Category: Faith

The Day of Jerusalem

Posted on by scott

7″ Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, ‘Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!’  8 O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us!  9 Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!” – Psalm 137:7-9

Impending Judgement

This is a difficult passage of scripture.  We have spent the last couple of devotions looking at the first six verses of this Psalm, and I thought it was only “fair” to look at the last three.  Throughout this Psalm the imagery is vivid and the emotions are raw.  The Psalmist doesn’t leave us guessing about his passion.  In the siege of Jerusalem and its ensuing destruction, he has witnessed many atrocities (Lamentations 5:11).  As if the looting of his home and the destruction of the sacred Temple were not bad enough, he also had to witness the violation of loved ones and the unthinkable cruelty of the execution of infants.  With these images seared in his mind, the Psalmist gives vent to his emotions.  May justice be served.  May the guilty be held accountable.  May they experience the pain they have inflicted on others.

While the Babylonians were razing Jerusalem, the Edomites were fanning the flames.  Descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob, the Edomites were a “sister-nation” to Israel.   Rather than coming to Israel’s defense, however, the Edomites encouraged the utter destruction of Jerusalem, with chants of “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations.”  Rather than sympathizing with the Israelites, they reveled in their misery.  If Esau couldn’t get his birth rite back from Jacob he was going to find satisfaction in his agony and encourage his destruction.  “Remember, O Lord, the day of Jerusalem.”

While the Psalmist prays for retribution against the Edomites, he speaks of the judgment of Babylon as a matter of certainty.  It is going to happen.  Blessed is the one to execute it.  Like Jerusalem, Babylon will be destroyed.  Your little ones will be dashed against the rocks just as you did to ours.  You can’t get much more graphic.  Like his beloved city, the Psalmist is broken.  At first glance, it appears he is looking for revenge.  But is he?

Vengeance is Mine

In regards to the Edomites, the Psalmist prays that God will remember them.  He is asking God to do what only God can.  He is asking God to judge the Edomites.  He is leaving them in God’s hand.  Undoubtedly he was familiar with the words of Deuteronomy.

9 “But the Lord‘s portion is his people,
    Jacob his allotted heritage.” – Deut. 32:9

35 “‘Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
    for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
    and their doom comes swiftly.’
36 For the Lord will vindicate his people
    and have compassion on his servants,
when he sees that their power is gone
    and there is none remaining, bond or free.” – Deut. 32:35-36

The Psalmist knows of the special relationship between God and His allotted heritage Jacob.  He also knows that the Lord will vindicate His people.  What appears at first glance to be a personal vendetta is actually the recognition of God’s promise for His people.  Although they are not immune from suffering, God will have compassion on them when He sees their power is gone.  Such was their predicament as exiles in Babylon.  While powerless to defend themselves, the Israelites looked to God to fulfill His Word and act on their behalf.  Before we judge too harshly the details of verse nine, let’s look at some other passages the Psalmist was probably familiar with.

43 “Rejoice with him, O heavens;
    bow down to him, all gods,
for he avenges the blood of his children
    and takes vengeance on his adversaries.
He repays those who hate him
    and cleanses his people’s land.” – Deut. 32:43

16 “Their infants will be dashed in pieces
    before their eyes;
their houses will be plundered
    and their wives ravished.” – Isaiah 13:16

A Coming Day

In time God would use the Medes and Persians to judge Babylon.  The barbaric acts done by the Babylonians would be reciprocated.  In His time God will vindicate His people.  Despite the trials we are going through we can have confidence in the Word of God.  We may not know His timing.  We certainly can’t understand His methods.  While we don’t understand God’s ways, we know that they are much higher than ours.  Like the Psalmist, we must submit to His will.  We must embrace the justice of God as well as the grace and mercy.  God will not be mocked.  While the Psalmist asked God to remember the day of Jerusalem, it is good for us to be mindful of the fact that the day of the Lord is coming.

12“For the LORD of hosts has a day
against all that is proud and lofty,
against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low.” – Isaiah 2:12

17“And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled,
and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low,
and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.” – Isaiah 2:17

The prophecies of the day of the Lord will be fulfilled just as surely as the judgment of Babylon.  Before the great day of judgment arrives, may we be fervently praying that our “enemies” might embrace the grace of God and be spared.  It is evident from the passion of the Psalmist that the day of Jerusalem was terrible.  But it won’t compare to the day of the Lord.  While it is comforting to emphasize the fact that God is love, we must always be true to His word and also recognize that He is a God of justice.  Sin will not go unpunished.  When it is punished, it is often barbaric.  The cross is all the proof we need.  God’s ways are higher than ours.  Thank God.

4“The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.” – Deut. 32:4

Hanging Lyres (Entertaining the Enemy)

Posted on by scott

 

“On the willows there we hung up our lyres.” – Psalm 137:2

Tempter & Taunts

While the exiles were gathered at the waters of Babylon, as we looked at in the last devotion, the Babylonians taunted them and asked them to sing songs from their native Zion.  The Babylonians weren’t interested in music, they were interested in mocking.  Mocking not just the Israelites, but the God of Israel.  While the exiles were mourning, their captors requested mirth.  Satan isn’t always subtle, but he is always cruel.  The tempter who met Christ in the Judaean desert is meeting the Israelites by the waters of Babylon.  While the devil could not “touch” Christ, the Babylonians could certainly threaten and use force against the Israelites.  Lyres don’t present much resistance against armed men.  Unless they are instruments consecrated to God.

God & Hymns

Give us some hymns.  Show us some joy.  Let us see you worship your God who could not save you from captivity.  Your God must be as helpless as you.  While the taunts were personal and plentiful, the Israelites did not take the bait.  They did not cast pearls before swine.  They would not defile their religion to entertain the enemy.  They would not compromise their consciences.  Rather than acquiesce to the requests of their captors, they simply hung up their instruments in the willow trees.  Not only were they in no mood to sing songs of mirth, more importantly, they did not want to “defile” their songs.  “How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land” (Verse 4)?  Good question.  Why expose what is sacred to the ridicule of the world?  Hanging up lyres in a willow tree sounds easy.  But is it when Satan has you in his coils?  He knows when we are weakest.  He knows when we feel abandoned.  If we are not careful he wraps us up and squeezes us until we compromise our convictions.  Be careful, Satan slithered before he roared.

Sing us a Song

You are in a foreign land.  Your temple is destroyed.  Certainly, you can’t refrain from singing forever.  God would want you to express yourself.  A little mirth is good for you.  Life is short; enjoy yourself.  Like the Israelites, you have heard it all before.  Sing us a song.  Share in the mirth.  Try this.  Take a drink of this.  One look won’t hurt.  A little lie is OK.  Everyone else is doing it.  Don’t be such a stick in the mud.  Did God really say?  The temptations come in an infinite number of forms.  The packaging may be enticing, but they are wrapped in the pits of hell.  What would you expect from the one who masquerades as an angel of light? Slither, slither, roar.

No Compromise

How much do you respect your conscience?  What is your faith worth?  How cognizant are you of your testimony?  How much do you esteem the “honor” of God?  There is a lot on the line when the captors ask us to sing for them and make mirth.  It’s easy to concede when we feel threatened.  We love our comfort.  We love our safety.  We want to be popular.  We want to fit in.  The enemy knows when we are susceptible.  He knows when we are tired.  He knows how to take advantage of our emotions.  He knows how to package his words.  They are often delivered with sensuality and promises.  Why weep by the river when you can sing and dance?  Take a cue from the exiles, it is better to weep with God’s children than sing for the enemy.  Likewise, the Psalmist claims it is better to be cursed than to compromise our conscience.

5 “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill!  6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy!” – Psalm 137:5-6

The songs of Jerusalem were written for worship.  They were an expression of the love of God’s children for their heavenly Father.  Surrender them to the enemy?  Never.  I would rather lose the use of my right hand or my ability to speak than to entertain the enemy.  Such is the conviction of the Psalmist.  Sound familiar?

” If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.” – Matthew 5:29

God has blessed us with so much.  Music is a gift from God.  Joy is a gift from God.  So is your conscience.  And so is your faith.  Don’t blemish God’s blessings by entertaining the enemy.  Don’t exchange the Joy of God for worldly mirth.  Don’t compromise your convictions.  Stand firm in your faith.  When the enemy asks to be entertained turn your back to him, find a willow tree, and hang up the lyre.  Pearls are precious and should never be cast before swine.  Certainly not one who slithers.  Don’t expose what is sacred to the ridicule of the world.  Consecrate yourself to the Lord and let the enemy slide back to his hole.

By the Waters of Babylon

Posted on by scott

 

“By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.” – Psalm 137:1

Water & Thirsty Souls

Water can do wonders for a soul.  What a glass of cold water can do for a physical thirst, a body of water can do for a thirsty soul.  Whether it is a calm lake, the roll of ocean waves, or the ripple of a stream’s current, we often find solace in bodies of water.  Water has a way of attracting us when the chaos of the world is closing in on us.

In the last two devotions, we have looked at the end of the reign of the Jewish kings and the Babylonian exile of the Jews under King Nebuchadnezzar.  Now in Babylon, many of the exiles gather by the waters and lament.  With the painful images of the ruined city and it’s Temple fresh in their minds, they remember the glory that was Zions.  We can not always undo the past, but we can pay our respects to it by resolving never to forget.  Such was the resolve of the exiles.  It is believed by many that Psalm 137 was written by Jeremiah.  It is certainly possible that the “weeping” prophet wrote this powerful Psalm, but we do not know for certain.  No doubt it is emotionally charged with strong language and unforgettable imagery.  However, who actually penned it is ultimately not important.  What we do know is that it was God inspired.  My challenge to you is to read the Psalm from the perspective of an exile.  A healthy perspective for a child of God.

Homesick & Hope

During the time of the exile, Babylon was the world power.  Nebuchadnezzar had a strong military, as the Israelites were too familiar with.  Babylon was bustling.  Babylon was growing.  Babylon had impressive walls and buildings.  It had beauty including the Hanging Gardens with man-made terraces and a mechanized watering system, making it one of the seven wonders of the world.  Babylon was a “seat of learning and culture.”  They had a codified law.  Babylon was impressive.  Babylon was famous.  But for the Jews, Babylon wasn’t home.  Those that gathered by the waters of Babylon would have rather been back in Jerusalem.  As they gathered, they not only shared a common grief, but a common hope as well.  Someday they would return.

10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:10-11

Longing for Home

As children of God, we share the hope of the Jewish exiles.  Someday God will call us home.  Our hope is not tainted by what was, but is fueled by what is to come.  We don’t grieve a Jerusalem that lies in ruins.  Rather we anticipate a New Jerusalem.  A Heavenly Zion.  One beyond the reach of the likes of Nebuchadnezzar.  One with walls that will never be under a siege.   A city whose temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.  A city with the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.  A river where we can sit down and meet at as we remember what God has done for us in Christ.  Giving to us from the spring of the water of life without payment.  Amazing what water can do for a thirsty soul.

Good Bye Babylon

Don’t be content with Babylon.  Don’t look for fulfillment by the waters of Babylon.  This world is not your home.  You are an exile.  Don’t cling too tightly to the temporal.  We are only here for a season.  Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us.  A place we can call home.  Forever.  Your hope is greater than that of the Jewish exiles.  May your passion for the New Jerusalem be greater than their’s was for the earthly.  Our hope is not to return to the past.  Our hope is eternal.  May our perspective be the same.

Someday Babylon will be destroyed like the tower is was named after.  The world and it’s “wonders” will be consumed.  However, the Word of God will endure the fires.  His plans for a future and a hope will come to fruition.  While we are surrounded by the chaos of Babylon, might we have the resolve of Jeremiah and the exiles, and focus on the promises of God.

Waters and Worship

Someday we will gather at the waters of Heaven.  As we do we will worship God Almighty and the Lamb who are the source of the waters.  As we worship we will fellowship with the Saints.  We will be reunited with loved ones.  We will meet the Apostles.  We will meet the Patriarchs.  We will meet Moses, Joshua, and the prophets.  Including Jeremiah.  But he will no longer be known as the “weeping” prophet.  There will be no tears.  There will be no lamenting.  The old will be gone.  All will be made new.  Wrongs will be righted.  Justice will finally prevail.  Love will always reign.  What a future.  What a hope.  What a place to call home.

I hope you are looking forward to our time by the waters of Heaven.  God is.

Lessons from the Graciousness of Evil

Posted on by scott

“And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed (lifted up the head of) Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison.  And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon.  So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments.  And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table, and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, as long as he lived.” – 2 Kings 25:27-30

Jehoiachin

Yesterday, we looked at Zedekiah, the last king of Judah.  Before Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah king, he carried away his successor and nephew, Jehoiachin, into exile.  Jehoiachin’s reign was brief.  Three months.  Despite being a young king with a short reign, Jehoiachin left his mark.  Like his uncle after him, he also did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.   The seeds of evil don’t take long to produce fruit.  Unlike his uncle, Jehoiachin surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar saving Jerusalem from destruction, albeit temporarily.

Although Nebuchadnezzar did not unleash his full wrath, he did plunder Jerusalem, carrying away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house.  Along with the treasures, Nebuchadnezzar took ten thousand captives consisting of the “top” citizens and craftsmen and leaving only the poorest behind in Jerusalem.  With this segregation, Jeremiah’s prophecy of the Good Figs and the Bad Figs was set into motion.  Those exiled were designated for good, those left behind for destruction (Jeremiah 24).  The mighty Nebuchadnezzar was nothing but a pawn in the mighty hands of a sovereign God.  We never know what instruments God might use to carry out His plans, but we can always be certain that His Word will be fulfilled.

“I will hurl you and the mother who bore you into another country, where you were not born, and there you shall die.” – Jeremiah 22:26

“And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon. The king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officials, and the chief men of the land he took into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.” – 2 Kings 24:15

Prison

For thirty-seven years Jehoiachin was a prisoner in Babylon.  Plenty of time to reflect.  Plenty of time to second guess.  Plenty of time to repent.  Eighteen years “old” is young for a king.  One hundred days is short for a reign.  Thirty-seven years is a long time to be held a prisoner.  By anyone’s standards.  But Jehoiachin was warned.  Not only would his mother be exiled with him, but his offspring would never reign in Judah.

“Thus says the Lord:  ‘Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah.’” – Jeremiah 22:30

It is difficult to suffer for our decisions and actions.  It is painful to watch those whom we love suffer for our decisions and actions.  As we see over and over in the Bible, doing evil in the sight of the Lord had grave consequences for many.  Too often political leaders appear so indifferent.  Did Jehoiachin’s heart grieve for his mother who was also taken from her native land?  How did he feel knowing he was the last direct heir to the “Jewish” crown?  As prophesied by Jeremiah, his offspring would not “succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling in Judah.”  Bitter pills for a proud man of any age.  Pills Jehoiachin had to swallow in his prison cell.  As unpleasant as they are, bitter pills are often good for the soul.  Specifically, if they lead to repentance.  I suspect that is what Jeremiah and Daniel were praying for Jehoiachin.

Evil & Grace

The sands of time wear down every mortal.  Nebuchadnezzar was no exception.  The “destroyer of nations” (Jeremiah 4:7) would finally take his last breath.  His successor was a man named Evil-merodoch.  We are not told why, but Evil-merodoch showed kindness to Jehoiachin.  After thirty-seven years the iron bars were opened.  After thirty-seven years kind words were spoken to Jehoiachin.  His prison garb was exchanged for clothes worthy of the king’s court.  Jehoiachin went from a lowly prison cell to being elevated to “a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon.”  Instead of prison food, he ate every day at the king’s table.  Instead of living in need, Evil-merodoch gave him a daily allowance to meet his needs for the rest of his life.  We do not need to be told why Evil-merodoch showed this kindness to Jehoiachin.  Grace needs no explanation.  Don’t you agree?

Grace & You

What Evil-merodoch did for Jehoiachin is a picture of what God has done for you.  When you were in sin’s prison, God lifted your head and set you free.  The cruel words of the world were replaced by Heaven’s kind words.  You have been given a seat in the heavenly places with Christ, high above any “Babylonian” king.  Your prison garb was replaced by a robe of righteousness.  You have been invited to dine at the King’s table.  From His wealth, the King will provide for your needs.  Forever.  Such is grace.

How is this possible?

12 “And after the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.” – Matthew 1:12-16

By the grace of God, Jehoiachin had a descendant who will sit on the throne forever.  As I said earlier, we never know what instruments God will use to carry out His plans, but we can always be certain that His Word will be fulfilled.

What does Jehoiachin mean?  Yahweh will uphold!

The Heavens Declare

Posted on by scott

 

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” – Psalm 19:1

Heavenly Lessons

How wise we would be to imitate the heavens.  Declaring the glory of God and proclaiming His handiwork.  Isn’t that why we were created?  Isn’t that why we were redeemed?  We like to “make much” of ourselves.  Too much.  When we are caught in the trap of thinking the world revolves around us it is good to look to the heavens.  The heavens don’t declare your greatness.  They certainly don’t proclaim my handiwork.  We didn’t hang the stars in their places.  We didn’t give each of them a name.  As large and as bright as they are we can’t even see them all.  The heavens don’t exalt mankind, rather they humble us.  As does nature in general.  Whether it is the grandeur of a mountain or a sunset or the sheer power of a tsunami or an earthquake, we are reminded that we are mere worms (Job 25:6).  Thinking of ourselves as worms is not flattering, but it is a good perspective from which to “view” and appreciate the glory of God (Isaiah 41:14).

God’s Glory

We often speak of the glory of God, but what exactly does that mean?  In the Old Testament, two of the Hebrew words translated in English as glory are Hod and Kabod and in the New Testament, the Greek original is Doxa.  These words, respectively, mean splendor, weight, and judgment (opinion).  By extension, majesty, important, honor.  Although God’s glory is intrinsic, I am going to define it as simply, the manifestation of God’s character.  You are welcome to disagree with my definition.  But some things are not debatable.  What is more important to God than the manifestation of His character?  Doesn’t He want to make Himself known so He can be worshiped?  What is the purpose of His works?  Why did He inspire the authors of the Bible to write?  Why did He reveal Himself using different names?  God wants His name to be famous!  We should want nothing less.

God’s Manifestation

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20).  If manifesting His character is so important to God, what does that say about our obligation to know Him?  Moses prayed to God, “Please show me your glory”  (Exodus 33:18).  A.W. Tozer once said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”  Jesus lived to make the Father known to us.  He died to bring Him glory.  “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you…” (John 17:1b).  Christ glorified the Father by revealing Him to us.  We “glorify” the Father by accepting Christ and making Him known.

It Is Jesus

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15).  “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3a).  The author of Hebrews states succinctly that all of God’s revelations of His character culminated in His Son.  The author of Hebrews tells us that the heavens that declare the glory of God are the works of Christ’s hands.  It is He who upholds the universe by the word of His power.  It is Jesus that made purification for sins.  It is Jesus that sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High.  It is Jesus that all of God’s angels worship.  It is Jesus whose throne is forever and ever.  It is Jesus that is a merciful and faithful high priest.  It is Jesus that is the apostle and high priest of our confession.  It is Jesus who has passed through the heavens.  It is Jesus that is a guarantor of a better covenant.  It is Jesus that always lives to make intercession for us.  It is Jesus who is holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.  It is Jesus, the Son, who has been made perfect forever.  It is the blood of Jesus that gives us the confidence to “enter the holy places.”

Pursuing God

What comes to your mind when you think about God?  Tozer was correct, the most important thing you can do with your life is to pursue God in Christ.  That is why you were created.  That is how God is glorified.  The heavens declare the glory of God.  God has revealed Himself to us.  He is glorified when we enter the holy places and approach Him as Abba Father.  He hung the stars in place to shout to us to look to Him.  He hung a star over Bethlehem to lead the wise men to the babe.  His Son hung on a cross so we could come to Him.

“To God be the glory, great things He has done, so loved He the world that He gave us His son.”

Order of Melchizedek

Posted on by scott

“The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.'” – Psalm 110:4

Exclusive Order

The order of Melchizedek is very exclusive.  In Psalm 110, David adds the promised Messiah to the list.  So now the order consists of Melchizedek and the Messiah.  David is adamant that the role of a priest is clearly God ordained for the Messiah.  God has sworn and will not change His mind!!  God has determined it.  God has commissioned it.  He will not repent.  It is settled.  The promised Messiah will fulfill the role of priest, and He will do so forever.  After the order of Melchizedek.

War & Lot

We are introduced to Melchizedek in Genesis chapter 14.  Or should I say He appears out of nowhere?  Before Melchizedek makes his appearance it might be good to look at the context.  Genesis 14 records the first war in the Bible.  The king of Sodom along with his allies, consisting of the kings of four other cities, had decided to stop paying tribute to the government of Chedorlaomer.  After twelve years of paying tribute, they decided to revolt.  Chedorlaomer did not take kindly to the revolt.  If the tribute was not paid “voluntarily” he would take it by force.  And so he did along with his allies, consisting of three other kings. They laid waste to the land and took spoils from it.  While the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, their enemies took “all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way.”  When plundering Sodom and Gomorrah, Abram’s nephew Lot and his possession were also carried away.

Melchizedek & Blessings

“I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  This was the promise God made to Abram in Genesis chapter 12 when He called him out of his native country.  When Abram left his country to go to a land God would show him, his nephew Lot went with him.  God’s promise was quickly tested.  When Lot was carried away, Abram was pulled into the conflict.  Upon hearing the news of Lot’s captivity, Abram assembled his men and rescued his nephew and his possessions.  As Abram and his men were returning with Lot, the King of Sodom met them at the Valley of Shaveh (King’s Valley).  It is at the King’s Valley that Melchizedek makes His mysterious appearance.  We are told that He is the King of Salem and that He brought out bread and wine.  And Moses adds, “He was priest of God Most High.”  Then an interesting exchange takes place.  Melchizedek blesses Abram, and Abram gives Melchizedek a tithe. And nothing more is mentioned of Melchizedek.  For a thousand years.

Jesus & Melchizedek

Not until David penned the words quoted above from Psalm 110 is any mention made of Melchizedek.   As stated above, David tells us that the promised Messiah will be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.  After Psalm 110, nothing is recorded about Melchizedek until Hebrews is written.  The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus, the promised Messiah fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 110.  He is the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.

We are told that Melchizedek literally means King of Righteousness.  Jesus told us that only God is righteous.  Melchizedek is also King of Salem, which means King of Peace.  Isaiah referred to the Messiah as the Prince of Peace.  Melchizedek brought Abram and his men bread and wine.  When Jesus instituted the Lords supper he passed the bread and wine as representatives of His body and blood.  When Melchizedek came before Abram, Abram received His blessing and paid him tithes, recognizing Melchizedek’s superiority.  When the Jews asked Jesus if He was greater than Abraham, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).  The author of Hebrews tells us that Melchizedek is without genealogy and without beginning of days or end of life, made after the likeness of the Son of God.  Jesus is the eternal Son of God made after the likeness of Melchizedek.

Perfect Forever

The Priesthood of Melchizedek is a priesthood of Grace, therefore it is superior to the Levitical priesthood which was based on Law.  The law appointed men in their weakness to serve as priests, the New Covenant appoints a Son who is perfect forever (Hebrews 7:28).

Standing with Melchizedek

Let’s go back to the Valley of Kings.  Here stands Abram, chosen by God, asked to leave His country for a better promise.  Abram believed God and was made righteous because of his faith.   Here stands the king of Sodom, the representative of the city forever associated with immorality, fire, and brimstone.  Here stands Melchizedek, King of Righteousness, King of Peace.  And here you and I stand represented by Lot.  When given his choice of land, Lot chose to live in Sodom.  He lifted his eyes and saw the fertile land of Sodom and moved his tent there.  Lot saw a chance for material prosperity, yet this is what God saw, “Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord” (Genesis 13:13).

Saved by Melchizedek

“Do not love the world or the things in the world…For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life-is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:15a-16).  Like Lot, we were from the world.  Captives of sin, in the midst of a spiritual war. Born into the order of Adam we needed rescue.  We needed One from the order of Melchizedek.  We needed a Messiah, commissioned by the Father to be a perfect, eternal High Priest.  Into our spiritual war the King of kings appeared.  He offered his body and blood for our redemption.  He saved us from our spiritual Sodom and the wrath to come.  Like Abram, we are saved by grace through faith.  Like Lot, there is no turning back.  God’s not.  He has sworn and will not change His mind.  “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”  And because God did; and Jesus is; our eternity is secure.  Sodom has been exchanged for Heaven, where our High Priest is making intercession for us.  Certainly beats fire and brimstone.  Don’t you agree Lot?

The order of Melchizedek is exclusive.  Jesus is the only member.  He alone is qualified.  He alone is sufficient.

“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.  He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people,  since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.” – Hebrews 7:26-27

Heaping Burning Coals

Posted on by scott

 

“To the contrary, ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.'” – Romans 12:20

To The Contrary

It is not in our nature to love our enemies.  We would rather practice an eye for an eye.  You knock out my tooth I’ll knock out yours!  Vengeance is mine declares our pride!!  “Vengeance is mine.”  God reminds us.  To the contrary…Heap burning coals on your enemies heads! I can live with that. That sounds more like our flesh speaking.  Or does it?

God tells us that vengeance is His.  He will repay our enemies.  Our command is to meet their needs.  If they are hungry we are to feed them.  If they are thirsty we are to give them something to drink.  It is difficult to set aside our pride to meet the needs of others.  Especially those we deem our enemies.  In our society, not many of us probably encounter a lot of people who are in dire need of food or drink.  But how about meeting the needs of those with spiritual hunger and thirst?  Our enemies may have the greatest needs.  Where do burning coals come into play?

Burning Coals

Some believe that by caring for our enemies, we will shame them and hence the term heaping burning coals on their heads.  I prefer another interpretation.  In the ancient world, a fire in the home was critical.  It was necessary as a source of heat and for cooking.  If your fire went out you could be in a desperate situation.  Quickly starting a fire was not an option.  Instead you were at the mercy of your neighbors.  Apparently, the practice in such a situation was to carry a clay urn on your head and go to your neighbors asking for burning coals from their fires to carry home for the hearth.  To fulfill such a request was to do them a great favor.  Both interpretations are possible, but I believe the second fits the context better.  How does it look in practice?

Starting a Fire

Working with a Pregnancy Care Center years ago I remember reading a very touching story.  Day after day a certain doctor would make his way to work showered with jeers and threats.  He worked at an abortion clinic and the protesters let him know what they thought of his profession.  Among the crowd of protesters stood a pastor.  He did not shout at or threaten the doctor.  Vengeance wasn’t his objective.  To the contrary, each day as the doctor walked past him the pastor would simply tell this doctor, whom spiritually would definitely be his “enemy”, that God loved him, and so did he.  In time the pastor gained the trust of the doctor and the two agreed to meet for lunch.  Eventually, the abortion doctor became a born again Christian and left his practice.  Spiritual enemies became spiritual brothers.  Not only did the doctor quit taking the lives of babies, but he would become a great voice in the battle to protect the unborn.  The doctor had a great need.  The pastor heaped burning coals on his head.

Genuine Love

Let’s go back to Romans chapter twelve.  Most of us are familiar with the first two verses about offering our bodies as a living sacrifice and being transformed by the renewing of our minds.  But how does this flesh out? Look at verse nine.  “Let love be genuine.”  Do you think the motive of this pastor in regards to the abortion doctor was to shame him?  Or did he see a man who needed his (spiritual) fire lit and therefore chose to heap burning coals on his head from the fire of Christ’s love?  That is not to say that our enemies won’t be shamed.  Godly sorrow leads to repentance.  Obviously that is a good thing.  But some of us may be more concerned about the shame than the repentance.  My concern is not just the action but the motive.  To serve with a desire to shame feels a little like a tinge of vengeance.  To serve because we see the needs of our enemies and to meet their needs without a shadow of self pride feels more like genuine love.  I can’t be too dogmatic, but it is food for thought.

Vengeance and conviction belong to God.  Our calling is to love.  Genuinely.

Fire Starters

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32

“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:15

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.  Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”  – Luke 6:35-36

Have an enemy in need?  Worried about revenge?  Let love be genuine.  Be a contrarian.  Heap burning coals on their heads and let God take care of the rest.

“Let love be genuine…Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’  To the contrary, ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:9, 17-21

Fig Trees and Faith

Posted on by scott

 

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” – Habakkuk 3:17-18

Hard Work & Faith

Ever since the ground was cursed by God in the Garden of Eden, man would have to eat in pain and by the sweat of his face.  Seeds would need to be sown.  Trees would need trimming.  Plants would require pruning.  Hard work is necessary, but in itself insufficient.  Faith would have to be exercised.  Human effort is no guarantee of a bountiful harvest.

Man must do what he is able, and then pray that God will bless his work.  Only He can provide sufficient rainfall.  Sunshine and temperatures are His departments.  When the seeds are planted in the ground, they are planted with hope.  When the plants are pruned they are done so with expectation.  What is true in the realm of horticulture is equally true in the realm of livestock.  Folds are made for the sheep.  Stalls are made for the cattle.  Not only must the livestock be protected, but they are nurtured from birth as well.  A lot of toil goes into feeding them and keeping them healthy.  Man must do what he is able, and then pray that God will bless his work.  One predator can wreak havoc on the flock.  One disease or catastrophe can eliminate the herd.  Then what?  What happens when expectations are not met?  What happens when hopes are crushed?  What becomes of faith?

“Though the fig tree should not blossom.”  

Despite all of our hard work, we did not get the promotion.  We looked to the fig tree for its sweet fruit.  We ended up with a sour taste in our mouth.  “Nor fruit be on the vines.”  We nurtured and loved, but our child is not living for the faith.  The fruit of the vine is supposed to bring gladness of heart, but our hearts are pierced by a wayward offspring.  “The produce of the olive fails.”  We did everything the doctor recommended, but the results came back positive.  The millstone is ready but there is no oil to cook with or light the lamps.  We hoped for an encouraging report.  The doctor says it is terminal.  “The fields yield no food.”  We planted barley and wheat.  We have a field of weeds.  We look to the fields for subsistence, our eyes behold disappointment.  Not only have we lost our health, we have lost our job.  Where will the next meal come from?  How will we make ends meet?  “The flock may be cut off from the fold.”  We prayed for a hedge of protection, but our spiritual leader fell.  We looked to the sheep for wool, instead, the wool was pulled over our eyes.  Who knew Satan could so quickly scatter the flock?  “And there be no herd in the stalls.”  We did everything we could to make the stalls.  Despite our best efforts to protect, we have buried a child.  Accidents can’t always be avoided.  We don’t have a drug for every disease.

“Though the fig tree should not blossom”…our faith can!

“In the morning, as He was returning to the city, He became hungry.  And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, He went to it and found nothing but only leaves.  And He said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’  And the fig tree withered at once.  When the disciples saw it, they marveled saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither at once?’  And Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.  And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.'” – (Matthew 21:20-22)

What did Jesus do when He encountered a fig tree without fruit?  Used it as an object lesson.  He was hungry for its fruit.  His disciples needed its seed.  The cross was on the horizon.  They were going to be separated from Jesus.  Persecution was coming.  They left everything to follow Jesus.  What would they have after His death?  A seed of faith.  With a few simple words, Jesus withered a fig tree.  With a few simple men, He would move mountains.  With the help of a barren fig tree, faith would grow.

Fig Trees and Your Faith

“Though the fig tree shall not blossom.”  With faith, barrenness can lead to growth.  With faith, bad new can result in rejoicing.  Amazing how different a barren fig tree looks when we have faith.  You can take my job.  You can take my health.  You can even take my loved ones.  But you can’t touch my faith.  You can’t take my salvation.  Our worldly expectations may not be fulfilled.  But in Jesus, we will always have hope.  A barren fig tree is no match for the Savior of our souls.  Do not despair.  Do not doubt.  Have faith.  Some day soon, all fig trees will blossom.  For all of eternity.  In heaven, expectations are exceeded.  Enjoy the sweet fruit of your faith!

“In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.” –  Zechariah 3:10

“Though the fig tree shall not blossom..Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

Yahweh

Posted on by scott

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.  So shall they put My name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.” – Numbers 6:24-27

Yahweh

God has commanded the Priests to bless His people.  The blessing is three poetic lines.  In each of the three lines, it is God Himself who is the subject.  When He refers to Himself He uses the name, Yahweh.  The great I Am.  The eternal I Am.  I Am with you.  I desire to bless you.  Yahweh is active in the three lines on behalf of His people.  He wants to bless them and keep them.  He wants to make His face shine upon them and be gracious to them.  He wants to lift up His face upon them and give them peace. And then he concludes with today’s verse.  So.  So shall they put My name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.

What’s In a Name

Yahweh is the author of this blessing.  The great I Am is no pagan idol.  Yahweh is capable of bringing peace and prosperity.  He is no scarecrow in a cucumber patch (Jeremiah 10:5)  What Yahweh promises He has the power to fulfill.  What Yahweh promises He has the wealth to give.  What Yahweh promises He has the love to follow through.  Only Yahweh can ultimately protect us.  Only Yahweh can show us saving Grace.  Only Yahweh can give us perfect peace.  When He says He wants to put His name on His people He is backing up His words with His attributes.  There is a sense in which He is putting His reputation on the line.  The name of the Lord is tantamount to the Lord Himself.  Think about Proverbs 18:10.  “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”  Yahweh is putting His name on His children.  There is no greater blessing.

Blessed to Bless

By repeating this blessing over the people on a regular basis, the sacred name of Yahweh was “put” into the hearts and minds of the Israelites, and thus they were blessed.  Because His name is virtually the same as the Lord Himself, this blessing becomes a petition that God might live among His people and meet all their needs.  The prayer is designed to help the people experience the reality of the blessing of the Lord.  But the blessing doesn’t end with God’s people.  It “begins” with them.  God blesses His people so that through them the nations may be blessed.  As beautiful and uplifting as these verses are, they are not about us. Ultimately, they are about God and His glory.  When we looked at the LORD’s shining face we looked at Psalm 67:1 which says, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us,” to which verse two adds, “that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.”  When we looked at the LORD’s lifted countenance, we looked at the humility of Christ as recorded in Philippians chapter two.  Verses nine through eleven of this chapter continue, “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

A Name Above…

Under the Old Covenant, God’s name was put on His people.  Theirs was a privileged relationship.  As they stood in the temple, the priests would recite this blessing over them.  They delivered it with joy.  They delivered it with passion.  We have a New Covenant.  We have a great High Priest.  He was highly exalted.  God bestowed on Him a name that is above every name.  If you have bowed your knee to Him and confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord, you too have a new name.  Christian.  You have been blessed.  God has not only put His name upon you, He now indwells you in the person of the Holy Spirit.  You are God’s temple.  Ours is a privileged relationship.  Our blessing was delivered with joy.  Our blessing was delivered with passion.  Your responsibility?  Give Him glory.  Point others to the One whose name is above all names.    The One whose name we bear.  The One who made Yahweh known to us.  The great I Am incarnate.

God’s name upon us.  Three poetic lines fulfilled by a Triune God.  What a Blessing.  May we continue to make His name known.

“I Am has sent me to you.” – Exodus 3:14

“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.'” – John 8:58

“I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” – John 8:26

The LORD’s Peace

Posted on by scott

 

“The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” – Numbers 6:26

Shalom

As we come to the end of this blessing we see God invoking peace.  Shalom.  As mentioned in a prior lesson this is not just the absence of conflict.  “Shalom means fullness of life and wholeness in all areas of life: material, societal, and religious.  It is a state of fulfillment that results from God’s presence.”  I like that last sentence.  A state of fulfillment that results from God’s presence.  How else can we have wholeness in all areas of life?  Let’s look at just the three listed.

Material Wholeness

Do you ever worry about finances?  How about struggling with covetousness?  Keeping up with the Jones’s?  Any anxiety about your retirement account?  Stressed about the new furnace you need or the roof repair?  How heavy is the debt load on your back?  Shoulders getting tired from the financial burden?  Are you fretting over the loan that hasn’t been paid back to you?  Are you keeping score of who owes for the next meal?  Are you afraid you are being taken advantage of?  We never have enough and what we do have is decaying.  Just like us.  God’s remedy.  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). Need more convincing?  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.  For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing…And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried…Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.  Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions, and give to the needy.  Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:22-23, 29, 31-34).  We are to be wise stewards, but we are also to place our faith in God who has promised to give us the kingdom.  Worry is a lack of faith.  God offers peace.

Societal Wholeness

Can’t we all just get along?  Look at what divides us.  Abortion rights.  Gay marriage.  Religious freedom.  Euthanasia. Immigration.  Gender identity.  Government mandates.  Unfortunately, the list of things that divide us as a society seems to be multiplying exponentially.  Worse yet, the divisions seem to be getting deeper.  How can we have peace in this area?  What does wholeness at the societal level look like?  Space doesn’t allow for all of the passages, but God is not silent on these issues.  The Bible addresses the sanctity of human life.  Marriage between a man and a woman was God’s idea.  Same with Governments to reward good and punish evil.  God has established lines of authority for the home and church as well.  The problem isn’t that God is silent.  Society at large has chosen to ignore Him.  We’ve given into pride and sin is running rampant.  I believe that most of our societal issues stem from relational problems.  Our problems are many, but we have a great weapon.  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).  I am not promoting compromising Biblical Truth.  We are to be salt and light.  But if we are going to make any progress, we need to be the hands and feet of Christ.  We have to win the lost with His love.  Ultimately we have to rest in His sovereignty.  In His time He will make all things right.  Until then, “You shall love your enemy as yourself” (Mark 12:31).

Religious Wholeness

This is where it all begins.  We are born in sin.  We are born dead; dead in our trespasses and sin. We struggled with our bondage to Satan.  Although spiritually dead we feared physical death.  The father of lies wanted to keep us in darkness.  We wanted peace but we looked for it in all the wrong places.  Nothing the world has to offer could fill the void in our souls.  But light entered our dark world and penetrated our souls.  We exchanged the lies of the world for the Truth of the Gospel.  “You will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free” (John 8:32).  Because we embraced the Gospel and put our faith in the atoning work of Jesus we became Sons of God instead of His enemies.  “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him” (Colossians 1:21-22). We cannot have shalom unless we have peace with God.   His enemies will never experience fullness of life.  They cannot have wholeness in any other area of their lives apart from Him.  But as His children, we can.  When He offers us shalom, that is what He is blessing us with.  A state of fulfillment that results from God’s presence.  

In Jesus, the peace of God was made incarnate.  He is the Prince of Peace.  He offers a peace that passes all understanding.  He provides the peace that puts everything else in perspective.  “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).  “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way.  The Lord be with you all” (1 Thessalonians 3:18).