First and Foremost, A God of Mercy and Grace

“Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.” (Job 23:6 AV)

It is now become necessary for Job to be his own comforter.  Which may have been by design anyway.  The three friends can do nothing but accuse and insult.  This changes Job’s disposition from feeling sorry for himself to encouraging himself in the LORD.  He knows that he has done nothing to directly cause the situation.  He realizes God is not chastening him for sins of the past, the present, or potential sins of the future.  Those who came to be an encouragement turn out to be just the opposite.  The truth above is a profound one.  To put it in our day’s language, God will not kick us when we are down.  He will pick us up and be that shoulder upon which we can lean.  It is important to remember this.

We underestimate the sustaining mercy and grace of God.  Raised in a religion that stressed an angry and just God, it is easy to forget that God is a God of mercy and grace.  It is easy to forget that God is not always displeased with our choices.  He does not sit up there like my teachers of grade school, pacing the floors of heaven striking a ruler or pointer into his hand just looking for someone to whack with it.  He is not an impatient Father seeking an opportunity for stern correction.  When we are in a low place, He is not there to make sure we get lower.  Job, correctly states that God will not use His omnipotence to continue to pound away at Job.  He knows this trial is not chastisement.  Therefore, he knows this trial will only go insofar as he can endure it with the power of God.  He knows that the same strength that brought him to the point is greater to bring him out.

Let us not forget that God is a God of grace and mercy.  When He does allow these things, remember 1Cor 10:13.  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”  We may not feel this truth at the time of our deep distress, but the truth does not change nonetheless.  God will not abandon you.  The LORD will have mercy and compassion.  We have to believe this!  It is our salvation and our guiding light to endure through the hardships of this life.  He will strengthen you!  The word of God promises.

Take Pity, Not Shots

“Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.” (Job 19:21 AV)

I don’t know how Job could have made it any plainer.  For his friends to do what they are doing to him in this time of great distress and loss is inexcusable.  Job needs compassion.  Job need affirmation.  Job needs emotional support.  He does not need an intervention.  He does not need an interrogation.  He needs to be encouraged to stop the thinking and rest in the hand of God that has just touched him.  When Job stays, “Miserable comforters are ye all,” it is an understatement.  What is astounding is he still refers to them as his friends even though they have rebuked him ten times for things of which he is not guilty.

The most profound portion of the statement above is when Job acknowledges the hand of God has touched him.  With that statement, all speculation should have ceased.  If the hand of God has brought upon Job the circumstances of his life, then only the voice of God can give explanation and direction.  It is not up to Job.  It is not up to his friends.  No one but God alone can give wisdom concerning the cause and plan of what Job is enduring.  Only God can tell Job ‘why’ and ‘what now’.  To attempt to do otherwise (which is what they are doing) only leads to wrong assessments and accusation against Job, God, or both.  When the hand of God has touched, the voice of God must be given liberty to respond.

This statement is a profound one.  Job is acknowledging not only the source of the touch, but the sovereignty behind it.  Job never accused God of being unjust or misguided.  His only frustration was that he lacked perception to the cause and purpose of the trouble, this concluding that it would have been better if he was never born to begin with.  His reasoning figured that if there was no cause or plan, then his existence had none either.  If his existence had no purpose, then the trouble he experienced, need not have had happened.  When he states the trials are from the hand of God, he is acknowledging that a sovereign God has purposefully chosen to do this, even if he cannot understand anything about it.

The Most Needed and Often Most Neglected Ministry

“O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!” (Job 16:21 AV)

Rather than sit there and insult Job, accusing him all of sorts of faults which he did not have, maybe what they should have done is have a prayer meeting for Job.  Every time I read this book, I am struck by the insensitivity of Job’s three friends.  In this chapter of Job, his relationship with these three men changes.  He no longer considers them his friends.  He refers to them as his enemies.  This is half-way through this discourse.  This doesn’t stop further assault.  It continues.  Even more viciously the accusations fly that condemns Job for sin which he never did nor would ever do.  The above verse is the answer to Job’s need and the most compassionate of acts which friends could do.  There is a time to seek wisdom and answers, and a time to simply pray.  For Job, it was a time for prayer. 

Men are problem solvers.  When someone divulges hardship, our first instinct is to assess the situation, find its cause, and fix it.  This is all these three men were trying to do.  The problem is, the situation was above everyone’s pay-grade.  No one even entertained the possibility Job was the spotlight of an altercation between God and the Devil.  Be that as it may, even if it was because of sin, there is a time to bring that up and a time to simply get someone through what they are going through with compassion and patience.  There are even circumstances wherein the consequences of a past choice has caused the present situation and common sense reveals this.  It does not need to be stated because there is no future choice that can undo the circumstances.  Nothing needs to be said.  There are times when the circumstances are so overwhelming, focus is upon enduring through it and not fixing what may be wrong.  The situation actually orchestrates right choices without have to analyze it to death.  Like an injury caused be foolish choice teaches one not to do that again.  It doesn’t need to be stated.

The point is, like Job’s friends, we are too quick to analyze and not quick enough to pray.  We are too quick to find fault and repair; not quick enough to repose to the throne of God.  We are too quick to integrate; not quick enough to intercede.  What Job needed most of all and what his three friends failed to give was affirmation of their support regardless of cause, bringing him, his family, and his situation to the LORD.  It is amazing what a word of prayer will accomplish that multiple words of reason fail to do.

Give Hope

“And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.” (Job 11:18 AV)

These are the words which Job’s friends should have continually spoken to Job.  His friend, Zophar, spoke these words but in the context that Job’s suffering brought upon him the circumstances of life, and, he probably deserved worse that he got.  Then these words.  They fall flat in the overall context of condemnation.  Condemnation actually cancels out the hope.  This doesn’t change the truth of what is said above and if the three friends of Job truly wanted to help him, they should have stopped at this truth.  They should have consistently affirmed hope instead of trying to find a reason for it all.  In fact, I don’t believe God ever tells Job the reason or cause of all that happened.  At least it is not mentioned that He did in the book of Job.  But I digress.  The most important truth upon which to meditate is hope!

There are three results of hope listed above.  They are security restoration, and rest. Security is the feel safe because of trust.  Not because of circumstances, but in spite of them.  Zophar is absolutely correct when he states that where hope is, there is trust and a sense of eventual well-being.  Hope is powerful.  Take away hope, and you take away stability.  You take away dreams.  You take away aspirations and initiative.  Take away hope, and you get a Job that wants to die.  Hope transcends the need for answers.  Job may not find any cause for the current circumstances.  Hope says that doesn’t matter.  Hope says that in spite of my limited understanding, I will be ok.  Hope says that God is always in control and not matter how hard it is to endure, He will be ever present.  1Cor 10:13 does and always will apply.

Secondly, there is restoration.  Or at the very least, a future.  The digging to which Zophar is referring, is digging wells.  Because the primary occupation of the nomad at the time of Job was a herdsman, digging wells was essential to his survival.  Without wells, his flocks would not survive.  In Job’s case, he would need two things of which he had recently suffered loss.  He would need hands to tend the flocks and he would need flocks.  He lost all his sons and his flocks were stolen.  Why would he need to dig?  How would he accomplish this?  This is where hope comes in.  Hope sees the future in spite of the present.  Hope knows that God has a purpose and that purpose is not endless suffering.  If so, then things will change.  This too shall pass.  There will be flocks again and there will be cattlemen to assist.  Hope sees what is not there and aspires one to gain that which he can see, but does not have.  Give a person hope, and he will set goals.  Give a person hope, and he will be further ahead than he is today.

Thirdly, hope results in rest.  This rest is the end of anxiety and worry.  The general meaning of the word means to lie down in peace, contentment, and satisfaction.  Not just to have one’s worries resolved, but also to have one’s need for affirmation fulfilled.  This rest can only come from hope.  This is Job’s deepest need.  His relationship with the LORD was cast in doubt.  He saw the circumstances of his life and an indication there was adversity between God and he.  He could not understand why this would be the case.  He was an upright man who feared God.  He sacrificed for himself and his family.  He helped his fellow man.  The sin of which he was guilty was covered by the law of sacrifice.  There was simply no logical reason for all that he was suffering.  Therefore, his confusion resulted in a strain in his relationship with the LORD.  His lack of hope in the nature of what God is was cast into some level of doubt, robbing him of hope.  What hope does is settles all doubts in what God claims to be.  It doesn’t need reason.  It doesn’t need to always make sense.  Hope rests in the unchangeable nature of God even in the midst of changeable circumstances.  Rob a man of hope and he cannot rest his heart in the person of God.  Give a person hope, and he will endure his circumstances because God never changes.  Hope is what allows us to fall asleep at night.  Hope is what causes is to see the goodness of God in all things.  Even those things of adversity.  Hope sees the faithfulness of God no matter what the enemy of God proposes.  Hope is what eases the heart.  It quiets the turmoil.  Hope is what calms the nerves.  Hope is what knows that God is always in control and He always works things for the benefit of His people.

Discerning Listening Takes Patience, Grace, Compassion, and Faith

“Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?” (Job 6:26 AV)

Even Job knew that he was ranting.  Imagine losing what Job lost and now, sitting in pain as he scrapes off the boils from his skin.  Imagine what might be the thoughts of one’s mind as he asks the eternal question, ‘why’.  Why did God allow this?  What did I do to merit such circumstances?  If God was pleased with my life in serving Him faithfully, what would be the cause for such circumstances?  If my end was to be total destruction and all that I worked so hard for is gone, they what eternal purpose did my life serve anyway?  If my life made no difference at all, why create me to begin with?  These questions are raging through the mind and heart of Job.  He verbalizes them.  The problem is, his counselors are taking his words far to seriously.  Job knows that he is merely venting.  He has not lost his faith in God.  He is expressing how he feels and it was not a representation of the events from God’s point of view.  Job’s question above is simple.  Do you intend to correct my words when you know that I am just venting?  Sometimes, there is cause for correction.  Other times, there is cause for letting them pass.  Knowing the difference will result in better ministry for those who are going through severe trials.

There is a blessing in being removed from a situation.  One can look at it without the emotions taking over.  We can go into a patience’s room and take note of his suffering, but also know that even though he thinks his life is coming to an end, because of our training and experience, know that he will be ok.  If that is the case, then we can filter through his emotional pain to see a way out that he may not be able to see.  When we counsel a marriage that is falling apart, we often hear rather vitriol or desperate remarks, but because we have been there dozens of times and helped several couples navigate these troubled waters, we know they we make it.  By God’s grace, there will be a time of healing.  God will see them through this.  The things they have just shared are their perception of what they are experiencing.  It may or may not be an accurate representation of the situation.

There have been times when correct, or as Job says, reproof, is necessary.  It is one thing to let a comment pass that isn’t totally true and are confident that in time, the sufferer will change their feelings or thinking.  However, there are times when a line is crossed.  That line is a line which will result in greater harm.  This line is a line that results is greater self-inflicted damage.  For instance, there are several times that Job mentioned he wished he would up and die.  He never threatened suicide.  If he did, that would be a line he would cross.  If a patient refuses treatment that will cure him because he thinks there is no hope, that is a line that is crossed.  If a spouse becomes vindictive, that is a line that is crossed.  Reproof is necessary.  Watch for that line.  But know what to let slide for the time being, because the sufferer just may change his or her attitude after the ordeal is complete.

Satan's Low Opinion of You

“But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” (Job 1:11 AV)

There are two possibilities to this accusation.   Either Satan knows of the integrity of Job’s heart and knows that no matter what he does to him, Job will maintain that integrity.  Thus, his proposal was mere torture.  Or, Satan really doesn’t know the depth of Job’s integrity and has a lower opinion of Job than is truly the case.  I prefer to believe it is the second.  When the Devil tempts us, it is with his understanding of who and what we are.  Not what we truly are.  This is encouraging.  The Devil is not omniscient.  He can know what he can see.  But he cannot know what he cannot see.  This is the depths of our heart.  What we want to meditate upon this morning is one truth and one truth only.  The demonic oppression which we encounter is the devil’s opinion of our character.  Opinions can sometimes be right.  But not always.

There were several years in my school boy days when I was the one the bullies chose to target.  There was Matt, Greg, Jim, and Marty, to name a few.  These episodes went from simply name calling and mocking in class to playground torture, to locker room antics all designed to intimidate a more timid school mate.  The thing about bullies is they always overplay their hand.  In each of these episodes, the bullies underestimated my resolve.  Because of sheer numbers, I may not have been able to fight back, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t resist.  When they stole my hat on the playground, I just reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out another.  When they tried to give me a swirly, several later joined the boys choir as high tenors.  When they relentlessly mocked in the classroom while the teacher was out, this victim did not sit idly by and let it happen.  And, when a gang of neighborhood kids threatened to beat him up, he used he broken arm in a cast to defend himself.  The point is, bullies always underestimate the resolve of their victims to survive.  All they accomplish is the make the victim tougher against adversity.

Look at it this way.  If the devil won’t leave you alone, it is probably because he underestimates the depth of your character and faith.  The thing to do is to resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  The thing to do is to let your LORD and Savior have a crack at him.  The thing to do is to take his temptation as a compliment.  Not only is it Satan’s low opinion of you, but like Job, it is God’s high opinion of you.  The LORD will not allow you to be tempted above that ye are able.  He knows your limits.  The devil does not.

It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better

“Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,” (Es 8:11 AV)

Have you ever heard the expression, “It has to get worse before it gets better?”  This is what happened with the Jews during Mordecai’s lifetime.  The Jews were under the control of the Medes and Persians.   They were in captivity in a hostile land.  Haman, who was second to Ahasuerus, king of the Medes-Persians, convinced the king to pass a law that would exterminate the Jews.  Upon hearing of Mordecai’s faithfulness while not able to sleep one evening, Ahasuerus honors Mordecai for his faithfulness.  Esther, the Jewish queen reveals to Ahasuerus the designs of Haman to destroy her and her people out of envy towards Mordecai.  Since the law of the Medes-Persians cannot be altered, not even by the king, a new decree went out that gave the Jews the legal right to defend themselves by force.  In the end, it worked out better than it would have had Haman not pushed for the destruction of the Jews to begin with.  Let me explain.

When all was said and done, after two days of skirmishes, 75,000 pagans died at the hand of the Jews.  Many more converted to the Jewish faith and became proselytes.  This undertone of resentment against the Jews existed before Haman’s decree.  All Haman’s decree did was to expose it to the surface.  If there was no decree, then the undertones of resentment, prejudice, and persecution would have continued.  Now, the enemies of God’s people have to declare themselves and be dealt with.  But it took a decree and possible threat to the people of God to do it.  What was at first a bad situation had to get worse before it could get better.  As a pastor I have seen many situations when a soul went into a situation needing health care only to find out there was a potentially much worse situation that needed to be dealt with.  A diagnosis that wouldn’t be caught any other way comes to light as they are treated for something else unrelated.  In my own situation, the routine test performed when you turn fifty revealed a few lesions that had to be removed.  According to statistics, only ten percent of those can become something more serious.  A little temporary discomfort saved me from a far worse future. 

We may think the trials we are going through are unnecessary, but sometimes they are the means for the LORD to deal with something far worse before it becomes a larger problem.  The trouble we face today may bring to the surface something that has the potential of being far worse and because the temporary hardship forces the potentially more serious to the surface, it can be rooted out and overcome.  We may be anxious about what we are facing today.  However, what we are facing today may be the means of resolving something far worse tomorrow.

It Effects Us All

“Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.” (Es 4:13 AV)

Because Mordecai refuses to bow in worship to a prince, namely Haman, there is a death sentence placed upon all Jews.  Haman has convinced Ahasuerus to decree that all Jews be exterminated that dwell within the kingdom of the Medes and Persians.  Esther, the niece of Mordecai is the current Queen to Ahasuerus.  She has, as yet, to divulge to her king her national heritage and bloodline.  When Haman convinced Ahasuerus to exterminate the Jews, this would also mean Esther.  Mordecai makes a statement which had not occurred to Esther.  That being, her life was also in jeopardy no matter what position she held.  It hadn’t dawned on Esther that her life was also in peril.  This was not nefarious in nature.  It was merely a fact of the situation.  It hadn’t dawned on her that her background would be and issue.  Once the common sense fact was mentioned, Esther’s attitude towards the threat and what need to be done changed.  She now felt compelled to risk her life a little bit early and bring to Ahasuerus’ attention the ramifications of his hasty law.

We are careful to not cast judgment upon Esther for her lack of understanding.  We do not accuse her of callousness towards her own people.  We are cautious to not assume she was so self-involved that she failed to care about those with whom she identified.  More likely than not, Esther was very busy performing the duties of a queen that she hadn’t thought any other thoughts outside of her own immediate obligations.  She hadn’t stopped long enough to meditate upon the severity of the situation.  Mordecai had to bring Esther down to earth.  He had to help her see the black and white of the situation and help her realize just how this would affect her personally.  This wasn’t neglect.  This wasn’t selfishness.  It was merely a matter of stopping to contemplate the reality of a situation outside of one’s own immediate concerns.

This reminds me of all the news that I read concerning persecution of the saints throughout the world.  Several churches have been blown up in Sri Lanka.  One might think that just because they are not of the same denomination or are in a Muslim world, this cannot come to America.  We read of persecution against the saints in Europe and we think that because we have a constitution that protects freedom of religion, we are safe from such actions.  The moment we believe that is the moment these things come to our shores.  We better wake up!  The silent majority cannot be silent any longer.  It is time to let our numbers be known and if we go down, we go down with a loud voice!  We may be in the palace, but unless we do something about it, it will come within our walls too.

Bless The Willing

“And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.” (Ne 11:2 AV)

Once the walls of Jerusalem went up, there needed to be a population there for protection and administration.  What the people did was cast lots and those chosen would have to surrender their inheritance to near kinsmen who would work that inheritance for them while they lived in the city of Jerusalem.  This was a lifelong calling.  This wasn’t a temporary assignment.  These few would be selected to give up a bit of their liberty for the sake of God’s city.  These few would not be able to chase a dream, build a home, raise their cattle, or see their extended families on a regular basis.  In a way, they were missionaries to the city of Jerusalem.

What we want to dwell upon this morning is recognizing those we are chosen to make such a sacrifice.  There are many who have given up what others take for granted so others can have that which the LORD has supplied.  It doesn’t matter if we are talking about the military, public service, or Christian service, there are those who give up a portion of liberty and cast aside future dreams for the benefit of others.  The others are hard pressed to empathize and appreciate such sacrifice.  There are Christian workers who cannot afford those things that others so easily acquire, or enjoy.  A simple vacation, a memory packed holiday, or a vehicle that will not break down may be a simple thing to some, but to others, a luxury.  The Christian worker doesn’t have the liberty to dream of possibilities.  If one thing doesn’t work out, he cannot go to another.  He and his family are surrendered for the duration and their life’s path is determined by a sovereign hand rather than their hopes and dreams.

Note that the people above blessed those who were willing to surrender what the others would enjoy.  They blessed them.  They recognized the sacrifice of liberty and self-determination.  What follows in this ninth chapter of Nehemiah is the list of those men who surrendered to this calling.  For all of eternity they will be remembered as doing without what others take for granted.  Let me say just one thing.  I have seen the man of God suffer undo hardships that he should not have to suffer.  I have seen carnal Christians treat the man of God with disrespect, false accusation, and out and out adversarial confrontation.  Just remember, he may not be perfect, but he is willing to surrender a portion of life that the people do not.  And because of that fact alone, he should be blessed.

God Will Take Care Of You (2)

“Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.” (Ne 9:21 AV)

The entire chapter of Nehemiah chapter nine is a rehearsing of the history of Israel from the promises of Abraham to the captivity of Assyria and Babylon.  There is particular attention spent on the wilderness wanderings and the book of judges.  The priests stood upon the steps of the temple and rehearsed the sordid history of Israel’s rebellion before their ears as a motivation to follow the LORD from this day forward.  While reading this chapter, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the ministry of the Holy Spirit as He drew attention to the patience and mercy of God.  This verse, although it is relatively early in the history of Israel’s rebellion, sets the tone for the character of God.  In particular, His faithfulness even in the midst of our lack of faith and poor attitude.

The generation spoken of above complained one too many times.  Their murmuring was not founded upon selfishness.  They did not complain because they had enough of the manna from heaven and desired a smorgasbord.  Even though they stated they wanted the leeks and garlic of Egypt, what they were really saying was they lacked the faith needed to see God’s mighty hand continue into the conquering of Canaan.  This all started when they were given the opportunity to enter the southern border of Canaan.  This happened rather quickly after the Exodus.  Yet, the recoiled at the report of the two good spies and favored the evil report of the ten faithless spies.  They rejected God’s call to a life of faith and would not go up and conquer the land.  Therefore, they were doomed to wander in the wilderness for forty years.  Because they refused to trust God, God used a new generation who would not be so hindered.

But herein is the lesson.  God still took care of them.  Even in the midst of their pointless wandering, God made sure they had food to eat and clothes on their backs.  Even to the point of providing those things in a miraculous way.  Their shoes never wore out.  I have a pair of shoes like that.  Allen Edmond shoes that are almost exactly like they were since I bought them twenty years ago.  But I don’t wear them every day.  God fed them. God clothed them.  But most importantly, God loved them in spite of how they treated Him.  This is the patience and love of the God whom we come to trust.  What a wonderful God we have!

Live Above Reproach

“Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?” (Ne 5:9 AV)

There is a balance between being concerned with the opinions of the enemies of God and ignoring them.  Most of their criticism is for the purpose of discouragement of self-righteous condemnation.  But from time to time there is an element of truth to their observations and they are justified in the statements.  Nehemiah was concerned at the testimony of the people of Judah.  They were beginning to act like the nation from which they just came.  They were gouging one another in loans with steep interest.  This is what the pagans do.  Israel was told to loan money without interest.  They were told to set a person free from their financial obligations once every seven years and fiftieth year.  By this, the pagans would know they were the children of God.  Yet, they made a decision that reflected to their mission field they were no different.

This happens to all of us.  We are not perfect.  We will make decisions that reflect the character of God in the wrong light towards those to whom are to be a testimony.  It happens.  All the time.  Sometimes these things are trivial and are just an excuse for the heathen to reject God.  A loss of temper.  An overdue bill.  A word spoken out of place.  A joke that didn’t go over well.  Lack of patience while driving on the road.  Maybe even going to a restaurant that serves alcohol on the side.  Whatever it might be, we have a lapse of judgement all the time.  But was can limit those choices the best we can.  We will never live perfect and as long as the heathen are looking for an excuse, they will find one.  What we are speaking of here is a lack of distinction between the heathen and the saved.

What is interesting is the lost always believe they are held to a different standard than they hold the saint to.  What is even more egregious is their standard is wrong, and they know it.  But somehow, in their own way of thinking, they are allowed to do what they believe to be wrong because they are not of the number of God’s people.  It is these things we need to watch for.  The previously mentioned choices may be a minor choice of separation or a fruit of the spirit gone sour, but when we do what the heathen do, specially when they know it is wrong, they we give excuse for them to throw out accusation.  We are called to holiness.  We are called to godly living.  In part, because the heathen must be brought under condemnation for their sin.  They cannot be if we are doing the same thing.

Faith and Prudence in Balance

“Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” (Ne 4:9 AV)

There is a balance between faith and prudence.  Setting a watch against the enemy is not a lack of faith.  Setting a watch against the enemy is prudence.  Nehemiah set watchers among the workers as the wall was in repair.  Sanballat and Tobiah made threats against Nehemiah and the remnant that if the wall was under repair, and the work did not cease, they would come by force to stop it.  Nehemiah did not completely ignore the threat, nor did he allow it to pre-occupy his thoughts.  He set a watch, prayed it unto the LORD, and continued the work.  This showed a lot of wisdom and leadership to a group of people who wanted to do a work for the LORD.

There is a fine line between obsessing and negligence.  Yet, the line is there.  We tend to do one or the other.  We either obsess over something to the point of seizure, or we throw caution to the wind and not worry about it at all.  There is a balance to be had here.  Recently, both my wife and I have had some wake-up moments regarding our health.  Tests revealed the possibility of serious conditions, but upon further tests and follow-up visits with doctors, it was determined that both of us were not in immediate danger of complicated health issues.  We could do one of two things.  We could obsess as though the doctors and tests are misleading and the statistical improbability of serious conditions were overstated, coming to the conclusion our health would deteriorate regardless of the likelihood it would not.  Or, we could throw caution to the wind a presume upon God’s grace, not seeking better life choices that would improve our health and drive the statistical probabilities even lower.  The balance is in between.

It is foolish to ignore a potential threat no matter how trite we might think it is.  But it is equally foolish to overthink that threat and treat it bigger than it actually is.  God is able to do above what we ask or think.  And that was certainly true in our situation.  But as for me, I need to cut back on all of my caffeine, eat a bit better, and get moving.  All of which I am doing.  In the end, my health is in the hands of the LORD.  He could call me home at any minute.  And I would gladly go.  In the meantime, I need to make my prayer and set a watch so that He can use me for His glory while I still have breath in my lungs.

Identification, Please

“And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.” (Ezr 9:6 AV)

Every time I read this, Ezra’s attitude towards the sin of his people moves me.  There was a small portion of the remnant that had intermarried with the pagans around them.  This is the sin that started Israel down the road of idol worship centuries ago.  Right after the Exodus, Moab attempted to militarily defeat Israel.  Balak hired the Gentile Seer Balaam to curse Israel.  God would not allow it.  So, Balaam advised Balak to intermarry his nation’s women with the Jewish men.  This event compromised Israel and introduced them to Baal worship.  Baal worship with be a constant struggle to the nation, leading to their eventual downfall.  Now, after spending seventy years in captivity to the Babylonians, the returned remnant fails in the same manner.  Rather than react with self-righteous displeasure, Ezra takes the blame for this upon himself.  He associates himself the sin of his people.  This is what a godly leader does.  He associates himself with the faults of his flock rather than chasten them in private to the sympathetic ears of a listener.

I have witnessed, and perhaps even failed in the area.  Specially in the company of other men of God.  It is one of the reasons I stopped going to Pastor’s fellowships many decades ago.  No so much now, but back then, it was common to sit down to a fellowship over a meal and hear pastors complain about their church folk.  They would often complain about one or two rebel rousers that were causing him problems.  Or, they might complain about a congregation that was too slow to respond to his leadership.  Or, perhaps a congregation that was micro-managing him.  Maybe it was a series of trouble filled business meetings.  Perhaps is was the lack of activity at the altar.  A lack of commitment to ministry and meetings was a regular topic of discussion.  The point is, back in the old days, the men of God didn’t identify themselves with the faults of his people like Ezra did.  Ezra was not guilty of wedding and pagan woman.  Personally, he was innocent in all if it.  Yet, he went to God and asked for forgiveness.  He begged God’s mercy for his people.

The man of God is like a father to his children.  His heart should ache when the children of God do no live right.  A godly father will not resent his children when they do wrong.  His heart is moved because he knows by experience the cost of disobedience.  He knows first-hand what awaits his child for the choice that he has made and Dad sees that choices as a failure of leadership on his part.  What a difference it would make if the man of God would see the failures of his sheep, in part, as a failure of his own.  Perhaps he did everything he was supposed to do and they made that choice anyway.  Perhaps he prayed and fasted for them.  Perhaps he couldn’t instruct any more than he did and all avenues of discipline were exhausted.  The man of God who loves his sheep will still feel bad when the sheep fail.  It should be a characteristic of our ministry.

Own It

“But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.” (Ezr 5:12 AV)

Ezra, upon the decree of Cyrus, returned with a remnant of Israel to rebuild the temple.  Two kings later, the enemies of Israel abiding in or around Jerusalem, were offended they were not allowed to assist in the rebuilding of the temple and consequently wrote the new king to cease the work of the temple.  The Tatnai, or Governor or Jerusalem wrote Darius, now king of the Medes and Persians and laid out his case as to why the work of the temple should resume.  Part of the accusation of the Samaritans was Jerusalem had a history of insurrection against former conquerors.  This was a half-truth.  Israel was a kingdom in decline.  Their captors were up-and-coming.  Of course, there would be warfare between them.  Rather then to defend their past behavior in this manner, the Tatnai assumed the rightful judgment of God’s hand as the cause of their predicament.  Rather than justify their past actions, which he could have done, he owned up to their disobedience to God as an explanation of their actions.  It is important that we own our pasts.  This does not mean we take every opportunity to expose our past to any and all.  Sometimes, when we do this, we end up glorifying the sin of which the LORD rescued us.  Or, we use it to avoid greater responsibility for service because we believe we have disqualified ourselves.  However, it is important that if our past becomes and issue, that we own it. 

We all have pasts that we wish were not the case.  There have been choices that we wish we would never have made.  Every once in a while, the devil likes to bring it back up to bring us a spirit of defeat all over again.  When we try to hide it, dealing with it only makes it worse.  Years ago, a young man made a choice that had gotten around to others.  It was very embarrassing.  Some even accused him of not truly being saved.  Rather than run from it or hide it, he owned it.  Yes, he had made that choice.  Yes, it was very wrong.  However, forgiveness is the answer.  Acceptance in Christ is the answer.  Not running and hiding.

The truth of those who wish to use our past against us is they are self-righteous.  They seem to believe that if the saints have worse sins in their past then they do, then it justifies their life and they do not need repentance and forgiveness.  They can life above the need for God.  There is a cleansing of the heart when we take ownership of our actions.  We are declaring to the world that we are not perfect and we are in just as much need of a Savior, even more so, than anyone else.  It is a declaration of complete and total surrender to the mercy of God.  This is why Darius was moved to help the Tatnai.  He was honest about the past, seeking mercy from a king who would honor humility.

Is There Anybody Out There?

“Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.” (Ezr 1:3 AV)

What a question!  For seventy years, the people of Israel have been in captivity to the Babylonians.  Now, the king of the Medes and Persians, Cyrus by name, has decreed that the Jews may return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple.  A great and wondrous opportunity.  Yet, fraught with challenges that would not be there if they stayed behind.  How are they going to eat for the first year without a crop to harvest?  The LORD was not going to be with them as He had been with their forefathers when they traveled from Egypt to Canaan.  No pillar of cloud or fire.  No manna from heaven.  No water out of a rock.  All their needs would have to be met by their efforts along side of God’s grace.  The question still hangs there in the air.  Who is there among you of all His people?  Who is willing to go?  Who is willing to step out on faith and obey the LORD?  Who among you is willing to trust the LORD and build for the glory of God?

Here at Southside Baptist Church of West Allis, WI, we have just concluded our first Grace Purpose Missions Conference.  We are still rejoicing at what the LORD has done for us. Our missions spending will increase by a factor of %200.  The actual numbers may not impress most.  We are a rather small work.  When looking at the percentages per capita, God has been, as always, good to us!  There is one sacrifice which was not realized this time around.  At least not that we are aware of.  No one came forward to surrender to full-time Christian service.  That doesn’t mean the seeds were not planted.  Perhaps we will see continued fruit from this Conference that goes even beyond what we hoped or thought.  Herein we find our application.

Having a son and daughter-in-law that have surrendered and are not on the mission field of Brazil has given me a new found appreciation for what our missionaries endure for the glory of our Savior.  Loneliness is perhaps the largest villain of all.  Our missionaries need our prayers.  Our missionaries need our social media contact.  Our missionaries need a touch from home almost every day so they are not suffering needlessly for the gospel of Christ.  The question really is:  Who is there among the people of God willing to live by faith and take risks for the glory of God.  Perhaps it is not the mission field.  Maybe all which the LORD is asking is to be a more consist ant and aggressive soul-winner.  Maybe it’s stepping out and teaching a class.  Maybe it’s giving of oneself to participate in a building project.  Who knows?  But the question still hangs there.  Will you be among God’s people?

Other's Stand As Well

“And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.” (2Ch 34:32 AV)

One wonders how Josiah caused all that were left in Judah and Benjamin to stand to the vow of holiness unto the LORD.   If we can discover this, perhaps the man of God can do the same for the family of God of whom he oversees.  Although the man of God is not a lord or king, he does and should have influence over the flock of which the LORD tells him he is an overseer.  The Bible commands the sheep to submit to them who have the rule over them.  Which suggests there are things of which the church has no say.  Otherwise, the man of God does not rule over them.  Although there is insufficient room here to expand this truth, there are only five areas in which the church has the responsibility and liberty to voice their will.  Five and only five.  If an issue does not fall in one of those five areas, then the man of God is to rule over the church of God.  Getting back to our question is prudent here.  What did Josiah do to cause the people to stand to it?

There are two factors that I believe Josiah established that the pastor can also excise.  The first is personal integrity.  The people will follow the example of the man of God before they will follow his words.  Josiah removed from his own house the things that would hinder the lives of those who were following him.  He removed the high places which his father had established.  He removed the idols that his father had put away yet remained intact.  He destroyed from his own house that which God condemned.  Josiah faithfully offered sacrifice and kept the Passover.  His life was about learning and applying the word of God.  Secondly, and this is where most works fail, Josiah created a culture of obedience to the word of God.  He could not control what the citizenry did in the privacy of their own homes.  But he could control what was done in the temple and in their public life.  Preachers, we need to have the boldness to create a culture of obedience.  We need to cleanse the house of God and refuse to allow a spirit of worldliness or ungodliness to fester in our churches.  If the people of God or the world’s visitors do not want to respect the house of God with godly standards, they should seek another fellowship.  We are too afraid of offending the self-willed and not worried about offending God.  The preacher should call out wicked behavior of God’s people conducted in full view of the outside world.  Specially that which occurs on-line.

Josiah had nothing to lose.  The remaining kingdom was under the eventual judgment of God.  God was going to judge the people no matter what they did.  Revival or no, Babylon was coming.  The revival under the leadership of Josiah was the purest of all because they had nothing to gain other than the glory of God.  Because of this, Josiah caused the people to stand to it!