The kings of Judah and Israel were debating whether to join forces and attack the king of Aram. They called together 400 prophets who all proclaimed victory for them. But then Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah asked, ” Is there not a prophet of the Lord?” The king of Israel replied, ” Yes, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad.” Micaiah could of taken the politically correct route rather than speaking the truth of God. He could of agreed with the other prophets, and in doing so ,compromised his integrity to be part of the popular crowd. Instead, he didn’t allow fear or intimidation to dissuade him from boldly speaking God’s words.
Tag: kingdom of god
Isaiah 29:16 ” You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘He did not make me?’ Can a pot say of the potter, ‘He knows nothing?’ “
Humans can be so very conceited and presumptuous…thinking that we know more than the Lord. We walk around so self-important, acting like we have more authority than God in matters that are so far out of our realm of reasoning. Job 9:12 said it well, “Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?” We don’t have the right to question God, nor should we be arrogant enough to dispute His wisdom. As it says in Romans 9:20, ” But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?”
Amos 4:1 ” Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, ‘ Bring us some drinks!’ “
The prophet Amos was using a metaphor in comparing the upper class Samaritan women to the sleek, fat cattle found in Bashan. These women had no problem in oppressing the poor to get what they wanted…and nagging their husbands into submission to get it. Amos warned them that in the end, they would be treated like cattle…herded by their captors to places they didn’t want to go.
Ecclesiastes 9:17 ” The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.”
Loud clamoring does not necessarily make for prudent prose…especially if the noise is coming from a person lacking good judgment and common sense. In contrast, a wise person need not yell if his information is sensible, rational, and intelligent…people will listen.
Isaiah 40:26 ” Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?…”
Today, take a moment and go outside and look around you. All you see was created just for your viewing pleasure. That flower will probably be wilted tomorrow…the clouds will never appear the very same as they do today. God’s creative exuberance is on display for you…go out and take a look at what He’s made just for you.
II Peter 3:10 ” But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”
No one knows the time or date…it will happen instantly…no one can predict with certainty the ominous day of the Lord. It will come as a complete surprise and with shock as the world as we know it will melt and dissolve – burned up completely by Holy fire. No one knows when it will take place…the fateful day of the Lord.
II Peter 3:9 ” The Lord is not slow in keeping His promises, as some understand. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
The Lord is not hesitating because of fear…He is not wavering out of doubt. He is instead calmly, quietly waiting. Waiting for all on their own free will to repent…for in the end, He knows that the time is coming when every knee will bow before Him in judgment.
I John 3:17 ” If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? “
We can become very jaded and indifferent towards all the appeals for money that bombard us daily. Everyone seems to have a valid cause and concern that needs our contribution. So what are we to do? Ask the Lord to show you very plainly the things He wants you to give to…whether that be monetarily, materially, or of your time. And if we all listen carefully to the Holy Spirit and heed His voice, no need will ever go unmet.
Psalm 119:95 “… I will ponder Your statutes.”
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I enjoy mindless tasks…a simple job that can be done almost automatically without little attention. It’s those quiet times that the Lord can speak very clearly to my soul and allow me to reflect on Him. In the middle of a mindless task – today it’s shelling peas – He reminded me of my childhood days and the family garden. Shelling a mountain of peas, or at least I thought it was a mountain of them, was a family affair. My Grandmother and Great Aunt would come out to the farm to help. Mom and Dad would get up early and pick, we would all congregate under the large shade trees and the shelling would commence. Conversation would start out lively, but soon talk slowed as we worked in companionable silence. After what I thought was an eternity, the peas were shelled and taken into the kitchen, while the kids gathered up all the pea shells and gave them to the pigs. Ah, those lovely mindless tasks … a time to ponder God and wonderful memories.
Job 12:10 ” In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”
God is the Lord of life. Everything in this vast universe is under His watchful eye…not the tiniest detail escapes Him. Our very life breath is orchestrated under His guidance…so the next time you’re wondering if God even notices you and what you may be going through…take a deep breath…feel your heart beating, and thank Him for being in the palm of His mighty hand.
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