Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Mar 26 2020 - 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 – Glorifying the name of our Lord Jesus

The Christians in Thessalonica were suffering for their faith but had not turned back from following Jesus. On the contrary their faith was growing stronger and they were supporting one another in a spirit of love (2 Thessalonians 1:3). They had an endurance – sticking power – that sprang from the hope they had in Christ. Paul not only gives thanks for these remarkable Christians, he also boasts about their faith and perseverance to other churches with which he is in contact.

Nevertheless, Paul assures these troubled Christians, “we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.  We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:11-12).

How does our faith fare in times of trial? We in the West do not face trials like those experienced by the Christians in Thessalonica, yet all too often we complain and ask why God does not get us out of the difficulties we are facing. Surely, if he cared about us he would step in and do something?

Faith falters in time of trial when it has become self-centred, preoccupied with our own present experience rather than focussed upon Christ and the promise of his coming, and intent upon bringing blessing to others. We need a larger perspective. God has shown us the magnitude of his love for us in that he gave his Son for us. He has saved us and will save us in the day of Christ's appearing. In the meantime we may face all manner of trials, but our faith need not falter when it is fixed upon a faithful God and an unchanging Saviour.

That does not mean that Christians must face trials with serene indifference or unconcern. Many of the psalms express both complaint to God in time of trial but also confident trust in him; the psalmist looks to God as the only one who can help in time of trial. Here, for instance, is Psalm 142:

I cry aloud to the Lord;
  I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out before him my complaint;
  before him I tell my trouble.

When my spirit grows faint within me,
  it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
  people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
  no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
  no one cares for my life.

I cry to you, Lord;
  I say, ‘You are my refuge,
  my portion in the land of the living.’

Listen to my cry,
  for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
  for they are too strong for me.
Set me free from my prison,
  that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
  because of your goodness to me.

There are many places in the world today where Christians do face serious trials, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa – in Syria and in Egypt. We need to pray for such Christians as Paul prayed for the Christians in Thessalonica. We need to cry out to God for them as the psalmist cried out in time of trouble.

Father God, we pray for those facing persecution and the threat of death simply because they are followers of the Lord Jesus. Look upon them in mercy, comfort them by your Spirit and save them by your power. Keep them strong in faith that the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified in them. Give wisdom to those seeking to bring peace to places of conflict. Help us, along with your people everywhere, to grow in faith and love and to minister your love to a hurting world.

Mar 26 2019 - Deuteronomy 32:48-33:1, 33:26-34:12 – The death of Moses

The last of our readings in Deuteronomy tells us of the death of Moses. He, like his brother Aaron, was not permitted to enter the Promised Land because, God says, "you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites" (32:51). But he will be permitted to climb a mountain from which he can view the land. Before doing so, he declares God's blessing over the Israelites.

A few days ago we read of how Balak, king of Moab, took the prophet Balaam up a mountain to survey the Israelites and curse them for him. Balak did not succeed since he could not curse those whom God had blessed. Now we have Moses uttering a blessing over the Israelites – and they will be blessed and will become a blessing since this is God's declared purpose.

Our reading has included the last few verses of Moses' blessing, beginning with the words, "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you" (33:26). "Jeshurun" is a poetic name for Israel (and apart from its occurrence in Deuteronomy, occurs in Isaiah 44:2 where it is used of the Lord's servant). Moses is declaring that there is no-one quite like Yahweh, the Lord God of Israel. Israel's safety and security (33:28) is guaranteed because the Living God has committed himself to care for this people:

The eternal God is your refuge,
    and underneath are the everlasting arms…
Blessed are you, Israel!
    Who is like you,
    a people saved by the LORD? (33:27 & 29)

Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo, saw the Promised Land, heard God repeat his promises to his people before he died and, it seems, was buried by the Lord himself. The Israelites mourned over the death of Moses. Although they had been provided with a new leader in Joshua, no one could truly replace Moses:

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt – to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land.  For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. (34:10-12).

Moses was a truly great man but he was a sinful man, like us. Nor was he a self-made man; he was great because God made him great. God called him and equipped him with his Spirit to be the one who would lead the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt. Moses was not their saviour, it was the Lord who saved and who protected his people Israel.

The Lord Jesus Christ is far greater than Moses (see Hebrews 3:1-6). He is our Saviour who has brought us out of slavery to sin and who will lead us into the inheritance God has promised his people. Unlike Moses, Jesus was without sin and has entered into his promised inheritance on our behalf. We who have come to trust in the Lord Jesus can take to ourselves the promise of blessing which Moses declared over Israel and can assure ourselves, "The eternal God is [our] refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." We are held in the safekeeping of the living God himself, and nothing and no-one can pluck us from his nail-pierced hands.

Father God, we thank you for our Lord Jesus who has secured for us your blessing and who holds us safely in his hands. Thank you that though he also faced death, he rose triumphant from the dead and will never again face death; he lives for ever as our hope, our help and our salvation. Thank you that in him we also have eternal life. Bless us and make us a blessing.

Peter Misselbrook