Category Archives: Artsy fartsy
Music, poetry, art, etc. It turns out that I do have a softer side.
Woe is me!
When King Uzziah entered the temple in 2 Chronicles 26, he did so out of pride (v. 16). He didn’t care that he was not consecrated to burn incense as the priests were—in his mind, he was righteous enough to approach God on his own terms. God punished Uzziah for his arrogance and self-righteousness by inflicting him with leprosy. He spent the rest of his life living in a leper’s house away from the power and fame that he had enjoyed due to God’s blessing.
In contrast, when Isaiah saw the Lord in all His glory, he cried out, “Woe is me! For I am lost” (Isaiah 6:5). He saw his own sin in the intense and terrible light of God’s holiness. He claimed no righteousness of his own and made no attempt to justify himself; rather, he pronounced woe on himself as a sinner who should be destroyed in the presence of the Lord of hosts. God honored this attitude by sending an angel to touch a coal to Isaiah’s lips, declaring atonement for his sin.
We cannot come to God on our own terms and with our own righteousness. To do so invites his wrath, and justly so. Who are we to stand before the holy Lord in our sinful state? We can only rely on the atoning work of Jesus Christ—never our own righteousness.
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
–Augustus Toplady
Morning and Evening
While checking out the Logos Bible Software I received for seminary, I ran across Charles Spurgeon’s daily devotional readings, Morning and Evening. I’m not a big fan of devotionals, but I’ll have to make an exception here…what a wealth of wisdom and insight! These readings are dripping with life! Here’s this evening’s reading…it was a big encouragement to me.
“A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench.”
Matthew 12:20What is weaker than the bruised reed or the smoking flax? A reed that groweth in the fen or marsh, let but the wild duck light upon it, and it snaps; let but the foot of man brush against it, and it is bruised and broken; every wind that flits across the river moves it to and fro. You can conceive of nothing more frail or brittle, or whose existence is more in jeopardy, than a bruised reed. Then look at the smoking flax—what is it? It has a spark within it, it is true, but it is almost smothered; an infant’s breath might blow it out; nothing has a more precarious existence than its flame. Weak things are here described, yet Jesus says of them, “The smoking flax I will not quench; the bruised reed I will not break.” Some of God’s children are made strong to do mighty works for him; God has his Samsons here and there who can pull up Gaza’s gates, and carry them to the top of the hill; he has a few mighties who are lion-like men, but the majority of his people are a timid, trembling race. They are like starlings, frightened at every passer by; a little fearful flock. If temptation comes, they are taken like birds in a snare; if trial threatens, they are ready to faint; their frail skiff is tossed up and down by every wave, they are drifted along like a sea bird on the crest of the billows—weak things, without strength, without wisdom, without foresight. Yet, weak as they are, and because they are so weak, they have this promise made specially to them. Herein is grace and graciousness! Herein is love and lovingkindness! How it opens to us the compassion of Jesus—so gentle, tender, considerate! We need never shrink back from his touch. We need never fear a harsh word from him; though he might well chide us for our weakness, he rebuketh not. Bruised reeds shall have no blows from him, and the smoking flax no damping frowns.
Scorch My Heart
Scorch my heart; leave Your scar.
Yahweh, show me who You are.
Dry this world into dust;
Rot its kingdom into rust.
World of wind, kingdoms fall!
Yahweh, You are King of all.
Blazing fire melts the land—
Shining glass from sinking sand.
Fire will test, glass reflect.
Yahweh, show Your true elect.
Share the wounds, wear the scorn:
Cruel metal, twisted thorn.
Wounds of war, metal shard—
Yahweh, ever be our guard.
So You scorch, kill our charms;
So You leave me in Your arms.
Embracing the cross
On Saturday, while I was driving around town, the hymn “Nearer, My God, to Thee” came on my car stereo. (Note: mute your speakers before clicking the link.) The opening lines fit in really well with what I’ve been learning from Matthew’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion:
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
That second line is amazing! “Even though it be a cross that raiseth me….” What a terrifying thing to say! I don’t think I have the courage to say, “I want to be nearer to you, Lord…even if it means being crucified.” Of course, we as Christians have been “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20) and are called to die every day to the world and our own sinful desires.
Jesus remained on the cross as an example to us all. He did not give up in the face of unspeakable pain, but remained there to bear our sins. So for our example, we look to Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). If Jesus was willing to suffer for the glory of God, how much more are we called to do so as His creatures.
The song “Embrace the Cross” reminds us that, like Jesus, we see hope in our suffering:
An empty tomb
Concludes Golgotha’s sorrow
Endure then till tomorrow
Your cross of suffering
Embrace the cross
Embrace the cross
The cross of Jesus
