Reformation Hope Church Brookfield WI Dr Wayne Sedlak

The Name of The Lord is a Strong Tower, The Righteous Runneth Into It and Is Safe

The real question is How?

How is this proverb true?

The Name of the Lord

Concordia University

The name of the Lord refers to God's person and character. The Lord is our rock, our refuge, our fortress, our shepherd, our king, and our redeemer.

Insititute of Creation Research

This unique name of God was given to stress the truth that He is timeless. The name “LORD” (Hebrew YHWH = Yahweh, or Jehovah) is essentially the same, conveying the truth that He is the eternal, self-existing One.

The Lord Jesus Christ appropriated this divine name to Himself when He told the Jews: “Before Abraham was [i.e., ‘was born’], I am” (John 8:58). Correctly assuming that this statement was nothing less than a direct claim to identity with God, the Jews immediately (but unsuccessfully) attempted to stone Him to death as a blasphemer.

As the I Am, the Lord Jesus Christ is, indeed, everything, and He has revealed Himself to us under many beautiful symbols. It is well known that there are seven great “I am’s” in the gospel of John, each of which is rich with spiritual depth of meaning. They can be listed as follows.

“I am the bread of life...the living bread” (John 6:35, 51).

“I am the light of the world...the light of life” (John 8:12).

“I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7).

“I am the good shepherd...[who] giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

“I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25).

“I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

“I am the true vine” (John 15:1).

It is well known that this magnificent self-assertion of the Lord permeates the whole Bible, from its first use in Genesis 15:1, “I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward,” to its final occurrence in Revelation 22:16, “I am...the bright and morning star.” And all these beautiful figures help us to pray more fervently “that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28).

Actually…

The Name of God Represents His Whole Being, His Character, His Desires, His Goals. Righteousness is the Sum Total of His Character. Inside of this Character God has a System of Righteousness, His Ways of Living, His Ways of Running Culture.

In that sense, God is above all Gods, all authorities, all persons, all idolitries. Idolatries are obnoxious as they are imposters and promote a World View that is wholly errant and destructive to peoples that follow them and the actual world that they live in.

It is more than just a Name, as if we spout forth Jesus, that we have emitted an aura of sudden mystical favour.

We’ve reduced the Name of the Lord to a cheap phrase, when it represents a Package of God’s Character that puts God here on Earth, and not just stuck in Heaven. A very real Lord that is everywhere acting judicially, and defending and building His people in this world.

This sermon aims to Show How The Name of The Lord Is a High Tower, and why it is placed in the middle of Proverbs 18.

To start with the overall summary of the chapter is one of contrasts between a covenant people and pagan world. It contrasts how a pagan world thinks, and puts in contrast how a Christian thinks. It shows how a pagan world acts, with mincing words, slothful work, wealth as manipulation tool, truth as subjective and life as get as much as you can.

The Christian world view Rests in the Lord, and relies on God and His ways as absolute.

Proverbs 18

1. Desire

a. Soul of Man needs purpose

b. Diligence in world views

i. 1. Bad

ii. 2. Good

2. Prelude to the Wicked World View

a. No Understanding

b. Not knit by Covenant

c. Credo – I am the ultimate authority

3. Brings wreckage to culture

a. Verbally

b. Economically

c. Personally

4. Hide Knowledge An Elite is required to keep it

a. Knowledge exposes their agendas

b. When released great changes occur

5. Overthrow Righteousness in the Land

6. Fruit of their Mouth

a. Call for the righteous to be exculpated from the land

b. Violent

7. Fruit of the Mouth:

a. Their own Destruction

b. Be Sure your sin will find you out

c. God will make it happen

d. God is actively seeing all the evil and acting

8. Fruit of the Mouth: Talebearer

a. Tears open wounds that are healed

b. Causes great rifts for advantage

9. Weber Thesis in Action

a. Their work is horrid

b. Brings poverty

c. Filth

d. Backwardness in culture

10. Introduction to Gods System

a. It is safety

b. The Righteous use it

c. It is of high value

11. Versus the Wickeds System

a. Wealth

b. Buys Power

c. Buys Protection

d. Buys their happiness

e. Defends their belief that God’s system is weak

12. The Heart is the Measure of a Man

a. Haughty will fall

i. Lording over one another

ii. Oppress thy neighbor

iii. Conquer thy neighbor

b. Humility comes before honor – Serve ye one another

13. The Spirit of Man

a. Hasty

b. Unclean Pig

i. Sure in his walk

ii. Gives no thought to his eating

iii. Stinky and dirty

c. AI Centers that will last only 15 years and end up a blight on the landscape

i. Waste of resources

ii. For what purpose?

iii. Harmful to the ecology

iv. Harmful to the tax base

14. Spirit of a Righteous Man

a. Trusts the Lord

b. Being Under his judgment is hard to bear

c. Job

15. Heart of a mature righteous man

a. Gets knowledge (gets an intimate understanding of where God is going)

b. Suddenly hears with the Ear the king and runs for knowledge

c. Knowledge is basic brickwork for building God’s Kingdom now

16. Versus What Moves a Pagan Culture

a. Bribes will move people of no knowledge

b. Wealth will bring you to the Culture Carriers

c. God uses that principle in the Weber Thesis to “Invest in His People and make them vital for culture to exist”

d. King Louis 14 got rid of the Huegenots

i. France Fell

ii. Lost all of their good workers

e. God Uses Christian Work Ethic to move men and culture

17. Law in a Pagan Culture

a. Subject to irrationality

b. Judge by appearances

c. Versus Christian Deu 1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's

18. How to Settle Hard Things

a. The Lot – the pagan thinks it is chance

b. The Christian knows it is the Lord: If God be for us, who can be against us?

c. Canaan settled by Lot

d. Jonah settled the issue by Lot

e. Precious vesture of Christs saved by Lot, demonstrating through their sin that God had ordained it Psalm 22, though they thought they were doing it.

19. Offenses will come

a. Know the cost

b. Know what you are up against

c. You may have to use some ingenious methods to overcome them, like the lot (takes man out of the outcome)

d. Think outside the box, seek the walls to come down, persue that strategy

20. The Mouth is a Tool that Mirrors God

a. God Created all things by the word of His Power

b. God Elevates His Word Above all His Name

c. God uses His word to bring life

d. So must we

i. We must love life

ii. Multitude of wize counselors – talk through the problem

iii. Build a case

e. Versus the Pagan world

i. They love the fruit of bad words

ii. They eat their own way: verily they have their reward

iii. Lies propogate error

1. Hitler – Tell a whopper of a lie they will believe it

2. Brought a whole culture to ruin and war

21. Real Power is the tongue

a. Information is the most powerful power

b. Death and Life are in it

c. Death

i. Unrighteous Judgment

ii. Propoganda – to twist and mislead for an agenda

d. Life

i. Righteous Judgment

ii. Marketing – to get the good word out

e. Love the Power as a gift from God

f. Not a power to abuse in the earth

22. Building a Life Brings Lasting Change

a. A good wife is the cornerstone to Gods Blessing in actively promulagating His Kindgom Here on Earth

b. She wont abuse her power

c. Her Words are those of empowerment

d. Those of encouragement

e. Kindness

f. True Wealth

23. The Pagan World builds by backwards methods

a. Poor use grovelling

b. Wicked use raw force and wealth

c. Versus a Christian world view

i. Understands that poor are disadvantaged

1. Don’t have the tools

2. Don’t have the resources

3. Risk everything to get ahead

ii. The Christian

1. Needs to beware of being a Lording elite authority

2. Have a covenantal mindset

3. Wealth is to build Gods Covenant

a. Deu 8:17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

b. Deu 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant

24. Formula for friendship in a pagan world

a. Must prove himself friendly

b. Covenantal View of Mankind – Church

The Name of The Lord is a Strong Tower, The Righteous Runneth Into It and Is Safe

The real question is How?

How is this proverb true?

The Name of the Lord

Concordia University

The name of the Lord refers to God's person and character. The Lord is our rock, our refuge, our fortress, our shepherd, our king, and our redeemer.

Insititute of Creation Research

This unique name of God was given to stress the truth that He is timeless. The name “LORD” (Hebrew YHWH = Yahweh, or Jehovah) is essentially the same, conveying the truth that He is the eternal, self-existing One.

The Lord Jesus Christ appropriated this divine name to Himself when He told the Jews: “Before Abraham was [i.e., ‘was born’], I am” (John 8:58). Correctly assuming that this statement was nothing less than a direct claim to identity with God, the Jews immediately (but unsuccessfully) attempted to stone Him to death as a blasphemer.

As the I Am, the Lord Jesus Christ is, indeed, everything, and He has revealed Himself to us under many beautiful symbols. It is well known that there are seven great “I am’s” in the gospel of John, each of which is rich with spiritual depth of meaning. They can be listed as follows.

“I am the bread of life...the living bread” (John 6:35, 51).

“I am the light of the world...the light of life” (John 8:12).

“I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7).

“I am the good shepherd...[who] giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

“I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25).

“I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

“I am the true vine” (John 15:1).

It is well known that this magnificent self-assertion of the Lord permeates the whole Bible, from its first use in Genesis 15:1, “I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward,” to its final occurrence in Revelation 22:16, “I am...the bright and morning star.” And all these beautiful figures help us to pray more fervently “that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28).

Actually…

The Name of God Represents His Whole Being, His Character, His Desires, His Goals. Righteousness is the Sum Total of His Character. Inside of this Character God has a System of Righteousness, His Ways of Living, His Ways of Running Culture.

In that sense, God is above all Gods, all authorities, all persons, all idolitries. Idolatries are obnoxious as they are imposters and promote a World View that is wholly errant and destructive to peoples that follow them and the actual world that they live in.

It is more than just a Name, as if we spout forth Jesus, that we have emitted an aura of sudden mystical favour.

We’ve reduced the Name of the Lord to a cheap phrase, when it represents a Package of God’s Character that puts God here on Earth, and not just stuck in Heaven. A very real Lord that is everywhere acting judicially, and defending and building His people in this world.

This sermon aims to Show How The Name of The Lord Is a High Tower, and why it is placed in the middle of Proverbs 18.

To start with the overall summary of the chapter is one of contrasts between a covenant people and pagan world. It contrasts how a pagan world thinks, and puts in contrast how a Christian thinks. It shows how a pagan world acts, with mincing words, slothful work, wealth as manipulation tool, truth as subjective and life as get as much as you can.

The Christian world view Rests in the Lord, and relies on God and His ways as absolute.

Proverbs 18

1. Desire

a. Soul of Man needs purpose

b. Diligence in world views

i. 1. Bad

ii. 2. Good

2. Prelude to the Wicked World View

a. No Understanding

b. Not knit by Covenant

c. Credo – I am the ultimate authority

3. Brings wreckage to culture

a. Verbally

b. Economically

c. Personally

4. Hide Knowledge An Elite is required to keep it

a. Knowledge exposes their agendas

b. When released great changes occur

5. Overthrow Righteousness in the Land

6. Fruit of their Mouth

a. Call for the righteous to be exculpated from the land

b. Violent

7. Fruit of the Mouth:

a. Their own Destruction

b. Be Sure your sin will find you out

c. God will make it happen

d. God is actively seeing all the evil and acting

8. Fruit of the Mouth: Talebearer

a. Tears open wounds that are healed

b. Causes great rifts for advantage

9. Weber Thesis in Action

a. Their work is horrid

b. Brings poverty

c. Filth

d. Backwardness in culture

10. Introduction to Gods System

a. It is safety

b. The Righteous use it

c. It is of high value

11. Versus the Wickeds System

a. Wealth

b. Buys Power

c. Buys Protection

d. Buys their happiness

e. Defends their belief that God’s system is weak

12. The Heart is the Measure of a Man

a. Haughty will fall

i. Lording over one another

ii. Oppress thy neighbor

iii. Conquer thy neighbor

b. Humility comes before honor – Serve ye one another

13. The Spirit of Man

a. Hasty

b. Unclean Pig

i. Sure in his walk

ii. Gives no thought to his eating

iii. Stinky and dirty

c. AI Centers that will last only 15 years and end up a blight on the landscape

i. Waste of resources

ii. For what purpose?

iii. Harmful to the ecology

iv. Harmful to the tax base

14. Spirit of a Righteous Man

a. Trusts the Lord

b. Being Under his judgment is hard to bear

c. Job

15. Heart of a mature righteous man

a. Gets knowledge (gets an intimate understanding of where God is going)

b. Suddenly hears with the Ear the king and runs for knowledge

c. Knowledge is basic brickwork for building God’s Kingdom now

16. Versus What Moves a Pagan Culture

a. Bribes will move people of no knowledge

b. Wealth will bring you to the Culture Carriers

c. God uses that principle in the Weber Thesis to “Invest in His People and make them vital for culture to exist”

d. King Louis 14 got rid of the Huegenots

i. France Fell

ii. Lost all of their good workers

e. God Uses Christian Work Ethic to move men and culture

17. Law in a Pagan Culture

a. Subject to irrationality

b. Judge by appearances

c. Versus Christian Deu 1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's

18. How to Settle Hard Things

a. The Lot – the pagan thinks it is chance

b. The Christian knows it is the Lord: If God be for us, who can be against us?

c. Canaan settled by Lot

d. Jonah settled the issue by Lot

e. Precious vesture of Christs saved by Lot, demonstrating through their sin that God had ordained it Psalm 22, though they thought they were doing it.

19. Offenses will come

a. Know the cost

b. Know what you are up against

c. You may have to use some ingenious methods to overcome them, like the lot (takes man out of the outcome)

d. Think outside the box, seek the walls to come down, persue that strategy

20. The Mouth is a Tool that Mirrors God

a. God Created all things by the word of His Power

b. God Elevates His Word Above all His Name

c. God uses His word to bring life

d. So must we

i. We must love life

ii. Multitude of wize counselors – talk through the problem

iii. Build a case

e. Versus the Pagan world

i. They love the fruit of bad words

ii. They eat their own way: verily they have their reward

iii. Lies propogate error

1. Hitler – Tell a whopper of a lie they will believe it

2. Brought a whole culture to ruin and war

21. Real Power is the tongue

a. Information is the most powerful power

b. Death and Life are in it

c. Death

i. Unrighteous Judgment

ii. Propoganda – to twist and mislead for an agenda

d. Life

i. Righteous Judgment

ii. Marketing – to get the good word out

e. Love the Power as a gift from God

f. Not a power to abuse in the earth

22. Building a Life Brings Lasting Change

a. A good wife is the cornerstone to Gods Blessing in actively promulagating His Kindgom Here on Earth

b. She wont abuse her power

c. Her Words are those of empowerment

d. Those of encouragement

e. Kindness

f. True Wealth

23. The Pagan World builds by backwards methods

a. Poor use grovelling

b. Wicked use raw force and wealth

c. Versus a Christian world view

i. Understands that poor are disadvantaged

1. Don’t have the tools

2. Don’t have the resources

3. Risk everything to get ahead

ii. The Christian

1. Needs to beware of being a Lording elite authority

2. Have a covenantal mindset

3. Wealth is to build Gods Covenant

a. Deu 8:17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

b. Deu 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant

24. Formula for friendship in a pagan world

a. Must prove himself friendly

b. Covenantal View of Mankind – Church

Church: Mercy or Covenant Lawsuit?

The Church has a virtual monopoly on transcendental truths: those truths which

are universal, non-material, and invariable.

But nearly universally, the Church gives up their monopoly via corruption to

idolatry. It starts as an excuse to "see their God" and eventually moves into

full fledged apostasy.

Church: Mercy or Covenant Lawsuit?

The Church has a virtual monopoly on transcendental truths: those truths which

are universal, non-material, and invariable.

But nearly universally, the Church gives up their monopoly via corruption to

idolatry. It starts as an excuse to "see their God" and eventually moves into

full fledged apostasy.

Psalm 74 raises profound questions about faith, judgment, and God's mercy. This blog post delves into the rich themes of covenant lawsuits, the consequences of idolatry, and the hope for redemption that Psalm 74 offers. By the end, you will grasp how these ancient texts speak to our modern spiritual lives and what we can learn from Israel's history.

## The Covenant Lawsuit in Psalm 74

Psalm 74 opens with a striking question: "Oh God, why hast thou cast us off forever?" This sets the stage for the concept of a covenant lawsuit, where God addresses Israel's unfaithfulness. The language used here is judicial, indicative of a serious accusation against the people. The psalmist articulates a profound grievance, emphasizing that God is not merely instructing but is actively engaging in a legal dispute with His people.

### The Judicial Nature of Prophetic Messages

The prophets were often seen as God's messengers in a courtroom setting, bringing accusations against Israel. For instance, the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11 levels a similar charge, urging the church to judge itself to avoid divine judgment. This theme resonates throughout scripture, where God's warnings serve as calls for repentance rather than mere instructions.

### The Consequences of Idolatry

In verse 3, the psalmist pleads for God to remember His congregation, the people He redeemed. Yet, the passage reveals a stark reality: God’s disdain for idolatry leads to dire consequences. The enemies of Israel are depicted as agents of judgment, dismantling the very idols that Israel failed to renounce. This inversion of roles, where the oppressors act in accordance with God’s covenant while Israel remains blind to its sins, highlights a grim reality for believers today.

### The Absence of Prophetic Guidance

As the psalm unfolds, it becomes apparent that Israel is in a state of spiritual desolation, lacking prophetic voices to guide them. The absence of signs and prophets signifies a deep spiritual crisis. The people’s desperation is palpable as they seek hope but find none. This situation prompts reflection on the importance of prophetic voices in our lives today and the perils of ignoring their messages.

## Divine Mercy Amidst Judgment

Despite the gravity of Israel's sins, Psalm 74 also underscores God's mercy. The psalmist's plea for intervention is a testament to the hope that remains, even in the face of judgment. The heart of this psalm is a reminder that while God may bring consequences for disobedience, He also extends opportunities for mercy and restoration.

### The Call for Repentance

The call for repentance resonates throughout the text, echoing the sentiments expressed by historical figures like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards. Their messages during America's formative years served as a lawsuit against complacency, urging people to recognize their sins and turn back to God. This connection illustrates the timeless relevance of Psalm 74's themes.

## Conclusion

In conclusion, Psalm 74 is not just an ancient text but a living document that speaks to the spiritual condition of humanity. It challenges us to reflect on our idolatry, the importance of prophetic voices, and the ever-present opportunity for repentance and mercy. As we navigate our spiritual journeys, let us heed the lessons from this psalm, recognizing that God’s call for justice is also a call to embrace His mercy.

Psalm 74 raises profound questions about faith, judgment, and God's mercy. This blog post delves into the rich themes of covenant lawsuits, the consequences of idolatry, and the hope for redemption that Psalm 74 offers. By the end, you will grasp how these ancient texts speak to our modern spiritual lives and what we can learn from Israel's history.

## The Covenant Lawsuit in Psalm 74

Psalm 74 opens with a striking question: "Oh God, why hast thou cast us off forever?" This sets the stage for the concept of a covenant lawsuit, where God addresses Israel's unfaithfulness. The language used here is judicial, indicative of a serious accusation against the people. The psalmist articulates a profound grievance, emphasizing that God is not merely instructing but is actively engaging in a legal dispute with His people.

### The Judicial Nature of Prophetic Messages

The prophets were often seen as God's messengers in a courtroom setting, bringing accusations against Israel. For instance, the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11 levels a similar charge, urging the church to judge itself to avoid divine judgment. This theme resonates throughout scripture, where God's warnings serve as calls for repentance rather than mere instructions.

### The Consequences of Idolatry

In verse 3, the psalmist pleads for God to remember His congregation, the people He redeemed. Yet, the passage reveals a stark reality: God’s disdain for idolatry leads to dire consequences. The enemies of Israel are depicted as agents of judgment, dismantling the very idols that Israel failed to renounce. This inversion of roles, where the oppressors act in accordance with God’s covenant while Israel remains blind to its sins, highlights a grim reality for believers today.

### The Absence of Prophetic Guidance

As the psalm unfolds, it becomes apparent that Israel is in a state of spiritual desolation, lacking prophetic voices to guide them. The absence of signs and prophets signifies a deep spiritual crisis. The people’s desperation is palpable as they seek hope but find none. This situation prompts reflection on the importance of prophetic voices in our lives today and the perils of ignoring their messages.

## Divine Mercy Amidst Judgment

Despite the gravity of Israel's sins, Psalm 74 also underscores God's mercy. The psalmist's plea for intervention is a testament to the hope that remains, even in the face of judgment. The heart of this psalm is a reminder that while God may bring consequences for disobedience, He also extends opportunities for mercy and restoration.

### The Call for Repentance

The call for repentance resonates throughout the text, echoing the sentiments expressed by historical figures like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards. Their messages during America's formative years served as a lawsuit against complacency, urging people to recognize their sins and turn back to God. This connection illustrates the timeless relevance of Psalm 74's themes.

## Conclusion

In conclusion, Psalm 74 is not just an ancient text but a living document that speaks to the spiritual condition of humanity. It challenges us to reflect on our idolatry, the importance of prophetic voices, and the ever-present opportunity for repentance and mercy. As we navigate our spiritual journeys, let us heed the lessons from this psalm, recognizing that God’s call for justice is also a call to embrace His mercy.

Sermons grounded in The Word of God and The Grace of God's Law. Dr Wayne C Sedlak has 45 years of Pastoral Ministry in the United States and Africa, including as University Professor and Educator.

Sermons grounded in The Word of God and The Grace of God's Law. Dr Wayne C Sedlak has 45 years of Pastoral Ministry in the United States and Africa, including as University Professor and Educator.

Sermons grounded in The Word of God and The Grace of God's Law. Dr Wayne C Sedlak has 45 years of Pastoral Ministry in the United States and Africa, including as University Professor and Educator.

Sermons grounded in The Word of God and The Grace of God's Law. Dr Wayne C Sedlak has 45 years of Pastoral Ministry in the United States and Africa, including as University Professor and Educator.