“When will the hurting stop?” You may recognize the question from the children’s cartoon The Terrible Thunderlizards.” We are entering the narrative of David’s life where I feel like asking that question the whole time. But it comes partly from the discipline of the Lord upon David, as we discussed yesterday, and partly from his own passivity. To this point in his life, David, for the most part, has been a paragon of a man who focuses on the glory of the Lord. He has been derailed. He gazed where he should not have and now is caught in the quagmire of its consequences.
Did he not wonder about Amnon’s request? Why did he not discipline his adult son for the rape of his half-sister? Why did he not wonder about Absalom’s request to take Amnon to a party? Why did he not seek to discipline Absalom? Partly it is because of the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah to cover his sin. Partly it is because he probably felt guilty. His passivity was probably because of his guilt. How could he ever look his sons in the eye and instruct them concerning bridling their lust when he himself did not. How could he ever bring discipline upon Amnon when He himself had not received the punishment the law required? How could he ever rebuke Absalom for the revenge murder of Amnon when he himself had committed murder in order to cover his sin. I think David gave up. He became passive when he should have been active. The result? The sword strikes his household just as the Lord foretold.
Where is the glory in this? Let us fix our eyes upon the glory of the Lord. Yes, we may have blown it in the past resulting in a quagmire of consequences. But let us not increase the quagmire because of our own guilt that produces passivity. We must still forget what lies behind and press on for the upward call of the Lord Jesus. That is what honors Him, and He deserves all honor! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Here are the remains of the ancient gates of Bethsaida/Julia. The city dates back as far as the tenth century B.C. Some archeologists think that this was also the capital of Geshur where David’s wife was born and to where Absalom fled after killing Amnon. It is located on the northern shore of the Lake of Galilee east of where the Jordan River enters the sea of Galilee. Some years ago an iron age idol of a bull moon god was found in the sifting through the iron age remains of the city gate.
Psalm 78
A trite but true saying applies to this Psalm, “The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history,” (attributed to Friedrich Hegel.) Asaph says that he will open his mouth in a parable and utter a dark saying of old, and then he seems to recount the history of Israel. So what is the parable? For decades now the Biblical literacy of our young people entering Bible colleges has been dropping. Many of them are ignorant of most of the Bible Stories and can hardly trace the history of the nation of Israel. Why is that? Certainly we can place some of the blame at the feet of the organized church, and certainly we can place some of the blame at the feet of fathers who fail to do even simple things such as read the Scripture to their children.
There is a necessity of one generation proclaiming the deeds of God’s glory to another generation. How can that be done aside from consistently reading and praying God’s Word with our children in a family situation? In some sense the church has failed. Perhaps we have failed because we usurped the parental responsibility by assigning the task to be performed solely by ministries of individuals in the church, rather than coming alongside parents in challenging and equipping them to proclaim God’s glory to their children, we have farmed it out to the ‘gifted’ people. It begins with reading Scripture with our children, then praying back opportunity for the child to see that Scriptural principle happen in our lives, then as that prayer is answered, we point out the answer to our children and grandchildren. God’s glory is then revealed in our lives. It becomes caught more than taught. Why would we want to do this? So that:
They may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.In so doing we can break the cycle and actually learn from history. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Ezekiel 47
As I write, I am struggling with tooth pain. A month ago, I had a molar break. The dentist filled it. Ten days ago it began to ache. Monday I went back to the dentist. He said I had a choice. I could take an antibiotic regimen and see if that will work, or I could do a root canal. I don’t have the money for a root canal. Besides, it sounds awfully painful; I’d rather just have it pulled. I would love to have some kind of water that would just heal it. I could drink its refreshing draft and be instantly healed. One day that water will flow from the temple in Jerusalem.
Ezekiel had a vision of that day. A little water flows eastward out of the temple in Jerusalem and within a mile it is a river that cannot be swam across. The banks are lined with life giving trees. It flows into the Dead Sea and the waters are healed. Fish can now live it. To really understand the wonder of this vision one must grasp the realities of the current geography from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. The Mount of Olives crests at 2,582 feet above sea level. The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth where you can see the stars and breathe air and rests 1,388 ft. below sea level. The distance from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea is a mere 15 miles. The elevation spirals downward 3,970 ft. in only 15 miles! Since the water going into the Dead Sea has nowhere to go, it only escapes through evaporation. The result is a salinity level that prevents anything from living in it, hence the name, The Dead Sea.
At the point in the future when Ezekiel’s temple becomes reality, the Lord will work a geographic miracle. He will cause fresh healing waters to spring from the temple. The waters will multiply as they cascade down to the Dead Sea. Their healing quality cause fish and wildlife to return to the Dead Sea. The countryside from the Mount of Olives to the Dead Sea shore will once again be turned lush and green. En Gedi, which currently is a jewel on a barren backdrop, will be just one of many refreshing and healing waterfalls at the shore. While the Sea itself will become fresh, its marshes and swamp will remain salty to provide the needed salt for our consumption. The trees along the river bank will provide fruit for healing, obviously getting their healing qualities from the stream. The source of this healing is one Person, our Lord! Wish I had some of that water right now for my tooth! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
The salinity of the Dead Sea is so great that it
is almost impossible to get and keep your head
under water. But don’t get any water in your
eyes! It really burns!
Because the rapid descent of the elevation from the Mount of Olives to the Dead Sea is on the East side of the prevailing weather patterns, it gets little rainfall and is very barren.
Although there is little rainfall at the Dead Sea, En Gedi is a beautiful spring with several
waterfalls because of the rains along the ridge near Jerusalem.
2 Corinthians 10
The Lord Jesus Christ is mighty. What an understatement! Why, He pulls down strongholds. He casts down arguments. He destroys everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. He punishes disobedience. He sees beyond the outward into the heart. He knows our thoughts. One would almost expect that when we enter into His presence that we would burst with the power of His majesty. And so we might, if those were the only things true of Him. He is also meek and gentle. Meekness is patience and mildness, not having an inclination toward hot headedness. Gentleness is strength under control. He knows our frame. He knows how we are made, for it is He who made us. He knows how to correct our faults. He is able to correct our faults. He can do it gentle. He chooses to do it with our co-operation. Am I willing to listen to Him for my faults and to yield to His gentle power that will tear down the strongholds that exist in my spirit and mind. When I am, He begins to show His mighty gentle power in my life to set me free from that which binds me. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
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