Posts Tagged ‘peace’
Scripture reading for September 21st: Micah 3-5
The false prophets of Micah’s day were in business for the money. If you fed them, then they would give you a good word. If you did not, then they were against you! (Micah 3:6) God promised that these false prophets would enter a time of darkness where God would not answer them. He likened them to fortune tellers who gave readings for money! (Micah 3:11) They claimed to speak for the Lord and prophesied peace because God was in the midst of His people.
Micah, on the other hand, was filled with the Spirit of the Lord and power. He was motivated to stand for justice and truth and declared plainly to Israel and Judah their sins. “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.” (Micah 3:8) He plainly rebuked Israel for distorting truth and despising justice. He laid out a case against Judah for bloodshed and wickedness, bribery and money grabbing religion. The result was God’s judgment on the land and the destruction of Jerusalem. Micah was declaring the true fortune of the people who were in sin and rebelling against God.
Micah also declared the future state of Jerusalem after the time of exile. “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob. He will teach us his ways , so that we may walk in his paths.” God has plans for Jerusalem in the future. It will be established as the central site of God’s rule in the last days. God’s law and word will go out from there and God will judge between many peoples and establish a reign of peace.
The one who would bring this peace would be born in Bethlehem from the tribe of Judah! (Micah 5:2) This ruler would have origins from ancient times. He would shepherd the flock in God’s strength and His greatness would go to the ends of the earth! Micah was prophesying the future plans of God for rulership of the earth under Jesus Christ! Now that’s real fortune telling!
Scripture reading for August 21st: Ezekiel 12-15
“Because they have led My people astray, saying “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. . . .I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 13:10-11a, 14.
God hates lies and will judge false prophets! In this section of Ezekiel, God gives him a message for the prophets of Israel who are leading the people astray with the peace, safety, and prosperity lie. These prophets were telling the people what they wanted to hear. This was allowing the people to go on in idolatry and sin and brought God’s wrath upon the nation.
God likened these lying prophets to painters who whitewashed flimsy walls that were poorly constructed. The walls looked clean and white, but they were very unstable. God was going to expose the poor foundation by sending a storm upon the nation that would topple the white-washed walls and bring them down on those who painted them and those who built on a poor foundation. The crashing walls would destroy those who did such shoddy work and those who tried to make their work just look good.
Lots of people do things for show, even in God’s House. Preachers can put on a show too. They can whitewash people’s walls just to get a crowd. They can tell them how God wants them rich and blessed and all they have to do is to give some money to the preacher and God guarantees that they will get a hundred times more back. They can tell people that God is love and won’t send anyone to hell. They just have to belong to their church or send their money in and God will overlook all their sins. Others whitewash the truth about the need for repentance from sin and faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. They offer alternatives that don’t require faith or talking about the cross and the blood! They try to make them feel good and get them in and out without any arousal of conviction. Whitewash is being spread around today on the walls of people who have not repented! These walls are going to crash down when judgment falls! The day of Christ’s return will reveal the foundations!
Today check your foundation. Are you firmly anchored on the Rock of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Have you repented of your sins and idolatry and found grace through the blood of Jesus? Are you hungry for biblical truth and sitting under preaching that gives the whole counsel of God, not just the cream and sugar? A day is fast approaching when the foundations will be laid bare!
Scripture reading for June 29th: Psalms 120-127
Today’s reading is a set of psalms that were known as the “songs of ascent”. These were songs sung by pilgrims as they traveled on their three required yearly visits to the temple for the celebrations of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. The pilgrims usually came up the road from Jericho to Jerusalem and experienced an elevation change from 1200 feet below sea level in the Dead Sea and Jericho area to over 2600 feet above sea level in Jerusalem. The climb was difficult for several reasons. It was a dry area with little water and the terrain was rough. It was also an area known to be inhabited by robbers and marauders who would prey on the pilgrims.
The first psalm in this series begins with the pilgrim in a place where he is in distress. He is in a place where he is living among those who hate peace. They are deceitful people and have lying tongues. The lying tongue hates those it hurts! He is far from God’s house and God’s people and realizes his need to call on the Lord and begins his journey to the city of God. This journey may be what you need today, take time to call on the Lord and decide to move towards Him!
Psalm 121 is a favorite psalm of many. I memorized it as a child in Sunday School. As the psalmist begins the journey upward to Jerusalem, his eyes see the hills and he realizes that this journey is impossible in his own strength! The climb is difficult and there are many dangers. He confesses that his help comes from the Lord, who is Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2) The Lord will keep him safe and watch over him. God will keep him safe during the hot sun of the daytime and the treachery of the darkness! In fact, God will keep him from all and any harm, not only now but forever! What an encouragement for us today! No matter what obstacle or hazard or mountain of difficulty, God is with us to help us!
The central goal of the journey is Jerusalem, the city of God and God’s covenant community! Psalm 122 is a song that reminds the traveler of the joy that awaits him and his fellow-pilgrims when they arrive. They long to stand in the gates of that city and can actually see themselves there. It’s a city closely compacted, a tight-knit community centered around the temple and worship of the Lord, this Maker of Heaven and Earth! The tribes go up to praise the Lord according to His statutes! (Psalm 122:4) Jerusalem is the city of ‘peace’ and all are encouraged to pray for the peace of the city. In a world where war, hatred, lying and deceitful tongues form the social context of where we live every day, peace is the norm in God’s city. It comes by prayer and consistent seeking. We must maintain that peace by centering on God Himself! Take time today to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and to seek it’s prosperity!