Comments for David's Journal http://www.desjournal.org/blog Journaling through the Bible Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:51:05 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Matthew 8:14-22 by David Sanders http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2009/07/matthew-814-22/#comment-45 David Sanders Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:51:05 +0000 http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2009/07/03/matthew-814-22/#comment-45 I think the application is to make your call to follow Jesus the priority over anything else. That includes even things sanctioned by the religious establishment. Based on the 5th commandment the Jews placed a high priority on burying your parents. Don't neglect doing that, but don't make it an excuse for not following the Lord when he calls you to go. I think the application is to make your call to follow Jesus the priority over anything else. That includes even things sanctioned by the religious establishment. Based on the 5th commandment the Jews placed a high priority on burying your parents. Don't neglect doing that, but don't make it an excuse for not following the Lord when he calls you to go.

]]> Comment on Matthew 8:14-22 by Rob_T http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2009/07/matthew-814-22/#comment-44 Rob_T Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:50:11 +0000 http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2009/07/03/matthew-814-22/#comment-44 I totally agree ... but do we practice our faith in that way? And did Jesus really, in daily practice, lead his followers to neglect family concerns? I don't think so. It's fine to say, "following Jesus is an urgent call." But how do we put that into practice? How do practically apply the teaching? How do we move from metaphor to real life application? Am I going to neglect my Father's funeral (whenever that will be) for the sake of following Jesus? Does Jesus want me to? I think this passage is open-ended and troubling. I totally agree … but do we practice our faith in that way? And did Jesus really, in daily practice, lead his followers to neglect family concerns? I don't think so. It's fine to say, "following Jesus is an urgent call." But how do we put that into practice? How do practically apply the teaching? How do we move from metaphor to real life application? Am I going to neglect my Father's funeral (whenever that will be) for the sake of following Jesus? Does Jesus want me to? I think this passage is open-ended and troubling.

]]> Comment on Matthew 8:14-22 by David Sanders http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2009/07/matthew-814-22/#comment-43 David Sanders Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:52:06 +0000 http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2009/07/03/matthew-814-22/#comment-43 Your running down the court, there is five seconds left on the clock. You're open for the three pointer... You call timeout. The coach says what were you thinking. "I need to go bury my father, then I'll take the shot." I think your basketball playing days would be over. The call to follow Jesus is also that urgent. Your running down the court, there is five seconds left on the clock. You're open for the three pointer… You call timeout. The coach says what were you thinking. "I need to go bury my father, then I'll take the shot." I think your basketball playing days would be over. The call to follow Jesus is also that urgent.

]]> Comment on Matthew 8:14-22 by Rob_T http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2009/07/matthew-814-22/#comment-42 Rob_T Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:14:21 +0000 http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2009/07/03/matthew-814-22/#comment-42 How do you feel about verse 22? Is Jesus suggesting that we shouldn't have funerals?<br /><br />I don't think so. Perhaps he discerned in the particular man who wanted to "first go and bury [his] father" a tendency to make excuses. Perhaps this was a specific case in which there was an immediacy required that is not necessary in all cases. <br /><br />It troubles me. The man's father had died and Jesus offered no consolation. I trust Jesus. I know he loves us. But, why did he say what he said to the man who wanted to be his disciple? How do you feel about verse 22? Is Jesus suggesting that we shouldn't have funerals?

I don't think so. Perhaps he discerned in the particular man who wanted to "first go and bury [his] father" a tendency to make excuses. Perhaps this was a specific case in which there was an immediacy required that is not necessary in all cases.

It troubles me. The man's father had died and Jesus offered no consolation. I trust Jesus. I know he loves us. But, why did he say what he said to the man who wanted to be his disciple?

]]> Comment on Matthew 5:43-48 by John http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2009/05/matthew-543-48/#comment-41 John Mon, 11 May 2009 19:15:00 +0000 http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2009/05/08/matthew-543-48/#comment-41 Hi David, the web-site looks great! Have a great day. Hi David, the web-site looks great! Have a great day.

]]> Comment on Psalm 15 by PLR http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2008/02/psalm-15/#comment-40 PLR Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:32:00 +0000 http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2008/02/06/psalm-15/#comment-40 This Psalm brings two lessons home to me:<br/>1) how crucial it is to be trustworthy, and in how many arenas trustworthiness must be lived out, and<br/>2) how much I need the blood and Spirit of Jesus to qualify for the LORD's holy hill<br/><br/>PLR This Psalm brings two lessons home to me:
1) how crucial it is to be trustworthy, and in how many arenas trustworthiness must be lived out, and
2) how much I need the blood and Spirit of Jesus to qualify for the LORD’s holy hill

PLR

]]> Comment on Psalm 14 by PLR http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2008/02/psalm-14/#comment-39 PLR Thu, 22 May 2008 17:56:00 +0000 http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2008/02/06/psalm-14/#comment-39 For a while, atheism was really disappearing from Western postmodern culture. Maybe it still is, although there has been some more media attention lately to some atheistic writers. That doesn't mean necessarily that people are accepting the God of David, just that they are less willing to pretend there's nothing out there.<br/><br/>But I think this Psalm is less about atheism than it is about people living as if God can't see them. In fact, these first three verses are part of what Paul uses in Romans 3 to make his case that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".<br/><br/>Interesting that David repeats most of this Psalm in Psalm 53. A remake - along the order of Chris Tomlin's remake of "Amazing Grace"? Or did David forget he'd written it ("Wow, this song just kind of leapt into my head one day!")and nobody wanted to tell the King he was repeating himself?<br/><br/>In any case, David is confident that the LORD will one day set things straight.<br/><br/>PLR For a while, atheism was really disappearing from Western postmodern culture. Maybe it still is, although there has been some more media attention lately to some atheistic writers. That doesn’t mean necessarily that people are accepting the God of David, just that they are less willing to pretend there’s nothing out there.

But I think this Psalm is less about atheism than it is about people living as if God can’t see them. In fact, these first three verses are part of what Paul uses in Romans 3 to make his case that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.

Interesting that David repeats most of this Psalm in Psalm 53. A remake – along the order of Chris Tomlin’s remake of “Amazing Grace”? Or did David forget he’d written it (“Wow, this song just kind of leapt into my head one day!”)and nobody wanted to tell the King he was repeating himself?

In any case, David is confident that the LORD will one day set things straight.

PLR

]]> Comment on Psalm 13 by PLR http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2008/02/psalm-13/#comment-38 PLR Mon, 19 May 2008 13:20:00 +0000 http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2008/02/06/psalm-13/#comment-38 Have you ever noticed we don't sing these kinds of songs in church? I can't think of any of the current generation of praise songs and very few of the older hymns, although there are a few songs on the radio that have a cry like "How long...?!" Perhaps that's why we feel all the more alone in our "dark nights of the soul".<br/><br/>If David hadn't been king, would his laments like this ever have made the top 150? I don't know, but I'm glad they did, because the affirmations of vs 5-6 are all the stronger for the cries of vs 1-4.<br/><br/>PLR Have you ever noticed we don’t sing these kinds of songs in church? I can’t think of any of the current generation of praise songs and very few of the older hymns, although there are a few songs on the radio that have a cry like “How long…?!” Perhaps that’s why we feel all the more alone in our “dark nights of the soul”.

If David hadn’t been king, would his laments like this ever have made the top 150? I don’t know, but I’m glad they did, because the affirmations of vs 5-6 are all the stronger for the cries of vs 1-4.

PLR

]]> Comment on Psalm 12 by PLR http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2008/02/psalm-12/#comment-37 PLR Mon, 19 May 2008 13:11:00 +0000 http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2008/02/06/psalm-12/#comment-37 Hmmm, I thought I wrote a comment here the other day; must not have properly entered it. Something about the vivid contrasts between flattering, lying lips and the pure words of the LORD.<br/><br/>The double heart of the flattering liars of vs 2 also contrasts with the double edged sword of the Word of God (Heb 4:12; Rev. 2:12)<br/><br/>PLR Hmmm, I thought I wrote a comment here the other day; must not have properly entered it. Something about the vivid contrasts between flattering, lying lips and the pure words of the LORD.

The double heart of the flattering liars of vs 2 also contrasts with the double edged sword of the Word of God (Heb 4:12; Rev. 2:12)

PLR

]]> Comment on Psalm 11 by PLR http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2008/02/psalm-11/#comment-36 PLR Mon, 19 May 2008 13:04:00 +0000 http://www.desjournal.org/blog/2008/02/06/psalm-11/#comment-36 Ahh, you're getting into the mysteries of the faith now! I believe that, yes, God loves each and every one of us - even those destined for Hell. In fact, I believe that Hell itself is an expression of love - tough love to be sure - but a final response respecting the choices of those who reject God. How all this fits with predestination I'm not sure, but it must, because both free will with accountability and predestination are proclaimed in Scripture.<br/><br/>PLR Ahh, you’re getting into the mysteries of the faith now! I believe that, yes, God loves each and every one of us – even those destined for Hell. In fact, I believe that Hell itself is an expression of love – tough love to be sure – but a final response respecting the choices of those who reject God. How all this fits with predestination I’m not sure, but it must, because both free will with accountability and predestination are proclaimed in Scripture.

PLR

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