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THEME: FOUNDATIONS FOR SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
By Rt. Rev Emmanuel Egbunu
Topic 2. Devotion to the Word Readings: Psalm 119:1-8; Matthew 4:1-11
What a deep mine the Holy Bible is! And yet how few there are who have discovered the hidden treasures awaiting us as we devote ourselves to the diligent study of the Bible.
Many who own Bibles are introduced to it through family altars (the commendable practice of daily family prayer times) or at Sunday school; and in increasingly rare cases, as a subject taught in elementary school.
The practice of fasting which is the key emphasis of Lent has run into so many arguments today that would have sounded strange to the saints of the past. All kinds of short-cuts and rationalisations are now being peddled to escape the rigorous discipline of God’s chosen fast.
As we turn to the Gospel reading above – Matthew 4:1-11, we see the account of Christ’s temptation following closely on His baptism. Led by the Spirit into the wilderness, He was tempted by the devil, first, in the area of physical appetite, (turning stones into bread). The next temptation was in the area of fame and achievement through spectacular feats (throwing Himself down from the highest point of the Temple, with angels standing ready to guarantee safety). The last was in the area of what we could safely call political power (the devil promised to give Him all the kingdoms of the world in all their greatness if He would worship him!)
In each case, Christ’s response was to apply the Scripture. Let us dwell on the first response in our meditation today: Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" This is a great and much neglected truth that we must return to in this Holy season of Lent.
The discipline of abstinence from physical food and other physical comforts emphasize the fact of this response by Christ. Many of us today spend all our energies on the provision of food and other comforts in such a way that our biggest decisions are made with the criteria of physical satisfaction at the forefront. By Christ’s response, He was restating the truth that Moses had declared centuries earlier in Deuteronomy 8:3.
What fasting does is to make the point that God’s Word is more important for our sustenance than food and physical pleasures. Even though God graciously gives us all things freely to enjoy, He wants us to prove that He, the Giver, is more important to us than His gifts. That is the great lesson Abraham’s submission to God’s will in Genesis 22 teaches us, for he was ready to offer up his beloved Isaac because God asked him to.
Let us go back to the beginning of creation. Following the creation of man, God provided for him generously. In Gen 1:29 we read, “Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-- everything that has the breath of life in it-- I give every green plant for food." And it was so.”
As God repeated the offer, He also set limits to test man’s obedience in Genesis 2:16: And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
At the time Eve ate the fruit (and Adam too) in Genesis 3:6-7, they had made a choice between Bread and God’s Word. That is the way God viewed it in Genesis 3:17.
The Word of God has been the greatest support for all who fear God: Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. (Psalm 119:1-3).
Let us take another instance in which man allowed food to take precedence over God’s gracious promise made earlier in Exodus 3:8. By Exodus 16:1-3, as people delivered by a mighty hand from over 400 years of bondage, the wilderness experience became a testing ground for their faith: The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." Commenting later on this, the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 106:14 -15: [They] lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
In the fight against the constant temptation to indulge our sensual desires, there is no more potent weapon than the Word of God. Joshua was going to battle against the mighty Canaanite nations, but the secret of success that God gave Him was the Word: Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (KJV). Once they were in right standing with God, they were ready for victory. It is never otherwise.
It is not likely that the Lord Jesus had an open copy of the Law with Him at the time of the temptation in the wilderness. But His responses were quite accurate and shows One who had hidden the Word in His heart as Psalm 119:11 admonishes. When we memorize passages from the Bible, they become the raw material for the Holy Spirit to use for our victory in the hour of temptation.
A good practice during this season of Lent will be to devote much time to the study of God’s word – possibly reading whole books of the Bible as we take time to move from just a few verses a day to chapters which give us the big picture of God’s purposes. Some who are able to afford facilities that have recorded Scriptures will find it a most invaluable investment. The idle moments that torment us with endless temptations will bow to the nourishing potentials of the word of God which Apostle Paul also calls the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) in warfare; and also “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Long ago, the psalmist gave this prescription which has remained effective to date for all care to try it: Psalm 19:7-10: The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
Caroline M. Noel’s hymn ‘At the name of Jesus’ helps us here:
In your hearts enthrone Him; there let Him subdue
All that is not holy, all that is not true:
Crown Him as your Captain in temptations hour;
Let His will enfold you in its light and power.
Collect for Lent II
Eternal God,
Whose glory it is always to have mercy!
Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways,
and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to
embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word.
Jesus Christ your Son, who with you and the Holy Spirit,
lives and reigns, one God for ever and ever. Amen.