Luke 15:11-24 ~ he came to himself

Chris Greenwood known by his stage name Manafest, is a Canadian Christian rapper and rock artist from Ontario.

Preacher, Preacher what you got for me save my soul
See beneath, and clip my wings I'm not an angel
I try and try to be good, I've lied with pride I'm a crook
Turn the lights down, burning up the night now

Sign my life out, I'm sick of living here yo
If you can help choir boy ring the church bells
I'd turn back if I could, erase the pain if I could
But I'm an animal and I don't know if I can

Hey
Cause I'm the prodigal man of this avalanche
I'm going down, I'm going down, down

Hey
And if you turn me in
I'll confess my sins
I'm going down, I'm going down, down

Before I'm six feet deep
I'm washing my hands clean
Just get me out of this avalanche

You scared the junk-crap out of me man
The Ghost Rider, hold my soul tighter
Jehovah take the ropes I'm a
Fly a plane out of the atmosphere
I've attacked this fear
This scar still here
I'm going on to the end

I'm holding out to a friend
I'm going I'm going
I don't care
I cursed a lot
The worse, the black sheep of the lot
Christopher Scott prepare to meet God

Hey
Cause I'm the prodigal man of this avalanche
I'm going down, I'm going down, down

Hey
And if you turn me in
I'll confess my sins
I'm going down, I'm going down, down

Before I'm six feet deep
I'm washing my hands clean
Just get me out of this Avalanche

Get me out, Out
Get me out, Out
Just get me out of this avalanche
Get me out, Out
Get me out, Out
Just get me out of this

You guided me when I was
Blind with pride a right off
Knocked me off my saddle
Sabotaged and overshadowed
Watched you chase a man down
Watched you raise a man out
Mercy on me, forever I'm free

Get me out, Out
Get me out, Out
Just get me out of this avalanche
Get me out, Out
Get me out, Out
Just get me out of this

The Word of God ranges from metal to rock.

Luke 15:11-24
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.



What draws us to Father God? God celebrates, pivots and awes.

Few of us reach the point where the still small voice can be heard before we have exhausted our own solutions.

We see the sixteenth chapter of I Kings has - dust, anger of sin, death, conspired murder, coupe, burned the king's house over him with fire and died, and Baal worship. Baal worship is complete with infant sacrifice. I'm not sure it gets much worse than this.

Enter Elijah ~  This is a FINE Time to Hope for a Man of God.

1 Kings 17
Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the Lord came to him

What??? Things are supposed to get .... better.

Things are so bad in the promised land, Elijah will be called out to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. It's not going to rain again unti ,,,l the Eighteenth Chapter when Elijah will have a chance to make fun of Baal. And kill priests who advocate the killing of infants for Baal. Elijah is rock metal meets John the Baptist. Wearing hair wrapped by a belt. This man is far more rock metal than Southern Baptist Convention Meeting. And Elijah is going to have to run for his life. The Holy Spirit is portrayed in the New Testament as a burning fire.

God is not always a small, low, whisper voice.

Another time will call Elijah back. This time when the Roman Empire sweeps more money into Israel than any other time until the Renaissance Revival of the 14th Century. Anno Domini.

We always picture Elijah's Holy Spirit as the calm, low voice. Elijah's time was FAR from quiet or comforting.

Judges 13 (Sounds like a fairly good movie)
2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.

When Manoah hears of this his reaction is - saintly. No. Manoah has a pretty reasonable reaction to hearing his wife heard from an Angel of the LORD.

8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.” 9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, “Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.” 11 And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to this woman?” And he said, “I am.” 12 And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?”

Okay. Now we get to the docile part.

15 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.” 16 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord.) 17 And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?” 18 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the Lord, to the one who works wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching. 

20 And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up in the flame of the altar. Now Manoah and his wife were watching, and they fell on their faces to the ground.

21 The angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.”

23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.”


Now we move from metal to Rock. There is another Being with the Father, during creation, who was known to laugh with pleasure in the Book of Proverbs - also called Wonderful.

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 
This is the One who saves.


Luke 18:19
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good."

(Was Manoah more pleased than this man?)

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1 Chronicles 4:1-10 ~ Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me,

1 Chronicles 4:1-10 ~ English Standard Version

The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. 2 Reaiah the son of Shobal fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites. 3 These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi, 4 and Penuel fathered Gedor, and Ezer fathered Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem. 5 Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah; 6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 7 The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. 8 Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel, the son of Harum. 9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. 


The Word of God is living and active, I remembered the Prayer of Jabez as "so I might not have pain." Not that he would be kept from evil. I have heard JL Packard, one of the most influential evangelicals in North America, who studied under CS Lewis and helped bring us the English Standard Version of the Bible. Packer served as General Editor of the English Standard Version, an Evangelical revision of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, and Theological Editor of the Study Bible version. I tend to believe he had this correctly!

We recently looked at the Prophets of the Bible and what attribute of God drew them to HIM. And Prophets have stories. They have historical placement, hometowns, family troubles, marriage troubles, children troubles and safety issues.

Frankly, any time the LORD wants to bless me with Jabez's blessing - I'm here... hands out, hearts willing and gratitude at the ready. Me! Sent Me!

So we get to the sons of Judah we are reading a genealogy list. Immediately - we all think - Oh, thanks Lord. C'mon, we do. And suddenly interest peaks - boredom first - then AHA!

Now let's really dig deep into Jabez. He was honorable, didn't want to cause pain, and asked for blessings. And he didn't want to experience pain. And... well a thud.

Jabez doesn't really have a Biblical Story. We forgot that in the nineties when we all wanted Jabez's blessing applied to our lives. Now why doesn't he have that story - there is NO Angst to learn from. Nothing to discuss. This would bore a psychologist to death. Would it even fall into the realm of normal - if that exists?

I knew a lady, in Dallas, people spoke of, when we all asked if  knew anyone someone with almost no problems -  . A gracious lady from a very prosperous family, who married a prosperous man, had a son and a daughter and sent them happily to college. Graciously giving to life and being good to the people around her. A Christian lady. In her fifties, her son's wife wanted to leave him for another man and take the two granddaughters with her to a new marriage. She suggested her new husband adopt the daughters. The lady, who had never even experienced a parental death, had her father dying and her daughter-in-law taking the grandchildren. She really frankly was experiencing pain for the first time - in abundance. And a very large dose of anger to go with that. Lather she would say, I had to experience for the first time, death and grief, and how to forgive when the offender - frankly did not care. Facing the fear my granddaughters would never know us. This good lady managed to overcome these things, she is a person who loves the Lord. She told us she was grateful for the decades she experienced without these problems. She smiled as she said, she hoped this was the last of these difficulties.

Frankly, it's an interesting story. I'm not sure Jabez is interesting. But I'm willing to live the situation and let you know...

Proverbs 30
5 Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

7 Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Hebrews 12:28
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe

2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.

Which always requires some of this -

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

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Psalm 19 ~ like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.




Marriages are made in Heaven. I rather doubt that. But I will bet you they are written in the Book of Life.

We are spending the July 4th Holiday with our son Cal's dear, dear friend Jeremy.
I'd have to say we are all rather fond of Jeremy - who is just a bit older than these old photos. Jeremy is getting married and we are proudly hosting the reception, a Texas at home BBQ.

Jeremy-  back in 2001 - used to say, from time to time,  "And I'm going to get hit by a truck." At first that was disconcerting, but we tossed it behind us. Jeremy's mom was ill with two separate illnesses, so he was here with us a lot. The first week of summer, in 2003, the phone rang and it was our Youth Minister, in tears, saying he'd seen a child hit by a big Dodge Ram pickup truck and pray. 5 minutes later an elder from our Church called to tell me it was Jeremy. PRAY!!! Not only had he been dragged fifty feet by the truck, leaving a great white shark imprint - his head left a ! round head shape on the hood - no helmet was worn.

We did. We PRAYED!!!

Jeremy went down to our huge trauma hospital and was greeted in the ER by Dr. Red Duke. Red Duke said Jeremy was in terrible condition and bleeding out. Head damage to be assessed later. Remove a kidney and spleen. Bargains were discussed. They would wait three days to remove the organs. 

Our Church had a baby blanket brought to Church, everyone who promised to pray wrote their name in permanent marker. Covered in prayer. Promising to pray multiple times during the day. Jeremy got to keep his kidney and spleen. The attending doctor said, "Jeremy must have had prayers said for him." His head and brains were still intact, miraculously.  Jeremy spent his summer in the ICU with many of his youth group coming to visit. And, later, his recliner at home. He started High School in a wheelchair, his leg had a rod in it. In October, his mom died. And we spent some time with Jeremy.

As he went on that youth ski trip, about a year later, his operation was pending to retrieve the leg rod and I held Jeremy's hand and prayed for him not to break a leg with some sheer adult terror. I asked him if he was worried and he said, "Nah!"

That next summer, our Pastor told Jeremy how well Jeremy had coped with all these changes. The rod could not be removed and become part of the bone. We all worried Jeremy would limp pretty badly the rest of his life. We underestimated Jeremy.

And the fortunate kids went off to college - Jeremy worked for fast food, made car payments, car insurance payments and rent. Paying for the occasional car repair and other things were hard to do. One day Jeremy stopped in to see the Navy Recruiters. The officer was nice to Jeremy but expressed doubt a slight built young man with a rod in his leg could qualify. Jeremy told the officer frankly - the people left from High School were drug dealers and he really had never hoped to be a drug dealer or run with dealers. That made the Recruiting Officer rather quiet. The Officer said, "Jeremy, there is no way a smoker, built like you, could run ten miles, but when you can, call me and I will run with you - then we will talk about enlistment. What do you think, son, about a year to learn to run ten miles?"

Jeremy went back in weeks. And he ran that ten miles and talked that officer into placing him en route to paramedic training. He'd never left the state of Texas before.

This weekend is Jeremy's wedding to the girl he asked to Senior Prom.

Raechel had another boyfriend at the time. But Jeremy told her, her boyfriend wouldn't mind. And later Jeremy went back to tell the same boyfriend, Raechel had changed her mind about her boyfriend, but Jeremy was going to take her off his hands - to help him out. Some. Jeremy shook his head as he told the story, and said he didn't dislike the old boyfriend. But the guy was sorta miffed. We laughed like mad.

Jeremy went off to Japan and didn't see Raechel much for three years. We saw on Facebook and on Leave - there was drama. And high anxiety. And forgiveness. And sparkle. And grit. And love. Reviving the soul.

By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

Raechel and I went to pick out flowers and a wedding cake with a chocolate groom's cake, as we got in the car, heading home, we saw the Christian radio playing "Jeremy Camp (where Jeremy reports daily) Overcomes. Thank God, Jeremy does!


Jeremy is being deployed by the Navy, for six to nine months. Possibly to South Korea, where his bride will wait behind. Your prayers for their July 5th wedding with a red, white and blue theme, at our house - complete with Edward's BBQ extravaganza ... Your prayers for the blessing upon their marriage and his naval career and safety are much appreciated.


May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

The Marriage Ceremony done by the Justice of the Peace was a miracle I will hold in my heart for always.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.

The traditional vows were read, and asked to be repeated before God. As they were pronounced as man and wife - they were told - this marriage is of HIM, let no man put this asunder.

Luke 1:78
because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

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Mark 1:16- 20 ~ immediately

Luke 13:24

Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Mark 1:16- 20
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

Why is it that many feel cut off from God - maybe HE exists - maybe HE cares - and others fight the good fight? Just as He says -

Proverbs 14:10
The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.

We are transparent to our Heavenly Father and HE does not ask us to Judge one another. And we will make that important distinction first. I would venture a guess, with all the trees He writes of.

John 1:48-49
48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Matthew 13:32
It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.

It might be HIS opinion, the narrow door is like the book - "The Secret Garden."

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart

The famous analogy four blind men discover an elephant / an analogy of God. They grope about, seeking to understand and describe this new phenomenon. One grasps the trunk and concludes its a snake - perhaps those who dismiss the Bible as hateful - or flexible and wobbly. Another explores one of the elephant's legs and describes it as a tree - has possibilities and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the examination, and it proves unfruitful. A third finds the elephant's tail and announces that it is a rope - like Jacob - a way to contend with God for blessings. And the fourth blind man, after discovering the elephant's side, concludes that it is, after all, a wall - the law is solid.

Each describes the same thing in a radically different manner. For the last eleven posts we have looked over well-known prophets Samuel, Peter, the Disciples running away from Jesus, minus beloved John, Jonah. Add to the group - Moses. Jeremiah resisted the call.

What drew these people to God - who would send His Son. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person. How often He has longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and for the willingness to be gathered. The enormous compassion, because we were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Nathan saw God loves like a Shepherd. Tenderly caring in love.



Samuel mourned. Like the Prodigal Father - He longed to run to his son and have that embrace.



Jonah mourned a plant - not even caring for the repentant. Jonah had no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

 

Abraham felt God should be merciful, asking God to spare mankind. And earned the blessing of the millenniums. God's attitude on mercy - Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Ishmael was said to be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.

Genesis 17:18-20
And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac.[f] I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.

Abraham gathered blessings and mercy for others. This is what drew him to God. 


Moses wanted justice for the people he felt were abandoned. God provided more than justice, and the slaves left with their former masters' gold and jewelry. God guarded them tenderly.



Jacob fought God all of his days for a Blessing and sought to bless his children and grandsons. God granted Jacob the blessing all of his days. As Jacob believed he lived the blessings of God.


Eli wanted God's Words to be fulfilled. He wanted Hannah to be blessed. And Samuel to hear. Eli lived to see all of God's Word fulfilled.



Jeremiah wanted to be left alone. Well, unfortunately for Jeremiah - he was left alone. And God grew him. Jeremiah began in the most glorious of religious reigns reviving the Temple and discovering the forgotten Word of GOD. Jeremiah gave God's prophecies, enduring ridicule, and lived to see the Word fulfilled, immediately. He lived to see an abandoned Jerusalem have peace.




Isaiah jumped into serving GOD with glee. He got his feet wet in Uzziah's reign and lived seeing Isaiah 6.
Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
10 Make the heart of this people dull,
and their ears heavy,
and blind their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”

He joyously bringing the Good News of faith in the LORD let the people to hear, understand, see and perceive, the heart of the people worked tirelessly to be turned and healed. King Hezekiah's faith brought the prosperity of God bring faith in placing HIM first.

Isaih's willingness was a forerunner of "behold the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."





Elijah was pressed to the wall in famine, unbelief and war. He believed God. Listening to the reassuring small voice - "God had not forgotten him."
John 16:33
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

 

Elisha saw the measure of Elijah's faith endure and carry him through hardship. He began seeing the blaze of Elihah revealing God's glory, in a time of abundance as Ahab was defeated. The joys of the world were not going to overcome his faith.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

 

Ezekiel believed better times were coming during war. He knew God would show up when their righteousness was gone. He trusted God to be merciful to them.

Hebrews 13:5-7
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

 


Daniel 1
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel

Daniel understood a concept of God.

Hebrews 13
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name

1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
 


Habakkuk cried out for help so loudly, insistently with expectation. God answered.

Habakkuk 1:5
“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.

John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Hebrews 11
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

The last paragraph is daunting for us believers. However Moses did not lead his people into the promised land. Why? God buries his workmen, but His Works go on. Joshua did not reclaim all of Israel for the Children of Israel. David did reclaim the land and did rend his family. He was unwelcome to build the Temple. Solomon built the Temple and fractured David's Kingdom for David's grandson in his own indulgences towards family life. These people understood the huge work God placed in front of them. Samuel lived Saul's kingdom, not David's. We can Always Depend Upon the Promises God Gives Us. God's Word is Enough.


Lord, let us put out our hands like Isaiah and live with joy, salt, light and verve for the day you give us. Give us the Day! You be our Bread of Life and in You we will be fruitful. Forgive us our sins, and assist us in Your mercy and grace to forgive those who sin against us. Only because Your name is Holy, and upon Your goodness alone, do we claim the Promises of God allowing us to move, dwell and have our being with You. For Yours is the Eternal Kingdom of Power and Glory, to the Highest Name of Jesus, as LORD do we pray and say the great Amen. 

 

 

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Malachi 1 ~ I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?”

Malachi 1

1 The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.^{[My Messenger]}


2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob's brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” 4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’” 5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

Malachi is found in 445 and 432 B.C. He is a contemporary of prophets Zechariah and Haggai - close in historical time periods. Malachi is very familiar with Ezra and Nehemiah. The Targum reads, "by the hand of my angel, whose name is called Ezra the scribe."


I wondered why Nehemiah and Ezra were not considered to be prophets rebuilding the Second Temple - but they focused on rules of etiquette and genealogy - excluding the Samaritans like Elisha. Excluding those who lost their genealogy.

The LORD restores the Temple Tools of Moses, but not the Ark of the Covenant - the Mercy Seat of the Lord. Hidden by the Prophet Jeremiah.

2 Maccabees 2:4-62
One finds in the records that the prophet Jeremiah ordered those who were being deported to take some of the fire, as has been mentioned, 2 and that the prophet, after giving them the law, instructed those who were being deported not to forget the commandments of the Lord, or to be led astray in their thoughts on seeing the gold and silver statues and their adornment. 3 And with other similar words he exhorted them that the law should not depart from their hearts.

4 It was also in the same document that the prophet, having received an oracle, ordered that the tent and the ark should follow with him, and that he went out to the mountain where Moses had gone up and had seen the inheritance of God. 5 Jeremiah came and found a cave-dwelling, and he brought there the tent and the ark and the altar of incense; then he sealed up the entrance. 6 Some of those who followed him came up intending to mark the way, but could not find it. 7 When Jeremiah learned of it, he rebuked them and declared: "The place shall remain unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows his mercy. 8 Then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord and the cloud will appear, as they were shown in the case of Moses, and as Solomon asked that the place should be specially consecrated.


Which leads us to -


Malachi 2

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Lord Rebukes the Priests

2 “And now, O priests, this command is for you. 2 If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. 4 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. 5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, 9 and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

10 Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. 12 May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

13 And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God[g] seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”


God expects us to Trust HIM. And give acts of justice with mercy.


Ephesians 5
8 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 

33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Malachi is the last book placed in the Old Testament. Jesus went to the Woman at the Well - A Samaritan and declared to her -

John 4
25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.

Matthew 22
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

This is the Eleventh Prophet Post in our Series of Prophets - were they thundering for a vengeful GOD - or is the message much more of love and inclusion. Rethink what you've learned about those angry, grey bearded men. And remember who Jesus proclaimed Himself to be Messiah to.

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