In case you were going through Burroughs' Rare Jewel with us a couple of months ago, let me give you an update. We will be putting this study on hold right now until August. In August we will be doing this book as part of the Puritan Reading Challenge. We will then return to Burroughs' great book; probably this time with a new easier to read format.

In this second chapter Sibbes main point seems to be to set forth Christ as one that will "not only not break nor quench, but he will cherish those with whom he so deals." Again, Spurgeon is correct about the diamonds and pearls. I am tempted to photocopy the entire chapter and put it under the section of pearls and diamonds.

Quick Outline:

• Christ's Dealing with the Bruised Reed
• What Do We Learn from Christ Dealing's?
• Who Are the Bruised Reeds?

Summary:

It is difficult to summarize a chapter when you highlighted 40% of it. Sibbes begins this excellent chapter by showing the unbelievable mercy of Christ to his bruised reeds. He gives the example of our own mercy towards those that are "bruised" and then asks the pointed question, "Shall we think there is more mercy in ourselves than in God". He then shows just how true it is that Christ is full of mercy. He labors to show us all of the titles given to Christ to display just this.

Not only do Christ' titles display his tenderness and mercy but also the way in which he executed his office. A wonderful summary statement is: "He shed tears for those that shed his blood, and now he makes intercession in heaven for weak Christians, standing between them and God's anger".

Since we have such a merciful Savior what does this mean for us? Simply put, we learn to "come boldly to the throne of grace in all our grievances." We must not hide from this great Savior but rather, "open all before him". Not only does it bid us to come boldly to the throne of grace but it also supports us when we feel bruised. Furthermore, it sets Christ up as a wonderfully merciful master in contrast to the enemy.

Sibbes then asks three questions. The first of which is, "how shall we know whether we are such as may expect mercy". In other words, how do we know if we are bruised reeds? Sibbes gives eight evidences. The most foundational is that whenever the reality of your sin bruises you the most you can trust that you are a bruised reed of which Christ speaks. You can also see the evidence through a trembling of the word and a low esteem of self.

But how does this type of frame of mind come about? Does God do it? Do we do it? Sibbes says both. "When he humbles us, let us humble ourselves, and not stand out against him, for then he will redouble his strokes". Sibbes seems to be saying that as God works this bruising in us we must cooperate and feel the blows and begin delivering them in contrition ourselves. What must happen is that we must treasure Christ and seek to reform that which is amiss. This is how we cooperate in seeing this frame of mind come about.

Finally Sibbes asks a fitting question: "But are we not bruised unless we grieve more for sin than we do for punishment"? This is a fitting question and one which "The Heavenly Doctor Sibbes" gives an apt answer. He reminds us that the Lord knows our frame. And he gives very sound advice to those that might be questioning whether or not they be broken as they ought: "None are fitter for comfort than those that think themselves furthest off...A holy despair in ourselves is the ground of true hope."

Discussion:

The tenderness with which Sibbes ministers convicts me. You can see that the tender Christ of which Sibbes speaks has penetrated and crafted of Himself a tender Sibbes. As I read through the first section I was enlivened a new with a big vision of our great and merciful Savior, and could not help but praise Jesus for His great mercy. I was also driven, as the Spirit used Sibbes, to "conceal not your wounds, open all before him".

My heart leaped for joy as I read, "there is more mercy in Christ than sin in us". Wow! Oh, how freeing, empowering, cleansing, enthralling, and joyous is such a truth! Therefore, it causes me to seek a further bruising for my sin so that I might see and experience more and more of Christ' great mercy.

This is one is for you to discuss: Sibbes says on page 10, "The consciousness of the church's weakness makes her willing to lean on her beloved, and to hid herself under his wing". If that statement is true, what can be said about the modern church? Are we conscious of our sin? Would you say that the church is willing to lean on her beloved? Are she hiding herself under his wing? What are your thoughts on this?

Pearls and Diamonds:

"Shall we think there is more mercy in ourselves than in God..."(p.7)

"Conceal not your wounds, open all before him and take not Satan's counsel." (p.9)

"No sound, whole soul shall ever enter into heaven." (p.10)

"The consciousness of the church's weakness makes her willing to lean on her beloved, and to hid herself under his wing". (p.10)

"There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us..." (p. 13)

"It is better to go bruised to heaven than sound to hell." (p. 13)

"A holy despair in ourselves is the ground of true hope." (p. 14)

Disclaimer: In posting these thoughts, questions, and ramblings I feel it wise to give a disclaimer. There are many people that are far more knowledgeable and gifted in expositing the Word of God than I. These thoughts are not intended to be in-depth analysis of the text. They are thoughts. They are questions. They are ramblings. It will be a display of what God is teaching me through His Word. In depth study will be done at a different time. It is also good to know the author's goal. 1) To be accountable in reading through Scripture. 2) To share these thoughts with others. Possibly for someone else's edification; possibly for my own. 3) To glorify God through His Word. 4) To spur one another on in taking up Scripture and reading! So without further ado, here are today's readings:

Today I will try to finish Ezra, and start Nehemiah

Ezra 8:

I like the way that Ezra phrases (as God inspired) this statement: "And by the good hand of our God on us". You can see from this that God's hand is good. God's hand is necessary. God's hand is a blessing to be upon us. God's hand makes things happen. Therefore, I pray, may God's hand be upon us.

I can really relate to v21-23. Verse 22 really shows the humanity of Ezra. He has told the king that the hand of God is upon them. But now he is scared that God might not come through. He knows that he cannot go back to the king and ask for protection. Therefore, Ezra and his company are brought to "implore God for this". I want to "stick my foot in my mouth" like Ezra did here. Put myself in such situations that I have no hope but to trust God. I wonder what I would have done? Would I have went back to the king and defamed God's glory for my own personal comfort? I would like to think not, only the Lord knows the depths of my heart.

God answers their pray in verse 31. Again we see that God's hand was upon them.

Ezra 9:

Verse 3. Ouch! These men took sin serious. Beard pulling hurts. Sin should hurt more.

I absolutely love Ezra's prayer here. We see our appropriate posture before God (even though told to approach his throne of grace with boldness). Ashamed and blushing to lift our face to God. I too have felt like Ezra, that I'm drowning in the filth of my sin. God has granted mercy, and here are the people again, drowning in the filth of sin. I wish that many downtrodden Christians might turn to Ezra 9 to see the great mercy of God in forgiving sin after sin after sin. Can you feel the heart behind verse 10? "What shall we say after this?" I've got nothing to say. We've messed up. We are silence before you. All we have left is your mercy. It would be a marvelous grace to have this posture before the Lord rather than continual excuse making.

Verse 13, "You have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this". You've punished us less than we deserve (mercy) and you have lavished upon us your kindness and blessings (grace). Wow! I pray dear Lord that I might live in light of this great truth. That I am doing far better than I deserve. Help me to see your grace in EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, and at ALL TIMES!

Verse 15. If we really thought like this we would be far more thankful for the Cross. "We are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this."

Ezra 10:

Something about verse 1 stirs my heart. Ezra is crying out to God, confessing, weeping, casting himself down...and a great assembly come and join him. This is the type of manifestation of the grace of God that I believe our church needs. God in his great wisdom knows exactly what we need. I pray that he might apply it speedily. If it be this, then let me weep, confess, and cast myself down before our people.

verse 2...even now there is hope. God is so merciful!

Is divorce here permitted? What does he mean by putting away wives? I guess their marriage was never valid so now it is permitted. (NOTE: If you are harboring a thought that this is speaking against intermarriage in our culture, please do not. Intermarriage for us is much different than for the people of Israel. It is not sin for us; unless by intermarriage you mean a believer and an unbeliever).

verse 8..."church" discipline

"Trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain". That verse makes me laugh. It almost like Ezra is saying, "I'm pretty sure they were trembling because of the weight of our sin was upon us and we were in fear before a holy God....but it could have been the rain". (In the context, I really doubt the validity of this interpretation...but at first it struck me as funny)

How great would it be if people in our churches said, "We need to repent for a few days"?

How would you like to be Jonathan, Jahzeiah, Meshullam and Shabbetahi? The only four people in all Israel opposing the work of God. Sometimes being in the minority is right (the Reformers). Sometimes being in the minority is plain stupid and obstinate.

I wonder how they put away their wives and children. This hardly seems right to do, but the Lord's ways are much higher than mine. Certainly it is never wise to continue in sin. What are your thoughts on this?

Tim Challies continues his blog tour, and today he stops by Justin Taylor's Between Two Worlds. Here is JT's question for Challies: "Having now extensively studied the concept of biblical discernment, I wonder what implications you think this has for “discernment blogging”? In part, I’m thinking of “watchdog” blogs and bloggers that have “discernment” as their primary focus. Speaking generally, what are they doing right, and where do they need correction?" Great question! You can find the answer here.

The Puritan Reading Challenge is fun. Timmy Brister seems to be quite astonished by the "success" of his challenge. It's awesome seeing how many people are on board to read these books of hundreds of years ago. May God be honored through our reading of the Puritans. Today Timmy gives us a few links to others that are blogging on the Puritan Reading Challenge. (I was excited to see Borrowed Light on there). Brister also gives a few cool stats on the Reading Challenge. I can't believe it's only 2559 pages to read everything. Only reading 7 pages a day seems quite an easy task. Understanding all 7 pages might be a little more difficult.

John MacArthur has an excellent post on preaching out of season: From Athens to L.A. His solution? Tell them that God is, who God is, and what God says. Even though that sounds simple that is difficult and loaded. You are encouraged to check out the specifics of this article.

One of my favorite blogs is Pyromaniacs. Often times Dan Phillips will give us a quote or a simple sentence and ask a significant question attached to it. It's great for making us think. Today he asks about an excerpt from a card left on his doorstep. "Faith in Christ can help you resolve personal and family challenges". Dan's question is, "What can you surmise about the church that left this"? Good question, Dan. When you click on the link be certain to check out the comments. It is interesting that many are saying it's Mormon and others are crediting it to various Christian denominations or churches. What does that tell us about "our" gospel presentations if it can barely be distinguished from Mormonism?

Brian Thornton asks, What is the Gospel Good For?

Randy Alcorn has an excellent post on Longings of the Heart.

Spurgeon was correct when he said that, "Sibbes never wastes the student's time, he scatters pearls and diamonds with both hands." The first chapter is only 6 pages but it holds within some of the pearls and diamonds that Spurgeon mentioned.

Quick Outline:

• Christ's Calling
• How Christ Pursues His Calling
• What it is to be Bruised
• The Good Effects of Bruising

Summary:

Sibbes begins expounding upon Isaiah 42:1-3. In this chapter his main concern is the calling of Christ to his office and showing how he carries that out. What is that great service? The work of our salvation. As Sibbes says, "For in all that Christ did and suffered as Mediator, we must see God in him reconciling the world unto himself".

How then does Christ go about fulfilling his calling? I take Sibbes "how" to be saying "in what manner" not so much "by what means". So, in what manner does Christ fulfill His calling? He does so modestly, knowing those which he is to rescue. His bride is indeed a bruised reed and smoking flax.

What then does it mean to be one of these reeds that is bruised? It is a man that is in some misery, and through this misery he is brought to see sin as the cause of it. It puts in us a restless desire. He then looks to Christ and is stirred up by examples of those that have obtained mercy. The bruised reed now hungers and thirst after healing.

Sibbes closes by considering what good may come from bruising. Bruising is often effectual in bringing sinners to Christ. It also causes men to cry out for mercy. As bruised reeds cry to Christ for mercy they highly esteem him. This bruising is not only needed to lead us to Christ in conversion; it is also needed to break us of our pride. It also keeps us from looking down upon down-hearted Christians. We must see the grace of God working in them.

Sibbes final statement is great for helping us see why God goes through this process of bruising. "It is no easy matter to bring a man from nature to grace, and from grace to glory, so unyielding and in tractable are our hearts."

Discussion:

Sometimes pearls and diamonds are hard to see. Many times you have to go back into the mine to find the choicest diamonds. I know because of the title of the next chapter that Sibbes has only planted a seed in showing us how beautifully Christ deals with the bruised and broken. As I read through this chapter I have a longing to be bruised by Christ for my treacherous sin, so that I can experience the beautiful fruit of His comfort. You can see through this chapter that Sibbes is helping us to see that the more bruised a man is (or at least sees himself as so) the more precious the gospel will be to him. I particularly like Sibbes statement that when we are bruised in such a manner, "then the gospel becomes the gospel indeed; then the fig-leaves of morality will do us no good". What a diamond! I have been preparing a sermon on legalism and this quote really hits home. As long as we are trying to cover self with the fig-leaves of morality we will never get the gospel. But "the gospel becomes the gospel indeed" when we are so broken and bruised that we have no hope for mercy but to call out to Christ for healing.

Pearls and Diamonds:

"And what a comfort is this, that, seeing God's love rests on Christ, as well pleased in him, we may gather that he is as well pleased with us, if we be in Christ! For his love rests in a whole Christ, in Christ mystical, as well as Christ natural, because he loves him and us with one love."(p.2)

"It is a very hard thing to bring a dull and an evasive heart to cry with feeling for mercy. Our hearts, like criminals, until they be beaten from all evasions, never cry for the mercy of the Judge."(p.4)

"After conversion we need bruising so that reeds may know themselves to be reeds, and not oaks".(p.5)

"It is no easy matter to bring a man from nature to grace, and from grace to glory, so unyielding and intractable are our heart".(p.6)

Disclaimer: In posting these thoughts, questions, and ramblings I feel it wise to give a disclaimer. There are many people that are far more knowledgeable and gifted in expositing the Word of God than I. These thoughts are not intended to be in-depth analysis of the text. They are thoughts. They are questions. They are ramblings. It will be a display of what God is teaching me through His Word. In depth study will be done at a different time. It is also good to know the author's goal. 1) To be accountable in reading through Scripture. 2) To share these thoughts with others. Possibly for someone else's edification; possibly for my own. 3) To glorify God through His Word. 4) To spur one another on in taking up Scripture and reading! So without further ado, here are today's readings:

I am trying to catch up on the McCheyne Reading Plan without making this a legalistic burden. Therefore, I will pace myself in getting caught up. Today I will try to catch up on Matthew.

Matthew 8:

You don't touch lepers. You don't spend time with sinners. You can get defiled being around the refuse of the world. That is unless your Jesus. Jesus touched lepers. This story has always inspired me to "touch the lepers" of our world. I bet the touch of Jesus would have been phenomenal to this leper that probably hadn't been touched in years. I am so glad that Christ touches the untouchable.

"I'm not worthy, but your word is powerful." Oh, that we had the faith of the centurion.

I've often wondered why Jesus rebuked the disciples for little faith in the midst of the storm. They knew they were in trouble, they cried out to God to save them. Is not relying on Jesus in times of distress a good thing? It's not like Jesus' was known as a skilled sailor. They aren't necessarily calling on their ship captain to help them. They are asking for a miracle. Perhaps, the problem is that their faith was just like the waves of the sea (James 1:6). Their fear displayed their weakly trusting hearts.

Miracles are fun unless they kill our pigs. God's will is wonderful unless it interferes with our comfort and luxuries. We want to see God move and do miraculous things...unless of course it means personal loss. Show your glory Lord...even if it kills our pigs.

Matthew 9:

I've always found it a little strange that the faith of another healed this man. It would be unwise to develop an entire system of theology on this one point, but I do believe it is significant. It should teach us to fervently pray and "work" (if that's the correct word) for other's salvation.

Are we more like the Pharisees or Jesus? Do we attract tax-collectors and sinners or the religious elite? If Jesus' ministry was to "not call the righteous, but sinners" then what should ours be? I realize the danger in this line of thinking. Much of our 20th and 21st century weak theology, seeker-sensitive, watered-down, barely able to be called gospel, Christianity is attributed to us trying to be more like the world (tax collectors and sinners) than like Jesus. Lord, show me the biblical balance. Help me to be a friend of tax collectors and sinners while not aspiring to be one.

12 years of suffering and this woman still has faith. Not that she had faith for 12 years, but it is surprising that she is not so hardened by her condition that she has given up hope. Lord, grant me this type of steadfast faith.

It's kind of ironic that when Jesus tells men to "see that no one knows about it" they are motivated to spread "his fame through all that district". And now that we are commanded to take the gospel to the nations we are passive about spreading his fame. May I be more faithful in spreading His fame.

I love seeing the heart of Jesus in verse 36. "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd". This text speaks to me in two different ways. First of all I pray that the Lord might help me to be faithful and feed his sheep. I pray that I might have the type of compassion of Christ for the sheep that God has entrusted to me. As pastor I pray for the heart of Jesus. But the second thing speaks to me as a common sinner. I see myself in this text as one that is "harassed and helpless". Now certainly I am one that has been redeemed and I do indeed have a great shepherd. So, as I read this text it causes me to rejoice that the Lord has taken me from harassed and helpless to rescued and freed.

Matthew 10:

Verse 11 is phrased in an unusual way. "Find out who is worthy". That is interesting. I'm not sure at this point I can understand its full meaning, but something about it strikes me. What makes one "worthy"? It seems to be the receiving of Christ's disciples.

"Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Oh, the wisdom that this takes.

Verse 23 confuses me. "You will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes". Didn't they do this? Does "Son of Man comes" mean something different than I think? Are all the towns of Israel different than I think? Is "going through" different than I think? I would say this is not a reference to the Second Coming but possibly something else...but that's just a guess. Any help?

It is interesting that Jesus comforts the disciples in the midst of speaking on persecution with the sovereignty of God. It seems that many times when the sovereignty of God is spoken of it is in the context of persecution.

Ironic that the Prince of Peace came not to bring peace but a sword.

I am convicted by verse 38, and honestly sometimes a little scared. Do I take up my cross? Do I follow Him? I want to scream out after reading this verse--I am not worthy of you Lord, I never will be worthy of you Lord. Jesus, make me worthy.

Matthew 11:

Is there significance in Matthew referring to Jesus as "the Christ" in verse 2. You would have thought given the context he would have said Jesus. It's almost as if he is answering the question posed by John the Baptist before he even asks it.

Why does Jesus say "born of women" instead of "born of men"? I am sure it is cultural. Wasn't Jesus born of a woman? I know he is not saying John is greater. John was born of woman; Jesus was born of God.

Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. This reminds me of something C.J. Mahaney said in a sermon I listened to recently: We are just a justified of the most distinguished saints, even the apostle Paul.

Something about verse 20 hit me. I read it like I never had before. Jesus does mighty works and really displays his glory. They do not repent. So Jesus denounces the cities. Wow! When we see the glory of Christ displayed we ought to be quick to repent.

What things were hidden in verse 25? Is it the "mighty works" of verse 20? Has the Lord hidden the significance of these things from the wise and yet revealed them to simpletons? How unsearchable are his ways!?!

Matthew 12:

Something greater than the temple is here! That statement sends chills down my spine...and I've never even seen the temple nor been idolatrous of it.

"And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless". I wonder how often I do not know what that means. How often have I condemned the guiltless because I am more passionate about sacrifice than mercy.

It really frustrates me that the Pharisees are not enjoying Jesus but a rather questioning him and trying to trap him. Does it annoy me so much because I see myself in them? Nonetheless, I want to scream, "Get over yourselves!" What type of heart do these men have? A man gets healed right in front of them, and rather than rejoicing they are ticked off because Jesus did not do it the way they thought it ought to be done. So, rather than enjoying Christ they conspire to kill him. Kill a guy for healing a man! Wow! How darkened is my heart, that my righteousness (apart from Christ) does not exceed that of the Pharisees.

Many have stumbled over this "unforgivable sin". It seems to me in the context that it is having such a wicked heart that it attributes to Satan what the Holy Spirit is doing. I would love to have more understanding on this verse.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. What then should the language be like of those that are redeemed? I am not convicted here of "foul" language as much as I am of prideful, self-exalting, others demeaning language. If I am prone to tear down, what does this say of my heart? Lord, help me!

"By your words you will be justified, by your words you will be condemned." What? I thought it was by faith that I would be justified? What do words have to do with it? The words are a reflection of the heart. If my heart is good my words will be good. If my heart is bad my words will be bad. So, if my heart is changed then I will be justified. If my heart is not changed then I will be condemned. Our only hope is a renewed heart.

How was Jesus 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth? Does Jesus go to "hell" as some say? Or is it the grave? Is this a reference to something else?

Something greater than Jonah is here! That's a huge understatement, Jesus! Jonah's preaching brought about the repentance of the Ninevites. Jesus' preaching is not bringing about the repentance of the Pharisees. If they repented at the veiled preaching of Jonah and the Pharisees do not repent at the unblemished truth of Jesus, woe to them. And yet for us today, that here the gospel how much more will be condemned if we do not heed its call!

v43-45 escapes me. This talk is not very Southern Baptist of Jesus. I want to know more about this.

Matthew 13:

The Parable of a Sower has always spoke to me as a minister. I know that even faithful preaching of the Word only has a 25% success rate.

Verse 12 makes me pray that the Lord might give me more, and more, and more, ad infinitum of Himself!

Why do we have "weeds" in our church? The enemy has sown them there. How do we "get rid of the weeds"? It's not by going through your church pulling up all suspected weeds. We should let both grow together. I know this is not saying to not do church discipline but perhaps this will keep us from going on witch hunts trying to pull up weeds.

There is something to be said about Jesus speaking in parables to the crowds. It seems like Jesus made pains to "not be understood" accept by those that had "ears to hear". Then why do we water down the gospel so that "lost people can understand it". Or is he speaking in parables so the people CAN understand? I tend to think its the former.

Do I find the gospel of Christ such a treasure that I give up all for it?

I do not fully understand verse 52.

Matthew 14:

Why would he jump to the conclusion that it's John the Baptist raised from the dead? That's weird.

The king was such a nancy. He had to kill a man just to "keep his oaths and his guests". Sometimes its better to not be true to your word if your word was stupid. Why add murder on top of putting your foot in your mouth. How many times have I added sin on top of sin because of my fear of man?

The disciples solution to the people's needs: take care of yourself. Jesus' solution to the people's needs: you give them something to eat.

I wonder what would have been more weird--Jesus walking on water or inventing a speed boat. It's neat to me how Jesus improvises. It's night. Nobody is around. He decides to walk on water. He knew the disciples would see him. He had to know it would freak them out. I would say that he wanted to make this a teachable moment for Peter and the other disciples.

We should always wait to be sure it is God's command before doing something as foolish as walking on water.

Even with a wavering faith Christ is readily available with his saving hand.

Challies gives us the third and final post in his series on inerrancy. Today he considers Problems with Denying Inerrancy. It is also Day 6 on Challies Blog Tour. Today's question is, How might the discipline of discernment be used to protect the peace of the church?

Trevin Wax gives us some Church Bulletin Humor. My favorite is, "Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King."

Phil Johnson, from Team Pyro, begins a series on Total Depravity, entitled I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up. His main point in his brief introduction is this: "Again and again we see that those who have embraced these truths of original sin and human depravity have been used by God in tremendous ways, while those who have resisted or rejected these truths have made shipwreck of the faith."

Milton Stanley asks a stimulating question today; Does and Open Door=God's Will?