Fix the Anchor of our Hope

 Grant, Almighty God, that as you constantly remind us in your word, and have taught us by so many examples, that there is nothing permanent in this world, but that the things which seem the firmest tend to ruin, and instantly fall and of themselves vanish away, when by your breath you shake your strength in which men trust -- O grant that we, being really subdued and humbled, may not rely on earthly things, but raise up our hearts and our thoughts to heaven, and there fix the anchor of our hope; and may all our thoughts abide there until at length, when you have led us through our course on earth, we shall be gathered into that celestial kingdom which has been obtained for us by the blood of your only begotten Son. Amen. 

John Calvin (Quoted in Be Thou My Vision)

dogs and pigs

Matthew 7:6 (ESV)

Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. 

 I find it to be of great interest that this passage in Matthew, this passage, which is near the end of the Sermon on the Mount, is immediately preceded by the passage that says, "Judge not..." (Mt. 7:1-5). How can one "Not judge" and then be discerning enough to identify "dogs" and "pigs" in order to not present those "holy pearls" to them? 

Is there not a measure of, what one could call "judging"... Is Jesus not referring to people as the "dogs" and the "pigs"?  And then to refrain from presenting words, words that could be called "pearls" or "what is holy", to refrain from presenting these words to people we've deemed to be, well, doglike or piggish in the way they would receive these words: does this not require a level of judgment? 

Do not consider this to be a contradiction in the teachings of Jesus. No. Humble yourself before our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Submit yourself to his teaching and recognize the reality of clarifying words of wisdom. A verse like this does not deny, disrupt, or contradict the previous statement. Instead it gives clearer definition to the previous statement. Like a cleverly crafted lens in a pair of glasses, when placed upon your face, you can suddenly see the leaves on the tree, not just the tree, and you can now see what judging is... and what it is not. 

May it be so.

 Psalm 109 -- To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

[1] Be not silent, O God of my praise!

[2] For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,

speaking against me with lying tongues.

[3] They encircle me with words of hate,

and attack me without cause.

[4] In return for my love they accuse me,

but I give myself to prayer.

[5] So they reward me evil for good,

and hatred for my love.

[6] Appoint a wicked man against them;

let an accuser stand at their right hand.

[7] When they are tried, let them come forth guilty;

let their prayer be counted as sin!

[8] May their days be few;

may another take their office!

[9] May their children be fatherless and motherless

and their spouse a widow or widower!

[10] May their children wander about and beg,

seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!

[11] May the creditor seize all that they have;

may strangers plunder the fruits of their toil!

[12] Let there be none to extend kindness to them,

nor any to pity their orphaned children!

[13] May their posterity be cut off;

may their name be blotted out in the second generation!

[14] May the iniquity of their fathers be remembered before the LORD,

and let not the sin of their mother be blotted out!

[15] Let them be before the LORD continually,

that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth!

[16] For they did not remember to show kindness,

but pursued the poor and needy

and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.

[17] They loved to curse; let curses come upon them!

They did not delight in blessing; may it be far from them!

[18] They clothed themselves with cursing as their coat;

may it soak into their body like water,

like oil into their bones!

[19] May it be like a garment that they wrap around themselves,

like a belt that they put on every day!

[20] May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD,

of those who speak evil against my life!

[21] But you, O GOD my Lord,

deal on my behalf for your name’s sake;

because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!

[22] For I am poor and needy,

and my heart is stricken within me.

[23] I am gone like a shadow at evening;

I am shaken off like a locust.

[24] My knees are weak through fasting;

my body has become gaunt, with no fat.

[25] I am an object of scorn to my accusers;

when they see me, they wag their heads.

[26] Help me, O LORD my God!

Save me according to your steadfast love!

[27] Let them know that this is your hand;

you, O LORD, have done it!

[28] Let them curse, but you will bless!

They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!

[29] May my accusers be clothed with dishonor;

may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

[30] With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD;

I will praise him in the midst of the throng.

[31] For he stands at the right hand of the needy one,

to save him from those who condemn his soul to death. 

(ESV - with a few slight adjustments by me.)