Servant – Page 3 – Praying Pint

36.n. ““Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.””

Genesis 16:7 The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” The angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” And the angel of the LORD said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction. He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

The angel of the Lord found her by a well, and directed her to return to her mistress, and submit to her; at the same time he promised her the birth of a son, and an innumerable multiplication of her descendants. As the fruit of her womb was the seed of Abram, she was to return to his house and there bear him a son, who, though not the seed promised by God, would be honoured for Abram’s sake with the blessing of an innumerable posterity. (Keil and Delitzsch)

The almighty and omniscient God; since he promises to do what none but the omnipotent Being could do, and declares such things as none but the omniscient God could know: and when it is said he “found Hagar”, it is not to be understood as if it was a chance matter, or the fruit and effect of search and inquiry, or as if he had not seen her before; but rather it shows that his eye was upon her, and he had a concern for her, and at a proper time and place appeared to her at once, and unawares, and unthought of by her. (Gill)

When we choose to flee a situation it is good that we seek God’s will and plan before taking the first step. A hardened heart can run like the wind toward anything their mind can contrive as better, more comfortable, and safe. Certainly, there are times when this is exactly the will and plan of God. However, to make the decision without prayerfully seeking His direction we succumb to what seems right in our own eyes. What if God is growing you spiritually through the situation? What if God is going to show His power and might through a miracle or act that demonstrates His grace, mercy, and love? What if God is maturing your faith? When we find ourselves in a situation, our first thought and act are to humbly seek His refuge and lay it in His hands. He will certainly guide and direct your thoughts and steps.

36.m. “Abram listened to the voice of Sarai”

Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!” But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.

Sarai, no longer expecting to have children herself, proposed to Abram to take another wife, whose children she might; her slave, whose children would be her property. This was done without asking counsel of the Lord. Foul temptations may have very fair pretences, and be coloured with that which is very plausible. Fleshly wisdom puts us out of God’s way. This would not be the case, if we would ask counsel of God by his word and by prayer, before we attempt that which is doubtful. (Henry)

Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai; without consulting God about it, the proposal being agreeable to the flesh, which may be imputed to the infirmity of the good man; though it does not appear to arise from previous lust predominant in him; but both Sarai’s proposal, and his compliance with it, might be owing to the eager desire of each after the promised seed; they both believed the promise, but did not know it, being not as yet revealed, that Abram should have a son by Sarai; so that Sarai knowing her own case and circumstances, might conclude it was to be by another, and by her handmaid; and Abram might reason and judge after the same manner, which inclined him to listen to her. (Poole)

As the promise of a lineal heir (Genesis 15:4) did not seem likely to be fulfilled, even after the covenant had been made, Sarai resolved, ten years after their entrance into Canaan, to give her Egyptian maid Hagar to her husband, that if possible she might “be built up by her,” i.e., obtain children, who might found a house or family (Genesis 30:3). The resolution seemed a judicious one, and according to the customs of the East, there would be nothing wrong in carrying it out. Hence Abraham consented without opposition, because, as Malachi (Malachi 2:15) says, he sought the seed promised by God. But they were both of them soon to learn, that their thoughts were the thoughts of man and not of God, and that their wishes and actions were not in accordance with the divine promise. (Keil and Delitzsch)

How long do we wait? Do we wait patiently? Does our faith in the promises of God lessen over time? Waiting on the will and sovereignty of God takes faith. Our faith must grow as time passes on. Never lose site of God’s Promises because of some situation you are experiencing. God is faithful. God is all-powerful. God’s will will be done in His perfect plan and timing for each of our lives. When your faith is tried over and over again, fall on your knees and claim the promises of God and that He will light that fire of faith in your soul to overcome those doubts beating at your faith.

35.z. “Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside.”

Genesis 9:18 The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed. Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

Ham . . . saw . . . and told.—The sin lay not in seeing, which might be unintentional, but in telling, especially if his purpose was to ridicule his father. To have seen it accidentally and involuntarily would not have been a crime. But he pleased himself with the sight and then proclaimed this pleasure to his two brothers who did not see it as something to pleasure in but rather to be shameful of it. The world starts fresh and once again the sinful nature of man raises its head again and another curse is applied. (Barnes)

I am not quite sure what to make of this other than to say sin and sinful people will boast of their sin and think it is perfectly alright and assume this to be the norm for all people. Each of you could list personal examples of being a witness to the likes of this and many more can surely give witness to hearing about it if not witnessing it personally. Women’s rights (abortion – killing unborn babies), adult entertainment (pornography), alternative lifestyles, Pride-day, Pride-week, Pride-month, (LBGTQ), and sex (human trafficking and pedophilia) all proclaim and boast of their sin in some manner or another. If the curse of Ham was carried out in his son and generations to follow what keeps anyone from thinking this will not be so now? Is there redemption and salvation for them – absolutely? The problem is that if the sin is never repented of there is no forgiveness of sin. Herein is the dividing line. No matter how loud and fervent a person proclaims these acts to be approved and acknowledged as “normal”, they are sin in the eyes of God.

Let no one think they are above any of these sins listed above. It is but by the grace of God we are saved and born again, made new, a new creation, and filled with the Holy Spirit. Being born again does not mean our sinful nature has magically disappeared, but rather we have been given discernment and power through the Holy Spirit to resist it and intentionally choose to reject the thought, word, or deed to manifest in our lives. It is by the grace of God we have been given new life and the purpose to live it through the Holy Spirit for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.

34.z. “They shall not enter my rest.”

Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Exodus 20:11    For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 23:12   “Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed.

Exodus 31:17    It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

Deuteronomy 5:14  but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.

Isaiah 58:13   “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly;

Hebrews 4:4-10   For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”  And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.”  Since therefore it remains for some to enter it,six days and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,  again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”  For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.  So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,  for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Colossians 2:16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

God did not need rest on the seventh day because He was tired. He rested to show His creating work was done, to give a pattern to man regarding the structure of time (in seven-day weeks), and to give an example of the blessing of rest to man on the seventh day. God sanctified the seventh day because it was a gift to man for rest and replenishment, and most of all because the Sabbath is a shadow of the rest available through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Though we are free from the legal obligation of the Sabbath, we dare not ignore the importance of a day of rest. God has built us so we need one. But we are also commanded to work six days. “He who idles his time away in the six days is equally culpable in the sight of God as he who works on the seventh” (Clarke). In our modern world of four or five-day workweeks and generous vacation time, surely more “leisure time” can be given to the work of the LORD. The description of each other day of creation ended with the phrase, so the evening and the morning were the… day. However, this seventh day of creation does not have that phrase. This is because God’s rest for us isn’t confined to one literal day. In Jesus, God has an eternal Sabbath rest for His people. (Guzik)

“God, having completed His work of creation, rests, as if to say, ‘This is the destiny of those who are My people; to rest as I rest, to rest in Me.’” (Boice)

The seventh day is distinguished from all the preceding days by being itself the subject of the narrative. In the absence of any work on this day, the Eternal is occupied with the day itself, and does four things in reference to it. First, he ceased from his work which he had made. Secondly, he rested. By this was indicated that his undertaking was accomplished. When nothing more remains to be done, the purposing agent rests contented. The resting of God arises not from weariness, but from the completion of his task. He is refreshed, not by the recruiting of his strength, but by the satisfaction of having before him a finished good. (Barnes)

God rested on the seventh day from all his works which he had made: not as though weary of working, for the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, nor is weary, Isaiah 40:28 but as having done all his work, and brought it to such perfection, that he had no more to do; not that he ceased from making individuals, as the souls of men, and even all creatures that are brought into the world by generation, may be said to be made by him, but from making any new species of creatures; and much less did he cease from supporting and maintaining the creatures he had made in their beings, and providing everything agreeable for them, and governing them, and overruling all things in the world for ends of his own glory; in this sense he “continues working”, as Christ says, John 5:17. (Gill)

There was holy perfection in what God created, even the day of rest assured and promised to it. Before Sin entered the world there was a blessed rest that comes from God. Man will never find this rest on their own though they may cease the work of their hands and find sleep easy and refreshing. This rest is for the body and seeking rest that is for and deep into the soul of man. It is in this rest we find purpose, peace, joy, and hope. This perfect rest is found in Jesus Christ and through our complete trust, reliance, belief, and obedience in Him alone. We may try hard to find rest for our weary souls by “sleeping” but though we may sleep we wake with anxiousness, confusion, anger, and fear. Why? – Our souls still hunger for the “rest” that only Jesus Christ can fulfill.

35. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 22:26-27    But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.  For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

Galatians 5:13   For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Philippians 2:5-8    Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Psalms 138:6    For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

Proverbs 15:33   The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 16:18-19    Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.  It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Isaiah 57:15    For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

And whosoever shall exalt himself,…. Above his fellow Christians, or fellow ministers, by entertaining too high an opinion of himself, by boasting of his gifts, as preferable to others, and as if he had not received them; by assuming, or eagerly coveting titles of honour among men, or by affecting honour that do not belong to him, or, abusing what he has: “shall be abased”; or humbled by God, or men, or both; such shall lose the honour they have, and come greatly short of what they are ambitious of; they shall fall into disgrace with men, and are abominable in the sight of God: “and he that shall humble himself”; by entertaining low thoughts, and a mean opinion of himself, behaving modestly among men; not being elated with his gifts, but acknowledging that they are owing to the grace and goodness of God; and using them in an humble manner, for, the advantage of others; not coveting honour from men, nor lifted up with what is conferred on him: “shall be exalted”; by God, or men, or both; if not in this world, yet in the world to come: and indeed, generally speaking, such modest, humble, persons, are most esteemed among men; and God gives more grace unto them, and will at last give them glory. This is a saying, often used by our Lord on different accounts, both with respect to his disciples, for their instruction, and with regard to the scribes and Pharisees, for their embarrassment and humiliation. (Gill)

Normally, people estimate greatness by how many people serve and honor them. Jesus reminded His followers that in His kingdom it should be different, and that we should estimate greatness by how we serve and honor others. (Guzik)

Humbleness can be something that eludes the hearts of many in a high position of responsibility, authority, and power. Some may even, under the guise of serving and protecting, yield to pride and wield their authority and power in such ways that harm the people they are supposed to serve. They will find a reason to listen to false data, choose to deny facts, and succumb to their own pride-filled hearts while forcing others to their will. This false servitude is discernible by God and to Him, they will answer on the day of judgment. Their own pride-filled hearts guide them down destructive paths. The problem is that many will blindly follow these people and condemn those who do not. Even with a humble heart, a person can say, no to the wishes of these people filled with hunger and desire for authority, power, and pride.

We do well to have the eyes to our hearts and minds filled with discernment that only the Holy Spirit can give and use this discernment in humble boldness to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy, and love.

34.n. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Matthew 20:25 “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 22:25-27    And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.  But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.  For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

Mark 10:45    For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 14:7-11    Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,  “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him,  and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.  But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Often we see that when people are raised to a position of authority, given the opportunity to employ their power they will exercise it in order to gain their own ends and purposes. They hunger for and set their heart on this in view. Such ambition is essentially a lost soul’s passion, and wholly alien from the spirit of Christ.

The princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them – That is, over their subjects. “You know that such honors are customary among nations. The kings of the earth raise their favorites to posts of trust and power they give authority to some over others, but my kingdom is established in a different manner. All are to be on a level. The rich, the poor, the learned, the unlearned, the bond, the free, are to be equal. He will be the most distinguished that shows most humility, the deepest sense of his unworthiness, and the most earnest desire to promote the welfare of his brethren.”(Barnes)

When a person bases their worth on things of this world and in light of what this world has to offer, they will always desire greater and greater positions of some sort of power and authority over others. As an example, look at what has transpired with Covid’s response. Those who were elected to govern took the opportunity to rule. Those in social media positions took the opportunity to cancel anything deemed not to meet their threshold of truth. Those in positions took the opportunity to restrict travel and meeting together. These are all examples of what a heart and mind can fall trap to when offered authority and power. Obviously, there are times and places for such, I am not saying there are not, but just to give an example of how quickly and easily people in positions of authority can and will desire to display their power when given the chance to do so when they would not have even given it a thought before because it wasn’t within their responsibility or scope to do so. People will lie and believe lies in order to best serve themselves in achieving more authority and power. Such is the way of mankind.

We have been given a new way to think, speak, and act. We are to humbly and with humility, serve. We are to seek and desire that which honors and glorifies Jesus Christ alone. Any positions of authority and power given to us ought to be seen as opportunities for this end alone.

34.h. “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?”

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

We read in Matthew 18:15 what we are to do if a brother/sister sins against us. We are to go to them alone and tell them of the offense and what to do if they are not repentant. Here, Jesus explains further how forgiveness is to be applied to a repentant brother/sister. There is no limit on how many times forgiveness is to be applied to the repentant heart of the offender no matter how big the offense or action. We can come up with hypothetical situations where our forgiveness to others seems impossible. This is true until we see the great price that was paid for our sin (offenses) against God. We reject His worthiness of having an active presence in our lives. We neglect to honor and glorify Him in all we say thing and do. We want to please ourselves more than please Him. We display greed, lust, hate, anger, pride, self-worth, self-reliance, and worldly desires giving no thought to Jesus Christ whom we are to serve, honor, and glorify. We limit our forgiveness, withhold our kindness and generosity, and we display no want to and make no attempt reconcile with our offender. Contrast this with while we were sinning and giving no thought to our actions and how they might be offensive to God, or how they might hurt others, or how they might lead others to do the same, God, sent His Son to pay the debts of all of our individual sins. If we were to try to count the number of our sins they could not be counted, for they are more than we can know. And yet, God sent His Son to redeem us by paying a high price for our sin, His sacrifice, suffering, and death on the cross. If we were to stop right here one would think the debt is paid and I am forgiven. However there must be a repentant heart, a recognition of an inability to pay the debt of our sin, and belief, trust, faith, and reliance in what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross has not only redeemed them, but that all of these sins are forgiven by this act of grace and mercy. Repentance, turning away from all worldly lusts, desires, and hopes, and clinging to forgiveness in Jesus Christ alone will result in a restored relationship with Him.

This is our example of applying forgiveness to brothers and sisters who have done offense against us and have a repentant heart. We certainly will come up against those who do offense against us and do not repent of it. Let our heart be pure in these matters. Though they might not repent our heart can remain pure for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. When Paul said to allow ourselves to be wronged for the unity and reputation of the church rather than to continue to harbor ill thoughts and cause division, he was saying that there is a place in our heart for forgiveness toward another person even though they do not repent. We do not need to continue to dwell on the offense for in doing so it will only rob us of joy, peace, and rest. In these occurrences I think it is best that we try to reconcile and then place and leave it all in the hands of Jesus Christ. As hard as this may seem to do, it is what honors and glorifies Jesus Christ and will give rest and peace to your soul.

There are other times our offense will come at the hands of someone who is a brother or sister in Christ. In these matters we need to look at them like Jesus Christ did while being mocked, spit upon, whipped, and nailed to the cross, when He said, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”. How can we expect them to act like a follower of Jesus Christ when they are not? Their thoughts and actions will be that of the world and of Satan the influencer of it. We can expect nothing different. However, what we can do is to look to the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us in our thoughts and actions so that Jesus Christ is honored and glorified through the grace, mercy and love we are empowered to show.

34.f. “I have gone astray like a lost sheep”

Matthew 18:12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Psalms 119:176    I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

Isaiah 53:6     All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Ezekiel 34:16    I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

Luke 15:4-7   “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

1 Peter 2:25    For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Ezekiel 34:12   As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.

Isaiah 40:11   He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

2 Peter 3:9   The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

For the Son of man is come to seek that which was lost. This is another, and stronger reason, why these little ones should not be despised; because Christ, who is here meant by the Son of man, came into this world to save these persons; who were lost in Adam, and had destroyed themselves by their transgressions, and carries great force in it: for if God had so great a regard to these little ones, as to send his Son to obtain eternal salvation for them, when they were in a miserable and perishing condition; and Christ had so much love for them, as to come into this world, and endure the sorrows, sufferings, and death itself for them, who were not only little, but lost; and that to obtain righteousness and life for them, and save them with an everlasting salvation; then they must, and ought to be, far above the contempt of all mortals; and the utmost care should be taken not to despise, grieve, offend, and injure them in any form or shape whatever.(Gill)

To show still further the reason why we should not despise Christians, he introduced a parable showing the joy felt when a thing lost is found. A shepherd rejoices over the recovery of one of his flock that had wandered more than over all that remained; so God rejoices that man is restored: so he seeks his salvation, and wills that not one thus found should perish. If God thus loves and preserves the redeemed, then surely man should not despise them. (Barnes)

The searching is not sure to be rewarded. Man’s sin and always leaning toward selfish, self-centered, self-worth, and self-reliance makes the result uncertain. No one may safely go on sinning, or living in neglectful, complacent, and careless unconcern, with the expectation of being finally found and saved. There must be a limit to the patience of God. If a man will not open his heart to the tugging of the Holy Spirit towards repentance and belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he will not be found and brought home. God forces no one to be saved against his will.

33.b. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you”

Job 34:29  When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?

2 Samuel 7:1   Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,

Isaiah 26:3  You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 32:17   And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.

John 14:27     Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Romans 8:31    What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Philippians 4:7   And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Kings 18:12    because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. They neither listened nor obeyed.

Psalms 13:1    How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

Psalms 27:9   Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!

Psalms 30:7    By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.

Psalms 143:7   Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

When God purposes to give rest, comfort, ease, or prosperity in any way to man, it is that soul that finds a quietness within their soul and there is nothing or no one that can take it away, though other men or Satan himself hard as they may try. God is in control of all things and He can bring peace or adversity upon a person or nation at His own pleasure.

We may chase after worldly and fleshly things that we think will give us peace and quietness to our soul but in the end, they leave us unsatisfied and wanting. People write about how they have found peace and prosperity in a host of diverse ways and people who are searching for this peace and prosperity flock to them like bees to honey. They are ever searching and never finding that which only God can give and that which can only be found in humble service to Him. Oh, people may have temporary peace and prosperity in their life, but lasting contentment it is not.

A believer should continually give thought to blessings from God and should know when it is that God has turned His face from them. The problem is that too many give no thought to either. They plod along in life as if there is no God and things happen by chance or fate. When a person does not acknowledge God or His control over all creation, how are they to find peace and quietness for their soul?

God has all things under his control, and he can bring prosperity or adversity upon an individual or a nation at his own pleasure. Who then can make trouble? – literally, “Who can condemn, or hold guilty”. The sense is, that no one can overwhelm him with the consciousness of guilt, to whom God intends to give the peace resulting from his favor and friendship. Or, no one can bring calamities upon a man “as if” he were guilty, or so as to “show” that he is guilty, when God intends to treat him as if he were not. This is as true and sure as the sun rising and setting. When God designs to give peace to a man’s soul, and to impart to him the evidence that his sins are forgiven, there is no one who can excite in his mind the conviction of guilt, or take away the comfort that God gives. When he designs to “treat” a man as if he were his friend, and to impart to him such evidences of his favor as shall convince the world that he is his friend, there is no one who can prevent it. (Barnes)

If we are to find this peace and quietness of our souls, it is only in and through God. When a soul purposefully surrenders to humbly serving, following, trusting, obeying, and relying on Jesus Christ the peace of God that passes all understanding is theirs.

32.q. “a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench”

Matthew 12:15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

When Jesus departed the public places people followed Him. Though the ones who should have recognized and known Jesus as the Messiah did not these humble men and women did. They followed Him to be near to Him and perhaps be healed of whatever was ailing them. He healed them all. If you want to be near Jesus, you must follow Him.

Jesus the Servant is an example to us as servants, but He is so much more than that. He is our Servant. He serves us; not only in what He did in the past, but also in He serves us every day through His constant love, care, guidance, and intercession. Jesus did not stop serving when He went to heaven; He serves all His people more effectively than ever from heaven. (Guzik)

Life often will bruise us and bring the flame of our hope and faith to nothing more than a smoldering ember. It is in our weakness where Jesus deals with us gently and tenderly. Our bruise heals and our smoldering ember becomes a flame. This does not mean our neglect and complacency to His Word will be rewarded, but rather that Jesus continues to give gentle reminders and opportunities to see ourselves in light of holiness, godliness, and if we are in line with what it means to be a child of God through faith, trust, reliance, hope, and obedience. These gentle reminders can still be rejected and our lives can still remain to be endless days of worry, busyness, fear, and anxiousness. It is only in humble surrender and repentance that the bruises of life that snuffed out our flame are healed.

The problem is that way too many are content being bruised and flameless, limping along in life like those with no hope. As a child of the King of Kings should not our lives be a reverent reflection of our Father. If you are limping along in your faith and commitment to Jesus Christ, if you are bruised, and if your flame has smoldered seek and desire to be made whole again and that your life will bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ in all you say, think, and do.