Psalm 97

WEEK 3                                               Psalm 97

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Clouds and darkness surround God? This reference carries two ideas. First, this looks back to God on Mount Sinai. When God was on the mountain, it was ringed with clouds and fire, but the one thing the children of Israel couldn't do was to see inside. Second, God's ways are more often than not a mystery to us. Like a child first trying to understand where babies come from, it is a mystery, and even after it is first explained, it sounds bizarre. It is only with maturity that everything comes into clarity. Even now, it still carries a mystery. How can this person I see and know come from that process? So it is with the things of God.    

Psa 97:1-12
(1)  The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
(2)  Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
(3)  A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
(4)  His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
(5)  The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
(6)  The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
(7)  Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
(8)  Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
(9)  For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
(10)  Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
(11)  Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
(12)  Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

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Hosea 9

WEEK 3                                             Hosea 9

TUESDAY  Reflections

When we look at God referencing Gibeah, one might think of the sexual sins that were attempted and the ones that were carried out (Judges 19, 20). However, the sin of Gibeah wasn't just those actions. The greater sin was when the people of Benjamin defended the people who committed the crime. One might say the greater issue was defending the criminals and not the victims. Throughout scripture, God criticizes those who defend the wrongdoer and abuse the innocent. 

 

The reference to Gibeah isn't just a reference to their sin but to everything that followed. Once all was said and done, all but 600 men of the tribe of Benjamin were wiped out. They were nearly destroyed not just due to the war but also due to the loss of available women for the men to take as wives. This was a picture God was giving to Israel. God was using this word picture to tell them again that they were facing near annihilation as a nation.

Hos 9:1-17
(1)  Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.
(2)  The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.
(3)  They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.
(4)  They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.
(5)  What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?
(6)  For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.
(7)  The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
(8)  The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.
(9)  They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.
(10)  I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.
(11)  As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.
(12)  Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
(13)  Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.
(14)  Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
(15)  All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.
(16)  Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.
(17)  My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

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2 Kings 12

WEEK  3                                          2 Kings 12

MONDAY  Reflections

It is great when we have good influences in our lives. The scriptures talk about surrounding ourselves with counselors and good friends. However, when the reason we do what is right is only because of their influence, we are in trouble. Jehoash (Joash) did what was right in the sight of God only when he had the influence of Jehoiada the priest. His heart wasn't truly turned toward God.

 

For me, it is sad when a parent or grandparent dies, and the family quits going to church or living godly altogether. When I see this, I am reminded of Joash. These people came to church and seemed to serve God, but their hearts truly weren't committed to God. Yes, someone who attended church with their spouse or a family member might find it difficult to return for a while because of the pain associated with the memories. If they quit completely, it is more likely their hearts weren't committed to God. They were only dedicated to a person and not the person of Jesus Christ. 

2Ki 12:1-21
(1)  In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.
(2)  And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
(3)  But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
(4)  And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD,
(5)  Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.
(6)  But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.
(7)  Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.
(8)  And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.
(9)  But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.
(10)  And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD.
(11)  And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD,
(12)  And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.
(13)  Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD:
(14)  But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD.
(15)  Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.
(16)  The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'.
(17)  Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.
(18)  And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
(19)  And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
(20)  And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.

(21)  For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

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Ezekiel 8

WEEK 2                                             Ezekiel 8

SATURDAY  Reflections

Of course, if one doesn't believe God can take people by the spirit to other places, then this chapter is just Ezekiel speculating on what he thinks is happening in Jerusalem.  However, since I believe God can do the impossible, I believe Ezekiel is given a glimpse into what is happening back in Jerusalem, in the very place God is to be worshipped.

 

There isn't just one form of idolatry taking place in God's holy temple, but multitudes. God is asking Ezekiel, do you see this? Ezekiel does, but the real question is, do you really understand how abominable these actions are? These things aren't taking place in the community or in a secret place, but in God's house.

 

How bad is this? It reminds me of a story I was told. My grandfather brought home a woman while my grandmother was pregnant and bedfast. They walked right in front of her, and he let her know what was going on. She was unable to move while hearing her husband commit adultery in their bedroom. I'm so glad I knew grandpa after he changed his ways because what he did was inexcusable. This story sickens me, but this is exactly what was happening, not once, but regularly in God's temple. God can forgive, as my grandmother, with God's help, forgave my grandfather.

Ezekiel 8:1-18
(1)  And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.
(2)  Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.
(3)  And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.
(4)  And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
(5)  Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
(6)  He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
(7)  And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.
(8)  Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.
(9)  And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.
(10)  So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.
(11)  And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
(12)  Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
(13)  He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
(14)  Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
(15)  Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
(16)  And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
(17)  Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
(18)  Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.

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Hosea 8

WEEK  2                                            Hosea 8

FRIDAY  Reflections

"They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind" (Hosea 8:7).

 

Often, the consequence of sin and wrongdoing seems greater than the original action. We may claim it isn't fair, but it is the way of life. We might not like it, but pointing a finger at God and saying it isn't right is like complaining because you don't like gravity. This may seem wrong, but when considered in life, when one sows one seed a person gets back more than he sowed. It is the law of the harvest and when applied to doing and living right it is a wonderful thing. However, when vanity/evil/selfishness are sown, the harvest is just as unpleasant.

 

The lesson to learn is what is sown grows, so sow good.

 

You can sow wild oats and then pray for a crop failure. 

Hos 8:1-14
(1)  Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.
(2)  Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.
(3)  Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.
(4)  They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
(5)  Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?
(6)  For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
(7)  For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.
(8)  Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
(9)  For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
(10)  Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.
(11)  Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.
(12)  I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.
(13)  They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.

(14)  For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

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