Over the centuries, astute theologians have written commentaries on the Bible that have been a blessing to those who want to understand God’s word.
This week we present you with a small sampling from The Rogue Commentary, which is written for the 21st century Christian.
“And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.”
– Genesis 2:8-9
As you read the Bible, look for God’s heart and to know Him. From the beginning God revealed His heart of love and kindness toward man when he set Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden paradise. Many miss God and turn the Bible into a textbook when they look for doctrine instead of the God who inspired His word. The Bible begins with Eden and ends with paradise in eternity for those who love God. He loves us.
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
– Genesis 3:1-5
Our spiritual enemy has been destroying lives with lies since the beginning of history, and he continues to use the same weapon to destroy lives. Never allow a lie, or thoughts of fear, anxiety, anger, discouragement, lust, or anything else that doesn’t line up with Scripture to float through your mind unchallenged. Reject such thoughts, retrain your mind with God’s truth, and take up your authority in Christ and shut the enemy down.
“And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening.”
– Genesis 24:63
Reflection in silence and solitude was meant to be a part of man’s life to restore his heart from the chaos of the day. Modern man, in his mad rush to get to the next thing so he can chase the next thing after that, has forgotten this God-given habit of restoration. Many are running themselves ragged because they will not slow down, stop, and rest with God.
“Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle and sat on them.”
– Genesis 31:34
Throughout the Bible we often see stories of men and women who professed to know God yet kept idols of false worship in their home. This is still going on today with many Christians trying to have as much of the world and pleasure as they can while giving God a few crumbs of their time. Double mindedness and compromise create weak, lukewarm hearts.
“Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother’s wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother.”
– Genesis 38:8-9
Throughout the Bible we see references to sex, sometimes with graphic descriptions. What God created and discusses openly and often, no Christian or church should be afraid to discuss openly and boldly. The church should be the first to talk about sex since it is given the oracles of God in this arena. To hide or cover up the topics of sex, porn, masturbation, and the other issues God’s people are struggling with is cowardice.
“As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”
– Genesis 39:19-29
Some historians believe that Joseph was in prison around 10 years before he was promoted to Pharoah’s second in command. God uses suffering to mold, shape, and train us for His purposes. He will not leave us during our time of suffering.
“And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city. And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.”
– Joshua 6:16-17
Talk about amazing grace. God rescued a prostitute from judgement and even placed her in the human bloodline of Jesus. He cleanses the sexually broken of their shame and gives them new life and purpose. This should give those who are struggling with shame and carrying the weight of their sin great hope.
“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (emphasis mine).
– Joshua 1:5-9
God told Joshua to “be strong and courageous” three times in the passage above. God’s people are to be bold spiritual warriors who know their purpose is to take new ground for the kingdom. Churches should be spiritual bootcamps that prepare their people for war, not comfort zones where everyone is safely tucked away in their bubbles of isolation. Fear is an enemy we must stand against in the authority of Christ to overcome.
“Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.”
– Joshua 14:6-12
Caleb, at the age of 85, was still taking new ground for God. The man was fearless and knew his purpose wasn’t to live a life of ease and comfort. Retirement is a waste of life that strips people of purpose. We are given one shot at our time on earth and dare not waste it as the fool who thought he would build bigger barns to spend his life on pleasure, only to have God end him that day.
“And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
– Luke 12:16-21
The pictures we are given in Scripture of those in the final years of life are of men and women who poured their lives out until the end.
This is the way of the Rogue Christian.
