It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
—Psalm 112:4-5
“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.”
—Deuteronomy 4:1
“Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
—Matthew 6:11-12
I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
—1 Timothy 3:14-15
Moses not only gave the Lord's instruction to the Israelites, he also gave them purpose. The Lord's teaching and discipline prepared them to live in the land that the Lord was giving them. Not just for themselves, but so that the Lord's wisdom and understanding would be demonstrated in their way of life before the nations.
The idolatrous world that outnumbered the Israelites needed to see what wisdom and understanding looked like. That meant that Israel had to be shaped by the Lord's instruction instead of conforming to the expectations and practices of the idolaters. And, to borrow words from the Psalms, that means giving grace, showing mercy, upholding right relationships, continuously practicing generosity and fairness.
Psalm 112 describes a person whose great delight in the Lord's commandments translates to conduct. And the very next Psalm asks, “Who is like the Lord...?” The world begins to form its understanding of Him by looking first at His children. And that is preparation for seeing the One who “raises the poor from the dust”.
Paul gave instruction on how to behave in the Lord's household. Whether expressed in the metaphor of household or family or body, we can recognize that the world begins to form its understanding of the Lord's kingdom by how His children conduct themselves.
His Kingdom (part 4)
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
—Psalm 112:4-5
“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.”
—Deuteronomy 4:1
“Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
—Matthew 6:11-12
I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
—1 Timothy 3:14-15
Moses not only gave the Lord's instruction to the Israelites, he also gave them purpose. The Lord's teaching and discipline prepared them to live in the land that the Lord was giving them. Not just for themselves, but so that the Lord's wisdom and understanding would be demonstrated in their way of life before the nations.
The idolatrous world that outnumbered the Israelites needed to see what wisdom and understanding looked like. That meant that Israel had to be shaped by the Lord's instruction instead of conforming to the expectations and practices of the idolaters. And, to borrow words from the Psalms, that means giving grace, showing mercy, upholding right relationships, continuously practicing generosity and fairness.
Psalm 112 describes a person whose great delight in the Lord's commandments translates to conduct. And the very next Psalm asks, “Who is like the Lord...?” The world begins to form its understanding of Him by looking first at His children. And that is preparation for seeing the One who “raises the poor from the dust”.
Paul gave instruction on how to behave in the Lord's household. Whether expressed in the metaphor of household or family or body, we can recognize that the world begins to form its understanding of the Lord's kingdom by how His children conduct themselves.