Exodus 39:21: "They tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband so that the breastpiece would not swing out from the ephod-as the LORD commanded Moses."
The ephod was a sacred object in the life of the Old Testament covenant community. It was made of gold and finely twisted linen and was used as the housing for two onyx stones that had engraved the names of the twelve sons of Israel (six on one stone and six on the other). It was attached to shoulder pieces so that the High Priest could wear it when he went into the presence of the Lord to offer the atonement sacrifice for the sins of the people. Specifically, the priest was to "bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD [Exod 28:12]"; that is, the High Priest symbolically carried the sins of the people before the Lord so that they might be forgiven through the sacrifice of blood upon the altar of God.
The High Priest was also commanded to wear a breastpiece over his heart for the purpose of making decisions for the people of Israel. The breastpiece was an elaborately embroidered piece made like the ephod: "of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen" (Exod. 28:15). It contained 12 stones to represent the twelve tribes . . . the people of the covenant. The breastpiece contained the Urim and Thummin (i.e. stones for discerning God's will for the people) so that the priest, "would always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord" [Exod 28:30].
Instruction was given that the breastpiece and the ephod were to be tied so that one would not swing out from the other. The golden rings of the two were to be tied with blue cord so that they might be fastened close together at all times.
So why would the two be tied together so that the breastpiece would not swing out from the ephod? One could see the practical significance in that the priest would be sacrificing items on the holy altar in the tabernacle and did not need to have a garment swinging out wildly or even touching inappropriately the altar of the LORD.
We can see another symbolic reason for this dictate from the LORD. The ephod was the garment piece that the intermediary would wear to bear the names of the chosen people and in effect represent them and their sins before the LORD. The breastpiece was used to discern the will of God, and it too was presented before the presence of the LORD. These two items were to be uniquely tied together so that the people would know that forgiveness from sin and discernment of God's will were in fact interrelated. Only God is the source of forgiveness of sins; so too He is the one from whom we find the answers to life's questions. God will be found, once one has surrendered to Him as Lord and has received salvation through His atoning sacrifice.
There is a wonderful parallel in the Christian life today. Jesus Christ, our High Priest, is the one through whom we are able to receive the forgiveness of sins. . . and he is the one through whom we ultimately find the answers to life's questions. These two are inseparable; to attempt to separate our decision making from the one who provides forgiveness of sins is to seek direction without the help of God Himself. This is where we get ourselves into significant trouble, because we end up making decisions that gratify self rather than glorify God.
The ephod and the breastpiece were tied together to remind us that the power of forgiveness and the power of discernment are found solely in our faithful High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ! May we never separate the two.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Get Back to Bethel
Genesis 35:1: "Then God said to Jacob, 'Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.'"
In the previous chapter of Genesis (34), there is presented a rather tragic story of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, who was violated by a pagan prince named Shechem. Dinah had gone out into the pagan community to visit with the women of the land and became easy prey for the son of King Hamor. As would be expected, Dinah's brothers were furious at the news. They came running in from the fields when the news was brought to them and were filled with "grief and fury, because Shechem had done such a disgraceful thing" (34:7).
The sons of Jacob then devised a plan to destroy Shechem for this violation against their sister. When the prince asked for Dinah's hand in marriage and was willing to pay whatever bride price the brothers demanded, the brothers acted deceitfully by dictating that the prince and his male subjects had to be circumcised. They pitched this instruction in a way that the people of Shechem would think that the family of Jacob was seeking an alliance with them. Hamor, the king of Shechem, was thrilled at such a prospect, for he had observed the material blessing that Jacob had acquired over the time that he had been in the land. He told his community leaders at the city gate that this alliance would bring opportunity for his kingdom (i.e. to acquire some of this prosperity through a marital alliance). Whereas his son may have had true feelings for Dinah, Hamor saw political and financial opportunity.
While Shechem, Hamor, and all of the males of the pagan nation were recovering from their circumcisions, two of Dinah's brothers (Simeon and Levi) seized the opportunity to attack these men with a sword. They had no intention of giving Dinah to Shechem in marriage; they were looking for the chance to enact vengeance upon the people for the violation of their sister. Thus, they went out and utterly destroyed the pagan community for this detestable violation of their sister.
When Jacob was told of what his sons had done, he denounced their behavior, fearing that they had brought the destruction of his family at the hands of a now angered pagan land. The sons of Jacob returned frustration toward their father, suggesting that he was more concerned about his own reputation and relations with the pagans than he was with defending the honor of his daughter.
It is now that God intervenes by telling Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God . . . " Jacob was quite familiar with Bethel, for it was the place where God previously had revealed his Mighty Power to him when he was fleeing for his life from his angry brother, Esau. By opening the portals of heaven and giving Jacob the opportunity of seeing the angelic beings ascending and descending from heaven, God was communicating to the patriarch that He was in control. The LORD was going to accomplish everything that he desired, to fulfill His divine purposes. God promised at Jacob's first encounter at Bethel that He would protect Jacob wherever he went, and He would provide the blessing of the promised land to him and his descendants after him. Jacob was so overwhelmed at this first Bethel experience, that he cried out, "Surely the Lord is in this place . . . . How awesome is this place!" This was exactly what Jacob needed to press on, despite his circumstances; for he knew that the LORD would be with him and would protect him wherever he went.
Now that Jacob in chapter 34 had lost his focus on the LORD and instead looked upon his circumstances as that which would dictate his fate, the LORD knew that the patriarch needed another revival experience; thus, he called out to Jacob and ordered him back to Bethel. Bethel was about 1000 feet higher in elevation than Shechem, so as Jacob made his way toward the mountaintop, he had chance to look up toward his destination and remember the powerful encounter that he had had previously with the Almighty God. I'm sure that the Holy Spirit was using this opportunity to prepare the heart of Jacob, so that he could be reminded that he needed to place his ultimate faith in the One True Lord, not his circumstances. To be sure, Jacob knew that he needed to prepare his heart and the heart of his family for the divine encounter. He instructed his family to get rid of any pagan idols that they had collected during the time that they had been in the pagan lands; Jacob was wise enough to know that God was not pleased with idolatry in any form and would not bless his family if they sought feigned substitutes over the One True Lord.
When Jacob reached Bethel, he built an altar there to the LORD, and he was reassured in his spirit that God "had been with (him) wherever (he) had gone" (35:3) and would protect him wherever he would go. God was true to His word and put fear in the minds of the pagan peoples around Jacob so that they would not harm Jacob and his family. Jacob called the place of spiritual renewal, El Bethel, which can be translated, "The Strong God of the House of God." Again, Jacob was strengthened in his awareness of God's protective hand upon him. He knew that he did not need to worry about circumstances around him, if only he would be faithful to God alone.
God then put an exclamation point on the experience by reminding Jacob that his new name was Israel. This of course would have brought back to memory Jacob's wrestling with God at Peniel. It was there that God blessed Jacob, but only after he had pursued it with full vigor, weeping and begging for the favor of God (see Hosea 12:4). Jacob would have remembered that God did not quickly grant a blessing to Jacob; Jacob would have to demonstrate that he desired it above all other things. God demanded that Jacob struggle with Him for the divine blessing, so that the patriarch would appreciate its worth. Now, in chapter 35, God is reminding Jacob that He is El-Shaddai. This title of God comes from the Hebrew word for breast . . . thus, God is communicating that He is the One who would provide spiritual nourishment to meet every need. God then reminded Jacob of the covenant blessing that he could be fruitful and be blessed through the power of God.
This episode presents to us a good word of instruction about trusting in the LORD. Many times we permit our circumstances to dictate our understanding of reality. When we are faced with difficult situations, we quickly can become ensnared in the trap that God is not in control. Fear begins to well up within us, and we look to manipulate our circumstances. God then calls us back to our Bethel . . . the place where He presented to us His magnificence . . . . the place where we surrendered to His Lordship and experienced His assurance that He alone is in control and will provide blessing if we would only submit to Him alone.
Have you been in the valley of discouragement? Maybe it is time to return to Bethel again to experience the power and assurance of the LORD.
In the previous chapter of Genesis (34), there is presented a rather tragic story of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, who was violated by a pagan prince named Shechem. Dinah had gone out into the pagan community to visit with the women of the land and became easy prey for the son of King Hamor. As would be expected, Dinah's brothers were furious at the news. They came running in from the fields when the news was brought to them and were filled with "grief and fury, because Shechem had done such a disgraceful thing" (34:7).
The sons of Jacob then devised a plan to destroy Shechem for this violation against their sister. When the prince asked for Dinah's hand in marriage and was willing to pay whatever bride price the brothers demanded, the brothers acted deceitfully by dictating that the prince and his male subjects had to be circumcised. They pitched this instruction in a way that the people of Shechem would think that the family of Jacob was seeking an alliance with them. Hamor, the king of Shechem, was thrilled at such a prospect, for he had observed the material blessing that Jacob had acquired over the time that he had been in the land. He told his community leaders at the city gate that this alliance would bring opportunity for his kingdom (i.e. to acquire some of this prosperity through a marital alliance). Whereas his son may have had true feelings for Dinah, Hamor saw political and financial opportunity.
While Shechem, Hamor, and all of the males of the pagan nation were recovering from their circumcisions, two of Dinah's brothers (Simeon and Levi) seized the opportunity to attack these men with a sword. They had no intention of giving Dinah to Shechem in marriage; they were looking for the chance to enact vengeance upon the people for the violation of their sister. Thus, they went out and utterly destroyed the pagan community for this detestable violation of their sister.
When Jacob was told of what his sons had done, he denounced their behavior, fearing that they had brought the destruction of his family at the hands of a now angered pagan land. The sons of Jacob returned frustration toward their father, suggesting that he was more concerned about his own reputation and relations with the pagans than he was with defending the honor of his daughter.
It is now that God intervenes by telling Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God . . . " Jacob was quite familiar with Bethel, for it was the place where God previously had revealed his Mighty Power to him when he was fleeing for his life from his angry brother, Esau. By opening the portals of heaven and giving Jacob the opportunity of seeing the angelic beings ascending and descending from heaven, God was communicating to the patriarch that He was in control. The LORD was going to accomplish everything that he desired, to fulfill His divine purposes. God promised at Jacob's first encounter at Bethel that He would protect Jacob wherever he went, and He would provide the blessing of the promised land to him and his descendants after him. Jacob was so overwhelmed at this first Bethel experience, that he cried out, "Surely the Lord is in this place . . . . How awesome is this place!" This was exactly what Jacob needed to press on, despite his circumstances; for he knew that the LORD would be with him and would protect him wherever he went.
Now that Jacob in chapter 34 had lost his focus on the LORD and instead looked upon his circumstances as that which would dictate his fate, the LORD knew that the patriarch needed another revival experience; thus, he called out to Jacob and ordered him back to Bethel. Bethel was about 1000 feet higher in elevation than Shechem, so as Jacob made his way toward the mountaintop, he had chance to look up toward his destination and remember the powerful encounter that he had had previously with the Almighty God. I'm sure that the Holy Spirit was using this opportunity to prepare the heart of Jacob, so that he could be reminded that he needed to place his ultimate faith in the One True Lord, not his circumstances. To be sure, Jacob knew that he needed to prepare his heart and the heart of his family for the divine encounter. He instructed his family to get rid of any pagan idols that they had collected during the time that they had been in the pagan lands; Jacob was wise enough to know that God was not pleased with idolatry in any form and would not bless his family if they sought feigned substitutes over the One True Lord.
When Jacob reached Bethel, he built an altar there to the LORD, and he was reassured in his spirit that God "had been with (him) wherever (he) had gone" (35:3) and would protect him wherever he would go. God was true to His word and put fear in the minds of the pagan peoples around Jacob so that they would not harm Jacob and his family. Jacob called the place of spiritual renewal, El Bethel, which can be translated, "The Strong God of the House of God." Again, Jacob was strengthened in his awareness of God's protective hand upon him. He knew that he did not need to worry about circumstances around him, if only he would be faithful to God alone.
God then put an exclamation point on the experience by reminding Jacob that his new name was Israel. This of course would have brought back to memory Jacob's wrestling with God at Peniel. It was there that God blessed Jacob, but only after he had pursued it with full vigor, weeping and begging for the favor of God (see Hosea 12:4). Jacob would have remembered that God did not quickly grant a blessing to Jacob; Jacob would have to demonstrate that he desired it above all other things. God demanded that Jacob struggle with Him for the divine blessing, so that the patriarch would appreciate its worth. Now, in chapter 35, God is reminding Jacob that He is El-Shaddai. This title of God comes from the Hebrew word for breast . . . thus, God is communicating that He is the One who would provide spiritual nourishment to meet every need. God then reminded Jacob of the covenant blessing that he could be fruitful and be blessed through the power of God.
This episode presents to us a good word of instruction about trusting in the LORD. Many times we permit our circumstances to dictate our understanding of reality. When we are faced with difficult situations, we quickly can become ensnared in the trap that God is not in control. Fear begins to well up within us, and we look to manipulate our circumstances. God then calls us back to our Bethel . . . the place where He presented to us His magnificence . . . . the place where we surrendered to His Lordship and experienced His assurance that He alone is in control and will provide blessing if we would only submit to Him alone.
Have you been in the valley of discouragement? Maybe it is time to return to Bethel again to experience the power and assurance of the LORD.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
A Change of Heart
2 Chronicles 33:10-13: "The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God."
Despite being the son of a king who trusted in the LORD and was obedient to Him (2 Kings 18:5), Manasseh "did evil in the eyes of the LORD" (2 Kings 21:2). Manasseh followed the popular trend of worshipping the pagan fertility gods of the Canaanites, and he built altars to these false deities all over his kingdom. Manasseh was quite brazen in his defiance to the Lord and he placed pagan altars in the temple that previously had been dedicated to exclusive worship of the One True God. He also began to practice "sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists" (2 Kings 21:6). When God's prophets attempted to confront his immoral leadership, the king would have none of it. Tradition holds that Manasseh was responsible for the execution of Isaiah, the one who recorded the prophetic book found in the Old Testament.
Manasseh's debauchery reached the highest heights when his pagan worship included sacrificing his own children in an altar fire to the god Molech. All of this behavior provoked the LORD to anger; the LORD responded by calling the true prophets to proclaim that the king of Judah had "done more evil than the (pagan) Amorites who preceded him and had led Judah into sin with his idols" (2 Kings 21:11). Whereas the king should have been the Godly leader who directed his people to follow the One True God exclusively, he succumbed to the popular trend of syncretism. Manasseh should have been directing his people to resist the practice of idolatry; instead, he assimilated the pagan gods into the corporate worship of the Judeans. And with this rebellion came all sorts of licentious, wicked behavior against the LORD.
The LORD attempted to speak to the king and his people, but they would not listen. They were enjoying their "new freedom" and did not want to hear that they ultimately were accountable to God for their actions. The LORD responded by sending the Assyrians to invade the Judean territory; in the invasion, the Assyrians took Manasseh captive and shipped him back to Babylon. It was a rather disgraceful experience for the king. When we was captured, the Assyrians placed a hook in his nose and bound him with bronze shackles to parade him around like a brute beast. The king lost his elevated position in his kingdom; now, he was a humiliated prisoner in a foreign land.
As he lay imprisoned against his will in Babylon, Manasseh came to his spiritual senses, namely that his demise was ultimately the result of his rebellion against the LORD. In his humility, Manasseh cried out to the LORD to regain His favor. God was moved by the spirit of contrition of Manasseh, and He brought deliverance to the king. Through God's intervention, Manasseh was released by his captives and sent back to reign again over the people of Judea.
When Manasseh returned, he sought to correct all the wrongs he had committed. He got rid of the pagan altars and images that were the objects of worship for his people. He restored the altar to the One True God and offered sacrifices to Him alone. Manasseh's deplorable circumstances in captivity brought a change of heart. Years of imprisonment gave him opportunity to reflect upon how he had gotten to such a miserable place in life; still, Manasseh knew that God was a merciful Lord, who abounds in mercy (Psalm 86:15). The king recognized that deliverance would come if he simply would surrender his will to the Sovereign Lord.
We would do well to reflect upon the life of Manasseh as a teaching tool about life. No one who chooses to rebel against the One True Lord will be blessed. God is a God of constancy (James 1:17), and He will not let the rebellious go unpunished. Still, God is ready to receive the penitent heart back into fellowship with Him. No matter what we have done . . . no matter where we may find ourselves, we can know that God is a Lord of healing and restoration. Still, His blessing necessitates our response of allegiance and obedience. We must cast aside all of the "idols" that we worship above Him; we must also renounce any sinful behavior that is inconsistent with His declared will as found in Scripture. We all can have a change of heart . . . I guess the question is, "Are we willing?"
Despite being the son of a king who trusted in the LORD and was obedient to Him (2 Kings 18:5), Manasseh "did evil in the eyes of the LORD" (2 Kings 21:2). Manasseh followed the popular trend of worshipping the pagan fertility gods of the Canaanites, and he built altars to these false deities all over his kingdom. Manasseh was quite brazen in his defiance to the Lord and he placed pagan altars in the temple that previously had been dedicated to exclusive worship of the One True God. He also began to practice "sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists" (2 Kings 21:6). When God's prophets attempted to confront his immoral leadership, the king would have none of it. Tradition holds that Manasseh was responsible for the execution of Isaiah, the one who recorded the prophetic book found in the Old Testament.
Manasseh's debauchery reached the highest heights when his pagan worship included sacrificing his own children in an altar fire to the god Molech. All of this behavior provoked the LORD to anger; the LORD responded by calling the true prophets to proclaim that the king of Judah had "done more evil than the (pagan) Amorites who preceded him and had led Judah into sin with his idols" (2 Kings 21:11). Whereas the king should have been the Godly leader who directed his people to follow the One True God exclusively, he succumbed to the popular trend of syncretism. Manasseh should have been directing his people to resist the practice of idolatry; instead, he assimilated the pagan gods into the corporate worship of the Judeans. And with this rebellion came all sorts of licentious, wicked behavior against the LORD.
The LORD attempted to speak to the king and his people, but they would not listen. They were enjoying their "new freedom" and did not want to hear that they ultimately were accountable to God for their actions. The LORD responded by sending the Assyrians to invade the Judean territory; in the invasion, the Assyrians took Manasseh captive and shipped him back to Babylon. It was a rather disgraceful experience for the king. When we was captured, the Assyrians placed a hook in his nose and bound him with bronze shackles to parade him around like a brute beast. The king lost his elevated position in his kingdom; now, he was a humiliated prisoner in a foreign land.
As he lay imprisoned against his will in Babylon, Manasseh came to his spiritual senses, namely that his demise was ultimately the result of his rebellion against the LORD. In his humility, Manasseh cried out to the LORD to regain His favor. God was moved by the spirit of contrition of Manasseh, and He brought deliverance to the king. Through God's intervention, Manasseh was released by his captives and sent back to reign again over the people of Judea.
When Manasseh returned, he sought to correct all the wrongs he had committed. He got rid of the pagan altars and images that were the objects of worship for his people. He restored the altar to the One True God and offered sacrifices to Him alone. Manasseh's deplorable circumstances in captivity brought a change of heart. Years of imprisonment gave him opportunity to reflect upon how he had gotten to such a miserable place in life; still, Manasseh knew that God was a merciful Lord, who abounds in mercy (Psalm 86:15). The king recognized that deliverance would come if he simply would surrender his will to the Sovereign Lord.
We would do well to reflect upon the life of Manasseh as a teaching tool about life. No one who chooses to rebel against the One True Lord will be blessed. God is a God of constancy (James 1:17), and He will not let the rebellious go unpunished. Still, God is ready to receive the penitent heart back into fellowship with Him. No matter what we have done . . . no matter where we may find ourselves, we can know that God is a Lord of healing and restoration. Still, His blessing necessitates our response of allegiance and obedience. We must cast aside all of the "idols" that we worship above Him; we must also renounce any sinful behavior that is inconsistent with His declared will as found in Scripture. We all can have a change of heart . . . I guess the question is, "Are we willing?"
Friday, March 21, 2008
Be Slow to Speak and Quick to Listen
James 1:19: "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."
This passage in the book of James offers to those who are followers of Jesus Christ a good word of re-direction; for, in our culture, we can see the prevailing yet destructive disposition of man in his attempt to assert his will above others. The popular philosophy of our world is self-fulfillment. It seems as if mankind has succumbed to one continual argument, in which people are attempting to assert their rights and demands over others. Love for truth has been displaced by the desires of self, and those who are entrapped in this vain philosophy manifest their frustration in voluminous, vociferous argumentation. One can see the level of hostility and frustration in people's lives by watching the cable news channels; it seems as if no one is listening . . . just talking angrily in an attempt to assert personal rights.
The Christian is called to demonstrate patience. He is not called to speak too hastily, but be willing to listen as an expression of love to others. He is also called not to become angry too quickly, allowing his emotions to dictate his opinions of things. He is called to be slow to speak and slow to become angry. This suggests that he can in fact become angry at the injustices in the world and the defiance of God's Holy Will. Still, the Christian's response should not be emotive in nature, but driven by love and principle.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be slaves of the true Master. Our rights have been displaced by our surrender to the Will of God. We can rest in the assurance that we don't have to win God's case for Him; He will be victorious irrespective of the caustic demands of the reprobate. Still, Our Lord expects us to communicate His truth in love to a world ensnared in darkness.
As Christians, let's be counter-cultural by practicing restraint. Let's not be too hasty in our verbal assaults against others, but rather be willing to listen in the spirit of the peace of Christ. And when God opens the door of opportunity to share truth in love, we can do so, knowing that the Holy Spirit can take our words and use them to penetrate the hearts of those who are in rebellion against the One True God.
This passage in the book of James offers to those who are followers of Jesus Christ a good word of re-direction; for, in our culture, we can see the prevailing yet destructive disposition of man in his attempt to assert his will above others. The popular philosophy of our world is self-fulfillment. It seems as if mankind has succumbed to one continual argument, in which people are attempting to assert their rights and demands over others. Love for truth has been displaced by the desires of self, and those who are entrapped in this vain philosophy manifest their frustration in voluminous, vociferous argumentation. One can see the level of hostility and frustration in people's lives by watching the cable news channels; it seems as if no one is listening . . . just talking angrily in an attempt to assert personal rights.
The Christian is called to demonstrate patience. He is not called to speak too hastily, but be willing to listen as an expression of love to others. He is also called not to become angry too quickly, allowing his emotions to dictate his opinions of things. He is called to be slow to speak and slow to become angry. This suggests that he can in fact become angry at the injustices in the world and the defiance of God's Holy Will. Still, the Christian's response should not be emotive in nature, but driven by love and principle.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be slaves of the true Master. Our rights have been displaced by our surrender to the Will of God. We can rest in the assurance that we don't have to win God's case for Him; He will be victorious irrespective of the caustic demands of the reprobate. Still, Our Lord expects us to communicate His truth in love to a world ensnared in darkness.
As Christians, let's be counter-cultural by practicing restraint. Let's not be too hasty in our verbal assaults against others, but rather be willing to listen in the spirit of the peace of Christ. And when God opens the door of opportunity to share truth in love, we can do so, knowing that the Holy Spirit can take our words and use them to penetrate the hearts of those who are in rebellion against the One True God.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Response to Painful Circumstances
Psalm 18:20: "The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD. I have not done evil by turning from my God."
Although we are not in control of circumstances that befall us, we are in complete control of how we respond to those circumstances. Painful situations will arise as we journey through this life; still, we must resolve to live lives of obedience to God despite our circumstances. We can be assured that God is honored when we are faithful to Him during the perilous times; in fact, I believe that our responses during the difficult experiences of life reveal who we really are. Talk is cheap. We all are able to say the "righteous" things when the going is good; it's when our lives are heaped in tragedy and turmoil that our responses tell us much about ourselves.
This passage of Scripture cited above was one of great comfort to me during my own separation and divorce years ago. Although I never desired to experience this painful ordeal, I knew that I was not able to change the mind of a departing wife. I also recognized that I was at a crossroad in my life. I knew that I could have become bitter at God for allowing the painful circumstances, or I could have fallen into the arms of God and cried out for His comfort and peace. Thankfully through the help of the Holy Spirit, I chose the latter. I knew that if I would choose to be obedient to My Lord, despite my circumstances, He would be glorified and would bless me for my faithfulness to Him.
Fifteen years later, I truly can see the hand of Divine blessing upon my life for the "cleanness of my hands" during this painful trial. God has introduced to me a new, wonderful wife who loves the Lord and is a blessing to me and my children. God has also opened the door of ministry opportunity for me, that I might be a support to many people who are experiencing the pain of separation and divorce. I never would have imagined that God would have done such a work in my life. Amazingly, God has directed my path in such a way that I've been able to turn tragedy into triumphant ministry.
As you read this devotion, you may be going through a painful ordeal yourself. It may be packaged differently than the one I have just described about myself, but it is no less real and no less painful. The one truth that you can apply to your situation, irrespective of your circumstance, is that God will honor your faithful obedience to Him.
I never have met a person who has chosen to be obedient to the Lord and later regretted it. Don't let your circumstances control you to the point that you become embittered at the Lord and decide not to follow Him. Rather, seek the Lord during your painful trial and let Him bring restoration to you through His mighty, healing power. You may not understand why you are traversing the valley of your painful experience, but you can lean on the everlasting arms of your Loving Lord. You can be honest with Him and tell Him that you need His guidance, love, and peace through your trial . . . . He's a big enough God to handle anything you throw His way. If you seek the Lord while in the midst of your suffering, rest assured that God will work supernaturally to bring renewed joy to your soul . . . . and He will bless you for your faithfulness to Him.
May God richly bless you as you strive to be all that you can be for Our Lord and His glorious Kingdom!
Although we are not in control of circumstances that befall us, we are in complete control of how we respond to those circumstances. Painful situations will arise as we journey through this life; still, we must resolve to live lives of obedience to God despite our circumstances. We can be assured that God is honored when we are faithful to Him during the perilous times; in fact, I believe that our responses during the difficult experiences of life reveal who we really are. Talk is cheap. We all are able to say the "righteous" things when the going is good; it's when our lives are heaped in tragedy and turmoil that our responses tell us much about ourselves.
This passage of Scripture cited above was one of great comfort to me during my own separation and divorce years ago. Although I never desired to experience this painful ordeal, I knew that I was not able to change the mind of a departing wife. I also recognized that I was at a crossroad in my life. I knew that I could have become bitter at God for allowing the painful circumstances, or I could have fallen into the arms of God and cried out for His comfort and peace. Thankfully through the help of the Holy Spirit, I chose the latter. I knew that if I would choose to be obedient to My Lord, despite my circumstances, He would be glorified and would bless me for my faithfulness to Him.
Fifteen years later, I truly can see the hand of Divine blessing upon my life for the "cleanness of my hands" during this painful trial. God has introduced to me a new, wonderful wife who loves the Lord and is a blessing to me and my children. God has also opened the door of ministry opportunity for me, that I might be a support to many people who are experiencing the pain of separation and divorce. I never would have imagined that God would have done such a work in my life. Amazingly, God has directed my path in such a way that I've been able to turn tragedy into triumphant ministry.
As you read this devotion, you may be going through a painful ordeal yourself. It may be packaged differently than the one I have just described about myself, but it is no less real and no less painful. The one truth that you can apply to your situation, irrespective of your circumstance, is that God will honor your faithful obedience to Him.
I never have met a person who has chosen to be obedient to the Lord and later regretted it. Don't let your circumstances control you to the point that you become embittered at the Lord and decide not to follow Him. Rather, seek the Lord during your painful trial and let Him bring restoration to you through His mighty, healing power. You may not understand why you are traversing the valley of your painful experience, but you can lean on the everlasting arms of your Loving Lord. You can be honest with Him and tell Him that you need His guidance, love, and peace through your trial . . . . He's a big enough God to handle anything you throw His way. If you seek the Lord while in the midst of your suffering, rest assured that God will work supernaturally to bring renewed joy to your soul . . . . and He will bless you for your faithfulness to Him.
May God richly bless you as you strive to be all that you can be for Our Lord and His glorious Kingdom!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
God's Ultimate Gift
Luke 1:69-72-75: "[Zechariah prophesied] He (God) has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of His servant David. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering His sacred covenant to Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness forever."
As we celebrate Easter this week, we cannot help but reflect upon the significance of the holiday. Easter is the day in which we remember the blessed resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ from the dead.
When we (i.e. all of humanity) rebelled against the Rightful, Sovereign Rule of the One True God through our sin, we died spiritually. And in our spiritually dead condition, we were unable to satisfy God's requirements for righteousness to obtain His Divine Mercy and Grace. Our hearts were found to be consumed with our own selfish pursuits (Romans 8:5-7; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:10-12,18) and thus we lived a life of waywardness against the Lord (Psalm 58:3).
God could have left us to the consequences of our rebellion, namely to experience His righteous, eternal wrath. Instead, He took the initiatory step of entering the world as Jesus the Christ, in order that He might provide the perfect, unblemished, sacrifice for the sins of the world (Hebrews 9:14). Because Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose triumphantly in the resurrection, we now have the blessed hope of forgiveness of our sins and the opportunity for eternal righteousness if we will respond to His offering of Grace. We simply need to repent of our sins and submit to His Lordship to receive this Great God Gift!
The prophet Zechariah, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, prophesied that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant that was presented by God to Abraham several thousand years before Christ's advent. This covenant stipulated that Abraham's descendants would be blessed by the Lord, protected by the Lord, and given a Promised Land already secured by the Lord (Genesis 12:2-3, 17:8). The Apostle Paul clarifies for us that these descendants referenced in Genesis are those who like Abraham have submitted to the Lord by faith (Romans 9:8; Galatians 3:6-9). Thus, those of us who have surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord are the true descendants of Abraham; we are the ones guaranteed the blessings promised in the covenant.
God declares to His followers that they will be blessed by Him, protected by Him, and given the hope of life in His eternal blessedness (i.e. Heaven). All of these blessings have been secured for us solely through the efficacious work of Christ's sacrifice on the cross and His triumph over sin and death through His resurrection (see Colossians 1:21f; Hebrews 12:2; Psalm 49:7-9,11-15).
In this blessed Divine protection, we are able to serve the Lord without fear. We do not have to be concerned with those persons or things that would attempt to destroy us, for God is our Ultimate Vindicator. He has assured to us eternal protection (John 10:28; Romans 8:38-39), so we are able to accomplish His Will without reservation. He has set us apart as holy and righteous forever; this Divine blessing should free us to be all that we can be for Him. May we be people with a heart of celebration, knowing that we are heirs of God's eternal kingdom.
As we celebrate Easter this week, we cannot help but reflect upon the significance of the holiday. Easter is the day in which we remember the blessed resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ from the dead.
When we (i.e. all of humanity) rebelled against the Rightful, Sovereign Rule of the One True God through our sin, we died spiritually. And in our spiritually dead condition, we were unable to satisfy God's requirements for righteousness to obtain His Divine Mercy and Grace. Our hearts were found to be consumed with our own selfish pursuits (Romans 8:5-7; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:10-12,18) and thus we lived a life of waywardness against the Lord (Psalm 58:3).
God could have left us to the consequences of our rebellion, namely to experience His righteous, eternal wrath. Instead, He took the initiatory step of entering the world as Jesus the Christ, in order that He might provide the perfect, unblemished, sacrifice for the sins of the world (Hebrews 9:14). Because Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose triumphantly in the resurrection, we now have the blessed hope of forgiveness of our sins and the opportunity for eternal righteousness if we will respond to His offering of Grace. We simply need to repent of our sins and submit to His Lordship to receive this Great God Gift!
The prophet Zechariah, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, prophesied that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant that was presented by God to Abraham several thousand years before Christ's advent. This covenant stipulated that Abraham's descendants would be blessed by the Lord, protected by the Lord, and given a Promised Land already secured by the Lord (Genesis 12:2-3, 17:8). The Apostle Paul clarifies for us that these descendants referenced in Genesis are those who like Abraham have submitted to the Lord by faith (Romans 9:8; Galatians 3:6-9). Thus, those of us who have surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord are the true descendants of Abraham; we are the ones guaranteed the blessings promised in the covenant.
God declares to His followers that they will be blessed by Him, protected by Him, and given the hope of life in His eternal blessedness (i.e. Heaven). All of these blessings have been secured for us solely through the efficacious work of Christ's sacrifice on the cross and His triumph over sin and death through His resurrection (see Colossians 1:21f; Hebrews 12:2; Psalm 49:7-9,11-15).
In this blessed Divine protection, we are able to serve the Lord without fear. We do not have to be concerned with those persons or things that would attempt to destroy us, for God is our Ultimate Vindicator. He has assured to us eternal protection (John 10:28; Romans 8:38-39), so we are able to accomplish His Will without reservation. He has set us apart as holy and righteous forever; this Divine blessing should free us to be all that we can be for Him. May we be people with a heart of celebration, knowing that we are heirs of God's eternal kingdom.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Trusting God in Perilous Times
2 Kings 19:16: "Give ear, O LORD, and hear, open your eyes, O LORD, and see . . . "
The setting of this verse is the kingdom of Judah, under the reign of King Hezekiah around 701BC. Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, was known as a king who "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD" (18:3). Unlike his royal predecessors, Hezekiah was a king to "trusted in the LORD . . . there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him" (18:5). Hezekiah was the first king who removed all of the pagan worship sites around the kingdom; he wanted his people to worship the One True God exclusively. Although I'm certain that this decision was not a popular one, it still was the right one in that it removed the temptation of worshipping other gods.
After just a few years of Hezekiah's reign, the Assyrians made a dominant military push into the region. They invaded the northern tribes of Israel and conquered them, sending many of its people into exile. Within a few decades, these same Assyrians moved into the land of Judah to expand their territories. The Assyrian forces were able to capture all of the fortified cities in Judah, causing Hezekiah to contemplate his defense against such a formidable foe.
With the threat of invasion looming on the horizon, the king of Judah implemented strategies in order that his people in Jerusalem could sustain an attack. After consulting his military advisers, Hezekiah built an underground tunnel from the Gihon Spring outside the city to the Pool of Siloam within the city walls to provide his people with an abundant water supply. Hezekiah also reinforced the city walls and made large number of weapons for his people. When all of these attempts seemed ineffective, the king sought a truce with the invading army. Hezekiah offered to Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, the gold and silver from the temple treasuries, and the king of Assyria took full advantage of the situation. He was able to acquire 11 tons of silver and 1 ton of gold from Hezekiah. Still, this tribute was not enough to keep the Assyrians away. As the army reached Jerusalem, they called out to the king of Judah inquiring of whom these helpless Judeans were placing their trust. The Assyrians pompously cried out that no god of any people had yet delivered his people from the mighty Assyrian army, and the Judeans should not expect that their God should help them either. The king of Assyria also wrote letters to Hezekiah, insulting the LORD by questioning His ability to provide protection to His people (2 Chronicles 32:17).
When the word reached Hezekiah, he went straight to the LORD in prayer. He acknowledged that God was the Sovereign Creator and Ruler over all the kingdoms of the earth. Although Hezekiah affirmed that the Assyrians were a mighty nation who could not be defeated by physical force, the king did profess that victory was possible through God.
God honored the petition of Hezekiah and sent the prophet Isaiah to communicate the promise of Divine protection for the descendants of David. Isaiah told the king these words of the Lord: "Listen, I am going to put a spirit in him (the king of Assyria) that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country and I will have him cut down with the sword" (Isaiah 37:7).
God was true to His Word, for that very night the angel of the LORD went out and slew the Assyrian army. When the Judeans awakened the next morning, they saw thousands of dead soldiers outside the city walls. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria was shakened to the point that he withdrew the remainder of his army to Nineveh (his homeland). About twenty years later (681BC) while Sennacherib was worshipping his god, Nisroch, two of his sons assassinated him. The king who once believed himself invincible was struck down by his own family.
This story of God's deliverance should be a word of encouragement to us as we face the overwhelming enemies in our lives. These enemies are packaged differently for each of us, but they are no less painful. And although we may attempt to solve our problems through our own devices; still, we know that ultimate deliverance only comes through our Sovereign Lord. We would do well to follow Hezekiah's leading by taking our concerns to the Lord, trusting in faith that He will deliver us in accordance with His Will. And we can rest in the assurance that God will provide victory for us, no matter how impressive our enemies might be.
The setting of this verse is the kingdom of Judah, under the reign of King Hezekiah around 701BC. Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, was known as a king who "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD" (18:3). Unlike his royal predecessors, Hezekiah was a king to "trusted in the LORD . . . there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him" (18:5). Hezekiah was the first king who removed all of the pagan worship sites around the kingdom; he wanted his people to worship the One True God exclusively. Although I'm certain that this decision was not a popular one, it still was the right one in that it removed the temptation of worshipping other gods.
After just a few years of Hezekiah's reign, the Assyrians made a dominant military push into the region. They invaded the northern tribes of Israel and conquered them, sending many of its people into exile. Within a few decades, these same Assyrians moved into the land of Judah to expand their territories. The Assyrian forces were able to capture all of the fortified cities in Judah, causing Hezekiah to contemplate his defense against such a formidable foe.
With the threat of invasion looming on the horizon, the king of Judah implemented strategies in order that his people in Jerusalem could sustain an attack. After consulting his military advisers, Hezekiah built an underground tunnel from the Gihon Spring outside the city to the Pool of Siloam within the city walls to provide his people with an abundant water supply. Hezekiah also reinforced the city walls and made large number of weapons for his people. When all of these attempts seemed ineffective, the king sought a truce with the invading army. Hezekiah offered to Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, the gold and silver from the temple treasuries, and the king of Assyria took full advantage of the situation. He was able to acquire 11 tons of silver and 1 ton of gold from Hezekiah. Still, this tribute was not enough to keep the Assyrians away. As the army reached Jerusalem, they called out to the king of Judah inquiring of whom these helpless Judeans were placing their trust. The Assyrians pompously cried out that no god of any people had yet delivered his people from the mighty Assyrian army, and the Judeans should not expect that their God should help them either. The king of Assyria also wrote letters to Hezekiah, insulting the LORD by questioning His ability to provide protection to His people (2 Chronicles 32:17).
When the word reached Hezekiah, he went straight to the LORD in prayer. He acknowledged that God was the Sovereign Creator and Ruler over all the kingdoms of the earth. Although Hezekiah affirmed that the Assyrians were a mighty nation who could not be defeated by physical force, the king did profess that victory was possible through God.
God honored the petition of Hezekiah and sent the prophet Isaiah to communicate the promise of Divine protection for the descendants of David. Isaiah told the king these words of the Lord: "Listen, I am going to put a spirit in him (the king of Assyria) that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country and I will have him cut down with the sword" (Isaiah 37:7).
God was true to His Word, for that very night the angel of the LORD went out and slew the Assyrian army. When the Judeans awakened the next morning, they saw thousands of dead soldiers outside the city walls. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria was shakened to the point that he withdrew the remainder of his army to Nineveh (his homeland). About twenty years later (681BC) while Sennacherib was worshipping his god, Nisroch, two of his sons assassinated him. The king who once believed himself invincible was struck down by his own family.
This story of God's deliverance should be a word of encouragement to us as we face the overwhelming enemies in our lives. These enemies are packaged differently for each of us, but they are no less painful. And although we may attempt to solve our problems through our own devices; still, we know that ultimate deliverance only comes through our Sovereign Lord. We would do well to follow Hezekiah's leading by taking our concerns to the Lord, trusting in faith that He will deliver us in accordance with His Will. And we can rest in the assurance that God will provide victory for us, no matter how impressive our enemies might be.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Want to Be Great in the Eyes of God?
Matthew 20:27: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave."
This verse presents to us the ultimate paradox in life, namely that the way to greatness is through submission to others (i.e. to be a servant). This practice runs counter to the prevailing philosophy of our world. Our culture is telling us that we should pursue our own desires, no matter how others are affected. Under the guise of "healthy competition," we see people brazenly trying to get all that they can for themselves, even if others are unfairly harmed in the selfish pursuit. So many today seem to be asserting their own "rights" and entitlements; and when these rights are not met, these people are seeking every means possible to remedy the situation. Our courts are filled with disgruntled people who insist that their rights are not being met.
Today, neighbor has risen up against neighbor to gain a personal advantage over him. Little interest is given to the ministry of service to others; it seems to be all about one's own quest for personal fulfillment and actualization. We even have reality television shows that promote the idol within us.
Christ's words are counter-cultural in that He says that the way to greatness is to become a minister of blessing to others. To renounce the popular notion of self-fulfillment in favor of placing the needs of others before one's self is greatness in the eyes of the One True God.
For those of us who have surrendered to the Lordship of Christ, we have the ultimate model of submission in Jesus Himself. Although He was surrounded by the myriad of heavenly hosts, worshipping Him around His heavenly throne, Jesus left that place to come to the earth. He suffered rejection and persecution at the hands of his creation (i.e. humanity) in order that He might offer to them the hope of salvation through His death and resurrection. This is love at its greatest (John 15:13). This is Greatness at its very best!
God is calling us to turn from the vain philosophy of self-actualization that this world purports and take up the cause of love by seeking the needs of others before ourselves. If we respond to this call by our Lord, we can be assured that God sees this as greatness.
This verse presents to us the ultimate paradox in life, namely that the way to greatness is through submission to others (i.e. to be a servant). This practice runs counter to the prevailing philosophy of our world. Our culture is telling us that we should pursue our own desires, no matter how others are affected. Under the guise of "healthy competition," we see people brazenly trying to get all that they can for themselves, even if others are unfairly harmed in the selfish pursuit. So many today seem to be asserting their own "rights" and entitlements; and when these rights are not met, these people are seeking every means possible to remedy the situation. Our courts are filled with disgruntled people who insist that their rights are not being met.
Today, neighbor has risen up against neighbor to gain a personal advantage over him. Little interest is given to the ministry of service to others; it seems to be all about one's own quest for personal fulfillment and actualization. We even have reality television shows that promote the idol within us.
Christ's words are counter-cultural in that He says that the way to greatness is to become a minister of blessing to others. To renounce the popular notion of self-fulfillment in favor of placing the needs of others before one's self is greatness in the eyes of the One True God.
For those of us who have surrendered to the Lordship of Christ, we have the ultimate model of submission in Jesus Himself. Although He was surrounded by the myriad of heavenly hosts, worshipping Him around His heavenly throne, Jesus left that place to come to the earth. He suffered rejection and persecution at the hands of his creation (i.e. humanity) in order that He might offer to them the hope of salvation through His death and resurrection. This is love at its greatest (John 15:13). This is Greatness at its very best!
God is calling us to turn from the vain philosophy of self-actualization that this world purports and take up the cause of love by seeking the needs of others before ourselves. If we respond to this call by our Lord, we can be assured that God sees this as greatness.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
What Brought the Downfall of the Northern Tribes?
2 Kings 17:7: "All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God."
In 2 Kings, the story is told of the bitter end of the northern tribes of Israel. Hoshea was the last king who ruled on the throne of the northern tribes before the Assyrian invasion of the promised land. He had been paying tribute to the Assyrians to keep them from destroying his kingdom; however, Hoshea attempted to break from the control of the Assyrians by allying with the Egyptians. This decision proved to be fatal for the kingdom. When Shalmaneser (reign 725-722 BC) discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, he sent his army to lay siege to Samaria. For three years, the Assyrians sacked the capitol of the northern kingdom, bringing its utter destruction. Many of the inhabitants of the land were deported with the king, and the northern kingdom would cease to exist.
What I find interesting is that Scripture gives reasons for the demise of the northern kingdom, and this explanation is found immediately following the historical account of the Assyrian invasion. Here are the reasons:
1. The Israelites sinned against the LORD their God (vs 7)
2. They worshiped other gods (vs 7)
3. They followed the practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before them (vs 8)
4. They followed the practices of other nations that the kings of Israel had observed and brought back to the people (vs. 8)
5. They practiced detestable things in secret (vs 9)
6. They practiced detestable things out in the open on high places (vs 9)
7. They set up pagan icons and altars everywhere (vs 10)
8. They honored and worshiped the pagan deities by burning incense to them (vs 11)
9. They would not listen to the prophets sent by God to warn them (vs 14)
10. They did not trust in the LORD their God (vs 14)
11. They rejected the LORD's decrees and covenant (vs 15)
12. They sacrificed their children in the fire to honor the pagan deities (vs 17)
13. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil (vs 17)
It is a rather exhaustive list isn't it? God had given plenty of opportunities for the Israelites to repent, but they would not listen. Prophets like Hosea were summoned by the LORD to go to the northern tribes and preach judgment upon the people if they would not return to the LORD. Tragically, there was no positive response.
We would do well to learn from the northern tribes, that sin will never go unpunished. What is revealed in the story above is that the root problem of the Israelites was a quest for lordship over the One True Lord. There was no desire to surrender because there was no desire for the LORD. There was only a desire for self . . . the foundational cause of all sin.
In 2 Kings, the story is told of the bitter end of the northern tribes of Israel. Hoshea was the last king who ruled on the throne of the northern tribes before the Assyrian invasion of the promised land. He had been paying tribute to the Assyrians to keep them from destroying his kingdom; however, Hoshea attempted to break from the control of the Assyrians by allying with the Egyptians. This decision proved to be fatal for the kingdom. When Shalmaneser (reign 725-722 BC) discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, he sent his army to lay siege to Samaria. For three years, the Assyrians sacked the capitol of the northern kingdom, bringing its utter destruction. Many of the inhabitants of the land were deported with the king, and the northern kingdom would cease to exist.
What I find interesting is that Scripture gives reasons for the demise of the northern kingdom, and this explanation is found immediately following the historical account of the Assyrian invasion. Here are the reasons:
1. The Israelites sinned against the LORD their God (vs 7)
2. They worshiped other gods (vs 7)
3. They followed the practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before them (vs 8)
4. They followed the practices of other nations that the kings of Israel had observed and brought back to the people (vs. 8)
5. They practiced detestable things in secret (vs 9)
6. They practiced detestable things out in the open on high places (vs 9)
7. They set up pagan icons and altars everywhere (vs 10)
8. They honored and worshiped the pagan deities by burning incense to them (vs 11)
9. They would not listen to the prophets sent by God to warn them (vs 14)
10. They did not trust in the LORD their God (vs 14)
11. They rejected the LORD's decrees and covenant (vs 15)
12. They sacrificed their children in the fire to honor the pagan deities (vs 17)
13. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil (vs 17)
It is a rather exhaustive list isn't it? God had given plenty of opportunities for the Israelites to repent, but they would not listen. Prophets like Hosea were summoned by the LORD to go to the northern tribes and preach judgment upon the people if they would not return to the LORD. Tragically, there was no positive response.
We would do well to learn from the northern tribes, that sin will never go unpunished. What is revealed in the story above is that the root problem of the Israelites was a quest for lordship over the One True Lord. There was no desire to surrender because there was no desire for the LORD. There was only a desire for self . . . the foundational cause of all sin.
Friday, March 14, 2008
What is True Salvation?
Exodus 9:27,30,34: "Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. 'This time I have sinned,' he said to them. 'The LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. Pray to the LORD . . . ' (Moses said) 'But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the LORD God.' . . . . When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts . . . He would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses."
Here is a great example of a supposed penitent heart that (1) acknowledged that he had sinned and (2) confirmed that the LORD was right and (3) asked that Moses pray for him. Still what was lacking was a heart that was willing to submit to the LORDship of God.
The story involves the struggle between God's covenant people and the rule of the Pharaoh of Egypt. After years of slavery, the time had come for the Israelites to leave the bondage of the Pharaoh and make their way to God's promised land. Of course, Pharaoh and the Egyptians did not want to let the Hebrew slaves go; they profited greatly from the bondage of the Israelites. God had sent Moses and his brother Aaron before the leader of the Egyptians to tell him to let the Hebrews go, but the Pharaoh would not listen. God sent a number of plagues as punishment for the Pharaoh's rebellion; still, the Pharaoh would not repent. In response, God continued to send plagues of greater severity to the land of Egypt. In Exodus 9, he sent the plague of hail, which "struck everything in the fields-both men and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree" (9:25). For the first time, the Pharaoh admitted that he had sinned. He summoned Moses and Aaron and told them that the LORD was right and that he and his people (the Egyptians) were wrong. The Pharaoh asked that Moses and Aaron pray for him and his people so that the wrath of the LORD would be diverted, and he promised that he would let the Hebrews go in return.
Moses left the presence of the Pharaoh and spread his hands toward the LORD, asking for a reprieve of the plague that had been sent by God. God answered Moses and stopped the severe hailstorm that had left the land of Egypt a wasteland. It seems that all would be well as the Pharaoh would now keep his promise. Yet, when the tide of God's judgment turned, Pharaoh revealed his true heart . . . one that again desired to challenge the Lordship of God. The passage says that Pharaoh and his officials "hardened their hearts" (9:34). The Hebrew word for harden is the word "hiphil" which suggests that the Pharaoh "steeled his mind." When we think of steel, we are reminded of a non-pliable substance that is not willing to be bended into something other than what it already is. Pharaoh represents this rigid, hardened object in that he was unwilling to change his quest for ultimate lordship. To be sure, the Pharaoh put on a good show of sorrow when the plagues were devastating his people, but the Pharaoh never intended to surrender himself to the will of God. He ultimately wanted to be the lord of everything, and he was willing to challenge the rightful place of the One True God.
When man is obstinate, God's challenge against man's quest of lordship brings a hardening of the rebellious heart. Still, God will rightfully assert His Sovereignty as Lord of all.
We have only one of two options: surrender to His God's Divine Lordship or attempt to overthrow His Right to Reign. The latter will bring destruction to all who seek its path.
Here is a great example of a supposed penitent heart that (1) acknowledged that he had sinned and (2) confirmed that the LORD was right and (3) asked that Moses pray for him. Still what was lacking was a heart that was willing to submit to the LORDship of God.
The story involves the struggle between God's covenant people and the rule of the Pharaoh of Egypt. After years of slavery, the time had come for the Israelites to leave the bondage of the Pharaoh and make their way to God's promised land. Of course, Pharaoh and the Egyptians did not want to let the Hebrew slaves go; they profited greatly from the bondage of the Israelites. God had sent Moses and his brother Aaron before the leader of the Egyptians to tell him to let the Hebrews go, but the Pharaoh would not listen. God sent a number of plagues as punishment for the Pharaoh's rebellion; still, the Pharaoh would not repent. In response, God continued to send plagues of greater severity to the land of Egypt. In Exodus 9, he sent the plague of hail, which "struck everything in the fields-both men and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree" (9:25). For the first time, the Pharaoh admitted that he had sinned. He summoned Moses and Aaron and told them that the LORD was right and that he and his people (the Egyptians) were wrong. The Pharaoh asked that Moses and Aaron pray for him and his people so that the wrath of the LORD would be diverted, and he promised that he would let the Hebrews go in return.
Moses left the presence of the Pharaoh and spread his hands toward the LORD, asking for a reprieve of the plague that had been sent by God. God answered Moses and stopped the severe hailstorm that had left the land of Egypt a wasteland. It seems that all would be well as the Pharaoh would now keep his promise. Yet, when the tide of God's judgment turned, Pharaoh revealed his true heart . . . one that again desired to challenge the Lordship of God. The passage says that Pharaoh and his officials "hardened their hearts" (9:34). The Hebrew word for harden is the word "hiphil" which suggests that the Pharaoh "steeled his mind." When we think of steel, we are reminded of a non-pliable substance that is not willing to be bended into something other than what it already is. Pharaoh represents this rigid, hardened object in that he was unwilling to change his quest for ultimate lordship. To be sure, the Pharaoh put on a good show of sorrow when the plagues were devastating his people, but the Pharaoh never intended to surrender himself to the will of God. He ultimately wanted to be the lord of everything, and he was willing to challenge the rightful place of the One True God.
When man is obstinate, God's challenge against man's quest of lordship brings a hardening of the rebellious heart. Still, God will rightfully assert His Sovereignty as Lord of all.
We have only one of two options: surrender to His God's Divine Lordship or attempt to overthrow His Right to Reign. The latter will bring destruction to all who seek its path.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Forsaking the Assurance of God
Isaiah 7:2-4,10-12: "Now the house of David was told, 'Aram has allied itself with Ephraim'; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind. Then the LORD said to Isaiah, 'God out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz on the road to the Washerman's Field. Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid' . . . . Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 'Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.' But Ahaz said, 'I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.'"
When one first reads this account of the reign of Ahaz, one may think, "This is a noble response of the king. He did not want to trouble or test the LORD in this situation." Yet as we read the fuller story of Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28; 2 Kings 16), we find that he is not nearly as noble as one may first think.
Ahaz is described as a man who "did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD" (2 Kings 16:2). Ahaz was quite brazen in his idolatry . . . "offering sacrifices and burning incense on hilltops" for all to see (2 Chronicles 28:4). So wicked was this man that he participated in the most debased rituals that the neighboring pagans celebrated. He, for example, sacrificed one of his sons to the god, Molech, in the valley of Ben Hinnom as a way of paying tribute and seeking direction from the false god.
As Ahaz served as king of Judah, Rezin (the king of Aram) and Pekah (the king of Israel) made a political alliance to counter the increasing dominance of the Assyrians in the region. Once this pact was made, the two kings decided to broaden their territorial influence by invading the region of Judah.
Ahaz and the people were shaken as the trees in the wind (Isaiah 7) at the thought of this invasion. And despite Ahaz's wickedness, God was still willing to provide protection to his kingdom. Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God told the king to "Be calm. Don't be afraid." If only Ahaz would put his faith and obedience in the One True God, God in turn would bring deliverance from his enemies. God even initiated the challenge to Ahaz to ask for a sign "from the deepest depths to the highest heights" to prove that God was committed to providing protection to the people of Judah. Ahaz, however, would have nothing to do with God. In a spirit of rebellion, the king would not recognize God, even though the king was faced with a most perilous fate.
As a result, God "handed over Ahaz to the king of Aram and Israel" (2 Chronicles 28:5). The invaders inflicted heavy casualties upon the Judeans. Pekah, the king of Israel killed 120,000 soldiers of Judah and took as many as 200,000 women and children captive. They also plundered the treasuries of the Judeans, taking the riches back to their respective homelands. Once the Arameans and Israelites had weakened the defenses of the Judeans, the neighboring tribes of the Edomites and Philistines took advantage of the opportunity and invaded the lands of Judah, taking their share of territory and wealth.
Still, Ahaz would not seek the Lord; he sought refuge in the king of Assyria, Tiglath-Pilesar. The king of Assyria came to his aid, but only at the cost of the temple and palace treasures that had been saved during the previous invasions. The king of Assyria was more of a trouble than a help to Ahaz, for he sought the opportunity to exploit the vulnerable king of Judah in his time of need.
With all that Ahaz had now experienced, one would think that he would have seen the error of his way and sought the Lord. Sadly, in his time of trouble, "King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD" (2 Chronicles 28:22). He thought that he would worship the gods of the victorious invaders from Damascus, for Ahaz's enemies had been so successful against the Judeans. Ahaz ended up dismantling the Temple of the Lord in deference to the king of Assyria and the pagan altars that had been set up around the land. This behavior would provoke the Lord to anger against the people of Judah. The land was a complete mess, and it would not be long before God's demonstrative judgment would befall the Judeans through the Babylonian invasion.
Ahaz's story is one of sheer rebellion against the Lord. God gave the king so many opportunities to put his faith in Him, but the king refused. The king first did not want to yield himself to the One True God; for this reason, he decided to rescue himself from his perilous situation. Of course, this plan of action brought utter ruin to the land. Thousands of people were killed or captured as a result of the king's lack of submission to the LORD. When Ahaz died, the kingdom was merely a shell of what it once was in its glorious splendor.
We would do well to see that when the enemies of our lives (be it a medical condition, a financial tragedy, a relational crisis, an occupational disappointment, etc.) invade us, we have one of two responses. We can trust in the Lord and surrender to him in obedience or we can try to remedy our problems ourselves. God will bring victory for us through the accomplishing of His Will, if we will trust in Him and follow His commands. If we seek our own path, we will find a similar path of destruction that Ahaz himself experienced.
When one first reads this account of the reign of Ahaz, one may think, "This is a noble response of the king. He did not want to trouble or test the LORD in this situation." Yet as we read the fuller story of Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28; 2 Kings 16), we find that he is not nearly as noble as one may first think.
Ahaz is described as a man who "did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD" (2 Kings 16:2). Ahaz was quite brazen in his idolatry . . . "offering sacrifices and burning incense on hilltops" for all to see (2 Chronicles 28:4). So wicked was this man that he participated in the most debased rituals that the neighboring pagans celebrated. He, for example, sacrificed one of his sons to the god, Molech, in the valley of Ben Hinnom as a way of paying tribute and seeking direction from the false god.
As Ahaz served as king of Judah, Rezin (the king of Aram) and Pekah (the king of Israel) made a political alliance to counter the increasing dominance of the Assyrians in the region. Once this pact was made, the two kings decided to broaden their territorial influence by invading the region of Judah.
Ahaz and the people were shaken as the trees in the wind (Isaiah 7) at the thought of this invasion. And despite Ahaz's wickedness, God was still willing to provide protection to his kingdom. Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God told the king to "Be calm. Don't be afraid." If only Ahaz would put his faith and obedience in the One True God, God in turn would bring deliverance from his enemies. God even initiated the challenge to Ahaz to ask for a sign "from the deepest depths to the highest heights" to prove that God was committed to providing protection to the people of Judah. Ahaz, however, would have nothing to do with God. In a spirit of rebellion, the king would not recognize God, even though the king was faced with a most perilous fate.
As a result, God "handed over Ahaz to the king of Aram and Israel" (2 Chronicles 28:5). The invaders inflicted heavy casualties upon the Judeans. Pekah, the king of Israel killed 120,000 soldiers of Judah and took as many as 200,000 women and children captive. They also plundered the treasuries of the Judeans, taking the riches back to their respective homelands. Once the Arameans and Israelites had weakened the defenses of the Judeans, the neighboring tribes of the Edomites and Philistines took advantage of the opportunity and invaded the lands of Judah, taking their share of territory and wealth.
Still, Ahaz would not seek the Lord; he sought refuge in the king of Assyria, Tiglath-Pilesar. The king of Assyria came to his aid, but only at the cost of the temple and palace treasures that had been saved during the previous invasions. The king of Assyria was more of a trouble than a help to Ahaz, for he sought the opportunity to exploit the vulnerable king of Judah in his time of need.
With all that Ahaz had now experienced, one would think that he would have seen the error of his way and sought the Lord. Sadly, in his time of trouble, "King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD" (2 Chronicles 28:22). He thought that he would worship the gods of the victorious invaders from Damascus, for Ahaz's enemies had been so successful against the Judeans. Ahaz ended up dismantling the Temple of the Lord in deference to the king of Assyria and the pagan altars that had been set up around the land. This behavior would provoke the Lord to anger against the people of Judah. The land was a complete mess, and it would not be long before God's demonstrative judgment would befall the Judeans through the Babylonian invasion.
Ahaz's story is one of sheer rebellion against the Lord. God gave the king so many opportunities to put his faith in Him, but the king refused. The king first did not want to yield himself to the One True God; for this reason, he decided to rescue himself from his perilous situation. Of course, this plan of action brought utter ruin to the land. Thousands of people were killed or captured as a result of the king's lack of submission to the LORD. When Ahaz died, the kingdom was merely a shell of what it once was in its glorious splendor.
We would do well to see that when the enemies of our lives (be it a medical condition, a financial tragedy, a relational crisis, an occupational disappointment, etc.) invade us, we have one of two responses. We can trust in the Lord and surrender to him in obedience or we can try to remedy our problems ourselves. God will bring victory for us through the accomplishing of His Will, if we will trust in Him and follow His commands. If we seek our own path, we will find a similar path of destruction that Ahaz himself experienced.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
What's the Root Problem In Our World Today?
Genesis 3:4: "'You will not surely die,' the serpent said to the woman. 'For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."
Want to know the foundational problem of our world today? It all started at the beginning of time with the first people who walked this earth. God created the first couple, Adam and Eve, as the pinnacle of His creation and charged them with the responsibility of ruling over the rest of creation (Genesis 1:28). Yet instead of yielding to the Lord as their Master, Adam and Eve seized the opportunity to "dethrone" God for their own supremacy. God had instructed Adam that he was permitted to eat of any tree in the Garden of Eden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The consequence of eating of the one forbidden fruit was physical and spiritual death (Genesis 2:17).
As Eve later walked through the garden, she was approached by the crafty serpent, Satan. This serpent was able to convince Eve that God did not want Adam and her to partake of the forbidden fruit, for it would make them like God, knowing good and evil.
As Eve and Adam gazed upon the fruit, they noticed that the fruit was pleasing to the eye and would provide them with the wisdom that would assert their quest for divinity. They were willing to defy the command of the Lord for their own pursuit of lordship; they did not care that their cravings for power and inappropriate physical gratification were counter to God's prescription for their lives. Tragically, their rebellion would bring God's judgment of pain, toilsome labor on the earth, eventual physical death, and spiritual separation from the Lord. Although they thought that their disobedience would elevate them to godhood, in reality it led them to a far worse place than they had ever been before.
In today's society, we see the fruit of this abject rebellion: adultery, fornication, lust, pride, control, power, abuses, addictions, etc. People today do not care that God expects submission to His Lordship; they want to live their own lives and satisfy their own cravings and don't give a flip as to what God demands. Their own wants take priority over all people and things; it's all about their quest to be God themselves. They do not realize that God is the Sovereign Lord who created all of creation and is due complete allegiance and submission.
Until mankind understands that its self-centered quest for lordship is rebellion against the One, Holy, Sovereign God, it will continue to spiral down the path of destruction. What is needed is a world surrendered to the Lord of Hosts and following His commands as indicated in Scripture. When we submit to God, we find that His purposes are accomplished through us; if all of humanity were to surrender, our world would be changed radically for the better.
Want to know the foundational problem of our world today? It all started at the beginning of time with the first people who walked this earth. God created the first couple, Adam and Eve, as the pinnacle of His creation and charged them with the responsibility of ruling over the rest of creation (Genesis 1:28). Yet instead of yielding to the Lord as their Master, Adam and Eve seized the opportunity to "dethrone" God for their own supremacy. God had instructed Adam that he was permitted to eat of any tree in the Garden of Eden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The consequence of eating of the one forbidden fruit was physical and spiritual death (Genesis 2:17).
As Eve later walked through the garden, she was approached by the crafty serpent, Satan. This serpent was able to convince Eve that God did not want Adam and her to partake of the forbidden fruit, for it would make them like God, knowing good and evil.
As Eve and Adam gazed upon the fruit, they noticed that the fruit was pleasing to the eye and would provide them with the wisdom that would assert their quest for divinity. They were willing to defy the command of the Lord for their own pursuit of lordship; they did not care that their cravings for power and inappropriate physical gratification were counter to God's prescription for their lives. Tragically, their rebellion would bring God's judgment of pain, toilsome labor on the earth, eventual physical death, and spiritual separation from the Lord. Although they thought that their disobedience would elevate them to godhood, in reality it led them to a far worse place than they had ever been before.
In today's society, we see the fruit of this abject rebellion: adultery, fornication, lust, pride, control, power, abuses, addictions, etc. People today do not care that God expects submission to His Lordship; they want to live their own lives and satisfy their own cravings and don't give a flip as to what God demands. Their own wants take priority over all people and things; it's all about their quest to be God themselves. They do not realize that God is the Sovereign Lord who created all of creation and is due complete allegiance and submission.
Until mankind understands that its self-centered quest for lordship is rebellion against the One, Holy, Sovereign God, it will continue to spiral down the path of destruction. What is needed is a world surrendered to the Lord of Hosts and following His commands as indicated in Scripture. When we submit to God, we find that His purposes are accomplished through us; if all of humanity were to surrender, our world would be changed radically for the better.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Submission
Mark 10:17,23-23: "A man ran up to him (Jesus) and fell on his knees before him. 'Good teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?' . . . . At (the words of Jesus) the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!'"
In this gospel passage, we find a certain rich man who had watched Jesus and had become quite impressed with Jesus' words of wisdom and his miraculous deeds performed in Judea. In his exuberance, the rich man was willing to make a public profession to bow to the "great teacher" and find out how he may have eternal life. As he knelt before the Savior, the rich man wanted to know what he must do to merit God's favor.
Jesus knowing that the man did not understand Him as the Messiah but merely a "good teacher," first corrected his theology. Jesus wanted the man to understand that no one was good but God alone. Thus, no one is able through his own attainments to justify himself before the Lord. Jesus told the rich man this truth so that the hearers would know that ultimately it is God alone who would provide the atoning sacrifice for our sins (I John 2:2). This is why Jesus would later offer Himself on a cross for the remission of sins of those who would be saved.
Still, Jesus knew that all men must respond to this gift of grace through submission to Him as their Lord and Savior. When Jesus told the man to go and sell his possessions and give them to the poor so that he could have eternal treasures, He was addressing the central spiritual problem within the rich man. Jesus knew that riches per se were not inherently bad; rather, this man had surrendered himself to the privilege associated with his riches. He had made the quest for affluency his lord.
The rich man's true colors were revealed once Jesus addressed the cost of discipleship. Instead of surrendering himself to the Lord, the rich man rose from his humbled position and turned away because the cost was too high. He could not let go of his wealth; he received too many personal benefits to give up his lifestyle.
This story presents a good lesson for us today. Many people attend worship services and even respond during the invitation of a worship service because they are impressed with the words and miracles of Jesus as expressed in His Word. They may even make a public profession of allegiance to Christ. They want the benefits of association with God (e.g. heaven, abundant life, material blessing, etc.), and they are willing to make their "commitment" public.
Yet no matter how demonstrative the act of allegiance is by the person, it is a feigned response because it does not involve the necessary response to God's grace: submission. The true believer in Christ will submit himself to the Lordship of Christ. He is willing for renounce anything (including himself) that has been the lord of his life. God now becomes the master of that person's life, guiding him to obedience.
One cannot merely get the benefits of God without the cost of surrender. Still, we must know that the beauty of such submission is in its fulfillment for the soul (Matthew 11:28-30). No other thing to which we submit our allegiance will ever bring to us the satisfaction and completion that the Lord Himself will provide to us if we surrender to Him.
In this gospel passage, we find a certain rich man who had watched Jesus and had become quite impressed with Jesus' words of wisdom and his miraculous deeds performed in Judea. In his exuberance, the rich man was willing to make a public profession to bow to the "great teacher" and find out how he may have eternal life. As he knelt before the Savior, the rich man wanted to know what he must do to merit God's favor.
Jesus knowing that the man did not understand Him as the Messiah but merely a "good teacher," first corrected his theology. Jesus wanted the man to understand that no one was good but God alone. Thus, no one is able through his own attainments to justify himself before the Lord. Jesus told the rich man this truth so that the hearers would know that ultimately it is God alone who would provide the atoning sacrifice for our sins (I John 2:2). This is why Jesus would later offer Himself on a cross for the remission of sins of those who would be saved.
Still, Jesus knew that all men must respond to this gift of grace through submission to Him as their Lord and Savior. When Jesus told the man to go and sell his possessions and give them to the poor so that he could have eternal treasures, He was addressing the central spiritual problem within the rich man. Jesus knew that riches per se were not inherently bad; rather, this man had surrendered himself to the privilege associated with his riches. He had made the quest for affluency his lord.
The rich man's true colors were revealed once Jesus addressed the cost of discipleship. Instead of surrendering himself to the Lord, the rich man rose from his humbled position and turned away because the cost was too high. He could not let go of his wealth; he received too many personal benefits to give up his lifestyle.
This story presents a good lesson for us today. Many people attend worship services and even respond during the invitation of a worship service because they are impressed with the words and miracles of Jesus as expressed in His Word. They may even make a public profession of allegiance to Christ. They want the benefits of association with God (e.g. heaven, abundant life, material blessing, etc.), and they are willing to make their "commitment" public.
Yet no matter how demonstrative the act of allegiance is by the person, it is a feigned response because it does not involve the necessary response to God's grace: submission. The true believer in Christ will submit himself to the Lordship of Christ. He is willing for renounce anything (including himself) that has been the lord of his life. God now becomes the master of that person's life, guiding him to obedience.
One cannot merely get the benefits of God without the cost of surrender. Still, we must know that the beauty of such submission is in its fulfillment for the soul (Matthew 11:28-30). No other thing to which we submit our allegiance will ever bring to us the satisfaction and completion that the Lord Himself will provide to us if we surrender to Him.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Successful Parenting
Psalm 78; Proverbs 31: "We will not hide them (the words of God passed down from our fathers) from our children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power, and the wonders He has done . . . . Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands."
These verses are a great word of encouragement to parents who are in need of imparting a blessing to their children. What better way to enrich your children's lives than to share the blessings of God and his praiseworthy deeds, especially since your children's first purpose in life is to glorify the Lord.
When a parent teaches the truths of the Lord and models a life truly transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, then the children will put their trust in God, obey His commands, and fulfill their ultimate purpose in life. There is no better gift that a parent can impart to his child.
These verses are a great word of encouragement to parents who are in need of imparting a blessing to their children. What better way to enrich your children's lives than to share the blessings of God and his praiseworthy deeds, especially since your children's first purpose in life is to glorify the Lord.
When a parent teaches the truths of the Lord and models a life truly transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, then the children will put their trust in God, obey His commands, and fulfill their ultimate purpose in life. There is no better gift that a parent can impart to his child.
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