THE GOSPEL OF GOD



IS GOD A “FUN HATER”?

(Deuteronomy 12:15-28)

SUBJECT:

F.C.F:

PROPOSITION:

INTRODUCTION:

A. Is God a “fun-hater”? Many people seem to think so. They balk at Christian devotion, flee from worship services, and reject any form of Christian giving or service. These are deemed to be anything but enjoyable: boring, dull, dreary, tedious, tiresome, unexciting, and monotonous. So to these people, God certainly seems to be a fun-hater. And from their perspective, they would be right.

But what if the problem is not with God, but with us? What if there is something wrong with our perception of what is enjoyable? What if our desires have somehow been spoiled? We would certainly not call garbage appetizing or tasty even though some mentally unstable person might claim to enjoy eating it. We would not conclude that the garbage has improved, but rather, that this poor, disturbed man has been damaged. The Bible tells us that we have been so damaged so that we love what God hates and hate what God loves.

B. So is God a “fun-hater?” If by “fun” you mean the standard, dictionary definition of that which is only lite, jovial, trivial, and amusing, and that which avoids what is thoughtful or serious, then, yes, I suppose by that definition God is a “fun-hater.” But if you mean that God despises joy and seeks to stamp out all happiness in every form, then you could not be more mistaken.

Think of some common causes of laughter and mirth in our day. There is the joy of crudity, in which that which is shameful or disgusting becomes the object of humor. Or there is the joy of cruelty, where particular delight is found in inflicting pain. There is the joy of irreverence, in which the holy and sacred things of God are held up for derision (the Bible calls this “mocking”). Or there is the joy of insolence, where lawful, solemn authority is ridiculed simply because it is an authority (the Bible calls this rebellion). Now if people call crudity, cruelty, irreverence, and insolence “fun,” and God hates it, who really has the problem?

Our text for this evening demonstrates all of this powerfully for us. God certainly hates wicked, worldly amusement, but he calls us to true joy, and he has sent Christ to supply it for us.

C. We are studying through this book of Deuteronomy, the covenant between the Great King and his people. In this book of the covenant, God introduces himself, briefly recalls his past dealing with his people, and then in the largest section of the book spells out his stipulations, his rules and requirements for his covenant people. We are in the section which is a commentary on the second commandment. And we find here that God calls his people to true joy.

I. GOD COMMANDED FEASTING.

A. This truth will come as a bit of a surprise to those who assume that God hates happiness. You could not be a member of God’s Old Testament church without participating in several annual festivals, with emphasis on “fest.” I’m not sure that there is such a thing as a “solemn festival.” Late last month, most of us sat down to a well stocked and heavy laden table at Thanksgiving time. I don’t know about you, but the sight of all those delicacies created a stir of excitement. Feasting and celebration and gladness are inseparable. Judging by the frequency with which people eat out today, I would say that feasting is something widely considered enjoyable.

Here’s what God says in verse 15: “However, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your towns, as much as you desire, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you. The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and as of the deer.” This was the rule before they settled in the Promised Land. Afterward the situation would be similar. 20 “When the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he has promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because you crave meat, you may eat meat whenever you desire. 21 If the place that the LORD your God will choose to put his name there is too far from you, then you may kill any of your herd or your flock, which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you, and you may eat within your towns whenever you desire. 22 Just as the gazelle or the deer is eaten, so you may eat of it. The unclean and the clean alike may eat of it.”

B. Why all this concern about eating meat? Remember that sacrificing animals was a central part of their religion. In most cases, the meat was not burned or wasted, but was given back to the worshiper for their enjoyment. But what if you wanted to eat a T-bone steak and you were far from the tabernacle or temple? God did not want his people to go hungry, so he provided for slaughtering animals and eating ribeyes and pot roasts any time they desired.

God commanded feasting. And in the in- between times he also provided for their enjoyment. God is concerned about our joy and happiness, and that includes enjoying our meals. I know, I know, “all things in moderation” and gluttony really is a sin. But sometimes the dieticians make it sound like we should all be on a subsistence diet of a handful of rolled oats a day and maybe a few carrot sticks. And this gets combined with radical environmentalism so that we are all urged to become vegetarians in order to save the planet.

C. Think about that as you listen to what Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4: “1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” In chapter six of the same letter, Paul warns against trusting in these good things on the one hand, but on the other hand insists that God has given them for our enjoyment. “17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” So give thanks and enjoy them!

I find it quite revealing that God has created these delicious foods which we ought not to reject, and that abstinence from them on principle is called the “teachings of demons.” God cannot be a fun- hater when he commands us to eat and enjoy, and has created all these good things for our pleasure. He orders us to enjoy them, and to remember from Whom they came, giving thanks to the Giver of all good gifts.

God commands feasting, and…

II. GOD REQUIRES REJOICING.

A. There can be no greater evidence to refute the notion that God is a fun-hater than to point out that God requires his people to rejoice. In all things, but especially in the context of worship, God requires that his people rejoice (vs. 18): “And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all that you undertake.” In whatever we do, we are to remember that we are before the face of the Lord our God, and we are to rejoice before him. Are you rejoicing right now? Do you need a moment? Let’s pray:

“Lord, some of us have forgotten that we are before your face right now, and that in Christ, you are smiling upon us, blessing us, receiving our worship, and pouring out your Holy Spirit upon us, making us new. We are sorry that we are so distracted or that we have neglected these great truths. Give us your Spirit of grace right now, so that we can lift up our hearts before you and rejoice in your goodness. We pray through Jesus, Amen.

B. God requires our rejoicing, at all times, but especially in worship, God insists that we be joyful in him. That’s why it is such a serious matter when we come to worship the living God only out of a sense of duty or obligation, as though it were something tiresome. Perhaps it would be better to stay away if that is our attitude. It would still be sinful, a great affront to the majesty of God, but it would be a greater sin to pretend to worship him. If a young man takes his girlfriend out on a Saturday night only out of sense of duty and obligation, with no real joy, she won’t be his girlfriend much longer. I cannot see how those who perceive divine worship to be an irksome drag or an intrusion on their personal time, I cannot see how they could possibly know the living God.

C. And for that matter it is a serious concern when we live under a cloud. It is truly faithless when we allow ourselves to be weighed down with cares and woes instead of believing and trusting that even though we live in a fallen world where terrible things happen: with perfect power, God is in complete control; and with perfect wisdom, he knows what he’s doing; and with perfect love, he only wills what is best for us. God requires our rejoicing.

And our text tells us…

III. GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR OUR SALVATION.

Before God placed people on earth, he provided for us. The rich soil produces food for our nourishment. Deeper in the earth we find metals and ores from which we make useful objects. And deeper still we find the lasting provision of coal, and oil, and natural gas for our energy and heating needs. God has wonderfully provided for our needs.

Our text reminds us that God has even more so provided for our spiritual needs. We find three such provisions.

A. There is the provision of blood. We have seen the emphasis on the proper handling of blood. So they may eat any of the clean animals they slaughter with this stipulation: “23 Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh. 24 You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the earth like water. 25 You shall not eat it, that all may go well with you and with your children after you, when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD.” The concern with eating blood had nothing to do with hygiene. Rather, the shedding of animal blood was to be a continual reminder of the penalty for sin and God’s provision of blood to cover those sins. Jesus was God’s Lamb whose blood on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sins. All of the bloody sacrifices in the Old Testament were pointers, markers, and indicators, foretelling the atoning work of Christ.

If God were truly a fun-hater—he would have left us in our sins. What we so easily forget is that the proper word to sum up every moment of a sinner’s life is “misery.” The sinner’s best day is non-stop misery compared with the life God offers to the believer. So God provided the blood of his dear Son as an atoning sacrifice, to rescue us from that present and everlasting misery. God has provided Christ’s blood for our joy.

B. There is also the provision of the tithe. Giving our offerings is intended to lead to joy. Paul reminds us that “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) He quotes our Lord Jesus’ words that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35). Giving is an act of worship before the Lord: “17 You may not eat within your towns the tithe of your grain or of your wine or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, or any of your vow offerings that you vow, or your freewill offerings or the contribution that you present, 18 but you shall eat them before the LORD your God in the place that the LORD your God will choose….”

In what ways does giving bring joy? As we saw last time, giving to God always comes back to us. The offerings of Israel were eaten by those who offered them, so they didn’t really lose them. And giving our tithes and offerings to God is the only sure investment that will last beyond the grave—treasure in heaven, Jesus called it.

What’s more, the offering was sacrificing to God what was commonly a rival god (wealth). In Matthew 6, Jesus apparently considered money to be the chief competitor for our affections when he said, “24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Giving our tithe to God can break the allure of wealth, freeing us from worldly enslavement and giving us joy in the Lord.

C. And there is the provision of the Levite. “19 Take care that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land.” As we saw last time, God provided the Levites to be the “teaching elders” for Israel. They were to live among the people and instruct them in his ways. As we found at the beginning, the reason why many people consider God to be a fun-hater is because they have become severely damaged by sin. Sin causes us to love what God hates and to hate what God loves. So we might naturally find joy in crudity and cruelty, and in irreverence and insolence. That’s because we are damaged, and God intends to restore us in Christ.

This restoration chiefly involves the renewing of our minds, so that we know God’s truth and think his thoughts. And God’s provision of the teaching elders, whether they were Old Testament Levites or New Testament pastors, is the main way God ensures the renewing of our minds.

CONCLUSION

God cannot be a fun-hater!

He commanded feasting. I was his idea.

He requires rejoicing! You cannot follow Christ glumly—even though you carry a cross.

He has provided for our salvation: the blood of Christ to cover our sins, tithing to invest worldly wealth for heavenly returns, and the Levite, the pastor or teaching elder, to renew our minds and teach us his good way.

How much God loves us! So rejoice in him!

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