Ezekiel 38
LORD is enemy of Gog verse 1- 6
And the word of the LORD came unto me
saying
Son of man – set your face against Gog – the land of Magog
the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal
and prophesy against him – and say
Thus says the Lord GOD
BEHOLD – I am against you – O Gog
the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal
And I will turn you back – and put hooks into your jaws
and I will bring you forth
and all your army horses and horsemen
all of them clothed with all sorts of armor
even a great company
with bucklers and shields
all of them handling swords
Persia – Ethiopia – Libya with them
all of them with shield and helmet Gomer
and all his bands
the house of Togarmah of the north quarters
and all his bands and many people with you
Gog is to fight against a restored Israel verse 7- 9
Be you prepared – and prepare for yourself – you
and all your company that are assembled to you
and be you a guard unto them
After many days you shall be visited
in the latter years you shall come into
the land that is brought back
from the sword
and is gathered out of many people
against the mountains of Israel
which have been always waste
BUT it is brought forth out of the nations
and they shall dwell safely all of them
You shall ascend and come like a storm
you shall be like a cloud to cover the land
you – and all your bands
and many people with you
Question asked of Gog verse 10- 13
Thus says the Lord GOD
It shall also come to pass
that at the same time shall things come
into your mind
and you shall think
an evil thought
and you shall say
I will go up to the land of unwalled villages
I will go to them that are at rest – that dwell safely
all of them dwelling without walls
and having neither bars nor gates
To take spoil – to take prey
to turn thine hand upon the desolate places
that are now inhabited and upon the people
that are gathered out of the nations
which have gotten cattle and goods
that dwell in the midst of the land
Sheba and Dedan – and the merchants of Tarshish
with all the young lions thereof
shall say unto you
Art you come to take a spoil?
Have you gathered your company to take a prey?
to carry away silver and gold
to take away cattle and goods
to take a great spoil?
Future battle with Gog will end in victory for Israel verse 14- 16
THEREFORE son of man
prophesy and say to Gog
Thus says the Lord GOD
In that day when MY people of Israel dwell safely
shall you not know it?
AND you shall come from thy place out of the north parts
you – and many people with you
all of them riding upon horses
a great company – and a mighty army
And you shall come up against MY people Israel
as a cloud to cover the land
It shall be in the latter days and I will bring you
against MY land that the heathen may know ME
WHEN I shall be sanctified in you O Gog – before their eyes
LORD demonstrates HIS power verse 17- 23
Thus says the Lord GOD
Are you he of whom I have spoken in old time by MY servants
the prophets of Israel which prophesied
in those days many years
that I would bring you against them?
AND it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall
come against the land of Israel – says the Lord GOD
that MY fury shall come up in MY face
FOR in MY jealousy and in the fire of MY wrath have I spoken
Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the
land of Israel
SO THAT the fishes of the sea – and the fowls of the heaven
and the beasts of the field
and all creeping things that creep upon the earth
and all the men that are upon the face of the earth
SHALL SHAKE at MY presence
and the mountains shall be thrown down
and the steep places shall fall
and every wall shall fall to the ground
And I will call for a sword against him
throughout all MY mountains
says the Lord GOD
every man’s sword shall be against his brother
And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood
and I will rain upon him – and upon his bands
and upon the many people that are with him
an overflowing rain – great hailstones
fire – brimstone
Thus will I magnify MYSELF and sanctify MYSELF
and I will be known in the eyes of many nations
and they SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 And say, Thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal (1463 “Gog” [Gowg] means the prophetic prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, mountain, comes from the extreme north with great forces, or leader of a northern nation.)
DEVOTION: Hopefully you have never heard this phrase used against you personally. It is never fun to have someone tell you that they are your enemy.
Here we have God telling a nation that HE is their enemy. HE is going to defeat them. HE is going to bless the nation of Israel.
The LORD is the one who gives us blessings or cursing. HE blesses those who honor HIM and curses those who think that they can live their lives without HIM. HE wants the world to know the simple fact that they need HIM.
Some realize this fact while they are still alive. Others don’t care to become one of HIS followers. All will meet HIM one day.
HE will say to some “Depart.” HE will say to other “COME.” The ones departing will have met HIM and finally realized that HE was the ONE they were supposed to be worshiping but didn’t take the time.
The LORD is the final judge and HE is going to deal with nations that fought against HIS people. In this chapter it is the children of Israel. Today it is the church. Not the building but the people who are genuine followers of the LORD. They are presently being persecuted or killed for their beliefs because the nations they are living in have another religion that is false. These individuals are killing those who have a genuine faith in Jesus Christ. They will answer for their actions.
God is longsuffering but the Day of Judgment is coming. The nations and individuals who have mistreated HIS people will face the consequences of their actions in a literal place called hell or lake of fire for eternity.
CHALLENGE: We need to come today to HIM and make sure we have a proper relationship with HIM or if we find we don’t – GET ONE!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 16 And thou shalt come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O God, before their eyes. (6942 “sanctified” [qadash] means hallow, holy, dedicate, consecrate, purified, separated, to show oneself sacred and majestic, to be treated sacred, be set apart, or show oneself holy.)
DEVOTION: When we read through the book of Ezekiel there is a phrase that appears to give us the reason for everything that is happening in the days of Ezekiel. The reason is that the LORD wants the nations to know that HE is Sovereign over the world.
HE expresses this teaching by stating that HE wants them to “KNOW that I AM the LORD.”
Everything seems to center around this statement. HE wants the nations to realize that when they go against the people of God they go against HIM. The nation of Israel’s enemies is also the LORD’S enemies. It is never good to be against the LORD.
This is all going to happen in the latter days. When are the “latter days?” The Bible seems to define the latter days as a period of time when the LORD is going to either give out judgment from heaven or return to the earth in all HIS glory.
When these events take place it will show the world that the LORD is holy. It will show the world that they need to treat the LORD as someone who is sacred. HE is SOMEONE to be worshipped.
HE wants the world to understand that HE is the only ONE TRUE GOD. All other gods are fakes. All other gods will disappoint those who believe in them. They are just made by the hands of man out of wood or stone or precious metals but still inanimate objects that really can’t do anything at all to help those who worship them.
CHALLENGE: Sing the song “Majesty” and mean it. Our daily worship should always be only toward the LORD. Worship HIS Majesty.
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: 19 For in MY jealousy and in the fire of MY wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel (7068 “jealousy” [qin’ah] means zeal, an appropriate desire for what a person has a right to, envy, ardent love, or enmity)
DEVOTION: Here we are given a prophesy into the future when Israel will be attacked and the army will seem too great to defeat. However, we know that the LORD can defeat any enemy that any believer might fight in his battle to live a life that is pleasing to the LORD.
In the end times which is still in the future we will see the work of the LORD for Israel and for all believers. HE cares for HIS people. HE loves HIS people and wants them to trust HIM both now and forever.
There are many people who want to say they know it all about the future but only the LORD knows it all and we need to realize that HE has a plan and is working HIS plan even today in our lives.
We need to trust HIM to take care of HIS children as HE has done for the children of Israel in the Old Testament and is also doing for New Testament saints today.
The future is coming and the Scriptures will be fulfilled. Our trust in the LORD and our spreading the message of salvation is necessary each day because we don’t know the day or the hour of the return of the LORD.
CHALLENGE: We need to honestly answer the question as to what we are doing right now to trust the LORD to take care of our future and hope. HE wants us to trust HIM enough to share HIS message to those we know. HE is coming again!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 23 Thus will I magnify myself and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD. (1431 “magnify” [gadal] means to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, or do great things.
DEVOTION: Here we have two chapters that inform us regarding a nation in the north that is going to go to war with Israel. It is thought to be a reference to a nation that is powerful that is located above the Caspian Sea. Some think it is Russia. This nation is going to go to war with Israel in the distant future. The time period is in question when this battle will take place. Also there is a reference in the New Testament to a second battle with this nation against Israel. This battle is thought to take place near the middle of the Tribulation period. The second battle is thought to take place at the end of the Millennium.
However, for our purposes we want to see that the LORD is promising to protect HIS people against these nations that will attack them in the future. The LORD has never given up on the nation of Israel. Throughout the Word of God we find them referred to as HIS people.
There are nations out there that some young people think are better than the nation they are presently living in. There are people in Africa who think that it would be better for them if they lived in the United States. But God wants them in Africa. There are others in Russia that think their life would be better if they lived in America. But the LORD wants them in Russia.
We are where the LORD wants us at the present time. We are to be content with our present circumstances. The LORD wants all HIS children to learn contentment.
The children of Israel were not content to worship the LORD in HIS Promised Land. They thought other places were better. They chose to worship the false gods of other lands because they thought they had it better than they did.
The LORD finally stated that HE was going to magnify HIMSELF even if those who knew about HIM didn’t magnify HIM in their lives. HE was going to sanctify HIMSELF if those who knew about HIM didn’t set HIM apart as the ONLY TRUE GOD of the UNIVERSE.
Every nation is going to bow down before HIM one day. We need to learn to bow down before HIM today.
During this present time we have the Gentiles being reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The church is reaching the Jews and Gentiles today. The nation of Israel seems to be set-aside for a time period. The Tribulation time period is called the time of Jacob’s trouble or the seventieth week of Daniel.
There are going be heathen nations coming against Israel in the latter days. The latter days are not yet here but they seem to be getting closer. When the LORD defeats the heathen, they will know that HE is sovereign over all the earth. They will know that there is only one LORD named Jehovah in the world. Their false gods will not be able to help them. The only one who can promote the LORD is HIMSELF. The only one that can sanctify or show that HE is HOLY is the LORD HIMSELF.
When we realize that everywhere we go and everything we do is going to be a reflection of the LORD in our lives, would we be doing things differently? We can make people think less of Christians because of our actions but it doesn’t lessen the LORD’S greatness.
Let’s honor the LORD each day that HE gives us to serve HIM. Let us bring glory to HIS name. HE is going to show the world how magnificent HE is in the future, just like, HE showed HIS love through the life and death of Jesus Christ for our sins.
CHALLENGE: Our daily walk with HIM should convey to us that we are worshiping the ONLY True God of the universe. HE should become the most important person in our lives. There should be no one who has a closer relationship with us.
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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)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 1
Thus says the Lord GOD verse 3, 10, 14, 17, 18,
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 23
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 3, 10, 14, 17, 18, 21
GOD – Jehovah verse 3, 10, 14, 17,18, 21
Lord GOD verse 3, 10, 14, 17, 18, 21
God’s people Israel verse 14, 16
Heathen will know God verse 16, 23
I will bring you against MY land
that the heathen may know ME
when I shall be sanctified verse 16
Spoken by MY servants the prophets verse 17
Fury of God verse 18, 19
God’s jealousy verse 19
Fire of MY wrath verse 19
All men shall shake at MY presence verse 20
Mountains shall be thrown down and the
steep places shall fall, and every wall
shall fall to the ground verse 20
I will plead against him with pestilence and
with blood verse 22
I will rain upon him and his bands verse 22
I will magnify MYSELF verse 23
I will sanctify MYSELF verse 23
I will be known of many nations verse 23
They shall KNOW that I am the LORD verse 23
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)
Gog verse 2, 3, 14- 16, 18
Come from their place in the north parts
Riding on horses
Great company
Mighty army
Against God’s people
Magog verse 2
Chief prince of Meshech and Tubal verse 2, 3
LORD will put hooks in his mouth
Persia verse 5
Ethiopia verse 5
Libya verse 5
Gomer verse 6
House of Topgarmah verse 6
Nations verse 8- 12
Sheba verse 13
Dedan verse 13
Tarshish verse 13
Heathen verse 16
Many nations verse 23
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Evil thought verse 10
Heathen verse 16
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Prophesy verse 2, 14, 17
Safety verse 14
Sanctified verse 16
Servants verse 17
Prophets verse 17
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Son of man = Ezekiel verse 2, 14
Prophesy to Gog
Mountains of Israel verse 8
People of Israel verse 14
God’s people verse 16
God’s land verse 16
Prophets of Israel verse 17
Land of Israel verse 18, 19
Great shaking in the land of Israel verse 19
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Latter days verse 16
In that day verse 19
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QUOTES regarding passage
If this identification is correct, Gog was a symbol of the forces of Antichrist foreseen by Ezekiel. If the word Gog is from the Sumerian gug (meaning “darkness”), that would be additional support for treating him as a symbol of “the prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30), an appropriate designation that fits the character of the ruler of end-time Babylon. (Cooper, L. E. (1994). Vol. 17: Ezekiel. The New American Commentary (332). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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It seems best to place Ezekiel’s battle of Gog and Magog in the Tribulation period. Other internal markers indicate that it should be placed in the first three and one-half years of the seven-year period. The attack will come when Israel is at peace (Ezek. 38:8, 11). When Israel’s covenant with the Antichrist is in effect at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th Week (Dan. 9:27a), she will be at peace. But after the covenant is broken at the middle of the seven-year period, the nation will suffer tremendous persecution (Dan. 9:27b; Matt. 24:15-22). This will provide the time needed to bury the dead (Ezek. 39:12-13) and to burn the weapons of war (39:9-10). So the battle described by Ezekiel may take place sometime during the first three and one-half years of the seven-year period before Christ’s second coming. Possibly the battle will occur just before the midpoint of the seven-year period (see the “Outline of End-Time Events Predicted in the Bible,” between Ezek. and Dan., point I.D.). (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Eze 37:18–28). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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324 גּוֹג (gôg) Gog is the ruler of the land of Magog and prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal (Ezk 38 and 39). Gog is also the name of a Reubenite in I Chr 5:4.
324a מָגוֹג (māgôg) Magog, the name of the land ruled by Gog (q.v.).
Ezekiel envisions this prince as the leader of a vast horde of armed troops that includes people from Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah. They will march against Israel at a time when the people of God have returned to their land and live in peace completely undefended. But this will all be allowed by the Lord that he might display his holiness among them. The people of God will not have to fight, for God himself will destroy the armies of Gog (Ezk 38:19–23). Revelation 20:7–9 places this event after “the thousand years are over,” when “Satan will be released … and deceive all the nations … Gog and Magog, and mobilize them for war.”
All attempts to trace the origin of the name Gog must be held to be tentative. Some see the name in Gyges of Lydia who drove away the Cimmerians (Gomer). Others see it in a name mentioned in Assyrian records, Gagu, the chief of a mountain tribe north of Assyria (cf. BDB). It is not important theologically that we be able to trace the name linguistically or identify it historically. Most Christians intrepret these passages eschatologically. Precise interpretations differ. Some see the passage as highly symbolic of the final struggle between the Church and the forces of evil. Others taking it quite literally say the nation Israel will be attacked after the millenium when Satan is released only to be finally destroyed by being cast into the lake of fire. Others consider the references in Rev 20:7–9 to be allusions, not decisive as to fulfilment and they identify the time of fulfilment as the battle of Armageddon before the millennium. (Smick, E. B. (1999). 324 גּוֹג. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 153). Chicago: Moody Press.)
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It can be concluded that Gog is a person from the region of Magog who is the prince, the chief ruler, over the geographical areas, or countries, Meshech and Tubal. These land areas or countries appear to be located generally toward the south of the Black and Caspian seas in the modern countries of Turkey, Russia, and Iran. (Alexander, R. H. (1986). Ezekiel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 930). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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The leader of this army is named Gog, ruler of “Magog,” which means “the land of Gog.” It was located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The title “chief prince” can be translated “prince of Rosh,” a place that hasn’t been determined yet. But if “prince of Rosh” is the correct translation, then this man will rule over Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. The latter two places are located in eastern Asia Minor along with Gomer and Beth-Togarmah. Prince Gog’s allies will be Persia (Iran), Cush (ancient Ethiopia), Put (Libya), Gomer, and Beth-Togarmah, both located near the Black Sea.
Since all these nations except Put, Cush, and Persia are located north of Israel, it’s tempting to identify Rosh with Russia and therefore Meschech with Moscow and Tubal with Tobolsk, both cities in Russia; but we would have a hard time defending this on linguistic grounds. This doesn’t rule out the participation of modern Russia, since it is located in the north (vv. 6, 15; 39:2), but neither does it demand it.
The prophet encourages his listeners (and readers) by telling them the end of the story even before he begins: God will defeat this vast coalition army and rescue His people Israel in their land (38:3–4a). This invasion won’t occur until “after many days … in the latter years” (v. 8), at a time when Israel is enjoying peace and security under the protection of the political leader who signed the covenant. Prince Gog and his allies will think that Israel is an easy target, but they forget the protection of the God of Jacob.
This raises the perplexing question: Why would Gog and his allies want to attack Israel at all, knowing that a powerful ten-nation European alliance had promised to defend the helpless Jews? The overt purpose stated in verses 12–13 is to seize the wealth in the land of Israel, a purpose that the other nations understood. But if our suggested scenario is correct, perhaps these nations also want to prevent the rebuilding of the Jewish temple. The nations named are identified with Islam, and they would want to protect the “Dome of the Rock,” a revered Muslim monument which has stood on the temple site for centuries.5
Whatever Prince Gog’s thinking might be, it’s clear that it is the Lord who brings this army out (v. 4, nasb; vv. 16–17). Prince Gog thinks he has worked out the whole scheme (vv. 10–11), but it is God who is in charge. The northern coalition comes into the land of Israel confident of victory, but they are walking into a trap. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2000). Be reverent (pp. 173–174). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor/Cook Communications.)
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Gog is said to mean “extension,” and Magog “expansion.” The two terms might well indicate the ruler of a vast territory, greater perhaps than that over which anyone else holds authority. Gog is designated as the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.
The word “Rosh” admittedly is used again and again in Scripture for head or chief; but the construction of the text here has led the revisers as well as many other translators, even one so conservative in some respects as James Moffatt, to take the word “Rosh” as indicating a country. Remembering that there are no vowels in the Hebrew, it seems that Rosh then is really that land which we know as Russia. Meshech and Tubal—names found in the book of Genesis—have been identified as the progenitors of Scythian tribes located in the region of the Black and Caspian Seas. There seems to be little reason to doubt but that these tribes were the progenitors of the peoples in both Europe and Asia, who eventually were welded into the vast Russian empire.
Russia has been dominated in late years, as we know, by a thoroughly atheistic group of leaders opposed to everything in the way of divine revelation and the recognition of spiritual realities. While the Russian people are incurably religious even to superstition, yet their leaders have, ever since the Revolution, been committed to an anti-religious program.
In the last days the final head of the Russian people will look with covetous eyes upon the great developments going on in the land of Palestine, and will determine that Russia must have her part of the wealth there produced. Consequently, we have the picture which the prophet brings before us—that of a vast army augmented by warriors from Persia, Cush, and Put, marching down toward Palestine.
Cush seems to refer to Ethiopia, but there was also a Cush in the Arabian Peninsula; it may be impossible to identify the exact people referred to until the prophecy is actually being fulfilled.
Put, or Phut, as it is in the Hebrew, seems to be identical with Libya in North Africa. These allied nations with all the hordes of the Cimmerians—or as the Authorized Version renders it, Gomer, which is generally supposed to refer to the tribes that dwelt along the Danube and the Rhine, later forming the German empire—and with the house of Togarmah, or Armenia, will become a formidable host indeed as they move on toward the mountains of Israel. To them it will seem as though the taking of that land will be an easy accomplishment, but they are to know eventually that it is not the Jews with whom they have to do but the Eternal One, the God of Israel.
In verses 7 to 9 we note the spirit that actuates them. (Ironside, H. A. (1949). Expository notes on Ezekiel, the prophet. (pp. 266–267). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 8. After many days thou shalt be visited, &c.] After the Ottoman empire has stood a long time, as it has already; when the many days will be ended that Israel should be without a king and a prince, &c. Hos. 3:4. then shall Gog or the Turk be visited of God, not in a way of grace, but vengeance; he shall be punished for all his iniquities, and his punishment or destruction will be brought about in the following manner: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword; that is, into the land of Judea, the right owners of which shall now be returned unto it; who have been for many years drove and kept out of it by the sword of their enemies; see Jer. 31:2 and these latter years are the same with the latter days, in which these people shall seek the Lord and the Messiah, and fear him and his goodness, and return to their own land, Hos. 3:5 and 1:11. when the Turks, enraged at it, will raise a numerous army, and enter it, in order to repossess it. The description of the Jews, who are most manifestly pointed at, is continued: and is gathered out of many people against the mountains of Israel; or rather, to the mountains of Israel; for it seems to design the land of Judea, that is, the people of it; who shall be gathered out of the several nations where they are now dispersed, and brought into their own land; described by the mountains of Israel, because a mountainous country, and a very fruitful one; see ch. 34:13, 14 and not the army of Gog gathered out of many nations, as before observed, to march against the people of the Jews; though this seems to be the sense of the Targum, “in the end of years thou shalt come into the land, against which are turned those that slay with the sword, who are gathered out of many people against the mountains of the land of Israel:” which have been always waste; of a longer time than the seventy-years’ captivity, even ever since the destruction of it by the Romans; and if the time of the carrying captive of the ten tribes by Salmanezer is respected, it is longer still: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them; that is, the people of the Jews, the proprietors of the land of Israel, shall now be brought forth out of the several nations where they are scattered, and shall inhabit their own land, and dwell in the utmost security, having nothing to fear from their most potent enemies, even Gog himself; and though he shall come against them in the following manner. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 199). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
1 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)
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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)
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Paul as Our Example
“Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4:9)
The apostle Paul many times urged his readers to follow his example in living the Christian life. To the Philippians, Paul said: “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Philippians 3:17).
The initial reaction to such exhortations is to think of Paul as arrogant. To the believers in the Corinthian church, he said: “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me” (1 Corinthians 4:16). To those at Thessalonica, he said: “For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you. . . . Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us” (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9).
At the same time, Paul considered himself to be “the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle” (1 Corinthians 15:9). Later he called himself “less than the least of all saints” (Ephesians 3:8), and finally he said that he was even the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).
In no way was the apostle Paul an egotist. Nevertheless, he knew that his converts needed an example to see, as well as precepts to learn. The Lord Jesus Christ, of course, is our real example (1 Peter 2:21). But by living a life patterned after Christ, however, Paul could say: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
People need to see Christ in the lives of their Christian leaders. By the grace of God, we also need to live as Christ did, so that when people follow us, they also will be following Christ. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Israel Strikes Back after Syria Launches Two Rockets Toward Israeli Territory Will Maule |
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Israeli military forces have struck back at Syria after two rockets were sent flying towards Israeli territory this weekend. The Israeli Air Force utilized jets and attack helicopters to strike a number of Syrian military targets after a rocket reportedly came down in the Mount Hermon area of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. “Last night, 2 rockets were launched from Syria to Israel, 1 landing within Israeli territory. In response, we struck a number of Syrian Armed Forces military targets,” the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on Twitter Sunday. The IDF added: “We hold the Syrian regime accountable and will firmly operate against any attempt to harm Israeli civilians.” Israel’s swift military response resulted in the deaths of a few Syrian soldiers and seven foreign fighters, according to the Guardian, quoting the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. |
A training facility for Iranian and Hezbollah forces, along with an arms depot, were hit by the counterstrikes, according to the Jerusalem Post.
In a statement, the IDF noted that their aerial defense systems were activated as a result of Syrian anti-aircraft gunfire, adding that “none of the rockets exploded in Israel.”
Following news of the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, himself a former special forces soldier, issued a statement insisting that decisive retaliatory action was necessary.
“I held security consultations following the attack and I ordered the IDF to take strong action, which it did, striking several targets,” Netanyahu said. “We will not tolerate firing at our territory and we will respond with great force to any aggression against us. This has been the consistent policy that I have led, together with the government, and this is what we will continue to do for the security of Israel.”
Reports indicate that the rockets launched against Israel on Saturday night originated in the Damascus area, which is located about 40 km away from the intended target of the Golan Heights.
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Now the real problem this creates for all of us is that the average observer will conclude Christians were wildly cheering a pro-abortion President. So we pro-lifers must be the lunatic fringe. The whole church is weakened. This is why a century ago J. Gresham Machen warned that there is no such thing as liberal Christianity. There is Christianity and then there is liberalism. What we saw in the auditorium Sunday was, for the most part, a crowd of what Machen would call cheering liberals-that is, people who claim to be Christian but deny the essential teachings. The true Christians were on the outside, protesting. Be sure your friends and family know the difference. Chuck Colson
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