Month: March 2019

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God is in the Valley, where are you?

1Samuel 17  While Saul is assembling his army and camping in the valley of Elah the Philistines are doing the same. In the meantime, a giant named Goliath taunts them for  40 days!  While this is going on, David is busy tending sheep many miles away until one day his father sends him on an errand to take food to his brothers in Saul’s camp. It was there that David learned about the one who defied the Lord of Israel.

He also learns about the reward to be given to the man who takes Goliath down but so far there are no takers. David’s brothers want to send him packing but King Saul is intrigued. David boldly says to a discouraged king “I will go and fight the Philistine.” Can you hear the guffaws and see the shaking of heads. To humor David, the king says all right, put on my armor and go see what you can do. Yet, David only needs his slingshot and 5 little stones because he knows that God is not just on the mountain but He is in the valley below. As he tended the sheep he knew God was beside him, behind him, before him when the lions came to steal the sheep. That is a truth Gideon learned, Jonathan learned and David learned.

End of story, Goliath the taunter became Goliath the corpse as David’s slingshot sent a stone flying right in the spot to fell him. The sword that he was going to lop off David’s head became the sword that David used to cut off Goliath’s head.

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God is on the mountain as well as in the valley. He is with you when the lions attack and when there is peace.  The question is:  Where are you?  

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God is on that Mountain, Where are you?

1Samuel 14  King Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree. The king’s son, Jonathan was ready to go and engage the enemy. Jonathan knew where the enemy was but he also knew that he could not face them without the Lord. “Perhaps the Lord will intervene for us” was his prayer. What is your prayer as you face the enemies of God?

When God has a plan, He not only instills it in our heart but brings along an encourager willing to lay down their life like Jonathan’s armor bearer was willing to do. Remember this; the battle is the Lord’s and He has given us His armor bearer, the Holy Spirit to go with us. We can be like Saul who feared the enemy or like Jonathan who feared/revered God. God used the example of Jonathan and his armor bearer to expose the weakness of Saul’s spiritual strength. Saul was in it for himself, Jonathan was in it for God.

Jesus willingly laid down his life for you that you might engage the enemies of His and He can show Himself powerful. Jonathan said God is on that mountain, let’s go, and trust God and that is what we need to do.1sam 14 god on that mt2

Are you under the pomegranate tree where it is safe or are you ready to climb that mountain?

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Be Careful What You Wish For…

1Samuel 8    Sadness entered the life of Samuel when those he had served for many many years decided he was too old and his sons were unfit. Feeling rejected, Samuel shared his hurt with God. God helped him to realize what they were saying in the flesh was really what was in their heart. God said, “They are not rejecting you, but Me.” That was a rude awakening for Samuel; it didn’t change his hurt heart, but it changed the perspective.

The people then and the people today want a God/King that they can see, hear, smell, and touch. I am sure you have heard people today say if God would only reveal himself I would believe that He is real. But, as Paul recorded: “For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.” Also, this God they couldn’t see sent His Son that they could see and what did they do to Him? They crucified him.

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You can’t have it both ways. Do you want a God who is here for only a while or a God who is eternal? Do you want a king that is human and makes human mistakes or do you want a God who is perfect all the time?

God Sent His Son…they Crucified Him! 

 

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“Is Our Heart Broken?”  

Judges 19-21  I have always struggled with these last chapters in the book of Judges. Maybe you have as well. The questions swirl in my head as I ask God why did he put this story in His Word? The only reason is that I  might come front and center to see sin and its overwhelming destructiveness.

How else can we explain why a man of the cloth acted as he did? How else can we explain the men of Gibeah who acted just like the men of Sodom? How else can we explain what sin accomplishes when left to reign supreme?  Take a lesson from the story of Sodom and the story of Gibeah.judges 19 broken heart2a

What can we learn as we wind down the book of Judges? It is this: when sin is allowed to reign supreme and there seemingly are no redeemable men to take the helm, we know that without God’s grace there is no hope. Dietrich Bonhoeffer saw this in spades and yet he was willing to stand up to the last. Where was the Dietrich Bonhoeffer in these chapters?

So what is our take away from this? If our hearts are broken heartbleed-378010_1280consider how broken God’s was! If we who are the righteous do nothing, sin will remain. The warning is found in vs 30 “take careful note of it! Discuss it and speak!” Then stop and bow your head thanking God for how He redeemed you from sin. Come quickly Lord Jesus!

 

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The Heart of the Matter

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Judges 16  Manoah and his wife were dedicated parents but their son had a problem with enticing women. To quote Pastor Ed Rea about Samson’s downward spiral of sin, “first it blinds us, then it binds us, and then it grinds us.” That is exactly what transpired in Samson’s life. Was that God’s plan for Samson? Unequivocally we can answer no! God wanted Samson to be totally dedicated and devoted to Him but allowed Samson, as He also allows us, to follow the path of temptation. God’s design was for Samson to not just be a Nazirite outwardly but a Nazirite in his heart. He desired that Samson to not love the world or the things in the world. Like Samson, If we love the world the love of God is not in our hearts.

Samson mirrored Israel. They were comfortable in their walk with God when they visited the Temple on the Sabbath but quickly compromised the rest of the week. It’s easy to be holy when we are in our holy huddle but harder when we have to face the enemy alone. Samson, like us, wanted to wear his Nazirite vow when he needed it but chose to put it aside when the world’s enticements offered a simpler and more glamorous lifestyle.

Samson had the power to overcome the enemy but his faith was weak. His problem was not from those on the outside, the problem was in his heart. Jer 17:9 “the heart ♥ is deceitful and desperately wicked.” We too need the cleansing of our heart.♥ Pray today as David did: Create for me a pure heart,♥ O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me! [Psa 51:10]

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Babies are a Gift…except at 3 a.m.!

So you are going to be a new mom or dad. What are you thinking about as you now recognize this new idea?

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Judges 13  We love seeing and cooing and holding a newborn but at 3 a.m. when the wee one is screaming and you can’t determine what is wrong you find yourself wondering where is the manual to answer all of your questions.  Forward-thinking Manoah, a godly Danite, heard the news that Mrs. Manoah would soon give him a son. He didn’t question the answer but set out to get help to raise this miracle soon to be born.

Wisely Manoah didn’t go to the nearest library or the nearest midwife but to God alone. He prayed that God would return the messenger so he could ask about the manual he could read ahead of time. He wanted to know how they should raise this child. God answered this godly soon-to-be parent with this counsel:  Follow what I told your wife the first time.  At this point, we want to give a high five to Mrs. Mom! She had repeated what the messenger had said but Mr. Dad needed to hear it straight. This child is to be a Nazirite from birth and therefore she is to live a Nazirite life as well. That meant no wine, no grape juice, no raisins, and no hair cuts! He is to be dedicated to God from birth until the day he dies.

Like many new-to-be parents, Mr. and Mrs. Manoah most likely followed the angel’s words to the letter: “Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” [Pro 22:6] So as we read on in the story we can understand their perplexed state because Samson did not “follow the rules.” Like many today who parent a child who lives and moves outside the mainstream, they begin to wonder if they had done something wrong since Samson lived a less than illustrious life. Yet, even as Samson seemed a failure in his parent’s eyes, we find in the next chapter these words:

Now his father and mother did not realize this was the Lord’s doing.

Instead, God would use him as the first of several judges to begin to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines.

Take a lesson from Manoah; seek God’s direction, obey the word of the Lord, but mostly don’t give up on your children. God may be using them as He used Samson, even though we don’t understand the how or the why.

Parenting is a tough road. Study Proverbs and Psalm 78 for more answers when you are tearing your hair out. Keep on your knees for your children 24/7 so you can hear “well done thou good and faithful servant.” Like Manoah seek God’s direction on “how to raise this child.” Judges 13:8!

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A Conundrum

Judges 11  As we stop and ponder the story and the vow of Jephthah we are left scratching our heads and wondering about him and his rash vow. Surely God has a purpose for including this in scripture so let’s try to unpack it with the help of Hebrews 11. It is there that we find out what God really thought of this man who could spout scripture but seemed to have forgotten the rule about vows.  And yet we find that God lists him in the chapter of the faithful because God sees the heart of the man, not the exterior.

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Jephthah was an illegitimate child. He was told emphatically that he didn’t belong in the family and couldn’t claim any of his father’s inheritance.  We too don’t belong in the family of God, but He redeems us so we can. He lived amongst lawless men, the Robin Hoods of that day. Maybe you can relate.

The brothers found themselves in a catch 22 situation and decided it was better to include him and let the chips fall where they may. To them, Jephthah was dispensable so they could be lily white. As today there are people who use others up and toss them away. Maybe you can relate.

But, interestingly it is not those brothers that are commended by God but Jephthah! God takes what the world sees as rubbish and turns them into leaders and conquerors.

Yes, Jephthah made a rash vow and God does not take that lightly. Scholars down through the centuries have tossed various ideas as to what he did with Daughter #1 but God has not a word of condemnation of him and thus why he fits in Hebrews 11.

You may have an undesirable past but God can and will use you for His work if you let Him.

What does God think about your past? He considers it gone. He is only interested in your future. Take that to the bank and invest your future for him.

 

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The Sword of the Lord and Gideon

The sword of the Lord is a symbol of God’s power, protection, and authority. What good is a sword in its sheath? Its power is unleashed when drawn.

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Judges 6 to 8  Children love the story of this man! After hearing this story, if told with great inflection, you often will hear them shout that phrase as they rehearse the story time after time. There is indeed much to shout about when you realize that Gideon was empowered with the wisdom and strength that only a mighty God could provide. But, Gideon did not start out that way; in fact he was a man who epitomized [Proverbs 29:25a] “The fear of man is a snare,” and it wasn’t until chapter 8 we find him living the rest of that verse: “but who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” [Prov 29:25b] His life and the victory over the Midianites are an example to us that to do God’s work one must be surrender to God’s call.

Enter into scripture an example of a man that lived in fear and need much coaxing to do God’s work. The nation had cried out to God and He sent them an unnamed prophet to remind them of their sin.  Next God sent an angel to the man He would empower to free them from oppression.

God sent Jesus Christ who conquered our sin. Then He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us so we can turn the world upside down and give glory to God.

The sword of the Lord is God’s living word. 

Read it, memorize it, and meditate upon it daily so you can be a Gideon for Him!

 

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Trust God Alone

When faced with a quandary what do you do? Another question is this: 

If you receive wise counsel do you alter it or change and if so why? 

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Judges 1 to 4 When you are in a quandary what do you do? The wise Judahites went to the source of wisdom, God himself. They went in a mode of prayer seeking Him and His decision on how to conquer the enemies of Israel. The Lord responded: Judah shall lead. Nowhere did God say to take Simeon with them. Thus we are left to wonder why they chose to add to God’s direction. How often do we hear the word of the Lord but then add to what He has said? Could that be a reason for our untold failures in life?

In chapter 4 the prophetess Deborah summoned Barak and told him that the God of Israel was commanding him to march to Mount  Tabor. There God would bring General Sisera to him and hand him over to him. However, Barak foolishly said to Deborah: I will only go if you go with me. Deborah told Barak, I will go, but the victory will not be yours. I will give glory to a woman.

Both the Judahites and Barak lost the glory of victory because the leaders did not believe that God’s grace was sufficient.

 “Some trust in chariots and others in horses,

but we depend on the Lord our God.” [Psa 20:7 ]

Is this true of you when you are faced with what to do?

Photo: Ravi Pinisetti/Unsplash + Caption

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Funerals and Eulogies

What words would you want to be said at your funeral? Think about it.

Joshua 24:29  We have walked from Egypt to Israel with this great man of God who now is called, like Moses, the “Lord’s servant.” If by some miraculous means you could hear what is said at your funeral what would that be?  What would you like God to call you? Joshua had served faithfully under the guidance of Moses and now the title of the Lord’s Servant is bestowed upon him. He was not only faithful but diligent to do all that the Lord had commanded.

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Jesus told a parable that illustrates Joshua’s life in Matt 25. A man went on a journey but entrusted his property to his slaves. To one he gave 5 talents, to another 2 and to another 1. The men with 5 and 2 were faithful to reap where the Master had not sown. They heard the Master praise them and commend them; well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of the Lord. However, the one to whom 1 talent was given said: I knew you were a hard taskmaster so I hid the talent because I feared you and he handed it back to the Master. The Master said, thou wicked servant.  His talent was taken from him and given to the one who had reaped double.

God has blessed you richly with His talents to be used for His work. Joshua reaped his talents beyond what he could have imagined! He obeyed and received the blessing.

Beloved, May you obey so that you will hear the words bestowed upon Joshua: the Lord’s servant.

 

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