How are we serving?

THIS PICTURE

Has nothing to do with the following post. 

It is titled "Sam the Ham."

Well, the original idea for the blog was that we could also post some stuff that we are doing to serve. So I am. 

Currently, we are working on an Easter cantata, which will be performed next week. I'm playing in the orchestra, and Megan is singing in the choir. This is keeping us quite busy, practicing separately at home and together with the rest of the choir and orchestra at church. The cantata is called "Once Upon a Tree", and is based around Luke telling the story of Jesus' last week on earth as he writes it down in his gospel.

Psalm 119

Since the Bible Bee started Sarah and I have memorized quite a few verses from Psalm 119, and it has seemed like there is some reference to God's word in every single verse. So today, partly out of curiosity and partly because I was having a hard time coming up with a blog post, I looked up how many times Psalm 119 refers to God's word. Here's what I found: (this is in the NKJV. In other translations it may vary)

1. Ordinances: 2
2. Judgments:19
3. Precepts:21
4. Commandments:22
5. Statutes:22
6. Testimonies:23
7. Law: 25
8. Word: 41

True, Psalm 119 has 176 verses. But, out of those 176 it mentions God's word 175 times.
I have done a lot of memorizing Scripture in the last few years, and it is stimulating to read a bunch of verses like these that remind me why I should put so much effort into memorizing and studying the Bible.
The Bible is worth studying (Psalms 119:15 I will meditate on Your precepts,And contemplate Your ways.) The Bible is worth memorizing (Psalms 119:16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.)The Bible is worth standing up for  (Psalms 119:46 I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.) The Bible is worth loving: (Psalms 119:47 And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love.)The Bible is comforting and life giving (Psalms 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction,For Your word has given me life.)The Bible is valuable: (Psalms 119:72 The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.)The Bible is light: (Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.)The Bible is pure (Psalms 119:140 Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it.)

The Bible is true and everlasting! (Psalms 119:160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.)

Enter: The Law

Paul’s argument in chapter two is building off the premise laid in chapter one: man’s innate depravity. Because of this universal sinfulness, he says, those who judge are inexcusable (also pretty illogical and ridiculous.) He highlights the folly of these “judges” with a couple questions: Do you think you will escape the judgement of God that you are calling down on others? Do you despise God because he’s been so patient? In the next verse he answers the questions. They won’t escape God’s judgement; because of their stubbornness they merit God’s wrath, and they’ll get it!

Now that Paul has established the concept of judgement, he introduces a new term that will dominate the literary scene for the next few chapters: the law. “For”, says Paul, “as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law, in the day when God will judge the secrets of men.” (The “for” refers to his statement in verse 11: “there is no partiality with God.” [If that sentence of Paul’s seems convoluted, consider that I’ve taken out three verses of parenthetical observations, and a couple prepositional phrases to avoid clouding the main point of the sentence.])

So, the law is a criterion for judgement. His readers would have been familiar with the content of the law, (such as the ten commandments, which are alluded to in verses 21-22) as well as the concept that they would be judged by their adherence or lack thereof to it’s ordinances. But Paul is quick to point out that even with the law, people still sin: “You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?”  He also reiterates a point he made earlier: head knowledge is not enough to avert judgement. It is fascinating to see Paul’s argument building:

1. Man is depraved
2. Judgement exists
3. For those under the law, judgment is according to the law
4. Outward Judaism no longer matters

Now Paul is ready to continue on to what replaces the “letter of the law” in chapter 3.

1Cor. 16:23-24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.