God Provides and Cares Which Demands Our Worship - Nehemiah 5-9

 Nehemiah 9:16-21 (ESV)

“But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.

Perhaps one of the greatest stories in God’s Word is what we read above.  Nehemiah, to call those who returned from exile, to worship, outlines the past.   Remember what God did in the past can be motivation for worshiping God in the present and the future.   God has given us a His love and care.  Here we read about the wandering in the desert.    It is amazing how God guided them and protected them.   Even though they rejected God and even worshiped an idol, God continued to love them and protect them.    The cloud that guided them on their journey also protected them in the desert from the hot sun.   The light that guided them at night would give them both light and warmth in the dark and cool nights.   The Holy Spirit was present among them.   He instructed them.   He gave them manna every morning.    He gave them water from rocks.   In their wilderness traveling for forty years there would be no Walmarts or Kohls to purchase clothes.  Instead God would make sure their clothes would not wear out.  All that walking each day for forty years should make their feet ache and swell.  But, not so with this nation.  An act of God was to keep their bodies in shape.   God is a God who cares for His people.  He watches over even the most minute details of our lives.   Even in our rebellion He cares for us.   Our worship is due His righteous acts toward us.  

Can We Charge Interest? - Deuteronomy 23-25

Deuteronomy 23:19-20 (ESV)
“You shall not charge interest on loans to your brother, interest on money, interest on food, interest on anything that is lent for interest. You may charge a foreigner interest, but you may not charge your brother interest, that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.

The paying of interest in business and banking and the loan agencies, is a BIG deal.   A simple internet search will show us how much interest the average person pays each year. It is amazing the amount of money that goes JUST to interest payments on mortgages, credit cards, car loans, student loans.   Paying interest is what makes the money on a deal, for many transactions.   Most business would prefer you DON’T pay cash for something.   They would rather have you hooked on credit so that can collect interest.  This is why the above text seems so strange to us.  We don’t even think twice about paying interest.  But, God, wanting His people to be unique to the world around them, was instructed to NOT charge interest to their fellow Israelites.  We should take note of this.  There were probably a number of reasons for this, but here are four:

1. God did not want a ruling class and a impoverish class.   Throughout the Old Testament we see that God wanted His people to care for the poor and not create the poor.   God knew that some would be poor for a variety of reasons.  But, God did not want an oppressive system to take advantage of their brothers.  

2. God wanted the nation to look different than the world around them.  If there is ONE major way to look different in this world it is to have unique and unorthodox business practices. If you want to stand out in the world, don’t charge interest on a loan.   Try it and see how you might be treated.  It is not just the areas of interest charging that can separate you from the world when you practice business.   God wants His people to look different.  

3. This would require an enormous amount of faith.   Not charging interest would mean no profit from your loan.  Then why would you loan?   The point is that doing business with someone is to create something for yourself.   In this case, charging no interest, you are relying on God to bless you.    That is an extreme act of faith. The above text even states that by not charging interest “... the Lord you God may bless you ...”.    

4. The passage does not forbid the nation from charging interest to other people, outside their nation.   This might cause us some alarm, but think about how tough that might today.   Is it possible to run a business and treat believers different that other believers?  Could you do that based upon the laws of our land?    It should be noted that above passage was written in regard to different “nations.”    This topic is better suited for a longer blog than this, but suffice it to say that God’s purpose with His people is to be distinctive from the world, but that we are also to live in the world.   It is clear in the text that God allows us to do business different with the world than we do with our brothers.   The key is doing that in the spirit of the current laws of the land and not breaking either truth.  

God is Light - 1 John 1-3

1 John 1:5 (ESV)
Walking in the Light
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

John, who also wrote the Gospel of John, has already said that God is Spirit (John 4:24) and will say that God is love (1 John 4:8).   John is making the point that Jesus, God’s Son, is the prefect representative and image of God.   In Hebrews  we read:

Hebrews 1:1-3 (ESV)
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

To understand the power of this truth we have to bring into focus that the god of this world has blinded the hearts and minds of the non-believer (1 Corinthians 4:1-6).   Because they are blind to the truth they will come up with very dark thoughts and philosophy.    We should not be surprised by the darkness of man’s plans, purposes, and/or practices.    But, Jesus brings light to man.  In the transfiguration (Matthew 17) we read that in front of John, James and Peter, Jesus was transfigured into light.  His garments were white like light and His face shone like the Son.   This recalls the story of Moses, who after coming down from the mountain after spending time with God, he had to cover his face because it shone like light.   What does this mean for us?  It means that when we have Christ dwelling in our hearts we can be assured that we have light, as well.  We do not walk in the darkness of men.  Through the Spirit of God we are being enlightened: 

Ephesians 1:18 (ESV)
... having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Psalms 119:105
(ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.

Proverbs 6:23
(ESV) For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

God does not want us to walk in darkness.  He wants us, by faith, to walk in the light.   Jesus Christ came to give us that light.  John goes on to say that one of the evidences of walking in light is fellowship in with others, who also walk in light.  God wants His community to walk together in light:

1 John 1:7 (ESV)
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

The Gospel is Powerful, But Upsets the World - Acts 19-20

Acts 19:23-27 (ESV)
About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”

As Paul began to interact with the world around him, he began to confront them about their false worship and undermine their security.   When he arrived in Ephesus, we see the town begin to react to his teaching.   A few verses earlier in this chapter of Acts, Paul’s teaching of the Gospel had inspired the entire town to burn their magic books and paraphernalia.  This caused a great uproar.    Demetrius, the voice of the mob that formed over the burning of books (and, probably the retailer that sold the books) led this mob to cause great harm to Paul and his team.   Demetrius was trying to protect his sense of security.  Paul was teaching the Gospel and it caused an undermining of what Demetrius and his fellow magicians trusted in for their living.  Note Demetrius’ argument:

1. If Paul keeps teaching we are going to lose money,

2. Without money we lose our power,

3. Without our power we lose our influence,

4. Without our influence no one can protect Diana,

5. Without Diana no one can make money ... 

The Gospel is the power that destroys the world’s way of living.   When we live it, teach it, administrate it or attempt to proclaim it, we are shut down.  Not because the Gospel is wrong, or based upon false claims (although that is what they say).  No, they attempt to shut it down because the Gospel threatens their way of living.  It is that powerful.  

Worship of the Heart Trumps Worship Centers - Malachi

Malachi 2:1-6 (ESV)
“And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.

In the Old Testament, Malachi takes a special place among the prophets.  The nation of Israel was returning from captivity (having been in captivity because of the evilness of their hearts).  Nehemiah came back to rebuild the city walls.  Ezra came back to rebuild the Temple walls.  Malachi was sent to the people to rebuild the spiritual walls of their heart.   Even though they had spent years in captivity, the nation came back to this rebuilt city’s and rebuilt temple, but with cold hearts.  Malachi, in the above verses, holds the priest accountable for this drop in proper heartfelt worship.   He compares the current priest (cold, lazy and disengaged) with Levi.  Levi was the first priest.   He sought God with reverential awe and fear.   He did not lead the people astray by false teaching (like the current priest in the land), but with “true instruction.”   Here are some lessons from this brief passage:

1. A cleaned up city and improved worship center do not mean the heart is pure and ready to worship.  Work must be done in the heart, as well. 

2. To prepare the heart, based upon this condemnation, God employs the agent of men to teach men.   God holds the spiritual priest responsible for the spiritual condition of the people.  Those who teach and lead spiritual things will be held responsible for the spiritual condition of those they lead. 

3. True worship is created in the heart by true instruction from the mouth to the ears of the worshippers.   Malachi makes the point of telling the people that Levi, the first priest, spoke truth.   You can’t have spiritual revival unless someone is willing to speak truth.   

4. God knows the activity of the priest!  God knows and is concerned.   This is not a passive role in the community of the people.  This is an active role and is to be handled with extreme care and concern and focus on who God is.   The truth about God’s character (both His love and His wrath) are to be honored and taught.   

Early Morning or Late Night? Ecclesiastes 11-12

Ecclesiastes 11:5-6 (ESV)
As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

There is a lot of talk about the habits of “successful” people.   In almost all studies they discover that those they deem to be “successful” have one thing in common: They get to work early in the morning.    Obviously, the credibility of these studies first lies in the definition they choose to use for “success.”  The term is often reserved for those who, in the sight of mankind, have achieved some level of position, power and/or property.   In God’s eyes, that is NOT the definition of success.  In fact, in Ecclesiastes, Solomon has spend significant time debunking that those three “Ps” as not brining either success or satisfaction.   In the end of the book Solomon defines success as:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV)
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.

This is why the passage, above, from chapter 11 is so significant.   Solomon tells us that our success is really from God’s hand.  We do not know the work of God (who makes everything).  Therefore we should sow in the morning and at night, because we really don’t know what God will bless.   Solomon tells us sowing our seed in the morning, or the evening, can bring success.  Only trough God’s grace do we see success.  So, for the business world, wake up early and get to work and hope someone notices. In God’s world sow in the morning and in the evening, because God can bless both, or none.  It is our sowing that is obedience.  The results are by God.  He can bless the morning seed or the evening seed ... or neither.   Our role is to sow!!

No More Joy in Music - Psalms 137-139

Psalms 137:1-3 (ESV)
By the waters of Babylon,
there we sat down and wept,
when we remembered Zion.
On the willows there
we hung up our lyres.
For there our captors
required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

Memories can be painful.  The punishment for disobedience in our lives can bear unkind fruit and put us in awkward and lonely places.   In psalm 137 we have the song that recalls the captivity of the nation of Israel, primarily Judah.   Babylon took them captive and brought them to their land to make slaves out of them.   Apparently they brought them to the water’s edge.  Perhaps it was for them to fetch water for them, help irrigate their crops or perhaps tend to their boats/fishing.   Whatever the task their captors added torment to their captivity by demanding that they play songs on their harps.  These were the same harps that they played for their own entertainment prior to their captivity.  They played them for their own sensual behavior.  That was part of the problem and the reason for the punishment into captivity.   It is curious that now, in captivity, they did not want to play them.   But, this is what sin does.  It sounds so good and feels so good until it doesn’t.   When you are lead by that sin into captivity, the very thing you enjoyed for sensuality, is taken away.  Yet, there were those harps, hanging in a tree.  It is odd that coming out of Jerusalem and being marched to Babylon they would carry their harps.   It is as if God caused them to have the joys they had in disobedience become part of the punishment.  Notice what Solomon says about the naive one who is seduced by the pleasures of folly:

Proverbs 7:21-23 (ESV)
With much seductive speech she persuades him;
with her smooth talk she compels him.
All at once he follows her,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught fast
till an arrow pierces its liver;
as a bird rushes into a snare;
he does not know that it will cost him his life.

The nation of Israel played the harp to enjoy their lives.  But, that enjoyment and self indulgence took them into disobedience. Now they are paying for that sin and the joy of harps and music have been taken from them.   This is the seduction of sin. 

Victory - Deuteronomy 20:2-4

Deuteronomy 20:2-4 (ESV)
And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’

God gives the victory.   This is both and Old and New Testament truth.  Note:

1 Chronicles 29:11 (ESV)
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.

Psalms 144:9-10 (ESV)
I will sing a new song to you, O God;
upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
who gives victory to kings,
who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.

Proverbs 21:31 (ESV)
The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the LORD.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (ESV)
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:4 (ESV)
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

If we but trust in His power, plan, purpose and presence, we will see His victory in our lives.   

Not Like Lot - 2 Peter

2 Peter 2:4-10 (ESV)
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.
Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,

God knows how to keep the righteous safe in the midst of evil.  But, believers often torment their souls while living in the midst of that evil until God does rescue them.   In the above passage the Apostle Peter is making a very important point in regard to the false teachers of his day.   That is the context of the above verses.  False teachers had come into the church and were leading the believers away by enticing them to live corruptly.   They were teaching that grace covered sin, so it doesn’t matter how we live.   Peter, wanting to show the church the falsehood of their teaching, pens the above verses by the power of the Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).   In the above passage Peter makes the argument that IF God did not spare all these false teachers and unrighteousness people, He WILL NOT spare the false teachers now in the church.  However, a key line in the above argument is about Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who made his home in Sodom and Gomorrah.   Sodom and Gomorrah, in Scripture, is a picture of wickedness and transgression.  God pour fire down on the two cities and destroyed them.  Peter’s argument is that God will soon do that again with these false teachers.  But, notice what it says about Lot:

“... Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); ...”.

It states that day after day Lot allowed the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah to “torment his righteous soul.”    That is what we are doing every day in this country when we indulge in the wickedness of the world around us.  We are entertained by it.  We are enticed by it.  We are in awe of it.    We need to believe the truth Peter is teaching us here in this passage.  God is going to rescue the righteous out of this wickedness, but we need to guard ourselves to NOT be like Lot and torment our righteous souls.   Separation from the world provides protection for our righteous souls.   

Strengthen Each Other - Acts 17-18

Acts 18:22-23 (ESV)
When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

The above passage is from the stories of Paul and his activities among the churches.   He had a great passion to present others to Christ and to strengthen the believers after he lead them to Christ.   When we lead people to Christ we also have an obligation to strengthen them in Christ.   It is God who provides the strength, but is our responsibility in the community to encourage them and to strengthen them in their walk with Christ.  Notice these other places in Acts where Paul spent time strengthening the believers:

Acts 14:22 (ESV)
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Acts 15:32 (ESV)
And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.

Acts 15:41 (ESV)
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Paul and his missionary partners knew the importance of strong believers.  The world during Paul’s time, like our own today, was not in favor of Christ and those of the “Way.”  We are to strengthen our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.   That is our role in their lives.  

If You Think Covid 19 Was Bad … - Zechariah 8-14

Zechariah 14:12-15 (ESV)
And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.
And on that day a great panic from the LORD shall fall on them, so that each will seize the hand of another, and the hand of the one will be raised against the hand of the other. Even Judah will fight at Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be collected, gold, silver, and garments in great abundance. And a plague like this plague shall fall on the horses, the mules, the camels, the donkeys, and whatever beasts may be in those camps.

Wow!!   This is the future of the earth.   In Zechariah we have a traditional prophecy of the end times.  This book matches The Revelation of John in its prophetic utterances of future events.   Imagine the above scene being played out on today’s news cycle.   Put the above into the context of our world today and our future world.  Imagine the internet reporting on these types of plagues that will impact all those nations that rise up agains Jerusalem prior to Christ’s return.   Notice what happened in the world wide pandemic of 2020.   That is nothing in comparison to the plague mentioned above.  We get our lives so caught up in the events of our present world that we forget how God will impact the world in the final events of this world.   We can and should bemoan the deaths of all those who succumb to Covid 19.  However, that is nothing compared to how God will eventually impact the world around us today.    We ought to stand in awe of God and in reverence for what He is about to do ... in His time for His glory!!

Snake Bit - Ecclesiastes 9-10

Ecclesiastes 10:11 (ESV)
If the serpent bites before it is charmed,
there is no advantage to the charmer.

It is doubtful that the above proverb from Solomon makes much sense to the average 21st century pilgrim.   We go through life without much thought about a snake charmer.  I can clearly (and safely) say, I have never meet one.  If you want, you can find some interesting things about snake charming and the “profession” of snake charming on that famous, 100% accurate, web site: Wikipedia.    But, the thing to know is that these were professionals and were looked upon with great respect and awe in the ancient world.   Imagine, however, what would happen if when this professional was about to do the thing he does with the snake and the snake bites someone instead of charming them.   That would be a disaster for the charmer.   The purpose of the snake is to charm not chomp.   The principle being taught by Solomon is that, in life, the skills you bring to the table are to be used for good, not for harm.   Think about someone who is skilled in persuasion.  However, they use that skill to manipulate.   That is being bitten by a snake.  Imagine someone will a skill set for structure and they use it to control.   That is being bitten by a snake.  Imagine someone with the skill set for getting everyone to reach excellence.  But, they use it to crush everyone around them.   That is being bitten by a snake.   The skills we are given come from God.  The manner in which they are used matters to God.   Solomon’s point in this proverb is that God gives us skills to be used with wisdom.   Using them in a foolish manner will not only hurt others.  The will lose their charm.    

God is Love - Psalms 134-136

Psalms 136:4-9 (ESV)
to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

God is the great creator.   He created all things for His glory.    He shaped the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars and all created things the way He desired them.   In eternity past, God shaped the trees outside your and my house.   It put all things into existence by His divine power.    Why?  Because His steadfast love endures forever.    God has put all the earth and heavens together out of pure love.   That love is not a passing love as is one persons to another in this world.   That love is “steadfast.”     We don’t have much steadfast love today in our world.  Love for most is fickle and is mostly based upon performance and conformity to the image others want out of us.   But, God’s love is steadfast. It remains. It remains the same.  It remains the same toward us.   Everything God does flows from His love.  We can rejoice in this thought. No matter how bad life gets, no matter how terrible things can be, we can rejoice, because: 

1 John 4:8 (ESV)
... God is love.

Accountability - Ezra 6-10

Ezra 6:13-15 (ESV)
Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia; and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

So, King Darius made a decree that everyone in the land of Jerusalem should help Ezra with the rebuilding of the Temple.   And, if they didn’t what would happen?   Why was Tattenai so eager to help out the returning exiles build a Temple to God, whom they did not worship?  Perhaps it was because Darius added this warning to his decree:

Ezra 6:11 (ESV)
Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill.

That is not the motivational tool of the carrot.  That is the stick!!     Seldom are we taught today to use the stick as a motivational tool.   We are more often than not told to entice them with the carrot ... if not an entire carrot cake.   We should understand that discipline and consequences are a large part of how society works.  It flows from how God works.   God does use the carrot, but God also employs the stick (Hebrews 12).   We ought not to be out of balance.  King Darius let everyone know his expectations and what would happen if they failed to meet his expectations.  That is the formula for holding others accountable.   This is what God does in His word. The latter chapters of Deuteronomy lay before the nation of Israel the “blessings” and the “curses.”  This is God’s carrot and stick approach.   In our society today we don’t think this way.  Yet, for those who are being transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18), we should live and act like Him.  That means our motivation is impacted by the approach observed in this ungodly king, Darius.  If non-believing king can demonstrate the character of God in his motivation of others, we too, ought to do that.  After all, the book of Ezra is a motivational book to show us how to do just that.  

God’s Mercy Prior to Disobedience - Deuteronomy 16-19

Deuteronomy 17:14-17 (ESV)
“When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

How do we square the above above requirements of the Law with what we know happened with King Solomon? He had many wives and God actually made him rich beyond measure.  How do we square this?  In the above passage we see riches for kings forbidden but then we see in Solomon’s life that God made him rich.    There is, probably, no way to balance Solomon’s many wives with the above passage.  Solomon did disobey God in this area.   In the above passage the king is warned to not “acquire” riches. In Solomon’s life, he did not “acquire” riches, God gave them to him.   That is the difference.   God gives some riches and some not (James 2).   The nation of Israel, later, would want to be like other nations and have a king. But, God was their king.   But, that would prove not enough for them.  God foresees this desire and gives them guideline on how to implement the desire of their hearts, despite it was contrary to God’s desire.   This is fascinating.   God foresees the disobedience in the heart of His chosen people and gives them guidelines on how to not go farther against Him.  Yet, they do.  God’s grace is seen even in their disobedience.   God is merciful to even those He knows will disobey Him.   

Overlook that Matter! 1 Peter 4-5

1 Peter 4:8 (ESV)
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Notice the above verse as compared to the following verse in the Old Testament book of Proverbs: 

Proverbs 19:11 (ESV)
Good sense makes one slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Solomon tells us it is glorious to overlook an offense, while Peter tells us the catalyst that enables us to over look the offense is the love of God springing forth in our hearts.   James has already told the church that faith without works is a dead form of faith.   In the above verse real faith is demonstrated by overlooking how someone might have offended you.  Imagine that - overlooking how someone might have offended you because of love.    What would happen to our culture today if we were to overlook an offense that was done against us.    Obviously, the world does not have God’s love, so we should not expect them to overlook an offense.  But, what of the church?   Should not those of the Body of Christ practice this truth?  Should not we, in the world, practice what Peter is telling us?   The answer to those questions is, yes!   We should be the first to practice this truth.  That does not mean that we let someone walk around offending and harming and doing bad things.  Notice what Paul states in his letter to the Galatians:

Galatians 6:1-5 (ESV)
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

The New Testament church was not unlike our own.  They had to find a way to both practice Christ’s love (by overlooking offenses done against them), but also helping others grow and correct their behavior when the offense was against God.  That is the difference. I am not overlook an offense toward me, but I am to help my brother/sister in Christ when I see in their life an offense against God.    If we but practiced this truth, imagine how the world might respond.   However, the church is not practicing this truth.  In fact, in some sectors, the church is leading the offense by not overlooking a matter, but by becoming obsessed with an offense committed against them.  Is it any wonder that the church has little power in the world today?  

Decision Making - Acts 15-16

 Acts 15:19 (ESV)
Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,

Leadership makes decisions, even in hard and difficult times.   The setting of Acts 15 is a divisive chapter in Acts and the story of the church.  After Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey, they returned to the the first established church, in Jerusalem.   They reported back to the brothers what took place on the first journey and everyone seemed to rejoice and praise God for the results (Acts 14:24-28).   However, according to Acts 15:1, there was a group of Jewish believers who still held to the thought that to be saved it was belief in Jesus Christ PLUS following the Law (with the manifestation fo that following being to agree to be circumcised).    Peter, Paul, and Barnabas were asked to make a defense for their “grace alone” teaching.   They made that argument to these brothers of the church who were teaching grace PLUS Law.   This was a moment in the church that would not end here, but lines would be drawn in the proverbial sand.    Although Peter, Paul, Barnabas and, as we see above, James, made the call for “grace alone,” this argument between grace alone and grace plus Law would go on for decades, if not forever (see Galatians 3:1 and the stories of the Reformation).  The above verse, however, gives us some insight into the decision making process of the early church.  Even though Peter was the first preacher of the Christian movement (see Acts 2), he is not, apparently, the leader of the Jerusalem church.   After Peter, Paul, and Barnabas make their case James not only adds his confirmation to their reporting (showing everyone how the argument of those three fit the pattern of Scripture ... see Acts 15:13-18), but he also makes the above decree.  He states, “Therefore ‘my’ judgement is ...!”    James is making the final decision for the Jerusalem church and for the emerging churches.   He is not an authoritarian, as he gathers a consensus of thought based upon the Old Testament Scriptures.  But, even in the act of consensus work, he is the one who finally makes the decision.   He uses collaboration to reach the decision.  But make no mistake, it is James that makes the authoritative decision.   Even in the midst of tough work, someone has to be the one who makes the decision.  Collaboration and consensus are necessary tools, but decisiveness is essential.   Someone has to make the decision and the early church was not an exception to that principle of leadership.   

God Motivates Us with His Presence - Zechariah 1-7

Zechariah 3:7 (ESV)
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.

God motivates us by a promise of his presence.   The first six chapters of the book of Zechariah are traditional, deep, prophetic utterances.   But, once you cut through the mystery of prophetic utterances, you see that the prophet (and God using the prophet as His mouthpiece) is really simply motivating the people to not just rebuild the temple (something they had returned from captivity to do) but to also rebuild their spiritual lives.   Zechariah is a motivational speaker.   He is trying to get them to transform their lives to holiness before the Lord.  His message is simple:  If Israel remained in a cleansed, priestly state, God was promising her the privilege of service in the Temple before Him, guarding it from idolatry and other religious defilement, and access to the very presence of God like the angels standing around Him.

The motivational theory Zechariah employs:  The promise of the presence of God!   Coming to God in holiness was not something the people really thought about, as a group of people.  Coming into the presence of God was the duty of the High Priest and ONLY the High Priest.  And, the High Priest was only allowed to do that once per year, at the Day of Atonement.   What Zechariah is promising here is quite profound for those in the nation of Israel.  They would never imagine coming into God’s presence.  But, this is exactly what Christ will provide them (something they had not considered but that Zechariah has in his mind):

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV)
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

God tells us we can come into His presence.  That is motivation for our holiness.   

Obey the King - Ecclesiastes 8-9

Ecclesiastes 8:2-5 (ESV)

2 I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him. 3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. 4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.

What does the above text mean?   Read it carefully.  Before we look at the meaning, we need to remember the context of Ecclesiastes.   Solomon is the king.  He is writing about his experience to try everything in life to see if it brings him and/or others, fulfillment.   At the end of the book he explains that nothing brings fulfillment except fearing God:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV)

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.

So, we have to view all things prior to these last two verses, through the lens of the last two verses.   Solomon in the top verses is talking about the human structure of government.   He is telling us that human government is installed by God (verses 2). God has made an oath to the king to put him in power and to keep him in power.   Note:

Psalms 75:6-7 (ESV)

For not from the east or from the west

and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,

but it is God who executes judgment,

putting down one and lifting up another.

In light of that understanding, Solomon tells us that the king should be feared.  Later, of course, he tells us that we should fear the Lord more than anything else.  But, make no mistake, God puts leadership in charge and we are to obey the king (vs. 3-4). When we do, we realize, by God’s power, we will be blessed (vs. 5).   Notice how the New Testament writers teach this.  

1 Peter 2:13-15 (ESV)

Submission to Authority

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Romans 13:1-3 (ESV)

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,

Worship at His Footstool - Psalms 131-133

Psalms 132:6-7 (ESV)

Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;

we found it in the fields of Jaar.

“Let us go to his dwelling place;

let us worship at his footstool!”

Psalm 132 is a song the pre-exiled Israelites would sing as they went to the Temple to worship God.    Prior to the Temple, of course, was the Tabernacle.    God had established the Tabernacle under Moses and He promised to dwell there, above the Ark of the Covenant, between the cherubim.    Now, however, David wanted to build a place for God.  We might ask, “Why does God need a place for Him.”   We realize that God does not, but the in honor of God’s majesty, David wanted to build a place that reflected God’s character, rather than a Tabernacle tent.    The two verse, above, however, are in reference to when David wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple he built of God.    The Ark was often carried into battle to represent the presence of God in the midst in the battle.   But, Israel often treated it as a good luck charm.  The Ark would be taken captive.    Since the Temple was supposed to be a permanent place for the Ark, the people would no longer have to look for it, like in paces like Ephrathah or Jaar.   Now the Ark would be exactly where it needed to be.  The people would have a place for God presence.   The point the writer is making is that God does not need a place to dwell, but the fact that He wants His presence known to the people, He chooses to make himself known.   So, let us go to this dwelling place and bow down at His footstool in praise and adoration.   That is the point.  We don’t need a physical place to worship Christ, today.   But we do need the desire to seek Him and find Him on our knees.   

Fidelity of Process - Ezra 1-5

 Ezra 2:59-63 (ESV)

The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers' houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652. Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name). These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.

In chapter two of Ezra, we have a long list of Temple personnel that have returned from captivity to be rebuild and restore the Temple worship in the equally rebuilding of Jerusalem.  This is a time of Nehemiah and Haggai and Zachariah.    Much is happening in Jerusalem at this time.  God is doing a great work and the purity of the work is important.   The physical return to the land meant the spiritual return to obey the Torah.   God had outlined to Moses who had permission to work in the Tabernacle, and that later unfolded to the Temple.   The above list was a group of people who could not be confirmed in regard to their lineage.   The insertion of this list in regard to the bigger list of chapter two gives us insight into integrity of the process for the leadership.  They not only wanted to rebuild the Temple, they wanted to restore the fidelity to God’s Word.  In the process of rebuilding outward manifestations of worship, it is important to remain aligned to spiritual obedience.     How many of today’s churches attempt to build something materially, only to divide and dissolve spiritually at the same time.   God is less concern about the color of the church carpet as He is the stain on the hearts as we fight over blue vs grey.   God is concerned about a process and a heart that is aligned with His Word, no matter the project.   

Be Distinctive - It’s The Way We Were Created - Deuteronomy 13-15

Deuteronomy 14:6-7 (ESV)
Every animal that parts the hoof and has the hoof cloven in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. Yet of those that chew the cud or have the hoof cloven you shall not eat these: the camel, the hare, and the rock badger, because they chew the cud but do not part the hoof, are unclean for you.

In the above verse we begin a section on Deuteronomy that Moses writes to explain the Israelite people and priest what they can eat and what they can’t eat.   During that time the “rules” had to do with food safety, as much as person holiness.   As is a lot of material in the Old Testament, the dietary laws were written for more than what the practical aspect of the law presented.   In this case the dietary law above was written to demonstrate that God has a disntinction between things.  There were some animals (based upon their created characteristics) were permissible to eat and others were not.  God created them with distinction.  That is God’s way.  Note the use of the word “kind” in this passage from the creation story:

Genesis 1:24-25 (ESV)
And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Now notice the use of the same thought in this creation of God:

Genesis 1:27 (ESV)
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

Do you notice the “distinction?”  God does not mix and match by His design.   Do we see the practical point for today?  God has designed what He has designed.   He creates with distinction.  He does not make a mistake, making one thing way, when it was supposed to be the other way.  You can’t have two things that are created with definite distinction, suddenly switch and be the same.  That is the issue facing us in our society today with gender identity.   God does not make mistakes.  To say that He does is to say God is not perfect.   To say that God suddenly does a change in distinction is to say that distinction does not matter to God.  The dietary law above would show us how serious God is about distinction.  He even goes to lengths to use the doctrine for the nation of Israel to be safe and healthy, but to also be pure and holy.  Distinction is one aspect of God’s holiness and character.  We ought to remember that when we are facing this current challenge from the world that wants to smear God’s distinction and try to make everything the same.   They are not because they were NOT created to be the same.  

Living Above Them Though Living Among Them! 1 Peter 1-3

 1 Peter 2:9-12 (ESV)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

God is working in us to enable us to look like Him and not the world around us.   He has redeemed us to look like Him.  In the above passage we have Peter’s words about how to live in this out in front of the world around us.   Since we have been called to His Kingdom, we are to live like citizens of His Kingdom and not this kingdom.   In fact, Peter makes the point to say we are actually “sojourners and exiles” in this kingdom.  We are are to be aliens and not seek asylum in this country.  We are citizens of Heaven. We are holy and therefore we are to act holy.   By living this way, would should not only look odd in comparison to this world, but we should also look attractive to this world.  Instead of trying to fit into this world, we ought to try to look like Christ. By keeping our conduct “honorable” among the world, we are able to live above what they say about us and be attractive for the purpose of praising God.   That is the ultimate complement of our behavior.  Not that they would quit saying evil about us, but that they would sing praises to Him!! 

Finish Your Ministry - Acts 13-14

Acts 14:24-28 (ESV)
Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they remained no little time with the disciples.

Paul and Barnabas were sent out to declare the gospel.  This has been known as their first missionary journey.   Note how their first missionary journey began:

Acts 13:2-3 (ESV)
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

In the above passage we read the end of that missionary journey.  When they left they had no idea what the work would look like.  No one had ever completed a missionary journey before.  They didn’t know what “for the work which I have called them,” even meant.   But, they faithfully followed Christ’s call and went from city to city.  When they went to each city, there was something that happened consistently:

1.  They preached the Gospel to the Jews in synagogues and then to any Gentiles that would hear it. 

2. They were persecuted each time they went. 

3. God did great miracles (either physical or spiritual) in each place they went.

4. People (Jews and Gentiles) converted to Christianity. 

5.  The powers of the places there were in did not like losing their power (no matter what type of power they had over the people).  

The key to this missionary journey is what is said about it at the end:  “... where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.”    They fulfilled their ministry.   They had no idea when it started what it would look like.  They had no idea when they started how it would unfold.   They only knew the God who called them and the message of Christ that compelled them.   They fulfilled their ministry!!  May that be said of all of us.  

Holiness Motivates Us to do God’s Work - Haggai

Haggai 2:10-14 (ESV)
On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Ask the priests about the law: ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’” The priests answered and said, “No.” Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.” Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the LORD, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean.

Haggai is a prophet that was sent by God to motivate the people to finish the work that God had sent them to do.  The work had become difficult and the reward was not easily seen.   So, the prophet is sent to motivate them.  He was, in those times, a modern day motivational speaker.  But, he was not sent to motive them to do something from their own efforts.   We can summarize this section of the prophet’s message this way:  We can become motivated by striving for personal Purity:  God's blessing is awaiting those who strive for personal holiness (2:10-19)  Sin is easier transmitted than holiness.  Holiness takes God’s intervention.  Hope motivates us to holiness: 

1 John 3:2-3 (ESV)
Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

When the people heard from God about His desire for their holiness, they were motivated to want to obey Him.   In the reasoning of Haggai’s argument he is stating that corruptions is easily transmitted, but not holiness.  Holiness is from the heart and provided only by God.   As God produces holiness in our lives we are motivated to do the work of God; which was Haggai’s point of prophesying.   As we seek God’s holiness by the ministry of the Spirit, God produces that holiness inwardly and gives us motivation (an hunger and/or appetite) for His work outwardly.  That is Haggai’s message.  

Be Satisfied With What You Have - Ecclesiastes 5-6

Ecclesiastes 6:7-9 (ESV)
All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Better is what we have than what we want!  In the above passage we read Solomon’s wisdom in regard to the desires of life.   Remember, whenever we read Ecclesiastes we have to read the last two verses of the book first, before the rest:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV)
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.

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon, the riches man on the earth, is attempting to find satisfaction.  He is testing everything under the sun to see what will bring man joy.   In the above passage he offers his conclusion in regard to the appetite he has for more.  He simply wants us to know that what he has is better than what he desires.   He is telling us that our appetite will never be satisfied.   He is not telling us to NOT have an appetite.   He is simply making us aware that what is before us, at some point, has be satisfy us.   Notice that he gives the example of a poor man.  He asks a rhetorical question about the poor man who knows how to conduct his business before others (lives within his means and deals with prudence).   He asks, what does that poor man have that someone with an appetite does not have?  The poor man has satisfaction and contentment.   Throughout the book of Ecclesiastes we read these wondering and wandering of Solomon.    He is not telling us to cease our dreams.  He is telling us that we should see the value of what is in front of us and find satisfaction in that.  That is a lesson most of mankind, in our society, have not learned.   Solomon will eventually write, later in the book:

Ecclesiastes 9:4 (ESV)
But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

This might be the foundation for the colloquial proverb:  A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!

We would do well to havre dreams.  But we would do well to first value what we have in front of us to the fullest extent that we can first.   In truth, however, we are not be satisfied with anything we see in front of us.   We are supposed to live by faith and not by sight.  Nothing on the is earth should draw our attention.  That is how Solomon will end the book.  True Biblical satisfaction is to fear God and keep His commandments.  John Piper said it this way:

God is most satisfied with me when I am most satisfied in him.  

Good Gifts are from God! - Psalms 128-130

Psalms 128:5-6 (ESV)
The LORD bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!
May you see your children's children!
Peace be upon Israel!

God blesses us!   When people have good things happen to them they often take credit for those things.  They like to claim the good and blame others for the bad.  So, God often gets blamed when things go bad.   They like to say, “Why did God let this happen? Or, “Where was God?”   But, when things go good we seldom here people say, “That was so gracious of God to provide that!” Or, “Wow, look what God just did!”    No, we are seldom in the state of mind to give God credit for the good and for us to take credit for the bad.  Yet, that is often the reasons.   In the above psalm we read that God wants to bless those who are making their way to Zion (Jerusalem).  This is known as a song of the ascents; meaning, a song that was song when the Jewish people made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover.   It was song as a worship song to God.   The song ends with a statement that asks God to cause those who are seeking God in worship to be blessed by God.   It would do us well to remember that everything good we have comes from God:

James 1:17 (ESV)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

We can rejoice and should rejoice when good things happen to us.  But, we should rejoice that God is the catalyst for that good and not we, ourselves.   

God Preserves His Word - 2 Chronicles 33-36

2 Chronicles 34:14-18 (ESV)
While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given through Moses. Then Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan. Shaphan brought the book to the king, and further reported to the king, “All that was committed to your servants they are doing. They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of the LORD and have given it into the hand of the overseers and the workmen.” Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it before the king.

Josiah was a good king and set his heart to rebuild the Temple.  In that building the workers came across a copy of what was probably the Torah, the first five books of the Bible.   We don’t know if this copy they found was the entire Torah or, perhaps just the book of Deuteronomy.   Since we later learn the Josiah read about the blessings and the cursing we can suppose that they had a least a portion of Deuteronomy (since those are found in the book of Deuteronomy).   This reading of the Law will further move Josiah to do good things for God and for the people of God.   His faithfulness in something little (restoring the Temple) would lead to his faithfulness in something greater (restoring the people).   God does this for us.  As we step out and do what is the right thing before God, God gives us more and more revelation about Him and for Him.   The kings that went before Josiah had not found the copy of the Law.  But, because Josiah was dutiful and wanted to repair the Temple, God brought Him further knowledge about God and His ways.  A second point here is that God preserves His Word.  We have to wonder how long this copy of the Law was hidden.   With all the kings that disobeyed God and destroyed the Temple, this copy of the Law remained hidden until Josiah’s day.   God preserves His Word until the right time.  He continues to do that throughout all generations.   

Consider the Great Things God has Done!! - Deuteronomy 10-12

 Deuteronomy 11:1-7 (ESV)
“You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always. And consider today (since I am not speaking to your children who have not known or seen it), consider the discipline of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm, his signs and his deeds that he did in Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and to all his land, and what he did to the army of Egypt, to their horses and to their chariots, how he made the water of the Red Sea flow over them as they pursued after you, and how the LORD has destroyed them to this day, and what he did to you in the wilderness, until you came to this place, and what he did to Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, son of Reuben, how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the midst of all Israel. For your eyes have seen all the great work of the LORD that he did.

Consider the great things God has done.   The book of Deuteronomy is the “second writing of the Law.”  It is written for the new generation that was born during the wilderness wandering.   Those who were redeemed out of Egypt did not follow God’s commands and all but Moses, Caleb and Joshua are now left, with those who were born during those forty-years.   Most of the miracles mentioned in the above verses, were not actually seen by some of those Moses is now writing to in this book.  This is why Moses is bringing God’s greatness to their attention.   The last line says, “for your eyes of seen all the great work of the Lord that he did.”   God destroyed those who were 20 years old and upward.   So, those who are now older were but children when they saw these miracles and the greatness of God.   Moses does not want them to forget what God has done for them.  When we are faced with a challenge (like entering the Promise Land and going to battle for it), we should recall the great acts that God has already done.  That gives us the strength and faith to endure the current challenges we face.