Remember God’s Blessing - Micah

Micah 6:3-5 (ESV)

“O my people, what have I done to you?

How have I wearied you? Answer me!

For I brought you up from the land of Egypt

and redeemed you from the house of slavery,

and I sent before you Moses,

Aaron, and Miriam.

O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,

and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,

and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,

that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”

Remembering what God has done for us in the past might be the best way to make wise choices in the present.   In the above passage, toward the end of Micah’s prophecy, the nation is confronted by God directly.    Up to this point the prophecy has been both condemning (what will happen if they don’t repent) and full of hope (if they do repent).    In the above verses God is asking them to judge who He is.  He invites them to judge His character and treatment of them.  He demands an answer from them.  In this proclamation, Micah recalls four blessings from God for them to remember.   He is trying to spark them to repentance and Godly living.   

1.  God redeemed them from Egypt. 

2. God sent them leaders to guide them (Moses, Aaron and Miriam ... the latter despite her rebellion toward Moses)

3. His protect for them when Barack tried to deceive them with mixed marriages and compromising principles.  

4. When He made a way from them to cross the Jordan River from Shittim to Gilgal.  

He is trying to remind them of His goodness.   It is meditating on God’s goodness that can rescue us from our badness.   

Nations Need Righteous People - Proverbs 29:2

Proverbs 29:2 (ESV)

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,

but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

 It seems appropriate, in light of what happens in our world in regard to politics and leadership, that we look deeper into this proverb. As much as "politics" reject the "Religious Right,” this proverbs is actually played out time and time again in many organizations and business entities across our nation. When righteous people rule there is prosperity that last and the members of those organization and business ventures "rejoice." However, when a wicked person is ruling there may be "profit" but it is at the cost of people. Their groans are heard from Wall Street to Main Street. Solomon's words here were written well before our country’s two-party system. There is righteousness and wickedness on both sides of that aisle.  He is not concerned with political affiliations as much as deity relations. He knows that a person who loves God and is ruling to glorify God will produce an environment that people can find many things to rejoice about. I do not believe that every person who claims to be on the religious right is righteous. I don’t believe everyone on the “left” is void of faith.   But, I do believe to be right with God is to be righteous and that will always benefit the followers if that is the leaders creed and governance. It will not matter your party affiliation.   You can be any party you want if you want to lead in righteousness.   

Sing! Psalm 119:73-176

Psalms 119:171-172 (ESV)

My lips will pour forth praise,

for you teach me your statutes.

My tongue will sing of your word,

for all your commandments are right.

Singing, song, and music, have been a staple of human existence.  Historians concept all types of dates in ancient history for songwriting.  The first song we recorded in the Bible is the song of Moses and Israelites leaving Egypt (Ex15).  But even before, then we have this recording in Genesis:

Genesis 4:21 (ESV)

His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.

However, I’ll be reading Job that the “morning stars” (angels) sang at creation:

Job 38:4-7 (ESV)

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding.

Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone,

when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

The content of has many areas of focus.  We can sing to and about our love.  We can sing to and about our friends. We can sing to our lives. 

In the above verses we read that we sing to and about God’s word. That is the source of our praise.  We would not know what to sing about regarding God if it were not for His word.  Singing is our is a main source of our praise to Him.  

Ephesians 5:17-20 (ESV)

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

The Power of Praise and Singing - 2 Chronicles 17-20

 2 Chronicles 20:20-23 (ESV)

And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

“Give thanks to the LORD,

for his steadfast love endures forever.”

And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

This is a marvelous example of the power of praise.  King Jehoshaphat, the king of Judea, was about to be attacked by the men of Amman and Moab.   The king assemblies his army and goes to war.   But rather than arm them with swords, shields and spears, he arms them with song.  He literally expects them to go out and shout praises to God against an army of violent men.   What would he expect to happen?  He expected a great victory and that is what God gave him.  Never, ever, underestimate the power of praise and giving thanksgiving to God.   

Promises of God are Kept by God - Numbers 33-36

Numbers 34:1-5 (ESV)

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan as defined by its borders), your south side shall be from the wilderness of Zin alongside Edom, and your southern border shall run from the end of the Salt Sea on the east. And your border shall turn south of the ascent of Akrabbim, and cross to Zin, and its limit shall be south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it shall go on to Hazar-addar, and pass along to Azmon. And the border shall turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and its limit shall be at the sea.

If you ever wondered why Israel wants to occupy the land they are in, the above statement from God, through Moses, is why.   We can learn a lot from the above set of verses:

1. God has an intentional plan.   God is not haphazard and lays out the plan for His people. 

2.  God has order.  He doesn’t just say something but He has boundaries and boarders for His plan. 

3. God has real promises and keeps them.   It was 470 years earlier that God told Abraham He would give this land to his ancestors.    God keeps His promises. 

4. God has real promises rooted in geography.   This is a key thought for us.  These promises have real, tangible markers.  

5.  God protects His people so that they can experience fulfilled promises.   When we think we can’t make it, God’s promises are still true.   God will do anything and everything to make sure we experience the promises He makes to us. 

6.  God sets boundaries for His people.  This entire section is to outline the boundaries for the people.  They were not given all lands, they were given the lands God designs for them.  God gives us gifts, but not all gifts.  He has a place for us in the Body of Christ.  He sets us where He wants.   

7.  The only thing that might hinder God’s promises to come true in our lives is our own disbelief and disobedience.  Remember, in the above passage, Moses is writing to the children of those lead out of Egypt.   They refused to obey and lost out on the promise land.  Moses himself will lose out.     

God will keep His promises to those who endure to the end in faith.   

Jesus Is Our High Priest - Hebrews 5-7

Hebrews 5:1-4 (ESV)

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

Jesus’s is our High Priest.   He can represent us because He lived here with us, but He can represent us to God because He lived here with us in holiness and perfection.   Note how He represents us in this:

High Priest prayer series:

Hebrews 7:22 (ESV)

22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

MONDAY- Propitiation

Hebrews 2:17 (ESV Strong's)

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

TUESDAY - Confession - High priest of our confession 

Hebrews 3:1 (ESV Strong's)

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) homologia (ὁμολογία, 3671), akin to A, No. 1, denotes “confession, by acknowledgment of the truth,”)

WEDNESDAY - Temptation- Sympathize with our weaknesses

Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV Strong's)

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

THURSDAY - Representation- To act on our behalf

Hebrews 5:1,7 (ESV Strong's)

1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

FRIDAY - Mediation - seated at the right hand of God -

Hebrews 8:1 (ESV Strong's)

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

Hebrews 8:3 (ESV Strong's)

For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV Strong's)

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 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.

SATURDAY - Redemption  - Offered His life

Hebrews 9:11-12 (ESV Strong's)

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

SUNDAY - Sanctification- Suffered outside the camp

Hebrews 13:11-13 (ESV Strong's)

For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

Preaching - Acts 3-4

Acts 3:11 (ESV)

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.

The he in the above text is the man Peter and John healed on their way to prayer at the Temple.    After the man’s healing, the people ran to hear more from Peter and John.   Acts 3-4 is a marvelous example of the early church proclaiming (Greek: kērugma) the Gospel:

There were six core elements of kerugma:

1). The fulfillment of prophecy

2). The ministry, death and burial of Jesus

3). The resurrection 

4). The ascension and exaltation 

5). The presence of the Holy Spirit

6). The call to action (repentance and forgiveness) 

What was the result of this great teaching in these two chapters? 

Acts 4:31-37 (ESV)

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

They Had Everything in Common

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.