GOD’S WORD FOR JULY 16 ~ ~ Acts 17:24-25 ~ ~ “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.”

Continuing excerpts from John Pipers book, “The Pleasures of God”

Earlier we emphasized the good news that God is a mountain spring and not a watering trough. He is self-replenishing, and does not need a bucket brigade to meet his needs. We don’t serve him, therefore, as though he needed anything (Acts 17:25—above)

Rather we honor his overflowing fullness when we thrive on the water of Life. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. This means that whenever I am most thirsty and desperate for help, I can encourage my soul not only with the truth that there is a merciful impulse in the heart of God, but also with the truth that the source and power of that impulse is the zeal of God to act for the glory of his own name.

I can plead with the psalmists, “FOR YOUR NAME’S SAKE, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great” Psalm 25:11

I can cry out in distress, “Help us, O God of our salvation FOR THE GLORY OF YOUR NAME, and deliver us” Psalm 79:9

I can ask for light in the night, “FOR YOUR NAME’S SAKE, lead me and guide me.” Psalm 31:3

When we HOPE IN GOD we glorify God as the fountain of deep and lasting joy.

When we PRAY, we give expression to that God-glorifying hope.

In this chapter we go one step further and say that OBEDIENCE to God makes this God-glorifying hope visible and proves that it is real in our lives. Obedience is the irrepressible public relations project of those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. (Matthew 5:16)

In 1Samuel, Saul disobeyed God by saving and eating the sheep of the enemy instead of killing every one as God commanded.

I see at least five reasons in this story why God hates disobedience and takes pleasure in obedience. I will mention them in order from what seems to me the least to most serious.

FIRST, GOD HAS PLEASURE IN OBEDIENCE BECAUSE DISOBEDIENCE SHOWS A MISPLACEMENT OF FEAR. In 1 Samuel 15:24, “Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, BECAUSE I FEARED THE PEOPLE, and obeyed their voice.’”

Why did Saul obey the people instead of God? Because he feared the people instead of God. He feared the human consequences of obedience more than he feared the divine consequences of sin. He feared the displeasure of the people more than the displeasure of God. And that is a great insult to God. Samuel had said twice to Saul and to the people, “Fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart.” (1Samuel 12:14 and 24)

But now the leader himself has feared man and turned away from following God. (1samuel 15:11)

It is a great biblical truth that to fear a thing is to do homage to it. In Isaiah 8:12-13 the prophet warns against the very mistake Saul made:

“Do not call conspiracy all that this people call conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, HIM YOU SHALL REGARD AS HOLY;

Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.”

More about this subject tomorrow.

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