For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Matt. 5
The Sermon on the Mount tells us so much about God’s character and how our human nature contradicts it. In it, we learn the true nature of God’s law. Through Jesus’ words we learn that the Mosaic Law only focuses on the results of a pure heart without having any real power to make the heart pure. God’s Law, however, goes deeper. God’s Law is all about the condition of the heart, out of which our actions are borne.
According to Jesus, the sin starts long before the action of the Law takes place. That is how it is possible to obey the letter of the law, as the Pharisees and teachers of the law did, and still be guilty of breaking the law. And that is why we must give our hearts to God. Only then can He can replace our human nature with the nature of Christ through His Holy Spirit in order to save us.
Num. 27-28
Why did Moses pray for a new leader, and what was the new leader to do? When God sent Moses up the mountain to gather him ‘home’, Moses asked God to not leave His people without leadership and guidance. He asked God to appoint a leader, “so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” (Num. 27:17b). This new leader would do as Moses had done, and be a mediator between God and His people, so the people would know what God would have them to do. I can’t help but see the comparison in how God sent His Holy Spirit to be with us when He took Jesus away. It is through the Holy Spirit that we inquire of God to learn and obey His commands. God did not leave the Israelites or us as sheep without a shepherd.
Ps. 31
Pray this psalm, and think about how you take refuge in the Lord. “In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame” (Ps. 31:1a). What does that really mean? One possible meaning is to never be outdone. In this present, time-bound world, however, good does not always win the day. We see countless men of God put to death in the Bible, Jesus included. So I don’t think the expectation of the wicked being humbled at the feet of the righteous in the here and now is a realistic one. It is, however, a very sure conclusion for that final judgment day. Jesus’ resurrection is the foreshadowing of that truth. So in that sense, this is a prayer for the final, eternal outcome.
Another meaning, though, is to never feel ashamed. To me, this speaks of maintaining confidence in God as our refuge; of standing firm in faith on His truth. This actually works together with the first meaning. If we do not allow ourselves to give in to the lies that contradict God’s truth, feeling ashamed of what we believe, then we will indeed see the enemies feeding us those lies crumble at our feet in the end.
We know that this is a sure outcome because of what Psalm 31:3 states. “Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me.” God offered us refuge, not because of anything we are or have done, but because He is God. And He will be faithful to that offer for the sake of His name. God, by His very nature, cannot contradict Himself. He will always be God. It is because of this that our trust need never be shaken.