Lame Excuses

Since the dawn of time man has proclaimed lame excuses for his downfalls and sin against God. Adam blamed the woman God had given him for causing him to sin by eating the forbidden fruit. Eve blamed the serpent for tricking her into being the first to partake of the fruit (Genesis 3:1-13). Moses’ brother, Aaron, blamed the fire for producing the golden calf idol when Moses’ return from Mt. Sinai seemed to be delayed (Exodus 32:1-24). Even King Saul had his share of lame excuses in attempting to blame others for his disobedience.

As King Saul’s patience waned in waiting for Samuel’s arrival in Gilgal, Saul went ahead and took it upon himself to offer the burnt offering for God’s blessing and protection before going into battle against the Philistines, something only a priest could do. Upon Samuel’s arrival as the giving of the offering concluded, Samuel asked Saul, “What hast thou done?” Saul’s defense in disobeying God’s explicit command clearly given in His Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai were numerous: 1) The people were scattered from me;  2) You didn’t come at the appointed time;  3) the Philistines are gathering against me; and, the lamest of all,  4) “I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.” (1 Samuel 10:8; 13:8-12)

Saul’s lame excuse concerning the burnt offering did not prove to be his last, for on the occasion of battling the Amalekites for which he was commanded to destroy both life and property for their coming against the Children of Israel in the wilderness, Saul returned from battle with “the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good.” He had also spared the life of their king, Agag, whom he had taken as prisoner. Saul’s lame excuse to Samuel this time was “But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.” It is then Samuel replied, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.”

For Saul’s lame excuses and continuing disobedience, God’s judgment was rendered against him. Samuel’s pronouncement from God against Saul was “Because thou hast rejected the Word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king.” It was then Samuel was sent to the sons of Jesse to anoint David the next king of Israel. (I Samuel 15; 16:1-16)

O Give Thanks Unto The LORD

O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;  And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

Oh that men would Praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;  Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore He brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

Oh that men would Praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

For He hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saveth them out of their distresses. He sent His word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Oh that men would Praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of Thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing. They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so He bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Oh that men would Praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders. He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. And there He maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;  And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. Yet setteth He the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Psalm 107

The Salvation of Isaiah

It was in the year King Uzziah died in the land of Judah about 760 B.C. that the Prophet Isaiah saw the Lord seated on His Throne high and lifted up in Heaven. As Isaiah beheld the glorious scene he immediately became aware of his own sinful wretched condition and his shame. Even the heavenly beings present above the Throne covered themselves with their wings from head to foot in reverence and awe of the Holy One who sat upon the Throne.

As Isaiah witnessed the Lord’s royal train “filled the temple… and the house was filled with smoke,” the seraphim cried, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts” in adoration of Him Who sat upon the Throne. Isaiah realized standing in the presence of Almighty God just how sinful he truly was, proclaiming, “Woe is me! for I am undone.” He knew he was not worthy to join in the heavenly chorus of praise because of such wickedness in his being. Isaiah confessed he was a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, “for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

At Isaiah’s confession of his sin one of the seraphim used tongs to pick up a burning coal from off the altar of sacrifice and laid the hot ember upon Isaiah’s mouth, declaring “Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” When confronted with the Holiness of God in light of his own innate sinful nature, Isaiah’s confession led him to repentance and a restored fellowship with God that was lost when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden (Genesis 2-3; Isaiah 6:1-7).

The Apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote to the Romans, “with the mouth confession is made unto salvation,” just as Isaiah’s salvation came about over 700 years earlier (Romans 10:10). The Apostle John, exiled to the island of Patmos late in his life for preaching the Gospel of salvation in Christ Alone to the Jewish nation, wrote in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” King David’s testimony included confession of sin before receiving God’s forgiveness, “I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me,” (Psalm 51:3). Without confession of sin one remains lost in sin with no hope of salvation.

Fret Not Thyself

In Psalm 37 of the Holy Scriptures we are told to  “Fret not thyself because of evildoers,” but instead:

“Trust in the LORD”  (v.3)

  “Do Good”  (v.3)

 “Delight thyself in the LORD”  (v.4)

“Commit thy way unto the LORD”  (v.5)

“Rest in the LORD”  (v.7)

“Wait patiently for the LORD”  (v.7)

“Cease from anger”  (v.8)

“Forsake wrath”  (v.8)

“Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil”  (v.8)

“For evildoers shall be cut off:  But those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.”

Psalm 37:9

Taking the LORD’S Name in Vain

“Many and pointed orders have been issued against that unmeaning and abominable custom of Swearing, not withstanding which, with much regret the General observes that it prevails, if possible, more than ever; His feelings are continually wounded by the Oaths and Imprecations of the soldiers whenever he is in hearing of them.

“The Name of That Being, from whose bountiful goodness we are permitted to exist and enjoy the comforts of life is incessantly imprecated and profaned in a manner as wanton as it is shocking. For the sake therefore of religion, decency and order the General hopes and trusts that officers of every rank will use their influence and authority to check a vice, which is as unprofitable as it is wicked and shameful.”  General George Washington, July 1779

“O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth!”  Psalm 8:1

“Holy and reverend is His Name.”  Psalm 111:9

“Hallowed be Thy Name.”  Matthew 6:9

“That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow.”  Philippians 2:10

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.”  Revelation 4:8

Blessings & Cursings

The LORD has written in His Word the blessings He will bring upon those who listen to His voice through His Word, to observe and to do all He commands. He promises His blessings will come UPON them and OVERTAKE them. But for those who choose not to read God’s Word and be obedient unto Him, curses will be what comes upon them and overtakes them in their daily lives (Deuteronomy 28).

HIS BLESSINGS

• Blessed will you be in the city, and in the field.
• Blessed will be the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your ground.
• Blessed will be the fruit of your cattle, your oxen, and the flocks of your sheep.
• Blessed will be your basket and your store.
• Blessed will you be when you come in, and when you go out.
• Blessed will you be when your enemies are brought down.
• Blessed will be your storehouses.
• Blessed will be all you do.
• Blessed will be your land.
• Blessed will be the rain that falls on your land in season.
• Blessed will you be to lend and not to borrow.

“All these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, IF thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 28:2

HIS CURSES

• Cursed you will be in the city, and in the field.
• Cursed will be your basket and your store.
• Cursed will be the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your land.
• Cursed will be the increase of your cattle, and the flocks of your sheep.
• Cursed will be when you come in, and when you go out.
• Cursed, vexation and rebuke will come upon all that you do.
• Cursed with pestilence, consumption, fever, inflammation, and extreme burning.
• Cursed with the sword, blasting, and mildew.
• Cursed with heaven as brass and earth as iron under your feet.
• Cursed with rain as powder and dust coming down upon the land.
• Cursed with enemies smiting you.
• Cursed with diseases, madness, astonishment of heart.
• Cursed with children given to others.
• Cursed with others getting what you produce.
• Cursed with oppression.
• Cursed with sowing much seed, reaping little.
• Cursed with destruction of vineyard by worms.
• Cursed with children given to captivity.
• Cursed with trees and fruit eaten by locust.
• Cursed with being brought low.
• Cursed with having to borrow, and not lend.

“Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed: Because thou hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded thee… Because you served not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things.” Deuteronomy 28:45,47

 

Jerusalem in 3D

We are told in Scripture to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” (Psalm 122). It is recorded in Isaiah 9:6-7 one day Jesus will ascend the Throne of David in Jerusalem to reign and rule over the entire earth. The Apostle John concludes his writing of the Book of Revelation, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (22:20). Each time prayer is made for there to be peace in Jerusalem prayer is being made for Jesus to return to this earth to set up His millennial kingdom, for without Him there will never be true peace in Jerusalem until HE reigns as “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS,” (19:16). Even So, Come, Lord Jesus.

The Lifter of My Head

After many years of being chased by King Saul seeking David’s death, King David again finds himself fleeing, this time from his own son Absalom who is jealous for his father’s throne (II Samuel 15). It is under these circumstances David pens Psalm 3, “LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.”  The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sing the words of David’s Psalm with special emphasis on verse 3, “But Thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

   

Lord, You’re Holy

This video of “Lord, You’re Holy” by the Thomas Road Baptist Church orchestra & choir will have you singing with them midway through it, lifting up praise to our Lord & Savior for all He is to us.

“Wonderful, Glorious, Holy and Righteous,
Victorious, Conqueror, Triumphant and Mighty,
Healer, Deliverer, Shield and Defense, Strong Tower and My Best Friend,
Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Soon Coming King,
Alpha, Omega, Lord of Everything
Holy, Holy, Holy is Your Name.”

Even So, Come, Lord Jesus

The birth pangs are getting more intense and occurring closer together. Uprisings and earthquakes, disease and death are occurring all over the world. There is even talk of World War 3. What is different this time is Israel is back in the land and the Judean desert is blooming, both Old Testament prophecies fulfilled since the end of World War 2. The Lord has told us in His Word to be ready for in such an hour as we think not He will come again, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, as lightening that comes out of the east and shines unto the west.

What hour could it possibly be that we might not think of His Coming? At any given time one-third of the world’s population is experiencing nightfall and are fast asleep in their beds. It may be that as we lay our heads upon our pillows and drift off into a deep sleep the trumpet will sound and the dead in Christ will rise first; then we which are alive and remain will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).

Jesus says three times in the last chapter of His Book when He comes it will be QUICK. There will be no time to make final preparation for eternity. He says, ”Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation,” (2 Corinthians 6:2). We are told if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, (Romans 10:9-10). To those who receive Him as Lord of their lives to them gives He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name (John 1:12). When the Philippian jailer asked Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” The Lord’s invitation is open to all. Although it seems a simple gesture on our part, HE did all the work on the cross to secure our salvation. We must acknowledge Him as Savior and seek His forgiveness for sin in order to meet Him in the air when He comes.

Is your prayer “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” as you lie down upon your pillow at night? You’ll rest easier and have no fear for tomorrow if it is!