I Chronicles 19
David sent comforters to Hanunverses 1-2
Now it came to pass after this
that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died
and his son reigned in his stead
And David said
I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash
because his father showed kindness to me
And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father
so the servants of David came into
the land of the children of Ammon
to Hanun – to comfort him
David’s comforters shamed by Hanunverses 3-5
But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun
Think you that David does honor your father
that he has send comforters to you?
Are not his servants come to you for to
search – overthrow – spy out the land?
Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants – and shaved them
and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks
and sent them away
Then there went certain – and told David how the men were served
and he sent to meet them – for the men were greatly ashamed
and the king said
Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown
and then return
Hanun hired soldiers to fight against Israelverses 6-9
And when the children of Ammon saw that they
had made themselves odious to David
Hanun and the children of Ammon
sent a thousand talents of silver
to hire them chariots and horsemen
out of Mesopotamia
Syria-maachah – Zobah
So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots
and the king of Maachah and his people
who came and pitched before Medeba
And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together
from their cities and came to battle
And when David heard of it – he sent Joab
and all the host of the might men
And the children of Ammon came out
and put the battle in array before the gate of the city
and the kings that were come were
by themselves in the field
Joab encouraged the Israelite army to fightverses 10-13
Now when Joab saw that the battle was against him
before and behind he chose out of all the choice of Israel
and put them in array against the Syrians
and the rest of the people he delivered
to the hand of Abishai his brother
and they set themselves
in array against the children of Ammon
And he said
IF the Syrians be too strong for me – THEN you shall help me
BUT IF the children of Ammon be too strong for you
THEN I will help you
BE of good courage – let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people
and for the cities of our God – and let the LORD do that
which is good in HIS sight
Syrians ran from Joabverses 14-15
So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh
before the Syrians to the battle
And they fled before him
and when the children of Ammon
saw that the Syrians were fled
they likewise fled before Abishai his brother
and entered into the city
Then Joab came to Jerusalem
Syrians sent for more troopverse 16
And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel
they sent messenger – and drew forth the Syrians
that were beyond the river
and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer
went before them
David gathered Israelite armyverses 17-19
And it was told David – and he gathered all Israel – and passed over Jordan
and came upon them – and set the battle in array against them
So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians
they fought with him
BUT the Syrians fled before Israel – and David slew of the Syrians
seven thousand men which fought in chariots
and forty thousand footmen
and killed Shophach the captain of the host
And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse
before Israel – they made peace with David
and became his servants
neither would the Syrians help
the children of Ammon any more
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 And David said, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him. (5162 “comfort” [nacham] means to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted)
DEVOTION: Have you ever had someone question your intensions? Have you gone genuinely to someone to help them and they wonder why you are helping them? Have you ever had those feelings? Our sin nature sometimes convinces us that “no one does anything without a reason.” Most of the time we think it is for their personal gain rather than to just be a friend. It is sad when believers mistrust fellow believers when they offer to help. Yes, some have personal gain as a motive but most do not. They are genuine. They are trying to be a good friend.
Here we have an instinct when David wanted to console the son of a friend. The father had been good to David. David wanted the son to know that he appreciated all that his father had done for him.
The problem is that sometime people listen to the WRONG counsel. There are examples of this throughout the Word of God. There are negative counselors and positive counselors. We need to surround ourselves with those who know the LORD and can give good counsel regarding circumstances we are going through at the present moment. We need to find these good counselors that we can trust before we go through trying circumstances.
Here is a man going through the death of his father and along comes some men from another nation that his father was friends with to encourage him. The friends of the son give him wrong or bad counsel regarding the intents of these men and he listens to them.
When someone dies in a family, there are people who come to mourn with the family. Most of the people who attend the funeral are friends or family members. Here we have a friend of David who has died. He sends representatives the son of the friend to console him in the loss of his father.
David’s intentions are good. David really cared for Nahash. He had been a friend when David needed friends. His representatives were treated badly because the son believed the lies of some of those at his side. This started a war that ended with the son being defeated by the army of David.
Too often when we do things with good intentions, they are not honored as such. Sometimes people read things into what we are doing and say that it is bad. It happens. We need to be aware that our world is full of people who want to cause trouble between friends.
The problem is that it is not only happening in the world. It is happening in our churches. The LORD does not want us to be those who don’t comfort our friends and their families. It should not matter what others think of our intentions. The LORD knows our intentions. Trust that HE will honor them. HE did with David. David won the war because the LORD was with him. God knows our hearts. Be one who consoles friends in there lose.
CHALLENGE: We need to be remembered as individuals who care. We need to be known as individuals who are an encouragement to those around us. This would please the LORD. This would bring glory to the LORD. Be genuine!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 12 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me: But if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will help you. (2388 “be too strong for me” [chazaq] means to be physically strong or become physically stronger than at an earlier point in time, prevail, to be firm or be caught fast)
DEVOTION: We are in the business of helping one another in their battles against the world, the flesh and the devil. This is a physical battle that Joab was in against two different armies. He needed to have a battle plan and it was to strengthen each other when there was a need.
Our responsibility is to come alongside other believers who are fighting spiritual battles on a daily basis. We should be praying for those who attend our church for the strength to win victories over sin. We should be there when they call for prayer. We should be there when they ask for us to come and help them through a given trial or temptation.
We are brothers and sisters in the LORD that should be available to our fellow brothers and sisters. Many time believers cannot count on their biological family but should be able to count on their spiritual family.
We are not to be so busy that we can’t be available when needed. It is important to the LORD that believers help one another. Who are you helping and encouraging now in your life? Are you thinking only of yourself or are you thinking of others more?
Sometimes we think we have enough problems of our own that we don’t have time to help others. This would not work in a physical battle and it really will not work in the spiritual battles your brothers and sisters in the LORD are facing. You need help from time to time and should be able to call or write someone, so that, they can pray for you at least.
CHALLENGE: Prayer has the power to win battles we think cannot be won!!!
: 13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in HIS sight. (2388 “good courage” [chazaq] means strong, prevail, be firm, resolute, be caught fast, be secure, to grow stout, be confident, devote oneself, or to become powerful beyond what is expected)
DEVOTION: Basically, the army of Israel was surrounded by those who wanted to win the victory over them. Joab had to divide his army into two units. His brother led one unit and he led the other. The agreement was that if one group was having trouble with those who were going against them the other group would send reinforcements.
Joab challenged the troops to have power beyond their numbers to win the victory. The enemy was strong but he stated that their God was stronger. They had to believe that they could win before they would win. They had to believe that the LORD was on their side. He also made it plain that the LORD was going to do what was best for them in HIS sight.
Sometimes our sight and God’s sight are two different views. We think that we should win all our battles because we are a believer serving the LORD. That is not always true sometimes we are fighting battles the LORD has not called us to fight. We are going out on our own instead of waiting for HIM to instruct us properly about the battle.
Many times believers have joined causes that were not good for the testimony of Christianity. They thought the LORD would want them to fight when in reality HE would want them to handle the situation in a different way. We have to watch who we are willing to follow into battle. We have to pray for wisdom regarding what to be involved in and what not to be involved in.
This battle was one that the LORD wanted the children of Israel to be involved in and they won. Too often we are in battles that are losing because our priorities are wrong.
We need strength to say NO to some battles that seem good but not bringing glory to the LORD. Our key message is one of salvation. We have to present it with love. Sometimes the world sees our message as one of hate. We are to hate sin but show the sinner that the LORD has provided a way to escape their sin and turn to HIM for salvation. We cannot compromise the message of salvation by watering it down to fit everyone who just wants to say a prayer and live as they please but we can tell them about a lifetime commitment to obedience to the commands of the LORD.
CHALLENGE: We need strength to present the Biblical truths of the LORD in a loving manner without compromise.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 17 And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came to them, and set the battle in array against them. So, when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. (622 “gathered” [‘acaph] means to collect in one place, bring in, to assemble, to bring up the rear, or pertaining to a collection or mass moving to one place)
DEVOTION: The enemy had asked for help against the Israelites and so Joab asked for help from David. The battle was going on and each side was trying to gain ground against the other.
David came with more troops because the enemy had gathered more troops against his army. The battle was real. Each side wanted to win but the LORD was with David and his army.
We are in a battle everyday against an enemy who is always trying to bring in new troops against believers. The battle is real. The enemy is real. The need for victory is real each day for each believer as well as for the church of Jesus Christ.
There is not a day going by when the genuine church is not challenged by the world. They don’t want us around. They don’t want us to have a victory ever. They want to defeat the LORD and his army.
God does send reinforcements when they are requested. David came when he was called. The LORD will send us help when we call on HIM through prayer. The victory is promised to HIS people if they depend on HIM. The problem is that many believers and churches are trying to do it without prayer.
Our prayer meetings have almost ended on Wednesday nights in most churches. There seems to be the thought that we don’t need to pray as a group anymore. This is sad but true.
The battle is real but the believers are siting home instead of gathering for the battle by gathering together for prayer.
The LORD wants us to win. HE has the strong to cause us to win but we need to call on HIM for HIS help. This should be done daily in the individual life but also there should be a gathering of the troops at least one day a week to unitedly call on the LORD for help for our church and its members as they battle the world, the flesh and the devil.
CHALLENGE: Is prayer important in your life and in the life of your church? We need to gather the troops!!!
: 19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more. (7999 “peace” [shalam] means to be completed, to remain healthy, unharmed, to end hostilities, or to be whole)
DEVOTION: There are some people we should not be helping. It sounds hard but it is true. It is only through the wisdom the LORD gives you to know who should be helped and who should not be helped.
Here is a group of people who would not be helped again by this nation. These were two heathen nations fighting against the children of Israel. They thought they could defeat the children of Israel but the LORD was with the nation of Israel and gave them victory.
If you have picked the wrong side in a battle for spiritual victory you need to make sure you don’t pick the wrong side a second time. We can be fooled into thinking that we are fighting a battle for the LORD when in reality we are not really doing it the way the LORD would have us do it. There are proper methods the LORD wants us to use in battle and there are improper methods that sometimes get used by fellow believers that seem good at the time but are wrong from a Biblical point of view.
Compromise is one of the methods that is being introduced by many “Christian” organizations to reach people for the LORD. This is never God’s plan to reach people. There must be a genuine presentation of what the Word of God teaches regarding sin. If people are going against the commands of the LORD, we can’t compromise the teachings of the Word of God to reach people with a watered down message.
There always has to be a total commitment to the LORD before someone is truly saved from their sins. No partial commitment is accepted by the LORD. Don’t tell them to come as they are without the thought of changing immediately into someone who is obedient to the LORD.
There will be growth but there has to be willingness to leave the old life and become a new creation in Christ. Sin will continue to knock on their door but they don’t have to answer.
CHALLENGE: If we work together, we can cause there to be peace in our world. Our God is stronger than any enemy. We only had peace if we totally depend on the LORD.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Division of army of Israelverses 10-13
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)verse 13
LORD – Jehovah (Personal, Covenant keeping)verse 13
Cities of our Godverse 13
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Nahash – king of the children of Ammonverses 1-19
Ammon or Hanun – son of Nahashverses 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 15, 19
Shaved David’s servants
Cut off their graments
Made odious to David
Sent to hire and army
Hired 32,000 chariots
Princes of the children of Ammonverse 3
Told king David was not a friend
Horsemen out of Mesopotamiaverse 6
Syrian-maachahverses 6, 10, 12, 14-19
Zobahverse 6
King of Maachahverse 7
32,000 chariots sent to Ammon
Shophach – captain of the hose of Syriaverse 18
Hadarezer – king of Syriaverse 19
Made peace with David
Syrians would not help the children of Ammon ever again
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Searchverse 3
Overthrowverse 3
Spyverse 3
False accusationsverse 3
Shaved body of friendly groupverse 4
Make odiousverse 6
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Kindnessverse 2
Comfortverses 2, 3
Honor othersverse 3
Ashamedverse 5
Help each otherverse 12
Courageverse 13
Goodverse 13
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Davidverses 1-19
Sends comfort to Hanun over father’s dead
Servants sent to comfort
Sent all the hosts of mighty men
Gathered all Israel
Slew 7,000 men in chariots
Slew 40,000 foot men
Slew Shophach – captain of the host
Servants mistreated and greatly ashamedverses 4, 5
Joab sent to battleverse 8, 10-14
Saw battle was before and behind
Told brother to be strong and he would help
Protect cities of our God
Told brother LORD would do what was good in HIS sight
Abishai – Joab’s brotherverses 11, 15
Arrayed against children of Ammon
Jerusalemverse 15
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
19:10–15 Joab prepared to fight a battle on two fronts. He decided to fight on the front against the Arameans, and he needed someone he could trust to command the troops at the other front, against Ammon. His brother Abishai was the man. He realized that a smaller force could fight a two-front battle to its own advantage if both commanders kept their heads and supplied reinforcements to the other front as needed. He also committed the outcome to God. The enemy was outdone by superior leadership in the Israelite army and the purpose of God. (Thompson, J. A. (1994). 1, 2 Chronicles (Vol. 9, p. 155). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
13 After appealing to his men to do their utmost for their people and their God (cf. 1 Cor 16:13), Joab in faith committed the outcome to the will of the Lord (cf. the same sort of balance that is stressed in one’s spiritual salvation, Phil 2:12–13). (Payne, J. B. (1988). 1, 2 Chronicles. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (Vol. 4, pp. 401–402). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House).
19:8–19. The account of the strategy for preparation is practically the same in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. The Ammonites guarded the gate of their capital city (Rabbah; cf. 20:1) and the Arameans took to the surrounding fields (the open country). This meant that Joab, David’s commander, would have to defeat the Arameans on the outer perimeter before he could even get close to the Ammonites themselves. In order to effect this, Joab divided his troops into two units, one of which he led against the Arameans and the other he entrusted to his brother Abishai to engage the Ammonites (19:10–11). After agreeing to come to each other’s aid if need be (v. 12), Joab and Abishai undertook the campaign. Confident in the Lord (v. 13), they achieved success. The Arameans were routed, and the Ammonites retreated to the security of the fortifications of their city, Rabbah (vv. 14–16). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Chronicles. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 608–609). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
19:1–20:3 Ammonite campaigns. The Ammonites were another nation east of Jordan (see 18:2, 12–13). The only hint of an earlier friendship between David and Nahash (19:2) is the enmity between Nahash and Saul in 1 Sa. 11, even before David came on the scene. Ammonite opinion about David (19:3) shows that whether neighbouring nations cultivate him or oppose him, he is a force increasingly to be reckoned with. When war breaks out, Aramean armies related to those of 18:5 are drawn into the conflict. The brothers Joab and Abishai, David’s nephews (2:13–17), were partners-in-arms in the leadership of his armies (which may hint how 18:12 is related to the heading of Ps. 60). The Aramean allies are disposed of in two campaigns (19:14–18; the figures of 2 Sa. 10:18 differ—see Introduction). The Ammonites themselves are finally defeated in 20:1–3, but nothing is said about David’s adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband (2 Sa. 11:2–12:25); the Chronicler is concerned to present David’s successes, not his sins. (Wilcock, M. J. (1994). 1 and 2 Chronicles. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 398). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.)
For David, Hanun’s insult is a just reason for war. The Ammonites agree and the first phase of the war begins (19:6–15). They call on other significant powers of the region—the Aramean kingdoms of Zobah and Maacah together with unnamed Arameans of Mesopotamia (Aram Naharaim)—for help. This broadens the scope of the war by bringing the two great, local powers, Israel and Zobah, into conflict. Further, this means that the consequences will involve the entire realm of Zobah.
The hired Arameans have many chariots, and this produces a classic conflict between David’s well-trained heavy infantry and the combined infantry and chariotry of the Arameans. Joab divides his troops (vv. 10–11)—usually poor strategy—and defeats both the Ammonites and the Arameans. Both the victory and great reputation belong to David. A factor in David’s victory is a disciplined battle line. On the other hand, a nation led by a godly, obedient king could entrust the outcome of the battle to God (v. 13).
It is apparent from the role of Shophach, Hadadezer’s general, that Zobah is the major power in the continued Aramean opposition to David (19:16–19). Zobah appeals for more assistance from the Arameans in Mesopotamia beyond the Euphrates River. The widespread Aramean response demonstrates great fear of David’s rising power. Again David’s infantry triumphs over the combined forces of the enemy. The subjects of Hadadezer change their loyalty from Zobah to David, and David’s empire almost doubles in size. (Bowling, A. C. (1995). 1-2 Chronicles. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 274). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House)
19:11–13 may the Lord do what is good in His sight: This may look like the resigned statement of a fatalist, but it was anything but that. Joab understood enough of the sovereignty and omniscience of God to know that after all human effort and energy had been expended, the battle was still God’s. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 519). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers)
19:13 may the Lord do what is good in His sight: This may look like the resigned statement of a fatalist, but it was anything but that. Joab understood enough of the sovereignty and omniscience of God to know that after all human effort and energy had been expended, the battle was still God’s. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1997). The Nelson Study Bible: New King James Version (1 Ch 19:13). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
I’M IN GOD’S HANDS
poem by Anne R. C. Neale
I am in God’s hands every second of the day,
God hears my prayers too when I pray,
He answers my prayers in His own way,
I accept what God gives me, day after day.
I see God’s creations all around me,
The sky so blue, flower too ,and the trees,
A butterfly looking for pollen and also a bee,
There’s so many beautiful creations God made for you and for me..
I am in God’s hands, I take great comfort in that,
He’ll always take care of me, that is a true fact,
With God in my heart there is nothing I lack,
He fills my mind, spirit and soul and He watches over my back.
THE SPIRIT PROHIBITED THEM
He shall testify of me. John 15:26
Actions are ascribed to the Spirit that can only be performed by a person. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 2:10 we are told that “the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.” He searches that is the action of a person. We are also told clearly that He speaks. In Revelation 2:7 we read, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.” Then He also makes intercession for us. “We know not what we should pray for as we ought,” says Paul in Romans 8:26, “but the Spirit itself make the intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
He also bears testimony. Our Lord said, “He shall testify of me” (John 15:26). He bears testimony to the Lord. Only a person can do that. Then we are told, again by our Lord, “He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). Indeed, even in the Old Testament we are told that He teaches and instructs in the truth: “Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them” (Nehemiah 9:20).
Another personal action of His is found in Acts 16:6-7 where we are told, “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the regions of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.” Again, this is surely a very significant and relevant statement. All Paul’s companions wanted to go and preach in Asia, but the Spirit prohibited them. Then they wanted to go into Bithynia, and again He would not allow them. That is a definite action by the Holy Spirit Himself, and it is proof positive that He is a person.
A Thought to Ponder: Actions are ascribed to the Spirit that can only be performed by a person.
(From God the Holy Spirit, pp. 13-14 by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
I Kings 5
Solomon forms an alliance with Hiram for help in building the temple.
INSIGHT
Known as a fair, just, and righteous man, David builds an excellent reputation with noble neighboring leaders. Hiram and David establish their friendship early in David’s reign (2 Samuel 5:11), and 1 Kings 5:1 states: “Hiram had always loved David.”
It is perhaps David’s reputation that prompts Solomon to write in Proverbs 22:1: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.” Each of us must take this Scripture to heart and dedicate ourselves to the development of a spotless reputation by being fair, just, and righteous and by being utterly true to our word
(Quiet Walk)
SAVING FAITH
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Romans 10:3
The Apostle’s particular concern here is to explain why the Jews were, in the main, outside the Christian church, whereas the Gentiles had been coming in. The general trouble was that the Jews had a zeal for God but it was “not according to knowledge.” Now the word that Paul uses here which is translated “knowledge” is very interesting. It is the strongest word used in the Scriptures with regard to knowing. It does not merely mean a general acquaintance with something. It goes beyond that. It means a full, a correct, a precise and a vital knowledge, and the trouble with the Jews, says the Apostle Paul, is that they lacked it.
And there is one further idea in the word. It refers to a knowledge which has been arrived at as the result of a good deal of investigation and effort. So then, Paul says, the Jews lacked that full apprehension, that certain knowledge which is the result of a careful and a thorough examination of a teaching. They had a zeal, but not such a knowledge. Here, then, Paul again puts before us a most important principle, which is that an exact knowledge of the truth is essential to salvation. The Jews had not got it, so they were outside; they were lost and he prays and longs for their salvation.
Now this matter of knowledge is most important. I am of the opinion that the greatest danger confronting the Christian church and every individual Christian at this moment is to fail to understand and appreciate the absolute necessity of a precise, clear knowledge of the truth. I say this because we are living in days when there is a powerful reaction against all this.
A Thought to Ponder
The greatest danger confronting every Christian is the failure to understand the necessity of a precise, clear knowledge of the truth.
(From Saving Faith, a sermon on Romans 10:3 by Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Holy One of Israel
“So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.” (Ezekiel 39:7)
This wonderful name of God, “the Holy One of Israel,” was often used during the days of the later kings of Judah. It occurs three times in the book of Psalms (Psalm 71:22; 78:41; 89:18) and then no less than 27 times in Isaiah. The name then occurs three more times (Jeremiah 50:29; 51:5; Ezekiel 39:7), with the final one being our text above (where the preposition is translated “in”). This unusual pattern can be written sequentially as 3 + 33 + 3 = 33, perhaps reflecting a divinely ordained design to suggest the Holy Trinity.
The strong emphasis on this particular name during the later period of Judah’s kingdom probably was because of the prevalent unholiness of the nation during those years, finally culminating in the captivity of Judah itself. God stressed again and again that He was the Holy One and that “ye shall be holy; for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44)
This theme is prominent in most of the 33 passages where this majestic name is used, but it is especially emphasized in its final occurrence, as recorded in our text. The context of this latter passage is the prophesied invasion of Israel by “Gog, the land of Magog” who will “come up against my people of Israel…in the latter days” (Ezekiel 38:2, 16). At that time, says the Lord, “there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;…and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 38:19, 23). Then at last, His people will never pollute His holy name any more and “the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward….for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 39:22, 29). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Today’s Scripture: Psalm 7
The news that we are hearing each night brings questions of what is happening in our country as accusations, angry voices and acts of duplicity have been dominant subjects throughout the summer. It would appear that the entire nation has been put affected and good, wholesome people are staggering under barrage .
The psalmist appears to be in such a state as well as he cries out to the Lord for safety and deliverance from those who are his enemies. He begins the psalm with a prayer that is fitting for us today as we review all that is transpiring this year. The psalmist recognizes that the Lord is his only source of protection in the face of terrible enemies that seek to devour and utterly destroy him.
When difficulties arise in the life of the believer it is assuring that we have scripture like this in order to speak correctly about adversity and adversaries. The psalmist starts with an examination of self (v. 3-5) so that he is right before the Lord. He then petitions the Lord to intercede for him against his enemies and be the judge in the conflict.
While the enemy is strong and firmly entrenched, the Lord is greater and boomerangs their plans against themselves (vv. 15-16). The psalmist concludes with praise for what the Lord has done and how justice is accomplished through the righteousness of God.
When angry words, false accusations and acts of injustice occur, read the psalms and see how people of God brought such things before the Lord. Maintaining a relationship with Him while expressing what evil is, may not be easy, but God’s word displays a path for us to follow. It is our instruction manual for life!
With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller
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