Memory – Hebrews 11.1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
The memory verse for this week is short, and this meditation may serve as a backdrop on the life of faith. Over the course of the next few weeks, we will focus on the life of faith, and we will unpack the root and context of Hebrews 11 which is in part an exposition of Habakkuk 2.4 Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by faith.
Believing, trusting, resting and waiting are some of the attributes that describe a biblical faith. Of course, faith in Christ is central to the Christian’s life. For example, knowing there would be retributive consequences, the Philippian jailer was fearful that his prisoners would escape after an earthquake opened the prison doors. He was shocked when he saw that Paul and Silas had not tried to escape but remained in their cell. Previously, he had overheard them singing songs of praise and worshipping God. Confronted with their radical faith he asked his prisoners: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul answered: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Likewise, the Old Testament records numerous events of God’s covenant people exhibiting a counterintuitive faith in God’s promises. Such was the case for Abraham. When he was 75 years old God called him to relocate his family to the other side of the fertile crescent to the land of Canaan. God assured him his obedience would result in him becoming the father of a great nation. Ten years later Abraham is still childless when God speaks to him in dream, telling him he would become the father of nations. His progeny would be so great he would not be able to number them – like the stars of the heavens. Abraham believed the Lord, and he (God) counted it to him as righteousness.” Another 15 years or so would pass before this promise would be fulfilled. Paul recounts Abraham’s faith in Romans 4.1-5 Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Now to the one who works his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.It is not without reason that Abraham is called the father of faith.
In the opening chapters of Isaiah (“the book of the King 1-37 – cf. Alex Moyter’s commentary on Isaiah), the prophet writes of coming through the wilderness of God’s judgment. He foretells of a coming day when Judah will be led into captivity and there would be a season of spiritual darkness. In the second section of Isaiah (“the book of the Servant” 38-55) he depicts deliverance and the centrality of a life of faith [as an aside the last section of Isaiah is labeled the book of the Anointed Conqueror 56-66.] Chapter 40 introduces the theme of trusting in God’s provision and comfort; he concludes this chapter with a powerful statement of having faith in a great and awesome incomparable God.
RESTING, TRUSTING, & WAITING ON THE LORD (40.30-31)
Isaiah is clear about the harsh realities of life: even young men in the prime of life grow weary and fall to the ground so exhausted they cannot get up. What hope is there in such a situation? Isaiah gives us a solution. Wait on the Lord. This is the activity of faith. Endemic to Jewish culture is the keeping of the Sabbath. Indeed, the framework of Israel’s daily life was shaped around the observance of the Sabbath. It is one of the great truths of Scripture that following six days of creation, God rested on the seventh day. Under the Mosaic law, a violation of the 4th commandment was a capital offense. Why did God place such an emphasis on keeping the Sabbath holy? In short, it reminds the believer of what God is doing to secure his salvation. Moreover, it is a promise of something more to come. You may recall that the “rest” enjoyed by Adam and Eve in the garden was lost through Adam’s sin. In the keeping of the Sabbath there is a promise of a better “rest” that is to come. The framework of Israel’s life was shaped around the Sabbath. One of the necessities of keeping the Sabbath was to wait on the Lord: to trust him to provide no matter what the exigencies of a particular Sabbath may thrust upon the believer. The greater Sabbath rest is, of course, realized in the person of Jesus Christ: So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his (Hebrews 4.9-10).
Waiting on the Lord, resting in his tender arms (40.11), and trusting in his sovereign care is the primary activity of any Sabbath day; it is the activity of worship; it is the proactive confidence of faith. Life may seem unbearably difficult, but the man or woman of faith who waits for the Lord will never be disappointed: they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Day by day they will be renewed in their strength. After two years of unjust imprisonment in Jerusalem, Paul writes to the Philippians from a Roman prison as he awaits yet another trial. One would certainly excuse him if he had expressed some discouragement or defeat, but his letter is anything but that; to the contrary, it is filled with joy and confidence that the Lord is at work advancing the gospel, even from his imprisonment. Paul was fixated on the resurrected Christ: Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (Philippians 3.7-8). God always turns apparent defeat into victory for those who put their hope in him. As the eagle soars above the earth so will the man or woman of God be given a divine strength to persevere in every circumstance to the glory of God.
Believing, trusting, resting and waiting are some of the attributes that describe a biblical faith. Of course, faith in Christ is central to the Christian’s life. For example, knowing there would be retributive consequences, the Philippian jailer was fearful that his prisoners would escape after an earthquake opened the prison doors. He was shocked when he saw that Paul and Silas had not tried to escape but remained in their cell. Previously, he had overheard them singing songs of praise and worshipping God. Confronted with their radical faith he asked his prisoners: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul answered: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Likewise, the Old Testament records numerous events of God’s covenant people exhibiting a counterintuitive faith in God’s promises. Such was the case for Abraham. When he was 75 years old God called him to relocate his family to the other side of the fertile crescent to the land of Canaan. God assured him his obedience would result in him becoming the father of a great nation. Ten years later Abraham is still childless when God speaks to him in dream, telling him he would become the father of nations. His progeny would be so great he would not be able to number them – like the stars of the heavens. Abraham believed the Lord, and he (God) counted it to him as righteousness.” Another 15 years or so would pass before this promise would be fulfilled. Paul recounts Abraham’s faith in Romans 4.1-5 Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Now to the one who works his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.It is not without reason that Abraham is called the father of faith.
In the opening chapters of Isaiah (“the book of the King 1-37 – cf. Alex Moyter’s commentary on Isaiah), the prophet writes of coming through the wilderness of God’s judgment. He foretells of a coming day when Judah will be led into captivity and there would be a season of spiritual darkness. In the second section of Isaiah (“the book of the Servant” 38-55) he depicts deliverance and the centrality of a life of faith [as an aside the last section of Isaiah is labeled the book of the Anointed Conqueror 56-66.] Chapter 40 introduces the theme of trusting in God’s provision and comfort; he concludes this chapter with a powerful statement of having faith in a great and awesome incomparable God.
RESTING, TRUSTING, & WAITING ON THE LORD (40.30-31)
Isaiah is clear about the harsh realities of life: even young men in the prime of life grow weary and fall to the ground so exhausted they cannot get up. What hope is there in such a situation? Isaiah gives us a solution. Wait on the Lord. This is the activity of faith. Endemic to Jewish culture is the keeping of the Sabbath. Indeed, the framework of Israel’s daily life was shaped around the observance of the Sabbath. It is one of the great truths of Scripture that following six days of creation, God rested on the seventh day. Under the Mosaic law, a violation of the 4th commandment was a capital offense. Why did God place such an emphasis on keeping the Sabbath holy? In short, it reminds the believer of what God is doing to secure his salvation. Moreover, it is a promise of something more to come. You may recall that the “rest” enjoyed by Adam and Eve in the garden was lost through Adam’s sin. In the keeping of the Sabbath there is a promise of a better “rest” that is to come. The framework of Israel’s life was shaped around the Sabbath. One of the necessities of keeping the Sabbath was to wait on the Lord: to trust him to provide no matter what the exigencies of a particular Sabbath may thrust upon the believer. The greater Sabbath rest is, of course, realized in the person of Jesus Christ: So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his (Hebrews 4.9-10).
Waiting on the Lord, resting in his tender arms (40.11), and trusting in his sovereign care is the primary activity of any Sabbath day; it is the activity of worship; it is the proactive confidence of faith. Life may seem unbearably difficult, but the man or woman of faith who waits for the Lord will never be disappointed: they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Day by day they will be renewed in their strength. After two years of unjust imprisonment in Jerusalem, Paul writes to the Philippians from a Roman prison as he awaits yet another trial. One would certainly excuse him if he had expressed some discouragement or defeat, but his letter is anything but that; to the contrary, it is filled with joy and confidence that the Lord is at work advancing the gospel, even from his imprisonment. Paul was fixated on the resurrected Christ: Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (Philippians 3.7-8). God always turns apparent defeat into victory for those who put their hope in him. As the eagle soars above the earth so will the man or woman of God be given a divine strength to persevere in every circumstance to the glory of God.
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