Solid Food

[Dt 28:1-2; 30:19; Prov 14:34-35; Heb 5:13-14]

Blessings depend upon obedience. The “if you will… He will” nature of God’s covenants indicate an expected response from the believer. The tragedy is that fallen humanity cannot and will not perform. Therefore, the OT demands the need for a NT (cf. Jer 31:31-34; Ezek 36:22-32; Gal 3:15-29).

Dt 28:1-2 (ESV) –[1] “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. [2] And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.

“Shall come upon you….” This phrase is used here for blessing, but in Dt 28:15 it is used for the curses.

To receive blessings we must make a choice! All the blessings are listed, and all the curses are listed. We will have one or the other, and God made it easy for us. He said:

Dt 30:19 (ESV) –I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,

“I call heaven and earth to witness….” These two permanent aspects of God’s creation (cf. Gen 1:1) function as God’s two required witnesses (cf. Dt 17:6; 19:15; Num 35:30). This legal emphasis occurs several times in Deuteronomy (cf. Dt 4:26; 30:19; 31:28; 32:1).

If we do not choose life, the law requires death and separation from God. Without blood covering the disobedience, it is impossible to obey all of the Law. We need Jesus in order to satisfy the law (Gal 2:16).

This spiritual law is throughout the Bible. I’m reminded of another place where this is declared:

Prov 14:34-35 (ESV) – Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. [35] A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

If a nation will establish itself in righteousness, and place God at the center of its existence, recognizing and acknowledging God, that nation will be blessed of God abundantly. That was what our founding fathers had in mind when they established the United States of America.

They had in mind to establish a nation that would guarantee religious freedom. A nation that would honor God in the heart and in the life of the nation itself. And that would help keep the people aware of their dependency upon God.

Since this is how our nation was established, our nation has been greatly blessed by God. “America, America, God shed His grace on thee.” Our country grew strong, and powerful among the nations. Today we are enjoying the benefits that have come to us because of the wisdom of founding a nation with God at the heart and center. Imprinting “In God We Trust” on the currency, and the pledge of allegiance to the flag, have reminded the people of a conscious need of God in the life of our nation.

The nation did become strong and prosperous. But now our prosperity is wasting away because evil leaders have infiltrated every part of our government, even the Supreme Court. They do not believe that God should be a part of the nation. And because they have sought to push God out of the national consciousness, lawlessness is attempting to control our government, and world-wide media. They hate people who have a love for God, and for their country.

We must hear from God

We desperately need an awareness that this is not a political battle. This is a spiritual war. We need spiritually strong warriors to stand together on the front lines. We need grown-ups, not infantile, self-seeking complainers. This war requires a people who can discern the voice of our commander-in-chief. I know God can do well with only a remnant, I just wish there weren’t so many blind and deaf. I am talking about “church members” who vote for the murder of children without even realizing it.

When God speaks he is looking for a response from his people. It might be a call to pray, decree, or prophesy. Hearing from God is one thing, responding in obedience is another. We must be sensitized to hear His voice, and be determined to obey and do what He has said.

Heb 5:14 (NKJV) –But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Full age: teleios (te’-lei-os)^[G5046] adj. complete.

By reason: hexis (he’-xis)^[G1838] n. 1. habit. 2. (by implication) practice.

Senses: aistheterion (ais-thee-tee’-riy-on)^[G145] n. 1. an organ of perception. 2. judgment.

Exercised: gumnazo (j ïm-na’-zo)^[G1128] v. 1. to practice naked (in the games). 2. (figuratively) to train.

Discern: diakrisis (d?iy-a’-kriy-sis)^[G1253] n. judicial estimation.

Our discernment is increased as we actively hear and obey the voice of our Lord. We have the power of the Spirit that we can operate in when we hear His voice. Practice makes perfect. The more we listen, the easier it is to discern (make quality decisions or judgment calls).

The ESV really says it plainly:

Heb 5:13-14 (ESV) –for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. [14] But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

“Inexperienced in the word of righteousness,” is not knowing your right standing in Christ Jesus. It describes a person who does not understand why they think or believe the way they do. They need to go back through the basics again.

This is not to say that the spiritual child is lacking information – though at first this is the case – but rather that he has not yet learned to put teaching of righteousness into effective use. This could be due to spiritual laziness.

As we grow in the Word, we learn to use it in daily life. Mature members of the body have the teeth for solid food. If our senses have been exercised to distinguish good from evil, then the Word will flourish in and through us for whatever God wants to accomplish on earth.

A baby will put anything into its mouth. An immature Christian will listen to any preacher, and not be able to discern whether the word is true to the Scripture or not.

Without using our physical senses, our bodies can get into serous trouble. Likewise we must have our spiritual senses trained so that we can rely upon them. We need to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps 34:8). “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears for they hear” (Mt 13:16). As we feed on the Word of God and apply it to our daily life, our inner “spiritual senses” get their exercise and become strong and keen. Paul called this process exercising ourselves unto godliness (1Tim 4:7-8).

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond