Post by arete on Jul 8, 2014 0:26:42 GMT
Introduction:
An old sailor repeatedly got lost at sea, so his friends gave him a compass and urged him to use it. The next time he went out in his boat, he followed their advice and took the compass with him. But as usual he became hopelessly confused & was unable to find land. Finally he was rescued by his friends. Disgusted and impatient with him, they asked, “Why didn’t you use that compass we gave you? You could have saved us a lot of trouble!” The sailor responded, “I didn’t dare to! I wanted to go north, but as hard as I tried to make the needle aim in that direction, it just kept on pointing southeast.” That old sailor was so certain he knew which was north that he stubbornly tried to force his own personal persuasion on his compass. Unable to do so, he tossed it aside as worthless and failed to benefit from the guidance it offered. The author of Hebrews warns us this morning of hardening our hearts to God’s will and going astray. We are warned that even Christians can wander, but with the help of God’s voice and good friends, we can remain on the true path
Context:
The author of Hebrews has been declaring the majesty of Christ’s salvation. Christ paid the debt of our sin. Christ stooped down to where we are. Christ satisfied God’s wrath on our sin. Christ is our perfect mediator and is in fact our High Priest. The author added to his teaching of Christ’s supremacy to all things, by showing that Christ is greater than Moses. Christ’s greatness is that of the creator of the house of God and the true son of God. Moses is a servant in God’s house like us. Now in Christ we are adopted as sons, saved by grace through faith in Christ, just like Moses. The author rounded out his teaching last week by focusing on the confidence and hope that God’s children, God’s household have in Christ. The author moves next to a solemn warning and continues to build his teaching on the firm foundation of God’s word…
Body – Hebrews 3:7-15 – ESV
A Rest for the People of God
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
11 As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Ridiculous Rebellion vv. 7-9
Therefore… the author moves to warn his audience based on what he has written so far. Since there is such a great Savior and mediator tread appropriately.
The author knows who wrote the Scriptures he quotes (v. 7a). The quote is from Psalm 95 which has no reference to its earthly author. Yet, all Scripture is inspired by God and superintended by the Holy Spirit. Given the comparison in the last section between Christ and Moses, the author references a Psalm referencing the sin of Israel and Moses in the wilderness.
There is an urgency required in response to God’s voice (v. 7b). There is an urgent need to respond to what God has said. In fact, everyone responds. But not everyone responds correctly. The “If” puts the burden on the person to hear God and to obey. Hearing and obeying are the same idea in both the language of the Psalms and the language of Hebrews.
There is also a warning against hardening our hearts to God’s voice (v. 8a). When we are confronted with God’s person & God’s word, our reaction says a lot about the condition of our heart – which is a term for intellect, emotion & will in this language. When we harbor sin, God’s presence can have a hardening effect as we want to wallow in evil. Or it can have a warming effect & melt our rebellion.
The quoted Psalm references the ridiculous rebellion of Israel in the Exodus (vv. 8b-9). The nation of Israel had seen the plagues of Egypt. They were led by a pillar of cloud and pillar of fire. God miraculously provided both manna and quail for their food. Their clothing never wore out. Yet, despite the miracle of God’s provision, they doubted him and they sinned against him and they paid the consequence of it.
Illustration:
An old proverb states that, “The same sun softens the wax as hardens the clay.”
Application:
There are only hard hearts and soft hearts concerning God. The author is speaking to Jewish persons who may have among them lost souls. We will see that in verse 12. Those who have not been saved by Christ have hard hearts, but as he calls them to himself, he softens them like wax. Believers can have issues with the hardening as well. Use your attitude toward God and his word to weigh your heart. If you are not eager for his word and his presence, then repent of whatever sinful thing you are putting in his rightful place in your heart and life.
Wrath of God vv. 10-11
Therefore… the rebel and hardened hearts of Israel required God to act in holiness and righteousness.
Does the idea of a provoked God stir fear in your heart (v. 10a)? It should. The term provoked bears the idea of being taunted and driven into rage. As Israel belittled what God had done and questioned his character and person by doubting that he could in fact deliver them safely into possession of the Promised Land – they begged for his wrath to fall.
God knows that human beings are faithless (v. 10b). The idea here is that we wander aimlessly from sin to sin from fleshly delight to fleshly delight. We demand to plot our own way, but we lack the ability or understanding to plot our path in righteousness. This would be like me demanding Adam fly my flight plan that I make up on the spot while we are in the air.
God knows that we are willfully ignorant of his ways (v. 10c). He has made himself known in his creation. He has made himself known in his word. He made himself known to Israel in a pillar of fire and the parting of the Red Sea. Yet, we can insist on remaining ignorant of His word and will. We must make every effort possible to know his will and to obey it.
God’s wrath on sin requires his judgment (v. 11). In the case of Israel, all but two of that rebellious generation died in the wilderness. It was their children and grandchildren that entered God’s rest. His rest is a figure of speech for his presence and provision. For mankind, to remain in rebellion until death means hell and not God’s rest in heaven.
Illustration:
"Wherever the fear of God rules in the heart, it will appear both in works of [love] and [holiness], and neither will excuse us from the other." Matthew Henry
Application:
Holy fear of God is the cure for a hard heart. Do not provoke God. If you are his child, he will not pour out his wrath. Jesus has received our due wrath when he saved us. But the discipline of God can be a harsh thing. Instead, live in holy fear and confess and repent of sin often. Be actively seeking a soft heart toward God. Pray to him for help. He will soften you.
Repetition on Purpose vv. 12-15
The author has great compassion for those who rebel against God (v. 12). Here, he calls his audience, “brothers”, not “holy brothers.” Some among them may not be saved in Christ. He warns them to pay attention to themselves and others among them to deal with evil and unbelief in their midst. The warning is that unbelievers among them should turn to Christ before it is too late. Again…urgency
But… the people of God have the answer for those who rebel (v. 13). The believers are to encourage, to urge, to exhort one another to remain unhardened by sin. There is a great need for accountability among the believers so that we can help one another remain free from the allure of sin that promises life and pleasure, but delivers only pain and death.
The author also offers assurance to those who are in Christ (v. 14). The “if” is not meant to mean there is only a possibility of salvation. It is a formula in this language that as sure as Christ is God’s son and has bought you with his blood – when you are his, you will have confidence in your salvation to the very end. Hardness toward God shakes that confidence, but if we are his he will discipline us until we soften towards him.
The author repeats himself here…which means he wants to emphasize something (v. 15). The emphasis is that a genuine believer can develop a hard heart. We stand warned that it can happen and we have been armed with what to do. We keep sin from taking hold by exhorting ourselves and one another so that the light of God softens our hearts.
Illustration:
"If we preach the whole counsel of God, we shall be accused of extremism, not only by the world but also by a professing church that cannot endure sound doctrine." Vance Havner
Application:
Our exhortations are God’s voice to a rebellious people and generation. But we dare not use that truth as an excuse to club one another with the truth. In Ephesians we are commanded to speak the truth in love. When we repeat God’s words to one another and to the world, we do it as sinners speaking to sinners. The exhortation we declare today we will need spoken to us another time. Nevertheless, we dare not keep God’s word and will to ourselves when the lost are perishing and the saved struggle with sin’s allure.
So What? In keeping with the urgency of “Today”…
Is your heart hard or soft (Psalm 95:7)? Let the attitude of your heart be a guide to repentance of sin. For high school graduation I got a Bible with a handwritten inscription, “This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.” Turn to God and pray he soften your heart and keep it soft. He will honor such a prayer.
Is there fear of God before your eyes (Romans 3:18)? The Israelites did not fear to provoke God. As his children, the saved do not need to fear being cast out, but we have reason to fear the harsh and necessary discipline from a loving Father. As our Father, he will discipline us if we remain in sin. He will also forgive us and restore us when we repent.
Do you exhort and encourage others (Hebrews 10:24)? I must say that I have seen our congregation exhorting and encouraging one another. Good. Keep it up. Do it more. Do not neglect the family bond and love and responsibility we have toward one another.
Do you accept exhortation and encouragement (Hebrews 10:24)? Again, I have seen this too. However, it is easier to exhort than be exhorted. But when I have been exhorted in love from a humble brother who knows his own imperfections, I have found it easier to accept. When it is your turn to be exhorted, I pray it is with the care and love that should be seen in and among God’s children.
We can help one another from going astray. Our compass is God’s voice found in God’s word. If we indeed belong to him in Christ we will remain on the narrow road all the way to God’s rest. God himself is our great help on this road. He has given us the charge to help one another until we all get home safe and sound…
Benediction
"Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21 NRSV)
An old sailor repeatedly got lost at sea, so his friends gave him a compass and urged him to use it. The next time he went out in his boat, he followed their advice and took the compass with him. But as usual he became hopelessly confused & was unable to find land. Finally he was rescued by his friends. Disgusted and impatient with him, they asked, “Why didn’t you use that compass we gave you? You could have saved us a lot of trouble!” The sailor responded, “I didn’t dare to! I wanted to go north, but as hard as I tried to make the needle aim in that direction, it just kept on pointing southeast.” That old sailor was so certain he knew which was north that he stubbornly tried to force his own personal persuasion on his compass. Unable to do so, he tossed it aside as worthless and failed to benefit from the guidance it offered. The author of Hebrews warns us this morning of hardening our hearts to God’s will and going astray. We are warned that even Christians can wander, but with the help of God’s voice and good friends, we can remain on the true path
Context:
The author of Hebrews has been declaring the majesty of Christ’s salvation. Christ paid the debt of our sin. Christ stooped down to where we are. Christ satisfied God’s wrath on our sin. Christ is our perfect mediator and is in fact our High Priest. The author added to his teaching of Christ’s supremacy to all things, by showing that Christ is greater than Moses. Christ’s greatness is that of the creator of the house of God and the true son of God. Moses is a servant in God’s house like us. Now in Christ we are adopted as sons, saved by grace through faith in Christ, just like Moses. The author rounded out his teaching last week by focusing on the confidence and hope that God’s children, God’s household have in Christ. The author moves next to a solemn warning and continues to build his teaching on the firm foundation of God’s word…
Body – Hebrews 3:7-15 – ESV
A Rest for the People of God
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
11 As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Ridiculous Rebellion vv. 7-9
Therefore… the author moves to warn his audience based on what he has written so far. Since there is such a great Savior and mediator tread appropriately.
The author knows who wrote the Scriptures he quotes (v. 7a). The quote is from Psalm 95 which has no reference to its earthly author. Yet, all Scripture is inspired by God and superintended by the Holy Spirit. Given the comparison in the last section between Christ and Moses, the author references a Psalm referencing the sin of Israel and Moses in the wilderness.
There is an urgency required in response to God’s voice (v. 7b). There is an urgent need to respond to what God has said. In fact, everyone responds. But not everyone responds correctly. The “If” puts the burden on the person to hear God and to obey. Hearing and obeying are the same idea in both the language of the Psalms and the language of Hebrews.
There is also a warning against hardening our hearts to God’s voice (v. 8a). When we are confronted with God’s person & God’s word, our reaction says a lot about the condition of our heart – which is a term for intellect, emotion & will in this language. When we harbor sin, God’s presence can have a hardening effect as we want to wallow in evil. Or it can have a warming effect & melt our rebellion.
The quoted Psalm references the ridiculous rebellion of Israel in the Exodus (vv. 8b-9). The nation of Israel had seen the plagues of Egypt. They were led by a pillar of cloud and pillar of fire. God miraculously provided both manna and quail for their food. Their clothing never wore out. Yet, despite the miracle of God’s provision, they doubted him and they sinned against him and they paid the consequence of it.
Illustration:
An old proverb states that, “The same sun softens the wax as hardens the clay.”
Application:
There are only hard hearts and soft hearts concerning God. The author is speaking to Jewish persons who may have among them lost souls. We will see that in verse 12. Those who have not been saved by Christ have hard hearts, but as he calls them to himself, he softens them like wax. Believers can have issues with the hardening as well. Use your attitude toward God and his word to weigh your heart. If you are not eager for his word and his presence, then repent of whatever sinful thing you are putting in his rightful place in your heart and life.
Wrath of God vv. 10-11
Therefore… the rebel and hardened hearts of Israel required God to act in holiness and righteousness.
Does the idea of a provoked God stir fear in your heart (v. 10a)? It should. The term provoked bears the idea of being taunted and driven into rage. As Israel belittled what God had done and questioned his character and person by doubting that he could in fact deliver them safely into possession of the Promised Land – they begged for his wrath to fall.
God knows that human beings are faithless (v. 10b). The idea here is that we wander aimlessly from sin to sin from fleshly delight to fleshly delight. We demand to plot our own way, but we lack the ability or understanding to plot our path in righteousness. This would be like me demanding Adam fly my flight plan that I make up on the spot while we are in the air.
God knows that we are willfully ignorant of his ways (v. 10c). He has made himself known in his creation. He has made himself known in his word. He made himself known to Israel in a pillar of fire and the parting of the Red Sea. Yet, we can insist on remaining ignorant of His word and will. We must make every effort possible to know his will and to obey it.
God’s wrath on sin requires his judgment (v. 11). In the case of Israel, all but two of that rebellious generation died in the wilderness. It was their children and grandchildren that entered God’s rest. His rest is a figure of speech for his presence and provision. For mankind, to remain in rebellion until death means hell and not God’s rest in heaven.
Illustration:
"Wherever the fear of God rules in the heart, it will appear both in works of [love] and [holiness], and neither will excuse us from the other." Matthew Henry
Application:
Holy fear of God is the cure for a hard heart. Do not provoke God. If you are his child, he will not pour out his wrath. Jesus has received our due wrath when he saved us. But the discipline of God can be a harsh thing. Instead, live in holy fear and confess and repent of sin often. Be actively seeking a soft heart toward God. Pray to him for help. He will soften you.
Repetition on Purpose vv. 12-15
The author has great compassion for those who rebel against God (v. 12). Here, he calls his audience, “brothers”, not “holy brothers.” Some among them may not be saved in Christ. He warns them to pay attention to themselves and others among them to deal with evil and unbelief in their midst. The warning is that unbelievers among them should turn to Christ before it is too late. Again…urgency
But… the people of God have the answer for those who rebel (v. 13). The believers are to encourage, to urge, to exhort one another to remain unhardened by sin. There is a great need for accountability among the believers so that we can help one another remain free from the allure of sin that promises life and pleasure, but delivers only pain and death.
The author also offers assurance to those who are in Christ (v. 14). The “if” is not meant to mean there is only a possibility of salvation. It is a formula in this language that as sure as Christ is God’s son and has bought you with his blood – when you are his, you will have confidence in your salvation to the very end. Hardness toward God shakes that confidence, but if we are his he will discipline us until we soften towards him.
The author repeats himself here…which means he wants to emphasize something (v. 15). The emphasis is that a genuine believer can develop a hard heart. We stand warned that it can happen and we have been armed with what to do. We keep sin from taking hold by exhorting ourselves and one another so that the light of God softens our hearts.
Illustration:
"If we preach the whole counsel of God, we shall be accused of extremism, not only by the world but also by a professing church that cannot endure sound doctrine." Vance Havner
Application:
Our exhortations are God’s voice to a rebellious people and generation. But we dare not use that truth as an excuse to club one another with the truth. In Ephesians we are commanded to speak the truth in love. When we repeat God’s words to one another and to the world, we do it as sinners speaking to sinners. The exhortation we declare today we will need spoken to us another time. Nevertheless, we dare not keep God’s word and will to ourselves when the lost are perishing and the saved struggle with sin’s allure.
So What? In keeping with the urgency of “Today”…
Is your heart hard or soft (Psalm 95:7)? Let the attitude of your heart be a guide to repentance of sin. For high school graduation I got a Bible with a handwritten inscription, “This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.” Turn to God and pray he soften your heart and keep it soft. He will honor such a prayer.
Is there fear of God before your eyes (Romans 3:18)? The Israelites did not fear to provoke God. As his children, the saved do not need to fear being cast out, but we have reason to fear the harsh and necessary discipline from a loving Father. As our Father, he will discipline us if we remain in sin. He will also forgive us and restore us when we repent.
Do you exhort and encourage others (Hebrews 10:24)? I must say that I have seen our congregation exhorting and encouraging one another. Good. Keep it up. Do it more. Do not neglect the family bond and love and responsibility we have toward one another.
Do you accept exhortation and encouragement (Hebrews 10:24)? Again, I have seen this too. However, it is easier to exhort than be exhorted. But when I have been exhorted in love from a humble brother who knows his own imperfections, I have found it easier to accept. When it is your turn to be exhorted, I pray it is with the care and love that should be seen in and among God’s children.
We can help one another from going astray. Our compass is God’s voice found in God’s word. If we indeed belong to him in Christ we will remain on the narrow road all the way to God’s rest. God himself is our great help on this road. He has given us the charge to help one another until we all get home safe and sound…
Benediction
"Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21 NRSV)
