Ruth 1:19-21
So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”
Tag: Suffering and God
Here is a picture of real suffering. Naomi had left her land with her husband and her two sons. However, she returned to Bethlehem, having all three died. Ruth, her daughter-in-law returned with her. But, she was a broken woman. She wanted to be called "Mara," which means "bitter" in Hebrew. The name "Naomi" in Hebrew means "pleasant." There is the picture of suffering: Pleasent turns into bitter. How did this happen? To whom does Naomi attribute this suffering? She states clearly, "... for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I wen away full, and the Lord has brought be back empty." She actually states, "... the Almighty has brought calamity upon me!" We might, in haste, think, no, "God did not bring calamity on you, Naomi, life did." We might let her know that Satan probably did this, like in the case of Job. Or, we might counsel her that, no, Satan did this. Yet, notes what the prophet Isaiah tells us about God and how He works in this world:
Isaiah 45:7
I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the Lord, who does all these things.
God brings "calamity" into our lives to bring glory to Him!!! We might think that all "calamity" is a result of evil in this world ... and we would be right ... in regard to the source of calamity. But, God uses calamity by removing His grace to accomplish His plans. Instead of being bitter, Naomi needed to come in faith to recognize God created this calamity to accomplish something greater for Himself. In the end of this book. Notice the ending. This is what God is doing with all the calamity He creates:
Ruth 4:14-17
Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Monday, March 6, 2017
Tag: God punishes evil - Genesis 36-39
Genesis 38:7-10
But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death. Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also.
Tag: God punishes Evil
We live in a world where people believe God is either impotent (unable to correct sin in the world) or oblivious (uncaring about sin in the world). The above passage shows God's outrage for sin. Most people would classify the above passage as a classic "Old Testament" story. This is what the "angry God" of the OT does. Yet, we see God, in Acts 5, strike down two people for lying about the gift they gave tot he church. Ananias and Sapphira told the church and Peter that they sold some land for "x" amount of money, but it was a lie. God struck them dead, during a church service. God punishes Evil. We might not always see the punishment (like in the above passage), but God does punish evil. Judah's two sons did something, so evil, that God intervened and killed them. God and evil cannot co-exist. This story may be in the God's Word simply to contrast the story of Joseph that surrounds this chapter. Joseph was in dire straights and God blessed him. Judah was responsible for selling Joseph to the Midianite traders and God caused this hardship to come upon him. He gave his father grief by selling Joseph into slaver. God gave him grief by killing two of his sons. God hates evil and WILL punish it. Old or New Testament.
But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death. Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also.
Tag: God punishes Evil
We live in a world where people believe God is either impotent (unable to correct sin in the world) or oblivious (uncaring about sin in the world). The above passage shows God's outrage for sin. Most people would classify the above passage as a classic "Old Testament" story. This is what the "angry God" of the OT does. Yet, we see God, in Acts 5, strike down two people for lying about the gift they gave tot he church. Ananias and Sapphira told the church and Peter that they sold some land for "x" amount of money, but it was a lie. God struck them dead, during a church service. God punishes Evil. We might not always see the punishment (like in the above passage), but God does punish evil. Judah's two sons did something, so evil, that God intervened and killed them. God and evil cannot co-exist. This story may be in the God's Word simply to contrast the story of Joseph that surrounds this chapter. Joseph was in dire straights and God blessed him. Judah was responsible for selling Joseph to the Midianite traders and God caused this hardship to come upon him. He gave his father grief by selling Joseph into slaver. God gave him grief by killing two of his sons. God hates evil and WILL punish it. Old or New Testament.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Tag: Wisdom of God vs Wisdom of Man - 1 Corinthians 1-2
1 Corinthians 1:21
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
Tag: Wisdom of God vs Wisdom of Man
The Corinthian church was set in the context of Greek wisdom and philosophy. The Greeks loved their wisdom (the word philosophy is two Greek words, Love and Wisdom). In Paul's day there were 40-50 different bents of wisdom. People followed they one they "thought" right. This is what the believers at Corinth brought into the church. They began to follow Paul, Peter, Apollos, etc. They wanted to follow the one who they "thought" best. But, in the above verse, what we see is God never intended man's wisdom to be able to bring someone to Christ. Man can't be saved by human wisdom. Using man's wisdom to lead them to Christ simply will not work. Note how John MacArthur describes this thought:
"Although it is true that men have recognized much that is true about life, a Christian has no need of human philosophy. It is unnecessary and, more often than not, misleading. Where it happens to be right it will agree with Scripture, and is therefore unnecessary. Where it is wrong it will disagree with Scripture, and is therefore misleading. It has nothing necessary or reliable to offer. By nature it is speculation, based on man’s limited and fallible insights and understanding. It is always unreliable and always divisive. “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” (Col. 2:8)." (MacArthur New Testament Commentary Set (33 Vols.)
If we want to lead others to find meaning, truth and value in life it will NOT be through any human wisdom. God did not design man to be lead to Christ via that method. It WILL BE through the simply truths of the Gospel message. As man attempts to elevate his wisdom about life it will only take him farther from Christ and the true meaning of life. We only need Christ.
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
Tag: Wisdom of God vs Wisdom of Man
The Corinthian church was set in the context of Greek wisdom and philosophy. The Greeks loved their wisdom (the word philosophy is two Greek words, Love and Wisdom). In Paul's day there were 40-50 different bents of wisdom. People followed they one they "thought" right. This is what the believers at Corinth brought into the church. They began to follow Paul, Peter, Apollos, etc. They wanted to follow the one who they "thought" best. But, in the above verse, what we see is God never intended man's wisdom to be able to bring someone to Christ. Man can't be saved by human wisdom. Using man's wisdom to lead them to Christ simply will not work. Note how John MacArthur describes this thought:
"Although it is true that men have recognized much that is true about life, a Christian has no need of human philosophy. It is unnecessary and, more often than not, misleading. Where it happens to be right it will agree with Scripture, and is therefore unnecessary. Where it is wrong it will disagree with Scripture, and is therefore misleading. It has nothing necessary or reliable to offer. By nature it is speculation, based on man’s limited and fallible insights and understanding. It is always unreliable and always divisive. “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” (Col. 2:8)." (MacArthur New Testament Commentary Set (33 Vols.)
If we want to lead others to find meaning, truth and value in life it will NOT be through any human wisdom. God did not design man to be lead to Christ via that method. It WILL BE through the simply truths of the Gospel message. As man attempts to elevate his wisdom about life it will only take him farther from Christ and the true meaning of life. We only need Christ.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Tag: Pride - Matthew 23-25
Matthew 23:10-12
Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Tag: Pride
Jesus, in this section of Matthew's gospel, is providing teaching to His disciples and the crowd around Him. In the crowd, no doubt, were Scribes and Pharisees. Jesus begins to excoriate these religious zealots for their hypocrisy and the way they were deceiving the nation of Israel. In this teaching Jesus is blunt and to the point. He calls the religious leaders "white washed tombs" who are white on the outside but full of death inside. However, to start the speech out, Jesus outlines the above principle: Pride is destructive; humility is exalting. The issue with religious leaders was their pride. Their teaching is actually right (Matthew 23:2), but the pride of their life doesn't allow them to obey their own teaching. That is the point of this passage. They (Pharisees) had the Word. But, they didn't internalize the Word. Their ego prevented them from placing themselves in the proper attitude. Their role was to be "instructors" UNDER the Master instructor ... Their Father in Heaven ... The Master Teacher. They were to be "servants." When leadership allows their pride to consume them they will, inevitably, attempt to consume others.
Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Tag: Pride
Jesus, in this section of Matthew's gospel, is providing teaching to His disciples and the crowd around Him. In the crowd, no doubt, were Scribes and Pharisees. Jesus begins to excoriate these religious zealots for their hypocrisy and the way they were deceiving the nation of Israel. In this teaching Jesus is blunt and to the point. He calls the religious leaders "white washed tombs" who are white on the outside but full of death inside. However, to start the speech out, Jesus outlines the above principle: Pride is destructive; humility is exalting. The issue with religious leaders was their pride. Their teaching is actually right (Matthew 23:2), but the pride of their life doesn't allow them to obey their own teaching. That is the point of this passage. They (Pharisees) had the Word. But, they didn't internalize the Word. Their ego prevented them from placing themselves in the proper attitude. Their role was to be "instructors" UNDER the Master instructor ... Their Father in Heaven ... The Master Teacher. They were to be "servants." When leadership allows their pride to consume them they will, inevitably, attempt to consume others.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Tag: God's faithfulness to His People - Isaiah 45-50
Isaiah 49:22-23
Thus says the Lord God:
“Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations,
and raise my signal to the peoples;
and they shall bring your sons in their arms,
and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.
Kings shall be your foster fathers,
and their queens your nursing mothers.
With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you,
and lick the dust of your feet.
Then you will know that I am the Lord;
those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.”
Tag: God's Faithfulness to His People
The book of Isaiah, especially these chapters (45-50) are the prophecy about God using a wicked nation (Babylon) to punish God's people (Israel). Israel had disobeyed God, turned to the idols of the world and, now, had to pay for this behavior. They had rejected the Lord, their God. However, as throughout the entire book and most of prophecy, Isaiah gives hope to the remnant of people who keep faith in God. In the above passage we see the hope for those who still obey and, by faith, walk with God. God must have a remnant, as the Messiah will eventually come form this nation. The take-away from the above verses is found in the last lines: "... those who wait for me shall not be put to shame." This calls for an immense amount of hope and faith. God will supply that. As we read His promises and trust in His character, we know that we can "wait" on Him. It may not look like we envisioned it, at the end, but it will be what God wants and bring glory to Him in the end. Those who "wait" will be able to glorify Him!!
Thus says the Lord God:
“Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations,
and raise my signal to the peoples;
and they shall bring your sons in their arms,
and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.
Kings shall be your foster fathers,
and their queens your nursing mothers.
With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you,
and lick the dust of your feet.
Then you will know that I am the Lord;
those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.”
Tag: God's Faithfulness to His People
The book of Isaiah, especially these chapters (45-50) are the prophecy about God using a wicked nation (Babylon) to punish God's people (Israel). Israel had disobeyed God, turned to the idols of the world and, now, had to pay for this behavior. They had rejected the Lord, their God. However, as throughout the entire book and most of prophecy, Isaiah gives hope to the remnant of people who keep faith in God. In the above passage we see the hope for those who still obey and, by faith, walk with God. God must have a remnant, as the Messiah will eventually come form this nation. The take-away from the above verses is found in the last lines: "... those who wait for me shall not be put to shame." This calls for an immense amount of hope and faith. God will supply that. As we read His promises and trust in His character, we know that we can "wait" on Him. It may not look like we envisioned it, at the end, but it will be what God wants and bring glory to Him in the end. Those who "wait" will be able to glorify Him!!
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Tag: Comforting the hurting - Job 18-19
Job 19:21-22
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has touched me!
Why do you, like God, pursue me?
Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?
Tag: Comforting the weary
At this point in the book of Job, his three friends and Job himself are tangled in a web of argumentation and debate. Job believes the bad that has come upon him is God, but he can't see why. His three friends believe the evil that has come upon him is directly due to his sin. In the above chapter he is directly responding to Bildad, a friend who goes as far as stating that Job is among those who don't even "know God:"
Job 18:21
Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
such is the place of him who knows not God.”
Job simply pleads for mercy. He wishes they would be satisfied with seeing his flesh destroyed and not wish to destroy, further, his spirit. Job simply wants mercy. He wants them to have compassion on him, not judge him. He did not invite them to come to him. They decided to come to him to bring him comfort:
Job 2:11
Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.
However, that did not happen. Instead of the comfort they wanted to give and instead of the mercy he was hoping to receive, judgement came. Imagine the hope in his eyes when his friends showed up, coming a far way to see him. Yet, the kindness in their intent was smothered by the judgement in their hearts. Job only wanted mercy. Mercy is what those who are hurting want.
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has touched me!
Why do you, like God, pursue me?
Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?
Tag: Comforting the weary
At this point in the book of Job, his three friends and Job himself are tangled in a web of argumentation and debate. Job believes the bad that has come upon him is God, but he can't see why. His three friends believe the evil that has come upon him is directly due to his sin. In the above chapter he is directly responding to Bildad, a friend who goes as far as stating that Job is among those who don't even "know God:"
Job 18:21
Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
such is the place of him who knows not God.”
Job simply pleads for mercy. He wishes they would be satisfied with seeing his flesh destroyed and not wish to destroy, further, his spirit. Job simply wants mercy. He wants them to have compassion on him, not judge him. He did not invite them to come to him. They decided to come to him to bring him comfort:
Job 2:11
Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.
However, that did not happen. Instead of the comfort they wanted to give and instead of the mercy he was hoping to receive, judgement came. Imagine the hope in his eyes when his friends showed up, coming a far way to see him. Yet, the kindness in their intent was smothered by the judgement in their hearts. Job only wanted mercy. Mercy is what those who are hurting want.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Tag: Friendship with God - Psalm 24-26
Psalms 25:14-15
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
Tag: Friendship (intimacy) with God
The term "friendship" in the above passage comes from the Hebrew word, "Sod." It means to share intimate counsel with someone. In the context of this verse (using Hebrew parallelism ... one line compliments, contrasts, or expands the other line) "friendship" correlates with the words "he makes known" in the next line. The point of the first is to illuminate to us that God's covenant was not just a document to be obeyed, but it is a relationship to be lived. God brings those, who come to Him by faith, into an intimate relationship with Him via the Covenant. As a result of that relationship with can claim the promise found in the second verse in the above passage: He will pluck my feet out of the net. The covenant was not just to be obeyed, but enjoyed in a relationship with God. The above passage states that God "makes known" to the faithful believer "His covenant." God is active in revealing His nature and His divine plans via the covenant. Obedience to the covenant is a normal response to what God has done for us. Intimacy with God is a natural result of faithful obedience to the covenant. God wants a relationship with us, not just compliance.
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
Tag: Friendship (intimacy) with God
The term "friendship" in the above passage comes from the Hebrew word, "Sod." It means to share intimate counsel with someone. In the context of this verse (using Hebrew parallelism ... one line compliments, contrasts, or expands the other line) "friendship" correlates with the words "he makes known" in the next line. The point of the first is to illuminate to us that God's covenant was not just a document to be obeyed, but it is a relationship to be lived. God brings those, who come to Him by faith, into an intimate relationship with Him via the Covenant. As a result of that relationship with can claim the promise found in the second verse in the above passage: He will pluck my feet out of the net. The covenant was not just to be obeyed, but enjoyed in a relationship with God. The above passage states that God "makes known" to the faithful believer "His covenant." God is active in revealing His nature and His divine plans via the covenant. Obedience to the covenant is a normal response to what God has done for us. Intimacy with God is a natural result of faithful obedience to the covenant. God wants a relationship with us, not just compliance.
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