After nearly two years of governments changing narratives, being asked to trust ’the science’ and called a ‘wacko’ by the NSW Health Minister, I thought it time to post a series of questions concerning the state of the world today.
There are few answers in the following, but there are some assumptions, suppositions and a few conclusions.
Firstly, some questions:
I thought ‘science’ was a process of questioning, creating hypotheses, testing, evaluating, peer review. Why then have many scientists who don’t agree with the narrative been silenced by their peers and funding providers?
Why are doctors in Australia being threatened with sanction and/or deregistration if they even discuss the possibility of adverse reactions to vaccines and alternative treatments with their patients?
Why did the TGA approve the use of the mRNA ‘vaccines’ when other therapeutic treatments were available? The TGA had to effectively ban alternative therapies because mRNA vaccines could only be approved for emergency use if no alternative, effective treatments were available!
Why has Australia resisted undergoing trials of alternative treatments (Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine amongst others) when reports from overseas were indicating dramatic improvements in patient outcomes?
Why has the mainstream media (MSM) been strangely silent when it comes to questioning the narrative? Have they been threatened with reduced advertising revenue from big pharma and their associates?
Why was there almost nothing in the MSM about truck blockades on our borders in September/October? Why was there no coverage of the assault of a third year nursing student in western Sydney by police when searching for exemption papers? Why was there no coverage of the attempted self-immolation of a woman in Melbourne who felt overwhelmed by the vaccine mandates?
Why does the NSW state government continually change the metrics that are reported about cases, hospitalisations, vaccination rates, etc. Why has vaccination status all but disappeared from hospitalisation reporting?
Why does our Prime Minister say he is against mandates yet has done everything possible to support the coercion and disenfranchisement of people who don’t wish to be vaccinated? Federal laws always take precedence over state laws so the federal government could easily seek to uphold laws and agreements (vaccination handbook, Nuremberg declaration) that speak against mandated or coerced vaccination.
Why have so many Australians accepted vaccinations with no knowledge of the long-term effects of these vaccines? How can they be giving informed consent with unknowns such as the exact makeup of the vaccines? Why were the pharma companies indemnified from all adverse effects?
Why was Pfizer granted 75 years to release their vaccine test data results? Surely the FDA should seek to have this information released ASAP?
Why has twitter, facebook, youtube, google, instagram and linked in banned people and/or articles that seek to raise issues of concern about mandates, masks, lockdowns, vaccine safety, etc.
Why does ’the science’ vacillate between the efficacy of masks, social distancing, PCR testing, lockdowns, various treatments? And if the science is so settled (and it isn’t), why are there such divergent approaches between countries, states, council areas based on the same science advice?
Why have many churches been so quick (and indeed eager) to embrace segregation and closures? A close reading of the early verses in Romans 13 would suggest governments should only be followed when they are governing for good, not for a contrived and beat-up medical emergency.
Why lock down the healthy and strong? Why not seek to care for the elderly and vulnerable and let the rest of us get on with our lives?
Why impose vaccine mandates (essentially coerced) on certain industries or classes of workers when the vaccines are not particularly effective, diminish with effectiveness over time and don’t stop people catching or transmitting the virus?
Why would we continue to inject people with a ‘vaccine’ with significant adverse events and without an open discussion of the risks of the disease versus adverse reaction in each age group?
Why did the WHO and Merriam-Webster dictionary change the definition of ‘vaccination’ and ‘vaccine’ in the past twelve months?
Every few years I give some thought (and prayer) to what sort of material I should use for devotional reading. I would class much of Andrew Murray’s and AW Tozer’s works as ‘devotional’, but this is not what I have in mind.
Some call is a quiet time, some a devotional, others call it spending time with the Lord. What I mean is some form or structure or intent of daily guided reading of Scripture with or without some additional commentary.
In this post I want to develop some thoughts regarding 2 Peter 1:8-11. The ESV1 text reads:
[8] For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. [10] Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. [11] For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I’m intending to cover a little more territory in this post than the previous couple in 2 Peter 1. The verses I want to comment on are 2 Peter 1:5-11. the ESV1 text reads:
[5] For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, [6] and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, [7] and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. [8] For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. [10] Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. [11] For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Continuing my look at 2 Peter. The verses under consideration in this post are the same that were the subject of my alliteration the other day, viz. 1 Peter 1:3-4 from the ESV1
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
As I wrote the other day in my alliterative post on 2 Peter 1:3-4 I’ve been spending time in 2 Peter. I’ll post some thoughts on my reading in 2 Peter as I progress.
The first two verses of 2 Peter 1 in the ESV1 read, ‘[1] Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: [2] May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.’
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve spent some time reading in and meditating on Peter’s second epistle. 2 Peter 1:3-4 from the ESV1 reads:
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
The central theme is the word of God. Some of the sub-themes are how obedience to and knowledge of the word of God leads to deliverance and salvation. The Psalmist recognises that much of the word contains God’s promises which flow from God’s goodness and faithfulness. There is a deep understanding and reliance by the Psalmist on the Lord’s goodness and sovereignty.
Some of the verses are in the form of prayers, others are statement or declarations of intent. The modern-day believer can benefit from meditating on and echoing these prayers and declarations. They refer to many contemporary situations–difficulties, persecution, praise, temple (church) attendance and participation.
The last stanza! After spending nearly 6 months of daily considering a verse from Psalm 119, we’re at the end. This last stanza covers verses 169 to 176 and all begin in the Hebrew with the letter tav. It can also be transliterated as tau or taw.
These verses, from the ESV®1, interspersed with my comments are:
169. Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word!
Are these two clauses related? Not necessarily for they can be viewed as independent prayers or requests, but they can be viewed together.
In the first clause the Psalmist is pleading for a hearing–that the Lord will hear and respond to his prayer.
And the apparent prayer being made is that the Psalmist be given understanding according to God’s word. Anyone can read the Bible, but it is equally clear that many can read it and have no read idea or understanding of what it is saying. I’ve done it myself too often–read a passage of Scripture and had no idea what it’s about. It is only the Holy Spirit that can give us the revelation of understanding.
170. Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.
One of a few verses in the Psalm which is directly related to an adjacent verse. In this case the verse echoes or parallels the prior one.
In verse 169 the Psalmist asked that his cry come before the Lord, and here it is his plea that he is seeking to have heard. In the Hebrew a cry is a call or shout whereas a plea is an entreaty or supplication.
Here the Psalmist is seeking deliverance in accordance with the Lord’s word. Deliverance from what? We don’t know, but have seen repeatedly in both the Psalm and the life of David that people pursued him to destroy his life, his kingdom, his legacy and his reputation.
171. My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.
The Psalmist identifies praise as one of the results of knowing, understanding and obeying the Lord’s word.
Praise hasn’t been widely mentioned in the Psalm, though we did see a reference to it in the reflections on the previous stanza at verse 164 (and it appears again in verses 172 and 175).
The word rendered as ‘praise’ is the Hebrew thillah (H8416) and specifically refers to a hymn of praise–played and/or sung rather than spoken words. Interestingly many of the Psalms were written to be sung.
Praise, whether spoken, thought or sung is an obvious consequence of knowing God–we respond with thanksgiving when we realise how the Lord loves us, what He has done to redeem us, and how He continues to sustain us.
172. My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.
A further declaration of praise. This is in line with our previous verse’s use of the Hebrew thillah indicating musical praise rather than spoken. Here the Psalmist declares he will sing of God’s word.
The word translated as ‘sing’ is the Hebrew anah (H6030) and refers to the idea of heeding or responding generally with speech and more specifically with singing.
And the basis for this response of (sung) praise is the rightness of the Lord’s commandments. God’s word spoken to us calls for a response and the most appropriate one is of thanks and praise.
173. Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
A verse seeking the Lord’s help in light of the fact that the Psalmist has chosen to follow the Lord’s precepts.
It sounds like presumption or bargaining–help me because I follow You–but it is the Lord’s desire that we obey His words and He has promised care and grace to those who put their faith in Him. Isaiah 26:3-4 reads, ‘You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.’
Matthew Henry makes an interesting observation on the second clause. He writes, ‘I took [Your precepts] for my rule, not because I knew no other, but because, upon trial, I knew no better.’
174. I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.
The Psalmist expresses a desire for the Lord’s salvation. What is the nature of this salvation? Is it deliverance from persecution, is it the final redemption when he leaves this earth? Yes.
The Hebrew rendered as ‘salvation’ is yshuah (H3444) and refers to something saved or delivered so David may be referring to deliverance from persecution or to the salvation of his soul or to both.
In any case he declares that the law is his delight. As Matthew Henry observes, ‘Those that are cheerful in their obedience may in faith beg help of God to carry them on in their obedience; and those that expect God’s salvation must take delight in his law and their hopes must increase their delight.’
175. Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me.
Both clauses use the verb ’let’ as the basis of these two requests of the Lord. The realisation or recognition that we can (and should) make these types of requests of the Lord demonstrates an understanding of the sovereignty of the Lord.
We rely daily, hourly on the Lord for our lives–not only for our own bodily functions but also for suitable conditions in which to live and praise.
But we also need to Lord’s help (through the instruction, guidance and revelation of the Holy Spirit) of God’s word or ‘rules’.
176. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
The last verse of Psalm 119!
The Psalmist recognises he has gone astray. He also recognises that he needs help to find his way back to the flock and the shepherd so he asks the Lord to seek him out.
The last word is Matthew Henry’s, ‘Observe here, (1) It is the character of good people that they do not forget God’s commandments, being well pleased with their convictions and well settled in their resolutions. (2) Even those who, through grace, are mindful of their duty, cannot but own that they have in many instances wandered from it. (3) Those that have wandered from their duty, if they continue mindful of it, may with a humble confidence commit themselves to the care of God’s grace.’
In the next few days I intend to post some concluding thoughts and something of a summary of Psalm 119.