Ezekiel 21
LORD is drawing HIS sword verse 1- 5
And the word of the LORD came unto me – saying
Son of man – set your face toward Jerusalem
and drop your word toward the holy place
and prophesy against the land of Israel
AND say to the land of Israel – Thus says the LORD
BEHOLD – I am against you
and will draw forth MY sword out of his sheath
and will cut off from you
the righteous and the wicked
Seeing then that I will cut off from you the righteous
and the wicked
THEREFORE shall MY sword go forth out of
his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north
that all flesh may KNOW THAT
I THE LORD have drawn forth
MY sword out of his sheath
it shall not return any more
Ezekiel commanded to sigh before the people verse 6- 7
Sigh THEREFORE – you son of man – with the breaking of your loins
and with bitterness sign before their eyes
AND it shall be – when thy say unto you
Wherefore sigh you? – that you shall answer
For the tidings – because it comes – and every heart shall melt
and all hands shall be feeble – and every spirit shall faint
and all knees shall be weak as water
BEHOLD – it comes – and shall be brought to pass
says the Lord GOD
Message: A prepared sword is ready verse 8- 11
Again the word of the LORD came unto me – saying
Son of man – prophesy – and say – Thus says the LORD
Say – a sword – a sword is sharpened – and also furbished
it is sharpened to make a sore slaughter
it is furbished that it may glitter
Should we then make mirth?
it contemns the rod of MY son – as every tree
And he has given it to be furbished – that it may be handled
this sword is sharpened – and it is furbished
to give it into the hand of the slayer
Message: Prophet to cry and howl verse 12- 13
Cry and howl – son of man – for it shall be upon MY people
it shall be upon all the princes of Israel
terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon MY people
smite therefore upon your thigh
BECAUSE it is a trial – and what if the sword contemn even the rod?
it shall be no more – says the Lord GOD
Message: Prophet to clap his hands verse 14- 17
You therefore – son of man – prophesy – and smite your hands together
and let the sword be doubled the third time
the sword of the slain
it is the sword of the great men that are slain
which enters into their privy chambers
I have set the point of the sword against all their gates
that their heart may faint – and that their ruins be multiplied
AH it is made bright
it is wrapped up for the slaughter
Go you one way or other – either on the right hand – or on the left
whithersoever your face is set
I will smite MINE hand together – and I will cause MY fury to rest
I the LORD have said it
King of Babylon will seek guidance by divination verse 18- 23
The word of the LORD came unto me again – saying
Also – thou son of man – appoint thee two ways
that the sword of the king of Babylon may come
BOTH twain shall come forth out of one land
and choose thou a place
choose it at the head of the way
to the city
Appoint a way – that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites
and to Judah in Jerusalem the defensed
For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way
at the head of the two ways – to use divination
he made his arrows bright
he consulted with images
he looked in the liver
At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem
to appoint a captain – to open the mouth in the slaughter
to lift up the voice with shouting
to appoint battering rams against the gates
to cast a mount – to build a fort
AND it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight
to them that have sworn oaths
BUT HE will call to remembrance the iniquity
that they may be taken
LORD remembers the sins of Israel verse 24
THERFORE thus says the Lord GOD
BECAUSE you have made your iniquity to be remembered
in that your transgressions are discovered
SO that in all your doings your sins do appear
BECAUSE – I say – that you are come to remembrance
you shall be taken with the hand
Wicked prince of Israel verse 25- 27
AND you – profane wicked prince of Israel – whose day is come
when iniquity shall have an end – THUS says the Lord GOD
Remove the diadem – and take off the crown
this shall not be the same – exalt him that is low
and abase him that is high
I will overturn- overturn – overturn it – and it shall be no more
UNTIL HE come whose right it is
and I will give it HIM
Prophecy for Ammonites verse 28- 32
AND you – son of man – prophesy and say
THUS says the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites
and concerning their reproach
Even say you – The sword – the sword is drawn
for the slaughter it is furbished
to consume because of the glittering
whiles they see vanity unto you
whiles they divine a lie unto you
to bring you upon the necks
of them that are slain
of the wicked
whose day is come – when their iniquity shall have an end
Shall I cause it to return into his sheath?
I will judge you in the place where you was created
in the land of your nativity
I will pour out MINE indignation upon you
I will blow against you in the fire of MY wrath
and deliver you into the hand of brutish men
and skilful to destroy
You shall be for fuel to the fire
your blood shall be in the midst of the land
You shall be no more remembered
for I THE LORD HAVE SPOKEN IT
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 And say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD, Behold, I am against you, and will draw forth MY sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. (3772 “cut off” [karath] means to cut down, to fell, to exterminate, root out, destroy, or to take away)
DEVOTION: Here we find that the LORD is predicting judgment coming on the land of Israel because of their sins. The righteous and the wicked are going to face the army of Babylon.
It is sad that the righteous have to be judged with the wicked when the nation was attacked by Babylon but that is what happened because the people would not obey HIM and turn from their wicked ways.
The LORD promises that those who are obedient to HIM will not face the same future as those who are disobedient but that doesn’t mean that hard times can’t come to both groups because of the way those who are righteous are not speaking out against those who are doing what is wicked.
Nations are made up of both types of individuals. Today we have Christians in many nations that are under the judgment of God because the majority are not worshiping HIM in spirit and in truth.
However, eternity is a different story. Those who are genuine believers are promised eternity with the LORD. Those who are believers in Israel are going to face the hard times but the LORD can protect them from not only HIS judgment on the wicked but also their eternity is different from the wicked.
It is hard to see the righteous suffer because of the sins of those who are not followers of the LORD. It happens when the majority are not following the LORD and the voice of the righteous are not heard, in spite of, their trying to turn the nation back to the LORD.
Today we have righteous people who are in nations that are not honoring the LORD. The LORD is going to have to send judgement on those nations where the majority are against HIM. HE can protect the righteous even while judgement is falling on these who are not believers.
Those who are righteous need to continue to witness for the LORD even during times of judgment on their nation. We know that judgment has to come when the sins of a nation get to the point where the LORD has to judge or as some say “apology to those in the past who have been judged for their wickedness.” God doesn’t apology for HIS actions because HE is always RIGHTEOUS.
CHALLENGE: Those who were in Israel during this that were righteous still have to trust the LORD to protect them from judgment. HE is a righteous Judge! Eternity is what really matters – Where are you going to spend eternity?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 13 Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemns even the rod? It shall be no more, says the Lord GOD. (976 “trial” [bochan] means tested, examine, examination of the characteristics of something, prove, or scrutinize.)
DEVOTION: Here the nation of Judah was going to be scrutinized to see if it would turn from its wicked ways and return to the LORD. The test would involve the coming of the king of Babylon to their land to conquer their land. What would they do?
The test was real and they failed the test. They didn’t turn back to the LORD. They didn’t listen to the prophet of the LORD. They just complained. They thought that if they had the Temple and a king they would be good in the eyes of the LORD. They were wrong.
It was a genuine turning point in the nation. They could have repented but they chose to continue on the path they were on.
Was the examination of their reaction real? YES!! Had they repented would the LORD have changed the outcome of the nation? YES!! HE loved them and was willing to forgive them but they didn’t want to return to service to HIM.
This can happen to any nation where the LORD is present. HE is present in any nation and if the people of that nation repent and return to a proper relationship with HIM HE will bless them.
Nations today are turning further and further from the LORD. Many nations were founded on the principles of the TEN COMMANDMENTS of the LORD. This didn’t make the nation a Christian nation but it encouraged them to study the Word of God to see what HE expected of them for them to receive blessings.
Can revival happen in Israel at this point? YES!! Can revival happen in our nation? YES!! Will it happen? Not likely because a majority of people are only interested in their own lives and not the life of nation.
God wants us to be a people that are willing to encourage one another but this is not even happening in our Biblical churches in many cases. Those that attend a Bible teaching church should be willing to work together to see that their church brings glory to the LORD. This only happens when each individual is willing to submit to the Word of God and to those around them for the glory of LORD.
CHALLENGE: We face a testing each day as to whether we will act like a believer before God and others. What do our actions say to others today? What do they say to the LORD?
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: 24 Therefore thus said the Lord GOD; Because you have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that you are come to remembrance, you shall be taken with the hand. (2142 “remembered” [zakar] means mention, recorder, mindful, remind, make a memorial, or proclaim)
DEVOTION: We can build good memories into our life or bad memories. Most lives have a combination of good and bad memories. We like to keep the good memories and forget the bad memories.
Each wedding that I do I preach a sermon of marriage being W.O.R.K. The W stands for worship. Each couple should make it a practice to worship the LORD together in the home and in a local body of believers. This will help them find couples that should give them a good example of what marriage is all about.
The O stands for organization. Each house to have things done in it and there needs to be an individual responsible for each action. The bills have to be paid – it is good for someone who is not a spender to be in control of the money. There needs to be cleaner, cook, etc. in every home. If there is no organization the house will look a mess and the bills will not be paid on time. It causes problems in a marriage.
The third letter is R which stands for routine. Sometimes there are times of boredom in a marriage. Nothing is happening but day in and day out the same routine. Couples can fall into a routine that might cause problems in the marriage but routine is good if things get down on a regular basis.
The fourth letter is K which stands for keepsakes. There are memories that are built around vacations or special occasions. It is good to take pictures of these occasions for the simple reason that when the routine of marriage hits these pictures remind the couple of the good times they had together.
Here we find that the LORD had only sinful keepsakes regarding the children of Israel. They were causing HIM to remember only their sins because they refused to confess their sins and seek HIS forgiveness. It is because of these actions that the LORD had taken HIS sword out of its sheath.
Judgment had arrived. The fire had been started that would only end in their going into captivity for the seventy years. There would not be a king on the throne until the Messiah came.
CHALLENGE: When the LORD thinks about us what does HE remember? Does HE see most of our actions as ones that are pleasing in HIS sight? We need to build good memories in the sight of the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. (5754 “overturn” [avvah] means distortion, wreckage, rubble or ruin.
DEVOTION: The LORD tells Ezekiel set his face toward Jerusalem. He is to tell the city that the LORD is against them. He is to tell them that all flesh is going into captivity.
The LORD next illustrates the coming destruction by the use of a sword. It has been sharpened and ready for use against Jerusalem. Thirdly, he is to make map to show that the king of Babylon could go in one of two directions. The king of Babylon uses divination to find out which way he should go. The direction is toward Jerusalem.
The LORD informs the people that it is because their sin is obvious and open. HE has no choice but to judge them for their sins. They were headed in the wrong direction and that had to change. The kingly diadem had to be removed from Jerusalem until the righteous one came.
In the meantime, Jerusalem’s judgment was sure. It was going to be ruined. The one Hebrew word is used three times for emphasis. It was utterly impossible for it not to happen.
However, even with this emphasis, the LORD tells them through Ezekiel that someone is coming in the future that will judge righteously. That individual will be given the kingdom.
There is only one interpretation that makes sense regarding this individual who will rule in Jerusalem righteously. It was predicted in Genesis 49: 10. This individual is none other than the Messiah.
Christ is the Messiah. HE is going to return and rule in Jerusalem. Those who are followers of HIS now will reign with HIM during the time period called the Millennium.
For a thousand years there will be no temptations from the devil as he will be in chains. There will be perfect ruler on the throne. However, there will still be a sin nature in those who come out of the tribulation. There will be a sin nature in those who are born during the Millennium. That is why we have a final battle at the end of the Millennium before the Great White Throne judgment when all those who are outside of Christ will be judged.
We need to realize that our responsibility is to reach as many as we can for Christ before we die or HE returns.
Our churches need to reaching out to all those in their neighborhood with the Good News of the Gospel. Are we doing a good job in our areas? Are we praying for the return of Christ? What if it happened today?
CHALLENGE: Let us reach out and touch someone with the Good News of the Gospel today!! Let us pray “Even so come Lord Jesus.”
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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)
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)
Holy places verse 2
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 1, 8, 18
Thus says the LORD verse 3, 9, 24, 26, 28
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 3, 5, 8, 17, 18, 32
I am against (Israel) verse 3
I will draw forth MY sword out of HIS sheath
and will cut off from you the righteous
and the wicked verse 3
I will cut off from you the righteous
and the wicked verse 4
MY sword shall go forth out of HIS sheath
against all flesh from the south to
the north verse 4
All flesh may know that I the LORD have
drawn forth MY sword out of HIS
sheath verse 5
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 7, 13, 24, 26, 28
GOD – Jehovah verse 7, 13, 24, 26, 28
Lord GOD verse 7, 13, 24, 26, 28
I have set the point of the sword against
all their gates – that their heart
may faint and their ruins be
multiplied verse 15
Anger of the LORD verse 17, 31
I will overturn UNTIL he come whose right
it is and I will give it him verse 27
Against Ammonites:
I will judge you in the place where you were
created in the land of your nativity verse 30
I will pour out MINE indignation upon you
I will blow against you in the fire of
MY wrath and deliver you into the
hand of brutish men and skillful
to destroy verse 31
I the LORD have spoken it verse 32
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
HE = Messiah verse 27
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)
All flesh verse 4, 5
King of Babylon verse 19, 21, 22
Divination for Jerusalem verse 21- 23
Images verse 21
Looked in the liver verse 21
Appoint captains
Open the mouth in the slaughter
Lift up the voice owith shouting
Appoint battering rams against the gates
Cast a mount
Build a fort
Rabbath of the Ammonites verse 20, 28, 29
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Wicked verse 3, 4, 25, 29
Divination verse 21- 23
Images verse 21
Looked in the liver verse 21
False divinations verse 23
Iniquity verse 23- 25, 29
Transgressions verse 24
Sins verse 24
Profane verse 25
Vanity verse 29
Lie verse 29
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Prophesy verse 2, 9, 14, 28
Righteous verse 3, 4
Give LORD’S answer to questions verse 7
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Son of man = Ezekiel verse 2, 6, 7, 9 – 12, 14, 19, 28
Face toward Jerusalem
Drop your word toward the holy places
Prophesy against the land of Israel
You shall answer – For the tiding
Because it comes and every heart
shall melt, and all hands shall be
feeble – and every spirit shall faint,
and all knees shall be weak as water:
behold it comes and shall be brought
to pass verse 7
Prophesy – A sword is sharpened and
also furbished – give it into the
hand – it is sharpened to make
a sore slaughter; it is sharpened to
make a sore slaughter
it is furbished that it may glitter verse 9, 10
Prophesy and say – Thus says the Lord
GOD concerning the Ammonites
and concerning their reproach verse 28
Jerusalem verse 2, 20, 22
Land of Israel verse 2, 3
God’s people verse 12
Princes of Israel – wicked verse 12, 25
Judah – defenced verse 20
Remove the diadem verse 26
Take off the crown verse 26
Exalt him that is low verse 26
Abase him that is high verse 26
Created verse 30
Nativity verse 30
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
21:13–14 The warnings of Ezekiel and other prophets were a test to see whether the people would listen. It was clear the people had despised the evidences and warnings of impending judgment (v. 13). Therefore Ezekiel was commanded to “prophesy” and “to strike” his hands together, probably as a sign of anger, and let the sword strike three times (v. 14). The mention of three strikes of the sword may refer to the three attacks of Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem. The first attack was in 605 b.c. during the reign of Jehoiakim, the second in 597 b.c. during the reign of Jehoiachin, and the third from 588 b.c. to 586 b.c. during the reign of Zedekiah. (Cooper, L. E. (1994). Ezekiel (Vol. 17, p. 213). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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Therefore, Ezekiel would weep and wail; for the Babylonian sword of judgment was against Judah, God’s people, especially her leaders (v.12a). Ezekiel would strike his breast (or, better, “thigh”), a gesture of remorse, grief, and despair over this heartbreaking verdict (v.12b; cf. Jer 31:19). The people of Judah had been tested and found wanting. In v.13 the masculine gender of the verb bōḥan (“testing”) cannot, as some desire, refer to the feminine ḥereḇ (“sword”) but must refer contextually to the near masculine singular antecedent ‘am (“people”). Since the nation had failed the testing, the solemn question was whether Judah and her ruler (“the scepter,” cf. v.10) would continue to exist? Would God’s judgment be final? (Alexander, R. H. (1986). Ezekiel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 842). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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21:11–13. The second stanza revealed the victims against whom the sword was drawn: God’s people and all Israel’s princes. The leaders had rejected God’s advice and chastisement so all they could expect was the sword. Because of the massive destruction God told Ezekiel, Cry out and wail. (Dyer, C. H. (1985). Ezekiel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1267). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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God sharpens His sword (Ezek. 21:8–17). In this second “action sermon,” Ezekiel not only cried and wailed (v. 12), but he smote his thigh and clapped his hands together (vv. 14, 17). It’s possible that he was also brandishing a sword as he spoke, although the text doesn’t state this. The Lord was preparing the Babylonian army to be effective and efficient in carrying out His plans. Despising the king of Judah (v. 13), the sword of Babylon would turn Judah’s scepter into nothing but a stick! (v. 10) The invading soldiers would be so effective that one swordsman would do the work of three (v. 14), and for the Jews there would be no escape (v. 16). Even the Lord would applaud the soldiers as they executed the judgment that He had ordained (v. 17). Perhaps some of the Jews recalled Ezekiel’s previous “action sermon” using the sword (5:1–4). (Wiersbe, W. W. (2000). Be reverent (p. 98). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor/Cook Communications.)
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13 ǁBecause it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord God. It is a sore trial, therefore show all the signs of grief and sorrow; or it may refer to what follows in the verse; thus, since this is the exploration, or trial, which I make in so severe manner to bring them to repentance, mourn for them, lest they should harden themselves. What if the sword? the addition of sword, which is not in the original, hath perplexed the words in my thoughts. I would read them thus, and what if the rod contemn? It shall be no more. Then the sense runs thus: But if the king and kingdom of Judah despise this trial, and harden themselves against this sword, both shall be destroyed, and be no more, for nothing but a right use of this last trial could help them Or else, if we must adhere to our version, what if it amount to this: All this is for probation and trial, not for utterly extirpating Israel, saith God to his prophet; who might propose this, What if the sword contemn those bounds, and despise the king and kingdom, and resolve to destroy them from being a nation? as Isa. 10:6, 7. To this God gives answer thus; This he shall never effect, and in due time this sword shall be no more; Babylon shall be destroyed. In so perplexed a place I rather conjecture than affirm. (Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 2, pp. 725–726). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers.)
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Ver. 13. Because it is a trial, &c.] As all afflictions and calamities are, especially to the people of God; they try their faith and patience, and every other grace; and also to wicked men, they try them, whether they will repent or no: and what if the sword contemn even the rod? the sceptre; the king of Judah, and his family; not only come upon and cut off the people and the princes, but the royal family also; and even overturn the tribe of Judah, as the word also signifies; and subvert the government of it, of which the rod or sceptre is an ensign; this would be a sore trial indeed, and yet it is intimated that so it should be: it shall be no more, saith the Lord God; the rod or sceptre shall be no more in one of David’s line, of the tribe of Judah, until the Messiah comes, ver. 27. I should choose to render the words thus, for it is a trial, but what? what an one is it? or for what is it? what will be the fruit, effect, and issue of it? if also the sceptre despises; the king despises the trial, the affliction, the calamity, and is not brought to repentance by it: it shall be no more, or it shall not be, saith the Lord God; it, the sceptre, shall be taken away, and not restored to the house of David, until the Messiah comes. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 106). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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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!!)
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Christ’s Call TO REFORM the Church by John MacArthur
Balaam persuaded the women of Moab to intermarry with the men of Israel, pulling those men into the idolatrous, immoral culture of Moab. (p. 96)
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And that’s really the worst part of it all – that these vile heretics and deceivers were allowed to remain in the church unaddressed and unabated. (p. 97)
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He’s saying, “Stop the worldly compromise. Stop tolerating the unequal yoke. Purge the church of these ungodly immoral influences, or I will do it for you.” This command applies to the whole church – both the heretical corrupters and all those who tolerated their deviations. They were all guilty of compromise. (p. 100)
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WE must confront such worldliness (a term mostly absent from the church vocabulary today). (p. 100)
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Pergamum is a reminder that knowing the truth and living the truth are equally important in the eyes of the Lord. (p. 100)
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God gives a child to Hannah and Elkanah, after Hannah’s years of praying for a son.
INSIGHT
The grief of being childless drives Hannah to God. In Him, she finds her only resource for consolation.
Even though children may cry when they are taken to a doctor by their parents, they still trust their parents in spite of fear and pain. Similarly we must still trust and cling to the Lord even though we do not understand why He does not deliver us from our pain. Just as children will someday understand about the doctor, we will someday understand about the pain. (Quiet Walk)
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UNRECOGNIZED
For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Corinthians 2:8
Why is it that people fail to recognize Christ? For the fact is that those who were around Him, His own contemporaries, did not recognize Him. They did not believe the claim, for had they done so, they would have submitted themselves to Him at once. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, the princes of this world did not know Him, “for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” They did not know Him. They heard the claim but said, “He is an impostor. Away with Him; crucify Him!”
Now I can understand someone saying, “If what you state is true, if this person is the Son of God, well, why is it that the whole world does not believe on Him and go after Him and submit to Him?” Our Lord answers that question. “No man,” He says, “knoweth the Son.” What does He mean? Let me explain. We are concerned with the mystery of the Incarnation, and it is that which causes men to stumble. Let no one imagine that this is something simple. There is a mystery in the Incarnation; there is a sense in which we can say quite honestly that had we been standing with the crowd when He was making this claim, we would have felt immediately and instinctively that there was something exaggerated. We would have felt that the claim that He was the one to whom all things had been committed, that He was the controller of the destinies of the universe, was impossible. There is this apparent contradiction. He was arrested in apparent weakness, and yet He said that all things were in His hands. That is why people found it difficult to believe His claim.
A Thought to Ponder: He was arrested in apparent weakness, and yet He said that all things were in His hands. (From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 136-137, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Separate and Sensual
“But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” (Jude 1:17-19)
Jude had previous contact with the apostle Peter and was aware of Peter’s observation “that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts” (2 Peter 3:3). Peter describes the lusts of these scoffers by pointing out that their derision is focused on the second coming of our Lord Jesus—they deny the very possibility of the creation itself and, therefore, the omnipotent and omniscient authority of God Himself (2 Peter 3:4-6).
Jude, however, focuses on the core character of these mockers, noting that they “separate themselves” and are “sensual.” They are “soulish” (the Greek word is the adjective form of the noun for soul). That is, these kinds of people are driven by their “natural man” and cannot receive “the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:14). James is even more intense: These people are “earthly, sensual, devilish” (James 3:15).
Furthermore, they consciously separate themselves from the godly. The apostle John speaks to this phenomenon: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (1 John 2:19). Jesus simply notes that “every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:20).
It is therefore an absolute—these people do not have the Spirit of God dwelling in them. “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9). (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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This generation has forgotten that the gospel message does not clean up and shine the outside of a person, rather it bores into the very heart and soul of a person and radically changes that person from the inside forever. – A. W. Tozer
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