Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by Myself, the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to Him shall men come; and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
Isaiah 45:22-25
YHWH
Respect To The Holy One Of Israel
At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.
Isaiah 17:7-8
This morning for my daily reading of the Scriptures I read Isaiah 13 through 20. These chapters are God’s word to surrounding nations of Israel who have been cruel to the people of God, His word to His people as well.
The verses I share today is fitting for any time, and any where.
“At that day…” A phrase used quite frequently in Isaiah’s prophecy is speaking of a day appointed by God Himself. It is a time, a day, which He knows, and the prophet has an knowledge that it could be soon. It is a day that will surly come. Every thing that God says; and every thing that He does has purpose.
“…A man shall look to his Maker…” This is a great thing to think that the LORD is giving this nation, along with Israel a chance, a choice of blessing or judgment. Before one can look to his Maker he must realize that he has a Maker, and that Maker is GOD; and GOD can do things in a person’s life to get him or her to recognize his Maker. What good does it do to recognize your Maker?
“…His eyes shall have respect for the Holy One of Israel…” In the Proverbs God tells us much about the “fear of the LORD,” and that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,” and that “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.” I do not know how many hunters, rifle men and women read this but here is an illustration I use to illustrate for the fear of the LORD:
I have a twelve gauge single shot, breech load, shotgun. I am not fearful of it as long as I am on the right end of that gun; but if someone else is holding it on me, pointed at me, then I am going to be fearful of what I might get. As long as I am on the right end, I am respectful of what that gun can do, and realize the danger of abuse or misuse of that shot gun.
If I am on the right side with God, I revere Him, and I am in awe of Him, because I know that He loves me, and I love Him. However, if I get on the wrong side of God, then I am going to be very afraid of what lies down the road of my future. So by the grace of God I am trusting Him for His great salvation, and His power to keep me in His hands.
“…The work of his hands…” The man who recognizes the Holy One of Israel will no longer brag about what he has done; what he has built with his own hands. He will trust in the LORD, and be in awe of Him with great reverence, because of who He is.
Who is this Holy One of Israel? He is the Messiah. He is the Christ of God. He is Jesus. He died on the cross for our sins, was buried carrying our sins away, casting them as far away as the east is from the west; and to prove that all He said, and that the work of salvation was done, He rose from the tomb, and lives forever more.
Praising The Holy One Of Israel
Isaiah reminding the people, in his hearing, of the power of God in their deliverance from Egypt hundreds of years prior to this day of which he is speaking.
The song is still good for the Christian and one that needs to be expressed and remembered continually. God is still Holy, Righteous, and Just. He is worthy of our worship and praise.
And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise Thee: though Thou wast angry with me, Thine anger is turned away, and Thou comfortedst me.
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, “Praise the LORD,” call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted.
Sing unto the LORD; for He hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.Isaiah 12:1-6
Do we as Christians remember from where we came? Do we remember the way we were before we called on the name of Jesus, and was born again?
The way we often speak evil words, and sow evil thoughts, and treat other people it seems that we have. If we are honestly seeking to glorify the LORD with our lives let us make our lives a song of praise and worship. Being filled continually with the Holy Spirit we will sing songs, and make melody in our hearts to the Lord, submitting to Him in all things. Husbands will love their wives as Christ loved the Church and give Himself for her; and wife will submit to her husband. Children will be obedient to their parents. Fathers will not provoke their children to wrath. Employees will do their work as unto the Lord. Employers will pay their employees well, and bless them (Ephesians 5:18-6:24). These are evidences of one filled with the Spirit.
Words of praise and worship to the Lord, singing them to the Lord, with a heart for Him comes from the Spirit of God the Holy Spirit. Everyone who has been born again has the Holy Spirit living within them, but we are not always filled with the Spirit, and that is mostly because we have let sin enter our lives. Keeping short accounts with God is a necessity when it comes to our sin against Him.
God the LORD of hosts is the Holy One of Israel is calling you to trust in Him, by believing in His only Son Jesus Christ who died for our sins on the cross, He was buried carrying our sins away. and He arose and came out alive forever more.
The Fountain of Life
In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Proverbs 14:26-27
To fear the LORD is the act of great reverence, respect, and love for our God and Savior. In the fear of the LORD there is great confidence in Him. The Apostle John in his first epistle mentions confidence three times.
And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at his coming. 1 John 2:28
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 1 John 3:21And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us 1 John 5:14
It is a marvelous thing to have confidence in the word, work, and Person of God through His Son, who is the only begotten Son of God. In the LORD is our place of refuge – our place of safety.
The fear of the LORD is also a fountain of life. Jesus Himself told the Samaritan woman at the well, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, ‘Give me to drink;’ thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.” John 4:10. The conversation goes on and Jesus said, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. “ John 4:13-14.
It is a wonderful thing to have confidence in God, and to know that He is the fountain of Life. God says through the Apostle John that we have confidence that he will answer our prayers when we pray according to His will. We will have confidence in God when we might condemn ourselves. We will also have confidence that He is coming again, and we will not be ashamed when we abide in Him.
The LORD Gives Wisdom
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
Proverbs 2:1-9
The Pleasure Of The LORD
He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: He taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.
Psalms 147:10-11
There is no animal as beautiful in its running, and in its strength than a good horse. I have always enjoyed watching horses run across an open field, and a few years ago I got to stand by the race track at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky, and watched two year old horses race. Believe it or not I do not bet and besides that the day we were there was in June of the year, and there was no betting going on; as far as I know.
Even though the horse is beautiful and graceful in running, God does not have delight in the strength of the horse; whether it be a battle horse, or a race horse.
There are also men, and women who have great strength in their legs. Some are fast at running marathons, and others at sprints. In the days David wrote this Psalm he was probably thinking of the strength of the soldiers legs; and there is probably much that could be said of those men.
The strength of man is weak compared to the LORD’S strength. The LORD has no pleasure in the legs of a man.
The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him. He takes pleasure in those who hope in His mercy.
In the psalmist day their hope in His mercy was looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. They were looking forward to the coming of Jesus who is the Messiah.
Now, in our day He has come and did all that was prophesied for Him to do in His first coming. He told His disciples, when He was here, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself…” (John 14:3). So He is returning, and maybe sooner than we might think.
We who know Him are resting in His mercy, looking for Him to come at any moment to take us away to be with Him forever.
God’s judgment is certain. Is your hope in Him and His mercy. He gives us mercy everyday of our lives. With every breath you breathe, that came from Him. Every beat of your heart that too, came from Him. The next step you take comes from Him. He is merciful.
By His grace, through the gift of His Son Jesus Christ you can give God great pleasure by trusting in Him, turning from your sins to the perfect sacrifice of God for sin. Jesus Christ died on a cross for all our sins, that all who believe might give God pleasure.
Being Thankful
I will praise Thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee. I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name. In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise Thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of Thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
Though the LORD be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands.Psalm 138:1-8
I will point out three different things here in this Psalm
First, notice how the Psalmist, who is David, is saying that he will praise the LORD even in the midst of kings, and their supposed gods (verses 1-5).
That tells me that no matter where we are as followers of Jesus Christ we ought to praise the Lord God. “For great is the glory of the LORD.”
Second, we are told in verse 6 that, even though God is in His high position; that is Ruler and Sovereign over all things; He respects those who are lowly – humble, meek, brokenhearted, contrite, and poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3).
We can see also that those who are full of pride for themselves are only known from a distance, meaning they do not know God.
It is better to be of an humble, meek, contrite heart, than being full of pride and headed for a hard fall (Proverbs 16:18).
Third, though he walked in the midst of trouble; maybe the wars he fought, and the enemies he had; he trusted the LORD for giving him life, “You LORD will revive me. The LORD will give me strength, and victory over my enemies with His powerful hand, and He will save me.”
He has faith that God will perfect the things concerning himself. He praises the LORD for His enduring mercy, ask Him to not forsake the work of His hands; that is the LORD’S work on himself (verses 7-8).
In times of trouble when you have the world on your shoulders, and you feel as though no one seems to care; you can know for certain that the LORD God who created all that is (Most High God); He loves you.
He has demonstrated His love for us all by sending His own Son Jesus Christ to die on a cross for the sins of the world. You may think, “Well I am not a sinner. Why would I need a savior?” All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, none of us are without sin. You need a savior, and the only Savior from sin is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Turn from your sin to Jesus Christ. That is repentance. By grace through faith.
Christian, lift up your head. Your redemption draws near. God’s word is magnified even above His name (v. 2). It shall come to pass. He does not allow His word to return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11).
The Cornerstone.
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:22-24
I have learned through the study of Scripture, and other men of God who have studied the Scriptures that the cornerstone was the stone that determined the size and the shape of a building. The bigger the cornerstone the bigger the building; and if the stone was rectangular then the building would be rectangular. That means the cornerstone is the most important part of beginning a building.
How important is the Psalms in prophecy, especially concerning the Messiah? Well to ease our minds about this question let’s see what Jesus said,
“These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.” Luke 24:44
So Jesus said that the Psalms, along with the books of the Law, and the prophets were prophetic and must be fulfilled.
Concerning the text for this study it is quoted by Jesus in Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10, and Luke 20:17. It is quoted by Peter in Acts 4:11, and the First Epistle of Peter in chapter 2 verse 7.
There is much to learn from the study of Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone, and I believe that the most important thing to know is that He is only one who can save us from our sins. We cannot just lay Him aside and forget about Him. He presented Himself to His own people, and they rejected Him, thus He was convicted of the crime of blasphemy, and other false accusations, found guilty and crucified on a Roman cross,
Remember, if the cornerstone sets the size and the shape of the building, then Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone, determines the size, shape, and completion of the Church He is building.
There is coming a day when a final soul will call on the name of the Lord for salvation, they will be saved; and there will be no more. That day has not come – Thank You Lord. So today is the day of salvation. Your last chance for salvation might be today.
As the rejected cornerstone He was killed on a cruel Roman cross, He was buried, and He arose and came out of that tomb, alive forever more. When we put faith and trust in Him, turning from our sin, He saves us.
Fall on Him. Hear what Jesus said,
“What is this then that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?’ Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.’ Luke 20:17
Exalting The Holy, Righteous, and Just GOD
I leave no comments only to say, the following is a song of worshiping the One who created all things so He is worthy of our worship, honor, and praise.
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne.
A fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship Him, all ye gods.
Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of Thy judgments, O LORD. For Thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods.
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.Psalm 97:1-12
The LORD’S Presence – His Glory
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be His glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory; Amen, and Amen.
Psalm 72:18-19
This Psalm is a Psalm written for Solomon by David while he was the king of Israel. The Psalm is one which is called a Messianic Psalm, which means that is prophetic of the coming Messiah of Israel.
I want to spend a few moments thinking on what verses 18 and 19 are speaking of; the LORD God, the God of Israel. “Blessed be His glorious name,” and “Let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
What is the “Glory of the LORD?” In short it is His presence. This is seen by the events of First Samuel 4 when the ark of the covenant is taken from the Israelites by the Philistines. The warriors of Israel thought that if the ark was with them God was with them, and they found out something else. Phineas’s wife had a son, and as she was dying she named her son Ichabod which means, “the glory is departed.” The ark was gone from Israel, but the Philistines decided after the glory of the LORD was with them awhile that they did not want it any longer.
The glory of the LORD, is His presence. How do we know the presence of God? He is always present with His people, but sometimes not believed to be by that same people. Why would that be? Because sometimes His people have unconfessed, unrepented of sin.
There are many who are turning their backs on God, because they do not see Him, His presence is not real to them. Sin, hanging on to sin, will cause blindness to His presence.
You can see the presence, God’s glory in that storm that came through the night when I was just a boy. You can see the LORD’S glory in that bolt of lightening that may have struck a tree, and killed a family member. You can experience the glory of God by looking down into the vast and beautiful Grand Canyon; or looking up at the height and majesty of the Rocky Mountains. You can see His glory by standing on a beach in Florida or a beach on the west coast in California, and know that it was He who keeps the oceans of the world from proceeding any further than those beaches.
If you have not experienced the presence of the LORD it is because you do not know Him. There is only one way to know Him, and have His presence with you daily; and that is through the cross of Jesus Christ, His burial, and resurrection. Turn from your life of sin and rebellion against God and to the Lord Jesus Christ.
A Song of Praise and Worship
Today I leave you with the following song. For surly and truly, our GOD the Most High is worthy of worship and praise.
God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us; Selah. That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations.
Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for Thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.Psalm 67:1-7
Upheld By The LORD’S Hand
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand.
Psalm 37:23-24
“The steps of a good man…;” we must understand what a good man is. It is the man or woman who walks in the steps of the LORD. It is not a matter of good works, it is a matter of the law of God being written in the heart. That happens in only one way, and that is by the cross of Jesus. For David and all Old Testament believers they were followers of Jesus Christ by grace through faith on credit, awaiting the coming of the Lord as the sacrifice for sin.
For the follower of Jesus today the payment for sin has been credited to our account, and we have received the righteousness of Christ, because He died for our sins.
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…” which since the righteous through Jesus Christ do walk in His steps we can also know that the LORD is delighted to see it is done in us.
The thing about being a “good man” is that he can fall, but because he is the LORD’S the LORD picks us up, and He uphold us with His own hand.
This falling is not a physical falling, but rather a spiritual falling which can lead to a physical iniquity. The spiritual fall happens before the transgression. No one can fall so far away from God that God cannot pick you up. God loves His people, and He loves us too much to allow us to sin successfully.
…That will I seek after…
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.
Psalm 27:4-5
The Psalmist, David had a heart for God, for seeking Him, to know Him better, and to trust Him.
We are told in other places in Scripture that there is none who seek God (Psalm 14:1-2; Romans 3:10-11), and that is true unless God gives you the desire to seek Him. God says in Hebrews 11:6, ” But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” So there are many seekers for God and His salvation, and most of them will most likely receive eternal life by coming to God by the only way which God and His Son Jesus has made for us.
That only way is by grace through faith in the death of Christ on the cross, His burial, and resurrection on the third day. He finished the work He came to do.
If you, like David are seeking to dwell in the house of the LORD all your life, to behold all the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple then you will believe in – trust in David’s Savior and Messiah, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Plots of Men and The Plan of GOD
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.”
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure. Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion.
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, “Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.Psalm 2:1-12
There are four thoughts I want us to see in this Psalm.
First of all, it is clear from the first three verses that the nations of earth plot against the GOD of gods, who is the Creator of all things. The nations may not be doing it knowing they are doing it; but it is the enemy of God behind the scenes working through them.
Secondly, the next three verses tells us that, “The One who sits in the heavens will laugh…” In other words the LORD laughs at the puny efforts of His enemy, the devil, and the men that allow themselves to be used by him. They will experience the wrath of holy God. The LORD has His own King who will reign in Zion, and His King shall reign forever.
Third, we find that that King is the LORD’S own Son. His only begotten Son (John 3:16). All the Son needs to do is ask and He is given the kingdoms of the world. He will then judge those nations who have stood against Him; and He will bless the ones who have blessed Him and His people. Yes, this Son is Jesus. That day of His reign in Zion has yet to come; and it is coming.
The final three verses, are words of warning for refusing to accept this King of kings, and follow Him. Those who serve Him do so with awe, and great respect; they worship Him, because He is worthy. If they do not “Kiss the Son,” His anger and wrath will be against them. The last sentence is, “Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Those who are blessed will be those who have trusted in the King’s death on the cross, His burial and resurrection for the redemption of all who will come to Him.
One day, and maybe not too far away, Jesus is returning to earth to rule and to reign on earth for a thousand years, and then forever and forever. Will you be there?
Job’s Regeneration
Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that Thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. ‘Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: ‘I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me.’
“I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”Job 42:1-6
From chapter 38 through most of chapter 41 the Almighty God has been speaking to Job. Job was wanting to have a discussion with Him, but as you will notice in the reading when God shows up, Job has but a few words, and they are words of repentance.
Job presented many challenges to God. He had many questions to ask the LORD, but when he sees Him for himself he is filled with wonder, and has no questions to ask, or to challenge Him with.
I have noticed that myself. In a time when God has been silent, and I was dealing with anger toward God, and I go to Him in prayer with my question or challenge, He comes, I see Him, hear Him, and my questions or challenge goes awry. and I am comforted and encouraged, and strengthened in my faith.
If you have a problem, a question for God. Do not fear to go to Him. When He reveals Himself to you the answer or challenge or whatever may not matter any longer. You will know that the LORD is God Almighty. All things are in His hands.
God has come into the world in the Person of His Son Jesus to make it possible for us to know God. That is only through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Admit that you are a condemned and dying sinner. Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, confessing Jesus as Lord, and you will be saved and have access to the very throne of God.
A Time For Rejoicing
And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, “This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, “Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, “Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.” And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
Nehemiah 8:9-12
There is a time for rejoicing, and Nehemiah, Ezra, and all the others were rejoicing because of the finished wall, the reading of the law of Moses, and the explanation of it, and the peoples mourning for their sins. After their repentance it is a time for rejoicing.
Rejoicing in the wonderful word of God. Rejoicing in the LORD’S grace, mercy and love. Rejoicing in the forgiveness of their sins.
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ; you believe that Jesus died for your sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again, and you turned form your sin to Jesus, and confess that He is Lord, then you are a follower of Christ. If we do sin and confess our sins He is faithful to forgive us our sins (1 John 1:9).
If you are not a follower of Jesus Christ, then you are without hope, you are lost, you are a condemned sinner, you do not know God. You will never come to God in your own way or your own works. Turn to Jesus Christ today, before it is too late. Then there will be rejoicing in your heart and life, and there will be great rejoicing in heaven.
An Act Of A Pagan King
Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem: and hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
Ezra 7:27-28
There had been many people of Judah who were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. A decree from Cyrus had been given, and authority for the leaders who chose to go, to go with the kings authority and a letter of evidence of such order. See chapter one of Ezra, and verses one through four.
When the people from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin arrived at Jerusalem, and they were in the process of restoring the temple some of the people who had been living near by came by and asked if they could help. They were denied the opportunity to harm the work that way, and they then sent a letter to Artaxerxeus, asking him to search the records of these people. They accused them of being trouble, and that they did not deserve to be building the temple. Artaxerxeus granted to complainers who were working against the work of rebuilding. They received a decree from the king to cause all work on the temple to “cease” immediately.
The prophets Haggai, and Zechariah motivated the people to continue building the temple, and they did (Ezra 5:1-5), and they were asked by the governor of the area who had authorized the continuing of the work. When they could not cause them to cease from the building of the temple they, that is, the governor Tatnai sent a letter to Darius king at that time. King Darius had the records checked, because of Cyrus’s decree, and after reading his decree, made a decree of his own giving authority to the people who worshiped the “God of heaven” the right to build the temple.
Darius gives permission for Ezra to take those who want to return to Jerusalem, and to go with gold, silver, and many other things. The words of the above text are words of Ezra. Words of thanksgiving and of blessing the LORD God.
This act of two of the kings was an act which GOD had put in the heart of these men. He did this in His sovereignty over the hearts, minds, and will of men. God the Almighty reigns in the hearts of men. He works in all of us to fulfill the word and will of God.
God did not only work in His sovereignty in the Bible. He continues to work in His sovereignty in today’s world accomplishing His purposes. We see things sometimes, maybe everyday, that we cannot understand why God could allow something like that to happen. Whether we understand or not is not the issue. The issue is our faith in God and faithfulness to Him. Our mission is not to understand, but to trust Him.
Our trust in God begins by trusting in His work through His Son Jesus Christ. In His death on the cross He was smitten by the Father because He became sin for us, thus He was smitten by God (Isaiah 53:3-4) because God cannot look upon iniquity, Jesus died for us. He was buried, and He rose from the grave where they had laid Him.
Have you trusted God by believing the work of His Son is finished? There is no more you or I can do, and one thing that we can do, and that is receive the free gift He offers us. Do so, and trust Him today. We are not guaranteed another.
The Word Of God Fulfilled
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
“Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (He is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”
Ezra 1:1-4
Second Chronicles ends with this same record of Cyrus’s declaration of building the house of the LORD God of Israel. This one has more details to it, however, chapter 36 and verse 21 tells us why the people of God were seventy years in captivity in this foreign land.
To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 2 Chronicles 36:21
It could be that someone might be reading this and thinking, “I don’t believe in prophecy, so I don’t believe the bible is the truth.” You know what? It matters not at all what you think. It does matter what God says. If He said it; He will do it.
Jeremiah prophesied that Israel would be taken captive to Babylon, would be there seventy years, so that the land of Israel would make up the Sabbath days that were missed. The people of Israel and Judah were guilty of violating the Sabbaths of the LORD; because they had turned their backs to Him, and served other gods; which were no gods at all, but the works of men’s hands.
God’s word is true from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22, not including the apocrypha, which is not reliable, not inspired, and cannot be the word of God. If God said it, it will come to pass, just the way He said it.
It is true of every thing it says about Jesus Christ as well. Jesus is the main character of the Old Testament. In the Revelation it is written, “…For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” Revelation 19:10. That includes the Old Testament. Jesus existed before there was creation. He is seen many times in the Old Testament revealing Himself as the Angel of the LORD. He is the One who walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam. When Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit of the tree, and they hid themselves when they heard God calling out, “Adam, where are you?” That was Jesus, known as the Word of God (John 1:1-5).
If you deny what God says about His Son, then you also deny God. If you deny God, you deny His Son. If you deny God, and the Son of God you are still in your sins, and still need the cleansing and forgiveness of sin that only the death of Jesus Christ on the cross can give. He died, He was buried, and He rose again, coming out of the grave alive forever more.
Believe God. Trust in the finished work of Jesus, believing that only Jesus can deliver you from sin, death, hell and the grave.
Why Good Kings Fall
In this study today I want to remember the words of the Lord Jesus in Revelation 1:6; “…and has made us kings and priest unto God, and His Father…” Only those who are in Christ Jesus have been made kings and priests through the cross of Jesus – His death, burial, and resurrection.
Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper. vv. 3-5
And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
2 Chronicles 26:3-5, 15-16
Why do good kings fall? That is a question that is answered in looking at the lives of the good kings of Judah (There were no good kings in the northern kingdom of Israel), all the kings of Judah did evil in the eyes of the LORD.
We look at King Uzziah today. He “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD.” Verse five says, “…As long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.” In verses fifteen and sixteen we read, “…He was marvelously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction…”
We can look at this one king, and begin to see how we should live, as the kings and priests of the Lord Jesus. We also see how we should not live. In the first place we need to be continually seeking the LORD, to know Him better, to love Him more, and to be a better servants to God, and our neighbor.
In the second place we need to always remember that when God has prospered us, where that prosperity comes from. God prosper us. Let us always thank Him for His blessings. When we are truly thankful to Him, then we will less likely to fall. Uzziah became full of arrogance and pride. He took on himself an act of service that he was fit for, and he ended up with the curse of leprosy on his body until the day of his death.
As a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, I must guard my heart and mind through the reading and study of the word of God with the guidance of the Spirit of God to do so. I must also remember that I am still subject to the Lord, and I answer to Him for any sin in my life. I am not beyond His judgment, or consequences of my sin in this life. That is why I am thankful that we are told, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Do you know God? Do you know His Son Jesus Christ? If you do not, you need to know that you are a sinner. You have sinned against God your Creator, and that He sent His Son Jesus to die for you and me while we were yet sinners. He became sin for us, and gives us His righteousness when we come to Him. Jesus Christ died on a cross for us, He was buried, and He arose and came out of that grave alive forever more.
You can trust Him. Call on the name that is above every name – that name is Jesus. He will hear you and will deliver you from your sin.
When The Kings Of God Face Trouble
Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; and he said, “Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, ‘Thus saith the LORD unto you, ‘Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.’ ” (20:14-17)
And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.”
2 Chronicles 20:14-17, 20
Jehoshaphat was king who did right in the eyes of the LORD (2 Chronicles 17:1-4), by following the ways of David. He called on the people of Judah to seek the LORD God with all their hearts. Please read all of chapter 20.
This king of Judah was warned of an approaching army, an enemy, yet descendants of Lot (Genesis 11:27 and 12:4). The Moabites and the Ammonites; who are descendants of Lot’s sons Moab, and Ammon (Genesis 19:30-38). When he hears of a great encroaching enemy he is fearful, and does what any godly king should do when their people, their lives, and nation is at stake; and that is he prayed to the Creator of heaven and earth – the One true God.
When he had prayed the Spirit of God came upon a Levite by the name Jahaziel and told the king, and his army, “You do not need to fight this battle. The battle is not yours but God’s”
The people of Israel went out to the battle singing and praising the LORD. The enemy attacked the people of Seir and defeated them, then turned against each other, leaving a mass of corpses on the ground.
When an enemy comes against us as followers of Jesus Christ we too must do what King Jehoshapht did. We must humbly approach the LORD God, seeking Him with our whole heart. We also need to remember that His enemy is our enemy, and that He hears the prayers of those who are faithful to do His will.
All of those who know Him will be kings and priests unto the Lord our God (Revelation 1:6; 5:10). We are in training, through the sanctification of the Holy Spirit at work in us as we live here, before we are glorified with Christ Jesus.
If you do not know Him you are yet His enemy. Christ died for us while we were yet His enemies (Romans 5:10), and if He loved us enough to become sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God, then the power of His resurrection is even greater. Through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ an evil man or woman can be changed through His power. The changed one becomes a person that loves and respects others, and becomes a servant to them.
He will not fail to complete what He has began in us (Philippians 1:6). The Lord’s personal invitation to you today is “Come to Me.”
When Kings Trust The LORD
And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on Thee, and in Thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, Thou art our God; let not man prevail against Thee.” So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before His host; and they carried away very much spoil….
2 Chronicles 14:9-13
Asa was now the king of Judah and Benjamin. He is the grandson of Rehoboam who is the son of Solomon. Solomon was not faithful to the LORD, yet He loved him, and had mercy on him.
Asa was one that the Lord says that he did right in the eyes of the LORD, and we see it in the verses above, in his prayer tho Him. The prayer comes seeing the massive army from Ethiopia with a million man army. According to verse 8 of this chapter, King Asa has only an army of five hundred eighty thousand (580,000). The enemies numbers are almost twice the number, but King Asa prays to the LORD. The LORD hears Asa’s prayer, and He wins the victory.
Would it not be wonderful to have kings, presidents, prime ministers, and all leaders trust in the LORD God Almighty. If they would trust in the Lord through hearing His word, commitment, and faithfulness to God, then there would probably be less war mongering. Trusting in only the One true God who is the Creator of all that is – heaven and earth, and all that is therein.
The One true God sent His only begotten Son into this world to redeem all who would come to Him, by God’s grace through faith. If you do not come through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you do not come at all. The crucifixion of Christ Jesus is the only sacrifice for sin. If you know the Son, you know the Father; if you know the Father, you know the Son.
It would be wonderful too if you would call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, turning from sin to Jesus, and putting your full confidence and faith in Him. Do that right now.
According To the Word of the LORD
Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which He spake by His servant Elijah. So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
2 Kings 10:10-11
Jehu is a character of contradiction. I say that because he is chosen to be the next king of Israel, and he is ordained by God’s word to rid the population of Israel of their king Joram, a son of Ahab, an family that was doomed by the word of he LORD. Jehu does everything just as the LORD has told him, of the destroying of Ahab’s wife Jezebel, and his heirs. Just as the LORD had said.
I say Jehu is a character of contradiction due to the fact that he was also a man who never turned away from the path of Jereboam, who had set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan (2 Kings 10:31).
Nevertheless, he did do the will and word of the LORD in his actions, but no heart for God. How is this possible? That is the part I cannot grasp.
The point I want to make with this post is that there is not a word which the LORD God has spoken, that will fail to be fulfilled. Not one. There are many, and many may be reading this and thinking that the Bible is not the word of God, and there is no way you can prove that it is. How about the issue of these prophecies?
The LORD had spoken through Elijah in First Kings 21:17-26, all that He would do to Ahab and Jezebel, and now we read that it happened just as Elijah had said. Do you realize that there are prophecies that have been spoken by God, that have not yet been fulfilled? There are probably hundreds that are yet to come to pass. They will in the LORD’S own time.
Many of those are of the second coming of Jesus Christ; His return to Jerusalem (Zechariah 14). Jesus said, “I will come again” (John 14:3). He said this before they crucified Him. His death did not stop Him from returning, it gives greater meaning to His coming again. Why? Because He did not stay dead. He rose from the grave with a new body that can never die. That is also what happens to everyone who has repented of their sins, by turning away from sin, toward Christ Jesus. When this body of flesh dies we too shall receive a new body that shall never perish.
Since the promises of the Old Testament were fulfilled, yet many of them have not been; then we must believe that they are being fulfilled, or they will be fulfilled just as GOD has spoken. The prophet Isaiah wrote,
“So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11
If we trust the LORD God, then we will trust His word, and His Son Jesus Christ.
O Altar, Altar
And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, “O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; ‘Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.’ And he gave a sign the same day, saying, ‘This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; ‘Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.’ ”
1 Kings 13:1-3
This introduces us to an unnamed prophet who has gone from Judah to Bethel with a word from the LORD, to Jereboam. Jereboam his sinned grievously by setting up two golden calves; one in Dan, and the other in Bethel.
Jereboam is there offering sacrifice, and this prophet comes with the word of the LORD, which includes a prophecy of the birth of Josiah, a much later king of Judah. As a sign that this word from the LORD was the truth he says, “Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.”
In the verses that follow we see that is exactly what happened. God still proves His word to be true. As is said by Jesus many times, “He that has ears to hear; let him hear.” The problem with many who do not believe in God is they have no desire for Him. They love the life they have, and think all is well; but they are perishing in their self deceiving minds. They do not want God to tell them how to live their lives. So they do not want to hear.
I really imagine the Jereboam did not want to hear the word of the LORD from this Judean prophet. But he heard it whether he like it or not, and there was no change except in his rebellious hand, as he ordered the prophet to be arrested.
The word of the LORD from this prophet was to Jereboam, reminding him there was the LORD God who was in control, and had given him a promise to have a kingdom as long as he obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and having a heart for Him. He did not obey, and his family was destroyed (read 1 Kings 15).
Our message for today is that the word of the LORD is trust worthy, faithful, and true from the smallest letter to the largest. When God says it; it will be done. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away but My word shall never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). In Psalm 119 and verse 89 the psalmist wrote, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven,” and it does not do harm to the word of God if we do not believe it; it is still the truth of God and stands sure.
The word of God is all about Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but has everlasting life” (John 3:16).
You are a sinner condemned to an eternity of torment. We were all born in a sinful body, condemned to hell, and without some work of God, we would certainly go there. But God who is rich in mercy for His great love which He gave us in His Son Jesus will give light, and life eternal to all who will believe Him. In Him alone is the only way of eternal salvation.
Will you believe today? Will you call on His name? He is waiting.
This House
And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,
“Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in My statutes, and execute My judgments, and keep all My commandments to walk in them; then will I perform My word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: and I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.
1 KIngs 6:11-13
King David had a heart to build a house for the LORD. However, the LORD would not allow David to build because he had been a man at war, and had shed much blood. God had told him, “Your son will build me an house,” and thus we see after Solomon is anointed King, that he begins to build that house.
The LORD is not so concerned with a physical house; as He is with the human heart. The heart of Solomon was what God wanted.
Could or would Solomon walk in the statutes of God? Would or could execute the judgments of God? Would or could he keep all the commandments of God? The answer to all three questions is; NO!
The house GOD wants to dwell in is the house of the human heart. That heart of the man or woman is corrupt and evil, unless that heart is changed by God Himself. Second Corinthians 5:1through 2 speaks of this house. I leave the reference hear for you to investigate, and see for yourself.
GOD wants to make your heart His house to dwell in. He made that possible only through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ on a cross. He was buried, and He rose from that grave and is alive forever more.
If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, your shall be saved. Will you do that today.
Sin Against God Affects Us All
And David said unto Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said unto David, “The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.” And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
2 Samuel 12:13-15
There are many people whom I have heard say something like this after they have been confronted about some sin they have committed; “I am hurting nobody, but maybe myself. I am not hurting anyone else.” O, what a lie is that.
King David had committed adultery with one of his faithful soldiers wife. Uziah’s wife became pregnant by David, and David tried to cover up the possible scandal that would occur. He ends up sending Uziah back to the battlefield, and to certain death, thus by his order murdering his soldier. There he has killed a man, after he has adulterated his wife. There is two others affected by one man’s sin. Joab, David’s General over the battle is also affected by David’s scheme to cover his sin. Then, the baby dies as a result of David’s sin.
For all practical purposes David deserved to die. David confesses his sin, and Nathan the bold prophet who confronted the king about his sin, gives him God’s message, “The LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die.” Nathan has told him already what his sin will do in his family, and against him in verses 11 through 12, of this same chapter. In the verses above the sin of David, the LORD said would give cause for his enemies to blaspheme God.
My sin, and your sin always affects others. The next time you think you are getting away with something that you did wrong. You had ought to think again, because it does affect others, and maybe those closest to you. When your sin is exposed, and it is known, then it will cause many others to take a dim view of God, and will blaspheme the name of God.
Even things done in the privacy of a bedroom with the wrong person with or without the opposite sex. Your sin will find you out, and you will give an accounting to GOD for it.
The good news is, that there is forgiveness for all who fall on their face before the LORD in repentance, for one who is already a follower of Christ (1 John1:9). For the one who does not yet know Jesus Christ He will forgive your sins, and cleanse you, and give you eternal life with Himself. Repent – turn away from your sin – and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ believing He died on a cross for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again. Will you call on His name today? He is waiting.
The Fire and Hammer 