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NASB | Psalm 95:10 "For forty years I loathed that generation, And said they are a people who err in their heart, And they do not know My ways. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Psalm 95:10 "For forty years I was grieved and disgusted with that generation, And I said, 'They are a people who err in their heart, And they do not acknowledge or regard My ways.' |
Subject: Love God, His word, any difference? |
Bible Note: Dear Doc: I am sad and disappointed that you do not see it. There are people who love the Lord, and do not love his word. Also, there are people who love God’s word and do not love him. I am so sorely tempted to tell you more stories from my travels and my practice to prove the point, but I will heed your warning about Forum guidelines and refrain. Instead, I will ask you to look again at the very scriptures you have quoted. Psalm 1 does say it is a happy situation when a man loves the word of God. It does not imply that every Christian is in that situation, only that it is good when he is. Psalm 119 does say that those who love the law have great peace. It does not imply that every Christian does that or has that. It encourages us to do it, so we can have it. John does say that whoever keeps God’s word has had the love of God perfected in him. But “whoever” means those who do, not that all believers do. Again, that is how the believers would know apostles, the true prophets, from the false prophets? The false prophet gives evidence by their fruit (Matthew 7) that they are false. The apostles were proving they were true by their obedience. You say that the world hates the word of God, and that may be so. But the Lord in Jeremiah 6 is not speaking about the world, but about his own people. How good it would be if you were correct, that every Christian loved the Lord and loved his word. But God says about his people, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider (Isaiah 1). Christ says to his church, “I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love” (Revelation 2). These things are not written to discourage anyone. But neither should we pull the wool over our eyes or put our heads into the sand and pretend that all is well. Some of God’s people do not love him, or his word, or their brothers. Some do one, or two, and not the other. That is why the commandments and the encouragements stand: “You shall love the Lord” (Matthew 22). “(You) search the scriptures (John 5). “Lovest thou me?” (John 21). “If you love me, then keep my commandments” (John 14). “Remember whence you hast fallen, and repent (Revelation 2). “Desire the sincere milk of the word” (1 Peter 2). The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine …, but watch thou … (2 Timothy 4). If we assume that all is as it should be, then we do not see the need for change. But there is a need for change, in the church. We should love the Lord, and his word, and each other. Experience aside, the Lord has always shown his people that there is a need for improvement in each of these areas. There is such a need for those who love the Lord to love his word! If we do not see that, then it is Malachi’s day again, and it is sad. |