"The Reformation was a time when men went blind, staggering drunk because they had discovered, in the dusty basement of late medievalism, a whole cellar full of fifteen-hundred-year-old, two-hundred proof Grace–bottle after bottle of pure distilate of Scripture, one sip of which would convince anyone that God saves us single-handedly. The word of the Gospel–after all those centuries of trying to lift yourself into heaven by worrying about the perfection of your bootstraps–suddenly turned out to be a flat announcement that the saved were home before they started…Grace has to be drunk straight: no water, no ice, and certainly no ginger ale; neither goodness, nor badness, nor the flowers that bloom in the spring of super spirituality could be allowed to enter into the case." ROBERT CAPON

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? (Romans 9:17–21)

If you seek happiness, you won’t find it.

Seek righteousness.

Happiness is a by-product of being right with God.

Matthew 5:6

“Only miracles are simple; nature is a mystery.” Robert Farrar Capon

“You must make your choice. Either [Jesus] was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God.”

—C. S. Lewis

“In his Confessions, Augustine states, “O God, thou hast made us for thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.” Augustine gets to the heart of the matter. The murderer Cain was condemned to wander in lostness. We are all under that sentence of restlessness unless our root relationship to our Creator is restored. The Christian vision is that humanity has a reason to be, a “chief end” in the terminology of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. What is that ultimate, satisfying purpose? The Catechism answers: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” The connection is between glorifying God and joy. Conversely, when we dishonor God and fall short of his glory, we experience restlessness. Only obedience brings joy. The pursuit of happiness, beyond momentary pleasure, is impossible in the humanist scheme, because the humanist philosophy retreats from obedience to God.” RC Sproul

The Rivendell Platypus...coming in October. What a beauty

God is absolute reality.

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” (Exodus 3:14)

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. (Leviticus 10:1–2)

The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lord and died, and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. (Leviticus 16:1–2)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Aaron’s sons thought they could get to God any way they wanted.

They died.

We must approach God on his terms.

That means through His Son.

There is no other way.

“The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.” WCF 1.6

“God’s Presence is never neutral; the result of engaging him must ever be either blessing or judgment.” — Michael Morales

1 Kings. Solomon becomes King.

There Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” (1 Kings 1:39)

2 Samuel -- the Davidic covenant

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (2 Samuel 7:12–13)

God promises David: one of your great great great great grandsons will be King of the Universe.

This is why Jesus is called the Son of David

1 Samuel....david v Goliath

And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. (1 Samuel 17:49)

One of the best love stories in the world: Ruth

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. (Ruth 4:13)

things continue to get worse in Judges.

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:6)

there are some good moments. Samson is one...

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— (Deuteronomy 18:15)

Numbers!

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24–26)