A Passion for God

This outline that I made of these Psalms and preached from several years ago was a blessing to me recently.

Text: Psalm 42-43
Because God alone is our hope, we must place our confidence in Him.
I. The Longing of the Psalmist
A. The Intensity of the Longing (42:1-2). David, as the author likely is, explains a longing that surpasses all others. He describes his longing as a deep thirst. The thirst is the thirst of a deer that has been hounded by the dogs and has fled before their ravages. Imagine the scene. A deer racing from the pursuing hounds, its sides heaving with its exertion. His coat steaming with the heat of its exertions. His tongue parched with a desperate longing for the water that would assuage the deep thirst. Yet he fears even the pause that would enable him to drink, lest he be overtaken by the howling beasts. It is a thirst that seems to be unquenchable. Have you ever had a deep thirst? Have you had such a thirst?
I can remember a time of such deep thirst. I was competing in the Joslin’s Canadian Open Grappling Championships. I competed in a match that went the distance and had no breaks. I went all-out. The thirst that I felt after the match was incredible.
Yet the longing that David had was not simply for the assuaging of a dry tongue, it was a thirst for Almighty God Himself!
B. The Object of His Longing (42:1-2). He longed with all his being for God Himself. He describes God as the living God. What a wonder that we serve the Living God! How much a desire do we have for God Himself? Everything else in this world seems to exalt itself over the knowledge of God. David experienced such a struggle. We see this intense longing for God within the context of incredibly trying circumstances. David experienced this longing while in the throes of great dejection, yea even depression. Now just because David went through such struggles does not make it right, yet this psalm gives us a picture of a great saint going through what many of us ay have gone through in the past and will likely go through in the future.

II. The Dejection of the Psalmist
A. The Extent of this Dejection To what extent had this dejection of the psalmist gone?
1. Sorrow (42:3,5,6,11; 43:2,5) We see David overcome with sorrow. Is this not one of the first things that overtakes us in such times? Indeed, how often is sorrow such a great part of depression. Each so often leads to the other.
2. Sleeplessness (42:3) Such was the depression and sorrow of David that it invaded his sleep. Ever had this happen to you? When this is the case, how frustrating it can be! Even great believers of the past struggled with this difficulty. Jonathan Edwards, for example spent long periods of life in the throes of insomnia. I have felt its ravages myself.
3. Disquiet (42:5,11; 43:5) This disquiet refers to an inner turmoil of soul. What turmoil of soul accompanies depression!
B. The Causes of this Dejection (The ultimate cause of this dejection, as we shall see, is turning our selves and our focus from our true Hope, God.)
1. The Mockery of the Wicked (42:3,10) How the taunts and jeers of the wicked can get us down! Is it right that this is so? Of course it is not, but we still often are influenced by their taunts.
2. The Longing for Fellowship (42:4) David wrote these psalms more than likely when at some period of separation from the fellowship and religious devotion in the temple. How a longing for fellowship can get us down, but this does not make it right. Do we fellowship with those believers that God has placed in our local church? Do we come together in worship of God and fellowship with other believers?
3. The Fixation upon Self (42:5,11; 43:2,5) Really, in many ways, almost every depression finds its roots in a fixation on self. David displayed a definite fixation on self in this time of depression.
4. The Circumstances of Life (42:7) David certainly realized the sovereignty of God in the midst of this struggle. When times are bad so often because of our skewed perspective, they seem much worse. Here the psalmist describes his state as though wave after wave of trouble has overtaken him.
5. The Deceit of the Wicked (43:1) A deceptive man can bring us to depression in many ways, particularly when we are taken in that deception-fooled. The purchase made. The story believed. The idea accepted. We also think about the times when deceivers spread stories about ourselves or loved ones. Sometimes the rumours seem insurmountable.
6. The Injustices of the Wicked (43:1) It seems that the psalmist was being accused unjustly by the wicked around him. How this can get us down.

III. The Hope of the Psalmist- God David realizes that this depression is not right, there is no true reason for him to stay in such a state. He strongly rebukes himself on three occasions in these two psalms. He clearly shows that such a condition is the result of an improper view of God. He reminds himself of several blessings of God throughout this passage that should cause his depression to turn to joy and praise.
A. His Presence (42:5) The psalmist speaks of the help of His countenance. This refers to the blessings of God’s presence. What a blessing that we as believers have in knowing that our God is with us. Christ has said that He is with us always, and He has sent the Spirit to minister to us through His Word.
B. His Past Provision (42:6) David calls to remembrance the past blessing of times with God. He remembers times when he spent hours of sweet communion with His God. How has God helped us in the past? Can He not be trusted in the present?
C. His Loving-kindness (42:8) “Lovingkindness is a noble life-belt in a rough sea. The day may darken into a strange and untimely midnight, but the love of God ordained of old to be the portion of the elect, shall be by sovereign decree meted out to them. No day shall ever dawn on an heir of grace and find him altogether forsaken of his Lord: the Lord reigneth, and as a sovereign he will with authority command mercy to be reserved for his chosen.”- C.H. Spurgeon
D. His Leading (43:3-4) David realized his utter dependence upon God, even to the point of leading him into confidence in God. Oh that we might pray that God would do such a work in our hearts that we would desire Him! Light, truth, joy and praise are seen as dependent upon God Almighty.
E. His Salvation (42:11; 43:5) The salvation spoken of here is not soul salvation, but salvation from the despondency of life. Such salvation is not seen in the absence of difficulty, but in the thick of it! The health of the countenance is God! He brings health to the depressed visage! It is not found in ourselves or in changing the circumstances of our life; God alone is the hope and confidence!

So as you live your life and the circumstances of life surround you, place your desire upon God Himself. Place your dependence and confidence in Him alone to fulfill the greatest and deepest of life’s desires with Himself. May He become our passion! May we turn our gaze from all else to Him!

Because God alone is our hope, both in fulfilling our greatest needs and in overcoming the times of despondency, we must place our confidence in Him alone!

The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 11

DOES THIS FIT THE FACTS OF HISTORY?

I Corinthians 14 is the last passage of Scripture to mention the gift of tongues. No other passage of Scripture written after it records any reference to this gift. This is not to say that it passed from use immediately after this passage was written, but it does speak to the fact that tongues were not the all-important experience that some make them out to be. For example, none of the directives regarding deacons or elders in the Pastoral Epistles (I & II Timothy, Titus) mention tongues speaking. If not even the pastors or deacons of the church were required to speak in tongues, what can we assume about the laymen within the church?

Considering that the gift of tongues was revelatory, why would there be further need of such a gift once Scripture was penned? Considering that it was also indicating a transitional period of Old to New Covenants and that transition has taken place, what need is there of the gift of tongues? In light of such considerations, we must see that the gift has no necessity for the church today.

Ephesians 2:20 gives further evidence of the fact that tongues are no longer needed for today. It reads, speaking of the church- “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” Both the Person, life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord, and the prophets and apostles were foundational to our faith. The prophets and apostles were foundational for the recorded revelation of truth for our faith. The Lord Jesus Christ was foundational for the atoning work that secured our faith. Neither needs to be done again! Just as we have no need for our Lord to come to earth, live, die, rise, and ascend again, so we have no need for the revelation of God’s truth to be given again! We need no further revelation any more than we need expect our Lord shed His blood again![1]

II Peter 1:16-21 emphasizes the importance of the revelation of Scripture. No encouragement is given to seek revelatory gifts or some experiential basis for belief. Instead, Peter records these words- “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” So far from encouraging expectations of any revelatory gifts or experiential basis for truth, Peter commands them to “take heed” to the “more sure word of prophecy (Scripture).” What is the Scripture more sure than? In context, it is Peter’s wonderful experience upon the mount when he beheld the transfiguration of Jesus. Rather than taking his experience as the basis of faith and conduct, Peter said the Scriptures were more sure than even that marvelous experience! This is a point to be emphasized in light of this topic. Our basis for truth is not experience, but Scripture. We must never interpret Scripture in light of experience, but rather interpret experience in light of Scripture.

History records for us that tongues did cease. If we are to trust what Scripture says, they ceased for all time. Not only was tongues not mentioned by any later New Testament books, but it was also not mentioned by any in the post-apostolic age.[2]

Both Augustine and Chrysostom, theologians of the eastern and western churches, considered tongues obsolete by their time.[3] Considering their status in the churches at the time, we can reasonably trust their assessment to be correct. And once again, according to Scripture, once tongues as a gift ceased, it ceased for good.

EXPLAINING THE PHENOMENA

In light of the truths studied, how do we explain the phenomena of “ecstatic utterances” in the churches today? We can first state that what is being called the “gift of tongues” today in the charismatic movement is not the gift as recorded in the pages of Scripture. I know of no “tongues speakers” today who claim to totally understand the message that they are giving. I know of few “tongues speakers” that pray for the gift of interpretation. When interpretations are given, they are not infallible word-for-word revelation of God. Furthermore, they do not speak the mysteries of God in any Biblical sense. What is seen in the churches today is a counterfeit! I am not claiming here that all charismatics are deliberately deceitful. Many charismatics are truly saved and wish to honour God with their lives. However, this does not make their beliefs correct. Tongues ceased (were cut off) with the completion of the New Testament.

There are three basic ways in which we can explain what is gong on in the churches today. First, it is possible that the “ecstatic utterance” is a learned behavior. Many, if not most, charismatic churches today have some sort of educational program instructing individuals on how they can have the “gift of tongues.” Second, it is possible that it is psychologically induced. Many charismatic churches knowingly or unknowingly use psychological manipulation to induce ecstatic utterances. I have spoken to many charismatics who have told me that any believer who does not speak in tongues may quite legitimately doubt their salvation. Others have told me that it is an experience that every believer must have if he hopes to progress in his walk with God. Still others have suggested that the lack of this fruit in one’s life is a sign of spiritual hardness and the resisting of the Holy Spirit. Many charismatic services effectively use manipulation through repetitive choruses or emotional stirring to produce an environment conducive for the abandonment of inhibitions and the phenomena of ecstatic utterance. In an environment of such beliefs and emotional manipulation, it is no wonder that people let loose their inhibitions, and utter unintelligible sounds. The late George Gardiner, a former charismatic, often said that he could produce the phenomena of ecstatic utterance with anybody if those persons were willing to go along with every step of directions he gave to them. Third, the experience can be Satanic or demonic in origin. Cults and mystery religions have long had their ecstatic utterances. They are alive and well in cults all around the world today, including the Mormons. Even in the time of the Corinthian epistles the phenomena was practiced in the mystery cults of that city along with the immorality so prevalent in their worship. I do not wish to suggest that all tongues speakers are satanically or demonically inspired to do so. However, the connection between their use of the phenomena and the cultic use of the phenomena is often very close. When a person abandons his mind, I believe he opens himself wide to the attacks of spiritual darkness and depression.

[1] Hebrews 9:28- “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” and Hebrews 10:12- “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;” clearly emphasize this point!
[2] Cleon L. Rogers, "The Gift of Tongues in the Post-Apostolic Church", Bibliotheca Sacra 122 (April-June 1965), p. 134
[3] John F. MacArthur, Jr., Charismatic Chaos, Zondervan, 1992, p. 284

The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 10

THE MURKY MIRROR

“For now we see through a glass, darkly (I Corinthians 13:12a)”

In this clause, Paul gives further evidence of the truth that the revelatory gifts would pass away when Scripture was complete. He gives the picture of an individual looking into a polished glass or even metal mirror and seeing but a murky reflection himself. The mirrors of the time were very crude and distorted by today’s standards. There was very seldom a mirror that gave a very clear reflection. Even if it did, the reflection was incomplete. The individual looking into the mirror saw things that were real and true, but in a murky, distorted, incomplete way. This was the position of the believer who received truth “in part” through the various revelatory gifts.

James uses the same image of a mirror to speak of the revelation of God. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:22-25)” It is obvious that James is referring to at least a part of the written Word of God, and he seems to suggest that it gives an accurate reflection.

FACE TO FACE

“but then face to face (I Corinthians 13:12b)”

Some say that the reference of seeing face to face has reference to seeing Christ one day in Heaven. Some charismatics suggest that this is when the revelatory gifts, such as tongues, will cease. However, this view fails to take into account the full analogy of the mirror.

When one looks into a mirror, whose face does he see? Is it someone else’s? Absolutely not! The face he sees is his own! Is it not one of the key purposes of Scripture to show us as we really are? Is it not to strip away the pretenses to display and judge our very thoughts that we may deal with them?[1]

There is yet another proof from this section of the verse that indicates that the completion of Scripture is in view. It also deals with the term “face to face”. In the first editions of the Authorized Version there was a cross-reference given at this phrase. The Old Testament passage given was Numbers 12:6-8- “And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

The Lord speaks here of the revelation that he would give to the various prophets in the time of Moses. He contrasts this with the revelation that he will give to Moses. He will speak to Moses “mouth to mouth”. This phrase is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek phrase “face to face” used in I Corinthians 14:12. In fact, many Hebrew scholars translate the Numbers passage as “face to face”. What is the point of contrast between the regular prophets’ revelation in this passage and the revelation given to Moses? Is it that one was infallible and the other wasn’t? No the point of comparison was in terms of clarity! Moses’ revelation was far clearer than that of the other prophets, though their revelation was true and inspired. It had to be! If their revelation was found to be false, they were to be put to death![2]

Thus the phrase “face to face” does not mean a future heavenly experience (though we then will certainly see the Lord face to face); it refers to clarity of revelation.

KNOWING IN PART/ KNOWING AS I AM KNOWN

“now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known (I Corinthians 13:12c).”

Once again, a partial knowledge due to immature revelation is mentioned. I know in part now, but one day I will know as I am known. Does this refer to knowledge that can only be obtained in Heaven? No, this knowledge is not absolute knowledge, but complete and adequate knowledge brought about by the fullness of revelation.[3]

The fact that there is a full disclosure of God’s truth places us in a position in which we are enabled to see fully and completely. Partial revelation does not afford us this privilege.

[1] Hebrews 4:12&13- “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
[2] Deuteronomy 18:20-22- “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”
[3] Victor Budgen, Charismatics and the Word of God, Evangelical Press, 1989, p.83

The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 9

THAT WHICH IS PERFECT

“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away (I Corinthians 13:9-10).”

The Bible states that these gifts would end for good when that which is perfect was come. Our understanding of when these gifts ceased for all time hinges upon this. I believe that the perfection that was to come spoke of the completion of the Holy Scriptures and that the passage to follow bears this out.

The word translated “perfect” most often carries the meaning of “mature”. I believe that it does so in this case as well. There is this element of maturity or completion even in our modern use of the term “perfect”. It seems that Paul is contrasting partial revelation with fuller, complete revelation that was to come. He says, “We prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect (mature, complete) is come that which is in part (partial revelation) will vanish away.”

What complete, full, mature, perfect revelation of God is there other than His Word? It is certainly enough to make its followers mature and complete![1] There is no other!

MEN AND CHILDREN

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things I Corinthians 13:11).”

Verse eleven serves to reinforce this point. A child, because of his limited maturity, often only sees part of a situation that he goes through, becoming fixated upon smaller or fewer details. An adult going through the same situation understands and can remember more of the whole. This is the point of comparison being brought out here. The believer, prior to the complete, perfect revelation of completed scripture, grasped but a portion of the whole because the revelatory gifts gave but a portion! They prophesied “in part.” When the completed Scripture came, the partial revelatory gifts were “put away” or “ceased” in the sense that they were replaced by that complete revelation. The child’s limited understanding is replaced by fuller understanding as he grows older.

When my sister-in-law Elisabeth was much younger, she was taken to McDonalds by my father-in-law. When they arrived there, Elisabeth was both surprised and somewhat frightened to see someone dressed up like Grimace. For those of you who are familiar with Grimace, you will know that he is entirely purple. Elisabeth was very small at the time and was very taken by the part of Grimace that she was able to see best because of her height- his feet. She recounted the tale to others when she got home, but was fixated upon the fact that Grimace had purple feet. In fact, that was basically all that she had to say about Grimace, even though all of Grimace was purple, and there were many other unusual features that would bear recounting! She “saw in part” because of her immaturity.

Just as a person puts aside an immature and incomplete understanding to replace it with a fuller mature understanding when older, so the incomplete understanding given by the revelatory gifts was replaced with the completeness of full revelation given in Scripture.

[1] Paul write to Timothy- “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (II Timothy 3:14-17)”

The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 8

Having investigated the nature of tongues, we now turn to a matter even more hotly debated than the nature of tongues- when do tongues cease? The Bible clearly states that tongues will cease.

“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away (I Corinthians 13:8).

As we begin this inquiry let me state that I know of few who have honestly interacted with I Corinthians 12-14 and believe that tongues are for today. Among those who do honestly evaluate the Word and come to the cessationist position (that tongues have ceased from use and are not operative today), there are a few varying ideas of exactly when this cessation took place. However, those varying ideas differ very little in terms of time, differing more in terms of events which brought about the end to the era in which the gift of tongues was given.[1] I believe that I Corinthians 13 teaches that the gift of tongues ceased with the completion of the canon of Scripture.

If we were to study the previous chapter of I Corinthians we would see that Paul has spoken of the necessity of using the gifts for the good of the entire church body. They are sovereignly bestowed by the Holy Spirit, and the Corinthian believers are not to desire to have the gifts just for their flashy nature. (The ear should not desire to be the eye, etc.) The individuals of the church should not be desirous of that which would simply elevate their personal status before others. At the close of the chapter, after having listed a number of spiritual gifts in order of importance[2], Paul encourages the church body as a whole to focus on the best gifts, or those gifts of primary importance. He concludes by saying that he will show the Corinthian believers a “more excellent way”. In context, this way refers to the use of the spiritual gifts. The way that he is referring to is the way of love. Paul emphasizes that all of the gifts are to be exercised in love, as opposed to pride. Paul speaks of the supremacy of love in service, overriding any personal ambition or quest for glory. He then makes the statement quoted earlier- prophecy, tongues, and knowledge will cease.

WHAT DO THESE THREE HAVE IN COMMON?

All of these gifts- prophecy, tongues, and knowledge referred to a gift of infallible, God-inspired revelation. We have already demonstrated that both prophecy and tongues were infallible revelatory gifts. But what about knowledge? How can that be considered infallible revelation?

Though some would differ with my interpretation on this point, I believe that knowledge was some manner of gift that allowed infallible interpretation of Old Testament Scriptures.[3] The fact that it is included with two other “flashy” gifts that Paul seems very pointedly to be telling the Corinthians will pass away seems to be indicative of this. In some way, whatever this gift was, it was a gift that the Corinthians were coveting in all the wrong ways. I believe that Paul had a dual goal here. He wanted the Corinthians to focus on using their gifts in love for the church, and he wanted them to understand that the gifts that they believed to be so wonderful and desirable would pass away. The love spoken of throughout the chapter would not pass away, but the “flashy” would.

All three gifts will pass away. The ceasing of tongues was given the strongest word. It speaks of an abrupt, permanent cessation. All three of the gifts would cease. Tongues, however, would cease abruptly and permanently, while the other two would pass away. However, they would all pass away beyond recall. Verse ten speaks of a definite time by which and because of which all revelatory gifts would pass or “vanish” away. This is the future indicative passive of the Greek word katargeo. The verb form speaks of an obliteration beyond recall.[4] It is easy to see why the translators chose the phrase “vanish away”! It is important to note that Biblically speaking, if these gifts passed away at all, at any point in history, they will not be renewed again.

Though tongues are not listed here in particular, I believe that it is there by association as a revelatory gift with the same potential for edification as prophecy when interpreted.

We must now turn our attention to exactly when these gifts, particularly tongues, would “pass away” or cease for all time.

[1] Some believe that tongues ceased with the death of the last apostle. Some believe that they ceased with the completion of the canon of Scripture (this author’s position). Yet another view on the cessation of tongues was held by George Gardiner, a former charismatic. This view states that tongues ceased with the destruction of Jerusalem. While these views differ with respect to the exact event that brought about the end of the gift of tongues, they differ very little with respect to the basic time limitations upon the gift of tongues. The city of Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70. The last book of the Bible to be penned was most likely written around A.D. 95-96. John, the last apostle and the human author of Revelation probably died in the late A.D. 90’s or early A.D. 100’s. The same basic time period is in mind with all views.
[2] I Corinthians 12:27&28 -“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
[3] Some examples may include Peter’s use of Old Testament Scriptures in Acts 2, Peter’s words before the high priest in Acts 4, and Stephen’s defense before the synagogue in Acts 7.
[4] Douglas Judisch, An Evaluation of Claims to the Charismatic Gifts, Baker Biblical Monograph, 1978, p.83.