BEARING FRUIT IN 2020: 1 Timothy 4:7 - “Disciplining Ourselves For The Purpose Of Godliness”

In the course of the next four Sundays of January 2020, I intend to remind  us all concerning a number of important spiritual disciplines for the Christian life. 

Reminders are important. The apostle Peter wrote to the church, 

“Therefore I intend always to remind you  of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder…” [2 Pet.1:12,13]. 

The disciplines we intend to remind ourselves  of  anew  in the course of these next four weeks  are,

1. Disciplining ourselves for the purpose of godliness

2. The discipline of hearing God’s Word regularly

3. The discipline of Prayer

4. The discipline of Worship.

Many people, when thinking about discipline - any form of discipline - begin to look for excuses as to why they cannot do it. 

• Some associate discipline with legalism - “I don’t want to be legalistic”
• Others say, “I am already too busy. I don’t have the time and energy to do this”
• Still others say, “I don’t have the interest or inclination to do this”.

Think for instance about learning to play the guitar. You have seen a friend playing well, and you wished you could play like that.  To play that guitar however requires effort, time, and the will to do it. The more effort, time and will you put into practise, the better the guitar playing skills will become.  Nobody, not even a gifted person, becomes instantly successful at such a discipline. 

It needs constant practise.

The will or the motivation to do something is particularly important. Many people put in time and effort, but get no real joy out of this discipline. Many children learn the guitar or piano because it is their mother’s will, and not their own.  Personal resolve or will makes the difference in any discipline.    

Now let us apply this idea to our text. Paul addresses this matter  of spiritual discipline when he says to his younger fellow worker Timothy, at this time pastor of the church at Ephesus, “Timothy, exercise, exert discipline (gumnaze)- train yourself for godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is  of value in every way, as it holds  promise for the present  life and also for the  life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For  this end we toil and strive, because  we  have our hope set on the Living God, who is the Saviour of all people, especially those who believe …” [1 Tim. 4:7-10]

Paul, in this mentoring letter to Timothy has been guiding Timothy in a number of important matters. So far he has dealt  with the matter of dealing with false teachers in the church (1:3-20); about public prayer and propriety in public worship (2:1-15); about spiritual qualifications for  elders and deacons (3:1-13);  about  how to behave in church (3:15); about the reality of  apostasy from the faith (4:1-5), and now  concerning the  importance of spiritual discipline, both in  terms of the church and  in his own life (4:3-16).

The purpose of writing this letter is found in 1 Tim. 3:14: “… I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”

The things that Paul is writing about are things that Timothy must put before the brothers and sisters of the church (1 Tim 4:6).

The matter we want to pick up here is the matter of spiritual discipline - of training ourselves for godliness.  We know that we ought to put in effort, time and will, only to find that there is not enough motivation behind our efforts. Many Christian people really want to grow spiritually, but find themselves running out of steam, like the New Year’s resolutions that they have made, which are forgotten by February.

What do we need to persevere?  

What do we need to keep in mind? 

What will strengthen our will, our resolve, to be spiritually disciplined?

The answer is given in our text. “For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, especially of those who believe…” (4:10). 

In Chapter 6:11-12 Paul amplifies this:  “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things (urgency). “Pursue (imperative) righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…”. He has just spoken about the poison of false teaching emphases (6:3-5) and the problem of discontentment and the evil of the love of money (6:6-10).

Obstacles

The main reason why we give up and do not pursue the discipline of godliness, is that we do not keep the end in view.  We run aimlessly.  We do not anticipate the finishing line. Paul frequently  uses the metaphors of  an athlete  who keeps  the end, the finishing line in view. [1] How much more must the Christian keep the  end in view … physical training is of some value  in this life, but training in godliness holds value beyond this life in the life to come.  Many people exercise their bodies to be fit and feel good in their bodies and minds. That is where it ends.  Training for godliness goes much further … it goes ahead beyond death! Now this should provide us  with  great  motivation  to study the  need for being godly. Think of the spiritual disciplines as ‘spiritual exercises’. Just as physical disciplines promote fitness and strength, so spiritual disciplines produce spiritual stamina and therefore godliness.

Jesus  makes  a statement  that we ought to take to heart in this regard, when He says, “Do not  lay up for yourself treasures on earth, where  moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matt, 6:19-21).   Keep the end in view. Labour to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. It has far more profit. That should motivate you.

Understand your own weaknesses. Paul reminds Timothy (who was prone to introspection and discouragement- 2 Tim. 1:7) to keep his focus on the end for which we toil and strive. The focus must be on our ultimate hope- God, and the eternal life to which we are called.  We need to constantly think about the real end of life-  not our pensionable age, but  our meeting of God and the reality of eternal life. We need to think about our life after death.  

We need to think about what we shall become.  Romans 8:29 teaches us that God has predestined us be conformed to the image of Christ, and He has designed for us to make effort to make sure that we reflect the godliness of Jesus. Effort or working out our faith is not contrary to the doctrines of grace which teach us that all our salvation is earned by Jesus. But it is also true that the  fruit of our repentance and faith in Jesus  lies in the fact that we work out our salvation with fear and trembling as God works in and through us (Phil. 2:12,13)

No one becomes a successful athlete without hard discipline. 

No one becomes a godly Christian without hard effort and discipline, and this discipline always  with the help of God. 

  

THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES ARE  NOT AN OPTION BUT A NECESSITY

Holiness and godliness is not an option for  Christians. It is a calling.  Peter writes, "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1: 14-16) 

The Lord Jesus modelled these disciplines for us. He disciplined Himself for the purpose of godliness. And if we are going to be Christ-like, we must live as Jesus lived (1 Jn. 2:6)

Sadly, many professing Christians are spiritually undisciplined  and therefore  they show little fruit and power in their lives. Sadly, many Christians excel in their work /sport but not in their spiritual lives. They work hard at being successful in their  work/sport  disciplines but remain ‘spiritual dwarfs’. Their work discipline is not applied to  working on their spirituality. They  do not see the  value of training  for godliness, because they have not got the end goal in mind.

Some Christians are faithful to the church of God, and sometimes become quite enthusiastic for the things of God; they love the Word of God – but then they trivialize their effectiveness for the Kingdom of God through lack of discipline.

"The gold of godliness isn’t found on the surface of Christianity. It has to be dug from the depth with the tools of the disciplines“.

FINAL REFLECTION  AND CONCLUSIONS

• We are called to bear fruit (John 15). There is danger in neglecting the spiritual disciplines i.e. we bear little fruit. Just as with natural gifts, spiritual gifts need to be developed by discipline in order to bear spiritual fruit
• There is freedom in embracing the Spiritual disciplines.  They may seem to be restrictive and binding, but they actually are the means to spiritual freedom. Freedom is not the opposite of discipline, but it is the final reward of discipline. Through the spiritual discipline of reading and meditating and memorizing of the Word of God we may find ourselves free to quote Scripture; through fasting we may experience greater understanding of issues that perplex or disturb us; we may find ourselves freed from bondages as a result. In the discipline of worship and attending services we may be freed from spiritual bondages.
• Godliness does not come overnight or during a weekend seminar. It grows with persistent application. We must learn to persevere before the mature fruit of godliness ripens. Notice the sequence of development in 2 Peter 1:6f: “add… to self control, perseverance and to perseverance, godliness”. It is a process. It takes effort, time and will.

 May  this  meditation add to our understanding and resolution to be  fruitful Christians in 2020.

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[1] The metaphor of running a race "with perseverance" appears in Hebrews 12:1, and related metaphors appear in Philippians 2:16, Galatians 2:2, Galatians 5:7. In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul writes "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." In 1 Corinthians 9:24–26, written to the city that hosted the Isthmian Games, the metaphor is extended from running to other games, such as boxing, to make the point that winning a prize requires discipline, self-control, and coordinated activity. In 2 Timothy 2:5 the same point is made.

LUKE 1: 57- 80 "Zechariah’s Prophecy"

This portion of sacred Scripture  outlines the birth  of John the Baptist  and the remarkable  prophecy of his father, Zechariah.

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1.      THE  BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (2:57-66)

a.     God’s great mercy and Elizabeth’s great  joy  (vv.57-58)

b.     Zechariah’s  changed perspective (vv. 59-64)

c.       A question asked by many:  What then will this child be?  (vv. 65-66)

2.      THE QUESTION ASKED  AND ANSWERED: ZECHARIAH’S PROPHECY   CONCERNING  HIS SON JOHN (2:67- 79)

a.     Praise to God for fulfilling his promise to redeem his people (1:67-75)

b.     A word  concerning John and his  ministry (1:76-79)

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1.         THE  BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (2:57-66)

a.         God’s great mercy and Elizabeth’s great  joy  (vv.57-58) “When the time came for Elizabeth to give birth to her child, she bore a son her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.”

Having been previously introduced to the fact  that  the priest  Zechariah and Elizabeth were childless  and advanced in years (1:7). At this time Zechariah was performing his priestly duty in the temple (1:11-23). We read of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Zechariah concerning the miraculous conception of a son. Zechariah’s scepticism earned him the rebuke of God - a period of being temporarily mute, being unable to speak for 9 months.

We are now introduced to the fact of John’s birth, just as Gabriel said.  Luke tells us of two initial responses to this birth. Firstly, those that knew Elizabeth (neighbours and relatives- 1:58) knew that this was God’s mercy. The Lord had given her a son out of child bearing season. Secondly, they rejoiced with her.  And so, on that level alone there is great rejoicing in the fact of God’s kind and merciful providence. The stigma of childlessness was dealt with and it produces a deep and satisfying joy in Elizabeth.

But there is more here than meets the eye. Wherever God is at work we may be assured that He does more than  we   human minds   can understand.  The apostle Paul, interviewing God’s great salvation plan in his letter to the Romans gets a hint of this when he writes: “Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!” (Rom. 11:33). When we are given glimpses of God and His work, we are completely out of our depth  of understanding. 

b.         The Birth Utterly  Changed Zechariah’s  Perspective (vv. 59-64)

To begin with, Zechariah had no understanding  concerning God’s sovereign power and  providence. He had no ability to see or hear God’s voice and will in the matter, and therefore  he did not  have  any ability to speak. He had deeply  doubted the angel Gabriel’s  announcement. But all that has changed now.  Family and friends  are coming together  on the 8^th day following the child’s birth to circumcise the child in accordance with the law of Moses, and to name him. Everybody supposes that that he would be called Ben Zacharyah after his father (Zechariah means God remembers).Elizabeth, who had trusted the word  of  Gabriel  from the moment Zechariah communicated this to her (via a writing tablet 1:63) says to them, “No; He shall be called John” (1:60).  And we hear a very  familiar family squabble  erupting:  “But Elizabeth, there are  no John’s in your family!” (1:61).   And so they turn to Zechariah, making signs to him, like one  would do with a  deaf man. But he can hear everything they say. He can just not speak. He is mute. 

I remember visiting a German man called Richard in a local institution in the 90’s. Richard was mute. His hearing was fine, but his brain could just not do the speaking. God had temporarily disengaged Zechariah’s brain –speech function.  And so   Zechariah signals them to give him a writing tablet, and he confirms in writing what his wife has already said, “His name is John.”[1] 

God’s chastising of Zechariah’s initial unbelief had its desired effect. He was no longer arguing. He was now conforming to God’s will and purpose. And now he writes that name with full conviction on to that tablet, and immediately the Lord  restores his speech.  The first thing that comes out of Zechariah’s mouth is the blessing of God (1:64). Reflect on this. A man in the priestly service of God  is  chastised  because he did not implicitly trust the Word of the Lord by the angel Gabriel.  That chastising brought wonderful perspective  to Zechariah- and not just perspective,  but deep, reverential  praise. Thank God for  such times when we are led  away from our  spiritual complacency  to  experience God  afresh as loving, merciful sustaining Father. What valuable lessons  the Christian  learns in the valley of humiliation.  This poem by Robert Browning (7 May 1812 – 12 December 1889) gives this perspective:

“I walked a mile with Pleasure;

She chatted all the way;

But left me none the wiser

For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow;

And ne’er a word said she;

But, oh! The things I learned from her,

When Sorrow walked with me.”

Zechariah, in his afflicted state learned to trust God afresh. God so often works in adversity to build us up, to grow us in grace, and to help us to believe. This is what happened with Zechariah. In nine months of silence, while Elizabeth was pregnant with John  Zechariah was given the gift of silence  to repent, confess, and do self – examination.  And when the people heard Zechariah speak for the first time after this,  they  were  wondering (1:63)…

c.      What Then Will This Child Be?

This is a wonderful moment. God was so near, not only to Zechariah and Elizabeth, but to all the surrounding people. There is an expectancy in the air. What is God up to?  What then will this child be? The answer is in the making in the next section, in which the Holy Spirit through Zechariah will tell us what He is up to and what kind of child this will be. This child will not be the Messiah. He will not be the Christ. But he is the one who will focus every one’s attention on another Child. John is the forerunner of the Messiah. He is the trumpet. He  is born and called  to   announce  the  coming  and the work of  Jesus.

2.         QUESTION ANSWERED:  ZECHARIAH’S PROPHECY CONCERNING JOHN 

            (1:67- 79)

Zechariah was now given the  liberty  to speak , and he does so in terms of  prophetic  praise to God. This portion of Scripture is called the Benedictus[2]- from the Latin “blessed be”.  Zechariah’s  prophetic words  ascribe  blessing to  the God  who  is now finally  giving the promised gift  of salvation – a longstanding promise of  God !  This  prophecy contains three  wonderful truths :

a.     Praise To God For Fulfilling His Promise To Redeem His People (1:67-75)

Zechariah under the influence of the Holy Spirit (1:67) makes it very clear that John’s ministry and message is going to be set in the context of the unfolding plan of God’s redemptive plan  for our fallen world.

In answering the question, “What then will this child be”, he is not falling into the trap of extolling his boy as a child prodigy, a Wunderkind,  a special child, who will do great things, such as a Mozart who started composing  music at the age of 5! John is special to be sure. His birth was special. He has a very unique calling from God, but no - he wasn’t the long expected Messiah.  Zechariah wants people to know that this is not about John. It is about God.  God is doing this. He is visiting His people. He is in the process of redeeming them. He is providing a horn of salvation through the house of David. He has spoken about this many year ago through his prophets. He is the God who will deliver his people in the midst of their sinful and woeful existence. He has not forgotten! He has remembered His covenant, which he first gave to Abraham.

Zechariah wants us to know that John is a part of a larger picture, in which God is preparing to visit His people in the person of His own Son, the Messiah, Christ our Lord, who is in Himself  is going to accomplish redemption for His people.  And so Zechariah  does not glorify  his own, miraculously born son. He is glorifying  God.   Here is something we all must learn  to think about in doing  the work of God. This ministry that we have through God’s mercy is not about us. The apostle Paul says that it is  all about Jesus (2 Cor. 4:1-6). We exist to make Him known. He alone is our hope and salvation.This is the  God-centeredness of  Zechariah's song,  which teaches us  to thinking and living  in  this  world  in  God-centred  terms.

We must reflect briefly  on the  fulfilment of prophecy given to Abraham (1:72-75). We find the account of this in Genesis 12 and 17.  Luke connects the dots for us by telling  us  that the coming of Jesus as Messiah in this world was in fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham. At this time  the promise was  about  2,000 years old and from our perspective 4000 years old.  God’s promise to Abraham was not  made to the Jews, but to the world- the nations – the gentiles. “Abraham, you will be a father of many nations!”   John will help the world of his day , and us, to look to the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29,36) This is not about John, although he will be used much of God. He knows that he must  decrease in  all  his  work. Jesus must increase.(John 3:30).

b.     Concerning John And His Ministry (1:76-79)

In this section Zechariah finally answers the  question, “What then will this child be”? What purpose does God have for him? Here is Zechariah’s answer:  “And you my child will be called the prophet of the Most High;  for you will  go before the Lord to prepare His ways...”. Zechariah speaks about things that his son will do in the future. At this stage Zechariah was already an old man, and we don't know how long he lived and whether he lived to see the fulfilment of his words .But this we know. Zechariah is given inspired insight when his son was eight days old - concerning his life’s purpose and preaching ministry.  He will have the responsibility of preparing Israel for the coming of the Lord. John will have the responsibility of calling Israel to repentance, because Israel had strayed from her God —  see 1: 77: “…To give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins….”   John’s ministry anticipates the grace of the gospel by  preaching  the  forgiveness of sins and the salvation that we have because of forgiveness of sins. And all this because of  1:78  “…because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high….”

And that becomes the work of John, and we see this fulfilled in Luke 3:4-6. Sadly, John’s preaching has often characterized as hard, challenging, demanding – but the gospel  tone of his preaching  is often forgotten. The tone makes the music! John’s preaching is actually  a wonderful example of faith preaching that produces soft hearts.  Faithful preaching  must uphold the demands of the law, and our inability to keep it, whilst pointing to the gospel of grace in Christ. 

That is why John’s ministry is such a model and blessing. It is a truly Christ centred, Christ focussed ministry.  

He existed for the glory of Christ. 

May God be pleased to give us more preachers like him in these  days!

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[1] Greek: autou onoma estin Ioannēs

[2] Mary’s  song ( 1: 46-55) is called the Magnificat ; Simeon’s  prophetic blessing of  Jesus, the Nunc Dimittis

Isaiah 10:5-34 "The Sovereignty of God"

The Bible provides us with perspectives that absolutely rock our common worldviews.  A very common worldview today (and it is even held by many Christians)   is that God has nothing to do with the world’s politics.  It is thought that He leaves that to the world’s rulers. It is thought that He is watching this world from a distance, and some Christians believe that He will only intervene at the end of time, when things have thoroughly gotten out of hand.

Well, the Bible knows nothing of this kind of thinking. Nothing!  Isaiah shows us that God is at work in this world in a sovereign, hands-on way. Even though we do not see Him physically, He is the unseen hand ruling the world, upholding it moment by moment.

Nothing exists or happens in this world which He doesn’t know.

Nothing that happens in this world catches Him by surprise.

God is involved in the political happenings of our world. In and through it all He does not command evil, but He does allow evil to have its way for a while, so that our world may learn to see its own folly. In the history of nations God is frequently seen to be handing nations over to the kind of rulers they deserve.    

Do we have any influence in all of this? 

Yes! We must pray and work. The Bible teaches us to pray (that is, to speak to and ask God) for our governing authorities, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way (1Tim 2:2).  The Bible teaches also that Christians must work positively, working as salt and light in this decaying world.  

From  this text we learn to see God’s hand in the affairs of this world  in  that,

1.     Assyria is  God’s  chastising tool  upon  His wayward  nation (10:5-7)

2.     Assyria   is an arrogant boastful nation  (10:7-11 ; 13-14)

3.    Assyria will be in for a nasty surprise, for God will  judge her (10:12;10:15-19)

4.     God will preserve His people, in the midst of it all political chaos (10:20-34)

1.     10:5-7   Assyria, God’s surprising  instrument of chastisement

In  Isaiah 7:1 -10:4  God  has revealed to  Isaiah that He would use Assyria [i] as an instrument of judgment against Syria, Israel, and Judah, who were at this time  at  war among themselves. God was not standing by idly. He was handing over these nations to Assyria: “Ah Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands  is my fury.”

Do you see the Great Shepherd at work here?  “… the rod of my anger … the staff in  their hands is my fury”.  The rod and the staff are a shepherd’s tools to guide and correct his  sheep. Assyria fulfilled that function right now, as God used her to correct Syria, Israel, and Judah. In that sense Assyria was the servant of God - but only in that sense.  Later in Isaiah  44:28  that  same  idea  is expressed,  when  a century and a half later God calls Cyrus, the Persian ruler to be His shepherd  to deliver Israel from Babylonian captivity and to punish the Babylonians  for their brutal ways.

Back to Assyria. The Lord says,  “against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command  him to take spoil and to seize plunder and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.” (10:6b).

The language here leaves us in no doubt that God  was using the Assyrians who were the political superpower at that time. The Assyrians were an efficient, well developed army in its day. They were the first to develop iron weapons, being superior to the bronze weapons, commonly used at that time. Their skill allowed them to make weapons and protective items, so more soldiers could use them. They were the first army to have a separate engineering unit, which could set up ladders and ramps, and fill in moats, and dig tunnels to help the soldiers get into a walled city. They were also among the first to build chariots. These technological advancements allowed the Assyrians to expand their empire.[ii]   What is surprising in all this is that God would use  a pagan nation, an arrogant nation to chastise His people. In this next section we will explore  the arrogance of the Assyrians.

2.      Assyria - an arrogant boastful nation  (10:7-11 ; 13-14)

We have seen that Assyria is a tool in God’s hand. 

But how does Assyria see herself? Chapter 10:7-11 and 10: 13-14 give us insight here.  Assyria, although she is given this momentary authority by God, we find  this  assessment of her own attitude: "(But he- Assyria) does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few” (10:7). Assyrians  think that they are the  masters of their own destiny.  The arrogance of the king of Assyria is described in  10:13, “For he says, By the strength of my hand have I done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I remove the boundaries of people, and  plunder their treasures; like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones…” (10:13,14). Here  we learn  that,  although Assyria was indeed  an instrument in God's hand, and since she  was  doing the will of the LORD,  that this  fact did not free her  from employing her own motives  for  attacking  Syria, Israel, and Judah.  Not at all!  Although  she  was  given a free hand from God, it was in her heart to destroy, and cut off not a few nations.    When we read of the account of the Assyrian besiegement of Jerusalem in Isaiah 36:10 (cf. 2Kings 18:25) we take note that the commander of the Assyrians appeared to have been aware of his divine mandate from the God of Israel. But it is equally clear in that context that Assyria thought little of the God of Israel. The Assyrian commanders appropriated to themselves much glory, but in truth, their enablement came from the sovereign God, who had enabled them to rule at a time such as this.  

Do you see what is happening here? Assyria had an over - inflated view of herself.  She regarded her commanders to be on the level of the kings of other nations: "For he says, 'Are not my commanders  all  kings? Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?” The cities mentioned in 10:9,10 were systematically conquered  by the  Assyrians, and in so doing they  boasted  that  none of their territorial  gods  had been able to help them.

Observe the pride of the Assyrians. Consider their boastful language: “As my hand has  reached to the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images were greater than those  of Jerusalem and Samaria, shall I not do  to Jerusalem and her idols as I have done to Samaria and her idols?'"  (10:10,11). They thought of  the  God of Israel as nothing more than one of the idols that they had conquered in Samaria or in many other cities. They glory in their own strength and wisdom and power.  This is asking for trouble! The Assyrians were going to be in for a rude  surprise!

3.     Assyria will be in for a nasty surprise, for God will  judge her  (10:12; 10:15-19)

This brings us to the next point. Do not think that God Almighty overlooks anything! In this very text God the Almighty vows to severely discipline the Assyrians.

10:12  “When the Lord has finished all his work  on Mt Zion  and on Jerusalem, he will punish  the  speech of the arrogant  heart of the king of Assyria  and the boastful look in his eyes…”

In 10: 15 -19  the LORD uses the pictures of an axe, a saw, a rod, and a staff to make the point that  a tool  should never take credit for what the workman  does with the tool. The skill is in the user, not in the tool.  Assyria was the tool. God was the workman, but Assyria took the glory.  And now she must face God herself.

10:16 “Therefore the Lord God of hosts will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors…”.   In Isaiah 37:36 we read  how God, in history  actually   judged the Assyrians: “And the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185 000 in the camp of the Assyrians”. That was the end of the Assyrian   attempt to conquer Jerusalem, and that is basically also the end of the Assyrian empire. How those that think they stand beware lest they fall. How the mighty have fallen!  God is a terrible Judge! Let the arrogant and unrepentant  take note! It is a terrible thing to fall into the hand of the Living God.

As we pause to reflect on this, one of the greatest perplexities for the thoughtful reader of Scripture is how God could possibly use such a pagan, arrogant nation to chastise among others, his own people? We shall find that there is nothing uncommon about God’s strategy.  140 years later we shall find a similar situation. In Jeremiah’s  and in  Habakkuk’s day  (605 and 686 B.C.)  God raised up the ruthless, godless Babylonians  to  chastise  the Southern kingdom,  Judah (Hab. 1:6-11), and after which  He promptly  announced judgment on Babylon herself (Hab. 2:6-17)!

Here we deal with the mystery of God’s ways in the temporary judgements of the peoples of the world, and especially in the judgement of His backslidden people.  Here we deal with the fact that the LORD can use a wicked nation like the Assyrians to punish His own people’s wickedness. He could use godless nations as the rod of His anger, whilst at the same time   judging theses godless nations, saying to them, "woe  upon you Assyria!"  (10:5). It is true that the backslidden church  has suffered much  at the hand of an ungodly world over these last 2000 years. All this is seen and ordained by God  who  uses  this wicked world to chastise His own.

Scripture teaches us that God can use wicked people  to further His will, without ever approving of their  wickedness, and in the end judging their wickedness. This  is repeatedly seen in the Scriptures. Joseph's brothers sinned against Joseph, but God used it for His purpose, and He disciplined Joseph's brothers. Saul sinned against David, but God used it for His purpose, and God judged Saul. Judas sinned against Jesus, but God used it for His purpose, and He judged Judas. The wicked assault the  people of God, and God uses that for their sanctification, but in the end, the wicked will be judged for their  wickedness.

God is absolutely able to bring  good out of  evil- even the evil  done to  his beloved children. See what good God has brought out of the cross!  But those who  designed and desired the evil cross  will  need to meet  their Maker in the day of  judgement. We cannot  know  exactly how God will bring about  the good, but we can trust  Him for the outcome. God does care about all the evil done in this world, and He will bring about His judgment according to His perfect will and timing. Again, we cannot know when that will be, but it will happen!

4.      What about Israel? In the midst of it  all  God will preserve a remnant (10:20-34)

God  must judge all sin, including that sin  that  is found among His people. “He is  of purer eyes that to see evil and cannot look at wrong” (Habakkuk 1:13). How then shall  anyone escape?  In the midst of all this, God has a word for the worried – for the righteous, who feel themselves to be pawns in the game.  What about  the  true, faithful people of God that are found in  every generation? What about them?  Are they  just  a lost cause,  are they  just incidental to this story, or  are they, as the militarists say,  ‘collateral damage’ in this  eternal wrangle between God and  evil?

Not at all!

The story of the Bible now takes on another profound turn as we are introduced to the doctrine of the remnant ...the survivors of the house of Jacob (10:20) … the remnant of Jacob (10:21).

Chapter 10 closes with real hope and gives us ultimate perspective and application:

(i)   (10:22) “Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness”. When God allows  the destruction  of his own   cause -  Israel or the church,  we must know that it is always righteous, and never unfair. God’s  judgment overflows with righteousness and the outcome will always  be good! The church of our own day, so beset  with compromise and worldly ways  desperately needs  to be cleaned out by God.  Will not God not use our enemies to do that?

(ii)  (10:23) “For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a full end”.  An end of what? An end of Judah's trust in nations like Assyria. They will never again depend on him who defeated him. In the same way, God must cleanse the church  to  stop her  dependence  on worldly solutions  in terms  of her work in this world.

(iii) (10:24) “Therefore … be not afraid of the Assyrians…”. God is telling His people, "I will chastise you, and it will hurt. But I have a plan, so don't be afraid." This may not be nice to hear, but it is oh so necessary.   It hurts to be disciplined and corrected. Yet we must tell ourselves  to  continue  to  trust God, even when it hurts. Weeping will last for a night. Joy comes in the morning.  

(iv) (10:26) God can- just as he did before! Two examples are used: 

a.     Gideon’s victory over the Midianites, and  the Red sea crossing.  “And the LORD of hosts will wield against them  a whip, as when  he  struck Midian at the rock of Oreb.” This is a reference to Judges 7:25 which  describes Gideon's  miraculous victory over the Midianites at the rock of Oreb. Now  God's judgment on Assyria would be as miraculous and complete as Gideon's victory was. We have already seen how the LORD killed  185,000 Assyrians in one night. 

b.     “And his staff will be over  the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt,”  is a reference  to Exodus 14:16  in which we find a description  of  how  God used  Moses staff  to divide the Red Sea. In the same way, He would do something totally miraculous against Assyria.

(v)  (10:27 -34) “In that day that his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck…”.   In  10:28-32  follows  a  prophetic description of the arrival of the army of the Assyrians. The listing of cities from the north to the south, describes  the route of the Assyrian invasion. Nob is found  on the outskirts of Jerusalem. This is as far as the army of the Assyrians came against Judah. There  they were stopped. Here the LORD killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night (10:33,34).

The buck stops with the Lord God of hosts. Everything rises and falls before the  Sovereign God. 

Do you know of any   human dynasty or world power that has endured for any  significant time? 

No! They all come and go.  

Our text is indeed a grand celebration of the sovereignty of God. So then, do not fear  what man can do. Of what account is he? Fear God.  We need to  be reminded again of what  Isaiah had previously said in 8:11-13,

11For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12“Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honour as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Now that is biblical perspective. 

Let God’s Word be true and every man a liar!

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[i] Assyria corresponds to most parts of modern-day Iraq as well as parts of Iran, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey.

[ii] https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/assyrian-empire/