August 9th

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Jeremiah 12-15

In one of his sermons on Jeremiah, John MacArthur talks about the object lesson that God gave Jeremiah when He asked him to buy and wear a linen belt (basically underwear) without washing it (13:1) and then to take it out to Perath (Euphrates), a 200 mile trip there and another 200 mile trip back (walking!) and to bury is in a crevice in the rocks. After some time God told Jeremiah to walk back (another 400 mile round trip!), dig it back up and see it for the worthless and ruined item it now was. What was the point of this object lesson?
God says, "I wanted it to be the most intimate thing. I wanted you to be close to Me. I wanted you to be that which is the nearest to me and instead of that you will be worthless." That's the judgment of God. That's the heart of the matter. (John MacArthur)

Though there were other wicked nations around them, God's message through Jeremiah was to His chosen people. He was calling them out on their wickedness.

Seems pretty relevant to our times to me!

We live in an evil society, there is no doubt about it. Our society calls evil good and good evil. We have laws that say it's legal to kill the unborn, okaying homosexuality. Divorce is commonplace and having a premarital sex isn't even blinked at. Self-indulgence is skyrocketing - whether it be alocohol, drugs or sex.

And the really sad thing is that the statistics show that the numbers in secular society and the numbers within the church are very similar.

Does this mean that there is no point in following God?

No, it doesn't.

It means that there are a lot of people in our churchss professing something they do not possess. There are lot of people who claim Christ, that have no idea what it is like to follow Him. Lip service that does not reach the soul.

Jeremiah sounds relevant indeed.

And God judged his people for their wickedness. His covenant people, His chosen people.
And we don't even have to claim the covenant relationship that they had to claim. So what would ever convince us that we are protected from something God's covenant people were not protected from? So this was the message. It was a message of sin. And we are called to confront a sinning society. Not make it feel good about itself. But make it feel bad about itself. (John MacArthur)

If we could only see our nation through the eyes of God, we would be like this weeping prophet. We would weep for our nation. We should weep for our nation.

Jeremiah looked at the spiritual condition of his people, of his nation and he was traumatized. Something happened in his heart. There were wellsprings of grief that were broken up as he looked with spiritual eyes and saw what was going on around him. And he wept. But throughout the book he also called for others to weep.....

[Jeremiah] talks in this passage about the influence that weeping women have. He says, "Call for the wailing women to come. Let them come quickly and wail over us till our eyes overflow with tears."

Who's the us? It's the men. So many women today are concerned because they don't feel like the men are concerned. And Jeremiah says, "So you get concerned. You weep, you grieve, you mourn and watch if God doesn't use your heart to influence the hearts of the men around you." You see, we are waiting for the men to get hot-hearted for God; and God is saying: "No, you women, take your role, take your place; and I will influence the men through you."

Not only is there the influence on the men, but also there is the influence on the next generation. He says, "Teach your daughters how to wail, pass on a heritage, a legacy, teach your daughters to take life seriously. Teach them not to fritter their lives away, not to live frivolously. This is a time to weep, this is a time to mourn and teach them how to lament, teach one another how to lament." (Nancy Leigh DeMoss, A Time for Tears: Jeremiah Speaks Today, Part 2)

His heart is grieved over evil. His heart is grieved over sin and over what it does to His creatures that He loves. So the question becomes for us: Do you and I weep and grieve just over the things that break our hearts or do we weep and grieve over the things that break God's heart?...

God's people are sinning in very much the same ways as our nation is sinning. That ought to grieve us. Am I grieved and are you grieved by our lack of love for the Word of God? As the people of God, what a privilege we have to have the revelation of the Word of God. But we treat it as such a light thing. We're characterized today by biblical illiteracy in the church.

We know more about movie stars and entertainers than we do about biblical heroes. We don't know the Word of God. We have an incredible gift in the Word of God. Many of us have in our home a dozen, two dozen, three dozen or more copies in every conceivable size, color and translation. What a privilege to hold this book in our hands.

Do we love it? Do we read it? Do we memorize it? Do we meditate on it? There's a lack of the fear of the Lord in the church today. We don't tremble at the Word of the Lord...

What about our priorities? I'm talking about our priorities as the people of God. So many times, they are temporal rather than eternal. What are the things that concern us? What do we spend our time doing? Do you want to know what your real priorities are? Go look at your checkbook and at your calendar. See where you spent your time. See where you spent your money.

By and large, in the church today, if the truth were known, the fact is we love TV and we love movies more than we love God's Word and prayer. We can tell you all about the current movies. But we can't tell you what God is saying to us through His Word. For what do we have an appetite? We're the children of God. Do we have an appetite for a relationship with our Heavenly Father or do we have an appetite for the world?

There's a lack of holiness that characterizes the church today. There is worldliness. Worldliness is not just things we do or don't do. Worldliness is having a heart for the world and/or a heart like the world. Being attracted to the same things to which the world is attracted is worldliness.....

[Our children] see moms and dads who go to church, who tip God in the offering plate, serve on church boards but don't have a heart for God.

Why is it that children growing up in our Christian homes, by and large, do not have a heart for God today? I'll tell you one big reason is because they have seen our values. They've seen our hearts and they are just like us. They're just a magnified reflection of the values that they've seen in us.....

As women, we have been deceived. I'm talking about Christian women who have prioritized careers over children. I'm talking about women who have broken vows and who have failed to reverence husbands. As women today, by and large, we are self-absorbed.

So few of us think of serving sacrificial lives.(emphasis mine, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Part 6)

I don't know about you but my toes got a little stepped on there.

Tomorrow's passage: Jeremiah 16-18, 35

Sunday Guest Post By Alicia

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Jeremiah 8:4-11:23

Scripture:
Jeremiah 10:23-24
"I know, O Lord, that a man's way is not in himself,
Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.
Correct me, O Lord, but with justice;
Not with Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing."

Observation:
I cannot find it within me to obey God or know how to do so. I, like the people of Israel am prone to my own idol worship. Not just one or two, but many. John MacArthur states in his commentary from the passages today that "Judah was so filled with idolatry that there were false deities for every city and a polluted altar on every street." That sounds so polluted and then I remember how easily my own life can become polluted.
I've been thinking a lot on this lately as I just blogged about the abundance of wayward thinking and theology from even inside the "Christian" sphere. One of our major idols in Christianity today probably on the other side of legalism, is the idol of experiential theology. Yet, this verse says so truly that it is not within us to know or direct ourselves.
"Man is incapable of guiding his own life adequately. This prayer shifts to his need of God, who had a plan for Jeremiah before he was even born." John MacArthur
So verse 23 presents the problem and it's a big one. Therefore verse 24 presents a solution. "Correct me" Jeremiah cries.
"Jeremiah saw himself ("Correct Me") in solidarity with his people and understood the nation must be punished, but desired some mercy and moderation; he prayed that God's full fury would be poured on the nations that induced the Jews into idolatry." John MacArthur

Application:
It begins with me, hold high the Word of God. Turn to it, study it, make it first say. Then, be aware of the wrong thinking out there building mental idols of self-made theology and Christianity (I use the term loosely for that is not really what it is at all) and take a stand for why and how it's wrong. Know that any truth is not going to be found in me, or my brother or sister (though God may use them through the Holy Spirit for my direction or growth as long as anything they say does not contradict the Word of God but aligns with it and I am commanded by Paul to find that out like the Bereans. See Acts 17:11)
Pray that God will "correct me", again it starts with me. I can pray that He will glorify himself by correcting those who are declaring mis-truths about Himself or His gospel as well.

Prayer:
Lord, you are the way I don't know and don't possess on my own. You are the truth that will guide me and that knows my beginning, journey, and end. Let me not direct myself but seek your direction for your Glory and not mine. Thank you that you guide me with loving justice and correct me which saves me from a pit of despair.
Help me to ask you daily for this correction and speak my dependance on You in this way.
The balm so to speak, for this set of verses is found in chapter 9:24
"but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the Lord.

Help me not boast in my knowledge, experience, understanding, but in You and all You define YOURSELF to be.





Tomorrow's passage:
Jeremiah 12-15:21

August 7-guest post by Pamela

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Daniel 2-3, Jeremiah 7-8:3

Scripture:

²⁶ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, ²⁷ and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Observation: With God, even the impossible is possible.

Application: Can you imagine witnessing this event first hand? What an amazing testament to the power of God to overcome every obstacle. I am in awe of the faith and courage it took for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendago to refuse to compromise even in the face of rage and death. I thought that the fire was an appropriate symbol for just how angry the King was when he was not in control. His rage grew and he ordered the fire to be seven times hotter than usual. In fact his rage was so out of control that he killed his own men who accompanied the three into the furnace. (This is not unlike our own fired up anger that sometimes engulfs people not even connected to the source of our rage). What the king didn't realize was that God could handle anything the king tried to throw at his obedient and faithful servants. However, you would think that the king would have had just a bit of a clue about this when just 1 chapter earlier, God allowed Daniel to reveal and interpret the king's dream. God continues to demonstrate His ability to do the impossible. He will give the power to read minds. He will send angels to protect his servants. He will overcome any human catastrophe and triumph. He will change the mind of a king who wants to kill everyone who does not want to bow to his idol to a king who decrees that everyone should follow the one true God. Awesome.

However, we can't forget that while God is with us through any trials that come our way, we can't ignore that we need to rely on God to get us through the fire.

Nebuchadnezzar heat his furnace as hot as he can, a few minutes will finish the torment of those cast into it; but hell-fire tortures, and yet does not kill. Those who worshipped the beast and his image, have no rest, no pause, no moment free from pain, Revelation 14:10,11. Now was fulfilled in the letter that great promise, Isaiah 43:2, When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned. Leaving it to that God who preserved them in the fire, to bring them out, they walked up and down in the midst, supported and encouraged by the presence of the Son of God. Those who suffer for Christ, have his presence in their sufferings, even in the fiery furnace, and in the valley of the shadow of death. (from this commentary)

Prayer: Dear Lord, You make the impossible possible. Sometimes we can't see how it will ever work out and then You, in your amazingly perfect time, make it clear to us that You knew what You were doing all along. Thank you for the sharing the story of these 3 courageous men and their unwillingness to waver in their faith that You would be with them, regardless of what happened. Lord, ignite a fire in us that we might have the same confidence and assurance that whatever trials come our way that we are willing to take them on with Your help. Amen.

Tomorrow's passage: Jeremiah 8:4-11:23

August 6th

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Jeremiah 19-20, Daniel 1

Commentaries/Sermons
Purpose of Heart in a Pagan Land - Bethany Bible church sermon
The Uncompromising Life - John Macarthur
Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Bob Deffinbaugh
Conquering Compromise - Alan Carr

Today I want to focus on our first look at Daniel, but I wanted to make one quick comment about the Jeremiah passage.

Chapter 20 contains a lament by Jeremiah. Verses 14-18 in particular are very stark.

From my Life Application Bible....
Probably as troubling as the self-loathing that oozes from these verses is the stark contrast between the exuberant confidence of the previous paragraph and the sudden inward turn of revulsion. In Jeremiah's honestly recorded moments of despair, however, we can find hope. If someone with such intimate awareness of God's presence struggled with insecurity, we ought not to be surpsied over our own failures and weaknesses. Jeremiah doesn't give us an excuse, but an example. No matter how we may feel about ourselves at any moment, God remains unchanged, loving, and present in our lives.

Now, on to Daniel. I absolutely love this book of the Bible. It is such an incredible story of unwavering faith, tremendous courage and uncompromising convictions which were blessed by God in huge and mighty ways.

There are several commentaries and sermons on Daniel chapter 1 and most of them deal with the fact that Daniel and his friends chose not to compromise.

John Macarthur brings up the saying "every man has his price" and acknowledges that that is likely true of the majority of people in secular society. But it should not and must not be true of the believer. We must be people of integrity, we must be absolutely unwilling to compromise God's standard no matter what the cost.

But guess what? Compromise is costly too. Just look at a few biblical examples....
Adam compromised God's law, followed his wife's sin and lost paradise. Abraham compromised the truth, lied about Sarah and nearly lost his wife. Sarah compromised God's word, sent Abraham to Hagar who bore Ishmael and lost peace in the Middle East ever since. Esau compromised for a meal with Jacob and lost his birthright, Saul compromised the divine word, kept the animals and lost the royal seed. Aaron compromised his convictions about idolatry and he and the people lost the privilege of the Promised Land. Samson compromised righteous devotion as a Nazarite with Delilah, lost his strength, lost his eyes and lost his life. (John Macarthur)

What does it mean to live an uncompromising life?
It is to reach beneath the shifting sands of a culture and fix yourself to the rock that is below it. Daniel was in Babylon and Babylon was a Pagan society in every sense. No regard for the true God ........ And while Daniel was living in the breakers as it were, the crashing waves and the shifting sand of the surf, his soul was anchored on the rock. And so he was unshakable and indestructible.

He was absolutely unwilling to compromise the absolutes that he believed were the law of God. And that is what anchored him to the rock of confidence even in the storms of captivity and Caldian efforts to brainwash him......

the most corrupting influence in a society is not its philosophy it's its lifestyle. A lifestyle of any society is the most corrupting thing.....what really will tear up your life is to begin to adjust to the culture's lifestyle. That's when the brainwashing has succeeded.

An uncompromising life with unashamed boldness that calls us to an uncommon standard that depends on an unearthly protection build on an unblemished faith that can face unusual testing with unhindered persistence, resulting in unmeasurable blessing and unlimited influence. And I suppose we can say in summary determine not to compromise and leave to God the results. Right? And let him put you where he wants. What you can never gain by trying, by manipulating, or by compromise God will give you for not compromising. (emphasis mine, John Macarthur)

What's even more amazing is that he stood up to this lifestyle, he did not compromise - even though he was only about 14 or 15 years old, even though he was separated from his home, from his family, from any personal accountability, and in a very high pressure environment. And he does not compromise!

Let it be said of us as well.

Tomorrow's passage: Daniel 2-3, Jeremiah 7-8:3

August 5th

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Jeremiah 25:15-38, Jeremiah 36, 45-46

Once again I am struck by the importance of fearing the Lord.

In Jeremiah 36 we come to the story I mentioned earlier, about King Jehoiakim throwing the Word of God into a fire, as though burning it up would somehow render the prophesy null and void!

In every era there has been a spirit of the age that challenges our acceptance of Scripture. The temptation is to remove or alter those portions that seem old-fashioned.

Whether it’s the doctrine of hell or God’s view on sexual behavior, many feel pressured to reject parts of the Bible. Inevitably, some truths will be offensive in every day and age.

Centuries ago, a Jewish king was handed a scroll with a message from God. As the document was read aloud, the king took offense, and with a small knife he cut out a portion of the scroll and threw it into the fire. Eventually the entire text was thrown into the flames, yet the king and his servants who had heard the words of the Lord “were not afraid” (Jeremiah 36:24). In the end, the king lost his kingdom because of his disobedience.

When we selectively edit the Bible to suit our fancy, or neglect its teachings, we show that we do not fear God. Rather than submit to what He says, we exalt our own finite reason and fallible conscience above the inspired text.

When you’re tempted to overlook or ignore a portion of the Word of God, remember: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). It tells us all we need to know to live a life that pleases Him. (emphasis mine, Our Daily Bread devotional - No Alteration Needed)

Try to imagine the following headline: “President Rips Up Constitution in Front of Cabinet Members!” In the United States, even if a president or other official disagrees with points in the Constitution, it is still respected and upheld. It would be ludicrous for anyone to believe that simply by ripping the Constitution into little pieces its validity was nullified.

Unfortunately, King Jehoiakim seemed to think that if he just cut up the scroll containing God’s Word and burned it, then the judgment it foretold would simply not happen. If his action weren’t so arrogant, we might even think it was funny.

There actually was a way for the coming judgment to be avoided, but it didn’t involve ripping up anything. Instead, it involved repentance (v. 3). Repentance was God’s purpose in sending His word to Jeremiah, and that was Jeremiah’s fervent hope when he sent Baruch to the temple (v. 7). But sadly neither the king nor the people opted for repentance. (Moody Bible Institute devotional)

What is missing here?
What is missing when we deliberately rebel against God's word?
What is missing when we flippantly disregard His Word as unimportant or irrelevant to our daily lives?
What is missing when we pick and choose verses out of context to support our own definition of truth?
What is missing when we do not proclaim the Word of God for fear of persecution or being mocked?
What is missing when we try to justify our sin, even though God's view on sin is so clearly stated in His Word?
What is missing when we brazenly mistake God's lack of immediate disciplinary action to mean He condones or even blesses our sin?

What is missing? A fear of the Lord.

I've heard this song so many times recently, especially during our talks of fearing the Lord, and I think it's so beautiful, and so fitting.

What Do I Know of Holy? from YouTube

What Do I Know of Holy? Addison Road
I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life "its" name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?

What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?

Tomorrow's passage: Jeremiah 19-20, Daniel 1

August 4th

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is 2 Chronicles 36:1-4, 2 Kings 23:31-37, 2 Chronicles 36:5, Jeremiah 22:1-23, Jeremiah 26, 2 Kings 24:1-4, Jeremiah 25:1-14

In today's passage I was struck with the faithfulness, obedience and courage of Jeremiah. This man of God obediently preached the same message to this stubborn people for 23 years, even though he was continually rejected or ignored. 23 years!! (Jeremiah 25:3) And this lack of "success" continued for his entire 40 years of ministry!

He was obedient even in the face of death (Jeremiah 26), presumably knowing that this same King Jehoiakim had already put another prophet, Uriah, to death for prophesying the exact same thing! (Jeremiah 26:20-23)

Now this is a role model for us! Obedience to God despite the threat of death, counting the cost and finding it worth it, faithfulness, persistance and courage. Yes, he had moments of doubt and depression (how could you not!), but he soldiered on and remained obedient to the God He trusted in.

And I think that is the key. Do we truly trust God? Do we really trust in His sovereignty? If we really do, than our actions should match up to this trust. Our actions are evidence of our trust, or lack of it!

May our actions prove ourselves faithful.

Tomorrow's passage: Jeremiah 25:15-38, Jeremiah 36, 45-46

August 3 - Miriam

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Zephaniah 2:8-3:20; 2 Chronicles 35:20-27; 2 Kings 23:29-30; Jeremiah 47-48.

The Book of Zephaniah by Bob Deffinbaugh really helped me to understand the message of Zephaniah better.  I don't think I've ever read Zephaniah before, but as I was reading I realized that here we're also reading about the Day of Judgement - the end of the world - something about which I know very little and have, admittedly, kind of buried my head in the sand.    I've taken some excerpts of the commentary and chopped it up to keep this shorter.  If you have some time and the message of Zephaniah interests you, the commentary is very good.

As I understand the book, there are two dominant themes in Zephaniah: judgment and deliverance.

As I have studied the Book of Zephaniah, I have been forced to reconsider the relationship between divine judgment and divine blessing. I have always thought of them as opposites that have no relationship. I like to think of judgment as something that has little to do with me and much to do with my enemies. I like to think of God’s blessings and salvation as mine, unrelated to judgment. I have come to the conclusion that divine judgment and divine blessings are very closely inter-related.

In the first place, God’s judgment is the means whereby He delivers us from our enemies (2:4-15; 3:15, 19). Second, divine judgment purifies the righteous remnant (3:9). Finally, God’s judgment is the means by which God brings about our blessings. When God removes the wicked, it is so He may come and dwell with us. In addition, when God removes the wicked, He gives their possessions to His faithful remnant (2:5-7, 9-10). The judgment of the wicked is the means to our blessing.

The "Day of Judgment" is described both as events in the near future, but also a great and final judgment in the more distant future. Judgment will come not only upon Judah, but also the surrounding nations in the near future, and then eventually the whole earth. More from the commentary:

God’s promises to Abraham would be fulfilled through a small remnant of His chosen people, rather than through the entire nation. This remnant would be composed of the righteous, not only those of Judah, but also from among the Gentiles.

8 Therefore you must wait patiently for me,” says the Lord,
“for the day when I attack and take plunder.
I have decided to gather nations together
and assemble kingdoms,
so I can pour out my fury on them—
all my raging anger.
For the whole earth will be consumed
by my fiery anger.
9 Know for sure that I will then enable
the nations to give me acceptable praise.
All of them will invoke the Lord’s name when they pray,
and will worship him in unison.
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,
those who pray to me will bring me tribute (Zephaniah 3:8-10).  (emphasis mine)

Things that set the righteous remnant apart, according to the commentary:
They seek God and obey his commands.  (Zephaniah 2:3a)
They are humble.  (Zephaniah 2:3b)
They are righteous in their actions toward others.  (Zephaniah 3:13)

The hope of the righteous remnant:
Their sins are forgiven and they are cleansed from their sin (3:9, 11, 13).
They will be delivered from or through divine judgment (2:1-3).
They will eventually be rescued from the hand of their oppressors (2:4-15; 3:15).
They have the hope of future blessings (2:6-9).
They will be given fame and honor (3:19-20).
They will enjoy security and peace (3:13).
They will enjoy being in God’s presence, as He rejoices over them as the objects of His love (3:15-17).

What should our response be to the message of the Book of Zephaniah?

First, we are instructed by Zephaniah to be silent.  What does it mean to be silent before the Lord? It may mean that we cease making excuses for our sin, or that we stop denying that we are sinners, deserving of God’s wrath. Silence is sometimes viewed as a way of admitting one’s guilt (Leviticus 10:3; Nehemiah 5:8; Job 6:24). Silence is also an expression of reverence. To be silent before God is to show reverence to Him (Psalm 62:1; 65:1; Habakkuk 2:20; Zechariah 2:13). It may also be that the “silence” called for is the “silence” of Jeremiah 7:16:


Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for these people. Do not cry out to me or petition me on their behalf. Do not plead with me to save them, because I will not listen to you (Jeremiah 7:16; see also 11:14; 14:11).

The time for God’s judgment had come; let not the righteous ask God to withhold His hand. Let the righteous silently await the “Day of Judgment.”

Second, we are instructed to seek the Lord.  I take this as a call to repentance for those who do not know God, as well as for those who do know Him. Men and women should prepare to meet their God. My friends, the great and final “Day of Judgment” is still future, but it may not be far off. The bad news is that each and every one of us is a sinner, deserving of God’s judgment – the very judgment described in Zephaniah (see also Romans 3:9-20). The good news is that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer God’s judgment in our place. When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, He did not die for His sins, for He was the sinless Lamb of God. He did not merely suffer at the hands of Rome; He endured the judgment of God that should have been ours. He then rose from the dead and ascended to the Father in heaven. He offers salvation to any who will trust in Him. Those who reject Him must endure the eternal wrath of God. What a terrifying thought.

Third, the righteous remnant is instructed to wait for the Lord.  Judgment Day, the “Day of the Lord,” is certainly coming. The godly should wait patiently for it to come. This will be a day of the vindication and deliverance for the righteous remnant.290 This will be the day that commences the times of blessing. The righteous should avoid taking vengeance and wait for this day when God will make all things right.

Fourth, the righteous are to joyfully worship God, in the light of the coming “Day of the Lord”.  The prophecy of Zephaniah ends with a call to worship. The prophet is not speaking of worship in some future day, though that will surely take place. He is calling for worship now. God’s people should worship because the “Day of Judgment” and the times of blessing are certain to come. God’s people are to worship by faith, knowing that God is a covenant-keeping God. He always keeps His promises, whether they are promises of judgment or of blessing. Even in the most difficult of times, the future of the righteous is clear, and it is certain.



How much more this truth should be a comfort for New Testament Christians. In one sense our “Day of Judgment” came 2,000 years ago, when our Lord Jesus Christ bore our judgment on the cross of Calvary. We need not dread God’s coming judgment, and we anxiously await the full measure of God’s promised blessings. Much that was future for the saints of old is now history for us. We can look back upon the cross of Calvary, while they could only look forward. I repeat, how much more should we enter into joyful worship, knowing that we shall escape divine judgment, and that we shall soon enter into our eternal blessings, all because of the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ!
 
Who knew there was so much to learn from a little 3-chapter book by some obscure OT prophet?  Anyway, I wasn't able to keep this as short as I'd hoped, but I just got so excited about the amazing message of this book and I couldn't bring myself to cut all this great stuff down any further.

Tomorrow's passage:  2 Chronicles 36:1-4; 2 Kings 23:31-37; 2 Chronicles 36:5; Jeremiah 22:1-23; Jeremiah 26:1-24; 2 Kings 24:1-4; Jeremiah 25:1-14.

August 2nd

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Book of Habakkuk, Zephaniah 1-2:7

Commentaries on the Book of Habakkuk
Blue Letter Bible Commentary by Ray Stedman
The Just Shall Live by Faith by John Piper
When God Doesn't Make Sense by Mike Leake

A few verses that jumped out at me...

Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5

Habakkuk had asked God why and how long evil would prevail, and God starts His answer by saying Habakkuk was not going to understand it. God works in ways that are beyond our comprehension. So many times we are actually watching God's answer unveil before our very eyes and we don't recognize it because it's not what we asked for, it's not what we expected, it's not what we would've done.

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. Habakkuk 2:1

God's answer was that He was going to destroy the Assyrians (Ninevites) by raising up the Babylonians. Yep, God was right - Habakkuk didn't understand this. How was replacing the Assyrians with the Babylonians going to solve the problem - it just didn't make sense! But Habakkuk showed his faith in God, he was going to wait for him. He knew that God was good. He knew that God was all-powerful. He knew that God was and is and always will be. And he would wait for God.

So often that is what we need to do. We aren't going to necessarily get an answer to our questions. God is not always going to reveal His reasons to us. And when He does, we are not always going to understand them. And so we need to rely on the God that has been revealed to us in the scriptures and by His Holy Spirit and we need to trust in Him, and wait on Him.

The righteous will live by faith. Habakkuk 2:4b

These words are quoted in the New Testament in Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews. This is the word that lit a fire in the heart of Martin Luther, "The righteous shall live by faith." Not by circumstances or by observations or by reasoning, but by faith in what God has said will happen.

In these words the prophet is shown that there are only two possible outlooks on life. There are only two attitudes by which we can face life. Either we face it in faith depending upon God, or we face it in unbelief depending upon our own ability to reason out everything. These are the two fundamental attitudes, and they are the only two. You can only have one or the other. If you look around you will see that every human being on the face of the earth can be put into one of these two categories. Either they are trusting in the wisdom of the human mind to study events and arrange solutions, and they try to analyze the writings of clever men and come to conclusions about human events based on these sources, or they take what God has said and believe that when he has said a thing will happen, it will happen and that all of history converges into and hinges on that promise....

Habakkuk began this book by saying, "Lord, why don't you do something." Now he says, "Lord, be careful, don't do too much. In wrath remember mercy. I see you are working Lord, but remember in the midst of it that you are still a God of mercy." That is all he has to say. there is no more philosophy, no more theology, no more arguing with God.

[Habakkuk's prayer] is one of the most remarkably beautiful, poetic passages in all the Scriptures. Read it and see how the prophet is doing nothing more or less than going back and remembering what God has done in the past. That is what convinces Habakkuk that God can be trusted. He rests upon events that have already occurred, events which cannot be questioned or taken away or shaken in any way; the great fact that God has already moved in human history. And this is where faith must rest. We do not live by blind faith. We live with a God who has acted in time and space, who has done something, who has indelibly recorded his will in the progress of human events. The prophet looks back to God's action in Egypt when Israel was in trouble and remembers here how God moved. (Ray Stedman from the Blue Letter Bible commentary above)

And then we have one of my favourite passages....
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:17-18

Have you discovered that? That though the problem remains and the pressure is still there, there can be a strengthening of the inner man that makes the heart rejoice and be glad even in the midst of the difficulty. That is what Habakkuk discovered. "The Lord himself," he says, "is my strength." And that is New Testament truth. That is the great secret of a Christian. Not that God takes the problem away. The world is desperately trying to find a way to get rid of the problem. But God has ordained that the problems shall remain. "In the world you have tribulation," Jesus said, "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (Jn. 16:33) 1 love the title of a book by Dr. Edman, former president of Wheaton College. It so gloriously sums up what a Christians' attitude should be in the midst of difficult times. Do you know what it is? "Not Somehow, But Triumphantly." Not just getting through it somehow, but triumphantly. (Ray Stedman, emphasis mine)

Tomorrow's passage: Zephaniah 2:8-3:20, 2 Chronicles 35:20-27, 2 Kings 23:29-30, Jeremiah 47-48

August 1st

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is 2 Kings 23:1-20, 2 Chronicles 34:29-33, 2 Kings 23:21-28, 2 Chronicles 35:1-19, Nahum 1-3.

Less flipping: 2 Kings 23:1-28, 2 Chronicles 34:20-35:19, Nahum

In the book of Nahum we see that the repentance of Ninevah, brought about by God's message delivered by Jonah, one of the most reluctant prophets of the Bible, was very short-lived. Nahum prophesies the ultimate destruction of the Ninevites but comforts Judah with a promise of restoration and hope.

The book of Nahum shows us that God will judge all sin with His holy wrath, and that He restores and protects His people.

Nahum prophesies the destruction of Ninevah, but he starts with God, with the character of God.

Mike Leake has a great sermon on Nahum here, and I strongly encourage you to read it if you have time as he goes into each of these points in detail. But Nahum 1:2-8 reveal that God is a jealous God, God is an avenging God and that God is a wrathful God. He is slow to anger and great in power. He is good and is a refuge in times of trouble.

We see in the Cross that the wrath of God is poured out. The wrath that should be mine and should be yours was poured out upon Jesus Christ. For every sin we commit is against an infinite King. Therefore our sin is infinite. It requires an infinite sacrifice. It must be atoned for. God’s wrath will come flooding against it. Oh, this is serious. We must not miss the seriousness and the extent of God’s wrath. We can catch a glimpse in Nahum. We read in Nahum 3:2-7 what the Lord will do. We see in 2:13 that He is utterly against them. All of us stand before God with that same judgment. All of us have whored after other lovers. We have not treasured God as He ought. And for His name’s sake He is going to punish sin.

If we can see that this is what happened on the Cross. It is a display of the ugliness of sin and the awesome might, power, and wrath of God. He poured out His wrath upon Jesus. His wrath to the full!

Can you see what that means for those of us who are in Christ? There is NO more of God’s wrath to be poured out! It has been poured out upon Jesus Christ. That means that His wrath will not come against your sin. Every ounce of sin you have committed and ever will commit is covered by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Oh, what precious blood it is. It covers it. That is what the word atone means. Covers. And because the sacrifice of Christ is infinite and infinitely precious it covers it completely—forever.

And now God has restored us in such a way and will continue to restore us in such a way that we might forever enjoy Him and treasure Him and rejoice before Him as we ought. Oh, He has given us the greatest gift of all—the gift of Himself. Oh what grace. The Cross is a display of the wrath of God and it is also a display of His love.


Tomorrow's passage: Book of Habakkuk, Zephaniah 1-2:7

Sunday

I apologize, I forgot to warn Tammy I was going out of town. I won't be able to do the post for this sunday. So sorry Tammy, I was in the hurry of getting going and totally forgot.
Have a blessed week everyone.
alicia