THE LORD SPOKE (June 7)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: II Kings 24-25

Babylonian Press - Dateline: March 16, 597
The Egyptian army has been driven out once and for all (24:7) and after a three-month siege, Jerusalem has been destroyed (24:8). King Jehoiachin has been deposed and taken prisoner (24:12) and the Temple of Jehovah ransacked (24:13). Some 10,000 inhabitants, including 7,000 elite forces and 1,000 leading citizens, have been taken captive (24:14,16). A puppet king named Mattaniah (AKA Zedekiah) was set up by Nebuchadnezzar and his generals (24:17). He is known to be weak and indecisive (Jer. 38:5,19) but it is hoped that he will support the Babylonian regime.

Babylonian Press - Dateline: July 18, 586
After further Judean rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar's second campaign (which began on January 15, 588) has finally brought Jerusalem and the Judean kingdom to its knees. Severe famine (25:3) and the breach of the city walls (25:4) led to the precipitous flight of King Zedekiah and the whole Judean army (25:4-5). After his capture near Jericho and the execution of the royal family at Riblah, Zedekiah's eyes were gouged out and he has been brought to Babylon as a captive (25:5-7).

Babylonian Press - Dateline: August 14, 586
Nebuzaradan, commander of Nebuchadnezzar's Imperial Guard, returned to Jerusalem to tear down the rest of the walls, burn the Temple, the Royal Palace, and every important building in the city (25:8-10). Large quantities of money (gold, silver, and bronze) have been added to the Babylonian Royal Treasury and innumerable objects of artistic and historical value have been placed in the Babylonian Museum (25:13-17). All the leading citizens have been executed (25:18-21), leaving only a skeleton crew of hoi polloi and an unreliable administrator named Gedaliah to continue sending tribute to the royal coffers (25:12,22-24).

Babylonian Press - Dateline: March 22, 561
It is reported that the Prophet Jeremiah, several army officers, many inhabitants of all ages, and an unknown number of leading citizens escaped to Egypt. This was the same prophet that had earlier predicted our army's success but we have heard that he has now changed his tune. Our reporters in Egypt obtained this comment from Jeremiah: Babylon will be captured.... [Persia] will attack her and lay waste her land. No one will live in it.... In those days...the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the Lord their God. They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten. (Jer. 50:2-5)

To read the full text of Jeremiah's statement, see our web site. Though we were previously informed that our destruction of Jerusalem was "in accordance with the word of the Lord" as "proclaimed [by] the prophets" (24:2) and that "the Lord was not willing to forgive" (24:4), it now seems that there was a previously binding agreement that over-rode this temporary injunction. It appears we have not yet heard the last of those Jews in Jerusalem.

Indeed!


New Testament: II Corinthians 9

Money - Part II

Again, it’s so contrary to common thinking or practice. The more you give, the more you have! “Whosoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (II Cor. 9:6). This may have been an ancient proverb but it’s not one of the many that are included in the book of Proverbs. Take a look as some of those:

• 3:9 - Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.
• 6:11 - (to the sluggard) Poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
• 10:4 - Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
• 10:22 - The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
• 11:25 - A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
• 11:28 - Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
• 13:11 - Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
• 13:22 - A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children.
• 14:31 - He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
• 15:16 - Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.
• 19:17 - He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.
• 20:21 - An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.
• 21:6 - A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
• 22:7 - The borrower is servant to the lender.
• 22:16 - He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich - both come to poverty.
• 23:4 - Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.
• 28:19 - he who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
• 29:22 - A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.

During the “laymen’s missionary movement” of 1906, one of the leaders, J. Campbell White said, “If a man is growing large in wealth, nothing but constant giving can keep him from growing small in soul.” Evidence for that is so readily available. It’s those who give most that live best.

God has promised to provide our needs but He delights in a generous soul and has promised to bless way beyond any point of need those who give freely. Just as we saw in the last chapter, it’s the heart attitude that counts:

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (II Cor. 9:7)

That certainly removes giving from any consideration of “paying a tithe”. In fact, it would probably be better to determine your giving at either 9% or 11% just to avoid any appearance of paying a debt. But why stop at 10%? Rare would be the modern American who couldn’t live quite well on 90%.

In exchange you have God’s promise to “supply and increase your store of seed and [to] enlarge the harvest of your righteousness” (II Cor. 9:10).

THE LORD SPOKE (June 6)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: II Kings 22-23

What King Josiah did:

• that which "was right in the eyes of the Lord...not turning aside" (22:2)
• initiated repairs on the Temple (22:3-7)
• responded to the Book of the Law (22:11-13)
• he repented (22:11)
• he inquired of the Lord (22:12-13)
• he took action and led others to do the same (22:13)
• listened to spiritual counsel (22:18f)
• humbled himself before the Lord (22:19)
• led from the front - he read the Book of the Covenant to the people and led them publicly to renew their commitment (23:1-3)
• cleansed the Temple and the whole kingdom of pagan worship (23:4-24)
• re-instituted Passover observance (23:21-23)
• died in the saddle (23:29)

What the priests and prophets did:

• found the Book of the Law (22:8) [How on earth did they lose it in the first place?]
• sought spiritual counsel (22:14)
• took the answer back to the king (22:20b) - not always an easy thing to do
• joined the king in public repentance and commitment to the covenant (23:2)
• were instrumental in all the king's actions to destroy pagan worship in Judah (23:4-24)

What the people did:

• listened to their leaders about "what is written in this Book" and what should be done about it (22:13)
• "pledged themselves to the covenant" (23:3)
• expressed their agreement with the king's reforms by joyfully celebrating the Passover again (23:30,32)

Did you notice? It all started because a 26-year-old leader's "heart was responsive and [he] humbled [himself] before the Lord...with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength" (22:1,3,19,25).


New Testament: II Corinthians 8

“See that you also excel in this grace of giving.” (II Cor. 8:7)

Paul refers to “overflowing joy...in rich generosity” (II Cor. 8:2) and to “the privilege of sharing” (II Cor. 8:4). Giving is a grace! It is unmerited favor that God should allow us to contribute to His work. That’s why Paul commends the Macedonian churches for their attitude toward giving: “they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing” (II Cor. 8:3).

Is that our experience today? If not, why not? Why do we find ourselves pleading for needy causes? Why do people need to be prodded and needled to give? Why is God’s work often hindered for lack of funds?

First off, maybe we need to better define what is God’s work and what are our own dreams or schemes. “God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.” If that’s true, perhaps we should conclude that a lack of funding is proof that it’s not God’s work or, at least, not His timing.

But we’re still back to the question about giving. Paul commands us to “excel in this grace of giving”. How may we do that?

• Ask God to shower His grace - this grace of giving - upon you.
• Determine to set aside a portion of your income to give to God’s work, just as outlined in I Corinthians 16:1-2. It should be proportionate, consistent, and faithful.
• Follow through on this with a plan. Determine how much you will give, to what or whom you will give, and when and how you will give it. Then work your plan.
• Learn to live on less so you can give more. Determine to increase the amount you will give.

The Bible has a lot to say about money and our attitude towards it. Paul tells Timothy that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (I Tim. 6:10). This “grace of giving” is just the opposite! It involves not clinging to money or material wealth. It is giving it away rather than keeping it. John Wesley had this to say: “When I get any money, I get rid of it as fast as I can - lest it find a way into my heart.”

There is the key! Where your heart is, there your treasure will be also - to turn the phrase of Matthew 6:21. It is ultimately a heart issue. Jesus said you must determine who/what is your master. “You cannot serve both God and money.” (Mat. 6:24).

THE LORD SPOKE (March 01)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Numbers 16-17

Déjà vu all over again! You’d think that after the events of Numbers 14 they would have learned. Maybe it was very soon afterwards and not enough people had died yet to illustrate the seriousness of God’s judgment. Maybe they thought the last ones to rebel hadn’t made their case clear enough. Maybe they really thought that this case was different.

Korah’s Rebellion involved a group of Levites and 250 “well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council” (Num. 16:2). Their claim was that Moses had “gone too far” (Num. 16:3) but when the dust settled - or better, when the ashes cooled - it soon became apparent just who had gone too far (see Moses’ words in Num. 16:7). The crux of the problem was not really a rebellion against Moses. Their rebellion was against the Lord.

Foolishly, they claimed that Moses had led them out of the real land of milk and honey and into a worthless desert (Num. 16:13-14). Moses was guilty of false advertising and wasn’t just trying to pull wool over their eyes. They accused him of wanting to gouge out their eyes (so they couldn’t see the reality around them?).

Moses saw it clearly and God put His own decisive stamp of approval on the analysis - “these men have treated the Lord with contempt” (Num. 16:30). After the earth swallowed the leaders whole, “with their households...and all their possessions” (Num. 16:32), a “fire came out from the Lord” and the other 250 were also consumed (Num. 16:35). Burned to a crisp. Just the censers were left, each on a pile of ash indicating where each one was as he fled. The metal of those censors became a permanent reminder of this horrible occasion - it was hammered out and used to overlay the altar where every Israelite went to offer his sacrifices.

At the end of the story there’s some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that, even after such a display of the wrath of God, there was still a group that grumbled against Moses and Aaron (Num. 16:41). Another 14,700 died that same day (Num. 16:49).

The good news is that not all Korah’s own children followed him in his rebellion. There were some who remained faithful to the Lord and his line “did not die out” (Num. 26:11). We’ve been blessed by them ever since! They wrote eleven of the psalms that we still read with great profit (Psalms 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 84, 85, 87, 88).


New Testament: Luke 16

What should be our attitude toward money? The Bible has much to say in response to this and Luke 16 is one place where several of these teachings are pulled together in a surprising way.

Beginning with the “parable of the shrewd manager” (Lk. 16:1-9), the Lord recommends one who uses the means at his disposal to make provision for his own future. The probable solution to the moral dilemma of this passage is that it’s very likely that the owner had grossly over-charged his debtors in the first place. This was often done to get around the prohibition of charging interest of fellow Jews. The shrewd manager probably reset the debts to their proper amounts. Be careful not to make this or any other parable “walk on all fours”. The central point, and that which Jesus commends, is: Make wise use of the resources at your disposal to provide for your future well-being.

There follows a brief section of additional teachings before the next parable. It includes the following financial tips:

1. If you are dishonest in the little things, no one will trust you with larger amounts (Lk. 16:10).
2. If you are dishonest with “unimportant things”, no one will trust you with really valuable things (Lk. 16:11).
3. If you don’t take care of someone else’s property for which you’re responsible, no one will trust you with property of your own.
4. Your priorities must be God-focused or you will place the wrong value on things (Lk. 16:13a).
5. You cannot pursue money and pursue God at the same time. They are incompatible goals (Lk. 16:13b).
6. Our own value system is upside down. The very things we usually value most are of least importance to God. In fact, He hates them (Lk. 16:15).

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the focus shifts but money is still a factor. We’re clearly told that money and luxurious comfort in this life won’t...

• keep you from dying - it won’t even buy you any extra time.
• benefit you anything after death - it won’t comfort any agony in the afterlife.
• bring your family into a relationship with God - if anything, it may serve to drive them away from trusting God as they should.

Don’t be like the Pharisees in this passage (Lk. 16:14) who loved money and sneered at Jesus’ teachings.

THE LORD SPOKE (September 6)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Proverbs 11-13

Scrooge. The very word immediately brings up mental images and not just Dickens’ character by that name. We’ve all known a stingy person somewhere and the memories leave a sour taste in the mouth like a bad burp.

“Scrooge” has become the personification of a stingy, self-centered person. The Bible has a lot to say about stinginess and even more to say about being generous. Both Testaments commend repeatedly the practice of generosity:

• Proverbs 11:25 - A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
• Proverbs 22:9 - A generous man will himself be blessed.
• Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 - Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.
• I Timothy 6:18 - Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Our generosity should begin with generosity to the Lord. How does that thought strike you? How can we be generous to the Lord? The Bible tells us:

• Proverbs 3:9-10 - Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing.
• Malachi 3:10 - “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

While “storehouse tithing” is not a NT principle for the Church, we do certainly find faithful, proportional, and generous giving commanded for today. The Lord’s promise of blessing upon the man who is generous to Him is a promise for all time. There it is again - generous to Him? How absurd. First of all, what could he ever need from us? Secondly, everything we have originates in Him so how could we possibly “give” Him anything? And yet, He desires our generosity and promises to bless us for it.

Can you believe that? God tells us to put Him to the test in this area! Again, can you believe that? Do you believe it? Prove it.


New Testament: Revelation 12

“A great and wondrous sign.” That’s how this chapter begins, in a book full of wondrous signs! We’re not left to wonder who or what this dragon represents for he is identified for us in verse nine as Satan. There are actually quite a number of names or descriptions for him in this short chapter:

• enormous red dragon (vs. 3a) - a mythological picture also used in Scripture to depict the enemies of God and Israel (Ps. 74:14; Isa. 27:1; Ezek. 29:3)
• with seven heads and ten horns (vs. 3b) - which symbolize advanced knowledge and great strength
• with seven crowns on his heads (vs. 3c) - having all the political power to go with his knowledge and strength, he constitutes a formidable enemy!
• with a following of one-third of the stars of heaven (vs. 4)
• at war with Michael and his angels (vs. 7) - this is not the first time (see Dan. 12:1; Jude 9)
• “that ancient serpent” (vs. 9a) - a direct link back to Satan in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1)
• called the devil (vs. 9b) - from the Greek, diabolos, meaning “accuser”, mentioned again in vs. 10
• called Satan (vs. 9b) - the equivalent term from Hebrew; the picture is that of the book of Job where Satan accuses us night and day before God
• leads the whole world astray (vs. 9c) - he’s had lots of practice and has a well-developed army around him

It’s a cosmic conflict but, praise be to God, “he was not strong enough” (Rev. 12:8). Our enemy is a defeated foe. The dragon is really just a lizard. He will still pursue his evil designs but ultimately he will be blocked at every turn.

Our victory is secured by none other than the Lamb. As Isaac Watts worded verse 11...

I ask them whence their victory came,
They, with united breath,
Ascribe their conquers to the Lamb;
Their triumph to His death.