[Biblemat] S) "FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM"

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

"FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM"

     "But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor
have entered into the heart of man the things which God has
prepared for those who love Him'" (1 Cor. 2:9).  Paul paraphr-
ases Isa. 64:4,5 to show the glorious nature of the gospel.  In
it are revealed things that had not been seen, heard, or imag-
ined.

     Paul does not quote directly form the Isaiah passage but
summarizes the meaning of the text to illustrate the point he
is addressing in Corinthians.  We are generally critical of mod-
ern paraphrases when they are put forward as "translations"
rather than human summaries of the Biblical text.  Works like
Good News For Modern Man or the Living Bible are not trans-
lations, but paraphrases that express an author's understand-
ing of a passage.  This is not to say that it is never wrong to
paraphrase.  No preacher of the gospel can teach without, at
some point, summarizing a text in his own words.  What is
wrong is a paraphrase can sometimes misss (or distort) the
truth of a text.  In cases when inspired writers paraphrase a
text, we can be sure that the summary they put forth is sound
accurate and reliable because it is given by the direction of
the Spirit of God (2 Pet. 1:20,21).

     In this example, the Apostle's paraphrase reveals some
important things about our service to God.  The first part of
both the Isaiah and Corinthians passage are very similar.  Both speak of what 
the "ear" and the "eye" have not experien-
ced.  Where the text diverges is in the phrase "which God has
prepared..."  The text in Isaiah does not speak of God's prepa-
rations, but rather man's need (in the last part of the passa-
ge) to be saved.  When Isaiah declared, "we need to be saved" -- Paul sees in 
this declaration God's preparation for
our salvation.

     What is also different in the two passages is the phrase
"for those who love Him."  The Holy Spirit does not lead Isaiah to use the 
term "love."  Is this an addition on Paul's
part?  Quite the contrary, for Paul sees what Isaiah sees -- that those who 
love God will demonstrate that love in four
ways:

     1. "The One Who Waits For Him."  There are different ways that we "wait" 
for God.  As Christians we understand
that Jesus will return in judgment and so we "wait" (we make
preparation).  Additionally, we are called to wait upon Him as
we endure temptation and suffering.  The ungodly, in their im-
patience, turn from God.  The Christian, however, recognizes
man's inability to direct his own way and thus waits in obed-
ience while trusting that God's ways are best.

     2. "Him Who Rejoices."  A song from the '70s portrayed a
confused lover crying out to the one he loved, "That's a 
strange way to tell me you love me, when your sorrow is all I
can see."  As a Christian we can carry-on in the same way by
grumbling about the things God asks of us.  For example, we
see opportunities to worship as interruptions in our schedule
or we view meditation upon His Word like an unpleasant homework assignment.

     Yes, we want to go to heaven, but we spend much of our
time envying the sins of others.  Then we proclaim to be Lord
that we "love Him."  Paul shows us that love for the Lord 
means that we live a life of rejoicing.

     3. "And Does Righteousness."  What a fallacy the religious
world has perpetrated in convincing so many that it is poss-
ible to "love God" and do wrong!  In the time of Malachi, the
people (like today) had become spiritually lazy.  The animal
sacrifices offered were not the best but the sickly and unheal-
thy.  The Lord asks, "Offer it then to your governor!  Would
he be pleased with you?" (Mal. 1:8).  None of us would imag-
ine that we can displease our mate, or employer or our friend
and hope to convince them of our fidelity to them.  God is no
different.  If we love Him we will do what He tells us is right.

     4. "Who Remembers You In Your Ways."  The memorial we
observe each Sunday is "in remembrance" of Jesus' death
for sin.  The Lord's Supper is not the only way we are called
upon to "remember" Him.  Sometimes we must remember Him
when we are alone.  At such times we must call to mind how
God would have us direct our thoughts, occupy our time and
maintain a watchful, temperate disposition.  Sometimes we 
ust remember Him when we are surrounded by the world and
are tempted to deny Jesus, to be silent when we ought to 
speak, to speak in ways that we should not, or to behave un-
becomingly.  Paul suggests tht loving God means that we will
remember Him and His ways.  He characterizes all of these
traits as true of those who love Him.  Do you love Him?  --------
Kyle Pope in Biblical Insights, Vol. 7, No. 2, Feb. 2007.   </HTML>
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