SPIRITUAL ENTHUSIASM

“Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me" (Psalm 69:9 NKJV).

Here in our verse we read about the zeal of the Psalmist in spiritual matters. Thus we want to note the: meaning of his zeal, magnitude of his zeal, and meanness for his zeal.

Meaning of his zeal – “Zeal for Your house.” The word “house” here represents a place of worship and prayer. The Psalmist was very enthused about going to the “house” of the Lord to worship, pray and to hear the Word of God. Unlike most folks today, the Psalmist was interested in spiritual matters. These things were very important to him. Instead of being so caught up in worldly matters, we too need to be enthused about spiritual matters.

Magnitude of his zeal – “Has eaten me up.” Being consumed by spiritual matters, the Psalmist seemed like a religious fanatic as far as the world was concerned. In fact, he was so consumed by spiritual matters that he later confessed that he meditated on the Scriptures all day - “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97). Not very many folks today are eaten up by zeal for the things of God. And yet being ‘eaten up’ by spiritual zeal is important for those who claim to know God.

Meanness for his zeal – “The reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.” Persecution seem to be the price to pay for spiritual enthusiasm. Instead of accolades there will be accusations. The man who gets excited about the Lord, His Word as well as prayer will quickly become the subject of mocking and much reproach. As far as the world is concerned, there are no rewards from the world for spiritual enthusiasm. Even the Lord Jesus experienced mocking. Yet, Peter reminds us that we are blessed if we are reproached for doing what is right – “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed” (1 Peter 3:14).

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“A Christian will not amount to much unless there is enthusiasm in his Christianity!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Dissipation

In Titus 1:6 we read, “If a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination!" (NKJV).

Dissipation the Greek word asōtia (ἀσωτία = as-o-tee'-ah). It is made up of two words; “a” the negative particle, and “sozo” which means incurable, excess, or riot. It describes something devoid of saving quality, or wastefulness. Literally it is the picture of having no hope of safety; it describes behavior which shows lack of concern or thought for the consequences of an action as seen with senseless or reckless deeds.

In Classical Greek, asōtia suggest willful and deliberate excess, whether in eating, drinking, making money, or other action. In the Septuagint (LXX), asōtia is associated with being frivolous, and carries an element of willful indulgence and excess which can be in direct opposition to God. In the New Testament, asōtia is used to describe the “riotous living” of the prodigal son in Luke 15:13. And in Eph. 5:18, Paul warned against being drunk with wine because it is asōtia, i.e. “dissipation or excess.” Implicit in this is the notion that such behavior is also rebellion.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah’s hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16)

New Testament Fulfillment – John 19:34, 37; 20:27

Did You Know…

Our Lord was crucified about 9 a.m. and remained on the cross until 3 p.m. And from noon to 3 p.m., there was darkness over all the land (Mark 15:25, 33).

Bible Quiz

According to the Book of Acts, the title “the great power of God” was given to what man by the astonished people of Samaria?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: What “prominent council member,” who himself was also a disciple asked for Jesus’ body? Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:43; Matt. 27:57).

Everyday Expressions Alluded to in the Bible

"All decked out”

“I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, and went after her lovers; But Me she forgot, says the LORD” (Hosea 2:13 NKJV).

“All decked out” - The expression “all decked out” carries the idea of being dressed up fancily. In context, it speaks of the Israelites “all decked out” wearing sacred jewelry going to the Baal shrines. Baal was the name for a male idol. And so the Lord is warning the people that He will punish them for their idolatry and false worship. In a similar manner, it is easy for us to attend church and go through the motions of worshiping God when our hearts are really far from Him (Matt. 15:7-9). We are therefore reminded that God is holy and will not permit His people to enjoy sin for long or to live on substitutes.

Did You Know – Christian History

Alexander Duff was born April 26, 1806 in Perthshire. Scotland. He was a Christian missionary to India, where he was instrumental in the development of higher education (established the University of Calcutta). Duff was the first overseas missionary of the Church of Scotland to India.

After receiving his initial schooling, Duff studied arts and theology at the University of St. Andrews. Through reading a poem about ‘Judgment Day,’ Duff came to faith in Christ. He then accepted an offer from the Church of Scotland to become their first missionary to India. With a new bride, Duff sailed from London for Calcutta on October 14, 1829; he was twenty-three years old.

Their ship wrecked near Cape Town, South Africa. The two lost everything they owned, except the clothes on their back, their Bible and a psalm book. This included eight hundred books which Duff had planned to use in educational work. Undaunted, the two boarded another ship for India. Eight months later and another shipwreck, they finally arrived at their destination, praising God all the more fervently for having been thwarted.

Duff was convinced that Calcutta, with its half a million people should be the center of his work. Although he had no building, he opened school with five pupils under a Banyan tree. By the end of the week, he had three hundred applicants. Within two years, he had over a thousand students. He determined to teach every useful branch of knowledge and to saturate his instruction with Scripture. ‘Our maxim has been, is now and ever will be this: wherever, whenever and by whomsoever Christianity is sacrificed on the altar of worldly expediency, there and then must the supreme good of mankind lie bleeding at its base.’ To put all of his pupils on an equal footing (they represented several different languages), Duff made English the medium of instruction. His mighty vision compelled him to produce a series of text books.

When the Church of Scotland split, Duff sided with the more evangelical Free Church. The established church confiscated the buildings he had labored so long to erect, and he had to begin afresh. Despite such setbacks, Duff persisted. He took only three furloughs in thirty-five years, and only because of ill health. In his last term as a missionary, he surprised his Hindu hosts by demonstrating that girls also were teachable.

Although his schools were widely imitated, conversions were hard to obtain. The Indians who did turn to Christ were mostly of the lowest castes and were held in contempt by other Indians. Duff died at his home in South Edinburgh, February 12, 1878.

A Little Humor

Three blind mice went to heaven, and St Peter asked how they liked it. “Oh, it’s good, but it’s so large, it takes too long to get anywhere,” they replied. He then gave them each a pair of roller skates and they rolled around heaven. Later, a cat went to heaven. St Peter asked, “How do you like it up here?” “Oh, it’s great – especially the meals on wheels,” replied the cat.

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Sin brings fear - confession brings freedom!”