasoning is that!?”

I had to back away and take a breath. Their unique vocabulary gave them away; they were Millennials or Gen X’ers.

Ok. Step back from that thought too. That was really judgmental.

I settled down and asked myself: “How can I, a preacher, effectively communicate to those who are from my parents’ generation, my own baby boomer generation, and Gen X, Gen Y, and the Millennials...not to mention my 10th grader who speaks ‘mumblage’?” (She will grow out of it, I'm sure.)

It was a good question, but that was not really what was bothering me. I wanted to know how I could convince ‘them’ of ‘my’ understanding of things. I was so sure I was right.

My young friend snapped me back to reality. He actually reminded me of some recent comments I had made in Bible lessons and sermons.

“Why do you think you need to answer them?” he asked, “Isn’t that what you have been teaching us?” (We both laughed heartily; I was a little embarrassed.)

WHAM! The teacher had not been listening.

Here’s the lesson I had forgotten:

Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ²And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? ³I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

                                                                                                 —Luke 13:1-3 NASB

The people, were reacting to the front page headline news: “The Galileans!” “Pilate!” “What about all this, Jesus!?” (I was doing the same thing: reacting.)

Jesus was making the simple point that the people were losing themselves in the injustices of their society. As a result they were not focusing on their relationship with God. They could not do anything about the injustice against the Galileans...and what if they could!? More important than social justice and stewing over it and getting all bent out of shape...and being distracted; more important was whether they were righteous before God.

Whatsoever things are...right [just]…

dwell on these things.

                              —Philippians 4:8 NASB

It sure is easy to get caught up in all the injustices in our world (nation, state, city, workplace, family). There are many and they are real. However, nothing good comes from the tension and anger of dwelling on injustices. We should learn to let go of the injustices of life. (When we do, we might even find that people enjoy being around us more.) Then, in the spare time that it creates, think about things that are right/just.

Monday Religion

Religious people are interested in God’s desire. They ask themselves: "What does God expect of me?"

Wait.
“Religious people”?

We tend to categorize people. The categories are not exclusive; a person might fit into many categories. There are athletic people, rich people, hungry people, smart people, religious people, etc.

What is a religious person?
It is common to think of a religious person as one who does religious acts: attending religious meetings, engaging in religious ceremonies, praying, charitable giving, fasting, singing religious songs, reading scripture, etc.

For ancient Israel, God's chosen people, there were many religious ceremonies and requirements such as: observing the Sabbath Day, circumcision, tithing, sacrifices, food restrictions, fasting, special days of remembrance, and so on: Religion. However, God desired the heart of the worshipper, not just ritual. He desired holy living and concern for one’s fellow man more than mere ceremony. Solomon said as much:

   To do righteousness and justice
   Is desired by the LORD rather than sacrifice.
   --Proverbs 21:3

Nothing has really changed for the worshipper of God today. To God, religion is as much about Monday through Saturday as it is about Sunday. God expects His people to be holy and He expects His people to love others. Religion is about holiness and love...every single day.

• What is your attitude toward God on Monday?
• Would you consider yourself to be 'holy' on Friday or Saturday night?
• How do you treat people on Tuesday?
• Is your 'religion' something you 'do' only on Sunday, only in a 'religious' place, only at a religious service?

What does God really desire?

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
--James 1:27 (New International Version)