This 'n That

This space is bits 'n pieces gotten from Scripture and reliable Commentaries. I hope these truths bless you as much as they bless me!   

 
I am studying ELIJAH by A.W. Pink, that gives a commentary on Elijah's life from I Kings chapters 17-19. 

The condition during Elijah's day was not unlike our own ungodly culture. Israel had not only departed from Jehovah, but were tolerating public displays of wickedness. "Never before had the favored nation sunk so low," p11.

It is interesting to note that the beginning of the down-fall was the corrupting of the priesthood. "He [Jeroboam] made shrines on the high places, and made priests from every class of people, who were not of the sons of Levi" (underline added) (I Kings 12:31).

Jeroboam "installed into the Divine service men who were never called and equipped by God!" p12. They departed from the simplicity of the Scriptures -  the way God had told them He was to be worshiped. They used their own inventions, their own means of attracting crowds. "It wasn't long before the pure worship of Jehovah vanished from the land and gross idolatry became rampant," p12. Does this sound familiar?

High School Reunion, Rutledge, TN.

Lazy

"The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway" (Proverbs 15:19 NAS).

The lazy person plants his own hedge, and then complains of its hindrance. He is always at a stand-still. Every effort is like forging his way through a hedge of thorns, where every thorn from the bush tears his flesh. Indecision, delay, and sluggishness, add to his difficulties, and paralyze his exertion; so that after a feeble struggle of conscience, with much to do, but no heart to do anything, he gives up the effort." Charles Bridges, 1846, COMMENTARY ON PROVERBS, 209.

Trials

The wonder for the Christian is not that our trials are so many, but that they are so few; not that so many of our comforts are taken, but that any are left. William Jay [1769-1853], MORNING EXERCISES, p 592.

God's Judgment

God's judgment is one truth that is almost universally denied, even by Christians. Reading the Old Testament has really helped me with this. I was reading in the book of Judges and right there in Chapter 3 God says: "And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord. . . . So the children of Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years." Judges 3:12,13 NKJ). (No doubt about it, Eglon was an evil king. He oppressed the people. God used him to judge His children because they willingly set themselves against God and would not repent of their sins).

Now how do we know the God of the OT would do this to us in these NT times? Because He says, "For I, the Lord, do not change; . . . (Malachi 3:6 NAS); "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow" (James 1:17 NAS). (underline added). His character in the OT is the same in the NT.

"God's judgment is redemptive and restorative." [I love this because I can see in my own life that God beings painful  judgments upon me. Then He redeems me. He gets me out of the mess I have made for myself. He brings me out of my rebellion by making me painfully sorry I did the wrong thing. Then He restores me. There is nothing so wonderful as being restored in a relationship, especially when we don't deserve it!] God judges his enemies in order to redeem and exalt his people. Wow! Think about it!!!!!"God saved Israel by judging Egypt. God vindicated his own Name and preserved a remnant of his people in the Old Testament, by judging Israel, when she apostatized. God punishes his enemies as they deserve, in history and beyond history in hell. He does so in anger and vengeance. He also chastens and purges his children, because 'whom a Father loves, He chastens.'"  (Morecraft, JOSHUA - Taking Possession of our Inheritance, unpublished, 33.

[Something to think about: If God does not give us spankings, chastening us, bringing judgment upon us because of our sins, then perhaps we are not Christians after all.]

There's a time for everything, right?

Scripture

Not everything in Scripture is plain, easy to understand, or clear to everyone who reads it without careful study. However, those things that are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are very clear. (Paraphrased from Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter I, paragraph VII.

What about the cities that God had the children of Israel destroy in the land of Canaan?

It was a just and righteous sentence passed upon them because of their sexual perversions, beastiality, homosexual activity, human sacrifices, prostitution, burning their children in the fire, and the worship of many false gods . . . just to name a few.

"The cities of the plain were obliterated by fire and brimstone from heaven and none escaped. "The Hebrews were appointed the executioners of the Canaanites. Fire and sword were the appointed means, and the spoil was theirs" (Morecraft, JOSHUA, 143.

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Faith in God is more than believing a truth in our heads. Faith is taking hold of truth, relying upon it and applying it in every area of our lives. Faith clings to God's truth, craving it, wanting that truth to prevail, not only in our lives but in the lives of our children and grandchildren. FAITH DOES SOMETHING ABOUT SOMETHING and doesn't wait on someone else to do it!