Bible Furniture !!!
youd be surprised at the lessons to be found
in such ! Here are Candles , Floors and Walls !.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BIBLE CANDLES
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Candles
are mentioned about 20 times in the Bible
King James Version, that is
and it
is a mis-translation. It should read
lamps. Even the Golden Candlestick in
the Tabernacle, and Temple, and Revelation 2-3 should be translated
Lampstand.
*******************
1. A SEARCHING CANDLE
Zephaniah 1:8-12
The
Old Testament prophet depicts the Lord searching the dark places of Jerusalem
and seeing the sins there being committed
those who dress in pagan robes (v.
8), those who practice foolish superstition (v. 9), and those who are
complacent (v. 12, NIV), those who think the Lord will not take any notice of
what they do
But
the eyes of the Lord run to and fro in the earth
and nothing escapes His
notice (Zechariah 4:10).
2. A SHINING CANDLE
Matthew 5:15
In
the Sermon on the Mount the Lord Jesus bids His disciples let their light
shine. Dont hide it under a bushel
(a clay pot used for measuring out a bushel of wheat, etc.)
Not
that our light (our good works) should bring glory to ourselves but to our
Heavenly Father (v. 16).
John
9:5 reminds us that since our Lord returned to Heaven WE who claim to follow
Him are the light of the world!
(Philippians 2:15).
3. A
SUPERFLUOUS CANDLE
Revelation 22:1-5
The
closing chapter of the Bible gives us a glimpse of Heaven
where there is no
darkness or gloom to dispel
no need of a candle (lamp) there! (Revelation 22:5). Satan is banished
sin
is eradicated
all is peace and joy.
What
a lovely way to conclude the Bible
and a sermon!
..
BIBLE FLOORS
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
INTRODUCTION
When John Wesley was preaching October 27, 1739,
the floor suddenly gave way, and when representatives of the Mission Board
visited Mary Slessor in Calabar, Africa, in 1881, they found her preaching in a
hut
the floor was of clay packed round the skulls of tribal enemies.
The Bible mentions floors about 40 times
most
of these references being to a threshing floor where wheat and chaff were
separated.
****************
1. GIDEONS
FLOOR
Judges 6
We first meet Gideon threshing wheat
but not
in the threshing floor! Such places
were elevated where the wind blew hard, but our hero was hiding from the
Midianites (v. 11), threshing wheat in a winepress!!
And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat
under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the
winepress, to hide it from the Midianites (Judges 6:11).
But in response to the Lords call to do battle
with the enemy, Gideon asks for a sign (vs. 36-40). Whilst it is true the Lord gives His servant a glimpse of His
omnipotence, yet Gideon must be faulted for asking for a sign. Faith takes God at His Word. And God had said that He would use
Gideon to conquer Midian (v. 14).
Asking for signs is an indication of weak
faith, not of trusting God.
The New Testament agrees with such teaching
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh
after a sign; and there shall no sign
be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed (Matthew 16:4).
And again, We live by faith
not by sight!
(II Corinthians 5:7).
It always strikes me as odd that some
evangelists advertise their meetings as a SIGNS AND WONDERS crusade.
Gideons plea for a sign demonstrated his lack
of trust in Gods power
and His promise.
.
2. THE
TABERNACLE FLOOR
It is interesting, and perhaps informative, that
no beautiful carpet adorned the floor of the Tabernacle. Whilst the interior of this building
sparkled with gold in the light of the lamp-stand, and magnificent hangings of
fine twined linen, with blue and purple and scarlet and the Cherubim upon the
veil all interwoven the floor was simply the sand of the desert.
E. Hains in his book on the Tabernacle makes the
suggestion that this is a reminder
our Lord came down from the courts of
Glory to this dirty old world of ours
Out of the ivory palaces into this
world of woe
It is worthy of consideration. Other aspects of the Tabernacle have their
typology pointing to the Saviour. Why
not the dust that is in the floor of the Tabernacle (Numbers
5:17)? Are we pushing things too far to
suggest that it reminds us of our Lords humanity
?
..
3. ARAUNAHS
FLOOR
In II Samuel 24:21-25 we have the story of David
offering a sacrifice to stay the plague that is sweeping across his kingdom.
Notice that whereas Araunah offers the threshing floor to David freely (v. 22),
David insists on buying it! (v. 24).
And that which we offer to the Lord is no
sacrifice
unless it costs us something!
..
4. THE
LORDS FLOOR
I indeed baptise you with water unto
repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am
not worthy to bear: he shall baptise
you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his threshing
floor, and gather his wheat into the garner;
but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:11-12).
John the Baptist uses figurative language as he
speaks of the Lords coming. At His
First Advent He cleansed the earthly temple of the wicked money changers (John
2), but perhaps the prophecy looks on to the Second Advent also, when He shall
gather out of His kingdom all things that offend
and the tares shall be
burned (Matthew 13:4041).
This floor is a grim reminder of the
separation that is yet to take place twixt saved and unsaved.
5. BOAZS
FLOOR
In Ruth 3:1-7 we have the delightful story of Ruth
casting herself at the feet of Boaz.
She is, in effect, proposing to him!
He was
er
a bit slow in popping the question
All of which becomes an illustration of sinners
casting themselves at the feet of Jesus.
Unlike Boaz, He eagerly waits the sinner to come to Him. And, like Ruth, the sinner says I do to
his gracious invitation. Those who do
so are engaged to become part of the Bride of Christ
and are bound for
the Wedding Supper in Glory-land.
***********************
CONCLUSION
Five floors
* Gideons Floor, pointing us to the Lords
Power!
* The Tabernacle Floor, reminding us how He left
His home in Heaven to partake of our humanity
the dust of the earth!
* Aruanahs Floor is a reminder that one must
needs count the cost if a sacrifice is to be made.
* The Lords Floor is a solemn picture of the
judgement that will one day fall upon the chaff.
* And the Floor of Boaz demonstrates something
of the blessings awaiting those who lay themselves at His feet.
===========================================================
BIBLE
WALLS
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Walls
are mentioned about 250 times in the Bible
and a study of them teaches us a
variety of lessons.
Famous
walls include the Great Wall of China;
the Berlin Wall; the wall in
Holland with a hole in it (and the little fellow who stuck his finger in it!); the Wailing Wall; the wall Humpty Dumpty fell off;
and the brick wall Houdini passed through!
In
the Scripture we have the incident of the Handwriting on the wall, and the Book
of Nehemiah is devoted to the subject of building the wall around
Jerusalem. Then we have the Walls of
Jericho
******************
1. WALLS OF SIN
Amos 7:7
This
verse speaks of the Lord on the wall with a plumbline in His hand. It shows how crooked the wall is. It is a picture of the sinfulness of the
House of Israel
the Plumbline is Gods Law.
..
2. WALLS OF SECRECY
Ezekiel 8:7-10
The
prophet, captive in Babylon, is taken in vision to Jerusalem (5 years before
the final Babylonian attack), and there he digs a hole in the Temple wall and
spies upon the abominations taking place inside. Secret sins are known to God.
..
3. WALLS OF SHAM
Acts 23:3
Paul
calls the High Priest a whited wall.
The Lord Jesus used a similar metaphor (Matthew 23:33). Like whitewashed tombstones
outwardly
clean, but inside full of corruption.
God sees the heart!!
..
4. WALLS OF FALSE SECURITY
Nahum 3:8
Nineveh,
capital of Assyria, prided herself as being impregnable. Giant walls surrounded the city 100 feet
high and broad enough for four chariots abreast
But Populous No (KJV), or
Thebes, capital of upper Egypt, had likewise prided herself on the strength
of her wall to keep the enemy out. To
no avail
Sure
enough, in 612 BC, the Babylonians, Scythians and Medes conquered Nineveh. The River Tigris had flooded and undermined
the foundations of the wall, causing a portion of it to collapse (Nahum 2:5-6).
..
5. WALLS OF SALVATION
Isaiah 60:18
Some
expositors apply this chapter to the Millennium; others to Eternity
and others to the Church.
Certain
it is that the Church is called Zion in the New Testament (Hebrews 12:22), and
as John Newton puts it
With Salvations walls surrounded, Thou mayst
smile at all thy foes!
===========================================================
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BIBLE
NATURE
In this study you
will discover what the Scripture
says concerning
.
Lights
Rivers
Snow
Stars
Cedar Trees
Fir Trees !
All of which have
some interesting lessons to teach. !!
BIBLE LIGHTS
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
But
if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded
the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel
of Christ, who is the image of God, who is the image of God, should shine
unto them. For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord; and
ourselves your servants for Jesus sake.
For God, who commanded that light to shine out of darkness, hath
shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Jesus Christ (II
Corinthians 4:3-6).
In
other words, the God who said, Let there be light at Creation, has said it
again! And the light of the glorious
gospel has shone into the hearts of those who trust in the Saviour.
****************
1. CONCERNING THE SAVIOUR
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).
At
the feast of Tabernacles, when Jerusalem had been illumined by the great
candelabra, Jesus makes His claim. It
is a title used of God in the Old Testament (Psalm 27:1). It is a Messianic claim our Lord makes. And Christians around the world, and through
the ages, have found it true. He alone
dispels the darkness of sin.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast-bound in sin and natures night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee! (C. Wesley)
.
2. CONCERNING THE SCRIPTURES
Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm
119:105).
No other Book shows man the way he ought to go. It is our Guide Book through this world of woe. It has the answer to all the ills that beset humanity wars; AIDS; crime; domestic strife; delinquency; violence etc!
But
some folk take no heed to the Makers instructions
.
3. CONCERNING THE SAINTS
As
long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world (John
9:5).
Whats
that!! Jesus is telling us that He was
the Light of the world whilst He was here!
So who is the Light of the world now??
We are! We who have experienced
the Light of the gospel shining into our hearts (II Corinthians 4:6). We are to let our light shine! (Matthew
5:14-15).
Ye are the salt of
the earth; but if the salt have lost
his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?
It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be
trodden under foot of men. Ye are
the light of the world. A city that
is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto
all that are in the house. Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16).
How
long after I become a Christian should I wait before I start to witness for
Christ? asked the young Christian.
How long does it take for a lamp to shine after it has been lit? was
the reply
..
4. CONCERNING THE SINNER
the person who has never trusted the Light of the world, our Lord Jesus. Why tarry?
The longer one puts off yielding to Christ, the greater the danger that
one will lose the faculty of spiritual sight.
And
that means eternity in outer darkness (Jude v. 6).
==========================================================
BIBLE RIVERS
No. 1
.
Rivers were made for
wise men to contemplate says a Spanish proverb, and for fools to pass by
without consideration
So lets consider the lesson that comes to us from four Bible
rivers!
..
1. THE RIVER OF
SALVATION
Hindus bathe in the sacred Ganges
but to no avail. Water does not wash away sin. Rudyard Kiplings lama in the famous novel,
Kim, searches throughout the book for that river that will lead him to
eternal life. To no avail
But the Word of God tells of a blood-stream
from Calvary that washes the sinner as white as snow and restores him to
fellowship with his God.
In a Messianic prophecy, Isaiah compares the Lord Himself to a
life-giving river (Isaiah 32:1-2).
In the next chapter the prophet again speaks of the Lord in this
manner, vs. 21-22, as He delivers His people from the Assyrians, the fierce
people with a foreign tongue (33:19). The Lord is our River of Salvation, and
in particular we look to that precious blood that flowed from His wounded side
..
2. THE RIVER OF
CONFESSION
Lydia heard the gospel from the lips of Paul, believed and was
baptised in the River Gangites (Acts 16:13).
The Ethiopian believed the gospel after it had been presented to
him by Philip
and was baptised, possibly in the Wady-Surar.
Thousands of Jews flocked to hear John the Baptist and publicly
confessed their faith in the River Jordan.
Spurgeon, who later became the Prince of Preachers, tells how he
walked 8 miles (he was 15 years of age at the time May 3, 1850) to the River
Lark to obey the command of his new-found Lord and Saviour.
Baptism is a public act whereby we confess that we are on the
Lords side!! (Acts 8:35-40).
Philips reply to the question, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptised? If
thou believest, thou mayest (v. 37), indicates that baptism is not for infants
but for those old enough to understand the implications of the act.
3. THE RIVER OF
BLESSING
As a life-giving stream brings refreshment and cleansing to the
lost and thirsty traveller, so Christians are called to bring life
life and
cleansing
to this sin-weary world. Yet it is not of our doing
but allowing
the Holy Spirit to work through us (John 7:37-39).
Achsah asked for a wedding present from her father, Caleb. Her new husband, Othniel, makes the request
(Joshua 15:18a). Caleb gives her some
land
a field (v. 18). Then comes a
further request
springs of water (v. 19).
It is no use having the field without the water to irrigate it.
And it is no use us being given a field of service unless we are
filled with the Holy Spirit!
Not only do we need to ask our Father, but we need to meet the
conditions He lays down in His Word.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he
give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish,
will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts unto your children: how
much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?
(Luke 11:11-13)
Here is the Fathers promise
but a life out of His will can
receive no answer see James 1:7.
.
4. THE RIVER OF
LIFE
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:1).
We are accustomed to thinking of one more River to cross
the
River of Death. The Word of God calls
it The River of LIFE!, for it ushers those who know the Saviour into His
presence where sickness, sadness and death will never come.
Even Bunyans Pilgrim may give us the wrong impression as his faith
grows faint in the midst of the final river
As Elijah crossed over Jordan on dry ground (II Kings 2:8) and
saw the chariots of fire awaiting his entrance into the courts above, so the
child of God can be assured that the chilly Jordan (as the Negro spirituals
express it), is in reality the River of Life Eternal.
Rest in His promise
Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee
by name; thou are mine.
And fear not
When thou passest through the
waters, I will be with thee; and
through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee (Isaiah 43:2).
========================================================
BIBLE RIVERS ( No. 2)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
INTRODUCTION
Numerous rivers are mentioned in the Bible story
each with a
story to tell.
.
1. RIVERS OF
HISTORY
Genesis 2:10-14 places the Garden of Eden at the mouth of four
rivers: the Pison, Gihon, Euphrates and
Hiddekel (Tigris).
Whilst the first two mentioned are difficult to identify, this
geographic location shows that the writer expected us to look upon Eden as an
historic place. Adam and Eve literally
existed in a literal Eden.
2. RIVERS OF
PROPHECY
(a) The River of
Egypt
In Genesis 15:1Abraham is told that his seed would occupy the
land from this river to the Euphrates.
Dispensationalists believe this has never yet been fulfilled but will be
during the millennium. Others teach
Israel possessed this land during Solomons reign
and lost it again because
of disobedience (I Kings 4:21, 8:65; II
Chronicles 9:26).
(b) The Tigris River
flooded and broke
down the walls of ancient Nineveh, thus enabling the Babylonians to conquer the
city (Nahum 1:8).
(c) The Euphrates
River was diverted
by the Medes and Persians to enable their warriors to enter Babylon on the dry
river bed and thus conquer the city (Isaiah 40:27).
..
3. RIVERS OF
FUTILITY
Micah 6:6-7 tells us that rivers of oil will not suffice for
an offering if the heart of the offerer is not right with God.
4. RIVERS OF
PURITY
The Jordan River became the site of thousands of Jews being
baptised by John the Baptist
confessing their sins. The water symbolized (not effected) the
cleansing of their soul (Mark 1:5).
..
5. RIVERS OF
SPIRITUALITY
John 7:38-39
the indwelling Holy Spirit.
6. RIVERS OF
GLORY
Revelation 22:1-2
from the Throne of God!
========================================================
There
is a River
..
INTRODUCTION
The Scriptures have much to say about rivers
Euphrates which flowed through
ancient Babylon; the Tigris which bordered mighty Nineveh , the Nile of Egypt (
although not mentioned by name ) ; Jabbok where Jacob wrestled
Cherith where
Elijah hid; Elah where David picked up 5 smooth stones
Kishon where the
Canaanite army came to grief
and so it goes.
We will look at three rivers and learn some
lessons there-from.
(1)
A RIVER OF SALVATION
The hymn writer, Fanny Crosby, spoke of it
Free
to all a healing stream
flows
from Calvarys mountain
And Isaiah foretold the day
Isaiah
32:1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness,
and princes shall rule in judgment.
2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the
wind, and a covert from the tempest;
as rivers of water in a dry place, as the
shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
It was a Messianic prophecy
fulfilled by
Jesus of Nazareth. And all who place their trust in Him find Him to be a
hiding place from judgment to come, a covert
(refuge) during the storms of life and as refreshing and
life-giving as rivers of water in a dry place.
.
(2) A
RIVER OF CONFESSION
It
was on the outskirts of Philippi that
the Apostle Paul encountered Lydia and some other women
by the river
Gangites.
Acts
16: 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the
chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city
abiding certain days. 13 And
on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont
to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted
thither. 14 And
a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which
worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto
the things which were spoken of Paul.
15 And
.
she was baptized
..
Thus it was Lydia became the first convert
to Christianity in Europe. And her baptism was a public confession of that
commitment to Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
Every New Testament convert follows up that decision by being baptized. It is not a matter of
how old a person is, it is a matter of
whether that one has accepted Christ as Saviour.
The New Testament knows nothing of
baptizing babies. Belief in Christ is the pre-requisite, and the Lords own
command ( Matthew 28:19-20) is the reason for such a public confession of ones
faith.
.
(3) A
RIVER OF BLESSING
John
7: 37 In
the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If
any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath
said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they
that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given;
because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
It is the Feast of Dedication. And our Lord makes an astonishing claim
that those who come to Him shall receive the Holy Spirit , and that Holy
Spirit will be in them as a river of blessing to others.
Any
service we might do for the Lord
Jesus will only be effective as the Holy Spirit flows through us. And the Holy
Spirit will only flow through us in proportion to our surrender to Him. Our life is like a channel , and if it
be clogged with pride or covetousness
or worldliness or any other sin it will
hinder our work for the Saviour.
CONCLUSION
Have you trusted the Lord Jesus and found
Him to be like a refreshing,
life-giving river ?
Have you confessed Him , as He commanded,
in the waters of baptism ?
Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to flow
through you as you live a life obedient to Him?
( And, come to think of it , isnt a refusal
to be baptized an act of disobedience ?
Why not speak to one of the Church officers
about it
. ?)
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BIBLE SNOW
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
INTRODUCTION
Hast
thou entered into the treasures of the snow? (Job 38:22). This is but one of the questions the Lord
asks Job to humble him.
And
it is also a good question for us to consider.
*****************
1. A LESSON IN CREATION
(a) The Photographer
Wilson
Bentley of Vermont, USA, photographed thousands of snowflakes
and never found
two the same. Yet every one has six
sides!
(b) The Poet
No
wonder he wrote
Snowflakes
falling, twisting, swirling, Soft
and fragile; Web of mystery;
There
upon my window sill. Falling
on my window sill
Who
but Heavens Great Designer I
shall gaze in awe and wonder
Traced
that lace with such great skill. At
the Hand that held the quill.
(J. Janus, altered)
(c) The Psalmist
David
gazed in awe and wonder at the star-filled heavens and caused him to declare
the glory of God (Psalm 19). Had he
had a microscope and examined the intricacies of the snow-flake he would have
been just as awe-stricken!
2. A LESSON IN CO-OPERATION
(a) The Soldiers
It
was 1812
and the army of Napoleon retreated from Moscow
defeated by the
snow! Fifty thousand of his men never
saw France again.
(b) The Cities
It
was 1978
and the Blizzard of the Century (as Time Magazine called
it), closed city after city across the United States.
(c) The Scriptures
What
one snow-flake cannot do
a trillion times a trillion can. They can stop an army of close down a
city. And they remind us of the need
for Bible-believing Christians to unite against the forces of evil.
.
3. A LESSON IN SALVATION
(a) The Plight of Man
Job
9:30. Even if he washed in snow-water,
it would not cleanse from sin.
(b) The Plea of David
Psalm 51:7.
He calls on the Lord to wash him whiter than snow.
(c) The Provision of the Saviour
I john 1:7.
There is no other cleansing agent for mans sin
except the Blood of
Jesus.
Oh, Precious is the flow, that
makes me white as snow
No other fount I know; Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!
(d) The Promise of God
Isaiah 1:8.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be as white as snow: though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
========================================================
BIBLE STARS
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations
of the earth? It is He that sitteth
upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as
grass-hoppers; that stretcheth out the
heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: that bringeth the princes to nothing; He maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the
earth: and He shall also blow upon
them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as
stubble. To whom then will ye liken
Me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things,
that bringeth out their host by number:
He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He
is strong in power; not one faileth. (Isaiah 40:21-26).
INTRODUCTION
Lift up your eyes on high and behold
WHO
Not what
!! As we go stargazing we will catch a fresh
glimpse of the greatness of our God.
..
1. A TRIP THRU THE UNIVERSE
We are already on a trip
our planet Earth travels 66,800
mph in its orbit around the Sun
a distance of 590 million, million miles
every year!
The Sun (which is actually a Star) is the centre of our
Solar system. It is 1,300,000 larger
than Earth! And Earths distance from
the Sun is just correct enough to sustain life. Much closer and we would be burned to a crisp. A little further away and we would all
freeze to death.
The unwearied Sun from day to day
Doth his Creators power display;
And publishes to every
land
The work of an Almighty Hand!
Our
Solar System consists of nine planets orbiting around the Sun. Because of the vast distance, astronomers
speak in terms of Light-years
i.e. how long it takes travelling at the
speed of light to reach ones destination.
Light travels at 186,000 miles per second. So instead of saying Earth is 93 million
miles away from the Sun, they would say that it takes light 8 minutes to reach
us from there.
But
the distance to Pluto, the furthest planet from the Sun in our Solar System,
takes five and a half hours, travelling at the speed of light!
Our
Solar System is but one of many in a galaxy called the Milky Way. As a matter of fact there are about 100
billion stars (like our Sun) in the Milky Way galaxy. So vast it is that travelling at the speed of light (186,000
miles per second) it would take 100,000 years to cross it!
The constellation
of Hercules, for example, is a great Cluster two hundred and thirty
quadrillion miles away from us:
consisting of 20,000 Suns.
But
there are other galaxies besides our Milky Way!! Andromeda is the nearest
and it is 5,000,000,000,000,000,000
(five quintillion!) miles away. The
Whirlpool Nebula is 6,000,000,000,000,000,000 miles distant!
Because
of the giant Mount Palomar Telescope, astronomers now are able to speak of hundreds
of millions of galaxies and super-galaxies!!
Not
is that the end
for galaxies are found in Clusters, and each Cluster
contains at least 50 galaxies with probably as many as 100 billion stars in
each galaxy!
The
Cluster, Centauri, is only 20,000 light years distant
With
all this in mind we reflect upon the words of the Psalmist: He hath not dealt with us after our
sins; nor rewarded us according to our
iniquities. For as the heaven is high
above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him (Psalm
103:10-11).
.
2. A TRIP THRU THE
SCRIPTURES
In
a day when man thought the earth was flat, and that the earth was supported by
Atlas or hung from the sky on a chain;
and that all the stars one could see was all that there were
the
inspired writers of Scripture did not make those mistakes!
(a) Innumerable Stars
As
the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea
measured: so will I multiply the seed
of David My servant, and the Levites that minister unto Me (Jeremiah
33:22).
(b) Suspended in Space
He
stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon
nothing (Job 26:7).
(c) Movement of Stars
Canst
thou bind the sweet influences of
Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? Or canst thou guide Arcturus with his
sons? (Job 38:31-32).
Pleiades is popularly known as the Seven Sisters
actually
comprising a constellation of 250 Stars (Suns), 220 light years away from
Earth. (That means that if their
light went out tomorrow, we would keep on seeing them for another 220
years!) Whilst most constellations are
expanding, Pleiades is bound together (v. 31!). The bands of Orion and Mazzaroth refer to other
constellations. And Arcturus (v.
32) has been described as the runaway star in our Universe
1,000 times
bigger than our Sun
travelling through the Milky Way at 1,000,000 miles per
hour! But God says that He guides it!
(c) Heavens Brightest Star
Our
Sun, of course, is the brightest to us due to its proximity to Earth. But Cappella is 200 times brighter than our
Sun! And Rigel is 14,000 times brighter! And S. Doradus is 500,000 times
brighter!
But
Revelation 22:16 speaks of One brighter still:
I
Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the
churches. I am the Root and the
Offspring of David, and the bright and Morning Star.
Just
as the Morning Star ushers in a new day, so the Lord Jesus describes Himself in
this manner as He returns to establish a New Heaven and a New Earth wherein
dwelleth righteousness.
And
the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely
He which testifieth these things saith,
Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Revelation
22:17, 20).
CONCLUSION
Lift
up your eyes on high and behold
the greatness of our God; the wonder of the Scriptures accuracy; and Heavens Brightest Star!
The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame
Their great Original proclaim.
The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creators powers display,
And publishes to every land
The work of an Almighty Hand.
Soon as the evening shades prevail
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth;
While all the stars that round her burn
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.
What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball?
What though no real voice nor sound
Amid the radiant orbs be found?
In reasons ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice.
Forever singing as they shine,
The hand that made us is divine.
Words: Joseph Addison, in The Spectator (London, England),
August 23, 1712. It followed an essay on the proper means of
strengthening and
confirming faith in the mind of man.
==========================================================
BIBLE TREES
Study 1
: THE
CEDARS OF LEBANON
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
INTRODUCTION
The cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) is a majestic tree of
massive proportions, with deep, strong roots. Large forests of these cedars once blanketed the mountains of
Lebanon, but today only a few small groves remain because of indiscriminate use
and the failure to replenish the trees by proper conservation and
reseeding. The ravages of war doubtless
contributed to this depletion as well (Isaiah 14:5-8). However, the remaining trees still present
an impressive sight Compare Song of Songs 5:15.
Cedar trees are mentioned 75 times in the Scriptures
always in
the Old Testament.
-----------------------------------
The psalmist compares the child of God to a cedar tree
and so
shall we!
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon (Psalm 92:12).
1. Psalm 106:14 speaks of the cedars which
He planted
and He it was who planted the seed of life in those who
believe (I Peter l:23).
2. The cedars ROOTS take hold of the
solid rock (Lambie, p. 122). So should
yours and mine (Ephesians 4:14).
3. The STRENGTH of the mighty cedar is
mentioned many a time (Job 40:17; II
Kings 14:9
note the contrast; the
puny thistle picking a fight with the mighty cedar!). And in Christ I am strong too.
4. Their ENDURANCE
some still exist
over 2000 years old. And believers have
life that will out-do that!
5. Their UPRIGHTNESS. The cedar was even used for masts (Ezekiel
27:5).
6. Their CONSTANCY
whether storm or
sunshine, summer or snow
they are ever-green! (cf Philippians 4:11-12).
7. Their PURITY. Cedar trees are free from knots and
resistant to attacks by insects (Insight
)
And I should not let the Devil get my peace of mind all into a knot
Worry! Bego
8. Their BEAUTY. Cedar wood was especially used in building
palaces and temples (II Samuel 7:2; I
Kings 5:10).
9. Their FRAGRANCE. (Hosea 14:5-6) :
I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as
Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and
his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
10. Their SITUATION. They grow in the mountainous heights. Lord, lift me up and let me stand
11. Their COMFORT
for the birds find
rest in their branches (Psalm 104:18).
12. Their TOUCH
for cedar resin was
regarded as having medicinal value
bringing healing to those with whom it
came in contact.
Does my life
does your life
bring blessing and hope to those who
need a spiritual healing touch?
---------------------
The righteous shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon
(Psalm 92:12.)
==========================================================
BIBLE TREES
Study 2
: THE
FIG TREES
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
INTRODUCTION
The fig tree, Ficus Carica (Urticaceae), is found, wild or
cultivated, in all parts of Palestine.
The fig tree is mentioned about 80 times in the pages of
Scripture.
Amos took care of the fig trees (Amos 7:14, GNB).
Moses described the Promised Land as having vines and fig trees
and pomegranates (Deuteronomy 8:8).
The twelve spies brought back figs (Numbers 13:23).
Interestingly, Mohammed
prays that there might be figs in Paradise!
(Man, Myth and Magic, Volume 33).
The Buddha was supposed to have received his enlightenment under
a fig tree
and the Hindu god, Vishnu, was born under one! So they say.
Numerous lessons can be gleaned from Bible incidents connected
with figs
.
1. A COVERING
FOR THE ADAMSES
As soon as they had eaten it, they were given understanding and
realised that they were naked; so they
sewed fig leaves together and covered themselves
(Genesis 3:7).
But man cannot hide his sin by his own efforts. The coats of skins provided by God
(Genesis 3:21) were a lesson to Adam
and us
that only God can deal with the
sin question, and the basis of that covering was the death of a lamb (?)
somewhere in Edens garden.
2. THE SAVING OF
THE TAX MAN
In Luke 19:4 it is little Zacchaeus who hastens down from the
sycamore fig tree, and invites the Saviour into his home
and his life.
.
3. THE
INTERCEDING OF THE WIFE
David and his men are on their way to wreak havoc on the wealthy,
grumpy, wicked Nabal! But Nabals wife
intercepts David
gives him 200 fig cakes (I Samuel 25:18), and intercedes for
her worthless husband.
A reminder that we should be interceding for those who are facing
coming judgement.
.
4. THE RESTING
OF THE ISRAELITE
Nathaniel asked him, How do you know me? Jesus answered, I saw you when you were
under the fig tree before Philip called you (John 1:48).
In the heat of the day the shady leaves of the fig tree provide a
welcome shelter. And we rest in the
Saviours finished work. He is our
place of Refuge.
I take, O Cross,
thy shadow
as my abiding place
.
5. THE HEALING
OF THE KING
Isaiahs fig poultice laid upon good King Hezekiah restored him to
health (II Kings 20:7). The fig is
still regarded as having medicinal properties in Eastern lands.
------------------------------
CONCLUSION
Having exchanged my fig leaves for Gods provision of covering
from sin
let me intercede
and rest
and heal others
==========================================================
BIBLE
CLOTHES
A couple of Bible Clothes to suggest spiritual lessons.
Why not prepare your
own studies on Bible Hats ?
( Now who in
Scripture was said to wear a hat ???)
See Strongs
Concordance !!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BIBLE SHOES
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
INTRODUCTION
Shoes,
and sandals, are mentioned over 30 times in the Bible.
And
a study of this subject produces a number of worthwhile lessons.
William
Gurnall published The Christians
Complete Armour in 1655. It
contained 150 pages dealing with the believers footwear! (And it is still in print.)
And
Spurgeon tells of a preacher named Henley who advertised that he was
going to preach on the quickest way to make a pair of shoes. When they crowded the place he bade them
take a pair of boots and cut the tops off!!
Spurgeon, who tells us he has seen the advert, was not amused at such
cheap pulpit tricks!
And
the missionaries to the Mumac Indians spelt a word incorrectly in their
translation of Matthew 24:7
they had NAOOKTUKUMIKSIJIK instead of
NAOOKTAKUMIKSIJIK! Instead of
nation shall rise against nation it read snowshoe shall rise against
snowshoe!
********************
1. DECEPTIVE SHOES
The
Gibeonites fooled an undiscerning Joshua by wearing old clothes and old
shoes. And he was tricked into making
an alliance with them (Joshua 9:5, 13).
Today
there are still those who would deceive Gods people by their appearance and
the stories they tell.
In
recent times we have had such as Alberto, Rebecca Brown, Michael Esses, Lauren
Stratford, John Todd
Crying Wind
all of which caused a stir in Christendom
with their incredible story
and all of which have been discredited.
Beware
of being deceived
or of being a deceiver!
..
2. DISRESPECTFUL SHOES
Shoes
seem to be associated with uncleanness in the Bible. The Priests wore no shoes.
Moses
and later Joshua are both bidden to remove their shoes in the Lords presence
(Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15).
It
is a reminder that we serve a Holy God and we need to come before Him clean
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of
God (I Corinthians 7:1).
Next
time you clean your shoes ask yourself if the shoes of your soul are also clean
in His sight
Beware of the folksy
attitude toward the Holy One that borders on irreverence and even blasphemy.
PUT
OFF
the shoes of Deceit and Disrespect.
.
3. DEPENDABLE SHOES
Put
em on! Shoes that remind us to trust
our God regardless of circumstances. We
can depend upon Him.
Deuteronomy
29:2-5 tells of the wilderness journey for nigh on forty years and how their
shoes did not wear out! (v. 5).
Bunyans
Pilgrim receives such footwear in the Armoury in the Palace Beautiful.
But
is this a miracle here recorded in Holy Writ
or do we jump to the wrong
conclusion? Of course, God COULD keep
shoes from wearing out
and even make the shoes GROW as the foot did!! Perhaps, as Adam Clarke suggests, it simply
means they did not wear tattered garments or worn out shoes during the
wilderness wandering.
It
in no way lessens the fact that God provided for them, but it is a reminder
that He uses normal means
and the Israelites had herds (skins for sandals)
and craftsmen to make the necessary footwear.
.
4. DISCIPLINED SHOES
Put
em on!! Jesus sent out the twelve
telling them not to take shoes (Matthew 10:10), but sandals (Mark
6:9). Shoes would take time to
remove. Sandals can be slipped on and
off at a moments notice. Those who
serve Christ are ever ready to pray and worship (take em off!), or to go and
preach (put em on!!)
Ephesians
6:15 speaks of having our feet shod with the Gospel of Peace. There are too many Christians with their
feet shod in slippers (at ease in Zion, Amos 6:1!), instead of putting on their
battle-boots!
. In Gods beauty contest (Isaiah 52:7) it is
not face or figure that is all-important
but feet, shod with the Gospel of
Peace!
..
CONCLUSION
The
classic shoe story is surely that of Cinderella. And it is a reminder that Heavens Prince is coming at the
midnight hour to see if our foot is firmly planted in the Gospel shoe
..
========================================================
BIBLE COATS
.
Coats are mentioned about 40 times in the
Bible
in the King James Version, that is!
And five of these mentions will teach us
some interesting lessons.
1. A
COLOURFUL COAT
Genesis 37:3
Or maybe it was a long-sleeved coat, as
some translators suggest. In any case
it spoke of Jacobs love for his favourite son, Joseph, and indicated that the
birthright of the family was his. The
subsequent events are a reminder of the wonder of Biblical Typology
Joseph
being a remarkable picture of the Lord Jesus.
Both were loved by the Father, both were hated
by their brethren, both went on a mission
sent by the Father
to seek their
brethrens welfare.
Both were taken as a prisoner, stripped
of their garments, and cast into the pit.
.
2. AN
OFFERED COAT
Luke 6:29
This text, in the Sermon on the Mount,
telling us to give our coat to him who steals our cloak, needs to be understood
in the light of the context. The Lord
Jesus is not teaching indiscriminate charity to every Tom, Dick and
Harry. To give continually to some folk
is not a mark of love on our part, but of folly. It would encourage laziness and loss of self-esteem on the part
of the recipient.
But He is teaching self-sacrificing
generosity
the going of the second mile to help those in genuine need.
..
3. AN
ATONING COAT
Genesis 3:21
The coats of skins provided by God for
Adam and Eve are a reminder that the atonement for sin must needs be effected
by the shedding of blood. Somewhere in
Eden an animal (a lamb?) had died
to cover Adams sin. And that animal prefigured the sacrifice of
Calvary.
..
4. A
TORN COAT
II
Samuel 15:32
Hushai, the Archite, friend of King
David, tore his coat. It was a symbolic
act of grief. Jacob (Genesis 37:29),
Joshua (Joshua 7:6), Jephthath (Judges 11:35), and many more had done the same
thing in times of sorrow.
Joel 2:13 reminds us that the outward
tearing of the coat avails nothing without the rending of the heart. It is not the outward act but the inward
reality that God sees.
5. A
SEAMLESS COAT
John 19:23-24
At the foot of the Cross the soldiers
gamble for our Lords coat. John
recalls that this was a fulfilment of yet another Old Testament prophecy (Psalm
22:18). Had they torn it into pieces it
would have meant that Jesus was not the Messiah!
And it was forbidden for the High Priest
of Israel to tear his garments (Leviticus 21:10). But this Caiaphas did (Matthew 26:65). His disobedience speaks of the end of the Levitical priesthood
just as the rent veil in the temple signified the end of the sacrificial
system.
But the Lord Jesus
a Priest of a
different order
who offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice
did not have
His garments rent!
********************
CONCLUSION
Take the initial letters
Colourful; Offered; Atoning; Torn; and Seamless
and you will remember
the lessons of the COATS!!
========================================================
BIBLE ANIMALS !!
In these
studies we will examine what the
Bible says concerning
CAMELS , ANTS , CONEYS , DOGS , FOXES , GOATS , HORSES ,
LIONS, OXEN, PIGS, COWS, BEARS and SNAKES
.
.
BIBLE CAMELS
The camel is perhaps the most valuable of all animals to man in
the East
(Bible Educator). This odd-shaped creature (God made all the
animals, but He got a committee to design the camel!) can travel for days
without food and water.
Camels are mentioned about 65 times in the Bible. And some of those references teach us some
interesting spiritual lessons.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. THE CAMEL AND
THE SCOFFERS
Genesis 12:16 speaks of camels in Abrahams day. Critics once pointed to this as an
anachronism (e.g. Century Bible Commentary). But archaeologists have confirmed the Bible account.
2. THE CAMEL AND
THE SUPERSTITIOUS
Archaeology has also shed light on Gideons act of removing the
ornaments from the camels necks (Judges 8:21). These were lucky charms believed to protect the wearer from the
evil eye of some enemy
and to produce fertility.
3. THE CAMEL AND
THE SAYINGS
Twice the Lord Jesus referred to camels.
(a) The camel passing through the eye of a
needle is best understood as a description of the beast that must be unloaded
of its goods and made to squeeze through a small gate into the walled
city. (The main gate had been locked
for the night.) Likewise, it is not
impossible for a rich man to enter the Kingdom
but it may be very difficult
for him to do so.
(b) Matthew 23:24 speaks of straining out a
gnat and swallowing a camel. Some
folk, like the Pharisees to whom Jesus spoke, made BIG issues out of little
things
and neglected matters of vital importance.
4. THE CAMEL AND
THE SAINT
(a) His Posture
he always holds his head up high! And being a child of the King
so can we!!
(b) His
Stickability
he
plods on and on with a steady gait.
Believers too, should run and not be weary, walk and not faint (Isaiah
40:31).
(c) His Resources
come from within! The hump filled with fat and the gallons of
water drunk at the start of the journey sustains him. Christians too, have inner resources (John 4:14).
(d) His
Submissiveness. Like the camel, we kneel to accept whatever
burden (blessings or problems) at the start of each day.
(e) His Wisdom.
And he (the camel
and the
Christian) loses his burdens kneeling at the close of the day.
5. THE CAMEL AND
THE SECOND COMING
In Genesis 24 we read of Abraham sending forth his servant to find
a bride for his son, Isaac. Likewise
God, the Father, has sent the Holy Spirit to gather out of the nations a bridge
for His Son. One day, like Rebekah, we
will leave our camels (vs. 63-64) and meet our Heavenly Bridegroom.
===========================================================
BIBLE ANTS
Go
to the Ant is a scriptural command
(Proverbs 6:6)
so go we will! And
the ant will teach us a number of incredible lessons.
* * * * * * * * *
1. A LESSON INSPIRATION
Proverbs 6:6-8; 30:25
There
was a time when the critics of the Bible said that ants did not lay
aside food in the summer! But once again, modern discovery has shown the
accuracy of Gods word!
2. A LESSON IN CREATION
Ants
have been found encased in Amber
a resinous substance
that evolutionists
claim to be millions of years old. But
they are just the same as the ants we know today. An ant (or hundreds of them), were among the insects God created on
the 6th day!
3. A LESSON IN PREPARATION
and
thats the main lesson found in both Proverbs passages above. Plan ahead.
Prepare! See Matthew 6:25-26,
especially Good News Bible.
The
Lord Jesus even told a parable condemning the Rich Fool
the man who failed to
prepare for Eternity! (Luke 12:16-20).
4. A LESSON IN PERSPIRATION
Ants
work! There are no shirkers. They carry loads far in excess of their own
weight. No obstacle can stop them
(Matthew 10:22!)
5. A LESSON IN CO-OPERATION
.
for what one ant cannot accomplish alone 10,000 of them, working in complete harmony,
can! And thats what they do.
Some
Christians want to be Lone Rangers and not unite with the church. We need to Forsake not the assembling of
ourselves together
(Hebrews 10:25).
(To
stop our study here would be an ANT-iclimax!)
6. A LESSON IN
DIVERSIFICATION!!
There
are worker ants
and soldier ants
and nursery ants
and foraging ants,
etc., etc., etc.
all with their own job to do. And there are different gifts given to different believers to
perform.
* * * * * * * * *
CONCLUSION
The
ants are great little preachers!
===========================================================
BIBLE
CONEYS
The Coney, mentioned four times in the
KJV, is sometimes rendered rock badger in the newer versions. The proper name of this creature is HYRAX
a large rodent: fur covered body,
short legs and webbed feet!
It is not a rabbit (though an old English
name for that animal is coney).
Zoologists think the Hyrax is related to the rhinoceros family!! Although the coney is a feeble creature,
it teaches us some powerful lessons.
1. PRESERVATION
Because of their feebleness, they have
learned to make their hones in the rocks
thus finding refuge from the wild
animals. And when the old Devil comes
prowling like a roaring lion we can learn from the coney and take refuge in the
Rock of Ages (Proverbs 30:27; 1 Peter
5:8).
2. PERSUASION
Some observers have remarked that an old
male coney is set as a sentry
(Bible Educator, p. 201). Seeing the lion approaching he emits a shrill
whistle to warn the other coneys to flee from the coming danger. So believers are appointed as Gods
watchmen, warning others to flee from the wrath to come (Ezekiel 3:17 ff).
3. PROVISION
Psalm 104 is the great Hymn of
Creation. It speaks of the Lords
gracious provision for His creatures
the springs for the wild asses (v. 10),
the grass for the cattle (v. 14), the wine for man (v. 15), the trees for the
birds (v. 16), the hills for the goats (v. 18a), and the rocks for the coneys
(v. 18b). And He provides for us, too
(Philippians 4:19).
4. POSITION
Every creature has its appointed place, comments C.H.
Spurgeon. The coneys do not dwell in
the tree branches and the cattle do not live in the rocks. The fish do not live on the high hills, nor
do men eat grass
each has its (or his) own place that God has appointed. So it is in the Body of Christ. Some for the pulpit (but not everybody),
some for the mission-field, some for the choir, some for visitation, some for
other ministries
we all have our place of service which is not necessarily
the same as our neighbours!
5. PIETY
Deuteronomy 14:4-7 tells of the Hebrew food laws
which animals
were clean and which were unclean.
Coneys belong to the latter group (v. 7).
This was an illustrated lesson to every Jew. To be clean in Gods sight one must chew
the cud, i.e. meditate upon the Word of God;
and divide the hoof, i.e. have a separated walk.
One must not only seek the Law
but do it (Ezra 7:10).
To be acceptable in His sight our Doctrine in the head must prove
its reality by Duty
in the feet! Not
just read the Word but HEED the Word.
No good chewing the cud if you dont divide the hoof. Learn the lesson from Mr Coney!!
==============================================================
BIBLE
DOGS
Many pagan religions connect DOGS with their stories of the
Other World. The Indians have a legend
that when God created the world He took His dog with Him!
Muslims speak of seven animals being in Paradise, and two of
them are dogs. Greek mythology and Hindu writings speak of dogs guarding the
Gates of the Underworld.
Roman Catholics have a saint (Hubert) who
specialises in dog-bites!
Dogs are mentioned 40 times in the Scriptures
and teach us
some fascinating lessons.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. A LIVING
DOG
Ecclesiastes 9:4
A living dog is better than a dead lion, said Solomon, reminding
us of his earlier reasoning when he grappled with Lifes meaning. As long as you are alive is the main thing,
he thought. After all, death ends all
(Ecclesiastes 9:5). But Solomon was
wrong, And later in this strange book
of Ecclesiastes he tells us that.
It is not better to be a living dog! It is not better to surrender our
convictions and hang on to life, as if that is the most important thing! Martyrs have died like Lions rather than
renounce their faith and live like dogs!
Death is not the end
and that makes the difference.
2. A DUMB DOG
Dogs were unclean beasts to the Jews. Every mention has a twang of contempt about it. Am I a dog? asked Goliath (1 Samuel
17:43). And David (2 Samuel 24:14).
Deuteronomy 23:17-18 speaks of male harlots as dogs (see
modern translations and commentaries).
They may call themselves Gay
God calls them dogs!! Revelation 22:15 reminds us that there will
be no dogs (spiritually speaking) in Heaven.
Isaiah speaks of false
prophets as dumb dogs (now I know what D.D. stands for
), who fail to
arouse the sleeping sinner when judgement is imminent (c.f. Exodus 11:6-7; Isaiah 56:10-11). Paul likewise warns us to beware of false teachers
Beware of
dogs (Philippians 2:3).
3. A PET DOG
Matthew 15:21-28 tells of a Gentile woman who cried to the Lord
Jesus for help, and received a seeming rebuff.
His use of the word dogs (a common description of Gentiles) was seized
upon by the woman who reminded Him that the pet dogs (the only place this
Greek word is used) get some left-over
scraps. And Jesus responded to her
faith and met her need.
4. A HUNTING
DOG
Proverbs 30:31
The K.J.V. says
greyhound
and Bible dictionaries tell of this kind of dog being used for
hunting
not by the Jews
but by Assyrians and Babylonians.
Francis Thompson wrote a bold poem depicting Jesus as The Hound
of Heaven. And the Dominican Order
founded in the 13th century, literally means Gods (Domini) Hounds
(canus).
Believers are to be the Lords hunting dogs
seeking converts
to our Master.
..
CONCLUSION
Wilfred Grenfell tells of slaying his three husky dogs when
trapped on an ice-floe. He was saved
from death by freezing by wrapping himself in their skins. Moody, Watch and Spy, the dogs, died that
he might live. And the Hound of Heaven
died that we might live
and He covers us with the robe of His
righteousness. How about that!!
==========================================================
BIBLE FOXES
The
Hebrew word Shual is translated Foxes nine times in our K.J.V. And the word Tannim is translated (in
modern translations) as Jackals. The
K.J.V. renders it dragons (Job 30:29;
Jeremiah 9:11; Micah 1:8
) and
even sea monster in Lamentations 4:3!!
Foxes
and Jackals, the Jews did not seem to distinguish between the two (Bible
Educator, Vol. 1, p.58)
were unclean scavengers, roaming in packs and
wailing all night.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. PROBLEMATICAL FOXES
Judges
15:4-6 tells how Samson caught 300 foxes, tied torches to their tails and
burned the enemys cornfields. Critics
deny the historicity of the story. But
notice that the ancients were skilled in trapping such wild animals. He may have had helpers. It did not all take place on one day. There is no need to dismiss the account as
untrue.
.
2. DESTRUCTIVE FOXES
It
is the little fox that breaks through the vineyard wall and spoils the vines
(Song of Solomon 2:15). And it is the
little sins in a believers life that can ruin the Fruit of the Spirit.
.
3. PROPHETIC FOXES
Jeremiah
foretold how mighty Babylon would become a dwelling-place for foxes
(51:37). And thus it is to this very
day.
..
4. A CRAFTY FOX
Herod
Antipas, Tetrach of Galilee, was thus designated by the Lord Jesus. His wicked life-style, culminating in the
beheading of John the Baptist, is well depicted by the Lords description (Luke
13:31-32).
5. A CHRISTIAN FOX
Founder
of the Quakers was George Fox (1624-1691).
Rebelling
against the dead orthodoxy of his day, he interrupted Anglican services and had
himself thrown into prison eight times.
His itinerant preaching produced many converts all over England.
The
emphasis was on a heart experience of the Saviour, rather than rites and
ceremonies. His motives were good, even
though many of his followers today have over-emphasised the inner voice and
forsaken the written Word.
The
story of George Fox is worth reading.
Despite tremendous persecution he went right forward with his
mission. When he died there were 50,000
Quakers in England and Ireland.
========================================================
BIBLE
GOATS
INTRODUCTION
In Folklore we meet the 3
Billy Goats Gruff; in the world of the
Occult the Goat-headed god, Baphomet, often features; in Bible prophecy Alexander the Great is symbolised by a he-goat
(Daniel 8).
Goats are mentioned 124 times
in Scripture. They were a valuable asset to their Israelite owner , they
supplied food and milk , skins were made into water or wine bottles, or
clothing, or vellum for writing purposes.
* * * *
* * * * * *
1. THE SACRIFICIAL GOAT
At the time of the first
Passover the Israelites were instructed to take an animal from the sheep or the goats (Exodus 12:5)
and apply its blood to the doorposts.
In Numbers 7 we read of goats as sin and peace offerings twenty-six
times in the one chapter! And every
sacrifice pointed to the One who would become our Passover sacrifice, our sin
offering, our peace offering
the Lord Jesus.
..
2. THE SCAPEGOAT
On the Day of Atonement two
goats were chosen. One was slain and
its blood sprinkled on and before the Mercy Seat in the Tabernacle. Then the High Priest lays his hands upon the
live goat, confesses the sin of the nation of whom he is representative, and
sends the goat away into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:20-22). It is generally understood to typify the
work of Christ on our behalf.
Jesus,
my Great High Priest,
Offered
His blood and died
.
And in so
doing He bore our sins away (like the scapegoat) as far as the East is from the
West! He is Priest, sacrificial goat
and scapegoat combined.
.
3. THE SECURE, SURE-FOOTED GOAT
The high hills are a refuge
for the wild goats (Psalm 104:18).
David and his men found refuge
there also
when Saul sought to take
his life, David found refuge upon the
rocks of the wild goats (1 Samuel 24:2).
And it is in our Rock of Ages that we, too, find refuge from the storms
of life.
..
4. THE SEPARATED GOAT
The Lord Jesus
told of the Last Day when He will separate the sheep from the goats. In Eastern lands there is a similarity of
appearance. But the Shepherd knows
which are his.
And those who refuse to follow Him will hear
the dreaded Depart from Me, I never knew you
(Matthew 25:41).
* * * *
* * * * * *
CONCLUSION
We do well to learn from the
lessons taught us by the goats of Scripture.
===================================================================
BIBLE HORSES
Horses
are mentioned about 150 times in the Bible, although the Lord Jesus never
mentioned them
nor does Paul, though he rode one at least once (Acts 23:24).
The
Lord even forbade the trading with Egypt for horses (Deuteronomy 17:16). Which is the very thing Solomon did! (1
Kings 10:28.) The reason for the Divine prohibition was to teach the Israelites
to trust Him
and not their own strength (Psalm 20:7).
No
other beast, however, has been so used in the spread of the Gospel. Wesley and his circuit ridin preachers
David Brainerd
Bunyan
thousands could be named who mounted their horse and
sallied forth to proclaim the good news of Salvation.
* * * * * * * * * *
So here are six lessons from Bible horses
1. A LESSON IN STRENGTH
Job 39:19-25
The
Lord is rebuking Job for his answering back!
Who are you to question Me? Did
you make the horse
and give it strength?
And the Lord who made the horse strong can give His people strength to
cope with any situation (Philippians 4:13 (Amplified New Testament).
2. A LESSON IN EXALTATION
The
Book of Esther records how the anti-Semetic Haman is forced to parade the Jew,
Mordecai, through the streets
honouring him!! (Esther 6:6-11). It is a reminder that God is able to exalt
the humble in His own good time (1 Peter 5:6).
.
3. A LESSON IN
SURE-FOOTEDNESS
Isaiah 63:11-13
Likewise
a Christian must needs be careful not to put a foot wrong
for a hostile world
is waiting to accuse of hypocrisy.
Ephesians 5:15
See then that ye walk
circumspectly.
A
little girl told her preacher one day, Pastor, I am saved. Elatedly, he replied, And which one of my
sermons brought you to Christ? The
little girl replied, It wasnt anybodys preaching; it was my Aunt Marys practising! Someone has said, What you do speaks so loud I cant hear what
you say.
Id rather see a sermon
Than hear one any day;
Id rather one would walk with me
Than merely show the way.
The eyes a better pupil
And more willing than the ear;
Fine counsel is confusing
But examples always clear.
(Anon)
..
4. A LESSON IN READINESS
Read Job 39:21 again
See
him ready for the fray! And Job 39:22
ready and eager
and unafraid. Every
reference in Scripture to the horse (except an odd exception) has to do with
war.
(a) Ready
for the Strife! And, like the
horse, Christians should be ready to march neath the banner of the Cross. Unafraid!
(b) Ready
for Service
for horses were used for transport
pulling
carriages and chariots in times of peace (Genesis 41:43).
And
they were sometimes used for crushing grain
Does one crush bread
grain? No, he does not thresh it
continuously, but when he has driven his cart wheel and his horses over it, he
scatters it tossing it up to the wind without having crushed it (Isaiah
28:28, Amplified Old Testament).
(c) Ready ... for Sacrifice??? A text in 2
Kings is thought to refer to this pagan practice
2 Kings 23:11.
Did
King Josiahs predecessors (Manasseh and Amon) practise such? In any case, Christians need to be ready
be it for battle or service
or even death.
..
5. A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE
James 3:2-3
The
rider makes the horse obey with the bit
and we need to let the Lord control
our tongue
too!
6. A LESSON IN HOPE
The
horses and chariots of fire came to take Gods prophet Home (2 Kings 2:11). And
one day
if the Lord tarries
the Lords chariot will come for us! And if He does not tarry
He
is described as coming on a white horse to conquer His enemies (Revelation
19:11).
* * * * * * * * * *
CONCLUSION
Now
take the initial letters of our six points
and see what word they spell
backwards!
And
you have six lessons straight from the horses mouth!
.
BIBLE LIONS
A glorious band, the chosen few,
On whom the Spirit came;
Twelve valiant saints, their hope they
knew,
And mocked the cross and flame;
They met the tyrants brandished steel
The lions gory mane
They bowed their necks the death to feel,
Who follows in their train?
* * * * * * * * * *
Lions are mentioned in the Bible about 200 times! Since the days of the Crusades, however,
there have been none in the Holy Land.
The reference to the Lord Jesus being in the wilderness forty days with
the wild beasts could well have included lions (Mark 1:13). Samson
David
Daniel
all had an
encounter with this King of Beasts.
Notice four Bible Lions that teach us some spiritual truths :
1. AN IMAGINARY
LION
The Sluggards Fear
Proverbs 26:13-14
Some people always find an excuse to shirk their
responsibility. This man (in Proverbs
26) stays in bed in case there is a lion outside!
2. A SYMBOLIC
LION
The Seers Vision
Daniel 7:4
This strange sight of a winged lion represents the mighty Babylonian
Empire. In much the same way a Lion
represented the British Empire in our times.
Jeremiah used the same imagery to depict the Babylonian army advancing
on Judah (4:7).
..
3. A PEACEFUL
LION
The Saints Hope
Isaiah 11:6-7
This poetic picture of idyllic conditions is considered by some
expositors to refer to a thousand year reign of peace yet to be
established. Others apply it to
Eternity. And still others see here a
poetic description of New Testament blessings using the language of the Old
Testament. It is a picture of peace and
security and blessing and all the other things that are ours in Christ.
A parallel passage is Isaiah 65:25
which is introduced with a
mention of the sinner dying 100 years old.
So it is not Eternity
it may be the millennium (if there is
such a thing), and the whole passage could well be a poetic Old Testament
description of New Testament truths.
4. THE HEAVENLY
LION
The Saviours Victory
Revelation 5:1-6
It could be that this scene in Revelation 5 describes our Saviours
Ascension
and the arrival in Glory
from Heavens point of view. The Lion (v. 5) conquered
by becoming a
Lamb! (v. 6). David slew a lion (I Samuel 17:37)
and so did Davids Greater
Son slay that lion that goeth around seeking whom he may devour (I Peter
5:8).
Othniel
whose name means Lion of God
conquered a city and
thereby won for himself a bride (Judges 1:12-14). Our Heavenly Othniel, the Lord Jesus, conquered the Hosts of Hell
and won for Himself a Bride
the Church.
The Lion of Judah shall break every chain,
And give to us the victory again and again.
-------------------------------------------------------
CONCLUSION
The National Geographical magazine carried a magnificent
series of lion pictures from the Etosha Reserve in Namibia. A lion is stalking a zebra. As he leaps into attack, the zebra kicks
back with his hind legs. A large,
disconsolate lion is then seen beside a carcass slain by other members of his
pride. He cannot eat because his jaw is
broken, and later he starves to death.
Frail though you feel, always remember that the One Who is in
you is greater than the one who is in the world (I John 4:4).
=====================================
BIBLE OXEN
Whilst
camels are the move valuable animal in the East, it was not so for the
Jews. Camels were unclean according
to their law. So for Gods Old Testament people it was the ox that was used for
ploughing, treading out the corn, pulling wagons, carrying burdens, for food,
clothing and for sacrifices.
Various
mention of oxen reveal an assortment of spiritual lessons.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. A LESSON IN STEWARDSHIP
Deuteronomy 25:4 tells us
that an ox must not be muzzled whilst treading the corn. It is to be free to eat some if it so
desires. The New Testament quotes this
verse twice as an illustration of the Pastor being supported by his
people!! (1 Corinthians 9:9; 1 Timothy 5:17-18.)
2. A LESSON IN SEPARATION
Deuteronomy
22:10 is another Old Testament law with a New Testament application. Beware of the unequal yoke! Neither an ox with an ass
nor a Christian
with an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14).
.
3. A LESSON IN
SABBATH-KEEPING
Twice
it is recorded in Lukes Gospel that Jesus clashed with the religious leaders
over their Sabbath-keeping views. They
would loose their ox from the stall on the Sabbath to take it to water. And if their ox fell into a pit on the
Sabbath they would deliver it from its plight.
But when Jesus loosed a woman from her infirmity
and delivered a sick
man
on the Sabbath, they condemned him.
Compassion
is more important that legalistic Sabbath-keeping (Luke 13:10-17; 14:1-6).
.
4. A LESSON IN SINGING
I
will praise the name of God with a song
this shall please the Lord better
than (the sacrifice of) an ox! (Psalm 69:30-31.)
You
didnt realise just how valuable your singing praises unto the Lord really is,
did you?
.
5. A LESSON IN SURRENDER
Isaiah
contrasts the rebellious Jews with the dumb ox, who is wiser than they! At least the ox acknowledges its master
(Isaiah 1:2-4).
Ready for Either are the significant words on
the logo of the Baptist Missionary Union (USA) which depicts an ox standing
between a plough and an altar.
So
we likewise must be ready to surrender of the will of our Master.
.
6. A LESSON IN SACRIFICE
2
Samuel chapter 24 records the story of the plague sweeping down the land of
Israel. Thousands have died (v.
15). To stem the plague David
sacrifices oxen (vs. 22, 25).
Likewise,
the plague of sin would have reigned unchecked had not Davids Greater Son, the
Lord Jesus, offered up a sacrifice to provide salvation from it. And that was not the sacrifice of an ox
but of Himself (Hebrews 10:4, 12).
..
BIBLE
PIGS
Pigs are mentioned about 20 times in the Bible, usually
translated swine. In some cultures
they are highly regarded
in others they are loathed. Some folk find them a rare delicacy
others
refuse to touch them. They save lives
by providing insulin for diabetics
and they cause diseases such as
trichinosis.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. A LESSON IN
DISSENT
The liberal theologians come up with all kinds of reasons as to
why God designated pigs unclean and forbade the Jews to eat them (Leviticus
11:7-8). But Christians believe that God gave these laws
and He knew the
danger of disease inherent in eating poorly cooked pork.
Besides which, pigs were an object lesson to His people (as were
the other food prohibitions)
they would see a pig rolling in the mud and tell
themselves that they were not be like that in a spiritual sense. They were to be a holy people, not unclean
We part company with those who seek to explain away Gods
revelation and seek to explain the Jews abhorrence of pigs to the bias of the
author
or the belief that you become like what you eat
or any other of
their unscriptural theories!
.
2. A LESSON IN
DEDICATION
from the inter-Testament period
In 167 BC the Syrian king sought to inflict Greek culture upon
the Jews. He forced pig meat into the
mouth of the aged High Priest, Eleazar (2 Maccabees 6:18)
He would die
gloriously rather than live defiled! (v. 19).
And die he did under the lash (vs. 29-30). Later this Syrian king desecrated the Jewish Temple by
sacrificing a pig upon the altar
But here were a group of Jews
the Maccabees
who were willing
to die for their God
and eventually they defeated Syria and reclaimed and
rededicated their Temple (John 10:22).
..
3. A LESSON IN
DISCRETION
Proverbs 11:22
She who is more concerned as to how she will look at a
fashionable evening party rather than at the Last Judgement is here described.
The beauty that comes from within
from living in the presence of the Lord
this is what He requires.
The fool who puts a jewel in a pigs nose is wise compared to
the woman who rejects the Lord.
..
4. A LESSON IN
DISCRIMINATION
Matthew 7:1-8
Why quote all this passage instead of only verse 6? Because verse 6 is a counter-balance to
verses 1-5.
We are not to have a critical spirit (vs. 1-5), censorious of
others. But when their actions are
plainly anti-God
and they refuse to listen
then we shake the dust off our
feet and move on to those who will! (v. 6). How do we know whether it is worth
another try at presenting them with the pearl of the Gospel
or whether we
leave them and move on? The answer is
in verses 7-8
PRAY!!!
.
5. A LESSON IN
DEPRAVITY
2 Peter 20-22
Peter describes the apostates as pigs (who once escaped from
their filthy habits, v. 20), returning to their unclean way of life again. Better not to be converted in the first
place
verse 21!
6. A LESSON IN
THE DEUM
Thanksgiving!
Sam Jones, an old-time Methodist evangelist, writes that every
time he carries a bucket of slop to the pigs they grunt their thanks. But some of you sit down three times a day
to a well-filled table without a word of thanks
and you coil up in your bed
like a hog in a pile of leaves without a word of prayer. You are lower than the animals around you! WOW!
Let the pigs teach us to have a thankful heart for all the Lord
has done for us.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BIBLE COWS
( 3 studies )
It
may not be true that the cow jumped over the moon because the farmer had cold
hands (did you hear about the cow that tried to jump over a barbed wire fence
it was an udder catastrophe!), but it is true that cows (and kine and calves
and cattle) are mentioned frequently in the Scriptures.
And
they teach us some interesting and helpful lessons.
1. A LESSON IN PROSPERITY
Job 21:7-10
Yes,
even the wicked prosper, says Job.
Their cows produce healthy calves.
The psalmist puts his finger on the solution when he considered the
latter end of the wicked. Ultimately
they will be judged (Psalm 73:17).
..
2. A LESSON IN PRIDE
Deuteronomy 32:14
When
God blessed His people with butter of kine and lots of other goodies, they
became proud and self-sufficient and rebelled against him. They forgot to rely upon His goodness to
them
ah! the danger of prosperity! (Matthew 19:24).
3. A LESSON IN PUNISHMENT
Amos 4:1-2
The
prophet calls the women of Samaria Cows!
and says that they will be led
away with hooks in their noses like cattle going to the slaughter house! God is not only a God of Love, but of Wrath.
4. A LESSON IN PURIFICATION
Numbers 19
The
ashes of the red heifer were an emergency measure designed to purify the
Israelites who had been involved in burying the dead after the plague (Numbers
16:47-50). The ashes were sprinkled on
the unclean to restore their fellowship with God. And they were a type of our Lords offering for us (Hebrews
9:13-14).
.
5. A LESSON IN PERFORMANCE
1 Samuel 6:7, 12
Two
cows, separated from their young, faithfully bear the Ark of the Covenant to
Israel, the heathen following. And
there the cows are sacrificed (I Samuel 6:14).
Christians could well learn from the dedication of these Christian
cows!!
6. A LESSON IN PREPARATION
Genesis 41
The
Pharaohs dream (of 14 cows
verses 17-21), and Josephs wise advice is a
reminder that it is not wrong to prepare for future emergencies!
..
7. A LESSON IN PROPHECY
Isaiah 11:7
the
cow will lie down with the bear? In poetic language the prophet sees the
Messianic age when natures will be changed and peace will be in the hearts of
those who trust the Saviour. Some expositors see it as also a picture of the
Eternal bliss in the New Heavens and New Earth.
===========================================================
THE CURIOUS CASE
OF THE BURNED COW
Why
are some amateur archaeologists wandering around the area of the Dead Sea, in
Israel, looking for a container filled with ashes of a dead cow?
Good
question!
And
to find the answer we must backtrack 3,500 years to an incident in the Book of
Numbers.
.
1. THE OLD TESTAMENT
LEGISLATION
Numbers 19:1-10
(a) The Recipients
of this Law
It
was given to the nation of Israel as they journeyed back from Egypt to their
Promised Land. It is not a law
for Christians. But there is a lesson here for Christians. These Old Testament laws and stories carry
with them spiritual lessons.
For whatsoever things were
written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and
comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4).
Now
all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of
the world are come (I Corinthians
10:11).
(b) The Ritual
Prepared
A
red cow is taken
without any blemish, and never having worn a yoke (Numbers
19:2). Outside the camp of Israel it is
slain by an Israelite in front of the High Priest (v. 3).
This
Priest sprinkles the cows blood towards the Tabernacle seven times (v. 4).
The
cow is completely burned (v. 5). But
then the ashes are gathered and mixed with water for removing ritual
uncleanness (v. 9.
..
(c) The Ritual
Performed
If
an Israelite has touched a dead body he is regarded as unclean and unable to
participate in the religious ceremonies of the nation. He would not be able to share in any of the
Feast Days, for example
he would have to live outside the camp. If he were a priest or priestly helper, he
would be unable to enter upon his duties
Whoever
touches a corpse is ritually unclean for seven days (v. 11).
But
being clean on the seventh day necessitated the application of the water
mixed with the ashes of the burned cow.
He must purify himself with the water for purification on the third day and on the seventh day, and then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on both the third and the seventh day, he will not be clean (v. 12).
In
Numbers 19:14-16 various examples are given as to how this uncleanness might
be contacted. A person may be living in
his tent
minding his own business
when someone dies therein (v. 14). Or a person may be digging to sow seed
and he hits a bone of a dead person.
And that renders him ceremonially unclean (v. 16).
.
(d) The Ritual
a specific Purpose
For
just a few days previous a massive plague has swept through the camp
with
14,700 deaths!! (Numbers 16:49).
Previously
the law had demanded the unclean person to bring a sin offering (Leviticus 5:3,
5)
but imagine how many offerings this would involve
with thousands burying
the dead
And the queue awaiting to
offer their sacrifice to the three thousand available priests at this time
The
number of unclean Israelites; the
number of animals needed; and the
limited number of priests all required an emergency measure
and this was it
the ashes of a red cow mixed with water and sprinkled upon the people
To
remove the uncleanness, some ashes from the red cow which was burnt to remove
sin shall be taken and put in a pot, and fresh water added. In the first case, someone who is ritually
clean is to take a sprig of hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle the tent,
everything in it, and the people who were there. In the second case, someone who is ritually clean is to sprinkle
the water on the man who had touched the human bone or the dead body or the
grave (v. 17).
Let
me say it again
simply. This
ritual was designed as an emergency measure for a special crisis
the
deaths of 14,700
and the need to cleanse those who buried them
or who
were in the tent when that other person died.
2. THE PRESENT DAY
INVESTIGATION
There
are those in Christian circles who believe the Temple will be rebuilt at
Jerusalem
that animal sacrifices will be introduced
and the priesthood re-established. Therefore, they reason, we will need the
ashes of a red cow, mixed with water, to purify the priests that they might
be able to minister in the Temple.
All
of which strikes me as foreign to New Testament teaching.
There
is no need of a future Temple and animal sacrifices
the Lord Jesus offered
one sacrifice for sins forever (Hebrews 10:12). He is our Great High Priest. We need no other.
..
3. THE NEW TESTAMENT
APPLICATION
This
ritual gets a special mention in Hebrews 9:13-14
where the ashes of the red
cow are revealed to be a type (a Divinely ordained illustration) of the Blood
of Christ!!
When
Christ entered once and for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the
blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained eternal salvation for
us. The blood of goats and bulls and
the ashes of a burnt calf are sprinkled on the people who are ritually
unclean, and this purifies them by taking away their ritual impurity. Since this is true, how much more is
accomplished by the blood of Christ!
Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to
God. His blood will purify our
consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the living God.
If
the ashes of a dead cow cleansed a person from outward defilement, says this
Scripture, how much more will the Blood of Christ cleanse the sinner
from his inward defilement!
Now
notice the remarkable comparison between this red cow and the Lord Jesus!
..
(a) The Colour
why a red
cow? Because the Hebrew word for red
is َậdậm
a reminder that the coming Messiah would partake
of our humanity.
(b) The Purity
Both the red cow
and the Lord Jesus are spoken of as without blemish (Numbers 1:2, I Peter
1:19 KJV).
(c) The Never Yoked aspect
(Numbers 19:2)
A reminder that our Lord came to be our Saviour
willingly. There was no forcing of Him
to leave Heavens throne. He came
because there was no other way to save sinners. And He came voluntarily.
(d) The Place
He, too, died
outside the camp (Hebrews 13:12). And
outside the camp is the place for that which is unclean! Jesus became unclean for us that we might
partake of His righteousness (II Corinthians 5:21).
(e) The Slayer
was a
representative of the people. Not the
priest, but an Israelite. And it was our
sins that took the Saviour to the Cross
Those pointed nails, I drove them in
Each time I pierced Him with my sin;
That crown of thorns, twas I who wove
When I despised His gracious love
(f) The Priestly Action
sprinkling the blood toward the Tabernacle.
Here is a symbolic action reminding us that our Saviour, slain for us,
became our High Priest, risen for us, and He presents the atoning blood before
His Fathers throne.
He
ever lives above, Five
bleeding wounds He bears,
For
me to intercede, Received
on Calvary;
His
all-redeeming love, They
pour effectual prayers,
His
precious blood to plead: They
strongly plead for me:
His
blood atoned for all our race, Forgive
him, oh, forgive! they cry,
And
sprinkles now the throne of grace. Nor
let that ransomed sinner die.
(Charles Wesley)
(g) The Burning (Numbers 19:5)
A picture of the fire of Gods wrath that fell upon the Lord Jesus
that we
might never face such awful judgement (Romans 8:1). No condemnation
for those who are standing where the fire has
already been!!
(h) The Availability
The ashes
and the water were thereafter available and efficacious for any who were unclean. And the Blood of Christ still avails for the
sinful soul.
(i) The Application
Ah! Although the means of cleansing had been
provided, it availed only for those who applied it to themselves.
Anyone
who has become ritually unclean and does not purify himself remains unclean,
because the water for purification has not been thrown over him. He defiles the Lords Tent and will no
longer be considered one of Gods people (Numbers 19:20).
All
mankind is unclean with sin (Romans 3:12), but the Blood of Christ has been
provided to wash away the sinful stain (I John 1:7).
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives!
Have
you placed your faith in the One who died for you? (John 3:16)
===========================================================
THREE MORE BIBLE
COWS !!
INTRODUCTION
Did you hear about
the calf that said Pass the udder udder, Mudder, and pass the udder udder to
my brudder? Maybe not. But more
importantly, did you hear about the three cows who teach us a lesson in
Performance, Preparation and Prophecy??
Now
read on
1. A LESSON IN PERFORMANCE
In
I Samuel 6 we read of the return of the Ark of the Covenant from Philistia back
to Israel. Because of the havoc and
destruction caused during its seven months in Philistine cities, these enemies
of Gods people decide to return the stolen Ark in a cart pulled by two milch
kine (v. 7). That is to say, they were
cows that had recently given birth to calves and were still feeding them. Not had any yoke ever been placed upon them.
All
of which is a way for the Philistines to test whether the misfortunes that have
befallen them were the result of Israels God - or plain old-fashioned co-incidence.
If
the cows go against all that nature expects of them
that they pull the cart
containing the Ark to Israel
not turning back for their little ones, but
voluntarily taking the road to Israel, then the Philistines will know that the
God of Israel was responsible for the judgements that befell them whilst the
Ark was in their territory.
The
performance of these two cows is a fitting example for
believers!!
(a) They were willing to leave their loved
ones to go where God wanted them to go.
(b) They went without coercion. There was no yoke upon them.
(c) They were a testimony to the unbelievers of
Gods power (v. 12).
(d) Their obedience brought joy to Gods people
(v. 13).
Does
my performance for the Lord match that of these cows?
2. A LESSON IN PREPARATION
Not two cows, but fourteen, spell out this
important lesson! And it is found in
Genesis 41.
Joseph
interprets Pharoahs dream of seven fat cows and seven skinny cows. It means there will be seven years of plenty
followed by seven years of famine.
As
a result, preparation is made during the seven good years: food is stored in giant silos
so that when
the seven lean years come there is no want.
It is a reminded to us that there is wisdom in preparing for the
future. The ants do!
Go
to the ant, thou sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise:
which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the
summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest (Proverbs 6:6-8).
Our
Lords words to take no thought for tomorrow (Matthew 6:34 KJV) is a poor
translation. He is really saying: Do not worry about tomorrow! (see
modern translations). But the Bible
does not condemn planning ahead
unless it is done without taking God into
consideration! (Luke 12:16-20).
3. A LESSON IN PROPHECY
It
is easy to jump to the conclusion that Isaiah is speaking of the glory of
Heaven in chapter 11. But No!
there
are no poisonous snakes in Heaven! (v. 8).
Then,
says another, it refers to that period of one thousand years known as the
Millennium. But the chapter goes on to
talk of warfare
Therefore,
says yet another expositor, Isaiah is describing in poetic language the
return of the Jews from Babylon after the seventy year exile. Notice verse 11
bring them back a second
time
the first time was out of Egypt in the days of Moses, the second time
will be out of Babylon.
Perhaps
the prophet also catches a glimpse of the Messianic Age
the Church Age
when
there is peace and victory and unity (v. 13) all here described in the language
of poetry.
In
that day the wolf and the lamb will lie down together, and the leopard and
goats will be at peace
(Isaiah
11:6).
And
in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign
of the people; to it shall the Gentiles
seek: and his rest shall be glorious (Isaiah 11:10).
Verse
10, speaking of the same time (in that day, see verses 6 and 11), is
actually quoted in the New Testament and applied to the Lord Jesus! (Romans
15:12). The Lord Jesus is the root
(descendant) of Jesse
He is the ensign (standard) around Whom we gather (v.
12), and to Him Gentiles as well as Jews can come and find salvation.
At
that time the Lord will bring back a remnant of his people for the second
time, returning them to the land of Israel from Assyria
He will raise a
flag among the nations for them to rally to; he will gather the scattered Israelites from the ends of the
earth (Isaiah 11:12).
========================================================
THREE BIBLE BEARS
Whilst the story of Goldilocks, and her three bears, may cause us
to think of these animals as kind and cuddly
tis not so. Bears are extremely
dangerous. And the Bible writers always
link them in ferocity with lions. For
example:
He waited for me like a bear; the pounced on me like a lion.
He chased me off the road, tore me to pieces, and left me (Lamentations 3:10).
Likewise Amos 5:19 and Hosea 13:7-8.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Syrian Bear
mentioned 13 times in Scripture
may still be
found in Northern Syria and Southern Turkey.
They average 300 lb weight (unlike their American cousins who weigh in
at 1,500 lbs!)
they rarely attack humans, unless starving; they are able to travel about 30 mph; swim and climb. They do not hug one to death, but one mighty swipe of their paw
can do the job.
A bear robbed of its cubs is a biblical picture of ferocity in
its most fearful aspect (II Samuel 17:8;
Proverbs 17:12).
-------------------------------------------------------
1. A LESSON IN
PREPARATION
I Samuel 17:34-38
When young David tells King Saul that he will tackle Goliath, he
adds:
Your servant has been keeping his fathers sheep. When a lion or a bear came and
carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the
sheep from its mouth. When it turned on
me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like
one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the
paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand
of this Philistine.
Having proved Gods keeping power in lesser things, the young
shepherd boy is now willing to trust the Lord in greater exploits. When we are
faithful in the lesser things
then God will use us in greater things (Matthew
25:21). He who fears the bear will
never conquer the giant.
..
2. A LESSON IN
PUNISHMENT
Hosea 13:4-9
Yes I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt
know no god but me: for there is no
saviour beside me. I did know thee in
the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. Therefore I will be unto them as a
lion: as a leopard by the way will I
observe them: I will meet them as a
bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and
there will I devour them like a lion:
the wild beast shall tear them.
O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself;
but in me is thine help.
The God who saved His people from Egyptian bondage (v. 4) and Who
cared for them in the wilderness (v. 5), and who provided for them in Canaan
(v. 6), became the object of their ingratitude. Therefore he will rip their heart out
like a savage bear (v.
8).
Whilst it would be a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of an
angry bear, tis worse, far worse, to fall into the hands of an angry God. And such is New Testament teaching as well
as Old (Hebrews 10:31).
3. A LESSON IN
PEACEABLENESS
Isaiah 11:6-8
The wolf also
shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the
fatling together; and a little child
shall lead them. And the cow and the
bear shall feed; their young ones shall
lie down together: and the lion shall
eat straw like the ox. And the suckling
child shall play on the hold of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his
hand on the cockatrice den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy
mountain: for the earth shall be full
of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
In a poetic picture of the Messianic Age (i.e. the Gospel age
i.e. today!!) the prophet describes the blessings that are ours in Christ
using the language of his day. There is
unity (v. 7), safety (v. 8), and peace (v. 9).
Such are the lessons of our Three Bears!!
.
BIBLE SNAKES (two studies )
The
word snakes is not mentioned in the K.J.V.
But we do have asp, adder, serpent, viper, and creeping things.
Snakes figure in Hindu and Egyptian mythology, and in Christian tradition. Did St Patrick really cast all the snakes
out of Ireland??
A
snake in the grass is just one of the proverbial sayings connected with this
reptile.
And
there are even jokes about snakes
like the short-sighted snake that wasted 30
minutes wooing a coil of rope
* * * * * * * * * *
1. A LESSON IN SALVATION
Numbers 21:4-9
The
story of the Israelites being bitten by snakes galore
and then crying out to
God for mercy, is well known. And its
historicity is vouched for by the Lord Jesus in John 3:14-15.
Like
the serpents bite so sin is fatal
universal
and except for the Lords
intervention there is no cure. But the brass serpent on the pole is a picture
of our Lord Jesus on the Cross
and the look of faith brings spiritual healing
to the soul.
Look to the Saviour on Calvarys tree
See how He suffered for you and me;
Hark while He lovingly calls to thee,
Look, and thou shalt live!
(Sankeys Hymnbook, No. 427)
..
2. A LESSON IN SAGACITY
(Wisdom)
Matthew 10:16
Watch
out for persecution
like a snake that NEVER shuts its eyes. It has no eyelids!
And
keep clean
like a snake
the cleanest and most disease-free animal on
earth! (All Gods Creatures, p. 63).
Let there be nothing about us that soils our testimony before a watching
world
3. A LESSON IN SOBRIETY
Proverbs 23:29
Beware
of alcohol! Fresh grape juice is a
delight
but when fermentation sets in
when it moveth itself
there is
danger ahead for the one who partakes (v. 32).
.
4. A LESSON IN SECURITY
Isaiah 11:1-9
These
verses receive a variety of interpretations.
Some apply it to the Return from the Babylonian captivity. Others see a reference to the Millennium
or Eternity.
But
methinks it is a poetic description of peace and safety and blessing in the
Messianic Age
i.e. Today! Isaiah uses
the language of his day to describe the blessings that are ours in Christ
i.e.
Today!!
============================================================
MORE BIBLE SNAKES ( 2)
INTRODUCTION
Snakes
are mentioned about 70 times in the Bible
usually translated as serpent or
viper. There are few jokes or hymns
dealing with snakes, but an abundance of mythology. Stories of Hercules and of Perseus and Hindu gods and more (!)
all involve their battle with serpents.
A legend tells of St Patrick driving snakes out of Ireland, and it is
generally believed that Cleopatra died by the bite of an asp (Romance of
Favourite Lives, p. 312).
In
1909 George Hensley introduced snake-handling into his Tennessee church
and
died as the result of a fatal snake-bite 46 years later. Paul was bitten by a snake on the isle of
Malta, and survived (Acts 28:4). But he
was not tempting the Lord, his God, as these foolish snake-handlers do.
1. THE WONDERFUL CREATION
Job 26: 13 By His breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced
the gliding serpent.14 And these are but the outer fringe of His
works; how faint the whisper we hear of Him!
(NIV).
The
reference is to Gods mighty power when He flung the universe into
existence. The serpent refers to the
constellation Draco. The origin of
these strange drawings is lost in antiquity.
Many of them are referred to in Job. 38:31-32. Suffice to say the star-studded sky is but the outskirts (RSV)
of His greatness! He is a mighty God !
..
2 THE
UNHOLY CONVERSATION
Psalm 140:1 Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; protect me from men
of violence,2 who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war
every day. 3 They make their
tongues as sharp as a serpent's; the poison of vipers is on their lips.
The
Psalmist is under attack
verbally.
And, as James says, the tongue is a deadly member! (James
3:1-12.) Lord, take the poison bags
from our lips, prays Spurgeon, and cause them to drop nothing but honey.
3. THE FOOLISH
INTOXICATION
Proverbs 23:29Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always
fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has
bloodshot eyes? 30It is the one who spends long hours in the
taverns, trying out new drinks. 31Don't let the sparkle and smooth
taste of wine deceive you. 32For in the end it bites like a
poisonous serpent; it stings like a viper.
(The Living Bible )
No-one
decides to be an alcoholic. They start
with one social drink
then another
and another
And eventually they find it bites like an adder. (v. 32)
.
4 THE CONFIDENT
SUPPLICATION
Matthew 7:9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will
give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to
your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to
those who ask him!
Teaching
His disciples to pray, our Lord gives this encouraging word. God is a good Father who desires the very
best for His children. Hallelujah !!
5. THE REMARKABLE ILLUSTRATION
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of
wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
But
Snakes are not wise! The problem
is in the K.J.V. translation.
(a) The Greek word means to be alert. Ever watchful. The N.I.V. renders it
Therefore be as shrewd as snakes
on
the lookout for danger!
A
snake has no eyelids
The snake
sleeps but the eyes continue to see objects that might affect its
survival (All Gods Creatures by
G. Richmond, Animal keeper and vet at Los Angeles Zoo, p. 62). And these disciples were about to go forth
on a dangerous evangelistic mission.
(b) Herein
is also an illustration of purity. The
skin of the snake is self-oiling, keeping the defilements of the world from
clinging to it. A snake is the
cleanest and most disease free animal on earth! (p. 63.) As we allow the Holy
Spirit to anoint us we will be kept clean.
(c) A snake
gathers strength by basking in the sunlight! (p. 67.) And Christians need to abide in the Sun of Righteousness to
gather strength for service.
6. THE PRE-FIGURED SALVATION
John 3:14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so
the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in
him may have eternal life.
In
Old Testament days we have the story of Moses erecting a serpent of brass upon
a pole in the midst of the Israelite camp.
All who had been bitten by fiery serpents could look and live
(Numbers 21:5-9). This incident is a type
a Divinely ordained illustration
... of the gospel message. The Lord Jesus
was lifted up
like the brass serpent
and all who look to Him in faith may
know the forgiveness of sin. Why is the Saviour represented by a serpent
? Because He was made sin for us (2
Corinthians 5:21).
..
CONCLUSION
Such
are but some of the lessons the Six Slippery Serpents teach us!
* * * * * * * * * *
As when the Hebrew prophet raised
The brazen serpent high,
The wounded looked and straight were cured,
The people ceased to die.
So from the Saviour on the cross
A healing virtue flows;
Who looks to Him with lively faith
Is saved from endless woes.
For God gave up His Son to death,
So generous was His love,
That all the faithful might enjoy
Eternal life above.
(Isaac
Watts)
==================================
Grab your Bible (& your stethoscope) as we examine
Bible Anatomy !!
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BIBLE BEARDS!
Beards are mentioned about twenty times in Scripture. A look at some of these references and the incidents connected with them will reveal some interesting and helpful lessons.
*****************
1. A LESSON
IN CONDEMNATION
Isaiah 7:20 must rank as one of the strangest texts in
Scripture
at first glance, anway!
What is the Lord doing shaving His beard??
In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.
The answer is that the Israelites have sinned to such
an extent that God is going to cut them down. It will be like a razor slicing through the land. And the instrument He will use to bring such
destruction upon His people will be the King of Assyria and his army. The following verses reveal that a survivor
will be lucky if he still has one cow and a couple of sheep left. And the vineyards that once brought in
valuable revenue will be over-run by briars and thorns (Isaiah 7:21-23).
This prophecy came to pass in 721 BC, when the
Assyrians did attack Israel and carry them into captivity.
After pleading with His people through His prophets to
forsake their sinful ways lest judgement fall upon them, the stubborn
Israelites eventually found that Gods warnings were not to be ignored.
He is a Holy God.
2. A LESSON
IN SALVATION
The same prophet, Isaiah, who revels something of
Gods wrath upon sin in chapters 1-39, also tells of His mercy in chapters
40-66. Therein we read of the coming
Messiah
the One who would be announced by a fore-runner (Isaiah 40:3-5; Matthew 3:3); the One described as Gods
Servant (Isaiah 42:1-4; Matthew
12:18-21); the Man of Sorrows who would
bear our sins (Isaiah 53:3-6; Matthew
8:17). The whole of this 53rd
chapter is a remarkable prophecy of the Lord Jesus.
And in Isaiah 50:4-9 we hear the Messiah speaking
through Isaiah
His tongue (v. 4); His
ears (vs. 4b-5); His back (v. 6); His face (vs. 6-7); and the hair upon His cheeks (v. 6). To pull out a Jews beard was an act of deep
humiliation. II Samuel 10:4-5 tells of
other Jews who were ashamed to be seen until their beards grew again.
The verses in Isaiah 50 are a reminder, therefore, of
the terrible physical suffering our Saviour underwent as a prelude to the
cross. But
and it must be admitted
down through history many have suffered similar torture at the hands of cruel
men. It is not our Saviours physical
suffering that is unique
but His spiritual suffering. For on the cross He bore our sins and the
punishment we deserved. Now, by faith
in Him, we can know His salvation.
..
3. A LESSON
IN SEPARATION
The strange text of Leviticus 21:5 has caused some
folk to think they must not trim their beards.
It is understood that way by orthodox Jews.
Two things should be said. Christians are no longer under the Law of Moses. It has nothing to do with believers today
Jew or Gentile (Romans 6:14).
And secondly, it was a Law for the Jews in Old
Testament days not to copy the practices of the Egyptian or Canaanite
priests. Gods people were not to
conform to the customs of the world around them (Romans 12:1-2).
.
4. A LESSON
IN JUBILATION
Psalm 133:1-3 describes the anointing of the High
Priest. He was drenched with oil! It ran over his head and down onto his
garments.
And when the Lord Jesus was anointed as High Priest
with the oil of gladness (Hebrews 1:9), we shared in that anointing. The oil is an emblem of the Holy Spirit and
Joy is but one of the fruits He bestows upon us.
He is the Head, we are the body, and as the holy oil
not only covered the High Priests head but also his body (like the dew that
descends upon Mt Hermon flows down the mountain-side, v. 3) so the Holy Spirit
in all His fullness is able to flow over us and bless us with Eternal
Life. And that is not just Life forever
more in eternity, but a new quality of life Life more abundant here
and now!
The Scripture speaks of us
Jesus and the believer
as one (Hebrews 2:11-12). And in His
presence is fullness of JOY! (Psalm
16:11)
===========================================================
BIBLE BONES
.
Introduction. In 1912 Charles Dawson displayed to the British Museum a few old
bones. Scientists examined them and
said they were over half a million
years old. For 40 years the Piltdown Man ( as this find was popularly
known) was seen in Museums and
text-books as proof of the missing link.
In 1956 the hoax was exposed. Piltdown Man was the stained teeth
and bone ( to make them look old ) of
an orangutan. Today every book
on the subject of hoaxes has a
chapter dealing with this remarkable fraud perpetrated on the scientific community.
.. and the
world, for that matter.
.
+ Popular Sayings
..are a-plenty
concerning bones.
Give
a dog a bone.
Ive got a bone to
pick with you !
.. He made no bones about it .
and Hes a boneless wonder.
.. to cite a few.
+ Relics
. ( a) their origin may well have
been full of good intentions. Bones of
martyred Church leaders in those early centuries were often gathered by some of
their faithful congregation and given a
decent burial . Such sites were then of
hallowed memory.
(a)
Extreme
practices
soon set in. Skulls were collected and stored for all to see. There are
monasteries today that hold thousands
of skulls
a reminder to the monks that it is appointed unto men once to
die. We are but mere mortals.
(b)
The abuse of these skulls and bones is
fostered by the Roman Catholic Church who teach that the bones of some saints have magical
powers. Pilgrimages to these sacred
bones are supposed to work miracles or result in less years in Purgatory !
Altars in Roman Catholic churches need
the bone of a saint enclosed within
them before being properly consecrated.
All of which is foreign to the teaching of the New Testament.
.
(1)
THE BONES OF JESUS.
(a) What the Bishop said
.. Bishop J. Robinson ( But that I cant believe ! p.13) and Malcolm Muggeridge ( Jesus, the Man who Lives p. 184)
both speak of the bones of Jesus still being in Palestine. As far as they are concerned ( as with many
others
William Barclay
Bishop Spong
) there was no bodily resurrection
of our Lord. Despite Romans 10:9-10 !!
(b) What the Bible says
In John 19 the beloved disciple records how a prophecy was remarkably
fulfilled at the time of the crucifixion.
The Roman soldiers brake the legs of the two thieves but Jesus was
dead already. His bones were not broken. (John
19: 33) Our Passover Lamb, the
Lord Jesus, thus fulfilled the type
as it was on the night of the first
passover
the lamb was male, without blemish, sacrificed on the 14th
of the month Nisan
and not a bone was to be broken !( Exodus 12:46)
In the King James Version we have the words used at the communion
service, This is my body broken for you.( 1 Corinth. 11:24) Nearly every modern translation omits the
word broken. It does not appear in
the best manuscripts from which the New Testament has been translated
but which were not available in the days of
King James ! ( See NIV ; ARSV ; Moffat trans ;
RV. ; RSV. Good News Bible; Goodspeed trans; etc. etc. etc. !!)
.
(2)
THE BONES OF JUBILATION.
Ezekiel 37 tells of the prophet seeing a valley of dry bones
in his vision. He
preaches to them at the Lords bidding and they come alive.
(a)
The
Prophetical ( or Preposterous !!)
Theory. Many books today apply this to the Jewish
nation being reborn in our day. ( 1948 A.D. !) And they see it as a
or the
sign
of the times !
..
(b)
But
the Proper Fulfillment is surely
that the Jews who have lost hope during
their captivity in Babylon ( our bones are dried and our hope is lost was
their cry Ezek. 37:11) will one day come alive and return to
Jerusalem. Babylon was not to be Judahs grave. (Ezek. 37:12) The reference is not
to our day but to 536 B.C. when
their captivity would come to a close amid great rejoicing !
(c) A Possible
Interpretation is also to be seen in the New
Testament. The sinner is spiritually dead
dry bones ! But the faithful preaching of Gods Word
coupled with the wind of Gods Spirit
can bring them to an experience of eternal life.
(John 5:24.) And thats
a real cause for Jubilation !!
.
(3) THE BONES OF JUDGEMENT !!
Jeremiah 8:1-2 speak of bones galore !! And makes little sense
to the average
reader of
Scripture. Mmmmmm?
(a)
Learn a lesson in Hermeneutics ! One needs to understand the background of such a passage of
Scripture as this
for that matter, such a statement is a good rule to observe
for reading any passage of Scripture ! Who wrote it ? When ?
Where was he when he wrote it ? Is it written in prose or poetry ? Are there
any other Bible verses that allude to this passage ? These are but some of the questions a serious Bible student will
ask. ) A study of Hermeneutics will even reveal the chapter division is in the
wrong place. Instead of Chapter 7 ending at verse 34... it should end at 8: 3
! Thats what Hermeneutics is
all about !
.
(b)
Learn a lesson in History
It is about 620 B.C. when Jeremiah pens these words. The nation of Judah have forsaken God and
turned to the worship of idols
. even setting such abominations up in their
Temple ! ( Jeremiah 7: 30) Child
sacrifice is being performed by those who consider themselves Gods people !! (
Jer. 7: 31)
(c)
The
worship of the sun & moon & stars
is rampant in the nation. ( 8:2) So in the verses before us ( 8:1-2) the
prophet is telling of the coming judgement upon them when the Babylonians
attack in but a few years time. And he
predicts how the enemy will even desecrate their tombs as they search for
treasures oft times buried with the dead. ( 8:1)
(c) Learn a Lesson in Holiness ! This
picture of doom and destruction is a reminder that it is a fearful thing to fall
into the hands of the Living God!( Hebrews 10:31) Too many people see Him as a God of Love.
And whilst that is true
we need to remind ourselves that it is but one side of
the picture. He is a Holy God whose very nature demands that sin be
punished.
((4) THE BONES OF JOSEPH !
(a) An Old Testament Incident. As Joseph was dying
and he had been in
Egypt about 80 years at this time
he made the request that when the
Israelites returned to the Land of
Israel , they were to take his bones
with them ! ( Genesis 50:24). Sure
enough, about 200 years later
we read of his bones being carried by the Israelites through the
wilderness for forty years ( despite their disobedience in so many other
matters ). ( Exodus 13:19) We also read of the burial of those bones in the
days of Joshua. ( Joshua 24:32) So what ? Why this emphasis upon the
bones of Joseph ?
(b) A New Testament Illustration. The writer of Hebrews uses this incident
as an example of Joseph's faith. ( Hebrews 11:22)
There are many other incidents he could have chosen. But Joseph
said WHEN
not IF
you return
The eye of his faith looked beyond the
coming Egyptian bondage and saw the
glorious exodus when God would deliver His people and restore them to the land
promised to Abraham.
Like wise we see beyond the trials and
troubles of this life to a Promised Land
and the House of Many Mansions or Saviour is preparing for those who
have placed their faith in Him.
Theres
a Land that is fairer than day
And
by faith we can see it afar
.
CONCLUSION. There are another 70 bones or so scattered throughout the pages
of the Bible. And you will find plenty of meat on them for your soul if you
take time to study. Meanwhile, chew
over the bones we have just dished up !!
BIBLE DIAGNOSIS
or
Say Ahhhh !!
(A Check-up
by the Great Physician)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
INTRODUCTION
Lots of folk think it wise
to visit their Doctor for an annual check-up.
But the soul is even more important than the body, yet few take time to
submit that to the Great Physician.
Presbyterian evangelist, Billy Sunday, used to say
,If some of you folk were as weak physically as you are spiritually
youd be
in a wheel-chair! Wow !
..
(1) Hows your
heart ?
The old Gospel song posed the question
How about your
heart ?
Thats the thing that counts today ;
Is it black
with sin - or is it pure within ?
Has the Lord come in to stay ?
And thats the pre-requisite. The Bible calls it
conversion. We cannot effect it
ourselves ... but God can.
Ezekiel 36 :25"Then
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be
washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26And I will give
you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you.
I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart.[1] 27And
I will put my Spirit in you
( New
Living Trans.)
.
(2) Show me
your tongue !
Such is a
doctors customary approach . It can
reveal much concerning the state of ones health. Likewise the tongue can
reveal ones spiritual
condition.
* It can reveal to which country we belong. A filthy tongue indicates that one is not a member of Gods Kingdom. Thy speech betrayeth thee ! ( Matthew
26:73)
* It is our
way of making known that which interests us most. Note the reply of the apostles to the Jewish authorities
Acts 4:18So
they called the apostles back in and told them never again to speak or teach
about Jesus.
19But Peter and John replied, "Do you think God wants us to
obey you rather than him? 20We cannot stop telling about the
wonderful things we have seen and heard." ( N.L.Trans.)
Are you embarrassed to let folk know that you are a
follower of the Lord Jesus ?
(3) Hows your appetite ?
1 Peter 2:2You
must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of
your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, (
N.L.Trans.)
Just as a babe needs spiritual nourishment, so the
child of God needs to regularly partake of Gods Word. And to attend a helpful Bible study
and
read Christian literature. A baby that was only fed once a week, ( on
Sunday morning !) would soon sicken and
die.
..
(4) Are your knees getting stiff ?
Psalm 95:6 Come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the LORD our
maker,
Outward posture
in prayer is secondary to the heart attitude.
But whether one literally kneels or not, the importance of prayer cannot
be under-estimated. The Lord Jesus taught His disciples to pray
and set the
example!
Prayer is the Christians vital breath,
the Christians native air;
his watchword at the gates of death,
he enters Heaven with prayer.
.
(5) Is your Eye-sight clearly focused ?
It was after the awe-inspiring vision of our Lords
glory on the Mount of Transfiguration that the trio of disciples fell face
down upon the ground.
Matthew 17:7Jesus
came over and touched them. "Get up," he said, "don't be
afraid."
8And when they looked, they saw
only Jesus
( N.L. T. Trans )
And the believer should likewise keep His eyes focused
on the Lord Jesus.
He alone is Saviour , Mediator, Great High Priest and
Coming King.
.
CONCLUSION
Im glad
that in 1947 I accepted the Lord
Jesus as my Saviour and received a new heart . And its my prayer that
my tongue, appetite , knees and
eyesight will be well-pleasing to Him.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BIBLE EYES
(No. 1 : Gods Eyes)
..
In this study we
meditate upon five references to eyes of God
as found in the Book of
Psalms. And each reference brings
before us a different emphasis.
1. THE LIVING GOD
He who created the eye of man (Psalm 94:9).
He is not some
blind idol such as the heathen worship.
They have eyes that see not (Psalm 135:16). Worse than that is the fact that these gods are made in the image
of man and man becomes like unto them (v. 18).
The gods of
heathenism produce immoral and cruel lifestyles. Read the history of the ancient civilizations
and read Romans
1:22-23!
But the God
revealed in Scripture is the God who created all things, and lives!
2. THE HOLY GOD
The Lord is in His holy temple
His eyes
behold
the children of men (Psalm 11:4).
It was this
Psalm, full of the majesty of God, that brought comfort to the Rev. John Welch
during his 16-month imprisonment in Blackness Castle (in 1606). To know our God is Holy and to walk before
Him with a clear conscience brings peace to the heart and mind. But it brings woe to the rebel.
..
3. THE GUIDING GOD
He who loves His people wants to guide them
in the right paths (Psalm 32:8-9).
The very dimness of my sight makes me secure
For what I cannot, He can see; and in His care I saved
shall be,
Forever blest! (J. Parker)
..
4. THE PROTECTING GOD
The eye of the Lord is upon them that
fear Him (Psalm 33:18-19).
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He
watches me.
Even if death
eventuates (as it did for thousands of martyrs), His eye is upon those who
trust Him.
The Old
Testament speaks in terms of material deliverance. The New Testament speaks in terms of spiritual.
5. THE SOVEREIGN GOD
He ruleth by His power for ever; His eyes behold the nations; let not the rebellious exalt themselves
(Psalm 66:7).
He is not just
the God of the Jews
or the God of the Christians
or the God of the British
or the Asians
or the Africans
He is God of the nations!! And to Him they should bow. To refuse to do so is to court disaster.
The Christ of
the Andes (not the statue, but the person) is the only One who can solve the
problems of mankind.
===========================================================
BIBLE EYES
(No. 2 : Mans Eyes)
Many verses of
Scripture refer to eyes
some to the eye of the Lord watching over us
His
eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!
Other verses
refer to the eyes of man
and that forms the subject of our meditation.
The eyes of men are often defective.
George
Whitfield, Englands preacher extraordinary, was called Dr Squintum by his
detractors because of his eye defect. Maria, wife of Hudson Taylor, is
described as The girl with the squint by her biographer.
Notice five eyes
described by the inspired writers.
1. SINFUL EYES
In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his
own eyes (Judges 21:25).
Which pretty
well sums up that sorry period of Israels history. With Gods Law set aside, anarchy prevailed. And with it followed suffering and judgement
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes;
but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise (Proverbs 12:15).
Ecclesiastes
11:9 also describes the folly of he who walks in the sight of his own eyes
rather than in the way God has chosen for him.
..
2. SAVED EYES
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from
whence cometh my help. My help cometh
from the Lord, Which made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2).
Of course, the
help does not come from the hills
but the God who made those hills. Read it in a modern translation! It may be
of course, the psalmist is in some foreign land and he is thinking of Mt Zion
and Mt Moriah
those sacred hills where God has revealed Himself in days
before.
In any case, he
turns to the Lord. There is none other
who can save him.
Unto Thee
lift I up mine eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto
the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her
mistress; so our eyes wait upon the
Lord our God, until that He have mercy upon us (Psalm 123:1-2).
The psalmist
also uses the lovely figure of speech concerning those who have placed their
faith in the Lord
they are as precious to Him as the apple of His eye
(Psalm 17:8).
And that means
He will look after us!!
3. SPIRITUAL EYES
The curious
story found in Mark 8:21-25 is a lesson to all disciples that sometimes we,
too, may need a second touch from the Lord.
True, we have been saved, spiritually blinded eyes have been opened
but do I see my fellow man as somebody for whom Christ died and to whom I am
commissioned to tell the gospel.
Or are they of
no more importance to me than walking trees??
..
4. SORROWFUL EYES
Lamentations 3:40-51.
These are the
words of Jeremiah, grieving over the sin of his people, Judah, and the
judgement of God that has befallen them.
There are some things that ought to make Gods people weep. Jesus wept over the multitudes who were lost
(Matthew 9:36; 14:14). Paul tells of
being sorrowful despite the joy of sins forgiven (II Corinthians 6:10).
Henry
Barraclough writes
And when I think of the cross He bore
Mine eyes with teardrops start
As we meditate
upon the cost of our salvation and the lack of spirituality and godly concern
for the lost; of sheep without a
shepherd on every side; of how the
Lords heart must ache as He looks at the state of His church on earth today
maybe there should be a prayer like Jeremiahs on our lips also.
Notice verse 51
again: Mine eye affecteth mine
heart
If that is the case, then
let us Turn our eyes upon Jesus, that we may see things as He would see
them. And that will surely increase our
devotion.
..
5. SURPRISED EYES
I Corinthians 15:51-52.
One day
unexpectedly
in the twinkling of an eye
the Second Coming of Christ will
take place. And every eye shall see
Him!! (Revelation 1:7). Some with joy
and some, because they are
unsaved, with fear.
Fanny Crosby,
the blind hymn-writer, spoke of that day when her eyes will be opened and she
will gaze upon her Saviour:
Some day the silver cord will break,
And I no more as now shall sing;
But oh, the joy when I shall wake
Within the palace of the King!
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story Saved by grace;
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story Saved by grace.
Some day my earthly house will fall,
I cannot tell how soon twill be;
But this I know my All in all
Has now a place in heaven for me.
Some day, when fades the golden sun
Beneath the rosy-tinted west,
My blessed Lord shall say, Well done!
And I shall enter into rest.
Some day;
till then Ill watch and wait
My lamp all trimmed and burning bright
That when my Saviour opes the gate,
My soul to Him
may take its flight. Fanny J. Crosby
Will you see Him
as your Saviour
or your Judge??
==========================================================
Four Fingers
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
INTRODUCTION Proverbs 6:13 speaks of the person who
teaches with his fingers.
So well do that
although such is not what
the text really means !! Fingers are often used to communicate
to
point the way or to accuse ,
one can say
O.K. , or Shhh! or Victory ! or
Come! simply by the use of fingers.
So let four references to fingers in
Scripture teach us some important lessons.
.
(1) THE FINGER OF CREATION
Not only did our Creator God fling a
universe into existence .. the work of Thy fingers (Psalm 8:3), the immensity of which is
revealed through a telescope ; but through the microscope it can be seen that
there are millions
trillions
of differing fingerprints !
No wonder we read of the Heavenly choir singing as they cast
their crowns before His throne
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory
and honour and power, for Thou hast created all things
( Revelation 4:10-11)
..
(2) THE FINGER OF CONDEMNATION
King Belshazzar trembled as he saw the
disembodied finger writing upon the wall of the banqueting house. (
Daniel 5: 5) One of the words was TEKEL meaning weighed in the balances and
found wanting. ( Daniel 5:27)
Evangelist D.L. Moody once pictured the sinner on the scales of Gods
justice , the Ten commandments on the other side
and the sinner was found
wanting. For no one has ever perfectly kept the Law of God . All have sinned. (
Romans 3:23) The Ten commandments , written by the very finger of God ,
( Exodus 31:18) is described in the New Testament as the ministration of death
, written and engraven on stones.
(2 Corinth. 3:7) It condemns us. The law
cannot save. It reveals our need of a Saviour.
.
(3) THE FINGER OF SEPARATION
.
The rich man in Hell cries out for Lazarus to dip the tip of his
finger in water and cool his tongue for he is tormented by fire. ( Luke
16:24) But destiny is fixed at death.
(Revelation 22:11) A great gulf is fixed between saved and lost , twixt Heaven
and Hell. ( Luke 16:25) Hell is eternal
separation from God. Whilst many , even some preachers, deny the existence of a
place of torment after death , no one can honestly read the Scripture and deny
that this is clearly taught. Jesus, Himself, warned of Hell 13 times.
.
(4) THE FINGER OF SALVATION !!
When the prodigal son came to his senses and
returned home he found his father
waiting. And he was clothed with a robe and sandals
and a ring was placed
upon on his finger ! Once as
dead, but now alive again , ( Luke 15:32) he took his place in his fathers
family. And any who are dead in sin (
Ephes. 2:5) will find a loving Heavenly
Father waiting to greet them when they come Home by way of the Cross
.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BIBLE HAIR !!!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
INTRODUCTION.
The Bible speaks of hair over 80 times. The most familiar reference