Psalm 77, Timothy: Meditate on These Things

The next imperative for Timothy in his pastoral ministry is to “meditate” on the things Paul is telling him.  He is to “roll these things around in his mind.”  It is the opposite of the negative term “neglect” in 4:14. In Mark 13:11 Jesus told the disciples not to “premeditate” what you will speak when arrested. Acts 4:25 quotes Psalm 2:1, “Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things.”   

“Meditation” is more an OT topic.  In today’s reading from Psalm 77 the Psalmist “meditates” in his heart at night, either because it is a quiet time allowing for deeper thought or because he seeks to quiet his mind and heart (77:6).  One subject for meditation is “the works” of God (77:12).  But this is not what Paul is calling Timothy to do.  He tells him to meditate on these “imperatives.” 

To understand this NT word I think it’s helpful to consider a related term.  The Herodians said of Jesus “nor do You care about anyone” (Mt. 22:16; Mk. 12:14), meaning He did not base His actions on the opinions of others.  The disciples pled with Jesus asleep in the boat, “do You not care that we are perishing” (Mk. 4:38).  Martha accused Jesus of not “caring” that her sister left her all the work (Lk. 10:40).  The hireling doesn’t care about the sheep (Jn. 10:13), Judas didn’t really care for the poor (Jn. 12:6), and Gallio didn’t “take notice” as the Greeks beat the ruler of the synagogue (Ac. 18:17).  Paul said slaves should not be “concerned” about being slaves (1 Cor. 7:21) nor was God concerned about oxen (1 Cor. 9:9).  Which brings us to 1 Peter 5:7: in submission to the Lord we are to be “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”  All these passages speak of “worry’s” that people seek to ignore or who should ignore them.  These are things that occupy our minds but that should be cast upon the Lord.

What is Paul saying to Timothy, and to me?  There are some things that should occupy your mind, not as worries (Phil. 4:6-7) but as focus.  As one called to your ministry, occupy your mind with “these things” (what to communicate to the believers, being an example, taking heed to certain things that exalt the word of God, and sharpening the gift you have from the Lord). 

This imperative is important in that it tells Timothy not to allow his mind to wander off into things that are not important.  To illustrate, when I was younger, in pastoral ministry, but still in the formative years, through my education I was led to read various books from the “church growth” movement.  The concern was totally on making decisions in ministry that would result in larger crowds.  As I look back, I can say that there are many who were led to “care about” or “meditate on” those things so that the result was they did not apply their minds and hearts to “reading, exhortation and doctrine.”  In my view I was being encouraged to make decisions based on the philosophy of the world and not those from the Head of the Church.  Timothy and I need to be like Jesus, who did not base His life and ministry on the opinions of men but was led by the Spirit and the Word!

Matt. 22:1-14, Timothy: Don’t Neglect Your Gift

There are things Timothy was called upon to take heed of, to draw near to.  These had to do with the word of God: reading it, exhortation (preaching it) and doctrine (understanding and teaching it). At the same time there was something he was not called to focus on but which he needed to be sure not to neglect it altogether.  The word is defined as to be careless of:—make light of, neglect, be negligent, no regard.  There are some critical truths for us as we consider what we should or should not neglect.

·       Mt. 22:5: When the invitation went out for the wedding supper of the rich man, many made light of it.  So remember this: to neglect something means you don’t think it needs much consideration or attention.  According to the Bible, if you neglect the gospel the consequences are eternally disastrous.

·       1 Tim. 4:14: This refers to some blessing conferred on Timothy by the elders of the church, perhaps the one at Ephesus or perhaps in Antioch where Paul was tied to and Timothy would have attended with Paul.  It had to do, not with knowing the word but the means by which Timothy ministered the word.  Several of the gifts were “speaking” gifts (teaching, preaching, encouragement). Perhaps he needed to seek the Lord’s help to better communicate the word.

·       Heb. 2:3: How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. 

·       Heb. 8:9: When Israel did not keep their part in the Mosaic Covenant the LORD disregarded them.  That’s pretty powerful.

·       2 Peter 1:12: Peter was faithful not to neglect reminding his readers of things they already knew.  For pastoral ministry that is important.  The “sermon” does not need to be new and exciting every week.  And not intentionally ever!  Reminders are critical.  The pastor and people both need to keep this in mind.  If the sermon is “new truth” someone needs to check up on the pastor.

In the process of focusing on what you think the Lord has for you to do, don’t fail to neglect other things.  Submit to Christ daily and be open to His reminders of things to consider.  Sometimes it comes in the form of a “criticism.”  Don’t always reject these things.  Ask the Lord if you are neglecting something.

Matt. 16:5-12, Timothy: Take Heed to the Word

Here is an important word for a pastor or any believer. The compound word “pros” (towards) and “echo” (to have), to move towards something so as to have a grip on it, is sometimes translated “beware” and other times to “give attention,” as we have in 1 Tim. 4:13.  Timothy was to “give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”  Here are other things to consider.

·       Mt. 6:1: Take heed that you do not do your alms before men, to be seen by them.

·       7:15: Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing.

·       10:17: But beware of men for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.

·       16:6,11,12: Take heed (see with your eyes, i.e. keep your eyes open) and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.  He was not talking about bread but to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.  Then the disciples understood He did not tell them to beware the leaven of bread but the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Cf. Lk. 12:1.)

·       Lk. 17:3: Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.  I.e. no slander and no holding a grudge.

·       20:46: Beware of the scribes who wear their religion to be seen

·       21:34: Take heed to yourselves lest your heart be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

·       Acts 5:35: Gamaliel told the Jews to take heed what you do with the Christians.

·       8:6,10,11: The multitudes heeded Philip and the gospel. But they gave heed to Simon who astonished with his sorceries.  The new birth brings new heroes.

·       16:14: Lydia opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

·       20:28: Paul told the Ephesian elders, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

·       1 Tim. 1:4: Don’t give heed to fables, endless genealogies, which cause disputes. (Cf. Titus 1:14.)

·       3:8: Deacons must not be given to much wine.

·       4:1: In latter times men will give heed to deceiving spirits, doctrines of demons.

·       Hb. 2:1: We must give more earnest heed to what we heard lest we drift away.

·       7:13: Christ was from a tribe from which no man has officiated at the altar.

·       2 Pt. 1:19: And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

I hope you took time to consider.  We must take heed to our lives, and also to the word of God and not to teaching that only causes disputes.

Psalm 119:1-16

 

(Note: The "speed" with which we take Psalm 119 depends on how it fits with my own personal Bible reading.  This year I am taking it 16 verses at a time which means 2 stanzas each Sunday.  I hope you will figure out how to do this because Psalm 119 is a magnificent portion of Scripture.  It's length often discourages people being willing to study it.  What kind of person thinks like that when it comes to the Word of God!!!)

Psalm 119:1-8  Aleph: It is a blessing to obey God’s word in our trials.

Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem.  Each stanza contains 8 lines under the heading of one of the letters in the Hebrew alphabet, in consecutive order from first to last.  Each verse or line within the stanza begins with the letter for that stanza.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, with nearly all of the 176 verses containing a reference to Scripture.  It bears testimony to the unknown writer, that he has a deep connection to Scripture.  God’s word is his mindset at all times of the day, and particularly in the unspecified, severe trial in which he finds himself. 

This opening stanza pronounces a blessing.  A key term in the stanza is way or ways.  It seems that the Holy Spirit, before exalting the word of God, wants us to remember that it is not simply having and knowing Scripture that brings blessing.  It is obedience to the Word.  The blessing is on those who are undefiled in the way (v1), who do no iniquity as they walk in God’s ways (v3).

Notice both the singular term (way, v1) and the plural (ways, v3).  As Jesus said, there is one way, the difficult way (Matt. 7:13-14).  God’s people must be on that way, having entered at the narrow gate by faith in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ.  Then the believer must remember that every day is filled with choices concerning his ways while on the difficult way. 

God’s word gives us direction for those ways.  Thus the Psalmist prays that his ways might be so directed that he is keeping God’s word (v5).  The result of this would be that he would be …

·       Free of shame when he comes to the Word (v6).  When we read the Bible we are looking into a mirror that reveals our flaws (James 1:23-24).  When this trial is over the Psalmist wants to come to the Word and see that his ways throughout have been God’s ways.

·       Free to worship God (v7).  We are hindered in our worship when we regard or retain sin in our hearts.  God is properly praised by one whose heart “stands upright”. 

What a needed reminder as we begin this grand Psalm that richly exalts the word of God.  It is necessary but never sufficient just to know God’s word.  The blessing of God is on those who follow the Word, whose way and ways are God’s.

 

Psalm 119:9-16 Beth:  Make intake of God’s word a daily priority.

The previous stanza was concerned with our ways.  This stanza begins with a related and appropriate question, How can a young man cleanse his way (v9)?  The question is not so much concerned with the need for forgiveness when we sin.  Rather it concerns the general cleansing of our way (note the singular again), so that the path of life we have chosen is itself cleared of ideas and temptations that would cause us to wander (v10).  This clearing of the path is best done in one’s youth, before our lives become over-burdened with the consequences of sin.

We cleanse our way, our general approach to life, by …

·       v9: taking heed according to God’s word.  To take heed is to listen to and learn Scripture with a view to application and obedience.

·       v10: seeking God with a whole heart.  We must set aside private time with God when we seek Him without interruption.

·       v11: hiding His word in our hearts.  There is no other way to think God’s thoughts than to memorize His word.  Not just isolated verses but whole sections.  This is the foundation for thought and action in the cleansed way.

·       v12: being teachable.  When we plead with God to teach us we show a teachable spirit.

·       v13: reciting God’s word.  The memorized Word is soundly imbedded in the heart as we verbalize it. 

·       v14: rejoicing in the word.  How would we rejoice with the gift of a large sum of money?  We need the same attitude towards God’s word.  When in Israel at the end of the feast of Tabernacles, I was walking by a synagogue one evening as they were winding the Torah back from Deuteronomy to Genesis.  The event was accompanied by the sound of loud rejoicing by the participants.  God’s word is more precious than silver or gold and should bring that kind of joy.

·       v15: meditation and contemplation.  The memorized word becomes part of the thought process as we think on it and relate it to our lives.

·       v16: delighting in His word.  The things in which we delight we frequently repeat.  So it must be with the Word.  Repeated enjoyment of the Word will make it fresh, not to be forgotten.

Young or old, now is the time to cleanse your way by deep involvement in the word of God.  If you are involved in the lives of children, make it your ministry to encourage them in memorization of God’s word.  Make daily reading and study of Scripture a necessary part of your life.

 

 

1 Peter 5:1-7, Timothy: Be An Example to the Believers

The “imperative” is the verb “to be.”  This word can be “be” or “become,” which is good because Paul is calling Timothy to be an example.  He is young, and we don’t despise his youth, but we understand Timothy should have time and grace to grow into maturity.  Let’s tackle the word “example.”  It refers to the mark of a stroke or blow, print, a figure formed by a blow or impression, of a figure or image.  In theology we speak of “types,” of a person (Melchizedek) or thing (bronze serpent) that prefigures the Messiah.  It is more than an illustration or similarity.

Thus, it is imperative for Timothy to be the stamped image of what a believer should be.  The term is 16x in 15 verses.  Consider how it is used in the NT and you will have an idea of what Paul is saying to his spiritual son.

·       Jn. 20:25: Thomas would not believe unless he could see the print of the nails in Jesus’ hands and put his finger into the print of the nails, and his hand into His side.  That is pretty clear for Timothy to understand.

·       Ac. 7:43-44: In Stephen’s sermon he spoke of a time when Israel took up the gods Moloch and Remphan, images which they made and worshiped.  Moses made the tabernacle according to the pattern he had seen.

·       Ac. 23:24: The centurion in Jerusalem sent a letter along with Paul when he was taken to Caesarea, a letter in the following manner or form.

·       Rom. 5:14: Adam is a type of Him (Christ) who was to come.

·       Rom. 6:17: Though they were slaves of sin, the Roman Church obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which (they) were delivered.

·       1 Cor. 10:6,11: Paul mentions several events from Israel’s wilderness wanderings and then says, these things became our examples. And again,  Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

·       Phil. 3:17: Paul calls the brethren to join in following my example (term from which we get mimic, examples with other believers), and to use him as a pattern.

·       1 Thess. 1:7: The Thessalonian church became examples to other believers.

·       2 Th. 3:9: Paul was an example to the Thessalonians of how to follow us.

·       1 Tim. 4:12: our passage.  Note: Timothy is to be an example of the broad Christian life … in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith and purity.

·       Titus 2:7: Titus, like Timothy, to be a pattern of good works (in doctrine with integrity, reverence, incorruptibility and sound speech).

·       Heb. 8:5: The Aaronic priests were a “copy” (a sign suggestive of anything, a representation) and “shadow” (an image cast by an object), fulfilling Moses’ instructions to make things according to the pattern shown him on Mt. Sinai.

·       1 Peter 5:3: Elders/pastors are not to act like lords over those entrusted to them but to be example to the flock.

1 Cor. 11:17-22, Don’t Let Anyone Despise Your Youth!

We now move to 1 Tim. 4:12.  The first verb is a negative: let no one despise your youth.  It means, of course, to think little or nothing of someone or something.  With only 9x in the NT we can easily get a sense of this.  Hang on because I think it is important for Timothy to hear Paul say this.

·       Mt. 6:24: You cannot serve two masters; you will be loyal to one and despise the other. Cf. also Lk. 16:13.

·       18:10: Don’t despise these “little ones” for their angels behold My Father’s face.

·       Rom. 2:4: Do you despise the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, longsuffering, not knowing His goodness leads you to repentance?

·       1 Cor. 11:22: Believers despise the church of God when they mistreat their brethren at the Lord’s Table.

·       1 Tim. 4:12 (our passage about young Timothy) and 6:2: Servants with believing masters should not despise them because they are brethren.

·       Heb. 12:2: Jesus despised the shame of the cross (thought little of it).

·       2 Pt. 2:10: Among other things, false teachers walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority.  Jude 1:8-9 explains this, that the authorities are angelic/demonic.  Don’t think little of or underestimate them.

What do we learn from this?  I have had to deal with this in my life.  There are pastors who have world-wide or nation-wide or church-wide reputations.  And that’s not necessarily bad.  In the first century there were the Paul’s and Peter’s and Apollos’s and so forth.  But the fact that Timothy did not have their standing (how could he; he must say as they all must say, “by the grace of God I am what I am?) did not mean he did not have an appointment by Christ to what he was doing.  Paul reminded Timothy of this (4:14).  If someone came along and said because he was young they did not have to respect his ministry he should not listen to them. 

I experienced this a lot in my ministry.  I would often hear from people how great so-and-so was that they watch on TV Sunday morning before coming to church, or to such-and-such a Christian author who had better ways to say it than I did.  It was not something I felt or responded to out of pride because I was the type of person who might have my own self-doubts.  But then I would do as Paul told Timothy to do.  I would remind myself that my appointment was of Christ.  He put me in the position of shepherd in this particular church.  John MacArthur or David Jeremiah (good men in my view) were not pastor of this church, no matter how great their preaching.  They did not know the people as I did.  They were not going to show up in their homes as I was.  As I yielded myself to the Head of the Church He would enable me to shepherd this flock, and the sheep would be foolish to despise my not-so-famous ministry.  There! Got that out of my system. 😊

Col. 1:28-2:10, Timothy: Command and Teach This (2)

As we consider Paul’s use of the verb “to teach” I should mention there are also nouns to identify what is taught and to describe the teacher.  Those we will save for another day as we are concerning ourselves with the verbs of 1 Tim. 4:11-16. 

·       Rom. 2:21: You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? In the Church a teacher must explain but also model what he teaches.

·       12:7: One of the seven spiritual gifts is “teaching.”  One with the gift excels in this ministry but others without the gift might teach in support of their gift.

·       1 Cor. 4:17: Timothy reminded the Corinthians of what Paul taught everywhere.

·       11:14: Nature also teaches about “long hair” on a man.

·       Gal. 1:12: No one taught Paul the mystery of Christ but Christ revealed it to him.

·       Eph. 4:21: What Paul taught was originally taught by Christ.

·       Col. 1:28: Paul’s preaching involved two things: admonition (warning) and teaching in all wisdom.  This ministry will bring believers to maturity.

·       2:7: The believers needed to be rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught. This was what Paul taught.

·       3:16: The teaching and admonishing (cf. above, 1:28) is also done through psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.  The music must teach!

·       2 Thess. 2:15: Paul exhorts them to stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.  Teaching of the word undergirds the traditions or applications.  The teaching can come in various ways.

·       1 Tim. 2:12: A woman was not to teach or have authority over a man.  This brings out the authority of teaching; if it is anchored in God’s word it comes with God’s authority.

·       4:11: These things command and teach. 6:2: Teach and exhort.  The “exhort” term refers to what we might call counselling.  Counselling also needs to be anchored in the teaching of the word.

·       2 Tim. 2:2: Timothy was to pass on truth to faithful men who could teach others.

·       Titus 1:11: Elders/pastors, by sound doctrine, need to stop others from teaching things they ought not to teach, things they teach just to get rich.

·       Heb. 5:12: These believers were stunted in their growth; they should be teachers but were in need of someone to still teach them the basics.

·       8:11: Under the New Covenant believers do not need to be taught to “know the LORD,” as by faith Christ has been revealed in their hearts.

·       1 Jn. 2:27: This is similar to the previous passage.  Having the Holy Spirit (the anointing) there is no need to be taught to know the Lord.  This is fundamental New Covenant teaching.

Don’t lose sight of our context.  These things relate to the ministry of one who is an elder/pastor/shepherd of the flock, the people of the Body of Christ.