Matthew 11-13
Jesus invites us... "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Why then are so many followers of Christ languishing under a burden of cares no man can carry? Could it be that although they come to Jesus, they just can't seem to trust him to properly carry their burdens, so they fail to let loose of their burdens.
Reminds me of the old story of a man walking down a country road with a heavy load upon his back. A local farmer in a horse drawn wagon comes upon him and offers a ride. The man accepts the ride, but keeps the load upon his back, whereon the farmer advises that he set his load down in the wagon. The man replies that he is quite thankful for the ride, but couldn't impose upon the farmer to carry the load too.
He is able and competent to carry our load... if we will let him, and then he will give us rest.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
In Due Time
Psalm 12-14
Three different psalms... three different beginnings... one God.
Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! -- When the oppressed cry out, one God is there to hear their cries and preserve them from this wicked generation. Whether it is the orphans in Haiti who cannot get relief because of the machinations of a global "compassion" organization or the elderly widow who is cheated by her children, God sees that they are "speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts." He is not fooled. God knows... just as surely as the sun rises in the east that the wicked are deceitful and he will judge... in due time.
O Lord, how long will you forget me? -- When the lonely, the down-hearted, the one in the midst of the darkness of the soul cries out to God that he would "restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die," God hears... he hears through the loving compassionate ears of a mother to her child, wanting only to bring them to her in loving embrace... in due time.
Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” -- The earth is populated by fools. As nations gain worldly knowledge, wealth and success... they seem to get a free dose of foolishness to go with it and in their greed cannot turn away from anything free. How long will the foolish shake their fist at the creator and proclaim their greatness? How long will they turn away from God in disobedience? Don't they know that "God is with those who obey him... [that] the Lord will protect his people." God saves... he longs to give all good gifts, he desires that none should perish... in due time.
Three different psalms... three different beginnings... one God.
Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! -- When the oppressed cry out, one God is there to hear their cries and preserve them from this wicked generation. Whether it is the orphans in Haiti who cannot get relief because of the machinations of a global "compassion" organization or the elderly widow who is cheated by her children, God sees that they are "speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts." He is not fooled. God knows... just as surely as the sun rises in the east that the wicked are deceitful and he will judge... in due time.
O Lord, how long will you forget me? -- When the lonely, the down-hearted, the one in the midst of the darkness of the soul cries out to God that he would "restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die," God hears... he hears through the loving compassionate ears of a mother to her child, wanting only to bring them to her in loving embrace... in due time.
Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” -- The earth is populated by fools. As nations gain worldly knowledge, wealth and success... they seem to get a free dose of foolishness to go with it and in their greed cannot turn away from anything free. How long will the foolish shake their fist at the creator and proclaim their greatness? How long will they turn away from God in disobedience? Don't they know that "God is with those who obey him... [that] the Lord will protect his people." God saves... he longs to give all good gifts, he desires that none should perish... in due time.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Woe to the Hard-Hearted
Isaiah 23-28
Was reading John MacArthur's A Tale of Two Sons on the plane yesterday. He writes about how the parables were designed to both enlighten the true followers understanding of the kingdom, and to mercifully withhold understanding from those who look, but don’t really see and hear, but don’t really listen or understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them. Jesus' words... but quoting from Isaiah 6.
Isaiah's heart burns for his people to turn back to God and laments that they will not. Here he says "For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor." How sad... how incredibly sad that some -- both younger brothers and elder brothers, are too stubborn to be saved. Reminds me of a lesson that our instructor taught us in Lifesaving class... if you go to rescue a drowning person and they fight you, then back off a little until they have almost drowned, so that you can save them without endangering your own life. Lord, please give me a soft heart, pliable to your desires.
Was reading John MacArthur's A Tale of Two Sons on the plane yesterday. He writes about how the parables were designed to both enlighten the true followers understanding of the kingdom, and to mercifully withhold understanding from those who look, but don’t really see and hear, but don’t really listen or understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them. Jesus' words... but quoting from Isaiah 6.
Isaiah's heart burns for his people to turn back to God and laments that they will not. Here he says "For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor." How sad... how incredibly sad that some -- both younger brothers and elder brothers, are too stubborn to be saved. Reminds me of a lesson that our instructor taught us in Lifesaving class... if you go to rescue a drowning person and they fight you, then back off a little until they have almost drowned, so that you can save them without endangering your own life. Lord, please give me a soft heart, pliable to your desires.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
What Am I?
Job 7-8
In his agony Job asks "What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention?" In Hebrews that same question comes out as "What is man that you are mindful of him?" I am his creation, fashioned in his image and for whom his son poured out his blood. I am his bridemaid... the one whom he loves. It is so great to be alive and to be loved by the Creator... in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow... because my Redeemer lives. Who or what am I... whatever he desires me to be!
In his agony Job asks "What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention?" In Hebrews that same question comes out as "What is man that you are mindful of him?" I am his creation, fashioned in his image and for whom his son poured out his blood. I am his bridemaid... the one whom he loves. It is so great to be alive and to be loved by the Creator... in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow... because my Redeemer lives. Who or what am I... whatever he desires me to be!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Amor Vincit Omnia
Romans 7-8
Where do you start in a critique of Rembrandt? How do you advise Shakespeare on the composition of a sonnet? How do you expound upon or otherwise provide insight into Romans 8? ... Love Conquers All.
Where do you start in a critique of Rembrandt? How do you advise Shakespeare on the composition of a sonnet? How do you expound upon or otherwise provide insight into Romans 8? ... Love Conquers All.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
On a Path...
Joshua 16-20
Ephraim and the half tribe of Manasseh were given allotments of land that included the dwelling place of the Canaanites, but they failed to drive the Canaanites from the land. They complained to Joshua that they were very large tribes and needed more room. Joshua's response... cut down the trees in the hill country and expand there. Not to be outflanked so easily, they whined on about how the Canaanites had iron chariots. But the Lord had picked Joshua as leader for a reason... since you are so large and strong, he told them, you can drive them out. Though they never completely drove out the Canaanites, they did subdue them and made them slaves (as Noah had foretold centuries earlier). Rather than trust in the Lord in everything as their ancestor had, the descendants of Joseph wanted to take the easy road, and it led them to destruction.
Ephraim and the half tribe of Manasseh were given allotments of land that included the dwelling place of the Canaanites, but they failed to drive the Canaanites from the land. They complained to Joshua that they were very large tribes and needed more room. Joshua's response... cut down the trees in the hill country and expand there. Not to be outflanked so easily, they whined on about how the Canaanites had iron chariots. But the Lord had picked Joshua as leader for a reason... since you are so large and strong, he told them, you can drive them out. Though they never completely drove out the Canaanites, they did subdue them and made them slaves (as Noah had foretold centuries earlier). Rather than trust in the Lord in everything as their ancestor had, the descendants of Joseph wanted to take the easy road, and it led them to destruction.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Here's Where We Part
Genesis 12-15
The differences between Abram and Lot couldn't have been greater when things really counted. While both were blessed by the Lord with abundance, Abram thought of others first... Lot thought of himself; Abram chose righteousness... Lot sidled up with sin. Though related by birth, their lives took different paths. Abram seemed to be constantly picking up the pieces from his nephew Lot's life... recuing him from Kedorlaomer and later asking God to spare his life in Sodom and Gomorrah. When they first returned from Egypt after the famine, their herdsmen began to squabble, and it was Abram that chose the high road and parted company with Lot. Small wonder than God chose to bring his blessings to the descendants of Abram rather than Lot.
Though we wish to save our brother, there comes a point when we must part company or be pulled into the unrighteousness of or brethren. Such a tough call to divine the line where we begin to fall out of grace; rather than bringing our brother before the throne of grace. Even though Jesus ministered to the sinners, he never accepted or excused their sin. His clarion call (to all who would listen) was to repentance. How do we best follow suit... to forever reject even the slightest sin, without rejecting the person behind the sin? How best to encourage all to seek and follow the Savior, when we have a hard time surrendering our all to Him? ...by grace alone.
The differences between Abram and Lot couldn't have been greater when things really counted. While both were blessed by the Lord with abundance, Abram thought of others first... Lot thought of himself; Abram chose righteousness... Lot sidled up with sin. Though related by birth, their lives took different paths. Abram seemed to be constantly picking up the pieces from his nephew Lot's life... recuing him from Kedorlaomer and later asking God to spare his life in Sodom and Gomorrah. When they first returned from Egypt after the famine, their herdsmen began to squabble, and it was Abram that chose the high road and parted company with Lot. Small wonder than God chose to bring his blessings to the descendants of Abram rather than Lot.
Though we wish to save our brother, there comes a point when we must part company or be pulled into the unrighteousness of or brethren. Such a tough call to divine the line where we begin to fall out of grace; rather than bringing our brother before the throne of grace. Even though Jesus ministered to the sinners, he never accepted or excused their sin. His clarion call (to all who would listen) was to repentance. How do we best follow suit... to forever reject even the slightest sin, without rejecting the person behind the sin? How best to encourage all to seek and follow the Savior, when we have a hard time surrendering our all to Him? ...by grace alone.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Full Faith and Confidence
Matthew 8-10
A leper says "if you want to, you can make me well"... and Jesus wanted to. A Roman officer says that if Jesus will just say the word then his servant will be healed... and Jesus said the word. A woman with a bleeding disorder touches the hem of his cloak for healing... and Jesus turned around and healed her. To those with full faith and confidence in the power of Jesus come great things. But to the one who never asks and never seeks... well, they to receive what they ask for... nothing.
A leper says "if you want to, you can make me well"... and Jesus wanted to. A Roman officer says that if Jesus will just say the word then his servant will be healed... and Jesus said the word. A woman with a bleeding disorder touches the hem of his cloak for healing... and Jesus turned around and healed her. To those with full faith and confidence in the power of Jesus come great things. But to the one who never asks and never seeks... well, they to receive what they ask for... nothing.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
A Commitment to Joy
Psalms 9-11
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
Lately I've felt rumblings of conviction regarding joyfulness... little things, but not little. Walking from the parking lot into work the other day, I met a co-worker and we talked as we walked in. By the time we got to the office we had passed 4-5 other people going the other way... and everyone of them gave us a joyful good morning greeting... some while we were still a long way off. These are the same people that I've passed countless other mornings with nary a word, or at most a grrrrumph. What changed? What changed was that this morning I was walking with someone else. Those greetings were really for her... because she is joyful (and female on a military base). But it got me to thinking... inside I am usually happy and joyful, but does that make it to my outside?
Today, I will be filled with joy... and tomorrow and the next day and so on and so on.
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
Lately I've felt rumblings of conviction regarding joyfulness... little things, but not little. Walking from the parking lot into work the other day, I met a co-worker and we talked as we walked in. By the time we got to the office we had passed 4-5 other people going the other way... and everyone of them gave us a joyful good morning greeting... some while we were still a long way off. These are the same people that I've passed countless other mornings with nary a word, or at most a grrrrumph. What changed? What changed was that this morning I was walking with someone else. Those greetings were really for her... because she is joyful (and female on a military base). But it got me to thinking... inside I am usually happy and joyful, but does that make it to my outside?
Today, I will be filled with joy... and tomorrow and the next day and so on and so on.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Who'd a Thunk It
Isaiah 18-22
Given the animosity in the world at large and the middle east in particular, who can believe that the words of Isaiah 19:23-24 will ever come to pass.
Given the animosity in the world at large and the middle east in particular, who can believe that the words of Isaiah 19:23-24 will ever come to pass.
In that day Egypt and Syria will be connected by a highway. The Egyptians and Syrians will move freely between their lands, and they will both worship God. And Israel will be their ally. The three will be together, and Israel will be a blessing to them.Yet we know that everything that God has foretold will come to pass. What a glorious day that will be when the lion lays down with the lamb... when the cradle of civilization is at peace again, and all of the inhabitants are allied together in unity under the Lord Almighty.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Egg Whites and Innocence
Job 5-6
How tasteless is the uncooked white of an egg! I have never experienced anything close to Job's suffering; however, it seems to me, that if I was in agony like Job, the blandness of raw egg whites would not be on my mind. Still... the synapses seem to connect in ways we would never intentionally arrange them. For example, where do dreams come from? How can anyone contemplate the mystery of the human mind and really think we were created by chance out of some cosmic primordial soup? But I digress like Job.
In a time of extreme need, Job's friends come to comfort him and wind up accusing him of unrighteousness. Seems they didn't get the message from Sunday's blog... "The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged." The message that God has for us is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. How often are my good intentions derailed by a wandering mind... by a desire to solve their problem rather than simply "being" with them.
How tasteless is the uncooked white of an egg! I have never experienced anything close to Job's suffering; however, it seems to me, that if I was in agony like Job, the blandness of raw egg whites would not be on my mind. Still... the synapses seem to connect in ways we would never intentionally arrange them. For example, where do dreams come from? How can anyone contemplate the mystery of the human mind and really think we were created by chance out of some cosmic primordial soup? But I digress like Job.
In a time of extreme need, Job's friends come to comfort him and wind up accusing him of unrighteousness. Seems they didn't get the message from Sunday's blog... "The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged." The message that God has for us is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. How often are my good intentions derailed by a wandering mind... by a desire to solve their problem rather than simply "being" with them.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
A Slave by Choice
Romans 5-6
My guess is that if you asked 100 people if they would choose to become a slave, all of them would say no (other than a handful of jokingly lewd yeses), but in Romans 6:16, Paul tells us that we all choose to be slaves. "Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?" Due to our human nature, we do not have a choice over whether we will be a slave, but we are free choose our master... sin or God... death or life. Amazingly, many choose death.
Can so many people actually be so wrong? Sadly, they can. They have been deceived in much the same way as Adam and Eve. They have been fed a lie... the lie resonated with them... and they bit. Thankfully, unlike the Garden of Eden, we can choose to repent (turn away) from our previous choice and turn to God. Halleluia!
My guess is that if you asked 100 people if they would choose to become a slave, all of them would say no (other than a handful of jokingly lewd yeses), but in Romans 6:16, Paul tells us that we all choose to be slaves. "Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?" Due to our human nature, we do not have a choice over whether we will be a slave, but we are free choose our master... sin or God... death or life. Amazingly, many choose death.
Can so many people actually be so wrong? Sadly, they can. They have been deceived in much the same way as Adam and Eve. They have been fed a lie... the lie resonated with them... and they bit. Thankfully, unlike the Garden of Eden, we can choose to repent (turn away) from our previous choice and turn to God. Halleluia!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Consummate Faith
Joshua 11-15
One of my favorite old testament characters is Caleb. You just have to love an 85 year-old man who proclaims "Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.”
Forty-five years earlier he was one of 12 scouts sent into the promised land to check it out. He and Joshua declared that the land was prime and that with the Lord's help they could conquer the inhabitants, but the 10 scouts were discouraged by the giants (descendants of Anak) that lived there. Now, at 85, Caleb feels the same way as he did before. As long God is with him... he can move mountains... or defeat giants.
One of my favorite old testament characters is Caleb. You just have to love an 85 year-old man who proclaims "Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.”
Forty-five years earlier he was one of 12 scouts sent into the promised land to check it out. He and Joshua declared that the land was prime and that with the Lord's help they could conquer the inhabitants, but the 10 scouts were discouraged by the giants (descendants of Anak) that lived there. Now, at 85, Caleb feels the same way as he did before. As long God is with him... he can move mountains... or defeat giants.
Monday, January 18, 2010
An Earlier Covenant
Genesis 8-11
Traditionally, I have always thought of the covenant between God and Abram as the first covenant, but when Noah and his family disembarked after a year, God made a covenant with Noah. This covenant recognized the fallen nature of man... "everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood," yet God will have mercy... "As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night."
The evil in man continues unabated, yet God continues to be merciful. Doomsday naysayers have continued to depict nuclear holocausts, alien invasion or environmental climate changes that will make the earth barren, yet they dismiss this covenant that God made that declares "As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night." Yes we are capable of great evil and destruction, but we do not have the power to undo what God has done.
Traditionally, I have always thought of the covenant between God and Abram as the first covenant, but when Noah and his family disembarked after a year, God made a covenant with Noah. This covenant recognized the fallen nature of man... "everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood," yet God will have mercy... "As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night."
The evil in man continues unabated, yet God continues to be merciful. Doomsday naysayers have continued to depict nuclear holocausts, alien invasion or environmental climate changes that will make the earth barren, yet they dismiss this covenant that God made that declares "As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night." Yes we are capable of great evil and destruction, but we do not have the power to undo what God has done.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Best Sermon Ever
Matthew 5-7
Jesus' first recorded sermon of significance is recorded in chapters 5 to 7 of Matthew's gospel. Jesus has waaaaaaay more than three points in his sermon... touching on blessings, salt, light, the law, anger, adultery, divorce, makings vows, revenge, love, giving, prayer, fasting,money, possessions, and judging others. And yet virtually all of the teachings are simple and go back to the same unity which is exemplified in Matthew 7:2 "The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged." God has set a standard in himself, if we live it, blessings will be ours.
For example, God is Light... We were made in his image, therefore we are light. If we shine that light blessings come, but if we hide the light, we become darkness. Darkness is counter to our nature and counter to God and is therefore wrong... sin.
Going back to the beginning of the sermon with the Beatitudes, we see that same pattern worked out over and over. Our merciful God gives mercy to those who are merciful. Our God who is pure and cannot be in the presence of impurity invites the pure of heart to see God. We are born to be salt so to be less than salt makes us worthless. From the beginning God designed us to be one with him in the Garden of Eden, and every wrong thing we've done takes us away from that perfect unity with him. He desires that we reunite with him... not in the old law which only brought out our sin... but in a new covenant that isn't full of rules... since they cannot begin to capture the purity that he requires... anger is murder, lust is adultery.
"On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord!...’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’" Jesus just dismissed those who prophesied, cast out demons, and performed miracles... where does that leave us? I have never prophesied, I have cast out exactly zero demons, and my miracles are non-existent. What hope do I have? Thankfully, that isn't the standard Jesus set. He simply asks that we be who he made us to be... as his creation he asks that we listen to his teaching and follow it. Doing that we quite simply become one with him. There is no better relationship with the Almighty than unity and that is achieved only by being, not doing. Being what he made us to be, being one with him.
Jesus' first recorded sermon of significance is recorded in chapters 5 to 7 of Matthew's gospel. Jesus has waaaaaaay more than three points in his sermon... touching on blessings, salt, light, the law, anger, adultery, divorce, makings vows, revenge, love, giving, prayer, fasting,money, possessions, and judging others. And yet virtually all of the teachings are simple and go back to the same unity which is exemplified in Matthew 7:2 "The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged." God has set a standard in himself, if we live it, blessings will be ours.
For example, God is Light... We were made in his image, therefore we are light. If we shine that light blessings come, but if we hide the light, we become darkness. Darkness is counter to our nature and counter to God and is therefore wrong... sin.
Going back to the beginning of the sermon with the Beatitudes, we see that same pattern worked out over and over. Our merciful God gives mercy to those who are merciful. Our God who is pure and cannot be in the presence of impurity invites the pure of heart to see God. We are born to be salt so to be less than salt makes us worthless. From the beginning God designed us to be one with him in the Garden of Eden, and every wrong thing we've done takes us away from that perfect unity with him. He desires that we reunite with him... not in the old law which only brought out our sin... but in a new covenant that isn't full of rules... since they cannot begin to capture the purity that he requires... anger is murder, lust is adultery.
"On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord!...’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’" Jesus just dismissed those who prophesied, cast out demons, and performed miracles... where does that leave us? I have never prophesied, I have cast out exactly zero demons, and my miracles are non-existent. What hope do I have? Thankfully, that isn't the standard Jesus set. He simply asks that we be who he made us to be... as his creation he asks that we listen to his teaching and follow it. Doing that we quite simply become one with him. There is no better relationship with the Almighty than unity and that is achieved only by being, not doing. Being what he made us to be, being one with him.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Continual Amazement
Psalms 6-8
I remain continually amazed at the ways God works in everything... yet some remain blind. In yesterday's blog I asked the question "Does God Judge the Nations?" based on an Isaiah reading and right there in the middle of today's reading is the answer; "The Lord judges the nations" (Paslm 7:8). While browsing news of Haiti, a couple of things struck me beyond the sadness of the devastation in Haiti...
I remain continually amazed at the ways God works in everything... yet some remain blind. In yesterday's blog I asked the question "Does God Judge the Nations?" based on an Isaiah reading and right there in the middle of today's reading is the answer; "The Lord judges the nations" (Paslm 7:8). While browsing news of Haiti, a couple of things struck me beyond the sadness of the devastation in Haiti...
- Comments written against a Boston Globe picture article contained a large number of people lifting up prayers for the people in Haiti... and a similar number chiding prayer as ineffective and those who pray as fools.
- Posts by Samaritans Purse about their involvement in Haiti were commented upon with disdain by some who thought they were self-serving.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Does God Judge the Nations?
Isaiah 12-17
Much has been written about God's role in the world recently due to the earthquake in Haiti and its devastating impact on the people of Haiti. Of those I've read, Dr. Albert Mohler has perhaps captured my thoughts better than I knew them in his recent post Does God Hate Haiti? A short extract is below lest any judge by the title alone...
Who do I know who doesn't know Him? How can I introduce them so that they too will know?
Much has been written about God's role in the world recently due to the earthquake in Haiti and its devastating impact on the people of Haiti. Of those I've read, Dr. Albert Mohler has perhaps captured my thoughts better than I knew them in his recent post Does God Hate Haiti? A short extract is below lest any judge by the title alone...
God does judge the nations -- all of them -- and God will judge the nations. His judgment is perfect and his justice is sure. He rules over all the nations and his sovereign will is demonstrated in the rising and falling of nations and empires and peoples. Every molecule of matter obeys his command, and the earthquakes reveal his reign -- as do the tides of relief and assistance flowing into Haiti right now. A faithful Christian cannot accept the claim that God is a bystander in world events. The Bible clearly claims the sovereign rule of God over all his creation, all of the time. We have no right to claim that God was surprised by the earthquake in Haiti, or to allow that God could not have prevented it from happening.Today's reading from Isaiah bears out his words. Amidst messages to Babylon, Assyria, Philistia, Moab, Damascus and Israel, we read...
- "The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken— who can change his plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him?" Does God judge the nations?
- “The Lord has built Jerusalem; its walls will give refuge to his oppressed people.” Does God judge the nations?
- "Their largest cities will be like a deserted forest... It will be utterly desolate. Why? Because you have turned from the God who can save you. You have forgotten the Rock who can hide you." Does God judge the nations?
Who do I know who doesn't know Him? How can I introduce them so that they too will know?
Thursday, January 14, 2010
With a Friend like Eliphaz...
Job 3-4
Eliphaz decided to grace his friend Job with his wisdom. Pearls like...
What kind of friend am I? The kind that that insists on putting someone down to lift another up... the kind that speaks fuzzy words of meaninglessness enthralled more by the sound of my voice... or... what?
Eliphaz decided to grace his friend Job with his wisdom. Pearls like...
- Do the innocent die?
- When have the upright been destroyed?
Here was Job, he had lost all of his livestock and all of his children and he was covered from head to toe with boils, and now his friend Eliphaz informs him that "a spirit glided past my face..." About this time Job has to be wondering how much wine his friend has been drinking.A spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body stood on end. It stopped, but I could not tell what it was. A form stood before my eyes, and I heard a hushed voice: "Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?"
What kind of friend am I? The kind that that insists on putting someone down to lift another up... the kind that speaks fuzzy words of meaninglessness enthralled more by the sound of my voice... or... what?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Now Everyone is Sinning
Romans 3-4
What a difference a Savior makes! When the Israelites first entered into the promised land, the sin of one man, Achan, caused all of Israel to be punished and all of his family to be stoned. But Paul tells us a different story of a new covenant...
What a difference a Savior makes! When the Israelites first entered into the promised land, the sin of one man, Achan, caused all of Israel to be punished and all of his family to be stoned. But Paul tells us a different story of a new covenant...
Through his atonement, we are declared righteous... even though we aren't... even though we are in fact sinners. How much better to have a Savior. What a difference a Savior makes!But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Another Father, Another Sin, Another Family
Joshua 6-10
If Cain's sin affected his descendants indirectly, today's reading shows a much more direct impact on the father's family. When Israel attacked Jericho God directed that they destroy all of the people (except Rahab and her family) and all of the animals and bring the sacred objects into the Lord's treasury. The Israelites destroyed all of the people (except Rahab and her family)... they destroyed all of the animals... and they brought all of the sacred objects into the Lord's treasury (except one beautiful robe, some silver coins, and a bar of gold).
Sin might be described as an exception to God's standard. So Achan's exceptions... keeping one beautiful robe, some silver coins, and a bar of gold... were sin. God condemned all of Israel for the sin and allowed the small town of Ai to defeat Israel. Joshua and the leaders went before the Lord after the defeat and God told them what had happened. As a result, they took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had and stoned and burned them.
Perhaps I need to take a new view of sin from the perspective of Achan's example and the breadth of its impact.
If Cain's sin affected his descendants indirectly, today's reading shows a much more direct impact on the father's family. When Israel attacked Jericho God directed that they destroy all of the people (except Rahab and her family) and all of the animals and bring the sacred objects into the Lord's treasury. The Israelites destroyed all of the people (except Rahab and her family)... they destroyed all of the animals... and they brought all of the sacred objects into the Lord's treasury (except one beautiful robe, some silver coins, and a bar of gold).
Sin might be described as an exception to God's standard. So Achan's exceptions... keeping one beautiful robe, some silver coins, and a bar of gold... were sin. God condemned all of Israel for the sin and allowed the small town of Ai to defeat Israel. Joshua and the leaders went before the Lord after the defeat and God told them what had happened. As a result, they took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had and stoned and burned them.
Perhaps I need to take a new view of sin from the perspective of Achan's example and the breadth of its impact.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sins of the Father
Genesis 4-7
When God rejected Cain's gift, Cain became angry. God counseled Cain "You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." Cain, unable to let go of his anger, invited his brother into the field where he murdered him. He was banished from the land and the curse placed on his father Adam was increased. Adam was cursed to have to work by the sweat of his brow to scratch a living from the ground. Now Cain was further cursed from being able to coax anything to grow no matter how hard he worked... he was to be a wanderer, but also an example to future generations. We don't know much of Cain's descendants, but we do know that just a few generations down the line, the sins of the father visit again. Cain's great-great-great grandson Lamech resorted to murder as his ancestor had.
When God rejected Cain's gift, Cain became angry. God counseled Cain "You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." Cain, unable to let go of his anger, invited his brother into the field where he murdered him. He was banished from the land and the curse placed on his father Adam was increased. Adam was cursed to have to work by the sweat of his brow to scratch a living from the ground. Now Cain was further cursed from being able to coax anything to grow no matter how hard he worked... he was to be a wanderer, but also an example to future generations. We don't know much of Cain's descendants, but we do know that just a few generations down the line, the sins of the father visit again. Cain's great-great-great grandson Lamech resorted to murder as his ancestor had.
Why are the children punished for the sin of the father? We might as well ask why the children are blessed for the righteousness of the father. Seems to me that the punishment is not so much placed on the children, but rather chosen by the children. Once a taboo is breached by the father, it becomes that much more acceptable in the eyes of the children. Cain murdered, but pretended as though he knew nothing of it... when Lamech murdered, he all but bragged of it to his wives.
Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master... or it will master your children too!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
A Unique Mission
Matthew 3-4
When I think of John the Baptist, the way Jesus refers to Him in Chapter 11 is typically what comes to mind. Jesus said "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist..." Today, however, I noticed something different. At the beginning of Matthew's gospel account, he describes John's mission in the desert to prepare the way of the Lord. John finished that work when he baptized Jesus. Then Jesus went into the desert for 40 days. When Jesus comes out, we read the following... "When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee."
Once the calling that God had placed on John's life was complete, John was finished. John left so that the one who was greater than he, would have all the glory. It may not have been John's choice to leave... it may not have been the way John wanted to leave... but John knew all along that he had not come for glory, but to point to glory incarnate. In completing his one-of-a-kind mission, John showed us the way, then got out of the way.
Too often, we want to stick around after having completed our part to get some of the reflected glory. I recall the scene from Field of Dreams when Ray Kinsella has brought Terence Mann to his home. Terence is invited by the ball players return to the cornfield with them and Ray who has prepared the way wants to go to, but Shoeless Joe admonishes him by saying that he isn't invited. OK, that is probably a stretch, but the point is that sometimes we don't realize that the part that God has ordained for us is a bit part, yet vitally important to the end goal. When God calls, will we accept our part?
When I think of John the Baptist, the way Jesus refers to Him in Chapter 11 is typically what comes to mind. Jesus said "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist..." Today, however, I noticed something different. At the beginning of Matthew's gospel account, he describes John's mission in the desert to prepare the way of the Lord. John finished that work when he baptized Jesus. Then Jesus went into the desert for 40 days. When Jesus comes out, we read the following... "When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee."
Once the calling that God had placed on John's life was complete, John was finished. John left so that the one who was greater than he, would have all the glory. It may not have been John's choice to leave... it may not have been the way John wanted to leave... but John knew all along that he had not come for glory, but to point to glory incarnate. In completing his one-of-a-kind mission, John showed us the way, then got out of the way.
Too often, we want to stick around after having completed our part to get some of the reflected glory. I recall the scene from Field of Dreams when Ray Kinsella has brought Terence Mann to his home. Terence is invited by the ball players return to the cornfield with them and Ray who has prepared the way wants to go to, but Shoeless Joe admonishes him by saying that he isn't invited. OK, that is probably a stretch, but the point is that sometimes we don't realize that the part that God has ordained for us is a bit part, yet vitally important to the end goal. When God calls, will we accept our part?
Saturday, January 9, 2010
To Sleep, Perchance to Dream
Psalms 3-5
Sleeping... when it comes easy, we take it for granted, but let anxiety fill our lives and sleep evades... begetting more anxiety and less sleep. To this problem, the psalmist finds a solution. In Psalm 3:5-6, we read "I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side." and in Psalm 4:8 "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe."
When we rest in the Lord, in the arms of El-Shaddai, we can be assured that we are safe from all that would harm us... from all evil. No matter who or what is arrayed against us, he will protect. He is even the one who can save us from ourself if we will but follow him.
Sleeping... when it comes easy, we take it for granted, but let anxiety fill our lives and sleep evades... begetting more anxiety and less sleep. To this problem, the psalmist finds a solution. In Psalm 3:5-6, we read "I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side." and in Psalm 4:8 "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe."
When we rest in the Lord, in the arms of El-Shaddai, we can be assured that we are safe from all that would harm us... from all evil. No matter who or what is arrayed against us, he will protect. He is even the one who can save us from ourself if we will but follow him.
Friday, January 8, 2010
A Foundation of Faith
Isaiah 7-11
When Ahaz was king of Judah, he was faced with a potential attack by the combined forces of King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah of Israel. King Ahaz and his people trembled with fear. King Ahaz did evil in the sight of the Lord, yet the Lord had compassion on him and sent Isaiah to him with a message to stop worrying because the attack would never occur. God told him "Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm."
God continues to be patient with us and have compassion on us, yet he requires that we have a firm faith... a faith that doesn't depart at the first hint of trouble... a faith that can say like Job "Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" But since Ahaz didn't have the relationship with the Lord that Job had, the firm foundation of faith eluded him. How about you?
When Ahaz was king of Judah, he was faced with a potential attack by the combined forces of King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah of Israel. King Ahaz and his people trembled with fear. King Ahaz did evil in the sight of the Lord, yet the Lord had compassion on him and sent Isaiah to him with a message to stop worrying because the attack would never occur. God told him "Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm."
God continues to be patient with us and have compassion on us, yet he requires that we have a firm faith... a faith that doesn't depart at the first hint of trouble... a faith that can say like Job "Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" But since Ahaz didn't have the relationship with the Lord that Job had, the firm foundation of faith eluded him. How about you?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A Regular Practice
Job 1-2
Character counts! Job lived a life that was characterized by God in this way... “He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” High praise from the creator of the heavens and the earth; who knows us better than we know ourselves. One example of his habits is described in Job 1:5. Many parents have a regular practice of praying for their children, but Job took it a step further. Since his children often had parties that lasted for days... when the parties were over, Job would purify his children by offering a burnt sacrifice in their name just in case his children had sinned and "cursed God in their hearts." This was Job’s regular practice!
Evidently Satan didn't think as much of Job's character. He thought that Job's character would change once Job was faced with calamity... that Job would curse God to his face... but Satan didn't know Job's heart. It's one thing for Satan, God's enemy, to think that way, but how strange it must have seemed to Job that his own wife should encourage him to "curse God and die." Such an idea was incomprehensible to Job, so in all this Job said nothing wrong.
Character counts! Job lived a life that was characterized by God in this way... “He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” High praise from the creator of the heavens and the earth; who knows us better than we know ourselves. One example of his habits is described in Job 1:5. Many parents have a regular practice of praying for their children, but Job took it a step further. Since his children often had parties that lasted for days... when the parties were over, Job would purify his children by offering a burnt sacrifice in their name just in case his children had sinned and "cursed God in their hearts." This was Job’s regular practice!
Evidently Satan didn't think as much of Job's character. He thought that Job's character would change once Job was faced with calamity... that Job would curse God to his face... but Satan didn't know Job's heart. It's one thing for Satan, God's enemy, to think that way, but how strange it must have seemed to Job that his own wife should encourage him to "curse God and die." Such an idea was incomprehensible to Job, so in all this Job said nothing wrong.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Privileged Position
Romans 1-2
One of the things I like about the New Living Translation is that it often words familiar passages in a way that is easier for me to process... a way that catches my attention... a way that convicts. The NLT translation of Romans 1:5 is a good example.
One of the things I like about the New Living Translation is that it often words familiar passages in a way that is easier for me to process... a way that catches my attention... a way that convicts. The NLT translation of Romans 1:5 is a good example.
Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.We have been given the privilege and authority to evangelize... to tell people everywhere what God has done for them. When I read that this morning I felt convicted. Then, at church tonight, Mark started a new sermon series on Evangelism. God knows my heart so well. I shall listen.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Friend or Foe?
Joshua 1-5
Joshua has successfully taken the reins of control from Moses and moved the Israelites across the Jordan. He has listened to the Lord's commands and obeyed unquestionably. Now as he prepares to go up against the fortified city of Jericho, he looks up to find a man in front of him with his sword drawn. Joshua asks him if he is friend or foe and he simply states his position as the commander of the Lord's army while Joshua falls to his face in reverence and submission.
At first, I found it rather odd that the commander of the Lord's army didn't express his position as a friend of the Lord's chosen people, but on reflection it seems very proper. The commander of the Lord's army is committed to the Lord God only. If you follow after God and revere and obey him, then the commander and you are fighting for the same purpose, and you might be on his side, but he is still neither friend nor foe, but simply the commander of the Lord's army.
Joshua has successfully taken the reins of control from Moses and moved the Israelites across the Jordan. He has listened to the Lord's commands and obeyed unquestionably. Now as he prepares to go up against the fortified city of Jericho, he looks up to find a man in front of him with his sword drawn. Joshua asks him if he is friend or foe and he simply states his position as the commander of the Lord's army while Joshua falls to his face in reverence and submission.
At first, I found it rather odd that the commander of the Lord's army didn't express his position as a friend of the Lord's chosen people, but on reflection it seems very proper. The commander of the Lord's army is committed to the Lord God only. If you follow after God and revere and obey him, then the commander and you are fighting for the same purpose, and you might be on his side, but he is still neither friend nor foe, but simply the commander of the Lord's army.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Where's the Garden
Genesis 1-3
After reading the location of Eden in Genesis 2:10-14, it occurred to me that perhaps you could "find" Eden in Google Earth based on locating the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Of course, I didn't really expect to zoom into the Garden of Eden, but it was an interesting search anyway. I ran across an article that places Eden in northwest Iran in the area of modern-day Tabriz, Osku, and Kandovan... a reasonable location given biblical history. They like Osku -- a lush oasis in the midst of desert as a focal point. I find it somewhat ironic that the Iranian government has a "secret" military installation here... perhaps near the site of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When I zoomed out of that area of Iran, it almost looks like a giant crater... as if God removed the garden of Eden from the earth until a later time.
Alas, Eden is not to be found, at least not physically on earth, yet we need only delve into His word to find Him.
After reading the location of Eden in Genesis 2:10-14, it occurred to me that perhaps you could "find" Eden in Google Earth based on locating the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Of course, I didn't really expect to zoom into the Garden of Eden, but it was an interesting search anyway. I ran across an article that places Eden in northwest Iran in the area of modern-day Tabriz, Osku, and Kandovan... a reasonable location given biblical history. They like Osku -- a lush oasis in the midst of desert as a focal point. I find it somewhat ironic that the Iranian government has a "secret" military installation here... perhaps near the site of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When I zoomed out of that area of Iran, it almost looks like a giant crater... as if God removed the garden of Eden from the earth until a later time.
Alas, Eden is not to be found, at least not physically on earth, yet we need only delve into His word to find Him.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
All in the Family
Matthew 1-2
The genealogy of Matthew 1 struck as I breezed through it again. Normally when I read through genealogies, I often do the speed reading thing where I skim to see if there is an interesting factoid, but don't really pay much attention. I got to wondering today, if I was missing something... If you've researched your own genealogy (or had a wonderful mother who did), you know there is a mix of good and bad within any family tree. What about the family tree of Jesus. The following is a terse summary of the people of the Matthew genealogy for whom I could find scriptural references:
Abraham - Told King Abimilech that Sarah was his sister, preferring that she be taken by the King rather than he be killed.
Isaac - The second-born son of Abraham
Jacob - With his mother's help, Jacob stole his twin brother Esau's birthright and blessing.
Judah - Judah was the fourth son of Jacob. Shortly after selling his brother Joseph into slavery, Judah moved to Adullam. His firstborn son Er married Tamar but died childless. His second son Onan refused to have a child by Tamar and died too. Judah refused to allow his third son to marry Tamar, but later mistook her for a prostitute and had sex with her. Twin sons were born, Perez and Zerah.
Perez - When Tamar was giving birth to Perez and Zerah, the midwife tied a scarlet string around the wrist of Zerah who had started out first, but Zerah pulled his hand back and Perez burst out.
Hezron
Ram
Amminadab
Nahshon - The leader of the tribe of Judah during the time of the dedication of the ark of the covenant. He also led the tribe of Judah and the procession of the Isaelites as they left Sinai.
Salmon - Married Rahab the prostitute who hid the Israeli spies in Jericho
Boaz - An honorable man who looked after and later married Ruth
Obed
Jesse
David - The second King of Israel, he was a man after God's own heart, but not without is failures. In the spring of the year, when kings are to be at war, David stayed home, had an affair with Bathsheba, then had her husband, Uriah the Hittite, killed to hide the sin.
Solomon - King of Israel, he was the wisest and richest man in the world, he presided over the building of the Temple of the Lord; yet he had 700 wives and 300 concubines that turned his heart away from the Lord.
Rehoboam - King of Israel (Judah), he abandoned the Law of the Lord. The beginning of his reign caused the Israelites to be split into northern and southern tribes. He reigned for 17 years over a people who did evil in the sight of the Lord. They constructed idols and Asherah poles, instituted temple prostitutes and allowed all of the temple gold to be stolen by the Egyptians.
Abijah - King of Israel (Judah), he went to war with Jeroboam and the northern kingdom and defeated an overwhelming force by trusting on the Lord
Asa - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God. He removed the idols and altars to false gods and instituted religious reform. The Lord gave them peace in the land.
Jehoshaphat - King of Israel (Judah), he was a good king, he did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He continued to take down the shrines and altars and banished the prostitutes. He made a truce with the northern tribes of Israel.
Jehoram - King of Israel (Judah), he followed the example of the kings of Israel and was as wicked as King Ahab, for he had married one of Ahab’s daughters. So Jehoram did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.
Uzziah - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful. But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar so he was struck with leprosy.
Jotham - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He learned from his father's mistakes and became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.
Ahaz - King of Israel (Judah), he did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord. He made images for the worship of Baal, he sacrificed his own sons in the fire. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the pagan shrines. He shut the doors of the Lord’s Temple so that no one could worship there, and he set up altars to pagan gods.
Hezekiah - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He called on the Levites to purify the Temple and rededicated it to the Lord. He reinstated the Passover feast and the people worshipped the Lord. He sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful, even facing down King Sennacherib of Assyria by trusting on the Lord.
Manasseh - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. He even took a carved idol he had made and set it up in God’s Temple. So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God! He tore down all the altars he had built on the hill where the Temple stood and all the altars that were in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city. 16 Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed peace offerings and thanksgiving offerings on it. He also encouraged the people of Judah to worship the Lord
Amon - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He worshiped and sacrificed to all the idols his father had made, but unlike his father, he did not humble himself before the Lord. Instead, Amon sinned even more. Then Amon’s own officials conspired against him and assassinated him in his palace.
Josiah - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He destroyed all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images. He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their own altars, and so he purified Judah and Jerusalem. During his repair of the Temple of the Lord his God, his workers found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple! He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll. And he required everyone in Jerusalem and the people of Benjamin to make a similar pledge.
Jehoiachin - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and captured it, and he bound Jehoiakim in bronze chains and led him away to Babylon.
Shealtiel - Taken prisoner to Babylon.
Zerubbabel - Returned from exile with Ezra/Nehemiah as governor of Judah to rebuild Jerusalem. The Lord spoke through Haggai to him saying I will honor you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant. I will make you like a signet ring on my finger, says the Lord, for I have chosen you. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!
Abiud
Eliakim
Azor
Zadok
Akim
Eliud
Eleazar
Matthan
Jacob
Mary
The genealogy of Matthew 1 struck as I breezed through it again. Normally when I read through genealogies, I often do the speed reading thing where I skim to see if there is an interesting factoid, but don't really pay much attention. I got to wondering today, if I was missing something... If you've researched your own genealogy (or had a wonderful mother who did), you know there is a mix of good and bad within any family tree. What about the family tree of Jesus. The following is a terse summary of the people of the Matthew genealogy for whom I could find scriptural references:
Abraham - Told King Abimilech that Sarah was his sister, preferring that she be taken by the King rather than he be killed.
Isaac - The second-born son of Abraham
Jacob - With his mother's help, Jacob stole his twin brother Esau's birthright and blessing.
Judah - Judah was the fourth son of Jacob. Shortly after selling his brother Joseph into slavery, Judah moved to Adullam. His firstborn son Er married Tamar but died childless. His second son Onan refused to have a child by Tamar and died too. Judah refused to allow his third son to marry Tamar, but later mistook her for a prostitute and had sex with her. Twin sons were born, Perez and Zerah.
Perez - When Tamar was giving birth to Perez and Zerah, the midwife tied a scarlet string around the wrist of Zerah who had started out first, but Zerah pulled his hand back and Perez burst out.
Hezron
Ram
Amminadab
Nahshon - The leader of the tribe of Judah during the time of the dedication of the ark of the covenant. He also led the tribe of Judah and the procession of the Isaelites as they left Sinai.
Salmon - Married Rahab the prostitute who hid the Israeli spies in Jericho
Boaz - An honorable man who looked after and later married Ruth
Obed
Jesse
David - The second King of Israel, he was a man after God's own heart, but not without is failures. In the spring of the year, when kings are to be at war, David stayed home, had an affair with Bathsheba, then had her husband, Uriah the Hittite, killed to hide the sin.
Solomon - King of Israel, he was the wisest and richest man in the world, he presided over the building of the Temple of the Lord; yet he had 700 wives and 300 concubines that turned his heart away from the Lord.
Rehoboam - King of Israel (Judah), he abandoned the Law of the Lord. The beginning of his reign caused the Israelites to be split into northern and southern tribes. He reigned for 17 years over a people who did evil in the sight of the Lord. They constructed idols and Asherah poles, instituted temple prostitutes and allowed all of the temple gold to be stolen by the Egyptians.
Abijah - King of Israel (Judah), he went to war with Jeroboam and the northern kingdom and defeated an overwhelming force by trusting on the Lord
Asa - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God. He removed the idols and altars to false gods and instituted religious reform. The Lord gave them peace in the land.
Jehoshaphat - King of Israel (Judah), he was a good king, he did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He continued to take down the shrines and altars and banished the prostitutes. He made a truce with the northern tribes of Israel.
Jehoram - King of Israel (Judah), he followed the example of the kings of Israel and was as wicked as King Ahab, for he had married one of Ahab’s daughters. So Jehoram did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.
Uzziah - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful. But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar so he was struck with leprosy.
Jotham - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He learned from his father's mistakes and became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.
Ahaz - King of Israel (Judah), he did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord. He made images for the worship of Baal, he sacrificed his own sons in the fire. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the pagan shrines. He shut the doors of the Lord’s Temple so that no one could worship there, and he set up altars to pagan gods.
Hezekiah - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He called on the Levites to purify the Temple and rededicated it to the Lord. He reinstated the Passover feast and the people worshipped the Lord. He sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful, even facing down King Sennacherib of Assyria by trusting on the Lord.
Manasseh - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. He even took a carved idol he had made and set it up in God’s Temple. So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God! He tore down all the altars he had built on the hill where the Temple stood and all the altars that were in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city. 16 Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed peace offerings and thanksgiving offerings on it. He also encouraged the people of Judah to worship the Lord
Amon - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He worshiped and sacrificed to all the idols his father had made, but unlike his father, he did not humble himself before the Lord. Instead, Amon sinned even more. Then Amon’s own officials conspired against him and assassinated him in his palace.
Josiah - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He destroyed all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images. He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their own altars, and so he purified Judah and Jerusalem. During his repair of the Temple of the Lord his God, his workers found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple! He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll. And he required everyone in Jerusalem and the people of Benjamin to make a similar pledge.
Jehoiachin - King of Israel (Judah), he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and captured it, and he bound Jehoiakim in bronze chains and led him away to Babylon.
Shealtiel - Taken prisoner to Babylon.
Zerubbabel - Returned from exile with Ezra/Nehemiah as governor of Judah to rebuild Jerusalem. The Lord spoke through Haggai to him saying I will honor you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant. I will make you like a signet ring on my finger, says the Lord, for I have chosen you. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!
Abiud
Eliakim
Azor
Zadok
Akim
Eliud
Eleazar
Matthan
Jacob
Mary
Saturday, January 2, 2010
To Follow the Wicked or Not
Psalms 1-2
Much like the choices presented in Isaiah, Psalms 1 offers a stark contrast in choices... follow the wicked and be "worthless chaff, scattered by the wind" on the road to destruction... or delight in doing what the Lord wants "bearing fruit each season without fail" prospering in everything they do. Such an easy decision (if you believe) and yet the people of Israel (and us still) can't seem to pick the right path. Hmm... what does that say about our thought processes.
Is it any surprise that Psalms 2 begins with "Why do the nations rage?" The nations rage because they are wicked, for if they were following after the Lord then surely they would be filled with the joy that is "for all who find protection in him!"
In a recent message on the Lord's Prayer (12/20/2009), pastor Francis Chan from Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California describes one reason why this might happen. He held up a huge poster board of a Y on its side and described the decision like this... we come to a fork in the road and can choose our path... doing right (symbolically up towards heaven)... or wicked (down towards hell). The problem is that the wicked path goes downhill and is soooo much easier to walk, and after going down a little, even if you have second thoughts, you realize that now you have even farther uphill to go, because you've been going downhill so far. The further down you go, the harder the climb out seems.
Thanks be to God, he has provided a way. In Psalms 2:7-8 the king proclaims "You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as you inheritance, the ends of the earth as your possession." Halleluia!
Friday, January 1, 2010
It's a Brand New Year
I'm going to try it differently this year. The last several times I attempted to read through the Bible in a year I quit somewhere in the Pentateuch. The basic approach I'm going to use this year is based on a plan I found at http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html. The plan splits the Bible into 7 parts... The Law, History, Poetry, Psalms, Prophecy, Gospels, and Epistles. The author's thought was that by not getting bogged down in one section, there would be a greater probability of finishing. So here goes...
Isaiah 1-6
I'd forgotten how rich and fresh Isaiah was. It has been several years since I read through Isaiah, but I remember thinking last time that he could be speaking to the the current political/social climate. It is still pertinent, even in the differences...
Right out of the starting gate I was struck by Isaiah 1:3. The people Israel are more thankless than the donkey and ox, for even the animals appreciate their master. We are a fickle lot that thanks in one moment and turns in disdain the next. It happens at all levels... children to parents, political leaders to constituents, workers to employers, and Christians to God. God tells us through Isaiah that he is sick and tired of our actions and the we had better straighten up and fly right.
At Mulder Church, we have just completed our Advent Conspiracy campaign. The campaign slogan is to... Worship Fully, Spend Less. Give More. Love All. Isaiah's staccato words in 1:16-17 remind me of that slogan.
As Isaiah proceeds into Chapter 2, I think of the recent environmental summit in Copenhagen, Denmark. Somehow, I don't think many attendees would agree with Isaiah's statements that "the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem will become the most important place on earth" and that "the Lord will settle international disputes."
I had to smile with recognition (and yet furrow my brow in consternation) as I read in Isaiah 3:12... "O my people, can't you see what fools your rulers are? They are leading you down a pretty garden path to destruction." And yet there is no escaping the Lord's invitation in Chapter 6. "Whom should I send?"
Send Me.
Isaiah 1-6
I'd forgotten how rich and fresh Isaiah was. It has been several years since I read through Isaiah, but I remember thinking last time that he could be speaking to the the current political/social climate. It is still pertinent, even in the differences...
Right out of the starting gate I was struck by Isaiah 1:3. The people Israel are more thankless than the donkey and ox, for even the animals appreciate their master. We are a fickle lot that thanks in one moment and turns in disdain the next. It happens at all levels... children to parents, political leaders to constituents, workers to employers, and Christians to God. God tells us through Isaiah that he is sick and tired of our actions and the we had better straighten up and fly right.
At Mulder Church, we have just completed our Advent Conspiracy campaign. The campaign slogan is to... Worship Fully, Spend Less. Give More. Love All. Isaiah's staccato words in 1:16-17 remind me of that slogan.
As Isaiah proceeds into Chapter 2, I think of the recent environmental summit in Copenhagen, Denmark. Somehow, I don't think many attendees would agree with Isaiah's statements that "the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem will become the most important place on earth" and that "the Lord will settle international disputes."
I had to smile with recognition (and yet furrow my brow in consternation) as I read in Isaiah 3:12... "O my people, can't you see what fools your rulers are? They are leading you down a pretty garden path to destruction." And yet there is no escaping the Lord's invitation in Chapter 6. "Whom should I send?"
Send Me.
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