The Apple of His Eye
Today’s Passage – Zechariah 1 – 5 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 1 – 5; Proverbs 1)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 19
Read the “1001 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.” – (Zechariah 2:8)
Background Information on Zechariah
Zechariah was the son of Berechiah, and the grandson of Iddo. His name means, “whom Jehovah remembers”. In fact, there is an interesting note regarding the names of his father and grandfather. Berechiah means “Jehovah will bless”; and Iddo means “the appointed time”. Putting the three names from v. 1 together we get Jehovah has not forgotten, and He will bless, in the appointed time.
He was much younger than Haggai (2:4) but wrote at least the first eight chapters of the Book at the same time of Haggai’s ministry. (1:1, 7; 7:1) Zechariah is very prophetic and visionary whereas Haggai was more historical and extremely practical, which makes them a great team for ministering to God’s people. Ezra refers to both Haggai and Zechariah as encouraging the people of God in the rebuilding of the temple:
“Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.” (Ezra 5:1)
“And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” (Ezra 6:14)
Zechariah is apocalyptic in nature, like Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation. It has an historic interlude in the middle (chapters 7 – 8), which makes it like Isaiah. This is the longest of all the Minor Prophets and is thought by many to be the most difficult to grasp. Zechariah writes more about Christ than any of the other Minor Prophets. Only Isaiah has more Messianic prophecies than Zechariah.
Prophecies concerning His first coming include Zechariah 3:8; 9:9, 16; 11:11–13; 12:10; 13:1, 6; and prophecies to be fulfilled at His second coming include 6:12; 14:1–21.[1]
The Purpose of the Book is Fourfold:
- To bring about spiritual revival. Haggai was more concerned with the outward work of re-building the temple, but Zechariah goes straight to the heart.
- To inspire and encourage the re-building of the temple.
- To comfort and console a people that had been severely chastised by God.
- To prophesy of the coming Messiah.
The Book is broken up into three main sections:
- Ten Visions (Chapters 1 – 6)
- Four Messages (Chapters 7 – 8)
- Two Burdens (Chapters 9 – 14)
Thought for Today
In Zechariah 2, God is reminding us that He will someday make Jerusalem and all of Israel the very center of His eartly Kingdom. When Christ returns, He will reign on earth for 1000 years and “will dwell in the midst of [Jerusalem]” (v 11). In the middle of this passage God refers to the nations that have attacked Israel through the years, and describes His anger toward them. He says that they have “touched the apple of his eye.” The word, “apple,” is literally talking about the pupil of the eye. God is saying that his focus or attention is on His children, the people of Israel. We still use this phrase today to describe people who we love dearly. God was making it clear that he loved Israel and His people that live there.
As a New Testament Christian, I know that God also loves me dearly. There is nothing about me that is loveable, yet because of the relationship that I have with Him through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, He loves me anyway. I am His child and He is my Father. I am not always an obedient child, and I don’t always love Him as I should, but I am still the apple of His eye. Amazing. I understand a little how He feels because I have children of my own. They are not always obedient either but I cannot stop loving them. Think about the way a mother watches over her children. She might be busy doing something, or in the middle of a conversation with somebody, but she is always looking out to see what her children are doing, making sure they are safe.
Another application that we can take away from this passage is that since God loves Israel, we ought also to love Israel; and since God loves other Christians, so should we. I may be the apple of His eye but I am not the only apple He has His eye on.
[1] Ryrie, C. C. (1994). Ryrie study Bible: King James Version (Expanded ed., p. 1363). Chicago: Moody Press.
Posted in Thoughts from Zechariah by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
A Bag With Holes
Today’s Passage – Haggai 1 – 2 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 21 – 22; Psalms 146 – 150; Proverbs 30 – 31)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 18:3 & 46
Read the “0930 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. …Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.” (Haggai 1:6 & 9)
Haggai is writing to the children of Israel that have returned to the land after their time spent in captivity in the land of Babylon, and later Persia. Upon returning, they had done well in the beginning: they immediately began to re-build the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem. However, after some opposition came along (and it always does), they put aside the building of God’s house and began working on their own houses and farms, etc. The problem was that God was not blessing them in their work. In many respects they were spinning their wheels. They were working hard, but God wasn’t helping them, simply because they were no longer putting the Lord first in their lives.
I see a lot of parallels from this passage with Christians today. There has never been a time in the history of America when we are as busy as we are now. Many families have both husband and wife working with some folks working two and three jobs. It is very common to hear people say that they would like to attend all of the church services, but they always have to work. After all, they have to take care of their families, don’t they? Now, I understand that people need to work. Work is good. The Bible says that men need to work in order to eat; but when our work replaces God, or seriously interferes with our worship of Him, something is wrong. And I wonder if God isn’t doing to us what he did to those Israelites of old who had misplaced priorities. Do you miss church regularly due to work? I’m not saying it is always wrong, but you have to ask yourself and the Lord if your missing services is OK with Him.
The same could be said about our giving. We would like to give, but money is tight. We justify our lack of giving due to the fact that we need to care for our families. But did you ever think that by taking matters into your own hands, you are forsaking God and removing His blessing upon your life. God said that their wages were going through a bag filled with holes. I have often felt that my money was going into a bag like that as well. Have you stopped giving your tithes and offerings because money is tight? You can expect it to get even tighter.
The problem is that we are often blind to this condition. We don’t see where we have put something above God in our lives. Ask yourself honestly. Have you put something in front of God: your job; your children; your pleasure? What is causing you to miss the full blessing of God in your life. We need to put God back where He belongs in our lives. He deserves and demands first place. After the Israelites repented and starting working again on the temple, God said, “I am with you”. I want God to be with me in my life, and He will be as long as put Him in His rightful place. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know that God is with you, that His hand of approval and blessing is on every aspect of your life?
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – (Matthew 6:33)
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” – (Colossians 1:18)
“I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.” – (2 Corinthians 8:8)
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.” – (Malachi 3:10-11)
Posted in Thoughts from Haggai by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
God Is In The Midst Of Thee
Today’s Passage – Zephaniah 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 17 – 20; Psalms 136 – 140; Proverbs 29)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Joshua 1:8
Read the “0929 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.” (Zephaniah 3:15)
If I understand this verse correctly, it appears that Zephaniah is looking forward to the Millennial Kingdom of Christ on earth. It would seem that this will be the only time that all of the things mentioned in the context could take place. In the first two chapters Zephaniah wrote of judgment which has already come and is still coming, but the future holds a time for Israel when they will be reconciled completely with God and God will once again be pouring out His blessings upon them, and will remove all of their enemies from the land.
My thought this morning, however, is how this verse, though directly dealing with Israel, applies perfectly to the Christian today. The Christian already has today what He is going to give Israel in the future. First, it says “The LORD hath taken away thy judgments”. How wonderful it is to know that the penalty for sin is gone. I will not be judged for my sin. I used to hear preachers say that when I stand before God, He is going to show a video of every bad thing that I have ever done. Not true. Jesus paid for all of my sins at Calvary and they are all under the blood. My record is clean because of what Jesus did for me at Calvary. My sins are gone! Praise God!!!
Secondly, Zephaniah says “he hath cast out thine enemy”. Now this isn’t true yet; but it soon will be. My enemy is Satan, and though he and his devils are reeking havoc today, he is already defeated. Some day soon, we will see Satan cast into the lake of fire. I am on the winning side and Satan is a loser. Just a thought: why do so many people, including Christians, follow him.
Finally, Zephaniah says “the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee”. I know that this verse is talking about God dwelling in the midst of His people Israel, but I have God dwelling in me right now.
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” (Colossians 1:27)
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” (John 15:4)
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13)
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
God is not only with me, He is in me. And if I will allow Him to have His way with my life, I will reveal Him to others around me.
P.S. I have one additional encouragement from Zephaniah 2:
“Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.” – (Zephaniah 2:3)
This verse is a great encouragement to me because it teaches that though there may be judgment by God on the world around us, we may escape it if we are in a right relationship with Him. God has not appointed His children to wrath, and though He may pour out His judgent on this land, He will still protect and provide for His own.
Posted in Thoughts from Zephaniah by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.
The Saturday Morning Post – It Gets Worse, But Has A Happy Ending
Today’s Passage – Habakkuk 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 13 – 16; Psalms 136 – 140; Proverbs 28)
Read the “0928 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
(Habakkuk 3:17-19) “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: (18) Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (19) The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
Good morning. We are in Quartzsite, Arizona, at the time of this post. We were almost out of food and provisions. On the way in we found an Aldi. When we food shop back in New Jersey, Aldi’s, is the first place we go. And we usually spend under $100. This stop was $250! Now we did buy a few extra things as we will be boon docking in the desert for a while, but still $150 more than usual? When we first started shopping at Aldi’s, we spent about $70. Gradually this went up and up. But God is good…
(Philippians 4:19) “But my God shall supply all your need according. to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
God is good to His children. If you’re not saved, you need to get saved.
(Acts 16:26-32) “And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. (27) And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. (28) But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. (29) Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, (30) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (32) And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.”
You see…
(2Peter 3:9) “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
The best thing you can do is rely on the Lord. Trust Him to supply your need as He said He would. Put your trust in the Lord, He will not let you down. Let me tell you what happened to Jesus, in His own home town…
(Matthew 13:54-58) “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? (55) Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? (56) And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? (57) And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. (58) And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.“
Trust God. He is the only way we can get through the mess in our country that is coming.
Peace! (But only when Jesus comes.)
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with 2 comments.
A Stronghold in Times of Trouble
Today’s Passage – Nahum 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 10 – 12; Psalms 131 – 135; Proverbs 27)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 John 4:7 & 8
Read the “0927 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read previous posts from today’s reading in Nahum – “What Are You Thinking?” and “Whose Side Are You On?“
“The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. … The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” (Nahum 1:3, 7)
Some facts about Nahum:
This book is the prophecy of the judgment of God upon Nineveh, which was fulfilled in 612 BC. You will remember that Jonah had previously been called upon to preach to the people of Nineveh. His message, though very short, was basically the same thing that Nahum preached in much greater detail:
“And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” – (Jonah 3:4)
Jonah didn’t cry out to the people of Nineveh to repent, he just told them that judgment was on its way. However, the people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah; but apparently, they did not repent at the preaching of Nahum, though Nahum’s actual message regarding the judgment of Nineveh was much longer. Though the pronouncement of judgment was against Ninevah, the actual message was given to Judah.
We do not know a great deal about Nahum, whose name means “comfort” or “compassion”, except that he was an Elkoshite. We really are not sure where Elkosh is located. Some have stated that there was a town called Elkosh (Al Qosh) in Assyria, just to the north of Nineveh, which could mean that Nahum was one of the exiles from the northern kingdom. Others have claimed that Elkosh was located in what was left of the northern kingdom of Israel, near Capernaum, though by this time, Israel was no more. Most are convinced that whether or not Nahum was originally from the Elkosh of Galilee in the northern kingdom, he lived in Judah during the time of his prophecy. Some even claim that there was also a village called Elkosh in the southern kingdom.
The time of the writing is a little easier to figure out. Nahum refers in the past tense to the destruction and captivity of the city of No (Hebrew – No Amon, Egyptian name – Thebes), which the historians tell us took place in 663 BC. The actual fall of Nineveh is recorded to have taken place in 612 BC; so, it is safe to assume that Nahum wrote in-between these two events (663 – 612 BC), during the reigns of wicked kings Manasseh and Amon, and good King Josiah. More than likely, it was written earlier in that period when Assyria was still strong and Judah was very weak. During King Josiah’s reign Assyria was weakening and Judah was strong (at least spiritually) If the earlier date is right, Nahum may have personally witnessed the fall of Samaria and Sennacherib’s attempted siege on Jerusalem, which would make him contemporary with Isaiah and Micah. If Nahum lived closer to the time of Josiah he would have been contemporary with the prophets Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah.
Nineveh had repented at the preaching Jonah, but had quickly reverted back to their cruelty toward the people of God, along with the committing of immorality and idolatry. The religious idolatry in Nineveh and Assyria had negatively influenced both the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom.
Nineveh was a very proud nation that was about to be brought low by God. The downfall of Assyria would bring great comfort to the people of Judah as Assyria had been harassing them for quite some time. Judah never felt safe as long as the threat of Assyria was looming over them. Some would wish that this Book of judgment was not part of the Canon because it seems to go against the message of love, but this Book paints a wonderful picture of God’s final removal of evil in a sin-cursed world. The city of Ninevah was destroyed by King Nabopolassar and his son, Nubuchadnezzar, of Babylon in 612 BC. Nineveh was thought to be impenetrable with walls 100 feet high, and a surrounding moat that was 150 feet wide and 60 feet deep.
Thoughts from the Passage:
Notice two very important facts about our God from Nahum 1:3 & 7:
- God is very patient with people. This applies to both the Lost world as well as those that belong to Him. God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). God was patient with Nineveh. He sent Jonah to warn them and He postponed the destruction of the city because they heeded Jonah’s warning. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11), and He certainly does not want to punish His own children; but He will correct us for His glory and our good.
- The Lord is good. Whenever things get crazy in your world, just remind yourself of that fact. Whenever your feelings tell you that God does not care about your situation, remember that He is always good, and He knows those who trust in Him. Not only does He know you, He loves you and cares deeply for you.
We are living in a time where craziness and chaos is increasing, and it appears as if the Lord is pulling back His hand of protection and provision from our nation. But if you belong to Him: if you are His child through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have absolutely nothing to fear. He knows you, and He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Stuff may get worse in our world, but the Christian can be comforted in knowing that God will shield him (Proverbs 30:5, Psalm 84:11) from the brunt of what the world is facing. Why? Because He is a stronghold in the day of trouble.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 4 comments.
Do Right, Love People, Walk with God
Today’s Passage – Micah 5 – 7 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 7 – 9; Psalms 126 – 130; Proverbs 26)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 John 3:1
Read the “0926 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8) (Click on the verse to hear it sung by the Clark Family)
A simple but very profound verse of Scripture from the Book of Micah. Do you want to know how you can be right with your God? There is a simple three point outline here in verse eight of chapter six that explains just how to do that. Notice, however, that this verse is written to a people that already know God, so in order to make the application to yourself today you would have to have already begun a relationship with Him through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. If you have already trusted Him as your Savior, then this verse is for you:
1 Do justly – this has as much to do with our relationship with others as well as our obedience to God. We need to strive to be in a right relationship with others; and do the right thing by them. If we have wronged somebody, let’s try to get it right. “Do the right thing”.
2 Love mercy – this has to do with forgiving others who have wronged you. Are you bitter against somebody today? Why not release him from the debtor’s prison in your heart; and forgive him. Look at how God (and others) have forgiven you. Loving mercy could also apply to your love for the souls of men.
3 Walk humbly with God – We need to see ourselves for who we really are – nothing; and see God for who He is – everything. Do you have a walk with Him? Are you spending time daily in prayer, and in the Word? Are you living your life in submission to His will.
Living in a right relationship with God is not all that mysterious or difficult. Jesus said that his yoke is easy, and his burden is light. But if we refuse to submit ourselves to His Lordship, holding on to our own will and desire; walking with Him will be impossible. I’m not talking about perfection here: we all blow it at times; but when that happens, we must confess it to God, get back up, and move forward again in our walk with Him.
Posted in Thoughts from Micah by Phil Erickson with 6 comments.
God is Still Speaking, but Are We Listening?
Today’s Passage – Micah 1 – 4 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 4 – 6; Psalms 121 – 125; Proverbs 25)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – James 4:10
Read the “0925 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.” (Micah 1:2-3)
Micah was a prophet from the town of Moresheth, which is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem near the border of the Philistines and not too far from the City of Gath (See Map). He was called and equipped by the Lord to deliver God’s message:
“But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.” – (Micah 3:8)
His name means, “who is like Jehovah?” or “who is like Yahweh?” His name is said to be a shortened version of the name Micaiah. There are many other men in the Bible that share the names “Micah” and “Micaiah”
Micah prophesied to both the northern kingdom as well as the southern kingdom. Only the names of Judean kings are mentioned in verse 1, however. This is probably due to the fact that the northern kingdom was just about to be taken into Assyrian captivity at the time of his prophecy. Micah was a prophet during the reigns of Jotham (2 Kings 15:32 – 38, 750 – 731 BC), Ahaz (2 Kings 16, 731 – 715 BC), and Hezekiah (2 Kings 18 – 20, 715 – 686 BC). Hezekiah was the king when the Assyrians invaded Judah and attempted to conquer Jerusalem. (See 2 Kings 18:13 – 19:36; 2 Chronicles 32)
Micah was contemporary to the prophet Isaiah in the south, and also to Hosea, Jonah, and Amos from the north. He prophesied at the time when Israel was being completely over-run by the Assyrian Empire, and the same threat was moving southward into Judah. Many of the people from the north were seeking refuge in the south, but unfortunately, they were also bringing with them some of their bad habits. The worship of Baal was becoming more and more of a problem during the time of Micah, as well as the disintegration of moral values. Micah was the prophet to the poor and downtrodden citizens of the farmland, and Isaiah was a preacher in the cities and had the ear of kings and princes; but the messages of both Isaiah and Micah were very similar.
My thought this morning comes from the first few verses of Micah’s message: “Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.” God had a message for the people of Judah, and he has a message for us today that is very similar. We need to hear and heed his message. Our nation is currently in a mess. We are bitterly divided as a nation, and the division seems to be primarily between God-fearing people and people who reject Him. God is calling out to America today, just as He did through Micah 2,700 years ago. But, will we listen? The northern kingdom of Israel didn’t listen and they were taken into captivity. The southern kingdom of Judah listened for a little while, but they also eventually turned away from God and received the same fate as their northern neighbors. Will America listen? Will America turn back to the God that has blessed her so abundantly in the past, or will she continue down the path of forsaking God?
You and I cannot answer for the nation, but we can determine, like Joshua: “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15). We can keep our lights shining brightly in an increasingly dark culture, and we can remain faithful to Jesus during a time when faith will be hard to find (Luke 18:8). We can also listen to the Lord as He commands to preach His gospel to all of the lost people around us. This world is desperately in need of revival. The Lord is still calling, but will we listen?
“O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?” (Micah 2:7)
God’s Word does do good, but it will only be beneficial if we listen and heed it.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
The Reluctant Prophet
Today’s Passage – Jonah 1 – 4 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 1 – 3; Psalms 116 – 120; Proverbs 24)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 Timothy 1:17
Read the “0924 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” – (Jonah 1:17)
“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” – (Matthew 12:40)
Introduction
The Book of Jonah is the most well-known of all the Minor Prophets but it is also the most unbelieved. There are even some Christians that deny the reality of the events that are described in Jonah, claiming that the book is only an allegory. There are ten miracles recorded in this writing, including the survival of the prophet for three days in the belly of the whale. However, the greatest miracle recorded in this book is the conversion and salvation of thousands of people who were previously destined for Hell. This Book demonstrates that God has always had his eye of compassion on the whole world, not just Israel. Jonah is the first prophet to preach repentance to the Gentiles.
The Miracles of Jonah
1 1:4 “the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea.”
2 1:7 “the lot fell upon Jonah.”
3 1:15 “the sea ceased from her raging.”
4 1:17 “the LORD had prepared a great fish.”
5 1:17 “to swallow up Jonah.”
6 2:10 “the LORD spake unto the fish…it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”
7 3:10 “God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way.”
8 4:6 “the LORD God prepared a gourd.”
9 4:7 “God prepared a worm.”
10 4:8 “God prepared a vehement east wind.”
An interesting note – the word “great” appears many times in this Book: great city (1:2,3:2, 3:3, 4:11); great wind (1:4); great tempest (1:12); great fish (1:17); great kindness (4:2)
- The Prophet – Jonah
Not a whole lot is known about Jonah, except:
- He was the son of a man named Amittai.
- He was from Gath-hepher (near Nazareth in Galilee).
- He was a prophet to the northern kingdom during the reign of Jereboam II who reigned from 782 – 753 BC.
- He was contemporary with Amos and Hosea from the north, and Isaiah and Micah from the south.
- His name means “dove.”
An unconfirmed tradition claims that Jonah was the son of the widow woman from Zarephath whom Elijah raised from the dead (1 Kings 17:8 – 24).
The prophet Jonah was referred to by the Lord as a picture, or type, of His own resurrection from the dead. (1:17; Matthew 12:40; Luke 11:29 – 30) Jesus was in the tomb for three literal days and nights, just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale. Jesus also noted in Matthew 12:41 that the people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah.
- The People – The Assyrians (Ninevites)
The Assyrians were a polytheistic people that had been demanding “gifts” (taxes) from the Israelites for some time. Eventually, in 722 BC, they would completely conquer the northern kingdom, and even threaten the City of Jerusalem in Judah. The Assyrians were a very cruel people, especially to those who were taken captive, and they were hated by the Israelites. Jonah, no doubt, looked forward to the judgment of God upon the people of Nineveh, and the last thing he wanted was for the Ninevites to be spared that judgment.
- The Place – Nineveh
Nineveh was originally built by Nimrod (Genesis 12:10) and became a very important city situated on the Tigris River, which eventually (700 BC) became the capitol city of the Assyrian empire. At this point in history, though not the chief city, Nineveh was a very wide, wealthy, and wicked city. The circumference of the city was 60 miles which is a three-day journey on foot (3:3). The city walls were said to be wide enough for several chariots to ride abreast.
The name Nineveh is thought to derive from “ninus,” i.e., Nimrod, and means the residence of Nimrod or “nunu” (Akkadian for “fish”). The people worshiped the fish goddess Nanshe (the daughter of Ea, the goddess of fresh water) and Dagon the fish god who was represented as half man and half fish. (MacArthur, John (2006-10-10). The MacArthur Study Bible, Thomas Nelson.)
Note – Nineveh was also a place where the false gods Ishtar and Assur were worshipped.
Some Concluding Thoughts about Jonah and God’s Calling for Him
Jonah was reluctant to follow God’s clearly stated will for his life. Just as God has a plan for Jonah, He has a plan for all of us:
- God has a plan, a calling for your life.
- Much of what God has called you to do is revealed in His Word.
- God has something specific for you to do, and he has a specific place for you to do it.
- Whatever God calls you to do, He will equip you to do. (Romans 12:3 – 8)
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)
5. Whatever God calls you to do, He will supply whatever you need to do it:
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
6. Usually, God will call you to do something that you will desire to do.
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)
7. However, there may be times when God will pull you out of your comfort zone and sometimes He will ask you to do something that you downright do not want to do. Your job is to discern the will of God for your life, as well as the specific wills of God for tomorrow, and then cheerfully submit to what He wants. Even Jesus prayed, “not my will but thine be done”. (Luke 22:42) Your life will be miserable until you do.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
Spiritual Famine
Today’s Passage – Amos 6 – 9; Obadiah 1 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – 2 John, 3 John, Jude; Psalms 111 – 115; Proverbs 23)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Ephesians 4:32
Read the “0923 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:” (Amos 8:11)
Amos is writing concerning Israel about a time where there will be an absence of the Word of God among the people. But that famine of Bible instruction and principle comes as a result of the lack of desire among the people of Israel for hearing the Words of God. The people of Judah and Israel had their fill of God. They no longer desired to hear what He had to say; they no longer desired to live in by His precepts. They simply felt that they no longer needed God or His instruction.
I feel that America today is in the same boat. There is no famine here. There may be preachers out there who water down the Word of God, and there may be a lot of compromise out there; but, a copy of the Word of God is certainly available to nearly every person in America, and there really isn’t a shortage of churches out there. The problem is not the availability of the Word of God. Rather, the problem is a lack of desire for instruction from God. We have loosed from the moorings of our Biblical heritage and are floating in the sea of secular humanism. We are shouting to God from our culture, “Get Out!”, we don’t need you and we certainly don’t want you. I don’t think it is too far fetched to think about a day in the near future when our authorities try to stop the distribution of the Word of God altogether.
God will not stay where he is not wanted. In fact, the only thing holding back the judgment of God is a remnant of people in America who love the Word and the God who wrote it. So what is the solution? Can this tide of apathy and antagonism toward God be stopped, or even slowed? I am not sure. But my instructions are still to “preach the Word”, even when it is out of season. Christian, it matters not what the world thinks about our God and our Bible. We need to keep obeying God by sowing the seed of His word to the world around us. Some day soon, our job will be done; but for now it is still our responsibility to reach who we can with the glorious gospel of Christ. There are still people out there that hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Posted in Thoughts from Amos by Phil Erickson with 6 comments.
Walking Together in Agreement
Today’s Passage – Amos 1 – 5 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – 1 John 1 – 5; Psalms 106 – 110; Proverbs 22)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Matthew 6:33
Read the “0922 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)
The context of verse 3 above deals with both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel and how they had chosen to live contrary to the principles of the Word of God. They had become immoral and idolatrous. They had become enamored with the cultures of the heathen nations around them. God tells them here that He cannot walk with these people because they are not in agreement with Him.
I have often quoted this verse when preaching, particularly while speaking on matters of separation. How is it that the professing Christian today feels so comfortable walking alongside the people of the world who do not know Christ? There must be agreement in order for there to be fellowship. Now, I can walk alongside anybody for a short distance. I will have to work at times with people who are not Christians; and hopefully, I will walk along with a lost man for a time trying to persuade him to trust Christ. Jesus walked and ate with some lost people at times in order to reach them. But, I do not think that this verse is talking about casual, purposeful, or limited contact with the lost world around us. It is talking about true communion. God cannot commune with people who have forsaken Him; and we should not be comfortable running with people who are not in fellowship with Him either.
Christian, be careful who you run with. Surround yourself with people who are going to influence you positively, encouraging your walk with God. Stay away from the gossips who have “the goods” on everybody else. Avoid those who are always negative: who desire to tear everything down instead of building things up. Run with people who have the same doctrine and standards that you have. My preacher used to say, “You are, or soon will be, who you hang around.” I want to run with people who will cause me to do right and grow in the Lord. Just a thought!
Posted in Thoughts from Amos by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.