Make No Provision for the Flesh - 1 Kings 11-15

2 Kings 15:1-7 (ESV)

In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. And the LORD touched the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and he lived in a separate house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the household, governing the people of the land. Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Jotham his son reigned in his place.

The above is the theme of 2 Kings.  The book is about how the kings of Israel (North) and Judah (South) come to become the king and then cease to be the king; and a brief explanation of what happens in between.   The above is a perfect picture of many of the kings.   None of the kings of Israel are ever stated as doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD.  There are some of the kings of Judah who did what was right and the above summary of Azariah is one of them.  But like many who did what was right he did not do enough.  He left the high places in tact.   The high places were where they offered sacrifices to false gods.  As with all believers, when you leave a place in your life where sin can happen, it will happen.   Note what Paul warned the Roman Christians about:

Romans 13:14 (ESV)

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

When you make provision for the flesh, the flesh will avail itself of that provision.   But God does not stand idle in those situations.  He demands holiness from us.  In this case Azariah was cursed with leprosy.  Note something else God states through Paul:

Galatians 6:7 (ESV)

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

These examples of the kings in the Bible are for our learning.  Learn this lesson from Azariah.  

1 Corinthians 10:6 (ESV)

Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

Honor the Life God Created - Leviticus 16-18

Leviticus 17:13-16 (ESV)

13 “Any one also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. 

14 For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off. 

15 And every person who eats what dies of itself or what is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or a sojourner, shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening; then he shall be clean. 

16 But if he does not wash them or bathe his flesh, he shall bear his iniquity.”

When we read the Leviticus commands it is often hard for the western mind and the post Old Testament thought to understand all the rituals and the commands of God.  But perhaps by breaking the above down verse by verse, we can see some practical truths  for us today:

Vs. 13a - The commands from Leviticus, no matter what the command, is for all Israel and anyone living among them.  Israel in this case is the archetype of God’s people.  So anyone wishing to benefit from being a people of God must obey the commands of God. 

Vs. 13b - The subject of the above command is the blood of an animal caught in hunting.  The command is to pour out the blood.   In the proceeding verses God had informed them that life is in the blood (He will repeat that in the next verse).   The blood is to be poured out and covered with the earth.    The lesson here is that God created life and there is a sacredness to it.  No matter the life.  

Vs. 14 - Again God states that the blood of all creatures, according to God, is the life of the creature.  God intends us to know this and to honor this.  In fact, a violation of honoring the blood of creatures is subject to being “cut off” from the nation.   This is a serious truth from God.  

Vs. 15-16 - The command about the life of a creature being in the blood is so serious to God that if someone (from Israel or sojourning with Israel) even touches a dead creature that died of natural causes or is torn apart by another creature, that person is considered unclean for worship.   It is actually a sin to not cleans yourself from touching a dead corps of a some creature.   There is some hygiene truth here. (Remember, Israel was living in the wilderness.)  The transmission of disease was always a concern.   But the real truth about this is that the life of a creature in in the blood and to touch a dead creature was to be touching that dead life.   A person was to cleanse themselves from that dead animal.  

What God is trying to tell them is the sacredness of life.   God created creatures and His holiness demanded that we both honor the living and the dead.   God wanted this nation to be different than the world around them. The world around them gave little care for life or death.   God demands we honor Him but honoring the creatures He made and how to treat His creation with sacred care.  

God Defines Us and Our Relationships with Regard to His Son - Colossians 1-2

Colossians 1:1-2 (ESV)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

It is easy to rush right through the opening lines of these New Testament letters.  After all, before we read them we already know who the letters are from and who they are written to.  It is also easy to skip them because when we write a letter or email, the introduction is much less important. 

In these NT letters, however, we can find some great truth to meditate upon and to make behavioral adjustments to our living.  In the above we have two of those truths:

1.  Paul identifies himself as an Apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God.   It should be noted that who we are in Christ is by the will of God.   We like to think that who we are is who we have made ourselves to be.   We often start the beginnings of conversations talking about who we are and our type of job(s) or role(s).  However, Paul wants this audience to know that he is who he is because God chose to make him who he is; an apostle.    We ought to take note of that and adjust our mindset and behavior to be submissive to God’s rule over us.   

2.  He is writing to the saints and brothers in Christs at the church in the city of Colossae.  These are not just friends of Pauls.   They are saints and brothers in Christ.  That carries so much more meaning than friends or something else Paul could have called them. Our relationship with each others is defined by our relationship with Him.   We are brothers and saints because we have a relationship with the Father, through the Son, that unites us in a unique way.   Note these other introductions in the NT:

Philippians 1:1 (ESV)

Greeting

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

Romans 1:7 (ESV)

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:2 (ESV)

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

2 Corinthians 1:1 (ESV)

Greeting

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

Galatians 1:1-2 (ESV)

Greeting

Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

We could go on and on.  The point is, who we are with God and each others has everything to do with who we are in Christ.  It has nothing to do with the earthly models of friends, work colleagues, partners, team members, etc.  It has everything to do with our being children of God, together with Him.   The best way to be identified is based upon our relationship with Him.  

Don’t Reject God’s Plan - Luke 19-20

Luke 20:9-18 (ESV)

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone’?

Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

Jesus told this parable in front of the religious leaders, who represented Israel.   The parable makes the point that God established His “vineyard” (Israel - God’s Kingdom and their chosen place in it) and gave it to the “tenants” (the leaders of Israel).   The point of the “vineyard” (Israel) was that it was to produce fruit (glory to God) for the owner (God).   God sends His servants (prophets ... i.e. John the Baptist) to glean from the “vineyard.”  But the “tenants” (the leadership of Israel) rejected those servants (prophets like John the Baptist).  

Then is where the parable takes on a powerful truth Jesus is trying to get all His audience to see.  The owner (God) of the “vineyard” (Israel) sends His own Son (Jesus) to glean from this vineyard.  But the tenants (religious leaders) plot against the Son to kill him so that they can keep the entire vineyard for their own.   Jesus then states that the owner (God) will then take the “vineyard” (Israel’s chosen place in the Kingdom of God) and destroy those “tenants” (Israel and its leaders) and give the “vineyard” (God’s Kingdom) to others (Gentiles).    

What is the response from those who are hearing all this?   

When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 

God is calling them out for their rejection of Jesus, even before they fully reject Him at the cross.   They don’t like this thought.  It can’t be so!  But when you reject Jesus you reject all of God and His Kingdom.   Jesus is the way to the Kingdom.  Accepting Him gives us the vineyard of life.  Rejecting Him gives the Kingdom to others.  

Don’t Seek Vengeance - God Does That For Us - Ezekiel 25-30

Ezekiel 25:1-5 (ESV)

Prophecy Against Ammon

The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them. Say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Because you said, ‘Aha!’ over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile, therefore behold, I am handing you over to the people of the East for a possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings in your midst. They shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk. I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a fold for flocks. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

God is coming against Ammon because of how they treated His people.   Note the following:

Ezekiel 25:8 (ESV)

Prophecy Against Moab and Seir

“Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Moab and Seir said, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,’

Ezekiel 25:12 (ESV)

Prophecy Against Edom

“Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them,

Ezekiel 25:15 (ESV)

Prophecy Against Philistia

“Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity,

Ezekiel 26:1-2 (ESV)

Prophecy Against Tyre

In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,’

God takes vengeance on those who mistreat His people.   We are not to take vengeance.  He will.  

Romans 12:17-19 (ESV)

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Wise Children Make Glad Parents - Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10:1 (ESV)

A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

We all love our kids. We love them when they are cute; we love them when they are funny; we love them when they are not lovable; when they make mistakes; when they mess up; when they disobey. The best measure for us in regard to how we are to respond to our children is in regard to their association and attitude with wisdom. When they have a great relationship with wisdom we are glad but when they have a poor relationship with wisdom we are grieved. We tend, as parents, to rejoice when they do things "athletically" or "academically" or something of that nature. We tend to be grieved when they do something that disobeys us. In this proverb we are told to rejoice in wisdom and to grieve at foolishness. We ought to have God so centered in our lives that our rejoicing over our children is also so centered. Rejoice over your kids but do so because they obey God and have found Wisdom. Grieve over your kids but do so because they have rejected God and Wisdom. A wise son for Christ should bring praise much more than one who measures up to some outward, societal code.  It is quite something to watch parents get excited about their child’s accomplishments.    They are great in school; sports; work; and/or relationships.    But, the ultimate relationship that we want to get excited about, as parents, is a child’s relationship with wisdom.  This relationship will determine how they make decisions.  This relationship will be the most qualifying requirement for their “success” in the future.    When our children have a positive relationship with wisdom should be the thing that gives us the most excitement.  

Obedience Equals Protection - Psalms 81-83

Psalms 81:15 (ESV)

Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him,

and their fate would last forever.

Psalm 81 is about the fact that God’s people don’t always listen to Him and obey His Word.   In almost all of the prayer/song Asaph, the writer, is specially referring to just God’s people.  Note:

Psalms 81:11 (ESV)

“But my people did not listen to my voice;

Israel would not submit to me.

In the above verse, however, Asaph switches to speaking to Israel about Israel’s failure to listen and rather to Israel’s enemies.  Note the context of verse 15 by reading the few before it and the one after it:

Psalms 81:13-16 (ESV)

13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,

that Israel would walk in my ways!

14 I would soon subdue their enemies

and turn my hand against their foes.

15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him,

and their fate would last forever.

16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,

and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Our disobedience toward God removes our protection from and by God.  But as we walk in obedience we can rest in God’s care and the subduing of our enemies.   The next time you see the enemy on the horizon a good question to ask is whether you are walking in step with the Father and obeying His Word!