The Power of a Humble Messenger

 

Ignored Warnings

“Beware the Ides of March!” Most of western culture will encounter this expression through the works of Shakespeare in Act 1, Scene 2 of Julius Caesar – a play written around 1599 AD. A pagan prophet foretold that tragedy would strike Julius Caesar on the Ides (or the 15^th) of March. The betrayal and death of Julius Caesar was predicted by this largely unknown person who steps onto the scene. History gives the name of this seer as Spurinna, according to Seutonius. While pagan divination was highly respected within the Roman world, Julius Caesar famously ignores this warning and comes to a tragic end as a result. The prediction was made before the date, and on the 15^th, we are told, Julius Caesar approached Spurinna with confidence, saying, “The Ides of March have come.”  

                To which Spurinna simply replied, “Yes, they have come – but they have not gone.”

Soon after, Caesar was assassinated.

The Prophet Amos

The Biblical figure, Amos, cuts a very similar figure. A prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel he does not come from a religious school or community, nor does he come from the nobility. Amos is a humble sheepherder. This is a distinctly humble position. Shepherds were in charge of the flock, and Amos was more likely to have been what we would call a “farmhand.” He was an honest workman, who came from the out of the way city of Tekoa, on the edge of the Judean wilderness. A humble man, with no prestige or background of note, was called upon by God to give God’s message to the wayward people of Israel.

Judgment on the Nations

While sent to Israel, the first chapter of his collection of prophecies concerns the nations. This gives an important lesson. While the Lord’s plan chiefly concerned Israel, the Lord has expectations and standards for all nations – and foretells the impending judgment which they will face. Here are some of the highlights;

·         Tyrannical violence against other nations (Hosea 1:3, 11)

·         Enslavement of other nations (Hosea 1:6, 9)

·         Ruthless murder of pregnant women and unborn children (Hosea 1:13)

·         Desecrating the corpses of the dead (Hosea 2:1)

Judgment on Judah

The Lord abhors the violence of the nations that had rejected Him, and judges them for their actions of violence and oppression of others. But the most thorough statements of judgment are for Judah and Israel. The Lord holds them to greater accountability because they have known Him and His word and should know better than to be drawn into ungodliness. Judah is judged for:

·         Despising the Law of the Lord (Hosea 2:4)

·         Not keeping His commandments (Hosea 2:4)

·         Lying and leading others astray (Hosea 2:4)

·         The fathers following (Hosea 2:4)

Judgment on Israel

The Northern Kingdom of Israel is the primary recipient of this letter. They had been even more rebellious than the Southern Kingdom of Judah, and the Lord speaks plainly about their failures in desire of a change of attitude and behavior. Their sins include:

·         Oppression of the poor (Hosea 2:6)

·         Perverting the way of the humble (Hosea 2:7)

·         Sexual perversion (Hosea 2:7)

·         Pagan/Idolatrous worship (Hosea 2:8)

·         Giving the Nazarites (those dedicated to the Lord by abstinence from wine) wine to drink (Hosea 2:12)

·         Silencing Prophets (Hosea 2:12)

The Lord does not Tolerate Sin

The Lord was direct in denouncing the sin of every nation – His character is perfectly consistent, and His righteousness will not be compromised. Yet there is a clear application of the principle that would be formalized in the words of Jesus Christ.

“But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”

(Luke 12:48 NKJV)

A Humble Messenger

                Just as the otherwise unknown Spurinna gave warning to Julius Caesar, so the humble sheepherder, Amos, spoke the truth to the most powerful nations that surrounded him. The Lord would use many different voices, from all classes of people, to make His righteous expectations known. It leaves the modern reader with an important message. It does not matter who a person is, or where they have come from, if a person speaks forth the word of God they should be heard.

                We live in a time when the prophetic office is not currently in use. We have the Bible available to us, and every believer is meant to be a mouthpiece for the Lord. As we continue to speak with courage and strength we can remember the example of Amos. The Lord even dignified him so greatly as to be the person who was able to plead mercy for Israel in face of the Lord’s coming judgment (Amos 7:1-9).

                Amaziah the priest sought to revile Amos for telling the truth – seeking to degrade him because of his humble place in society (Amos 7:10-13). But Amos answered with all honesty and courage (Amos 7:14-17). Amos could face this condescension because he did not speak his own words, but rather he spoke the word of God.

An Army of Humble Messengers

This is the confidence that every believer can have in sharing the message of the Bible. As Peter would write later to the early church:

“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

(1 Peter 4:11 NKJV)

When a believer shares the gospel of salvation we share the very oracles of God. It is not our own message, our own perspectives: it is the message of God that we share. Thus, every believer should be very careful of two things. First, be certain that we are representing the word carefully, correctly, and clearly. Second, that the Bible stands upon its own authority – the authority of God. Whether the world responds with rejection or humble acceptance, the job of proclaiming God’s truth is the work of the Church today.

It is not about us – it is about the Lord that we proclaim.

Too Late – The Book of Jeremiah

 

Sad words that Signify Change

"Too late" can be two of the saddest words in the English language. Too late - you missed your flight; you can't go to the beach. Too late - you missed your anniversary and you cannot make up for it. Too late - the assignment was due at three o'clock and it is now 3:02 - no grace period. While I have never missed a plane or forgotten an anniversary, and I never missed a deadline serious enough to fail a class, I have been too late on enough occasions to feel the anxiety when I hear those two words together. I think it is this anxiety that turned me into a rather punctual person. I prefer to show up on time or early to most events and meetings and will often accomplish that goal. It is a statement of respect for the person that I am meeting (Romans 12:10). It is also an issue of integrity. I said I would be somewhere at a certain time, and I will try to accomplish that goal (Matthew 5:37). I have served in other cultures where the perspective on punctuality differs and still find it difficult to understand the difference, though it is easy to be respectful.

Judah’s Spiritual Procrastination

The issue for Israel was also a "too late" issue. They had put the Lord off for years (Jeremiah 25:3–7). They put off His worship and opted to worship pagan idols (Jeremiah 2:11–13). They put off his Law in favor of living in a way that pleased them - choosing not to free their slaves or forgive debts (Jeremiah 34:13–17), choosing not to observe festivals, and approach God through the sacrificial system (Jeremiah 7:21–24). They continued to put it off...until Babylon was at their door (2 Kings 24:1–2).

When it came to the Lord fulfilling his promise to discipline them by sending them into captivity in a foreign land (Jeremiah 25:8–11), they cleaned up their act quickly (Jeremiah 26:12–13). Yet, not without complaint.

The Lies of the False Prophets

False prophets spoke up and gave the message everyone wanted to hear: "God has chosen us, he won't ever give us up to a foreign people! The Lord is on our side!" (Jeremiah 6:13–14; Jeremiah 23:16–17). Their messages seem hopeful, optimistic, patriotic, and encouraging. The Lord had redeemed them when they were occupied by Philistines and Midianites (Judges 6–7; 1 Samuel 7:10–14). He had rescued Judah when Assyria was at their door (2 Kings 19:32–36). Surely the Lord would honor their last-minute repentance and protect them again.

Jeremiah spoke the truth (Jeremiah 1:7–10). The Lord would not accept their 11th-hour solutions to the problem of their disobedience (Jeremiah 7:10–16). They were going into captivity (Jeremiah 20:4–6). It was too late.

Another Old Testament Example

Just like when they failed to enter the promised land, the opportunity had passed (Numbers 14:22–23). In that case they sent spies into the land and of the 12 only 2 believed that God could deliver on His promises (Numbers 14:6–9). The people refused to go up and received the verdict - they would wander in the wilderness until that entire generation died (Numbers 14:29–35).

Just like a husband who finally decides to stop drinking once his wife has packed her bags this verdict causes them to try to go up without the Lord (Numbers 14:40–44). Of course, it was too late. They were routed and many died (Numbers 14:45) - and they still did not get to enter the Land.

The person who comes to a change of mind too late often claims that they didn't know that it would be too late (Proverbs 1:24–28). They say they would have changed with just one more chance. Yet, God had sent prophet after prophet to warn them (Jeremiah 7:25–26; 2 Chronicles 36:15–16) and even given them some good kings to lead them (2 Kings 18:3–6; 2 Kings 22:1–2) - they continued to choose to go their own way. And now it was too late to avoid the Lord's discipline (Jeremiah 5:19), but it is never too late to obey the Lord (Lamentations 3:31–33).

Jeremiah’s Shocking Counsel: Surrender!

Jeremiah gives them a most perplexing message - "GIVE UP! SURRENDER!" (Jeremiah 21:8–10). He tells them that this invasion is coming and they have two choices. First, they could take their medicine. Surrender to Babylon and they would remain in their land, and nobody had to die - the Lord would redeem them in His time (Jeremiah 27:11). Or second, they could listen to the false prophets and fight (Jeremiah 27:14–15). If they resisted many would die and ultimately all would go into captivity, the temple would be destroyed, and it would be much more difficult (Jeremiah 39:6–8).

They had not yet learned their lesson (Jeremiah 32:33). They chose to continue to resist the Lord's discipline and direction. They fought, they lost, they were conquered (2 Kings 25:1–7). They rebelled, they lost, they were deported (2 Kings 25:11).

Refusing to respond to God in humility and obedience did not cause God to reject Judah - Jeremiah 31 absolutely promised that He would never fail in His promises to them (Jeremiah 31:35–37). However, they suffered immensely because they refused to obey Him and walk with Him (Jeremiah 30:14–15). It was too late for them to have what He wanted for them (Jeremiah 7:23–26). He wanted them to live in the land (Deuteronomy 5:33). He wanted them to be blessed and safe (Deuteronomy 28:1–6). He wanted to protect them from every empire and superpower (Deuteronomy 7:17–24) - so that the light on the stand would shine forth the redemption and power of the God of Israel before the world (Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:6). Yet it was too late for that.

“Too Late” with God for Today

As Christians today we too can experience the sorrows of being "too late" with God (Galatians 6:7–8). The person who lives their life for themselves and then wants to pull out a fourth quarter reversal and become a pastor (1 Timothy 3:2–7). The person who drank until their liver is out of commission - but now they are ready to turn things around (Proverbs 23:29–35). The man who indulges his lusts in secret until his marriage is ruined (Proverbs 5:3–14). There are years that we cannot get back (Ephesians 5:15–17), and there are failures that will bring painful natural consequences and discipline (Hebrews 12:5–11). It may be too late to fix the problem, but it is never too late to respond in humility and rely on the Lord to forgive and restore (1 John 1:7–9). That is the wonderful thing about God's grace. God never ignores sin - He deals with it (Romans 6:23). For the believer in Jesus Christ sin is forgiven - finally, fully, and completely at the Cross of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:13–14). Sin in the life of the believer is dealt with both by allowing us to experience the consequences of our sin (Galatians 6:7), discipline in the Church (1 Corinthians 5:12–13), and the loving divine discipline of the Lord (Hebrews 12:6). It may be too late to fix what has been done, but it is never too late to humble ourselves and respond to that discipline in faithful anticipation that the God who loved you, and gave His Son to save you (John 3:16), will forgive you and restore you (1 Peter 5:10). The One who wounds us for our edification is the One who binds our wounds when we return to Him in humility and faith (Hosea 6:1).

Idolatry Addiction – The Major Prophets

 

Idolatry and Horror Stories

In his classic horror story, The Call of Cthulhu, H.P. Lovecraft delivers one of the spookiest narratives of all time. This is not of zombies or vampires, but something far more unsettling. The narrative surrounds the discovery of an idol that has a surprising effect on the person who owns it. The idol drains the person of sanity, robs them of their sleep, and calls them to take part in reviving a dark evil that slumbers far away - but will come to take the planet. The story progresses as other occult groups are worshiping the slumbering evil one. This is one of the greatest horror stories of all time because of the remarkable restraint that it shows - but it all starts with the power of a stone idol that is small enough to fit in a box in the closet.

Idolatry in the Old Testament

                The Old Testament records the history of Israel. As they were called out by the one true God and set apart for His purpose they still struggled. They struggled to keep His law, they struggled to maintain their identity, but it seems that above all else - they were addicted to idolatry. That first commandment of the 10 proved to be the most difficult to maintain. (Exodus 20:1-5; Deuteronomy 5:6-9)

                 The idolatry that plagued Israel seems ridiculous. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob defined Himself so clearly against these wicked idols (Exodus 3:6; Exodus 20:2–3). He defeated the false gods of Egypt with resounding miracles (Exodus 7–12; Numbers 33:4). He cast the pagans out of the land and many of the cities were wiped out completely because of the serious threat posed by idolatry and the adjacent pagan practices (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; Deuteronomy 9:4–6).

When we consider the perversity of the heart of mankind the errors make sense (Jeremiah 17:9; Genesis 6:5). Asherah poles were sex cults, drug use and alcoholism were regularly part of idolatry and pagan worship (Judges 6:25–30; 1 Kings 14:23). These false gods offered a better time - not what was best, but what felt best.

                The attraction of idolatry continued - a person could run off and find any old block of wood. As Isaiah tells Israel, that person can cut that block of wood in half. Use half to cook his food - burn it up completely. And fashion the other half into an idol he bows down before. Half was burned up as his possession to make his food, and the other half was shaped, fixed to the ground to keep it from tottering (Isaiah 44:9–20). This block of wood couldn't walk, talk, or make anything happen - yet he would worship it (Psalm 115:4–8; Psalm 135:15–18). It is a natural sinful compulsion of man. We are designed to worship the One who created us. It is a need that is within us that is as deep as our need to eat and sleep. Yet, worshipping the God of the universe means giving up our desire to be the god of our own lives (Genesis 3:5; Romans 1:21–25).

                If we ask the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob what to do we may not like what He says. But the little idol in the corner always says exactly what I tell it to say - what I want it to say. Idols are like fast food - you get to have it your way (Judges 17:6).

Modern Idolatry

                Modern idolatry is only slightly different. Mostly because we have more sophisticated methods to make our idols talk. From the little Apple IIGS in the corner to the phone we hold in our hands, our idols have become far more communicative, but they still have all the marks of ancient idolatry. They still demand attention (Matthew 6:21), they still tell us exactly what we want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3–4), and they keep us from attending to the Lord. The new trap of AI is even greater than the last. A machine that you can talk with and get anything from a new recipe to updates on the latest political and world news. The world quickly adapted this new tool into every aspect of life.

                Computers, cel-phones, the internet, and AI are simply tools. As tools they must be respected for the power that they offer and the threat that they pose (1 Corinthians 6:12). A table saw is a great tool, but can also easily take off a finger, or fire a board right through you (Proverbs 14:15). When I see a group of people sitting around a table at a restaurant all staring at their phones, I don't see a tool - I see an idol (Isaiah 2:8). When I notice that people are going to AI to find solutions to their greatest spiritual problems, I don't see a tool...I see an idol (Jeremiah 2:13). When I hear about people using AI to replace relationships, as with the new trend of "AI Girlfriends" I don't see a tool, I see an idol (Romans 1:22–25). When I see people choosing to skip church because they can catch it online...I don't see a tool, I see an idol (Hebrews 10:24–25).

                I am no luddite - I don't think that all technology is bad. I love being able to call any of my friends around the globe. I am writing this article on a computer; I will use an editing app that utilizes AI to help find spelling and grammar errors before I publish it. I will also use AI to create a snappy picture for the top of any given article I write. I only exhort Christians to be wise (Ephesians 5:15–16).

A Closing Warning

                We know that we can worship money (Matthew 6:24), a relationship (Luke 14:26), a celebrity or politician (Psalm 146:3), a government (Revelation 13:4). There are many things competing for the position that only God deserves in our lives (Exodus 20:3; Matthew 22:37).

                The little idol in The Call of Cthulhu is more accurate than we may think at first. Idolatry makes man foolish, stupid, and worthless (Jeremiah 10:8; Romans 1:21–22). As the Bible says more than once "those who worship them will become like them" (Psalm 115:8; Psalm 135:18). It may be a slow trip; it may be a subtle decay of mental and spiritual capacity. The Apostle John thought this theme was so important that he ended his first epistle with a simple sentiment that I will close by quoting: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21)

Kingdom Come - Let's Go!

 

What is wrong with Escapism?

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a very profound statement in his famous essay "On Fairy-stories":

"I have claimed that Escape is one of the main functions of fairy-stories, and since I do not disapprove of them, it is plain that I do not accept the tone of scorn or pity with which 'Escape' is now so often used. ... Why should a man be scorned if, finding himself in prison, he tries to get out and go home? Or if, when he cannot do so, he thinks and talks about other topics than jailers and prison-walls? The world outside has not become less real because the prisoner cannot see it."

Ursula K. Leguin, another prolific and significant science-fiction and fantasy author, wrote her essay The Language of the Night, inspired by Tolkien's thought. In that essay she wrote this eloquent summary statement:

"Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape? ... If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!"

These two quotes speak about something that is built into human experience. The knowledge that things are not as they should be in this life that we live. We wish to escape from this world where evil often appears to thrive and enter a world where good triumphs and love conquer all. It resonates with us on a profound level and we often put great effort into the places we escape to such as sports, fantasy, science-fiction, artistic expression, or crafts. Positive escapism is a wonderful thing. It can be a balm and encouragement in the challenges of life.

If there is a problem with such escapism it is that it does not go far enough. Even our fantasy worlds are shaky at best. This occurs when we are scandalized by athletes who use illegal drugs to amplify their performance, or cheat. It happens when a modern re-boot or film adaptation violates the core elements of our favorite fantasy. The major problem of our escapism is that it aims too low, as is typical of all human endeavors.

A Better Way

Scripture, however, provides a better option for our need for escape, and it is rooted in reality. Bible-believing Christians look forward to the future and know that it involves the Lord's judgment of evil and victory over darkness. The Lord Jesus Christ will rule on this planet - redeeming it and leading it in truth and righteousness. Information of this time is a regular theme in the Bible and a particular theme of Isaiah. Isaiah 35 offers one example:

"The Wilderness and the dry land will be glad;
the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
It will bloom profusely and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
Say to those with anxious hearts: 'Be strong, do not fear!
Behold, your God will come with vengeance.
With divine retribution He will come to save you.'

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy.
For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
The parched ground will become a pool,
the thirsty land springs of water
In the haunt where jackals once lay,
there will be grass and reeds and papyrus.

And there will be a highway,
called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not travel it -
only those who walk in the Way -
and fools will not stray onto it.
No lion will be there,
and no vicious beast will go up on it.
Such will not be found there,
but the redeemed will walk upon it.
So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee."
(Berean Standard Bible)

These and other such passages ignite our imagination. A world where wickedness is punished and the world responds by exploding in productivity, beauty, and fruitfulness. All our dreams of harmony with the earth, and all of the once dangerous and fearful animals become tame and safe. Our fantasy worlds are built on many of these hopes - but there is a difference. This is not fantasy. This is the truth of what is ahead for this world in the literal earthly Kingdom of God ruled by Jesus Christ. It invites us to imagine what life will be like under such amazing conditions. What would we do without fear of sickness, violence, and starvation? How will we occupy our time in such a world where the hardships of our current lives are removed, and all energy can be given to positive, constructive activities that bring glory to God? It is something that is meant to occupy a great deal of our mental bandwidth and it provides tremendous benefits. Allow me to enumerate a few of them.

The Kingdom Beats Depression

It destroys depression. When we begin to feel hopeless, paralyzing sadness and despair are given free reign in our inner world. When we choose to obsess over the bad news, the situations in our lives that cannot be fixed, the conditions that come with aging that mean decreased strength, intelligence, and beauty, it casts a cloud over the entire perspective on life. Dwelling on the Kingdom of Christ provides the answer. All those problems will be solved. All our maladies and sicknesses will be cured forever. We will live eternally in bodies that are suited to eternity. These problems may be truly terrible, but they are temporary problems. God has given us a certain hope for the future - and that hope is meant to be embraced and celebrated in the life of the believer.

The Kingdom Ends Complacency

Another value of dwelling on this hope is the result that we will no longer be tempted to be complacent. If we can obtain a certain amount of comfort, we are often able to shrink our world. Ignoring what is evil, negative, or uncomfortable and deciding to isolate ourselves - pretending like the world of sin and pain doesn't exist insofar as we are able to block it from our attention or experience. This is shallow, self-centered, and cowardly. Dwelling on the Kingdom of God gives us courage to face the fact that this world is not as it is meant to be. We can embrace our part in this world and be the force that the Lord wants us to be.

The Kingdom Brings Fellowship

Occupation with the future Kingdom also provides us with sweet fellowship. It is easy to let conversation submit to the gravity and entropy that leads us to spend time complaining about how things are, how bad they are getting, and how today is worse than yesterday. Solomon warns us against this attitude in Ecclesiastes 7:10:

"Do not say, 'Why were the Old days better than these?'
For it is unwise of you to ask about this."
(Berean Standard Bible)

When we are preoccupied with the Kingdom our conversation takes on a whole new dimension. Observation of wickedness in this world is answered immediately with the promise that there will be a time when wickedness is no more. A conversation about this new world will always encourage, uplift, and edify. What will we do together at that time? How will we spend it together when there is no more bad news to occupy our conversations? We will have amazing conversations about the glory of God, the beauty of creation, and the things that we are able to do together to serve Him. This brings me to my last point.

The Kingdom and Evangelism

We will see this redeemed earth only because of what Jesus Christ did on the Cross on our behalf. Fallen humans will only get to participate in it if we place our faith in Jesus for salvation. Preoccupation with the Kingdom of Christ motivates us to share the faith. People in sorrow, sadness, and captive to sin can only know freedom by trusting in Jesus Christ. Just as we enjoy talking about our favorite fantasies with someone else who is invested in the lore of that world and enjoy sharing it with others who may not know it, so our anticipation of the Kingdom encourages us to share the gospel with others.

Do Not Stop Here

I am a great lover of fantasy and science fiction. Escape literature is a delight, and I do not want to discourage anyone from holy discontentment with the world as it is now. However, I loudly encourage all people not to stop there. Find that natural longing fulfilled in the promises of what God has placed unchangeably in the future of our planet. The Bible is clear, and any theology that robs the believer of this real, practical, actual hope is deficient. This world will be difficult, and we will have trials, but there is an escape. Now it is the escape of faithful consideration of what the Lord will do on this earth. The actual escape is also coming and may be as close as our next breath. This is foundational to Christian hope and living the Christian life.

An Ox Knows its Master

 

The Familiar Faithfulness of My Pugs

I have two dogs. Pugs. Years ago, my wife and I took a "puppy finder" personality test. It was fun, we got to input details about and information about our lifestyle and what came out was a stunning indictment on myself. I learned I would like a small dog who did not like much exercise. Not surprisingly, it was a perfect fit.

Our current two pugs are delightful. Delightfully lazy, and in truth, not terribly bright. The perfect companions. Every morning, I have between one and two pugs resting on my lap while I pray and read the Bible. They get excited every time I come down the stairs and every time I return home from work. They know me.

They know me as the guy who is most likely to sit and read for more than an hour, providing them with a living bed upon which to exercise their superpower - sleeping. They know me and I know them.

The Ox and the Voice of Its Master

(Isaiah 1:3)

The book of Isaiah begins with a similar image. The image of an ox that does not know his master. As much as my pugs know me, the relationship between an ox and a farmer was a working relationship. It would be hours of training and working together. Learning to pull the plow and making one row after another - steady, straight lines.

The master constantly giving directions - the ox making it possible to prepare for the harvest that would provide the grain needed to sustain life for the family. Those are long days. Walking up and down. The Ox would learn the voice of its master.

A Comparison Israel Could Not Miss

The Lord makes this comparison that would be all too familiar to the nation of Israel. An agricultural society would recognize how close this bond is - many of Isaiah’s audience would own oxen and have trained them by hand.

It is not that God views Israel as a farm animal, but the comparison would stick. Even an ox knows the voice of its master...why did they not know their God?

The God Who Had Revealed Himself

(Genesis 12:1–3; Exodus 1–14; Deuteronomy 8; 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 119; Exodus 25–40; 1 Kings 8; Isaiah 1:2)

The Lord had made promises to their forefathers. The covenant promises of land, seed, and blessing made to Abraham. He had led them into Egypt as a family and led them out a nation.

He provided for them through the desert wandering. He brought them into the promised land, and He gave them peace so long as they lived in faithful obedience to Him. He gave them their great King David and made an unconditional covenant to him that his line would bring forth the Messiah.

He gave them His word so that they would know Him - His character and expectations. He gave them a priesthood so that they would be able to approach him. The Tabernacle and later the Temple so that he could relate to them in time and space. He sent them prophets to call them back when they strayed.

Yet somehow, they still treated the Lord as a stranger. Disobedient to His Law, unresponsive to his prophets, how could they not know Him?

The Tragic Familiarity for the Church

(John 10:14–27; Acts 20:28; Revelation 5:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; John 15:15; Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 10:17)

The disobedience of Israel is tragically familiar in the story of the Church. The sheep of the Lord's pasture are bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. Assembled from every tribe tongue and nation, indwelt with His Holy Spirit, equipped with the completed word of God, and we are even called His friends. Yet how often could these words be true of the Church...do we heed His word? When Bibles in our homes collect dust, when most churches neglect the word, when the gospel is distorted and perverted for the purposes of the ignorant and the ill-actors alike who pose as pastors.

The Lord has made the way for us to know him - by faith alone in Christ alone. He has provided for us to hear him every day in His revealed word, the Bible. Might we be ever careful to listen to the voice of the Lord - the voice of love.

To the Young – Ecclesiastes

 

The Fleeting Beauty of Youth

“Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.”

The poet Robert Herrick encourages the young to make the most of their youth. I first heard this poem in the movie Dead Poets Society, and I will never forget it. This first stanza of the poem lives in my mind for its beauty and its important message.

Youth is a precious thing that is alternatively idolized and taken for granted in the human experience. The ignorance, the passion, and the joy of youth is marked by learning, growing, and physically looking and feeling as good as you will for the rest of your life. I do not know where youth ends, but I know mine has ended, and I am grateful for the youth that I had. There were fun times, mistakes, and great people who invested in me and shaped me into who I am today. Most importantly, the Lord is ever faithful.

 

Rejoice in Youth — But With Accountability

(Ecclesiastes 11:9–10)

As Solomon considered this valuable time in the book of Ecclesiastes he wrote these words:

“Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. You know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. So remove sorrow from your heart and keep pain away from your body because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.” — Ecclesiastes 11:9–10

The changes we experience in old age color our perspective. Many people grow jealous of younger people. Other people grow bitter with the loss of physical comfort, strength, and beauty. Truthfully, youth should be enjoyed by the young and admired in the old. There is so much to do with the energy and potential of this time of life, and scripture encourages us to enjoy it because it goes by so quickly. Yet Solomon's advice doesn't end there.

 

Remember Your Creator While You Are Young

(Ecclesiastes 12:1–2)

“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’; before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain...” — Ecclesiastes 12:1–2

This critical bit of advice makes all the difference when it comes to enjoying youth successfully. These moments are fleeting, but they are important. If these years are invested in spiritual growth then they are glorious, but if these years are wasted they can limit what is available to us in the latter years.

 

The Wisdom That Comes With Age

As youth passes away the words of Solomon are true. Eyesight, hearing, and physical awareness all decline over time. Just like energy levels, and capacity for various experiences. Ageing can also bring wisdom — and it will if we pursue the Lord with our youth.

The simple admonition of wisdom is to understand and appreciate youth while we have it. To the folks who have left youth behind we can still admire and encourage those who are young to use these precious moments to grow to know Christ and make the most of the gift of youth.

Remember Who You Are — The Lesson of Job

 

A Modern Picture of Forgotten Identity

The film Regarding Henry (1991) starred Harrison Ford. Ford played a high-powered New York attorney who got amnesia from a traumatic accident. He forgot everything about who he was, and his life in general. His family came around him and sought to nurse him back to health. As he recovered, he learned that, prior to the injury, he was a miserable, selfish, and immoral person. Forgetting who he was gave him a chance to change—no longer doomed to continue those old patterns. He was free to live a better life.

The book of Job also involves the issue of Job losing track of who he was, but not in the same way that Henry did.

 

The Sudden Collapse of a Godly Life

(Job 1–2)

Reading the book of Job is an amazing journey. Job is a good and godly man and loses everything. Usually when we say a person loses everything, we mean it as a poetic overstatement. Job came closer than most to this being an accurate statement. Wealth, possessions, family, health—all taken from him in a tremendously brief period.

Experiencing such unspeakable loss in such a fleeting time is too much of an anomaly to be a coincidence. Something had to be up. And something was up, but Job did not know about it yet.

 

Wrestling With Suffering and Seeking Answers

(Job 3–31)

Most people in pain can identify with what Job endured, but the important part of this book is Job processing these losses with his friends. Seven days of silence begins the process, then Job understandably begins his complaint.

Why had this happened? What could have caused such extraordinary loss?

He and his friends seek all available options. Had Job been foolish? Was there a secret sin that God is disciplining him for?

Job sticks to his integrity. Ready to humble himself before God but genuinely wanting an answer to why this had happened. He had used his wealth and power to do good, to help others. Job felt he deserved an answer from the Lord as to why he lost everything, and his life had become so bitter.

We can understand Job's feelings. The reader has information about what went on in the courts of heaven (Job 1:6–12; 2:1–6), but Job does not even know that much. Yet still, the reader has compassion on Job and hopes that God will explain everything to him.

 

Elihu’s Rebuke and the Gathering Storm

(Job 32–37)

As the arguing grows more contentious, Elihu steps forward. Previously unintroduced, this young man speaks truth into the situation. He rebukes Job and his friends for the man-centered nature of their discussion, the arrogance of his friends in speaking for God, and Job’s boldness in questioning God so directly. As he speaks a storm begins to take shape. His powerful discourse is punctuated by growing strong winds, dark clouds, and the sounds of thunder, yet he continues his wise and circumspect speech.

When he finishes, an amazing thing happens—God shows up.

 

God Speaks From the Whirlwind

(Job 38–41)

God appears here in a storm—overwhelming and terrifying—but speaking clearly in this expression of power and authority.

We can pause here and ask what we might expect God to say.

Job had endured the trial. He had certainly asked the big questions and expressed his understandable confusion and even been more than a bit rude to his friends in response to their ignorant accusations. However, he never cursed or abandoned God.

As far as the contest in the heavenly throne room, God's wisdom and plan were vindicated. Satan's accusations were proven false, and Satan was embarrassed on the heavenly stage—all because of Job's response to this terrible time of loss.

I would expect God to come on beams of sunlight to give Job a commendation—the applause of heaven and all the righteous angels, but God enters the scene differently than we might expect.

He immediately starts by clearing up the most crucial point. God asks Job, in essence, “Who do you think you are?” (Job 38:2–4).

Job had boldly asked for this audience. He thought he deserved answers, and this attitude needed correction before anything else. God reminds Job with poetry and power that Job is not omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent. Only God has those characteristics. When Job questioned the character of God, he placed himself in a position of judgment over God.

That was not Job's place.
It is not our place.

 

The Right Relationship Between Creator and Creature

(Job 42:1–6)

God went on to vindicate Job's righteousness and rebuke Job's friends (Job 42:7–9), but not Elihu. Yet it was most important that Job understood the lesson he had learned. He does not stand before God as an equal. He stands before Him as a created being. This is the lesson that every human needs to hear. God exists, and He is above human approval. It is not our place to question God or evaluate Him. He is the only one who has the authority and wisdom to evaluate.

When a person gets the idea that God must meet his or her standards, they are already hopelessly lost—and they will never come to a right relationship with God until submitting to His final authority to do whatever He desires based upon His infinite power, knowledge, and love.

 

Learning to Trust God in Joy and Trial

When this reality is right in our minds, we can finally deal with our joys and our trials. God did not mess up. Nor does His character change. Whatever we experience in our lives should not change what we know of all that He is in His glory. It is a hard lesson to learn, but we must begin with an accurate picture of God's authority. Only then are we ready to see our need for justification before Him—and that He never needs to be justified before us. Only then can we see the incredible power of the saving work of Jesus Christ.