Hear & Respond to God’s Faithfulness

The Word of God contains both Law and Gospel. While the reading of Moses’ Teaching contained Law, which always accuses the hearers of their sins and brings them sorrow and contrition, the Pentateuch also contains magnificent Gospel promises of forgiveness and the Messiah, which bring joy to the penitent sinner. It is joy in the Gospel that is the believer’s ultimate strength. Nehemiah’s encouragement, reinforced by the Levites, pointed the people to the comforting Gospel, so that the joy of Yahweh overcame their sorrow, and they celebrated the day.

Andrew E. Steinmann

“When my sons complain that a good book is hard to read, I say, ‘Raking is easy, but all you get is leaves; digging is hard, but you might find diamonds.’”

John Piper

“There is: God is speaking and must be listened to. But what good is a speaking God without listening human ears? So God gets a pick and shovel and digs through the cranial granite, opening a passage that will give access to the interior depths, into the mind and heart. Or—maybe we are not to imagine a smooth expanse of skull but something like wells that have been stopped up with refuse: culture noise, throw-away gossip, garbage chatter. Our ears are so clogged that we cannot hear God speak.”

Eugene Peterson