FOUNDATIONS FOR PEACE

August 16-18-2008
Romans 11:33-36
14th Sunday After Pentecost
Pastor Don Sutton

Romans 11:33-36
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

Introduction

“Why didn’t God create angels so they couldn’t sin? Why didn’t God do the same for man? Why didn’t God stop Adam and Eve before they sinned? Why was I born into a family where my mother and father had me baptized and brought me up Christian? Why did God put our planet in our solar system and not another? Why did God make giraffes with long necks and elephants with trunks? Why does God allow an elderly person in a nursing home to live to be 100 but allow a child to die of a brain tumor at 8? Why did God make mosquitoes?

The apostle Paul had some questions like this as he brought to a close the preceding portion of the Letter to the Romans. There Paul had lamented the rejection of Christ by Paul’s fellow Jews. Paul expressed the desire that the Jews who rejected Jesus would have a change of heart and come to faith. But at the same time Paul recognized and rejoiced in the fact that the rejection of the Savior by the Jews resulted in the gospel going to the non-Jews, the Gentiles, with the result that many were brought to faith and into the family of God. This was a mystery to Paul as it to us. With that Paul breaks out in a little hymn of praise in Paul puts it this way in Romans 11:33-36: (Read Together) “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

Paul was saying in respect to his and many of our questions that we would like to ask God, “You Can Ask But ….”

God Is So Deep We Couldn’t Grasp His Riches, Knowledge or Wisdom

“Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God ….” Literally Paul wrote, “Oh the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God.” When Paul mentions the depth of the riches he is talking about inexhaustible riches of God, riches that can never run out.

What do you suppose it’s like to be Warren Buffet who this year was declared by Forbes Magazine to be the richest person in the world with a fortune valued at $62 billion? Do you realize how much money that is? What’s your household net worth? I’m talking about what you’re left with when you’ve paid all your bills and debts. The median household net worth in American is somewhere between $90,000 and $100,000. Do realize that at this rate it would take the net worth of 620,000 households to equal the wealth of Warren Buffet? He’s got deep pockets. Or consider the depth of the combined wealth of those on Forbes 400 richest people! Combined, that wealth is over $1 trillion. That’s hard to grasp isn’t it?

But God is far richer. The Psalmist wrote, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (24:1).” This includes you and I and everything we have. This includes the oil at the depths of the sea, the gold and precious metals buried in the mountains, the stars and solar systems in the universe.

But two things that God is especially rich in are wisdom and knowledge. Maybe simply put we could say that knowledge is all the stuff one knows and wisdom is the ability to apply all this knowledge in the right way and in the right time and place.

God is so deep and rich in wisdom and knowledge that there are so many things he knows and does that go beyond our ability to grasp and understand these things. In Isaiah 40:28 Isaiah wrote of God, “…and his understanding no one can fathom.”

What’s more Paul adds, “How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” Now Paul is talking about the decisions that God makes and the course of action he takes. These too go beyond our grasp. As God said elsewhere, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways (Is. 55:9).”

So do you see how silly and even how sinful it is when we mentally to try to get into the mind of God and want to know things that he has chosen not to tell us? We can’t grasp all the things God knows. When we do try we are venturing into an area where we don’t belong. Besides, the knowledge and wisdom are too deep.

How good it is that so is his love. God’s love is so deep that even though we didn’t deserve it God chose to send his Son to be our Savior. Out of love God’s Son chose to humble himself under God’s law to live it to perfection. Out of love God’s Son, Jesus, suffered our curse that we deserved so that now through him we are saved. As Paul wrote, “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…”

You can ask but …. God is so deep in knowledge and wisdom and that we can’t search them out.

God Doesn’t Need Our Advice or Owe Us Answers

And what’s more, God doesn’t need our advice nor owe us answers.

Many of you remember Erma Bombeck. She was an American humorist who achieved great popularity for her newspaper column that described suburban home life humorously from the mid-60’s until the late 90’s. Bombeck also published 15 books, most of which became best-sellers. She gave advice. Her advice included things like, “Never have more children than you have car windows. … Never loan your car to someone to whom you have given birth. … Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart…There are no guarantees in marriage. If that’s what you’re looking for, go live with a Sear’s battery.” Bombeck was paid by newspapers and groups to give advice.

Who of us has God paid to be his counselor or to give him/them advice? Paul wrote,“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Paul’s implication? No one.

In this election year where more money is going to spent to elect an president than ever before, one of the big concerns connected with the election is that wealthy people or groups will donate so much money to campaigns that whoever is elected will be beholden to the big contributors. The expectation is often there, isn’t it, when people make a large contribution to a campaign that they are owed something in return when a candidate is elected to office?

Who of us has done so much for God that God owes us something? “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” Again, Paul’s implication? No one. The love we have for God, the lives we live for God, the offerings we give to God, the service we do for God – all are simply what we owe God and not because he owes us. Paul wrote, “For Christ’s love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all therefore all died. And he died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again (2 CO5:14,15).”

So in your prayers, you can suggest and you can ask for things, but remember, God doesn’t need your advice nor does he owe you anything.

From Him, Though Him and To Him Are Everything

Yet, from him comes everything. Remember Paul’s words, “For from him, through him and to him are everything.’

God is the creator of all things. God is the owner of all things. God is the provider of all things. God is the purpose for all things. As is written in Hebrews 3, “God is the builder of everything (v.4). As Paul told the Greeks in Athens, “In him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17).” Or as James wrote, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (1:16).”

Trust that with his love, with his wisdom and knowledge, and with all his wealth, the God who promises to take care of you with words like, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you as well (Matt 6:33),” can and will take care of you.

Trust that with the riches of his love he has rescued you from the curse you deserve for your sin by the life and death of his Son. Rely on Jesus for your peace with God and your hope of everlasting life.

Trust that the things that God has chosen not to reveal are things that you not only don’t need to know but probably are things you can’t comprehend. Trust and give thanks that the things you need to know God has revealed in his word.

Live for the Lord so that all you say, and think, and do are to his glory. Let your life be an expression of the closing words of Paul’s little hymn of praise – “To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

August 2-4, 2008
1 Kings 19:9-18
12th Sunday After Pentecost
Pastor Don Sutton

1 Kings 19:9-18
9) There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10) He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11) The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12) After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13) When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14) He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 15) The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16) Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17) Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18) Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”

Introduction
Sometimes loud is good. For example if a speaker is in a large place with a large crowd you want the speaker to speak loudly enough so that everyone can hear what he has to say. Imagine being at a Twins game in the Metrodome and the announcer was whispering, “The next batter is Justin Morneau.” On the other hand sometimes a whisper is very appropriate. If you’re sitting in church and have to go to the bathroom, it’s probably better that you whisper to those with you, “I’m going to the bathroom,” rather than broadcasting it to the whole congregation.

When God first gave the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai he personally spoke to the people in such a way that they pleaded that Moses speak in behalf of God. There was thunder, lightening, and smoke from the mountain. And speaking to several million people camped near Mt. Sinai God probably spoke in more than a whisper. He probably projected so that everyone could clearly hear him. Today, however, as we consider an account from the life of Elijah the prophet, we consider God’s Gentle Whisper. It assures us of his presence and assures us of our purpose.

“The Hat Trick”
Last week Pastor Smith mentioned the hat trick – a hockey player scoring three goals in the same game. Pastor Smith used this picture to talk about Jesus doing three miracles on the same day. In today’s account we have another biblical hat trick. God did it in connection with Elijah.

Elijah was a prophet of God, during the 800’s BC. At that time the Israelites were worshipping the false god and goddess Baal and Asherah. The king in the northern part of Israel was named Ahab and his queen, Jezebel. They not only led the idol worship but killed many of the prophets of God.

One day Elijah went to King Ahab and told him that his idol worship was wrong and challenged him and his 850 false prophets to a show-down on Mt. Carmel. When they met on Mt. Carmel Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal and Asherah to build an altar and to prepare a bull for sacrifice. When they were ready, Elijah challenged these false prophets to call on their gods to consume their offering with fire. But nothing happened. The prophets prayed, dance, prophesied, shouted and even cut themselves, but Baal and Asherah did not respond.

Then Elijah prepared his bull, built an altar, and soaked the altar and sacrifice with water not once but three times. Then Elijah prayed that God would show that he was the true God of Israel. Suddenly fire consumed the sacrifice, the altar and all the water that soaked them. Elijah ordered the Israelites to kill the false prophets and they did so.

Shortly after this miracle on Mt. Carmel, even though no rain had fallen in some time, God caused a small cloud the size of a man’s hand to come out of the sea. The possibility of this small cloud amounting to much rain was small. But Elijah told King Ahab to go down the mountain before the rain got so heavy Ahab couldn’t travel. Meanwhile God caused that cloud to grow into a dark cloudy sky from which fell a heavy rain. As it miraculously rained Ahab rode his chariot down the mountain. The Bible adds, “The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and tucking his robe into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel (1Kgs. 18:46).” Even if Elijah was in shape for an Olympic marathon running about 15 miles faster than a horse-drawn chariot was a miracle.

So there you have it – God’s hat trick! Three miracles in one day!

But Queen Jezebel wasn’t impressed. When she heard about all this she put a contract on Elijah and sent word to him of this. This put Elijah into a funk. So he high-tailed it out of the north country of Israel and went south to Beersheba. There he went a day’s journey into the wilderness, lay down under a tree and wanted to die. But the Lord sent an angel who miraculously fed him twice and encouraged Elijah to rest for the journey ahead. That journey was a forty day wandering in the wilderness until Elijah reached Horeb, or Mt. Sinai, the mountain from which God gave the Ten Commandments. There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night.

Elijah’s Struggles
‘And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”’ Elijah replied in so many words, “Lord I’ve really taken this prophet job seriously. I’ve worked my tail off for you. But the Israelites haven’t taken you or your word seriously. They have rejected and killed your prophets. Now they want to kill me too.” It’s as if Elijah is saying, “Lord, they’re failures. I’m a failure. You’re a failure. I’m all alone. I’ve had it up to here Lord. I quit!” Isn’t it amazing that after Elijah had be a party to God’s hat trick a few days before, and had even seen some of God’s people turn back to the Lord, he feels alone, a failure, hopeless, helpless, and purposeless?

Have you ever felt like this … at least in part? Maybe godly parents feel some of this after they have done everything humanly possible to raise godly children only to watch them slide into ungodly adulthoods. Maybe a faithful Christian feels some of this after being rejected by a spouse, a significant other, family or close friends. Possibly a godly person feels some of this after he or she has been severely put down by others who profess to be Christian but choose to hold to things that God clearly rejects in his word. Maybe the elderly person sitting in the nursing home suffering pain and disability feels some of this as he or she wonders why the golden years have gotten so tarnished and filled with such pain. Maybe the person who has faithfully and honestly pursued an education in hopes of getting a good job feels some of this as he or she doesn’t get that job and struggles to get by. Maybe many people in many circumstances feel some of this as they feel that they are failures, and/or others have failed them, and/or that God has failed them, and/or that they are all along, and/or they have no purpose in life.

God’s Assurance
Elijah did. Twice he told God what he was feeling – once in the cave and once while standing at the mouth of the cave. God responded to Elijah, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”

God once told Moses that no one can fully see the glory of God and live. This is one reason for Elijah’s covering his face. But he may have felt shame in what he was doing here and saying to God. Such shame is appropriate whenever one of God’s people insinuates that in some way or another God is a failure and has left him or her all alone. If you or I have every insinuated such things we are right in confessing in shame, “Lord I have sinned. Have mercy on me.”

God did in respect to Elijah. God spoke to Elijah not in the wind nor in the earthquake nor in the fire – all which signified his holiness and power – but in that “still, gentle voice” – “God’s gentle whisper.” God’s gentle whisper showed his mercy, patience and love. God was not going to treat Elijah as his sin’s deserve, but in view of the Savior to come would forgive him.

But with the gentle whisper God assured Elijah, “I am merciful. I am here.” With the gentle whisper of the gospel God says the same to us when we are struggling with situations in life. God assures us, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life…It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed … but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect … How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are … I am with you always, even to the end of the age…”

It was with his gentle voice that God reassured Elijah that his work was not in vain and that Elijah and God were not failures, but that God was with Elijah working through the word Elijah proclaimed. God said, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”

So it is with God’s gentle whisper of the gospel that God assures us that when we work as his witnesses his word works whether we see it working or not. God says, “(My Word) It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and will achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Or God tells us in view of Jesus’ resurrection, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” – not witnessing to Christ with your word and ways, not Christian parenting, not serving the Lord as a pastor, teacher, lay leader, lay visitor, usher, choir member, counter, ladies aid member, altar guild, or the like.

With God’s gentle whisper God assured Elijah that while Elijah thought his life purposeless, God still had a purpose for this prophet. “The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.”

God’s gentle whisper assures us we have a purpose. As the psalmist reminds us of our lives and God, “My times are in your hands.” God does not leave us in this life a moment to long nor does he take us a second too soon. So long we have life in our bodies God has a purpose for us here in time. The 90-year-old in the nursing home may not think so. The person suffering depression or other disabling disease may not think so. The person for whom everything seems to be going wrong may not think so. But God has things for us to do – to serve as a father, or mother, or brother or sister, or son, of daughter. God may have people he wants to be prayer warriors. There may be those he uses to show his power and glory by enabling them to suffer and endure in godly ways. But God’s gentle whisper of the gospel assures us that so long as we live, we have purpose in some way to be his witnesses and to live to his glory. Amen.