Jeremiah 6 - The Consequences of Closed Ears

LINK: Jeremiah 6

BACKGROUND

This chapter speaks of the impending destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon. They invaded Judah three times until the nation and the temple were completely destroyed (2 Kings 24:25). The extent of the Babylonian destruction was recorded by Nehemiah (1:3; 2:3, 11-17). With all this prior warning, Judah would not listen, their ears were closed (6:10, 19).

Aren't you getting tired of hearing about their stubbornness? 

REFLECTION (written in 2009)

I'm reading this and seeing that so much of these judgments against Judah are present in our society today!

- The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. (6:10)

God has some standards that are not politically correct right now. There was great opposition to Rick Warren praying at the Presidential Inauguration because of his biblical convictions about many issues.

- From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain . . . (6:13)

Our present economic turmoil is partly due to the rampant "greed for gain." Think of the many competitions on reality television that cause people to compromise their integrity and values for the almighty dollar.

- They are not ashamed of their conduct; they do not even know how to blush (6:15)

I picked up a book that I thought was going to be a nice story about a woman's 365 day cooking journey through Julia Child's classic, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, cookbook. 

Doesn't that sound innocent? I was amazed at all the foul language and disgusting topics she covered instead of the French recipes! I do not think this author "knows how to blush." My mother would have washed her mouth out with soap! I am sure this woman is just trying to sell her book to a public that probably likes food equated with sex and such. Maybe she is "greedy for gain" too. So sad to think that anyone would find this book appealing, but I think much of the world would not think twice about the language or disgusting topics covered. That makes me really sad.

I only made it to p.95 before I had to put the book down. The next day, I went back to the bookstore, told the lady who had sold it to me the day before why I was bringing it back, and got a full refund with a thank you. She was very appreciative that I let her know why. (Even though she is not allowed to tell people buying books that there are bad parts because she said she must "render unto Caesar [Borders], what is Caesar's [Borders]".) 

(2012 Update: Maybe that is why Borders went bankrupt . . . much like the Roman Empire fell! LOL!) 

The day after that, I got into a discussion with a woman at the AAA office about this book. She was so relieved to know that I did not like it either. She said, "I kept thinking I was a big prude!" 

I assured her that it was good that she felt that way because the book was quite disgusting. I told her that I had only gotten to p.95 and returned it for a full refund. She said, "Only p. 95! Oh, it gets much worse after p. 95, but I keep thinking I need to finish it." 

I gave her permission to put it down and even bring it back to the bookstore too! She was seriously considering it. 

(2012 Update: Every time I go into the AAA office, she thanks me for telling me to put down the book.) 

See Many Aspire, Few Attain excerpt below for something written in response to Jeremiah 6:16-19.

APPLICATION

Why did I just go into that rant about that book? Maybe it is that I feel like we should speak up more often about things that are just not right. Why do we let the world squeeze us so much? The woman felt "bad" that she did not like a very crass and horrible book. Isn't there something wrong with that picture? If more of us said, "I do not like this crass book," maybe they would quit publishing them.

So, do not be afraid to respectfully stand up against things that really should make us blush (6:15)!

PRAYER

Start your prayer off with a Lectio Divina in Jeremiah 6:16:

Thus says the Lord,

“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,

Where the good way is, and walk in it;

And you will find rest for your souls.

But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Lord, Show us the ancient paths and where the good way is that You have marked out for us. Help us to walk in that ancient and good way so that we might find rest for our souls (Jeremiah 6:16). In Jesus' name, Amen.

MANY ASPIRE, FEW ATTAIN

12. Stay content

“Thus saith the Lord, ‘Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.’ But they said, “We will not walk therein.’ Also I set watchmen over you, saying, “Hearken to the sound of the trumpet.’ But they said, ‘We will not hearken.’ Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon the people even the fruit of their thought, because they have not hearkened unto My words, nor to My law, but rejected it” (Jer. 6:16-19).

Some people just want to be different - they don’t want to be pushed into any particular mold. So they vacillate from one place to the next. For example, many people are excited about The Navigators or other Christian organizations when they first become involved. It’s new; it’s exciting; it’s fresh. But then they become critical of the clichés and the traditions of the group. They like feeling unique and different. 

When people seek change just for the sake of change, all they end up doing is exchanging one type of conformity for another. While God has created everyone individually and uniquely, He has also set standards and given Christians instruction on how to be the kind of people who will survive the battle and be able to move forward in Christ. The greatest tool He has given us in this endeavor is His Word. It doesn’t change with the seasons or conform to new thought patterns. It is applicable for all of time.

2 Kings 14 & 2 Chronicles 25 - Wholehearted Obedience

LINK: 2 Kings 14 & 2 Chronicles 25  (Read over the next two days)

BACKGROUND

Amaziah of Judah -2 Kings 14:1-22, 2 Chronicles 25

Reigned: 796-767 B.C. for 29 years
Character: Good mostly 

Overlap with Israel's King: Jehoash/Joash (798-782 B.C.), Jeroboam (793-753 B.C.)

Manner of Death: Murdered

He did right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart, only the high places were not taken away. (2 Chronicles 25:1; 2 Kings 14:3-4) 

Amaziah was the ninth king of Judah. His first official act was to avenge his father's murder (2 Chronicles 24:25-26, 25:3; 2 Kings 14:5), but he did not kill their sons according to Deuteronomy 24:16. 

He also trusted in idolatrous mercenaries from apostate Israel. We have seen time and time again that God's people continued to make alliances with ungodly people because they did not have faith in the Lord.

Thankfully he listened to counsel from a man of God and sent the Israelites home with their pay, trusting God to make up the loss. After military victory, Amaziah sacrificed to idols, and the anger of the LORD burned against him (2 Chronicles 25:15). His pride in defeating Edom caused him to be defeated by Jehoash (Joash) of Israel and taken prisoner. His son, Azariah (Uzziah), began to reign in Judah in 790 B.C. at the age of 16. When Jehoash (Joash) of Israel died in 782 B.C., Amaziah was released and co-reigned with his son until his assassination in 767 B.C. 

Israel's King Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:23-29)

Reigned: 793-753 B.C. for 41 years, co-regency with his father, Jehoash (Joash), 11 years (793-782 B.C.) 
Character: Bad. He did evil in the sight of the LORD (2 Kings 14:24). 
Overlap with Judah's King: Amaziah (796-767 B.C.), Azariah/Uzziah (790-739 B.C.)
Manner of Death: Natural

Politically, Jeroboam II was Israel's strongest king, extending Israel's boundaries close to what it was during Solomon's reign (excluding the land of Judah and Benjamin).

Jeroboam II's victories were primarily because the Syrians were weakened by the attacks of the Assyrians to their northeast under Adad-Nirari III. Assyria was also weak at the time because of threats from the Urartu people in their north, internal problems, and weak rulers. The prophets Jonah, Amos, and Hosea ministered in Israel during Jeroboam II's reign and give additional insights into what was really happening in the life of Israel during that time (see Hosea 13:4-8 and Amos 6:11-14). We will start our reading in Jonah and Amos later this week. 

REFLECTION

The timeless principles from Many Aspire, Few Attain by Walt Henrichsen fit here!

Let's review the principles we have already covered. I have linked them if you are just joining and Bible Book Club and missed them:

1. Have a heart for God
2. Hate sin
3. Hunger for the Word
4. Trust God
5. Burn bridges and ships
6. Beware the road of no return
7. Avoid an independent spirit
9. Be faithful in the little things
10: Avoid the root of bitterness
11. Accept rebuke

Kings Amaziah's life helps illustrate Henrichsen's next point:

8. Be wholehearted

“And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a whole heart” (2 Chr. 25:2).

He did what was right, but one thing was lacking - his heart wasn’t right, so God couldn’t use him. Within a short time Amaziah, the man this verse refers to, was dead.

Some Christians create the impression that they are doing God and their Christian organization a favor by being around - that God Almighty is about the luckiest of the lucky to have them on His team. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Perhaps you have this attitude. God is delighted beyond words over the fact that you are His. He loves you with an everlasting love. But never deceive yourself into believing that you are doing either God or anyone else a favor by being faithful.

It is easy to be wholehearted in the things you like doing, but it’s hard to be wholehearted in the things you don’t like doing. When I moved into a Navigator home, one of my responsibilities every Saturday morning was to clean the bathroom in the master bedroom. I can remember being on my hands and knees over the toilet bowl with the cleanser and wondering to myself, “Henrichsen, what in the world are you doing here? There are millions of places you could be rather than sitting here looking inside a toilet.”

It’s hard enough to clean your own dirt, but it's even harder to clean other people’s dirt. How do you rate yourself in terms of your wholeheartedness in being a servant of God? [Note: the link at bible.org misprinted "sergeant" rather than "servant." I have the original pamphlet.] I don’t mind being a servant of Jesus Christ. In fact, I delight in it. I also don't mind you calling me a servant. You know what I do mind, though? I hate being treated like a servant.

Can you be wholehearted when people treat you like a servant of the Most High God? How about when you're treated like the servant of others? “As you do unto the least of these, you do unto me” (Matt. 25:40).

REFLECTION on Jeroboam II

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:26, Mark 8:36, Luke 9:25)

These words of Jesus are quoted in three out of four of the gospel accounts. Sounds like something we need to chew on, doesn't it?

Jeroboam II had it all going for him on the outside. He was a strong and prosperous leader, but he was bankrupt in his soul.

I read a part of the poem, "The Deserted City" by British poet Oliver Goldsmith recently:

"Ill fares the land, to hast’ning ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates, and men decay . . ."

This sums up Israel's situation. How about yours?

APPLICATION

Talk to God about this. Are you authentic? Is what you show on the outside the same as who you are on the inside? Too many people show a slick outside when their soul has unresolved issues. Please deal with your soul and be the same on the outside that you are on the inside. It is such a BETTER way to live!

If we confess our sins, 

He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins 

and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. 

(1 John 1:9)

PRAYER

Lord, humble us where we need to be humbled. Remove pride, idolatry, and rottenness from our lives. We want to be wholehearted followers of You. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

2 Kings 1 & 2 - Ahaziah's Judgment/Elijah and Elisha

LINK: 2 Kings 1 & 2

BACKGROUND 

Overview of 2 KINGS

Memory Pointers: 

1 Kings was about 1 Kingdom until it was split into

Two parts 1/2 way through (end of 11 out of 22).

2 Kings is about 2 Kingdoms: 

Israel's 17 bad kings until  
2 Kings 17 when they were carried off by the Assyrians.  

Judah's 10 bad and 6 good kings until 
2 Kings 24 when 150 years later they are carried off for 70 years of captivity in Babylon.

2 Kings also tells the shining stories of two men of God: Elijah and Elisha!

BACKGROUND 

1 Kings 1

Ahaziah of Israel - 1 Kings 22:40-2 Kings 1:18

Reigned: 853-852 BC for 2 years
Character: Bad
Overlap with Judah's King: Coregency of Jehoshaphat and Jehoram (853-848 B.C.) 
Manner of Death: Fell through a lattice
Parallel Story: 2 Chronicles 20:35-37

Ahaziah hurt himself in a fall and showed just how far he had fallen from the Lord God of Israel by asking his messengers to go and consult Baal-Zebub. Baal-Zebub was a popular, male fertility god that also had curative powers. The angel of the LORD (the pre-incarnate Christ!) gave a message for Elijah to deliver to his messengers that let them know exactly how He felt about that: 

"You are going to die for consulting a pagan god instead of Me!" 

Ahaziah knew exactly who he was dealing with. Elijah was the same guy who gave Ahaziah's parents, Ahab and Jezebel, so many problems! Many of his soldiers died by fire trying to get Elijah to come down to meet with Ahaziah. The angel of the LORD finally directed him to go down. He pronounced God's judgment on Ahaziah directly, and Ahaziah died. Because Ahaziah had no son, his brother, Jehoram (Joram) became king in his place in 852 BC. The king of Judah at that time was also named Jehoram!

1 Kings 2 - Elijah Passes the Mantle to Elisha

In this chapter, Elijah is taken up in a whirlwind with a chariot and horses of fire. Before he did that he walked while Elisha faithfully followed, refusing to be left behind. They walked by four significant different places that are significant in Israel's history:

1) Gilgal - the first place after the Israelites crossed the Jordan and where they submitted to the covenant of circumcision before they entered the Promised Land (Joshua 4). 

2) Bethel - Abraham worshipped there (Genesis 12-13). Jacob saw the ladder to heaven and vowed to make his father's God His God if God continued to bless and care (Genesis 28). By Genesis 35, Jacob had returned to Bethel and made Isaac's God, his God.

3) Jericho - The sight of Israel's first victory in the Promised Land (Joshua 5-6). 

4) Jordan River - God opened this river to let them into the Promised Land (Joshua 1-4).

(These are all places we have trod as we read the Old Testament last year!)

Before Elijah was taken up, Elisha asked for a double portion of spiritual blessing to carry on the work that Elijah had started, and God granted him his desire because his heart was pure. Elisha would go on to perform even more miracles than his master, Elijah!

REFLECTION

I love the story of Elijah and Elisha. Elisha wanted to be with Elijah to the bitter end because he knew that Elijah's time was short.

That is how I feel about my Elijahs: Ginny and Lorraine, they are two wonderful women of God in their 80s. I have been meeting with them monthly since November of 2001. I also met with them weekly for about six months back in 1997 right before I went to Southeast Asia. They were coworkers in Japan shortly after World War II and lived there until 1987. They cannot believe I would want to make the hour drive north to McMinnville every month to see them, but like Elisha, 

"As surely as the Lord lives and [they] live, I will not leave [them]! (2:2, 4, 6)

They have been rocks in my life. They process with me and pray for me and impart wisdom to me that I can get nowhere else. I have so appreciated their presence in my life.

In his commentary on 2 Kings 2, Warren Wiersbe writes:

It rejoices my heart when I see younger Christians and Christian workers appreciating the “senior saints,” the veterans of Christian service, and learning from them. One day, these “giants” will be called home and we’ll no longer be able to learn from them. [Carol's note: both have been called home.]

These two men [Elijah and Elisha] represented different generations and opposite personalities, yet they were able to walk together. What a rebuke this is to those in the church who label the generations and separate them from each other. I heard one youthful pastor say that he didn’t want anybody in his church over the age of forty, and I wondered where he would get the wise counsel that usually comes with maturity. I thank God for the “Elijahs” in my life who were patient with me and took time to instruct me. Now I’m trying to share that same blessing with others. (Wiersbe, W. W., Be Distinct (12))

I am so grateful for these two "Elijahs" in my life. I, literally, have received a "double portion" just like Elisha!

2012 Update: Ginny has recently been moved to an assisted living facility. At age 87, she is becoming weaker and weaker. Lorraine could not take care of her anymore. 

2014: Ginny was "called home" in 2013. How I miss her! Lorraine and I still meet monthly, and she will be 90 years old in June 2015. 

2023: Lorraine was "called home" in May 2019. HERE is her obituary.

APPLICATION

Where is your Elijah (someone mentoring/discipling you)? Where is your Elisha (someone you can mentor or disciple)?

The Elijah/Elisha relationship also illustrates this principle from Many Aspire, Few Attain by Walt Henrichsen:

7. Avoid an independent spirit 

The seventh reason why people will never finish the race is they have an independent spirit. They are mavericks, loners. They want to serve God, but in their own way. Perhaps you are like the fellow I asked about the Episcopal form of government. He answered, “Well, I’m against bishops unless I can be one.” 

A lot of Christians have that attitude. They are against spiritual authority and leadership unless they are the authority and leader. But God says He will not give you that which is your own until you have been part of that which is another man’s (Luke 16:12). 

The prophet Elijah, as he was about to be taken out of this world, said to his follower Elisha, “Tarry here,” (2 Kings 2:2). Elisha answered, “No way, friend. Where you go, I go. There’s no way you can get rid of me.” Where is the guy or gal you have committed yourself to in an Elijah/Elisha relationship? Where is your Elijah? Where is the person that you are going to lock into by the will of God, and go for broke with? You might say, “Well, God is my teacher. He can speak to me as easily as He can speak through someone else. After all, doesn’t the Bible say that you shouldn't be like little tin gods?” 

That’s true. Nobody is your lord except Jesus. But I’m not referring to lordship. I’m talking about your independent spirit. 

Do you remember the argument that Dathan, Korah, and Abiram gave Moses (Num. 16)? “You take too much upon yourself, Moses. God can speak to us just as easily as he can speak to you. We don’t need to follow you.” Don’t we today say the same thing? Don’t we believe in the priesthood of the believer? Don’t our prayers get through to God? Can’t God speak to us? After all, why should we follow someone else’s leadership? 

Moses, in response to this argument, said, “Well, let’s talk this over with God and see what He says.” “Okay, let’s do it.” 

So they went to God and He said, “Moses, step aside and let me show you what I think of that idea.” So Moses stepped aside, and God opened up the earth, and Dathan, Korah, Abiram, and all that belonged to them fell in. God closed the earth back up and then sent fire and consumed the one hundred or so princes that were with them in rebellion. 

God then asked the children of Israel, “Any more questions?” 

The children of Israel got mad at Moses after that and said, “Moses, you dirty rat, you sicced God on us!” Thousands more died of the plague that day because of their attitude. 

Again God asked, “Any more questions?” 

This time the children of Israel answered, “No, we got the point.” 

God does not hanker to an independent spirit. You can be a maverick, you can be a loner and you can go your own way. It’s up to you. But that’s a quick way to climb up on that shelf. It is safer to have a servant’s heart and submit to spiritual authority. We need to make ourselves accountable to others.

PRAYER

God, thank You for the example of the godly life of Elijah who was not afraid to deliver Your message to a wicked and perverse generation. Help us to be bold in our generation. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen

Psalm 75 & 76 - "Here Come the Judge"

LINKS: Psalm 75 & 76  (Soak in these over the next two days)

BACKGROUND

Psalm 75

God will destroy the wicked and exalt the righteous in the final judgment at His appointed time. I should point out that the "horns" used to describe the wicked in 75:5 are a metaphor from the animal world. They signify a "defying, strutting, self-confidence" (The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Volume 1, p. 849). The psalmist warns us not to have this attitude because God is the Judge. The psalmist's response is to praise God as Judge.

Psalm 76

This song of Asaph is praise for the power of the God of Jacob. God accomplishes His sovereign purposes over everything that stands in His way. He delivers the righteous and displays wrath against the wicked. It is part of a group of "Zion" psalms that include 46, 48, 87, 126, 132, and 137. Asaph concludes by exhorting leaders to pledge themselves to God.

Some versions correctly interpret 76:2 as "Salem" which means "peace" in Hebrew. This is an early reference to Jerusalem, and the only other time it is referred to in this way is in Genesis 14:18 when Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, brought out bread and wine and blessed Abram and God. Salem was the site of God's sanctuary (Ezra 7:19).

APPLICATION

Praise Him as the righteous Judge and God of power today!

Psalm 75 is referenced in this excerpt from Many Aspire, Few Attain:

9. Be faithful in the little things

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much, and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10).

Many aspire, but few attain because they are unfaithful in the little things. Lorne Sanny, former president of the Navigators, has said that. Charlie Riggs was one of the few men he has ever worked with who could be counted on to carry through a request. Lorne could check it off as accomplished without ever going back to see if it was done. That challenges me tremendously, and I hope you also. 

Can people say that about you? When you are given an assignment, when somebody’s asked you to do something, can they mark it off as being completed? No matter how small it is - whether it’s picking up a couple of postage stamps or mailing a letter - when people have asked you to do something, can they count on you to get it done? Are you faithful in that which is least? Jesus said there is no way He is going to give you greater responsibilities until you have proven yourself faithful in the little things.

Promotion, when it comes, doesn't come from others, it comes from God. “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:6,7). 

Make sure you commit yourself to faithfulness in even the smallest areas of responsibility.

PRAYER

We praise You as the Righteous Judge! Help us to commit ourselves wholeheartedly to You in our smallest areas of responsibility. Amen.

Proverbs 27 - On Relating and True Friendship

LINK: Proverbs 27

BACKGROUND

This chapter is a continuation of the more than 100 proverbs of Solomon collected by Hezekiah’s men 250 years after Solomon wrote them. Sixteen out of 27 verses deal with relationships with people. It contains sage advice against boasting, not being provoked by a fool, genuinely loving and challenging our friends toward growth, attitude toward material possessions, commitment to family, being a quarrelsome wife, working well at one’s job, the true heart reflected in our words, accepting praise modestly, foolishness, and the importance of caring for one’s resources and working hard. The warning about uncertainty in Proverbs 27:1 is repeated in James 4:13-16.

This chapter contains many “Homilies in Similes” which are mini-sermons and the form of a comparison using the words like and as. This is called “emblematic parallelism.” The Hebrew word for proverb comes from a root meaning “to be like.”

Also, 27:5 is one of only 19 “better . . . than” verses in the entire book of Proverbs.

Some of the verses are “antithetical parallelism” where one line is the opposite or contrasts the other and often uses the word “but.” Most of the antithetical parallelism occurs in Proverbs 10-15, but there are a few in this and upcoming chapters.

REFLECTIONS on Friendship

I love this chapter because 16 out of 27 of the verses are about relating with people, and I love to relate with people! Often, I fall so short in this area, and Proverbs has been a constant reminder to continue to depend on God as I relate to others.

I particularly love the verses that relate to friendship:

Better is open rebuke 

Than love that is concealed 

Faithful are the wounds of a friend 

But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. 

(27:5-6) 

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, 

So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend. 

(27:9)

These two verses get to the heart of friendship: honesty even when it hurts and sweet counsel. Rebuke is mentioned frequently in Proverbs as a helpful kind of verbal correction (27:23, 25, 30; 3:11; 9:8 [twice]; 13:1; 15:31; 17:10; 19:25; 25:12; 27:5; 30:6). So God approves of it! Sadly, I do not think we practice it enough in our friendships. I think we feel like it is our role to always make our friends “feel better” about themselves and not interfere in their “stuff.” Sometimes God does call us to just listen and bear their burdens, but sometimes true friendship involves rebuke! Rebuke can feel like an enemy is wounding us, but they really are a genuine expression of true friendship because it shows that our friend cares about us and our growth toward Christ-likeness. It is a way that God uses friends to sharpen us:

Iron sharpens iron,

So one man sharpens another 

(27:17)

When iron is rubbed against another piece of iron it shapes and sharpens it. Similarly people can help each other improve by their discussions, criticisms, suggestions, and ideas. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary)

I am grateful that I have friends who love me enough to speak the truth into my life, even when that truth hurts because they want to see me grow and mature. I can process things with them when I am going through tough things and need prayerful, honest counsel about tough situations. Sometimes, their honesty has hurt, but I know that they love me and will pray for me so that I might grow to be more like Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION

Do you have honest and open friends who help you to become more like Jesus? If you do not, begin to pray that He will lead you to this kind of relationship.

Here are a few timeless principles from Many Aspire, Few Attain by Walt Henrichsen:

11. Accept rebuke 

“For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth” (Heb. 12:6).

Some people never make it because they can't take rebuke; they aren’t teachable. I don’t mind God rebuking me, but the fact of the matter is that God uses other people in his correction of me. Solomon said, “He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul” (Prov. 15:32). If you refuse to take instruction, you are despising and destroying yourself. Why? Because the rebuke God brings into your life is for your own good.

“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee” (Prov 9:8). Don't rebuke the foolish because not only is it a waste of time, but they will hate you for it. But if you rebuke the wise, they will love you.

Once, when a buddy and I were doing Bible study together, his application was to pray that God would send someone into his life to rebuke him at least once a week. What a challenge! How do you feel about praying this for your own life? Remember, the older you get, the harder this will be to accept. 

2023 Update: I don't think I would pray that every week, but only when I actually have done something that needs to be pointed out. I disagree with this paragraph and even removed a whole paragraph because it is very punitive and not grace-oriented. I love the author of this, but he was a product of his time.

All that said, I do believe that rebuke is a good thing when we need it! I love this book on the subject: Caring Enough to Confront by David Augsburger

PRAYER

Lord, would You please provide us with faithful friends who can sharpen us to be more like Jesus? We ask this in His name. Amen.

1 Samuel 20 - Anatomy of a Faithful Friend

LINK: 1 Samuel 20

This post is dedicated to my faithful friends. You know who you are, and I love you!

BACKGROUND

Jonathan proved faithful to the covenant he had made by warning David of his father's intention to kill him. Jonathan gave up his future kingship out of love for a friend and an understanding of the sovereignty of God. He only asked that David deal kindly with his family in the future.

REFLECTION

Oh, to have and be a faithful friend like Jonathan. I feel so blessed to have such faithful friends that I have had for many years. I have made a few mistakes in my choice of friends in the past, and I have reaped a world of heartache. That is not true anymore. As I have grown and become healthier, I am more discerning about friendships.

APPLICATION

Thank God today for the faithful friends He has put in your life and go one step further: tell them how much you appreciate them!

If you feel lacking in the friendship area, pray that God will provide such a friend. Pray that God would make you become a friend like Jonathan.

Here is something I read in The Daily Walk:

Is there a Jonathan in your life?

• Someone who knows you fully and accepts you completely.

• Someone with whom you can share your deepest hurts.

• Someone who will listen without lecturing, comfort without condemning, and encourage without criticizing.

• Someone who will defend you when you're not around.

• Someone whose greatest joy comes from your happiness.

• Someone who watches out for your well-being, even at the potential risk of his own.

• Someone who grieves when you are grieved, rejoices when you are promoted, bleeds when you are wounded

Friendship is costly, demanding sacrifice and sensitivity, but that's what makes it so precious. Have you discovered the priceless treasure of finding -- or becoming -- a Jonathan? 

(The Daily Walk, March 21, 2008)

PRAYER

Lord, I pray that we all would taste the joy of deep, faithful friends. Help us to be better friends to others. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

To be a good friend, we need the character quality of faithfulness. Read this excerpt from MANY ASPIRE, FEW ATTAIN:

9. Be faithful in the little things

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much, and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10).

Many aspire, but few attain because they are unfaithful in the little things. Lorne Sanny, former president of the Navigators, has said that. Charlie Riggs was one of the few men he has ever worked with who could be counted on to carry through a request. Lorne could check it off as accomplished without ever going back to see if it was done. That challenges me tremendously, and I hope you also.

Can people say that about you? When you are given an assignment, when somebody’s asked you to do something, can they mark it off as being completed? No matter how small it is - whether it’s picking up a couple of postage stamps or mailing a letter - when people have asked you to do something, can they count on you to get it done? Are you faithful in that which is least? Jesus said there is no way He is going to give you greater responsibilities until you have proven yourself faithful in the little things.

Promotion, when it comes, doesn't come from others, it comes from God. “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:6,7). Make sure you commit yourself to faithfulness in even the smallest areas of responsibility.

1 Samuel 18 & 19 - The Rise of Saul's Wrath

LINK: I Samuel 18 & 19

BACKGROUND

The stage is set. David had been anointed as the future King of Israel, but he would have to wait fifteen years before he would be crowned. In the meantime, God had a training program uniquely made for David.

The honeymoon between Saul and David was over. David's star was on the rise, and Saul began to become jealous. In addition, Saul's own son, Jonathan, made a covenant with David. We have seen covenant occur several times in the Old Testament. It helps to know more about the Hebrew word for covenant:

בְּרִת(bĕrit) covenant; between nations: a treaty, alliance of friendship; between individuals: a pledge or agreement; with obligation between a monarch and subjects: a constitution; between God and man: a covenant accompanied by signs, sacrifices, and a solemn oath that sealed the relationship with promises of blessing for keeping the covenant and curses for breaking it. (Harris, R. Laird; Harris, Robert Laird; Archer, Gleason Leonard; Waltke, Bruce K.: Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. electronic ed. Chicago: Moody Press, 1999, c1980, S. 128)

Part of Jonathan's "signs and sacrifices" included stripping himself of his royal regalia as a recognition of David's future reign as king. What an ultimate sacrifice because Jonathan was meant to be the future king (20:30-31; 23:17).

As the story goes on, David slays ten thousand compared to Saul's thousand. Then, even Saul's daughter, Micah, "loved David." David "had it all," and Saul felt the full range of emotions: anger, displeasure, hatred, fear, anxiety, and jealousy.

These emotions led down the slippery slope toward intentions to murder David, but Jonathan stayed true to his covenant with David and intervened on his behalf. Next, Micah (now David's wife) protected David from Saul's murderous wrath. Finally, the Spirit of God fell on every man sent to capture David, even Saul himself! They "fell into a trance or an ecstatic state, a condition which immobilized them and made them incapable of accomplishing their evil intentions" (The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures 1:450).

REFLECTION

In these chapters, we see two different responses to another person's success:

1) Jonathan could have become jealous of David's popularity. Instead he "loved" David and made a covenant with him, even acknowledging symbolically, by giving David his royal regalia, that David would someday be the King of Israel, a position in which Jonathan was next in line! 

2) Saul did become jealous of David's popularity and could not see God's plan. He had been rejected as king but held on to that position to the point where he would even want to kill David to maintain his power. How very sad.

I want to have a heart like Jonathan, who rejoices in other people's successes.

APPLICATION

Wise words from the Life Application Bible:

Jealousy may not seem to be a major sin, but in reality, it is one step short of murder. Jealousy starts as you resent a rival; it leads to you wishing he or she were removed; then it manifests itself in your seeking ways to harm that person in word or action. Beware of letting jealousy get a foothold in your life. (p. 468)

Is jealousy seeping into your life? Examine your heart and talk to God about it.

Jealousy can lead to bitterness. Read this excerpt from Many Aspire, Few Attain:

10. Avoid the root of bitterness

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God: lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Heb. 12:15).

The tenth reason many will never finish the battle is a bad attitude from envy, jealousy and bitterness - a lack of forgiveness. A bitter spirit, a spirit of resentment, poisons not only to you, but others. 

A root of bitterness is the result of real or supposed ill-treatment - it doesn’t matter which one. You can get just as bitter thinking people treated you badly as when they actually do. Feeling hurt and sorry for yourself are bedfellows of bitterness. Self pity is the other side of the coin of bitterness. Have you ever felt sorry for yourself? Have you ever felt hurt over the way people have treated you? Then you are bordering on bitterness.

George Washington Carver once said, “I will never let another man ruin my life by making me hate him.” Those are profound words. When you hate, you destroy yourself.

If God is God (and He is), then no one can hurt you. No one. That simply means that anytime you are angry with another person, it’s not really the other person that you’re mad at - it’s God. God is the one who allowed that to happen to you. He brought it into your life for a purpose. Whenever circumstances don’t go the way you would like, and you become angry and resentful and bitterness begins to creep into your heart, remember your complaint is always with God, never with anyone else. There is no such thing as having a problem with another person. It doesn’t exist. And bitterness will destroy you if you let it. 

The lack of forgiveness is also inconsistent with a relationship with God. Again and again, Jesus cautions us that if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us.

PRAYER

Lord, reveal to us places that we may be resenting the rise in popularity of someone else and seeing them as a rival rather than making a covenant of friendship with them. Help us to rejoice in other people's successes and to acknowledge and look for Your plan in their lives rather than resenting them. Give us a heart like Jonathan toward others. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Deuteronomy 34 - Taking a Last View from Mount Nebo

The View from Mount Nebo (http://www.bamjam.net/Jordan/Nebo.html)

LINK: Deuteronomy 34

BACKGROUND

In the final chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses praises the Lord and climbs to the top of Pisgah on Mount Nebo to view the Promised Land since he would not be able to touch it. He died there full of faith. It was not a perfect life, but we can still learn so much from his life!

The Scarlet Thread of Redemption 

He died full of faith, but One would come more than a thousand years later who would live a perfect life and be greater: JESUS!!!!

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house--whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. (Hebrews 3:1-6)

REFLECTION

Moses died full of faith. What a growth plan. What I love about his life is that he did not quit. God disciplined Moses severely after he disobeyed (Numbers 20:12), but God still called him His friend! Moses did not give up and say "Well, I am not good enough to be used by God now." He kept on going. He learned from his mistakes, and he leaned in ever closer to God so much so that at the end of his life he could proclaim, "The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms" (33:37).

When you feel like giving up because you have blown it, do not give up! Keep in the battle. Turn to the LORD's everlasting arms and let Him lead You!

APPLICATION

Well done, good and faithful servant! You have finished the course of the Torah or Pentateuch. You have persevered! I feel like we should have a party! Read about perseverance in Many Aspire, Few Attain:

14. Perseverance, keeping the heart for the battle

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1).

If you get used to seeing God do miracles, you quickly stop being thrilled and thankful. The things of God can become old hat, and you can fall into complacency. Remember the story of the hare and the tortoise? The hare started out great, but he was sidetracked along the way because it was so easy - success was assured, he thought. The tortoise, on the other hand, just kept plugging along, recognizing that in order to win the race, he needed to put all his efforts into it. And he won. He kept his eye on the objective and did not allow himself to be distracted.

Like the race between the tortoise and the hare, the battle which Christians face today needs to be won. It is for keeps. And also, like that fabled race, the racetrack today needs to be won. It is for keeps. And also like that fabled race, the racetrack contains many potential distractions. Have no doubt that Satan will try everything he can to disqualify you and get you out of the fight.

This list is just a few suggestions to help you from becoming a casualty of the fight, the war that is the Christian life. Too often, Satan is successful in taking believers out of the battle. While many begin well, few end well. Many aspire, but few attain. My prayer is that you may be one of those that attains.

Try to review what you have learned from your study of Deuteronomy. Summarize it in a story, song, poem, or letter to God, or simply spend time in worship and prayer today!

PRAYER

Lord, we praise You as our dwelling place. Help us to dwell in Your presence and everlasting arms the whole day through. Thank You that You do not abandon us in our disobedience but desire for us to "confess and press" on and grow and become strong and courageous in this life. Help us to move forward and do not allow the enemy to allow us to become discouraged. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.