Philippians 3:1-2, “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.”
We all experience disappointments, challenges out of our control. Paul is not saying we need to rejoice in our dire circumstances. He says we need to rejoice in the Lord because the Lord is standing with you and with me in them. Living life is sometimes brutal and bleak, and it gets messy, but it states in Deuteronomy 31:6,8, NLT, “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will never fail you nor abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will go personally ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Those verses have helped me get through some challenging days this past week. How has yours been?
David cried out for God’s mercy in Psalm 27. He was falsely accused by oppressors and false witnesses (v11b-12b) and was at war with the Philistines and was weary. Abishai, a military leader under David, forbade him from going into battle lest “the light of Israel be quenched.” Yet David rejoiced in the Lord when he said, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (v.13).” David was approaching 70 years of age and he was not going to give up. “I can see David defiantly singing this psalm in the best sense of the word. “You think I’m too old? You think I’m through? No way,” David says “The Lord is my strength.” Jon Courson’s OT Commentary. David did not fear his enemies. His steadfast dynamic remaining goal and desire was to behold the beauty of the Lord. That was it. At the end of the day that should be mine as well.
Paul uses harsh words in his transitioning outburst to the Philippians concerning certain dangers against the Jewish-influenced legalists – “Beware of the dogs.” That was a term of contempt Jews would use against Gentiles. During the first century, dogs would roam the streets and were wild scavengers, so they were dirty animals. “Because dogs were such filthy animals, the Jews loved to refer to Gentiles as dogs. Yet here Paul refers to Jews, specifically the Judaizers, as dogs, to describe their sinful, vicious, and uncontrolled character.” Philippians. Christ The Source Of Joy And Strength. John MacArthur. I chuckle at Paul’s word choices. But it goes back to the truth that salvation is about having a relationship with Christ rather than having a religion. It is a matter of the heart and having a genuine commitment to Christ. It is about worshipping the Lord in our Spirit, soul, and mind. There is religious effort, and then there is applying and having a loving response in obedience in being a follower of Christ.
“True spirituality consists not in do’s and don’ts, pain or piety, burdens or bondage. Paul says the spiritual man is one who worships God in the spirit, rejoices in Christ alone, and has no confidence in the flesh.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary.
The Message words Philippians 3:1-2 this way, “I don’t mind repeating what I have written in earlier letters, and I hope you don’t mind hearing it again. Better safe than sorry – so here goes. Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. All they’re interested in is appearances – knife – happy circumcisers, I call them. The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise as we do it.” Sometimes maintaining joy is a sacrifice but it brings great delight to our Lord.
Regardless of where Paul preached, Satan attacked his message and Paul himself. He was continually opposed by false teachers, “the dogs,” which was from Judaism and Gnosticism, sowing seeds of doubt. Yet Paul maintained single mindedness in rejoicing in Jesus Christ and looking at things through heaven’s point of view. That’s it. Sometimes it is a sacrifice. Our prayer must be, “Lord set my mind on things above.”
Listen to Natalie Grant’s song My Weapon. 4/12/2020