Isaiah 2 - Walk in the Light of the LORD

 "Let us walk in the light of the LORD." (Isaiah 2:5b NIV)

We await the day when the LORD will come in the splendor of His majesty. "There will be no more war. The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.. (vs 11) What a day that will be! The earth will tremble. The people will tremble. We will finally realize the fruitlessness of worshipping silver and gold, the work of our own hands, and every knee will bow in recognition of the LORD, God, Almighty.

Isaiah's sermon is a hard one for many to hear. All is not right in the world. There is much trouble on every side; mostly caused by greed or jealousy, caused by desiring what we cannot have. Scripture tells us that Satan, the oppressor, was cast down to the earth. Do you remember why? Isaiah 14:12-14 says: "How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.""  Satan wanted not just to be like God. He wanted to be God. He wanted to be worshipped. There is a little of the devil in all of us, it seems. He sneaks out (or in), when we're not looking, trying to convince us that we are worthy of honor and glory. Sometimes, we believe him. Well, not sometimes, often. We often put ourselves before the LORD, our Creator and Redeemer. And, when we recognize the sin that dwells within us, it should be enough of a reason to go before the LORD, seeking His mercy and grace often, like daily, like a few times a day?

There is only one God and the day will come when all people will have no choice, but to recognize Him as the one true God. Those who desire and/or think that they are gods and above God, will be humbled and their pride brought low as He shows Himself to all people in the full splendor of His majesty. I'm just thinking it would be a whole lot easier on everyone if we could all bow before Him now and "walk in the light of the LORD." 

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. A warning... do not fall prey to the temptation to glorify the works of your own hands; but give all to the glory of God.

Isaiah 1 - Get It Together!

Get it together, already!  Isaiah is the most often prophet quoted in the New Testament. He brings a warning. Get it together, already! Quit worshipping false idols, foreign gods. Turn to the LORD. This message from Isaiah is not just for the people of that day. It needs to heard today, as well. And... this word is for those who profess to be children of God!

For those of you who are not actually reading the Bible as you should, here are verses 2-4 out of the 31 verses in chapter 1:

 

"Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!
For the Lord has spoken:
“I reared children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me.
The ox knows its master,
the donkey its owner’s manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand.”

Woe to the sinful nation,
a people whose guilt is great,
a brood of evildoers,
children given to corruption!
They have forsaken the Lord;
they have spurned the Holy One of Israel
and turned their backs on him."

Woe, indeed! God is not addressing pagans through Isaiah. He is addressing His children. He is addressing those who claim to be His, but refuse to follow in the way that He sets before them, those who think only of themselves.

There are times when I really get truly exasperated hearing that this country is a Christian nation, founded on Christian principles. I won't disagree with that. But, I will ask you that if you really believe it, start acting like it! Please, don't tell me that you are a Christian if you believe that you don't have to worship God or that you worship in your own way. Please, don't tell me that you worship him on the golf course. You are lieing to yourself as well as me. On the golf course you are pleasing only yourself. Please, don't tell me that you are a Christian and believe that there are many ways (gods) to heaven. There is only one way. And... that way is through Jesus Christ. He is the way and the truth and the life. (John 14:6)

One of my greatest pet peeves is hearing complaints from Christians in this country (U.S.) that we are persecuted. Want to talk about persecuted...? There are plenty of people in this world who are truly persecuted, even die, for their faith in Jesus Christ. But, here in this country, it is barely more than a whisper in comparison to the persecution others endure for the sake of the name of Jesus the Christ. There are people the world over who are actually following in the footsteps of Jesus, even to their deaths, for their faith in Him. I often hear that atheists and/or the government entities are trying to take away our rights as Christians. Every Advent, I hear complaints about how we can't put up nativity scenes in front of public buildings. But, what is it that "Christians" put up in front of their own homes? Do you see nativity scenes? Or, do you see blow up Santa Claus's, reindeer, and Christmas trees? I have no doubt that Christianity is under attack in this country, but it is not so much because of those who outright deny Christ. It is not because of those who are not Christian. It is and will be because Christians failed to live like children of God, worshipping only Him, doing His will.

Get it together! There is only one God, the Father, the Creator, the Redeemer of all. Heed the warnings given to us through Isaiah. Repent - that is turn around and worship God, the Father who created you, the Son who died to save you, and the Spirit that empowers you to follow in His footsteps.

Get it together and receive the blessings of the LORD - live in peace - the peace that only God can give.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. If you're thinking I'm being mean or angry, read Isaiah... and you will understand better where this is coming from...

Song of Songs 8 - Seek My Beloved

We have come to the conclusion of Solomon's Song of Songs. It is a very good morning! It is finished! I am very relieved to not to have to try to figure out what this love poem has to do with Christ and the Church for another day. It is indeed a beautiful love poem. But, even reading Matthew Henry's Commentary and The Lutheran Study Bible (Concordia Publishing House) notes and study guides on it each morning, it has been very difficult for me to read it as anything but a love poem between a man and a woman or love-struck teens. I hope that you have done better at that than I have.

I would remind you as we prepare to move on to Isaiah tomorrow, that the LORD is our love, our spouse. We have been united with Him in union unlike any union other that can transpire on earth. He wants to hear your voice and all who love Him desire to hear His and to be with Him, always. When one is in love, it simply will not do to stay anywhere but beside our beloved. Our hearts will constantly yearn to walk beside our beloved in that most beautiful garden.

Today, will be a beautiful day! I will seek my beloved in all whom I encounter. I will be visiting shut-ins...

God's Peace - Pr. J

Song of Songs 7 - Love And Lust Not The Same Thing

Ahhh! Love! Or is it lust? Whatever, it is, they are filled with desire for one another. The woman responds to her love: "I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me." (Song of Songs 7:10 NIV)

The Church responds to our beloved, "LORD: I belong to you. I give myself completely to you." That is, the Church (the spouse) does this. But, not all of the church abandons its whole life to our beloved LORD. This gives me a good opportunity to attempt to explain, in a few words, the difference between church and Church. The Church is the Body of Christ, all who believe, in heaven and on earth. The church, with a little c, is the visible church on earth. Sadly, the church on earth includes many who do not believe, many who have not surrendered themselves to love of God and to loving the LORD, God above all others.

As in any relationship, if we truly love, then we will trust our very lives in the hands of the other. We are willing to give our all to be in that relationship. Total commitment....

I have said it before and I think it bears repeating. Love and lust are not the same thing.  Love is eternal. It does not end. Lust is fleeting. Lust will pass.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Song of Songs 6 - Can Men Really Love That Many Women?

Too many wives and concubines! Admittedly, my reading of Songs of Songs is tainted with the doubts I have toward anyone, even Solomon, having the ability to keep so many wives happy and even from killing each other out of jealousy. Sure the courting may be awesome for the one who is being courted; however, I cannot imagine what the other wives are thinking as he pursues yet another woman. How much jealously is there? And once this woman is conquered how will she fit in to the harem? Once married, will she be content to share her husband with multitudes of others?  On the other hand, once they realize that this man is just that - only a man who over indulges himself - the wives are grateful that there are so many of them that they don't have to deal with him too much.

On the other hand, God is not like man, in that He can and does love the multitudes. His love is not the kind of love that would cause us to be jealous over His love for others. His love will fill us with love for His whole church on earth, for all people. He does not neglect one to chase after another. He will not leave one to go chasing after another. He is fully capable of loving and caring for all people, at any given time and all at the same time, according to our individual needs.

A closing prayer from St. Paul for the Ephesians (and you):
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  (Eph 3:14-21 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Song of Songs 5 - Get Out Of Bed; Answer the Door

A couple of days ago, I wrote about knocking. In light of our reading today, I will repeat that. When Jesus knocks, get up and answer the door!

As the woman in this love story sleeps, she is awakened by the knock on the gate and the call of her beloved. But, her slumber was deeper than she thought and she answered the door a bit too late. She has missed her beloved.

Here is your beloved, standing in your garden, knocking at your door. What are you doing? Sleeping? Don't miss the opportunity to be wrapped in the arms of the one who loves you above all others.

"YOLO," was how my granddaughter responded when I asked her about sleeping in 'till 9 a.m. the other day. She had a few things she had promised to take care of that she ended up not having time to take care of because she slept in. "YOLO" or "You only live once" was her reply. My response was "Then get up and live life."

If you're going to sleep all day, I guarantee that you will miss out on the best things that life and love have to offer.

"...“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Eph 5:14 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Song of Songs 4 - Receive Great Passion

My first reaction to chapter 4 of Solomon's Song is that it is about his desire (lust) and her invitation to come and eat of the fruit of his desire.  It is indeed a beautiful love poem, full of vivid description. It is so full of vivid imagery that it is difficult to see it as an allegory for the Christ and the church - the Bride and the Bridegroom.

Since we're way into imagery this morning. Imagine the LORD as the he in this poem and the female as the whole church - everyone in it. The LORD calls us to love Him and reminds us that God love us with such a great passion that He was willing to give His very life for us. And, in return, we the bride open our arms to receive his love, even as He, with great passion, opened his arms in love on the cross for us. So, do we open our arms and our hearts and all that we are that Christ may abide with and in us more fully? Do we welcome His love? Are we willing to receive the love that He gives so freely? This love poem is about the adoration and passion between a man and a woman in love. How great is your adoration and passion for the LORD? Do you love Him enough to worship Him today? Will your love and your passion for Him be evident in your words and actions today and tomorrow and every day after?

I'm trying to put a good construction to this Love Song of Solomon and I'm not sure how successful I can be at that. There are quite a few chapters left to go through. But, I will try. May God help me.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Song of Songs 3 - The LORD's Love Is The Answer To The Void

LOL! Maybe I shouldn't be writing anything publicly about the Song of Songs as my patience and tolerance for anyone who is chasing after a man day and night can be pretty low. It's not nonexistent. I just think that if we are going to be good stewards of the time on earth that God has given us that there are better ways, more fulfilling ways, to live life.

However, if we read this as an allegory pertaining to our relationship with God, then indeed I can relate to the heart sickness and the persistence that comes with searching for love, at least in concept. As Pastor Al Goodrich, one of my early mentors use to remind people, "We don't find Jesus. He finds us."

But, the reality is that many people, even multitudes, hope for a love that will fill the void that exists within their hearts and their lives. I adjure you, if you're looking for love, genuine love, first you must know the genuine love of God, given to us through Christ Jesus. He has found you. He knocks at the door to your heart. Open it up and let Him in. (see Songs of Songs 5:2; Rev 3:20 NIV) He is our beloved. He is the King whom we await. His glory and splendor are way beyond anything you can imagine. The love that Solomon had for his many wives and concubines and they for him cannot even begin to compare to the love that God has for us in Christ Jesus. Crowned with splendor, as He enters our lives, our beloved will end our heart break and fill us with His peace.

If you're going to be chasing after love, chase after the one and only true love that will fill that empty void within you for all eternity. Once you receive His love, then you, too, will be able to love others, even as you love Him. Without the love of God, your heart will remain empty and you will probably find yourselves, more often than even you like, spending your days and nights chasing after men.

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance." (2 Thess 3:5) Pr. J

Song of Songs 2 - Internet Dating Is Not Love

Now that I am much older than the last time I read Solomon's Songs of Songs, I realize that all this falling in love stuff and romance is quite disturbing to me, at least the way it seems to be pursued today. It's not that I'm against love. I'm definitely for love. Sadly, this second chapter reminds me of something I'm seeing in many young people today - so focused on the object (person) that they are pursuing while neglecting the things (like education) that they should be focused on.  And, if someone is peeking through the lattice then they are definitely pursuing something or someone and quite inappropriately, I would say. Today, I'd run any young man off that's peeking through anything! But, that is just me...

It is a quite beautiful poem. In it you will find a really good warning: "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." (Song of Songs 2:7 NIV)

Do not try to arouse love until it or you or the one you are pursuing is ready! The time will come when true love comes, but this jumping around from love to love is a bit crazy... a new boyfriend or girlfriend every other week! Be for real! It is a waste of time. Live life to it's fullest and I assure you there is more to life than catch and release. And, pursuing true love on facebook is even crazier. Some of you who may be a bit older, may be wondering what I am talking about.

Today, young people don't date like we use to date - you know - where we actually went to a restaurant or a movie.... Today, they connect on places like facebook. They call it dating. They may never even go on a date like we know a date before they are fighting and break up. It sounds safe in a sense - at least we know where they are - in their bedrooms chatting with someone via the internet.
But, there are a few problems with this.

1. They are locked up in their bedrooms not really living life. Go out and play basketball. Go skating or skiing or kayaking or swimming or fishing or with all the toys they have today sno-mobiling or 4-wheeling! There really are a lot of things you can do. If you are bored, it is because you choose to be bored. Get out of your room and talk to your parents and siblings! Really be with them! Live life!

2. They are not out interacting with other people, a social skill which is going to be necessary in adulthood.

3. We really can never know who that person is on the other side of the chat box. Yes, maybe they see their faces. They may even have mutual friends on the social site. But, can they really know who the person is? Will you in the end, after long hours of wasted time find that they're just playing games with you or even worse find out they are actually very dangerous people. From personal experience, I can say that until you can really look a person in the eye, in the flesh; until you can say I C U, then you can't truly know them.

4. It really makes for a lot of wasted and fruitless time as the young people are focused on these relationships rather than relationships that can really bring peace and joy to one's life. It takes the focus away from the things that are good and healthy for the young person; things that are necessary to prepare them for life as adults.

Let love come naturally. It may be that one day you will even meet your life-long partner on the internet. But, don't push it. Let love begin with the people around you, with your family, your friends, your neighbors and one day you will wake up and realize that you have fallen in love. It will come naturally. As Solomon reminds us today, "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."

Love will come; but, in the meantime, live life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. and by the way, the friends you have made over the years are way more important to your happiness than some boy or girl you just met on the internet!