Category: Guest Contributor

Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31

“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”

Psalm 107 reveals the mercy of God. The first and last verses speak of it. The Psalm tells about four situations that show His mercy. These are in verses 1-8, 9-15, 16-21, and 22-31. In each, people found themselves in difficulties. In each, the people looked to God, and in each God delivered them. Each section ends with a note of praise to God.

In Psalm 107: 4,5, we read, “They (those who the Lord had redeemed from the enemy) wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.” This reminds of the wanderings of Israel after they left Egypt. They knew not where they were going, and needed food and drink. Continuing in verses 6 and 7 we read, “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.” Because they cried unto the LORD, God in His mercy provided them with what they needed and led them to where they were going.

Jesus said in Luke 12:27-30, “Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.” He knows what we need! In Matthew 6:8 Jesus said that God knows what we need before we ask. Just as God in His mercy cared for wandering Israel, so can we trust Him, too.

In Psalm 107:10-12 God wrote, “Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.” Here we hear of those who are afflicted because they ignore God’s Words. Their hearts were brought down by labor, and when they fell down they had nobody to help them. These things God brought upon them because they ignored Him. Continuing, we read in verse 13 and 14, “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.” Though they were in their troubles for ignoring God, He came to their aid when they asked. What mercy!

In John 8:12 we read, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Those who follow Jesus do not sit in darkness because Jesus is the Light of the world. In Luke 4:4, Jesus, quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3, saying, “…It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” The real source of life is what God says, His words. Obeying Him is life. Ignoring Him brings labor and darkness.

Then in Psalm 107:17, 18 we read, “Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.” This goes a step further from the previous. They ignored God’s word, so that they are in their iniquities, and are afflicted. Their souls were famished. They desired nothing of spiritual value. Continuing in verses 19 and 20 we read, “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” They appealed to God in their situation, and God heard and delivered them by sending to them back to the Word that they had ignored. Our souls are fed by spiritual food, God’s Word. Their relief came in paying attention to His Word and obeying Him.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” God’s word is what mankind needs to live lives that honor God. And again we see that God was ready to help when they asked. Again we see His mercy.

Psalm 107:24-27 says, “They that go down into the sea see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.” A storm on the sea is terrifying. The trials of those who do business in the see were so severe, the storms were so great, that they were like drunken men. Continuing in verses 28 to 30 we read, “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.” In this case, the trials are in the form of natural disasters which are beyond men’s control. In God’s mercy He is ready and able to help even in the storms.

In Mark 4:37-39 we read, “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” The sea is under God’s control, it calms at His command.

Verses 6, 13, 19, and 28 are identical and tell of the people turning to God; “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.” It is astounding, and reassuring, to see that no matter their situation, He delivered them from out of their distresses when they cried to Him. In each of these four cases we read of God’s mercy, care, and deliverance for the people.

Verses 8, 15, 21, and 31 are also identical. These verses are appeals to praise God. All of mankind should praise God for His goodness and for His wonderful works on their behalf. Oh, that they would! It is said four times in this psalm. Israel, and by extension, mankind, have gotten themselves into difficulties by ignoring God. Yet He sends relief! He reconciled mankind to Himself through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God’s heart toward mankind is revealed. What mercy! What grace! What love! What praise is due to Him!

Spiritually speaking, mankind is wandering, under death, under sin, and beset by things that are out of our control. Ultimately, our only hope is to call upon God in our distresses. Psalm 107 reveals that God hears every feeble cry of dependence on Him, and works to deliver those that trust Him. Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

The writer ended the psalm with, “Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness (mercy) of the LORD.” This is Who God is. He rightly deserves praise from us, and He is merciful to us. It is wisdom to depend on God even in our failures. He is merciful!

God is good! I will not fear
The trials that await me here;
His promises are true and sure;
His Word forever must endure.

Refrain

O blessèd hope, O joy indeed,
His mercy covers all my need!
God is good! His love to me
Is broad and boundless as the sea.

God is good! His hand supplies;
I cannot need what He denies.
I’ll trust His love from day to day,
And follow where He leads the way.

Refrain

God is good! He will not fail,
Tho’ Satan’s fiery darts assail;
I trust His grace from hour to hour,
And do not fear the tempter’s power.

Refrain (Charles H. Gabriel)

February 16, 2025
Space and Time

This is a message based on Genesis by Dennis Ploor presented on September 9, 2029.

October 11, 2024
That You Might Believe

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:30-31

In the end of his book John revealed his purpose for writing it. From the beginning to the end, he wrote so that his readers would believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God.

John 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Speaking of the Word, John 1:14 tells us, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, …full of grace and truth.” So, in the first 14 verses John says that Jesus, called the Word, is God, Who created all things and Who became flesh. The rest of the book tells how He lived, died on a cross, and rose again from the dead.

In John 2, Jesus went to the city of Cana for a wedding. In John 2:6-10 John wrote, “And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins (about 18-27 gallons) apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: …the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.” Jesus turned 162 gallons of water into the best wine.

In John 4 a man from Capernaum came to Cana where Jesus was; a twenty-mile trip. In John 4:47-50 John wrote, “When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. …Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.” As he went, the man learned that his son had been healed, and he and his family believed on Jesus. The distance from Cana to Capernaum was no barrier to Jesus healing the boy.

In John 9 is the story of a man who was born blind. Jesus’ disciples wondered why the man was born blind. In John 9:3 Jesus said, “…Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” As the story continued, there was much controversy about what had happened. Stating the obvious, in John 9:25, the man himself “…answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” Then the leaders of the synagogue cast the man out of their gathering, and in John 9:35-38 we read, “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.” Jesus healed a man that was born blind!

We read in John 11 about Lazarus who took ill, and then died. Four days after his death Jesus came to his town. John wrote in John 11:39-45, “Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. …He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.” Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead!

All 879 verses of John reveal that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. In these few examples Jesus changed water to wine, healed a sick man from a distance, healed a man born blind, and raised someone who had been dead for four days. Is not Jesus God?

John wrote his book so that his readers would believe this about Jesus because by believing they might have life through His name. This is eternal life, and it is available only by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. This means believing Who He said He was, Who His Works say He is, and why He came to earth. The last is told in John 3:16-18, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” What will each of us do with Jesus? Eternal life is waiting!

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We’re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God’s eternal day.

Refrain

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We’re tossed and driven on, no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav’n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem – just go to Him in pray’r.

Refrain

Life’s day will soon be o’er, all storms forever past,
We’ll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We’ll share the joys of heav’n – a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we’ll lay our burden down.

Refrain (Esther Kerr Rusthoi)

May 29, 2024
Go Thy Way

“Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.”
(John 4:50)

The man was from Capernaum. His son lay ill at home; at the point of death. Being a nobleman, the man likely spent as much as he could to have his son healed. But nothing availed. Then he heard that Jesus had come out of Galilee to Cana. He determined to make the twenty-mile journey to beseech Jesus for his son. He was certain that Jesus could do something, and he had run out of options.

And so he went. Finding Jesus, the man appealed to Him for his son. The conversation probably didn’t go the way that he had expected. Jesus seemed harsh, perhaps. He said, “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” It cannot be that Jesus was harsh. He certainly brought this up for a reason. He had come to Cana from Sychar, where He had met the woman at the well. He went there on purpose to meet her. And this encounter was no different. Jesus had come to Cana to have this conversation. The nobleman answered the Lord by repeating his appeal for his son, “Sir, come down ere my child die.”

Then Jesus replied, “Go thy way; thy son lives.” Now the man was faced with a decision. All he had was Jesus’ word. What would he do? The scriptures tell us, “…the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.” Off he went! Another twenty miles were before him. The amount of time he spent with Jesus was perhaps only minutes. The conversation that is recorded would only require five minutes. But off the man went toward home. He believed Jesus’ word.

On the way back he met some of his servants that were coming his way. They brought the wonderful news that his son had recovered from the point of death! So he asked at what time that had happened, and was told that it was the day before, at the seventh hour. And he knew that that was when Jesus had told him that his son lived. We are told then, in verse 53, that he and his family believed on Jesus.

Taking God at His word is the essence of faith. This man’s trust in the Lord resulted in his son being healed, and the salvation of his whole family. The distance from Cana to Capernaum did not figure into the man’s thinking. Though twenty miles distant, at a time when walking was the main form transportation, the man sent to see Jesus, and headed home at the Lord’s word that his son was alive.

By contrast, the Lord clearly told His command to Adam and Eve. In Genesis 2:15-17 we read, “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

This command of God was no more difficult than what Jesus told the nobleman: “Go thy way.” Both commands required belief and obedience. Belief will result in obedience. God’s command to Adam was soon violated. He and Eve didn’t believe what God told them. Perhaps the unheard-of consequences made it unbelievable. But what should have made it believable should have been Who it was that said it. The nobleman expected Jesus to go with him, but He didn’t. He simply told him to go his way. Which one did God’s will?

What command of God stands before us? All of mankind is faced with Romans 10:9-11, “… if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Having believed this, the Christian life becomes a sort of school in which the believer learns to trust God more and more.

Come, every soul by sin oppressed;
There’s mercy with the Lord,
And He will surely give you rest
By trusting in His Word.

Refrain

Only trust Him, only trust Him,
Only trust Him now;
He will save you, He will save you,
He will save you now.

For Jesus shed His precious blood
Rich blessings to bestow;
Plunge now into the crimson flood
That washes white as snow.

Refrain

Yes, Jesus is the truth, the way,
That leads you into rest;
Believe in Him without delay
And you are fully blessed.

Refrain (John H. Stockton)

May 15, 2024
Idolatry

“I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; and them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.” Zephaniah 1:4-6

The Lord’s chief complaint against Israel was their idolatry. Even a casual reading of the Old Testament prophets reveals this. Here was God, their creator and deliverer, arms open wide toward them, and they were attributing their blessings to pieces of gold or silver or stone or wood. Or, they decided to come to God in ways that they had made up, instead of following His clear direction and desires.

Two types are described by Zephaniah. The first is those who were guilty of blatant idolatry. These verses mention the names of Baal, Chemarims, and Malcham. They also speak of the worshippers of the heavens from the rooftops. And, they mention those that swear by the LORD and by Malcham.

Baal, Chemarims, and Malcham were idols at the time of Zephaniah. Each were part of systems of belief which Israelites held to. But they were not what the Lord had commanded. For example, child sacrifice was practiced in these religions. All of them included representative statues, believed to be the god, so called, which were worshipped. In the verses above God promised that He would cut off all of these idolatries from Judah and Jerusalem.

Others worshipped the heavens, the sun, the moon, and the stars. They were worshipping the creation, instead of the Creator. It is the Creator Himself that is worthy of worship, not the things that He has made. God promised to remove this practice from Judah and Jerusalem.

Some swore by the LORD and by Malcham. They were mixing their idolatry with the ways of the LORD. They figured that they needed to cover all possibilities, honoring the LORD and their idol. But God does not share His glory with any idol. Those practices, too, will be removed from Judah and Jerusalem by the Lord.

Those that were the LORD’s served Him. Those that served the idols at least acknowledged spiritual things, though went about it wrongly. But the second group of people had a different view. They had no interest in either the One True God, or the idols. This is the same problem displayed differently. While the idolators took up with some form of religious practice, acknowledging that something was worthy of worship, the second group had no use for any spiritual things. Both groups missed the mark regarding spiritual matters, and what pleased God.

In the second group there was “…them that are turned back from the LORD”. At one time they had some kind of inkling about God. They went along with the practices of their religion which brought enjoyment or satisfaction or inspiration in some way. But for some reason they turned back from the Lord. Maybe some devastating personal event caused them to doubt His existence, or His care. And since they were insincere in the first place, they concluded that it was a waste of time and energy. People who don’t hold to the Lord, but are “playing the game”, will easily become discouraged when life becomes difficult. Pain or loss takes away the enjoyment of the rituals, and they conclude that God does not care, and so they turn away.

Then there were some that “have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for Him.” God and His things didn’t enter their thinking. They had no interest in finding out Who He is. But, as Paul put it in Acts 17:27, 28, “…He be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being…” The fact is God is near to us and interested in every aspect of our lives. He knows us completely, even our hearts. But they refuse to ask after Him or find out what He is like, or what it is that honors Him, or how to please Him.

But lest we think too harshly of those about whom Zephaniah wrote, their actions match the actions of all of mankind. We all are guilty of idolatry and rejection of God, just as Israel was. Those who are not of Israel are also guilty before God for idolatry and sin. To this day people think that God to be aloof or uninterested in their lives, or events on the earth. They think as the leaders of Israel did in the day of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 9:9, the Lord told the prophet, “…they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.”

But nothing could be further from the truth. He cares so much for all of mankind that He made a plan to reconcile us to Himself. He came as a man, He did many wonderful things, healing the sick and raising the dead, to prove Who He was. But He was rejected by the world, and was nailed to a cross. He endured man’s wrath in beatings and tortures, and endured God’s wrath against mankind’s sin. He himself never sinned. How could He do that if He were aloof and uncaring? What more would we want Him to do?

Like Zephaniah said, the day will come, and soon, when all of these idolatrous behaviors will be cut off. Jesus will come again, and He will rule the earth. Every eye will see Him. As we read in Philippians 2:9-11, because of the willing sacrifice of Jesus, “…God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” All idolatry gone, all apathy gone, He will receive the glory He deserves!

Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement! can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die;
It is finished! was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious king,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior! (Philip P. Bliss)

April 8, 2024