Matthew 5-7
The Sermon On The Mount
The setting for this sermon: Jesus has been baptized by John the Baptist and has been tempted by Satan in the desert. Now he's calling disciples to follow Him and beginning His public ministry.
And His fame went throughout all Syria ... and there folowed him great multitudes of people ... (4:24, 25).
And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him: And He opened his mouth, and taught them ... (5:1-2).
Jesus is opening this new chapter in His life. He is attracting multitudes of people who are interested in what He has to say, so He begins by laying out what it will look like when His Kingdom is ruling on this Earth.
The strict morality presented in this picture looks to us to be extremely strident: To even look upon a woman with lust is the same as committing adultery with her? To be angry with a brother is the same as murdering him? How can He say that the thoughts we allow ourselves to think are as evil as overt acts of violence?
I think it is because what we think about, what we focus on, comes from what we believe to be true in our hearts, and it colors our attitudes, which fuel our words and our actions. So it's all connected. We need to examine our hearts to see that what we truely believe really is God's Truth, rather than our own ideas or the culture we live in.
Cultures change and evolve and devolve. God's standards stay the same. So the more evil and wickedness is accepted in the culture around us, the more extreme God's righteousness appears.
That's why we need to "be careful" and "watch out" and "pay attention" to what righteousness is, and what "misses the mark" of perfection. We must constantly be on the lookout for anything in our path that would cause us to stumble. Even a small pebble of delusion can trip us up. Once started on a tangent, the longer we go, the farther we get from where we want to be.
So let's look at this sermon with a mind to see God's reasonable standards.
Jesus starts it with The Beatitudes, the Blessed are's. "Blessed" can be read as "Happy." And the Christian 12-step program called Celebrate Recovery is based on these Beatitudes for healing the serious and damaging habits that people need to be delivered from. So we all need to be healed before we actually enter His Kingdom, in order to live there comfortably, happily.
Tomorrow we'll begin to look at this Sermon to glean what we need to know in these days we are living in now.
O my Father, thank You so much for this roadmap that You have put into Your written Word. Thank You for having Your Spirit remind Matthew of all Jesus said here, so that we can have an accurate picture of Your Righteousness.
Father, help us to order our own lives according to Your love for us, so that we can love one another with Your Love, and live with one another in Righteousness and joy.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
A Broken Spirit
Psalm 51: 17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
II Peter 3: 9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsufferng to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Our broken spirit, our contrite heart, is our coming to repentance, realizing that we deserve death.
Colossians 1: 19-20
For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the Blood of His Cross; through Him, I say, whether things on Earth or in Heaven.
So the Father's good pleasure is to give all the fulness of being God as well as being fully Man to His Son, so that His Blood, shed on Calvary, would make peace between sinful Man and a holy God. His precious Blood, the Blood of God, has unlimited power and worth to pay the full price for human sinfulness and cleanse us totally pristine, as though we'd never sinned at all, perfect, fit to live with God in His perfect Heaven.
God saves us one by one, so the first sacrifice God wanted the Levites to teach the people, in the first chapter of Leviticus, is the personal sacrifice. When Jesus died, He was the Lamb of God, dying for each one of us individually, fulfilling that personal sacrifice for Salvation.
So when the Father draws someone to understand that Jesus took his place in death, because He didn't deserve it but he did; then the Blood of Christ washes him as white as snow, and God sends His Holy Spirit to take up residence in his spirit, making it alive. In that sense, that person is "born again," and now has spiritual life, as well as his human life. So every time God saves someone it's a miracle.
And when His Blood was poured out at the foot of the Cross when the Centurian pierced His side, He fulfilled the sacrifice for the whole congregation, laid out in Leviticus 4: 13-21. This Corporate Sacrifice He gave to purchase not just one congregation, but the whole Universe, which makes Him its rightful Judge. So if you consider yourself one of many He died for, then you are still under judgment.
O my Father, I pray for all those who think they are Yours, but have never come to that repentance that leads to Salvation. I pray that You would show Yourself and Your ways to them in Your Love, and draw them to Yourself. Then they will willingly praise Your holy Name, and give You the glory and honor You deserve.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
II Peter 3: 9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsufferng to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Our broken spirit, our contrite heart, is our coming to repentance, realizing that we deserve death.
Colossians 1: 19-20
For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the Blood of His Cross; through Him, I say, whether things on Earth or in Heaven.
So the Father's good pleasure is to give all the fulness of being God as well as being fully Man to His Son, so that His Blood, shed on Calvary, would make peace between sinful Man and a holy God. His precious Blood, the Blood of God, has unlimited power and worth to pay the full price for human sinfulness and cleanse us totally pristine, as though we'd never sinned at all, perfect, fit to live with God in His perfect Heaven.
God saves us one by one, so the first sacrifice God wanted the Levites to teach the people, in the first chapter of Leviticus, is the personal sacrifice. When Jesus died, He was the Lamb of God, dying for each one of us individually, fulfilling that personal sacrifice for Salvation.
So when the Father draws someone to understand that Jesus took his place in death, because He didn't deserve it but he did; then the Blood of Christ washes him as white as snow, and God sends His Holy Spirit to take up residence in his spirit, making it alive. In that sense, that person is "born again," and now has spiritual life, as well as his human life. So every time God saves someone it's a miracle.
And when His Blood was poured out at the foot of the Cross when the Centurian pierced His side, He fulfilled the sacrifice for the whole congregation, laid out in Leviticus 4: 13-21. This Corporate Sacrifice He gave to purchase not just one congregation, but the whole Universe, which makes Him its rightful Judge. So if you consider yourself one of many He died for, then you are still under judgment.
O my Father, I pray for all those who think they are Yours, but have never come to that repentance that leads to Salvation. I pray that You would show Yourself and Your ways to them in Your Love, and draw them to Yourself. Then they will willingly praise Your holy Name, and give You the glory and honor You deserve.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
"Lest I Smite The Earth With A Curse"
Malachi 4
Vs. 1-3
For behold, the Day [of the Lord] is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the Day that is coming will set them ablaze, says the Lord of Hosts. ...
But for you who fear My Name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, ... and you will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the Day which I am preparing, says the Lord of Hosts.
This Day of the Lord encompasses the time when Jesus returns to rule the Earth. It includes all the geological and geographical and weather and sociological and governmental and relational upheavals surrounding His arrival and setting up His Throne to rule.
And part of that will be fires and explosions and earthquakes that will reduce all the cities of the World to rubble (Revelation 16:19: and the cities of the Nations fell). So the rubble that will be used to pave new roads will include the ashes of the people who burned up in it. What a picture!
Vs. 4-6
Remember the Law of Moses ...
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful Day of the Lord:
And he will turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the Earth with a curse.
We know that John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah (Matthew 17:11-13), and it is still before the coming of the great and dreadful Day of the Lord.
And we today are to do what we can to mend our family relationships, as our enemy has been hard at work to destroy our families, knowing that they form the foundation of our society. I do not know of a family that has not experienced dysfunction in some way.
And this Earth is already under the curse of death, as is the whole Universe: things wind down and wear out, the Second Law of Thermodynamics. We certainly do not need any other curses.
O my Father, to end Your Old Testament with a curse is very disheartening. We had no hope until Your Son came to be our Lamb of God, so that we could be made fit to enter His Kingdom and live with You. Now everything You wrote about that will happen, has happened; and Jesus can return any time now.
There are wars and rumors of wars, there are famines, there are weather anomalies, there are volcanoes and earthquakes, there are divorces and abuse within our families, Israel is back in her Land, and Jerusalem is her capital again. And every other prediction that is to preceed His coming in Your written Word has come to pass.
So I pray for Your children, Father, that we will pay attention to the promptings of Your Spirit to obey Your Law by loving You and loving one another as You have loved us.
Help us, Father, to not consider all the pressures this World presses upon us to conform us as though they're real, but show us how to transform our minds to think Your thoughts toward us (Romans 12:2).
Continue to send out workers into Your fields of the World that are ready for harvest; and draw every lost lamb to Yourself, and into the safety of Your one fold with one Shepherd.
And help me, Father, to "occupy" while my Lord is in His "far country" (Luke 19:12-13ff). Teach me how to use the "pound" You gave me to make "ten more pounds" to finance Your Kingdom here; and help me to accomplish all the plans You have planned for me to do during my few days I am living in this World.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Vs. 1-3
For behold, the Day [of the Lord] is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the Day that is coming will set them ablaze, says the Lord of Hosts. ...
But for you who fear My Name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, ... and you will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the Day which I am preparing, says the Lord of Hosts.
This Day of the Lord encompasses the time when Jesus returns to rule the Earth. It includes all the geological and geographical and weather and sociological and governmental and relational upheavals surrounding His arrival and setting up His Throne to rule.
And part of that will be fires and explosions and earthquakes that will reduce all the cities of the World to rubble (Revelation 16:19: and the cities of the Nations fell). So the rubble that will be used to pave new roads will include the ashes of the people who burned up in it. What a picture!
Vs. 4-6
Remember the Law of Moses ...
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful Day of the Lord:
And he will turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the Earth with a curse.
We know that John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah (Matthew 17:11-13), and it is still before the coming of the great and dreadful Day of the Lord.
And we today are to do what we can to mend our family relationships, as our enemy has been hard at work to destroy our families, knowing that they form the foundation of our society. I do not know of a family that has not experienced dysfunction in some way.
And this Earth is already under the curse of death, as is the whole Universe: things wind down and wear out, the Second Law of Thermodynamics. We certainly do not need any other curses.
O my Father, to end Your Old Testament with a curse is very disheartening. We had no hope until Your Son came to be our Lamb of God, so that we could be made fit to enter His Kingdom and live with You. Now everything You wrote about that will happen, has happened; and Jesus can return any time now.
There are wars and rumors of wars, there are famines, there are weather anomalies, there are volcanoes and earthquakes, there are divorces and abuse within our families, Israel is back in her Land, and Jerusalem is her capital again. And every other prediction that is to preceed His coming in Your written Word has come to pass.
So I pray for Your children, Father, that we will pay attention to the promptings of Your Spirit to obey Your Law by loving You and loving one another as You have loved us.
Help us, Father, to not consider all the pressures this World presses upon us to conform us as though they're real, but show us how to transform our minds to think Your thoughts toward us (Romans 12:2).
Continue to send out workers into Your fields of the World that are ready for harvest; and draw every lost lamb to Yourself, and into the safety of Your one fold with one Shepherd.
And help me, Father, to "occupy" while my Lord is in His "far country" (Luke 19:12-13ff). Teach me how to use the "pound" You gave me to make "ten more pounds" to finance Your Kingdom here; and help me to accomplish all the plans You have planned for me to do during my few days I am living in this World.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, February 25, 2019
Rebuke The Devourer
Malachi 3: 8-12
Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. But you say, How have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings.
You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed Me, even this whole Nation.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My House, and prove Me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of Heaven and pour out on you such a blessing that you will not have room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the products of your fields; neither shall your vine cast off its fruit before its time to be ripe, says the Lord of Hosts.
And then all Nations will call you blessed: for you shall be a delightful land, says the Lord of Hosts.
Here he's using a question and answer format again.
This whole Universe belongs to God, including this Earth, and everything in it. He chooses to let us use and enjoy what He's put here, but we need to acknowledge that it's His, by giving back the first ten percent. This is His Owner's Share that He requires.
But when the people didn't do this, He sent "the devourer" to eat up what they had. Just like Haggai told them, in the second year of King Darius, when he told Zerubbabel the governor in Judah and Joshua the high priest, that they were satisfied to live in their beautiful houses while the Temple still lay in ruins (Haggai 1:1-11).
This is the only place in the whole Bible where God says we can test Him (prove Me in this), in giving Him the first portion of our income.
I have a personal story about this. When our children were small, and we were barely scraping by financially, my husband suggested that we begin to tithe.
I was already "prioritizing" the bills, deciding which ones I could pay this week, what I could put off 'till next week, and what I could pay part of.
So I decided that if I was going to tithe, I would have to take it off the top first, or there'd never be any left. After a few weeks of this, I noticed that I was able to pay what was due each week, without putting any off. And a few weeks after that, we had a little left over to donate to our friends who were missionaries.
We didn't have any more income, or any less bills: God had stretched our 90% to cover more than our 100% had previously. I don't know how He did it, but He kept His promise. He rebuked the devourer for our sakes for our obedience, just as He said He would. We took Him at His Word, and He came through!
But I wouldn't presume to test Him in anything else.
We show what we value by our checkbooks and our calendars. What we spend our money and our time on. That's what displays where our hearts are.
O my Father, thank You for always being faithful to keep Your promises to us. Whenever we decide to obey You, You always come through with Your rewards, even stuff we didn't even expect. You are so good! You are good to us every day, all the time. You want to bless us more than we can stand, and we deprive ourselves of Your good gifts when we try to do things ourselves, on our own.
Help me, Father, to always remember Your goodnesses to me; especially whenever I turn a corner and need to appreciate another aspect of Your personality.
O Father, I will never in this life be able to understand all You are. I don't know if all eternity future will be long enough to really get to know You. There is no end to Your beauty and Your majesty and Your power and authority. There will be no end to the increase of Your Kingdom and Rule; You will continue to cause Your Creation to grow and evolve and change: from this Era of Man, to the next New Heaven and New Earth, to whatever will come after that, forever and ever.
And every knee will bow in adoration of You, and every tongue will confess Your authority and ownership and glory. How good for us to choose to worship You now, rather than be compelled to do so in the next stage of existence.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. But you say, How have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings.
You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed Me, even this whole Nation.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My House, and prove Me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of Heaven and pour out on you such a blessing that you will not have room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the products of your fields; neither shall your vine cast off its fruit before its time to be ripe, says the Lord of Hosts.
And then all Nations will call you blessed: for you shall be a delightful land, says the Lord of Hosts.
Here he's using a question and answer format again.
This whole Universe belongs to God, including this Earth, and everything in it. He chooses to let us use and enjoy what He's put here, but we need to acknowledge that it's His, by giving back the first ten percent. This is His Owner's Share that He requires.
But when the people didn't do this, He sent "the devourer" to eat up what they had. Just like Haggai told them, in the second year of King Darius, when he told Zerubbabel the governor in Judah and Joshua the high priest, that they were satisfied to live in their beautiful houses while the Temple still lay in ruins (Haggai 1:1-11).
This is the only place in the whole Bible where God says we can test Him (prove Me in this), in giving Him the first portion of our income.
I have a personal story about this. When our children were small, and we were barely scraping by financially, my husband suggested that we begin to tithe.
I was already "prioritizing" the bills, deciding which ones I could pay this week, what I could put off 'till next week, and what I could pay part of.
So I decided that if I was going to tithe, I would have to take it off the top first, or there'd never be any left. After a few weeks of this, I noticed that I was able to pay what was due each week, without putting any off. And a few weeks after that, we had a little left over to donate to our friends who were missionaries.
We didn't have any more income, or any less bills: God had stretched our 90% to cover more than our 100% had previously. I don't know how He did it, but He kept His promise. He rebuked the devourer for our sakes for our obedience, just as He said He would. We took Him at His Word, and He came through!
But I wouldn't presume to test Him in anything else.
We show what we value by our checkbooks and our calendars. What we spend our money and our time on. That's what displays where our hearts are.
O my Father, thank You for always being faithful to keep Your promises to us. Whenever we decide to obey You, You always come through with Your rewards, even stuff we didn't even expect. You are so good! You are good to us every day, all the time. You want to bless us more than we can stand, and we deprive ourselves of Your good gifts when we try to do things ourselves, on our own.
Help me, Father, to always remember Your goodnesses to me; especially whenever I turn a corner and need to appreciate another aspect of Your personality.
O Father, I will never in this life be able to understand all You are. I don't know if all eternity future will be long enough to really get to know You. There is no end to Your beauty and Your majesty and Your power and authority. There will be no end to the increase of Your Kingdom and Rule; You will continue to cause Your Creation to grow and evolve and change: from this Era of Man, to the next New Heaven and New Earth, to whatever will come after that, forever and ever.
And every knee will bow in adoration of You, and every tongue will confess Your authority and ownership and glory. How good for us to choose to worship You now, rather than be compelled to do so in the next stage of existence.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Today's News In Malachi
Malachi
Malachi uses a question and answer format.
Chapter 1
He tells them about the blind and sick and stolen animals they are offering to the Lord, and he asks them if their governor would accept such a gift. The answer is obviously, "No!"
Yet they are disrespecting the Lord God in offering these inferior animals.
They don't seem to understand Who God really is.
Chapter 2
He says that the Levites, the teachers of Israel, were perverting the Law in showing partiality, profaning the covenant God made with Levi.
And that the men in Judah are dealing treacherously with the covenant, in marrying women who worship other gods. And divorcing their lawful wives. God hates divorce because it is cruel to them in leaving them unprotected.
These people have no understanding of God and His way, asking continually, "Why?" in "injured conscience." They are calling evil, good; and saying God doesn't care because He does not mete out instant justice.
It sounds a lot like today.
O my Father, after Malachi You were silent for over 400 years, when there was a drought of the living water of Your Word. Until John the Baptist came baptizing in the Jordan.
The way Malachi characterizes the thinking of the people of his day sounds a lot like how people are thinking today. People have not changed. Our defective human nature is still refusing to recognize Your majesty and authority over us. Even with all our technology today, we still are making our own choices and finding more ways to justify ourselves in our own minds.
I pray, Father, for Your children, that they will not get caught up in all the lies being spread today about right being wrong and good being bad, of the evil being celebrated and Your righteous being vilified.
Our justification is in Christ alone, for He is our Sacrifice to cleanse us white as snow. And Your justice will be meted out upon the wicked, who refuse to recognize the Truth that is staring them in the face. They will perish in the arrogance of their pride and self-worship.
And every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord over the whole Earth and all the Universe, to the glory of God the Father (Isaiah 45:22-23; Romans 14:11-12; Philippians 2:9-10; Revelation 5:13-14).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Malachi uses a question and answer format.
Chapter 1
He tells them about the blind and sick and stolen animals they are offering to the Lord, and he asks them if their governor would accept such a gift. The answer is obviously, "No!"
Yet they are disrespecting the Lord God in offering these inferior animals.
They don't seem to understand Who God really is.
Chapter 2
He says that the Levites, the teachers of Israel, were perverting the Law in showing partiality, profaning the covenant God made with Levi.
And that the men in Judah are dealing treacherously with the covenant, in marrying women who worship other gods. And divorcing their lawful wives. God hates divorce because it is cruel to them in leaving them unprotected.
These people have no understanding of God and His way, asking continually, "Why?" in "injured conscience." They are calling evil, good; and saying God doesn't care because He does not mete out instant justice.
It sounds a lot like today.
O my Father, after Malachi You were silent for over 400 years, when there was a drought of the living water of Your Word. Until John the Baptist came baptizing in the Jordan.
The way Malachi characterizes the thinking of the people of his day sounds a lot like how people are thinking today. People have not changed. Our defective human nature is still refusing to recognize Your majesty and authority over us. Even with all our technology today, we still are making our own choices and finding more ways to justify ourselves in our own minds.
I pray, Father, for Your children, that they will not get caught up in all the lies being spread today about right being wrong and good being bad, of the evil being celebrated and Your righteous being vilified.
Our justification is in Christ alone, for He is our Sacrifice to cleanse us white as snow. And Your justice will be meted out upon the wicked, who refuse to recognize the Truth that is staring them in the face. They will perish in the arrogance of their pride and self-worship.
And every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord over the whole Earth and all the Universe, to the glory of God the Father (Isaiah 45:22-23; Romans 14:11-12; Philippians 2:9-10; Revelation 5:13-14).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Everything He Can Do
Nehemiah 13
After Nehemiah had done everything he came to do in Jerusalem, he went back to his job serving the king in Babylon. Then, after some time (v. 6), he returned to Jerusalem, and he was horrified by what he found they had done in his absence.
Eliashib was the priest who had been appointed over the chambers of the House of God. But he had married the daughter of Tobiah, the Ammonite who tried to make so much trouble for them. (See 2:9-10; 4:2-3; 6:1-4, 5-9, 10-13.)
Now, while Nehemiah is gone, this priest who was one of the leaders in Jerusalem, had married this enemy's daughter; and, as he was in charge of the chambers in the Temple, he cleaned out one of the large rooms so that Tobiah could move in! In the very courts of the Temple!
So Nehemiah threw him out! It was displeasing to me, so I threw all of Tobiah's household goods out of the room. Then I gave the order and they [ritually] cleansed the rooms; and I returned there the utensils of the House of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense (vs. 8-9).
And he also found that the priests had not given the Levites and Singers their portions of the tithes, so they had to go out and work their own fields, instead of doing their service for the Lord in the Temple (v.10).
So he restored that all the tithes would be gathered and distributed properly, and he appointed other priests and Levites to handle all this, because they were considered reliable (vs. 12-13).
And he also noticed that they were not observing the Lord's Sabbaths, so he had them shut the doors of the wall for the Sabbath, and he stationed his servants to guard the gates so that no one would go in or out over the Sabbath. And he had to persist in this, as traders and merchants would spend the night outside the wall hoping to sell, and he had to threaten to remove them by force so that they would not come on the Sabbath. And he commanded the Levites to be gatekeepers on the wall, to preserve the Sabbath.
Also, all the other Jews that had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab, had children by them who didn't even speak Hebrew! So it's obvious they weren't being taught about God, but worshipped the idols.
Nehemiah had to remind them that even Solomon, who had no equal among the Nations of the world, and was loved by God to make him the king over Israel; even his heart was led astray by foreign wives.
So Nehemiah found a lot that had gone astray while he was gone, and he again set up a system so that they could maintain it, as he did before when he left. He did everything he could to help the people to be faithful. He was really concerned that God's people would do well and obey His commandments so that they could stay in The Land and prosper, and be God's people.
And he was praying to God throughout this whole book, with everything he was doing to set things straight (1:4-11; 2:4; 4:4-5, 9; 5:19; 6:14; 13:14, 22, 29, 31). He knew that God was with him in all of this, and he naturally was talking with God through it all. And God strengthened him and gave him the wisdom and discernment to know when he was being tricked or deceived, and helped him to work with these wayward children to lead them back into God's ways.
So often we are led astray by the world around us. It seems real, and it seems to affect our lives in many ways. Although we live in this World, surrounded by the World system, we are not to be of this system of the World (John 17:14, 16)--we are citizens of Heaven, and we're just here in this World as though we're away at a boarding school.
We are God's children, here to learn about our Father and how He thought up, designed, and made the Earth for us. To learn how He planned for us to live in this World we made on His Earth, for the few days we are here. When our Graduation Day comes, we will be His adult children, His kings and queens, fully authorized to help Him run His Family Business, His Kingdom.
We have God's Holy Spirit living inside us, right now, in our spirits, to teach us and help us and strengthen us and grow us up into the people He designed us to be.
But the Israelites didn't have God's Holy Spirit in them as we do now. Often they were on their own to try to obey and make righteous choices and decisions. So they went over and over, enjoying God, then forgetting Him, and going their own way, and having problems and troubles, and crying out to God, and He rescues them again, and they enjoy Him again. Over and over.
So we should not be subject to these cycles, as they were. We have no excuse. God's Spirit in us makes us united as one with Him and perfect in love (John 17:23; I John 4:16-17, as He is so also are we in this World). Since God's Holy Spirit is living permanently in our spirits, then we always have Him to help us to love one another perfectly. We just need to listen to Him constantly.
O my Father, thank You for giving us all these stories of how Your people did right and how You made things go well for them, and how they messed up and the problems they had; but they could always return to You. Your arms are wide open to us all, Father.
Your Son came to be one of us, so He could make us fit to live with You. And You extend the invitation to everyone, as You are not willing that any would perish, but that all would come to repentance and let the Lamb of God be their personal Sacrifice (II Peter 3:9).
His Blood, splattered on the sides of His altar, the Cross, does not just cover our sins, but washes them away totally, so that there is not a hint or shadow of a stain of sin on us, but we are cleansed thoroughly, as though we'd never sinned at all. Perfect. Fit to live with You in Your Heaven.
O Father, You have done everything possible and impossible to show us Who You are, and how much You love us and want us. Jesus even prayed, that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the World (John 17:24).
Jesus wanted me to be with Him, and You love me more than I can imagine! I am one of your princesses, who will be a queen when I have graduated this "school." His bride, and He is my Bridegroom.
I pray, Father, for all those who don't know you yet, even in my own family. Please show them Yourself and Your ways, so they also will be among all of us who are praising You and worshipping You and giving You all the majesty and honor and glory, forever and ever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
After Nehemiah had done everything he came to do in Jerusalem, he went back to his job serving the king in Babylon. Then, after some time (v. 6), he returned to Jerusalem, and he was horrified by what he found they had done in his absence.
Eliashib was the priest who had been appointed over the chambers of the House of God. But he had married the daughter of Tobiah, the Ammonite who tried to make so much trouble for them. (See 2:9-10; 4:2-3; 6:1-4, 5-9, 10-13.)
Now, while Nehemiah is gone, this priest who was one of the leaders in Jerusalem, had married this enemy's daughter; and, as he was in charge of the chambers in the Temple, he cleaned out one of the large rooms so that Tobiah could move in! In the very courts of the Temple!
On that day (that Nehemiah returned) they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and there was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However our God turned the curse into a blessing (13:1-2).
So Nehemiah threw him out! It was displeasing to me, so I threw all of Tobiah's household goods out of the room. Then I gave the order and they [ritually] cleansed the rooms; and I returned there the utensils of the House of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense (vs. 8-9).
And he also found that the priests had not given the Levites and Singers their portions of the tithes, so they had to go out and work their own fields, instead of doing their service for the Lord in the Temple (v.10).
So he restored that all the tithes would be gathered and distributed properly, and he appointed other priests and Levites to handle all this, because they were considered reliable (vs. 12-13).
And he also noticed that they were not observing the Lord's Sabbaths, so he had them shut the doors of the wall for the Sabbath, and he stationed his servants to guard the gates so that no one would go in or out over the Sabbath. And he had to persist in this, as traders and merchants would spend the night outside the wall hoping to sell, and he had to threaten to remove them by force so that they would not come on the Sabbath. And he commanded the Levites to be gatekeepers on the wall, to preserve the Sabbath.
Also, all the other Jews that had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab, had children by them who didn't even speak Hebrew! So it's obvious they weren't being taught about God, but worshipped the idols.
Nehemiah had to remind them that even Solomon, who had no equal among the Nations of the world, and was loved by God to make him the king over Israel; even his heart was led astray by foreign wives.
So Nehemiah found a lot that had gone astray while he was gone, and he again set up a system so that they could maintain it, as he did before when he left. He did everything he could to help the people to be faithful. He was really concerned that God's people would do well and obey His commandments so that they could stay in The Land and prosper, and be God's people.
And he was praying to God throughout this whole book, with everything he was doing to set things straight (1:4-11; 2:4; 4:4-5, 9; 5:19; 6:14; 13:14, 22, 29, 31). He knew that God was with him in all of this, and he naturally was talking with God through it all. And God strengthened him and gave him the wisdom and discernment to know when he was being tricked or deceived, and helped him to work with these wayward children to lead them back into God's ways.
So often we are led astray by the world around us. It seems real, and it seems to affect our lives in many ways. Although we live in this World, surrounded by the World system, we are not to be of this system of the World (John 17:14, 16)--we are citizens of Heaven, and we're just here in this World as though we're away at a boarding school.
We are God's children, here to learn about our Father and how He thought up, designed, and made the Earth for us. To learn how He planned for us to live in this World we made on His Earth, for the few days we are here. When our Graduation Day comes, we will be His adult children, His kings and queens, fully authorized to help Him run His Family Business, His Kingdom.
We have God's Holy Spirit living inside us, right now, in our spirits, to teach us and help us and strengthen us and grow us up into the people He designed us to be.
But the Israelites didn't have God's Holy Spirit in them as we do now. Often they were on their own to try to obey and make righteous choices and decisions. So they went over and over, enjoying God, then forgetting Him, and going their own way, and having problems and troubles, and crying out to God, and He rescues them again, and they enjoy Him again. Over and over.
So we should not be subject to these cycles, as they were. We have no excuse. God's Spirit in us makes us united as one with Him and perfect in love (John 17:23; I John 4:16-17, as He is so also are we in this World). Since God's Holy Spirit is living permanently in our spirits, then we always have Him to help us to love one another perfectly. We just need to listen to Him constantly.
O my Father, thank You for giving us all these stories of how Your people did right and how You made things go well for them, and how they messed up and the problems they had; but they could always return to You. Your arms are wide open to us all, Father.
Your Son came to be one of us, so He could make us fit to live with You. And You extend the invitation to everyone, as You are not willing that any would perish, but that all would come to repentance and let the Lamb of God be their personal Sacrifice (II Peter 3:9).
His Blood, splattered on the sides of His altar, the Cross, does not just cover our sins, but washes them away totally, so that there is not a hint or shadow of a stain of sin on us, but we are cleansed thoroughly, as though we'd never sinned at all. Perfect. Fit to live with You in Your Heaven.
O Father, You have done everything possible and impossible to show us Who You are, and how much You love us and want us. Jesus even prayed, that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the World (John 17:24).
Jesus wanted me to be with Him, and You love me more than I can imagine! I am one of your princesses, who will be a queen when I have graduated this "school." His bride, and He is my Bridegroom.
I pray, Father, for all those who don't know you yet, even in my own family. Please show them Yourself and Your ways, so they also will be among all of us who are praising You and worshipping You and giving You all the majesty and honor and glory, forever and ever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, February 22, 2019
God Loves A Party
Nehemiah 12
This chapter records probably one of the greatest concerts God's people performed for Him. They were dedicating the wall that they had finished building, so they formed two choirs with orchestras to accompany the singing, and they played and sang marching on top of the wall in two directions, one going left and the other going right, then came together at the Temple, singing and playing the instruments.
This must have been a marvelous performance, with singing and instruments playing and everyone rejoicing in the Lord, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar (v. 43).
I can imagine God smiling down upon His children, receiving all their joyful praises and sacrifices. Just like parents do when their children happily honor them in love and fun.
I'm glad that God gave us music. The right music fosters such joy and rejoicing and fun and good family relationships, enjoying one another in love. Along with the food, too, of course (the sacrifices). What a grand party they had that day.
And they all shared in the bounty. So all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day required, and set apart the consecrated portion for the Levites, and the Levites set apart the consecrated portion for the sons of Aaron (v. 47).
O my Father, You are a party-God! You love to party with Your people, in enjoyment and goodwill. You told Your people to come have a week-long party at Your House three times every year. You know that we cannot work all the time, so You gave us the Sabbath so we'll take off at least one day each week, and You had them take vacations to unwind and renew friendships.
Father, You know how You made us, You know how You want us to function without burning out. You want only good for us, as every good father desires for his children.
If only we would listen to You, and take You seriously, and go ahead and take time off--even if it looks like it would cut into our bottom line. Show us that allowing breaks and vacations really does make us more productive, and we will be able to enjoy more and more of Your bounty You put into this Earth for us.
And we can enjoy concerts, too, and other wholesome get-togethers. All good for our mental and emotional health, and to strengthen bonds with family and friends. People will last forever, none of the stuff we work for. So we can enjoy the stuff and share it with one another, and value the people we love.
And when we love God and love one another, we will be obeying all His Law.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
This chapter records probably one of the greatest concerts God's people performed for Him. They were dedicating the wall that they had finished building, so they formed two choirs with orchestras to accompany the singing, and they played and sang marching on top of the wall in two directions, one going left and the other going right, then came together at the Temple, singing and playing the instruments.
This must have been a marvelous performance, with singing and instruments playing and everyone rejoicing in the Lord, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar (v. 43).
I can imagine God smiling down upon His children, receiving all their joyful praises and sacrifices. Just like parents do when their children happily honor them in love and fun.
I'm glad that God gave us music. The right music fosters such joy and rejoicing and fun and good family relationships, enjoying one another in love. Along with the food, too, of course (the sacrifices). What a grand party they had that day.
And they all shared in the bounty. So all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day required, and set apart the consecrated portion for the Levites, and the Levites set apart the consecrated portion for the sons of Aaron (v. 47).
O my Father, You are a party-God! You love to party with Your people, in enjoyment and goodwill. You told Your people to come have a week-long party at Your House three times every year. You know that we cannot work all the time, so You gave us the Sabbath so we'll take off at least one day each week, and You had them take vacations to unwind and renew friendships.
Father, You know how You made us, You know how You want us to function without burning out. You want only good for us, as every good father desires for his children.
If only we would listen to You, and take You seriously, and go ahead and take time off--even if it looks like it would cut into our bottom line. Show us that allowing breaks and vacations really does make us more productive, and we will be able to enjoy more and more of Your bounty You put into this Earth for us.
And we can enjoy concerts, too, and other wholesome get-togethers. All good for our mental and emotional health, and to strengthen bonds with family and friends. People will last forever, none of the stuff we work for. So we can enjoy the stuff and share it with one another, and value the people we love.
And when we love God and love one another, we will be obeying all His Law.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, February 21, 2019
What Is Your Music?
Nehemiah 11
This chapter tells us about how the leaders lived in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people lived in the surrounding towns of Judah. But now that the wall was finished, the city needed to be populated.
So they cast lots, probably similar to us throwing dice, to bring one out of every ten to also live in the City of Jerusalem. Others also decided to move there, too, instead of on their ancestral property, and they were honored for doing so. We have here the lists of who moved to the city, and also the towns that they moved out of.
And, Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the House of God. For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day (vs.22-23).
This, in the middle of the list of all those who chose to live in Jerusalem, shows us how God values music. He had gifted that specific part of the tribe of Levi, the sons of Asaph, with musical abilities for singing and playing instruments. And even this foreign king gave honor to the sons of Asaph, because they led the worship of the people in the House of God.
God loves music so much that He put a whole book of music in His written Word--the book of Psalms. Here we don't have any melodies, only the lyrics, because God loves a new song. And He knows that every People in every Nation in every Time will have a different culture, and will write melodies in their own style, according to their own culture, to worship our God over all.
God loves variation and diversity, as He unites us as one in our faith. So we can all sing of our God and His character and personality with different tunes and melodies and tempos. And in our differences in our songs, we will be united in our praise and worship.
God made our bodies to work in amazing ways. Just as a carrier will allow an herb or medicine to be absorbed through our skin to reach the affected place that needs healing, so our brains are able to absorb the message of the lyrics through the tunes and music.
That's why I am careful about what I subject my ears to hear, and I listen to Christian music on my radio, so that His principles of life and living will permeate my brain to form His attitudes.
I have KLOVE playing on my radios in my home and in my car, and they like to issue "30-day Challenge"s to listen to only Christian music for a month, and testimonies from listeners who have taken them up on this challenge show that God's ideas presented musically can change lives.
It doesn't matter what gendre is used, when God's ideas are presented lives change, whether in today's rock, country, rap, olde time hymns; or in African or Chinese rhythms.
I think that's why God loves music so much. But our enemy also knows this, so much of the World's music promotes murder and adultery and other ungodly attitudes and twisted views of reality. People who say, "I don't listen to the words," are still getting the messages.
O my Father, thank You for music! Thank You for those who know You who are writing new musical scores for Your songs in Psalms and other parts of Your written Word, and their testimonies of how good You are to them in so many ways. Thank You that we don't have to wait until we're in Heaven with You to worship You, but we can let everything we do and say and think be in worship of You.
Show me how to let every moment of every day bring praise and honor and worship to You, Father, even while I still walk on this Earth. And may I feel Your smile and joy upon my ways, as I walk with You.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
This chapter tells us about how the leaders lived in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people lived in the surrounding towns of Judah. But now that the wall was finished, the city needed to be populated.
So they cast lots, probably similar to us throwing dice, to bring one out of every ten to also live in the City of Jerusalem. Others also decided to move there, too, instead of on their ancestral property, and they were honored for doing so. We have here the lists of who moved to the city, and also the towns that they moved out of.
And, Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the House of God. For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day (vs.22-23).
This, in the middle of the list of all those who chose to live in Jerusalem, shows us how God values music. He had gifted that specific part of the tribe of Levi, the sons of Asaph, with musical abilities for singing and playing instruments. And even this foreign king gave honor to the sons of Asaph, because they led the worship of the people in the House of God.
God loves music so much that He put a whole book of music in His written Word--the book of Psalms. Here we don't have any melodies, only the lyrics, because God loves a new song. And He knows that every People in every Nation in every Time will have a different culture, and will write melodies in their own style, according to their own culture, to worship our God over all.
God loves variation and diversity, as He unites us as one in our faith. So we can all sing of our God and His character and personality with different tunes and melodies and tempos. And in our differences in our songs, we will be united in our praise and worship.
God made our bodies to work in amazing ways. Just as a carrier will allow an herb or medicine to be absorbed through our skin to reach the affected place that needs healing, so our brains are able to absorb the message of the lyrics through the tunes and music.
That's why I am careful about what I subject my ears to hear, and I listen to Christian music on my radio, so that His principles of life and living will permeate my brain to form His attitudes.
I have KLOVE playing on my radios in my home and in my car, and they like to issue "30-day Challenge"s to listen to only Christian music for a month, and testimonies from listeners who have taken them up on this challenge show that God's ideas presented musically can change lives.
It doesn't matter what gendre is used, when God's ideas are presented lives change, whether in today's rock, country, rap, olde time hymns; or in African or Chinese rhythms.
I think that's why God loves music so much. But our enemy also knows this, so much of the World's music promotes murder and adultery and other ungodly attitudes and twisted views of reality. People who say, "I don't listen to the words," are still getting the messages.
O my Father, thank You for music! Thank You for those who know You who are writing new musical scores for Your songs in Psalms and other parts of Your written Word, and their testimonies of how good You are to them in so many ways. Thank You that we don't have to wait until we're in Heaven with You to worship You, but we can let everything we do and say and think be in worship of You.
Show me how to let every moment of every day bring praise and honor and worship to You, Father, even while I still walk on this Earth. And may I feel Your smile and joy upon my ways, as I walk with You.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
An Orderly Society
Nehemiah 10
This chapter lists all the leaders who signed the formal contract, the covenant the last chapter ended with, and what they all agreed to in it.
This chapter lists all the leaders who signed the formal contract, the covenant the last chapter ended with, and what they all agreed to in it.
The rest of the people, ... all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand; all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord our Lord (vs. 28-29).Then the list of everything they promised to do to follow all these laws is listed here. So they determined to:
- Not intermarry with other peoples,
- Follow all the weekly Sabbath rules to not buy or sell, and
- The seven-year rule to leave their fields fallow and forgive all debts, and
- To finance the Temple by giving the Temple Tax,
- And to furnish everything the priests and Levites needed for all the Temple services and their provisions (the tithes),
- And to present the firstborn of their sons and all their animals.
Now all the people there agreed to follow all the stipulations of all the laws and rules, so everything should run like clockwork, if they do.
Father, You have laid out how life can proceed smoothly, peacefully, and morally. These people had their consciences, and they knew right from wrong, so they should have been able to order their society for the benefit of all the participants. And You would receive the credit for their peace and well-being.
Help us, Father, to follow Your ways, as our Source and Provider of everything we need. Show us how to love You, and how to love one another as You have loved us. Lead us into doing all the wonderful things You planned ahead of time for us to do, Father. Continue to roll out all Your plans for us as we walk in Your ways to accomplish all Your purposes for which You created. Namely, Your honor and glory and majesty.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Cycles Of Life
Nehemiah 9
This is a long chapter. It recounts their whole history from Abraham all the way down to their present day: back in their Land, but still in servitude to the king in Babylon.
That's how it goes. When things are going well for us, we tend to forget that it's God Who has blessed us, and we're drawn away from Him. Then we mess up and find ourselves in trouble because we choose to go our own way instead. So we cry out for help, and in His mercy He come to the rescue.
This scenario has played out in cycles all through their history; and indeed, throughout all of human history. God is good to reveal Himself and His ways to us, but we are proud and want to decide for ourselves (how the serpent deceived Eve, to want to make her own choices).
So we are drawn away from our God Who made us, by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (I John 2:16); wanting right now all the things of the World that we need and want. This World is very enticing and it seduces us into thinking in ways that are contrary to God's good for us.
When our focus is on right here, right now, rather than on the Lord our Source; then we can easily get caught up into the "rat race" of "keeping up with the Joneses," competing with one another. Or just wanting to satisfy our own personal comfort and pleasure; not considering that we live only a few moments here, no matter how long our lives are, and we can't take it with us.
So we need to be careful how we live our lives. We need to pay attention to how we're thinking. We need to be sure that we're believing what God has actually said to us, and take Him seriously.
From what we believe, we think and have our attitudes; and our thinking and attitudes produce the words we say and the way we live our lives. That's why we can't afford to let ourselves slip into sin, into anything that doesn't come up to the high standards our Lord sets for us, that bulls-eye we miss. (The word "sin" is an archery term that refers to "missing the mark.")
The Israelites had God's Word; His commandments, statutes, precepts and laws. But we have God's Holy Spirit living inside us, in our spirits. So we have no excuse. He has promised to "never leave us or forsake us" (Hebrews 13:5) while we're here in this World (Matthew 28:20), to teach us and guide us and make sure that we end up where God wants us to. But the journey we each take to get there can be rocky or smooth, depending on our choices.
When my road seems kind of rocky, I must examine my own heart to see if my choices lately have been selfish or self-centered, if I missed an opportunity to bless a brother or sister. Or, if I've done right, and it's the enemy trying to ruffle my feathers. So I will need to confess, or run from temptation, or resist the devil; whatever the situation calls for.
Father, thank You that You have given me Your own Holy Spirit to live in my spirit, making it alive. Thank You that Your Spirit is always with me, even when I grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30). Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, and my mind to understand what is going on around me and in my own life. Give me Your discernment to be able to choose the right, and strengthen me when the right is the hard choice.
Help us all, Father, all Your children, to follow You closely in Your footsteps. Hold on to us securely, as You have promised to do, that we would be faithful to You and Your ways, not turning to the right or to the left, not running ahead or lagging behind, not wandering off or pulling away.
Thank You for Your Holy Spirit to seal us up for Yourself, for that Day when Your Redemption will be finished (Ephesians 1:13-14), and we will experience Resurrection Life without the hindrance of this flesh (II Corinthians 5:4-5), to serve You continually, and enjoy the pleasure of You forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
This is a long chapter. It recounts their whole history from Abraham all the way down to their present day: back in their Land, but still in servitude to the king in Babylon.
Nehemiah prays, However, You are just in all that has come upon us. For You have dealt with us faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.
That's how it goes. When things are going well for us, we tend to forget that it's God Who has blessed us, and we're drawn away from Him. Then we mess up and find ourselves in trouble because we choose to go our own way instead. So we cry out for help, and in His mercy He come to the rescue.
This scenario has played out in cycles all through their history; and indeed, throughout all of human history. God is good to reveal Himself and His ways to us, but we are proud and want to decide for ourselves (how the serpent deceived Eve, to want to make her own choices).
So we are drawn away from our God Who made us, by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (I John 2:16); wanting right now all the things of the World that we need and want. This World is very enticing and it seduces us into thinking in ways that are contrary to God's good for us.
In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are afixing their seals to it (v.38).
When our focus is on right here, right now, rather than on the Lord our Source; then we can easily get caught up into the "rat race" of "keeping up with the Joneses," competing with one another. Or just wanting to satisfy our own personal comfort and pleasure; not considering that we live only a few moments here, no matter how long our lives are, and we can't take it with us.
So we need to be careful how we live our lives. We need to pay attention to how we're thinking. We need to be sure that we're believing what God has actually said to us, and take Him seriously.
From what we believe, we think and have our attitudes; and our thinking and attitudes produce the words we say and the way we live our lives. That's why we can't afford to let ourselves slip into sin, into anything that doesn't come up to the high standards our Lord sets for us, that bulls-eye we miss. (The word "sin" is an archery term that refers to "missing the mark.")
The Israelites had God's Word; His commandments, statutes, precepts and laws. But we have God's Holy Spirit living inside us, in our spirits. So we have no excuse. He has promised to "never leave us or forsake us" (Hebrews 13:5) while we're here in this World (Matthew 28:20), to teach us and guide us and make sure that we end up where God wants us to. But the journey we each take to get there can be rocky or smooth, depending on our choices.
When my road seems kind of rocky, I must examine my own heart to see if my choices lately have been selfish or self-centered, if I missed an opportunity to bless a brother or sister. Or, if I've done right, and it's the enemy trying to ruffle my feathers. So I will need to confess, or run from temptation, or resist the devil; whatever the situation calls for.
Father, thank You that You have given me Your own Holy Spirit to live in my spirit, making it alive. Thank You that Your Spirit is always with me, even when I grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30). Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, and my mind to understand what is going on around me and in my own life. Give me Your discernment to be able to choose the right, and strengthen me when the right is the hard choice.
Help us all, Father, all Your children, to follow You closely in Your footsteps. Hold on to us securely, as You have promised to do, that we would be faithful to You and Your ways, not turning to the right or to the left, not running ahead or lagging behind, not wandering off or pulling away.
Thank You for Your Holy Spirit to seal us up for Yourself, for that Day when Your Redemption will be finished (Ephesians 1:13-14), and we will experience Resurrection Life without the hindrance of this flesh (II Corinthians 5:4-5), to serve You continually, and enjoy the pleasure of You forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, February 17, 2019
The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength
Nehemiah 7 & 8
Chapter 7
Now that the wall is finished, Nehemiah is taking care of all the paperwork involved in this whole project, and he records who came back from Babylon to Jerusalem.
He is very careful about the people all being able to document who they were, and some of the priests didn't have all their "papers" so they weren't permitted to participate in the duties of the priesthood.
This was very important, because God was very specific about who He wanted to come near Him in service.
And He is very particular about those He allows in His own personal Family today, too. He invites everyone, but only those who also want Him are given this privilege. Only those who know they deserve death, and let the Lamb of God be their personal Sacrifice.
He won't force Himself on anyone who doesn't want Him.
Chapter 8
Then everyone gathered to hear the reading of the Law to the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law (v. 3). This was a good time to do this, now that the work is done, to pause and reflect on God and His goodness to us. And the Levites were there, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
When the people learned how they hadn't been following the stipulations God required, they began to mourn; but it was the time of a very important Feast, the Feast of Tabernacles, which was a joyous celebration of being released from slavery. So,
This was like a camping retreat! Giving gifts like Christmas, and rejoicing in all God was doing for them, bringing them back to their land and back to Himself.
O my Father, thank You for all Your goodness and generosity to us! Thank You for this story of Ezra and Nehemiah, Your servants, and how they ministered to Your people and their response. Father, You are very emotional, and You have given us emotions to feel our joy and love for You and the sorrow that draws us to You, and all the other emotions that make us feel alive.
The reading of Your Law brought out conflicting emotions, and Your servants led them in understanding which emotions to pay attention to and which ones to ignore, because our emotions are not trustworthy to determine Truth. Your Word is Truth. Help me to always remember this.
When our emotions are flying wild all over the place, Father, help us to calm them with Your Word. Teach us how to manage how we tend to feel about what goes on in our lives, and when we feel weak, to remember that Your joy is our strength.
Help me, Father, to rejoice in You no matter what is happening all around me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Chapter 7
Now that the wall is finished, Nehemiah is taking care of all the paperwork involved in this whole project, and he records who came back from Babylon to Jerusalem.
He is very careful about the people all being able to document who they were, and some of the priests didn't have all their "papers" so they weren't permitted to participate in the duties of the priesthood.
This was very important, because God was very specific about who He wanted to come near Him in service.
And He is very particular about those He allows in His own personal Family today, too. He invites everyone, but only those who also want Him are given this privilege. Only those who know they deserve death, and let the Lamb of God be their personal Sacrifice.
He won't force Himself on anyone who doesn't want Him.
Chapter 8
Then everyone gathered to hear the reading of the Law to the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law (v. 3). This was a good time to do this, now that the work is done, to pause and reflect on God and His goodness to us. And the Levites were there, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
When the people learned how they hadn't been following the stipulations God required, they began to mourn; but it was the time of a very important Feast, the Feast of Tabernacles, which was a joyous celebration of being released from slavery. So,
Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep. For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law (v.9).And Nehemiah the governor told the people how to celebrate this Feast, and told them to rejoice, for the joy of the Lord is your strength (v. 10).
And, the Levites calmed all the people, saying, Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because now they understood the words that had been made known to them (vs. 11-12).They all went out to get branches to build temporary shelters for a week. This was like a vacation. So they all camped out while they listened to God's Word being read to them from day to day.
This was like a camping retreat! Giving gifts like Christmas, and rejoicing in all God was doing for them, bringing them back to their land and back to Himself.
O my Father, thank You for all Your goodness and generosity to us! Thank You for this story of Ezra and Nehemiah, Your servants, and how they ministered to Your people and their response. Father, You are very emotional, and You have given us emotions to feel our joy and love for You and the sorrow that draws us to You, and all the other emotions that make us feel alive.
The reading of Your Law brought out conflicting emotions, and Your servants led them in understanding which emotions to pay attention to and which ones to ignore, because our emotions are not trustworthy to determine Truth. Your Word is Truth. Help me to always remember this.
When our emotions are flying wild all over the place, Father, help us to calm them with Your Word. Teach us how to manage how we tend to feel about what goes on in our lives, and when we feel weak, to remember that Your joy is our strength.
Help me, Father, to rejoice in You no matter what is happening all around me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Focus To Finish
Nehemiah 5 & 6
Chapter 5
Nehemiah has been informed of all kinds of extortion that had been done against the people by the nations around them, and by their own Jewish brothers; even charging excessive interest. Some had even sold their children into slavery.
So Nehemiah consulted with myself and I rebuked the nobles and the rulers, for charging excessive interest of their own people (v. 7); and Nehemiah himself bought back the people who had been sold into slavery to the heathen around them.
And he had them make things right with one another, helping each other rather than profiting off their backs; so they could all benefit.
And Nehemiah didn't accept the pay that was to be given to the Governor (v. 15), but instead focused on the work to be done, building the wall.
He supported a lot of the people out of his own pocket because he realized how hard life was for the people, just beginning to rebuild their civilization from the ruins.
Chapter 6
Since they were still making progress on the wall, their enemies stepped up their opposition to them, even slandering Nehemiah and trying to lure him out to where they could assassinate him. But he was aware of what they were trying to do, and didn't fall into their trap.
And I am impressed with Nehemiah's continual awareness of the nearness of the Lord, praying one-sentence prayers scattered about as things progress (5:19, 6:14).
In spite of all these distractions, the wall was finished in a record 52 days! (v. 15.) Because Nehemiah never took his focus off of his purpose for being there.
O my Father, thank You for this story about Your man who took leave of his job serving a great king to come do a great work for You instead. His world would rank his near-to-the-king position as more important than building a wall around an "obscure" town far away. But he knew that this town was Your great city, and that You are a King above all kings, even the one he worked for.
Help me to always order my priorities aright, as Nehemiah did. Keep my eyes on Your ways, so that my focus will be sure. Strengthen me against all the distractions that try to take me away from Your purpose for me, and help me to finish the work You set before me to do, as Nehemiah did with the wall, and as Paul wrote that he also did (II Timothy 4:7).
Father, keep me securely in Your hand. Keep my focus on You and Your ways; You are my prize, You are my reward, You are the one I seek to know. Father, all your gifts and benefits are nice, but it is You I want.
Thank You, Father, for showing me that I will live with You where You are forever! You have given Yourself to me, and I give myself to You.
You are my Bridegroom forever, and I am Your bride forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Chapter 5
Nehemiah has been informed of all kinds of extortion that had been done against the people by the nations around them, and by their own Jewish brothers; even charging excessive interest. Some had even sold their children into slavery.
So Nehemiah consulted with myself and I rebuked the nobles and the rulers, for charging excessive interest of their own people (v. 7); and Nehemiah himself bought back the people who had been sold into slavery to the heathen around them.
And he had them make things right with one another, helping each other rather than profiting off their backs; so they could all benefit.
And Nehemiah didn't accept the pay that was to be given to the Governor (v. 15), but instead focused on the work to be done, building the wall.
He supported a lot of the people out of his own pocket because he realized how hard life was for the people, just beginning to rebuild their civilization from the ruins.
Chapter 6
Since they were still making progress on the wall, their enemies stepped up their opposition to them, even slandering Nehemiah and trying to lure him out to where they could assassinate him. But he was aware of what they were trying to do, and didn't fall into their trap.
And I am impressed with Nehemiah's continual awareness of the nearness of the Lord, praying one-sentence prayers scattered about as things progress (5:19, 6:14).
In spite of all these distractions, the wall was finished in a record 52 days! (v. 15.) Because Nehemiah never took his focus off of his purpose for being there.
O my Father, thank You for this story about Your man who took leave of his job serving a great king to come do a great work for You instead. His world would rank his near-to-the-king position as more important than building a wall around an "obscure" town far away. But he knew that this town was Your great city, and that You are a King above all kings, even the one he worked for.
Help me to always order my priorities aright, as Nehemiah did. Keep my eyes on Your ways, so that my focus will be sure. Strengthen me against all the distractions that try to take me away from Your purpose for me, and help me to finish the work You set before me to do, as Nehemiah did with the wall, and as Paul wrote that he also did (II Timothy 4:7).
Father, keep me securely in Your hand. Keep my focus on You and Your ways; You are my prize, You are my reward, You are the one I seek to know. Father, all your gifts and benefits are nice, but it is You I want.
Thank You, Father, for showing me that I will live with You where You are forever! You have given Yourself to me, and I give myself to You.
You are my Bridegroom forever, and I am Your bride forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, February 15, 2019
A Tool In One Hand, A Weapon In The Other
Nehemiah 3 & 4
Chapter 3
All classes of the people (Jews) worked on the wall: goldsmiths, perfumers (v. 8), rulers and women (v. 12), Levites (v. 17), and merchants (v. 32).
And many of the people worked on the part of the wall that was right beside their own houses; now there's motivation to get the job done well!
So the whole wall around the city was progressing up to half of it's intended height.
Chapter 4
Now their enemies are going from jeers and mockings to outright attack. They're getting desperate.
This necessitated both concerted prayer and constant vigil. So they worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other (v. 17).
When we are doing God's work and succeeding, is when the enemy steps up his attacks.
So we need to be aware and take precautions, trusting in God to "have our back." But prayer is what will keep us on God's side.
It doesn't matter who we are in this World; whether we're considered important or not, whether we're a jock or a nerd, a man or a woman, an intellectual genius or mentally challenged; we are all needed in God's army to battle the enemy who wages war against us because we are God's.
And we are all working on that part of the "wall" that protects our own families and ourselves.
O my Father, You are always ready to show Yourself strong on behalf of those who trust in You. We know that the more we do Your work, and the better we succeed in it, then the more the enemy is angry that his program is being upended. Because that's what You do.
Keep us vigilant, Father; strengthen us to work with one hand and hold a weapon in the other; to persevere and never give up.
We know that the enemy's wrath is fierce because he knows that his time is short, but You have already defeated him. We may not win every battle, but You have already won the war.
Father, continue to grow Your glory in growing Your family. Continue to send out workers into the fields; to find every lost sheep, drawing them all into the safety of the one fold with one Shepherd. And when every people group and language has heard, then the end of this era will come (Matthew 24:14): Jesus will return in His glory to take up His birthright; to set up His throne to rule in righteousness.
Then this World will experience it's true Golden Age, for that thousand years.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Chapter 3
All classes of the people (Jews) worked on the wall: goldsmiths, perfumers (v. 8), rulers and women (v. 12), Levites (v. 17), and merchants (v. 32).
And many of the people worked on the part of the wall that was right beside their own houses; now there's motivation to get the job done well!
So the whole wall around the city was progressing up to half of it's intended height.
Chapter 4
Now their enemies are going from jeers and mockings to outright attack. They're getting desperate.
This necessitated both concerted prayer and constant vigil. So they worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other (v. 17).
When we are doing God's work and succeeding, is when the enemy steps up his attacks.
So we need to be aware and take precautions, trusting in God to "have our back." But prayer is what will keep us on God's side.
It doesn't matter who we are in this World; whether we're considered important or not, whether we're a jock or a nerd, a man or a woman, an intellectual genius or mentally challenged; we are all needed in God's army to battle the enemy who wages war against us because we are God's.
And we are all working on that part of the "wall" that protects our own families and ourselves.
Keep us vigilant, Father; strengthen us to work with one hand and hold a weapon in the other; to persevere and never give up.
We know that the enemy's wrath is fierce because he knows that his time is short, but You have already defeated him. We may not win every battle, but You have already won the war.
Father, continue to grow Your glory in growing Your family. Continue to send out workers into the fields; to find every lost sheep, drawing them all into the safety of the one fold with one Shepherd. And when every people group and language has heard, then the end of this era will come (Matthew 24:14): Jesus will return in His glory to take up His birthright; to set up His throne to rule in righteousness.
Then this World will experience it's true Golden Age, for that thousand years.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, February 14, 2019
The King's Heart Changed
Nehemiah 1 & 2
Chapter 1
We are introduced to Nehemiah as a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. This was a very responsible position, to eat and drink some of the king's food to make sure it wasn't poisoned.
When his brother Hanani told him the sad situation in Jerusalem, Nehemiah mourned and prayed.
We have his extensive prayer here: he is confessing the sins of the Nation, numbering himself with his people, even though he personally had never done these things. We have also seen both Ezra (9:5-15) and Daniel (9:13-19) do this. An example we too can follow for our own nation.
Chapter 2
We see Nehemiah's courage in taking his life in his hands, when the king notices that he is sad, because it was against the law to be sad in the king's presence.
Kings in those days had the power of life and death over their subjects, to do whatever they felt like doing, for any and no reason, and were not accountable to anyone else, they were kings.
So when the king asked why he was sad, he had to give him an answer. He made no excuses, but shared his concerns for the hometown of his people.
King Artaxerxes said, essentially, What can I do to help?
This king, Artaxerxes, had at the beginning of his reign (Ezra 4:6), probably while he was still married to Vashti, written to stop the work in Jerusalem (Ezra 4:21). But now it's twenty years into his reign (v. 1), and his queen is now Hadassa (Esther), and he's changed his whole view of these people. His whole attitude is completely turned around, and he now offering this servant of his to help him do what he previously had stopped.
This is when Nehemiah prayed a "popcorn prayer," a spur-of-the-moment "telegram" to God, instead of panicking. He was able to coherently lay out what he would need to take this trip and do what was needed there.
Obviously he had previously thought through his plans, so he was prepared to ask for what he needed. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me (v. 8). God had turned around the heart of this foreign king (Proverbs 21:1).
We never have reason to despair over our National leaders. Even when they are evil, and bent on destroying all that we hold dear, God can get a hold of them, and change their hearts, or remove them from their positions of power.
Nothing is too hard for God; He does whatever He wants to do, even more than those kings back then. Our Lord God Almighty will accomplish what no king ever could with this Earth and all that is on it: He is God, there is no other.
O my Father, I praise You for You are good! No king who has ever had power of authority in this World could ever do what You do, Lord. You use these kings, and their authority, to do what You have planned to do.
No mere man, or group of mankind will ever be able to change what You have decreed. Your plans for each one of us, and for all of us together, will be successful, all will be accomplished, Your purposes will be fulfilled.
And I can trust You to always do what is good, and just, and right. I know that Your plans are good. You will give the wicked people what they deserve. And You will redeem Your chosen ones, putting the punishment they each deserve on our Redeemer (that's mercy), so that His Blood will wash them clean--fit to live with You where You are.
And You are so generous, to even reward Your children for doing what You enable them to do! (That's grace.)
Thank You, Father; thank You for being God! Thank You for loving us and teaching us who You are, and how we can cooperate with Your ways, the ways You designed this World to work.
Thank You for putting so much abundance in this Earth for us to enjoy, when we live our lives in obedience to Your rules.
I pray for the leaders in our nations, those who have the power of authority to both enslave us and to free us in liberty. I pray that You work in their hearts, as You did for King Artaxerxes, to do what is beneficial to all those under their care.
That we all will have the freedom to obey Your regulations in working this Earth to have the abundance You put into it for us. Help us to love one another, taking care of each other; and to love this environment, taking care of it, too.
And I pray, Father, that You continue working Your wonderful plans in my life, and in my little world. Continue to teach me Your ways, Abba, and how to love You back. Help me to love You in everything I do, every moment of every day.
And show me how to be Christ to everyone whose life touches mine. Help me to show Your righteousness in all my attitudes, which frame all my words. So that You would be exalted in me, and You will receive all the credit, all the honor and glory, for all You have done.
And every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess Your majesty.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Chapter 1
We are introduced to Nehemiah as a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. This was a very responsible position, to eat and drink some of the king's food to make sure it wasn't poisoned.
When his brother Hanani told him the sad situation in Jerusalem, Nehemiah mourned and prayed.
We have his extensive prayer here: he is confessing the sins of the Nation, numbering himself with his people, even though he personally had never done these things. We have also seen both Ezra (9:5-15) and Daniel (9:13-19) do this. An example we too can follow for our own nation.
Chapter 2
We see Nehemiah's courage in taking his life in his hands, when the king notices that he is sad, because it was against the law to be sad in the king's presence.
Kings in those days had the power of life and death over their subjects, to do whatever they felt like doing, for any and no reason, and were not accountable to anyone else, they were kings.
So when the king asked why he was sad, he had to give him an answer. He made no excuses, but shared his concerns for the hometown of his people.
King Artaxerxes said, essentially, What can I do to help?
This king, Artaxerxes, had at the beginning of his reign (Ezra 4:6), probably while he was still married to Vashti, written to stop the work in Jerusalem (Ezra 4:21). But now it's twenty years into his reign (v. 1), and his queen is now Hadassa (Esther), and he's changed his whole view of these people. His whole attitude is completely turned around, and he now offering this servant of his to help him do what he previously had stopped.
This is when Nehemiah prayed a "popcorn prayer," a spur-of-the-moment "telegram" to God, instead of panicking. He was able to coherently lay out what he would need to take this trip and do what was needed there.
Obviously he had previously thought through his plans, so he was prepared to ask for what he needed. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me (v. 8). God had turned around the heart of this foreign king (Proverbs 21:1).
We never have reason to despair over our National leaders. Even when they are evil, and bent on destroying all that we hold dear, God can get a hold of them, and change their hearts, or remove them from their positions of power.
Nothing is too hard for God; He does whatever He wants to do, even more than those kings back then. Our Lord God Almighty will accomplish what no king ever could with this Earth and all that is on it: He is God, there is no other.
O my Father, I praise You for You are good! No king who has ever had power of authority in this World could ever do what You do, Lord. You use these kings, and their authority, to do what You have planned to do.
No mere man, or group of mankind will ever be able to change what You have decreed. Your plans for each one of us, and for all of us together, will be successful, all will be accomplished, Your purposes will be fulfilled.
And I can trust You to always do what is good, and just, and right. I know that Your plans are good. You will give the wicked people what they deserve. And You will redeem Your chosen ones, putting the punishment they each deserve on our Redeemer (that's mercy), so that His Blood will wash them clean--fit to live with You where You are.
And You are so generous, to even reward Your children for doing what You enable them to do! (That's grace.)
Thank You, Father; thank You for being God! Thank You for loving us and teaching us who You are, and how we can cooperate with Your ways, the ways You designed this World to work.
Thank You for putting so much abundance in this Earth for us to enjoy, when we live our lives in obedience to Your rules.
I pray for the leaders in our nations, those who have the power of authority to both enslave us and to free us in liberty. I pray that You work in their hearts, as You did for King Artaxerxes, to do what is beneficial to all those under their care.
That we all will have the freedom to obey Your regulations in working this Earth to have the abundance You put into it for us. Help us to love one another, taking care of each other; and to love this environment, taking care of it, too.
And I pray, Father, that You continue working Your wonderful plans in my life, and in my little world. Continue to teach me Your ways, Abba, and how to love You back. Help me to love You in everything I do, every moment of every day.
And show me how to be Christ to everyone whose life touches mine. Help me to show Your righteousness in all my attitudes, which frame all my words. So that You would be exalted in me, and You will receive all the credit, all the honor and glory, for all You have done.
And every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess Your majesty.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
The Compassionate Resolution
Esther 8-10
Here we see the resolution to counter the law Haman had established to destroy the Jews, and how the whole situation turned around.
We need to understand that "The Law of the Medes and the Persians" could never be changed or nullified. (8:8; The writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.) We saw this in the book of Daniel. And it is evident in all the secular, historical documents archaeology has found.
So this was a sticky situation. God had performed miracles saving Daniel from the lions' den (Daniel 7), and his friends Hananiah, Mashael, and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3).
But here, they need to do something else, rather than think God will do a miraculous rescue of all the Jews in the whole realm when all their enemies will be attacking them when the time came.
This solution took a lot of wisdom and discernment, and political and legal knowledge. And shows God's great compassion for His people.
Xerxes promoted Mordecai into the position that Haman had occupied, and he gave all of Haman's property to Esther.
Now Esther had to approach the king again, to beg for her people. They needed to figure out how to nullifiy a law that couldn't be nullified.
So the king called for his scribes to write out another law, according to what Mordecai would say to them (vs. 8-9), to be sent out to all one hundred twenty seven provinces, in all their different languages, by mounted couriers who rode fast horses especially bred for the king (v. 10).
This was a law that gave the Jews permission and authority to not just defend themselves on the day that their enemies were to kill them, but also to attack their enemies back, and also to confiscate their properties and possessions, as their enemies were going to do to them. A complete turn-around.
By the time the day came, all the peoples they lived among had gained great respect for them, and many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell upon them (8:17).
So even all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because they had great respect for Mordecai (9:3).
So when the day came, instead of their enemies attacking them, they were able to dispose of all their neighbors who hated them. But they didn't confiscate their stuff. This shows that they were honorable; they took the moral high ground, and did what was right.
They also killed Haman's ten sons, so there were none left to later want revenge (9:7-10).
This is the basis for the Jewish holiday of Purim (9:20-32). God always taught His people to remember, so they would remember Him and His ways. So even today the Jews, the Hebrews, the Israelis, have long memories of their history.
And the book ends with the fame of Mordecai: for, this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater (9:4), and Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews (10:3).
No wonder that Xerxes is one of the foreign kings who had favor on the Jews, and allowed them to return to their homeland, Israel (see the books of Ezra and Nehemiah).
O my Father, I praise You and I honor You, and I give You all the glory and credit for everything You have done! You are great, and You have done everything You wanted to do! You have known the evil plans of the wicked, and foiled them! You have turned the tables on those who hate You and rewarded Your people who love You.
You, Father, are unfolding all Your plans for all of us throughout this whole time-line, this whole era of Mankind on this Earth. It's all one grand story. The story of our Lord God Almighty having thought it all out in advance; then designing and making everything just right; and taking charge to redeem everything that You have allowed us to mess up.
And we are amazed with Your amazing ways! Nothing escapes Your attention or is outside Your authority to control.
I enjoy watching how You do Your things, Father! Your enjoyment in "playing the game" of worlds and civilizations and realms and universes, is so far beyond our ability to design games and write stories and imagine all that we can imagine in our little minds!
And You will always continue to do Your amazing, wondrous things, throughout all eternity, forever and ever!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Here we see the resolution to counter the law Haman had established to destroy the Jews, and how the whole situation turned around.
We need to understand that "The Law of the Medes and the Persians" could never be changed or nullified. (8:8; The writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.) We saw this in the book of Daniel. And it is evident in all the secular, historical documents archaeology has found.
So this was a sticky situation. God had performed miracles saving Daniel from the lions' den (Daniel 7), and his friends Hananiah, Mashael, and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3).
But here, they need to do something else, rather than think God will do a miraculous rescue of all the Jews in the whole realm when all their enemies will be attacking them when the time came.
This solution took a lot of wisdom and discernment, and political and legal knowledge. And shows God's great compassion for His people.
Xerxes promoted Mordecai into the position that Haman had occupied, and he gave all of Haman's property to Esther.
Now Esther had to approach the king again, to beg for her people. They needed to figure out how to nullifiy a law that couldn't be nullified.
So the king called for his scribes to write out another law, according to what Mordecai would say to them (vs. 8-9), to be sent out to all one hundred twenty seven provinces, in all their different languages, by mounted couriers who rode fast horses especially bred for the king (v. 10).
This was a law that gave the Jews permission and authority to not just defend themselves on the day that their enemies were to kill them, but also to attack their enemies back, and also to confiscate their properties and possessions, as their enemies were going to do to them. A complete turn-around.
By the time the day came, all the peoples they lived among had gained great respect for them, and many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell upon them (8:17).
So even all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because they had great respect for Mordecai (9:3).
So when the day came, instead of their enemies attacking them, they were able to dispose of all their neighbors who hated them. But they didn't confiscate their stuff. This shows that they were honorable; they took the moral high ground, and did what was right.
They also killed Haman's ten sons, so there were none left to later want revenge (9:7-10).
This is the basis for the Jewish holiday of Purim (9:20-32). God always taught His people to remember, so they would remember Him and His ways. So even today the Jews, the Hebrews, the Israelis, have long memories of their history.
And the book ends with the fame of Mordecai: for, this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater (9:4), and Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews (10:3).
No wonder that Xerxes is one of the foreign kings who had favor on the Jews, and allowed them to return to their homeland, Israel (see the books of Ezra and Nehemiah).
O my Father, I praise You and I honor You, and I give You all the glory and credit for everything You have done! You are great, and You have done everything You wanted to do! You have known the evil plans of the wicked, and foiled them! You have turned the tables on those who hate You and rewarded Your people who love You.
You, Father, are unfolding all Your plans for all of us throughout this whole time-line, this whole era of Mankind on this Earth. It's all one grand story. The story of our Lord God Almighty having thought it all out in advance; then designing and making everything just right; and taking charge to redeem everything that You have allowed us to mess up.
And we are amazed with Your amazing ways! Nothing escapes Your attention or is outside Your authority to control.
I enjoy watching how You do Your things, Father! Your enjoyment in "playing the game" of worlds and civilizations and realms and universes, is so far beyond our ability to design games and write stories and imagine all that we can imagine in our little minds!
And You will always continue to do Your amazing, wondrous things, throughout all eternity, forever and ever!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
"Poetic Justice"
Esther 5-7
Chapter 5
Here Esther approaches the king, and he accepts her. So she invites him and Haman to dinner.
Meanwhile, Haman is so incensed at Mordecai that he has a gallows built to hang him on it and plans to ask the king for his life.
Chapter 6
God caused the king to have insomnia, so that he'll have the records read to him, possibly to read himself to sleep. But by early morning he's realizing that Mordecai had saved his life, but had not been rewarded for it.
Just then Haman comes in to ask to kill Mordecai, and the king asks him his ideas on what to do for someone the king wants to honor.
Haman's pride has him so self-deluded that he can't think of anyone the king would want to honor except him.
So now, Haman must honor Mordecai instead of killing him! Wow. God knows how to turn the tables, doesn't He!
6:13 says that Haman's friends are warning him that he will fall before Mordecai, because he is a Jew. So the plot thickens.
Chapter 7
This is the second night in a row that they're having dinner with Esther. Here is where we see some real "poetic justice"!
Esther tells Xerxes that Haman is the evil man who determined to destroy her and her people, so Haman is hanged on his own gallows he built for Mordecai!
No weapon fashioned against you will prevail, Isaiah 54:17, and
Whoever digs a pit, he will fall into it, Proverbs 26:27.
We have seen in this story how God set up the whole stage for this scene to play out and show how He knows what evil people are doing to attack His people, and how He is foiling all their plans.
And God's sense of humor is evident in this book.
We don't always see how He evens up the odds and gives the wicked their due in this life, but He does here.
There are still loose ends to be tied up, and God always finishes what He started. Tomorrow we'll see how He does this. I love a good ending!
O my Father, You are so good, so great, so smart and clever. Words fall short of Who You are.
I want to know You, Father; and You want me to know you. This little side story shows me a little more of Your character and personality.
Father, You have given me this whole body of writings: all the stories, all the sayings, all the teachings; to tell me Who You are. And even all this cannot come close to all You are!
Father, what You have revealed of Yourself, what my brain can comprehend, is no more than an itty-bitty drop of all the oceans of this Earth. And You are greater than that: You are all the aether that this Universe swims in. And even more.
We, all creation, is Your imagination! If You weren't thinking about us, we would not exist!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Chapter 5
Here Esther approaches the king, and he accepts her. So she invites him and Haman to dinner.
Meanwhile, Haman is so incensed at Mordecai that he has a gallows built to hang him on it and plans to ask the king for his life.
Chapter 6
God caused the king to have insomnia, so that he'll have the records read to him, possibly to read himself to sleep. But by early morning he's realizing that Mordecai had saved his life, but had not been rewarded for it.
Just then Haman comes in to ask to kill Mordecai, and the king asks him his ideas on what to do for someone the king wants to honor.
Haman's pride has him so self-deluded that he can't think of anyone the king would want to honor except him.
So now, Haman must honor Mordecai instead of killing him! Wow. God knows how to turn the tables, doesn't He!
6:13 says that Haman's friends are warning him that he will fall before Mordecai, because he is a Jew. So the plot thickens.
Chapter 7
This is the second night in a row that they're having dinner with Esther. Here is where we see some real "poetic justice"!
Esther tells Xerxes that Haman is the evil man who determined to destroy her and her people, so Haman is hanged on his own gallows he built for Mordecai!
No weapon fashioned against you will prevail, Isaiah 54:17, and
Whoever digs a pit, he will fall into it, Proverbs 26:27.
We have seen in this story how God set up the whole stage for this scene to play out and show how He knows what evil people are doing to attack His people, and how He is foiling all their plans.
And God's sense of humor is evident in this book.
We don't always see how He evens up the odds and gives the wicked their due in this life, but He does here.
There are still loose ends to be tied up, and God always finishes what He started. Tomorrow we'll see how He does this. I love a good ending!
O my Father, You are so good, so great, so smart and clever. Words fall short of Who You are.
I want to know You, Father; and You want me to know you. This little side story shows me a little more of Your character and personality.
Father, You have given me this whole body of writings: all the stories, all the sayings, all the teachings; to tell me Who You are. And even all this cannot come close to all You are!
Father, what You have revealed of Yourself, what my brain can comprehend, is no more than an itty-bitty drop of all the oceans of this Earth. And You are greater than that: You are all the aether that this Universe swims in. And even more.
We, all creation, is Your imagination! If You weren't thinking about us, we would not exist!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, February 11, 2019
Esther's Courage
Esther 3 & 4
Chapter 3
This chapter tells us that this guy Haman got himself promoted by the king to a position of high importance and authority. His pride in this achievement caused him to make himself the enemy of the Jews. With his new found authority, he arranged for the destruction of all the Jews in King Xerxes' whole realm.
Chapter 4
This is when Mordecai finds out about this plot, and asks Hadassah to inform the king and ask for a solution. Now, anyone who approached the king without having been summoned was putting their life in their hands.
He tells her, Who knows whether you have come to this kingdom just for such a time as this? (V. 14).
So she asks for fasting (and prayer), showing her dependence on God for safety, and says, If I perish, I perish (V. 16).
These people are doing their best, trying to live godly lives in the midst of an evil, pagan nation.
Today's World is also a pagan nation, worshipping everything except God. But, like Mordecai and Hadassah, we also can seek God in all that we do, especially if we are called on to get out of our comfort zones.
It's always uncomfortable to reach outside the parameters of our own little worlds to seek God's will to do His works and find His people who don't know Him yet.
O Father, help me to be able to depend on You as much as Queen Esther did when she took a lethal chance to approach this foreign king; You gave her the courage to confidently do this thing that was outside her box of propriety.
Help me also to to be faithful to You and Your ways when I am in the midst of all the chaos that swirls around me in this fallen World.
It is You, my Lord and my God, who is in total control of everything You made. You will allow this World to "careen out of control" only so far, then You will simply flick Your finger to bring it right back to You, as a yo-yo on a string.
Until then, Father, strengthen me to follow in Your footsteps, not turning to the left or the right, not running ahead or lagging behind, not wandering off or pulling away. Keep my hand in Yours, and lead me in that hemmed-in path all the way into Your glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Chapter 3
This chapter tells us that this guy Haman got himself promoted by the king to a position of high importance and authority. His pride in this achievement caused him to make himself the enemy of the Jews. With his new found authority, he arranged for the destruction of all the Jews in King Xerxes' whole realm.
Chapter 4
This is when Mordecai finds out about this plot, and asks Hadassah to inform the king and ask for a solution. Now, anyone who approached the king without having been summoned was putting their life in their hands.
He tells her, Who knows whether you have come to this kingdom just for such a time as this? (V. 14).
So she asks for fasting (and prayer), showing her dependence on God for safety, and says, If I perish, I perish (V. 16).
These people are doing their best, trying to live godly lives in the midst of an evil, pagan nation.
Today's World is also a pagan nation, worshipping everything except God. But, like Mordecai and Hadassah, we also can seek God in all that we do, especially if we are called on to get out of our comfort zones.
It's always uncomfortable to reach outside the parameters of our own little worlds to seek God's will to do His works and find His people who don't know Him yet.
O Father, help me to be able to depend on You as much as Queen Esther did when she took a lethal chance to approach this foreign king; You gave her the courage to confidently do this thing that was outside her box of propriety.
Help me also to to be faithful to You and Your ways when I am in the midst of all the chaos that swirls around me in this fallen World.
It is You, my Lord and my God, who is in total control of everything You made. You will allow this World to "careen out of control" only so far, then You will simply flick Your finger to bring it right back to You, as a yo-yo on a string.
Until then, Father, strengthen me to follow in Your footsteps, not turning to the left or the right, not running ahead or lagging behind, not wandering off or pulling away. Keep my hand in Yours, and lead me in that hemmed-in path all the way into Your glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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