Ecclesiastes 1:2: "'Meaningless! Meaningless!' says the Teacher. 'Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.'"
When one begins to read the book of Ecclesiastes, one is taken back by the apparent hopeless resignation of the writer. In fact, if a reader were looking to the Scriptures as a source of hope, and if he opened the Scriptures to the first few verses of the book of Ecclesiastes, he might find himself disillusioned.
If the "koheleth" (or Teacher of 1:1) who is speaking these words is in fact King Solomon, then his words are even more perplexing. After all, Solomon was a man who had great wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34); great wealth (1 Kings 10:14,21), and many wives (1 Kings 11:3). He seemed to be lacking for nothing.
Yet as he surveyed the span of life, he concluded that it was utterly futile. With hyperbolic sarcasm, the "teacher" realized that there is not much that man gains for all of his toilsome labor under the sun. After all, his accomplishments and accumulated wealth amount to nothing in the end, for after death "there is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow" (1:11). The teacher realized that even the memory of a person and his accomplishments is lost forever with the passage of time. Although each generation seeks its own significance, in the end it repeats the same path of generations before it . . . . the path of obscurity.
To be sure, before drawing these conclusions, this teacher had embarked on a quest to find purpose in life. He first devoted himself to study so that he could "experience much of wisdom and knowledge"; but he found that this pursuit was no more than a chasing after the wind. He changed his course and indulged in the pleasures of life, but again he found that this "embracing of folly" was fruitless. The teacher then got busy with building projects and with amassing wealth; he built great buildings and gardens and he acquired vast amounts of silver and gold. He took temporary delight in his accomplishments, but in time he again concluded that all of his works were pointless and futile. This great and wise man came to hate life (2:17); yet after he had travelled all of these vain paths of perceived significance, he was ready for God to teach him the true purpose of life.
The teacher had his serendipity in 3:14 when he concludes, "everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him." The teacher now understood that a life lived devoid of a relationship with God was utterly meaningless; God's purpose for His creation is to glorify Him as the One True Lord . . . only the things of God will endure! Man's purpose is not found within his vain earthly accomplishments . . . they will quickly be forgotten; and if through his hedonism, man strives to assert his own lordship, he will conclude that life is utterly meaningless. This fatalistic conclusion will not necessarily come during the early stages of one's pursuit of wealth and happiness; in fact, many will jump into the hectic rat race of accumulation and consumption not knowing that these pursuits will not satisfy. But with the passing of time, all men without God will come to the sobering conclusion that life has lacked meaning and purpose.
Although many of us are uncomfortable with attending a funeral service, in reality these services are healthy reminders of the futility of a life lived in vanity. As we hear the eulogy and gaze upon the casket or urn before us, we realize that no matter what we have done on this earth or what we have acquired materially, we eventually find ourselves in the same place. I am reminded of a recent tour of Cades Cove near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in which I encountered a rather telling perspective of the temporal nature of life. I am a big history buff and enjoy touring old grave yards to read interesting facts engraved on the head stones. As I was walking through one ancient church cemetery, I noticed a choice set of words on a stone: "Do not weep for me . . . For where I am soon you will be too!" The brevity of life can be quite sobering to the one rushing through it without purpose.
So what is the answer to this rather depressing reality? The teacher gives us the answer in 2:25-26; 12:13:
For without him (God) who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. . . . Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Our ultimate purpose in life is to glorify God. We please God by putting our ultimate faith in Him as Lord (Hebrews 11:6). We realize that our purpose is not to assert our own will and pursue our own delights; rather, we are called to serve our Lord and be obedient to His will for our lives. The product of such a path of obedience is abundant life and happiness (see John 10:10). We find significance and purpose in life, and we realize that this temporal experience here on earth is but the prelude of our eternal abode before the throne of God in a place of indescribable beauty and glory.
Still, we have a role to play here on this earth; we are not merely to retreat within the walls of indifference. The teacher tells us in Ecclesiastes 2:24 that we are to "eat and drink and find satisfaction in (our) work." God determined before all time the setting in which we would live and when we would live it; He did this so that we would "seek (Him) and reach out for Him and find Him" (see Acts 17:26). To "eat and drink" is in essence to provide for one's necessities. God has an expectation that we work to provide for ourselves. Work was created at the beginning of time, even before sin entered the world; so we know that God has a positive valuation of our being diligent to provide for our needs. We are also called to find satisfaction in our work. Although we may not find our situation completely fulfilling, we can find purpose in it. The Apostle Paul tells us in I Corinthians 10:31: "whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it ALL for the glory of God. Irrespective of what we do, we are called to serve God by giving our very best to our endeavors.
Determine in your heart today that your ultimate purpose is to surrender to God as the Lord of your life; trust Him in faith, knowing that He is on the throne and is worthy of your praise. Be counter-cultural by not following the vain, material pursuits of others, rather find fulfillment in seeking the Lord above all things. Be diligent in providing for your necessities and do everything as if you are performing the service to God directly. Then take time to step back and see the hand of Divine blessing upon you, showering you with the abundance of His love and leading you to a life of purpose, fulfillment, and joy!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Now This Is Love
Song of Songs 8:6-7: "Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned."
The story found in the Song of Songs is one of a beautiful love relationship between a husband and a wife, who are enjoying the intimate fellowship of each other. When one reads the verbal exchanges between the two, one quickly sees selfless passion and devotion. Both are demonstratively committed to each other; there is no doubt that they revere the vows that they have made to each other in marital covenant, and they enjoy the blessed fruit of intimacy that they are experiencing from this covenantal commitment.
Two of the most beautiful verses in the entire book are cited above. Here the wife (who has heard repeatedly her husband's vow of commitment to her) petitions her husband to "place (her) like a seal over (his) heart, like a seal on (his) arm." Whereas we might see this as an imperative response to her husband, it can equally be declarative in nature. She is merely affirming what she already knows in her heart. She knows that her husband is committed to her and loves her passionately. She knows that he delights in her presence and wants to minister to her to bring her blessing. She knows that he has sealed her and her alone over his heart; she is not worried that she is one of many who have the affection of her husband. She feasts upon the stability and security that he provides to her through his exclusive commitment to her.
This wife then intends to heighten her expression of the impact of the couple's love upon her by comparing it to death, the grave, and unquenchable fire. She proclaims that their love is "as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave." Why would she use such an analogy of love with death and the grave? I believe it is because she knew that her hearers would understand the power of death . . . to them, nothing could thwart its will. When death determined to take a life, it was not going to be challenged. So too could it be said of the determination of her and her husband's love. She knew that they loved each other with intentionality and power; she knew that no one would ever thwart the passion and commitment that the couple had for each other. Just as the grave is unwilling to yield those who are entered within, so too their love was unyielding to anyone or anything that would attempt to challenge and frustrate it. This "jealousy" that she mentions is not an insecure apprehension about the relationship but an impassioned focus exclusively upon each other.
She also describes their love as a fire burning "like a mighty flame (which) many waters . . . even rivers can not quench." This second illustrative analogy reinforces her strong conviction that their love is impenetrable and unquenchable. To her, the couple's love for each other cannot be denied.
This bride then interjects the absurdity of those who would believe that this type of love could be bought for the right price. She responds by saying that no amount of money could coerce this kind of love, and a person who would present such a idea would be utterly scorned. This love is not for sale; this love rises above any manipulative efforts.
Many people today are looking for love in all the wrong places. They see love more as an emotion than as a selfless commitment of passionate devotion. Tragically for these people, as the emotion starts to fade in their relationships, they begin to look for new opportunities for love. They bounce from person to person looking again for the "spark" of relational intensity that they once had in their previous relationships. This is NOT LOVE! Rather, it is self-idolization and self-consumption. This type of person is more interested in themselves than in loving anyone else. In the end they never find the love for which they think they are looking.
We all would do well to reflect again upon true love as is described beautifully in the Song of Songs. Blessed is the man (and woman) who can say that they are experiencing this pure, passionate, unadulterated love!
The story found in the Song of Songs is one of a beautiful love relationship between a husband and a wife, who are enjoying the intimate fellowship of each other. When one reads the verbal exchanges between the two, one quickly sees selfless passion and devotion. Both are demonstratively committed to each other; there is no doubt that they revere the vows that they have made to each other in marital covenant, and they enjoy the blessed fruit of intimacy that they are experiencing from this covenantal commitment.
Two of the most beautiful verses in the entire book are cited above. Here the wife (who has heard repeatedly her husband's vow of commitment to her) petitions her husband to "place (her) like a seal over (his) heart, like a seal on (his) arm." Whereas we might see this as an imperative response to her husband, it can equally be declarative in nature. She is merely affirming what she already knows in her heart. She knows that her husband is committed to her and loves her passionately. She knows that he delights in her presence and wants to minister to her to bring her blessing. She knows that he has sealed her and her alone over his heart; she is not worried that she is one of many who have the affection of her husband. She feasts upon the stability and security that he provides to her through his exclusive commitment to her.
This wife then intends to heighten her expression of the impact of the couple's love upon her by comparing it to death, the grave, and unquenchable fire. She proclaims that their love is "as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave." Why would she use such an analogy of love with death and the grave? I believe it is because she knew that her hearers would understand the power of death . . . to them, nothing could thwart its will. When death determined to take a life, it was not going to be challenged. So too could it be said of the determination of her and her husband's love. She knew that they loved each other with intentionality and power; she knew that no one would ever thwart the passion and commitment that the couple had for each other. Just as the grave is unwilling to yield those who are entered within, so too their love was unyielding to anyone or anything that would attempt to challenge and frustrate it. This "jealousy" that she mentions is not an insecure apprehension about the relationship but an impassioned focus exclusively upon each other.
She also describes their love as a fire burning "like a mighty flame (which) many waters . . . even rivers can not quench." This second illustrative analogy reinforces her strong conviction that their love is impenetrable and unquenchable. To her, the couple's love for each other cannot be denied.
This bride then interjects the absurdity of those who would believe that this type of love could be bought for the right price. She responds by saying that no amount of money could coerce this kind of love, and a person who would present such a idea would be utterly scorned. This love is not for sale; this love rises above any manipulative efforts.
Many people today are looking for love in all the wrong places. They see love more as an emotion than as a selfless commitment of passionate devotion. Tragically for these people, as the emotion starts to fade in their relationships, they begin to look for new opportunities for love. They bounce from person to person looking again for the "spark" of relational intensity that they once had in their previous relationships. This is NOT LOVE! Rather, it is self-idolization and self-consumption. This type of person is more interested in themselves than in loving anyone else. In the end they never find the love for which they think they are looking.
We all would do well to reflect again upon true love as is described beautifully in the Song of Songs. Blessed is the man (and woman) who can say that they are experiencing this pure, passionate, unadulterated love!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Ingredients for a Healthy Marriage
Song of Songs 1:2,9-11; 2:2,15: "(The wife says) 'Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth-for your love is more delightful than wine' . . . . (The husband says) 'I liken you, my darling, to a mare harnessed to one of the chariots of Pharaoh. Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels. We will make you earrings of gold, studded with silver . . . . Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens' . . . . (The wife says) 'He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love' . . . . (The husband says) 'Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.'"
In an age in which healthy, vibrant marriages are noticeably lacking, one would do well to consult the Holy Scriptures to find the ingredients that make the marital relationship everything that God intended for it to be. One great resource found with the Bible is the book entitled the Song of Songs. Whereas many would attempt to allegorize the book into an exclusively spiritual application of God with His bride, the covenant community, I believe that the passages contain abundant wisdom for human marriages today as well.
First, we find that the bride passionately desires to be with her husband; her time of fellowship with her love is something of which she longs intently. He is not an afterthought after she has had a long, tiring day. He does not play second fiddle to her friends, the kids, the soaps (or whatever was comparable then), her workout, or her daily tasks. Her husband is the delight of her life, and she longs for quality time with him.
This is a good word for wives today. Husbands long for their wives to show that they find their husbands desirable; husbands do not appreciate when they are perceived merely as human capital, designed solely to be an income producer for the family. In the Song of Songs, the wife lets her husband know that she desires him and delights in his fellowship: "How handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant" (1:16). This husband looks forward to coming home after a hard day at the office, for he knows that his wife loves him, looks forward to his arrival, and wants to express her delight in him.
In turn, the husband praises the loveliness of his bride, even though she may struggle with her perception of attractiveness. In the passage above, the wife has said that her own vineyard (i.e. her body) has been neglected due to the laborious work that she has done in the vineyards. The years of exposure to the sun's rays and the hot climate have taken their toll on her, at least in her own mind. And though she feels she has little beauty, her husband calls out to her telling her that she is as priceless treasure . . . as priceless as the revered animals that carried Pharaoh in his chariot. Although we may find it difficult to see the affirmation in one saying to his bride that he likens her to a "mare," in antiquity, it was understood that the Pharaoh would only select the choicest of animals to lead his chariot in a royal procession. Thus, this wife would have heard from her husband that she is the apple of his eye . . . . to her husband, she is a person to be loved and cherished. Her responsive words affirm her feelings: "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys." Her husband has communicated his love to her in such a way that she feels that she is very special and very beautiful.
This wife also feels protected and secure, for she says of her husband, "his banner over me is love" (2:4). Banners were used by kings to identify their subjects and to affirm the royal protective hand over them. This wife knows that her husband will provide the stability that she so earnestly desires. She never has to worry if her husband will be committed to her and will be a provider for her, and so she basks in the assurance that she is protected from anything that would harm her or her marriage.
There is a good word for the husbands here. Wives want to know that their husbands will provide them stability and security. They also want their husbands to love them and find them beautiful, irrespective of what time and/or life's experiences (e.g. children) will do to the body. We see the husband's most appropriate response to his wife in 2:2: "Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens." This husband is in effect saying to his love, "There is no comparison between you and other women . . . they are mere thorns compared to your loveliness." This wife knows that her husband is not "looking around" at other attractive women; rather, he is solely committed to her with a steadfast and exclusive love. In his exclamation of love, he cries out, "How beautiful you are my darling! Oh, how beautiful!"
Then as the spiritual leader of the home, the husband shares with his wife that they both need to "catch the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, (the) vineyards that are in bloom" (2:15). This husband recognizes that people and circumstances can creep into a marriage relationship and destroy it, and so he proposes that he and his wife be ready for anything that would attack their marriage. Just as a person would prepare in advance a lure and a trap to catch an animal that could destroy a vineyard, so too the couple has prepared their hearts in advance to deal objectively with anything that would begin to reek havoc and turmoil in their marriage. They "catch" the foxes by quickly addressing and eliminating any situation that would lead to unhealthiness in the marriage. They are motivated by their love for each other to protect each other and their marriage from outside predators.
Although there are many other passages in this book that could be used to illustrate the points mentioned above, what is telling is that this couple is committed to their covenant of marriage. They are are very aware and sensitive to the needs of their mate, for they love their spouse and want to be an agent of blessing. Both are affirmed and completely secure in the love that they receive from their partner; they never have to worry if there is a wayward heart found within their spouse. Because they are sensitive to the needs of each other, they both experience the vitality and fulfillment that God intended for a healthy marriage to present.
And why does God want each partner to experience this level of love in their marriage? For one thing, God wants us to know the beauty and security of loving and being loved unconditionally with no strings attached. And, it is when we experience this level of love that we in turn can appreciate more fully God's unconditional love and faithful fidelity that He has for each of us as His covenantal bride. No other relationship could better aid us in better appreciating God's love and commitment to us both now and for all eternity.
In an age in which healthy, vibrant marriages are noticeably lacking, one would do well to consult the Holy Scriptures to find the ingredients that make the marital relationship everything that God intended for it to be. One great resource found with the Bible is the book entitled the Song of Songs. Whereas many would attempt to allegorize the book into an exclusively spiritual application of God with His bride, the covenant community, I believe that the passages contain abundant wisdom for human marriages today as well.
First, we find that the bride passionately desires to be with her husband; her time of fellowship with her love is something of which she longs intently. He is not an afterthought after she has had a long, tiring day. He does not play second fiddle to her friends, the kids, the soaps (or whatever was comparable then), her workout, or her daily tasks. Her husband is the delight of her life, and she longs for quality time with him.
This is a good word for wives today. Husbands long for their wives to show that they find their husbands desirable; husbands do not appreciate when they are perceived merely as human capital, designed solely to be an income producer for the family. In the Song of Songs, the wife lets her husband know that she desires him and delights in his fellowship: "How handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant" (1:16). This husband looks forward to coming home after a hard day at the office, for he knows that his wife loves him, looks forward to his arrival, and wants to express her delight in him.
In turn, the husband praises the loveliness of his bride, even though she may struggle with her perception of attractiveness. In the passage above, the wife has said that her own vineyard (i.e. her body) has been neglected due to the laborious work that she has done in the vineyards. The years of exposure to the sun's rays and the hot climate have taken their toll on her, at least in her own mind. And though she feels she has little beauty, her husband calls out to her telling her that she is as priceless treasure . . . as priceless as the revered animals that carried Pharaoh in his chariot. Although we may find it difficult to see the affirmation in one saying to his bride that he likens her to a "mare," in antiquity, it was understood that the Pharaoh would only select the choicest of animals to lead his chariot in a royal procession. Thus, this wife would have heard from her husband that she is the apple of his eye . . . . to her husband, she is a person to be loved and cherished. Her responsive words affirm her feelings: "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys." Her husband has communicated his love to her in such a way that she feels that she is very special and very beautiful.
This wife also feels protected and secure, for she says of her husband, "his banner over me is love" (2:4). Banners were used by kings to identify their subjects and to affirm the royal protective hand over them. This wife knows that her husband will provide the stability that she so earnestly desires. She never has to worry if her husband will be committed to her and will be a provider for her, and so she basks in the assurance that she is protected from anything that would harm her or her marriage.
There is a good word for the husbands here. Wives want to know that their husbands will provide them stability and security. They also want their husbands to love them and find them beautiful, irrespective of what time and/or life's experiences (e.g. children) will do to the body. We see the husband's most appropriate response to his wife in 2:2: "Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens." This husband is in effect saying to his love, "There is no comparison between you and other women . . . they are mere thorns compared to your loveliness." This wife knows that her husband is not "looking around" at other attractive women; rather, he is solely committed to her with a steadfast and exclusive love. In his exclamation of love, he cries out, "How beautiful you are my darling! Oh, how beautiful!"
Then as the spiritual leader of the home, the husband shares with his wife that they both need to "catch the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, (the) vineyards that are in bloom" (2:15). This husband recognizes that people and circumstances can creep into a marriage relationship and destroy it, and so he proposes that he and his wife be ready for anything that would attack their marriage. Just as a person would prepare in advance a lure and a trap to catch an animal that could destroy a vineyard, so too the couple has prepared their hearts in advance to deal objectively with anything that would begin to reek havoc and turmoil in their marriage. They "catch" the foxes by quickly addressing and eliminating any situation that would lead to unhealthiness in the marriage. They are motivated by their love for each other to protect each other and their marriage from outside predators.
Although there are many other passages in this book that could be used to illustrate the points mentioned above, what is telling is that this couple is committed to their covenant of marriage. They are are very aware and sensitive to the needs of their mate, for they love their spouse and want to be an agent of blessing. Both are affirmed and completely secure in the love that they receive from their partner; they never have to worry if there is a wayward heart found within their spouse. Because they are sensitive to the needs of each other, they both experience the vitality and fulfillment that God intended for a healthy marriage to present.
And why does God want each partner to experience this level of love in their marriage? For one thing, God wants us to know the beauty and security of loving and being loved unconditionally with no strings attached. And, it is when we experience this level of love that we in turn can appreciate more fully God's unconditional love and faithful fidelity that He has for each of us as His covenantal bride. No other relationship could better aid us in better appreciating God's love and commitment to us both now and for all eternity.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Not Listening
Joshua 1:7-9; 2 Kings 25:5-7: (The LORD said to Joshua as he approached Jericho) "Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from you mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go . . . . But the Babylonian army pursued the king (Zedekiah) and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, and he was captured. He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where sentence was pronounced on him. They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon."
The conflation of these two stories from Scripture is presented to illustrate a point that is very relevant to us today. In the book of Joshua, we find that the Israelites were about to cross over the Jordan to inherit the land that God had promised to Abraham hundreds of years before. The Israelites had been in captivity under the oppressive Egyptians for over 400 years and had wandered in the Sinai wilderness for 40 years. Now the time had come for God's covenant community to enter the blessed land that had been secured by their LORD. God told their leader, Joshua to be courageous, for the LORD would bring success to the Israelites and He would accompany them wherever they went. The only stipulation was for the Israelites to live a life surrendered to the Lord by being obedient to His commands. God instructed the people to meditate upon the Scriptures throughout the day, so that God's Word would dwell within their hearts . . . convicting them of any sin and guiding them to the truth of obedience of God's Law.
To reinforce this dictate, God sent the Commander of His Heavenly Army with sword drawn, to appear before Joshua (see Joshua 5:14-15). Joshua was overwhelmed by the splendor of God's mighty presence and fell facedown to the ground in humble submission. Joshua knew that God's greatness was there, and the leader of the Israelites took off his sandals in respect of the holiness of God.
When we fast forward nearly 1000 years, we find the king of Judah, Zedekiah, fleeing from the Promised Land in response to the invading Babylonian army. Zedekiah was the last of a number of wicked kings who led the covenant community through centuries of abject rebellion against the LORD. To be true to His patience and longsuffering, the LORD sent a number of prophets to warn the people that rebellion against His holiness would end in utter disaster for the Israelites; but they would not listen. Many of these prophets of the One True God were executed for their proclamations of judgment; their messages were not the politically correct words of approval for the licentious behavior of the people. They enjoyed their gross immorality and wickedness and did not want anyone telling them that what they were doing was utterly detestable to God. They were not unlike the wicked man mentioned in Job 15 that "shakes his fist at God and vaunts himself against the Almighty." They wanted to do whatever their heart desired, even if that meant doing that which was counter to God's commands as mentioned in Scripture.
To be sure, the Israelites of the days of Zedekiah did not revere God's Word as God had instructed them to do in Joshua 1. They did not meditate upon its truths, but rather they shunned God's Word in favor of their own false reasoning. They were able to rationalize any type of behavior as being just, provided that it met their expectation of self-fulfillment.
God would be true to His Word! As He had promised in Deuteronomy 28:49-53, so He enacted His Righteous wrath against the covenant community. The days of God's patience were over; now He sent the mighty Babylonians to invade the Promised Land. Over a period of several decades, the Babylonians sacked the land, taking many of the Israelites into captivity and destroying the cities that had been built. In Jerusalem, the temple, the royal palace, and the city walls were all destroyed. Everything was left in ruins and would remain so for 70 years.
The irony is found in the 2 Kings passage quoted above, for we find that the last king of Judea, Zedekiah, is fleeing from Jerusalem and is moving east toward the Jordan River to escape the pursuing Babylonians. As the Lord would have it, Zedekiah was captured on the plains of Jericho . . . the very place where God had told the Israelites that their obedience would assure them victory and possession of the Promised Land.
King Zedekiah was captured and taken to Riblah where he was forced to watch the executions of his sons before he was blinded by his enemies, bound in shackles, and imprisoned in Babylon for the remainder of his life (see Jeremiah 52:11). The descendants of Abraham that had so much opportunity for blessing, lost everything because they stopped listening.
This is a good word for us today. Even now we see our nation following the same perilous path of disobedience against the commands of the One True God as the Israelites 2600 years ago. We are blessed that the Lord is patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (see 2 Peter 3:9). Still, to be true to His Holiness, the Lord will not permit the wicked to go unpunished.
What is the answer? First we would do well to heed the Words that God shared with Joshua, namely to meditate upon the Scriptures and to live a life of surrender to the One True God. Obedience to the LORD is the only way to divert God's Righteous wrath. Start today by confessing your sins against the Lord and receiving God's mercy through His Son, Jesus Christ. Commit yourself to the Lord and find salvation in Him!
The conflation of these two stories from Scripture is presented to illustrate a point that is very relevant to us today. In the book of Joshua, we find that the Israelites were about to cross over the Jordan to inherit the land that God had promised to Abraham hundreds of years before. The Israelites had been in captivity under the oppressive Egyptians for over 400 years and had wandered in the Sinai wilderness for 40 years. Now the time had come for God's covenant community to enter the blessed land that had been secured by their LORD. God told their leader, Joshua to be courageous, for the LORD would bring success to the Israelites and He would accompany them wherever they went. The only stipulation was for the Israelites to live a life surrendered to the Lord by being obedient to His commands. God instructed the people to meditate upon the Scriptures throughout the day, so that God's Word would dwell within their hearts . . . convicting them of any sin and guiding them to the truth of obedience of God's Law.
To reinforce this dictate, God sent the Commander of His Heavenly Army with sword drawn, to appear before Joshua (see Joshua 5:14-15). Joshua was overwhelmed by the splendor of God's mighty presence and fell facedown to the ground in humble submission. Joshua knew that God's greatness was there, and the leader of the Israelites took off his sandals in respect of the holiness of God.
When we fast forward nearly 1000 years, we find the king of Judah, Zedekiah, fleeing from the Promised Land in response to the invading Babylonian army. Zedekiah was the last of a number of wicked kings who led the covenant community through centuries of abject rebellion against the LORD. To be true to His patience and longsuffering, the LORD sent a number of prophets to warn the people that rebellion against His holiness would end in utter disaster for the Israelites; but they would not listen. Many of these prophets of the One True God were executed for their proclamations of judgment; their messages were not the politically correct words of approval for the licentious behavior of the people. They enjoyed their gross immorality and wickedness and did not want anyone telling them that what they were doing was utterly detestable to God. They were not unlike the wicked man mentioned in Job 15 that "shakes his fist at God and vaunts himself against the Almighty." They wanted to do whatever their heart desired, even if that meant doing that which was counter to God's commands as mentioned in Scripture.
To be sure, the Israelites of the days of Zedekiah did not revere God's Word as God had instructed them to do in Joshua 1. They did not meditate upon its truths, but rather they shunned God's Word in favor of their own false reasoning. They were able to rationalize any type of behavior as being just, provided that it met their expectation of self-fulfillment.
God would be true to His Word! As He had promised in Deuteronomy 28:49-53, so He enacted His Righteous wrath against the covenant community. The days of God's patience were over; now He sent the mighty Babylonians to invade the Promised Land. Over a period of several decades, the Babylonians sacked the land, taking many of the Israelites into captivity and destroying the cities that had been built. In Jerusalem, the temple, the royal palace, and the city walls were all destroyed. Everything was left in ruins and would remain so for 70 years.
The irony is found in the 2 Kings passage quoted above, for we find that the last king of Judea, Zedekiah, is fleeing from Jerusalem and is moving east toward the Jordan River to escape the pursuing Babylonians. As the Lord would have it, Zedekiah was captured on the plains of Jericho . . . the very place where God had told the Israelites that their obedience would assure them victory and possession of the Promised Land.
King Zedekiah was captured and taken to Riblah where he was forced to watch the executions of his sons before he was blinded by his enemies, bound in shackles, and imprisoned in Babylon for the remainder of his life (see Jeremiah 52:11). The descendants of Abraham that had so much opportunity for blessing, lost everything because they stopped listening.
This is a good word for us today. Even now we see our nation following the same perilous path of disobedience against the commands of the One True God as the Israelites 2600 years ago. We are blessed that the Lord is patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (see 2 Peter 3:9). Still, to be true to His Holiness, the Lord will not permit the wicked to go unpunished.
What is the answer? First we would do well to heed the Words that God shared with Joshua, namely to meditate upon the Scriptures and to live a life of surrender to the One True God. Obedience to the LORD is the only way to divert God's Righteous wrath. Start today by confessing your sins against the Lord and receiving God's mercy through His Son, Jesus Christ. Commit yourself to the Lord and find salvation in Him!
Friday, April 4, 2008
No Fear of Bad News
Psalm 112:1,7: "Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands . . . . He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD."
Here we find that the man who fears and delights in the LORD (i.e. has reverential awe of the LORD and yet enjoys intimacy with HIM) will not fear bad news that befalls him. Why? Because he is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His hope and desire are in the Lord, no matter what painful trials come his way.
This does not mean that he enjoys the bad news; in fact, he will likely agonize through the painful experience. Still he is able to endure through the power of the Holy Spirit. The strength of the Lord sustains him, irrespective of the severity of the trial in his life.
David demonstrated such resolve when his life was threatened by those who were determined to kill him with "the sword." As David was moving from place to place to stay one step ahead of his pursuers, he cried out the following Psalm (22:2,3,22-23a):
"O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night and am not silent. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel . . . . I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise Him!"
Despite David's perception that God wasn't answering his pleas in his time of trouble, still he was assured that God was still on the throne and thus in control. David was able to gain strength in this assurance and praised the Lord by faith. A life so transformed by the Lord is able to be renewed in times of difficulty and know that God is worthy of praise, irrespective of circumstances.
As painful as the trials of life are, they reveal the true person within us. Our reactions to difficult circumstances teach us if we trust the Lord in faith. When we remain in an intimate relationship with the Lord, we will find His strength to be steadfast during the turbulent times, and we will not fear what may come our way, for our strength is in the Lord!
Here we find that the man who fears and delights in the LORD (i.e. has reverential awe of the LORD and yet enjoys intimacy with HIM) will not fear bad news that befalls him. Why? Because he is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His hope and desire are in the Lord, no matter what painful trials come his way.
This does not mean that he enjoys the bad news; in fact, he will likely agonize through the painful experience. Still he is able to endure through the power of the Holy Spirit. The strength of the Lord sustains him, irrespective of the severity of the trial in his life.
David demonstrated such resolve when his life was threatened by those who were determined to kill him with "the sword." As David was moving from place to place to stay one step ahead of his pursuers, he cried out the following Psalm (22:2,3,22-23a):
"O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night and am not silent. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel . . . . I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise Him!"
Despite David's perception that God wasn't answering his pleas in his time of trouble, still he was assured that God was still on the throne and thus in control. David was able to gain strength in this assurance and praised the Lord by faith. A life so transformed by the Lord is able to be renewed in times of difficulty and know that God is worthy of praise, irrespective of circumstances.
As painful as the trials of life are, they reveal the true person within us. Our reactions to difficult circumstances teach us if we trust the Lord in faith. When we remain in an intimate relationship with the Lord, we will find His strength to be steadfast during the turbulent times, and we will not fear what may come our way, for our strength is in the Lord!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Don't Let Your Age Limit You
2 Chronicles 34:3-4: "In the eighth year of his (Josiah's) reign, while he was still young, he began to seek to God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles, carved idols and cast images."
Josiah is a king that teaches us that we are never too young to make an impact for the kingdom of God. Despite being born to a wicked father (King Amon), Josiah would not follow the ways of his predecessor, but would seek to obey the Lord. Josiah was just eight when he was declared king of Judah; his father had been assassinated at the hands of the royal officials, and the people of the land responded by the coronation of the young Josiah as their next king.
Scripture records that when Josiah was just 16, "while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David." By the time he was 20 he purged his kingdom of all the pagan idols and altars that his forefathers had built to defy the worship of the One True God. The description of this "purging" is rather graphic; words/phrases like "smash," "scatter," "cut to pieces," and "crush to powder" are used in Scripture to describe the way in which the idols were destroyed. I believe that such verbiage is used to let us know that Josiah was not half-hearted in his determination to rid his people of such spiritual filth. He demonstratively obliterated anything that would be used to circumvent his people's hearts from worshipping and obeying the Lord
exclusively. There was passion and strong conviction in the king as he resolved to serve God alone.
When he was 26, Josiah ordered that the temple of the Lord be repaired; he desired for his people to give of their very best to the place where the glory of God resided. If God was to be placed first in the lives of the people, he wanted to make certain that they were not merely giving to Him their leftovers. The Lord was worthy of their very best.
A beautiful thing occurred at this point. While the workers were repairing the temple, Hilkiah the priest found a scroll that had been hidden in the temple unbeknownst to anyone. It was given to Shaphan, the secretary of the king, who in turn read it to Josiah. When Josiah heard the Book of the Covenant read, he was cut to the heart. He tore his royal garments as a sign of mourning for the sins of his predecessors against the Lord. The king new that the Lord would be true to the pronounced curses that He would enact against the rebellious behavior of the covenant community. The king immediately sent the priest to the prophetess, Huldah, to inquire of the Lord if His judgment would be enacted during Josiah's reign. The prophetess in turn declared that God's righteous wrath would be poured out upon the kingdom, but not during Josiah's reign, for his heart had been responsive and humble when he heard the Book of the Law.
When the king received this word of reprieve, he went to the temple of the Lord and summoned all of his subjects, from the least to the greatest, to follow him there. As he had the Book of the Covenant re-read to the people, the king renewed his commitment to the covenant stipulations found in the Scriptures, and he had everyone in his kingdom pledge to be obedient to the law of the LORD.
The 26-year-old king then renewed the celebration of the Passover, remembering God's faithful deliverance of His covenant people from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. Scripture records that "the Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah" (2 Chronicles 35:18). The king knew of the importance of this celebration as an expression of thanksgiving for the sole provision of God in bringing deliverance for His people, and he took great measures to assure that his kingdom honored God because of His goodness to His people.
Although Josiah would live only to the age of 39, he ended up accomplishing more for the kingdom of God than most of the kings before or after him. Scripture in fact records that Josiah, "turned to the Lord . . . with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses." Despite his young age, Josiah knew that he still had a responsibility to be obedient to the Lord, and God used the king's faithfulness to bring revival to the people of Judah.
Remember, one is never too young to make a significant impact for the Lord and His kingdom. We must remember that our ability to accomplish anything for the Lord is birthed and empowered by the Holy Spirit who resides within the true believer of Christ. When we are yielded to Him as Lord and seek to obey His commands, we will find that the Lord will work through us to fulfill His will in us, no matter what our age may be.
Josiah is a king that teaches us that we are never too young to make an impact for the kingdom of God. Despite being born to a wicked father (King Amon), Josiah would not follow the ways of his predecessor, but would seek to obey the Lord. Josiah was just eight when he was declared king of Judah; his father had been assassinated at the hands of the royal officials, and the people of the land responded by the coronation of the young Josiah as their next king.
Scripture records that when Josiah was just 16, "while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David." By the time he was 20 he purged his kingdom of all the pagan idols and altars that his forefathers had built to defy the worship of the One True God. The description of this "purging" is rather graphic; words/phrases like "smash," "scatter," "cut to pieces," and "crush to powder" are used in Scripture to describe the way in which the idols were destroyed. I believe that such verbiage is used to let us know that Josiah was not half-hearted in his determination to rid his people of such spiritual filth. He demonstratively obliterated anything that would be used to circumvent his people's hearts from worshipping and obeying the Lord
exclusively. There was passion and strong conviction in the king as he resolved to serve God alone.
When he was 26, Josiah ordered that the temple of the Lord be repaired; he desired for his people to give of their very best to the place where the glory of God resided. If God was to be placed first in the lives of the people, he wanted to make certain that they were not merely giving to Him their leftovers. The Lord was worthy of their very best.
A beautiful thing occurred at this point. While the workers were repairing the temple, Hilkiah the priest found a scroll that had been hidden in the temple unbeknownst to anyone. It was given to Shaphan, the secretary of the king, who in turn read it to Josiah. When Josiah heard the Book of the Covenant read, he was cut to the heart. He tore his royal garments as a sign of mourning for the sins of his predecessors against the Lord. The king new that the Lord would be true to the pronounced curses that He would enact against the rebellious behavior of the covenant community. The king immediately sent the priest to the prophetess, Huldah, to inquire of the Lord if His judgment would be enacted during Josiah's reign. The prophetess in turn declared that God's righteous wrath would be poured out upon the kingdom, but not during Josiah's reign, for his heart had been responsive and humble when he heard the Book of the Law.
When the king received this word of reprieve, he went to the temple of the Lord and summoned all of his subjects, from the least to the greatest, to follow him there. As he had the Book of the Covenant re-read to the people, the king renewed his commitment to the covenant stipulations found in the Scriptures, and he had everyone in his kingdom pledge to be obedient to the law of the LORD.
The 26-year-old king then renewed the celebration of the Passover, remembering God's faithful deliverance of His covenant people from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. Scripture records that "the Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah" (2 Chronicles 35:18). The king knew of the importance of this celebration as an expression of thanksgiving for the sole provision of God in bringing deliverance for His people, and he took great measures to assure that his kingdom honored God because of His goodness to His people.
Although Josiah would live only to the age of 39, he ended up accomplishing more for the kingdom of God than most of the kings before or after him. Scripture in fact records that Josiah, "turned to the Lord . . . with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses." Despite his young age, Josiah knew that he still had a responsibility to be obedient to the Lord, and God used the king's faithfulness to bring revival to the people of Judah.
Remember, one is never too young to make a significant impact for the Lord and His kingdom. We must remember that our ability to accomplish anything for the Lord is birthed and empowered by the Holy Spirit who resides within the true believer of Christ. When we are yielded to Him as Lord and seek to obey His commands, we will find that the Lord will work through us to fulfill His will in us, no matter what our age may be.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Wisdom Vs. Folly
Proverbs 9:1-6; 13-18:
"Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city. 'Let all who are simple come in here!' She says to those who lack judgment, 'Come, eat my food and drink my wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding' . . . . The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits at the door of her house on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. 'Let all who are simple come in here!' she says to those who lack judgment."
In order that the writer of Proverbs 9 (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) might teach us the difference between wisdom and folly, he decides to personify these two dispositions.
The first to be mentioned is wisdom. She has a ministerial mindset to bless others, and she takes great care to prepare her house for those who would enter. She is disciplined in her preparation as she desires to delight those who would join her in her feast of blessing. She is not selfishly seeking an advantage over others but is looking to serve others. She proclaims at the highest point of the city for all to join; there is no restriction on who are invited to celebrate with her. The call for the simple (i.e. those who are empty-minded and thus prone to sin) is to provide opportunity to feast upon the treasures of her instruction. Wisdom knows that the simple will be blessed by their heeding of her savory morsels of truth.
What is necessary from the simpleminded man is to make the conscious decision to leave the dark, dingy streets of foolishness and enter through the threshold of Wisdom's beautiful home; she has the choicest feast prepared for those who would join her.
Folly also calls out for those on the streets of life. Although she selfishly has sought a house of prominence at the highest point in the city, she is undisciplined, unwise, and selfishly predatory. She is not motivated by principle but by opportunity. Rather than blessing others by preparing a feast of wisdom for her guests, she lazily sits at the door of her house, looking for a wayward victim to come her way. She knows no shame, for in her mind the end justifies the means. If others are hurt through her manipulation, so be it . . . as long as she benefits from their misfortune. Her house is set at the highest point of the city for she egocentrically craves to be above all others, and she uses her heightened position to lure others into her abode.
She also attempts to lure those who pass by with sensual things (see Prov. 9:17); she will pull out all of the stops to draw people through her doors. Tragically, there are many who walk by her door, and most will stop to hear her enticing solicitations. For those who consent to her wishes and walk through her threshold, she selfishly will feed on their misery; in the end she will bring disillusionment and death to them (9:18).
There is a great word of instruction for us as we reflect upon this personified story, namely that we all will hear the callings of wisdom and folly as we traverse the streets of life. We must remember that wisdom is the lover of our soul, and we know that Our Lord dwells within her midst. If we respond to her, we will be blessed in every way . . . for wisdom seeks our best; and we know that our best is a life surrendered to the Lordship of Christ.
Folly on the other hand will use us and ultimately destroy us. The blessing of the Lord is not found within her walls, for under her roof lies disobedience to the Sovereign Lord and His commands.
If we know that the fear (reverential respect) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7), we would do well to first find Him and reverently surrender to Him. He will lead us through the doors of wisdom's delight, and we will never later regret the decision to dine at her table.
"Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city. 'Let all who are simple come in here!' She says to those who lack judgment, 'Come, eat my food and drink my wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding' . . . . The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits at the door of her house on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. 'Let all who are simple come in here!' she says to those who lack judgment."
In order that the writer of Proverbs 9 (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) might teach us the difference between wisdom and folly, he decides to personify these two dispositions.
The first to be mentioned is wisdom. She has a ministerial mindset to bless others, and she takes great care to prepare her house for those who would enter. She is disciplined in her preparation as she desires to delight those who would join her in her feast of blessing. She is not selfishly seeking an advantage over others but is looking to serve others. She proclaims at the highest point of the city for all to join; there is no restriction on who are invited to celebrate with her. The call for the simple (i.e. those who are empty-minded and thus prone to sin) is to provide opportunity to feast upon the treasures of her instruction. Wisdom knows that the simple will be blessed by their heeding of her savory morsels of truth.
What is necessary from the simpleminded man is to make the conscious decision to leave the dark, dingy streets of foolishness and enter through the threshold of Wisdom's beautiful home; she has the choicest feast prepared for those who would join her.
Folly also calls out for those on the streets of life. Although she selfishly has sought a house of prominence at the highest point in the city, she is undisciplined, unwise, and selfishly predatory. She is not motivated by principle but by opportunity. Rather than blessing others by preparing a feast of wisdom for her guests, she lazily sits at the door of her house, looking for a wayward victim to come her way. She knows no shame, for in her mind the end justifies the means. If others are hurt through her manipulation, so be it . . . as long as she benefits from their misfortune. Her house is set at the highest point of the city for she egocentrically craves to be above all others, and she uses her heightened position to lure others into her abode.
She also attempts to lure those who pass by with sensual things (see Prov. 9:17); she will pull out all of the stops to draw people through her doors. Tragically, there are many who walk by her door, and most will stop to hear her enticing solicitations. For those who consent to her wishes and walk through her threshold, she selfishly will feed on their misery; in the end she will bring disillusionment and death to them (9:18).
There is a great word of instruction for us as we reflect upon this personified story, namely that we all will hear the callings of wisdom and folly as we traverse the streets of life. We must remember that wisdom is the lover of our soul, and we know that Our Lord dwells within her midst. If we respond to her, we will be blessed in every way . . . for wisdom seeks our best; and we know that our best is a life surrendered to the Lordship of Christ.
Folly on the other hand will use us and ultimately destroy us. The blessing of the Lord is not found within her walls, for under her roof lies disobedience to the Sovereign Lord and His commands.
If we know that the fear (reverential respect) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7), we would do well to first find Him and reverently surrender to Him. He will lead us through the doors of wisdom's delight, and we will never later regret the decision to dine at her table.
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