Category: Faith

A Broken and Contrite Heart

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17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. – Psalm 51:17

A Broken Heart

Have you ever honestly asked yourself, “What does a broken heart look like?”  I am not talking about the teenager who is in the dumps because the love of their life (however they define that) broke up with them after two weeks of dating.  Nor am I talking about the widow who just buried the love of her life after sixty years of marriage as sad as that is.  We will all experience difficulties.  We will all bury loved ones.  As much as these things will pain our hearts and make us grieve and leave us heart broken, they are not the same as being broken hearted.  This type of grief is a natural emotional reaction to external circumstances.  When we are heart broken, we often see ourselves as victims of circumstances.  Not so the person with the broken heart.

Humbled

We live in an age of incredible pride.  With our chests sticking out and our heads held high and our fists raised towards heaven we demand our rights.  The world owes us and we are going to make sure we get what we have coming to us.  It is not a matter of what we have earned, but instead it is a matter of entitlement.  This is what I too often see.  This is why I ask the question, “What does a broken heart look like?”  We are so busy scanning the horizon to make sure we don’t miss out on what we want, that we don’t take the time to look deep within ourselves to recognize what we are missing.  In this regard I am afraid that most of us are more like Lot than Abraham.  When it came time for them to separate, in his pride, Lot lifted up his eyes and chose the land that appealed to him.  Abraham, by contrast, in his humility had his eyes lifted up by God and God chose for him.  Like Abraham’s, a broken and contrite heart is humble.

Repentant

When David penned the fifty-first Psalm, he was broken hearted.  He had terribly sinned against God.  He committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed.  If that wasn’t bad enough, he tried to cover up his sins.  Never works.  God used Nathan to call David out, and David was forced to confront his sin.  He did not make excuses.  He did not make denials.  Nor did he blame anyone else.  He admitted his guilt, and sought out forgiveness from God. Look at David’s plea.  This is no insincere confession.  These are the words of a man who is devastated.  David is crushed by the weight of his sin.  His sins are a stench to God and he knows it.  A broken and contrite heart is greatly sobered by the guilt of sin and is repentant.

3 For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
    and blameless in your judgment.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.

Sacrifice

Along with a broken spirit, David says a broken and contrite heart is the sacrifice of God.  Through David’s writing, God is contrasting the sacrifice He will delight in with one He will not.

16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
    you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

I am sure as David penned these words his mind went back to his predecessor, King Saul.  Saul had been instructed to completely wipe out the Amalekites but did not obey.  Instead he spared King Agag and the best of the livestock.  When confronted with his disobedience, Saul justified his actions by saying he wanted to save these spoils to sacrifice to God.  God wasn’t impressed.

22 Samuel said,

“Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 “For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He has also rejected you from being king.” – 1 Samuel 15:22-23

Obedient

God doesn’t want our sacrifice if He doesn’t have our heart.  He doesn’t need our money.  God doesn’t need our talents.  He wants US and our obedience.  He despised the sacrifice of Saul and his rationalizations.  What God wants is our hearts, broken and contrite.  A broken and contrite heart fears God and is obedient to His Word.

The world will never exalt the broken hearted, but God will.  While the proud raise their fists heavenward demanding their rights, may we humbly confess our wrongs.  While the proud vehemently fight for what they want, might we humbly thank God He doesn’t give us what we deserve.  While the proud are making excuses for their behavior, might we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness.  While the proud are selfishly scanning the horizon for more worldly possessions, might we have the wisdom to look inside ourselves and purge the world from our hearts.

Prepared

What does a broken heart look like?  It is a heart that is prepared for the presence and power of God.  It is the heart God looks for.  It is the heart God favors.  May he find such a heart in you and I!!

 66 Thus says the Lord:
“Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
    and what is the place of my rest?
2 All these things my hand has made,
    and so all these things came to be,
declares the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look:
    he who is humble and contrite in spirit
    and trembles at my word. – Isaiah 66:1-2

15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
    who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
    and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
    and to revive the heart of the contrite. – Isaiah 57:15

God’s Indestructible Word (Part 5)

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22 It was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house, and there was a fire burning in the firepot before him. 23 As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the firepot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the firepot.  – Jeremiah 36:22-23

Feeding The Fire

We will end our look at the indestructible nature of God’s Word where we began, by the fire of Jehoiakim.  With his knife and firepot, Jehoiakim thought he could destroy God’s Word.  When he looked into the fire and saw the ashes, he probably assumed he had accomplished his task.  He could not have been more wrong.  It is Jehoiakim who is long gone.  His fire burned out long ago, but the Word of God keeps spreading.  The original scroll Jeremiah dictated may have been turned to ashes, but God’s message through Jeremiah will endure forever as part of God’s living Word: the Bible.  Although Jehoiakim died long ago, the arrogance he exemplified has often been repeated.  Too often.

Diocletian

After the resurrection of Christ, Christianity spread like wildfire in the Roman empire filling a spiritual void that paganism could not.  Just as the religious leaders of the day had seen Christ as a threat necessary to destroy, the Roman ruler Valerius Diocletian saw Christianity as a threat to the security of his empire.  Accordingly, Diocletian issued an edict to destroy Christians and their Bibles.  Perhaps with a smugness not unlike Jehoiakim centuries before, Diocletian built a monument over a burned Bible with these words, Extincto momene Christianorum (the name of Christian is extinguished).  Although he forbid the assembly of Christians and burned down their churches, Diocletian’s claim of having extinguished Christianity was premature.  Twenty years after building his monument over a burned Bible, Diocletian was dead and the new Emperor, Constantine, commissioned fifty copies of the Bible to be prepared at government expense.

Voltaire

I am not sure why, but the enemies of the Bible seem to have a penchant for burning it.  When Voltaire was at the peak of his influence, France rejected the Scriptures.  To prove their triumph over the “bondage” of the Scriptures, the French tied a copy of the Bible to the tail of a donkey, and dragged it through the streets to the city dump, where it was ceremoniously burned.  What did their liberation from the Bible do for France?  Since that time, the government of France has fallen thirty-five times.  Voltaire was the champion of Rationalism.  He was a philosopher and an author.  As a deist, his writings were filled with hatred towards the Bible.   Voltaire was famous.  He was influential.  But he was an infidel.  In short, he was not the man you would want to shape your culture.  Like Diocletian centuries before, Voltaire also overestimated his success in destroying the Bible and wiping out Christianity.  In his vanity he proclaimed, “In less than a hundred years the Bible will be discarded and Christianity swept from the earth.”  Like Diocletian, Voltaire was wrong.  In fact fifty years after his death the Geneva Bible Society purchased his house and used his printing press to publish Bibles throughout Europe.  One hundred years after his death, an ancient copy of a Codex (manuscript of Bible) sold for $500,000.00.  That same day a copy of Voltaire’s writing sold for eleven cents in Paris.  Two hundred years after his death, the Bible continues to be the best selling book, while Voltaire’s writings are “in the dump”.

Thomas Paine

Despite the lack of success, the enemies of the Bible continue to attack it.  Thomas Paine, an American influenced by Voltaire and French deism, would write The Age of Reason, a passionate attack against the Bible.  He was succeeded by the politician, Robert Ingersoll who was a highly sought after agnostic lecturer.  He was paid very well to “tear apart” the Bible in his lectures.  In his opinion, the teachings of Darwin would destroy the Bible.  Paine and Ingersoll are both dead and the Bible still stands.

Still Standing

Obviously there are many more examples we could share but the conclusion is the same.  The Bible has been attacked by men with political power.  It has been attacked by philosophers.  It has been attacked from within, men claiming to be religious.  It has stood up to higher criticism.  It has withstood the Enlightenment.  It has withstood Rationalism.  It will withstand every -ism the world continues to throw at it.  It’s enemies will pass away and most of their names will pass into oblivion.  Their flesh will wither.  Their glory will fall.  Some day this earth will be burned, but the Word of God will remain.  What are you doing with it?

24 for “All flesh is like grass
    and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
    and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you. – 1 Peter 1:24-25

The Anvil — God’s Word

LAST EVE I passed beside a blacksmith’s door,

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

” How many anvils have you had, ” said I,

” To wear and batter all these hammers so? ”

” Just one, ” said he, and then, with twinkling eye,

” The anvil wears the hammers out, you know. ”

And so, thought I, the anvil of God’s Word,

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed — the hammers gone.

By John Clifford.

God’s Indestructible Word (Part 4)

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49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” – John 11:49-50

Public Enemy Number One

It is amazing the extremes we will go to and the justifications we will fabricate to take drastic actions.  Lazarus had lain dead in his tomb for four days.  Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, gives the command, “Lazarus, come out”, and Lazarus walks out in his grave clothes.  Not exactly an everyday occurrence.  Everyone is astonished.  Most of the friends of the family believe in Jesus.  Some, however, went and reported the miracle to the Pharisees.  Instead of asking how the works of Jesus might fulfill prophecies, they are concerned with their future comfort.  God was in their midst and they were afraid of Caesar.  The conclusion?  Kill God to appease Caesar.

Public Enemy Number Two

As we have already looked at, Jesus conquered death and ascended into heaven, yet His absence did not satisfy His enemies.  Even before He went to the cross, they were gunning for victim number two.  Lazarus.  Satan is opposed not only to the Trinity but also their works and Word.  The fact that Lazarus was walking around after having lain dead in the grave for four days put a big bulls-eye on him.  The words of Caiaphas, “It is better for you that one man should die for the people…”  were quickly edited.

10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. – John 12:10-11

Never Satisfied

First Jesus.  Then Lazarus.  Where does it end?  When does it end?  It doesn’t.  Not until Jesus comes back.  The animosity of Satan towards God is mirrored by that of sinners towards saints.  Christ’s blood may have satisfied the Father, but not the father of lies.  He wants more.  After Jesus was crucified, Stephen was stoned to death.  Then James was beheaded.  In time, many of the Apostles would be executed for their faith.  Philip was crucified.  Matthew was killed with a halberd (an axe like weapon).  James, the brother of Jesus was beaten to death.  Matthias was beheaded.  Andrew was crucified.  Mark was torn to pieces.  Peter was crucified upside down.  Jude, Bartholomew and Thomas were also martyred.  After much suffering for Christ, Paul was eventually beheaded in Rome.  Eventually, Luke, Barnabas, Timothy and Simon were also martyred for their faith.

Three things are never satisfied;
four never say, “Enough”: – Proverbs 30:15b

If I could, I would like to add Satan to the list of things never satisfied.  He will never say enough.  The death of Jesus and the disciples did not satisfy him.   During the Roman empire, thousands of Christians were killed for their faith.  Some saints were tossed to wild beasts, others were burned at the stake.  Some were covered with the skins of beasts and torn by dogs, others were decapitated.  Many were nailed to crosses.  Some were used as human torches.  Many were tortured.  Many were imprisoned.  The means of execution and forms of tortures were numerous.  Unfortunately, they did not end with the fall of the Roman empire.

Church Seeds

Between 2005 and 2015, 900,00 Christians were martyred.  Ninety thousand Christians a year being killed for their faith in this day and age?  Aren’t we supposed to be more intelligent than our predecessors?  Aren’t we supposed to be more civilized?  How can this be possible?  Satan will never be satisfied.  He will never say enough.  Paul said, “the gospel is the power of God for salvation.”  Jesus said, “Follow me.”  The Bible warns, and history confirms, following Jesus comes at a cost.  Satan will stop at nothing to prevent the gospel from spreading.  Jesus was well aware of this truth.  He expects His followers to count the cost, and then compare the cost to the reward.  Despite Satan’s efforts, the gospel will keep spreading.  The deaths of the saints were not in vain.  The Word of God that they lived and died for is indestructible.  And because they were faithful to it I am confident they entered into the joy of the Lord hearing, “Well done good and faith servant.”

20Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.” – John 15:20-21

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” – Matthew 16:34-26

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” – Tertullian

God’s Indestructible Word (Part 3)

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54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. – Acts 7:54-60

Stephen

Most of us are probably familiar with the account of Stephen.  We attribute to Stephen the designation of  being the first Christian martyr.  However, as we continue our study of the indestructible nature of the Word of God, I would like to take a closer look at Stephen’s death.  Accordingly, let’s back up to Acts chapter six.
2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Satan

Look at what is happening here.  Verse one of Acts chapter six tells us that the church is growing (the disciples were increasing in number).  The Word of God is being preached and it is bearing fruit.  Satan, doesn’t like this, hence, a dispute begins within the church.  Sound familiar?  The disciples see through Satan’s scheme and appoint elders to handle the dispute so that they can devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.  Wise men.

Among those picked to “serve tables” is Stephen.  Nothing against serving tables, but Stephen appears to have a special anointing and a special gift.  He is a gifted speaker and a bold man.  A great combination in any age.  As Stephen is preaching some scholars take exception to his teaching, but they are unable to refute Stephen as he is speaking with wisdom under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  The devil hates the Truth and so do his minions.  So they engage in the age old tactic of character assassination.  If you can’t refute the Truth, resort to lies.  There is nothing new under the sun!

Seized

Those that could not debate Stephen instead resorted to instigating the ignorant.  They spread the lie that Stephen was speaking blasphemy against Moses and God.  The people gave into their emotions and never engaged the gears of logic.  It appears it was another example of, “My mind is made up, don’t confuse me with the facts.”  Then the scribes and the elders got caught up in the emotional fervor and Stephen was seized and brought before the council; officially know as the Sanhedrin.  The religious court of the day.  One would hope that as Stephen stood before these rational men, whose job it was to listen objectively to facts, he would get a fair hearing  (assuming for a moment that their handling of Jesus was an aberration).  But he did not.

Sanhedrin

The crime Stephen committed was preaching Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 6:14).  As Stephen stood before the Sanhedrin, his face “was like the face of an angel”.  When questioned by the high priest, Stephen resumed his “crime”.  Stephen not only preached to the council, he boldly brought charges against them as representatives of the Jewish people.  They were guilty of being stiff necked.  They killed the prophets of God.  They killed the Messiah.  They were entrusted with the law and did not keep it.  Convicted by the Word of God they did the only logical thing; they became enraged and ground their teeth.  As Stephen looked Heavenward and saw Jesus, the members of the Sanhedrin cried out covered their ears and rushed at him.  The Truth was painful to listen to.  It had to be stopped.  Stephen had to be eliminated.

Stones

Full of Satan’s venom, the council cast Stephen out of the city in order to stone him.  As they were picking up their stones, the witnesses were laying their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.  Once again, God was at least one step ahead of Satan.  As the stones were being hurled at him, Stephen submitted his soul to God and prayed for the forgiveness of those who sought his death.

God’s Word can not be destroyed.  God’s Word will not return void.

Saul

After Stephen uttered his prayer of forgiveness, he passed into the presence of God.  Stephen was martyred, but God’s Word was not destroyed.  Those that witnessed Stephen’s death would return to the feet of Saul and pick up their garments.  Saul, on the other hand, would in time pick up Stephen’s “mantel”.  The same Holy Spirit that indwelled Stephen would indwell the mighty Apostle Paul.  The same Truth that Stephen proclaimed, Paul would carry to the gentiles.  The Jerusalem stones may have covered Stephen’s body and silenced his voice, but they could not stop the Living Word of God.

“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” – Acts 9:15

God’s Indestructible Word (Part 2)

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15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
    and you shall bruise his heel.” – Genesis 3:15

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
    weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
    she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” – Matthew 2:16-18

A Throne for One

Satan once “resided” in the presence of God enjoying all the beauty of Heaven and the fellowship of the divine.  He was “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.”  He was perhaps the highest angel.  But despite his position, Satan was not content.  Rather, he was full of pride.  Instead of singing, “Holy, holy, holy” like the Seraphim before the throne of God, he wanted to replace God on the throne.  But Satan would quickly learn that God will share His glory with no one or nothing; including His “highest” creation.  Satan’s desire to be exalted to the throne of God resulted in God casting him out of heaven.  Satan has been “at war” with God ever since.

We have been looking at Satan’s attempt to discredit and destroy the Word of God.  Beginning in the Garden where he preyed on the pride of Adam and Eve with the temptation to be like God, Satan has been relentless in his attacks.  Just as he was cast out of Heaven, Satan was cast out of the Garden.  But before he was, God warned him that the woman’s offspring would crush his head.  If Satan has waged an all-out war against God’s written Word, how much more violently would he try to destroy the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ?

Herod’s Decree

The passage quoted above from Matthew’s gospel clearly answers the question.  Feeling threatened by the birth of the Christ child, Herod made a decree to have the young male children in Bethlehem killed with the intention of eliminating Jesus.  But God is always more than one step ahead of Satan.  Rather than being killed by Herod, Jesus was kept safely in Egypt until Herod died.  But Herod was just one pawn in the hands of Satan.

Beloved Son

When Jesus was baptized by John, the heavens opened up and the Spirit of God descended on Him like a dove and rested on Him.  From Heaven God proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).  After being publicly anointed and blessed by the Father, Jesus went into the desert where He was tempted by the enemy.  In the desert, the battle was heating up.  Jesus was fasting.  His flesh was “weakening”.  Satan would not waste this opportunity to destroy the incarnate Word.  No pawns would be used in this battle.  Satan would come personally to confront Jesus.  If Jesus took on flesh and blood to redeem man, Satan would attack the humanity of Jesus to destroy Him.  Just as he used their pride against Adam and Eve, Satan would try the same tactic with Jesus.

It is Written

“Command this stone to become bread.”  The lust of the flesh.  Doesn’t that fruit look tasty?  It will open your eyes.  Unlike Adam and Eve, Jesus did not bite.  Instead, the incarnate Word quoted the Word of God.  “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone.”

“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here.”  The pride of life.  Flaunt your position.  Use your powers.  Prove yourself.  Jesus did not jump.  Again He quoted Scripture, “Again, it is written,  ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”

“All these I will give to you, if you will fall down and worship me.”  The lust of the eyes.  Take the easy way out.  Don’t pick up that cross.  The cup will be bitter.  Who can blame you for avoiding the suffering?  Jesus would not bend a knee.  The road to glory would include a cup and a cross.  All glory belongs to God.  “It is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.“

“Command this stone.”  “It is written.”  “Throw yourself down”  “It is written.”  “Worship me.”  “It is written.”  “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Satan’s Weapons

Herod’s sword could not destroy the incarnate Word, and neither could Satan’s temptations. But Satan would employ other tactics and other weapons.  He would turn to the “church” and the government.  Institutions ordained by God.  Institutions so many look to for “salvation”.  Scary thought.  Even more frightening is the fact that he would also use the disciples.  Men hand picked by Jesus Himself.  All would converge in another Garden of God’s choosing.  The Second Adam, the incarnate Word, was prepared.

While the Pharisees were scheming and Judas was betraying, the disciples were sleeping.  When humanity was at its worst, Jesus was praying.  God is always at least one step ahead of Satan.

Empty Tomb

Satan unleashed the jealousy of the Pharisees and the cruelty of Rome.  Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and most of the other disciple scattered.  Pilate waffled and the crowd shouted.  The guilty Barabbas was released and the innocent Jesus was condemned.   Jesus drank from the cup and carried the cross.  His hands and feet were nailed and his side was pierced.  His blood flowed and His breath expired.  It is finished.  Not quite.

For a while, it appeared that the Roman cross accomplished what the Roman sword had failed to do thirty-three years earlier…  Until the empty tomb on the third day.  The stone was rolled away to show the world: God’s Word is indestructible!!  Far from being destroyed, it was about the spread like never before.

35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” – Matthew 24:35

God’s Indestructible Word

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27 Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words that Baruch wrote at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 28 “Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. – Jeremiah 36:27-28                                         

God’s Word

The Word of God brought creation into existence.  It brought light and order to an earth that was “without form” and it brought life where there was “void.”  The inherent goodness of the Creator was reflected in His creation.  But God wasn’t done.  His objective was not creation, but fellowship.  God not only formed and breathed life into Adam, but He also spoke with him.  His words to Adam were simple.  This you may eat, and this you may not.  Adam apparently did not understand the significance of God’s words.  But the enemy did.  It has been his objective to destroy God’s creation since his fall.  What better way to do it than the destruction of God’s Word?

Broken Trust

In the Garden of Eden, Satan brought into question the integrity of God’s Word.  Did God really say?  Yes! God really said, “you shall not.”  And He meant it.  Satan may have succeeded in getting Adam and Eve to disobey God’s Word, but His Word was not destroyed.  Not at all.  When put to the test, God’s Word was validated.  Disobedience led to death just as God said it would.  While Adam and Eve were being “escorted” out of the Garden and Satan was slithering on his belly, God’s Word stood true.

Smashed Tablets

When Moses came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, he heard the singing of the people.  When he saw the golden calf and the people dancing, his “anger burned hot” and he threw down the tablets at the foot of the mountain and smashed them.  Moses was “delayed” on Mount Sinai.  The people wanted a god to lead them.  Satan suggested an idol.  The people listened and fashioned one.  And then they danced.  Satan had gotten God’s children to violate the very first commandment God had written on the tablets.  The fact that Moses smashed the tablets is ironic.  Satan perhaps thought he had destroyed God’s Word.  But he didn’t.  After God disciplined the Israelites for their disobedience, He rewrote the Ten Commandments.

34 The Lord said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. – Exodus 34:1

Burnt Scrolls

If smashing God’s Word won’t destroy it, perhaps cutting and burning it will.  At least that it was Jehoiakim seems to think as we read in today’s passage.  He didn’t like what God had to say so he threw the scroll into the fire.  As if burning the Word of God can stop the will of God.  Doesn’t work.  Jehoiakim’s fire wasn’t the end of God’s Word.  In actuality, Jehoiakim was merely fanning the flames.  Men really should be careful when “playing” with fire.  As if burning the scroll wasn’t enough, Jehoiakim wanted to silence God’s spokesmen, Jeremiah and Baruch, but God had other plans.  God not only protected Jeremiah and Baruch, he also replaced the scroll that was burned.

27 Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words that Baruch wrote at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 28 “Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. – Jeremiah 36:27-28

Indestructible!!

God’s Word is indestructible.  The prophecies regarding Jehoiakim and Judah came true.  Burning the scroll did not prevent God from carrying out His plan.  But the enemy is persistent.  History is replete with attacks on God’s Word and His messengers.  With sin rampant in the hearts of men, Satan has no shortage of accomplices.

In 175 BC, the Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes, ordered the Jews to destroy their Scriptures and worship the Greek gods.  This was no idle threat.  Antiochus Epiphanes was an evil and violent man.  Some of his contemporaries referred to him as Epimanes (“the mad one”), the Jews referred to him as harasha (“the wicked”).  He ordered the tearing and burning of any Scriptures his officials found.  Those possessing Scriptures were sentenced to death.  Later, he would lead an all out assault against the Jews.  Over a three day period of time he ordered the slaughter of forty thousand Jews with another forty thousand being sold into slavery.  As he was raging against the Jews God struck him down.

A “madman” may wreak havoc with God’s people, but God’s Word is indestructible.  While Antiochus Epiphanes is buried in infamy, God’s Word remains.  While Satan was working through King Antiochus Epiphanes, God raised up Judas Maccabaeus to lead a revolt and “save” the Scriptures.  Furthermore, the revolt won independence for the Jewish nation and resulted in the re-dedication of the Holy Temple.  Today the Jews still celebrate this event at Hanukkah.  Like Jehoiakim before him, Antiochus wasn’t destroying God’s Word, he was fanning the flames.

Far from being extinguished, the Word of God was about to take on flesh and blood.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God will stand forever.” – Isaiah 40:8

The Living Word

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12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12

Living

We have been looking at attributes of the Word of God using Jeremiah chapter 36.  In the last study, we looked at contrasting reactions to the hearing of God’s Word.  I mentioned that people react to the Bible unlike any other book.  The primary reason is given in today’s verse from the book of Hebrews.  The Word of God is living.  It is active.  It has an inherent power that no other book has.  The reactions of Josiah and Jehoiakim to the Word of God have been repeated numerous times throughout history and will continue to be as long as the Gospel is shared.  Reaction’s that are not merely superficial or emotional, but life changing.   Reaction’s like those at Pentecost.

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” – Acts 2:37

Accomplishing

Peter boldly proclaimed the Word of God and 3ooo people were converted.  They “received the Word and were baptized.”  We should not be surprised.

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:10-11

God’s Word will accomplish its purpose.   What a promise.  What a hope.  The Word of God is not impotent.  It is not ineffective.  It is a living seed we are to cast on the soil of the hearts of men and trust the work of the Holy Spirit to produce a plentiful spiritual harvest.  But without the living Word, there can be no crop.

Preaching

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. – Romans 10:14-17

We rejoice for the repentance of Josiah.  We are thrilled by the account of the 3000 who were converted at Pentecost.  But we can not be intimidated by those like Jehoiakim and the Pharisees who reject the Word.  We must always remember that God’s Word is alive and our duty is to keep the Faith and proclaim it.  The results and the reactions we can leave with God.  God’s Word will not return to Him void.

Harvesting

4 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. – Acts 4:1-4

Notice what is happening here in Acts.  Peter continues to preach the Word.  While the leadership of the day was “greatly annoyed”, many who heard the Word believed and the church increased.  The formula still works today.  We don’t need gimmicks.  We don’t need committees.  We don’t need man made philosophies.  God’s Word is alive.  It is active.  It is sufficient.

It alone gives men new life.

23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; – 1Peter 1:23

It sustains the believer.

 4 But he answered, “It is written,  “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:4

It abides within the Child of God.

“and the word of God abides in you” – 1 John 2:14

Our Living God has given us His Living Word to impart life into the spiritually dead.  How wise we would be to meditate on it like the blessed man in Psalm 1 and to proclaim it to those that have never heard.

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life  John 6:63,68

God is not dead.  And neither is His Word.  Spread the Good News!!

Reactions to God’s Word

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21 Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the secretary. And Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials who stood beside the king. 22 It was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house, and there was a fire burning in the fire pot before him. 23 As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot. 24 Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments. 25 Even when Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. – Jeremiah 36:21-25

 

Like father like son?

Not in this case.  The reaction of King Jehoiakim to the reading of the inspired word of God stands in stark contrast to that of his father, King Josiah, as recorded in 2 Kings chapter 22.  When the Book of the Law was found in the house of the Lord it was brought before King Josiah.  Shaphan the secretary promptly read it to Josiah.  Upon hearing the words of the Book of the Law, King Josiah tore his clothes in humility.  The word of God convicted him.  He commanded Hilkiah the priest who found the Book, Shaphan the secretary who read it to him, and other leaders to go and inquire of the Lord on his behalf.  He was afraid of the wrath of God because of the disobedience of God’s children in regards to God’s word.

Josiah’s Humility

When God’s counsel was sought, Josiah was assured that the wrath of God would be meted out upon Jerusalem and it’s inhabitants because they forsook God and made offerings to idols, thus provoking God to anger.   However, because Josiah’s heart was penitent, and he humbled himself before the Lord when he heard God’s word, Josiah would be “rewarded”.  God assured him that he would go to his grave in peace, and his eyes would not see all the disaster that was coming as a result of the disobedience of the people.  But Josiah wasn’t concerned only about himself, he was burdened for the people.

Josiah’s Consecration

Josiah assembled the people at the house of the Lord, and he personally read from the Book of the Covenant that had been lost there.  In the presence of the people, he “made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes will all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book.”  And the people joined him.  After consecrating himself to the LORD, Josiah commanded the people to destroy their “instruments” of idolatry.  Josiah not only removed a lot of items related to idol worship, he also restored the Passover.  What did God think of Josiah’s reaction to His word?

God’s Assessment

25 Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him. – 2 Kings 23:25

Jehoiakim’s Arrogance

If only Jehoiakim could have been more like his father.  Instead, his arrogance stands in stark contrast to Josiah’s humility.  When his official (Jehudi) comes to him with the word of God, Jehoiakim is far from penitent.  Instead of recognizes the authority of God’s word over his life, he acts like he is superior to the Word.  It is he who stands in judgement.  As the scroll is being read to him he is cutting it and burning it.  This reaction is so appalling that verse 24 states, “Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments.”  Remember God’s intention stated in verse 3?  “It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”  Jehoiakim’s behavior is not only foolish, it is reckless.

Jehoiakim’s Denial

After Josiah humbled himself before the LORD and his people, he placed an order to “inquire of the LORD”.  He wanted to hear more from God.  After Jehoikim finished burning the scroll, he also placed an order.  He wanted God’s messengers, Baruch and Jeremiah seized.  Unlike his father, he did not want to hear more of God’s word.  He didn’t want to hear it any more.  He did not want to share the word of God with the people as his father did.  Instead, he wanted to deprive them of it.  The consequence?  See how this compares with what is stated about Josiah above:

God’s Assessment

30 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat by day and the frost by night.

Not exactly going to your grave in peace!  Amazing how different a father and a son can be.  A good reminder on just how personal our faith is.  There will be no coattail Christians in heaven.  Our salvation is contingent upon what we do individually with the truth of the Gospel.

The reactions of Josiah and Jehoikim I believe, also give evidence of the uniqueness of the Word of God.  What else can cause the brokenness we see in Josiah?  What else can cause the animosity we see in Jehoikim?  Both were convicted, yet they responded in different ways.  History is full of people on each ends of this spectrum.  Those that humble themselves before the Word want to share it just as Josiah did.  Those that rebel as Jehoikim did, want to destroy it.

Why such strong reactions?  The Word is alive!

God’s Word of Warning

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2 “Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today. 3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.” – Jeremiah 36:2-3

Turn or burn

You have heard the expression. The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once preached a sermon with the title.  The text he preached from was Psalm 7:11-12.

11 God is a righteous judge,
    and a God who feels indignation every day.

12 If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword;
    he has bent and readied his bow.

God is loving.  God is long-suffering.  In His grace, He warns us of the consequences of our sins and gives us time to repent.  As I mentioned in the last devotion, to ignore the Word of God is foolishness.  Unfortunately, as we look at today’s text from Jeremiah, we see foolishness exemplified.

Verse 1 tells us that this warning came during the fourth year of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah.   This date is significant.  Chapter 46 tells us that this was the year that Babylon conquered Egypt.  After Pharoah Neco killed King Josiah, Judah had been subject to the rule of Egypt.  Although they were a vassal of Egypt, God has been warning His people of an imminent and greater danger of an enemy from the North.  The people seemed indifferent.  Hard to believe we can not take God seriously despite the fact that one prophecy after another is fulfilled before our eyes.  One might think Nebuchadnezzar and his approaching army would get the attention of God’s children.  Just in case, God is giving Jeremiah another warning.  Disaster is at your doorstep.  Turn so I can forgive your iniquity and sin.  Or else.

Man’s Sin & God’s Heart

Can you hear the longing of God?  Can you feel the passion of His heart?  Look at Psalm 7 closely.  “God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.”  Talking about sin is not politically correct.  It is not popular.  It is not the way to fill an auditorium.  But it is the loving thing to do.  Like the children of Israel in the days of Jeremiah, man still has a problem with sin.  And so does God.  It makes Him angry.  He extends His hand of mercy and too often men slap it.  He offers His grace and men reject it.  In so doing, by default, they are choosing the fires of hell.  Turn or burn.

“It may be…that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”  God’s passion for sinners sent Jesus to the cross.  In the death and resurrection of Christ, God offers the only means of salvation from sin.  To avoid condemnation, man must repent of his sins and place his faith in the atoning work of Christ’s shed blood.

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” – John 3:16-18

Life in Christ

Apart from Christ, men stand condemned and are destined to perish.  This is not my opinion but is the truth.  This is what God says in His Word.  His Word of warning.  The Words He inspired Jeremiah to write down were fulfilled.  His children suffered the consequences just as He told them and so will we if we do not turn.  God takes sin very seriously and so should we.  Now is not a time to ignore.  Now is not a time to procrastinate.  Now is the time to heed God’s warning and turn from your sins.   Perhaps Jesus can convince you.

19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried,23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” – Luke 16:19-31

Smoldering Stumps

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4 “And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah.” – Isaiah 7:4

Comforting Words

Be careful.  Be quiet.  Do not fear.  Do not let your heart be faint.  The Lord commanded the prophet Isaiah to speak these words to Ahaz, king of Judah, as two opposing kings, Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekin, king of Israel, were conspiring to destroy Ahaz.  We all have our struggles with fears.  Those moments when our hearts are faint and our minds are overwhelmed.  Sometimes our fears are valid and often times not.  If two powerful enemies were conspiring to destroy me as was the case with Ahaz, I would be fearful also.  Ahaz was familiar with Rezin and Pekin.  Too familiar.

Smoldering Stumps

Second Chronicles chapter twenty-eight records a prior encounter between Ahaz and these two kings.  It did not bode well for Ahaz and Judah.  Pekin (Pekah) killed 120,000 men from Judah in one day.  Ahaz also lost a son and his second in command.  But that wasn’t all.  Besides the men that were killed, another 200,000 women, and sons and daughters of Judah were taken captive.  In addition to the captives, there was also much spoil taken to Samaria.  Sounds to me like there should be every reason to fear the “fierce anger” of these two kings.  While the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people “shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind” (verse 2), God calls the opposing kings mere smoldering stumps of firebrands.

Be Careful

Take heed.  Ahaz needed to hear these words.  Ahaz began to reign at twenty years of age and reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem.  Unfortunately, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD.  He made images for the Baals, and made sacrifices to idols, including burning his sons as a sacrifice.  Ahaz consistently made poor choices.  When threatened, he did not look to God, but rather made a pact with Assyria for protection.  Hence the admonition to be careful.  Ahaz was listening to the wrong voices, including his own.  Now it was time to listen to the words of God.  Good advice for all of us.  Set aside all pretenses of self-sufficiency and listen for the voice of God.

Be Quiet

No more excuses.  No more rationalizing.  It is time to admit the mistakes that have been made.  Amazing how we think that by rambling on we can convince others when in actuality we are often trying to convince ourselves.  Oh, for the wisdom to know when to be quiet.  It is hard to hear the voice of wisdom when we are filling the air with our ignorance.

Do Not Fear

How much fear in our lives would be eliminated if we would look at things from God’s perspective.  These two fierce kings are in actuality only smoldering stumps.  Isaiah relays from God to Ahaz the imminent death of these two figures.  Unfortunately, Ahaz isn’t looking to God, nor is he looking at the opposing kings with a godly perspective.  Instead of looking at the scenario with all of the facts, he is operating in the realm of ignorance.  Hence his fear.

Do Not Let Your Heart Be Faint

Be strong.  What you perceive as a ferocious fire is nothing more than smoke.  Despite their threats, there is more thunder than lightning.  You listen to these angry kings and you hear their threats.  Listen to God and you will be assured of their demise.  Are you going to be overwhelmed by the threats of firebrands and live in fear, or place your trust in the assurance of God and live in confident faith?

Comforting Words & The Stump of Jesse

When God sent Isaiah to Ahaz with this message, he did not send him alone, rather Isaiah was instructed to take his son along.  His son’s name was Shear-jashub.  Why is this significant?  Shear-jashub literally means, “a remnant will return.”  Ahaz and Judah may have had a bad history with Rezin and Pekin, but they had a promise for a glorious future from God.  Isaiah proceeds to tell Ahaz of the virgin birth of Immanuel.  God has a plan.  No need to shake like a tree in the wind.  No need to fear smoldering stumps.  Our hope is in the stump of Jesse.  Look at these verses from Isaiah chapter eleven.

1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and might,
    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
    or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
    and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.

We live in a world full of fear.  The recent terrorist attack in Barcelona has reminded us of our vulnerability.  After each such occurrence, the world leaders condemn those responsible.  No disrespect to those in authority, but for the most part, they are smoldering stumps.   Despite all of the rhetoric, they will never stop the violence.  Our only hope is Christ, the root of Jesse.  If we put our confidence anyplace else we are making a pact with Assyria which will always result in fear and shaking like a tree in the wind.  Don’t listen to the threats of Rezin and Pekin.  Isaiah and his son Shear-jashub are speaking to you on God’s behalf.  Be careful.  Be quiet.  Do not fear.  Do not let your heart be faint.  Because of the root of Jesse, we can live in hope and not fear.

12 And again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse will come,
    even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. – Romans 15:12-13