09/01/2028 – “Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 / Pray Psalm 135-136! / commentary and comments below
“Continually restate to yourself what the purpose of your life is. The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. Nowadays we have far too many affinities, we are dissipated with them; right, good, noble affinities which will yet have their fulfilment, but in the meantime God has to atrophy them. The one thing that matters is whether a man will accept the God Who will make him holy. At all costs a man must be rightly related to God.
Do I believe I need to be holy? Do I believe God can come into me and make me holy? If by your preaching you convince me that I am unholy, I resent your preaching. The preaching of the gospel awakens an intense resentment because it must reveal that I am unholy; but it also awakens an intense craving. God has one destined end for mankind, viz., holiness. His one aim is the production of saints. God is not an eternal blessing-machine for men; He did not come to save men out of pity: He came to save men because He had created them to be holy. The Atonement means that God can put me back into perfect union with Himself, without a shadow between, through the Death of Jesus Christ.
Never tolerate through sympathy with yourself or with others any practice that is not in keeping with a holy God. Holiness means unsullied walking with the feet, unsullied talking with the tongue, unsullied thinking with the mind — every detail of the life under the scrutiny of God. Holiness is not only what God gives me, but what I manifest that God has given me.”
Psalms 135-136; 1 Corinthians 12
WISDOM FROM OSWALD
It is perilously possible to make our conceptions of God like molten lead poured into a specially designed mould, and when it is cold and hard we fling it at the heads of the religious people who don’t agree with us.
Disciples Indeed
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Soli Deo Gloria!
Commentary from “The Apologetics Study Bible” , Psalms 135 & 136:
“Ps 135 This psalm has been called “an anthology of praise” because it is based entirely on material rearranged from other psalms or Scripture passages. Among the most obvious: verses 1-2 = Psalm 134: 1-2; verses 4= Deuteronomy 7:6; verse 5= Exodus 18:11; verse 6= Psalm 115:3; verse 7= Jeremiah 10:13; verses 8-12 = Psalm 136: 10, 18-22; verse 13= Exodus 3:15; verse 14 = Deuteronomy 32:36; verses 15-21 = Psalm 115:4-6,8-11.”
“Ps 136 This psalm develops as a recitation of Israel’s history of deliverance, with each statement answered by the refrain “His love is eternal.” The Hebrew word is hesed which refers to God’s faithfulness to His covenant. His loyalty to His people is seen in what He has done for them in delivering them from their oppressors and sustaining His creation (v. 25). The response of the worshiping community is to pledge its faithfulness to the Lord in return, as seen in verses 1 and 26 (on the meaning of “giving thanks” in the Old Testament, see note on 118:19).
“Open the gates of righteousness for me; I will enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.” Psalm 118:19
“Ps 118:19 The “gates” bring to mind the gates of the temple, through which the righteous would enter to praise the Lord for delivering them from death. The speaker approached the sanctuary voicing the “thanks” of the people he represented. His thanks were not simple gratitude; the Hebrew verb yadah signifies the lifting of the hand , in a gesture affirming loyalty to the Lord’s covenant.”
Comment:
As noted in other posts, “holiness” does not mean we do not sin anymore. It means we are separate: “In the world, but not of the world.” Holiness is the sanctification lifelong process. My reflection: It is not what we do, for it too is a gift from the Holy Spirit. The sure pathway is prayer and the study of His Word. And yes, pray His Word as today – Psalms 135-136. Think about it: We are praying God written prayers back to Him!
Your brother in Christ,
Jimmy