Tag Archives: discipline

June 10, 2016 · 2:54 am

Hey Judah Guess What is Coming?

Jeremiah 1 –The Northern Kingdom has fallen, 722 BC. The Lost 10 Tribes are gone because of the apostasy of idolatry with Baal. In Judah King Hezekiah is gone; He lived 15 yrs. too long. In that time both Manasseh and Amon are born. They are two of the most despicable king’s history. Born out of Amon in this horrific situation is a boy King called Josiah. His reforms have been going on for a # of years. These are Good Times, Good Things are happening – Enter the Call of Jeremiah to preach. Who is He?  A 21 years Old, Son of a High Priest. Jeremiah Ministers/preaches for 40 years he serves under 5 Judah Kings; beginning with Josiah; Jehoiakim … Josiah … Zedekiah—Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin are omitted for they reigned only three months each. King Josiah was 22/Jeremiah was 21 when the two began to reign and preach. There was a great Time of reform and revival under Josiah. Jeremiah will serve until fifth month of Exile [2 Kgs. 25:4-10]. He is used as God’s Prophetic voice of Judgment against Judah by Babylon. Jeremiah is Called and Commissioned to preach God’s judgment Message to Judah [last remaining of tribes]. He is called while still in mother’s womb. His message is a message of Captivity. Now Remember that Josiah had brought many reforms and Times were relatively good – or were they? Jeremiah is told “Preach My Message; oh and they will fight you.”  The years he preaches are Appx. 630 BC to 582 BC. The name Jeremiah = May Jehovah exalt; Exalted of the Lord. His Lips anointed like Isaiah in Chapter 6.

The Message of Judgment and captivity is because Judah has burned incense to idols, worshipped the images of their own making; instead of God – man was the solution [he could fix himself] – we call this humanism today.

An illustration of The Almond Tree; The first tree to bloom in Spring; The “Watcher” to see the  return of the sun and warm weather, a message of Hope for a Fresh word of God, “I am watching over My Word to perform it”.  The Boiling Pot, Facing North- Enemy [Arm of God] coming from the North. God still uses Gentile Kings to discipline His people. Smoke, Steam, coming up blowing south. There is A Confederation of Nations to destroy Jerusalem. Judgment was coming; God would use the Gentile powers to bring His judgment on the last remaining remnant of His called people God is long-suffering and merciful; but there comes a time when “enough is enough”

In Chapter 2 – Apostasy of Judah, God brings His case/indictments against Judah. Like a trial lawyer God brings evidence for the judgment that is coming. God remembers the history of His redemptive acts towards Israel from deliverance from Egypt to them. It is ironic that God delivered Judah from Egypt [sin] and they are returning to Egypt 2:18/36 – It is like God was saying – “so you want to be imprisoned by sin? I’ll send you back to bondage.” God’s love is spurned like Hosea’s for Gomer; she played the harlot; Israel and Judah also Harlotry. Israel had Strange lovers [sexual], they had become Prostitute [for money/goods]; intentionally trying To seek out and court for personal advantages. Indictment starts with the “Fathers” who had Walked away from God. They Lost their way – but did not call on the LORD; they Forgot the benefits/security and provisions. They had been Given a fruitful land, took from Gentiles. But they defiled the land [connotation is polluted by means of immorality]. Next the “Priests” – servants of God for the people. Instead of proclaiming God’s message, the prophesied Baal. At the end of Joshua we find that people are still faithful to God, but a “generation that knew not God, or the works of God rose up.” Reiteration of how long does it take for a family, community or country to fall? But God isn’t willing to just let them go He will “contend” for them. [oppose them, compete for them] Two errors They have forsaken Me, the Living Waters. They have dug cisterns that hold no water; Cistern water is stagnant sitting water, foul-tasting. How can someone desire cistern water over living Spring water that is purified through moving through rock etc.

The Leaders were at fault; Prophets, priest, rulers and teachers. People are not innocent – they chose to follow. Just like the times of the Judges there is Sin in rebellion; followed by Discipline of God, the Cry out for deliverance through repentance, then a Judge or deliverer sent to restore the people and then Blessing returned. Cycle continued over and over. Historically, God shows how that Israel [Northern Kingdom] fell and Judah [Southern Kingdom] will likewise fall. While there may have been periods of fidelity – infidelity was always in the DNA. Early on in a marriage things are bliss, but after time “wandering” often occurs, this isn’t the best I can do – Israel always looking for a “Better god”

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March 3, 2016 · 5:47 pm

In That Day

“In That Day” is a frequent phrase found in our reading this week from Isaiah 26-30. The struggle readers will have is what is reflecting the “then” and what is pointing to the “future” in prophetic writings? Often there doesn’t need to be a then and future choosing, because the writing applies to both situations. Such is the case here with Isaiah. Obviously, Isaiah is writing to warn Judah of the coming judgment and devastation because of the rebellion. Judah has not learned from the previous destruction of Israel [Northern Tribes and Samaria] and have continued to commit gross idolatry towards God. The case Yahweh has against Judah doesn’t stop with just being disobedient to Him, but how that their rebellion has affected “life in Judah” and the citizens. Treacherous dealings in the market places, the drunks and care free lifestyle reflect total disregard for others welfare and the willingness for communal living. I cannot help but think of the stature and condition of America and the world as a whole in respect to this book. Everyone wants what they want, at the expense of either loss of freedoms to others or at the expense of corruption in civility.

In chapter 26, we have the prophecy of the “rock” of God, we find this also addressed in 28:16; where the Stone becomes a stumbling block – this reflects the impact and offense of Jesus and the Gospel. [1 Peter 2:6-8] The LORD God was being rejected. I wonder if it was because of the ROTE knowing of God? [29:13] or because they were more enticed with Baalism and the sensuous aspects of the cult. Our passage declares the empathy of God for His people. While He must discipline and bring the foreign nations against Judah, the is always the element of restoration. If people will repent, God will hear the cries of His people and respond. In that day, regardless of the time, place and people, – In that Day – means that God will act. When modern nations who profess to be Christian, act like Israel and Judah they can expect to be treated with harsh discipline from the Lord. But, God has limits to His dealings with His people. Chapter 28:24-25, reveal there are limits to what is done, and even the way things are done.

God will deal with His people for restoration, He will not destroy them completely. However, this cannot be said of the pagan, unbelieving nations. Then as in the future, God will deal with the unbelieving nations.

One cannot overlook the strong language of how Judah will have everything destroyed, crushed, and laid to waste. The nation and all of its pride in buildings, fields, and culture will be laid to waste by the enemy. While there is warning after warning, people just won’t pay attention to them. Isaiah’s message is met with a counter message from the priests and prophets who were “drunkards” saying everything was well. [28:1, 3; 7-8]

I was confused at first with the repeated verses of 28:10 and 13, but illuminated when I put – yada, yada, yada in place of the words. Israel and Judah had heard all of the word of God; to them to hear the messages of Isiah, was like – yeah, yeah yeah – been there done that!

Chapter 29:11-12; finds its future fulfillment in Daniel 12 and Revelation 5. Worthy is the Lamb who can open the scroll. The scroll contains the judgment of God, both now and then. I hold to the Seals and Trumpets as the working of God through man-made tragedies and natural disasters to bring the Lost to Him in repentance. Even though we have warning signs; we will live out our disobedience thinking we are “hiding” from God. [29:15-16]

Yet through all of this, there is a light at the end, a ray of hope for all. Chapter 30:18-22 is descriptive and prescriptive of 2 Chronicles 7:14 – God is ready to forgive and restore, but we have to be responsive to the “hand of discipline” from our creator and sustainer – Jehovah God! If . . . . then; the LORD longs for you and me to come back to Him.

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February 18, 2016 · 11:19 pm

You Meant it for Evil, But God meant it for good

The title is a bit misleading, for it is a quote from Joseph to his brothers who had sold him into slavery. [Genesis 50:20] The brothers were afraid that after their identity had been revealed to Joseph that he would pay them back for all the evil they had done to him. But they forgot the God Joseph served. Even though Joseph was thrown into prisons and falsely accused of things, he rose above the trials and tribulation. God was at work in Joseph’s life – he recognized the handiwork of Jehovah. Now by this point you are trying to figure out what does all of this have to do with the book of Isaiah and our chapters 16-20 for this week? Well, here is the point, Jehovah again was going to bring/allow what we consider evil to happen to Judah. While the devastation and destruction were well overdue and well deserving, God would not allow the pagan rulers and armies to wipe out Judah – there would be a remnant. Our reading for this week highlights the “oracles of God” against – Philista, Moab, Damascus, Egypt, Assyria, and Ethiopia. An oracle is defined as a “burden” or judgment against. God would use each of the aforementioned nations to punish and discipline Judah [already happened to Israel] in an attempt to bring Judah back to a right relationship with Him. While Israel [northern kingdom] had played the harlot and chased after Baal and the other pagan gods; they also received their due discipline. In fact the Assyrians were allowed to “carry off” the 10 tribes and scatter them to the  four winds of the earth. Only Judah remains; but Judah did not pay attention to the wrath of God on their northern brothers and fell subject to the punishment of God some 150 years later.  The pride of the conquering nations, which had been empowered by God for judgment cause their downfall. A great lesson here, while it may appear that we win over our enemies; caution must be exercised so we will not think that it was done in our human power. A lesson each of the conquering kingdoms had to learn the hard way. While God allowed the armies to inflict great turmoil and punishment, He would restrain them from “going too far.”

I am not going to try to recapture the information or judgment of God on each of the nations previously listed, for they by and large are very similar. The oracle is two-fold for each – Isaiah recounts what success each will have on Judah, but then brings the prophetic downfall of each.  The whole point that God is attempting is using enough trials/tribulations and bondage to foreigners to cause Judah to return. It is interesting that Judah like Israel, brought into the whole Baal worship thing in order to have bountiful crops, herds and families. From an agrarian perspective one can see what all this was so important at the time. But their failure [short memory] to remember how God had cared for them as a people during the wilderness wanderings and invasion/conquest of Canaan led to their idolatry. It seems too often when mankind ventures into a “comfortable state” that we become rebellious and agnostic towards God.

It is very difficult for a believer much less an unbeliever to see that the “tough love” of God was just that, out of love for Judah. Even as the Loving Father had to let the Prodigal son leave and go on his own, so he could come to his senses during the fall from the lofty perch of dad’s money, so God will often let us rebel, and fall into grave trouble to the point of destruction in-order for us to wake up to reality of really who is in control. Sometimes I think Christians are like Israel/Judah, we know God will take care of us – experientially, yet we seem bored with Him and search out more “sensual pleasing gods. While no trial seems enjoyable or even beneficial, we must say as Joseph said, the problems, trials and crisis seem to be for evil, but God means it for our own good. Oh that we would be responsive to the gentle chiding of God, rather than endure the painful punishment of “tough love!”

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February 11, 2016 · 9:14 pm

Discipline of the Lord

Isaiah 11-15 is our text for the week. I want to first go to Hebrews 12:4-11 and the discipline of God. Often we find ourselves in times of crisis and trials, when this occurs we ask ourselves many time “what did I do Wrong?” This is healthy as long as it doesn’t get out of control, for we do need to have spiritual obedience check-ups. Usually we go down our list of “normal disciplines” that we know we are supposed to be doing – much like a Sunday School envelope – in hopes of 100% for the week. As the writer in Hebrews indicates, our earthly fathers punished/disciplined us for our own good. Our heavenly Father does this even more. Actually this is a good test to determine if you are a child of God – Heb. 12:8.  The focus of punishment is to get the violator to repent and return to an appropriate behavior pattern. Again the discipline/punishment must be different depending on the level of disobedience and the length of disobedience. If there is a pattern of continual rebellion, even after other “nudges” of discipline, than radical or more severe punishment must be enacted.  Before a punishment is put into action, I know with my children I had to first determine did they know what they did was wrong. If it is an ignorance issue that means I have a teaching moment, but if they willfully disobeyed, then I must discipline.

Now looking at Israel, theirs is a willful, knowing disobedience. They were well acquainted with he Father and His desire for Holiness. He had proven His love for them. Everything about Israel was a direct result of the providential care of Yahweh. So in our passage we find that God has reached a point where there must be a severe discipline put in place. Now at the onset of entering the land of Canaan, Israel was told do not take on the culture, gods,  women or men of the Canaanite people for they would lead them astray. If the truth be known, Israel had always had a problem with “other gods.” Joshua 24: 12-15, show that even after being in the Promised land for years, Joshua still was fighting with people on who their God was going to be. Gods of the Mesopotamia region, Egypt, Canaanite tribes or Jehovah. While at times there was great allegiance to God, Israel as well as us, drift into culturalized worship. In our passages, we read that God is going to raise up some powerful enemies that will be under the power of God to inflict His judgment on the nation Israel/Judah. What a paradox, the very tribes and people who God displaced to put Israel in the Promise Land was now going to be the instrument of God to discipline His people in an attempt to restore them back to fellowship. Early on [Chapter 11] there is the Messianic hope of a deliverer. One cannot read this without getting both a then and future element of prophecy. Throughout Isaiah thus far we have learned of both the punishment of God and the hope of restoration of God. While there is severe punishment, He [God] does not give up on them. In Isaiah 14:1-14, the Fall of Lucifer is described; the basis of his fall was pride. It is the lie that was used to beguile Eve in the Garden of Eden, and the same lies that are perpetuated today for mankind to fall into sin and rebellion.

It is interesting to read of the prophecies about Babylon, the Medes and Persians, for we read that earlier in Daniel and the Image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Historical accurate, and prophetically descriptive of how the kingdoms of the ancient worlds rose and fell.  The lesson to learn from our reading this week is summed up – God will use gentile kings and armies to discipline His people, but the kings and armies should not think they were the power behind the victories. Such was the prideful case of the Assyrians and Babylonians. God will inflict His discipline, but when the instrument goes further than God intended, the roles are reversed and the kingdom/armies falls via defeat of another kingdom.  It has to be asked; when we look at our nations, why are we experiencing such crisis and trials? Has/is God using our enemies to discipline us to bring us back to a holy people? This is an election year in America; the Presidential election looms large – but will we get a leader that will lead us, or will we be subjected to the leader God the Father gives us, because we have not turned/returned to Him?

King Nebuchadnezzar was God’s instrument to bring punishment for the prideful idolatry and rebellion of Judah. Though they may have complained and such, they were unresponsive to the “nudges” of God to return, so a more drastic measure had to be implemented. Even so, God will have mercy on His people, for while they were taken captive, they were spared the atrocities of the Assyrians and the Northern Kingdom, which is called the “Lost Tribes” of Israel. O, that we would be responsive in our churches and nations to come back under the gentle persuasion of Jehovah and not have to experience the harsh, severe punishment of God!

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February 4, 2016 · 6:03 pm

Finding Hope in the Horror

This week our focal passage is Isaiah 6-10. When we look at these chapters, one cannot help but get a sense of terror and judgment. However, even in the justice of God on the idolatrous people Judah, there is still the future hope of restoration. God uses whatever means to correct and restore His people back to himself. Hebrews 12 tells us of the discipline of the Lord. In fact without discipline for wrong doing and habitual sin, we are not children of His. I look at it this way, there are times I would like to correct kids I see in WalMart acting up; but they aren’t my kids. even though I am perturbed by their actions, I have not obligation or responsibility to correct. However, when it comes to the children of God and believers, God will correct and discipline His own.  Isaiah is talking to Judah, the fall of Israel in the North has yet to happen. Assyria will be the instrument that God uses to punish the Northern Kingdom; yet the message of discipline and restoration is given to Judah. I know when I saw my sisters get punished for something, I took notice; the effect of them getting whipped made me take notice.  In history we know that Assyria and Samaria are taken siege and captive in 722 BC. There was the thought and attempt to continue down into Judah, but God was done with His discipline. Judah thinking that they escaped punishment, continues in idolatry and immorality. The Fall of Jerusalem, Zion happens with King Nebuchadnezzar around 587 BC, with three deportations to Babylon. SO looking at the advanced warning Judah got, one would think that they would wake up and straighten up – Nope!

Isaiah begins prophesying during King Uzziah’s reign, but the death of the King drove Isaiah to the Temple – at this time of crisis, as with most national tragedies, people flock to the church for answers. Chapter 6 has been used by so many pastors to develop the true spirit of worship. It is interesting that Isaiah probably had been to the Temple many times, but this time he sees the LORD, and the glory of the LORD. He also sees himself and his condition as a sinner.  The message here is that the world maybe tossed into chaos, but the LORD God stills reigns and is not moved! Out of this holy encounter, Isaiah is commissioned to be the mouth piece for God to bring an unfavorable message to Judah.  The prophetic message in chapter 7 is often clouded by the single verse 14, the promise of a son. The prophecy has been attributed to Jesus, in fact this is one of the characteristics of Isaiah, that makes understanding difficult; is Isaiah talking to the situation then, or for the future Messiah of Israel. This promise of a “sign” often overshadowed the war and tribulation that is coming to Judah because of their wickedness and unwillingness to repent and return to Yahweh.

In chapter 8 we are given a very descriptive account of what is going to happen to Israel [Northern Kingdom], yet within the pronounced judgment, we still get the hope of a “remnant” people through all of the devastation. The mercy of God is so entrenched within His punishment. God is holy, He is just and righteous, but He is also long-suffering. Instead of complete annihilation, God shows His great love for humanity. When thinking about how terrible the punishment will be for the children of God, the chosen nation; we must always understand that regardless of our position in Christ, He does not tolerate unrighteousness and immorality. God is a jealous God – the greatest sin of Israel was the blatant idolatry and rejection of the God that loved them and delivered them. The struggle with Israel/Judah was they felt they were exempt from the fierce anger of the LORD because of the high standing as His people. This should bring to American believers a wake-up call; for we often think that God is our God, yet it is the opposite, we are His people. No one is exempt from the righteous anger of the Lord. So we cannot boast of our elevated position as His children. He will deal with His children.

In chapter 9 and 10 there is the planned use of Assyria as God’s instrument of dealing with Israel/Judah. However, there is a limit to what God would allow Assyrian conquerors to do. In chapter 10, the pride of the Assyrian kings would be their downfall. When the instrument elevated itself above the user [God]; enough was enough. See 10:15-19.  Even with the prophetic destruction of Samaria and Israel, God still has the hope of a returning remnant. Sin will be dealt with, but God has not cast all humanity aside. He will inflict punishment to the point of bringing His people back. Oh that we would learn early under the slight nudges of discipline to return to the Lord!

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