Sing Praise to the Lord - Psalms 93-95

Psalms 95:1-2 (ESV Strong's)

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Sing Praise to the Lord

God is the rock of our salvation.   As a result we are to come before Him with “thanksgiving” and with “joyful noise” and with “songs of praise!”  It is interesting that the writer speaks so much about the emotion of the believer and the outward manifestations of their faith.   When we acknowledge that God is the “rock of our salvation” that solicits emotions from those who acknowledge that truth.   When we realize that God is the “rock” (or foundation) of our faith, we become very thankful.   When we believe this truth in our minds it will impact our heart and emotions.   Believing that truth will impact our voices.   Believing that truth will impact our appreciation and gratitude.   

Linen Service and Potters - 1 Chronicles 1-4

1 Chronicles 4:21-23 (ESV Strong's)

The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the clans of the house of linen workers at Beth-ashbea; and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and returned to Lehem (now the records are ancient). These were the potters who were inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah. They lived there in the king's service.

Linen Service and Potters

When we read the genealogies listed in these four chapters they are full of famous people.  They are, after all, the descendants of Noah and Abraham.   Some are kings.  Some are warriors.  Some are great prayer warriors.   In the above list, we can see some were engaged in linen making and some in pottery crafting.  In our era these are not appealing occupations to most.   We might call them “fashion design” and “home furnishings.”   These are insignificant roles to most of us.  But, in the era of this day, these would have been key functions.  The making of pottery for cooking and eating and the making of clothes would be in high demand.  Most people, in these times, did not own more than one or two scents of clothes.  Their pottery would have been equally limited.   Therefore no one in these fields would be rich.  But, God found it important to record, not just their names, but also their occupations.   God is interested in given us details that matter.   God wants us to know that, just like the spiritual gifts in the New Testament, there is no one who is not significant to Him.   No one can be counted out in regard to those God loves.   He doesn’t look at our “jobs” like we do.  He sees US, not our jobs.  

God is Full of Grace - Leviticus 25-27

Leviticus 26:40-42 (ESV Strong's)

“But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

God is Full of Grace

To better appreciate the above verses we would have to re-read the entire chapter preceding them.   God has just told the nation of Israel everything that would happen to them if they decided to disobey God and refused to obey His word.  Here is a small glimpse of what that looks like:

1.  He will visit them with diseases (v. 16)

2.  They will sow seed but their enemies will it it ((v 16)

3. They will be struck down before their enemies (v 17)

4. He will discipline them seven-fold for their sin (v 18)

5. The “heavens” will be like an iron and the earth like bronze in regards to growing crops (v 19-20)

6. The discipline will be continuous (v 21)

7. Wild beast shall eat their children (v 22)

8. They will be in perpetual wars (v 23-25)

9. They will be taken captive (v 25)

10. There will be famine (v 26)

11. They will eat the flesh of their children (27-29)

12. Their false worship centers will be destroyed (v 30-32)

These are just a few of the devastation that will fall on the if they disobey God.   YET, God says, if they turn around and turn back to Him, He will once again heal them and their land.   God is a gracious and loving and forgiving God.  Even though they reject God, He still has steadfast love.   God is willing to forgive at any time.   That is grace!!! 

Encouraged by the Doctrine of Justification - 1 Thessalonians 4-5

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (ESV Strong's)

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Encouraged by the Doctrine of Justification

There is NOTHING on this earth by way of possessions or philosophy or ideology that can measure even a thimble of worth compared to the Doctrine of Justification.   Justification is the FACT that Jesus was on the cross in our place and He took on all over our sin, so that we can take on all of His righteousness and, thus, be considered JUSTIFIED before God.  This is all done by God’s grace through faith in that truth.  As a result of JUSTIFICATION, Paul writes:

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

As Paul tells the believers in Thessolonica, we are to “encourage and build one another up” with this truth.   There is nothing more powerful than this truth.  God has justified us and we can use that to encourage other believers.   

That We Might Believe - John 1-2

John 1:6-7 (ESV Strong's)

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

That We Might Believe

John, at the end of his gospel, gives us the reason he wrote the book:

John 20:31 (ESV Strong's)

but these are written so that you may “believe” that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (Emphasis added)

John wrote that we might “believe” in Jesus.   The word “believe” appears in John’s gospel almost 100 times.   One of the best times is when He calls Nathaniel and states the following:

John 1:50-51 (ESV Strong's)

Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Jesus performed the miracles so that the disciples would believe.  Today we read them and are asked to believe.  Today we pray for them to happen and are asked to believe.  Today we see them, but not necessarily physically, but we are asked to believe.    Remember what Jesus said to Thomas:

John 20:29 (ESV Strong's)

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

We believe without seeing.  That is the point of the gospel of John.   

Approaching God As You Are: In Faith - Ezekiel 43-48

Ezekiel 44:15-20 (ESV Strong's)

Rules for Levitical Priests

“But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me. And they shall stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood, declares the Lord God. They shall enter my sanctuary, and they shall approach my table, to minister to me, and they shall keep my charge. When they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall wear linen garments. They shall have nothing of wool on them, while they minister at the gates of the inner court, and within. They shall have linen turbans on their heads, and linen undergarments around their waists. They shall not bind themselves with anything that causes sweat. And when they go out into the outer court to the people, they shall put off the garments in which they have been ministering and lay them in the holy chambers. And they shall put on other garments, lest they transmit holiness to the people with their garments. They shall not shave their heads or let their locks grow long; they shall surely trim the hair of their heads.

Approaching God As You Are: In Faith

The above passage outlines, in the restored Temple, how the priest are to approach God.  Here is the list of what it says. To approach God the priest are to:

1. They must be of the Levitical lineage. 

2. They had to bring specific offerings. 

3. They had to wear linen garments.

4. They could not wear wool garments. 

5. They had to wear a turban on their head.

6. They had to wear linen garments around their waist. 

7. They could not approach God with anything that caused them to sweat. 

8.  They had to store the garments in the Holy Chambers.

9.  They could not shave their heads.

10. They could not let their hair grow. 

This is how you approached God via the Old Testament means.   This morning I prayed in bed, wearing wool, with a shaved head.   The writer of Hebrews says it like this:

Hebrews 10:19-23 (ESV Strong's)

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 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. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

The requirement in the New Testament is faith in Christ.   That is it!!   What a wonderful thought.   God gave us the OT approach as a “shadow” of the things to come: The NT faith in Christ.   

The Folly of Fools vs The Wisdom of The Wise - Proverbs 14-15

Proverbs 14:1 (ESV Strong's)

The wisest of women builds her house,

but folly with her own hands tears it down.

The Folly of Fools

Note how many times in chapters 14 and 15 Solomon directly address the heart, mind and plight of the fool and/or foolish ways:

Proverbs 14:3 (ESV Strong's)

By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,

but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Proverbs 14:6-9 (ESV Strong's)

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,

but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

Leave the presence of a fool,

for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,

but the folly of fools is deceiving.

Fools mock at the guilt offering,

but the upright enjoy acceptance.

Proverbs 14:16-18 (ESV Strong's)

One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,

but a fool is reckless and careless.

A man of quick temper acts foolishly,

and a man of evil devices is hated.

The simple inherit folly,

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Proverbs 14:24 (ESV Strong's)

The crown of the wise is their wealth,

but the folly of fools brings folly.

Proverbs 14:33 (ESV Strong's)

Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding,

but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.

Proverbs 15:2 (ESV Strong's)

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Proverbs 15:5 (ESV Strong's)

A fool despises his father's instruction,

but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

Proverbs 15:7 (ESV Strong's)

The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

not so the hearts of fools.

Proverbs 15:12 (ESV Strong's)

A scoffer does not like to be reproved;

he will not go to the wise.

Proverbs 15:14 (ESV Strong's)

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

Proverbs 15:20-21 (ESV Strong's)

A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,

but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

Solomon says it all.   There is a clear distinction between those who fear God and seek wisdom and those who reject God and seek folly.