ISAIAH 36

Assyrian army comes to Jerusalem verse 1- 2

Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah

that Sennacherib – king of Assyria came up against all

the defensed cities of Judah and took them

And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem

unto king Hezekiah with a great army

And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the

fuller’s field

Delegation meets with Assyrian representative verse 3

Then came forth unto him Eliakim – Hiliah’s son

which was over the house

and Shebna the scribe

Joab – Asaph’s son – the recorder

Message of Rabshakeh: Downplays Egyptian verse 4- 6

Rabshakeh said unto them

Say you now to Hezekiah

Thus says the great king – the king of Assyria

What confidence is this wherein thou trust?

I say – say you (but they are but vain words)

I have counsel and strength for war

now on whom do you trust

that you rebel against me?

Lo – you trust in the staff of this broken reed – on Egypt

whereon it a man lean – it will go into his hand

and pierce it – so is Pharaoh king of Egypt

to all that trust in him

Message of Rabshakeh:

Downplays help of LORD verse 7

But if you say to me

We trust in the LORD our God – is it not HE

whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away

and said to Judah and to Jerusalem

You shall worship before this altar?

Message of Rabshakeh: Offers 2,000 horses verse 8- 10

Now therefore give pledges – I pray you – to my master the king of Assyria

and I will give you two thousand horses

if you be able on your part to set riders upon them

How then will you turn away the face of one captain of the least of

my master’s servants

and put your trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it?

the LORD said unto me

Go up against this land – and destroy it

Delegation asks them to speak in Syrian verse 11

Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh

Speak – I pray you – unto thy servants in the Syrian language

for we understand it – and speak not to us in the Jews’ language

in the ears of the people that are on the wall

Rabshakeh refuses to speak in Syrian verse 12

But Rabshakeh said

Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words?

has he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall

that they may eat their own dung

and drink their own piss with you?

Rabshakeh tells those on walls

to not trust in LORD verse 13- 15

Then Rabshakeh stood – and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language

and said Hear you the words of the great king – the king of Assyria

Thus says the king

Let not Hezekiah deceive you – for he shall not be able to deliver you

Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD – saying

The LORD will surely deliver us

this city shall not be delivered into the

hand of the king of Assyria

Rabshakeh gives terms of surrender verse 16- 17

Hearken not to Hezekiah – for thus says the king of Assyria

Make an agreement with me by a present – and come out to me

and eat you every one of his vine – and every one of his fig tree

and drink you every one the waters of his own cistern

Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land

a land of corn and wine – a land of bread and vineyards

Rabshakeh repeatedly tells them

not to trust Hezekiah verse 18- 20

Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you – saying

The LORD will deliver us

Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the

hand of the king of Assyria?

Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad?

where are the gods of Sepharvaim?

and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?

Who are they among all the gods of these lands

that have delivered their land out of my hand

that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

People on the wall didn’t answer a word verse 21

But they held their peace – and answered him not a word

for the king’s commandment was saying

Answer him not

Delegation reports to King Hezekiah verse 22

Then came Eliakim – son of Hilkiah that was over the household

and Shebna – the scribe – and Joah – son of Asaph – the recorder

to Hezekiah with their clothes rent

and told him the words of Rabshakeh

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 4 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say you now to Hezekiah, Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein you trust? (982 “trust” [batach] means confidence, secure, hope, to fear nothing, or feel safe.)

DEVOTION: Our safety is challenged every day. Some of the threats are real and some are not. Here we have a real threat. The Assyrians were moving across the land without any seeming problem. They had a strong army. They had defeated many nations that had their confidence in false gods. They had even defeated the Northern Tribes of Israel.

Of course, we know that the ten tribes had long ago left the honoring of the True God and were worshiping golden calves. They didn’t want anything to do with the LORD because they thought if they did the people would travel to Jerusalem to worship HIM and the nation would be reunited.

Now the servant of the king of Assyria was putting all the gods of the other nations with the one true God of Israel. They thought their confidence in the LORD was foolishness because no other god had been able to defeat them.

We need to understand that our hope is built only on our complete confidence in the LORD. Our daily battles need to be turned over to HIM. There might be an enemy at our door but the LORD is will us through each challenge.

The rest of this account in the history of Israel is great. In a next chapter we will see what Hezekiah does with this threat on the nation. It is something we should do with each threat that comes into our life.

Have you reached the point in your life where you fear nothing because you have confidence the LORD is with you and will help you face each challenge? Do you still worry over the little things? The servants of Hezekiah came into his presence with their clothes torn because they were having a problem with complete hope of victory in the LORD.

CHALLENGE: Our real problem is that we think too much and act to slow in having a full confidence in the LORD. Ask the LORD to help each of us to rely completely on HIM when the enemy is at the door!!!

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 7 But if you say to me, We trust in the LORD our God” is it not HE, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, You shall worship before this altar? (7812 “worship” [shachah] means to bow down, prostrate oneself, before superior in homage, obeisance, or reverence.)

DEVOTION: One of facts of those who don’t understand a certain religion is what typical honor of their god is. There were many religions in the different countries that the Assyrians were conquering. It would have been good for them to understand the religion of the children of Israel.

If they had understood what God expected of the children of Israel was that they were to not go to the high places or other altars to false gods. They were only to go to the Temple to honor the LORD.

Here is a chapter of history. The representative of the king of Assyria basically said that there is no god around that could stop the Assyrian army. They believed they were able to defeat any nation because of the size of their army. They even offered to give them 2,000 horses if they could find the men to ride them.

He taunted the people defending Jerusalem but they didn’t say a word. Assyria was claiming that the LORD sent them to defeat Jerusalem. They took all these claims to Hezekiah.

This verse for today states that Hezekiah destroyed all the places of worship in Jerusalem but the truth is that the destroyed all the false places of worship. The representative of Assyria was trying to cause the people to doubt their king.

Hezekiah told all the people that there was only one place to worship and that was in the temple in Jerusalem. Solomon built the temple under the direction of the LORD.

Today we are to honor the LORD in spirit and in truth. The building is a place to worship but the heart is where it begins. Our attitude is what the LORD looked at in the children of Israel and in us. If we just come to a building to go through a ritual then we are not truly honoring HIM.

We are supposed to go to church each Sunday and honor the LORD with other believers, so we stay fresh in the LORD. It is part of our accountability. It is part of God’s plan for our fellowship with HIM.

There are a lot of false places where people think they can go to worship the LORD. Just being in a church doesn’t mean we are worshiping the LORD. Some churches are like the high places of the Old Testament.

CHALLENGE: Find a church that teaches the inerrant Word correctly, prays, reminds us of the LORD’S death by taking communion, and genuinely cares for one another. That is a true church.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 14 Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you; The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).

DEVOTION: Have you ever felt that there was an individual or organization that felt like they were invincible? Whatever they said or did worked and became an instant sensation, perhaps like Apple or Disney a number of years ago. They had this Midas touch and growth or success followed their every step. The Assyrian king Sennacherib had that air of invincibility about him as he comes to ask Jerusalem the questions here. No one had been able to withstand the onslaught of the Assyrian army, none of the defeated countries gods had been strong enough to withstand this force. Why did the Israelites think their God could?

Rabshakeh, Sennacherib’s messenger spoke the truth for as much as he spoke in verse 14. He is absolutely correct that Hezekiah could not deliver the people of Israel from Assyria! No man can deliver them or us from our strong enemies, only God can. When we trust in chariots and horses or wisdom of man those elements alone will always prove insufficient. Hezekiah had to learn that truth and so do we today! When the immovable force comes against you, turn to the creator of that force for the wisdom and power to divert it safely from you.

CHALLENGE: Even those with a Midas touch can succeed only as far as God allows. Trust in the Lord and not the wisdom of men! He truly knows the way! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)

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: 22 Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household and Shebna he scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the word of Rabshakeh. (7167 “rent” [qara] means to tear away, to rip or cut or tear to pieces, to be separated or caused to separate abruptly, whether literally or figuratively, or to cut to pieces.)

DEVOTION: The tearing of their clothes to pieces was a sign of their distress over what was happening to the people and city of Jerusalem. Their king had to answer the army of Sennacherib the king of Assyria that had come to take over the land.

Here are the leaders who went out to meet with the reprehensive of Sennacherib, Rabshakeh and listen to his demands of the nation.

The enemy was real and close. The people of Israel had to see them but were told to be quiet and not answer them. It was real and it looked bad to them. Even the leaders came to the king and told him what was going on.

The choice was not easy and they were supposed to give an answer to this army at their gates.

Today we don’t have a literal army at the gates like the children of Israel had but we have the hosts of hell which are the devil and his angels still challenging us to make a decision. The decision is whether we really believe the Bible and the promises of God or not. The enemy is real but the LORD is stronger than any enemy but we have to trust HIM when we are making decisions.

Just like the Israelites we have make a decision each day on who we are going to serve and obey. It is not an easy decision because we are tempted by the world, the flesh and the devil even today and each day for the rest of our lives.

The choice is ours each day as to whether we will serve the LORD with our whole body, soul and spirit. We have the help of the Holy Spirit who indwells those who are believers but it is still a decision we have to make.

Our world is tempting us each day to move away from obeying the LORD. Sometimes it seems that the LORD is silent even today but HE is always present with those who are genuine believers.

CHALLENGE: Joshua told the children of Israel to “Choose you each day who you will serve either the LORD or the god of this world (the devil)? What will your choice be today? Each day is a new day of service to the LORD or against the LORD!

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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)

Worship at Tabernacle verse 7

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 7, 10, 15, 18, 20

God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 7

LORD our God verse 7

LORD will deliver verse 18

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)

Sennacherib – king of Assyria verse 1, 2, 4, 8, 13, 15, 16, 18

Great king

Rabshaketh verse 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 22

Great army

Asked what confidence Judah trusts

Why rebel you against Assyria

Told Israel to give pledges to Sennacherib

Offered 2,000 horses to Israel

Told Israel it couldn’t turn away army

Told Israel not to trust in Egypt

Said the LORD told him to go against Israel

Leaders of Israel to speak to them only

Tells Israelites they will eat their own dung

and drink own piss

Spoke in Jewish language to people on wall

that Hezekiah was deceiving them

Told people of Israel to not trust in the LORD

Told people t make an agreement with Sennacherib

Promised Israelites will be able to eat of their vine &

drink waters of their own cistern

Told them they would be taken away

Egypt verse 6, 9

Pharaoh verse 6

Syrian language verse 11

Hamath verse 19

Arphad verse 19

Sepharvaim verse 19

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Vain words verse 5

Rebel verse 5

False trust verse 6, 9

High places verse 7

Altars to false gods verse 7

Bribe verse 8

Without the LORD verse 10

Deceive verse 14

False gods verse 18- 20

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Confidence verse 4

Trust verse 4- 7, 15

Worship verse 7

Deliverance verse 14, 15, 18, 20

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

King Hezekiah verse 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 –

16, 18, 22

High place he took away

Told Israel to worship only altar to God

Told people to not answer Rabshakeh

Eliakim, Shebna, Joah with clothes rent

told him words of Rabshakeh

Judah verse 1, 7

Jerusalem verse 2, 7, 20

Eliakim – Hilkiah’s son verse 3, 11, 22

Over the house

Clothes rent

Shebna the scribe

Clothes rent verse 3, 11, 22

Joah – Asaph’s son (the recorder) verse 3, 11, 22

Clothes rent

Jews’ language verse 11, 13

Samaria verse 19

People held their peace verse 21

King’s commandment verse 21

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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QUOTES regarding passage

7–9. Hezekiah had centralized religious observance (2 Kgs 18:1–7; 2 Chr. 29–31). The closure of country sanctuaries (however correct) would not have passed without opposition and criticism. The Rab-shakeh knew how to play on the nerve-ends of any who were less than convinced by what the king was doing. He then tries to bargain with horses (8), which were always in short supply in Israel. (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 250). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

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The commander then said that it would be foolish to depend on God (v. 7). Apparently this commander had heard of Hezekiah’s partial reforms (2 Kings 18; 2 Chron. 31) in which he had removed the high places, sites of worship on hills throughout Judah. The commander did not really understand the situation for he may have thought that Hezekiah was no longer depending on God since he had removed many altars from the land, leaving only one altar in Jerusalem. (Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1087). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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Ver. 7. But if thou say to me, we trust in the Lord our God, &c.] In his promises, providence, power, and protection, and not in human counsels and strength; not in allies and auxiliaries, as Pharaoh king of Egypt; should this be replied, Rabshakeh has something to say to that; having shewn the vanity of trusting in the above things, he now proceeds to beat them off of all trust in the Lord their God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away; the question might easily be answered in the negative; no, he has not; the high places and altars which Hezekiah took away were the high places and altars of Heathen gods, of false deities, and not of the true God of Israel, and which was to his honour and glory; but Rabshakeh would make a crime of it, and, ignorantly supposing that these were the altars and high places of the God of Israel, would insinuate that the taking of these away must be displeasing to him, and consequently Hezekiah and his people could not hope for any protection from him, whom he had so highly affronted; but all this talk was the fruit of ignorance, as well as of malice: and said to Judah, and to Jerusalem, ye shall worship before this altar? the altar of the Lord, in the temple at Jerusalem, and before that only, confining their religious worship to one place, and their sacrifices to one altar; which was so far from being displeasing to God, as he would insinuate, that it was entirely agreeable to his will: and therefore there was no weight or strength in this kind of reasoning. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, pp. 202–203). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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His speech is a masterful piece of psychological warfare in which he discredits everything that the Jews held dear. The key word is trust, used seven times (vv. 4–7, 9, 15). “In what is your confidence?” asked the field commander. “You can have no confidence, for everything you trust in has failed!” (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (p. 95). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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36:7 He whose high places and whose altars. Rabshakeh mistakenly thought Hezekiah’s reforms in removing idols (2Ki 18:4; 2Ch 31:1) had removed opportunities to worship the Lord. this altar. That all worship should center in Solomon’s temple was utterly foreign to the polytheistic Assyrians. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Is 36:7). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

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7. But if thou say to me. If you shall make this plea, that you believe Jehovah will protect you in your revolt. The word ‘thou’ here refers to Hezekiah, or to the ambassadors speaking in his name. In 2 Kings 18:22, it is, ‘but if ye say unto me;’ that is, you ambassadors. The sense is substantially the same.

Is it not he, &c. This is given as a reason why they should not put their confidence in Jehovah. The reason is, that he supposed that Hezekiah had removed all the altars of Jehovah from all parts of the land, and that they could not calculate on the protection of a God whose worship had been abolished. It is probable that Sennacherib and Rabshakeh had heard of the reformation which had been effected by Hezekiah; of his destroying the groves and altars which had been consecrated in the reign of his father to idolatry, and perhaps of the fact that he had even destroyed the brazen serpent which Moses had made, and which had become an object of idolatrous worship (2 Kings 18:4), and he may have supposed that all these altars and groves had been devoted to Jehovah, and were connected with his worship. He did not seem to understand that all that Hezekiah had done was only to establish the worship of Jehovah in the land.

High places. The worship of idols was usually performed in groves on high places; or on the tops of hills and mountains. It seems to have been supposed that worship in such places was more acceptable to the Deity. Perhaps it may have been because they thus seemed nearer the residence of the gods; or, perhaps, because there is sublimity and solemnity in such places—a stillness and elevation above the world which seem favourable to devotion (see 1 Sam. 9:12; 1 Kings 3:4; 2 Kings 12:2; 1 Chron. 13:2–9). Chapels, temples, and altars, were erected on such places (1 Kings 13:22; 2 Kings 17:29), and ministers and priests attended there to officiate (1 Kings 12:32; 2 Kings 17:32). Even the kings of Judah, notwithstanding the express prohibition of Moses (Deut. 12), were engaged in such acts of worship (2 Kings 12:4; 14:4; 15:4, 35; 2 Chron. 15:17; 20:33); and Solomon himself sacrificed in chapels of this kind (1 Kings 3:2.) These places Hezekiah had destroyed; that is, he had cut down the consecrated groves, and had destroyed the chapels and temples which had been erected there. The fact that Ahaz, the father of Hezekiah, had been distinguished for worshipping in such places had probably led the king of Assyria to suppose that this was the proper worship of the God of the Jews; and now that Hezekiah had destroyed them all, he seems to have inferred that he was guilty of gross irreligion, and could no longer depend on the protection of Jehovah.

And said to Judah and Jerusalem. He had commanded them to worship only in Jerusalem, at the temple. This was in strict accordance with the law of Moses; but this seems to have been understood by Sennacherib as in fact almost or quite banishing the worship of Jehovah from the land. Probably this was said to alienate the minds of the people from Hezekiah, by showing them that he had taken away their rights and privileges of worshipping God where they chose. (Barnes, A. (1851). Notes on the Old Testament: Isaiah (Vol. 2, pp. 5–6). London: Blackie & Son.)

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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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Today’s Scripture

Judges 13:15-24; Ruth 1:19-21; Isaiah 9:6-7

The day dawns brightly even though there are clouds between us and the sunshine. This is a truth we often miss as we look at the underside of the clouds in the sky. In much the same way we struggle to understand the challenges that come into our lives as we only have access to one side of the equation.

Manoah was the father of Samson that struggled with God’s plan for his family’s future. An angel of the Lord had spoken to his wife an astounding promise of a son. Manoah desired a word of confirmation yet when the angel arrived and confirmed the promise, Manoah’s response was fear and unworthiness. “We shall surely die, because we have seen God!” (Judges 13:22).

Naomi was a woman who followed her husband and dark clouds filled her life as he and her two sons passed away suddenly (Ruth 1:3-5). During this period of grief, she changed her name from Naomi (pleasant) to Mara (bitter) as all she could see was the clouds of grief and sorrow. The sun was shining but all that could be seen was the clouds of adversity and grief.

Isaiah was a prophet in a nation that was in darkness and about to be exiled. The forecast was filled with adversity and suffering for him and his people. Yet the prophet is given a message filled with hope through a Child that would be born (9:6). The people of Israel could not see the promise through the darkness of their present time.

Do you feel that the clouds are thick overhead and God is distant and unseen? Does it appear your life is a tangle of broken and twisted events that only point toward disaster? Take courage, Charlotte Murray penned these words as a prayer;

“Father, my life is in a tangle, thread after thread appears, twisted and broken and knotted, viewed through the lapse of years. I cannot straighten them, Father; Oh, it is very hard; somehow or other it seemeth, all I have done is marred. I did not see they were getting into this tangled state; how it is happened I know not- is it too late, too late? Is it? “Ah No!” Thou dost whisper, “Out of this life of thine yet may come wonderful beauty wrought by My power divine.” Take then, the threads, O my Father, let them Thy mind fulfill, work out in love a pattern after Thy holy will.”

Like Manoah, Naomi, and the people of Israel, you may look at circumstances and see nothing but angry clouds and hopelessness rolling over your life. The storm will pass, and the Sun will reappear as God affirms His love for you. He is, “… Extraordinary Strategist, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). (The Net Bible). With an Expectant Hope, Pastor Miller

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They are necessary lessons if we are to develop into people with peace and power and unspeakable joy no matter what our circumstances may be, if we are to become the community of the joyful broken who reveal by our lives that the gospel is true. (p. 52)

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The “happiness- to- despair” part at least is familiar to every honest person who sincerely tries to follow this crazy, narrow, pothole-ridden path called the Christian life. (p. 55)

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It comes down to this: God’s best is available only to those who sacrifice, or who are willing to sacrifice, the merely good. (p. 57)

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I’ve come to believe that only broken people truly worship. (p. 57)

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Notice three characteristics of Naomi’s despair. They’re often part of our own journey to hope. First, she believed people would be better of spending time with someone other than herself. Second, she lost all hope of a return to earlier blessings that brought happiness. Third, she believed the tragedies were God’s doings. (p. 58-59, Shattered Dreams by Larry Crabb)

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For the intellectually curious, it may be interesting to understand the language that different churches use to describe Mary, and why some think of her only as a good example, while others pray to her as the Queen of Heaven.
For us amateur psychologists, it’s fun to ponder what Mary was thinking when she told Jesus the wine had run out at the wedding feast (John 2). As the song puts it, Mary, did you know . . .?
For all of us who follow Jesus, there’s much wisdom in thinking about Mary’s request for more wine, and how Jesus responded to his mother.
Jesus rebuffed Mary (Woman, why do you involve me?) because her request didn’t consider his coming passion (My hour has not yet come).
What about our requests? Like Mary, we need to be in step with Jesus’ passion when we ask God to fork over goods and services. When he faced the cross, while his oblivious disciples slept, Jesus prayed three times, I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39-43). Apparently, Mary had begun to get something of this when she instructed the servants at the wedding, Do whatever he tells you.
It’s called cruciform praying—praying the cross. Our latest post unpacks all these matters in more detail and links to a teaching video on the topic. I hope you find both helpful.
All the best, David drdavidlturner.com

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Ezra 6

The original decree is found, and permission is given to complete the temple restoration.

INSIGHT

It is often darkest before the dawn. Just as it looks as if the work on the temple is going to be stopped, the Lord turns the situation around. Not only is permission given to complete the temple, but those who had tried to stop the work are required to finance the remainder of the restoration! Worrying does little to further the work of God; He is quite capable of accomplishing His work. Our work is trust, obedience, and faithfulness to our responsibilities. (Quiet Walk)

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AN ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT TEACHING

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” Matthew 6:31
The gospel seems to come as a challenge to us and as a condemnation of what we have habitually believed. Our Lord puts it like this. He says in Matthew 6:31, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” And then in verse 32, “For after all these things do the Gentiles seek.” Now we must remember that He was preaching to Jews, to people who had received their Old Testament Scriptures, who regarded themselves as the people of God, and who were concerned about God and about righteousness. And the division of the ancient world to them, was, of course, Jews and Gentiles–those who had received this religion and those who had not.
And that is an equally appropriate classification in our day and age and generation. “The Gentiles” are those who do not know the revelation; they are people who trust to their own thoughts and their own ideas, who live as if God has never been pleased to reveal anything at all concerning Himself. So the division is as appropriate now as it ever has been; and the point I am making is that our Lord emphasizes the great fact that what He teaches is altogether different from everything that has ever been thought by man or conjured up in man’s mind or imagination.
This, again, is a very important preliminary point that we must never lose sight of. The Christian position, the Christian way of life, is not only slightly different from every other…it is essentially different; it is something that stands out alone and unique and apart.
A Thought to Ponder
The Christian position stands out alone and unique and apart.
(From The Kingdom of God, pp. 28-29, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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The King of Glory
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” (Psalm 24:10)
In the upper room just before His betrayal, the Lord Jesus prayed to His Father, remembering “the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (John 17:5). He had left heaven, however, when “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (1:14). Then, when He miraculously turned water into wine at the wedding in Galilee, He “manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him” (John 2:11).
In the days of His flesh, His glory was veiled, however, except in His life, words of grace and truth, and mighty works. He “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7-8).
Finally, His glory seemed to be gone forever as He lay in a borrowed tomb. But then “God…raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God” (1 Peter 1:21).
He is now “the Lord of glory” (James 2:1), who, being the very “brightness of [God’s] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3).
As He ascended back to heaven, all His hosts of angels welcomed their Lord of hosts with a mighty anthem of praise: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory” (Psalm 24:9-10).

(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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Exodus 1

The children of Israel suffer in Egypt.

INSIGHT

God’s control over the world need never be questioned. God intended to bring Israel back into the Promised Land. He had spoken it, and He would do it.

When that seemed least likely, it was closest to happening. In the dark hour of Israel’s enslavement, God was working to deliver them — through the birth and miraculous preservation of Moses. Before Moses would die, Israel would be back on the doorstep of the land which had been promised to them.

To many today, the fulfillment of God’s promises seems unlikely. Christ’s return may be scoffed at, but God has spoken it, and God will do it.

The day is drawing nearer. We must watch — and be ready. (Quiet Walk)

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THE RESULTS OF ADOPTION
I…will be your God, and you shall be my people. Leviticus 26:12
The first result of our adoption I shall mention is that if we have the spirit of adoption, we have lost “the spirit of bondage again to fear” (Romans 8:15). Positively, in the second place, we have been given a spirit of liberty. In other words, we are no longer afraid of the law and its condemnation; we are no longer afraid of death; we are enjoying something of the glorious liberty of the children of God. Third, we receive this spirit of adoption through the indwelling Spirit.
But then in addition there are these results: Because we have been adopted into God’s family, we are entitled to bear His name. We can say that we are the children of God. We are members of the household of God. We belong to God’s family. God’s name is upon us. He has said, “I . . . will be your God, and you shall be my people” (Leviticus 26:12). We are His people. Peter applies to Christians what God said to the nation of Israel of old: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).
What else? Well, the fifth benefit is that we enjoy the present protection and consolation that God alone can give, and the provision that He makes for His children. “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Luke 12:7); nothing can happen to us apart from Him. The next benefit, at first, is not so pleasurable—fatherly chastisements. That is the whole argument of the first half of Hebrews 12: “For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives” (verse 6). He chastises His children, but not those who are not His children.
A Thought to Ponder: We are members of the household of God. We belong to God’s family. (From God the Holy Spirit, pp. 187-188 by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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The Importance of a Dad

He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children. MALACHI 4:6

When I gaze at the family snapshots on my desk, a lump forms in my throat. Where are the grinning little boys proudly holding stringers of fish? When did they grow up to become fathers with their own little boys? Where are the little girls in pigtails? When were they transformed into stunning brides? Time does not stand still, nor does the life of a family. But there is one thing that doesn’t change: the importance of a dad. A boy needs the heart of his father and the fellowship of men. He needs at least one man who pays attention to him, spends time with him, admires him and teaches him how to become a man himself.

A boy needs a role model. From experience, I can tell you how easy it is for dads to be selfish. When our children were younger, I struggled with placing my children’s needs above my own desires. I realized that I had a choice to make every day. If I had gone home from work and retreated into my own world, I would have squandered my responsibility to build into my kids. It requires perseverance, not perfection, to be the father that your children need. You will not be flawless. But you can learn how to reserve energy so that you don’t come home from work so emotionally exhausted that you have nothing left for our kids. You can choose not to bend to selfishness but instead to say yes to investing in the next generation.

When our children were little, it occurred to me one day that I needed to save some energy for home. On a card I wrote, “Save Some for Home.” I clipped that card to the shade of my lamp on my desk and for more than a decade, it reminded me of my children’s needs for a daddy. Dads, do you have an extra paper clip?

DISCUSS
On a 1- to 10-point scale (1 being poor and 10 being outstanding), grade yourself as a father. How involved are you in your children’s lives emotionally, relationally and spiritually? (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)

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An Unlikely Testimony

“And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” (Numbers 22:28)
This tale of a donkey talking has been the object of great ridicule by skeptics. That it is not an allegory or fable, however, but a real historical event was confirmed in the New Testament by the apostle Peter (2 Peter 2:15-16).
There is no naturalistic explanation for it, of course, but to insist that the event was impossible is simply to deny the power of God. Such miracles of creation are very rare, however, and there must always be a good reason when God intervenes in the laws which normally govern His creation.
One reason in this case, obviously, was to rebuke the prophet Balaam, who was resisting God’s will simply for monetary gain. Balaam’s voice itself would soon also have to be constrained and controlled by God to force him to do God’s will (Numbers 22:38; 23:16, 26; 24:13), blessing Israel instead of pronouncing the curse for which he was to have been paid by the Moabites, who were desperately trying to keep God’s people out of the Promised Land. The Moabites also needed an unforgettable rebuke. They were apostate descendants of Lot, who had known the true God (Numbers 25:1-3), but they were determined to thwart God’s purposes.
There may be another, more universal reason: God is concerned about His animal creation, caring even for every sparrow (Matthew 10:29). The animals have been placed under man’s dominion, but they are for his service, his instruction, and his enjoyment—not for his abuse.
Thus, Balaam’s ass was providentially allowed by God to rebuke not only Balaam but also anyone who would unnecessarily abuse one of His specially and beautifully designed animal subjects. Most Christians need to be much more sensitive to this concern of God. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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Bill writes (MO): They had pink lights on at the World Trade Center to celebrate. Appropriate. Red for the blood of the unborn babies mixed with the tears of us who mourn their deaths at the hands of their own mothers makes pink. That is the significance I place on the pink lights.

It is truly disturbing to see New York leaders cheering for the right to kill their babies.

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