Category: Shadows (Page 14 of 25)

As we end our year in search of God’s Shadows, it is good to reflect on the most important fact a person can learn in their lifetime. The Book of Job is thought to be the oldest written word of Scripture. Job struggles with God, asking the most important question humanity can ask its Creator:

(Job 14:14)¹NIV New International Version Translations – “If someone dies, will they live again?”

In the Gospel of John, there is the story of a man named Lazarus. He is the brother to Martha and to Mary, the young woman who poured perfume on Jesus’ feet and wiped it off with her hair. Lazarus is a friend of the Lord. Jesus even weeps at the news of his death (John 11:35). But in this story, we can find hope for humankind and an answer to Job’s question. Humans, because of their free will, failed to secure their eternal life with God by willfully separating themselves through disobedience (the great apple debacle). Their failure to love God more than themselves set in motion a finite life. Death now haunts humanity.

(Genesis 3:17-19) – “To Adam, he said, ‘Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, “You must not eat from it,” ‘Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil, you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow, you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust, you will return.”

This passage shapes our understanding of death. Upon separation from God (Genesis 3:8), death became our destiny.

(John 11:25-26) – “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’”

John’s Gospel offers humanity hope. Jesus uses the word “life” to mean a resurrected life. Something different, something new, something we have not yet experienced. Jesus is telling Martha that even the one whose body is buried if they are a believer, will live despite their death. The believer will be resurrected. Jesus doesn’t end there; in the next verse, He speaks of one who lives and believes as never dying. Here “lives” is referring to eternal life. Remember that the Gospel of John was the last gospel written. John had watched Jesus and His ministry. He watched Lazarus come to life. John wanted to make sure that future Christians did not miss the point Jesus was making. Eternal life is not something that believers get in the future. Eternal life is something that believers have now! Even if the outer person dies, the believer will live as part of the outer Christ again since Jesus is the resurrection. Why? The believer already has eternal life in the inner Christ. What’s the catch? “Do you believe this?”

Humans are, by nature, dead from the moment of birth. Dead in the sense that our free will perverts our choices in life, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23). We are separated from God through sin. This is what our Bible teaches. The first resurrection, the resurrection of which Jesus speaks, takes place when we believe. Jesus is changing Martha’s outlook on her brother’s death. This should not be new or shocking to us. Adam and Eve were hiding from God in paradise after their great sin. God immediately instituted the plan for their recovery, to fellowship with God. In Genesis 3:21. “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” No more nakedness. In this moment of the first sin and first sacrifice, God’s plans are revealed. God knew at that moment how to fix everything through the incarnation of His Son, Jesus, and His sacrifice upon the Cross. The good news, it doesn’t end with the Cross.

There is the proverbial question of why did Jesus wait four days to come in order to bring Lazarus to life again? Where was His sense of urgency? He loved Mary and Martha. Why would Jesus let them have four days of utter grief and sorrow? “The world believes that there are different kinds of “dead:” there’s sort of dead, mostly dead, and all dead.²Quote taken from the movie, Princess Bride – https://bookroo.com/quotes/the-princess-bride quote no. 24” There was no doubt that by the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus was “all dead.” This would be the third time that Jesus spoke an “I AM” statement as part of a miracle. Jesus was the bread of life after He fed the five thousand. He was the light of the world after He healed the man born blind. Now, He is the resurrection and the life as He raises Lazarus from death. The implications of all of this for others would be that if you believe, you won’t be hungry, you won’t be in the dark, and, you will never die.

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are brought into a new life. We will never die again. Our souls will live forevermore in fellowship with God. For Jesus to be the resurrection, He had to first defeat death. The empty tomb was Satan’s greatest defeat. “he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15). Yes, from the moment of that first sin in Genesis, Satan’s days were numbered. Jesus Christ is Lord! This is because He defeated that ancient enemy: death!

The danger to all humanity is to miss the connection of Jesus to our lives. It isn’t just nice teaching. It is life-changing teaching. Why?

• You are going to die someday – What will happen to you depends on how you answer Jesus’ question to Martha. Do you believe this? Not just do you believe that this is true, but do you believe this is true for you? Is your life now with Christ; is He your life?
• All those we know, and love will die – It is going to happen, and it is going to hurt. We will grieve, we will weep. To an unbeliever, this is nonsense. Death is final. Faith makes all the difference. Do you believe this?
• Death does not need to bring fear – God calls us to fight in this life for His Truth to become known. Our enemies will never stop attacking us. We are called to live with fortitude, strength, and courage in the Lord. Do you believe this?
• Jesus is the Resurrection – We are not dead yet, are we? We are called to this life and the next life to be with Christ. We are called to live life and serve boldly with the Lord now and forever. Do you believe this?

The only New Year Resolution worth its salt is to BELIEVE!

Happy New Year

Contemplations

• What are your greatest fears?
  • Ideas to Explore: Failure? Success? Judgment? Time? Death? Or maybe the unknown things that lie ahead?
• Is it even reasonable to think about a life that comes after death?
  • Ideas to Explore: Where do our fears come from about death? Do people just ignore death, or do they even understand it? How will you understand it?
• Do you believe Jesus died and came back to life? “Do you believe Him?”
  • Ideas to Explore: Jesus is trying to tell us that there is life after death. Why do so many people struggle with believing in Jesus? Would more evidence even help? 
• The Scriptures are no ordinary set of writings. They are part history, part law, and part advice on how to live.  Could humanity write them without the inspired help from God?
  • Ideas to Explore: They are 6,000 years of writing. Is there anything equal to them? If humanity followed God’s Word and Truth, would we have a better world? Maybe even a perfect world? Why do so many people hate the thought of a Godly world?

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  Quote taken from the movie, Princess Bride – https://bookroo.com/quotes/the-princess-bride quote no. 24

It is time again for Christmas. That holiday is about trees, gifts, big family gatherings, meals, and traveling to see those whom we may not see all year. What is Christmas about? Let’s look at some of the traditions and see if we can find a pathway to better understanding.

Gifts

The idea of giving someone gifts is not necessarily a Christmas tradition. Celebrations, whether personal or seasonal, have included gift-giving as part of their traditions for thousands of years. The first “Christmas Gifts” were given shortly after Jesus’ birth, the first Christmas. The Greek word magoi, correctly translated as “Magi” (Matthew 2:1), is a plural proper noun referring to people of a specific religious group that existed in the Ancient Near East, most specifically the area of ancient Media and Persia. Magi were astronomers, and the “star” they saw was a series of celestial events, including stars, planets, and conjunctions in retrograde, especially involving the “king planet” Jupiter. Some of the Magi were looking for a Messiah who would conquer darkness and restore justice in the world. The Bible does not tell us how many Magi came to see Jesus. All we know is that there were three gifts.

(Matthew 2:11)¹NIV New International Version Translations – “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Gold for a King – Gold is rare, valuable, and hard to get. Part of its value is that it does not rust or corrode. It lasts forever. Both the Ark of the Covenant and the Jewish Temple were loaded with gold (Exodus 25). The child Jesus was to be the newborn King, the Messiah meant to rule forever!

Frankincense for a High Priest – The high priest of Israel burned incense in the temple on the Day of Atonement. The smoke generated by incense was intended to fill the Holy of Holies and hide God who dwelt on the mercy seat between the cherubim (Ark of the Covenant). If the high priest was exposed to the presence of God, he would die. Even the formulation of the incense had to be exact (Exodus 30:34). The child Jesus was to be the new High Priest.

Myrrh for a Sacrifice – The name Mary has the word myrrh as its root. When Mary presented Jesus at the temple, Simeon prophesies over Jesus and tells Mary that a sword will pierce her own heart as well. Myrrh reveals that our King and Priest, who is God forever, was somehow also a mortal man. His sacrifice upon the Cross and death in the place of His people would provide us access to eternal life.

The question is, “Does this mean anything to you?”

The Christmas Tree

Decorating houses with trees held different cultural meanings throughout history.

Roman culture – Evergreen trees symbolized light. Romans decorated their houses and temples with evergreen trees to mark the celebration of Saturnalia. It was a festival to honor their pagan god of agriculture, Saturn.

Greek culture – Coniferous pine was considered sacred in the world of vegetation. Greeks decorated their pines with bells and silver adornments. They even placed offerings under the tree as sacrifices to deities.

Japanese and Chinese culture – Cypress and pine trees are considered sacred and symbolize longevity and immortality in their cultures. The wood of these trees is used for building holy structures and temples.

German culture – In 16th century Germany, it is believed that the first known Christmas Tree was cut and decorated by a man named Martin Luther. He had six children named Elizabeth, Martin, Paul, Hans, Margaret, and Magdalene. One day, Martin Luther cut down an evergreen tree growing near his home. He bought it inside to bring some of its beauty and fight the darkness and bleakness of winter. With this evergreen tree standing tall in his house, Martin Luther compared the evergreen tree to his family’s faith in Jesus. He explained to his children that the tree remains green even in winter, just like their faith in Jesus. It remains green even in times of trouble and despair, just like their faith stays alive in Jesus in times of hardship and sorrow.

(Isaiah 40:31) – “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

The question is whether what Martin Luther thought, the same Martin Luther who brought about the Protestant Reformation, matters to you too.

The Star

The Star of Bethlehem was a very real occurrence, provable by science. It was as real as the birth of our Savior, Jesus! What Is the Significance of the Star of Bethlehem? Stellarium (stellarium.org) is a free open-source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope. https://stellarium-web.org/p/observations link lets you view the sky by date over the Internet. Software of this type demonstrates the precision within our universe. God, at the moment of Creation, put in place the very constellations that would bring the Wise men to Bethlehem, the very circumstances of stellar retrograde that would form a bright star in the western skies to guide the Magi. The Star of Bethlehem reminds us that the gospel message is for everyone. God announced His Son’s birth to the world at creation, to show His love for all of humanity, and His desire for all to know Him. Do you care to know Him even better this Christmas?

(Matthew 2:2) – “and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

The Shepherds and the Sheep

Temple sheep were being raised for the Temple at Migdal Eder. This temple was located about a mile from Bethlehem itself. The shepherds in the Christmas story would have raised and tended to these sheep in the hills near Bethlehem. The value of these specific sheep, the shepherd’s duties, would have included protecting them from theft and injury. Only the unblemished sheep would be considered suitable for sacrificial purposes. Tradition has it that because those shepherds were raising Levitical sheep for the nearby temple, their responsibility of providing the “lambs without blemish” would have had special care from their birth. The selected lambs would have been wrapped in ribbons of cloth at birth to protect them from injury. The process was called swaddling. It was also customary during those times to wrap newborn infants in the same way and hence, the term “swaddling clothes” referred to the wrappings or protection for newborns. The shepherds would have also known of Micah’s prophecy, they would have known about the purpose of the Messiah, the Messianic Hope coming from the city of David. (See Lostpine’s Study: Thanks to the Shepherds of the World) The question is whether this helps you focus on what the holiday is really about.

The Stable

Why would the Messiah, the King Jesus, allow Himself to be born in such lowly circumstances? The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus was with God when the universe was created. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Jesus participated in the creation of everything, including humankind. Jesus started out and always wanted to maintain a relationship with His creation. He loves us! Humanity, however, abused the relationship and rebelled. The apple debacle removed humanity from both Jesus and God’s companionship. God and Jesus, however, never stopped loving us. Our Bible tells us that the blood of an unblemished lamb was sacrificed over and over by the Israelites to obtain forgiveness. Unfortunately, it offered only temporary forgiveness. Humanity loves to sin! Jesus, the creator of the universe, humbly came to earth to take the place of the lamb, shedding His blood once and for all time. The question is does it even matter to anyone anymore? It still matters to God and Jesus!

(John 3:16) – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Merry Christmas from Lostpine.com

Contemplations

• Do you celebrate Christ or Christmas?
  • Ideas to Explore: Through church services, special offerings, helping others who are in need, gift sharing with the poor, family? How do you celebrate Christ?
• Do you have traditions like a tree, or a nativity scene set up somewhere, do you share presents?
  • Ideas to Explore: Are the traditions you have things that reinforce Christ’s mission on earth?
• Do people see your gifts as something Christ would love to receive?
  • Ideas to Explore: For children, have you thought about gifts that tell the Christmas Story? For young adults, do your gifts prepare them for serving our God? For adults, will your gifts strengthen their hope and faith in our world? For seniors, will your gifts fill them with the reassurance that only God can give? 
• Do you celebrate Christmas as the end of the calendar year or as the beginning of humanity’s hope?
  • Ideas to Explore: Too many people view Christmas as a time of labor and expense. It is Jesus’ birthday!

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There were several dozen times that the Bible recorded Jesus praying. His most notable prayer is no doubt the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and (Luke 11:1-4). But there is another that offers even more insight into the purpose of prayer and the mission of the Church. Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane to set the stage for this prayer. It is just hours before his torture and death on the cross. Jesus slips away for a quiet moment and prays to His Father, God. Just hours before Jesus was arrested, we get to eavesdrop on a conversation with God. This becomes the longest recorded prayer in the New Testament. Jesus prays for Himself, that He would be glorified (John 17:1-5); for His disciples, that they would be sanctified (John 17:6-19); and for the church, that it would be unified (John 17:20-26).

(John 17:1-5)¹NIV New International Version Translations – “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now, this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.’

Jesus begins His prayer with a recognition that God has always had a plan. The plan was to glorify God through Jesus using the cross. God laid his plans out immediately after humankind’s fall from grace. In Genesis 3:15, God is talking to Satan. The verse is commonly called the “Protevangelium.” This is a term that essentially signifies the idea of the “first gospel proclamation. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” This is an amazing early glimpse of God’s plan of redemption, His plan to put order in all of the world’s chaos. Its focus is on sending Satan into the eternal fire of hell (Revelation 20:10) and providing salvation for all believers.

Jesus recognized and submitted to God’s sovereign plan to glorify Himself through His death on the cross. We don’t debate the sovereignty of God. It is a practical truth to be applied anytime there is a major trial in life. The cross is an unlikely place to find glory. On that Friday, they didn’t make jewelry to display the cross attractively on a necklace. The cross was a place of shame, humiliation, and the most excruciating form of execution known to humankind. Yet God chose the cross to place His glory on display. In every religion except biblical Christianity, salvation has as part of it a component of human works or merit. The Protevangelium, the gospel of the cross, brings everyone before God as guilty sinners. Who gets the glory for salvation? God gets all the glory!

(John 17:6-12) – ‘I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you and believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.’

The second part of Jesus’s prayer is for His disciples. Not only for the original twelve that He picked and trained but all the future disciples that would be raised as part of hearing and trusting in the Protevangelium. Yes, from the beginning of our world, the plan was always to spread the good news of the Gospel’s message through discipleship. Jesus is praying that His disciples will live in such a way as to show the glory of God to the world (John 17:9-10). By showing the world that people in Christ are united, they will show that the Father (God) and the Son (Jesus) are the same. Jesus prays that His disciples will remain faithful to Him and not be defeated by the evil that is in the world. Jesus wants them to share in the triumphant joy that comes through completing the work the Father had given Him to do (John 17:11-13).

(John 17:13-19) – ‘I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.’

Jesus’s prayer is in preparation for Him leaving this world. He knows that it will be His disciples that carry on His work. He prays therefore that they will be neither discouraged by the world’s hatred nor corrupted by its sin (John 17:14-17). Jesus prays that His disciples turn their lives over to God and trust in God just as He has done. In this way, God’s Word and the message of the Gospel will continue to be spread throughout the world (John 17:18-19).

(John 17:20-26) – ‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known so that the love you have for me may be in them and that I may be in them.’”

In the final part of His prayer, Jesus prays for those who will believe through the preaching of that initial group of disciples and so become God’s new people and new disciples, the Christian church. He prays that the same unity as exists between the Father and the Son will bind all believers together. Unity in Jesus does not mean we have to agree with each other. While we are members of one family, members of any family will disagree. Our unity is about the Protevangelium. What is meant here is that we are united in knowing that Jesus Christ was the Son of God born of a woman. The “enmity” or hostility and hatred spoken of in Genesis 3:15 is between Satan and Jesus. The seed of the serpent, evil men, and demonic forces struck at the heel of the Savior when Judas, the Pharisees, the tumultuous crowds, and the Romans, conspired to condemn Jesus. Death, however, was overcome and Jesus rose on the third day. The ultimate victory was His, and He crushed the head of Satan, removing forever Satan’s rule over humankind.

Our salvation was assured by the incarnate Christ when He suffered and died for the souls of men (Hebrews 2:14–15). Because of what Jesus did on the cross, He “crushed” the devil’s head, defeating him forever. The Protoevangelium shows us that God always had the plan of salvation in mind and informed us of His plan as soon as sin entered the world. “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” (1 John 3:8). When we identify ourselves by our allegiance to Jesus, not a denomination, we emphasize our oneness. As followers of Jesus living in oneness, we are called to be humble, affectionate, kind, respectful, and caring. We are not called to tolerate sin or ignore God’s Truth!

Contemplations

• What does the thought of knowing that from the time of creation, He not only created us with free will but put in place a “Plan B” to save us from ourselves?
  • Ideas to Explore: Does humanity accept its imperfection and sinfulness? Why or Why not? What would life on earth be like without free will? Can you find a flaw in God’s plans?
• How has the consistency of God’s Word helped you with your faith?
  • Ideas to Explore: From Genesis to Revelation, God’s plans have been written with perfection. Do you see that perfection? If it had been nothing more than random rambling, would it have lasted the test of time?
• Do you think of yourself as a disciple like Luke, John, or Paul?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is it because we have not been mentored like Jesus mentored His disciples?
• How would you create disciples of Jesus?
  • Ideas to Explore: Scripture, training, regular attendance in church, stepping out, and taking risks with your faith walk?
• Is discipleship the answer to passing on your faith to the next generation?
  • Ideas to Explore: Have you ever mentored someone in their faith? Have you ever been on a mission trip?

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In June of 2022, Statista Research Department published the results of a public opinion poll on the most important problems facing the United States. Two concerns rose to the top: Tied at 18 percent, respondents listed the high cost of living and inflation along with dissatisfaction with the government and poor leadership. Christianity and Judaism both teach humanity to be concerned with the well-being of each other.

(Leviticus 19:16)¹NIV New International Version Translations – “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life.’ I am the Lord.”

The contents of Leviticus are primarily a book of laws concerned with priests (those who were members of the priestly tribe of Levi) and their duties. One of its laws had to do with both the value we place on others along with their care and keeping. The Hebrew prophets frequently spoke against those who were content and comfortable while others were in great distress.

(Amos 6:1,4,6) – Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come!

You lie on beds adorned with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves.

You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.

Life is to be considered sacred, and we are obligated to do what we can to help others. The Prophet Jeremiah stated: “Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine; racked with hunger, they waste away for lack of food from the field.” (Lamentations 4:9). Yes, it was considered better to be killed than to die of hunger! The pursuit of fairness and justice in society is one of the most fundamental concepts of serving humanity. We are not to wait for the right opportunity, the right time, or place, but are to pursue or run after opportunities and to practice generosity, fairness, and justice. “Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 16:20) The Hebrew word for charity (tzedakah) means “justice.” The act of sharing is an act of justice. People in need are entitled to our love and help. They too are human beings created in God’s image. The hungry and the poor have a place and a purpose within God’s creation. King Solomon asserts “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” (Proverbs 21:3)

The act of charity was considered so important that it took priority even over the building of the Temple. King Solomon was prohibited from using the silver and gold that David, his father, had accumulated for the building of the Temple. That wealth was intended to be used to feed the poor during the three years of famine in King David’s reign (1 Kings 7:51). Poverty is destructive to the human personality and negatively shapes a person’s life experiences. “The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.” (Proverbs 10:15). Where there is no sustenance, there is no learning. The sufferings of poverty can cause a person to disregard their sense of right and wrong.

Unfortunately, compassion for the poor and hungry is not enough. A fundamental Biblical principle is that those who have much should share with others who are less fortunate. We are to reach out to all who are in need. We live in a world where millions are hungry. To honor our God and help those who cannot help themselves, we are all called to be compassionate, even viewing God’s word as a Voice of Duty. It may even require a simpler life for us to share more with others.

The Biblical use of the word “charity” (or we might use community service) is primarily found in the King James Version of the Bible, and it always means “love.” In the great “love chapter,” (1 Corinthians 13) the KJV translates the Greek word “agape” as “charity” while the modern Bible translations describe the word agape as meaning “unconditional love.” The only use of the word charity to mean “giving” is found in Acts 9:36, which refers to Dorcas (Tabitha), a woman “full of good works and charity.” The Greek word used in Acts means “compassion, as exercised towards the poor; beneficence.” The KJV translates this word used as “almsgiving.”

Dorcas is introduced in Acts as one known for her care of widows and her provisions of clothing for the poor. As a widow herself, she lived in the town of Joppa, a city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Dorcas was well-off and was loved by the townspeople. Well-off could easily be interpreted as the standard of living we all share here in our country. When Dorcas became ill and died, the people in Joppa called for the Apostle Peter. On Peter’s arrival, he found many other widows there, weeping. They all showed Peter “the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them” as evidence of Dorcas’ loving service on God’s behalf. No one should ever underestimate the impact simple acts of charity have on the people around them. In Dorcas’ case, they not only helped many of the poor in her community by making clothes, but she had given hope and purpose to many other women who were also widows. Peter “presented her alive” to the mourning community, as a miracle to their faithfulness.

The story of Dorcas is just one example in our Bible of how we are to meet the needs of those around us. God’s children are to “continue to remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10). James, Jesus’ half-brother, is quoted in (James 1:27) “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” This is how the Body of Christ functions. When people see justice, faith, and charity in action, it is one of the greatest personal testimonies that anyone can give to their own families and community.

(1 Timothy 6:17-18) – “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share”

As we end this study, it might be helpful to look to the Apostle Paul who is writing to his protege, Timothy about wealth. Those so blessed to have what the world considers wealth are reminded not to place value on themselves because of their wealth. Such an attitude does nothing for someone’s mind or moral worth. The uncertainty of wealth, things which never last or are ever-changing, seldom continue with the original holder. Worldly riches are never to be trusted. They are not permanent. Only God is permanent. Paul reminds us that our wealth is God’s wealth, and we are but temporary stewards of it. It is with our “free will” that we will determine its use. The true comforts of life can only come from God, as well as the necessities of life. While God gives liberally, humanity divides it up badly. In the end, God is calling each of us individually to willingly share His blessings with those in need and then feel good about it!

(2 Corinthians 9:7) – “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Contemplations

• What charitable acts are most visible in your community?
  • Ideas to Explore: Food banks, sharing centers, churches, businesses, law enforcement, etc.
• Have you ever been hungry, very hungry?
  • Ideas to Explore: What was the longest time you went without food? How did you feel? There are tens of thousands of homeless adults and children who go to sleep hungry every day – How do you feel about that?
• In what ways do you share your “wealth” with others?
  • Ideas to Explore: Acts of volunteerism, gifts of food, financial support, etc.
• What would you do to end hunger in your community? In the world?
  • Ideas to Explore: Support of local sharing centers, support of church programs directed at hunger? For supporting hunger programs in the world, why is this more difficult? Are there programs you support?
• Have you ever volunteered in a local soup kitchen?
  • Ideas to Explore: There is nothing more rewarding than gaining an understanding about the people in need. You should never fear seeing them, helping them directly.

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(1 Kings 3:11)¹NIV New International Version Translations – “So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.”

The heart of the question is what skills people need to recognize God’s Will for their lives when they live in Satan’s world, which is full of temptation and deceit. Is there a checklist or a set of guidelines that could serve to protect ourselves and our families as we deal with a dangerous world out of control? The word “discern” and its appropriate derivatives all come from the Greek word anakrino, meaning “to distinguish by diligent search and examination.” We especially use the word when seeking wisdom regarding a difficult question or challenge. King Solomon was known for his power of discernment, making many wise decisions and moral judgments (1 Kings 3:9, 11).

Our task should always begin by seeking God’s Truth. The word “seek” is an action verb. It takes effort, it takes time, it takes research, it takes prayers, and it takes the Holy Spirit to clear our reasoning and provide the revelation necessary to make good choices. None of this is obvious in a corrupt world. A discerning person will begin by acknowledging the value of God’s Word: “All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge.” (Proverbs 8:8-9). To exercise care and love one another, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9). Paul simply states that we must be able to determine what is “evil” and what is “good.”

There are a few good habits to develop that can guide someone through the process:

Prayer – God expects us to ask Him to reveal answers to us. Have a conversation with God. Ask God for wisdom. Amazing the undeserved gifts He grants.

Allocate Enough Time – The best habit one can have is to regularly make time for God. Sometimes, it is nothing more than silence. Make a habit of reading the Scriptures. God wrote down what we need to get through this world. It ought to be your favorite thing to do!

Never Stop Learning – Studying God’s Word isn’t a one-time task. To change your heart, to open your mind to the Revelation of the Holy Spirit, and to sharpen your reasoning is a journey; it takes a lifetime. There is a world of gifted authors, commentaries, and study material. Use them. “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

Take Time for Group Study – “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) Yes, read the Bible but reading and studying are two different things. Attend group studies where you can ask questions, seek out how others have overcome worldly challenges, and listen to alternative opinions. Yours, you know, could be wrong!

Check Your Sources – Remember that the Internet contains more errors than truths. Why? Because everything that is published on it stays on it, whether it is right or wrong. No one denomination or theologian has a perfect record either. History proves that! Discernment requires that you keep your eyes open and trust only overwhelming evidence. “Look for the Fruit.” God’s Will for your life will always produce fruit for the Kingdom of God and lead you to Jesus!

Discern God’s Voice in Others – “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:26) There is no greater skill that one can acquire than to hear and see God’s wisdom through others. Look for the fruit that is being produced. It requires a selfless form of observation and a humble heart to perfect. Mentors in the faith are important and will help those who hunger to discern God’s Will for their lives.

Serve Others – Seeking God’s Will isn’t just an intellectual exercise. To fully understand scriptural truths is a lifelong journey. But head knowledge is of marginal value to the kingdom of God. He expects us to first understand it, then put it in our hearts, and then spread it out in the community He’s placed us in. And if Jesus isn’t close somewhere, go back and start again!

Worship God – Take time to thank God for what He is doing in your life. We have a benevolent Creator. People need to act like it!

Reflective Conclusions:

• You must believe that God is Real and has shared His Truth with us. Thus, the challenge is in our vision and intellect, not our God’s trustworthiness.
• You must believe that God has placed in you a moral conscience, which exists as part of the Natural Laws of our very Universe. It is the roadmap through the good and evil in our world.
• You must believe that God has already established the necessary first principles for humanity. Examples of these are God’s Law, science, government, education, politics, and economics. Our job on this earth is to discover them using common sense (discernment).
• And lastly, you must trust that human reason and heavenly revelation will work together. Each one fortifies the other. For humankind can discern little without the aid of the Holy Spirit.

(1 Corinthians 2:14-16) – “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

Contemplations

• Where is your best source for detailed information about God?
  • Ideas to Explore: Bible, Bible plus Commentaries, Internet, Reading books, Church.
• What do you do to make sure what you see in a book or on the Internet is true?
  • Ideas to Explore: Find alternative sources; talk with people you trust.
• Why do you think the media is not trusted anymore?
  • Ideas to Explore: Their agenda is against God. It is all about ratings and money.
• Why do we allow our children to be exposed to the sins of the world in school but not expose them to the Bible?
  • Ideas to Explore: Where do you think the idea of no God in schools came from? How has that helped/hurt our society? How would you fix it?

For more information, you can check Lostpine’s Study on What is God’s Truth by clicking HERE. 

For more information on recognizing God’s Truth, you can check Lostpine’s Study Can You Spot It When You See It? by clicking HERE.

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There is (or was) a wooden chest, covered in pure gold, with an elaborately designed lid called the mercy seat. In history, it is called the Ark of the Covenant. This is believed to be the most sacred relic of the Israelites. But in 597 and 586 B.C., the Babylonian Empire conquered the Israelites. The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed and the Ark, stored in the Temple, disappeared from history. No one knows for sure whether it was moved, destroyed, or hidden. What we do know is that it is still missing. The Ark was so sacred that touching it meant instant death. Stored in the Temple of Jerusalem’s holiest chamber, only the high priest was allowed in its presence and only once a year. Everything about the contents of the Ark of the Covenant is a mystery. It hasn’t been seen for nearly three thousand years. All we know about the Ark and its contents is what the Bible tells us. And what is written in the Bible was written long after the Ark disappeared.

(Hebrews 9:1-5)¹NIV New International Version Translations – “Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.”

According to the Hebrews, the Ark of the Covenant contained the two stone tablets with the original ten commandments written upon them, Aaron’s rod (staff), and a gold jar containing manna. Why these three items? Let’s see if we can understand the importance of the Israelites and our faith even today.

The Stone Tablets of the Ten Commandments

Rabbinical Judaism as found in the Talmud and Mishnah (written collection of the Jewish oral traditions known as the Oral Torah) teaches that the tablets of the Law were made of blue sapphire stone (also called lapis lazuli)²(Obadiah Bertinoro on Mishnah, Avot 5:6. Cf. Babylonian Talmud, Nedarim 38a). Scripture supports this. “And saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky.” (Exodus 24:10). Since the lapis is the only stone mentioned in this context, we can conclude that this is the stone that God used to write on. The Bible also says that God not only engraved the Ten Commandments, but He also made the stone: “The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.” (Exodus 32:16).

Why were there two Ten Commandments Tablets? It is not because the commandments would not fit on one. Hollywood got this all wrong. Half of the commandments were not on the front of each stone tablet. Scriptures describe the tablets in detail and tell us there is writing on both the front and the back of each tablet. The tablets, in Exodus 32:15, are more accurately described “Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back.” There were two copies of a Covenant Oath, where each party had a copy. This is not unlike our legal contracts of today. Both God and the descendants of Abraham had entered into a binding agreement. Both testimony documents would be required for the agreement to be lawful and enforceable on both parties to the covenant. They were kept together in the Ark of the Covenant. That is why it is called the Ark of the Covenant because it houses the two testimony tablets of the covenant. The agreement, the Covenant, was simply that God would be the eternal provider of care in exchange for the commitment of His people to follow the terms of the contract (covenant). If you had a written contract of any form that affected your livelihood, you too would consider it important.

Manna in a Gold Jar

The manna (mon) was the miraculous edible substance that fell each morning as dew from heaven during the 40 years between the Exodus from Egypt and the conquest of Israel of the promised land. You need to stop and think about that for a moment. For 40 years, God would provide sustenance to the people of Israel as they traveled across a desert. The manna would last only for that day and could not be stored up. One exception, the manna that fell as dew on the day before the Sabbath would last until the Sabbath was over. Each evening, the Israelites would find quail for meat. There could be no greater proof of God’s Covenant to His people than His demonstration of this sustenance for their travels and their faith in His provisioning.

(Exodus 16:33-34) – “So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the Lord to be kept for the generations to come.”

Moses was instructed by God to preserve an omer (3.7 Quarts) of manna as a reminder of the bread He gave them to eat in the wilderness on their escape from Egypt. God had kept His Covenant with His people. Whether it would last beyond a day or not is often debated. But again, God could have preserved the manna forever if He wished.

The Budding of Aaron’s Staff

(Numbers 16:1-7) – “ Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”

Moses ran into a leadership problem. A few of the Levites became disgruntled about the extra authority given to Moses and his older brother, Aaron. Korah, who was also a Levite, joined with two others, Dathan and Abiram, to incite a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. To put an end to the unrest, God commanded Moses to have the leader of each tribe of Israel bring his rod or staff to the tent of meeting, with Aaron’s rod representing the tribe of Levi. Each of the twelve leaders was to have his name inscribed on his rod. The Lord told Moses, “The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.” (Numbers 17:5). They left their rods before the Lord, and in the morning, Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had blossomed and produced almonds. (Numbers 17:8). This was a clear demonstration of the power of the One who gives life. God then instructed Moses to place Aaron’s staff permanently with the Ark of the Covenant to serve as a warning to future rebels.

Aaron’s rod would become the perfect metaphor to represent the priesthood itself. It would solidify Aaron as the head of God’s church as the Israelites moved onto the promised land. Christ would later go on to ordain His apostles and ministers to those same goals, that they should go forth and bring fruit, and that their fruit should remain for the people.

(John 15:5-8) – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me ,you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire , and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

No wonder the Ark of the Covenant was considered the most sacred of artifacts! But do we hold anything sacred anymore? What would you fill the ornate box with today?

• The Ark of the Covenant represented God’s contract with humanity.
• The Covenant included God’s Laws for humanity to follow.
• The gold jar of Manna would represent the outstanding patience, reliability, and provisioning of God to sustain us even when it seems impossible. That was God’s end of the bargain!
• Aaron’s Staff (rod) would serve to remind everyone that even death can be defeated by God. As it was through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, and Christ’s resurrection, even a dead stick can bud, blossom, and bear fruit through God.

Contemplations

• What makes something sacred?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is it up to God? Can humankind make something sacred without God? Who chose the items that would be gathered within the Ark of the Covenant?
• What things do you consider sacred in your life?
  • Ideas to Explore: Are there examples of God’s handiwork or His provisioning in your life? Do they represent things along your faith journey when God seemed closest? Are they people, things to remember events by or actual items?
• Would it help or hurt your faith in God if the Ark was found?
  • Ideas to Explore: Even when the Ark was with Israel, they still would periodically abandon God.
• What is it about human nature that would let someone forget forty years of God’s provisioning and abandon Him for a false God?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is it the embedded sinfulness of humanity? Is it that we need constant reminders?
• What would society consider to be most sacred today?
  • Ideas to Explore: Are they wealth like stocks, or bonds? Are they power, such as position or title? Are they physical things like land? Are they living things like people? Are they Godly things? Would the Constitution and Bill of Rights be considered sacred?

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  (Obadiah Bertinoro on Mishnah, Avot 5:6. Cf. Babylonian Talmud, Nedarim 38a).

Where would you look to find the origin of the concept of work? We might start in the book of Genesis. Chapter One opens with God as the primary worker. He is busy creating our world (Genesis 1:1-15). The Creation Story states that God worked for six days and rested on the seventh day. These first biblical passages reveal that God was the first to do work on earth. One then must conclude that legitimate work reflects the activity of God. Because our God is inherently good, work is also inherently good (Psalm 25:8; Ephesians 4:28). Genesis 1:31 declares that, when God viewed the fruits of His labor, He called the results of His work “very good.”

To help us zero in on a better understanding of work, several points must not be missed in our introduction to God’s work here on earth:

• God’s work was productive. In other words, there were results, tangible results that emanated from God’s work.
• God’s results were visible. People can see God’s work.
• God worked to produce the highest quality outcome.
• And when He did, God received honor and satisfaction from the results of His labors.

The concept of work was important enough to God that He chose work to reveal Himself to the world through His work.

(Psalm 19:1-14)¹NIV New International Version Translations – “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens, God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

As humans, we observe God’s hand through natural revelation. Because all work reveals something about the one doing the work, we are exposed to the character of our God through His work creating our world. Because God created man in His image, humans share characteristics with God (Genesis 1:26-31). One of these characteristics is our necessity to work, to spread the evidence of God’s hand through our hands to those around us. Adam and Eve’s original job description was defined in (Genesis 2:8, 15). They were to cultivate and maintain the garden that God had created. Their work was to include fostering the growth of what was there already and improve upon it. As anyone who has attempted to maintain a garden, it takes work to preserve its health so that it remains fruitful.

The Fall of humankind as described in Genesis 3, did nothing to change God’s definition (job description) of work. It did, however, change the very nature of work. When God cursed the ground, He generated a change in work. In response to Adam’s sin, God pronounced several judgments in Genesis 3:17-19, the most severe of which is death. However, labor and the results of labor figure centrally in the rest of the judgments. God’s cursing of the ground made work more difficult. The word toil is used, implying challenge, difficulty, exhaustion, and struggle. Work itself would remain good, but humans would now accomplish their work by “the sweat of their brow.” Work would be hard. Fields would also produce thorns and thistles. The harvest would no longer be assured despite the labors of the workers.

We can also note that Adam and Eve could no longer eat from the garden God created. They would be forced to sustain themselves from the crops in the fields that they planted and tended. Just as Adam and Eve were now living in the world around them, we too are forced to exist outside of paradise (the garden) and work to survive in a hostile world (Genesis 39:1-23; Exodus 1:8-22; Nehemiah 4).

Summarizing Genesis, one can conclude that work is good because our wages help us meet our financial responsibilities. Through work, we support our family members, the Church, and the people God brings to our attention, the poor. Scripture consistently condemns those who can work and can work but will not work because of laziness (Proverbs 10:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). A Hebrew word, “shalom,” means a state of flourishing. That well-known blessing meant as a greeting was nothing more than reaffirming the value of work for creating order out of chaos. There is no shalom without work!

Today, we have a society struggling with unemployed, under-employed, or uneducated people. Our nation has had numerous economic downturns caused by poor leadership, pandemics, drugs, open boarders, war, etc. The Bible is clear in its condemnation of laziness (Proverbs 18:9). The Apostle Paul makes the Christian work ethic abundantly clear: “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8). But what was the biblical welfare system like?

(Leviticus 19:10; 23:22) – “Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.”

“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.”

Biblical welfare was based on gleaning. Gleaning is the gathering of grain or other harvested material left behind by reapers for those in need. The Israelites were commanded to allow the poor to follow behind reapers and pick up leftover spears of grain and fallen grapes. Yes, even welfare was work! Therefore, we are to conclude that work, in general, is good. It was ordained by God and Scripture tells us that everything God creates is good (James 1:17). When work is done well, there is personal satisfaction. When our work helps others, it becomes a service to God.

Gallup research shows that approximately one-third of Americans are not engaged in work. The current US Employment-Population of working-age population (age 16+) is 60.10%²August 2022. Yet there are currently 11+ million jobs open that cannot be filled³ https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/job-offers. These statistics are but the tip of the iceberg concerning the issues in our nation today. The trend for “quiet or silent quitting” is also on the rise all over the world. It is just one more indication of a slide that is happening when God is no longer relevant to people’s lives. What then is good work? Good work has the glory of God as its principal outcome. Good work reveals the will of God (Deuteronomy 12:32; Revelation 22:18 Revelation 22:19). Good work is an expression of gratitude in our heart (John 14:15 John 14:23; Galatians 5:6). Good work comes from the fruits of the Spirit (Titus 2:10-12). Good work always honors God. It is good work that brings a child into this world and raises them to be productive citizens who honor our God.

(Colossians 3:23) – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,”

Contemplations

• Do you think you will work when you are in eternity (heaven)?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do you believe you will work forever, just not find the thorns and thistles? Why or why not? Do you think you could be happy in eternity if you did not have a fulfilling purpose?
• What issues are driving abortion?
  • Ideas to Explore: Has society placed too low a value on motherhood? Is raising a child no longer a Godly purpose? What human emotions drive the death of an unborn for convenience rather than the good works of motherhood?
• What is it about work that you either love or hate?
  • Ideas to Explore: The relationships with people? The value society place on your role or title? Ethics of an organization? Is the physical effort or sacrifice involved? Do you even know what work will bring you joy?
• What would you tell your child about the role of working for life?
  • Ideas to Explore: Are you encouraging or discouraging? Do you work to prepare them for a life of labor?
• Does retirement end work?
  • Ideas to Explore: Volunteerism. Can you afford to retire these days? Do you see God’s purpose for you as you grow older?

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  https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/job-offers

Everyone has experienced that sinking feeling in the pit of their stomach when their expectations were not met. It is called disappointment. It gets even worse if it’s caused by something you cannot go back and change. It’s an emotion that can lead to rage, apathy, or some of both. Rage and apathy typically bring our productivity to a halt.

A Biblical Example

King David (1035 – 970 B.C.) was the second king of the ancient United Kingdom of Israel. His lineage can be traced directly to Jesus Himself. He was a simple shepherd, known for his passion for God. David would reign for 40 years in one of the highest and most prosperous periods in Israel’s history. The Bible presents David as a model king, but as kings went, he was as sinful as most other kings. Yes, he was devoted to God and would eventually become repentant. As a king, David had a deep desire to bring the Ark of the Covenant into his city and place it in a permanent building. It would be a legacy for him and a tribute to God. At that time, the Ark was still housed in a tent.

Let’s step back a moment and understand how king David got to this point in history. King David had elected to stay in his palace instead of being with his army. It would be these circumstances that caused Dave to notice a beautiful married woman, named Bathsheba. In his lust, he arranges to have her husband Uriah die in battle to cover up her pregnancy from his affair. In his desperation, King David forgot that God sees and knows everything. God sends the Prophet Nathan, the Prophet Samuel’s successor, to expose David’s sin (2 Samuel 12:5). Hence, this begins a close relationship between Nathan and David.

(2 Samuel 7:2-12) ¹NIV New International Version Translations – “he said to Nathan the prophet, ‘Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.’ Nathan replied to the king, ‘Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.’ But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: ‘Go and tell my servant, David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ ‘Now then, tell my servant, David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time, I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.’”

Fast forward a few years, and king David is talking to Nathan about building the temple (see Scripture above). Nathan’s advice is that it sounds like a great idea. But Nathan is given a message from God that is different. God’s plan is:

(1 Chronicles 28:2-3) – “King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.”

David’s initial zeal for God and ethical integrity paved the way for his early fame and fortune. David was not suitable to be the one to build God’s temple because he was a man of war and blood. That task would be placed in the hands of his son, Solomon. Hence, David would receive a disappointing judgment from God.

David disappointment

(1 Chronicles 29:1-5) – “Then King David said to the whole assembly: ‘My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God. With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities. Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: 4 three thousand talents of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?”

To say the least, the king is disappointed for sure! He is the king; doesn’t that mean anything? David, however, doesn’t get angry, there is no rage and there is no apathy.  David doesn’t decide on strategies to cause Solomon to fail at what will be a legacy-building project. David immediately decides that he will use his personal wealth to acquire and stage all the materials that his son, Solomon, will need. David doesn’t stop there. He uses his example of generosity toward God to influence the leaders of Israel. All the people also give generously. Note, however, that David wanted them to do this willingly for God, not under duress or pressure from him. As the staging of the materials reaches completion, David reaches out to God in Prayer (1 Chronicles 29:10-13). His prayer acknowledges God’s greatness, the source of all power and wealth, the true ruler of all things, and thanks, God.

David reminds us that everything belongs to God anyway. What we have comes from God! Our time here on earth is short. Knowing the task of leadership, David not only gave his son the materials and resources but gives him the complete design.  There is no jealousy here! David includes plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms, and the place of atonement. The plans include the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God, and for the treasuries for the dedicated things to be stored there. Finally, David gave Solomon instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the Lord, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service. King David took his disappointment and used it to set up his son, the next leader, for success. That is the way God would like us to handle our disappointments.  Interesting perspective, isn’t it?

Contemplations

• After a contentious election, how do you see all parties behave?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do you see cooperation? Do you see humility in defeat? Do you see humility in victory? Do you see a joint focus on the success from the people’s and God’s perspective? Does the victor get the “spoils?”
• Did you know that the 2022 U.S. elections spent 9.3 Billion dollars!² https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2022/09/2022-midterm-election-spending-on-track-to-top-9-3-billion/
  • Ideas to Explore: What other uses could some of those funds go toward if we were united with common goals and had a more reasonable process? Are politicians buying their elections?
• What are your goals now that this election season is over?
  • Ideas to Explore: How can we help our children? How can we help the unborn? How can we help those in need? What goals do you see?
• If you are disappointed in our nation’s choices, do you have a survival plan?
  • How to we help, how do we protect those who are vulnerable?
• Did you see God in our political process anywhere?
  • Ideas to Explore: Why is God so hard to see in our world? Shouldn’t God be part of it?
• Who were the beneficiaries of king David’s generosity?
  • Ideas to Explore: God, the people, Solomon, David himself, maybe the world?

• 1
  NIV New International Version Translations
• 2
  https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2022/09/2022-midterm-election-spending-on-track-to-top-9-3-billion/

It was a cool spring day in Lexington and Concord, MA on April 19, 1775, when 700 British Regulars would march to the town green. By the end of the day, there would be 49 colonists dead, 39 wounded, and 5 missing.

Our response: Outrage, we went to war!

It was a quiet Sunday, December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked the United States of America. The attack at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii killed 2,403 Americans and wounded 1,178.

Our response: Outrage, we went to war!

It was a normal workday in New York City on September 11, 2001. Two hijacked planes would fly into the Twin Towers. A third plane would hit the Pentagon and a fourth plane, intended to hit somewhere in Washington D.C., would crash in a field in Pennsylvania. A total of 2,996 people died including 2,977 victims and 19 hijackers.

Our response: Outrage, we went to war!

Fast forward to today. Fentanyl overdoses are the No. 1 cause of death among US adults, ages 18-45. More adults between 18 and 45 died of fentanyl overdoses in 2020 than COVID-19, motor vehicle accidents, cancer, and suicide. Between 2020 and 2021, nearly 79,000 people between 18 and 45 years old — 37,208 in 2020 and 41,587 in 2021 — died of fentanyl overdoses.

Fentanyl is produced in China. China openly proclaims they have a mandate of “Heaven over Tianxia” (All Under One Heaven)¹https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianxia.  They consider this mandate an obligation to rule the world. China produces fentanyl and then ships it to Mexico where it is packaged into pills (counterfeit medications). Fentanyl is then smuggled into the United States by organized Mexican cartels. It is even put in candy, packaged as candy for consumption by the youngest of our children. Why? China considers the United States its enemy, working to rule over us one day! The cartels find our consumption of illegal drugs profitable. The US does nothing to stop either China or Mexican cartels.

Our Response: Outrage, but we have done nothing!

The US Congress’ move toward the takeover of America’s children is chilling. Their desire to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child is also a threat to the loss of parental rights. Many social programs of today include restraining parental rights like the one example in Canada where a court overturned a father’s grounding of his 12-year-old child, deeming it unfair to the child. Educational systems have compared concerned parents to domestic terrorists. Being a concerned parent at a school board meeting could get you a visit from the Federal Bureau of Investigation or worse. Where are parental rights in all of this?

Our Response: Outrage, but we have done nothing!

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)²NIV New International Version Translations – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”

The question Solomon would ask us today is whether we can continue to be silent, to do nothing. History would tell us that it is time to do something to protect our children. Why is nothing being done to stop the injustice? It is a hard question, but one must first ask themselves is whether it is OK to kill children through drugs. One must ask themselves if it is OK to send children off into an educational system that perverts God. Is it OK to let a little child watch a drag show but suspend them for prayer or make boys and girls question birth gender and share what used to be private, safe spaces with complete indifference to their sex? Is it OK to let our government raise our children or worse yet, the United Nations?

(Psalm 127:3-5) – “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.”

Psalm 127 is a family psalm, written by King David for his son, Solomon. David is directing his son to look up to God, and to depend upon His providence, without which all Solomon’s wisdom and service would serve no purpose. The psalm shows how necessary it is that we keep in favor with God. King David views his children as blessings, gifts from God. Is not a child the future? And if so, what does our country’s future look like? God points out that He must be paramount in the parenting of our children. (Deuteronomy 6:7) stating, “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Parenting is full-time, and protecting children is full-time. It also takes a government, and leaders who respect the sanctity of a family. The leaders we choose must be those who honor life and family. The good news is that God is on our side when it comes to raising Godly children. “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42).

A millstone is a set of two stones used to grind grain with one stone stationary and the other turning on top. Millstones were so important to Jewish society that Mosaic Law forbid anyone in taking someone’s millstone as collateral against a debt. (Deuteronomy 24:6). A millstone was needed to grind grain to make bread. The bread was considered a life-sustaining food. Millstones were also heavy. Therefore, to put it bluntly, Jesus said that you would be cast into the deep sea with a millstone tied around your neck if you harmed or even caused a single child to sin. One might surmise that based on our society today, we will need a lot of millstones when Jesus returns. What has happened to our current social order and the concept of sin? Does the government now define for us what is sinful? Can anyone erase what God Himself has called detestable? There is a reality here that is being used to confuse society. Only God defines sin!

Why has our society become so silent?  This year, over 100,000 young people will die of fentanyl. Yet the consumption of Chinese goods and services by the US is approximately 500 billion dollars a year and growing. Our southern border remains open to Mexican cartels to import Fentanyl in quantities so great, that there is enough to kill everyone in the United States multiple times. Is this not reason enough to try to stop the flow of drugs? Has our society become so comfortable with sin that we are sacrificing our children upon Satan’s altar? And for what purpose? Is legalization, calling drugs no longer sinful, a useful strategy?

(Deuteronomy 6:1-25) – “These are the commands, decrees, and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children, and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy a long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and your gates. When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Fear the Lord your God, serve him only, and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord, your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors, thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said. In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees, and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Before our eyes, the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”

Now be truthful. Did you take time to read all (Deuteronomy 6:1-25)? You see, that is the problem we face today. Under the ruse of social justice, equity, and peace at any price, people have abandoned looking to God for His advice. It is not a complex problem we have here. God simply says to take responsibility for your nation’s sinful behavior. You might want to re-read (Deuteronomy 6:1-25). God calls us to appoint godly leadership. God calls us to protect children because they are our future. And to love Him with all your heart, soul, and strength!

You can also read Lostpine’s Study called “Woe to the Children of our World” by clicking HERE.

Contemplations

• Are fentanyl, child trafficking, and parental rights worth going to war over?
  • Ideas to Explore: In some cases, war may be real as our nation stops the flow of drugs across the border. In other cases, it may be economic as we shift our economic purchasing power away from China. How would you solve the problem?
• How do we make our society safe for children?
  • Ideas to Explore: Where would you start? Where do parental rights fit in this fight?
• Why do you think that our society is not holding its leaders accountable for the issues we face as a nation?
  • Ideas to Explore: Whose values are guiding society, the media, the government, political parties, outside forces, etc.?
• Pick one item in our society that you are unhappy with. What would you do to change it in our nation?
  • Ideas to Explore: Does the change involve bringing God back to our nation? Is the change motivated by selfless and/or selfish reasons? Is there safety for children in the end?
• Why are our leaders afraid to confront our enemies like China? Why have we let the Mexican cartel run our southern border?
  • Ideas to Explore: Are we tough enough on our enemies? Do our leaders profit off our weaknesses? Do our leaders concern themselves with their special interests over our nation’s citizens?

• 1
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianxia.
• 2
  NIV New International Version Translations