Rejoice - God Will Eventually Be THE Judge!! - Psalms 81-83

Psalms 82:8 (ESV Strong's)

Arise, O God, judge the earth;

for you shall inherit all the nations!

Tag: Rejoice - God Will Eventually Be THE Judge!!

Psalm 82 is an interesting Psalm to interpret.   Asaph, the writer of the psalm, is addressing the “gods” in regard to their justice.   The struggle is to interpret who the word “gods” is referring to.  Is he referring to the “judges” of this world ... national, political and/or military leaders?   Or, is Asaph referring to spiritual “judges” that have been set over mankind to judge them ... angels or principalities or powers?   Since the context states that they are to care for the “weak and fatherless,” it might be best understood to think of them as earthly leaders.  They seem to be charged with earthly type crimes and responsibilities:

Psalms 82:2-4 (ESV Strong's)

“How long will you judge unjustly

and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;

maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

Rescue the weak and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

This sounds like the roles and, yet, failures of our national leaders today.  They are giving partiality to the wicked but failing to care for the weak and the needy.   But, we can rejoice!  Because God will be the one who eventually judges the earth.  He will “inherit all the nations!”   He, of course, already owns them, but Asaph is making a point that God will, eventually, take rule and possess them all for Himself when He finally establishes His Kingdom.    When that happens, God will judge the earth and mankind.  That judgement will be full of mercy and grace and justice.   The “gods” of this world have distorted grace and justice.   But, God will, eventually, own the earth and judge it perfectly.    Rejoice in that truth!!!

Tag: Good News Should be Told - 2 Kings 6-10

2 Kings 7:9 (ESV Strong's)

Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king's household.”

Tag:  Good News Should be Told

The setting for the above verse is found in a famine caused by the besieging Syrian army over Israel’s capital, Samaria.   The King of Syria, Ben-hadad, was set upon taking the capital and all of Israel.  The siege was so severe in the city that a four lepers decided that if they were going to die, they might as well go to the Syrian army and hope for mercy.   As they enter the Ben-hadad’s camp, everyone is gone.  The entire army has deserted their camp and left all their food and all their clothing and all their gold and silver.  Here is the initial reaction of the lepers (much like us):

2 Kings 7:8 (ESV Strong's)

And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them.

Selfishness hits all of us, at times.  But, this was not their permanent state, thankfully.  They eventually came to their senses and realized the grace they had been afforded by God to have food, clothing and riches was not to be simply consumed; it was to be shared.   Good news is meant to be repeated.   Good news is not be held as a hidden treasure.    Note Jesus’ words:

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV Strong's)

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

We are to be light to the world.  We have the Good News of the Gospel.  It is meant to be spilled out into the world. These four lepers have the right idea:  Today is a good news day.  If we remain silent that is one us.  If we have the knowledge.  We should go out and proclaim the glorious beauty of the Gospel.   We can’t just enjoy the banquet Christ has set for us while those around us are starving for truth.    

Tag: Strange Laws - Leviticus 13-15

Leviticus 14:54-57 (ESV Strong's)

This is the law for any case of leprous disease: for an itch, for leprous disease in a garment or in a house, and for a swelling or an eruption or a spot, to show when it is unclean and when it is clean. This is the law for leprous disease.

Tag:  Strange Laws

Before reading the above passage, we ought to take note of a New Testament teaching of the Apostle Paul:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV Strong's)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Remember, Paul ONLY had the Old Testament when he started his ministry.   Based upon his writings you can tell he spent much time Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many of the prophets.  But, he must have spend most of his time in Law.  He was, after all, a Pharisee of the Pharisees!!   Paul would have been very familiar with this section on leprous disease.   When we read them we might not find them as edifying as the Psalms.   Yet, Paul tells us that “all” Scripture is profitable for us.   In this section of Leviticus we see the holiness of God on display.   God’s priest, His chosen representative, is to make sure that they nation of Israel is kept pure and clean.   This is a direct reflection upon God.   God is holy.  Those who follow Him are to be holy.  If these diseases go unchecked the nation might be wiped out completely.   God is concerned abut the spiritual AND physical aspects of our lives.  He demands holiness and that includes the physical aspect of our lives.   

Tag: Giving, Gives - But NOT How We Think! - Philippians 3-4

Philippians 4:17 (ESV Strong's)

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

Tag:  Giving Gives - But NOT How We Think!

Paul is closing his letter to the church at Philippi.  He has encouraged them in their faith throughout this letter.   As he finishes the last paragraphs, Paul wants to both thank them for recent financial support for his ministry, as well as future support.  In the above verse he makes it clear to them why he is encouraging to continuing their giving spirit.   He, of course, would benefit from financial support.  He is not, however, being disingenuous by saying, “not that I seek the gift.”   He does seek.  He does need it.   Paul’s ministry, however, we not dependent upon the church at Philippi, or any group of believers.  Paul’s ministry was dependent upon God and God alone, supplying all his needs.    Paul, rather, wants the church to know that the benefit of giving was that they would add “fruit” to their credit.   Note how Jesus said something in the Sermon on the Mount that might have triggered Paul’s philosophy and theology on giving:

Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV Strong's)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Paul was interested in their spiritual development and spiritual growth.   God was wanting them to invest in the ministry of Paul, yes!!  That type of investment (into the ministry of others) will, also, build their own “credit.”    This giving is a “good work” that we were created to do (Ephesians 2:10).   Note what Paul tells the Corinthian believers about their “good works:”

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (ESV Strong's)

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

God wants us to do good works for our spiritual development.  Giving (financially) is one of those acts.   When we give it gives credit to our account ... not to earn grace, but in regard to our act of worship to our Lord.   We have been saved for good works and financial giving is one of those works that adds fruit to our lives.  

Tag: Faith is Required - Luke 17-18

Luke 18:35-43 (ESV Strong's)

As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Tag:   Faith is Required

There are probably few people who would not want a  miracle in their life when asked by God, “What do you want me to do for you?” In the above story a blind man makes an obvious choice when asked: His sight.  What would someone else ask?   A cure for cancer?  A healing of our nation?    A expansion of the Gospel?  Would it be safety for the persecuted church?  Or, would we hear, enriched bank accounts; increased positions in our jobs; or, a great weekend weather pattern?   It might be said that the depth of our cries for a miracle reveal more about our spiritual condition than any other measurement.  Certainly our prayer life says much about our spiritual life.   In the above story the key element in the conversation between Jesus and the blind man was “faith.”    It was Jesus mercy and power that made him whole, but it was his faith that was the conduit for that power.    In the previous chapter of Luke we read a story of Jesus healing ten lepers.    Only one of them come back to thank and praise Jesus.   Jesus asks where are the other nine.   Only the one came back to praise Jesus.  Here is Jesus’ response:

Luke 17:19 (ESV Strong's)

And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

It was Jesus mercy and power that made him well, but Jesus make sure he knew, everyone around him knew and we know (through Luke’s writing) that it is faith that paves the way for Jesus power in our lives.   Faith opens the doors for all that God will provide in Christ Jesus:

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV Strong's)

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Tag: God Purifies with Wrath - Ezekiel 19-24

Ezekiel 22:17-22 (ESV Strong's)

And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them are bronze and tin and iron and lead in the furnace; they are dross of silver. Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As one gathers silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into a furnace, to blow the fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in my anger and in my wrath, and I will put you in and melt you. I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of my wrath, and you shall be melted in the midst of it. As silver is melted in a furnace, so you shall be melted in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the Lord; I have poured out my wrath upon you.”

Tag:  God Purifies with Wrath.  

You can’t help but read the above passage and see the wrath of God.  The “wrath of God” is a real thing.  Just as God is “love” and just as God is “mercy” and “grace,” God is “wrath.”   Knowing that God is love, mercy and grace does wonders for us.  But, do we rejoice in God’s wrath?   In the above passage God is using His wrath to pour out on those who pretend to be His children.  He pours out His wrath to burn off the tin and the dross, so that He can show forth the silver and the gold.   He does this so that we can “know that I am the Lord; I have poured out my wrath upon you.”  Right now we have a time of grace and mercy in the Church.  We are to influence the world around us.   But, there is coming a time when we will see God’s wrath poured out upon mankind like never before (read the book of the Revelation).  We know that there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).  But, the wrath of God is still real and a part of God’s attributes.   Christ came to save us from this wrath.   God uses the wrath, however, to purify and to make Himself known to those who would seek Him.  We need to glorify God for His wrath as much as we glorify God for His love.  The are not to be separate.   We can rejoice that God purifies with His wrath.   

Tag: Folly Calls - Different Results - Proverbs 8-9

Proverbs 9:13-18 (ESV Strong's)

The woman Folly is loud;

she is seductive and knows nothing.

She sits at the door of her house;

she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,

calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way,

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

And to him who lacks sense she says,

“Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

But he does not know that the dead are there,

that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Tag:  Folly Calls As Loud As Wisdom - But with Different Results

The theme of chapters eight and nine of Proverbs is that Wisdom is calling out to all who want to lay hold over her.  Wisdom is personified as a woman who is calling to the simply and naive, asking them to turn into her.  She (wisdom) has laid out her instruction and understanding for all who, by faith, seek her.  But, this section closes with Folly (also personified as a woman ... a harlot) who is calling to all who pass by.    She, too, is making herself available.   Folly however, seeks different results.  Folly wishes to trap us.   Folly’s end is destruction and death.   This fits the New Testament message of Paul who states:

Romans 6:23 (ESV Strong's)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The way of folly is known to all, but her seductive speech brings many a naive into her trap.   That is because she makes sin taste so sweet.   It is not, but she makes it sound sweet.   We have to beware of Folly’s allure.  It starts out sweet and desirable but ends in sadness and death.