Genesis<\/p>\n
God created humanity. Though human sin caused alienation with God, God\u2019s merciful plan of salvation was set in motion from the very beginning. The plan began with a man of faith (Abraham) who gave rise to a nation of promise (Israel).
\nTimeline
\n2166\u2014Abram is born.
\n2091\u2014Abram enters into Canaan.
\n2080\u2014Ishmael is born.
\n2066\u2014Isaac is born.
\n2006\u2014Jacob and Esau are born.
\n1915\u2014Joseph is born.
\n1898\u2014Joseph is sold into slavery.
\n1885\u2014Joseph begins ruling in Egypt.
\n1876\u2014Jacob and his family go to Egypt.
\n1805\u2014Joseph dies.
\n1529\u2014Aaron is born.
\n1526\u2014Moses is born.
\n1445\u20131405\u2014Moses writes Genesis.
\nThe book of Genesis was written by Moses between 1445 and 1405 BC and is foundational to a proper understanding of the rest of the Bible. After all, Genesis not only tells us about the origins of the universe and humankind, it also informs us of the origins of human sin, suffering, and death. God\u2019s work of redemption, as recorded throughout the rest of Scripture, would make little sense if we did not first understand these foundational truths in the book of Genesis. We might say Genesis sets the stage for all that follows in the rest of Scripture. The word \u201cgenesis\u201d literally means \u201cbeginnings.\u201d
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Genesis:<\/p>\n
God is your Creator, so have some creaturely respect.
\nGenesis 1:1 tells us, \u201cIn the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.\u201d God also created human beings upon the earth (1:26-27; see also 5:1; 9:6). As creatures, you and I are responsible to obey the Creator. The psalmist\u2014reflecting back on the book of Genesis\u2014put it this way: \u201cKnow that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture\u201d (Psalm 100:3). Indeed, \u201cCome, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand\u201d (Psalm 95:6-7).
\n\u201cThus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: \u2018I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Isaiah 44:24<\/p>\n
You and I are made in the image of God. Live accordingly!
\nGenesis 1:27 tells us, \u201cGod created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.\u201d Elsewhere in Scripture, we learn man was created in God\u2019s image in the sense that he is a finite reflection of God in his rational nature (Colossians 3:10), in his moral nature (Ephesians 4:24), and in his dominion over creation (Genesis 1:27-28). In the same way the moon reflects the brilliant light of the sun, so finite man\u2014as created in God\u2019s image\u2014is a reflection of God in these aspects.
\nMy friend, since part of being created in God\u2019s image relates to our rational nature, doesn\u2019t it make sense to fill our minds with God\u2019s Word (Colossians 3:16)? And since part of being created in God\u2019s image relates to our moral nature, doesn\u2019t it make sense to follow the moral injunctions in God\u2019s Word (James 1:22-23)? Let\u2019s do it!<\/p>\n
God created you as a social being. Don\u2019t try to go it alone in life.
\nGod affirmed, \u201cIt is not good that the man should be alone\u201d (Genesis 2:18). God accordingly gave Adam a wife named Eve. She became his \u201chelper\u201d\u2014a word that carries the idea \u201cone who supports.\u201d When you think about it, all of us need support. All of us need companionship with other people. So don\u2019t try to go it alone in life. We need each other.<\/p>\n
Sin brings alienation between humans and God, but confession of sin brings restoration.
\nWhen Adam and Eve sensed the approach of God in the garden of Eden after they partook of the fruit, they \u201chid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden\u201d (Genesis 3:8). This hiding was rooted in the shame, remorse, confusion, guilt, and fear that accompany rebellion against God. We tend to respond in the same way.
\nOf course, there is no place to hide from God (Psalm 139:1-2,7-8). The best step to take after succumbing to sin is to confess it to God so that fellowship with Him can be restored (Psalm 32:3,5; 51:4; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9).
\nNo Hiding from God
\n\u201cWhere shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there\u201d (Psalm 139:7-8).
\n\u201c \u2018Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?\u2019 declares the Lord\u201d (Jeremiah 23:24).<\/p>\n
Sin brings about both spiritual death and physical death.
\nGod warned Adam that he would die the same day he ate of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:17). This does not contradict Genesis 5:5, which tells us Adam lived to the age of 930 years. When Adam and Eve sinned, they did not die that day physically, but they did die spiritually. The word \u201cdeath\u201d carries the idea of separation. Spiritual death involves the separation of the human being from God. When Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, they were immediately separated from God in a spiritual sense\u2014\u201cdead\u2026 in trespasses and sins\u201d (Ephesians 2:1). Their spiritual separation from God eventually led to their physical deaths (Genesis 5:5).
\nGood news: Jesus overcame death for us (Hebrews 2:14-15). Those who trust in Him for salvation are recipients of eternal life (John 3:14-16,36; 10:28; 1 John 5:11-13,20). Rejoice!
\n\u201cSin is always at work in the heart; a temporary lull in its assaults means not that it is dead, but that it is very much alive\u2026Sin\u2019s strategy is to induce a false sense of security as a prelude to a surprise attack.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014J. I. Packer<\/p>\n
People often make excuses when they sin.
\nWhen Adam was confronted by God about his sin, he said, \u201cThe woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate\u201d (Genesis 3:12). When Eve was confronted by God, she said, \u201cThe serpent deceived me, and I ate\u201d (verse 13). Both passed the buck. Both made excuses.
\nWe tend to make excuses as well (Luke 14:16-24). When we sin, let\u2019s be honest with God and admit our failures (Psalm 51:3,4,6; 32:5; 1 John 1:9). Only then will we be restored into proper fellowship with God.
\n\u201cA sin is two sins when it is defended.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Henry Smith (1560\u20131591)<\/p>\n
Walk with God each and every day.
\n\u201cEnoch walked with God\u201d (Genesis 5:22), as did Noah (Genesis 6:9). You and I may not walk with God in the exact same sense as Enoch and Noah, but Scripture says much about our spiritual walk with God. We ought to walk honestly (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12), and in a way that is worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1:10). We should walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). We should have a godly walk characterized by integrity (Proverbs 20:7). We should walk in dependence on the Holy Spirit (Galatians 6:8) and seek to walk as Jesus Himself walked (1 John 2:6). Walk with God!
\n\u201cWhat does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Micah 6:8<\/p>\n
God is holy and responds in sudden judgment in the face of unrepentant sin.
\nWe often find sudden destruction falling upon the wicked in the Bible. The unrepentant people living during Noah\u2019s time experienced a sudden and catastrophic flood (Genesis 6\u20139). They had 120 years to repent as Noah preached to them, but they ignored him, and irrevocable judgment suddenly fell (6:3-7).
\nSudden judgment is a common theme in Scripture. Proverbs 6:15 issues this warning about the wicked: \u201cTherefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.\u201d Isaiah 47:11 warns sinners that \u201cruin shall come upon you suddenly, of which you know nothing.\u201d
\nGod doesn\u2019t mess around. He means business when it comes to sin.
\nCross-References: God as a Judge
\nGenesis 16:5 \u2022 18:25 \u2022 30:6 \u2022 31:53 \u2022 1 Chronicles 16:33 \u2022 Psalm 7:8 \u2022 50:4 \u2022 58:11 \u2022 67:4 \u2022 75:7 \u2022 Ecclesiastes 12:14 \u2022 Isaiah 2:4 \u2022 Micah 4:3 \u2022 1 Peter 1:17 \u2022 Revelation 20:11-15<\/p>\n
God\u2019s favor falls on those who live His way.
\nMany people in biblical times found favor with God. The Genesis account reveals that \u201cNoah found favor in the eyes of the LORD\u201d (Genesis 6:8). A bit later, we are told that \u201cthe LORD was with Joseph\u201d and \u201cgave him favor\u201d (39:21).
\nElsewhere in Scripture we read that \u201cthe boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD\u201d (1 Samuel 2:26). \u201cDavid became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him\u201d (2 Samuel 5:10). The angel said to Mary, \u201cDo not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God\u201d (Luke 1:30).
\nHow \u2018bout it, my friend? Do you seek God\u2019s favor? If so, then imitate the people I just mentioned by living righteously and in obedience to God (Proverbs 12:2).
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not great talent that God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Robert Murray M\u2019Cheyne (1813\u20131843)<\/p>\n
God rescues His own people before sending judgment upon the rebellious.
\nGod is often seen rescuing His people before His judgment falls upon the rebellious (2 Peter 2:5-9). Enoch was transferred to heaven before the judgment of the flood (Genesis 5:24). Noah and his family were in the ark before the judgment of the flood (Genesis 7:1,6-7). Lot was taken out of Sodom before judgment was poured out on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1-22). The firstborn among the Hebrews in Egypt were sheltered by the blood of the Paschal lamb before judgment fell (Exodus 12:7,13). The spies were safely out of Jericho and Rahab was secured before judgment fell on Jericho (Joshua 2). One day, the church will be rescued by the rapture before judgment falls during the tribulation period (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52).<\/p>\n
God is a relentless promise keeper. You can take Him at His word.
\nGeneration after generation, the evidence mounts that God is a relentless promise keeper. The Abrahamic covenant is a perfect example. God in this covenant made unconditional promises to Abraham. Among other things, God promised Abraham and his descendants, \u201cLook toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them\u2026 So shall your offspring be\u201d (Genesis 15:5). Later in Genesis, we read that the Israelites \u201cwere fruitful and multiplied greatly\u201d (47:27). The promise was already beginning to be fulfilled.
\nGod also promised Abraham that all the people of the earth would be blessed by one of his descendants (Genesis 12:3). Fast-forward to New Testament times. Jesus is the descendant from the physical line of Abraham, through whom all the families of the earth are to be blessed (Matthew 1:1-2).
\nAll this gives us boldness in believing that all the other promises in the Bible about our Savior are just as reliable. There is good reason to anchor ourselves on the promises of God.
\nGod\u2019s Promises Never Fail
\n\u201cGod is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?\u201d (Numbers 23:19).
\n\u201cYou know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed\u201d (Joshua 23:14 NIV).<\/p>\n
God uses flawed human beings in the outworking of His plan of salvation.
\nGod uses imperfect humans to accomplish His purposes. God used Noah even though he got drunk (Genesis 9:21). God used Abraham even though he lied on several occasions (20:2). God used Sarah even though she laughed at the suggestion that God would enable her to have a son in old age (18:12-13). God used Jacob even though he was a deceiver (25:19-34; 27:1-41). This gives us confidence that God can use us too!<\/p>\n
Trusting God against all odds brings phenomenal blessing.
\nA number of the people mentioned in Genesis are heroes of faith. Perhaps the best example is Abraham, who showed unflinching faith when obeying God\u2019s command to sacrifice his own son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19). Of course, God stopped him just in the nick of time.
\nYou and I also encounter tests of our faith. James 1:2 urges us to \u201ccount it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness\u201d (see also 1 Peter 1:6-7). I urge you: trust God no matter what!
\nTrusting God When Life Hurts
\nJoseph trusted God even when his life was full of trouble. God greatly blessed him (Genesis 50:20).
\n\u201cCall upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me\u201d (Psalm 50:15).
\n\u201cTrust in him at all times\u2026God is a refuge for us\u201d (Psalm 62:8).<\/p>\n
Never forget: with God all things are possible.
\nEven though Abraham and Sarah were too old to have a baby, the Lord said to Abraham, \u201cIs anything too hard for the LORD?\u201d (Genesis 18:14). God can do anything He desires: \u201cMy purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please\u201d (Isaiah 46:10 NIV).
\nAre you facing an insurmountable problem? Turn to the God who can do the impossible.
\n\u201cFaith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man\u2019s power ends.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014George Muller (1805\u20131898)<\/p>\n
Good news: you are justified (declared righteous) by faith alone.
\nAbram \u201cbelieved the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness\u201d (Genesis 15:6). We call this \u201cjustification by faith.\u201d The word \u201cjustified\u201d is a legal term. Negatively, the word means one is once-for-all pronounced not guilty before God. Positively, the word means one is once-for-all pronounced righteous. You and I are justified by faith in Christ (Romans 3:25,28,30).<\/p>\n
Warning: sin can lead to the domino effect.
\nJoseph\u2019s brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:18-36). In so doing, they sinned greatly and then encountered the \u201cdomino effect.\u201d By \u201cdomino effect,\u201d I am referring to how one sin can easily lead to another. In this case, the ten brothers initially sinned against their father by selling his beloved Joseph into slavery. This quickly led to another sin involving spilling blood on Joseph\u2019s coat to deceive their father into thinking Joseph was dead. They allowed the deception to continue for decades.
\nSin is like a cancer. Unless checked, it can grow and grow. Better to nip it in the bud.
\n\u201cIn no case must we permit sin to find a lodging in our mind. Learn to say \u2018no\u2019 right in the moment sin approaches you. Only thus is victory possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Erich Sauer (1898\u20131959)<\/p>\n
Never forget: God has the amazing ability to bring good out of evil.
\nGod can bring good out of evil. A great example is Joseph\u2019s story (Genesis 45:1\u201350:26). He was sold into slavery by his own brothers. Once he was brought down to Egypt, he was eventually falsely accused by an immoral woman and then thrown into prison. All the while, God was sovereignly working behind the scenes. In the end, He used these circumstances to elevate Joseph to a position of great authority in Egypt so Joseph could then save many people from famine.
\nHere\u2019s a great Bible promise: \u201cWe know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose\u201d (Romans 8:28).
\nCross-References: God\u2019s Sovereignty
\nExodus 15:18 \u2022 Deuteronomy 4:39 \u2022 10:14 \u2022 2 Chronicles 20:6 \u2022 Psalm 9:7 \u2022 29:10 \u2022 33:8-11 \u2022 47:2 \u2022 83:18 \u2022 103:19 \u2022 Isaiah 40:21-26 \u2022 46:10 \u2022 Daniel 4:34-35 \u2022 Romans 14:11 \u2022 Ephesians 1:20-22<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t hold grudges. Forgiveness is the better path.
\nOnce Jacob died, Joseph\u2019s brothers worried that Joseph would seek retribution for the sin they committed decades ago (selling him into slavery). But Joseph urged them, \u201cDo not fear\u201d (Genesis 50:19). He said God was the one who ultimately brought him down to Egypt (50:20). Joseph had completely forgiven his brothers.
\nMy friend, forgiving others is one of the most important lessons we can learn. Colossians 3:13 instructs, \u201cAs the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.\u201d
\nCross-References: Forgiveness
\nGenesis 50:17 \u2022 Matthew 5:39 \u2022 5:43-44 \u2022 6:14 \u2022 Mark 11:25 \u2022 Luke 6:27,37 \u2022 Romans 12:17,19 \u2022 Ephesians 4:32 \u2022 Colossians 3:13
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t compromise. Walk with God and experience His favor.
\nExodus<\/p>\n
God does whatever is necessary to bring deliverance and redemption to His people.
\nTimeline
\n1885\u2014Joseph begins ruling in Egypt.
\n1876\u2014Jacob and his family go to Egypt.
\n1529\u2014Aaron is born.
\n1526\u2014Moses is born.
\n1486\u2014Moses flees to Midian from Egypt.
\n1446\u2014The first Jewish Passover is celebrated; the Jews leave Egypt.
\n1446\u2014Pharaoh and the Egyptians are defeated at the Red Sea.
\n1445\u2014The Ten Commandments are given.
\n1445\u2014The tabernacle is built and dedicated.
\n1444\u2014Israel camps at Mount Sinai.
\n1440\u2014Moses writes the book of Exodus.
\nExodus is one of the most loved books in the Old Testament. One reason for this is that it has all the elements of a great story\u2014strong personalities, powerful drama, great dialogue, and victorious underdogs. But more important, it is a true story about how God redeemed His people from bondage.
\nThis book, written by Moses in about 1440 BC, is a continuation of the story that began in Genesis\u2014particularly chapters 37\u201350. This is clear not only in the fact that the first seven verses of Exodus 1 repeat information from Genesis, but the first word of verse 1 in the Hebrew text of Exodus is the word \u201cAnd.\u201d This little word connects the books of Exodus and Genesis to each other.
\nIn the Hebrew Bible, Exodus is titled \u201cAnd these are the names.\u201d This title is based on the opening words of the book (Exodus 1:1). The ancients often titled a book according to its first words.
\nWhen the Hebrew Bible was translated into the Greek language, the book was given a new title. It was called Exodus, from the Greek word exodos. This is a compound word that joins two Greek words: ek (meaning \u201cout of\u201d) and odos (meaning \u201ca road\u201d). Taken together, the word \u201cexodus\u201d means \u201ca road out of\u201d or \u201cdeparture.\u201d This title describes the central event in the book: Israel\u2019s departure from Egypt as a result of the ten plagues God inflicted on Pharaoh and the Egyptians.
\nThe book also deals with God\u2019s establishment of a theocratic (God-ruled) nation under Moses by means of a new \u201cconstitution\u201d called the Sinai covenant (Exodus 16\u201340). In this covenant, God gave instructions for the ordering of life among the Hebrew people through the commandments given to Moses at Mount Sinai. Exodus also provides detailed information about the tabernacle and the ministry of the priests.
\nFrom the time of Joseph\u2019s death at the end of Genesis to the time of the book of Exodus, nearly 300 years had passed. The Israelites had once been favored and privileged guests of Pharaoh and Joseph, but now they had become a nation of slaves. The ruler who had been favorably disposed toward Joseph had died. And Egypt had forgotten its indebtedness to Joseph.
\nThe new king, unfamiliar with Joseph, departed from his predecessor\u2019s graciousness. He introduced a harsh policy against the Hebrews designed to guarantee the national security of Egypt and alleviate fears of a possible Israelite rebellion.
\nThe backdrop of Pharaoh\u2019s fear was that the Israelite population had grown at an incredible pace. Pharaoh feared that if a foreign invader made war with Egypt, the Israelites might join forces with them and overrun Egypt (Exodus 1:10). So Pharaoh decided to initiate a policy that would exploit their labor potential (by slavery) while at the same time check their growing population. He did this by consigning the Israelites to hard labor in building treasure cities.
\nThe Israelites suffered cruel bondage in this way for 400-plus years. But God had not forgotten the promise He made to the patriarchs. He \u201cremembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob\u201d (Exodus 2:24). He would send a deliverer.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Exodus:
\nBiblical Covenants
\nA covenant is an agreement between two parties. In Bible times God made covenants with
\n\u2022 Noah (Genesis 9:8-17);
\n\u2022 Abraham (Genesis 15:12-21; 17:1-14);
\n\u2022 The Israelites at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:5,6);
\n\u2022 David (2 Samuel 7:13; 23:5); and
\n\u2022 God\u2019s people in the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6-13).
\n\u201cGod is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Numbers 23:19<\/p>\n
God\u2019s people are not exempt from bad things happening\u2014even for an extended time.
\nBad things sometimes happen to God\u2019s people\u2014and sometimes the bad circumstances can last a long, long time. The Lord had previously warned Abraham about this: \u201cThe LORD said to Abram, \u2018Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years\u2019 \u201d (Genesis 15:13). This is a rounded-off number. Exodus 12:40 provides the exact time: \u201cThe time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years.\u201d (See also Acts 7:6.)
\nWe are not exempt from bad things happening today either. In fact, Scripture warns us, \u201cThrough many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God\u201d (Acts 14:22).
\nGod Can Bring Good out of Evil
\n\u201cWe know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose\u201d (Romans 8:28).<\/p>\n
God cares about the oppressed in the world.
\nWhen Joseph brought his family to Egypt, he had no idea a subsequent ruler would end up enslaving them\u2014indeed, his entire people (Exodus 1:1-14). What was intended to be a blessing turned out to be the curse of oppression.
\nGod, of course, does not countenance slavery. From the very beginning, God declared that all humans are created in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). The apostle Paul also declared that we are all \u201cGod\u2019s offspring\u201d (Acts 17:29), and that God \u201cmade from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth\u201d (Acts 17:26).
\nMoreover, despite the fact that slavery was countenanced in the Semitic cultures of the day, the law in the Bible demanded that slaves eventually be set free (Exodus 21:2; Leviticus 25:40). Likewise, servants had to be treated with respect (Exodus 21:20,26). Israel, itself in slavery in Egypt for a prolonged time, was constantly reminded by God of this (Deuteronomy 5:15), and their emancipation became the model for the liberation of all slaves (Leviticus 25:40).
\nThough the apostle Paul urged bondservants to obey their earthly masters (Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22), he was not approving of the institution of slavery but was simply alluding to the de facto situation in his day. He was instructing servants to be good workers, just as believers should be today, but he was not commending slavery. Paul also instructed all believers to be obedient to government (even if unjust) for the Lord\u2019s sake (Romans 13:1; see also Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13). But this in no way condones oppression and tyranny, which the Bible repeatedly condemns (Isaiah 10:1; Exodus 2:23-25). We must stand against all forms of oppression in the world today.
\nOne in Christ
\nPaul declared that in Christ \u201cthere is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus\u201d (Galatians 3:28).
\nAll social classes are broken down in Christ; we are all equal before God.<\/p>\n
Training for serving God can sometimes take a long time.
\nGod heard the cry of His people and raised up Moses to deliver them. Though Moses grew up in Egypt, and was trained and cultured as an Egyptian, he witnessed the unfair treatment of his own Hebrew people and did not like it. After killing an Egyptian taskmaster for treating a Hebrew harshly, he was driven into the wilderness, where he became a shepherd (Exodus 2:11-15). How quickly circumstances changed. This happened when Moses was 40 years old (Acts 7:23-29).
\nMoses spent the next 40 years as a shepherd in the land of Midian (Exodus 2:11-15). This served to be a time of education for him. Previously, he had studied under the Egyptians. Now God taught him how to survive in the desert and how to be a good shepherd. These are skills he would need in shepherding the Israelites out of Egypt toward the Promised Land.
\nEventually God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and commanded him to go to Egypt to deliver His people (Exodus 3:2). Moses was hesitant at first, but God assured him He would be with him and that he would succeed in his task. God had thoroughly prepared him.<\/p>\n
When God assigns you to a task, excuses are not acceptable.
\nWhen God commissioned Moses to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage, Moses responded, \u201cOh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue\u201d (Exodus 4:10).
\nGod responded to Moses, \u201cWho has made man\u2019s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak\u201d (Exodus 4:11-12).
\nGod would not allow this or any other excuse from Moses. When God assigns a person to a task, excuses are not acceptable. Obedience is the only option.
\nExamples of Excuses
\n\u2022 Adam\u2019s excuse\u2014Genesis 3:12
\n\u2022 Eve\u2019s excuse\u2014Genesis 3:13
\n\u2022 Moses\u2019s excuse\u2014Exodus 4:1,10
\n\u2022 A potential disciple\u2019s excuse\u2014Matthew 8:21
\n\u2022 A potential disciple\u2019s excuse\u2014Luke 9:59
\n\u2022 No excuses\u2014Romans 1:20<\/p>\n
You can learn much about God by the names He uses for Himself.
\nIn the ancient world a name was not a mere label as it is today. A name was considered equivalent to whomever or whatever bore it. Knowing a person\u2019s name amounted to knowing his essence and being. With that in mind, God ascribes the name Yahweh to Himself (\u201cthe LORD\u201d) when speaking to Moses (Exodus 3:15). This name indicates God is eternally self-existent. He never came into being at a point in time. He has always existed. He is the eternal God. The name also points to God\u2019s covenant faithfulness.
\nLater in Exodus, God is called Yahweh-Nissi\u2014a term meaning \u201cthe Lord Our Banner.\u201d Israel could not defeat her enemies in her own strength. The battles were to be the Lord\u2019s because He was Israel\u2019s banner\u2014her source of victory (Exodus 17:15).
\nToday you and I are privileged to call God \u201cAbba\u201d\u2014an Aramaic term of great intimacy, loosely meaning \u201cdaddy\u201d or \u201cpapa\u201d (Romans 8:15).<\/p>\n
God\u2019s servants are sometimes thrown into very difficult situations, but God always remains in providential control.
\nMoses appeared before Pharaoh and proclaimed, \u201cThus says the LORD, the God of Israel, \u2018Let my people go.\u2019 \u201d Pharaoh said he did not know the God of the Jews. Pharaoh then defiantly added to the burden of the Jews by commanding that they make bricks without any straw (Exodus 5). God reassured Moses that He would yet deliver the Jews. Moses communicated this to the Jews, but they were too disheartened to listen (6:1-9). The Lord promised to stretch out His hand against the Egyptians and bend their will (6:10\u20137:13). But the Jews remained discouraged. This was not an easy experience for Moses.
\nThis brings to mind how the apostle Paul in New Testament times often found himself in uneasy circumstances in service to the Lord. In fact, the Lord Jesus said this of Paul: \u201cHe is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name\u201d (Acts 9:15-16).
\nIt is entirely possible that we may be called to serve Christ in some capacity that is way outside our comfort zone and proves to be very difficult. But relax. Jesus has promised, \u201cI am with you always, to the end of the age\u201d (Matthew 28:20).
\nNotable Divine Deliverances
\n\u2022 Daniel\u2019s friends were rescued from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3).
\n\u2022 Daniel was rescued from the lions\u2019 den (Daniel 6).
\n\u2022 Jesus was rescued from death through the resurrection (Luke 24).<\/p>\n
God can and does use miraculous power to accomplish His sovereign purposes.
\nPharaoh was not about to listen to reason. He was arrogant and prideful, defying the God of Israel. God therefore empowered Moses to inflict ten plagues upon the Egyptians: (1) Nile turned to blood (Exodus 7:14-25); (2) swarm of frogs (8:1-15); (3) swarm of gnats (8:16-19); (4) swarm of flies (8:20-32); (5) diseased livestock (9:1-7); (6) outbreak of boils (9:8-12); (7) hail from sky (9:13-35); (8) swarm of locusts (10:1-20); (9) land engulfed in darkness (10:21-29); and (10) killing of firstborn among Egyptians (11:1\u201312:36). These judgments brought Egypt to its knees, and the Jews were released from bondage.<\/p>\n
Yahweh is incomparable. There is no one like Him.
\nIn Egyptian religion, the god at the very top of the totem pole was the sun god, Re. Next in line was Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, who was considered to be the son of Re. So Pharaoh was himself considered a god in his own right. Because Re was considered superior to all other gods, his son\u2014Pharaoh, the king\u2014was also considered to possess unmatched power as a god. This adds a whole new dimension to the Exodus account. It is as though a contest occurs between the true God on the one side and the false gods of Egypt\u2019s mystery religions on the other side (see Numbers 33:4).
\nPharaoh was unable to turn back the mighty plagues of Yahweh. The Egyptian Nile River god Nilus was unable to respond when Yahweh turned the whole river to blood (Exodus 7:17-21). The Egyptian sun god, Re, was unable to respond when Yahweh turned the entire land dark (Exodus 10:21-22). The Egyptian pantheon was impotent before Yahweh. (This is not unexpected, since other so-called gods do not really exist.)
\nToday there are many pretenders to the divine throne. Don\u2019t be fooled. Truly, there is no one like God in all the universe. He is incomparable.
\nTwo Means of Expressing Yahweh\u2019s Incomparability
\nNegation: \u201cThere is no one like the LORD our God\u201d (Exodus 8:10).
\nRhetorical questions: \u201cWho is like you, O LORD, among the gods?\u201d (Exodus 15:11).<\/p>\n
Victories sometimes entail a level of final resistance that must be overcome.
\nThe Egyptians had let the Israelites go, and God led them into the wilderness near the Red Sea (Exodus 13:17-22). The Egyptians then re-pursued them (14:1-9). Seeing their sudden danger, the Israelites rebelled against Moses and God (14:1-12). God, however, quickly opened the Red Sea so the Israelites could go across. The Egyptians continued to pursue, but God caused the waters of the Red Sea to close upon and destroy them (14:13-31). The fickle Israelites then thanked God (15:1-21).
\nHere\u2019s an important lesson to remember: we must never give up in our service to God. \u201cWith us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles\u201d (2 Chronicles 32:8). God promises, \u201cI will never leave you nor forsake you\u201d (Hebrews 13:5).<\/p>\n
God is the Sustainer of the universe. That means He is also your personal Sustainer.
\nIn the wilderness, God preserved His people from thirst (Exodus 15:22-27; 17:1-7), hunger (16), defeat (17:8-16), and from potential chaos through effective governing (18). In short, God took care of His people.
\nJesus is the Sustainer of the universe. \u201cHe upholds the universe by the word of his power\u201d (Hebrews 1:3). The word \u201cupholds\u201d does not refer to a mere passive support\u2014like an Atlas supporting the weight of the world in his hands. Nor does it merely indicate the idea of maintenance. The word carries the idea of movement toward a final goal, toward an appointed course. Scripture reveals that Jesus sustained the Israelites during the wilderness sojourn following their deliverance from Egypt (1 Corinthians 10:1-4). He also sustains you and me (Colossians 1:17).
\nGod as Sustainer
\n\u201cIf God maintains sun and planets in bright and ordered beauty, He can keep us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014F. B. Meyer (1847\u20131929)<\/p>\n
God provides His people with behavioral parameters to guide their living day to day.
\nGod instituted a covenant with His people, the Jews (Exodus 19:1-25). This covenant necessitated obedience to the Ten Commandments (20:1-26). The Ten Commandments can be broken down into two basic categories. The first four commandments pertain to the Israelites\u2019 relationship with God: (1) Have no other gods; (2) Have no graven images of God; (3) Do not take the Lord\u2019s name in vain; and (4) Keep the Sabbath. The next six commandments deal with the Israelites\u2019 relationships with each other: (5) Honor parents; (6) Do not kill; (7) Do not commit adultery; (8) Do not steal; (9) Do not bear false witness; and (10) Do not covet.
\nIn view of this, the total content of the Ten Commandments can be summarized in two briefer commandments: (1) Love God; and (2) Love your neighbor (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). For this reason, Jesus said the greatest commandment is \u201cLove the Lord your God,\u201d while the second is \u201cLove your neighbor as yourself\u201d (Matthew 22:37-39).
\nGod\u2019s commandments were given to Israel not to place a burden on the people, but to set them apart and distinguish them from surrounding pagan nations. They were provided to make the Israelites wise, great, and pleasing to a holy God. Those who obeyed the commandments reaped great blessing. Those who disobeyed brought discipline upon themselves (Exodus 19:3-25).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Just as Moses delivered the Israelites from physical slavery, so Jesus\u2014the greater Deliverer\u2014has delivered you from slavery to sin. Rejoice!
\nLeviticus<\/p>\n
God is holy. He desires His people to be holy as well.
\nTimeline
\n1526\u2014Moses is born.
\n1446\u2014The first Jewish Passover is celebrated; the Jews leave Egypt.
\n1445\u2014The Ten Commandments are given.
\n1445\u2014The tabernacle is built and dedicated.
\n1445\u20131405\u2014Moses writes Leviticus.
\nLeviticus was written by Moses between 1445 and 1405 BC. The book contains multiple ceremonial and ritual rules and regulations designed to govern every imaginable aspect of life among the ancient Israelites. Following the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, Israel was called to a new way of life, involving priests, tabernacle worship, sacrifices, and the like, making such rules and regulations necessary. So Leviticus contains laws about offerings and sacrifices (Leviticus 1\u20137); laws on the appointment and conduct of priests (8\u201310); laws about ritual cleansing, personal hygiene, and food (11\u201315); instructions regarding the Day of Atonement (16); and information and laws regarding Israel\u2019s festivals (17\u201327).
\nThis book takes its name from the Levites, the priestly tribe in ancient Israel. Leviticus literally means \u201cpertaining to the Levites.\u201d It was written essentially for the priests, who were then to instruct God\u2019s people on these laws.
\n\u201cA true love to God must begin with a delight in his holiness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Jonathan Edwards (1703\u20131758)<\/p>\n
Perhaps the most pivotal statement in the book of Leviticus is this: \u201cI am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy\u201d (Leviticus 11:44). A bit later in the book, the Lord repeated, \u201cSpeak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy\u201d (19:2). All the laws, rules, and regulations contained in this book are merely an outgrowth of the call to be holy. The Israelites were to be holy (or separate) from the pagan nations around them. And since God, as the divine Ruler, had made a covenant with the Israelites, the Israelites were obligated to obey the holiness stipulations of the covenant.
\n\u201cI believe the holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness which remains in him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)<\/p>\n
The regulations regarding the tabernacle and sacrificial system are no longer binding on us today, for Christ\u2019s sacrifice was once-for-all, rendering the entire Old Testament sacrificial system obsolete (Hebrews 9:13\u201310:18). Nor are the food laws about hygiene binding on us today (Colossians 2:16-17). What does remain is God\u2019s holiness and His call on His followers to live in holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16).
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Leviticus:<\/p>\n
God\u2019s holiness has profound implications for how you live.
\nThe underlying theme of Leviticus is God\u2019s holiness: \u201cI am the LORD your God\u2026 I am holy\u201d (Leviticus 11:44). \u201cI the LORD your God am holy\u201d (19:2).
\nBiblically, God\u2019s holiness means not just that He is entirely separate from evil but also that He is absolutely righteous. He is pure in every way. He is separate from all that is morally imperfect.
\nA key ramification of this is that if we want to fellowship with God, we have to take personal holiness seriously. Walking daily with God in fellowship necessarily involves living in a way that is pleasing to Him. And that is the secondary emphasis in the book of Leviticus. Because God is holy, God\u2019s people must be holy: \u201cBe holy, for I am holy\u201d (Leviticus 11:44). \u201cYou shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy\u201d (19:2).
\nWe find the need for God\u2019s people to be holy repeated in the New Testament: \u201cAs he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct\u201d (1 Peter 1:15). \u201cGod has not called us for impurity, but in holiness\u201d (1 Thessalonians 4:7). \u201cStrive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord\u201d (Hebrews 12:14; see also 1 John 1:5,7). My friend, I urge you to take this seriously. Holiness is a big deal to God.
\nGod Is Holy
\n\u2022 \u201cMajestic in holiness\u201d (Exodus 15:11)
\n\u2022 \u201cThere is none holy like the Lord\u201d (1 Samuel 2:2)
\n\u2022 \u201cThe Lord our God is holy\u201d (Psalm 99:9)
\n\u2022 His \u201cname is Holy\u201d (Isaiah 57:15)
\n\u2022 \u201cHoly, holy, holy\u201d (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8)
\n\u2022 \u201cThe Holy One in your midst\u201d (Hosea 11:9)<\/p>\n
There is a right way and a wrong way to worship God.
\nIn the context of the book of Leviticus, the right way of worship hinged on God\u2019s laws regarding offerings and sacrifices\u2014including general laws on the burnt offering (Leviticus 1:1-17), grain offering (2:1-16), peace offering (3:1-17), sin offering (4:1\u20135:13), and guilt offering (5:14\u20136:7). We also find specific laws on the burnt offering (6:8-13), grain offering (6:14-23), sin offering (6:24-30), guilt offering (7:1-10), and peace offering (7:11-38). Careful attention to these ritual requirements was necessary for all the people.
\nToday we no longer follow such ceremonial laws on worship, for they passed away with the coming of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:4). The New Testament\u2014along with supplementary insights from Psalms\u2014tells us all we need to know about proper worship today.
\nThe New Testament teaches that God alone is to be worshiped\u2014not human beings, not angels, not idols, not anything else (Matthew 4:10; Acts 14:11-18; Revelation 19:10). Worship involves reverencing God, adoring Him, praising Him, venerating Him, and paying homage to Him, not just outwardly in a corporate setting, but in our hearts as well.
\nThe church is a place of worship. The Hebrew word for worship, shaha, means \u201cto bow down\u201d or \u201cto prostrate oneself\u201d (Genesis 22:5; 42:6). Likewise, the New Testament word for worship, proskuneo, means \u201cto prostrate oneself\u201d (Matthew 2:2,8,11). In Old English, \u201cworship\u201d was rendered \u201cworthship,\u201d pointing to the worthiness of the God we worship. Such worship is the proper response of a creature to the divine Creator (Psalm 95:6). Worship can be congregational in nature (1 Corinthians 11\u201314) or individual (Romans 12:1). Worship does not stop on earth, but continues in heaven when believers enter into glory (Revelation 4\u20135).
\nThe backdrop to combining praise and song in worship of God is found in the psalms. Psalm 28:7 says, \u201cMy heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.\u201d Psalm 69:30 says, \u201cI will praise the name of God with a song.\u201d Psalm 95:2 says, \u201cLet us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!\u201d Psalm 149:1 says, \u201cPraise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song.\u201d
\nThe New Testament continues the emphasis on praise and song. Ephesians 5:19-20 says we should address \u201cone another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d Colossians 3:16 likewise instructs, \u201cLet the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.\u201d
\nOf course, because Jesus is the heart of Christianity, much of our worship should center on Him. Jesus\u2014as God\u2014is to be worshiped just as the Father is worshiped (Revelation 4\u20135). He was worshiped (Greek: proskuneo) as God many times according to the Gospel accounts\u2014and He always accepted such worship as perfectly appropriate.
\n\u201cGod is not moved or impressed with our worship until our hearts are moved and impressed by Him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Kelly Sparks
\nJesus accepted worship from
\n\u2022 Thomas (John 20:28);
\n\u2022 the angels (Hebrews 1:6);
\n\u2022 wise men (Matthew 2:11);
\n\u2022 a ruler (Matthew 9:18);
\n\u2022 a blind man (John 9:38);
\n\u2022 Mary Magdalene (Matthew 28:9); and
\n\u2022 the disciples (Matthew 28:17).<\/p>\n
The sacrificial system shows the heavy cost to be paid for sin: a life for a life.
\nThe Day of Atonement was annually celebrated on the tenth day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar\u2014the month of Tishri (September\/October). Only once a year could Aaron (or the high priest) enter into the Holy of Holies, the innermost part of the tabernacle, where the Ark of the Covenant was located. Before doing this, however, he had to secure forgiveness for his own sins. He did this by sacrificing a bull as a sin offering for himself, and he would sprinkle some of the blood in front of the Ark of the Covenant (Leviticus 4:5; 16; 23:27).
\nOnly after the high priest\u2019s sin had been forgiven could he then go on to offer sacrifices on behalf of the people of Israel. He would first kill a goat for the sins of the people. Then hands were laid on a second goat, and the high priest would symbolically transfer the guilt of the people to it, after which it was driven into the desert to symbolize that their sins had been carried away.
\nSince these sacrifices took place annually, the Israelites were reminded year in and year out that sin cut them off from God, so there was a regular need for atonement. This makes the sacrifice of Christ all the more important, for His sacrifice was once-for-all (Hebrews 9:9; 10:10). He gave His life for us! What an awesome Savior we have in Jesus.<\/p>\n
Obedience to God brings blessing. Disobedience brings chastisement.
\nA theme found not only in Leviticus but throughout the Bible is that obedience brings blessing whereas disobedience brings chastisement. In Leviticus, God instructs, \u201cIf you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit\u201d (Leviticus 26:3-4). Other blessings would come as well, including dwelling securely in the land, peace in the land, and victory over all enemies.
\nBy contrast, dire consequences would result \u201cif you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant\u201d (Leviticus 26:14-15). The people would suffer disease, defeat at the hands of their enemies, failed crops, and much more.
\nOnce we get to New Testament times, a primary emphasis is that we show our love for Christ by our obedience to Him. \u201cIf you love me, you will keep my commandments\u201d (John 14:15). \u201cWhoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him\u201d (John 14:21). \u201cThis is the love of God, that we keep his commandments\u201d (1 John 5:3). Those who obey Christ are even called Christ\u2019s friends: \u201cYou are my friends if you do what I command you\u201d (John 15:14).
\n\u201cIt might be well if we stopped using the words \u2018victory\u2019 and \u2018defeat\u2019 to describe our progress in holiness. Rather we should use the words \u2018obedience\u2019 and \u2018disobedience.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Jerry Bridges
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Make every effort to be best friends with Jesus.
\nNumbers<\/p>\n
God\u2019s people sometimes experience divine purging and discipline in preparation for great blessing. Unbelief is the big hindrance to watch out for.
\nTimeline
\n1526\u2014Moses is born.
\n1444\u2014Israel camps at Mount Sinai.
\n1443\u2014The spies check out Canaan.
\n1445\u20131405\u2014Moses writes Numbers.
\n1406\u2014Moses dies; Joshua is appointed; Israel enters into Canaan.
\nMoses wrote the book of Numbers between 1445 and 1405 BC (see Numbers 33:2; 36:13). Numbers documents the 40-year period from the giving of the Law at Sinai up until the conquest of Canaan.
\nThe title of this book derives from the two censuses recorded in the book, one at Mount Sinai (the original Exodus generation) and one on the plains of Moab (the generation that grew up in the wilderness and conquered Canaan\u2014see Numbers 1 and 26). Obviously, censuses involve \u201cnumberings\u201d or countings of people.
\nAside from these censuses, the book also contains a listing of the tribes of Israel (Numbers 2), regulations for the priests and Levites (3\u20138), information about the Passover (9), a chronicle of Israel moving from Mount Sinai to Moab on the border of Canaan (10\u201321), a record of Balaam and Balak (22\u201332), and the Israelites\u2019 journey coming to an end (33\u201336).
\nOne thing in this book that stands out with practical value for believers today is that God blesses obedience to His laws but brings discipline to those who are disobedient. While the people of Israel initially had faith in God as they were delivered from Egyptian bondage, their faith soon gave way to perpetual grumbling and rebellion, and, as a result, this brought God\u2019s disciplinary judgment. This judgment caused an 11-day journey (about 220 miles) to expand to a lifetime of travel\u201440 years\u2019 worth. Had they been obedient, the trip would have been short, and the majority of the original Exodus generation would have entered the Promised Land instead of a mere handful. As it was, it was mostly the children of these grumblers who entered the land and enjoyed the promises that had originally been made.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Numbers:
\nCross-References: Censuses
\nExodus 38:26 \u2022 Numbers 26:51 \u2022 2 Samuel 24:9 \u2022 1 Chronicles 21:5 \u2022 2 Chronicles 2:17-18 \u2022 Ezra 2:64 \u2022 Luke 2:1<\/p>\n
Being organized is good, but sanctification is more important.
\nNumbers begins with a census of the people (Numbers 1:1\u20134:49). Instructions are then given regarding the position of the tribes in camp and on the march (2:1-34). The placing of the Levites is discussed (3:1\u20134:49). Things were well organized. More important, however, Moses urged sanctification\u2014that is, keeping away from defiled things (5:1-31), taking a Nazirite vow (6:1-27), giving offerings (7:1-89), ensuring the consecration of the Levites (8:1-26), observing the Passover (9:1-14), and following God (9:15\u201310:10). The wilderness sojourn, despite being well organized, would fail unless there was true spiritual commitment among the people.
\nVerses to Remember
\n\u201cThe LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Numbers 6:24-26<\/p>\n
God is a promise keeper.
\nRecall God\u2019s promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:5: \u201cLook toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them\u2026. So shall your offspring be.\u201d When Joseph brought Jacob\u2019s family to Egypt, they numbered just 70 persons (Genesis 46:27). Numbers 1:46 tells us the Jewish people now numbered 603,550. Balaam would later ask, \u201cWho can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel?\u201d (Numbers 23:10). God is a promise keeper!
\n\u201cNot one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Joshua 21:45<\/p>\n
Keep God at the center of your life.
\nNumbers 2 tells us about the layout of the various tribes. Notice that the tabernacle was placed at the very center of the camp, with the various tribes being placed around the tabernacle. We can infer from this placement that God was supposed to be at the heart and center of the Jewish community. Certainly the Lord ought to be at the heart and center of our lives, our families, and our churches.
\nTwo key verses point to the wisdom of centering our lives on the Lord. Jesus said, \u201cApart from me you can do nothing\u201d (John 15:5). The apostle Paul affirmed, \u201cI can do all things through him who strengthens me\u201d (Philippians 4:13).
\n\u201cSeek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Matthew 6:33<\/p>\n
It is unwise to break your commitments to God.
\nThe backdrop to much of what we see happening throughout Numbers relates to the establishment of the Sinai Covenant. God\u2019s covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai constituted the formal basis of the redemptive relationship between God and the Israelites (Exodus 19:3-25). This covenant was couched in terms of ancient Hittite suzerainty treaties made between a king and his subjects. In such treaties, there would always be a preamble naming the author of the treaty, a historical introduction depicting the relationship between the respective parties, a list of required stipulations explaining the responsibilities of each of the parties, a promise of either blessing or judgment invoked depending on faithfulness or unfaithfulness to the treaty, a solemn oath, and a religious ratification of the treaty. In such treaties, the motivation for obedience to the stipulations was the undeserved favor of the king making the treaty. Out of gratitude, the people were to obey the stipulations.
\nSuch parallels between ancient treaties and God\u2019s covenant with Israel show that God communicated to His people in ways they were already familiar with. Key parallels between such treaties and the Sinai Covenant are that God gave stipulations to the people explaining their responsibilities (the Law, Exodus 20:1-17), and then gave a promise of blessing for obeying the law and a promise of judgment for disobeying the law (Deuteronomy 28). Tragically, Israel was often disobedient to God\u2019s covenant (Exodus 32:1-31). In this covenant, blessing was conditioned on obedience.
\nAs we consider the book of Numbers, we see that death often resulted from the covenant failures of God\u2019s people, whether on an individual or group basis (Numbers 15:32-36; 25:6-9). Moses himself was barred from entering the Promised Land because of his disobedience (20:10-13). Nevertheless, God in His grace eventually saw to it that the faithful among His people made it to the Promised Land.
\nThe Gist of the Book
\n\u201cThen the Lord said, \u2018I will pardon them as you have requested. But as surely as I live, and as surely as the earth is filled with the Lord\u2019s glory, not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have all seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they have tested me by refusing to listen to my voice. They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will ever see it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Numbers 14:20-23 NLT
\nIsrael\u2019s Three Big Problems
\n\u2022 Fear (Numbers 14:9)
\n\u2022 Unbelief (Numbers 20:12)
\n\u2022 Complaining (Numbers 11:1)
\n\u201cComplaining about our lot in life may seem quite innocent in itself, but God takes it personally.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Erwin Lutzer<\/p>\n
It\u2019s simple\u2014complaining displeases God.
\nNumbers 11:1 tells us, \u201cThe people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes.\u201d This understandably angered the Lord. God had provided them everything they needed, and yet they complained about everything. Such complaints were like a slap in the face of God, telling Him, \u201cYou haven\u2019t done good enough.\u201d Had they been a thankful people, events would have turned out much differently for them.
\nScripture often speaks of the importance of being thankful. One of the more famous verses is Psalm 100:4: \u201cEnter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!\u201d
\nThankfulness to God
\n\u2022 Give thanks forever\u2014Psalm 30:12
\n\u2022 Honor God with thanksgiving\u2014Psalm 69:30
\n\u2022 Come before God with thanksgiving\u2014Psalm 95:2
\n\u2022 Sacrifice of thanksgiving\u2014Psalm 116:17
\n\u2022 Always give thanks\u2014Ephesians 5:20
\n\u2022 Overflow with thanksgiving\u2014Colossians 2:7<\/p>\n
The majority is not necessarily right. Going along with the crowd can get you into trouble.
\nIn Kadesh, Jewish scouts were dispatched into the land of Canaan to report on the fortifications of the enemies (Numbers 13:1-24). The majority of the scouts\u2014all but two\u2014wimped out with their reports (13:25-33). We might translate their words in modern vernacular this way: \u201cForget it. No can do. It\u2019s a no-go. The enemy will squash us like bugs. We\u2019re outta here.\u201d The problem was, the majority was in the wrong. Only two spies proved faithful, ready to depend on God and His promises. Everyone else panicked.<\/p>\n
Continue to trust in God, even when the odds appear to be heavily stacked against you.
\nGranted, the Israelite spies saw a major opponent ahead of them: \u201cThere we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them\u201d (Numbers 13:33). Their mistake, however, was leaving God out of the picture. Here are the two possible outcomes:
\nIsraelites ALONE against the enemy = defeat.
\nIsraelites WITH GOD against the enemy = victory.
\nUnfortunately, the majority of the spies held to option 1. They became fearful and succumbed to unbelief, an unbelief that cost them dearly. Had they trusted in God\u2014despite the odds being stacked against them\u2014they would have had an entirely different outcome.
\n\u201cTrusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Stanley<\/p>\n
Beware: unbelief is highly contagious. It spreads like wildfire.
\nAs soon as the majority of the spies gave a negative report, unbelief spread like wildfire among the camp. We here witness the domino effect\u2014the people went down like dominoes, full of fear and unbelief. \u201cAll the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron\u201d (Numbers 14:1-2).
\nThe New Testament consistently urges believers against fear (John 14:27; Romans 8:31; 2 Timothy 1:7). A great antidote to fear is to meditate on Bible verses that speak of God\u2019s absolute control of all things: Deuteronomy 10:14; 1 Chronicles 29:12; 2 Chronicles 20:6; Job 42:2; Psalm 33:8-11; 47:2; Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:20-22; and John 14:1-3.
\nCross-References: Unbelief
\nNumbers 20:12 \u2022 Psalm 78:32 \u2022 95:8 \u2022 Matthew 13:58 \u2022 Mark 9:24 \u2022 16:14,16 \u2022 Luke 8:12,18 \u2022 18:8 \u2022 24:25-36 \u2022 John 6:64 \u2022 7:5 \u2022 10:25 \u2022 12:37 \u2022 20:27 \u2022 Acts 19:9 \u2022 Romans 11:20 \u2022 2 Corinthians 6:14 \u2022 Hebrews 3:12 \u2022 11:6 \u2022 12:25 \u2022 James 1:6 \u2022 2 Peter 3:4<\/p>\n
A short-term lack of trusting God can have long-term negative consequences.
\nAfter the spies gave a gloomy report, fear and unbelief spread among Israel\u2019s camp. They trusted in the naysayers instead of trusting in God\u2019s promises. As a result of their unbelief, God sentenced them to wandering in the desert for 40 years. Their short-term unbelief brought about long-term negative consequences. During this time, the original generation died out and hope grew as a new generation emerged.
\nIt may be sobering for some to reach old age and then look back over their lives, asking, \u201cHow might my life have turned out differently had I not succumbed to fear and unbelief throughout my life?\u201d
\nA New Testament Application
\nIn Old Testament times, unbelief and hardened hearts kept people out of the Promised Land (Numbers).
\nUnbelief and hardened hearts can also keep modern Christians out of the abundant life of rest (Hebrews 3:7-19).<\/p>\n
Life on earth can be hard, but your reward awaits you in the afterlife.
\nMoses did not enter the Promised Land because of his sin against God (Numbers 20:10-13). God instructed Moses, \u201cGo up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel. When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was\u201d (27:12-13). Death is a universal experience. Like all of his ancestors before him, Moses died and was \u201cgathered\u201d to his people in heaven. You and I, too, will one day be gathered to our people\u2014that is, Christians in heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Beware of fear, unbelief, and complaining. They will bring you down!
\nDeuteronomy<\/p>\n
Each new generation of people needs to hear the Word of God with a challenge to obey it.
\nTimeline
\n1526\u2014Moses is born.
\n1446\u2014The Jews depart Egypt under Moses\u2019s leadership.
\n1444\u2014Israel camps at Mount Sinai.
\n1410\u2014Moses writes the book of Deuteronomy.
\n1406\u2014Moses dies; Joshua is appointed; Israel enters into Canaan.
\nThe book of Deuteronomy, written by Moses in about 1410 BC, contains the words Moses spoke to the Israelites as they were camped in the plains of Moab, preparing to enter into the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 1:1). This was Moses\u2019s farewell address, and he was passing the mantle on to Joshua.
\nSome scholars have argued that Moses could not have written Deuteronomy, for the last chapter in the book records his death. It appears that another person\u2014likely Joshua\u2014penned the last chapter of Deuteronomy and appended it to what Moses had already written. It was not uncommon in biblical days for a person to append an obituary to the work of a great man (Deuteronomy 1:5; 31:9,22,24; 1 Kings 2:3; 8:53; 2 Kings 14:6; 18:12; Matthew 19:7-8).
\nIn any event, the word \u201cdeuteronomy\u201d literally means \u201csecond law,\u201d and accurately describes some of the book\u2019s contents. Indeed, the Ten Commandments recorded in Exodus 20 are repeated in Deuteronomy 5, with minor variations. Other laws recorded in Exodus are also repeated in Deuteronomy.
\nThe book also contains a restatement and reaffirmation of the covenant God made with the Israelites at Sinai (Deuteronomy 1\u201330). The covenant is couched in terms of ancient Hittite suzerainty treaties made between a king and his subjects. In such treaties, there would always be a preamble naming the author of the treaty, a historical introduction depicting the relationship between the respective parties, a list of required stipulations explaining the responsibilities of each of the parties, a promise of either blessing or judgment invoked depending on faithfulness or unfaithfulness to the treaty, a solemn oath, and a religious ratification of the treaty. Such parallels between ancient treaties and God\u2019s covenant with Israel show that God communicated with His people in ways familiar to them.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Deuteronomy:<\/p>\n
It is helpful to periodically review your past victories and defeats, as well as God\u2019s past acts of faithfulness.
\nIn the opening chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses provided a historical review of the wilderness sojourn, focusing heavily on God\u2019s mighty acts. He reviewed the sending out of the spies (Deuteronomy 1:19-25), the murmuring of the Israelites (1:26-46), the conquest of Transjordan (2:26\u20133:20), the division of the land (3:12-20), and his being forbidden to cross the Jordan (3:21-29). He exhorted his people to learn from their past and obey the Lord (4). It is always wise to learn lessons from our past experiences.
\n\u201cHistory is a story written by the finger of God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014C. S. Lewis (1898\u20131963)<\/p>\n
Review God\u2019s Word on a consistent basis.
\nMoses reviewed with his people the stipulations of God\u2019s covenant. He reiterated the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5:1-33) and the command to love the Lord (6:1-25), and gave instructions about loving each other in the Promised Land (7:1-26). He exhorted the people to not forget the Lord (8:1-20), issued a warning based on past infidelities (9:1\u201310:11), and exhorted all to revere the Lord (10:12\u201311:32). Moses then set forth covenant stipulations on proper worship (12:1\u201316:17), running the nation (16:18\u201319:21), warfare (20), interpersonal relationships (21:1\u201325:19), and firstfruits and tithes (26).
\nMoses provided this review as the Israelites were camped in the plains of Moab, preparing to enter into the Promised Land. This review was critically important because it would keep their priorities straight in their new land.
\nA continual reviewing of God\u2019s Word is beneficial to us as well. Let us never forget what Paul said about God\u2019s Word in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: \u201cAll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.\u201d Reviewing God\u2019s Word will keep you equipped and on track!
\n\u201cI have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Psalm 119:11<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t ever be deceived: there is only one true God.
\nDeuteronomy 6:4 tells us, \u201cHear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.\u201d I believe the text is best rendered from the Hebrew, \u201cHear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.\u201d It is an affirmation that despite the multiple alleged deities of paganism, there is truly only one God, and that is the God of whom Moses spoke.
\nThis affirmation of faith was known as the Shema among the ancient Jews. When we consider that the Israelites had been delivered from Egypt\u2014a land brimming with false gods and idols\u2014the importance of the Shema is obvious. The Jews made a habit of reciting this affirmation twice a day\u2014once in the morning and once in the evening. They also required children to memorize it at an early age.
\nCross-References: One True God
\nDeuteronomy 4:35,39 \u2022 6:4 \u2022 James 2:19 \u2022 1 Corinthians 8:4 \u2022 1 Kings 8:60<\/p>\n
Obedience brings blessing from the Lord. Disobedience brings chastisement.
\nMoses described the terms of the covenant and called for obedience, which would bring blessing. Abandoning God\u2019s covenant, by contrast, would bring severe consequences (Deuteronomy 29). Prosperity comes only in staying close to the Lord (30:1-10). A covenant offer of life or death was given to the people (30:11-20). Moses urged them to choose life by obeying God.
\nAs we consult the rest of Scripture, we find that obedience to God has many benefits. Obedience to God brings blessing (Luke 11:28), long life (1 Kings 3:14; John 8:51), happiness (Psalm 112:1; 119:56), peace (Proverbs 1:33), and a state of well-being (Jeremiah 7:23; see also Exodus 19:5; Leviticus 26:3-4; Deuteronomy 4:40; 12:28; 28:1; Joshua 1:8; 1 Chronicles 22:13; Isaiah 1:19).
\nConsequences of Sin
\n\u2022 Separation from God\u2014Ephesians 4:17-19
\n\u2022 Wages of sin is death\u2014Romans 6:23
\n\u2022 Causes us to do what we don\u2019t want to do\u2014Romans 7:14-15<\/p>\n
Parents ought to always impress God\u2019s Word upon their children.
\nDeuteronomy 6:6-7 tells us, \u201cThese words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.\u201d The phrase \u201cteach them diligently to your children\u201d can also be rendered \u201cimpress them on your children.\u201d The term impress literally means \u201cto whet.\u201d We are to whet our children\u2019s appetites for the things of God. Our goal is to make the things of God palatable to our children so they will grow in their appetite of it.
\nThe word \u201cimpress\u201d is also a present tense word. This means the \u201cimpressing\u201d is to be a continuous and ongoing activity. It\u2019s not only a Sunday thing. It\u2019s a seven-day-a-week thing.
\nA secondary meaning of the Hebrew word for impress is \u201cto sharpen.\u201d We are to sharpen our children\u2019s minds with God\u2019s Word so their thinking patterns will reflect His will. As we continue to impress the things of God upon our children\u2019s minds, they will increasingly build a Christian worldview\u2014a grid through which they will see and interpret everything around them.
\nThe method we are to use in teaching our children about God and loving God is to relate what the Scriptures say to the context of all of life\u2014when you sit down, when you walk around, when you lie down, and when you rise up. As you go about your day in the normal circumstances of life, teach your children what you have been taught and have learned and discovered in your own experience.
\n\u201cFamily life is a school for character.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Martin Luther (1483\u20131546)
\n\u201cThe home is God\u2019s built-in training facility.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Swindoll
\n\u201cIf you neglect to instruct children in the way of holiness, will the devil neglect to instruct them in the way of wickedness? No; if you will not teach them to pray, he will to curse, swear, and lie; if ground be uncultivated, weeds will spring.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Flavel (1627\u20131691)<\/p>\n
You can only pass on to your children what you already possess.
\nNotice that God\u2019s instruction about impressing the things of God upon our children follows the command to \u201clove the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might\u201d (Deuteronomy 6:5). It\u2019s not just that we teach our kids to love God supremely. First and foremost, parents themselves must love God supremely. We cannot pass a love for God on to our children that we ourselves do not already possess. We model for our children what it means to love God.
\n\u201cIf Christendom is to be helped, one must begin with the children.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Martin Luther (1483\u20131546)<\/p>\n
As God\u2019s people, we are to both fear the Lord and love the Lord.
\nDeuteronomy 10:12-13 instructs, \u201cAnd now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?\u201d Though it might sound a bit contradictory, God\u2019s people are called to both fear the Lord and love the Lord. Of course, to \u201cfear\u201d the Lord does not mean we are to have the emotional feeling of being afraid of Him. Rather, the term points to reverence for God\u2014showing Him what might be called \u201creligious awe.\u201d There is no conflict in loving God and showing Him great reverence.
\nFear of the Lord Motivates
\n\u2022 obedience to God\u2014Deuteronomy 5:29; Ecclesiastes 12:13;
\n\u2022 service to God\u2014Deuteronomy 6:13; and
\n\u2022 the avoidance of evil\u2014Proverbs 3:7; 8:13; 16:6.<\/p>\n
Beware: false prophets could lead you astray.
\nDeuteronomy 18:10-22 warns God\u2019s people against false prophets. Verses 21-22 indicate that false prophets are those who give false prophecies that do not come true. As we consult the rest of the Bible, we find that false prophets also sometimes cause people to follow false gods or idols (Exodus 20:3-4; Deuteronomy 13:1-3); deny the deity of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:8-9); deny the humanity of Jesus Christ (1 John 4:1-2); advocate abstaining from certain foods and\/or meats for spiritual reasons (1 Timothy 4:3-4); deprecate or deny the need for marriage (1 Timothy 4:3); promote immorality (Jude 4-7); and encourage legalistic self-denial (Colossians 2:16-23).
\nHere is a basic rule of thumb: if a so-called prophet says anything that clearly contradicts any part of God\u2019s Word, his teachings should be rejected (Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21).
\nDefinition: False Prophets
\nFalse prophets are individuals who pretend to be genuine spokesmen for God but in fact propagate false doctrine (Matthew 7:15-16; 2 Corinthians 11:2-3; Acts 20:28-30). For this reason, the Bible exhorts believers to test those who claim to be prophets (1 John 4:1-2).<\/p>\n
Beware of false religions\u2014they often involve destructive practices and can easily contaminate God\u2019s people.
\nThe primary false religious system faced by the Israelites was that of Canaanite paganism (Deuteronomy 7). The Canaanites were polytheists who were intent on spreading their false religion as far as they could. They believed that behind the world of nature were numerous gods and goddesses that controlled various events. El was considered the chief among the Canaanite deities. Likened to a bull in a herd of cows, the people referred to him as \u201cfather bull\u201d and regarded him as creator. Asherah was the wife of El.
\nChief among the 70 gods and goddesses considered offspring of El and Asherah was Hadad, more commonly known as Baal, meaning \u201cLord.\u201d As reigning king of the gods, Baal controlled heaven and earth. As god of rain and storm, he was responsible for vegetation and fertility, and so his blessing was critical to the Canaanites in obtaining good harvests. Anath, the goddess who loved war, was his sister as well as his spouse. These and many other gods were part and parcel of the Canaanite pantheon.
\nThe Canaanites often gave sacrifices to their gods\u2014sometimes involving an animal, but at other times humans (Hosea 13:2). This, of course, was considered an abomination to God (Deuteronomy 12:13).
\nGod therefore warns His people to avoid being contaminated by such false religion: \u201cYou shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods\u201d (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). God\u2019s will is clear: Come out and be separate (2 Corinthians 6:17).
\nGod\u2019s Abhorrence of False Religions
\nAgain and again the Bible implies and states that God hates, despises, and utterly rejects anything associated with heathen false religions and practices.
\nThose who follow such idolatry are not regarded as groping their way to God but rather as having turned their backs on Him, following the ways of darkness.<\/p>\n
Jesus is the greater prophet of whom Moses spoke. Jesus must always be your top authority.
\nIn Deuteronomy 18:15-18 Moses said, \u201cThe LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers\u2014it is to him you shall listen,\u201d and God said of this greater prophet, \u201cI will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.\u201d
\nJesus perfectly fulfilled these verses, since (1) He was from among His Jewish brethren (Galatians 4:4). (2) He fulfilled the affirmation in Deuteronomy 18:18 that this prophet speaks only what God commands of Him. After all, Jesus said, \u201cI do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me\u201d (John 8:28). And, \u201cI have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment\u2014what to say and what to speak\u201d (John 12:49). (3) He called Himself a \u201cprophet\u201d (Luke 13:33), and the people considered Him a prophet (Matthew 21:11; Luke 7:16). More broadly, Scripture reveals Jesus was a Prophet (speaking to men for God), a Priest (speaking to God for men, Hebrews 7\u201310), and a King (reigning over men for God, Revelation 19\u201320).
\nDeuteronomy 18:15 prophesied that this prophet would be \u201clike\u201d Moses. Interestingly, as babies, both Moses and Jesus had death plots initiated against them (Exodus 1:15-16,22, Matthew 2:13-15); both of them were rescued as a result of divine intervention (Exodus 2:2-10, Matthew 2:13-15); both of them were authenticated by signs and wonders (Exodus 7:10,19,20; 8\u201312; Matthew 8:14-17; 14:13; Luke 7:11); Moses liberated the Israelites from bondage in Egypt, while Christ liberated believers from the bondage of sin (Exodus; Isaiah 53; John 8:32-36; Romans 6:18-22, 8:2; Galatians 5:1); Moses spoke to God \u201cface to face,\u201d as did Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration (Exodus 33:11, Matthew 17:3); and Moses was the mediator of the old covenant, whereas Christ was the mediator of the new covenant (Exodus 19 and 20, Hebrews 12:24).
\nWe can also observe that in Acts 3:19-23 the apostle Peter indicates Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophet prophesied in Deuteronomy 18. No wonder Jesus said to some Jewish critics, \u201cIf you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me\u201d (John 5:46). Now, here is a point not to miss: since Jesus is the great prophet\u2014indeed, since He is the very Son of God (John 3:16)\u2014it is incumbent on us to listen to Him and obey Him in all things.
\nThree Offices of Jesus
\nAs a Prophet, Jesus gave the Upper Room Discourse (John 14\u201316), the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24\u201325), and the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5\u20137).
\nAs our divine High Priest, Jesus represents the Father to us and represents us to the Father (2 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25,27).
\nJesus is also the messianic King (2 Samuel 7:16; Psalm 2:6; 110; Daniel 7:13-14).<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be disappointed if you don\u2019t always get all the answers you want on this side of eternity.
\nDeuteronomy 29:29 tells us, \u201cThe secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.\u201d Such a statement is understandable in view of the fact that God is omniscient (all-knowing) while man has finite understanding. We will never fully understand God\u2019s thoughts: \u201cMy thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts\u201d (Isaiah 55:8-9).
\n\u201cOh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Romans 11:33<\/p>\n
Despite God\u2019s forgiveness of sin, the temporal consequences of sin may yet remain.
\nGod said to Moses, \u201cThis is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, \u2018I will give it to your offspring.\u2019 I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there\u201d (Deuteronomy 34:4). We are then told, \u201cSo Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD\u201d (34:5). Moses, of course, went straight to heaven. But the temporal consequences of one particular sin remained (Numbers 20:7-13). He therefore died, not being permitted to enter the Promised Land. This is a good lesson for all of us.
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Make it a daily habit to both fear the Lord and love the Lord.<\/p>\n
Joshua<\/p>\n
God has made wondrous promises to His people. His people can either hasten fulfillment of these promises by doing things God\u2019s way or throw up a roadblock by engaging in sin or unbelief.
\nTimeline
\n1446\u2014The first Jewish Passover is celebrated; the Jews leave Egypt.
\n1445\u2014The Ten Commandments are given.
\n1444\u2014Israel camps at Mount Sinai.
\n1443\u2014The spies check out Canaan.
\n1406\u2014Moses dies; Joshua is appointed; Israel enters into Canaan.
\n1405\u20131385\u2014Joshua writes the book of Joshua.
\nJewish tradition affirms that Joshua wrote this book. Parts of the book actually identify Joshua as the author (Joshua 8:32; 24:1-26). Supporting this is the fact that the author was an eyewitness (5:1,6; 18:9; 24:26) who wrote the book close in time to the actual events (6:25; 15:63). An assistant to Joshua\u2014or perhaps the high priest Eleazar\u2014attached comments about Joshua\u2019s death, and the events that took place after his death (24:29-33). The book was written between 1405 and 1385 BC.
\nJoshua was Moses\u2019s assistant leader during the Exodus and the desert wanderings (Joshua 1:1). He was an extremely effective military commander and leader, and for this reason, he was a natural successor to Moses (Deuteronomy 34; Joshua 1:1-18). This would have been when Joshua was about 90 years old.
\nJoshua was one of the only original Israelites who left Egypt to have the faith and courage to enter into the Promised Land (Caleb was the other, Numbers 14:38). Joshua would certainly need this kind of faith and courage in leading the Israelites in conquering Canaan. His name is a shortened form of Yehoshua, which literally means \u201cthe Lord is salvation.\u201d The Lord\u2019s \u201csalvation\u201d would be evident in bringing victory over the inhabitants of Canaan. The Canaanites were an evil people, engulfed in such things as religious prostitution, many kinds of sexual perversion, and human sacrifice.
\nThe book of Joshua focuses on Israel\u2019s entering the land of Canaan (Joshua 1:1\u20135:15), Israel\u2019s conquering of the land of Canaan (6:1\u201312:24), and the dividing of the land of Canaan among the 12 tribes of Israel (13:1\u201324:33), all under the effective leadership of Joshua. All of this is rooted in the land promises given to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 15:7; 26:2). (Ultimate fulfillment of the land promises comes in Christ\u2019s future millennial kingdom.)
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Joshua:<\/p>\n
Regular meditation on the Word of God brings success in life.
\nJoshua 1:8 instructs, \u201cThis Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.\u201d
\nBiblical meditation involves pondering God\u2019s Word and His faithfulness (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:148). The Hebrew word for \u201cmeditate\u201d can mean \u201cto utter, imagine, speak, roar, mutter, meditate, and muse.\u201d The word is used in Isaiah 31:4 to express the roar of a lion. It is used in Isaiah 38:14 in reference to the sound of the mourning of doves. In both cases, the idea seems to be that outward expression is an outgrowth of strong inner emotions and thought.
\nWhen used of humans, the term carries the basic idea of \u201cmurmuring.\u201d It portrays a person who is deep in thought, mumbling with his lips as though talking to himself. It is as though strong feelings build up in the innermost depths of his soul, and the pressure is finally released (like steam) in verbal expression. When one meditates on God\u2019s Word, one concentrates so intensely that murmuring with the lips can occur.
\nSuch meditation \u201cwill make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success\u201d (Joshua 1:8). Contextually, this refers not to financial prosperity but rather to military victory. In the conquest of the Promised Land, God promised Joshua that his military efforts would prosper if he and his followers maintained a commitment to meditate upon and obey God\u2019s Word. Of course, we can draw a broader application, recognizing that our endeavors in life will be successful to the extent that we stay rooted in God\u2019s Word and obey it (compare with Psalm 1).
\n\u201cMeditation is holding the Word of God in the mind until it has affected every area of one\u2019s life and character.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Andrew Murray (1828\u20131917)<\/p>\n
Life-saving carries more ethical weight than truth-telling.
\nJoshua sent in spies to check out Jericho. They lodged at Rahab\u2019s house. The pagan king became aware of this and commanded Rahab, \u201cBring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land\u201d (Joshua 2:3).
\nRahab lied: \u201cTrue, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them\u201d (Joshua 2:4-5). For this, Rahab was commended in the Hebrews Faith Hall of Fame (Hebrews 11:31).
\nRahab was faced with a moral dilemma. Should she lie to her government, or save the lives of the spies? Since life-saving is a higher obligation than truth-telling, God did not hold her responsible for the lie but rather honored her in the Hebrews Faith Hall of Fame.
\nOf course, this was a unique situation that should not be taken to mean it is okay for Christians to go around telling lies. Scripture forbids lying (Exodus 20:16). It is an abomination to God (Proverbs 12:22; see also Psalm 59:12). Righteous men hate lying (Proverbs 13:5). In the present case, lying was a last resort engineered to save lives.
\n\u201cAbsolute moral laws sometimes run into inevitable conflict. In such cases it is our moral duty to do the lesser evil. We must break the lesser law and plead mercy. For instance, we should lie to save the life and then ask for forgiveness for breaking God\u2019s absolute moral law.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Norman Geisler<\/p>\n
Some people are so heinously wicked and evil that to protect the broader pool of innocent humanity it becomes necessary for good people to use lethal force against them.
\nGod instructed Joshua and his army to drive out and destroy the Canaanites (Joshua 3:10). God\u2019s command was issued not because God is cruel and vindictive, but because the Canaanites were so horrible, so evil, so oppressive, and so cancerous to society that, like a human cancer, the only option was complete removal.
\nThese were people who were burning their children alive in honor of their false gods, engaging in sex with animals, and all sorts of other loathsome practices (Leviticus 18:23-24; 20:3). They were unrepentant in all these activities. Human society itself would have been poisoned without the utter removal of the cancerous Canaanites. God would have been showing utter disregard for the broader pool of innocent humanity if He had not acted to stop this gangrenous nation from taking over all society.
\nOne must keep in mind that the Canaanites had had plenty of time to repent. The biblical pattern is that when nations repent, God withholds promised judgment (Jeremiah 18:7-8). This principle is clearly illustrated for us in the case of the Ninevites, who repented and averted promised judgment (Jonah 3). God is often seen showing mercy where repentance is evident (Exodus 32:14; 2 Samuel 24:16; Amos 7:3,6).
\nThe Canaanites were not acting blindly. They had heard of the God of the Israelites and knew what was expected of them, but they defied Him and continued in their sinful ways. They were ripe for judgment.
\nGod\u2019s Wrath
\n\u2022 God is a God of love (Psalm 33:5; 86:5; Jeremiah 31:3; 1 John 4:8).
\n\u2022 Yet He is also a holy God (Leviticus 11:44; Psalm 99:9; Isaiah 6:3).
\n\u2022 He therefore shows wrath against sin (Revelation 20:11-15).
\nMiracles
\n\u2022 C. S. Lewis defines a miracle as \u201can interference with nature by supernatural power.\u201d
\n\u2022 J. Gresham Machen defines a miracle as \u201can event in the external world that is wrought by the immediate power of God.\u201d
\n\u2022 J. I. Packer says a miracle is \u201can observed event that triggers awareness of God\u2019s presence and power.\u201d<\/p>\n
God is a God of miracles. He can do things beyond all imagination.
\nJoshua 6 describes the miraculous fall of the walls of Jericho. God\u2019s instructions to Joshua and his people were to walk around the city of Jericho for six days in a row, and then on the seventh day walk around the city seven times. God promised, \u201cThe priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram\u2019s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat\u201d (Joshua 6:4-5). The people did as instructed. The walls of Jericho fell flat. My friend, we must get used to the idea that God can do things beyond all imagination. He can do the seemingly impossible (Matthew 19:26).
\nWe find another example of God\u2019s mighty miracles in Joshua 10. Sunlight was waning as Joshua and his army were doing battle against the Amorites. Joshua therefore commanded the sun to stand still (10:12-13). We are told, \u201cThe sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel\u201d (10:13-14).
\nGod stopped the earth\u2019s rotation on its axis. Such a miracle poses no problem for the Almighty God of the universe. Performing a mighty miracle (stopping the earth\u2019s rotation) is no more difficult for Him than performing a minor miracle (withering a fig tree). Interestingly, the Amorites worshiped the sun and the moon as deities. The true God brought about the defeat of the Amorites through the agency of their own supposed deities.
\nDon\u2019t Put God in a Box
\n\u2022 Don\u2019t limit God with your preconceived notions about what He can and cannot do.
\n\u2022 God is able to \u201cdo far more abundantly than all that we ask or think\u201d (Ephesians 3:20).<\/p>\n
Joshua<\/p>\n
God has made wondrous promises to His people. His people can either hasten fulfillment of these promises by doing things God\u2019s way or throw up a roadblock by engaging in sin or unbelief.
\nTimeline
\n1446\u2014The first Jewish Passover is celebrated; the Jews leave Egypt.
\n1445\u2014The Ten Commandments are given.
\n1444\u2014Israel camps at Mount Sinai.
\n1443\u2014The spies check out Canaan.
\n1406\u2014Moses dies; Joshua is appointed; Israel enters into Canaan.
\n1405\u20131385\u2014Joshua writes the book of Joshua.
\nJewish tradition affirms that Joshua wrote this book. Parts of the book actually identify Joshua as the author (Joshua 8:32; 24:1-26). Supporting this is the fact that the author was an eyewitness (5:1,6; 18:9; 24:26) who wrote the book close in time to the actual events (6:25; 15:63). An assistant to Joshua\u2014or perhaps the high priest Eleazar\u2014attached comments about Joshua\u2019s death, and the events that took place after his death (24:29-33). The book was written between 1405 and 1385 BC.
\nJoshua was Moses\u2019s assistant leader during the Exodus and the desert wanderings (Joshua 1:1). He was an extremely effective military commander and leader, and for this reason, he was a natural successor to Moses (Deuteronomy 34; Joshua 1:1-18). This would have been when Joshua was about 90 years old.
\nJoshua was one of the only original Israelites who left Egypt to have the faith and courage to enter into the Promised Land (Caleb was the other, Numbers 14:38). Joshua would certainly need this kind of faith and courage in leading the Israelites in conquering Canaan. His name is a shortened form of Yehoshua, which literally means \u201cthe Lord is salvation.\u201d The Lord\u2019s \u201csalvation\u201d would be evident in bringing victory over the inhabitants of Canaan. The Canaanites were an evil people, engulfed in such things as religious prostitution, many kinds of sexual perversion, and human sacrifice.
\nThe book of Joshua focuses on Israel\u2019s entering the land of Canaan (Joshua 1:1\u20135:15), Israel\u2019s conquering of the land of Canaan (6:1\u201312:24), and the dividing of the land of Canaan among the 12 tribes of Israel (13:1\u201324:33), all under the effective leadership of Joshua. All of this is rooted in the land promises given to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 15:7; 26:2). (Ultimate fulfillment of the land promises comes in Christ\u2019s future millennial kingdom.)
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Joshua:<\/p>\n
Regular meditation on the Word of God brings success in life.
\nJoshua 1:8 instructs, \u201cThis Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.\u201d
\nBiblical meditation involves pondering God\u2019s Word and His faithfulness (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:148). The Hebrew word for \u201cmeditate\u201d can mean \u201cto utter, imagine, speak, roar, mutter, meditate, and muse.\u201d The word is used in Isaiah 31:4 to express the roar of a lion. It is used in Isaiah 38:14 in reference to the sound of the mourning of doves. In both cases, the idea seems to be that outward expression is an outgrowth of strong inner emotions and thought.
\nWhen used of humans, the term carries the basic idea of \u201cmurmuring.\u201d It portrays a person who is deep in thought, mumbling with his lips as though talking to himself. It is as though strong feelings build up in the innermost depths of his soul, and the pressure is finally released (like steam) in verbal expression. When one meditates on God\u2019s Word, one concentrates so intensely that murmuring with the lips can occur.
\nSuch meditation \u201cwill make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success\u201d (Joshua 1:8). Contextually, this refers not to financial prosperity but rather to military victory. In the conquest of the Promised Land, God promised Joshua that his military efforts would prosper if he and his followers maintained a commitment to meditate upon and obey God\u2019s Word. Of course, we can draw a broader application, recognizing that our endeavors in life will be successful to the extent that we stay rooted in God\u2019s Word and obey it (compare with Psalm 1).
\n\u201cMeditation is holding the Word of God in the mind until it has affected every area of one\u2019s life and character.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Andrew Murray (1828\u20131917)<\/p>\n
Life-saving carries more ethical weight than truth-telling.
\nJoshua sent in spies to check out Jericho. They lodged at Rahab\u2019s house. The pagan king became aware of this and commanded Rahab, \u201cBring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land\u201d (Joshua 2:3).
\nRahab lied: \u201cTrue, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them\u201d (Joshua 2:4-5). For this, Rahab was commended in the Hebrews Faith Hall of Fame (Hebrews 11:31).
\nRahab was faced with a moral dilemma. Should she lie to her government, or save the lives of the spies? Since life-saving is a higher obligation than truth-telling, God did not hold her responsible for the lie but rather honored her in the Hebrews Faith Hall of Fame.
\nOf course, this was a unique situation that should not be taken to mean it is okay for Christians to go around telling lies. Scripture forbids lying (Exodus 20:16). It is an abomination to God (Proverbs 12:22; see also Psalm 59:12). Righteous men hate lying (Proverbs 13:5). In the present case, lying was a last resort engineered to save lives.
\n\u201cAbsolute moral laws sometimes run into inevitable conflict. In such cases it is our moral duty to do the lesser evil. We must break the lesser law and plead mercy. For instance, we should lie to save the life and then ask for forgiveness for breaking God\u2019s absolute moral law.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Norman Geisler<\/p>\n
Some people are so heinously wicked and evil that to protect the broader pool of innocent humanity it becomes necessary for good people to use lethal force against them.
\nGod instructed Joshua and his army to drive out and destroy the Canaanites (Joshua 3:10). God\u2019s command was issued not because God is cruel and vindictive, but because the Canaanites were so horrible, so evil, so oppressive, and so cancerous to society that, like a human cancer, the only option was complete removal.
\nThese were people who were burning their children alive in honor of their false gods, engaging in sex with animals, and all sorts of other loathsome practices (Leviticus 18:23-24; 20:3). They were unrepentant in all these activities. Human society itself would have been poisoned without the utter removal of the cancerous Canaanites. God would have been showing utter disregard for the broader pool of innocent humanity if He had not acted to stop this gangrenous nation from taking over all society.
\nOne must keep in mind that the Canaanites had had plenty of time to repent. The biblical pattern is that when nations repent, God withholds promised judgment (Jeremiah 18:7-8). This principle is clearly illustrated for us in the case of the Ninevites, who repented and averted promised judgment (Jonah 3). God is often seen showing mercy where repentance is evident (Exodus 32:14; 2 Samuel 24:16; Amos 7:3,6).
\nThe Canaanites were not acting blindly. They had heard of the God of the Israelites and knew what was expected of them, but they defied Him and continued in their sinful ways. They were ripe for judgment.
\nGod\u2019s Wrath
\n\u2022 God is a God of love (Psalm 33:5; 86:5; Jeremiah 31:3; 1 John 4:8).
\n\u2022 Yet He is also a holy God (Leviticus 11:44; Psalm 99:9; Isaiah 6:3).
\n\u2022 He therefore shows wrath against sin (Revelation 20:11-15).
\nMiracles
\n\u2022 C. S. Lewis defines a miracle as \u201can interference with nature by supernatural power.\u201d
\n\u2022 J. Gresham Machen defines a miracle as \u201can event in the external world that is wrought by the immediate power of God.\u201d
\n\u2022 J. I. Packer says a miracle is \u201can observed event that triggers awareness of God\u2019s presence and power.\u201d<\/p>\n
God is a God of miracles. He can do things beyond all imagination.
\nJoshua 6 describes the miraculous fall of the walls of Jericho. God\u2019s instructions to Joshua and his people were to walk around the city of Jericho for six days in a row, and then on the seventh day walk around the city seven times. God promised, \u201cThe priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram\u2019s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat\u201d (Joshua 6:4-5). The people did as instructed. The walls of Jericho fell flat. My friend, we must get used to the idea that God can do things beyond all imagination. He can do the seemingly impossible (Matthew 19:26).
\nWe find another example of God\u2019s mighty miracles in Joshua 10. Sunlight was waning as Joshua and his army were doing battle against the Amorites. Joshua therefore commanded the sun to stand still (10:12-13). We are told, \u201cThe sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel\u201d (10:13-14).
\nGod stopped the earth\u2019s rotation on its axis. Such a miracle poses no problem for the Almighty God of the universe. Performing a mighty miracle (stopping the earth\u2019s rotation) is no more difficult for Him than performing a minor miracle (withering a fig tree). Interestingly, the Amorites worshiped the sun and the moon as deities. The true God brought about the defeat of the Amorites through the agency of their own supposed deities.
\nDon\u2019t Put God in a Box
\n\u2022 Don\u2019t limit God with your preconceived notions about what He can and cannot do.
\n\u2022 God is able to \u201cdo far more abundantly than all that we ask or think\u201d (Ephesians 3:20).
\n\u201cIf there is a God who can act, then there can be acts of God. The only way to show that miracles are impossible is to disprove the existence of God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Norman Geisler<\/p>\n
God is a promise keeper.
\nJoshua 6:17 tells us all of Jericho was marked for destruction except Rahab\u2019s dwelling: \u201cThe city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.\u201d Interestingly, at an archaeological site located at the northern section of biblical Jericho, a portion of the lower city wall has been discovered that did not fall as it did everywhere else. This still-standing portion of wall is up to eight feet high, with houses built against it that are still intact. This lends support to the biblical account of Rahab\u2019s deliverance (Joshua 6:17-25).
\nWe find another example of God being a promise keeper later in the book: \u201cThus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass\u201d (Joshua 21:43-46). Are you trusting in God\u2019s promises?
\n\u201cWe cannot rely on God\u2019s promises without obeying his commandments.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Calvin (1509\u20131564)<\/p>\n
Beware of overconfidence. It can bring you down.
\nJoshua and his army had just won a major victory over a major city\u2014Jericho (Joshua 6). They were basking in glory. Then they got overconfident.
\nThey now needed to face Ai, a much smaller city, and decided to send a much smaller army, confident of success (Joshua 7:1-5). Surprise! They were defeated. Following the unexpected defeat, Joshua mournfully prayed to the Lord. Of course, it would have been wiser for Joshua to pray before the attack on Ai to obtain the Lord\u2019s blessing.
\nWe learn a good lesson here. It is better to place our confidence not in ourselves but in the Lord. Scripture affirms that the Lord is our confidence (Proverbs 3:26; see also Philippians 4:13). Indeed, the fear of the Lord brings strong confidence (Proverbs 14:26).
\n\u201cHe who sings his own praise is usually off-key.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Anonymous<\/p>\n
It\u2019s always best to do things God\u2019s way\u2014especially after your own way has failed so miserably.
\nJoshua\u2019s army had attacked Ai and been defeated. They had done things their own way and failed. Now they did things God\u2019s way and obtained victory over Ai. God affirmed to Joshua, \u201cDo not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land\u201d (Joshua 8:1). God\u2019s blessing makes all the difference. My advice: It is always to our advantage to do all things God\u2019s way (Proverbs 3:5-6).<\/p>\n
Beware of the sin of coveting. It can bring you down.
\nGod had instructed that none of the cursed items of their enemies were to be taken. Achan violated God\u2019s instructions and confessed to Joshua, \u201cTruly I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath\u201d (Joshua 7:20-21).
\nNotice the three pivotal words: saw\u2026 coveted\u2026 took. Sin escalated quickly in Achan. He saw something that appealed to him, he coveted it, and then he took it for himself. In this case, Achan paid the ultimate price for his sin against God. Scripture warns us to beware of coveting (Exodus 20:17; Romans 7:7-8; 13:9; James 4:2). It is best to be content with what we have (Philippians 4:11-12; 1 Timothy 6:6,8).
\nWe are reminded of the words of Jesus: \u201cTake care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one\u2019s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions\u201d (Luke 12:15). He urged His followers to have an eternal perspective: \u201cDo not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal\u201d (Matthew 6:19-20). Wise advice!
\n\u201cOne can be covetous when he has little, much, or anything between, for covetousness comes from the heart, not from the circumstances of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Ryrie<\/p>\n
Joshua challenges God\u2019s people with a God-centered Life Plan.
\nJoshua imparted to his people a wise Life Plan: \u201cBe very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul\u201d (Joshua 22:5). This sounds similar to Jesus\u2019s suggested Life Plan: \u201cYou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment\u201d (Matthew 22:37-38). Does your Life Plan need any adjustments?
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
God\u2019s people are instructed, \u201cFear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness\u201d (Joshua 24:14). Notice the three critical components: (1) fear the Lord; (2) serve God in sincerity; and (3) be faithful. Go thou and do likewise!
\nJudges<\/p>\n
Succumbing to moral relativism and sinful rebellion yields God\u2019s judgment. Even then, God continues to show grace and guide His people.
\nTimeline
\n1375\u2014The period of the judges begins.
\n1367\u2014Othniel begins judging.
\n1209\u2014Deborah begins judging.
\n1162\u2014Gideon begins judging.
\n1105\u2014Samuel is born.
\n1080\u2014Saul is born.
\n1075\u2014Samson begins judging.
\n1043\u20131000\u2014The book of Judges is written.
\nThe book of Judges was written by an unidentified author between 1043 and 1000 BC. Jewish tradition in the Talmud (Tractate Baba Bathra 14b) says the author was the prophet Samuel. The book covers the time beginning with Joshua\u2019s death and ending with the rise of the prophet Samuel (Judges 2:6-9).
\nPrimary attention is placed on the judges of Israel at that time. While the book is called Judges, the Hebrew term for the title (Shophet) can mean \u201cDeliverers\u201d or \u201cSaviors.\u201d This points to the intended role of these judges. As Judges 2:16 puts it, \u201cThen the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.\u201d
\nThe backdrop is that Joshua\u2019s conquest, while effective, still left pockets of resistance that continued to cause trouble for the Israelites. The judges were raised up specifically as military champions to lead the tribes of Israel against these culprits and to bring about final and complete conquest. These judges were needed, for at that time the 12 tribes of Israel had no central leadership. Four of the judges are listed in the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11\u2014Gideon, Barak, Sampson, and Jephthah (Judges 6:1\u20138:32; 4:1-11; 10:6\u201312:7; 13:1\u201316:31).
\nUnfortunately Israel was anything but faithful to God during this time, even giving allegiance to some of the false local gods of paganism. Despite the fact that God had repeatedly blessed them, they always seemed to revert to going their own way instead of God\u2019s way (Judges 3:7; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1). The primary problem of the people during this time was that they did what they considered to be right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). This is moral relativism.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Judges:<\/p>\n
Continued rebellion against God\u2019s commands leads to continued chastisement.
\nIsrael\u2019s continued dire condition was due to her continued sin against God, which seemed to go from bad to worse: \u201cThe people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger\u201d (Judges 2:11-12; see also 3:6-7,12; 4:1; 6:1,10; 8:24-27,33; 10:6; 13:1; 17:6; 21:25). As bad as their forefathers had been in the wilderness, the present generation was even worse.
\nBetter to Repent
\nIt is better to kneel in repentance than to stand in judgment. Judgment always comes when repentance is lacking (Ezekiel 18:32; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19; 2 Peter 3:9; Isaiah 55:6-7).<\/p>\n
Tears over sin is not enough. There must be genuine repentance.
\nJudges 2:4-5 tells us, \u201cAs soon as the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim. And they sacrificed there to the LORD.\u201d So far, so good. The people wept when confronted about their sin. But their sorrow was short-lived. The people remained unfaithful to God (2:11-23). Their tears did not lead to ongoing repentance. They felt bad for a while, got over it, and then plummeted right back into sin. May this never be true of you and me.<\/p>\n
If you are a parent, tell your children about the great things God has done. This will encourage them to stay strong in the faith.
\nJudges 2:10 tells us, \u201cAll that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.\u201d In other words, the generation that experienced such great victories under Joshua\u2019s leadership died, and the next generation was unaware of the great things God had done. They were oblivious to God\u2019s miraculous work in the previous generation. They ended up spiritually lethargic and were unfaithful to God (2:11-23). If only the first generation had taught the second generation about God\u2019s wonders.<\/p>\n
God continues to remain faithful, even when His people are perpetually unfaithful.
\nDespite the ongoing sin and rebellion of His people, God remained ever faithful toward them. Judges 2:16 tells us that \u201cthe LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.\u201d Moreover, \u201cWhenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them\u201d (2:18). The people did not deserve this benevolence from God, but God nevertheless helped them. God was resolved to fulfill the promises He had made to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:7; 15:7,18-21; 26:2-3; 35:12). This reminds us of Paul\u2019s description of God as the \u201cFather of mercies and God of all comfort\u201d (2 Corinthians 1:3).
\nFather of Mercies
\nPaul describes God as the \u201cFather of mercies and God of all comfort.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20142 Corinthians 1:3<\/p>\n
Learn from your past mistakes.
\nJudges 3:7-11 describes a cycle we see repeated throughout the book of Judges: (1) The people commit great evil; (2) they forget all about God; (3) they fall into idolatry; (4) God chastises them by allowing them to go into slavery under a foreign king; (5) the people cry out to God; (6) God delivers them; and then (7) the cycle repeats all over again. People need to learn from their past mistakes!
\nThose who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t offer excuses when God calls you to service.
\nWe find people giving excuses all through the Bible (for example, Genesis 3:12-13; Luke 14:16-24). In Judges 6:15, Gideon said to the Lord, \u201cPlease, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father\u2019s house.\u201d The Lord responded, \u201cI will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man\u201d (6:16). Gideon was focused more on his weakness and limitations than on the power of God.
\nDivine Empowerment
\nWhen God calls us to service, He empowers us for that service. The apostle Paul affirmed, \u201cI can do all things through him who strengthens me\u201d (Philippians 4:13).<\/p>\n
God\u2019s peace is always available to His servants.
\nGideon thought he was going to die. But the Lord said to him, \u201cPeace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die\u201d (Judges 6:23). God promises His followers a supernatural peace. As Jesus put it, \u201cPeace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid\u201d (John 14:27). Trusting in God naturally leads to this peace. Isaiah 26:3 affirms, \u201cYou keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.\u201d
\n\u201cDo not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Philippians 4:6-7<\/p>\n
When leaders are corrupt, it is no wonder those who follow them are corrupt as well.
\nIt is a sad commentary of the spiritual state of affairs in the period of the judges that major judges like Gideon (Judges 8:24-27), Jephthah (11:30-31,34-40), and Samson (14\u201316) all fell into sin. They not only failed to be a consistently positive influence on the nation; they actually contributed to its becoming worse. The only judge who was a consistent bright light in the overwhelming darkness of the nation was the female judge, Deborah (4:6,14; 5:7).<\/p>\n
God\u2019s people can offer themselves up as living sacrifices.
\nJudges 11:30-39 is an extremely controversial passage. Scholars have different opinions on how it is to be interpreted. One view is that Jephthah actually did offer his own daughter as a burnt sacrifice to the Lord. If this is the case, it does not in any way mean God endorsed what Jephthah did. He was certainly not under orders from God to do that. God had earlier revealed that human sacrifice was absolutely forbidden (Leviticus 18:21; 20:2-5; Deuteronomy 12:31; 18:10).
\nWe must also keep in mind that simply because something is recorded in the Bible does not mean God agrees with it. God certainly does not agree with the words or actions of Satan, but the Bible nevertheless accurately reports on his words and actions. In the present case, the author of Judges may have just provided an objective account of the event without passing judgment.
\nOne must also remember that the book of Judges deals with a period in human history when everyone was doing what was right in his or her own eyes (Judges 21:25). It is very possible that Jephthah was doing what was right in his own eyes, thereby victimizing his own daughter. If Jephthah actually committed this act, we can only conclude that he was acting in great folly and was going against the will of God, despite his good motives and apparent desire to please the Lord.
\nAnother possible interpretation of the passage is that Jephthah may have offered up his daughter in the sense of consecrating her for service at the tabernacle for the rest of her life and devoting her to celibacy. This would involve offering up his daughter in a spiritual way instead of physically offering her as a burnt offering. As the apostle Paul said in Romans 12:1, people can be offered to God as \u201ca living sacrifice.\u201d
\nIf his daughter was indeed offered as a living sacrifice, this necessarily would involve a life of perpetual virginity, which was a tremendous sacrifice in the Jewish context of the day. She would not be able to bring up children to continue her father\u2019s lineage.
\nThis may explain why his daughter responded by saying, \u201cLet this thing be done for me: leave me alone two months, that I may go up and down on the mountains and weep for my virginity, I and my companions\u201d (Judges 11:37). Note that she did not weep because of an impending death. She wept because she would never marry and would remain a virgin.
\nIn any event, Christian believers today are privileged to offer themselves as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1). After all, as Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, \u201cYour body is a temple of the Holy Spirit\u201d and \u201cYou are not your own, for you were bought with a price.\u201d (See also Romans 8:9.) That price was the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus died sacrificially for us, it is right and proper that we live sacrificially for Him.
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cIn those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Judges 21:25<\/p>\n
God can providentially bring good out of evil.
\nSamson was not entirely committed to God. His lustful lifestyle makes that clear (Judges 14:3; 16:1,4). His problem with lust shows that he was self-focused, seeking gratification of fleshly desires. In the context of Judges 14, it is obvious that Samson had no intention of battling the Philistines out of a spiritual commitment to God. God therefore used Samson\u2019s self-interests to incite his anger against the Philistines, which ultimately resulted in Israel\u2019s deliverance.
\nThis is yet another example of how God can providentially bring good out of evil. Samson had improper motives, but God nevertheless used his actions\u2014regardless of motives\u2014for the good of Israel. Spend a little time meditating on Romans 8:28.
\nSamson: the Bad and the Good
\n\u2022 The bad: Samson had a problem with lust (Judges 14: 2-3,7; 16:1,4).
\n\u2022 The good: Samson was a man of faith (Judges 15:18-19), and he is listed in the Faith Hall of Fame (Hebrews 11:32,34).<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be foolish!
\nSamson kept feeding Delilah bogus information on how to make him weak (Judges 16). Every time he informed her of a means to weaken him, an attempt was made to weaken him by that means. How, then, could Samson have been so foolish as to reveal the true means of weakening him\u2014cutting his hair? It boggles the mind. Samson acted foolishly.
\nContextually, of course, Samson\u2019s strength was rooted in his unique relationship with God, based on the Nazirite vow he had taken. His long hair was a sign of that vow, and so the cutting of his hair essentially amounted to breaking that vow. This highlights Samson\u2019s folly even more.
\nLet us learn from Samson\u2019s mistake. Don\u2019t be foolish. Don\u2019t be shortsighted. A practical step is to spend regular time in the book of Proverbs.
\nWisdom
\n\u2022 rebukes sin (Proverbs 1:8-33);
\n\u2022 richly rewards those who seek it (2\u20133);
\n\u2022 keeps one from dangerous paths (4);
\n\u2022 warns against sensuality (5);
\n\u2022 represses lustful desires (6:20-35); and
\n\u2022 warns against evil women (7).<\/p>\n
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
\nSome people have wondered if Samson committed suicide (Judges 16:26-30). Contextually, Judges 16 seems clear that Samson did not commit suicide. Rather, he sacrificed his life for a greater cause. Recall that Jesus Christ Himself said, \u201cGreater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends\u201d (John 15:13). This is precisely what Samson did. He laid down his life for his people. As a result, many more Philistines (enemies of Israel) died with his death than during his life (Judges 16:30).<\/p>\n
Moral relativism is insufficient as a workable philosophy of life.
\nJudges 21:25 tells us, \u201cIn those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.\u201d Everyone made up their own rules. Each person was a law unto him\u2014or herself. This is the idea that anything can be true for the individual, but nothing can be true for everyone. In other words, there are no absolute truths.
\nThe \u201call truth is relative\u201d position is not logically satisfying. One might understand \u201call truth is relative\u201d as meaning it is an absolute truth that all truth is relative. Of course, such a statement is self-defeating (since there are supposedly no absolute truths) and is therefore false.
\nSecond, one could understand this as saying it is a relative truth that all truth is relative. But such a statement is ultimately meaningless.
\nNo matter how you understand this statement, it should be rejected because it is not a workable philosophy of life. As people accelerate down the road where moral relativity takes us, there is no center stripe on the highway of life. There are many casualties along this highway.
\nMoral Absolutes
\n\u2022 Absolute morals are grounded in the absolutely moral God of the Bible. Scripture affirms, \u201cYou therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect\u201d (Matthew 5:48).
\n\u2022 Moral law flows from the moral Law-giver of the universe\u2014God.
\n\u2022 God therefore stands against the moral relativist whose behavior is based on \u201cwhatever is right in his own eyes\u201d (Deuteronomy 12:8; Judges 17:6; 21:2).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Absolute morals are grounded in the absolutely moral God of the Bible. Don\u2019t fall prey to moral relativism.
\nRuth<\/p>\n
God blesses those who are kind, generous, and faithful.
\nTimeline
\n1100\u20131000\u2014The events recorded in the book of Ruth transpire.
\n1000\u2014The book of Ruth is written.
\nThe book of Ruth was likely written during the time of the judges in about 1000 BC. Some scholars believe the book was written by the prophet Samuel, but there is no hard proof of this. The word \u201cRuth\u201d is probably a derivative of the Hebrew term reuit, which means \u201cfriendship.\u201d The word is appropriate, for it describes Ruth\u2019s character as a loyal friend.
\nAccording to this book, Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, migrated from Bethlehem to Moab during a time of famine. (Moab is northeast of the Dead Sea.) They were accompanied by Elimelech\u2019s two sons, who both married Moabite women. Eventually the father and sons died in Moab, and this left Naomi in a predicament. In biblical times women were dependent upon men for provisions in life. A woman without a father or husband or son was in a dire situation. Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, and her Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth, decided to go with her (Ruth 1:6-18).
\nUpon their arrival, they found themselves in poverty (Ruth 1:19-22). In God\u2019s providence, however, Ruth met a distant relative of her first husband\u2019s family named Boaz (2:1-7). Boaz ended up fulfilling his family duty\u2014his \u201ckinsman-redeemer\u201d duty\u2014and married Ruth, despite the fact that Ruth was not an Israelite (4:1-12). Problem solved!
\nProvidence
\nProvidence refers to God\u2019s preserving and governing of all things. See Acts 17:28, Colossians 1:17, and Hebrews 1:3.<\/p>\n
It is noteworthy that Ruth, the Moabite, was the great-grandmother of David, the king of Israel, and so an ancestress of Jesus (Matthew 1:1,5). Even though Ruth did not know it at the time, her lineage was important to the unfolding plan of God. It is also noteworthy that this is one of two books in the Bible named after a woman. (The other is Esther.)
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in the book of Ruth:<\/p>\n
When tragedy strikes, you feel all alone, and are out of options, don\u2019t be surprised if you discover that God has been providentially working behind the scenes to rescue you the whole time.
\nNaomi\u2019s husband, Elimelech, died and she was left with two sons to care for. The sons eventually took Moabite wives, lived ten years, and then died. Naomi was now all alone (Ruth 1:1-5).
\nNaomi and Ruth, a daughter-in-law, returned together to Bethlehem. Ruth\u2014a woman of honor, generosity, and integrity\u2014expressed a heartfelt pledge to accompany Naomi (Ruth 1:6-18). They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest (1:19-22).
\nRuth and Naomi were very poor. God\u2019s law, however, made provisions for the poor. Leviticus 19:9-10 stipulated that the outer perimeters of the harvest field were to be left for the poor to glean. God\u2019s providence led Ruth to glean from Boaz\u2019s field. (Boaz was Elimelech\u2019s kinsman.) Boaz showed grace and kindness far beyond what the law required (Ruth 2:9,14-16), providing for and protecting Ruth. It is clear that God was guiding Ruth\u2019s rescue (and, consequently, Naomi\u2019s rescue) from beginning to end. God showed Himself strong on their behalf (see also Psalm 1:6).
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cWhere you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Ruth 1:16
\nKinsman-Redeemer
\nA kinsman-redeemer is a next-of-kin relative who\u2014if able\u2014could redeem or rescue a family member.
\nBoaz was Elimelech\u2019s kinsman. Ruth (and Naomi) found redemption in Boaz.<\/p>\n
God\u2019s blessings and provisions can far exceed human expectations.
\nA redeeming romance emerged between Boaz and Ruth. Naomi gave instructions to Ruth on pursuing Boaz as her kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 3:1-4). Ruth followed these instructions (3:5-9). Boaz responded affirmatively and pledged to be her kinsman-redeemer (3:10-18). There was, however, a kinsman closer to Ruth than Boaz was. So Boaz had to first approach this kinsman to discuss the matter.
\nThe kinsmen engaged in discussion at the city gate, where most legal business was conducted. The other kinsman declared himself unwilling to take on the responsibility, for it would not have been advantageous to him. Boaz and Ruth were then able to marry (Ruth 4:1-12) and Ruth gave birth to a son (4:13-17)\u2014all this because of the marvelous providential grace of God.
\nNaomi found solace in her grandson. This grandson\u2019s lineage eventually led to the birth of David (4:18-22), from whose line the Messiah was to be born. Glorious!
\nBusiness and Gates
\nIn biblical times, business often took place at the gates of various cities. At these gates vendors would set up shop, selling such products as fruit, vegetables, pottery, and clothing. Legal contracts were also negotiated near the gates. In the book of Ruth, kinsman-redeemer negotiations took place at the city gate.<\/p>\n
Faithfulness has a reciprocal effect.
\nFaithfulness is like a thread that runs through the entire book of Ruth. Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz showed themselves faithful to God and His law. Ruth showed herself faithful in her treatment of her mother-in-law, Naomi. Boaz showed himself faithful in caring for Ruth. The result? God showed Himself faithful in meeting all their needs and taking care of them. Faithfulness has a reciprocal effect in the book of Ruth. My friend, show faithfulness to others and receive faithfulness in return.
\nBe Faithful
\n\u2022 God preserves the faithful\u2014Psalm 31:23
\n\u2022 God guards the faithful\u2014Psalm 97:10 (NLT)
\n\u2022 God does not forsake the faithful\u2014Psalm 37:28<\/p>\n
Treat others with kindness, and kindness will be returned upon you.
\nKindness is another thread that seems to run through the book of Ruth. Ruth was kind to Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17; 2:11,18,23). Boaz was kind to Ruth (2:20; 4:9-10,13). And God was kind to Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz by bringing them all together (4:1-17).
\nGod\u2019s kindness is a common theme throughout all of Scripture. God is said to be full of loving-kindness (Jeremiah 31:3 NASB), rich in kindness (Romans 2:4), and have everlasting kindness (Isaiah 54:8). Best of all, God showed \u201ckindness toward us in Christ Jesus\u201d (Ephesians 2:7).
\nHuman kindness actually reflects the greater kindness (or \u201csteadfast love\u201d) the Lord shows to His people (Exodus 15:13; Deuteronomy 7:8-9; Psalm 103:4; 106:7,10; 136:10-15). As God floods us with kindness, the overflow of that kindness enables us to show kindness to others. Our vertical relationship with God affects our horizontal relationships with other people.<\/p>\n
Acting in integrity and trusting God creates a rich soil where God\u2019s blessings can blossom.
\nRuth and Naomi were poor and in a dire situation, especially since women in biblical times depended upon men for their support\u2014whether from a father, a husband, or a son. Ruth and Naomi had no such support. They were without means and without any obvious solutions to their situation.
\nThey had not been forgotten by God, however. Through Ruth\u2019s marriage to Boaz\u2014a marriage providentially arranged by God\u2014they found more than abundant support to meet their needs.
\nDear Christian, one thing we learn from this account is that even when things look their bleakest, we can rest assured that we are not forgotten by God, and that God can come through in ways we never could have imagined. A good passage to anchor ourselves on is Proverbs 3:5-6: \u201cTrust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.\u201d
\nActing in Integrity
\nRuth showed great integrity in leaving her former land to accompany Naomi. Boaz showed great integrity as a man of morality, honesty, and benevolence toward others.
\nGod desires integrity of each of us (Psalm 26:1; Proverbs 10:9; 20:7; Luke 6:31; Philippians 4:8).
\n\u201cFaith expects from God what is beyond all expectation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Andrew Murray (1828\u20131917)
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
\n1 Samuel<\/p>\n
Heart commitment to the true King of the universe brings great blessing.
\nTimeline
\n1105\u2014Samuel is born.
\n1080\u2014Saul is born.
\n1050\u2014Saul is anointed as king; kingdom unites under Saul.
\n1040\u2014David is born.
\n1025\u2014David slays Goliath.
\n1011\u2014Saul dies; David becomes king of Judah.
\n1003\u2014David becomes king of all Israel.
\n931\u2014The book of 1 Samuel is written.
\nThe prophet Samuel was the author of 1 Samuel 1:1\u201324:22. Samuel\u2019s death is recorded in 1 Samuel 25:1, however, so he could not have written that chapter or those that follow (or 2 Samuel). Perhaps it is best to say that 1 and 2 Samuel were written by Samuel and others known only to God. Both books were written about 931 BC.
\nSamuel was the last and greatest of the judges of Israel, and was a wonderful prophet in his own right. He ruled Israel his entire life, and is noted for bringing the Israelites back to God\u2019s laws. He was a bright light in Old Testament times.
\nThe two books of Samuel chronicle Israel\u2019s history from the time of the judges through the reign of King David (who reigned from 1011 to 971 BC)\u2014about 135 years of history. It was during this time that Israel demanded a king like the nations around them, and it was Samuel who anointed the first king, Saul, who reigned from 1050 to 1011 BC. These books, then, chronicle the transition in leadership from judges to kings in the life of Israel.
\nOriginally, 1 and 2 Samuel were a single book, known as the \u201cBook of Samuel.\u201d But the translators of the Septuagint\u2014the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament that predates the time of Christ\u2014divided it into two parts.
\nOne observation we can make regarding these books is that God is the true King. So long as the human kings\u2014in the present case, Saul or David\u2014obey the divine King\u2019s orders, they prosper and succeed. If, however, they depart from the will of God, as did Saul, they are judged and even dethroned. We learn from this that earthly kings, no matter how powerful they may seem in themselves, are nothing next to the power of the divine King.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in 1 Samuel:<\/p>\n
Those fully committed to the Lord can accomplish mighty feats on His behalf.
\nSamuel was born to a prayerful Hannah (1 Samuel 1), who dedicated him to the Lord (2). Raised by Eli in the tabernacle, and responding positively to God\u2019s call on his life, Samuel became a great and faithful prophet who was mightily used of the Lord (3). He faithfully proclaimed the Word of God (9:27), was an upright man, thereby setting a great example (12:1-5), and continually exhorted Israel to follow the ways of the Lord (7:3; 12:14-16; 12:20-25).<\/p>\n
Sexual sin among spiritual leaders is a heinous offense against God.
\nEli\u2019s sons were priests, and yet sinned grossly by engaging in sexual relations with women who served in the tabernacle (1 Samuel 2:22). God\u2019s response was severe: \u201cIt was the will of the LORD to put them to death\u201d (2:25).
\nIt is a tragic reality that sexual sin still occurs today among some spiritual leaders. Even if a physical affair has not taken place, some have nevertheless fallen victim to Internet pornography. God calls His people to sexual purity (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8).
\nSexual Sin
\n\u2022 Abstain from fornication (Acts 15:20).
\n\u2022 Flee fornication (1 Corinthians 6:13,18).
\n\u2022 It should not even be named among Christians (Ephesians 5:3).<\/p>\n
A sacred object ought to never be used as a talisman among God\u2019s people.
\nIn 1 Samuel 4:3 we read, \u201cWhen the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, \u2018Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.\u2019 \u201d
\nThe Israelites had come to believe that if the ark were present during a battle, Yahweh (God) was in battle with them, and so they would surely win. They believed the presence of the ark would ensure victory. Such misguided thinking essentially amounted to using the ark as a talisman. (A talisman is an object believed to contain certain magical properties that provide good luck for the possessor, or possibly offer protection from harm.) Israel needed to learn the lesson that having the paraphernalia of God is not the same as having God Himself.
\nSeeking God\u2019s Actual Presence
\n\u201cOur fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ\u201d (1 John 1:3).
\n\u201cBehold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me\u201d (Revelation 3:20).<\/p>\n
A lack of faith in God can drive you to do unwise things.
\nIsrael was a theocracy\u2014that is, a God-ruled nation. God had taken care of the Israelites ever since He delivered them from Egyptian bondage. But a time came when they wanted a real flesh-and-blood human king, like all the other nations around them had (1 Samuel 8). They were intent on grumbling until they got their way.
\nSamuel tried to talk to them about the downsides of a human king (1 Samuel 8:10-18), but they would not listen. In their blindness, all they saw were positive benefits. Ultimately this desire for a human king stemmed from a lack of faith in God, their true King. They sought to trade a God who loved them for a human king, who would end up exploiting them. They got what they wanted, but the nation was injured in the process, as the rest of 1 Samuel attests. My advice: Always trust in your true King (God), and He\u2019ll keep your path smooth, no matter what human leaders may do (Proverbs 3:5-6).
\nCross-References: Unbelief
\nPsalm 95:8 \u2022 Hebrews 3:12 \u2022 11:6 \u2022 12:25 \u2022 Mark 16:14 \u2022 John 12:37 \u2022 20:27 \u2022 Romans 11:20 \u2022 James 1:6<\/p>\n
Human beings fixate on people\u2019s external features. The Lord looks at the heart.
\nThe people of Israel were demanding a king, like the other nations around them had. Israel\u2019s first king was appointed by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 10\u201311). His name was Saul, and he was considered the stateliest man in all Israel. He was said to be \u201ca handsome young man,\u201d and \u201cfrom his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people\u201d (9:2). After Saul became king, however, he was not fully obedient to the Lord, and he sinned by wrongly assuming the role of a priest (13:13-14; 2 Chronicles 26:18).
\nBecause of David\u2019s growing fame, King Saul became increasingly jealous of him, and even sought to kill him. This resulted in David having to live as an outlaw for a number of years. It is to David\u2019s credit that he did not respond in like manner and seek to take Saul\u2019s life. Meanwhile, David developed a close friendship with Saul\u2019s son, Jonathan (1 Samuel 20).
\nWhen it came time for David to be selected as Israel\u2019s new king, God reminded Samuel of an important factor: \u201cThe LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart\u201d (1 Samuel 16:7). \u201cThe LORD has sought out a man after his own heart\u201d (13:14), and that man was David.
\nMy friend, perhaps this is a good time for self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5). Since God cares so much about the state of our hearts, it might be wise to deal with any heart issues in your life that may not be pleasing to Him. Do it today!
\nCross-References: God Looks at the Heart
\n1 Kings 8:38 \u2022 1 Chronicles 28:9 \u2022 Psalm 7:9 \u2022 Jeremiah 11:20 \u2022 17:10 \u2022 20:12 \u2022 Acts 1:24<\/p>\n
Partial obedience is not enough. God demands full obedience.
\nGod had commanded Saul, \u201cGo and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey\u201d (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul, however, was only partially obedient: \u201cSaul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them\u201d (15:9).
\nBecause of Saul\u2019s partial obedience, God lamented, \u201cI regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments\u201d (1 Samuel 15:11). Partial obedience amounts to disobedience.
\nPsalm 119: Total Obedience
\n\u201cBlessed are those whose way is blameless\u2026who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong\u2026You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently\u201d (verses 1-4).<\/p>\n
Good news: the Holy Spirit permanently indwells all believers today. He\u2019s your power source for living the Christian life.
\nIn 1 Samuel 16:14 we are told \u201cthe Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.\u201d In Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit came upon people to enable them to accomplish special tasks and often only for a limited time (10:5-6; Judges 15:14). In Saul\u2019s case, the Holy Spirit came upon him to empower him to accomplish the task of being a good leader. But Saul sinned and turned away from God. His leadership days were over, and the Holy Spirit departed from him.
\nStarting in New Testament times, the Holy Spirit began to permanently indwell believers (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13). The indwelling presence and empowerment from the Holy Spirit enables Christ\u2019s followers to live the Christian life (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 3:16,20). Ephesians 5:18 instructs us to be perpetually \u201cfilled\u201d with\u2014or controlled by\u2014the Holy Spirit.
\n\u201cWe do not use the Holy Spirit; He uses us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Warren Wiersbe<\/p>\n
The size of the obstacle is not important. Rather, the power and blessing of God are what is important.
\nDavid became instantly famous for killing Goliath, the giant Philistine warrior (1 Samuel 17). The fact that David would go up against such a gargantuan warrior as a young boy shows tremendous trust in God on his part. Of course, during his years as a shepherd boy, David had become increasingly proficient in using a slingshot, which he was able to providentially use with God\u2019s blessing in defeating Goliath. It seems obvious, then, that even in David\u2019s younger years God was already preparing him for his future role, though David was unaware of it at the time. The important thing for us to remember is that the size of the obstacle (Goliath) is not what is important. Rather, the power and blessing of God are what is important. Are you presently facing an obstacle? Turn to God this moment!
\n\u201cNothing will be impossible with God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Luke 1:37<\/p>\n
God\u2019s people must never succumb to any form of occultism or divination.
\nIn 1 Samuel 28, we witness King Saul with the medium at Endor seeking to summon up the dead\u2014that is, the prophet Samuel. Bible expositors have different opinions on the meaning of this passage.
\nA minority believe the medium worked a miracle by demonic powers and actually brought Samuel back from the dead. In support of this view, certain passages seem to indicate demons have the power to perform lying signs and wonders (Matthew 7:22; 2 Corinthians 11:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:9,10; Revelation 16:14). This view is unlikely, however, since Scripture also reveals that death is final (Hebrews 9:27), the dead cannot return (2 Samuel 12:23; Luke 16:24-27), and demons cannot usurp or overpower God\u2019s authority over life and death (Job 1:10-12).
\nA second view is that the medium did not really bring up Samuel from the dead, but a demonic spirit simply impersonated the prophet. Those who hold to this view note that certain verses indicate that demons can deceive people who try to contact the dead (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:11; 1 Chronicles 10:13). This view is unlikely, however, because the passage affirms that Samuel did in fact return from the dead, that he provided a prophecy that actually came to pass, and that it is unlikely that demons would have uttered God\u2019s truth since the devil is the father of lies (John 8:44).
\nA third view (my view) is that God sovereignly and miraculously allowed Samuel\u2019s spirit to appear to rebuke Saul for his sin. Samuel\u2019s spirit did not appear as a result of the medium\u2019s powers (for indeed, no human has the power to summon dead humans\u2014see Luke 16:24-27; Hebrews 9:27), but only because God sovereignly brought it about. This view is supported by the fact that Samuel actually returned from the dead (1 Samuel 28:14), and this caused the medium to shriek with fear (see verse 12). The medium\u2019s cry of astonishment indicates that this appearance of Samuel was not the result of her usual tricks.
\nThat God allowed Samuel\u2019s spirit to appear on this one occasion should not be taken to mean that mediums have any real power to summon the dead. God had a one-time purpose for this one-time special occasion. This passage is therefore descriptive, not prescriptive. That is, it simply describes something that happened historically. It does not prescribe something that people should expect in the future.
\n\u201cThere shall not be found among you anyone who [is]\u2026a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Deuteronomy 18:10-12
\nCross-References: Occultism Condemned
\nExodus 22:18 \u2022 Leviticus 19:26,31 \u2022 20:27 \u2022 1 Samuel 28:3 \u2022 Acts 19:19<\/p>\n
Life and death are in the hands of our sovereign God.
\nFirst Samuel 31:4-5 tells us, \u201cSaul took his own sword and fell upon it. And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.\u201d Apparently, then, Saul took his own life. But this was done according to God\u2019s sovereign will. In 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 we are told, \u201cSo Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.\u201d
\nThough Saul committed suicide, it was ultimately the Lord who put him to death. Recall God\u2019s words in Deuteronomy 32:39: \u201cSee now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.\u201d (See also Psalm 139:16.) Our God is a sovereign God.
\nGod Is Sovereign
\n\u2022 His purpose will stand\u2014Isaiah 46:10
\n\u2022 His plans alone stand\u2014Psalm 33:8-11
\n\u2022 He rules over all\u2014Psalm 103:19<\/p>\n
God is the true King of the universe.
\nDespite the people of Israel\u2019s desire to have a human king, the true King of the universe is God Himself. God\u2019s reign from the heavenly throne is evident throughout Scripture. God as King is sovereign over all earthly kings. In 1 Samuel 12:14-15, for example, Samuel instructed the people, \u201cIf you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well. But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king.\u201d
\nGod is not only enthroned over the entire universe (Psalm 102:12); He ought also to be enthroned upon our hearts. We ought to follow the psalmist\u2019s lead, who said, \u201cI delight to do your will, O my God\u201d (Psalm 40:8).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
God is your true King. Obey Him, no matter what.
\n2 Samuel<\/p>\n
Godly people can still do ungodly things. When they do so, they can be forgiven by God, but temporal consequences may yet remain. There is much grief in life. But we can all look forward to the day when the divine messianic King comes and sets up His perfect kingdom.
\nTimeline
\n1040\u2014David is born.
\n1010\u2014Saul dies; David becomes king of Judah.
\n1003\u2014David becomes king of all Israel.
\n1000\u2014David captures Jerusalem.
\n997\u2014David captures Rabbah; David sins with Bathsheba.
\n991\u2014Solomon is born.
\n980\u2014David takes a census of Israel.
\n931\u2014The book of 2 Samuel is written.
\nSamuel\u2019s death is recorded in 1 Samuel 25:1, so 2 Samuel could not have been written by him. The author is anonymous, but was perhaps an apprentice or close associate trained by Samuel. It is still appropriate that the book be titled 2 Samuel, for it was titled after the man God used to establish the kingship in Israel\u2014Samuel the prophet. The book was written about 931 BC.
\nSecond Samuel continues the historical record that began in 1 Samuel. It records the history of David\u2019s reign as Israel\u2019s king\u2014including both the highs (such as his military victories) and the lows (such as his sin with Bathsheba). During this time, Jerusalem became the political and religious heart of the nation.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in 2 Samuel:<\/p>\n
It is good to seek unity among people.
\nDavid was crowned as king (2 Samuel 5:1-4) and his kingdom extended over Judah (2:1-7). He sought to include other tribes (2:8\u20134:12), and was eventually enthroned over all the tribes, encompassing all of Israel (5:1-6). David consolidated the kingdom, established his government in Jerusalem (5:7-25), and brought the ark to Jerusalem (6:1-23).
\nSeeking unity is a noble goal for all of us. Psalm 133:1 says, \u201cHow good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.\u201d The apostle Paul urges us to walk \u201cwith all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace\u201d (Ephesians 4:2-3). Be a unifier, not a divider.
\nCross-References: Unity
\nPsalm 133:1 \u2022 Acts 4:32 \u2022 Romans 12:16 \u2022 14:19 \u2022 15:5-6 \u2022 1 Corinthians 1:10 \u2022 2 Corinthians 13:11 \u2022 Ephesians 4:3 \u2022 Philippians 1:27 \u2022 2:2 \u2022 1 Peter 3:8<\/p>\n
Despite human power-plays, the Lord will ultimately accomplish all His purposes.
\nIt was God\u2019s sovereign purpose for David to be king over all His people (2 Samuel 1:1-27). But General Abner had other plans in mind (2\u20134). Abner made Saul\u2019s son Ish-bosheth king. Abner\u2019s resistance to God ultimately led to much bloodshed\u2014including that of his own. David did in fact become king over all God\u2019s people. Let us not forget God\u2019s words in Isaiah 46:10: \u201cMy counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
\nIn 2 Samuel 6:6-9 we read, \u201cWhen they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God\u2026 David was afraid of the LORD that day.\u201d Perhaps David didn\u2019t have sufficient fear of the Lord prior to this time. But he certainly learned to fear the Lord very quickly.
\nFearing God\u2014that is, reverencing God\u2014is important for all God\u2019s children. Fear of the Lord is true wisdom (Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10) and is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). David learned true wisdom that fateful day. Fear of the Lord motivates obedience to God (Deuteronomy 5:29; Ecclesiastes 12:13) and the avoidance of evil (Proverbs 3:7; 8:13; 16:6).
\n\u201cAs the embankment keeps out the water, so the fear of the Lord keeps out uncleanness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Thomas Watson (1620\u20131686)<\/p>\n
Good news: the messianic King will come from the line of David. A promise is a promise.
\nGod made a covenant with David. He promised that one of his descendants would rule forever on the throne of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13; 22:51). This is an example of an unconditional covenant. It did not depend on David in any way for its fulfillment. David realized this when he received the promise from God, and responded with an attitude of humility and a recognition of God\u2019s sovereignty over the affairs of human beings.
\nThe three key words of the covenant are \u201ckingdom,\u201d \u201chouse,\u201d and \u201cthrone.\u201d Such words point to the political future of Israel. The word \u201chouse\u201d here carries the idea of \u201croyal dynasty.\u201d
\nThis covenant finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who was born from the line of David (Matthew 1:1), and in the millennial kingdom will rule from the throne of David in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 36:1-12; Micah 4:1-5; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Zechariah 14:1-21). This reign of Christ during the millennial kingdom will extend beyond the Jews to include the Gentile nations as well.
\nOne might recall that when the angel Gabriel appeared to the young virgin Mary to inform her that the Messiah was to be born through her womb, he spoke to her in Davidic terms: \u201cDo not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end\u201d (Luke 1:30-33).
\nThe three key words used by the angel to describe the future rule of Christ were \u201cthrone,\u201d \u201chouse,\u201d and \u201ckingdom.\u201d It is significant that each of these words is found in the covenant God made with David when God promised one from David\u2019s line would rule forever (2 Samuel 7:16).
\nGabriel\u2019s words must have immediately brought these Old Testament promises to mind for Mary, a devout young Jew. Indeed, Gabriel\u2019s words constituted a clear announcement that Mary\u2019s Son would come into this world to fulfill the promise given to David that one of David\u2019s sons would sit on David\u2019s throne and rule over David\u2019s kingdom. Glorious!
\nVerses to Remember
\n\u201cWhen your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20142 Samuel 7:12-14
\nDefinition: Millennial Kingdom
\nThe millennial kingdom is a 1000-year kingdom Christ will set up on earth following His second coming (Revelation 20:2-7; see also Psalm 2:6-9; Isaiah 65:18-23; Jeremiah 31:12-14,31-37; Ezekiel 34:25-29; 37:1-13; 40\u201348; Daniel 2:35; 7:13-14; Joel 2:21-27; Amos 9:13-14; Micah 4:1-7; Zephaniah 3:9-20).<\/p>\n
Good leaders are characterized by justice, equity, kindness, and loyalty.
\nDavid was an effective leader. He \u201cadministered justice and equity to all his people\u201d (2 Samuel 8:15), took the initiative in showing kindness (9:1,3,7), and openly displayed loyalty (10:2). Modern politicians could learn a thing or two from David.<\/p>\n
Even men after God\u2019s own heart can break God\u2019s heart.
\nThough David was a man after God\u2019s own heart (Acts 13:22), in middle age he fell deeply into sin and remained in sin for almost a full year. God had no choice but to discipline him, after which David, in desperation, finally confessed his sin to God and repented.
\nThe progression of sin in David\u2019s life is heart-rending. David saw Bathsheba bathing from his roof, sent for her, slept with her, and impregnated her (2 Samuel 11:1-5). How easily and how quickly a great man can fall. And what pain is caused when great men fail to repent. David could have saved himself a lot of trouble and pain by repenting and confessing his sin immediately to God. He still would have had consequences to deal with, but at least he could have gotten on the healing path immediately instead of waiting almost a year.
\nSecond Samuel 11:6-17 indicates David ended up greatly compounding his problem, digging his hole ever deeper. He caused himself more pain by his subsequent sinful actions. More specifically, he connived and tried to get Bathsheba\u2019s husband, Uriah, to sleep with her. He even got Uriah drunk in an effort to get him to go home and have sexual relations with his wife. But he didn\u2019t do so.
\nIn the morning David wrote a letter to the commander Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, \u201cSet Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die\u201d (11:15).
\nIn obedience, Joab put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest fighters were. When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David\u2019s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.
\nOver the course of this episode, David ended up breaking four of the Ten Commandments: \u201cYou shall not murder\u201d (Exodus 20:13); \u201cYou shall not commit adultery\u201d (verse 14); \u201cYou shall not steal\u201d (verse 15); \u201cYou shall not covet your neighbor\u2019s wife\u201d (verse 17). David grievously sinned against God. And in the process, he committed one sin to cover up another sin.
\n\u201cNo marvel that our sorrows are multiplied when our sins are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Matthew Henry (1662\u20131714)
\n\u201cSins are like circles in the water when a stone is thrown into it; one produces another.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Philip Henry (1631\u20131696)<\/p>\n
God\u2019s people are always best served to flee immorality.
\nAs noted previously, 2 Samuel 11:2 tells us David was walking around on his roof and saw Bathsheba bathing. Instead of averting his attention, he watched her long enough to see she was beautiful. The rest is history. David sinned by sleeping with her.
\nDavid should have turned from sin immediately. Indeed, he should have followed Joseph\u2019s lead. Joseph immediately fled from the advances of Potiphar\u2019s wife when she tried to seduce him (Genesis 39). He had learned the lesson that would later be recorded in 2 Timothy 2:22: \u201cFlee youthful passions and pursue righteousness.\u201d (See also 2 Corinthians 6:16.)
\n\u201cLearn to say no right in the moment sin approaches you. Only thus is victory possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Erich Sauer (1898\u20131959)<\/p>\n
Our sins look horrible when we see them in someone else.
\nIn 2 Samuel 12:1-7 we read about how David got \u201cNathanized.\u201d Nathan described a particular man\u2019s horrible crime, and David\u2019s anger was kindled against the man. \u201cYou are the man,\u201d Nathan told him. How ugly our sins look when we behold them in other people. Someone said we tend to condemn in others what we ourselves are most guilty of.<\/p>\n
Ultimately our sins are against God, even when we\u2019ve injured human beings in the process.
\nWe find David\u2019s repentance after he sinned with Bathsheba recorded in Psalm 51. In that psalm, David affirmed to God, \u201cFor I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight\u201d (verses 3-4).
\nThe good news is, when we go to God in confession, there is forgiveness of sins: \u201cI acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, \u2018I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,\u2019 and you forgave the iniquity of my sin\u201d (Psalm 32:5). First John 1:9 tells us, \u201cIf we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even though God forgives your sin, you may yet experience temporal consequences for your sin.
\nDavid\u2019s sin was forgiven by God (2 Samuel 12:13). Nevertheless, David would subsequently experience severe temporal consequences: (1) The sword would never depart from his house; (2) Because of the evil he inflicted on another man\u2019s family, David\u2019s family would now experience great evil; and (3) the child that was to be born would die. Let us never forget: choices have consequences.
\n\u201cIf a man gets drunk and goes out and breaks his leg so that it must be amputated, God will forgive him if he asks it, but he will have to hop around on one leg all his life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Dwight L. Moody (1837\u20131899)<\/p>\n
In heaven, we will see our children who have died.
\nWhen his baby was dying, David prayed and fasted and wept on his behalf. Once the baby died, David stopped fasting. He said, \u201cWhile the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, \u2018Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?\u2019 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me\u201d (2 Samuel 12:22-23). This last part of the passage shows David\u2019s belief that he would be reunited with his dead son in the afterlife: \u201cI will go to him\u201d\u2014that is, I will go to heaven where he is.
\nScripture has other evidences for the salvation of babies and infants: (1) No descriptions of hell mention infants or young children. (2) No descriptions of the great white throne judgment mention infants or young children (Revelation 20:11-15). (3) The basis of the last judgment is \u201caccording to what they had done\u201d (Revelation 20:11-13), and infants are not responsible for their actions. And (4) Children quite obviously have a special place in Jesus\u2019s heart, and Jesus said we must become like children to enter God\u2019s kingdom (Matthew 18).
\n\u201cO death, where is your victory?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20141 Corinthians 15:55<\/p>\n
You reap what you sow.
\nAnyone who sows good will reap good. A person who sows evil will reap evil. Absalom, David\u2019s son, is a good example. Absalom was vengeful and became a murderer (2 Samuel 13:20-33). He was vain and arrogant (14:25-28). He undercut his father, David, while seeking to cultivate loyalty to himself throughout Israel (15:1-12). He had a significant military force and sought to usurp David\u2019s throne (16\u201317). David\u2019s army attacked Absalom\u2019s forces, though David explicitly ordered that Absalom be spared. Joab disobeyed David and killed Absalom (18). We are reminded of Galatians 6:7: \u201cWhatever one sows, that will he also reap.\u201d<\/p>\n
God\u2019s people are not immune to experiencing great grief.
\nAmong the greatest pains faced by human beings is grief when a friend or loved one dies. David grieved greatly at the death of his friend Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:17-27). He lamented aloud, \u201cI am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan\u201d (verse 26). David cared deeply for him.
\nDavid also grieved over the death of his son Absalom, who rebelled against him and even tried to usurp his throne, almost successfully. Despite Absalom\u2019s rebellion against David, David loved him. When Absalom died in a battle, David was overwhelmed with grief. Second Samuel 18:33 tells us, \u201cThe king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, \u2018O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son.\u2019\u201d (See also 19:1-8.)
\nGod\u2019s people are not immune to the pain of grief. Even though Christ has taken the \u201csting\u201d out of death (1 Corinthians 15:55), it is nevertheless extremely painful when a family member or friend dies (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Even the great apostle Paul considered death an \u201cenemy\u201d yet to be conquered (1 Corinthians 15:26).
\n\u201cWe are healed of grief only when we express it to the full.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Swindoll<\/p>\n
Watch out for pride. It will bring you down!
\nSecond Samuel 24 portrays David taking a census. David was measuring the size of his army\u2014apparently in a prideful way. David wanted to glory in the size of his fighting force. This resulted in God\u2019s chastisement. Let us never forget: \u201cPride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall\u201d (Proverbs 16:18 NLT).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness.
\n1 Kings<\/p>\n
Earthly leaders who obey God bring blessing upon their nation. Those who disobey forfeit God\u2019s blessing for their nation.
\nTimeline
\n991\u2014Solomon is born.
\n970\u2014David dies; Solomon becomes king.
\n966\u2014Construction of the temple begins.
\n959\u2014The temple is completed and dedicated.
\n931\u2014The kingdom divides into the northern kingdom (Israel) and southern kingdom (Judah).
\n862\u2013852\u2014Elijah\u2019s ministry.
\n722\u2014The northern kingdom is taken into exile by the Assyrians.
\n587\u2014The southern kingdom is taken into exile by the Babylonians.
\n550\u2014The book of 1 Kings is written.
\nFirst Kings derives its title from the first word in the Hebrew text\u2014\u201cKings\u201d (1:1). It focuses on 40 kings in Israel (the northern kingdom) and Judah (the southern kingdom).
\nJewish tradition holds that Jeremiah wrote 1 and 2 Kings. Other traditions claim Ezra or Ezekiel wrote the books. This unnamed prophet lived in exile with Israel in Babylon, and he wrote the books around 550 BC.
\nThe two books were originally a single book. They were divided into two books by the translators of the Septuagint\u2014the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament that predates the time of Christ.
\nThese books focus heavy attention on how Israel divided into two kingdoms. Early in 1 Kings, we find a stable kingdom under the leadership of King Solomon (1 Kings 1\u20139). During this time the kingdom was united, and it was characterized by glory and splendor. As an outworking of the covenant promises God had made to Israel in the book of Deuteronomy, the nation was truly blessed by God so long as the nation continued to obey His laws.
\nWhen the nation turned from God, however, it weakened religiously, morally, economically, and politically. As the nation strayed further and further from the worship of the one true God, things went from bad to worse. Internal strife weakened the kingdom and it eventually split into two kingdoms\u2014the northern kingdom (retaining the name Israel) and the southern kingdom (called Judah).
\nThe two sets of kings and their kingdoms remained indifferent to God\u2019s laws and His prophets. They were thoroughly disobedient, and this ultimately led to Israel\u2019s fall in 722 BC and the crushing Babylonian captivity for Judah in 587 BC. The author clearly communicates that this dire situation was a direct result of the people\u2019s long-term disobedience to God (1 Kings 9:3-9). Even so, God\u2019s mercy was always still available if there was repentance.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in 1 Kings:<\/p>\n
Death is not the end. An afterlife awaits each of us.
\nDavid was now an old man, and Solomon was anointed king (1 Kings 1). \u201cThen David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David\u201d (2:10). The phrase \u201cslept with his fathers\u201d is one of many ways the Bible describes death and burial. A famous person (or king) like David would typically be buried with family members in a tomb\u2014family members like a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and so on. So David literally did sleep in death \u201cwith his fathers.\u201d Bible expositors point out, however, that the word \u201csleep\u201d implies a future awakening\u2014a resurrection of the body (1 Corinthians 15).
\nIt is important to grasp that the term \u201csleep\u201d refers only to the body and not to the soul or spirit. The term is appropriate for the body since the body takes on the appearance of sleep at death. One\u2019s spirit or soul, however, survives death and goes either to heaven or a place of punishment, depending on whether one is a believer.
\nScripture is clear that the souls of both believers and unbelievers are fully conscious between death and the future day of resurrection. For example, Lazarus, the rich man, and Abraham\u2014all of whom had died\u2014were fully conscious and fully aware of all that was transpiring around them (Luke 16:19-31). Moses and Elijah (who had died long ago) were conscious on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus (Matthew 17:3). Jesus promised the repentant thief that he would be with Him (consciously) in paradise the very day he died (Luke 23:43). The \u201csouls\u201d of martyrs are portrayed as being conscious in heaven, talking to God (Revelation 6:9-10).
\nJesus, in speaking about the Old Testament saints Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, said God \u201cis not God of the dead, but of the living\u201d (Luke 20:38). In effect, Jesus was saying, \u201cAbraham, Isaac, and Jacob, though they died physically many years ago, are actually living today. For God, who calls Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is not the God of the dead but of the living.\u201d In summary, believers who die are in conscious bliss in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-23) while unbelievers are in conscious woe (Luke 16:22-23; Mark 9:47-48; 2 Peter 2:9).
\n\u201cTime is short. Eternity is long. It is only reasonable that this short life be lived in the light of eternity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)
\n\u201cEternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset; eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Thomas Watson (1620\u20131686)<\/p>\n
God is always willing to give wisdom to those who ask for it.
\nSolomon was now Israel\u2019s king. As a young man, he prayed for God\u2019s wisdom: \u201cGive your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people\u201d (1 Kings 3:9). God granted his request: \u201cI now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you\u201d (3:12). We are told, \u201cGod gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon\u2019s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt\u201d (4:29-30).
\nYou and I can ask God for wisdom too. James 1:5 says, \u201cIf any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.\u201d The word \u201cgenerously\u201d here means \u201cwithout reserve, liberally, ungrudgingly.\u201d Just ask and it will be given.
\n\u201cThe fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Psalm 111:10<\/p>\n
God is present among us.
\nDavid had sought to build the first temple for God, though it was not to happen, for David was a warrior, and this served to disqualify him. It was through his son Solomon that the temple was eventually built (1 Kings 6\u20137).
\nBuilt in Jerusalem, the temple was rectangular in shape, running east and west, and measured about 87 by 30 feet. It was 43 feet high. The walls of the temple were made of cedar wood, and carved into the wood were cherubim angels, flowers, and palm trees. The walls were overlaid with gold. The floor was made of cypress.
\nSolomon\u2019s temple had a holy place and a Holy of Holies. Double doors led into the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant was found. God manifest Himself in the Holy of Holies in a cloud of glory (1 Kings 8:10-11).
\nThe temple was the heart and center of religious worship for the Jews. It was God\u2019s dwelling place\u2014His glory inhabited it (Ezekiel 10:4). In Bible times Jews outside of Jerusalem would pray toward Jerusalem because the temple (God\u2019s dwelling place) was located there. In a very real sense, then, God was \u201camong\u201d His people in Old Testament times via the temple.
\nIn New Testament times, an awesome new truth was taught by the apostle Paul. Every Christian\u2019s body is a temple of the Holy Spirit: \u201cDo you not know that you are God\u2019s temple and that God\u2019s Spirit dwells in you?\u201d (1 Corinthians 3:16). \u201cDo you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?\u201d (1 Corinthians 6:19). God is \u201camong\u201d us in a whole new way, for now God is within us.
\nOne of Paul\u2019s points about the body being a temple of the Holy Spirit is that the body must never be used for sinful purposes. That would amount to defiling God\u2019s temple. The big idea: Live righteously!
\n\u201cDo you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20141 Corinthians 6:19-20<\/p>\n
God is both immanent and transcendent\u2014both right here with us, but also high above us.
\nThough Solomon built a temple for God, he knew God could not be contained by an earthly temple: \u201cWill God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built\u201d (1 Kings 8:27). The biblical teaching is that God is both immanent and transcendent.
\nA number of verses in the Bible teach both God\u2019s transcendence and His immanence. Deuteronomy 4:39 says, \u201cKnow therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.\u201d Isaiah 57:15 affirms, \u201cFor thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: \u2018I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit.\u2019 \u201d In Jeremiah 23:23-24 we read, \u201cAm I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away?\u2026 Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.\u201d Our God is an awesome God!
\nGod\u2019s Immanence
\nHow comforting to know that no matter where we go, we will never escape the presence of our beloved God. He is always immanent\u2014always right here with us. Like a good shepherd never leaves his sheep, so God never leaves His children alone (Psalm 23; John 10:1-15).<\/p>\n
Beware: even wise people can act foolishly.
\nSolomon was the wisest man on planet Earth. God gave him this wisdom (1 Kings 3:9,12). And yet, Solomon acted like a fool in disobeying God by marrying many foreign women. These women seduced Solomon into worshiping false gods (11:1-8). This ought to be a warning to each of us. Just because we are Bible-believing Christians who love Jesus does not mean we are incapable of falling into ungodliness. Christian, beware!
\nBe Wise
\n\u2022 The wise control their anger\u2014Proverbs 14:29
\n\u2022 The wise keep their cool\u2014Proverbs 29:11
\n\u2022 The wise are hungry for truth\u2014Proverbs 15:14
\n\u2022 The wise listen\u2014Proverbs 12:15
\n\u2022 The wise take advice\u2014Proverbs 13:10
\n\u2022 The wise are cautious\u2014Proverbs 14:16<\/p>\n
Monogamy has always been God\u2019s will for marriage.
\nFirst Kings 11:1-3 tells us, \u201cKing Solomon loved many foreign women\u2026 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines.\u201d Contrary to Solomon\u2019s lifestyle, monogamy is God\u2019s standard for the human race. This is clear from numerous scriptural facts:
\n1. From the beginning God set the pattern by creating a monogamous marriage relationship with one man and one woman, Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:27; 2:21-25).
\n2. Following from this God-established example of one woman for one man, this was the general practice of the human race (Genesis 4:1) until interrupted by sin (4:23).
\n3. The Law of Moses clearly commands that the king \u201cshall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away\u201d (Deuteronomy 17:17).
\n4. The warning against polygamy is repeated in the very passage where it numbers Solomon\u2019s many wives: \u201cYou shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods\u201d (1 Kings 11:2).
\n5. Our Lord reaffirmed God\u2019s original intention, noting that God created one \u201cmale and female\u201d for each other (Matthew 19:4).
\n6. The New Testament stresses that \u201cbecause of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband\u201d (1 Corinthians 7:2).
\n7. Paul insisted that a church leader should be \u201cthe husband of one wife\u201d (1 Timothy 3:2,12).
\n8. Monogamous marriage is a prefiguration of the relationship between Christ and His bride, the church (Ephesians 5:31-32).
\nWhy, then, did Solomon take so many wives? History reveals that Solomon was aggressive in his foreign policy. In sealing treaties in ancient days, it was customary for a lesser king to give his daughter in marriage to the greater king (in this case, Solomon). Every time a new treaty was sealed, Solomon ended up with yet another wife. These wives were considered tokens of friendship and \u201csealed\u201d the relationship between the two kings. It may be that Solomon was not even personally acquainted with some of these wives, even though he was married to them.
\nIn the process of doing all this, Solomon was disobedient to the Lord. He was so obsessed with power that it overshadowed his spiritual life and he ended up falling into apostasy\u2014worshiping some of the false gods of the women who became married to him. What a tragedy.
\n\u201cEach man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20141 Corinthians 7:2<\/p>\n
You can be \u201cwholly true to the Lord\u201d and yet fall into sin.
\nFirst Kings 15:3 says of Abijam, \u201cHis heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.\u201d In this verse we read the heart of David had been fully devoted (\u201cwholly true\u201d) to the Lord. We recall, however, that David committed a heinous sin in his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11).
\nOf course, David had a sin nature like all the rest of us. (He said, \u201cI was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me\u201d\u2014Psalm 51:5.) David was not perfect. But the overall orientation of his life was consistently God-ward. And when he did fall into sin, he confessed his sin to God and was restored in his relationship with Him (Psalm 51). It is in this sense that David\u2019s heart is said to have been \u201cwholly true\u201d to the Lord. He was wholly true even in recognizing his fallenness.
\nPersonally I\u2019m glad the Bible gives us the \u201cfull scoop\u201d on the frailties and warts of the biblical saints. It gives me hope that despite my own frailties, I can continue in my pursuit of being wholly true to God (see Philippians 1:6).
\nConfession of Sin
\n\u2022 Refuse to confess, misery results\u2014Psalm 32:3
\n\u2022 Confession brings forgiveness\u2014Psalm 32:5
\n\u2022 Confession brings mercy\u2014Proverbs 28:13
\n\u2022 Confession restores fellowship\u20141 John 1:9<\/p>\n
Our God is incomparable. False gods don\u2019t stand a chance against Him.
\nElijah the prophet challenged the 850 priests of Baal and Asherah to prove the existence of their god (1 Kings 18:21). A sacrifice was set up, and the priests of Baal were challenged to have Baal burn the sacrifice, which would prove his existence. If, however, he was unable to do this, and Israel\u2019s God was able to burn up the sacrifice, this would prove that the God of Israel was the one true God.
\nBaal\u2019s prophets did their best, calling on Baal all day long, dancing around the altar. But it was to no avail. Baal did not reply. Elijah then quickly called on the one true God of Israel, and the altar was immediately consumed by fire. The God of Israel was mightily vindicated on that day. Baal\u2019s impotence (nonexistence) was obvious to all. As a judgment, the prophets of Baal were then slaughtered at Elijah\u2019s command (1 Kings 18:40).
\nOur God truly is incomparable. In the Old Testament, God\u2019s incomparability is expressed in two ways. The first is by negation: \u201cThere is none like God\u201d (Deuteronomy 33:26). The second is by rhetorical questions, such as, \u201cWho is like you, O LORD, among the gods?\u201d (Exodus 15:11). The implied answer is \u201cNo one in all the universe.\u201d Our God is an awesome God!
\n\u201cI am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Isaiah 46:9
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Never forget\u2014even wise people can act foolishly. The best safeguard is to daily stay rooted in God\u2019s Word and obey Him in all things.
\n2 Kings<\/p>\n
Earthly leaders who obey God bring blessing upon their nation. Those who disobey forfeit God\u2019s blessing for their nation.
\nTimeline
\n848\u2014Prophetic mantle passes from Elijah to Elisha.
\n841\u2014Jehu becomes king of Israel.
\n835\u2014Joash becomes king of Judah.
\n798\u2014Jehoash becomes king of Israel.
\n793\u2014Jeroboam becomes king of Israel.
\n722\u2014The northern kingdom is taken into exile by the Assyrians.
\n715\u2014Hezekiah becomes king of Judah.
\n640\u2014Josiah becomes king of Judah.
\n605\u2014The southern kingdom is taken into exile by the Babylonians.
\n550\u2014The books of 1 and 2 Kings are written (these were originally one book).
\nSecond Kings naturally follows 1 Kings, both having previously been part of a single book. Please consult the previous chapter on 1 Kings for background information on both books. Following are key applicational concepts in 2 Kings:<\/p>\n
Bad leadership can bring a nation down\u2014and keep a nation down.
\nA pattern we witness in 2 Kings is the preponderance of bad kings who ruled God\u2019s people\u2014whether in the northern kingdom (Israel) or the southern kingdom (Judah) (2 Kings 3\u201317). These leaders caused a trickle-down effect\u2014that is, evil trickled down from the throne to the general populace. The people took on and maintained the wicked character of their leadership. No wonder Israel went into captivity (17:7-41).
\nThis is one good reason to vote in presidential elections. We should seek to bring into office those who best represent our values and goals. They\u2019ll cause a trickle-down effect for good.<\/p>\n
Music can open the heart to spiritual things.
\nElisha the prophet experienced God\u2019s anointing at the sound of music: \u201cWhen the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him [Elisha]\u201d (2 Kings 3:15). Music also played a significant role in worship. Indeed, various musical instruments were used in producing music as a part of worship in the temple (1 Chronicles 25). Many of the psalms were originally designed for musical accompaniment (for example, Psalms 4 and 5).
\nScripture reveals that \u201cDavid and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals\u201d (2 Samuel 6:5). We are told that \u201c4,000 shall offer praises to the LORD with the instruments\u2026 made for praise\u201d (1 Chronicles 23:5). The Levites were stationed \u201cin the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David\u201d (2 Chronicles 29:25). The psalmist proclaims, \u201cI will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God\u201d (Psalm 43:4). He exults, \u201cI will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel\u201d (Psalm 71:22). He further exults, \u201cPraise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals\u201d (Psalm 150:3-5). Instrumental music and singing continued to be common in the postexilic period (Ezra 3:10-11; Nehemiah 12:27-47). Long story short: Music has consistently played a role in opening people\u2019s hearts to the things of the spirit.
\n\u201cLeaders need to cultivate two things: a righteous heart and rhinoceros skin.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Swindoll
\n\u201cNext to theology I give to music the highest place and honor. Music is the art of the prophets, the only art that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Martin Luther (1483\u20131546)<\/p>\n
God\u2019s angels are His invisible helpers who watch after us.
\nIn 2 Kings 6:15-17 we read about how angels invisibly protected Elisha and his servant: \u201cWhen the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, \u2018Alas, my master! What shall we do?\u2019 He said, \u2018Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.\u2019 Then Elisha prayed and said, \u2018O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.\u2019 So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.\u2019 \u201d God\u2019s heavenly host was protecting them.
\nThe reason Elisha never got worried was his \u201cassurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen\u201d (Hebrews 11:1). The eye of faith recognizes that God acts on our behalf\u2014as do His angels\u2014even when we don\u2019t perceive their presence with our physical senses.
\nLike the servant, you and I are typically unaware of angelic presence in our midst. They\u2019re actually all around us, even though we do not perceive them. There is no telling just how many times God has kept us safe through the work of angels without us having known anything about it.
\nThis brings to mind Psalm 91:11: \u201cHe will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.\u201d The angels were guarding Elisha and his servant in all their ways. The angels have the same ministry among us.
\nOther verses reveal that angels are sometimes used by God in answering the prayers of God\u2019s people (Acts 12:5-10), escorting believers into heaven following the moment of death (Luke 16:22), and ministering to us in a variety of ways (Hebrews 1:14).
\n\u201cThe deer of the forest far surpass our human capacity in their keenness of smell. Bats possess a phenomenally sensitive built-in radar system. Some animals can see things in the dark that escape our attention. Swallows and geese possess sophisticated guidance systems that appear to border on the supernatural. So why should we think it strange if men fail to perceive the evidences of angelic presence?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Billy Graham<\/p>\n
God is full of amazing grace.
\nIn 2 Kings 9:6 we find Jehu being anointed as king. God spoke through the prophet Elisha: \u201cThus says the LORD, the God of Israel, I anoint you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel.\u201d
\nDespite the fact that the people had fallen deep into sin, and that this sin had been going on for generations, God still referred to the people as \u201cthe people of the Lord.\u201d God could have just annihilated them for their relentless sin. But He still held on to them as His precious people\u2014the people of the Lord. That\u2019s amazing grace!
\nThe word \u201cgrace\u201d literally means \u201cunmerited favor.\u201d \u201cUnmerited\u201d means this favor cannot be earned. Grace, theologically speaking, refers to the undeserved, unearned favor of God. God\u2019s people\u2014Israel\u2014did not deserve to be the people of the Lord, but they were. Likewise, you and I don\u2019t deserve to be saved, but we are by the grace of God. Romans 5:1-11 tells us God gives His incredible salvation to those who actually deserve the opposite\u2014that is, condemnation.
\nTrue grace is sometimes hard for people to grasp. After all, our society is performance-oriented. Good grades in school depend on how well we perform in school. Climbing up the corporate ladder at work depends on how well we perform at work. Nothing of any real worth is a \u201cfree ticket\u201d in our society. But God\u2019s gift of salvation is a grace-gift. It is free. We cannot attain it by a good performance. Ephesians 2:8-9 assures us, \u201cFor by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.\u201d Titus 3:5 likewise tells us God \u201csaved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.\u201d Praise God!
\nGod\u2019s Grace
\n\u2022 Grace comes from Jesus\u2014John 1:14-17
\n\u2022 We are justified by God\u2019s grace\u2014Romans 3:24
\n\u2022 God\u2019s grace is sufficient\u20141 Corinthians 15:10
\n\u2022 God\u2019s grace abounds for every need\u20142 Corinthians 9:8<\/p>\n
Always be open to good advice from respected spiritual leaders. It can keep you spiritually on track.
\nIn 2 Kings 12:2 we are told that \u201cJehoash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.\u201d King Jehoash received good spiritual advice from the priest Jehoiada, and he acted upon it. Jehoash made himself accountable to Jehoiada.
\nWe are wise to make ourselves accountable to a more mature spiritual person. Perhaps it\u2019s a pastor or elder in the church. Perhaps it\u2019s just a more mature Christian who knows a lot about the Bible. The truth is, spiritual accountability leads to spiritual maturity.
\nListening to Advice
\n\u2022 Son listens to father\u2014Proverbs 1:8
\n\u2022 Wise man listens\u2014Proverbs 12:15
\n\u2022 Listening makes one wise\u2014Proverbs 19:20
\n\u2022 Be quick to listen\u2014James 1:19<\/p>\n
God doesn\u2019t always heal His people.
\nIn 2 Kings 13:14 we read, \u201cNow when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him.\u201d It is clearly not always God\u2019s will to heal His children\u2014not even great prophets like Elisha.
\nAs we consult the rest of Scripture, we find that the apostle Paul couldn\u2019t heal Timothy\u2019s stomach problem (1 Timothy 5:23), nor could he heal Trophimus at Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20) or Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-27). Paul spoke of \u201ca bodily ailment\u201d he had (Galatians 4:13-15). He also suffered a thorn in the flesh that God allowed him to retain (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). God certainly allowed Job to go through a time of physical suffering (Job 1\u20132). In all cases, these individuals accepted their situations and trusted in God\u2019s grace for sustenance.
\nNumerous verses in Scripture reveal that our physical bodies are continuously running down and suffering various ailments. Our bodies are said to be perishable and weak (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). Paul said \u201cour outer self is wasting away\u201d (2 Corinthians 4:16). Death and disease will be a part of the human condition until we receive resurrection bodies\u2014that is, body upgrades\u2014that are immune to such frailties (1 Corinthians 15:51-55).<\/p>\n
An afterlife awaits each of us.
\nIn 2 Kings 14:29 we read that \u201cJeroboam slept with his fathers, the kings of Israel.\u201d \u201cSleep\u201d is an appropriate figure of speech for the death of the body since death is only temporary, awaiting the resurrection when the body will be awakened from its sleep (1 Corinthians 15). Further, both sleep and death have the same posture\u2014lying down.
\nThe Bible is very clear that the believer\u2019s spirit survives death (Luke 12:4), and is consciously present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8) in a better place (Philippians 1:23) where other souls are talking (Matthew 17:3) and even praying (Revelation 6:9-10). Likewise, the unbeliever\u2019s soul is in a place of conscious torment (Luke 16:22-26; Revelation 19:20\u201320:15).
\nThe Afterlife in Heaven
\n\u201cWe would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:8).
\n\u201cMy desire is to depart and be with Christ\u201d (Philippians 1:23).
\n\u201cIn your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore\u201d (Psalm 16:11).<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t play games with God. Fear Him and follow only Him.
\nIn 2 Kings 17:33 we read of those who \u201cfeared the LORD but also served their own gods.\u201d What absolute folly! Anyone who has a proper fear of the Lord will follow the Lord alone, and not insult Him by serving other gods (Deuteronomy 5:29; 6:13; Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 3:7; 8:13; 16:6; Ecclesiastes 12:13).
\n\u201cYou shall have no other gods before me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Exodus 20:3 (1st of the Ten Commandments)<\/p>\n
Avoid all forms of idolatry. It will bring you down.
\nEvery evil king in both Israel and Judah encouraged idolatry (2 Kings 17:12,15; 21:11,21; 23:24). Their continual trafficking with false gods staggers the mind.
\nModern Christians find it easy to condemn such ancient forms of idolatry. The scary thing is that we have our own modern idols that are often unrecognized as idols. Idolatry involves worshiping other things in place of God, such as money, materialism, the pursuit of fame, and sexual immorality. The New Testament consistently urges Christians to beware of idolatry (1 Corinthians 5:11; 10:7,14; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Galatians 5:20).<\/p>\n
God answers prayers!
\nHezekiah was told to get his house in order because his life was about to end (2 Kings 20:1). He then turned to God in prayer: \u201cNow, O LORD, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight\u201d (20:3). The Lord responded, \u201cI have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you\u2026 I will add fifteen years to your life\u201d (20:5-6). Never forget that our God answers prayers (Philippians 4:6-7).
\nAdvice on Prayer
\n\u2022 Sin hinders prayer being answered (Psalm 66:18).
\n\u2022 Righteousness opens the door to prayer being answered (Proverbs 15:29).<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t compromise. Stay fully committed to the Lord in all things.
\nIn 2 Kings 22:2 we find a great model in the person of Josiah: \u201cHe did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.\u201d In other words, Josiah was not a compromiser. He wouldn\u2019t budge an inch from God\u2019s chosen path. He walked the straight and narrow way, and was resolved to continue doing so. May we all follow his example.<\/p>\n
God sometimes disciplines His people harshly for their own good.
\nIn the book of Deuteronomy, God through Moses promised great blessings if the nation lived in obedience to the Sinai covenant. God also warned that if the nation disobeyed His commands, it would experience the punishments listed in the covenant\u2014including exile from the land (Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
\nOld Testament history is replete with illustrations of how unfaithful Israel was to the covenant. The two most significant periods of exile for the Jewish people involved the fall of Israel to the Assyrians in 722 BC, and the collapse of Judah to the Babylonians in 605 BC. Just as God promised, disobedience brought exile to God\u2019s people.
\nAs a backdrop, it is interesting to observe that the first chapter of Isaiah takes the form of a courtroom lawsuit against Judah. Judah was indicted by the Lord (through Isaiah) because of Judah\u2019s \u201cbreach of contract\u201d in breaking the Sinai covenant, which had been given to the nation at the time of the exodus from Egypt.
\nThe Lord indicted Judah for rebelling against Him. The Hebrew word for \u201crebel\u201d in Isaiah 1:2 was often used among the ancients in reference to a subordinate state\u2019s violation of a treaty with a sovereign nation. In Isaiah 1, the word points to Judah\u2019s blatant violation of God\u2019s covenant. Hence, Judah went into captivity.
\nThe Babylonian captivity was therefore God\u2019s means of chastening Judah (2 Kings 24\u201325). This punishment, of course, was intended as a corrective. Just as an earthly father disciplines his children, so God the Father disciplines His children to train and educate them (Hebrews 12:1-5; see also Job 5:17; 33:19; Proverbs 3:11-12).
\nA Failure to Repent Brings Discipline
\nA failure to repent of sin always brings God\u2019s discipline (Psalm 32:3-5; 51). \u201cIf we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged\u201d (1 Corinthians 11:31).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Judge yourself and minimize the need for God\u2019s discipline in your life.
\n1 Chronicles<\/p>\n
There is always hope for the future despite a dire past. God\u2019s promises energize us.
\nTimeline
\n1180\u2014Saul is born.
\n1050\u2014Saul is anointed as king; kingdom unites under Saul.
\n1040\u2014David is born.
\n1010\u2014Saul dies; David becomes king of Judah.
\n1003\u2014David becomes king of all Israel.
\n991\u2014Solomon is born.
\n970\u2014David dies; Solomon becomes king.
\n450\u2013425\u2014Both 1 and 2 Chronicles are written (they were originally one book).
\n200\u20141 and 2 Chronicles are split into two books by the Septuagint translators.
\nFirst and 2 Chronicles were written by an unidentified author between 450 and 425 BC. They were originally a single book, but were separated around 200 BC when the Septuagint translators divided the long scroll into two books. (The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament that predates the time of Christ.)
\nThese books draw most of their information from the books of Samuel and the books of Kings, covering the period from the time of the Judges to the time of the exile. As was true in the previous books, 1 and 2 Chronicles emphasize that the nation is blessed by God when it is obedient to Him, but it is punished by Him when it is disobedient. While the material is essentially the same as in these other books, it is presented from the vantage point of Jewish exiles returning from Babylon to Jerusalem.
\nThe problem for these returning exiles was that the future looked bleak, especially in contrast to Israel\u2019s glorious past (the David-Solomon years). On the one hand, they were glad to be back in the Promised Land. On the other hand, they were grieved at the hurtful memories of what they had lost as a result of their ancestors\u2019 sins. It is in this context that the books of Chronicles become so meaningful, for they served to give hope back to the Jews by reminding them of truths about God\u2019s promises to them, their land, their temple, their priesthood, and especially the fact that they were from the line of David and were therefore God\u2019s chosen people. Being reminded of these things was engineered to encourage the Jews to remain faithful to God during these difficult times. God\u2019s covenant was still in force with them, so they should be obedient to Him.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in 1 Chronicles:<\/p>\n
Comparing Scripture with Scripture points to the glorious coming of the divine Messiah, born as a man so He could rescue us from sin.
\nIn 1 Chronicles 1\u20132 we find a genealogy from Adam to David. One significant aspect of this genealogy relates to the fact that the Old Testament makes clear that Jesus had to be both God and man as the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6). Considering the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 1\u20132 alongside the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38 provides proof that, indeed, Jesus the divine Messiah did become a man, and has a human ancestry to prove it.
\nThis relates directly to our salvation, for by becoming a man, Jesus became our Kinsman-Redeemer. In Old Testament times the next of kin\u2014one related by blood\u2014always functioned as the kinsman-redeemer of a family member who needed redemption from jail. Jesus became related to us by blood (He became a man) so He could function as our Kinsman-Redeemer and rescue us from the bondage of sin.
\n\u201cO for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer\u2019s praise!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Wesley (1707\u20131788)<\/p>\n
God answers prayer!
\nIn 1 Chronicles 4:10 we find Jabez praying, \u201cOh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!\u201d We are then told, \u201cGod granted what he asked.\u201d
\nOur God is a God who answers the prayers of His people. As we consult other Scriptures, we find that there should be at least five components to prayer:
\nThanksgiving. In prayer we ought to always give thanks to God for everything we have (Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:15). We should \u201center his gates with thanksgiving\u201d (Psalm 100:4; see also Psalm 95:2).
\nPraise. Praise for God should always be on our lips (Psalm 34:1; 103:1-5,20-22). We should \u201ccontinually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God\u201d (Hebrews 13:15).
\nWorship. Like the psalmist, we should bow down in worship before the Lord our Maker (Psalm 95:6; Revelation 14:7), and do so with \u201creverence and awe\u201d (Hebrews 12:28). We should worship Him alone (Exodus 20:3-5).
\nConfession. Confession in prayer is wise, for \u201cwhoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy\u201d (Proverbs 28:13; see also 1 John 1:9).
\nRequests. In the Lord\u2019s Prayer, we are exhorted to pray for our daily needs (Matthew 6:11). The apostle Paul wrote, \u201cDo not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God\u201d (Philippians 4:6, emphasis added). This is what Jabez did. It\u2019s what we should do too.
\n\u201cNothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Anonymous<\/p>\n
Avoid idolatry at all costs. God hates it.
\nIn 1 Chronicles 5:25 we are told that the members of the half-tribe of Manasseh fell into idolatry: \u201cThey broke faith with the God of their fathers, and whored after the gods of the peoples of the land.\u201d What a slap to the face of God. They not only turned away from the one true living God, but they turned toward false gods who in reality have no life in them. They are \u201cthe work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths\u201d (Psalm 135:15-17; see also 115:4-6). Turning to idols is sheer lunacy.
\nThe New Testament consistently urges Christians to beware of idolatry. Paul instructs, \u201cI am writing to you not to associate with anyone who\u2026 is an idolater\u201d (1 Corinthians 5:11). He commands, \u201cDo not be idolaters,\u201d and \u201cflee from idolatry\u201d (1 Corinthians 10:7,14). In Galatians 5:20 he affirms that idolatry is among the \u201cworks of the flesh.\u201d He commands, \u201cPut to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry\u201d (Colossians 3:5). John more tenderly exhorts, \u201cLittle children, keep yourselves from idols\u201d (1 John 5:21).
\n\u201cA man\u2019s god is that for which he lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899\u20131981)<\/p>\n
God is sovereign over matters of life and death.
\nFirst Samuel 31:4-5 tells us, \u201cSaul took his own sword and fell upon it. And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.\u201d First Chronicles 10:4-5 likewise affirms, \u201cSaul took his own sword and fell upon it. And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died.\u201d
\nThe interesting thing to observe here is that this was done according to God\u2019s sovereign will. In 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 we are told, \u201cSo Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.\u201d
\nThough Saul apparently committed suicide, it was ultimately the Lord who put him to death. This brings to mind God\u2019s words in Deuteronomy 32:39: \u201cSee now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand\u201d (Psalm 139:16).
\nGod Sovereign over Death
\nMan\u2019s \u201cdays are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass\u201d (Job 14:5).
\n\u201cIn your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them\u201d (Psalm 139:16).
\n\u201cMy times are in your hand\u201d (Psalm 31:15).<\/p>\n
The secret to success is to have God on your side.
\nFirst Chronicles 11:9 tells us, \u201cDavid became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him\u201d (2 Samuel 5:10). Here we see an example of cause and effect:
\nCause: The Lord of hosts was with David.
\nEffect: David became greater and greater.
\nWe witness this same type of thing all throughout Scripture. Consider Noah as an example. Genesis 6:8 tells us, \u201cNoah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.\u201d The Hebrew word for \u201cfavor\u201d is typically used in contexts of a superior, stronger person showing favor to a weaker, more inferior person. Noah\u2019s favor before God was related to the fact that he was righteous, blameless, and walked with God (verse 9). As a result of God\u2019s favor, God rescued Noah and his family from the flood.
\nWe also see from Scripture that \u201cthe LORD was with Joseph\u201d and \u201cgave him favor\u201d (Genesis 39:21). Likewise, \u201cthe boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD\u201d (1 Samuel 2:26). In the New Testament the angel said to Mary, \u201cDo not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God\u201d (Luke 1:30). All these people became great because the Lord was with them.
\nMy advice: Live righteously and the favor of God will be with you.
\n\u201cThe LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Genesis 39:2<\/p>\n
It is wise to consult with God about your decisions.
\nIn 1 Chronicles 14:10 we read, \u201cDavid inquired of God, \u2018Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?\u2019 And the LORD said to him, \u2018Go up, and I will give them into your hand.\u2019 \u201d David had learned the importance of not acting impetuously but rather checking things out with God before taking action. This is a lesson we all need to learn. No matter what you are facing in life, go to God in prayer and check things out with Him. After all, Scripture tells us prayer can help us understand God\u2019s will (Colossians 1:9-12). Prayer can keep us from harm and pain (1 Chronicles 4:10). And prayer can bring us deliverance from our troubles (Psalm 34:15-22). Sounds good to me!
\nCross-References: Seeking God\u2019s Guidance
\nPsalms 5:8 \u2022 25:5 \u2022 27:11 \u2022 31:3 \u2022 43:3 \u2022 61:2 \u2022 139:24 \u2022 143<\/p>\n
Always be careful to do things God\u2019s way.
\nFirst Chronicles 15:11-13 tells us, \u201cDavid summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, and said to them, \u2018You are the heads of the fathers\u2019 houses of the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. Because you did not carry it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.\u201d
\nPreviously things were done man\u2019s way and a disaster ensued. God\u2019s anger broke out when the ark had been improperly handled and transported by Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:6-8; 1 Chronicles 13:9-12). Now things would be done God\u2019s way, with the ark being handled in a sanctified way. No disaster ensued this time.
\nA foundational issue we must all deal with is this: will my life be run God\u2019s way or my way? The truth is, God knows what He\u2019s doing. You don\u2019t know what you\u2019re doing. For me, it\u2019s a no-brainer. God\u2019s way it is!
\nCross-References: Thanksgiving
\n1 Chronicles 23:30 \u2022 Psalm 30:12 \u2022 35:18 \u2022 69:30 \u2022 95:2 \u2022 100:4 \u2022 116:17 \u2022 Daniel 6:10 \u2022 Matthew 11:25 \u2022 John 6:11 \u2022 Ephesians 5:20 \u2022 Philippians 4:6 \u2022 Colossians 2:7 \u2022 3:15 \u2022 4:2 \u2022 1 Thessalonians 5:18 \u2022 1 Timothy 4:4<\/p>\n
Always have a thankful attitude to God.
\nThere is no better person to learn from about thanksgiving than David, for many of the psalms he wrote are brimming with thanksgiving. It is interesting to note how David\u2019s song of thanksgiving in 1 Chronicles 16:7-36 is actually a compilation derived from the psalms:<\/p>\n
\u2022 1 Chronicles 16:8-22 derives from Psalm 105:1-15.
\n\u2022 1 Chronicles 16:23-33 derives from Psalm 96:1-13.
\n\u2022 1 Chronicles 16:34-36 derives from Psalm 106:1-47.<\/p>\n
We might consider David\u2019s song of thanksgiving to be a medley of thanksgiving psalms. One predominant theme we see in his song is that thanksgiving is intimately connected to worship. My advice: Make sure thanksgiving plays a major role in your worship.<\/p>\n
Just because an idea seems good to your thinking does not mean it is God\u2019s will for you.
\nIn 1 Chronicles 17:1-2 we read, \u201cNow when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, \u2018Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.\u2019 And Nathan said to David, \u2018Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.\u2019 \u201d It is quite obvious that David wanted to build a house for the Lord\u2014a temple. At first glance it seemed like a good idea. Nathan said go for it. But later that same night, the Lord spoke to Nathan: \u201cGo and tell my servant David, \u2018Thus says the LORD: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in\u2026 I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever\u2019 \u201d (17:3-4,11-12). Solomon would build the temple.
\nWe learn an important lesson here: just because you have a good idea does not mean it is God\u2019s will for you to pursue that idea. As noted previously in the chapter, it is wise to consult with the Lord about all decisions in life (1 Chronicles 14:10; Colossians 1:9-12; Psalm 34:15-22).<\/p>\n
Avoid pride. Pursue humility.
\nIn 1 Chronicles 21:1-2 we read, \u201cSatan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, \u2018Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.\u2019 \u201d
\nThe devil was apparently appealing to David\u2019s pride. David pridefully wanted to see how many soldiers he had and estimate the collective might of his forces.
\nThe better way is the way of humility, recognizing that it is God who gives the victory, not human might. James 4:10 tells us, \u201cHumble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.\u201d By contrast, \u201cthe LORD tears down the house of the proud\u201d (Proverbs 15:25). Christian, beware!<\/p>\n
Be strong and courageous.
\nDavid gave a great exhortation to his son Solomon in regard to building the temple: \u201cBe strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished\u201d (1 Chronicles 28:20). The reason Solomon could be strong and courageous was that the Lord would be with him. The Lord was the source of his strength.
\nWe learn a good lesson here, for the Lord is also the source of our strength. Recall that Jesus affirmed, \u201cApart from me you can do nothing\u201d (John 15:5). Conversely, the apostle Paul affirmed, \u201cI can do all things through him who strengthens me\u201d (Philippians 4:13). Never forget these two verses!
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Apart from the Lord you can do nothing. But you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
\n2 Chronicles<\/p>\n
Instability and apostasy bring a people down. But reformation lifts them back up.
\nTimeline
\n991\u2014Solomon is born.
\n970\u2014Solomon becomes king.
\n966\u2014Construction of the temple begins.
\n959\u2014The temple is completed.
\n910\u2014Asa becomes king of Judah.
\n872\u2014Jehoshaphat becomes king of Judah.
\n792\u2014Uzziah becomes king of Judah.
\n715\u2014Hezekiah becomes king of Judah.
\n640\u2014Josiah becomes king of Judah.
\n450\u2013425\u20141 and 2 Chronicles are written.
\nSecond Chronicles picks up where 1 Chronicles left off. The book chronicles the history of Solomon\u2019s reign, as well as all of Judah\u2019s kings, from Rehoboam through Zedekiah. It covers the kings in the same basic time period as 1 and 2 Kings, but 2 Chronicles omits the kings of Israel, focusing only on those of Judah. Highlights of the book include Solomon\u2019s famous prayer for wisdom in ruling as king (1:7-12), Solomon\u2019s magnificent temple (5\u20137), and the queen of Sheba\u2019s visit to Solomon (9:1-12). Please consult the previous chapter on 1 Chronicles for background information on both books.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in 2 Chronicles:<\/p>\n
The secret to success is having God on your side.
\nRecall that in 1 Chronicles 11:9 we were told that \u201cDavid became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him\u201d (2 Samuel 5:10). Now, in 2 Chronicles 1:1, we are told, \u201cSolomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.\u201d This reminds us of Joseph: \u201cThe Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man\u201d (Genesis 39:2). My conclusion: Blessing falls upon those who stay close to God.
\nGod\u2019s Blessing
\nGod seeks to shower blessings on His people (Psalm 144:15). He is \u201cable to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think\u201d (Ephesians 3:20), and stands ready to do so.<\/p>\n
God is ready and willing to give you wisdom whenever you need it.
\nSolomon was now Israel\u2019s king. As a young man, he prayed for God\u2019s wisdom: \u201cGive me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?\u201d (2 Chronicles 1:10). God granted His request.
\nYou and I can ask God for wisdom too. James 1:5 says, \u201cIf any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.\u201d The word \u201cgenerously\u201d here means \u201cwithout reserve, liberally, ungrudgingly.\u201d Just ask and it will be given!
\nCross-References: Praying for Wisdom
\n2 Chronicles 1:10 \u2022 Psalm 90:12 \u2022 Proverbs 2:3 \u2022 Ephesians 1:17 \u2022 Colossians 1:9 \u2022 James 1:5<\/p>\n
Obedience to God brings blessing. Disobedience brings chastisement.
\nThe opening chapters of 2 Chronicles focus on the reign of Solomon. We read of the great prosperity of his reign as king (2 Chronicles 1), his building of a magnificent temple (2:1\u20135:1), and the dedication of the temple (5:2\u20137:10). We are reminded that great prosperity accompanies obedience to God. Divine discipline, conversely, comes when there is disobedience (7:11-22). This is illustrated in 2 Chronicles 12:2: \u201cIn the fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem.\u201d God disciplined His disobedient people using Egypt as His whipping rod.<\/p>\n
God is both right here with us but also high above us.
\nScripture affirms that God is both immanent and transcendent\u2014that is, He is both right here with us but also high above us. In 2 Chronicles 6:18 Solomon was speaking of the temple and affirmed, \u201cWill God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!\u201d
\nGod\u2019s immanence and transcendence are taught throughout Scripture. Deuteronomy 4:39 says, \u201cKnow therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.\u201d Isaiah 57:15 affirms, \u201cFor thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: \u2018I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.\u2019 \u201d In Jeremiah 23:23-24 we read, \u201cAm I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.\u201d Here\u2019s the good news: there\u2019s nowhere I can go where God is not with me!
\n\u201cDraw near to God, and he will draw near to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014James 4:8<\/p>\n
God desires to be present among His people.
\nIn 2 Chronicles 7:1 we are told that \u201cthe glory of the LORD filled the temple.\u201d God\u2019s glory refers to the luminous manifestation of His person. We are told in Scripture that brilliant light consistently accompanies the divine manifestation in His glory (Matthew 17:2-3; 1 Timothy 6:16; Revelation 1:16). Moreover, the word \u201cglory\u201d is often linked with verbs of seeing (Exodus 16:7; 33:18; Isaiah 40:5) and verbs of appearing (Exodus 16:10; Deuteronomy 5:24), both of which emphasize the visible nature of God\u2019s glory. God\u2019s glory not only involves brilliant light, but also the presence of smoke (Isaiah 6:4) and a cloud (Numbers 16:42). This visible glory filled the temple in Old Testament times.
\nThe important point to notice is that God within the temple meant God was among His people. God was among His people many ways in Bible times. In the garden of Eden, God walked among Adam and Eve and interacted with them face-to-face (Genesis 1\u20133). Once sin entered the world, God dwelt among the Israelites via the Jewish tabernacle (Exodus 40:34), and later the temple (2 Samuel 22:7). In New Testament times, God \u201ctabernacled\u201d among us in the person of Jesus (John 1:14). Today Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). In the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city, God will again dwell with His people face-to-face (Revelation 22:4). I can hardly wait!
\n\u201cOur fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20141 John 1:3<\/p>\n
Humility, prayer, seeking God, and turning from wickedness can bring healing to a land.
\nIn 2 Chronicles 7:12 we read, \u201cIf my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.\u201d These are words God spoke specifically to Solomon regarding the Israelites. The verse contains a promise to the Israel of Solomon\u2019s time. And yet, we also find in this verse the general principle that prayer, humility, seeking God, and turning from evil open the door for God to bring healing and revival to a nation (compare with Jeremiah 18:7-9). Oh that America would repent and turn to God!
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cIf my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20142 Chronicles 7:14<\/p>\n
Our victories come not by human strength but by God\u2019s might.
\nIn 2 Chronicles 14:11 we read, \u201cAsa cried to the LORD his God, \u2018O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.\u2019 \u201d Asa\u2014who recognized that victory comes not by human strength but by God\u2019s might\u2014was granted a smashing victory. Burn this truth into your mind!
\nGod All-Powerful
\n\u2022 The Almighty reigns\u2014Revelation 19:6
\n\u2022 Nothing is too difficult\u2014Genesis 18:14
\n\u2022 Abundant in strength\u2014Psalm 147:5
\n\u2022 Surpassingly great power\u2014Ephesians 1:19-21
\n\u2022 No one can thwart\u2014Isaiah 14:27
\n\u2022 No one can reverse\u2014Isaiah 43:13
\n\u2022 Nothing is impossible\u2014Mark 10:27<\/p>\n
The Lord shows Himself strong to those whose hearts are committed to Him.
\nIn 2 Chronicles 16:9 we read, \u201cThe eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.\u201d God in His omniscience continually observes everyone\u2019s inner thoughts, attitudes, and convictions\u2014including yours and mine. Those with a blameless heart are on the receiving end of God\u2019s strong support. My advice: Be wholeheartedly devoted to God.<\/p>\n
Seek God above all else.
\nIn 2 Chronicles 16:12-13 we read, \u201cIn the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.\u201d
\nThese verses should not be taken to mean it is wrong to seek the aid of a physician when sick. They simply emphasize that Asa was wrong to seek out a physician while completely excluding the Lord from the picture. God must be put first (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 1:18). As Jeremiah put it, \u201cCursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD\u201d (Jeremiah 17:5).
\nWe find balance in our understanding of 2 Chronicles 16:12-13 in recognizing that both the Old and New Testaments recommend the use of medicine (2 Kings 20:7; 1 Timothy 5:23). Moreover, the Bible nowhere condemns going to a physician. Jesus Himself said, \u201cThose who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick\u201d (Matthew 9:12). The Bible simply insists that we should seek God first. After all, God is the Great Physician. He is the ultimate Health-Giver.
\n\u201cSeek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Matthew 6:33<\/p>\n
You cannot be sustained on yesterday\u2019s revival. It\u2019s better to pursue revival as a continual reality in your life.
\nIn the book of 2 Chronicles we read about Jehoshaphat\u2019s revival (17:1-19), Hezekiah\u2019s revival (29:1\u201331:21), as well as Josiah\u2019s reforms (34:1-13). God\u2019s people were up and down, up and down. There was a revival followed by a period of spiritual decline, then another revival followed by another period of spiritual decline, and so on.
\nThis can be true of us as individuals as well. We can have spiritual good times and spiritual bad times, up and down. While no Christian has a perfect track record of continuous revival, one positive step we can take is to stay rooted in the Word of God. I say this because God\u2019s Word can have a reviving effect on our souls. This is what happened when Ezra the priest read the Word of God to the people. We are told that \u201cthe ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law\u201d (Nehemiah 8:3). Then \u201cEzra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, \u2018Amen, Amen,\u2019 lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground\u201d (8:6). Amazingly, \u201call the people wept as they heard the words of the Law\u201d (8:9). They rejoiced that they now understood God\u2019s Word (8:12). The Word of God can revive us as well. (You can meditate on Psalm 119 for some encouragement in this regard.)<\/p>\n
Parents can influence their children and their children\u2019s children for good or bad.
\nIn 2 Chronicles 17:3-4 we read, \u201cThe LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel.\u201d Jehoshaphat was profoundly influenced for good by his great ancestor David.
\nWe see other examples of positive influence in Scripture:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Uzziah \u201cdid what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done\u201d (2 Chronicles 26:4).
\n\u2022 The apostle Paul said to Timothy, \u201cI am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well\u201d (1 Timothy 1:15).<\/p>\n
This reminds us of Jesus\u2019s words in Luke 6:40: \u201cA disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.\u201d
\n\u201cA father\u2019s holy life is a rich legacy for his sons.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)<\/p>\n
Good news: God\u2019s angels minister to us in a variety of ways.
\nMicaiah the prophet said, \u201cI saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left\u201d (2 Chronicles 18:18). Angels are often called God\u2019s heavenly host in Scripture. The term \u201chost\u201d has a distinctive military ring to it, referring to God\u2019s heavenly army employed as a military force to accomplish His will and engage in His battles.
\nIt should give Christians a supreme sense of security to know that this heavenly army, headed by God Himself, is committed to rendering service to them. This service includes angels being celestial guardians of God\u2019s people (Psalm 91:9-11; 2 Kings 6:17); being used by God in answering the prayers of His people (Acts 12:5-10); and escorting believers into heaven following death (Luke 16:22).
\n\u201cHe will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Psalm 91:11<\/p>\n
The fear of the Lord motivates righteous living.
\nThe judges of the land were warned by Jehoshaphat, \u201cConsider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes\u201d (2 Chronicles 19:6-7). The fear of the Lord motivated their commitment.
\nThe same is true of you and me. We as Christians are called to live in reverent fear of God (1 Peter 1:17; 2:17; 1 Samuel 12:14,24; 2 Chronicles 19:9; Acts 10:35). Fear of the Lord motivates us to be obedient to Him (Deuteronomy 5:29; Ecclesiastes 12:13) and serve Him (Deuteronomy 6:13). Fear of the Lord motivates us to avoid evil (Proverbs 3:7; 8:13; 16:6). Fear of the Lord is true wisdom (Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10) and the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7).<\/p>\n
Remember: the battle is God\u2019s.
\nThe people of Judah were now facing the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. They were fearful of this great horde. God assured them, \u201cThus says the LORD to you, \u2018Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God\u2019s\u2019 \u201d (2 Chronicles 20:15). In modern vernacular, God told Judah, \u201cDon\u2019t worry. I\u2019ve got your back.\u201d
\nCross-References: God Fights Our Battles
\nGenesis 14:20 \u2022 Exodus 14:14 \u2022 15:3 \u2022 Deuteronomy 1:30 \u2022 3:22 \u2022 2 Samuel 5:24 \u2022 Psalm 9:3 \u2022 18:17 \u2022 124:1 \u2022 Jeremiah 50:25<\/p>\n
Do all your work wholeheartedly.
\nHezekiah did his work wholeheartedly: \u201cEvery work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered\u201d (2 Chronicles 31:21). Go thou and do likewise!
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be a lone ranger in dealing with your problems. Let God fight your battles.
\nEzra<\/p>\n
God is awesome. He is faithful to His people, keeps His promises to them, sovereignly protects them, and restores them when needed.
\nTimeline
\n539\u2014Cyrus decrees Jewish liberation.
\n538\u2013457\u2014The events described in the book of Ezra take place.
\n458\u2014Ezra goes to Jerusalem.
\n457\u2013444\u2014The book of Ezra is written.
\nThe book of Ezra was probably written by Ezra\u2014a scribe-priest (Ezra 7:21)\u2014between 457 and 444 BC. The Hebrew form of Ezra\u2019s name means \u201cYahweh helps.\u201d Ezra speaks about the return of the Jewish people from 70 years of captivity in Babylon. This return was permitted by the decree of King Cyrus of Persia. Actually, there were two \u201creturns\u201d from Babylon\u2014one led by Zerubbabel (1\u20136), and then one under Ezra\u2019s leadership nearly six decades later (7\u201310). The aim of the first return was rebuilding of the temple (1:1\u20132:70). The aim of the second return related to Ezra\u2019s rebuilding (or reform) of his people\u2019s spiritual lives (7:1\u20138:36). Ezra was instrumental in teaching the Jews about God\u2019s law. He sought to revive his people according to this law (9:1\u201310:44).
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Ezra:<\/p>\n
Count on it: God is always faithful to fulfill His promises.
\nKing Cyrus of Persia, in the first year of his reign (539 BC), issued a decree permitting the Jews of the Babylonian captivity to return to their homeland (Ezra 1). Under Zerubbabel\u2019s leadership, the Jewish captives left Babylon for Jerusalem (2). Upon arriving, they built an altar, offered sacrifices, and celebrated the feast of tabernacles. They laid the foundation of the temple and established themselves in the land (3).
\nThe important point to observe is that by returning from Babylon to Israel, the Jewish people were openly demonstrating their faith in God\u2019s promises of restoration. This restoration took place \u201cthat the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled\u201d (Ezra 1:1). The people were seeing a fulfillment of Jeremiah\u2019s prophecy before their very eyes.
\nThe Bible often points to God as a promise keeper. Numbers 23:19 (NIV) asserts, \u201cGod is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?\u201d Prior to his death, an aged Joshua declared, \u201cNow I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed\u201d (Joshua 23:14 (NIV); see also 1 Kings 8:56; Joshua 21:45). God truly is faithful!
\nMy friend, it may be that you are facing deep waters and bitter trials in your own life at present. I urge you to turn to God and trust in His promises. No matter what you are facing, a supernatural tranquility and peace is available to you. It is yours for the taking. Cast yourself on God and His promises\u2014truly trusting in Him\u2014and this peace will be yours (Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:6-7). He will sustain you. He is faithful!
\nGod Is Faithful
\n\u2022 Keeps His covenant\u2014Deuteronomy 7:9
\n\u2022 Every promise fulfilled\u2014Joshua 23:14
\n\u2022 Faithful in every way\u2014Psalm 89:1-2,8
\n\u2022 Great is His faithfulness\u2014Lamentations 3:22-23
\n\u2022 Faithful even when we are not faithful\u20142 Timothy 2:13<\/p>\n
Count on it: God\u2019s mercy always exceeds His anger.
\nIn Ezra\u2019s prayer to God, he said, \u201cAfter all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this\u201d (Ezra 9:13, emphasis added). Ezra knew God would have been perfectly just in utterly destroying his people for their great sins. But God\u2019s mercy exceeded His anger against them. God was restoring them to their land and temple, just as He promised. What an awesome and merciful God!<\/p>\n
God\u2019s Word always has a life-changing effect on God\u2019s people.
\nEzra was \u201ca man learned in matters of the commandments of the LORD and his statutes for Israel\u201d (Ezra 7:11). He \u201cset his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel\u201d (7:10). The Jews were not just returning to their land and their temple; they were also finally returning to the Word of God. Ezra not only preached God\u2019s Word to them, but the prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged them: \u201cThe Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo\u201d (6:14). This put spiritual wind in their sails.
\nThe times may have changed, but the need for the Word of God has not changed. We need the life-changing influence of God\u2019s Word every bit as much as the Jews in Ezra\u2019s time. As 2 Timothy 3:15-17 puts it, the Scriptures \u201care able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.\u201d In all generations, God\u2019s Word revives the souls of human beings (Psalm 119:25,37).
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cEzra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Ezra 7:10<\/p>\n
God can sovereignly and providentially work through earthly kings to accomplish His will.
\nScripture reveals that God is sovereign over earthly kings such that He can providentially cause them to show favor toward His people. In Ezra 6:22 we are told \u201cthe LORD\u2026 had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.\u201d This reminds us of Proverbs 21:1: \u201cThe king\u2019s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.\u201d We see this illustrated in the cases of Tiglath-Pileser (Isaiah 10:5-7), Cyrus (Isaiah 45:1-4), Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:34), and Belshazzar (Daniel 5:23-25). God is awesome!
\nGod Is Sovereign
\n\u2022 God\u2019s purpose will stand\u2014Isaiah 46:10
\n\u2022 His plans alone stand\u2014Psalm 33:8-11
\n\u2022 He rules over all\u2014Psalm 103:19
\n\u2022 He is King of the earth\u2014Psalm 47:2
\n\u2022 He rules all nations\u20142 Chronicles 20:6
\n\u2022 He is above all rule and authority\u2014Ephesians 1:20-22<\/p>\n
Stand strong in the faith\u2014even when opposition rises against you.
\nThe Jews\u2019 work of rebuilding the temple was hindered by deceitful enemies who convinced the Persian king to stop reconstruction of the temple (Ezra 4). This greatly tested the returnees\u2019 fragile and wavering faith.
\nUltimately, however, the Persian king investigated matters, decided in favor of the Jews (under God\u2019s providential hand), and allowed the building program to continue (Ezra 5). Cyrus\u2019s decree for rebuilding the temple was re-affirmed. The temple was completed in 516 BC.
\nWe learn an important lesson here. There will always be people who oppose the work of God. There will always be trials and set-backs that crop up. But through it all, we must keep our faith strong, knowing that God can providentially work behind the scenes to open necessary doors for us. As Psalm 37:5 puts it, \u201cCommit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.\u201d
\n\u201cTrust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Proverbs 3:5-6
\nFaith in God
\n\u2022 Faith is the certainty of what we don\u2019t see\u2014Hebrews 11:1-2
\n\u2022 Live by faith, not by sight\u20142 Corinthians 5:7
\n\u2022 Trust in the Lord, not man\u2014Psalm 118:8
\n\u2022 Trust the Lord with your whole heart\u2014Proverbs 3:5
\n\u2022 Small faith yields big results\u2014Luke 17:5-6<\/p>\n
Confession of sin is a necessary component of the spiritual life.
\nEzra led his people in the confession of sin before the Lord: \u201cO my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens\u201d (Ezra 9:6). \u201cWe have forsaken your commandments, which you commanded by your servants the prophets\u201d (9:10-11). We are then told that \u201cwhile Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly\u201d (10:1).
\nThe backdrop is that the Jews had returned to their land and would now enjoy their rebuilt temple. But a restoration to the land and the temple was not enough. They also needed restoration to God\u2014and that comes only through repentance and confession. As the psalmist put it, \u201c \u2018I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity;\u2019 I said, \u2018I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,\u2019 and you forgave the iniquity of my sin\u201d (Psalm 32:5). The people of Ezra\u2019s day were in dire need of repentance and confession of their many sins.
\nWhen you and I sin, we, too, need to confess to God (1 John 1:9). The Greek word for \u201cconfess\u201d literally means \u201cto say the same thing.\u201d So when we confess our sin to God, that means we\u2019re saying the same thing about our sin that God says about it. We\u2019re agreeing with God that we did wrong. No excuses! And following our confession, we can thank God that in His sight our sin is already forgiven, because Jesus paid for it on the cross (Romans 5:10).
\n\u201cYou can pray till doomsday for revival, but you will never get it without repentance and confession of sin in the Christian life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Erlo Stegan<\/p>\n
God\u2019s people ought to always be worshipful and joyful.
\nNow that the people were back in their land and their temple rebuilt, they could finally resume worship the way God had instructed them to\u2014full of joy. We read, for example, that \u201cthey kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had made them joyful\u201d (Ezra 6:22).
\nAll worship of the Lord should be joyful. This is wonderfully reflected in Psalm 95:1-5: \u201cOh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.\u201d (See also Psalm 100:1-4.)
\n\u201cWe must rejoice in God when we have nothing else to rejoice in and cleave to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Matthew Henry (1662\u20131714)
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Being a joyful Christian is your birthright. Don\u2019t let the enemy of your soul, Satan, steal your joy. Starting now, make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
\nNehemiah<\/p>\n
The combination of prayer and the Word of God can bring great revival that is life-changing and exciting. It can turn around a whole society.
\nTimeline
\n465\u2014Artaxerxes I becomes king of Persia.
\n445\u2014Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem; he becomes the governor of Jerusalem; the wall of Jerusalem is rebuilt.
\n433\u2014Nehemiah returns to Persia.
\n432\u2014Nehemiah goes back to Jerusalem.
\nNehemiah wrote his book between 445 and 425 BC. His name literally means \u201ccomfort of Yahweh.\u201d Under Nehemiah\u2019s leadership, the people would indeed be comforted by Yahweh.
\nLike the book of Ezra, the book of Nehemiah focuses on the return of the exiles from Babylon. Nehemiah had been a cupbearer for the Persian king Artaxerxes, but moved on to become the governor of Jerusalem in 445 BC. Among his contributions was leading the people in repairing the shattered wall of Jerusalem. The task was completed in a mere 52 days. It would take much longer, however, to rebuild the spiritual lives of the people in Jerusalem. Nevertheless, Nehemiah\u2019s work served to raise the morale of the people, who had been utterly demoralized at seeing their beloved city in ruins. He laid the foundation for Josiah\u2019s religious reforms.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Nehemiah:<\/p>\n
Prayer and decisive action will see you through tough times.
\nNehemiah prayed for his people, confessed their sins, and asked God for blessing in exchange for repentance (Nehemiah 1). Nehemiah was then permitted by the Persian king Artaxerxes I to visit Jerusalem to assess the city\u2019s condition, and reported back that the city walls needed to be rebuilt (2). Nehemiah promptly headed up a group of people to render repairs (3).
\nSamaria\u2019s king opposed the repairs, but Nehemiah refused to be slowed. He assigned half the people to rebuild, while the others remained on military watch (Nehemiah 4). Through Nehemiah\u2019s prayers and decisive action, the construction work continued (5) and was finally complete in a mere 52 days (6).
\nThis brings to mind James\u2019s emphasis that works are the \u201clife signs\u201d that faith is alive (James 2:14-26). That the Jews prayed to God showed their faith in Him, but then they immediately proceeded to take action to bring about what they had requested of God (Nehemiah 4:9). You and I learn a good lesson here. Prayer, faith, and decisive action make a powerful combination.
\n\u201cDo not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Philippians 4:6<\/p>\n
The object of your prayers is your awesome Father-God in heaven.
\nNehemiah addressed his prayer to the \u201cLORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments\u201d (Nehemiah 1:5). There is no ambiguity here. Nehemiah knew to whom he was praying. In Nehemiah\u2019s thinking, God is known not only by who He is (\u201cLord God of heaven, the great and awesome God\u201d) but also by what He has done (the one who \u201ckeeps covenant and steadfast love\u201d).
\nSince New Testament times, you and I are privileged to address our prayers to \u201cour Father in heaven\u201d (Matthew 6:9). We can also address Him as \u201cAbba\u201d\u2014an Aramaic term of great intimacy, loosely meaning \u201cpapa\u201d (Romans 8:15). We can go to \u201cpapa\u201d with all our needs.
\nJesus often spoke of God as a loving Father (for example, Matthew 6:4-9; 18:19). The apostle Paul affirmed that God is the \u201cFather of mercies and God of all comfort\u201d (2 Corinthians 1:3). God is often portrayed in Scripture as compassionately responding to the personal requests of His people (Psalm 81:10; 91:14-15).
\n\u201cYou have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, \u2018Abba! Father.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Romans 8:15<\/p>\n
The God of heaven answers the heartfelt prayer of a righteous man.
\nWe learn yet another lesson about prayer in Nehemiah\u2019s account. Pay special attention to the words I\u2019ve italicized in Nehemiah\u2019s prayer: \u201cO LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you\u201d (Nehemiah 1:4-6). While Nehemiah\u2019s people had fallen in sin, he himself was a righteous man, and God answered his prayer.
\nThis brings to mind James 5:16: \u201cThe prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.\u201d There is a strong connection between righteous living and answered prayer. On the other hand, there is also a strong connection between unrighteous living and unanswered prayer. Proverbs 15:29 says, \u201cThe LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.\u201d (See also James 5:16; 1 Peter 3:12.)
\n\u201cThe mightier any is in the Word, the more mighty he will be in prayer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014William Gurnall (1617\u20131679)<\/p>\n
God can\u2014as a result of prayer\u2014grant us favor in the eyes of powerful people.
\nArtaxerxes asked Nehemiah why he was so sad. Nehemiah replied that he was lamenting Jerusalem\u2019s destruction. Artaxerxes asked how he could help. Nehemiah instantly and silently prayed to God, and then asked for permission to go to Jerusalem. He wanted Jerusalem to be restored. \u201cThe king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me\u201d (Nehemiah 2:8). God gave Nehemiah favor in the eyes of the king.
\nGod often gave His servants favor in the eyes of powerful people in Bible times. Joseph found favor in the eyes of his Egyptian master: \u201cThe LORD was with him and\u2026 the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands\u201d (Genesis 39:3). When Joseph was wrongfully thrown into prison, \u201cthe LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison\u201d (Genesis 39:21).
\nLet us not forget what Solomon said in Proverbs 21:1: \u201cThe king\u2019s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.\u201d God can give us favor in the eyes of anyone, no matter how powerful their office.<\/p>\n
Every believer ought to take a stand for social justice.
\nMany of the Jews were experiencing economic hardship and had to borrow from wealthy Jews to survive, using their land and even their children as collateral. The children would become slaves of the wealthy Jews if the debts were not paid (Nehemiah 5:1-5). Nehemiah confronted the wealthy Jews and put an end to this exploitation (5:6-13). Nehemiah took a stand for social justice. Jesus, too, took a stand for social justice (Luke 4:18-19). Let us follow their lead!<\/p>\n
People desperately need to hear the Word of God, for it can lead to revival.
\nNehemiah discovered a genealogical record that enabled his people to be restored to the cities that had been their family inheritance (Nehemiah 7). The people then requested Ezra the priest to read the Law of Moses to them. The Levites helped them all understand it.
\nWe are told that \u201cthe ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law\u201d (Nehemiah 8:3). Then \u201cEzra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, \u2018Amen, Amen,\u2019 lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground\u201d (8:6). Amazingly, \u201call the people wept as they heard the words of the Law\u201d (8:9). They rejoiced that they now understood God\u2019s Word (8:12).
\nThe people then \u201cconfessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers\u201d (Nehemiah 9:2). They praised the Lord for how faithfully He had led His people through the years. A revival swept through the nation (9:3-37). The people made a firm covenant with the Lord to obey His commandments (10). Nehemiah then instituted religious reforms (13).
\nIt\u2019s quite amazing hearing how the Word of God led to civil, social, and spiritual reforms (Nehemiah 13). Oh that America would have such a revival (2 Chronicles 7:14).
\nLife-Changing Nature of God\u2019s Word
\n\u201cHow can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word\u201d (Psalm 119:9).
\n\u201cI have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you\u201d (Psalm 119:11).
\n\u201cGive me life according to your word\u201d (Psalm 119:25).<\/p>\n
Be a worshiper of the Lord, for He is worthy.
\nNehemiah 8:6 tells us, \u201cEzra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, \u2018Amen, Amen,\u2019 lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.\u201d What a great example of worship. Worship involves reverencing God, adoring Him, praising Him, venerating Him, and paying homage to Him, not just externally (by rituals and singing songs) but in our hearts as well (Isaiah 29:13; see also 1 Samuel 15:22,23).
\nThe Hebrew word for worship, shaha, means \u201cto bow down\u201d or \u201cto prostrate oneself\u201d (Genesis 22:5; 42:6). Likewise, the New Testament word for worship, proskuneo, means \u201cto prostrate oneself\u201d (Matthew 2:2,8,11). Such worship is the proper response of a creature to the divine Creator (Psalm 95:6). Worship can be congregational (1 Corinthians 11\u201314) or individual (Romans 12:1).
\nMy friend, don\u2019t be a spiritual dud. Get into worshiping God\u2014and do it regularly!
\n\u201cIf Christ were standing on this platform, and you saw his pierced hands and the wound in his side, you would be ready to fall down and worship him. You can worship him better still by trusting him in his absence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)<\/p>\n
You never need to be afraid because the Lord is on your side.
\nNehemiah\u2019s people were fearful of surrounding peoples who might invade their land (Nehemiah 9). Nehemiah urged, \u201cDo not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome\u201d (4:14). This brings to mind Romans 8:31: \u201cIf God is for us, who can be against us?\u201d
\nThe psalmist boasted, \u201cI will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around\u201d (Psalm 3:6). \u201cThough an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear\u201d (27:3). \u201cIn God I trust; I shall not be afraid\u201d (56:4). Nehemiah\u2019s people needed to remember this as they resettled in their land (Nehemiah 11\u201313).
\n\u201cOf whom shall I be afraid? One with God is a majority.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Martin Luther (1483\u20131546)
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Your continuous revival hinges on continuous exposure to God\u2019s Word.
\nEsther<\/p>\n
God sovereignly and providentially works behind the scenes of human history to accomplish His purposes.
\nTimeline
\n486\u2014Xerxes I (Ahasuerus) becomes king of Persia.
\n479\u2014Esther becomes queen.
\n474\u2014Haman seeks to destroy the Jews.
\n473\u2014The first Festival of Purim is celebrated.
\n465\u2014The book of Esther is written.
\nThe book of Esther was written by an unknown author in about 465 BC. Some have suggested that Mordecai, Ezra, or Nehemiah may have written the book, but there is no hard evidence for this. Whoever the author was, he was well aware of Persian culture and had a strong sense of Jewish nationalism.
\nEsther is distinguished from other Bible books in that God is never mentioned. Yet God is seen sovereignly working behind the scenes throughout the book.
\nThis short book describes how an insidious plot was launched by the evil racist Haman to destroy the Jews. God not only thwarted the plot, but brought the plotter\u2019s evil back upon himself\u2014Haman was executed instead of the Jews.
\nTo bring about this end, God had earlier and providentially brought the beautiful (Jewish) Esther to become the Queen of the Persian king, Xerxes I, who ruled Persia from 486 to 465 BC. It would seem that God elevated Esther to this position of authority specifically to save the Jewish race from destruction (Esther 4:14). Her cousin Mordecai was instrumental in helping Esther to understand this fact.
\nBiblical View of Races
\nGod \u201cmade from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth\u201d (Acts 17:26).
\nGod\u2019s redeemed will be from \u201cevery tribe and language and people and nation\u201d (Revelation 5:9).
\nAll human beings are equal in terms of their creation (Genesis 1:28), the sin problem (Romans 3:23), God\u2019s love for them (John 3:16), and God\u2019s provision of salvation (Matthew 28:19).<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Esther:<\/p>\n
God has the ability to sovereignly and purposefully place His people in high and strategic positions of authority.
\nThe Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes), after some celebratory drinking, demanded that queen Vashti sacrifice her modesty before his court. She refused and the king was outraged. She was promptly deposed (Esther 1).
\nMordecai, a gatekeeper for the king, believed his cousin Esther would be the perfect replacement. Esther ultimately became queen and found favor in the eyes of the king (Esther 2).
\nMeanwhile, Haman\u2014the evil chief officer of King Ahasuerus\u2014hated the Jews and sought to annihilate them. He deviously secured the king\u2019s agreement to destroy them by alleging that the Jews cared nothing of the king\u2019s laws (Esther 3).
\nUnder Mordecai\u2019s encouragement, and in God\u2019s providence, Esther used her high position to make an appeal on behalf of her people (Esther 4). This appeal thwarted the evil Haman\u2019s efforts. All of this called for great faith on the part of Esther.
\nThis reminds us how God also providentially worked behind the scenes to elevate Joseph to a position of great authority. Recall that Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers (Genesis 37, 39). While it seemed painful at the time, God was in control all the while. God providentially used these negative circumstances to bring Joseph to Egypt, where He elevated him to a position of great authority (Genesis 41; 50:20). In that position, Joseph was now able to save people from famine.
\nDear Christian, such passages provide us with two key lessons. First, if God so chooses, He has the unique ability to put any of us in important and strategic positions. Second, God has a strategic purpose in mind when He does so. My advice: Maintain faith that God knows what He\u2019s doing with your life.
\nDefinition: Providence
\nProvidence refers to God\u2019s sovereign governing over all things on earth and in the universe. See Psalm 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3.<\/p>\n
God\u2019s sovereign hand is always at work in your life, even though you may not be aware of it.
\nGod\u2019s hand of providence is evident in many ways in Esther\u2019s short book. This includes Mordecai\u2019s overhearing of a plot against the king (Esther 2:19-23), Esther\u2019s rise to queenship for a specific purpose (4:14), and the king\u2019s insomnia on the night before Mordecai\u2019s planned execution (6:1-3). God was involved in all of this, though He operated incognito.
\nThis is one reason we need to trust in God. God is working for us in ways our eyes cannot visibly see. That is why we must \u201cwalk by faith, not by sight\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:7).
\n\u201cFaith is to believe what we do not see.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Augustine (354\u2013430)<\/p>\n
Events you might consider unworthy or insignificant may turn out to be used by God in accomplishing His sovereign will.
\nAll the beautiful young virgins near the king\u2019s palace were gathered to participate in a kind of beauty contest, the winners being drafted into King Xerxes\u2019 harem. Esther 2:8 tells us, \u201cWhen the king\u2019s order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king\u2019s palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women.\u201d Apparently Esther did not join this beauty contest on her own, as if she were a vain person. Rather, our text tells us she was \u201ctaken into the king\u2019s palace and put in custody of Hegai\u201d (2:8, emphasis added). She was taken against her will. In any event, it is clear this was the first step in God providentially elevating Esther to a high position for the specific purpose of frustrating Haman\u2019s goal of exterminating the Jews. There is certainly no indication in the text that Esther had to do anything immoral while participating in the contest. The character she evidenced throughout the book was beyond reproach.<\/p>\n
God looks not at the externals, but rather cares about the inner beauty of a person.
\nEsther stood out above the other women, and Hegai \u201cquickly provided her with her cosmetics\u201d (Esther 2:9). The only reason cosmetics were put on her was that she wasn\u2019t wearing any, as apparently was her custom.
\nIt is good to be reminded that Scripture consistently emphasizes that God is more interested in what is inside a person than what the person physically looks like. \u201cThe LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart\u201d (1 Samuel 16:7). Jesus warned some Jewish leaders, \u201cWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people\u2019s bones and all uncleanness\u201d (Matthew 23:27). It\u2019s the inside that\u2019s important!
\nMy friend, there\u2019s nothing wrong with wearing nice clothes, grooming your hair, and trying to look nice. The more important thing, though, is to ensure you are \u201cwearing\u201d the right virtues: \u201cClothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience\u201d (Colossians 3:12 NLT; see also 1 Peter 3:4; 5:5; Colossians 3:14).
\nGod Looks at Your Heart
\n\u2022 God \u201cknows the secrets of the heart\u201d (Psalm 44:21).
\n\u2022 \u201cYou discern my thoughts from afar\u201d (Psalm 139:2).
\n\u2022 The Lord \u201csees the heart and the mind\u201d (Jeremiah 20:12).<\/p>\n
God is sovereign over the actual timing of events.
\nAccording to Esther 4:14 (NLT), Mordecai said to Esther, \u201cWho knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this.\u201d As providence had it, Esther indeed was made queen for \u201csuch a time as this,\u201d thereby rescuing her people just in time.
\nWe see other evidences of God\u2019s sovereign control over timing in Scripture. Acts 17:26 tells us God \u201cmade from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place\u201d (emphasis added). Speaking of Jesus\u2019s birth, Galatians 4:4 tells us, \u201cWhen the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law\u201d (emphasis added). Everything is on a divine schedule decreed by God (John 2:4).
\nYou and I, too, have a divine timetable: \u201cIn your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them\u201d (Psalm 139:16).
\n\u201cNever be afraid to entrust an unknown future to an all-knowing God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Anonymous<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t shy away from speaking up when you really need to speak up.
\nEsther went to the king, and he asked her, \u201cWhat is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you\u201d (Esther 7:2). Esther then boldly interceded before the king on behalf of her people, implicating the wicked Haman as the one seeking the destruction of her people.
\nIt is not always easy for us to speak up when we need to. May the Lord grant us boldness!
\nSpeaking the Truth
\n\u2022 Tell the truth before God\u20142 Corinthians 4:2
\n\u2022 Truthful lips endure forever\u2014Proverbs 12:19
\n\u2022 Speak the truth in love\u2014Ephesians 4:15<\/p>\n
Those who intend evil for others may find themselves on the receiving end of that same evil.
\nAt a banquet arranged by Esther, the king offered to give her anything up to half his kingdom. She asked only that her people be saved, and that the one behind the plot to attack them be judged. Haman was singled out, and he was promptly hanged on the same gallows he had constructed to hang Mordecai. The king then issued a decree prohibiting the killing of the Jews. As God\u2019s providence had it, the enemies of the Jews ended up being destroyed on the very day the Jews were scheduled to be destroyed.
\nWe see, then, that not only did Haman receive the evil he had intended for the righteous Mordecai, but those who had intended to destroy the Jews were themselves destroyed. God often brings about these kinds of reversals in Scripture. \u201cWhoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling\u201d (Proverbs 26:27; see also Proverbs 28:10; Ecclesiastes 10:8). The converse is also true. Do good, and good will be returned back upon you.
\nDo Good, Receive Good
\n\u201cLet us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up\u201d (Galatians 6:9).
\n\u201cGlory and honor and peace for everyone who does good\u201d (Romans 2:10).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Never forget that God is sovereign over your life. He is the Grand Weaver, weaving your life into a tapestry that will bring Him great glory.<\/p>\n
Isaiah<\/p>\n
Our God, our Savior, and our salvation are profoundly awesome!
\nTimeline
\n740\u2014Isaiah\u2019s prophetic ministry begins.
\n740\u2013680\u2014Isaiah writes his book within this time frame.
\n680\u2014Isaiah\u2019s ministry ends.
\nPost\u2013680\u2014Isaiah is martyred sometime after 680 during the reign of King Manasseh (696\u2013642).
\nIsaiah is considered the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Some have even called him the \u201cprince\u201d of Old Testament prophets. Certainly his book is a prince-sized book, being the third longest in the Bible. Only Jeremiah and Psalms exceed it in length.
\nThe New Testament authors quote from Isaiah quite often\u201421 times. This shows they thought it was an important book. Jesus thought it was important too. He even inaugurated His public ministry with a quotation from Isaiah (Luke 4:17-21).
\nIsaiah\u2019s name means \u201cthe Lord saves.\u201d His name is appropriate, for salvation was an important part of his message to the people of Judah. Of course, salvation and judgment often go together in the Bible. If a person refuses to be saved and turns away from God, then he must suffer the consequences in judgment. Isaiah combines these themes in his book.
\nIsaiah was born and reared in Jerusalem in days of great prosperity. It would seem his family was an affluent one. He was also apparently highly educated and very intelligent.
\nAccording to Jewish tradition, Isaiah\u2019s father, Amoz, was a brother of King Amaziah. This would make Isaiah a first cousin to King Uzziah and a grandson of King Joash. Isaiah had many opportunities to fellowship with royalty. He even gave advice on foreign affairs to King Hezekiah.
\nIsaiah received his call from God in the year of King Uzziah\u2019s death (740 BC). His ministry continued through the reign of Hezekiah, who died in 687 BC. This means Isaiah\u2019s ministry spanned about half a century. He wrote his book between 740 and 680 BC.
\nAccording to tradition, Isaiah was martyred during King Manasseh\u2019s reign (696\u2013642 BC) by being sawed in half inside a hollow log. Some believe Hebrews 11:37 may be referring to this event.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Isaiah. You will notice that the concepts are loosely grouped topically, beginning with Jesus the Messiah, followed by concepts relating to God, human sin and salvation, angels (both holy and fallen), and exhortations for God\u2019s people. This approach helps make the book of Isaiah more assessable for most readers.<\/p>\n
Good news: the divine Messiah brings salvation to all humankind.
\nThe book of Isaiah contains more references to the person and work of Jesus Christ than any other book in the Old Testament. Isaiah is often referred to as \u201cthe Messianic prophet.\u201d He predicted the Messiah\u2019s virgin birth (7:14), His deity and kingdom (9:1-7), His righteous reign (11:2-5), His vicarious suffering and death (52:13\u201353:12), and the wondrous salvation that comes through Christ the Servant-Messiah (49\u201357). No wonder the great composer Handel based so much of his musical masterpiece, The Messiah, on the book of Isaiah. Your Redeemer paid a great price to save you (53:5). He is worthy of praise.
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cBehold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Isaiah 7:14<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t fall for claims that Jesus was just a good, moral man. Jesus is Yahweh\u2014absolute deity.
\nIn Isaiah 40:3 Jesus is prophetically called both Yahweh and Elohim in the same verse: \u201cIn the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD [Yahweh]; make straight in the desert a highway for our God [Elohim].\u201d This verse is a prophecy of John the Baptist preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ (John 1:23) and represents one of the strongest affirmations of Christ\u2019s deity in the Old Testament. The term \u201cYahweh\u201d indicates Jesus is the Eternal One and the sovereign Lord of the universe. The term \u201cElohim\u201d indicates Jesus is \u201cmighty God.\u201d Without Him, there is no Christianity. My advice: follow Him closely.
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cWith his wounds we are healed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Isaiah 53:5<\/p>\n
Jesus brings us spiritual healing from the infection of sin.
\nIn Isaiah 53:5 we are told Jesus \u201cwas pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.\u201d The Hebrew word for healed (napha) can refer to either physical healing or to spiritual healing. The context of Isaiah 53:5 indicates that spiritual healing is in view, since \u201ctransgressions\u201d and \u201ciniquities\u201d are mentioned. Aren\u2019t you thankful to have been \u201chealed\u201d by Jesus? No spiritual disease is terminal when Jesus is in the picture.<\/p>\n
Jesus is \u201cGod with us\u201d\u2014always present with us.
\n\u201cBehold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel\u201d (Isaiah 7:14). The name Immanuel means \u201cGod with us\u201d (Matthew 1:22-23). Jesus was \u201cGod with us\u201d in the fullest possible sense. He is the everlasting God who stepped out of eternity and into time (as a human) to redeem humanity (see Isaiah 7:1\u201312:6 for more on the coming of the Messiah). Even today, Jesus is spiritually with us\u2014\u201cto the end of the age\u201d (Matthew 28:20). Rejoice in this fact.<\/p>\n
The Lord is our shepherd. The sheep who stay closest to Him are blessed.
\nIn Isaiah 40:11 we read, \u201cHe will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.\u201d This reminds us of Jesus as the Good Shepherd in John 10: \u201cI am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me\u201d (verse 14).
\nIt is interesting to observe that the ancient shepherd in the Near East would often pick a branch off a tree and, as he walked, hold the branch behind him so that the sheep could follow closely and nibble on the morsels. This illustrates a profound truth for us: those who stay nearest the shepherd are the best nourished. The same is true of us. Those of us who stay nearest to our divine Shepherd are the best nourished spiritually.<\/p>\n
There is no other God but Yahweh. Trust in Him alone.
\nGod often affirmed in the book of Isaiah that He alone is deity: \u201cThus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: \u2018I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god\u2019\u201d (Isaiah 44:6). \u201cIs there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any\u201d (44:8). \u201cI am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God\u201d (45:5). The same thing is emphasized all through the New Testament (Mark 12:29; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19; John 5:44; 17:3; Romans 3:29-30; 16:27; Galatians 3:20). We find our greatest fulfillment in a relationship with the one true God (Jeremiah 9:24).
\n\u201cAs well might a gnat seek to drink in the ocean, as a finite creature to comprehend the Eternal God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)<\/p>\n
God is both transcendent and immanent. He is both high above us, and right here with us.
\nIn Isaiah 57:15 we are told, \u201cFor thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: \u2018I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.\u2019\u201d God is both transcendent (\u201chigh and lifted up, who inhabits eternity\u201d) and immanent (dwelling \u201cwith him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit\u201d). This means the high and awesome God of the universe stoops low to help lowly creatures like us in our time of need. Glorious!
\n\u201cGod has two thrones, one in the highest heavens, the other in the lowliest heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Dwight L. Moody (1837\u20131899)<\/p>\n
God is a God who answers prayers.
\nIsaiah warned Hezekiah, the Judean king, of a possible Assyrian attack (Isaiah 36). Hezekiah promptly turned to the Lord, pleading for deliverance. The Lord came through and delivered him and his people from the Assyrians (37).
\nHezekiah was then told to get his house in order because his life was about to end. He again pled to God: \u201cPlease, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight\u201d (Isaiah 38:3). The Lord responded, \u201cI have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life\u201d (38:5; see chapters 38\u201339). My friend, never forget that our God answers prayers.
\nInsights on Prayer
\n\u2022 All prayers are subject to God\u2019s sovereign will\u2014John 5:14.
\n\u2022 Prayer should be a continual practice\u20141 Thessalonians 5:17.
\n\u2022 Sin is a hindrance to prayer\u2014Psalm 66:18.
\n\u2022 Righteousness is a benefit to prayer\u2014Proverbs 15:29.
\n\u2022 The Lord\u2019s Prayer is a good model prayer\u2014Matthew 6:9-13.
\n\u2022 Be persistent\u2014Matthew 7:7-8.
\n\u2022 Pray in faith\u2014Mark 11:22-24.<\/p>\n
God is holy. He desires our holiness.
\nThe seraphim angels proclaimed, \u201cHoly, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts\u201d (Isaiah 6:3). In Isaiah 57:15 God is described as \u201cthe One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy.\u201d God is the absolutely holy One of the universe.
\nBiblically, God\u2019s holiness means not just that He is entirely separate from all evil but also that He is absolutely righteous (Leviticus 19:2). He is pure in every way. God is separate from all that is morally imperfect. The Scriptures lay great stress upon this attribute of God (Exodus 15:11; 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 99:9; 111:9).
\nA key ramification of this is that if we want to fellowship with God, we have to take personal holiness seriously (Hebrews 12:14). Walking daily with God in fellowship necessarily involves living in a way that is pleasing to Him.
\nGod Is Holy
\n\u2022 God is light, no darkness\u20141 John 1:5
\n\u2022 Holy, holy, holy\u2014Isaiah 6:3
\n\u2022 Cannot be tempted by evil\u2014James 1:13
\n\u2022 Majestic in holiness\u2014Exodus 15:11
\n\u2022 None is holy like the Lord\u20141 Samuel 2:2
\n\u2022 His name is holy\u2014Isaiah 57:15<\/p>\n
Our attempted good deeds are sin-stained. Don\u2019t try to earn salvation by works!
\nIsaiah 64:6 affirms, \u201cWe have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.\u201d Isaiah himself affirmed, \u201cWoe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips\u201d (6:5). Such verses indicate it\u2019s a futile endeavor to seek God\u2019s favor by human works. Everyone falls short of God\u2019s perfection (Romans 3:23). Thankfully, our salvation is not based on works: \u201cBy grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast\u201d (Ephesians 2:8-9).
\n\u201cIt is when we notice the dirt that God is most present in us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014C. S. Lewis (1898\u20131963)<\/p>\n
God prefers repentance over judgment. Tragically, many humans prefer sin over repentance.
\nIsaiah prophesied about God\u2019s impending judgment against His sinful people of Judah through the whipping rod of the Assyrians (Isaiah 1\u20135). God was grieved by His people\u2019s moral degradation, social injustice, and religious hypocrisy (6). Isaiah warned Judah of swift judgment should they refuse to repent. They indeed did fail to repent and judgment subsequently fell, as promised. We also witness God\u2019s judgment falling upon various other nations for their lack of repentance (13:1\u201323:18). If there\u2019s one thing we witness in Isaiah, it\u2019s that God blesses obedience but punishes disobedience (28:1\u201335:10). Why are people so slow to listen? Why do people choose to ignore His warnings? My advice: Repent now!<\/p>\n
Joy awaits God\u2019s people on the other side of judgment.
\nThe judgment motif gets especially intense in Isaiah 24. It is not only Israel and her neighbors who were to experience judgment, but the entire world will one day feel the sting of God\u2019s judgments.
\nGod, however, is not just a God of judgment. He is also a God who brings redemption. It is noteworthy that the one chapter on judgment in Isaiah (24) is followed by three chapters on God\u2019s salvation (25\u201327). Joy awaits God\u2019s people on the other side of judgment (see also 48:1-28). Many believe these chapters refer to the future seven-year tribulation period (judgment) followed by Christ\u2019s 1000-year millennial kingdom (joy). What a day that will be! I can\u2019t wait.<\/p>\n
God has the awesome ability to forget your sins.
\nIn Isaiah 43:25 God says, \u201cI, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.\u201d This reminds us of Hebrews 10:17: \u201cI will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.\u201d We also recall the affirmation in Psalm 103:12: \u201cAs far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.\u201d To remove sins \u201cas far as the east is from the west\u201d is by definition to put them where no one can ever find them. That is the forgiveness God grants believers.
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cI, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Isaiah 43:25<\/p>\n
Angels play a significant role in the Bible. Let\u2019s be thankful for their various ministries.
\nIsaiah 6:1-5 makes reference to the seraphim angels. The Hebrew term for seraphim literally means \u201cburning ones\u201d\u2014speaking of their consuming devotion to God. They are afire with adoration of the holy God, and their constant cry is the holiness of God.
\nAngels are involved in a variety of important ministries. For example, sometimes they are messengers (Daniel 9). Sometimes they act as guardians of Christians (Psalm 91:9-11). They meet believers at the moment of death (Luke 16:22). They are involved in restraining evil (Genesis 18:22; 19:1,10,11). Sometimes God uses them in answering the prayers of Christians (Acts 12:6-19). We ought to be very thankful for God\u2019s provision of angels.
\nAngels
\n\u201cAre they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?\u201d (Hebrews 1:14).
\n\u201cHe will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways\u201d (Psalm 91:11).<\/p>\n
Satan is against Christ and all who follow Him.
\nIsaiah 14:4-11 reveals that Lucifer became full of pride and sought exaltation and godhood for himself. Lucifer became corrupt, and his name changed to Satan (meaning \u201cadversary\u201d). One third of the angelic realm followed him in rebellion (Revelation 12:4).
\nSatan and demons stand against Christians in a variety of ways. Satan tempts believers to sin (Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5), to lie (Acts 5:3), and to commit sexually immoral acts (1 Corinthians 7:5). He hinders the work of believers in any way he can (1 Thessalonians 2:18) and wages war against them (Ephesians 6:11-12). He sows tares among believers (Matthew 13:38-39) and incites persecutions against them (Revelation 2:10). Christian, beware!
\n\u201cEverything the devil does, God overreaches to serve His own purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Oswald Chambers (1874\u20131917)<\/p>\n
No matter what you face in life, fear not. The Lord is with you.
\nIn Isaiah 41:10, God affirms, \u201cFear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.\u201d The Hebrew word for \u201cstrengthen\u201d in this verse carries the idea of \u201csupport,\u201d or to \u201charden against difficulties.\u201d The word \u201cuphold\u201d means to \u201cgrasp firmly.\u201d God\u2019s people never need to fear because of God\u2019s constant involvement in their lives.
\nIsaiah 26:3 promises, \u201cYou keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.\u201d The word \u201ckeep\u201d literally means \u201cguard.\u201d \u201cPeace\u201d means \u201cwell-being, wholeness, and tranquility.\u201d \u201cPerfect\u201d means \u201ccomplete\u201d or \u201cconstant.\u201d So God guards our hearts in constant well-being, wholeness, and tranquility\u2014and this is a result of trusting in Him.
\nNo Need to Fear
\n\u2022 Don\u2019t be afraid of sudden fear\u2014Proverbs 3:25
\n\u2022 Let not your heart be troubled\u2014John 14:27
\n\u2022 If God is for us, who can be against us?\u2014Romans 8:31
\n\u2022 God has not given us a spirit of fear\u20142 Timothy 1:7<\/p>\n
Good news: there\u2019s a new day coming. We\u2019re destined for a new heavens and a new earth.
\nIsaiah 51:6 prophesies that \u201cthe heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment.\u201d The \u201cheavens\u201d in this verse refers not to the domain of God, but rather to earth\u2019s atmosphere and interstellar space (see Job 35:5; Genesis 1:17; Deuteronomy 17:3). The earth\u2014along with the first and second heavens (the earth\u2019s atmosphere and the stellar universe)\u2014must be renewed. The old must make room for the new. Glorious times are ahead for God\u2019s people (Isaiah 58\u201363).
\nGod in Isaiah 65:17 affirms, \u201cBehold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.\u201d (See also Revelation 21:1-5.) You and I are destined for a new heaven and a new earth. So, like Paul said in Colossians 3:2, \u201cSet your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat has happened in the past, what is happening now, and what will happen in the future is all evidence of the unfolding of the purposeful plan devised by the personal God of the Bible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Robert Lightner
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
As Jesus is the heart and center of the book of Isaiah, so Jesus should be the heart and center of your life.
\nJeremiah<\/p>\n
In the face of judgment, God\u2019s people are called to repentance so they can experience spiritual restoration and blessing.
\nTimeline
\n640\u2013609\u2014The reign of Josiah.
\n627\u2014Jeremiah\u2019s prophetic ministry to Judah begins.
\n627\u2013570\u2014The book of Jeremiah is written.
\n609\u2014Jeremiah ministers during the reign of King Jehoahaz.
\n609\u2013598\u2014Jeremiah ministers during the reign of King Jehoiakim.
\n598\u2013597\u2014Jeremiah ministers during the reign of King Jehoiachin.
\n597\u2013586\u2014Jeremiah ministers during the reign of King Zedekiah.
\n586\u2014Jeremiah\u2019s ministry ends.
\nThe book of Jeremiah was written by a prophet of the same name between 627 and 570 BC. His name literally means \u201cYahweh throws,\u201d a term referring to the laying of a foundation. Certainly Jeremiah\u2019s words, like any prophet\u2019s words, were foundational for the people. He was born into a priestly family, and was called from birth to be a spokesman for God (Jeremiah 1:5). He was from the small village of Anathoth (1:1).
\nJeremiah began his ministry in Judah during the reign of Josiah (640\u2013609 BC), and continued through the reigns of four other kings: Jehoahaz (609 BC), Jehoiakim (609\u2013598 BC), Jehoiachin (598\u2013597 BC), and Zedekiah (597\u2013586 BC). He prophesied during the same general time as the prophets Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Ezekiel.
\nThe difficult thing for Jeremiah was that he was given a harsh message to deliver to the people, and he expressed inadequacy in fulfilling the prophetic task to which he was called (Jeremiah 1:6-10). For decades he warned the Israelites of an impending judgment that was coming, but he was virtually ignored (2\u201335). Nobody would listen. They remained in such horrible sins as flagrant idol worship, adultery, injustice, tyranny against the helpless, and dishonesty. Such sins were causing Jeremiah\u2019s people to rush toward painful judgment. And because Jeremiah pointed toward a coming judgment, his life was often endangered by political and religious leaders (36\u201338).
\nBabylonian exile was the judgment that finally came upon the people of God (Jeremiah 39\u201345). Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed in 587 BC, and the Babylonians took all the people captive. Jeremiah mourned for his people.
\n\u201cPain is God\u2019s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014C. S. Lewis (1898\u20131963)<\/p>\n
God calls and commissions people to specific service to Him.
\nJeremiah was called and sanctified as God\u2019s spokesman even before he was born: \u201cBefore I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations\u201d (Jeremiah 1:5). God informed him, \u201cWhatever I command you, you shall speak\u201d (1:7). Jeremiah was timid about the assignment\u2014especially since his was to be a message of judgment for unrepentant sin. But God assured him He\u2019d be ever-present with him (1:8).
\nWe witness divine commissionings throughout Scripture. In Exodus 3:7-8, for example, God commissioned Moses to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage and lead them to the Promised Land. In Judges 6:11-23, God commissioned Gideon to go in His strength against the Midianites. In Judges 13:1-21, He commissioned the mighty Samson through his parents.
\nJesus, too, commissioned people to service in New Testament times. For example, He commissioned Simon and Andrew (Matthew 4:18-20), as well as Saul, also known as Paul (Acts 26:14-18).
\nThe Great Commission
\n\u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Matthew 28:19-20<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t have to be eloquent to be a mouthpiece of God. Fear not!
\nWhen God called Jeremiah to service, Jeremiah replied, \u201cAh, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth\u201d (Jeremiah 1:6). God would not accept excuses. He said to Jeremiah, \u201cDo not say, \u2018I am only a youth\u2019; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you\u201d (1:7-8). God\u2019s servants never need to fear other human beings.
\nFear Not!
\n\u201cI will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around\u201d (Psalm 3:6).
\n\u201cThe LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?\u201d (27:1).
\n\u201cIn God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?\u201d (56:11).<\/p>\n
A lack of repentance always brings God\u2019s disciplinary judgment.
\nJeremiah\u2019s message of judgment was communicated to the people in a variety of creative ways\u2014sermons, parables, and object lessons. He set forth 12 graphic messages engineered to communicate why judgment would soon fall upon Judah. In irony, Jeremiah indicated that the pagans were more faithful to their false gods than the Judeans were to the one true God. The Judeans fell deeply into idolatry and disobeyed God\u2019s covenant.
\nJeremiah attempted to confess the people\u2019s sins to God. Because their sin was so great and they were unrepentant, it was to no avail. Jeremiah lamented at the sad condition of his people. He prophesied that the people would go into captivity (Jeremiah 2\u201325).
\nAvoid Idolatry
\nGod said to Jeremiah\u2019s people: \u201cWhere are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah\u201d (Jeremiah 2:28).
\nThe New Testament consistently urges Christians to avoid all forms of idolatry (1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Galatians 5:20; Colossians 3:5; 1 John 5:21).<\/p>\n
People sometimes foolishly turn to other religious options instead of turning to the one true God, who alone can bring them true spiritual blessing.
\nIn Jeremiah 2:13 God affirmed, \u201cMy people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.\u201d \u201cLiving water\u201d here literally means \u201cflowing water.\u201d This verse speaks of how Israel had forsaken God, the only true \u201cflowing\u201d source of life-giving nourishment and power. Instead they had sought refuge in idolatrous, pagan (man-made) religions. They had \u201chewed out cisterns for themselves,\u201d which were \u201cbroken cisterns that can hold no water.\u201d What an utterly foolish trade. My advice: stay solidly grounded in God\u2019s Word (see Psalm 119; 2 Timothy 3:15-17).
\nBeware of False Prophets
\nFalse prophets were predominant in Jeremiah\u2019s day (Jeremiah 5:31). This is dangerous, for God\u2019s people are vulnerable to deception (Ezekiel 34:1-7; Matthew 7:15-16; Acts 20:28-30; 2 Corinthians 11:2-3; Ephesians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:3-4).<\/p>\n
The person who lacks fear of the Lord is ripe for judgment.
\nThe unrepentant sins of Jeremiah\u2019s people proved they lacked fear of God: \u201cKnow and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts\u201d (Jeremiah 2:19). A lack of fearing God inevitably leads to sin and judgment.
\nMy friend, never forget that as Christians, we are called to daily live in reverent fear of God (1 Peter 1:17; 2:17; 1 Samuel 12:14,24; 2 Chronicles 19:9; Acts 10:35). Fear of the Lord motivates one to be obedient to Him (Deuteronomy 5:29; Ecclesiastes 12:13) and serve Him (Deuteronomy 6:13). Fear of the Lord motivates one to avoid evil (Proverbs 3:7; 8:13; 16:6). Fear of the Lord is true wisdom (Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10) and the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). God blesses those who fear Him (Psalm 115:13). Fear of the Lord leads to riches, honor, and long life (Proverbs 22:4). God shows mercy to those who fear Him (Luke 1:50).<\/p>\n
Never forget\u2014God doesn\u2019t like it when His people pretend to be religious.
\nGod affirmed, \u201cJudah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, declares the LORD\u201d (Jeremiah 3:10). The people of Judah were hypocrites. Hypocrisy involves the pretense of having a virtuous character, or moral\/religious beliefs and principles, that one does not really possess (Revelation 3:1). Don\u2019t be a faker. Don\u2019t be a pretender.
\nJesus spoke sternly against the religious hypocrisy of His day (Matthew 23:28; Mark 12:15; Luke 12:1).<\/p>\n
Beware: sin has a way of robbing you of the good things of life.
\nGod said to the people, \u201cYour sins have kept good from you\u201d (Jeremiah 5:25). Their sins kept God from blessing them\u2014such as bringing them good crops so they could eat well. This reminds us of Jeremiah 2:17, where God says to the people, \u201cHave you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God?\u201d Likewise, in Jeremiah 4:18 God says, \u201cYour ways and your deeds have brought this upon you.\u201d Never forget that actions carry consequences.
\nAt the end of your life, it will be bitter to reflect back and ask, \u201cWhat blessings could have been mine had I lived more faithfully to God?\u201d<\/p>\n
God prefers authentic spirituality\u2014not empty, religious observances.
\nGod said to Jeremiah\u2019s people, \u201cWhat use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba, or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me\u201d (Jeremiah 6:20). Fancy offerings from a sinful people are sickening to God (Psalm 40:6; 50:7-9; Isaiah 1:11; 43:24; 66:3; Amos 5:21; Micah 6:6-7). God wants heart-commitment. Don\u2019t just go through the motions with God. Be the real thing.<\/p>\n
ATTENTION PLEASE: People can \u201ccross the line\u201d so deep into sin that they become irrevocably consigned to judgment. Beware!
\nGod said to Jeremiah, \u201cAs for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you\u201d (Jeremiah 7:16). God also said, \u201cEven if Moses and Samuel stood before me pleading for these people, I wouldn\u2019t help them\u201d (15:1 NLT). Judah\u2019s sin was so pervasive that judgment became inevitable. Judah had crossed the line. God gives people time to repent (Revelation 2:21), but if repentance is lacking, judgment falls.<\/p>\n
Sinful actions emerge from the fallen human heart. But God can transform the heart.
\nGod affirmed, \u201cThis evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing\u201d (Jeremiah 13:10). God also said, \u201cThe heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?\u201d (17:9). This is not unlike what Jesus said in the New Testament: \u201cFor out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person\u201d (Matthew 15:19-20). The glorious good news is that God is in the business of heart transformation. See Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Psalm 51:10; Galatians 5:22; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
\n\u201cHe who doubts human depravity had better study himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)<\/p>\n
Always place your trust in the Lord, not in other human beings.
\nJudah had sought Egypt\u2019s help against Babylon\u2019s attacks. But God affirmed, \u201cCursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD\u201d (Jeremiah 17:5-7).
\nThis includes not trusting in your own abilities. As Proverbs 3:5-6 puts it, \u201cTrust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.\u201d Put your full trust in God and Him alone.
\nTrust God
\n\u2022 Trust God in times of trouble\u2014Psalm 50:15
\n\u2022 Trust in the Lord, not man\u2014Psalm 118:8
\n\u2022 Joy in trusting God\u2014Psalm 40:4 (NLT)
\n\u2022 Blessed are those who trust Him\u2014Jeremiah 17:7
\n\u2022 Trust Him, and He will help you\u2014Psalm 37:5<\/p>\n
Faithful servants of God will often meet stiff resistance from other religious leaders.
\nJudah\u2019s false prophets claimed that no judgment was coming. Jeremiah countered, promising that his people would be in captivity in Babylon for 70 years. As a result of his dark prophecies regarding Judah, Jeremiah suffered harsh opposition and persecution (Jeremiah 26\u201345). The false prophets called for his death. But Judah\u2019s leaders spared him this destiny.
\nOpposition continued to escalate against Jeremiah (Jeremiah 34\u201335). He was prohibited from entering the temple. His assistant, Baruch, therefore read his proclamations in the temple on his behalf. Jeremiah\u2019s prophetic scroll was burned by the king and Jeremiah was imprisoned. After the city fell in judgment, he was taken to Egypt by other Jews. But Jeremiah warned that Egypt, too, would be invaded by the Babylonians. Jeremiah was a bold truth-teller.
\nA key lesson: Speaking the truth can sometimes make you unpopular.<\/p>\n
While judgment hurts in the present, God yet has a future for His people.
\nGod gave His sinful children a wonderful promise: \u201cFor I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope\u201d (Jeremiah 29:11). Following a time of discipline, God would bring about wonderful blessing in Israel\u2019s future (30\u201333). Israel will experience the fullness of blessing in the future millennial kingdom, that 1000-year kingdom on earth over which Christ Himself will physically rule.
\nGod also brings us blessing following our times of trial. Recall 1 Peter 5:10: \u201cAfter you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.\u201d<\/p>\n
God showers blessing on those who seek Him wholeheartedly.
\nBecause God\u2019s people were now in exile, Jeremiah sought to encourage them. He emphasized that good things happen when God\u2019s people seek Him with their whole heart: \u201cYou will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile\u201d (Jeremiah 29:13-14). While there was an initial fulfillment of this during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, the full blessing will come following the second coming when the Messiah sets up His kingdom on earth (Daniel 2:35,45; 7:13-14,27; 12:1-3,13).
\n\u201cYou must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Jesus (Matthew 22:37)<\/p>\n
Rejoice! The coming Messiah will bring a new day.
\nDespite the doom of captivity, Jeremiah prophesied that final restoration would come because of the work of the coming divine Messiah. He would institute a new covenant that would bring great blessing to the people\u2014indeed, to all people.
\nThe new covenant was an unconditional covenant in which God promised to provide for complete forgiveness of sin (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Under the old covenant worshipers never enjoyed a sense of total forgiveness. Under the new covenant, however, Christ our High Priest made provisions for such forgiveness. When Jesus ate the Passover meal with the disciples in the Upper Room, He spoke of the cup as \u201cthe new covenant in my blood\u201d (Luke 22:20; see also 1 Corinthians 11:25). Jesus has done all that is necessary for the forgiveness of sins by His once-for-all sacrifice on the cross. This new covenant is the basis for our relationship with God in the New Testament.
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cI will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Jeremiah 31:33<\/p>\n
Because sin is universal, God\u2019s judgment against sin is universal.
\nDespite the reality of the Messiah\u2019s glorious future coming, sin must be dealt with in the present. Jeremiah issued specific prophetic proclamations against Egypt (Jeremiah 46:2-28), Philistia (47:1-7), Moab (48:1-47), Ammon (49:1-6), Edom (49:7-22), Damascus (49:23-27), Kedar and Hazor (49:28-33), Elam (49:34-39), and Babylon (50:1\u201351:64). No sinful and unrepentant nation escapes God\u2019s judgment. All are held accountable.
\nJerusalem, of course, was also held accountable. Just as Jeremiah warned, Jerusalem fell (Jeremiah 52:1-34), the city was destroyed (52:1-23), the leaders were killed, and the Jewish common-folk were deported to Babylon (52:24-30). Exile in Babylon lasted 70 years\u2014which was plenty of time for Jerusalem\u2019s now-exiled inhabitants to think about what their own sin brought about. But then deliverance came from God. God never fails to deliver His people. Thank You, Lord!
\nThe Universality of Sin
\n\u201cSurely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins\u201d (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
\n\u201cAll have sinned and fall short of the glory of God\u201d (Romans 3:23).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Praise the Lord for the new covenant! You are forgiven. Totally and completely forgiven. Your slate has been wiped clean by Jesus. Rejoice!
\nLamentations<\/p>\n
God\u2019s discipline falls when His people repeatedly ignore exhortations to repent. Even then, however, new mercies flow from God every day.
\nTimeline
\n627\u2014Jeremiah\u2019s prophetic ministry begins.
\n627\u2013570\u2014Jeremiah writes the book of Jeremiah within this time frame.
\n587\u2014The Babylonians overrun and destroy Jerusalem and its temple.
\n586\u2014Jeremiah writes Lamentations.
\nThe mournful prophet Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations in about 586 BC. \u201cLamentations\u201d means \u201cfuneral songs,\u201d and is descriptive of its contents. It expresses the anguish of the Israelites over the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 587 BC. Jeremiah seems to have witnessed the destruction firsthand. The temple was destroyed, and the people were deported to live in Babylon in exile. This book depicts the funeral of a city.
\nWorse comes to worse when the Israelites realize the reason this horror has fallen on them is their unfaithfulness to God (Lamentations 1:20-22). Jeremiah, of course, was not surprised at the destruction of Jerusalem, for he had prophesied this judgment for some 40 years (Jeremiah 1\u201329). But the people had not listened.
\nIn the end, Jeremiah emphasized that God is characterized by love and mercy. And because His compassions never fail (Lamentations 3:23), there is yet hope for the nation (5:19-22).
\n\u201cBy chastening, the Lord separates the sin that he hates from the sinner whom he loves.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Anonymous
\n\u201cWe ought to thank God that he will not let us sin without chastisement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Lamentations:<\/p>\n
When God\u2019s people turn a deaf ear to Him for an extended time, they should not be surprised if He brings discipline.
\nJerusalem and its temple had been destroyed. The temple was the heart and center of Jewish religion\u2014the place where God dwelt. Jeremiah compassionately lamented with his people (Lamentations 1:1-22).
\nOh, if only the people had listened to his repeated warnings. The people learned the painful lesson that God will do what He says He\u2019ll do when repentance is absent.<\/p>\n
God has the unique ability to sovereignly use other people in the process of disciplining us.
\nLamentations reveals that the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the holy temple. And yet, all the while, God was sovereignly working behind the scenes, using the Babylonians as His whipping rod against His rebellious people, the Jews (Lamentations 2:1-22). Of course, the Babylonians had no idea God was using them in this capacity.
\nOne thing we can surmise from this is that the Lord may use people we know when He disciplines us\u2014perhaps a relative, a boss, a business competitor, or someone who dislikes us. In each case, God always disciplines us for our own good (Hebrews 12:6-9; Psalm 32; 51).
\nGod\u2019s Sovereignty
\nGod\u2019s sovereignty means He has absolute authority over all things in the universe (Daniel 4:25,35; Romans 9:15-23; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 4:11).<\/p>\n
Spiritual leaders often have to wear many hats.
\nJeremiah acted as a prophet when warning his people of impending judgment for over four decades. He acted as a fellow brother as he identified with his people and expressed grief over the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. He took the role of a spiritual father when praying for God\u2019s mercy and the restoration of his people (Lamentations 3:1-66).
\nEven today, church pastors have many roles. Spiritual leadership has its challenges. That\u2019s one reason spiritual leaders must meet God-defined qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9).<\/p>\n
Your choices always have consequences.
\nJeremiah reflected on how severely the city of Jerusalem had been judged by the Lord in His anger. He reflected upon how the sins of the people, prophets, and priests brought all this about (Lamentations 4:1-22). Jeremiah\u2019s people had acted unwisely and now suffered the consequences.
\nMy advice: Always repent as soon as you become aware there\u2019s a need to repent, thereby averting discipline.
\n\u201cNo marvel that our sorrows are multiplied when our sins are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Matthew Henry (1662\u20131714)<\/p>\n
When life throws you a punch, your first best response is to turn to the Lord in prayer.
\nThe Jews in captivity spent time reflecting on their current, horrific state of affairs. They yearned and prayed for deliverance and restoration. These prayers included both confession of sin and an appeal to God\u2019s grace (Lamentations 5:1-22). Jeremiah\u2019s people would indeed be restored, but not until their present trial yielded its proper fruit\u2014repentance and recommitment to the Lord.
\nPrayer
\n\u2022 Call on the Lord\u2014Psalm 145:18
\n\u2022 Ask, it will be given\u2014Matthew 7:7-8
\n\u2022 Earnest prayer\u2014James 5:17-18
\n\u2022 Believe, receive\u2014Matthew 21:22<\/p>\n
God is always full of mercy, even when He is disciplining us.
\nEven as Jeremiah\u2019s people were in exile, he emphasized that there is a continual flow of mercy from the hand of the Lord (Lamentations 3:22; see also Deuteronomy 30:1-10). As Psalm 103:8 puts it, \u201cThe LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.\u201d The reality of God\u2019s mercy brings assurance to us that God is not finished with us yet. A new day will come.
\nVerses to Remember
\n\u201cThe steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Lamentations 3:22-23
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Early responders\u2014those who repent quickly\u2014will be on the receiving end of a lot less divine discipline than late responders.
\nEzekiel<\/p>\n
God is faithful even when His own people are not faithful. Following a time of chastisement, He brings ultimate restoration and blessing\u2014just as He promised.
\nTimeline
\n623\u2014Ezekiel is born.
\n597\u2014Ezekiel and 3000 other Jews go into exile in Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s order.
\n593\u2014Ezekiel prophesies to the exiles in Babylon.
\n593\u2013570\u2014The book of Ezekiel is written.
\n571\u2014Ezekiel\u2019s ministry ends.
\n562\u2014Nebuchadnezzar dies.
\nThe book of Ezekiel was written by the prophet Ezekiel, the son of Buzi, between 593 and 570 BC. His messages were for the Jews in exile. God had called him into service as a prophet when he was about 30 years of age. At the time, he was training to be a priest. Like all the other Jews, however, he soon found himself living in exile in Babylon, and this captivity would last 70 years.
\nEzekiel\u2019s name literally means \u201cGod is strong\u201d or \u201cstrengthened by God.\u201d To carry on his work of confronting the people regarding their sins, and bringing comfort to them while in exile, Ezekiel would surely need God\u2019s strength.
\nAs a prophet, Ezekiel was unique. He would often dramatize God\u2019s message by using signs, symbols, and parables. For example, he said the dispersed Jews were like dry bones in the sun (Ezekiel 37.) By using such techniques, Ezekiel graphically communicated that God\u2019s judgment comes as a result of human sin. This is the message he proclaimed during the first part of his ministry.
\nIn 597 BC, when he and some 3000 other Jews went into exile in Babylon by order of Nebuchadnezzar (the uncontested ruler of the world at that time), Ezekiel started to speak a new message. Indeed, he offered words of hope and comfort, teaching that God would re-gather His people from the ends of the earth, and a new temple would one day be built (Ezekiel 40). He tried to give the people something to look forward to.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Ezekiel:<\/p>\n
God calls specific individuals to service.
\nGod called and commissioned Ezekiel as His mouthpiece to Judah. Ezekiel witnessed an incredible vision, full of God\u2019s glory. It was a vision that stuck with him through his entire ministry. Following this, God gave the prophet instructions and enabled him for his task (Ezekiel 1:1\u20133:27).
\nWe recall that when the apostle Paul was commissioned for service by the Lord Jesus, he, too, saw a vision. It was a vision of the risen Lord (Acts 9:1-16), and it stuck with him for the duration of his life (22:6-11).
\nThe Lord calls you and me via the Great Commission: \u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age\u201d (Matthew 28:19-20). Let\u2019s get to work!
\nCall to Service
\n\u2022 \u201cBefore you were born I consecrated you\u201d\u2014Jeremiah 1:5
\n\u2022 \u201cWho will go for us?\u201d\u2014Isaiah 6:8
\n\u2022 \u201cFollow me\u201d\u2014Matthew 9:9
\n\u2022 \u201cSet apart for me Barnabas and Saul\u201d\u2014Acts 13:2
\n\u2022 \u201cPaul\u2026called to be an apostle\u201d\u2014Romans 1:1
\n\u2022 God gives church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors\u2014Ephesians 4:11<\/p>\n
Glorious angels serve God and the recipients of His salvation.
\nEzekiel 1:5 speaks of \u201cfour living creatures,\u201d who are apparently the same as the cherubim angels in Ezekiel 10:1-22. They are portrayed as having wings (1:6) and flew in the midst of heaven (10:5). They seem to compare to the \u201cfour living creatures\u201d (angels) in Revelation 4:6.
\nHebrews 1:14 tells us angels are \u201cministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation.\u201d The word \u201cministering\u201d comes from a Greek word meaning \u201cserve.\u201d Angels are spirit-servants who render aid, and this aid is rendered to the heirs of salvation in the outworking of God\u2019s purposes on earth.
\nWhat form does this service take? Such ministry can involve protection (Psalm 91:11), guidance (Genesis 19:17), encouragement (Judges 6:12), deliverance (Acts 12:7), supply (Psalm 105:40), empowerment (Luke 22:43), as well as occasional rebuke (Numbers 22:32) and judgment (Acts 12:23). Angelic service is rendered largely unseen and often unrecognized (2 Kings 6:17; Hebrews 13:2).
\nClasses of Angels
\nArchangel\u2014Jude 9
\nSeraphim\u2014Isaiah 6:1-3
\nCherubim\u2014Genesis 3:24
\nWatchers\u2014Daniel 4:13<\/p>\n
God\u2019s Word comes straight from God, and therefore carries God\u2019s authority.
\nThe phrase \u201cThus says the Lord\u201d is sprinkled all throughout Ezekiel (for example, 2:4; 3:11,27; 5:5,7,8; 6:11; 7:2,5). Ezekiel thereby indicated that the words he spoke were not his own. He passed on to his people what he received directly from God.
\nThis reminds us of 2 Timothy 3:16-17: \u201cAll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.\u201d The phrase \u201call Scripture\u201d includes the book of Ezekiel. That means the book of Ezekiel\u2014like all other Bible books\u2014is \u201cprofitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.\u201d
\nScripture Is Inspired
\n\u2022 \u201cThus says the Lord\u201d\u2014Ezekiel 2:4
\n\u2022 All Scripture is inspired\u20142 Timothy 3:16
\n\u2022 The Holy Spirit moved the biblical writers\u20142 Peter 1:21<\/p>\n
God\u2019s people are to proclaim His message regardless of the kind of response expected.
\nIn Ezekiel 2:3-5 God instructs Ezekiel, \u201cSon of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, \u2018Thus says the Lord GOD.\u2019 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.\u201d
\nI\u2019ve spoken to audiences where I knew there were cultists in attendance. (I\u2019ve written some books on the cults, so it\u2019s not unexpected that cultists show up at my conferences.) Regardless of the reception, I\u2019m resolved to always tell the truth in the name of Jesus Christ. While some will reject you, others will be open to hearing the message of eternal life.
\nSpeak Boldly
\n\u2022 God gives boldness\u2014Psalm 138:3
\n\u2022 Holy Spirit gives boldness\u2014Acts 4:29,31
\n\u2022 Speak boldly for the Lord\u2014Acts 14:3
\n\u2022 Be people of courage\u20141 Corinthians 16:13<\/p>\n
Judgment inevitably falls when people choose rebellion instead of obedience to God.
\nEzekiel prophesied a coming judgment on Judah for her unrepentant sins. This judgment was now an absolute certainty (Ezekiel 4\u20137). Ezekiel spoke much of Judah\u2019s sins and abominations, and the subsequent departure of God\u2019s glory from the temple. Both the common people and the religious leaders were woefully guilty (8\u201311).
\nThrough a series of signs, sermons, and parables, Ezekiel pointed to how dreadfully Judah had fallen. They were brimming with false prophets who had led the people astray, giving them a false sense of security. He used graphic metaphors to illustrate the dire condition of the people. They were like a vine without fruit, or a wife who had committed adultery. God would therefore sovereignly use the Babylonians as His whipping rod to render judgment against Judah (Ezekiel 12\u201324).
\nGod also disciplines Christians today if they fall into sin and choose to remain in sin: \u201cMy son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives\u201d (Hebrews 12:5-6). God loves His children too much to allow them to remain on a self-destructive path without intervening (Psalm 32; 51).
\nCross-References: Repentance or Judgment
\nEzekiel 18:32 \u2022 Luke 13:3 \u2022 Acts 3:19 \u2022 2 Peter 3:9 \u2022 Isaiah 55:6-7<\/p>\n
Make no mistake about it. God sees everything you do.
\nGod said to Ezekiel, \u201cSon of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, \u2018The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land\u2019 \u201d (Ezekiel 8:12). Make no mistake about it: God sees everything. He knows all. Nothing is hidden from His omniscient vision (Hebrews 4:13; 1 John 3:20). He knows our words before they are even spoken (Psalm 139:4). He knows the secrets of the heart (Psalm 44:21). He understands every intent of our thoughts (1 Chronicles 28:9). He has unlimited understanding (Isaiah 40:28). Live your life accordingly.<\/p>\n
Beware: you don\u2019t have as long as you think to repent.
\nEzekiel affirmed, \u201cAgain a message came to me from the LORD: \u2018Son of man, you\u2019ve heard that proverb they quote in Israel: \u201cTime passes, and prophecies come to nothing.\u201d Tell the people, \u201cThis is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will put an end to this proverb, and you will soon stop quoting it.\u201d Now give them this new proverb to replace the old one: \u201cThe time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled!\u201d\u2019 \u201d (Ezekiel 12:21-23 NLT).
\nThis brings to mind how there are mockers today who are unconcerned about the second coming of Jesus Christ. Peter warned, \u201cScoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, \u2018Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation\u2019 \u201d (2 Peter 3:3-4).
\nThe day draws near. People ought to repent while there is yet time.
\nCross-References: Time to Repent
\nGenesis 15:16 \u2022 Ecclesiastes 8:11 \u2022 Isaiah 48:9 \u2022 1 Peter 3:20 \u2022 2 Peter 3:9 \u2022 Revelation 2:20<\/p>\n
Everyone is personally responsible for his or her own sins.
\nIn Ezekiel 18:20 God affirms, \u201cThe soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.\u201d God also said, \u201cThe soul who sins shall die\u201d (18:4). This brings to mind Jeremiah 31:30: \u201cEveryone shall die for his own iniquity.\u201d Romans 14:12 tells us, \u201cEach of us will give an account of himself to God.\u201d
\nDear Christian, this ultimately means I can\u2019t blame anyone but myself when I stand before God to give an account of my life. I can\u2019t blame my parents. I can\u2019t blame the devil. I can\u2019t blame anyone. May this be a motivation for us all to take responsibility and live righteously.
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cI will judge each of you according to his ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Ezekiel 33:20<\/p>\n
God universally judges sin\u2014wherever it is found.
\nIn Ezekiel 25:1\u201332:32 the prophet warns of God\u2019s coming judgment against Ammon (25:1-7); Moab (25:8-11); Edom (25:12-14); the Philistines (25:15-17); Tyre (26:1\u201328:19); Sidon (28:20-26); and Egypt (29:1\u201332:32). God shows no partiality with human beings (Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11). He shows no favoritism (Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17). He impartially judges the evil and shows mercy on the repentant. My advice: Live righteously.<\/p>\n
Satan is a powerful fallen angel who seeks to do you harm.
\nMany Bible scholars believe Ezekiel 28:11-19 tells us something of the fall of Lucifer. This being was perfect in his ways until iniquity was found in him (Ezekiel 28:15). What was this iniquity? Verse 17 tells us: \u201cYour heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.\u201d Lucifer apparently became so impressed with his own beauty, brilliance, intelligence, power, and position that he began to desire for himself the honor and glory that belonged to God alone. The sin that corrupted Lucifer was self-generated pride.
\nThis mighty angelic being was rightfully judged by God: \u201cI cast you to the ground\u201d (Ezekiel 28:17). This doesn\u2019t mean Satan had no further access to heaven, for other Scripture verses clearly indicate that Satan maintained this access even after his fall (for example, Job 1:6-12; Zechariah 3:1-2). However, Ezekiel 28:18 indicates Satan was absolutely and completely cast out of God\u2019s heavenly government and place of authority (Luke 10:18). His ultimate destiny is the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
\nChristian, be forewarned: Satan seeks to bring you down. He will try to tempt you (Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; Acts 5:3; 1 Corinthians 7:5), hinder you in any way he can (1 Thessalonians 2:18), wage war against you (Ephesians 6:11-12), cause division between you and others (Matthew 13:38-39), incite persecutions against you (Revelation 2:10), oppose you with the ferociousness of a hungry lion (1 Peter 5:8), plant doubts in your mind (Genesis 3:1-5), foster spiritual pride in your heart (1 Timothy 3:6), and lead you away \u201cfrom a sincere and pure devotion to Christ\u201d (2 Corinthians 11:3).<\/p>\n
God in His great patience pleads for the wicked to repent. He does not want them to perish.
\nGod affirmed, \u201cAs I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways\u201d (Ezekiel 33:11). This brings to mind 2 Peter 3:9: \u201cThe Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.\u201d But beware\u2014God\u2019s patience will one day run out. Turn to the Lord today.
\n\u201cO sinner, the fact that you are alive proves that God is not dealing with you according to strict justice, but in patient forbearance; every moment you live is another instance of omnipotent long-suffering.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)<\/p>\n
God\u2019s pattern is to restore His people after chastening them for a time.
\nGod has a future for His people Israel. In this final section of his book, Ezekiel no longer speaks about judgment, but rather focuses on the comfort and consolation of God\u2019s people in view of a glorious future (Ezekiel 33\u201335).
\nGod\u2019s people will one day be re-gathered and restored (Ezekiel 36). In the vision of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37, the Lord is miraculously portrayed as bringing the bones back together into a skeleton, and the skeleton becomes wrapped in muscles and tendons and flesh, and God then breathes life into the body. There is no doubt that this chapter in Ezekiel is speaking about Israel, for we read, \u201cSon of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel\u201d (verse 11). This chapter portrays Israel as becoming a living, breathing nation, brought back from the dead, as it were. To be sure, this is portrayed as being a gradual process, but the passage will absolutely be fulfilled.
\nThe year 1948 was pivotal in this regard: In AD 70, Titus and his Roman warriors trampled on and destroyed Jerusalem, definitively ending Israel as a political entity (Luke 21:20). For many centuries since then, the Jews have been dispersed worldwide. In the year 1940, no one could have guessed that within a decade Israel would be a nation again. And yet it happened. Israel achieved statehood in 1948, and the Jews have been returning to their homeland ever since. The vision in Ezekiel 37 is coming to pass just as predicted. And God isn\u2019t finished with Israel, for Israel will convert to Christ at the end of the future tribulation period (36:10,24,30,37) and then receive the full blessings of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants in the millennial kingdom (Genesis 15:12-21; 2 Samuel 7:13). Glorious!
\nWhile not on as grand a scale, God likewise restores you and me following our trials. God promises in 1 Peter 5:10, \u201cAfter you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.\u201d Always be watching for the light at the end of the tunnel.
\nIsrael\u2019s Rebirth
\n\u2022 Israel will be re-gathered to land\u2014Ezekiel 36:24
\n\u2022 Jews will be re-gathered\u2014Jeremiah 16:15
\n\u2022 Valley of dry bones prophecy\u2014Ezekiel 37<\/p>\n
God can rescue His people from seemingly impossible situations.
\nEzekiel 38\u201339 documents what has come to be called the \u201cEzekiel invasion\u201d against Israel. This is a future invasion into Israel\u2014either prior to the tribulation period or at the beginning of the tribulation period\u2014by a northern coalition of nations. This coalition includes Russia, Iran, Sudan, Turkey, Libya, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Armenia.
\nThe goal of this coalition will be to utterly obliterate the Jews. And with the sheer size of this assault force, Israel will have virtually no chance of defending itself. God, however, will intervene and supernaturally destroy the invaders.
\nMy friend, just as God will rescue Israel in this seemingly impossible situation, so God can rescue us in our seemingly impossible situations. God is \u201cable to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think\u201d (Ephesians 3:20). God promises, \u201cI will never leave you nor forsake you\u201d (Hebrews 13:5). Trust Him (Proverbs 3:5-6).<\/p>\n
Rejoice! A messianic age is on the horizon. Christ will reign among His people.
\nIn Ezekiel 40\u201348, the prophet provides details about Christ\u2019s future millennial kingdom. Worship will be a central feature of this kingdom (43:13\u201346:24). In this extended section, Ezekiel provides his people a strong prophetic hope. You and I can also have a strong prophetic hope\u2014a hope that motivates righteous living (Titus 2:12-14; 2 Peter 3:11; 1 John 3:2-3).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
The powers of darkness are aligned against all who walk with Christ. Avail yourself of scriptural defenses.
\nDaniel<\/p>\n
God\u2019s people are called to reverence Him, walk humbly before Him, obey Him, and maintain faith in Him\u2014knowing that He is sovereign and can bring restoration to them, even after having been severely disciplined by Him.
\nTimeline
\n605\u2014Daniel is taken captive as a youth to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.
\n600\u2014Daniel becomes an official in Babylon.
\n562\u2014Nebuchadnezzar dies.
\n553\u2014Daniel has his first vision.
\n539\u2014Cyrus overthrows Babylon; Daniel is thrown into the lions\u2019 den.
\n537\u2014Daniel writes his book.
\n535\u2014Daniel\u2019s ministry ends.
\nDaniel was born into a royal family (Daniel 1:3,6), and was apparently physically attractive (1:4). He became one of the major prophets of the Old Testament. His name means, \u201cGod is my judge.\u201d He was uncompromising in his faithfulness to God. His contemporaries acknowledged both his righteousness and his wisdom (Ezekiel 14:14,20; 28:3).
\nDaniel was taken captive as a youth to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar in 605 BC. He was likely 15 or 16 years old when this happened. As providence had it, he spent the rest of his life there\u2014perhaps 85 years or more. He was assigned to be a governmental official in charge of assisting with the imported Jews. Daniel authored the biblical book that bears his name (Daniel 8:15,27; 9:2; 10:2,7; 12:4-5).
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Daniel:<\/p>\n
Recognize and respond affirmatively to God\u2019s work of discipline in your life.
\nDaniel 1:1-2 tells us, \u201cIn the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand.\u201d Israel was being severely disciplined by God for its continued disobedience.
\nOne thing we learn from Scripture is that a failure to repent of sin always brings God\u2019s discipline in the life of believers. We recall that following David\u2019s sin with Bathsheba, the Lord disciplined David rather severely over an extended time (Psalm 32:3-5; 51). God also disciplines us when we go astray: \u201cMy son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives\u201d (Hebrews 12:5-6). Scripture also reminds us that \u201cif we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way\u201d (1 Corinthians 11:31 NLT).
\n\u201cLabor to grow better under all your afflictions, lest your afflictions grow worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Owen (1616\u20131683)<\/p>\n
Resolve to always be a person of integrity.
\nDaniel was consistently a man of integrity, and this integrity was evident to all who encountered him (for example, Daniel 1:8-20). Daniel was certainly right in line with Paul\u2019s words in 2 Corinthians 8:21: \u201cFor we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord\u2019s sight but also in the sight of man.\u201d
\nThe Bible speaks a great deal about what it means to be a person of integrity. For example, \u201cBetter is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways\u201d (Proverbs 28:6). \u201cThe integrity of the upright guides them\u201d (11:3; see also 20:7).
\nCross-References: Integrity
\nPsalm 25:21 \u2022 26:1 \u2022 Micah 6:8 \u2022 Acts 24:16 \u2022 Titus 2:1-14 \u2022 Hebrews 13:18 \u2022 James 1:22-25<\/p>\n
Make every effort to maintain a good reputation throughout life.
\nDaniel\u2019s stellar reputation began in the first year of his captivity and lasted all the way up until his death. His good reputation not only brought him before kings, but also brought him great honor and exaltation throughout life (Daniel 1:19; 2:46; 5:14). As Christians, we ought always to pursue a good reputation (Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1).
\nGood and Bad Reputations
\n\u2022 Good reputations\u20141 Samuel 2:1-5; Psalm 86:2; Proverbs 22:1
\n\u2022 Bad reputations\u20142 Samuel 20:1; Proverbs 24:8; Acts 15:37-38<\/p>\n
Let us resolve to walk in humility.
\nDaniel was a humble man who consistently pointed away from his own abilities and pointed rather to God (Daniel 2:27-28). He had the same humble attitude John the Baptist had: \u201cHe must increase, but I must decrease\u201d (John 3:30; see also James 4:10; Luke 1:52; 1 Peter 5:5-6; Proverbs 15:33; 22:4; 29:23). Let us seek to daily exalt God in our lives.<\/p>\n
Stop sinning and do what is right.
\nDaniel urged the king, \u201cBreak off your sins by practicing righteousness\u201d (Daniel 4:27). Daniel\u2019s comment was motivated by two spiritual realities: (1) Sin leads to destruction and death (compare with 1 John 5:16; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 11:29-32; Acts 5:1-11). (2) Righteousness leads to blessing and long life (Proverbs 10:27; Deuteronomy 4:40; 2 Kings 20:1-6; Ephesians 6:2-3). Daniel knew it was in the king\u2019s best interest to turn from sin and pursue righteousness. The same thing is true of you and me (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 4:40; Joshua 1:8; 1 Kings 2:3; Matthew 5:2-12).
\n\u201cTo be sensible of our corruption and abhor our own transgressions is the first symptom of spiritual health.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014J. C. Ryle (1816\u20131900)<\/p>\n
Pray consistently, thankfully, specifically, and urgently.
\nDaniel 6:10 tells us Daniel \u201cgot down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.\u201d Notice that Daniel began his prayers with thanksgiving. We are reminded of Psalm 95:2: \u201cLet us come into his presence with thanksgiving.\u201d Psalm 100:4 also comes to mind: \u201cEnter his gates with thanksgiving.\u201d Following thanksgiving, Daniel brought \u201cpetition and plea\u201d before God, making specific requests of Him (Daniel 6:11).
\nDaniel was certainly a believer in intercessory prayer\u2014that is, praying for other people and not just for himself (2:17-18). He was also a believer in the need to make confession of sin during prayer when there was need for it (9:8-15; see also Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9). Still further, we notice that Daniel prayed with a sense of great urgency (Daniel 9:16-19). We are reminded of James 5:16: \u201cThe urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect\u201d (HCSB). The word \u201curgent\u201d in this verse carries the idea of \u201cearnest\u201d or \u201cheartfelt.\u201d Let us resolve to imitate Daniel in how we pray.
\n\u201cDo not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Philippians 4:6-7
\nObedience brings
\n\u2022 blessing (Luke 11:28);
\n\u2022 long life (1 Kings 3:14);
\n\u2022 happiness (Psalm 112:1); and
\n\u2022 peace (Proverbs 1:33).<\/p>\n
Obey God consistently. Don\u2019t give it a second thought. Just do it.
\nDaniel and his Hebrew friends obeyed God no matter what they faced. The first thing Daniel did after hearing about the king\u2019s injunction that no one could pray to any god but Darius for 30 days was to go home and pray to the one true God. Daniel simply would not disobey God. For that he was thrown into the lions\u2019 den. God, of course, honored Daniel\u2019s obedience by rescuing him from the lions\u2019 den (Daniel 6).
\nDaniel\u2019s three Hebrew friends were commanded by Nebuchadnezzar to bow down and worship the golden image. But they simply would not disobey the one true God in this matter. They told the king, \u201cOur God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up\u201d (Daniel 3:17-18). God honored their obedience by rescuing them in the fiery furnace (3\u20134). Daniel and his friends obeyed God no matter what. Let us do the same.
\nCross-References: God Our Shield
\nGenesis 15:1 \u2022 Deuteronomy 33:29 \u2022 Psalm 33:20 \u2022 84:11 \u2022 115:9 \u2022 Proverbs 30:5<\/p>\n
Make it your daily goal to maintain a holy fear and reverence for the one true God.
\nAfter witnessing God\u2019s great power in delivering Daniel from the lions\u2019 den, King Darius decreed that \u201cpeople are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel\u201d (Daniel 6:26). Of course, no one had to tell Daniel and his Hebrew friends that, for they had consistently lived their lives in the fear of\u2014and reverence for\u2014the one true God. This led to their consistent obedience to God, even in the face of death.
\nThe theme of fearing God or revering God is found not only in Daniel but throughout the whole of Scripture. We learn that God blesses those who fear Him (Psalm 115:13). Fear of the Lord leads to riches, honor, and long life (Proverbs 22:4). God shows mercy to those who fear Him (Luke 1:50). Let us always reverence God not only in what we say, but in how we live our lives.
\nFear of the Lord
\n\u2022 is true wisdom (Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10);
\n\u2022 motivates obedience to God (Deuteronomy 5:29; Ecclesiastes 12:13); and
\n\u2022 motivates the avoidance of evil (Proverbs 3:7; 8:13; 16:6).<\/p>\n
Walk by faith and not by sight. Do this day by day, moment by moment.
\nEven when things seem at their most hopeless, the God of miracles can come through in ways we could never have fathomed. Daniel was tossed into a lions\u2019 den, which, from a human perspective, is about as bad as things can get. From a \u201cwalking by sight\u201d perspective, Daniel knew no one survives a lions\u2019 den. But Daniel walked by faith and not by sight. God rewarded that faith by rescuing him from the lions\u2019 den (Daniel 6).
\nThe same is true of Daniel\u2019s three Hebrew friends. From a human perspective, being thrown into a fiery furnace is about as bad as things can get. From a \u201cwalking by sight\u201d perspective, the three knew no one survives a fiery furnace. But they were walking by faith and not by sight. They knew the unseen God could deliver them from the fire (Daniel 3\u20134).
\nRegardless of what we encounter in life, let us follow the lead of Daniel and his friends in resolving to always walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
\nCross-References: Keep Faith Strong
\nJeremiah 17:7 \u2022 Psalm 40:4 \u2022 118:8 \u2022 Proverbs 3:5 \u2022 Matthew 15:28 \u2022 Romans 10:17 \u2022 2 Corinthians 5:7 \u2022 1 Timothy 1:19 \u2022 Hebrews 11:1<\/p>\n
Take comfort in God\u2019s sovereign control over all things in the universe.
\nGod sovereignly reigns from heaven (Daniel 3 and 6). God is absolutely sovereign in the sense that He rules the universe, controls all things, and is Lord over all (Ephesians 1). He may utilize various means to accomplish His ends, but He is always in control. Nothing can happen in this universe that is beyond the reach of His control. In the book of Daniel, God expressed His sovereignty over the captivity of Israel, the fiery furnace, the lions\u2019 den, the rise and fall of kings, the rise and fall of nations, and much more. Rejoice in God\u2019s sovereignty!
\nGod\u2019s Sovereignty
\n\u201cMy counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose\u201d (Isaiah 46:10).
\n\u201cAs I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand\u201d (Isaiah 14:24).<\/p>\n
God can always bring restoration to our lives. Just ask Him!
\nIn Daniel 9, the underlying idea of Daniel\u2019s prayer on behalf of Israel was his people\u2019s restoration\u2014not only restoration to God but also restoration back to the Promised Land. Daniel sought this with all his heart. In the chapters that follow, God revealed to Daniel that He yet had a future for Israel (compare with Romans 9\u201311). God would one day restore Israel.
\nGod certainly restores our individual lives as well. God can restore people spiritually: \u201cHe leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul\u201d (Psalm 23:2-3). God can restore the joy of salvation: \u201cRestore to me the joy of your salvation\u201d (51:12). God can restore us after we\u2019ve experienced trials: \u201cAfter you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace\u2026 will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you\u201d (1 Peter 5:10; see also Psalm 71:20). Let us always remember, as Daniel did, that our God is a God of restoration.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t fret if it seems there\u2019s a delay in God\u2019s answer to your prayer.
\nJust as angels are sometimes dispatched by God to take care of our prayer requests (Acts 12:6-19), so fallen angels sometimes seek to thwart the angels God uses in the process of answering a particular prayer. This happened when the prophet Daniel prayed. Daniel 10:13 reveals that an angel sent by God to take care of Daniel\u2019s prayer request was detained by a more powerful, fallen angel. It was only when the archangel Michael showed up to render aid that the lesser angel was freed to carry out his task. So never fear that God is not listening simply because there seems to be a delay in His answer to your prayer. Keep your faith strong. You are not aware of everything happening in the spiritual world.
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Daniel was not just a hearer of God\u2019s Word; he was a doer of God\u2019s Word. Go do likewise.<\/p>\n
Hosea<\/p>\n
God has an everlasting love for His people. That love motivates not only His redemptive activities on their behalf, but also His discipline of them\u2014His \u201ctough love\u201d\u2014when they go astray.
\nTimeline
\n753\u2014Hosea\u2019s prophetic ministry begins.
\n722\u2014Israel falls to the Assyrians.
\n715\u2014Hosea\u2019s ministry ends.
\n710\u2014Hosea writes his short book.
\nThis touching book, written by the prophet Hosea during the closing days of Jeroboam II in about 710 BC, depicts the heartfelt pain Hosea suffered at the unfaithfulness of his own wife. This, in turn, gave the prophet deep insight into the way God feels when His own people are unfaithful to Him.
\nHosea was married to a woman named Gomer (Hosea 1:2), and one day she left him to live with another man. She soon became a prostitute and offered her services to any who were interested. Hosea then found her, and, in compassion, paid for her freedom and took her back to live with him (3).
\nJust as Gomer had been unfaithful to the marriage covenant, so the Israelites\u2014presently at political peace and enjoying material prosperity\u2014had been unfaithful to the covenant God made with them (Hosea 2:2-5; 6:4-11; 8:1-14). They committed spiritual adultery and turned away from God, just as Gomer had committed physical adultery. In their unfaithfulness, the Israelites engaged in an adulterous relationship with Canaanite deities (such as Baal). Yet just as Hosea loved Gomer, God still loved the Israelites, despite their unfaithfulness (11:1-12).
\nThe Israelites still had time to repent\u2014but time was running out. If they did not repent soon, judgment would fall at the hands of the Assyrians (Hosea 9:1\u201310:15).
\nThe Price Has Been Paid
\nHosea bought Gomer, redeeming her for 15 shekels (Hosea 3:2). Christians have been purchased by Christ: \u201cYou were bought with a price\u201d (1 Corinthians 6:20). The church was \u201cpurchased with his own blood\u201d (Acts 20:28 NLT).<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Hosea:<\/p>\n
Hosea<\/p>\n
God has an everlasting love for His people. That love motivates not only His redemptive activities on their behalf, but also His discipline of them\u2014His \u201ctough love\u201d\u2014when they go astray.
\nTimeline
\n753\u2014Hosea\u2019s prophetic ministry begins.
\n722\u2014Israel falls to the Assyrians.
\n715\u2014Hosea\u2019s ministry ends.
\n710\u2014Hosea writes his short book.
\nThis touching book, written by the prophet Hosea during the closing days of Jeroboam II in about 710 BC, depicts the heartfelt pain Hosea suffered at the unfaithfulness of his own wife. This, in turn, gave the prophet deep insight into the way God feels when His own people are unfaithful to Him.
\nHosea was married to a woman named Gomer (Hosea 1:2), and one day she left him to live with another man. She soon became a prostitute and offered her services to any who were interested. Hosea then found her, and, in compassion, paid for her freedom and took her back to live with him (3).
\nJust as Gomer had been unfaithful to the marriage covenant, so the Israelites\u2014presently at political peace and enjoying material prosperity\u2014had been unfaithful to the covenant God made with them (Hosea 2:2-5; 6:4-11; 8:1-14). They committed spiritual adultery and turned away from God, just as Gomer had committed physical adultery. In their unfaithfulness, the Israelites engaged in an adulterous relationship with Canaanite deities (such as Baal). Yet just as Hosea loved Gomer, God still loved the Israelites, despite their unfaithfulness (11:1-12).
\nThe Israelites still had time to repent\u2014but time was running out. If they did not repent soon, judgment would fall at the hands of the Assyrians (Hosea 9:1\u201310:15).
\nThe Price Has Been Paid
\nHosea bought Gomer, redeeming her for 15 shekels (Hosea 3:2). Christians have been purchased by Christ: \u201cYou were bought with a price\u201d (1 Corinthians 6:20). The church was \u201cpurchased with his own blood\u201d (Acts 20:28 NLT).<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Hosea:<\/p>\n
Spiritual adultery is grievously offensive to God. Even so, He always seeks the redemption of His people.
\nHosea and his wife, Gomer, had three children together, each named by God to communicate something about His impending judgment upon adulterous Israel. Jezreel means \u201cGod scatters\u201d; Lo-Ruhamah means \u201cNot pitied\u201d; and Lo-Ammi means \u201cNot my people.\u201d God, in severe discipline, intended to scatter His people and show no pity on them because of their relentless unfaithfulness. Just as Gomer ran after other men, so Israel ran after other gods (Hosea 1\u20133).
\nOur text tells us Hosea continued to love Gomer. Despite her unfaithfulness, Hosea redeemed her and restored her (Hosea 3:2).
\nMy friend, God has the same kind of love for us, despite the stench of our sin. Romans 5:8 affirms, \u201cGod shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.\u201d Ephesians 2:4-5 affirms, \u201cGod, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ\u2014by grace you have been saved.\u201d Even though human beings were unfaithful to God, God sought their redemption, just as Hosea sought the redemption of his wife.
\nGrace and Mercy
\nHosea had the legal right to have Gomer executed for her crime of adultery. He nevertheless remained faithful to her and redeemed her.
\nGod had the right to obliterate Israel for her adulterous unfaithfulness. But He continued to love her, even though discipline became necessary for a time.<\/p>\n
Despite His great love for His people, God disciplines them when they remain in sin and refuse to repent.
\nBecause of the heartbreak Hosea went through regarding his unfaithful wife, Gomer, he was in a better position to understand the heartbreak God felt over His wayward people. The unrelenting love Hosea showed Gomer illustrates the loyal love God has for His people. Yet, despite God\u2019s constant appeal to the people to repent, they refused (Hosea 4\u20139).
\nAs a result God had no choice but to bring discipline upon them. The fruit of their disobedience was dispersion (Hosea 10). They refused repentance, so God necessarily had to refuse further mercy. Chastisement became necessary.
\nGod likewise disciplines us when we remain in sin. He loves us too much not to. As Hebrews 12:5 puts it, \u201cMy son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.\u201d
\nCross-References: God\u2019s Discipline
\nProverbs 3:11-12 \u2022 1 Corinthians 11:32 \u2022 Revelation 3:19 \u2022 Psalm 119:71 \u2022 Hebrews 12:5<\/p>\n
When God\u2019s Word is marginalized in a society, sin runs rampant.
\nHosea affirmed, \u201cThere is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land\u201d (Hosea 4:1). Because there was no knowledge of God in the land, sin was running rampant and Hosea\u2019s people were on the fast-track to judgment. In keeping with this, Hosea proclaimed, \u201cMy people are destroyed for lack of knowledge\u201d (4:6). The priests were not ministering God\u2019s Word to the people, and so the people experienced a fast slide into the gutter, morally speaking.
\nThis is one thing that causes me concern about America. Presently there are systematic attempts to marginalize God\u2019s Word so that it has no influence in politics, in school systems, in the media, and much more. Moreover, even in many churches today the Word of God is mixed in with pop psychology, philosophy, self-help theories, and lots of entertainment. Like the ancient Jews, America seems to be on the fast-track to judgment.
\nThe Bible is like
\n\u2022 a manufacturer\u2019s handbook that instructs us how to operate our lives;
\n\u2022 an eyeglass, helping us to see clearly;
\n\u2022 a lamp, shedding light on our path;
\n\u2022 an anchor that holds us steady when waves of adversity strike;
\n\u2022 food that gives us spiritual nourishment; and
\n\u2022 a love letter, expressing God\u2019s love for us.<\/p>\n
God\u2019s \u201ctough love\u201d is ultimately intended to bring restoration.
\nIn Hosea 6:1 we read, \u201cCome, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.\u201d God showed Hosea\u2019s people tough love so they\u2019d repent and turn back to Him.
\nLook at it this way. If you have cancer, a surgeon has to put you through painful surgery to remove it. Once it is removed, then you\u2019re back on the path to optimal health. Likewise, God sometimes has to do painful surgery on us to remove our spiritual cancer\u2014the cancer of sin. Once removed, we are back on the path to optimal spiritual health.
\nObservation: It makes good sense to me for Christians to take preventative measures by minimizing sin. The less sin, the less painful surgery is required. \u201cIf we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged\u201d (1 Corinthians 11:31).<\/p>\n
Claiming to know God is not enough. If you truly know God, it will be evident in the way you live your life.
\nHosea\u2019s people, about to experience judgment, claimed, \u201cMy God, we\u2014Israel\u2014know you\u201d (Hosea 8:2). The truth is, if a person truly knows God, it will be evident in the way he or she lives.
\nThis reminds us of Jesus\u2019s words in Matthew 7:22-23: \u201cOn that day many will say to me, \u2018Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?\u2019 And then will I declare to them, \u2018I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.\u2019 \u201d Merely claiming to know God is not enough. Don\u2019t be deceived.
\n\u201cBe doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014James 1:22<\/p>\n
Mere ritualistic religion is not pleasing to God. Living in harmony with His will is what brings a smile to His face.
\nThe strange thing about Hosea\u2019s people is that they continued to go through the motions of offering sacrifices to God. But they mixed these Jewish rituals with paganism, using graven images (Hosea 6:5-7). In so doing, they brought great offense to God.
\nWe must also be cautious not to mix Christianity with worldly influences. The best way to avoid worldly contamination is to stay rooted in God\u2019s Word (Psalm 119; 2 Timothy 3:15-17).
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cI desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Hosea 6:6<\/p>\n
Always seek to avoid being molded by this world. Instead, seek to be transformed by God\u2019s Word.
\nThe problem for Hosea\u2019s people was that they were surrounded by pagan nations, and over time, they allowed some of the pagan practices of those nations to infiltrate their society. They literally became molded by the pagan cultures around them (Hosea 6:4).
\nWe, today, are in danger of the same thing. So many humanistic, secular, and even pagan influences are around us that we are in great danger of contamination. The remedy is for us to be continually transformed by God\u2019s Word. \u201cDo not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind\u201d (Romans 12:2).
\n\u201cIf the heart be full of sinful thoughts, there is no room for holy and heavenly thoughts. If the heart be full of holy and heavenly thoughts by meditation, there is no room for evil and sinful thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014William Bridge (1600\u20131670)<\/p>\n
A divided heart will lead to your downfall.
\nIn Hosea 10:2 we read, \u201cTheir heart is false; now they must bear their guilt.\u201d The Amplified Bible renders this, \u201cTheir heart is divided and deceitful; now shall they be found guilty and suffer punishment.\u201d The New Living Translation renders it, \u201cThe hearts of the people are fickle; they are guilty and must be punished.\u201d
\nDear Christian, God is looking for people whose hearts are totally committed to Him. A great psalm to meditate on is Psalm 119, because total commitment is evident throughout (emphases are mine): \u201cBlessed are those whose way is blameless\u201d (verse 1). \u201cBlessed are those who\u2026 seek him with their whole heart\u201d (verse 2). \u201cYou have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently\u201d (verse 4). \u201cOh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes\u201d (verse 5). Total commitment, friends!
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Live your life as a Psalm 119 kind of Christian.
\nJoel<\/p>\n
Blessing from God follows obedience to Him.
\nTimeline
\n835\u2014Joel\u2019s prophetic ministry begins. The book of Joel is written. Joash becomes king of Judah.
\n814\u2014Jehoahaz becomes king of Israel.
\n798\u2014Jehoash becomes king of Israel.
\n796\u2014Joel\u2019s ministry ends.
\nThis book was written by Joel, son of Pethuel, in about 835 BC (Joel 1:1). Joel\u2019s name means \u201cthe Lord is God.\u201d
\nA devastating swarm of locusts had just ripped through the land of Judah, resulting in famine. This black cloud of devouring insects struck like a firestorm. As these consuming locusts ate up the agricultural produce and caused the light of the sun to be hidden and darkened, Joel saw in this catastrophe a little foretaste of the day of judgment that was surely coming upon God\u2019s people (Joel 1:15\u20132:11). In fact, Joel indicated that as bad as the locust plague was, it would pale by comparison to God\u2019s day of judgment. He therefore called the people to repentance (2:12-17). The reality is, Joel said, that God cannot ignore sin. Blessing can only follow obedience.
\n\u201cTruth famine is the ultimate and worst of all famines.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Carl F. H. Henry (1913\u20132003)<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Joel:<\/p>\n
When bad things happen, that\u2019s a good time to examine your life and purge any known sin.
\nJoel saw a foretaste of the day of the Lord in the current devastating swarm of locusts that annihilated the land of Judah, resulting in widespread famine and drought (Joel 1:2-12). This resulted in nationwide mourning, and there was a subsequent call to repentance (1:13-20).
\nNotice four things here: (1) The locust invasion was unexpected. It came out of nowhere. (2) It struck the nation at a point of great vulnerability\u2014the food supply. (3) The result was great mourning. (4) Immediate repentance was the need of the day.
\nWe, too, sometimes experience unexpected trials that hit us hard at a point of vulnerability\u2014a sudden illness, a sudden financial crisis, a sudden relational crisis, and other types of crises. And\u2014like the ancients\u2014we, too, mourn when such things happen.
\nOur first response ought to be to seek God\u2019s deliverance in the situation. But this is also a healthy time for self-examination\u2014a time to examine our spiritual state and purge anything that needs purging: \u201cExamine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith\u201d (2 Corinthians 13:5).
\n\u201cA frequent reckoning with ourselves will pluck up sin before it is rooted in the soul.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Anonymous<\/p>\n
Future judgment ought to motivate present repentance for all people.
\nJoel now switched his perspective to the end-times \u201cday of the Lord.\u201d The locust invasion was a graphic metaphor pointing to the more intensive visitation from the Lord in the end times. In that day, the locust invasion will seem mild in comparison to the judgments that will be part of the eschatological day of the Lord (Joel 2:1-11).
\nAs a backdrop, the term \u201cday of the Lord\u201d is used in several senses in Scripture. The Old Testament prophets sometimes used the term for a judgment to be fulfilled in the near future. At other times they used the term as related to the distant eschatological future\u2014the future tribulation period. The immediate context of the term generally indicates which sense is intended.
\nThis future day of the Lord, related to the tribulation period, will be a painful time indeed. This period will be characterized by wrath (Zephaniah 1:15,18), judgment (Revelation 14:7), indignation (Isaiah 26:20-21), trial (Revelation 3:10), trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), destruction (Joel 1:15), darkness (Amos 5:18), desolation (Daniel 9:27), overturning (Isaiah 24:1-4), and punishment (Isaiah 24:20-21). Simply put, no passage of Scripture can be found to alleviate to any degree whatsoever the severity of this time that shall come upon the earth in judgment.
\nI believe the tribulation judgments are for unbelievers only. I also believe the church will be raptured prior to this time (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52). But you and I as Christians will nevertheless face judgment\u2014that is, the judgment seat of Christ in heaven (Romans 14:8-10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 9:24-27). This judgment doesn\u2019t have anything to do with whether or not the Christian will remain saved. Rather, it has to do with the reception or loss of rewards, based on how one lives after becoming a believer. My advice: Let the judgment seat of Christ motivate you to pursue righteousness daily.
\n\u201cO spend your time as you would hear of it in the Judgment!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Richard Baxter (1615\u20131691)<\/p>\n
Immediate repentance from sin can avert God\u2019s judgment.
\nGod\u2019s people are called to turn from evil in the now and commit to the Lord. Joel indicated it was not too late for his people to avert disaster, if only they would repent: \u201cReturn to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster\u201d (Joel 2:13). I believe this relates to God\u2019s words in Jeremiah 18:7-8: \u201cIf at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.\u201d Unfortunately, the Israelites consistently refused to listen.
\nYou and I learn a good lesson here. Scripture is clear that God disciplines His children when they fall into sin and refuse to repent (Hebrews 12:5-6). So it makes good sense to preemptively judge ourselves. \u201cIf we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged\u201d (1 Corinthians 11:31).
\n\u201cBy delay of repentance, sin strengthens, and the heart hardens. The longer ice freezeth, the harder it is to be broken.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Thomas Watson (1620\u20131686)
\n\u201cSometimes God has to put us flat on our back before we are looking up to Him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Jack Graham<\/p>\n
Despite any disciplinary measures God engages in with His people, He nevertheless has a blessed future awaiting them.
\nDespite the fact that harsh judgment was coming upon Joel\u2019s people, God promised them that their time of suffering would be followed by both material (Joel 2:18-27) and spiritual blessing (2:28-32). God will not forget His people. God will bring restoration in the end. God will finally dwell with His people during the future millennial kingdom\u2014Christ\u2019s 1000-year kingdom that follows the second coming of Christ (3:17-21). It is a time to look forward to.
\nGod does much the same with us today. We all go through difficult trials and tribulations, but He always restores us after a time. \u201cAfter you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you\u201d (1 Peter 5:10). My advice: Keep your faith strong in the midst of trials.
\nProphetic Promises to Israel
\n\u2022 God has a future for Israel\u2014Romans 9\u201311
\n\u2022 Rebirth of the nation\u2014Ezekiel 36\u201337
\n\u2022 Israel will be regenerated\u2014Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 23:37-39
\n\u2022 Outpouring of the Holy Spirit\u2014Joel 2:28-29
\n\u2022 Fulfillment of land promises\u2014Genesis 12:1-3; 15:18-21; 17:21
\n\u2022 Fulfillment of the throne promises\u20142 Samuel 7:16<\/p>\n
There will be a future outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the faithful in Judah.
\nGod affirms, \u201cI will pour out my Spirit on all flesh\u201d (Joel 2:28). In context, \u201call flesh\u201d refers specifically to the faithful remnant of Judah. This will apparently happen toward the end of the future tribulation period when Israel at last recognizes Jesus Christ as her divine Messiah (Isaiah 44:3-4; Ezekiel 36:27-28; 37:14; 39:29; Zechariah 12:10).
\nOf course, the Holy Spirit currently has many wonderful ministries to Christians. He gives us spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12; 14), is our divine comforter (John 14; 15:26; 16:7), produces spiritual fruit in us (Galatians 5:16-26), and much more. The Holy Spirit\u2019s ministry is pivotal to the spiritual life of believers.
\nMinistries of the Holy Spirit
\n\u2022 Miraculous human conception of Jesus\u2014Matthew 1:18-20
\n\u2022 Came upon Jesus at baptism\u2014Matthew 3:16
\n\u2022 Inspired Scripture\u20142 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21
\n\u2022 Agent of regeneration\u2014John 3:1-5; Titus 3:5
\n\u2022 Gives spiritual gifts\u20141 Corinthians 12; 14
\n\u2022 Our divine comforter\u2014John 14; 15:26; 16:7
\n\u2022 Glorifies Jesus\u2014John 15:26
\n\u2022 Guides the church\u2014John 14:25,26
\n\u2022 Convicts people of sin\u2014John 16:7-14
\n\u2022 Produces spiritual fruit\u2014Galatians 5:16-26
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t ever attempt to live the Christian life in your own feeble strength. Daily resolve to walk in dependence upon the Holy Spirit.
\nAmos<\/p>\n
God pronounces righteous judgment on unrighteous people.
\nTimeline
\n793\u2014Jonah\u2019s prophetic ministry begins.
\n792\u2014Uzziah becomes king of Judah.
\n760\u2014Amos\u2019s prophetic ministry begins.
\n755\u2014Amos writes his short book.
\n753\u2014Hosea\u2019s prophetic ministry begins.
\n750\u2014Amos\u2019s ministry ends.
\n740\u2014Isaiah\u2019s prophetic ministry begins.
\nThe book of Amos was written by a prophet of the same name about 755 BC. Amos, whose name means \u201cburden-bearer,\u201d was a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel (Amos 7:14-15). By trade, he was a lowly shepherd and a dresser of fig trees. He lived in Tekoa, south of Jerusalem (1:1). He was a contemporary of Jonah, Hosea, and Isaiah, and prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam II.
\nAmos focused heavy attention on the rampant sin and social injustice of his day (Amos 5:24). During his time the land was prosperous and there were many rich people. Yet the rich did not aid those who were disadvantaged. This was not as it should be. Amos, the farmer-turned-prophet, therefore prophesied that a day of judgment was forthcoming when destruction would be inevitable (7:1\u20139:10).
\nIronically, the rich people of Amos\u2019s day thought they were bestowed with such great wealth because they were so religious. The falsity of this viewpoint is evident in that they did not use their wealth to do God\u2019s work of caring for the poor and disadvantaged. Rather, they exploited the poor to become even richer. From the vantage point of Amos, these rich people were nothing more than hypocrites. It was not long after Amos wrote his book that the Assyrians invaded the land and took the people into captivity. Judgment came just as Amos had prophesied.
\nGod\u2019s Lowly Servants
\n\u2022 God often uses lowly people to accomplish His ends (1 Corinthians 1:26-27).
\n\u2022 Amos was a simple herdsman, but was called to be a prophet (Amos 7:14-15).
\n\u2022 David was a simple shepherd boy, but became king (2 Samuel 5).
\n\u2022 Peter was a simple fisherman, but became an apostle (Matthew 4:18-22).<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Amos:
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cThe Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Amos 3:7<\/p>\n
Because God cares for the poor, you and I must also care for the poor.
\nAmos speaks against those \u201cwho oppress the poor, who crush the needy\u201d (Amos 4:1). He pronounces woe against those \u201cwho drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile\u201d (6:6-7). In other words, those who care nothing for the poor will be the first to receive God\u2019s chastisement. God\u2019s desire is summarized in Amos 5:24: \u201cLet justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.\u201d
\n\u201cChristian life consists of faith and charity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Martin Luther (1483\u20131546)
\n\u201cYou have not lived today until you have done something for someone who cannot pay you back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Bunyan (1628\u20131688)<\/p>\n
Take whatever steps you need to avoid spiritual complacency in your life. It\u2019s deadly.
\nThe word \u201ccomplacency\u201d means one feels so satisfied with one\u2019s own abilities or situation that he or she feels no need to try any harder. A person feels optimistic because everything seems dandy.
\nComplacency is never a good thing. But it becomes all the worse when it is realized that the complacency of the rich is rooted in their exploitation of the poor and impoverished. This is what happened in Amos\u2019s day.
\nAmos warned that these individuals had a false sense of security\u2014judgment would soon fall. \u201cWoe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria\u201d (Amos 6:1). \u201cWoe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches\u201d (6:4). They thought their great wealth was a sign that God had blessed them. But God warned them, \u201cI will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel\u2026 and they shall oppress you\u201d (6:14). Exile was coming.
\nMy friend, complacency is a state of being that often develops over an extended time\u2014sometimes so slowly that you\u2019re not even aware it\u2019s happening. Beware: it is dangerous to the spiritual life. Jesus warned the church in Laodicea, \u201cI know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth\u201d (Revelation 3:15-16).
\n\u201cSpiritual complacency is more deadly than anything the devil can bring against us in our upward struggle.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014A. W. Tozer (1897\u20131963)
\n\u201cThe one reaction the Christian church ought never to produce in the community is indifference.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Blanchard<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be a faker\u2014going through the motions of being a Christian while your heart is full of compromise.
\nGod said to His people in Amos\u2019s time, \u201cI hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen\u201d (Amos 5:21-23). The Jews were merely engaging in external rituals with no heartfelt obedience. While they were engaging in religious feasts, they were at the same time trampling on the poor, taking and giving bribes, and depriving people of justice. The religious establishment had become utterly corrupt. God hates such hypocrisy.
\nIt is all too easy to fall into the rut of spiritual compromise. Someone said (tongue-in-check) that some Christians sow bad seeds all week and then go to church on Sunday to pray for crop failure. Going through the motions of being a Christian is not acceptable to God. God looks at your heart and wants to see consistent faith, obedience, and commitment. Don\u2019t be a faker.
\n\u201cI desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Hosea 6:6<\/p>\n
Everyone is accountable to God.
\nAmos pronounced judgment against Syria for its brutal cruelty (Amos 1:3-5), Philistia for engaging in slavery (1:6-8), Phoenicia for breaking a treaty (1:9-10), Edom for its vengeful nature (1:11-12), Ammon for its violent nature (1:13-15), Moab for its unjust practices (2:1-3), and Judah for not honoring the Law (2:4-6). Amos then targeted Israel for not honoring the Law (2:6-16).
\nAmos set forth three sermons, each beginning with the phrase, \u201cHear this word\u201d (Amos 3:1; 4:1; 5:1). The first pronounces judgment against Israel because of her iniquities (3). The second delineates Israel\u2019s crimes and God\u2019s discipline (4). The third specifies Israel\u2019s sins and calls the people to repentance (5\u20136). Israel refused, and would therefore experience the judgment of exile.
\nAmos then set forth five visions describing the nature of God\u2019s judgment. His vision of locusts was an apt metaphor for God\u2019s wrath (Amos 7:1-3). His vision of fire pointed to the drought that would follow the locust plague (7:4-6). His vision of the plumb line revealed that God had measured Israel by the rule of His justice and found the nation falling short (7:7-9). His vision of a basket of summer fruit indicated that the people\u2019s fruitful years of prosperity had now ended (8:1-14). His vision of the smiting of the temple pointed to a worldwide dispersion of the Jewish people (9:1-10). Bad times were coming. God holds all people accountable.<\/p>\n
Despite God\u2019s judgment in the present, restoration will follow for the faithful remnant.
\nIn the end, God promises restoration. God will bless His faithful remnant in the future (Amos 9:11-15). \u201cIn that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old\u201d (verse 11).
\nRestoration
\n\u2022 God restores us\u2014Psalm 71:20
\n\u2022 Restore my life again\u2014Psalm 119:107
\n\u2022 Restore our fortunes\u2014Psalm 126:4
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be a faker. Oust any complacency or compromise from your heart. Resolve to be \u201cthe real deal\u201d as a Christian from this moment forward.
\nObadiah<\/p>\n
The wicked aren\u2019t getting away with anything. It\u2019s just a matter of time before judgment falls.
\nTimeline
\n1900\u2014The Edomites are the descendants of Esau (\u201cbrothers of Israel\u201d).
\n1406\u2014The Edomites refuse Israel passage through their land while en route to Canaan.
\n848\u2013841\u2014Edom rebels against dominion by Judah and sets up an independent state.
\n587\u2014The Edomites invade Judah as Babylon overruns Jerusalem.
\n586\u2014Obadiah writes his short book.
\nObadiah\u2019s name means \u201cservant of the Lord.\u201d He wrote his book about 586 BC. He spoke of the coming downfall of Edom, an area directly southeast of the Dead Sea. The Edomites had invaded Judah when Jerusalem was being overrun and destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC. The Edomites would thus pay the ultimate price and be destroyed.
\nThe Edomites were descendants of Esau. The biblical record indicates that Esau struggled with his brother Jacob even within their mother\u2019s womb (Genesis 25:22), and this struggle continued among their descendants.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Obadiah:<\/p>\n
The wicked who persecute God\u2019s people aren\u2019t getting away with anything. They\u2019ll face God\u2019s judgment for their actions.
\nObadiah begins his short book by emphasizing the absolute certainty of the impending overthrow of Edom. The judgment was to be thorough and complete (Obadiah 1:1-9). God\u2019s judgment would be just and devastating. Woe to those who persecute God\u2019s people!<\/p>\n
The failure to help others when one has the ability to do so brings God\u2019s displeasure.
\nThe Edomites were being condemned not just for harsh treatment of Judah, but also for not coming to Judah\u2019s aid when Babylon attacked. \u201cDo not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin\u201d (Obadiah 1:12). God viewed this attitude as heinous.
\n\u201cLife\u2019s most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Martin Luther King Jr. (1929\u20131968)<\/p>\n
Pride goes before destruction.
\nThe people of Edom were characterized by aggression, violence, and self-inflated pride (Obadiah 1:10-14). In the soon-coming judgment, Edom\u2019s pride would be debased, its wealth plundered, and its people slaughtered. All who proudly defy God will be brought low and meet their doom as Edom did.
\n\u201cThe proud man lives halfway down the slope to hell.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Anonymous<\/p>\n
Sinners often experience the \u201cboomerang effect\u201d\u2014they receive what they\u2019ve dished out to others.
\nIn the approaching judgment, Edom would be shown the same harsh treatment it had shown to Judah. \u201cAs you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head\u201d (Obadiah 1:15). This brings to mind the apostle Paul\u2019s words in Galatians 6:7: \u201cDo not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.\u201d Conversely, we remember the words of Jesus: \u201cBlessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy\u201d (Matthew 5:7).
\n\u201cWhoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Proverbs 26:27<\/p>\n
God restores His people after times of trial.
\nWhereas Edom would suffer a dark and terrible judgment, Judah would be restored and enjoy a bright and beautiful future (Obadiah 1:17-18). Judah would again possess the land (1:19-20), and God will rule over His kingdom (1:21).
\nI never get tired of saying it: God also restores you and me after our trials. \u201cAfter you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you\u201d (1 Peter 5:10).
\n\u201cEverything that God brings into our life is directed to one purpose: that we might be conformed to the image of Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Erwin Lutzer
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Actions always carry consequences. Live your life wisely.
\nJonah<\/p>\n
Because of God\u2019s compassion for all humanity\u2014not wanting any to perish\u2014He is willing to go to extreme measures to reach people with His message.
\nTimeline
\n793\u2014Jonah\u2019s prophetic ministry begins.
\n760\u2014Jonah preaches to Nineveh.
\n760\u2014Jonah writes his short book.
\n753\u2014Jonah\u2019s ministry ends.
\nThe book of Jonah was written by Jonah, the son of Amittai, in 760 BC. Some have argued that perhaps Jonah was not the author because he is referred to in the third person (Jonah 1:3,5,9,12; 2:1; 3:4; 4:1,5,8-9). But it was common among Old Testament prophets to speak of their activities in the third person (see Isaiah 37:21; 38:1; 39:3-5; Daniel 1:1\u20137:1).
\nJonah, a prophet of the northern kingdom, was commanded by God to witness to the inhabitants of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. Since the Assyrians had previously attacked and destroyed Israel, Jonah abhorred the idea of preaching to them, and tried to run from God to get out of this assignment. God providentially manipulated circumstances to bring Jonah to Nineveh. The Ninevites listened to Jonah\u2019s message and promptly repented, thereby averting a terrible judgment.
\nLove Your Enemies
\n\u201cLove your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Jesus (Luke 6:27-28)<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Jonah:<\/p>\n
It is unwise to resist God\u2019s call upon your life.
\nGod commissioned Jonah to proclaim that judgment would fall against the pagan Ninevites unless they repented. Not wanting the Ninevites to repent and turn to God because they had a long track record of cruelty toward God\u2019s people, Jonah disobeyed God and took a ship west to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3). He tried to avert any possibility of salvation for the Ninevites. His test of wills with the Almighty would soon prove to be unwise.
\n\u201cObey God even when it hurts.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Anonymous<\/p>\n
God\u2019s compassion is for all human beings.
\nGod obviously showed great compassion for the Ninevites in wanting to send Jonah to preach to them. God even asked Jonah, \u201cShould not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons?\u201d (Jonah 4:11).
\nGod also showed great compassion toward the mariners on the ship. He spared them by ending the life-threatening storm as soon as Jonah was thrown overboard (Jonah 1:15).
\nStill further, God showed great compassion toward Jonah himself\u2014even in the midst of his rebellion. God not only rescued him from drowning (Jonah 1:17), but He was also patient with Jonah in his unrighteous anger (4:4,9) and provided shade from the hot sun for him (4:6).
\nGod\u2019s Compassion
\n\u201cThe LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Exodus 34:6<\/p>\n
The disobedience of one person may have adverse consequences for people around him.
\nTo avoid going to Nineveh, Jonah got on a ship headed toward Tarshish. As a consequence, \u201cthe LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up\u201d (Jonah 1:4). The innocent mariners were afraid they\u2019d soon sink and drown. The longer Jonah continued his disobedience on the ship, the worst the storm became. \u201cThe sea grew more and more tempestuous\u201d (1:11). Still later, the \u201csea grew more and more tempestuous against them\u201d (1:13). The mariners were forced to make a hard choice: either throw Jonah into the sea and survive or keep Jonah aboard and sink. They finally threw Jonah overboard, and at that moment \u201cthe sea ceased from its raging\u201d (1:15).
\nThe point for us to remember is that Jonah endangered everyone onboard the ship by his sinful actions. The lesson we learn from this is that we ought to make every effort to avoid engaging in any action that could potentially bring injury to innocent others.<\/p>\n
Obedience to the will of God is not a mere option for His children.
\nWhen God reveals His will, it is not a mere option as to whether or not we will do as He has willed. It is incumbent upon every believer to obey God\u2019s revealed will. This is where Jonah failed. He knew God\u2019s will and promptly took actions contrary to His will (Jonah 1:1-3). That is sin (James 4:17). Jonah desperately needed to follow the lead of the psalmist, who said, \u201cI delight to do your will, O my God\u201d (Psalm 40:8).
\n\u201cThis is alone true wisdom, to submit ourselves wholly to the will of God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Calvin (1509\u20131564)<\/p>\n
God sovereignly works in our lives to accomplish His purpose in us.
\nGod providentially controls what He created (Jonah 1:9). Genesis 1 tells us God not only created the seas; He also commanded, \u201cLet the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures\u201d (Genesis 1:20)\u2014which would certainly include fish large enough to swallow human beings. God is sovereign over the creatures of the sea.
\nWe also notice God\u2019s sovereignty in Jonah being thrown overboard. Jonah 1:15 tells us that the mariners threw Jonah into the sea. However, Jonah later acknowledged to God, \u201cYou cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me\u201d (2:2, emphasis added).
\nGod then providentially caused a great fish to swallow Jonah after he was thrown overboard by the sailors, and he spent three restless days and nights within the great fish. As for Jonah surviving inside the fish for three days, there is no question that this was a miracle of the Lord. God providentially guided these events from beginning to end.
\nJonah was cognizant that God had sovereignly intervened in his life. He cried out to the Lord from the belly of the fish, giving praise and thanksgiving to God for his deliverance. After the three days, God sovereignly caused the great fish to vomit Jonah out onto dry land so he could then proceed to Nineveh (Jonah 2:10).
\n\u201cThe sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Psalm 95:5
\n\u201cYou rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Psalm 89:9
\n\u201cMightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Psalm 93:4<\/p>\n
The Lord can bring us down; the Lord can lift us up.
\nOn the one hand, God brought Jonah down by having him hurled into the sea. On the other hand, Jonah interpreted God\u2019s rescue of him via a fish as a lifting up. \u201cYou brought up my life from the pit\u201d (Jonah 2:6). (In Hebrew thought, the word \u201cpit\u201d can refer to the grave, or death.) Dear Christian, the Lord can bring us down in discipline, but He can also lift us up when we are down.<\/p>\n
God is always willing to show love and mercy to those who repent of their sins.
\nOnce on land again, Jonah was re-commissioned to go to Nineveh and warn the people of impending judgment. He did as instructed, and the entire city repented. Having witnessed their contrition, God held back the judgment He had intended for the city (Jonah 3:10). This is in keeping with God\u2019s policy stated in Jeremiah 18:7-8: \u201cIf at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.\u201d God is often seen showing mercy where repentance is evident (Exodus 32:14; 2 Samuel 24:16; Amos 7:3,6). As Jonah himself had to admit, \u201cYou are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster\u201d (Jonah 4:2).
\n\u201cTo those whom God finds impenitent sinners he will be found to be an implacable judge.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Matthew Henry (1662\u20131714)<\/p>\n
Even good people can sometimes have a bad attitude.
\nJonah was disappointed that the Assyrians were not destroyed, but had instead turned to God and received His mercy. God reminded Jonah that He is gracious and forgiving of all people, even Gentiles, if they repent (Jonah 4:2,11). This brings to mind 2 Peter 3:9, which tells us that God is \u201cnot wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.\u201d The Ninevites repented and so were spared judgment. We likewise read in 1 Timothy 2:4 that God \u201cdesires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.\u201d Jonah was wrong to hold on to ill will.<\/p>\n
God uses imperfect human beings in the work of ministry.
\nDespite all the failures of Jonah, the city of Nineveh was brought to repentance and turned to the Lord (Jonah 3:6-10). God uses imperfect people to accomplish His purposes. It is a good thing that God does not use only perfect servants, for there are none. \u201cAll have sinned and fall short of the glory of God\u201d (Romans 3:23, emphasis added). Paul considered himself the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). This gives us hope that God can use us too.
\nRepentance
\n\u2022 God commands repentance\u2014Acts 17:30
\n\u2022 Repent and live\u2014Ezekiel 18:32
\n\u2022 Confess and find mercy\u2014Proverbs 28:13
\n\u2022 Unless you repent, you perish\u2014Luke 13:3<\/p>\n
We all need to hear God\u2019s Word and respond to it.
\nTo the Ninevites, God communicated a message of repentance and judgment through Jonah. But God also gave revelation to Jonah about his own deficient character\u2014an unforgiving heart (Jonah 4:4,9-11). My assessment: We all need to hear God\u2019s Word and respond to it.<\/p>\n
God\u2019s children are never alone in their trials.
\nBeing thrown into the sea, being swallowed by a big fish, being vomited up onto dry land by a fish\u2014Jonah was having a tough time. But God was with him through it all (Jonah 1:17; 2:10). This is a pattern we often see in the Bible: God did not keep Joseph from being sold into slavery and taken to Egypt, but He was with Joseph in his unfair circumstances (Genesis 27\u201350). God did not keep Daniel from the lions\u2019 den, but He was with Daniel in the lions\u2019 den (Daniel 6). God did not keep the apostle Paul from going to jail, but He was with Paul in his jail experiences (Ephesians 3:1; Philippians 1:7; Colossians 4:10). God is also with us in our trials (1 Peter 1:5-7).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Build this conviction into your heart: \u201cI delight to do your will, O my God.\u201d
\nMicah<\/p>\n
Idolatry, wickedness, and a lack of social justice make any society ripe for God\u2019s judgment. And yet there is always hope for the future because of God\u2019s unending mercy.
\nTimeline
\n750\u2014Micah\u2019s prophetic ministry begins.
\n732\u2014Micah prophesies the fall of Samaria.
\n715\u2014Micah prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem, the Babylonian captivity, the return of the exiles from captivity, and the eventual birth of the divine Messiah in Bethlehem.
\n700\u2014Micah writes his short book.
\n686\u2014Micah\u2019s ministry ends.
\nThe book of Micah was written by a prophet of the same name in about 700 BC. The name Micah means \u201cwho is like the Lord?\u201d He was a contemporary of fellow prophets Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah in the eighth century BC, and carried on his ministry during the reigns of kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He preached to Samaria and Jerusalem.
\nMicah was a simple farmer whose prophetic message was rooted in the injustices and exploitation he had witnessed. His primary message was that those who are rightly related to God should seek social justice and reach out to help the poor and disenfranchised. But instead of this, those who claimed to be right with God in his day continued to ignore social injustices and, indeed, they heinously exploited the poor, thereby actually participating in social injustice. Micah indicted Samaria and Jerusalem, as well as the leaders and people of Israel and Judah. He communicated that God hates injustice. God\u2019s desire for people is this: \u201cTo do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God\u201d (Micah 6:8).
\nMicah thundered a stern message that these injustices would not be allowed to continue. Judgment would fall\u2014a judgment so severe, Micah said, that even Jerusalem\u2019s temple would be destroyed. Bad times were coming! Following this judgment, however, Micah said God would restore His people and bring about a kingdom of peace through the divine Messiah (Micah 5:2).
\nCross-References: Social Justice
\nDeuteronomy 16:20 \u2022 15:7-11 \u2022 Psalm 82:3 \u2022 Proverbs 31:8-9 \u2022 22:16 \u2022 14:31 \u2022 Isaiah 1:17 \u2022 Jeremiah 22:3 \u2022 Zechariah 7:9-10 \u2022 Amos 5:11-15 \u2022 Micah 6:8 \u2022 Matthew 7:12 \u2022 Luke 10:30-37 \u2022 James 1:27 \u2022 1 John 3:17-18<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Micah:<\/p>\n
Leaders should never exploit their position in the pursuit of material gain.
\nWhen the Jewish nation turned from God in earlier years, it weakened religiously, morally, economically, and politically (1 Kings 12). As the nation strayed further and further from the worship of the one true God, things went from bad to worse. Internal strife weakened the kingdom and it eventually split into two kingdoms\u2014the northern kingdom (retaining the name Israel) and the southern kingdom (called Judah).
\nMicah focused his primary warnings of God\u2019s judgment on the leaders of Judah and Israel for their greed, oppression, and exploitation of the poor, as well as their selfishness and idolatry. These individuals \u201ccovet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance\u201d (Micah 2:2). These leaders were truly wicked, and they were doing great damage to the common folk.
\nThese leaders would soon learn the direct cause-and-effect relationship between sins of injustice and God\u2019s just judgment. None of these leaders would escape the judgment. It would be comprehensive and devastating. \u201cTherefore I strike you with a grievous blow, making you desolate because of your sins\u201d (Micah 6:13).<\/p>\n
Personal righteousness must extend beyond one\u2019s self to embrace a broader social responsibility.
\nSocial responsibility is a common theme in the book of Micah (1:2-5; 2:3; 6:1-2,9-11). It is also common throughout the rest of Scripture. Isaiah 1:17 tells us, \u201cLearn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow\u2019s cause.\u201d Zechariah 7:9-19 likewise states, \u201cThus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.\u201d Proverbs 31:9 exhorts, \u201cOpen your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy\u201d (see also Jeremiah 22:3; Proverbs 31:8-9; Luke 10:30-37; Psalm 82:3; 1 John 3:17-18). The fact that this is the focus of so much Scripture shows it is important to the heart of God. God cares about the poor and disenfranchised, and He expects His followers to do something about their needs.
\nMy friend, I have a strong feeling this issue is going to come up at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10-12). My advice: take the issue of social responsibility seriously.
\n\u201cHospitality is threefold; for one\u2019s family, this of necessity; for strangers, this of courtesy; for the poor, this is charity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Thomas Fuller (1608\u20131661)<\/p>\n
True religion is not just about ritual. It\u2019s also about showing love, justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
\nThe disingenuous religious leaders of Israel and Judah were externally going through the motions with religious rituals, but in reality they were seeking nothing but material gain. They had an outward display of piety, but on the inside had nothing but selfish motives and intents (Micah 6:1-7).
\nGod made the point through the prophet Micah that His great desire was not the mere offering of religious sacrifices at the temple but rather a genuine faith that showed itself in obedience to Him, love for others, compassion for others, kindness toward others, and the pursuit of social justice. \u201cHe has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God\u201d (Micah 6:8).
\nOne cannot help but recall that Jesus\u2019s condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees related to their lack of such virtues. \u201cWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you\u2026 have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness\u201d (Matthew 23:23; compare with James 1:27). My friend, don\u2019t be a faker. Show your commitment to God by how you relate to Him and by how you treat others (James 1:22-25).
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cHe has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Micah 6:8<\/p>\n
Prophecies of the coming divine Messiah give us great hope for the future.
\nDespite the present evil that existed in Israel and Judah, there was yet hope in view of the reality that the divine Messiah was coming. One day God will reinstitute the kingdom, and God\u2019s Ruler\u2014the divine Messiah, Jesus Christ\u2014will rule over the kingdom in perfect peace (Micah 5:2-15). Micah speaks of both a first coming of the Messiah (5:2-3) and a second coming (5:4-15).
\nMessianic prophecy is a central feature of the Old Testament. Numerous predictions\u2014fulfilled to the \u201ccrossing of the t\u201d and the \u201cdotting of the i\u201d in the New Testament\u2014relate to His birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and glory. Hundreds of years before Christ was even born, God prophesied through Micah that Christ the King would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). We elsewhere learn the Messiah was to be virgin-born (Isaiah 7:14), was to have a ministry of miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6), was to be pierced in His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16) for the sins of humankind (Isaiah 53:5), then resurrect from the dead (Psalm 16:10; 22:22) and ascend into heaven (Psalm 68:18). More than 100 messianic prophecies were fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. It is not too much to say that Jesus is the true hope not just for the Jewish people but for the whole world (John 3:16; Ephesians 3:8-10; Colossians 3:11). Praise Jesus!
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cBut you, O Bethlehem\u2026from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Micah 5:2
\nGod\u2019s Prophets
\nThe word \u201cprophet\u201d\u2014from the Hebrew word nabi\u2014refers to a spokesman for God. In some cases he declared God\u2019s message regarding a contemporary situation to humankind. In other cases he foretold God\u2019s actions based on divine revelation (2 Samuel 7:27; Jeremiah 23:18).
\nMany prophecies pointed to the divine Messiah (for example, Micah 5:2).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
It is always more blessed to give than to receive.
\nNahum<\/p>\n
No nation is invincible. No nation is invulnerable. Regardless of how powerful a nation may seem to be from a human perspective, unrepentant sin yields divine judgment.
\nTimeline
\n663\u2014Nahum\u2019s prophetic ministry begins.
\n650\u2014Nahum writes his short book.
\n612\u2014Assyria is utterly destroyed, as prophesied by Nahum.
\nThe book of Nahum was written by a prophet of the same name in about 650 BC. Aside from the fact that he was a prophet of God, and that he was a contemporary of Zephaniah, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk, we know little of his life. History is not even clear as to where he came from. What was important was the message he preached.
\nNahum\u2019s ministry took place toward the end of Josiah\u2019s reign. His book describes the fall and destruction of Nineveh\u2014the Assyrian capital\u2014in graphic language. About a hundred years previously, the Ninevites had repented under the preaching of Jonah. But now Nineveh had returned in full force to idolatry, paganism, and brutality (Nahum 3:1-4). Nineveh\u2014brimming with national pride\u2014believed itself invincible and failed to recognize that the only true ultimate power in the universe is the one true God.
\nNahum prophesied that even though the Assyrians might seem invincible, their days were numbered; judgment was rapidly approaching. Nineveh is pictured as a prostitute that had brought injury to others, and must now be punished as a prostitute. Just as Nahum prophesied, Assyria was utterly destroyed in 612 BC.
\n\u201cPride is a denial of dependence upon God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Anonymous<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Nahum:<\/p>\n
God\u2019s perfect character demands that He respond to sin.
\nNahum begins by describing God\u2019s character (Nahum 1:2-6). Understanding God\u2019s character helps us better understand why He necessarily had to bring judgment against Nineveh. While God is slow to anger and graceful to those who repent, He is also wrathful\u2014full of vengeance\u2014against those who turn their backs on Him (1:7-8). Because God is holy, He was compelled to respond in judgment against the manifold and ever-worsening sins of the Ninevites (1:9-14).
\nThe good news, Nahum noted, is that this judgment would bring a level of comfort to the people of Judah. After all, the constant threat of potential Assyrian invasion would soon be at a permanent end (Nahum 1:15).
\nDear Christian, I am personally thankful that Scripture reveals so many of God\u2019s awesome characteristics to us. We call these characteristics the attributes of God. Scripture tells us God is self-existent (Exodus 3:14), eternal (Psalm 90:2), unchanging in His nature (Malachi 3:6), infinite (Psalm 145:3), everywhere-present (Psalm 139:2-12), all-knowing (Psalm 139:4), all-powerful (Genesis 18:14), sovereign (Isaiah 46:10), all-wise (Romans 11:33), all-good (Psalm 34:8), full of love (1 John 4:8), full of grace (Titus 2:11), full of mercy (2 Corinthians 1:3), full of patience (Nahum 1:3), and holy (1 Peter 1:15). God is indeed an awesome God. Praise His name!
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cThe LORD is a jealous and avenging God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Nahum 1:2
\n\u201cThe knowledge of God is the great hope of sinners. Oh, if you knew Him better, you would fly to Him! If you understood how gracious He is, you would seek Him. If you could have any idea of His holiness, you would loathe your self-righteousness. If you knew anything of His power, you would not venture to contend with Him. If you knew anything of His grace, you would not hesitate to yield yourself to Him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)<\/p>\n
Our God is a \u201cjealous\u201d God\u2014He desires His people to be utterly faithful and obedient to Him, with not even a hint of infidelity.
\nOur text tells us God is a jealous God (Nahum 1:2). This is a common theme in Scripture. In Deuteronomy we are told \u201cthe LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God\u201d (4:24); \u201cI the LORD your God am a jealous God\u201d (5:9); \u201cthe LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God\u201d (6:15); \u201cthey stirred him to jealousy with strange gods\u201d (32:16); and \u201cthey have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their idols\u201d (32:21).
\nThese verses indicate God is a jealous God not in the sense of having a negative and destructive emotion (like humans often do), but in the sense that He desires His people to be utterly faithful and obedient to Him. It is the unfaithfulness of His people\u2014infidelity\u2014that yields a \u201cjealous\u201d reaction. As a jealous God, He will simply not allow another\u2014an idol, for example\u2014to have the honor that is due Him alone (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11). The covenant that God had with Israel demanded fidelity, just as a human covenant of marriage demands fidelity.
\n\u201cGod, as a jealous God, is filled with a burning desire for our holiness, for our righteousness, for our goodness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Donald Grey Barnhouse (1895\u20131960)<\/p>\n
Wicked people are often on the receiving end of \u201cthe boomerang effect\u201d\u2014they receive what they\u2019ve dished out to others.
\nGod destroyed Nineveh because the city was brimming with sin, cruelty, rebellion, dishonesty, and corruption (Nahum 3:1-7). Just as the powerful Assyrians had previously crushed other countries without mercy, so now\u2014at the hand of God\u2014Nineveh would be crushed without mercy. I call this the \u201cboomerang effect\u201d because Nineveh would now receive what they had so consistently dealt out to others through the years.
\nWe see numerous references to the boomerang effect in Scripture. For example, Proverbs 26:27 tells us, \u201cWhoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.\u201d Psalm 7:15-16 says, \u201cHe makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.\u201d Psalm 9:15 says, \u201cThe nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.\u201d Psalm 35:8 says, \u201cLet the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it\u2014to his destruction!\u201d
\nThe wicked should beware!
\n\u201cThose that will not hear the comfortable voice of God\u2019s Word shall be made to hear the dreadful voice of his rod.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Matthew Henry (1662\u20131714)<\/p>\n
The same God who judged evil in Bible times will also judge evil in our times.
\nSometimes people today seem to rationalize, \u201cOh, well, that horrible judgment happened in Bible times, but that would never happen today. I believe God is a God of love.\u201d
\nThe fallacy in this line of thinking is that God\u2019s character has not changed since Bible times. God is still \u201ca jealous and avenging God\u201d who \u201ctakes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies\u201d (Nahum 1:2). Times may change but God does not change. God will never wink at human sin. Unrepentant sin will always bring eventual judgment from Him.
\nGod Himself affirmed, \u201cI the LORD do not change\u201d (Malachi 3:6; see also Numbers 23:19). Indeed, \u201cHe is unchangeable\u201d (Job 23:13). The psalmist said, \u201cYou are the same, and your years have no end\u201d (Psalm 102:27). God is \u201cthe Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change\u201d (James 1:17). God is always holy and righteous, and He will always be against sin.
\nMy friend, I hate to say it, but such verses cause me concern for America. It seems like America is morally imploding, with ever-escalating moral and spiritual degeneration. Because of the high level of immorality in this country, it is entirely possible that God may bring judgment upon it (see Romans 1:18-32). Christian leaders have been warning about this possibility for decades\u2014and their warnings are typically met with deaf ears, much like prophets were often ignored during Old Testament times. Americans would do well to remember that God \u201cmakes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away\u201d (Job 12:23). Oh, that America would repent.
\nGod Is Sovereign over Nations
\n\u2022 \u201cHe makes the nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away\u201d (Job 12:23).
\n\u2022 \u201cFrom one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand which should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries\u201d (Acts 17:26 NLT).
\n\u2022 God \u201cremoves kings and establishes kings\u201d (Daniel 2:21).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Be thankful that your God is a jealous God. A god who didn\u2019t care if you cheated on him would not be a god worthy of worship.
\nHabakkuk<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t fret over the seeming inequities of life. God often uses difficult circumstances\u2014even painful circumstances\u2014as a means of disciplining His children. We can trust Him because He knows what He\u2019s doing.
\nTimeline
\n612\u2014Habakkuk\u2019s prophetic ministry begins.
\n606\u2014Habakkuk writes his short book.
\n605\u2014The first deportation from Judah to Babylon occurs.
\n597\u2014The second deportation from Judah to Babylon occurs.
\n588\u2014Habakkuk\u2019s ministry ends.
\n586\u2014Judah (the southern kingdom) falls; Jerusalem is destroyed.
\nThe book of Habakkuk was written by a prophet of the same name in about 606 BC. Aside from the fact that he was a prophet, and a contemporary of Jeremiah, little is known about the man. His Hebrew name, Habaqquq, apparently means \u201cone who embraces\u201d\u2014perhaps pointing to how he clings to God regardless of what happens to his nation.
\nHabakkuk was pained to witness what was going on in Judah. The nation had continuously been called to repentance, but the call had fallen on deaf ears. Judah was stubborn. Sin was predominant. Things were falling apart before Habakkuk\u2019s very eyes, going from bad to worse. He was heartbroken over his people.
\nPerplexed, Habakkuk came to the point where he had to ask God how long this heinous state of affairs could continue. He wondered how long God would be silent in the face of this escalating catastrophe. He wondered why the wicked seemed to prosper without hindrance. Life seemed full of inequities. He wondered if God was even listening. \u201cWhere are you God?\u201d
\nGod finally revealed to Habakkuk that though it appeared the wicked were prospering, judgment would come soon enough. And the judgment would be painful.
\nGod\u2019s Patience in the Face of Human Sin
\n\u2022 God\u2019s patience in the days of Noah\u20141 Peter 3:20
\n\u2022 Not willing that any should perish\u20142 Peter 3:9
\n\u2022 Gives time to repent\u2014Revelation 2:21
\n\u2022 Iniquity not yet complete\u2014Genesis 15:16
\n\u2022 Sentence delayed\u2014Ecclesiastes 8:11<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Habakkuk:<\/p>\n
God disciplines His children when they go astray and refuse to repent.
\nHabakkuk had two dialogues with the Lord. In the first (Habakkuk 1:1-11), the prophet pointed to the wickedness of Judah and inquired how long God would be silent about it. God answered that He would use the mighty Babylonians as His whipping rod to discipline the people of Judah. The discipline would be swift and painful. This chastising of Judah was intended to yield repentance. It was intended for Judah\u2019s ultimate good.
\nGod likewise disciplines us today when we go astray and fail to repent. When God disciplines His children, He does not act out of anger or revenge but out of immeasurable love and concern. God loves us far too much to allow us to remain in unrepentant sin. Because He cares for us, He chastens us\u2014and the chastening is often painful.
\nMy friend, are we not much the same way when it comes to our own children? If I saw my son engaging in a sinful lifestyle that was damaging to him, the most unloving thing I could do would be to leave him alone and allow him to continue on that path of destruction. The most loving thing I could do would be to confront him with his sin. If he resisted, then I would have no choice but to discipline him. All the while, my motive would be heartfelt love. I only want what is best for my son. I don\u2019t like to do it, but I do it nevertheless because I care for him.
\nGod likewise wants only what is best for us, and for that reason He disciplines us as His own children. His desire is to take away (sin, for example) so He can replace with something better (holiness). Like a gardener prunes a vine so it will be more fruitful, so the Father prunes His children to make them more fruitful (John 15:2). God works in the life of each believer in such a way as to \u201ccut out\u201d all that is bad so he or she will bear more spiritual fruit.
\nAt the risk of stating the obvious, here is a basic principle to keep in mind: if we wish to minimize divine discipline due to unrepentant sin on our part, the way to do it is to minimize unrepentant sin. We need to take the initiative to judge our own sin. After all, Scripture teaches that if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged (1 Corinthians 11:31). The people of Judah seemed oblivious to this truth.
\n\u201cThe alternative to discipline is disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Vance Havner (1901\u20131986)
\n\u201cI have never learned anything from God except by the rod.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)
\n\u201cRepentance, to be of any avail, must work a change of heart and conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Theodore L. Cuyler (1822\u20131909)<\/p>\n
God is perfectly wise. He knows just what form of discipline will work best in our lives.
\nHabakkuk inquired as to why a righteous and holy God would use an incredibly evil nation of people like the Babylonians to bring chastisement upon Judah (Habakkuk 2). God answered that He was fully aware of the transgressions of the Babylonians. However, Judah also stood guilty. Therefore, just as the Babylonians stood under condemnation, so did Judah stand under condemnation. God\u2019s intention was to first chastise Judah with the whipping rod of the Babylonians. Then God would deal with the evil of the Babylonians.
\nWe may wonder why God allows certain bad circumstances to emerge in our lives. The truth is, God may use financial problems, an illness, a relational problem, an accident, or a crisis to get our attention and cause us to repent (Hebrews 12:6-9; Psalm 94:12; 1 Corinthians 11:32). He is perfectly wise (Job 12:13; Proverbs 3:19; Romans 11:33; Romans 16:27; James 3:17). Trust Him.
\nGod
\n\u2022 is righteous altogether (Psalm 19:9);
\n\u2022 does no wrong (Deuteronomy 32:4); and
\n\u2022 judges in righteousness (Acts 17:31).<\/p>\n
Father knows best! Always trust that God\u2019s plan is the best plan for your life.
\nAn enlightened Habakkuk ends his book with a psalm of praise to God (Habakkuk 3:1-5). He celebrated the power of God (3:6-12) in recognition of the purpose of God (3:13-19). Habakkuk came to see that God\u2019s plan is always best. He gained confidence in God\u2019s sovereign purposes and expressed joy before the Lord. \u201cYet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation\u201d (3:18).
\nThe Righteous Live by Faith
\n\u201cThe righteous shall live by his faith\u201d (Habakkuk 2:4). This verse is quoted three times in the New Testament\u2014Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; and Hebrews 10:38.<\/p>\n
Never forget: God\u2019s ways are not our ways. His actions are beyond our finite understanding.
\nA key lesson Habakkuk learned was that God\u2019s ways are not our ways. His actions are often far beyond what we can possibly understand. Elsewhere in Scripture, God affirmed, \u201cFor as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts\u201d (Isaiah 55:9). Later the apostle Paul affirmed, \u201cOh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!\u201d (Romans 11:33). The psalmist affirmed to God, \u201cYour thoughts are very deep!\u201d (Psalm 92:5). He reflected, \u201cHow precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!\u201d (Psalm 139:17).
\nSuch words cause me to ponder. Can a creature possibly understand all the ways of the divine Creator? Can a finite being possibly understand all the ways of an infinite being? Can a temporal being possibly understand all the ways of an eternal being? I think not. How awesome is our God!
\nWhat all this means, practically speaking, is that even when we don\u2019t understand what God is doing in our lives\u2014even when we don\u2019t understand why He has allowed something painful to happen\u2014we must trust Him and never waver in our faith. As Solomon once put it, \u201cTrust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths\u201d (Proverbs 3:5-6).
\n\u201cOnly when God hath brought to light all the hidden things of darkness\u2026will it be seen that wise and good were all His ways, that He\u2026governed all things by the wise counsel of His own will.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Wesley (1703\u20131791)
\n\u201cGod is to be trusted when His providences seem to run contrary to His promises.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Thomas Watson (1620\u20131686)
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
When life seems unfair, trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. God will take care of you.
\nZephaniah<\/p>\n
Learn it well: unrepentant sin inevitably brings God\u2019s judgment.
\nTimeline
\n640\u2014Josiah becomes king of Judah; Zephaniah\u2019s prophetic ministry begins.
\n625\u2014Zephaniah writes his short book.
\n621\u2014Zephaniah\u2019s ministry ends.
\nThe book of Zephaniah was written by a prophet of the same name in about 625 BC. He was the great-great-grandson of the godly King Hezekiah. His ministry took place during the reign of King Josiah of Judah (640-609 BC), and his preaching may have been a factor in some of the reform that took place during Josiah\u2019s rule.
\nZephaniah\u2019s message repeated familiar prophetic themes. God would judge the people for not being faithful to the covenant He had established with them. Instead of living the way He had instructed them, the people picked up the habits of the pagan cultures around them. God would not permit this to continue, so judgment was imminent (Zephaniah 1:2-3; 2:2; 3:6-7). Zephaniah continually hammered home the idea that the day of the Lord was approaching (1:7,14-16; 3:8). He affirmed that the fire of God\u2019s judgment would have a purifying effect on the nation, melting away their sinful complacency. Yet he also spoke of the blessing that would eventually come in the person of the divine Messiah (3:14-20).
\nCross-References: God\u2019s Judgment
\nPsalm 94:15 \u2022 96:13 \u2022 Ecclesiastes 3:17 \u2022 11:9 \u2022 12:14 \u2022 Joel 3:2 \u2022 Matthew 25:31-46 \u2022 12:36 \u2022 Romans 2:1-3,5 \u2022 14:10,13 \u2022 Hebrews 9:27 \u2022 2 Peter 3:7 \u2022 Revelation 20:12<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Zephaniah:<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t misunderstand the nature of God. While He is a God of love, He is also a God of holiness who expresses wrath in the face of unrepentant sin.
\nPeople love to talk about the love of God today. They don\u2019t like to hear about His wrath. Scripture is clear, however, that while God is a God of love, He is also a holy, righteous, and just God who expresses wrath when circumstances call for it. One would have to be blind not to see the massive evidence for God\u2019s judgment in the Bible. The book of Zephaniah records rather severe judgments against the unrepentant: \u201cI will utterly sweep away everything\u2026\u201d (1:2); \u201cI will cut off\u2026\u201d (1:3); \u201cI will stretch out my hand against\u2026\u201d (1:4); \u201cI will punish\u2026\u201d (1:8); \u201cI will bring distress\u2026\u201d (1:17); \u201cWoe to you\u2026\u201d (2:5); \u201cI have laid waste\u2026\u201d (3:6). The Old Testament has numerous other examples. God judged the wicked people of Noah\u2019s day, sending a flood to destroy them (Genesis 6\u20138). He judged Sodom and Gomorrah, sending a volcanic catastrophe upon them (Genesis 18\u201319). In the New Testament we find that judgment falls on the Jews for rejecting Jesus Christ (Matthew 21:43), on Ananias and Sapphira for lying to God (Acts 5), on Herod for his self-exalting pride (Acts 12:21), and on Christians in Corinth who were afflicted with illness in response to their irreverence in connection with the Lord\u2019s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:29-32).
\nDear Christian, human beings put themselves in peril to ignore this aspect of God. We are simply not free to redefine God\u2019s nature (reducing Him to a mere \u201cGod of love\u201d) according to our own whims.
\nAttributes of God
\n\u2022 Self-existent\u2014Exodus 3:14
\n\u2022 Spirit\u2014John 4:24
\n\u2022 Eternal\u2014Psalm 90:2
\n\u2022 Does not change\u2014Malachi 3:6
\n\u2022 Infinite\u2014Psalm 145:3
\n\u2022 Everywhere-present\u2014Psalm 139:2-12
\n\u2022 All-knowing\u2014Psalm 147:4-5
\n\u2022 All-powerful\u2014Genesis 18:14
\n\u2022 Sovereign\u2014Isaiah 46:10
\n\u2022 Wise\u2014Romans 11:33
\n\u2022 Good\u2014Psalm 34:8
\n\u2022 Love\u20141 John 4:8
\n\u2022 Full of grace\u20141 Peter 5:10
\n\u2022 Merciful\u20142 Corinthians 1:3
\n\u2022 Patient\u2014Nahum 1:3
\n\u2022 Holy\u20141 Peter 1:15
\n\u2022 Righteous\u2014Psalm 19:9
\n\u2022 Just\u2014Job 34:12<\/p>\n
Continued unrepentant sin is like a judgment magnet. Repentance, by contrast, averts judgment.
\nWhile Zephaniah predicted God\u2019s impending judgment on the entire world because of sin (Zephaniah 1:2-3), he concentrated his attention on God\u2019s judgment against Judah (1:4-18). Judah\u2019s religious leaders were now promoting the worship of false pagan deities, and its government officials were engulfed in dishonesty and corruption. The judgment of the day of the Lord was therefore imminent.
\nZephaniah warned that there would be massive desolation, unrelenting distress, and terror at every side. Yet, he said, there was still time for repentance\u2014even if only a remnant repents. This would serve to insulate them from God\u2019s hand of judgment (Zephaniah 2:3).
\nI believe this relates to God\u2019s affirmation in Jeremiah 18:7-8. \u201cIf at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.\u201d So, Zephaniah warns, if Judah repents now\u2014if even only a remnant of Judah repents\u2014judgment can be averted at least for the remnant. Otherwise, judgment is imminent.
\nAgricultural Metaphors in Zephaniah
\nThose judged by God are like
\n\u2022 chaff that blows away in the wind (2:2);
\n\u2022 a tree uprooted (2:4);
\n\u2022 being overrun with weeds (2:9); and
\n\u2022 a desert (2:13).<\/p>\n
Count on it: God will one day bring justice to the earth.
\nThe term \u201cday of the Lord\u201d is used in several senses in Scripture. Old Testament prophets often used the term of an event to be fulfilled in the near future\u2014an imminent judgment. At other times they used the term of a time of judgment in the distant eschatological future\u2014that is, the future tribulation period. In both cases, the day of the Lord is characterized by God actively intervening supernaturally to bring judgment against sin in the world. The day of the Lord is a time when God actively controls and dominates history in a direct way, instead of working through secondary causes.
\nIt would seem that Zephaniah has both senses in mind in his prophecy. The imminent fulfillment relates to Babylon\u2019s invasion of Judah as a punishment against Judah (Zephaniah 1:4-18; 2:3). The future end-times fulfillment relates to God\u2019s judgment of the whole earth (1:18; 3:8-9,11,13-17).
\nAs dark a subject as this is, we can take comfort in a much-needed element of justice. After all, as we observe the world today, tremendous evil is being committed. Many of those committing evil feel immune from accountability. Many are committing great evil against Christians in the name of a false god. But a \u201cday of the Lord\u201d is approaching\u2014it will be a day of accountability, a day of judgment, and a day of devastation. Justice will be done.
\n\u201cThe Judge is before the door: He that cometh will come, and will not tarry: His reward is with Him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014George Whitefield (1714\u20131770)
\nThe Second Coming of Christ
\n\u2022 Glorious\u2014Revelation 19:11-21
\n\u2022 Visible\u2014Acts 1:9-11
\n\u2022 Every eye will see\u2014Revelation 1:7
\n\u2022 Eagerly awaited\u2014Philippians 3:20
\n\u2022 No one knows the hour\u2014Matthew 24:46-50
\n\u2022 Drawing near\u2014James 5:7-8<\/p>\n
Even when things on earth seem at their darkest, the prophetic future can give us hope.
\nGod\u2019s wrathful hand will ultimately bring about a cleansing of the nations (Zephaniah 3:8-10)\u2014apparently a reference to the future seven-year tribulation period that precedes the second coming of Christ (Revelation 4\u201318). Israel\u2019s restoration will follow, with its inhabitants calling upon the name of the Lord (Zephaniah 3:11-13).
\nThe righteous remnant of Israel will be re-gathered. This relates to the land covenant recorded in Deuteronomy 29:1\u201330:20, which is unconditional. It was promised that, even though Israel would be dispersed worldwide, the Jews would be re-gathered and restored to the land (Isaiah 43:5-7; Jeremiah 16:14-18). This will take place in Christ\u2019s 1000-year millennial kingdom, which follows the second coming (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:18-21; 2 Samuel 7:12-13; 22:51). This will bring joy and jubilation to Israel (Zephaniah 3:14-20).
\nOne thing we can learn from all this is that the prophetic revelations in the Bible regarding our glorious future can encourage us when life gets difficult. Biblical prophecy reminds us that this fallen world is not all there is. There\u2019s a new world coming (Revelation 21:1-4).
\n\u201cI\u2019ve read the last page of the Bible. It\u2019s all going to turn out all right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Billy Graham
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Heaven is your ultimate home. Live your life now in view of the glory you will experience then.
\nHaggai<\/p>\n
We must never give up in the face of trials, plummeting into apathy. Instead we must renew our commitment to the Lord.
\nTimeline
\n538\u2014Haggai\u2019s people first returned from exile.
\n522\u2013486\u2014Haggai ministers during these years of King Darius\u2019s reign.
\n520\u2014Haggai writes his little book.
\n520\u2014Work begins on rebuilding the temple.
\n515\u2014The temple is complete.
\nHaggai was written by a prophet of the same name around 520 BC. Aside from the fact that he was a prophet, we know little of the man. His name literally means \u201cfestival,\u201d perhaps because he was born on the day of a major festival. His book is the second shortest in the Old Testament, so he was definitely a concise writer. He ministered during the reign of King Darius I (522-486 BC), and was probably about 80 years old when he wrote this book.
\nIn 520 BC Haggai addressed his words to the people in Judah and Jerusalem who had returned from exile. He urged them to get their act together, to set their priorities straight, and to rebuild the temple (Haggai 1:1-11). Only then, he said, would God bring true blessing back upon them.
\nThe problem was that when the people first returned from exile in 538 BC as a result of King Cyrus\u2019s decree, they made a good start in beginning to rebuild the temple, but now apathy had set in and the whole project had stagnated (Ezra 4:4-5). The people were too busy building their own homes to pay much attention to the temple. Haggai was one of the prophets chosen by God to get the people on their feet again and finish the task. Toward this end, Haggai preached a series of short sermonettes.
\nCross-References: Indifference
\nNumbers 32:6 \u2022 Joshua 18:3 \u2022 Judges 5:17,23 \u2022 2 Chronicles 24:5 \u2022 Nehemiah 3:5 \u2022 Jeremiah 48:10 \u2022 Ezekiel 33:31 \u2022 Haggai 1:2 \u2022 Luke 10:2<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Haggai:<\/p>\n
Everybody gets discouraged. Avail yourself of every opportunity to be a people-encourager.
\nThe returned exiles needed encouragement because they had a defeated state of mind. While they were excited to be home again, they were also despondent over the ruination of their city. They were especially despondent over the fact that it was their own unfaithfulness that had brought about the ruination of the city. Haggai sought to help them overcome this defeated state of mind and move on to obedience and service to God.
\nThe rebuilding of the temple was important not only because it was the religious center of Jewish life, but also because it represented the presence of the one true God among the Israelites before a watching pagan world. For the temple not to be rebuilt might give the impression to pagan nations that the true God was no longer interested in Israel, and no longer paying attention to the covenants He had made with His people. The temple was finally rebuilt by 515 BC.
\n\u201cOne of the highest human duties is the duty of encouragement\u2026 It is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014William Barclay (1907\u20131978)<\/p>\n
While Scripture is communicated through men, it has divine authority because it ultimately comes from God.
\nOn the one hand, we note that Haggai\u2019s little book came by his own hand (Haggai 1:1,3; 2:1,10). On the other hand, the Lord is the actual source of the words\u2014\u201cThus says the LORD of hosts\u201d (1:2; see also 1:5,7,9,13; 2:4,8,9,11,14,17,23). Haggai was simply a \u201cmessenger of the LORD\u201d who \u201cspoke to the people with the LORD\u2019s message\u201d (1:13). This means the Word of God is authoritative. Obey it!<\/p>\n
We pay a price when we procrastinate on spiritual matters.
\nHaggai reprimanded the people for procrastinating in building the temple (Haggai 1:2-6). They had built their own houses, but were indifferent about God\u2019s house. They were exhorted to begin rebuilding immediately (1:7-8). Haggai said the reason God had not blessed them was because they had forgotten Him (1:9-11). God rewards those who put Him first and seek to do His will. The people promptly resumed building the temple (1:12-15).
\n\u201cFear God and work hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014David Livingstone (1813\u20131873)
\nVerses to Remember
\n\u201cWork, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts\u2026 My Spirit remains in your midst.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Haggai 2:4-5<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t stagnate on past glories. Live with a view to building a great future.
\nWhen the older generation of Israelites\u2014well familiar with the former glorious temple built by Solomon\u2014saw this smaller, humbler temple, they were perplexed. It seemed unworthy. Haggai responded with a promise from the Lord that this temple\u2019s glory would be greater than the former (Haggai 2:4-5,9).
\nBe Fervent
\n\u201cDo not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Romans 12:11<\/p>\n
Future blessing from God hinges on present commitment to God.
\nHaggai reminded the people how contagious evil is (Haggai 2:10-13), and that the people had indeed become contaminated by it (2:14-17). However, restoring God to first place in their lives would bring blessing from then on (2:18-10). Future blessing hinges on present commitment.<\/p>\n
Externally going through the motions is not enough. There must also be heart-change.
\nIt was not enough for the people to engage in the physical effort to finish rebuilding the temple (Haggai 1:7-8; 2:4-5). There must first be heart-change, for it was heart-change that would energize external efforts. The people needed to move from a defeated state of mind to a state of obedience and service to God.
\nSeek First God\u2019s Kingdom
\n\u201cSeek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Jesus, Matthew 6:33<\/p>\n
Fear of the Lord provides strong motivation to obey Him.
\nThe people \u201cobeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD\u201d (Haggai 1:12). Fear of the Lord and obedience to Him are often found side by side in Scripture. Deuteronomy 10:12 says, \u201cAnd now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul\u201d (see also Ecclesiastes 12:13; Proverbs 3:7; Acts 10:35). Obedience to God is a natural outgrowth of having a reverent attitude toward Him.<\/p>\n
Bible prophecy can put wind in your spiritual sails.
\nTo instill a hope in the people, Haggai informed them that one day in the future, the heavens will be shaken (Haggai 2:20-21), evil people will be overthrown (2:22), and the Messiah will be exalted (2:23). Zerubbabel, a leader among the people, was portrayed as a symbol of the Messiah who is coming. This future hope motivated righteousness among Haggai\u2019s contemporaries. The same is true of God\u2019s people today. Titus 2:12-13 exhorts believers to \u201crenounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.\u201d The prophetic future gives hope to those living in the present.
\n\u201cLive with the realities of the present, anticipate the future with hope, and let go of past disappointments.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Swindoll<\/p>\n
It is good to review your priorities from time to time.
\nHaggai reminded the people that while they busied themselves with their own houses, the house of God\u2014the temple\u2014was lying in ruins. The people cared more about themselves than they cared for God. This showed that their priorities were out of balance. Haggai put the people back on track, keeping God and His temple the top priority (Haggai 1:9-11). Haggai exhorts, \u201cConsider your ways\u201d (1:5,7). Lesson learned! Let us consider our ways.
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Make every effort to keep your priorities straight on a daily basis.
\nZechariah<\/p>\n
A lack of hope leads to despair. With hope, however, hearts can be revived and restoration to the Lord can take place.
\nTimeline
\n538\u2014The people begin returning to their homeland from exile.
\n536\u2014Construction of the temple begins.
\n530\u2014Work on the temple halts.
\n520\u2014Zechariah begins his prophetic ministry.
\n520\u2014Work on the temple resumes.
\n520\u2013518\u2014The book of Zechariah is written.
\n515\u2014The temple is completed.
\nThe book of Zechariah was written by the prophet and priest Zechariah between 520 and 518 BC. His name means \u201cthe Lord remembers,\u201d and is appropriate because a theme that runs through his message is that God will bring blessing to the people because He remembers the covenant He made with Abraham.
\nZechariah was born in Babylon in exile. He and his father, Iddo, were among the first exiles to return to Jerusalem following the exile. Like his contemporary Haggai, Zechariah was a prophet chosen by God to motivate the Jews to finish the task of rebuilding the temple following the exile.
\nThe problem was that when the people first returned from exile in 538 BC, they made a good start in rebuilding the temple, but now apathy had set in and the whole project had stagnated (Ezra 4:4-5). The people were too busy building their own homes to pay much attention to the temple. Zechariah was one of the prophets chosen by God to get the people on their feet again and finish the task.
\nThe people needed encouragement because they had a defeated state of mind. While they were excited to be home again, they were also despondent over the ruination of their city. They were especially despondent over the fact that it was their own unfaithfulness that had brought this ruination. Zechariah, along with Haggai, sought to motivate the people to finish the temple so worship could begin again.
\nInstead of seeking to motivate the people by rebuking them, Zechariah\u2019s approach was to demonstrate the importance of the temple (Zechariah 1\u20138). Rebuilding the temple was important not only because it was the religious center of Jewish life, but also because it represented the presence of the one true God among the Israelites before a watching pagan world. For the temple not to be rebuilt might give the impression to pagan nations that the true God was no longer interested in Israel, and no longer paying attention to the covenants He had made with His people.
\nA number of notable messianic prophecies are in the book of Zechariah. For example, Zechariah prophesied that Christ would be betrayed for a mere 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13), that He would be pierced on a cross (12:10), and that He would come again in glory (14:4). As such, Zechariah is an important book for Christological studies in the Old Testament.
\n\u201cDisappointments are inevitable; discouragement is a choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Stanley
\nCross-References: Key Messianic Prophecies
\nGenesis 12:2 \u2022 2 Samuel 7:12-16 \u2022 Isaiah 7:14 \u2022 Micah 5:2 \u2022 Psalm 22:1 \u2022 16:10 \u2022 110:1 \u2022 Zechariah 11:12 \u2022 Isaiah 53:5<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Zechariah:<\/p>\n
God has a sovereign plan for His people. We must come to view the unfolding of history as involving providential actions of God on behalf of His people.
\nIn the first part of his book, Zechariah spoke to his people through a series of eight visions\u2014some communicating comfort, others speaking of judgment: (1) God will one day restore and bless His people (Zechariah 1:1-17); (2) The nations that have aligned against Israel will be judged (1:18-21); (3) God will protect Jerusalem (2:1-13); (4) Israel will be restored and redeemed by the coming Messiah (3:1-10); (5) The renewed light of Israel will be rooted in the work of the Holy Spirit (4:1-14); (6) individual sin will be judged (5:1-4); (7) National sin will be removed (5:5-11); and (8) God\u2019s judgment will fall upon the nations (6:1-8).
\nA common emphasis in Scripture is that God is sovereign over the affairs of humanity. So God\u2019s sovereign providential actions among His people in Old Testament times should not surprise us. But God is also sovereign over the affairs of earth in our time too. God asserts, \u201cMy counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose\u201d (Isaiah 46:10). God assures us, \u201cAs I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand\u201d (Isaiah 14:24). Proverbs 16:9 tells us, \u201cThe heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.\u201d Proverbs 19:21 says, \u201cMany are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.\u201d Proverbs 21:1 asserts, \u201cThe king\u2019s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.\u201d God is the one \u201cwho works all things according to the counsel of his will\u201d (Ephesians 1:11). In short, God providentially controls every particular of the universe. How awesome is our God!<\/p>\n
God invites those who are estranged to return to Him.
\nGod affirms, \u201cReturn to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you\u201d (Zechariah 1:3). This word from God is as inviting to us today as it was when God spoke it to Zechariah\u2019s people. The verse brings to mind James 4:8: \u201cDraw near to God, and he will draw near to you.\u201d My friend, do you feel distant from God? Do you feel that perhaps you\u2019ve somehow wandered from His side? He invites you to act: Return to Me. Draw near to Me. All will be well.
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cReturn to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Zechariah 1:3<\/p>\n
It is good for us to care about Israel\u2014just as God does.
\nZechariah warned of those who would turn on Israel, \u201cHe who touches you touches the apple of his eye\u201d (Zechariah 2:8). This brings to mind God\u2019s words in the Abrahamic covenant: \u201cI will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse\u201d (Genesis 12:3). This is one reason I hope America stays committed to Israel!<\/p>\n
God does not like empty ritualism. He wants people to authentically relate to Him and live as He wills them to live.
\nGod does not like it when people merely go through the motions with Him, not really pouring their heart into a relationship with Him (Zechariah 7:4-7). Rather, God desires authentic believers who show their commitment to Him not only in how they relate to Him, but in how they relate to others. \u201cThus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart\u201d (7:9-10).
\nThis reminds us of James 1:22: \u201cBe doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.\u201d James goes on to say, \u201cReligion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world\u201d (1:27). James was strongly rooted in Old Testament Scripture.
\nAs for you and me\u2014let\u2019s make sure we are consistent doers of the word!
\n\u201cHe has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Micah 6:8<\/p>\n
God\u2019s strength more than makes up for human weakness.
\nGod\u2019s people were disheartened because their city was a mess and their temple was not yet rebuilt. It all seemed overwhelming to them. They couldn\u2019t cope with what faced them in their own strength. But God\u2019s word came to them: \u201cNot by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts\u201d (Zechariah 4:6). God in His unfathomable power helps us! The apostle Paul recognized this, for the Lord said to him, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness\u201d (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul could thus boldly say, \u201cI can do all things through him who strengthens me\u201d (Philippians 4:13). So, dear Christian, don\u2019t get discouraged. Be empowered by the Lord this minute.
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cNot by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Zechariah 4:6<\/p>\n
Unplug your ears and listen to God\u2019s warnings\u2014or else!
\nJeremiah\u2019s people ignored what God had to say through the prophets. \u201cThey refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts\u201d (Zechariah 7:11-12).
\nWhen will we learn that our God is a God who judges sin\u2014including sin among His own people? When David sinned with Bathsheba, God disciplined him severely (Psalm 32; 51). When the Corinthians partook of the Lord\u2019s Supper in an unworthy manner, many of them got sick and some died (1 Corinthians 11:30-31). When Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit by withholding some of the monetary proceeds from a land sale, they lost their lives (Acts 5:1-11). My advice: Make turning from sin an ongoing lifestyle.
\n\u201cLabor to grow better under all your afflictions, lest your afflictions grow worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Owen (1616\u20131683)<\/p>\n
Judgment was painful for Israel. But God promised them a re-gathering, restoration, and blessing. You and I will get to see it happen in the prophetic future!
\nGod will yet re-gather, restore, and bless Israel (Zechariah 8:1-7). The complete fulfillment of these verses awaits the establishment of Christ\u2019s millennial kingdom following His second coming. Finally the Jewish people will be on the receiving end of all the land promises made to them in the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 15:12-21; 17:1-14) and the throne promises made in the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:13; 23:5). God promises them, \u201cThey shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness\u201d (Zechariah 8:8). How awesome it will be.<\/p>\n
Glorious good news: Jesus was crucified for your sins so you could be saved.
\nZechariah 12:10 tells us Jesus was \u201cpierced\u201d\u2014a word that connotes piercing to death. Other Bible passages tell us the purpose of that piercing. The New Testament tells us Jesus was crucified on the cross (Matthew 20:19; 21:39; 23:34; 26:2; 27:22,26,35), thereby taking our sins upon Himself so we could be saved.
\nPaul affirms in 2 Corinthians 5:21, \u201cFor our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.\u201d There has been a great exchange. Jesus took upon Himself what was ours (our sin) so that He could give us what was His (eternal life). What a Savior we have in Jesus!<\/p>\n
We have a wonderful, divine Shepherd who seeks to watch after us as His sheep.
\nZechariah 11:1-17 portrays God as bringing judgment upon the wicked shepherds of the people. We are told, \u201cTheir own shepherds have no pity on them\u201d (11:5). God then said, \u201cI became the shepherd of the flock doomed to be slaughtered by the sheep traders\u201d (11:7).
\nThe shepherd motif is rich in meaning in Old Testament Scripture (see, especially, Psalm 23). Broadly speaking, Scripture indicates that the shepherd is simultaneously a leader and a companion to his sheep. The shepherd is typically a strong man capable of defending his flock against wild beasts (1 Samuel 17:34-36; Matthew 10:16; Acts 20:29). He is also gentle with his flock, knowing their condition (Proverbs 27:23), bearing them in his arms (Isaiah 40:11), adapting himself to their needs (Genesis 33:13-14), cherishing each and every one of them \u201clike a daughter to him\u201d (2 Samuel 12:3). The shepherd was known for seeking out his lost sheep (Ezekiel 34:12) and for rescuing those that were attacked (Amos 3:12). David exulted, \u201cThe LORD is my shepherd\u201d (Psalm 23:1).
\nIn view of all this, the shepherd motif became an appropriate way of describing the relationship Jesus Christ has with His people. Indeed, in the New Testament, Jesus is called the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-10), the Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20), and the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). In contrast to the wicked shepherds of Jeremiah\u2019s day, Jesus truly takes care of His sheep.
\n\u201cThe Twenty-third Psalm is the nightingale of the psalms. It is small, of a homely feather, singing shyly out of obscurity; but it has filled the air of the whole world with melodious joy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Henry Ward Beecher (1813\u20131887)<\/p>\n
The Lord Jesus\u2014the divine Messiah\u2014will rescue the Jewish people following their conversion late in the future tribulation period.
\nZechariah closes His book with two oracles related to the future Messiah: (1) The Messiah would be rejected in His first coming, being betrayed for a mere 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:13). (2) Just before the second coming, the Jews will be under attack, and they will cry out to the Messiah for deliverance (12). Israel will then be redeemed (13), and the King (Jesus the Messiah) will come to Jerusalem (the Mount of Olives), after which He will judge the nations and reign over the earth (14).
\nAs we compare these verses with other prophetic Bible verses, the scenario appears to be dramatic. It would appear that Armageddon\u2014at the end of the tribulation period\u2014will be the historical context in which Israel will finally become converted (Zechariah 12:2\u201313:1). The restoration of Israel will include the confession of Israel\u2019s national sin (Leviticus 26:40-42; Jeremiah 3:11-18; Hosea 5:15), following which Israel will be saved, thereby fulfilling Paul\u2019s prophecy in Romans 11:25-27. In dire threat at Armageddon, with the forces of the antichrist moving against them, Israel will plead for their newly found Messiah to return and deliver them (they will \u201cmourn for him, as one mourns for an only son\u201d\u2014Zechariah 12:10 [NLT]; Matthew 23:37-39; see also Isaiah 53:1-9), at which point their deliverance will surely come (Romans 10:13). Israel\u2019s leaders will have finally realized the reason the tribulation has fallen on them\u2014perhaps due to the Holy Spirit\u2019s enlightenment of their understanding of Scripture, or the testimony of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists, or perhaps the testimony of the two prophetic witnesses.
\nIs it not awesome to ponder how God can tell us what lies in the future? As God Himself put it in Isaiah 46:9-10, \u201cI am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, \u2018My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.\u2019 \u201d Glorious!
\nThe Tribulation Period
\n\u2022 There will be a definite period of tribulation at the end of the age\u2014Matthew 24:29-35
\n\u2022 It will be the worst tribulation in history\u2014Matthew 24:21
\n\u2022 Messiah-rejecting Israel will be judged\u2014Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 12:1-4
\n\u2022 Sinful nations will be judged\u2014Isaiah 26:21
\n\u2022 It will be seven years long\u2014Daniel 9:24,27
\n\u2022 People will prefer death\u2014Revelation 6:16
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Never forget: God\u2019s strength is made perfect in human weakness. God calls you to live not by your might but by His Spirit.
\nMalachi<\/p>\n
Spiritual apathy and malaise should not even be named among God\u2019s people. We should instead renew commitment to God and be blessed.
\nTimeline
\n536\u2014Rebuilding of the temple begins.
\n530\u2014Work on the temple halts.
\n520\u2014Rebuilding of the temple resumes.
\n515\u2014Rebuilding of the temple is completed.
\nSometime after 515\u2014Malachi\u2019s people fall into spiritual apathy and malaise.
\n433\u2013400\u2014Malachi writes his short book.
\nThe book of Malachi was written by a prophet of the same name between 433 and 400 BC. The word Malachi means \u201cmy messenger\u201d or \u201cthe Lord\u2019s messenger\u201d\u2014a good name for a prophet of God. His is the last book in the Old Testament.
\nMalachi\u2019s ministry took place following the rebuilding of the temple (515 BC). The people had returned to their homeland from exile, but this had not translated into a desire to walk closely with God. They practiced empty rituals without attaching any real meaning to them.
\nMalachi begins his book by assuring his people of God\u2019s constant and unchanging care and compassion for them (Malachi 1:1-5). This was necessary because the people were disillusioned. They were complacent and had lost national pride. Poverty was widespread; there was drought, famine, and ruined crops; and the people had been brutalized by foreign powers. Past promises of restoration had not yet come to pass, and so the people were discouraged. They were even wondering whether the prophets of the past had gotten things right. They were wondering if God cared for them anymore. Spiritual lethargy was at an all-time high. God thus assured them through Malachi that, indeed, He cared about them immensely.
\nTo compound the problem, however, the people in their discouragement were not living as they should before a holy God. They were living in deep sin. There was social corruption, temple worship was a sham, and priests were ignoring their duties (Malachi 1:6\u20132:16). Malachi therefore uttered not only words of God\u2019s love, but words of stern warning. He spoke forceful and indicting words designed to move the people to faithfulness to God. If they continued to live like they were, more judgment was surely on the horizon. Repentance is the only remedy that can avert judgment.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Malachi:<\/p>\n
Never doubt God\u2019s love\u2014even when your life seems to be going haywire.
\nThe Israelites were so encumbered by difficulties that they were blind to God\u2019s love for them. God therefore reminded the people of His special, covenant love for them. \u201c \u2018I have loved you,\u2019 says the LORD\u201d (Malachi 1:2, see also verses 3-5). God\u2019s love never ends.
\nGod\u2019s love for Israel is a common theme in the Old Testament. Recall God\u2019s tender words in Hosea 11:1: \u201cWhen Israel was a child, I loved him.\u201d In Isaiah 43:4 God said to Israel, \u201cYou are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you.\u201d God is the one \u201cshowing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments\u201d (Deuteronomy 5:10). In fact, it is because of God\u2019s great love for His people that their apathy and malaise were so grievous to Him.
\nIn New Testament times, God\u2019s love for all people came into view, as is evident in John 3:16: \u201cFor God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.\u201d Romans 5:8 affirms, \u201cGod shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.\u201d
\nSo rejoice that you are the special object of God\u2019s love. Even when your life seems tough, when things are going wrong, when it seems that no one else even likes you, remember that God loves you and His love will never wane. Say it right now: \u201cGod loves me.\u201d
\nGod\u2019s Unfathomable Love
\nEndures forever\u20141 Chronicles 16:34
\nEarth is full of\u2014Psalm 33:5
\nAbounding\u2014Psalm 86:5
\nIs unfailing\u2014Isaiah 54:10
\nEverlasting\u2014Jeremiah 31:3
\nGod so loved the world\u2014John 3:16
\nNothing can separate us\u2014Romans 8:38-39
\nKeep yourself in God\u2019s love\u2014Jude 21<\/p>\n
God withholds blessing from those living in unrepentant sin.
\nDespite God\u2019s love, the people remained unfaithful to God, engaging in constant sin. The priests showed no respect for God, using diseased animals for sacrifices. The people were indifferent toward God\u2019s covenant (Malachi 1:6\u20132:9). The men of the nation were being faithless and divorcing their wives so they could marry foreign women (2:10-16). Adding insult to injury, the people robbed God by ceasing to bring tithes to Him.
\nMalachi thus indicated that if the people would only repent, God was ready to pour out showers of blessing upon them (Malachi 3:7-12). In their arrogance, however, the people remained in sin, thereby robbing themselves of His blessing (3:13-15).
\nOne cannot help but notice that the people had apparently not learned any spiritual lessons from their recent exile. They continued to ignore God\u2019s prophets. They continued to callously disobey God\u2019s law. God\u2019s blessing was therefore withheld.
\nMy friend, I fear that much of the modern church has become insensitive to the things of God and has become complacent, engaging in moral behavior not unlike that of unsaved people. Is it any surprise, then, that so many people today wonder where God\u2019s blessing is? Don\u2019t miss this fact: there is a cause-and-effect relationship in Scripture between turning from sin and experiencing God\u2019s blessing in life. One leads to the other. No repentance. No blessing. My advice: Repent and be blessed!
\nBlessing and Obedience
\nListen carefully\u2014Exodus 15:26
\nObey me\u2014Exodus 19:5
\nKeep my laws\u2014Leviticus 26:3
\nObey commands\u2014Deuteronomy 4:40
\nCareful to obey\u2014Deuteronomy 12:28
\nBlessing if you obey\u2014Deuteronomy 15:5-6
\nOnly then will you succeed\u2014Joshua 1:8<\/p>\n
How you live matters. A judgment is coming.
\nMalachi prophesied that in a future day of judgment, God would remember the righteous remnant, sparing them just as a father spares his son (Malachi 3:16-18). At the coming of the Messiah, the wicked would be condemned (4:1). This judgment of the wicked will bring consolation to the righteous (4:2).
\nYou and I as Christians will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:8-10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 9:24-27). At that time each believer\u2019s life will be examined in regard to deeds done while in the body. Personal motives and intents will also be weighed. This judgment doesn\u2019t have anything to do with whether you and I as Christians will remain saved. Rather, it relates to the reception or loss of rewards, based on how we lived our lives after we became Christians. Faithful living yields rewards. Unfaithful living leads to a loss of rewards. My advice: Take the long look! Live your life in view of this future judgment.
\nSignificant Judgments
\n\u2022 Judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31-46)
\n\u2022 Judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10)
\n\u2022 Great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)<\/p>\n
Get your act together, for the divine Messiah is coming soon.
\nMalachi closes his short book with a command for the people to remain obedient to God\u2019s law. Connecting the Old Testament to the New Testament, he included a prediction of a forerunner who would prepare the way for the coming Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6). This would be fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist preparing the way for the coming of Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:1; 11:14).
\nAt the first coming Jesus came as the Lamb of God (John 1:29), but at the second coming He will come as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:11-21). At the first coming He came in humility, but at the second coming He will come in glory. At the first coming He rode meekly on a donkey, but at the second coming He will ride in exaltation on a white horse. Just as people in Old Testament times looked forward to Christ\u2019s first coming, so we today look forward to His second coming. Live your life accordingly!
\nSignificant Messianic Prophecies
\n\u2022 Conceived of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)
\n\u2022 Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
\n\u2022 Suffered for our sins (Isaiah 53)
\n\u2022 Pierced in His side (Zechariah 12:10)
\n\u2022 Dying about AD 33 (Daniel 9:24-25)
\n\u2022 Resurrected (Psalm 2; 16)
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Live your life as though the Lord might come today.<\/p>\n
Acts<\/p>\n
Christians are empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel worldwide. People of all nationalities are privileged to become a part of the church.
\nTimeline
\n47\u201349\u2014Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark go on their first missionary journey.
\n49\u201352\u2014Paul and Silas go on their second missionary journey.
\n53\u201357\u2014Paul goes on his third missionary journey.
\n60\u2014Luke writes his Gospel.
\n61\u2014Luke writes Acts.
\nActs was written by Luke in AD 61, about a year after he wrote his Gospel. While the book is titled after the acts of the apostles, it actually focuses more predominantly on the acts of the Holy Spirit through the apostles.
\nThere is a close connection between the Gospel of Luke and Acts. Luke\u2019s Gospel contains an orderly account of the accomplishments of Jesus during His earthly life. Acts contains an orderly account of the accomplishments of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, in the 30 years following His resurrection and ascension. As such, Acts serves as a link between the four Gospels and the epistles.
\nHere are three noteworthy facts about Acts:
\n1. Acts chronicles how Christianity miraculously spread among both Jews and Gentiles around the northern Mediterranean, including Samaria (Acts 8:5-25); Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch (9:32\u201312:25); Phrygia and Galatia (13:1\u201315:35); Macedonia (15:36\u201321:16); and Rome (21:17\u201322:29).
\n2. Acts is a book of transitions\u2014from Judaism to Christianity, from law to grace, and from Jews alone as the people of God to Jews and Gentiles as the people of God.
\n3. The events in the book of Acts are thoroughly attested by eyewitnesses (Acts 1:8,22; 2:32,40; 3:15; 5:32; 6:13; 7:44,58; 10:39,41,43; 13:31; 14:3,17; 15:8; 22:5,15,20; 26:16).
\nThe Apostles
\n\u2022 The apostles were hand-picked by the Lord (Matthew 10:1-4; Acts 1:26).
\n\u2022 They were the special recipients of God\u2019s self-revelation (1 Corinthians 2:13).
\n\u2022 They were authenticated by miracles (Acts 2:43; 3:3-11; 5:12; 9:32-42).<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Acts:<\/p>\n
The evidence that Jesus resurrected from the dead is weighty and extensive. Rejoice! This gives us confidence that we, too, shall be resurrected.
\nActs picks up where the Gospels left off. Just as the Gospel accounts portray Jesus as appearing to His followers to prove His resurrection from the dead, so the book of Acts portrays Jesus as continuing to appear to His followers for 40 days (Acts 1:3). After providing proof of His resurrection over this extended time, Jesus ascended into heaven (1:6-11) and is now exalted at the right hand of God (2:33). Peter\u2019s sermon at Pentecost focused heavily on Jesus\u2019s resurrection (2:24-32).
\nThe good news is that because Jesus resurrected, we have assurance that we\u2019ll also be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15; 1 John 3:2). One day we\u2019ll all get body upgrades.
\n\u201cTaking all the evidence together, it is not too much to say that there is no historic incident better or more variously supported than the resurrection of Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Canon Brooke Westcott (1825\u20131901)<\/p>\n
The Holy Spirit is an ever-present source of spiritual power and blessing for the believer.
\nThe risen Lord instructed His followers to stay in Jerusalem so the promise concerning the Holy Spirit would be fulfilled (Acts 1:5,8; 2:1-13). It occurred a week and a half later, and the disciples became supernaturally empowered by the Holy Spirit. This empowerment filled them with new courage, and they boldly proclaimed the message of the resurrected Lord.
\nScripture reveals that the Holy Spirit is involved in many wonderful ministries. He is the agent of regeneration and brings about the new birth (John 3:1-5; Titus 3:5). He gives Christians spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12; 14). He empowers us for service (Ephesians 4:12). He is our divine comforter or helper (John 14; 15:26; 16:7). He bears witness to and glorifies Jesus Christ (John 15:26). He guides the church (John 14:25-26). He convicts people of sin (John 16:7-14). And He produces wonderful spiritual fruit in believers (Galatians 5:16-26). The Holy Spirit\u2019s ministry is pivotal to the spiritual life of all believers.
\nFilled with the Spirit
\nEphesians 5:18 says we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This means we are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. In the Greek, it\u2019s a present tense, indicating we are to be perpetually filled.<\/p>\n
Some people reject Jesus even in the face of convincing evidence that He is the divine Savior. But don\u2019t let that ever dissuade you from sharing the gospel.
\nA lame man was instantly healed at Peter\u2019s command (Acts 3:1-10). This added further credence to the truth that the divine Messiah, Jesus Christ, was now risen and exercised His omnipotence in mighty miracles through the apostles.
\nPeter then delivered a sermon to some of the inhabitants of Israel\u2014Jews who had just witnessed the miracle (Acts 3:11-26). Peter called on them to repent of their rejection of Jesus. Had they repented, times of restoration and renewal would have fallen upon them. But Peter\u2019s words fell on deaf ears. They rejected Jesus despite the evidence. As we will see, however, Peter continued speaking the truth about Jesus throughout the rest of the book of Acts.
\n\u201cI look upon all the world as my parish.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Wesley (1703\u20131791)<\/p>\n
Trust in Jesus and nothing else for your salvation.
\nPeter asserted in no uncertain terms that there are not many paths to salvation. Speaking of Jesus, he said, \u201cThere is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved\u201d (Acts 4:12). Salvation in Jesus alone is preached throughout the rest of the book of Acts (for example, 5:42; 8:12,35; 16:31). You might want to meditate on John 14:6 and 1 Timothy 2:5. Jesus alone saves!
\n\u201cHeaven is large, but the way to heaven must be narrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Henry Smith (1560\u20131591)<\/p>\n
We must always obey God, even if it conflicts with the commands of human authorities.
\nThe Jewish Sanhedrin interrogated Peter and John regarding a man\u2019s healing. Peter and John affirmed the resurrected Christ healed the man, but this aggravated the Sadducees because they denied the doctrine of the resurrection. There was great concern that this man\u2019s healing would draw even more people to Jesus Christ, giving the Christian movement further momentum. The Sanhedrin therefore warned them to speak no further in Jesus\u2019s name. They replied that they were compelled to obey God rather than men (Acts 4:20). After their release, the believers prayed for continued boldness. My friend, follow their example!
\n\u201cTo be right with God has often meant to be in trouble with men.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014A. W. Tozer (1897\u20131963)<\/p>\n
Beware: sin among Christians can bring temporal judgment from God.
\nAnanias and Sapphira sold some land and feigned giving all the money to help meet needs in the church, but they secretly kept some of it. They lied to the Holy Spirit and deceived the church community. For this they forfeited their lives\u2014a temporal judgment that caused the church to fear God (Acts 5:1-11). Apparently, at this early stage in the church, such fear of God was necessary to ensure the church\u2019s survival.
\nFearing God
\n\u2022 Christians are to live in reverent fear of the Lord (1 Peter 1:17; 2:17).
\n\u2022 Fear of the Lord motivates obedience (Deuteronomy 5:29; Ecclesiastes 12:13).
\n\u2022 It also motivates the avoidance of evil (Proverbs 3:7; 8:13; 16:6).<\/p>\n
We are God\u2019s witnesses, not just when it\u2019s comfortable, but also when it\u2019s uncomfortable.
\nMore and more signs and wonders were performed by the apostles, and the church continued to expand. The apostles were rearrested and re-interrogated by Jewish authorities. Again, they boldly asserted that they must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:12-42). Today we need a baptism of boldness to fall upon the church. Far too many Christians have succumbed to the disease known by its Latin term, non-rock-a-boatus. Be courageous in the name of Jesus!
\n\u201cYou are a Christian because somebody cared. Now it\u2019s your turn.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Warren Wiersbe<\/p>\n
Part of being a Christian is helping others.
\nNot all the needs were being met within the church, particularly among widows, so deacons were appointed to watch over them (Acts 6:1-7). This reminds us of James 1:27: \u201cReligion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.\u201d Let\u2019s be Spirit-filled people-helpers!
\n\u201cOne of the old martyrs said to his persecutors as they were leading him to his death, \u2018You take a life from me that I cannot keep, and bestow a life upon me that I cannot lose.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Dwight L. Moody (1837\u20131899)<\/p>\n
Sometimes standing for Christ can involve the ultimate sacrifice.
\nStephen was a powerful preacher, an able debater, and performed convincing signs and wonders among the people. But he was framed for blasphemy and arrested by the Jewish authorities. He ably defended himself before the Sanhedrin with a lengthy speech that exalted Jesus as the true Messiah. He was subsequently stoned to death (Acts 6:8\u20137:60).
\nEven so, God brought good out of evil (Romans 8:28). The biblical record of Stephen\u2019s commitment to Christ has inspired Christians to faithfulness since the first century.<\/p>\n
God\u2019s glorious good news is for all people, with no exclusions. Ethnicity doesn\u2019t matter!
\nThe good news of the gospel was preached to the Samaritans, people hated by the Jews. Many of them became believers. The Holy Spirit was imparted to these new members of the body of Christ just as the Spirit had earlier been imparted to Jewish believers in Christ on the day of Pentecost (Acts 8:1-40). All are one in Christ, regardless of ethnicity (see also 10:1\u201311:18). Jesus welcomes all!
\nAll Races Are Equal
\nAll humans are equal in terms of
\n\u2022 their creation (Genesis 1:28);
\n\u2022 the sin problem (Romans 3:23);
\n\u2022 God\u2019s love for them (John 3:16); and
\n\u2022 God\u2019s provision of salvation for them (Matthew 28:19).<\/p>\n
God can redeem and transform even those who may appear unredeemable.
\nGod brought Saul to faith in Christ. Saul had formally persecuted the church. He sought to imprison Christians. Amazingly, after his conversion, he became an incredibly powerful and bold witness to Jesus Christ (Acts 9:1-31). What a miracle!
\n\u201cI remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Newton (1725\u20131807)<\/p>\n
God sends increased revelation to those who respond to the little revelation they have.
\nCornelius was obedient to the limited amount of \u201clight\u201d he had received\u2014that is, he had been obedient to Old Testament revelation (Acts 10:2). But he did not have enough \u201clight\u201d to believe in Jesus as Savior. God promptly sent Peter to Cornelius\u2019s house to explain the gospel, after which Cornelius believed in Jesus and was saved (10:44-48).<\/p>\n
Persecution cannot stop the growth of the church of Jesus Christ.
\nActs records how the persecution against the church progressively worsened. There was no sign of it letting up. Things were getting intense. And yet the church also continued to grow. Despite the Roman sword against the church\u2019s throat, the church grew exponentially (Acts 11:19-30).
\nMy friend, there is persecution of the church today in various parts of the world. Some Christians are even being killed for their faith in Christ. But rejoice! The church continues to grow. Bless the Lord!
\nBiblical Insights on Persecution
\n\u2022 The godly will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).
\n\u2022 We should not be surprised if the world hates us (1 John 3:13).
\n\u2022 Those persecuted for righteousness are blessed (Matthew 5:10-11).
\n\u2022 We ought to rejoice in being counted worthy to suffer (Acts 5:41).<\/p>\n
Angels are among us, and they\u2019re active on our behalf.
\nHerod Agrippa I sought to destroy the infant church. Toward that end, Peter was thrown in jail. The church immediately prayed for Peter\u2019s deliverance, and God broke Peter out of jail via an angel. Peter then went to the house of John Mark\u2019s mother and knocked on the door. Disbelief eventually gave way to relief as those within the house realized Peter really was safe and back with them (Acts 12).
\nAngels are \u201cministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation\u201d (Hebrews 1:14). You don\u2019t see them, but they\u2019re there!
\nGuardian Angels for Christians
\n\u201cBecause you have made the Lord your dwelling place\u2026he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways\u201d (Psalm 91:9,11).<\/p>\n
Meditate on 2 Kings 6:17; Luke 16:22; and Matthew 26:53.<\/p>\n
Christianity involves not rules and rituals, but a living relationship with Jesus Christ.
\nThe Jerusalem Council was convened to consider whether Gentile converts should be required to adopt the ceremonial requirements of Judaism to become Christians. As president of the council, James said he did not want to burden the Gentile converts\u2014especially in regard to the ritual of circumcision (Acts 15:1-21). This reminds us that Christianity is not about law but about grace. It is not about rituals but about a relationship with Christ (Philippians 3:8).
\n\u201cChristianity isn\u2019t only going to church on Sunday. It is living twenty-four hours of every day with Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Billy Graham<\/p>\n
No matter who claims what, it is wise to test all doctrinal claims against Scripture.
\nPaul preached in Berea, and his listeners \u201creceived the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so\u201d (Acts 17:11). In other words, the Bereans tested everything Paul said against the Scriptures to make sure he was telling it straight. Notice that Paul was not angry with the Bereans, but rather he commended them. The Scriptures are our supreme authority (2 Timothy 3:15-17).<\/p>\n
God is sovereignly and providentially with us in our work of ministry.
\nWhen Paul was evangelizing in Corinth, the Lord spoke to him in a vision. \u201cDo not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people\u201d (Acts 18:9-10). Dear Christian, God has not changed. He still providentially watches over His children.
\n\u201cWe can confidently say, \u2018The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Hebrews 13:6<\/p>\n
Beware of deceptions from false teachers.
\nWhile en route to Jerusalem, Paul stopped at Miletus to visit with elders of the church at Ephesus. While there he urged them to stand for the truth of the gospel and resist the advances of false teachers. He warned, \u201cI know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them\u201d (Acts 20:29-30). False teachers preach a counterfeit Jesus and a counterfeit gospel, which yields a counterfeit salvation. Beware!
\nSatan and Falsehood
\n\u2022 Satan inspires false Christs (Matthew 24:4-5).
\n\u2022 He employs false teachers who bring in \u201cdestructive heresies\u201d (2 Peter 2:1).
\n\u2022 He sends out false prophets (Matthew 24:11).
\n\u2022 He sponsors false apostles who imitate the true apostles of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13).<\/p>\n
Paul shows us what it means to take up our crosses to follow Jesus.
\nPaul told some fellow believers, \u201cI am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus\u201d (Acts 21:13). This brings to mind Jesus\u2019s earlier words: \u201cIf anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it\u201d (Matthew 16:24-25).
\n\u201cTo take up the cross means that you take your stand for the Lord Jesus no matter what it costs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Billy Graham<\/p>\n
The Lord is sovereign over life and death. We need not fret over human mortality.
\nPaul set sail for Rome as a prisoner. While en route, the ship encountered a violent storm with threatening waves. The crew feared the ship might sink. Paul then received a vision from the Lord. He promptly assured the ship\u2019s crew\u2014based on the vision\u2014that everyone would survive. As it happened, the ship was torn apart by violent waves, but the entire crew survived, as the Lord promised (Acts 27). Never forget that the Lord alone is in charge of when people die (Job 14:5; Psalm 31:15; 139:16; Acts 17:26).
\nJesus Sovereign over Death
\nJesus said, \u201cI have the keys of Death and Hades\u201d (Revelation 1:18).
\nJesus decides who lives, who dies, and when.
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
The Holy Spirit baptizes believers (1 Corinthians 12:13), indwells believers (1 Corinthians 6:19), fills believers (Ephesians 5:18), gives spiritual gifts to believers (1 Corinthians 12:11), produces fruit in believers (Galatians 5:22-23), guides believers (Romans 8:14), and intercedes for believers (Romans 8:26). Stay close to Him!<\/p>\n
Romans<\/p>\n
Unrighteousness alienates us from God. God therefore devised a plan of salvation\u2014centered on the atonement of Jesus Christ\u2014whereby He imputes righteousness to believers through faith in Christ, and then progressively brings about personal righteousness (sanctification).
\nTimeline
\n54\u201368\u2014Nero reigns in Rome.
\n57\u2014The apostle Paul writes the epistle to the Romans.
\n60\u201361\u2014Paul travels to Rome.
\n61\u201362\u2014Paul is imprisoned in Rome.
\n62\u201363\u2014Paul is released from prison.
\n63\u201367\u2014Paul is taken to Rome and imprisoned again.
\n64\u2014Nero blames Christians for the great fire in Rome and persecutes them.
\n67\u2014Paul is martyred.
\nThe apostle Paul wrote this epistle to the church at Rome in AD 57 (Romans 1:8,10-15; 15:14-17). Rome was a hub-city connected by road to numerous other cities in the ancient world. It was thus a strategic city in the spread of the gospel.
\nThe church at Rome was predominantly made up of Gentile believers (Romans 1:5,13; 11:13; 15:15-16). But there was also a strong minority of Jewish believers (2:17; 9\u201311; 14).
\nPaul had a strong desire to visit the church of Rome (Romans 1:10-15). He apparently wrote this letter to prepare the way for his eventual visit to the city (15:14-17). Romans is the most theological of all of Paul\u2019s letters.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Romans:<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t ever be ashamed of the gospel.
\nPaul affirmed, \u201cI am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes\u201d (Romans 1:16). Paul always boldly told the truth about Jesus, for he knew that eternal souls were at stake. Dear Christian, when eternal souls are at stake, there\u2019s no room for shame. The gospel is a matter of life and death.
\n\u201cI reckon him a Christian indeed that is neither ashamed of the gospel nor a shame to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Matthew Henry (1662\u20131714)<\/p>\n
Romans<\/p>\n
Unrighteousness alienates us from God. God therefore devised a plan of salvation\u2014centered on the atonement of Jesus Christ\u2014whereby He imputes righteousness to believers through faith in Christ, and then progressively brings about personal righteousness (sanctification).
\nTimeline
\n54\u201368\u2014Nero reigns in Rome.
\n57\u2014The apostle Paul writes the epistle to the Romans.
\n60\u201361\u2014Paul travels to Rome.
\n61\u201362\u2014Paul is imprisoned in Rome.
\n62\u201363\u2014Paul is released from prison.
\n63\u201367\u2014Paul is taken to Rome and imprisoned again.
\n64\u2014Nero blames Christians for the great fire in Rome and persecutes them.
\n67\u2014Paul is martyred.
\nThe apostle Paul wrote this epistle to the church at Rome in AD 57 (Romans 1:8,10-15; 15:14-17). Rome was a hub-city connected by road to numerous other cities in the ancient world. It was thus a strategic city in the spread of the gospel.
\nThe church at Rome was predominantly made up of Gentile believers (Romans 1:5,13; 11:13; 15:15-16). But there was also a strong minority of Jewish believers (2:17; 9\u201311; 14).
\nPaul had a strong desire to visit the church of Rome (Romans 1:10-15). He apparently wrote this letter to prepare the way for his eventual visit to the city (15:14-17). Romans is the most theological of all of Paul\u2019s letters.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Romans:<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t ever be ashamed of the gospel.
\nPaul affirmed, \u201cI am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes\u201d (Romans 1:16). Paul always boldly told the truth about Jesus, for he knew that eternal souls were at stake. Dear Christian, when eternal souls are at stake, there\u2019s no room for shame. The gospel is a matter of life and death.
\n\u201cI reckon him a Christian indeed that is neither ashamed of the gospel nor a shame to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Matthew Henry (1662\u20131714)<\/p>\n
All people\u2014Jews and Gentiles\u2014are guilty before God. No person should ever pretend he or she is any better than anyone else. Everyone needs to be saved.
\nThe Gentiles stand condemned because they have suppressed the knowledge of God they have gained from \u201cgeneral revelation\u201d\u2014that is, revelation in the world of nature (the starry universe\u2014see Psalm 19) and their inner conscience (Romans 1:18-32). They turned to idolatry and paganism instead of turning to God.
\nThe Jews likewise stand condemned by God because they have failed to live up to God\u2019s infinitely righteous standards. Paul, himself a Jew, provided a \u201creality check\u201d for his fellow Jews by reminding them that they had consistently failed to obey God\u2019s law (Romans 2:17-29) and had failed to believe God\u2019s Word (3:1-8).
\nThe conclusion is obvious: All stand guilty before God (Romans 3:9-20). That includes you and me, my friend. That\u2019s bad news. But Paul doesn\u2019t leave it there. He next shares the good news\u2014salvation in Jesus Christ. We should never forget the depth of depravity Jesus rescued us from.
\n\u201cAbounding sin is the terror of the world, but abounding grace is the hope of mankind.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014A. W. Tozer (1897\u20131963)
\nAll Have Sinned
\n\u2022 \u201cAll we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned\u2014every one\u2014to his own way\u201d (Isaiah 53:6).
\n\u2022 \u201cSurely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins\u201d (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
\n\u2022 \u201cIf we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves\u201d (1 John 1:8).
\nSin: Missing the Target
\n\u2022 The word sin means \u201cto miss the target.\u201d
\n\u2022 Sin is failure to live up to God\u2019s standards.
\n\u2022 All of us miss the target.<\/p>\n
God shows no partiality, and neither should we.
\nPaul affirmed, \u201cGod shows no partiality\u201d (Romans 2:11). God carries out His righteous standards justly and with equity. There is never any partiality or unfairness in God\u2019s dealings with people (Zephaniah 3:5; Romans 3:26). We, too, should show no partiality (James 2:4; 3:17).
\nCross-References: No Partiality
\nEphesians 6:9 \u2022 Acts 10:34 \u2022 Galatians 2:6 \u2022 Colossians 3:25 \u2022 1 Peter 1:17<\/p>\n
We are justified not by works but by faith alone. No one can earn God\u2019s salvation, so don\u2019t even try.
\nSince no one\u2014Jew or Gentile (including you and me)\u2014has it within them to attain the righteousness that leads to salvation, God\u2019s solution is to impute righteousness to those who believe in Christ. This is the doctrine of justification (Romans 3:21-31; 4:25). Justification involves not just acquitting the believing sinner of all sin, but also assigning the very righteousness of Christ to his or her account. This justification cannot be earned, but rather is given entirely by God\u2019s grace (3:21-24), based on the blood sacrifice of Jesus (3:25-26). It is a gift received by faith alone (3:27-31). How great a salvation this is!
\n\u201cI felt my heart strangely warmed, I feel I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Wesley (1703\u20131791)<\/p>\n
God\u2019s wondrous plan of salvation centers entirely on the atoning death of Jesus Christ.
\nWithout Jesus, there is no salvation. Paul summed things up by saying that we are \u201cjustified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith\u201d (Romans 3:24-25; see also 4:23-25; 5:6-11,15-19; 6:1-10; 7:4-6; 8:1-4). Propitiation means Jesus\u2019s sacrificial death on the cross provided full satisfaction of God\u2019s holy demands against a sinful people, thereby averting His just wrath against them (1:18; 2:5,8; 3:5). Because of this propitiation, we can freely and justly be \u201cdeclared righteous\u201d or saved (3:4,20,24,28).
\nCross-References: The Blood of the Lamb
\nMatthew 26:28 \u2022 Mark 14:24 \u2022 John 6:53 \u2022 Acts 20:28 \u2022 1 Corinthians 11:25 \u2022 Colossians 1:14 \u2022 1 John 1:7 \u2022 Revelation 1:5 \u2022 5:9<\/p>\n
Good news: we have peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Live daily with that wondrous reality.
\nBecause we are declared righteous, we now have peace with God (Romans 5:1). The Father sees believers through the \u201clens\u201d of Jesus Christ. And because there is peace between the Father and Jesus Christ, there is also peace between the Father and believers, since believers are \u201cin Christ.\u201d
\nLooking Through the Lens
\nIf one were to look through a piece of red glass, everything would appear red. Similarly, when we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, God looks at us through the lens of our Lord Jesus Christ. He sees us in all the white holiness of His Son.<\/p>\n
As Christians, we are now dead to sin but alive unto God. We\u2019ve got new spiritual life!
\nPaul speaks not only about the imputation of righteousness, but also the impartation of righteousness\u2014all based on our union with Christ. That is, in union with Christ, our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ. We \u201cdied to sin\u201d (Romans 6:2). Moreover, in union with Christ, we were resurrected and brought to life. We have \u201cnewness of life\u201d in Christ (6:4).
\nPaul therefore instructed, \u201cConsider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus\u201d (Romans 6:11). He urged, \u201cLet not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness\u201d (6:12-13).<\/p>\n
As Christians, we\u2019ve died to the law through Christ. The weight of the law is no longer on our shoulders.
\nBecause of what Christ has accomplished, the Christian has been set free from the penalties of the law (Romans 7:1-6). Paul said, \u201cNow we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code\u201d (7:6). In place of the sense of condemnation brought about by a failure to obey the Law, the Christian now enjoys a sense of freshness and vitality in relating to God, through the directing and empowering ministry of the Holy Spirit (8:4). Rejoice!<\/p>\n
Even people we think of as holy Christians are acutely aware of their woeful sinfulness.
\nPaul, whose commitment to Christ is unparalleled, said, \u201cI do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate\u2026 I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out\u201d (Romans 7:15-18). My friend, it seems that the closer we draw to God, the more we are aware of our sin and our need for God\u2019s grace.
\n\u201cIt is not the absence of sin but the grieving over it which distinguishes the child of God from empty professors.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014A. W. Pink (1886\u20131952)
\n\u201cI am persuaded the more light we have, the more we see our own sinfulness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014J. C. Ryle (1816\u20131900)<\/p>\n
Rejoice! Christians have no further condemnation!
\nPaul provides us with this glorious good news: \u201cThere is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death\u201d (Romans 8:1-2). This passage indicates there is literally \u201cno punishment\u201d for those who are in Christ Jesus. There has been a great exchange (8:3-5). As the Reformer Martin Luther once put it, Christ took upon Himself what was ours (sin) so that He could give us what was His (righteousness). Because of this great exchange, we have been removed from a state of condemnation before God. Indeed, we are now at peace with God. Glorious!
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cThere is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Romans 8:1<\/p>\n
Rejoice again\u2014we are adopted into God\u2019s eternal family, and God is our Papa.
\nPaul affirmed, \u201cYou have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, \u2018Abba! Father!\u2019 \u201d (Romans 8:15). \u201cAbba\u201d is an Aramaic term of great intimacy, loosely meaning \u201cdaddy\u201d or \u201cpapa.\u201d Paul elsewhere reminds us that God is the \u201cfather of compassion\u201d of all believers (2 Corinthians 1:3 NIV).
\nPaul also affirmed, \u201cThe Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs\u2014heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ\u201d (Romans 8:16-17). As members of God\u2019s family, we have an inheritance awaiting us in heaven. I can\u2019t wait!<\/p>\n
In all things God works for the good of those who love Him.
\nPaul affirms, \u201cWe know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose\u201d (Romans 8:28). A good example is Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his own brothers (Genesis 37). While it was painful at the time, God was still in control. God ended up using these negative circumstances to bring Joseph to Egypt, where He elevated him to a position of great authority so he could save many people from famine (Genesis 41).
\nWe are often unaware of why God allows certain circumstances to fall upon us. But one thing we can rest upon for sure is that God can bring good out of any such circumstances. This means you and I must trust Him in the midst of those circumstances. Never let go of your trust in God (Proverbs 3:5-6).
\n\u201cAs children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Stanley<\/p>\n
We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. So live like a conqueror!
\nOur salvation in Jesus Christ is secure. Nothing can threaten it. Paul asks, \u201cIf God is for us, who can be against us?\u201d (Romans 8:31). He also asks, \u201cWho shall separate us from the love of Christ?\u201d (8:35). The implied answer is no one. \u201cWe are more than conquerors through him who loved us\u201d (8:37).
\n\u201cI am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Romans 8:38-39<\/p>\n
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
\nPaul affirmed that \u201cfaith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ\u201d (Romans 10:17). Faith comes from hearing the Word of God. This reminds us of John\u2019s Gospel, \u201cwritten so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name\u201d (John 20:31).
\nIf someone should ask, \u201cHow can I increase my faith?\u201d the answer is, saturate your mind with God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n
God ultimately fulfills His promises to people even when they reject Him.
\nJewish guilt is rooted in their attempt to accomplish their own righteousness (at which they failed) instead of God\u2019s plan of righteousness by faith (Romans 9:30\u201310:4). All the Jews had to do in New Testament times was turn to Christ the Savior in faith, but most refused, and hardened themselves against Christ (10:9-10). The Jewish people heard the gospel (10:18), they understood the gospel (10:19-20), but by their own choice, they rejected it. God is therefore justified in condemning them. Yet God still has a future for Israel (9\u201311).<\/p>\n
There is yet a future salvation for Israel. God always fulfills His promises.
\nThe good news is that God is not yet finished with the Jews. Israel\u2019s current rejection by God is neither complete nor is it final (Romans 11:1-10). It is not complete because there has always been a believing remnant (of which Paul was a part). It is not final because Israel will one day gloriously turn to the true Messiah and blessing will be restored to the nation (11:25-27). Meanwhile, God is bringing good out of Israel\u2019s hardness of heart, for it opens the door for Him to pour out salvation and blessings upon the Gentiles (11:11-15).<\/p>\n
Spend regular time in God\u2019s Word, for it can transform your mind.
\nPaul urges, \u201cDo not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind\u201d (Romans 12:2). Our minds are transformed via the ministry of the Holy Spirit as we spend time reading and meditating upon God\u2019s Word (Psalm 119:11; Colossians 1:28; 3:10,16; Philippians 4:8).
\n\u201cI have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Psalm 119:11<\/p>\n
Your inner spiritual transformation always shows itself in outward fruit.
\nRomans closes with an extended exhortation for believers to live out their salvation. Paul speaks of the Christian\u2019s duty to God (Romans 12), to the governmental authorities (13), and to other people (14\u201316). Inner transformation always shows itself in outward fruit.
\n\u201cBe doers of the word, and not hearers only.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014James 1:22<\/p>\n
God wants us all to submit to authority.
\nThe apostle Paul commanded believers to be submissive to the government because authority is ordained of God (Romans 13:1-7). Paul said resistance to government is, in the final analysis, resistance against God (13:2). Government, Paul says, resists evil (13:4).
\nIt is noteworthy that some eight years later, after having been imprisoned a number of times by the Roman government, Paul had not changed his mind. He still taught that Christians should obey the government (1 Peter 2:13-17).<\/p>\n
God wants us to show love and respect to each other.
\nBelievers must show love to their neighbors, for love comes from God. Such love fulfills the requirements of the law. Further, as we walk with Christ, our daily conduct ought to conform to the conduct of Christ (Romans 13:8-14). We should begin to \u201ctake on the family likeness.\u201d
\nIn keeping with this, Paul said strong Christians need to give consideration to their weaker brothers and sisters so they do not offend or injure them. The strong and the weak should be accepting of each other, and not judge each other (Romans 14:1-23; 15:7-13).<\/p>\n
Christians will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
\nPaul said, \u201cWe will all stand before the judgment seat of God.\u201d \u201cEach of us will give an account of himself to God\u201d (Romans 14:10,12). Each believer\u2019s life will be examined in regard to the things done while in the body. Personal motives and intents of the heart will be weighed.
\nNow, those who have placed faith in Christ are saved, and nothing threatens that. Believers are eternally secure in their salvation (John 5:24; 10:29; Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 5:10-13). This judgment has to do with the reception or loss of rewards based on the believer\u2019s personal stewardship of the gifts, talents, opportunities, and responsibilities given to him in this life.
\nLive for the Line
\nLife on earth is brief\u2014it is like a dot. Life in heaven is long\u2014it is like a line. Live for the line, not the dot.
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
You have been acquitted of all sin and declared righteous by God, all because of Jesus. Your slate has been wiped clean. Condemnation is gone forever!
\n1 Corinthians<\/p>\n
The church is too important to ignore injurious problems that need fixing.
\nTimeline
\n50\u201351\u2014Paul travels to Corinth and spends 18 months planting a church there.
\n51\u2014Paul has a hearing before the proconsul Gallio in Corinth.
\n55\u2014Paul writes his first epistle to the Corinthians from Ephesus.
\n56\u2014Paul writes his second epistle to the Corinthians from Ephesus.
\n57\u2014Paul writes Romans while in Corinth.
\nPaul wrote this epistle to \u201cthe church of God that is in Corinth\u201d in AD 55 (1 Corinthians 1:2). Corinth was a strategic center in Greece\u2014a hub of commerce from north to south, from east to west. The city had a mixed population\u2014Roman, Egyptian, Latin, Greek, and Oriental. A gospel message proclaimed in Corinth might find its way to the distant regions of the inhabited earth.
\nCorinth\u2019s moral character also made it a fertile field for the gospel. The city contained the Temple of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love where 1000 sacred prostitutes (priestesses) were made available to its cultists. This led to sexual debauchery all over the city. The Greek word korinthiazomai, meaning literally \u201cto act the Corinthian,\u201d came to mean \u201cto practice fornication.\u201d
\nPaul had done missionary work in Corinth. After he moved on to Ephesus, he received notice that there were problems in Corinth. He wrote this epistle to address these problems.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in 1 Corinthians:<\/p>\n
Christians are called to maintain unity in the church. No divisions. No contentions.
\nThe church at Corinth was lacking in unity. It was divided into four basic factions, each having its own leader and particular emphasis\u2014Paul (the Corinthians\u2019 father in Christ), Apollos (a powerful preacher), Cephas (leader of the Twelve), and Christ Himself (1 Corinthians 1:12-13). Apparently, each respective faction was acting in an antagonistic way toward the other three.
\nSeeking to do away with such divisiveness, Paul emphasized that we are all \u201cone\u201d in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:13). He teaches this pivotal idea by asking, \u201cIs Christ divided?\u201d\u2014more literally, \u201cIs Christ parceled out among you?\u201d
\nPaul wanted the Corinthian Christians to be \u201cunited in the same mind\u201d (1 Corinthians 1:10). The word \u201cunited\u201d comes from a Greek word used for setting bones by a physician, and of mending broken nets. The idea is that Paul wanted the church to be without hurtful fractures, divisions, and strife\u2014the kind of strife that causes individual believers to separate from another.
\nMy friend, if this was a problem in Corinth, it is a much bigger problem in churches today. We so need to heed Paul\u2019s words. Let\u2019s all pursue unity!
\n\u201cBe united with other Christians. A wall with loose bricks is not good. The bricks must be cemented together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Corrie ten Boom (1892\u20131983)
\nCross-References: Unity
\n2 Corinthians 13:11 \u2022 Ephesians 4:3 \u2022 Philippians 1:27 \u2022 4:2 \u2022 Colossians 2:2 \u2022 1 Peter 3:8<\/p>\n
Baptism is important, but it is not a part of the gospel that saves.
\nIn 1 Corinthians 1:17 Paul said, \u201cChrist did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel.\u201d Paul here draws a clear distinction between baptism and the gospel. And since it is the gospel that saves (15:1-2), baptism is clearly not necessary to attain salvation. Rather, baptism should be the first act of obedience to God following a person\u2019s conversion to Christ.<\/p>\n
Get excited\u2014heaven is an unimaginably awesome place.
\nSpeaking of heaven, the apostle Paul affirmed, \u201cWhat no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him\u2014these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit\u201d (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). This means death is not a terminus, but a transition into great glory (Romans 8:18). My friend, heaven will be splendorous\u2014more so than we can possibly imagine. God desires that we be heaven-focused Christians (Colossians 3:1-2). The earthly-focused Corinthians really needed to hear this.
\n\u201cThis is glorious! Earth recedes, Heaven is opening, God is calling me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Dwight L. Moody, upon his deathbed (1837\u20131899)<\/p>\n
The Holy Spirit helps us to understand God\u2019s Word.
\nThe Corinthian believers were ill equipped to discover God\u2019s wisdom on their own. They needed help in understanding God\u2019s Word. Paul said the Holy Spirit is our divine Teacher (1 Corinthians 2:2-16). The Holy Spirit guides us through God\u2019s Word (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
\n\u201cIf the Holy Spirit guides us at all, he will do it according to the Scriptures, and never contrary to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014George Muller (1805\u20131898)<\/p>\n
Believers will one day face Christ at His judgment seat.
\nAll believers will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 9:24-27; Romans 14:8-10). At that time each believer\u2019s life will be examined in regard to deeds done while in the body. Personal motives and intents of the heart will also be weighed.
\nPaul used a building metaphor to emphasize his point. He affirmed, \u201cIf anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw\u2014each one\u2019s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done\u201d (1 Corinthians 3:12-13). Notice that the materials Paul mentions in this passage are combustible in increasing degrees. Obviously the hay and straw are the most combustible. Then comes wood. Precious metals and stones are not combustible.
\nBible expositors have debated what these materials represent. Perhaps the gold, silver, and costly stones represent Christ-honoring motives. Perhaps wood, hay, and straw represent carnal attitudes, sinful motives, pride-filled actions, and selfish ambition. Paul wanted the Corinthians to \u201cbuild\u201d their lives wisely.
\nWhat kind of materials are you building your life on?
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cNo one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20141 Corinthians 3:11<\/p>\n
Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, so don\u2019t commit sexual immorality.
\nPaul said, \u201cThe body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body\u201d (1 Corinthians 6:13). He urged, \u201cFlee from sexual immorality\u2026 The sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body\u201d (6:18-20).
\nDear Christian, this is a powerful motivation to avoid sexual sin. It boils down to this: your body is a temple of God. God paid a huge price for it (the blood of Christ). That means God owns it. So don\u2019t even think about using your body for sin, for that defiles God\u2019s temple (Acts 15:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7).
\nSexual Immorality
\n\u2022 Avoid it (1 Corinthians 6:13,18).
\n\u2022 Avoid even the suspicion of it (Ephesians 5:3).
\n\u2022 Flee it like Joseph did (Genesis 39:12).<\/p>\n
Unrepentant sexually immoral believers must be put out of the church as a disciplinary measure to motivate repentance.
\nA case of incest erupted within the Corinthian church\u2014a man was having relations with his father\u2019s wife, perhaps a stepmother. Paul chastised the church for its failure to take disciplinary action. He ordered the church to oust the unrepentant sexual offender from fellowship until he repented and could be restored to fellowship.
\nPaul then made an important qualification. He drew a distinction between how we relate to unbelievers outside of the church and believers within the church. Paul was not telling the Corinthians to avoid all fellowship with unbelievers, for we need to evangelize them. But Christians must separate from believers who engage in willful unrepentant sin. Separation is a form of discipline intended to bring the sinning believer to repentance (1 Corinthians 5).<\/p>\n
Believers should not file lawsuits against each other.
\nPaul urged church members in Corinth to stop taking legal action against each other in secular civil courts. It is better to settle differences within the Christian community\u2014for example, by consulting one or more respected Christians (1 Corinthians 6:1-11).<\/p>\n
Christians must make efforts to avoid offending the consciences of weaker brothers and sisters.
\nSome believers in Corinth thought it was no problem to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Others were offended by the idea, considering it as participating in idolatry. Though Paul agreed in principle that it was fine to eat such meat, he urged believers to avoid doing so if it would injure the conscience of another. He indicated it is sometimes best to limit liberty to avoid conflict over a minor matter (1 Corinthians 8).<\/p>\n
Evangelism is more effective when carried out with cultural sensitivity.
\nPaul accommodated himself to the needs and characteristics of others to evangelize among them more effectively. To the Jew, he became as a Jew to win the Jew for Christ. To the weak, he became as weak that he might win the weak for Christ. He sums it up this way: \u201cI have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some\u201d (1 Corinthians 9:22).<\/p>\n
Believers must avoid all forms of idolatry.
\nPaul warned that Christians must stay away from the worship of idols (1 Corinthians 10:1-22). Spiritual compromise had taken place among God\u2019s people in the past. During the wilderness experience, the Israelites succumbed to worshiping pagan gods (Numbers 25:1-18). Corinth was brimming with idols. Today the temptations are different. Idolatry might take the form of loving money, or fame, or prestige, or even immorality. We must always be on guard against idolatry.
\n\u201cA man\u2019s god is that for which he lives, for which he is prepared to give his time, his energy, his money.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899\u20131981)<\/p>\n
God always provides a way of escape when we are tempted.
\nPaul affirmed to the Corinthians, \u201cNo temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it\u201d (1 Corinthians 10:13). My friend, we are tempted to do wrong every single day. The question is, will we avail ourselves of the way of escape God provides, or will we ignore it and succumb to sin?
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cGod is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20141 Corinthians 10:13<\/p>\n
Christians must celebrate the Lord\u2019s Supper in a respectful and honorable way.
\nFirst Corinthians 11:29-32 speaks of Christians in Corinth who were afflicted with illness\u2014and even premature death\u2014in response to their irreverence in connection with the Lord\u2019s Supper. Apparently some of the carnal Christians at Corinth were celebrating the Lord\u2019s Supper as a gluttonous, drunken feast. They were profaning what was sacred. Paul said, \u201cThat is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died\u201d (11:30). Paul urged, \u201cIf we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged\u201d (11:31).
\nDeath as a Judgment
\nUnrepentant sinful living can lead to premature death (1 Corinthians 11:30; 1 John 5:16).
\nRighteous living leads to long life (Proverbs 10:27; Deuteronomy 4:40; 2 Kings 20:1-6).<\/p>\n
Use your spiritual gift(s) to bless and build up others in the body of Christ.
\nSpiritual gifts are special abilities bestowed sovereignly by the Holy Spirit upon individual believers for the purpose of edifying the church (1 Corinthians 12:11). These gifts include teaching, pastoring, evangelizing, the message of wisdom, the message of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in different tongues, and the interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:8-10; see also Ephesians 4:7-13 and Romans 12:3-8). Each of us has one or more spiritual gifts, and they are not all the same. But each gift is to be used for the mutual benefit and blessing of the body of Christ.<\/p>\n
A hallmark of the Christian life is love.
\nAll the spiritual gifts must be exercised according to love. Regardless of how gifted a person may be, he is nothing but a \u201cnoisy gong\u201d or a \u201cclanging cymbal\u201d if he does not have love (1 Corinthians 13). This instruction was needed, for some of the Corinthians were displaying pride, boasting, and one-upmanship in connection with their spiritual gifts. Let\u2019s try to avoid being a gong or cymbal.
\n\u201cThe cure of boasting is to boast in the Lord all the day long.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)<\/p>\n
Church services must be orderly so they won\u2019t scare away visiting unbelievers.
\nPaul said to the Corinthians, \u201cWhat then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up\u201d (1 Corinthians 14:26). Paul then laid down guidelines on the exercise of spiritual gifts in the church so there would be no disorder in the church. After all, Paul said, \u201cGod is not a God of confusion but of peace\u201d (14:33). This instruction was necessary because apparently too many people were speaking in tongues and giving prophecies all at the same time. This led to disarray in the church.
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cWhether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20141 Corinthians 10:31<\/p>\n
Rejoice! Just as Christ was resurrected, so you and I will be resurrected.
\nThe resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of Christianity. Paul not only provided evidence that the event occurred, but also spoke of the nature of the resurrection body. Because Christ resurrected, we, too, shall be resurrected. Death will finally be defeated (1 Corinthians 15).
\nCross-References: Resurrection
\nJohn 5:25,28,29 \u2022 6:39,40,44,54 \u2022 11:24-25 \u2022 2 Corinthians 5:1 \u2022 Philippians 3:21 \u2022 Acts 24:15<\/p>\n
The rapture could take place at any moment. Be ready!
\nIn 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Paul describes the rapture as occurring \u201cin the twinkling of an eye.\u201d The bodily transformation believers will experience will be near instantaneous. One moment they will be on earth in mortal bodies, the next moment they will be instantly transformed into their glorified resurrection bodies. Let\u2019s all be ready!
\nThe Imminent Rapture
\n\u2022 The term imminent literally means \u201cready to take place\u201d or \u201cimpending.\u201d
\n\u2022 The rapture is imminent (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Titus 2:13).
\n\u2022 This ought to motivate us to live in purity (2 Peter 3:10-14; 1 John 3:2-3).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t go to church just to soak up blessing. Use your spiritual gift(s) there to bless others!
\n2 Corinthians<\/p>\n
Church life can sometimes be difficult. The intrusion of false doctrine can cause contention and division. Confrontations can be painful. But a commitment to sound doctrine helps restore stability.
\nTimeline
\n50\u201351\u2014Paul travels to Corinth and spends 18 months planting a church there.
\n55\u2014Paul writes his first epistle to the Corinthians from Ephesus.
\n56\u2014Paul writes his second epistle to the Corinthians from Ephesus.
\nThe apostle Paul wrote his second epistle to the Corinthians in AD 56. The occasion was that false prophets had penetrated the Corinthian church and had assaulted Paul\u2019s character and authority. Unfortunately, some of the Corinthians apparently believed the lies of these false prophets and rebelled against Paul.
\nThese false teachers were leading the people astray, and unless Paul acted decisively, the entire church might become engulfed in false doctrine. Paul intervened and made a \u201cpainful visit\u201d to them (2 Corinthians 2:1). He followed up this visit with a \u201csevere letter\u201d (no longer in our possession\u20142:4).
\nLater, Titus passed on news to Paul that the majority of Corinthian believers had repented of their rebellion against him (2 Corinthians 7:7). Grieved at past strained relations, Paul wrote this letter with a view to clarifying his ministry, his calling, his God-given authority as an apostle, and to soothe the wounds of the recent conflict.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in 2 Corinthians:<\/p>\n
God comforts us in our afflictions so that we may in turn comfort others.
\nPaul revealed that God comforted him in his afflictions, which thereby enabled him to be a channel of comfort to the Corinthians in their afflictions. Likewise, God\u2019s comfort to the Corinthians through Paul could then enable them to become channels of comfort to others who were suffering (2 Corinthians 1:3-11). My friend, God\u2019s comfort has a ripple effect!
\n\u201cGod does not comfort us to make us comfortable but to make us comforters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Henry Jowett (1864\u20131923)<\/p>\n
God has put the Holy Spirit within our hearts as a guarantee of what is yet to come.
\nLife on earth can be hard. But the Holy Spirit in our lives is \u201ca guarantee\u201d of what is to come (2 Corinthians 1:22). The word \u201cguarantee\u201d was used among the Greeks to refer to a pledge that guaranteed final possession of an item. It was sometimes used of an engagement ring that acted as a guarantee that a marriage would take place. The Holy Spirit is a \u201cguarantee\u201d in the sense that His presence in our lives guarantees our eventual total transformation and glorification into the likeness of Christ\u2019s glorified resurrection body (Philippians 3:21).<\/p>\n
Church members guilty of gross sin should be forgiven and restored to church fellowship following true repentance.
\nPaul instructed the Corinthians to forgive a man who had engaged in incest but who had now repented (2 Corinthians 2:5-13; see 1 Corinthians 5:1-13). He said they should \u201cforgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow\u201d (verse 7). The purpose of church discipline is not to perpetually punish a person but rather to restore the person upon repentance.
\n\u201cThe voice of sin is loud, but the voice of forgiveness is louder.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Dwight L. Moody (1837\u20131899)<\/p>\n
Beware of peddlers of God\u2019s Word. They are plentiful and they are dangerous.
\nPaul said the false teachers who penetrated the Corinthian church were \u201cpeddlers of God\u2019s word\u201d (2 Corinthians 2:17). The word \u201cpeddler\u201d literally means \u201cto corrupt,\u201d and was sometimes used in contexts of con men who sought to sell as genuine an inferior product that was only a cheap imitation. The false teachers in Corinth peddled inferior ideas.<\/p>\n
We are sufficient in God alone.
\nPaul affirmed, \u201cNot that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God\u201d (2 Corinthians 3:5-6). He recognized that in himself he was inadequate to do God\u2019s work, and therefore depended on God. This reminds us of 2 Corinthians 9:8: \u201cGod is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.\u201d God is sufficient!
\n\u201cJesus Christ is for all the New Testament writers the living and only panacea for all illness, weakness, and distress.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Erich Sauer (1898\u20131959)<\/p>\n
Take comfort. Our afflictions are light and momentary. They\u2019re preparing us for heavenly glory.
\nPaul said of his trials, \u201cThis light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison\u201d (2 Corinthians 4:17). For Paul, the future glory he would experience with the Lord in heaven far outweighed any affliction he experienced in this world (Romans 8:17-18; 1 Peter 1:6-7).
\n\u201cThe Lord gets His best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)<\/p>\n
An eternal perspective that looks to \u201cthe things that are unseen\u201d strengthens us as we face trials.
\nPaul affirmed, \u201cWe look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal\u201d (2 Corinthians 4:18). Paul\u2019s ability to patiently endure through his afflictions depended on looking beyond the temporal to the eternal. This reminds us of Moses. \u201cBy faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh\u2019s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward\u201d (Hebrews 11:24-26).
\n\u201cA spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here waiting our response to His Presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014A. W. Tozer (1897\u20131963)
\nA Bible Promise
\n\u201cWe do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20142 Corinthians 4:16 NIV<\/p>\n
Good news: our resurrection bodies will be powerful and they will be permanent.
\nThe apostle Paul graphically described death as being like an earthly tent being torn down. \u201cWe know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:1).
\nOur present bodies, Paul said, are but temporary and flimsy abodes. They are weak, frail, and vulnerable. We \u201ccamp\u201d in these \u201ctents\u201d during our journey toward heaven.
\nOur earthly bodies are not designed to be lasting habitations. But a time is coming when these \u201chabitations\u201d will be resurrected, and our resurrection bodies will be permanent and indestructible\u2014like a building. That is a day to look forward to.
\n\u201cAnticipating heaven doesn\u2019t eliminate pain, but it lessens it and puts it in perspective. Meditating on heaven is a great pain reliever. It reminds us that suffering and death are temporary conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Randy Alcorn<\/p>\n
Recipe for spiritual blessing: walk by faith and not by sight.
\nWhile speaking of dying and going to be with the Lord, Paul affirmed, \u201cWe walk by faith, not by sight\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:7). We are reminded of Hebrews 11:1: \u201cFaith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.\u201d The believer\u2019s faith in his future reality with the Lord gives him or her strength to endure present trials.
\n\u201cTrusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Stanley<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t fear death. To be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord.
\nPaul affirms, \u201cWe would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:8). The Greek word for \u201cwith\u201d in the phrase \u201chome with the Lord\u201d suggests face-to-face fellowship. It is a word used of intimate relationships. Paul thereby indicated that the fellowship he expects to have with Christ immediately following his physical death will be one of great intimacy.<\/p>\n
Live your life with the daily expectancy that you will face the judgment seat of Christ.
\nAll believers will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Bema) (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). Each believer\u2019s life will be examined in regard to deeds done while in the body. Personal motives and intents of the heart will also be weighed. In view of that reality, Paul affirmed, \u201cWe make it our aim to please him\u201d (5:9).
\nPossible Forfeiture of Rewards
\nSome may lose rewards at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:15). They may experience a sense of shame (2 John 1:8).
\nJonathan Edwards (1703-1758) therefore urged, \u201cResolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rejoice! You are a new creature in Christ.
\nPaul said, \u201cIf anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:17). At the moment of conversion, the believing sinner is made spiritually alive. He is regenerated (John 3:3; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23). Paul then affirmed, \u201cThe old has passed away; behold, the new has come\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:17). The person\u2019s old value systems, priorities, and beliefs give way to a new nature that focuses on God and His Word.
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cIf anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20142 Corinthians 5:17<\/p>\n
We are all ambassadors for Christ. Represent Him well.
\nPerhaps one of the best pictures of a person who communicates with gentleness and respect is an ambassador. The apostle Paul says, \u201cWe are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:20). For an ambassador, it is not just what you say that is important, it is also how you say it. Let\u2019s not just be effective communicators of God\u2019s truth; let\u2019s also be gracious communicators of God\u2019s truth.<\/p>\n
Rejoice! Jesus took what was ours so He could give us what is His.
\nPaul affirms, \u201cFor our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:21). While Jesus was always without sin actually, He was made to be sin for us judicially. That is, by His death on the cross, He paid the penalty for our sins and canceled the debt of sin against us. So while Jesus never committed a sin personally, He was made to be sin for us substitutionally.
\n\u201cLord Jesus, you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You have taken upon yourself what is mine and given me what is yours. You have become what you were not so that I might become what I was not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Martin Luther (1483\u20131546)<\/p>\n
Believers should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
\nPaul urged, \u201cDo not be unequally yoked with unbelievers\u201d (2 Corinthians 6:14). This verse does not prohibit the inevitable interactions with unbelievers that are a part of everyday life (1 Corinthians 5:9-10). Rather, Paul was calling the Corinthians to separate from false teachers. After all, such false teachers would do nothing but lead the Corinthian believers astray (2 Corinthians 11:3). The best option is to always be yoked with Christ (Matthew 11:29-30).
\nUnequally Yoked
\nChristians are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14).
\n\u201cDo not\u2026take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure\u201d (1 Timothy 5:22).
\n\u201cTake no part in the unfruitful works of darkness\u201d (Ephesians 5:11).<\/p>\n
Make every effort to help your brothers and sisters who are in financial need.
\nThe Macedonian Christians had been liberal in their giving to the needy brethren in Jerusalem, who were experiencing something of a famine (2 Corinthians 8:1-6). Paul desired that the Corinthian believers do the same (8:7\u20139:15). He let them know their generosity would be rewarded by God. As a motivation for giving, Paul reminded them how Jesus gave Himself on their behalf. He also reminded them that God loves a cheerful giver.<\/p>\n
Beware of those who teach a different Jesus, a different spirit, or a different gospel.
\nFalse prophets are dangerous because, among other things, they teach a different Jesus who preaches a different gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4)\u2014and that combination yields a \u201cdifferent\u201d salvation (which is no salvation at all). Salvation is found only in the true Jesus and the true gospel (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). This is why Paul constantly urged his followers to beware of false prophets.<\/p>\n
Beware: Satan can mimic an angel of light.
\nPaul tells us, \u201cSatan disguises himself as an angel of light\u201d (2 Corinthians 11:14). Scripture reveals that Satan has his own church\u2014the \u201csynagogue of Satan\u201d (Revelation 2:9); his own ministers\u2014ministers of darkness that bring false sermons (2 Corinthians 11:4-5); his own system of theology\u2014\u201cteachings of demons\u201d (1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 2:24); ministers that proclaim a counterfeit gospel (Galatians 1:7-8); false teachers who bring in \u201cdestructive heresies\u201d (2 Peter 2:1); false prophets (Matthew 24:11); and false apostles who imitate the true apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13). Satan is a master deceiver. Beware!
\nSatan the Arch-Deceiver
\n\u2022 Satan distorts Scripture (Matthew 4:6).
\n\u2022 Satan outwits humans (2 Corinthians 2:11).
\n\u2022 Satan masks himself (2 Corinthians 11:14).
\n\u2022 Satan is a master deceiver (Revelation 12:9).<\/p>\n
God\u2019s strength is made perfect in human weakness.
\nAs a true apostle, Paul received exceedingly great revelations in a vision. To keep him humble, God allowed him to suffer a thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7). The Greek word for \u201cflesh\u201d indicates a bodily ailment of some sort. And it hurt.
\nPaul prayed to the Lord three times that this thorn might be taken away. God said no. Paul\u2019s affliction was not for punishment but for protection\u2014that is, protection from a self-inflated attitude. So we find Paul boasting in his weakness, for when he is weak, Christ\u2019s power is all the more present.
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cMy grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20142 Corinthians 12:9<\/p>\n
It is wise for Christians to periodically examine themselves to ensure they are in the faith.
\nPaul urged, \u201cExamine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith\u201d (2 Corinthians 13:5). The Amplified Bible renders it well: \u201cExamine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it.\u201d
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Christ is fully sufficient to meet your every need. When you are weak, God\u2019s strength is abundantly available.
\nGalatians<\/p>\n
Our salvation is a free grace-gift received by faith alone\u2014with no works involved.
\nTimeline
\n47\u201349\u2014Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark set out on their first missionary tour.
\n49\u201350\u2014Paul wrote his epistle to the Galatians to rescue them from a false gospel of legalism.
\n49\u201350\u2014Paul and Silas visit south Galatia.
\n49\u201350\u2014Timothy joins Paul and Silas as they journey through north Galatia to Troas.
\nPaul wrote this epistle \u201cto the churches of Galatia\u201d in AD 50 (Galatians 1:2). The backdrop is that Judaizers had infiltrated some of Paul\u2019s congregations, claiming he made the gospel more appealing to Gentiles by removing Jewish legal requirements. They taught that after believing in Christ, the Gentile must take an additional step and become a Jew through circumcision, eat only the right kinds of foods, and participate in certain Jewish feast days (Acts 15:24; 20:29-30). This effectively added works to grace.
\nPaul taught that salvation is a gift that is received solely by faith in Christ (Galatians 3:24-26). He warned that if anyone delivered to the church any other gospel than the one previously handed down\u2014including this legalistic gospel from Judaizers\u2014they were accursed before God (1:8). He strongly affirmed that salvation is through faith alone by grace alone, and there is no requirement for Gentiles to \u201cbecome Jews\u201d to be true Christians.
\nGrace and Peace (Galatians 1:3)
\n\u2022 Paul said, \u201cGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d
\n\u2022 These are important words for people engulfed in legalism (like the Galatians).
\n\u2022 The word \u201cgrace\u201d means \u201cunmerited favor.\u201d
\n\u2022 Because of God\u2019s unmerited favor, humans can have peace with God (Romans 5:1-2).<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Galatians:<\/p>\n
The gospel is not a man-made idea but rather comes straight from God through an apostle of God. You can therefore trust it with no doubts whatsoever. Believe it and rejoice!
\nPaul affirmed to the Galatians that he was \u201can apostle\u2014not from men nor through men, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father\u201d (Galatians 1:1; see also verses 15-20). The false teachers tried to undermine Paul\u2019s gospel by first undermining his authority. They claimed he was not a true apostle of God. Paul therefore established his apostleship in no uncertain terms. He was made an apostle not by men, but by God Himself. Case closed!
\nPaul then affirmed, \u201cThe gospel that was preached by me is not man\u2019s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ\u201d (Galatians 1:11-12). Paul\u2019s gospel message was backed by the other apostles in Jerusalem (2:1-10). Since the true gospel came from God, the Galatians were to reject all other gospels\u2014that is, man-made gospels\u2014including the one taught by the false teachers who had infiltrated the churches in Galatia.
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cEven if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Galatians 1:8
\nCross-References: Paul\u2019s Apostleship
\nRomans 1:1 \u2022 11:13 \u2022 1 Corinthians 9:1 \u2022 15:9 \u2022 2 Corinthians 1:1 \u2022 11:5 \u2022 Ephesians 1:1 \u2022 Colossians 1:1 \u2022 1 Timothy 1:1 \u2022 2 Timothy 1:1<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t ever fall for a gospel of works. It is a hellish false doctrine.
\nPaul expressed dismay at the Galatians\u2019 departure from a grace-gospel (Galatians 1:6-10). They had apparently given some credence to the false teachings of the Judaizers.
\nPaul affirmed that those who bring a different gospel are \u201caccursed.\u201d This comes from the Greek word anathema, which refers to consigning the offending person to eternal hell (Romans 9:3; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 16:22).
\nMy friend, let Paul\u2019s strong words be a lesson to us. Any gospel that conflicts with the gospel of grace taught by Paul is to be outright rejected.
\n\u201cWhitefield and Wesley might preach the gospel better than I do, but they cannot preach a better gospel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)<\/p>\n
Because of Christ\u2019s work on the cross, we enjoy true freedom and newness of life.
\nThe law brought condemnation. But Jesus Christ\u2014through His work of salvation on the cross\u2014delivered us from the law and brought us freedom and newness of life. Jesus \u201cgave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age\u201d (Galatians 1:4). \u201cChrist redeemed us from the curse of the law\u2026 so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith\u201d (3:13-14).
\nPaul indicated that just as we are identified with Christ in His death, so we are identified with Christ in His resurrection life. Paul affirmed, \u201cI have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me\u201d (Galatians 2:20). Glorious!
\nThe Gospel
\nThe word \u201cgospel\u201d means \u201cgood news.\u201d By trusting in Christ, we are
\n\u2022 justified (Romans 3:24);
\n\u2022 reconciled (2 Corinthians 5:19);
\n\u2022 forgiven (Colossians 2:14); and
\n\u2022 adopted (Romans 8:14).
\n\u2022 That\u2019s very good news indeed!
\n\u201c\u2018Christ liveth in me.\u2019 And how great the difference!\u2014instead of bondage, liberty; instead of failure, quiet victories within; instead of fear and weakness, a restful sense of sufficiency in Another.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Hudson Taylor (1832\u20131905)<\/p>\n
Rejoice! You and I are made right with God by faith alone in Christ alone.
\nPaul affirmed that \u201ca person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.\u201d He said, \u201cBy works of the law no one will be justified\u201d (Galatians 2:16).
\nThe word \u201cjustified\u201d is a legal term. Negatively, the word means one is once-for-all pronounced not guilty before God. Positively, the word means one is once-for-all pronounced righteous. When a person trusts in Christ for salvation, he is pronounced \u201cnot guilty\u201d and once-for-all righteous (Galatians 2:15-17; 3:11,24; 5:4).
\nThough the Jews previously tried to earn right standing with God by works, Paul indicated that God\u2019s declaration of righteousness (justification) is provided \u201cby his grace as a gift\u201d (Romans 3:24). The word \u201cgrace\u201d means \u201cunmerited favor.\u201d It is because of God\u2019s unmerited favor that human beings can freely be \u201cdeclared righteous\u201d before God.
\nThis does not mean God\u2019s declaration of righteousness has no objective basis, because it does. The word \u201credemption\u201d literally means \u201cransom payment.\u201d This is a word adapted from the slave market. We were formerly enslaved to sin and Satan, but Jesus ransomed us by His death on the cross. His shed blood was the ransom payment (Romans 3:25). This makes justification possible. Thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord Jesus!
\nCross-References: Justification
\nGenesis 15:6 \u2022 Acts 13:39 \u2022 Romans 3:20-28 \u2022 5:1 \u2022 1 Corinthians 6:11 \u2022 Galatians 3:6 \u2022 Philippians 3:9 \u2022 Hebrews 10:38 \u2022 11:4<\/p>\n
We began our walk with Christ through faith. We also experience our growth in Christ through faith.
\nPaul asked the Galatians, \u201cDid you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?\u201d (Galatians 3:2-3).
\nDear Christian, Paul\u2019s point was that the Galatians became Christians in the first place by faith, and not by works. Now they were to experience spiritual growth by faith, and not by works. The same is true of you and me.
\n\u201cThe most damnable and pernicious heresy that has ever plagued the mind of man was the idea that somehow he could make himself good enough to deserve to live with an all-holy God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Martin Luther (1483\u20131546)<\/p>\n
Abraham was justified by faith alone, and that same principle applies today.
\nPaul, a Hebrew of Hebrews, knew the Old Testament well. To make his case about justification, Paul affirmed that Abraham \u201cbelieved God, and it was counted to him as righteousness\u201d (Galatians 3:6). He says the same thing in Romans 4:3: \u201cAbraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.\u201d
\nPaul indicated there has never been any other means of salvation than by grace through faith. Even the Old Testament teaches justification by faith. That being so, the Galatians should not listen to the claims of the false teachers.
\nListen, my fellow believer. Some today are setting forth a false gospel\u2014a gospel tainted by requiring you to \u201cdo this\u201d or \u201cdo that.\u201d These are days for discernment. Don\u2019t be deceived. Test all gospel claims against the Scriptures (see Acts 17:11).<\/p>\n
While the law can\u2019t save anyone, the law is good because it acts like a tutor that leads people straight to Jesus for salvation.
\nA very important function of the law is that it is like a tutor that leads us to Christ for salvation (Galatians 3:24-25). Among the ancient Romans, it was the job of a tutor to lead a child to school. Just as an ancient tutor would lead a child to school, so the law is our tutor in leading us straight to Jesus Christ, the Savior. The law does this by showing us our sin and then pointing to the marvelous grace of Christ.
\nOnce we have \u201carrived\u201d to Christ\u2014trusting in Him as our Savior, and being justified by faith\u2014the law has done its job and it no longer holds sway over us. As Paul put it in Romans 10:4, \u201cChrist is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t ever slip from grace into legalism. That amounts to trading freedom for slavery.
\nPaul informs the Galatians that he is \u201cperplexed\u201d\u2014literally, \u201cat his wits\u2019 end\u201d\u2014over them, for they have essentially traded freedom for slavery by shifting from a grace-gospel to a works-gospel (Galatians 4:8-20). My friend, we might rephrase Paul\u2019s thought this way: \u201cYou guys absolutely boggle my mind. What on earth were you thinking, trading in your freedom for a life of oppressive bondage? Have you lost your minds?\u201d
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cFor freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Galatians 5:1<\/p>\n
Our freedom in Christ does not mean freedom to sin. Rather, it means freedom to love and serve Christ without fear of condemnation by the law.
\nBelievers who have been delivered from the law must be cautious not to fall into lawlessness (Galatians 5:13-15). We are set free not only from bondage to the law, but also bondage to sin. Our liberty in Christ should therefore never be used as an excuse to engage in easy sin. Rather, our freedom ought to motivate us to love and serve Christ.<\/p>\n
Walking in dependence on the Holy Spirit leads to victory over the flesh and the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
\nPaul says, \u201cWalk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh\u201d (Galatians 5:16). The word \u201cwalk\u201d in this verse is a present tense verb, indicating continuing action. We are to persistently and continually walk in dependence upon the Spirit. As we do this, we will live in a way that is pleasing to God.
\nPaul also indicated that as we walk in the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit grows in our lives. \u201cThe fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control\u201d (Galatians 5:22-23). Notice that the qualities listed in Galatians 5:22-23 present an accurate profile of Jesus Christ Himself. The character of our Lord is reproduced in our lives as we walk in dependence upon the Spirit. As we walk in the Spirit, we progressively take on the family likeness (as members of God\u2019s forever family).
\n\u201cYou might as well try to hear without ears, or breathe without lungs, as try to live a Christian life without the Spirit of God in your heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Dwight Moody (1837\u20131899)
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cWalk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Galatians 5:16<\/p>\n
Never get weary in doing good.
\nPaul urges us to bear each other\u2019s burdens and never get weary in doing good (Galatians 6). He says this right after urging us to walk in the Spirit. The one who walks in the Spirit is empowered and motivated to help his brothers and sisters and seek to do good! Let it be so in each of our lives.
\nBear One Another\u2019s Burdens (Galatians 6:2)
\nWe not only need God, we need each other. Here\u2019s a strategy: \u201cWhatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them\u201d (Matthew 7:12).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Because you are justified by faith alone, you can do nothing to add to the salvation already provided for you in Christ. Jesus has done it all. Rejoice!
\nEphesians<\/p>\n
We are blessed to have incredible spiritual riches in Jesus Christ.
\nTimeline
\n52\u2014Paul travels through Ephesus on his second missionary tour.
\n52\u2014Apollos is mentored by Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus.
\n54\u2014Paul returns to Ephesus and ministers there for a few years.
\n56\u2014Paul writes 1 Corinthians from Ephesus.
\n60\u201361\u2014Paul travels to Rome.
\n61\u2014Paul is imprisoned in Rome.
\n61\u2014Paul writes his epistle to the Ephesians from prison.
\nPaul wrote this epistle \u201cto the saints who are in Ephesus\u201d in AD 61. Ephesus was a city characterized by luxurious homes, elegant buildings, and wide avenues. It was a leading commercial and trade center of the ancient world, and was understandably one of the more prominent cities in the province of Asia.
\nEphesus was well known for its temple of the Roman goddess Diana, a building considered one of the seven wonders of the world. The city was brimming with pagans.
\nDuring his third missionary tour, Paul spent three years in Ephesus building up the church (Acts 19). When he left, his young associate Timothy pastored there for another year, seeking to establish the church in sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3,20).
\nPaul later wrote Ephesians while a prisoner in Rome in AD 61. He intended it to be a circular letter to be read not just at the church at Ephesus but at other churches as well.
\nYou will notice there are no commands in chapters 1\u20133, but over 30 commands in chapters 4\u20136. Paul provides the doctrinal basis for living in chapters 1\u20133 (focusing on the believer\u2019s riches and blessings in Jesus Christ), and then draws the practical application of that doctrine in chapters 4\u20136. More specifically, in view of the reality that we are positionally \u201cin Christ,\u201d we are now to walk for Christ as we continue to live on earth. We must walk in unity (Ephesians 4:1-16), in holiness (4:17-32), in love (5:1-6), in the light (5:7-14), in wisdom (5:15-6:9), and in victory (6:10-20). Paul thoroughly demonstrates how doctrine affects duty.
\n\u201cGod is more anxious to bestow his blessings on us than we are to receive them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Augustine (354\u2013430)<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Ephesians:<\/p>\n
We are all born into the world spiritually dead, separated from God because of our sin. Praise the Lord, we are brought near to God in Christ, our sin-bearer.
\nHuman beings are born into the world in a state of sin. The sin nature\u2014rooted in Adam and Eve\u2019s sin\u2014is passed on from the moment of conception. That is why Ephesians 2:3 says we are \u201cby nature the children of wrath\u201d (emphasis added). Other Bible passages make this same point. In Psalm 51:5 David lamented, \u201cBehold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.\u201d
\nThis sin has alienated human beings from God (Romans 3:9-20). However, Jesus\u2014by His work on the cross\u2014has shattered that alienation and brought us near to God. \u201cNow in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ\u201d (Ephesians 2:13).
\nNo more alienation. Praise Jesus!
\nSin in the Heart
\n\u201cThe heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Adrian Rogers (1931\u20132005)<\/p>\n
You have incredibly rich spiritual blessings in Jesus Christ. Don\u2019t live like a spiritual pauper.
\nGod\u2019s eternal purposes include the redemption, adoption, forgiveness, and sealing of a special people\u2014Christians\u2014who will forever live with God. Incredibly rich blessings are ours because of Jesus Christ. \u201cBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places\u201d (Ephesians 1:3).
\nMy friend, the Ephesian believers lived like spiritual paupers, perhaps unaware that such rich blessings were theirs in Jesus Christ. That\u2019s why Paul reminded them of this. Paul knew they could not possibly live as vibrant Christians unless they were aware of their spiritual riches.
\nI wonder if the same is sometimes true of us? Do we live day to day with the awareness of how rich we are in Christ? We cannot be reminded of this pivotal truth often enough.
\nCross-References: Adoption into God\u2019s Family
\nRomans 8:14,29 \u2022 Galatians 3:26 \u2022 4:5 \u2022 Philippians 2:15 \u2022 Hebrews 12:6-9 \u2022 1 John 3:1
\nVerses to Remember
\n\u201cNow to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Ephesians 3:20-21<\/p>\n
Rejoice! All three persons in the triune God play a role in our salvation: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God must really love us!
\nA careful reading of Scripture reveals that it was the Father who planned and ordained salvation (Ephesians 1:3-6,13-14; 2:4,8-9; see also John 3:16; Isaiah 53:6,10). This plan was not an emergency response conceived as a plan of rescue after humankind fell, but rather was the Father\u2019s sovereign choice in eternity past.
\nJesus\u2019s role was that of Redeemer. \u201cIn him we have redemption through his blood\u201d (Ephesians 1:7). Our various spiritual blessings are all rooted in Him\u2014\u201cin Christ\u201d (1:3), \u201cthrough Jesus Christ\u201d (1:5), \u201cin Christ\u201d (1:9), \u201cin him\u201d (1:10), \u201cin him\u201d (1:11), \u201cin Christ\u201d (1:12). How awesome is our beloved Savior.
\nEphesians 4:30 indicates that believers are sealed unto the day of redemption by the Holy Spirit (see also Ephesians 1:13-14). This seal, which indicates ownership, authority, and security, cannot be broken. The seal guarantees our entry into heaven.
\nCross-References: God\u2019s Sovereignty
\nExodus 15:18 \u2022 Deuteronomy 4:39 \u2022 10:14 \u2022 2 Chronicles 20:6 \u2022 Psalm 33:8-11 \u2022 Isaiah 40:21-26 \u2022 46:10 \u2022 Romans 14:11
\nA Bible Promise
\n\u201cWhen you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God\u2019s possession\u2014to the praise of his glory.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV<\/p>\n
Our salvation rests on God\u2019s amazing grace. Works play no role, so don\u2019t even try.
\nOur salvation, from beginning to end, is a result of God\u2019s amazing grace. \u201cBy grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast\u201d (Ephesians 2:8-9). \u201cIn him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us\u201d (1:7-8). The word \u201cgrace\u201d means \u201cundeserved favor.\u201d Because salvation is a grace-gift, it can\u2019t be earned. It\u2019s free! We can\u2019t attain it by a good performance.
\nGrace is necessary because any attempt to save ourselves by good deeds is futile. It cannot be done. No matter how hard we try, it is no use. The source of salvation lies in God\u2019s grace, not in our personal exertions of willpower, or in efforts of discipline, or any other self-effort. Salvation is free!
\nGod\u2019s Eternal Purpose (Ephesians 3:11)
\nWhat has happened in the past, what is happening today, and what will happen in the prophetic future is all evidence of the unfolding of the eternal purposes of God.
\n\u201cGod loves each one of us as if there were only one of us to love.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Augustine (354\u2013430)<\/p>\n
Christians have spiritual unity in Jesus Christ\u2014we are all \u201cone body.\u201d It therefore makes good sense to seek to live in day-to-day unity.
\nIn God\u2019s wondrous salvation both Jews and Gentiles become one in the body of Christ. People from every tribe and nation are a collective unity in the body of Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22). The church is a single organism composed of many parts (that is, many Christians)\u2014with each \u201cpart\u201d having a specific and important function. Our working together in perfect harmony hinges on such virtues as humility, gentleness, and mutual support. Christ is the head of this organism (4:1-16).
\nWhat all this means is that since we are spiritually one in Christ, we should seek unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let\u2019s do it.
\nIn essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.<\/p>\n
No people groups are excluded from invitation into God\u2019s eternal family. Let\u2019s therefore tell everyone about Jesus.
\nPaul speaks of a glorious mystery in Ephesians 3. In the Bible, a \u201cmystery\u201d is a truth that cannot be discerned simply by human investigation, but requires special revelation from God. Generally, this word refers to a truth that was unknown to people living in Old Testament times, but is now revealed to humankind by God (Matthew 13:17; Colossians 1:26).
\nWhat was known in Old Testament times was that God was bringing salvation to the Jewish people. What was unknown\u2014but was now being revealed through Paul\u2014is that the Gentiles would also be recipients of God\u2019s salvation and blessings. \u201cThis mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel\u201d (Ephesians 3:6). This means the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ is for all people everywhere.
\nSince this is the case, doesn\u2019t it make good sense for us to share the good news of the gospel with all people everywhere? Jesus, the Lamb of God, is said to have \u201cransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,\u201d and \u201cmade them a kingdom and priests to our God\u201d (Revelation 5:9-10). Let\u2019s do our part.
\n\u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all nations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19)<\/p>\n
Daily transformation is a key component of the Christian life. Let\u2019s continually put away the old (sin) and bring on the new (right living).
\nPaul emphasized that because the church is made up of many individual members, each member must be considerate of each other. Toward that end, they must \u201cput off\u201d the old sinful self, and \u201cput on\u201d the new self\u2014the Christ-submitting self (Ephesians 4:17-32). The goal: daily transformation!
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cWalk as children of light.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Ephesians 5:8<\/p>\n
We ought to walk in love 24\/7, just as Jesus did.
\nPaul calls us to love others as Christ loved us. This type of love means treating our brothers and sisters with integrity. More specifically, believers\u2014motivated by love\u2014must seek to avoid the sins that characterize their sinful natures, such as sexual immorality, impurity, and crude speech (Ephesians 5:1-21).
\nResisting such sins becomes possible by yielding to the Holy Spirit. Paul exhorts, \u201cBe filled with the Spirit\u201d (Ephesians 5:18). To be filled with the Holy Spirit means one\u2019s life will be controlled or governed no longer by self but by the Holy Spirit. It is not a matter of acquiring more of the Spirit, but rather of the Spirit of God acquiring all of the individual. The filling of the Spirit is accomplished in the life of a believer when he or she is fully yielded to the indwelling Holy Spirit. A person \u201cfull of the Holy Spirit\u201d behaves in a way fitting with that filling. That is, the person acts in a way pleasing to God, avoiding sin and loving others.
\n\u201cTo love means loving the unlovable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014G. K. Chesterton (1874\u20131936)<\/p>\n
Our walk with Christ ought to affect our family relationships.
\nHusbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church; wives are to submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-33); and children must obey their parents (6:1-3). God invented the family unit in the first place (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18). It therefore makes good sense to operate the family unit according to His instructions.<\/p>\n
The devil aims to bring you down. Don\u2019t neglect to put on God\u2019s armor.
\nGod provides us with armor to protect us against the devil. \u201cPut on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil\u201d (Ephesians 6:11). \u201cWearing\u201d this armor means our lives will be characterized by righteousness, obedience to God, faith in God, and an effective use of God\u2019s Word.
\n\u201cThere are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014C. S. Lewis (1898\u20131963)
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
The devil seeks to make you feel like a worm and a pauper before God. Don\u2019t listen to him. You are loved by God and are incredibly rich in Jesus Christ.
\nPhilippians<\/p>\n
The Christian life is characterized by joy, a heavenly perspective, confident living in Christ, righteous living, peace, and contentment.
\nTimeline
\n50\u2014Paul and his companions visit Philippi during their second missionary tour and plant a church.
\n57\u2014Paul revisits Philippi to collect funds for the church at Jerusalem.
\n61\u2014Paul is imprisoned in Rome.
\n63\u2014Paul writes his epistle to the Philippians while imprisoned.
\nPaul wrote this letter to the believers \u201cat Philippi\u201d in AD 63. The Philippian church began small. Because Philippi was a Roman colony, there were too few Jews to warrant the establishment of a synagogue, which required a minimum of ten adult Jewish men. The Jews therefore met for prayer by the river Gangites on the Sabbath. It was at this location that Paul addressed the first converts of Philippi during his second missionary tour.
\nThe Philippian church eventually experienced some problems. There were intense rivalries (Philippians 2:3-4), legalistic disturbances caused by Judaizers (3:2-3), and some who were flirting with worldliness (3:18-19). Because of these internal problems, Paul wrote this letter as a corrective measure.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Philippians:<\/p>\n
You can have joy even in the midst of life\u2019s most difficult circumstances.
\nChristians can experience joy even during life\u2019s roughest moments. Paul is a perfect example of this. He was full of joy even in the face of persecution, imprisonment, and the threat of death. Not only did Paul experience joy while he was in prison (Philippians 1:18; see also 2:17-18); he also urged the Philippians, \u201cRejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice\u201d (4:4; see also 3:1). Notice that Paul was not talking about a happiness dependent on one\u2019s external circumstances. Paul said to rejoice \u201cin the Lord.\u201d The Lord is the fount of joy from which we drink. While our circumstances may change, the Lord does not change. He is always there as our source of joy. So, dear Christian, drink of Him richly, today and forevermore.
\n\u201cDisappointments are inevitable; discouragement is a choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Stanley
\nCross-References: Joy
\nNehemiah 8:10 \u2022 Psalm 16:11 \u2022 30:5 \u2022 89:16 \u2022 126:5 \u2022 132:16 \u2022 Isaiah 12:3 \u2022 35:10 \u2022 Luke 2:10 \u2022 John 15:11 \u2022 16:24 \u2022 17:13 \u2022 Romans 14:17
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cRejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Philippians 4:4<\/p>\n
God will never give up on you. He will complete His work of salvation in you\u2014all the way into heaven.
\nPaul told the Philippians, \u201cHe who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ\u201d (Philippians 1:6). Paul is apparently here referring to the third stage of salvation, which is glorification. As a backdrop, the salvation we have in Christ is threefold, involving the past, present, and future. In terms of the past, God has delivered us from the penalty of sin and wiped our slate clean. This happens the moment we trust in Christ for salvation (Acts 16:31). The present aspect of salvation involves deliverance from the power of sin in our daily lives (Romans 8:13; Philippians 2:12). In the future, when we enter into glory (in heaven), we will be finally delivered from the very presence of sin (Romans 13:11; Titus 2:12-13). In this third stage, we will have glorified resurrection bodies in heaven, and sin will be a thing of the past. God will thus bring salvation \u201cto completion.\u201d Rejoice!<\/p>\n
Sometimes difficult circumstances in life can serve to help spread the gospel.
\nPaul was being persecuted, was now in prison, and faced the possibility of death. Yet even in these dire circumstances he could inform the Philippians that what had happened to him actually furthered the cause of Christ (Philippians 1:12). As a result of Paul\u2019s imprisonment, the gospel had become known throughout the entire imperial guard (1:13). As well, Paul\u2019s imprisonment served to embolden other brothers in Christ to speak the truth of the gospel without fear (1:14). God is a master at bringing good out of evil (Romans 8:28).
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cFor to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Philippians 1:21<\/p>\n
Whether we live or die, all is ultimately good. To live is Christ but to die is gain.
\nPaul affirmed, \u201cFor to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain\u201d (Philippians 1:21). For Paul to live would mean more fruitful service for Christ, including service among the Philippians (verse 22). However, being with Christ is far better than remaining in the physical body. Paul knew that the very moment after physical death occurred, he would be with Christ.
\nPaul then said, \u201cI am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better\u201d (Philippians 1:23). The word for \u201cdepart\u201d was used in biblical times in reference to a ship being loosed from its moorings to sail away from the dock. The \u201cmooring\u201d that kept Paul from departing to heaven was his commitment to work among believers on earth until his work was complete. His ultimate desire, however, was to \u201csail\u201d directly into God\u2019s presence.
\nThe word \u201cdepart\u201d was also used in biblical times for freeing someone from chains. Here on earth we are anchored to the hardships and heartaches of this life. In death these chains are broken. We are set free for entry into heaven.
\nThis reminds us of 2 Corinthians 5:8, where Paul said he preferred to be \u201caway from the body and at home with the Lord.\u201d The Greek word for \u201cwith\u201d in the phrase \u201chome with the Lord\u201d suggests close, face-to-face fellowship. Paul indicated the fellowship he expects to have with Christ immediately following his physical death will be one of great intimacy.
\n\u201cThe best moment of a Christian\u2019s life is his last one, because it is the one that is nearest heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Anonymous
\nBlessed Either Way
\nWhether we live or die, all is good. If we live, we serve Christ on earth. If we die, we go to be with Christ in heaven.<\/p>\n
We should all live in a manner worthy of the gospel.
\nPaul urged the Philippian believers, \u201cLet your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ\u201d (Philippians 1:27). Paul often made this point to his readers (Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12). His primary idea was that a Christian\u2019s manner of living needed to be consistent with what he or she believed. This reminds us of what James said: \u201cBe doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves\u201d (James 1:22).<\/p>\n
Putting others above ourselves helps us to maintain unity in the church.
\nPaul urged, \u201cDo nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others\u201d (Philippians 2:3-4). Paul\u2019s underlying emphasis was that there needed to be church unity. One means of attaining that unity was for church members to be humble, putting each other first.
\nChrist is our greatest example of humility. Paul therefore instructed, \u201cHave this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men\u201d (Philippians 2:5-7). My friend, Paul\u2019s main idea is this: be humble like Jesus was.
\nCross-References: Humility
\nMicah 6:8 \u2022 Luke 14:10 \u2022 22:26 \u2022 Romans 11:20 \u2022 12:3 \u2022 James 4:10 \u2022 1 Peter 5:5
\n\u201cYou can have no greater sign of a confirmed pride than when you think you are humble enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014William Law (1686\u20131761)
\n\u201cHumility is a self-forgetfulness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014C. S. Lewis (1898\u20131963)<\/p>\n
Christians ought to make every effort to remedy internal problems in the church.
\nPaul instructed the Philippians, \u201cWork out your own salvation with fear and trembling\u201d (Philippians 2:12). This verse has nothing to do with assurance of final salvation for individual believers. Contextually, the Philippian church was plagued by (1) rivalries (2:3-4; 4:2); (2) the influence of legalistic Judaizers (3:2-3); and (3) some in the church who were living in worldliness (3:18-19). This church as a unit was in need of \u201csalvation.\u201d
\nThe Greek word for \u201cwork out\u201d refers to bringing something to a conclusion. Paul was calling the Philippians to solve all the church\u2019s problems and \u201cwork them out to the finish.\u201d Like the Philippians, Christians today should make every effort to remedy internal problems in their churches. After all, a strong church breeds strong Christians.
\n\u201cBehold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Psalm 133:1<\/p>\n
Our righteousness is not self-manufactured but rather comes through faith in Christ.
\nJudaizers infiltrated the Philippian church and taught that a person needed to be circumcised and then follow various Jewish laws to be right with God. Interestingly, though Jewish leaders often called Gentiles \u201cdogs,\u201d Paul here calls the Judaizers \u201cdogs.\u201d And even though Judaizers prided themselves as representatives of righteousness, Paul calls them evil (Philippians 3:2). Paul turned the tables. He wouldn\u2019t allow legalism!
\n\u201cIf you feel that you can follow a few little rules to make you a mature Christian, then you have fallen into a subtle trap of legalism.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014J. Vernon McGee (1904\u20131988)<\/p>\n
Nothing compares with knowing Jesus!
\nThe apostle Paul, before his conversion to Christ, was committed to a life of Jewish legalism. How misguided! \u201cWhatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord\u201d (Philippians 3:7-8). At his conversion, Paul came to the sudden and devastating realization that all his impressive Jewish credentials counted for nothing in terms of knowing Christ.
\nDon\u2019t make your Christianity about obeying rules. Make it all about knowing Jesus\u2014and knowing Him intimately.<\/p>\n
Our daily mind-set should always be to press toward the goal that lies ahead.
\nPaul said something highly motivating in Philippians 3:13-14: \u201cOne thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.\u201d People ponder two things when they look at their past\u2014their past glories and their past failures. Our pasts can distract us from what is really important\u2014loving and fellowshipping with Christ now and in the future. Press on!<\/p>\n
Your true citizenship is in heaven. Choose to live now in view of then.
\nPaul reminded the Philippians, \u201cOur citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body\u201d (Philippians 3:20-21). We may be earthly citizens, too, but in terms of our ultimate destiny, we are citizens of heaven. We are pilgrims passing through, on our way to another country, another land, another city (Hebrews 11:16). And we behave ourselves on earth in view of our glorious future in heaven.
\n\u201cTake courage. We walk in the wilderness today and in the Promised Land tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Dwight L. Moody (1837\u20131899)<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry. Pray about your needs and be at peace.
\nPaul urges, \u201cDo not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus\u201d (Philippians 4:6-7).
\nMy friend, whatever you\u2019re struggling with\u2014personal relationships, finances, an illness, the workplace\u2014bring it before God in prayer. If you\u2019re anxious about anything, pray immediately. Cast your anxieties on God, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).
\nFive Components of Prayer
\n\u2022 Thanksgiving (Psalm 95:2; 100:4)
\n\u2022 Praise (Psalm 34:1; 103:1-5,20-22)
\n\u2022 Worship (Exodus 20:3-5; Hebrews 12:28)
\n\u2022 Confession (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9)
\n\u2022 Specific requests to God (Philippians 4:6-7)<\/p>\n
The Christian\u2019s contentment is rooted in the full sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
\nPaul affirmed, \u201cI have learned in whatever situation I am to be content\u2026 I can do all things through him who strengthens me\u201d (Philippians 4:11-13). We can be content no matter our external circumstances because of the full sufficiency of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 9:8).
\n\u201cThe whole secret of abundant living can be summed up in this sentence: \u2018Not your responsibility but your response to God\u2019s ability.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Carl F. H. Henry (1913\u20132003)
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Remember the Three Bs: be content, be at peace, and be full of joy.
\nColossians<\/p>\n
Make Christ supreme in your life. He is sufficient for your every need.
\nTimeline
\n17\u2014Colossae experiences a powerful earthquake.
\n61\u2014Paul is imprisoned in Rome.
\n61\u2014Paul writes an epistle to the Colossians while in prison in Rome.
\n64\u2014Colossae experiences another powerful earthquake.
\nPaul wrote this epistle \u201cto the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae\u201d (Colossians 1:2), hence the title Colossians. He wrote the epistle in about AD 61.
\nColossae was about 100 miles east of Ephesus. While Paul had never been to the city, he had heard about the church from his associate Epaphras (Colossians 1:7-8). Some of the news he heard bothered him\u2014aberrant doctrines had penetrated the church. So Paul wrote this epistle while in prison to correct these errors, but he also gave great spiritual encouragement.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Colossians:<\/p>\n
God\u2019s Word is not just to provide us with information, but to bring about personal transformation.
\nPaul affirms that the word of truth bears fruit (Colossians 1:5-6). Indeed, being \u201cfilled with the knowledge of his will\u201d enables us to \u201cto walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God\u201d (1:9-10). My friend, the Word of God is not just intended to fill your mind with more knowledge. It is intended to transform you from the inside out. God\u2019s Word is life-changing (Romans 12:2).
\n\u201cAll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u20142 Timothy 3:16<\/p>\n
Our hope of heaven motivates us to live God\u2019s way.
\nEvery Christian has a \u201chope laid up\u201d in heaven (Colossians 1:5). We will one day receive \u201cthe inheritance of the saints in light\u201d (1:12). This hope is a powerful motivator to live God\u2019s way. We live now in view of then.
\n\u201cA heart in heaven will be a most excellent preservative against temptations, a powerful means to kill thy corruptions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Richard Baxter (1615\u20131691)<\/p>\n
We derive strength to patiently endure directly from God.
\nPaul exhorts us, \u201cMay you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy\u201d (Colossians 1:11). This means our patient endurance of the trials is rooted not in our strength\u2014which, in reality, is weakness\u2014but rather in God\u2019s almighty strength. He is our divine enabler.<\/p>\n
Because Christ is supreme in reality, He must be supreme experientially in our lives.
\nPaul affirms that Christ is preeminent over all things in the universe (Colossians 1:15-19). He must also be supreme in our lives. He and He alone should be ruling on the throne of our hearts. Dear Christian, is something else now supreme in your heart, distracting you from Christ? Oust it immediately. Make Christ supreme in your life!
\nSupremacy of Christ
\nMatthew 3:11 \u2022 John 3:31 \u2022 13:13 \u2022 Acts 2:36 \u2022 Romans 14:9 \u2022 Hebrews 1:4 \u2022 3:3 \u2022 8:6 \u2022 Revelation 1:4-5<\/p>\n
Rejoice! In Christ you are holy, blameless, and above reproach. Anchor yourself on this truth.
\nBecause of Jesus\u2019s work on the cross, you and I are \u201choly and blameless and above reproach before him\u201d (Colossians 1:22). Can there be any better news for the Christian? I do not have the capability of making myself holy and blameless. But in Christ I am holy and blameless. What a wondrous gift is God\u2019s grace-salvation!<\/p>\n
The true secret of the Christian life is \u201cChrist in you.\u201d
\nIn Colossians 1:27 Paul speaks of \u201cChrist in you, the hope of glory.\u201d This is an amazing truth. Believers are in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:4) and Christ is in believers (Romans 8:10; 2 Corinthians 13:5). Believers can therefore look forward to sharing in Christ\u2019s glory when He comes for us (Colossians 3:4; Romans 5:2; 8:18, 30; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Galatians 5:5; 1 Peter 5:10).
\n\u201cApart from me you can do nothing\u201d (John 15:5).
\n\u201cI can do all things through him who strengthens me\u201d (Philippians 4:13).<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t let anyone talk you out of your faith by human reasoning.
\nIt is important for you to become knowledgeable of the spiritual truths of the Bible so \u201cno one may delude you with plausible arguments\u201d (Colossians 2:4). Indeed, Paul says, \u201cSee to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition\u201d (2:8). Humanists, atheists, cultists, and advocates of false religions present many arguments against Christianity. Don\u2019t buy it. Don\u2019t listen. Hold fast to the Scriptures!<\/p>\n
Christ is fully sufficient for your needs. Christians are rooted and built up in Him alone.
\nPaul urges, \u201cAs you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith\u201d (Colossians 2:6-7). Don\u2019t be rooted and built up in self-help books. Don\u2019t be rooted and built up in religious rules and rituals. Be rooted and built up in Christ alone. He is all you need.
\nTotal Sufficiency of Christ
\n\u2022 False teachers in Colossae claimed legalistic religious traditions had to be followed.
\n\u2022 Paul countered that Christ is totally sufficient for salvation and the Christian life.
\n\u2022 We submit to Christ alone (Colossians 2:8-23).<\/p>\n
Rest secure, for Jesus reigns over all.
\nJesus Christ is the \u201chead of all rule and authority\u201d (Colossians 2:10). Because He is the head of all rule and authority, we listen to Him alone, and not to those who offer other religious ideas\u2014such as the false teachers who sought to deceive the Colossian believers. Christ is also the head over all angels, whom the false teachers in Colossae were seeking to exalt. Jesus reigns over all!
\nVerses to Remember
\n\u201cAs you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Colossians 2:6-7<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t fall into legalism. Your relationship with God is not based on obeying rules.
\nChristians should be cautious against falling into legalism. Christianity is not based on rules like \u201cDo not handle, do not taste, do not touch\u201d (Colossians 2:21). Christianity is not founded upon \u201casceticism and severity to the body\u201d (2:23). In Christ we have died to such things (2:20). Focus your attention on your personal relationship with Christ, not on legalistic practices.<\/p>\n
An eternal perspective motivates us to live God\u2019s way.
\nThe apostle Paul tells us to maintain an eternal perspective: \u201cSeek the things that are above, where Christ is.\u201d Indeed, \u201cSet your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth\u201d (Colossians 3:2). The original Greek of this passage communicates the idea \u201cKeep on seeking the things above, 24\/7.\u201d As we do this, we are motivated to dump all the sinful baggage of our former lifestyles (3:5-11).
\n\u201cResolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Jonathan Edwards (1703\u20131758)<\/p>\n
Christ is all that matters, and He lives in you.
\nPaul says \u201cChrist is all, and in all\u201d (Colossians 3:11). We have an intimate union with Christ, and all Christians are bound together in Christ. Because of that union, we can draw on His strength for the victorious life. As John 15:1-10 puts it, we are \u201cbranches\u201d plugged into the \u201cvine\u201d (Jesus), thereby producing fruit.
\nA Verse to Remember
\n\u201cSet your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Colossians 3:2<\/p>\n
God forgave you. You must forgive others.
\nWe are instructed, \u201cAs the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive\u201d (Colossians 3:13). There is no place for holding a grudge in the Christian life. In fact, Jesus told us we should forgive others without limit (Matthew 18:21-22). Are you holding any grudges? Let go of them today!
\n\u201cEvery man should keep a fair-sized cemetery in which to bury the faults of his friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Henry Ward Beecher (1813\u20131887)<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry. Let Christ\u2019s peace rule in your heart.
\nWorry and anxiety are plagues among human beings today. Anxiety is an epidemic in Western society. Paul, however, instructs, \u201cLet the peace of Christ rule in your hearts\u201d (Colossians 3:15). The word \u201cpeace\u201d refers to God-given tranquility. The tranquility of Christ can rule in our hearts if we allow it. This brings to mind what Jesus said earlier: \u201cPeace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid\u201d (John 14:27).
\n\u201cThe beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of faith is the end of anxiety.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014George Muller (1805\u20131898)<\/p>\n
Let Christ\u2019s words dwell in your heart. They will make you wise.
\nPaul urged the Colossian believers to \u201clet the word of Christ dwell in you richly\u201d (Colossians 3:16). The words of Christ are recorded in Scripture. This means we must let the words of Scripture dwell in us richly. The word \u201cdwell\u201d carries the idea of God\u2019s Word making its home in our hearts. As we daily study and meditate upon Scripture, rich spiritual fruit emerges in our lives.<\/p>\n
Do everything as a representative of Jesus Christ, ultimately serving the Lord, not people.
\nWe are instructed, \u201cWhatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus\u201d (Colossians 3:17). Indeed, \u201cWhatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men\u201d (3:23). This makes sense because our ultimate payday involves not earthly wages but heavenly riches (Matthew 6:19-21).<\/p>\n
Family relations are a huge blessing when done God\u2019s way.
\nGod is the one who invented the human family in the first place (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18). It therefore makes good sense to operate the family unit according to His instructions. God has instructions for husbands, wives, and children (Colossians 3:18-21).<\/p>\n
Live right. A judgment is coming.
\nPaul says, \u201cFrom the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward\u2026 the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done\u201d (Colossians 3:24-25). Believers will one day face the judgment seat of Christ, where they\u2019ll either receive rewards or lose rewards, depending upon how they lived as Christians (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
\nA Heavenly Perspective
\nPsalm 16:11 \u2022 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 \u2022 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 \u2022 Philippians 1:21-23 \u2022 Colossians 3:1-2 \u2022 1 Peter 1:4<\/p>\n
Pray a lot. It makes all the difference.
\nChristians are urged, \u201cContinue steadfastly in prayer\u201d (Colossians 4:2). We see this same admonition in the teachings of Jesus. \u201cAsk, and it will be given to you\u201d (Matthew 7:7). This is a present tense in the Greek. It carries the idea \u201cKeep on asking and it will be given to you.\u201d We ought to all be persistent in prayer (Psalm 116:2; Daniel 6:10; Romans 12:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
\n\u201cPrayer is not overcoming God\u2019s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Martin Luther (1483\u20131546)<\/p>\n
Live wisely among unbelievers.
\nChristians are exhorted, \u201cWalk in wisdom toward outsiders\u201d (Colossians 4:5). First Thessalonians 4:12 likewise instructs, \u201cWalk properly before outsiders.\u201d We \u201cmust be well thought of by outsiders\u201d (1 Timothy 3:7).
\nDear Christian, people are always more open to hear what you have to say about Christ if they witness the change He has made in your life.
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Make this your prayer today: Jesus, You will be my all in all. You alone will reign in my heart. I will enjoy Your spiritual presence from morning to night.
\n1 Thessalonians<\/p>\n
The prophetic future has profound implications for all people. It means ultimate deliverance for Christians. It means judgment for unbelievers.
\nTimeline
\n15\u2014Tiberius Caesar removes Thessalonica\u2019s status as a free city when the locals protest increased taxation.
\n44\u2014Claudius Caesar restores Thessalonica\u2019s status as a free city.
\n50\u2014Paul, Silas, and Timothy preach in Thessalonica.
\n50\u2014The church at Thessalonica is founded.
\n51\u2014Paul writes his first and second epistles to the Thessalonians a number of months after his ministry among them.
\nThessalonica was a capital of the Roman province of Macedonia in northern Greece. It was a prosperous port. The church of Thessalonica was founded around AD 50. The apostle Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians in early AD 51 (1 Thessalonians 1:1).
\nPaul had earlier visited Thessalonica for a short time. He would have stayed longer, but Jewish resistance shortened his stay. The Jews did not like it when Paul won converts to Christianity from among their own. For Paul\u2019s safety, the Christians in Thessalonica sent him to Berea (Acts 17:1-10). Paul wrote this epistle to instruct the church on God-honoring living in light of the prophetic future (including the rapture).
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in 1 Thessalonians:<\/p>\n
Keep yourself anchored on faith, hope, and love.
\nThe apostle Paul commended the Thessalonians for maintaining faith, hope, and love (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3). You and I are to follow their example: \u201cSince we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation\u201d (5:8). Faith, hope, and love will keep you grounded in your walk with Christ. Never let go of these three.
\n\u201cHope is never ill when faith is well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Bunyan (1628\u20131688)<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t allow anything to become an idol in your life. Serve only the living and true God.
\nPaul was so very pleased at how the Thessalonians had turned from idolatry in their lives. \u201cYou turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God\u201d (1 Thessalonians 1:9). God consistently condemns idolatry in all its forms (Exodus 20:4; Leviticus 26:1; 2 Kings 9:22)\u2014not only idols like golden calves. Anything that takes His place in one\u2019s life can function as an idol\u2014including money and wealth. It\u2019s helpful to occasionally conduct a self-inventory of your life to oust any idols that have wormed their way in (2 Corinthians 13:5).
\n\u201cA man\u2019s god is that for which he lives, for which he is prepared to give his time, his energy, his money, that which stimulates him and rouses him, excites, and enthuses him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899\u20131981)<\/p>\n
Rejoice! Christians are destined not for wrath but for deliverance.
\nScripture assures us the church is not appointed to wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 5:9). This means the church cannot go through the \u201cgreat day of wrath\u201d\u2014that is, the future seven-year tribulation period (Revelation 6:17; 14:10,19; 15:1,7; 16:1).
\nFirst Thessalonians 1:10 explicitly states that Jesus \u201cdelivers us from the wrath to come.\u201d The word \u201cdelivers\u201d in the original Greek means \u201cto draw or snatch out to oneself, to rescue, to save, to preserve.\u201d This seems to be referring to the rapture of the church prior to the beginning of the tribulation period. In fact, the \u201csnatching up\u201d in 1 Thessalonians 1:10 sounds notably similar to the description of the rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: \u201cWe who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air\u2026\u201d The phrase \u201ccaught up\u201d here literally means \u201csnatch up\u201d or \u201ctake away.\u201d
\nCross-References: The Rapture
\nJohn 14:1-3 \u2022 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 \u2022 Philippians 3:20-21 \u2022 4:5 \u2022 Colossians 3:4 \u2022 1 Thessalonians 1:10 \u2022 2:19 \u2022 5:9,23 \u2022 Titus 2:13<\/p>\n
Your ultimate goal must always be to please God, not other human beings.
\nThe apostle Paul affirmed, \u201cWe speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts\u201d (1 Thessalonians 2:4). This is a common emphasis in Scripture. Paul elsewhere affirmed, \u201cIf I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ\u201d (Galatians 1:10). Paul urged, \u201cWhatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men\u201d (Colossians 3:23). We must keep our priorities straight. It is all too easy to fall into the rut of being a people-pleaser. Our top priority ought to be to live as a God-pleaser.<\/p>\n
Beware that Satan seeks to thwart Christian ministry.
\nPaul affirmed to the Thessalonians, \u201cWe wanted to come to you\u2014I, Paul, again and again\u2014but Satan hindered us\u201d (1 Thessalonians 2:18). Satan hinders in many different ways. Satan opposes Christians with the ferociousness of a hungry lion (1 Peter 5:8). Satan and his demons seek to wage war against and defeat believers (Ephesians 6:11-12). Satan incites persecutions against believers (Revelation 2:10). Demons seek to hinder answers to the prayers of believers (Daniel 10:12-20). Any Christian who seeks to serve Christ in ministry will be hindered in one way or another by Satan and his demons. Keep on your spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-20)!
\n\u201cI know well that when Christ is nearest, Satan is also busiest.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Robert Murray M\u2019Cheyne (1813\u20131843)<\/p>\n
The attacks of Satan can weaken the faith and endurance of believers.
\nPaul wrote to the Thessalonians, \u201cWhen I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain\u201d (1 Thessalonians 3:5). Satan tempts Christians to bring them down. We are therefore best served to not be ignorant of his schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11; 11:14). And allow me to repeat: keep your spiritual armor on (Ephesians 6:10-20)!
\n\u201cTemptation is to see the tempter standing outside the back door of your heart. Sin is to unlock that door so that he may have his desire. Victory is to open wide the front door of your heart, inviting the Savior to enter and give you strength to bar tight the back door.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014E. Schuyler English (1900\u20131981)<\/p>\n
Avoid lustful passion and steer clear of all forms of sexual sin.
\nPaul strongly urged the Thessalonian Christians to avoid all forms of sexual immorality: \u201cThis is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust\u201d (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5). Paul reminded them that \u201cthe Lord is an avenger in all these things\u201d (4:6). Paul elsewhere affirmed that the body is not made for fornication and that a man should flee it (1 Corinthians 6:13,18). Be cautious, dear Christian. Sexual sin is an epidemic today.
\nThree Aspects of Sanctification
\n\u2022 positional sanctification\u2014being \u201cpositionally set apart\u201d from sin (1 Corinthians 6:11)
\n\u2022 progressive sanctification\u2014growing daily in holiness (1 Peter 1:16)
\n\u2022 ultimate sanctification\u2014once we\u2019re in heaven (1 John 3:2)<\/p>\n
Do your fair share of the work.
\nThe apostle Paul urged that there should be no idlers in the church, sitting around, awaiting the Lord\u2019s coming. Everyone should do their fair share of the work instead of sponging on the generosity of fellow Christians (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12). Do your part!<\/p>\n
Always seek to live a quiet life and mind your own business.
\nPaul urged the Thessalonians, \u201cAspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands\u201d (1 Thessalonians 4:11). What a contrast this is to many modern people who live loudly, mind everyone else\u2019s business, and avoid as much work as they can get away with. Paul\u2019s words are worthy of reflection.<\/p>\n
You can look forward to a glorious reunion with all your Christian loved ones.
\nOne day you and I will enjoy a grand and glorious reunion with all our Christian loved ones. Paul, speaking of the future rapture of the church, writes, \u201cThe dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord\u201d (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Scripture reveals that we\u2019ll all be resurrected and then live in each other\u2019s company with the Lord forever. Never again will death separate us from Christian loved ones\u2014for all of us will be perpetually basking in the glory of eternal life. Awesome!
\n\u201cNo two Christians will ever meet for the last time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Anonymous
\n\u201cWhen we get to Heaven, the joy of seeing our loved ones once again is immeasurably increased when we realize that all of us will indeed be perfect! There will be no more disagreements or cross words, hurt feelings, or misunderstandings.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Anne Graham Lotz<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re worried that the wicked are getting away with committing great evil, realize that they\u2019re not. A day of judgment is coming.
\nWhen we look around at the world today, it often seems that the wicked are getting away with all kinds of sinful acts\u2014many of them horrific in nature. But Scripture reveals they\u2019re not getting away with anything. \u201cDestruction will come upon them\u201d and \u201cthey will not escape\u201d (1 Thessalonians 5:3). A day of judgment is coming. God will bring about complete justice in the end.
\nThe wicked will face judgment at the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:12-13). The purpose of this judgment is to populate the lake of fire. Scripture reveals there will be degrees of punishment in the lake of fire (Matthew 10:15; 16:27; Luke 12:47-48; Revelation 22:12). They will be commensurate with the degree of evil committed by each respective person. Woe to all who face Christ at the great white throne judgment.
\n\u201cEvery man shall give an account of his own works, a full and true account of all that he ever did while alive, whether it was good or evil.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Wesley (1703\u20131791)<\/p>\n
Always be on guard in your spiritual life. Live as one of the \u201cchildren of the day.\u201d
\nThe apostle Paul urged, \u201cYou are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober\u201d (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6). My friend, the children of light are careful to walk in the light (1 John 1:5-7). They are cautious not to \u201csleep\u201d in spiritual indifference. They are \u201cawake\u201d to matters of spiritual importance. They are \u201csober\u201d in the way they live.
\nProphecy and Purity
\nThe imminence of the rapture should motivate us to live in purity and righteousness. Meditate on Romans 13:11-14; 2 Peter 3:10-14; and Titus 2:13-14.<\/p>\n
Never pay back evil for evil.
\nPaul instructs, \u201cSee that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone\u201d (1 Thessalonians 5:15). Paul elsewhere wrote, \u201cBless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them\u201d (Romans 12:14). Peter said, \u201cDo not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless\u201d (1 Peter 3:9).
\nJesus much earlier urged His followers to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39). He also said, \u201cLove your enemies and pray for those who persecute you\u201d (Matthew 5:44).
\nSometimes there\u2019s nothing harder to do than loving your \u201cenemies\u201d\u2014whoever they may be. Just remember\u2014you are like Christ when you choose not to pay back evil for evil. Ask for God\u2019s help in this. He\u2019ll come through for you.<\/p>\n
Always be joyful, no matter what.
\nThe apostle Paul taught that we should be joyful in our Christian lives no matter what comes our way. He instructed the Thessalonians, \u201cRejoice always\u201d (1 Thessalonians 5:16). He told the Philippian believers, \u201cRejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice\u201d (Philippians 4:4).
\nChristians can experience \u201cthe joy of the Holy Spirit\u201d (1 Thessalonians 1:6). Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Walking in the Spirit naturally produces joy. Romans 14:17 therefore affirms, \u201cThe kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.\u201d
\n\u201cA heavenly mind is a joyful mind; this is the nearest and truest way to live a life of comfort.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Richard Baxter (1615\u20131691)
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
In death, communion with Christian loved ones is broken only for a short time. Your eyes will once again see them. Your ears will once again hear them. Your arms will once again embrace them. Rejoice in this reality!
\n2 Thessalonians<\/p>\n
It is best for Christians to maintain a balanced and discerning perspective on life as they await the coming of the Lord.
\nTimeline
\n50\u2014Paul, Silas, and Timothy preach in Thessalonica.
\n50\u2014The church at Thessalonica is founded.
\n51\u2014Paul writes his first and second epistles to the Thessalonians a number of months after his ministry among them.
\n56\u2014Paul revisits the Thessalonian church.
\nPaul wrote this second epistle to the Thessalonians during the summer of AD 51. Several months had passed since he wrote 1 Thessalonians. His purpose for this second epistle was to further explain and clarify God\u2019s program of events relating to the day of the Lord\u2014including Christ\u2019s second coming. He also wanted to encourage the brethren to correct the disorders that remained among them.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in 2 Thessalonians:<\/p>\n
As a Christian, maintain a thankful attitude before God.
\nPaul begins with thanks to God for the faith and love of the Thessalonians, as well as their firm stand for Christ in the face of persecution (2 Thessalonians 1:1-4). They were setting a great example for other Christians.
\nThankfulness is a common theme in Scripture. The Psalms\u2014familiar to Paul, a Jew\u2014often speak of thankfulness to God (Psalm 30:12; 35:18; 69:30). Famous verses on thanksgiving include Psalm 95:2, \u201cLet us come into his presence with thanksgiving,\u201d and Psalm 100:4, \u201cEnter his gates with thanksgiving.\u201d Daniel gave thanks three times a day (Daniel 6:10). Jesus also gave thanks (Matthew 11:25). Ephesians 5:20 instructs us to give thanks \u201calways and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d We ought to thank God for all He has done (Philippians 4:6) and even overflow with thanksgiving (Colossians 2:7; see also 3:15).
\n\u201cWhen it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014G. K. Chesterton (1874\u20131936)<\/p>\n
Fear not\u2014the wicked aren\u2019t getting away with anything. Judgment awaits them.
\nPaul assured the Thessalonians that the wicked people who were presently causing them suffering would one day be irrevocably punished following the second coming of Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:5-12). Paul assured them that the wicked weren\u2019t getting away with anything. While they may seem to flourish at the present moment, the clock is ticking, and their time is running out.
\nThe wicked will be judged at the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Christ is the divine Judge, and those who are judged are the unsaved dead of all time. The judgment takes place at the end of the millennial kingdom, Christ\u2019s 1000-year reign on planet Earth. Those who face Christ at this judgment will be judged on the basis of their works (Revelation 20:12-13). They are judged according to their works not only to justify their condemnation but to determine the degree to which each person should be punished throughout eternity (Matthew 10:15; 16:27; Luke 12:47-48; Revelation 20:12-13; 22;12).
\n\u201cGod will bring to light every circumstance that accompanied each word and action. He will judge whether they lessened or increased the goodness or badness of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Wesley (1703\u20131791)<\/p>\n
Get motivated\u2014Christians will one day share in Christ\u2019s glory!
\nPaul informed the Thessalonians, \u201cTo this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ\u201d (2 Thessalonians 2:14; see also 1:10,12). The glory of believers is a common theme in Scripture, especially as contrasted to our present sufferings on earth. Paul said, \u201cThis light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison\u201d (2 Corinthians 4:17). Likewise, he said, \u201cI consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us\u201d (Romans 8:18). Are you presently enduring suffering? Take heart, for glory awaits you! It\u2019s just a matter of time.
\n\u201cThe lack of long, strong thinking about our promised hope of glory is a major cause of our plodding, lack-luster lifestyle\u2026 It is the heavenly Christian that is the lively Christian.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014J. I. Packer<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t get upset about claims regarding the timing of end time events.
\nSome of the Thessalonian brethren were concerned that the day of the Lord (the future tribulation period and beyond) had already come. Some phony epistles had apparently surfaced teaching this idea. Paul responded that there were certain noticeable events that would take place before this eschatological day comes\u2014including the emergence of the antichrist and various social upheavals during the tribulation period (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). Since those things have not happened yet, the day of the Lord has clearly not come. My advice: Stay focused on the Word of God, and this will keep you on track regarding prophetic events.
\nCross-References: The Antichrist
\n1 John 2:18 \u2022 4:3 \u2022 2 John 1:7 \u2022 Revelation 13:1-10 \u2022 19:20
\nCross-References: The Day of the Lord
\nIsaiah 65:17-19 \u2022 66:22 \u2022 Amos 5:18-20 \u2022 Obadiah 15 \u2022 2 Peter 3:10-13 \u2022 Revelation 4\u201318<\/p>\n
Always beware of counterfeit signs and wonders.
\nThe apostle Paul tells us \u201cthe coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders\u201d (2 Thessalonians 2:9). Many ask if Satan can really perform miracles.
\nAlthough Satan has great spiritual powers, there is a gigantic difference between the power of the devil and the power of God. God is infinite in power (omnipotent); the devil is finite and limited.
\nSatan can do what we might call Grade-B supernormal \u201csigns.\u201d But he cannot perform Grade-A supernatural miracles, which only God can do (see, for example, Exodus 8:19). Keep in mind that the devil is a master magician and a super scientist. With his vast knowledge of God, man, and the universe, he is able to perform \u201cfalse signs and wonders.\u201d
\nOne recalls that Simon the sorcerer in the city of Samaria amazed people with his Satan-inspired magic (Acts 8:9-11), but the miracles accomplished through Philip were much greater (8:13). The devil\u2019s counterfeit miracles do not compete with God\u2019s true miracles.
\nCross-References: Satanic Power
\nJob 1:12 \u2022 Luke 4:6 \u2022 Acts 26:18 \u2022 Ephesians 6:12<\/p>\n
Stand firm on the Word of God, no matter what emerges in your life.
\nPaul instructed the Thessalonians, \u201cStand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter\u201d (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Paul had earlier passed down some apostolic teachings about the second coming of Christ to the Thessalonian Christians via oral tradition. (That is, Paul verbally communicated authoritative teachings.) Once Paul and the other apostles committed their teachings to written form and then died (so that they could no longer exercise their living authority as apostles), the written Scriptures alone became the final authority for matters of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:15-17). What that means for Christians is that we stand firm on the teachings of the apostles as recorded in the Word of God.
\n\u201cIf you wish to know God, you must know His Word. If you wish to perceive His power, you must see how He works by His Word. If you wish to know His purpose before it comes to pass, you can only discover it by His Word.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)<\/p>\n
The Lord protects you from the evil one\u2014Satan.
\nPaul informs the Thessalonians, \u201cThe Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one\u201d (2 Thessalonians 3:3). This is important, for no human being has the strength in him- or herself to stand against the devil. It is our Lord who protects us.
\nThis protection ultimately comes in several forms. First, the Lord Jesus is prayerfully interceding for us, and His prayers are always answered (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25)! Second, remember that \u201che who is in you is greater than he who is in the world\u201d (1 John 4:4). Further, we are provided the armor of God against the devil (Ephesians 6:10-20). Without wearing this spiritual armor, you and I don\u2019t stand a chance against the forces of darkness. But with the armor on, victory is ours. \u201cWearing\u201d this armor means our lives will be characterized by such things as righteousness, obedience to the will of God, faith in God, and an effective use of the Word of God.
\nEffective use of the Word of God is especially important for spiritual victory. Jesus used the Word to defeat the devil during His wilderness temptations (Matthew 4:1-10). We must learn to do the same.
\n\u201cObviously, the greater exposure there is to Scripture the more the Spirit can use this mighty sword in our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Ray Stedman (1917\u20131992)<\/p>\n
No Christian should be idle\u2014exploiting the charity of other Christians\u2014as they await the coming of the Lord.
\nApparently some among the Thessalonians got so caught up in prophetic excitement that they stopped working, and they lived off the charity of others. Paul said such individuals were to be rebuked. He urged, \u201cKeep away from any brother who is walking in idleness\u2026 You yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you\u2026 If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat\u201d (2 Thessalonians 3:6-7,10).
\nAvoiding Idleness
\n\u2022 Believers are exhorted to avoid idleness and be committed to work as they await the Lord\u2019s coming (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13).
\n\u2022 Hebrews 6:12 urges believers not to be sluggish.
\n\u2022 Romans 12:11 urges believers not to be \u201cslothful in zeal.\u201d
\n\u2022 Proverbs 18:9 speaks lowly of the person who is \u201cslack in his work.\u201d
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Use your time wisely, making the most of every single day. Let it never be said that you wasted your time!
\n1 Timothy<\/p>\n
We \u201cfight the good fight\u201d not only for personal spiritual well-being, but also for the benefit of the Christian church.
\nTimeline
\n62\u201364\u2014Paul writes his first epistle to his young apprentice Timothy.
\n64\u201367\u2014Rome burns. Nero blames and persecutes Christians.
\n67\u2014Paul writes 2 Timothy, recognizing his death is near.
\n67\u2014Paul is martyred.
\nPaul wrote this epistle between AD 62 and 64 and addressed it \u201cto Timothy, my true child in the faith\u201d (1 Timothy 1:2). Timothy was a young and trusted colleague of Paul. He became a convert of Paul\u2019s in Lystra and grew quickly in his spiritual life. He became a leader in the church and even represented Paul to others in various churches (Acts 17:4,15; 1 Corinthians 4:17).
\nPaul in this epistle speaks as a more mature, experienced pastor to a younger, inexperienced pastor (Timothy). He provided advice to Timothy regarding situations that might be encountered in the process of leading a church, including how to deal with false doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3-7; 4:1-3) and disorder in worship (2:1-15). Paul also discussed the qualifications for church leaders (3:1-14) and encouraged Timothy to stay focused on the work of ministry and not get sidetracked.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in 1 Timothy:<\/p>\n
Shepherds (church pastors) must always be ready to fight off the wolves (false teachers), for they can injure the sheep (church members).
\nSeven years earlier, Paul warned the Ephesian elders that \u201cfierce wolves\u201d (false teachers) would seek to ravage the church (Acts 20:29-30). These false teachers were now in full force. Timothy, as a shepherd of the church, was to defend biblical doctrine at all costs (1 Timothy 1:3-11).
\n\u201cIf God consistently sent lightning bolts in response to bad doctrine, our planet would sparkle nightly like a Christmas tree.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Philip Yancey<\/p>\n
Good news: Christ can save even the worst of sinners.
\nPaul thought of his own conversion as an example of God\u2019s amazing grace in saving the worst of sinners. \u201cChrist Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost\u201d (1 Timothy 1:15). The word \u201cforemost\u201d means \u201cfirst in rank.\u201d Paul considered himself as having been the worst of the worst (compare with Romans 7:7-12). This gives you and me hope! If God in His grace saved Paul\u2014a former persecutor of the church\u2014then He can save anyone through His grace. Rejoice in this fact!
\nCross-References: The Fight of Faith
\n1 Kings 2:2 \u2022 2 Chronicles 15:7 \u2022 Isaiah 35:4 \u2022 Haggai 2:4 \u2022 Zechariah 8:9 \u2022 1 Corinthians 16:13 \u2022 Ephesians 6:10<\/p>\n
Never give up. Fight the good fight.
\nChrist not only saved Paul, but called him to ministry. Paul was now passing the mantle of ministry to Timothy. Just as Paul fought the good fight of faith, so now Timothy was to fight the good fight (1 Timothy 1:12-20; see also 6:11-21). You and I are to do the same. We must never give up, no matter what trials we may encounter. Fight the good fight. Endure!
\n\u201cFaith helps us when we are down; but unbelief throws us down when we are up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Bunyan (1628\u20131688)<\/p>\n
Very important: always keep your conscience clear.
\nPaul pointed to the importance of Christians keeping a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:19; compare with 4:2). God has written His law on the human heart (Romans 2:15), and when we violate what we know to be right, our conscience passes judgment on our action and we feel guilty. A person with a wounded conscience finds it difficult to live a vibrant Christian life. We can keep a clear conscience by (1) avoiding unrepentant sin, and (2) confessing to God whenever we do fall into sin (1 John 1:9).
\n\u201cA good conscience is a mine of wealth. And in truth, of what greater riches can there be, what thing more sweet than a good conscience?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Bernard of Clairvaux (1090\u20131153)<\/p>\n
Pray for others. It changes things!
\nPaul said, \u201cI urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life\u201d (1 Timothy 2:1-2). We pray for each other because we all have needs and hurts in life. We pray for rulers because they can throw Christians into jail, as had happened with Paul. Prayer changes things. Remember what James said: \u201cYou do not have, because you do not ask\u201d (James 4:2).<\/p>\n
Elders and deacons in the church must believe right and act right so they can properly engage in their respective ministries.
\nPaul speaks of the spiritual qualifications of elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7) and deacons (3:8-13). His essential instruction is that leaders in the church must hold to sound doctrine and have good character. This ensures not only healthy spiritual growth among church members, but also serves to insulate the church from false teachers.
\n\u201cThe preacher\u2019s sharpest and strongest preaching should be to himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014E. M. Bounds (1835\u20131913)<\/p>\n
Beware: the devil can use pride to make you fall.
\nPaul said it is possible for a person to be \u201cpuffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil\u201d (1 Timothy 3:6). Pride was at the heart of Lucifer\u2019s fall (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:13-18). Just as Lucifer fell from a position of honor and authority because of pride, so a Christian can fall because of pride. Beware! Pursue humility.<\/p>\n
Beware of false teachers and apostasy.
\nPaul warned of false teachers and apostasy. He urged Timothy to watch his doctrine closely. Just as good doctrine leads to a healthy spirituality, so bad doctrine can be spiritually injurious. The best way to combat error is the constant exposition of God\u2019s Word (1 Timothy 4).
\nThe Danger of Deception
\n\u2022 Beware of false prophets (Matthew 7:15-16).
\n\u2022 Beware of \u201cfierce wolves\u201d (Acts 20:28-30).
\n\u2022 Christians can be \u201cled astray\u201d (2 Corinthians 11:2-3).
\n\u2022 A word to the wise: stay anchored in the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:15-17).<\/p>\n
Spend plenty of time in staying spiritually fit.
\nPaul often used sports metaphors to make his points. He urged, \u201cTrain yourself for godliness\u201d (1 Timothy 4:7). The word \u201ctrain\u201d was used in New Testament times to refer to the rigorous training an athlete undergoes. Just as an athlete works hard to stay in good physical shape, so we as Christians must work hard to stay in good spiritual shape.
\nElsewhere, Paul made reference to running a race with a view to winning, keeping one\u2019s eye on the finish line (1 Corinthians 9:24). Paul also referred to boxing, using it as a metaphor to buffeting his body (9:26).
\nWinners of these contests in Greece would receive a crown of laurel, pine, or olive leaves. Likewise, the Christian who \u201cruns the race well\u201d can look forward to receiving a crown as a reward from God (1 Corinthians 9:25). In the case of Greek athletics, it was often a government official or even an emperor who bestowed the crown to the winning athlete. But for the Christian, Christ Himself will hand out these crowns at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).<\/p>\n
Both the church and family members are called to care for widows.
\nScripture often speaks of God\u2019s compassion toward widows (Psalm 68:5; 146:9; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 7:11-17). Paul clarifies what type of \u201cwidow\u201d should be cared for in the church. She must be a Christian, have no family to take care of her, and be at least 60 years old. Widows who have family members should be cared for by them. In 1 Timothy 5:3-16, the apostle Paul instructs that young women (who should marry), idle women, gossipers, and busybodies are ineligible for church \u201chandouts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pursue godliness and be content with your life. You will be blessed.
\nPaul warned about the unbiblical idea that godliness results in material blessing. The pastor ought to focus on godliness while being content with what he has (1 Timothy 6:3-16). The man of God specifically\u2014and all Christians generally\u2014ought to crave godliness, not money.
\n\u201cI have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Philippians 4:11-13<\/p>\n
You can\u2019t take money with you into the afterlife.
\nPaul said, \u201cWe brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world\u201d (1 Timothy 6:7). He warned, \u201cThose who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction\u201d (6:9).
\nPaul\u2019s comments reflect those of Jesus: \u201cTake care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one\u2019s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions\u201d (Luke 12:15). Jesus then urged His followers to have an eternal perspective, exhorting, \u201cDo not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also\u201d (Matthew 6:19-21; see also John 6:27).
\nMy friend, let me emphasize that God does not condemn possessions or riches per se. It is not a sin to be wealthy! (Some godly people in the Bible\u2014Abraham and Job, for example\u2014were quite wealthy.) But God does condemn a love of possessions or riches (Luke 16:13; 1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5). A love of material things is a sure sign that a person is living according to a temporal perspective, not an eternal perspective.
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Fight the good fight of faith. Never give up. Never retreat. Never fall back. Stay strong in the Lord and move forward toward the finish line.
\n2 Timothy<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how to survive and thrive in the face of life\u2019s difficulties: stay rooted in God\u2019s Word, stay single-minded, patiently endure, and fight the good fight of faith.
\nTimeline
\n62\u201364\u2014Paul writes his first epistle to his young apprentice Timothy.
\n64\u201367\u2014Rome burns. Nero blames and persecutes Christians.
\n67\u2014Paul is arrested in Rome and writes 2 Timothy from prison.
\n67\u2014Paul is martyred.
\nPaul wrote this epistle between AD 66 and 67, and addressed it to \u201cTimothy, my beloved child\u201d (2 Timothy 1:2). When Paul wrote the epistle, he was in prison and expected to be executed shortly (1:16; 2:9). The letter contains Paul\u2019s last words to Timothy (4:6-8).
\nPaul encouraged Timothy to maintain the faith, hold on to sound doctrine, be faithful in ministry, and preach the gospel relentlessly (2 Timothy 1:6,13,14; 3:15\u20134:5). He was essentially passing the baton to young Timothy, encouraging him to stay true to his calling.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in 2 Timothy:<\/p>\n
Stand firm in the power of the gospel\u2014and don\u2019t give way to fear, intimidation, or shame. Be a bold witness for Christ.
\nPaul reminds young Timothy that \u201cGod gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control\u201d (2 Timothy 1:7). Therefore, Paul says, don\u2019t back off sharing the gospel with people (2:8). Be bold (compare with Acts 4:13,29,31; 14:3). Don\u2019t give way to fear or intimidation. These are words we very much need to hear in the modern church. Bold Christians, arise! Fear not!
\n\u201cOf whom shall I be afraid? One with God is a majority.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Martin Luther (1483\u20131546)<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be surprised if you experience suffering. It\u2019s a common part of the Christian life.
\nPaul exhorts Timothy to courageously share in the suffering that afflicts all who are committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. \u201cShare in suffering for the gospel by the power of God\u201d (2 Timothy 1:8). \u201cShare in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus\u201d (2:3). This counters TV preachers who claim that suffering is always a result of sin in the Christian\u2019s life. Don\u2019t fall for this idea. Godly Christians suffer. Expect it. Learn to patiently endure it (4:5).<\/p>\n
Be single-minded in your service to the Lord.
\nThe Christian who has one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world has divided interests. Double-mindedness is not good for the Christian life. Paul uses a military metaphor to make his point: \u201cNo soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him\u201d (2 Timothy 2:4). Our goal is to please the one who enlisted us\u2014Jesus Christ. Don\u2019t be double-minded.
\n\u201cI have one passion only: It is he! It is he!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Nicolas von Zinzendorf (1700\u20131760)<\/p>\n
Seek always to rightly interpret God\u2019s Word.
\nPaul said, \u201cDo your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth\u201d (2 Timothy 2:15). The phrase \u201cdo your best\u201d means \u201cbe persistent and make a maximum effort.\u201d The phrase \u201crightly handling\u201d means \u201ccutting it straight\u201d\u2014that is, we are to be precise and accurate in Bible interpretation. Don\u2019t forget that errant interpretations lead to errant doctrines!
\nGod\u2019s Word is like
\n\u2022 an eyeglass that helps us see spiritual realities;
\n\u2022 a lamp to light our path (Psalm 119:105);
\n\u2022 an anchor that sturdies us in adversity;
\n\u2022 spiritual food to nourish us (Hebrews 5:12); and
\n\u2022 a love letter from God (John 3:16-17).<\/p>\n
Make it your daily goal to pursue righteousness and avoid youthful lusts.
\nWe are not only to seek a right interpretation of God\u2019s Word; we are also to live it out in our lives. Paul thus instructs young Timothy, \u201cFlee youthful passions and pursue righteousness\u201d (2 Timothy 2:22). Paul also instructed him to avoid quarrelsomeness and correct opponents with gentleness (2:24-25). By this gentle approach, some might come to a knowledge of the truth and repent of their wrongdoing (2:26).
\nFlee Youthful Passions
\n\u201cFlee youthful passions and pursue righteousness\u201d (2 Timothy 2:22).
\n\u201cFlee from sexual immorality\u201d (1 Corinthians 6:18).<\/p>\n
This is illustrated in the life of Joseph (Genesis 39:12).<\/p>\n
False teaching and godlessness will surge in the end times. Let this motivate you to remain a faithful witness of the truth.
\nPaul warned Timothy of an impending time of apostasy. People will increasingly fall prey to empty religiosity and false teaching (2 Timothy 3:1-9). This is all the more reason for Christians to stand strong as faithful witnesses of Christ.
\nWord Study: Apostasy
\nThe word \u201capostasy\u201d comes from the Greek word apostasia, meaning \u201cfalling away.\u201d It refers to a willful defection from the faith.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be surprised if you\u2019re persecuted. It happens often to faithful Christians.
\nPaul tells Timothy that \u201call who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted\u201d (2 Timothy 3:12). Paul had already faced much persecution (Acts 9:23-25; 13:50; 14:5-6; 17:10). The wonderful thing, though, is that the Lord is in the rescuing business (2 Timothy 4:17-18; Psalm 34:4,6,19; Isaiah 41:10; Daniel 3:17; Acts 26:16-17). So, dear Christian, don\u2019t sweat persecution!
\nCross-References: Evil Times
\nGenesis 6:12 \u2022 1 Kings 19:10 \u2022 Psalm 12:1 \u2022 Isaiah 59:14 \u2022 Jeremiah 5:1 \u2022 Micah 7:2 \u2022 Ephesians 5:16<\/p>\n
Anchor yourself in the Word of God, which has the power to transform your life.
\nIn view of the coming apostasy and persecution of Christians, Paul instructs Timothy to stand strong in defending the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Scripture is inspired by God and is transformational\u2014\u201cprofitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness\u201d (3:16). What a tragedy so many Christians today spend so little time reading it.
\n\u201cThe vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014George Muller (1805\u20131898)<\/p>\n
Always be ready to preach the word in season and out of season.
\nPaul exhorted Timothy to be ready to preach the word in season and out of season\u2014that is, anytime an opportunity arises (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Timothy was to be on call 24\/7\u2014always ready to speak a word of truth from Scripture. Timothy is a good model for us.
\n\u201cYou are a Christian because somebody cared. Now it\u2019s your turn.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Warren Wiersbe<\/p>\n
Seek to keep the faith and fight the good fight.
\nPaul affirmed to Timothy, \u201cI have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith\u201d (2 Timothy 4:7). Mission accomplished! Oh that you and I would be able to quote Paul\u2019s words at the end of our lives.
\n\u201cA good conscience will be found a pleasant visitor at our bedside in a dying hour.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014J. C. Ryle (1816\u20131900)<\/p>\n
Be encouraged: faithful service will yield rewards at the judgment seat of Christ.
\nPaul affirmed, \u201cThere is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day\u201d (2 Timothy 4:8). \u201cThat Day\u201d refers to the future judgment seat of Christ, where Christ will hand out rewards to Christians (or withhold them) in the form of crowns. Faithful Christians will be rewarded. Unfaithful Christians may have rewards withheld (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Ponder this, and act accordingly!
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Stay rooted in God\u2019s Word and fight the good fight of faith.
\nTitus<\/p>\n
There is an unbreakable link between our faith in Christ and the way we behave in the world.
\nTimeline
\n49\u2014Paul, Titus, and Barnabas arrive in Jerusalem to attend the Jerusalem Council.
\n56\u2014Paul, while in Ephesus, sends Titus to mediate a conflict between Paul and the Corinthian church.
\n62\u201364\u2014Paul writes his epistle to Titus; Paul commissions Titus to train elders for churches in Crete.
\nThe apostle Paul wrote this epistle between AD 62 and 64 and addressed it to \u201cTitus, my true child in a common faith\u201d (Titus 1:4). Titus was a young pastor and leader of the church in Crete. He was one of Paul\u2019s trusted inner circle of friends and ministry associates (2 Corinthians 8:23).
\nTitus was an uncircumcised Gentile. He was a living illustration of one of Paul\u2019s teachings: Gentiles need not be circumcised to be saved.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Titus:<\/p>\n
Christians, as bondservants of the Lord, are called to fully obey their Master.
\nPaul refers to himself as \u201ca servant of God\u201d (Titus 1:1). This can also be translated \u201cbondservant of God\u201d or \u201cslave of God.\u201d Elsewhere Paul refers to himself as \u201ca servant of Christ\u201d (Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10).
\nYou and I are to be servants of God and Christ as well. Peter exhorts us, \u201cLive as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God\u201d (1 Peter 2:16). This is in keeping with the fact that we have been \u201cbought with a price\u201d (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19). My friend, there is joy in serving God. May your joy be full.
\nCross-References: Obedience to God
\n1 Samuel 15:22 \u2022 Psalm 119:2 \u2022 Matthew 6:24 \u2022 John 14:15,21 \u2022 1 John 3:22<\/p>\n
We learn how to live godly lives from the truths found in Scripture.
\nPaul said, \u201cI have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives\u201d (Titus 1:1b NLT). The more we know about Scripture, the more we are able to grow in godliness. Conversely, the more ignorant we are of Scripture, the less we grow in godliness.
\n\u201cUrgently we do need a revival of personal godliness. This is, indeed, the secret of church prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)
\n\u201cGodliness is the child of truth, and it must be nursed by its own mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014William Gurnall (1617\u20131679)<\/p>\n
You can be confident in your salvation because God is a promise keeper.
\nTitus 1:2 makes reference to \u201ceternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.\u201d Some Christians\u2014particularly Christians with a sensitive conscience\u2014have struggled with the possibility that maybe they\u2019re not really saved. Paul says we can be confident in our salvation because God is a promise keeper, and He never breaks His promises. \u201cDoes he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?\u201d (Numbers 23:19 NIV). Joshua told his people, \u201cNot one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed\u201d (Joshua 23:14 [NIV]; see also 1 Kings 8:56; Hebrews 6:18). So, drive the stake into the ground today. Resolve to never doubt your salvation again, for God has promised, and He will deliver what He has promised.
\nEternal Life and God\u2019s Grace
\nEternal life is a grace gift from God. \u201cGrace\u201d literally means \u201cunmerited favor.\u201d It refers to the undeserved, unearned favor of God, with no good works involved.
\nWe receive salvation freely by God\u2019s grace (Titus 2:13-14).<\/p>\n
Elders in the church must believe right and act right so they can teach and protect others.
\nTitus, as a pastor in Crete, was charged by Paul to organize the churches there by appointing elders. These elders were to meet certain spiritual qualifications. In a nutshell, they must hold to correct doctrine and they must manifest evidence of godliness in the way they live (Titus 1:5-9; see also Acts 20:17-28; Ephesians 4:11; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:12). Only then would they be able to teach others about doctrine and Christian living. Only then could they help protect against false teachers.<\/p>\n
Take a stand against anyone who tries to spiritually enslave other Christians by legalism.
\nFalse teachers had emerged\u2014members of \u201cthe circumcision party\u201d\u2014who were teaching that men had to be circumcised and adhere to Mosaic ceremonies to be in a right relationship with God (Titus 1:10-14). Paul urged, \u201cRebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth\u201d (1:13-14). What this means for you and me is that we should not allow ourselves to be negatively influenced by legalists. Our salvation is entirely by grace (2:11-14).
\nCross-References: Deceivers
\nRomans 16:18 \u2022 2 Corinthians 11:13 \u2022 Ephesians 4:14 \u2022 2 Timothy 3:13 \u2022 2 John 1:7 \u2022 Revelation 18:23<\/p>\n
We are not saved by good works. But good works naturally surface in the life of a believer who has been saved by grace.
\nThe apostle Paul reveals that holiness follows the salvation that is by grace alone, not causes it. That is, works are not the condition of our salvation, but a consequence of it. Works are not the root of our salvation, but rather the fruit of our salvation. While we are saved by grace through faith, we are saved for good works (Titus 1:16; 2:7,14; 3:1,8,14).<\/p>\n
All people\u2014both young and old\u2014must be taught sound scriptural truths that transform their lives.
\nSound doctrine is for everyone (Titus 2:1-8). \u201cSound doctrine\u201d carries the idea of \u201chealthy doctrine.\u201d It produces a sense of spiritual well-being, whereas unsound doctrine (such as that taught by false teachers) is spiritually injurious.
\nIf sound doctrine leads to a sense of spiritual well-being, don\u2019t you think it is wise to expose ourselves to as much sound doctrine as possible?
\nCross-References: Doctrine
\nProverbs 4:2 \u2022 Matthew 24:5 \u2022 Mark 16:15-16 \u2022 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 \u2022 2 Corinthians 4:2 \u2022 1 Timothy 4:1-3,6,13 \u2022 2 Timothy 2:15 \u2022 Hebrews 13:9 \u2022 2 John 10<\/p>\n
Your good behavior as a Christian can make the gospel attractive to unbelievers.
\nPaul says believers, by engaging in bad behavior, can cause unbelievers to revile the Word of God (Titus 2:5). Good behavior, by contrast, will ensure that opponents of the gospel won\u2019t be able to say anything bad about us (2:8). How you behave matters. Is this not a powerful motivation to live righteously?<\/p>\n
Biblical prophecy can motivate us to live righteously.
\nGod doesn\u2019t tell us the future just to show off. He doesn\u2019t give us prophecy to teach us mere intellectual facts about \u201ceschatology.\u201d It is highly revealing that many verses in the Bible that deal with prophecy follow with an exhortation to personal purity in the way we live our lives. This means studying Bible prophecy ought to change the way we live. It ought to have an effect on our behavior.
\nA great passage that illustrates this is Titus 2:12-13, for it instructs us to \u201crenounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.\u201d In other words, we live righteously as we await Christ\u2019s coming.
\n\u201cLive as if Christ died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back again tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Martin Luther (1483\u20131546)<\/p>\n
Make every effort to maintain unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
\nPaul instructs believers to avoid such things as controversies, dissensions, quarrels, and division (Titus 3:9-11). Such things disrupt the body of Christ, the church. How much better it is to maintain unity in the church (Romans 12:16; Ephesians 4:3; Philippians 1:27; 2:2; 1 Peter 3:8).
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Plan your life according to your full lifetime expectancy, but live your life as though Christ could come today.
\nPhilemon<\/p>\n
Our faith in Christ shows itself in the love and forgiveness we show to others.
\nTimeline
\n60\u2014Paul arrives in Rome.
\n63\u2014While in prison in Rome, Paul encounters Onesimus, a runaway slave.
\n63\u2014Paul writes his short epistle to Philemon.
\nPhilemon was written in AD 63 by the apostle Paul. It was addressed to \u201cPhilemon our beloved fellow worker\u201d (Philemon 1:1). He was a friend of Paul\u2019s and a leader of the Colossian church.
\nOnesimus, a slave, had escaped from Philemon\u2019s household and probably went to Rome. Perhaps Onesimus reasoned that in the booming population of Rome, no one would notice him. He ended up meeting Paul in prison. Under Paul\u2019s leading, Onesimus became a Christian.
\nPaul was aware Onesimus could be executed as a runaway slave. Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon with a letter urging him to set Onesimus free as a brother in Christ so he could assist Paul in ministry. Paul urged Philemon to forgive Onesimus, just as Christ had forgiven Philemon.
\nSlavery in Bible Times
\nSlaves had rights under the Mosaic Law. Harsh treatment was prohibited (Leviticus 25:39), and slaves were eventually to be set free (Exodus 21:2).<\/p>\n
Following are key applicational concepts in Philemon:<\/p>\n
Faith in Christ shows itself in how one lives\u2014particularly in showing love to others.
\nPaul knew two things about Philemon: (1) He was a man with a strong faith in Jesus Christ. (2) He was a man who showed loved to others. Paul affirmed to Philemon, \u201cI hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints\u201d (Philemon 1:5; see also 1:7). Philemon is a man worthy of imitation.
\n\u201cTo love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014G. K. Chesterton (1874\u20131936)<\/p>\n
Those who follow Jesus can become useful for the kingdom of God.
\nOnesimus had apparently informed Paul that, as a slave, the service he had rendered to Philemon was less than full-hearted. Paul said to Philemon, \u201cFormerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me\u201d (Philemon 1:11). Onesimus, by becoming a believer and becoming obedient to Christ, was now useful for the kingdom of God. This shows the transformative power of the gospel of grace. This is an encouragement to us. If Onesimus can be transformed, then so can you and I.
\nCross-References: Forgiveness
\nMatthew 6:12-15 \u2022 18:21-22 \u2022 Mark 11:25 \u2022 Luke 6:37 \u2022 Romans 12:17,19 \u2022 Ephesians 4:32
\n\u201cThe voice of sin is loud, but the voice of forgiveness is louder.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Dwight L. Moody (1837\u20131899)<\/p>\n
The goodness in your heart will surface when you voluntarily choose to do good, without compulsion.
\nPaul knew that he\u2014as an apostle\u2014could have \u201clorded it over\u201d Philemon and commanded him to set Onesimus free. Instead he showed the grace to let Philemon make that choice. Paul said, \u201cI preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord\u201d (Philemon 1:14). Goodness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The person who walks with God overflows with goodness toward others.<\/p>\n
One way your faith in Christ shows itself is in engaging in self-sacrificial actions toward others.
\nPaul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus \u201cas you would receive me.\u201d Paul then placed any debt Onesimus might have to his own account (Philemon 1:17-19). Paul was showing self-sacrificial love on Onesimus\u2019s behalf, knowing that his friend Philemon would reciprocate with self-sacrificial love.
\n\u201cForgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a permanent attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Martin Luther King Jr. (1929\u20131968)
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Christ showed self-sacrificial love in dying for you on the cross. You imitate Him when you show self-sacrificial love to others.<\/p>\n
Revelation<\/p>\n
God is in control of human history. In the end, He will bring immeasurable blessing to His people, while quarantining the wicked forever.
\nTimeline
\n81\u201396\u2014Domitian, the emperor of Rome, demands emperor worship\u2014a crisis faced by John\u2019s readers.
\n90\u2014John writes three letters to instruct believers in the crises they face\u20141, 2, and 3 John.
\n95\u2014John is exiled to the isle of Patmos, in the Aegean Sea, for the \u201ccrime\u201d of sharing the message about Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:9).
\n95\u2014John later writes the book of Revelation to encourage his readers in the face of increasing persecution.
\nThe book of Revelation was written around AD 95. It is the only apocalyptic book in the New Testament. The apostle John had been exiled on the isle of Patmos in the Aegean Sea for the \u201ccrime\u201d of sharing Jesus Christ with everyone he came into contact with (Revelation 1:9). It was on this island that John received the \u201crevelation.\u201d
\nThe recipients of the book were undergoing severe persecution, with some of them even being killed. Things were about to get even worse. John wrote this book to give his readers a strong hope that would help them patiently endure in the midst of suffering.
\nFollowing are key applicational concepts in Revelation:<\/p>\n
Those who study and obey God\u2019s message are blessed.
\nRevelation 1:1-4 affirms that obedience brings blessing. Hearing without heeding won\u2019t cut it (compare with James 1:22-25). Only those who heed are blessed. The word \u201cblessed\u201d means \u201cspiritually happy.\u201d So obeying God\u2019s message in Revelation brings spiritual happiness.
\nObedience to God brings
\n\u2022 blessing (Revelation 1:3; Luke 11:28);
\n\u2022 long life (1 Kings 3:14; John 8:51);
\n\u2022 happiness (Psalm 112:1; 119:56);
\n\u2022 peace (Proverbs 1:33); and
\n\u2022 well-being (Jeremiah 7:23).<\/p>\n
You can trust Jesus with the circumstances of your future death and what lies beyond it.
\nJesus affirmed, \u201cI have the keys of Death and Hades\u201d (Revelation 1:18). This implies that Jesus\u2014as God\u2014has the authority to grant entrance and exit from the realms of death and Hades (compare with John 5:21-26; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:12-14). This means Jesus sovereignly decides who lives, who dies, and when. It also means you and I don\u2019t have to worry about our future deaths because it\u2019s all in Jesus\u2019s hands. Glorious!<\/p>\n
Doctrinal accuracy and moral purity are important, but that\u2019s not enough. Supreme love for God and others is also necessary.
\nThe church at Ephesus was strongly committed to doctrinal accuracy. However, they lost the love they once had (Revelation 2:1-7). Thirty years earlier, they were commended for the love they showed to the Lord and to others (Ephesians 1:15-16). Their love had since waned. They now needed to renew their love (compare with Matthew 22:37-38; John 14:21,23; 1 Corinthians 16:22).
\nMy friend, we learn a good lesson here. Christianity is more than just being doctrinally correct. It involves an ongoing love relationship with the Lord.
\n\u201cO for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer\u2019s praise!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Charles Wesley (1707\u20131788)<\/p>\n
You need not fear what Satan and unbelievers can do to Christians on earth. We are destined for eternal life in heaven.
\nJesus warned believers at the church of Smyrna that they would suffer at the hands of unbelievers and Satan (Revelation 2:8-11). But Jesus urged them, \u201cBe faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life\u201d (Revelation 2:10). Scripture reveals that the crown of life is given to those who persevere under trial, and especially to those who suffer to the point of death (James 1:12).
\nDon\u2019t sweat over earthly troubles. Our destiny in heaven is secure. Rejoice!
\nDon\u2019t Worry About the Future
\nDeuteronomy 10:14 \u2022 1 Chronicles 29:12 \u2022 2 Chronicles 20:6 \u2022 Psalm 33:8-11 \u2022 47:2 \u2022 Isaiah 46:10 \u2022 John 14:1-3
\nThe Fruit of Repentance
\nChristians are to \u201cbear fruit in keeping with repentance\u201d (Matthew 3:8). They are to \u201crepent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance\u201d (Acts 26:20).<\/p>\n
Your loyalty to Christ must show itself in avoiding compromising behavior.
\nBelievers at the church in Pergamum were loyal to Christ. And yet they also succumbed to false teaching that led to inappropriate behavior (Revelation 2:12-17; see also verses 18-29). The false teaching promoted license in Christian conduct. Jesus strongly urged them to repent. We, too, must repent of all compromising behavior. Do it now!<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t give the outward appearance of spirituality while in truth you are spiritually barren on the inside.
\nMembers of the church in Sardis gave the outward appearance of being spiritual while in truth they were spiritually barren on the inside. Jesus told them, \u201cYou have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead\u201d (Revelation 3:1). There was no spiritual vitality in this church, even though there were a few genuine believers left (verse 4).
\nIt seems that these church members were very much like the Pharisees, who gave the outward appearance of spirituality but on the inside were spiritually dead (Matthew 23:27-28). Don\u2019t be a faker. Be the real thing.
\nJesus Perfectly Evaluates
\n\u2022 He commends (Revelation 2:2-3,6,9,13,19; 3:4,8).
\n\u2022 He rebukes (2:4-5,14-16,20-23; 3:1-3;15-20).<\/p>\n
Beware: take steps to avoid spiritual lethargy and spiritual blindness.
\nMembers of the church in Laodicea were spiritually lethargic and spiritually blind. Jesus told them, \u201cYou are neither cold nor hot\u201d (Revelation 3:15). This is an allusion to the underground aqueduct where water was piped in from hot springs south of the city, becoming lukewarm in transit to Laodicea. Just as a resident of Laodicea recognized that the water piped in was neither cold nor hot, so Christ recognized that church members were neither cold nor hot. The church was not spiritually dead, but neither did it have spiritual zeal. Jesus told them if they did not rectify this situation, discipline was imminent (3:14-22).
\nWhat a relevant message this is for today. Make every effort to avoid spiritual lethargy. Jesus abhors it. Keep things nice and hot!<\/p>\n
Just as God is gloriously enthroned in heaven, so He must be enthroned upon your heart.
\nHuman language is inadequate to describe the glory of God in His throne room. John uses jewels in an attempt to portray the matchless beauty of what he beheld (Revelation 4:3). There is also reference to a rainbow (4:3) and flashes of lightning (4:5), both pointing to the awesome glory of God upon His throne.
\nMy friend, God\u2019s throne points to His majestic rule over all affairs on earth (Proverbs 19:21; 21:30; Ecclesiastes 7:13; Isaiah 14:24; 46:10; Lamentations 3:37; 1 Timothy 6:15). We can infer from this that His desire is to be enthroned upon our hearts as well\u2014with absolute obedience on our part. What are you waiting for?
\nTrusting God
\nGod knows the future (Isaiah 46:9-10). We should therefore trust God with our futures (Psalm 37:5; Proverbs 3:5-6).<\/p>\n
Jesus is worthy to be exalted in our hearts, for He brought us salvation. Praise His name!
\nJohn said, \u201cI saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain\u201d (Revelation 5:6). \u201cLamb\u201d refers to Christ\u2019s first coming and His death on the cross. Christ is called a Lamb 27 times in Revelation. Those in heaven sang a new song, which emphasized that Jesus the Lamb is worthy because He shed His blood\u2014of inestimable value\u2014for the sins of the world (John 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:18-19). All in heaven exalted the Lamb. He ought to be exalted in our hearts as well.
\nA Bible Promise
\n\u201cNever again will they hunger; never again will they thirst\u2026 God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Revelation 7:16-17 NIV<\/p>\n
Because unrepentant sin brings ever-intensifying judgment, your first best choice is to always pursue righteousness.
\nThe book of Revelation reveals that human suffering will steadily escalate during the future tribulation period. For example, as Jesus breaks each of the seven seals, a new divine judgment is unleashed upon the earth. Included are bloodshed, famine, death, economic upheaval, a great earthquake, and cosmic disturbances. Following the seal judgments are the trumpet judgments and bowl judgments. These increasingly intense judgments correlate with the increasing hardness of hearts among humans on earth (Revelation 6\u20138).
\nHow much better it is to choose righteousness\u2014the path to blessing (Psalm 1).
\n\u201cThose who will not deliver themselves into the hand of God\u2019s mercy cannot be delivered out of the hand of His justice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Matthew Henry (1662\u20131714)<\/p>\n
Let your light shine!
\nDuring the future tribulation period, in which God\u2019s judgments will fall upon the earth, God will also raise up a force of 144,000 Jewish men to act as His witnesses of light during this period of darkness on earth. A great multitude will become believers as a result of their ministry (Revelation 7:9-10).
\nYou and I today are called to be witnesses of Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20). Resolve to let your light shine (Matthew 5:14-16).
\n\u201cWe were made to be prisms refracting the light of God\u2019s glory into all of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Piper<\/p>\n
You are targeted by Satan. Always be prepared for spiritual warfare.
\nIn Revelation 12 we read about how Satan the dragon sought to kill the promised Messiah at birth but was unsuccessful. We are also told that in the middle of the future tribulation period, the Jewish people will be persecuted by the antichrist, who is empowered by Satan.
\nYou and I are also targets of the evil one. \u201cBe sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour\u201d (1 Peter 5:8). A word to the wise: keep on your spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:11-18).<\/p>\n
Because we know our ultimate destiny is serene rest in heaven, you can face whatever difficulties come your way on earth.
\nJohn heard a voice from heaven say, \u2018 \u201cBlessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.\u2019 \u2018Blessed indeed,\u2019 says the Spirit, \u2018that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!\u2019 \u201d (Revelation 14:13). No matter what pains we may face on earth, blissful rest awaits us in the afterlife. Always seek to maintain an eternal perspective.
\n\u201cDeath should not be viewed as a terminus but as a tunnel leading into an ampler and incredibly more wonderful and beautiful world. The death of a believer is a transition, not a final condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014J. Oswald Sanders (1902\u20131992)<\/p>\n
False religion can victimize God\u2019s people.
\nIn the book of Revelation, the false religious system that emerges is described in metaphoric language as a prostitute. The woman\u2014the false religious system\u2014is said to be drunk with the blood of the saints and Christian martyrs (Revelation 17:6; Matthew 24:21). This includes the blood of God\u2019s two prophetic witnesses (Revelation 11:10) as well as all who refuse to receive the mark of the beast (13:15).
\nDear Christian, even today we witness advocates of false religions persecuting and even murdering Christians around the world. This will no doubt continue\u2014and even increase\u2014until the glorious appearing of Jesus at the second coming (Revelation 19). Never forget that there is great reward ahead for all persecuted believers (Matthew 5:10-11; 2 Timothy 3:12).
\n\u201cWe are refugees from the sinking ship of this present world order, so soon to disappear; our hope is fixed in the eternal order, where the promises of God are made good to his people in perpetuity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014F.F. Bruce (1910\u20131990)<\/p>\n
Good news: the relationship of believers with Christ in heaven is one of incredible intimacy.
\nScripture often refers to the relationship between Christ and His church using a marriage motif, with Christ being the Bridegroom and the church being the bride (Revelation 19:6-10; see also Matthew 9:15; 22:2-14; 25:1-13; Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:34-35; 14:15-24; John 3:29). The church is presently pictured as a virgin bride awaiting the coming of her heavenly Bridegroom (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:22-33).
\nHere\u2019s a point not to miss, my friend: While the bride (the church) awaits her divine Groom, she is called to keep herself faithful and pure, unstained from the world. Is this not a motivation to live righteously? Don\u2019t compromise!
\nYour True Citizenship
\n\u2022 Philippians 3:20
\n\u2022 Ephesians 2:19
\n\u2022 Hebrews 11:16<\/p>\n
If you are concerned about the problem of evil in the world today, take heart in the reality that Christ will overthrow all of it at the second coming.
\nThe description of Christ\u2019s second coming is majestic (Revelation 19:11-21). Christ rides a white horse, fitting for the glorious Commander-in-chief of heaven\u2019s armies. He is called Faithful and True, returning to earth just as He promised (Matthew 24:27-31). On His head are many diadems, representing total sovereignty and royal kingship. He comes as the \u201cKing of kings and Lord of lords\u201d (1 Timothy 6:15). He will overthrow all evil and set up His glorious kingdom (Revelation 20). Rejoice in what lies ahead!
\nJesus as King
\nJesus is called the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). As King, He sovereignly oversees all that comes into our lives. Because He is sovereign, we are never victims of our circumstances.<\/p>\n
Exciting news: a new day is coming.
\nFollowing the second coming, Christ will set up His 1000-year millennial kingdom on earth (Revelation 20:1-7). Satan will be imprisoned in the \u201cbottomless pit\u201d (Luke 8:31; 2 Peter 2:4), and there he will remain for the duration of the millennial kingdom.
\nThe millennial kingdom will feature an enhanced physical environment, plenty of food for all, harmony with the animal kingdom, longevity among humans, illnesses removed, prosperity, and joy.
\nAt the end of the millennial kingdom, Satan will be loosed and lead one final rebellion against Christ (Revelation 20:7-9). Fire instantly destroys the rebels (20:9). Satan will be cast into the lake of fire. From this point forward, gone forever will be the assaults from Satan and demons.
\nHow awesome it will be! I can\u2019t wait for this new day to come.
\nAn Eternal Perspective
\n\u2022 Matthew 6:19-34
\n\u2022 Colossians 3:1-2<\/p>\n
Finally, the wicked will be judged at the great white throne judgment.
\nThe wicked aren\u2019t getting away with anything! Revelation 20:10-15 makes reference to the great white throne judgment. The dead\u2014that is, all the wicked dead, both great and small\u2014will be forcefully brought before the divine tribunal. A strong sense of dread will be pervasive. God\u2019s \u201cbooks\u201d will detail the lives of the unsaved. Every action, word, and even thought will be \u201crecorded.\u201d These books will provide the evidence to substantiate the divine verdict of a destiny in the lake of fire. These books will also be used to determine degrees of eternal suffering in the lake of fire (Matthew 10:14-15; 11:22; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 12:47-48). The wicked will be eternally quarantined from God and His people. No more evil!<\/p>\n
You and I will have resurrected bodies, live in a resurrected city (the New Jerusalem), that rests upon a resurrected earth, in a resurrected universe (new heavens and new earth)\u2014and we will be face-to-face with God forever (Revelation 21\u201322). Rejoice in this!
\nBefore the eternal kingdom can be made manifest, God must deal with this present earth that has been tainted by sin and Satan (Genesis 3:17-18; Romans 8:20-22). The present (old) heavens and earth will pass away (Psalm 102:25-26; Isaiah 51:6; Matthew 24:35), and then God will create new heavens and a new earth (Revelation 21\u201322). The New Jerusalem is the eternal city we will one day inhabit on the new earth. Christ Himself is creating it (John 14:1-3). God will live directly with redeemed humankind (compare with Deuteronomy 12:5).
\nHere at last we find unfettered companionship between the Creator and His creation. The crowning feature of heaven is that we will see God face-to-face (Revelation 22:4; see also 1 Corinthians 13:12; Psalm 17:15).
\nHow awesome it will be.
\nNo More Tears (Revelation 21:4)
\n\u2022 Isaiah 25:8
\n\u2022 Isaiah 60:20
\n\u2022 Jeremiah 31:12
\n\u201cThe heavenly country is full of light and glory; having the delightful breezes of divine love, and the comfortable gales of the blessed Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014John Gill (1697\u20131771)
\nA Thought to Anchor in Your Heart<\/p>\n
Let your knowledge of what awaits you in the afterlife be a perpetual motivation for you to live in joyful anticipation.
\nPostscript: Be Transformed<\/p>\n
From Genesis to Revelation, we have explored numerous applicational concepts that are strategically engineered to spiritually transform your life. As our journey through Scripture comes to a close, I think it is helpful for us to be reminded that it is God\u2019s will that we be transformed. To God, our personal transformation is a big deal.
\nPerhaps the best verse on this in the New Testament is Romans 12:2, where the apostle Paul instructs, \u201cDo not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.\u201d The word \u201cconformed\u201d in this verse carries the idea to \u201cbe patterned after, fashioned after, molded after.\u201d We are not to be patterned after the world, but rather transformed by the Word of God. The word \u201ctransformed\u201d literally means \u201cchanged in form, molded.\u201d The Word of God changes us!
\nThe Expanded Bible reflects a proper understanding of these words in its rendering of Romans 12:2: \u201cDo not be shaped by [conformed to; pressed into a mold by] this world [age]; instead be changed within [transformed] by a new way of thinking [or changing the way you think; the renewing of your mind].\u201d The Amplified Bible likewise renders the verse, \u201cDo not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude].\u201d These new ideals and new attitudes come to us from the Word of God, as directed by the Holy Spirit.
\nWhen I wrote this book, I did so with the idea that the applicational concepts would help facilitate this personal transformation as guided by the Holy Spirit. In view of this, my prayer for you\u2014now that you have finished the book\u2014is that it would continue to be a source of transformational inspiration for you in the years to come. It can only be good to review these concepts from time to time, continuing to make them a part of your daily fabric.
\nMay the Lord bless you in your continued growth as a Christian. And may the Lord be glorified in the transformation each of us experience.<\/p>\n
To Him Who ever loves us and has once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood, And formed us into a kingdom (a royal race), priests to His God and Father\u2014to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen (Revelation 1:5-6 AMP).<\/p>\n
Other Great Harvest House Books by Ron Rhodes<\/p>\n
BOOKS ABOUT THE BIBLE
\n40 Days Through Genesis
\nThe Big Book of Bible Answers
\nBite-Size Bible\u00ae Answers
\nBite-Size Bible\u00ae Charts
\nBite-Size Bible\u00ae Definitions
\nBite-Size Bible\u00ae Handbook
\nCommonly Misunderstood Bible Verses
\nThe Complete Guide to Bible Translations
\nFind It Fast in the Bible
\nThe Popular Dictionary of Bible Prophecy
\nUnderstanding the Bible from A to Z
\nWhat Does the Bible Say About\u2026?<\/p>\n
BOOKS ABOUT THE END TIMES
\n8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy
\n40 Days Through Revelation
\nCyber Meltdown
\nThe End Times in Chronological Order
\nNorthern Storm Rising
\nUnmasking the Antichrist<\/p>\n
BOOKS ABOUT OTHER IMPORTANT TOPICS
\n5-Minute Apologetics for Today
\n1001 Unforgettable Quotes About God, Faith, and the Bible
\nAnswering the Objections of Atheists, Agnostics, and Skeptics
\nChristianity According to the Bible
\nThe Complete Guide to Christian Denominations
\nConversations with Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses
\nFind It Quick Handbook on Cults and New Religions
\nThe Truth Behind Ghosts, Mediums, and Psychic Phenomena
\nSecret Life of Angels
\nWhat Happens After Life?
\nWhy Do Bad Things Happen If God Is Good?
\nWonder of Heaven<\/p>\n
THE 10 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS SERIES
\nThe 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Catholic
\nThe 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Jehovah\u2019s Witness
\nThe 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Mason
\nThe 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Mormon
\nThe 10 Things You Need to Know About Islam
\nThe 10 Things You Should Know About the Creation vs. Evolution Debate<\/p>\n
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES
\nHalloween: What You Need to Know
\nIslam: What You Need to Know
\nJehovah\u2019s Witnesses: What You Need to Know<\/p>\n
THE REASONING FROM THE SCRIPTURES SERIES
\nReasoning from the Scriptures with Catholics
\nReasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses
\nReasoning from the Scriptures with Masons
\nReasoning from the Scriptures with the Mormons
\nReasoning from the Scriptures with Muslims<\/p>\n
LITTLE BOOKS
\nLittle Book About God
\nLittle Book About Heaven
\nLittle Book About the Bible<\/p>\n
AVAILABLE ONLY AS EBOOKS
\nBook of Bible Promises
\nComing Oil Storm
\nTopical Handbook of Bible Prophecy<\/p>\n
About the Publisher<\/p>\n
To learn more about Harvest House books and to read sample chapters, visit our website:
\nwww.harvesthousepublishers.com<\/p>\n
HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
\nEUGENE, OREGON<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Genesis God created humanity. Though human sin caused alienation with God, God\u2019s merciful plan of salvation was set in motion from the very beginning. The plan began with a man of faith (Abraham) who gave rise to a nation of promise (Israel). Timeline 2166\u2014Abram is born. 2091\u2014Abram enters into Canaan. 2080\u2014Ishmael is born. 2066\u2014Isaac is … <\/p>\n