Sometimes drought comes. 2011 and 2012 set new records for not enough rainfall in Oklahoma. We actually had less rain fall for a two year period than any other two year period in recorded Oklahoma history, including the Dust Bowl years. In one of those years we were declared the hottest state in the nation according to the National Weather Service. 117 degrees is hot no matter what the humidity is. Our ponds dried up. A few lakes dried up. There was a picture in the daily Oklahoman of boats sitting on dry lake bed at Lake Hefner in OKC. Wild fires sparked by the dry conditions were very common. We were beginning to get desperate. Churches even began praying in the public services for physical rain. I know ours did. In January and February we asked for good long gentle rains. God gave them. But the gentle rains were not filling up the ponds. So we asked for ‘toad stranglers’. They came, and the tornados came with them. But were we as desperate for spiritual rain as we were for physical rain?
A spiritual drought brings dryness for seeing the glory of the Lord. In those seasons the word of the Lord is rare, even among those who name His name. In general, Amaziah did what was right in the sight of the Lord, yet he did not remove the high places that the people had built. His whole reign seems to be void of any occurrence of the glory of the Lord. Why? Perhaps because even though he did right in the sight of the Lord, he was still focused on his own glory. He probably did not stand up to the people to remove the high places because he was afraid how he would be seen by his own people. After some success in defeating the people of Edom, he thought himself strong enough to defeat Israel. Why would he even desire to defeat Israel? He wanted more glory for himself. Was the drought for the glory of the Lord result of Amaziah’s desire for glory for himself? Or, was the desire for glory for himself the result of the drought of the glory of the Lord? Or, were they both intertwined in a vicious tightening cycle that spiraled Amaziah down to defeat? Honestly, I am not sure that I can accurately separate them to clearly delineate cause and effect. But this I know, “At anytime Amaziah could have broken out of the cycle if He wanted it bad enough. Do I want it bad enough? Do I really want to see the glory of God? Or, do I just want to be comfortable. Do I really want to see the glory of God, or do I just want to my own glory to be seen? Oh God help me come to the end of myself before I spiral into defeat! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Psalm 121
At the beginning of the Civil War, the Native Americans who had been displaced to Oklahoma began to discuss among themselves as to which side they should align themselves. Many of them wanted to be aligned with the southern Confederacy. Many others felt that it was a white man’s war, and they should just stay out of it. It began to appear that a majority would side with the South. Many felt that it would not go well with them if they sided with the south or if they sought to remain in Oklahoma among those who desired the break-up of the union. They gathered their possessions and relatives and followed the Creek leader, Opothle Yahola. They had had some communications with the Union, asking that the Union honor the treaties by giving them protection from those who would attack them. But the Union was spread too thin, and it would not send the needed support until years later. Opothle Yahola sought to move his band of loyalists to an area where they could live peacefully. Col. Douglas Cooper of Texas took about 1400 men to bring Yahola’s band under submission or to drive them from the area. On November 19, 1861 He caught up with them probably near what is now called the twin mounds, east of Stillwater, near the intersection of SH51 & SH18. While the Southern cavalry was driven back, Yahola knew that his band could not stay. They broke camp during the night and fled. Eventually Cooper drove the group of men, women and children into Kansas.
When Yahola’s group finally reached the military fort in Kansas, it was in the middle of a blizzard. The military was either unable or unwilling to help them. That winter many died from exposure. They had looked to the U.S. Government for help, but they did not receive it. It was another fine example of the U.S. reneging on one of its treaties with Native Americans.*
When the Psalmist needed help, to where did he look? If he needed to be kept from harm, or preserved from spoiling, to where would he look? The old Jebusite city of Jerusalem was built on an outcrop of rock south of Mount Moriah. The site was picked because of its steep inclination. It was perfect for lining the top with walls. An invader would be forced to scale a steep hill or cliff before scaling the city walls. The only way that David was able to conquer the city was through sneaking through the water tunnel to gain access to the city. From the old city, one had to look up to Mount Moriah. It was there that Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac. It was there that David bought the field from Araunah the Jebusite and offered the sacrifice that stayed the hand of the Death Angel. It was there that Solomon built the first temple. Just outside of the city gates, northwest of the temple, Jesus was crucified, buried and rose again. Where does the Psalmist look for help? From the old city of Jerusalem, he had to look up to the hills, to Mount Moriah. It stands for eternity as the place of God’s sacrifice in order to deal with our sin.
When I need help, to where do I look? I look to the cross. The government will fail me as it did Yahola. The church will sometimes fail me. My family will sometimes fail me. Even I will fail me, but Jesus never fails. He will preserve my soul, and that is only one of the things that are glorious about Him! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
*THE SITE OF THE BATTLE OF ROUND MOUNTAIN, 1861, By Angie Debo http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v027/v027p187.pdf
MICAH 1
“Don’t make me come in there!” Perhaps you have heard your parents say that to you, or perhaps you have said it to your children. We or they were doing something that was really offensive. The threat is real in order to get the child to change his behavior. On occasion the behavior did not change, and the parent was forced to intervene. When the parent did arrive, oh my, the judgment fell.
Is God a god of judgment? It certainly is politically incorrect to take that position in our culture right now. What then are we to make of this passage in Micah? Israel has reached the height of her adulterous idolatry. In fact in Micah’s lifetime, Israel will be destroyed as a nation and Judah will be severely threatened. Does the One who created the un-counted galaxies each populated by un-counted stars really care what happens in this one little Earth? Is our idolatry really all that significant to Him? Look how Micah portrays Him!
3 For behold, the LORD is coming out of His place;
He will come down
And tread on the high places of the earth.
4 The mountains will melt under Him,
And the valleys will split
Like wax before the fire,
Like waters poured down a steep place.
He is upset-enough to leave His place, come down and invade our place. Why? What is so upsetting about what is going on here? It is in the special creation that He has made us. We, as humans, bear His image. Were it not for His image, He would not care. We marred that image. He raised up the nations of Israel and Judah to be the people among all the peoples of the earth through whom would come the Anointed One who would restore His image. Those people Israel and Judah were mixing His image with pagan images which detracted from what He is like. We must be clear on one thing, “What is God like?” Instead of clarifying the issue, Israel and Judah were greatly obscuring the problem and leading the rest of the world away from His true image. He wants His children to reflect what He is really like. He has warned them for generations before, “Don’t make me come down there!” Their obstinacy is irremediable. Down He comes for judgment. I submit to you that that is glory. To be otherwise is spineless. His judgment is hot! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Titus 2
The glory of Jesus has appeared to all men. Now, that is a bold statement! Indeed it has appeared. God's grace was revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ when He became flesh and went to the cross and rose again on the third day. That historical event is available to be seen by all who would desire to see it. I can already hear the objection of some who might say, "What about those people who live in lands where the gospel is not allowed to be preached?" My reply is that even there the grace of God has appeared, especially to those who would see it.
I am reminded of an article in a recent A Life issue. The article was written by a worker in country which does not allow the gospel to be preached. At the end of their language training in the country, his language teacher told him, "About 4 months before you came to our country, I had a dream that a man approached me with a sword and offered it to me. You were that man in my dream. What was the sword that you were offering to me?" The worker was able to present a Bible to the language teacher and say, "This is the sword that I offered you in the dream. It is the word of God." You see, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ has appeared to all men. It is available to all through the reading of His word.
It is also available for all to see in us when we receive that grace and let it do its work of teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldliness and to live holy lives. His grace has appeared it is seen in His word and in our lives. His glory is visible! One day Jesus will appear visibly to all. For those who have received His grace it will be a glorious day because we will see Him in His fullness. For those who have not received His grace, it will be a glorious day because they will see Him as the great coming judge. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
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