Don’t Prevent the Priest their Due! (Leviticus 7-9)

Leviticus 7:35-36 (ESV)

This is the portion of Aaron and of his sons from the LORD'S food offerings, from the day they were presented to serve as priests of the LORD. The LORD commanded this to be given them by the people of Israel, from the day that he anointed them. It is a perpetual due throughout their generations.”

In the New Testament, when Paul was writing to affirm his authority, responsibility and “rights” to the church at Corinth and to young Pastor Timothy, he stated the following:

1 Corinthians 9:9 (ESV)

For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

1 Timothy 5:18 (ESV)

For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

The point Paul was making is the same as the above statement about the priest, Aaron, and his family.   The priest was not to work without taking part in the work.   Aaron and his sons would not only worship the way God wanted, but they also, throughout their generations, partake of the sacrifices offered.   Paul’s point is the same as Moses, who wrote the Law.  The right of the Presisent was to partake of the offerings of God. In Biblical Christianity we seem to want to keep our pastor’s poor.   We do this as if our providing them with more would corrupt their great morals.    This may be true in the cast of some, of course.  We have seen many mega-church pastors corrupted by the dollar and the power.   However, the priest of old and the pastor of today all are servants of Christ and should be able to take part of the ministry as servants of God.   God intended them to be cared for, not humiliated.  

Our Real Purpose in Life - Ephesians 4-6

 Ephesians 4:13 (ESV)

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

This verse is taken right out of the middle of a paragraph that addresses the purpose of the church, the responsibility of church leadership and the end result of the Body of Christ.   By doing so, we leave other, very important truths, off to the side.  But, in this one verse we have man’s sole purpose for life:  To mature to the stature of the fullness of Christ.  

There is a lot of talk in the world today about finding one’s purpose.  It is a billion dollar industry.    It is ironic that for free the Apostle Paul tells us.   Now, it is true, those who reject God (because of the pride) must spend a billion dollars trying to find their purpose.  Note what Paul states after this in subsequent paragraphs about those who don’t see the above verse as their purpose in life:

Ephesians 4:18-19 (ESV)

They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

The problem with the Body of Christ is that we forget that this is the entire design of their life.   There is NOTHING else for them.   Ball games, careers, possessions and/or countless other pursuits are NOT our purpose in life.  Finding comfort in this world is not our purpose in life.  Raising a family is not our purpose in life.  Yes, all those things can contribute to our purpose, but they are ONLY spokes on the wheel.  The above verse is the HUB, it is the CENTER.   When we drift to others things and try to make those the goal of our lives, we will lose out on the blessings God has for us.  Our entire energy level is to be devoted to this one, single purpose.   

God’s Timing is Perfect - Luke 13-14

 Luke 13:10-12 (ESV)

A Woman with a Disabling Spirit

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.”

God’s timing is amazing.    In the above story we read about this woman (who remains identified to us) and her disability.    Later in the story we will read that the cause of this long time challenge was by the hands of Satan, himself:

Luke 13:16 (ESV)

And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”

The point of the story in Luke’s gospel is to confront the religious leaders once again about the purpose of the Sabbath.    But, an ancillary truth we find is in regard to the timing of God.  God is not late to the party, even though this has been going on for 18 years.   This woman had this issue for one purpose and one purpose only: For the glory of Christ.   Christ would need her at this moment and time in life to bring glory to God in order to magnifying Christ in front of the lost and dying world.  Note what it says at the end of this encounter between this woman, the rulers of the synagogue and Jesus:

 Luke 13:17 (ESV)

As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

When Paul wrote to us and stated the following, this might be one of the best examples of his teaching:

Romans 8:28 (ESV)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

God’s timing is for His glory to bring honor and power to the name of Jesus.    We look at our disabilities, no matter their level of discomfort and challenge, and believe some how we are missing out.  When, in reality, God is using our lives to bring Him glory.   We are NOT on this earth for our comfort, glory, honor or pleasure.   We are on this earth, no matter what shape, size and situation we find ourselves, for His benefit and His purpose.   We are here to bring Him glory.   What if: 

Romans 9:22-23 (ESV)

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—

Worship in Truth - Ezekiel 7-12

 Ezekiel 11:22-25 (ESV)

Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city. And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen went up from me. And I told the exiles all the things that the LORD had shown me.

In this section of Ezekiel we read about another vision of the prophet.   Like all prophetic visions in God’s word, it is as complicated as most prophetic visions.  The vision is God taking Ezekiel to a visionary Temple that God will show the prophet the evilness of man’s heart during their worship.  God has brought Israel out of Egypt to redeem them.  He put them in the promise land to be a light for Him.   But, they turned to the evil worship ways of the world they were actually supposed to show God’s glory.   Throughout this section we read about God’s glory.    We, as God’s people, are supposed to be pictures of God’s glory.   As Israel was failing to show God’s glory and was disciplined for it, so too will be today’s believers.   If a prophet went behind the scene of our worship services and saw into the depths of our hearts, what would that prophet see?   We are to worship in purity and glory for God.   The point of this section is that God demands our pure worship and see us when we don’t.   He will hold us accountable for that worship.   We seem to think that when we worship that God sees and is, assumingely, the object of that worship.  Jesus told us to worship in spirit and TRUTH.   That means our worship is not to be corrupted by the world, by the flesh and world systems.   God sees when we worship in falsehood.  And He will hold us accountable.   

The Antidote for Temptation - Proverbs 5-6

 Proverbs 5:15-19 (ESV)

Drink water from your own cistern,

flowing water from your own well.

Should your springs be scattered abroad,

streams of water in the streets?

Let them be for yourself alone,

and not for strangers with you.

Let your fountain be blessed,

and rejoice in the wife of your youth,

a lovely deer, a graceful doe.

Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight;

be intoxicated always in her love.

God’s response to the cries of folly in the street is to focus on what God has already provided you, in Christ.   The word picture used in chapter five of Proverbs (and in many other passages in the book) is the using of a prostitute and/or adulterous woman to personify “folly” and to use the virtuous woman to personify “wisdom.”   So, in chapter five you have both the teaching about how a young man should stay away from a tempting female, but you also have the instruction on how to avoid any folly in life.   In the case of the first (how to avoid a tempting woman) Solomon would know much about.  He was married to several women and had many concubines (women for sexual pleasure and so the man could produce more offspring).  In the above words he writes that the way to avoid the adulterous woman is to focus and take great pleasure in the woman you life of your youth (presumably his first wife).    It is somewhat hard to wrap your brain around this as even though Solomon writes this, he obviously did not practice what he preached.   

However, the real take-a-way of this passage is to understand that he is really talking about folly vs wisdom.  His point is that sin (folly) can tempt us and the antidote for that is to fall back in love with the beauty and advantages of wisdom.   Christ is, of course, wisdom (1 Corinthians 2).   His point is that when folly gives us her temptations, we can turn and see the wonders and glory of Christ.   Let’s not get sucked into folly’s traps.   Christ offers amazing glories.   Note:

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

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,

Jesus Christ is the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.   

Why, God? Go to the Zoo! - Psalms 72-74

Psalms 74:10-15 (ESV)

How long, O God, is the foe to scoff?

Is the enemy to revile your name forever?

Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?

Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!

Yet God my King is from of old,

working salvation in the midst of the earth.

You divided the sea by your might;

you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters.

You crushed the heads of Leviathan;

you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.

You split open springs and brooks;

you dried up ever-flowing streams.

Why, God?   That seems to be the question we ask when things are not going well for us.   We like to ask God, “why?”   Psalm 74 was written by Asaph.  He was put in charge of the choir during David’s reign as King of Israel.  He wrote twelve “psalms” total.  We assume they came from a book of songs that he composed for Temple worship.   This particular song is about the destruction of the Temple.  Since it was obviously written in the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, it is difficult to understand how Asaph, from David’s day, wrote it.  

The song opens with a “why” question and continues here in verse ten.   The key is the answer to the “why.”   The writer wants to know “why” God would allow the Temple to be destroyed and proverbially sits by with His hands in His pockets and does nothing.   That is probably an image most of mankind uses today to reflect on a crisis asking the same “why” question.   The pivot that the writer is makes is truly eye opening, however.   He immediately turns to God’s majesty over creation.  The writer turns his eyes toward God’s power over creation, over one of the biggest creatures in creation, the Leviathan.   We know little about this animal but the interesting truth here is that we read about the creature in the book of Job, as well.  When Job was asking “why,” God turned Job’s eyes to the same creature for understanding.   To take Job’s eyes off his own situation, God asks him:

Job 41:1 (ESV)

“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook

or press down his tongue with a cord?

What a theme we have here.  Both Job and the writer of this psalm were in a depressed and confused and chaotic situation.   God’s response to the both of them is to take them to the zoo to think about God and His largest created animal.   God wants us to understand that he DOES NOT stand around with His hands in HIs pockets.  He is actively working every day in creation.   He gives food to the “sea creatures.”  Does this sound familiar?  Have you heard this argument about how to handle life’s crisis by remember that God is in charge of creation and cares for it, before?  

Matthew 6:25-26 (ESV)

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

God’s answer to our “why” is “look how I care for the birds and the bees ... don’t you think I can care for you, as well?”  We are to rest in God’s sovereign power over creation when our created world begins to fall apart.  

God Holds Back Sin - 1 Kings 14-17

 1 Kings 15:1-4 (ESV)

Abijam Reigns in Judah

Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah. He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. Nevertheless, for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem,

God constrains sin!    Throughout this section of the first book of Kings we read over and over those kings that lead Israel to the north and Judah to the south.   All the kings in the north are reported by the authors of this history book as being wicked.  Most of the kings in the south were wicked, with a few exceptions.    Leadership brings nations to their knees before God one way or another.  Either to the knees to worship God in true holiness, or to their knees in repentance because of the sin.   In the above verses we see one of the early kings of the southern tribes (the two tribes to the south, Juda).   Abijam was, like all the northern kings, evil.    The northern tribes started by the leadership given to them by God, Jeroboam.  But, the southern tribes were lead by Rehoboam, Abijam’s father.   The leadership of both tribes goes back and fourth from farther to son, in most cases.   In most exchanges of leadership from one generation to the next there was more and more evil perpetuated by the younger version of the father, with a few exceptions.  Notice in the above passage that Abijam was evil, but only to the extent that God would allow it.  This is not the first time God limited sin. Note:

Genesis 6:3 (ESV)

Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”

God so wanted to limit sin that He limited the age man would live.   God limits sin and that is a blessing for mankind.   

The Purpose of Old Testament Offerings - Leviticus 4-6

 Leviticus 4:3 (ESV)

if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the LORD for a sin offering.

Leviticus is a tough book to read for the New Testament believer.  Especially if we are Gentile believers.   We know very little about all the “offerings” mentioned in Leviticus.  We don’t see either their meaning or their relevance to us, today.   These were laws written for the nation of Israel over 4,000 years ago and can seem not only out of touch for us, but almost to the absurd for people who believe in Jesus Christ.   However, that is the connection.   Yes, all the offerings in the Old Testament are hard to understand, but the important part is to realize they taught the nation of Israel (and us) that their was a need to come to God with an offering.   It taught them, as the above verse mentions, that sin MUST be atoned for my an offering to a holy God.   That is the point of all the offerings.   Man was supposed to come with a enlightened heart of his sin and realize that God has a way to approach Him.    We can rejoice today that these 4,000 year old offerings told a story that would be fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of the Son.   These are all foreshadowing of what Jesus would do for us. We can rejoice that we don’t have to see our sin and figure out the exact formula to follow to have that sin covered before God via a certain type of offering.   No, we know that Jesus fulfilled all the Law and all the offerings in His single act of obedience on the cross.   We rejoice today that the 4,000 year old offerings showed the need for a offering and the 2,000 year old offering of Jesus showed the fulfillment for those offerings for us.   Jesus was the perfect offering and took our place as a sin sacrifice to give us complete access to God.  

Hebrews 8:1 (ESV Strong's)

1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

A Single, Powerful Sentence! Ephesians 1-3

 Ephesians 2:18 (ESV)

For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Is there a more powerful, singular truth than what Paul said in that one sentence?   When writers write they know the developing thought of a long, run-on sentence vs the dagger of a sentence as constructed like Paul did here.  In chapter one we see Paul use a single Greek sentence to outline countless benefits we have in Christ.  In Ephesians 1:3-10 we have single sentence in the Greek.  It would take a preacher weeks just to preach through the truths found and/or implied in those many words.  But, in the above sentence, we equally have many truths, but stated in a single, concise sentence.   Notice what we can learn from this quick stroke of the pen:

1. We are “in” Christ.  To say “for through Him” implies we are “in Him.”

2. We are not alone in this privilege.  It states that “we” have what is promised.  In fact, the rest of this section is to unfold the “we both” portion of this. In our walk “through” Christ, “we” are not alone. 

3.   We have “access” to a relationship with God. In our society today “access” is paramount to most people’s success.   Privilege is extended to those who have “access” to people, programs, pleasures, and/or power.   To know that we have “access” to God is one of the most important beliefs of the Christian faith.   We were, prior to Christ, “alienated” from God. Note what Paul JUST wrote:

Ephesians 2:12 (ESV)

remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

We are no longer “alienated” since we now have access.  

4.  We, through “one Spirt” have this access.  Remember what Jesus told His disciples just before the crucifixion:

John 14:15-17 (ESV)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

The world “cannot receive” the Spirit.  But, we do!   In that “one Spirit” we are afforded the access Paul writes about.   We can rejoice in the fact that we have the Spirit of God to empower us, guide us, and even convict us when we drift from fellowship with God.   

5.  We have all this access and privilege with the “Father.”   God wants to enjoy a relationship with us. He initiates that relationship by sending His Son to pay for our sins, to open up the avenue, to fellowship with the God of the universe.   This is no small thing. 

The above sentence is no small sentence in our understanding of how to walk with Him.  We have access in one Spirit to the Father.  Rejoice!!!

He Is Coming - Are You Ready? Luke 11-12

 Luke 12:35-40 (ESV)

You Must Be Ready

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

We must be ready.   In the above passage we read Jesus’ words about His future return to the earth.  He very much taught the disciples of His return.  The most popular teaching about it was in John:

John 14:1-3 (ESV)

I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Jesus IS coming again.  That is the great hope of believers.   Apparently, in Jesus’ teaching, hope was a strategy.   We are to have hope and we are to be READY for that hope.   We don’t know the hour of the Son of God’s return, but we do know that He will return and our preparation and expectation for that moment ought to be high on our priority list.  It is easy to become distracted on this earth and focus on a lot of good things but not the best things.   When we settle for what titillates us on this earth we miss out on the great glory and hope of what is awaiting us.   There are meaningful elements of this earth.  But, our eyes, ears and watchfulness and attention ought to be to the skies from where He will come.  In the book of the Revelation we are told multiple times of Jesus’ coming.  When the Bible repeats a thing, it is a BIG thing:

Revelation 1:7-8 (ESV)

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Rev 3:11

[Indeed] I am coming soon.

Rev 16:15

Indeed, I am coming like a thief.

Rev 22:7

Indeed, I am coming soon.

Rev 22:12

Indeed, I am coming soon

The Purpose of God’s Discipline - Ezekiel 1-6

 Ezekiel 5:13 (ESV)

“Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will vent my fury upon them and satisfy myself. And they shall know that I am the LORD—that I have spoken in my jealousy—when I spend my fury upon them.

Ezekiel 6:7 (ESV)

And the slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 6:10 (ESV)

And they shall know that I am the LORD. I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them.”

Ezekiel 6:13 (ESV)

And you shall know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak, wherever they offered pleasing aroma to all their idols.

Ezekiel 6:14 (ESV)

And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land desolate and waste, in all their dwelling places, from the wilderness to Riblah. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

The purpose of God’s discipline is to bring us to the place that we know that He is the Lord!!  In subsequent chapters this theme is repeated.   We might think that God’s discipline is all punitive, but it is not. It is also restorative.   God wants to restore us to come to the knowledge of His glory.  When we rebel (like the nation of Israel/Judah) God wants to restore us to come to the knowledge of His Lordship over our lives. 

Pass On The Lessons from the Past - Proverbs 4

 Proverbs 4:3

When I was a boy in my father’s house,

still tender, and an only child of my mother

Children ought to be tender in our sight. In this proverb Solomon is going back to his youth. He remembers the time when his father, David, king of Israel, would sit him on his lap and give him instructions. He is recalling how precious he was to his mother, Bathsheba. It must've been a great memory to him, and it must've been the basis for the teaching and studies he is providing us. Yet, if you look at his history you will note that not everything in his past was what it should've been. His mother, Bathsheba, is the one who had an affair with King David.  To be honest toward Bathsheba, it was probably David that forced her into the relationship. But nevertheless, many in Israel, at the time, may not have seen Bathsheba and therefore Solomon, in the same light as we do today. Solomon was a child born after David had Bathsheba’s father killed and the child born out of that affair had died in infancy.  Solomon's mother may have had some real issues in her life as a result of her past with King David. She had baggage. Yet Salomon only recalls the tenderness of his youth. He only recalls how special he was to his mother and to his father. All of us have baggage, or, so the saying goes. It is so important that we don't transfer that baggage to our children. The memories that our children have, as they grow up, ought to be like that of Solomon.  Solomon knew just enough about his mother and father's past to weave it carefully and comfortably into his teaching. (We should note that throughout the book of Proverbs, Solomon uses adultery as a metaphor for folly vs wisdom.  Ironic he would do that, have come from David and Bathsheba.) 

Solomon didn't grow up having to live their past: To be burdened with it. Let's make sure that our children grow up with a tender past and not anchored by those events that we regret and must bare as a burden. Our past should not complicate our children's present lives. It should propel them like it did Solomon; to become great teachers of the lessons we can give them through the past pain and suffering. We should not ignore the past!  But we can pass on to our children the things that we have learned and experienced so that those truths might be the bedrock of their own future.  King David and Queen Bathsheba learned valuable lessons during those times. They made sure that Solomon learned them in a tender way that he might pass them onto us in an inspiring way.

Old Age Wisdom - Psalms 69-71

Psalms 71:12-16 (ESV)

O God, be not far from me;

O my God, make haste to help me!

May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;

with scorn and disgrace may they be covered

who seek my hurt.

But I will hope continually

and will praise you yet more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,

of your deeds of salvation all the day,

for their number is past my knowledge.

With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come;

I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

Old age has many challenges.   Psalms 71 is a song written by an old person and for old people.  Note:

Psalms 71:9 (ESV)

Do not cast me off in the time of old age;

forsake me not when my strength is spent.

Psalms 71:18 (ESV)

So even to old age and gray hairs,

O God, do not forsake me,

until I proclaim your might to another generation,

your power to all those to come.

By the time you get to old age, you do gather accusers, as the above section of the song tells us.   When you get older you can bet on finding people who will, at some point, scorn you.  In old age you will find someone who wants to hurt you.   That sounds so grim.  But, the above psalm is also full of hope.   The response of the aged is to:

1. Hope continually in God’s power.

2. Praise more and more. 

3. Tell of God’s righteous acts. 

4. Tell all God’s deeds every day. 

5. Recognize that we can’t count God’s marvelous deeds and great acts of love.

The writers final answer toward those who would hurt him and accuse him and those who are out to destroy him is to ... I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

God of the Second Chance - 1 Kings 10-13

1 Kings 13:1-10 (ESV)

A Man of God Confronts Jeroboam

And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings. And the man cried against the altar by the word of the LORD and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’” And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’” And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him.” And his hand, which he stretched out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. And the king said to the man of God, “Entreat now the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” And the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king's hand was restored to him and became as it was before. And the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” And the man of God said to the king, “If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, for so was it commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.’” So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel.

This might be one of the most unusual stories in the Bible that we never read or hear about in the pulpit.    This is another version of Jonah 3:1.  Note:

Jonah 3:1 (ESV)

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying,

God gave Jonah a second chance (and, according to chapter four of Jonah, he blew it).   In the above passage we see that God sent a man of God to speak to the rebellious Jeroboam.   God promised Jeroboam that he would rule over ten tribes of Israel (after spending years in exile in Egypt).    But, God told him to obey God’s word. Instead Jeroboam rebelled and made two golden calves for the people to worship (1 Kings 12:28).   For this reason God sends the man of God (who himself will disobey God, 1 Kings 13:11-20).   When Jeroboam attempts to hurt the man of God, God strikes him with some sort of physical ailment.   Pleading for mercy, God allows the man of God to heal him.   Jeroboam will now have a second chance to serve God.   This is the God we serve.  God put Jeroboam into power and God can and does limit or change the circumstances of that power any time He wants.   God gave Jeroboam another chance.  What did Jeroboam do with that second chance? 

1 Kings 13:33 (ESV)

After this thing Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but made priests for the high places again from among all the people. Any who would, he ordained to be priests of the high places.

Sometimes God gives mankind a second chance (and a third, and a fourth, etc.).  But, sometimes man is just rebellious and rejects God’s grace.   

Spiritual Blessings in Christ - Leviticus 1-3

 Leviticus 2:1-3 (ESV)

Laws for Grain Offerings

“When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD'S food offerings.

Leviticus is a book about the way the nation of Israel was to approach God in worship.   God is to be approached by mankind.  But, mankind cannot be presumptuous about that worship.  Mankind is full of sin and needs to be purified to worship God. That is the point of Leviticus.   It should be noted that although the book starts immediately with the types of sacrifices that should be and can be used to approach God, it is the heart that God wants.  Note these couple of verses, first, to understand that God is not pleased with sacrifice and worship that does not first flow from the heart:

1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV)

And Samuel said,

“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

as in obeying the voice of the LORD?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

and to listen than the fat of rams.

Jeremiah 44:23 (ESV)

It is because you made offerings and because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his testimonies that this disaster has happened to you, as at this day.”

With that truth understood, the second offering mentioned at the beginning of Leviticus is the “grain offering.”   Note what one source stated about this offering:

“The second type of offering in the Old Testament is the minchah, or Grain Offering. The purpose of the Grain Offering was a voluntary expression of devotion to God, recognizing His goodness and providence. The instructions for the grain offerings are given in Leviticus 2. Generally it was cooked bread—baked (2:4), grilled (2:5), fried (2:7), roasted, or made into cereal (2:14)—though always seasoned (2:13), unsweetened, and unleavened (2:11). Unlike the whole Burnt Offering, only a portion of the offering was to be burnt (2:9). The remainder went to the priests for their meal (2:10). Although the minchah was instructed to be a freewill offering of grains, it appears that earlier freewill offerings expressing devotion to God and gratitude for His goodness and providence may have been the “first fruits” of livestock (Gen 4:4).”

The worshipper was to come to God in devotion and thankfulness for God’s outpouring of blessings.   The same is true today.  We may not bring flour and bread and offering them this way, but we are to bring the praise of our hearts on our lips before God.   We are not to worship Him and hope for blessings.  We are to worship Him for the blessings He has abundantly provided through His Son.  God has blessed in His Son with all spiritual blessings ... we are to praise Him for that, in the OT times and in the NT times:

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Test the Narratives You Hear - Galatians 4-6

Galatians 4:16 (ESV)

Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Galatians 5:7 (ESV)

You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

Perhaps one of the greatest issues facing our society are how quickly a false narrative can take over the speech and mood of a community, or even nation.   For some reason, unless something is said about us, we tend to believe what is said about someone, as though it were truth.   Churches are not exempt from false narratives dominating the congregations collective mindset.  Jesus said these two things in regard to the truth.  The first is stated to and about the religious leaders of the day (who are not exempt from false narratives) and the second is said to His disciples: 

John 8:44 (ESV)

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:32 (ESV)

and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Paul, in the book of Galatians, is blown away that so soon after his departure from their churches that they are allowing a false narrative of teaching to infiltrate their Body and take them captive in the mindset to produce bad behavior in the body.    God sent Paul to have him preach the gospel of faith in the truth.    Yet, someone came in to teach a gospel of works.    It is so easy to believe what we hear and not measure it against a standard of truth.  But, that is our responsibility as we hold the truth of Jesus Christ in our hearts and minds.  Paul said it this way to the Roman believers:

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Mercy and Judgment - Luke 9-10

 Luke 9:51-55 (ESV)

A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them.

There is no secret about the fact that in God’s Word we have outlined that the Jews did not care for the Samaritans.  The Samaritans were half breeds.   So, when Jesus was in one of their cities, who were not favorable to Jesus, the disciples wanted to call down God’s wrath on them.   Yet, Jesus rebuked them.  He wanted mercy on the Samaritans.  The disciples just didn’t get it.  Yet, they needed to know Jesus wanted to show mercy.  Notice, later, what Jesus tells a lawyer asking about doing God’s will.  I wonder if this following story happened just to re-emphasize to the disciples the desire to show mercy.  Who was it that showed mercy to the one beat up on the side of the road:

Luke 10:33-37 (ESV)

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

God wants us to show mercy.  He does not want us to judge, that is God’s part. Our part is to show mercy.  That is the point of Jesus’ life and ministry.   Even on the cross He was showing mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.  Judgment will come, but not from us.  From God. Our job is to show mercy.  This is the point of these stories.  

Disobedience Cost - Lamentations

 Lamentations 2:17 (ESV)

The LORD has done what he purposed;

he has carried out his word,

which he commanded long ago;

he has thrown down without pity;

he has made the enemy rejoice over you

and exalted the might of your foes.

The above verse is the essence of Lamentations.  The entire book is about the suffering and discipline of the nation of Israel for their disobedience to God and His Word.   Notice that this discipline was “commanded long ago.”   Israel was warned by God that He would bless those who obeyed and curse those who disobeyed (Deuteronomy 28 & 29).   God inspired the book of Proverbs to tell us about the blessings of obedience vs the danger of folly.   There is a collection of individuals who have experienced this truth, not just the nation of Israel:

1. Jonah was disciplined for his disobeying to tell about God’s grace. 

2. David was disciplined for his disobedience in adultery. 

3. Saul disobeyed by offering a sacrifice in disobedience to Samuel. 

We can go on, but disobedience is forewarned by God.   We are warned and given guidance on how to obey God.  We are given power by the Spirit to obey.   We are put in a Body to help us obey and hold us accountable for obeying.   This verse tells us the results of disobedience when God has given us all we need to obey. 

Receiving and Giving Grace - Proverbs 2-3

Proverbs 3:4 (NASBStr)

So you will find favor and good repute

In the sight of God and man.

As Jesus was growing Dr. Luke tells us that He grew in "favor of both God and man" (Luke 2:52).   In Proverbs 16:7 we are told that those who are wise and follow God and please God will have even their enemies to come in favor with them.  

Proverbs 16:7 (NASBStr)

When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,

He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

In the above proverb we have just been told to keep God's Word close to us and to secure it into our hearts.   One of the positive results that is stated for keeping God's Word in your heart is that we will have favor and a good repute with God and man.   There are a lot of people who give advice and consult others on how to get along with everyone.    Some have great suggestions and have enlightened (they think) concepts.   Few, however, would say to corporate America that if you want everyone to get along read God's Word and keep it in your heart, securely.  Read again what proceeds this proverb:

Proverbs 3:1-3 (NASBStr)

 My son, do not forget my teaching,

But let your heart keep my commandments;

 For length of days and years of life

And peace they will add to you.

 Do not let kindness and truth leave you;

 Bind them around your neck,

 Write them on the tablet of your heart.

This is the formula for team work and great success in business, churches, families, military and non-profit organizations.   You might not hear someone tell a corporate board or an organization administrative team the exact above words, but almost every consultant who is the lest bit successful would tell his/her clients to seek truth, kindness and bind those things in the corporate culture.   The above proverb is a formula for success no matter how it is said.  The truth of the proverb is taught by everyone who wants people to do right.   Pursuing kindness and truth would be to pursue God.   As a corporate coach I spend most of my days telling leaders to pursue the teachings of God's Word; embodied in truth and kindness.   They may not immediately know that  the principles I teach are simply God's Word, but they soon discover their ability to bring them closer to each other (in favor of men) and, eventually and hopefully, later closer to God.

Contrast Life Between the Wicked and the Righteous - Psalms 66-68

Psalms 68:1-3 (ESV)

God Shall Scatter His Enemies

TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID. A SONG.

God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;

and those who hate him shall flee before him!

As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;

as wax melts before fire,

so the wicked shall perish before God!

But the righteous shall be glad;

they shall exult before God;

they shall be jubilant with joy!

The contrast in the above opening lines of this psalm could not be more pronounced.   God’s enemies will be “scattered.”  The enemies of God will “flee.”   They will be driven out.   They will melt.  They will perish.  That is the lot of those who reject the truth of God’s Word and the plan of His heart.   

“But the righteous!”  Those words alone bring great solace to the soul. If we only heard those words, it would be enough. It is a contrast with the previous words about the wicked.   “But the righteous” means that there is something different for us.  There is something totally separate from the ways and the plights of those who reject God.   God promises, in the above passage, that the righteous will be “glad.”  The Hebrew word here is used 145 times in the Old Testament and it is often translated, “rejoice.”   Whereas the wicked have nothing but grief, pain and suffering before them, the righteous will be rejoicing in God.  But not just regular rejoicing.  The passage above states that the righteous will be “jubilant with joy.”  In the Hebrew it means will be full of “joy with joy.”   

Make no mistake.  Those that put their trust in God will not be the same as those who don’t.  The contrast is profound.   God makes it plan that those who reject Him will be, also, rejected.  Those who trust Him will be filled with everlasting joy.   That is the story of the Gospel.  Jesus bleed and died and rose again to give us this life of abundant and powerful joy. Note Jesus’ own words:

John 10:10 (ESV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Leaders Stand Around - 1 Kings 5-9

 1 Kings 5:13-18 (ESV)

King Solomon drafted forced labor out of all Israel, and the draft numbered 30,000 men. And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts. They would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the draft. Solomon also had 70,000 burden-bearers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country, besides Solomon's 3,300 chief officers who were over the work, who had charge of the people who carried on the work. At the king's command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the men of Gebal did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.

Leadership has been around for a long time.  One might say that the industrial revolution of the USA did much to hone the leadership acumen.   However, Solomon established quite a leadership paradigm a long time ago.   In the above passage we see that Solomon had, based upon these numbers, 160,000 people working on the Temple.    He had 3,300 “chief officers.”  This word for “officers” is:

(Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) “natsab”, “to stand, station, set up, erect.” Found in both ancient and modern Hebrew, this word goes back at least to ancient Ugaritic. It is found approximately 75 times in the Hebrew Bible.

One might actually laugh that the word actually means to “stand.”   The role of these officers was to “stand” over the work.  Of course, most workers do believe that leaders simply “stand” around.  But, that was, indeed, their job.  They were to oversee the work and make sure it was completed the way that God had intended it through the vision of Solomon.  

God established leadership well before mankind did.    God designed the structure of leadership and the purpose of leadership.   

Turn on the Tap Through Prayer - Exodus 37-40

 Exodus 37:25-29 (ESV)

Making the Altar of Incense

He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. Its length was a cubit, and its breadth was a cubit. It was square, and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of one piece with it. He overlaid it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And he made a molding of gold around it, and made two rings of gold on it under its molding, on two opposite sides of it, as holders for the poles with which to carry it. And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer.

The alter of incense is first mentioned in Exodus 30.  Outside the measurements for construction, note what Moses is told about this small alter:

Exodus 30:7-10 (ESV)

And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations. You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it. Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD.”

The Alter of Incense is a picture of the prayers that intercede for God’s people.   It is a reminder to us that Jesus is seated at the right of God to make intercession for the saints in an on-going way.  Note what we can learn about the truths of prayer for the saints by the Son (and about our prayers for each other). 

1.  The incense flame was never to go out.  The flame source would be from the Mercy Seat, which indicates the power of the prayers for the saints (by Christ and us) is based in the sacrifice of Christ’s death. 

2. The Alter of Incense, once per year, was made holy by the blood of the Mercy Seat sacrifice.  This indicates we are to come to God in prayer in the holiness provided by Christ’s death for us, not in our own efforts to make ourselves holy. Our prayers, without His holiness on them, are simply uttered words. 

3. They were not to offer strange incense.  The incense was to be made in a particular way.  A defined way.  The nation was not to duplicate it for their own use.   This indicates to us that we are to follow the pattern of prayer that Jesus (and others in the Scriptures) has outlined for us.  This is why Jesus told us that when we pray, pray like this.   

4.  It is interesting that they were instructed not to offer a sacrifice on the Alter of Incense.   Remember, the sacrifice was to be on the Mercy Seat.   This is a clear picture that “prayers” don’t save us. It is not the act of praying that saves us.   We are saved by sacrifice of Christ on the Mercy Seat.   Our many prayers do not make us justified.  Our prayers are to access the privileges of what the Mercy Seat provides.    

Prayer is to be something we do each day, all day, all the minutes of the day, to access the privileges that God wants to provide us. Prayer is not the blessings. Prayer is the conduit that carriers the blessings.  Prayer is the pipeline God has chosen to pour out the benefits of the Mercy Seat.  Turn on the tap!! 

Obligated or Privileged to Share the Gospel? Galatians 1-3

Galatians 2:11-14 (ESV)

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Is there any person, people or demographic of people groups that you would NOT share the Gospel of Christ with?   Remember the story of Jonah.   Jonah was asked to go to Nineveh to share God’s message of doom, but he also knew that if he did, God would forgive them.  Note:

Jonah 4:2 (ESV)

And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

Like Jonah, the Pharisees did not want to share God’s grace with the Gentiles.   So also, in the above passage, we read about Peter bending to those in the faith that still had their eyes on the Law.   Peter did not want to be alienated by the Law-keepers.   So, when they came to him, he withdrew from his relationship with the Gentiles, those who were uncircumcised.   Paul states that he withstood Peter to his face and called him out on it.   Peter had a people group he was reluctant to share God’s grace.  Today’s believer probably doesn’t think about it that much, but like Jonah we sail all around the people of our work, our neighborhood, and even our families to avoid sharing the Gospel.  We may rationalize that they may not listen to us anyhow.  We might create a false narrative in our head that they are unworthy of God’s grace - they have done so many bad things God won’t save them.   Or, we might think they are so connected to sin that God can’t save them.   Whatever the reason we must realize that the power of God’s grace is real (it is the power of God) and we are not just privileged to share God’s grace, we are obligated.   

A Model of Today’s Ministry Design - Luke 7-8

 Luke 8:1-3 (ESV)

Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

Today we have mega churches.  They are set up in highly populated areas and are designed to attract and titillate those who arrive with coffee bars, warm furniture and entertaining music and message.   They have multiple staff, assigned to expert, categorical areas of interest for the purpose of ministering to ever demographic of the community.   These ministries are not wrong.  However, they are NOTHING like the ministry of Jesus. His ministry was to the rural areas of villages.   His pulpit was a hillside, a boat, a well.  His team were fishermen, a tax collector, a vagabond found under a tree and a future betrayer.   He also had the ministry of women.  A scribe or teacher in that day would not have, as their entourage, women at all, much less the women mentioned in the above passage.   Jesus’ ministry was with the weak for the weak.  Jesus’ ministry was about proclaiming the gospel message in simple terms to those of simple means.   Jesus had no coffee bars.  He did have five loaves and two fishes that he borrowed to feed 5,000 people.   But, not lattes or frappes.   

It is interesting that there was a member of Herod’s household that Jesus both healed and commandeered.   This is the same Herod who tried to kill him as a baby and had His cousin, John-the-Baptist, killed.   It is amazing that Jesus is ministering in the towns and villages of Galilee, serving the weak and He ends up drawing the manager of from the most powerful political circle of the land.  This is the power of the Gospel.  There is no where the Gospel can’t reach.  Ask Jonah about that.   He would not go to the Ninevites because he didn’t want them to hear the Gospel.   Jesus healed the manager of Herod’s household.  Jesus talked to a woman caught in adultery and reached her.  Jesus taught against adultery and divorce and then meet the woman at the well with open arms.   

Our design for ministry follows the patterns of the world around us.   Perhaps, we should consider, at least in some way, the pattern of Jesus’ ministry.    He used a small unprofessional group of people, who were saved by grace, to turn the world upside down.   

From the Most Powerful to the Most Pitiful - Jeremiah 47-52

 Jeremiah 50:43-46 (ESV)

“The king of Babylon heard the report of them,

and his hands fell helpless;

anguish seized him,

pain as of a woman in labor.

“Behold, like a lion coming up from the thicket of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make them run away from her, and I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? Therefore hear the plan that the LORD has made against Babylon, and the purposes that he has formed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of their flock shall be dragged away; surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. At the sound of the capture of Babylon the earth shall tremble, and her cry shall be heard among the nations.”

The end of the book of Jeremiah is filled with the judgments of God on the surrounding nations who haunted and hunted Israel and Judah all their days.  The main judgment is agains Babylon, who, at the time, was the greatest country on earth.  They were ruthless people who, upon arrival, crushed the wicked nation of Assyria.   So, the Babylonians were a cruel and wicked, but powerful and prominent nation.   Jeremiah has been telling the nation to allow itself to go into captivity to the Babylonians. This puts him in great pleasure and honor with Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon.  However, now, at the end of the book, Jeremiah unleashes the prophecies against Babylon.   The result?  The above verses tell us what happened to the king and what is about to happen to the entire Babylonian nation.   This nation was a nation that God used to take His people into captivity for their disobedience to Him.  However, God would now use another nation (the Medes and the Persians) to correct and discipline the Babylonians for their sin.  Nebuchadnezzar is not able to bear the news, as we read above.    The entire earth will “tremble” as a result of God’s judgment on this group of peoples.   This is something all nations, tribes and tongues must learn.  God may promote a nation for His purpose, but those nations who turn away from God, He will bring to nothing.   God does not close His eyes toward evilness of leaders.  He will bring them into account.  We may not see it and it may not be by our time frame, but God will bring into account all those He once used for His plans and, if they continue to disobey, He will bring them to naught.   They may be the most powerful but in God’s hands they will become the most pitiful.  

God’s Laughs at Man’s Calamity - Proverbs 1

 Proverbs 1:24-28 (ESV)

Because I have called and you refused to listen,

have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

because you have ignored all my counsel

and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when terror strikes you,

when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;

they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

The old phrase was, “fox-hole conversion.”  That is when you find yourself in trouble, jump into a hole and make an agreement with God to save you, only to forget that promise once you are out of the whole.  Mankind believes they can make a “deal” with God to save them in trouble, only to disregard their end of it, once delivered.   Mankind tends to think of God as great spare tire in the trunk of the car.   They believe that when they get a flat they can simply pop the trunk and put on the spare.  This gets them to the next stage of life where they can simply go back to the original tread and toss the little spare back into the trunk.   

The above passage talks about God’s thoughts on the “spare-tire” theory of life.   Somehow mankind thinks that God is an “on demand” service.   Like their internet connection, they simply think they can stream Him when they have a need to do so.  God is not obligated to answer the prayers of the non-believer.  God will not be at the end of a servant’s bell, running to bend to our wishes.  He is the God of the universe.  He will offer us His grace. But, when we reject His grace He is NOT simply going to drop everything to serve our whims.   He actually will “laugh” at the calamity of those who reject Him and then hope to have Him as their spare.  

Satisfaction in God - Psalms 63-65

 Psalms 65:2-4 (ESV)

O you who hear prayer,

to you shall all flesh come.

When iniquities prevail against me,

you atone for our transgressions.

Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,

to dwell in your courts!

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,

the holiness of your temple!

The above verses should appear some place in the New Testament as a summary of the Gospel.  To those who teach that the Gospel is ONLY a NT doctrine, these three verses challenge that thinking.  Here is the Gospel plan and simple.   The writer is exalting God as the One who hears our prayers.  As we see as the psalm unfolds, it is the prayer of repentance and the seeking of forgiveness that Yahweh hears.   It is He who “atones” for our transgressions.  This is first and foremost a call for forgiveness of sins to the only One who can forgive sins.   But, it does not stop there.  Yahweh also wants to bless us.  The writer does not get caught up in the pleasures of them world, but rather sees that his satisfaction is found in the “goodness” of God’s house.  He wants to go to the Temple for worship because that is where (in the OT) God’s presence was seen.  This psalm is one of repentance and then praise for the satisfaction that is found in a relationship with Yahweh.  The song goes on to utter more and more praise to God for what He provides to those who seek Him.  But, we must first and foremost seek Him in repentance to atone for our sins.  That brings us into a great place to find satisfaction in life through Him.