Malachi III: Herald

Malachi III

Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. (Malachi 3:1 ESV)

Herald

Christmas is coming.  I know, it is only October, but already we can see Christmas sale items in certain stores.  Plans for celebrations, plans for musical events, and plans for parties are probably in the works all around you.

And while that might SEEM annoying, perhaps it is not…

God sent a messenger, it turned out to be a Baptizer named John, to get the world ready for the Messiah.

God sent other helpers, people like Simeon and Anna, shepherds and wise men, Mary and Joseph, to get the world ready for the Messiah.

God sent angels, too.  In fact, we call them Herald Angels because they served this function, too.

The more important the event, the more we see Heralds.

And it is not a bad thing to get ready for Messiah Day.  In fact, perhaps this year, instead of just getting ready for presents, eggnog, and the Grinch… we could start already listening to the Heralds… Malachi… John the Baptist… the gospel-writers… the Holy Spirit.

We need a Messiah!  And He came… He comes… and He is coming!

God sends Heralds to help us get ready.

Malachi II: Assurance

Malachi II

For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6 ESV)

Assurance

It is great that trees change.  A sapling is hopeful, and full of promise.  A fully grown tree is both secure, and full of life.  The seasonal changes of many trees give us variety, beauty, and a sense of time.

A dog might be cute, at first, as a puppy.  Similarly, a young kitten brings giggles and smiles.  But after a few years of that, we might be ready for something completely different.

Lunch is always welcome.  But if we had SpaghettiOs for lunch every day, for thirty years, lunch would not be our favorite meal.

Change is a good thing.

 But not when it comes to God.  He graciously saves His people.  And never changes His mind.  He lovingly provides for His people.  And never changes His intentions.  He declared that His Word IS His Word.  And never has to edit due to changing circumstances.

The Lord does not change.

And that is good.

Malachi I: The Wrong Side of the Equation

Malachi I

I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob  but Esau I have hated. (Malachi 1:2,3 ESV)

The Wrong Side of the Equation

Sometimes I like the idea of algebra.  Particularly, I enjoy moving the variables and constants around in an equation so that we can understand ONE variable, better.  A+B+C= D, becomes A= D-B-C, if we want to know what “A” is.

I know… it is math… but…

When Malachi states that God loved Jacob, but hated Esau, we are quick look at the second part of that statement and scowl… how unfair God seems! How prejudicial! How judgmental!  God hate?  Harrumph!

And sometimes we easily move to examining TODAY’s people-groups… and make declarations about God’s similar hatred towards some group or action or person.  And we almost seem to enjoy noting God’s hate, and move to join him.  God hates THOSE folk… so I will hate them, too, we say.

But that is not the right side of the equation.

God actually loved Jacob.  That should startle us, amaze us, confuse us, and comfort us.

The message of God’s Word is not merely a list of those whom God hates.  If push comes to shove, He SHOULD hate all of us.  We sin.  We rebel against Him.  And God, by His very nature, must hate that sin, and does hate that rebellion.

God hated Esau?  Of course He did!

But God LOVED Jacob?  The worse brother… the sneaky, lying, conniving, arrogant, mean, thoughtless, selfish brother?  That is an amazing grace!

I have not figured out all the reasons that God should hate all those ‘others’ out there.  They are myriad. 

But more than that, I have not figured out the reasons that God LOVES Jacob… or Abraham… or Moses… or David… or Paul… or me.

But I am startled by His love.  I am amazed by His love.  I am delightfully confused by His love.  And oh, His love comforts me!

Zechariah III: Real Means

Zechariah III

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6 ESV)

Real Means

Recently I split some logs for firewood.  A lot of things went into that stack of logs, small planks, and kindling.

I noticed that a  storm knocked down a good-sized tree.  My chainsaw cut the tree into sections.  An axe, wedge, and mallet further diminished the size of the wood pieces.  A newly purchased hydraulic log-splitter made more pieces.  And my wheelbarrow carted them around the yard.

But behind it all was my will, my thoughts, my effort, and my energy.

In the same way, God’s Spirit is behind everything that He does in the world.

More than just His desire and focus, God’s Spirit is a being… an entity… a part of the Trinity.

And while often relegated in Christians’ minds to inner thoughts and feelings, the Spirit is actually VERY active all the time!

The Spirit is the means by which God brings His might and power to bear.

The Spirit was active in creation.

The Spirit is involved in raising kings, and feeding the hungry.

The Spirit was key in the Incarnation.

The Spirit is part of Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification.

The Spirit of God is how God does what God does.

Zechariah II: Eye Apples (again)

Zechariah II

For thus said the Lord of hosts, after His glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.  (Zechariah 2:8 ESV)

Eye Apples (again)

The idea of God’s people being the apple of His eye means that we are precious to Him.

It is also a fun play on words, one that resonates with other parts of Scripture.  The word for apple, and one of the words for mankind, in Hebrew, are very similar.  Basically, it is “ish.”  So if this phrase were said out loud, it would sound like, “Ish of ish.”

Which is remarkably like the Nicene Creed’s description of Jesus Christ: “God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God…”

The creeds are not Scripture, of course, but they are great summaries of what many Christians believe.  And here, we are reminded that to God, His people are profoundly important.

Not merely a part of creation, but the central part.

Not merely a random result of a mechanical universe, but God’s precious folk.

Not merely an average, mean, or median… but the central part of God’s focus.

Again, God’s people are deeply loved.

Zechariah I: Eye Apples

Zechariah I

For thus said the Lord of hosts, after His glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.  (Zechariah 2:8 ESV)

Eye Apples

What does it mean to be the apple of God’s eye? 

For those who first heard Zechariah’s words, the apple of an eye meant the most important core part of them. 

More than merely the pupil, the apple of an eye referred to the deep central part of who we are.

The apple of our eye is protected.  Think how quickly we duck when something flies towards our eye. 

The apple of our eye is our focus.  When we speak to someone, we do not talk to their chin, their elbow, or their big toe.  We look them in the eye.

Our facial expression centers around our eye.  A smiling mouth means nothing without that eye-twinkle.  A blushing cheek is given meaning by a gentle eye.  Anger is not just displayed in breath and eyebrow, but the eyes speak anger like nothing else.

And WE are the apple of GOD’S eye!

So, He protects us.

So, we are the way others encounter God.

So, we are the way God is displayed to the world.

So, God sees us as His central focus, a most important part of Him, even His core.

In other words… oh you apples… you are loved!

Haggai II: Greater

Haggai II

The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:9 ESV)

Greater

The glory of the past, maybe particularly the past of God’s people, always looks shiny.   But God’s present house is greater than that past house, He says.

So do not look back to the good old days and worship those past wonders.  Instead, open your eyes to the glories of God’s present house, His present Kingdom, His present work.

Maybe we do not have Solomon’s Temple, but greater, we have Jesus.

Maybe we do not have the seven hills of Jerusalem, but greater, we have the Church.

Maybe we do not have past heroes whose tales are told in Scripture, but greater, we have the Holy Spirit at work in ALL of His people.

Maybe we do not have a physical plot of holy ground, but greater, we have the presence of God among us always.

The past might sometimes look good… but today is better, in the Lord!

Haggai I: Priorities

Haggai I

Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. (Haggai I:8 ESV)

Priorities

If you have flown recently, the flight attendants probably instructed you, in the case of tragedy, to look after yourself first, then look after a loved one.  That probably makes a lot of sense in the air travel world.

But it is not the way God expects and deserves to be treated.

Haggai instructs God’s people to build God’s House first, before their own.  He instructs God’s people to give love to God first, before even their family.  He instructs God’s people to have God be their first priority.

We modern folk, however, treat God like we are in that airplane.

We look after our own selves first, and then focus on Him.

We tithe if our budge allows, instead of giving to God, or even charity, first.

We take care of our own yard and home, and if we have time, the church building or those in need.

It is easy, it seems, for us to give God our leftovers, instead of our first fruits.  Be that time, finances, mental energy, emotional offerings, or focus.

Zephaniah II: Mankind

Zephaniah II

I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord; (Zephaniah 1:17 ESV)

Mankind

But who is mankind? 

First, remember that scripture teaches that ALL mankind have sinned, and fallen short of God’s glory.  Not just the ones with different political views, or different family structures, or different cultures, or different nationalities, or different genders.  God says, here, that God will bring distress on ALL mankind.

That is dire news.

Especially in these days of feel-good philosophies and encouraging words.  We expect God to fit in and bring smiles, butterflies, and birthday balloons.

But distress is what we deserve.

God did not stop there.  He DID bring, as He promised, distress to all mankind.  But, following the pattern He displayed throughout history, He allowed and chose a particular person to bear that distress on His beloved mankind’s behalf.

He brought distress on His Son, our Savior.

He brought distress on Jesus, mankind’s representative.  The One who represents God’s people to God.

So… we either receive distress on ourselves, or we embrace Jesus and He takes our distress on our behalf.  It is a pretty simple choice, really.

Zephaniah I: Calling

Zephaniah I

“For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve Him with one accord. (Zephaniah 3:9,10 ESV)

Calling

Human rebellion against God at Babel caused mankind to speak in many languages.  As time has marched onward, most cultures believe that THEIR language is the one to which God particularly listens. The one in which God particularly speaks. 

That is why many, even today, believe that the English of King James is the best.  During the Middle Ages, the key language appears to have been Latin.   Many cultures have continued to require that worship and prayer be presented in Dutch, or Spanish, or Klingon.  Ok, maybe not the last one.

But the language God speaks has always been the same.  The language that God hears has always been the same.

If we call on the Lord in any other language, He does not promised to hear. 

That language is the Language of the Holy Spirit.  God’s Word is only heard through that Spirit.  Our prayers only reach God’s ears through that language.

And we cannot learn it at school, with a computer program, or with Spiritual flashcards.

We HAVE it when we are Christians.  God grants it to His people.  He changes our mouths and ears so that we can cry out to Him, and know that He hears us!

Habakkuk II: Revival

Habukkuk II

In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy. (Habukkuk 3:2 ESV)

Revival

When it is time for me to lose weight, it starts with me.

When it is time for me to be frugal, it starts with me.

When it is time for me to improve my time management, it starts with me.

But revival does not start with me.  We might think that revival, returning to God, redirecting our lives to Him, is first OUR responsibility, that turns out to be not the case.

Revival starts with God being merciful.

Revival, with church-wide, family-wide, or individually, starts with God being merciful.

Revival starts with God mercifully withholding His wrath, and changing our hearts.

THEN revival results.

May He bring revival in every area it is needed.

Habakkuk I: How to Live

Habukkuk I

Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4 ESV)

How to Live

Anyone who thinks we can impress God has a puffed up soul.  And that soul is not upright. 

Scripture abounds with statements that assure us that all have sinned. 

Birds do not generally swim.  Camels do not dwell on snowy mountains.  Snakes do not eat at kitchen tables.  Nor do humans act righteously.

But we have been given a way to survive.

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

It is that faith that enables us to walk with God. It is that faith that enables us to be the children of God.  It is that faith that enables us to obey Him, to belong to Him, and to enjoy Him.

Start with faith.  The rest follows.

Nahum II: Empty Refuge

Nahum II

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. (Nahum 1:7 ESV)

Empty Refuge

I was once in a teen-age summer vacation war in the woods near our neighborhood.  We fought with bb guns, water-balloons, sticks, and occasionally rocks. 

Tired of losing battles, we built a fort out of old plywood sheets, fallen logs, and a few borrowed 2x4s.  It was an awesome example of defensive engineering, complete with turrets, gates, and a moat, of sorts.

But one day, as battle was commencing, my team decided to rush the enemy.  We poured out of the fort and chased the ‘others’ into the trees.  Wow, did we feel triumphant!

Until we discovered that while we were pursuing, the enemy had snuck into our fort.

And once again, we lost the battle.

For the fort to be useful, we had to be IN it.

For the fort to defend us, we had to be IN it.

For the fort to be a fortress, we had to be IN it.

And for God to be our refuge, our fortress, our defense against His enemies, we have to be IN Him, too.

A nametag of “Christian” is not enough. 

Being near Christianity is not enough.

But He is a fortress to those who have believed.

He is a fortress to those who call out to Him.

He is a fortress to those who are His in thought, word, and deed.

Nahum I: But Who Is Guilty

Nahum I

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. (Nahum 1:3 ESV)

But Who Is Guilty

I am not proud of the way I treated many substitute teachers in middle school.  I knew that did not have real authority so I could disregard them.  One in particular really wanted to be popular.  And so, while he made many threats, he rarely followed through on them.

And so we did what we wanted, knowing nothing bad would happen to us.

Nahum declares that God means His threats.  He will NOT, under any circumstances, by no means ignore guilt.  The consequences of guilt are absolute, sure, and determined.

And guilt for sin means death.  Not maybe death.  Not even probably death.  But absolute death.

But God’s grace and mercy are amazing. 

Yes, He brought punishment for every guilty act.

But for His people, God instead punished Christ.

For those NOT His people, God follows through with the threat on the guilty themselves.

But for His people, God carries out that threat on His Son, our Savior, Christ Jesus.

Amazing….

Micah III: Division of Labor

Micah III

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 ESV)

Division of Labor

God has delegated all authority in His creation to three areas.  The State, the Church, and the Family. 

It seems like no mere coincidence that here, Micah reminds mankind that we have three requirements from God.  Justice, kindness (or mercy) and humility.

What if that gives us some boundaries and emphasis for the three areas of authority?

Perhaps the job of the state is ensure justice.  Perhaps the job of the church is to demonstrate and demand mercy.  Perhaps the job of the family is to teach humility.

I would like to live in a society with those areas being promoted!

It is also interesting that Christ Jesus, the One with ALL of God’s authority also has those three jobs.  HE is responsible for justice, all the way to the cross.  HE is responsible for mercy, all the way to the empty tomb.  He is responsible for humility, all the way to the right hand of God the Father.

Micah II: Ancient

Micah II

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2 ESV)

Ancient

I was around nine months old the day I was born.  So were you.

Amazingly, the Messiah… the baby Jesus… was even more than nine months old when He was born in Bethlehem.

“Of Old” carries with it the idea of ancient.  Of Long, long, long ago.  Even eternally old.

Because Jesus was not just a human baby being born.  He was the perfect God-man.  Both human AND divine.

That newborn baby was old!

Because that newborn baby was God Himself.

Micah I: Destroy or Fix

Micah I

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in steadfast love. (Micah 7:18 ESV)

Destroy or Fix

It was a sad day when my first vehicle was finally towed away to the junk yard.  I had put up with idiosyncrasies, repaired mechanical ailments small and large, ignored public mockery for my jalopy, and made use of duct tape that would have made the inventor shudder.

But I finally could not fix it anymore.

If I could have continued to fix it, I would have.

My affection towards that truck would have kept me driving that old thing even down to today, if I had the power, the knowledge, and the ability.

God loves His people more than I loved my truck.  And He DOES have power.   He DOES have knowledge.  He DOES have the ability.

And He gives our broken lives one BIG fix, instead of dozens of small ones.

He gives us Jesus.

Instead of destroying us… He fixes us.

He delights in forgiving us, because of Jesus.  He delights in justifying us, because of Jesus.  He delights in sanctifying us, because of Jesus.  And He will delight in glorifying us, because of Jesus.

Jonah III: Right but Wrong

Jonah III

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. (Jonah 4:1-3 ESV)

Right but Wrong

Jonah thought that God was gracious and merciful.  And Jonah was right.

Jonah thought that God was all powerful.  And Jonah was right.

Jonah thought that God is good. And Jonah was right.

But Jonah saw those things, and did not like them.  He wanted vengeance and Israel’s ancient enemy destroyed, so Jonah did not want God to forgive.

He wanted God to miss hearing Ninevah’s repentance, so Jonah did not want God to know their repentance.

He wanted God to be harsh instead of good, demanding instead of patient, and hating instead of loving.  He wanted to see his idea of victory with his own eyes, so Jonah did not want God to be good.

We could learn a thing or two from Jonah’s mistakes. 

Rejoice when strange people are saved.  Welcome when ‘others’ come to worship.  Look for God’s way to be done, instead of our way.  Laugh at God’s irony when He saves the unsavable.

Jonah II: Prayer

Jonah II

“But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to You; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”  And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. (Jonah 2:9,10 ESV)

Prayer

Say what you wish about the failures of Jonah… from disobeying God… fleeing to Tarshish… Hiding in the hold of the ship…

Jonah knew how to pray.

Down in the fish’s belly, He cried out to his only hope.  He knew that salvation ONLY comes from God.

He did not try a Ouija board.  He did not try applied physics.  He did not try biology.  He did not try holding his breath.

He immediately prayed to God.

And got vomited out of the fish.

This is not Jonah’s message alone.  It is the message of Scripture.  Prayer changes things only because God changes things.  Prayer helps only because God helps.  Prayer is effective only because God is effective.

Try praying first.

Jonah I:

Jonah I: Things Do Not Just Happen

And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. (Jonah 1:17 ESV)

Things Do Not Just Happen

My favorite football team had a defensive coach that was considered for many years to be the best in the business.  Mostly, because he was not a reactive coach.  Defense Coaches might be tempted to figure out what the enemy offense was planning, and defend against it.

That makes a certain amount of sense.

But this coach, instead, DID things… and made the offense react to him and his plans.

God is, in a way, like that coach.

While many see God as sitting in heaven reacting to what is happening on earth… helping in times of trouble… responding to tragedies and disasters… fixing what is broken…

Jonah presents a better, albeit a little confusing, picture.

God is at work.  He acts, He does, He moves, He shakes.  He builds.  He redeems.  He loves.

He is not merely a reactor.

He is a doer.

And thus we have hope, peace, and salvation.