Why would we do that? Galatians 4.8-11
Galatians 4 (3)
Pray Psalm 106.44, 45, 48.
Nevertheless He regarded their affliction,
When He heard their cry;
And for their sake He remembered His covenant,
And relented according to the multitude of His mercies…
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the LORD!
Sing Psalm 106.44, 45, 48.
(Trust in Jesus: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus)
Look upon us, LORD, with favor, see us in our sore distress!
Hear our cries, with love surround us; turn again to heal and bless!
Refrain, v. 48
Blessèd be our God and Savior, evermore His praise proclaim!
Let all those who know Your favor praise Your holy, glorious Name!
Read Galatians 4.1-11; meditate on verses 8-11.
Preparation
1. What were the Galatians beginning to do?
2. What did Paul fear?
Meditation
What difference does knowing God make in our lives? The Galatians had come to know the Lord only because He had first known (loved) them (v. 9). They forsook the idols they had served—which were not really gods—to worship and serve the one true God. Now they were in danger of falling back into idol worship. Because circumcision was just the beginning for the Judaizers. They had a whole regimen of things to do if you really wanted to be saved, including keeping all the familiar Jewish holy days and seasons (v. 10). Paul dismissed these as “weak and beggarly elements” which once held the Galatians in a bondage of salvation by works.
But God set them free of this bondage and had made them His own adopted children. It was irrational and unthinkable to Paul that they, having come to know the Lord, would so quickly return to their idolatrous ways. Paul feared for them, because it was beginning to look as if his labors among them were bearing no fruit and thus had been in vain (v. 11).
I think it’s safe to say that Paul was speaking in hyperbole to shock the Galatians into their senses. The Judaizers were teaching faith in Jesus plus a raft of works for those who would be saved. Paul preached faith in Jesus unto good works, which are the proof of salvation, not the means to it. The Galatians were allowing smooth-talking false teachers to make them forget what Paul taught and embrace what the Judaizers taught.
But to do so would be to return to bondage, to weak and beggarly works and rituals which clamp those who embrace them into bondage to sin. Did the Galatians want to go back to bondage? Do we? Knowing God sets us free from works-salvation unto salvation that works. We need to keep this straight.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“And this is eternal life,
that they may know You,
the only true God
and Jesus Christ
Whom You have sent” (Jn. 17.3).
“That they may know that You,
Whose Name alone is the LORD,
are the Most High over all the earth” (Ps. 83.18).
“For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods” (Ps. 97.9).
Paul wrote that when the Galatians did not know God, they served other ideas and things that most obviously were not gods, and not even nature pretended that it was so (Gal. 4.8)—they were thoughts and items made from silver and gold that couldn’t taste, touch, see, hear, speak, smell, or move. They were useless rubble, and worse yet, those that trusted in them were similarly endowed (Ps. 115.3-8).
Paul’s words about them were truthful and harsh: “I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain” (Gal. 4.11). These words, were similar to those written earlier in his letter: “Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?” (Gal. 3.4). The Galatians’ mindset was vexing to Paul, and of much concern. And should be to us, as well. Do we want to labor for, or suffer, anything in vain? Or worse yet, cause those who care deeply about us to feel that their work and prayers on our behalf have been in vain?
We would do well to remember the Galatians’ perilous, slippery-slope situation, as a preventative: wrong beliefs and wrong thinking, lead to wrong choices.
And the best way to remember, is to be filled with the Holy Spirit, Who leads us into all Truth through the reading of God’s Word and prayer. “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight…” (Heb. 4.12, 13). The Word and Spirit that live within, the One Who cries out, ‘Abba, Father!’ (Gal. 4.6), is the One that “keeps us from stumbling” (Jude 1.24).
Do we want to go back to bondage? For any reason? No. No, thank you.
“Knowing God sets us free from works-salvation unto salvation that works.”
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
(Edward Mote, 1834)
Reflection
1. What are some “weak and beggarly” elemental things that might tempt you off the Jesus Path?
2. How should you prepare to deal with such things?
3. How can you help other believers to recognize and resist these temptations?
Though our religion forbids idolatry, yet many practice spiritual idolatry in their hearts. For what a man loves most, and cares most for, that is his God: some have their riches for their God, some their pleasures, and some their lusts. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Galatians 4.8-11
Pray Psalm 106.1-6, 48.
Thank and praise the Lord for His patience and His grace. Confess any known sins and commit your day to loving and serving Him.
Sing Psalm 106.1-6, 48.
(Trust in Jesus: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus)
Praise the LORD! Give thanks and praise Him! He is good, His love endures!
More His works than can be spoken; let His praise be ever sure!
Refrain v. 48
Blessèd be our God and Savior, evermore His praise proclaim!
Let all those who know Your favor praise Your holy, glorious Name!
LORD, when You Your people favor, help me, O, remember me,
that I may Your blessings savor and in joy and glory be!
Refrain
We have sinned, just like our fathers; we have done iniquity.
Just like them, our hearts have wandered; we have acted wickedly.
Refrain
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
