Throwing Shade - Psalms 90-92

Psalms 91:1-2 (ESV Strong's)

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

Throwing Shade

There is a phrase in today’s social media called “throwing shade.”  It is a way to nicely say you are insulting someone.   It is too bad that such a term has developed and taken the phrase “shade” and turned it dark (no pun intended).   If you think of a real hot day you give everything to find shade.  People to to the beach and bring umbrellas and cabanas to “seek shade.”    Getting “shade” was always a good thing.   Such is the phrase we have in the above passage.   He who dwells under the shadow of God’s wings gets shade.  And, not in the bad sense.  Shade in this sense is that when we put our trust in God and we make Him our refuge, we are covered by His care.  The word picture is that of little chicks who find safety and refuge under the wing of the mother hen.   God is our protector and shields us from the storms of life.  When we make Him our refuge we can be assured we are in the shade.  And that is not an insult.  God throws shade over His people.  

Generational Leadership Can Slip Into Darkness Quickly - 2 Kings 21-25

2 Kings 21:1-2 (ESV Strong's)

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.

Generational Leadership Can Slip Into Darkness Quickly. 

In the above passage we are reading the beginning of Manasseh’s leadership.  As stated, he reigns fifty-five years, starting at the age of twelve.   So, he reigned until he was 67.    He do so as a corrupt king.   Why?   His father was Hezekiah.   Hezekiah was a great king ... right up to the end.  That is the problem.  Hezekiah served himself at the end of his reign.   His pride and desire for legacy took over.   He was looking at his retirement not follow through until the end.  Note what it says about Hezekiah in the end of the previous chapter:

2 Kings 20:16-19 (ESV Strong's)

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”

Hezekiah only worried about “peace and security” in “his” day.  He did not think of raising up a son that would follow in his footsteps as a good king.   This might be the biggest tragedy of parenting.   It only took one generation to see Judah lead into corrupt living.    It will be two generations latter that Manasseh’s grandson brings them back to God: Josiah.   In chapter 23 we read about Josiah turning around the corrupt leadership of his grandfather, Manasseh, and reforming Judah.   Each generation has a responsibility to teach the next.  Here we see the cycle.   

Love Your Neighbor As Yourself - Leviticus 22-24

Leviticus 24:17-22 (ESV Strong's)

An Eye for an Eye

“Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Whoever takes an animal's life shall make it good, life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death. You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the Lord your God.”

Title:  Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

When a young Pharisee confronted Jesus about the Law, Jesus said the following;

Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV Strong's)

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus may have been thinking of the above passage when He said those words.  Obviously, He was speaking of the entire Law.  But, the above passage seems to sum of the concept of “love your neighbor as yourself.”   There was, contained in the Law, the value of respect for others and for all of God’s creation.   We are not to devalue what or who God created.   When something is done (whether in accident or with intent) there is to be an eye for eye approach to restitution.    Why?  God states the reason: “For I am the Lord your God.”   Our reason for this type of value and respect for others is not for moral competency.  Although that certain is a value in God’s Law, as well.  The real reason is because of the character of God.   That is the purpose of the entire Law: To show the Character of God.  What better way to show the character of God than to value those He has created.  

Our Physical Work is for Spiritual Rewards - 1 Thessalonians 1-3

1 Thessalonians 2:9-10 (ESV Strong's)

For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.

Title: Our Physical Work is for Spiritual Rewards

Paul physically worked for spiritual rewards!  That is what the above verse talks about.  Paul was writing to the churches in Thessalonica.   Apparently the church had come to the point to earnestly embrace the theology of Christ’s eminent return.  In fact, they thought it so eminent, they stopped working.   There were some who simply meet as the church to enjoy each other’s fellowship and to live off the good works of others.  Note what Paul tells this church in his second letter to them about their work ethic:

2 Thessalonians 3:10 (ESV Strong's)

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

There were some who mooched off the church.   They did not work.  They thought belief in Christ was really enough ... in fact that it was all they had to do. They simply thought they had to believe in Christ and then sit back and wait for Him to come back.   That is not the case.  God has given us a hope that He will come again. Until then we are to be working for the purpose of not burdening the church, but to support us so that we can do spiritual activity.  Our work product is for our spiritual product.  

God Knows Our Doubts - Luke 23-24

Luke 24:36-38 (ESV Strong's)

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

Title:  Jesus Knows Our Doubts

It must have been an amazing time to be in Jerusalem during the events of Christ death.  However, like everyone at that time, we all today would be screaming, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”  Or, like Peter, we would be denying Him.   In the above passage we see that all the events still did not change the doubts of the disciples.  They still saw their all as a nightmare.    But, Jesus knows their doubts and reveal Himself to them.  They see the risen Savior standing in front of them and they still doubt.   What is Jesus’ solution?  He fellowships with them.  He revels to them, through the Scripture, who He is ... again.  

Luke 24:44-45 (ESV Strong's)

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

Luke 24:44-45 (ESV Strong's)

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

Jesus knows our doubts and His solution is to take us to the Scriptures.   Why?   

Romans 10:17 (ESV Strong's)

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

So, our doubt is trumped by faith and our faith is grown through God’s Word.   Reading God’s Word increases our faith and cancels our doubt.  God knows this and that is why He gave us His word.   

The Nations Shall Know - Ezekiel 37-42

Ezekiel 39:21-22 (ESV Strong's)

“And I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them. The house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward.

Title: The Nation(s) Shall Know

The entire theme of this section of Ezekiel’s prophecy can be summed up in the above verses.   Ezekiel is sent to tell the nation of Israel and Judah they would once again be one nation.  He was sent to tell all the nation that this one nation of Israel was God’s chosen people.  The prophet was sent to tell all the nations that did not honor and fear this one chosen people of God would be put in the cross hairs of God’s wrath.    All of this so that the nations and Israel would “know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward.”    The nation of Israel has forgotten their God and God put them into captivity.   The surrounding nations have not honored God’s chosen people and taken them captive.    In this section we read the final chapters for Israel.   God is going to restore Israel.   Many would want us to believe that this restoration is the Church.  But, if that were the case, why at the end of this section of Ezekiel’s prophecy do we have the elaborate measurements of the Temple (chapters 40-42).   God fully intends on finishing what He started with Israel.  The nations that forget that and fight against Israel should be warned.   That prophecy is their warning.  Note the next verses that follow those above:

Ezekiel 39:23-24 (ESV Strong's)

And the nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they dealt so treacherously with me that I hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they all fell by the sword. I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their transgressions, and hid my face from them.

The “nations shall know” about God’s work with Israel.  Since God is not done with Israel, He is not done with the surrounding nations.   

Satisfaction Comes from the Heart Desire - Proverbs 13

Proverbs 13:2-4 (ESV Strong's)

From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,

but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;

he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,

while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Tag:  Satisfaction Comes From Craving God

The key words in the above passage is the Hebrew word, “nepes.”   The word is translated many different ways.  It simply means “breath” or “breathing creature.”  Notice how different it is translated:

AV (753) - soul 475, life 117, person 29, mind 15, heart 15, creature 9, body 8.

In the above passages it is used four times and translated as “desire,” “life,” and twice as “soul.”  The same word is also found in the following verses in this chapter:

Proverbs 13:8 (ESV Strong's)

The ransom of a man's “life” is his wealth,

but a poor man hears no threat.

Proverbs 13:19 (ESV Strong's)

A desire fulfilled is sweet to the “soul,”

but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

Proverbs 13:25 (ESV Strong's)

The righteous has enough to satisfy his “appetite,”

but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

In each of these verses we see the common theme is that wisdom is a great for someone’s life and desirable.   In the top verses from this chapter we read that the “words of a man’s mouth works for him.”  What Solomon is telling us is that favorable speech produces something beneficial.   However, it goes on to read that the sluggard does not benefit them.  Those who make excuses with their mouth will not benefit.   The sluggard only talks and makes excuses for why not to be industrious.   But, if we “guard our mouths” and watch what we say we can gain vs the one who simply opens their mouth with no discrimination.  The key in all these thoughts is that the mouth is a gateway for the heart.   So, when we hear what people say we get a glimpse of their hearts.   Wisdom in the heart is demonstrated by discretion on the lips.  

Gods Love is Steadfast - Psalms 87-89

Psalms 89:2 (ESV Strong's)

For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;

in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”

Psalms 89:1 (ESV Strong's)

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;

with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

Psalms 89:14 (ESV Strong's)

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;

steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Psalms 89:24 (ESV Strong's)

My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him,

and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

Psalms 89:28 (ESV Strong's)

My steadfast love I will keep for him forever,

and my covenant will stand firm for him.

Psalms 89:33 (ESV Strong's)

but I will not remove from him my steadfast love

or be false to my faithfulness.

Psalms 89:49 (ESV Strong's)

Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,

which by your faithfulness you swore to David?

Gods love is steadfast!! 

The World’s System Seems Nice and Shinny - 2 Kings 16-20

2 Kings 16:10-13 (ESV Strong's)

When King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, he saw the altar that was at Damascus. And King Ahaz sent to Uriah the priest a model of the altar, and its pattern, exact in all its details. And Uriah the priest built the altar; in accordance with all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so Uriah the priest made it, before King Ahaz arrived from Damascus. And when the king came from Damascus, the king viewed the altar. Then the king drew near to the altar and went up on it and burned his burnt offering and his grain offering and poured his drink offering and threw the blood of his peace offerings on the altar.

Tag:  The World’s System Seems Nice

Ahaz was not a good king for Judah.   He did many evil things and had very little concern for the Word of God.  The above story shows his lack of spiritual sensitivity.  When he visited a foreign land and foreign king, he saw a worship system (complete with an alter) that caught his eyes.  It was a shinny thing to Ahaz.   He drew a picture of the shinny thing and sent it back home to his high priest, Uriah.  Uriah was commanded by Ahaz to build a replica of this shinny, worldly worship system.   This is where it all goes bad.  There is one thing for Ahaz to disregard the Word of God, but quite another for the high priest to disregard God’s Word.  Uriah should have stood up to the king; even to the point of death.   But, he did not.  Instead Ahaz begins to “redesign” Solomon’s Temple to become more like the world around him.  Ahaz has now traveled the “world” and has his eyes open to new ideas and new innovations.  He finds a new way to worship.  This was in his heart prior, but now he is creating this spirit for the nation of Judah.   This is a very dark time.  Ahaz is “enlightened” and no doubt sees his current way of worship as archaic and out of step with the world.  He wants to fit in.  He sees the shinny things of the world and begins to integrate them with God’s prescribed way to worship.  This is the downfall of Ahaz and Judah.   The world may have shinny things.  They may seem to fit “today’s mindset.”  But, God has His Word, which is the same today and forever.   We can often see the world’s way of doing things and want to fold them into God’s ways.  That is not what God wants.   It might look shinny and new and progressive and enlightened, but if it means we start dismantling God’s way, it is wrong.  Notice what Ahaz further tells Uriah to do:

2 Kings 16:14-16 (ESV Strong's)

And the bronze altar that was before the Lord he removed from the front of the house, from the place between his altar and the house of the Lord, and put it on the north side of his altar. And King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, saying, “On the great altar burn the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering and the king's burnt offering and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. And throw on it all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood of the sacrifice, but the bronze altar shall be for me to inquire by.” Uriah the priest did all this, as King Ahaz commanded.

And “Uriah the priest did all this ...”.    Ahaz took it upon himself to dismantle what God put together for the purpose of fitting in with the world around him.  It sounds very much like the modern day church.  We simply want our worship to look acceptable to the world so we remove anything that might be offensive to them and worship like the world would worship.   Attractive?  Yes!   Authentic? No.  

Respect God and His Creation - Leviticus 19-21

Leviticus 19:23-25 (ESV Strong's)

“When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, then you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten. And in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit, to increase its yield for you: I am the Lord your God.

Tag: Respect God and His Creation

There are two principles taught in the above passage.  When Israel entered the promise land they were to plant fruit trees.  But, they were not to partake of the tree for the first three years.  The fourth year the tree was to offered to God and given to the priest.  It was only in the firth year that the owner of the tree would be able to eat.   

1.  That which we plant belongs to God.  God is the owner of all we own.  We own nothing that is not first and foremost Gods.   God wants them to remember that what He gives them is first His.   We forget this, often, in our own work.   God is the giver of gifts and resources.   They are first his and we are to honor them with them.  Solomon would tell us teh same things later:

Proverbs 3:9-10

(ESV Strong's) Honor the Lord with your wealth

and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

then your barns will be filled with plenty,

and your vats will be bursting with wine.

2.  That which is planted must be respected.   The fruit tree has agricultural processes to go through.   God is teaching them how to care for His creation.   God wants them to honor Him through their treatment of His creation.   They are not to skip the processes in the growth of fruit and the harvesting process just because they are God’s people.  This would couple in later to give the land a rest every seven years.   But, Israel would not do that.  They would not trust God during these times to honor His word and give the land the rest it needed.   

These might seem like minor acts, but they show great faith when we allow God’s creation to breath and follow that process.  God wants us to truth Him and honor Him.   We can do that by honor and respecting His creation.  

Struggling in Prayer for Others - Colossians 3-4

Colossians 4:12-13 (ESV Strong's)

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.

Tag: Struggling in Prayer for Others

Epaphras was not a famous Christian believer in the early church.  But, he was to Paul.   When writing to the church at Colossi, Paul wanted to commend his spiritual warfare for the Colossian church.   Epaphras was a prayer warrior.  He was “struggling” in prayer for this church.   In the body of believers, a prayer warrior is not often celebrated.   Paul makes a big deal about Epaphras.   He committed himself to the aspect of prayer for this group of believers.   Someone has to be that person in churches.   Paul states that “he has worked  hard for you.”    Paul does not see this as a job for the weak, timid or lazy.   Prayer, to Paul, IS THE WORK.  Paul yells the church at Ephesus to arm themselves with prayer:

Ephesians 6:18-20 (ESV Strong's)

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

We are to make prayer part of our armor.  

Prayer Prevents Temptation - Luke 21-22

Luke 22:45-46 (ESV Strong's)

And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Tag:  Prayer Prevents Temptation

Perhaps the greatest tool believers have that they don’t use is the tool of prayer.   In the above passage Jesus is praying prior to His crucifixion.  He invites His disciples to pray with Him.   He has already told them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”   He then goes farther into the Mount of Olives and prays Himself.   When He returns, He finds His disciples sleeping.   That is when He says it again, “Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”     Jesus wants us to pray because He knows the power of prayer.  Jesus prayed.   He commanded us to pray.   Paul told us to “arm ourselves” for spiritual battle speaking of the armor of God.   At the end of listing all the pieces of the armor, he adds this:

Ephesians 6:18 (ESV Strong's)

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

We cannot pray too much.   We often don’t see the aspect of prayer in the right frame of mind.  We think about using it when we need something.   In the above passage we see that we use prayer to gain strength.   That is the aspect of prayer we often fail to see.   Prayer is like weight lifting.   You lift weights and think bigger muscles, which are visible.  But, the strength it gives you for normal day to day activities goes unnoticed.  We pray and think of answers to prayer.   But, in reality, prayer is strengthened our Christian walk in ways we don’t even say.   In the above case it keeps us from temptation.   Don’t sleep.   Pray!!

God Honors His Name; When We Don’t - Ezekiel 31-36

Ezekiel 36:22-23 (ESV Strong's)

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.

Tag:  God Honors His Name, When We Don’t

Throughout the prophecy of Ezekiel we read about God brining punishment and discipline to His people because they profaned His holy name.   When God chooses man to serve Him, He does so that we might honor God.  We are to show forth the glory of God in our lives.   When we fail to honor Him as such, that does not stop the honor due His name.  He simply chooses another way to be honored.   As we can see throughout the book, God is getting honor by brining punishment on the nations that dishonor Him.  This includes the nation of Israel.  God’s name will be honored.    God wants us to honor Him, but will make a way for His name to be glorified.   This is the chief end of man.    Note what Jesus said to the religious leaders who thought they were very special and were the only ones left to honor God. 

Matthew 3:9 (ESV Strong's)

And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Luke 19:36-40 (ESV Strong's)

And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

God’s name will be honored.   

Be Careful What You Pursue - Proverbs 11-12

Proverbs 12:11 (NASV)

"He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense."

Proverbs 12:11 (ESV)

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.

Tag:  Be Careful What You Pursue

The above proverb is a contrasting proverb. The second line contrast what is said in the first line. In the first line we see that Solomon gives us a basic proverb about life: Work hard with what you have and you will not lack for food. But, the second line is the contrast of that truth: If, instead of working, we chase fantasies, we will only show we have no judgment. Sound and good judgment is shown by working the land (a metaphor for working our talent, gifts, resources) we have. But, if we just sit around and dream about it, or pursue useless endeavors, we show we have no good judgment and, will eventually show we have nothing to show for chasing fantasies. Dreams are great, but dreaming only has a place if the dream motivates us to work on the accomplishing of the dream. Sound judgment is found in those who work for their abundance, not on those who hope for it because they bought a lotto ticket, sat on a dock waiting for their ship to come in, or played the victim and blamed others for their lack of bread.  God’s wisdom gives us discernment to make right choices about what is important and what is a pursuit of worthless things.  

In order to “work his land,” a person has to know what his land is.  In Solomon’s day this might actually be a piece of land.   In our day, it might be better to consider it our gifts, talents, resources.   To “work” it you have to identify it.   You have to make sure you know what your recourses are in order to get the most out of them.  We can often get caught up in wild pursuits and not really focus on what is our “land.”    We make little headway pursuing something other than “our land.”   

God’s Great, Steadfast Love - Psalms 84-86

Psalms 86:12-13 (ESV Strong's)

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,

and I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your steadfast love toward me;

you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Tag:  Great, Steadfast Love

The phrase “steadfast love” appears in God’s Word almost 200 times.   Of those times over half of them appear in the Psalms.   Of those, David wrote a good share.   David knew of God’s steadfast love because he needed it.  In his sin, David needed to know that God would not stop loving him.  Who doesn’t need that?   In a world where people give love on the cheap and take love away just as cheaply, it is necessary to have something that is steadfast in love.   Parents, too often, stop loving their children because the children don’t live they way they want.   Couples stop loving each other.   Children quit loving their parents because parents won’t perform the right way.    Most of the world loves based upon performance.   What David is saving in this Psalm is that God loves, not because we perform, but because of who He is. His love is based upon Him, not us.   God can’t stop loving us once He sets His love upon us.   His steadfast love is based upon His character, not our performance.  That is so reassuring.   In Ephesians chapter one we read about God setting His love on us:

Ephesians 1:3-4 (ESV Strong's)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love. 

Our salvation and relationship with God is based upon the steadfastness of His character.  He can no more stop loving us than He can stop being God.   This is what David is giving thanks for in the above Psalms.  He glorifies God because God, in that love, rescued David from certain death.   For that we can rejoice and glorify God.  

God Forgets!! 2 Kings 11-15

2 Kings 14:1-3 (ESV Strong's)

In the second year of Joash the son of Joahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not like David his father. He did in all things as Joash his father had done.

Tag:  God Forgets

In the above opening verses of 2 Kings 14 we read about the installation of Amaziah as king over Judah.   This is a typical introductory construction found throughout the entire book of 2 Kings.   The interesting point in these verses is that Amaziah is compared to King David.   David is the standard barrier for the Kings.   It is King David who is referred to by God as a “man after God’s own heart.”  When taking the kingship away from King Saul and about to give it to David, here is what God said through the prophet Samual:

1 Samuel 13:14 (ESV Strong's)

But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

So, David is the example to all the subsequent kings that God uses on a number of occasions.    These kings are to measure up to THE King David.   Remember, the Messiah, Christ, is going to come from the linage of David.   David is a big deal in the nation of Israel (Judah).   But, notice that God does not mention the “thing” that David did.   God uses David as the model of great kingship, but does not mention his adultery with Bathsheba or his murder plot of her husband, Uriah.   God forgets that.   Why?  Because in Psalms 51 David confesses that sin and asks God to forget it:

Psalms 51:7-9 (ESV Strong's)

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

Notice that last line, “Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.”   That is what David asks God to do and that is what God did.   In another Psalm that David wrote he would say this:

Psalms 103:12-14 (ESV Strong's)

as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust.

God does not hold our sin against us when we confess it to Him and ask for His forgiveness.  God forgets.   He uses David as the example for all kings because God does not recall David’s confessed sins!!!

We Can Come to God at Any Time - Leviticus 16-18

Leviticus 16:2 (ESV Strong's)

and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.

Tag:  We Can Come To God Any Time

Aaron was the High Priest of God for Israel.  It was his job to represent the nation in all spiritual (and some physical) matters.      Most of the instructions of the entire book of Leviticus was written for Aaron and his sons in regard to their rules and regulations.  Note what God tells Moses, Aaron and his boys later in this section:

Leviticus 18:3-5 (ESV Strong's)

You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.

Obeying God’s Law is fundamental for the High Priest and his sons.   That is what makes the above commandment so frightening.   Aaron and his sons could not come to God into the Holy place just any time they wanted.   God had a prescribed way to approach Him.  If Aaron did not follow that manner, God would strike him dead.   That is frightening.   Yet, that was life lived out in the Old Testament.   That is why the sacrifice of Christ is so amazing for the believer in the Church today, living in the New Testament.  

Hebrews 10:11-14 (ESV Strong's)

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 10:22 (ESV Strong's)

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Because of Christ’s finished, one-time, compete and perfect sacrifice, we can come to Jesus at anytime.   Note:

1. Stephen came to God through Christ in the midst of his stoning death (Acts 17).

2. Peter and James came to God through Christ after being beaten and cast into jail (Acts 3-4).

3. John came to Christ when cast into the island of Patmos (Revelation 1). 

We can come any time to Christ.  Amazing!!!

Don’t Be Deluded! Colossians 1-2

Colossians 2:1-4 (ESV Strong's)

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

Tag: Don’t Be Deluded!

The world is out to delude us.  Note the last line of this section of Colossians.  There are people in this world who which to come along side and delude us with logical arguments.    Jesus has been declared to us and given us a freedom in His grace.  But, there are those who want to limit that freedom we have in Christ with legal arguments.   The arguments they make, however, are logical.    They make sense to our natural mind.  We can think of Eve in the Garden of Eden as an example.  Satan made a logical argument to her.    He did not come way off the wall with some made up story.  He actually used God’s own words to entice her to disobey those very words.    This is because Satan is the father of lies (John 16:11).   He continually wishes to delude our thinking.   

2 Corinthians 11:4 (ESV Strong's)

For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (ESV Strong's)

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

The only way we can avoid being deluded by these supernatural forces of evil is to know the mystery of Christ.   We need to have a deeper understanding of Christ.  This is what Paul’s prayer is for the Colossians.   In Christ are hidden all the knowledge of God.  As we learn more about the mystery of Christ we are better prepared to not be deluded by the many disguises of Satan.  To combat delusion we have to learn more about Christ.   

The Wisdom of God vs The Wisdom of Man - Luke 19-20

Luke 20:19-26 (ESV Strong's)

The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.

Tag: Wisdom of God vs Wisdom of Man

The religious leaders of the day so hated Jesus that they were willing to set a trap for Him.   The problem they faced was that the public followed Him.  They had to turn the wave of public opinion against them.  Which they did.   The public had just worshipped him by saying:

Luke 19:36-38 (ESV Strong's)

And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

This same group would soon say:

Luke 23:20-21 (ESV Strong's)

Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!”

The religious leaders had to turn the mindset of the crowd away from “Blessed is the King” to “Crucify him!”   The above story about paying taxes was one such attempt.  The Jews hated to pay taxes to Rome.  If Jesus answered in favor of paying taxes, He would incite the crowed against Him.  If Jesus answered against paying taxes they would turn Him over to the Romans for inciting an insurrection.   They must have felt so smug.   But, to Jesus, it was like a dual with an unarmed man.   You cannot trap God with earthily wisdom.    The religious leaders do turn the crowd against Jesus.  God allowed it.   Even that was not the wisdom of man.  That was God’s plan.   Man’s wisdom is not comparison to God’s wisdom.  

God Looks On the Heart - Ezekiel 25-30

Ezekiel 28:6-7 (ESV Strong's)

therefore thus says the Lord God:

Because you make your heart

like the heart of a god,

therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you,

the most ruthless of the nations;

and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom

and defile your splendor.

Tag:  God Knows Our Hearts

The above couple of verses are written about the Prince of Tyre.  Historians would say we have no knowledge of him ever declaring himself a god.  They might declare that this prophecy is unfounded because of the absence of such claims.   

(UBC OT) There is no evidence that this was literally true: unlike the pharaohs of Egypt or, in the days of the early church, some emperors of Rome, the rulers of Tyre did not claim divinity

However, Nebuchadnezzar did claim that he was a god:

Daniel 4:28-33 (ESV Strong's)

All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.

God is not looking at the verbal claims of the Prince of Tyre.  God is looking into his heart.  In his heart, God can see pride and arrogance.    God knows our hearts.  He knows the pride we have.  God hates the proud:

Proverbs 8:13 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.

Pride and arrogance and the way of evil

and perverted speech I hate.

We can hide our pride from men.  But, we cannot hide our pride from God.  God sees the heart.  

The Fear of the Lord is the Key - Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10:27 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord prolongs life,

but the years of the wicked will be short.

Tag:  The Fear Of The Lord Is Key

Here are the other proverbs that speak to the Fear of the Lord.  It is the theme of Proverbs.  Note what happens in our lives when we fear the Lord:

1. We obtain knowledge:

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

2. We see who hates knowledge:

Proverbs 1:29 (ESV Strong's)

Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

3. We know God:

Proverbs 2:5 (ESV Strong's)

then you will understand the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God.

4. We hate evil:

Proverbs 8:13 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.

Pride and arrogance and the way of evil

and perverted speech I hate.

5. We obtain wisdom:

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

6. We prolong our life:

Proverbs 10:27 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord prolongs life,

but the years of the wicked will be short.

7. We gain confidence:

Proverbs 14:26 (ESV Strong's)

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,

and his children will have a refuge.

8. We avoid the snares of life/death:

Proverbs 14:27 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,

that one may turn away from the snares of death.

9. We are content:

Proverbs 15:16 (ESV Strong's)

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord

than great treasure and trouble with it.

10. We learn humbly:

Proverbs 15:33 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

11. We turn from evil:

Proverbs 16:6 (ESV Strong's)

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

12. We have a satisfied life:

Proverbs 19:23 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord leads to life,

and whoever has it rests satisfied;

he will not be visited by harm.

13. We have a rich life:

Proverbs 22:4 (ESV Strong's)

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord

is riches and honor and life.

14. We avoid envy:

Proverbs 23:17 (ESV Strong's)

Let not your heart envy sinners,

but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.