Five Steps to Peace
Mike Johnson
“Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb (Ps. 37:1-2).”
When we think of the word “fret,” we may think of someone excessively worrying or frequently anxious. However, the Hebrew word used here (charah) means “to be hot, to be furious, to burn, to become angry, to be kindled” (The Online Bible Thayer’s Greek Lexicon & Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon). Most translators translate the Hebrew word in the text as “fret.” Elsewhere, however, it is rendered with such words as “wrath,” “anger,” “hot,” or “kindled.” In addition, various modern translations may translate it by words “annoyed” or “upset.” Thus, the idea is not to be angry or “worked up” regarding evildoers or envy them (1b). Why would someone be tempted to react this way? It is because of the prosperity and, seemingly, good life. Jeremiah asked, in Jeremiah 12:1, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?”
There are times when God’s people face many difficulties in life. Like others, Christians can face money problems, mistreatment, illnesses, the death of loved ones, and relationship issues. Yet people who make no pretense of serving God seem not to be experiencing such matters, as everything appears to be going well for them. Looking at the prosperity of evil people, God’s followers might tend to get discouraged. This discouragement especially appears when EVERYTHING seems to be going wrong, and they hit “rock bottom.” However, it is ridiculous to be envious of evildoers.
Verse 2 points out that these evildoers will soon be “cut down like the green grass,” and they will “wither” as the “green herb.” Their prosperity only lasts for this short life. Righteous people, however, have much more going for them. In Proverbs 24:19-20, Solomon says, “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked; for there will be no prospect for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.”
Sometimes, a Christian might contemplate how nice it would be to swap places with another person. Although that person may be living a life of ease, perhaps wealthy or famous, switching places with an evil person would not be wise as their days of pleasure are short. It might be said that this world is as close to heaven as they will ever be. With the righteous, however, their days may be full of toil and strife, but they have a glorious future beyond this life, and their earthly existence is as close to Hell as they will ever be.
After showing the importance of not having anxiety, anger, and envy because of the prosperity of evil people, David points out what might be called “Five Steps to Peace” in verses 3-8. These are “medicines” against fretting and anxiety. They are the path to peace.
1. Trust in the Lord and Do Good — Verse 3 says, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” Thus, instead of fretting over the prosperity of evil people, the first step for God’s people is to trust in the Lord and to keep busy doing good. The Hebrew word translated “trust” can be defined as “A verb indicating to trust, to be confident. It expresses the feeling of safety and security felt when one relies on someone or something else. It is used to show trust in God…in other people…or in things…In addition, this expression can also relate to the state of being confident, secure, without fear” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament). The same idea is in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Note also Ps. 9:10; 4:5.)
In the text (3b), he also says to “do good.” Doing good is often associated with trusting in God. Recall another occasion when Nehemiah and the people were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and Tobiah, an antagonist, started ridiculing them (Neh. 4:3-6). How did they respond? They prayed, and they kept working. We should always do this today, especially when facing life’s challenges. We must trust God and stay busy!
In the later part of verse 3, a blessing is attached. If we trust in God and “do good,” we can “dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” For the children of Israel, the land would refer to the Promised Land, the land of Canaan (Is. 1:19). If they would trust God and “do good,” God would “feed them” with physical blessings such as food and clothing. How do we “feed” on God’s faithfulness? We feed upon God’s faithfulness by having full assurance that He is willing and able to keep His promises.
2. Delight in the Lord — Verse 4 says, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Found here is the next step for peace, which is to delight in the Lord. The word found in the original (anag) carries with it the idea of something delicate or soft that someone would take pleasure in (The Complete Word Study Dictionary). Here it involves the concept of having joy and delight in God. The verse says, “Delight yourself,” so there is a choice involved and the idea of effort and commitment.
What does it mean today to take delight in something or someone? It involves being excited (thrilled, energized) when people do what they want to do or with someone they love. What do you take great delight in today? Many take great pleasure in sports. They cannot wait for the season to start, and they eagerly anticipate the start of the big game. When the game is over, they talk about it with others. Indeed, they delight in sports. Others may delight in television, wealth, shopping, eating, or their computer. It is good to have various hobbies and endeavors we enjoy. Primarily, however, as the text says, we should delight in the Lord! For us, God produces delight, pleasure, and happiness. Therefore, if we delight in the Lord, the result should be a joyful interest in things of a spiritual nature.
Returning to verse 4b, we see a blessing attached to delighting in the Lord. It says if we trust in the Lord, He will give us the “desires of our heart.” Some interpret this to mean if we trust in the Lord, He will provide us with anything we want, such as luxuries, wealth, and power. However, this is not talking about superficial earthly desires to have more. 1 Timothy 6:6 says, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 John 2:15-17 points out we are not to love the world or the things in the world. The passage in our text is consistent with the New Testament teaching on prayer. In the New Testament, there are assurances regarding prayer (Mt. 7:7-11), but we also learn there are conditions of acceptable prayer (I Pet. 3:12, James 5:16-18). It is not saying if we delight in the Lord, He will give us any luxury we request of God. Instead, as in the New Testament, God knows our needs; we pray to Him, and His response will be in keeping with what is best for us.
We tend to get discouraged. We see moral decay with little interest in spirituality. Perhaps the stock market is down, the economy is terrible, and we see war and violence worldwide. This bleakness can result in despair, but we should always delight in the Lord regardless of what is happening around us. Corrie Ten Bloom put it like this.
Look around, you’ll be distressed.
Look within, you’ll be depressed,
Look to the Lord, you’ll be at rest.
Thus, do not get angry and envious because of evil people’s prosperity; instead, rejoice in the Lord.
3. Commit Our Way to the Lord and Trust Him — Verses 5-6 says, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (6) He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.”
The third step to peace is to commit our way to the Lord and trust God. As noted, we really cannot delight in the Lord if we are unwilling to obey Him. Another way to say this is in verse 5. We must “commit our way” (our course of life) to Him, and we must “trust” Him.
Consider the meaning of the Hebrew word translated as “commit.” The root meaning involves the idea of “roll” and refers to the “rolling of a stone.” Consider the following definition. “It can also describe abstract concepts, such as reproach being rolled off (removed) from someone (Ps 119:22) or one’s ways and works rolled onto (committed, entrusted) to someone (especially God)…” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament). Thus, it might be said we are to roll off the burdens of life onto the Lord. Consider I Peter 5:6-7: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” We must commit our lives to the Lord and trust Him to care for us. As we handle the burdens of life, we give God the credit. Verse 6 shows a blessing that will follow. It points out that God will vindicate those who commit their way to Him and make them shine like a bright sun.
4. Rest in the Lord and Wait — Verse 7 says, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.”
The fourth step to obtaining peace is to rest in the Lord and patiently wait. The word translated “rest” means “to be silent, to be still, to stand still.” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary). The prosperity of the wicked might produce a dilemma for followers of God. The evildoer may prosper while engaging in wicked schemes. God’s people are not to fret, get angry, or envy. Instead, they are to remain silent and patiently wait for God. (See also Ps. 46:10, Ex. 14:13-14, Rom. 8:38-39.)
5. Cease to be Angry — Verse 8 says, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret — it only causes harm.” This step is the last one for peace. In the context, this is saying to stop being angry about the prosperity and seemingly good life of evildoers. Unresolved anger can fester and lead to bitterness and hurtful actions. Therefore, do not be fretful regarding evildoers or be angry with God. Ultimately, for the righteous, everything will work out. Someone put it like this: “We may not be able to control what happens in our lives, but we can control how we respond to what happens.”
Putting away the anger and anxiety that may come when we face difficulties is essential. We can do this by following these “medicines” for peace.
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Pilate, the Roman Governor
Clarence R. Johnson
As Jesus stood before Pilate, the Roman governor, He clearly acknowledged that He was born to be King of the Jews, Matt. 27:11; John 18:36-37. While in the context of Matt. 27:11, we might take note of the insight this passage gives us into the character of Pontus Pilate. Were it not for the writings of the New Testament Scriptures, we would know almost nothing about this man.
We note that Pilate was well aware that the charges made against Jesus were unwarranted. The governor never received an appropriate answer to the question in Matt. 27:23, “What evil has He done?” And when he finally gave the order for Jesus’ crucifixion, Pilate symbolically washed his hands and pronounced Jesus to be a just man, verse 24.
This passage also reveals that Pilate not only understood that Jesus was not guilty of any crime, but he had also come to realize the motive of those who cried out for Jesus’ destruction. “He knew that because of envy they had delivered Him,” verse 18.
With the knowledge that Jesus was innocent, and that His accusers were motivated by envy, Pilate’s conscience was stirred. His wife’s dream, which caused her to plead for him not to harm “that just Man” (vs. 19), must have added to his inner turmoil. Yet the enemies of Jesus had him “over a barrel.” Jesus had indeed admitted to being a King, vs. 11. Pilate understood that Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world; thus, He was not a political threat to the Roman Empire, John 18:36. But he also knew that Caesar might not understand that fact. And when the Jews argued, “If you let this man go, you are not Caesar’s friend” (John 19:12), they had found Pilate’s weak point. He dreaded immensely to crucify a man he knew to be innocent — but he feared even more for the word to get back to Caesar that he had released a man who claimed to be a king.
Before giving in to the cries of the violent mob who sought to destroy Jesus, Pilate tried three tactics. First, when he learned that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate sent Him to be tried by Herod Antipas, who was the tetrarch of that region, Luke 23:6-12. Jesus made no defense, and Herod soon sent Him back to Pilate. Then Pilate hoped the mob who cried out for the blood of Jesus would accept His release in keeping with the tradition that one prisoner was to be released during the Passover season. They refused. Finally, Pilate had Jesus scourged and brought before the mob, hoping they would see His pain and anguish and have mercy on Him, Luke 23:16; John 19:1-4. At this point, Jesus’ enemies knew they had won. If their pressure would persuade Pilate to scourge a man he knew to be innocent, a little more pressure and he would crucify that same innocent man. Let us not miss the point of the power for evil in the sin of compromise. We must not give in to sin.
— via The Susquehanna Sentinel, April 14, 2002
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A Recreational Church
Carry Scott
Many different denominations seeking to attract numbers and new converts offer recreation as a benefit of joining their church. Entertainment and recreation seem to be a drawing card that is hard to beat. It certainly appeals to the lust of the flesh and mind. And what some of them wear becomes a lust of the eyes for others. While the leadership of these groups think they are helping people find God, they are doing nothing more than Satan’s bidding.
As we examine just how much some people hold the church and serving God to be so very important, we learn that mostly their religion is treated like a recreational activity. For many, they will claim that God is the most important thing in their life, but on bowling night, bowling takes precedence. Parents are to teach kids how important it is to dedicate your life to Christ and God, but always make sure that the kids do not miss soccer practice when done on a church night. What does this teach the children? Parents tell their kids that church is important but do not demonstrate that their own lives.
Weak Christians seem to be looking for any excuse to get out of going to church. Family matters, important ball games, and children’s activities help these weak individuals soothe their conscience, but such is nothing more than a lie. The truth of the matter is that the truth is not as important as “my personal business.”
It appears that to most Christians, church is treated no more importantly than any recreational activity. It is treated like we will go to church IF nothing gets in the way. Can a person rightly claim to be serving God when they are only serving themselves? What else can you call it when you do not attend with the saints at every service? Some who claim to be Christians only go to church once a year. Does this fit with the command to lay your life down as a sacrifice to God? Of course it does not.
Our Christianity is to be a daily effort in doing what God has instructed us to do. Not only going to the right church is important, but all the other commands of Christians in their behavior towards their brethren and toward those outside of Christ. Christians are supposed to be examples to others. That is why Jesus said for us to let our light shine. There are two reasons given for letting our light shine. So that people can see us doing the works of God, and that they will be inspired to worship Him. So our job is to help others get to heaven. We do this by encouraging our brethren at church and by setting a Christ-like example for others to see.
We are supposed to give diligence in our actions and thoughts. Giving diligence means to make every effort humanly possible in doing what God commands us to do. How many of us do that? Hardly anyone does such. But that is what God desires for us to do; so we should make as much effort as possible in serving God.
The servants of Satan are doing a much more diligent job in keeping people out of heaven. Should we not be putting forth the same if not more amount of effort to save souls? The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Let’s be diligent in sharing that gospel.
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What’s Wrong With ‘Situation Ethics’
Greg Gwin
Joseph Fletcher (1905-1991), an Episcopal priest, was the most famous proponent of “situation ethics.” In a book entitled “Situation Ethics: The New Morality,” he formalized a view that is commonly accepted by many individuals.
Here are some quotes from Fletcher’s book:
“For the situationist there are no rules – none at all.” p. 55
“And therefore what is sometimes good may at other times be evil, and what is sometimes wrong may sometimes be right when it serves a good enough end – depending on the situation.” p. 123
“Any act — even lying, premarital sex, abortion, adultery, and murder — could be right, depending on the circumstances.”
“The new morality, situation ethics, declares that anything and everything is right or wrong, according to the situation.” p. 55
The concept of “situation ethics” has been widely accepted in our culture.
So, what’s wrong with Situation Ethics?
1. It assumes that man is able to know what to do in any given situation without God’s guidance.
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8,9)
2. It ignores the many absolute prohibitions in the Bible.
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9,10)
3. It ignores the many Bible examples which show that “the end DOES NOT justify the means.”
- King Saul (1 Sam. 15)
- Uzzah (2 Sam. 6:3-7)
4. It insults God and His Word.
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” (2 Peter 1:3)
5. It obscures right and wrong.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20,21)
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Are We Complacent About Sin?
Mike Johnson
Many years ago, my wife and I moved into a house close to a well-traveled train track, which trains traveled on throughout the night. At first, the whistles from the trains woke us up. Before long, however, the passing trains rarely disturbed our sleep as we grew accustomed to the noise. Similarly, many people, to their detriment, become complacent about sin.
The Bible teaches we are to have an intolerant approach toward sin. For example, Romans 12:9 says that we are to “abhor” (hate) what is evil, and we are to “cling” to what is good. I Peter 3:10-11 points out we are to “turn away from” evil and “do good,” and I Thessalonians 5:22 says we are to “abstain from every form” of evil. We should not want any part of evil or sin if we hate it.
The practice of sin is prevalent around us. Songs with unwholesome themes play on the radio. Television and movie theaters have much foul language, sex, and various forms of immorality, and these mediums portray sin as acceptable. The internet has opened up another avenue for sin. When we choose this type of entertainment, we are first disturbed by what we see. However, in time, we can grow complacent toward sin, and before long, we begin to engage in it. The tendency is to, at first, oppose sin, then tolerate it, and finally, endorse or embrace it. We must avoid this digressive process and never lose our hatred and disgust for sin.
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Editor: Mike Johnson
www.seekingthingsabove.org