The Last Word

We all like to get it.  So maybe Malachi was a happy guy.  Or maybe he was completely unaware that the message he conveyed to Israel contained the last words God would speak to His people for more than four-hundred years.  There were a couple of clues:  "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me… I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes." (Mal 3:1 & 4:5)  But I doubt anyone could have anticipated just what it would be like for God to go silent for four centuries.

I've often wondered what Israel's spiritual life was like as those years rolled by.  Did anyone give the lack of a word from the Lord a second thought?  Did the culture simply roll slowly downhill toward a society where God was no longer missed?  It seems there were a few watching and waiting (Simeon & Anna in Luke 2, for example), but did people in general simply get used to not hearing from God?

If so, how sad!  I have seen the slow slide at times in my life when I've neglected God's Word.  I've even seen it some this year when I got so busy that I didn't stay plugged into the Minor Prophets as deeply as I planned.  And if my spiritual walk can slip that easily when, in general, I do spend a good amount of time in God's Word, imagine what it would be like to go a whole lifetime… a whole generation… several generations… with no word from the Lord!

I'm not much on New Year's resolutions.  I know myself too well!  But wrapping up the Minor Prophet of the Month Club staring into the 400 Silent Years, I'm motivated to come up with a similar project for myself in 2013.  I'm not sure exactly what it will be yet… I do have 8 hours until January 1!  But I do know this… I don't want God to be silent in my life!  I have His Word, and I'm going to read it, meditate on it, pray about it and try to live it.  How about you?

Q & A

The ability to anticipate questions and be ready with appropriate answers is an important skill in many areas of life – job interviews, sales pitches, parenting, etc.  The prophet Malachi seemed to have a knack for it.  In just three chapters, he used the "I know what you're gonna ask" technique eight times.  So I got to thinking, What would God say if we asked the same questions today?  I'm no prophet, but here are a few of my best guesses…

Q#1 - How have You loved us? (1:2)

The question seems to deserve an answer like, "Are you serious?"  But there are times when the love of God seems distant at best.  Israel had been through some of those times (due, in large, part to her own sins) but rather than blow off the question, God answered with, "Remember Jacob and Esau."  God has chosen Israel from among al the nations to be His special people; and, despite centuries of rebellion, God has protected and preserved them, even to this day.  He loves them.

With so much evil in our world, including the persecution and suffering of many believers around the world, the same question is often asked today.  But God's love is still evident.  At the individual level, just like Jacob and Esau, God has chosen each and every believer and will preserve them all until His return.  On the larger scale, God's love is evident in so many ways despite the darkness of evil around us.  For an example, take three minutes to watch http://youtu.be/BZrb45SeJXE, especially the comments beginning around the 2:09 mark.

Qs#2&3 - How have we shown contempt for Your name? (1:6)  How have we defiled You? (1:7)

As I pointed out in my last post, Israel had failed to "bring her A-game" in worship.  God took this personally and challenged them, "When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" (1:8)

Contempt for God's name is so prevalent in our culture we've probably just grown used to it and might all ask the same questions.  In addition to my thoughts in that last post, I'll just jump on one little soapbox here… OMG!  Could we please eradicate the expression those letters stand for from our habits of speech?  I find it highly offensive and I believe God does, too.  Ok, moving on…

Q#4 - Why [do You not listen to us]? (2:14)

God gives a straight up answer to this one: "Because you don't take the sanctity of marriage seriously."  There is no cultural gap of application here.  Divorce rates continuing to hover around 50% for first marriages (even among believers) and society is seeking to completely redefine this most sacred of all human institutions.  As I watch even my close friends suffer through heart-wrenching family break-ups, I weep and pray…  and hope God is still listening.

Q#5 - How have we wearied [You]? (2:17)

God doesn't get tired, right?  Well, according to Malachi, He gets tired of hearing people justify bad behavior and complain when He doesn't serve up justice according to their standards.  Eventually, we're going to wear out His patience. (3:1-5)  True justice is coming, "But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears?" (3:2)

I think the words of Jude apply: "Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life… show mercy, mixed with fear… To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."

Q#8 - What have we said against You? (3:13)

According to Malachi, the offending verbiage was, "It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?"  Not many of us dare to say it out loud, but I suspect most of us have had the thought cross our minds.  "What good is it?"  "Why do I try so hard to serve God?"  We even find ourselves envious of the wicked like Asaph in Psalm 73.

Before we speak rashly against the Lord, let's remember the promise at the end of Malachi: "You will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."  Even if we don't see it now, as the old song says, "It will be worth it all."

Qs#6&7 - How are we to return? (3:7)  How do we rob You? (3:8)

Ah, finally a good question!  And yes, I switched the order of the final inquiries so I could end on a positive note!

In Israel's case, the path home led by the collection box.  The Law required each citizen to give a tithe of various resources at the temple to support the work of the priests.  In return for this simple act of obedience, God promised abundance.  But the people had decided they would rather keep their ten percent than trust God for His blessing.  The result? "You are under a curse – the whole nation of you – because you are robbing me." (3:9)

How do WE return?  Well, a lot could and probably should be said about tithing in our churches today.  Times are tough.  But is that an excuse to withhold from God what He expects us to give in support of the ministries we benefit from?  Is it better to play it safe and pretend we can manage our money better than God can?

I say we, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse..." because God says, "Test me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." (3:10)

Any questions?

You'd Better Bring Your A-Game

Last Sunday was our church's annual Christmas Program.  Yes, that is the biggest reason I'm just now getting around to posting something this month!  It also happens to be the latest addition to my file of proof that a bad dress rehearsal leads to a good performance.  In this case, a terrible dress rehearsal led to a great performance… but not without a little intervention.

In a bit of "good cop, bad cop," the producer (me) gave our teenage cast a pep talk… right after the director (not me) read them the riot act.  Despite our contrast in styles, the message was clear and singular: "Tomorrow is the real thing.  You'd better bring your A-game."  And they did, but that's another story.

My point is that, for a few moments on Saturday, I felt like the prophet Malachi.  At the time of his ministry, Israel had fallen into the habit of giving God less than their best in worship.  "When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?" says the LORD.  "Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord." (Mal 1:13-14)

Now I'm not one to say that unless it's Broadway, Hollywood or Nashville, it's not good enough for God.  You work with who and what the Lord provides.  But I do take pretty seriously biblical admonitions like, "Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise." (Psa 33:3)  (BTW, that's the KJV… did you notice it says "LOUD"?)  God deserves our very best, whether that's music, finances, teaching or just living like true followers of Jesus.

And He takes it seriously, too.  "Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD Almighty, "and I will accept no offering from your hands." (Mal 1:10)  The thought that God would rather everyone stay home on a Sunday morning than show up to offer halfhearted worship is rather sobering.  I wonder if He's ever said that about my church?  about my ministry?  about me?

Reading on into chapter two doesn't exactly relieve the pressure as Malachi goes all bad cop on the priests.  "If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name," says the LORD Almighty, "I will send a curse upon you." (Mal 2:2)  The tone of worship is set by the leaders of worship, and people rarely rise above the level to which they are led.  So let's set the bar high.  Let's set our hearts to honor His name.  Let's bring Him the best we have to offer.  Simply put, let's bring our A-game to church!

The WHY? Game

Have you ever played "The WHY? Game"?  It only requires two players… an adult and a kid.  The adult says something.  The kid says, "Why?"  The adult answers with a reason.  The kid says, "Why?"  This goes on indefinitely until the adult says, "BECAUSE I SAID SO!  GAME OVER!"

There's another form of "The WHY? Game" that requires a human and God.  In this version, the human says or does something that seems like the right thing to say or do.  And God says, "Why?"  However, unlike the child who wants to see how long he can make the game last, God wants a final answer and will often back us into a corner until we produce an honest one.  What He's really after is a clear confession of our motivation.

That's what He was after in Zechariah 7:5-6 – "Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?  And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?'"  The "past seventy years" refers to the time of Israel's captivity in Babylon.  It's clear that, while in the pagan land, some of God's people continued to observe certain religious traditions of Judaism.  Now that they were returning to their homeland, God asked them, "Why did you do that?"

The right answer would seem to be, "We did it to honor You, Lord, even among the pagans."  And while many of the exiles may have sincerely felt that way, God knew that the ultimate motivation was not worship, but self-preservation.  "If we do this, maybe God will finally let us go home."

How easy it is to do the right things for reasons that aren't necessarily wrong… but also aren't necessarily pure or best.  How many of us serve God – "professionally" or "volunteer" – because it's what's expected of us?  because we get joy from it?  because we want to experience God's blessings?  because, because, because…  These may not all be bad reasons.  But I think they all leave us one answer short of satisfactorily completing God's version of "The WHY? Game."

When I can truly say, "Lord, I did (this or that) FOR YOU… because I love You… because You're worthy… because Your glory is the desire of my heart," then I'm a step farther down the right track.  It's almost impossible to do anything with completely pure and selfless motivation.  But that's what God wants from us.  So don't stop asking "Why? until you're as close to the final answer as you can get!

Glory Days

I listened this morning to sports talk guys Mike & Mike discuss the "aging" defenses of the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens - a label earned by having rosters with several players "in their 30s."  (Insert "I feel old" comment here.)


Accepting the relativity of the term "old" as applied to sports, it stands to reason that teams see a drop-off in performance as stars pass their prime.  The question becomes, "What do we do about it?"  Some will capitalize on the veterans' wisdom and experience by turning them into mentors for younger players.  Some will drop the dead weight, clear some salary cap space and reload with rookie talent.  One thing you'll never see, at least on a winning team, is a bunch of guys sitting around saying, "Woe is us.  We were so much better a few years ago.  I guess those days are over."

Haggai warned the people of Israel about just such a defeatist attitude as they neared the completion of their temple rebuilding project.  "Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?" (Haggai 2:3)  Without a doubt, this reconstructed house of worship couldn't hold a candle to the splendor of Solomon's temple.  It would have been easy for those who invested time, energy and money to be discouraged and wonder whether it was all worth it.  So God sent this word: "Be strong, all you people of the land… Work, for I am with you… according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt.  My Spirit remains in your midst.  Fear not." (Haggai 2:4-5)

The presence of God among His people and the work of His Spirit in their midst has always been more important than the tangible trappings of ministry.  The new temple may have been small and plain in comparison to the glorious structure that preceded it.  But the fact that they had built it, in obedience to God, meant that His blessings were already beginning to be poured out on them abundantly.  Haggai also challenged the people to look forward to a day when. "'The treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD of hosts…  'The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former'."  (Haggai 2:7-9)

We all go through seasons of life where we're tempted to look back wistfully at the "glory days."  We don't seem to be reaching as many people, having as great an impact or feeling as much joy as before.  In those times, it's especially important to remember that God is with us, and as we obey, His Spirit is at work – whether we see it or not.  Sports teams, temples, ministries and individual lives all go through "rebuilding phases."  If you're in one now, cling to the promises of God's presence and His return.  He has so much more in store for us than we can see now.

Where's My Hand Sanitizer?

"Don't touch that!"  "Do you have any idea where that's been?"  "Go wash your hands!"  I'm not a germaphobe… I just have a four-year-old son!  So lines like that are fairly common in my family.

Too bad it doesn't work the other way.  "Hey, you just washed your hands.  Go grab that slice of pizza out of the trash so it's clean to eat."  Yeah, I know… sounds ludicrous… and a little gross.  But it proves the same point Haggai was making to the when he asked the priests of his day, "'If a person carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, oil or other food, does it become consecrated?'' The priests answered, 'No.'  Then Haggai said, 'If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?' 'Yes,' the priests replied, 'it becomes defiled'." (Haggai 2:12-13)

As much as we'd like to be able to sanitize the world around us with a touch, it's just doesn't work that way.  So we carry our little bottles of antibacterial gel and try to keep our kids away from the yucky stuff.  The same is true in the spiritual realm.  While the sanctified life of a believer can certainly have a positive impact on the world, we can't eradicate all the sin in a room just by walking in.  To the contrary, it's much more likely that the "dirt" of our surroundings will rub off on us.  It's not as much a matter of proximity (Jesus Himself ate in homes of "tax collectors & sinners") as it is a matter of proclivity.  Can we walk in the midst of temptation and avoid our natural tendency to stick our hands in the dirt?  Or, as the old saying goes, can we be "in the world but not of it"?

For the people to whom Haggai spoke, the consequences went even further than personal pollution.  As they allowed the world around them to infect them, they discovered that, like a contagious disease, their own defilement continued to be passed along.  "'So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,' declares the LORD. 'Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled… I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail'." (Haggai 2:14, 17)

That's a scary thought… that God Himself may oppose the work I try to do, even in His name, if my life is not "clean" before Him.  "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress AND to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)   So I'm going to pause and, as Haggai advised, "give careful thought to my ways" as I seek to serve the Lord… and perhaps apply a little "spiritual hand sanitizer" of confession and repentance as necessary.

It's All About the Follow Through

I'm a proud soccer dad.  My daughter's team just won their league tournament, and they did it the hard way.  It was a double elimination bracket, and they lost their first game of the day.  But then they gutted out five straight wins, including two in a row over a well-rested team that had only played two games before the final round.  Our kids were exhausted, but they didn't give up… and it paid off.  I give a lot of credit to their coach, Lenny, who is always preaching "follow-thru."  "Kick though the ball!"  "Run all the way to the net!"  "Never give up on a play!"  "Go till the final whistle!"

I think the prophet Haggai was bit like coach Lenny.  He arrived on the scene in Jerusalem in the middle of a stalled project.  His message was simple: "Get your priorities straight, and get the job done."  Many of the Jews formerly exiled to Babylon had returned to their homeland and begun rebuilding the temple.  But after several years, all they had to show was a foundation and an altar.

Haggai called the people to "give careful thought" to the situation (1:5, 1:7, 2:15, 2:18) and understand that their procrastination was not only disappointing to God but also a symptom of a deeper problem – failure to maintain proper priorities.  Their focus had shifted to the comforts of life rather than commitment to the Lord.  As a result, they failed to follow through and were missing out on the many blessings God wanted to pour out on them (1:3-11).

Sometimes I'm amazed at how easily I'm persuaded to procrastinate and how often I fail to follow through in my relationship to God and ministry for Him.  It doesn't even take exhaustion and blisters (see soccer reference!) or opposition and persecution (see Ezra chapter 4).  It just takes a turn of the head toward my own personal comfort and convenience.  Next thing I know, I'm jogging instead of sprinting, pulling up short on my runs to the goal, and missing out on the potential celebration of "scoring and winning" for the Lord.

So let's suck it up, listen to coach Haggai, get our priorities straight, and follow through for God!  GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!!

Like Grounds In My Coffee

I love the Keurig in our office.  Like so many of my coffee-drinking friends, I've discovered the joy of having the exact flavor I want, exactly when I want it, one fresh cup at a time.  Ahhh…  But every once in a while, if we don't keep it cleaned well enough, that wonderful machine dispenses a nasty brown blob of coffee grounds along with my Caribou blend.  Bleh….


I learned in Zephaniah today that when I get complacent in life (does that include failing to clean the Keurig?), God thinks of me about like I think of those coffee grounds in the bottom of my cup.  In Zephaniah 1:12, God says, "I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men who are settled in complacency."  That word "settled" actually comes from the wine industry and describes wine that has "set on it dregs" (equivalent in my world to coffee that has set on its grounds!)  It can also be translated "curdled," like old milk.  So choose any of those pictures you like, but it's probably not a swig you want to take!

I also realized that "complacency" doesn't always equal "inactivity."  It really has a lot more to do with attitude than action, a concept revealed in the next phrase: "…who say in their heart, 'The LORD will not do good, nor will He do evil'."  In other words, "God doesn't really care.  He's probably not going to bless me or punish me regardless of what I do."

You can work hard and make a lot of money (Luke 12:16-21 or James 4:13-17) or even impact a lot of people in ministry (see Matthew 7:21-23 or 1st Corinthians 3:10-15) but still be complacent.  When our attitude becomes "just doin' the daily grind" or even worse, "just lookin' out for #1," we're in danger of becoming dregs in the decanter or mud in the mug.  When that happens, all we might have accomplished with any lasting value is in danger of being washed down the drain like soured milk.  That's what happens in Zephaniah's next verse: "Their goods shall become plundered, and their houses a desolation; they shall build houses, but not inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine."  (See also the results in Luke 12, James 4, Matthew 7 and 1st Corinthians 3!)

So… today I'm reminded that:

1. God cares about what I do.
2. God cares about how I do it.
3. God cares about why I do it.

That's why I'm going to do my best at the things I know make a difference for His cause and do them with an attitude of "His glory first."  How about you?

Now… time for another cup of coffee.  Hope someone cleaned that Keurig!

Wait for it... wait for it...

Do you ever stop and think about how much of our lives are spent just waiting?  It's actually kind of depressing, so I wouldn't recommend it as a regular pastime.  But contemplating stop lights, drive thru lines, slow web pages and procrastinating bloggers once in a while does give you some perspective.  And perspective is what I think we need when it comes to God's plan for the universe that spans all of history and includes this tiny speck of time we inhabit called "now."

After blowing Habakkuk's mind with the idea that He would use the Babylonians to judge His chosen people, God reassured the perplexed prophet by declaring judgement also upon Babylon.  "But," He said, "the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3)

Often I find myself wishing God would hurry up.  It's tough to wait.  But I can also look back at many times in my life when, if God had been on my timetable, I would not have been in His perfect will.  So I'm trying to learn to wait for it.

The new Testament picks up this theme and gives us another reason to be glad God sticks to His own schedule.  Rebuffing those who scoffed at Jesus' promise to return because He hadn't done so within a few decades, Peter said, "Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:8-9)

So I guess we have a few things to occupy our time while we wait in the checkout line or for God to show us the next big step in out lives.  Actively believe that God DOES have a plan and that His timing IS best.  Do what you can to move forward in life… but don't run ahead of God!  And along the way, try to bring a few people with you.  God is waiting – in the big picture – for people to come to faith in Him.  And He may be waiting – in your specific circumstance – for you impact those around you here and NOW!

gods of our own making

A couple of my favorite keepsakes are hand-crafted fishing lures made by my Uncle Carlos and given to me when he died last year.  An avid angler, he loved to cut, shape, paint and tie little masterpieces to cast into the water and reel back in with dinner – or a nice wall trophy – attached.  He built them with passion, displayed them with pride and used them with prowess.  But there is one thing I never saw him do.  He never bowed down before his tackle box and worshiped the work of his hands.

Now you might think, "Of course not.  That would be crazy."  But when you read Habakkuk's description of the Babylonians, the concept doesn't seem so far fetched.  He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad.  Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. (Habakkuk 1:15-16)

The worship of idols is a nearly universal practice, even among those who don't keep little statues around the house.  For in reality, an idol is anything to which I ascribe more value, and therefore treat with more admiration and devotion, than God.  And some of the most common idols in our civilized societies are indeed the works of our hands and the tools of our trades.

Sometimes I like to fancy myself a "professional musician."  After all, part of my employment is leading worship.  But if I'm not careful, I can end up spending all my time focused on the process of crafting a perfect worship experience, or dreaming about the next shiny six-stringed idol I'm going to hang on my wall, and lose sight of God Himself.

The gifts and abilities God has given us, along with the resources we use to do what He has called us to do, can be a source of great enjoyment.  But they must always be implements  to facilitate worship and never objects of worship themselves.  After all, I'd look pretty silly bowing to an amplifier… even if it does make me sound pretty good sometimes!

The Remedy Is Worse Than the Disease

The oft-quoted axiom titling this post is from the essay, "Of Seditions and Troubles," by Sir Francis Bacon.  In context, it refers to the putting down of seditions by military force and warns that such action should only be entrusted to men of "valor and good repute" lest they themselves stage the next coup.  In other words, "Don't use troublemakers to get rid of troublemakers."

While Bacon's famous words were penned in 1601, a very similar sentiment was recorded 2400 years earlier by the prophet Habakkuk.  In 600 BC, the nation of Judah was once again in spiritual, moral and social decline.  The dramatic reforms of King Josiah had failed to carry over to the next generation and the resulting decent into injustice and corruption troubled Habakkuk greatly.

But after calling out for divine intervention and hearing God's reply, Habakkuk was pretty sure his people were in for a remedy worse than their disease.  Specifically, God was "raising up the Babylonians" to bring judgment on Judah.  If Habakkuk was distraught before, he was simply beside himself now.

Sure, the people of Judah had disobeyed God and deserved His discipline.  But the Babylonians were pagans!  They didn't even pay lip service to Jehovah.  How could He use them to serve justice on His own people?  The three chapters of Habakkuk are really all about how the prophet, with God's help, wrestled that paradox to the ground and came to a fuller understanding of God's sovereign rule over all the world and history.

As I observe the current state of "Christianity" and "the Church," especially in America, sometimes I feel a bit like Habakkuk.  No doubt, revival is needed.  And perhaps it will take some chastisement from the Lord to get us there.  But I still struggle with how the "sinners" often (seem to) prevail over the "saints" in social and moral conflict.  Why does a high-profile athlete who says she loves Jesus  go from national hero to tabloid target?  Why does a businessman who states his personal conviction about the sanctity of marriage go from admired entrepreneur to despised bigot?  Has God decided to quit standing up for His people?  Are we so far gone that He is just going to let the world run us over?

Like Habakkuk, I don't have all the answers… and, also like Habakkuk, probably couldn't handle them even if I did.  But I do know that God is on His throne and history is HIS-story.  Righteousness WILL prevail in the end.  I just hope the just can learn to live by faith along the way without the need for a bitter pill.

No More Second Chances

"Kids, be quiet! This is your LAST warning," I called up the stairs… for the third or fourth time. I know, I know… not exactly the best parenting technique. I'd like to claim it's because I'm so patient and merciful. But it's probably just because I'm lazy and don't want to get off the couch. And once again I realize, with the help of a minor prophet, just how unlike God I still am. Thank you, Nahum.

The books of Jonah and Nahum were written about a century apart and serve as a sort of "bookend pair" around God's dealings with the nation of Assyria and her capital, Nineveh. Jonah, despite his own vengeful attitude, revealed God's surprising mercy toward the Ninevites who repented en masse when warned of God's impending judgment. While genuine, their repentance was short-lived, and within a few decades they returned to their brutality and in 722 B.C. overthrew Jonah's homeland of Israel.

Nahum appeared on the scene around 650 B.C. with a message similar to Jonah's: "The LORD has given a command concerning you: 'Your name shall be perpetuated no longer… ​​I will dig your grave, for you are vile'." (Nahum 1:14)  The difference this time was that God's patience had run out. There would be no more second chances. Nineveh would be overthrown, never to rise again. And sure enough, within a few years, the Babylonians conquered the Assyrians and established a new empire to dominate the world.

As I consider Nahum against the backdrop of Jonah, I can't help but think of the potential similarities in our own great country. Dating back to the early 18th century, several periods of "Great Awakening" are easily identifiable. While none could claim a direct revelation of specific impending judgment, each revival had it's Jonahs – Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Dwight Moody – and resulted in significant spiritual and social reform. Yet each was also followed by a return to "normal," and we continue to see the moral fiber of our nation unravel as the decades roll by. So I wonder if God has a Nahum in store for us?

And just so I don't get all hypocritically self-righteous and need a Nahum to show up at my door, God made sure there was a cross-reference to Romans 1-3 in my Bible… So I also read, "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads YOU toward repentance?" (Romans 2:1-4)

So next time I decide to yell up the stairs, "Last warning!", hopefully I'll not only balance justice & mercy in disciplining my children but also realize my own responsibilities as a Christian and a citizen to practice true, long-lasting repentance because, "The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; [but] the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished." (Nahum 1:3)

This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us

Oil & Water… Democrats & Republicans… Yankees & Red Sox…  Some things just don't seem to go together.  Try Justice & Mercy. Simply by nature, the concepts appear mutually exclusive.  Justice requires the administration of due punishment while mercy implies the waiver of that same punishment.  They stand in stark contrast and, should they ever meet in a bench-clearing brawl, it would seem one must prevail at the expense of the other.

Let's see what Micah thinks…  Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the LORD's wrath…  Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy."
(Micah 7:9 & 18)

Many Old Testament prophetic themes foreshadow Christ's work on the cross, and the frequent juxtaposition of justice (wrath) and mercy is an excellent example.

God, in justice, demands that the penalty of death be imposed upon all who break His law.  Yet God, in mercy, pardons those same lawbreakers and offers them eternal life. Did justice throw the fight… take a dive… forget to show up?  By no means!

Micah's contemporary, Isaiah, specifically foretold the solution to the justice/mercy dilemma: "He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows… He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4-5).

Eight-hundred years later, the Apostle Peter confirmed the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy when he said, "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree… by His wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

The reason God did not simply wipe out Israel centuries ago is the same reason He does not simply wipe us out today.  The Messiah was coming/has come and would pay/has paid the price for all their/our sin!  God's justice would be/has been satisfied and His mercy could be/can be granted to them/us.

Praise God that, because of His divine perfection and plan, justice and mercy can coexist.  Now if we can just figure out how to help New York & Boston get along!

Now That's My Kind of Prophet

"Set 'em up for everyone!  This round's on me!"

Doesn't exactly sound like your typical oracle of God, does it? But it is in the Bible, and I happen to find Micah 2:11 one of the most humorous verses in Scripture.  I suppose it's also one of the most tragic.


"If a liar and deceiver comes and says, 'I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,' he would be just the prophet for this people!"

Now this is not a blog post to debate the age-old question of whether Christians should drink alcohol.  The point is that, as was the case in Micah's day, it is possible for us to become so self-absorbed and calloused to genuine spirituality that we lose our appetite for a true "thus saith the Lord" and begin feeding our own sinful desires on the words of "prophets" who are willing to say whatever we want to hear.

About those supposed mouthpieces of God, Micah says, "If one feeds them, they proclaim 'peace'; if he does not, they prepare to wage war against him... Her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD and say, 'Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us'."

Not a bad gig if I can get paid to say whatever keeps people happy and claim that God is on my side while I'm doing it.  The problem comes down the road when I stand before God saying, "Lord, Lord, did I not prophesy in your name?" only to hear Him reply, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoer!"

Of course it's easy to point the finger at "high-profile prophets" who proclaim the Prosperity Gospel or some other heresy that sounds spiritual while appealing to the flesh.  But the same travesty can be found even in our conservative, evangelical churches when we fail to confront sin or resolve conflict biblically, when we plan worship services to keep people happy rather than to glorify God, or when we pick and choose what we teach based not on the true spiritual needs of our people but on what we think will keep 'em coming in the door.

Paul picked up Micah's theme when he wrote to Timothy, "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

I think that time has come.  So God help me to faithfully declare the whole counsel of Your Word in spite of opposition or pressure to please the crowd.  And God help us all to hunger and thirst after Your truth, even when it steps on our toes.

Now… Coffee for everyone.  This round's on me!

A Crying Shame

What's the last thing that really made you cry?  I was disappointed when the Celtics lost to the Heat… but I didn't cry.  I was frustrated when the tail pipe rusted loose from the muffler on my truck… but I didn't cry.  I'm disgusted, appalled, infuriated, etc. as I read headlines about social injustice, economic corruption, moral depravity, etc… but I don't cry.  Maybe I need to be a little more like Micah.

Looking at the social and moral decay in his homeland of Israel, and having received the Word of God about coming judgment, the prophet said this: "I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.  For her wound is incurable; it has come to Judah. It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself."

I know a lot of American Christians* (including myself!) who gripe & complain, rant & rave, spit & sputter about the social, economic and moral ills of our nation & world. But I have a hard time recalling the last time any of us were truly brokenhearted before God to the point of weeping, mourning, fasting & praying over it.

Now, being the good ol' premillennial dispensationalist that I am, I do realize, like Micah did in his day, that things are generally going to get worse before they get better.  But I also realize that's no excuse for not caring about the way things are.

I've been convicted by Micah's weeping… and even by the "Patriotic Prayer & Praise Service" I've been planning for church on July 1.  I know one guy like me can't change the world with a few tears.  But if I can be a little less self-righteously indignant and a little more spiritually sensitive to the sins of society, perhaps, like Micah, I'll be more likely to actually make a difference for God.



*Or should that be "Christian Americans"?  Maybe we've got it backwards, and that's half the problem.  Anyway, perhaps a topic for another post someday.

Get Me Outta Here!

Have you ever wondered, "What would I do if I got swallowed by a giant fish?"  That's one that not even the great Worst Case Scenario Survival Guide addresses.  Thankfully, however, the book of Jonah does… and the answer is simple: PRAY!  But that just leads to another question: "What would you pray?"  For me, that answer seems simple, too: "GET ME OUTTA HERE!"

As strange as it may seem, that's not what Jonah prayed.  In fact, he didn't even mention getting out of the fish.  Instead, he spoke to God as if he had already been rescued… as if he somehow recognized the fish as God's deliverance from death by drowning.  Here's what he said…

“I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and he answered me.  I called to you from the land of the dead, and LORD, you heard me!  You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea.  The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.  Then I said, ‘O LORD, you have driven me from your presence.  Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’  “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me.  Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.  I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.  I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever.  But you, O LORD my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!  As my life was slipping away, I remembered the LORD. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.  Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.  But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows.  For my salvation comes from the LORD alone.”

Jonah's prayer reminds me of just how often I pray, "Lord, get me outta here!"  It's obviously our natural tendency to try to escape danger, trouble, pain and difficulty.  What's not natural (because it's spiritual) is to recognize those times and circumstances as God's tools for molding and moving us according to His will.

As they say, hindsight is 20-20, but I have learned looking back that sometimes the trouble I'm in actually spares me from the bigger trouble I could be in.  Or, in other words, it's God's fish to rescue me from the stormy sea.

So as I've spent the past month in Jonah, I've been challenged to thank God more readily for all that He has delivered me from… even when I may be waiting for Him to deliver me yet again.

Jehovah and the General Lee

Bo and Luke Duke fishtail around the turn, pedal to the metal, the General Lee kicking up a cloud of dirt road dust.  Behind them, trying desperately to keep up, is Hazzard County's finest, Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane.  Ahead of them, just across the Chickasaw County line, waits Sheriff "Big Ed" Little.  It's decision time.  Aaaaand… cut to commercial!

Or, in this  case, commentary on the Minor Prophets.  While some liberal scholars put the story of Jonah in the same category of plausibility as the General Lee actually making all those canyon jumps, I'm interested in another connection between the reluctant prophet and the good ol' boys.  It comes out in verses like…

• "Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD" (1:3).

• "All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god" (1:5).

• "Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish" (1:6).

• "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?" (1:8)

The comments of the sailors, as well as Jonah's attempt to escape the presence of Jehovah, reveal  a cultural setting of polytheism with a belief that the various deities operated much like local law enforcement.  Cross the county line and, for better or for worse, you're no longer in the jurisdiction of Dagon, Marduk, Baal or whatever god ruled the territory you just departed.

As the story unfolds, Jonah (who probably already knew better… see 1:9) and the sailors come to realize that Jehovah is neither bound in presence nor limited in power by geographical borders.  As David wrote in Psalm 139 - "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."

It's unlikely that anyone reading this blog holds a polytheistic worldview built on the concept of regionalized deities.  But it's quite likely that many of us, despite the fact that we know better, still try to "run from God" or exclude Him from certain "locations" in our lives.  In fact, I recently heard someone make the comment, "Oops… I better not say that word in church.  It's God's house."  I asked them about saying "that word" in general and the response was, "He doesn't care what I say 'out there'."

It has been said that, "If God isn't Lord of all, He isn't Lord at all."  In reality, Jehovah God IS Lord of all, whether we acknowledge it or not.  We can't make a run for the border whenever we feel like living in a manner that displeases Him.  And if we do, the "God of heaven, who made the sea and the land" has global authority and infinite ability to use any number of speed traps, road blocks and detours to put us right back where He wants us.

Yeeeeehaaaww!

Anybody but the Phillies!

As a transplant to the vast Philadelphia suburb known as South Jersey, I've always been a Philly sports outsider.  In fact, I'm the worst of all evils in the mind of most Philly Phans.  I'm a Pittsburgh Penguins fan… a Dallas Cowboys fan… and an Atlanta Braves fan.  But wait!  It gets worse.  I'm still bitter over the 1993 NLCS.  And therefore, next to my Braves, the team I want to win most is… anybody but the Phillies!  (And there goes half my blog readership!)

So just call me Jonah.  I mean, after all, his outlook on life was "anybody but the Assyrians."  And given the brutality of the Assyrians, who could blame him?  Daniel Luckenbill's Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia describes pyramids of heads, flayed skin wall hangings and many other atrocities committed as Assyria rose to world power status.  In that historical context, "The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 'Go to the great city of Nineveh (the capitol of Assyria) and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me'." (1:1-2)

Now be honest.  Put yourself in Jonah's sandals.  Walking into Nineveh to "preach against it" was suicide.  So you can't help but feel somewhat sympathetic toward the reluctant prophet when he "ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD." (1:3)

But wait!  It gets worse.  Jonah's flight was not motivated solely by fear.  The real reason Jonah ran away isn't fully revealed until chapter four, after God has spared the Ninevites.  "Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry.  He prayed to the LORD, 'O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity'." (4:2)

Jonah was not just afraid of the Ninevites.  He was bitter to the point of disgust when they repented and God relented.  Here was God's prophet wanting the very opposite of God's will.  Jonah's desire was Nineveh's destruction.  God's desire was Nineveh's deliverance (obviously conditioned upon their repentance).  And that battle of wills, as we'll see throughout the month, is really what the book of Jonah is all about.

Now, what if, "The word of the Lord came to Lee Martin and said, 'Go to the great city of Tehran and preach against it'."  Certainly I would be afraid.  But I must admit that a part of me would probably also say, "Why?  Those people torture and kill Christians.  Let them get what they deserve!"

So just call me Jonah… again.  I've found over my life that it is indeed a struggle to embrace and exhibit God's heart for those who are so antagonistic toward Him and His people.  But like Jonah, I need to realize that God delivered me when I didn't deserve it.  Though I was under His wrath, when I repented, He relented.  And if His compassion and mercy toward me doesn't soften my heart toward others, perhaps I need to read the book of Jonah a few more times!

Mayday! Mayday!

Yes, it's "May Day" - May 1, 2012 - which means it's time for a new minor prophet of the month.  And what better prophet for a day named after a maritime distress signal than... Jonah!

I just started reading Jonah and formulating some blog ideas today.  So while you wait for my first post with bated breath (sorry!), enjoy some music from one of my favorite bands.

I give you the Newsboys and "In the Belly of the Whale!"

Brotherly Shove

Thirty days… twenty-one verses… yes, I've been a little thin on blog material this month.  So I've been doing a little related supplemented reading, digging at the roots of Obadiah planted in Genesis chapters 25 & 27 and the well-known story of Jacob & Esau.

I'm always intrigued by fulfilled prophecy, and the historical events that both precede and follow the message of Obadiah fit the bill.  Let's take a look…

"Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah… Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.  The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.  The LORD said to her, 'Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger'." (Genesis 25:20-23)

As the centuries passed, that prophecy was clearly fulfilled as the nation of Israel, descended from younger brother Jacob, clearly overshadowed the nation of Edom, descended from older brother Esau.  The fulfillment of that prophecy is a fascinating example of God's providence at work in spite of (or, dare I say, through) man's depravity.  Israel's superiority came as a direct result of Jacob's con games (Genesis 25 & 27) which turned the cultural norms upside down and landed him both the birthright and blessing due his older brother Esau.

After convincing his blind father that he was the firstborn Esau, Jacob received the following blessing, intended for his older brother:

"May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness – an abundance of grain and new wine.  May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed" (Genesis 27:28-29).

Upon realizing he had been duped, Isaac offered the following blessing - a disappointing consolation prize for sure - to the unfortunate Esau:

"Your dwelling will be away from the earth's richness, away from the dew of heaven above.  You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck" (Genesis 27:39-40).

I suppose it could be debated whether a patriarchal blessing qualifies as a divine prophecy.  But in this case, given the lands eventually inhabited by the brothers' progeny, as well as the political and military superiority of Israel over Edom, there's no arguing that the predictions were accurate.

Ironically, the complete realization of Esau's blessing is what led to prophecies of Obadiah.  Edom did indeed grow restless and throw off the yoke of Israel.  But in doing so, by joining forces with Israel's foes, the Edomites not only fulfilled the prophetic blessing of Isaac but also incurred the wrath and judgment of God.

So what do I take away from this somewhat convoluted course of history?  It's not terribly profound, but… "God will accomplish His purposes."  It may take a looooong time, and it may even look at times like humanity has thwarted the plans of divinity.  But we would all do well to remember that the God who does not lie spoke these words through His prophet Obadiah: "The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head."

Blood Is Thicker Than Water

At least that's how the saying goes.  But as the single-chapter book of Obadiah demonstrates, it doesn't always hold true.  Obadiah is one of just two minor prophets who spoke exclusively to a nation other than Israel or Judah.  In this case, it was Edom, the Jews' next door neighbor to the east and cousin through Jacob's brother Esau.

In 586 BC, Babylon completed its conquest of Judah and deportation of her citizens.  Edom, due to family ties, should have come to Judah's military aid or, at the very least, welcomed her refugees crossing the western border.  Instead, the Edomites allied with the enemy and handed over the fleeing Israelites to the invading Babylonians.

In response, God said to Edom, through Obadiah, "Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever" (v. 10)  Within about 100 years, Obadiah's prediction came true as the Edomites were driven from their homeland by the Nabataeans and never again occupied that territory.

The fulfillment of Obadiah's prophecy is just one example of how God's covenant promise with Abraham has held true throughout the centuries.  "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:2-3).  The Edomites responsibility and culpability were surely increased by their blood relation to Israel, but the words "whoever curses you I will curse" should be enough to cause all nations to carefully consider their own relationship with God's chosen people.

Therein lies yet another reason I fear for the future of our own great nation.  Since the reestablishment of the Jewish state in 1947, the US has been a great blessing to Israel, and I believe has received God's blessing in return.  However, as the years go by, it seems our support for Israel is waning.  I can't help but wonder at what point we go from blessing them to cursing them and, as a result, go from being blessed by God to being cursed by Him.

Furthermore, like the Edomites, those who have trusted in Christ have a special family relationship with Israel (see Romans 11 & Ephesians 2).  My prayer is that Americans in general, Christians in general, and American Christians in particular will rise up to bless Israel and, in turn, be blessed by the God of Israel.  After all, when He makes a promise, He keeps it.

My First Singing Blog Post

Well, for my last post this month and to wrap up the book of Amos, I thought I'd do something different.  So here goes...

Every time I read Amos 5:24 - "Let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream" - I thought, "There's a song in that verse!"  One day, as I sat down to write some thoughts for a blog post, I just couldn't get anything to come out right.  So I decided to divert and play around with some musical ideas for that verse.  Sure enough, less than 48 hours later, I had this song written and a demo recorded.

"Let Justice Roll Down Like Water"

• Listen to the mp3

• See the Lead Sheet

My creativity was spurred along by some teens from a friend's church who are going to Haiti on a missions trip soon.  So with thanks and a prayer that God will use them greatly on this trip, I'm dedicating this song to the youth group and youth leaders of Hope Community Church in Mt Joy, PA.  I hope they like it, and I hope you do, too!

See you in a few days for Obadiah!

Social (In)Justice

You oppress the poor and crush the needy.
You turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground.
You hate the one who reproves in court and despise him who tells the truth.
You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain.
You oppress the righteous and take bribes.
You deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
You have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness.

Sounds like a timely tirade for 2012, right?  Well, yes, it actually does.  But these words were actually written closer to 750 B.C. by the prophet Amos.  It seems things haven't changed much in the world over the last 2,762 years.

A key theme of Amos' message was social justice… or the lack thereof in the nation of Israel.  Along with perversion of worship (see previous post!), oppression of the helpless was a major reason God's judgment was about to be poured out.  Even without giving specific examples, the accusations from Amos cited above paint a sufficiently sordid picture of the corrupt culture into which the prophet sopke.

Now, for some steppin' on toes… There is really no need arguing that America, like ancient Israel, often turns a blind eye and deaf ear while the poor get poorer and the rich get richer… at the expense of the poor.  However, what is more disturbing is that, also like ancient Israel, those who should be the first to rise up and stop the abuse are often the most loathe to do so… and are occasionally even party to the injustices.

It has been my experience that "conservative evangelicalism," or at least the more "fundamentalist" segment of it to which I have long been exposed, seems almost afraid to "take up the cause of the poor."  My personal opinion is that this is due primarily to knee-jerk overreactions against what is often called the "social gospel."  Without doubt, there are those (often labeled "liberal") who substitute physical sustenance for substitutionary atonement or replace repentance with rehab.  The sad truth is that there will be a lot well-fed, clean & sober people in hell, and simply meeting physical needs without ultimately sharing the gospel does a great disservice to the very people we're trying to help.

Nevertheless, it seems to me that the time has come for more of those who espouse a conservative theology to recognize the very real physical needs of people around them and serve up the Gospel with a healthy side of meat & potatoes… or coats & shoes… or clean water… or rebuilt houses… or, you get my point!  Obviously it's just as much a disservice to the hungry to let them starve to death while we try to figure out how to get the Gospel to them!

Worthless Worship

My nine-year-old daughter has recently developed a great love for doing personal devotions.  She's genuinely excited about spending time each day in God's Word and journaling what she learns.  It makes a daddy happy!  But it has also led to a couple of conversations with her about the book of Amos.  You see, from time to time, my wife or I will tell her to do something and her response will be, "But I have to do my devotions!"  Uh huh…

If there was a font that could somehow communicate sarcasm, I'm sure Amos 4:4-5 would be written in it.  "Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more.  Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years.  Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings.  Boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do."

The northern kingdom of Israel, at the direction of King Jeroboam, had established an "alternative worship center" at the city of Bethel.  The main reason was to prevent Israelites from traveling to Jerusalem (in the southern kingdom of Judah and God's prescribed location for worship) and potentially renewing their allegiance to the South… and to the Lord!  Worse yet was that in what they called "worship" of Jehovah, they had incorporated the perverse, cultic rituals of the pagan nations around them.

So less sarcastically and more to the point, God's word through Amos continues:  This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel:  "Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba.  For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing…  I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies.  Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.  Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.  Away with the noise of your songs!  I will not listen to the music of your harps." (Amos 5:4-5, 21-24)

The point… Worship, divorced from obedience, is not worship at all.  Like when "doing my devotions" becomes an excuse for not doing what she's been told by her parents.  Or when sacrifices at Bethel becomes an excuse for sexual immorality and disregard for God's clear instructions regarding the where & how of worship.  Or, as we'll see in the upcoming chapters of Amos, when the alleged "blessings of God" on a few become an excuse for "social injustice" toward the many.

The Bible is FULL of references to this issue.  1st Samuel 15:22, Proverbs 21:3, Isaiah 1:11, Matthew 5:23-24 and Matthew 9:13 are just a few worth digging into.  What they all bring me back to is that "worship" is not just singing some songs about or to God.  It's not even the sum of all that we do on a Sunday morning in a "worship service."  It is a lifestyle.  Our daily obedience is what really shows God what we think of Him… how much He is worth to us.  Without it, our liturgies, rituals, disciplines, ordinances and the like become meaningless.  With it, they become the celebration of who God is and what He is doing in our lives.

So go have your devotions.  Go to church.  And in between… WORSHIP!

I Know You Are, but What Am I?

When Amos arrived in Bethel to deliver his message from the Lord to Israel, I imagine the initial response of God's people may have been, "It's about time!"  Amos was one of a handful of prophets who pronounced judgment on Israel's enemies.  In this case, the surrounding nations of Syria, Philistia, Phoeneica, Edom, Ammon and Moab were all on God's naughty list.  Each had perpetrated various assaults and abuses on the Jewish nation and now Amos declared that God's retribution was on the way and could not be turned aside.

But Israel's gloating over her neighbors' condemnation was surely short-lived as Amos' message continued, following exactly the same pattern of censure against the sister kingdoms of Judah and  Israel.  The difference was that the Jews had not simply broken "natural law" or violated "human rights" but had "despised the law of the Lord" (2:4).  Their privileged position as God's chosen people did not exempt them from God's wrath.  Much to the contrary, it held them to a higher standard of accountability and led to a greater degree of culpability.

In reflecting on what implications these first two chapters of Amos might have for my life, I've been reminded of my own, sometimes out-of-whack, sense of justice.  I must admit that I'm often quick to condemn the attitudes and actions of those I consider "unbelievers" or "pagans."  I find myself thinking, "Why does God let them get away with that?" or, "Just you wait… you'll get yours!"

As He did with the heathen nations in Amos' day, God will judge the sins of "the world."  But that's His business, not mine.  In fact, my heart should be broken over that judgment and go out in compassion to those who need to repent and be spared from condemnation.  Moreover, pointing fingers at others doesn't do anything except prevent me from focusing on my own accountability before God.

So as I spend the month in Amos, I'll try to bear in mind the words of Peter: "It is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  And if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?  So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."

What do you get when you play a country song backwards?

You get your wife back.  You get your house back.  You get your truck back.  You get your dog back.

Yeah, I know… it's a tired, old joke.  But I couldn't help thinking of it when I read Joel 2:25 – "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you."

The key verse of hope in the book of Joel.  Repentance would bring restoration.

I've been digging into that word "restore."  It shows up over 100 times in the Old Testament, almost always in the context of "paying back for a wrong done."  The actual Hebrew word is shalam, and yes, it is very much like a more familiar word, shalom.  It carries the idea of making peace.  So the big picture is that when a wrong is done, restitution is made so that peace can be restored.

The intriguing thing about Joel's use of this word is that God would be the one to restore what was lost due to Israel's sin.  Can you say, "foreshadowing"?

Romans 4:25-5:1 says, "He (Jesus) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

God is still in the business of making right that which He did not make wrong.  Years wasted in sin, unbelief, rebellion, "back-sliding"… He can restore them.  But the requirement, as it was for Israel, is repentance.

I have a good friend who claims Joel 2:25 as a sort of life verse.  As long as I've known him, he's been walking the path of restoration.  It's a tough journey, but he's an inspiration to me.  I have an uncle with a similar story.  I have wasted years of my own.  How about you?

"Even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.  Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.  Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing."  (Joel 2:12-14)

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee


P.S.  Yes, I realize it's March 1st and I should be on to Amos.  But February – even with leap day thrown in there – just got away from me, and I wanted to make sure I wrote about this verse!

Jealous Again

Jealousy… vice or virtue?  The way we usually experience or express it, probably the former.  But in relation to God, who obviously has no vices, certainly the latter.

Consider the following New Oxford American Dictionary definitions of the word "jealous":

• feeling or showing envy of someone or their achievements and advantages
• feeling or showing suspicion of someone's unfaithfulness in a relationship
• fiercely protective or vigilant of one's rights or possessions
• (of God) demanding faithfulness and exclusive worship

Throughout the Old Testament, God is called a "jealous God."  Exodus 20:3-5, Deuteronomy 4:23-24, Joshua 24:16-19 and other passages highlight the fourth and, to some extent, the second definitions above.  In Joel 2:18, however, the third definition comes into play: "Then the LORD became jealous for his land…"

Despite all debate and conflict, the land variously known as Canaan/Israel/Palestine/the Promised Land/the Holy Land has been eternally deeded to the Jews by it's rightful owner, Jehovah God.  Why the Almighty chose a plot of ground in the Middle East roughly the size of New Jersey as His "home away from Home" we may never know (until His kingdom comes).  But whatever the reason, the Land is His.

In the aftermath of the locust plague described by Joel, and even more so following the foreign invasion predicted by Joel, God would endure only so much violation of His holy real estate.  It's likely that the "northerners" to be driven out in Joel 2:20 were the Assyrians who ravaged the land after their conquest and deportation of Israel.  It's interesting to note, however that the 70-year exile of the Jews was directly related to their own abuse of the God's land (see 2 Chronicles 36:20-12).

In the ultimate "Day of the Lord," referred to often by Joel, God will once again be jealous for His land.  After thousands of years trying to wrest the Promised Land from the people of promise, Israel's enemies will unite for one final assault.  God Himself will crush the invaders, reestablish Israel's divinely appointed borders and take up personal residence as King. (see Joel 3 & Revelation 19-21).  The LORD is jealous for His land!

And now for a soap box I don't usually get on…  I'm by no means what you would call an "environmentalist."  My wife has to constantly remind me where the paper, plastic and aluminum go!  But digging into Joel 2:18 and related passages brought to mind verses like Psalm 24:1-2 – "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters."

The human race has been given dominion, read "stewardship," over the earth.  We serve God in caring for HIS world.  And despite the fact that, "The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare" (2 Peter 3:10), before God re-creates this world the way He intended it to be (see again Revelation 21), we are accountable to Him for the way we treat this planet He allows us to live on.  The Lord is jealous for His land...  so let's take good care of it!

Don't Know What You Got Till It's Gone

Joel 1:9-13 describes how the plague of locusts, sent by God as both judgment and warning of further judgment, had destroyed the grain fields and vineyards, leaving the people no way to offer the required grain or drink offerings to God.  My first thought upon reading those verses was, "Why would God, in response to His people's failure to worship Him, wipe out the very resources they needed to worship Him?  Why would He, in essence, prevent them for doing what He was calling them to do?"

As I pondered that enigma, several verses began rolling through my mind:

• Revelation 2: 5 –  "Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."

• Matthew 5:23-24 – "If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."

• Psalm 51:16-17 – "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

What I realized (or re-realized) was that God is more interested in lifestyle worship than liturgical worship.  Form & function must take a back seat to the fear of God and true obedience.  I think that should be more than a little sobering to us as we live where "Sunday morning best" refers less and less to apparel and more and more to behavior.  We put on our "good self" to go to church and (presumably) worship, then spend the rest of the week living like the pagans around us.

So would God ever judge His people today like He did in Joel's day?  Granted, the plague of locusts was covenant-based and a direct fulfillment of Deuteronomy 28:42 so I wouldn't expect that specific judgment.  It probably wouldn't have the same effect anyway, as our worship is not tied to the offering of grain and wine at the temple.  But might God change our landscape so drastically that the rituals of worship we take for granted are suddenly unavailable or severely costly to us?

Growing up through the tail end of the Cold War, it was fairly common to hear speakers talk about what it would be like for Christians in America if the Communists ever took over.  I even remember a chapel session being raided by camouflaged soldiers with guns and funny accents threatening to shoot anyone who didn't renounce Christ.  (Probably the most fun those dressed up camp counselors ever had!)

Now don't think I'm turning into an apocalyptic doomsday prophet here, but the way things are going in our world, I wonder if we need a little of that "shock & awe" to wake us up today.  If we found ourselves – by natural disaster, government proclamation, foreign invasion or any other means –  without the ability to meet in a sanctuary, project song lyrics, plug in a guitar or carry out other activities we've come to associate with worship, what would we have left?

My prayer is that we'd have hearts full of love, heads full of Scripture, and lives full of obedience so we could continue, or perhaps return to, worshiping God in spirit and in truth – even if not in a church building.

You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet!

Halftime interview with an excited athlete… Bachman-Turner Overdrive song… Plague of locusts???  Let's take door number three and the book of Joel as we start round two of the Minor Prophet of Month Club!

Having already read through Joel's three chapters several times, I'm starting to piece together the big picture and identify some key questions to investigate.  I'm fascinated by how God supernaturally superintends natural events to accomplish His purposes.  As with most of the Minor Prophets, the central message of the book is a call to repentance as God's people turn their backs on Him.  In this case, a swarm of locusts unlike any seen before invades Israel and strips the country bare.

You might think a natural disaster of such magnitude would be enough to turn the hearts of God's people back to Him.  But apparently is was not, so the message of Joel becomes, "You ain't seen nothin' yet!"  The locusts and the destruction they leave in their wake foreshadow a much more devastating invasion.  Unless Israel repents, an army from the north will make the plague of locusts look like a Sunday picnic nuisance.

Joel seems to be full of prophetic passages with multiple degrees of fulfillment intended.  As the month goes on, I'm interested to dig into those prophecies and their historical/future implications.  I'll probably spend some time in Acts, Romans and of course, Revelation along the way.  For now, the big "what do I learn from this" idea I'm starting with is, "What does it take for God to get my attention when I'm straying from Him?"  I'm watching out my window for locusts!

BTW… if you want a little visual aid for the book of Joel - and don't mind your skin crawling a bit - check this out!

Oh... That's What It's For!

History is full of stories about items created for one purpose that ended up being used, and most widely known, for some other purpose.  Post-it Note adhesive, Arm & Hammer baking soda and Avon SkinSoSoft are just a few examples.

Another great example, though a sad one for sure, is found in Hosea 8:11 - "Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning."  The spiritual decline of Israel was so severe that the very altars they built for confessing sin to Jehovah became altars at which they sacrificed to and worshiped false gods.

Each time I read that verse over the past month, I couldn't help but ask, "How often do we do the same thing in our lives and churches today?"  The likelihood of finding a church building occupied by a Bible-believing congregation where pagan deities are worshiped is probably very low.  But finding one where many other, seemingly good, things are worshiped in addition to God… I think that's pretty easy.  So let me play Hosea for a minute and step on a few toes.

Let's start with Pastors…

It's wonderful when the people of a church loves their pastor(s).  It's tragic when they worship them.  It's downright pathetic when a pastor perpetuates it.  As church members, we need to remember Paul's words to the Corinthians… "When one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?  What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe, as the Lord has assigned to each his task."  As pastors, we need to be like John the Baptist… "He must become greater.  I must become less."

Then there are Programs…

When it comes to sacrifices, more than a few sacred cows need to be tossed on the altar in our churches.  I'm all for good programs that help our churches make disciples.  What drives me crazy is that once we start something, there's no way to ever stop it – even if it is no longer effective – because someone's feelings might get hurt.  Again, don't get me wrong… I'm all for supporting, honoring and listening to the wisdom of those who invest their lives into a particular program or model of ministry.  But I'm more for helping those same people understand WHY we do programs in the first place so they are able to truly serve God and others instead of worshiping that program with one more chorus of "We've always done it that way."

And of course, Preferences…

Speaking of music, I'm a little surprised I've never heard KC & the Sunshine Band's "That's the Way (uh huh, uh huh) I Like It" as a call to worship.  The list of false gods we worship in this category could go on forever, but here are just a couple of the obvious ones.

• Music styles.  It's a crying shame that the phrase "Worship Wars" ever had to be coined in the first place.  Whatever style of music we prefer, let's stop worshiping that style and get back to worshiping God.

• Bible versions.  An accurate translation of God's Word is essential to good teaching and true worship.  There are a lot of them out there.  There are also a lot of bibliolaters out there.

Well, I guess I've meddled enough.  I hope I've spoken truth in love.  My prayer for myself, for you and for our congregations is that we stay true to the purposes for which God instituted the local church… and most of all, that we worship Him and Him alone.

Who's to Blame?

I recently tried to help a couple of families resolve a little scuffle between some boys just being boys.  After hearing from all the kids, it became clear that, while we weren't going to get the whole story from any of them, there was more than enough blame to go around.  The discouraging part was one of the parents who simply didn't seem willing to accept that his son could have been in the wrong.  Sadly, I think that attitude, and the impact it has on the son, is a major cause of the type of problem were trying to solve that night.

The whole thing sort of reminds me of Hosea 4 and 5.  Who's to blame for this mess Israel was in?  In 4:1-6, God lays the blame squarely on the Israelite people.  He even says in verse 4, "Don't try to blame your priests."  But then in verses 6-8, He says to the priests, "Wipe that smug look off your face.  It's your fault, too!"  Ultimately, in verse 9: "It will be: Like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds."  The priests failed to lead the people in God's way, and the people failed to hold the priests accountable to do so.  No finger-pointing allowed here.  (Notice that a similar theme plays out in 4:13-14 in the context of families.)

So who's to blame when God's people go astray today?  I think it's much the same. Everyone is individually accountable to God for their own behavior.  We inherit the blame game from Adam ("the woman you gave me…") and Eve ("the devil made me do it…"), but it doesn't get us off the hook any more than it did them.   Nevertheless, those in leadership do bear a special responsibility.  Pastors, teachers, fathers…  these verses come to mind:

• 1 Peter 5:1-4
• James 3:1
• Ephesians 6:4

Lord, help me to stay true to You as a follower and a leader… and to help those who follow me to do the same.

By the way… One of my favorite verses in Hosea is 4:12 - "They consult a wooden idol and are answered by a stick of wood."  Well, what did you expect?!?

Idolatry = Adultery

That's a recurring theme throughout the Bible, but nowhere is it more graphically portrayed than in the book of Hosea.  God's instructions to:

1. marry a prostitute and establish a family with her (1:2) then,
2. when the inevitable happens, buy her back from the man for whom she had abandoned him (3:1)

probably didn't fit Hosea's personal 5-10 year plan.

But the family portrait, no matter how dysfunctional, couldn't be a clearer picture of God's relationship first with Israel then with the Church.  God takes a "bride" despite knowing she would commit spiritual adultery, and His plan all along is to buy her back at the greatest price imaginable.

In Hosea's day, Israel's adultery was literal idolatry - worshiping false gods from pagan nations.  Why would they do that when they already had the one true God and every perfect gift He could give them?  For the same reason we do the same thing today… covetousness!

Hosea 2:12-13… Hosea 3:1… Hosea 4:11-13… they wanted what it seemed the pagan gods had to offer.  And they were, very literally, willing to prostitute themselves to get it.  (Check out the history of "raisin cakes" as mentioned in 3:1!)

Fast forward to Colossians 3:5 (NLT)…  "Put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy (i.e. covetous), for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world."

So, what is it that I want more than what God has already given - or promised to give - me?  When I figure that out, I'll have found my idol.  And when I find my idol, I'd better be willing to cast it down… either that or wear a big scarlet "A" on my chest.

Welcome to the Club!

I decided this year, for my personal Bible study, to spend extended time in the minor prophets. 12 prophets… 12 months…  so, there you go.  Then, after talking with a few people about the idea, I decided to blog about what I learn as I go.  If you'd like to follow along for your own enrichment, join in some discussion, or just help hold me accountable to stay in the Word, keep an eye on this blog.

By doing so, you can consider yourself a member of the "Minor Prophet of the Month Club."  We'll take the books in canonical order:

• January = Hosea
• February = Joel
• March = Amos
• April = Obadiah
• May = Jonah
• June = Micah
• July = Nahum
• August = Habakkuk
• September = Zephaniah
• October = Haggai
• November = Zechariah
• December = Malachi

I'll be reading several translations and also using James Montgomery Boice's commentary on the Minor Prophets (ISBN 0801066484).

So welcome to the club!  I won't promise anything terribly profound… but hey, the dues are free and we just might learn something together along the way!

Lee