Wilderness Wanderings

A special, extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is Matthew 26:14-31 from the New International Version of the Bible. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection or discussion!

To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

DIVE IN QUESTIONS

1. Reflect on how the Passover changed to become the Lord's Supper.
2. Who did Jesus see when he looked around the table? Who does he see today?
3. How does the cup point towards the cross?
4. What else the cup point towards? Does this give you hope?

First off, a thank you to all of you who have sent a note to Pastor Michael or myself this past week with your suggestions for how we can best encourage one another through these devotions! You might just start seeing those themes in these next days and weeks. And please, do keep reaching out as we wander this wilderness together! Now, on to Proverbs.

Trust in the Lord with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

This is a text that someone suggested to us, but Proverbs has also been a book that I've been reading through again in my own devotions recently. Maybe because I've felt one thing in short supply in our world right now is wisdom. But, maybe even more so because I'm not feeling very equipped to live wisely in these days either.

Maybe you feel similarly.

The book of Proverbs reminds us frequently that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." If we're to start down this path of seeking or gaining wisdom, lovingly seeking to follow the Lord is the first step.

The familiar text we're looking at today takes another step. Trust in the Lord, rather than your own understanding. Submit to him. He's the one who makes the crooked straight.

Well, there's a whole lot of crooked things going on in our world right now. Pandemic, politics, lockdown, and a lot of hard stuff in the lives of those we love. And our minds are exhausted attempting to understand it all, let alone respond to it. And when our responses do come out, well, they don't always prove to be the most helpful for straightening things out.

Hence the invitation of Proverbs: start with God, rather than your own ability to sort through the mess of our world. Submit that world and your ways each day to him. Trust him to make a way, trust him to straighten out your paths.

Pastor Michael gave a concrete example of how to do just that in his devotion yesterday. Left to our own understanding, we might want to argue with, complain about, or altogether disregard the health restrictions imposed on us, believing we know better. But God continues to invite us to respect the authorities placed over us, not for their own sake, but as a submission of our ways to him, trusting that he will be good to his word, making our paths straight.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established…Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law (Romans 13:1, 8).

Last March, when the Ontario Government announced the first lockdown, our church's executive met to work out our response. Today's text provided two of the guiding principles that were used to navigate our congregation through COVID times.

We committed ourselves to being subject to the governing authorities and to loving one another and our neighbour. Despite the warnings that this could take a long time, many of us assumed that this would soon all be over, a month or two, September at the latest.

Well, September came and went. Now its January and we find ourselves back in lock down. We need to return to these two guiding principles. When I think about them, I'm still quite willing to find ways to love my neighbour. But I find myself waffling on the issue of following the governments instructions.

On the one hand, I am just tired of it all. COVID fatigue. Yep, I can check that box. But on the other hand, I find it difficult to understand what the government is trying to do. Will this lockdown really halt the spread of the virus? What about all the issues that will be created by this lockdown? How will we deal with them? Will these restrictions (whatever they might bemean) really solve more problems than they create? I'm not convinced.

And so, I find myself resisting the principle to submit to the governing authorities. Do we need to follow a government we disagree with? Or a government enacting laws that appear to defy logic?

Then I remember that Paul lived in the Roman empire which persecuted Christians. Paul took his cue from Jeremiah who lived under the Babylonian empire which had taken Israel into exile.

When I think about that, I realize that there is no way that our current situation would justify defiance of the authorities.

I may not like these new restrictions and they may defy logic, but my primary allegiance is to my Lord and Saviour. He calls me to submit to the governing authorities and so I will make every effort to do so.

And it strikes me that one of the ways we can love our neighbour is to live and speak in ways that do not promote descent. There is too much political division already. And Christians have caused some of it. Christians need to bring people together, not drive them further apart. Will you join me in this?

Today's text is a reworking of Psalm 44, spoken into our lives last March in a sermon during the first lockdown. But as we sit in the second lockdown with more restrictions announced, it still seems pretty relevant in naming our lament. So, Psalm 44, in our own words...

We have heard it with our own ears, O God. Our ancestors and elder saints have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. With your hand you brought many of them from the crisis of a war-torn Europe to this new land of Canada. Through the trials of immigration, you planted them here and caused them to flourish.

And though we sometimes forget, it was not by their language skills, determination, or business sense that they survived in this land. No, it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face that accomplished it, for you loved them.

And even now, You are our King and Our God who decrees victory in Christ for your church. Through you we received an identity and an inheritance as Your people. Through You we have received provision and hope in the face of scarcity and death.

Through You these things even became tangible. A church building was erected and a congregation of your people was established in this place. Through you, we've offered our prayers, our songs, our promises, our lives. Through you our families and communities have grown and flourished as you've blessed baptisms and marriages, fed us at your table, and as you've received dearly loved saints into your arms at life's end.

And so in you, O God, we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. For you have been faithful.

But right now, it feels like you have rejected and humbled us: you have made us retreat from our church building, from each other, and from our places of work and school and security before this enemy. You have given us up, and so many others too across our city, country, and world, all to be devoured like sheep by this virus.

You have sold us into uncertainty for a pittance, gaining nothing from the sale. You have made us a reproach to our neighbors as we avoid one another in fear on the streets. You have scattered us all into isolation, away from community. We suddenly live in fear, disgrace, and loneliness all day long because of this disease, this enemy that we cannot see.

And all this came upon us, even us your church, though we had not forgotten you; we had not been false to your covenant. We are not perfect, but our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path. But you crushed us all the same. You covered us up with deep darkness, fear, and loneliness.

If we had forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to idols—you've would've known it! You know everything! And yet with your name upon us, marked as Christians, we face death all day long; we along with the whole rest of the world right now are as good as sheep marked for slaughter.

But this is not the way it's supposed to be! Not in your Kingdom. So Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression? We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love. It's all we have to cling to.

That's Psalm 44, spoken into our lives last March, and spoken into our lives again today. If you were to put your lament to words like a Psalm, how would it go? Try praying it out to God today.

"How lovely is your dwelling place O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God" (Psalm 84:1-2).

Yesterday, Pastor Anthony mentioned that we had been considering spending some time with the Old Testament prophets. Our idea was to dig around in some interesting but unfamiliar passages. We made these plans in mid-December. Then, we went into a second lock down and I went on a two-week vacation. We don't talk when either of us is on vacation, giving each other space for Sabbath. But both of us were questioning if we needed to reconsider our plans.

We didn't have time to lay any new plans. We received a few responses to his request for suggestions. Hopefully, more of you will give us ideas. In the meantime, I invite you to today consider Psalm 84.

Let's enter the text with a simple question, "What do you want?"

Some of you may be looking in the refrigeration to get some breakfast. I'm not interested in what you want for breakfast. This is one of those annoyingly profound questions like when you get asked what you want written on your tombstone or what you want people to say about you at your funeral. What do you want for your life? or from your life?

I get irritated with stories in which a character immediately knows the answer to such a question. I find it depends on the day and the things happening around me. I'm not always sure if there is one thing that I really want.

But knowing what we want is important. Years ago, when it was still okay to say such things, G. K. Chesterton wrote, "Every man who knocks on the door of a brothel is looking for God." The only difference between that person and the one who kneels to receive the Lord's Supper is that the former is looking for satisfaction in the wrong place. The former does not know that it is God who is being sought for.

It's the same with all our appetites and longings: a bigger house; a faster car; better make-up; successful children; political position.

We want many things. But getting these things doesn't satisfy. In fact, they tend to kill us. We humans have an infernal habit of mistaking the things God gives for the God who gives them. We tend to worship the things God gives, rather than God himself. As Paul once wrote, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised! Amen" (Romans 1:25).

God made everything for His glory, to show off His greatness. The things He created all point back to Him. They remind us that He is our true home, our destination. Sin makes creatures our home rather than God to whom they point. Worshipping God's creation will be our death.

The psalmist knew this. He was away from Jerusalem and longed to be home. Not because he worshipped that city but because in Jerusalem was God's temple, God's presence on earth. That is where he encountered God. That was joy.

This is even truer for us, followers of Jesus. We are his temple. God is right here, where we are. But do we want him? Is he our joy?

In the long road through the wilderness of this pandemic, we can take either of two roads. On the one road, we focus on all the things that we can't enjoy right now. We can feed our longing for them.

The other road is the one the psalmist took. Rather, than feeding his longings for stuff, he fed his longing for God. We can take that road too. We can ask the Spirit to sift our desires so that more and more we long for God. Then, when someone asks us that irritating question, "What do you want out of life?" we know our answer.

Let us pray that He will always be our joy and that we will always sing His praises and not the praises of the things He made.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Pastor Michael and I are thinking of heading into the Old Testament prophets between now and the season of Lent. But before we dive into that, first, I'd love to hear your feedback: how can we encourage you best through these daily devotionals? What theme or word from the Lord do you most need to hear?

The thing about devotionals, is that we're used to reading or listening to one that's been prepared by someone far away. Some important leader that has wisdom to offer or some beloved Christian writer who has a knack for opening windows unto God's work.

But we're your pastors—not some big known personalities writing from far away. You know us and we know you. We're all part of this Immanuel community together, in faith. So… talk to us! This is part of our way of ministering to you, but also part of us all being church together. This is part of our communal conversation with and about our God, our faith, the Spirit's work, and our Lord's salvation and coming reign.

So, with the writer of Hebrews, how can we do that best? How can we help each other hold unswervingly to the hope we profess? How can we help one another keep our eyes fixed on Jesus even as we spur one another on toward love and good deeds? How, in this time of not being able to meet together—not out of habit, but out of active love for one another and respect for our government officials—how can we still be an encouragement to one another?

Reach out to Pastor Michael or I. We'd love to talk, open the scriptures together. Then share the fruit of our discoveries for the encouragement of all as we journey on through this strange lockdown wilderness together, in faith.

A special, extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is Exodus 12:1-14 from the New International Version of the Bible. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection or discussion!

To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

DIVE IN QUESTIONS

1. Fill in this sentence's blank for as many answers as you can come up with: "I am _____________." (How do you define your identity?)

2. Looking at each of your answers for the first question, list the rituals, symbols, phrases, and actions that are unique to each. What things to do you do, say, recognize, show, celebrate, or put into ceremonies or rites of passage because of that particular bit of your identity?

3. At what point do all these competing identities and their rituals, symbols, and phrases begin to get confused, forgotten, or lose you? At what point do they become too important? How can you tell?

4. In the Passover, what rituals, symbols, and phrases did God give his people? Why?

5. In the Lord's Supper, what rituals, symbols, and phrases did God give his people? What purpose do these things serve for our memory and identity?

6. Right now, many of us are stressed, disheartened, weary, bored, sad, or frightened because of where we find ourselves in lockdown (again) or other, more personal situations. How might Jesus be meeting you with a needed reminder of who you are in Him through His meal today?

The Priestly blessing consists of three blessings, representing God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. What is the purpose of a three-part blessing?

The three blessings are quite different from each other. But together, they not only represent the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, they provide a 'complete' blessing. By this I mean all three together are everything we need and there is no additional blessing needed in our lives.

So we have looked at two of the blessings and today we will learn about the third one.

Two Scripture readings today as we begin.

First, from Numbers 6:26:

"The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace."

Second, from Philippians 4:4-7

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

The third part of this blessing is God's peace, a gift that comes primarily through the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:7)

Mixed in this verse is the word guard and the promise of peace which comes by keeping us focussed on Christ. This is the Holy Spirit's work. The Holy Spirit keeps us resting in Christ, enabling us to believe and to know with certainty that Jesus has paid for our sins. The Holy Spirit assures us that our Lord will take care of us, no matter what. The Holy Spirit guides our hearts and minds.

All of this gives us peace. It doesn't matter what is going on in our lives right now or in the future — good, or not so good — we have this amazing peace of God which transcends understanding.

What a tremendous gift it is to be able to have peace when the future — humanly speaking — is uncertain, and when you face uncertainty. Because of the Father's care and because Jesus has secured us in the grace of God, we may live in peace.

This final blessing is intended to complete us. God's blessings empower us to be a blessing to others — to make an impact. Once again, it is a gift for life that we use to bring life into other people's hearts.

Knowing this, who do you need to pray God's blessings for today?

Key Thought: The Lord will lift up His wholeness of being and look upon you, and He will set in place all you need to be whole and complete.

This is day 4 with Rick Verkerk and his series on Blessing for Wilderness Wanderings.

'The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.' - Numbers 6:25

The second blessing goes a little deeper than the first blessing. Shining His face upon us indicates acceptance and favour. God blesses us so that we will shine brightly and beautifully for all the world to see. He does this by illuminating Himself through us, and it is indeed beautiful!

But the Lord is also gracious to us. This word depicts a heartfelt response by someone who has something to give to one who has a need. God sees our real need, and what we really need is His grace. After all, we are all sinners and not beautiful at all. We are lost without God's grace, which was bought for us through Jesus. It saves us and beautifies us.

That is really the heart of this blessing. Our sin cannot separate us from God because Jesus has brought us back together. Our fears and weaknesses in this life have no real power, because our Father in heaven has us so completely in His hand, that He even knows how many hairs we have on our head.

Picture the Lord's face shining on you. In the Old Testament when your face would shine, it was a way of saying you are happy. And because we live under His smiling face, we can smile as well. Our faces, and our lives, can bring joy and peace and happiness to other people. This is a powerful tool to use to impact others.

Knowing this blessing, how bright is your face shining today? How are you blessing others with the blessings God has given you?

Key Thought: The Lord will illuminate the wholeness of His being toward you, bringing order, and He will beautify you.

This is day three of our Wilderness Wanderings series on blessing with Rick Verkerk.

Today I am going to teach some Hebrew as I return to the Priestly blessing and talk about the first blessing, focussing in on two words.

Today's Scripture is Numbers 6:24:

'The Lord bless you and keep you'

The English word bless comes from the Hebrew word barak which means to kneel. The Hebrew word for blessing is berakah, but more literally, it means the bringing of a gift to another on a bended knee. The Lord Jesus came to earth to bless us. He came on bended knee to serve his people! (Mt 20:28)

The Hebrew word for keep is shamar which literally means to guard. A related word is shamiyr which means thorn. Shepherds in the wilderness would build a corral constructed out of thorn bushes. That would protect the sheep from predators, keeping them safe — a hedge of protection, a common phrase of prayer nowadays when asking the Lord to protect them.

Satan recognizes this hedge of protection. The enemy mentioned it when he talked to God about Job. The Lord said in Job 1:8, "Have you considered my servant Job?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land" (10).

For us, this protection means we can live and prosper under God's care, like sheep can live safely in a corral their shepherds built for them. This is God's daily care and provision for us. The purpose of this? To commission us to move forward to impact the world for Him because we have this blessing.

Knowing that this is a daily blessing should fill you with so much joy that many will notice. Through this joy, His name — which is invested in you — will impact nations. (Ps. 67:2)

Is your joy from God's blessing noticeable to others?

Key Thought: The Lord will kneel before you, presenting gifts, and will guard you with a hedge of protection.