There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. —Soren Kierkegaard. "…truth is true even if nobody believes it, and falsehood is false even if everybody believes it. That is why truth does not yield to opinion, fashion, numbers, office, or sincerity–it is simply true and that is the end of it" – Os Guinness, Time for Truth, pg.39. “He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright.” – Blaise Pascal. "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily" – George Washington letter to Edmund Randolph — 1795. We live in a “post-truth” world. According to the dictionary, “post-truth” means, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Simply put, we now live in a culture that seems to value experience and emotion more than truth. Truth will never go away no matter how hard one might wish. Going beyond the MSM idealogical opinion/bias and their low information tabloid reality show news with a distractional superficial focus on entertainment, sensationalism, emotionalism and activist reporting – this blogs goal is to, in some small way, put a plug in the broken dam of truth and save as many as possible from the consequences—temporal and eternal. "The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." – George Orwell “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ― Soren Kierkegaard
We must pray to be supplied with the comforts and supports we daily stand in need of.
O that the favor of the LORD my God may be upon me; prosper the work of my hands upon me; yes, establish the work of my hands. Psalm 90:17(ESV) Save me, I pray, O LORD! O Lord, I pray, give me success! Psalm 118:25(ESV)
May my sons in their youth be as plants full grown, and my daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace. May my granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; and may there be no breaking in or going out, no cry of distress in the streets of your people. Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD! Psalm 144:12-15(ESV)
Let me be blessed in the city and blessed in the field; Deuteronomy 28:3(ESV) let my basket and my kneading bowl be blessed; let me be blessed when I come in and when I go out. Deuteronomy 28:5-6(ESV)
Let your good providence so order all events concerning me that they may be made to work for good for me, as you have promised they shall for all who love you and are called according to your purpose. Romans 8:28(ESV)
Give me to trust in the LORD and do good, and then I shall dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness; Psalm 37:3(ESV) and be pleased to bring forth my righteousness as the light, and my justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:6(ESV)
Let me be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and not fear destruction when it comes; Job 5:21(ESV) let me be in league with the stones of the field, and let the beasts of the field be at peace with me; let me know that my tent is at peace, and let me inspect my fold and miss nothing. Job 5:23-24(ESV)
And if God will be with me and will keep me in the way that I go during my pilgrimage in this world, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I may come to my heavenly Father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. Genesis 28:20-21(ESV)
Isaiah 53 This week’s lessons explain how Isaiah 53 clearly points to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Suffering Servant who would accomplish salvation for His people.
Theme
Jesus’ Exemplary Life and Divine Commissioning
The third section deals with the Messiah’s exemplary life. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth.” I take this as pointing to the character of His life, because that is precisely the way Peter takes it in his first letter, chapter 2, beginning in verse 19. Peter speaks of this being an unjust world, and with the fact that there are always going to be times in life when Christians are going to suffer unjustly. The question is, how are we going to endure these injustices? Are we to take them mutely? Are we to rise up and fight them? Are we to complain? Peter asked, “But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Pet. 2:20-21).
Then Peter quotes what is said in Isaiah 53: ‘‘‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (vv. 20–22). Peter is citing Jesus’ life as our example.
I would like you to see the prophecies of incidental things that were going to happen when Christ came. Verse 8 says, “By oppression and judgment, he was taken away.” The best way to treat the word “oppression” is as a descriptive adjective of “judgment.” That is, by oppressive judgment He was taken away. This is pointing to the injustice of Christ’s trial. It was judicial murder, and it is prophesied here in Isaiah.
In verse 9 Isaiah writes, “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death.” “Rich” is in the singular. It means a rich man’s death. We recognize this as a prophecy of the way Jesus was buried. He died with the wicked, that is, on the cross between felons. But when He was buried, He was not buried as one would expect. Those who were executed did not receive a burial afterward. Their bodies were just taken out and thrown into a worthless place. Jesus was actually buried in a rich man’s tomb. How could Isaiah have known that? What possible reason is there to throw this particular detail in? There is none whatever, except that the Holy Spirit, who directed Isaiah in the writing of this prophetic anticipation of the coming ministry of Jesus Christ, directed him to put down that detail, because that was the way it was going to happen. And so he did.
The fourth point is the Messiah’s divine commissioning, which we have in verse 10. This means that what happened to Him did not happen by accident, but by the will of God. It was God’s will to put Him to death.
One of the questions which has troubled the church in past ages, and sometimes troubles it even today, is that of assigning blame for the crucifixion of Christ. Who was responsible for His crucifixion? Or, if you want to put it as crudely as you can: Who killed Jesus? You know how the debate was handled. Was it the Jews who killed Jesus? Or was it the Gentiles? The Gentiles would point their finger at Jews and say, “You Jews did it. You killed our Lord.” The Jews would point back and say, “No, it wasn’t we who did it. We didn’t even have the power to inflict the death penalty at the time of Christ. You Gentiles did it. Pilate was a Gentile.”
In a sense both are right and both are wrong. In another sense it does not really matter. What matters is that the Lord God sentenced Christ to death. And that is what Isaiah says. His death was no accident. This was no tussle between Jew and Gentile. This was not even a case of Jesus somehow falling afoul of the evil designs of men in general, whether Jews, Gentiles, or whoever they might be. This was Jesus Christ coming to earth to do the will of God. “It was the LORD’S will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer.”
An understanding of what has gone before this verse explains a very important word in it, which is the word “yet.” Why does it say “yet”? It does so for this reason. One could say it was the Father’s will to crush Jesus and cause Him to suffer, and not have any moral problem at all, if Jesus was a godless, blaspheming, wicked, unrighteous man. If the person who was crucified upon that cross was a man like that, you could eliminate the “yet” and say, “It was the LORD’S will to crush him, and rightly so. He was a wicked man. He deserved it.”
But this was not the kind of man He was. He was one led as a lamb to the slaughter—not a murderer, not a pervert, not one who deserved the wrath both of men and God. He was an innocent man, helpless in the hands of those who were doing Him wrong. “Yet,” as it says in verse 10, “it was the LORD’S will to crush him.” How can that be? We know that God does right. So how can it be that it was God’s will to crush that person?
The only possible answer is that it was for us. Jesus was innocent, yes. But He died in our place. It was God’s will to take the innocent one and allow Him to suffer in our place, so that by His grace we might go free.
Study Questions
Read over vv. 7-9. What are some ways you see these verses fulfilled in Jesus’ life and ministry? How did Jesus respond to it?
What is the reason all these things happened to Jesus?
What is the significance of the word “yet” in v. 10?
Application
Application: Can you recall a time when you were treated wrongly by someone else, even by another Christian? How does 1 Peter 2:20–25 provide an example from Christ for how to handle such experiences?
For Further Study: Download for free and listen to James Boice’s message, “God’s Purpose in Human Suffering.” (Discount will be applied at checkout.)
We undoubtedly believe that in as much as it was impossible that the sorrows of death should retain in bondage the author of life a, that our Lord Jesus, crucified, died, and buried b, who descended into hell, did rise again for our justification, and destroying him who was author of death brought life again unto us that were subject to death and to the bondage of the same. We know that His resurrection was confirmed by the testimony of His very enemies c, by the resurrection of the dead whose sepulchers did open and they did arise and appeared to many within the city of Jerusalem d. It was also confirmed by the testimony of angels and by the senses and judgments of His apostles and of others e, who had conversation and did eat and drink with Him after His resurrection.
There are times when excommunication is necessary for maintaining the purity of the church. Today, R.C. Sproul speaks on the essential importance of church discipline and the need for caution in carrying it out.
Forgiveness can feel naive, weak, even wrong. It sounds like we’re saying the wound doesn’t matter. But the cross of Christ shows us something infinitely deeper.
“Create.” What! has sin so destroyed us, that the Creator must be called in again? What ruin then doth evil work among mankind! “Create in me.” I, in outward fabric, still exist; but I am empty, desert, void. Come, then, and let thy power be seen in a new creation within my old fallen self. Thou didst make a man in the world at first; Lord, make a new man in me! “A clean heart.” In the seventh verse he asked to be clean; now he seeks a heart suitable to that cleanliness; but he does not say, “Make my old heart clean;” he is too experienced in the hopelessness of the old nature. He would have the old man buried as a dead thing, and a new creation brought in to fill its place. None but God can create either a new heart or a new earth. Salvation is a marvellous display of supreme power; the work in us as much as that for us is wholly of Omnipotence. The affections must be rectified first, or all our nature will go amiss. The heart is the rudder of the soul, and till the Lord take it in hand we steer in a false and foul way. O Lord, thou who didst once make me, be pleased to new make me, and in my most secret parts renew me. “Renew a right spirit within me.” It was there once, Lord, put it there again. The law on my heart has become like an inscription hard to read: new write it, gracious Maker. Remove the evil as I have entreated thee; but, O replace it with good, lest into my swept, empty, and garnished heart, from which the devil has gone out for awhile, seven other spirits more wicked than the first should enter and dwell. The two sentences make a complete prayer. “Create” what is not there at all; “renew” that which is there, but in a sadly feeble state.
Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 27-57 (Vol. 2, p. 405). Marshall Brothers.
51:10 Looking back, I realize that the trouble all started in my mind. My thought-life was polluted. I entertained evil thoughts until at last I committed the sins. So now I ask that You create in me a clean mind. I know that if the fountain is clean, the stream flowing from it will be clean as well. Yes, Lord, renew my entire inner self so it will be steadfast in guarding against future outbreaks of sin.
MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments (A. Farstad, Ed.; p. 630). Thomas Nelson.
51:10 This verse is significant in two areas, repentance and creation. The verb translated create is the same one used in Gen. 1:1 and refers to what only God can do. David was asking that his heart be renewed, restored, and transformed. God is the only source of such a renewal.
Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 682). T. Nelson Publishers.
51:10 The heart is the spiritual nature of a person, the center of the will, the capacity for making choices. The prayer is for God to re-create (renew, as the parallelism in the verse shows) that spiritual side, lest he continue to make wrong choices. Forgiveness may not be enough to solve the problem; there must be a complete spiritual renewal. The forgiven worshiper is not the old person cleaned up; he is a new person (Ezk 18:31; 1Co 6:17).
Ross, A. P. (2017). Psalms. In T. Cabal (Ed.), CSB Apologetics Study Bible (p. 678). Holman Bible Publishers.
51:10 The renewal of one’s heart and spirit are common images representing not only forgiveness (vv. 1–2, 7–9) but also a change that enables a person to live in obedience to the Lord’s commands (1Sm 10:6, 9; Jr 32:39; Ezk 36:26). Note also the use of “willing spirit” in Ps 51:12.
Warstler, K. R. (2017). Psalms. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 863). Holman Bible Publishers.
Hear the Word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his guard; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.Isaiah 66:5
Possibly this text may not apply to one in a thousand of the readers of this little book of promises; but the Lord cheers that one in such words as these. Let us pray for all such as are cast out wrongfully from the society which they love. May the Lord appear to their joy!
The text applies to truly gracious men who tremble at the word of the Lord. These were hated of their brethren and at length cast out because of their fidelity and their holiness. This must have been very bitter to them; and all the more so because their casting out was done in the name of religion, and professedly with the view of glorifying God. How much is done for the devil in the name of God! The use of the name of Jehovah to add venom to the bite of the old serpent is an instance of his subtlety.
The appearing of the Lord for them is the hope of His persecuted people. He appears as the advocate and defender of His elect; and when He does so it means a clear deliverance for the God-fearing and shame for their oppressors. O Lord, fulfill this word to those whom men are deriding!
What is the point of the Bible? What is its big message? As we first begin to read the Bible, we may be overwhelmed at the many different stories and characters. But there is a single big story that is told all through the Bible. That single big story is the story of God’s great love for his people and how he proved that love by sending his own Son to save his people from their sins.
What is so remarkable about this big story is that his people show themselves to be sinful at every point in the Bible. God does not protect and deliver those who are perfect. He protects and delivers the needy, the failures, the sad, the lonely, the sinful. The message of the Bible is God’s grace for sinners.
From Genesis to Revelation
The Bible tells us that God made this world—people and animals, stars and moon, waterfalls and mountains. And God placed people over his creation to rule over it and spread peace and happiness throughout the whole earth.
But Adam and Eve, the first humans, failed. They listened to the serpent instead of God. As a result, a wall went up between humans and God. The peace and friendship they had enjoyed was broken. Instead of peace and happiness, darkness and sadness began to spread through the whole earth.
The rest of the Bible is the story of God working to restore his friendship with his people. Even though his people keep on sinning, God never gives up on them. With patience and love he pursues them time and again. He called Abraham to be the father of a special people, Israel. Through Israel, God would work to bring peace and joy to the whole world once again.
Yet even Israel was sinful! They became slaves to Egypt, but God sent Moses to deliver them and to teach them how to live as God’s people. This teaching was called the “law.” But time and again Israel failed to keep the law. Like Adam and Eve, they chose their own way and continued mankind’s plunge into misery.
So God sent judges and prophets and kings to try to help Israel to honor God and follow his law. But the people refused—and in many cases, these judges and prophets and kings were part of the problem themselves. Sin had infected the whole human race.
But even after all this, God did not give up on his people. How can that be?
The Main Character of the Bible: Jesus
The answer is that the Bible is not mainly about people being good and God rewarding them. It is about people being bad and God loving them anyway. The Bible is not mainly a book telling us how to live, with stories sprinkled in. It is mainly a big Story about God’s unstoppable love, with instructions sprinkled in along the way. But even these instructions are given to those whom God already loves. We do not obey God so that he will love us. We obey him because we know he already loves us.
The Bible calls God’s children to holiness, which means to live for God and to walk in his ways.
How can that be? The answer is Jesus. After sending many different kinds of messengers to save his people throughout the Old Testament, God eventually sent a final Messenger. All the other messengers were themselves sinners. But this final Messenger was sinless. He obeyed the law perfectly. He trusted in the Lord without ever failing. He was God’s own Son. His only Son. Jesus.
And then he died horribly on a cross. Why? Wasn’t he the only one who ever lived who deserved not to die?
Yes! But here is the beauty of the gospel. Jesus was taking the punishment for all of God’s people down through the centuries who had failed but had counted on God to forgive them, and for everyone after Jesus who would ever trust in him. He received the penalty in our place. He, the innocent one, was declared guilty—so that we, the guilty ones, might go free.
And after Jesus died he rose again from the dead, which was the beginning of the end of death, sadness, sickness, and darkness. When we see the risen Jesus, we who follow him are seeing our own future. That is the kind of body and the kind of perfection that we will enjoy one day. He has conquered death and Satan and will return in victory one day soon.
And the entire Bible is about Jesus and this great work of salvation he accomplished. It is not just the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that tell us about Jesus. It is not even just the New Testament that tells us about Jesus. Rather, the whole Old Testament prepares us for Jesus and anticipates his coming. Jesus himself said so (John 5:39–46; Luke 24:27, 44). And the New Testament describes his coming and shows us what it means.
How Should You Respond?
And what does his coming mean? It means you can be rinsed clean for free. It means that all your sins—even the sins you have not yet done— have been punished already, in Jesus. It means you are safe.
How? By receiving God’s grace. By bringing to God nothing but your need. By counting on God to forgive you because of what Jesus did, rather than trying to get God to love you by what you do. It is hard to learn to do this at first, because we naturally try to get God to accept us by doing a good job of obeying him. But we must keep remembering that Jesus obeyed God perfectly in our place. If you have trusted in Jesus, you are now connected to him. You have been born again. You are a new you. And this is all by the gift of God’s grace.
This does not mean that we should live any old way. The Bible calls God’s children to holiness, which means to live for God and to walk in his ways. But how do we live this kind of life? We can do so only by remembering how much he already loves us. As our hearts are softened and changed by the amazing grace of the gospel, we will find new desires inside us that want to obey God. It is not easy, and it often requires great work. But we will live a life that honors God only as we enjoy his great, invincible love for us that does not go up or down based on how we are doing. Trust him. Thank him for the gospel, which tells us of how God sent Jesus to die for our sins and rise again. Spend some time each day reading the Bible and learning of God’s great love. He will meet with you as you do.
We need to be intentional about catechizing our kids with what is truly good, truly beautiful, truly life-changing, and life-saving, and God-glorifying.
Kevin DeYoung talks about how Christians (parents and non-parents alike) can help children to trust Jesus, embrace the Bible, and love others—even those with whom we disagree.
With the full text of the ESV Bible and a variety of engaging features, ESV The Biggest Story Holy Bible for Kids helps children—and even parents—grow in their knowledge of God’s Word.
FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS volume 24, number 45, November 6, 2025
Watch over your own heart with diligence, for from it flows the springs of life, Proverbs 4:23.
In following up on what I wrote last week about pastors guarding themselves against grievous sin, I now want to expand this to all men.
I have known men who began well, who began their careers and families with a steadfast commitment to honor God, to be faithful to their wives and children, and to keep a lid on their fleshly desires. Sadly, many of those men, as their careers wind down and they move into their retirement years are divorced, estranged from their children, and giving little evidence of the commitment to Christ they so long ago professed. I have often wondered, if asked to preach their funerals, what I would say. Would I tell their loved ones and friends, “Yes, I know he was a Christian and I can give you Biblical assurance that he is now with Jesus.” Would I be able to say that?
What went wrong? How did this happen? And what can I say to instruct you so that the same does not happen to you, so that you finish your race well without bringing shame to Christ, your family, or yourself? Solomon is instructing his son on how to live in the midst of a plethora of temptations, not the least of which are lurid women and bad friends. Within this context he tells his son what he must do, how he must do it, and what results from it. Note first of all his instruction. “My son, watch over your own heart.” By heart he means the very citadel of his soul, the gateway to the rest of his body. A citadel is a military fortress which serves to protect an army and the people they serve. We know the heart is key to Biblical holiness from what follows in the succeeding verses where Solomon speaks of the eyes, the mouth, and the feet, calling us to discipline these members of our bodies, something Paul also told the Romans to do (Romans 6:12-13). Jesus told us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37). Joel says, “Rend your hearts, and not your garments,” (Joel 2:13). David says, “Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee,” (Psalm 119:11).
To watch over one’s heart is to pursue a personal inquisition of the heart. David asked God to search him, to know his heart, to try him and know his anxious thoughts, to see if there is any hurtful way in him, and to lead him in the everlasting way, (Psalm 139:23-24). And in order to pursue this personal inquisition of the heart you must know yourself well, your sinful proclivities, your patterns of recurring sin, those things that seem constantly to bring you down. A recovering alcoholic knows he cannot be around alcohol or anyone who drinks. He must stay away from them. A man who is tempted to sexual sin while on business trips must ask his friends to pray for him, even to check in with him each night in his hotel room, or if possible and practical to take his wife with him. A man tempted to spend money frivolously learns that he cannot carry a credit card with him, except perhaps his business credit card, that he must pay cash for only what he needs.
And how can you guard your heart, the citadel of your soul? Solomon says we do it with all diligence. I suggest three things, the first of which I have just mentioned. First, you must nightly pursue a personal inquisition of the soul. By this I mean, at the end of the day, as you prepare for bed that night, ask yourself a series of questions like these—“how have I sinned in my speech today, how have I sinned in my thoughts, what have I done contrary to God’s law, what are the deep seated idols that manifest themselves in sinful values, words, and deeds?” And when the Holy Spirit shows you your sin, be quick to humble yourself, to confess it as sin, to ask Jesus for His grace and holiness, and once again to claim Christ’s mercy and renewal.
Secondly, you must daily pursue a personal visitation of the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us to not quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19), to not grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), and to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Just as a man who offends his wife with unkind speech finds a wall of separation between them, so our sin breaks fellowship with God (Isaiah 59:1-2, Psalm 66:18). You are still married and you still love your wife when there is tension, but you nonetheless know things “just aren’t right.” And so it is with God and our sin. Your sin brings a degree of separation from Him which can lead to a lack of power over sin, a decrease in passion for Christ and His kingdom, and a downgrade of purity in thought, word, and deed. So each day, when you detect that God is far away from you, when you sense dryness or coldness to the things of God, then be very quick to repent, to ask for the Spirit’s filling.
And thirdly, you must regularly pursue personal holiness for without this you will not see God (Hebrews 12:14). It is wonderfully and gloriously true that no one can snatch the believer from God’s hand (John 10:28-29), that nothing will separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39), and that we are born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that we will receive an inheritance that will not fade away (1 Peter 1:3-4). But it is also true that one who goes on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth will find that there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain, terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire that will consume God’s adversaries; that while one who sets aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses, so one will incur a stricter judgment who tramples under foot the Son of God, who ignores the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who insults the Spirit of grace, for it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:26-31).
This means, my dear friend, that you should ask God to keep you from presumptuous sins (Psalm 19:13). Do not presume upon God’s grace. Your decision for Christ, your emotional experience, your knowledge of God and salvation may not mean anything. “You believe that God is one. You do well, but the demons also believe and tremble,” (James 2:19). Well, then, how can you know that you are a true Christian? How can you be sure that you will finish the race well? A seldom discussed, but vital principle is that your assurance of salvation goes up or down with your obedience. In 1 John 3:17-22 the Apostle says, “If any among you has the world’s goods and sees a brother in need and closes his heart to him, then how can the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us love, not in word or tongue, but in deed and truth. By this (by our love in deed and truth, by our obedience to God’s law) we will know that we are of the truth, and will assure our hearts before God in whatever our hearts condemn us for God is greater than our hearts and He knows all things.” On the one hand, the Christian knows he belongs to God because his sin condemns him. He knows he is guilty. Those about whom I worry are the professing Christians who never admit wrong doing, who never apologize, who are always in the right, who walk aimlessly and blindly through this life, giving no evidence of humility or meekness. John goes on to say, “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” So, on the other hand our obedience causes our confidence, our assurance that we truly belong to God, to increase. Note also that the true believer can be displeasing to God, that He may frown upon our actions, values, and attitudes, something I hear some pastors today say is impossible and such teaching may very well prove deadly to your soul.
So my dear friend, will you nightly pursue a personal inquisition of the soul, will you daily pursue a personal visitation of the Spirit, and will you regularly pursue personal holiness? Run back to Jesus in sincere repentance, claiming His blood for your forgiveness and the Spirit’s presence and sanctifying power. You will need to do this daily, many times each day, and in so doing you will finish your race well, hearing those blessed words, “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” (Matthew 25:34).
In this episode of the G3 podcast, we welcome Dr. William Varner, Professor of Biblical Languages at The Master’s University and accomplished scholar.
Dr. Varner explains how his work teaching Greek led to a deep personal affection for these ancient texts, particularly the Didache (The Teaching of the Apostles), which he describes as the earliest church handbook. He also talks about his new book from G3 Press, “Introducing the Apostolic Fathers.”
“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust.” Lord, my sorrow makes me deaf,—cause me to hear: there is but one voice that ran cheer me—cause me to hear thy lovingkindness; that music I would fain enjoy at once—cause me to hear it in the morning, at the first dawning hour. A sense of divine love is to the soul both dawn and dew; the end of the night of weeping, the beginning of the morning of joy. Only God can take away from our weary ears the din of our care, and charm them with the sweet notes of his love. Our plea with the Lord is our faith; if we are relying upon him, he cannot disappoint us: “in thee do I trust” is a sound and solid argument with God. He who made the ear will cause us to hear: he who is love itself will have the kindness to bring his lovingkindness before our minds. “Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” The Great First Cause must cause us to hear and to know. Spiritual senses are dependent upon God, and heavenly knowledge comes from him alone. To know the way we ought to take is exceedingly needful, for how can we be exact in obedience to a law with which we are not acquainted? or how can there be an ignorant holiness? If we know not the way, how shall we keep in it? If we know not wherein we should walk, how shall we be likely to follow the right path? The Psalmist lifts up his soul; faith is good at a dead lift: the soul that trusts will rise. We will not allow our hope to sink, but we will strive to get up and rise out of our daily griefs. This is wise. When David was in any difficulty as to his way he lifted his soul towards God himself, and then he knew that he could not go very far wrong. If the soul will not rise of itself we must lift it, lift it up unto God. This is good argument in prayer: surely the God to whom we endeavour to lift up our soul will condescend to show us what he would have us to do. Let us attend to David’s example, and when our heart is low, let us heartily endeavour to lift it up, not so much to comfort as to the Lord himself.
Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 120-150 (Vol. 6, p. 337). Marshall Brothers.
Ver. 8. Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning.—How to have a good day:— There are days and days. There are days of darkness such as this psalm illustrates. Many think that David sung this psalm when he fled from Absalom. I. IT WAS A DARK DAY FOR DAVID.
It was a day of hard environment. “The enemy hath persecuted my soul.” Think of David fugitive, and climbing, in sackcloth, the slopes of the Mount of Olives. There are days when everything seems to go against us.
It was a day for David of clean discouragement. “He hath smitten my life down to the ground.” Have you not been in such a discouraged day?
It was a day of despair. When hope has gone out and despair has come in, your hands hang and your step stops.
This was a day for David when memory made contrast (ver. 5). The only comfort for the soul in such plight is the memory of better days. That is a very bad, enervating mood when one, instead of looking forward, is perpetually looking backward. Oh, the brave apostles Though prisoner in Rome, “forgetting the things which are behind.” II. HOW TO GET OUT OF SUCH A DARK DAY AND MOOD INTO A GOOD DAY.
By prayer. “Cause me to hear.” The soul addresses God; turns resolutely Godward.
By beginning the day with a sense of God. “Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning.” Count your mercies and begin the day by doing it. There is a way of looking at disadvantage in the light of advantage. Mr. Edison, partially deaf since childhood, was told by a specialist an operation would help him. He answered, “Give up an advantage that enables me to think on undisturbed by noise or conversation? No, indeed.”
By constancy in trust. “For in Thee do I trust.” Trust, and keep on trusting anyway.
By determining to do, and at all hazards to do the right. “Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk.” Notice that—the praying and the walking; the search for the right and the resolve to do it. Darkness shall surely flee from such a soul. Such turning of dark days into good ones makes—character! (Homiletic Review.) “In the morning”:— I. THE MORNING COMES AFTER THE NIGHT.
The night of mourning. “Our light affliction,” etc. This is higher and sweeter than the motto on the sundial, “I count only the sunbeams.” The child of God will count, to his wealth and joy, the darkness also. The night is glorified in the morning “lovingkindness,” as night-formed dew is in the morning sun.
The night of conflict. The morning of victory will come.
The night of weary waiting. There is a morning of fruition and satisfaction.
The night of sin. Oh the morning of fresh and wondrous purity! II. THE MORNING COMES BEFORE THE DAY. God’s lovingkindness brings morning—the harbinger of a long day. Always, only morning; pointing on to a day whose “sun shall go no more down.” A day of joy. “Everlasting joy shall be upon their head.” A day of work. When men have a journey to make, or work to do, they start in the morning. So let us seek God’s morning lovingkindness.
In the morning of every day. Let me hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning, that this whole day may be blessed and fruitful.
In the morning of life (Prov. 8:17).
In the morning (at the beginning) of every new undertaking. Begin with prayer for God’s lovingkindness and blessing.
In the morning of this year. It is still pure and sweet. Let its future hours be devoted to God. (Homiletic Magazine.) Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk.—The way wherein we should go:— The text may be said to comprise every other prayer. If God gives His servant “to know the way wherein he should walk,” and strength to walk in it, peace, and order, and liberty, and joy will soon come. Life is difficult. It is difficult every day; on some days, and at some times, unusually so. Are there not continual circumstances and trials and duties of ordinary life which, in one way or another, make life a continual difficulty? Think of the number of things that are to be believed, that are to be renounced, that are to be examined, that are to be distinguished in themselves and from other things, that are to be tentatively dealt with, that are to be done, that are to be left undone, that are to be waited for, that are to be suffered. All these are included in the “way wherein we should walk.” Take some of them in succession. I. OPINIONS AND BELIEFS. There can be no living way for a man that does not involve these. A man is more than a growing tree or a grazing animal. Even those who speak slightingly of opinions, and lay stress rather on what they call spirit, and instinct, and practical action, when they rigorously analyze their own thought in this matter, are obliged to confess that in one form or another, separated from other things, or solvent in them, opinion and belief must be comprehended in spirit, even in instinct, in a measure, and certainly in practical action. But how hard it is now to form opinions and settle beliefs! Harder perhaps than it has ever been before, not only because we have more than the common amount of scepticism in the world, but because (as I verily believe) men are in some ways more sincere and more earnest than they have ever been before. They cannot so easily subscribe creeds, composed of many, and some of them hard enough propositions. What, then, are we to do? From this hour any one of us, if we will, may be of “them that believe to the saving of the soul.” How? By bringing the whole case fully and earnestly before God. “Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto Thee.” There, and there only, you have the whole case; the meeting, and, in a measure, the settling of the difficulty. If we come really to Him, we have solved the difficulty, we have come into the new and living way, and God will make that way more and more plain before our face; whereas if we abide among the exterior things—examining, considering, comparing, putting this opinion against that, and working the whole matter simply as a high intellectual problem, without ever making the last and highest appeal—we have no certainty of a good and true issue. II. CONDUCT. Even those who know the way they should go, so far as it consists of beliefs, convictions, principles, find it still in their practice to be a way of continual difficulty. It is easy to say, “Act on principle.” Of course we must act on principle, but on what principle? What is the right principle for the case? Or what is the proper combination of principles? And how are they to apply?
It will sometimes be that all is dark as to what is about to happen in the immediate future, and yet action must be taken at a certain time; and, in order to be well taken, preparation must be made for it now. And that darkness, perhaps, cannot be made any less by our intellectual activities, or by our moral impatience. We may knock at the doors of the future with all our importunity, but they will not open a moment before the time. What can we do? We can pray. We can use this text, and get the benefits it carries, “Cause me to know the way wherein I should go, for I lift my soul to Thee.”
Or the case is exceedingly perplexed and intricate. It lies all open before us. There is nothing more to reveal, and yet we cannot understand it. Our way, “the way wherein we should go,” lies right through the heart of those perplexed and ravelled things, and our “going” is sure to alter them somewhat, perhaps much. What shall be the ruling principle of our action? Shall we go quickly or slowly? And shall prudence or firmness have the reins? Who can tell us? And in this pause what can we do? We can ask Him who knows the way that is all unknown to us to “cause us to know it,” so that, as we tread it step by step, and make it thus our actual way, it may prove to be indeed the way of righteousness and peace.
Or the case, in its two sides, is perfectly balanced. There is nothing to choose between them. We may cast the weight of our action on this side or on that with equally good conscience. And yet, out of the choice we make, a very different class of results will spring; and other things will come in then, and issues never contemplated as possible will arise. So that there is a right side, a “way in which we should go,” even when no human wisdom could give any sufficient reason why the one side should be taken rather than the other: How shall we find it? How, but by coming to Him who knows all ways that human feet are to tread. He has His eye on that best way, that perfect way, that Christlike way, which my feet ought to mark, and if I come to Him to ask about it, it may be that, while I am yet speaking, the light of revelation will illumine it, the finger of Providence will point to it, and the voice that has directed so many pilgrims will say to me also, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” (A. Raleigh, D.D.) God’s pathway for the soul of man:— The psalms of the rebellion differ from the psalms of the persecution under Saul, in that a strain of penitence mingles with the narrative of misfortune and suffering. That an ambitious young man should have so easily overthrown a strong government was itself suggestive. Absalom’s success could not be really accounted for by his good looks, or by his popular manners, or by his splendid retinue, or by the widespread discontent of the tribe of Judah with David’s domestic policy, The truth was that the old respect for him had been largely undermined by his conduct; and under a system of personal government, respect for the ruler is essential to social safety. David’s own conscience ratified the tacit verdict which his people had passed upon him; and when he fled across the Jordan, while Absalom took possession of his palace and his throne, he recognized the hand, not of his undutiful son, but of his Lord and Judge. And thus, in the last of those seven psalms, which have for so many ages nourished and expressed Christian repentance, David mingles with his pathetic review of his reverses a loyal prayer for mercy and guidance. I. “THE WAY THAT I SHALL WALK IN.” David was thinking, no doubt, of some path across the mountains of Gilead, by which he might hope to make good his escape in that hour of danger. But that was not all. David would be thinking also of other “ways.” For the soul of man is perpetually moving, in whatever direction, through the wilds of moral and intellectual space: and the various directions which its thought, feeling, and action take, are variously characterized in Scripture. On the one hand we read of “the way of understanding,” “the way of righteousness,” “the way of truth,” “the way of God’s testimonies,” “the way of wisdom,” “the way of life,” “the way of good men,” “the way everlasting,” “the right way,” “the way of the Lord,” “the way of peace”; and on the other we are told of “the way of the froward,” “the way of evil men,” “the way of man’s heart,” “the way that is not good,” “the way that seemeth right unto a man, while the end thereof are the ways of death.” And so particular types of human life, “the way of David,” “the way of Asa,” “the way of Jehoshaphat,” contrast with “the way of Cain,” “the way of Jeroboam,” “the way of the house of Ahab,” “the way of Manasseh.” And thus the expression comes to mean a certain moral and mental temper, or a body, or System of doctrines, or precepts, whether false or true, which claim to be, and are treated as forming the path to a higher or to a lower world. Above all, we must not forget that the spiritual sense of this expression has received a consecration which can never for long be absent from Christian thought. We know who has said, “I am the Way.” II. THIS PETITION FOR GUIDANCE, LIKE ALL SERIOUS PRAYER, IMPLIES A FAITH, a faith which at once dictates and shapes it. The lex credendi is also the lex supplicandi. Two truths, at least, prompt and govern the prayer.
The first is, that one path enables each man to correspond with the true ideal of his life. “The way that I should walk in.” One path only is perfectly loyal to the highest truth that has been placed within each man’s reach. Only one path, and not many, enables each man to make the most of his faculties and of his opportunities, to develop most harmoniously his intelligence, his affections, his will, his character; to satisfy most adequately the just claims that others may make on him; to satisfy the demands of Him to whom the gift of existence itself is due.
And the second implied and governing truth is this—that there is one Being, at any rate, who sees and can tell each one of us what this his path should be. A clear sight of the track along which each of His responsible creatures should walk with the view of making the best of the gift of life, is the least that can be ascribed to an Intelligence that knows no bounds, and to a Will by whose good pleasure we each and all exist. A willingness to show each one of us what He thus sees to be the best for each may be reverently taken for granted in Him who is not only and chiefly Power and Intelligence, but also, and especially Goodness. III. HOW DOES GOD ANSWER THIS PRAYER?
First of all, and generally by the language of events, by that importunity of circumstances which, in different degrees, accompanies every human life. It matters not that the environment of every life can be traced to antecedents, and these to other antecedents that have preceded them till the long evolutionary process is lost sight of in the distant haze. It matters not because, first, we know that a point must at last be reached where no material antecedent is discoverable, and where bare existence can only be accounted for by the fiat of a Creative Will; and secondly, because the relation of each antecedent to that which precedes and follows it, the direction and law of this long evolutionary sequence—if so we must provisionally term it—itself implies, no less than its first impact implies, a presiding and guiding Mind.
But independently of that which belongs to single lives, there are certain broad characteristics of the pathway which God has traced for the soul of man. Man’s will, as well as his understanding, needs the guidance of truth. Man’s character needs the discipline of sacrifice. And He who said, “He that followeth Me walketh not in darkness,” said also, “Let a man take up his cross and follow Me.” What then are the characteristics of this truth which can furnish true guidance to the soul of man, and which thus is the answer to the prayer of the psalmist? (1) It will first of all be positive, and not merely negative truth. The psalmist prays God to show him, not the way in which he should not walk, but the way in which he should. (2) Again, the truth which is to serve as the pathway to the human soul must be definite. The road that will bring us home at last must be plain to the eye, and firm beneath the feet. It must not lose itself in a forest; it must not sink away into a morass. The psalmist prays for guidance; and indefinite guidance is all but a contradiction in terms. (3) Once more, the truth which will conduct the soul heavenward must be truth which the soul knows to be independent of itself. “Show Thou me the way I should walk in.” The truth that will support our steps is true, whatever we may think or feel about it. It has, in modern phrase, an objective existence. (4) Yet, once again, the truth that is to form a pathway for the human soul will be in its import specially practical; “The way that I should walk in” suggests practice rather than speculation. Christian truth is nothing if it be not practical. God’s Word is a lantern unto the feet, and a light unto the path; Scripture is profitable for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, as well as for doctrine; Jesus Christ came to purify to Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Surely a Christian should not read his Bible or repeat his creed without asking himself the question, What does this statement say to me, what does it suggest, what does it command, what does it reprove in me? How can it contribute to lighten my path through time towards eternity? What dangers does it unveil, what encouragements does it proclaim, what obstacles does it remove, what efforts does it warrant? This practical instinct is always energetic in a seriously believing Christian, it is an inseparable corollary of the prayer, “Show Thou me the way I should walk in; for I lift up my soul unto Thee.” (Canon Liddon.) The guiding hand:— There is no need more imperatively felt by the Christian than that of Divine guidance.
We must admit that God has an ideal or plan for each one of us in life. We also know how weak and unwise we are, and that light is needed outside of ourselves. Now we know that the Bible is a historic revelation. What was written aforetime was given for our learning. So by looking back over the history of the Church we are helped in the discovery of God’s will.
Three special methods were used in ancient times to reveal the will of God. Dreams, the Urim and Thummim, and prophetic teaching. (1) The dream then, as now, was often incoherent, uncertain and misleading, but we have every reason to believe that God did, at times, send with a dream a firm conviction that it should be acted upon. (2) Again, the mysterious oracle was a method of guidance. The Urim and Thummim was used by David, but after his day it ceased. It gave the yes or no to the inquirer. (3) As the priestly office waned, the third method, the prophetic, came into prominence. The prophet did not necessarily predict, but “uttered forth” truth as to the past and present, as well as future.
The important thing is not the agency through which God reveals His will, but the fact that in some way He will lead them who trust in Him. Therefore the psalmist says, “Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto Thee.” The lesson is one of faith in God’s guiding hand. This mode of Divine direction is wholly unlike the method seen among heathen and superstitious people. It is spiritual, exalted and progressive. A moral discipline is needed, a heart in sympathy with God. The spirit of truth guides us into all truth. If we are willing to do the will of God we shall know the way.
The spirit of prayerfulness should be cultivated. It is on the knees that we learn the lesson of trust. It is there we are brought face to face with God. Let us, therefore, always lift our soul unto God, and, above all, seek the aid of His Holy Spirit. The example of Christ is a guide; the advice of His true disciples is helpful; our own common sense is to be used, but above all, the direction of the Holy Spirit is to be sought and followed. He will keep us from perverting the truth we hear to our own ruin.
Finally, if after honestly following what light you have, the issue is not what you supposed or wished, rest patiently in God till He clears the darkness. If you have erred, make it sure “that He has forgiven, and then cheerfully go forward, saying, “My times are in Thy hand,” knowing that all things are working together for good to them that love God and are sincerely doing His will. (A. Foster, D.D.) Knowledge and love of spiritual guide:— The relation resulting from the intercourse of an Alpine traveller with his guide, writes Dr. Parkhurst, is not exactly like anything else. The one whom you had employed in this service would henceforth stand to you quite apart from other men. The peculiar quality that is in your intimacy has not resulted merely from your walking so long together; nor has it come because of your fellowship with one another in peril, or perhaps even in suffering. You learn to know your guide by obeying him, and you learn to love him by committing yourself to him and trusting him. Something about our Divine Guide, Jesus Christ, you can learn from the Scriptures; something, too, you can gather from the testimony of other men. But if you want to know Him you have got to obey Him, and if you want to love Him you must first trust Him. (Christian Endeavour Times.)
Exell, J. S. (1909). The Biblical Illustrator: The Psalms (Vol. 5, pp. 354–358). Fleming H. Revell Company; Francis Griffiths.
“Harmony, liberal intercourse with all Nations, are recommended by policy, humanity and interest. But even our Commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand: neither seeking nor granting exclusive favours or preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing and diversifying by gentle means the streams of Commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing with Powers so disposed; in order to give trade a stable course.” —George Washington (1796)
Schumer shutdown — let’s talk: Now that the Democrats swept the elections they cared about in blue states, they may be ready to make a deal to reopen the government. In an insulting and factually incorrect letter to the president, Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries demanded an in-person meeting to “end the GOP shutdown.” Of course, Schumer and Jeffries know that they caused the shutdown and that Donald Trump has little to do with any negotiating for reopening the government; the people they need to be talking to are House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader John Thune. Directing the letter to President Trump while asking for a “bipartisan meeting of legislative leaders” strikes a balance, allowing them to appear tough on Trump while acknowledging that he isn’t the person they need to convince. In any event, it seems the longest government shutdown in history is finally nearing its end.
Jewish FDNY commish turns in his notice: On Wednesday, the day after socialist Zohran Mamdani won New York City’s mayoral election, Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker tendered his resignation. Tucker, who is Jewish and held the position for just over a year, did not offer an explanation for his decision, though he thanked Mayor Eric Adams for the opportunity to serve. According to a source, Tucker, who is a longtime supporter of Israel, found Mamdani’s anti-Israel animosity troubling, noting that his view “does not align with the new mayor.” It appears that Tucker is the first of a number of New Yorkers who are looking to leave the city now that Mamdani is taking control.
Minneapolis chooses loony leftist over Somali loyalist: Apparently, there’s a limit even to what leftists afflicted with suicidal empathy can tolerate. Omar Fateh, a Somali loyalist who held campaign events in Somali and opened events with “As-salamu alaykum,” failed to unseat incumbent Jacob Frey, who gained national attention for weeping over George Floyd’s gold casket. The election, which was called at midday on Wednesday, was the strongest showing yet for Frey, who won over 50% of the ranked-choice vote in the first round without needing a second round. Fateh had strong support from the Somali community, including “Squad” member Ilhan Omar. Fateh briefly received the endorsement of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor party, but it was rescinded due to procedural failures. Elsewhere in Minnesota, St. Paul elected Kaohly Her, formerly of the Minnesota House of Representatives, who falsely claimed earlier this year to be an illegal alien.
Some sanity in VA: Democrats had significant success in Virginia on election day, with Abigail Spanberger winning the governorship and Jay Jones picked to become attorney general despite his fantasizing about murdering a Republican. However, there was one surprising election result in the commonwealth that few predicted. The transgenderism-promoting incumbent on the Loudoun County school board, Arben Istrefi, who had voted to keep Policy 8040, which allows students to use the restrooms and locker rooms of their “gender identity” and requires the use of “preferred pronouns,” lost his reelection bid. Istrefi was unseated by Amy Riccardi, who ran on highlighting how the gender-confusion issue is hurting students while noting that the rest of the school board is “using your tax dollars to violate the law and push ideology.” The trouble for Loudoun County is that the majority of its members remain supportive of trans ideology.
Heritage president apologizes: Controversy has swirled at The Heritage Foundation following President Kevin Roberts’s disparaging comments aimed at conservatives who criticized Tucker Carlson over his supportive interview with the reprehensible Nick Fuentes, leading to the resignation of his chief of staff, Ryan Neuhaus. On Wednesday, Roberts finally offered an apology … sort of. Addressing staff members, Roberts said, “I made a mistake and I let you down and I let down this institution. Period. Full Stop.” He then claimed he was willing to resign but felt a “moral obligation” to fix the mistake. “I made the mess, let me clean it up.” Roberts also sought to explain that he should have been clearer over his comments about never canceling “our friends,” noting that there is a “limiting principle.”
Moulton the chameleon: Any Democrats who learned from their shellacking in the 2024 election are rapidly unlearning those lessons in the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s ascendency. Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts broke with Democrat orthodoxy last year when he said, “I have two little girls. I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete. But as a Democrat, I’m supposed to be afraid to say that.” It turns out that Democrats really aren’t supposed to say that. Recently, Moulton appeared at a “No Kings” protest draped in a trans flag, and he’s engaged in a struggle session to prove that he has learned to value men in drag over his daughters’ safety. Moulton’s motivation is, of course, seeking power. He is set to run in the Senate primary against incumbent Ed Markey.
DHS sees another record low in border encounters in October: U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered 30,561 migrants attempting to illegally cross the southern border in October. No illegals were released into the country during that time period. It’s the lowest October figure on record and 79% lower than October 2024 under Joe Biden’s disastrous open-border policy. The all-time monthly low was set in July, but the October numbers are still superior to any given month under Biden. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott summed up the situation at the southern border, saying, “Our mission is simple: secure the border. … No excuses. No politics.”
Foreign agents look to influence conservative think tanks: Three of Washington’s top conservative think tanks — the Hudson Institute, The Heritage Foundation, and the American Enterprise Institute — have experienced a significant increase in foreign national lobbying interests. Meanwhile, left-wing and center-left think tanks have received less attention. This is primarily because President Trump currently resides in the White House, and foreign nations are eager to advance their interests. Unsurprisingly, one of the most aggressive nations is Taiwan, which has sought meetings with Heritage Foundation members over 30 times since Trump’s election. Interestingly, one nation that has not sought to increase its influence over conservative policymaking is Israel, which counters the claim of some online commentators like Tucker Carlson.
Apple blasts EU over its new digital competition laws: In the most recent skirmish with EU regulations, Apple is arguing that forcing it to allow smaller rival apps into its App Store will make its platform less safe for consumers. Whether it’s “less safe” or just that the tech giant doesn’t like healthy competition ought to be left up to the consumers. In recent years, the EU has passed two major laws to govern online platforms. The Digital Services Act requires platforms to follow certain rules on illegal or harmful content and advertising to minors, and the Digital Markets Act is designed to promote online competition. Tech companies can face hefty fines for violating either law. Apple Vice President Kyle Andeer sent a letter to the European Commission on Thursday, stating that, due to recent changes, “risks to users on our devices will inevitably increase.” Time will tell if Apple is right in claiming that the EU regulations have opened the door to financial scams, pornography, privacy issues, and other problems.
Headlines
Louisville plane crash: Death toll climbs; black box found (Cox Media Group)
Nancy Pelosi to retire from Congress after nearly 40-year career (NY Post)
Democrat Rep. Jared Golden won’t seek reelection in key midterm race (CBS News)
Kansas Republicans fail to get enough support to gerrymander congressional maps (The Beacon)
Charlie Kirk’s widow calls for cameras in courtroom at murder trial (NewsNation)
Medical schools boost nutrition education in response to RFK Jr. (Washington Examiner)
Humor: Zohran Mamdani horrified to discover he now has a job (Babylon Bee)
President Donald Trump’s tariffs were on trial at the Supreme Court yesterday, and if the justices’ questions and tone were any indication, he may be headed toward defeat. Trump has requested an expedited ruling that could come as early as December, but the justices could also delay until later in 2026.
“Three categories of tariffs are at issue,” explains National Review’s editorial board. “The worldwide 10 percent tariff, the retaliatory ‘liberation day’ tariffs aimed at closing trade deficits in goods, and tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China that aim to retaliate for fentanyl trafficking.”
To justify those tariffs, Trump and his administration point to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA). The big problem? As Chief Justice John Roberts succinctly noted, “The statute doesn’t use the word tariff.” Nor does it even use a synonym such as “duties,” “levies,” or “taxes,” and no previous president has used the law to justify levying tariffs. Trump argues that the law’s language about “importation or exportation” is broad enough.
“That does seem like it’s major authority,” noted a skeptical Roberts, evoking the “major questions doctrine” that Congress must specifically delegate its authority to the executive on matters with significant impact on the economy and society.
Justice Elena Kagan was even clearer, telling Solicitor General D. John, “It has a lot of actions that can be taken under this statute. It just doesn’t have the one you want.”
Another rub is that Trump skipped other laws that delegate some of Congress’s Article I power over taxes (tariffs are taxes — on Americans) because those other laws are more limited in scope. Instead, the president invoked an “emergency” to gain wide latitude. This is the same method of governance made “normal” by Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Still, Justice Brett Kavanaugh seemed somewhat sympathetic to this argument, musing that if tariffs are not an option, “you’re taking away the president’s suite of tools.”
The administration even dismissed the tariff revenue as a motivator because, to win this case, the tax question must be minimized. The plaintiffs argue that only Congress has the power to tax. Trump’s team had to convince the justices that tariffs are more akin to an embargo than a tax, despite the fact that Trump has spent the better part of a year touting all the revenue his tariffs will bring in and all the great things that can be done with that money. “We’re making a fortune. We are taking in hundreds of billions of dollars,” Trump boasted over the summer in just one example.
Now? “These are regulatory tariffs. They are not revenue-raising tariffs,” insisted Sauer in arguments on Wednesday. “The fact that they raise revenue is only incidental. The tariffs would be most effective, so to speak, if no person ever paid them.”
The debate has shades of the ObamaCare mandate upon pain of penalty, which Democrats went out of their way to avoid calling a tax before Roberts infamously saved the law by — wait for it — declaring it a tax.
However, there’s an important distinction. Sauer elaborated, “If nobody ever pays the tariffs, and instead Americans direct their consumption towards American producers and stimulate the rebuilding of our hollowed-out manufacturing base, then the policy’s by far the most effective.”
That is indeed the foreign policy and economic objective, though it also prompted Justice Sonia Sotomayor to ask why the administration didn’t implement an embargo on foreign goods. On the contrary, Justice Amy Coney Barrett argued that tariffs are “weaker medicine than completely shutting down trade,” making it odd to allow embargoes but not tariffs.
What happens if the justices strike down Trump’s tariffs? Well, if that includes ordering a refund, “It seems to me like it could be a mess,” admitted Barrett. It could also undermine a key pillar of Trump’s foreign policy agenda, which he argues would lead to “the ruination of our Nation.”
“If we win, we will be the Richest, Most Secure Country anywhere in the World, BY FAR,” Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social. “If we lose, our Country could be reduced to almost Third World status.” Gosh, it sounds so simple!
In reality, Trump’s implementation of tariffs has been, to borrow Barrett’s word, a “mess.” He raises and lowers rates seemingly on a whim to keep other countries at the negotiating table to reach what he views as a good deal. There’s a lot of merit to this approach, but markets and businesses certainly don’t love all the uncertainty.
Perhaps worst is that if Trump prevails in his core argument that the executive can do practically whatever he wants in the name of “foreign policy” and “emergency,” then we can expect the next Democrat president to wield that massive club on issues like climate change. Even Sauer admitted that such a scenario is “very likely.”
If there’s no limit here, asked Justice Neil Gorsuch, what would stop Congress from “just abdicating all responsibility to regulate foreign commerce, or for that matter, declare war?”
Ironically, a defeat at the Supreme Court could benefit Republicans. If tariffs are struck down and the economy stabilizes while price increases slow significantly, the GOP can capitalize on the “affordability” question that “justified” full-blown socialism in New York City. That said, Team Trump argues there are plenty of ways to keep the tariffs, so I wouldn’t bank on them going away regardless of what the Court rules.
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MORE ANALYSIS
Thomas Gallatin: MTG Is MINO (MAGA in Name Only) — The Georgia representative has been throwing her own party under the bus — not because she’s standing on principle, but because she’s self-serving.
Emmy Griffin: Women’s Soccer Scores an Own Goal — Teammates excoriate professional soccer player Elizabeth Eddy for asking the league for clarity on gender-confusion policy.
Samantha Koch: Woman Kicked Out for Confronting Man in Locker Room — Does Gold’s Gym hate women? And why is American culture so thoroughly fascinated with — instead of appalled by — men pretending to be women?
Gregory Lyakhov: Why Republicans Lost This Election — Republicans have relied on enthusiasm rather than structure, focusing on a few symbolic races while neglecting others. Enthusiasm wins rallies, not elections.
Sophie Starkova: Nigeria Needs to Be Noticed — When are people in the Western world going to wake up and wise up to the fact that Islam is not and never has been a peaceful religion?
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Reader Comments
Editor’s Note: Each week we receive hundreds of comments and correspondences — and we read every one of them. Click here for a few thought-provoking comments about specific articles. The views expressed therein don’t necessarily reflect those of The Patriot Post.
Who Really Voted for Jay Jones? — The breakdown of the Virginia electorate tells a dark story — moderates, women, and so-called independents overwhelmingly backed a candidate exposed for violent, anti-Republican texts.
Don Lemon Spreads Lies — Lemon claims that crossing the border illegally isn’t a crime. Here’s a fact-check.
Brett Cooper’s Unhinged Defense of Nazism and More — Cooper, Link Lauren, and Tomi Lahren are just a few commentators on the Right who have recently shared a take on things that need to be discussed. Is our messaging off?
“I remain committed to protecting the rights and dignity of transgender Americans.” —Rep. Seth Moulton (“I have two little girls. I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete. But as a Democrat, I’m supposed to be afraid to say that.” —Seth Moulton, Nov. 2024)
Braying Jenny
“Americans have no culture except for multiculturalism. … These crusty white people need to learn how to embrace it.” —podcaster Jennifer Welch
Lack of Self-Awareness Award
“People perceive me as this sort of lefty figure. I think I’m more conservative than people think.” —leftist comedian Stephen Colbert
Friendly Fire
“Part of the worst creatures on the face of the earth are Hamas or like the leadership of Iran. … I wouldn’t describe our president [that way].” —Sen. John Fetterman in response to Rep. Nancy Pelosi
Re: The Left
“Here we are, two months after the assassination of Charlie Kirk and little more than a year removed from two attempts on President Trump’s life, and Virginia’s incoming chief law enforcement officer wants to shoot Republicans in the head.” —Nate Jackson
“The city that was attacked by radical Muslims 25 years ago has now elected a radical Muslim as its mayor — and one who didn’t hide it, visiting more than 50 mosques during his campaign.” —Nate Jackson
“The saddest part is he’d never have won were New York full of New Yorkers.” —Michael Knowles
Political Futures
“Many of our political allies believe that Mamdani will be the ‘kiss of death’ for the Democrats. That’s wishful thinking. It would be true if it were 1980, 1984, or 1988. It was less true in the 90s, and it’s not true today when 66% of Democrats have a positive view of socialism.” —Gary Bauer
“Many of the people unhappy with the Democrat Party are people like Mamdani. They’re to the left of the Democrat Party, and they want an even more left-wing Democrat Party. They want a party led by AOC, not Chuck Schumer. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that just because the Democrat Party is unpopular there is suddenly a huge majority of conservatives in the country now.” —Gary Bauer
Belly Laugh of the Day
“People in red states: please share all of the horrible, scary things about your state to warn people against moving there.” —Allie Beth Stuckey
Upright
“What Washington needs is a return to common sense. Common sense up here is illegal. I mean, you’ll look at some of the rules and the regs and the people in charge, and you’ll ask yourself, how did these people make it through the birth canal?” —Sen. John Kennedy
“I am baffled and frankly shocked at the attempts by some on the right to side against the Jews after October 7 and to blame the Jews for every bad thing that has happened in our country since. … What good is our movement if we can’t act any better than the radical left, which refuses to purge itself of the same kind of hate? … I humbly submit to all conservatives: it’s time we once again took out the trash.” —Scott Jennings
On a Hopeful Note…
“Our opponents are offering an economic nightmare — we’re delivering an economic miracle. … They want higher spending for government and illegal aliens — we want bigger paychecks for American workers and American families.” —Donald Trump
ON THIS DAY in 2024, grassroots Americans breathe a massive sigh of relief after Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris. This day in history yielded more presidential election results: Abraham Lincoln (1860), Benjamin Harrison (1888), and Herbert Hoover (1928) were all elected.
Although antisemitism has been serious problem on the Left in recent years, now the Right is dealing with it as well, with Senator Ted Cruz calling it a “poison;” as Tucker Carlson hosted a well-known anti-Semite on his program, and the controversy over that interview has exploded in political circles, with some analysts warning of growing antisemitism and anti-Israeli sentiment doing potentially serious damage to the Republicans; President Trump’s tariffs go before the Supreme Court, as critics say they’re illegal, but the President says they’ve helped the economy; as kids today are growing up with artificial intelligence as part of their lives, former CIA operations officer Adam Hardage, author of “The Alpha Blueprint: Preparing the Next Generation for an AI Future,” talks to CBN’s The Global Lane about how parents can help their children learn to use AI for good, and learn to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not; and the Megiddo Mosaic has been called the “greatest discovery in Israel” since the Dead Sea Scrolls – and it’s now on display at the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC.
Fox News host Greg Gutfeld and the panel discuss if New York City can survive under the reign of Mayor Zohran Mamdani on ‘Gutfeld!’ #fox #media #breakingnews #us #usa #new #news #breaking #foxnews #gutfeld #greggutfeld #gutfeldshow #zohranmamdani #mamdani #newyork #nyc #newyorkcity #mayor #politics #political #politicalnews #government #cityhall #republicans #gop #democrats #democrat #democraticparty #leadership #comedy #satire #conservative #washington #washingtondc #dc
“We are going to get the answers WE ALL DESERVE. As with any investigation, I cannot predict where it will land, but I can promise you an honest and dignified effort at truth. Not “my truth,” or “your truth,” but THE TRUTH.”
(Charlotte Hazard – Just the News) FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Saturday that he is shocked to his core about what he has learned during ongoing investigations to root out public corruption and political weaponization of intelligence agencies.
“The Director and I are committed to stamping out public corruption and the political weaponization of both law enforcement and intelligence operations,” Bongino wrote on the social media platform X. “It is a priority for us. But what I have learned in the course of our properly predicated and necessary investigations into these aforementioned matters, has shocked me down to my core.” View article →
After days of speculation, former House Speaker and legendary insider trader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has formally announced that she out.
In a Thursday morning video, Pelosi announced that she won’t seek reelection after completing her current term.
“There has been no greater honor for me than to stand on the House floor and say, ‘I speak for the people of San Francisco.’ I have truly loved serving as your voice in Congress, and I’ve always honored the soul of Saint Francisco — ‘Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.’ The anthem of our city,” Pelosi said in a voiceover. Which ‘Lord’ she was referring to is unclear.
“That is why I want you, my fellow San Franciscans to be the first to know I will not be seeking re-election to Congress. With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative as we go forward.”
Pelosi, who has been in congress since 1987 after winning a special election to replace the late Rep. Sala Burton (D-CA), served as House speaker from 2007-2011, and then again from 2019 to 2023.
Pelosi become one of President Trump’s largest enemies over the past decade – dramatically tearing up his State of the Union speech in 2020, and refusing to allow the National Guard to deploy on Jan. 6.
Trump cheered Pelosi’s retirement announcement – telling Fox News: “The retirement of Nancy Pelosi is a great thing for America,” adding that she’s “evil,” “corrupt,” and “only focused on bad things for our country.”
“She was rapidly losing control of her party and it was never coming back. I’m very honored she impeached me twice and failed miserably twice,” Trump added.
Of course, she hasn’t been right for a while… this was five years ago:
Democrats have already started jumping into the race to replace the former House speaker.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is retiring from Congress when her term ends in 2027, she announced Thursday.
The 85-year-old San Francisco Democrat has continued to serve in the House after being the first and only woman to serve as House speaker, holding that position during two separate terms: from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023.
“For decades, I’ve cherished the privilege of representing our magnificent city in the United States Congress,” she said in a video focusing primarily on her constituents, opening with “Dear San Francisco.”
“I truly loved serving as your voice in Congress,” she said.
“With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative,” Pelosi continued.
Pelosi’s tumultuous relationship with President Donald Trump featured public showdowns, two impeachments, and a starkly polarized political climate.
President Trump reacted to the news on Thursday morning, saying that “she was evil” and “corrupt,” according to Fox News. “The retirement of Nancy Pelosi is a great thing for America.”
Pelosi’s retirement could open up a wide Democratic primary in the Bay Area to replace her, and she’s held the seat since 1987.
California state Sen. Scott Wiener, a far-Left progressive, already jumped into the race last month, as the seat is likely to stay deep blue.
“My family escaped fascism in Europe. I never thought the United States would slip into fascism like we’re seeing today,” Wiener said in his launch video. “San Francisco has always been on the right side of history.”
“Join me now, before everything we believe in is lost for good,” he added.
In addition, former Chief of Staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Saikat Chakrabarti, is running for the seat.
Pelosi’s retirement comes amid a likely fierce 2026 battle for the House, as Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the Senate.
A mix of reactions to her retirement poured in on social media.
“The GOAT – thanks for your incredible service, Rep. Pelosi, and for modeling true selfless leadership by stepping back and making space for a new generation of leaders,” Amanda Litman, president of Run for Something, posted to X.
“After serving for nearly 200 years, Nancy Pelosi won’t seek reelection,” conservative commentator Jason Rantz wrote.
Pelosi was expected to announce whether she would retire following Tuesday’s Proposition 50 vote in California, which she campaigned heavily in favor of. The ballot measure to redraw congressional districts in the state to heavily favor Democrats until 2030 passed by a wide margin. Proponents of the measure said it would counteract Republican redistricting efforts in Texas and other red states, and it is currently facing a federal lawsuit from the California Republican Party.
Fresh off the back of his election victory, the Democratic socialist wasted no time in vowing to follow through on his bold and unabashedly progressive plans.
Today in this episode of Lumumba’s Africa, Professor PLO Lumumba examines the significant influence of a major force in global affairs: the network of foundations and NGOs funded by George Soros and the ideology of globalism they promote.
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