Sunday, Lord's Day, August 24, 2014

Sunday School:   I Kings 15:25-16:34
An overview of Northern Kingdom(Israel) events that happened simultaneous to the time period already given for the Southern Kingdom (Judah) while Rehoboam, Abijam, and Asa reigned there.

5 kings reigned during this time, 3 of whom were assassinated.  It was a time of economic prosperity, but religious and political decline. Recall that all of the priests and Levites have been replaced and a 'bootleg' religion set up that gives nod to Jehovah, but refuses to take seriously His commands and prophecies.

Nadab: had a brief feign of 2 years, defined by behavior that was in keeping with his father, Jeroboam.

Baasha: reigned for 24 years. He was an evil king, but God used him to accomplish the prophecy regarding Jeroboam(14:9-11), that all his family would be wiped out.    This was a time of political stability, but not spiritually.  Religious decline continued.  Another prophecy is issued that his family, also, will be wiped out.  He disregards the warning.

Elah, his son reigns for 2 years before he is assassinated by Zimri, an insider in his court.

Zimri reigns for about 7 days.  Note he is not supported by the people.  He acted alone in assassinating the king, and the people set another up as king (Omri).  Zimri winds up committing suicide by burning himself up in the king's house.

Omri reigns for 12 years.  He is in competition with Tibni for the loyalty of the people, but he wins out.  Note the continued decline of the kingdom, in that there is not civil unrest within the nation, as well as civil war with Judah.  Omri is a major world player at the time, as the Syrian's refer to Israel as the "House of Omri".  He buys land and builds a major city. He is a leader, but ruthless.  He too, gives nod to Jehovah, but refuses to obey Him.

At the end of the chapter, we are introduced to Ahab, who is more evil.  He doesn't even nod to Jehovah.   Ahab has no regard for Him whatsoever.  He turns to Phonecia (Tyre and Sidon) and trades with them and intermarries with them, making Jezebel his wife.  She is the daughter of a priest of Baal. Ahab sets up a temple for Baal worship and worships him outright.

The final note here seems out of place, but is appropriate with the theme of disregarding God's decrees and promises.   Hiel builds up Jericho, in direct disregard for the instructions and warning given to Joshua in Joshua 6:26.  He loses both his children, as promised.

The point of the passage seems to be repeated disregard for God's Word.  He remains the same regardless of political or religious change.....and what He has said, He will do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Sermon,  Billy Joseph      "Three Evangelists"  John 1:29-42

John :  points to Jesus as an eyewitness.  He had God's Word that the one on whom he saw the Spirit descending would be the Christ, and he saw that. John doesn't draw attention to himself, but points to Jesus as the One to follow.

Jesus:   invites Andrew and the other disciple to join Him.  He engages the in relationship and conversation.  He brings them into his circle.

Andrew:  brings his brother, Simon (Peter) to Jesus, putting him in contact with the Messiah physically.  He doesn't just tell him about Jesus, he brings him to Him.

We are all admonished to point to Jesus, invite others, and bring them to the Body of Christ (the church) where they will come in contact with Him more fully.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meditation :     "God uses us because we are weak, and therefore any 'strength' that other see must come from outside us--from Christ. We have given up a self-centered life to pass on life to others."  Will Metzger.

Psalm 149

"A new song........"

As I thought on this Psalm today, this phrase struck me.  A new song.......

Both study bibles indicate this is a song sung in association with battle victory, or
perhaps in anticipation of war, knowing that God is on their side.  

At any rate, great, uninhibited praise is called for....with dancing, musical instruments, and song, for God has given the enemy over to his saints, and has given them the honor of executing judgement on them.

But, 'a new song,'?    Perhaps they had grown repetitive in their worship, in word, song and prayer.
Maybe worship and praise had become habitual (which can be good), but meaningless because it was repetitive and rote and had lost it's meaning.

I wonder if the psalmist is calling them (us) to be intentional once again in worship.  To really think about what worship is......praising the God of all, full of majesty and power, creator and sustainer of all things, Who alone gives life and breath.  God......who chose them, rescued them from slavery, established them as a nation by His strength and power.  God.....who fought their battles for them, and made them victorious when they obeyed Him.

Worship, when as it should be, I think will result in great outpourings of praise.  Worship isn't for us or about us, indeed it is for and about God.  He prescribed for us what He desires in worship, but we have twisted things and make it about us and what we think we need.  But when we are obedient, and worship Him as He prescribes, then we DO benefit, for we understand our place before Him, and the great mercy and love with which He deals with us.

How fitting that tomorrow is Sunday.......

Prepare your heart for worship.

Psalm 148

God is transcendent  over all the universe, and is to be praised!

The highest heavens will praise Him, and all the angels and hosts that are there.

The created heavens will praise Him....the sun, moon, and stars that He put there, indeed the atmosphere will praise Him.  At His command, they came into existence, in the order that He decreed, and nothing will alter that.  

The earth, also, will praise Him.....such an all encompassing picture is painted!  The land, the sea, all animals and elements will praise Him.

All people.......indeed shall praise Him, for He alone is God, there is no other.  His majesty is evident....in all creation.

Let His people especially praise Him....for He has chosen them, and provides for and protects, and saves them.

Psalm 147

Another of the praise hymns closing out the Psalms.

Praise Him......because it is good and fitting and pleasant to do so!  I am reminded of the opposite of praising God for all He is and does....and that is pride.  Self sufficiency. Really, it seems much more pleasant to me, to give honor and praise where due....rather than struggle with feelings of inadequacy, failure, and helplessness.  It is easier and more pleasant to rely upon Him than to always be struggling to make it, or feel good about myself.....to put myself forward yearning for praise for my own actions.
Praise Him instead!

He builds up His house......Jerusalem and Israel first, and now His Church.

"He heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds".....This reminds me of the Beattitudes.....Blessed are they that mourn (their sinful state before God) and those who are poor in spirit.   He does indeed heal our broken, contrite hearts and brings us to Himself.

He lifts the humble......

And once again, one negative line......."He casts the wicked to the ground."

His delight isn't in appearance strength, or might, or character;    but He delights in all who fear Him and hope in His steadfast love.  The truly broken hearted do fear Him (properly), and delight in His healing love!

Give praise for His works on the earth....His 'understanding' is beyond measure.  He calls out the stars by name and knows their number; He prepares the rain and sends it to make grass grow, thus giving food to the animals of earth.  He sends snow and frost, hail and cold and wind, all in due season.

He has blessed Israel with peace and good produce from the earth. He indeed chose her, and has given her only His covenant.....no other nation has been so chosen and blessed.

Praise Him!

Psalm 146

I was struck by the similarity of this song with Psalm 145.

Psalm 145 is a great song of praise for out God, naming His attributes and character.
Then one line got my attention:  "But all the wicked He will destroy."

The same thing happens in Psalm 146.....Praise for the Lord....then one line: "But the way of the wicked He turns upside down."

Only one negative line in each psalm.

This song speaks of the one true source of help.....our God.   Turning to other sources proves to be futile.....The plans of men perish when they die.   The plans of men are fickle also, they rise up and fall down, and the 'shadow of turning' with them is huge. And man's power and ability are small.  But our God is not so.

He made the heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them.  He is the same, always......Truth, justice and mercy.  He cares for His creation, providing food, healing, and freedom, supporting the weak and poor and helping the oppressed.

These verses remind me of the social justice mentality of our society today. Some preach this message without recognizing the conditions stated.  See verse 5.....after stating in verse 3 and 4 that our trust should not be in princes or mankind, David states clearly that happy is the one whose trust and hope are in God.  I think the points in the rest of the chapter are conditional primarily on this.....but there is common grace also.     Also, see verse 20 of Ps. 145...."the Lord preserves all who love him."

And just like Psalm 145.....after the negative statement about God's judgement for the wicked.....
he commits his praise to the Lord for eternity.

Psalm 145

Our great, praiseworthy God!

David begins this song with an exuberant declaration of praise for our God.  He is worthy of praise forever and ever, and indeed it will be so!  "His greatness is unsearchable."   We will never know Him fully, or comprehend Him while here on this earth, but we can know His vastness, and be aware that we can't fathom the depths of His greatness.

His greatness is known from generation to generation, for one tells the other of His mighty works and deeds.

His Character is praised in verse 8-9 "The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.  The Lord is good to all and His mercy is over all that he has made."

What other god is given such praise?  What other god of the pagans has such relationship with his people?

All of His mighty works make known to mankind Who he is.  Indeed his kingdom is forever, and cannot be moved.

He "upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down." In other words, He is praised because He "is compassionate toward the weak and restores the erring" (RSB notes v.14).

While the eyes of all on earth are dependent on Him for all things (and most do not even realize it!), he has a special relationship with those who call on Him in truth (with a proper fear and understanding of Him and His greatness, and us, in our weakness).

He provides for all, but "he is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."
"He fulfills the desire of those who fear him, He also hears their cry and saves them.  The Lord preserves all who love Him......."

This is not prosperity gospel.   I believe that when He promises to fulfill our desires, He is speaking not of whims and wishes necessarily, although He is gracious and kind to do so.  No, He is promising to fill our desire for more of Him......our desire to know Him more, and be like Him. He leads us, and guides us, protects and saves us, for when we love Him, that is our desire.

But note:   the last part of the sentence is this....."....but all the wicked He will destroy."

For those who don't love Him, or fear Him, or wait for Him, or long for Him, the kindness of His general grace will end at some point in time as we know it.

I agree with David....."My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord."  

Psalm 144

A sure confidence in the Lord.

Never, never have I seen David, especially, waver in his confidence that the Lord is strong and true, faithful and steady, and will rescue from every situation.  Never does he question God's presence or capability to handle anything that comes to him.  He might complain in the form of prayer, but not in the sense of asking God, "what do you think you're doing?"

Here, he expresses a very confident faith in God, his protector.  Rock. Fortress. High tower.  Deliverer.  Shield.  Refuge.  All of these are used to describe the Lord.  Also, He "trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.   And in the middle of all of these 'strong' words, I noted the word "lovingkindness".   The contrast really struck me.  God is all of those things, but also a gentle, loving, and kind God.

As in prior psalms, David acknowledges his position before God.  Small. Insignificant.  Fleeting.
But God bows down to take knowledge of us, who are so far beneath Him.  He, Who is infinite and great, takes notice of us, who are finite and small.

David uses cataclysmic language to describe the power of his God.  Lightning, thunder, smoking mountians....all represent God's great power to rescue David from the 'great waters', of afflictions from his enemies.

One phrase is repeated twice with minor differences in verses 7b-8 and then verse 11:
      "Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of foreigners whose mouth speaks lying words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.".

After verse 7b and 8, David offers and promises praise and a new song to God for his deliverance.
After verse 11, he states that because of God's deliverance, the next generation will be blessed and prosper in all things.

"Happy are the people who are in such a state;
Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!"

Indeed!