Tag: preach

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Matthew: Sermon on the Mount

Read: Matthew 5-7

There is no way that this simple post can adequately cover the vast material in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Seriously.

I have to point back to the primary purpose of this blog at this time: read through the Bible and post thoughts that stick out as significant.

With that disclaimer, let’s fly through this profound discourse of 111 verses in red letters — Jesus’ words — as captured by Matthew. Prepare to be amazed:

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Matthew 7:28-29

Each section of this narrative invites us to get lost in the words of the greatest teacher the world has ever known. Jesus was much more than a great teacher, but from this perspective alone we have much to learn. Here’s an outline with links:

  1. The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:3-12
  2. Salt and Light: Matthew 5:13-16
  3. Christ Came to Fulfill the Law: Matthew 5:17-20
  4. Anger === Murder: Matthew 5:21-26
  5. Lust === Adultery: Matthew 5:27-30
  6. Divorce: Matthew 5:31-32
  7. Oaths: Matthew 5:33-37
  8. Retaliation, Eye for Eye: Matthew 5:38-42
  9. Love Your Enemies: Matthew 5:43-48
  10. Give to the Needy: Matthew 6:1-4
  11. The Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6:5-15
  12. Fasting: Matthew 6:16-18
  13. Lay up Treasures in Heaven: Matthew 6:19-24
  14. Do Not Be Anxious: Matthew 6:25-34
  15. Judging Others: Matthew 7:1-6
  16. Ask, Seek, Knock: Matthew 7:7-11
  17. The Golden Rule: Matthew 7:12
  18. The Narrow and Wide Gates: Matthew 7:13-14
  19. True and False Prophets: Matthew 7:15-20
  20. True and False Disciples: Matthew 7:21-23
  21. Wise and Foolish Builders: Matthew 7:24-27

The outline alone is overwhelming! How can we begin to talk about this today? The simple answer: pick one of the 21 items above and listen to the words of Jesus for your life at this moment. A quick search on Amazon.com revealed: 3,599 results for “sermon on the mount.”

Here are some thoughts to consider:

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12

During the Servant Leadership class yesterday, one of the Spiritual Gifts we discussed was that of prophecy. While it may be wonderful to be given the gift of prophecy, it comes with a price. Reading through the prophets in the Old Testament, we certainly walk away with the appreciation for the difficulty that surrounded their ministry. The prophet’s reward is not one received on earth.

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20

That’s a verse that preaches well — not! In the Bible-belt south, where tracts are handed out and evangelists put notches in their belts for leading someone to say a prayer, the idea that “you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” is completely lost. Bonhoeffer’s idea of Cheap Grace comes to mind. On the other hand, Jesus didn’t think much of the Pharisees, so perhaps the bar really isn’t that high after all.

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;
anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Matthew 5:37

Wouldn’t life be much simpler if we would learn to just say ‘yes’ or ‘no’? No complicated oaths or legal documents, just speak the truth.

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:46-48

Loving our enemies is hard enough most of the time, but Jesus tags this hard lesson with “Be perfect.” Put that on a meme and post it! I wonder if He said this just before lunch, right after talking about loving enemies and walking the extra mile, oh, by the way, be perfect and pass the salad please. Forgive me for heretical thoughts, but seriously? We’ll have to unpack that section for sure!

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Matthew 6:3-4

I long for the day when I can be so attuned to the Spirit that giving to the needy is so second nature that I don’t even notice. The concept of helping those in need is discussed so many times throughout the Bible! This morning’s Our Daily Bread covered the concept from Psalm 41:1-3. Lord, help us to consider those in need and do something about it.

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

Lord Jesus, help us to keep this in mind as we know we need funds to eat, to pay bills, to survive in this world. I earnestly pray that people will simply give to ministry without me asking for a dime. If my thoughts are so focused on building the kingdom, it seems like that would work out, yet we often ask for funding and donations, etc. How else can we survive? May we remain devoted to You, Lord, trusting You will take care of the details as You promised in the very next section: Do Not Worry.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:33-34

That is my overwhelming prayer each day: Seek First. Thank you Jesus for that reassurance!

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11

Lord, help us to seek You first and ask for that which is truly important today. May our hearts be driven by the Spirit that our desires naturally ask for things that matter most.

So many thoughts to ponder as we read some highlights from the Sermon on the Mount. Sometimes I wish you had waited to come at a time when we could have recorded your sermons, broadcast them live, etc., but then again, Your timing and Your plans are so much better than the least of my thoughts.

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Matthew: John Prepares the Way; Jesus’ Ministry Begins

Read: Matthew 3-4

TheBibleProject.org’s video introduction to Matthew helps provide context and a framework within which we gain his perspective on the life of Jesus. Matthew choice of stories depend on some knowledge of what we call the Old Testament, common knowledge for those in his time. Today we read about John the Baptist’s preaching and baptizing many in the wilderness, most notably Jesus himself! Then the earthly ministry of Jesus begins following his own wilderness experience where He is confronted by Satan. In these two short chapters we move from preparation to call of disciples to news about Jesus healing the sick. Matthew uses few words to cover much territory.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Why would people come out and confess their sins to a wild man in the wilderness? Did he look like one of the prophets of old? Were the people tired of the weight of rules and regulations created by the Pharisees and Sadducees? Lots of questions come to mind. Matthew’s account of John the Baptist is succinct, highlighting several important aspects of his ministry that impacted the entire region–that alone is truly impressive.

People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Matthew 3:5-6

It’s been some 400 years since Malachi preached to those who returned from exile. John’s message must have been incredibly compelling since his reach is well beyond the local community. The time is right and the people were drawn to hear from this man who challenged the established religious leaders. When the Pharisees and Sadducees come to check him out, he dismisses them with blunt words of rebuke, “you brood of vipers” is bold to say the least.

One point I would like to learn from this is simply that John’s message, like the prophets before him, has nothing to do with promoting himself. He has nothing to gain personally from his preaching. He doesn’t say, “look at me…” In fact, it’s completely the opposite. John’s message is, “look to the one who is coming,” though he didn’t know it was his cousin!

Jesus is Baptized by John

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. Matthew 3:13-15

The anointing of the Holy Spirit must have radically changed the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth. They grew up together as cousins. Elizabeth and Mary certainly knew each other as family ties in those days were significant. I suspect they gathered consistently over the 30 years prior to this point, but now everything has changed.

See how the Spirit moves in the lives of those who love God above all else. There is nothing like feeling the very presence of the Spirit move inside my chest. Just a few days ago, Beth and I were reading through Scripture and out of nowhere tears began to form as we were writing a song that would compel people to think about loving God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength. As we dwelled on this theme, it was clear that the Spirit wants us to pray with people as the body of Christ, to lay hands on those who are desperately looking for answers, who hear the message of hope and want to know how that works today. Music has a way of opening hearts. We know we’re just messengers. The memory comes to mind, but it is insignificant compared to the story here in Matthew.

The proclamation of Jesus’ ministry is awesome and brief from Matthew’s perspective. He moves the story along quite quickly to the next foundational phase.

Temptation in the Wilderness

Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights as He prepared to begin his ministry. Though I haven’t really thought about this before, I can’t imagine this was a secret to those around him. Can you imagine any of your friends or family fasting for an extended period without being noticed? Much less in a day when families lived in close community. Something was happening, but I’m sure no one really knew just what was going on between the cousins.

After this extended fast, Jesus was hungry and the devil was ready with his 3-pronged attack:

  1. “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
  2. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down…”
  3. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus replies, “it is written…” all three times and dismisses Satan. The scene evokes all kinds of thoughts, but one that prevails is the idea that Jesus, the Son of God, allowed Satan to confront Him. He allowed time and space for the interaction, for the words of deception to be spoken and the words of correction to be heard. We must know that when the Spirit moves deep within, Satan will be present. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). Jesus shows us how to win these battles and has given us more tools than those in Matthew’s day–we have the entire Bible!

Jesus Begins to Preach

John the Baptist gets tossed in prison as a result of his harsh, though accurate, words. Now Jesus begins to preach to the people that John has stirred into action. People are prepared to hear, not everyone, but crowds are ready to listen.

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17

Notice that Jesus didn’t tell people to grab their lambs and head to the temple for sacrificial cleansing. His message is much more personal: Repent yourself! The focus is changing from following a system to one of personal transformation.

Matthew briefly covers the call of Jesus’ first disciples: Peter, Andrew, James and John (Zebedee brothers), each immediately left their boats and followed Jesus.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23

Jesus teaches in the synagogues, the very heart of the Israelites’ religious community. The chosen people hear first from the Chosen One–and it’s good news people! Jesus shows up to preach repentance for the good of all. On top of spiritual healing, Jesus is concerned about physical illness and goes about healing disease and sickness.

This must have been an incredible change in the lives of those in Jesus’ day. They’ve been waiting for the Messiah with all kinds of hopes for what that might mean, but no idea that their generation would be the generation that would see Him.

Lord Jesus, please let us be a people that hear your voice and act like it! Let us be those who follow you completely, wherever that would lead, for Your purpose and not our hidden agendas. You alone are worthy to be praised.

 

 

A few interesting links from research and reading this morning:

  • http://www.seekfind.org/
  • https://bible.org/seriespage/4-john-baptist-and-jesus-matthew-31-17
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Malachi: Remember the Covenants

Read: Malachi 1-4

Malachi’s prophetic and challenging words seem to flow well after reading Nehemiah 13. As contemporaries, Nehemiah was working to establish order out of the chaos of exile while Malachi focused on remembering the covenants of old. Both worked hand-in-hand to encourage the remnant and rebuke those who were misguided.

The overarching theme that sticks out to me today has to do with covenants. This is a foreign concept today in this society. Few are held to the high standard of covenants, but this needs to be explored.

The paragraph headings in the NIV prompt us to consider five thoughts on covenants:

  1. Blemished Sacrifices: Malachi 1:6-14
  2. Divorce: Malachi 2:10-16
  3. Injustice: Malachi 2:17-3:5
  4. Tithes: Malachi 3:6-12
  5. Renewal: Malachi 3:16-4:6

Blemished Sacrifices

“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:6

When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:8

Malachi’s message is direct and full of examples of how people were cheating and further, how the priests allowed them to offer unworthy sacrifices:

“Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; I will smear on your faces the dung from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it. Malachi 2:3

That’s pretty harsh, agree? Smearing dung on my face for my blatant disrespect.

Divorce

Malachi sets up this discussion with asking us to remember:

Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another? Malachi 2:10

Unfaithful by marrying outside of Israel which leads to idolatry (Ezra and Nehemiah both addressed these issues before) and unfaithful in marriage:

It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Malachi 2:14

In the next two verses that follow Malachi reinforces the sin of being unfaithful to the wife of your youth, of disregard for the covenant bond of marriage. These are hard words to consider in this society where so many marriages end in divorce. I would offer a difficult observation: one or both have forsaken their end of the covenant by taking their eyes off of God and placing them selfishly on their own desires.

Lord, I pray for those whose marriages are under attack, for those who are hearing voices that are not from you telling them that divorce is the only option. Help our brothers and sisters to seek you first, Lord, to look to you above all others. Help me to remember the covenant bond with the wife of my youth and rejoice! This is a great thing! May we hear to words of assurance from you and see the smile on your face as we walk hand in hand. Squelch the voice of the great deceiver who whispers words of self-gratitude, of instant satisfaction rather than long term commitment. May we be a better people as a result and please help us to be different, in a righteous way, than the rest of the world around us.

Injustice

“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:5

Our God is a God of order and discipline, one who promotes justice and fair treatment among his people. The idea of loving our neighbor flows from this concept, but the way we act many times is far from just.

Tithes

Now this verse is the verse for the every preacher to hit as school begins: remember to tithe!

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. Malachi 3:10

Reading this in context is very helpful. The exiles have returned, yet they are withholding their tithes from the priests and musicians who are assigned duties for the people and for the Lord. They weren’t meant to be bi-vocational–they were supposed to be completely dedicated to the temple.

Renewal

Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. Malachi 3:16

So refreshing to read! There are those who heard the message! Yes, most of the words of the prophets are difficult, but there are those who listen. The Lord will honor his end of the covenant, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them…for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays.”

Malachi ends the words of the Old Testament with hope for the coming Messiah, then silence for 400 years. We remember the 430-year gap between Joseph and Moses, now we wait for John the Baptist to proclaim the coming of Jesus.

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Zechariah’s Song

Read: Zechariah 7-14

Zechariah has all kinds of words of encouragement, a song to sing for all to hear and be glad. He spends little time on past sins (thankfully), focuses on joy and laughter, then paints a picture of the future to give us all great hope.

Two years into the reign of King Darius, Zechariah speaks again to get the attention of God’s people:

“Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves? Zechariah 7:5-6

Those people in that day refused to truly turn their hearts to God, they only did what appeared to be righteous, but their hearts were set on selfish desires and personal gain.

“‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 7:13

Oh wait, “they” are “us!” Zechariah is speaking to the people of that time about their actions, but repentance is only a word away. The Lord is jealous for his people, he longs for the day of restoration. I love the picture he paints here:

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.” Zechariah 8:4-5

Peace will prevail. One day the streets will be filled with laughter as we sit and watch our children’s children play without concern. What can we do to see this dream become real?

These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord. Zechariah 8:16-17

Love each other. Be truthful and kind. Stop being so self-centered! Zechariah keeps it real and simple: “love truth and peace” (Zechariah 8:19).

I dream of a place where we gather as a people of God with clean hands and pure hearts, with such love that the world sees our family, the true brotherhood of saints, and longs to be part of this thing we call church.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’” Zechariah 8:23

Stop for a moment and image the day when ten people surround you and beg you to tell them about Jesus, not the other way around! It seems that we try to convince people that Jesus is real, that there is one who came to save us, that we needed to be saved–on and on we speak such words, but our actions don’t match our language. What if we simply committed to doing what Jesus said? What if we loved God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind? And what if we loved our neighbors as ourselves? I don’t know how this looks for every person in every situation, but I am convinced that when we love as Christ loved, people from all around us will ask us how they can become a part of our family, our church.

Zechariah continues to provide encouragement, pouring on words of assurance. After years in exile, lost and far away from the Promised Land because of the failures of their ancestors, the Lord will reclaim his people. The rest of the narrative gives us all hope for the day when Jesus will return and all will be set right. Here are some verses I found encouraging:

But I will encamp at my temple
to guard it against marauding forces.
Never again will an oppressor overrun my people,
for now I am keeping watch.
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:8-9

From Judah will come the cornerstone,
from him the tent peg,
from him the battle bow,
from him every ruler.
Zechariah 10:4

They will pass through the sea of trouble;
the surging sea will be subdued
and all the depths of the Nile will dry up.
Assyria’s pride will be brought down
and Egypt’s scepter will pass away.
I will strengthen them in the Lord
and in his name they will live securely,”
declares the Lord.
Zechariah 10:11-12

They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. Zechariah 12:10

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

On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. It will be a unique day—a day known only to the Lord—with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light. On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter. Zechariah 14:6-8

Receive these words of assurance: one day the Lord will make all things new. We are on the winning team. The gospel we preach has the power to save. May our lives reflect this truth and may the light of Christ shine bright for all to see.

I’m stuck on Zechariah 8:23, can’t wait to see that day!

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Project Stalled — Prophets Step In

Read: Ezra 5-6, Haggai 1-2 and Zechariah 1-6

We left the story at the point where it appears the opposition has won, the work in Jerusalem came to a halt. Does that read like an ancient headline or a text you just received?

Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. Ezra 5:1-2

The first words of Haggai are stern and strong:

“You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Haggai 1:9

Zerubbabel and Joshua received the message well, they heard the word of the Lord through Haggai and as a result blessings flowed upon them for the sake of Jerusalem and for God’s glory.

Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord. Haggai 1:13

Those four words, “I am with you,” are perhaps the most powerful words anyone in ministry can possibly hear. When the Lord speaks these few words over your ministry, the world stands still. We know that if God is with us, there is absolutely nothing that will stand in the way–nothing!

A month later, Haggai speaks more words of encouragement for Zerubbabel and Joshua,

But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ Haggai 2:4-5

Seriously folks, these are the words I long to hear, be strong, for I am with you and do not fear. Enough said, let’s go out and do God’s work with all our might!

Zechariah joins in with Haggai to speak truth and provide amazing encouragement:

‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. Do not be like your ancestors, … “Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’”
Zechariah 1:3-4,6

Zechariah 2, A Man With A Measuring Line, tells the Israelites to leave Babylon, to come home!

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. Zechariah 2:10

Joshua is given new clothes and a turban in Zechariah 3–blessed and called by God to lead the people from exile.  Then Zerubbabel is blessed in chapter 4:

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” Zechariah 4:6-7

Wow! Such amazing words of encouragement! Yesterday, call me weird, but I read aloud the two chapters of Haggai and most of Zechariah as if preaching a sermon. There are days, even months, when we need to hear such stirring words. The Spirit of God is not idle.

Zechariah 5 depicts evil being purged from Jerusalem, the iniquity of the people is removed from the land. Joshua is crowned as king in Zechariah 6, he will be a priest on the throne and there will be harmony between priests and rulers.  We’ll pick up with chapter 7 a bit later as it jumps ahead a few years.

And so, with those words of assurance, the story in Ezra 5 picks up the pace and a bold letter is written to King Darius to search his records and see that the rebuilding project was indeed sanctioned by his predecessor.

Then let the king send us his decision in this matter. Ezra 5:17

Not only did King Cyrus authorize the rebuilding, he offered to fund it!

Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. Ezra 6:8

Punishment for disobeying this command:

Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble. Ezra 6:11

There’s nothing like a story with a happy ending:

So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah Ezra 6:14

As we seek ways to build God’s kingdom here on earth, I pray for such clear and bold prophecy. Those returning from exile were not wrong, it just looked like it from the reaction of those who did not want them to succeed. They were on the right path, but they needed to hear the message from God through Haggai and Zechariah and they did not disappoint the leaders! Lord, show us our iniquities, pack them up in a box and ship them to Babylon, wherever that is these days! Show us clearly what you would have us do this day for your purpose.

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Nahum

Read: Nahum 1-3

Jonah’s preaching was only a temporary fix for the city of Nineveh, soon they returned to their evil ways. Nahum primarily speaks against them in words that depict the final fall of the once great city, perhaps the jewel of the Assyrian empire. They will not continue to abuse people. The Lord speaks through his prophet with a short and pointed message.

It’s interesting how Nahum juxtaposes two thoughts:

  • The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. (Nahum 1:2) and
  • The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. (Nahum 1:3)

On one hand, the Lord is completely powerful, yet on the other he is slow to anger. Alyssa (one of our daughters) painted this verse for us:

The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
Nahum 1:7

It’s in our bedroom as a reminder of God’s desire for those who put their trust in him, a verse I’ve needed to read frequently over the last year or so. Even amidst great calamity, there is one to turn toward, someone who is there all the time, he is the Lord. Forever consistent and constantly calling out to his people, he wants a relationship with us.

Of course, Nahum’s message is mostly against Nineveh, so there’s a second half to the story and it seems the motivation for providing both sides of the coin throughout the text.

Jonah’s preaching at Nineveh obviously didn’t completely turn the people away from their wicked ways, but then again, neither did all the prophets that spoke against Israel.

The Lord has given a command concerning you, Nineveh:
“You will have no descendants to bear your name.
I will destroy the images and idols
that are in the temple of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,
for you are vile.”
Nahum 1:14

Take heart Judah, the Lord will prevail as he said:

The Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob
like the splendor of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
and have ruined their vines.
Nahum 2:2

The Lord is about to take care of the lewdness of these people once and for all. Nahum’s words are rather poignant:

“I am against you,” declares the Lord Almighty.
“I will lift your skirts over your face.
I will show the nations your nakedness
and the kingdoms your shame.
Nahum 3:5

For a people who took care to cover their bodies, there is great shame in exposing nakedness in such a public fashion. I don’t know how this was actually done, but the mere threat of such would be enough to cause great grief.

This is Nineveh, the pride of the Assyrians that swept away Israel into exile. Punishment is your reward:

Nothing can heal you;
your wound is fatal.
All who hear the news about you
clap their hands at your fall,
for who has not felt
your endless cruelty?
Nahum 3:19

I’m having a hard time coming up with words that describe the picture I see in my mind when Nineveh falls and the people of Judah see Nahum’s words come to pass. What I see is a face that looks toward the once great city with sadness, anger, relief, bitterness and contempt all at the same time as God does what he said he would do. I see a man clap his hands once, twice, three times, not like applause, but more like a resounding crack of the whip. Tears stream from his eyes as he remembers the cruelty delivered by the people of that city.

Finally, God has done what no man could do. How I wish it had never happened, but at least it is over. Like liberating Auschwitz, no one could be happier that it was finally exposed, but the heartache that left so many lives undone is debilitating at times.

That’s the pain I see in the face of those in Judah and the pain I feel at times when the Spirit shows me the Nineveh’s of this day, people running toward themselves instead of reaching out to Jesus. People consumed with self-righteousness, lost in the lies of the great deceiver. Perhaps Nineveh exists today in lots of different ways. One thing we know for certain, the Lord will not tolerate this forever.

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.

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Jonah: A Man Like Me?

Read: Jonah 1-4

Jonah is a short story that has captured the imaginations of countless people of all ages, but especially children in Sunday Schools and Vacation Bible Schools around the globe. It’s ironic that children enjoy the story while adults, if they would answer honestly, will most likely say it’s a fictional or allegorical work based on legend or folklore.

The NIV Study Bible provides this insight:

Although their specific suggestions range from fictional short story to allegory to parable, they share the common assumption that the account sprang essentially from the author’s imagination, despite its serious and gracious message. On the other hand, it must be acknowledged that Biblical narrators were more than historians.
They [Old Testament prophets] interpretatively recounted the past with the unswerving purpose of bringing it to bear on the present and the future. In the portrayal of past events, they used their materials to achieve this purpose effectively. Nonetheless, the integrity with which they treated the past ought not to be questioned. The book of Jonah recounts real events in the life and ministry of the prophet himself.

Why is it that we choose to believe one miracle and not another? We are so well educated that we think we can explain the universe, but in reality, through many apologetic arguments, at some point, we have to step out on faith. I’m not suggesting we put on blinders or act ignorant, but if we believe in a God that created the universe out of nothing, at some level it is possible that the same God could create a divine appointment between prophet and fish.

Then there’s the red-letter evidence in Matthew, the words of Jesus himself:

38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” 39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.
Matthew 12:38-41

I have much to learn and I don’t claim to have any knowledge at all except that I believe in the incarnational life of Jesus Christ, his death by crucifixion and subsequent miraculous resurrection. These beliefs already put me in the crazy pen, why not add the story of Jonah?

The Story

God tells Jonah to preach redemption to the evil city of Nineveh, a city so large that it would take three days to walk around it. That’s huge! Jonah decides to run away rather than be subjected to the humiliation of preaching in such a place as Nineveh. He pays for passage on a boat in the opposite direction and the trouble begins.

The superstitious sailors see the storm as a sign, something from the sea-gods must be happening. They cast lots and determine Jonah is the culprit. After Jonah begs them, they toss him overboard and the sea calms down.

At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. Jonah 1:16

Jonah’s first converts are on the boat after they are saved by removing him.

Chapter 2 contains Jonah’s short prayer in the belly of the fish, his repentance is recounted briefly here. Three days and nights is a long time to be trapped inside, plenty of time to think about mistakes and misgivings!

Chapter 3 describes Jonah’s renewed mission — he preaches to the Ninevites and they repent!

The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. Jonah 3:5

Chapter 4 provides Jonah’s pathetic response, this is where I draw the title for this post, is this my response to God when his voice clearly tells me to do one thing and I choose to do another?

He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Jonah 4:2

Jonah’s mission was so successful that he wanted to die. These corrupt people, those who lived in great extravagance and self-absorbed living, actually repented and would reap the rewards for turning to God. Historically, we know this doesn’t last long, but for some, it seems, eternity was changed–they turned to God. Jonah is comforted by a plant, then God takes the plant away. God is in control the entire time, but Jonah has a part to play, he has a story to tell and many lives hang in the balance.

Jonah’s main flaw: he didn’t love the Ninevites as God loves all people. I continue to pray for God’s help in learning how to love as He loves, to see people as He sees them. When I get a taste for that kind of love, I know it’s real, but it’s hard to express in words.

Lord, help me to love as you do, at least one bit more today than yesterday. Help me to put aside the lessons this world has taught me and let me focus on your words, your actions, your ways.

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Joel: Locusts and the Lord’s Roar

Read: Joel 1-3

The prophet Joel, son of Pethuel, delivers his short and succinct message to Judah. Some say the locusts are allegorical while others point to the invasion of the devouring bugs as a real event that Joel uses to get people’s attention. Peter, the fisherman turned apostle, was certainly familiar with the words of Joel as he quoted him in his first sermon at Pentecost. I suspect many in the crowd were familiar with the reference.

The Locusts:

What the locust swarm has left
the great locusts have eaten;
what the great locusts have left
the young locusts have eaten;
what the young locusts have left
other locusts have eaten.
Joel 1:4

Now that you have that firmly in mind:

Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!
Wail, all you drinkers of wine;
wail because of the new wine,
for it has been snatched from your lips.
Joel 1:5

Joel must have been a great preacher! His words are vivid and his message was short–sometimes fewer words get more attention. We are reminded to call upon the Lord for help in this time of great need. The time to repent is now:

“Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
Who knows? He may turn and relent
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the Lord your God.
Joel 2:12-14

For he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love. 

What if we were more gracious and compassionate? What if we would slow down and resist being angry? What if we abounded in love? Would we not be attractive to a world that is consumed with selfish, instant gratification? Lord, help us to read the description of your great love and change our ways to be like your ways.

Surely he has done great things!
Do not be afraid, land of Judah;
be glad and rejoice.
Surely the Lord has done great things!
Joel 2:20-21

And after the devastation, the Lord’s promise will be fulfilled. There will be plenty for all, this is his guarantee. Peter picks up on this theme in Acts 2:15-21 as he delivers his inaugural sermon at Pentecost:

“I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Joel 2:28

The Spirit stirs in us, it stirs us to action, keeps us awake at night sometimes, but have no doubt, the Spirit is alive and well inside of each of those who call upon the Lord. May we be quiet enough to hear!

And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance,
as the Lord has said,
even among the survivors
whom the Lord calls.
Joel 2:32

It appears that human trafficking was an issue in those ancient days as well:

There I will put them on trial
for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,
because they scattered my people among the nations
and divided up my land.
They cast lots for my people
and traded boys for prostitutes;
they sold girls for wine to drink.
Joel 3:2-3

Our God will not tolerate such behavior! Joel enunciates his message with this assurance:

The Lord will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem;
the earth and the heavens will tremble.
But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.
Joel 3:16

I love the way Joel ends his message:

The Lord dwells in Zion!
Joel 3:21

In my imagination, I see Joel’s short sermon ending with a loud clap! Perhaps he had a gavel or some device to get your attention. If he were preaching today, I can see him taking the Bible and slamming it down on the lectern: The Lord dwells in Zion! and storming off the stage–boom!

Lord, may we be stirred to action with the power of the Holy Spirit today! May we love one another with great compassion, may we be slow to anger and learn to live in peace with everyone. We can’t forget what the locusts have destroyed, but we can be sure that you are not satisfied with evil–you will overcome: The Lord dwells in Zion!

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Ezekiel’s Vision of the Temple

Read: Ezekiel 40-43

Today we are treated to a vision that speaks to the people in exile, that offers them hope in a desperate time. We have to jump toward the end of this section to gain an understanding for this scripture: “Write these down before them so that they may be faithful to its design and follow all its regulations.” (Ezekiel 43:11)

Imagine for a moment that all we know and take for granted today is gone, our home, our place of worship, our livelihood, even friends and family have been killed or separated. Now extend that for 25 years. Look back where you were 25 years ago to try and gain some perspective. I find this difficult to do and appreciate, but it’s within this context that God tells Ezekiel to write down a vision that will inspire the people.

40:1 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the city—on that very day the hand of the Lord was on me and he took me there. 2In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. 3He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. 4The man said to me, “Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see.” Ezekiel 40:1-4

Tell the people everything you see to give them hope, to inspire them to keep the faith.

He said: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The people of Israel will never again defile my holy name—neither they nor their kings—by their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings at their death. Ezekiel 43:7

Our God, the Creator of all, cares so much that he would go into elaborate detail to paint a vision for our ancestors to understand they are not forgotten–and He will dwell with them again. With us.

To be completely transparent, the details included in the reading today did not give me an exciting view of the future. It wasn’t until the end when I heard the whisper that suggested I needed perspective, I needed to have some empathy; only then did this make sense to me. Preaching a sermon on this text would likely fall flat as the ornate description of ancient buildings is unlikely to draw a crowd, but this is where I need to learn the lesson for today: it’s not all about me! Seriously. I’m embarrassed to think every word must be something for me.

Lord, your promise is too good for us. The hope you offer too great. Help us to humbly accept that which you lavish upon us.

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Figs, Seventy Years of Exile, Jeremiah Threatened and Defended

Read: Jeremiah 24-26

We begin today with a parable of the figs: some good and some so bad that there is nothing that can be done about them…not even good enough to turn into Fig Newtons. Jeremiah continues to preach exile and wrath for the nations and is once again threatened, this time with death, until some elders to a chance and spoke up. We have much to learn from this example of obedience and honor. Lord, help us to speak your words of truth and let go of our selfish concerns.

The parable of the figs. God showed Jeremiah two baskets of figs:

One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early; the other basket had very bad figs, so bad they could not be eaten. Then the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “Figs,” I answered. “The good ones are very good, but the bad ones are so bad they cannot be eaten.”
Jeremiah 24:2-3

The good figs represent those who are good and will be redeemed; the bad, Zedekiah and his followers in this case, will be cast out because they are so bad that there is not even the hint of goodness in them.

Seventy Years of Exile

Jeremiah elaborates on the prophecy of Judah’s exile into Babylon at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. As punishment for years of ignoring the prophets, of worshiping idols and worse, God will use Nebuchadnezzar as his instrument of discipline. For 70 years they will be subject to exile. More than a generation, the once populace Israel will be reduced to a few who remain faithful.

“But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt,” declares the Lord, “and will make it desolate forever. Jeremiah 25:12

The promise of future years is bittersweet for many.

Cup of Wrath

God is not pleased with Judah and the surrounding countries as well. Here he instructs Jeremiah to extend his prophecy to Egypt, Uz, the kings of the Philistines and many others. They will not escape the cup of wrath for their abhorrent behavior.

This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them.” Jeremiah 25:15-16

The devastation is graphically documented in the rest of the chapter. Suffice it to say, Jeremiah didn’t pull any punches as he spoke the word of God against these people. Not the message I would want to preach, but Jeremiah is showing us that we need to be faithful to God’s call, whether it pleases us or not, and trust in his provision.

Jeremiah Threatened with Death

Needless to say, Jeremiah’s message was not well received!

But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, “You must die! Jeremiah 26:8

Jeremiah was resolute, “do with me whatever you think is good and right” (Jeremiah 26:14), but the words spoken are words from the Lord. As the officials affirm he must be put to death, some of the elders spoke up to defend Jeremiah. The reminded them of Micah’s words to explain that Jeremiah is not the only prophet to speak such words.

“Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah fear the Lord and seek his favor? And did not the Lord relent, so that he did not bring the disaster he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster on ourselves!” Jeremiah 26:19

Wow! Amazing to hear that some of the elders were bold enough to stand in the gap and defend one condemned to death by priests, prophets and officials. Lord, I pray that I would be bold enough to hear your word clearly and know when to speak up and when to be silent.

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