Truth For Life Program
Alistair Begg Devotional
C. H. Spurgeon Devotional
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
All fall short of God’s perfect standard. James’ epistle illustrates how easy it is to be enticed by the world’s opportunities. Hear a stern warning to the greedy and tender encouragement for the poor and oppressed, on Truth For Life with Alistair Begg.
From the Sermon
Ill-Gotten Gain — Part Two
James 5:1–6 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 35:57 • ID: 2610
A Firm Obligation
“Obligation” is a fairly unfashionable word in contemporary Western culture. People commonly say things like “I don’t want to make you feel obligated in any way.” But obligation is often necessary and good. I want to be obligated to my wife entirely, and I want her to be obligated to me. When my children were young, I wanted them to be obligated to me in terms of respecting my parental authority. And in fact, the obligations that extend throughout interpersonal relationships are first of all obligations to God Himself.
After being rescued from destruction at the hand of Haman, the Jews “firmly obligated themselves” to the task of remembrance. They were not half-heartedly committing to observing their new tradition, only keeping it if it was convenient for them when the time came. They were definitely going to follow through. That’s the nature of duty.
The Jews not only committed themselves but also obligated their children and “all who joined them.” They made this a comprehensive commitment throughout all locations and every generation. And 2,500 years later, the tradition of Purim still goes on. Jewish communities throughout the world continue to celebrate the feast because of the obligation these people made never to allow the generations that followed to forget God’s intervention on their behalf in Esther’s time and through Esther’s bravery.
Our culture tells us that we don’t need to obligate ourselves to anyone or anything, that we can just live for ourselves in the here and now, and that most commitments can be rethought in future if we feel they are inconvenient or unsustainable. But in the kingdom of God, obligation matters. After all, God has obligated Himself to save and keep His people. What you commit to and hold to speaks of what matters most to you. So, commit yourself to the celebration of the gospel, including partaking in those great moments that God has given us to remember what He has done for us: the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. And, so far as you are able, ensure that these things pass from one generation to the next. Even if Christ has not yet returned a thousand years from now, there will be those who know and stand for the gospel because of the obligation we have made in our generation.
How is God calling me to think differently?
How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?
What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?
The Feast of Purim Inaugurated
20And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, 22as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into ja holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
23So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 24For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, lthe enemy of all the Jews, mhad plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and nhad cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. 25But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing othat his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews pshould return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term nPur. Therefore, because of all that was written in qthis letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, 27the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and rall who joined them, that without fail they would keep sthese two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, 28that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.
29Then Queen Esther, tthe daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming uthis second letter about Purim. 30Letters were sent to all the Jews, vto the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, 31that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to wtheir fasts and their lamenting. 32The command of Esther confirmed these practices of xPurim, and it was recorded in writing.
Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg, published by The Good Book Company, thegoodbook.com. Used by Truth For Life with permission. Copyright © 2021, 2022, The Good Book Company.
Freedom
For freedom Christ has set us free.
This “freedom” is established in heaven’s charter—the Bible. Here is a choice passage, believer: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”1 Here is another: “The mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you.”2
These Scriptures set you free in believing. You are a welcome guest at this table of promises. Scripture is a never-failing treasury filled with boundless stores of grace. It is the bank of heaven; you may draw from it as much as you wish, without any hindrance.
Come in faith; you are welcome to all the covenant blessings. There is not a promise in the Word that will be withheld. In the deepest tribulations let this freedom comfort you; overwhelmed by waves of distress let it cheer you; when sorrows surround you let it be your solace. This is your Father’s love-token; you are free in it at all times.
You are also given free access to the throne of grace. It is the believer’s privilege to have access at all times to his heavenly Father. Whatever our desires, our difficulties, our wants, we are at liberty to spread them all before Him. It does not matter how much we may have sinned, we can ask and expect pardon. No matter how poor we are, we may plead His promise that He will provide everything we need. We have permission to approach His throne at all times—in midnight’s darkest hour or in noontide’s most burning heat.
Exercise your right, believer, and enjoy this privilege. You are set free to all that is treasured up in Christ—wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It does not matter what your need is, for there is abundant supply in Christ, and it is there for you. What a “freedom” is yours! Freedom from condemnation, freedom to the promises, freedom to the throne of grace, and at last freedom to enter heaven!
1) Isaiah 43:2
2) Isaiah 54:10
Devotional material is taken from Morning and Evening, written by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Used by Truth For Life with written permission.
Daily Bible Reading for September 19
Absalom's Conspiracy
1After this Absalom vgot himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside wthe way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,” 3Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” 4Then Absalom would say, x“Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.” 5And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7And at the end of four1 years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron. 8For your servant zvowed a vow awhile I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to2 the Lord.’” 9The king said to him, b“Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron!’” 11With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem cwho were invited guests, and they went in their innocence and knew nothing. 12And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for3 dAhithophel the Gilonite, eDavid's counselor, from his city fGiloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom gkept increasing.
David Flees Jerusalem
13And a messenger came to David, saying, h“The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us iflee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15And the king's servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.” 16So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left jten concubines to keep the house. 17And the king went out, and all the people after him. And they halted at the last house.
18And kall his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from lGath, passed on before the king. 19Then the king said to mIttai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. 20You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go nI know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show4 steadfast love and faithfulness to you.” 21But Ittai answered the king, o“As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, pwherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.” 22And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed qthe brook rKidron, and all the people passed on toward sthe wilderness.
24And tAbiathar came up, and behold, uZadok came also with all the Levites, vbearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city. 25Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will wbring me back and let me see both it and his xdwelling place. 26But if he says, ‘I have no ypleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, zlet him do to me what seems good to him.” 27The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a aseer? Go back5 to the city in peace, with byour two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28See, I will wait at cthe fords of sthe wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there.
30But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, dbarefoot and ewith his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, fweeping as they went. 31And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, please gturn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
32While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai hthe Archite came to meet him iwith his coat torn and idirt on his head. 33David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be ja burden to me. 34But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, k‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. 35Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king's house, ltell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36Behold, mtheir two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son, mand by them you shall send to me everything you hear.” 37So Hushai, nDavid's friend, came into the city, ojust as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.
Encouragement to Give Generously
1We want you to know, brothers,1 about the grace of God that has been hgiven among the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and itheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3For they gave jaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4begging us earnestly kfor the favor2 of taking part in lthe relief of the saints— 5and this, not as we expected, but they mgave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6Accordingly, nwe urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you othis act of grace. 7But as pyou excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you3—qsee that you excel in this act of grace also.
8rI say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that sthough he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10And in this matter tI give my judgment: uthis benefits you, who va year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable waccording to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14your abundance at the present time should supply xtheir need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15As it is written, y“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”
Commendation of Titus
16But zthanks be to God, awho put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17For bhe not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going4 to you of his own accord. 18With him we are sending5 cthe brother who is famous among dall the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19And not only that, but he has been eappointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of fgrace that is being ministered by us, gfor the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21for hwe aim at what is honorable inot only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. 22And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23As for Titus, he is jmy partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers6 of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24So give proof before the churches of your love and of kour boasting about you to these men.
Israel's Shedding of Blood
1And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2“And you, yson of man, zwill you judge, will you judge athe bloody city? bThen declare to her all her abominations. 3You shall say, Thus says the Lord God: A city that sheds blood in her midst, so that cher time may come, and that makes idols to defile herself! 4You have become guilty aby the blood that you have shed, and defiled by the idols that you have made, and you have brought cyour days near, the appointed time of1 your years has come. dTherefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all the countries. 5Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you; eyour name is defiled; fyou are full of tumult.
6“Behold, gthe princes of Israel in you, every one according to his power, have been bent on shedding blood. 7Father and mother hare treated with contempt in you; the sojourner isuffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow iare wronged in you. 8jYou have despised my holy things and kprofaned my Sabbaths. 9lThere are men in you who slander to shed blood, and people in you mwho eat on the mountains; nthey commit lewdness in your midst. 10In you omen uncover their fathers' nakedness; in you they violate women who are unclean in their menstrual impurity. 11pOne commits abomination with his neighbor's wife; qanother lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; ranother in you violates his sister, his father's daughter. 12In you sthey take bribes to shed blood; tyou take interest and profit2 and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but ume you have forgotten, declares the Lord God.
13“Behold, vI strike my hand at wthe dishonest gain that you have made, and at xthe blood that has been in your midst. 14yCan your courage endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you? zI the Lord have spoken, and I will do it. 15aI will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the countries, and bI will consume your uncleanness out of you. 16And cyou shall be profaned by your own doing din the sight of the nations, eand you shall know that I am the Lord.”
17And the word of the Lord came to me: 18f“Son of man, the house of Israel has become gdross to me; all of them are hbronze and tin and iron and lead in the furnace; they are idross of silver. 19Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 20As one gathers silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into a furnace, jto blow the fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you kin my anger and in my wrath, and I will put you in and melt you. 21I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of my wrath, and you shall be melted in the midst of it. 22As silver is melted in a furnace, so you shall be melted in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the Lord; lI have poured out my wrath upon you.”
23And the word of the Lord came to me: 24“Son of man, say to her, You are a land that is mnot cleansed nor rained upon in the day of indignation. 25oThe conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is plike a roaring lion qtearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. 26rHer priests shave done violence to my law and thave profaned my holy things. uThey have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and vthey have disregarded my Sabbaths, wso that I am profaned among them. 27xHer princes in her midst are like wolves ytearing the prey, zshedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. 28And aher prophets have smeared whitewash for them, bseeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord has not spoken. 29The people of the land chave practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and chave extorted from the sojourner without justice. 30dAnd I sought for a man among them ewho should build up the wall eand stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. 31Therefore fI have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned gtheir way upon their heads, declares the Lord God.”
Save Me, O God
To the choirmaster: according to tLilies. Of David.
1Save me, O God!
For uthe waters have come up to my neck.1
2I sink in deep vmire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood wsweeps over me.
3xI am weary with my crying out;
ymy throat is parched.
zMy eyes grow dim
with awaiting for my God.
4bMore in number than the hairs of my head
are cthose who hate me dwithout cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
ethose who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?
5O God, you know my folly;
the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.
6Let not those who hope in you fbe put to shame through me,
O Lord God of hosts;
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,
O God of Israel.
7For it is gfor your sake that I have borne reproach,
that dishonor has covered my face.
8I have become ha stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my mother's sons.
9For izeal for your house has consumed me,
and jthe reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
10When I wept and humbled2 my soul with fasting,
it became my reproach.
11When I made ksackcloth my clothing,
I became la byword to them.
12I am the talk of those who msit in the gate,
and the drunkards make nsongs about me.
13But as for me, my oprayer is to you, O Lord.
At pan acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
14Deliver me
from sinking in qthe mire;
rlet me be delivered from my enemies
and from sthe deep waters.
15Let not the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or tthe pit close uits mouth over me.
16Answer me, O Lord, for your vsteadfast love is good;
according to your abundant wmercy, xturn to me.
17yHide not your face from your servant,
zfor I am in distress; amake haste to answer me.
18Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies!
19You know my breproach,
and my shame and my dishonor;
my foes are all known to you.
20bReproaches have broken my heart,
so that I am in cdespair.
I dlooked for epity, but there was none,
and for fcomforters, but I found none.
21They gave me gpoison for food,
and for my thirst they gave me hsour wine to drink.
22iLet their own jtable before them become a snare;
kand when they are at peace, let it become a trap.3
23lLet their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see,
mand make their loins tremble continually.
24Pour out your indignation upon them,
and let your burning anger overtake them.
25nMay their camp be a desolation;
let no one dwell in their tents.
26For they opersecute him whom pyou have struck down,
and they recount the pain of qthose you have wounded.
27rAdd to them punishment upon punishment;
may they have no acquittal from you.4
28Let them be sblotted out of the book of the living;
let them not be tenrolled among the righteous.
29But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, uset me on high!
30I will vpraise the name of God with a song;
I will wmagnify him with xthanksgiving.
31This will yplease the Lord more than an ox
or a bull zwith horns and hoofs.
32When athe humble see it they will be glad;
you who seek God, alet your hearts revive.
33For the Lord hears the needy
and bdoes not despise his own people who are prisoners.
34Let cheaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.
35For dGod will save Zion
and build up the cities of Judah,
and people shall dwell there and possess it;
36ethe offspring of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall dwell in it.
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