PRÉCIS ON OBEDIENCE VS. OBSTINANCE: BLESSINGS OR BREACHES

SCRIPTURE. “I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Be not like the horse or the mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held firm with bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you.” – PSALM 32:8-9, AMPC

KEY TERM. “INSTRUCT.” ‘Sakal’ [אַשְׂכִּֽילְךָ֨]: “A primitive root, ‘To be circumspect and hence truly intelligent; expert, prudent, prosperous. Made wise.’” NOTE: “שָׂכַל (‘sāḵal’) gathers into one root the ideas of insight, prudence, circumspection, and resulting success. Whenever Scripture employs the root, it presents wisdom not as abstract intellect but as moral and spiritual discernment that leads to God-honoring conduct and often to tangible prosperity. The verb can be either transitive (‘give insight,’ ‘make wise’) or intransitive (‘act wisely,’ ‘prosper’). ‘It always assumes that true understanding begins with the Fear of the LORD.’”

QUOTATION. “‘To have Faith in Christ means, of course, trying to do all that He says.’ There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus, if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to Heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint Gleam of Heaven is already inside you.” ― C.S. LEWIS, Mere Christianity, 1952; edited

COMMENTARY. “God teaches by His Word, and guides with the secret intimations of His Will. David gives a word of caution to sinners. The reason for this caution is, that the way of sin will certainly end in sorrow. Here is a word of comfort to saints. They may see that a life of Communion with God is far the most pleasant and comfortable. Let us rejoice, O Lord Jesus, in Thee, and in Thy salvation; so shall we rejoice indeed.” – MATTHEW HENRY, Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, 1708-1710; edited

DK’S TAKE. As the Days of Trouble approach more rapidly now, it becomes vital that we find in our journeys with Christ to do all we can to improve our ability to both ‘Hear and Heed His Instructions to us on a daily basis.’

And to put it so simply a mere child could grasp it, that means we do at least THREE THINGS:

1. STUDY! I do not here refer to the gentle little “Quality Time” we have been taught to have each day. I frankly loathe that anemic phrase. No, we must aggressively dig in, down deep into the Scriptures every single morning to find out what God is saying to us. At least one full hour to listen to Him, learn of His ways, and act accordingly. There is nothing more important to this for the days ahead, ‘To get the Mind of Christ’ on all things significant to our lives (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Timothy 2:15).
2. CHOOSE! Based upon our increasing ability to listen to God each day and get a sense of what He requires (or warns us against), we must then “Act like men!” (cf. Joshua 1:9; 1 Corinthians 2:16). This is dramatic contrast once again that we have been taught for generations now to just remain quiet little ladies and gentlemen, making sure to steer clear of anything that would disrupt our self-satisfying routines. Sometimes God will require us to prudently, faithfully, ‘Risk all’ in order to obey Him. Be willing to do so when assured that is His Command.
3. ENDURE! Jesus said it perfectly and incontrovertibly: “Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold. But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:12-13, Amplified). Therefore, Prepare yourself for tough, perilous times and circumstances, since these are indeed The Last Days that the Law and the Prophets and the Apostles and the Messiah prophesied would come at the End of History as we know it. By one’s mind, body, and spirit – ‘Make Ready!’ To serve both God and Man over the long haul, till The Race is finished (Hebrews 12:1-3).

CODA. I have said it before, beloved: If we acquire the right frame of mind and spirit, ‘Our Finest Days are yet ahead.’ For we cannot gain a Great Victory unless we endure and overcome the Great Test before us all.

We are to rejoice in this, having been appointed to the most important Hour of human History: ‘The Return of Christ to Rescue the Faithful Remnant, and to Judge the Nations once and for all!’