Burdens and boundaries

Joshua 16:1–17:18, 2 Corinthians 11:24–33, Psalm 55

One school discovered that boundaries can be a good thing. The building was in the middle of a large lot without a fence. The children played close to the school, until a fence was installed around the perimeter of the lot. Immediately the youngsters moved out, playing right up to the fence. It made them feel safe.

This OT reading describes boundaries: “The territory of the people of Ephraim by their clans was as follows: the boundary of their inheritance on the east was Ataroth-addar as far as Upper Beth-horon, and the boundary goes from there to the sea. On the north is Michmethath. Then on the east the boundary turns around toward Taanath-shiloh and passes along beyond it on the east to Janoah, then it goes down from Janoah to Ataroth and to Naarah, and touches Jericho, ending at the Jordan.” (Joshua 16:5–7)

My first thought was that school, but I doubt that those boundaries made the Israelites feel safe because no fences were involved. Their borders did not confine them, but enemies could easily invade their territory. It took many battles before they felt safe within their boundaries.

Then I thought about my boundaries. What are they and do I try to overstep them? What about enemies? Certainly Satan can only do what God allows but I can put up a fence to stop Him. If I can remain yielded to God, then the devil has no power over me. That is my fence and my defense.

The Apostle Paul could do the same. He had a clear mandate from God and was busy with obedience. He also had no fences to keep out his enemies. He no doubt battled Satan, but also wrote about his trials and persecutions in serving God, and the pressure of answering antagonists who challenged his apostleship and teaching. After describing his defense, he says, “And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.” (2 Corinthians 11:28–31)

I’ll never be like Paul and yet God does give me a burden for the church, other Christians, and those who do not know Christ. However, along with that burden, I’ve also a tremendous sense of weakness. I cannot do anything about the needs that I see unless God gives me both the command and the grace to carry it out. Sometimes I feel fenced in, not by a hedge of protection but by my own ignorance. Many times I’m not sure how to be a blessing, or how to battle my enemies.

David seemed to feel the same way. He was restless, oppressed, and troubled. He expressed fear, even horror, and that he wanted to escape it. He asked God to deal with his enemies, and to keep him safe in all his battles. I can identify with those emotions. My enemies are not human yet the sense of opposition is real and strong. I know that I’m in a spiritual war and have no resources of my own. I have the same strong desire to “fly away and be at rest” (verse 6). However, David gives wise advice. He says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)

We do get ‘moved’ in our physical situation, in our emotions, but that is not what he means. This sustaining is spiritual. My position with God is firm, not because I am firm but because He firmly holds me, keeps me from totally falling apart, from being completely ruined by fear, doubt, and any other struggle of the Christian faith.

I don’t know what comes next, but I know God establishes boundaries and will keep me in His care. I can give all my burdens to Him and be certain that He cares about them even more than I do. 

God cares for His children

Joshua 4:1–6:27, Psalm 46:10, 2 Corinthians 9:6–15, Psalm 48

Just before Joshua would lead the advance into the Promised Land — first stop: Jericho — he saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went to him and said, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?”

The man replied, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.”

And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”

And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:13–15)

It seems that this man was more than an angel, perhaps even a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus (although that possibility is debated). Whoever he was, he wanted Joshua to know that this was a holy place and an undertaking commanded and sanctioned by God.

Most know the story. Joshua was given strange orders for capturing this first stronghold. What army takes a city by marching around it seven times in seven days while blowing trumpets? How can the walls fall down on the last day — a day of marching around it seven times? It makes no sense to a military mind, and no sense to anyone else. Marching feet would never cause an earthquake or vibrate city walls so as to make them fall to the ground.

I’m certain that this happened this way because God wanted them to know that the commander of the army of the Lord brings the victory. This was an important lesson for the Israelites, the people to whom the Lord said, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). They needed to know that their victories depended on Him, not their own might.

The NT reading contains another lesson for God’s people. This time it is about the marvel of God’s provision. Just tonight, a Christian friend said, “All of us know what it is like to need a certain amount of money, to have no hope or idea where it would come from, and then God supplied, almost as if it fell from the sky.” It is this God who says . . .

“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others.” (2 Corinthians 9:10–13)

God supplies my needs. His supply can be just what I need, or overflowing. It isn’t about financial strategy or clever use of time or money. It is about God and about submission to Him and the gospel of Christ. We sometimes say it with both humility and a bit of smug confidence: “God takes care of His kids.”

Perhaps in contrast to remembering Jericho, the psalmist tells of another wonder about the Lord we love: “Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.” (Psalm 48:12–14)

We fumble and stumble, but sometimes we march and blow trumpets. In it all, He is taking care of His kids, even the bratty ones. Ask me how I know.

We are on His mind

Last night the weather gave us scenes from the storm in the eastern seaboard and the resulting havoc. One man was shoveling snow standing on the top of his car. He had to move at least a couple feet of the white stuff before he could see his vehicle. Even those of us who live in ‘snow country’ would have difficulty dealing with a storm like that.

Closer to home, several family members are going through painful trials that are bringing tears to our eyes and us to our knees. We cannot help but wonder about the mind of Christ when a disaster happens, when tragedies occur. Is He crying? Does He grieve too? Will He fix this? What is going on in the plan of God?

Today’s devotional reading is about a tragedy in the family of Jesus. John the Baptist was a relative, a godly man besides. He had been proclaiming the message of repentance, but it ended badly for him . . .

“At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, and he said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.’

“For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been saying to him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’

“And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

“Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.” (Matthew 14:1–12)

John told the truth and was murdered for doing so. If this happened to a Christian brother or sister who was also a blood relative, I would be outraged. If I had the power of Jesus Christ, I’d likely seek justice for such an unwarranted crime. He didn’t do that.

“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:13–14)

Jesus withdrew, perhaps to pray, to grieve, but circumstances didn’t allow solitude. Needy people were all around Him, so He took care of them. Did this mean He didn’t care what happened to John? I don’t think so. What I do think is that Jesus was able to see the bigger picture and it sustained Him, even motivated Him to keep on ministering to others.

First, John was in God’s care when he was living and when he died. He was a man of God, and now that he was gone, he was in a better place — with God, and eternally whole and forever blessed.

Second, John’s work was done. Repentance was the first part of the gospel, and soon Jesus would complete the good news by His own death, followed by His resurrection from the dead. When the plan of God ran its course, the world would know that those who repent will be forgiven, not because they are anything special for doing it, but because Jesus paid the full penalty for sin. Repentance is required; Jesus did say without it, there is no forgiveness, but without the Cross, repentance is not enough. Our being sorry and turning from sin will not save us. Only Jesus can do that.

Human life often experiences things that seem terrible to us, to me. My vision is short and sees only what it sees, but the mind of Christ sees ‘the rest of the story.’ In Him, there is always hope, always the promise of eternal life, always the promise that even in this life God uses all things for our good, that we might become more like Jesus.

In my family, I see His children suffering, but I also know that God isn’t heartless or mean. Not only can He transform their lives through these trials, but He can also give them a comfort so great that only those who experience it would even believe it.

The old hymn says, “His eye is on the sparrow, so I know He watches me.” My personal version says, “His eye is on the sparrow, so I know His mind is on His children, now and forever.”

The Good Shepherd prays...

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies . . .” (Psalm 23:5)

The shepherd goes ahead of the sheep anticipating their needs, but also making sure that where they go is safe and part of his plan for them. Otherwise, the sheep will wind up in places of danger.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He operates often out of sight to keep His people safe. This does not mean we will never face danger. However, unlike sheep, whatever we experience has purpose. In the battle for our faith, the Lord gives us what we need to minister to others. Peter is a good example. Just before the crucifixion, Jesus said to him, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31–32)

That Jesus prays for me is both humbling and overwhelming. Prayer is part of His plan that I be fed and cared for. One recorded prayer gives clues to His priorities. These quotes are from John 17. . .

Joy: “These things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”

Protection: “The world has hated them . . . I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”

Set apart by truth: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

A mission: “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

His commitment to us: “And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

Unity: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

Seeing Him: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”

 Knowing Him: “O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

And from Hebrews 7, more about His intercession and commitment . . .

Continual salvation: “He continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Once for all forgiveness: “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.”

In the old covenant, “the law appointed men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.” (Hebrews 7:24–28) And this is why I love the Shepherd . . . because He first loved me and will never stop caring for His sheep. 

Restored because He cares

He restores my soul . . . (Psalm 23:3)

The human way of thinking is that if I repeatedly fail in my Christian life, God gets angry or at least annoyed with me. For instance, in this passage describing what happened after Peter’s three denials that he knew Jesus . . .

And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:59–62)

 . . . I tend to imagine Jesus sternly looking at Peter and that look causing Peter to wilt. However, the shepherd does not do that. A sheep that has fallen and cannot get up gets his full and tender attention. The goal is always to get that poor animal restored to an upright and healthy condition. He restores my soul.

In another passage, Jesus tells of His care for the fallen in a parable. The Pharisees and scribes grumbled because He was “receiving sinners and eating with them” so Jesus said, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:1–7)

In another situation, the parable was not a story but enacted in real life. Those same scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. Trying to trap Jesus, they wanted to know if they should stone her as the law says. Jesus didn’t answer but wrote on the ground and when they persisted, He said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” He kept writing and they filed out, beginning with the older ones. Left alone with her, He asked her if anyone condemned her and she said no one. Then He said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:1–11)

This week, one of my professors pointed out the order of His words and how they show the way God thinks about sinners that He saves. Just like a shepherd would never say to a fallen sheep, “I will rescue you only if you promise to never get in this predicament again,” the Lord first saves by removing all condemnation, then talks about how we ought to respond. That is, Christ died for us while we were still sinners not when we cleaned up our act. His love for us is not conditional.

That means that no matter how many times I stumble, or tip over, or fall down and am helpless, He seeks me out with rescue and restoration in mind, not rebuke and wrath.

He once told a sinner that those who are forgiven much will love much. As a sheep that struggles to stay near my Shepherd, I’m beginning to understand how that works.