Mercy

God is Good

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“Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can shew forth all His praise?” Psalm 106:1-2 (KJV)

There are not enough words to describe the goodness, and worth of God.  I will let you hear the words of Matthew Henry on these verses…

We are here taught,
I. To bless God (Psa_106:1, Psa_106:2): Praise you the Lord, that is, 1. Give him thanks for his goodness, the manifestation of it to us, and the many instances of it. He is good and his mercy endures for ever; let us therefore own our obligations to him and make him a return of our best affections and services. 2. Give him the glory of his greatness, his mighty acts, proofs of his almighty power, wherein he has done great things, and such as would be opposed. Who can utter these? Who is worthy to do it? Who is able to do it? They are so many that they cannot be numbered, so mysterious that they cannot be described; when we have said the most we can of the mighty acts of the Lord, the one half is not told; still there is more to be said; it is a subject that cannot be exhausted. We must show forth his praise; we may show forth some of it, but who can show forth all? Not the angels themselves. This will not excuse us in not doing what we can, but should quicken us to do all we can.
From the MATTHEW HENRY Commentary

Singing Mercy and Judgment

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“I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto Thee, O LORD, will I sing.” Psalm 101:1 (KJV)

This a Psalm of David.  A man who knew of God’s mercy and judgment.  We ought to be thankful for His lovingkindness, and His chastisement of His own.  Our hearts filled with song, and singing to the One who alone is worthy of song and praise.

Of this verse and song, Spurgeon has written,

“I will sing of mercy and judgment.” He would extol both the love and the severity, the sweets and the bitters, which the Lord had mingled in his experience; he would admire the justice and the goodness of the Lord. Such a song would fitly lead up to godly resolutions as to his own conduct, for that which we admire in our superiors we naturally endeavour to imitate. Mercy and judgment would temper the administration of David, because he had adoringly perceived them in the dispensations of his God. Everything in God’s dealings with us may fittingly become the theme of song, and we have not viewed it aright until we feel we can sing about it. We ought as much to bless the Lord for the judgment with which he chastens our sin, as for the mercy with which he forgives it; there is as much love in the blows of his hand as in the kisses of his mouth. Upon a retrospect of their lives instructed saints scarcely know which to be most grateful for – the comforts which have cheered them, or the afflictions which have purged them. “Unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.” Jehovah shall have all our praise. The secondary agents of either the mercy or the judgment must hold a very subordinate place in our memory, and the Lord alone must be hymned by our heart. Our soul’s sole worship must be the lauding of the Lord. The Psalmist forsakes the minor key, which was soon to rule him in the one hundred and second Psalm, and resolves that, come what may, he will sing, and sing to the Lord too, whatever others might do.
from THE TREASURY OF DAVID

O, let us sing of the LORD’S mercy and judgment.  Let us sing.

A Song to Sing

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“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 89:1 (KJV)

A Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite is the title of this Psalm.  A song of instruction; and surely there is not much else to sing of than of the LORD and His mercy.

The mercy of the LORD is everlasting.  There is another of the Psalms which magnifies the mercy of the LORD.  Psalm 136 has every verse ending with “For His mercy endureth forever”.  The mercies of God.  Let that be your song for today.

Part of His mercies is also that He is faithful.  He is faithful to every generation.  He is faithful to all the earth, and to all His creation.  He is faithful to His own glory, power and praise.

Sing a song today; and let it be a song of His mercies.  The greatest display of His mercy was by the judgment of His Son Jesus on the cross for your sins and mine.

Mercy and Blessing

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“God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us; Selah.” Psalm 67:1 (KJV)

Mercy and blessing is what the world needs today.  Mercy and blessing is what the Lord has given us.  Many will curse that last sentence because they curse God and all that He has said; all that He has done; and all that He is doing.

The Psalmist in praying this prayer may have the one big event in mind.  The coming of His Son; our Saviour into the world.  The greatest show of mercy from God toward the world was the sending of Jesus Christ, Son of God into the world to be propitiation for our sin.

The sinless Son of God became sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), took the judgment of God; and when we by faith look to Him He makes us the righteousness of God.  Now what could be more merciful than that?  What could be more gracious than that?

When we trust Jesus as our Lord and Saviour the face of God shines upon us and within us.  “Selah”  I always view this word as being a word to tell us “Pause and think on this for a while”.  Rejoice in the grace and mercy of God today and always.

Be Merciful Unto Me…

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“Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.” Psalm 56:1 (KJV)

O how I need mercy.  I pray that I am just as merciful as much as I need it; for I need it greatly.  The world needs mercy.  We need God’s mercy.  Being gracious; having pity upon another is the meaning of mercy.

Of this verse Spurgeon has written,

“Be merciful unto me, O God.” In my deep distress my soul turns to thee, my God. Man has no mercy on me, therefore double thy mercy to me. If thy justice has let loose my enemies, let thy mercy shorten their chain. It Is sweet to see how the tender dove-like spirit of the Psalmist flies to the tenderest attribute for succour in the hour of peril. “For man would swallow me up.” He is but thy creature, a mere man, yet like a monster he is eager for blood, he pants, he gapes for me; he would not merely wound me, or feed on my substance, but he would fain swallow me altogether, and so make an end of me. The open mouths of sinners when they rage against us should open our months in prayer. We may plead the cruelty of men as a reason for the divine interposition – a father is soon aroused when his children are shamefully entreated. “He fighting daily oppresseth me.” He gives me no interval – he fights daily. He is successful in his unrighteous war – he oppresses me, he crushes me, he presses me sore. David has his eye on the leader of his foes, and lays his plaint against him in the right place. If we may thus plead against man, much more against that great enemy of souls, the devil. We ask the Lord to forgive us our trespasses, which is another way of saying, “Be merciful unto me, O God,” and then we say, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” The more violent the attack of Satan the stronger our plea for deliverance.

From THE TREASURY OF DAVID by C. H. Spurgeon

Are you feeling desperate, down hearted, discouraged, or hated by others? Plead for God’s mercy.  He will give it.  Even David the king of Israel asked for mercy.  The mercy of God is given to us everyday; even though many do not realize it.  Believe it and receive it.

Mercy or Justice???

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“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” Psalm 51:1 (KJV)

This Psalm are the words of David to the LORD following the confrontation of his sin with Bathsheba.  David is guilty of sin; adultery, and murder of Uzziah the husband of Bathsheba.  David deserves to die.  That would be justice.

Because of David’s repentant heart God gives David mercy, and preserves his life.

In 2015 I have heard many call out for “Justice”, and yes sometimes that seems in short supply.  There is justice for many unborn children, but no mercy.  There is much mercy shown to those who do not deserve mercy, because they have shown no mercy.  Wait a minute.  Who deserves mercy?

Let me define what these words mean; at least as I see them.  First “Justice”  equals getting what is rightly deserved – death, judgment.  “Mercy” equals not receiving what we justly deserve – but instead receive forgiveness, life, love, liberty.

The Psalmist asked for mercy.  I believe he received it.  He received forgiveness, cleansing, and his sins blotted out.  Hear the word of the LORD;

“I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” Isaiah 43:25

My prayer is that we ask for mercy from God for our transgressions, our sins; and that we also ask for mercy for those who sin against us.  I need mercy.  What about you?

Asked Again, and Again

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“Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?” Psalm 10:1 (KJV)

It has been asked again and again, “Where was God on that day of despair?”  Maybe you are one who has asked the question.  Maybe, even like the Psalmist you asked God Himself; “Why are You so far away?  Why are You hiding Yourself in these times of trouble?”

I know that I  have.  God’s answer has always been, “I am right here in the midst of it.  Do you not see My mercy?  Do you not see My hand keeping harm at bay?”

Name a trouble or trial, and I can tell you He is right there in the midst of it.  He is holding you.  If it is a tragic event involving someone else He is there as well.

A very needful question to ask would be “Where was God on the day Jesus was crucified?”  After all Jesus was sinless, without spot or blemish.  He was there. He was displaying His grace; His love and His mercy for all human kind.  He was also displaying His judgment upon our sin upon His Son Jesus Christ.  He was not standing “afar off”; He was very near; fulfilling His Word.

He is right where you are as well.  Believe Him.  Trust Him today.

Is GOD Angry?

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“O LORD, rebuke me not in Thine anger, neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure.”

To answer the title question; David the Psalmist thought God could be angry.  To ask, “Is God angry?” makes it sound as though one is thinking that He is angry all the time, through all eternity.

The Psalmist is asking for mercy.  Do I need mercy?  Definitely.  Do you need mercy?  Yes.  The human race needs mercy.  Jesus said,

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:7).

There seems to be a mistaken belief that God could never be angry.  “How could a loving God be angry?” is the assumptive question.  How could a loving God never be angry? would be my question and thought.  If you love and someone hurts what you love does that not make you angry?

God loves His children.  He has proven that by the cross of Christ.  He poured out His anger upon His only begotten, sinless, spotless Son as He bled and died on the cross.  Now He declares all who come to Him through Jesus Christ “Righteous”.

The writer of Hebrews has written,

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

I am blessed to be in the hands of the living God.  I do not want God to be angry with me.  Like David I ask for His mercy.  It is found in Christ.

GOD’S Ear

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“Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.” Psalm 5:1 (KJV)

It seems that every human being has something to say; and we feel that every thing we say is important.  From the smallest child, to the eldest among us we desire to be heard.  So many voices.  So many  thought.  So many words.

With so much being said; how can anyone be heard?  Family get togethers are a place for everyone to speak, but is anyone really heard?

There is One who will hear your heart, your words, your thoughts.  He is God. The God Man who is seated in heaven with the Father.  By Him we have access to the “Throne of grace” –  the very throne room of holy God.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

We have access to the throne, the ear of God, through Jesus Christ God’s only begotten Son who died on the cross, was buried, and bodily arose from the grave.  Forty days later witnesses saw Him ascend into heaven; and soon He is returning to claim His own.

God has an ear for you. Do you have an ear for God?

Call for a Hearing

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“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.” Psalm 4:1 (KJV)

David the Psalmist had a great heart for calling on the LORD.  This appears to be his first action when facing difficulties.  Rather then complaining and being angry toward men he would often take his anxieties to the LORD, and receive comfort.

Now, David was by no means perfect.  He had his sins to deal with, and God chastised him for his sins; as God chastises all those who are His.

The man of God desires to have the ear of God.  Desires to have it during the bad times and the good.  He desires the righteousness of God.  Praises God for His blessings, and appreciates the mercy of God.

Call on God through His Son Jesus Christ today.  He will hear you.

They Shall Obtain Mercy

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The Be-Attitudes continuing…

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” Matthew 5:7 (KJV).

When you are in the right position with “Mercy” it is most likely because you have obtained mercy. (See Matthew 6:14-15; and Luke 7:41-42). We live in a very competitive world. Many believe it is okay to exact revenge on someone who has bettered you. You could call that “Get-Even-Ism”.

That is not the way of mercy. That is not the way of God. In the Luke reference given it tells us, “There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?” (Luke 7:41-42). The answer given to this question was, “The one who was forgiven the most”. Mercy is what all of us have received, but very few practice it toward others.

To define Mercy, it has been defined this way. It is not receiving what we justly deserve – that is judgment. We have all received mercy from God, because He withholds the judgment in order that many might, at least have opportunity, to be saved.

The next time you are about to release a verbiage of criticism on someone over something that has offended you; take a look at yourself. Someone has been merciful to you in the past, and probably over this same thing that has set you off. The prophet Habakkuk prayed to the LORD, “…In wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2 KJV). It is the merciful who will obtain mercy. His kingdom way is mercy. What is the position of your attitude concerning mercy?

When You Love Your Enemies

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“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”  ~Jesus (Luke 6:27-36)

Repentance Is for the Afflicted

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“They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, ‘I will have mercy, and not sacrifice:’ for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  ~Jesus (Matthew 9:12-13)

Through the Bible in a Year – 092913

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Justified… Hope of Eternal Life

Titus 3:1-7

1.  THE JUSTIFIED ARE SUBJECTS OF THOSE IN LEADERSHIP (vv. 1-2).

2.  JUSTIFICATION IS BY MERCY AND GRACE FROM GOD; NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (vv. 3-5).

3.  BEING JUSTIFIED, BY GOD’S PRONOUNCEMENT, WE HAVE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE (vv. 6-7)

-Tim A. Blankenship

Reminder of His Love

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In the last article on this chapter of Jeremiah, the final verse of our text was the last part of verse 19 which tells us, “And the fear of Me is not in you,’ says the Lord GOD of hosts.” That is usually the reason for departure from God.

As we look into the following verses we see the Lord having them recall their deliverance from bondage, then playing the harlot, turning against their deliverer.

“For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot. Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Me? For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before Me, saith the Lord GOD.” Jeremiah 2:20-22 (KJV)

One of the things that we can see throughout God’s dealings with the chosen people is that He loves them. His grace is everlasting, and His mercy endures forever. That is a theme for His people throughout all of Scripture.

God had delivered His children from the bondage of Egypt, and burst the bonds which held them. He had done this in just a matter of days while working in Egypt through the plagues upon the land and the people. They witnessed the mighty power of God. Not just Israel, but Egypt witnessed this awe-inspiring events which turned the heart of Pharoah, at least for a time, to let God’s people go.

The people had promised God they would not transgress His law. They did. That is why the declaration is made, “When on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down playing the harlot”. The pagan, Gentile altars were on the high hills, and under the trees. God is charging the people with spiritual adultery. That is, the forsaking of the true Husband for an imposter. They had turned away from holy God for unholy pleasures. They had forgotten the attitude of Moses. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way –

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”  Hebrews 11:24-26 (KJV)

The prophet Isaiah in a previous time had spoken of Israel as a vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7). He speaks of the Husbandman planting the vineyard, but all He received were wild grapes. God says through Jeremiah, “Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality”, and now they have turned their backs on God and are worshipping stone, wood, flesh. They have in fact become an “alien vine”. That is not what God planted. That is the picture we see.

When they have made themselves unclean before God, they then, evidently feel guilty, try to wash themselves clean with the strongest cleanser they have available that day. They would go and worship the false gods, taking pleasures that should not have been their’s to have. After their violation of holiness with God they would then seek to make themselves clean before God, and without true repentance.

Thus God says, “Yet your iniquity is marked before Me”.

The lesson for the follower of Jesus Christ is that we have been delivered from sin. Our sins have been forgiven. The law of the Lord is written in our hearts. We are free to live righteously, holy, and undefiled lives through the power of the Spirit of Christ who lives in us. When we sin we have an advocate with the Father. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9. There is need for repentance and that is a turning from sin and to the Lord Jesus.

-by Tim A. Blankenship

Through the Bible in a Year – 071413

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The Poverty of Christ:  Our Riches

I.  We Are Changed Into the Image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

II.  Having Received Mercy,  We Do not Quit (2 Corinthians 4:1-2).

III.  Our Confidence is in the Work of Christ and His Word (2 Corinthians 5:6-11).

IV.  The Most Important Time is… NOW  (2 Corinthians 6:1-2;  Exodus 3:13-15).

V.  Our Motivation for Being Holy are the Promises of GOD (2 Corinthians 7:1;  1 John 3:2-3).

VI.  In His Poverty We are Made Rich – His Poverty; Our Riches (2 Corinthians 8:7-9).

Words for Christian Living – A Strong Heart

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“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”  2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (KJV)

There are many people walking around in this world who have been told by their physicians that they have weak or failing hearts.  Some of us have had different types of surgery for their heart from stentz placed in arteries of their heart to what is called “Open heart” surgery.  The “Strong heart” of which I title this does not refer to the physical heart, but to the inner individual.

“…We faint not”  has much to do with having “A Strong Heart”.  The man or woman of God; every Christian; must be committed to being faithful to God and His Word.  That is what Paul the apostle is speaking of.  From the time we become a follower of Jesus Christ we “Renounce the hidden things of dishonesty”; these are the sins of our past.  We have repented, and our lives are changed.

It is a mark of the Christian, too, that we not use tricks, or deceit when it comes to the word of God.  One of the things that angers me is the way I see many a Christian leader using emotion to entice “worship”; then people walk away thinking they have been in the presence of God; they go out the doors of the Church or the stadium, and their lives are left unchanged.  Nothing wrong with emotion if it is not manipulated by deceit and the mishandling of God’s Word.  Be careful Christian that you do not let wrong handling of the word of God lead you astray.

The truth will be all the commendation one needs.  Know the truth.  Keep your heart for God strong.

The Redeeming Love of God – Hosea 11:1 – 12:14

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GOD’S Compassion for His People

Hosea 11:1 – 12:14

Concern and Compassion took a cruise on an ocean liner.  While they were out looking over the outer railing someone fell overboard.  Concern cried out, “Man overboard”.  Compassion cried out, “Man overboard”, and dived in to rescue the imperiled man.

The above story shows the difference in concern and compassion.  One cries out, but does nothing.  The other cries out gets involved, and commits themselves to the task.  God’s greatest compassion was shown to us by Jesus Christ His Son dying on the cross.  He [Jesus] was committed to t he task of dying for your sins and mine; redeeming us forever unto GOD.

“When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called My son out of Egypt. As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.”  Hosea 11:1-4 (KJV)

God’s love and compassion is demonstrated in His care for Israel despite their deceit and departure from Him (Romans 5:8).

Verse one of this text is mentioned in Matthew 2:15 as a prophetic verse pointing to Jesus Christ coming out of Egypt. The life of Jesus is a kind of parallel of the journeys of the descendants of Abraham – except of course for their doubts, fears, and unbelief, their sin.  Jesus’s life showed them; and us that life can be lived for GOD.

As Israel came out of Egypt, though, they determined to turn away from God and to worship Baal.  It was God who led them by their arms (as a father teaching his child to walk).  It was He who healed them, and delivered them out of the bondage, and slavery of Egypt.

GOD worked in the life of the nation drawing them to Himself through human bondage.  “Cords of a man” while loving them to bring them out to be His own purchased possession.  He would remove the yoke of bondage, and feed them in His grace and mercy (v. 4).

“He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels. And My people are bent to backsliding from Me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt Him.” vv. 5-7

Despite Israel’s rebellion deceit and fraud toward God He still promises not to completely destroy them; but to restore them.

In these verses we see the results of Israel’s rejection of God’s love.  First, they would go into Assyrian captivity (v. 5).  Those who would flee to Egypt would die there (See 9:6).  The second result was the continued desolation of Israel, and their land (v. 6).  They had rejected God and chosen to seek the foreign gods.  The third and most tragic was their rejection of God’s love led them to a persistent and fixed state of rebellion (v. 7).

Every time a person hardens their heart against God, by rebelling against His authority, His Word the heart only gets harder.  Remember Pharoah of Egypt!  He hardened his heart for the last time, until God hardened it.  Woe to the one whose heart is hardened by God.

“How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within Me, My repentings are kindled together. I will not execute the fierceness of Mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. They shall walk after the LORD: He shall roar like a lion: when He shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.”  vv. 8-11

God’s love is persistent and consistent toward His people.

God’s thoughts had somehow been toward destruction.  His heart was/is broken with compassion.   These questions are powerful.  We do not understand the mind of God, so let us not get in a titther over these thoughts.  He could have destroyed Israel, but the thought of it brought compassion, and would cause Israel to stop and think.  They, like the rest of humanity, deserved destruction.  They did not deserve God’s compassion.

God says that His is not like man.  Man’s ways are to destroy all that is against him and his way.  God’s way is to change the heart of man.  In His compassion, grace and mercy He would bring them to Himself, and  put them back in their own land (v. 11).

“Ephraim compasseth Me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints. Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt. The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will He recompense him. He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto Him: he found Him in Bethel, and there He spake with us; even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.”  Hosea 11:12 – 12:6

GOD calls for a change.  There is nothing new with God.

There is still a spark of faithfulness in Judah.  Israel has gone too far.  They have gone beyond “the point of no return”, but for God’s grace.  When sin is finished, and life is ruined God’s grace continues (Romans 5:20).

The wind (12:1) offers no nourishment, just as surely as there is no spiritual life in worshipping idols.  There is no hope for Israel/Ephraim in Assyria.

Israel practiced deceit and treachery against God.  There is a horrible portrait of Israel in Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus to be crucified.  They would rather live without God than to obey Him.  They would find out the tragedy of life without God.

God remained faithful as He always does.  He never changes (Hebrews 13:8).

Jacob was born rebellious and deceitful.  His name means “Supplanter” or “Deceiver”.  He used deceit and trickery to take that which he wanted from his brother Esau (Genesis 25:24-34).  “Jacob prevailed with God and men only when he yielded himself to God.”  TRAYLOR

God changed Jacob from deceiver; seeking God his own way to Israel meaning “Prince of God”.  The nation of Israel was spoken to by God through the man Israel, formerly Jacob.  As God changed Jacob’s heart to trust the Lord He also would change the heart of the nation.

There are three truths stressed in verse six about being changed:

  1. Turn from sin to God;
  2. God’s expectation is that those who turn to Him live with kindness [mercy] and justice [judgment]. Practicing the qualities of God;
  3. Have a personal relationship and experience with God.

“A merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast. I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. Is there iniquity in Gilead? Surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields. And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. Ephraim provoked Him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall He leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.”  vv. 7-14 (KJV)

The nation had reached a point where being a “Kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6) counted as nothing to them.

What happened?  They had gotten so engulfed in being an economically blessed nation they became more concerned with business, rather than a personal relationship with the God of heaven.  A merchant rather then priestly they even practiced deceit with one another in order to grab all they could [“balances of deceit”]. They then added denial to their sins (v. 8).  Their goals of life were corrupt.  They had changed from the incorruptible to that which corrupts.

God says that He will still make them “…To dwell in tabernacles”.  This is a promise of return.  He has spoken so through His prophets.  Their Feasts would be restored, and there would be joy in the land, and they would walk in God’s ways.  The prophets of God always warned of impending judgment, and with the words of judgment they also included words of promise and hope.

Because of his iniquity Jacob fled to Paddan-Aram to escape the wrath of his brother Esau.

Just as surely as Jacob suffered for his sin the nation of Israel would be chastised, and rebuked, and learn of the emptiness of self-seeking, serving ways.

Jacob became a “Slave” of his uncle for a wife, and  he was deceived.  You do reap what you sow.  He served his uncle Laban, then as a shepherd to get the wife he had chosen.

The nation of Israel would go into Assyrian bondage in order to become the people God desired them to be.

Moses was the prophet who delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage.  By this same prophet Israel was fed, protected, and refreshed.  The is a greater Prophet who will deliver all from the bondage of sin when He is believed and followed.  This greater Prophet is Jesus (See Deuteronomy 18:15;  Acts 3:20-23).

-Tim A. Blankenship

The Redeeming Love of God (Hosea 4:1-3)

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God’s Controversy With His People 1

As we begin our study of Hosea 4 we find Hosea speaking in the gates of the city.  This is the place where civil and religious meetings were held.  There were probably some who were from the Southern kingdom present here as well.

The LORD is presented as having a “Controversy” with the people.  The MIRRIAM/WEBSTER Dictionary defines “Controversy” as being “a clash of opposing views: DISPUTE”.  It must of necessity be concluded that the one who opposes God is the one who is in error.  The New International Version of the Bible uses the word “Charge”.  The New American Standard uses the word “Case”.  These latter two imply court actions.  If then this is a court scene we see GOD as the offended party; and He is also the Judge, the Prosecutor; and since there is no defense mentioned He would also be their Defense.  God has a legal case against Israel.  It is a case He will win.  A case where the guilty will in brokenness confess their guilt, turn from their evil, and seek His face, receiving His forgiveness.

In verse one through three God says all are guilty, then the priests and prophets are responsible for rejecting the Word of God, rather than teaching it, living it, and proclaiming it (vv. 4-6).  They are all condemned for leaving God to follow the harlotry of Baal (vv. 7-10).  The men are then told of their responsibility for the corrupting of their wives and daughters (vv. 13-14).  Judah [the Southern kingdom] is then called on to heed the Word of Go, and not to forsake God and His ways following other gods (vv. 15-19).

“Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.  By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.  Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.”  Hosea 4:1-3 (KJV)

The land is greatly polluted.  Sexual perversion and immorality always pollute the land of any nation.

God still contends with evil.  He is contending with evil even now across the United States of America, and in all nations of the world.  Sin is just as destructive today as it was in Hosea’s day; maybe more open and with greater influence; but “where sin abounds grace does much more abound”.

“Truth” is faithfulness.  Faithful to God, His Word, and His ways.  To walk in them is to walk in truth.  To walk in truth is to be faithful to His Word.  To depart from truth is to cease being kind.  “Mercy” is kindness.  When God’s people forsake His way sexual immorality increases, murders increase, all crime and criminal activities increase, and education slips into amorality.  Evil becomes good, and good becomes evil.  Because of this there is no knowledge of God in the land.  God is seen only as non-existent, unavailable, or contained in a box to be used at our own discretion and for our own pleasures.  Because of evil god is made in our own image.  He is viewed as tolerating evil, and never judging it; putting Him on equal basis with the gods of men’s hearts.  His Holiness, Righteousness, mercy, and grace are forgotten.  What need is there of mercy and/or grace if God tolerates all kinds of evil?

When people depart from God to serve the gods of their hearts “Everyone does that which is right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25), the land becomes “Bloody”.  The commandments of God become useless, despised, and rejected; tossed aside as fables.

In verse two Hosea declares that at least five of the Ten Commandments had been severely broken.

There are also ecological consequences to sin.

The land cries out to God for mercy (Romans 8:22).  The man of God’s creation willfully sinned against God.  Sin causes the creation to groan.  Unless God keeps His hand of mercy on the land, then the land judges us.

The environmental crises that are known today; the upheaval of weather  patterns, in the USA, and around the world; are evidences of a gross spiritual problem.  God’s people have forsaken Him to serve the idols of pleasure, entertainment, and the sirens of comfort.  Many of the gods of our day are science, technology, money and finance.  All idols of man’s own making; leading to our destruction.

The world may laugh at such a simplistic answer, but the Bible is clear on the matter, and it is right.  Someone has said, “The heart of the human problem, is the problem of the human heart.” (Matthew 15:16-20).  The heart of man can only be righted when man confesses his sin/departure from God, repents, and asks for, and receives God’s forgiveness.

It is not gun-control we need to stop murders, or condoms to stop STD’s and/or AIDS.  It is self-control, and especially Holy Spirit initiated self-control.  To make it real the world needs the grace, mercy, and love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the forgiveness only His atoning death, burial and resurrection supplies.

-Tim A. Blankenship

The Redeeming Love of God (2) continued…

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GOD Pursues the Redemption of His Wife (Continued…)

The conclusion of this study will include verses 14 – 23 of Hosea 2.

 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.  And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.  And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call Me Ishi; and shalt call Me no more Baali.  For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.  And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.  And I will betroth thee unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.  I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.”  Hosea 14-20 (KJV)

There are many times that we think of God’s judgment as only being punitive – to punish.  It is so much more.  It is also redemptive.  It is God’s desire to have His people in the place of blessing, and He gets His people to blessings by both punitive and redemptive judgment.

In verse 14 God says He will “allure her”.  This is  to attract her to Himself (Romans 2:4).  Why would God, who is “Beautiful in holiness”, rich in glory, and worthy of praise, want to attract this people who were in effect, in a state of whoredoms against Him?  That is what His grace is all about.  Loving the unlovable.  Cleansing the unclean.

How would God “allure”, attract her?

  1. By taking here as His “Wife” again;
  2. By speaking “comfort to her”  [these would be words of love, romance, telling her of her beauty. This loving comfort would even cause her to forget her former lovers];
  3. By restoring her fruitfulness.

“The Valley of Achor” is the place of Achan’s sin (See Joshua 7).  God had commanded Israel not to take any accursed thing for themselves; as they conquered Jericho.  The silver, gold, and vessels of bronze and iron were for the LORD’S treasure house.  Achan disobeyed and kept a “Babylonish garment” and a “Wedge of gold” which he buried in his tent.  Because of this rebellion by one man, and his family the nation lost a battle that should have been won.

We learn from this story that harboring sin is futile to God’s people.  Taking to ourselves what God forbids is harlotry against God.  Yet God says through Hosea, that “The Valley of Achor [is] as a door of hope”.  “When Israel embraced the Baals, she took what God had cursed just as Achan did in taking the spoils of Jericho.  Their sin had brought terrible destruction upon them, their children, and their land.  Its transformation would be a token of the eternal blessings they would enjoy from now on.”  (From Hosea: God’s Reeeming Love by John Traylor pp. 23&24).

A place where a man and his family judged for sin becomes “A door of hope”.  There was a man who was judged that is our place of hope.  The cross of Jesus, and ugly, despicable judgment, is the only hope mankind has.  Because Achan died Israel became victorious.  Achan died for his own sins.  Jesus “Became sin” for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), and died, making victory possible for all who will believe.

What love God has for His people.  In verse 2 God said, “She is not My wife, nor am I her Husband!”  In verse 16 He says, “You will call Me ‘My Husband’ and no longer “My Master’.  Before Israel in their harlotries were recognizing God equally with the Baals.  Baali equals “master”, making her a slave [a slave to sin] (See Romans 6:16).  God says, “You will no longer be a slave, you will be My Wife, and I  your Husband.”

God was going to make their love for Him so great that they would forget about the Baals, and their names.  God’s covenant with Israel would be an eternal covenant.  Their land would be blessed.  The beasts of the field would even be a blessing to them (v. 18).

She would no longer be unfaithful, but holy and righteous unto God.  It is God’s work, and they would know that God is the LORD (Ephesians 2:8-10).

“And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; and the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.  And I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not My people, ‘Thou art My people; and they shall say, ‘Thou art my God.'” Hosea 21-23 (KJV)

God declares that He is God over the earth.  He controls the rain, the wind, the plague, and the harvest – good and bad.  For some reason many Christians have stopped believing this, and it is partly due to our technology; whereby  we are sadly mistaken.  Technology is good as far as it goes; but God is still God.  Not one meteorologist or scientist can make our weather or take it away, they can only make predictions and maybe explain how it happened; nothing more.

Because of Israel’s departure and adultery God had withdrawn His blessings, mercy and grace so they might see His grace, and their evil ways more clearly.  Now, God is preparing to return His blessings upon them; the blessings of mercy and grace.  They had no mercy, but they will;  they experienced no grace, but now they would receive it and see it.  They would be His people; who were not a people.  They would proclaim “You are my God.”

“The love of God is greater far, than pen or tongue can ever tell.”

The ultimate and final blessing for Israel is yet to come.  Even so Come Lord Jesus.

-Tim A. Blankenship

The Redeeming Love of God (2)

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GOD Pursues the Redemption of His Wife

GOD is on a persistent quest to redeem the lost spouse (Israel), and reclaim her to Himself.  Through the gift of His Son Jesus He paid the ultimate sacrifice to redeem all who will hear His voice believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and be saved.

“Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ruhamah.  Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not My wife, neither am I her Husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts; lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.  And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms.  For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.'” Hosea 2:1-5 (KJV)

God calls on Judah and Israel to refer to one another as brethren “Brother” and “Sister”.  There is a contending on God’s part, with Israel.  God has put away Israel: “She is not My wife”  “I am not her Husband!”  There is punitive judgment here – for the purpose of punishing and restoration.

If Israel would not quit hers sins then God would “Put them away” in order to show them, that it was He who was providing bountifully for them; not her “lovers” who are the Baals of pagan, godless worship.

“Wife” in the text, as is Gomer is representative of the corporate people [Nation] or land of the North.  “Children” are representative of individuals within the nation or land.

There is a strong indication that there was a small group [remnant] within the nation who were not participating as individuals, but said or did nothing about it.  Their toleration in essence; was approval for the actions of others while they were selling the nation to godless whoredoms and all kinds of immoralities.

In these verses God pleads with Israel (v. 2);  He warns them of judgment (vv. 3-4); and the people obstinately reject God’s plea (v. 5).

“Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.  And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.’  For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.”  Hosea 2:6-8 (KJV)

We are told by some Scriptures that God puts a “Hedge” about His people keeping them from harm, and from evil.  Here the hedge has a different purpose.  God says now how He will bring them back to Himself.  He will build a hedge of thorns and “wall her in”.

By doing this God accomplishes three things;

  1. She would no longer be able to find the “Paths” that lead to the shrines and idols of Baal (v. 6);
  2. In seeking the idols they would not be able to find them (v. 7);
  3. They would begin to realize that they had it much better when they were worshiping God and Him only.

In God and in God alone they would realize the blessings they had received were from GOD alone (vv. 7-8).

“Therefore will I return, and take away My corn in the time thereof, and My wine in the season thereof, and will recover My wool and My flax given to cover her nakedness.  And now will I discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of Mine hand.  I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.  And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, ‘These are my rewards that my lovers have given me:’ and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.  And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat Me, saith the LORD.”  Hosea 2:9-13 (KJV)

We can see by these things that God is on a relentless pursuit of His wayward “Wife”.  He lovers her.  Real and true love is harsh with a wayward loved one.

How would God pursue?

  1. Take away the grain at harvest;
  2. Take back the wool and the flax (linen);
  3. He would remove His hand of protection, and put on her a hand of judgment, which no one could deliver her from;
  4. All celebrations, feast days, would cease; along with laughter and joy;
  5. He would destroy her vines and fig trees, because she had given praise to the Baals for the fruitfulness of the land.

This judgment was God’s.  She had gone after other gods following the paths of pagan cultures clothed in expensive jewels and dress.  God says, “She forgot Me”.

This is a sad commentary about God’s people.  The very fact that Israel was worshiping Baals shows they had forgotten, and departed from God.  Any time any of God’s people begin to look to their wealth, blessings, or pleasures as coming because of their own goodness, or from anything , but God; she has forgotten God.

Has the United States of America depended upon idols?  Is the pagan deity Baal still worshiped in the USA? Pleasure, wealth and convenience seems to be the cry of today’s society and culture.  The saddest part of that is that many professing Christians have lined up with the world in these things too.

Yet our answer for freedom from sin and this world is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  Hear Him, believe Him, repent and be saved.

When evil is in the world, and the world is in the Church; evil is progressing toward its maximum potential, and its end.
More on this chapter next time…

-Tim A. Blankenship

Newly Elected President: Not So New

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I posted this four years ago as President Obama was elected President of the United States of America.  I repost it today, because it still holds true.  It is time for God to work; and for Christians to pray and be vibrant witnesses for Christ; no matter what may come our way.

God’s Appointed King or President???

Recently I have read emails, comments on blogs, and heard some asking the question or making comment as to whether God’s will was done in the past election of President Elect Barrack Obama.  In my mind and thinking I have seen how the election turned out, but was not surprised.

No!  The candidate I voted for was not elected.  I was disappointed and could have been, and still could be quite fearful of what lays ahead for the United States of America; the home of the free, and land of the brave.  I have known and believed for years in the sovereignty of God, and have seen God at work in the hearts and lives of others and in myself.  I have learned that no matter what man does the will of God is not thwarted; His will is done whether we go our own way, or choose His way.

Others who are concerned with our “free will” can believe that we overthrow God’s will.  That is frivolous thought.  How can a created being, such as we are, overthrow the will of the All-Knowing, All-Powerful, All-Present, and Immutable God?  The “free will” of humanity does in fact work with the sovereignty of God, God is glorified, and His will is done.  I cannot explain that any clearer, but that is what I learn through the reading of Scripture.

If we are fearful that God’s will was not done in the election of Barrack Obama as our President, then, we are in fact not trusting the sovereign hand of our God.  I do not know what lays ahead for our country, but I do know that whatever it is is in the hands or our Almighty God.

God has been merciful to us for the past eight years and longer.  We may now be in for a period of judgment, but let us not lose  heart, and fear that “God’s will was not done”.  As Christians we must believe God’s Word when He tells us;

“And He changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding…”  Daniel 2:21 (KJV)

Since Barrack Obama is set to be our President, then we need to pray for him, his family, his decisions concerning cabinet members, and his time as President of our nation.  Christian we are obligated by God to respect the man as our leader, to pray for him, and obey him.

Paul the apostle has written;

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.” Romans 13:1-6 (KJV)

The “higher powers” of which Paul mentions are rulers of nations, and governments of States, cities, etc..  It seems to me that our God has placed every ruler who has ever lived, and who is living today in their place.  Was the will of God done with Hitler in power in his day?  Whether we like it or not; or whether we understand it or not we must say YES!  The rise and fall of kings and nations is in the  hand of God, and as Paul writes, “For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God”.

You may disagee with this assessment, but it seems to me that the argument is not with me, but God.  Talk to Him about it.

When we reach the place where we trust these matters to His hands, then, we as Christians can have peace, stop complaining, belittling the man who will be our next national leader, and then effectively pray for him.

I am actually excited about what lays ahead.  It is after all in the hands of our Lord.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Please note:  I did remove one paragraph that was in the original post that did not relate to this years election; they were concerning Prop 8 in California, and an issue in Arkansas as well where the people still decided for moral issues on Marriage and adoption.

The One Who Delights in Mercy

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Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy.  He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.  Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which Thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.”  Micah 7:18-20 (KJV)

The God of the Bible; Old and New Testament is now, has always been, and forever shall be the merciful GOD.  “He delights in mercy” are part of the words written above.

Every living being on earth in the past, present and future have experienced His mercy.  We have no right to His mercy.  We do not deserve His mercy.  We cannot earn it.  He gives it without us even taking note of it.

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

Someone has said, “Mercy is not receiving what we actually deserve.  Wrath.  Grace is receiving from God what we do not deserve.  Love, forgiveness of sin.”  That is pretty close anyway.  God loves His creation, and has sent His only beloved Son to die for our sins, and to raise Him to life again that we all might be made just in the eyes of God.  All who will believe on Him.

-T.A.

The Angry Prophet

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But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.  And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, ‘I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that Thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.  Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech Thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.”  Jonah 4:1-3 (KJV)

This prophet who despised the people to whom the LORD had sent him, did not want to see this people forgiven, but rather his desire was to see this mass of people destroyed.  The LORD was having mercy on Nineveh, when He saw their repentance.  Due to their sin Nineveh was destroyed about 100 years later.

Of all things for a preacher to become angry about.  People getting right with God, and changing their hearts and minds about the way they were living.  That is why preachers preach.  There are things worth getting angry about for the preacher.  The murder of the innocent unborn.  The slavery of women and children around the world.  The captivity of drugs, alcohol, gambling, and pornography; and its destruction to our society.  There are many other things for which the preacher to be angry.  Rejoice, however, when people repent of their sins and get right with God.

To give us little bit of background on Jonah; he was a patriot of Israel.  He loved his nation.  He loved his God; and Nineveh was the enemy to himself, his nation and his God.

Let me just end by asking this question:  Is patriotism; love for one’s country more important than following the call and will of God?  I leave the answer with the reader.

-T.A.

The Return

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O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.  Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto Him, ‘Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.  Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Ye are our gods: for in Thee the fatherless findeth mercy.”  Hosea 14:1-3 (KJV)

The Israeli society of the prophet Hosea’s day was not dissimilar from our own.  They worshipped gods aplenty.  There is not many in our society today who would admit to worshipping “gods”, but the United States of America is full of dieties which are worshipped.  There are two I can think of which are promoted everyday.  One is Democracy, as though that is the answer for all ills and lack of freedom in the world.  The other is Capitalism as though that will solve all the financial ills of the world.  There are others;  Money and finance, Science and technology, and Global unity.  One that may make even the best of people angry is we worship our children too.

I see it everyday.  People will jump when their children say “Jump”, “I have a ballgame tonight.  It is 100 miles away.”  Mom and Dad will take off from work to go to the game.  Many will not get up early enough on Sunday morning to darken the doors of their local church and worship the only one and true God.

The Return is when God’s people will hear God’s voice and return to Him, and realize that the only hope I have; the only hope and promise we have is in the LORD of all things.  You will find Him in the cross of His Son Jesus; His death, burial and bodily resurrection.

-T.A.