Matthew 26-28: Watch and Pray

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.....
..... Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” - Matt. 26: 27-41 NIV

Who can blame the poor disciples.  They have just had a huge meal and what Jesus said was the last wine they would ever drink with him.  It has gotten late, and now he has dragged them out of the city into a garden.  It's dark and the heady events of the past week have exhausted them.  There's no harm in getting some rest while Jesus does his thing, is there? 

For all of us, those who profess loudly and those who silently follow, there comes a time when we have to push on.  We're tired, perhaps we've had our fill of religiosity and hero worship.  We wouldn't mind some time alone with the Lord, but it has to be energetic or we are going to go to sleep.  Sometimes, I think not even the spirit is willing, but God has called us to keep watch; to watch and pray, to watch and pray so we will not fall into temptation.  That is the only way to get through the exhausting times, to watch and pray.

2010 Post - Matthew 26-28:  Dark Before the Dawn

Matthew 23-25: Judged by our Deeds

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
   “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
   “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ - Matt. 25:31-40 NIV

It is our deeds that we will be judged by, but many of us have the wrong idea of what that means; living a blameless, sinless, life.  That would be great if it was within our power to do so, but it is not.  For that, we have to fall on God's grace and accept the redemptive blood of his Son.  So, if we are not capable of saving ourselves, we will be judged righteous by the one thing that we are capable of doing:  giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, shelter to the homeless, clothing to those without, comfort to those who are sick and companionship to those in prison.  Look around, there's much to be done and it is being done by only a few. I see a lot of Christians who want to serve God to the sound of fanfare.  Most of the time, the ones who are doing the things God requires are those who want and receive little notice.  They quietly serve God as he positions himself in their midst.  Whatever they do for the least, they are doing for God.  We can be blessed here or blessed in heaven.  Are we doing the right things?

2010 Post - Matthew 23-25:  The End of Time

Matthew 21-22: Do You Believe?

Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” - Matt. 21:18-22 NIV

Jesus had an answer for every question; for those who would question his authority, for those who had little faith, for those trying to trap him into disobeying the law.  All of his answers revolved around one central question.  Do you believe?  Do you believe he is who he says he is.  Do you believe in his authority?  Do you believe in his power?  Do you believe his promise? 

2010 Post - Matthew 21-22:  Triumphal Entry

Matthew 18-20: Who is the Greatest?

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”   As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
“Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. - Matt. 20:25-34 NIV

Reading these chapters it becomes obvious that our definition of greatness diverges considerably from that of the gospel.  To be like a child, to be last, to be a servant, that is Jesus' definition of greatness.  Nothing has changed.  The cry is still the same as in Jesus' time.  "Lord, we want our sight."

2010 Post - Matthew 18-20:  Not to be Served, But to Save

Matthew 16-17: Dangerous Knowledge

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. 
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” - Matt. 16:16-23 NIV

This is dangerous knowledge, that Jesus was the Christ.  It was then and still is today, both in the results and in the requirements.  One minute Jesus is telling Peter that he will be the 'rock on which the church is built and the gates of hell will not prevail against it', and the next minute he is telling him, 'Get behind me, Satan!'  And there you have it.  How are we to live being both the foundation and a stumbling block.  How can the good news be so contradictory? 

I take consolation in this one thing.  God knew his creation.  He has always known his creation, our strengths and our weaknesses, and loves us in spite of them all.  Just like Peter, I often do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.  Is it possible, that even with all of my failures, I can still bind things on earth that will be loosed in heaven?  I think so.

2010 Post - Matthew 16-17:  Demand for a Sign

Matthew 13-15: Taking Inventory

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” - Matt. 13:18-23 NIV

It's impossible for me to read the Parable of the Sower without using it as a measuring stick for my own life and in doing so, I often come up short.  I understood the message of the kingdom and that message cannot be snatched away.  The message took root and has stood with me throughout my life.  The blessing however, the blessing that comes to those who understand and receive the message of the kingdom of God, that blessing has overwhelmed me.  When I contrast my life with that before I was truly committed to the Lord, I cannot measure the richness with which God has blessed me, but I have to confess at the same time, that I, like the parable, often let the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth, choke me.  It chokes that seed that was planted with such promise.  Prosperity, the prosperity that came only from God, causes me to sometimes think I have done it all on my own.  It causes me to sometimes think that I have to protect that prosperity rather than protecting my heart.  It causes me to be wrapped up in worries of preservation of the status quo rather than pushing through that status quo to where the real treasure lies.  Most of all, it keeps me from producing that crop that could be if only.  That means that right now, there may be someone who will never accept the gospel, who will never become one in the kingdom of God, because I have become consumed by my own life and not the kingdom.

2010 Post - Matthew 13-15:  Parables and Miracles

Matthew 10-12: Where is the Love?

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
    “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
    “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matt. 11:25-30 NIV

Contrary to what you would hear on many sides today, Jesus' gospel was not an argumentative gospel.  It was primarily a gospel of peace.  As he told his disciples "As you enter the home, give it your greeting.  If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. (Matt: 10:12-13 NIV)   I fear, we've forgotten how to let our peace rest on others and as a result, it leaves us as well.  Lightly, lightly, is how we were to go about our lives.  Lightly.  If someone wants something from us, give it to them.  Everything is only temporary, but we all have a tendency to get wrapped up in this life, in this body and we lose something in the process.  Don't worry about those who can kill the body, but worry about those who can kill the soul.  Where does that put a lot of Christians?  Are we soul-killers?  Most of the time, our actions are because we believe we are doing right  We're fighting for the cause, we're protecting the truth, God's truth.  In the end, all we become is weary and heavy laden.  That's not what Christ called us to do or be.  He called us to lay it all down:  all of our burdens, all of our efforts, all of our arguments.  Lay it all down and take his yoke.  His yoke of gentleness and humility and we will find rest.  Why is it so hard to take up a yoke that is so easy, a burden that is so light?

2010 Post - Matthew 10-12:  The Kingdom of Heaven is Near

Matthew 8-9: Down from the Mountain

When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” - Matt 8:1 NIV

It's one thing to deliver speeches to the multitudes who follow after you, it's a completely different experience to come down from the lofty heights to where people are and suddenly be confronted with their realities.  All of a sudden, Jesus found himself surrounded by the blind, the paralytic, the bleeding, the dying, and the demon possessed.  Now what? 

Jesus did what few of us have the faith to do.  He acted on his Father's authority and healed them.  He moved around through all of those who had been wounded by living and gave them hope, he gave them back their lives.  And to those who would question the people he hung around with, he gave the Father's response, "go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’" He didn't surround himself with the capable or the elite, but those who knew how needy they themselves were.  Then, he challenged those who had chosen to follow him to put into practice what they saw him do.

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” - Matt. 9:35-38 NIV

There are times when I wish I could walk through a crowd and touch suffering and let the Father's healing flow through to the needy.  I've come close to experiencing that in third world countries, but now here.  Here we have our own healers.  Their healing leaves something to be desired.  We usually wind up with the side effects of any surgery or medication, our minds might be blasted by the treatment or our energy depleted, but it's medicine after all.  If I really open my eyes, I will see that nothing has changed.  The harvest field is still out there.  God's healing is still the miracle power kind, not a placebo.  We still have the answer for the harassed and helpless.  All we need is God's compassion.  We need to come down from the mountain and walk among the harves.

2010 Post - Matthew 8-9:  A Ministry of Healing

Matthew 4-5: A New Powerful Kingdom

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matt.5:43-47 NIV

After all the prophets then silence for 400 years, along comes another man, and what he says is in stark contrast to even the words they heard from the prophets.  He does not proclaim gloom and doom, he claims another kingdom and calls anyone who would listen to be perfect as God is perfect.  What is this?  How can we be perfect like God in heaven is perfect?  If we are truly aware of his might and power, the power that led to the destruction of the great kingdoms of Israel, Babylon and Persia?  How do we appropriate that kind of power?

By loving your enemy as God does.  By turning the other check, by doing good to those who persecute us, by giving our coat to those who would take our jacket, by going the extra mile.   And thus, our image of God is changed, from one who would destroy his enemies, to one who loves all of his creation and calls us to do so.  Have we been in the Old Testament too long to see the good news of the Messiah?  Can we really believe that we are blessed to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be merciful,  pure in heart,  peacemakers, and persecuted because of righteousness,  Is that what it means to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.  Does that sound like power to you?

2010 Post - Matthew 4-5:  The Kingdom of Heaven is Near

Matthew 1-3: An Everlasting King

Ruins of Herod's palace at Caesarea

Herod was a megalomaniac.  He built incredible palaces at Masada and Herodium, he rebuilt the temple on a grand scale, and partnered with the rich and powerful such as Cleopatra and Mark Anthony. He seemed to have it all, but he was not inclined to share his wealth and power.  Nothing stood in his way, he had several members of his own family killed, including his wife, so when he heard from the Magi that a new king had been born, he did not hesitate to try to kill him as well. Herod's plans never came to fruition, not only did he not kill the object of his jealousy as the child had been taken to Egypt, but he died shortly thereafter and was never to witness the power of the coming King, one who, as John the Baptist described it, would clear the threshing floor, gather his wheat into the barn and burn up any chaff.

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” - Matt .3:11-12 NIV

Herod didn't realize that all of his efforts, all of his great monuments were nothing but wood hay and stubble; that they would disappear, fade into the dust of memory, become just another ruin.  His rule and the rule of any before or after him, was being replaced by an everlasting king and an everlasting kingdom, one that would withstand the ravages of time.

2010 Post - Matthew 1-3:  Prophecy Fulfilled

Malachi 1-4: Return to Me and I Will Return to You

“For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction—because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty.  But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the LORD Almighty. “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”  - Malachi 2:7-9 NIV

These words from Malachi, one whose name means 'my messenger' were written as he heard the word of the Lord in aniticipation of the one who would come.  A new high priest was coming, one who could not be corrupted, one who would not offer an unacceptable sacrifice.  Then as now, many of those who should have been the servants of God, served their own purposes.  "You have robbed me", God told them.  "You have wearied me with your words."  "You flood the Lord's altar with tears because your petitions are not answered."

"All of this is in vain", God told the priests.  "You have turned from what I called you to do and instead have caused many to stumble.  But, I have seen through you, and even the people of the world see through you. They despise you because you do not live out what you profess, but, you are not without hope."

 “So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty.
  “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. - Malachi 3:5-7 NIV

"Return to me", God says.  "Return to me and I will return to you.  Don't turn to any others, turn, return to me."

2010 Post - Malachi 1-4:  You Cannot Rob God

Zechariah 10-14: They Will Mourn and Grieve Bitterly

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. - Zech. 12:10 NIV

For all the times I have read through the Old Testament, I don't think I have ever noticed this verse.  There are many other verses in Zechariah that point to the Savior, to Jesus such as these two references:

I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.
And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter. - Zech. 11:12-13 NIV

“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. - Zechariah 13:1 NIV


Never, though, have I read the above verse and realized what lies ahead for the people of Israel, for the remnant that remains.  Someday, they will receive a spirit of grace and supplication.  The scales will fall from their eyes and they will see Jesus for who he really is.  They will realize he was their Messiah after all.  They will realize what he did for them and for the whole earth.  They will mourn and grieve, not just for the way he died, but for all the lost years, for all the years that were wasted because they could not acknowledge that he was their king.

2010 Post - Zechariah 10-14:  The Coming Day of the Lord

Zechariah 8-10: The King is Coming

 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
   Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
   righteous and having salvation,
   gentle and riding on a donkey,
   on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
   and the war-horses from Jerusalem,
   and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
   His rule will extend from sea to sea
   and from the River to the ends of the earth. - Zech. 9-9-10 NIV

Rejoice, it says, and don't just rejoice, rejoice greatly.  Most of the time I don't see much worth rejoicing about, especially if I read the news or listen to the prognosticators on the various media outlets.  Nothing is getting better, it is only getting worse and more suddenly than most of us ever anticipated; much like it was in Zechariah's day.  But still he said rejoice, not because of the current circumstances, but because the king is coming.  The king is coming.  Sometimes that message gets drowned out, even among believers, by the crush of all the other voices that would tell us there is no hope.  But the message remains, it echoes through the canyons of time.  The king is coming.  He will proclaim peace to the nations.  He will solve the Euro crisis.  He will solve the student loan crisis.  He will solve all of the home foreclosure problems.  He will deal with all of the terrorists and petty dictators.  The king is coming.  Just a few more pages, and the king will appear.  The king who would be righteous and have salvation will appear in a manger.  Then he will appear in the temple.  He will appear on a donkey.  He will appear on a cross.  And one day, when the heavens open up, he will appear, riding on the clouds.  The king is coming.  The king is coming!

2010 Post - Zechariah 8-10:  The Coming King

Zechariah 5-7: In Your Heart

And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’ Zech. 5:8-10 NIV

Just a few words, you think it would be easy to do.  Why would anyone want to oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor?  But as Jesus pointed out, it's not just our actions that are judged, but our hearts as well and that becomes murky.  Murky?  Murky is a nice word for what lurks in the bottom of our heart if we delve deeply enough.  The lazy landlord who rents the house down the street drives up to carelessly patch the leaky roof for another time and resentment wells up.  Is it resentment for his poor tenants or for what he is doing to the neighborhood property values?  We pass a couple of young, tattooed kids, and have to step to the edge of the sidewalk to get by them as they lay lolling against our building and a combination of fear and loathing takes root.  We are almost sideswiped as we get out of our car by a glitzy blonde in an expensive foreign car.  'Who does she think she is,'we mutter to ourselves as she flings her bling out of the car and storms past us into the store?   Daily, over and over again, we have to confront the enemy who is in our lives, not in others.  Even as we are fighting to administer justice, we're select in those to whom we would show mercy and compassion.  Just a few words, "In your hearts do not think evil of each other."  That means anyone, period.  Do not think evil of each other in your heart.

2010 Post - Zechariah 5-7:  Justice and Mercy Not Fasting

Zechariah 1-4: Who Despises the Day of Small Things

Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”  - Zech. 2:13 NIV

So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.
 “What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”
 Then the word of the LORD came to me: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.
  “Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. - Zech 4:6-10 NIV

We live in a world that has no patience for small things, for the simple.  Everything has to be bigger and better, flashier and glitzier.  But, what has it gotten us?  Are we a bigger, kinder people, or have we just become small but very vociferous?  You could say 'in the end, it doesn't matter,' but it does.   God has taken it all in.  He sees all the infighting, all the deceit, all the futile plans throughout the world to heal what has broken.  He sees and he will no remain silent forever.  Even now, he may be rousing himself from his dwelling.  Even now, he may be gathering his great forces of wind and fire, flood and famine.  He may be gathering it all in preparation to show the world that it is not by might, nor by power but by his spirit.  The day of small things, the days of the spirit of the Lord may be more treacherous than any we have seen.

2010 Post - Zechariah 1-4:  The Man in the Myrtle Tree

Haggai: You Expected Much

“You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops.  I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands.” - Haggai 1:9-11 NIV

I have found this true in my own life.  When I spend my time building up anything for my own benefit, it comes to nothing, it blows away like a dry leaf on a windy day.  When I concentrate on my own life, my own dwelling place, at the expense of God, I become overcome by an enormous drought of the spirit.  If the spirit of God now resides in us, if we are his temple, then we must make it a welcome place for him to dwell.  We need to fill God's temple with all of the precious things, not a bunch of junk not worthy of the King of Kings.  We need to keep the temple swept clean of anything that is filthy or unworthy.  Otherwise, no matter what we expect of God, it will turn out to be little.

2010 Post - Haggai:  Build My House

Zephaniah 1-3: Zephaniah Abreviated

 “I will sweep away everything
   from the face of the earth,”
            declares the LORD. - Zeph 1:2 NIV

Gather together, gather together,
   O shameful nation, before the appointed time arrives
   and that day sweeps on like chaff,
before the fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you,
   before the day of the LORD’s wrath comes upon you. Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,
   you who do what he commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility;
   perhaps you will be sheltered
   on the day of the LORD’s anger. - Zeph 2:1-3 NIV

 The LORD your God is with you,
   he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
   he will quiet you with his love,
   he will rejoice over you with singing.” - Zeph. 3:17 NIV

How is it possible that this God, this avenging God, is also one who will quiet those he loves with his love and rejoice over them with singing.  Can this be the same God.  Is it God that has changed or is it his creation.  Is there any of his creation who realize just what God demands.  That he's not looking for show, for our own greatness, for big or for better.  He's looking for righteousness and humility: a humble and contrite heart, that's all.  Everything else will be swept away.  Everything.

2010 Post - Zephaniah:  The Great Day of the Lord

Habakkuk: God Is Not Afraid of Our Questions

How long, O LORD, must I call for help,
   but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
   but you do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice?
   Why do you tolerate wrong? - Habakkuk: 2-3 NIV

Was God offended by Habakkuk's questions?   Do our questions ever displease God?  Or is it our answers that he finds anoying?  Most of the time, we have an answer for everything.  There is no need to go to God with the questions of why do illnesses linger, why do good people die young while the crabby live forever, why can people not overcome their addictions, why do mothers and fathers abuse their children, why is there bloodshed in the streets.  There is no need to ask God, we have all the answers.  The answer is in a christian book in our library.  Just like Job's friends, we have all the answers until we are questioned by God himself.

 “Who is this that darkens my counsel
   with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man;
   I will question you,
   and you shall answer me.
  “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
   Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
   Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
   or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together
   and all the angels shouted for joy? - Job 38:2-7 NIV

I don't think God ever has a problem with those who bring their questions to him, those who don't have all the answers.  After all he is looking for a humble and contrite heart.  I do think God has a problem with all of the experts with all of the pre-packaged platitutes and interpretations of what he is really like and what he wants.  God knows, we don't.  Don't let anybody fool you into thinking that they have all the answers.  They don't and if they want to please God, perhaps they should be asking him the questions.

2010 Post - Habakkuk:  God Answers Habakkuk's Complaint

Nahum: On the Quaking Mountains

The mountains quake before him
   and the hills melt away.
The earth trembles at his presence,
   the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand his indignation?
   Who can endure his fierce anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire;
   the rocks are shattered before him.
The LORD is good,
   a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him, - Micah 1:5-7 NIV

There has always been two sides to God and we have always had the choice of which side we will be on.  Shall we ignore him, flaunt our mistrust of him to his face, deny that he exists, and disobey all of his laws?  Or shall we trust him, cling to him, build our lives around him and love his commandments.  We have always had that choice and the quality of our life, whether we admit it or not, depends on our reaction to God.  We can watch the mountains quake around us and the hills melt away, or we can stand on those quaking mountains and proclaim that 'Our God reigns!'

Look, there on the mountains,
   the feet of one who brings good news,
   who proclaims peace!  - Nahum, 1:15 NIV

There on the mountains, amidst all the turmoil and strife, are the feet of one who brings good news.  Not down in the safe valley, but on the quaking mountains.

2010 Post - Nahum:  A Jealous and Avenging God

Micah 5-7: Who is a God like you?

With what shall I come before the LORD
   and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
   with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
   with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
   the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
   And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
   and to walk humbly with your God.  - Micah 6:6-8 NIV

God doesn't demand much of us.  The most sinless life, the best worship and praise band, the biggest sanctuary, the largest offering, none of that impresses him.  He's looking for us to be like him, to be like him in spirit and in deed.  As Jesus said, it's what's inside a man that makes him unclean.  It's that jealousy, malice, greed that separates us from the God who calls us to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly.  That shouldn't be too hard to do. God is not a god of stone that sits there wordlessly and gives us no indication of how we are to live.  God demonstrates how we are to live over and over again .  At least he has done so in my life.  He has been nothing but merciful to me.  He has showered me with compassion when I didn't deserve it.  He has thrown my sins as far as the east is from the west.  He has delivered me from the depths. What should our response be? 

Who is a God like you,
   who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
   of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
   but delight to show mercy.
You will again have compassion on us;
   you will tread our sins underfoot
   and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea - Micah 7:18-19 NIV

2010 Post - Micah 5-7:  He Will Be Their Peace

Micah 1-4: Theirs to Devote to the Lord

But now many nations
   are gathered against you.
They say, “Let her be defiled,
   let our eyes gloat over Zion!”
But they do not know
   the thoughts of the LORD;
they do not understand his plan,
   he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
“Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion,
   for I will give you horns of iron;
I will give you hoofs of bronze
   and you will break to pieces many nations.”
   You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the LORD,
   their wealth to the Lord of all the earth. - Micah 4:11-13 NIV

These prophecies of Micah do not seem probable in light of the current situation with Israel.  Or perhaps they are most probable and this is the time.  The nations certainly are gathered against Israel.  Even those nations who were considered, perhaps not allies, but at least not enemies, have changed regimes in the past year and Israel's situation is even more tenuous than it was just a year ago.  It seems that only the US has any concern for what happens to that small country clinging to their land by their fingertips.  The rest of the world does not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan.  In the end, that is all that matters.  It may not be in our life time, it may not be for generations but the Daughter of Zion will rise and thresh.  The ill-gotten gains and wealth of all the nations will be theirs to devote to the Lord. 

2010 Post - Micah 1-4:  The Mountain of the Lord

Jonah: How Marvelous, How Wonderful

How I identify with Jonah.  Every single trait of his that displeased God, I possess.  First, I always run as far as I can from any confrontation and telling people what God has said to them, that is nearly impossible for me to do.  Sometimes, I think I'm more a man pleaser than a God pleaser an as a result, I've been thrust into those dark places Jonah experienced.   I haven't been in the belly of a great fish, but I've found myself in some places where I could not escape on my own power, places where only God's grace could vomit me out.  Then there is Jonah's reaction to the repentance of the people of Nineveh.  I may not have sat down on a hill to watch what would happen to the sinners whose cry for forgiveness God has heard, but I've been skeptical in my own right and even jealous perhaps when others turn their lives around so easily when I've had to fight for every bit of holiness that I have.   So there you have it.  I am not now and never have been a savior, but I know one who is and he knows me.  He knows me and yet he carried every one of my sins to a cross and then to a grave where they were buried forever.  How marvelous, how wonderful.

2010 Post - Jonah:  A Whale of a Story

Obadiah: The Kingdom Will Be the Lord's

Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion
   to govern the mountains of Esau.
   And the kingdom will be the LORD’s. - Obadiah 1:23 NIV

Aren't you glad that this kingdom, this world is not all there is?  If it were, there would be not hope.  In fact, for those that don't have faith in God and all his promises, there is no other kingdom.  No wonder there is so little hope. 

If anything makes you lose hope, it is reading through the final chapters of the Old Testament.  For God's people, the situation just kept getting worse and worse.  They had lost the kingdom of Israel and were losing the kingdom of Judah.  That should say something about kingdoms, governments, and nations of themselves.  They have never been, are not now and will never be permanent.  They are nothing to put our hope in or hope for.  An everlasting kingdom?  That's just around the corner.  Turn a few pages and you will glimpse the only kingdom that will last.

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” - John 18:36 NIV

As Jesus said, his kingdom is from another place.  A place where there is only one kingdom.  A place many have tried to storm, a place where the battle continues to this day, but that kingdom will endure and with it will come a new kingdom for the children of Israel and for all of God 's chosen.  And that kingdom will be the Lord's.

2010 Post - Obadiah:  The Pride of Your Heart Has Deceived You

Amos 7-9: Famine of Hearing the Word of the Lord

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD,
   “when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
   but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
Men will stagger from sea to sea
   and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the LORD,
   but they will not find it. - Amos 8:11-12 NIV

There were a lot of dire prophecies given to Israel and Judah.  Prophecies of terrible tragedy that would engulf them and prophecies of terrible things that would happen to their enemies and their neighbors.  None of these prophecies, however, are as tragic as what Amos heard from the Lord in these few verses.  A time would come, when after refusing to listen to God's word, or when after hearing God's word, but refusing to change their ways, the word of the Lord would cease.  There would be nothing.  No condemnation.  No promises.  The Lord would be silent and they would be left to their own devices.  They would not have to listen to him catalog their sins.  They would not have to listen to his calls for righteousness and repentance. They would not have to listen to his pleading for their return.  They could go their merry way and do whatever they wanted.

But, instead of the great life they envisioned without God's omnipresence, all they would have left would be famine; hunger and thirst for the word of the Lord that they had grown so tired of hearing.  They could roam from sea to sea, they could search throughout the land, but they would not find the word of the Lord.  They would finally get to know the true meaning of famine.  All of the other dire prophecies would be nothing compared to a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.

2010 Post - Amos 7-9:  A Basket of Ripe Fruit

Amos 5-6: The Day of the Lord

Woe to you who long
   for the day of the LORD!
Why do you long for the day of the LORD?
   That day will be darkness, not light.
It will be as though a man fled from a lion
   only to meet a bear,
as though he entered his house
   and rested his hand on the wall
   only to have a snake bite him.
Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light—
   pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?  - Amos 5:18-20 NIV

Sometimes I get tired and weary reading the Old Testament prophets.  Gloom and doom, that seems to be all they can talk about.  It's one thing to slog through the reading, year after year, but what was it like to be living at that time when there seemed to be no hope?  The sins of God's people kept getting worse and worse and the prophecies dire and more dire.  Anyone with eyes to see could look around and see that circumstances were going downhill.  Their lot was getting worse not better.  There might be temporary signs of hope, but they vanished like all of the hopes of other generations had done.  The enemies grew stronger while they grew weaker.  When would it ever end?

They didn't know that there was hope just around the corner.  No matter how many times they were told, they didn't really believe that the day of the Lord was coming and while it would be a day of darkness, it would also be a day of light; light that would pierce the darkness.  Light that would overcome the darkness.  The day of the Lord would come.

2010 Post - Amos 5-6:  Let Justice Roll Like a River

Amos 1-4: Prepare to Meet Your God

“Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel,
   and because I will do this to you,
   prepare to meet your God, O Israel.”
 He who forms the mountains,
   creates the wind,
   and reveals his thoughts to man,
he who turns dawn to darkness,
   and treads the high places of the earth—
   the LORD God Almighty is his name.  - Joel 4:12-14

There are two kinds of judgment from God.  There is the judgement of the sinners, those who don't know him, those who often refuse to know him or acknowledge that he exists.  Then, there is the judgement of God's people.  The ones who should have a deep knowledge of him, of his power, of his might.  Unfortunately, through the years, as it did with the Israelites, that knowledge of God gets watered down and he becomes our possession more than we become his.    He is our God who gets us out of tight places.  He is our God who heals us.  He is our God who works on behalf of our latest whim.  He is our God.  We give him our tithes. We give him our offerings. We worship him in word if not in deed.  Is that enough?

God has judgement planned for the unrighteous.  They are not his people.  But, when God's people sin, when they slowly drift away from him, they will bear the consequences as well.  Initially, they may bear it individually, but eventually, as with the children of Israel who drifted so far from God, they will bear it collectively.  How would our lives be different, if we heard these words today, 'Prepare to meet your God.?

2010 Post - Amos 1-4:  The Lion Has Roared

Joel 1-3: Rend Your Heart

 Rend your heart
   and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
   for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
   and he relents from sending calamity. - Joel 2:13 NIV

In ancient times, it was a sign of despair to tear one's garments; to take off the cloak one was wearing and rip it so it was unwearable.  The prophet Joel is saying it is our heart that should be shredded.  What does it mean to have our hearts torn up?  Would that make us become tender hearted, having our heart torn to pieces?  Is that what we need?  If our heart is torn, would we care more for others than for ourselves?  If our heart is torn, would we care more for the things of God than for the things of the world?  If our heart is torn, would we care?

2010 Post  - Joel 1-2:  The Day of the Lord is Great, It is Dreadful
Joel 3:  The Valley of Decision

Hosea 12-14: The Ways of the Lord

 Who is wise? He will realize these things.
   Who is discerning? He will understand them.
The ways of the LORD are right;
   the righteous walk in them,
   but the rebellious stumble in them. - Hosea 14:9 NIV

If ever we needed someone who is wise, it is now.  Perhaps it has always been that way.  There have always been rulers and kings, prophets and seers, but there are few who could have been said to be truly wise.  Answers and solutions, there are plenty of those to go around.  Laws and regulations, they abound.  Platitudes and promises, when will we have enough?  When will we confess that we don't have all the answers?  When will we realize that being in a questioning frame of mind, waiting on God for the answers is where we are to be, is the place where we are the safest, is the place where we have rest?

'Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden', Jesus said, 'and I will give you rest.'  (Matt. 11:28) He never said, come to me and give me the right answer.  He said that all of our work, all of our efforts, are labors that grind and pull us down.  They place a burden on us that is too heavy to carry.  Our work no matter how holy, no matter how much it is meant to glorify God, does not build us up.  It doesn't provide satisfaction, it doesn't provide peace, it doesn't provide the answer.  Only one provides all of that and he's waiting for our questions, not our answers.  He's waiting to give us, not be given to.  Only the ways of the Lord are right, only his ways.  If we're wise we will realize that all we need are the questions.  We will run to him for his answer instead of being so hasty to provide our own.

2010 Post - Hosea 12-14:  Who is Wise?

Hosea 9-11: What is Righteousness?

Sow for yourselves righteousness,
   reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
   for it is time to seek the LORD,
until he comes
   and showers righteousness on you. - Hosea 10:12 NIV

I wish I knew the definition of righteousness.  I know that I don't have it.  As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; (Romans 3:10 NIV)  I also know that it is, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5 KJV). I know that we have  a limited view of righteousness if we think it is only good living.  I know that most of us have the self-righteous part down, but are missing something when it comes to being righteous.  That's obvious from the fruit which we are reaping which is not the fruit of unfailing love.  I know that I still have a lot of unplowed ground in my life, all those fields and leftover patches of hard places where I let no one else enter, especially God.  I think that breaking up all of that hardness may have a lot to do with righteousness.  I think that righteousness is a matter of the heart, of how vulnerable we are to God more than what our outward actions would imply.  I know that I want God to shower righteousness on me, so I still have a lot of work to do.

2010 Post - Hosea 9-11:  Sow for Yourself Righteousness

Hosea 5-8: A Burnt Offering

Your love is like the morning mist,
   like the early dew that disappears.
Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
   I killed you with the words of my mouth;
   my judgments flashed like lightning upon you.
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
   and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. - Hosea 6:4-6 NIV

We forget that God sees all.  He looks beyound our words and promises and sees how faithful we are in heart and deed. Empty promises and acctions can't buy God's love. Empty offerings, empty worship, empty devotion, he sees through it all.  Over and over again, if you look closely, you can see what God requires: Mercy, justice and mercy, and a relationship with him.  A real relationship, not one as Hosea says, like the morning mist that disappears, but a lasting, abiding relationship, one that cannot be shaken, one that is reflected by our lives. God's very own son, provided a way to the Father, but what are we doing with that access.  Are we using it for our own self interest, or to please him?  Are our lives full of mercy and acknowledgement of God.  Anything else we would offer God is just rubbish, hay wood and stubble, a burnt offering.

2010 Post - Hosea 5-8:  Reap the Whirlwind

Hosea 1-4: Trembling to the Lord

The LORD said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”
 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you.”
 For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or idol.  Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days. - Hosea 3:1-5 NIV

How broken and miserable Hosea must have been.    Was he as miserable as those men who were willing to share the wife of another man?  Was he as miserable as his wife who sold herself to other men for a few trinkets?

There is no life more miserable than one separated from the only one who truly loves you.  None.  Surrounded by gifts from those who would buy you, you realize one day that amidst the flowers and perfume, gold and precious stones, gifts from those who would have you but only to use, surrounded by all they have given you, you have nothing.  You have given all you have and you have nothing left.  When you come to the end of yourself, like the Israelites, who have lived many days in exile, without king or prince, only then, can you come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings. 

2010 Post - Hosea 1-4:  Adultery Personified