When God’s people suffer…

“Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal. He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you. In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes. At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth. For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you. You shall know that your tent is at peace, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing. You shall know also that your offspring shall be many, and your descendants as the grass of the earth. You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season. Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good.” (Job 5:17–27)

Job’s friends tried to justify his suffering by telling him that God allowed all his troubles as discipline for wrong-doing, and that those who please Him will live without problems. This is a typical conclusion for many Christians who have never suffered very much. We tend to think that God is blessing us because our good behavior has earned it. Therefore the opposite must be true and we deserve those problems.

It is true that God does bless the lives of those who obey Him, but He also uses trials to make us grow. Trials are not always punishment, as the book of Job reveals in its beginning. Satan said Job would never trust God if God didn’t play nice with Him, therefore God allowed Satan to bring tragedies to this man’s life to prove that faith in Him was more powerful than anything that threatened it.

In other words, some of what we suffer is not chastening or correction. It might be a test, or it might be an attack to win our hearts to the enemy’s lies. In such cases, pretending ‘all is well’ would be a lie. The struggle with those lies reinforced by tragedy upon tragedy is very real. Job didn’t know this was a contest for his affection and trust. All he knew was the pain of his losses and the agony of his body. He refused to be a hypocrite when asked how he was doing by glibly replying “Fine” when his world had fallen apart. He told the truth about his feelings:

Then Job answered and said: “Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash. For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me. (Job 6:1–4)

Yet in his suffering, his heart knew the truth. Even as he struggled with pain and loss, he was still able to say, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” (Job 23:10) Eventually God bailed him out. 

I know a tiny bit of that journey. Some days are simply rotten and I want to die. It might be physical pain or a horrid sense of despair without reason. And I say, “God, if this has purpose for my good and Your glory, so be it. If not, You know what to do.” At that, the situation usually goes away, making it a much condensed version of what happened to Job. And the test to see if I will trust God even in a trial is over, even quickly forgotten.

This is the nature of spiritual war. The battles usually happen right after a vital obedience, yet as He promises, God uses even this stuff for my good. 

Jesus, life with You is an adventure. I have days of struggles, surprises, unexpected events, and test after test. You have blessed me with energy for much of it, long naps when needed, and joy even in the messy parts. Abundant life? Sometimes I want ‘ordinary’ or ‘normal’ but realize that is not the promise that goes with walking with You.

 

Remember…

So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants. (Esther 9:23–28)

Haman wanted all Jews destroyed, particularly Mordecai who had gained favor with the king. Esther exposed this man’s treachery, and the king came up with plan B and allowed the Jews to defend themselves on the two days they would be attacked. And they did. Haman was hanged and these two days became special and to be celebrated. 

This happened centuries ago yet Jewish people celebrate Purim today as a joyous festival on 14th of Adar (March 2–3, this year). They celebrate the survival of their ancestry with reading the Book of Esther, giving to charity, exchanging food gifts, and eating special food.

The story from the OT is an exciting read. I’m also intrigued that the two days of Purim have not been forgotten. This event shows how God takes care of His people in surprising ways, not only the Jews against the anti-Semitism of those days, but His people from every tribe and culture. 

It also stresses the importance of remembering the way God works in history by not  explicitly mentioning God. He works behind the scenes and in natural events. Some families play “I spy God” to remind them that He is always near, always involved in their  lives and that a major aspect of faith is believing what He says even though we cannot see Him.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:1–3)

The Bible says “Faith comes by hearing” and this also is not necessarily audible. His Spirit speaks to our spirit and when we ‘hear’ God, we know it is Him.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)

That voice is to be remembered. He tells me to remember the Sabbath, remember His covenants and commandments, remember His power and promises, and how I was a slave to sin but am now His servant, remembering His goodness and that He gives me all I need. My prayer is the same as this psalm:

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:3–8)

 

Two Vital Confessions

Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. . . . And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God. . . .  
“Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. . . .  And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous. And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea, and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land. . . .  And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths. . . .  and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments. . . . But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them. . . .  but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. . . . 

The prayer goes on, praising God for His care and confessing the many times of blessing as well as, “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies.”

God warned them many times in many years, “Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love. . . . Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly.” (Nehemiah 9:1–38)

The prayer confesses the goodness of God along with the sins of the people. Why do that? My sins can depress me to the point of feeling abandoned and hopeless. The wonder of God's faithful forgiveness brings balance to the equation. If confess my sin but fail to confess Him, depression and discouragement set in, putting focus on me rather than where it should be.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3)

Not only a mind at rest, putting my focus on God makes my ears more apt to listen and my heart more ready to obey.

Jesus, this world is filled with distractions. Some of them seem harmless, the chores of each day and and other responsibilities. Yet I notice that if my mind drifts aways, so also do my abilities to obey You. Praising You and thinking of You makes a difference in my ability to thread a needle, put away dishes, follow a recipe. That prayer had it right — confessing all sin and weakness is good, yet confessing Your goodness and power is vital to help me live for You.

 

 

God's Word on mixed marriages

After these things had been done, the officials approached me (Ezra) and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” (Ezra 9:1-2)

As soon as Ezra heard this, he was deeply appalled as were all who were faithful to God's Word. They confessed their guilt and were ashamed because God had told them “The land that you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness. Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.”

Intermarriage may not seem an important issue these days, but I have noticed several couples where the man is a Christian and the wife is not. Some men confess that they will do anything to avoid conflict with their wife, thus they stop going to church and soon live according to her value system rather than following Jesus. It seems easier for a Christian wife to influence her unbelieving spouse than the other way around. (See 1 Peter 3:1-7)

Perhaps this is a reflection of what happened in Eden when Eve was able to influence Adam to eat the forbidden fruit with her. In any case, God backed up the danger of marrying someone without faith.

Ezra took this very seriously and made a serious decisions: “We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law. Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.” 

He made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath and he withdrew from the house of God and did not eat or drink while in mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. 

Then a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem, and that if anyone did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all his property should be forfeited, and he himself banned from the congregation. 

All the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days  and sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. Ezra told them what to do and all but two men opposed it. The rest enumerated those guilty and did as told. (Ezra 9:1–10:17)

In the NT, this decision is overruled by grace and respect for the sanctity of marriage. Paul wrote:

To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? (1 Corinthians 7:12–16)

Living according to this requires complete reliance on the Lord rather than the usual “we are not compatible” choice that results in divorce. Human selfishness ruins many relationships. Obedience in the power of the Holy Spirit is the only way to bring the peace of God into the marriage.

Jesus, I am so grateful that You give the power to make a difference in a relationship so that two opposites can agree on faith matters plus many other issues. I’m thankful for Your grace that takes me from “I want my own way” to wanting Your way and discovering it is the only way that brings peace and harmony!

Spiritual war illustrated…

“. . . .  And now be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired. Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king’s dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king, in order that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from of old. That was why this city was laid waste. We make known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River.” 
The king sent an answer: . . . . “I made a decree, and search has been made, and it has been found that this city from of old has risen against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid. Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me. And take care not to be slack in this matter. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the king?” 
. . . .  Then, when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste to the Jews at Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease. Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. (Ezra 4:8–24)

This very real story describes a strategy used by the enemies of God's people to stop the work of rebuilding what they wanted destroyed, their holy city of Jerusalem. It illustrates also the work of evil forces against God’s work of building His holy kingdom as described in the NT. These evil forces use lies and accusations to those who do the work in order to put a stop to it.

Lies are one thing and they discourage those who serve the Lord in the task. However, accusations can be true. Those who love the Lord do make mistakes. God forgives our errors and even uses them to graciously change our lives, but the enemy is quick to point to the errors and hides the wondrous ways God uses them for good.  

The above story did not end there. When Darius became king, he wrote this:
In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: “Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. . . . Its height shall be sixty cubits and its breadth sixty cubits, with three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury. And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple that is in Jerusalem, each to its place. You shall put them in the house of God. . . . . Let the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site. Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River. And whatever is needed— bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require — let that be given to them day by day without fail, that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill. May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.” (Ezra 6:3–12)

No matter how the kingdom is attacked, Lord, You win. You can turn the hearts of kings and as You said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” AMEN!


 

Do not harden your hearts!

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord, the God of Israel. All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the Lord that he had made holy in Jerusalem. The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy. Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels. He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years. (2 Chronicles 36:11–21)

I am beginning to feel like a prophet. It seems easy yet if true, if I broadcast my thoughts, most people would turn away. No one wants to hear anything that says, “Smarten up or face the consequences.”

Jesus died to give me new life, His life. He changed the world, but He had to be crucified to do it. Christian martyrs at formal count now average just over a dozen a day. It could be higher, and it could happen here as faith in Christ is increasingly mocked.

What is worse than being persecuted for my faith? How about falling into the hands of Almighty God for not living my faith? While He is merciful and gracious, He gave me this new life that I ought to live it. Christians are not to assume that grace means we can do whatever we want. God says to us:

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:25–29)

At the same time, Jesus is also for me, willing to enable me to obey Him, even though it costs me time, money, and other sacrifices. If I refuse I will not lose my salvation, but eternal rewards. If I obey, I could be persecuted, even suffer death, but Christians cannot die — we only change our address!

Jesus, life here is unpredictable; however, the OT reveals what can be lost if I disobey You and the NT shows what is mine because You died for me. My obedience can be a powerful tool in Your hands. Even if it isn’t, enable me to willingly do what You say and deeply desire that You are honored and obeyed by others.

Whatever it takes…

The Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God. (2 Chronicles 33:10–13)

Yesterday two Christian friends complained they had no patience. I said, “The Bible says we get patience through tribulation so we spend much of our lives trying to avoid trials and then complain we have no patience.” Both of them laughed at that truth.

Manasseh and his people didn’t pay attention to God so he put him in bondage and distress — tribulation. He humbled himself and confessed as Hezekiah had done before him (2 Chronicles 32:6) and he was restored. Even more, he knew God.

Much of my grumbling is the result of forgetting who God is, and forgetting that He wants the best for me. If a trial comes, I want to fix I, revealing that my doubt and impatience are based on forgetting that He is for me, not against me, even in trials.

Another friend was complaining about her lot in life. She always complains. She fails to see how God can use all things that happen to her for her good. Also, she doesn’t realize that if she, and all of us, got what we deserved for our sin and self-centeredness, our lives would be far worse.

A small thing happened this morning. I wanted to be here in the word before a certain time, and was just about to do that when someone interrupted my plan and we looked for a lost item for several minutes. Patience required. I missed my self-imposed deadline. Since I believe God is in the details and has reasons for every trial, big or small, it is not a surprise to be reminded to listen, do what He says, don’t grumble about not getting my i-wants, and to be glad to have a tiny patience-builder. It could have been much greater. 

This is why this blog is called “Practical Faith.” Trusting God is for everyday events. He wants me to stay calm with too many emails, the phone ringing when I am in the shower, and all other interruptions seen as opportunities, and seeing bigger stuff like bad news on the telly or government leaders making what looks like big mistakes is part of His plan.

Manasseh experienced the reality that God is in charge. If this man would not listen, God knew how to get his attention and even how to change his life. It was through an extreme trial and answered prayer that he knew that the Lord was God.

Jesus, You walk with me every day and in every circumstance. You want me to be like You and as I study Your word and experience Your kindness and answers to my prayers, both big and small, You show me over and over that You are God and You are making my faith in You practical for all of life. What a wonder each day to know You deeper!