0600 " We're surrounded. That simplifies things" Psalm 46

 0600 " We're surrounded. That simplifies things" said Gen. Lewis 'Chesty' Puller. --- 
              God says, "Chill Out, Know that I Am, God"
 Psalm 46

Quacco Baptist Church

November 30, 2022

Introduction 

Marines of the 1st Marine Division not only avoided being captured by the Chinese Communist Forces while other units disintegrated to their left and right, but actually re-attacked in a different direction. In the process, these Marines destroyed 7 Chinese Divisions! Few ever ask about the quality of officer and Staff NCO leadership in those frozen mountain passes because they don’t need to: It’s simply “Who We Are” as U.S. Marines, right? Former Army officer, T. R. Fehrenbach, would describe it this way after the Korean War: 

“In 1950 a Marine Corps officer was still an officer, and a sergeant behaved the way good sergeants had behaved since the time of Caesar, expecting no nonsense, allowing none. And Marine leaders had never lost sight of their primary – their only – mission, which was to fight... Marine human material was not one whit better than that of the human society from which it came. But it had been hammered into form in a different forge, hardened in a different fire. The Marines were the closest thing to legions the nation had. They would follow their colors from the shores of home to the sea coasts of Bohemia, and fight well in either place.”

Did Marines perform heroically at the Frozen Chosin because of their ethos, their core values, and “Who We Are” as an organization, or is there more to it? Is the “Frozen Chosin” just another chapter in the long narrative of “Marine Exceptionalism,” or is it all this and a valuable lesson on the importance of “Leadership, Commandership?

Leadership in the 1st Marine Division at that time, you’ll find many of the names who have achieved legendary status in the Corps: Chesty Puller, Raymond Murray, Homer Litzenberg, and Ray Davis. Raymond G. Davies was the 3rd Mar. Div. Commanding General in Vietnam and  I believe as I’ve mentioned before, I had the honor of working for him personally and going every other day to the field for the three months I was assigned. 

Well, in Korea, did the 1st Marine Division really perform so well against overwhelming odds because it was stacked with talented commanders? At the center of the action at Chosin a humble, highly intelligent, even-keeled division commander. 

– Major General Oliver P. Smith. His leadership is a lesson in “Commandership.”

Smith’s intellect, moral courage, character, wisdom, and quiet but forceful leadership created what would amount to an impenetrable force-field around his Marines and his Division: his moral courage truly engendered combat power and physical courage on the battlefield, shaping not only the actions of his Marines but also the context in which those actions occurred. Just how was he able to do this? 

Colonel Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, Commander, 1st Marine Regiment.

According to Smith, “Colonel Puller is picturesque. He is what might be termed a ‘character.’ He was always a good copy. His men loved him for it. No one who associated with him could help loving him. With all his rough, tough exterior he had a very warm heart. He was an avid reader of biography and history. Tactically he believes in direct action. But he did not sacrifice his men uselessly. His command post was always well forward. Often his command post was in fact his observation post. He had a tendency to get all his battalions in the fight. Often it was necessary to discourage this tendency by putting strings on one of his battalions. 

Lieutenant Colonel Ray Davis, Commander, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. Davis was 35 years old when he was a Battalion Commander in Korea, but by that time he had already amassed an impressive combat record. He was a man of few words, I can attest to that, he didn’t rely on tough talk nor gruffness to inspire his Marines, but rather on his uncanny ability to retain his composure while at the center of any fray – no matter how tough. His reputation as a “ferocious battalion commander” had been well-earned by the time of Chosin. Davis grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from Georgia Tech University in 1938.

            Maj. Gen. Davis, during Korea was a Lt. Col. He was awarded the Medal Of Honor and I want to just briefly share part of the citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, in action against enemy aggressor forces….keenly aware that the operation involved breaking through a surrounding enemy and advancing eight miles along primitive icy trails in the bitter cold with every passage disputed by a savage and determined foe, Lt. Col. Davis boldly led his battalion into the attack in a daring attempt to relieve a beleaguered rifle company and to seize, hold, and defend a vital mountain pass controlling the only route available for two marine regiments in danger of being cut off by numerically superior hostile forces during their redeployment to the port of Hungnam.

They … encountered strong opposition from entrenched enemy forces commanding high ground in the path of the advance, he promptly spearheaded his unit in a fierce attack up the steep, ice-covered slopes in the face of withering fire and, personally leading the assault groups in a hand-to-hand encounter, … Always in the thick of the fighting, Lt. Col. Davis led his battalion over three successive ridges in the deep snow in continuous attacks against the enemy and, constantly inspiring and encouraging his men throughout the night,....  knocked to the ground when a shell fragment struck his helmet and two bullets pierced his clothing, he arose and fought his way forward at the head of his men until he reached the isolated marines…. he bravely led his battalion in securing the vital mountain pass from a strongly entrenched and numerically superior hostile force, carrying all his wounded with him, including 22 litter cases and numerous ambulatory patients. Despite repeated savage and heavy assaults by the enemy, he stubbornly held the vital terrain …  on the morning of 4 December, led his battalion into Hagaru-ri intact. By his superb leadership, outstanding courage, and brilliant tactical ability, Lt. Col. Davis was directly instrumental in saving the beleaguered rifle company from complete annihilation and enabled the two marine regiments to escape possible destruction. His valiant devotion to duty and unyielding fighting spirit in the face of almost insurmountable odds enhance and sustain the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service…. They were up against 7 Chinese Divisions…… 

As a side, that’s where the saying from Chesty Puller originates…. “We're surrounded. That simplifies things” He also said, no matter what direction we shoot, we’ll kill the Chinese..

            What had the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir have to do with Psalm 46? You would probably say nothing at all. Or when Army Gen. Anthony McAuliffe, commander of the 101st Airborne at Bastogne, replied “nuts” to the Germans when asked to surrender.

Well, I don’t know … But in 701 BC during the reign of Hezekiah, Sennacherib marched on Jerusalem and besieged her. The Assyrians drew up in battle array; Lord Byron caught the beat & the march of the event in his poem, 

              The Destruction of Sennacherib –

The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold,

And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold;

And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,

When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.

 

Seems I’ve been all over the map here. Hezekiah offered to pay tribute to Sennacherib if only he would withdraw his armies from Judah (2 Kings 18:13-). The king of Assyria received Hezekiah’s tribute but continued to Jerusalem to besiege it. Hezekiah sent his ambassadors after Sennacherib summoned him but Sennacherib’s chief of staff insulted the king of Judah and belittled his army. 

His ambassadors asked the Assyrian chief of staff to speak to them in Aramaic instead of Hebrew because they did not want to frighten the people. But Sennacherib’s chief of staff refused because he wanted the people to hear about what the Assyrian army will do to them if they will not surrender and made an example out of the people of Samaria.

Hezekiah relayed the Assyrian chief of staff’s message to the prophet Isaiah. But the prophet told the king not to worry about Sennacherib’s threats and foretold the Assyrian king’s death by the sword. Sennacherib besieged the town of Libnah and left to meet the attack of Taharqa, king of Egypt. Sennacherib sent a message to Hezekiah demanding for his surrender before leaving. Hezekiah despaired and Isaiah, once again, sent him a prophecy reassuring him of Judah’s safety and Assyria’s defeat.

2 Kings 19:35 tells that 185,000 Assyrian soldiers were killed by an angel that night and Sennacherib returned to Nineveh. He was later killed by his own sons. His youngest son, Esarhaddon, succeeded him as king of Assyria.

The mighty army of Assyria was no more. To commemorate this victory, this hymn of praise was penned by Hezekiah or possibly Isaiah or perhaps by some unknown Aureate of Judah. There is no doubt that it was written to immortalize the triumph of the angel sent by God over the mighty army of the enemy. Because of the great & glorious victory and marvelous deliverance that both, Christians & Jews turn by instinct to Psalm 46 when disaster strikes and all else seems to be lost.

This psalm gives us the assurance that God can and will handle, in His own time and way, and in His will, things which seem like total disasters to us.

Therefore I want to look at verses 10 - 11: "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

When we, individuals, and also as a nation, in particular this day and age, come to grips with our problems, the words of these two verses should be written indelibly in our souls. The cynical person, of which I may include myself, may see very little hope of this nation as a whole doing so; as far as it has and continues to drive a wedge between the Lord and the nation.

Be that as it may. Psalm 46 was our responsive reading this morning. We are told of the greatness of God, His power to deliver us from things that are beyond our abilities. We are to understand, it doesn’t matter what we face in life, God is greater. The greater things that we face in life, the less we’ll be able to deal with them. We’re to stop fighting in our strength and allow God to take His rightful place as Savior and deliverer.

Verse 10 Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" is a command from God to stop our futile efforts in dealing with things that are His domain. He asks us to put down our weapons of war and stand in awe of Him and His mighty power. As God, He is sovereign, faithful, omnipotent and unfailing. When all nations of the world see the power of God, they will exalt and honor Him as the one true God. We are to stop fighting in our strength and surrender to Him who will help us fight our battles. Our human strength cannot match God’s, and it is futile to fight when we would rather leave the matter in God’s hands.

When we fight battles in our own effort and grow weary and give in to defeat. This happens because we are fighting a battle that requires God's intervention. He is the one who is undefeated and can conquer any enemy or threat to His people. 

When you, when we as a nation, when the whole world acknowledges that only God has the power to save them from the dangers and disasters they face, they will honor Him. As God, He is involved in the affairs of mankind because He never intended for us to operate without Him. 

In the world, we face things that are insurmountable without God. We are to keep our eyes on Him who can miraculously deal with the things we are trying to solve in our strength. When you surrender to God, He can take charge of the situation. He is your refuge in times of trouble and the one who can subdue your enemies who rise against you. Be still and know He is God !

Then verse 11, The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Think of this, The LORD of Hosts is with us. Who are the ‘hosts’? They are the heavenly armies. Elisha asked God to open the eyes of his servant, 2 Kings 6:16-18, “Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD,please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18As the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Please strike these people with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha … Jesus when arrested He said to Peter 2“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?…Matt. 26:52-53. A legion was about 5,000 soldiers, so twelve legions would be about 60,000 angels. Just think that one angel did away with about 185,000 of Sennacherib’s host.

All the angels of God are mustered around His throne, they do His bidding, they are sent to minister to who are heirs of salvation. But better still, look at what it says, The LORD of hosts is with us. God Himself is with us, He is at the head of the army, the hosts. Can we believe that? With all that occupies His mind all the vast universe, can He be with you, in your car, at your work, in your kitchen, in your financial bind, in your loneliness and weakness, despite your failings? 

He is the God of Jacob, our refuge! God who took Jacob in his backslidings & failures; took that deceitful conniving shepherd into His embrace and changed his name to Israel. That God, the God of Jacob is our refuge. If Sennacherib would have known this he would have kept his armies at home. 

God, the Almighty, can be your refuge. In His love, He sent His only one of a kind Son that whoever will believe that He died, was buried, and rose from the dead shall have everlasting life. Today, right now, is the day of salvation. No one can have eternal life with the Father but through Jesus Christ. He is the only way to the Father. There are no other ways. Not through Buddha, not through Mohamed, not the Quran, not through Joel Olsteen, not through Mary, through no one except Christ. Scripture says in John 14:6, Jesus said, ““I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Come to God, through Jesus Christ, believe and be saved, allow God the Father to be your refuge……..

Let’s pray—

Heavenly Father, we pray that we may immerse ourselves in the words of this wonderful Psalm we thank you for this revelation, written not merely with pen and ink, but with blood and sweat and tears, heartache and sorrow, happiness and joy -- in the lives of men and women like ourselves. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

0145.2 ¿Dios se deleita en todo lo que hace? Salmo 104:31; 135:6

 0145.2 ¿Dios se deleita en todo lo que hace?

Salmo 104:31; 135:6

Iglesia Bautista Quacco

Savannah, Georgia

30 de abril de 2023

Introducción

Sea la gloria de Jehová para siempre; que el Señor se regocije en sus obras, (Salmo 104:31); Todo lo que Jehová quiere, él lo hace, en el cielo y en la tierra, en los mares y en todos los abismos. [Sal 135:6 NVI].

El teólogo escocés Henry Scougal escribió: El valor y la excelencia de un alma se mide por el objeto de su amor.

Ok, si aplicas eso a Dios, puedes contemplar el valor, la excelencia de Dios. Esa es la grandeza de Dios registrada en Sus disfrutes, las cosas en las que Él se deleita.

Cuando ustedes, nosotros, ponemos nuestra atención en la gloria de Dios, poco a poco nosotros, los creyentes, somos transformados a su semejanza. Mire 2 Corintios 3:18 – nosotros todos, a cara descubierta, mirando la gloria del Señor, somos transformados en la misma imagen de un grado de gloria a otro…

Al ver Su gloria, podemos elevarnos un paso a la vez a su semejanza; para que en el hogar, el trabajo y la escuela, la gente vea tus buenas obras y dé gloria a tu Padre que está en los cielos.

Retratar sus placeres en la predicación proclamando la Palabra. He aquí su gloria en la escucha. Acércate a su semejanza en la meditación. Mostrar su valor en el mundo.

Dios siempre ha sido feliz, exuberantemente

Nunca ha estado solo, se ha regocijado en la gloria de su Hijo desde toda la eternidad que ha sido el panorama de sus perfecciones.

Él no está restringido por nada fuera de sí mismo para hacer cualquier cosa que Él quiera hacer o no hacer. Está gozosamente desenfrenado y desbordante de entusiasmo en la comunión de la Trinidad.

Sus obras son el desbordamiento de Su alegría - Todo lo que hace es sin coerción. Se nos dice en Filipenses 2:13 y Efesios. 1:11…Dios que obra en vosotros tanto el querer como el hacer, por su buena voluntad. …hemos obtenido herencia, habiendo sido predestinados según el propósito de aquel que hace todas las cosas conforme al consejo de su voluntad,

 

Dios hace lo que le place, lo que le deleita

El Salmo 135 comienza diciendo ¡Alabado sea el Señor! Alabad el nombre del SEÑOR, alabad, oh siervos del SEÑOR, luego en los siguientes 6 versículos se nos dan las razones por las que le alabamos. El v6 nos dice: Todo lo que Jehová quiere, él lo hace, en el cielo y en la tierra, en los mares y en todos los abismos. Salmo 115:3 dice lo mismo: Nuestro Dios está en los cielos; hace lo que le place.

Esto nos dice que cada vez que Dios actúa, actúa de una manera que le agrada. Nunca se ha acorralado en una esquina cuando tiene que hacer o hacer algo que odia hacer. Él hace lo que le place. Y por lo tanto, en cierto sentido, tiene placer en todo lo que hace. Isaías usa la misma palabra hebrea (como sustantivo) en Isaías 46:9-10 donde dice el Señor: Yo soy Dios, y no hay otro; Yo soy Dios, y no hay ninguno como yo, que declaro el fin desde el principio y desde  tiempos antiguos cosas aún no hechas, diciendo: 'Mi consejo permanecerá, y cumpliré todo mi propósito,'...

En esto, todos debemos inclinarnos ante Dios y alabar Su libertad soberana: Él actúa en Su beneplácito.

Pero entonces, ¿qué hacemos con Ezequiel 18:23 y 32? ¿Se complace en todo lo que hace? Versículo 23, ¿Acaso me complace la muerte del impío, declara el Señor DIOS, y no que se aparte de su camino y viva? . V 32 No tengo placer en la muerte de nadie, declara el Señor…

¿Cómo puede decir que no se complace en ninguna persona impenitente? …….. Bueno, Él está hablando con Israel aquí, diciéndoles que los va a juzgar, es inminente y los está instando a que se arrepientan; v30, Yo os juzgaré, oh casa de Israel, a cada uno según sus caminos, dice el Señor DIOS. Arrepentíos y volveos de todas vuestras transgresiones, para que la iniquidad no sea vuestra ruina. V31b ¿Por qué morirás? … Luego en el v32 Él les dice, No tengo placer en la muerte de nadie,

Estos parecen diferentes a los que vimos en el Salmo 135, donde Dios hace lo que le place. Aquí parece estar acorralado. Parece que se ve obligado a juzgarlos cuando realmente no quiere hacerlo. Parece estar a punto de hacer algo que no le agrada hacer. ¿Va a lograr todo su placer o no?

¿Su libertad soberana tiene sus límites? ¿Puede hacer lo que le plazca hasta cierto punto, y luego, después de eso, se ve acorralado para hacer cosas que solo le apena hacer?

Si Dios controla el viento y lo hace soplar cuando y donde le place —lo cual es ciertamente cierto (recordemos el "¡Paz! ¡Estad quietos!") de Jesús—, entonces Dios es responsable de la destrucción de miles de vidas al ahogarse a causa de las tormentas y huracanes y tornados y monzones y tifones que Dios ha sacado de sus almacenes a lo largo de los siglos. Cuando la Escritura dice que el Señor hace lo que le place, tiene que incluir el quitar la vida personal en el mar a través del viento que solo él controla.

En los versículos 8–11 del salmo 135 dice que la libertad soberana de Dios se mostró más vívidamente en el Éxodo de Egipto: “Él fue quien hirió a los primogénitos de Egipto, así de hombres como de animales. . . que hirió a muchas naciones y mató a reyes poderosos. . .”

  Así que en Ezequiel dice que Dios no está complacido con la muerte de las personas que no se arrepienten, y en el Salmo 135 dice que Dios hace lo que le place, incluso matar a las personas que no se arrepienten. Y el mismo verbo hebreo se usa en el Salmo 135:6 ("él agrada") y Ezequiel 18:32 ("él tiene placer").

Si tienes la idea de que a Dios no le preocupa que lo acorralen para que haga cosas que no quiere hacer, bueno, el Salmo 135 en realidad no dice que Dios se deleita en destruir a los egipcios.

  “hacer lo que le plazca” en el Salmo 135:6 es solo una forma de hablar y no tiene el sentido de placer o deleite. Y así dirían que Dios sólo se entristece cuando debe juzgar a los pecadores no arrepentidos, y no hay ningún sentido en el que esté haciendo lo que le place hacer.

Pero que la misma palabra que se usa en el Salmo 135:6 Dios está "complacido" se usa en Ezequiel 18:32 para Dios no está "complacido". Luego dirigiría la atención a Deuteronomio 28:63 donde Moisés advierte del juicio venidero sobre el impenitente Israel. Pero esta vez dice algo sorprendentemente diferente de Ezequiel 18:32, Y así como el Señor se deleitó en haceros bien y en multiplicaros, así se deleitará el Señor en traeros ruina y destruiros. (Véase también Proverbios 1:24–26; Apocalipsis 18:20; Ezequiel 5:13).

Así que volvemos al hecho de que en cierto sentido Dios no se deleita en la muerte de los impíos (ese es el mensaje de Ezequiel 18), y en cierto sentido sí lo hace (ese es el mensaje del Salmo 135:6-11 y Deuteronomio 28:63).

¿Qué tal si la muerte y la miseria de los que no se arrepienten en sí mismas no deleitan a Dios? Dios no es un sádico. No es malicioso ni sanguinario. En cambio, cuando se juzga a una persona rebelde, mala e incrédula, Dios se deleita en la vindicación de la verdad y la bondad y de su propio honor y gloria.

Moisés advierte a Israel que el Señor se deleitará en arruinarlos y destruirlos si no se arrepienten, quiere decir que aquellos que se han rebelado contra el Señor y se han movido más allá del arrepentimiento no podrán regodearse de haber hecho al Todopoderoso. miserable. Todo lo contrario. Moisés dice que cuando sean juzgados, sin darse cuenta darán una oportunidad para que Dios se regocije en la demostración de su justicia y su poder y el valor infinito de su gloria.

Mira, de Dios nadie se burla. No está atrapado, acorralado o coaccionado. Incluso en el camino al Calvario tenía legiones a su disposición. “Nadie me quita la vida; lo pongo por mi propia voluntad” — por mi propia voluntad, por el gozo que se me presenta (ver Juan 10:18; Hebreos 12:2). En el único punto de la historia del universo en el que Dios parecía atrapado, estaba totalmente a cargo de hacer precisamente lo que le placía: morir para justificar a los impíos como tú y como yo.

Esto me trae a la mente a Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker, John Hagee y, incluiré a todos los demás, y leeré desde el principio: 1 Corintios 6: 1-11 pero permítanme leer el versículo 9, ¿no saben que los injustos no heredar el reino de Dios? No os dejéis engañar: ni los fornicarios, ni los idólatras, ni los adúlteros, ni los homosexuales, 10 ni los ladrones, ni los avaros, ni los borrachos, ni los maldicientes, ni los estafadores heredarán el reino de Dios. 11 Y esto erais algunos de vosotros. Pero ustedes fueron lavados, fueron santificados, fueron justificados en el nombre del Señor Jesucristo y por el Espíritu de nuestro Dios.

Y luego Gálatas 6:1-5 – si alguno fuere sorprendido en alguna transgresión, vosotros que sois espirituales, restauradle con espíritu de mansedumbre. Cuídate a ti mismo, no sea que tú también seas tentado. 2 Sobrellevad las cargas los unos de los otros, y así cumplid la ley de Cristo. 3 Porque si alguno se cree algo, cuando no es nada, se engaña a sí mismo. Deberíamos asombrarnos y preguntarnos esta mañana: “Nuestro Dios está en los cielos; él hace lo que le place.” Amén.

Dios Todopoderoso y Padre Misericordioso, te alabamos porque eres un Dios infinitamente gozoso y desenfrenado; que se satisface con tus propias perfecciones reflejadas en el resplandor de tu Hijo. Y te alabamos porque eres libre y soberano en tu propia autosuficiencia y no puedes ser sobornado o coaccionado por alguna deficiencia o anhelo en tu corazón. Te alabamos porque tu plan y tu consejo no se rigen por nuestra voluntad sino por tu beneplácito.

0145.1 Deus Se Deleita Em Tudo Que Faz? Salmo 104:31; 135:6

 0145.1 Deus Se Deleita Em Tudo Que Faz?

Salmo 104:31; 135:6

Igreja Batista Quacco

Savannah, Geórgia

30 de abril de 2023

Introdução

Que a glória do Senhor dure para sempre; que o SENHOR se regozije em suas obras (Salmos 104:31); Tudo o que o Senhor quer, ele faz, no céu e na terra, nos mares e em todas as profundezas. [Salmos 135:6 NVI].

O teólogo escocês Henry Scougal escreveu: O valor e a excelência de uma alma são medidos pelo objeto de seu amor.

Ok, então se você aplicar isso a Deus, poderá contemplar o valor, a excelência de Deus. Essa é a grandeza de Deus registrada em Seus prazeres, nas coisas em que Ele se deleita.

Quando você, nós, colocamos nossa atenção na glória de Deus, pouco a pouco nós, os crentes, somos transformados à Sua semelhança. Veja 2 Coríntios 3:18 – todos nós, com rosto descoberto, contemplando a glória do Senhor, somos transformados de glória em glória na mesma imagem…

Ao ver Sua glória, podemos subir um passo de cada vez à sua semelhança; para que em casa, no trabalho e na escola, as pessoas vejam suas boas obras e glorifiquem seu Pai que está nos céus.

Retrata seus prazeres em pregar proclamando a Palavra. Eis a sua glória em ouvir. Aproxime-se de sua semelhança em meditação. Mostrar o seu valor no mundo.

Deus Sempre Foi Feliz, Exuberantemente

Ele nunca esteve sozinho, Ele se regozijou na glória de Seu Filho desde toda a eternidade, que tem sido o panorama de Suas perfeições.

Ele não está restrito por nada fora de Si mesmo para fazer qualquer coisa que Ele queira fazer ou não fazer. Ele é alegremente irrestrito e transborda com entusiasmo na comunhão da Trindade.

Seus atos são o transbordamento de Sua alegria - Tudo o que Ele faz é sem coerção. Somos informados em Filipenses 2:13 e Ef. 1:11... Deus que opera em você tanto o querer quanto o realizar, de acordo com a sua boa vontade. … obtivemos uma herança, tendo sido predestinados de acordo com o propósito daquele que faz todas as coisas de acordo com o conselho de sua vontade,

 

Deus faz tudo o que lhe agrada, o que o deleita

O Salmo 135 começa dizendo Louvado seja o Senhor! Louvado seja o nome do SENHOR, louvem, ó servos do SENHOR, então nos próximos 6 versículos temos razões pelas quais o louvamos. V6 nos diz: Tudo o que o Senhor quer, ele faz, no céu e na terra, nos mares e em todas as profundezas. O Salmo 115:3 diz a mesma coisa: Nosso Deus está nos céus; ele faz o que quer.

Isso nos diz que sempre que Deus age, ele age de uma forma que o agrada. Ele nunca fica encurralado quando precisa ou faz algo que odeia fazer. Ele faz o que quer. E, portanto, em certo sentido, ele sente prazer em tudo o que faz. Isaías usa a mesma palavra hebraica (como substantivo) em Isaías 46: 9-10 onde o Senhor diz: Eu sou Deus, e não há outro; Eu sou Deus, e não há outro semelhante a mim, anuncio o fim desde o princípio e desde  tempos antigos coisas que ainda não foram feitas, dizendo: 'Meu conselho permanecerá, e cumprirei todo o meu propósito',...

Nisso todos devemos nos curvar diante de Deus e louvar Sua liberdade soberana - Ele age em Seu beneplácito.

Mas então o que fazemos de Ezequiel 18:23 e 32 - Ele sente prazer em tudo o que faz? Versículo 23, Tenho eu algum prazer na morte do ímpio, declara o Senhor DEUS, e não em que ele se desvie do seu caminho e viva? . V 32 Não tenho prazer na morte de ninguém, declara o Senhor...

Como Ele pode dizer que não tem prazer em nenhuma pessoa impenitente? …….. Bem, Ele está falando com Israel aqui, dizendo que Ele vai julgá-los, é iminente e Ele os está instando a se arrependerem; v30, eu vos julgarei, ó casa de Israel, cada um segundo os seus caminhos, declara o Senhor DEUS. Arrependa-se e abandone todas as suas transgressões, para que a iniquidade não seja a sua ruína. V31b Por que você vai morrer? … Então, no versículo 32, Ele diz a eles: Não tenho prazer na morte de ninguém,

Isso parece diferente daquele que vimos no Salmo 135, onde Deus faz tudo o que lhe agrada. Aqui ele parece estar encurralado. Parece que ele é forçado a julgá-los quando realmente não quer. Ele parece estar prestes a fazer algo que não gosta de fazer. Ele vai realizar todo o seu prazer ou não?

Sua liberdade soberana tem seus limites? Ele pode fazer tudo o que lhe agrada até certo ponto, e então depois disso ele é encurralado em fazer coisas que apenas lamenta fazer?

Se Deus controla o vento e o faz soprar quando e onde quer - o que certamente é verdade (lembre-se do "Paz! Fique quieto!" de Jesus) - então Deus é responsável pela destruição de milhares de vidas por afogamento por causa das tempestades e furacões e tornados e monções e tufões que Deus trouxe de seus depósitos ao longo dos séculos. Quando a Escritura diz que o Senhor faz tudo o que lhe agrada, deve incluir tirar a vida pessoal no mar através do vento que somente ele controla.

Nos versículos 8–11 do salmo 135 diz que a liberdade soberana de Deus foi mostrada de forma mais vívida no Êxodo da saída do Egito: “Ele foi quem feriu os primogênitos do Egito, tanto dos homens como dos animais . . . que feriram muitas nações e mataram reis poderosos. . .”

  Assim, em Ezequiel, diz-se que Deus não se agrada com a morte de pessoas impenitentes, e no Salmo 135 diz que Deus faz tudo o que lhe agrada, incluindo a morte de pessoas impenitentes. E o mesmo verbo hebraico é usado no Salmo 135:6 (“ele agrada”) e Ezequiel 18:32 (“ele tem prazer”).

Se você tem a ideia de que Deus não está preocupado por ser encurralado para fazer coisas que não quer fazer, bem, o Salmo 135 não diz realmente que Deus se deleita em destruir os egípcios.

  “fazendo o que lhe agrada” no Salmo 135:6 é apenas uma figura de linguagem e não carrega a sensação de prazer ou deleite. E então eles diriam que Deus só se entristece quando deve julgar os pecadores impenitentes, e não há sentido em que ele esteja fazendo o que tem prazer em fazer.

Mas que a mesma palavra usada no Salmo 135:6 de Deus estar “agradado” é usada em Ezequiel 18:32 para Deus não estar “agradado”. Então eu direcionaria a atenção para Deuteronômio 28:63, onde Moisés adverte sobre o julgamento vindouro sobre o impenitente Israel. Mas desta vez diz algo surpreendentemente diferente de Ezequiel 18:32, E como o Senhor se agradou em fazer o bem e multiplicá-lo, assim o Senhor se deleitará em arruinar você e destruí-lo. (Ver também Provérbios 1:24–26; Apocalipse 18:20; Ezequiel 5:13.)

Portanto, voltamos ao fato de que, em certo sentido, Deus não se deleita na morte do ímpio (essa é a mensagem de Ezequiel 18) e, em certo sentido, ele se deleita (essa é a mensagem do Salmo 135:6–11 e Deuteronômio 28:63).

Que tal a morte e a miséria do impenitente não serem em si um deleite para Deus? Deus não é um sádico. Ele não é malicioso ou sanguinário. Em vez disso, quando uma pessoa rebelde, perversa e incrédula é julgada, o que agrada a Deus é a vindicação da verdade e da bondade e de sua própria honra e glória.

Moisés adverte Israel que o Senhor terá prazer em arruiná-los e destruí-los se eles não se arrependerem. miserável. Pelo contrário. Moisés diz que, quando forem julgados, involuntariamente darão uma oportunidade para Deus se regozijar na demonstração de sua justiça, seu poder e o valor infinito de sua glória.

Veja, Deus não se zomba. Ele não está preso, encurralado ou coagido. Mesmo a caminho do Calvário teve legiões à sua disposição. “Ninguém tira a minha vida de mim; Eu o dou por minha própria vontade ”- de minha própria vontade, pela alegria que está diante de mim (ver João 10:18; Hebreus 12:2). Em um ponto da história do universo em que Deus parecia preso, ele estava totalmente no comando fazendo exatamente o que queria — morrendo para justificar os ímpios como você e eu.

Isso traz à mente Jimmy Swaggert Jim Bakker, John Hagee e, vou incluir todos os outros, e ler primeiro: 1 Coríntios 6: 1-11, mas deixe-me ler o versículo 9, - você não sabe que os injustos não herdar o reino de Deus? Não vos enganeis: nem os imorais, nem os idólatras, nem os adúlteros, nem os homossexuais, 10 nem os ladrões, nem os avarentos, nem os beberrões, nem os caluniadores, nem os vigaristas herdarão o reino de Deus. 11 E assim foram alguns de vocês. Mas fostes lavados, fostes santificados, fostes justificados em nome do Senhor Jesus Cristo e no Espírito do nosso Deus.

E então Gálatas 6:1-5 – se alguém for pego em alguma transgressão, vocês que são espirituais devem restaurá-lo com espírito de mansidão. Vigie-se, para que você também não seja tentado. 2 Levem os fardos uns dos outros e, assim, cumpram a lei de Cristo. 3 Porque, se alguém pensa ser alguma coisa, não sendo nada, engana-se a si mesmo. Devemos ficar maravilhados e maravilhados nesta manhã: “Nosso Deus está no céu; ele faz o que lhe apraz.” Amém.

Deus Todo-Poderoso e Pai Misericordioso, nós te louvamos porque você é um Deus infinitamente alegre e irrestrito; que está satisfeito com suas próprias perfeições refletidas no esplendor de seu Filho. E nós o louvamos porque você é livre e soberano em sua própria autossuficiência e não pode ser subornado ou coagido por causa de alguma deficiência ou desejo em seu coração. Nós o louvamos porque seu plano e conselho são governados não por nossa vontade, mas por sua boa vontade.

0145 God Delights Psalm 104: 31;135:6

 

0145 God Delights in All That He Does?
Psalm 104:31; 135:6

Quacco Baptist Church

Savannah, Georgia

April 30, 2023

Introduction 

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works, (Psalm104:31); Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. [Psa 135:6 ESV].

The Scottish theologian Henry Scougal wrote: The worth & excellency of a soul is measured by the object of its love.

Ok, so if you apply that to God, you can behold the worth, the excellency of God. That is the greatness of God is registered in His enjoyments, the things He delights in.

When you, we, put our attention on the glory of God, little by little we, the believers, are transformed into His likeness. Look at 2 Corinthians 3:18 – we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another… 

In seeing His glory we might rise one step at a time into his likeness; so that at home and work and school, people will see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 

Portray his pleasures in preaching proclaiming the Word. Behold his glory in listening. Approach his likeness in meditation. Display his worth in the world.

God Has Always been Happy, Exuberantly

He has never been lonely, He has rejoiced in the glory of His Son from all eternity who has been the panorama of His perfections.

He’s not restricted by anything outside Himself to do anything He wants to do or not do. He is joyously unrestrained and enthusiastically overflowing in fellowship of the Trinity.

His deeds are the overflow of His joy - Everything He does is un-coerced. We’re told in Philippians 2:13 & Eph. 1:11…God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. … we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

 

God Does Whatever He Pleases, What Delights Him 

Psalm 135 begins by saying  Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD, then in the next 6 verses we’re given reasons why we praise Him. V6 tells us, Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. Psalm 115:3 says the same thing: Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases.

This tells us that whenever God acts, he acts in a way that pleases him. He’s never backed into a corner when He has to at or do something he hates to do. He does whatever he pleases. And therefore, in some sense, he has pleasure in all that he does. Isaiah uses the same Hebrew word (as a noun) in Isaiah 46: 9-10 where the Lord says, I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'...

On this we should all bow before God & praise His sovereign freedom - He acts in His good pleasure. 

But then what do we make of Ezekiel 18:23, & 32 - Does He take Pleasure in All He Does? Verse 23, Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? . V 32 I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord… 

How can He say He doesn’t take pleasure of any impenitent person? …….. Well, He’ talking to Israel here, telling them He is going to judge them, it’s impending and He is urging them to repent; v30, I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. V31b Why will you die? … Then in v32 He tells them, I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, 

These seems different than the one we saw in Psalm 135, where God does whatever he pleases. Here he seems to be cornered. It seems that he is forced into judging them when he really doesn’t want to. He seems to be about to do something that he is not pleased to do. Is he going to accomplish all his pleasure or not?

Does his sovereign freedom have its limits? Can he do whatever he pleases up to a point, and then after that is he cornered into doing things he only grieves to do?

If God controls the wind and makes it blow whenever and wherever he pleases — which is certainly true (remember Jesus’ “Peace! Be still!”) — then God is responsible for the destruction of thousands of lives by drowning because of the storms and hurricanes and tornadoes and monsoons and typhoons which God has brought forth from his storehouses over the centuries. When Scripture says that the Lord does whatever he pleases, it has to include the taking of personal life at sea through the wind which he alone controls. 

In verses 8–11 of psalm 135 says that God’s sovereign freedom was shown most vividly in the Exodus out of Egypt: “He it was who smote the first-born of Egypt, both of man and of beast . . . who smote many nations and slew mighty kings. . .”  

 So in Ezekiel, it says that God is not pleased with the death of unrepentant people, and in Psalm 135 it says that God does whatever he pleases including the slaying of unrepentant people. And the very same Hebrew verb is used in Psalm 135:6 (“he pleases”) and Ezekiel 18:32 (“he has pleasure”).

If you  have the idea then that God isn’t troubled by his being cornered into doing things he doesn’t want to do, well, Psalm 135 doesn’t actually say that God takes delight in destroying the Egyptians.

 “doing whatever he pleases” in Psalm 135:6is just a figure of speech and doesn’t carry the sense of pleasure or delight. And so they would say that God only grieves when he must judge unrepentant sinners, and there is no sense in which he is doing what he is pleased to do.

But that the same word used in Psalm 135:6 God’s being “pleased” is used in Ezekiel 18:32 for God’s not being “pleased.” Then I would direct attention to Deuteronomy 28:63 where Moses warns of the coming judgment on unrepentant Israel. But this time it says something strikingly different from Ezekiel 18:32,

And as the Lord took delight in doing you good and multiplying you, so the Lord will take delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying you. (See also Proverbs 1:24–26; Revelation 18:20; Ezekiel 5:13.)

So we circle back to the fact that in some sense God does not delight in the death of the wicked (that is the message of Ezekiel 18), and in some sense he does (that is the message of Psalm 135:6–11 and Deuteronomy 28:63). 

How about that the death and misery of the unrepentant is in and of itself no delight to God. God is not a sadist. He is not malicious or bloodthirsty. Instead, when a rebellious, wicked, unbelieving person is judged, what God delights in is the vindication of truth and goodness and of his own honor and glory.

Moses warns Israel that the Lord will take delight in bringing ruin upon them and destroying them if they don’t repent, he means that those who have rebelled against the Lord and moved beyond repentance will not be able to gloat that they have made the Almighty miserable. Quite the contrary. Moses says that when they are judged, they will unwittingly give an opportunity for God to rejoice in the demonstration of his justice and his power and the infinite worth of his glory.

Look, God isn’t mocked. He’s not trapped or cornered or coerced. Even on the way to Calvary he had legions at his disposal. “No one takes my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord” — of my own good pleasure, for the joy that is set before me (see John 10:18; Hebrews 12:2). At the one point in the history of the universe where God looked trapped, he was totally in charge doing precisely what he pleased — dying to justify the ungodly like you and me.

This brings to mind Jimmy Swaggert Jim Bakker, John Hagee and, I’ll throw in everybody else, and read from first: 1 Corinthians 6: 1-11 but let me read from verse 9, – do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

And then Galatians 6:1-5 – if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. We should stand in awe and wonder this morning: “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever he pleases.” Amen.

Almighty God and Merciful Father, we praise you that you are an infinitely joyously unrestrained  God; who is satisfied with your own perfections reflected in the radiance of your Son. And we praise you that you are free and sovereign in your own self-sufficiency and cannot be bribed or coerced because of some deficiency or craving in your heart. We praise you that your plan and counsel is governed not by our will but by your good pleasure.