today's meditation (Amos 3) Knowing God

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Amos 3:1-15)
1 Hear this word which the Lord has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire family which He brought up from the land of Egypt:

2   “You only have I known among all the families of the earth;
     Therefore I will punish you for all your wrongdoing.”
3   Do two people walk together unless they have agreed to meet?
4   Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey?
     Does a young lion growl from his den unless he has captured something?
5   Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no device in it?
     Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?
6   If a trumpet is blown in a city, will the people not tremble?
     If a disaster occurs in a city, has the Lord not brought it about?
7   Certainly the Lord God does nothing 
     Unless He reveals His secret plan 
     To His servants the prophets.
8   A lion has roared! Who will not fear?
     The Lord God has spoken! Who can do anything but prophesy?

9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see the great panic within her and the oppressions in her midst. 10 But they do not know how to do what is right,” declares the Lord, “these who store up violence and devastation in their citadels.”

11 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says:

     “An enemy, one surrounding the land,
     Will take down your fortifications from you,
     And your citadels will be looted.”

12 This is what the Lord says:

     “Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear,
     So will the sons of Israel living in Samaria be snatched away—
     With the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch!
13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,”
     Declares the Lord God, the God of armies.
14 “For on the day that I punish Israel’s offenses,
     I will also punish the altars of Bethel;
     The horns of the altar will be cut off,
     And will fall to the ground.
15 I will also strike the winter house together with the summer house;
     The houses of ivory will also perish,
     And the great houses will come to an end,”
     Declares the Lord.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Verse 7 tells us that the Lord doesn't do anything unless He tells us about it.  Because the Lord is fair and just, He is not only going to tell us His law, but also what will happen to those who reject Him as Lord, and what will happen to those who accept Him as Lord.  Just like in parenting, it is not fair to a child to be told what is expected of them without explaining to them the importance of listening, and it is not fair to a child to suddenly be rewarded or disciplined for something they didn't know about.

Since the Lord is God and we cannot see Him fact to face right now, we cannot know Him unless He tells us what we need to know.  So, the Lord lets people know what will happen if they reject Him, as a warning so that they have an opportunity to change their mind.  He also tells us the good news of His certain hope that we can have when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, because He desires that all come to know Him.  To actually KNOW Him and know what to expect from Him, as well as what He expects from us so that we can have a life of purpose, in His love, grace, guidance and strength.

today's meditation (Dan.7) Knowing Past and Future Things

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Daniel 7:1-28) In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and told the following summary of it. 2 Daniel said, “I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion but had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and set up on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and they said this to it: ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ 6 After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 While I was thinking about the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the previous horns were plucked out before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like human eyes, and a mouth uttering great boasts.

9   “I kept looking 
     Until thrones were set up,
     And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
     His garment was white as snow,
     And the hair of His head like pure wool.
     His throne was ablaze with flames,
     Its wheels were a burning fire.
10 A river of fire was flowing 
     And coming out from before Him;
     Thousands upon thousands were serving Him,
     And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
     The court convened,
     And the books were opened.

11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.

13 “I kept looking in the night visions,
     And behold, with the clouds of heaven 
     One like a son of man was coming,
     And He came up to the Ancient of Days 
     And was presented before Him.
14 And to Him was given dominion,
     Honor, and a kingdom,
     So that all the peoples, nations, and populations of all languages 
     Might serve Him.
     His dominion is an everlasting dominion 
     Which will not pass away;
     And His kingdom is one 
     Which will not be destroyed.

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. 16 I approached one of those who were standing by and began requesting of him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and take possession of the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’

19 “Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, 20 and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three of the horns fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts, and which was larger in appearance than its associates. 21 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.

23 “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth which will be different from all the other kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth and trample it down and crush it. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will humble three kings. 25 And he will speak against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time. 26 But the court will convene for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the empires will serve and obey Him.’

28 “At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face became pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

The first beast (the lion with eagle wings) represents the Babylonian Empire, the second (the bear) represents the Medo-Persian Empire, the third (a leopard with four wings) represents the Greek Empire, and the last beast (with ten horns) represents the Roman Empire.  But altogether, we see this prophecy regarding the beast from the Tribulation.

(Revelation 13:1-2). And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.  Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne, and great authority.

Satan's kingdom which reigns in those seven years of judgment will be tremendously horrible.  Those becoming believers during that time will not have it easy.  And while God allows kings and governments to reign now, and He will allow the events of the Tribulation;  at the very end of those seven years, the Lord will bring His kingdom to earth.  This will happen in the Milennium, when Jesus will have dominion and usher in the thousand years of peace and prosperity.

Meanwhile, we do not have to fear or worry about anything.  As believers, we will be caught up ("raptured") before the Tribulation begins.  More than likely, we are one of those referenced in verse 10 who stand before the Lord in heaven.  We can be encouraged that the Lord is fair and just and fulfills His promises.

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-6) Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be alert and sober.
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

today's meditation (Is.10) Fearing the Lord

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Isaiah 10:1-34)  

1   Woe to those who enact unjust statutes 
     And to those who constantly record harmful decisions,
2   So as to deprive the needy of justice 
     And rob the poor among My people of their rights,
     So that widows may be their spoil 
     And that they may plunder the orphans.
3   Now what will you do in the day of punishment,
     And in the devastation which will come from afar?
     To whom will you flee for help?
     And where will you leave your wealth?
4   Nothing remains but to crouch among the captives 
     Or fall among those killed.
     In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away 
     And His hand is still stretched out.

5   Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger 
     And the staff in whose hands is My indignation,
6   I send it against a godless nation 
     And commission it against the people of My fury 
     To capture spoils and to seize plunder,
     And to trample them down like mud in the streets.
7   Yet it does not so intend,
     Nor does it plan so in its heart,
     But rather it is its purpose to destroy 
     And to eliminate many nations.
8   For it says, “Are not my officers all kings?
9   Is not Calno like Carchemish,
     Or Hamath like Arpad,
     Or Samaria like Damascus?
10 As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols,
     Whose carved images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
11 Shall I not do the same to Jerusalem and her images
     Just as I have done to Samaria and her idols?”

12 So it will be that when the Lord has completed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the arrogant pride of his eyes.” 13 For he has said,

     “By the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this,
     Because I have understanding;
     And I removed the boundaries of the peoples
     And plundered their treasures,
     And like a powerful man I brought down their inhabitants,
14 And my hand reached to the riches of the peoples like a nest,
     And as one gathers abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth;
     And there was not one that flapped its wing, opened its beak, or chirped.”

15 Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it?
     Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it?
     That would be like a club wielding those who lift it,
     Or like a rod lifting the one who is not wood.
16 Therefore the Lord, the God of armies, will send a wasting disease among his stout warriors;
     And under his glory a fire will be kindled like a burning flame.
17 And the Light of Israel will become a fire and Israel’s Holy One a flame,
     And it will burn and devour his thorns and his briars in a single day.
18 And He will destroy the glory of his forest and of his fruitful garden, both soul and body,
     And it will be as when a sick person wastes away.
19 And the rest of the trees of his forest will be so small in number 
     That a child could write them down.

20 Now on that day the remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will no longer rely on the one who struck them, but will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.

21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.
22 For though your people, Israel, may be like the sand of the sea,
     Only a remnant within them will return;
     A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.

23 For a complete destruction, one that is determined, the Lord God of armies will execute in the midst of the whole land.

24 Therefore this is what the Lord God of armies says: “My people, you who dwell in Zion, do not fear the Assyrian who strikes you with the rod, and lifts up his staff against you the way Egypt did. 25 For in a very little while My indignation against you will be ended and My anger will be directed toward their destruction.” 26 The Lord of armies will wield a whip against him like the defeat of Midian at the rock of Oreb; and His staff will be over the sea, and He will lift it up the way He did in Egypt. 27 So it will be on that day, that his burden will be removed from your shoulders, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of fatness.

28 He has come against Aiath,
     He has passed through Migron;
     At Michmash he deposited his baggage.
29 They have gone through the pass, saying,
     “Geba will be our encampment for the night.”
     Ramah is terrified, and Gibeah of Saul has fled.
30 Cry aloud with your voice, daughter of Gallim!
     Pay attention, Laishah and wretched Anathoth!
31 Madmenah has fled.
     The inhabitants of Gebim have sought refuge.
32 Yet today he will halt at Nob;
     He shakes his fist at the mountain of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

33 Behold, the Lord, the God of armies, will lop off the branches with terrifying power;
     Those also who are tall in stature will be cut down,
     And those who are lofty will be brought low.
34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an iron axe,
     And Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

This chapter answers our question as to why God allows evil to exist in this world.  God is just and fair, and God is love;  therefore He has given all of us a free will - freedom to choose for ourselves.  He does not control us, yet God is Sovereign, which means that nothing happens without Him allowing it to happen.  In choosing to fear the Lord and trusting in Him, we do not have to fear anyone or anything.

This chapter then also answers our question as to why God allows evil to TEMPORARILY "get away" with things.  For believers, it can be a test, or level of discipline, or a consequence to our own actions and/or a way to get our attention - to remind us to return to the Lord!.  For unbelievers, it can be a punishment, and/or a way to get their attention - to help them see their need for the Lord in their lives!

Verses 10-11 and 22 show us how just and fair God is.  At some point, every sinner will be judged according to their sins, no matter who they are or how "good" they have been.  There will be no escape, unless one turns to the Lord for His salvation and forgiveness.  But it doesn't matter how bad you have been, God can forgive, and will forgive those who humbly come before Him for His forgiveness and salvation.

today's meditation (2 Chron.18) Returning Home in Peace

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(2 Chronicles 18:1-34)   Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage to Ahab. 2 Some years later he went down to visit Ahab at Samaria, and Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and the people who were with him. And he incited him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. 3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.”

4 However, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please request the word of the Lord first.” 5 So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Should we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will hand it over to the king.” 6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of him?” 7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies anything good regarding me, but always bad. He is Micaiah the son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “May the king not say so.”

8 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah quickly.” 9 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting, each on his throne, dressed in their robes, and they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 10 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed!’” 11 All the prophets were prophesying this as well, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and be successful, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.”

12 Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them, and speak favorably.” 13 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, I will speak it.”

14 When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, should we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” He said, “Go up and succeed, for they will be handed over to you!” 15 Then the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear that you will tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 16 So he said,

“I saw all Israel
Scattered on the mountains,
Like sheep that have no shepherd.
And the Lord said,
‘These people have no master.
Each of them is to return to his house in peace.’”

17 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy anything good regarding me, but only bad?”

18 And Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the angels of heaven standing on His right and on His left. 19 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one spirit said this, while another said that. 20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘How?’ 21 He said, ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You shall entice him, and you will also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 22 Now therefore, behold, the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours, for the Lord has declared disaster against you.”

23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached and struck Micaiah on the cheek; and he said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?” 24 And Micaiah said, “Behold, you are going to see how on that day when you go from one inner room to another trying to hide yourself.” 25 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son; 26 and say, ‘This is what the king says: “Put this man in prison, and feed him enough bread and water to survive until I return safely.”’” 27 But Micaiah said, “If you actually return safely, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Listen, all you people!”

28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. 29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle. 30 Now the king of Aram had commanded the commanders of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with the small or great, but only with the king of Israel.” 31 So when the commanders of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He is the king of Israel!” And they turned aside to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him, and God diverted them from him. 32 When the commanders of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 33 Now one man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am severely wounded.” 34 The battle raged on that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot in front of the Arameans until the evening; and at sunset he died.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

From this passage we can see that when God tells us something, we need to pay close attention.  There is great purpose to every word that the Lord speaks and writes in His word.  And the Lord is purposeful in allowing us a very fair chance at turning our lives to Him for salvation and guidance.  And we can be confident that He is just, and will not allow anyone to die, until their allotted time.

Until that time, our choice is simple... struggle in the sinful battlefield, or "go home in peace" as children of God.