We have spoken in previous days of the great prayer of Col. 1. Paul gives thanks for the faith, hope and love of the believers in Colossae, and then prays that they will grow in the life that pleases God, specifically in their love (good works that bear fruit and increase in the knowledge of God), faith (empowered by God’s strength) and hope (joyfully giving thanks in long-suffering).
Recently, in my
reading in the Psalms, I was blessed beyond measure (it is always so amazing to
me how God’s word from Genesis to Revelation is in perfect harmony; so, yes,
“beyond measure” describes the joy I get) to see that what Paul prayed for
could easily have been the result of his study of the Scriptures. In other words, it really wasn’t new. Here is what I mean.
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It started in Psalms 20-21, twin Psalms in which
prayer is made for the King in 20 and the answers are recorded in 21. Psalm 21 begins, The king shall have joy
in Your strength, O LORD. It ends
with, Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength! In OT times there was nothing more important
for the king to know but that God was with him.
He was not on his own. God would
right his battles. Paul says this to us
in his prayer. The prayer is that we
might be filled with the full knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom
and understand so that we will walk worthily in a way that pleases
Him. What pleases God is bound up in
three phrases, the second of which is, in all might strengthened according
to His glorious power. We cannot
please God in the strength of our flesh, by doing the best we can. But God is glorified when, by faith, we are
strong in His strength. The Davidic king
needed to live in the same way.
·
Next, I read Psalm 111 which is totally about
the works of the LORD. They are studied
by all who have pleasure in them (111:2).
Paul says that the life that pleases God is characterized by good works
that are fruitful and increasing in the knowledge of God. A work is good, in God’s estimation, that
bears fruit to holiness (Rom. 6:22) and to God (Rom. 7:4). As we do this, our relationship with God
deepens. As Eph. 3:14-19 explains, we
become more acquainted with the love of God in all its dimensions, so that we
become filled with the fullness of God.
Read Psalm 111. In describing the
works of God it describes works that produce righteousness that endures forever
(111:3). As we study them, we learn the
character of God, that He is gracious and full of compassion
(111:4). In other words, we are filled
with the full knowledge of His will. As
we see God’s work we learn God’s character.
We learn His love in all its dimensions.
·
But if you continue to Psalm 112, you see
something else. Ps. 111 ends with, The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all
those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. Remember: Paul prays that we know God’s will
in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Ps. 112 begins, Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights
greatly in His commandments. So again, as we are filled with the full
knowledge of His will we become characterized by good works that please Him,
works that are fruitful. 112:2-10
describe that man and his fruitful works.
And behold, in 112:4, that man is characterized as being gracious,
and full of compassion, and righteousness.
These are exactly the same words used in 111:3-4 of God. In other words, the man becomes God-like as
he does the works of God.
I repeat. Time spent in the word of God blesses me
beyond measure. But why not. It is the same for you, is it not?
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