June 11 ▪ Day 162

Scripture Readings

Psalms 22:27–28
Job 19–20
II Timothy 1–2
Proverbs 12

Verse Focus (Psalms 22:27–28)

²⁷All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
²⁸for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.

Meditation

Our verse focus today comes from Psalm 22, that great Messianic Psalm — this is the psalm that Jesus quoted from when he was on the cross. Verses 27 and 28 say, “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.” Amen, hallelujah! Do I need to say anything else?

Not only are these great verses of praise, but they help to reorient us to what is truly important. God’s kingdom will prevail; God rules over all. If we could but meditate on these verses every morning, not only would we have less stress about the day ahead, but we would make better choices, too.

Father God, we long for the day when we see entire world in submission to you. As things are now, we get anxious and distressed because there is so much strife and division and corruption in the world around us. We cannot fix these problems — they are too big for us. But not for you. Thank you that you already sent Jesus to make the way of forgiveness possible. Thank you for your mercy, and for your great love. Even though your rule is more hidden right now, you are still very much in control of what happens. Thank you for your grace and for your sovereignty. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Job 19 contains some of the most important and powerful words ever spoken. In verses 23 through 27, Job exclaims:

²³Oh, that my words were recorded,
that they were written on a scroll,
²⁴that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead,
or engraved in rock forever!
²⁵I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
²⁶And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
²⁷I myself will see him
with my own eyes — I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!

It is a remarkable example of faith, even more remarkable that this faith existed in a Gentile man born hundreds of years before the Messiah. Depending on when you believe Job lived, this faith may have even predated the promise of the Messiah. I love how the Scripture gives an eternal voice to Job, giving him his heart’s desire — not just that his words would be remembered, but that he will indeed one day see his Redeemer in the flesh.

Perhaps it makes sense that Job says these words now. In chapter 18, Bildad had just finished describing the wicked as perishing and being forgotten from memory. And as Job begins to speak in chapter 19, he talks of how he has been rejected and forgotten by both family and friends. God has turned Himself against Job and has made everyone else do so as well — no wonder Job longs to be remembered as existing. No wonder he clings to the idea of his Redeemer!

As the chapter ends, Job warns his friends against persisting in the belief that these calamities are the result of Job’s failures — the sword will come for them, too.

In Job chapter 20, Zophar speaks again. He feels affronted and insulted by Job’s words — presumably by Job’s warning that the sword of judgment will soon be coming for him. And so Zophar reiterates much of what Bildad just said — that the wicked will suffer, perish, and be forgotten. With his every description of the fate of the wicked person, Zophar implies that Job must be one that God is punishing for wickedness. “The heavens will expose his guilt; the earth will rise up against him,” says Zophar in verse 27.

Today we begin reading 2 Timothy, Paul’s second letter to his apprentice Timothy. This was written several years later, in about 61 AD, when Paul was imprisoned in Rome. I note the difference in how Paul addresses Timothy. In his first letter, Paul called Timothy his “true son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:1).” Now, he simply says, “my beloved child (v. 2).”

In verse 6, Paul reminds Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God” that he had received earlier. It is an interesting way of speaking about spiritual gifts. To think that your spiritual gifts can become weaker or stronger is a bit mind-blowing. I think we tend to assume that spiritual gifts come fully fledged — like being a piano prodigy or having a photographic memory. We don’t consider the need to exercise these gifts, to strengthen and improve them, or to have them be renewed by the Holy Spirit’s power. But it is clear from what Paul says that we do need to “fan the flames” of our gifts. As our English proverb goes, “Use them or lose them!” May God help us to pray and to use our gifts as He intends!

Paul encourages us to fan the flames by reminding us, in verse 7, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and self-discipline.” Wonderful verse gem!

In verse 14, Paul reprises the command he made at the end of his first letter. “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” By this Paul refers to the gospel and doctrine that Timothy was taught and entrusted with by Paul. It is perhaps particularly important for those in leadership positions to be watchful that they are staying true to Scripture and to the faith we have received through Christ Jesus.

In chapter 2, Paul exhorts Timothy to start making good deposits of his own. In verse 2, he writes, “What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.” The verse strikes me. Is this the way you think about your faith? Do you consider that you were entrusted with the gospel message? And that part of that trust is that you find faithful people to teach and pass the faith along?

Paul encourages Timothy by using the metaphors of a solider, athlete, and farmer. He reminds Timothy of his chains, but says, in verse 9, “But the word of God is not bound!” The word is able to go places and accomplish things that we would not believe — as the Scripture says in Isaiah, it does not return to God void.

I love verse 13 from the hymn fragment that Paul quotes! “If we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself.”

I also like Paul’s advice that Timothy should correct his opponents “with gentleness (v. 25).” In the context of his argument, Paul seems to be advocating the gentleness because the opponents may become future brothers, but there are other reasons too. Disagreeing respectfully is a mark of maturity and wisdom; it is one of the ways we show love to others.

Proverbs 12 continues the collection of Solomon’s proverbs. What catches your eye today? Verse 18 is one of my old favorites, but today it was verse 19 that caught my attention. The ESV says, “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” Wow! Forever is a pretty long time. I never thought about the permanence of truth-telling in this way before — except for Christ Himself, of course. We know that Christ the Word is eternal, permanent, living, active truth. But when I speak the truth? Of course, I think part of what the proverb is speaking about is not truth telling one time, but lips that habitually speak the truth. That is the person whose words will endure.

I also noticed verse 24. “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.” I’ve thought about diligence being rewarded with success — but ruling? It reminds me of the faithful servant who was put in charge of ten cities. Likewise, those who are lazy will end up being forced to work — it’s easy to think of this in terms of someone sweating to the commands of an exercise coach, but I think the proverb warns of more serious consequences too.

Father God, thank you for your Word. Thank you that Christ does endure forever. Help us to fan into flame the gifts you have given us, and let us be faithful to the trust we have been given. Show us how we might also entrust the things we have learned to others. Thank you for the book of Job. Thank you that Job’s words did get inscribed on a scroll, and that they survive to give us hope today. Thank you that our Redeemer does live, and that we too have the hope of seeing Christ in the flesh. We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.