God Uses the Rulers of Nations to Accomplish His Tasks - Jeremiah 47-52

Jeremiah 51:20-24 (ESV)

“You are my hammer and weapon of war:

with you I break nations in pieces;

with you I destroy kingdoms;

with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider;

with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer;

with you I break in pieces man and woman;

with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth;

with you I break in pieces the young man and the young woman;

with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock;

with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team;

with you I break in pieces governors and commanders.

“I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea before your very eyes for all the evil that they have done in Zion, declares the LORD.

For all the history we have in the Bible about nations fighting nations most Christians are oblivious to the way God works among the nations.   In this long section of Jeremiah we read about all the punishment God will bring upon the nations that attacked, injured and/or maligned His people, Israel/Judah.   The main nation He used to bring Israel and Judah into discipline was Babylon.   Now in chapter 51 we read that God will use the Medes (and Persians) to defeat Babylon.    God used Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, to defeat Israel, but now will use the Medes to defat Babylon.    The above passage are the words of Jeremiah to describe how God is using them.   The Medes and the Persians are as wicked as the nation of Babylon.  Yet God uses them as His war club.    We don’t always see our geo-political framework through the lens of how God is moving in the midst of the nations to accomplish His plans and will.  God is using the leaders of these nations to set up His eternal kingdom when Jesus Christ will reign forever and ever.    These nations are but puppets in the hands of God.   The above lines show how God uses each person on this earth as a tool in His hand to craft the nations the way He desires.   We might get anxious about what is happening in the world and about how the nations rage against each other.  But God is using their rage and sinfulness and wickedness to accomplish His purpose and to usher in His glory.    

Fear the Lord! Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

It’s always nice to start from the beginning. But, to start from the beginning you have to know where the beginning starts. So, the first chapter of Proverbs, which is a book to help us discover wisdom, starts with first telling us about the beginning steps. The first step to a life full of wisdom is to live in fear of God. Not a fear like being afraid of snakes, heights or spiders, but a Godly fear; a fear that causes you to stand in awe of something. Fear of God is the beginning of being wise. But, those who don’t stand in awe of God are fools. Fools don’t fear God and therefore don’t get wisdom, discipline or knowledge (all words meaning and pointing to the same thing in Hebrew poetry). Only those who fear the Lord can expect to get wisdom from the Lord. Live in fear of Him today and have wisdom as to what He wants you to do tomorrow.   Folly starts with rejection of an awe of God.  It reveals itself with symptoms of bad choices and selfishly wrong decisions.  Note:

Psalms 53:1 (ESV)

TO THE CHOIRMASTER: ACCORDING TO MAHALATH. A MASKIL OF DAVID.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;

there is none who does good.

The fear of the Lord puts God in the center of decisions and His will.  Folly puts self in the center of all actions and your own will.  Notice how the writer of Hebrews described true worship:

Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV)

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Later in Proverbs, Solomon will say again:

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 15:33 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 2:4-5 (ESV)

if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

then you will understand the fear of the LORD

and find the knowledge of God.

Fear the Lord!

Fulfill the God Desire Within Us! Psalms 63-65

 Psalms 64:10 (ESV)

Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD

and take refuge in him!

Let all the upright in heart exult!

The clarity of this verse should bring us great joy.   There is no confusion of our responsibility and what our desire should be.  We are placed on this earth for the sole purpose of rejoicing IN THE LORD.    We are to take REFUGE IN HIM.   We are to let our HEART EXULT.   This is our duty.  This is our abundant life.   Yet, sin has wrecked that desire.   Sin wants to exalt self.  Sin wants to please self.  Sin entices us to seek something or someone other than God.   

James 1:14 (ESV)

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

Our inwardly desire is not bent toward God and His exaltation.  It is bent toward the inward desire of self-gratification.   In this stanza of David’s song, it is the last stanza.  It is for us to heed and obey.    If we spend time doing what this stanza of the song tells us we won’t have time yielding to the desires about which James warns us.  

Wisdom or Wealth? Or, Both? - 1 Kings 1-4

1 Kings 4:20-28 (ESV)

Solomon’s Wealth and Wisdom

Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy. Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl. For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. And he had peace on all sides around him. And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon. Solomon also had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. And those officers supplied provisions for King Solomon, and for all who came to King Solomon’s table, each one in his month. They let nothing be lacking. Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds they brought to the place where it was required, each according to his duty.

Solomon was wise and wealthy!   Back in chapter three we read that when God asked Solomon what he wanted, he did not ask for wealth, but only wisdom.   Yet, God said the following:

1 Kings 3:13 (ESV)

I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.

The long list above is God’s response to Solomon not asking for wealth.   His daily food cost was astronomical.   Just the feed for the horses was amazing.    The issue with owning things is both the purchase and the provision needed to take care of it.   God provided Solomon all he didn’t want and all he did want, wisdom.   These two things do not have to be mutual exclusive.   But we are not to desire wealth over wisdom.   We are not to desire wisdom to get wealth.  We are to desire to seek God and then these things are additions, not the prize.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said it this way:

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Solomon’s heart desired wisdom from God.  God’s heart desired to bless Solomon with that wisdom and with His riches in a tangible manner.   One who is wealthy is not always seeking God.  One who is seeking God is not always wealthy.   But it is possible that God brings both to our lives.   But the first (seeking His wisdom) is essential before the second can be handled.   Remember, later in life Solomon’s heart turns away from God to his wealth and his women.   Note what he will eventually say about all the above possession chronicled in 1 Kings:

Ecclesiastes 2:11 (ESV)

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Seek wisdom and then let God do what He wants from there.  

Alone Time with God - Exodus 33-36

Exodus 33:7-10 (ESV)

The Tent of Meeting

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door.

Moses was God’s spokesman for the nation of Israel.   For this reason he needed to continue to be in fellowship with God.   The above passage tells us how this was accomplished in the desert in the midst of a million plus people.   Perhaps Moses’ approach to getting alone with God can give us some pointers for our alone time:

1.  Moses pitched his tent outside the camp.    If we want to have a private time with God it might be wise to find a place where the world’s noise is not as prevalent.  Oddly, as I write this I am in a Starbucks in Florida.   This is hardly a tent in the wilderness.   In the Gospels, it is recorded in nine different places that Jesus got alone to pray (Mark 1:12; 35; Luke 5:15-16; 6:12-13; Matthew 14:13; Mark 6:31-32; Matthew 14:23; Matthew 15:29; Mark 14:32).   Finding that place to be alone is a necessary step to hear God in a unique way.  

2. Moses allowed others to go with him to fellowship with God. The text reads that everyone who sought the Lord would meet with Moses.  Our alone time does not have to be alone all the time.   Coming tougher to worship is a part of our fellowship with God.   

3. Moses time with God brought about a high level of respect and worship from the people.  Moses set the example and it would solicit others to worship.    Worship is contagious.   We ought to want to inspire others to rise up and worship.   

4. Moses took Joshua with him in worship.  This is found later in the same context. Note:

Exodus 33:11 (ESV)

Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

Moses made such an impact that Joshua would linger even longer in worship.   This is what leadership is supposed to do.  We are inspire others to want more of God than even we want.  

Setting up an alone time for God should be an intentional aspect of our walk with God.   We can approach Him anywhere and anytime but having a time that is intentionally set aside to approach Him is a first step in feeling comfortable to approach Him at anytime.   

Preach Christ To Defeat False Teachers - 2 Corinthians 11-13

2 Corinthians 12:11-13 (ESV)

I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

Even though Paul had visited the church in Corinth twice before, he is planning a third visit.   But this time it is to speak face-to-face with those who oppose him.   He refers to them as super-apostles.   The entire book of 2 Corinthians has been to address these false teachers and their false doctrine.   He has had to write to this church to outline his authority, credibility and testimony.   He has had to remind these believers in the church that he was sent by God.   The false teachers are claiming Paul was weak.   In physical stature and ability he apparently was.  He admits that.  But in the above passage (full of sarcasm) he tells them he is not inferior to any of them.  In the areas that matter (spiritual matters) Paul has demonstrated the same signs as Peter and the other apostles.   He, too, has done the signs of apostleship via signs, wonders and miracles (the three words used in the New Testament for extraordinary and powerful movement by God).   He is telling them that he has done everything in their church to demonstrate his apostleship except take money from them.  A claim he quickly uses sarcasm to highlight by saying, “Forgive me this wrong!”   It is important to remember what Paul wrote earlier about these false teachers, however.  When he compares his works with their works he states:

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (ESV)

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

These false teachers also had power to do wonders, but did so through Satan’s ability to transform himself into an angel of light.   Paul’s entire point of this letter is to remind them about the teaching of Christ and Him crucified.    Yes, Paul did miracles and was quite the man of God and on apostleship level.  But these self-claims of power are making him sound like a fool for promoting himself.   He has just told us in the prior verses the following:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

For other men he was promoting himself and acting foolish to compare himself with them, proving his call to ministry.  But in reality his message was to write about the only thing that mattered:  He claimed Christ crucified.  It might be wise for us to take the same approach.  We might be doing something great for God, but we are, in reality, only a slave to Christ.   It is by His power and His grace we do anything for Him.  

Don’t Judge Others - It Is Not Your Job - Luke 5-6

Luke 6:39-42 (ESV)

He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

This section of Luke’s gospel is about Jesus’ teaching on judging others.  He has already told them:

Luke 6:37 (ESV)

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Now he gives us some further instruction on how to manage life’s affairs.  Note:

1. We can’t lead others if we are walking in blindness.  We might be wise to follow the light before we attempt to point that others are NOT walking in the light.  

2. We are to be followers of Christ, not Christ.  We are not to act higher than Christ.   Only Christ can judge.  We are not to judge.  We are to be like Christ.  That means our judgement will be like His and He gives all judgement to the Father (John 8:15-16)

3. We can’t look at someone else and see a fault in them if we have fault in our lives.  The speck we hold in our eye hinders us from seeing any speck we might see in others.  Jesus goes on to call the specks a log.   That is the challenges with specks.  If they are not dealt with, they eventually turn into a log. 

Jesus is telling us that our relationship with others is not based upon our being superior to them but on being followers of Christ and being like Christ.   

Obedience Over Sacrifice - Jeremiah 42-46

Jeremiah 44:20-23 (ESV)

Then Jeremiah said to all the people, men and women, all the people who had given him this answer: “As for the offerings that you offered in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your officials, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them? Did it not come into his mind? The LORD could no longer bear your evil deeds and the abominations that you committed. Therefore your land has become a desolation and a waste and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day. 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.”

If you want the formula for displeasing God and soliciting His discipline and wrath, you have it in the above passage.   This is a synopsis of Israel’s fall from grace and their need to suffer the disciple of God.   Instead of having a heart for worship they had the actions of worship.   God is not interested in our outward manifestations of worship.  He is interested in our inward sanctification, our holiness.   This goes back to one of the best known verses on this subject stated by the prophet Samuel to the young King Saul:

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.

King Saul was told to wait for Samuel before the sacrifice.   Saul was impatient and, instead, sacrificed on his own.  His sacrifice was outwardly right but inwardly flawed.    God wants us to have a heart for Him not outward form worship.   A heart for Him is defined as obedience to him.   This is a constant theme for Jeremiah and all the prophets.   God wants our hearts not our sacrifice.   In the New Testament we have a similar challenge:

Acts 5:1-5 (ESV)

Ananias and Sapphira

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, didn’t need to say they sold the land and wanted to give it ALL to the church.  They didn’t have to give ANY of it to the church.   But to impress those around them they lied and feigned that they were giving all the proceeds of the sale to the church.  Once again God was not impressed with the outside but disciplined them for their corrupt heart.   It is the heart of worship God is interested in not the acts of worship.  

God is Awesome! Job 41-42

  Job 41:8-11 (ESV)

Lay your hands on him;

remember the battle—you will not do it again!

Behold, the hope of a man is false;

he is laid low even at the sight of him.

No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up.

Who then is he who can stand before me?

Who has first given to me, that I should repay him?

Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

God is now talking to Job from a whirlwind.  Job wanted his day in court with God, but he is not going to like it.  God is confronting Job about his knowledge of the universe and two animals in particular:  The behemoth and the leviathan.  In this chapter he has just described the awesome power of leviathan and is asking God if he can stand against that beast (only ONE of God’s created animals).   God is telling Job if he dared to confront the leviathan he would live to regret it.   God’s conclusion is that if you can’t even stand before one of my created specimens, how can you dare think you can stand before me?   Job’s response in the previous and next chapter tells you Job’s response:

Job 40:3-5 (ESV)

Job Promises Silence

Then Job answered the LORD and said:

“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

I have spoken once, and I will not answer;

twice, but I will proceed no further.”

Job 42:1-6 (ESV)

Job’s Confession and Repentance

Then Job answered the LORD and said:

“I know that you can do all things,

and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

‘Hear, and I will speak;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.’

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

but now my eye sees you;

therefore I despise myself,

and repent in dust and ashes.”

God has made His point.  We would do well to remember that God is who God is and we are only but one of His creation.   Notice how the writer of Hebrews tell us to approach God and understand this dynamic:

Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV)

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Thankfully, through His Son, God has made a way for us to approach Him.  But Job and his friends began to diminish their awe of God.  God quickly comes in to elevate their mindset.  We would do well to have that same mindset.  If we can’t handle the things of this earth what makes us think we can reduce God to our understanding.   He is an awesome God!