Tag: Excellence in Business - Proverbs 20-21

Proverbs 20:23 (NASBStr)

Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,

And a false scale is not good.

Proverbs has much to say about being honesty in business.   God is very much concerned about whether we are holding integrity in business or not because He is a God of integrity.   God is a God of truth and expect truth from those who conduct business.  It is so easy, in business and other areas, to slip into the "edges" of integrity and fail to pay the "costs" of honest business.   Note what the Word Biblical Commentary has to say about the above proverb and the aspect of honest business practice:

Word Biblical Commentary:  "See Proverbs 20:11; 11:1. It has been inferred that business methods in Israel must have been very devious, since there are so any pertinent proverbs that regulate honest measurement. But there is more than human knavery implied here. According to 16:11, scales and weights are the Lord's work; they are, literally, his. It is astonishing to see this kind of responsibility so closely tied to the Lord; it shows how highly regarded was honesty."

When we are conducting the business of this world we are placed into a caldron that allows the world to see our true character.    The act of earning money seems to test us more than even playing sports (also a great measure of character).   Jacob had his character tested when dealing with his father-in-law, Laban.   Boaz had his integrity tested when he wanted to redeem Ruth's deceased husband's right to her land and her hand.   Ananias and Sapphira had their integrity tested and failed the test, wanting to be seen as something they were obviously not.    Justice and honor belong to God.  He expects it to belong to us, despite the circumstances He puts us in to measure it.

Tag: God's Blessings vs Complaining - Psalm 102-104

Psalms 103:1-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Tag:  Praise trumps Complaining

One of the greatest struggles we have in life is the ability to see God's marvelous work in our midst through the cloud, fog and mirky waters of life.  Whatever analogy you want to use to describe the frustrations of life, they tend to want to move us to forget the work that God does for us, in us and with us.   The writer of this Psalm is asking us to pause and it exhorting us to "forget not all his benefits."   The devil and his unholy system want to distract our focus and have us fret over the things of this world.  Yet, God has given us benefits we should remember that can trump the trials of this life.  Note the areas the writer mentions:

1. He forgives our iniquity - no matter what life gives us we can rest in the peace that there is NO MORE any condemnation to those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)

2. He heals our diseases - this does not mean that God heals "all" diseases (think about the Apostle Paul ... 1 Corinthians 12:7-8).  But, if there is healing it comes from the hand of God (Psalm 147:3).

3.  He redeems your life from the pit - Again, this is not an all inclusive statement, but rather that any redemption comes from God initiating and consummating it.  We can rejoice that God pulls out out of the miry clay (Psalm 40:2).  

4.  He crowns us with love and mercy - this may be the greatest in this list of blessings.  Not only does God heal and rescue us, He bestows on us His love and His mercy.  He gives us blessings we can use in our life to serve others.  Love and mercy are not dormant or stagnant gifts.  They are to be used to love others and to show them mercy. That is what the entire book of 1 John is about; those whom God loves, love.  

5.  He satisfies with good - James 1:17 tells us that anything good we get in our lives is from God.  Matthew 5:45 tells us that God sends the rain on the just and the unjust.  Even the unjust, who known not God and fail to acknowledge Him, "benefit" from the goodness that is from God.  But, the believer, in particular, is given good things by God.  

6. Our youth is renewed like the eagles - why the writer picks the eagle as the metaphor for our youth being renewed, it is hard to say.  But, there is a picture of strength, freedom and beauty in the image.   Only when we get old can we appreciate how God can restore our strength and our desire to be curious and the beauty of our nature.   

In all these benefits we see that the writer tells his "soul" to reflect and refresh itself on these thoughts.   We are crushed every day with the burdens of this life.  Yet, God is in the process of renewing us and giving us glorious refreshment, if we will but see it.  Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not His benefits!!

Tag: Decison Making and the Will of God - 1 Chronicles 16-19

1 Chronicles 17:1-4

Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in.

Tag:  Decision Making and the Will of God

When it comes to making decisions for our lives we have to recognize two aspects:  1). God is the one who makes the final decision, and, 2). We should seek God BEFORE we make the decision.   In the above passage we see what happens when a man of God (Nathan) moves forward on emotion and does not seek God, first.   God is charge of all decisions, He is completely sovereign over the affairs of all men:

Proverbs 16:33

The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord.

Proverbs 16:1

The plans of the heart belong to man,

but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Proverbs 16:9

The heart of man plans his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps.

God sets the affairs of every man.  This is why we should seek His will in our lives.  However, Nathan was so excited about the thought of doing something great for God, he forgot to ask God.   We are to seek God, no matter how excited about the "steps" we are planning.   God wants to give us wisdom:

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

God wants us to seek wisdom, BEFORE we move forward.   He is there to offer us wisdom.  How do we know the thoughts we have ARE in God's sovereign plan?  James tells us what it looks like when we get wisdom from God, as well:

James 3:17

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

When we get wisdom from God it is peaceable and gentle. It is open to reason. It demonstrates mercy to others.  I produces good fruit (results).  It is not partial and it is sincere.   Ask God for wisdom before you do any action for Him. 

Tag: Leadership Quality - Numbers 9-12

Numbers 12:3

Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.

Tag: Leadership Quality

In today's market place we have been conditioned that the strong inherit the leadership positions.   We actually promote the "warrior-ruler-sage" brand over any other type of leadership quality.   However, in the above verse we see that the man God called to lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt and into the promise land did not come across as today's leadership prototype.   Today's leader is not seen as "meek" like Moses is described in the above verse.  Here is what one grammar writer says about the "meek" in the Hebrew used to describe Moses:

Vine:  anaw (עָנָו, 6035), “humble; poor; meek.” This adjective, which appears about 21 times in biblical Hebrew, is closely related to ‘ani and derived from the same verb. Sometimes this word is synonymous with ‘ani. Perhaps this is due to the well-known waw-yodh interchange. ‘Anaw appears almost exclusively in poetical passages and describes the intended outcome of affliction from God, namely “humility.” In its first appearance the word depicts the objective condition as well as the subjective stance of Moses. He was entirely dependent on God and saw that he was: “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Num. 12:3).

In our economy those who look strong and confident inherit the power.  In God's world and plan this not so:

Matthew 5:5

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

In God's plan things are upside down.   The powerful in God's mind are those who find their strength in Christ and not in themselves.   When we are completely dependent on God we can find strength, even though we are leaning on Him for everything.  When we lean on God for everything out meekness will not appear as weakness.  

Tag: The Central Focus of Believers - 1 Timothy 4-6

1 Timothy 6:11

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Tag:  The Central Focus of Believers

There are many distractions in this world.   We can follow many interests and pursuits.   Timothy was a young pastor in a very progressive and sinful town:  Ephesus.  The town was the epicenter for the worship of the love god, Diana.   The main commerce was derived from everything associated with that worship.  When Paul first went to the town and people became believers the silver smiths (who made their money from making figures of Diana) almost had him killed.   The pursuit in Ephesus was money.  In the above verse when Paul writes to Timothy, "... flee these things ...", he is referring to the pursuit of riches.   In the verses just before these Paul tells him the problems with "loving money."   As a young pastor Timothy is to flee that pursuit (riches) and to, rather, pursue "righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness and gentleness."    These are holy pursuits.   Just prior to Paul mentioning money he wrote about how worthless it is to pursue godliness as a "means of gain."   The false teachers saw there was a market in teaching false teaching ... people would pay for it.  The same is true today.   We love to hear a great speaker and we can often, as believers, be persuaded to follow and believe their teaching because it tickles our ears.   What Paul is telling Timothy is to pursue the righteousness in Christ.  That is our goal as believers.   Pursue Christlikeness.  

Tag:: Christians Speak with Authority - John 7-8

John 7:16-18

So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

Tag: Christians Speak with Authority

When the Jews challenged Jesus about His teaching He revealed to them that His authority for His teaching came from God.  God was the authority of all the truth Jesus spoke.  Therefore, He did not back down from their challenges.    In the above text Jesus makes it clear that when we speak outside the context of God's Word we are not speaking to give God the glory but we are speaking to get glory ourselves.  The author of a book (one he or she creates in his or her own mine) is the "authority" of that book.   Jesus is saying they seek their own glory because they speak on their own authority.   Jesus did not come to seek His own glory.  He cam to seek the Glory of God and therefore spoke Words from God.   The concept is easy to see but hard to practice.   When we share the gospel with others we are giving them the authority of God's Word.  When we talk to them about things contrary to God's Word we are sharing with them our opinion and we ware seeking our own glory.  The point of the teaching in the above passage is that we can believe Jesus' words because He was speaking on behalf of God; and, when we speak to others we need to give them God's Word.   Those who reject "our" speech and words have a right to question their authority.  But, when we speak God's Word they have no right to question the authority of them, because they come from God.  Give people God's Word.  

Tag: Knowlege of God - Hosea 1-7

Hosea 4:6

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;

because you have rejected knowledge,

I reject you from being a priest to me.

And since you have forgotten the law of your God,

I also will forget your children.

Tag: Knowledge of God is Essential to Please God

Hosea is a book that condemns Israel for leaving the convent God made with them.  They have sought after other gods and worshipped them.  They have turned the land Yahweh gave them into a land of false and meaningless gods.  There are many reasons why this has happened but the above verse speaks about one of those reasons; perhaps the strongest.  They have left God's covenant because the people responsible to teach them God's convents (the priest) failed to do so.  The role of the priest in the covenant system was to teach the people and hold them accountable for the instructions in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible).   The Torah was God's manual of how to live and approach Him.  It was the priest job to teach the Torah to the people.  But, as the verse states, they had forgotten the Torah and thus, God would forget them. If we want to please God we must have faith (Hebrews 11:6).   If we want faith we have to know God and read His Word (Romans 10:17).   Faith comes from knowing more and more about the deep knowledge of God.  The more I know about God the more I can learn to trust in Him for everything in my life .  The people of Israel had no one to teach them the knowledge of God, so they fell off in faith and worshiped false gods.  Doctrine is key to faith.  Knowing God is key to pleasing God. 

Tag: Rich vs Poor - Proverbs 19

Proverbs 19:1

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity

than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

Proverbs 19:4

Wealth brings many new friends,

but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

Proverbs 19:7

All a poor man's brothers hate him;

how much more do his friends go far from him!

He pursues them with words, but does not have them.

Proverbs 19:14

House and wealth are inherited from fathers,

but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Proverbs 19:17

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,

and he will repay him for his deed.

Proverbs 19:22

What is desired in a man is steadfast love,

and a poor man is better than a liar.

Tag:  Rich vs Poor

It is obvious from the above proverbs what Solomon thinks of money vs poverty.   God is not impressed with money, but man is.   Man is obsessed with wealth and the "security" they think that comes with it.   What we see in the above verses is that man lives based upon wealth status, but God orders our life based upon our relationship with Him, not the size of our check book.  Solomon was the richest man of his day according to God's Word:

1 Kings 3:10-13

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.

God is not opposed to wealth.  But, in the above passages we can see the priority it should have in our lives.  The more we have the more we should worship God in the center.  The less we have the more we should worship God in the center.   Either way, God is in the center.  

Psalm 99-101 - Good Leaders Know Nothing

Psalms 101:4

A perverse heart shall be far from me;

I will know nothing of evil.

Tag: Good Leaders know nothing

We talk a lot about what we know.  In fact, in leadership, knowledge is highly praised.   We are supposed to know things.   However, in regard to evil, we are to know "nothing" according to one of the greatest leaders who ever lived: David.   The problem with that thought process is, however, we like to know about evil.   We like to read stories of evil.  News feeds, blogs and social media troll to entice us to read about evil.   Advertising agencies titillate us with "edgy" stuff to make us want to read their ads ... this is why they use ill-clad women to catch they eye of men.   We have an inner bent to "know" about evil.   The above text is a commitment of King David's leadership.  He will not "know" anything about the evil around him.   It would have been nice for him to keep this commitment, however.   When it was time to go to war for all kings, David decided to stay back and sent Joan, his commander, out with the troops instead.   He stayed home.  He wandered one night to his roof top and say Bathsheba bathing in her home.   IF he would have kept this promise to God to "know no evil," he would not have committed adultery.     IF David would not have had pride in his heart to "number" all his troops and people in his kingdom he would have avoided the wrath of God for his pride.   David wanted to "know" how big his kingdom was because that would show how "big" he was.   Great kings stay away from "knowing" about evil.   They are fine being in the dark.  The are fine being the last to know or hear about something (and never knowing or hearing about something).   If you want to be a Godly leader you have to be a leader who doesn't know everything.  

1 Chronicles 10-14 - Fame is From God

1 Chronicles 14:16-17

And David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.

Tag:  Fame is From God

The word translated from the Hebrew above for "fame" is the word, "sem."   It is used in the Bible over 700 times.  It is most often translated, "name."   the essence of the above verse is to tell us that David's "name" spread throughout all the lands.  God promoted David to the nations around them.  The fear of David fell upon the surrounding nations.   David was willing to obey God and God, in turn, promoted David.   This is why, in the case above, the word is translated "fame."    The thought here is that our responsibility is to follow God and God allows the fame of our name to be great, by His power.   We are not to seek self-promotion.   Note David's son, Solomon's words on this thought:

Proverbs 27:2

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;

a stranger, and not your own lips.

Proverbs 25:27

It is not good to eat much honey,

nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.

David choose to follow God.  As a result people followed him and he received the fame of the world around him for his devotion to God.  If you are going to have fame let it be for the fact that you stand for and with Christ.  

Tag: Team Work - Numbers 5-8

Numbers 7:12-17

He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. And his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

Tag:  Lessons about "Buy-In" - Teamwork

In corporate America the talk of "employee buy-in" in regard to some change initiative is very important.   Companies will go to extremes to make sure the "team" has bought into the change process and the object of the change.   The key is to get "every" staff member "engaged" in the process of the change.  In this section of Numbers we are seeing God's work among His people in regard to the change of "Tabernacle" living.  God is establishing the framework for worship, sacrifice and community living in the midst of each.   The above verse are the response of the Tribe of Judah to God's initiative.  God is changes the way they all approach Him and Judah responds with a gift.   Chapter seven is the 2nd longest chapter in the Bible (Psalm 119 being the longest).  The above verses are repeated twelve times, with the only change bing the name of the tribe and the name of the tribe leader.  Every other aspect of each tribes present to the worship leaders is the same.   There are a few lessons we can learn:

1.  There is total buy-in when everyone contributes the same thing - not one tribe was slack.  This is team oriented. 

2.  There is sacrifice in giving by everyone.  Not one tribe gave more or less than the other one.   Not only was it team oriented, but it team oriented with equity.  

3.  There is a repetition of structure to the giving.  It was done each day (not all at once) for twelve days.  They could have all showed up at one time to give their gifts.  Instead it was repetitive in nature, showing the entire nation the importance of it.  It went on and on for twelve days.   It was team oriented with equity completed in a weighty manner to show importance.

4.  It was consistent in offering.  This could have been a chance of one tribe to out do the other tribe.  But, instead, the we have a consistent giving of the exact same nature.  It was team oriented with equity done in a weighty manner absent ego and envy. 

We could learn about teamwork from the framework of Numbers 7. 

Tag: Overflowing Thanks for Salvation - 1 Timothy 1-3

1 Timothy 1:12-14

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Tag: Overflowing Thanks for Your Salvation

Paul, just prior to the above passage, started this little "pastoral letter" (he is writing to young Pastor Timothy) with a warning to false teachers.  He is teaching Timothy what to do if you encounter false teaching in the church.  However, the verse just before briefly mentions the Gospel, the standard for teaching:

1 Timothy 1:11

... in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

That brief statement (I have been entrusted) caused Paul to breakout in praise and thanksgiving for his salvation, call to service and relationship with Christ.  Paul had no issues praising God for his salvation.  each of his letters has a sense of praise and worship for what God did for him.   In this letter to Timothy he especially wanted the young pastor to remember Paul's formal life.  He WAS blasphemous, a persecutor of the church and an insolent opponent of the Gospel.   Yet, Paul received grace and mercy and an overflowing of God's love, supplying faith to Paul to believe.   Breaking out in praise for our salvation ought to be a natural thing.   God wants our praise and saved us for it.  Our natural walk with Him ought to cause us to burst forth with praise and love and worship. If not, we may have something we have put in place of Him.   God wants our praise and, because of what He has done for us, we out to burst out.  

Tag: Your Heart Tells Us Who You Are: Luke 5-6

Luke 6:43-45

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Tag:  You are what your heart says you are

The false teachers didn't like Jesus' popularity.  They saw Him as a threat to their power and popularity.   Jesus wanted to point out, that despite their "religious" appearance, they weren't so.  Jesus wanted his disciples to see that you can talk and dress up as one thing but what you are internally, will be seen in your conduct eventually.   The religious appearance of the false teachers eventually gave way to the evil in their hearts.  The principle is quite true, therefore, if you want to change how you act, you have to change the condition of your heart.  Change is not external in nature, in is internal.  It is not conforming to an image, it is transforming your internally.  Note one commentary:

WBC:  The application of the parable is clear. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil. Just as trees produce fruit in keeping with their nature, so also do people. The hearts of the righteous, having been transformed by the regenerating work of salvation (Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 36:25-27; John 3:5; Titus 3:5), hold good treasure; the hearts of the unregenerate hold evil treasure. Just as what the fruit trees bear reveals their nature, so also what people say reveals the nature of their heart, since the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart (cf. Prov. 10:32; Matt. 15:18). How people speak most clearly reveals what is in their heart.

Those who follow false spiritual teachers will manifest the same corruption that they do. Only those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ can produce the fruit of repentance (Luke 3:8) that marks a transformed life (2 Cor. 5:17).

Life is an internal happening.  We can change the things on the outside all we want.  But if we have no internal change of heart we are simply putting lipstick on a pig:

Proverbs 11:22

Like a gold ring in a pig's snout

is a beautiful woman without discretion.

Tag: God's Rule and the Saints of the Most High - Daniel 7-12

Daniel 7:18

But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’

Tag:  God Reigns, with the "saints of the Most High."

1 Corinthians 6:2

Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?

Revelation 2:26

The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,

Revelation 20:4

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

There is some debate in regard to the identity of the "saints of the Most High" in Daniel 7.   The term appears in three other verses in the chapter.   However, when compared to the other passages listed, above, it might be that the term refers to the saints in Christ, who WILL be given the authority to rule over the kingdoms of this world.  We do know that the Saints in Christ will reign.  In Daniels vision we see that the "saints of the Most High" will receive the kingdom and reign over the earthly kingdoms.  We now see the earthly kingdoms tormenting the believers in this world (the saints of the Most High).  We know this to be true today and was stated to Daniel in this vision:

Daniel 7:25

He (earthly kings) shall speak words against the Most High,

and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, ...

So, we see that there will be a day when those being persecuted by the rulers of this world will stand with God and judge the rules of this world. Today we are nothing to the kingdoms of this world.  One day we will rule over them.  Living by faith is living in light of such truths.  

Tag: Be Content - Proverbs 17-18

Proverbs 17:1

Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife.

Tag: Be content

A proverb is a way to teach wisdom in a simple way with a word picture, or with contrasting or complimentary statements called parrelism (see the bottom of this web site).  This proverb gives us insight on the importance of peace. If given the option to win the lotto or have a little peace and quiet, most of us would choose the cash payoff. Solomon gives us insight, however, and states that it is better to have a simple crust of bread and still be able to maintain peace then to have it all and be beat up by strife. Our society doesn’t put much value on having little. We are hit by advertisements every day that tell us that we need “their” brand to attract others to us; or, a specific car to reach social acceptance; or a certain credit card rating to know we have it made. Solomon tells us that having little is better than having much when the little is accompanied by peace. It is amazing how families fight over what is left behind after a death of a loved one. This proverbs tells us that a lot of stuff can’t give us peace. Peace is being content with what God has given us … even if it’s just a crust!  Our enjoyment of life is enhanced by peace in our lives, not by stuff in our lives.   Jesus said:

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

We want stuff so we can feel secure.  God gives us His peace for security.  Solomon was writing about the pease that Jesus is talking about for our lives. 

Tag: God vs Man's gods - Psalm 96-98

Psalms 96:4-6

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Tag:  God vs Man's gods

In a match between God and the gods man has created there is not comparison.   As the above psalm states, "For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols."    We can worship plastic, gold, timber, siding, decks, travel, sports, victory, praise, acceptance, self, and/or a million other things in our life.   None of them compare to the God of the heaven ... Who made the heavens.   It is interesting that the writer picks the phrase, "... but the Lord made the heavens," as his way of communicating the greatness of God.   First, it is the number one thing that non-believers attack.   God could not have created the heavens in six literal days.   They attack His sovereign rule and His power, by denying his creation.  Second, the fact that God created the heavens shows He rules and owns everything.  The creator of an object has first rights over the object.  We believe that in our culture today. If you write a book, you own the book.  If you composed a song, you own the song. If you painted a picture, you own the picture.   So, when the writer of this Psalm says "the Lord made the heavens," he is saying that God has rights over us.  Therefore all other gods have no claim and are unworthy to be worshiped.   Only the God who created you can be worshipped.  You cant worship what you can create.   It should worship you.   But, no, we worship the thing we CAN create.   God demands we worship Him because He created us.  He is worthy to be praised.  

Tag:. Singing as a Tool for Worship - 1 Chronicles 5-9

1 Chronicles 6:31

These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there.

1 Chronicles 9:33

Now these, the singers, the heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, were in the chambers of the temple free from other service, for they were on duty day and night.

Tag:  Singing as a Tool for Worship

The main subject in the above verse(s) is the act of worship through song.   David established the sons of Kohath (the Kohathites) to be over the act of worship in the specific area of song.  They were to be in charge this act of worship 'day and night."  The book of Psalms contains many of their works.   Many of the unidentified composers of the Psalms would probably fall into this family.  It was their role and responsibility to compose the songs sung in worship to God.  What a marvelous job.  God desires worship from those He creates and He gives them the talent and skill to create the songs that worship Him.   Song writing is a billion dollar business today.  Not like the Kohathites, however.  Today we write songs to get to the top ten list.   We write songs to sell albums.  The Kohathites wrote songs for worship because their role and responsibility..    We aren't operating the church like that today, but it is amazing how churches have turned song writing, intended to worship the God of the universe, into a money making machine.  There is nothing wrong with that, unless the thing that is being worshiped in the song is the singer, the song writer and his/her agent.  

Tag: Structure and Stability in God - Numbers 1-4

Numbers 2:34

Thus did the people of Israel. According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, each one in his clan, according to his fathers' house.

Tag: God is a God of Order

This section of Numbers is all about numbering the nation and structuring the nation.   In the above passage we have a summary of the instructions of how they are to camp and to move, when God instructed them to break-camp and move out, following the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.   The key thought here is, order.   Here is a link to a picture of how they were to camp:

http://www.jesuswalk.com/moses/images/camp-layout-2000x2656x300.jpg

The thought is that God is a God about order and structure.  Note what Paul tells the Corinthian believers, who were NOT following order and structure in their worship:

1 Corinthians 14:40

But all things should be done decently and in order.

This instruction is that the church is to be a place of order as opposed to chaos and happenstance.  God did not have them move out and camp at their own will.  The Tabernacle was in the middle of the camp to show its prominence and to keep them focused on God, who is to be at the center of their lives.  When they moved out it was clockwise in motion, starting with the tribes (lead by Judah) to the East.   God is a God of order.  I recently passed a two week rock concert that is along the expressway,  Thousands and thousands of party goers were camped, aimlessly in the field.  It looked liked chaos.  This would be the opposite of what we see in Numbers.  God is a God of structure and our lives out to reflect that structure, order and stability.   

Tag: The Glory of God - 2 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 1:9-10

They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

Tag: The Glory of God

The above passage is speaking about those who are tormenting and persecuting the believes at Thessalonica.   Paul is writing this letter to encourage them in the love for God, for each other and for him, to not stop what they are doing but to continue on.   One of the de-motivating factors was that the outside and inside forces were trying to discourage these believers.  Paul writes the above words to show them that those who are doing this will ONE DAY be removed.   They will be removed from the presence of the Lord and from His "glory."   When He returns this "glory" will be revealed to the saints and the saints will "marvel" in that glory.   The "glory" (doxa- where we get our English word, doxology) is the shining greatest of what makes God great.   It is a term used to describe what emanates from God as a result of being God.   God's glory will  shine forth for all to see.   When Christ returns He will give us and bestow on us part of this glory because of our relationship with Christ:

2 Thessalonians 2:14

To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That is what gives us value. We are valuable because God bestowed upon us, His glory.   

Tag: Sharing Truth in Natural Places - John 3-4

John 4:4-6

And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Tag:  Sharing Truth in Natural Places

Jews hate Samaritans. All others would have gone around this city.  But, Jesus did not.   As the Son of God He was still 100% man and as he approached the town on a hot day, it was noon, He was thirsty.    This is a natural place to meet ... at the city well. This well has history (see later in the text).  Jesus was willing to take advantage of the situation to glorify His Father by sharing the truth of the Gospel.  Sharing the Gospel is not about finding a place to do so, but about recognizing the places we have already, right in front of us.  In our need (in this case thirst) there is a chance to show truth.   Jesus was "wearied" from His journey.   When we are "wearied" we tend to look for refreshing ... Jesus looked for opportunity to further the truth.  Remarkable!!!

Tag: My Idenity is in Christ - Daniel 1-6

Daniel 1:7

And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

Tag: My Identity is in Christ

The world wants to identify who we are, or should be. The world puts out images of what we should look like. The world tries to shape our being and influence our thinking of what our body types should be; what our hairstyle should look like; what success looks like.  They are, in essence, trying to do what the Babylonians tried to do with the Hebrew slaves: Change their identity.  In the above passage we see that one of the first things they did was change the names of these four Hebrew boys.   Note what one commentator says about this "re-naming" issue:

(World Biblical Commentary)

Like most OT names, all three are theophoric. In other words, each has a divine element in it: either “El” (-el), which means “God,” or “Yah” (-iah), which is an abbreviated form of “Yahweh,” the proper name of Israel’s deity. Daniel means “El is my judge”; Hananiah, “Yahweh is gracious”; Mishael, “Who is what El is?”; and Azariah, “Yahweh has helped.” The chief official changed their names to Babylonian ones (1:7) since they were now servants of the Babylonian king. Daniel became Belteshazzar, which probably means “protect his life.” The Akkadian forms and meanings of Shadrach and Meshach are not clear. Perhaps they were deliberately obscured by the biblical writer because they contained the names of pagan gods. Abednego may be a corruption of abed-nabu, meaning “servant of [the god] Nabu.” Just as there is no struggle recorded over the curriculum, so there is no objection raised about their names, even though they may be pagan.

If the names themselves are not transparent, the significance of the naming is. It shows the dominance of the Babylonians over the Jews. Only one in power may rename another. Adam gave names to the animals, demonstrating that he had dominion over them (Gen. 2:20). God, the divine sovereign, sometimes changed the names of people: Abram to Abraham (Gen. 17:5), Sarai to Sarah (Gen. 17:15), and Jacob to Israel (Gen. 32:28). Also, human kings show their sovereignty in this way. Pharaoh Neco not only decided to replace King Jehoahaz with Eliakim, but he also changed his name to Jehoiakim (2 Kgs. 23:34). Similarly, Nebuchadnezzar put Mattaniah on the Judean throne when he took Jehoiachin into exile, and he changed Mattaniah’s name to Zedekiah (2 Kgs. 24:17). A closer parallel to Daniel is Joseph, whose name was changed by Pharaoh to Zaphenath-Paneah when he came into royal service (Gen. 41:45).

The world wants us to conform to their image just as in this story.   So, God can and does not want that for us.  In Romans 12:1-2 we are told to NOT conform to the image of this world.  That was the challenge for Daniel and his three friends.  They served God and, even though renamed by the Babylonians, they refused to believe and therefore act like that Babylonians.  

Tag: Persuasive Speech - Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16:23 (ESV)

The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious

and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Proverbs 16:23 (NASBStr)

The heart of the wise instructs his mouth

And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Proverbs 16:23 (NIV)

A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,

and his lips promote instruction.

Solomon (and writers of Scripture in general) use the"heart of the wise", frequently (Solomon uses it four times, himself; see Proverbs 10:8; 16:21; 23:19).  In this proverb Solomon is making a familiar connection: Mouth, Heart, Lips.   The ingredients are familiar, as well: Wisdom, Instruction, Persuasion.   When we have the fear of The Lord in our hearts, we will have instruction coming from our mouths, and that will produce fruit, persuasion, on our lips.   Solomon is a product of this recipe.   The Queen of Sheba came to Solomon seeking wisdom.  Solomon let it role off his lips.   Nebuchadnezzar came to Daniel seeking it.  Daniel let what was in his heart (the fear of The Lord) roll of his tongue.   Joseph spoke the wisdom of his heart to Pharaoh.   If we wish to speak truth to our neighbor we need to have wisdom in our hearts.  If we have wisdom in our hearts we can be assured we will provide truth to those who ask an answer about the hope that is in us.  It all begins with the wisdom in our hearts.  It WILL produce persuasive language that is worthy for our hearers to hear.  In the ESV and NASB translations there seems to be more of an emphasis of "my adding" this to my life.   The character of the Proverbs is that there is more of a connection to the "fear of the Lord" in and the "great speech" out.   The connection of the heart to lips can't be ignored.   Those who have a heart for God can be assured they will have lips of knowledge for those who ask.  

Tag: We are His Sheep - Psalm 93-95

Psalms 95:6-7

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture,

and the sheep of his hand.

Today, if you hear his voice,

Tag:  We are His Sheep

We are to praise God because He is both worthy to be praised (our Maker) but also because we are His people, His sheep.    He is our creator and possessor.  Today we don't think of God in the concept of "possessing" us.   Paul often called himself the "servant" of Christ/God.  He knew that God was the owner of all things, the creator of all things.  Note:

Colossians 1:15-17

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

When God calls us His sheep He is not insulting us.  He is simply establishing that we are His to be cared for.   Yes, sheep are not smart animals.  Yes, sheep will wander away.  Yes, she NEED someone to care for them.   But, the beauty in the above passage is that God takes ownership for us.  We have nothing to fear since God owns us and that obligates Him to care for us.  Yet, He does not do so out of obligation, but rather out of love.  For that we can rejoice.   

Tag: History Matters to a Place Today - 1 Chronicles 1-4

1 Chronicles 1:1-4 (NASBStr)

 Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Why does God include all the genealogies in the Bible?  What is the purpose of this book starting out with four chapters of names of people, we probably don't care to know?   It is important to understand the purpose of 1 and 2 Chronicles prior to reading all these names.   Even though God's Word says that ALL of it is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction (2 Timothy 3:16,17), we don't always see it.   When the book was written the nation of Israel was being allowed to return to the promise land after years of captivity under three different leaders/countries.   As they made their trek back to Israel in general and Jerusalem specifically, they found themselves without the structure and leadership of the past.   They had NO king.   They were under the rule of the King of Persia and had no political or distinctive Jewish structure.  The temple was destroyed, the city in ruin and the leadership gone.  Were they still significant as a nation?   Did they still matter to God?   Were the covenants with God still in effect and viable to trust?   These are all questions those returning were asking.   The chronicler wanted to remind them of where they came from and how special they were to God. He wanted to show them how they got where they were (including the disobedience).  He wanted to trace their steps back to the past so they could fully grasps the future.   Most people don't like family reunions.   Especially the younger generation.   This book is a paper trail family reunion.   It is written to show them they are connected with the past and still significant for the future.  For the church today and the believer it is important to remember the connection God's plan has with the past.  Nothing will derail what God has planned. His interaction in history has a purpose and it is all connected.  Each name we read is important to God and a small piece of His plan.  Just as our day-to-day walk with Him matters to us it matters to Him.  Our each step is ordained by God to accomplish His complete plan.  We are tied to the past; the past is significant for the future.   Don't simply forget it.   It matters to God.  It should matter to us.   These names matter to God.  But, more important to the reason the book was written, God wanted the people know He knew them and that He was in this with them.   When putting a culture back together you have to give them a sense of their past (the Lover archetype) and a place in history.   To start something (in this case a new Israel ... in their own land),  you have to know you belong to something greater than yourself.  

Tag: Owned by God - Leviticus 25-27

Leviticus 25:55

For it is to me that the people of Israel are servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Tag:  Owned by God

The entire book of Leviticus (and the entire Law, for that matter) is based upon the premise that God "owns" the people of Israel.  God "redeemed" them when He rescued them from Egypt.   God "choose" them when they were but seed in Abraham.   In Acts 7 when Stephen preached his one and only sermon, he spoke of the fact that God chose the nation of Israel:

Acts 7:2-3

And Stephen said:

“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’

You can't read the OT without understanding that God "owns" the nation of Israel.  Therefore, He, and He alone, can place claims on them.   In the NT believers in Christ are called, by Paul and other writers, Servants of Christ.  We are redeemed and therefore "owned" by Him.  We may operate under grace and not law, but the premise is still true: We are not our own, but we are "bought" with a price - the blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:20).   It is only after we confess, believe and live in light of our redemption can we fully understand and follow God's demands for living.  We are His.  Therefore our serving Him is out of gratitude for what He did for us in the redemption process.  

Tag: Growing to Know Him More and More - 1 Thessalonians 4-5

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2

A Life Pleasing to God

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Tag:  Growing to Know Him More and More

There is a fundamental aspect of life to reach "completion" in something.   We go until the work is "done."  We strive until a goal is "reached."  We are measured and when we meet the measurement there is a sense of pride in the accomplishment.  We want 100% on the paper, project or path.   For then we know that we have done the job.   We tend to look at life like bowling.  The score of 300 is called a perfect game.  We can't do better than that.  In golf, however, there is no "perfect" score - there is just a lower score.  In that sport we are measured agains the score of others.   The Christian faith is more like golf and less like bowling.   In faith we have no score it hit to say we made it.  That was Paul's fear, however, for the Thessalonians when he wrote the above passage.  He wanted them to know that they have done a good job, SO FAR.  But, that they were to strive to know God and obey Him, MORE and MORE.  They were not to be content with a score better than others.  They were to strive for the holiness of God.  That is not a measure on this side of heaven we can reach.  So, we are always striving for it, "in the Lord" (meaning that only through the power of Christ can we strive and reach holiness).  Our desire is to know Him, however, more and more.  Each day to grasp a new facet of His character.  We are to "please" Him. Our goal is not to "please" others, but our goal is to please Him.  To make Him glorified in our lives.  That is the goal.  It can't be reached, but is to be strived for.  It will be reached in glory.  But, for now, we strive each day to know Him more and more. 

Tag: Signs and Belief in Jesus - John 1-2

John 2:11

This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

John 2:18

So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?”

John 2:23

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.

Tag: Signs and Belief in Jesus

In these three verses we have the same English word, "signs" used to describe a miracle of Jesus.  The first miracle was the water into wine. It was a manifestation of Christ's glory.   The reason? Christ would take a simple thing of water and turn it into a useful thing of wine to celebrate the wedding.   Christ work in our lives would be to turn our useless bodies into something for His glory.   Christ was demonstrating the transforming power He has.  The Pharisees would want a sign to know they should believe in Him.    At the Passover He healed and changed people's lives.   These "signs" would be the evidence that others needed to believe.   The final sign was Christ's resurrection from the dead.  That gives us the greatest sign we need.   When we realized He overcame and defeated death, what more of a sign does anyone need?   Later we would read from the words of the angel at the tomb, "He has risen!"    That is the final sign.   Today people want miracles.   The only miracle we need is that HE HAS RISEN!