22 Aug (Matt 9)

The Gospels: The Compassion of Jesus

Matthew 9

(v.5) I love it when Jesus debates with the Pharisees! He answers their questions with His own question! There is so much wisdom in His Word, and they become speechless.

(v.9) We don't know what passed through Matthew's mind when Jesus told him to follow Him, but we do know that he didn't hesitate. Today, we consider lawyers who defend the guilty to be the lowest of the low, since they don't seek to find justice and truth, but they do all that they can to deny truth and justice, in order to free their client. Well, the tax collectors of that day were the lowest of the low, since they were Jews who were helping and profiting off fellow Jews for the Romans.

(v.12) Like the proclaimed traitors, called tax collectors, Jesus came to save all the sick and lost. But before we think we're not in that group, we need to ask if we are sinless, and do we need a Physician to heal us? We do, and He did on the cross for us over 2,000 years ago!

(v.15) We need to remember that Jesus is speaking in terms that Jews will understand Him. Jesus is saying that the disciples have no need to fast, for their God and Messiah is there with them! But when He is gone and in heaven, then they will fast and pray, like we need to do today.

(v.21) I show my kids that this woman displayed great faith. Jesus honors that, and He healed her immediately.

(v.27) Son of David is Messianic...they knew He was the Promised One of David's line!

(v.29) Again, notice that Jesus heals people who have faith, and believe in Him.

(v.37) This is sobering...there are so many people out there lost without Jesus, but we as Christians don't serve enough. I am guilty of this. We get so caught up in our own lives, that we forget to put other people's lives before our own. I am reminded of Gal 6:2

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

29 June (Ezekiel 13-16)

Ezekiel 13

(v.3) Any time we aren't following God, we're following our own pride. Many people can trick themselves into believing they are acting out God's will, when they haven't been directed by God. In fact, they're using God's name to commit sins and hide behind a "vision" that God supposedly gave them. These people will have to answer to God in the end, and it won't be pretty.

(v.10) Everyone wants peace, but to trick people into thinking that everything is great when it's not is wicked. We see our world right now, relying upon the United Nations and their "peace" to keep the world from exploding. But if we know our Bible, we know that there will only be true peace when the Prince of Peace returns!

Ezekiel 14

(v.5) God really cares about our hearts...others may see a "good" and cheerful person, but only God sees that person who has a hard heart. However, if we have a good heart and we're really His, then we will display our joy and peace in the LORD, and it will be powerful to others!

(v.14) God will protect His own...He will keep those of us who have faith in Him. However, there are many who seem righteous in Christ, but they are only righteous in their own minds.

Ezekiel 15

Jesus speaks of a vine in John 15 in the same way, where the vine has lost it's ability to bear fruit. This is what Israel had become, so the Gentiles, the Church, will be grafted into the blessings of Israel. The Church doesn't replace Israel, but it enjoys many of the blessings BECAUSE of Israel.

In the end, God will graft back in the Jews who come to belief in Yeshua, and we'll all be one in Christ!

Ezekiel 16

(v.8) This is incredible imagery here, and God is likening His believers to a bride, and He is the groom. This mirrors the relationship with the Bride of Christ and the Groom...Jesus. However, God here is speaking of Israel, who was once the sparkle of His eye, but they wasted His love for them. Ruth 3:9

(v.15) So because of their unfaithfulness, the Groom has discarded His Bride. Only until the Bride truly loves Him again, will He let her back into His rest.

(v.20) We see one of the many atrocities that the people committed in their worship of pagan gods. God loves life, and we are to cherish all life. This includes the fight against abortion.

(v.60) God will remember His covenant with Israel and accept them back if they only repent. He is forgiving and patient...He wants us to love Him for the wonderful God and Creator He is!!!

23 June (Jeremiah 36-40)

Jeremiah 36

(v.3) Even though God has proclaimed His anger and the calamity that will befall the people, He still gives them another chance to repent! God is patient beyond our comprehension!

(v.30) As we discussed a few chapters ago, God put a curse on the descendants of Jehoiakim, and Jesus was a direct descendant! However, God also had the other son of David, Nathan, whose descendants were Heli and Mary...the earthly mother of Jesus. So Jesus had the rite to the throne through Solomon's descendants, but His blood wasn't cursed since He had David's blood through his other son, Nathan!

Jeremiah 37

(v.9) We are good at rationalization...we can talk ourselves into and out of anything! But God's Word is true, and no matter what we think we can control, for if He wills that we go through trials, then we will. The key is to include Him with us, and we'll get through them quicker and better afterwards! James 1:2

Jeremiah 38

(v.26) I like how the king finally spoke honestly with Jeremiah. Even though it was in private, he wanted to know what the LORD spoke to Jeremiah. It would've been better had he as king proclaimed that the LORD was speaking through Jeremiah, but that's better than nothing! This reminds me of when Nicodemus went to Jesus in the middle of the night so he wouldn't be seen. John 3:1

Jeremiah 39

(v.7) As we saw a few chapters before, king Zedekiah didn't listen to the LORD, so he was taken captive to Babylon, but he never saw Babylon...both Ezekiel and Jeremiah were correct!

(v.12) King Nebuchadnezzar (Nebby) must have heard that Jeremiah told king Zedekiah to surrender to him, so Nebby treated Jeremiah well. It's also possible that Daniel had already been a good influence on Nebby, and he revered the prophets of Israel.

Jeremiah 40

(v.2) I point out to my kids that the guard spoke of God as the true God...not some pagan god among many. God used Daniel and Jeremiah to influence Babylon in a good way.

(v.5) God always has a remnant for His purposes. He made the mighty Babylonians serve Him by being kind to Jeremiah. As we go on, and we see other empires conquer Israel, we'll see more of this.

22 June (Jeremiah 31-35)

Jeremiah 31

(v.3) God has an everlasting love...I remind my kids that God has ALWAYS loved them and He ALWAYS will.

(v.15) This is a prophecy of the time of Christ. When Herod ordered all the male children ages two and younger to be killed (in order to kill the coming King of the Jews), the Gospel of Matthew cites this verse as fulfilled. Matt 2:18

(v.31) This New Covenant is what Christ did for Israel, and the whole world. One day, the Jews will know God clearly, and realize that Jesus was and is their Messiah. As Jesus told the disciples, that He came to make a New Covenant, for the one through Moses was reliant upon man's obedience. God knew that they would fail, but He gave them signs to show them their coming Messiah. Matt 26:28

Jeremiah 32

(v.8) We all have these moments, where we did or said something that we weren't sure how or why we did it. But then, it becomes clear, and we then know that the LORD was directing us. This is what Jeremiah realized in this verse.

(v.29) God again shows that He is outside of time, and predicts the doom of Israel at the hands of Babylon.

Jeremiah 33

(v.3) This is a powerful verse! God is challenging us to call out to Him, and to seek His guidance. In return, He will do mighty things in all of us. Now, does that mean we'll all be like King David? Of course not, but our lives affect others, and just one kind word, or one kind act, can change the world. Who knows, the kid we help now may grow up to be a big man of God and start a revival!

(v.21) If God breaks His covenant with David, then all His covenants are worthless. God does not break His promises, and one day, the seed from David (Jesus) will reign on David's throne in Jerusalem!

Jeremiah 34

(v.11) When we think we have a better plan than God, we bring misery upon ourselves. The people of Israel didn't trust God, so they kept their slaves in selfishness. It is said that the more we sacrifice liberty for the sake of security, we lose both.

Jeremiah 35

God honors obedience to Him...if we obey we are blessed, and we will experience less hardships than if we tried to do things on our own.

18 June (Jeremiah 11-15)

Jeremiah 11

(v.12) God only hears the cries of those He call His own. Israel has always been His, but their disobedience and rebellion has muffled their cries. If we only talk to God when something goes wrong, then don't be surprised if a lot of things go wrong in your life! If that's the only way God can hear you and reach you, then He will grant your wish.

(v.16) God made quite a few covenants, and most of them were unconditional. That is, it didn't depend upon man's obedience. The covenants He made with Abraham and David are unconditional, and they are crucial for our salvation. That is why God didn't make them dependant upon our obedience and righteousness.

However, when God gave the Law to His people, He told them that they would live abundantly and in peace if they followed His Law. They didn't, and even worse, they demanded to be ruled by an earthly king! Our disobedience lifts God's protective hand from us, and we encounter more hardships than necessary because of it.

Jeremiah 12

(v.1) We have all asked this question, "Why do the wicked prosper when we're doing what we should be doing?" In the short term, this seems accurate, but in the long term, our faithfulness will pay off. God's way is the only way and any deviation from that will bring sorrow in the end.

God describes Israel as His heritage. He loves Israel, but their disobedience and sin force Him to move away from them. God will not force Himself upon us...He is a gentleman, and He pleads with us to choose Him...to choose life.

Jeremiah 13

(v.9) Pride is what separates us from God. Lucifer's pride separated him forever from God. Our sins all go back to pride, since it's pride in the truest sense that makes us look out for ourselves instead of others.

(v.16) This is another example of God's patience and kindness...He is pleading with the people to repent. He is not a mean God, but rather, He is a just and loving God that demands respect.

Jeremiah 14

(v.11) I take time to discuss this verse with my kids. The people are so far away from God, that even when they seem like they are reaching out to Him, they really aren't. They were living their lives as they wished, and only when trouble comes upon them, do they think about and cry out to God.

Jeremiah 15

(v.1) Both Moses and Samuel's pleas with God to relent from His wrath upon His people aren't good enough now. Not even these great and pious men could intercede for the wickedness of the people now. I see the same thing today, and it's only by God's grace that we aren't destroyed yet.

(v.15) As ambassadors of Christ, we are bound to suffer ridicule and persecution. Remember, all the Disciples and Apostles of Christ died horrible deaths (except for John) by their witness. The world doesn't like what God has to say about it, so when we speak with God's Words, the world lashes back. Be prepared in prayer when you reach out to others.

1 June (Isaiah 15-20)

Isaiah 15

(v.2) In Hebrew culture at that time, a man displayed his maturity by letting his hair be long, and have a flowing beard. When they had a family member die, they would shave their heads and beards to let everyone know that they are in a mourning time. They would let their hair grow during the mourning time...usually for a number of months, then shave it again to let everyone know that they're done mourning.

I joke with my kids that today, when we see bald men, it doesn't mean they're mourning, unless they're mourning the loss of their hair!

Isaiah 16

(v.5) Jesus is a descendant of David, and as God told Mary when she was pregnant, that her Son would sit on the throne of David. When Jesus was on the earth, there was no throne of David, for it had been destroyed by the Babylonians and Romans. Jesus will rule and reign for 1,000 years in the new Temple, most likely sitting on the Mercy Seat that covers the Ark of the Covenant.

There will be a terrible time in the world that history has never come close to. Imagine that, with the world wars and major calamities that have happened throughout history, nothing will come close to the events describing the Great Tribulation.

Jesus will stop it, and establish peace, justice and mercy on all the people...Hallelujah!

Isaiah 17

(v.1) This is a key verse...Damascus is the oldest city to be still with the same name. With what is going on in the Middle East, we see Syria helping Iran and Israel's neighbors with arms and missles. I believe that one day soon, Damascus will be wiped out for her work against Israel, and like the Scripture says, it will be a ruinous heap. This may happen from a nuclear blast, or since there are scores of ammo storehouses, it may just be a powder keg waiting to erupt.

(v.7) When all is said and done, we all will face God. Those of us who have believed and followed Christ, will have judgement, but only to burn away our unholiness. We will be rewarded on the Bema Seat of Christ, which is like the Olympic medal stand. We may have nothing left but our faith after it goes through the fire, but our faith is what will get us through to salvation and heaven.

For those that rejected God, or didn't take Him seriously, they will face the Father in the Great White Throne of Judgement, and they will be speechless. They will have their lives displayed, and they will have nothing to show for what they did for Christ's sake. We need to keep trying to plant seeds so the Spirit can bring the lost to God.

Isaiah 18

Ethiopia has a big role to play in the end times. Many scholars believe that they currently hold the Ark of the Covenant, and it's their job to present it to Jesus when He returns.

If we look at Acts 8 we see that God has Philip go to the desert to speak to an Ethiopian man. This man is a eunuch, and has an entourage with him. The man is reading Isaiah 53 which is the best Scripture describing the Messiah other than the Gospels. He doesn't understand, though, and Philip explains to him that the Messiah had to first die for our sins, then He will come back as the King.

It is believed that this Eunuch heard what Jesus was doing in Galilee and the area, and he thought that it was time to present the Ark to God. The link below is a good read to know more of what I think is the best possibility of where the Ark is today, and what it's purpose will be in the last days.

http://www.baseinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=68

Isaiah 19

(v.6) Isaiah predicted this thousands of years before it happened...in Egypt, they erected the Aswan Dam with the idea that it would prevent the Nile from flooding the area. It accomplished that, but it also didn't allow for the salt in the water to go to the sea, and it seeped into the farmlands and ruined the crops.

This is a verse that the environmentalists and Christians can agree on!

(v.12) If we look at all other "holy" books of different faiths, we can easily see that their predictions have been false. Only the Bible has been 100% accurate so far, so why would we doubt that it won't be absolutely accurate for the end times? We have not "outgrown" the Bible, since God thought of everything before He created the universe!

Be careful of following man's wisdom or predictions...search the Scriptures yourself Acts 17:11 and know what God says...not what man says...including me!

Isaiah 20

My kids get a kick out of this chapter, for the Egyptians and Ethiopians are shamed by having to expose their buttocks! I'm kind of silly, so I act it out for them, and they laugh! It may seem silly for God to have this in His Scriptures, but it's all there for a reason. We can't escape God.

23 May (Hosea 8-14)

Hosea 8

(v.4) This reminds us of the book of Judges, where the people rejected God as their king, and wanted to be like other nations and have their own human king. I fear that this country is like that, wanting to be like Europe, instead of having God as our King, with god-fearing people to represent us. ~ 1 Sam 8:6

(v.10) When a nation relies on other nations to rule them, we get chaos and disorder. Our leaders today want us to abide by international law and the United Nations, instead of our God-given Constitution. We are on a slippery slope to destruction if we don't elect God-fearing people to represent us!

(v.14) This all happens when we forget God. It's easy to get caught up in our work and weekly activities, but we must strive to include God in all these things. Not only does He do a better job at them, but we will make better decisions since we're walking with Him, not against Him!

Hosea 9

(v.5) Here we see another reference to the Day of the LORD...when Jesus comes again in God's wrath upon those who rejected Him. Some think that's harsh, but God has done all the work for our salvation, and all He asks is some love and commitment. Those that think they can do better will be very sad for all eternity. We need to reach out to them and share the Gospel with them.

(v.12) If you read Matt 22, there is a parable that Jesus tells, and to me, it's an unbeliever who gets a glimpse of heaven and is thrown out for his unbelief. He will spend eternity in hell, tormented with the fact that he could have chosen better. This is why we need to be bold and loving to the lost...they still have time to choose God instead of themselves.

Hosea 10

(v.2) God doesn't want part-time servants...He wants us engaged and active. Join me in prayer that we search our gifts from God, and use them for His purposes and His glory!

This whole book is about God loving a rebellious nation, and pleading with them to return to Him. The God of the OT is the same as Jesus in the NT...they are wanting us to choose to love and serve Him, and not choose death in our sins.

Hosea 11

(v.7) This is a powerful verse. How many people do we know that say they are Christian, but we see no fruit from them? We can't know the hearts of people, but we can see the fruit from them. Way too many people treat God as some safety net, or superhero, only to call on them when they need Him. God wants us to call upon Him daily...in fact, more than that!

Hosea 12

(v.1) I find it interesting that oil is mentioned here, since it is the prized commodity in the Middle East. The battle we see there is not just about oil or money...it is the battle between Satan and his demons against God's people...Israel. I believe that one day, Israel will have vast amounts of oil, and that will draw their enemies to attack them in the great battle described in Ezekiel 38-39.

(v.13) This is a reference to Moses, who was a prophet and great man of God. Even though he had his faults like all of us, he showed us in many ways how to serve God.

Hosea 13

(v.9) God is pleading with Israel to rely upon Him, and like we've seen so many times in the Bible, He is merciful, and He will help any of us who call out to Him earnestly.

(v.10) Jesus will be Israel's King...ruling in Jerusalem on the throne of David! Luke 1:32

(v.11) If we aren't walking with God, we will ask for things outside His will for us. The people of Israel did this when they wanted a king. God was angered, but He let them have their wish. This brings up the old phrase, "Be careful for what you wish for!"

Hosea 14

(v.2) In the first two verses, God is calling the people to return to Him...that's called repentance. This entails, turning away from our wicked ways, and returning to following Him.

(v.4) God is gracious, for He will love all of us freely. This reminds me of Paul's letter to the Romans:

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ~ Rom 8:32

(v.9) If we're walking with God, we will become wise and prudent. If we stick to the knowledge of the world, we will constantly fall and have hardships...why not make it easier on ourselves and follow God!?!

16 May (Joel 3)

Joel 3

(v.2) Joel is describing what we hear often called today, Armageddon. This is the final battle between God (Jesus) and all unbelievers. The valley is named Megiddo, and it's also called the valley of Jehoshaphat. In Hebrew, Jehoshaphat means God Will Judge.

Scholars have noted that when Napoleon Bonaparte travelled to this area, he saw how perfect the valley would be for the final battle according to the Bible. He saw it as the perfect place to have many nations, and millions of people fight at one time.

I also point out to my kids that Israel is always special to God. He will return His focus on Israel once He has brought His Bride (the Church) to heaven in the Rapture. The whole world, without Christians in it, will try to get rid of the nation Israel, once and for all. They will get close, but God will come again and save them. This time of affliction and distress for Israel is called the Great Tribulation by Jesus Himself. Matt 24:21; Rev 2:22, 7:14

Only when Israel sees that there is no hope for saving themselves, they will turn to God. Hosea 5:15

(v.14) The Valley of Decision is where God will judge the nations and peoples that rejected Him and fought against Israel...His land.

(v.15) Here we see the darkness referred to many times for the last days.

(v.17) Jesus will sit on the Throne of David and reign for 1,000 years...this is called the Millennium. Only then will there be peace, since the Prince of Peace is ruling in Jerusalem!

(v.18) Creation will be restored, except for the lands that fought against God...they will be desolate.

13 May (2 Kings 11-12)

2nd Kings 11

(v.3) Satan tried many times to thwart God's plans, but we see here, another attempt to eliminate the heirs of David, to keep God's Covenant with David from happening. So far, we have seen these attempts:

~ Pharaoh during Moses' time

~ Haman during time of Esther

~ Athaliah during this time

And we will see Herod, during time of Jesus, try to kill all the young boys in Bethlehem in the Gospels.

We see more Hebrew numerology here, since Joash was hidden for six years, which typifies incompletion, but is named king in the seventh year, which typifies completion.

(v.17) All leaders should do what Jehoiada did, and make himself and the people dedicate themselves to the LORD. Wouldn't it be great if every four years, our President would do this upon inauguration?

2nd Kings 12

Jehoash (or Joash) became king at the age of seven. Obviously, he relied on the wisdom of Jehoiada for those early years. This blog is like that in my mind...wisdom from God to teach us, and to teach our kids in their early years. Please pray that this blog is God-driven, not driven by me!

12 May (2 Kings 8-10)

2nd Kings 8

(v.2) I find this famine to be like the one in Gen 41 in the dream of Joseph. Seven is the number representing completion in Hebrew culture, and I like to stress to my kids to see the whole Bible as one book...not a compilation of many books. Here we have many different authors who say the same things, and use the same typology. That can only be because there is One Author...the Holy Spirit!!!

(v.6) Just like in Gen 41, the Jews are restored and saved after the famine!

(v.19) We have another reference to the Davidic Covenant...God's promise to David, that his descendants will always rule over Israel. However, only One will rule in the end...Yeshua...Jesus!

2nd Kings 9

(v.20) This is a good Bible reference to say when someone is driving their car in an unsafe way...tell them they are like Jehu! At the very least, they will slow down to know what you mean!

(v.26) Isn't it fitting that the son of Ahab had his corpse thrown on the land of Naboth...the land taken by blood? God doesn't forget the evil things we do, but we can have them washed away by the blood of His Son. All we have to do is repent and accept Christ into our lives.

(v.35) I tell my kids that evil will one day be repaid. Jezebel saw this, and all who deny Christ will regret their pride and foolish ideas of being their own gods on earth!

2nd Kings 10

One thing that strikes me about this chapter, is that God is using a king of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) to exact His justice...even upon the Southern Kingdom (Judah). Jehu was following God's Word here, since he cites the words of Elijah and his prophecies.

Ahab and Jezebel are symbolic of evil...God is showing us that He will destroy evil in the Day of the Lord...when Jesus returns. There are patterns and types all throughout the Bible that help us understand the big picture if we study them.

(v.28) Jehu is a type of Christ here...he destroys the evil doers, and also destroys the evil worship places.

(v.29) Jehu is NOT at type of Christ here, because his actions were only political...not spiritual. Jehu only did these things for power, not to serve the LORD, but only for himself. Only God knows the heart, and we need to be discerning of those in the pulpit who seem Scriptural in politics, but fail to be Scriptural in spirit.

If we are following God, our heart will lead us...not our pride. Jehu is a great example of looking holy and righteous on the outside by his actions, but we see that in his heart, he wasn't a real believer in the LORD.

Mar 13 (2 Sam 6-7; 1 Chr 13-16)

2nd Samuel 6

(v.6) My kids ask me why God killed the man who merely steadied the ark when the oxen stumbled. After all, it seemed that he was concerned for the ark! But God gave rules about how to handle the ark (Num 4:15) which stated to never touch the ark with bare hands.

David realized that all Israel needed to be in tune with God's Word, and to take what God says with respect.

(v.16) David came to fear the LORD more, and because of it, he danced in worship to the LORD. We need to do this more ourselves! It doesn't say exactly why David's wife, Michal, resented David for doing this, but perhaps it was two things: first, she may have thought he looked silly, and worried what the people would think, or secondly, she wasn't in fear of the LORD, and thought David's actions were unjustified.

Either way, David rebuked her for her vain thoughts, and Michal never bore children the rest of her life.

2nd Samuel 7

David wanted to build a Temple for the LORD, in the fashion of the Tabernacle. This in itself was not wrong, since David wanted a place where he and all Israel could come and worship the LORD, but God didn't want it this way. David was God's warrior, and he had too much blood on his hands from doing God's work. God had planned for one of David's sons (Solomon) to build the Temple, and God promised to bless him...and He did!

(v.16) This is a key verse...Your throne shall be established forever. David would never sit on the throne in the Temple, but one of his descendants will...Jesus!

When Jesus returns, He will sit upon the throne of David and rule for 1,000 years called the Millenium. Jesus purchased us and the ownership deed of the earth when He died on the cross. He will be coming back to take residence, and rule in righteousness for 1,000 years! It is our duty as parents to teach our kids to know the LORD, and to look forward to His return!