Ecclesiastes 3:8 (ESV Strong's)
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
There is a Time for ...
The opening verses in chapter three are all about, “There is a time for ______ and a time for ______.” In all eight of the verses there is a strong contrast, like the one above. Solomon will, in just a couple of verses from the above, write:
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV Strong's)
He has made everything beautiful in its time ...
God can make everything, based upon His decree, “beautiful.” Even what we read above. There is a time to “love” (most would think this is the ultimate choice we make) but, there is also a time to “hate” (most would think there is a never a time to hate). There is a time for “war” and a time for “peace.” Yet, most would believe that there is never a time for war and peace should always be what we desire and “fight” for. Yet, God in His wisdom and His plan makes sure that these contrasts are always in harmony and are always in His plan and for His glory. We ought not to go to one extreme or the other. We are to hate what God hates; we are to love the way God ways; we are to war for God’s kingdom; we are to have peace by God’s Spirit. This is all God centered. When it is, we can understand the balance. When it is in the flesh it is out of balance and the extremes are dangerous. We are to love and hate and war and seek peace in God’s manner and for His glory.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
We Are Never Alone - Psalms 125-127
Psalms 125:2 (ESV Strong's)
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
God Surrounds Us
Perhaps the hardest fear to deal with in life is loneliness. Feeling alone and without help creates a sense of hopelessness. In the midst of loneliness many have considered, and often follow through, taking their own lives. Loneliness is worse than cancer. It is a mental health challenge that faces almost everyone at one time or another. David, the King of Israel, the pride of God, even expressed his loneliness:
Psalms 142:4 (ESV Strong's)
Look to the right and see:
there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for my soul.
Elijah, the great famous prophet of God felt lonely:
1 Kings 18:22 (ESV Strong's)
Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men.
Job, the great sufferer for God felt alone (Job 3). Jonah felt alone in the belly of the big fish (Jonah 3). Peter felt alone when he betrayed Christ and Christ had to reassure him of His great love for him (John 21).
In the above passage we read that God surrounds us like the mountains of Jerusalem. You would have to be there to see it, but Jerusalem is surrounded by mountains. This metaphor is used to remind us that God, although unseen, is around us and protects us. We are never really alone. We might not have physical friends in our lives, but God’s great assurance of His pretenses is always there as we look up in faith to Him. Jesus’ last words to His disciples was to leave them a comforter (the Holy Spirit) to be with them and to never leave them or forsake them. That is the comfort we have in Christ. We are never alone and we are surrounded by a God bigger than mountains.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
God Surrounds Us
Perhaps the hardest fear to deal with in life is loneliness. Feeling alone and without help creates a sense of hopelessness. In the midst of loneliness many have considered, and often follow through, taking their own lives. Loneliness is worse than cancer. It is a mental health challenge that faces almost everyone at one time or another. David, the King of Israel, the pride of God, even expressed his loneliness:
Psalms 142:4 (ESV Strong's)
Look to the right and see:
there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for my soul.
Elijah, the great famous prophet of God felt lonely:
1 Kings 18:22 (ESV Strong's)
Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men.
Job, the great sufferer for God felt alone (Job 3). Jonah felt alone in the belly of the big fish (Jonah 3). Peter felt alone when he betrayed Christ and Christ had to reassure him of His great love for him (John 21).
In the above passage we read that God surrounds us like the mountains of Jerusalem. You would have to be there to see it, but Jerusalem is surrounded by mountains. This metaphor is used to remind us that God, although unseen, is around us and protects us. We are never really alone. We might not have physical friends in our lives, but God’s great assurance of His pretenses is always there as we look up in faith to Him. Jesus’ last words to His disciples was to leave them a comforter (the Holy Spirit) to be with them and to never leave them or forsake them. That is the comfort we have in Christ. We are never alone and we are surrounded by a God bigger than mountains.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Unity is Controlled by God - 2 Chronicles 29-32
2 Chronicles 30:12 (ESV Strong's)
The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.
Unity is Controlled by God
There is a lot of money spent in our country on the aspect of “teamwork.” There are gurus and magicians that change big dollars to help teams work together. Any successful sport team has at its core teamwork. One of the best examples of teamwork might be a negative experience for mankind, but a great example of the strength of teamwork. In fact, this group was so united, God had to disperse them to make sure they didn’t use the unity He provided for the wrong spiritual and moral purpose:
Genesis 11:1-7 (ESV Strong's)
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.”
Or, consider the unity that Aaron used when Moses was in the mountain getting the Ten Commandments from God. They were so united they created a golden calf and had a party to celebrate.
In the above passage in Chronicles we read that God gave them a unifying spirit centered around the Passover. It says He gave them “one-heart” to serve him. That is what we need to accomplish the mission of the kingdom today. We need one heart that God can give us. We can accomplish great things with one heart. Here is how Jesus prayed it before He went on the cross to provide it:
John 17:11 (ESV Strong's)
And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
Jesus wants unity in the Church. He died to supply it. Help us to be one.
The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.
Unity is Controlled by God
There is a lot of money spent in our country on the aspect of “teamwork.” There are gurus and magicians that change big dollars to help teams work together. Any successful sport team has at its core teamwork. One of the best examples of teamwork might be a negative experience for mankind, but a great example of the strength of teamwork. In fact, this group was so united, God had to disperse them to make sure they didn’t use the unity He provided for the wrong spiritual and moral purpose:
Genesis 11:1-7 (ESV Strong's)
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.”
Or, consider the unity that Aaron used when Moses was in the mountain getting the Ten Commandments from God. They were so united they created a golden calf and had a party to celebrate.
In the above passage in Chronicles we read that God gave them a unifying spirit centered around the Passover. It says He gave them “one-heart” to serve him. That is what we need to accomplish the mission of the kingdom today. We need one heart that God can give us. We can accomplish great things with one heart. Here is how Jesus prayed it before He went on the cross to provide it:
John 17:11 (ESV Strong's)
And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
Jesus wants unity in the Church. He died to supply it. Help us to be one.
Monday, October 28, 2019
It is God Who Satisfies - Deuteronomy 7-9
Deuteronomy 8:7-10 (ESV Strong's)
For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.
It is God Who Satisfies
In the above passage, after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the nation of Israel is going to enter the “promise” land. The “promise” land is a picture in the Bible of “resting” in Christ. It is a picture of complete satisfaction. Notice who gives them this rest! The passage reads, “For the Lord your God is brining you into a good land ...”. They are not securing the land based upon their merit. They are not securing the land based upon their own righteousness. In fact, note what the writer of this book writes just a few verses later:
Deuteronomy 9:4-5 (ESV Strong's)
“Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you. Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
If we get any satisfaction in life it is because God gives us that satisfaction. They will go in and conquer the land with the power of God, for the praise of God and to the glory of God. In return God will give them glory and honor and immortality. They will find satisfaction because they are trusting in and relying on the power of God to bring them into the land that flows with milk and honey. Whenever we trust in God completely we can be satisfied, because He will only bring into our lives what He wants us to have. And, if He wants us to have it in our lives it is for His glory.
For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.
It is God Who Satisfies
In the above passage, after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the nation of Israel is going to enter the “promise” land. The “promise” land is a picture in the Bible of “resting” in Christ. It is a picture of complete satisfaction. Notice who gives them this rest! The passage reads, “For the Lord your God is brining you into a good land ...”. They are not securing the land based upon their merit. They are not securing the land based upon their own righteousness. In fact, note what the writer of this book writes just a few verses later:
Deuteronomy 9:4-5 (ESV Strong's)
“Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you. Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
If we get any satisfaction in life it is because God gives us that satisfaction. They will go in and conquer the land with the power of God, for the praise of God and to the glory of God. In return God will give them glory and honor and immortality. They will find satisfaction because they are trusting in and relying on the power of God to bring them into the land that flows with milk and honey. Whenever we trust in God completely we can be satisfied, because He will only bring into our lives what He wants us to have. And, if He wants us to have it in our lives it is for His glory.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Teachers Must Live Their Teaching - James 1-3
James 3:13 (ESV Strong's)
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
Teachers Must Live Their Teaching
James started chapter three with this statement:
James 3:1 (ESV Strong's)
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
He stresses that their “tongues” are dangerous. He continues the warning by telling us, in the above verse, that the teacher’s conduct must carry the teacher’s message. Teachers are not to be full of themselves and full of arguments to defend their teaching. They are to be “meek” and to show “good conduct.” The “container” of the message must be a holy and pure as the “content” coming from the container. We have to practice what we preach. There were many teachers in the early church who were not practicing their preaching. Jesus confronted the Pharisees, during His time on the earth, for the same reason. Our society does not honor “meekness” much these days. Note what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 5:5 (ESV Strong's)
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
We can be meek because we know we will, ultimately, inherit the earth. We have not reason to use power to get our points across because if we are dealing with the truth of God’s word, that will ultimately trump everything else. We can dispense our wisdom with confidence because it is God’s Wisdom and we are just the container.
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
Teachers Must Live Their Teaching
James started chapter three with this statement:
James 3:1 (ESV Strong's)
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
He stresses that their “tongues” are dangerous. He continues the warning by telling us, in the above verse, that the teacher’s conduct must carry the teacher’s message. Teachers are not to be full of themselves and full of arguments to defend their teaching. They are to be “meek” and to show “good conduct.” The “container” of the message must be a holy and pure as the “content” coming from the container. We have to practice what we preach. There were many teachers in the early church who were not practicing their preaching. Jesus confronted the Pharisees, during His time on the earth, for the same reason. Our society does not honor “meekness” much these days. Note what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 5:5 (ESV Strong's)
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
We can be meek because we know we will, ultimately, inherit the earth. We have not reason to use power to get our points across because if we are dealing with the truth of God’s word, that will ultimately trump everything else. We can dispense our wisdom with confidence because it is God’s Wisdom and we are just the container.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
God Choses Whom He Will - Acts 9-10
Acts 9:1-4 (ESV Strong's)
The Conversion of Saul
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Acts 10:1-4 (ESV Strong's)
The Conversion of Cornelius
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
God Choses Whom He Will
The struggle with most believers is that they believe they somehow cleaned themselves up to make themselves acceptable to God; and as result, God saved them. That can’t be farther from the truth. It is probably the one false narrative people create in their heads (or, Satan creates in their heads) that keeps them from actually coming to Christ and/or finding rest in Christ. In the above two passages we have the conversion of Paul and the conversion of Cornelius. Paul was a Jewish Pharisee who took upon himself the task of exterminating anyone who believed in Christ. He was on the way to put the believers in Damascus into custody when Christ intervened and spoke to him audibly on the road to Damascus. God broke through his life, when he was a murderer and persecutor of the church, and saved him.
Cornelius was a God-fearing Gentile who was a do-good-er. Yet, his doing of good deeds and “acting” righteous did not do anything to save him from his sins. He needed Jesus. In chapter ten of Acts we read the story of Peter being sent to Cornelius to tell him about Jesus. Jesus uses Peter as the messages to save Cornelius. Even though Cornelius was a “God-Fearing-Alms-Practicing” man, it did nothing for him in regard to his salvation. It was only the intervention by Jesus that would save him.
Jesus is the one who chooses whom he wants to save. In the case of Paul Jesus broke through himself and spoke to him and saved him. In the case of Cornelius we see God sending Peter to present the gospel to him. In each case Jesus reached out to them. Jesus was the one who saved them because God wanted them saved and chose them. In Ephesians 1 we read that God chose us before the foundation of the world. So, before we could do any sin or have sin done to us, God decided to set His love on us. He loves us and chooses us. It matters not our state, condition or situation. God saves us!!!
The Conversion of Saul
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Acts 10:1-4 (ESV Strong's)
The Conversion of Cornelius
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
God Choses Whom He Will
The struggle with most believers is that they believe they somehow cleaned themselves up to make themselves acceptable to God; and as result, God saved them. That can’t be farther from the truth. It is probably the one false narrative people create in their heads (or, Satan creates in their heads) that keeps them from actually coming to Christ and/or finding rest in Christ. In the above two passages we have the conversion of Paul and the conversion of Cornelius. Paul was a Jewish Pharisee who took upon himself the task of exterminating anyone who believed in Christ. He was on the way to put the believers in Damascus into custody when Christ intervened and spoke to him audibly on the road to Damascus. God broke through his life, when he was a murderer and persecutor of the church, and saved him.
Cornelius was a God-fearing Gentile who was a do-good-er. Yet, his doing of good deeds and “acting” righteous did not do anything to save him from his sins. He needed Jesus. In chapter ten of Acts we read the story of Peter being sent to Cornelius to tell him about Jesus. Jesus uses Peter as the messages to save Cornelius. Even though Cornelius was a “God-Fearing-Alms-Practicing” man, it did nothing for him in regard to his salvation. It was only the intervention by Jesus that would save him.
Jesus is the one who chooses whom he wants to save. In the case of Paul Jesus broke through himself and spoke to him and saved him. In the case of Cornelius we see God sending Peter to present the gospel to him. In each case Jesus reached out to them. Jesus was the one who saved them because God wanted them saved and chose them. In Ephesians 1 we read that God chose us before the foundation of the world. So, before we could do any sin or have sin done to us, God decided to set His love on us. He loves us and chooses us. It matters not our state, condition or situation. God saves us!!!
Friday, October 25, 2019
God Does Work We Do Not Know - Habakkuk
Habakkuk 1:5-6 (ESV Strong's)
“Look among the nations, and see;
wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe if told.
For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,
that bitter and hasty nation,
who march through the breadth of the earth,
to seize dwellings not their own.
God Does Work We Do Not Know
Habakkuk was a prophet sent to warn the nation of Israel about the upcoming punishment brought by the Babylonians and because of the disobedience of Israel; God’s chosen people. Habakkuk had an issue with this. He wanted to know how God could use a wicked nation (even more wicked than Israel) to punish God’s chosen people, Israel! What he did not know was that God was doing a bigger work behind the scenes that mankind could not understand. God was doing a work to bring about redemptive history. Habakkuk could only see his own circumstances. He was looking at things through the eyes of the flesh ... like the present world views the events in history. However, God is giving him a message in this book that he should view the events of the world (and in his own life) through the eyes of faith. The eyes of the flesh only sees our current circumstances. But, the eyes of faith sees the present circumstances through the lens of the promises of God. God had promise to always have a remnant of His people. That will not change when the Babylonians come to punish them. But, their will be distraction as there’re always is for sin in our lives. Yet, God will come through on His promises. Faith knows this. Faith knows that God is always working behind the scenes. God is at work when we don’t see it. That is what faith is all about. Faith sees God working when we don’t see anything at all:
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV Strong's)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith replaces what we can’t see. God is telling Habakkuk, “I got this!!” Faith believes He does when out fleshly eyes see circumstances that says He doesn’t.
“Look among the nations, and see;
wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe if told.
For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,
that bitter and hasty nation,
who march through the breadth of the earth,
to seize dwellings not their own.
God Does Work We Do Not Know
Habakkuk was a prophet sent to warn the nation of Israel about the upcoming punishment brought by the Babylonians and because of the disobedience of Israel; God’s chosen people. Habakkuk had an issue with this. He wanted to know how God could use a wicked nation (even more wicked than Israel) to punish God’s chosen people, Israel! What he did not know was that God was doing a bigger work behind the scenes that mankind could not understand. God was doing a work to bring about redemptive history. Habakkuk could only see his own circumstances. He was looking at things through the eyes of the flesh ... like the present world views the events in history. However, God is giving him a message in this book that he should view the events of the world (and in his own life) through the eyes of faith. The eyes of the flesh only sees our current circumstances. But, the eyes of faith sees the present circumstances through the lens of the promises of God. God had promise to always have a remnant of His people. That will not change when the Babylonians come to punish them. But, their will be distraction as there’re always is for sin in our lives. Yet, God will come through on His promises. Faith knows this. Faith knows that God is always working behind the scenes. God is at work when we don’t see it. That is what faith is all about. Faith sees God working when we don’t see anything at all:
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV Strong's)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith replaces what we can’t see. God is telling Habakkuk, “I got this!!” Faith believes He does when out fleshly eyes see circumstances that says He doesn’t.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Can I Find Happiness? Ecclesiastes 1-2
Ecclesiastes 2:1 (ESV Strong's)
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.
If I Could Please Myself, Would I be Happy?
Solomon was the richest and wisest man ever to walk this planet. He wrote the book of Ecclesiastes to show that everyone and everything he pursued in life ... what he desired in life ... left him with emptiness and vanity. His conclusion of the book needs to always be read first:
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV Strong's)
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
All the verses that proceed this conclusion are Solomon attempting to find happiness without God as the center of his life. In the above verse he states that he set out to test all the pleasers of enjoyment. What were they? Here is what he writes:
Ecclesiastes 2:2-10 (ESV Strong's)
I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.
So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.
He had money, laughter, other humans, projects, song and dance and every other thing you could think of in his life. His conclusion? It was all vanity. When we pursue other things to fill the hole in our lives we come up with a bigger hole. God is the only thing that fills the whole in our livers. We can think something else can, but, in reality it can’t.
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.
If I Could Please Myself, Would I be Happy?
Solomon was the richest and wisest man ever to walk this planet. He wrote the book of Ecclesiastes to show that everyone and everything he pursued in life ... what he desired in life ... left him with emptiness and vanity. His conclusion of the book needs to always be read first:
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV Strong's)
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
All the verses that proceed this conclusion are Solomon attempting to find happiness without God as the center of his life. In the above verse he states that he set out to test all the pleasers of enjoyment. What were they? Here is what he writes:
Ecclesiastes 2:2-10 (ESV Strong's)
I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.
So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.
He had money, laughter, other humans, projects, song and dance and every other thing you could think of in his life. His conclusion? It was all vanity. When we pursue other things to fill the hole in our lives we come up with a bigger hole. God is the only thing that fills the whole in our livers. We can think something else can, but, in reality it can’t.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Where Does Your Help Come From? Psalms 122-124
Psalms 124:8 (ESV Strong's)
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Where Does Your Help Come From?
In 2010 I wrote this about this verse: Where does your help come from? How sure of your help? If we turn to our families, jobs, savings or talent for help in time of trouble we can be let down. Not because those can't help but they can't help to the extent that we may need help. In Psalm 124 we see that our help is from God …. who made heaven and earth. To trust in help that has the creative power of the universe is to be sure of the help we can and will get. We need to remember that who we pray to created all this. We are to make sure we have full faith in the one who can help.
In 2019 I would not change a thing. When we “need” family and friends to make us “whole” we miss entirely what God desires from us. Here is what Jesus told us when asked to sum up all of what the Bible says:
Matthew 22:37 (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.
When we look to our mothers, fathers, children and others to give us peace, pleasure, safety and security, we fail to realize the truth of these principles. God wants out complete devotion. He does not want us to turn to mankind for companionship, camaraderie, or comfort. When we do, we give him half our heart. He does not want half our heart. He wants all of our heart. Mankind will always fail. We can use them as a crutch to hold us up. Psychologist have long said that until we can live alone, we can’t really live with in harmony with others. I would change that. I would say until we can live alone with God as our ONLY friend, companion and champion, we will always be leaning on the mistrusted and misguided notion that others can fill His spot in our lives. If we attempt to all them to fill the hole in our heart instead of God we will never really be completely whole.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Where Does Your Help Come From?
In 2010 I wrote this about this verse: Where does your help come from? How sure of your help? If we turn to our families, jobs, savings or talent for help in time of trouble we can be let down. Not because those can't help but they can't help to the extent that we may need help. In Psalm 124 we see that our help is from God …. who made heaven and earth. To trust in help that has the creative power of the universe is to be sure of the help we can and will get. We need to remember that who we pray to created all this. We are to make sure we have full faith in the one who can help.
In 2019 I would not change a thing. When we “need” family and friends to make us “whole” we miss entirely what God desires from us. Here is what Jesus told us when asked to sum up all of what the Bible says:
Matthew 22:37 (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.
When we look to our mothers, fathers, children and others to give us peace, pleasure, safety and security, we fail to realize the truth of these principles. God wants out complete devotion. He does not want us to turn to mankind for companionship, camaraderie, or comfort. When we do, we give him half our heart. He does not want half our heart. He wants all of our heart. Mankind will always fail. We can use them as a crutch to hold us up. Psychologist have long said that until we can live alone, we can’t really live with in harmony with others. I would change that. I would say until we can live alone with God as our ONLY friend, companion and champion, we will always be leaning on the mistrusted and misguided notion that others can fill His spot in our lives. If we attempt to all them to fill the hole in our heart instead of God we will never really be completely whole.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
What Happens When We are ONLY One-Half In? 2 Chronicles 25-28
2 Chronicles 25:14-16 (ESV Strong's)
After Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites, he brought the gods of the men of Seir and set them up as his gods and worshiped them, making offerings to them. Therefore the Lord was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?” But as he was speaking, the king said to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”
What Happens When You Follow God with Half a Heart?
In order to understand the above passage you have to read the beginning of this chapter and the writer’s summary of King Amaziah:
2 Chronicles 25:2 (ESV Strong's)
And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.
The key here is, “... yet not with a whole heart.” When we follow God with a half heart or three-quarters heart, we will end up like Amaziah in the above text. He had just defeated Edom and was filled with pride. When he take the gods of Edom to worship as his own, God asks him why he would want gods that didn’t even deliver those he defeated. This is the utter lack of sense and reasoning of those who are half-in for God. They say with their lips they want to follow God but when then see something else more appealing they dive in to worship it. They mentally aspire to follow God but their eyes and ears and hear are only one-half into God. When that happens the first shinny thing that comes by will attract their attention and they will follow after that rather than God. When we only give God one-half our attention the other half of our heart will certainly lead us astray.
After Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites, he brought the gods of the men of Seir and set them up as his gods and worshiped them, making offerings to them. Therefore the Lord was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?” But as he was speaking, the king said to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”
What Happens When You Follow God with Half a Heart?
In order to understand the above passage you have to read the beginning of this chapter and the writer’s summary of King Amaziah:
2 Chronicles 25:2 (ESV Strong's)
And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.
The key here is, “... yet not with a whole heart.” When we follow God with a half heart or three-quarters heart, we will end up like Amaziah in the above text. He had just defeated Edom and was filled with pride. When he take the gods of Edom to worship as his own, God asks him why he would want gods that didn’t even deliver those he defeated. This is the utter lack of sense and reasoning of those who are half-in for God. They say with their lips they want to follow God but when then see something else more appealing they dive in to worship it. They mentally aspire to follow God but their eyes and ears and hear are only one-half into God. When that happens the first shinny thing that comes by will attract their attention and they will follow after that rather than God. When we only give God one-half our attention the other half of our heart will certainly lead us astray.
Monday, October 21, 2019
God Will “Bring Us In!” - Deuteronomy 4-6
Deuteronomy 4:37-39 (ESV Strong's)
And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power, driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day, know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
God will “Bring Us In!”
The entire point of the nation of Israel was to show God’s redemptive power. God choose the nation of Israel from among the nations. Note what He told them in this section:
Deuteronomy 4:32-34 (ESV Strong's)
The Lord Alone Is God
“For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
As a result of this redemptive work, God states it is He who will bring us into the “promise land.” The “promise land” is a picture of the Christian coming into “rest” and allowing God to live victoriously in our lives. God did not just save Israel out of Egypt (a picture of our salvation); but He also brought them into the promise land (a picture of our sanctification). We don’t have to worry about our lives to be saved, because God saves us. We don’t have to error about our lives living for God because God sanctifies us. He will “bring” us into His rest!!
And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power, driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day, know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
God will “Bring Us In!”
The entire point of the nation of Israel was to show God’s redemptive power. God choose the nation of Israel from among the nations. Note what He told them in this section:
Deuteronomy 4:32-34 (ESV Strong's)
The Lord Alone Is God
“For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
As a result of this redemptive work, God states it is He who will bring us into the “promise land.” The “promise land” is a picture of the Christian coming into “rest” and allowing God to live victoriously in our lives. God did not just save Israel out of Egypt (a picture of our salvation); but He also brought them into the promise land (a picture of our sanctification). We don’t have to worry about our lives to be saved, because God saves us. We don’t have to error about our lives living for God because God sanctifies us. He will “bring” us into His rest!!
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Faith is Looking for Something From God you Can’t See - Hebrews 11-13
Hebrews 11:39-40 (ESV Strong's)
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Faith is Looking for Something from God you Can’t See
In chapter eleven of Hebrews we have what is often referred to as the Hall of Faith. The chapter outlines believers from the Old Testament that followed God in faith. The clear picture drawn from them is found in these snippets from the chapter:
1. Abraham was looking for an inheritance - that is something you can’t see:
Hebrews 11:8 (ESV Strong's)
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
2. Abraham was looking for a city he could not see - Hebrews 11:10 (ESV Strong's)
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
3. At 99 years old Sarah was looking for a baby she could not conceive in her womb or her mind - Hebrews 11:11 (ESV Strong's)
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
4. Each was looking for something out in the distance - Hebrews 11:13 (ESV Strong's)
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.
5. Moses was looking for something invisible - Hebrews 11:26-27 (ESV Strong's)
He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
Faith is defined early in the chapter:
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV Strong's)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Each of these people lived by faith because there eyes were not on the past or the present. Their eyes were not on the temporal or the transient. Their eyes were not on their circumstances or situations. The eyes of faith looks to the promises of God of what He will deliver to us in his time. As a result they pleased God ... the only one they wanted to please.
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Faith is Looking for Something from God you Can’t See
In chapter eleven of Hebrews we have what is often referred to as the Hall of Faith. The chapter outlines believers from the Old Testament that followed God in faith. The clear picture drawn from them is found in these snippets from the chapter:
1. Abraham was looking for an inheritance - that is something you can’t see:
Hebrews 11:8 (ESV Strong's)
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
2. Abraham was looking for a city he could not see - Hebrews 11:10 (ESV Strong's)
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
3. At 99 years old Sarah was looking for a baby she could not conceive in her womb or her mind - Hebrews 11:11 (ESV Strong's)
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
4. Each was looking for something out in the distance - Hebrews 11:13 (ESV Strong's)
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.
5. Moses was looking for something invisible - Hebrews 11:26-27 (ESV Strong's)
He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
Faith is defined early in the chapter:
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV Strong's)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Each of these people lived by faith because there eyes were not on the past or the present. Their eyes were not on the temporal or the transient. Their eyes were not on their circumstances or situations. The eyes of faith looks to the promises of God of what He will deliver to us in his time. As a result they pleased God ... the only one they wanted to please.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
God Saves the Worst - Acts 7-8
Acts 8:1-3 (ESV Strong's)
And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
God Saves The Worst
In the above passage we read about Saul (who would be latter renamed Paul and write the majority of the New Testament books). Saul, before God granted him forgiveness of sins, was a main persecutor of the early church believers. In the previous chapter, Stephen, the deacon in the early church, was stoned to death for his faith. Saul stood by holding the coats of those who throw the rocks that killed Stephen. Saul “ravaged” the church. Yet, God gave him forgiveness. The author of the book of Acts (Luke) is giving us an account of how the early church unfolded (see Acts 1:1-4). Luke wants us to know about origins of Saul (Paul). It is ironic what Jesus says to Saul when He meets on the road and grants Him forgiveness of sins. Note, years later, Paul’s own memory of that moment he was granted forgiveness of sins:
Acts 26:16-18 (ESV Strong's)
But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Saul, who was persecuting the church, would, himself, be sent out to win souls for the church and would, eventually, die from persecution. Yet, in His grace, God saved him. We can rejoice that God can save a murderous persecutor of the church. If His love and grace are powerful enough to save Saul, they can save the least of us.
And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
God Saves The Worst
In the above passage we read about Saul (who would be latter renamed Paul and write the majority of the New Testament books). Saul, before God granted him forgiveness of sins, was a main persecutor of the early church believers. In the previous chapter, Stephen, the deacon in the early church, was stoned to death for his faith. Saul stood by holding the coats of those who throw the rocks that killed Stephen. Saul “ravaged” the church. Yet, God gave him forgiveness. The author of the book of Acts (Luke) is giving us an account of how the early church unfolded (see Acts 1:1-4). Luke wants us to know about origins of Saul (Paul). It is ironic what Jesus says to Saul when He meets on the road and grants Him forgiveness of sins. Note, years later, Paul’s own memory of that moment he was granted forgiveness of sins:
Acts 26:16-18 (ESV Strong's)
But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Saul, who was persecuting the church, would, himself, be sent out to win souls for the church and would, eventually, die from persecution. Yet, in His grace, God saved him. We can rejoice that God can save a murderous persecutor of the church. If His love and grace are powerful enough to save Saul, they can save the least of us.
Friday, October 18, 2019
God is Awesome - Nahum
Nahum 1:5 (ESV Strong's)
The mountains quake before him;
the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
the world and all who dwell in it.
God Is Awesome
The old playground adage is used when one kid is smaller than they other kid, so the smaller states, “But, my dad is bigger than your dad!” Being able to boast about your father and how awesome he is should be an inalienable right of all sons. Sadly, that is not true, since all dads are not awesome. Unless, of course, you are a child of the King and your dad is God. If that is the case you can easily and rightly boast, “My Father is bigger than your father.” In the above text we see a small glimpse of how awesome God is. Think about the world pictures we have here:
1. Mountains quake
2. Hills melt
3. Earth heaves
4. The World and all who dwell in it heave
We don’t live in a time that the “whole world” would even admit there is a God, much less “heave before Him.” This is where understanding the book of Nahum will help. The prophecy Nahum was sent to say this message to the Ninevites. About one hundred years earlier a prophet was sent to deliver a message to the Ninevites; his name was Jonah. He did not want to go because he knew God was forgiving and would forgive them. And that is what God did. Even though the Ninevites were very, very wicked, God forgave them. Yet, 100 years later, they had returned to their wicked ways. In Jonah’s message to them, God showed His awesome and powerful grace. In Nineveh’s message to them, God is showing His awesome and powerful judgment. Either way, God is awesome. What part of His awesomeness we experience is determined by our response to His grace. Receive it and we receive more. Reject it and we receive His wrath. Either way, God is awesome. Someday the entire world will bow before Him.
The mountains quake before him;
the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
the world and all who dwell in it.
God Is Awesome
The old playground adage is used when one kid is smaller than they other kid, so the smaller states, “But, my dad is bigger than your dad!” Being able to boast about your father and how awesome he is should be an inalienable right of all sons. Sadly, that is not true, since all dads are not awesome. Unless, of course, you are a child of the King and your dad is God. If that is the case you can easily and rightly boast, “My Father is bigger than your father.” In the above text we see a small glimpse of how awesome God is. Think about the world pictures we have here:
1. Mountains quake
2. Hills melt
3. Earth heaves
4. The World and all who dwell in it heave
We don’t live in a time that the “whole world” would even admit there is a God, much less “heave before Him.” This is where understanding the book of Nahum will help. The prophecy Nahum was sent to say this message to the Ninevites. About one hundred years earlier a prophet was sent to deliver a message to the Ninevites; his name was Jonah. He did not want to go because he knew God was forgiving and would forgive them. And that is what God did. Even though the Ninevites were very, very wicked, God forgave them. Yet, 100 years later, they had returned to their wicked ways. In Jonah’s message to them, God showed His awesome and powerful grace. In Nineveh’s message to them, God is showing His awesome and powerful judgment. Either way, God is awesome. What part of His awesomeness we experience is determined by our response to His grace. Receive it and we receive more. Reject it and we receive His wrath. Either way, God is awesome. Someday the entire world will bow before Him.
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Strong Drink for the Perishing - Proverbs 31
Proverbs 31:6-7
Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.
Let him drink and forget his poverty
And remember his trouble no more.
Apparently strong drink and wine, at the proper levels of consumption, does exactly what it is supposed to do. Solomon, who undoubtedly was surrounded by good drink in this form and manner, must have had plenty of chances to see the affects of strong drink and wine. Think of this verse when the new year comes around. I have no doubt many are plan on getting wasted at a New Year’s Even party. They are doing so for many reasons, of which "tradition" may lead the list. On New Year's Eve we get drunk .. it is what people do. But, there may be other reasons. The last year wasn't all that good. The next year doesn't look that much better. Many are poor and many have seen trouble after trouble. Many see their lives through "bitter" eyes. Solomon says when you see someone like that, give him wine and drink to cause him to forget his state and his status. It is possible that this proverb by Solomon is stated in a tongue-in-cheek manner. Since their lives are so bitter and in a state of poverty, Solomon gives in and says let them get drunk, there is little left for them. It is doubtful that fatalistic view was on his mind (however, if you read Ecclesiastes, you can see where that thought is often echoed). Solomon could be saying this in a sarcastic manner, as well. Give them drink to get wasted since they have wasted their lives. It is possible, however, to believe that Solomon is telling the person who is perishing and in bitter poverty to relieve their stress with something God created, strong drink and wine. The purpose of the two is to relax the senses and to forget the day(s). The problem comes when we use this God-given creation to excess and fail to come to God, the ultimate comfort for the perishing, bitter soul. The key to the passage is that the strong drink and wine is to be given to those "who are perishing." This is for someone who is ready to depart and in dire straights. This is not a verse for New Year's Eve. It is a verse when you might not see another year. Understand God does provide some comfort to those who are perishing. We can not miss this portion of the text. Solomon is writing to give comfort to the “perishing.” It is probably more practical to think of this passage as medicinal than in the context of excess and experiential. Those who are perishing are in pain and on the verge of death. The medicine for this during Solomon’s day would have been strong drink and wine. It would be used to ease their pain as they do, indeed, perish.
Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.
Let him drink and forget his poverty
And remember his trouble no more.
Apparently strong drink and wine, at the proper levels of consumption, does exactly what it is supposed to do. Solomon, who undoubtedly was surrounded by good drink in this form and manner, must have had plenty of chances to see the affects of strong drink and wine. Think of this verse when the new year comes around. I have no doubt many are plan on getting wasted at a New Year’s Even party. They are doing so for many reasons, of which "tradition" may lead the list. On New Year's Eve we get drunk .. it is what people do. But, there may be other reasons. The last year wasn't all that good. The next year doesn't look that much better. Many are poor and many have seen trouble after trouble. Many see their lives through "bitter" eyes. Solomon says when you see someone like that, give him wine and drink to cause him to forget his state and his status. It is possible that this proverb by Solomon is stated in a tongue-in-cheek manner. Since their lives are so bitter and in a state of poverty, Solomon gives in and says let them get drunk, there is little left for them. It is doubtful that fatalistic view was on his mind (however, if you read Ecclesiastes, you can see where that thought is often echoed). Solomon could be saying this in a sarcastic manner, as well. Give them drink to get wasted since they have wasted their lives. It is possible, however, to believe that Solomon is telling the person who is perishing and in bitter poverty to relieve their stress with something God created, strong drink and wine. The purpose of the two is to relax the senses and to forget the day(s). The problem comes when we use this God-given creation to excess and fail to come to God, the ultimate comfort for the perishing, bitter soul. The key to the passage is that the strong drink and wine is to be given to those "who are perishing." This is for someone who is ready to depart and in dire straights. This is not a verse for New Year's Eve. It is a verse when you might not see another year. Understand God does provide some comfort to those who are perishing. We can not miss this portion of the text. Solomon is writing to give comfort to the “perishing.” It is probably more practical to think of this passage as medicinal than in the context of excess and experiential. Those who are perishing are in pain and on the verge of death. The medicine for this during Solomon’s day would have been strong drink and wine. It would be used to ease their pain as they do, indeed, perish.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Living in the Midst of Hostility - Psalms 120-121
Psalms 120:5 (ESV Strong's)
Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech,
that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Living in the Midst of Hostility
This song was written as a cry from the writer to be set free from those who want war. Note the last line:
Psalms 120:7 (ESV Strong's)
I am for peace,
but when I speak, they are for war!
The writer wants peace. In the beginning of the song he expresses great confidence that God will deliver him and give him peace:
Psalms 120:2 (ESV Strong's)
Deliver me, O Lord,
from lying lips,
from a deceitful tongue.
Yet, he begins this top verse with “woe is me.” That is a Hebrew phrase you would hear at a funeral. The contrast between war and peace is found in this verse. The geographical locations of Meshech and Kedar are important to the author. Meshech is far to the north and Kedar is far to the east. They are on the fringe and in hostile territory. The writer is not saying he physically leaves in these places but, since these places are known for their violence, he feels like he is. If you have ever lived in a hostile home, work environment, community or even church, you can relate to this feeling. If you live with, or have to deal with someone who is always for “war,” when all you want is peace, you can relate to this entire song. The answer to all this is actually found in the first verse of the song. We are to not trust those we live with or trying to “win” over to peace. We are to put our confidence in the power and person of God:
Psalms 120:1 (ESV Strong's)
In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
In our distress we call to God and, by faith, we know that He hears us. God fights our battles. When we are for peace and they are for war we continue to put our faith in God who will deliver us, even though we live in the regions of Meshech and Kedar.
Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech,
that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Living in the Midst of Hostility
This song was written as a cry from the writer to be set free from those who want war. Note the last line:
Psalms 120:7 (ESV Strong's)
I am for peace,
but when I speak, they are for war!
The writer wants peace. In the beginning of the song he expresses great confidence that God will deliver him and give him peace:
Psalms 120:2 (ESV Strong's)
Deliver me, O Lord,
from lying lips,
from a deceitful tongue.
Yet, he begins this top verse with “woe is me.” That is a Hebrew phrase you would hear at a funeral. The contrast between war and peace is found in this verse. The geographical locations of Meshech and Kedar are important to the author. Meshech is far to the north and Kedar is far to the east. They are on the fringe and in hostile territory. The writer is not saying he physically leaves in these places but, since these places are known for their violence, he feels like he is. If you have ever lived in a hostile home, work environment, community or even church, you can relate to this feeling. If you live with, or have to deal with someone who is always for “war,” when all you want is peace, you can relate to this entire song. The answer to all this is actually found in the first verse of the song. We are to not trust those we live with or trying to “win” over to peace. We are to put our confidence in the power and person of God:
Psalms 120:1 (ESV Strong's)
In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
In our distress we call to God and, by faith, we know that He hears us. God fights our battles. When we are for peace and they are for war we continue to put our faith in God who will deliver us, even though we live in the regions of Meshech and Kedar.
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Poor Counsel Produces Poor Leadership - 2 Chronicles 21-24
2 Chronicles 22:3-4 (ESV Strong's)
He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done. For after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his undoing.
Poor Counsel Produces Poor Leadership
Ahaziah was now the king of Judah. He was the son of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was a wicked king. He married a daughter of Ahab, the king of Israel. Ahab was married to Jezebel. With the family tree we can almost predict what will happen. Ahaziah was reared by his mother and that produced a character in his young age that would come out in full glory in his leadership. He did what was wicked in the sight of the Lord. After his earth His mother would continue his reign and continue the wickedness she taught her son. When children are raised with wickedness as a normative they will fulfill that normative thought out their life. They do not know differently. We are responsible to be build the lives of children so that they want to honor and obey the Lord. That type of character will then be played out later in life for leadership. We have this responsibility. Otherwise we contribute to their “undoing.”
He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done. For after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his undoing.
Poor Counsel Produces Poor Leadership
Ahaziah was now the king of Judah. He was the son of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was a wicked king. He married a daughter of Ahab, the king of Israel. Ahab was married to Jezebel. With the family tree we can almost predict what will happen. Ahaziah was reared by his mother and that produced a character in his young age that would come out in full glory in his leadership. He did what was wicked in the sight of the Lord. After his earth His mother would continue his reign and continue the wickedness she taught her son. When children are raised with wickedness as a normative they will fulfill that normative thought out their life. They do not know differently. We are responsible to be build the lives of children so that they want to honor and obey the Lord. That type of character will then be played out later in life for leadership. We have this responsibility. Otherwise we contribute to their “undoing.”
Monday, October 14, 2019
Direction Despite Disobedience - Deuteronomy 1-3
Deuteronomy 2:1-5 (ESV Strong's)
“Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea, as the Lord told me. And for many days we traveled around Mount Seir. Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward and command the people, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful. Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.
Direction Despite Disobedience
The nation of Israel, just before the above passage is written, has disobeyed God and in their unbelief refused to go into the promise land. Because they feared the giants of the land they shrunk back into unbelief. Yet, despite this, God gives them Divine direction. They are disobeying God and, yet, God, in His grace, is providing them with clear direction in their wandering. God will not give the rest in the promise land, but He is still active in their lives. This is a great picture for our unbelief today. We fail to enter in our rest because of our unbelief, but God still guides and directs us. We might consider Peter, who after denying Christ (three times), Christ still expressed love for him and gave him clear direction for the future.
John 21:15-19 (ESV Strong's)
Jesus and Peter
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Christ works in our lives despite out disobedience and unbelief.
“Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea, as the Lord told me. And for many days we traveled around Mount Seir. Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward and command the people, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful. Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.
Direction Despite Disobedience
The nation of Israel, just before the above passage is written, has disobeyed God and in their unbelief refused to go into the promise land. Because they feared the giants of the land they shrunk back into unbelief. Yet, despite this, God gives them Divine direction. They are disobeying God and, yet, God, in His grace, is providing them with clear direction in their wandering. God will not give the rest in the promise land, but He is still active in their lives. This is a great picture for our unbelief today. We fail to enter in our rest because of our unbelief, but God still guides and directs us. We might consider Peter, who after denying Christ (three times), Christ still expressed love for him and gave him clear direction for the future.
John 21:15-19 (ESV Strong's)
Jesus and Peter
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Christ works in our lives despite out disobedience and unbelief.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Don’t be a Slug - Hebrews 5-7
Hebrews 6:11-12 (ESV Strong's)
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
We are not to be sluggish!
The world “sluggish” in the above text is used only here and in the following verse in Hebrews. In this verse, the same word is translated “dull.”
Hebrews 5:11 (ESV Strong's)
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
The writer in this section of Hebrews is telling us that we should continue, as believers, to show “work and love” for his name by “serving the saints.” The writer of Hebrews is worried about people not following through in their love for Christ. He is worried about them falling away. Therefore he write several warning passages that tell us to continue on in our faith and allow God to produce fruit in us. The above passage comes on the heals of one of the more powerful warnings in the book. So, when he warns us to not be “sluggish,” he is telling us that those who come to faith in Christ are to be “imitators” of Christ and “through faith and patiences inherit promises” (meaning “external life”). Being sluggish or dull is about letting your faith sit on a shelf and not continuing in growth. The author is wearing us that this is not what true believers do. We are to be fully committed to growing our faith and to live by the promises Christ gave through His finished work. We are not to be slugs.
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
We are not to be sluggish!
The world “sluggish” in the above text is used only here and in the following verse in Hebrews. In this verse, the same word is translated “dull.”
Hebrews 5:11 (ESV Strong's)
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
The writer in this section of Hebrews is telling us that we should continue, as believers, to show “work and love” for his name by “serving the saints.” The writer of Hebrews is worried about people not following through in their love for Christ. He is worried about them falling away. Therefore he write several warning passages that tell us to continue on in our faith and allow God to produce fruit in us. The above passage comes on the heals of one of the more powerful warnings in the book. So, when he warns us to not be “sluggish,” he is telling us that those who come to faith in Christ are to be “imitators” of Christ and “through faith and patiences inherit promises” (meaning “external life”). Being sluggish or dull is about letting your faith sit on a shelf and not continuing in growth. The author is wearing us that this is not what true believers do. We are to be fully committed to growing our faith and to live by the promises Christ gave through His finished work. We are not to be slugs.
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Obedience Expands the Gospel Power - Acts 5-6
Acts 5:27-29 (ESV Strong's)
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Obedience Expands the Gospel
Early in the church the formula was very simply: Teach and preach the gospel; be beaten for teaching and preaching the gospel; repeat over and over! This is what has happened as we reach these verses above. The Apostles were obedient to preaching that Jesus was the Messiah. What was the result?
Acts 2:47 (ESV Strong's)
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 4:4 (ESV Strong's)
But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
Acts 5:14 (ESV Strong's)
And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
Acts 6:7 (ESV Strong's)
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.
How did all this happen? The passage above states that they were accused of teaching so much that “you have filled Jerusalem” with their teaching. The word “filled” means to “cram full.” Notice what is said later in this same chapter:
Acts 5:42 (ESV Strong's)
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Obedience to preach the Gospel will always yield results because God uses preaching to accomplish His plans in the hearts of mankind (Romans 10). We are to obey God and not man when it comes to proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Obedience Expands the Gospel
Early in the church the formula was very simply: Teach and preach the gospel; be beaten for teaching and preaching the gospel; repeat over and over! This is what has happened as we reach these verses above. The Apostles were obedient to preaching that Jesus was the Messiah. What was the result?
Acts 2:47 (ESV Strong's)
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 4:4 (ESV Strong's)
But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
Acts 5:14 (ESV Strong's)
And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
Acts 6:7 (ESV Strong's)
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.
How did all this happen? The passage above states that they were accused of teaching so much that “you have filled Jerusalem” with their teaching. The word “filled” means to “cram full.” Notice what is said later in this same chapter:
Acts 5:42 (ESV Strong's)
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Obedience to preach the Gospel will always yield results because God uses preaching to accomplish His plans in the hearts of mankind (Romans 10). We are to obey God and not man when it comes to proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.
Friday, October 11, 2019
We Love Pleasant Preachers - Micah
Micah 2:11 (ESV Strong's)
If a man should go about and utter wind and lies,
saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”
he would be the preacher for this people!
Mankind Loves Pleasant Preachers
No one likes to be “preached” at ... unless the preaching is about wine and strong drink and having a party. That is the preaching all unbelievers love. They love to have their “wants” encouraged. It was true in Micah’s day and, as Paul wrote to Timothy, would be true in our day:
2 Timothy 4:3 (ESV Strong's)
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and their desires.
Perhaps Paul was reading Micah when he wrote that insight to Preacher Timothy. In Micah’s day the nation of Israel split into Israel and Judah. Both of them had forsaken God. Both of them had prophets (preachers) who rejected the truth about God’s commands, and especially His judgements. In the verses proceeding the above verse, Micah condemns the false teachers for mocking God’s judgement.
Micah 2:6-7 (ESV Strong's)
“Do not preach”—thus they preach—
“one should not preach of such things;
disgrace will not overtake us.”
Should this be said, O house of Jacob?
Has the Lord grown impatient?
Are these his deeds?
Do not my words do good
to him who walks uprightly?
The preachers of the day were warning Micah not to preach the gloom and doom of God’s Judgment. Like people today, they wanted to keep God in the world of love and compassion and forgiveness ONLY. As one commentary stated, they had evidence in God’s Word that He was compassionate:
Exodus 34:6-7 (ESV Strong's)
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, ...”
But, they would conveniently forget the last part of those verses:
... but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
Today we have the same problem. Most people believe God is love and has no judgment. They believe He is forgiving and there is no judgment to come. They miss many truths taught in God’s Word. We like preachers who preach about wine and strong drink. They are very popular today. But, they are wrong. God is a God of Love and Judgment. Never does His love and judgment contradict. They are in complete harmony at all times. We are to rejoice in teaching and preaching that preaches both, not just one or the other.
If a man should go about and utter wind and lies,
saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”
he would be the preacher for this people!
Mankind Loves Pleasant Preachers
No one likes to be “preached” at ... unless the preaching is about wine and strong drink and having a party. That is the preaching all unbelievers love. They love to have their “wants” encouraged. It was true in Micah’s day and, as Paul wrote to Timothy, would be true in our day:
2 Timothy 4:3 (ESV Strong's)
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and their desires.
Perhaps Paul was reading Micah when he wrote that insight to Preacher Timothy. In Micah’s day the nation of Israel split into Israel and Judah. Both of them had forsaken God. Both of them had prophets (preachers) who rejected the truth about God’s commands, and especially His judgements. In the verses proceeding the above verse, Micah condemns the false teachers for mocking God’s judgement.
Micah 2:6-7 (ESV Strong's)
“Do not preach”—thus they preach—
“one should not preach of such things;
disgrace will not overtake us.”
Should this be said, O house of Jacob?
Has the Lord grown impatient?
Are these his deeds?
Do not my words do good
to him who walks uprightly?
The preachers of the day were warning Micah not to preach the gloom and doom of God’s Judgment. Like people today, they wanted to keep God in the world of love and compassion and forgiveness ONLY. As one commentary stated, they had evidence in God’s Word that He was compassionate:
Exodus 34:6-7 (ESV Strong's)
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, ...”
But, they would conveniently forget the last part of those verses:
... but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
Today we have the same problem. Most people believe God is love and has no judgment. They believe He is forgiving and there is no judgment to come. They miss many truths taught in God’s Word. We like preachers who preach about wine and strong drink. They are very popular today. But, they are wrong. God is a God of Love and Judgment. Never does His love and judgment contradict. They are in complete harmony at all times. We are to rejoice in teaching and preaching that preaches both, not just one or the other.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Don’t be Foolish! - Proverb 29-30
Proverbs 30:32-33
If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
or if you have been devising evil,
put your hand on your mouth.
For pressing milk produces curds,
pressing the nose produces blood,
and pressing anger produces strife.
Pride, arrogance and evil imagination are works of foolishness. They begin in the heart of evil men and result in difficulty. All men are evil in their hearts. If no work is done in their lives to correct and redeem this evilness, it will burst forth. If, we have exalted ourselves or if we have evil thoughts, we should quickly cover our mouth, as to stop the arrogance before it spreads and to prevent the evilness before it breaks out. Foolishness portrays itself in many different ways. Many of the ways evilness shows itself are compounded by the tongue. The mouth is the gateway for the evil heart. Listen to the mouth and the heart will be made known. Close the mouth and slow the heart from proclaiming and, perhaps, practicing its evil. For further reading look at Mark 7:14-23
Mark 7:14-23
And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
The mouth reveals the heart. If the mouth hurts others it comes from a heart full of hate. You only have to be around a person for a short time and their lips will reveal their life.
If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
or if you have been devising evil,
put your hand on your mouth.
For pressing milk produces curds,
pressing the nose produces blood,
and pressing anger produces strife.
Pride, arrogance and evil imagination are works of foolishness. They begin in the heart of evil men and result in difficulty. All men are evil in their hearts. If no work is done in their lives to correct and redeem this evilness, it will burst forth. If, we have exalted ourselves or if we have evil thoughts, we should quickly cover our mouth, as to stop the arrogance before it spreads and to prevent the evilness before it breaks out. Foolishness portrays itself in many different ways. Many of the ways evilness shows itself are compounded by the tongue. The mouth is the gateway for the evil heart. Listen to the mouth and the heart will be made known. Close the mouth and slow the heart from proclaiming and, perhaps, practicing its evil. For further reading look at Mark 7:14-23
Mark 7:14-23
And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
The mouth reveals the heart. If the mouth hurts others it comes from a heart full of hate. You only have to be around a person for a short time and their lips will reveal their life.
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Shame! Psalms 119
Psalms 119:6 (ESV Strong's)
Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
Psalms 119:31 (ESV Strong's)
I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
let me not be put to shame!
Psalms 119:46 (ESV Strong's)
I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
Psalms 119:78 (ESV Strong's)
Let the insolent be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
Psalms 119:80 (ESV Strong's)
May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame!
Psalms 119:116 (ESV Strong's)
Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
Shame!!
Shame is a real thing. The Hebrew word has the idea of being made “pale;” as if losing color in one’s face. The key here is that our physiological conditions can change when a matter of the heart is impacted by another. The writer of Palms 119 gives us understanding that shame begins when we are not grounded in the heart by God’s Word. Shame seems to be connected to falsehood (v. 78). The “insolent” are those who reject truth and deal in falsehood. GodWord does not deal in falsehood:
Psalms 119:160 (ESV Strong's)
The sum of your word is truth,
and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
We can avoid feeling shamed by the world when we dwell in truth. The world uses shame to get us to denounce our belief and our walk in truth. In the above passages we see we can combat shame by holding to God’s truth.
Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
Psalms 119:31 (ESV Strong's)
I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
let me not be put to shame!
Psalms 119:46 (ESV Strong's)
I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
Psalms 119:78 (ESV Strong's)
Let the insolent be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
Psalms 119:80 (ESV Strong's)
May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame!
Psalms 119:116 (ESV Strong's)
Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
Shame!!
Shame is a real thing. The Hebrew word has the idea of being made “pale;” as if losing color in one’s face. The key here is that our physiological conditions can change when a matter of the heart is impacted by another. The writer of Palms 119 gives us understanding that shame begins when we are not grounded in the heart by God’s Word. Shame seems to be connected to falsehood (v. 78). The “insolent” are those who reject truth and deal in falsehood. GodWord does not deal in falsehood:
Psalms 119:160 (ESV Strong's)
The sum of your word is truth,
and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
We can avoid feeling shamed by the world when we dwell in truth. The world uses shame to get us to denounce our belief and our walk in truth. In the above passages we see we can combat shame by holding to God’s truth.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Don’t Lose It In The End - 2 Chronicles 17-20
2 Chronicles 20:35-37 (ESV Strong's)
After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.
Failure in Old Age
In the above passage Jehoshaphat has reached “old age.” He is at the end of his reign as king of Judah. Regretfully, like many in old age, he forgot the God of his youth and fell into the temptations of “legacy” and “power.” Instead of living out his life of service to God to the end, he decided to follow the wickedness of the king of Israel. Together they would seek power and riches in boat building. You can almost imagine the conversation they had about this “endeavor” to get rich off building boats.
Why in his old age and with this experience would he be lead to do this? Pride? Geed? If we read the life of the king he as actually a “good” king. In the beginning of his reign he did the right things. Yet, in his old age, he forgot his way. The Bible has a history of those who have walked a similar path:
Moses - instead of speaking to the rock, hit the rock and lost the opportunity to enter the promise land.
David had an affair and a baby by the woman in his old age.
Hezekiah in his later years showed off his riches and God punished his kingdom for his pride.
Solomon in his later years succumbed to his many wives and began to honor their gods.
Notice what Paul tells us about the old in the church:
Titus 2:2 (ESV Strong's)
Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
Notice the last word, “steadfastness.” Perhaps Paul was thinking of these men in their old age when the Spirit of God prompted him to write those words. Here is what old age should bring for the believer. We are not to fall off our faith in the end. We are to set the example to the end.
After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.
Failure in Old Age
In the above passage Jehoshaphat has reached “old age.” He is at the end of his reign as king of Judah. Regretfully, like many in old age, he forgot the God of his youth and fell into the temptations of “legacy” and “power.” Instead of living out his life of service to God to the end, he decided to follow the wickedness of the king of Israel. Together they would seek power and riches in boat building. You can almost imagine the conversation they had about this “endeavor” to get rich off building boats.
Why in his old age and with this experience would he be lead to do this? Pride? Geed? If we read the life of the king he as actually a “good” king. In the beginning of his reign he did the right things. Yet, in his old age, he forgot his way. The Bible has a history of those who have walked a similar path:
Moses - instead of speaking to the rock, hit the rock and lost the opportunity to enter the promise land.
David had an affair and a baby by the woman in his old age.
Hezekiah in his later years showed off his riches and God punished his kingdom for his pride.
Solomon in his later years succumbed to his many wives and began to honor their gods.
Notice what Paul tells us about the old in the church:
Titus 2:2 (ESV Strong's)
Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
Notice the last word, “steadfastness.” Perhaps Paul was thinking of these men in their old age when the Spirit of God prompted him to write those words. Here is what old age should bring for the believer. We are not to fall off our faith in the end. We are to set the example to the end.
Monday, October 7, 2019
Destruction before Construction - Numbers 33-36
Numbers 33:51-53 (ESV Strong's)
“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.
Destruction before Construction
You have to plow before you can plant. That is a fundamental principle of life. You have to level the ground before you can put the foundation down to build your construction. This is the principle God tells Moses in the above passage. The nation is about to move into the Promise Land. They needed to know that the evilness of their world was there and they had a responsibility to drive it out. The same is true in our lives. We have to be willing to destroy the old before the new can take root in our lives. When we hand onto the old, the new can’t take firm hold in our lives. This is what is taught in the New Testament as well:
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV Strong's)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV Strong's)
... to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
We are to put away the old. The nation of Israel would have to go into the land and destroy the wickedness in the land and allow God to rule their lives. The same is true of believers today. We have to destroy the old in our lives so that the new can be in control.
“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.
Destruction before Construction
You have to plow before you can plant. That is a fundamental principle of life. You have to level the ground before you can put the foundation down to build your construction. This is the principle God tells Moses in the above passage. The nation is about to move into the Promise Land. They needed to know that the evilness of their world was there and they had a responsibility to drive it out. The same is true in our lives. We have to be willing to destroy the old before the new can take root in our lives. When we hand onto the old, the new can’t take firm hold in our lives. This is what is taught in the New Testament as well:
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV Strong's)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV Strong's)
... to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
We are to put away the old. The nation of Israel would have to go into the land and destroy the wickedness in the land and allow God to rule their lives. The same is true of believers today. We have to destroy the old in our lives so that the new can be in control.
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Don’t Be A Slug - Hebrews 5-7
Hebrews 6:11-12 (ESV Strong's)
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
We are not to be sluggish!
The world “sluggish” in the above text is used only here and in the following verse in Hebrews. In this verse, the same word is translated “dull.”
Hebrews 5:11 (ESV Strong's)
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
The writer in this section of Hebrews is telling us that we should continue, as believers, to show “work and love” for his name by “serving the saints.” The writer of Hebrews is worried about people not following through in their love for Christ. He is worried about them falling away. Therefore he write several warning passages that tell us to continue on in our faith and allow God to produce fruit in us. The above passage comes on the heals of one of the more powerful warnings in the book. So, when he warns us to not be “sluggish,” he is telling us that those who come to faith in Christ are to be “imitators” of Christ and “through faith and patiences inherit promises” (meaning “external life”). Being sluggish or dull is about letting your faith sit on a shelf and not continuing in growth. The author is wearing us that this is not what true believers do. We are to be fully committed to growing our faith and to live by the promises Christ gave through His finished work. We are not to be slugs.
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
We are not to be sluggish!
The world “sluggish” in the above text is used only here and in the following verse in Hebrews. In this verse, the same word is translated “dull.”
Hebrews 5:11 (ESV Strong's)
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
The writer in this section of Hebrews is telling us that we should continue, as believers, to show “work and love” for his name by “serving the saints.” The writer of Hebrews is worried about people not following through in their love for Christ. He is worried about them falling away. Therefore he write several warning passages that tell us to continue on in our faith and allow God to produce fruit in us. The above passage comes on the heals of one of the more powerful warnings in the book. So, when he warns us to not be “sluggish,” he is telling us that those who come to faith in Christ are to be “imitators” of Christ and “through faith and patiences inherit promises” (meaning “external life”). Being sluggish or dull is about letting your faith sit on a shelf and not continuing in growth. The author is wearing us that this is not what true believers do. We are to be fully committed to growing our faith and to live by the promises Christ gave through His finished work. We are not to be slugs.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Speak Being Filled by the Spirit - Acts 3-4
Acts 4:8 (ESV Strong's)
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders,
Speak Being Filled by the Spirit
Peter is being brought before the religious leaders of the day because, in the name of Jesus, he heralded a man. Or, at least that is what is on the surface. The real issue is that their was attention being given to these “common” fisher man and the religious leaders were jealous:
Acts 4:13 (ESV Strong's)
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Jealousy is a bad thing:
Proverbs 27:4 (ESV Strong's)
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?
The problem with the religious leaders of the day is that they were mere men of the flesh. But, Peter was “filled with the Holy Spirit” as he spoke. That is what all believers should desire. To have power from the Holy Spirit in their service to God. When we attempt to serve God in our own power, we will always fail. We have to have the power of the Holy Spirit to speak through our lives. Yielding to the Spirt in faith is how we engage the Spirit in our walk.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders,
Speak Being Filled by the Spirit
Peter is being brought before the religious leaders of the day because, in the name of Jesus, he heralded a man. Or, at least that is what is on the surface. The real issue is that their was attention being given to these “common” fisher man and the religious leaders were jealous:
Acts 4:13 (ESV Strong's)
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Jealousy is a bad thing:
Proverbs 27:4 (ESV Strong's)
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?
The problem with the religious leaders of the day is that they were mere men of the flesh. But, Peter was “filled with the Holy Spirit” as he spoke. That is what all believers should desire. To have power from the Holy Spirit in their service to God. When we attempt to serve God in our own power, we will always fail. We have to have the power of the Holy Spirit to speak through our lives. Yielding to the Spirt in faith is how we engage the Spirit in our walk.
Friday, October 4, 2019
God Hurls Great Winds - Jonah
Jonah 1:4-6 (ESV Strong's)
But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”
God Hurls Great Winds
Today’s political culture and societal norms would like to say that the reason for the climate disruptions around the globe are because of man’s carbon emissions. One would be confused listening to the two sides debate climate warming and “natural” disasters. The “scientific community” likes to credit man for making “Mother Nature” mad. It would be fun to ask them what caused the above storm in the sea when Jonah was aboard the cargo ship in the above passage. It seems pretty clear that the reason for the storm is that God was trying to get Jonah’s attention. We don’t like to think in these categories, but uses disasters He either creates or allows to accomplish His will and plan. Note what happened in Job’s life:
Job 1:18-19 (ESV Strong's)
While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
We know God allows and create these types of events because He says He says He does:
Isaiah 45:7 (ESV Strong's)
I form light and create darkness;
I make well-being and create calamity;
I am the Lord, who does all these things.
Jonah was running from God. God needed to get Jonah’s attention. He sent a storm at sea to do that. The men on the boat also learned about God’s power that day. He also got their attention. God uses disaster and difficulty in our lives to get our attention. It is too bad the world wants to even steal that glory from God and say it is man who is causing disasters in on the world’s climate. There is no doubt that man’s sin is making the earth groan (Romans 8). But, the disaster that we see just might be God trying to get our attention.
But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”
God Hurls Great Winds
Today’s political culture and societal norms would like to say that the reason for the climate disruptions around the globe are because of man’s carbon emissions. One would be confused listening to the two sides debate climate warming and “natural” disasters. The “scientific community” likes to credit man for making “Mother Nature” mad. It would be fun to ask them what caused the above storm in the sea when Jonah was aboard the cargo ship in the above passage. It seems pretty clear that the reason for the storm is that God was trying to get Jonah’s attention. We don’t like to think in these categories, but uses disasters He either creates or allows to accomplish His will and plan. Note what happened in Job’s life:
Job 1:18-19 (ESV Strong's)
While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
We know God allows and create these types of events because He says He says He does:
Isaiah 45:7 (ESV Strong's)
I form light and create darkness;
I make well-being and create calamity;
I am the Lord, who does all these things.
Jonah was running from God. God needed to get Jonah’s attention. He sent a storm at sea to do that. The men on the boat also learned about God’s power that day. He also got their attention. God uses disaster and difficulty in our lives to get our attention. It is too bad the world wants to even steal that glory from God and say it is man who is causing disasters in on the world’s climate. There is no doubt that man’s sin is making the earth groan (Romans 8). But, the disaster that we see just might be God trying to get our attention.
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Fear Always - Proverb 28
Proverbs 28:14
How blessed is the man who fears always,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
Proverb is a book about opposites. You don't have to read to far into the book, or too many proverbs, to see that wisdom and folly are in direct contrast. Wisdom is characterized by "fearing The Lord." Folly is about turning your ear away from God's Word and seeking your own desires. This proverb is one more piece of evidence toward this end. But, rather than stress the difference in how these two become who they are, this proverb gives us insight into what happens after they head down those two paths. We see a life that is "blessed' and a life that will fall into "calamity." The path of wisdom has blessing. Although Solomon is vague as to what that means, we know it stands in stark contrast to those who fall into calamity. This is an antithetic proverb: The second line is opposite the first line. One has God at his back, easing him down the hill, the other has God in his face, as he works to climb up-hill. When we fear God we "always" have a blessed path. But, when we turn our heart and ear away from God and harden our hearts we fall into calamity. Wisdom is available to him who opens the ears of his heart. Wisdom is lost to those who harden their heart and can't find the manner by which they are to walk. The hard heart is the one step we need to find calamity. God has many methods of showing us His glorious wisdom. But, all the ways God has will not be heard or seen if we have a hard heart. Without God's Wisdom there is nothing but calamity remaining. This is not to mean that "during the journey" of life, those who fear the Lord, won't have calamity. Just ask Job!! What we are hearing in this proverb should not be that those who fear the Lord will never have calamity and those who don't fear the Lord will always have calamity. Read Psalm 73 and you can see this is not true. Solomon is talking to us about the "end" of the journey. Those who fear the Lord will be blessed and those who don't will, eventually, fall into calamity.
How blessed is the man who fears always,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
Proverb is a book about opposites. You don't have to read to far into the book, or too many proverbs, to see that wisdom and folly are in direct contrast. Wisdom is characterized by "fearing The Lord." Folly is about turning your ear away from God's Word and seeking your own desires. This proverb is one more piece of evidence toward this end. But, rather than stress the difference in how these two become who they are, this proverb gives us insight into what happens after they head down those two paths. We see a life that is "blessed' and a life that will fall into "calamity." The path of wisdom has blessing. Although Solomon is vague as to what that means, we know it stands in stark contrast to those who fall into calamity. This is an antithetic proverb: The second line is opposite the first line. One has God at his back, easing him down the hill, the other has God in his face, as he works to climb up-hill. When we fear God we "always" have a blessed path. But, when we turn our heart and ear away from God and harden our hearts we fall into calamity. Wisdom is available to him who opens the ears of his heart. Wisdom is lost to those who harden their heart and can't find the manner by which they are to walk. The hard heart is the one step we need to find calamity. God has many methods of showing us His glorious wisdom. But, all the ways God has will not be heard or seen if we have a hard heart. Without God's Wisdom there is nothing but calamity remaining. This is not to mean that "during the journey" of life, those who fear the Lord, won't have calamity. Just ask Job!! What we are hearing in this proverb should not be that those who fear the Lord will never have calamity and those who don't fear the Lord will always have calamity. Read Psalm 73 and you can see this is not true. Solomon is talking to us about the "end" of the journey. Those who fear the Lord will be blessed and those who don't will, eventually, fall into calamity.
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
The Lord is Good - Psalms 117-118
Psalms 118:28-29 (ESV Strong's)
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
The Lord is Good
Not everything that happens in our life is good. We, of course, don’t always see the bigger plan behind what is happening in our life. We might not realize that what is happened IS good. We just frame it poorly in our minds and therefore see it as bad. God tells us that we weaves all things good for us in our lives to His glory:
Romans 8:28 (ESV Strong's)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
So, when we have circumstances and situations in our lives that don’t seem good, the above verse is a good thing to mediate upon. God is using all things (all the bad that comes into our life via our own sin and/or the sin of others) to make it good for His glory. Why? Because God is good ... always. We are to give thanks to God for His goodness and realize, based upon the above verse, that God has perfect, steadfast love and therefor anything He allows in our lives is for His glory ... which, then, makes it good for us. If we can bring God glory via our lives we have fulfilled what we are here for. We might bring God glory by doing some great accomplishment in His power (Moses crosses the Red Sea or David kills the giant Goliath or Joshua defeats Jericho). Or, we might glorify God via our suffering (Job, Elijah, Paul). Nothing that comes into our lives should be deemed bad if we are trusting God to bring His glory into our lives. That is for His praise and His beauty. Even if it is to our hurt and we think it bad, God is still GOOD!!
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
The Lord is Good
Not everything that happens in our life is good. We, of course, don’t always see the bigger plan behind what is happening in our life. We might not realize that what is happened IS good. We just frame it poorly in our minds and therefore see it as bad. God tells us that we weaves all things good for us in our lives to His glory:
Romans 8:28 (ESV Strong's)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
So, when we have circumstances and situations in our lives that don’t seem good, the above verse is a good thing to mediate upon. God is using all things (all the bad that comes into our life via our own sin and/or the sin of others) to make it good for His glory. Why? Because God is good ... always. We are to give thanks to God for His goodness and realize, based upon the above verse, that God has perfect, steadfast love and therefor anything He allows in our lives is for His glory ... which, then, makes it good for us. If we can bring God glory via our lives we have fulfilled what we are here for. We might bring God glory by doing some great accomplishment in His power (Moses crosses the Red Sea or David kills the giant Goliath or Joshua defeats Jericho). Or, we might glorify God via our suffering (Job, Elijah, Paul). Nothing that comes into our lives should be deemed bad if we are trusting God to bring His glory into our lives. That is for His praise and His beauty. Even if it is to our hurt and we think it bad, God is still GOOD!!
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Feel Surrounded? 2 Chronicles 11-16
2 Chronicles 13:13-16 (ESV Strong's)
Jeroboam had sent an ambush around to come upon them from behind. Thus his troops were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. And when Judah looked, behold, the battle was in front of and behind them. And they cried to the Lord, and the priests blew the trumpets. Then the men of Judah raised the battle shout. And when the men of Judah shouted, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. The men of Israel fled before Judah, and God gave them into their hand.
Feel Surrounded?
There is nothing more frustrating that to be boxed in. Whether in your car, in an elevator, or psychologically boxed in by your fears. The stress of being surrounded by something you fear is not pleasant. In the above text we have the story of King Abijah, the ruler of Judah. Israel and Judah had split their kingdoms when Solomon died. Jeroboam became the king of Israel. After Rehoboam’s death, his son, Abijah, became king of Judah. The result was war. On the above occasion, Jeroboam decides to divide his troops and put Abijah in a pinch. But, unlike other kings, when he felt surrounded, Abijah turned to God. It says he, “cored to the LORD, and the priest blew the trumpets.” We don’t always know what our deliverance looks like and we can’t always know that God chooses to delivers us completely or partially or not at all. But, Abijah gives us a great example of what “our” role is in life. We are to “call upon” God for help. God takes care of EVERYTHING else. When we feel surrounded, we can now for sure that God will deliver us.
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