December 29

2 Chronicles 34
Manasseh set into motion the straw that broke the camel’s back. Although he later repented, the nation did not repent. His son, Amon, reaped the bitter rewards of Manasseh’s early life. Amon was evil also. He became king at the age of 22. He was so evil that he was assassinated after only 2 years of reigning. So Amon’s son, Josiah, became king as an 8-year-old. That means that he was born when Amon was probably around 16 years of age. It is possible that Josiah was 6 when Manasseh died. As an 8-year-old, Josiah began to do what was right in the sight of the LORD. Where did he learn that? The text does not say. Maybe Manasseh saw how he had ruined Amon. Maybe Manasseh communicated that to Josiah. Maybe Josiah saw the evil in his own dad and knew of the change in his grandfather. Maybe Josiah realized that he needed a different path than the path which his father took. Maybe his mother taught him. At any rate, Josiah never had a copy of the Scriptures until he was 26-years-old. So how did he know how to do what was right in the sight of the LORD?
We are told that it was in the eighth year of his reign that he began to seek the God of his father David. He was 16 years old. Amon was 16 when Josiah was born. Do you suppose that knowledge triggered something in himself to drive Him to seek the LORD? Do you suppose on his 16th birthday that his mother reminded him that Amon was 16 when Josiah was born? He had 10 years to go before he would get his own copy of the Law of Moses. How did he know to do what was right? When he was 20, he began to purge the country of false gods and images. When he was 26 he ordered the repair and remodeling of the temple of the LORD.
During the remodeling process, the priests found the Law of Moses and sent it to Josiah. The king had the Law read. Having heard it, he repented and sent to inquire of the prophetess to find out what should be done. Maybe that is how he knew what was right and how to seek the Lord. Maybe not. At any rate, now he had heard the Law. Now there was not excuse. I cannot help but think that this is a marvelous example of how God is so gracious that He will move heaven and earth to bring a knowledge of Himself to someone who truly wants to know Him. The truth is that we really do not seek after Him as we ought to seek after Him, but for that rare person who does seek Him, He brings them to Himself, eventually bringing them His written word.
Manasseh brought the final judgment upon the nation. Josiah temporarily stayed the hand of judgment because he sought the LORD. Furthermore, the LORD said to him, “Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you Surely I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants.” Wow what mercy!
Lord indeed you have extended such mercy toward me. Even when I did not seek you, you gave me Your word! You do not give me what I deserve, rather You give me Yourself! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

December 28

2 Chronicles 33
I am amazed at the mercy of our Lord! No one was ever as wicked as Manasseh. He even made his own son pass through the fire, i.e. sacrificed him on a pagan altar. Not only was he personally wicked, but he also seduced “Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.” How could a man who had such a great father go so far astray? But obviously he went astray. But God disciplined him greatly. The king of Assyria came and took Manasseh into captivity. There he was disciplined. As the passage says:
12 Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13 and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.
Isn’t that amazing? God would forgive a man who was such a low life! Indeed our God is a marvelous king! He forgives Manasseh and He forgives me! Wow! But I should never forget that even though Manasseh repented, it was too late. The people had been seduced, and the people did not repent.
Oh Lord, You are so kind and merciful to forgive me of my sin. You are so gracious to enable me to turn from my sin. Let me never presume upon Your mercy and grace! Rather whenever your Holy Spirit convicts me of sin, let me repent immediately turning to You. Indeed You are a merciful God! . Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

December 26

2 Chronicles 31
Why do I give to the United States Treasury? I give for one overriding reason. If I do not, I will be charged penalties and interest. If I ignore the penalties and interest long enough, the U.S. Government will confiscate all my belongings to pay what I owe, or throw me in jail, or both. Why do I give to the State of Oklahoma, or the county of Payne? I give for the same reason that I give to the U.S. Government. If it were not forced, would I do it? Probably not. Yet, the federal, state, county and city governments provide services that greatly enhance my quality of life. Because of their work, I have good running water, sewer, electricity, natural gas, police protection, ambulance coverage, decent roads to drive upon, safety in travel from state to state, protection from foreign invaders, quality higher education for my children, etc. If the governments did not require it, would I still pay for the benefits? Hmmmm. . . I am pretty short sighted. I would pay if I saw the direct benefit. I would probably not pay if I did not see the direct benefit.
In the late 1800’s when the men at the Oklahoma A&M campus planted trees, did they do it for their benefit? No they did it for generations to come. Today I enjoy the shade and beauty of large oak and cypress trees on the OSU campus because of their foresight. They paid for others as well as themselves.
Hezekiah’s revival brought a renewed vision for the glory of the Lord. That glory required the service of many priests and Levites that had previously not been supported by the people. Hezekiah required the people to tithe. That requirement came at the height of the revival when the vision of the glory of the Lord had been renewed. Having seen the glory of the Lord and having the king’s requirement, the people brought in their tithes. Being an agrarian society, they stacked their tithes in three gigantic piles. They took 4 months to heap it all up. The leaders saw it and blessed the people. It could have been smaller heaps. The people could probably have cheated a little and succeeded, but they saw the glory of the Lord. It was worth it to them to give to the Lord.
It was an issue of value received for a gift given. They valued the glory of the Lord. He was worth their gift. Do I view Him that way? Jesus put it this way, “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Am I so short sighted that I cling to the things of this world?” Is my focus on the value of the world or the value of His glory? When it is His glory, I will let go of the things of the world because they will pale in value compared to the things of the Lord. When it is the things of this world, I have to be commanded to give to His kingdom, and if I give, it is grudgingly. When my focus is His glory, His command is not burdensome. I am excited to participate in His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

December 25

2 Chronicles 30
We had a baptism this morning, Christmas morning. I filled the tank before I went home Friday. I remember years ago when First Baptist Church of BSL burned down early one Sunday Morning. The cause of the fire was traced to a faulty water pump/heater for the baptistery. With that in mind and since Christmas Eve was a Saturday, I decided to get up at 6:00 on Christmas morning to start the heater. It would just be done later. I didn’t want to be gone a day while the heater was running. Unfortunately, the pump seized up when I tried to start it. It became really hot to the touch. It was too late to call a plumber to fix the heater for the morning’s baptism. Sometimes things just don’t get done in time. Later in the morning, I learned that one of the baptismal candidates was ill. She and her husband could not attend. Their baptism would be done later. Sometimes things just have to be done later. We went ahead and had the baptisms with the other candidates. Brrrrr. . . it was cold.
The Passover is a celebration of Jesus. The Lord wants us to celebrate Him. It is His glory for us to celebrate Him. Sometimes things just don’t happen in time for it to happen. Sometimes things just don’t get done in time. As marvelous as was the revival in Hezekiah's day, it just did not get done in time to allow the priests to properly prepare for the Passover. But the law had a provision for celebrating the Passover in the second month for those who could not celebrate it in the first month. So, Hezekiah called the nation to celebrate the Passover in the second month. Sometimes things just have to be done later. It is the glory of the Lord to recognize this and mercifully allow for change. When there is real change going on in our lives, He makes allowance for us. He is so merciful to allow for my slowness, as long as there is real change going on. What was the result in Jerusalem? There was joy! Lord, keep the change going on in my life! Thank you for Your mercy in giving me more time. Keep me from presuming upon Your mercy! You are so glorious in Your patience with me! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

December 4

Malachi 4
Do you enjoy promises? Of course you do. Promises are the basis of good relationships. Thirty-four and a half years ago, I made a promise to Laura and she to me. Those promises have been the bed rock of our marriage. Yes, you guessed it. They were our wedding vows. Those promises have made our marriage work. Why? Because we both honored them. We can trust each other even during trying times. She honors my name. Because she honors my name, it is my delight to do everything that I can to demonstrate my love for her. Part of the wedding vows, which I regularly include in my wedding ceremonies, includes the following vow that the groom gives to the bride:
I (Groom’s name) take you, (Bride’s name), as my wedded wife; to love you with all my heart's affection; to give you all my earthly possessions; to give you all the honor of my name; and to share with you the grace of my God.
Malachi 4 is a promise to “those who fear My Name.” He promises to be the sun of righteousness, who has healing in His wings. The healing extends to hurting relationships, especially to turn fathers back to children. He heals families. Now that is glory! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

December 3

Malachi 3
There is so much of the glory of the Lord in this chapter! In the last chapter we ended with the people complaining too much. Their complaint was, “Where is the God of justice?” In this chapter He warns them that the God of justice is coming. Before He comes He will send His messenger to prepare the way for Him. Before He comes we must prepare ourselves through repentance. That was John the Baptist’s message. It remains true today that if we want to know the God of Justice we must repent. That is, we must bring our thought processes in line with His thoughts. He demands that we return to Him. How have we strayed away? We have robbed Him. How? In Malachi’s day it was the keeping back of the tithes and offerings. Today Jesus calls us to leave it all at His feet.
What does it mean to leave it all? The last time that I checked, “all” did not mean 10%; it meant 100%. I have heard so much preaching and teaching that we must give the Lord our tithe or our 10%. That teaching is so miserly with the way we treat God. It is no wonder that we are so anemic in our spirituality. Jesus makes it plain. He wants it all. Why don’t we test Him with it? Why not give it all? I am so stingy with Him. His glory is that when I release it all to Him, He meets my need. Why am I stingy? It is because I have my focus on my glory and not His glory. If I really saw His greatness, I wouldn’t have a problem with leaving at His feet. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

December 2

2 Malachi 2
The Lord directs this chapter toward the priests. Now, priests no longer exist in Israel or Judaism. So how does this apply to the Christian? According to 1 Peter 2:5&9 we are priests,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
So the principles directed toward the priests could be directed toward us. Malachi instructs them to take the rebuke to heart so that they might give glory to God’s name. What were the rebukes? The priests had failed to teach the people how to walk in the ways of the Lord. It is to the glory of the Lord that we walk in His ways and teach others how to walk in His ways as we walk the walk before them. What does that mean? First we seek Him in His word constantly to hear is voice and do what He instructs us. What does His word instruct? That we love others as He loves us. Wow! That is a tall order.
The next rebuke, which He gave, related to the family. He rebukes the nation for marrying the daughter of a foreign god and for dealing treacherously with the wife of their youth. Both of these practices put at risk the desire that the Lord had for the nation. What was His desire? He wanted a godly offspring. This theme traces itself in Scripture to the creation. At creation God said,
Genesis 1:26-28 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.
From the beginning God’s plan was to fill the earth with people who reflect His image. Marriage and the procreation of children was for that purpose. Through the ages men have subverted that purpose. The men of Israel at the time of Malachi were choosing wives not on the basis of how his wife could help him reflect the image of God, but upon his own pleasure. Was she pleasing to him? As his relationship with her progressed, and as she no longer was pleasing to him, he would divorce the wife of his youth in order to find a wife pleasing to him.
Our marriages should reflect what God is like. What is He like? Well that is a question that is full of many answers. There is the issue of attributes. Literally thousands of books have been written on that question. There is the issue of the Trinity. There is only one God in essence eternally existing in three persons. There is an eternal commitment to each other in the persons of the Trinity. The desire of the Lord is that husband and wife become one flesh. While the phrase does refer to our sexuality, it goes way beyond that and is inclusive of us emotionally and spiritually. There is to be a oneness in our marriage relationship that reflects to the world what God is like. When we as believers bail out of our marriages, we make it difficult for our children, our friends and the world to see the reflection of God in us. It is like trying to view yourself in a shattered mirror; it is possible, but obscure.
Attitudes in couples that lead to unequally yoked marriages and/or divorce also wreak havoc upon the children of those unions. The children see the differing commitments to the Lord God in the unequal unions, and they see and sense the hypocrisy in the union of their parents, who are not one, or who go to the divorce court. Those parental attitudes produce one more hurdle for the children to pursue hard after God.
So where is the glory in all of this? We must recognize that God has designed every detail of our lives to bring glory to Him. He wants those around us to see Him in us, particularly our family. It is not the end of the world if we blow it. However, we have to pursue the goal for His glory. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

December 1

Malachi 1
Can I rest in the simple fact that He loves me? At the same time, can I dwell in the knowledge that He is a great King? Often times we let our thoughts be channeled by the world. Love according to the world is demonstrated by what one provides for the object of one’s love. Does love provide the right kind of housing? Does it provide food in proper quantities and taste? Does it provide the right clothing? Does it provide recreational activities desired? Does it provide time? When God says that He loves the poor of this world, and they remain in poverty (by our standards) does that mean that He does not love them? At what point do our needs have to be met in order for us to feel that God has demonstrated that He loves us? The word is very clear, “God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” And again the Scripture says, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” The greatest demonstration that He loves us is the cross. The greatest demonstration that He hates sin is the cross. Is it not interesting that to us, whom He loves, He says, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” The voice of love incarnate says, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” It is not about houses, food, clothes, recreation or even time. It is about giving ourselves. He did it first; we simply follow.
So is he a great King? Do I really believe that He is a great King who loves me and will freely give me all things that are necessary to demonstrate that love? When I hang on to the things of this world, as did the people in Malachi’s day, rather than letting everything go to His hand, I am demonstrating that I believe one of two things, 1) He really doesn’t love me, or 2) He really is not great enough to meet my need. My mind tells me both of those statements are wrong. My flesh continues to grasp at the things of this world. That is why He says, “Take up your cross, and follow me.” I won’t win the struggle unless the flesh is crucified with Christ. He really does love, and He really is great, but He will not force me to let go. He wants me to voluntarily go to the cross. His glory wins the struggle. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 30

Zechariah 14
Zechariah looks to the great Day of the Lord. Jerusalem will be under siege. The nations will be at her gates dividing the spoils. It will appear that all hope is gone. Then the Lord shall come. He shall return in the same way and to the same spot from which He left. In Acts 1:11 we have the record of the angel’s testimony, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Zechariah says that when His feet touch down, an earthquake of unimaginable proportions will occur. The Mount of Olives will split in half allowing living waters to bubble up from out of Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be a watershed divide. Some of the water will flow to the Mediterranean; some will flow to the Dead Sea. His very presence will bring terrifying changes in the structure of the earth that will bring down His enemies and deliver His people. The feast of Tabernacles will then be celebrated by all nations. Anyone who refuses to celebrate will receive a plague from the Lord. Finally, He shall be our tabernacle, our dwelling place!
On the Mount of Transfiguration, that was what was in Peter’s mind when he wanted to build a tabernacle for the Lord, Moses and Elijah. Peter, James and John had that word of prophecy made more sure as they became eyewitnesses of the Lord’s future glory. We who hold fast to the end shall see it one day and celebrate that feast of Tabernacles. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 29

Zechariah 13
I stood on the sidelines and watched my son’s football game. I was amazed at the coach. Troy had played five years as a professional football player. So, obviously he knew what he was doing. What has always amazed me most, though, was how these coaches almost always knew what play the other team was about to run. It certainly was true of Troy. I remember hearing him warn the defensive end and people on the nearside, “They are going to run a sweep to your side!” Sure enough they ran it to their side. Time and time throughout the game, he would warn them about the play the other team was going to run, and time and time again, they would run it. It did not seem to make much difference to our guys. They seemed to get blown away each time. How much more could a coach have prepared them? I‘m glad I wasn’t coaching. I would have been extremely frustrated.
Both Matthew and Mark record Jesus as quoting Zech 13:7 to the disciples as they walked together on the way to the Mount of Olives on the night on which He was betrayed. He always knew what was happening. He made sure that He communicated what was happening to His disciples when they needed to know what was happening. Like a coach who knew what the play of the opponent, He knew what the next step was, and He warned His disciples, “Hey guys, this is the crucifixion play we discussed. It’s going to happen now! Get ready! You’re about to be swept away.” The warning didn’t seem to sink in. They didn’t get it. They were swept away.
He does the same for us. He gives us general instruction about life and expects us to prepare accordingly. Then during the play, at the appropriate moment when we need His instruction, He gives it. He is constantly warning us. Like the disciples, we are usually too dumfounded to really get it. We get swept away and scattered. But He is a good coach. He calls us back into the huddle and His Holy Spirit begins to prepare and empower us for the next play. Sometimes He says, “Okay John, this is the crucifixion play. You need to die to self and sin and let me live in you, or you will be swept away.” What I need to do is listen and yield to Him. If I die, I live. If I insist on living, I am swept away. Now that is something to praise Him for and about. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 28

Zechariah 12
“Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens.” Dr. Ross Humphries has a book, Starlight and Time, where he deals with this oft repeated phrase of Scripture. He demonstrates how using Einstein’s theory applied to this phrase that starlight could have the appearance of billions of years old and yet only be thousands of years old. Interesting book. However, the point is that He is the Creator. All things come from Him. This Creator became flesh. He came to His own. His own did not receive Him. Not only did His own not receive Him, but they nailed Him to a tree. Yet, one day the descendants of those, who nailed Him to the tree, will look upon Him who they pierced and they will mourn. They will return to Him. He will receive them. That is His glory! Christ receives sinful men! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 27

Zechariah 11
Today’s passage is a marvelous double fulfillment prophecy of the rejection of the Messiah and the consequent destruction of the nation by Rome and then again in the day of Jacob’s trouble. Verse 4 presents God the Father speaking to God the Son as the Good Shepherd. The flock, Israel, was prepared for their slaughter because of their rejection of the Messiah. The Messiah takes two staffs. The oriental shepherd used two staffs, “one to protect the sheep from wild beasts and the other to assist the sheep in difficult and dangerous places. “ He calls them Beauty and Bonds or grace and unity respectively. It is interesting that it is grace that gives the body of Christ the gifts to build itself up to protect itself and it is unity that encourages us to propel us through difficult times and dangerous places
When Jesus presented Himself as King to the nation, He was rejected by the officials who fulfilled the roles of prophet, priest and king of that day. Perhaps that is what He meant by the reference to dismissing the three shepherds in verse 8. They rejected Him; He in turn dismissed them. So He demanded His wages. They weighed out 30 pieces of silver as they valued Him. Exodus 21:32 values a maimed servant at 30 pieces of silver. He is valued cheap, not even the value of a healthy slave. The priests who gave Judas his blood money would have been well aware of the Scriptural value which they paid Judas. It was probably an intentional insult. The command is given to throw the money to the potter. So it was thrown in the house of the Lord for the potter. The potter makes things of the earth. He was not even valued on a spiritual level. In sarcasm He calls it that “princely price.” The poor of the flock were watching. The spiritually humble, the disciples, were the ones that eventually recognized the prophetic impact of the events. One of those disciples, Matthew, clearly understood the import of the action of the chief priests and appears to quote Zechariah but attributes it to Jeremiah. The KJV Commentary has this to say about designating the source of the quote.
Some have expressed concern over the mention of Jeremiah in this passage on the basis that the quotation apparently comes from Zechariah. While there is an allusion here to Zechariah 11:12–13, the actual words do not agree with either the Hebrew or the LXX. The major difference is the addition of the word field, upon which the fulfillment claimed is based. This word, and the conception behind it, comes from Jeremiah 32:6–9, where the prophet refers to the purchase of a field for certain pieces of silver. It is obvious that Matthew’s concept of prophetic fulfillment rests upon both passages. Thus, he combines both passages into one quotation, giving credit to Jeremiah as the older and more predominant of the two prophets. Hendricksen (p. 948) draws the same conclusion, noting that a major prophet is preferred over a minor one in a similar double reference in Mark 1:2–3. There Isaiah is credited instead of Malachi (see Mal 3:1). This is certainly to be preferred to Plummer’s suggestion (p. 386) that it was a “slip of the memory.”
What an amazing thing about our Lord! He controls even the details of His death! He knew the rejection He would experience. He knew the price at which they would value Him. He did it all for us. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 26

Zechariah 10
The Lord has a fierce loyalty to His people. He will draw them back to Himself, even after they wandered like sheep, even when the appointed shepherds don’t behave as shepherds. He still cares about and calls His people back to Himself causing them to wend their way home. This is His glory. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 25

Zechariah 9
Our King has come to deliver us! He came riding upon a donkey’s colt. 550 years before it happened, Zechariah spoke of it. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day saw the obvious claim that Jesus was making as He rode into Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday. Their response? “It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” But because Jesus submitted to the Father in this, He will one day reign from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. Upon a donkey He came to die to purchase the right to reign. Upon a mighty steed He shall return to tread out the fierceness of His wrath upon the nations who refuse to repent.
Because of the blood of His covenant with us, He comes to us who are bound in the slavery of our waterless pits and lift us out of the pits. We are set free to become prisoners of hope. We have genuine hope! It was for freedom that Christ set us free. We no longer are bound by the chains of sin. We can walk now as heirs to the throne of God. We have everything we need in Christ Jesus, for as we live and die in Him He raises us to walk in newness of life! Now that is hope! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 24

Zechariah 8
I didn’t realize how blessed I was to grow up when and where I did. Born in 1955, my parents moved to Glencoe, Oklahoma in the summer of 1962. Glencoe had about 280 people in the town limits. The whole school system, first grade through 12th grade had barely 200 students. It was mostly a farming community or people who had jobs in the “big city” (lol) of Stillwater about 15 miles away. I had two guys my age that lived in the town limits. We could play in the streets in safety and often did. If we were bored with the streets, we were less than blocks away from the countryside and woods. Life was relaxed. It was an idyllic world! In the summer of 1967 we moved to Stillwater. Although I could no longer play in the street (my parents lived on a major thoroughfare), it was, none-the-less, a pleasant place for me to grow up. With all the accoutrements of a major university, OSU, it still had the feel of a small town. The main advantages were security and prosperity.
Jerusalem lost both security and prosperity when the Babylonians came. Indeed, she lost everything. Even under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua she was neither secure nor prosperous. But the Lord points to a time when she will have a King who will restore both. It will be under the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. He Himself shall reign in Jerusalem. His beauty will be so evident that people from all over the world will come there to pray and seek Him. Once again children will play in the streets. If we kneel before Him, He brings true peace and prosperity for eternity. Oh may that day come soon. This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the little bit of security and prosperity I enjoyed as a child. However, I am more thankful for the coming security and prosperity that will be when He returns! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 23

Zechariah 7
In Ezra 2:28 we learn that 223 exiles had settled Bethel (House of God). The better translation of verse 2 is, “When Sherezer came with Regem-Melech and his men from Bethel, to pray before the LORD.” These men came with a legitimate question. Jerusalem was breached and burned in the fifth month, and Gedeliah, the provisional governor was assassinated in the seventh month. Without the instruction of the Lord, they had been observing these fast days for over 76 years to commemorate these events before the Lord. Some Orthodox Jews still observe these fasts to this day. Now that they had returned and the temple was in the process of being rebuilt, was this fast necessary?
What seemed like a great idea receives a surprising answer from the Lord. Verse 5 “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me?’” Sometimes our focus leads us to make decisions that are full of zeal but misguided. Fasting can be a very empowering discipline, but the Lord is not so concerned about some of our outward disciplines as He is the attitudes of our hearts. Part of the sin that had sent the nation into exile was their attitude toward the disadvantaged in their society. The exile seems to have cured them of their blatant idolatry, but it did not change their attitude toward the poor. Fasting is supposed to demonstrate our mourning over sin, not the discipline brought to correct us of our sin. They simply didn’t get it. They were like children who mourned being spanked not mourning that they had done wrong.
The Lord’s answer was simple. He just wants us to execute true justice showing mercy and compassion to everybody. What is playing out before us is a very real example of the Lord’s parable of the unforgiving servant. It is really pretty simple. But they would not hear it. The Lord just wanted them to reflect His true justice, mercy and compassion. Is that so hard? Apparently it is because we never get it right. They walked away in disobedience. As a result, the Lord refused to hear them.
The glory of the Lord is that He wants to display His true justice, mercy and compassion through us. Is that not incredible? Should we not then be the most just, merciful and compassionate people on the face of the earth? If we are reflecting His image, we are. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 22

Zechariah 6
“Behold the Man!” I cut short the full quotation from Zechariah; however, they are the same words that Pilate used when he presented Jesus as the King of the Jews. The crowd demanded His execution. Interesting is it not that when Zechariah is using the words that he is referring to the chief priest and is placing a crown upon his head. The crown is the symbol of a king, and yet Joshua is a priest. It is interesting that the name Joshua is the Hebrew form of the Greek name, Jesus. Jesus is our priest and king. He is called the branch. As Joshua rebuilt the temple in Zechariah’s day, Jesus is rebuilding His temple now. We are being built upon Him as the chief cornerstone. He desires to sit upon His throne and rule as a priest over us. One day His rule will be supreme. He will rule from a literal throne and judge the nations. Right now He rules over His church. Let us be responsive to our priest and king! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 21

Zechariah 5
God’s imagination in His communicating to us often times amazes me. I mean, “flying scrolls,” and “women in baskets.” If this were not so serious, I would almost think that He is writing a comedy here, but God is serious here. The flying scroll speaks of the swiftness of the judgment that is coming. The contents of the scroll speak of the sin. In this case the sin is lying and theft. The woman in the basket is representative of wickedness. The basket is an ephah, the largest grain measurement of Israel. The harvest of wickedness is come and it is to be carried off to Babylon for the judgment where it will reside permanently.
I am reminded of 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” We become His when we repent and believe. The result is that we should depart from iniquity, pretty simple concept. He supplies the grace to do it. So He is glorified when it happens. Lord, keep me from lying, theft and iniquity. Let’s do it! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 20

Zechariah 4
There is no light at the end of the tunnel. When I was in seminary, the administration told us that the hardest time of the years was in the middle of the program. If you took a full load each quarter, the M.Div. program was three years long. After a year and a half, the excitement of beginning a new thing was definitely worn off. There was still no light at the end of the tunnel. It was still another year and a half or two years until the toil was finished. A lot of guys became discouraged and quit at that point. For them it was a mountain that could not even be climbed, much less moved.
Zerubbabel had been building the temple for ten years. It was a monumental task. It probably seemed that it would never end. The Lord comes alongside him to encourage him. Mountain moving is a specialty of the Lord; after all, He made them. The Lord wanted him to know that only His Spirit could accomplish such a task. 6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. 7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ” The Lord gives us the grace to complete the tasks which He gives us. Grace is the unmerited favor and ability to accomplish what God designs for us to do.
We are designed to build the temple, His church. It is a life-long task. Often times it seems as if there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Weariness can easily set in, but our Lord is mountain mover. Sometimes He is a tunnel digger, and always He is the light in the tunnel. In the toil and in the darkness, He calls out, “Grace, grace to it!” He gives us what we need. That is His glory! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 18

Zechariah 3
In this vision, Joshua the High Priest is standing before the Lord in filthy garments. Should it not have been unthinkable for a High Priest to do his mediatorial work in filthy garments? Such is the nature of sin that once we have wallowed in it awhile, we no longer are aware of its filthiness. When we do become aware, we do not have the capability of removing it from us. But the glory of the Lord is such that He will not let His people remain in their sin. But He chooses to send forth His Branch, His Stone, for the purpose of removing the iniquity of the people. Both terms are ones used of the Lord Jesus Christ to describe Him. The Branch is also used in Zech 6:12; Isa 4:2; 11:1; Jer 23:5; 33:15. The Stone is also used in Gen 49:24; Ps 118:22; Isa 28:16; Mt 21:42; Acts 4:11; I Pet 2:6. Our Jesus is a life giving branch through Whom the sap of eternal life flows, quickening us from the dead! He gives us the life and ability to live righteous lives and enjoy life more abundantly! Our Jesus is the stone which the builders rejected upon Whom we can be built as a living stone into His temple for His habitation. He is the firm foundation which brings stability and usefulness to our lives which will last for eternity and His glory.
It all begins on the day when He removes the iniquity of His people. Notice that He says that He will remove it in one day. He did! He removed it in one day at Calvary. And it is applied the day that I repent and believe!
Down at the cross where my Savior died,
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,
There to my sin was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!
Oh, precious fact, when my Savior died,
Not only sin's debt was satisfied;
Life's flowing fountain was opened wide!
Glory to His name!
--Elisha Hoffman
Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 17

Zechariah 1
It was an early April snow, very unusual for Oklahoma. The storm dumped 6-8 inches on us overnight. For northern states that have the equipment to remove snow, it would have been nothing. But for us, it is safer to just call off school for the day and let it melt. It would all be gone in a day anyway. With school out, our neighborhood decided to have a snowball fight with the guys from a near by neighborhood. I was one of the youngest in the group. I think that I was in the 7th grade. I was able to sneak up on a guy two years older than I, and I nailed him. He wasn’t about to take that from a squirt like me. So he began his revenge. I was getting hammered terribly, but then my brother, a senior in High School, saw my plight. He came to the rescue. Boy did he come to the rescue! I almost felt sorry for the guy who was pummeling me. It kind of ended the snowball fight. Now, my brother and I once in a while would have a disagreement (usually I was the aggressor), but I had never seen anger like that out of him! He was zealous for me.
The Lord says, “I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal. I am exceeding angry with the nations at ease; for I was a little angry, and they helped—but with evil intent. Therefore thus says the Lord: I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it.” The Lord was indeed a little angry with His people, Judah. He used other nations to kick them out of the land. But as His tool of disciplining His children, they had evil intent. The result? The Lord was very angry. My brother might get angry with me, but you’d better not mess with me. The Lord gets angry with the disobedience of His children, but you had better not mess with His children! That is part of His glory. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 16

Haggai 2
We drove by the house to see what it looked like. My brother and I had not been there since January 1962. It was now May 1973. Eleven years had passed. I was 6 when we moved. I had just turned 18. What in my memory had loomed as a gigantic house now appeared small and unimpressive. It probably had around 800—1,000 square feet on the first floor and less on the second floor. It did have a full unfinished basement. My memories were much larger than the reality. It was kind of disappointing.
The old men of Zerubbabel’s party wept when the foundation of the temple was laid because it did not meet up to the memory of the glory of the previous temple. They did not have the silver and gold needed to adorn this smaller one as the former one was adorned. What is the use in trying if you can’t do it well? They slipped into neutral for 18 years. God asks them, “Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?”
Do we do the same thing? Perhaps we experienced a time in the past, when we were enjoying the blessing of God in the building of His temple, the church. (See yesterday’s meditation. I am not talking about a physical building.) Something went wrong, the blessing of God seemed to be removed. The glory of the former is greater than the glory of now. Discouragement sets in. The church shifts into neutral. But God calls us to answer His questions. He instructs us to cease thinking about former glory and fix our eyes on Him and obey Him. The principle is that if we will bring our lives into line with His instruction, then He will use us to build a living temple suitable to fill with His glory. It matters not how much silver and gold we have because He owns it all. He supplies what is needed. He instructs us to, “Be strong, all you people . . .and work; for I am with you.” But it is very important to work His work, not the work of the memory of our past. It is a work that must be done in holiness for the unclean will defile the clean, but clean does not clean the unclean. Personal and corporate holiness is a requirement. So we put away the unclean and receive His cleansing. We place ourselves in a blessable position. Mark Barnard calls it a blessing point.
Many times we live in the past trying to recreate the former times. But the Lord wants to fill His temple with His glory and He wants to build it through us in new and fresh ways. For when He does it in the new way, everyone recognizes it as His work. But there are old principles that He never changes. He does not use an unclean vessel, and He chooses to use people completely consecrated to Him who want only His glory to be seen. Henry Varley, a British revivalist, once said to D.L. Moody, “Moody, the world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to him.” Years later Mood told Mr. Varley:
Those were the words sent to my soul, through you, from the Living God. As I crossed the wide Atlantic, the boards of the deck of the vessel were engraved with them, and when I reached Chicago, the very paving stones seemed marked with ‘Moody, the world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to him.’ Under the power of those words I have come back to England, and I felt that I must not let more time pass until I let you know how God had used your words to my inmost soul.
When Zerubbabel and Joshua rallied the people to repent and return to the Lord, to receive His cleansing, to once again begin the work of building the temple, they placed themselves at a blessing point. They were at a point that God wanted to bless them because He could then display His glory and not have it obscured by them. Oh Lord, help me, help us to place ourselves in a blessing point to receive Your cleansing so that we might be empowered to do the work which You have called us to do, so that You may display Your glory for the world to see! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 15

Haggai 1
“Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody care?” Maybe you recognize the lyrics from the classic rock song by Chicago. Do you know what time it is? The people of Haggai’s day didn’t. They were part of the first return to Jerusalem from their exile in Mesopotamia. About 50,000 of them had arrived about 538 B.C. under Zerubbabel’s civil leadership and Joshua’s priestly leadership. Their purpose was to rebuild the temple. They laid the foundation, became discouraged and quit. Haggai comes along about 520 B.C., about 18 years later. They were not even working on the temple. Haggai exhorts them that it is past time to finish and complete the temple, the house of God. For the Old Testament saints, it was the place where God’s glory dwelt! Instead of building the glory of the Lord they built their own houses. Their commitment to their own dwelling had become greater than their commitment to the dwelling of the Lord! It was past time to build the temple of the Lord.
Now God is not against us building houses, but He is against us making our houses more important than His house. That is exactly what they had done. As He puts it, “My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.” What a picture of the American Church! Does anyone really know what time it is? For the New Testament believer, it is not physical buildings in which the glory of Jesus dwells. His glory is found in the building of His body, the spiritual house of the Lord Jesus Christ! Peter put it this way, “4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” He is the chief cornerstone and we lay the foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, of doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Are we more committed to the building of His body, His spiritual temple, than we are to our houses?
I spend a lot of time working on my house. The average American spends 30 years of his work life working to pay for his house, not to mention the hours of upkeep. For those who do not buy, they spend hours working to pay their rent. When I come to the end of my life, will I have spent more time working on my house or the Lord’s house? Is that not an indicator of where my priorities lie? Again, God is not against us building houses, He knows that we need good shelter. Do I really know what time it is? Do I have an over emphasis on my house? Why is this an issue? It is all about where God’s glory dwells. He does not dwell primarily in my house but rather in His church. He has gifted you and me to build up His temple for His glory to dwell. Am I exercising that gift to His glory? Those gifts are interdependent upon each other. When I do not pursue the exercise of my gift, the body suffers. When I control someone else’s gift, the body suffers. Let us pursue the building up of the body in love, submitting to one another in the fear of God! Does anyone really know what time it is? It is time to glorify the Lord! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 14

Zephaniah 3
Some years ago Laura’s mother was nearing her death. She was in the ICU at the hospital. That morning I read in my quiet time Zephaniah 1-3. I was struck by the iniquity of Judah and the promised judgment of the Lord, but then the Lord shifts gears and talks about how he would bring Judah back into the land in belief. Verse 17 says, “ The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” That concept of the Lord of the Universe singing over us is really amazing to me. What tenderness, what love, what compassion is expressed in that act! I spent much time meditating on the fact that the God of the Universe would rejoice and sing over us. Later in the morning we went to visit Laura’s mother at the hospital.
As we sat there quietly next to her bed, Mrs. Mummery commented to Laura, “That is beautiful music you are singing; did John write it?”
Laura responded, “Mom, we are not singing. What do you hear?”
“Oh it is beautiful music! Did John write it?”
“Mom, tell me about the music you hear.”
“Oh it is beautiful! It is all about Jesus and God. Did John write it?”
Mrs. Mummery had never heard any of the songs I have written, nor am I aware that she knew if I had ever written a song. It was one of those rare moments where God clearly had spoken. I pulled out the Gideon Bible found in the hospital room and explained what I had read that morning and then read Zephaniah 3:17. Laura and I needed that encouragement from the Lord. Later that afternoon Mrs. Mummery stepped into eternity with the God of the Universe singing over her. Isn’t He incredible? Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 13

Zephaniah 2
Yesterday we looked at Zephaniah’s denunciation of the nation of Judah who were at fault because they were complacent concerning what they thought the Lord might do in their nation. Today the prophet turns his attention to the surrounding nations as he looks to the day of judgment of the day of the Lord. Even in the midst of announcing the coming judgment He warns them to, “Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger.” (Zephaniah, by the way, means hidden of the Lord or darkness of the Lord.) This is the glory of the Lord that we should meekly uphold justice seeking righteousness and humility. The anger of the Lord is reserved for those who do not do so. In the midst of His anger as it falls upon those around us, we can find refuge by hiding in Him. This is the glory of the Lord! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 11

Habakkuk 3
Habakkuk gets a vision of the glory of the Lord. He says that it covered the heavens and the earth was full of His praise. The first part of the vision is very disturbing. It almost describes the night we had a few nights ago when we experienced lightning, thunder, hail, torrential rain, tornados and earthquake all at once. It almost sounds like he was caught outside in it. But after experiencing the glory, he sums it all up by saying,
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.
Hmmmm. . . As fearful was His vision of the glory of the Lord, there was just something about it that made utter economic ruin and famine to become not fearful because the Lord was with him. Do I have that kind of vision of my Lord? Lord, may it ever be, and may it ever increase! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 10

Habakkuk 2
“I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected!” Can I say that? I am convinced that most of those in the USA, who name the name of Christ, cannot say that. But, can I say that? Can I daily stand in His word looking to see the glory of the Lord. Do I wait in His word looking to see what the Spirit will say to me through His word? What will I do when I am corrected? Will I bring myself into obedience with His teaching, or will my stubborn will win out insisting that I was “right” that I was “justified?” Like it or not, one day, “The earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.” When that day comes the only thing of value that will remain is that which acknowledged and submitted to the glory of the Lord. Lord enable me to crucify that flesh which wars against Your Spirit. Enable me to truly stand my watch and do what you say to me for I wish to enjoy Your glory and not fear it! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 9

Habakkuk
13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he? Obviously, Habakkuk does not mean literally that cannot see evil; otherwise, He could not judge it. Clearly, the meaning Is that God does not look upon evil with favor. Yet why does it always seem that the wicked get away with their evil? That is the point of this little book. The answer is simply, “God’s eyes are indeed too pure to behold evil.” He will eventually judge. We just have to wait and be patient. His waiting on judgment is giving us time to repent. If I think about it that way, then wow, He is really merciful, even in His justice. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 8

Nahum 3
What a contrast between the ending of Micah and the ending of Nahum! Micah ends with hope as a promise of the forgiveness of sins is extended. Nahum ends with despair:
Your injury has no healing,
Your wound is severe.
All who hear news of you
Will clap their hands over you,
For upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?
Micah was addressed to Israel and Judah. Nahum was addressed to Nineveh, Assyria. Both were accused of spiritual harlotry. God seems to frequently compare our sin to harlotry. What God values in us is that we reflect what He is like. There is such an unbreakable bond in the essence of the Godhead that if it were broken, the very universe would unravel. He created us in His image. Male and female he created us. Our marriages are to reflect that image in the oneness of our union. When we break that covenant relationship we mar part of the image of what He is like. That is one of the reasons that fornications and adulteries should be shunned among those who call upon His name. Our failure mars the image of God. It keeps people from trusting in Him.
The church is to reflect what He is like. The oneness of Him is to be reflected in us. That is why love and loyalty among the body is so crucial for the world to believe the witness that we profess. It is a witness that we are in communion with Him. Our disunity mars the image of Him. It is the result of spiritual harlotry, and it is spiritual harlotry. Our failure mars the image of God. It keeps people from trusting in Him.
Why was Israel granted repentance and Nineveh not? Part of the answer lies in the purpose and providence of God. Part of the answer lies in will of man. Nineveh chose not to repent. Israel partially remains today, and one day will occupy the land in belief. Nineveh was destroyed in 612 B.C., as prophesied by Nahum. Its destruction was so complete that for many years some scholars even questioned the existence of Nineveh. It was discovered by archeologists in 1845–1854. It is a silent testimony that those who curse Israel will be cursed. It is also a silent testimony that spiritual harlotry leads us to death both individually and corporately. God will display His glory either in love and compassion leading to life or in judgment leading to death. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 7

Nahum 2
When God becomes our enemy, our demise is certain and unavoidable. So it was with Assyria. This is part of His glory. He defeats His enemies thoroughly and certainly. I must remember that when I am tempted to think that He will not prevail. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 6

Nahum 1
What a contrast is today’s reading compared to yesterday’s final chapter of Micah. Last night as the fans were beginning to leave the football stadium after OSU’s narrow victory over Kansas State, we felt the rumbles of a 5.6 magnitude earthquake, whose epicenter was 40 miles southeast of here. Today we read:
The mountains quake before Him,
The hills melt,
And the earth heaves at His presence,
Yes, the world and all who dwell in it.
6 Who can stand before His indignation?
And who can endure the fierceness of His anger?
His fury is poured out like fire,
And the rocks are thrown down by Him.
The LORD is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust in Him.
Yes, judgment and justice are coming. But it is good to know that in the middle of it, the Lord is good. He is our stronghold in trouble. He knows when we truly trust in Him. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 5

Micah 7
I love the way Micah ends:
18 Who is a God like You,
Pardoning iniquity
And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?
He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in mercy.
19 He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.
20 You will give truth to Jacob And mercy to Abraham,
Which You have sworn to our fathers From days of old.
Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 4

Micah 6
“Each blade of grass whispered to the other, “The king of Togo Togo has two horns!” You may have heard the old African fable which was used to teach children the value of keeping secrets. When God made His covenant with Israel, He used the covenant form of the cultural day. Part of that form was to call witnesses who would be able to come back later and witness both the covenant and its violation. He called the mountains and hills to be witnesses when He made his covenant with Israel. God is calling in His witnesses. The violation of the covenant can no longer be ignored. In the court room, He asks, “How have I wearied you?”
How could we ever be weary of a God whose glory is as great as our God's glory? It is simple; we put our eyes on something that is not His glory. Oh we may think it is, but it is not. Someone I know who became a Christian as an adult said that one of the things that turns her family off toward the church is that it is “cheesy.” Why is it “cheesy?” maybe because it is that we have exchanged the glory of our Lord for a cheap imitation. Oh it has many of the right words, but the Spirit of power behind the words is not there because His glory is not preeminent.
He fills out the problem a little later on in the passage: v.8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Inwardly, they had forgotten justice. Their material possessions were more important than their obedience to the Lord in dealing with the poor, the widows and the orphan. Outwardly, they showed no mercy or pity upon the destitute. Upwardly, they thought the outward performance of the commanded sacrifices made them right before God. How had God wearied them? He hadn’t. They settled for a cheap imitation and refused to come to the true fountain of life.
It is God’s glory that He stands with arms open commanding us to return. When we put our eyes on something else, we may be fooled, but the world smells a cheap imitation immediately, and the world whispers to each other, “The church of Jesus Christ has two horns.” Lord, let me not be fooled with the imitation. Keep my heart hot to pursue Your glory! I easily forget justice and abandoned mercy. I easily become proud before You. Forgive me Lord, and let Your glory shine in me! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 3

Micah 5
Micah switches gears back to the future. In chapter 4 we began looking at the Millennium. Then he digresses back to the great battle which will usher in the Messianic kingdom where the nations that oppose the Messiah are crushed. Then in 5:1 he shifts further back to the future when Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem and finally strikes Zedekiah with a rod bringing a permanent end to the line of kings until the Messiah would appear. But He leaves Judah with hope. He catapults back to the future 582 years. Out of little Bethlehem, the birth place of David and only five miles from the temple in Jerusalem, he announces the birth of last and great ruler. Out of you Bethlehem, a little insignificant town, a town so small that it is not listed in the list of cities conquered by Joshua. Its only significance is that when the nation was on the verge of subjugation to the Philistines a young man came forth to lead the nation into victory and lead the nation to the status of a world power of the time. But that was the past. Micah takes us back to the future when the world is on the brink of being destroyed by those who follow the powers of darkness. A ruler will step forth from Bethlehem, and he will intervene.
I felt compelled to consult a commentary on this passage and came across something of great interest to me. This phrase, ”Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel,” what does it mean, “shall come forth to Me?” Listen to this from the commentary:
Willis, while maintaining the MT, offers an unusual interpretation based on parallels: “From you [a city] will come to me [a person],” meaning that the Messiah will come out of Bethlehem as an inferior king to meet Yahweh, his superior king, in order to submit himself to him. Renaud (La Formation, p. 224) objects that, among other arguments, all of Willis’s invoked parallels are located in a clear context of surrender, whereas here the context is one of victory, not surrender. Besides, none of the parallels use “l.” (to)
I suggest that they are both correct as long as we understand that the words ‘inferior’ and ‘superior’ do not refer to quality of person but to the concept of submission. The result would be that unlike other kings of Judah, the Messiah, Jesus, comes out of Bethlehem to submit Himself to the will of the Lord which results in overwhelming victory! Thus Willis is correct in terms of submission, and Renaud is correct in terms of victory. Jesus’ path to victory is through submission to the Father.
This one who submits to the Father is the One who is from everlasting. Immediately the words of Moses in Psalm 90:2, “Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” He who submits to God the Father is God, God the Son! Clearly this is one of the mysteries of the Universe! God the Son eternally submits to the will of the Father, God the Holy Spirit eternally submits to God the Son and God the Father. The love of the Son for the Father is proven by His submission to His will. The love of the Holy Spirit for the Father and the Son is proven by His submission to their will. The love of God the Father for God the Son is proven by His exaltation to His right hand, being given a name that is above all names and given as His inheritance those for whom He died. What great glory is seen in this eternal love affair, of which He has made us part!
This all sounds very cerebral, but there is a very practical side to this. Jesus’ submission is plastered throughout the New Testament. He Himself said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be serve, but serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Who was He serving? Us? Yes. The Father? Yes. He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does.” His submission was moment by moment and dependent upon the Father. His eyes were clearly fixed upon what the Father was doing.
His evening with the disciples before His crucifixion was filled with this, “So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” What was He doing? He was cleaning them. He was talking about spiritual cleansing. Jesus’ death brought the cleansing that they needed. One among them was not clean, Judas. Did Jesus wash Judas’ feet? Yep. He served the one whom He knew would betray Him. The others were clean, except. Except what? Except the dirt that had come upon them from living their daily life. Think spiritually.
How do we clean each other’s feet? Think spiritually. If cleaning each other’s feet is at all possible, it is only possible if we are in total submission to the Lord Jesus Christ and to each other. What does that look like? It looks like Jesus
Philippians 2:1-111 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Does this look anything like our church, or the church in America? Where is the submission to one another? We approach church from a consumerism mentality. Does this church meet my needs or my family’s needs? Oh, I will take this entrée from this church, this dessert from this church, this fruit from that church. But am I committed to the people of this congregation? What if this congregation does not have a menu which I like? If they do not, then I will just go to one that has the right menu. Lord forbid if someone should point out my sin! If they do, then I’ll just go to another congregation. Am lowly minded enough that if my brother points out my sin, I won’t be defensive? Will I truly consider his point? Submission to one another is a forgotten concept much less work.
Yet, this is the glory of Jesus. He submitted to the Father. He calls us to do the same and to submit to each other, and in so doing, we reflect His glory. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

November 1

Micah 3
Because the Lord is just, he has set a chain of command in place in this corrupt human race. It is the duty of the leaders of a society to protect the poor, the innocent and the righteous. When the leaders corrupt their God-given role to twist it to their advantage, the anger of the Lord is engaged. The Lord is so furious with the leaders of Israel that he uses the simile of a butcher to describe the heinousness of their works. He describes them as cannibalistic fiends. As if they were preparing for a meal feasting on those whom they were charged to protect. Were they really doing this? Only in the most perverted of cultures does this ever happen. But the Lord is attempting to give greater impact upon the foulness of their works. Yet it appears that they did not heed the Lord’s warning.
Indeed they are unaware that the Lord no longer is among them. Happy with the money that they receive for ruling, teaching or prophesying, they continue on keeping up appearances that the Lord is among them, when He is far removed. But the Lord will not allow such nonsense, especially in His household. His glory is to plow them like a field. What do you do with a field that is unfruitful at the end of the season? You plow it under and start again attempting to use the appropriate seed herbicides, pesticides, fertilizer, and irrigation in the next growing season. And so, the Lord does with His people. It is part of His glory.
Lord enable me to uproot any foreign seed in my life. Uproot any foreign seed in this congregation. Make us fit for growing the fruit which You desire. Make us a field that displays the pleasant aspects of your glory rather than the justice that brings recompense to our evil deeds! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

October 31

Micah 2
I find some aspects of the “Occupy Wall Street” movement amusing. Look at this statement from their website:
Occupy Wall Street is leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. We are using the revolutionary Arab Spring tactic to achieve our ends and encourage the use of nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants.
This #ows movement empowers real people to create real change from the bottom up. We want to see a general assembly in every backyard, on every street corner because we don't need Wall Street and we don't need politicians to build a better society
I find it amusing because by definition a leaderless movement is doomed to be led nowhere. If find it amusing because a movement being led nowhere can only in the long run be destructive, even if it uses non-violence and wants to build a better society. I find it amusing and sad that they think they can accomplish these things, and yet they leave God out of the equation. (Sounds like the American church) I find is laudable because it protests the greed and corruption of our society, but are they really any less greedy? In some senses I suspect they protest the greed only because they don’t possess what they think is wealth. I find it sad because they are expending a tremendous amount of energy for something that will accomplish nothing. How can one accomplish anything by protesting what is really a problem of the individual and corporate heart? Protests don’t change hearts. Greed can only be changed by changing the heart.
“From their children you have taken away My Glory forever.” The rulers and aristocrats of Judah and Israel had arranged things in their country to increase their own wealth. The result was the expulsion of widows and orphans from their homes. He labels that as “taking away His Glory forever.” Now that is greed. How did God handle it? He kicked the people out of the country. Only the poor remained. There comes a time when a society’s greed is great that He removes their place in the world. Now that is severe! When His glory is obscured so much that the poor children of the society can no longer have opportunity to see His glory, He removes them. I wonder if He does the same with churches?
But along with the promise to destroy the nation, He brings a promise to restore His people. This promise looks beyond the return from Babylon to the return of the King in the Millennium. The Lord will be at our head. The only way a fair society will be produced is through a leader who has only one goal in mind, the exaltation of the glory of God as He rules in justice and power. A leaderless movement will not produce it. A movement lead by a mere man will not produce it. He will produce it for His glory! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

October 28

Jonah 3
Why would anyone believe Jonah? As far as we know, they knew nothing of Jonah. There was no reason to believe him. Yet when he preached the God-given message at God’s command, they believed God—not Jonah—and brought forth the fruit of godly sorrow and repentance. If I went out preaching this message today, what would be the response? Probably nothing of value. What is the difference and why? I can only come to one conclusion. God wanted to demonstrate, for all the world to see, His willingness to receive an exceedingly wicked but repentant people. This tells me that no matter how wicked might be the audience today, if we have been commanded preach a message (and we have) then there is somebody out there that God is working in to bring repentance and belief. If they believe, it is not because of me, but it is because of God. My job is to listen to the voice of the Lord and obey. His job is to draw men and women to Himself. If God uses my preaching to bring someone to Himself, there is no glory in it for me. The only thing I can say is that He empowered me to obey! Everything else is His work. He alone receives any glory. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

October 27

Jonah 2
Yes, it easy to throw stones at Jonah, but at least when he reached the end of his rope, he repented. Boy did he reach the end of his rope! He was swallowed whole by a great fish. Seaweed was wrapped around his head. He had sunk to the bottom of the sea. His soul had fainted, and he was probably dead. But there he realized his folly. There he called upon the Lord, recalling to mind His mercy. He knows that he is about to stand in judgment before a Holy God. He chooses to not forsake the mercy that he knows is there. He chooses to come in line with what God has told him. He chooses to pay his vows. The Lord gives him one more chance and makes the fish vomit him upon the shore.
Isn’t that amazing? He willfully sinned. He refused his God given mission. Not only did he say, “No!” he ran the opposite direction! What mercy God revealed and showered upon him! He showers the same mercy upon us, but we need to be very careful. If we do not obey, there eventually comes an end to the Lord’s patience. Eventually He says, “No more!” and He takes us out of this world. That is the glory of our Lord!
But there is more than the Mercy of the Lord that is seen in this passage. There is also resurrection power that was extended to Jonah. Once Jonah had died to his own desires (refusal to preach mercy to those whom he hated), the Lord raised him up. No matter upon what beach Jonah was vomited, he still had a several hundred mile journey on foot. Can you imagine having died and spent 3 days and nights in the stomach of a great fish what kind of physical condition you would be in the natural. Man I bet he stank! But he got up and fulfilled his vow. He could only do that if he were miraculously empowered by the Lord. What grace the Lord provides His servant to perform His will! That same grace is available to us. All we need do is be willing to heed His command and step out in faith to do it. His resurrection power is available to us if we will die to ourselves. That is exactly what Paul was talking about in Galatians 2:20. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
What mercy He extends to us for not obeying! What grace He extends to us for obeying! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

October 26

Jonah 1
It is easy to throw stones at Jonah. He, as a prophet of the Lord, should have known that one cannot escape the presence of God. He, as a prophet would have read David’s 139th Psalm, “Where can I flee from your presence, O Lord?” But then, he would also know that there is the omnipresence of God and then there is the manifest presence of God. He was seeking to escape the manifest presence of God. Wow, with all the talk of seeking the manifest presence of God, here is a man who had experienced it, but wanted to flee! He knew it could cost him something, his life. Oh but it was more than his physical life that it could cost him. It included the price tag of forgiving ones whom he hated culturally. The Assyrians had brought much warfare to Israel, and eventually would destroy the country. They were a harsh people and deeply hated by Israelites. Not only would he be fraternizing with the enemy, but he would raise the eyebrows of many an Israelite. But wouldn’t all those things be worth the trouble of his life, forgiving his enemy and risking the ire of his follow Israelites, apparently not to Jonah.
Yes, it is easy to throw stones at Jonah. But am I, are we, any different? In order to experience the true manifest presence of God and His miraculous power flowing through me, am I willing to trade my life, forgive my enemy, risk being viewed by those closest to me as a traitor, fanatic or idiot? Do I choose to cling to the glory of the Lord because I understand that it is of infinite more worth than my puny life, my petty grudges or the approval of my peers? Lord, what a weak minded and willed man that I am! Deliver me such petty thoughts of You! I lay everything at Your feet for Your glory is worth it all! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

October 24

Amos 9
The little cart rumbled through the haunted ghost mine on the track while the strobe light flashed and produced a sense of terror upon the eyes and mind. New scenes of gore and horror appeared at each turn of the track. As an 8-year-old, it was indeed a terrifying experience as I rode with my friends through the twisted path. About half-way through a hand touched me on the shoulder from behind sending an adrenaline rush through my body that caused me to bolt to remove the unwanted grasp from my shoulder. But as quickly as I tried to move, the hand was gone. But the hand had produced its desired effect, a sense of terror.
The Lord reveals His terror to and upon us. His is not for the effect of an adrenaline rush, but rather that of a changed life. The terror of the Lord is indeed something that should frighten us. His terror has been observed throughout this little book of Amos. As always, His terror should lead us beyond the experience to something rewarding. The Lord calls for the destruction of the nation, the scattering of the people for the goal of an eventual restoration. He will filter the people through the other nations for the purpose of restoring His people in holiness.
Notice from this passage that His terror is inescapable. One can go to Hell or Heaven, to the mountain top or bottom of the Sea, to Rivers that produce abundance or to the nations that are influential, but one can never escape His sight. He finds us wherever we try to hide. His terror sifts us like flour through the twisted paths of life. We can attach to what is evil and remain in the sieve forever, or we can submit to His filtering process and look for restoration to come. His reward is equally inescapable.
Israel benefitted from the sieve process. The benefit was a restoration of the tabernacle of David. In the Acts 15:16-20 James refers to this tabernacle as the church through which the Gentiles would be able to come and seek the Lord. If that is the case, then Paul refers to this (Ephesians 2:11-13 and Galatians 3:26-29) as Jesus breaking down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile to place them in one body. During that journey through the sieve, those who believed in Jesus remained and were made part of the tabernacle of David, and those who did not believe experienced the true terror of the Lord.
What a difference! Through many trials and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. Therefore let us remain steadfast in clinging to and relying upon the Lord Jesus for if we do, we will receive an eternal reward. If we do not we will receive eternal terror. That is His glory, eternal joy for those who believe, eternal terror for those who do not. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

October21

Amos 6
Ever seen the movie Sabrina? There are two by that title which share the same plot. One starred Humphrey Bogart. The other starred Harrison Ford. The plot is about a chauffer’s daughter who falls in love with her father’s boss. The opulence of the boss and his brother is staggering. They are much like the passage described here in Amos 6.
Who lie on beds of ivory,
Stretch out on your couches,
Eat lambs from the flock
And calves from the midst of the stall;
5 Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments,
And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David;
6 Who drink wine from bowls,
And anoint yourselves with the best ointments,
But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
7 Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives,
And those who recline at banquets shall be removed.
Does God have a problem with us celebrating? Absolutely not, He commanded many festivals in the Old Testament. He has a problem with celebrating for the sake of indulging the flesh at the expense of the poor and as an expression of pride. Drinking wine from bowls spoke to more than just volume of wine. Bowls were used in the collection of blood from the sacrificial offering. By using similar bowls, they were placing themselves on the level of god. In their celebrations they turned justice and righteousness in to something bitter. They rejoiced over nothing. They reveled in what they thought was their strength instead of His. The Lord has a problem with that. It is His glory to destroy it.
Lord I enjoy celebrating. Enable me to celebrate Your Glory. Keep me from celebrating for the indulgence of my own flesh. Keep me from being enamored with my own strength. Enable me to bring the poor into celebrating You with me! Let us rejoice in You together! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

October 20

Amos 5
It was 1997 at the Clergy Keepers conference in Atlanta. The evening before we had sung a song that I had never heard before, All I Once Held Dear or better known as Knowing You. How my heart resonated with the words of that song which are taken from the Scripture! The next morning in the shower, I was singing it to the Lord. Then as I sang the chorus ending in, “And I love You, Lord,” the Lord spoke to me in one of the most clear ways that I have ever heard Him speak. He simply said, “And I love you too.” I melted. I fell to the shower floor under the awe of such a thought, such a communication. Often in times of struggle, I recall that experience to mind. It encourages me to keep pursuing Him. But you know, I cannot live in the past. I cannot be dependent upon that one experience.
The Lord tells Israel, “Seek Me and live; But do not seek Bethel, Nor enter Gilgal, Nor pass over to Beersheba; For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, And Bethel shall come to nothing.” Why these places? They are historic places where God had met Israel’s ancestors. It was at Behel that God met Jacob, not once but twice. It was Bethel where Jeroboam defiled the country by placing a golden calf for the country to come worship. It was at Gilgal where Israel renewed the covenant after crossing the Jordan before conquering the land. It was at Beersheba that God did at least two significant works in Abraham’s life. Beersheba was the location where, when Hagar was reduced to nothing, the Lord met her need. It was Beersheba where the Lord appeared to Isaac. It was at Beersheba where the Lord appeared again to Jacob. All of these places are rich with past experience of the Lord meeting with His people. The mere mention of them would bring to mind to the past experience of the revelation of God to the people of Israel. But they had perverted it. They worshipped the memory not the Lord in the memory.
Worship of a memory leads to perversion in our lives. Memory, even 100% accurate memory, does not change us. He changes us. When we honor just a memory, we cease to hear what He has to say about our lives right now. At least that is what happened in Israel. How did it pervert them? Past memories don’t convict us of change needed now. When we worship a memory, we cease viewing what the Lord wants done in our lives today. When we worship a memory, injustice occurs around us and we are not outraged. When we worship a memory, God blesses us with material goods meant to be shared with others, and we spend it mostly upon ourselves. When we worship a memory, even the God-ordained methods of worship become a sham and an affront to Him. When we worship a memory, it opens the door for us to bring in even other gods to use to worship Him.
Lord, empower me to worship You today. Thank you for the memories of the past powerful ways in which You have met me. Thank You for the strength those memories give me in current struggles. But Lord, I need You today! Only You can keep me from slipping down the wrong path. Only You can keep me from becoming unjust. Help Lord! I choose to receive Your grace to seek You and live!
Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

October 19

Amos 4
Have you ever considered the sarcasm of God? Sarcasm is one of the most biting of humors. It is painful, and as such, it usually gets attention. This passage reeks of it. He calls the women ‘cows of Bashan.’ Bashan was known for its rich pasture land and therefore fat cows. It is a symbol of rich opulence. How would you like to be called a cow? The rich women of Israel had reached a place of hardness of heart that they crushed the poor and needy in order to continue enjoying their drunken parties. He calls them to worship at Bethel, one of the places where Jeroboam set up the golden calves to keep people from going to the appointed place of worship. He calls them to Gilgal, the place where Israel renewed the covenant after crossing the Jordan by circumcising all of the men. He calls them to offer thank offerings using leaven, a practice forbidden by the Lord in the Law. Leaven was a symbol of sin. Yes the passage drips with sarcasm.
Yet in the biting humor, He gives reason after reason why judgment is about to fall upon them. He gave them cleanness of teeth, lack of food to eat, lack of water to drink, blight & mildew upon their crops, plague and war. The refrain for each one is, “Yet you have not returned to Me.” He desires us to return. The bad things are designed to make us think, “What have I done wrong? What must I do to return to the Lord?” Yet, they did not, hence the sarcasm. It was meant to get their attention. But now He has one thing to say, “Prepare to meet your God!” He then describes Himself
For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth— The LORD God of hosts is His name.
Wow! Man you talk about a majestic description! I wouldn’t want to meet Him when He has just shared His sarcasm concerning my absolute defiance of Him. Lord, help me to hear and heed Your warnings toward me. Do not let me experience Your warnings without repentance! You are the glorious King! You deserve all of my obedience! I need You. I need a good relationship with You! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

October 18

Amos 3
I have a friend who used to joke with me that one of God’s names was Shirley. “After all,” he said, “the Scripture says, ‘Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.’” Okay, I admit it. It is a bad pun. But it does bring an interesting point in today’s passage. Does God still operate that way? Many would say that the prophet was an Old Testament thing and does not belong to the church. O really? I guess then that they have to reinterpret many major passages of the Scripture such as Acts 11:27; 13:1; 15:32; 21:10; Roman 12:6; 1 Cor. 12-14; Eph 2:20; 4:11; 1Jn. 4:1.
The prophets of the Old Testament were often viewed as troublesome people, kind of thorny. As one king of Israel said of a famous prophet, “Can’t you find someone else? He never has anything good to say about me.” (2 Chronicles 18:7 Chaffin paraphrase.) The Old Testament prophets served in several ways. One major function was to correct the nation when they had strayed from the covenant. If the king and/or people would repent, they also would bring comfort and hope as they extended mercy in the future and for the present,. You can imagine then, if you think you’re right and you are not, along comes the prophet who publicly rebukes you, it is a very thorny situation. You really only have three choices of action: 1) repent & submit, which really is quite embarrassing; 2) ignore him and hope he goes away, which could begin to foment problems resulting in civil unrest; 3) stop him from speaking. Many chose the last option resulting in many prophets being scourged, chained, thrown in prisons, stoned, sawn in half, killed with a sword etc.
How do the prophets serve in the New Testament? Since they are given to the church, would not one of their functions be to correct when the church is going or has gone astray from the New Covenant? As such they might be viewed as troublesome people, kind of thorny, perhaps even abusive. Indeed, if the prophet operates in the flesh, he could become abusive. But if the prophet operates in the Spirit and the church repents, would not the prophet then bring comfort and hope both for the present and the future? But what happens if the message of the prophet is not received? Probably people ignore him and hope he goes away or they stop him from speaking in some way.
Does the Lord still do nothing, unless He reveals it to His servants the prophets? Why don’t we hear more from the prophets? Maybe it is because we do not listen. Maybe it is because we silence their voices. Maybe it is because we cannot distinguish between the voice of the prophet and false prophet. Maybe they are afraid to speak. I think it is still the glory of the Lord to reveal His will to the church. Since there is a gift of prophecy, one of the routes through which He reveals His will is through His prophets. It is to His glory for us to listen to the prophets. Since there are false prophets, it is to His glory to discern between the true and false prophets. It is a tough task to correct each ‘maybe’ and to discern truth and error. But if it is His glory to provide us the grace, the divine enablement to do each one, is it not worth our trust to seek Him for that enablement? When He provides that grace, will it not bring Him greater glory? Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

October 13

Joel 1
The road ahead looked like a thin cloud. As we approached it, we realized it was a cloud of grasshoppers. It was a 100+ degree August day in 1978. We were traveling east on the plains of eastern Colorado. Our ’72 Pinto had no air conditioning, and we had to roll up the windows to keep the grasshoppers from dive bombing through open windows. It lasted for miles and miles. Man it got hot inside! When the grasshopper plague finally eased up, the thought occurred to me that my radiator might be covered with smashed grasshoppers which would impede the cooling process for the engine. I pulled over. Sure enough, the radiator was covered in smashed grasshoppers. I did my best to brush the majority of them off without burning my hands. That was almost like a plague of “Biblical Proportions.”
The Locust in the Middle East have a 17 year cycle. My OT professor in seminary brought back a specimen that he had purchased in Israel. It was at least 4 inches long. They can be quite destructive at the peak of their cycle. Apparently, the peak that Joel speaks of was worse than the normal peaks. It killed everything. In an agrarian society a locust plague would be devastating. If it were nationwide, it would be crippling to the nation. The prophet calls upon the people to “Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.” Sometimes plagues, famines, droughts, economic difficulty, relational difficulty, natural disasters are just the result of living in a fallen world. Sometimes God orchestrates them to get our attention. Always God wants us to turn to Him in the midst of them. Why? So that we will learn our need of holiness before a Holy God and that we will seek Him for it.
In the midst of those times we can call upon the Lord, and if there is repentance in our hearts, He will hear us. Is it time to call a sacred assembly? Do our lives individually and corporately seem to be covered with a cloud of locust. Do the grasshoppers seem to be dive bombing through the open windows of our lives. If we roll up the windows, do we feel like we are in an oven? Maybe the Lord is shouting at us, “Repent!”
“To you, O Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the open pastures and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the open pastures.” Sounds like Oklahoma this past summer. The glory of the Lord in this is that we can call upon Him. He invites us to call upon Him. He is most amazing in his mercy! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

October 12

Hosea 14
It was a PTA meeting where all the kids came and we played outside while the adults did whatever it is that adults do in PTA meetings. I was having a blast with my friends. But all good things come to an end. My mother, who was also a teacher, was very tired, so she went on home. (We only lived a block from the school.) There were still a few families at the school who had friends my age. I wanted to stay. So I did. After a while my mother sent my older brother to tell me that it was time to come home. I was having too much fun, so I refused. As older brothers are sometimes prone to do, he tried to force me to come home. I wiggled and squirmed and managed to escape. He gave up the chase and went on home. I played for only a couple of minutes and then all of my friends were gone. The school yard isn’t so much fun alone. Now I had to deal with disobeying my mom and return home. Funny how long one block can be when you know you’ve been disobedient and you are not sure what the reception will be at the other end.
He calls us to return to Him. By the end of Hosea we find how repugnant our adulterous heart toward God is to Him. Yet even at this, He calls us to return to Him. He encourages us to say to Him, “Take away our iniquity, and receive us graciously.” If He encourages us to seek that of Him, then it must be that He is willing to do that. He encourages us to say that we will no longer say to the works of our hands, “You are our gods.” How insulting it must be to Him that we worship our own creation! Yet is it not what do so readily? Are not our jobs, our lands, our cars, yes even our families often more important than Him? Yet He calls us to return to Him. In Him we will find mercy. He will heal our backsliding. He will love us freely.
The one block was a long walk home. I wasn’t sure how I would be received. Yes, I received a strong rebuke when I arrived home, but I did find mercy. That is what we find with our Lord when we truly repent. He will love us freely. Why do we wait so long to repent? Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

October 10

Hosea 12
The cares of this life beckon to us aggressively, constantly and totally. Jacob began his pursuit to grasp after the cares of this life even in the womb. As Esau was exiting the womb first, he grasped his heel not wanting to be left behind. That single birth act not only influenced the giving of his name, but it also summarized the thrust of his life. He was constantly striving to better his situation. He was constantly struggling to get what others had, it was birthright, blessing, wife, children, cattle etc. He constantly strove for what was not his, constantly struggling for just a little bit more. What an image of most of us!
At Peniel Jacob wrestled with God. Through the tears of a dislocated hip, he finally found submission to the Lord. At Bethel Jacob met the God who was, who is and who is to come. He learned the meaning of His memorial name. He learned that all of his striving for the things which he had gained was empty. The real treasure was the relationship which he had with the LORD. Ephraim, the name given to the northern kingdom had followed down the same path as Jacob with one exception; they never really found the one who was, who is and who is to come. They replaced Him with idols as they continued to strive for just a little bit more.
Lord, You are the One who shines through eternity. Let me seek Your face now and be satisfied only with You from now and into eternity! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john