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.
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