Jehu (Part 2) – 4.14.09

Reading through the books of the kings (1 Samuel – 2 Chronicles) can get confusing from time to time, trying to keep up with the different names and which king is ruling over which kingdom and so on (at one point a guy named Jehoram was reigning over Judah while another guy named Jehoram was reigning over Israel – see 2 Kings 1:17; 2 Kings 8:16), but if you can do your best to keep all that straight, it really is some enjoyable reading.

Let me briefly summarize what we find in 2 Kings 9-10 regarding the life and reign of Jehu as king over Israel, then make a couple quick observations.

In 2 Kings 9:1-13 Elisha sends one of the children of the prophets to Ramoth-gilead to anoint Jehu as king over Israel. The young man does so and prophecies that Jehu would smite the house of Ahab, thus avenging the blood of the prophets and servants of God that Jezebel had slain.

2 Kings 9:14-37 records how Jehu carried out God's death sentence on Joram, king of Israel, and his cousin (1 Kings 16:28; 2 Kings 8:16; 2 Kings 8:26) Ahaziah, king of Judah, as well as Ahab's infamous wife Jezebel, in Jezreel.

In 2 Kings 10:1-14, Jehu continues his campaign, killing the 70 sons of Ahab and 42 brethren of Ahaziah. 2 Kings 10:28 wraps up and summarizes the next section (described in Jehu Part 1), Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

If only the account ended there. But it doesn't. The rest of Jehu's life is wrapped up in these 3 sad verses.

2 Kings 10:29-31 Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

Jehu demonstrated zeal (2 Kings 10:16) and obedience in completing a task that God had given him to do, and God blessed him for it. Three of his sons sat on the throne as king of Israel.

But he sold himself short on God's blessings by only partially devoting himself to the word of God. Jehoahaz, Jehoash, and Jereboam all followed in the false worship of their father, and the entire nation suffered for it. How things could've turned out differently for Jehu and for the nation had he gone after God's will with all his heart.

Recently, I picked up a little book I've read a couple times through in the past entitled Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray. Every Christian ought to read that book. God deserves nothing less from each of us. And if God tells the truth, then our lives and the lives of those around us will only be better for it.

Jehu (Part 1) – 4.11.09

If you're familiar with your Bible and know anything about a king in Israel's history by the name of Jehu, you probably recognize him as the man who was used by God to bring down His judgment on the house of Ahab (that, or the fact that "he driveth furiously" – a characteristic it seems many preachers seek to emulate). If you're not familiar with the story, 2 Kings 9-10 make for some interesting reading.

But our thought for today comes from 2 Kings 10. What you might not remember about Jehu was what he did to exterminate Baal worship in Israel. Under the threat of death, he called all the worshippers of Baal to a special service. Then went the sacrifices and offerings got underway and Jehu was sure there were no true servants of the Lord in the house of worship, he sent in 80 guards to kill all who were participating in the festivities. Then they brought out, broke down, and burnt up the images and idols and the house of Baal itself.

But here's what caught my eye as I read this passage. 2 Kings 10:22 And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments.

I looked up that word "vestments." Here's a summary from Wikipedia (which was consistent with other sites I glanced at): Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religions, especially the Latin Rite and other Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutheran Churches. Many other groups also make use of vestments, but this was a point of controversy in the Protestant Reformation and sometimes since - notably during the Ritualist controversies in England in the 19th century.

In the Bible, vestments are associated with the worship of Baal (it's the only time the word shows up). And in today's culture, vestments are associated with the Roman Catholic religion. Imagine that!

Now, in case that's shocking to you, let me explain something about the Roman Catholic Church and its missionary philosophy. It was set up by an emperor by the name of Constantine based on anything but the Bible and its method of "converting" the heathen throughout history has been to adopt the gods and religious practices of those heathen into its worship by giving them "Christian" names.

Just remember that as you hunt for your eggs and sort through your baskets and eat your chocolate bunnies tomorrow. None of that has anything to do with the resurrection of our precious Savior. It has to do with the worship of Ishtar (aka Ashtoreth), the pagan goddess of fertility. And the fact that the Roman Catholic church or any other church calls it "Christian" certainly doesn't make it so.

Happy holy-days!

Like Passions – 4.7.09

The book of 2 Kings opens with the story of a man named Ahaziah. He was the son of Ahab, the most wicked king in all of Israel's history. One day Ahaziah took a fall from his upper chamber and was laid up in his bed. So he sent messengers to enquire of Beelzebub the god of Ekron and find out if he had any chance of recovery.

While the messengers are on the way, God sends His prophet Elijah to meet them and send them back to tell the king he was a dead man. So Elijah carries out the task God gives him.

When the king received the message and found out who it came from, he sent a captain and 50 of his soldiers to bring Elijah before him. Elijah is sitting on the top of a hill and instead of complying with the captain's request, he replies, "If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty." And that's exactly what happened – 51 crispy critters at the foot of the hill.

So what does the king do? He sends another captain with another 50 soldiers to go and fetch the prophet. And the scene repeats itself – now 102 crispy critters at the foot of that hill.

So the third captain sent with 50 soldiers by the king to Elijah takes a more humble approach. Instead of simply relaying the king's demand, this guy falls on his knees and pleas for his life at the bottom of the hill.

Then the Bible says in 2 Kings 1:15 And the angel of the Lord said unto Elijah, Go down with him: BE NOT AFRAID OF HIM. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.

Now that's encouraging to me, and here's why. I get the implication that the whole calling down fire from heaven thing was motivated more by Elijah's fear than it was by his great courage. Think about it. The message that God had Elijah deliver didn't make him a popular guy with the king of Israel, who was by no means a God-fearing man, and it's pretty obvious that the soldiers weren't sent to pick up Elijah so he could have dinner with the king and chat.

So when this third company comes, God tells Elijah not to be afraid but to go with him. Elijah goes before the king and delivers the same message in his presence (v. 16) that he had given to his messengers earlier (vv. 3-4). And it came to pass.

James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are…

You would think that the great prophet of God who could call down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18; 2 Kings 1) and who took a fiery chariot ride into heaven (2 Kings 2) wouldn't have had to deal with things like fear and discouragement. But he did.

So don't be surprised and DON'T QUIT when those type things come your way. Just gird up your loins like a man (Job 40:7)…encourage yourself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6)…play the man for your God (2 Samuel 10:12)…quit you like men (1 Corinthians 16:13) and go on in faithful obedience to the God who has called us to declare His message to the world. Amen!

Beneficial Displeasure – 3.31.09

1 Kings 1:6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

The above statement is made regarding a man by the name of Adonijah – a son of David who got ambitious as his father drew near to death and made an attempt to claim the throne (Solomon was the rightful heir). And what a sad statement it is.

Reminds me of a man named Eli. He was a high priest in Israel not long before the days of King David, and he was father to two wicked sons by the name of Hophni and Phinehas. The Bible says they were sons of Belial. According to 1 Samuel 3:13 God told him that He would judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

With that in mind, I've just got a quick thought for today. I want to thank God for parents who weren't afraid of displeasing me. I want to thank God for a mom and dad who restrained me – whether I liked it or not – instead of letting me do my own thing and make myself vile. Praise the Lord I was brought up in a home where my parents didn't "love" me so much that they failed to chasten me while there was still hope (Proverbs 19:18). I'm so glad that the way my parents raised me didn't give me the idea that God's love meant that He would not judge my sin.

There were definitely many times when I despised and resented the rules, the restrictions, the standards, what I perceived as missed opportunities, and blamed my parents for what I looked at as a deprived adolescent-hood (no, I didn't just make up that word). But today I regret the grief and the gray hairs I'm sure I caused and thank God for all the things I was deprived of.

So parents hang in there. And young people, realize that one day you'll thank God for the things your parents do that make you roll your eyes or grit your teeth – and the sooner the better.

Samuel’s Sermon II – 3.27.09

1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Some further thoughts on Samuel's sermon. Reasons I ought to sell out to God:

• Everything I have comes from Him (Acts 17:28; 1 Timothy 6:17; James 1:17; Psalm 145:16). I'm simply a steward of the blessings He's bestowed upon me.
  

• Jesus Christ gave His all for me (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 4:14-15). He left the glories of heaven to spend 33½ years walking this sin-cursed earth then laid down His life willingly on a cross – not for His sin (He had none) but for mine. Why? Because He loved me and wanted to forgive me and allow me to enjoy eternity with Him in heaven.
  

• He richly rewards those who follow Him – both in this life and the next (1 Timothy 4:8; 1 Corinthians 9:24-25; 2 Corinthians 2:9-10; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
  

• All else is vanity – empty, meaningless (Ecclesiastes 1:14; Mark 8:36; Isaiah 40:6-8; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15). The devil's a liar and a destroyer. What he offers just doesn't last long, and it'll hurt you in the end (Hebrews 11:25; 1 Peter 5:8).
  

• He's a lot smarter than I am (Job 36:4, 17; Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 55:8-9). He knows and wants what's best for me (2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 18:30; Matthew 6:8; Hebrews 4:14-16). I'd be best off following Him (Proverbs 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:11).
  

• There's a world full of people – including your friends, your relatives, people you care about – who are lost and dying and going to hell (Psalm 9:17; Luke 13:3; John 3:18-19; 2 Peter 3:9). Somebody has to warn them (Ecclesiastes 3:17; Amos 4:12; Mark 16:15; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Colossians 1:28)!
  

What's holding YOU back?

A Good Question – 3.24.09

Been thinking about a good question that was raised a couple weeks ago as our Sunday school class studied the account in Luke 7 of a woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her hair and her tears and anointed His feet with precious ointment. Below is a summary of the account in each of the 4 gospels.

MATTHEW 26:1-16

• Two days prior to Passover
• In Bethany at the house of Simon the leper
• In the house of Simon the leper
• A woman with an alabaster box of very precious ointment pours it on His head
• The disciples' indignation because much money could've been given to the poor
• Judas agrees to sell the Lord and begins seeking opportunity to betray Him

MARK 14:1-11

• Two days prior to the Passover feast
• In Bethany at Simon's house
• A woman with an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard brake the box and poured the ointment on Jesus' head
• Some had indignation at what they perceived to be a waste
  
• Judas agrees to betray Jesus and begins seeking a convenient time to do so

LUKE 7:36-8:3

• Simon the Pharisee invites Jesus to supper
• A woman in the city, a sinner, brought an alabaster box of ointment
• She stood behind Jesus weeping then washed his feet with her tears and did wipe them with the hairs of her head
• Kissed His feet then anointed His feet with ointment
• Simon offended that Jesus allows a sinner to touch Him
• Jesus tells the story about the two debtors
• Jesus forgives the woman's sins
• Jesus goes throughout every city and village preaching, followed by Mary Magdalene

JOHN 12:1-20

• In Bethany they made him a supper and Martha served
• Mary (of Bethany) took a pound of ointment, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped His feet with her hair
• Judas (Simon's son) is indignant not because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief
• Jews came to see not only Jesus but Lazarus, the man He raised from the dead
• Triumphal entry the next day
• Greeks are present to worship at the feast
• Chapters 13-17 in the upper room on the eve of Jesus' crucifixion

The timeframe, the location, and many of the details line up in the Matthew, Mark, and John accounts. The main difference would be – as was pointed out in class – that in Matthew the ointment is poured on Jesus' head and in John His feet are anointed. While both could definitely be true of the same event, it is instructive to recognize why Matthew would choose to record the anointing of Jesus' head (his gospel shows Jesus as King of the Jews) and why John would write of Mary's anointing Jesus' feet (his gospel shows Jesus as the Son of God – deserving of worship).

It seems to me, however, that what we read in Luke is, in fact, a separate account. Remember that Luke – like Mark and unlike Matthew and John – is written chronologically (Luke 1:1-4). And though Jesus is at the house of the same man, and a woman anoints Him with precious ointment, the events recorded fall far prior to 2 days before the Passover. You will also notice that Judas' indignation at the "waste" and his agreement to betray the Lord are missing. Rather the indignation is on the part of Simon (probably Judas' father) and is due to the fact that Jesus allowed a sinner to handle Him in such a manner. Also, only Luke mentions the tears of the woman, which were used to wash Jesus' feet. In John, the ointment is what Mary wipes with her hair.

While John makes it clear that the woman in the Matthew and Mark accounts is Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, the identity of the sinner woman in Luke 7 is unclear. Many have linked this woman with the Mary Magdalene mentioned in 8:2, but with no conclusive evidence to support the claim, we can only consider it an interesting possibility.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Bible Rejecters – 3.20.09

1 Samuel 15:22-23 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

You know the background. Saul is commanded by God to completely destroy the Amalekites. But when Samuel pays a visit, he finds that the best of the sheep and oxen – as well as King Agag – have been spared. Saul tries to excuse his incomplete obedience by saying that the sheep and oxen were kept so they could be sacrificed to the Lord.

Of course, Samuel responds in verse 22 with the famous statement, to obey is better than sacrifice. In verse 23, he equates rebellion and stubbornness with witchcraft and idolatry.

But what jumped out at me last time I read this passage was what Samuel equated Saul's partial obedience with – thou hast rejected the word of the Lord.

Now, I assume that the great majority of those who read this believe strongly that the Bible is the word of God and would quickly contend with anybody who would deny it – and rightly so. But the question we have to be careful to ask ourselves is this: Is that something we say we believe, or is that something we really believe?

You see, if we really believe the Bible is the word of Almighty God, and we really believe that He is Who He says He is – all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful – then we'll obey what He says. Simple as that.

But ignoring the clear commandments and principles we find in scripture (BOTH what we ought to do be doing and what we ought not be doing) says to God that we just really don't think He knows what He's talking about.

Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie… Most of us would never dream of using a version that deletes some 64,000 words (like the NIV). We might even go so far as to label those who would defend such a (per)version of the scriptures a Bible rejecter, and I'm not saying we shouldn't. What I'm saying is that we need to be mindful of the fact that God views our incomplete obedience much the same way.

Are YOU a Bible rejecter?