God’s Presence Exposes Man’s Disobedience - Genesis 1-3

 Genesis 3:8 (ESV)

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

God’s presence expooses man’s disobedience.   When Adam and Eve sinned, by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, that evil brought shame upon them.  That shame caused them to have a heart’s desire to hide from God.   Sin causes us to break fellowship with God and hide in our own bushes, out of God’s site (what they believe is out of God’s site).   When men sin they like to get away from God’s presence.  Jonah tried to hide from God by jumping on a boat (Jonah 1).  Jacob tried to hide from God by running away to his uncle Laban at the request of his mother, Rebekah (Genesis 28).  David tried to hide from God that he slept with Bathsheba and killed her husband Uriah (2 Samuel 11).  Achan tried to hide from God by burying his stolen treasure under his tent (Joshua 7).  Anna is and Sapphira tried to hide from God what they actually sold their property for and lied about it (Acts 5).  The false teachers in the New Testament tried to hide from God their evil hearts and motives for unjust gain (Jude).   We cannot hide from God:

Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV)

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The ironic aspect of this story is the contrast between where Adam and Eve were in their relationship before their disobedience and where they were after.   Note:

Genesis 2:25 (ESV)

25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

VS 

Genesis 3:7 (ESV)

7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Sin introduces shame into our lives.   Shame separates us from God and we attempt to hide among the bushes of life.   Yet, God still comes to pursue us.  That is the positive side of this story.  Despite disobedience God still pursues us to reconcile us to Him.  

Jesus Came to Save and to Judge - Jude

 Jude 1:5 (ESV)

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

The above verse is not something most believers think about when they think about Jesus.    Even 30-40 years after Jesus death, burial and resurrection Jude thought it necessary to “remind” his readers about the above truth.   We all think and rejoice in Jesus coming to save us.  He came to give His life for us.   But, Jesus is not only going to save those who are redeemed and who have received His free gift, He is also going to judge those who reject Him.    To illustrate the point that Jude is making he uses the picture of the nation of Israel being escorted out of Egypt and the slavery there.   Just as Jesus saves us from the slavery of sin, He saved the nation of the slavery of the Egyptians, who are the Bible picture of the sin nature.  Jesus redeemed them from the Egyptian system.    But, that is not the only task accomplished in the exodus.   Jesus also condemn those who rejected him to death during the exodus lead by Moses.  This is the point that Jude wants to make.  Why?  He is writing to the church and he wants to warn the false teachers of the danger facing them.  He wants to warn believers that those teaching false doctrine will be punished, as those Egyptians who refused to believe in God.   Jesus came to save and condemn.   He saves now and, some day, condemn those who reject Him.   We can preach that “Jesus saves,” but we must also preach that “Jesus is the judge.” 

Revelation 17:14 (ESV)

They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Minister in the Mess - Acts 27-28

 Acts 28:9-10 (ESV)

And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.

God makes ministry out of messes.   If we read the preceding verses we are amazed at what Paul has been through.  He is being held captive under false charges.   He is put on a boat and then another boat and survived an intense storm at sea.   The last boat ran him aground.    He then gets bite by a venomous snack.    He survives, only to be judged by those around him that he must be a murderer.    Finally it turns around and he is given an opportunity to serve.  A man’s father lays on his death bed and Paul is giving opportunity and power from God to heal the man.   Most of us, after this journey, would have given up and believed God had deserted them.   Paul, of course, knows God and believes in His sovereign control.   In the above text we see the results of Paul’s suffering and enduring.   Suddenly he has a full church ministry.    God gives us suffering.   But, during the suffering Paul ministered to those in front of him.  If you read back through the story you see all the things that happened to him.  But, he starts to minister to the leaders of his captors.   He ministers to the sailors of the ships he is in.   He ministers to the people of the land where he lands after a ship wreck.  He did not look for a particular ministry, he looked to minister.  Paul is the best example of the quote that states, “ Bloom where you are planted.”   God’s people would say it this way, “Minister in the mess!” 

The Redemption Story - The Alpha and Omega - Revelation 18-22

 Revelation 22:12-16 (ESV)

12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The above verses are the summary of the entire message of the Bible.   Jesus came to bring blessings for those who will “wash their robs” in His blood and destruction on all those who are immoral and practice all manner of falsehoods.   That is the summary of all 66 books, 31,102 verses, and over 30 different authors.   We can’t ignore that this is the major theme of life, as well.   God has laid out before us His entire plan.   The first two chapters of the Bible and the last two chapters are the beauty of God and His creative power. All the chapters in the middle are about the battle of sin in the lives of man and the sacrifice of God through His Son to defeat sin and establish the kingdom He designed.   It is through His son, Jesus, He created the world (Hebrews 1:3) and it is through Jesus, He will rule the world.   He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.    This is the story God wants told.   He has two side of the story.  One is God’s marvelous provision and blessing through Christ.   One is God’s curse on all those who reject Him.    That is the story of the Bible.  

The Timing of Love - Song of Songs 7-8

 Song of Songs 8:4 (ESV)

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

that you not stir up or awaken love

until it pleases.

As this love Song of Solomon and his bride draws to a close, we have another warning from the couple about the “timing” of love.  This is now the third time the reader has been admonition to not “awaken love until it pleases.”   Here are the other two:

Song of Songs 2:7 (ESV) 

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

by the gazelles or the does of the field,

that you not stir up or awaken love

until it pleases.

Song of Songs 3:5 (ESV)

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

by the gazelles or the does of the field,

that you not stir up or awaken love

until it pleases.

Although there are a few different interpretations of this verse, as stated in earlier postings about it, we know for certain that love is to be treated with respect and awe.    We could conclude that the verse(s) have the following implications:

1. Love (expressed in the marriage bond) is fragile. It is not to be rushed into. 

2. Love (expressed in marriage) is a public demonstration.  This is why these verses are addressed to the “daughters of Jerusalem.”  These “daughters” (bridesmaids?) are in the “know” about something.   That are being warned about this rushing into love and that means whatever is happening is known to others.   

3.  Love (expressed in marriage) has a fuse to it.   This “not stir up” or “awaken love” must means that love like this can be dormant or silent.   There is something about love that has fire to it that must be lit.   

4. Love (expressed in marriage) must have pleasure.  If you don’t stir it up “until it pleases” there must be moment that love is “pleased.”   When love is activated the way it is supposed to be activated, it will bring pleasure.   

5. God gives love as a gift to those whom He will.  This verse can be talking about God’s perfect timing for falling in love or even in the act of making love in a sexual way.   There is a “timing” to the entire process.   There is not to be a rushing into it, no matter the interpretation of the type of love being referred to.   As they say, “timing is everything.”  This would be true in love and love making as well.   It is not to be simply an act of passion.  It is to be an act of intention and control for the purpose it is designed to express.   

The Art of Worship - Psalms 149-150

 Psalms 150

There is no doubt that the book of Psalms is all about praise.  It is, in reality, the song book for a nation who is to sing praises to their King.  This last chapter is a great microcosm of the entire book.  In this little six verse chapter that concludes the 150 chapter book, note how we have a summary of true Biblical worship. 

In verse on the writer tells us WHO to worship: 

v1a - Praise the Lord!

We are to make sure our entire focus is to be on "The Lord."   Too many people worship the band, the place, or the experience of worship and lose focus on the fact that it is the Lord who is to receive all of our praise and focus. 

We are also told WHERE to worship in this chapter:

v. 1b - Praise God in His sanctuary;

Praise Him in His mighty expanse.

Then we are told WHAT  to worship:

v. 2 - Praise Him for His mighty deeds;

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

Our focus on worship are both the character and the acts of God in our lives.  We are to praise Him, not complain to Him, about what He is doing in our lives.  

We are also told in this chapter HOW to praise Him:

v. 3-5

Praise Him with trumpet sound;

Praise Him with harp and lyre. 

Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;

Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. 

Praise Him with loud cymbals;

Praise Him with resounding cymbals.

This implies we are to make some noise for God.  It is a sad fact that we can scream, holler and look like fools when our team scores a touchdown, goal or point, but in worship we must be formal and funeral-like.  These instruments are basically noisy instruments.   The harp and lyre might be soothing and calm, but the trumpet, timbrel, pipes and cymbals are not.  In fact, the writer tells us to use "loud" cymbals.  And, in case we missed it, he goes on to tell us to use "resounding" cymbals.   We are also to get our entire body into worship.   Note that is says with "dancing."   Again, scoring a touchdown might cause us to high five someone we don't even know.   Why can't we stand up and get into our worship with the same vigor knowing it is for the God of the universe who saved us and defeated death and Satan?   

Lastly the chapter tells us WHO should worship.  No one is exempt:

v. 6 - Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

Anything that uses the air God created is to exhale that breath in praise.  We are to inhale God's creation and exhale God's praise.   That is the order.  Breath in God's life and breath out God's praise.   This chapter is an instruction sheet on how to do chapters 1-149.   Praise Him!!!

Bad Guidance - Bad Comfort - Esther 6-10

 Esther 6:12-14 (ESV)

Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”

While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.

The story of Haman and Mordecai is a classic story that any movie script would love to follow.   Haman is so angry at Mordecai he is willing to go to any links to have him destroyed.   Not only Mordecai but all the Jews in the 127 regions of the kingdom of the Medes.  Along with his wife and friends, Haman devised a plan to have the Jews wiped out in a single day and to have Mordecai hanged on the gallows he built in his own back yard.  Why?  Because one day when Haman was coming out of the king’s palace Mordecai did not show him the respect he thought he deserved.  Why?  Because Mordecai feared the Lord and not mankind.  He was not about to worship Haman.   

All this lead to the above scene.  When Haman’s plot is finally discovered by the king, with Esther’s help, Haman runs back to his friends and family to find consolation and advice.   But, the very people he thought would console him, instead, were straight up honest with him.  Instead of being told, “It will all be okay, honey,” his wife (Zeresh) tells him, in essence, “It is all over for you baby!”  Zeresh means gold.  But, Haman must have thought at that time she was more like tin. Note the original advice Zeresh gave Haman during a time he was on top of the world:

Esther 5:14 (ESV)

Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.

His wife and his friends got him into this mess.   But, they had no Godly advice for him to recover.   They only had gloom and doom to offer.  During Job’s hardship (for completely different reasons), his wife was equally depression with her counsel: 

Job 2:9

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”

When we listen to people who give bad advice, don’t expect them to be there for you and guide you out of the dilemma they put you in.  They are as equally bad with comfort as they are with counsel.