The Word of God--Owning It!---Day 87 Through the Bible

                                              Experiencing the Word of God might be compared to 
                                                                      experiencing the beauty of God's Creation.
                                It seems we can never get enough of either--we can never get enough of God!


God knew Israel would one day seek to have a king like the nations around them.  He gave instructions in Deuteronomy 17, as to how they were to choose their king.  As king, their leader was instructed by God to “write for himself a copy of this law in a book”.  “And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God”.  God goes on to list the blessings that are to follow.

While we may not be “kings”, this scripture remains profitable for us (2 Tim. 3:16).  I have found it beneficial to write out verses and passages of scripture from time to time. God wanted the king, and He wants us to “own” the scriptures. When we "own" something we are involved with it.  When we “own” a project, a house, a car, etc., it becomes personal and we become involved with it.  Hopefully, we are coming to “own” this daily Bible study:  we are eager to open the Bible, we take note of thoughts that are triggered by certain verses, we visualize passages, we find ourselves meditating on what we've read, we apply it to personal situations in our lives.  We are “learning to fear the Lord”.  God allows us the freedom to take it to the depths we choose.

This study is teaching us to be attentive to what God says and brings us an awareness of how He feels about things. God is being revealed to us--we are coming to "know" God!  Studying God's Word also brings us to a humble state of mind.  (The word "presumptuous" is mentioned a couple of times in today's scriptures.) We also come to understand how superior God’s thoughts are to how we think.  As we are learning the extent of God’s love for us we are less likely to turn aside from His way.  As we read about the contrast between the righteous and the wicked, we may consider people’s lives we have known that verify the truth of God’s Word. 

Jesus’ example is priceless for us.  The power of truth is revealed in Luke 4.  The account of Jesus’ battle with the “father of lies” sets the precedent for our own spiritual battles, in knowing and quoting scripture in times of trial and temptation.  May we faithfully study God's Word and become skilled in using the spiritual lessons God is teaching us.  

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:  for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.  Jeremiah 15:16

To Know God is To Love God--Day 80 Through the Bible

                                      I always look forward to passing these daffodils on Hwy 80 South 
                                               near Mt. Celo Church.  God provides so much beauty for our enjoyment.
                                            He definitely "does all things well", and it is such a pleasure to worship Him!
                                         
What a wonderful study for today!  On a personal level, I think this 4th chapter of Deuteronomy may contain more information about God than perhaps any passage in the Bible.  I listed at least 30 statements concerning God from this one chapter.  (Any time we read about things God does, it helps keep what He does in perspective by keeping in mind that "God is love" (I John 4:8.) 

Psalm 36:7-9, would make an excellent passage to begin a prayer with.  The phrase "And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures" conveys a beautiful message regarding God's love for us.  The psalmists under the inspiration of God certainly had a way with words!

In today’s reading, Moses reminds us of a parent giving his children final instructions before leaving.  Moses was leaving—not to take a short trip--he would be going up on a mountain to die! No less than four times in this chapter does Moses tell Israel to “take heed” to what he is telling them.  Moses knows the people well after dealing with their carnality and lack of faith in God for forty years in the wilderness.  This calls to mind the fact that God also knows us well--even better than we know ourselves.  

One of Moses' big concerns was that the people would carve out idols for worship.  We are all born with the desire to worship--God placed that in us when He created us for His glory (Isaiah 43:7).  Moses reminded them twice in this chapter that they "saw no form" when they heard God's voice at Horeb.  Today, we see images involved in worship that include everything that Moses warned the Israelites not to make.  And today, we find many who recognize "Mother Nature" over God.   Moses told Israel in verse 19, to once again "take heed" and when they see the wonders of the heavens and "feel driven to worship them and serve them", to remember this: "the Lord your God has given (them) to all the people under the whole heaven as a heritage".  While we stand in awe of the creation, we are not to worship it. (How many cultures are known for worshiping the sun and moon?) We are not to fall prey to worshiping the creation rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25)!

The key to finding God is found in Deuteronomy 4:29.  In this passage, Israel is given hope for the time that would occur when they would be scattered among other nations because of their idolatrous practices:  "But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul".  God's purpose for our suffering is always to turn our hearts to Him.  This passage even includes a prophetic word concerning "the latter days":  "When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you. . ." (We might want to write that down somewhere!)

The Gospel of Luke brings another perspective to events surrounding Christ's birth.  I found a bit of humor in the account of Gabriel speaking to Zacharias in the temple.  Of course Zacharias was fearful when he saw the angel!  Gabriel delivered the message from God to him.  Zacharias responded with, "I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years".  Gabriel's answer is awesome:  "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God".  (I can just hear Gabriel adding, "so there!")  What a lesson for us!  We have such a human tendency to focus on ourselves, we would probably answer from a self-centered point of view just as Zacharias did--even in the presence of the angel Gabriel--the angel that stands in God's presence!  No wonder God says humility is so valuable (Proverbs 22:4)!

I want to share just a few of the 30 statements found in Deuteronomy that shine light on who God is:
--God destroyed those who followed false gods
--God is near to His people
--God's word is our wisdom and understanding
--His people may call on Him for whatever reason (I love this one!)
--We are to pass on the knowledge of God to our children and grandchildren (are we doing this?)
--God is angry when we do evil in His sight and it can result in our destruction
--God created man on earth
--There is no other God besides the Creator
--Keeping His commandments will result in things going well for us and for our children
--God is a merciful God; He will not forsake His people, destroy them, nor forsake His covenant with us

I trust you are coming to know God and His love for you in this study.  I hope you can join me in making these words in Psalms 116:13, personal for you:  "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord"!

Glorious Liberty--Day 59 Through the Bible

                                     This beautiful butterfly has a lifespan of approximately one month at best.
                                                                 The Year of Jubilee is a topic in our study today.  
                                                You will learn in this blog that the Bible tells us the entire creation  
                                                                                    is waiting  for liberation!                

February 28

Before finishing the blog, I took a walk on this blustery, snowy morning. (If I allow the weather to hinder my walk, I tend to find other excuses not to walk even in good weather.) During my walk, I heard an unfamiliar “squawk” as I made my way up a hill, and then a loud swooshing of wings. As I looked up, I saw wild turkeys leaving the tops of the trees. These trees are very tall. I know turkeys roost at night, but had no idea how high. I watched as the large birds flew out of sight and had never seen them fly such a long distance.  This brought to mind one of the subjects of today’s study—that of liberty.

The year of Jubilee (the 50^th year) was to be consecrated and liberty proclaimed throughout the land for all its inhabitants. This 50^th year was to bring freedom from debt and the bondage of servitude, and land was restored to its original owners. God told Israel in Leviticus 25:23, “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me”.

God is working out a plan that will restore not only man, but the entirety of creation. We see in Romans 8:19-23, that God’s creation is waiting for something. Verses 19, 21 say, “For the earnest expectation of the creature (the Greek word for creature can be translated “creation”) waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.. . .Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God”. (Isaiah 11:6-9 tells of a time of peace in the future when the wolf will dwell with the lamb and there will be an unprecedented time of peace for man and beast.)

God’s Feasts that were covered in the previous chapter are a type of God’s plan from start to finish—from Passover to the 8^th day--the "last great day" of the Feast of Tabernacles, spoken of by Jesus in John 7:37.  Verse 22-23 of Romans 8 continues, “For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of our body”.

It is questionable whether a Jubilee year was ever observed in Israel. Most Bible scholars seem to believe that it was never celebrated. Israel struggled with unbelief and disobedience leading to their 40 year trek in the wilderness and was unable to follow God after their entrance into the Promised Land. Our flesh, as theirs, is corrupt and it is impossible to experience true liberty without the new birth. And as it says in Romans 8, even we who are born again groan as we wait for the redemption of our bodies.

We are living in a time when things are being shaken. During our study in Leviticus, the phrase “I am the Lord Your God” appears over and over. In the days ahead, we would do well as believers to keep this truth in the fore front of our minds. God says that He will shake everything that can be shaken—“that those things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:27). This study helps root us and ground us in the Word of God, which can never be shaken.  

It gives us hope and comfort to know that God has a plan of liberation for all His creation. We briefly get a glimpse of this need as we see fear reflected in the eyes of a rabbit as he flees for safety. And to think that that little rabbit “waits for the manifestation of the sons of God”! He doesn’t this, but God does. As we live in anticipation of this day, may we be reminded not to oppress one another, as God instructed in Leviticus. God is aware there is a tendency in human nature to do just that. God specifically mentions not charging a brother interest (usury), but to “fear the Lord”.

The Psalmist asks God to, “Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever” (Psalm 28:9). Proverbs 10:19-21, certainly applies today, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver…the lips of the righteous feed many”. As we continue to live in a world held in bondage, may we follow Jesus’ example of getting alone with God. We are not without a Shepherd! There is safety and rest when we dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under His shadow (Psalm 91:1).

Even as Jesus suggested to the disciples, we have the capacity to give the worn-out multitude “something to eat”. Living in bondage is demoralizing. We notice the sad faces around us every where we go. God has liberated us to give the hope of the Gospel to our fellow man—the Good News that liberation is possible! He has left us in the world (John 17:15), to spread the good news and share this hope with others until He returns. As the day approaches, may we see ourselves sojourning with God in the land that belongs to Him. May we be faithful in telling others that the day of spiritual Jubilee has dawned and the day of complete liberation for all creation is coming!