The New Birth
Ezekiel 36
This passage reaches the same heights that Jeremiah’s “New Covenant” passage reaches in Jeremiah 31:31-34. Both of these promises bring us to the very heart of the message of hope. This message of hope starts with God. He will do this great work not because the people have earned it, or deserve it, but “for the sake of my holy name.” (vs 22) The first step of this new birth will be the regathering of Israel from the lands where they had been dispersed. And the world will say in response to this that God is truly a promise keeping God. By regathering them, his holy reputation and character will remain untarnished. This is why I believe God still has a future plan for Israel, because if God simply abandons the physical line of Abraham he is not a promise keeping God. But this is just the start of the new birth. God is going to cleanse the nation from all idols. Physical idolatry was never a problem after the Jews returned from the exile. God also promised to give them a new heart and put a new spirit in them. The heart of stone would be removed and a living heart would be given. This is the passage Jesus was referring to when he was speaking to professor Nicodemus in John 3. Jesus was incredulous that professor Nicky, an esteemed teacher of the law, was completely ignorant of the new birth that occurs when the Spirit of God changes our hearts. How could a teacher miss this high point of the book of Ezekiel? Even though Professor Nicky missed it, we shouldn’t.
So how is your heart today? Would you say it is a heart of stone ... cold, callus, focused on the things of earth or is your heart a living heart... alive to God, filled with the Spirit, a heart that is totally in love with God?
If you really want to live life to the fullest... ask God for a living, new birth heart.
Monday, August 31, 2009
August 31 - Jeremiah 40-44
1. Lawlessness (or lack of God’s order in our lives)
At first, there is a sign of stability in Judah under the Babylonian appointed governor Gedaliah; this attracted back to Judah Jews who were scattered to neighboring countries. Unfortunately there was a rebellion. Ishmael and other officers who were left in Judah assassinated Gedaliah, killing many others, including their own countrymen and Babylonians. Another group of army officers led by Johanan set out to correct these crimes. They defeated Ishmael and freed the people from his captivity. Everyone turned now towards Johanan for leadership.
Afraid and unsure of what to do next Johanan and the people of Judah approached Jeremiah, who was among them, and asked him to pray to God for direction: “Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do." (Jer 42:3)
God's direction to them was clear: stay in Judah. You will not be hurt. I will protect you. Do not fear. However if you don't obey this command then you will certainly be killed in Egypt. But this didn’t make sense to people! All the circumstances called for escape in Egypt. There could be no doubt to them that the King of Babylon would want to punish them for Gedaliah’s death.
It is funny how we can ask God for direction and when He gives one which is not convenient to us we say: 'Are you sure God? There must be a mistake!' The remnant people in Judah had good reason to fear, but still, when God's command is clear there are only two choices: to obey or not.
- He wants to protect us from hurting ourselves or being hurt.
- He has something in store for us which is even better than what we are pursuing ourselves
- He has a bigger purpose which we do not understand
- He is teaching us something about Himself
His people disobeyed yet again. They called Jeremiah a liar and did not believe God's word. They went to Egypt and continued to practice idolatry. They didn't even recognize that their current situation is a consequence of their broken relationship with their God and not due to the lack of burning incense to a pagan goddess. Their proud response to God was determined by their stubbornness in following their own plans.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
August 30: Lamentations 3-5
Jeremiah's lament continues as he considers the plight of the family of Israel. Jeremiah speaks of the personal impact of the Lord's judgments, as he served on behalf of the Israelites:
"He pierced my heart
with arrows from his quiver.
I became the laughingstock of all my people;
they mock me in song all day long.
He has filled me with bitter herbs
and sated me with gall."
Still, Jeremiah turns back to the hope that he can find in God alone:
"I remember my afflication and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faihtfulness.
I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
He recognizes that, based on human events, there is little reason for hope in restoration. Yet, Jeremiah calls the people to trust in God's ever-renewed faithfulness and giving to the people. You may know that these verse form the core of a great hymn of the faith, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." Written in 1923 by former life insurance agent Thomas Chisholm, the hymn represented just one of the author's 1200 poems. The three verses describe God's great faithfulness in three key areas: as revealed through His Word; as revealed through creation; and as revealed in our lives. As James 1:17 instructs us, "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
Let us join with Jeremiah in turning wholeheartedly to this faithful King:
"Let us examine our ways and test them,
and let us return to the LORD."
QUESTIONS
1. How have you seen God's faithfulness in His Word? In creation? In your life?
2. What can you turn over to Him this week?
"He pierced my heart
with arrows from his quiver.
I became the laughingstock of all my people;
they mock me in song all day long.
He has filled me with bitter herbs
and sated me with gall."
Still, Jeremiah turns back to the hope that he can find in God alone:
"I remember my afflication and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faihtfulness.
I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
He recognizes that, based on human events, there is little reason for hope in restoration. Yet, Jeremiah calls the people to trust in God's ever-renewed faithfulness and giving to the people. You may know that these verse form the core of a great hymn of the faith, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." Written in 1923 by former life insurance agent Thomas Chisholm, the hymn represented just one of the author's 1200 poems. The three verses describe God's great faithfulness in three key areas: as revealed through His Word; as revealed through creation; and as revealed in our lives. As James 1:17 instructs us, "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
Let us join with Jeremiah in turning wholeheartedly to this faithful King:
"Let us examine our ways and test them,
and let us return to the LORD."
QUESTIONS
1. How have you seen God's faithfulness in His Word? In creation? In your life?
2. What can you turn over to Him this week?
Saturday, August 29, 2009
August 29
Today is accountability day ... send me an email informing me what day you are on.
Brokenness and Growth
Lamentations is a book of brokenness. It is written in the wake of the total destruction of the nation of Israel.
At this moment, had we been Jeremiah, we might have been tempted to think that God had totally abandoned the nation, but that would not be true, God had to break the nation so he could tame them back into a relationship. He was going to break them to give them hope. That principle of hope out of brokenness is true for nations as well as individuals. Brokenness is the first step of God in growth. In the state of brokenness we tend to ask the questions that are avoided during blue sky days.
The key issue of “why this brokenness” was addressed by Jeremiah in Chapter 1 verse 14
“My sins have been bound into a yoke; by his hands they were woven together.
They have come upon my neck and the Lord has sapped my strength.
He has handed me over to those I cannot withstand.
It was disobedience that caused this brokenness. But the journey through brokenness begins when we realize that God has “woven” the yoke to accomplish his purposes. The ultimate goal of God again is to help us experience Him more fully.
Times of personal brokenness come in many different flavors. For some it takes a shattered marriage, the loss of a loved one, a failed job, or ruined finances. For others the discovery of cancer or an emotional collapse may trigger a season of brokenness. God can use any of these episodes to tame our souls. The source of the situation is not nearly as important as how we respond to it. Although the circumstances may be diverse, the divine goal is very simple—brokenness.
Perhaps the best description of brokenness is the biblical analogy of pruning. John 15:2 says the Gardener cuts off dead branches that do not bear fruit. But the passage also says that He prunes fruit bearing branches so they can be even more fruitful. When we think we are doing our best and yet experience setbacks, failures, and broken dreams, God may be pruning a fruitful branch to make it more effective.
Here are some questions to see if our souls are tamed. Here are a dozen questions to ask:
1. Am I willing to let go of my dreams and ambitions if it is God’s will?
2. Am I defensive when accused, criticized, or misunderstood?
3. Am I coveting what others have instead of waiting for heaven’s rewards?
4. Am I forgiving when offended, with or without an apology?
5. Am I complaining or arguing because of unsurrendered rights?
6. Am I thinking of others first out of love?
7. Am I proudly appearing to be always right or to know all the answers?
8. Am I practicing the spiritual disciplines (prayer, fasting, solitude, simplicity, etc.)?
9. Am I being silent regarding self-promotion and letting God do my public relations?
10. Am I daily saying, “God, whatever it takes, I’m willing to submit to Your leadership?”
11. Am I expressing joy in the difficulties that refine me?
12. Am I taking risks out of obedience to Christ instead of giving in to fear, pride, or denial?
If we’re lacking these attitudes, we may need further breaking—in the right place. It may also be a sign that we need to voluntarily surrender a part of our lives to Christ by periodically practicing one or more of the spiritual disciplines.
The beautiful thing about understanding brokenness is that we no longer need to fear it. This will not necessarily take away the pain. But it can help us manage it much better and even find joy in it, because we know it is not senseless. God “weaves” the yoke on us through these times for the purpose of creating new life, the life of a tamed soul. (credit Alan Nelson for the questions)
Brokenness and Growth
Lamentations is a book of brokenness. It is written in the wake of the total destruction of the nation of Israel.
At this moment, had we been Jeremiah, we might have been tempted to think that God had totally abandoned the nation, but that would not be true, God had to break the nation so he could tame them back into a relationship. He was going to break them to give them hope. That principle of hope out of brokenness is true for nations as well as individuals. Brokenness is the first step of God in growth. In the state of brokenness we tend to ask the questions that are avoided during blue sky days.
The key issue of “why this brokenness” was addressed by Jeremiah in Chapter 1 verse 14
“My sins have been bound into a yoke; by his hands they were woven together.
They have come upon my neck and the Lord has sapped my strength.
He has handed me over to those I cannot withstand.
It was disobedience that caused this brokenness. But the journey through brokenness begins when we realize that God has “woven” the yoke to accomplish his purposes. The ultimate goal of God again is to help us experience Him more fully.
Times of personal brokenness come in many different flavors. For some it takes a shattered marriage, the loss of a loved one, a failed job, or ruined finances. For others the discovery of cancer or an emotional collapse may trigger a season of brokenness. God can use any of these episodes to tame our souls. The source of the situation is not nearly as important as how we respond to it. Although the circumstances may be diverse, the divine goal is very simple—brokenness.
Perhaps the best description of brokenness is the biblical analogy of pruning. John 15:2 says the Gardener cuts off dead branches that do not bear fruit. But the passage also says that He prunes fruit bearing branches so they can be even more fruitful. When we think we are doing our best and yet experience setbacks, failures, and broken dreams, God may be pruning a fruitful branch to make it more effective.
Here are some questions to see if our souls are tamed. Here are a dozen questions to ask:
1. Am I willing to let go of my dreams and ambitions if it is God’s will?
2. Am I defensive when accused, criticized, or misunderstood?
3. Am I coveting what others have instead of waiting for heaven’s rewards?
4. Am I forgiving when offended, with or without an apology?
5. Am I complaining or arguing because of unsurrendered rights?
6. Am I thinking of others first out of love?
7. Am I proudly appearing to be always right or to know all the answers?
8. Am I practicing the spiritual disciplines (prayer, fasting, solitude, simplicity, etc.)?
9. Am I being silent regarding self-promotion and letting God do my public relations?
10. Am I daily saying, “God, whatever it takes, I’m willing to submit to Your leadership?”
11. Am I expressing joy in the difficulties that refine me?
12. Am I taking risks out of obedience to Christ instead of giving in to fear, pride, or denial?
If we’re lacking these attitudes, we may need further breaking—in the right place. It may also be a sign that we need to voluntarily surrender a part of our lives to Christ by periodically practicing one or more of the spiritual disciplines.
The beautiful thing about understanding brokenness is that we no longer need to fear it. This will not necessarily take away the pain. But it can help us manage it much better and even find joy in it, because we know it is not senseless. God “weaves” the yoke on us through these times for the purpose of creating new life, the life of a tamed soul. (credit Alan Nelson for the questions)
Friday, August 28, 2009
August 28
Today we read the brutal details of the final destruction of Jerusalem. The Babylonians raze the city, thousands are slain and 4,600 of them are taken as slaves, 800 miles from home. This brings to a close the glorious history of a magnificent nation. It brings sadness to our hearts when we realize that so many people were killed, so many families destroyed, and the people of God are now slaves again.
Why did this happen? Why is God so cruel in allowing this tragedy? The answer is found in
2 Chron. 36:21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.
Moses had taught and warned the people that the land was to be given a rest every seven years. That meant the fields were allowed to sit fallow for a whole year. Do you know how much faith and planning must occur to make it a whole year without a garden? This act of obedience was a test to see how much they would trust God.
Leviticus 26:27-45 strikingly predicts the captivity, telling how God’s people would be torn from their land for disobeying him.
The Life Application Bible contains this comment on the text, “The 70-year captivity allowed the land to rest, making up for all the years the Israelites had not observed this law. We know that God keeps all his promises—not only his promises of blessing, but also his promises of judgment.”
Yet a beautiful promise is also found in the ruins. Remember Eded-Melech, the Cushite (Ethiopian) who rescued Jeremiah from the cistern. Had he been afraid Jeremiah surely would have died in that cistern. But despite the obvious risk he dragged old Jeremiah out of the pit. In response to that act of faith God said, Jeremiah 39:18 I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.' "
Here are two promises we can count on:
1. God keeps his word. As the VBS kids are learning this week .... God does what he says he’ll do.
2. God will rescue those who trust in him. Take a chance and trust God today, he won’t let you down.
Why did this happen? Why is God so cruel in allowing this tragedy? The answer is found in
2 Chron. 36:21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.
Moses had taught and warned the people that the land was to be given a rest every seven years. That meant the fields were allowed to sit fallow for a whole year. Do you know how much faith and planning must occur to make it a whole year without a garden? This act of obedience was a test to see how much they would trust God.
Leviticus 26:27-45 strikingly predicts the captivity, telling how God’s people would be torn from their land for disobeying him.
The Life Application Bible contains this comment on the text, “The 70-year captivity allowed the land to rest, making up for all the years the Israelites had not observed this law. We know that God keeps all his promises—not only his promises of blessing, but also his promises of judgment.”
Yet a beautiful promise is also found in the ruins. Remember Eded-Melech, the Cushite (Ethiopian) who rescued Jeremiah from the cistern. Had he been afraid Jeremiah surely would have died in that cistern. But despite the obvious risk he dragged old Jeremiah out of the pit. In response to that act of faith God said, Jeremiah 39:18 I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.' "
Here are two promises we can count on:
1. God keeps his word. As the VBS kids are learning this week .... God does what he says he’ll do.
2. God will rescue those who trust in him. Take a chance and trust God today, he won’t let you down.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
August 27
Jeremiah 37, 38
Jeremiah escapes death
At this time, Jerusalem is experiencing a short break in the siege from Babylon because they temporarily left to fight Egypt's army. The Israelites must have felt so relieved to see the Babylonians leave! But Jeremiah was there to warn the people that the peace would not last long. He warned them that the enemies would return and all who resist will be killed. They could only save their lives by surrendering to the Babylonians. The officials to king Zedekiah did not want to hear what Jeremiah had to say. They thought he was needlessly discouraging the soldiers, so they threw him into a cistern (a holding tank usually used to collect rainwater) without food or water. Thankfully the king, who normally clashed with Jeremiah, ordered him to be pulled out of the cistern.
Its hard to hear bad news. Its definitely understandable that the Israelites didn't like the news that Jeremiah brought. No one would like to be told that the only way to survive is by surrendering to an enemy. It was their reaction that was way off base. Instead of taking the warning to heart and using the information to prepare, they choose to ignore it and get rid of the messenger. Ignoring a problem does not make it go away. When God is trying to tell His people something, it will do them a lot of good to LISTEN!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
August 26
Our Enemy
The Bible frequently reminds us that we are involved in a daily spiritual battle. It is critical that every Christian understand the exact nature and scope of this conflict.
I heard a story about a prayer meeting in a church. It was testimony time and a woman rose to her feet and said that she had a terrible fight with the devil last week. It was an awful conflict and she was requesting prayer from the church. As soon as she sat down her husband who was seated by her side rose to his feet and said in rebuttal, "Well, she is not easy to live with either."
Many people have no idea about the spiritual conflict that we are engaged in. They believe that the whole world consists only of what we can see with our eyes and feel with our hands. The idea of another world that is invisible to the human eye is simply preposterous.
Ezekiel’s description of the ruler of Tyre contains oblique references to Satan. You can see Satan’s dirty little paws all over the actions of this human king. What the ruler of Tyre had in common with Satan was the sin of pride, which in Satan’s case apparently was based on the fact that he is the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Most often we picture Satan as grotesque and hideous, but in reality he is beautiful. Because of a misunderstanding of his form we misunderstand his tactics. Satan tricked the King of Tyre not with wickedness but prayerlessness. He whispered into the king’s ear, you don’t have to pray today, you are so wise and have such great skill you can do this by yourself. Why take the time to pray when you can work?
Beware of the oldest tactic of Satan, tempting us to be hard working and prayer slackers.
I have this little motto pasted up in my office to remind me about the importance of relying on God in prayer.
“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying, The devil fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. The devil laughs at our toil, mocks our wisdom, but Satan trembles when we pray.” Samuel Chadwick (1860-1932)
The Bible frequently reminds us that we are involved in a daily spiritual battle. It is critical that every Christian understand the exact nature and scope of this conflict.
I heard a story about a prayer meeting in a church. It was testimony time and a woman rose to her feet and said that she had a terrible fight with the devil last week. It was an awful conflict and she was requesting prayer from the church. As soon as she sat down her husband who was seated by her side rose to his feet and said in rebuttal, "Well, she is not easy to live with either."
Many people have no idea about the spiritual conflict that we are engaged in. They believe that the whole world consists only of what we can see with our eyes and feel with our hands. The idea of another world that is invisible to the human eye is simply preposterous.
Ezekiel’s description of the ruler of Tyre contains oblique references to Satan. You can see Satan’s dirty little paws all over the actions of this human king. What the ruler of Tyre had in common with Satan was the sin of pride, which in Satan’s case apparently was based on the fact that he is the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Most often we picture Satan as grotesque and hideous, but in reality he is beautiful. Because of a misunderstanding of his form we misunderstand his tactics. Satan tricked the King of Tyre not with wickedness but prayerlessness. He whispered into the king’s ear, you don’t have to pray today, you are so wise and have such great skill you can do this by yourself. Why take the time to pray when you can work?
Beware of the oldest tactic of Satan, tempting us to be hard working and prayer slackers.
I have this little motto pasted up in my office to remind me about the importance of relying on God in prayer.
“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying, The devil fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. The devil laughs at our toil, mocks our wisdom, but Satan trembles when we pray.” Samuel Chadwick (1860-1932)
Monday, August 24, 2009
August 24
Today reading was short but full of hope. Jeremiah prophesizes that after God's people have been in exile and are scattered among the nations, God will bring them back to heir land and restore their treasures. He will also administer justice on those who do wrong to them; will forgive all their sins and will restore Judah and Israel as they were before.
1. God's Forgiveness and Love
I was amazed at the timing of this message. Judah is in the midst of receiving its punishment but God is quick to comfort its people. His love for us is shown both in his patience in transforming us into better people (100s of years of warnings) and his immediate call to turn to Him and receive his love (His promises of hope for better future during suffering.)
I keep liking to stress the point of God's patience...Imagine if anyone's would venture to make a full account movie of the Old Testament (OK, let's say there will be many more sequences than the Harry Potter movies.) God will be the ultimate main hero of the movie of course, the good guy (like Alsan in the Chronicles of Narnia.) Imagine how would the screenplay writer and director have to represent the constant rebellion of the people against God the hero for century after century without boring and frustrating the viewers to death and at the same time being true to the scope and magnitude of their rejection of good! Now see that this long and arduous plot was God's reality with his chosen people. Don't you find yourself frustrated at the people you read about in this scripture? However, it seems that this is still his reality with his creation today – us, the modern people. We keep rejecting Him today. His patience to teach us good and his constant love do not seem to change.
2. Christ: God's best promise
As the introductory notes to the reading point out, not only Jeremiah’s prophecy is promising God's people returning to their home after the 70 years of exile in Babylon but also gives a glimpse of the promise for a free people and a kingdom with no end; the promise of a Messiah.
Jeremiah 23:5 "The days are coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will raise up to David [a] a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land.
Jeremiah 23:6 "In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The LORD Our Righteousness."
Jeremiah 33:17 For this is what the LORD says: 'David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel'
How exciting! How do you think the exiles felt when they heard this? How do you feel today knowing this prophecy is fulfilled and that the Righteous Lord also saved you and made you righteous?
Further Reflection: What has God restored in your life? What are current promises he's made to you of things he will restore to you?
1. God's Forgiveness and Love
I was amazed at the timing of this message. Judah is in the midst of receiving its punishment but God is quick to comfort its people. His love for us is shown both in his patience in transforming us into better people (100s of years of warnings) and his immediate call to turn to Him and receive his love (His promises of hope for better future during suffering.)
I keep liking to stress the point of God's patience...Imagine if anyone's would venture to make a full account movie of the Old Testament (OK, let's say there will be many more sequences than the Harry Potter movies.) God will be the ultimate main hero of the movie of course, the good guy (like Alsan in the Chronicles of Narnia.) Imagine how would the screenplay writer and director have to represent the constant rebellion of the people against God the hero for century after century without boring and frustrating the viewers to death and at the same time being true to the scope and magnitude of their rejection of good! Now see that this long and arduous plot was God's reality with his chosen people. Don't you find yourself frustrated at the people you read about in this scripture? However, it seems that this is still his reality with his creation today – us, the modern people. We keep rejecting Him today. His patience to teach us good and his constant love do not seem to change.
2. Christ: God's best promise
As the introductory notes to the reading point out, not only Jeremiah’s prophecy is promising God's people returning to their home after the 70 years of exile in Babylon but also gives a glimpse of the promise for a free people and a kingdom with no end; the promise of a Messiah.
Jeremiah 23:5 "The days are coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will raise up to David [a] a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land.
Jeremiah 23:6 "In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The LORD Our Righteousness."
Jeremiah 33:17 For this is what the LORD says: 'David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel'
How exciting! How do you think the exiles felt when they heard this? How do you feel today knowing this prophecy is fulfilled and that the Righteous Lord also saved you and made you righteous?
Further Reflection: What has God restored in your life? What are current promises he's made to you of things he will restore to you?
Sunday, August 23, 2009
August 23: Jeremiah's Visions of Restoration
In today's passages, we see a *hopeful* Jeremiah, confident in a coming restoration, both physically to the Promised Land and spiritually. As God served as architect of the fully deserved judgment, He will also bring about the people's restoration in all separate forms. This passage overflows with God's grace, His unmerited favor.
God's judgment had demanded the punishment that the Israelites had faced. The language throughout the passage reminds us that God is a loving Father and that He does not flippantly punish; instead, as Hebrews 12, He disciplines His children for their reproof and growth. In Jeremiah 30:14,15, we read:
"I have struck you as an enemy would
and puniushed you as would the cruel,
because your guilt is so great
and your sins so many.
Why do you cry out over your wound,
your pain that has no cure?
Because of your great guilt and many sins
I have done these things to you."
Still, Jeremiah foresaw a day in which the Lord would restore -- in His mighty power. The Israelites would return in joy and prosperity and would lift up praise to God, saying:
"Give thanks fto the LORD Almight;
for the LORD is good:
his love endures forever."
The Lord would bring healing to the land and return it to the state that the people had previously known, filling it again. Yet, these transformations would not solely occur as physical happenings; the people would clearly sense and appreciate God's design and intervention. After many years of rejecting intimacy with the Lord, the people will no longer shun His presence, but rather embrace Him and praise Him.
God's lovingkindness and compassion will again become the ruling force in Israelite life:
1. In addition to this physical restoration, God would remove the people from their bondage:
"'In that day,' declares the LORD Almighty,
'I will break the yoke off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;
no longer will foreigners enslave them.
Instead, they will serve the LORD their God
and David their kind,
whom I will raise up for them.'"
The slavery to foreigners had broken the dignity and value of the Isralites; now, God would help them to give their allegiance only to God.
2. He would slake their thirst and make their paths straight:
"They will come with weeping;
they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead them beside streams of water
on a level path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel's father,
and Ephraim is my firstborn son."
3. He would overturn their previous experience:
"They will be a well-watered garden,
and they will sorrow no more.
Then maidens will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
I will satisfy the priests with abundance,
and my people will be filled with my bounty,"
declares the LORD.
God's judgment had demanded the punishment that the Israelites had faced. The language throughout the passage reminds us that God is a loving Father and that He does not flippantly punish; instead, as Hebrews 12, He disciplines His children for their reproof and growth. In Jeremiah 30:14,15, we read:
"I have struck you as an enemy would
and puniushed you as would the cruel,
because your guilt is so great
and your sins so many.
Why do you cry out over your wound,
your pain that has no cure?
Because of your great guilt and many sins
I have done these things to you."
Still, Jeremiah foresaw a day in which the Lord would restore -- in His mighty power. The Israelites would return in joy and prosperity and would lift up praise to God, saying:
"Give thanks fto the LORD Almight;
for the LORD is good:
his love endures forever."
The Lord would bring healing to the land and return it to the state that the people had previously known, filling it again. Yet, these transformations would not solely occur as physical happenings; the people would clearly sense and appreciate God's design and intervention. After many years of rejecting intimacy with the Lord, the people will no longer shun His presence, but rather embrace Him and praise Him.
God's lovingkindness and compassion will again become the ruling force in Israelite life:
1. In addition to this physical restoration, God would remove the people from their bondage:
"'In that day,' declares the LORD Almighty,
'I will break the yoke off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;
no longer will foreigners enslave them.
Instead, they will serve the LORD their God
and David their kind,
whom I will raise up for them.'"
The slavery to foreigners had broken the dignity and value of the Isralites; now, God would help them to give their allegiance only to God.
2. He would slake their thirst and make their paths straight:
"They will come with weeping;
they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead them beside streams of water
on a level path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel's father,
and Ephraim is my firstborn son."
3. He would overturn their previous experience:
"They will be a well-watered garden,
and they will sorrow no more.
Then maidens will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
I will satisfy the priests with abundance,
and my people will be filled with my bounty,"
declares the LORD.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
August 22
Sweet Surrender
We are jumping back to Jeremiah and his sermons in Jerusalem. And while there is plenty of doom and gloom there is also hope found here. Jeremiah is instructed to buy some property as a sign that Jerusalem will one day be re-inhabited. Jeremiah is also able to praise God on the eve of destruction because he knows that God has promised a restoration of the land. Jeremiah’s faith is tested again with an imprisonment in chapter 33. Yet in the midst of terrible times, Jeremiah focuses on the nature of God.
Jeremiah 33:2-3 "This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it--the Lord is his name: 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'
The old adage is true ... we might not know what the future holds but we know who holds the future. It is faith in the nature and character of God that stabilizes Jeremiah during the storms of life.
One further point, many times God asks us to do things that we feel are counterintuitive.
Jeremiah 21:8-9 Furthermore, tell the people, 'This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his life.
Surrender is the way of life. Now, that is a revolutionary message. The last thing we would think would bring life and hope to an army is surrender. Yet when God is in it, it is true.
Larry Harris tells a story about the Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War, the Communists solders were told to avoid surrender at all cost. They were told that the Americans would torture them, beat them, and starve them to death. Some of them surrendered anyway and were taken to camps where many were treated better by their enemies than by their own comrades. After the war, many of them elected to come to the United States. They have become US citizens and are living in a land of freedom and abundance. For them surrender was the best thing they could have done.
So it is with our surrender to God, when we say to the Lord, “I am turning my life over to you, you come control me, you show me the paths to walk,” it is then that we find life in all its greatness and abundance.
We are jumping back to Jeremiah and his sermons in Jerusalem. And while there is plenty of doom and gloom there is also hope found here. Jeremiah is instructed to buy some property as a sign that Jerusalem will one day be re-inhabited. Jeremiah is also able to praise God on the eve of destruction because he knows that God has promised a restoration of the land. Jeremiah’s faith is tested again with an imprisonment in chapter 33. Yet in the midst of terrible times, Jeremiah focuses on the nature of God.
Jeremiah 33:2-3 "This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it--the Lord is his name: 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'
The old adage is true ... we might not know what the future holds but we know who holds the future. It is faith in the nature and character of God that stabilizes Jeremiah during the storms of life.
One further point, many times God asks us to do things that we feel are counterintuitive.
Jeremiah 21:8-9 Furthermore, tell the people, 'This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his life.
Surrender is the way of life. Now, that is a revolutionary message. The last thing we would think would bring life and hope to an army is surrender. Yet when God is in it, it is true.
Larry Harris tells a story about the Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War, the Communists solders were told to avoid surrender at all cost. They were told that the Americans would torture them, beat them, and starve them to death. Some of them surrendered anyway and were taken to camps where many were treated better by their enemies than by their own comrades. After the war, many of them elected to come to the United States. They have become US citizens and are living in a land of freedom and abundance. For them surrender was the best thing they could have done.
So it is with our surrender to God, when we say to the Lord, “I am turning my life over to you, you come control me, you show me the paths to walk,” it is then that we find life in all its greatness and abundance.
Friday, August 21, 2009
August 21
Today is accountability day... give me a quick email telling me what day you are on. If you have fallen behind just pick up with today’s reading and continue the journey.
A Sad Story
What do you think are the saddest movies ever produced? Brian’s Story, Doctor Zhivago, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Saving Private Ryan, Titanic, and even Bambi would be on my list. Today we run into one of the saddest stories in the entire Bible. We have seen Ezekiel as the faithful preacher with his wonderful illustrations. He has been a fiery prophet, with his warnings to the nation. But now we read about him as a husband. A man, with a heart break as big as the state of Texas. We get a glimpse of his heart when God uses the words “the delight of your eyes” (24:16). Ezekiel at this time was probably no older than 35 years old, yet he has to suffer the devastating personal loss of the woman he delights in. He is told in advance of the loss, which I am not sure was good or bad. As our notes pointed out, she could have had some pre-existing condition and this was the inevitable end. (Remember concurrence?) But either way he was about to suffer one of the most difficult situations in life, the loss of a spouse. Yet even this situation was to be used by God as a sign for the nation. Ezekiel was told not to express public grief about his loss. One can almost feel the massive restraint in his word of verse 18, “So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.” WOW!!! Despite his pain this guys stays faithful to the word of the Lord.
Now what does it all mean to us?
First of all, this teaches us the high cost of following the Lord. Ezekiel followed the Lord even when it was difficult. He didn’t check out of the program just because it had something he didn’t like. We quit following the Lord far too quickly these days.
Secondly, he was showing that his terrible personal sorrow could still be used by God to preach the gospel. His silence was a sign of the coming silence when the whole city of Jerusalem would be defeated by the Babylonians. God can use any one in any situation to preach the gospel. We are also called to preach the gospel in Stamford. How we carry ourselves during times of difficulty, preach the loudest sermons. As Saint Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
A Sad Story
What do you think are the saddest movies ever produced? Brian’s Story, Doctor Zhivago, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Saving Private Ryan, Titanic, and even Bambi would be on my list. Today we run into one of the saddest stories in the entire Bible. We have seen Ezekiel as the faithful preacher with his wonderful illustrations. He has been a fiery prophet, with his warnings to the nation. But now we read about him as a husband. A man, with a heart break as big as the state of Texas. We get a glimpse of his heart when God uses the words “the delight of your eyes” (24:16). Ezekiel at this time was probably no older than 35 years old, yet he has to suffer the devastating personal loss of the woman he delights in. He is told in advance of the loss, which I am not sure was good or bad. As our notes pointed out, she could have had some pre-existing condition and this was the inevitable end. (Remember concurrence?) But either way he was about to suffer one of the most difficult situations in life, the loss of a spouse. Yet even this situation was to be used by God as a sign for the nation. Ezekiel was told not to express public grief about his loss. One can almost feel the massive restraint in his word of verse 18, “So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.” WOW!!! Despite his pain this guys stays faithful to the word of the Lord.
Now what does it all mean to us?
First of all, this teaches us the high cost of following the Lord. Ezekiel followed the Lord even when it was difficult. He didn’t check out of the program just because it had something he didn’t like. We quit following the Lord far too quickly these days.
Secondly, he was showing that his terrible personal sorrow could still be used by God to preach the gospel. His silence was a sign of the coming silence when the whole city of Jerusalem would be defeated by the Babylonians. God can use any one in any situation to preach the gospel. We are also called to preach the gospel in Stamford. How we carry ourselves during times of difficulty, preach the loudest sermons. As Saint Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Thursday, August 20, 2009
August 20
Ezekiel 23
Samaria and Jerusalem as promiscuous sisters.
The Lord tells Ezekiel about two sisters, Oholah andOholibah, who were very promiscuous. They engage in prostitution with Egyptians, Assyrians, Chaldeans. They have no shame and there is no satisfying their lust. Oholahis Samaria and Oholibah is Jerusalem. The people of Samaria and Jerusalem turn have turned their backs on the Lord in favor of foreign gods. They worship idols, sacrifice their children to the false gods, and desecrate God's sanctuary. Verse 35 says: "Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Since you have forgotten me and thrust me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution." Verses 48-49 say: "So I will put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you. You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD."
This is not the first time that we've encountered this comparison: unfaithfulness to God is the same as adultery. Hosea was instructed by God to marry Gomer, an unfaithful wife to show a concrete example of the sin of unfaithfulness. This is something that God obviously wants all His people to fully understand: looking for comfort, pleasure, happiness, or gratification from any other source besides the Lord is as shameful, lewd, and disgusting as committing adultery. Image how much pain it would cause your spouse if you cheated on them. That's the same kind of pain we bring on God when we are unfaithful. The graphic image of the promiscuous sisters is not one that we should forget, or else we risk committing the same sin.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
August 19
The Deadliness of Sin
One more time Ezekiel shouts out the message of the deadliness of sin. The prophet charts the history of their rebellion in chapter 20. He warns the people of Jerusalem about the imminent judgment they are facing because of their sins in chapter 21. And what is their response to all of these warnings?
Ezekiel 20:49 Ah... he is just telling parables!!
Chapter 21 dealt with the specifics ... Ezekiel actually enumerates them... bloodshed, idolatry, misuse of power, lack of respect for parents, oppression of the alien and the poor, mistreatment of the orphans and widows, not setting one day aside for the Lord, sexual impurity, adultery, lust, injustice, priests not teaching about good and evil, and finally forgetting God. That is a pretty long list.
What I found so fascinating today was the response, “He is just telling parables.” There was no sense of the deadliness of sin. Sin is not cosmic treason against a holy God, it is just an error in judgment, a mistake, a mess up that is really is no big deal. That is why they called it a parable.
There is a great similarity between 590 BC and today. The problem with sin today is that it is no longer deadly. We now view sin from our perspective not from how God views it. Sin is not being true to ourselves, it is not reaching our full potential. The standard by which we now view sin is through the eyes of Jerry Springer, Stamford’s most famous citizen.
But we know that sin is deadly because of two facts.
1. Jesus had to come to this planet and give his life for us to be forgiven. That is a huge price to pay, if sin is just a psychological issue.
2. Hell is in the future of everyone who does not buy into the way of escape created by the cross of Jesus. The existence of hell doesn’t match with the modern view of sin.
In the end it takes more than moral or psychological therapy to deal with sin. It takes the blood of Jesus to atone for it. The drift in the culture in 2009 is just as dangerous as it was in Ezekiel’s day. Sin is not just a parable it is a cosmic treason against God.
One more time Ezekiel shouts out the message of the deadliness of sin. The prophet charts the history of their rebellion in chapter 20. He warns the people of Jerusalem about the imminent judgment they are facing because of their sins in chapter 21. And what is their response to all of these warnings?
Ezekiel 20:49 Ah... he is just telling parables!!
Chapter 21 dealt with the specifics ... Ezekiel actually enumerates them... bloodshed, idolatry, misuse of power, lack of respect for parents, oppression of the alien and the poor, mistreatment of the orphans and widows, not setting one day aside for the Lord, sexual impurity, adultery, lust, injustice, priests not teaching about good and evil, and finally forgetting God. That is a pretty long list.
What I found so fascinating today was the response, “He is just telling parables.” There was no sense of the deadliness of sin. Sin is not cosmic treason against a holy God, it is just an error in judgment, a mistake, a mess up that is really is no big deal. That is why they called it a parable.
There is a great similarity between 590 BC and today. The problem with sin today is that it is no longer deadly. We now view sin from our perspective not from how God views it. Sin is not being true to ourselves, it is not reaching our full potential. The standard by which we now view sin is through the eyes of Jerry Springer, Stamford’s most famous citizen.
But we know that sin is deadly because of two facts.
1. Jesus had to come to this planet and give his life for us to be forgiven. That is a huge price to pay, if sin is just a psychological issue.
2. Hell is in the future of everyone who does not buy into the way of escape created by the cross of Jesus. The existence of hell doesn’t match with the modern view of sin.
In the end it takes more than moral or psychological therapy to deal with sin. It takes the blood of Jesus to atone for it. The drift in the culture in 2009 is just as dangerous as it was in Ezekiel’s day. Sin is not just a parable it is a cosmic treason against God.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
August 18
Adultery and Victimization
Chapter 16 is Ezekiel’s sermon on spiritual adultery. I have dealt with adultery situations in life and I doubt if there is more painful experience than the unfaithfulness of a spouse. God reminds Jerusalem that he was the one who rescued and raised her from infancy. It was his love and his gifts that made her into a beauty. But what was her response? She turned her back on God and gave herself to pagan gods. This picture explains why God is so passionate for the nation’s holiness. Every time we sin we are also turning our backs on the God who rescued and raised us. Let’s not repeat the same sin as Israel.
Chapter 18 nails anyone who thinks they have an excuse for sinning. This is a very appropriate sermon for the USA since we have become a nation of victims. With incredible finesse we know how escape responsibility and pass the proverbial “buck.” Here are a few excuses we use for not being responsible.
As a child: "The dog ate my homework" "My mother used my term paper to line the birdcage."
As a teen: “I am just sowing my wild oats” “Everyone is doing it”
Here are a few adults and their actual excuses:
- Wade Boggs and his adulterous affairs. “I am a victim of sexual addiction.”
- Pete Rose claimed he was addicted to gambling.
- Marion Barry filmed by the FBI with his hand in the cocaine jar. “I am a victim of racism.”
- Dan White a disgruntled city employee shot mayor of San Francisco and raised what became known as the "Twinkie Defense." He committed the murders because of temporarily insane from a junk food sugar high.
- There was a case of a doctor arrested just outside of Washington DC. A State trooper stopped the doctor after he watched her car weaving across the road. During the breath analyzer test she kicked the officer in the groin. But in the end the court judge ruled her not guilty. Her successful defense? She was suffering from premenstrual syndrome.
-We are a generation of victims. PMS, sexual addiction, gambling, alcohol, parents, a poor second grade teacher, the Reagan years, the Bush years, Twinkies...... the point is clear - somebody else is to blame.
If we are ever going to experience spiritual health and vitality we must move from victim to victor. The only way to do that is found in Ezekiel 18.
Ezekiel 18:4 “The soul who sins is the one who will die.”
Ezekiel 18:31-32 “Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”
The blame game is a guaranteed way to mess up your life. Take responsibility for your sin, your life, your path for the future. Repent and ask God for his Spirit and his strength to begin a new life today.
The picnic was great last night. We are going to meet Thursday night October 29 for dinner and a celebration in December for completing the journey. If you have fallen behind just begin with today’s reading. The goal of this journey is to connect with God. Let his love touch your heart today.
Chapter 16 is Ezekiel’s sermon on spiritual adultery. I have dealt with adultery situations in life and I doubt if there is more painful experience than the unfaithfulness of a spouse. God reminds Jerusalem that he was the one who rescued and raised her from infancy. It was his love and his gifts that made her into a beauty. But what was her response? She turned her back on God and gave herself to pagan gods. This picture explains why God is so passionate for the nation’s holiness. Every time we sin we are also turning our backs on the God who rescued and raised us. Let’s not repeat the same sin as Israel.
Chapter 18 nails anyone who thinks they have an excuse for sinning. This is a very appropriate sermon for the USA since we have become a nation of victims. With incredible finesse we know how escape responsibility and pass the proverbial “buck.” Here are a few excuses we use for not being responsible.
As a child: "The dog ate my homework" "My mother used my term paper to line the birdcage."
As a teen: “I am just sowing my wild oats” “Everyone is doing it”
Here are a few adults and their actual excuses:
- Wade Boggs and his adulterous affairs. “I am a victim of sexual addiction.”
- Pete Rose claimed he was addicted to gambling.
- Marion Barry filmed by the FBI with his hand in the cocaine jar. “I am a victim of racism.”
- Dan White a disgruntled city employee shot mayor of San Francisco and raised what became known as the "Twinkie Defense." He committed the murders because of temporarily insane from a junk food sugar high.
- There was a case of a doctor arrested just outside of Washington DC. A State trooper stopped the doctor after he watched her car weaving across the road. During the breath analyzer test she kicked the officer in the groin. But in the end the court judge ruled her not guilty. Her successful defense? She was suffering from premenstrual syndrome.
-We are a generation of victims. PMS, sexual addiction, gambling, alcohol, parents, a poor second grade teacher, the Reagan years, the Bush years, Twinkies...... the point is clear - somebody else is to blame.
If we are ever going to experience spiritual health and vitality we must move from victim to victor. The only way to do that is found in Ezekiel 18.
Ezekiel 18:4 “The soul who sins is the one who will die.”
Ezekiel 18:31-32 “Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”
The blame game is a guaranteed way to mess up your life. Take responsibility for your sin, your life, your path for the future. Repent and ask God for his Spirit and his strength to begin a new life today.
The picnic was great last night. We are going to meet Thursday night October 29 for dinner and a celebration in December for completing the journey. If you have fallen behind just begin with today’s reading. The goal of this journey is to connect with God. Let his love touch your heart today.
Monday, August 17, 2009
August 17
God uses imagery a lot. We were made in His image. He created us to perceive and learn visually. He communicated to the prophet Ezekiel in amazing images; He even had him perform God's message about further exile and the anxiety in Jerusalem like a play in front of the people while they were watching. As weird as this might have seemed to them, I'm sure they easily remembered the things Ezekiel communicated.
Similarly, the image that stuck with me most in today’s reading was that of the flimsy wall painted with whitewash. God is telling Ezekiel to prophecy against false prophets and their wrong actions: telling messages which never came from God and deceiving God's people away from the truth:
'Because they lead my people astray, saying, "Peace," where there is no peace, and because when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall.' Ezk 13:1-16
God is reminding us here the importance of the Truth, and it comes from Him. If we make up our own standards for life, even if we convince ourselves that God is or should be OK with them, these standards will fall - as God promised the false prophets. Like the paint, standards which are born out of our own spirit and are against God's words may seem 'cool' but they only cover the problem underneath - unstable life-support which will fall when violent storm comes. The truth of God on the other hand will withstand the trials of life. When I first believed in Christ, someone told me that this faith of mine will not last, that it’s just a new fascination, that is 'flimsy' and in a year or two I will forget it. Few years later God is still faithful and keeps His character true in my life. How do we recognize what comes from God in our lives and what doesn't? We all know the answer: knowing Hid words. We are privileged that we in our culture have bibles readily available. But every believer is also graced that God reveals his word and character through events in our lives. It is not a simple text. God is living and he confirms what he says. He gives us His spirit to believe.
In the same definite tone God warns the people of other certainties: that what he says will come true will most definitely do and that his timing is certain: 'None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.' Ezk 12:26-28.
The final image today is of three righteous men: Noah, Job, and Daniel (it's not told who Daniel is here) who even with the sum of their faithfulness cannot save one nations. ’They alone will be saved.' Ezk 14:12-23. God tells of the certainty of inescapable consequences for wrongdoings. Further, did you notice how often He is called 'the Sovereign Lord' here? What He does, He has full authority to do.
What I really love about God though is that even if He disciplines us He always ends with offering of love and hope. In the last verses in today's reading we see that He will change the hearts of his children so dramatically that their new conduct will be so good - it will console Jerusalem for all that happened in the past. In hindsight, the ultimate consolation came though the sacrifice of Christ!
Praying that He will rule our hearts this week!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
August 16: Ezekiel 9-11
Today's passage features Ezekiel's prophecy of Judah's destruction but also a beautiful vision of true restoration. In this discussion of restoration, we can see the intimate hand of God in bringing people back to Himself and the grand newness of salvation.
The Lord delivers visions to Ezekiel in which He takes the prophet on a "field trip" to Jerusalem. In the first place, Ezekiel can observe the temple but understands how idol worship has marred what God had initially intended. Importantly, despite this idolatry, God has remained faithful to His place: "And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain." God had not abandoned His children, but they had replaced true worship with bowing down to idols (false gods).
The Lord issues three different levels of "detestable" visions, including an "idol of jealousy," seventy elders worshiping idols of animals, and a group of sun worshipers. The Israelites had borrowed many of these practices from surrounding nations, but one can sense that the hardness of their hearts drove them away from the Lord. In the case of the sun worship -- a typical Egyptian practice (Ra was the sun god) -- we read: "With their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the son of the east." God righteously expresses His jealousy for the people. This jealousy is not a fickle jealousy of a jilted lover. Instead, as Creator and Sustainer of all that lives, God knows our hearts and the terrible consequences of turning our backs on Him. Such behavior should stir similar emotions within us as those of the women mourning for Tammuz.
Clearly, the leaders of Israel have failed to promote true worship. Their point of embarkation lay in their believing the lie that God had forsaken them and somehow departed from Israel. Often, a single lie will lead us to act in ways contrary to what our "heart of hearts" might encourage us to do. For example, were I to believe that I am unworthy of God's love, I might live a life much like the Judaizers (mentioned in Galatians), seeking to earn God's approval through my good works. Or, as another example, I might struggle in believing that God can fully provide for my needs; in response, I might try to take matters in my own hands and use whatever Machiavellian method needed to put food on the table.
The leaders in Israel's incredulity and forsaking of God drove Him from His throne, and the glory departed from the temple. The "Promised Land" truly became barren in the departure of God from His holy home. Ezekiel sees that God will bring judgment upon the idolaters in Jerusalem as part of His departure from the temple. Please note that God only selects "those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it" for His protection. Despite our perception of God's judgment, His purpose is to ultimately make His Name great: "You willl fall by the sword, and I will execute judgement on you at the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be the meat in it; I will execute judgement on you at the borders of Israel. And you will know that I am the LORD, for you have not followed my decrees or kepy my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you."
After this grave judgment, however, God promises restoration, both physical and spiritual, for His people. First, He promises that:
"I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.
"They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God."
Only God Almighty could bring about such real change -- through the power of the Holy Spirit.
QUESTIONS
1. What lies might you believe that are keeping you from loving God more deeply? Where might they have come from?
2. Would you join me in praying for God's spiritual rebirth for our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors?
The Lord delivers visions to Ezekiel in which He takes the prophet on a "field trip" to Jerusalem. In the first place, Ezekiel can observe the temple but understands how idol worship has marred what God had initially intended. Importantly, despite this idolatry, God has remained faithful to His place: "And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain." God had not abandoned His children, but they had replaced true worship with bowing down to idols (false gods).
The Lord issues three different levels of "detestable" visions, including an "idol of jealousy," seventy elders worshiping idols of animals, and a group of sun worshipers. The Israelites had borrowed many of these practices from surrounding nations, but one can sense that the hardness of their hearts drove them away from the Lord. In the case of the sun worship -- a typical Egyptian practice (Ra was the sun god) -- we read: "With their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the son of the east." God righteously expresses His jealousy for the people. This jealousy is not a fickle jealousy of a jilted lover. Instead, as Creator and Sustainer of all that lives, God knows our hearts and the terrible consequences of turning our backs on Him. Such behavior should stir similar emotions within us as those of the women mourning for Tammuz.
Clearly, the leaders of Israel have failed to promote true worship. Their point of embarkation lay in their believing the lie that God had forsaken them and somehow departed from Israel. Often, a single lie will lead us to act in ways contrary to what our "heart of hearts" might encourage us to do. For example, were I to believe that I am unworthy of God's love, I might live a life much like the Judaizers (mentioned in Galatians), seeking to earn God's approval through my good works. Or, as another example, I might struggle in believing that God can fully provide for my needs; in response, I might try to take matters in my own hands and use whatever Machiavellian method needed to put food on the table.
The leaders in Israel's incredulity and forsaking of God drove Him from His throne, and the glory departed from the temple. The "Promised Land" truly became barren in the departure of God from His holy home. Ezekiel sees that God will bring judgment upon the idolaters in Jerusalem as part of His departure from the temple. Please note that God only selects "those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it" for His protection. Despite our perception of God's judgment, His purpose is to ultimately make His Name great: "You willl fall by the sword, and I will execute judgement on you at the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be the meat in it; I will execute judgement on you at the borders of Israel. And you will know that I am the LORD, for you have not followed my decrees or kepy my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you."
After this grave judgment, however, God promises restoration, both physical and spiritual, for His people. First, He promises that:
"I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.
"They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God."
Only God Almighty could bring about such real change -- through the power of the Holy Spirit.
QUESTIONS
1. What lies might you believe that are keeping you from loving God more deeply? Where might they have come from?
2. Would you join me in praying for God's spiritual rebirth for our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors?
Saturday, August 15, 2009
August 15
Your Calling: Be a Prophet in Stamford
Today we are introduced to a new personality in our journey, the prophet Ezekiel. A man called by God to be a prophet at a very difficult time and place in history. God tells him that he is being sent to minister to a rebellious people. This nation is so rebellious they refuse to repent even when they have been sent into captivity. WOW!!! You talk about hard hearts. These people are obstinate and stubborn when it comes to humbling themselves before God. The message he is to deliver is to first be consumed. I take the “eating of the scroll” is God’s challenge for Ezekiel to practice what he is going to preach. To make sure the message is part of his life. He is warned ahead of time that the people will not listen and that he will be tempted to be afraid. But the words I want to focus on are found in
Ezekiel 2:5 And whether they listen or fail to listen--for they are a rebellious house--they will know that a prophet has been among them.
That is our calling. To live in such a way that people say, “There is a prophet among us.” This means that we must not shrink away from following the Lord with our whole heart, even when times become difficult. It means resolutely speaking the truth of God to a culture that “can’t handle the truth.” It means loving people even when they are not loving us in return. It means sacrificing our comfort so that the message of God’s kingdom can clearly be seen. Try lyiing on your side for 390 days and cooking your food on cow dung. In the end God is not looking for results, he is looking for faithfulness.
Being a prophet calls for godly courage and unswerving faith on our part.
May all of us on this Bible reading journey become prophets to our families, our neighborhoods, our work places and the city of Stamford.
Picnic is on for Monday ... let me know if you can attend. I will not cook the burgers on cow dung.
Today we are introduced to a new personality in our journey, the prophet Ezekiel. A man called by God to be a prophet at a very difficult time and place in history. God tells him that he is being sent to minister to a rebellious people. This nation is so rebellious they refuse to repent even when they have been sent into captivity. WOW!!! You talk about hard hearts. These people are obstinate and stubborn when it comes to humbling themselves before God. The message he is to deliver is to first be consumed. I take the “eating of the scroll” is God’s challenge for Ezekiel to practice what he is going to preach. To make sure the message is part of his life. He is warned ahead of time that the people will not listen and that he will be tempted to be afraid. But the words I want to focus on are found in
Ezekiel 2:5 And whether they listen or fail to listen--for they are a rebellious house--they will know that a prophet has been among them.
That is our calling. To live in such a way that people say, “There is a prophet among us.” This means that we must not shrink away from following the Lord with our whole heart, even when times become difficult. It means resolutely speaking the truth of God to a culture that “can’t handle the truth.” It means loving people even when they are not loving us in return. It means sacrificing our comfort so that the message of God’s kingdom can clearly be seen. Try lyiing on your side for 390 days and cooking your food on cow dung. In the end God is not looking for results, he is looking for faithfulness.
Being a prophet calls for godly courage and unswerving faith on our part.
May all of us on this Bible reading journey become prophets to our families, our neighborhoods, our work places and the city of Stamford.
Picnic is on for Monday ... let me know if you can attend. I will not cook the burgers on cow dung.
Friday, August 14, 2009
August 14
Accountability Day. Send me a quick email informing me of where you are at in your journey. Also let me know if you can attend our picnic Monday.... 7:00 pm at my house.
The Problem of Pain and Suffering
Jeremiah 50:44-45 I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.
Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Babylon,
what he has purposed against the land of the Babylonians:
The young of the flock will be dragged away;
he will completely destroy their pasture because of them.
When a nation violates God’s standards there are always consequences. We have seen this with Israel, Judah and today we see it with Babylon. This was a ruthless nation. It lived without regard to the true, living God of the Bible. Once we turn our backs on God, we then must bear the wages of our sins ourselves. This is true for individuals as well as nations. In our verses today the Lord takes responsibility for the judgment of Babylon.
This raises an ethical question. How can a Holy God use pain and suffering as tools in his hands. Some keys in answering this question include:
1. According to the Bible, it is not God's desire that anyone suffer either in this world or in the next.
Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day. When God created man he made him perfect. He gave us the ability to obey or disobey. Had man obeyed God there would never have been a problem. He would have lived an unending life of fellowship with God and enjoyment of him and his creation. This is what God intended.
Rom 5:12 Sin entered the world through man. The point we must keep in mind is that man is responsible for sin ‑ not God.
John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. God wants us to accept his plan to escape judgment.
2. Much, if not most, of the suffering in the world is directly caused by a free‑will choice of people. The nation of Persia will be the ones who attack and destroy Babylon. This will be a free will act of Cyrus, the king of Persia.
3. Then how can Jeremiah say God planned this? What is God's Role in the Universe?
This brings us to the doctrine of Providence and three aspects of this truth. God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he:
1. Keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them (Preservation)
2. Cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do (Concurrence)
3. Directs them to fulfill his purposes (Government)
Let me focus on concurrence Eph 1:11 says God "accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will." Accomplishes indicates that God works or brings about all things according to his own will. No event in our world falls outside of his providence. God's will is so awesome that nothing happens in our world without it being part of his plan….. both good and bad.
Quiz Time: Does God take responsibility for the snow falling on CT this winter? Yes. Job 37:6
Does God cause the grass to grow? Ps 104:14
Does God direct the stars in the heaven? Job 38:12
Does God feed the wild animals? Ps 104:27-29
Does God's will include the sparrows of Stamford? Matt 10:29
Concurrence affirms that God directs, and works through, the distinctive properties of each created thing, so that these things themselves bring about the results that we see.
These events are 100% caused by God and fully 100% caused by the creatures as well.
The divine cause of each event works invisibly, behind the scenes. His plan initiates and purposes everything to his goals. It is amazing to see the extent to which Scripture affirms that God brings about every event in our lives. From rainfall, animals, our daily bread, even the destruction of nations!!!
Here is the shocker.... even evil is used by God to achieve his purposes. The scripture never shows God doing anything that is evil. Scripture never blames God for evil or shows God taking pleasure in evil. Scripture never excuses human beings for the wrong they do. There are no verses indicating, “The Devil made me do it.” For those who remember Laugh In.
But the doctrine of concurrence teaches us that while… man intends evil, and makes wrong choices all the time… God is using even evil to accomplish his perfect will.
Remember Joseph… Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
I don’t understand how concurrence works but it is clearly reveled. Our challenge is to trust in the goodness of God even when the wheels are falling off the wagon. Here is how I deal with this issue. At birth the human brain weighs, on average, 14 ounces. The maximum size reaches 46 ounces. I think Juan has one of these 46 ounce brains. But that is still slightly less than three pounds. Now there is no way to medically prove this, but the old theory is that we use only about 10% of our capacity. … now we are down to a quarter pounder. And we think… we are going to comprehend how the infinite, uses evil to accomplish his plan. I can’t figure it out. But I can live by faith and trust in a God big enough to permit free will and even use our foolish choices to accomplish his plan.
The Problem of Pain and Suffering
Jeremiah 50:44-45 I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.
Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Babylon,
what he has purposed against the land of the Babylonians:
The young of the flock will be dragged away;
he will completely destroy their pasture because of them.
When a nation violates God’s standards there are always consequences. We have seen this with Israel, Judah and today we see it with Babylon. This was a ruthless nation. It lived without regard to the true, living God of the Bible. Once we turn our backs on God, we then must bear the wages of our sins ourselves. This is true for individuals as well as nations. In our verses today the Lord takes responsibility for the judgment of Babylon.
This raises an ethical question. How can a Holy God use pain and suffering as tools in his hands. Some keys in answering this question include:
1. According to the Bible, it is not God's desire that anyone suffer either in this world or in the next.
Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day. When God created man he made him perfect. He gave us the ability to obey or disobey. Had man obeyed God there would never have been a problem. He would have lived an unending life of fellowship with God and enjoyment of him and his creation. This is what God intended.
Rom 5:12 Sin entered the world through man. The point we must keep in mind is that man is responsible for sin ‑ not God.
John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. God wants us to accept his plan to escape judgment.
2. Much, if not most, of the suffering in the world is directly caused by a free‑will choice of people. The nation of Persia will be the ones who attack and destroy Babylon. This will be a free will act of Cyrus, the king of Persia.
3. Then how can Jeremiah say God planned this? What is God's Role in the Universe?
This brings us to the doctrine of Providence and three aspects of this truth. God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he:
1. Keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them (Preservation)
2. Cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do (Concurrence)
3. Directs them to fulfill his purposes (Government)
Let me focus on concurrence Eph 1:11 says God "accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will." Accomplishes indicates that God works or brings about all things according to his own will. No event in our world falls outside of his providence. God's will is so awesome that nothing happens in our world without it being part of his plan….. both good and bad.
Quiz Time: Does God take responsibility for the snow falling on CT this winter? Yes. Job 37:6
Does God cause the grass to grow? Ps 104:14
Does God direct the stars in the heaven? Job 38:12
Does God feed the wild animals? Ps 104:27-29
Does God's will include the sparrows of Stamford? Matt 10:29
Concurrence affirms that God directs, and works through, the distinctive properties of each created thing, so that these things themselves bring about the results that we see.
These events are 100% caused by God and fully 100% caused by the creatures as well.
The divine cause of each event works invisibly, behind the scenes. His plan initiates and purposes everything to his goals. It is amazing to see the extent to which Scripture affirms that God brings about every event in our lives. From rainfall, animals, our daily bread, even the destruction of nations!!!
Here is the shocker.... even evil is used by God to achieve his purposes. The scripture never shows God doing anything that is evil. Scripture never blames God for evil or shows God taking pleasure in evil. Scripture never excuses human beings for the wrong they do. There are no verses indicating, “The Devil made me do it.” For those who remember Laugh In.
But the doctrine of concurrence teaches us that while… man intends evil, and makes wrong choices all the time… God is using even evil to accomplish his perfect will.
Remember Joseph… Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
I don’t understand how concurrence works but it is clearly reveled. Our challenge is to trust in the goodness of God even when the wheels are falling off the wagon. Here is how I deal with this issue. At birth the human brain weighs, on average, 14 ounces. The maximum size reaches 46 ounces. I think Juan has one of these 46 ounce brains. But that is still slightly less than three pounds. Now there is no way to medically prove this, but the old theory is that we use only about 10% of our capacity. … now we are down to a quarter pounder. And we think… we are going to comprehend how the infinite, uses evil to accomplish his plan. I can’t figure it out. But I can live by faith and trust in a God big enough to permit free will and even use our foolish choices to accomplish his plan.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
August 13
eremiah 50
This chapter focuses on how Babylon will be punished for their sins. God used Babylon to discipline His people, but that doesn't mean that they are righteous. Because of their lack of reverance toward God, they will be punished. Jeremiah 50:35-40 says:
A sword against the Babylonians!"
declares the LORD—
"against those who live in Babylon
and against her officials and wise men!
A sword against her false prophets!
They will become fools.
A sword against her warriors!
They will be filled with terror.
A sword against her horses and chariots
and all the foreigners in her ranks!
They will become women.
A sword against her treasures!
They will be plundered.
A drought on her waters!
They will dry up.
For it is a land of idols,
idols that will go mad with terror.
"So desert creatures and hyenas will live there,
and there the owl will dwell.
It will never again be inhabited
or lived in from generation to generation.
As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah
along with their neighboring towns,"
declares the LORD,
"so no one will live there;
no man will dwell in it.
Another focus of this passage is God assuring His people that this exile will not last forever and that He will forgive their sins. He will never stop loving His children, no matter how much they sin. He promises to bring them back to their homes and to forgive their sins. Those who search for Judah's guilt will not find it, because of God's forgiveness and love. This year, we have definitely read time after time that God does what He says He will do. The Israelites could definitely take comfort in knowing that God keeps ALL His promises. Thankfully, we can share in that same comfort, because He is the same today as He was then!
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