"Therefore, [Jesus] is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them" (Heb. 7:25, HCSB).
I was reminded of this truth as I finished the book of Job today. Job's friends are ordered by God to take a sacrifice to Job, which he would offer up on their behalf with prayer. God told them, "Now take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you. I will surely accept his prayer and not deal with you as your folly deserves. For you have not spoken the truth about Me, as My servant Job has" (Job 42:8, HCSB).
As this verse seems to indicate, Job points to the work of Christ. As intercessor, Job would mediate between his friends and God. It was not a role assumed by Job, but one appointed to him. If his friends obeyed the Lord, Job would then pray for them. If Job prayed for them, then God would forgive them.
Forgiveness is defined with a beautiful word picture in Job 42:8. God says, "I . . . will not deal with you as your folly deserves." Stop. Reread that description. Let it bounce around in your head a few times. Say it out loud. Repeat it. Allow your heart to open to it and let it in.
How many times have you wished your foolishness would be overlooked by the Lord? If you are like me, it is probably as many as acts of foolishness of which you are aware.
How do we find such forgiveness? Bulls and Rams? No, the blood of bulls and goats could get the job done (see Hebrews 10:4). We need someone to mediate for us. Paul tells us, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human" (1 Tim. 2:5, HCSB). The author of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is both our priest and sacrifice (see Hebrews 9:12-10:14).
In essence, we live because we were obedient to the Word and trusted Christ, and now he intercedes on our behalf. Because Jesus intercedes for us, the Father will not treat us as our folly deserves. What a precious promise that is.
Showing posts with label Folly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Folly. Show all posts
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Avoiding Woman Folly
"The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing" (Prov. 9:13).
Every time I read Proverbs 9:13-18, I hear Confederate Railroad's song, "Trashy Women." The chorus goes like this:
Solomon urges his listeners, "Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words" (Prov. 7:4-5). The continual repetition of descriptions of and warnings against the forbidden woman should stick in our mind. Solomon is stressing an important truth: a godly man should avoid these types of woman because they represent folly. To pursue such a woman, in thought or reality, is to pursue folly.
Although these passages speak of a forbidden woman, the text address both genders. Solomon is teaching us an important principle: the kind of person we find attractive reveals a lot about our heart. Throughout the Scriptures, women are called to adorn themselves (as are men) with godly character--things that make them beautiful in the eyes of God (see 1 Tim 2:9-10; 1 Pet 3:3-4). It is easy to get sidetracked by the world's standards of beauty. But are we training ourselves to be people of godly character and good works or not? Do we find godly character and good works attractive or not? Do we accept God's standard of beauty or not? We would be wise to reevaluate our understanding of beauty, and ask the Lord to help us to see as beautiful, the things which he finds beautiful. As Paul encouraged, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Phil. 4:8).
Every time I read Proverbs 9:13-18, I hear Confederate Railroad's song, "Trashy Women." The chorus goes like this:
Yeah, an' I like my women just a little on the trashy side,The type of women described in this song fits the profile of woman Folly as she is described by Solomon. In Proverbs, the reader is warned to avoid the adulterous or forbidden woman. Wisdom will keep us from such a woman's clutches. Wisdom demonstrates the way to go "so you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words" (Prov. 2:16). Solomon warns, "For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol" (Prov. 5:3-5).
When they wear their clothes too tight and their hair is dyed.
Too much lipstick an' er too much rouge,
Gets me excited, leaves me feeling confused.
An' I like my women just a little on the trashy side.
Solomon urges his listeners, "Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words" (Prov. 7:4-5). The continual repetition of descriptions of and warnings against the forbidden woman should stick in our mind. Solomon is stressing an important truth: a godly man should avoid these types of woman because they represent folly. To pursue such a woman, in thought or reality, is to pursue folly.
Although these passages speak of a forbidden woman, the text address both genders. Solomon is teaching us an important principle: the kind of person we find attractive reveals a lot about our heart. Throughout the Scriptures, women are called to adorn themselves (as are men) with godly character--things that make them beautiful in the eyes of God (see 1 Tim 2:9-10; 1 Pet 3:3-4). It is easy to get sidetracked by the world's standards of beauty. But are we training ourselves to be people of godly character and good works or not? Do we find godly character and good works attractive or not? Do we accept God's standard of beauty or not? We would be wise to reevaluate our understanding of beauty, and ask the Lord to help us to see as beautiful, the things which he finds beautiful. As Paul encouraged, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Phil. 4:8).
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