You're continually bombarded with choices in life, but only one really matters. Proverbs 9 (NASB95) 1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; 2 She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table; 3 She has sent out her maidens, she calls From the tops of the heights of the city: 4 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says, 5 “Come, eat of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 “Forsake your folly and live, And proceed in the way of understanding.” 7 He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. 8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you alone will bear it. 13 The woman of folly is boisterous, She is naive and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by the high places of the city, 15 Calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight: 16 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” And to him who lacks understanding she says, 17 “Stolen water is sweet; And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” 18 But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of Sheol. Canons of Dordt Point II, Article 6: Unbelief Man’s Responsibility The fact that many who have been called through the gospel do not repent or believe in Christ but perish in unbelief is not because the sacrifice of Christ offered on the cross is deficient or insufficient, but because they themselves are at fault. Point III/IV, Article 8: The Serious Call of the Gospel All who are called through the gospel are called seriously. For seriously and most genuinely God makes known in his Word what is pleasing to him: that those who are called should come to him. Seriously he also promises rest for their souls and eternal life to all who come to him and believe. Summary Imagine yourself coming into an unfamiliar city for the first time, lacking understanding of where you need to go to find food and rest. You are met by two women beckoning you with the exact same invitation: Whoever is naive, let him turn in here! But both of these women, who initially appear equally attractive, point you in opposite directions. Lady Wisdom is the first to call out. She's worked hard to prepare for her guests, having built her house, prepared food, mixed wine, set her table, and sent out her maidens with invitations. Just to make sure nobody gets missed, she broadcasts her invite from the tops of the heights of the city. The woman of folly takes a different tact. Unlike her industrious competitor, she's boisterous. Rather than sending out servants with invitations for all the confused to come, she simply sits at the doorway of her house calling to those who pass by. But she's only interested in a certain demographic: those who are making their path straight. In other words, she seeks to derail those who are generally headed in the right direction in life, attempting to throw a few curves into their seemingly boring straight path by beckoning them with stolen water and bread (she doesn't even bother preparing her own food - she simply takes what's good from Wisdom and corrupts it). It's all fake... she has nothing of her own to offer the naive and those who lack understanding, because she herself is naive and knows nothing. Still, the crowds throng to her superficially sumptuous spread. But what they don't realize is they've just arrived at the Hotel California, and once they've checked in, they can't check out. The dead are there; all of the guests are in the depths of Sheol (the grave). Dig Deeper As you stand in the middle of this hypothetical street, being instinctually pulled toward Folly, you feel a firm hand upon your shoulder pulling you back to your senses. That's what the middle section of today's chapter is all about. The first six verses described Lady Wisdom, and the final six verses expose the woman of folly. But those middle five verses help illustrate why you must choose wisdom even though folly seems so much more fun. Those verses begin by explaining that the scoffers following folly hate correction and reproof. It's not so much that they can't check out, but rather that they dishonor and insult those trying to help them escape. Conversely, the wise and righteous want more and more of what Wisdom offers; they love those who bring them reproof and instruction which increases their learning. Instead of a slow march to the depths of Sheol for those in the house of folly, those who pursue Wisdom have their days multiplied and years of life added. It's easy to check into the house of folly. Just show up, and they'll quickly and boisterously usher you right into what seems like never ending entertainment. But the check-in process at Wisdom's house is more complicated. You can't take all of your baggage inside. A large sign over the check-in counter reads: FORSAKE YOUR FOLLY AND LIVE. Proceed in the way of understanding. This is exactly what Jesus means when He calls all those who follow Him to repent and believe. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the knowledge of whom is understanding; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will, by the power of the Holy Spirit who continually reminds you of wisdom's value, continue to forsake folly and proceed in the way of understanding; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Getting and holding on to wisdom will cost you, but it's worth every penny. Faithlife.com Proverbs 4 (NASB95) 1 Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding, 2 For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction. 3 When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, 4 Then he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live; 5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. 7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. 8 “Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. 9 “She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.” 10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many. 11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble. 13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life. 14 Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. 16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. 19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble. 20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. 27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 113 Q. What is God’s will for you in the tenth commandment? A. That not even the slightest thought or desire contrary to any one of God’s commandments should ever arise in my heart. Rather, with all my heart I should always hate sin and take pleasure in whatever is right. Summary Today's teaching comes in the form that so many of the Proverbs do - especially in these opening chapters: a father conveying sound teaching and instruction to his sons. It doesn't take much imagination to see the larger picture lying behind the original context of Solomon teaching his own sons (his actual experience doing so was not nearly as elegant as his written advice here is). Although these words come through Solomon's inspired pen, they are your Father's loving counsel to you, as those who've been made His royal 'sons' in Jesus Christ. Wisdom is personified in the Proverbs, and our Father refers to Wisdom with feminine pronouns: Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom, who along with an unruly woman named Folly (Proverbs 9:13), is one of two ladies continually beckoning for your attention. And once again, it doesn't take much imagination to understand why Folly gets followed much more often in a world filled with mind-numbed people controlled only by their appetites. But this is the crux of our Father's advice here today: Although our Folly-filled society seems to offer you so much, do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. Instead of squandering every dime futilely trying to find fulfillment in Folly, acquire wisdom... though it cost all that you have, get understanding (NIV). Dig Deeper It's so easy to slip into a 'let go and let God' mentality as Christians - especially for Reformed Christians like us who highly value God's sovereignty. After all, He has called us to Himself, renewed our hearts and minds so that we recognize Truth, and given us faith. Nothing can ever pry us from His hands. All of that, of course, is absolutely true. Many of us spent all of last year being reminded of this as we worked our way through the Doctrines of Grace in the Canons of Dordt. But don't miss the absolute concentration and devotion that your Father calls you to as you navigate life: Do not abandon my instruction; Let your heart hold fast my words; Take hold of instruction; do not let go; Give attention to my words... Do not let them depart from your sight; Watch over your heart with all diligence; Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you; Watch the path of your feet; Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. The narrow road that Christ called you to walk is not easy. Every step is difficult and fraught with danger, with steep, slippery slopes of temptation on both sides. Yes, your Father holds you tightly and will not let go, but just as He explains here in Proverbs 4, He expects you to make every effort to live a holy life (2 Peter 1:5). But this sounds all so exhaustingly impossible! It doesn't just sound this way, on your own it is this way! This is exactly why the author of the book of Hebrews - himself no stranger to the Doctrines of Grace - admonishes you to fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith... so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3). AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who directs us in the way of wisdom; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the concentration and devotion necessary to walk the narrow road that your Father guides you down; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Keeping the LORD's commands leads to living in His blessings. Proverbs 3:1–12 (NASB95) 3 My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; 2 For length of days and years of life And peace (šā·lôm) they will add to you. 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. 11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, 12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. Belgic Confession Article 24: The Sanctification of Sinners We believe that this true faith, produced in man by the hearing of God’s Word and by the work of the Holy Spirit, regenerates him and makes him a “new man,” causing him to live the “new life” and freeing him from the slavery of sin. -- So then, we do good works, but nor for merit— for what would we merit? Rather, we are indebted to God for the good works we do, and not he to us, since it is he who “works in us both to will and do according to his good pleasure” -- Yet we do not wish to deny that God rewards good works— but it is by his grace that he crowns his gifts. Summary So many of the proverbs are formatted like today's - a father imparting wisdom upon his son. Certainly this sets the ideal relationship between a parent and child - one in which teaching God's Word finds top priority. But remember that these words are more than just King Solomon's wisdom being imparted to his sons (which as we read a few months ago, didn't go so well); these words are God's words, being imparted directly to you by His Spirit through Solomon's pen. Did you feel the rhythm of these words as you read the text? So much Hebrew poetry takes the form of today's passage, set in parallel couplets in which the second line poetically restates the first. Verse seven is a good example: Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. This structure does more than just form aesthetically pleasing poetry. It enables a couple of simple, elegant lines to deliver a heavy theological load: wisdom as we define it - that is, in your own eyes - is evil and must be turned away from, whereas true wisdom comes through fearing the LORD, which is the primary theme of the Proverbs that we learned yesterday. This poetic parallalism also adds value to the proverbs' imperatives. Our Father certainly could demand that we do not forget His teaching simply because they are His commandments, and it's His way or the highway. But in His love for us He defines how it is that keeping them benefits us: IMPERATIVE / COMMAND BENEFIT Do not forget teaching / keep my commandments Add years of life and peace (shalom) Do not let kindness & truth leave you you will find favor and good repute Trust in the LORD / lean not on your own understanding / in all your ways acknowledge Him He will make your paths straight Don't be wise in your own eyes / fear the LORD & turn away from evil It will bring healing and refreshment Honor the LORD with your wealth Your barns will be filled with plenty Do not reject the LORD's discipline The LORD's reproof is evidence of His love Dig Deeper We read the word heart so often in the Bible, but we rarely understand what the word means, especially here in the Old Testament. Today's passage has three instances of it: Let your heart keep my commandments... ...Write them on the tablet of your heart. Trust in the LORD with all your heart... When our western ears hear heart language, it's easy to think of sappy Hallmark movies or greeting cards, dripping with contrived emotion. We tend to distinguish between our heads and hearts - the former being rigid, disciplined, organized and intellectual, while the latter is raw and impulsive feeling that resists all attempts to be categorized or controlled. Some people are all head, and others are all heart. Somehow our goal needs to be to hang on to both. But the ancient Hebrews had no such distinctions between their emotion and intellect - their heart and head. Here's how one Hebrew dictionary defines their word often translated as heart. It includes your: inner self; disposition, inclination; determination, courage; will, intention; attention, consideration, reason In other words, when the Bible speaks of your heart, it's referring to every portion of your being - who you are at your very core; not just your emotions or feelings, but all of your intellect and volition as well. This is important to understand because a couple of weeks ago we read about what the Holy Spirit has done for you: replaced your heart of stone with a heart of flesh. In other words, you've been transformed from being completely repulsed by Proverb's wisdom to one who in Christ can not just keep the LORD's commands, but experience the blessings and benefits that come with having a heart that is all in on trusting the LORD rather than leaning on your own understanding. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who will make our paths straight when His commandments are written on the tablet of our hearts; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your heart will fear the LORD and turn away from evil; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

The Spirit has enabled you to begin eternity here and now! Proverbs 1:1–7 (NASB95) 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 94 Q. What does the Lord require in the first commandment? A. That I, not wanting to endanger my very salvation, avoid and shun all idolatry, magic, superstitious rites, and prayer to saints or to other creatures. That I sincerely acknowledge the only true God, trust him alone, look to him for every good thing humbly and patiently, love him, fear him, and honor him with all my heart. In short, that I give up anything rather than go against his will in any way Summary We're taking a step back chronologically this week as we read through the Bible together. For the past month and a half, we've been reading through some of the darkest days God's people faced as the Israelites fell away from God and into exile. We read the prophecy that both warned them of it and comforted them through it and narratives from Daniel and later Ezra and Nehemiah that showed that the LORD always kept them in His hand. This week we're going back to the Bible's books of poetry (of course we've already been taking a slice of the Psalms each Friday). But this poetry isn't just abstract verbal art - it has a very important purpose, which is made clear in today's opening words. These proverbs of Solomon are given that we might know wisdom and instruction - the elements that are always lacking when God's people wander away from truth in pursuit of the world's lies - the very wisdom that Adam and Eve forfeited when they ate from the tree of knowledge, and the actual instruction that the Israelites abandoned that resulted in their exile. So the Bible's poetry does much more than just hit you in the feels. As you receive its instruction in wise behavior, then generally righteousness, justice and equity will follow. You'll gain the exact attributes that so much of this broken world is missing! The Bible's poetry is immensely practical! And the wisdom that Biblical poetry provides is for all ages. It makes sense that our naive kids need to hear and read it, for the youth need knowledge and discretion. But even a wise man - people who've been around the block a time or two and who have lots of life experience - even they need to continually hear and increase their learning and seek out the Bible's wise counsel. Dig Deeper Right off the bat, the Bible's wisdom makes a very important distinction. While knowledge certainly depends on instruction and understanding, it can't be learned didactically, the way you came to know the alphabet, multiplication tables, basic Bible stories or other tidbits of data. Rather, true knowledge is rooted in attitude. It's a product of fear: The fear of the LORD is the beginning [root] of knowledge... Nineteenth century commenter Albert Barnes explains well how fear is the starting point of all true wisdom, writing, "The beginning of wisdom is found in the temper of reverence and awe - the fear of the finite in the presence of the Infinite, of the sinful in the presence of the Holy." Allen Ross adds, "Such fear is not a trembling dread that paralyzes action, but neither is it a polite reverence. The fear of the LORD ultimately expresses reverential submission to the LORD’s will and thus characterizes a true worshiper. In this context it is the first and controlling principle of knowledge (beginning can refer to the first thing, the chief thing, or the principal thing)." In other words, before you can truly know or understand anything, you must truly know the LORD; for to know Him is to fear Him. And the only way to truly know the LORD is for His Spirit to free your mind from its slavery to sin, for: Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Your desire to truly know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness justice and equity is evidence of the Holy Spirit's breathing new life into your once foolish soul. This is why Jesus' primary command to those who follow Him is to repent - a word that literally means to change your thinking. In other words, as a Christian, you can truly begin to learn true, eternal knowledge. And according to Jesus, this is what you'll spend the rest of eternity adding to! So start (or keep going) today! AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who through His Spirit has enabled the wise to fear Him; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that, having had your mind freed from sin, that your eternal purpose - starting now - will be to grow in the knowledge, wisdom and instruction of the LORD; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Anchor your prayers in the promises of God’s Kingdom! Psalm 72 Of Solomon. 1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. 2 May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. 3 May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. 4 May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor. 5 May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. 6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. 7 In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more. 8 May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust. 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. 11 May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him. 12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. 13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. 14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. 15 Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long. 16 May grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. May the crops flourish like Lebanon and thrive like the grass of the field. 17 May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. 18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. 19 Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. 20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 123 Q. What does the second request of the Lord's Prayer mean? A. Your kingdom come means, Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to you. Keep your church strong, and add to it. Destroy the devil’s work; destroy every force which revolts against you and every conspiracy against your Word. Do this until your kingdom is so complete and perfect that in it you are all in all. Summary Psalm 72 gives us insight into two of the greatest kings in Israel’s history and the sweeping vision for God’s king and kingdom, moving back and forth between how God has blessed His king and how He has blessed His people through the king. Verse 1 begins with how the king is blessed with justice and righteousness. From the get-go, we learn the king is not interested in what benefits himself, but is concerned with the well-being of his people—even the lowly who normally get overlooked and can give him nothing in return. This psalm also sings of the king’s long life and prosperity, which becomes the people’s share as the land and crops are fruitful under his reign. Finally, his kingship extends far beyond the regular boundaries of Israel. It is a picture of the promise to Abraham to be a blessing to all nations in Genesis 12, coming to fulfillment in verse 17: "All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed." This entire psalm can be read as a prayer for God to fulfill the promise to mankind to exercise righteous dominion over God’s good earth (Gen. 1:28), to be a great nation that blesses others (Gen. 12:2–3), and to establish David’s throne forever (2 Sam 7:13). This psalm is Old Testament hope soaring high through a glorious vision of a righteous and prosperous reign of God’s king. Yet what Psalm 72 describes is something beyond even King David or Solomon's reign—a future hope that stirs anticipation and longing for God's perfect, everlasting rule, as prophesied by Zechariah: "See, your king comes to you... His rule will extend from sea to sea" (Zech. 9:9–10) Dig Deeper The king in Zechariah’s vision is the same king in Psalm 72: David’s greater son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who fulfills these promises perfectly. He is the one who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to bring true and lasting peace for His people and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight—a fulfillment of the psalm's hope, as Jesus shed His own precious blood for ours, demonstrating the ultimate fulfillment of God's righteous kingdom. The vision of this psalm may seem too good to be true, especially in a world marked by corrupt leaders and injustice. But it is not mere idealism because it is prophetic. We are called to pray these words not just as a hope for the future but as a means of spiritual growth and active participation in God's kingdom. As the Heidelberg Catechism teaches us to pray 'Thy Kingdom Come,' we are asking God to destroy the works of the devil and all forces opposed to God, and to rule us by His Word and Spirit so that we submit to Him more and more. We sing Psalm 72 because we belong to the only King who is bringing this heavenly kingdom to pass, and our prayers call out for His reign in our lives and world. Let this psalm be your prayer and praise today for God’s sovereign, righteous, and gracious rule to take root in your life and to spread to the ends of the earth: Now blessed be the Lord our God, the God of Israel, for he alone does wondrous works: his glorious deeds excel. And blessed be his glorious name through all eternity; the whole earth let his glory fill: Amen! So shall it be. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The everlasting King who rules in justice and righteousness and blesses all who submit to His reign. ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray “Thy Kingdom Come” and that this is also reflected in the way you are ruled by God’s Word and Spirit. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Find true hope beyond the ash heaps in life. SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Job has been given many unhelpful lectures from his so-called friends, and Job 19 records one of his responses that deals with how he sees his dire situation, but gives one of the most beautiful visions of hope in the middle of this book. Job 19:23–29 (NIV) 23 “Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, 24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! 25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! 28 “If you say, ‘How we will hound him, since the root of the trouble lies in him,’ 29 you should fear the sword yourselves; for wrath will bring punishment by the sword, and then you will know that there is judgment.” Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 45 Q. How does Christ’s resurrection benefit us? A. First, by his resurrection he has overcome death, so that he might make us share in the righteousness he won for us by his death. Second, by his power we too are already now resurrected to a new life. Third, Christ’s resurrection is a guarantee of our glorious resurrection. Summary In Job 19, we find Job at his absolute all-time low. In chapter 19, he describes a total social, physical, and spiritual bankruptcy: his friends "crush him with words," (v. 2) his brothers have been "alienated," (v. 13), his wife is offended by his stinking breath (v. 17), and even his own body is "nothing but skin and bones” (v. 20). He feels trapped in a "net" (v. 6), and to top it off, feels God himself is angry with him and out to get him. But in this darkness, a "beam of light" breaks through. Job moves from asking why he is suffering to declaring who will save him. He calls for a Redeemer. In ancient Israel, the Redeemer was the next of kin responsible for defending a family member’s honor, buying them out of slavery, or avenging their blood. Job realizes that no human friend will play this role, and he has recounted how he has no one left to defend him. But God mercifully helps him look past his current agony, past his crumbling skin, and even past death itself and Job makes a staggering confession of faith: "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth” (v. 25). He isn’t just looking to justify himself before his friends, but before God. He knows there is still someone left who has not forsaken him and can personally restore him. He is certain that despite all the current earthly evidence, he will see God with his own eyes—not as an enemy, but as his Friend. Dig Deeper Job 19 teaches us that while suffering can isolate us from everyone else, it cannot isolate us from our Savior. When you are "unpitied" by the world—or even when your own friends’ words crush you, or your body fails you—remember the ascended and glorified Christ who lives and intercedes your case in heaven and is acquainted with your griefs and sorrows. In Job’s “dim hope” within chapter 19, we can see the brightness of our “living hope.” Jesus Christ is our true and living Redeemer. He took to himself our flesh and blood to stand on the earth and to pay our debt and release us from the slavery of sin and the curse of death. He bought this freedom not with gold, but with His precious blood. And because He lives and is in heaven in human flesh, we can know that our bodies will be made new and fit for everlasting glory just like his. When we prepare for the when of suffering, we don’t just rely on tidy philosophies or cliched platitudes like “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” We endure with the power of a Savior who has defeated what ails us. Because Jesus Christ lives and entered glory after the valley of death, we can face the trials of life knowing that our Good Shepherd will lead us through. In the courtroom-like scenes that take place in the book of Job, Job is not only vindicated against the accusations of the devil, but is promised a more glorious future with God. As one author wrote, “Christianity is not a way to cut a deal with God for an easier life now. Christianity is what renews us to live for our real payoff in the future that God has promised.” AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The God who is on your side and gives us a Redeemer in Jesus Christ our Lord; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Engrave in your heart the words and vision Job describes of our living Redeemer; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

The book of Job is not a manual for if you suffer, but for when. Job 1:1–12 (NIV) 1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. 4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom. 6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” 9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “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. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 12 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1 Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own, but belong— body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him. Summary Job 1 introduces a man who is blameless and upright, yet his world is about to be completely dismantled. While the story unfolds on earth, we are given an unsettling peek into the heavenly court. God Himself initiates the conversation by heralding Job’s piety, but Satan—the Accuser—counters with a cynical question: Does Job fear God for nothing? Satan argues that Job’s faith is merely based on his personal gains. He claims Job only loves God because of the hedge of protection and the abundance of blessings surrounding him. Satan bets that if the gifts are removed, the worship will turn to cursing. God allows the test, though He limits Satan’s reach. In what Job experiences as a “no good, very bad day,” to say the least, four messengers arrive in rapid succession, reporting the total loss of his wealth, his servants, and finally, all ten of his children. Job is left with nothing but his life and his grief. Yet, in a stunning reversal of Satan's prediction, Job does not curse God. He tears his robe and shaves his head in genuine mourning, but then he falls to the ground in worship. His unwavering integrity amid suffering inspires believers to trust in God’s sovereignty and love: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (v. 21). Job proves that he loves the Giver more than the gifts. Dig Deeper I have heard another say that the book of Job is not a manual for if you suffer, but for when. Surprise attacks are most likely to leave us off balance, but Job prepares us by pulling back the curtain on the spiritual reality of our trials. Our response to suffering is never just a private matter; it is a witness to the spiritual realm and to our neighbors that God is enough. We need to ask ourselves often: Is our relationship with God grounded in His good gifts to us, or in who He is? If we love God for His hedge of protection, our faith will fail when the hedge is breached. Job teaches us that the blessings of health, family, wealth, and possessions are but temporary gifts from God to steward for His glory — not to cling onto for our security. Recognizing God's sovereignty helps us trust that even in adversity, He remains in control. Moving from a “retribution” mindset like Job’s friends—where we expect blessings for being good—to a “sovereignty” mindset, where we trust that even “the devil is God’s devil,” strengthens our faith (Martin Luther). Our great enemy is still limited by the same Father’s hand who can turn to our good whatever adversity he sends in this sad world (Rom. 8:28; HC Q&A 26). Most of all, we need to see Jesus in Job. Jesus was the more righteous Sufferer who deserved none of His agony, yet voluntarily laid down His life to silence the Accuser forever. Because our Savior transformed His ultimate suffering into our ultimate good, we can trust Him on our own ash heaps and lowest points in life. Knowing we belong to Him provides the comfort that sustains us through anything, reminding believers that God's plan is ultimately for our good and His glory. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Almighty Heavenly Father who even watches over us in such a way not a hair can fall from my head apart from His will and works all things together for my salvation; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God to help you recognize where you are trusting in the blessings from God more than the blessing of knowing and belonging to God in Christ? ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

God’s justice demands the downfall of evil. SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... the tension has escalated. Esther has maneuvered her way into the king’s favor, and through a striking act of providence, the king has been reminded of Mordecai’s earlier life-saving service. While Haman has prepared gallows to hang Mordecai, he remains unaware that the tide is turning against him. We pick up at a banquet where the truth will finally be laid bare before King Xerxes. Esther 7 (NIV) 7 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.” 3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.” 5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?” 6 Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7 The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. 8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?” As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” The king said, “Impale him on it!” 10 So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided. Belgic Confession Article 20: The Justice and Mercy of God in Christ We believe that God— who is perfectly merciful and also very just— sent his Son to assume the nature in which the disobedience had been committed, in order to bear in it the punishment of sin by his most bitter passion and death. So God made known his justice toward his Son, who was charged with our sin, and he poured out his goodness and mercy on us, who are guilty and worthy of damnation, giving to us his Son to die, by a most perfect love, and raising him to life for our justification, in order that by him we might have immortality and eternal life. Summary In Esther 7, the narrative's tension finally breaks. At her second banquet, Esther reveals her identity, linking her own life to the fate of her people. She shrewdly frames Haman’s plot not merely as a personal grudge, but as a treasonous annihilation that threatens the king’s own interests. When the king demands to know who would dare such a thing, Esther bursts the scheme open: "The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman!" (v. 6). The reversal is immediate and absolute. Haman, who arrived expecting further exaltation, finds himself terrified and begging for mercy from the very woman he sought to destroy. In a moment of supreme irony, Haman "falls" onto Esther’s couch just as the king returns, sealing his fate with the appearance of being the king’s adversary. The chapter concludes with the powerful image of poetic justice: Haman is hanged on the seventy-five-foot gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. The instrument of pride and execution intended for the righteous became the means of judgment for the wicked. As Psalm 7:15–16 declares, He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made. The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head. Dig Deeper As God’s image bearers, we are hard-wired for justice. From a child’s cry of "That’s not fair!" to our elation when a movie villain is conquered, we long to see wrongs made right. Esther 7 reminds us that evil is self-deceptive and ultimately doomed, inspiring hope that God's justice prevails. While human evil often seems clever and untouchable, it carries the seeds of its own destruction. Haman reminds us that God is the Sovereign King who has the last word; no plot against His people can succeed in the end. This “great reversal” points us to a much larger story. In the last book of the Bible, Revelation, we see that all world systems opposed to God (symbolized by Babylon and the Beast) have an expiration date. For God’s people who are oppressed, abused, and persecuted, Esther 7 is a message of hope: God sees, God judges, and God holds the final victory, reassuring believers that God's sovereignty is certain. The ultimate reversal, however, took place at the Cross of Christ. The devil and his powers of darkness thought they had secured a great victory by hanging the Son of God on a tree of shame. Yet, God took that very instrument of death and used it to destroy the power of death itself. Just as Haman’s gallows were turned against him, the Cross was the trap that crushed the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15). Because our Judge is also our Savior, we can live as citizens of a righteous kingdom, working for what is right today while resting in the promise that one day, every wrong will be made right by Him, filling us with awe at His divine power. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, a Sovereign God who is righteous and just; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will know the good God has shown you, act justly and love mercy, walking humbly with your God (Micah 6:8); ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Esther teaches us to trust God’s hidden providence. The book of Esther tells the story of God’s people living in exile in the Persian Empire. Even though God is never mentioned by name, His presence is felt throughout the preservation of His people in a foreign land. This providence is especially evident in the events that lead an orphaned Jewish girl, Esther, to become queen, where she and her cousin Mordecai eventually expose Haman’s plot to eradicate the Jews to King Xerxes. We pick up where Mordecai shares what he knows with Esther. Esther 4 (NIV) 4 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. 6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. 9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 28 Q. How does the knowledge of God’s creation and providence help us? A. We can be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing will separate us from his love. All creatures are so completely in his hand that without his will they can neither move nor be moved. Summary Esther 4 is the “hinge” upon which this book turns. Esther, a Jewish orphan in exile, has risen to become the unlikely queen of Persia, and now her people face a decree that Haman had concocted to destroy them. Will Esther use her position to save her people? Except her position didn’t make her task simple—it made it dangerous in its own right. Approaching the king unsummoned meant death unless he extended his golden scepter, and this text reveals that the king hadn’t called Esther for thirty days. She was truly 'between a rock and a hard place' — risk her life by speaking, or risk it later when the decree of death reached her when she is identified with her people. In this high-stakes moment, Esther and Mordecai had to make decisions based on the information they had, acting by faith in a God who was not giving them prophetic visions but remained hidden behind the scenes. Mordecai’s famous challenge — Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? — highlights the hidden providence of God. Mordecai was certain that relief and deliverance would arise because of God’s covenant promises to His people, but he challenged Esther to meet her defining moment. She responded by calling for a corporate fast—an appeal for God’s mercy. Her resolve - If I perish, I perish - was not fatalism; it was a commitment to doing what was right before knowing the end result. Dig Deeper We often want a detailed roadmap before we step forward by faith, but Esther reminds us that God usually provides the opportunity before revealing the outcome. Even in lower-stakes situations than our text, trusting God's plan will bring peace and confidence. You may find yourself where God is calling you to trust Him and to publicly align yourself with Him—even if it involves carrying a cross by speaking up about the truth when it might cost you something. It could also be a situation where you or your child risks their starting position on the team because you skip Sunday games for church. Or, like Mordecai, sharing your faith in God's promises can inspire others to trust Him more deeply and step up in their difficult situation. Finding your place in God’s story involves moving from asking “Why is this happening?” to “How can God use me here?” in your circumstances. Hidden providence means your current job, family, or trial is not an accident. We can move forward trusting that God’s purposes are at work because the most defining moment in history has already happened. While Esther said, If I perish, I perish, Jesus Christ was willing to actually perish for our sake, knowing the full suffering ahead at the cross. In Gethsemane, hours before His crucifixion, He prayed, “Yet not my will, but yours be done.” Because our deliverance is secure in Him, you can trust what God has in store for those who love Him. Even when His plan is hidden from your current point of view, He reveals what is right and true. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the Sovereign God who sustains and governs all things by His power and fatherly hand; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your will aligns with God’s will and that you can be used for God’s greater kingdom purposes in your circumstances today — “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Change both how and why you pray! Photo: Andreas Gücklhorn via Unsplash PSALM 67 For the choir director; with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. 1 God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah. 2 That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the peoples with uprightness And guide the nations on the earth. Selah. 5 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. 6 The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. 7 God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 117 Q. How does God want us to pray so that he will listen to us? A. First, we must pray from the heart to no other than the one true God, who has revealed himself in his Word, asking for everything he has commanded us to ask for. Second, we must acknowledge our need and misery, hiding nothing, and humble ourselves in his majestic presence. Third, we must rest on this unshakable foundation: even though we do not deserve it, God will surely listen to our prayer because of Christ our Lord. That is what he promised us in his Word. Summary Psalm 67 begins as a prayer asking for the most important thing anybody could ask for - that God be gracious to us. In other words, this song/prayer begins by requesting God to be merciful (KJV). But as important as it is, it's not likely that begging for grace or mercy is very often at the top of anybody's prayer list. Most people's highest priority is to ask God for what the psalmist asks for next: that God would bless us. But the psalmist rightly recognizes the need to begin by asking for grace / mercy. After all, remember that we deserve God's justice, not His blessings! You and I have a covenantal relationship with God. How many times haven't we read these past few months in going through the Old Testament that God is to be our God, and we are to be His people? The fact that you can inhale right now means that you continue to enjoy the life God's provided! But this provision comes with the expectation that you maintain holiness, righteousness and justice, and you've not held up your end of the covenant. So you have no right to ask for God's blessing without first asking for His grace. Keep this in mind the next time you pray! The psalmist poetically combines both of these requests in echoing what's often called the Aaronic Benediction as he pleads that God would cause His face to shine upon us, even as we traverse what David famously referred to as the darkest valley. And the amazing thing that Psalm 67 reminds us of is that God grants both of these prayers! He's gracious to us by forgiving our sins and fulfilling our covenant requirements in the perfect life, death, resurrection and ascension of His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. And God, our God, so richly blesses us beyond measure - for the earth has yielded its produce far more abundantly that we could ever ask for or even imagine! Dig Deeper Notice that the psalmist's opening request for grace and blessing doesn't end with a period. It ends with a dash that leads to the beautifully mysterious Hebrew word selah. We don't know exactly what the word means, but it's quite likely the word signaled the accompanying musicians (remember, the psalms are meant to be sung!) to pause and take a break - to let the words just sung sink in. So often our prayers are dominated by requests for God's blessings, spitting out one request after another in rapid fire succession. This simple selah reminds you to slow down when praying. God knows what you need; your pausing to take a breath gives His Spirit the opportunity to help you know He's heard your prayer! But it's one of Psalm 67's most humble words that comes to the forefront, a word that ought to change not just how you're asking for God's blessings, but even the particular blessings you're asking for! That simple word is that, and it's repeated twice in this short psalm. Most of the blessings we pray for are things we need or even simply want for our own lives. And that's not wrong to ask God for! Jesus commanded us to pray each day for our daily bread. But Psalm 67 reminds us that the blessings we ask for ought to serve a purpose much bigger and higher than our own appetite. We're to pray for God's blessings: so that His ways may be known on the earth, [and so that] His salvation [be known] among all nations; and so that all the ends of the earth may fear Him. And like the psalmist, our prayers ought not be so self centered by only asking that God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us. Notice the psalm's five time repeated request that God would let the peoples praise Him! Imagine how different this world would look if the Church as a whole would earnestly and repeatedly prayed Psalm 67! AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, God, our God, who is gracious to us, blesses us, and makes His face shine upon us; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that all the peoples would praise God! ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: