Tag: Gladness Comes From God’s Goodness - Psalms 125-127

Psalms 126:3

The Lord has done great things for us;

we are glad.

Tag:  Gladness Comes from God’s Goodness

Before we dive into this verse, perhaps we should recall something the Apostle James said in the News Testament:

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Or, perhaps something Jesus said:

Matthew 5:45

so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

If ANYTHING good ever happens to ANYONE on the face of the earth, it is because God has chosen to be good to them.   Perhaps it would be wise for all mankind to stop and think what would happen if we all just received what we deserve.  What would that be?  We know mankind thinks highly of themselves, but if it were not for God’s grace and goodness (to even those who refuse to believe Him and recognize Him), note what God says would happen to us all:

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, when we read this beautiful verse from Psalm 126 about being “glad,” we have to stop and remember that anytime we have “gladness” in our heart, it is because of something a Sovereign God did for us, from the Goodness of His heart.  We can never really, truly be glad if we are not first willing to recognize that every good thing ANYONE has ever experienced has come from God’s gracious hand. Man likes to think he makes his own “luck” and makes his own “good” in his/her life.  Mankind likes to think they are in control.   Yet, the truth of the matter is seen in the above verse.  Gladness comes directly from God’s Goodness.  We ought to spend our time praising Him for it and being thankful to him for it.  

Tag: Motivated By God’s Character - 2 Chronicles 29-32

2 Chronicles 29:8-12a

Therefore the wrath of the Lord came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.”

Then the Levites arose, ...”

Tag:  Inspiration and Motivation Should be Based Upon the Character of God

King Hezekiah is trying to motivate the Levites to return to service to the Temple.   The Temple, under previous kings and leaders, has fallen into extremes disrepair.   To motivate them, King Hezekiah speaks about the power of God, the wrath and judgment of God and the promises of God.  His motivational speech was not about their “positions” or “rights” or possible “blessings” (although all those would be true).  His motivational speech was about the character of God.   That is what should motivate us for service to the King of Kings.   The King could have promised them resources, treasure and position.   Many leaders do just that!!   But, in God’s Service the greatest motivation is the character of our God.   That should instill in our the desire to serve Him and to do a great job for Him!! 

Tag: Prosperity Hinders Pursuit of God - Deuteronomy 7-9

Deuteronomy 8:11-14

“Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,

Tag:  Prosperity Hinders Pursuit of God

When we have al that we need and more we can be assured there is a temptation to stop pursuing God.  This is the warning we see in the above verses.  Having blessing and riches is not evil or wrong in itself.   It is the impact those blessings, wealth and prosperity have on us in regard to our pursuit of God.  God is about to bring the nation of Israel into the promise land. It is a land that is “flowing with milk and honey.”   The nation is about to cease eating manna and, instead, eat real food, for the first time in 40 years.  They are going to eat of the crops they did not grow and the cattle they did not raise.   They are going to live in houses they did not build and have access to wells they did not dig.  Like winning an instant lottery, the nation is about to experience blessings they have seldom had in their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.   Moses, in the above verses, is warning them to NOT turn away from God as a result of this instant prosperity.  

Note what Jesus also says to us about riches:

Matthew 19:23

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.

Note what Jesus says we should do instead:

Matthew 6:31-34

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Tag: God’s Word is a Mirror - James 1-3

James 1:25

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Tag: God’s Word is a Mirror

Looking in the mirror is a popular venture for a jr. high girl and guy. They love to see what they see. Their judgements are often, however, cruel as they disapprove of the new pimple or emerging facial flaw. One hair out of place can secure a teenage girl to sit in front of a mirror more than a thousand chains. Self inspection through mirror-work is a part of life ... except when it comes to spiritual mirror-work. James tells us to look into God's Word, His "perfect" law and law of "liberty". He tells to not just "look" but to "abide by it" and something will take place ... we will be "blessed." Standing in front of a mirror for a long time in the morning will not change your bed-head look. But, standing in front of the mirror and having it inspire and motivate you to pick up a comb and brush will not only correct the problem but bring a more blessed day. So, too, with God's Word. It is not that we simply look at it. It is not that we casually read it (although the simple reading of God's Word gives the Spirit of God the Sword He needs to fight the flesh). We need to read it and act on it, through faith. We need to say to God, "I see what you are saying ... by faith I am going to pick up this brush and do something with my spiritual hair because I can see in your Word I need to." If we simply read a verse-a-day-to-keep-the-devil-away, we will find we are lacking. The key is to "abide" in God's Word and do the necessary mirror work for our lives. Proper mirror work gives us the ability to deal with those outside our lives (outside the window of our lives). So, before you do window-work, make sure you first do the mirror-work by obeying, by faith, what you read in God's Word.

Tag: The Good News is About Peace - Acts 9-10

Acts 10:34-38

Gentiles Hear the Good News)

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Tag:  The Good News is News of Peace

Before we can understand the words of Peter in the above verse (“... preaching good news of peace ...”), we should look at some other passages:

Nahum 1:15

Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him

who brings good news,

who publishes peace!

Keep your feasts, O Judah;

fulfill your vows,

for never again shall the worthless pass through you;

he is utterly cut off.

Isaiah 52:7

How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of him who brings good news,

who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,

who publishes salvation,

who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Ephesians 6:13-15

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, ... and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

When the angels proclaimed Christ’s brith, note their message:

Luke 2:14

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Note Jesus message to His disciples:

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

When Peter, in our verse from Acts, spoke to Cornelius about “peace,” he had good reason to do so.  The Gospel is the message of peace between man and God.  Right now, all of mankind are under the judgment of the consuming wrath of God.  Mankind likes to believe that God is the God of Love and would ever condemn someone to death.  Yet, that is not what the Bible teaches.   God is a consuming fire for judgment against all sin.  If man reject God’s payment for that sin through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, they will face God’s wrath.   The gospel is a message of peace because Christ’s sacrifice knocks down the wall between man and God and restores peace.  

Ephesians 2:13-16

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Tag: Waiting on God - Habakkuk

Habakkuk 2:1

I will take my stand at my watchpost

and station myself on the tower,

and look out to see what he will say to me,

and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

Tag: Waiting For God is a Good Thing

The story of the prophet Habakkuk is more practical and pertinent in our lives, today, than we may want to admit.  The prophet is having a discussion (argument?) with God.  God is about to use a wicked nation (Babylon) to punish God’s chosen people Israel.  Babylon, Habakkuk maintains (and God somewhat concedes this point) is a worse nation than Israel, when you compare sin for sin.   To the Jewish mind, they were very, very special.  God had blessed them and made them a great nation in the midst of all the evil “dogs” of nations around them.   If you read a large portion of the Old Testament you can see why they think that.  Paul even maintains that same thought in Romans 9:1-5.   

However, the key thought for Habakkuk is that why is God using such a wicked nation to punish them.  Certainly God would not soil His hands in such a way.  Note what Habakkuk says in the preceding chapter:

Habakkuk 1:12

Are you not from everlasting,

O Lord my God, my Holy One?

We shall not die.

O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment,

and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.

The prophet appeals to God’s character and He certainly can’t be associated with such filth as Babylon.   

That is what brings us to the above verse where the prophet has decided to “wait.”   He is going to “wait” for an answer.   God will give Him and answer and it is plain that God holds those He blesses and chooses for His own to a higher standard than He does a wicked nation(s).   The key thought, however, is that the prophet must wait for the answer.   We often find ourselves waiting for God to answer our big questions in life.  That is not a bad thing.  God has chosen to speak, as He does for Habakkuk.   God will always answer, but we must always be willing to sit and wait and listen for His response.   The response is always through His word, as it is with Habakkuk.  

The prophet is sitting at his “watchpost” and waiting on God.  That is the best place to be in life.   Finding our own particular “watchpost” is an important aspect of life.  Sitting, waiting and listening for God is never a bad thing, no matter the answer God gives.  The rest of chapter two and three God answers the prophet.  But, only because the prophet asked the har question(s) and then sat and was willing to listen to the Divine answers.   

Tag: Work is Work - Ecclesiastes 1-2

Ecclesiastes 2:22-23

What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

Tag:  Work is Still WORK

In the culture of the United States, work (occupations) have become our god(s).   We worship our work, jobs, occupations.   The type of work we do gives us status.   The amount of hours we put into our work gives us prestige.   The amount of “stuff” we can accumulate as a result of our work pay is the “kingdom” we are building and/or ruling.  We “worth-ship” our jobs.    

In the above text, the wisdom of Solomon comes out.  He gives us the truth about work.   No matter how much we say we enjoy it and find our “purpose” in our work, it is still only a “vexation.”  Our better English would be, “grief.”  Work is grief.  It is “work.”   

The issue we have today, at lease in our U.S. society, is that we tend to make work our life purpose.  We have gurus telling us we should meaning at work.  That work should not be a “job” - rather it should be a mission.   We often hear comments about how much time we spend at work and with our co-workers.  The latest thought is that we ought not to strive for a work-life balance, because work is also our life ... if not most of our life.   Yet, Solomon puts the current philosophy on its head.  Work is full of sorrow and grief as a result of work.  Why is this so?  Solomon does not address this in his statement above, but the conclusion of the book of Ecclesiastes does:  We are to glorify work by using it to glorify God and build His Kingdom, not our own.  Remember, in Genesis 1-3 God ordained work and put man in the Garden of Eden to do work. It was to give man great pleasure.  But, in the Fall of Man, the punishment was that work would be grievous.   This is why man keeps trying to find meaning and fulfillment in work.  It WAS SUPPOSED to be like that. In man’s heart there is still that DNA desire for work to be great.  But, in truth, God’s punishment for sin is that we will never find our fulfillment in work and it was impacted by sin to be grieving for us.  It is only after we come to Christ can that be restored.  Until then, work is work.  

Tag: God Rescues from the Flood - Psalm 122-124

Psalms 124:4-5

... then the flood would have swept us away,

the torrent would have gone over us;

then over us would have gone

the raging waters.

Tag: Only God Can Overcome the Flood

In Psalms 124 we read about David calling out to God in one of his most desperate times.  First, it should make us have some comfort in knowing that “David”, the man God said was “after My own Heart” was in a place of discomfort.   David was being hounded by King Saul.  This song was in one of those times where someone was hunting him and wanting to do him harm.   His solution was to cry out to God.  It was not to form an army. It was not to train for battle.   (Although he would eventually do both those things.)  His solution was cry out to God and cast his cares upon God.   David describes his feelings much like we would when we are completely overwhelmed by the waters of life.   Note the use of the words:  Flood; Torrent; Raging Waters.   David is in a bad place.  He was alone.   His solution?   Cry out to God in faith using prayer as a weapon.   This Psalm is a prayer.  It is for us to pray to God in our times of need.  There is no magic in prayer.  It is simply confessing, as David did, I have no strength to fight these “waters” on my own.  I have to let God fight my battle.   If He does not fight for me, the raging waters will over take me.   So, the key here, is to use my prayer to God as a way to comfort my soul and to rest in the arms of God.   That is what prayer is for.   We confess, “God, I can’t do this ... but, God, you got this!!”   

Tag: Judge Not!! 2 Chronicles 25-28

2 Chronicles 28:8-10

The men of Israel took captive 200,000 of their relatives, women, sons, and daughters. They also took much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria. But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand, but you have killed them in a rage that has reached up to heaven. And now you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, as your slaves. Have you not sins of your own against the Lord your God?

Tag:  Do You Not Have Sins of Your Own?

In the above passage we read the account of Israel fighting against their brother, Judah.  Under King Ahaz, Judah had disobeyed the Lord.   So, for discipline, God sent Israel to war against them and defeat them.  (Which is odd, since Israel, also, disobeyed God.).  As reported above, the men of Israel not only killed almost a quarter-million of the warriors of Judah, they also intended to take captive the woman and children to make them slaves.  Here is where God intervene and stops their behavior.   

God’s point in the above text is to point out that He has a limit to the discipline and those who are employed by His sovereignty, have their own sins that need to be punished.   God uses wicked nations to punish his people (note the story of Job and the use of Assyria and Babylon).   In the above words from God, He is warning them to remember their own sin and to remember He has limits to their inflicting pain on others.  Perhaps Matthew’s Words help us here:

Matthew 7:1-5

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

We are to remember that we, too, have sin and should be warned not to judge others.  

Tag: The Glory of God - Deuteronomy 4-6

Deuteronomy 5:22-24

“These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. And as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. And you said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live.

Tag: God wants to show us His Glory!!

In the above passage we see the reason for the smoke, fire, thunder and darkness at Mt. Sinai during the giving of the Law to Moses and the Children of Israel.  It was for the purpose of God showing us His glory.  When Moses was in the mountain he asked God to show him His glory:

Exodus 33:18

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”

God did so: 

Exodus 33:19-23

And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

God wanted us to see His glory and sent His son so that we might see it:

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

The entire point of the nation of Israel was for mankind to see the glory of God through the goodness of God as He displayed it onto the people of God.  But, Israel rejected that glory.   The glory of God is now seen through the Word of God as it points to Christ.   We can behold His glory and worship and live in light of that glory. 

Tag: Faith Is Believing the “Afar Off” is “Here!” - Hebrews 11-13

Hebrews 11:13

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Tag:  Faith is seeing things “afar” off, but believing and living as though they are in the hear and now.  

This chapter in Hebrews is called the Hall of Faith.  It is the list of men and women who believe in God’s Word, even though they didn’t realize the truth of what they believing in the hear and now.  Look at these examples:

1). Abraham left his home land, by faith (because God told him to) to find a land he had never seen and would never see. He simply had a promise that God would give it to him through his children.  The problem was, even at 100 years of age he still had no children. 

2). Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was promised to give birth to a son (who would be given what Abraham was promised) at the age of 90.   Her faith believed that promise of God. 

3).  Moses had faith that God would use him to lead the nation of Israel (Abraham’s children) out of Egypt to the promise land promised to Abraham. He could have sat comfortable in Egypt’s royal court, but choose to, instead, obey God and lead a rebellious people. 

Note how the writer ends this chapter:

Hebrews 11:32-34

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

Faith is the only way to God and if you want the blessings of God you have to believe and obey His word, completely.   

Tag: We Must Introduce Jesus - Acts 7-8

Acts 8:30-35

So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter

and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,

so he opens not his mouth.

In his humiliation justice was denied him.

Who can describe his generation?

For his life is taken away from the earth.”

And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

Tag:  We Must Introduce Jesus

The above story is about the Ethiopian eunuch who was traveling in his chariot.  God had, in His sovereign power, sent Philip to the Ethiopian.  God sends us to others to share the good news about Jesus.  In the above text the Ethiopian was already searching the Scriptures for the truth about life.  He started with God’s Word.   He needed help seeing that God’s Word was talking about Jesus, the Savior of the World.   He had to put his faith in the fact that God’s Word was and would lead him to Christ.  In our speaking truth to others we have to be willing to share God’s Word, because it points people to God’s Son, Who provides them with God’s Salvation.   It all begins with God’s Word.  The Ethiopian had to believe the Word of God.   Note:

Romans 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

We don’t get faith without hearing and believing God’s Word.  

However, note this:

Romans 10:14-15

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

No one can hear unless someone is sent to teach them God’s Word.   So, God, in His grace, chooses to use mankind to speak to mankind in order to deliver God’s Word - of which, if they believe God’s Word they can have faith to come to Christ.   Philip was obedient to teach God’s Word.   The Ethiopian was obedient to the Word and believed it for His salvation.  

Tag: You Don’t Want God “Against You!” Nahum

Nahum 2:13

Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard.

Tag:  You Don’t Want God “Against You!”

Nineveh had received God’s salvation under the preaching of Jonah.  Despite his personal displeasure, Jonah had delivered a message of repentance to the city and people of Nineveh and they received God’s grace.   That was 100 years earlier than the above verse.  Despite God’s blessing on their lives they have failed to teach their children.  Now the city, country, was full of wickedness once again.  Instead of God’s grace, Nahum is delivering God’s wrath.   The opening line of the above verse says it all: “Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of Hosts ...”.   In many portions of the Scripture, the phrase, “Lord of Hosts,” is a term of comfort.  It means God is bringing all the hosts of heaven to fight for you.  But, in this case, God is bringing all the hosts of heaven to fight against Nineveh.   They had failed to continue their belief in His grace.  Now they must face God’s Wrath.  God is not to be rejected.   He offers His grace to all.  But, those who reject it are destined for His wrath.   

The wrath God speaks about, in the above verse, is extensive.   The strength of their army (chariots) will be cut off.  The strength of their young warriors will be destroyed (young lions).  Their resources will be cut off (prey).   And, finally, their very voice will be cut off forever.  No one will be heard from them again.  When the wicked perish, they are forgotten. 

Psalms 9:17

The wicked shall return to Sheol,

all the nations that forget God.

It is not a good thing to have God say to you, “Behold, I am against you ...”!!

Tag: Leadership Should Avoid Excess and, Instead, Serve Others - Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31:1-9

The Words of King Lemuel

The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?

What are you doing, son of my vows?

Do not give your strength to women,

your ways to those who destroy kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink wine,

or for rulers to take strong drink,

lest they drink and forget what has been decreed

and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,

and wine to those in bitter distress;

let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

Open your mouth for the mute,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

Open your mouth, judge righteously,

defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Tag: Leadership Should Avoid Excess and, Instead, Serve Others

The above proverbs are, as stated, the words of the Queen Mother to her son Lemuel (the term could be another name for Solomon, or simple mean, “one dedicated to God for service).  Whatever the relationship between the Queen and her son, it is clear she takes the role of royalty and leadership seriously.   In essence, the Queen is giving this young leader four areas to consider:

1.  Don’t be swayed in excess by woman and sexual desires.   As a woman, she even goes to the length to say that giving yourself to women is, in essence, giving away your “strength.”    She is warning him of the destruction that awaits him in the harem of life.  

2. Don’t be enticed by excess with alcohol.   Drinking in excess, she warns, is NOT for those in leadership.   She sees the consumption of alcohol, especially strong drink NOT for those who are leading, but for those who are in trouble and ready to perish.   She even goes to the extent to say that drinking is a good way for the depressed to forget their depression.   But, she warns, this is NOT how leaders respond.   

3. She invites him to give strong drink to others in their time of need for it.  This seems to indicate she believes the king is to be servant oriented and be prepared to give of his resources to those who are hurting.  The implication is that the king would have to recognize those who are hurting and depressed.   This means a leader has to be with his/her people to see their needs and to know their struggles.   

4. She goes on to say that the leader is to “be a voice” for those who can not speak.  This very much fits the role of government outlined in Romans 13 but the Apostle Paul.   The poor and needy need a voice.   The leader is not to listen to just those who feed him/her, promote him/her, or reward him/her.   The leader is to look out for the poor and needy and be their voice.  

Leadership has a role and the Queen Mother speaks her mind to her son.  Note, also, the predominant nature of the woman here, over the young leader.   Scripture, especially the book of Proverbs, speaks highly of woman in regard to leadership and instruction.   Even though the land might have been controlled by men, God uses the voice of a woman to speak the truth needed to be heard by the young man.   This is a great truth to hold to and recognize.  

Tag: The Lying Tongue Will Be Judged - Psalms 120-121

Psalms 120:3-4

What shall be given to you,

and what more shall be done to you,

you deceitful tongue?

A warrior's sharp arrows,

with glowing coals of the broom tree!

Tag: Lying Lips are Dealt With!

Deceit and lies are an abomination to God:

Proverbs 6:16-17

There are six things that the Lord hates,

seven that are an abomination to him:

haughty eyes, a lying tongue, ... 

In Psalm 120 we see a prayer of a worshipper who has been lied to.  Note what He prays for:

Psalms 120:2

Deliver me, O Lord,

from lying lips,

from a deceitful tongue.

Yet, he knows the lying tongue will not stop without discipline from God.  That is when he continues his prayer by asking for “sharp arrows and glowing coals” to be brought down on the lier.   Note some other passages that invoke similar thoughts:

Psalms 140:10-11

As for the head of those who surround me,

let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!

Let burning coals fall upon them!

Let them be cast into fire,

into miry pits, no more to rise!

Let not the slanderer be established in the land;

let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

However, this is God’s work, not our work.  Our work, during these times when the enemy is hurting us, is as equally documented in Scripture:

Proverbs 25:21-22

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

for you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

Our method for putting coals on the heads of our enemies is to do kindness to them.   God is the one who takes care of the lying tongue, ultimately.  He is the more offended One.  God is the God of Truth.  Therefore lying is the ultimate sin against God.  Like in the above prayer of Psalms, we need to release those who deceive us to God for His ultimate judgment.  

Tag: God Stirs Up the Wicked - 2 Chronicles 21-24

2 Chronicles 21:16-17

And the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the anger of the Philistines and of the Arabians who are near the Ethiopians. And they came up against Judah and invaded it and carried away all the possessions they found that belonged to the king's house, and also his sons and his wives, so that no son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest son.

Tag:  God Stirs Up the Wicked

Before we can understand the above verse and the tag for this devotional, we ought to read a verse from the prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 45:7

I form light and create darkness,

I make well-being and create calamity,

I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Or, these verses from the story of Job:

Job 1:12-15

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.  Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

God created calamity on Jehoram because, as the king of Israel, he acted in evil.  God used the evilness that was in the hearts of Philistines and the Arabians to cause them to act agains Jehoram and Judah.   Just like God allowed the Sabeans to attack Job’s family at the bequest of Satan, God will allow evil in this world to accomplish His purpose.   For this to happen God simply has to remove His common grace to all mankind.  When God removes His common grace the evilness in man’s life takes over and seeks to murder, kills and destroy.   God allows this wickedness to take place to discipline His children and to bring them back to himself ... as in the above text.   God allows sin to work for Him.  He does not create sin, but He does use sin to created the calamity necessary to accomplish His will.   He does this by simply removing His protective grace and allowing sin to do what it does: Kill!!

Tag: Only God Can Give Us Shock and Awe - Deuteronomy 1-3

Deuteronomy 2:25

This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’

Tag:  Only God Can Give Us Shock and Awe

The above verse comes at the end of God’s instruction to the nation of Israel in regard to their going up against the king and land of one of their many enemies.   God is telling them that they have nothing to fear because He has and will go before them.   God will put fear into the hearts of man for the people of God.  God must do this. We can't by our own strength.  Only God can and does put others in fear of Himself and in fear of believers.   

Believers might think their abilities bring about respect and fear, but, in reality only God can do that.  When the disciples began to spread the Gospel in the early church, it was God who went before them to put fear on the religious leaders.  The religious leaders did not actually fear the Apostles, however.  They feared the people.   God used the act of peer pressure to cause the religious leaders to fear the disciples.   God can use whatever means is necessary, but when we realize that God gives before us, we have confidence and power that ONLY He can provide.   

Tag: Redemption is Secured and Secure! - Hebrews 8-10

Hebrews 9:11-12

(Redemption Through the Blood of Christ)

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Tag: Redemption is Secured and Secure!!

When Christ laid down His life for those who would call on His name for their salvation, He did so to the point of “securing” our eternal redemption.  The word for “secure” in the above passage is:

heurisko (εὑρίσκω) denotes “to find”; in the middle voice, “to find for oneself, to procure, get, obtain,” with the suggestion of accomplishing the end which had been in view; so in Heb. 9:12, “having obtained (eternal redemption).” (Vine)

The work Christ did was so that we could “find” and/or “obtain” a secure redemption.   We can’t secure it ourselves.   This entire section of Hebrews is to compare the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, that was not meant to “secure” an eternal redemption, with the once for all sacrifice of Christ.  The priest of the Old Testament would have to make offering after offering for their sins and the sins of the people.   But, with Christ, we have a once-for-all sacrifice and our eternal redemption is secured and secure in His work, not our own.   We can rejoice in the fact that Christ did the work and there is an eternal benefit for all those who put their complete trust in Him!!  What a great through to rejoice over.  

Tag; Obedience to the Faith - Acts 5-6

Acts 6:7

And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Tag: Obedience to the Faith

There are two aspects of this verse that are important.  The first is the fact that this verse follows the story of the Apostles feeding and caring for the widows, a people group often rejected in this society.   The Apostles recognized the need to care for the physical needs of the world around them.  

They met the physical needs, but that emphasis didn't prevent the teaching of the Word.  In fact, when they met needs, religious leaders came to Christ.  Grace and mercy in our lives demonstrated to those in need will explode the gospel.

This brings us to the other key thought in the above verse.  Notice that as the writer explains that religious leaders came to Christ, uses the phrase that they “became obedient to the faith.”   When we typically think of faith, we don’t think “obedience” - we think belief.   But, as James tells us, faith without works is not faith at all.   Notice these verses about being “obedient” to the faith:

Romans 1:3-5

... concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8

and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Hebrews 5:9

And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

In these verses it is clear that to come to Christ you must be “obedient to the faith” of Christ.  What are you obeying, however?   Since, in order to be saved, you have to believe in the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ, obedience to the faith would be to do just that ... believe in the resurrection of Christ ... to do that is to obey Christ who stated we must believe in Him and His words and works to be saved.  When we fail to put complete trust in Him we are not obeying in faith.   

When the Gospel spread during the beginning of the early church people believed the Gospel message ... they believed that the Historical Jesus did, indeed, raise from the dead for the forgiveness of sins and the saving of the soul. 

Tag: God’s Word is True (Jesus is True) - Micah

Micah 1:1

The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. 

Tag: God’s Word is True

To believe in Christ for your salvation, you have to believe God’s Word is true.   In order for God’s Word to be true, all parts of it has to be true.  The Gospel is based upon the historical account that Jesus lived, died and rose from the dead. If non of that is true, than we are all left to our own philosophies and die a death that leaves nothing left.   The fact that the Bible says Jesus rose from the dead and was seen by over 500 people after his death, is an historical event the Bible claims true.   So, all parts of the Bible have to be true for us to be saved.  

In the above text we might not think there is much meat for spiritual food.   However, the “prophets” all speak to things that “will happen” in the future.  If ONLY one thing they prophecy to happens does NOT come true, the entire Bible loses its credibility. 

The book of Micah is a great testing ground for the prophets since it has so many “predictions” and “prophecies” about the immediate future of Judah and far reaching “prophecies” about the Messiah, Jesus.  Notice the following:

Note this comment from the commentary, “The Universal Bible Dictionary,” edited by A.R. Buckland and A.L. Williams: “Micah foretells in clear terms the invasion of Shalmaneser and Sennacherib (1:6-16) … the utter destruction of Jerusalem (3:12). Just as clearly he foretells the deliverance of Israel (2:12, 4:10, 5:8); the birthplace of the Messiah (5:2); the promulgation of His Gospel from Mount Zion, and its results; the exaltation of His Kingdom over all nations.”

Here is a prophet that predicted that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem 800 years prior to Jesus’ birth. In fact, the prophets as a whole, predicted over 300 prophecies.  Note one blog’s statement:

“The Old Testament, written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, contains over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled through His life, death and resurrection.  Mathematically speaking, the odds of anyone fulfilling this amount of prophecy are staggering. Mathematicians put it this way:  1 person fulfilling 8 prophecies: 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000: 1 person fulfilling 48 prophecies: 1 chance in 10 to the 157th power 1 person fulfilling 300+ prophecies: Only Jesus!”

When we read a book like Micah and see that this prophet foretold key elements of Jesus birth, life and death, we can rest assured that our salvation is not based upon myth, mysticism, philosophy, or psychological gymnastics.   Our faith is based upon the historical Jesus who, as the Bible records, died, was buried and rose from the dead to save us from our sins.