God Has No Pleasure In Idolatrous Behavior - Ezekiel 13-18

 Ezekiel 14:1-5 (ESV)

Idolatrous Elders Condemned

Then certain of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them? Therefore speak to them and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Any one of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart and sets the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him as he comes with the multitude of his idols, that I may lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel, who are all estranged from me through their idols.

When leadership goes bad, so too all around them.  This is the condemnation that Ezekiel is brining in the above passage stated to the elders of Israel.  The next few chapters outline the exact behavior and manners the above verses are talking about.  God addresses these leaders based upon the character of their hearts.   They began to worship idols and began to replace God with these false, man-made alternatives.   We might wonder how any one can bow down to something man made.  However, we see it every day in our society.  Very seldom is it a wooden replica of a man or beast, but instead it is a expensive home, a shinny car or boat, a sleek toy, a politician and/or a devoted companion.   We love to put our heart’s trust in item we can see and fail to worship the God we can’t.   God is pointing out the idols in their hearts that had replaced Him.   When the leaders put false thing sin their hearts to worship, so, too do the people. This is why the prophet is sent.  He is sent to cause them to repent.  Note what it says at the end of this section of our reading:

Ezekiel 18:30-32 (ESV)

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”

God has no pleasure in those who replace Him in their hearts with worthless items they, themselves have made.  

Sin Is Very Enticing - Proverbs 7

 Proverbs 7:16-17 (ESV)

I have spread my couch with coverings,

colored linens from Egyptian linen;

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,

aloes, and cinnamon.

In the above passage we are reading the words of a prostitute spoken to a young, naive, simpleton.    This entire chapter is about the seduction of this young man and describes all the ways she uses to draw him into her web.   It is amazing the things that titillate our senses.  In the above passage we are told about the linen she used on the bed and the perfume she used in the bedroom.   We are told about the myrrh, aloe and cinnamon smells that wafted from her chamber.   Why do these type of things entice us so much.   She engaged his sight, his smell, and his touch.    He will be brought in by these things.    He will eventually be killed by these things.   This story is a metaphor for the enticements of Folly.  Folly entices us the same way and causes us to miss the benefits of Wisdom.  This is the theme of Proverbs.   However, the story is also a real example of how sin is materialized.   Sin uses our physical senses to draw us into her eventual death.    Sin never shows her real colors.  The addict only sees the pleasure.  Those who watch them tumble down that path see only the pain.   Adultery looks good and feels good and we seldom see the devastation to the other spouse and the destruction of the children.  They only thing two adulterous people see and feel is the fine linen, the myrrh, the aloe and the cinnamon.  

Fear Man or Fear God - Psalms 75-77

 Psalms 76:4-6 (ESV)

4 Glorious are you, more majestic

than the mountains full of prey.

5 The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil;

they sank into sleep;

all the men of war

were unable to use their hands.

6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,

both rider and horse lay stunned.

Psalm 76 is about the glories and power of God.    It begins with the power He bestowed on Jerusalem as His chosen city and move to His power over all things and then ends with is power over all the “kings of the earth.”   In the above section we read that God is more majestic then the mountains.   It is interesting that the writer uses an inanimate object (like mountains) to claim God’s awesome power.    Mountains don’t really do anything to express or demonstrate their power.  They just sit there ... or stand their ... abide there ... exist.    Yet, when we see mountains they conjure up in our minds, greatness.   That is what the writer is trying to convey.   He (the songwriter Asaph) is not saying that mountains exert power, but rather they are a the symbol of power.   In the ancient world mountains were looked at as possessed by the gods.  When Israel saw God on Mt. Sinai they shock with fear.   Asaph is telling us that God is powerful, more so than mountains.  

But, God is greater than the “stouthearted” and “all men of war.”     This is the point we are to embrace.   There is nothing that God can’t do and won’t do to protect His people.  We need to fear the world or mankind or the things the world presents.   At God’s rebuke the “horse and the rider.” At His rebuke, the “lay stunned.”  Now the writer is making this section very relevant. In the ancient world the war horse was supreme.   Those that rode the war horse were great conquerors and warriors.  This is who mankind would fear.  Asaph has taken us from the mountains to the mounted on horses.    We need not fear them.   With this information we can allow our fears to subside.  It is not the horse and rider or the stouthearted we need to fear.  It is God the Most High.  He destroys all those who stand in His path and He protects those who walk in His path.   

God Knows When We Worship False Gods - 1 Kings 18-22

 1 Kings 18:16-19 (ESV)

So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.”

It is amazing what God knows about the world and about their thoughts and the intents of their hearts.  Elijah is about to have a spiritual battle with the priest of Baal (a false god).   Before he goes into this battle, God allows him to know the exact number of the prophets of Baal and the prophets of another false God, Asherah.   Perhaps this was a known fact.  Maybe they walked around boasting of their numbers.   But, the point is that God knows that there are individuals in Israel that are worshipping false gods and knows their number, their name and their iniquity.  When we worship other gods, God knows. These were God’s chosen people.   Both they and us have been taught that God is a jealous God:

Exodus 34:14 (ESV)

(for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),

James 4:5 (ESV)

Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?

When we attempt to worship other gods our God sends us an Elijah moment to focus us and to draw us back to him.  These 850 prophets will lose their lives for their failure to repent.   God does not tolerate our worshipping of false gods.  

Consecrated by His Blood - Leviticus 7-9

 Leviticus 8:30 (ESV)

Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and also on his sons and his sons' garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, and his sons and his sons' garments with him.

In Leviticus 7-9 we have the initial consecration of the Tabernacle and the various offerings.   In the above verse we have the story of Moses purifying Aaron and his sons for the purpose of preparing them to make the initial sacrifice for the people in chapter 9.  What we read it that Moses took them through the sacrifice in order to consecrate them so that they could offer a sacrifice for the people.   One major point that this verse teaches us is that to approach God a person must be consecrated.    In the case of Aaron and his sons, that is being done by the sacrifice of a bull and conducted by Moses.    In our case we read the following in Hebrews:

Hebrews 10:22 (ESV)

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.

We, too, have to be consecrated to approach God.  And WE HAVE!!!   We have been consecrated  by the blood of Christ.  Our hearts have been covered and our bodies washed by His blood.  Through the sanctification of the Spirit God is continuing to cleanse us:

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (ESV)

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

We can rejoice that God has positionally made us clean to approach him with a pure conscience and continues to sanctify us daily.    We can approach God with as much confidence as Moses and Aaron.   Their sacrifice was but a shadow of what Christ would provide for all who approach God by faith in Christ’s sacrifice.  

Walking with Christ Because We Have the Mind of Christ! Ephesians 4-6

 Ephesians 4:17-20 (ESV)

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 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. But that is not the way you learned Christ!—

Paul is writing a letter to the church at Philippi to encourage them in their walk with God.   In that walk he is outlining some marvelous things there are supposed to do by faith.   But, he is also telling things that they should stop doing.   He tells them that they are to walk with Christ and like Christ in chapters 1-3.  In chapter 4 he tells them how not to walk.  There is to be a complete difference in the walk of a believer vs a non-believer.  We are to have different steps in our walk.   Peter told us to walk in Christ’s steps:

1 Peter 2:21 (ESV)

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

In Peter’s version he is telling us to walk exactly in the “steps” of Christ.   To have that type of walk, Paul tells us to make sure we have a change in mind.   The steps of our walk is connected to our state of mind.  Paul tells us not to walk in the futility of our minds.  He then tells us what a futile mind looks like.  It comes from a callous heart.   It come from someone full of greed.   It comes from someone who wants to practice every kind of impurity.   Those are all matters of the heart.  But, Paul states, “But that is not the way you learned Christ!”    Christ is our walk!!  If we want to have a walk that is is different than the world we have to have a mind that is center on Christ.  

No Shame On You - Luke 13-14

 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.

The above verse is the summary of Jesus’ healing and teaching about His healing.  The religious leaders and those who wanted power did not like that Jesus was capturing the heart of the people and undermining their leverage over the people.   This teaching of Jesus put them to “shame.”   Shame is a major tool the world uses today.  The entire concept of a “cancel culture” is based upon the idea that people don’t like to be “shamed.”  People can be “shamed” into doing anything and believing everything.   Note these verses, however, on the concept of “shame” as God uses it in His word:

1.  Hope in God makes sure believers are never put to shame:

Romans 5:5 (ESV)

5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

2. Belief in Christ makes sure believers are never put to shame:

Romans 10:11 (ESV)

11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

3. God uses the foolish believers to put to shame the wise world:

1 Corinthians 1:27 (ESV)

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

4.  Believers who walk with God will put to shame those who try to shame them:

1 Peter 3:16 (ESV)

16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

There are many more verses on this subject but the point we see in the Luke passage is that Jesus put to shame the wicked and powerful.  Those who have faith in Christ will put to shame the same.  

God Sees and Punishes - Ezekiel 7-12

 Ezekiel 9:8-10 (ESV)

And while they were striking, and I was left alone, I fell upon my face, and cried, “Ah, Lord GOD! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?”

Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see.’ As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will bring their deeds upon their heads.”

Ezekiel 11:13 (ESV)

And it came to pass, while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down on my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?”

This section of Ezekiel is about God pouring out His wrath on Israel for their disobedience to His word.   When Ezekiel cries out and asks God if He will destroy all of them or leave a remnant, God responds by saying they have done great sin and full of injustice. They have lived their lives as thought God has not seen them.    God will eventually tell the prophet that, yes, He will leave a remnant.   But, at first God wants the nation to know that they were wrong, He did see them.  God does see our sin.  We tend to think that no immediate, outward response to our sin means God missed it.  Like a kid who took the cookies thinks he is safe since no one has said anything,   But, later his stomach hurts because he ate the forbidden sweats.   Eventually it all is revealed.    This is the story of Ezekiel.   It will all be revealed.   In the New Testament the church thought it could get away from being less that God preferred.   Yet, decades after it was started at Pentecost the Apostle John writes to each of the seven churches (representing all of Christendom) the following phrase:

Revelation 2:2 (ESV)

“‘I know your works, .... 

Revelation 2:9 (ESV)

“‘I know your tribulation ...

Revelation 2:13 (ESV)

13 “‘I know where you dwell, ...

Revelation 2:19 (ESV)

19 “‘I know your works, ...

Revelation 3:1 (ESV)

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

“‘I know your works. ...

Revelation 3:8 (ESV)

8 “‘I know your works. ...

Revelation 3:15 (ESV)

15 “‘I know your works: ...

God knows are works.   In Psalm 139 we know that He knows our sitting down and standing up.    He knows the hairs on our head.   Israel thought that God did not know.  Ezekiel fell on his face and wanted mercy for them.  They assumed God did not see.  But, God does see and He brings them into account for what He sees.  As He said He would to the churches.  As He will for each of us ... though delayed ... yet, still seen.  

Drunk With Love - Proverbs 5-6

 Proverbs 5:19-20 (NASBStr)

As a loving hind and a graceful doe,

Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;

Be exhilarated always with her love.

 For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress

And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?

I'm not sure many men would get away with buying a valentine card that told his wife she reminded him of a doe!   Hallmark would not be able to capture the meaning that Solomon has here in this proverb.   He is using language particular to the day and that might resonate with the reader in his familiar context.   His point is that, just as a beautiful animal of God's creation can capture and "intoxicate" the mighty hunter, so, too, should the body of the wife capture the husband.   If you have ever hunted for deer you might be able to understand his point.   The armed man might stand in the woods behind a tree and as the prey gets closer and closer, the heart of the deer slayer beats at such a pace it feels like it is coming out of the chest.   This is what Solomon means in the next line when he states the husband should be "exhilarated" (intoxicated) with his wife.   He SHOULD NOT allow other women to intoxicate him.   It should be noted that Solomon doesn't tell us to do this if we feel like loving his wife.  He doesn't tell us to do this if we are "turned on" by her.  Solomon makes this a matter of faith by stating it the way he does.  This is wisdom from God.   We must approach this subject in Proverbs like we approach all of God's Word.   The husband's intoxication with his wife is a matter of faith.   He simply approaches his relationship with her in an action of faith and God supplies the feelings and the emotion to accompany that act of faith.   What he is telling us is that a healthy relationship with the wife will feel like intoxication as we see her as God's marvelous creation for us.   Today's society tries to tell us what is attractive and what is a "turn-on" for us.   God simply states that the wife you have been give by God (Proverbs 18:22), was created by God and He has made you both to enjoy each other.   We are to approach our relationship with our spouse in this manner.   If we don't we will begin to seek that intoxication from others and in other ways.   That is the danger of failing to love by faith and rather by feeling.   God wants us to do everything in faith (Romans 14:23).   Loving our spouse is no exception.

Another point about this proverb is also quite clear.  In Proverbs 5 we are being instructed about how to avoid the adulterous relationship.   You would think this would be a popular, best selling chapter.   Yet, too many avoid the message in Proverbs 5 and fall into adultery like a bird to the snare.   We have to remember that this was written by Solomon.  For those who don't know, or remember, Solomon had almost 1,000 wives and/or concubines.  I wish I could explain this.   So, he is writing from the stand point of a man in the know.   His words tell us something he wasn't able to do.   But, that is true about a lot of teaching.   Paul himself struggled with that in Romans 7.   However, the wisdom here is a key to avoiding adultery.  If you want to avoid falling into a bad relationship than, by faith, obey God's Word.  A man is to make sure that he is "intoxicated" (exhilarated) with his wife.  We are to let her body (in this case, the breast) satisfy Him at "all times."  If I read this right, a step in avoiding lusting other women is to lust after my wife.   I am to be captivated by her body.   I am to allow her love to make me drunk.  Solomon uses the analogy of a deer.  Why I don't know.   Perhaps that is because men are to be hunters and a deer would catch their eye.   So, too, our wives.   By faith we are to have our spouse fill that hunger and desire in our lives to the point of intoxication.  That is what it means to be "drunk on love."

Godly Leaders are Consistent Leaders - Psalm 72-74

 Psalms 72:5-7 (ESV)

May they fear you while the sun endures,

and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!

May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

like showers that water the earth!

In his days may the righteous flourish,

and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

In a previous post I divide Psalm 72 into sections that each exemplify something awesome about the king, the subject of the entire song.   The above verses are written to talk about the consistency of the king.   They are steady and can be counted upon.  Notice the word pictures the writer (Solomon) uses to express this truth about Godly leaders:

1. The sun

2. The moon

3. The rain

4. The grass

All of the above are consistent.  Granted that the rain comes and goes seemingly at its own leisure, but it does come and go.   The key element in this section is that these things are consistent and so, too, should be the leader.  But what is the leader consistent about?  That is the last line of the above passage.   They are consistent in demonstrating the righteousness that God provides them.   We can be consistent about many things.  But, if we want to be a great leader we must practice justice and righteousness.  That is what the first verse of this psalm states:

Psalms 72:1 (ESV)

Give the king your justice, O God,

and your righteousness to the royal son!

When God gives the leader justice and righteousness, the king is to carry that out in consistency. If you read the books of 1 and 2 Kings you see that those kings who were consistent with justice and righteousness were blessed and those who were not consistent, were not blessed.   

God’s Plan Runs Deep - 1 Kings 14-17

 1 Kings 17:8-9 (ESV)

Then the word of the LORD came to him, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.”

When Elijah began to pray that there would be famine in the land he was obeying God.  King Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel would be out to get him.   So, God told him to go to a Gentile city to hang out with a Gentile widow named Zarephath.   Why this woman?  Why a Gentile woman?  Remember, everything in the Old Testament is a shadow of what will come to fruition in the New Testament.   We must always read the Old asking ourselves about the fulfillment or use of it or meaning of it in the New.   The fact that Elijah went to the Gentiles is significant.   God’s entire plan for Israel was to be a light to bring the Gentiles to faith.   Note Paul’s statement of that to the church at Ephesus (a Gentile town): 

Ephesians 3:1-6 (ESV)

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Jesus would use this story to tell the leaders of the Temple in His day that He, too, was sent for all mankind, not just the nation of Israel.  Note:

Luke 4:24-28 (ESV)

And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath.

They were “filled with wrath” because this was a shot across their bow that Jesus was coming to save the “world” and not just be their King.   So, hundreds of years earlier God directed a prophet to go to a Gentile widow to set up and explain His entire plan to bring faith to the Gentile nation.   Rejoice!! God’s plan runs deep. 

Who Are We? Our Identity!! Ephesians 1-3

 Ephesians 2:22 (ESV)

In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

When Paul writes the the church at Ephesus he leaves very little out of this letter concerning the glory of Christ, the mystery of the Gospel and the blessings given to believers of Christ in that Gospel.   These first three chapters of Ephesians may be the most glorious of all writings in the Bible.  Reading them and walking away is like having a helicopter rider over the Seven Wonders of the World in a brief hour flight.   You will be in awe, but really miss the entire point.   These chapters exalt Christ’s blessings for us through Christ’s death for us.   

In the above verse we see one of those blessings in a short sentence.  Because Christ died for us, He has redeemed us so that we would be a “dwelling place for God.”  He is doing this through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  So, we see the Trinity in concert provide for us not just a changed life, but a new way to think of our dwelling (our bodily home).  Our body is being built as a dwelling place for God.    The Spirit is hammering away, putting up drywall, installing plumbing and electricity and crafting all the furniture and furnishings.   We are A DWELLING PLACE FOR GOD.  It is BUILT BY THE SPIRIT.   It is FOUNDED ON THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST.   That is our identity in this world.   We are not just some run down shack in the woods God does not care about.  No!!  We are being built by the Spirit as a dwelling place for God based upon the finished work of the Son.  That is who we are!!

Fighting over the Inheritance- Luke 11-12

 Luke 12:13-15 (ESV)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

First, imagine this actually taking place.  Can you imagine a Sunday morning church service and right in the middle of the teaching time some one shouts out to the teacher, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”    That is quite amazing.   

Second, there has obviously been a death in this family.  Others around Christ are asking for the dead to raised again.  Others want a real miracle.  This guy wants a mediator for financial gain.   There is nothing like a death, however, to divide families via the distribution of the inheritance.  

Third, Jesus ignores points #1 and #2.   He uses this moment as a teaching moment to not just the man but those who are listening.  This man, and others (including us), need to know that point here is the man’s coveting of treasure.   It might have been his by law. It might have been a legitimate desire.  Perhaps his brother was a thief and was actually taking his and other family members’ right due.   That does not spark Jesus’ teaching however.  He goes right for the man’s heart of coveting treasure (whether earned, deserved or not).   Jesus takes the man to the last of the 10 Commandments: Thou Shalt Not Covet!   The man’s heart is not right.   Jesus goes on to give him and all listening a parable about a man who accumulated a lot of goods and thought he was okay and could relax in life.  That is the time his accumulation meant nothing since God would take his life before he could enjoy them.   Jesus conclusion for this guy and all those listening?

Luke 12:20-21 (ESV)

But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

To Jesus the man’s request for arbitration was not a matter of the law, but a matter of the heart.   

Street Preaching Preacher - Ezekiel 1-6

 Ezekiel 4:1-3 (ESV)

The Siege of Jerusalem Symbolized

“And you, son of man, take a brick and lay it before you, and engrave on it a city, even Jerusalem. And put siegeworks against it, and build a siege wall against it, and cast up a mound against it. Set camps also against it, and plant battering rams against it all around. And you, take an iron griddle, and place it as an iron wall between you and the city; and set your face toward it, and let it be in a state of siege, and press the siege against it. This is a sign for the house of Israel.

Ezekiel is a priest who became prophet while in captivity in Assyria.   He was taken captive in the fall of Israel (the ten tribes to the north) in 720 BC and would be used by God to prophecy about the fall of Judah (the two tribes to the south) that would eventually fall to Babylon in 587/586 BC.     While in captivity as a priest he was selected by God to give a very harsh message to the captives about this eventual fall of their brothers to the south of them.  Although not surely worse then the message, the delivery of the message would be as equally harsh.   Ezekiel was asked to speak to the nation who’s hearts would not listen to him.  He is one of the few speakers who was told his audience would never listen and would, in fact, mock him and do the opposite of his message.   But, he not only had to speak to this rebellious group he had to do it in some of the most unusual methods.    In our day and age we might call what Ezekiel is called to do is play charades.    He was told by God to act out several ways to illustrate God’s method of doom and gloom on the siege of Jerusalem by Babylon.   In the above illustration he is to act out the siege by building a model of Jerusalem on the ground and lay a pretend siege against the model.  In his day he didn’t have a fancy conference center to call everyone to come to him using powerpoint and social media videos.    He rather had to go to the center of the town and act out like a street performer.  He did this knowing fully that God had already told him they would not listen.   He will eventually act out the siege by laying on his side for an entire year.  He will act it out further by cook his meal over cow dung and rationing his food.  This will simulate for those already in captivity what is about to happen in Jerusalem.   

Ezekiel was given an impossible task.  He was asked to speak to a group who were already captive, about a coming siege on the center of their worship (Jerusalem).  He was told his audience would reject the message and him.   He had to deliver the message in street theater, doing impossible tasks.   Everyone would hate him at the end.   And, by the way, had all this not happened he would have been an honored high priest in the Temple back in Jerusalem.    Yet, Ezekiel performed his task.    God has not called us to creature comforts in our service for Him.  God has called us to obedience.   Today’s preachers mostly is allowed to deliver his message in an air conditioned auditorium, with some of the highest tech known to man.  Today’s spiritual teacher is mostly teaching to an audience of eager learners about their faith.   Today’s pastor is allowed to use multimedia that brings the message alive with a graphic designer at the control switch.   All Ezekiel had was dirt, stone, rope and dung.    He didn’t stand behind a glass pulpit, he played in the dirt making a crude mock up of his beloved city.   Before we complain what God has called us to do we might want to consider the prophets of old:

James 5:10 (ESV)

As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Don’t Turn Left or Right - Proverbs 4

 Proverbs 4:27 (NASBStr)

Do not turn to the right nor to the left;

 Turn your foot from evil.

Satan loves to give us options.   He is the master of disguise.  Paul tells us that he can change himself into an angel of light:

2 Corinthians 11:14

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

So, it is no wonder that Solomon is warning us in this proverb to not stray from the direct path God lays out for us.   We are not to turn to the right or left from the path.   Either one can make us be off the mark at the end.  Any slight variance off the path will end up causing us to miss the final destination.   When you aim an arrow to fly from the string of the bow you might only be off one slight degree to the right or left and think nothing of it.  Yet, 10-yards down field the small degree of variance can cause you to miss the center of the target.  At forty yards you may totally miss the target.   Sin is defined as missing the mark.   The mark that God set for us.   So, we need to be careful to stay on the path ... directly.   Don't move left or right.   In the second line of the above proverb Solomon gives us a second way to make sure we are safe.   If we see evil, that is the time to turn.   The discernment we get from God through wisdom will teach what is evil.  The power we get from God will enable us to turn from it.   Notice that Solomon doesn't tell us in this proverb that we will NOT see evil.  He does not tell us that the path we are on is guarded by God in such a way that evil will not appear on it.   Solomon wants us to know that we have a way to avoid evil: Stay on the right path and turn from evil.   God gives us both the path to follow and the Spirit to lead us.   Satan might disguise himself to look like something we should turn to see or engage upon to fulfill a desire.   But, God gives us the tools to avoid even his deceptive ways.

This is the last verse in chapter four. It is the conclusion of Solomon's instruction about wisdom. He has just told "the son" that wisdom will protect you and will even promote you. He warns the reader that there are those who want and seek violence. He warns the son to avoid these characters who promote wickedness and violence. In the final verse Solomon leaves no room for how we are to avoid wicked and viloent seeking people. We are not to turn left, right or follow one step after evil. Even deep-seeded believers have trouble with staying away from evil. Solomon was telling "the son" that to be safe and secure we have to completely avoid those who walk in evil thoughts and evil ways. Solomon gives us no wiggle room. We are to move straight ahead and we are to follow the One in front of us straight ahead, Christ.  

By the way, it would have been great for Solomon to follow his own wisdom:

1 Kings 11:1-3 (ESV)

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.

The fact that Solomon failed does not diminish the truth of his wisdom.  In fact, it shows how easily it is for Satan to transform into light and cause us to fail.   We are not to turn to the right or the left.  That is the path that is safe.  

Zeal for God - Psalms 69-71

 Psalms 69:9-12 (ESV)

For zeal for your house has consumed me,

and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting,

it became my reproach.

When I made sackcloth my clothing,

I became a byword to them.

I am the talk of those who sit in the gate,

and the drunkards make songs about me.

Psalm 69 is a song of lament.   The writer has a zeal for God.  This zeal is consuming his life.  But, how are those around him responding?  Note:

1.  His zeal for God is met with reproach.   The words means to “taunt” or “defame.”   Imagine when you are zealous for God and the only response you solicit is taunting and defamation toward you. 

2.  His zeal for God caused him to weep and to humble himself in fasting.  But, again, the only response from those around him was more “reproach.”  

3. His zeal for God caused him to put on sackcloth for his clothing.  This meant he took of his comfortable clothes for the coarse and rugged mourning clothes.   This would indicate the person was hurting about something.  That should solicit from the world around you empathy or pity.  Yet, again, nothing but reproach and ridicule. 

4. His zeal for God caused him to be a byword and others called him a drunk.   This was the impression his zeal for God showed the world around him. 

When we have a zeal for God we might think we should be in a such a great place.  But, in truth, others might not see it that way.  That should neither surprise us or diminish us.  Our zeal for God is FOR GOD, not for the world around us.   We need to be worried about God’s thoughts regarding our zeal for Him, not how man responds.   

God Uses Division to Accomplish His Plans - 1 Kings 10-13

 1 Kings 12:12-15 (ESV)

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, “Come to me again the third day.” And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel that the old men had given him, he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by the LORD that he might fulfill his word, which the LORD spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

When Solomon began to worship the gods of his many wives the division and destruction of Israel began to take place.  God told Solomon that He would divide the kingdom.   Rehoboam was Solomon’s son.   God’s word to Solomon came true as God tore the kingdom from Rehoboam and gave it to an enemy of Solomon, Jeroboam.   The tool God used to separate Rehoboam and Jeroboam was a labor dispute.  Jeroboam represented the people and wanted the tasks that Solomon had put on the people to be lighted up.   Rehoboam, rather than listening to the older counsel of men who served his father, instead, listened to his younger cohorts.   This led to the division of the nation that lasted through the captivity 300-400 years later.   God told Solomon He would divide the kingdom.   God used a labor dispute to make it happen.   God used a young kings error of listening to wrong counsel to cause the division of the entire kingdom.   We might wander what God is doing in our country today.  We see division in almost all things political.   Could it be that God is using simply division between people to accomplish a greater plan for His glory?   God is working His plan and He uses division between people as a tool to make that plan come about.   

God Has Design in His Worship - Leviticus 1-3

 Leviticus 1:10-11 (ESV)

“If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, he shall bring a male without blemish, and he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar.

When I read the book of Leviticus I often put myself in the place of the priest and/or the worshipper. I wonder how I might have lasted in this system.  Each aspect of the instructions we read in Leviticus is a foreshadow of the suffering of Christ.   Therefore, the people of Israel had to be very specific to God’s instruction.  When we read the book of Hebrews we see more and more clearly that these steps given to them in Leviticus were pictures of what Christ was do or have done to Him on the cross.   In the above passage we are not told why they had to kill the bull on the north side of the alter.  Our Bible commentaries say little about the reason.  One or two mention that is might have been the only place a large bull would fit as you consider the layout of this area of the Tabernacle.  Some suggest it was on the north side to make sure the sun was either not rising behind the sacrifice or setting behind the worshipper’s offering.   The nations that surrounded Israel would worship the sun.   Egypt, who they were all delivered from, worshiped the sun (hence God causing darkness over that nation in the exodus story).   One commentary suggested that Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem, at Golgotha, which was on the north side (although the exact location of Golgotha is in dispute).    Never-the-less, the worshipper in the days of Levitical worship would need to follow things exactly has laid out because whether known or not known to the worshipper, God was making a pattern.   This is where I personally would struggle.  I am absent details in my life.   But, in Old Testament worship, the details mattered.   God was not just throwing out ideas for worshipping Him.  He was showing the worshipper that to approach Him there is a designed pattern.   Jesus fulfilled that pattern for us, which is hard to comprehend.   He fulfilled each exact aspect of the worship laid out in the book of Leviticus.   If it were not for the awesomeness of His sacrifice for us, this alone, would be worthy to worship.   We can rejoice that God has as design for worship that even includes the direction on a compass.   But we can truly worship that Jesus fulfilled it all to save us from our sins.   

Kill the Flesh - Galatians 4-6

 Galatians 5:24 (ESV)

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

What does that verse mean in the context of our day of Christianity?   Of course, it means the same thing now as it did in the context of Paul’s day, but what did he mean?  To discover the meaning we have to recall the reason Paul was writing to the churches in Galatia.  He was there and gave them his heart and soul.  When he was there they actually cared for him.  The health issue with his sight had caused them to care for him (4:12-13).   He established them in their faith.   Now they were being lead astray by false teachers who wanted them to come to Christ through faith AND circumcision.    Paul wrote the letter to remind them that their faith in Christ’s finished work was enough.    He wanted them to remember that they could do NOTHING in their FLESH to acquire God’s grace.  This is the context for the above verse.  In fact, Paul states, those who belong to Christ have “crucified the flesh” with all “its passions and desires.”   He wants them to know that the flesh has no good thing in it and was crucified with Christ on the cross.   Since we “belong” to Christ our flesh has no more value or control over us.  He continues, practically, to be part of our lives, but it is not offering anything good to help us obtain God’s grace.  The flesh (our human indulgences) has no good thing to offer God.   These false teachers wanted to emphasize doing works in the flesh to please God.  But, the flesh was killed (crucified) by Christ’s work on the cross, so whatever they were having them do, was doing nothing at all for their walk in faith.   We are often thinking that we can “do it ourselves.”  But our flesh was crucified.   It was killed off regarding merit for grace.   This is why Paul finishes this section by saying:

Galatians 5:25-26 (ESV)

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Walking in the Spirit means that I am not recognizing the flesh.   We are not to compare ourselves with others and envy what others are doing.  We are to walk in the Spirit and be sensitive to what the Spirit wants.   Let us rejoice in the Spirit and live as we are: Crucified in the flesh.   

The Gospel - Luke 9-10

 Luke 9:18-22 (ESV)

Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Jesus was focused on His mission.  He was sent to the earth to suffer in the payment of our sins.  He would endure shame, evil treatment, physical pain, and public ridicule.  But, He would also be separated from God.  That was the payment for our sins.  In the above passage Jesus asks His disciples who He was.   Peter confesses that He is the Messiah of God.   Jesus immediately tells them NOT to tell anyone that.   He needed to be first “killed.”  Imagine how that settled into the minds of the disciples.   They, like most Jewish people, were looking for a Messiah to deliver them from Roman oppression.  But, instead they heard this Jesus, who they left everything to follow, was talking of martyrdom.   We don’t read about their responses.  But, we can understand how they may have felt.   They wanted a king and were told they were following a sacrificial lamb.  They would eventually get it.   Notice what Peter himself will write over 30 years late:

1 Peter 3:18-22 (ESV)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Jesus came to give His life.  The disciples would eventually get it, wrap their lives around it and proclaim in for the rest of their lives.  But, at the first they may not have understood it.   Never-the-less, this is the gospel message and the reason we have freedom from sin and power to glorify Him.   

Suffering for Sinning - Lamentation

 Lamentations 1:20 (ESV)

“Look, O LORD, for I am in distress;

my stomach churns;

my heart is wrung within me,

because I have been very rebellious.

In the street the sword bereaves;

in the house it is like death.

The book of Lamentations is a series of five poems (each chapter makes one poem) where the author is lamenting the fall of Jerusalem specifically and the crushing of the spirit’s of a nation collectively.   Chapters 1,2, 4, 5 have 22 verses and each verse begins with the subsequent letter of the Hebrew alphabet (except chapter 5).  Chapter 3 is 66 verses because there are three verses per each letter in the Hebrew alphabet.   The point of all this is that the author is using a systematic method to convey the human emotion that comes from suffering due to sin.   In this book the enemy that is addressed is the suffering that has come from Israel’s rebellion against God.   In 586 BC, Babylon was allowed to capture and destroy Jerusalem.   Why?  The above verse tells us why.  The sins of the people have caught up to them and God is bringing His judgment for their sins into into their day-to-day lives.  Notice how the author describes the suffering in just this one verse.  He states that it has impacted the very body.   He is speaking metaphorically of Jerusalem but that does not remove the actual pain the really feel as a people.   Throughout the rest of the book we read about hunger pains and numerous discomfort they are experiencing.   God does not bring them comfort.  That is the theme of the book.  Sin (rebellion against God) has destroyed them and made their bodies ache in pain.   Sin is not an abstract aspect of our lives. It is a real thing that impacts our very being.  Note what John Owen stated about sin:

Every unmortified sin will certainly do two things: It will weaken the soul and deprive it of its vigor. It will darken the soul and deprive it of its comfort and peace.”

“Mortification prunes all the graces of God and makes room for them in our hearts to grow”

Commenting on Jame 1:14, Owen goes on to say:

James 1:14 (ESV)

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

lust is still tempting and conceiving sin (James 1:14); in every moral action it is 

1) always either inclining to evil, 

2)or hindering from that which is good, 

3)or disframing the spirit from communion with God. 

Excerpt From

Overcoming Sin and Temptation

John Owen

Sin impacts our body, soul and spirit.  Lamentations is testament that sin destroys.   We suffer as a result of it.   God does not close His eyes to sin.  The only hope we have is to be covered in the blood of Christ so that when we sin all that God sees is His Beloved Son’s blood covering us.   Absent that truth, all we have is continuous suffering.   

Do Good To the Good - Proverbs 2-3

 Proverbs 3:27

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, 

when it is in your power to do it."

You see someone do something nice for someone else, you think, “That was nice,” and go on your way. Right or wrong? According to this proverb we are to do good to them for doing good to others. This proverb is the initial “pass-it-on” philosophy. When we see others doing something right and we have the “power to act” upon it, we are to do so. The next time you have the chance to give praise, or reward to someone who does good, do it. We are not to withhold praise to him who has it coming. To do so is to disobey the Holy Scriptures. Do you see someone in church doing something good—give them a kind word. Do you see someone being sacrificial with their life for others—be sacrificial yourself for them. Don’t withhold the honor when you have it.  In our world today we are very much ignorant of the truth found in this passage.  We spend much of our time trying to catch others do something bad.  And, that is not hard to do.  People do a lot bad.   However, to wait and find someone doing right and honoring them for it, is a Spirit led skill-set.   When we have power in our hands to do good and honor those who do good, we are to do so. 

Some of the closing letters in the New Testament are a great example of Solomon’s above proverb.  The below passage is a long passage to just read and, for many, contains too many unrecognizable names.  It is a little like reading the phone book.  Yet, notice that in closing the greatest theological book ever written, Paul makes Solomon’s proverb real:

Romans 16:3-16 (ESV)

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Paul had power to give them honor that would be read for centuries and did.   If you have power to honor others, do so.  

A Pattern for Human Governance - Psalms 66-68

 Psalms 67:1-5 (ESV)

May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

that your way may be known on earth,

your saving power among all nations.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you!

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you judge the peoples with equity

and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you!

Would not the above passage be a great political campaign theme?   Would it not be great for someone running for office to proclaim the contents of those five verses their guiding principles for governing the people who elect them?   There a number of themes in these five verses that any state, nation or governing power would do well to emulate:

1. Praise for God.    The entire song is about singing praise to God.   No (or few) political figure will boast out loud that their sole endeavor is to bring praise to God.  That would not be political correct.  Yet, that is the theme of the psalm for the people of God. We are to lift up God in praise and adoration. 

2.  His way is to be declared.  The writer of this song wants to make sure God’s way is published in the land.   The only way to do #1 is to do #2.  You can’t praise Him if you do not follow HIs ways and declaring His ways gives us the guidelines to praise Him. 

3. Make His power known.   You can’t do #3 if you don’t do #1 and #2.   God’s power is limited when we disobey His ways and do not sing His praise.  As we obey His ways and lift Him up in praise, His power has freedom to work in our lives and the lives of those around us.   We stifle God’s power when we don’t do His ways and we fail to be praising Him.  

4.  Judge people with equity.   God sets the example of judging people with equity.  We have a lot of talk about equity in our world today.  But, few mention that this equity is based upon God’s sovereign ways.   God IS THE EXAMPLE OF EQUITY.   If we want a standard of what is equitable we need only turn to God.  God treats all mankind based upon His righteous ways.   Failing to do #2 will result in a skewed #4.  

5. God guides the nations.  We might not see it.  We might not believe it.  We might not want it.  But, God is guiding the nations.   We might not like how He is doing that.   But, God uses the nations to accomplish task.  He even uses nation that don’t Him.  Note what Isaiah said to the king of Assyria:

Isaiah 45:4-5 (ESV)

For the sake of my servant Jacob,

and Israel my chosen,

I call you by your name,

I name you, though you do not know me.

I am the LORD, and there is no other,

besides me there is no God;

I equip you, though you do not know me,

Though he did not know God, God equipped him to do what God wanted him to do.  

If we want to bring honor to God and bless our nation we need leaders who will practice all five of these truths in their leadership.   

We Are the Temple of God - 1 Kings 5-9

 1 Kings 8:52-53 (ESV)

Let your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Israel, giving ear to them whenever they call to you. For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your heritage, as you declared through Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.”

Solomon has just built the Temple and they have brought in some 120,000 sheep and 22,00 oxen to sacrifice for the celebration. Solomon, in the above verses is finishing his prayer blessing over the Temple.  Here he acknowledges the reason for the magnificence of the Temple and for Israel’s existence.   Israel was here to proclaim to the world the mercy of God.   Israel was here to demonstrate to the surrounding nations God’s marvelous grace.   That was true for Israel then and it is true for us today.  Note Peter’s words in the first letter he wrote to the first century Church:

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.

We are to have our conduct pure before the world because we are the new Temple of God.  We are the building.  We are the structure.

1 Peter 2:4-5 (ESV)

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

God used Israel and Solomon’s Temple to proclaim the majesty of who He is.  Now God uses us, His temple, to proclaim the excellencies of His mercy and grace.  This is why we are to turn from the sins of the world and live holy before them.  We are God’s light to the world.  

We Are Priest to the Most High God - Exodus 37-40

 Exodus 40:12-13 (ESV)

Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall wash them with water and put on Aaron the holy garments. And you shall anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve me as priest.

We are always washed and cleanses and dressed in holy garments before we act as priests before the Lord to serve Him.  That is the order of what God did for Aaron and what He commands for us today.    Remember, even though the above verses are taken from what happened after the Tabernacle was finally built, these instructions and examples were to illustrate to us the pattern of approaching God.  Later we will be called priests who sacrifice to God:

1 Peter 2:4-6; 9-10(ESV)

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

Every believer is now a priest of the Most High God.  We are holy and royal priests.    We are to concentrate ourselves to worship.  He clothes us in His blood and makes us a king dome priest to serve Him.   Note how Peter goes on to to tell us who were are in Christ:

1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV)

9 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. 10 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.

We have received mercy to declare mercy by being a priest for God and to God.  We are His people, not our own.  We are His “possession” and not our own.   Aaron in the Old Testament was an example for us.  The Tabernacle has been replaced by us, “living stones” to be a building for God where spiritual sacrifices are being offered.   That is WHO we are.  

Salvation is By Works - Just Not Our Works - Galatians 1-3

 Galatians 2:16 (ESV)

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

A person is NOT justified by works!!    Those words have changed the lives of men, of people groups and of nations.   The entire basis of Christianity is based upon those marvelous words.    Our salivation is wholly in Christ’s finished WORKS for us.  We do not WORK to earn His salvation, He worked for us.   What should we know about WORKS or how should we think of WORKS? 

#1.  In the above passage we are simply told we are reminded that by keeping the Law we are not justified.  There is no law that can justify us.   But, the Law must still be kept.  

#2.  But, justification can’t be by the Law, because you have to keep the entire Law or you will be cursed:

Galatians 3:10 (ESV)

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

#3.  Jesus took the curse we are under for failing to keep the Law, by dying on a cross for us:

Galatians 3:13 (ESV)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

#4. Those who place themselves under the law and rely on circumcision for salvation cut themselves off from Christ:

Galatians 5:2-6 (ESV)

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

We can’t be justified by performing works that keep the Law since we can’t keep the entire Law.  But, Jesus came and kept the entire Law.  Despite that He did, He still took our place on the cross as the ONE who did the WORKS and KEPT THE LAW.   Salvation has always been by WORKS ... just not OUR WORKS ... but the CHRIST’S WORKS.   He preformed for us, so that when we received His WORKS done on our behalf by faith, we, too, can be justified.   

Proclaim What Jesus Did For You! - Luke 7-8

 Luke 8:34-39 (ESV)

When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

The above verses are at the end of a story where Jesus cast demons out of a man who had legions of them in him.   He was often chained so that he didn’t just run naked and cause destruction.   When Jesus arrived in his town the legion of demons in him begged Jesus not to cast them into the abyss, but rather allow them to leave the man and go into a heard of pigs.    When they get into the pigs the animals run violently over a cliff and into the sea.    This of course causes great loss of capital to the herdsmen specifically and to the town in general.  When the town hears of this they are “fearful” and ask Jesus to leave.   Note the difference of this town vs the town of Capernaum that also saw a demon cast out:

Luke 4:35-37 (ESV)

But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

The people in this town feared and asked Jesus to leave.   That town stood in awe and wanted more.    The man that was healed so that he was going to be shamed and blamed for the loss of the pigs and begged Jesus to take him with him.  But, instead, Jesus tells him to go and tell the town of the excellencies done to him.  That is our role in this world, as well:

1 Peter 2:9-10 (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.

The Power of God over the Nations - Jeremiah 47-52

 Jeremiah 51:52-53 (ESV)

“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD,

when I will execute judgment upon her images,

and through all her land

the wounded shall groan.

Though Babylon should mount up to heaven,

and though she should fortify her strong height,

yet destroyers would come from me against her,

declares the LORD.

That rise and fall of nations is something that has been going on for millennia.   Nations come and go.   So, not surprisingly, so too wicked Babylon.  Remember, Assyria had take Israel, in the south, captive.  Because of that God raised up Babylon to destroy them.  But, Babylon came to take Judah, in the north, captive.   Babylon destroyed the Temple and took many of the people captive.   Babylon mocked Judah  and God.   Yet, it was God who used Babylon to punish Assyria and, according to the above verses, God will be the one who destroyers Babylon.  God will use the Medes and the Persians to destroy Babylon.   When we read these passages and are reminded of some great verses from other prophets/writers:

Isaiah 45:5-7 (ESV)

I am the LORD, and there is no other,

besides me there is no God;

I equip you, though you do not know me,

that people may know, from the rising of the sun

and from the west, that there is none besides me;

I am the LORD, and there is no other.

I form light and create darkness;

I make well-being and create calamity;

I am the LORD, who does all these things.

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.

Our nation thinks it is the most powerful in the world.  So did Assyria at the time.  So did Babylon at the time.  So did the Medes and Persians at the time.  So did the Greeks at the time.  So did the Romans at the time.  So did the English at the time.  So don’t be too surprised that God moves another nation from special status to “also ran” status.   God moves kings and kingdoms by the word of His power:

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,

We can fear the elections in our country that one party will have power over the other.  But, in reality,  no party, no leader, no nation has any power save given it to them by the Lord Almighty!!   

The Way of Wisdom vs The Way of Folly - Proverbs 1

 Proverbs 1:29-31 (ESV)

Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

would have none of my counsel

and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,

and have their fill of their own devices.

The major theme of Proverbs is the differences between wisdom and folly.  Wisdom starts with the Fear of the Lord and Solomon begins the entire section with that truth:

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

He then wants the reader to understand that to reject the Fear of the Lord is to go you own way and trust in the knowledge in your own heart.  This is the meaning of the above texts from Solomon.   They “hated” the knowledge of God and they “did not choose” the Fear of the Lord, therefore they will “eat the fruit of their way.”   

The Lord offers wisdom to all who pass her by.  Note:

Proverbs 1:20-21 (ESV)

Wisdom cries aloud in the street,

in the markets she raises her voice;

at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;

at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

Now, we will later be told the Folly also speaks to the who pass by:

Proverbs 9:13-15 (ESV)

The woman Folly is loud;

she is seductive and knows nothing.

She sits at the door of her house;

she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,

calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way,

So, here we sit (or “pass by”) and have these two voices calling to us.  Wisdom on the one side and Folly on the other.   Wisdom will equip us to honor God and have a life that is filled with and end with His blessings.  But, as we see above, Folly leaves us to our own devices and without meaning in our lives.   We have the Way of Wisdom vs the Way of Folly before us.  Those who choose the former avoid the latter ... and the subsequent dangers:

Proverbs 1:32-33 (ESV)

For the simple are killed by their turning away,

and the complacency of fools destroys them;

but whoever listens to me will dwell secure

and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”