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Living Missionally

Living Missionally: Embodying the Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. — Matthew 28:16-20 NKJV

Jesus commands His followers to “disciple” all nations. Our primary mission is to “disciple” others. The challenge with this is that discipling is not mere teaching. It assumes you have internalized the teachings, and your disciple observes you and learns from how you live your life. Teaching is also part of it (Matthew 28:20), as is going. But the main command is to “disciple.”

Jesus does not call us to attend church or participate in programs. Churches and programs are not bad; oftentimes, they are incredibly helpful, but that is not what we are called to do; they are supposed to aid and support our calling to disciple others.

So my identity should be that of a missionary. I define a missionary as someone who is light and salt. Someone who makes a positive difference in their environment for the benefit of others. When you identify as a missionary, your habits change. How does a missionary begin her day? How does a missionary handle hardships? How does a missionary use his time and resources?

Identity-based Habits

You might have heard about the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. One of the points James makes in his book is about identity-based habits. This approach contrasts with a results-oriented approach. In practice, this means that you should not just focus on what you want to achieve but on who you want to be. One of my main takeaways from "Atomic Habits" is that lasting behavior change requires a shift in identity. By focusing on who you want to become, you can build habits that are more likely to stick and lead to long-term success.

You don’t have ot travel far away, though that can also be a part of your mission. Jesus wants us to disciple others exactly where we are. Changing location is not a prerequisite to becoming a missionary. Who do you interact with on a regular basis? How can you disciple that person?

Disciple vs Teach

It’s not that discipling does not involve teaching, but rather that teaching is not necessarily discipling. I think all of us have been taught by someone who did not practice what they taught. There are many who do not practice what they teach. In most areas, this can be funny or frustrating, but when it comes to faith and our spiritual journey, the consequences are devastating.

People don’t quit a gym because the owner is out of shape. Football players do not quit the team because their coach let himself go. But how many people can you think of who accuse churches of being full of hypocrites? I have never heard someone say they stopped going to the bar because it was full of hypocrites. I have yet to meet someone who stopped going to the club because the people there were not authentic.

To teach, you need to know the theory. To disciple, you must live out the principles. The message and principles must be internalized.

God gave us the principles and the lists of what to do. People had an understanding of what God was like from the messages of the prophets, the writings of Moses, and the stories and histories of God’s people. But ultimately, we know God because of Jesus, who lived out God’s will. Jesus was the Word of God made flesh! Our friends and neighbors cannot see Jesus; they can only see us, so we should emulate Jesus to the degree that others will catch a glimpse of what He is like from their interactions with us.

Missionary vs Christian

It should be enough to say that we are Christians, but the term Christian has been hijacked and politicized. There are all kinds of notions that have been associated with the term “Christian.” A “Christian” can be someone who holds certain political views, attends church on Sundays, and dislikes certain segments of the population. In many ways, I fit in the mold and the popular narrative of what a Christian is. But in some significant ways, I am quite different from mainstream Christianity. I am no different simply for the sake of being different, but only when I notice a conflict between Christian popular culture and the teaching of Jesus/the Bible.

My main reason for encouraging you to identify as a missionary as opposed to just a Christian is because I want you to transition from a passive to an active identity, from attending church to being the church.

What does living missionally mean?

It means that every aspect of my life is leveraged for the sake of the mission. My human weakness is surrendered to a divine calling.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. — John 3:16-17 NKJV

We live our lives deeply aware that people need Jesus. Our faith will grow, and our theology will develop and mature as we intentionally seek ways to reveal God's character in our lives. Oftentimes, what keeps us stuck in our spiritual journey is our consumerist attitude.

Here’s what that shift might look like.

In the morning, I begin the day not only thanking God for the gift of life but also asking Him to equip me to share His love with those around me. When I read my Bible, it is not only to learn more or perform a spiritual discipline, but also to be equipped to minister to others. I want to read the Bible to give God the opportunity to teach me something that I can share with someone in need.

Many times in my life, I have been able to share an insight I gained that morning during my personal study of the Bible. It is not that I would necessarily suffer if I had not read my Bible, but I would have been less equipped to bless someone else. Instead of thinking that life would be worse if I slacked off on my spiritual disciplines, I freely choose to spend time in prayer and in the study of the Bible because I can be a greater blessing to those around me.

Even if you already have the habit of studying the Bible and praying, living missionally changes your attitude and mindset. We should continually seek the Holy Spirit for the sake of the Mission.

Being the Church vs Attending the Church

If my identity as a Christian is wrapped up in which church I attend, what happens if I ever move? What happens when I am traveling? What happens if I find myself in a place where there is no church? What happens if suddenly all the churches are closed for some reason?

I listened to a fascinating book entitled “The Insanity of God,” by Nik Ripken. Nik Ripken is a leading expert on the persecuted church in Muslim contexts, with over 25 years of experience in missions. For "The Insanity of God," Nik and his wife, Ruth, spent a dozen years interviewing more than 700 persecuted Christians all over the world.

A few key points that I took away from the stories in that book include the fact that in Russia during the early 1950s, Christians primarily met in house churches, and these churches were predominantly composed of people who were related to one another. Their entire faith experience had been defined by weekly worship in the front room of the house with mom and dad and a few other relatives. The faith endured for generations, with family members passing down stories.

This reinforced my understanding of the importance of family worship. Not only singing and reading the Bible together and discussing its meaning and application, but also how God has blessed and guided the family in the past. Stories about family members and miracles provided the new generation with an identity rooted in who God was and who they were as a family.

This is how so many Russians and Ukrainians kept their faith strong over decades of communist oppression of believers. They told stories of pastors and family members who had faced incredible trials but refused to give up their faith in God. They learned the stories from their mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers. They learned it from their fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers.

In countries where Christians were persecuted, it became evident that the family is the believer’s greatest reservoir of faith and resistance in the face of persecution. Regular worship in the home is indispensable for passing faith to the next generation.

Worship and Mission

Worship must be more than what happens when we come to church on the weekend. Mission must be more than what happens overseas during a trip, a few times over a lifetime. How has your love for God shaped your life and your decisions? What stories do you have to share about how God has been active in your life?

I wish I could tell you about how everyone I study the Bible with accepted Jesus as their lord and Savior and joined my church. The truth is that many did not make that decision, at least not to my knowledge. But my mission is not to convince or change anyone; only the Holy Spirit can do that. My mission is to share, or to be willing to share, when the opportunity arises.

I have learned through experience that trying to force Jesus into every conversation is an easy way to get people to avoid talking to you. I have also learned that telling people that they are wrong and what they should do instead also does not go well. My best experiences have been the result of answering questions from people who were interested or actively searching for Jesus.

The way I see it, I want to partner with God in what He is already doing. Everyone has their own faith journey, and everyone needs encouragement, help, and guidance. But not everyone is ready to receive that input. This is where patience and wisdom come in. I want to be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and I need to actually want to help the other person.

Sharing the gospel is not about winning arguments, it is not about judging others, or acting superior in any way. Sharing the gospel is about wanting the absolute best for someone else and knowing that their best life can only be found in Jesus. Sharing the gospel means realizing that others need Jesus as desperately as I do.

Meet Virgil

When I baptized Virgil, he was about to turn 85. I was not the one who invited Virgil to church or gave him Bible studies. Mireille gave him Bible studies. This happened while I lived in South Georgia, just north of the Florida state line. Virgil was an Anglo man who spoke with a southern drawl. Mireille was a Haitian woman who spoke with a strong French accent. Mireille met Virgil at a Walmart while shopping. They talked for a bit, and she asked if he was interested in studying the Bible. Mireille asked me if I had any Bible study guides. I gave her two sets, one for her and one for Virgil. I gave her a few tips on how to give the Bible studies, and she and her husband gave Virgil Bible studies.

Mireille and her husband had lived in New England and moved to Georgia after retiring. They both had a strong accent, and some struggled to understand what she said, but she did not allow that to stop her from giving Virgil Bible studies. Mireille loves Jesus and is always seeking ways to bless others and share with them the love Jesus has for them. For many years, it was her husband who gave Bible studies and preached, but she wanted to be the one to give Virgil Bible studies.

Virgil enjoyed the Bible studies and continued to attend, eventually completing all of them with Mireille. Once she finished the studies, we set up a meeting and I talked with Virgil. He told me he wanted to give his heart to Jesus and be baptized. I was happy to baptize Virgil, and the local church warmly welcomed him as a new member. Virgil joined our church and attended every service. He loved to tell jokes and pass out candy to the kids. He was there for prayer meeting and every worship service. He soon made many friends.

This week, talking to a friend from that church, I found out that Virgil died recently. They will be having his memorial service this month. Though it breaks my heart to hear of his death, I know I will see him again. Virgil gave his heart to Jesus because the Holy Spirit was moving in his heart. The Holy Spirit also moved in Mireille’s life, and she was sensitive to His prompting, offering Virgil Bible studies.

Mireille could have found many excuses not to offer Bible studies. She's retired, has a strong accent, and was living in Georgia. Given the prevalence of Christians in that area, it was very likely that Virgil was already a Christian. But Mireille offered Bible studies, and Virgil was interested. God gets all the glory in this story, but Mireille got to play a special role in the work God was doing in Virgil’s life. The local church embraced him and loved him, and Virgil became an active member of our church. We each played a role, and all of us experienced a special blessing that comes from being part of the good God is doing in the world.

Mireille is a missionary, although I am not sure if she would think of herself in that way. Among many other things, God brought her from Haiti to New York, then to Georgia, to share the gospel with Virgil, who was 84 years old. Virgil responded and gave his heart to Jesus.

Takeaway

God wants to use you to share Jesus with those around you. This includes family members, neighbors, coworkers, classmates, and even people you meet at the park, gym, or grocery store. In everything we do, and everywhere we go, may we go as missionaries for Jesus, making disciples for the Master. As we do this work, Jesus promises to be with us even to the end of the age!

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. —Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV

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Love is... (part 4)

Unveiling the Legal Drama: Boaz's Bold Move

Welcome to part 4 and the final post of the “Love is…” series on the Book of Ruth.

The Book of Ruth is a chapter from the history of the human heart. It takes place during the same period covered in the Book of Judges, but it couldn’t be more different. The Book of Judges records feats of arms, deeds of heroism, treachery, violence, and murder. But in the Book of Ruth, we are led aside from the highway of Hebrew history into a secluded by-path, a green lane of private life. Here are simple stories of heart and home, where affections and relationships play an essential role. The Book of Ruth gives us a glimpse into the domestic life of Israel, with its anxieties, sorrows, and sweetness. Women and children, honest work and homely talk; deaths, births, and marriages; loves, memories, and prayers, are all here. (paraphrased from H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., Ruth, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 5.

We pick up the story in Ruth chapter 4.

Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, “Come aside, friend, sit down here.” So he came aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. —Ruth 4:1-2 NKJV

Boaz takes action

Boaz may have seemed passive up until now, but he now takes the initiative, and the other characters merely respond to his initiatives. Boaz begins the process by going up to the gate. I believe this event immediately follows his leaving the threshing floor to go to the city (Ruth 3:15 Love is… (Part 3)). Going up to the gate was the equivalent of going to court, since the city gates had a secondary function as courts where official business was conducted.

City gates in Palestine in the early iron age were complex structures with lookout towers at the outside and a series of rooms on either side of the gateway where defenders of the town would be stationed. But these gateways also served a secondary purpose, as a gathering place for the citizens of the town. This was where the official administrative and judicial business of the community was conducted —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 704–705.

In Ruth 3:13 (Love is… Part 3), we discover an obstacle to the marriage between Ruth and Boaz, and now we see that Boaz is bringing the matter to court in an attempt to settle it once and for all. When Boaz arrived at the gate and sat down, this signified that he had arrived for legal business. As soon as he arrives, there is this incredible coincidence* that the man he wants to talk to just happens to pass by. (Coincidences are used to highlight God’s invisible hand behind the scenes, for more, see Love is… part 2)

With a superficial reading of the book the timing of the kinsman-redeemer’s arrival may seem coincidental, but a deeper reading will recognize again the hidden hand of God. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 705.

Remember how in Ruth 3:13 Boaz invoked the name of the LORD in his promise to Ruth? Now we see that indeed God is involved in this matter. We assume the man was going out to work in his field; if Boaz had missed him, who knows how long it would be before the man comes back through the city gates. This man is not identified by name, and even the way that Boaz greets him is odd and the subject of some debate. Different Bible translations can vary a bit because we are not sure of the expression, but it seems to be “Mr. So-and-so” or even “Hey you.” The translation “my friend” is generous since the original does not refer to this person in friendly terms. Some argue that just as Orpah serves as a foil to Ruth, this man would serve as a contrast to Boaz. He is not a bad person, but the text is worded in such a way as to diminish our respect for this man.

Now that Boaz has found the man he was looking for, the close relative or the gōʾēl, he needs to gather a quorum of witnesses. The fact that these men, who were leaders in their community, stopped what they were doing to follow Boaz to the city gate and deal with this issue shows their respect for Boaz and his stature in the community.

If the gate at Bethlehem was the size of the tenth century b.c. Gezer gate (slightly more than seven by fourteen feet, there would have been room for all twelve men, but it would have been crowded; and observers would have had to look on from the passageway outside the chamber. Since Bethlehem was always a less significant center than Gezer, the gateway might have been smaller, in which case the proceedings probably transpired in the plaza just inside the gate. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 707.

The court proceedings

3 Then he said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 And I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.’ ”

And he said, “I will redeem it.” —Ruth 4:3-4 NKJV

Boaz goes straight to the point, the portion of the field belonging to our brother Elimelech, Naomi, who returned from the field of Moab, is selling. I know this is not a smooth translation, but it reflects the emphasis on the field being sold, which is how the text is worded in the original. (see it in BlueLetterBible.org)

Who the land belongs to may seem like a trivial matter. However, the land was distributed among the tribes under Joshua, and according to Mosaic Law, it should never leave the family. This explains the importance of the gōʾēl, which was one of the nation’s customs designed to prevent this from happening.

25 ‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold. 26 Or if the man has no one to redeem it, but he himself becomes able to redeem it, 27 then let him count the years since its sale, and restore the remainder to the man to whom he sold it, that he may return to his possession. 28 But if he is not able to have it restored to himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the Year of Jubilee; and in the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his possession.

29 ‘If a man sells a house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year he may redeem it. 30 But if it is not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house in the walled city shall belong permanently to him who bought it, throughout his generations. It shall not be released in the Jubilee. — Leviticus 25:25-30 NKJV

Regarding Boaz and the other man, we know that both were related to Elimelech and that the man was a closer relative (Ruth 3:12), but we do not know the details of how they were related to Elimelech. Deuteronomy 25:5-10 and Genesis 38 indicate that the levirate obligation fell to the immediate brothers of the deceased man, but how it was handled beyond that is unclear. Numbers 27:9-11 discusses it, but it does not seem to apply directly here, though it gives us some ideas on how this issue could have been handled.

There is also debate regarding who the land belonged to. Did Naomi own the land? The Mosaic Law (Numbers 27) is unclear; it mentions son or daughter but not widow. Maybe it was implied (Proverbs 15:25), but we can’t know for sure. An argument for widows not being allowed to own the land is all the provisions the law made to protect the widow, orphan, and the alien from oppression and exploitation. (See Exodus 22:21–24; Deuteronomy 10:18; 14:28–29; 24:19–21; 26:12–13; 27:19. Also note the prophetic railing against those who violate these standards: Isaiah 1:17, 23; Isaiah 9:17; 10:2; Jeremiah 7:6; 22:3; Ezekiel 22:7, 25; Zechariah 7:10; Malachi 3:5; notice also the complaint in Job 24:3, 21. Not to mention the references in the Psalms to the LORD as the defender of widows: Psalms 68:5; 94:4–7; 146:9 (cf. also Proverbs 15:25) and Job’s claims (against his detractors, 22:9) to have done the same (Job 29:12–13; 31:16–17). (Block,709.)

To avoid a deeper dive into the details of Mosaic law, here is a summary I found helpful.

Accordingly, Naomi’s action was not to sell the land that belonged to her deceased husband Elimelech; it was not hers to sell because by law ownership of the land would be transferred to the nearest relative (Num 27:8–11). What she had done was authorize the court to give it in usufruct to the gōʾēl. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 710.

We don’t know all the details of what happened to Elimelech’s land once he left, but here is an educated guess.

“It seems most reasonable that moving to Moab had been a last resort for Elimelech. Before he would embark on such a drastic (and shameful) course of action, he would have attempted every other alternative, including selling the land to an outsider (cf. Lev 25:25–30). Obviously the poverty continued; and after the money from the sale was used up, he seems to have been faced with two choices: sell himself into slavery (cf. Lev 25:47–55) or move to a place where food was available. In moving to Moab he chose the lesser of two evils.

Meanwhile ten years had elapsed. During that time Elimelech and his two heirs had died in the land of Moab, and back in Bethlehem it appears the land had fallen into the hands of someone outside the family. When Naomi returned with Ruth, she could not automatically reclaim the land and begin making her own living from it. Consequently she and Ruth are left with no options but to scavenge for food. It seems, however, that because of Boaz’s generosity Naomi and Ruth had been assured of sufficient food for the near future, enabling the senior widow to turn her attention to the legal issues relating to the patrimonial holdings of her husband.”(ibid)

Boaz keeps it simple: if the goel (kinsman redeemer) wants to perform the duty or exercise the rights of a goel, then here’s his chance. But if he does not want to do it, he should let Boaz know, and Boaz will gladly do it.

At the end of Boaz’s speech, we collectively hold our breath. What will be the reply of the goel?

“I will redeem it” is the reply.

Our hearts sink. Oh no, this is terrible! Will this nameless man marry Ruth? What about Boaz? Will this man be kind to Ruth? What is he like? Was Naomi’s risky plan and Ruth’s careful execution all for nothing? I bet Ruth would feel devastated if she were close by and heard this. Would she be willing to go along with this and marry a man she had never met?

But Boaz has another speech to deliver.

Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance.” —Ruth 4:5 NKJV

Boaz now introduces a complication to what seemed like a simple land acquisition. You were probably wondering about Ruth and why Boaz had not mentioned her. He brings her up now.

Boaz hereby reminded the gōʾēl that this transaction is more complex than merely acquiring usufruct rights to Elimelech’s field. Elimelech had a son whose death has left a second widow in the picture. This woman is implicated in any action that he as a gōʾēl might take. The manner in which Boaz introduced Ruth is significant. First, he introduced Ruth by her full name, “Ruth the Moabitess.” This more precise identification seems intended to cast doubts about the wisdom of acquiring the rights to Elimelech’s land in the mind of the gōʾēl.  —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 713–714.

If the goel wants to acquire the rights to Elimelech’s land, he must also assume the responsibility of rescuing the line of Elimelech. Naomi, Elimelech’s widow, is likely past childbearing age, but Ruth is young; she is also a Moabitess, and chances are that the goel has anti-Moabite feelings. Boaz is clear about the importance of perpetuating the name of the dead. (See Deuteronomy 25:9, “to raise/establish the name of his brother,” which is replaced with “build the house of his brother.” See also Judah’s command to his son Onan “to raise up seed for your brother” (Genesis 38:8). (ibid)

I cannot redeem it

6 And the close relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” —Ruth 4:6 NKJV

The reason for the goel rejecting his responsibility/opportunity is fairly clear. He is concerned how being responsible for the field that belonged to Elimelech, plus supporting Elimelech’s widow, Naomi, plus Marrying Ruth and raising a child who will ultimately own the land in the future would cost him a lot of money, time, and effort up front and not really be worth it in the long run. Especially if he already has his hands full regarding his own land and family. It could also be that the people of Bethlehem considered Elimelech cursed by God, and the goel might have feared for the well-being of his family if he were to marry Ruth. After all, Naomi herself said that the hand of the Almighty had dealt bitterly against her. (See Love is…(Part 1)) Perhaps the goel was afraid of bad luck or a curse.

Here’s my sandal

7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was a confirmation in Israel.

8 Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” So he took off his sandal. 9 And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.” — Ruth 4:7-10 NKJV

“Let’s make this official. Here’s my sandal!”

This practice must have fallen out of popularity by the time the book was written, and the narrator had to explain to the audience the meaning of the act. I just imagine seeing someone walking down the street with just one sandal and thinking to myself, “he must have gone to court today…”

Boaz’s plan works; he officially has rights to the land and is responsible for perpetuating the name of the dead (Elimelech/Mahlon). Notice how Boaz addresses not only the elders but also “all the people.” This seems to indicate that a crowd had gathered to witness the proceedings, and Boaz is making sure everyone knows that he is the goel.

The reaction of the people

11 And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman.” — Ruth 4:11-12 NKJV

If you were curious about how the general population felt about Boaz’s actions toward Ruth and Naomi you no longer need to wonder. The people bless Boaz and Ruth.

Blessings rose up within their hearts, ascended into heaven, and came down—charged with something Divine as well as something human and humane—in showers upon his head, and upon the head of his bride.  —H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., Ruth, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 63.

I imagine the crowd erupting into celebration. Everyone was happy to see Boaz behaving in a way that honored God and provided for Ruth, a widow and a foreigner, and Naomi, who was also a widow. This response from the people warms my heart. Even though we live in a sinful world, we love to catch a glimpse of the heart of God reflected in human lives that demonstrate love and kindness, especially towards the weak and outcast. Such actions fill us with hope and remind us that we serve a loving God.

Until now, Ruth has been a foreigner and an outsider, but the communal blessings changed that.

They also show that the people warmly welcome Ruth into the community. When Ruth first set out from Moab, she committed herself to Naomi’s people (“your people shall be my people;” 1:16). But as Glover observes in his essay on ethnic identity, affiliation cannot be decided unilaterally. The community has to be willing to accept that individual. The blessings offered by the people of Bethlehem signal acceptance and enact Ruth’s integration into the community. In the remainder of the narrative, Ruth is no longer identified as a Moabite. —Tamara Cohn Eskenazi and Tikva Frymer-Kensky, The JPS Bible Commentary: Ruth, First edition, JPS Tanakh Commentary (Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society, 2011), 83.

Ruth and Boaz have been consistently described and portrayed in the story as having the highest ethical standards and embodying covenantal hesed. But the blessing from the witnesses makes no mention of Ruth or Boaz’s character or behavior, rather, they recognize the LORD as the source of the blessing, recognizing that any offspring through Ruth would be a divine gift.

And they lived happily ever after

13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! 15 And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him. 17 Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “There is a son born to Naomi.” And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18 Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron; 19 Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; 20 Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon; 21 Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; 22 Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David. —Ruth 4:13-22 NKJV

In the end, the story is not really about Ruth, nor is it about Boaz or Naomi. The story is not even about Obed. Though all these characters are important, the story is about God and His mercy and His hesed towards His people. Why is Ruth’s love or hesed so important? Because through her kindness and dedication (hesed/love)to her mother-in-law, God acted to bring about the greatest king Israel would ever have. Why is Naomi’s hesed towards Ruth so important? Because God worked through her love to bring about a great blessing to all of Israel. Why is Boaz’s hesed/love towards Ruth and Naomi so important? Because God used it to bring about a great blessing to the entire world.

The story of the Book of Ruth is not simple, nor is it straightforward. But we do see God working through flawed people who choose love, mercy, and kindness, and because each person freely chooses to place the good of the other ahead of their own, God was able to work through them to bring about blessings that impacted the entire world. The genealogy of Perez stops with David, but Matthew 1 traces the genealogy all the way down to Jesus, son of David, who was really the Son of God, the Messiah, our Lord and Savior.

[mrlnsfrt]

Love is... (part 3)

Ruth's Bold Move: Seeking Security and Love

This is part three of my series in the Book of Ruth. We have passed the halfway point. We have gotten to know Ruth, and she is an amazing young woman of character. We have also met Boaz, a kind, godly man. Ruth has been with the young woman of Boaz, gleaning in his fields until the end of the barley and wheat harvest (Ruth 2:23 For more, check out Love is… Part 2.) It is not a stretch of the imagination to hope that romantic feelings would develop. Ruth needs a husband, and Boaz is a great guy, so why not? Let’s see what happens in Ruth 3.

Seeking Security

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? — Ruth 3:1 NKJV

Ruth has been working hard, gleaning (see Love is… Part 2) to provide food not only for herself but for Naomi as well. Now Naomi springs into action to provide for Ruth, her daughter-in-law. Naomi refers to Ruth as “my daughter” this is how Naomi sees Ruth and this is the reason why she feels compelled to do what she is about to do. Naomi sees that it is up to her to secure Ruth’s future.

The Hebrew word translated as “security” in the NKJV (see other translations of Ruth 3:1) is מָנוֹחַ (mānôaḥ), and it means a place or rest, often a reference to a home. Interestingly, it is from the same root as the word used by Naomi on Ruth 1:9 מְנוּחָה (mᵊnûḥâ) (for more, see Love is… part 1) These two uses of this word (security/rest) give us a clearer picture of what it means, the security and tranquility a woman in ancient Israel longed for and expected to find in the home of a loving husband.

I believe the narrator uses this verbal link to invite us to read the following events in light of Naomi’s prayer in Ruth 1:8-9. (discussed in Love is… Part 1)

8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.”

So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. — Ruth 1:8-9 NKJV

Side note

Sadly, I have met more than one male who believes the key to a happy relationship is uncertainty and fear of loss. They want the benefits of having a woman around, and they may even have children, but they shy away from lifelong commitment. The idea of a life dedicated to one woman, making her feel loved, secure, and cared for, scares them. These males are afraid that their love will not be reciprocated. They do not trust the woman to love and care for them if she is secure. So they keep the woman afraid that he might leave or abandon her. If this is your situation, you are not in a loving relationship and have not yet experienced love. You will experience love when you are fully committed and the other person freely chooses to love you and be fully committed to you in return. It sounds scary, and it is. Do not play with love if you are not willing to go all in. It is not easy. It is scary and hard work. You don’t have to get married. If you are happy single, that’s great, remain single. If you want a spouse and kids, find someone you are willing to go all in with. Do not settle for anything less than a lifelong and exclusive commitment. I am not saying it is easy, I am saying there is no better option.

When we consider Ruth chapter 2, we can also add that a godly husband functions as the wings of God, offering protection and security to all who dwell in his house. (for more, see Love is… part 2) Naomi’s motivation is clear; she is concerned about Ruth’s welfare. Because she wants to help Ruth, she comes up with a plan. It is worth noting that Naomi never mentions any concern for herself or for raising an heir for her sons, who died without having children. (levirate marriage Deuteronomy 25:5-6)

As in any healthy covenant relationship, these are two people who have committed themselves to the other’s good above their own. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 681.

The setting

Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. —Ruth 3:2 NKJV

Boaz is the two women’s near relative, and the sentence structure indicates that Naomi has in mind that Boaz is not simply “a” near relative but “the” kinsman who must fulfill the role she has in mind. Notice also how Naomi refers to Boaz as “our” relative, drawing Ruth in and highlighting their solidarity.

Boaz will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. Some cultural and historical insights will help us imagine the scene.

Barley was typically threshed at the onset of the dry season (late May–June), after all the grain, both barley and wheat, was cut and gathered. The best threshing floors involved rock outcrops on hilltops. The hard surface was needed to keep the grain free of dirt and to facilitate sweeping up the grains at the end of the day. The hilltop location was required to take advantage of the wind that would blow away the chaff when the threshed grain was tossed in the air with a fork, allowing the separated heavier kernels of grain to fall to the floor. This threshing floor probably was located in or near the field where Ruth had been gleaning, some distance from the town of Bethlehem (cf. v. 15). Boaz chose to do his winnowing at night, presumably because the night breezes were more desirable than the gusty winds of the daytime. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 682.

The plan

3 Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.” —Ruth 3:3-4 NKJV

Naomi never tells Ruth directly that the plan is for her to get married to Boaz, but she does provide a detailed plan that is reminiscent of a heist movie. Naomi has a plan to make Ruth as attractive as possible to Boaz and break down any potential resistance. It could be that Boaz never made a move out of respect for Ruth and her recent loss. Naomi is done waiting; she takes matters into her own hands and comes up with a plan.

First, Ruth should take a bath/wash. No need for explanation here.

Second, Ruth should apply perfume. The perfume was likely perfumed olive oil. Remember, it was hot and deodorants had not yet been invented.

Third, Ruth should put on her best dress. The word “best” is supplied by the translator and is not present in the Hebrew text. It seems to have been added due to context. Some have made a connection between Ruth 3:3-4 and Ezekiel 16:8-12 since both texts contain the sequence of bathing, applying perfume, and putting on garments in preparation for an encounter with a male. This approach assumes that Naomi is having Ruth follow a bride’s traditional preparation for marriage. But there is debate over this among Bible scholars. The counter-argument is that Boaz would have found such a brazen act would have caused Ruth to be rejected by Boaz, not accepted. Others see Naomi simply advising Ruth to make herself attractive to a man, but not necessarily in a seductive way. Contrast Naomi’s recommendation for Ruth to wear a dress with the account of the seductive dress found in Isaiah 3:19-23. Supporters of this interpretation also point out that there would be little point in wearing a fancy or seductive dress to go out in the dark and avoid being seen. Also, Naomi could have used a different term for garment; the one she used, שִׂמְלָה (śimlâ), often refers to an outer garment. In this case, Naomi is not telling Ruth to put on a seductive dress, but rather a garment that would keep her warm at night, especially if she will spend the night in the field.

According to Exod 22:25–26, poor people used this garment for a blanket at night. Since Ruth was a poor person going out to spend the night in the field, she will have needed this blanket to keep warm. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 683.

Some have also compared Naomi’s instructions to Ruth to David’s actions recorded in 2 Samuel 12:20 when he finished mourning and went and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. In light of this text, another interpretation of Naomi’s instructions to Ruth would be for her to remove her garments of mourning or of widowhood, indicating that she was ready to consider marriage once again. This interpretation would also clarify why Boaz did not make the first move. If Ruth had been wearing her garments of mourning and widowhood as she gleaned in the field, Boaz would have respected her right to grieve the loss of her husband and not impose himself upon her until she was ready. We do not know how long women would wear “garments of widowhood” (Genesis 38:14, 19), but removing them would mean that Ruth is ready to return to normal life, and that would include the possibility of marriage if possible.

Fourth, Ruth should go down to the threshing floor, where Boaz will spend the night. Why would a respectable and wealthy man like Boaz spend the night outside the protection of the city walls? One possibility is to guard the fruit of his workers' hard labor from thieves and animals. I believe this is another indicator of how Boaz led his workers; he preferred to sleep with them out on the threshing floor rather than in the comfort of his house in the city. As a sagacious woman, Naomi told Ruth to remain hidden until Boaz had finished eating and drinking. Ladies, these are wise words. When a man is tired and hungry, it is not a good time to talk to him. Let him eat, let him relax a bit; this will significantly increase the chances of you experiencing a positive outcome to your conversation. Also, there is no indication that Boaz was drinking alcoholic beverages. The narrator is intentional in differentiating Ruth’s behavior from that of Lot’s daughters (Genesis 19:30-38) when they got Lot drunk to be impregnated by him. (For more on Genesis 19, check out Saved by Grace)

Fifth, while Ruth remains out of sight, she is to carefully observe where Boaz will lie down to sleep. After all, it would be disastrous to approach the wrong man in the dark, talk about an awkward encounter…

Sixth, Ruth is also to uncover Boaz’s “lower limbs” and go and lie down herself. Few, if any, other texts in the entire Book of Ruth have generated as much discussion as this command. A spicy take is that Naomi was commanding Ruth to engage in risque and seductive behavior, the kind that would make you blush. Without going into explicit details, it seems like in the cultural context, at winnowing time, the threshing floor became a place of illicit sexual behavior. The men were tired from a long day’s work; they were all sleeping away from the city, away from their families. It was dark, and they were sleeping next to what could be considered a pile of money. It does not take a stretch of the imagination to interpret Naomi’s plan along these lines, especially considering that Ruth was a Moabitess and this would not be too different from the story of Tamar in Genesis 38.

This interpretation is rendered all the more attractive by the fact that each of the three Hebrew words that make up this sentence is capable of more than one meaning, and each is capable of bearing an overtly sexual meaning. First, the root glh, “to uncover,” is often used in sexual contexts of “uncovering someone’s nakedness” (a euphemism for exposing the genitals) or of “uncovering someone’s skirt.” —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 685.

Supporting this use of “uncover” see Leviticus 18:6, 19; 20:11, 17–21; Ezekiel 22:10; Exodus 20:26; 2 Samuel 6:20; Genesis 9:21; Deuteronomy 22:30; 27:20.

But “uncover” is not the only word that can be used in sexual terms. The verb “to lie” is also often used to denote sexual relations. Except for Gen 30:15–16 and 2 Sam 11:11, the relations are always illicit (incest, homosexuality, bestiality, rape, seduction): Gen 19:32–33; Lev 20:11–13, 18, 20; Deut 22:25; 27:20–23; 15:22. (ibid)

Finally, the word used for “foot”, the dual and plural uses of it may be a euphemism for genitalia.  Exod 4:25; Judg 3:24; 1 Sam 24:3 [4]; Isa 7:20 (all male); Deut 28:57; Ezek 16:25 (both female); Isa 6:2 (heavenly creatures). Occasionally, urine is called “water of the feet” (2 Kgs 18:27 = Isa 36:12). (ibid) The challenge with these words is that what dictates how they are to be interpreted is context.

It is not surprising that many interpret Naomi’s plan as dangerous and charged with sexual overtones. There is enough ambiguity in her language for her plan to be taken “the wrong way.” Even if you are not familiar with ancient customs, how would you feel about a plan that involves a woman bathing, putting on perfume, sneaking out in the middle of the night, uncovering a sleeping man’s leg, and lying down?

But this is not the only possible interpretation. If we knew nothing else about Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz, maybe we could see it this way, but taking the narrative context and what we know about their character, we can also look at this plan differently. You could argue that there is no suggestion in Naomi’s tone or intention that her plan is meant to be interpreted sexually. Just because “uncover” and “lie down” can and are used in a sexual context, there are many times that these words mean exactly what they say. Uncover is not always a reference to uncovering someone’s nakedness. And from what we know about Naomi, it is unlikely that she would encourage Ruth to behave immorally. The picture the narrator paints of Naomi is consistently a positive one.

Also, the word Naomi used for feet is not exactly the one that sometimes gets used euphemistically. Naomi uses margᵊlôṯ and not reḡel, though both are translated as feet; only “regel” is used euphemistically. In line with the PG interpretation of Naomi’s plans is the fact that though she told Ruth to uncover Boaz’s lower limbs Naomi does not ask Ruth to lay next to him or at his feet, but simply to uncover his feet and go lay down and watch what happens.

For me, the strongest argument for the non-sexual interpretation of the plan is the narrator’s careful characterization of Naomi and Ruth up to this point.

Seventh, Ruth should wait for Boaz to give her further instructions. This reveals Naomi’s confidence in Boaz to do the right thing. Naomi could also be placing the future in God’s hands trusting God to lead Boaz and for Boaz to be sensitive to God’s leading.

Naomi’s plan is so delicate it should have the reader on the edge of her seat. The potential for disaster is extreme! You almost hold your breath as you read what happens next, knowing how this could go poorly. If we struggle with interpreting Naomi’s plan, imagine how Boaz would feel? What if Boaz did partake of alcoholic drinks and that, mixed with his dark and being half-asleep, he interprets Ruth’s advances as those of a prostitute and he treats he accordingly? What if he gets the wrong idea and, being a noble and virtuous man, rejects Ruth for being an immoral woman? What if Ruth uncovers the feet of the wrong man? What if Ruth is caught by the workers? How would she explain what she's doing there, clean and perfumed in the middle of the night? What if she never makes it to Boaz and is raped by someone as she wonders around in the dark beyond the city walls?

Naomi’s scheme is a gamble. Boaz has to interpret Ruth’s behavior favorably and decide to take her, a Moabitess, as his wife. The chances are high that Naomi’s plan will fail, and instead of finding peace and security with Boaz, Ruth will be shunned and be forever alone and vulnerable. It seems like the favorable response is the least likely one to take place.

What are the chances that Boaz will wake up and in his groggy state notice that Ruth has covered herself with a śimlâ rather than the seductive garb of a prostitute, that he will understand when she introduces herself, that he will respond favorably toward her, overlooking the irregularities of the situation (a woman proposing to a man, a younger person proposing to an older, a field worker proposing to the field owner, an alien proposing to a native), and that, in fulfillment of Naomi’s words, he will give Ruth rational instructions concerning how to proceed? But by this time Naomi’s faith is strong. She has confidence in Boaz’s integrity and apparently in the hidden hand of God to govern his reactions when he awakes. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 687–688.

Ruth’s response to Naomi’s plan

And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.” —Ruth 3:5 NKJV

Ruth actually agrees with Naomi’s crazy plans! As we hold our collective breath for what will happen next, the narrator challenges us to have as much faith in God as Naomi and Ruth do. The first scene closes, and we are left wondering if this dangerous and delicate plan will actually work.

The implementation of the plan

6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. 7 And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

8 Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. — Ruth 3:6-8 NKJV

Here is how I imagine this taking place.

As evening approaches, Ruth goes to bathe. The water soothes her aching feet and calloused hands. The water turns dark from sweat and dust, and husks of grain. She washes her hair and gets rid of all the knots. She dries herself and puts on a clean garment. She feels like a new person. No more widow or mourning garments. She does her hair, and her heart races. How will Boaz react when he sees her? Could she really get married and be happy, safe, and cared for? A man like Boaz could have anyone he wanted; would he be interested in a widow and a foreigner? She had nothing to offer him except her love and devotion. What if he rejected her?

Her hair is done. She anoints herself with fragrant oil. She briefly wonders how Naomi was able to find her some fragrant oil, but she loves the smell. She feels like a woman. Perhaps Boaz will want to marry her, and together they can be happy. Ruth kisses Naomi and begins to make her way to the threshing floor. She is familiar with the way there, though it looks different at night. As Ruth approaches the threshing floor, she can hear the workers talking, telling stories, and laughing. The men are gathered around a fire. There is a gentle breeze, and Ruth is glad she wore a thick garment that keeps her warm at night. She continues to watch the men from the shadows at a safe distance. She admires how Boaz interacts with his workers and treats them with kindness and respect. The men are happy to work for Boaz, who wouldn’t be? Boaz is wise, fair, and kind. Ruth imagines what life might be like married to a kind and capable man like Boaz.

Slowly, the men begin to find a place to sleep. Ruth watches carefully where Boaz lies down. The fire is dying, and no more wood is added. Ruth carefully and silently makes her way to where Boaz is sleeping. Like a sweet-smelling ninja, she makes he way to Boaz undetected by anyone. The men worked hard all day, and with their bellies full, they soon snored in deep, well-deserved sleep. Ruth finds Boaz and uncovers his feet. She’s not sure if she did it the right way. Her heart is racing; she is hyper-sensitive to any and all sounds. It seems like Boaz is still sleeping. So she lies down also. She followed her mother-in-law’s plan exactly; now she has to wait; the next move belongs to Boaz.

At the darkest portion of the night, Boaz suddenly wakes up! He’s not sure why he woke up, but now that he is up, he notices something. Something is different. Is there someone sleeping at his feet? Is that a woman? What is a woman doing on his threshing floor?

Who are you?

9 And he said, “Who are you?”

So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.” —Ruth 3:9 NKJV

Since this story takes place during the period of the judges (see Ruth 1:1 and Love is… part 1), it would not be surprising if the average Israelite welcomed the night visit of an unknown woman, interpreting her presence as an offer of sexual favors. But this is not an average Israelite; this is Boaz, a man who loves God. It is dark out, and Boaz can’t tell who it is, so he asks the question, “Who are you?” This greatly improved from his previous question, “To whom does she belong?” From Ruth 2:5 (see Love is… part 2).

Ruth gives Boaz a straight answer: “I am your servant, Ruth.” Ruth takes this opportunity to shift the attention from her to Boaz. This is fascinating because she is a lowly servant, and he is the master; she is an uninvited visitor on his property; she is a woman, he is a man; she is a foreigner, he is a native. Ruth also defines who Boaz is, a close relative. Next, Ruth clearly and directly asks Boaz to marry her.

The idiom she used may be puzzling to the modern reader, but there was no question about its meaning in the Israelite context in which it was given. Literally pāraś ānāp ʿal translates “to spread one’s wing over.” One recognizes immediately a play on 2:12, where kĕnāpîm, “wings,” had served as a metaphor for the refuge that Yahweh, the God of Israel provides. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 691.

The word kānāp is gloriously ambiguous, referring not only to the wings of a bird but also to a skirt, the corners of one’s flowing garments. Ruth’s words could literally be interpreted as a request to Boaz to cover her and protect her from the chill of the night. He is not the only one shivering (due to his exposed feet). But wait! There is more to her demand, because in common Hebrew usage, “to spread one’s wings over someone” was a figurative phrase referring to marriage. (See Deut 22:30; 27:20; Mal 2:16; Ezek 16:8.) The gesture of a man covering a woman with his garment was a symbolic act, which according to Near Eastern custom signified “the establishment of a new relationship and the symbolic declaration of the husband to provide for the sustenance of the future wife.”(Block, 691)

Ruth is bold and direct. What follows is the strongest argument against the sexual interpretation of Naomi’s plan. Boaz understands what Ruth is asking for; he does not see Ruth’s actions as a proposition for sex. Boaz responds in a way that makes it clear that he understood Ruth’s request for marriage, and that it was nothing immoral or illicit.

Boaz’s response

10 Then he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. —Ruth 3:10-11 NKJV

Boaz does not curse Ruth or reject her as an immoral woman. Instead, he blesses her. Boaz’s blessing reminds us of Naomi’s blessing upon him. (Ruth 2:20 Love is… Part 2) Boaz’s first words are extremely important because we have been holding our breath to find out how he will react to Ruth’s actions.

How is it that, being awakened at midnight in a most unusual and compromising situation, he knows exactly what Ruth has meant by her veiled speech, and he commends her for it? These are hardly the flippant words of one who has been seduced by a woman of the night. Again the reader is inclined to see the hidden hand of God guiding not only the actions of individuals but their reactions and their dispositions so that in the end Yahweh’s agenda is fulfilled. Boaz’s words have the ring of divine inspiration. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 692–693.

Hesed

Surprisingly, Boaz praised Ruth for her demonstration of hesed (love/display of family loyalty and devotion). Boaz must be referencing his previous words recorded in Ruth 2:11, where he talks about her abandonment of her home country to be with Naomi and her people. This was a sign of hesed (kindness/love) towards Naomi but how is Ruth’s current behavior a demonstration of hesed?

Boaz clarifies that Ruth did not go after younger or more desirable men. Boaz must not be that old if he is able to put in a full day of work with his worker and sleep outdoors by the grain. He is well off and respected, but he points out that Ruth did not go around looking for young men or rich men; she stayed with him. Boaz interpreted this as an act of hesed (kindness/loyalty/love)

The issue revolves around Ruth’s use of the word gōʾēl, “kinsman-redeemer.” Ruth’s primary demand is simply that he marry her, but Boaz knows as soon as she utters this word that the stakes are higher, and this is what triggers his interpretation of her words as an act of ḥesed; they represent kindness and grace for the benefit of someone else. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 694.

I love how now Boaz tells Ruth that he will do all that she requests. He is in a position of power, yet he submits to her request to do for her what she needs him to do. His reasoning for this is that she is clearly a virtuous woman. This is incontrovertible evidence that Ruth had no immoral intentions with Boaz this evening. Boaz points out that everyone knows that Ruth is a woman of character, and he is willing to do what she asks, because of who she is.

Ruth did not gain her reputation by scheming and manipulation. She was not chasing wealth and status; she was not playing political games and mingling with the important people of her community. Instead, Ruth embodied Israel’s lofty covenant standards. Her hesed shone through; her love, loyalty, and kindness to the family of her deceased husband and her widowed mother-in-law won her the praise of all. Boaz could have mistreated her, called her Moabite trash, and accused her of scavenging in the garbage of Israel and corrupting the people with her immoral behavior. But Boaz also demonstrates hesed, and sees the value in Ruth, and treats her as a woman of status like his own.

A closer relative?

12 Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. 13 Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the Lord lives! Lie down until morning.” —Ruth 3:10-13 NKJV

The fact that Boaz knows that there is someone closer to Elimelech (Ruth’s deceased father-in-law) than he is evidence that he has been looking into this. Though Boaz had not made a move, it seems to me like he has done his homework, which means that this possibility had crossed his mind. Perhaps he was waiting for Ruth to put away her garments of widowhood; we can’t know for sure.

Boaz promises to look into this, and if the other man is not willing to perform the duty of a close relative, he will, for sure! Then he tells Ruth to go back to sleep. How can she sleep after this!? I bet the excitement and anxiety regarding a possible wrinkle in her/Naomi’s plan made it difficult for her to sleep that night. But one thing was for sure, she was not rejected; she would be protected and provided for. God was with her!

Early the next morning

14 So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 Also he said, “Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city. —Ruth 3:14-15 NKJV

Ruth and Boaz are concerned about the appearance of evil, so to avoid rumors and to protect their name, they get up very early, and Boaz gives Ruth a generous gift to take home. There is debate over the last phrase; the weight of the evidence seems to indicate that Boaz went into the city because he had business to take care of.

The results of Naomi’s scheme

16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “Is that you, my daughter?”

Then she told her all that the man had done for her. 17 And she said, “These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, ‘Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ”

18 Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.” —Ruth 3:16-18 NKJV

Ruth tells Naomi all that happened, and I can imagine Naomi with a big smile on her face! Her plan had worked after all.

Practical application

Trust in God, and show up.

Maybe the plan is flawed. Perhaps it is a long shot. But continue to show up in a loving and kind way. Never resort to deceit, never go outside of God’s will. Trust in God’s character; He loves you and will never forsake you. Just keep showing up and see what God does next.

[mrlnsfrt]

Love is... (part 1)

The Book of Ruth: Exploring Love, Loyalty, and Life’s Uncertainties

Ruth is the only book in the Old Testament canon named after a non-Israelite. It is surprising that the book is named after Ruth. Based on the plot, it would have been more appropriately named “The Book of Naomi,” and based on the dialogue, it should have been titled “The Book of Boaz.” What is the special fascination with Ruth that caused the book to be named after her? Let’s discover it together in this new series!

The Book of Ruth is one of the most delightful literary compositions of the ancient world. The narrator is a master at painting word pictures. He skillfully employs the techniques of dialogue, characterization, repetition, reticence, ambiguity, suspense, wordplays, inclusios, et cetera to produce this moving work of art. But what is it about this picture that moves the reader? And what are the points he seeks to get across? Although Ruth is a short book, it is complex in its plot and subtle in its development of themes (of which there are several). —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 603.

Before jumping into the story I want you to keep in mind the words of Paul recorded in romans 8:28.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. — Romans 8:29 NKJV

Do you believe in these words? Do you think they represent an eternal truth that applies even in the Old Testament? This story will not be simple or clean; it will be messy, like our lives often are.

Are you ready?

Setting

 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. —Ruth 1:1 NKJV

“In the days when the judges ruled” indicates that the events described in the book of Ruth took place not after but during the period of the Judges. Although the Book of Ruth follows the Book of Judges, the events occurred during the same time period, although we are not given many details beyond that. We do not know who the judge was during the period described in the Book of Ruth; we only know it took place sometime after Joshua's death and before Saul's crowning.

“There was a famine in the land.” The cause of the famine is not indicated in the biblical text. Meteorologically speaking, it did not rain long enough for the crops to fail and animals to die, causing a famine. Theologically speaking, this could be a judgmental act by God. If God’s people went after other gods and persisted in rebelling against His covenant, He would make the heavens like iron and the earth like bronze. (see: Leviticus 26:18-20 and Deuteronomy 28:23-24)

Geographically, the story begins in Bethlehem of Judah. The irony is lost to us who don’t speak Hebrew. Bethlehem means “house of bread,” but there is no food there. We may be familiar with the town of Bethlehem because of King David and Jesus. Still, at this time in history, it was an insignificant town located five miles south of Jerusalem.

Meet the Family

2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. —Ruth 1:2 NKJV

The story begins with a general problem, then focuses on its impact on a specific family. We are introduced to Elimelech and his family. Elimelech’s name is interesting because it appears to be a sentence name that means “My God is king,” but his departure to the land of Moab seems to indicate some doubt about the truth his name declared. We don’t know for certain whether Elimelech should have left Bethlehem or stayed, and the narrator does not instruct us on how to interpret the move.

Some would argue that if Elimelech was aware that the famine resulted from breaking the covenant with God, he should have stayed and repented and started a revival and a reformation where necessary. After all, according to the Book of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 30:1-3,8-10), if the people would repent, the famine would end. Therefore, it seems like Elimelech would rather move for a while than turn back to God. Elimelech’s move also paralleled Abraham’s move to Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20), which has also been connected to a lack of faith and even cowardice.

If Elimelech could avoid the famine by simply crossing the Jordan to Moab (east of the Dead Sea), it suggests that the famine was localized to the land of Israel. This supports the interpretation of the famine as a covenantal curse. And Elimelech chose to deal with the symptoms instead of the root cause. Instead of repenting and calling on God for mercy, he decided to move.

Moab

Deciding to move to Moab must have been a very difficult choice for Elimelech, and it could also explain why only his family decided to move (temporarily - Hebrew verb gur means to sojourn, dwell for a time). The Israelites and Moabites did not get along for at least five reasons.

Moabite origin - They came from the incestuous relationship of Lot and his daughters. (Genesis 19:30-38)

The Moabites resisted when Israel passed through their territory when they came out of Egypt. (Numbers 22-24)

The Moabite women seduced the Israelite men and caused them to sin, which caused Israel to be punished. (Numbers 25:1-9)

Israel had a constitutional exclusion of Moab from the assembly of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 23:3-6)

Israel had recently been oppressed by Eglon, king of Moab (Judges 3:15-30)

These five factors make the wholehearted acceptance of Ruth by Naomi, Boaz, and the people of Bethlehem even more remarkable.

Tragedy Strikes

3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. — Ruth 1:3-5 NKJV

What a tragic experience, to flee from famine only to experience death in a foreign land. Naomi, now a widow, becomes the head of her family. This is indicated subtly in the narrative. Naomi is not mentioned as Elimelech's wife, but rather Elimelech is now referred to as Naomi’s husband. Similarly, Elimelech’s children are now referred to as Naomi’s sons. The story stopped being about Elimelech and is not about Naomi. All hope is not lost at this point because Naomi’s sons are still alive and able to marry, so we hope they will have children of their own and their family line will continue.

How should we feel about Naomi’s sons marrying Moabite women? If we are familiar with some Old Testament laws, we would oppose their marriages (Deut. 7:3; 23:3; Ezra 9:2; Neh. 13:23). However, the narrator is ambiguous. There are some possible hints in the original language regarding marriage, where the word used means “to lift or carry a woman,” (used only 9 times in the Old Testament Judg 21:23; Ruth 1:4; 2 Chr 11:21; 13:21; 24:3; Ezra 9:2, 12; 10:44; Neh 13:25) as opposed to the more commonly used word for marriage, which means “to take a woman.” Some also point to the fact that Naomi’s sons were married for nine years without children as evidence of God’s disapproval of their marriage. (Deuteronomy 28:18) Later, when Ruth has a son, it is considered a special blessing from God. (Ruth 4:13) The strongest argument in favor of God’s displeasure with the decisions of Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion is their death. Once again, the narrator does not weigh in but leaves the interpretation of these events to the reader. Was this judgment from God, or simply bad luck?

Naomi is left all alone. She has no husband, no children. (The word used in Ruth 1:5 means children as opposed to the word often used for sons used in Ruth 1:1-3, 11-12)

Response to the Crisis

Naomi and her daughters-in-law now face a present without men and a future without hope.

6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread. 7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.”

So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.” —Ruth 1:6-10 NKJV

God acts, and hope breaks through the dark clouds that overshadowed Naomi’s future. God came to the aid of His people by giving them bread, and Naomi decides to return to her people and her God. Interestingly, Naomi’s daughters-in-law want to join her. We are not told why this is the case. Why would these widows not return to their families? Why would three widows stick together? We are not told explicitly, but imagining possible reasons to desire to follow someone should not be difficult. Something about Naomi caused her daughters-in-law to prefer to travel to a foreign land with her than to stay in their homeland without her.

Naomi, being aware of how challenging life can be for a Moabitess in the land of Judah, tries to discourage her daughters-in-law from following her. Naomi gives her daughters-in-law a double command, “Go, return.” By sending her daughters-in-law to their mother’s house, Naomi was likely releasing them to remarry. (Genesis 24:28; Songs of Solomon 3:4; 8:2) This is made clear by verse 9 where Naomi prays they find rest in the house of their husband.

Though Naomi’s double command may sound harsh, she also prays a double blessing on her daughters-in-law. Naomi invokes the name of the LORD (YHWH) to bless them. In the Book of Ruth, much of what we learn about God is revealed through speech/dialogue. Naomi’s prayer reveals her understanding that the authority of the God of Israel extends beyond the border of Israel and even into the territory of another god, in this case, Chemosh. Naomi’s prayer also assumes that God cares about these non-Israelite ladies. Naomi’s prayer introduces us to her God and what she believes about Him.

Naomi’s prayer also introduces one of the key theological terms in the book.

May the LORD show you loving devotion (hessed), as you have shown to your dead and to me. (Ruth 1:8b Berean Standard Bible)

Hessed

Hessed cannot be translated with a single English word.

It is a covenant term, wrapping up in itself all the positive attributes of God: love, covenant faithfulness, mercy, grace, kindness, loyalty. In short, it refers to acts of devotion and lovingkindness that go beyond the requirements of duty. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 633–634.

Naomi understood that divine acts of hessed would bring the opposite of pain and suffering, which all three women have been experiencing for over a decade. Perhaps this was also opening the doors for covenantal blessings. (Leviticus 26:3-13; Deuteronomy 28:1-14 - The link of hesed with covenant is made explicit in the hendiadic expression “the covenant and the lovingkindness,” viz., “the gracious covenant,” in Deut 7:9, 12; 1 Kgs 8:23 = 2 Chr 6:14; Neh 1:5; 9:32; Dan 9:4.)

In Naomi’s first speech (1:8) we are introduced to the key theological term in the book and one of Yahweh’s most treasured characteristics: ḥesed. Ḥesed is one of those Hebrew words whose meaning cannot be captured in one English word. This is a strong relational term that wraps up in itself an entire cluster of concepts, all the positive attributes of God—love, mercy, grace, kindness, goodness, benevolence, loyalty, covenant faithfulness; in short, that quality that moves a person to act for the benefit of another without respect to the advantage it might bring to the one who expresses it. Naomi’s use of ḥesed as the direct object of the verb ʿāśâ, “to do, act, demonstrate,” reflects the fact that this quality is expressed fundamentally in action rather than word or emotion —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 605–606.

Why do they need a husband?

The second blessing Naomi prays over her daughter-in-law is that the LORD would grant them security to each in the house of her husband. Maybe some in our modern day would take offense to this prayer. Why can’t the three women be strong and independent without a husband in their lives? I do not take this prayer as a mandate that all women must be married to be fulfilled. Instead, I take it as a window into the culture of the time.

The death of a husband meant the loss of one’s economic support base and the severing of connections to the kinship structures. Widowhood often meant inevitable alienation and destitution. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 634.

With this blessing, Naomi kissed her daughters, and they lifted their voices and wept, a common Near Eastern expression of grief to this day. Surprisingly, the two Moabite women were determined to stick with Naomi. Despite all their suffering together, these two women would rather travel with Naomi to a foreign land than stay in their homeland without her. What caused these women to be more attracted to their mother-in-law than to their people?

Think this through

11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!” —Ruth 1:11-14 NKJV

This is Naomi’s longest speech in the book. Naomi challenges her daughters-in-law's decision by asking them to list the advantages of leaving with her. She follows this up with another question: Are they hoping to marry her future sons? This question may sound ridiculous, but it points out important factors. These women need husbands, and Naomi cannot provide them with them. They will have a harder time finding husbands in a foreign land. Naomi knows how the Israelites feel about the Moabites.

Bitterness

Naomi’s speech continues with an answer to her questions. The answer is a resounding and bitter “No.”

“No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” —Ruth 1:13b Berean Standard Bible

Naomi reveals her true feelings about her lot in life. She is bitter and blames God for her suffering. Naomi feels like the target of God's wrath. The cause of the famine in Bethlehem, the death of Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion, and the barrenness of Orpah and Ruth may be mysterious to the reader, but Naomi is clear regarding the cause of her troubles. This is challenging because Naomi’s blessings earlier indicated her faith in God’s ability to bless Orpah and Ruth, yet now she blames God for making her life bitter.

Some may be tempted to criticise Naomi for taking no responsibility for what has happened in her life. Instead, she accuses God. She does not mention her people's sins or the need for repentance. So, does Naomi have strong faith in the LORD, or does she view her God as others from her time and place viewed their gods? We don’t know for certain. Life is messy, and emotions color our thoughts. Our faith and theology are constantly being shaped, strengthened, and challenged. Struggling is not a sign of quitting. Naomi may be angry with God, but she would still rather trust God than rebel against Him.

But Ruth clung to her

The women wept once again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

15 And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” — Ruth 1:14-15 NKJV

Naomi draws Ruth’s attention to Orpah, who is heading back to Moab, her people, and her gods. This could shed light on why Ruth does not want to return. This is not only about the geographical location, language, food, customs, religion, and theology.

My belief is that Ruth's main reason for wanting to stay with Naomi is because of Naomi’s God. Ruth has to decide between returning to a familiar place, language, culture, people, and religion, or venturing off to a new land, new people, new customs and food, and most importantly, a new religion that she only got to know through Naomi’s witness. But Ruth has made up her mind.

Ruth stood the supreme test She proved to be more of a Jewess at heart than she was a Moabitess. A change had taken place during her association with Naomi, and she knew she would feel more content and more at home in the strange land of Israel than she would in the familiar land of Moab, and among her lifelong friends. A knowledge of the true God binds human hearts more closely together than do the ties of race or kindred. —Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 2 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976), 432.

But Ruth said

16 But Ruth said:

“Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”

18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. — Ruth 1:16-18 NKJV

The first words we hear from Ruth’s lips alone are among the most memorable in all of Scripture. Few utterances in the Bible match her speech for sheer poetic beauty, and the extraordinary courage and spirituality it expresses.  —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 640.

Ruth delivers a beautiful and eloquent response that continues to amaze those who read it. Ruth’s pledge of devotion to Naomi is one of the loftiest expressions of commitment found in the Bible. Ruth essentially tells Naomi, “Nothing but death will separate us.” This declaration leaves Naomi speechless.

Ruth’s answer is the keynote of the whole book. It is not merely that Ruth’s love for her mother-in-law leads her to cleave to Naomi. Ruth has discovered that it is Naomi’s faith that makes her a wonderful woman. Ruth resolutely makes her decision for the true God: “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” No more sublime affirmation of love and devotion is to be found anywhere. — Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 2 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976), 432.

Ruth gained knowledge of the true God by seeing Him reflected in the lives of Naomi and the other members of Naomi’s family. This is how God reveals Himself to people—by demonstrating the power of His love operating in the lives of former sinners. The transforming power of divine love is the best argument in favor of the truth. Without it, our profession is no better than “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1).

Arriving in Bethlehem

19 Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”

20 But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. —Ruth 1:19-22 NKJV

We do not know at which point in the journey Naomi had her daughters-in-law have their conversation and for how much of the journey it was just Ruth and Naomi, but the next thing we know, the two women arrive in Bethlehem. The town is excited by Naomi’s return, but something has changed, and they wonder if she is indeed Naomi. She left with a husband and two sons, (likely) full of life and optimism. Now she has returned aged by the hardships she has faced. She is alone except for Ruth, her daughter-in-law.

Apparently, Naomi overheard the question the women of the city were asking each other, and she addresses the women of the town, venting publicly her frustration and pain. She left Bethlehem as Naomi, but she has returned a different woman. She no longer wishes to be called Naomi; from now on, she will be called Mara. Naomi blames God, the Almighty, for what has happened to her.

When she first left, Naomi was not full in the sense of having food. If she had been full, she would have remained in Bethlehem. But she was full in that her future was secure with a husband and two sons. Now, she has no future. Naomi has returned home and recognizes the LORD as sovereign, but her theology does not seem well-rounded.

Naomi may have come back home in faith, but hers is a flawed faith. Unable to see human causation in Israel’s famine and in her own trials, the woman the neighbors greet is a bitter old woman. She does indeed ascribe sovereignty to God, but this is a sovereignty without grace, an omnipotent power without compassion, a judicial will without mercy. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 647.

Conclusion

We like to clean up and sanitize biblical narratives. We want neat conclusions. But what do we have so far? We have Naomi, who seems like a nice person. After all, her daughters-in-law were willing to follow her to a foreign country. Yet, Naomi has experienced bitterness and loss. She considers herself judged by God. She returned home empty, having lost her husband and both her sons. She is vulnerable and alone, except for Ruth, another widow, who is also a foreigner. What kind of future could they possibly expect?

Would they become beggars? Would Ruth turn to prostitution? What other options were there for them in the ancient world?

To find out, you must continue reading the Bible story and check in my future posts as we wrestle with this complex story.

For now, suffice it to say that the presence of hardships is not to be taken as evidence of God's absence. Therefore, if God is the Almighty and remains in control, do you trust Him to work through the bitterness to bring about a blessing?

How often do we quit amid bitterness and never discover the blessing waiting for us on the other side?

My challenge for you is to return to God, to a community of faith, like Naomi, even if you feel like you are returning empty, even if you feel self-conscious or embarrassed. God has a good plan for you. I wish I could tell you it will all be easy and fun. It won’t. But I can tell you it is the best possible plan for your life and that you will never regret sticking with God. God loves you. He will save you. And He will use you in ways you don’t expect to bless those around you. Your part is not to walk away. Stick with God and trust in His character, trust in His love, trust in His power, trust in His plan, and keep showing up.

God will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6; Matthew 28:20)

[mrlnsfrt]

Love is... (Part 2)

Exploring Ruth's Journey: Boaz, Gleaning, and Divine Providence

This is part 2 of my Love Is… series, where I explore the Book of Ruth in depth. This post will focus on Ruth chapter 2.

Place and Setting

We can refer to this portion of the story as Act 2, and it takes place in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. For context, let us revisit the last verse of chapter 1.

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. — Ruth 1:22 NKJV

Chapter one ends with a summary of key information. Naomi has returned from Moab to Bethlehem, and Ruth, a Moabitess, has tagged along. This summary places Naomi in a place of prominence, and Ruth as a secondary character, a foreigner who is tagging along. When the narrator highlights that Ruth is a Moabitess, we anticipate that she will not be readily accepted by the community in Bethlehem. (For more on Moab/Israel relations, see my previous post Love is… Part 1) But Chapter 1 ends on a positive note, the barley harvest was beginning!

The timing is critical and providential, for it means that Naomi and Ruth arrive in “the house of bread” just when the grain for bread is ready to be cut, that is, in late April or early March by our calendars. Since barley was the first crop to be harvested each year, the timing of their arrival meant that Naomi and Ruth could get settled at a time when food would be relatively plentiful and that they were around to lay up stores of each crop for the dry season. — Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 650.

With this in mind, let us transition to Ruth chapter 2.

Meet Boaz

There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. — Ruth 2:1 NKJV

The narrator introduced us to a new character, Boaz. He is a relative of Naomi’s, now deceased, husband, and a wealthy and influential man in the community. Though there is little debate over the translation, it is worth noting that the same expression can mean a “noble with respect to character” (ibid) (See multiple translations of Ruth 2:1). I only mention it here because it is very likely that both meanings are meant with regard to Boaz. We also learn that he is from the clan of Elimelech.

Ruth takes the initiative

2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.”

And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” — Ruth 2:2 NKJV

For the first time, Ruth takes the initiative. The narrator once again highlights that Ruth is a Moabitess, a foreigner, yet she is taking the initiative. Ruth did not come to be a burden to her mother-in-law. Ruth, though a widow and a foreigner, is not helpless; she has agency and takes the initiative. She is determined to make something out of her life. Ruth had every reason to bemoan the lot in life; she could complain about how God must be against her, about how unfair life is, about the severe challenges that came with being a woman, being a woman in the ancient world, being a woman in the Middle East, being a widow, and being a foreigner whose only social support was an even older widow.

Without a doubt, the deck was stacked against Ruth; she is facing an uphill battle. Yet she is determined to go out and work, which is potentially dangerous. Ruth is not going to sit around helplessly waiting to be rescued. Ruth is not a princess whose main contribution to the world is her physical beauty, and is waiting to be rescued by Prince Charming.

What a coincidence!?

Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. —Ruth 2:3 NKJV

As Ruth goes out to work she happened to come to the part of the field that belonged to Boaz, who was related to Naomi’s deceased husband. What are the odds!?

How often do we pray to God about our unfavorable circumstances yet remain inert, waiting for deliverance? Sometimes our lucky break is out there, looking like just plain hard work. “Luck” can happen to anyone anytime, but it seems to happen more often to those working hard.

Ruth freely chose to go out and work. We are not told of her having a vision or hearing a voice from beyond telling her to do this. But as she went out to work, God directed her path, and she ended up working in the field of Boaz. Of course, the narrator does not say it this way; the narrator puts it in a way that seems like it was pure chance. How often do we experience something that could be interpreted as pure chance, but we see the fingerprints of God all over it?

By excessively attributing Ruth’s good fortune to chance, he forces the reader to sit up and take notice, to ask questions concerning the significance of everything that is transpiring. The statement is ironical; its purpose is to undermine purely rational explanations for human experiences and to refine the reader’s understanding of providence. In reality he is screaming, “See the hand of God at work here!” The same hand that had sent the famine (1:1) and later provided food (1:6) is the hand that had brought Naomi and Ruth to Bethlehem precisely at the beginning of the harvest (1:22) and has now guided Ruth to that portion of the field belonging specifically to Boaz. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 653–654.

Gleaning

Ruth is not going to harvest grain, but glean. This involves picking up grain that the harvesters have inadvertently dropped or left standing. Mosaic law made provision for the alien, orphan, and widow in this regard.

9 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God. — Leviticus 19:9-10 NKJV

22 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God.’ ” — Leviticus 23:22 NKJV

19 “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. — Deuteronomy 24:19 NKJV

Oftentimes, we are in a hurry to do away with the Mosaic Laws, and we forget that God, in His wisdom, provided these laws for the benefit of humanity. An orphan, a widow, a foreigner, or someone going through hard times is hardly able to prepare the field and sow and reap, but an able-bodied person can glean. The owner of the field will not suffer a loss, and the person going through difficulties does not have to starve. But the person in need does have to go and glean. The food will not be delivered to his door.

Provision was thus made for supplying the needy with the necessities of life, and for teaching those more favorably situated lessons of unselfishness and compassion. Furthermore, the needy had to work for what they received, and did not become merely the passive recipients of charity. This preserved their self-respect and encouraged initiative and industry. —Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 2 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976), 434.

Just because the law provided for the destitute, it does not guarantee that the owner of the field will follow the law. As a widow and a foreigner, Ruth does not have someone to fight for her, at least not someone in a position of power. Ruth understands that she needs to find favor, either in the eyes of the field owner or the harvesters.

Boaz arrives

 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!”

And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!” — Ruth 2:4 NKJV

Again, coincidence strikes when Boaz and Ruth happen to be in the same field at the same time. With a greeting, the narrator shifts our focus from Ruth to Boaz. Boaz arrives and initiates the dialogue with two profound but simple words (in Hebrew), “May the LORD be with you.” This simple greeting gives us, and Ruth, an insight into the type of man that Boaz was. Boaz was the type of man you wanted to have as your boss. From this first interaction, we see that he is a man who creates a positive work environment. Boaz’s speech is characterized by grace, making him an example for true covenant love/hesed (see my post Love is…1for a longer explanation of hesed) for all who are in a leadership position. We notice that his workers appreciate having him as their leader by their response, “The LORD bless you!”

Whose young woman is that?

5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”

6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.” —Ruth 2:5-7 NKJV

Boaz notices a stranger in the field and asks the supervisor whose she is. This is an odd question to most of us. Why didn’t Boaz ask who she was or what her name was? Instead, he asked, “To whom does this woman belong?” Boaz assumes that Ruth, who was obviously a stranger, would not be independent. Perhaps he thought she was engaged to someone, was someone’s daughter, or wife. His question did not indicate that she must necessarily be a slave. Boaz could also be interested in which clan or tribe she belonged to. What is her context? Where does she fit in?

This question refocuses the attention on Ruth and gets the reader thinking about Elimelech, who gives her identity some context. However, Elimelech is not mentioned in the answer. Instead, we have Ruth’s status as a foreigner highlighted: " She’s a young Moabite woman” who is related to Naomi, a widow, and has just arrived from Moab. In other words, she’s nobody important. She’s interesting, perhaps, but she has no power and is not related to anyone important.

The supervisor knew about Ruth because she came to him asking for permission to glean. We know that she was working from morning until now, but the last clause of this verse (about her resting) is the most difficult line to translate in the entire book. (ibid) Ruth may be unimportant without connections to powerful (living) men, but she is working hard to provide for her mother-in-law, a widow. Ruth’s value comes not from her social ties or a man but rather from her character and strong work ethic. In other words, her value comes from her good decisions, not because of who she “belongs to.”

Stay here

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” — Ruth 2:8-9 NKJV

Boaz takes the initiative in the conversations, and Ruth, as a foreigner, a young woman, and a field worker, gives short answers. The main contribution of these conversations to the plot is to reveal the character of Boaz to us (the readers).

From the first time Boaz opens his mouth until the last words he utters (4:9–10), his tone exudes compassion, grace, and generosity. In the man who speaks to this Moabite field worker biblical ḥesed becomes flesh and dwells among humankind. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 659.

Boaz refers to Ruth as “my daughter,” and this appears to break down the natural barriers that separate him from her. This is not a patronizing expression. As we read on, we will see even more evidence that suggests a difference in age. (Notice how Ruth is referred to repeatedly as being young.) This could be a sign that Boaz feels a sense of responsibility for Ruth. Though Ruth is a Moabitess, and he knows it, he is not looking to take advantage of her but rather desires to offer her his resources and protection.

Boaz’s behavior paints a beautiful picture of what love (hesed) looks like. The person with power/resources uses it to help the person in need. To be fair to Ruth, she is not helpless; she took the initiative to show up early and to work all day. Boaz guarantees her a safe work environment. Boaz basically instituted the first anti-sexual-harassment policy in the workplace recorded in the Bible. Allowing Ruth to drink from their water was also no small matter.

In a cultural context in which normally foreigners would draw for Israelites, and women would draw for men (Gen 24:10–20), Boaz’s authorization of Ruth to drink from water his men had drawn is indeed extraordinary. — Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 660.

Overwhelmed by generosity

10 So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” —Ruth 2:10 NKJV

Ruth falls on her face and bows down in a physical gesture of submission and gratitude, then she speaks, expressing her amazement that Boaz would be so gracious towards her or even notice her at all, especially since she’s a foreigner. Ruth is clearly self-conscious about her status as an alien, and she can’t believe how well Boaz treats her.

Boaz had dignified Ruth, a destitute widow from Moab, by treating her as a significant person and placing her socially on par with his hired (and likely Israelite) field workers.

Ruth’s character

11 And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. 12 The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” — Ruth 2:11-12 NKJV

Though Boaz had just met Ruth, he had heard about her. The love Ruth demonstrated to her mother-in-law surprisingly reached Boaz’s ears, and he was impressed with Ruth’s character. This was not about Naomi, Elimelech, or Ruth’s deceased husband. Boaz was familiar with Ruth’s character based on her actions. Ruth freely chose to stick by her mother-in-law. Ruth freely chose to get up early and find a field to glean. Boaz had heard enough about Ruth to recognize she was a virtuous woman. The evidence of Ruth’s character was clear to anyone paying attention, and Boaz was paying attention.

Boaz noticed how Ruth traded what she knew, he land, her family, friends, and customs, for what she did not know, Naomi’s God, people, and land. Ruth, like Abraham, traded the familiar for the unknown.

Boaz blesses Ruth, praying that the LORD would repay her for her actions. This is a biblical principle.

Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender. —Proverbs 19:17 Berean Standard Bible

Boaz also understood that Ruth had chosen the LORD over the gods of Moab. “To express this notion Boaz introduces one of the most beautiful pictures of divine care in all of Scripture.” He imagines the LORD as a mother bird (Deut 32:11; Isa 31:5; Matt 23:37) who offers her wings for the protection of her defenseless young. (Block, 663) When Ruth came to Boaz’s field, she was vulnerable and in need, and he offered her his protection, personally functioning as the wings of God!

Do you ever consider that your kindness towards someone in need is an extension of the arm of God? Do you see yourself as the hands and feet of Jesus to bring relief to those suffering?

Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. Proverbs 14:31 English Standard Version

By his kindness to Ruth, Boaz also honors God. Our love for God impacts every aspect of our lives, especially how we treat others.

You have comforted me.

13 Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.” Ruth 2:13 NKJV

Boaz’s kindness had brought Ruth great relief. Ruth has found comfort and security under the wings of God, who is blessing her through Boaz. Ruth is astonished that the differences of race or class did not repress Boaz’s compassion towards her.

Meal time

14 Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back. —Ruth 2:14 NKJV

This conversation happens later in the day, but the words from the previous interaction are fresh on the reader's mind. During the meal, we discover Boaz’s kindness and compassion toward Ruth have been exhausted.

After a morning of hard work, the harvesters stop for a meal. The fact that Boaz joins his workers during the meal says something about Boaz’s character. But Boaz is not done. Not only does he share the meal with his workers, but he also invites Ruth, an outsider, to join him and his workers.

We are not told if Ruth had packed her own lunch, but judging by what she and Naomi were going through, she would likely have had very little food, if any, for this meal. Boaz has to invite Ruth to join them because she keeps her distance, understanding that Boaz has provided food for his workers and is just happy to be allowed to glean.

Imagine Ruth’s surprise at being invited to the table to eat bread! This could be the best meal Ruth has had in a while. Boaz does not just give Ruth dry bread but invites her to use the dip, and he personally serves Ruth roasted grain. Ruth eats to the point of satisfaction and brings some extra, possibly to share with Naomi when she returns home.

The narrator hereby shows how Boaz took an ordinary occasion and transformed it into a glorious demonstration of compassion, generosity, and acceptance—in short, the biblical understanding of ḥesed. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 667.

You might be tempted to consider that there was some romantic attachment, but the narrative gives no clear evidence of this up to this point. There were enough racial and social barriers to discourage either Boaz or Ruth from getting any ideas. Boaz understood that the wings of God were not meant to comfort only Israelites, and he offered protection even to a Moabitess.

Back to work

15 And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.” —Ruth 2:15-16 NKJV

Boaz gives his men orders concerning Ruth. Not only is Ruth to be allowed to glean, they are also to purposefully leave behind cut grain for her so she does not have to cut or pull the grain that she is gleaning. She is not to be harassed, neither physically nor verbally.

I hope you are able to see why God would cause a man like Boaz to prosper. Boaz uses his power and wealth to bless those around him. Not only is he gracious to his workers, he extends it towards a widow who is also a foreigner. I see Boaz as a person who is safe to bless. God can bless Boaz knowing that Boaz will pass God’s blessing on to those around him.

The Results

17 So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied. —Ruth 2:17-18 NKJV

Ruth worked hard all day and ended the day by beating out the grain from the heads of barley. There is debate among scholars and historians regarding the exact measurements since they seemed to vary depending on time and location. But regardless of the exact measurements it was a lot of grain!

By either standard, to thresh an ephah of grain from one day’s labor is an extraordinary feat, not to mention Ruth’s having to carry it home! Depending upon the quality of the grain and which standard one uses, an ephah of barley could have weighed from thirty to fifty pounds. —Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 670.

Naomi is amazed

Ruth came home with so much grain that Naomi got curious.

19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.”

So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.”

20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.”

21 Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, ‘You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’ ”

22 And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not meet you in any other field.” 23 So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law. —Ruth 2:17-23 NKJV

Naomi greets Ruth with two questions and a blessing on whoever took notice of her. Once Naomi realizes that Ruth happened to work in the field of Boaz, she blesses him a second time, commending him to the LORD. The reason Naomi commands Boaz to the LORD is that Boaz has not abandoned his hesed (love) to the living and the dead. By not abandoning hesed, Boaz is fulfilling his highest ideal as someone who has a covenant with God. However, the beauty of this text is that scholars argue about who exactly has not abandoned his hesed (love). Is it Boaz who has not abandoned his hesed, or is it the LORD who has not abandoned His hesed?

Who has not forsaken his hesed to the living and the dead?

Because hesed is such a complex and important theological expression (It wraps up in itself an entire cluster of concepts—love, mercy, grace, kindness, goodness, benevolence, loyalty, and covenant faithfulness (Block, 673)), some attribute it to God and His covenantal faithfulness to Naomi’s family. Personally, I do not feel a strong urge to differentiate between God and Boaz at this point. I have no problems with God showing His faithfulness to Naomi and Ruth through His servant Boaz, who lives a life that exemplifies God’s hesed.

Careful what you pray for

Naomi had prayed that the LORD would match Ruth’s hesed to her family by granting rest in the house of her husband. (Ruth 1:8-9 discussed in detail in Love is… part 1) Naomi likely had in mind a Moabite husband for Ruth, but now, since Ruth has met Boaz “by chance,” she begins to consider a new possibility.

Kinsman Redeemer

As a kinship redeemer is a near relative who is responsible for the economic well-being of a relative, and he comes into play especially when the relative is in distress and cannot get himself/herself out of the crisis. The Scriptures note five aspects of a gōʾēl’s redemptive role:

to ensure that the hereditary property of the clan never passes out of the clan (Lev 25:25–30);

to maintain the freedom of individuals within the clan by buying back those who have sold themselves into slavery because of poverty (Lev 25:47–55);

to track down and execute murderers of near relatives (Num 35:12, 19–27);

to receive restitution money on behalf of a deceased victim of a crime (Num 5:8); and

to ensure that justice is served in a lawsuit involving a relative (Job 19:25; Ps 119:154; Jer 50:34).

The Israelite provision for the gōʾēl is based upon an assumption of corporate solidarity and the sanctity of the family/clan: to offend a relative is to offend oneself. The custom of redemption was designed to maintain the wholeness and health of family relationships, even after the person has died.

Remarkably, in none of the texts clarifying the role of the gōʾēl is there any reference to marrying the widow of a deceased person (Block, 674–675.) Deuteronomy 25:5-10 is the defining text regarding levirate marriage in Israel and helps shed some light on the customs of the time. Though the story of Ruth does not follow the letter of the levirate marriage, it does seem to follow its spirit.

Until the end of the harvest

We don’t know, but scholars believe that Ruth would have been gleaning in the fields from late April until early June, so for six to seven weeks. (Block, 677)

Takeaway

In Ruth chapter 2, we are introduced to Boaz, a successful and influential man who is kind and is used by God to protect Ruth. We also discover that Ruth is not only kind to Naomi but also dedicated and hardworking.

From this story, I learn that God provides miraculously when my actions align with His will for my life. The miracle is not super obvious, but the coincidence is simply too great to result from mere chance.

Ruth freely chose to get up early and look for a field to glean. There was no guarantee that she would succeed, and in the process, she was also exposing herself to potential harassment. But God guided her to Boaz, who showed kindness to her and offered her protection. Not to mention that he is a possible kinsman redeemer.

Boaz freely chose to be kind to his workers and to share a meal with them. He freely chose to extend his kindness to Ruth an alien and a widow. By showing hesed to Ruth Boaz is acting as an agent of God who is showing hesed to Ruth and Naomi.

When we choose faithfulness to God, when we trust in God and act in accordance with our faith, God uses us for His honor and glory, and we are blessed in the process.

The challenge

My challenge to you this week is to extend kindness to others. As God blesses you, freely choose to bless those you can. Offer help, a share a kind word of encouragement, be a listening ear. Look for an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Ask God to use you to bless those around you. Live this week missionally, and let me know how God changes your life and the lives of those around you as a result.

Ps. I ask for a week, but feel free to make this your new approach to life.

[mrlnsfrt]

God is Love

Exploring the Meaning of Love

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. — 1 John 4:8 NKJV

The good news is that we have a concise and biblical definition of God.

The bad news is we don’t know what love is.

My trouble with the statement that God is love is that I believe God is probably the most misunderstood word we, as a society, use since so many who use it mean something different. My other issue is that I believe the second most misused word is love because we all mean something slightly different by it. Therefore, we can all agree that God is love while simultaneously disagreeing on what that means in a practical sense.

Allow me to complicate things further.

I believe in God

I believe in God. I have met many people who do not believe in God. My natural tendency is to want to convince them that God does exist. They then argue that God does not exist. I agree with them as they begin describing the god they do not believe in. People will say to me things like, “I don’t believe in a god who tortures babies for all eternity simply because their parents did not baptize them.” And I have to agree; I also do not believe in that god. I do not believe in most gods that some might claim exist. I believe in just one God, and that is the God revealed to us through nature and the Bible.

I believe in God, but that does not mean I fully understand God. I admit that I still have much to learn about God.

What is love?

The Bible clearly states that God is love. So, if we believe in the Bible and the God of the Bible, we agree that God is love. However, a challenge arises when we try to decide what love is.

There was a popular song when I was a teenager. The singer asked the question, “What is love?” and followed it up with the line, “Baby, don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, no more.” Isn’t it interesting that this song associates love with pain and suffering?

I remember a friend of mine who was going through, I think it was her third, abusive relationship. She was sharing with me how she was done with love because all it ever got her was hurt and pain. Isn’t it amazing how much someone you love can hurt you? Our enemies can never hurt us the way a loved one can. I expect the worst from an enemy, but to be hurt by someone you love is a much worse pain.

Another way to think about this is the following. No one can kill God. Yet, love caused God to freely choose to die to save us. From my perspective, this makes love the most powerful force in the universe. Force, fear, and intimidation can only go so far. But love has no boundaries. We should not underestimate the power of love and be careful with what we choose to love and what we allow ourselves to love. (I remember watching a short film back in 2011, and a line from it stuck with me, “love is like life, but longer.” )

Another singer declares that he wants to know what love is. This is an older song, but the singer says, “I want to know what love is, " then adds, “I want you to show me.” That line makes me uncomfortable. Maybe it’s because I have a daughter now, but it makes me wonder if this line is a tool for manipulation. However, I know God is love, and I am called to love others, including my enemies. I am terrified of love and of being taken advantage of.

Sometimes, we are tempted to think it is easy to love, but the challenge is finding the right person to love. So, we withhold love and blame the other person for not being worthy of our love. But what if it is loving that is incredibly difficult? I do not write this as someone who has figured it all out but as someone who regularly wrestles with this.

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” — Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV

Jesus summarizes life as love first towards God, a love that is complete and unrestrained. And love towards those around us that matches our love for ourselves. So, there are degrees to love. My love and devotion towards God should not be directed at anyone or anything else besides God. There is also a degree of love that is dedicated to our spouse, to our parents, to our children, etc. It gets complex. But I think one of the key points is that I am called to show love even towards my enemies. (See my post Love your Enemies)

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, — Matthew 5:44 NKJV

This is a complex topic. I do not have all the answers, but I hope to point you in the right direction. Even in dealing with our enemies, love should dictate our behavior. But how do we know what the loving thing to do is?

“love does not define God, but God defines love.”  — Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 515–516.

This is an important point because there is a temptation that we will read that God is love, agree with it, believe in it, and then define God according to our definition of love. And let’s be honest, most of us do not have a healthy or consistent notion of love. But we assume we know what love is, and instead of studying the Bible to find out what God is like, we assume we know because we know that God is love, and we know (supposedly) what love is. So we have people claiming that God is like this or that without a scriptural basis beyond the statement that “God is love.”

If I can’t just assume I know what God is like simply because I understand what love is, how do I discover who God is and what love truly is?

A Humble Approach to the Bible

I admire those who approach their faith from the perspective of Sola Scriptura, or the Bible alone, but I also like to include Tota Scriptura, that is, the entire Bible. If we genuinely want to know God, we cannot simply ignore the parts of the Bible that we don’t like because they challenge our lifestyle or personal theology. This is a lifelong journey where I am continually studying the Bible in its entirety and allowing it to shape my understanding of God and love.

Making it practical

We may be tempted to think that love says yes to everything. As a child, I remember thinking that if my parents really loved me, they would say “yes” to everything I asked of them.

“Mom, can I have ice cream for dinner?” “Of course, my son, after all, I love you.”

That never happened growing up. My parents understood that ice cream for dinner would not be good for me. The loving response was to say no to me. The same was true for me; wanting to stay home and play video games instead of going to school or watching as much TV as I wanted to. My parents were strict in many ways, but I now understand it was because they loved me and wanted what was best for me.

Now that I am a father, I understand that I care about what my kids do because I love them. I know that bad habits will make everything else in life more difficult. I also know that good habits will help them enjoy life a lot more and accomplish more. I say this to illustrate that knowing the loving answer means understanding what the best options are, and those vary depending on the desired outcome.

In our church, we have club ministries, which sometimes feel strict. The same can be said about a school or a sports team you join. The coach does not push you because he doesn’t love you; the coach pushes you because she wants you to succeed. Your teacher pushes you in class so you can learn and grow. Allowing you to do whatever you want is rarely a sign of love, and permissiveness often indicates a lack of love.

Sometimes, the loving answer is a “no.”

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” — Matthew 26:39 NKJV

What do you think would be the loving answer to Jesus’ prayer?

Well, if he didn’t want to drink the cup of His suffering, it seems like the loving answer would be to let the cup pass from Jesus without Him having to drink it. But that would mean that all of us, all of humanity, would be doomed to a life of suffering without any hope of life, forgiveness, or salvation. Then, you would probably agree that the loving answer to Jesus’ prayer would be a “no.” As in God saying, “I cannot let this cup pass from You.” Because God knew that the plan was to save us, and the only way to save us was for Jesus to die for our sins.

I hope this makes sense to you. Because God loves us, He sent Jesus to die for us.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. —John 3:16NKJV

Because Jesus loves us, He was willing to follow the plan. That is why He asked that the Father’s will be done. Jesus understood that living as a human being here on earth sometimes meant His will was not necessarily what was best, and He trusted in the Father to know what was best.

Practical Application

Though the loving thing to do may not always be obvious, when I seek it, I am already on the right track. The unloving action/decision is never an option.

The loving thing to do often means doing the uncomfortable thing now for a future benefit. Sometimes, the loving thing to do is confront the bully, break the cycle of abuse, and deal with the root of the issue instead of just putting band-aids on it. Have the difficult conversation, but do it in love. Ask God to guide you, trust in God, and do what is best for the person in need of help.

Knowing that God is love means that He always knows what the best option is and can guide you. Even more, God always acts in a loving way, so I can have complete trust in Him and in His will. Even when His will is different from mine, I can trust that His will is best. This means that if I could see things from God’s perspective, I would want the same thing He wants for my life because it is the best thing for my life.

Finally, just like the example of Jesus praying in the garden, the loving thing to do is not necessarily the easiest thing to do. The loving thing for Jesus to do was to die on the cross for our sins. The loving thing for the Father to do was to say no to Jesus’s request to let the cup pass from Him.

[mrlnsfrt]

Unexpected Savior

From Genesis to Jesus: Exploring the Sacrificial Lamb

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” —Revelation 5:12b NKJV

Who chooses a slain lamb to be the symbol of power and victory?

Have you ever heard of a lamb as a sports mascot?

“Go, lambs, go! Bah Bah Bah!”

Would you feel safe if you relied on a lamb to save you?

There’s no superhero with a backstory of being bitten by a radioactive lamb and gaining the powers of being meek and mild.

So why a lamb? Why Sacrifice?

Allow me to clarify this by turning to a Bible story that is hotly debated among Christians.

Genesis 22

One of the most debated passages in Scripture is Genesis 22. In Jewish circles, this story is referred to as the Akedah. Akedah is a reference to the binding of Isaac, a term that is not used anywhere else in the Bible.

Akedah (ʿAqedah; Heb. עֲקֵדָה, lit. binding (of Isaac)) refers to the Pentateuchal narrative (Gen. 22:1–19) describing God’s command to Abraham to offer Isaac, the son of his old age, as a sacrifice. Obedient to the command, Abraham takes Isaac to the place of sacrifice and binds him (va-ya’akod, Gen. 22:9, a word found nowhere else in the Bible in the active, conjugative form) on the altar. The angel of the Lord then bids Abraham to stay his hand, and a ram is offered in Isaac’s stead. The Akedah became in Jewish thought the supreme example of self-sacrifice in obedience to God’s will and the symbol of Jewish martyrdom throughout the ages. — Jewish Virtual Library

Your only son, whom you love

Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” — Genesis 22:2 NKJV

Genesis 22 tells the story of God testing Abraham. Understandably, many people have a hard time with this story. I have heard people say “How dare God test someone by asking him to offer his son as a sacrifice!?” or “The loving God of the Bible would never do this.” or “But the Bible condemns human sacrifices!” or “It is unfair of God to ask that of anyone.”

You get the idea. This story is really out of character for God, as the Bible describes Him. It is no wonder there is so much debate over this narrative. We worship and love God because He is good, loving, wise, and powerful, and because He does not require of us things that are not for our own good and for the good of those around us. If God were inconsistent, evil, or mean, this story would not spark such intense debate. So, in a weird way, it is good that we struggle with this story.

God will provide for Himself

5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”

6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”

And he said, “Here I am, my son.”

Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. — Genesis 22:5-8 NKJV

I wonder how Isaac felt. We do not know how old Isaac was, but the narrative indicates he was old enough to carry the wood up the mountain. This indicates that Isaac was strong enough to oppose his father, or to flee if necessary. Isaac is not a helpless child at this point in his life. As Abraham gets everything ready, Isaac realizes his father must have forgotten something really important: the lamb for the burnt offering!

When Isaac questions Abraham, Abraham reveals his great faith in God and His understanding of the character of God. It is also worth noting that though Abraham leaves his servants behind, he tells them that he will return with his son. Abraham knew that ultimately God would provide for Himself the lamb for the offering.

At the end of the story, we discover that though Abraham was ready to offer his only son, the one he loved, as a sacrifice, God stops Abraham, and Abraham offers a ram that was caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham offered the ram as a substitute for his son. (Genesis 22:13)

Interesting details

I will not delve further into this passage at this time, but I have an entire post dedicated to it, titled Akedah. However, I would like to point out a few additional details.

When I read about God telling Abraham to sacrifice his only son, whom he loved, it reminds me of a couple of passages in the New Testament.

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” — Matthew 3:17 NKJV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. — John 3:16 NIV

Noticing this, it becomes evident that God provided Abraham with an opportunity to experience a tiny fraction of what the plan of salvation cost God. One of the many challenges in theology is reconciling the fact that God is vastly different from us in every way, yet we can still have some understanding of what He experiences.

Also, though Abraham told Isaac that God would provide for Himself a lamb for the offering, the story ends with the sacrifice of a ram. This could be nothing, but it could be something intentional.

Passover

When we read about the Passover regulations in Exodus 12, we learn that

The lamb should be without blemish (Exodus 12:5),

Be killed at twilight (verse 6),

Some of the blood should be taken and smeared on the sides and top of the doorframes of the house. (verse 7).

The blood of the lamb would be a sign, and it would cause God to pass over them, and they would be spared when God struck the land of Egypt (verse 13).

Interestingly, God also stipulated that none of the lamb's bones should be broken (verse 46).

When we read John 19:31-37, we find out that none of Jesus’ bones were broken.

Reflecting on how the passover lamb had to be without blemish, Jesus lived a perfect life. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 3:5; 1 Peter 2:22)

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. — 1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV

When I read about God telling Abraham to sacrifice his only son, whom he loved, it reminds me of a couple of passages in the New Testament.

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” — Matthew 3:17 NKJV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. — John 3:16 NIV

Noticing this, it becomes evident that God provided Abraham with an opportunity to experience a tiny fraction of what the plan of salvation cost God. One of the many challenges in theology is reconciling the fact that God is vastly different from us in every way, yet we can still have some understanding of what He experiences.

Substitutionary Atonement

In the story of Abraham's test (Genesis 22), we read about how a ram was sacrificed instead of Isaac. In the story of the Passover (Exodus 12), we read how a lamb was killed and its blood smeared on the doorframe, and it was a sign, and those in the house were spared. In the story of the Fall of Humanity (Genesis 3), we read about Adam and Eve noticing they were naked after they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit. They try to make coverings for themselves out of fig leaves, but it does not work, and they still feel shame and hide from God. (Genesis 3:7) Eventually, God made them tunics of skin and clothed them (verse 21). We assume an animal was sacrificed so that the shame of Adam and Eve could be covered. Since God made the tunics, I believe this indicates that the first death took place at the hands of God in order to cover the shame of Adam and Eve. God does not ask us to do something that He is not willing to do.

(Side quest opportunity: explore the use of the Hebrew word used here (Genesis 3:21) for tunics of skin)

God sacrificed an innocent animal to cover Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3:21) The children of Israel sacrificed a perfect lamb, and the blood of the lamb on the doorframe was a sign, and the members of the house were covered, protected, and God passed over that house when He was executing judgment against all the gods of Egypt. (Exodus 12:12-13)

Genesis 4 tells us the story of Cain and Abel. Cain makes an offering to God of the fruit of the ground. Cain was a tiller of the ground after all. (Genesis 4:1-3) Cain’s offering came from what he did. His effort, his gifts, he worked with the ground and offered to God from what he had. But there was no blood. I wonder if this is the equivalent of Adam and Eve’s garment of fig leaves. A nice gesture, but our works are not enough to earn us forgiveness, to cover our sins, shortcomings, and rebellion.

Hebrews 9:22 states that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 10:4 adds that animal sacrifices are not enough.

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. — Hebrews 10:4 NKJV

Behold the Lamb of God

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! — John 1:29 NKJV

I see John the Baptist’s words as a fulfillment of Abraham’s words to his son Isaac.

And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. — Genesis 22:8 NKJV

In Exodus 29:38-42 (see also Numbers 28:1-8), God establishes the daily Sacrifices. These were to take place every morning and evening. Although the Bible does not specify the times of the morning and evening sacrifices, according to Roman-Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities 14.4.3), the morning offering took place at 9:00 a.m., while the evening offering took place at 3:00 p.m. Jesus died at 3 PM (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; Luke 23:44-46;) This indicates that Jesus died at the time that traditionally, the evening sacrifice would have been offered.

When Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom (Luke 27:51), signifying, among other things, that we no longer needed to offer sacrifices. Because Jesus died for our sins, we can now come directly to God through Jesus. We no longer need priests and animal sacrifices. Jesus fulfilled that aspect of God’s law that was meant to teach us exactly what Jesus’ mission was.

God tested Abraham by asking him to offer his only son, whom he loved. But God provided for Himself a lamb for the sacrifice, His own Son, whom He loved more than we can ever hope to grasp. We may think that a life dedicated to God is difficult to live, because we have to set aside pride and selfishness and our carnal desires. We only give up that which is harmful to us and those around us. God gave up His only Son, who was perfect and innocent. Can we really complain to God about how difficult it is to seek His will for our lives?

Go ahead, explain to God how it is difficult to forgive your enemy, in light of Him giving His Son for us, His enemies.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. — Romans 5:8 NKJV

We all need and seek a reason to live. A cause worth dedicating our lives to. I can think of nothing better and more worthwhile than a life dedicated to the God who has loved us all along, who desires to save us, and to equip us to accomplish great things for His honor and glory and to the benefit of those around us.

Jesus paid it all.

How then shall we live?

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What happens when we die?

What Happens When You Die? A Biblical Perspective

Welcome back to our *Prophecies of Hope* series! If you’re joining us for the first time, this is episode nine, and I encourage you to check out the earlier videos in our YouTube playlist or podcast episodes to catch up. Today, we’re diving into a topic that might seem unrelated to prophecy at first but is deeply connected: *What happens when you die?* Let’s explore what the Bible says about the state of the dead, grounding ourselves in Scripture as our primary source.

### The Question of Death

What is death? To answer this, let’s start at the beginning—in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 3, we find Adam and Eve in a perfect world with no death, no suffering, and access to the Tree of Life. God warns them that eating from the forbidden tree will lead to death (Genesis 3:3). But the serpent counters, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). This introduces a critical question: What does death mean in a world where it doesn’t yet exist?

Imagine explaining death to Adam and Eve, who have never seen it. Would you say it’s like ceasing to exist, as it was before they were created? Or would you describe it as their soul living on elsewhere? If death means continuing to live as a conscious soul, what’s so bad about it? They’re already in paradise, walking with God. Why would God create a physical world if a spiritual one is better? These questions challenge us to rethink our assumptions about death.

### Death as Sleep: Jesus’ Words

To understand death biblically, let’s turn to John 11—the story of Lazarus. Lazarus is sick, and his sisters, Mary and Martha, send for Jesus. Surprisingly, Jesus delays, saying, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God” (John 11:4). When He finally speaks of Lazarus, He says, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up” (John 11:11). The disciples misunderstand, thinking Lazarus is resting. Jesus clarifies plainly: “Lazarus is dead” (John 11:14).

Here, Jesus equates death with sleep—a temporary, unconscious state. This isn’t just poetic language; it’s a consistent biblical theme. When Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead for four days, confirming he’s truly gone—no coma, no mistake. Martha expresses grief and faith, saying, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). Yet she trusts God can still act (John 11:22).

Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). Martha affirms her belief in a future resurrection “at the last day” (John 11:24), and Jesus doesn’t correct her. Instead, He raises Lazarus, calling him from the tomb: “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43). Lazarus emerges, alive, bound in grave clothes.

Notice what Jesus *doesn’t* say. He doesn’t tell Martha that Lazarus is in heaven, enjoying paradise, or suffering in torment. If Lazarus were conscious elsewhere, would being called back to earth be a blessing or a curse? The biblical picture is clear: Lazarus was “asleep” in death until Jesus woke him.

### Jesus Weeps: Death Hurts

One of the most powerful moments in this story is John 11:35: “Jesus wept.” Why? He knew He would raise Lazarus, yet He grieved. I believe Jesus wept because death brings pain—not just to us but to Him. He saw Mary and Martha’s sorrow and felt their loss. This tells us that weeping for loved ones is not a lack of faith; it’s human. Even Jesus, who is the resurrection, mourned the hurt death causes. When we grieve, we don’t grieve alone—God’s heart breaks with ours.

### The Hope of Resurrection

The Bible consistently describes death as sleep, pointing to a future resurrection. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul writes, “I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.” He explains that when Jesus returns with a shout and the trumpet of God, “the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Those alive will join them, meeting the Lord together. Paul’s comfort isn’t that the dead are already in heaven but that they’ll rise when Jesus comes.

Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, Paul says, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” The dead are “raised incorruptible,” and the living are transformed. Immortality isn’t something we possess now; it’s a gift God gives at the resurrection. Paul emphasizes, “This mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53).

John 5:28-29 reinforces this: “The hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” The dead wait in their graves, not in heaven or hell, until Jesus calls them.

### Are We Immortal?

Some believe humans have an immortal soul that lives on after death. But 1 Timothy 6:16 says God “alone has immortality.” Romans 6:23 contrasts the “wages of sin”—death—with the “gift of God”—eternal life through Jesus. John 3:16 promises that believers “should not perish but have everlasting life.” If we were inherently immortal, why would Jesus need to die to give us life? Why would death be the consequence of sin if we never truly die?

Genesis 3:22-24 sheds more light. After the fall, God removes Adam and Eve from the Garden to prevent them from eating from the Tree of Life and living forever in a sinful state. Our eternal life depends on God’s provision, not an innate quality. Revelation 22:1-2 describes the New Jerusalem, where the Tree of Life returns, granting eternal life to the redeemed. We’re mortal, but God offers immortality as a gift.

### Why This Matters for Prophecy

You might wonder how this connects to prophecy. The Bible’s teaching on death shapes our understanding of end-time events—like the resurrection, the second coming, and the final judgment. If the dead are asleep, awaiting Jesus’ return, it refocuses our hope on His coming, not on an immediate afterlife. It also challenges the serpent’s lie, “You will not surely die,” which echoes in beliefs that death is just life elsewhere.

### Your Thoughts?

What do you think? How would you explain death to Adam and Eve? Do you see death as sleep, awaiting resurrection, or something else? Share your thoughts in the comments or reach out on social media. If you have questions about topics like the lake of fire or the millennium, stay tuned—more videos are coming!

For now, let’s hold fast to the Bible’s hope: Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Death is not the end; it’s a sleep from which He will wake us. Subscribe to our channel or podcast for more studies, and may God bless you as we journey through His Word together!

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*Note: All Bible verses are from the New King James Version, as referenced in the transcription.*

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Navigating Judgment: Biblical Insights

Grace, Fear, Glory and Worship: The Gospel and Judgment.

THE KING SITTING AS JUDGE.

James I. is said to have tried his hand as a judge, but to have been so much perplexed when he had heard both sides, that he abandoned thfe trade in despair, saying, " I could get on very well hearing one side only, but when both sides have been heard, by my soul, I know not which is right." Curiosities of law and lawyers by James Paterson, London: S. Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington. 1891 p249

King James I tried being a judge and realized it was no easy task. We often become uneasy if we have to go before a judge, we are not sure how it will go, we question our abilities to explain our position, or we fear lawyers, and overall the law is often difficult to decipher. Not surprisingly, we carry these emotions to the notion of divine judgment.

In the Bible we have the gospel or good news front and center, but the good news is especially good in light of judgment. If there was no judgment, we would have no need for the salvation that Jesus offers us.

Gospel in the context of Judgment.

6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” —Revelation 14:6-7 NKJ

The eternal gospel that must be preached to the entire world includes fear, give glory, and worship. We are more comfortable with giving glory and worship but we struggle with the fear part. And yes, part of the definition for the Greek word used here (φοβέω - phobeō) includes “to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience” but I believe that in light of judgment fear may be experienced by many. I believe there will be those who have respect and reverence for God, and those who will experience terror, and their emotions will vary according to their relationship with God.

An illustration that might help is the United States Air Force. I lived in Valdosta, GA, for many years, and there, we had the Moody Air Force Base. My church members included many active or retired military personnel from all branches, and they would often poke fun at each other. Everyone seemed to have a joke about the other branch and many of them loved to gang up on the Air Force guys. I remember one of them commenting, everybody loves to joke about the Air Force, until things get bad. It is amazing how a simple fly over impacts the mood of everyone.

I have witnessed both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds, and while many debate who is better, I am just happy not to have to worry about being attacked by them. And this brings me to my point with this illustration. When the Air Force shows up and flies above you what emotions do you experience? Joy? Pride? Do you find yourself giggling like a little kid for no apparent reason? Do your eyes tear up? Do you cheer and wave your arms?

Now imagine the Air Force is your enemy. How do you experience their presence now? Does terror grip you? Do you feel helpless and hopeless? Are you suddenly questioning your life choices? Do you try to find a place to hide while simultaneously wondering what’s the point?

I think we all understand what it means to fear or respect something powerful. God is the most powerful being in the universe. When we stand before Him in the day of judgment, what emotions will we experience? The answer to that question depends on our life choices.

Accepting or rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is a decision we make and it impacts our destiny.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” —John 3:16-21 NKJV

We are saved by grace through faith, which is a gift of God. I believe this gift extends to good works so that we can be a blessing in the lives of those around us.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. —Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV

We can get so caught up in what we are saved from that we forget what we are saved for! Yes, we are saved for eternal life with Jesus when He comes again, but we are also saved for good works while here on earth. We are saved so that we might partner with God to bless those around us, spread the gospel, and help alleviate their suffering. We do not want to be so heavenly-minded that we become of no earthly good.

We are on a journey, and it is worthwhile to take time to reflect on our actions. How often do you stop to consider how you behaved today, this week, or this month? Were your actions in line with God’s will? Our actions that are out of line with God's will remind us of our constant need of God and the areas we must surrender to God.

21 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. 23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?

24 “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die. —Ezekiel 19:21-24 NKJV

If you have done things you regret, there is hope. God desires for you to turn from your ways and live. However, if you have been a believer your whole life, it does not mean that you can behave like those who have rejected God. If you chose to behave in a way contrary to the will of God, you will enjoy the same destiny as those who have rejected God.

I interpret this text as meaning that God is not so concerned about your history as about your current conviction. A past full of “good behavior” cannot cover for current abuse and sin. Likewise, a past of bad behavior does not condemn a person who has repented and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” — Matthew 12:33-37 NKJV

We do not know the content of people’s hearts, and we often don’t even know the full content of our own hearts. But Jesus tells us that the words we speak are a good measure of what is truly in our hearts.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? — Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV

What happens when we realize that our words and actions do not align with God's will? We can always turn to God, repent, and be converted so that our sins may be blotted out.

17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. —Acts 3:17-21 NKJV

When we turn to God our sins are blotted out. When we reject God, our sins remain.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. — Revelation 20:12 NKJV

I don’t know if these are literal books. I am okay with them being a symbol or reference for records, just as we still call bookkeeping even though it is all done by computers nowadays. My takeaway from Revelation 20:12 is that our actions matter. Though our actions do not save us, they reveal the content of our hearts to those around us.

I do not gain access to the kingdom of God because my good actions reach the required level, but my behavior testifies to my final destination. We do not have to worry about whether we are good enough. The Bible assures us that there is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. — Romans 8:1 NKJV

The Bible also reminds us that those who are in Christ Jesus no longer walk according to the flesh. Our lives are now transformed and reflect God’s character.

But maybe you’re worried because of your past or because you’re currently struggling with some issues in life. You do not have to worry. We have a perfect Mediator, Jesus Christ, who lives to intercede for us. We can come to God through Jesus. This is guaranteed. Jesus will not turn anyone away.

24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. —Hebrews 7:24-25

Do not lose hope because you struggle. There is hope in Jesus. You cannot outsin God’s capacity to save and forgive. However, God knows your heart, and by paying attention to your words and actions, you can better understand its contents. Turn to Jesus and receive forgiveness. Turn to God and receive victory and freedom. God wants to save you. But do not think that you can trick God and that no one will discover your favorite, unconfessed, secret sin.

Salvation is yours, but you have to honestly want it. God wants to save you, but you cannot trick Him or give Him only part of your heart and life.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. —Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NKV

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6 Exploring the Biblical Sabbath

Discovering the Biblical Truth about the Sabbath

This post is a rough transcription done by AI. I will later come back and clean it up.  

Welcome back to another episode of our Prophecies of Hope series. Thank you so much for joining me in this journey, and as a reminder, the Bible is our primary source of information, so I hope you have your Bible and you can follow along. We want to make sure that the things we're learning are from the Bible and not, you know, there was this guy that I saw online and he was.

Saying, sure, I'm saying things, but when you share the information that you learn, I want you to say, I was studying the Bible and I learned It's not so much about what I'm saying, it's about what this book is saying, and my goal here is to just guide you in this journey and in this study of the Bible. My name is Marlon Seifert.

I have introduced myself in previous videos, and we're gonna just jump into this. Today's. Uh, this episode, I should say is entitled, created for Something Better, exploring the Biblical Sabbath. So, we're gonna look into this topic in the Bible and see what it has to say. Maybe you already have some opinions on it.

Let's see what your thoughts are compared with what I'm going to share from the Bible. I love to know your thoughts. Once again. Um, I, I keep repeating this, but leave me some comments in the video. Let's interact. Lemme know if you agree, if you disagree, questions that you might have. I want this to be helpful to you and if you do find it helpful also give us a thumbs up.

Give us a like, and subscribe to our channel so you can see more content like this that will be coming in the future. We're going to start this time in the Book of Revelation. This is a prophecy seminar after all, and we have not done a whole lot with Revelation yet, even though we keep dipping our toes in Revelation.

And I think as, as we are progressing and and becoming more acquainted with the Bible, with what it teaches, we're preparing ourselves to dive into Revelation. It's the last book of the Bible. It assumes you have read everything that came before it. When we jump into Revelation too soon, my experience is we tend to get a little bit lost.

And very confused. So we are going into Revelation. We're starting on Revelation, but we're always going back and checking with the rest of the Bible to see if our interpretation of the book of Revelation fits with everything else God has been saying throughout the entire Bible. And it's a. It's a tall order, right?

It's a, it's a lot to try to accomplish. I believe we can do it, but we do not want to do this on our own. I invite you to join me in prayer as we begin. Father in heaven, Lord, spiritual things are spiritually discerned. We need your help. Please guide us as we study the topic of the Sabbath as we look at prophecy, as we look at the Bible.

Lord, we want to be faithful to you. We want you to teach us the things that you want us to learn, and we want to learn them from the Bible, so as you read them, inspire us. May Your Holy Spirit guide us in this study. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you so much for joining us. Let's turn to Revelation chapter 14.

This is where we have what's often referred to as the three angels message. There are three angels described in Revelation chapter 14, and we're gonna talk about the first angel this time. And the reason why these three angels are important, it's because when you read through Revelation 14, starting with verse six, we have the first Angel's message.

But as soon as they're done with these three messages, what we have next in Gen Genesis, in Revelation chapter 14 is the second coming of Jesus. So it is my understanding that Revelation 14 and, and the messages of these three angels, and some argue that it's one message given in three parts by three angels.

I don't disagree with that. Either way, you, you slice it up. This is the last message to go to the world before the second coming. So it does seem to me that it's important for us to familiarize ourselves with the message. Of these three angels. So this time in this video, in this episode, we're looking at the first Angel's message and not the whole thing.

We're gonna revisit this, but for now, let's read from Revelation chapter 14, starting with verse six. Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. So we're gonna pause there real quick.

The gospel here is referred to as everlasting, and I, and I love this description of the gospel. My understanding of what this means includes this is not a new gospel. It's not a, a new plan that God came up with. Like, oh, by the way, let's, let's just save people by grace from now on. No, I believe this was the plan all along.

Everything else that God revealed through the sacrificial system was pointing people to Jesus. And Paul talks about this as well, that the sacrifices that the blood of animals was not enough to cleanse our sins, but it was a sign that people had faith that the Messiah was coming one day. So I would argue throughout the Bible, throughout the, the history of humanity here on this.

Planet throughout their, the history of of life Ever sin. Ever since sin came into this world, we have been saved. Humans have been saved by grace through faith. In Jesus Christ. And the sacrificial system of the Old Testament was simply an illustration. It, it, it was how they demonstrated their faith that Jesus was coming.

And now we have communion. We have other things that point back to the fact that Jesus came, we no longer offer sacrifices. We're all saved through the same means. It's through Jesus alone and, and by grace alone and, and through faith. So. That to say the everlasting gospel is the only gospel has not changed is the gospel that these angels are preaching.

Also, the word angel in Greek, it really means messenger. I. So the word angel means messenger, and I, and I say this because sometimes we think we associate the word angel with a being. I believe the word angel is associated with a function. I don't wanna go too deep into this, but you can look this up or we can leave comments, we can talk about it some more later.

At times in the Old Testament, an angel shows up and then later it turns out to be the Lord himself. Also here in Revelation chapter 14 sometimes. Well, also it's, it's, it's prophecy, right? It, it's more symbolic than some of the other books of the Bible. I believe that these angels, even though there is a supernatural aspect to it, I think a lot of it also has to do with the work of the church.

In the last days, we are God's messengers. Me. You listening to this video, those of us who were seeking God, learning about God, God then calls us to be his messengers, to take the everlasting gospel to others. I say this because I don't want you to read about this and be like, ha, I'm, I'm gonna sit around and wait for an angel to come fly in the midst of heaven, to proclaim this gospel to the whole world.

When I believe the proper interpretation of this text is God is calling me to be his messenger. His. Angel, right, to go out and share the everlasting gospel with the world. So we have in the Bible, cherubim and seraphim, these are angelic beings. They often serve or behave as God's messengers. These are beings that the Bible describes as having wings, and they look like they're on fire and right there, bright, um, not necessarily flaming.

But anyway, uh, and I don't want us to confuse, you know. Seraphim with Angel. I believe the seraphim function as angel sometimes. Sometimes God himself functions as an angel. Sometimes prophets functions function as an angel and we can function as an angel, as a messenger. And, and I think that this is a proper thing to keep in mind as we go through this.

Of course, many times when it refers to an angel, it is one of these cherubim or seraphim, they are these beings with the wings, with the brightness that they show up and people think they're gonna die. So. Anyway, I, I hope that that was clear. I hope I did not just confuse you with this. I just don't want you to read this prophecy, this message about the three angels and sit back waiting for somebody else to do it, but rather we.

Partner with God, we partner with the angels, the seraphim and the cherubim, and you know, and all of us going out there to accomplish this mission of preaching the gospel to the whole world. It has to reach everyone before Jesus comes back and we get to be personally engaged with this work of God. Verse seven.

Let's see here. Verse seven saying, with a loud voice, fear God, and this idea of fear. Here we, we can see it in Genesis 2212, Psalm 1 11 10, Ezekiel 12, 13. It's it, it has to do with, it's not fear of when you're scared of something that's evil and bad. This is fear in the sense you have respect for something that is powerful and awesome and amazing.

Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment has come worship him. Who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, in the springs of water. So this first angel's message, it ties in several things. The everlasting gospel that has to go to everyone in the world. It ties in also the idea of fearing God, giving him worship, honor, glory.

Um, and of course, you know, worship, I, I mentioned that already. So fearing God, giving him glory, and in the context of judgment, the hour of his judgment has come and worship him. Who made heaven, the earth, the sea in the springs of water. Judgment is often seen as a negative thing. It's not so in the Bible.

We'll talk more about this on the video coming up, but this is the context of the gospel, right? The good news is salvation in Jesus. The good news makes more sense. It's even better news in light of judgment, right? The judgment is the thing that we cannot do, we cannot do. We cannot face on our own. We need to be covered by Jesus's righteousness.

That's why he had to come. That's why he had to die. That's why we need him as our savior. We cannot face judgment on our own. So in light of judgment, the good news, the everlasting Gospel is recognized for what it is. Good. News. So what do we do with this message? This, there is a gospel message. The everlasting gospel fear God give glory to him.

The hour of his judgment has come worship him, who made heaven and earth the sea in the springs of water. The more you study revelation, the more you study prophecy in general, you're gonna see that worship is a big part of it. Worship is a big part of our lives. We go through life and worship is something.

That shapes the way that we live. So worshiping God is a major part of our relationship with God, and the Bible highlights this, especially in Revelation chapter 14, verse seven. The last part, worship him. Who made the heaven, the earth, the sea in the springs of water. Now we live in a modern. Well, I am in, in the western world, right?

It's, it's more secular. It's more scientific. We don't really believe in lots of gods out there. But when this was written into also many parts of the world, still to this day, there is a belief in different gods for different things. There's the God of the rain, there's the God of the crops. There's the God of war, and there's the God of protection.

There's God of fertility, and there's gods of all kinds of things. The Bible points out that we should worship the God who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water. That's how we identify. Who should we be worshiping the creator God. And this is important because there are Christians, there are people who claim to believe in God, believe in Jesus, who have accepted, they say Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but they deny the creation accounts.

They think it's kind of embarrassing to believe in creation, right? They, they believe in evolution or some form of evolution, uh, where God, you know, maybe got started things off the Big Bang and then he kind of left things to evolve on their own, to die to struggle. Then to eventually evolve, and then the weak ones die.

The strong ones survive. And then, you know, and that was the rule for a long time until we get to humans and then God says, okay, now let's work together. I just don't see that in the biblical text. And when we look at revelation, if we take out creation, then how do we find out who to worship? If we're supposed to worship the creator God and there is no creator God, we're in trouble.

So I feel like if we're going to study. Prophecy and we are studying prophecy, and if we're going to take this message and apply it to our lives, we also have to accept the biblical creation account because if you take that out, then the book of Revelation falls apart. These are the bookends, right? We have the Bible, 66 books, all of these pages, and then we have the first book and the last book.

And you can't have one without the other. You take out Genesis, revelation falls apart if you have Genesis, but you don't look at Revelation. You don't see the ultimate fulfillment and culmination of all of these things that that Genesis deals with. Genesis begins with a perfect world. Then there's trouble.

And in Revelation we see that prob that trouble solved and the new creation takes place. So to understand everything in the middle, it's important to understand both Genesis and Revelation. So I. With that in mind, let's look at Psalm. We're gonna go right to the middle of the Bible, not Genesis, not Revelation, but let's pause in Psalms for a little bit, which is a book that has a lot to do with worship, a lot of, uh, worship songs and poetry.

Let's look at Psalm 33 versus eight and nine. It says, let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spoke and it was done. He commanded and it stood fast. Now, this is important because this ties in revelation that we just read. Uh, fear God and honor him, you know, for the hour of his judgment has come worship him.

Who made the heavens, the seed, the earth? Uh. The springs of water, and this also ties in with, with the creation account. Psalm 33 is saying, by the word of the Lord, the heavens were made. So he recognizes God as creator and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. And he gathers the, I'm sorry, I. I went back further.

Uh, let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the inhabitants of the word stand in awe of him for his spoke, and it was done. He commanded and then stood fast. The fear, the awe, the respect, the recognition that God is God worthy of our worship. It's connected to his power as creator to his actions as creator.

We worship God, not only because he saved us and redeemed us through his son Jesus Christ, but also because he created us in the first place. God as creator is integral to the biblical understanding of who he is, his character, his power, what he is like, and also our understanding of what He's doing and will do in the future as we look at prophecy.

So now that we have looked at this, let's go back and review Genesis chapter one. And this may be familiar to many of you, but there might be some that this, you're new to the Bible and you're just discovering these things. Welcome to the journey. It's a lifelong journey, but it's always fun to learn and to review and to not only learn new things.

But to be reminded of things that we should just never forget. Genesis chapter one, verse one says, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The Bible begins establishing God as the creator. The Book of Revelation, the three angels message just before the second coming of Jesus is making the same proclamation that God is the creator and he is worthy to be worshiped.

And. The only one that should be worshiped. We also had another video in this series that covered that there's an enemy of God who wants to be worshiped in God's place, and he will do anything he can to distract us from worshiping God, to confuse us, and to get us to stop worshiping God. And here's the secret I'm gonna tell you.

Don't tell anybody, actually you can share with other people. Here's the secret. We cannot help but worship. And if we don't worship God, we're just gonna worship something else. And you've seen this, we have that tendency. We want to spend money and invest our time into certain things, and it can easily take the place of God.

For some people, it's their favorite sports team, right? The houses that created the cars, decorat created. They know the names of all the players. They know all the stats. They buy the season takers. They'd never miss a game. They're always there watching. Uh, to me it sounds a lot like worship. Right. What does God require of us?

Time, attention, uh, effort and, and even I think when the Bible talks about the donations, a cheerful giver. It's not like, oh, I have to give, but rather than like, I'm happy to do this, right? Like the fend for their team will buy the merchandise, they'll get the shirts. They're proud to wear it, they're happy to do it.

They're not saying like, why do I have to pay for this? Why do I have to, so I'm not talking about money necessarily. I'm just saying the way that we. Spend. It says something about our hearts. It says something about our values. It says something about worship. So we're gonna worship, worship something, and Satan will try to get us to not worship God, knowing very much that we'll worship something else, whether it's ourselves, education, jobs, spouse relationships, sports, money, power, drugs, whatever.

Right? Pleasure. We're gonna worship something. Not worshiping is not an option. God just says, direct your worship towards me. I am the only one that is worthy of it, and I would agree. And also the thing that we worship shapes our lives, our values, the way that we behave. When we worship God, when we behold God, we are transformed by that and the best way possible.

But also as we worship other things in our focus, our attention, our time, our money, our efforts are directed towards those things. They will also shape our minds, our characters, the way that we go about life. So let's, let's continue this. Let's explore this a little bit further. Genesis chapter one, verse 26.

We did this in one of the other videos, but it's always good to review and the Lord God said, let us make man in our image according to our likeness. Let him have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over all the earth and over. Every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God, he created him. Male and female, he created them. Then God blessed them and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over every living thing that moves on the earth.

And God said, see, I have given you every herb that yields seed, which is on the face of the earth. Every tree whose fruit yields seed to you, it shall be for food. God gave them everything that they needed, the food, the place, the housing right, everything is taken care of. We are created in God's image. And God gives us all the trees, all the plants, all the, you know, the seed bearing fruit.

We, we have more than enough to enjoy and to live a perfectly happy life. This is the God of the Bible he created, and it was very good. Not okay. Not, it needed to evolve a little bit. Not, it's like, it's this soup that's kind of alive and it's going to eventually evolve and, and get better after, you know, much death and suffering and struggle to survive.

That's not the god of the Bible. There is no death in this perfect world. That's part of the reason why God is placing right, the, the fruit of the trees and every tree bearing, um, fruit bearing tree and, and, um. Anyway, all the tree whose fruit yields seed to you, it shall be for food. Genesis 1 29. There is no death.

It's a perfect world. There is no evolution. There is no survival of the fittest. There is no death of the weak. It's just a perfect world. This is what God created for us. This is the God of the Bible, the powerful God who deserves our worship. Now chapter two, starting with verse one says, thus the heavens and earth were, and all the hosts of them were finished, which means created.

It was done. It did not need to evolve. It did not need more work. It was done, it was perfect. Verse two, and on the seventh day, so six days, God was created, doing everything. Everything is done now. It's the seventh day. God ended his work, which he had done, and God rested on the seventh day from all the work which he had done.

Now, let me ask you this. God tired. No, God does not get tired. The Bible tells us that. Um, and I could, I didn't think of adding that to this, but if you want those references, let me know in a question and I'll look those up. Or you can just Google it. Does God get tired? And there's several bible verses that says, no.

So anyway, God is not tired. Why is it resting? We're gonna get to that. So in it, God rested. In the seventh day from all his work which he had done, verse three, then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it or made it holy because in it, he rested from all his work, which God had created and made God rested from all the work that he had made.

He finished, he was done. All the work that needed to be done was accomplished. And he rested. What did he do when he rested? I believe that God took that seventh day, the first full day where creation is completely done, and he took it to enjoy what he had created to enjoy us, to enjoy this world, to enjoy the animals.

To enjoy this relationship that we see when we read throughout the Bible. God longing for a relationship with us. The Bible is not a story of us trying to reach God, trying to, you know, somehow get his attention or, or be better so that he would bless us. No. The Bible is a story of God seeking us, coming after us, chasing after us, and loving on us, and providing for us, and inviting us into a loving relationship with him.

That's the gist of the Bible, and I believe this Sabbath day of rest, the seventh day of the week is God, getting to do what he wants to do. Always spend some time with us. He finished working and the first full day of the world being perfect, God says, I'm gonna rest. I'm gonna take a break. I'm gonna hang out with humanity, with Adam and Eve, with the earth, with the animals.

And that's my view on it. And maybe the children of Israel begin to forget this as they were in Egypt, as they were made slaves for over 400 years. And then when Moses comes and brings them out of Egypt. Oh, God sends Moses. God does all the powers and the wonders and the children of Israel coming out of Egypt.

There comes a time when God gives them the 10 Commandments. We have a a whole video on God's law. If you missed it, you can go back and look in the playlist. It's on there on our YouTube channel. Or if you listen to this as a podcast, it's also available there. Um, the, the 10 Commandments was, were given to the children of Israel after they came out of Egypt, after God had delivered them not before.

And God didn't say, okay, start keeping these laws and then I'll come back and deliver. You know, he deliver them first and then said, here are some guidelines for you to live your life. And here's an interesting thing. The children of Israel had been slaves. For years and years and years for generations, they don't know what it's like to rest.

They don't know what it's like to have that autonomy, right? They've been slaves for so long. That's all that they know. Good thing is not like that for us, right? Good thing we don't live lives, our lives as slaves constantly working. I don't know. I don't know if I wanna go down this rabbit trail maybe just for a little bit and I'll come right back to this study.

Could it be that we live our lives in debt? I. We, we buy things that we can't really afford, and then we are paying a lot more than it's worth because we're paying interest and all these things, right? You just, you're caught in this rat race and it's that, that different from slavery. We feel like we can't dress, we can't stop.

We need more, and we're just always hungry for more. One thing more, which keeps us work, which keeps us working so we don't have time for the most important things in life. I wonder if perhaps we have more in common with Israel in Egypt than we would like to admit. Slaves to sin, slaves to appetite, slaves to consciousness, right?

We see things. We want the things, so we, we get ourselves in debt trying to get the things and, and it's just this cycle and we never stop. There's always something else to do, and we feel like our value is connected to our doing. Right. When somebody asks us, we tell 'em what we do for a living because that's where my value comes from.

And if I stop doing, do I have any value? I wonder if the children of Israel were struggling with this as well. Their identity connected to their work and how hard they work. I don't know what it's like in in your country here in the us. Whenever you ask people how are they doing, which is a common greeting here, we say, Hey, how are you?

People say, busy. Tired, busy, tired. I hear that all the time, and I don't doubt it. It's a hundred percent true. The question is, why are we all so busy and also tired? And yes, life is busy and things go wrong and and, and there's challenges, but could it be that we also don't allow ourselves and opportunity to rest?

Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's jump into Exodus chapter 20, starting with verse eight. Verse eight says, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Interesting. Remember the other commandments I. Don't start with. Remember, a lot of them begin with, you shall not, not all of them, but many of them.

But this one begins with, remember, this is the fourth commandment. This is verse eight of Exodus chapter 20. It says, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. So now let me ask you this. It's a simple question. You can answer this. If God is saying, remember, is he establishing something new? No. He's asking you to remember to not forget something that existed from creation from a long time ago.

Right? He's saying, remember, he's not saying, Hey, here's a new idea. Okay? Moses, you and the children of Israel and all the Jews from this point forward, here's what I want you to do. We talked about this when we talked about the 10 Commandments or God's law. This is not something new. This is something that has always existed.

It's just formally being written down right now in tablets of stone with the finger of God, which separates this from anything else that we have in the Bible. The 10 Commandments are the only thing written by the finger of God in stone. With that in mind, God is saying, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

Keep the Sabbath holy. Remember it. That's the command. Wow. What do you mean? Well, there is more description. Don't worry. Verse nine, six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord Your God in it, you shall do no work. So maybe this is just for the Jews, right?

Maybe this is just for the Israelites, but let's continue with the commandment. It says You nor your son. Nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, okay? What if my servants are from a different country? Can I get 'em to work on the side? If they're not Jews, right, then they're not Jewish.

If they're not Israelites, could, could I get just like an Egyptian servant or somebody from a different country, you know, they're looking for work, I hire them and then they can work on the Sabbath because they don't have the same religion that I do. No, if they work for you, if they're under your sphere of influence, they get the Sabbath rest as well.

Oh, are you sure? Well, let's keep reading. I'm pretty sure this is what it means because it says, nor your cattle, the animals get to rest. Creation is invited to rest on the Sabbath. Not just people, not just people who belong to a specific faith or. Uh, culture or ethnicity? No. Everybody. Even the cattle.

Even the animals, nor your stranger who is within your gates. If somebody comes from Ethiopia to visit there in Israel, they get the Sabbath off as well. According to this, you know, bring it back to, to that time, people from the surrounding nations, if they're visiting, they also get the Sabbath rest. If there's a stranger in my house and, and he wants to go and do work and mow my lawn or whatever, like, no, no, no, you, you get to rest today.

But I don't have the same faith. I'm not from the same people. I don't, it's okay. Uh, you are invited to rest with us and enjoy this blessing from God. It's for the stranger. It's for the servants, it's for the animal. Anybody within your gates, anyone within your sphere of influence, they get the Sabbath rest.

This is what God is telling Moses. This is what God is telling the children of Israel. This is what God has wrote in stone. This is what God is telling us. From creation. There was a special blessing on that day. God made it holy. He's the only one that gets to do that. And then he invites us to keep it holy.

Right? Don't profane it. Don't desecrate it. Keep it holy. And he's saying how you do that and everybody else, your pets, your animals, your workers, your employees, everybody that works for you, everybody within your sphere of influence, they get the Sabbath rest as well. For what reason, verse 11. For in six days, the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them and rested on the seventh day.

Therefore, the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hollowed it or made it holy. There's a special blessing on this day. There's a holiness about this day. God is the one who did it. And what we do is we keep it holy along with God's plan for it from the beginning. In this commandment, God ties the holiness of the Sabbath back to creation, not to Moses, not to the Jewish people, not to this, uh, faith, but to.

All of humanity to all of creation. Everyone is invited to rest on the Sabbath regardless of your faith. Seems pretty clear to me. I. But why do, why do we struggle so much with rest? Why is it that me as an Adventist, or I could say we who are seven day Adventists, we get accused of being legalistic when we are resting?

We are accused of believing in salvation by works when we're refusing to do works. I wonder what causes people to, to consider that? Maybe you can leave me a comment below. How does me resting count as me working for my salvation? The way that I think about it is I have so much faith in God's grace and his power and his ability to provide for me that I don't have to be constantly working.

I can trust in him and in his ability and find rest in him, and stop for 24 hours when the sun goes down. On Friday night to when the sun goes down on Saturday night. From that time, from sunset to sunset is the Sabbath day made. Holy by God, blessed by God. And then I join him in his invitation for me to rest, and in his desire to spend some time with me on the day that he set aside the day that he chose because he is God and I am not.

So how hard do you have to work to earn your arrest? Sometimes we have that feeling right. I haven't, I haven't finished everything. I haven't done all the things I need to do. Oh, no, no. God invites you to rest. I. You can either work and better use your time during the week. Maybe you should take some things off of your plate and do less.

I don't know what your personal situation is. I don't know what you're going through and struggling with. I'm not sure how that applies to your life. What I know is God calls me to rest on the Sabbath day, and if I'm a follower of God and if I trust in him, and if I worship him as creator, and if I, anyway, there's all these other things tied to it.

Then I, I want to do his will. We're gonna continue to explore this as we go on. If you're worried about how much you have to work before you earn your rest, let me ask you this. How much work did Adam and Eve do before they earned their Sabbath rest? They were created on the sixth day of creation. On the seventh day, God invites them to rest.

I imagine Adam and you saying, but we're not tired. We're just getting started. And God says, yeah, let's hang out. Who hires you for a job and then gives you vacation right away? Right? This doesn't make sense unless God did not create us to be busy working all the time, but to enjoy the life that he gives us.

Yes, work is important right there in the commandment and in creation story. God worked for six days, right? He created for six days. It's good for us to create. It's good for us to work, but our identity is not found in the work. Our identity is found in God, and God invites us to rest. It's okay for us to rest.

It builds our faith. It reminds us of the God that we worship. We're not working for our salvation. We are resting in our salvation and in our identity in Jesus Christ. Here's the thing that I think we struggle with. When work becomes an idol, rest feels like sin. Think about that. When my work becomes my idol resting feels like sin, feels like I'm turning away from my lowercase G God.

Uh oh. No, but what's gonna happen to me? This is what saves me. This is what provides for me. This is right. We, we ha we raise up our work, our job, what we do to get money to the place of God. It's so interesting. Let's think about this. Think about this with me. So we, we refuse to rest because of work, right?

I need money. I, I need all these things. I, I need to do all this work. Otherwise, who's gonna take care of me? I have to provide for myself and my boss will provide for me. So we raise it to the level of God because we want to work when God told us to rest. Because after all, this has to provide for me. So, okay, you're, you're working really hard or.

Whether it's your education, maybe you're a student, so you're studying and the Sabbath hours come in. But I have a project, but I have a final, so I have to study in the Sabbath hours. Okay? Right. So you do, you, you, you do what you think is best. Let's say in the process you get sick, horribly sick, and you can't go to school anymore.

Are you gonna pass your class? I don't think your professor will pass you. Right. But maybe all the things that you study will heal you and all your good grades will restore your health. I, I, I don't think it works that way, even though I believe that people who study medicine or I. You know, pharmaceuticals or whatever, and you're able to bring healing, praise the Lord, please continue to do your work as God uses you to bring healing.

Um, what if you're just making a lot of money? You set up your own company, your business is growing, so you feel like you can't stop because there's money to be made, and then you get sick, right? Your, your health is struggling. Can the money solve the problem? Sometimes, not all the time. What about when your marriage starts falling apart?

Your, your relationship with your children is not great, and all of these things start to fall apart, right? We're sacrificing our health. We're sacrificing our children, we're sacrificing our marriage, we're sacrificing our emotional wellbeing in the alter of work, money, education, you name it. So we sacrifice all these things.

So these false gods, can those gods save you? I don't know what it's like for you. For me, when I'm sick, I turn to God. I turn to doctors, I turn to medicine. I do what I can, but ultimately I'm praying through the whole thing. I want God to bring healing 'cause I know God is able to, he's able to save these other gods or not.

I don't wanna sacrifice. My health, my family, my mental health, my emotional health, my relationships with my children, and those around me in the altar of work or education or money or what have you. Something to think about, are we able to pause and rest? Can we trust that God knows what's best for us and he knows what we need?

Can we join? Can we trust God enough to join in this blessing that he wants to give us? God is our provider. The 10 Commandments begins with the Lord. God spoke all these words saying, I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. I am the God that sets you free.

I am the God who provides for you. Will you listen to me and rest or do you not trust me enough? Do we not trust God enough to rest when he calls us to rest? Because we have become so used to thinking about ourselves and, and we are the ones who have to provide, and we have to do everything that we feel like we, oh, I'm not sure if God can provide, if I stop in faithfulness to him.

I'm not talking about laziness. I'm talking about faithfulness to God when he says rest is important. And I want you to rest with me. I want you to spend time with me. I want us to connect. I want you to connect with your family. I want you to take care of your health. Do we listen to God or do we say, no, Lord, you don't understand how busy I am.

No, Lord, you don't understand I have bills. No, Lord, you don't understand. But my job, no, Lord, you don't understand. But this project, this professor is really hard. Really, God doesn't understand. Or is it us or is it me? Maybe I don't understand. What's most important in God's plan for my life? Something to think about.

I think there's a story that illustrates this, and it's before the 10 Commandments are given. Exodus chapter 16. Let's look at Exodus chapter 16. And we're gonna do verses four and five. Exodus 16 says, the Lord said to Moses, behold, I will reign bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.

And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. I. If you're familiar with the children of Israel going through the desert when they're going to the promised land, there was no food and God provided them manna, which is this bread from heaven.

I would encourage you to read the whole chapter of Exodus 16. For the sake of time, we won't. We're gonna jump down to verse 15. It says, so when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, what is it for? They did not know what it was, and that's the name. Manna is, what is it? And Moses said to them, this is the bread which the Lord God has given you to eat.

This is the thing, verse 16, which the Lord has commanded. Now listen to the command. God is giving them bread. He didn't give him a command first. First, he provides for them, just like he brought 'em out of Egypt in the chapter 16. They haven't even gotten the 10 Commandments yet. That's coming in chapter 20, before the 10 Commandments, before the laws are given formally written in stone.

Here's what God is commanding. Um, where did I stop? Verse 16. This is the thing which the Lord has commanded. Let every man, man, woman, people, gather it according to each one's need. One omer for each person according to the number of persons. Let every man take for those who are in his tent. Take enough for your household.

One, Omer. This was a measurement at the time. How? How much it is. It doesn't really matter for us for the. For this study, the idea is each person take enough for each day. This reminds me of when Jesus teaches the prayer to his disciples, the model prayer. He says, give us this day our daily bread. This is what the manna was enough.

For each day, take enough for that day, and as according to the number of people that are in your tent, right in your household, then the children of Israel, verse 17, did so and gathered some more, some less. So they measured it by Omers and he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little, had no lack as long as it got enough for each person, that was exactly what they needed.

Every man had gathered according to each one's need. I. And Moses said, let no one leave any till morning. So you eat it for the day, don't store it for the next day. Right? You, you don't fill up your pantry with extra manna just in case you get for that day. You're not gonna lack. And also don't get more than you need to save up for the next day.

Not withstanding, they did not heed Moses verse 20, but some of them left part of it until morning. And Moses was angry with them, so they gathered it every morning and every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted. Oh, sorry, I skipped something in verse 20. Not withstanding, they did not hit Moses, but some of them left parts of it until morning and it bred worms and stank and Moses was angry with them.

I skipped that one line. So if you keep it overnight. It begins to stink. Worms come out like it's, it's terrible. It's very like, you can't hide it, right? Like you, you were keeping man, and what's that awful smell? So when the sun would come up, it'd become hot, it melted, it disappeared from the ground. Then the next day you would get more.

And so it was on the sixth day that they gathered twice as much bread to ERs for each person and that all the rulers. All the congregation came and told Moses, then he said to them, this is what the Lord has said. Tomorrow is a Sabbath. Rest, a Holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today. Boil what you will boil today and lay up for yourselves.

All that remains to be kept until morning. So now it's the opposite. Now you keep it until the next morning. Prepare it all today. And apparently there is something special. We call it bread. We don't really have a word to translate it to. Bread is also used in the Bible as as food sustenance. So they're calling it bread from heaven or sustenance from heaven, food from heaven.

And they could boil it, bake it, you know. I'm sure if it was nowadays, we would deep fry it or something, but you know, there's different ways they could do with it. Do all of that on Friday. So they laid it up till morning as Moses commended and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it. Then Moses said, eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord.

Today you will find, not find it in the field, six days, verse 26. You shall gather it, but not. But on the seventh day the Sabbath, there will be none. This was before the 10 Commandments, and God is already teaching the people six days you gather food, six day, you do the work for the Sabbath. On the Sabbath.

Seventh day you rest. He's teaching these people who are brought outta slavery, the meaning of rest. So he is commanding them to rest as he provides for all of their needs. Now, verse 27 says, now it happened that some people went out on the seventh day together, but they found none. They went to gather the manna, but there was none.

And the Lord said to Moses, verse 28, how long do you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? Now listen, this is before the 10 Commandments. The 10 Commandments written, the tablets of stone have not happened yet. Moses going up to the mountain. God speaking to the people through the mountain, as the mountain was shaking, this has not happened yet.

Yet God refers to getting the manna working, the six days resting on the Sabbath as my commandments and my laws. God says, I'm doing my part in providing for you. Why don't you do your part in obeying me? God is providing says, why aren't you resting? I'm taking care of you. You don't trust me. You don't obey me.

Do you think that life will be better when you go against my will? Something for us to think about. Do you think that about the other commandments? I. Or that life will be better if you just commit a little bit more murder or if you just steal a little bit more, or if you commit a little bit adult of adultery, right?

If you just do a little bit of these things, life will be better. No, it makes life worth worse every single time. When you steal, it makes life worse for you and for others. When you commit murder, it makes life worse. When you commit adultery, it makes life worse. When you lie, it makes life worse. So the laws of God are there to protect us.

And that includes the Sabbath rest, the special day that God blessed from creation, part of his original plan before the fall, and now he's reminding Israel as he provides for them bread in the desert, food in the desert. And we wonder if we can rest on the Sabbath and we question whether God will provide for us.

I don't think this is a matter of legalism. I believe this is a matter of faith. I think we don't trust God enough when we don't feel safe resting on the Sabbath. Maybe we question his grace. Maybe we question his power. Maybe we question his ability to provide. Maybe we question his love. We're so afraid and God's saying rest.

Why won't you listen to me? Why won't you obey my laws and my commandments? This reminds us or not reminds us. This reminds me, and I'll share this with you of, let's go back to Revelation. So we looked at Genesis, we looked at Exodus, we looked at some Psalms that talk about worship and singing praises to God, and God is creator.

And now we're looking at keeping God's law as a part of God's will for us. Revelation chapter 14. Which is where we have the the Three Angels message. Let's look at verse 12. Revelation chapter 14, verse 12 says, here is the patient of the Saints. Do we want to be a part of that group? Right? In the last days, the saints, those were faithful to God.

Here is the patience of the saints. Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, the two of them together. Both the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. There are people who think that these two are mutually exclusive. Either there is those who keep the commandments of God and they don't have faith in Jesus, and there's those who keep, who have faith in Jesus and they disregard the commandments of God.

The Book of Revelation says, Nope, it's both. The same God that gave us Jesus is the God that gave us the 10 Commandments. If God is all knowing, all wise, powerful, if God is love, then the 10 Commandments are a reflection of his character, of his love, of His kindness, and he knows what's best for us. So he tells us.

What to do. So for example, if you get a brand new car, do you want to know the type of gas to put in it? How often to change the oil, how often you should rotate the tires, how much area you should put in the tires, right? You wanna take care of your investments, you want to fold the instructions. Same thing if you buy a new anything, God is saying.

For your life. Here's 10 guidelines. The best way to take care of your life, to take care of yourself. And we say, nah, no, no, no. I, I don't want that. That's for the Jews. That's for the Old Testament. God's saying, no, no, no, this is for all of humanity. Everybody benefits from this regardless of their faith.

Revelation 14 says, in the last days, the saints, those were faithful to God, God's children, they're identified as those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Most of us will agree on not committing murder, not committing adultery. We should be honest, but for some reason we don't think it's important or necessary.

It's a minor thing when it comes to the Sabbath rest. It's right there in stone with all the others. We wouldn't say that worshiping other gods is okay, but why don't we wanna worship God the way that he wants to be worshiped? Something to think about. Revelation chapter 12, so we're going back a little bit.

Verse 17. Revelation 1217. It's talking about this battle between the dragon and the woman. This a little bit foreshadows, or it relates to when we're reading Genesis chapter three, verse 15, when God talks about the enmity, right, their enemies between the serpent and the woman, the serpents, offspring, and the woman's offspring.

We see this played out also in Revelation. The serpent now being referred to as the dragon. But we know that, uh, verse nine of Revelation 12 says, the great dragon was cast out that serpent of old called the devil and Satan. So same being so verse 17 of Genesis of Genesis of Revelation 12, it says the following and the dragon was enraged with the woman.

And he went to make war with the rest of her offspring. Remember, Jesus was part of the seed of the woman. He had the victory. That's why the dragon was cast out of heaven. I. But now there's the rest of the offspring of the woman that's us, the followers of Jesus. The part of that remnant that has been remained faithful to God throughout scriptures from Adam, down to Jesus, down to the early church, all the way down to the last days, the seeds, the offspring of the woman.

And who are they according to Revelation seven, uh, 1217, they're those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus once again, commandments of God, testimony of Jesus, the two. Together. This is what the Bible presents to us. The Bible in its entirety, the word of God, God's plan for our lives.

It involves the 10 commandments. It involves the commandments of God. God would not commend us to do something that is harmful to us. But there's also the faith, the testimony of Jesus. He died for our sins. We are not perfect. Jesus is perfect. We receive his perfection as a gift, as we stand before God in the day of judgment, someday in the future.

But it's both that we need The testimony of Jesus and the 10 commandments, one does not cancel out the other. Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God in the faith of Jesus. Revelation 1412 in John chapter 14, and I think we'll close with this, John, the gospel of John chapter 14.

John 14, by the way, this is where Jesus says I am the way, the truth, uh, I'm sorry. This is where Jesus says, let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe in me. Also, I. In my father's house or many mentions if it were not so, I would've told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself.

That where I am there you may be. Also, Jesus says, I'm coming back. I'm going preparing a place. I'm coming back As we continue on this chapter, and we make it down to verse 15, John 1415. Jesus says, if you love me. Keep my commandments. Ultimately, it's about love. God invites us to rest. God invites us to live our best life possible, and that's gonna be a life in line with his commandments, which means keeping his commandments not as a means of saving ourselves, but as a way of showing our love for God.

So the question now, it's up to you. What will you do? Do you choose to rest? Do you choose to follow God? Do you want to experience the life that he has for you? The choice is yours. I encourage you to choose rest, to choose God, to try out his law and see that it is good. There are blessings waiting for you as you make these choices.

I hope that you'll choose to rest on the Sabbath. I hope that you'll choose to make the 10 Commandments a part of your life, not as a means of salvation, but as a way of experiencing the God, the life that God has in mind for you. There are blessings in store. Trust me. I'd love to know your thoughts on this.

If this was helpful, give this video a thumbs up. Subscribe to our channel so you don't miss future presentations. We have one more coming up. It's called Full by A Myth from Saturday to Sunday. How come so many people worship on Sunday? We're gonna talk about that a little bit, but that's not as important as what we talked about today.

In this video about the importance of the Sabbath. Lemme know if you have any questions. We can talk about those maybe in a future video. Until next time, may God bless you.

[mrlnsfrt]

Understanding Matthew 24: Unveiling Jesus's Prophecies

Understanding Matthew 24: Unveiling Jesus's Prophecies

Welcome to our second episode of our Prophecies of Hope series in case you're just catching us. Now, there was a previous video. This is video number two. It stands just fine on its own, but in case you're wondering what Video one was about, you can go back and look through those on our playlist. It was on Daniel chapter two. For this one, we are focusing on Matthew chapter 24. This is what is has been referred to as an apocalyptic portion of the gospel. This is Jesus speaking, but it sounds a lot like the apocalypse or the Book of Revelation that comes much later, but they read this and it sounds like that, so they call it apocalyptic writing. It becomes, became its own genre, and it's often related to the end of the world, which is kind of odd because the apocalypse or the revelation as the first, the introduction of the book of Revelation, it's really. The apocalypse is a Greek word that means revelation, and the book is really about the revelation of Jesus Christ. So it's interesting that people are terrified of the apocalypse of Revelation or the end of the world when I don't think it's meant to be understood in that way. The Book of Revelation begins with the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants things that must shortly take place, and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John. So that's the beginning of the Book of Revelation. That's why it's called Apocalypse or Revelation. If you speak other languages, like in Portuguese, I think Spanish, the same thing. They actually use the the Greek word, but, so this is actually a part of the gospel. Matthew 24, Jesus is speaking and it sounds a lot like Revelation apocalyptic writing in the heart of the gospel. We're gonna jump into that in a bit, but I just want to welcome you to this series. My name is Marlon Seifert, and I just want to remind you that as we go through this series, the Bible. Will be our main source of information. This is our source of information that we trust. We're gonna pray to God to guide us as we study it, but we're gonna be getting our information right from the Bible. So I hope you have your Bible and you'll follow along. We're gonna focus on Matthew 24. We're just gonna read through it just like we did with Daniel chapter two. I will give you some references as we go along to some other parts. We're not gonna jump to them because I really want to focus just on this chapter. But should you have some questions, leave them in the comments below. Maybe we'll do a future video answering and tackling some. Of those questions. Thank you for joining me once again. Let's pray and jump into the text. Father in heaven, we understand that spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Father, we want to understand Jesus's words here regarding the future. So please give us wisdom, give us understanding. You promise, Lord, that if we ask for the Holy Spirit, if we ask for wisdom, you will give it to us. So Father, we ask, give us the Holy Spirit. Fill us with wisdom. Help us to not only understand, but also know how to apply the things that you want to teach us from these words. I pray that you would be with us in this study, I pray in Jesus name. Amen. Alright, so open your Bibles to Matthew 24. I am reading from New King James version. If you have a different version, there might be some slight differences in translation, but I think overall I. It's the same message and it should be just fine. So starting with verse one, then Jesus went out and departed from the temple and his disciples came up to show him the buildings of the temple. So they go up on the hill, they look back and there's this beautiful, massive buildings of the temple, and they're so proud of it, and they're showing it off to Jesus. Verse two. And Jesus said to them, do you not see all these things? Assuredly I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another that shall not be thrown down. Now, this is really scary. This is surprising to the disciples. Why is Jesus saying this? What could possibly happen that would cause this beautiful, magnificent temple to be destroyed? Especially since this is their pride. They feel like God loves the temple as much as they do, if not more. And God would surely protect his temple. These things couldn't happen, could they? So Jesus's words really shocks the disciples. So verse three, we get to an important question now, as he said on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately saying, tell us when will these things be? What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? Now, I hope you pay attention to this question because the rest of Matthew 24 and Matthew 25, Jesus is going to spend answering these questions, right? Everything else that we're going to read is an answer to these questions. It's related to this question that the disciples asked Jesus. What was the question once again? They said, tell us when will these things be? When Jesus said that the temple would be destroyed, they also said, and when and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? Which is interesting because Jesus hasn't left right, but they're asking the, the sign of your coming and the end of the age. This is what we would refer to as the second coming of Jesus the, the end of the world, right? This is the, this apocalypse scenario. Oh no, the end. So two questions. When will these things be? When will the temple be destroyed, just like Jesus said it would. And what will be the sign of your second coming? So here's part of the trick with interpreting and, and reading what comes after this. Jesus is answering two questions and there's mistakes that we make and interpreting. There's two ditches that we can fall into. One is to say everything that Jesus says has to do only with the physical destruction of the temple, which took place in 70 ad by the Romans. The second one is to say everything that Jesus is going to say only applies to the end of the age and, and the second coming and the end of the world. So, which is it? Well, we're gonna dive into it, but as we read through it, we want to keep in mind the question that Jesus is answering. And remember there's two questions built in there. So some things Jesus is going to say applies to both. Some things that Jesus is going to say applies to the destruction of Jerusalem, some things, or the temple in Jerusalem, and some things that Jesus is gonna say applies to the second coming and the end of the world, which is which. Well, hopefully we can get some clarity as we go together. And also, I'll be clear with you whenever, I'm not sure, and there are parts in here that I'm not sure, and maybe as as we go through this we'll, we'll gain some understanding and by the end of this video, we'll both understand this text a little bit better. So let's jump into it. Verse four. Jesus answered and said to them, take heed that no one deceives you. So here's the thing. The question was, tell us when will these things be? What will be the signs of your coming and not the end of the age? The first thing that Jesus says, it's not about setting dates. It's not answering when or the signs. Jesus' main concern in his answer, the way he begins his answer. Keep this in mind. This is the context for everything else we're going to read. We're gonna understand everything else. Everything else will make more sense when we understand Jesus' intention. In verse four, Jesus is very clear. Jesus answered and said to them, take heed that no one deceives you. Jesus' main concern regarding the signs of his coming, regarding the signs of the destruction of Jerusalem regarding future things is be careful that no one deceives you. Be careful not to fall for any deceptions. This is the main reason. This is why we study prophecy. This is why we're gonna take the time during this video to jump into this text and understand it's to avoid deception. Keep this in mind because people want to read this and set dates. They want to read this and you know, do all kinds of crazy things, but Jesus may. Point here is for us not to be deceived. I think this is great and very important because we are in danger of being deceived, especially as we approach the last days. And I hope that this series will help you not be deceived as we dive into Jesus's words. So let's jump into the next verse, verse five. Jesus says, for many will come in my name. Look, people will come in the name of Jesus and they'll say, I am the Christ and will deceive many. And you will hear, or we'll get to that verse six in a little bit. So people will come in the name of Jesus claiming to be Jesus. So that means that a lot of people who are looking for Jesus will see someone claiming to be Jesus and be like, well, I guess that's Jesus, and they will follow him, but we won't. We know and how, how come we won't? Because we know. How do we know? Because we read the text. You see the benefit of reading and studying. Now when somebody shows up claiming to be Jesus, you're like, wait a minute. Ah, I was warned about you. You are not the Messiah, right? So, so we can avoid the deception because we're heeding, we're understanding we're studying the words of Jesus. So we're gonna come back to this repeatedly as, as, as we go through this text. 'cause Jesus makes this point repeatedly. And then hopefully it'll become clear to you and to me, what is the main point that Jesus wants to get across with his words? So first thing he says, be careful that no one deceives you. He says, many will come in my name, claiming to be. The Christ and we'll deceive many. And then verse six says, and you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, see that you are not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. So I want you to remember this. 'cause many people will point out to the wars and to the rumors of wars and say, head for the hills. Jesus is coming time to panic. No. Jesus says Yes. You will hear of wars, you will hear of rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. So why mention these things? I have a personal theory, this is the way that I interpret it, and you can let me know if it makes sense to you. Leave me a comment in the video with your thoughts on this. But here's my thoughts. When we hear wars and rumors of wars, like, oh no, what's going on? What's happening in the world? Oh wait. Jesus said that this would happen. It reminds me of the words of Jesus. It reminds me that Jesus is coming again. It reminds me that these things are supposed to happen, which means, okay, the the timeline is progressing, history is progressing in the way that Jesus said it would. Okay, so Jesus is onto something. He knew that these things would happen. Then it increases my faith in Jesus, my trust in him. It reminds me that he is coming again, but it's not a cause for panic. Keep this in mind. These are reminders that Jesus is coming. These are reminders that Jesus told us that these things would happen. These are things that we hear of wars and rumors of wars. And by the way, there seem to be more and more as I'm recording this the current US president has been involved in talking about different wars and different world leaders, and people have all kinds of opinions, but there is wars happening. Jesus said this would happen. I trust in Jesus. Let's see what else he said is going to happen. Verse seven says, for nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in various places. Now this is interesting because this was written so long ago, right? 2000 years-ish ago. And Jesus was saying that there would be famines, pestilence, earthquakes in various places. Now with all the advances that we have in technology, especially if you look back at the industrial revolution, the scientific revolution, and, and suddenly people are curing diseases and they're understanding nature so much better. And science and ex is exploding and advancing and so is technology. And people really hope. If you go back and you read through some of those old journal or newspaper articles and different things, people are so optimistic about their future, there will be no more hunger. There will be no more disease. There will be right. And there was this hope. We are going to save ourselves and the future will be a utopia. People won't know what to do without the free time that they will have and they will live to be very, very old. And, and yes, and in many ways we are living. In the best of times compared to Earth's history, right? We're, we're living longer, we have technology, we have access to information. But let me ask you, do you really feel like the quality of life is better now than it was for your grandparents or your great grandparents? And as hard as life was for them, it seems like we just traded for different kinds of struggles that we have nowadays. And I think of all the things that we have going on, and even with all of our technology. There is still famine, there's still pestilence, there's still earthquakes in various places, and by pestilence is diseases of different kinds. We right, we, we think we would've cured the common cold or different things, but it's tricky. The virus changes and then we had covid V and then they're saying something similar might come again, or, oh, Jesus said these things are going to happen. If we had indeed cured most diseases or all diseases, if there were no more feminines or pestilence, if we, because technically we kind of could, right? With the technology that we have, there should be a lot less suffering except for the greed of humanity and we don't, anyway, we don't share as much as we should. There's sermon for a different topic. But all these things that Jesus said, even though at one point in history it seemed like it would stop, seem like it would not come true. Still happening. There's still pestilence, there's still earthquakes, there's still feminist. Despite all of our advances, Jesus' words hold true. So as I see these things happening around me, I don't panic. I remember Jesus said these things would happen. What else did Jesus say? It brings me back to his word. It reminds me that Jesus talked about the future and it's accurate. Verse eight, it says, all these things are the beginning of sorrows. Now there's different translations for this. And I looked up a few of them from Matthew 24, verse eight. If you go on a website like bible hub.com type Matthew 24 8, you see all the different translations. And the NIV says these are the beginnings of birth pains. I like that one personally. There is evidence in the text that that is an intended meaning. When Jesus says the beginning of sorrows, the word is used also with reference to birth pains and some Bible translations have that, or the beginning of Travail American standard version. And some others, you know, sim similar words, why do I like the beginning of birth pains? Because, well, I, I'm a father of two, right? I wash my wife, go into labor and I know what it's like. I don't know personally, I witness, I saw her struggling with contractions. And what does that mean? It starts kind of soft and it gets stronger and closer together. And I remember we had just gotten. Smartphones as our kids were gonna be born and there was an app that you could keep track of the contractions and how far apart they are, and then at which point we go to the hospital. So with that in mind, I would interpret this to mean as these wars and rumors of wars and pestilence and famines and earthquakes in various places, as these things begin to happen to a stronger degree and closer and closer together. It's a sign that the coming of Jesus is closer, right? It gives us a sense of urgency. Not of panic. Not of despair, but it reminds us, Jesus said these things would happen. And it seems like they're happening more and more often. It seems like they're happening to larger degrees. And it reminds us to, what else did Jesus say? Let me get back into the word of God. And I think this is the benefit of being familiar with prophecy. One, you avoid deception. Two, as you see these things happening, you should deepen and strengthen your faith, bring you back to the word of God. So verse nine says, then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. So we can stop there and and say, well, yes. After Jesus died and rose again, early Christianity was persecuted in this way and this happened. Before and after the destruction of Jerusalem. This is something that applies back then. Now, let me ask you this. Have you heard about Christians being persecuted? It's happening. It's happening in many parts of the world, not here where I live right now in the us but I have family that fled to Brazil from different countries in Europe because they were being persecuted for their beliefs, because they were Protestants, because they believed differently than the church of the state or the main religion. And then they had to flee because they didn't flee to America. They came to South America to have freedom to worship. So, you know, this has happened. Christians have persecuted Christians and non-Christians have persecuted Christians. The Romans persecuted Christians and Christians are persecuted in many countries in the world today. So just because we may not be experiencing this in America right now, but some could argue there is a level of persecution that has taken place even here in the United States against Christians or Christian values or biblical values. Jesus said these things are going to happen. I believe this applied to the audience back then. It applies to us today. And I believe as we get closer to the second coming of Jesus, it will get worse. And the Book of Revelation has a lot more to say on that in some other places as well. But let's, let's keep going. So it says that they will deliver you up to tri to tribulation, to kill You will be hated by all nations. For my name's sake. Which is different than being hated because you did something terrible. This is gonna be because of the name of Jesus. Verse 10, and many will be offended. Yep. Definitely feels like that's happening and will betray one another and will hate one another. This is terrible. Jesus said These things are going to happen. People will betray one another, hate one another. Verse 11, I'll pay attention. Then many false profits will rise up and deceive many. Once again, the focus to avoid deception, there will be false profits. Now I want to highlight this because there is no such thing as a fake $25 bill. What's this a random thing to say? Why would I say that There's no fake 20. If I gave you a $25 bill, you don't even have to check against the light or something to see if it's real. You know it's fake. Why do you know it's fake? Because there are no $25 bills. Jesus says there will be false prophets that will rise up. So if there's false profits, well, lemme say it this way, if there would be no true profits, then he doesn't have to warn us about false profits. Just says there's no more profits after this. But he says, beware of false profits, which would indicate that there would be true profits in the last days. I'm not saying I know who the true prophets are. I'm saying we have to be careful with false profits, but also don't discount anybody that claims to have the gift to prophecy. I'm just saying be careful with that one. If there will be false prophets, then there will also be true prophets. And the reason why I say this is because if there would be none, then Jesus would've just said, don't listen to any prophets from this point forward. Anyway. Those are my thoughts on verse 11. But we are to be careful with false prophets. Just because somebody says the Lord has revealed to me, or I saw God in a vision, doesn't mean it's really from God. Doesn't mean you can trust him, doesn't mean it's true. Jesus says, be careful. And you can look at their fruit and there's lots of other bible verses that can help you decipher and tell a true prophet from a false prophet. The thing is, it could be a true prophet, but don't necessarily believe everybody that claims to be a prophet. Verse 12, because lawlessness will abound. The love of many will grow cold. There is evidence of that in the world, seems to be getting worse. But that could be just my personal perspective and maybe I just looked at the news too much. I spent too much time on the internet and it sure feels like the love of many is growing cold. Verse 13, but he or she, right? The person who endures to the end shall be saved. Jesus is saying all of these things and it's not for you to panic and head for the hills. And what do I do? Simple, not easy, but simple. But he or she, the person who endures to the end, shall be saved, remain, abide. Don't quit. Don't give up. Don't walk away. He who remains to the end will be saved. Stay with Jesus. You are saved. You had the assurance of salvation in Jesus. You gave your life to him. You were born again. Christian. Just remain. That's it. Don't quit. Your salvation is guaranteed in Jesus. All you have to do is remain. Now. He says things are gonna get hard. You're gonna get persecuted because of your love. For me, Jesus is saying things will become more difficult, but hang in there and salvation is yours. So good news. What do I do in the midst of all this craziness? Remain faithful to God. Don't deny him, don't walk away from him. Expect things to get more challenging and also expect God to show up and to save and to deliver. Now, verse 14, I really like verse 14, and this is where we're gonna pause and look at some other verses as well. It says, in this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end will come. So up until now, Jesus says there will be wars, rumors of wars, pestilence, earthquakes famines, all of these things. And he says, but the end is not yet, but the end is not yet. And you'll be persecuted and, and betrayed. And, and the love of many will grow cold. But the end is not yet. The end is not yet. But there's this one thing. He says, this is going to happen, and then the end will come. And what is this thing? It's the preaching of the gospel. To the whole world. This is exciting because this is something that you and I can engage in. We can participate, we can be a part of hastening the second coming of Jesus, because if the gospel has to be preached to the whole world, well, we can help with that. And there's other parts of the Bible. Jesus himself says, you know, the people stop raising me, the rocks will cry out. So I believe it. You know, if, if we really refuse to do it, God will find a way whether he'll send angels, children the rocks, something will happen. But I, I hope it doesn't come to that. I hope we are willing to share. It's part of the reason why we're doing this series on Bible prophecy is a part of preaching this gospel to the whole world as a witness to all nations. And then the end will come. By the way, if you don't feel comfortable sharing completely, you should, but let's say you're not comfortable right now. Let sharing this video as a way of doing that. Share it with somebody who you think would benefit from the study that we're doing, or you yourself, just take some notes, take somebody else through Matthew 24, just verse by verse, just like we're doing here in this video. You can do this, and this is part of what we should be doing. This is what needs to happen. Before the end comes this gospel of the kingdom being preached in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end will come. So if you want to read more about this, I would say read Matthew 28 verses 1919 through 20. That's the great commission. Look at Acts one, eight, the gospel being preached. Revelation 10, 11 and 14, verse six. So I'll repeat that one more time so you can write this down and then look at it later. Matthew 28, 19 through 20, acts one, eight, revelation 10, 11 and 14, verse six. Now there is more to this, but I'll just give you those as in case you wanna go a little bit deeper and explore this further. But this is one of the emphasis of Jesus's message. First, don't be deceived. Second, what should we be doing? Sharing the gospel with everybody in the whole world. 'cause that has to happen before Jesus comes again. Verse 15, continuing. Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel, the prophet standing in the holy place, whoever reads, let him understand. Now, this is one of those tricky parts. So this seems to be, at least from my perspective, a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem that took place in AD 70. Rome came to attack. The Jews, if I remember correctly, were rebelling and, and causing trouble. And the Romans were not supposed to destroy the temple, but the people would flee into the temple because it's kind like if you ever played as, as a child, right? Like, oh, this is base. You can't, you can't get me. I I'm at base. Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. And somebody threw a torch in there and it caught on fire. And what happened is the, the temple just burst into flames. Everything was destroyed. And there was so much gold in the temple. Things made out of gold. Decorated with gold, overlaid with gold, that the gold melted and fell between the rocks. Well. People came by after the facts and realize, hey, there is gold here. And they moved the rock so that there was no rock left on top of one another. Just like Jesus says, that temple was completely destroyed. You can say, but Marlon, wait a minute. What about the whaling wall? Yes. The whaling wall was one of the outer walls far away way on the outskirts of the temple. The temple itself is completely gone. Those are the rocks from a wall outer wall way out of the way. Yes, those did survive. Everything else was destroyed. And the passage in Daniel that this seems to be referencing right, Jesus says the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place. This seems to be a reference to Daniel chapter nine verses 26 through 27, and Daniel 11, verse 31. There's still some debate over details and other things, but it seems to me that it's pretty clear that this was a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem when the temple physically existed at that time. So this would've been a warning for people to flee before the Jerusalem was besieged for, for a long time. Anyway, there is, there is history about this. You can look up and read up on the destruction of Jerusalem. There's a book called the Great Controversy. It, it talks about that in quite a bit of detail, but there's other resources too. Leave me a message and, and I can tell you more if you wanna learn more about the destruction of Jerusalem as a historical event. It's not in the Bible, but there seems to be a clear reference to that so that the Christians, when they saw these signs, they fled Jerusalem and, or, you know, the, the Jews that believed in Jesus. They were, I don't think they were called Christians yet, so they, they fled and avoided the, the famine. They avoided the fighting and all the death and other things that happened when Jerusalem was besieged and ultimately the temple was destroyed. And so these next parts seem to be a reference to the physical destruction of Jerusalem, of, of the temple that, or Jerusalem in general, I guess. But the temple specifically, that happened in the year 80 70. And Jesus says, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who's in the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house and let him who's in the field not go back to get his clothes, but woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days, and pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath, which is interesting. Jesus making a reference to the Sabbath. He knew that this would happen way in the future, but it was still a concern for his followers. He's saying, Hey, pray that this doesn't happen on the Sabbath or. In the winter. And now starting with verse 21 comes a portion that I have asked about. I continue to study this and I'm not sure if from verse 21 and on this is a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem or to the end times in the second coming of Jesus. So follow along with me. Verse 21 says, for then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world. Until this time, no nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved. But the elect for the elect's sake, those days will be shortened. I think the consensus is this is talking about the time of the end. Things are gonna get so bad, God is gonna cut those days short for our sake, I. As we live through that. So this has something to say, I think to those who think that the elect will not have to go through the tribulation here. Jesus is saying that for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. He also says and unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved. We would kill ourselves if Jesus didn't step in. So something to think about and, and it definitely sounds like to me as I read through this text, that the church, those who love Jesus, those who are faithful, he refers to here as the elect will be present during this tribulation. And they are, we are the reason why those days will be shortened. Something to think about. Verse 23. Then if anyone says to you, look, here is the Christ or there, do not believe it for false Christ, and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive if possible. Even the elect, Jesus says, if it was possible, even the elect would be deceived. Well then why aren't they elect deceived? Well, the next verse tells us. Jesus says, see, I have told you beforehand. This is that thing that keeps repeating that I mentioned. Jesus keeps saying, be careful that no one deceives you. There will be false Christ. There will be false prophets. Be careful that nobody deceives you. I'm telling you ahead of time. The only reason we are not deceived is because we heed. We understand we have studied Jesus's words. If Jesus had not warned us, if he had not told us beforehand, as it says in verse 25, we would fall from it for it. Imagine somebody shows up. Right. Some really amazing public speaker, very charismatic, and he's healing people. And the, the blind they're seeing and the lame we're walking, you're like, wow, this, this person sounds like Jesus. And he says, I am Jesus. By the way. I changed my mind. I'm not gonna come in the clouds with great glory and power. Actually we're starting a revolution in my name. Let's unite under me and overthrow the government. I don't know, something people would totally fall for it. Like, yes, down with the government. Let's follow Jesus into war. And Jesus is warning us. It's not him. Somebody shows up. It doesn't matter. The great signs and wonders they can be working miracles. Jesus says, it's not me. We're gonna read more. He's gonna describe his second coming. Anybody who shows up and claims to be Jesus is not Jesus. Keep this in mind. We have to know this. Otherwise we will fall for it. There are so many people that I see they're looking for a church, and that is instead of looking at the Bible and what it teaches and finding a church that is in line with biblical teachings, they're looking for signs and wonders. They're looking for the church that will make them rich. They're looking for the church that will heal them of all their diseases. They're looking for the church that will offer them miracles in an easy life when Jesus does not promise that anywhere. He promises to be with us to never leave us, to never forsake us. He promises that if we endure to the end, we will be saved. He promises that he will cut those days of tribulation short because otherwise nobody would survive. So for the sake of the elect, he will do that. But he never promises an easy life. Keep that in mind. Early Christians went through tribulations. Christianity throughout history have gone through troubles. You look at the children of Israel, they went through troubles. God's people have never had an easy life. God's people have always had the strength of God with them. God has brought them through, delivered, provided in miraculous ways, but by no means could their lives be described as an easy life. So we continue. Jesus warned us ahead of time. This is why we don't fall for these tricks. Verse 26 says, therefore, if they say to you, look, he's in the desert. Do not go out or look, he's in inner rooms. Do not believe it. For as lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west. So will the coming of the son of man be so as lightning flashes from the east to the west, so will the coming of the son of man be meaning? It will not be secret, it will be visible as visible as lightning. The cool thing with lightning, you can close your eyes and you still know that lightning has struck right? It's that bright. It's the brightest thing at the time. So Jesus references that like a flesh of lightning. That will be the what The son of the coming of the son of man. Will be. So wherever verse 28, the carcass is there. The eagles will be gathered together. So you see the vultures, you see the birds of praise circling. It's a carcass. It's death. It's not Jesus. It's not what God has promised. It's not the second coming. It's death. Don't go to it. This is the warning that Jesus is giving here. Let's continue. Verse 29. Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened. The moon will not give its light. The stars will fall from heaven and the powers of heaven of the heavens will be shaken. So here's an interesting point. There is quite a bit of debate over this. There are a few times that this has happened in European history. I. Where there is this reference of the sun being darkened, the moon not giving its light. The stars falling from heaven and the powers of heaven been shaken. So there is the Lisbon earthquake 1780, the sun there was a dark sun and a red moon. 1833, there was a, a falling of stars. And, and why do I mention these dates? These were events that were so big that there was newspaper articles about it. People were talking about the end of the world. Some of these events in history sparked a revival amongst Christians. So I mentioned these, not that they are unique necessarily than other falling of the stars or earthquakes or things. It's just these were. Whenever something like this happens, whether there's a, a major, you know, falling, a star, meteor, shower, whatever you want to call it, or a dark sun or a red moon, people tend to think about the end of the world. It brings them back to prophecy. What did Jesus say about these things? So these signs are not setting dates. These signs are reminding us, Jesus said he's coming again. What's my walk with Jesus like, what's my spiritual life like? I forgot. That's right. Jesus is coming. What is life really all about? Right? Is it about the physical things that I accumulate is about the way that I serve others with what's the most important thing in life? As these signs happen in the heavens, as we behold them, we're reminded of Jesus's words, it should draw us closer to God. It should cause us to be more interested or interested once again in the study of the word of God. So these signs. Yeah, the wars and rumors of wars, pestilence the love of many growing cold and all of these different things. I think these are reminders that bring us back to the word of God. Not things that are setting dates. Oh, but those things happen. And Jesus never came. Well, he didn't say he was gonna come when these things happen. He said, when these things happen, remember I am coming. So here, verse 30, for the first time in all of this, these things that Jesus has been saying, he talks about a sign, the only time he mentions a sign. So listen to this verse 30. Then the sign of the son of man will appear in heaven. So, okay, the sun is dark and the the moon is bloodshot. The stars are falling, but that's not yet the sign. Keep in mind. But after this, there will be a sign. Then the sign of the Sun of men will appear in heaven. And then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. How can I know for sure that someone claiming to be Jesus and maybe raising someone from the dead, like clearly this has to be God. How do I know that that's a false Christ? If a prophet shows up and says, by the way, Jesus changed his mind is not coming back and it's gonna be something different, how do I know that that's a false prophet? Well, we're gonna talk about prophecy, I think, and what we are talking about prophecy, but false prophets later on that can do a whole study on that. But part of the way that you know, you can tell a false prophet. Is if the prophecy contradicts previous light that's in the Bible all the prophecies in the Bible, all the things, it, it always matches with itself. It doesn't contradict other parts of the Bible. So we, we did mention that there are some prophecies, there are conditional that depends on our reaction, our behavior. We mentioned Jonah when he went to NVE and they repented and then God didn't destroy them. We talked about Sodom and Gomorrah, how if God had found 10 righteous people, he wouldn't have destroyed it. But since he didn't, then he destroyed it. So there are these different things. There are conditional prophecies, but the, the second coming of Jesus is not a conditional prophecy. It's going to happen. And anybody that's saying otherwise, it's a false prophet or a false Christ, how do I know the real Christ will come in the clouds of heaven? This is the sign, the sign of the son of man will appear in heaven and all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Not a baby born in a stable the second time, right? It's gonna come with great power and glory or power in great glory. So this is how you know that it's Jesus coming. If it's somebody walking on earth, obviously it's not Jesus. And it's important to know this 'cause Jesus says there will be false Christ and false prophets. There's already been several. We don't see them too much here in the us but in other parts of the world, just, just Google it. People claiming to be Jesus. There's lots of them. And how do we know if that they're not? Maybe it is. Well, unless they're coming with the angels in the clouds with power and great glory, it's not Jesus. How do you know for sure? Because Jesus told us. And this is the only way that we avoid deception. Our senses can be misled, we can be confused. We can be tricked if we trust in our senses. But if we trust in prophecy in the word of God, then we will not be deceived. Well, how do you know? Because Jesus said it. He says, this is why I'm telling you all of this so that you won't be deceived. Otherwise you would be deceived. So this is why it's important to study this. It's not to set a date, it's to avoid deception. It's to be reminded that Jesus is coming soon and then allow that information, that knowledge, that understanding to change and shape the way that we live our lives. So let's continue. Verse 31, it says, and he will send his angels with great sound of the trumpet and they will gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to another. The four winds is like north, south, east, west, right? The earth is, is round. It's a, it's a balls. You, you can't. There's no four corners or four winds, but the directions, the whole world, the whole heavens. This is the, the end, right? The angels will come and gather the elect. So you could call this a rapture. You could, they will be raptured brought up, but it's nothing, there's nothing secret about this power and great glory. The sound of the trumpet. And then the angels come and gather God's people. Is there a rapture? Yes. Is it secret? No. At, at least not based on this text. And we're gonna read on we want to, I wanna be sensitive with the time, but if you're listening to this as a podcast or in a video, I guess you can just listen to it in parts. But I do want to go through every verse and, and just study it. So let's keep going. Now. Learn this parable from the fig tree. Verse 32, when the branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know, that summer is near. So I live in Idaho and spring is near. And you can tell from the tips of the, the branches on the trees there are bear, they begin to turn red. And you can see I lived in Massachusetts for a while. Same thing. You can tell that spring is coming. So Jesus says, you can look at nature and tell when something's about to happen. Verse 33. So you also know when you see all these things, know that it is near even at the doors. So Jesus is saying it's near when you see these signs. I'm coming soon. Be reminded of that. And we're about to get into a verse here that's really tricky. And I just wanna set this up properly. Jesus says, look at the signs. See the wars, the rumors of wars, the pestilence, all of these things. Let these signs remind you like, oh yeah, Jesus said these things would happen. He's coming soon. And you can say, yeah, but these things have been happening forever. There's been wars and rumors of wars and pestilence as an earthquakes ever since the time of Jesus. There have been, you know, meteor showers and the, the dark sun, right? With and eclipse and, and red moons, blood moons. These things happen and Jesus hasn't come yet. What do you mean he's coming soon? Even at the doors throughout the Bible, the date for the coming of Jesus is soon. It's always soon. Some people get frustrated. I've been waiting for so long, I've been waiting for a lifetime, and Jesus hasn't come yet. What do you mean? He's coming Soon? He is. Now, think about this. If Jesus comes in my lifetime. Or if it takes a thousand years to come, which I don't think he will, but let's say he does. How long do I wait? The longest I can wait is one lifetime. How long is one lifetime? It depends. Depends on my choices. Depends on my environment. It depends on choices of people around me. I don't know how long I'm gonna live. I don't know if I'll make it to the end of today, but in my mind, if somebody asks me When is Jesus coming? The answer is always soon, which means today I am ready. If he came and tomorrow I want to be ready. If he comes and the other day. And the other day. But why? Because the longest I can wait is one lifetime. The date doesn't matter that much. If I die tomorrow, it doesn't matter if he comes next week. Right? My, my opportunity to make choices and make decisions, it's only while I'm alive. Something to keep in mind in this sense. It's always soon, all these signs remind us, Jesus is coming. Let me adjust my life accordingly. And my living according what are my values? How am I spending my time? Think about these things, reflect on these things and avoid deception. This is the purpose of this, not setting dates. Now, here is a challenge. Verse 34. Jesus says, assuredly I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away to all these things take place. Is Jesus a false prophet? Because he said maybe he got the date wrong. Maybe he thought he was gonna come real soon, and then he didn't. Or another way of interpreting this, and let me find the verses by the way, I, I, I saw my notes here and I had missed it and I didn't go back to it. But if you wanna write these down, this is back to a reference of Matthew 21 and 22 talking about the great fibrillation, as such has never been before. You can compare that with First Thessalonians five, three second Timothy three, one through five, second Peter three, three through four, Daniel 7 21 through 26. All these verses seem to reference that time of tribulation at the end, whether it was destruction of Jerusalem or at the end of times, or both, which is also a possibility. So some notes for you to look at. Now this reference to the, this generation and, and this is something that let, let me get to here in my notes. So this generation is a negative verdict by Jesus on those who are rejecting him. And you can see this by looking at Matthew 11 16, 12 41 through 42 and 45 and 2336. Yeah. Every time Jesus makes a reference to this generation, it's a negative verdict. It's people who are rejecting him. So this is not when Jesus said no until this generation these things, sorry, assuredly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away to all these things take place. I think that this is a reference that Jesus is making to the destruction of Jerusalem. And those people who were rejecting Jesus were going to witness the destruction of Jerusalem and know that he spoke truth and these, that these things indeed came to happen. So that's one way of interpreting this text and maybe it's not good enough for you. It's good enough for me. I don't know of a better way of interpreting this. I don't think Jesus was mistaken. I think this is one of those things where we're reading through and it's like, is it the destruction of Jerusalem? Is it the end of time? There's a lot that applies to both. I believe that this is a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem. I'd love to know your thoughts on this. In verse 35, he says, heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. So Jesus' words are true. They will not change. So. I believe in what he's saying and I believe that his reference to this generation is to those who were rejecting him. And it's a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem that did happen within the lifetime of his listeners. Now we're getting close to the end here. Let's plow through verse 36, but of the day and the hour. No one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my father only. Now, please, please, please, if you have your Bibles with you, mark this, highlight this, circle it. Put stars next to it. And the reason why I say this is 'cause I have had people in my churches where I am the pastor or the spiritual leader, I've had people trying to make the claim that they figured out the date. As a denomination, we do not believe that as a Bible believing Christian. I don't believe that. And if anybody claims to have figured it out, they are not. Speaking truth, maybe they think they have, they are deceived. They have managed to deceive themselves. Nobody knows Jesus is not telling us so that we can figure out the dates because like I said before, the date doesn't really matter. What matters is how you live your life. The longest you can wait is a lifetime. Otherwise, we would want to wait all the way to the last minute and then repent just before Jesus comes back. I remember a, a pastor I was talking to, shared this story of they had a teacher, and I forget if they were fifth grade or sixth grade. Anyway, it was middle school and this was the most demanding teacher that he ever had. He said, even compared to graduate school and when she would leave the classroom, now they, they goof around and, and play around and be loud or whatever, but she always wore heels and they could heal. Hear her coming down the hallway. Duck, duck, duck, duck, duck. They hear her footsteps, so they get back into their seats and, you know, and sit upright and, and behave nice. So when she comes in, everybody's just looking nice, right? So the idea is, oh, well we're gonna get to, to some of this. Don't try to set dates. Don't think, oh, when Jesus, when we get closer, then I'll get my act together. Then I'll start, you know, I'll give my heart to Jesus, then I'll, I just wanna try sin a little bit more. It's not the point. Jesus is coming soon. How soon? When is the date He's coming? Soon. Even at the door. You should be ready today. That's the best advice for everyone. Be ready today. And there's more information on this. But the main thing I want you to know in all of this, that Jesus is saying, setting the date is not the point. It's for you to avoid deception. It's for you to know that the gospel has to be preached in the whole world. It's for you to know how he's gonna come back so you don't fall for a false prophet or a false Christ. And it's not for you to set dates. If you're studying prophecy to set dates, you're missing the point. You're missing what Jesus actually wants to tell you because you're looking for information that he's not trying to give you all this information. In my mind, the way that I interpret it is to remind us of the importance of seeking God to, for us to strengthen our relationship with him, to remind us that he is coming again, but not to set a date. Verse 37, listen to this. But as the days of Noah, were so also, will the coming of the son of man be for as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day Noah entered the arc and they did not know until the flood came and took them all away. So also will the coming of the son of man B. So let's pause there real quick. As in the days of Noah, right? Nobody knows the day or the hour. So I've seen preachers talk about the days of Noah and they'll talk about how people were wicked and just completely bad and bad all the time, you know, consistently. And and, and they'll go off into that and say, oh, the days are just like the days of Noah. People are bad and all that. I don't disagree with that. I'm not saying they're wrong, but when I read the text and I see what Jesus highlighted about the days of Noah, he does not mention how wicked the people were. Maybe he doesn't need to because we know, we know the story. Or maybe what Jesus is highlighting by his words. He says in the days of Noah, before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered the ark. They're not doing bad things. They're going through life as usual. What I take this to understand, to mean, what I understand this to mean is that life will be going on as usual. People are gonna be getting married and eating and drinking and partying and living life until the, and then the end comes, it's going to catch people by surprise. No. When into the ark, Noah was listening to God, no one knew what was going on. Nobody else did. They were oblivious to it. They didn't know it was going to happen, even though Noah tried to warn them. And I think that this is the main point. It's not going to be obvious that Jesus is coming again to those who have not studied prophecy to those who are not paying attention to the signs, to those who don't have a relationship with Jesus. It's going to happen and catch them by surprise. And you can say, but, but Marlon, you just said that we're not setting dates, that these sins are just to bring us closer to Jesus. How? How, how do you mean? We're not gonna be caught by surprise if we don't know the date or the hour? I'll ask you this. How do you prepare for a pop quiz, right? I had a teacher in high school, loved pop quizzes. He was a math teacher, and I'm not great at math. I struggled. Math humbled me. I got decent grades, but it was through a lot of hard work. It did not come easily to me, and I hated the pop quizzes. So what does that mean? I had to always be studying. I had to make sure I was doing my homework, make sure I was asking questions. If I didn't understand something, I had to make sure I was learning the material because at any moment he could say, put your books away, pop quiz ta. How do you prepare for something when you don't know what's going to happen? You just stay prepared all the time. How do you prepare for the second coming of Jesus? Just turn to Jesus. Invite him into your heart. Accept him as Lord and Savior, and then just walk with him. Just abide with him. Just stay, remain faithful. That's it. The, the date doesn't matter. If he came today, I'm good with that. If he came next week, I'm okay with that. If he came a hundred years from now, that's fine too. I'll die before then and that's okay. The point is not setting a date, the point is being ready. The people at the time of Noah, even though Noah was preaching, even though there was this big boat, they're like, ah, it's never gonna happen. Just like that. People will be, when Jesus comes again, it's not gonna be super obvious to everyone. Most people will not be paying attention. They will not notice the signs. They have not read the scriptures and they will miss it. And this is why Jesus calls on us to share the gospel with them. And I believe the gospel includes prophecy because this is how we avoid deception. So let's keep going here. I. So we stopped on verse 40, I believe. 'cause verse 39 says, and they did not know until the flood came and took 'em all away. So also the son of the coming of the son of men be verse 40, then two men will be in the field, one will be taken and the other left, two women will be grinding at the mill, one will be taken and the other left Watch. Therefore, for you do not know what hour the Lord is coming. Some people will take these verses and talk about a secret rapture. See, two people will be there, one will be taken and the other won't true. The text does say this, it doesn't say anywhere that it's a secret. We just saw earlier that it's gonna be with, you know, the angels and great glory and the, the trumpet sound. The angels will gather the people. So I could be with someone plowing in the field. The there is Jesus is coming. Angels, glory, sound. The angels takes me and leaves my friend. It doesn't have to be secret for me to be taken and my friend left. It doesn't say it's silent anywhere. People think I would just disappear. Oh, maybe. But the second coming will be loud and visible. It's not going to be a secret. It's just saying what it's saying. One person will be taken, the other will be left. What does this mean? Being really good friends or coworkers with or you know, married to someone who has a really strong, healthy relationship with Jesus, who has received salvation as a free gift, does not mean that you have it too, just because you work with them, just because you're friends with them. Just because you live in the same house. Just because you share a bed, just because you're related to by blood to someone who is saved does not save you. I believe this is the point that Jesus is making. It's not enough to be really close to someone that's saved. You need to have that salvation for yourself because they will be taken and you will be left. Not that they're taken secretly, it's just that salvation is individual thing. I believe people will be saved in all kinds of different churches and religions and different beliefs, and we can talk more about that. They're gonna be saved by grace through faith. And because of the sacrifice of Jesus. But anyway the idea is it's not enough for you to be close enough to someone who's saved. You need to have that experience with Jesus for yourself. You need to make that decision to accept him as Lord and Savior to be born again as a follower of Jesus. Otherwise, one person will be taken, the other one will be left. Watch. Therefore, verse 42, you do not know what hour the Lord is coming. We're not gonna know the date. So how do we prepare? Be prepared. Verse 43. But know this, that if the master of the house had known the hour, the thief would come. He would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. People say, see secret rapture, you know, like a thief. It doesn't mean that the thief is quiet. We watching too many heist movies. A lot of times a thief will come in, smash a window, be noisy, they'll just come when you're not home. It's very rare for a thief to come in when you're asleep. Right. The this quiet thing, it, it doesn't say that it's going to be quiet, but it does say like a thief. A thief wants to come when you're not ready, when you're not expecting when you left the back door unlocked. Right. So, I'm a Brazilian. I, I grew up in Brazil. I lock everything all the time. So my wife's the kind of, kind of person that wakes up in the middle of the night. Did you set the alarm? Did you lock all the doors? Did you lock all the windows? Like, yes honey. Yes. It doesn't mean that there's a thief coming at the area here. Seems to be really nice. I'm not concerned. But that part of me of growing up is just let's just make sure. Right? Just in case. So this is how you prepare. You just always lock everything. That way. It doesn't matter if the thief comes or what time the thief comes, or how quiet or how loud the thief is. The doors are locked, the alarm is set. We're safe. So like I've said, again, I keep repeating this, it's not about the date, it's about being ready. As I see the signs of wars and the rumors of wars and persecutions and all these things like, oh, Jesus is coming soon. What's my spiritual journey like? So I don't wanna belabor the point. Let's keep going.  So broken into verse 44. Therefore, you also be ready for the son of man is coming at an hour. You do not expect as much as you look at the signs and know he's coming soon. It'll still surprise you and that's okay. It's okay because you're ready for it. This is the main idea. You're not gonna know the time. You're still gonna be surprised it's coming at an hour. You do not expect Verse 45, who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household to give them food in due season. So God has blessed a good and faithful servant. God has made him or her master and ruler over this household to give food in due season, right? So we are made responsible. God holds us responsible for making food available to others. You can make this spiritual food caring for others, sharing the gospel, being a decent human being, and not taking advantage of those that you are over. Right? If you are a made ruler, master boss, you own your own business. You have people working under, you're a parent. You have children, right? People under your influence. God expects you to care for them and do season right. Pay 'em what they're worth. Make sure they're not going through. Unnecessary hardship that you're there to support those around you. We are called to do this as believers in God. Verse 46, it says, blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes will find. So doing. What does that mean? Be a decent Christian, followed the will of God when he comes. You're doing what you're supposed to do and it's all great. There is no problem. There is no issues. You are doing what you're supposed to do. Now here's the contrast. Jesus says, I surely, sorry not the contrast yet I surely I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. Right? There's a reward now, verse 48. But if the evil servant says in his heart, now listen to this, the evil servant, listen to what he says in his heart. He says, my master is delaying his coming. And he begins to beat his fellow servants to eat and drink with the drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and that an hour he is not aware of and he will cut him into and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The problem is not that the master didn't announce his coming. The problem is that the servant thought the master is taking forever. Let me take advantage of those that have power over them. Let me beat them. Let me cause them to suffer. Let me party and drink and do all of these different things. The master isn't coming. That's the danger I. The danger is saying, ah, Jesus isn't coming. I'm just gonna live my life. Take advantage of people. Climb the ladder, step on everybody else on the way. This is what life is all about. And then Jesus comes and they're like, oh, my bad. But if you're doing what you're supposed to be doing, the good and faithful servant giving food and due season, it doesn't matter. When the master comes, I want the master to come, right? I love the master. I can't wait for the master to come. It doesn't matter. I don't, I'm not having, I don't have anything to hide. So this is the key. I believe of Jesus's words. He is coming. The signs are all around us. Don't try to set a date, just be ready and please don't fall for the false Christ and the false prophets. I hope you found this helpful. This is our study of Matthew 24. If you want some homework bonus on your own. Read through Matthew 25. Matthew 25 gives you more parables. And I think this helps clarify how do I live my life in anticipation of the coming master of the second coming of Jesus? Is it a life of panic or fear? Do I head for the hills? Do I go off to live by myself? I don't think so. Matthew 24 and 25 gives us some practical applications, practical tips. Jesus tells some parables that will guide you in how you should live your life. So let me know if you have any questions or comments on that. Thank you so much for joining us for study number two of our series and Prophecies of Hope. I hope you will join us for our next study. The next one will be How Evil Entered Our World. I. This is important. It has some prophecy in it. It has some things that are not prophecy, but I think it helps us understand what's happening overall. So join us for our next episode. How Evil Enter the World. Why is there so much suffering? We will tackle that next, but let's close with prayer. Father in heaven, thank you for the words that Jesus left us reminding us that he's coming again, that he's coming soon giving us information so that we are not deceived. And Lord, may we be motivated to share the good news with others. We don't have to be afraid of the second coming.

 We just have to be ready and we can receive salvation as a gift. Thank you for that. Bless us and keep us safe. Until next time, I pray. In Jesus' name, amen. May God bless you.

[mrlnsfrt]

Daniel 2 Prophecy

Decoding Daniel Chapter 2: Unveiling Biblical Prophecies

This post is based on the transcript of my video on YouTube. I want to give special thanks to Michaele Hamilton for helping with proofreading and editingit.

Hello and welcome to our Prophecies of Hope series. 

I want to make this very practical.  You will need your Bible. That will be our primary source of information. 

We will study the Bible and discover some of its key prophecies. How do we apply these prophecies? What is the practical application of what is revealed in the word of God?

Thank you so much for joining us. 

This is the very first episode of our series. 

I'd like to introduce myself, in case you don't know who I am. My name is Marlon Seifert. As we go through this series, you may notice that I have a slight accent. I was born in Brazil.

I moved to the US when I was about 12 or 13 years old and have lived here ever since. I finished high school in Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. I went to college in Tennessee. My first job was as a full-time youth pastor in Texas. I went to Michigan for graduate school, then back to Texas, then South Georgia. I am currently in Idaho. 

I'm married to the love of my life. I met her when we were in high school. We met at church. We've been married for 17 years now. We have two beautiful children, a boy and a girl, and I am just passionate about the Bible and sharing it with others.

I've had the opportunity to do this on different continents and all over the US, and it's my pleasure to be your guide or facilitator as we go through this.

Tonight's topic is knowing the future. This is a prophetic outline for most of the Bible's prophecies. We won't cover some very specific prophecies at this time. This is an introduction, so we won't get to all of it, but I think it will be incredibly helpful. 

I invite you to open your Bibles with me and read the Book of Daniel. We're looking at chapter 2. I like to begin with chapter 2 because I think this is the easiest prophecy to interpret. The interpretation is given right here in the second chapter.

If you would like to start studying Prophecy, Daniel is a great book because it has some narrative, it has some stories, and then it also has prophecies. When you understand Daniel properly, it really helps you to understand Revelation and some of the other things too.

Hopefully by the end of this series you will have a decent grasp on prophecy. My hope is that you will know at least enough to be able to tell when someone is saying something that's just completely unbiblical and not in the Bible at all.  You will know enough to have hope and assurance in the God of love regarding the future, especially the things that are beyond our control and also what to do with the things that are under our control. 

Before we jump into it, I invite you to bow your head with me as we pray. Father in heaven, thank You for this opportunity to study Your word. We understand that spiritual things are spiritually discerned, so please send Your Holy Spirit to guide us in the study of the Bible. Teach us the things You'd have us learn and the impact that it should have in the way that we live our lives. Bless us, I pray, in Jesus name. Amen.

Daniel chapter 2 has a fascinating story.  I will begin just reading through it.  It may seem kind of boring, but I think the best way is to go through the Bible, see what it says, and then interpret it, apply it and understand it. 

Daniel chapter 2, and by the way, I am reading from the New King James Bible.  That is the version that I own and that I am used to reading. The Bible originally was not in English. It was in Greek and Hebrew and Aramaic. I just want to make that clarification since you may be reading from a different translation and it's slightly different from the New King James Bible. 

Translating is always tricky. There aren't words that are exactly the equivalent to the original languages. We won’t get into the differences between translations, which one is best, which one is worse. You can research that on your own. I just want to encourage you to follow along as I read understanding there might be some differences and that has to do with different Bible translations.

It says, Now, in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.

We are starting in Daniel chapter 2. To provide a little background, King Nebuchadnezzar is not the King of Israel. He is the king of Babylon.  The story takes place in Babylon.  There are some exiles from the Children of Israel there in Babylon.  Here we meet Daniel and his friends. 

The King of Babylon has dreams and it's bothering him.  The dream wakes him up in the middle of the night, and he was so bothered by these dreams that he can't sleep anymore.  It says that sleep left him. 

Verse 2.  Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

Now it's interesting given what we now know about Babylon. We know that they studied the stars. We know that they had the hanging gardens of Babylon. There were some really intelligent people there, advanced in math and sciences. But it's interesting when we read this list, we catch a glimpse that at the time it was not really clear what was math, what was science, what was geometry or what was just magic, right? So all these things are mixed.

There are some really intelligent people. There are wise men, there are philosophers and magicians.  The king calls all of them. Bring everybody in. And it says, verse 3, And the king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream.” 

I had a dream. I want to know the dream. I'm anxious. Tell me the dream. 

Verse 4, it says, Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic.” So once again, right? Not English. They're speaking Aramaic. It says, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.” 

This is what they do for a living.  Tell us what you dreamt and we will tell you what it means. And this is our introduction to prophecy. We will see as we read through the story that God chooses to reveal Himself in different ways. One of the ways that God does that is through dreams. It doesn't mean that every dream you have is a revelation from God.  Sometimes you just ate too much pizza before going to bed. Sometimes you're just thinking about something and it's on your mind and you end up dreaming about it. But according to the Bible, it's also a way that God chooses to reveal himself to people. 

So they're asking, well, tell us the dream. We'll tell you what it means.  They probably had their books with different interpretations telling them what certain things meant. People have books like that nowadays. 

The king answered, verse 5, and said to the Chaldeans, “My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.”

That's kind of rough. King Nebuchadnezzar, he doesn't do anything halfway. He's all in one way or the other. If you fail him, he's going to kill you by cutting you into pieces and then burning down your house. However, verse 6 says, “if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”

So, high risk, high reward, right? If you're able to do this, you will receive great honor and gold and wealth. You will be a rich and powerful person if you can tell the king his dream and the interpretation. 

Now, here's the problem.  How are you going to know? What was it that the king dreamed about? That is the challenge. Let's read on and see what happens. 

Verse 7, They answered again and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation.” 

Like, come on King, come on. Just tell us the dream, we'll tell you what it means. 

The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation.” 

Now there's a couple of different approaches to the story that I've heard and read as I've looked into this and tried to research it deeply. Some people believe that the king did remember his dream, but he is testing his wise men to know if they're really able to know his dream.  The majority of people seem to believe he really forgot.  He woke up and thought, what was the dream? I had a dream. I know that the dream was important, but I can't remember the details. I can't remember what the dream was about. 

So here we have this difficult situation. The king doesn't remember his dream and the interpreters, the wise men, the magicians, the astrologers, the physicists, they could not figure this out.  the king is getting upset and he says, oh, you're trying to buy time. You're hoping that I'll change my mind, but I am not changing my mind. 

Verse 10, The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean.  It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

So the magicians, the astrologers, the wise men, the Chaldeans, they all agree. What the king is asking is impossible for a human being to do. That's why nobody asks these things.  They're trying to convince the king, right? Nobody else would ask this. This is crazy. There's no way that we could know. Only the gods know. And the gods don't dwell with us. 

This is the setting for this story.  There's something that was revealed to the king. The king believes it was revealed to him from the gods. The magicians are saying: We don't know. We don't talk to the gods. They don't live with us. There's a barrier, right? There's a problem getting this information from the gods, and they're afraid for their life.

Verse 12. For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 

So now we have a reference to Daniel. Daniel is the one from the children of Israel that was brought as a captive to Babylon.

If you would like to learn more of the background of how some of the children of Israel ended up in exile in Babylon, let me give you some Bible texts you can read on your own.  On your own time, you could read 2 Kings 23:36 thru 24:62 and 2 Chronicles 36:5-8.  You can also go back to Daniel chapter 1 and get a little bit more of the story. 

As we continue with the story, we're introduced to Daniel and his friends. To give you a little bit of background, Daniel and his friends were brought to Babylon as young men.  They were in training to become wise men. It seems like they hadn't graduated yet. When the decree went out to kill them all, they had not been officially brought before the king as wisemen. 

The king was so upset. He's even killing some of the wisemen that were still, it seems, in training.  They were still in school, about to graduate.

Let's continue with verse 14. Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon; He answered, verse 15, and said to Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.

Daniel didn't even know what was happening. Why? Why are we going to die? Why so soon? 

Wait! What's going on? Can we slow down? 

Then Arioch explains the king’s decision to Daniel. We get the impression that maybe they knew each other a little bit. They've interacted before. 

They are having this conversation and Arioch explains to Daniel what's going on, and verse 17 says, then Daniel went to his house and made the decision known, (look at this, these are his friends, look at the cool names they have) to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

The Babylonians have their gods, and of course, Daniel and his friends have their God, the God of the Bible, referred to here as the God of heaven.  They start praying to God. The other wise men said, it's impossible. The gods don't dwell with us. We can't know. Daniel says, well, let's pray about it. Daniel and his friends get together and begin to pray to God and ask God to help them with this situation. 

Verse 19 says, Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

To be clear, there was a problem, something happened, and people were not able to do this humanly impossible thing. They say, only the gods. The gods don't dwell with us. 

Daniel finds out about the problem. Daniel says, I can talk to God about this. He begins to pray to the God of the Bible. The God that I believe in. Then Daniel has a vision and God reveals to Daniel the things that he's been asking about. 

Daniel's response to this is one of praise and worship.  It's singing. We do not have the music. I don't know how the song goes. We just know it's a song. 

In most Bibles, you will see the words indented. It goes from being aligned on the left-hand side to a column down the center. This is a way the translators let us know we are reading a song or poem. When you translate, there's no rhyme, but in Hebrew poetry, there was no rhyme. It was depicted by a change in meter. There are different clues in the original Hebrew text.  

By these clues we know, Daniel bursts into song. 

Let's read verse 20. Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.

We will learn more about this as we study prophecy. God is forever and ever. He deserves to be blessed, to be praised, to be worshiped.  His wisdom and His might are His. He doesn't compare. There are no other gods that can compete with the God of the Bible. 

Verse 21:

And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.

In this worship we find that God is the one who sets up those who are in power and takes them down. Lots of debate about that. It's a good topic to talk about. We won’t get too far into that right now, but we will address this without getting too political.

God is also the source of wisdom. That is why we pray before Bible study.  If we want to learn, we want to understand, we want to be able to apply this, we turn to God first and foremost and tell Him we need help. We recognize that wisdom and knowledge and understanding all come from God.

Continuing, verse 22:

He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.

“I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king’s demand.”

Daniel now knows. He now understands the demand of the king.

Verse 24: Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.”

This is really interesting. Daniel could have said, kill everybody else. They're useless. Keep just me and my friends. But he doesn't. This was a perfect opportunity to expose all the fake magicians and soothsayers and people who claim to talk with the gods but couldn't really.  Daniel is the one who has this intimate relationship with God.  The ability to talk to God and receive answers.

That is available to all of us. We can all talk to God, ask questions and receive answers in different ways. It's not always a dream. It's not always an audible voice, but God does answer prayers. We will talk more about that as we continue in this series. 

Daniel does not use this as an opportunity to have all of his competition, all of his enemies, you could say, destroyed. No, he spares them. He is merciful and kind to them. This is interesting and we will get more into that as we go on. Daniel says, this is a blessing from God. It's a blessing for everyone. 

Daniel tells Arioch he can tell the king his dream. Verse 25: Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, “I have found a man of the captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.”

Arioch is taking some credit for this. Hey, king, you couldn't find anybody to answer your questions. I found someone, so it'd be nice if you give me a raise or a bonus. Right? I am not sure, but it does sound like I found someone, king, and he can help you.

Arioch also identifies that Daniel came from Judah, one of the tribes of the children of Israel. 

The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, (Daniel is his Hebrew name, Belteshazzar is the Babylonian name that he was given.) “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?” 

The king is unsure. Nobody else could do this. Are you sure? Daniel, are you sure you can do this? 

Verse 27:  Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king.

Well, big help you are Daniel.  Thank you for telling me what I already know.  

It doesn't stop there. The story continues. Verse 28. “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:

Daniel is getting ready to tell the king the dream.  Daniel makes this very clear. He is not superior to the other people in skill or in wisdom or in natural ability. Daniel is giving all the honor and glory to God. He's saying, yes, these men cannot do this. Humanly speaking, it is impossible. I agree with all these wise men, sire, who told you that none of them can do this. I couldn't do this either except that God has revealed it. God knows the future. 

This is why we take time to study prophecy. This is why I invite you to join me on this journey of Prophecies of Hope because the Bible describes God not only as being good and loving and powerful and kind, but God also knows the future. We are going to be exploring this more and more.  Because God knows the future and has revealed certain important things for us, I think it's worthwhile for us to take the time to try to understand what God wants us to know regarding the future. 

So here we go. Verse 29. “As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart. 

This is beautiful. The way that Daniel says, I am not superior to anybody else. This is a gift from God, and God has given us this gift for your benefit king. God wants you to understand the thoughts of your heart.  I love this understanding because I also believe that the more that I understand God and God's will for my life, the more I understand the desires of my heart.

Now, we do have a sinful nature that can pull us to the wrong things. I'm not talking about that. I'm saying, my true identity is found in God. The better I understand God, the better I understand myself.  The more that my decisions and my lifestyle is aligned with the will of God, the more fulfilling that life is, the more joy there is in that life.

There is a practical application and practical benefit to understanding God's will for our lives. It's not just someday in the future in heaven and paradise but even right now on earth.  Life is better when we align our lives with God's will for our life.  The more we can know about God's will, the easier it becomes, or at least you know which direction to aim. 

Back to the story, verse 31. “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.” 

When I think about the statue, I about the Olympics and the different medals you get.  Gold is the head. Chest and arms are silver.  Thighs and abdomen are bronze. And although the Olympic medals do not go beyond bronze, I'm sure the next would be iron. The legs are of iron.  

The feet are iron and clay mixed. There is not a clear distinction from one medal to the next, like we have in all the previous ones.  Keep this in mind. This will be important. 

Let’s continue. Verse 34, “You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king.”

To clarify, there was this dream of a statue of different metals, then a rock, that was cast not from human hands, strikes the feet of the statue and everything crumbles. Everything disappears. The wind blows it away. There's nothing left of all these kingdoms. The rock that hits the feet of the statue grows and takes up the whole world.

This is one of the reasons I start with Daniel chapter 2. We have the vision, the prophecy and the interpretation all in the same chapter. You don't have to go from book to book, into the New Testament and the Old Testament, look at this and add these numbers, do this, translate that and do the math.  Daniel chapter 2 is very straightforward and very simple. Anybody and everybody can understand this prophecy.  This prophecy will also help you unlock and help you understand all the other prophecies in the Bible. Not every single one but the major ones.  The most important ones, I think, for our day and age. 

With that in mind, let's continue and find out the interpretation. Verse 37. “You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory;

Looking back  at Daniel's prayer of praise. Daniel understood King Nebuchadnezzar had power because God had given him power.  Even though he is taking the children of Israel as captives and exiled them and destroyed Jerusalem, God gave him the power. 

That raises a whole different topic about judgment which we won’t go into right now but Daniel understands, King, you have power. You do. It's true. You are a king of kings, but God gave you that power. This is one of the themes we will keep repeating.   

Verse 38, “and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold.”

I imagine King Nebuchadnezzar felt pretty good. I'm the head of gold! The most precious of these medals, the top of the statue, the best part of the statue. The head. That's me! I like this dream. I like this Daniel guy. Keep going. Tell me more. 

Verse 39, “But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.

There is something weird and different about these legs of iron. We will spend some more time on this later, but it's important to understand, even in this dream, there is more time spent describing the legs of iron. 

“Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided:”

So interesting. There is not a clear transition from one metal to another at the end of the legs of iron. They just become mixed with clay. It says, “yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.”

We see the Kingdom of Babylon, but it will not last forever. Later there will be another kingdom, the chest and arms of silver, and then an inferior kingdom to that, bronze, and then the legs of iron. That kingdom is described as very strong. It will crush all the other ones. Then that kingdom of transitions or morphs into something else, a divided kingdom that's partly strong and partly weak. They will try to mix but will never stay together. 

Verse 44.  “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”

This is not a maybe. This is not a perhaps. There are those prophecies in the Bible. If you're familiar with some of the stories in the Bible, such as the story of Jonah. He came to the city of Nineveh. God said He would destroy the city. The people repented and the city was not destroyed. We have the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. God tells Abraham, if I find 10 righteous people there, I will spare the whole city. There are prophecies in the Bible that are conditional. We can make certain choices and those choices will impact how God will react. 

This prophecy here in Daniel chapter 2, Daniel says, this will happen, regardless. This may bring into question the idea of free will. Free choice. If God knows what's going to happen, are we making free choices? 

One explanation I heard from someone else that I have found helpful is the idea of a barometer. The barometer can tell you the air pressure which tells you if it will rain or not.  Does the barometer make it rain? No. It just tells you it's going to rain.  This helps me understand how having the knowledge that something is going to happen does not cause that something to happen. 

This is my understanding. God has a knowledge of the future. There are things that He will do that will be causative, but I don't see that as removing the freedom of will from us. If God knows how things are going to happen and He reveals to us what's going to happen, and there are things that God will do, it does not remove from us the freedom to make choices.  It’s such a big topic though, maybe we can do another video on this. 

That is the gist of this prophecy. I just want to highlight a few things. 

The head of gold is Babylon. This is true historically. Archeologists have discovered things about King Nebuchadnezzar.  He was really there and he really existed in history. 

If you want to go deeper into this, you can compare the head of gold. This is the blueprint for some of the other prophecies. 

Daniel chapter 7, verses 4 thru 17, talks about a lion with wings, visions of the beast coming out of the sea.  They parallel this vision of the metals in the statue.  Tuck away in the back of your mind, if someone is ever interpreting the lion with wings as something else, no. That represents Babylon in history and that connects to this vision of Daniel chapter 2. 

In a similar way, after Babylon, we know that it fell and the next kingdom that takes over was Medo Persia. Now the Persians were stronger than the Meads. You can see this when you compare Daniel 2 to Daniel chapter 7, verses 5 and 17. In verse 5, there is a bear that's raised up on one side with three ribs in its mouth.  

There are different interpretations for the details and there is a biblical principle that prophecies get repeated and enlarged. The statue is very simple, very straightforward, not much detail is given. When you get to the animals, there's a little bit more detail that really helps us connect prophecy to these political powers that happen in history. You can also compare this to Daniel chapter 8, which picks up this vision starting with middle Persian, and goes forward and adds more detail. 

Daniel chapter 8, verses 3 through 4, and then verse 20.  This would be the ram with two horns. One horn is higher than the other. Once again, this idea of the Meads being stronger than the Persians. This is an interpretation of what that means, but this corresponds with the arms and chest of silver. 

It may sound like I'm throwing a lot at you. Don't worry about these details.  I just want to give them to you in case you want to study this deeper. Or at least set the groundwork for further study in the future. 

The bronze, the belly and thighs of bronze, that's Greece. After Babylon came Middle Persia or the Persian empire. After that, they were taken over by the Greeks. Or overthrown by the Greeks. You can compare this with Daniel chapter 7, verses 6 and 17.   The leopard with four wings of a bird and four heads. Now the interpretation for that is the great conqueror of Greece, Alexander the Great, died young and did not leave a successor so four of his generals took over.

Some people interpret this as why the leopard has four heads and why it fits with Greece because Alexander did it so quickly, that's why it has the four wings as well, indicating speed. You can also compare this to Daniel chapter 8 which goes into even more detail. It's the male goat with one horn between its eyes that is broken and replaced with foreign horns. Once again, Alexander, he falls out of power, four new generals come in. Horns represent powers. 

This is the foundation, the legs of iron. There is a lot more prophecy and details and time spent dealing with this and has more of an application for us even today.  These are more advanced studies but I want to lay the foundation for you. 

The legs of iron. This is the Roman Empire. They were still in power during the time of Jesus. Compare this with Daniel chapter 7 verses 7 – 10, verses 19 - 20, verse 23 - 24.  This is the fourth beast with the 10 horns. Daniel chapter 8 verses 9 - 11. This is the little horn that grows exceedingly great. You can read more about that. This falls in line with the Roman empire. 

Then the feet partly of iron and partly of clay.  This is a reference to divided Europe. Rome was never taken over or conquered by somebody else. It just fell apart and Europe has remained divided ever since. People have tried to unite it.  Napoleon tried. Hitler tried. I think Mussolini tried. There are some others throughout history that have tried.  

Even the European Union. The EU struggles to stay together. We know about Brexit. Brexit was the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. During that time, a friend of mine sent me a message reminding me Daniel chapter 2 said this would happen. The Bible says it will not stay together. It's going to remain divided. And that's the history of Europe.

Daniel chapter 7, verse 24 through 25. These are the 10 horns there are mentioned there on this scary beast that represents the Roman Empire. And then Daniel chapter 8, verses 9 through 11, the little horn growing exceedingly great. 

Why start here? Why go through all of this? 

One of many reasons, this is a great outline for other prophecies that appear in Daniel and in the book of Revelation. Another reason, that you see how accurate that vision is: the metals and the statue from the Roman Empire back to the Babylonian empire.

God said what was going to happen from that time forward all the way until Jesus comes again, or the end of the world, or the establishment of the Kingdom of God, and it was accurate. Tt was specific, exactly how many.  It will be Babylon, middle Persia, Greece, Rome, the divided Empire, and then the end comes. 

Where are we now?

We're leaving that divided empire time which means the second coming is the next big event in this prophecy. If all the other parts were fulfilled, it would make sense to me that this next part will be fulfilled as well. 

Now, there are some people who are critics of Daniel saying he just wrote this later, after the fact. Well, it's interesting. There are some challenges with that.  How did Daniel know so much about what was happening? Before archeologists discovered about King Nebuchadnezzar, they didn't know if that name was real or not.  There are several other things that Daniel describes in the Babylonian Kingdom that would be very difficult for someone writing after its fall. The text itself gives evidence of someone who was physically in Babylon and had access to that information, which would be difficult if they're living geographically in a different place. I believe that Daniel was the real guy that was there writing these things. 

Now, here's my question. What other religious books, or book in general, has done something like this? Given specific prophecies that are detailed enough that we can look at history and say it matches. It's not a prophecy; it is too broad. There will be other kingdoms. Yes. How many? You know what will happen? 

The Bible says how many kingdoms. It says what's going to happen. It says Europe would be divided. You can say, but it says the whole world? We understand the whole world, meaning the reality of the people at the time, the cradle of civilization is right there.  What's happening there is affecting everybody else. But yes, it did not impact Australia or the Americas at this point. There are some other prophecies in the Bible that I think applies. Or Asia? How far into the east does this go? I think that we can understand enough of the languages to know this is pretty accurate and unlike any other religious book or prophecy out there that tends to be very vague and very broad. This is very specific. 

If God was able to reveal to King Nebuchadnezzar and then through Daniel the interpretation, and we have access to it to this day, I think it says something about the inspiration of this book and that this is unlike other religious books. It's not just moral guidance, even though there is moral guidance. It's not just a book that talks about the origins of things, even though it does address that as well. It's not just a book about the character of God, even though it tells us a lot about the character of God.  It's also a book that reveals to us what's going to happen in the future. 

I hope that this was helpful to you. I hope you'll join us for part two coming up tomorrow. Or if this has been posted for a while, it's the next video on the playlist. 

Let me know your thoughts.  If you like this, please give us a thumbs up, subscribe to our channel and leave some questions in the comments. 

Who knows, depending on how many questions we get, the kinds of questions, maybe I’ll do some other videos just going over more prophecies, but I'd love to get into contact with you.

Feel free to reach out. May God bless you. Until next time.

[mrlnsfrt]

The Harvest is Plentiful

Compassion and Action: Following in Jesus' Footsteps

35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” —Matthew 9:35-38 NKJV

Teaching, Preaching and Healing

Jesus’ ministry involved teaching at religious gatherings, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and meeting felt needs, especially healing. As His followers, we should also strive to minister to those around us similarly. We may not all be able to do all the teaching, preaching, and healing/meeting felt needs, but we can all do at least one of these things at a time. We do not have to be experts at teaching, preaching and healing, but we can all do it to some degree. Don’t wait to be perfect, start where you are. We may not all teach at religious gatherings, but we can participate in some way by greeting and helping behind the scenes. We can also teach in smaller gatherings or even private settings, one on one. We are all called to preach the gospel of the kingdom, and this does not necessarily mean public speaking, you can preach the gospel in your interactions with those around you. Finally, we should all be involved in some way to help meet the needs of those around us. You may not be able to solve everyone’s problem completely, but you can help alleviate the suffering of some.

Resist the temptation to become overwhelmed and do none of the things Jesus did. Instead, look for practical ways to teach, preach, and heal today and this week.

Moved With Compassion

As Jesus went around teaching, preaching, and healing, he noticed the multitudes and their great need. Jesus was moved with compassion. The word used in the original Greek here is σπλαγχνίζομαι (splagchnizomai). It means to be moved as to one's bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity) this word is used only 12 times in the Greek New Testament and all of its uses are found in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke). For the complete list of its uses see BlueLetterBible.org.

The deep word study here may seem excessive, but it is meaningful because this word was not thrown around carelessly. It carried weight. In English, the word compassion means

sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it (Merriam-Webster.com)

a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help them: (dictionary.cambridge.org)

I appreciate that the English definition of compassion includes a desire to help, which I believe Jesus experienced. I also appreciate that the Greek definition describes compassion as felt deeply in the bowels. I remember a good friend of mine who was in class with me. As the professor explained compassion, and how it is described as being felt deeply in the bowels, my friend nudged me and said that sometimes the cafeteria food caused him to experience compassion. Interestingly, that silly joke cemented the Greek meaning of compassion in my mind. Every time I read it, I remember that it was deeply experienced in one’s bowels.

I say all this to say this: As Jesus went around teaching, preaching, and healing, he noticed how distressed and downcast the people were, and it made him sick to his stomach. Jesus compared the people to sheep without a shepherd. This mention of a shepherd reminds me of Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. —Psalm 23:1-3 NKJV

We cannot be shepherds in the way God is our Shepherd, but we can point people to God and share the blessings we receive from God with those around us. It is likely that many of you already do this. It is also very possible that many of us avoid experiencing compassion. It is uncomfortable to experience compassion. It is easier to blame others and do nothing about it. I would rather talk about how the government has failed people, how society is crumbling, how parents fail their children, or the company failed their employees, how terrible the world is, and after I blame everyone and everything, I go back to living my life.

I firmly believe in hard work, discipline, and taking personal responsibility. However, it would be foolish to ignore all the times I was helped when I was in need. All the times that I was blessed by others who were generous with their resources. I have been loved, mentored, helped, trained, and equipped. There is a long list of family members, friends, teachers, mentors, classmates, co-workers, bosses, professors, who helped shape who I am today. All of us should invest in those around us.

Assessment of the Situation

Jesus assesses the situation and addresses His disciples.

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. — Matthew 9:37 NKJV

According to Jesus, the main problem was not the Roman government or the emperor at the time. The problem was not the budget. The problem was not indifference from God. The problem is not that God is running out of power.

You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You. —Nehemiah 9:6 NKJV

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. — Isaiah 40:28 NKJV

The problem is not that God is running low on love.

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. —1 John 4:9-10 NKJV

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. —Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV

According to Jesus, the problem is not that people are not interested in spiritual things. Jesus asses the situation and states that the problem is that there are few workers.

So what should we do as a result?

Pray

Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” —Matthew 9:38 NKJV

As you go through life and do what you can to help those around you, you begin to feel overwhelmed and compassionate. You wish you could do more, as you begin to understand, to a small degree, what Jesus felt that day, you should pray The Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

The challenge here is that you will not truly experience compassion, until you begin to teach, preach, and heal. You must get personally involved to pray this prayer truly. Being too busy to help someone is not a valid excuse. You cannot help everyone, but we can all help someone. Begin to volunteer, teach, preach, heal, look for ways to help those around you. As you do this, you will notice even more needs and wish you could do more. Your heart will break as you realize your limitations, and then you will begin to pray like never before. You will pray like a true missionary. You will pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

The good news is that the harvest belongs to God, the Lord of the harvest. He wants to save and bless people, but He limits Himself out of respect for our freedom of choice. So Jesus tells us to pray to God for Him to send out more workers into His harvest. Once we pray, we grant God permission to intervene in a way He would not if we did not. Should Satan step in and question God for moving in people’s lives more forcibly and cry foul, God can point to us and say “I am doing this as an answer to their prayer.”

Our prayer to God to send laborers opens an avenue for God to justly do what He already desires. When I say justly, I mean without disregarding the rules of engagement.

These rules of engagement may be defined as parameters to which God has committed himself in relationship to creatures, for the good of all, including commitments God has made regarding the extent of rulership and jurisdiction temporarily afforded to the rebels in the cosmic conflict." Such rules of engagement appear in many places throughout Scripture. —Peckham, John C. Why we pray: Understanding prayer in the context of cosmic conflict. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2024. p81

If you’re interested in the rules of engagement in a cosmic conflict beyond its impact on prayer, I highly recommend John C. Peckham's Theodicy of Love. 

Conclusion

Recently, my family and I drove up to McCall, Idaho. If you are unfamiliar with this area, McCall is over 5,000 feet above sea level. I was there in February, and over 5 feet of snow was on the ground. My family and I joined about 100 others at Camp Ida-Haven for our Club Ministry winter retreat. Because there was so much snow, we had a strict rule that no child could wander unaccompanied. 

About six of our Pathfinders were working on their winter camping honor and were camping on top of over 5ft of snow. They needed to use special snow shows in order not to sink into the snow. They had to sleep outside for two nights in order to get the honor. My wife was there as a chaperone for the girls and Bradly was there teaching the winter camping honor and as the chaperone for the guys. Each pathfinder slept in their own tent.

During the night from Saturday to Sunday, it snowed some more, and by Sunday morning the precipitation was varying between snow and freezing rain. This meant heavy wet snow. In the morning, I came over to help tear down camp (the rest of us were sleeping in cabins or in the main lodge). I had my ski jacket and hood and gloves and snowshoes. As I helped my wife with her tent, my gloves began to soak, we had to move snow off the tent, and since it was still raining/snowing, we had to pack a wet tent. By the time I went over to help one of the Pathfinders, my gloves were soaked and my fingers were getting numb. Also, I begin to feel my back wet. I was not sure if it was from the rain soaking through my ski jacket or just my perspiration. I continued to work and eventually we helped take down about 4 tents.

Imagine if I had gone there to help my wife and one of the Pathfinders struggling to get out of his tent didn’t put on his snowshoes and sank deep into the snow. Well, we had warned them to always wear their snowshoes. Imagine that Pathfinder is trying to crawl and pull his leg out. Snow went up their pant leg, their shoe is now off of their foot because, in their hurry in the morning, they didn’t tie their shoe laces. Their arm is short, and they can’t reach their shoe in the bottom of the hole their leg made, so now they are on their knees digging, trying to get their shoe, and now their sock is soaked, and their foot is going numb. Imagine I witness all of this and think to myself, man, that poor Pathfinder is suffering, if only he had obeyed the clear instructions that were given him. If he had tied his shows properly and put on his snowshoes, none of this would have happened.

Imagine that Pathfinder is wet, cold, and frustrated and begins to cry. I hear the cries and say, “Crying won't help. Put on your shoes, put on your snowshoes, and pack up your tent. We have to go.” Imagine I finish helping my wife with her tent and we both get in our car, turn up the heat and drive to the main lodge to have breakfast. When we arrive there, the parents of that Pathfinder ask us about their child. How would those parents feel if I told them that I left their child there in the cold, freezing rain. Would the parents be less angry if I explained how their child made a series of poor choices that made his life increasingly more difficult? Would the parents be okay with my leaving their child in the snow during a snowstorm if I explained that my hands were cold and my gloves were wet? Would the parents be less upset if I explained that I was hungry and wanted to eat a warm breakfast so I didn’t stay to help their child?

How do you think God feels when we witness someone suffering, and we are able to help, but it would be inconvenient, so we just ignore them and go on with our lives?

Divine love has been stirred to its unfathomable depths for the sake of men, and angels marvel to behold in the recipients of so great love a mere surface gratitude. Angels marvel at man's shallow appreciation of the love of God. Heaven stands indignant at the neglect shown to the souls of men. Would we know how Christ regards it? How would a father and mother feel, did they know that their child, lost in the cold and the snow, had been passed by, and left to perish, by those who might have saved it? Would they not be terribly grieved, wildly indignant? Would they not denounce those murderers with wrath hot as their tears, intense as their love? The sufferings of every man are the sufferings of God's child, and those who reach out no helping hand to their perishing fellow beings provoke His righteous anger. This is the wrath of the Lamb. To those who claim fellowship with Christ, yet have been indifferent to the needs of their fellow men, He will declare in the great Judgment day, “I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity.” Luke 13:27. —The Desire of Ages p.825

I don’t want you to be weighed down with the burden of helping everyone in the world. I myself struggle with how much is enough. But what I do want to make very clear, is that doing nothing is not an option. There are people suffering without hope. People are despairing not knowing that there is hope to be found in God.

Who can you help?

How can you help?

Who can you teach? How can you preach? Who can you help heal?

Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out workers.

Understand that He will likely also send you.

[mrlnsfrt]

The Stormproof Life: Lessons from Jesus

Living out Jesus’ Teachings: The Key to a Stormproof Life

I don’t understand God's word when I read it; I understand it when I live it.

This is the final post of my Join Me on the Mountainside Series. Imagine the people listening to Jesus’ sermon. They have never heard such powerful words or such clear teachings, and they feel their hearts being stirred like never before. Jesus concludes His famous Sermon on the Mount by telling His hearers what they should do with everything they have heard.

The Wise Person

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. —Matthew 7:24-25 NKJV

According to Jesus, the wise follower of God is the person who comes to Jesus, hears His instructions, and puts them into practice. Simple right? Except that Jesus’ teachings will radically transform the life of anyone who applies them.

As fun as studying Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount has been, it will provide no benefit to anyone who does not put what they have learned from Jesus into practice.

Obedience to His will is the test of true faith in Christ. The test is not words, not saying “Lord, Lord,” and not obeying His commands. How easy it is to learn a religious vocabulary, and even memorize Bible verses and religious songs, and yet not obey God’s will. When a person is truly born again, he has the Spirit of God living within (Rom. 8:9); and the Spirit enables him to know and do the Father’s will. God’s love in his heart (Rom. 5:5) motivates him to obey God and serve others. —Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 31.

We are all in danger of deceiving ourselves, believing that studying the Bible, reading devotional books, and listening to sermons is enough. But what we learn from God will be of no benefit unless we put it into practice.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. — James 1:22-25 NKJV

Our hearing/studying of God’s word must result in action.

The Foolish Person

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” —Matthew 7:26-27 NKJV

Foolishness, in this case, has nothing to do with an individual’s intellectual capacity but rather with a willingness to put what one learns into practice. Anyone can be a wise builder, regardless of their level of education or intellectual prowess. The wisdom Jesus describes is available to all; even a child who hears and applies Jesus’ words is a wise builder. All it takes to be a wise builder is a willingness on the part of the hearer to put Jesus’ words into practice. The foolish builder is foolish because he knew better but chose not to act on it.

The Storm

A false profession of faith will last until judgment or trials come. At first glance, everyone looks the same. The difference between the houses is not aesthetic and is not visible from appearances. The difference between people and between the houses becomes evident during the storm, which is exactly when we need it the most. The difference is in the foundation, which nobody sees but makes all the difference.

It is easy to be a follower of Jesus when there are no trials and when your faith costs you nothing. However, when the storm hits, it becomes evident whether the builder is wise or foolish. You may think your problem is lack of knowledge, and I agree that there is value to knowledge, but if you have not yet applied what you know, what use will more knowledge be? We should seek more knowledge, but we should also apply what we already know to our lives.

Everyone can show up and look good. Everyone can sing the same songs and worship on the same day at the same location, and there is no visible difference. The difference becomes evident when the storm hits. Know that the storm will come to all of us. It is not a matter of “if” but of “when.” Since we do not always know when the storm will hit the best thing is always to be prepared. We must make sure we build our house on the rock. Jesus makes it simple by letting us know that we build on the rock when we put His teachings into practice in our lives.

In the Day of testing, not what we have said but what we have done in obedience to the Divine will shall alone be accepted as evidence: not the profession we leave made, but the verification we have given of it in our Christian walk; not the doctrines we believed, but the fruits they bore in our daily lives.  —Arthur Walkington Pink, An Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2005), 415.

I don’t understand God's will or word when I read it; I understand it when I live it.

While “personal holiness” may seem of little value to others, it makes all the difference in the lives of those who desire to see God.

“…the one who disregards the revealed will of God and follows a course of self-pleasing, no matter what garb of religion he wears, is playing the part of the fool, as he will yet discover to his eternal undoing.” —Arthur Walkington Pink, An Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2005), 415.

How important is it to put Jesus’ teachings into practice? It is vital.

The Foundation

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” ��Isaiah 40:8 NKJV

We live in a fast-changing world. Constant and quick change causes uncertainty and anxiety. Many try to foresee what will happen next and most of us get it wrong. Power has never been easier to get and more difficult to maintain. We are unsure who to trust; we feel alone and vulnerable because we cannot be experts in everything, but we also do not trust those who are supposed to be experts. In the midst of all the anxiety and uncertainty, when you feel powerless and unsure of what to do and which direction to go, where do you turn?

The word of God is the only steadfast thing our world knows. It is the sure foundation. “Heaven and earth shall pass away,” said Jesus, “but My words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35. —Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p.148.

When we put Jesus’ words into practice in our lives, it shows that we trust Him. As we do that, we are building our house, our habitation, our life, and our character, and we are building on the great principles of the law of God, which are a revelation of His very nature. When we live out the teachings of Jesus, we build our faith in Him, the Rock of Ages. (Isaiah 28:16; 26:4; Psalm 31:3;18:31 1 Peter 2:6; 1 Corinthians 10:4;…)

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 3:11 NKJV

You may already know intellectually that Jesus is the rock and our foundation, but now you know how to build on that foundation by practicing what Jesus taught. The only life worth living is a life based on Jesus. Only in Jesus can we build a character that will endure.

Living out Jesus’ teachings is not so much about discipline and willpower as it is about complete surrender to God and trust in Him. Whenever we rebel against God's will, it is because we question His character, His love, or His power. Deep down inside, we think we know better than God, that He can’t really provide for us, or that He doesn't really love us as much as we would like.

Religion is not about obeying God and hoping to earn salvation. No! Religion should be about celebrating that, as undeserving as we are, we have received the gift of His love through Jesus. We receive salvation as a gift, welcome Jesus into our hearts, and live differently because now Christ lives in us.

 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. —Galatians 2:20 NKJV

Do you allow God to guide you? Do you trust Him enough to practice His teachings? Or are you content to feel a warm fuzzy feeling every now and then when you worship? Does Jesus live in your heart, or do you only invite Him to visit on weekends for an hour or two?

Do you want to become a follower of Jesus but are wondering how to begin? Are you in darkness, wondering how to find the light? Follow the light you have. Set your heart to obey what you do know of the word of God. You will discover that His power, His very life, dwells in His word. As you receive the word in faith, you will also receive the power to obey. As you put into practice the light you have, greater light will come. You are building on God’s word, and your character will be built after the likeness of the character of Jesus.

Are you wise or foolish?

It is up to you. Are you going to put Jesus’ words into practice?

“The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not meant to be admired but to be obeyed.” —R.T. France, (Matthew, 146) quoted in Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 134.

Today, God is pleading with you.

Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’ —Ezekiel 33:11 NKJV

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. —Revelation 3:20 NKJV

For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. —2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV

What keeps you from living out Jesus’ teachings? Your best possible life awaits you. God will strengthen you. You only need to trust Him and follow His will.

If you would like to talk with me, please leave a comment on this post or contact me here.

[mrlnsfrt]

The Fruit Doesn't Lie

Recognizing Wolves in Sheep's Clothing - Inspect the Fruit

Since there are false prophets in the world, we must be careful of deception. But the greatest danger is self-deception. The scribes and Pharisees had fooled themselves into believing that they were righteous and others were sinful. It is possible for people to know the right language, believe intellectually the right doctrines, obey the right rules, and still not be saved. — Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 30.

In my last post, I covered The Golden Rule and the Narrow Path (Matthew 7:12-14). In this post, I’ll cover some warnings Jesus gave regarding how we might be enticed from the narrow path. Beware of spiritual and religious leaders who are hungry for money, power, and control.

Beware of Wolves

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. — Matthew 7:15 NKJV

Paul gives a similar warning in Acts 20:29-30.

29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. — Acts 20:29-30 NKJV

Interestingly, Paul highlights how these leaders will draw people to themselves and not to Jesus. On a similar note, Peter also warns of false prophets and teachers.

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. — 2 Peter 2:1-3 NKJV

Peter highlights that covetousness or greediness will be a motivating factor for these false teachers. Whenever a spiritual teacher is more concerned with self than with Jesus and talks more about money than service its a red flag. I like how Jon Courson puts it,

They’ll go for your pocketbooks, concerned not so much about feeding you as they are about fleecing you. — Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 43.

Religious and spiritual leaders can be charismatic, knowledgeable, and appear wise. It is not always obvious that someone is a wolf in sheep's clothing. So, Jesus offers a way to identify false teachers and prophets.

How do you spot a wolf in sheep’s clothing?

16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. —Matthew 7:16-20NKJV

It is not obvious who are wolves, but it is also not impossible to identify them. The most dangerous false prophets/teachers/pastors are the ones that you can’t tell right away, but with patience they all reveal themselves.

How can they be known? Not always by their doctrine, which, when it suits their purpose, is orthodox, but by their works, especially by their covetousness, which is the unfailing characteristic of false prophets. —J. R. Dummelow, ed., A Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1936), 651.

Jesus is clear: We spot a fake by its fruits. This may take time, but what do their leadership, ministry, and teachings produce? Jesus is not saying someone must know all things and never make mistakes; rather, when you apply their teachings to your life, what is the result? What are the results present in their lives?

Ye shall know them by their fruits—not their doctrines—as many of the elder interpreters and some later ones explain it—for that corresponds to the tree itself; but the practical effect of their teaching, which is the proper fruit of the tree. —Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 30.

False prophets were not going to be a new challenge in the future; they had been an issue for a long time. Isaiah already gives us ways to identify a false prophet.

 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. —Isaiah 8:20 NKJV

It is vital for everyone to understand that God is consistent. If God kept changing His mind about things, we would not be able to identify a false prophet. So, when someone claims to have a new revelation from God, we should always compare it to what God has revealed in the Bible. If the new teaching contradicts the Bible, we know it is not from God.

Though there are dangers of being led astray by false teachers and prophets, there is always the possibility that we might be a false teacher or prophet. We tend to always think of ourselves as being correct, but I believe we should use Jesus’ words to hold ourselves accountable. I regularly ask myself,

“What fruit is my ministry producing?” “What is it like to be married to me? To have me as a father?”

How often do you ask yourself about your impact on those closest to you? What kind of fruit do your family members, co-workers, classmates, and neighbors experience when they interact with you? Are the fruits of the Spirit present in your life?

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. — Galatians 5:22-23NKJV

Paul describes it as a battle in which we either experience the fruit of the spirit or the works of the flesh.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. […] 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. —Galatians 5:19-21, 24-26 NKJV

You may not consider yourself a teacher or a spiritual leader, but you are. All of us influence those around us. I have learned so much about God by talking with other believers, regardless of their level of formal education. All of us are teaching those around us something; let’s make it something positive and not negative.

John also has something to say regarding false believers.

He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. — 1 John 2:4 NKJV

John’s words remind us of Jesus’ own words recorded in Matthew 5:19 (Law Fulfilled)

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. — Matthew 5:19 NKJV

There’s especially consistency regarding God's laws or commandments. I have noticed that even those who claim the Ten Commandments were abolished are quick to fire a pastor who is caught stealing money, lying, or committing adultery. There is a reason God wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger on tablets of stone (Exodus 24:12; 34:1). Jesus and Peter highlight that someone who is breaking God’s commandments and teaching others to do the same is not from God.

When the doctrine we accept kills sin in the heart, purifies the soul from defilement, bears fruit unto holiness, we may know that it is the truth of God. When benevolence, kindness, tenderheartedness, sympathy, are manifest in our lives; when the joy of right doing is in our hearts; when we exalt Christ, and not self, we may know that our faith is of the right order. “Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” 1 John 2:3. —Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p.146–147.

There is always a danger when covering this topic that it will cause people to become judgmental. If you experience such temptations, you should read my post Avoiding Judgmental Attitudes: Unpacking Matthew 7:1-6. I know someone who would say something really judgmental and then follow it by saying, “I’m not judging; I’m just inspecting the fruit…” We should be more concerned with our walk with God and with the fruit that our life bears.

It is worth emphasizing, however, that one can never know with absolute certainty the spiritual state of any other individual. —Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 133.

Lord, Lord

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ — Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV

Jesus adds that simply saying “Lord, Lord " is not enough. Some think it is so easy to fool God that saying magic words is enough. God cares about our hearts, and He knows our hearts.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” —1Samuel 16:7 NKJV

Following Jesus and accepting Him as Lord and Savior is about much more than saying, “Lord, Lord.” Perhaps you wonder how someone could work wonders in Jesus' name without having a true relationship with Him. John Courson identifies three possibilities.

One is that they were lying. They never did them. Maybe they just thought about doing them, or thought they were doing them.

Second, it is possible they were doing these things in the power of the devil. The Book of Acts talks about Simon the Sorcerer, who did miracles, but not in the power of the Spirit. In Moses’ day, Pharaoh’s magicians copied, to a certain extent, the miracles of God, but it was by the power of the devil.

Third, the Lord could have been simply using them in spite of themselves. The Lord used Balaam, even though Balaam was not right with Him. He prophesied through King Saul, even though Saul’s heart was far from Him. He spoke prophetically through Caiaphas the high priest, saying, “Should not one man die for the nation?” although Caiaphas knew it not. (Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 43.)

Jesus’ words to those who were working wonders “in His name” was

‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Lawlessness is the condition of being without or violating the law. As we addressed above, breaking God’s law is a major red flag, and even if someone does signs and wonders, we should not be fooled into following them if they “break God’s laws” (New Living Translation).

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. —Hosea 4:6 NKJV

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. —Thessalonians 2:9-10 NKJV

This post may start to sound like a sermon on salvation by works, but that is not what Jesus is teaching, and it is not my main point. Though the Bible is clear that those who love Jesus keep His commandments

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. —John 14:15NKJV

I would like to conclude by highlighting Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 25:31-46.

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Notice verse 37, where Jesus describes the righteous as surprised that they cared for Him. This reaction from the righteous indicates that they were doing God’s will without expecting anything in return. They were not even consciously trying to earn their salvation. I believe they were not saved because of these actions; they were saved because they truly loved Jesus, and as a result, they could not help but live according to His will. Their righteous actions were not done in an effort to earn anything; they were not even aware that they were doing this for Jesus.

They just were not saved by works; they were saved by grace. Jesus points to their works as evidence of the content of their hearts. Jesus could have said,

“Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for you truly loved me.”

But to everyone else, it could sound like Jesus is playing favorites. When Jesus highlights their behavior, the lost realize that, indeed, those who were saved lived different lives. The lost, on the other hand, even if they said “Lord, Lord” and worked wonders, did not live like those who truly loved God.

Takeaway

You will not save yourself by behaving rightly. Your behavior is evidence of the content of your heart. In other words, your fruit only reveals the kind of tree you are. You cannot change what kind of tree you are, but God can! Only God can cause you to bear fruit for His honor and glory. The best part is that you will bear fruit without even noticing it; you will desire to do God’s will. You will not do it because you have to; it will not be out of fear of punishment or out of a desire for a special reward; it will just be the way you desire to live your life.

Seek Jesus, invite Him into your heart. Ask for the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). God wants you to bear good fruit, and if you also desire it, there’s no power in the universe that can keep you from producing fruit. Surrender to Jesus and allow Him to shape your life in accordance with His will. This will be your best possible life, and all who interact with you will be blessed by God through you.

[mrlnsfrt]

The Golden Rule and the Narrow Path

The Golden Rule: A Principle for Daily Living

In view of God’s generosity to us, treating others in the manner we would like ourselves to be treated is the least we can do.  —Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 130–131.

In my previous post, I explored Jesus’ encouragement to ask, seek, and knock and God’s promise to provide for all of our needs. The very next verse records Jesus’ teaching, which is known as the golden rule.

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. — Matthew 7:12 NKJV

This may seem like a random phrase that does not belong there, but I believe that the context of God providing for all of our needs is exactly what we need to help make us willing to do to others what we would like for them to do unto us.

On the assurance of the love of God toward us, Jesus enjoins love to one another, in one comprehensive principle covering all the relations of human fellowship. — Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p.134.

I have heard several variations of the golden rule and met people who live by these different versions. For example, some people believe in “do unto others before they do unto you.” They’re not much fun to be around.

Others live by a different version of the golden rule: "He who has the gold makes all the rules.” These people are also not great to be around.

While working on this post, I came across the Platinum Rule: “Treat others the way they want to be treated.” This makes sense, especially to all of us who have had someone come and “help us” but, in the process, only made our work more difficult.

On a more serious note, there are many parallels to this “rule” that appear in the history of religion. The negative form is in Tobit 4:15. It was used by Hillel, Philo, Isocrates, Confucius. (A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), For a full list of parallels, see V. P. Furnish, The Love Commandment in the New Testament (Nashville: Abingdon, 1972), 63.)

“Most of these parallels phrase the rule negatively (sometimes called the “silver rule”), implying, “Don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you.”  (Blomberg, 131) Mounce has a great insight regarding this: “In its negative form, the Golden Rule could be satisfied by doing nothing. The positive form moves us to action on behalf of others.” (Mounce, Matthew, 63)

You can legislate against people doing to others what they would not want done to themselves. That is one of the ways of making a fair society. But you can never legislate to bring about what Jesus is teaching. That generous attitude of going out of your way to encourage the depressed, to forgive those who have wronged you, and to help the disadvantaged requires positive action, often self-sacrificial action. You don’t do that to fulfil some law. You do it only if the love of the kingdom burns in your heart. —Michael Green, The Message of Matthew: The Kingdom of Heaven, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 107.

What Jesus is teaching us through His Sermon on the Mount, and in the way He lived His life on earth, is that even negative commands require positive action. For example, in Matthew 5:21–26 (It Begins in The Heart), even if we succeed in not murdering and in not hating or verbally abusing others, we still have not completely obeyed until we earnestly seek the well-being of others. With its reference to “the Law and the Prophets,” Mathew 7:12 ties back in with Matthew 5:17 and provides a proper perspective to interpret and apply the Law and the Prophets (The Old Testament).

Our main concern as followers of Jesus should not be what we will receive or how much we will gain in this life but rather how much we can give. 

How can we best use what God has given us to help alleviate the suffering of those around us?

“In your association with others, put yourself in their place. Enter into their feelings, their difficulties, their disappointments, their joys, and their sorrows. Identify yourself with them, and then do to them as, were you to exchange places with them, you would wish them to deal with you. This is the true rule of honesty.” — Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p134.

I have heard the golden rule referred to as a principle of heaven. As such, all who desire to enjoy holy companionship will benefit from cultivating that principle. The golden rule is best exemplified in the life of Jesus. He is our greatest example, and we see how blessings flowed to those around Him. As followers of Jesus, we should remind the world of our Master by living as He did.

Any form of Christianity that falls short of the Golden Rule is at best a deception. When men and women claim to follow Jesus and take up the title of ‘Christian’ yet fail to care for human needs, suffering, or rights, such a person is blaspheming the name of Christ. 

At our church in Boise, we have a ministry called HUB 365. It is a place where we can live out our Christianity and minister to our community. It is not meant to convert people to a specific set of beliefs. It is meant to help people. We do not help others expecting anything in return. If they become interested and desire to learn more about God and the Bible we are here to offer guidance. If they have no interest in God, spiritual growth, or our faith, we continue to treat them well and help with their felt needs. We volunteer and help because that is what Jesus did while here on earth.

I have this blog and podcast to help people. I share things that I would love for others to share with me. I share Jesus with others for their benefit, not mine. I know the amazing changes Jesus has brought and continues to bring about in my life. A close relationship with Jesus is the most valuable thing any human can have.

The next clearest picture of the Golden Rule in practice is the one we see in the early church, as described in Acts.

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. — Acts 4:32 NKJV

Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, — Acts 4:34 NKJV

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. — Acts 4:33 NKJV

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, — Acts 2:46 NKJV

praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. — Acts 2:47 NKJV

We are amazed and inspired by these accounts of the early church. But could it be that such a reality also scares us? Could this be the reason why, perhaps deep down inside, we are afraid of revival and being filled with the Holy Spirit? Because what if God moves us in such a way as to cause us to give up our favorite things for the benefit of the least of these?

Search heaven and earth, and there is no truth revealed more powerful than that which is made manifest in works of mercy to those who need our sympathy and aid. This is the truth as it is in Jesus. When those who profess the name of Christ shall practice the principles of the golden rule, the same power will attend the gospel as in apostolic times. —Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p137.

Treating others the way we would want them to treat us if we were in their situation is such a revolutionary thought, it goes against our nature with such intensity that many disregard it. We like our comforts, we like our plans, we are not very eager to surrender it all and this brings us to Jesus’ next point.

Narrow is the Gate?

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. — Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV

If all we have to do is ask, seek, and knock, how can the gate be narrow and the path difficult? (Mathew 7:14) Because the golden rule excludes all pride and selfishness. All the promises remain true, the power of God Himself is made available to us, and we have no reason to fail, except our selfishness keeps us from living out God’s plan for our lives. How often do we miss out on blessings, and those around us continue to suffer because of our selfishness?

The percentage of true believers in places and times in which being “Christian” is popular is perhaps not that different from the percentage of Christians in times of persecution, when few dare to profess who are not deeply committed. —Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 132.

I started listening to Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell and he has a section on Medicare fraud, it blew my mind. The way that people cheat the system (Medicare and Medicaid) to the tune of an estimated $100 Billion. Think of how many lives could have been saved and how many people could be helped with that much money! $100 Billion taken by selfish people who simply see an opportunity to cheat the system and get rich. I often wonder how much suffering is caused by human selfishness.

Similarly, we try to help people and struggle at times telling apart the real need from scammers who see churches and Christians as an easy target. Possibly because we are so eager to help. Helping others can be difficult, but it is not impossible and it does not give us the permission to simply not do it.

When you cling to besetting sin, you will find the way too narrow for you to enter. You cannot take your favorite sin to heaven. Ask, seek, knock, turn to God, but do not make excuses for sin. 

Here, then, is the first test: Did your profession of faith in Christ cost you anything? If not, then it was not a true profession. Many people who “trust” Jesus Christ never leave the broad road with its appetites and associations. They have an easy Christianity that makes no demands on them. Yet Jesus said that the narrow way was hard. We cannot walk on two roads, in two different directions, at the same time. —Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 31.

Fair warning, I am about to go on a personal rant.

We often hear sermons about the sins that afflict youth, especially young women. Those of you who grew up in church, how often have you heard someone from the pulpit talk about the music that young people listen to? Have you ever heard people talk about and against Rock and Roll and Hip Hop? About baggy, saggy pants—I am dating myself here—or about tight and short outfits for ladies?

How often have you heard about the dangers of violent video games and movies?

By the way, I think it should be obvious to any sincere Christian that there is a problem with sin as a form of entertainment. (When you are entertained by sinful behavior whether depicted in movies, music, games, or other media.)

Also, I have a personal theory that it is easy for middle-aged men (those speaking from the pulpit tend to be middle-aged men) to talk about sins that no longer tempt them. As someone who just turned 41, I feel much more comfortable speaking against the evils of Disney, Hollywood, and whatever the latest trend in music and entertainment is. I don’t find movies as appealing as I once did, popular music does not have much of a draw to me, and Punk Rock and Hip Hop have more of a nostalgic effect on me. I can stand here and type or stand before the church and preach how these things are destroying our youth as if they earned their salvation by avoiding such evils. I can do this easily because these are not the sins I currently struggle with.

However, I prefer to lift up Jesus and point others to Him. I know that as we behold Jesus the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Also, we are saved by what Jesus did and does for us, and not by how good we are at avoiding the wrong forms of entertainment.

Also, those of us who are 40 and older can feel pretty good. I am not listening to Heavy Metal or Gangster Rap, I am not going to the movie theaters (this was a thing when I was growing up), and I am not dressing provocatively. Suddenly, I feel pretty good about myself. I am avoiding the terrible sins the preacher spoke against. Good thing the preacher did not talk about how I treat my spouse, my employees, or my children. Meanwhile, I can’t even remember the last time I volunteered to help someone in need, whether it was our food pantry, thrift store, the Boise Rescue mission, our Pathfinder or Adventurer Club, or helped when the men of the church were called upon to clan a yard or help someone move.

If I am not careful I can develop an air of superiority because I do not dress provocatively, smoke, drink, or do drugs. I can look down on the person who is struggling with visible sins, and forget about my hidden sins. Since nobody knows about my hidden sins I must be superior to those who are sinning openly. 

Just to help clarify, I am not saved by avoiding sin. I am saved by what Jesus did on the cross. I do not save myself, I do not add to my salvation, and I do not purchase blessings by my good actions. However, when I make excuses for my sins and hold on to something that Jesus wants to set me free from, it becomes a problem. If you are struggling with a problem, do not lose hope; do not give up, but also be honest with yourself. 

If you are trying to beat an addiction, if you are trying to quit, but you keep a stash just in case, you’re not really trying to quit. Delete the account, delete the app, delete the contact on your phone, change your phone number, get an accountability partner, flush the substance down the toilet or down the drain, get help, tell someone you trust and who is able to help you. 

Also, the way you dress says something about you, it sends a message. What you choose for entertainment will influence you. I am not downplaying those points, I am just highlighting the dangers of only mentioning the visible sins that tend to affect young people and more specifically women.

For example, the religious leaders of Jesus’ time were not committing any of the visible sins, yet they were the ones who made sure Jesus was crucified by the Romans. When we create a checklist, we are in danger of creating a false sense of security. We begin to think God will save us because we follow the checklist so well, and not because of His great mercy and grace.

How often have people been pushed out of church because they didn’t get their act together fast enough? How often have stumbling blocks been placed in the way of those who were desperately seeking Jesus by well-meaning Christians with a list in hand? I have met Christians who are dedicated to keeping the church pure by making sure only people who can pass the checklist are allowed.

I am not saying the list is bad; I am saying that if you lead people to Jesus, the list will take care of itself. Can you allow the Holy Spirit to convict people, and change their taste, and their behavior? Meanwhile, focus on your personal walk with God, what is God calling you to surrender to Him?

“…difficult is the way which leads to life…”

I am not saying it will be easy, I am asking you to stop making excuses for the sin that is holding you back from living your best life. This secret sin is keeping everyone around you from receiving the blessings God wants them to receive through you. Your loved ones miss out when you cherish a secret sin.

All this talk of denying self and living for Christ may seem daunting, impossible, and too difficult. In one way yes, it is impossible. Except Jesus wants to save you and wants to set you free and use you to bless those around you. But perhaps you consider this and you do not want to give up a life guided by ambition and selfish desires. You long for power and wealth and you have determined to get it at any cost. Perhaps the downward path of selfish indulgence seems more appealing. Sin is often appealing, but the pleasure turns to sand in your mouth. Partaking of the substance may feel good for a bit, but afterward, you feel worse, the shortcut, cheating, lying, and deception, never feel as good as you anticipated. Not to mention that Satan will often let you climb to the top, before exposing your sin to everyone around you, causing everything to come crashing down. The secret sin had no victims until the day it took everything you have and all you loved most in life.

God’s way is not easy, but it is the best way because God wants what is best for you. Trust Him. Everything that God asks you to give up is for your benefit in the end. God not only wants what’s best for you, He also knows what’s best for you.

But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. —Proverbs 4:18 NKJV

The path of the just is not described as easy, but it leads to better things, to light and life. The downward path of the sinner, on the other hand, leads to death and destruction.

“We may think it pleasant to follow pride and worldly ambition, but the end is pain and sorrow. Selfish plans may present flattering promises and hold out the hope of enjoyment, but we shall find that our happiness is poisoned and our life embittered by hopes that center in self. In the downward road the gateway may be bright with flowers, but thorns are in the path. The light of hope which shines from its entrance fades into the darkness of despair, and the soul who follows that path descends into the shadows of unending night.” —Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p.139.

Our victory comes from God

I do not want you to think that you have to gain victory by your own efforts, discipline, and self-control. God alone can give us the victory. He desires us to have mastery over ourselves, our own will and ways. But God will not work in us without our consent and co-operation. God will not force His will on you, He will not save you against your will. God wants us to cooperate with Him.

 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. —Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV

Are you willing to be made willing? Even our desire to obey God comes from Him. We obey God because He enables us to do so.

Perhaps you desire to be freed from the slavery of sin. Maybe you have been trying in your own strength to make a stand against your sinful behavior. Maybe you look toward the narrow way and the strait gate; but selfish pleasure, love of the world, pride, and unsanctified ambition, place a barrier between you and the Savior. The idea of renouncing your selfish goals and ambitions keeps you from completely surrendering yourself to Christ. 

Your only hope of dying to self is to unite your will with God’s will for your life, turn to Him day by day, and receive from Him the victories He desires for you to experience. 

Takeaway

When we focus on seeking Jesus daily and surrendering to Him every step of the way Jesus teaches us how to best minister to those around us. Instead of showing someone the checklist and demanding they adhere to it, we will approach them with a desire to mentor, help, and encourage them. Discipleship happens best in the context of a relationship. People need mentors, and coaches, not inspectors. Invest in the relationship. Focus on your relationship with Jesus, and develop healthy relationships with those around you.

[mrlnsfrt]

Powerful Prayers: A Guide to Asking, Seeking, and Knocking

When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me. — Psalm 27:10 NKJV

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity. —Psalm 84:11 New American Standard Bible

Throughout the Sermon on The Mount Jesus sets a high standard for His followers. How can we possibly reach the high standard Jesus has set for us?

Prayer.

Prayer is fundamental to living the life Jesus calls us to live. Jesus has talked about prayer earlier (Matthew 6:5-15 Principles for Powerful Prayers Part 1 and Part 2)

Prayer is not about us manipulating God, but rather about strengthening a personal relationship, among other things. Jesus's key point in this portion of the Sermon on The Mount is that prayer to a loving Father is effective.

Unlocking the Power of Prayer: Ask, Seek, Knock

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. — Matthew 7:7-8 NKJV

Jesus presents no requirements for us to come before Him except that we experience a need, a hunger, and a thirst for His mercy, His help, and His counsel. Our asking signifies that we recognize our need, so we ask in faith, believing that He hears and answers. Jesus does not lie, His promises never fail. We should not be shy about asking for what He has promised us. God is merciful and compassionate, if we feel our need of Him that is sufficient grounds to come before Him. You do not have to be holy, you only need to desire to be purified by Him and cleansed from all iniquity.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. — 1 John 1:9 NKJV

However, we should understand that Jesus’ promises are not presented in a vacuum. Jesus’s original audience would recall his teaching in the Model Prayer (Principles for Powerful Prayers - Part 2) in which one insists that God’s will be done (Matthew 6:10).

Often our prayers are not answered as originally desired because we do not share God’s perspective in knowing what is ultimately a good gift for us. We are especially tempted to think of the values of this world (e.g., health and wealth) rather than spiritual values. — Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 130.

The “good gifts” God gives include everything pertaining to seeking his kingdom and its righteousness (Matthew 6:33 Navigating Anxiety: Unpacking Jesus' Message on Worry). They do not necessarily correspond to everything we ask for. This is important to highlight because when we seek God’s will it does not necessarily make life easier.

If we want God’s best for ourselves and others, but others resist God’s will, then they will oppose us. We are salt, and salt stings the open wound. We are light, and light exposes dirt. —Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 30.

When God gives you victory over sin, setting you free from previous addictions and harmful habits you might find yourself alone. If your circle of friends is made up of people who partake in self-destructive behavior you may no longer have much in common with them. Some of them might resent you since your new behavior shines a light on their poor behavior and selfish choices. You will find that friendship with God is enmity with this world, remember that the world also hated Jesus (John 15:18-25).

A Closer Look at The Text

The commands of Matthew 7:7–8 are in the present tense, suggesting persistent prayer over a period of time. In other words, keep asking and it shall be given. Keep seeking and you shall find. Keep knocking and it will be opened. The tense used speaks of continual action. When you don’t know what to do, keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. (Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 42.)

“It” in v. 7 is somewhat misleading. The word does not refer to any particular thing requested but forms part of a divine passive construction that means ask and God will give you [what he deems best]. (Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 130.)

Notice also that Jesus says “Ask, and it shall be given you.” Jesus does not say lent you, not sold you, but given you; and what is more free than gift? Whatever you pray for, according to the promise, whatever you ask, shall be given to you. As I clarified above, you will receive the answer if/when God sees it fit for you to have it. What else could you possibly want? I guess you could want what God does not want you to have, but do you want what God does not want you to have?

Remember Genesis 3 (Paradise Lost Part 1)? The world was perfect, and Adam and Eve lived in paradise. God withheld from them the knowledge of evil. They did not know pain, shame, or death… When they ate the forbidden fruit, they experienced what God did not want them to. This is important for us to remember. We should never desire what God has not seen fit to give us. 

We do not have to worry about bothering God by our asking because He is the one telling us to ask!

You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. — James 4:2-3 BKJV (bold mine)

 Jesus invites us to ask, to seek, and to knock! This should be a way of life. As we long to live better lives, help others, and be a blessing, we recognize we cannot do it on our own. So we turn to God and ask Him to bless us for His honor and glory. God says that He will be found by us, and if we have God, what else could we possibly need?

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. — Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

We should not seek only blessings, we should be seeking God. The great news is that God is also seeking us. Do you desire a blessing? Seek God, and refuse to give up. You know that it is His will for you to find Him and to receive His blessings.

‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. — Ezekiel 34:11 NKJV

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. — John 10:27 NKJV

The Love of a Parent

9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! — Matthew 7:9-11 NKJV

God’s love, tenderness, and goodness, far exceed that of any human parent.

When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me. — Psalm 27:10 NKJV

Story Time

My father was walking down a busy street on a warm day. He was away from home, traveling for business. It was lunchtime, and he was looking for a place to eat. He found a restaurant and sat down to eat. There was no a/c in the restaurant, but it had big doors that remained open and ceiling fans. My father sat close to where the street was. His food came, and as he ate, he noticed a street dog that was skin and bones sitting watching my father eat his food. As he ate, he felt compassion for the dog. He finished eating a chicken leg and there was still a little bit of meat left along with the nerves attached to the bone, so my father decided to throw it to the street dog.

To my father’s surprise, a little boy smacked the bone in the air hitting towards the ground. He picked it up and brought it to his mouth before the dog could get to it. A waiter came by to yell at the boy and my father stood up and asked the boy if he would like to eat. He brought the boy in and set him at his table and ordered him as much food as he could eat and then some extra for him to take to his family.

Although this young boy was not my father’s son, my father was moved with compassion for him. I imagine that all of you reading this would have reacted similarly. You would not have gotten angry at the boy for being hungry and needing help. Even though we are sinful and selfish, we help those in need, especially children, especially our own children. So, how can we doubt God’s willingness to help us?

Easy! (you say to the computer screen as you read this) Perhaps you can easily begin to rattle off all those who are suffering, family members, co-workers, friends, not to mention strangers. You can point to some who passed away recently and those who continue to struggle with disease or relationship challenges, mental health difficulties, or challenges finding appropriate employment. Globally you can point to those affected by wars, hurricanes, fires, diseases…

So how can both be true?

I do not have enough time to tackle this topic, but if you want to explore it further, I recommend two books: Theodicy of Love and Why We Pray. Both were written by John C. Peckham, who does a much better job of tackling these topics.

Here goes my attempt at a short answer. Regarding those we were praying for healing but they died.

“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”” — Revelation 14:13 NKJV

The dead are no longer suffering. Can we trust God to know the best time for someone to rest in the sleep of death as they await His return in the clouds? We suffer as we miss our loved ones, and I do not want to downplay anyone’s grief. What I want to point out is that the person who died is resting and no longer suffering.

What about those struggling while praying for God to help? I recently wrote about Elizabeth (God’s Unexpected Ways) who waited a lifetime for God to answer her prayer. We also have Abraham and Sarah (A Promise Fulfilled) who had a similar experience. Not to mention David who was anointed king but did not have a smooth path to becoming king (Of Kings and Men). Then there’s Elijah who asked God to take his life (The Depressed Prophet), God did not allow Elijah to die and 2 Kings 2:11 tells us that God took him to heaven alive. Talk about getting a “NO” for an answer. Even Jesus Himself prayed and received a “NO” for an answer.

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” — Matthew 6:39 NKJV

We know the story, Jesus died a horrible death. Jesus suffered a lot! It was not because God was upset with Him, not because Jesus had done anything wrong. But because Jesus went through all that we can now have the assurance of salvation and eternal life. We now better understand the heart of God. Reflecting on the cross the Apostle Paul wrote the following words:

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? — Romans 8:32 NKJV

In summary. I don’t always understand what God is doing. I don’t know why He answers some prayers with a “yes” and others with a “no,” but I recognize that I am not God and I am humble enough to accept that I do not always know what is best for me and for those around me. Therefore I come to God trusting that He will answer my prayers. I come to God regularly, daily, and I trust Him to answer according to His will. He decides how and when He will answer my prayers. But I trust that He will answer and I continually come to Him asking, seeking, and knocking. This is how I navigate life.

We often ask that of God which would do us harm if we had it; he knows this, and therefore does not give it to us. Denials in love are better than grants in anger; we should have been undone ere this if we had had all we desired. —Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 1644.

I believe that prayer is God’s appointed means of obtaining what we need, especially grace to obey the instructions He gave us, some of which are so disagreeable to flesh and blood.

Here’s how Matthew Henry interprets Jesus’ words:

Ask, as a beggar asks alms.” Those that would be rich in grace, must betake themselves to the poor trade of begging, and they shall find it a thriving trade.

“Ask; represent your wants and burdens to God, and refer yourselves to him for support and supply, according to his promise.

Ask as a traveler asks the way; to pray is to enquire of God (Eze. 36:37).

Seek, as for a thing of value that we have lost, or as the merchantman that seeks goodly pearls.

Seek by prayer, (Dan. 9:3).

Knock, as he that desires to enter into the house knocks at the door.” We would be admitted to converse with God, would be taken into his love, and favor, and kingdom; sin has shut and barred the door against us; by prayer, we knock; Lord, Lord, open to us.

Christ knocks at our door (Rev. 3:20); and allows us to knock at his, which is a favor we do not allow to common beggars.

Seeking and knocking imply something more than asking and praying.

We must not only ask, but knock; we must come to God’s door, must ask importunately; not only pray, but plead and wrestle with God; we must seek diligently; we must continue knocking; must persevere in prayer, and in the use of means; must endure to the end in the duty. (Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 1644. (Paraphrased))

"Where God finds a praying heart, he will be found a prayer-hearing God;"  -- Matthew Henry

Luke also recorded Jesus’ words regarding prayer and if you wish to go deeper I strongly suggest studying Luke 11:1-13. In Luke’s record of Jesus’ words “good gifts” ir replaced with “the Holy Spirit.” Since there is no better gift we can receive from heaven.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” — Luke 11:13 NKJV

I would like to close with the words of a devotional called Lift Him Up.

Jesus has said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

… Be sincere; be relentless. Present the promise of God, and then believe without a doubt. Do not wait to feel special emotions before you think the Lord answers.

Do not mark out some particular way that the Lord must work for you before you believe you receive the things you ask of Him; but trust His word, and leave the whole matter in the hands of the Lord, with full faith that your prayer will be honored, and the answer will come at the very time and in the very way your heavenly Father sees is for your good; and then live out your prayers.

Walk humbly and keep moving forward.

— Lift Him Up (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988), 129. (paraphrased)