All Creatures of Our God and King

January 07, 2012

In the early morning hours a melody kept running through my mind. It was an old hymn and I couldn't recall the words. Finally, several hours after being awake it came to me.

     All Creature of Our God and King

     All creatures of our God and King
     Lift up your voice and with us sing
     Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
     Thou burning sun with golden beam
     Thou silver moon with softer gleam
     O Praise Him! O Praise Him!
     Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

     Thou rushing wind that art so strong
     Ye clouds that sail in heav'n along
     O Praise Him! Alleluia!

     Thou rising moon in praise rejoice
     Ye lights of evening find a voice
     O Praise Him! O Praise Him!
     Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

     Let all things their Creator bless
     And worship Him in humbleness
     O Praise Him! Alleluia!

     Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son
     And praise the Spirit, three in One
     O Praise Him! O Praise Him!
     Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!


Next Entry: Ezekiel 33:1 – 36:8 

My Devotional Journals

January 06, 2012

(Written to my family prior to knowing my journals would someday become public.)

Before I write about the next section, I want to write a little bit about my journals. I began keeping a journal while reading through God's word on 11/16/09, the day Miss A (our youngest granddaughter) was born. While I'd always thought the idea of keeping a journal was intriguing, I was never successful at disciplining myself to stick with it. The thought of combining journaling with reading through the Bible never even crossed my mind until I knew I was supposed to start. Once I knew I was supposed to start, reading His word and writing my thoughts was something I looked forward to every day. It wasn't a chore or something I had to discipline myself to do. I knew it was a path God put me on and writing—which I used to hate—quickly became something I loved.

Prior to "the storm" happening, I am ashamed to say that it had been many years since I had systematically read through the entire Bible. But when faced with a situation that was way beyond our human capabilities, I quickly turned to the Bible for guidance and console. Between early 2007 and late 2009, I read the Bible from beginning to end multiple times. The first time I read it through I did it rather oddly. I started with the Psalms and read to the end of the Old Testament and then I went back to the Psalms and read the books in reverse order (Job, Esther, Nehemiah, etc) until I reached Genesis, and then started back over from Genesis to Revelation. Odd, I know. I have no idea why I did it that way.

In January '08, I bought a new Bible. As I was once again reading through God's word from beginning to end, I wrote many comments, notes, and dates throughout the margins. While the margins of my Bible were full of notes, I still never once thought about keeping a journal. It wasn't until I sent a letter to a long time acquaintance of Jane's in late '09, that I suddenly knew I should begin a journal to record the path we were on and my journey through the Bible. (This was the friend that Jane helped edit a book he was writing. I had written to him to let him know how God used Jane's life in her last years.) Even though I'd never thought about keeping a journal while reading through the Bible before, it now made perfect sense to me. It would be a great way to gather all the things I'd written throughout the margins of my Bible, organize my thoughts, write my prayers, etc.

Keeping a journal turned out to be very therapeutic for me, (my personal devotions, private thoughts, prayers, my interpretation of what God was saying to me), and it also provided a way to pass down a written record of God's faithfulness to you (our children and grandchildren) upon my passing. The idea of passing down our testimony to future generations excited me. All very personal. All very private. I never imagined that my personal thoughts would one day be put into the hands of those who were seeking to harm us.

When my personal journals got caught up in "the storm" I was shaken and I lost confidence in my personal writings remaining private. I briefly considered not writing anymore, but because I had  come to love reading and writing (surprisingly), I began again.

You (my family) have lived these last five years with us. You know what we believe and WHO we believe in. You know your Dad and I are not angry, bitter, or revengeful. You know our hearts. You know our concerns. If you've read this far then you know what the cry of my heart is. Page after page of my prayers. My hearts desire for God's mercy. No anger. No revenge. Just me writing about what God says in HIS Word. What God calls evil, not what I call evil. What God says about accountability, forgiveness, repentance, curses, blessings, etc, not what "I" think about those things.

It's not important what "we" think is right and wrong. What does God's Word say? My devotional journals are a compilation of God's Word from three different versions and are a record of what I understood HIS word to be saying. God's words to me and my words to God. I couldn't understand why my journal got caught up in "the storm." But then I had a new thought. Maybe this is what God wanted. If this was God's plan, then I would swallow my pride and fear of my sister and others reading my private and personal devotions.   

What seemed disastrous, turned out to be a gift. My voice was heard. Whatever happens to my journals now is up to God.

Addendum:  8/31/2015 ~  Oh my. When I read about the anxiety I felt to have my private personal journal being read by anybody other than my immediate family never in a million years could I have foreseen that there would come a day when the public button on this blog would be activated and my private journal would be made available to anyone, anywhere in the world to read. NEVER! But then LORD – What Am I to Do?; The LORD Answers!!; and I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!! happened.

I have no idea when I am supposed to make my journal available, all I know is that I am supposed to. And amazingly, I do not have any anxiety about it. I still do not know the "when," so I will wait on HIS direction. Once I know for certain what HIS timing is, I will change the settings and HIS story will become available.  Amazing. I could NEVER have imagined this!


Next Entry: All Creatures of Our God and King

Ezekiel 25:1 – 32:32

January 06, 2012

Eight chapters—all with the same prevailing themes.

• There is accountability! God does see! God does care. He will avenge.
• God doesn't use random means or methods of discipline. He takes the very thing that evil hearts desire—turns it—and uses that very thing against them.
• God hates arrogance, pride, those who take advantage of others, and those who seek their own revenge.
• There is a day of reckoning for everyone. People may attempt to use their power to control and frighten others, but death comes to all.
• Only God is supreme.
• Then you will know that I am the LORD.

These are the things I have noted or written in the margins of my Bible for these chapters. God has a purpose for all He does, and the purpose is found in this oft repeated phrase: "Then you will know that I am the LORD." Eighteen times that phrase is used in these eight chapters. In the book of Ezekiel there are well over 60 references to "then you will know that I am the LORD." God's purpose, in all things, is for people to understand that HE IS THE LORD. For those who believe and obey His commands, there is encouragement, comfort, and peace in knowing HE is God and HE is in control. For those who don't know Him, or for those who refuse to submit and obey Him, those words are constant reminders of who He is and an invitation to surrender all. The reason God blesses and the reason He avenges is for the same reason—to bring honor and glory to HIS name. THEN they will KNOW that I AM the I AM. I AM THE LORD. 

Addendum:  As I was reading these chapters this time the phrase "I will show my holiness..."  jumped out at me. When God blesses AND when God avenges it shows His Holiness, because then all will know that I am the LORD.

My husband's Mom passed away recently. She struggled with "fears" throughout her whole life. Fear.... of just about everything. Fear of death. Fear of life. Fear of illness. "What if" consumed her, and in the process she lost out in knowing the peace, joy, and comfort that comes from surrendering your ALL to Christ. She lived to see almost all of her "fears" realized.

I would like to think that if she could have one "do-over" it would be to let go, and let God. We tried many, many times to get her to understand how her fears were controlling her, but to no avail. Now that her earthly life is over, I would like to ask her if refusing to let go was worth it. What did your fear of letting go get you? What would have been the worst thing that could have happened if you let go? Your refusal to let go gave you everything you feared, and worst of all, you had to carry the burden yourself. If you would have let go (even if you still got the worst of what you feared) you would not have been alone!! God would have walked beside you. He would have carried you. He would have comforted you. He would have supported you! I John 4:18 says, "Where God's love is, there is no fear, because God's perfect love drives out fear. It is punishment that makes a person fear, so love is not made perfect in the person who fears." Oh, if she could have only accepted and known God's perfect love.


Next Entry:  My Devotional Journals 

Ezekiel 20:45 – 24:27

January 05, 2012

Ezekiel continued to tell the Israelites that were already captive in Babylon what God was telling him. Their response was, "He is only telling stories." Ezekiel warned them that God was going to destroy Jerusalem and that God was going to use Babylon as His sword to do it. God laid out again why Jerusalem was to be destroyed—her disobedience and her sins against God. Ezekiel 21:24 - "Your sins are seen in all you do. Because of this proof against you, you will be taken captive by the enemy." Those who thought they were in control—the leaders—were going to be stripped of their power. Ezekiel 21:26 - "Things will change. Those who are important now will be made unimportant, and those who are unimportant now will be made important."

In Ezekiel 22 the sins of Jerusalem are again listed. And again, God uses usury as a benchmark to define wickedness. Ezekiel 22:12 - "You take unfair interest and profits and make profits by mistreating your neighbor. And you have forgotten me, says the LORD God." The NIV says it this way, "You take usury and excessive interest and make unjust gain from your neighbors by extortion." The KJV says, "...greedily gained by extortion." Ezekiel 22:29 - "The people cheat others and steal." NIV - "...practice extortion and robbery... they oppress... mistreat... denying them justice." And God says, "I will shake my fist at you... Then you will know that I am the LORD."

God tells Ezekiel: Judgment will happen. The cup of fear and ruin will be drunk until it is empty, "Then you will know that I am the LORD God." Ezekiel 24:6,9,14 - "How terrible it will be... how terrible it will be... how terrible it will be... I, the LORD have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back punishment or feel pity or change my mind. I will judge you by your ways and actions, says the LORD God." God told Ezekiel to "write down today's date, this very date," because the king of Babylon has surrounded Jerusalem this very day. "This very date." God's plan of judgment is moving forward. God's will WILL be done.

God tells Ezekiel his wife whom he loves is going to die, "But you must not be sad or cry loudly for her or shed any tears. Groan silently: do not cry loudly for the dead." Do not go into deep mourning. Live your life. His wife dies the next day and Ezekiel does as God says. The people asked, "What do the things you are doing mean for us?" And God says, it is time for the destruction of Jerusalem to begin. The family you have remaining in Jerusalem will be destroyed as well. "When that happens," you are to go on living like Ezekiel has. He is to be an example to you. You must go on living. "You must not cry loudly" but you must look at your own lives and recognize and groan for your own sins. I will take away what has made them proud. You will hear the news, "then you will know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 24:2 - "Write down this date, this very day..." It was five years ago today that I met Jane E. Wolfe (Her Name Was Jane) for the first time. 1/5/07 continues to be a pivotal day in our lives. What a God-moment. What a life changing experience.

As I sit here this morning looking out over the snow covered landscape with the morning light just beginning to dawn, I marvel at the grace of God. My heart is full of joy and thanksgiving. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!! As I reminisce over these past five years—what a journey we have been on! This day five years ago started out with  intense pain, shock, sorrow, and disbelief, BUT God turned it into a day where we saw His Hand at work.

The time spent with Jane is forever clearly etched into my mind. Her prayer of blessing on my life literally transformed me, forever making and marking a turning point in my life. I went from the pain, shock, sorrow, and disbelief, to all of that being GONE. Not only GONE, but replaced with a peace that passeth ALL understanding, a "holy numbness" which has protected me, and a quiet and gentle confidence in my LORD and Savior—Jesus Christ.

Mere words cannot explain. They just seem totally inadequate and disjointed. We had no way of knowing where "the storm" journey would take us or how long we would be on it. But God knew, and He has given us everything we've needed. Not just to survive—but to thrive. Our faith, hope, and trust is in HIM alone, and that is enough. MORE than enough. We will continue to trust Him—no matter what.

The Life Lesson for this section makes the following statement: God planned severe judgment for the Israelites because of their godless and immoral life styles. This was their last chance to repent.

"...This is serious beyond description because people are responsible beings who must stand before God and give an answer for their sins. No evasions, no postponement, no tricky defense lawyer. Just man and God and a multitude of sins. But one thing we need to remember: God can "put away sin"; "hide it in the depths of the sea"; "remove it as far as the east is from the west"; and "remember it no more." All because Christ's sacrifice for sin is applicable to all who come to Him in repentance and faith." ~ From Getting into God by Stuart Briscoe

Judgment references:

Deuteronomy 7:2 - "The LORD your God will hand these nations over to you, and when you defeat them, you must destroy them completely. Do not make a peace treaty with them or show them mercy.
I Samuel 2:25 - "If you sin against someone, God can help you. But if you sin against the LORD himself, no one can help you!"
Isaiah 1:2–4 - "Heaven and earth, listen, because the LORD is speaking: "I raised my children and helped them grow up, but they have turned against me."
Matthew 3:10 - "The ax is now ready to cut down the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
Romans 2:12–15 - "People who do not have the law and who are sinners will be lost, although they do not have the law. And, in the same way, those who have the law and are sinners will be judged by the law. Hearing the law does not make people right with God. It is those who obey the law who will be right with him. (Those who are not Jews do not have the law, but when they freely do what the law commands, they are the law for themselves. This is true even though they do not have the law. They show that in their hearts they know what is right and wrong, just as the law commands. And they show this by their consciences. Sometimes their thoughts tell them they did wrong, and sometimes their thoughts tell them they did right.)"

The key is repentance. There must be a new heart and a new way of thinking. Ezekiel 18:30–31 - "Change your heart and stop all your sinning so sin will not bring your ruin. Get rid of all the sins you have done, and get for yourselves a new heart and a new way of thinking."

Addendum: 11/11/19 ~ Ezekiel 24:26–27 -  "At that time a person who escapes will come to you with information for you to hear. At that very time your mouth will be opened. You will speak and be silent no more. So you will be a sign for them, and they will know that I am the LORD."

"At that very time your mouth will be opened. You will speak and be silent no more..." Reading those words this morning brought tears to my eyes. There will come a time. There will come a time when "the storm" is over. There will come a time that we receive word that "You are Free to Go," and

Walking By Faith: A True Story of God's Faithfulness 

and 

Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead) 

can be released to the public and the words God gave me to write will no longer be held silent. The story of Jane E. Wolfe can be told; and "they will know that I am the LORD."

Oh LORD, may it be so. May it soon be so.

Addendum: Two months later—Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!


Next Entry: Ezekiel 25:1 – 32:32

Ezekiel 15:1 – 20:44 (Continued)

January 4, 2012

And God says: I will hold you accountable.

• I will gather people against you.  
• I will strip... 
• I will punish... 
• I will destroy... 
• I will hand you over... 
• I will tear down... 
• I will tear off... 
• I will take away... 
• I will burn down... 
• I will put an end to your sins... 

Then will I rest from my anger against you.

You were called "my people," yet you did worse things than those who did not claim to be my people. Even the people who don't claim me as God are better than you are. Ezekiel 16:52 - "Your sins were even more terrible than theirs." Your actions even made sinful people look good. In your pride, you humiliated others. But this was "before your evil was uncovered." Now your are humiliated and you no longer enjoy your place of honor. Ezekiel 16:58 - "Those around you hate you. This is your punishment for your terrible sins and for actions I hate, says the LORD."

I will keep my promises and you will know that I am the LORD. You will see truth... and you will be ashamed. Ezekiel 16:63b - "You will not open your mouth again because of your shame, when I forgive you for all the things you have done."

Like Uzzaih and Jerusalem, we need to understand that the Blessing of God is revocable. Life is not about "who" we are, it is about "whose" we are. It is not about "us" and "our" successes. It is about God and what He has given to us.

Thoughts from our Pastor:

1) "Success has ruined more people than failure."
2)  It's not how well we start our walk—it's how well we finish.
3)  Never underestimate your capacity for self deception.
4)  Don't kill the "Nathans" in your life.
5)  We are not indispensable.  God will find someone who is faithful to do His work.

Ezekiel tells the story of the Eagle and the Vine. A story of disobedience and dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction (or discontent) is an uneasiness of the mind—never satisfied. Dissatisfaction is an insidious thing. "It could have become a fine vine." It could have been... but it wasn't. Obedience to God brings contentment. A refusal to obey brings an uneasiness of the mind—never satisfied.

Talking about Zedekiah's refusal to obey and submit to His plan, God says, "As surely as I live this is true: I will pay back... I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught... I will punish him for the unfaithful acts he did against me... then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken." (Ezekiel 17:19–21) I myself will build up and tear down. Ezekiel 17:24 - "Then all the trees in the countryside will know that I am the LORD. I bring down the high tree and make the dry tree grow. I am the LORD, I have spoken, and I will do it."

Ezekiel 18 talks about how God is a fair God. We reap what we sow. "The person who sins is the one who will die." Ezekiel 18:5-9 - "Suppose a person is good and does what is fair and right." He doesn't look to idols. He doesn't cheat. He does not mistreat others. He doesn't rob. He helps others. He doesn't use *usury, charging too much interest or trying to make too much of a profit in an effort to better himself while harming others. He keeps his hand from doing wrong. He treats others fairly. He lives by my rules. He obeys faithfully. Ezekiel 18:9 - "Whoever does these things is good and will surely live, says the LORD."

But, suppose this man's son does the opposite of what God just described. The son mistreats. He steals. He robs. He lends money for too much interest and profit. He refuses to return what was promised for a loan. Ezekiel 18:13 - "Will this son live? No, he will not live. He will be responsible for his own death."

But what about this son's son? If he does not do the evil and wrong things his father did, "He will not die for his father's sin, he will surely live. But his father took other people's money unfairly and robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people. So he will die for his own sin."(Ezekiel 18:17-18)

19 "But you ask, 'Why is the son not punished for the father's sin?' The son has done what is fair and right. He obeys all my rules, so he will surely live. 20 The person who sins is the one who will die. A child will not be punished for a parent's sin, and a parent will not be punished for a child's sin. Those who do right will enjoy the results of their own goodness; evil people will suffer the results of their own evil."

If the wicked stop doing what they are doing, and turn from their ways, and start following God's way, then they are forgiven and their sins forgotten and they will live. The opposite is true as well. If those who were doing good things and obeyed God with their hearts and lives stop doing good and instead do the wrong and hateful things the wicked do, then their good acts will be forgotten and they will die because of their sins.

God says: "I am fair." Each one is held accountable for their current actions. When good people stop doing good and do wrong—they will be held accountable. When the wicked stop being wicked and do what is fair and right—they will save their lives. 30 "So I will judge you, people of Israel; I will judge each of you by what you do, says the LORD God. Change your hearts and stop sinning so sin will not bring you ruin. Get rid of all the sins you have done, and get yourself a new way of thinking. Why do you want to die, people of Israel? I do not want anyone to die, says the LORD God, so change your hearts and lives so you may live." Cross Reference Ezekiel 11:19 - "... a new way of thinking."

God gets no pleasure in the destruction of the people that were called His own. None. Three times in Ezekiel 20 God says he "acted for the sake of my name so it would not be dishonored... I will get rid of those who refuse to obey me and who turn against me. I will bring them out of the land where they are now living, but they will never enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD." Eight different times throughout Chapter 20, God says what has become a theme throughout the entire book of Ezekiel—"Then you will know that I am the LORD."

*Usury—God used the example of usury as a measuring stick for whether a person does hateful and wicked things throughout Ezekiel 18.

Ezekiel 18:30–32 - "I will judge you by what you do... change your hearts and stop all your sinning so sin will not bring your ruin. Get rid of all the sins you have done, and get for yourselves a new heart and a new way of thinking..."

Usury cross-references from Jane's (Her Name Was Jane) KJV:

Exodus 22:25 - "If you lend money to one of my people who is poor, do not treat him as a moneylender would. Charge him nothing for using your money."
Leviticus 25:3–37 - "Do not charge him any interest on money you loan to him, but respect your God; let the poor live among you. Don't lend him money for interest, and don't try to make a profit from the food he buys."
Deuteronomy 23:19 - "If you loan your fellow Israelite money or food or anything else, don't make them pay back more than you loaned them."
Nehemiah 5:7 - "After I thought about it, I accused the important people and the leaders, "You are charging your own brothers too much interest."
Psalm 15:5 - "They do not charge interest on money they lend and do not take money to hurt innocent people."

Addendum: 8/7/16 ~ God's word is VERY clear. The cross reference verses I listed all refer to the intent behind loaning money to someone who knows they are borrowing money. What is a big deal to God should be a big deal to us. 


Next Entry: Ezekiel 20:45 – 24:27

Ezekiel 15:1 – 20:44

January 03, 2012

Our Pastor, in his sermon last Sunday, made this statement: "God shares his glory with no one!" I knew I had recently read verses that said the same thing, so I looked several of them up.

Isaiah 42:8 - "I am the LORD. That is my name. I will not give my glory to another; I will not let idols take the praise that should be mine."

Isaiah 48:11 - "I do this for myself, for my own sake. I will not let people speak evil against me, and I will not let some god take my glory."

His sermon was about the lessons we can learn from the boy king, Uzziah. Uzziah's downfall and Jerusalem's downfall both stemmed from the same problem—pride and self-reliance. God gave them beauty and success. Everything they had came from God. But they took those things and then began to believe they were the ones who could do great things. They were the ones who earned their success. They were in control. This is mine instead of, this is what God gave. They took what God gave and used it to benefit themselves. They exploited what God gave for selfish purposes.

Ezekiel 16 - starts out with God saying over and over—I, I, I, I gave you. Then in verse fifteen it turns to—you, you, you. You took what I gave and acted as if it came from you. Selfishness. Pride. Greed. And yet, it was never enough. It says, "You could not be satisfied... you still were not satisfied... even this did not satisfy you," three different times in verses 28 and 29. You even paid money to be unfaithful. So engrossed in "who I am" that you just didn't "take" money to be unfaithful, but you "paid" money to further your unfaithfulness. What arrogance. What pride. And, what foolishness.  


Next Entry: Ezekiel 15:1 – 20:44 (Continued)

Ezekiel 13:1 – 14:23 (Continued)

January 02, 2012

I have two things written beside this chapter.

1. The battle belongs to the LORD; and 
2. Vengeance is mine saith the LORD.

We see outward appearances but God knows the heart. A group of leaders came and sat down in front of Ezekiel. God says to Ezekiel, "These men want to worship idols. They put up evil things that cause people to sin. Should I allow them to ask me for help?" Tell them this: I know what is in their hearts. Tell them, "Change your hearts and lives, and stop worshiping idols. Stop doing all the things I hate... (you) can separate (your)self from me by wanting to worship idols or by putting up the things that cause people to sin. Then if they come to the prophet to ask me questions, I, the LORD will answer them myself. I will reject them. I will make them a sign, an example, and I will separate them from my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 14:3–8)

The battle belongs to the LORD. He knows the hearts and thoughts and He will answer each one according to their own actions. We are responsible for our hearts, thoughts, and actions. We have to be faithful in doing whatever God asks us to do. We are responsible for the condition of our own heart. But, as much as we would like to be able to make the heart-changing decision for our loved ones—total surrender to Christ—we cannot do that. Four different times God said even Noah, Daniel, or Job could not save the people who chose to willingly disobey God's commands from the destruction and power of God's hand. "They could only save themselves."

Four times God tells him—you can't save them, you can only save yourself. "You will see..." Ezekiel 15:22b - "You will see what happens to people who live as they did." God says what I have planned for Jerusalem (the place God chose for the people He called his own) is much worse, because they rejected me and because they refused to change their hearts and lives. Because! "I will send" four terrible punishments against them for its destruction. 

Then God says something that I would not have been able to understand unless this much time (since we have been caught up in "the storm") had passed. God says twice, "You will be comforted." Ezekiel 14:23 - "You will be comforted when you see what happens to them for living as they did..." How can that be? When you have no anger or revenge in your heart, how can someone's destruction bring you "comfort"? How can it not bring overwhelming grief?

Time (God) has shown me several things. 

• Everyone is responsible for their own life choices
• Accountability is directly linked to each person's own choices
• It is not my responsibility to "fix" someone
• God in His Sovereignty offers forgiveness

And the most important one:

• God is a fair, kind, and just God—and I trust Him.  

Ezekiel 14:23 - "You will be comforted when you see what happens to them for living as they did, because you will know there was a good reason for what I did to Jerusalem, says the LORD God." Glad or happy about their destruction? No. There is no happiness found in the destruction of others. What God gives is comfort.

Comfort definition: 1) To give strength, and hope to; 2) Console.
Console definition: 1) Consolation; 2) Freedom from pain, trouble, or anxiety.

That is what God gives. Comfort. The vengeance is His, and His alone. Because the vengeance is His and because He is a fair and just God, we can have comfort—no matter what—"because you will know there was a good reason for what I did to Jerusalem, says the LORD God."

It's a New Year—2012. I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us in 2012. I think it is fitting that my notations for Ezekiel 14 is the first thing to write about on this new day of a New Year.

1) The battle belongs to the LORD. Period. Our lives are in His hands and we trust Him.
2) Vengeance is mine saith the LORD. Period. I'm so grateful everything is out of our hands and in HIS. He is a kind, fair, and just God, and we trust Him.

Those were already written in the margins of my Bible. God's battle and vengeance. Now comes Judgment. There is going to be a Judgment Day.  

Matthew 11:20–24 - The people did not change their lives and stop sinning, so Jesus says, "How terrible for you... how terrible for you... you will be thrown down... on the Judgment Day it will be better for Sodom than you."

Acts 17:3–31 - "God tells all the people in the world to change their hearts and lives. God has set a day that he will judge all the world with fairness..."

II Peter 2:2 - "Many will follow their evil ways and say evil things about the way of truth."

Addendum:  Today is 8/24/15 ~ The song, "You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman continues to run through my mind day and night. Every time I realize it is running in the background of my consciousness it just makes me smile. The Comforter brings comfort. Thank you, Holy Spirit.


Next Entry: Ezekiel 15:1 – 20:44

Ezekiel 13:1 – 14:23

December 30, 2011

The LORD has strong words for those who "make up" their own prophecies and come up with "their own ideas" and then try to say it came from God. "How terrible it will be..." While they were busy promoting their own agendas, they didn't take care of fixing and repairing what was really wrong—the walls were broken and they weren't going to be able to protect themselves and stand firm in the day of battle. Both the physical wall of Jerusalem and the personal wall of their lives. Because they were not following God and because they were following their own selfish ways, God said, "I am against you... I will punish... they will have no place among my people... their names will not be listed in the records of the house of Israel... nor will they enter the land of Israel... Then you will know that I am the LORD God."

These prophets acted as if they were following God but they were following their own agendas. They "hope their words will come true." They say "peace" when there is no peace. They cover up the truth, putting a white wash over a weak wall so it will "appear" legitimate and strong when it is actually fake. God tells Ezekiel to tell them—it won't work. You will be exposed. Your fake wall will fall down. You can use whitewash to try and cover up the truth, but the truth will eventually be exposed and the truth will be shown to everyone. God said, "I will break the wall... I will tear down the wall... I will level it to the ground... when the wall falls, you will be destroyed under it." The facade will be gone, what it was built on will be exposed. "Then you will know that I am the LORD." " I will carry out my anger on the wall and against those who cover it with whitewash." Then I will tell you, "The wall is gone, and those who covered it with whitewash are gone." The false prophets—gone. (Ezekiel 13:13-16)

Then God talks to Ezekiel about the false women prophets. "How terrible it will be..." You trick people, you set traps, you ruin lives of other people to try and save your own, you dishonor me for just a few handfuls of barley or pieces of bread, you lie. So this is what the LORD God says: I am against your schemes and traps. I will tear you schemes apart. I will tear apart what you hide behind. I will free the people you have trapped. I will expose you and save my people from your hands. "They will no longer be trapped by your power... Then you will know that I am the LORD." "By your lies you have caused those who did right to be sad, when I did not make them sad. And you have encouraged the wicked not to stop being wicked, which would have saved their lives." Your time of deceit is over. "I will save my people from your power so you will know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 13:20–23)


Next Entry: Ezekiel 13:1 – 14:23 (Continued)

Ezekiel 12

December 29, 2011

God is showing Ezekiel what He is about to do to Jerusalem and Ezekiel is to tell the people who are already in exile what is and will be happening to those who are still in Jerusalem.

The Jews in Jerusalem just refused to obey. Ezekiel 12:2 - Because they refused to obey, "They have eyes to see, but they do not see, and they have ears to hear, but they do not hear, because they are a people who refuse to obey." (See cross-reference Isaiah 44:18–20) God makes many references throughout the Bible about people who are blinded to Truth and cannot hear Truth, and it always goes back to a refusal to obey.

God explains to Ezekiel in exact detail what was going to happen in Jerusalem. He describes how the King (Zedekiah) would try to escape and how the king would be caught in God's trap. God describes how He (God) will take him to Babylon and that Zedekiah would not see the land but yet he would die there. When you first read that you have to wonder how that makes sense. Jeremiah 39:7 and 52:11 explains it. Zedekiah did try to escape; he was caught in a trap; his sons and leaders were killed while he watched; his eyes were gouged out; and he was taken to Babylon. He never saw the land and he did indeed die there. "Then they will know that I am the LORD." I will scatter them. I will save a few so they can bear witness to the things they have done and to the things I have done.   

"Then they will know that I am the LORD."

Then God told Ezekiel to tremble as he ate and to shake with fear as he drank, symbolizing what the people in Jerusalem would be doing. They were under siege, they were surrounded, food was scarce, hunger was rampant, they lived in fear, and they lived in shock.   

"Then you will know that I am the LORD." 

Then God says—Ezekiel, what is it that the people say? "The days go by and every vision comes to nothing." The people think, "The vision that Ezekiel sees is for a time many years from now. He is prophesying about times far away." Tell them what I say Ezekiel. Tell them, "The time is near... every vision will come true... what I say will be done, and it will not be delayed. You refuse to obey, but in your time I will say the word and do it, says the LORD God." (Ezekiel 12:21-25)

Ezekiel 12:28 - "None of my words will be delayed anymore. What I have said will be done says the LORD God."

From the Life Lesson: The Israelites refused to obey God. They would not believe that God's warnings of destruction applied to them, and they resented Ezekiel's message of judgment against them.

"Resentment is allowing your hurts to turn into hates. When those hates simmer in your heart, they create bitterness and you are the one to suffer." ~ From The Inspirational Bible

Next Entry: Ezekiel 13:1 – 14:23 

Ezekiel 8:1 – 11:25 (Continued)

December 28, 2011

To be able to put all of this into context, and to understand what is happening and what God is saying, you need to understand that Ezekiel is already captive in Babylon. He was part of the first group that was carried to Babylon. (See II Kings 24:11-16) When Ezekiel left, Jerusalem had not yet fallen. God was giving him visions (where he was transported back to Jerusalem) so God could show him the "why." Why he and the others were currently captive; why God was so angry; and why Jerusalem was going to be destroyed. God was explaining the "why." And then Ezekiel was to tell the others in captivity what was happening; what God was doing; and the why behind it.

God has a reason for everything He does. I've said this before: God is not knee-jerk reactionary God. He has a plan and a purpose for everything. He doesn't have a fit of anger and make rash decisions. In Ezekiel 8 God shows Ezekiel the despicable things happening inside HIS Temple in Jerusalem. (God is showing him while he is in Babylon. Ezekiel sees through visions as opposed to Jeremiah who was physically present in Jerusalem when God spoke and revealed things to him.) God showed Ezekiel the idolatry that was set up in HIS Temple, even in the Holy of Holies. He showed him women worshiping other gods and giving those other gods the credit for the cycle of the nature that God created. He showed him a group of leaders with their backs to the Temple worshiping nature, rejecting the Creator and worshiping the created.

Ezekiel by his own knowledge did not know these things were going on. The people thought they were hidden, their actions were secret, and God didn't know. But God did know, and He was showing Ezekiel what was happening in the "inner sanctum." God said to Ezekiel, "Do you see what they are doing...? Do you see what they are doing...?  You will see things even more hateful..."

In Ezekiel 9, God shows Ezekiel how those who have rejected Him would be held accountable. Destruction. The destruction was to begin in His Temple. He also showed Ezekiel how the God-fearing, God-following people were protected. Destruction was happening around them but they were not to be touched, and they weren't. But for those who were not protected by the mark of God, "I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done." (NIV - Ezekiel 10:9)

Ezekiel 10 - The Glory of the LORD departs from HIS Temple. The people defiling the Temple were so sure God would never leave His temple. They thought they were safe because of His Temple. They had been defiling His temple for years and nothing had happened. Why would something happen now? They thought God didn't either know or care, so they thought they were safe. But they were wrong. God did know. God did care. God hated the things they were doing. God warned them. They refused to listen and change their hearts, minds, or actions. And now God sent burning coals among them—and His Glory—left the Temple. Oh what a horrible reality, to have the Glory of God depart from you. I wrote about this earlier on (July 20, 2011) and (July 21, 2011). I can't imagine anything worse than that.

And now Ezekiel 11—Judgment. Ezekiel sees the group of 25 leaders who were making evil plans. Part of the Jews were already captive in Babylon, including Ezekiel. These 25 men instead of feeling empathy for their fellow men; instead of recognizing that everything Jeremiah was warning them about was happening; instead of using this time to draw near to God; they were instead plotting and scheming how they were going to be able to get rich quick and profit off of the hardship of others. They were thinking the time is almost ready, we are in the right place at the right time, we are going to be important, we will be in control, we can get rich quick.

And God says—I know what you are thinking. I know what you have done to become who you are. I know. And I'm going to force you out using the very thing you fear "so you will know that I am the LORD." Your schemes will not work. You will not get rich at the expense of others. Ezekiel 11:12 - "Then you will know that I am the LORD... You did not live by my rules or obey my laws." As Ezekiel prophesied one of the leaders died. Ezekiel's response was not one of joy. It was, "Oh no."

Ezekiel 11 includes both God's promise of wrath and God's promise of protection. The people still in Jerusalem spoke against their relatives that were already captive saying, "They are far from the LORD (Jerusalem). This land has been given to us as our property." What they didn't realize was the Glory of the LORD had left the Temple and God himself had become a Temple to those who were captive right where they were. God then says—there will come a day. 

There will come a day when I gather them back together and I will give them back the land. Then they will get rid of all the idols and other hateful things. They will respect me. They will have a new way of thinking. Their stubborn heart of stone will be replaced with a heart of flesh. They will live by my rules and obey my laws and keep them. Ezekiel 11:20-21 - "They will be my people, and I will be their God. But those who want to serve their evil statues and hateful idols, I will pay back for their evil ways, says the LORD God."

Our choice: Surrender ourselves to God—OR—Serve ourselves.
God's choice: The consequences for what we choose.

No one can "take" what only God can give. There is so much freedom when you finally grasp (even in our simple finite minds) the TRUTH behind that statement.


Next Entry: Ezekiel 12

Ezekiel 8:1 – 11:25

December 27, 2011

Ezekiel has another vision. God shows him what the people have done to make Him so angry. In the courtyard of HIS Temple—idols. At the entrance of the north gate—idols. In the secret closed off rooms—idols and the burning of incense which should have been reserved for God. At the entrance to the north gate—women sitting and crying out to false gods. In the inner courtyard, with their backs turned to the Temple—25 men worshiping the sun.

All of this in God's Temple. The leaders and people alike utterly defiling the LORD and His Temple. They thought, "The LORD doesn't see us..." They were insulting God in every way possible. And now God says, Ezekiel 8:17 - "I will act in anger. I will have no pity, nor will I show mercy. Even if they shout in my ears, I won't listen to them." God called the angels together that were chosen to punish the people. And He tells them, "Start at my Temple." Everyone will be held accountable for their choices and action in life, especially those who claim Christ as their Savior and then live their lives in a way that defiles His name.

God then says again that the sins of the people are great. The land is filled with people who are not fair and who murder. They think the LORD does not see. "But I will have no pity, nor will I show mercy. I will bring their evil back on their heads." (Psalm 140:9 - Let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused.) Then God told the man in line to scatter coals over the city. (Psalm 140:10 - Let burning coals fall on them.)

Addendum:  To read my full writings for Psalm 140 see my journal entries recorded in March of 2015.


Next Entry: Ezekiel 8:1 – 11:25 (Continued)

Ezekiel 4:1 – 7:27

December 27, 2011

God is a patient God. Israel was in rebellion for 390 years. Judah was in rebellion for 40 years. God is patient but He is also a just God. He does not ignore or forget the warnings and judgments He promised through His prophets.

Ezekiel was to demonstrate what was going to happen to Jerusalem. God was angry... with a righteous anger. His people refused to obey His commands over and over—for years. And He now declares,

"I myself am against you, and I will punish you... because you do the things I hate... I will cut you off. I will have no pity, and I will show no mercy... Then they will know that I, the LORD, have spoken. After I have carried out my anger against them, they will know how strongly I felt." (Ezekiel 5:8-13)

Then they will know!

On October 13th of this year (2011) I wrote about how the phrase: "Then they will know." Now I'm in Ezekiel, and eight times in these chapters, "then they will know" is recorded. I (God) am going to carry out what I have warned them I would do. Then they will know. The idols you've made for yourselves will be destroyed. Then you will know. You will remember all the evil things you did that I hated, how you were unfaithful to me. Then you will know. I will carry out my anger, there will be war, hunger, disease and no one will be spared. Then you will know.

All the earlier warnings were future tense, but now it shifts.

"An end! The end has come!... I will judge you for the way you have lived, (KJV - according to their ways) and I will make you pay for all your actions that I hate. I will have no pity on you; I will not hold back punishment from you. Instead, I will make you pay for the way you have lived and for your actions that I hate. Then you will know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 7:6-9)

The disaster in Chapter 7 builds and builds like a crescendo in music.

"Disaster on top of disaster is coming. The end has come! The end has come! It has stirred itself up against you! Look! It has come! Disaster has come...! The time has come... soon I will pour out my anger against you. I will judge you for the way you have lived and make you pay for everything you have done that I hate. I will show no pity, and I will not hold back punishment. I will pay you back for the way you have lived and the things you have done that I hate. Then you will know that I am the LORD who punishes." (Ezekiel 7:6-7)

The warnings crescendo, getting louder and louder and swelling to the point of climax. All the exclamation points I wrote as part of Ezekiel 7:6–7 are God's exclamation points—six of them. Ezekiel 7:10 - "Look, the day is here. It has come. Disaster has come, violence has grown... the time has come; the day has arrived." Wave upon wave of relentless disaster, surrounded on every side with no way for escape. Ezekiel 7:19 - "Their silver and gold will not save them from the LORD's anger. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, because it caused them to fall into sin." They were proud of all they owned, "so I will turn their wealth into trash."

• I will turn away
• I will bring the worst against them
• I will end the pride of the strong 
• There will be no peace
• Disaster will come on top of disaster (*Psalm 140 - "...may disaster hunt down men of violence.")  
• God's teaching will be lost
• Hope will be gone
• People will shake with fear  

Ezekiel 7:27 - "I will punish them for the way they have lived. The way they have judged others is the way I will judge them. (NIV says their conduct with others will be God's conduct with them.) Then they will know that I am the LORD."

THEN THEY WILL KNOW!

From Life Lesson: 

God will not tolerate anything that displaces him in our lives. Idolatry is anything that comes between us and God. (We have to choose.) Our families cannot choose Christ for us. Our friends cannot do it. God is a great God, but even God cannot make the decision for us. He can help, but only we can decide. We have to make our own choice. ~ From Day to Day with Billy Graham by Joan W. Brown

From Life Application:

Be aware of selfish desires for material wealth or social status. Have only one concern: a right relationship with God.

Exodus 20:1–6 - "Then God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt where you were slaves. You must not have any other gods except me. You must not make for yourselves an idol that looks like anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the water below the land. You must not worship or serve any idol, because I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. If you hate me, I will punish your children, and even your grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But I show kindness to thousands who love me and obey my commands."

Joshua 24:23 - "Then Joshua said, "Now throw away the gods that you have. Love the LORD, the God of Israel, with all your heart."

Job 31:24–28 - "I have not put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my security.' I have not celebrated my great wealth or the riches my hands had gained. I have not thought about worshiping the sun in its brightness nor admired the moon moving in glory so that my heart was pulled away from God. My hand has never offered the sun and moon a kiss of worship. If I had, these also would have been sins to be punished, because I would have been unfaithful to God."

Jeremiah 1:16 - "And I will announce my judgments against my people because of their evil in turning away from me. They offered sacrifices to other gods and worshiped idols they had made with their own hands."

Luke 16:10–13 - "Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with a little is dishonest with a lot. If you cannot be trusted with worldly riches, then who will trust you with true riches? And if you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own? No servant can serve two masters. The servant will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches."

Revelation 21:8 - "But cowards, those who refuse to believe, who do evil things, who kill, who sin sexually, who do evil magic, who worship idols, and who tell lies—all these will have a place in the lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Addendum:  *To see what Psalm 140 says about disaster hunting down evil people see my journal entries for Psalm 140 recorded in March of 2015.


Next Entry: Ezekiel 8:1 – 11:25

Ezekiel 1:1 – 3:27

December 26, 2011

"They may listen, or they may not."

"Don't be afraid of them."

Two statements repeated often in these chapters. The Spirit of the LORD speaks to Ezekiel and tells him He is sending him to speak to the people of Israel, people who were stubborn and refused to obey God's words, and who had turned against God.

"They may listen, or they may not, since they are a people who have turned against me. But they will know that a prophet has been among them." Ezekiel 2:5

God tells Ezekiel not to be afraid of them or their words. Even though he was surrounded by briars and thorns and it felt like he was living with scorpions or poisonous insects, God told him not to be afraid. Ezekiel 2:6–7 - "Don't be afraid of their words or looks.... They may listen, or they may not." But you Ezekiel—you listen and you DO what I am telling you to do. Ezekiel 2:8 - "Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you." Fill yourself with my words. The scroll God was giving him to "eat" was full of "funeral songs, sad writings, and words about troubles were written on the front and back." Ezekiel ate it. He filled himself with God's word "and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth." Absorbing God's word is like that.

God tells Ezekiel—GO! Go speak MY words to MY people. You aren't being sent to strangers who don't know your language. You are being sent to your own people. They won't be willing to listen to you because they aren't willing to listen to me. They are stubborn and refuse to obey me. The NIV says they are hardened and obstinate. Then God tells Ezekiel what He told Isaiah and Jeremiah.   will give you the strength to stand up against these people. 

It was God who gave them the strength. In their own strength they would not have had the ability to stand.  

"I now make you..."
"I am making you.."
"Don't be afraid of them or be frightened by them, though they are people who turn against me."

Then God said to Ezekiel, "Believe...and listen closely" to what I am telling you—then GO!  Tell them this is what the LORD God says. Say it whether they listen or not. 

The LORD's Spirit was upon Ezekiel and he heard, "Praise the glory of the LORD in heaven." The Spirit then took him and put him in the midst of the people. He sat there for seven days, shocked and overwhelmed. Then the LORD spoke to him again saying: 

"You must warn them... Anytime you hear a word from my mouth, warn them for me... When I say to the wicked, 'you will surely die,' you must warn them so they may live. If you don't speak out to warn the wicked to stop their evil ways, they will die in their sin. But I will hold you responsible for their death. If you warn the wicked and they do not turn from their wickedness or their evil ways, they will die because of their sin. But you will have saved your life." Ezekiel 3:17-19

He goes on to say that sometimes people who were good people may stop doing good and do evil instead, and they will be held accountable. "If you don't warn them they will die because of their sin and I (God) will hold you responsible... But if you warned those good people not to sin, and they do not sin, they will surely live, because they believed the warning. And you will have saved your life."

God told Ezekiel to "get up and go," and he got up and went. Because of his obedience he saw the glory of God and "bowed face down on the ground." Then God's spirit spoke to him again, telling him he would be mistreated. When he wasn't supposed to speak God would close his mouth. When he was supposed to speak his mouth would be open. He was to tell them: " 'The LORD God says this.'  Those who listen, let them listen. Those who refuse, let them refuse, because they are people who turn against me."

They may listen, or they may not. The same phrase repeated over and over again in these chapters. Do not be afraid of them. Another phrase repeated over and over again. We have one responsibility, and that is to be obedient to God. Speak when He tells us to speak and keep our mouths shut when He instructs us. Beyond that we bear no responsibility. "They may listen, or they may not."

We have done our part. The rest is in their hands and God's.

From Life Lesson:

"What we want is relief. We want our problem or heartache to just go away. And yet the biblical message of rest is that your relief may come from the power you gain when you accept your suffering. Your relief may come from the strength you develop from serving in spite of it... and you find rest..." ~ From Little House on the Freeway by Tim Kimmel

We can attest to the truth of that statement. 


Next Entry: Ezekiel 4:1 – 7:27

Lamentations 4:1 – 5:22 (Continued)

December 23, 2011

Notes from Jane's (Her Name Was Jane) Bible written after Lamentations 5.

A Spirit filled Christian is one who:

I.
     - becomes mighty in Word of God - John 14:26
     - never gets enough of Word of God
     - becomes mighty in demonstration of Word in his life
     - shares Word of God
II.
     - is in constant guidance of Holy Spirit - Romans 8:14
     - wants Spirit to control every area of one's life; to guide every step - Galatians 5:16; Psalm 23:3
     - places natural desires under control of Spirit so he does not fulfill lusts of flesh
     - is always available to serve wherever the LORD wants to use them
III.
     - knows a rejoicing life - Ephesians 5:18-20
IV.
     - always places spiritual before temporal

Comforter = com (with); forte (strength) and help for my need

John 14:26:
KJV - "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
NIV - "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
NCV - "But the Helper will teach you everything and will cause you to remember all that I told you.  This Helper is the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name."


Next Entry: Ezekiel 1:1 – 3:27

Lamentation 4:1 – 5:22

December 22, 2011

Hope yesterday, and now Jeremiah describes the despair of the people. Despair caused by their own disobedience.

I can't imagine the anxiety, torture, and fear the people felt as they were surrounded for years and were slowly stripped of their wealth, their health, their pride—everything. Slowly stripped. Jeremiah says the punishment the people were subjected to was worse than what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. Sodom's punishment was quick and total. It was over. But the people of Jerusalem's punishment went on... and on... slowly stripped of everything. Jeremiah said they would have been better off to have died by the sword in battle than to slowly waste away and die of famine and hunger.

God wasn't seeing how long He could carry out their punishment. His purpose wasn't to torture them for years. His purpose then and now is for restoration. He wanted His people to return to Him, to turn from their wicked ways and to obey Him. But they refused. It was their own stubborn pride that kept them from repenting and caused their punishment to be slowly carried out. Because of their stubborn refusal, "The LORD turned loose all of his anger; he poured out his strong anger."(Lamentations 4:11) God left them and did not look out for them any longer. They were caught in their own traps, and there came a time when their punishment was complete.

Lamentations 5:19 - "You, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation." 

God is THE LORD. His will WILL be done. He is in control.


Next Entry: Lamentations 4:1 – 5:22 (Continued)

Lamentations 3

December 21, 2011

Yea! I'm excited. After writing about the warnings of Jeremiah for the last three months (and Isaiah before that), today I get to write about something encouraging—HOPE! Jeremiah was discouraged.  Jerusalem was in ruins. He was battered from the storms. He was worn out. And then he writes, "But I have hope when I think of this:

     "The LORD's love never ends
          his mercies never stop
     They are new every morning;
          LORD, your loyalty is great.
     I say to myself, "The LORD is mine,
          so I hope in him."        (Verses 21–24)

     "The LORD is good to those who hope in him,
          to those who seek him.
     It is good to wait quietly
          for the LORD to save."        (Verses 25–26)

"The LORD will not reject his people forever. Although he brings sorrow, he also has mercy and great love. He does not like to punish people or make them sad." (Verses 31–33) He sees, and He knows!! "He sees if someone is treated unfairly before the Most High God; the LORD sees if someone is cheated in his case in court." (Lamentations 3:36)

God is in control. He sees! He knows! Lamentations 3:37–38 - "Nobody can speak and have it happen unless the LORD commands it. Both bad and good things come by the command of the Most High God.

That should (and does) give us so much hope, peace, and confidence—in the LORD. He is in control. Nothing has, and nothing ever will, happen to us that has not first passed through HIS hands. NOTHING! He sees! He knows! Oh what joy and contentment comes from knowing that, even during the midst of "the storm" and battles of our lives.

"Let us examine and see what we have done and then return to the LORD. Let us lift up our hands and pray from our hearts to God in heaven..." "You came near when I called to you; you said, "Don't be afraid." "Lord, you have taken my case and given me back my life. LORD, you have seen how I have been wronged. Now judge my case for me. You have seen how my enemies took revenge on me and made evil plans against me. (KJV says "imaginations"; NIV says "plots") LORD, you have heard their insults and all their evil plans against me. The words and thoughts of my enemies are against me all the time. Look! In everything they do they make fun of me with songs. Pay them back, LORD, for what they have done. Make them stubborn, and put your curse on them. Chase them in anger, LORD, and destroy them from under your heavens."

Jeremiah's prayer started with, Lord, you are my God (Adonai). Acknowledgment that he is the Lord of his life. The rest of the time (four different times) LORD is in all caps, signifying the "I AM"; "Yawheh"; LORD of Lords; God of all gods. HE is the judge. HE is the avenger. HE is the LORD of our lives... the rest is up to Him.

Years ago I marked this passage in Jane's NIV with a piece of sticky note. As I was reading this now I was wondering why I specifically marked it. Then I knew. Hope! Confidence. Peace. Joy. Contentment. The verses found in Lamentation 3:57–66 are reminiscent of Psalm 140. (Her Name Was Jane) God is in control! We will wait on Him.

Life Lesson: 

"... time spent in the fog of pain could be God's greatest gift. It could be the hour that we finally see our Maker... maybe in our suffering we can see God like never before..." ~ Max Lucado

Next Entry: Lamentations 4:1 – 5:22

Lamentations 2

December 20, 2011

The LORD's anger. 

It is real and it is hard to read about, but it is necessary to come to grips with. The God of Grace is also a God of anger—righteous anger. His righteousness demands it.

Who God is should evoke fear/awe in all of us. How could the Jewish people—HIS people—continue to ignore Him and stubbornly refuse to believe He would do what He promised to do? Why would they refuse to follow His commandments and obey Him? Why? They passionately devoted themselves to obey the gods of their own choosing but stubbornly refused to obey THE LORD. Why then? And why now?

Why do people—HIS people—those who have claimed Jesus as The Christ, STILL refuse to obey His commands, follow their own desires, and reject Him as LORD? It breaks my heart. It makes you want to grab them by the collar, shake them, look them straight in the eyes and say: DON'T YOU GET IT!!?!!

Listen to the words Jeremiah uses to describe God's anger against them:

• Brought to shame
• Thrown down
• Swallowed up without mercy
• No longer remembered them
• Pulled down
• Threw down
• Has removed
• Took away His protection
• Burned against
• Like an enemy
• Prepared to shoot
• His hand against
• Like an enemy
• Killed
• Poured out His anger
• Like an enemy
• He swallowed up
• Destroyed
• Caused moaning and groaning
• Cut down
• Destroyed
• Rejected
• Abandoned
• Handed over
• Planned to destroy
• Left them
• Stopped teaching them
• Stopped speaking to them

Total destruction of HIS people. Total ruin. They chose to follow false advice. Advice that was false and worthless. Their advisers did not expose their sins which could have warded off captivity. Instead, they gave them advice that was false and misleading. (Verse 14) They refused to listen to the truth. They refused to heed the warnings God sent over and over again. Refused! And there came a time when enough was enough. Lamentations 2:17 - "The LORD has done what he planned; he has kept his word that he commanded long ago. He has destroyed without mercy (NIV - overthrown without pity), and he has let your enemies laugh at you (NIV- gloat over). He has strengthened your enemies." Lamentations 2:22 - "Terror on every side." 

God is Holy. Not just Holy, but Holy, Holy, Holy. He is worthy of ALL Honor, Glory, Power, and Praise. The God who WAS, IS, and WILL ALWAYS BE!

Blessed be the Name of THE LORD.


Next Entry: Lamentations 3

Lamentations 1:1–22

December 19, 2011

But now.  But now...

What a tragic ending. What a contrast between what God designed and intended for His people and the reality of the end result and the consequences the people of Israel/Judah suffered. Beautiful Jerusalem was now in ruins. Jerusalem once was full of people, but now the city is empty. Jerusalem was once a great city among the nations, but now she is like a widow. She was like a queen of all the other cities, but now she is a slave.

But now...

• She has extreme sadness (vs. 2)
• There is no one to comfort her—loneliness (vs. 2)
• Loved ones are gone (vs. 2)
• Friends are now enemies (vs. 2)
• She is captive (vs. 3)
• She suffers and works hard (vs. 3)
• There is no rest (vs. 3)
• She's been removed from her home (vs. 3)
• She's been caught by those who chased her (vs. 3)
• There is sadness and suffering (vs. 4)
• Their foes are now their masters (vs. 5)
• They've lost their wealth (vs. 5)
• The LORD is punishing her (vs. 5)
• Her children are captive (vs. 5)
• The beauty is gone (vs. 6)
• They roam as a deer, searching for food and running from hunters (vs. 6)
• They are suffering and homeless (vs. 7)
• They remember the good things from the past (vs. 7)
• They are defeated, alone, and ruined (vs. 7)
• There is panic

But now...

It didn't have to end this way and they have no one to blame but themselves. "She made herself dirty by her sins and did not think about what would happen to her." (vs. 9) They were just so sure nothing would happen to them, after all, they were God's chosen people... and they did not think about what would happen. They convinced themselves they were doing nothing wrong so why should they listen to Jeremiah's warnings? But now here they are. They are alone, captive, and suffering, the recipients of God's punishment. "He stretched out a net for my feet and turned me back." (vs. 13) "The LORD has handed me over to those who are stronger than I." (vs. 14) The LORD rejected them and brought an army against them. (vs. 15)

By the time they figured out God was right it was too late and they were already captive. Jerusalem says, "The LORD is right, but I refused to obey him." (vs. 18) "Look at me, LORD. I am upset and greatly troubled. My heart is troubled, because I have been so stubborn." (vs. 20) Their decisions determined their consequences. IF only they had listened. IF only they had not been so stubborn. IF only they would have thought about what would happen. Sadly, they did not and now we read: But now...

Life Lesson: Sin brings punishment. But sorrow, confession, and repentance brings healing and wholeness. 

"God does comfort good people when bad things happen to them. It is possible to be happy in a world where sorrow casts its gray shadow. Trouble never leaves us where it finds us; sorrow will change our tomorrow. But God inspires us to become better people, not bitter ones. He shows us the negative can be turned into a positive, a minus into a plus, and that is what the cross is all about." ~ Robert Schuler

Next Entry: Lamentations 2 

Jeremiah 52

December 16, 2011

The last chapter in Jeremiah. After almost three months of living and breathing the writings of Jeremiah, I've come to the last chapter.

Chapter 52 recounts the fall of Jerusalem. I've spent the last days writing about the fall of Babylon, an empire that made no claims of the LORD being God—none. And now today I'm reminded of the fall of Jerusalem—a place where God's people lived. Accountability happened to the non-believers and "believers" alike. God kept His word. Everything He told Jeremiah to prophesy about, came to pass. Everything. God brought the punishment He promised because Israel refused to repent.

Jeremiah 52:3 - "All this happened... because the LORD was angry with them. Finally, he threw them out of his presence."

God is proactive not reactive. By that I mean this. Man doesn't take an action that is a surprise to God and then God has a knee jerk reaction in response. That isn't what sets the chain of events into motion. It's man's heart choices over a period of time that determines the outcome and actions God takes in the course of our lives. I'm having a hard time trying to clearly explain this. Take Zedekiah as an example. Verse 3 says, "Zedekiah turned against the king of Babylon." It wasn't that specific action by man that caused God to react and decide to cause the fall of Jerusalem. It was Zedekiah's (and the Israelites) refusal to surrender to God and His calls for repentance for all the years prior which then caused God to be proactive and put into motion His plan that would eventually be the downfall of Zedekiah and Jerusalem. "All this happened... because the LORD was angry with them. Finally, he threw them out of his presence." Proactive: "creating or controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened."

There is a huge difference between fear/awe of God and fear/scared or frightened of God. As believers, we should fear (be in awe of) God, but we should never be fearful (frightened) of God. God's eventual response to us is in direct correlation to our response to Him. Do we surrender to Him or not?  When our lives are surrendered to Him we know that He never puts anything into our lives for our harm—NEVER! Jeremiah 29:11–13 - "I know the plans I have for you... and they are good plans, not plans to harm you but plans to give you hope and a good future." We are the ones who mess things up.

What happened to the Israelites and Zedekiah was a direct result of the choices they made. The people who surrendered to the LORD and His will—lived. Those who refused to surrender were held accountable for their choices. It was Zedekiah's disobedience and refusal to surrender to God's will that caused him to revolt against King Nebuchadnezzar, and what caused him to revolt—was God's anger. "All this happened... because the LORD was angry with them. Finally, he threw them out of his presence." God has given us the control to choose what our response is going to be to His LORDship, but our control ends there. Only God has the right to choose the consequences we receive for the choices we make.

The rest of Chapter 52 talks about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple Solomon built per God's instructions. In all the warnings Jeremiah gave, I had almost forgot about the beauty and splendor of the temple. God was willing to destroy the very temple He designed and the very place where He chose to be worshiped because of the disobedience of His people. That ought to make all of us bow in fear/awe of the LORD All-Powerful.

Addendum: 5/14/18 ~ Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins. Because (as a believer) Christ lives in us, there is no longer a need for an earthly building/temple for the LORD to reside in. Our bodies are now His temple. Oh, the seriousness of understanding this and surrendering our will in obedience to HIM.


Next Entry: Lamentations 1:1–22  

Jeremiah 50:1 – 51:64 (Continued)

December 15, 2011

God tells His people to: "Run away from Babylon and leave the land of Babylonians."

It was time. The 70 year captivity was coming to an end. The time for the destruction of Babylon was about to begin. "I will bring the people of Israel back to their own pasture." Up until that time Israel was like lost sheep. Their leaders led them astray. They forgot where their resting place was—God. Their enemies hurt them without remorse. Their enemies blamed their own evil actions on the people or Israel. But now God, the true shepherd says, "Let everyone go back home. Let everyone run to his own country." "I will bring the people... back to their own pasture."

The LORD goes on, "At that time people will try to find Israel's guilt, but there will be no guilt. People will try to find find Judah's sins, but no sin will be found." God was (and is) protecting His people. They went through tough times. They had to seek God (ask) and they had to obey (start), and then God protected them and took them back to their land.

On one hand you have protection. On the other hand there is destruction. I find these next few verses some of the most disturbing in the whole Bible.

Jeremiah 50:24–25 - "Babylon, I set a trap for you, and you were caught before you knew it. You fought against the LORD, so you were found and taken prisoner. The LORD has opened up his storeroom and brought out the weapons of his anger, because the LORD God-All Powerful has work to do in the land of the Babylonians." 

Wow! The NIV says it this way, "The LORD has opened his arsenal and brought out the weapons of his wrath, for the Sovereign LORD Almighty has work to do." What disturbing and sobering words. We all want to think about God as being a God of love, forgiveness and grace. We want to sit around a campfire holding hands and singing Kumbaya. We want to think there aren't consequences for the choices we make and the actions we take. We want to think everyone goes to heaven. We want to think. We want to create a god we are comfortable with. God is a God of love, forgiveness, and grace.  He is also a God of anger, accountability, and punishment. He is not one or the other. God in His Sovereignty is both.

When we stop avoiding the truth and understand God is indeed both truth and grace, it brings you to a different level of understanding and the awe you feel as you contemplate the majesty of who God is magnifies and grows. This understanding does not (and should not) create fear, a fear that a tyrannical god is going to become angry and zap you if you make a mistake. No. He is God of justice who judges fairly. He is kind, loving, and patient. But there comes a time when we are each held accountable for the choices we make.

God set a trap for Babylon because she fought against the LORD. Because! Because she acted with pride against the LORD. Even though we don't like to read it, hear it, or think about it, it was punishment they deserved. The thought of God opening His arsenal (unlimited); bringing out the weapons of His wrath (unbridled); because He has work (unstoppable and all powerful) to do against those who have refused to give Him LORDship, is just unimaginable and it is difficult to understand how anyone could choose to not surrender to the HOLY God of Israel. You don't bow to God out of fear, you bow to Him out of reverence to His holiness.

Jeremiah 50:27 - "How terrible it will be for them, because the time has come for their defeat; it is time for them to be punished."

Jeremiah 50:31 - "The time has come for you to be punished."

It is time. 

People often have the mistaken notion that if a lightning bolt doesn't come down and zap them immediately for their disobedience and decision to act with pride against the LORD, then He somehow didn't notice or care and everything will be fine. God knows. He's aware. And when "it is time" He goes to his arsenal, brings out His weapons of wrath, and gets to work. As surely as He defends and protects those who are His people He just as surely attacks and brings destruction on those who refuse him as LORD. God says, "Let a sword..." six times in four verses. (Jeremiah 50:35–38) He orchestrated and prepared the attack on Babylon. He created fear and distress.

Jeremiah 50:44 - "Like a lion... I will suddenly chase (them) from their land... There is no one like me, no one who can take me to court." 

Jeremiah 51:1–2 - "I will soon send a destroying wind to blow... I will... destroy (them) like a wind that blows chaff away... when the day of disaster comes."

No one can stand up against the Lord God Almighty.

Jeremiah 51:6 - "It is time for the LORD to punish Babylon; he will give Babylon the punishment she deserves."

People said, "We tried to heal Babylon, but she cannot be healed." It is a personal choice. No one can make the decision to surrender your life to His Lordship for you. The people of Judah said—we tried, but it can't be done, so let us leave and go to our country.

Jeremiah 51:10 - "The LORD has shown us to be right. Come, let us tell in Jerusalem what the LORD our God has done."

It is time. Get Ready!

Jeremiah 51:12 - "The LORD will certainly do what he has planned and what he said he would do against the people of Babylon."

It is time.  

The LORD who made the earth by His power, who by using His wisdom to build the world and His understanding to stretch out the skies; the God who made everything and is the LORD All Powerful, (See Job 38 – 41) will do what He says He will do. He is in control. He says Babylon—you think you are in control. You are not. You are my battle weapon. In just four verses it says, "I use you.." ten different times.

• I will pay you back...  
• I am against you...  
• The LORD will do what He has planned...  

There was wave after wave of defeat. Relentless. Like an ocean, it cannot be stopped. Messenger after messenger brought the news of the destruction that was taking place.

• The time to harvest Babylon is coming soon...  
• I will soon defend you Judah, and make sure that Babylon is punished...  
• The time will surely come...  
• The time is coming soon...  
• I will send people to destroy her... 
• The LORD is destroying...  
• The LORD is a God who punishes people for the evil they do. He gives them the full punishment they deserve.

They think they are strong and can protect themselves. But all their self-effort is futile. "The people will work hard, but it won't help; their work will only become fuel for the flames!"

The time is coming.

Addendum:  8/8/15 ~ Song running through my mind last night. "You Never Let Go"

As I proof read this entry tears come to my eyes. It is time. There WILL come a day when it is time for "the storm" to end. While we don't know the when, what we do know is we will continue to trust, believe, and wait on the LORD.

Addendum #2:  11/5/19 ~ As I was reading Jeremiah 51 this morning A Message to Babylon found in verses 59–64, caught my attention. Jeremiah had written on a scroll all the terrible things that were going to happen to Babylon. He gave it to Seraiah, and told him to read it so all the people in Babylon could hear it. After he read it aloud, he was to tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates River. This was to demonstrate the promised fall of Babylon. This was during the 4th year of Zedekiah's reign as king.

The people of Judah who obeyed God's instructions were already captive in Babylon. Zedekiah, and the other people remaining in Judah who refused to follow God's instructions, were still refusing to listen to God's message prophesied by Jeremiah. They were convinced he was lying and they were sure they would never be taken captive by Babylon. Seven years after Jeremiah sent the message to the people in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar was successful in defeating Zedekiah and Jerusalem and its people were captured.

Here is what captured my attention. God made sure His people knew their freedom was coming. It took 70 years, but II Chronicles 36:23 records the words of King Cyrus, "You are free to go." God also made sure the people of Babylon were warned, but they refused to listen. Jeremiah was telling the end of the story before Jerusalem was taken captive; before His people were set free; and before the promised destruction of Babylon happened. I love how all through-out scripture (and in our lives) God not only gives encouragement to His followers, but He also give an opportunity for repentance to those who have wandered away from His Truth. Sadly, not everyone will accept His call for repentance, but it brings me great peace to know that God in His great Mercy provides an opportunity for change.

Jeremiah 51:59–64 describes what the Sovereign hand of God did for us when He used His precious servant Jane to speak His words of Protection, Promise, Provision, and Purpose over our lives.  It's been almost twelve and a half years now... but there will come a day when we hear those words, "You are free to go." We are absolutely sure of one thing. The end of the lawsuit will come by the Sovereign Hand of God. Our faith is in Yawheh—the King of all kings; the God of all gods; and the LORD of all lords. HE is the One.

Addendum #3: 8/16/20 ~ See: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!


Next Entry: Jeremiah 52