The Fall of a Great Leader - 2 Chronicles 10=16

2 Chronicles 15:14-15 (ESV)

They swore an oath to the LORD with a loud voice and with shouting and with trumpets and with horns. And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around.

The book of 2 Chronicles is about the kings of Judah and how their leadership impacted the nation.  Asa, the third king since Rehoboam, a good king at the start, is now leading.  He brought all of Judah together and led them in a great battle over one million Ethiopians, who had 300 chariots.   Because Asa came to God for strength and support, God blessed him.   In the above text we read about the oath Asa lead the nation of Judah to take.   This was a blessed time.  But in his latter years, Asa failed this same test.   When another king came out against him (Baasha King of Israel), instead of turning to God for strength and support, he turned to Syria for help (chapter 16).  The same people he lead to make the above oath, in the end he lead them to break the oath.  Note what Asa is told by a prophet:

2 Chronicles 16:7-9 (ESV)

At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.”

God is watching and noting our inward motivations and commitments to Him.   He knows when we trust Him.  But He also knows when we don’t.   

Keep Your Vows - Numbers 29-32

Numbers 30:6-8 (ESV)

“If she marries a husband, while under her vows or any thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she has bound herself, and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand. But if, on the day that her husband comes to hear of it, he opposes her, then he makes void her vow that was on her, and the thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she bound herself. And the LORD will forgive her.

God takes vows seriously. He also take relationships with a spouse seriously.  In this section of Numbers, Moses gives three scenarios about vows.  One is in the case of a woman still living with her father (vss 3-5); and one is in the case of a woman betrothed or married to her husband (above).

If the daughter or wife makes a vow they are obligated to keep the vow.  If, however, the father or husband hears of the vow and disallows it, the daughter or wife is no longer under the vow.  

Notice what God says about our vows:

Numbers 30:2 (ESV)

If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Psalms 50:14 (ESV)

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,

and perform your vows to the Most High,

Psalms 56:12 (ESV)

I must perform my vows to you, O God;

I will render thank offerings to you.

Psalms 61:8 (ESV)

So will I ever sing praises to your name,

as I perform my vows day after day.

Psalms 65:1 (ESV)

O God of Our Salvation

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

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,

and to you shall vows be performed.

Psalms 116:14 (ESV)

I will pay my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people.

Psalms 116:18 (ESV)

I will pay my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people,

Proverbs 20:25 (ESV)

It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”

and to reflect only after making vows.

Ecclesiastes 5:4 (ESV)

When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.

Deuteronomy 23:21-22 (ESV)

“If you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin.

Keep your vows!!

Jesus Is Sustainable - Hebrews 1-4

Hebrews 1:10-12 (ESV)

And,

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,

and the heavens are the work of your hands;

they will perish, but you remain;

they will all wear out like a garment,

like a robe you will roll them up,

like a garment they will be changed.

But you are the same,

and your years will have no end.”

The writer of Hebrews is writing to the church to teach them that although all else will fail, Jesus remains.   The writer is teaching them that Jesus is superior.  He is even superior to the complete structure of all creation.   The church was starting to fall into mediocrity and false doctrine.   The writer wants them to persevere.   He wants them to see that Jesus is forever while all else fails.   In the above passage we read that the very foundations of the earth are, at one point, going to be rolled up like a piece of carpet and discarded.  But Jesus remains the same.  Before we seek other sources for our satisfaction we ought to consider the sustainability of those resources.    What we see is temporary. Jesus is permanent.  

Where God Calls, He Equips - Acts 1-2

Acts 2:5-13 (ESV)

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Where God calls, He equips.   

Imagine the scene in the above passage.  Over fifteen different groups of peoples are mentioned.   These lowly disciples (fishermen and tax collectors) were not schooled in what God was about to give them as a ministry.   At this point, they had no idea what this would look like and how it would unfold.   The only instruction they had was:

Acts 1:4-5 (ESV)

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

They also had these words from Jesus in the history of His teaching them:

John 14:25-26 (ESV)

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Peter would later write to the church these words:

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Where God calls, He equips.    

Don’t Rejoice Over The Calamity of Others - Obadiah

Obadiah 1:13-14 (ESV)

Do not enter the gate of my people

in the day of their calamity;

do not gloat over his disaster

in the day of his calamity;

do not loot his wealth

in the day of his calamity.

Do not stand at the crossroads

to cut off his fugitives;

do not hand over his survivors

in the day of distress.

It is very easy to gloat and rejoice over the unfortunate situation of our enemy.   When our friends have a hard day, we are there to support.  When our enemy has a hard day, we often rejoice.  That is the story behind Obadiah.   The Edomites (descendants of Esau) rejoiced when Israel fell to the Babylonians.   When Israel was in captivity to them, anyone who escaped was captured by the Edomites and returned to Babylon.  Obadiah is sent to call out that bad behavior.    Solomon said it this way in the book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 24:17-18 (ESV)

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,

and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

lest the LORD see it and be displeased,

and turn away his anger from him.

God does not want us to gloat, rejoice or mock when our enemy has a bad situation.   Edom was supposed to be the brother of Jacob (Israel).  But out of jealousy for God giving Jacob the first-born birth-right.  Edom was upset at God’s selection of Jacob (Israel) over them.   Jealousy is a bad motivation.  

Proverbs 27:4 (ESV)

Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy?

Proverbs 6:34 (ESV)

For jealousy makes a man furious,

and he will not spare when he takes revenge.

James 3:14 (ESV)

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

False Accusations- Proverbs 26-27

Proverbs 26:2 (ESV)

Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

a curse that is causeless does not alight.

Everyone, at one time or another, has been accused of something. We tend to react differently to those accusations. Most defend or attack, others go into a shell and still others self-destruct. In this proverb we are given some vital truth that we would do good to hold onto in the shadow of an accusations. Just like a "sparrow" flits from place to place, or a "swallow" flys eractically, so too a curse "without cause" does not land and stick. What Solomon is telling us is that a false accusations leaves no mark on us. When I lived on a boat, I had little birds every morning land on the rails of the boat. They don't stay long. But they end up leaving  their droppings and then fly away. So, too, a false acquisation. They leave a mess but there is no real damage and a powerful hose eventually cleans things up.

 

Many people will accuse us of many things. But under God's watch and God's care, their accusations are just flittering birds and dartying sparrows. Don't get too caught up in their droppings. Once they are gone, take a shower and move on.  However, if you dwell on it, and you allow it to sit and dry, the accusations will become old and crusty.  That’s what happened on the boat.  If I washed the bird droppings away right away, they left little, if no mark. But, if I didn’t attend to it and brush it off quickly, it crusted and stained the boat. So, too, an accusation.  Brush it off and move on. Or, dwell on it and allow it to leave an everlasting stain.

Believe - Therefore Speak - Psalms 114-116

Psalms 116:10-11 (ESV)

I believed, even when I spoke:

“I am greatly afflicted”;

I said in my alarm,

“All mankind are liars.”

The unknown writer of this prayer/song makes some bold, sweeping statements in these two verses.   One verse speaks of the writer and how he is characterizing his own dedication to God.  The other verse is speaking, again, by the writer, but what his impression is of others.    His own assessment is that despite suffering he is holding on to his faith.  In the midst of his suffering he boldly will continue to speak.   In 2 Corinthians 4:13 Paul quotes this part of the psalm to speak to his own boldness, despite his being question as an apostle.   This is how the writer depicts himself.   He is a bold proclaimer of truth, despite those around him that would cause him ill for speaking that way.   But he pivots to thought he has discovered that “all men are liars.”   He contrast them with his own statement of truth.  He is drawing a distinction about those in faith and those who are not.   It is true that all men lie.  That includes believers.   We don’t know what “lies” he is referring to.  However, perhaps he is speaking about his suffering.  Perhaps he has learned that he can speak bold about God because the persecution he is suffering is all based upon lies from mankind.   The things they might be saying about him are untrue, therefore he is even bolder with the truth.  The truth that is sure here, is that in the midst of persecution and being surrounded by lies, he is bold to speak God’s truth.  That is a lesson we should live.