More than half a century of history is covered in this chapter. Azariah, better known as Uzziah in 2 Chronicles, reigned 52 years. The Kings record only devotes a total of 7 verses to describe those 52 years. Funny, David reigned only 40 years and he received 39 chapters; 24 were from his reign as king. Uzziah must have had a pretty stable and powerful administration to have lasted 52 years. Humanly speaking, he must have been an incredible king. Because of his longevity, the kings of Israel are dated according to his reign. Isaiah dates his call to ministry to the year that King Uzziah died (Is. 6:1). Yet, only 7 little verses. The Lord was not too impressed. When we get to 2 Chronicles, we will have more to say about Uzziah then. But for now we could sum it all up by saying, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the praise of the whole world, but lose the glory of God?” I am not in the least implying that Uzziah went to hell, but rather I am saying that Uzziah had potential to elevate the glory of God beyond compare. Instead, he chose his own glory. He lived out the tail end of his life as a leper because he was only concerned about his own rights. Sad. But am I any different? When I am given the choice of pursuing my own rights as opposed to obedience to the Lord, which do I choose? The world is filled with Uzziahs. Lord, keep me from being one. Lord, let your glory exceed, multiply and fill my life! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Psalm 122
I learned something about Israel last week that I guess I already knew, but I had just never heard that comparison before. “The modern state of Israel is about the geographic size of the panhandle of Oklahoma.” Like the panhandle, a good portion of it is dry. Hmm. . . How could such a little state be the focus so many world events? It wouldn’t seem that such a little country would matter in the affairs of the world. How many times has its capital, Jerusalem been destroyed and rebuilt? How many nations have surrounded its walls? Since David captured Jerusalem around 1000 B.C. these nations have sought to control its gates: Egypt, Ethiopia, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Syria, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, the Seleucids, Rome. That was only the first thousand years. From the time of the Muslim conquest to the present it has been the recipient of waves of conquerors, Muslim and/or so-called Christian. Why is it the site of so much upheaval? Simple, it represents everything that Satan detests—the rule and reign of God.
The Psalmist states it in a positive way in the last verse, “I will now say, ‘Peace be within you.’ Because of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.” For whatever reason, God has chosen Jerusalem to be the focus place of His redemptive plan. It would seem to me therefore that to act in aggression against Jerusalem, without the direct instruction of God, would be to act in aggression against God’s redemptive plan. Jerusalem was the place that God set to place His presence in order to redeem the human race. To act in aggression against Jerusalem without the direct instruction of God would be to act in aggression against God’s presence. Jerusalem was the place where God chose to set His name. To act in aggression against Jerusalem without the direct instruction of God would be to act in aggression against God’s Name. Jerusalem was the place where God chose to set His glory. To act in aggression against Jerusalem without the direct instruction of God would be to act in aggression against God’s glory.
For these reasons we must pray for the peace of Jerusalem, all the while realizing that true peace will never come until the Prince of Peace reigns upon His throne there. If I really understand praying for the peace of Jerusalem, my prayers go beyond physical peace. It is a prayer asking for the return of the Prince of Peace. He said that the end would not come until the Gospel of the Kingdom was preached as a witness to all nations (ethnic groups). I am convinced that praying for the peace of Jerusalem includes praying for the completion of the Great Commission. Yes, it includes praying for physical peace right now, but ultimately physical peace will never come until Jesus returns physically and comes to destroy those who destroy the earth. Then His glory will shine like the sun, and all shall see it. Then the nations will stream to Jerusalem to worship Him and bring the glory He so richly deserves. Then the nations will see and experience His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
MICAH 2
Stillwater is an interesting place to live. Because it is a University community, the economy is not quite as affected by the ups and downs of the economy. Yet, because it is a University community, unless one works for the University or one owns one’s own business, it is difficult to find a way of making a living here that pays more than subsistence living. As a result, our county is the third poorest county in Oklahoma and has a reported poverty rate that is currently around 24%. On the other hand, one would think with that kind of a poverty rate that property values and rents would be rather low. On the contrary, rents are rather high. Landlords know that there is a high demand for housing because of the student population. Consequently, affordable housing for single families who make poverty level salaries does not exist. Even two wage earners in a household where both make minimum wage do not make enough money to live comfortably in our community. It is almost as if (but I know there is not) there is a conspiracy against the working poor to keep them poor.
There is a definite trend in all cultures of all times that the people who owned the land were the people who were independent and free in relation to other humans. The rich recognize this. It was no different in Micah’s day. Listen to what he says:
Woe to those who devise iniquity, And work out evil on their beds! At morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and take them by violence, Also houses, and seize them. So they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.
Because of their wealth, they were able to work ruthlessly to obtain more land which would bring more wealth. It is the same today, hence the old saying, “It takes money to make money,” Don’t get me wrong. I am not against the wealthy, but I do sometimes wonder about the ethics of say Donald Trump when he uses bankruptcy to his advantage in the accrual of his fortune. What we see here is a systemic problem with covetousness. But the problem does not find its limitation in covetousness. In order to hide their covetousness, they desire to keep the prophets quiet, or at least in agreement with themselves. They seek to hide the fact that Yahweh is a defender of the widow and the fatherless, the most defenseless of the poor. When the rich un-righteously keep everything in control for themselves, who can intervene for the poor? Our King will do it! This is why we long for His return. He is the Good Shepherd. He will break through the walls and become a gate for His sheep. He will lead us out of the bondage for He is the gate. He is the way, the truth and the life! That is His glory, and it cannot be taken from Him! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Titus 3
Jesus is kind. What does it mean to be kind? Webster says it means to be sympathetic, friendly, gentle, benevolent, generous etc. Let us start with the first one, sympathetic. Do you ever stop to think that the One who created the Universe is sympathetic toward you? Bill Clinton is famous for the oft used line in his speeches, "I feel your pain." Whether or not it was true, it struck a very solid note with a lot of people. People want to know that someone who might have the power to do something about their situation feels their pain. If that person feels their pain, then they might be inclined to do something about it. Jesus, our Creator and Sustainer, feels our pain. That is part of why He became a man. As a human being, He felt every human emotion to its fullest extent, yet without sin. But kindness goes further than just feeling another's pain. It does something about it. It is benevolent. It is moved to bring relief to the pain.
That is why Jesus showed us mercy. Our pain was caused by that which kept us from Him, our sin. Our sin demanded justice, death. But in His kindness He took our sin and death upon Himself so that justice might not destroy us. Then He regenerated us. There is a lot of talk about stem cells. He is the original stem cell. He goes back to life without sin. He is able to regenerate a new life in us. He makes us new. He washes away our sin. The old is gone. The new is come.
We are now heirs with Him. An heir has an inheritance. What is His inheritance? It is us. What is our inheritance? It is Him. My first thought is that we got the better end of the deal. But then, remember He is the stem cell. What He is making us into is something that He puts on the level of us being His bride. He is not going to marry some ugly old maid. I tell you that the day my wife walked down the isle to marry me, she was the most beautiful woman in the world (and still is). I often tell her she is gorgeous. She usually responds that I have something wrong with my eyes, but it is okay for me to think she is gorgeous. Jesus has nothing wrong with His eyes. He has regenerated us and is renewing us day by day. When that day comes when we will be presented to Him, we will be radiant and without spot or blemish. We will be the perfect bride for the King of the universe. And it will all be because of His power. Now that is glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
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