Consider the Ravens (9-22-11)

Luke 12:24-26 - "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; and they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single cubit to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why are you anxious about other matters?"

Consider the ravens. In this discourse Jesus is telling His disciples not to be anxious for anything. In a parallel passage in Matthew 6 He says - "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single cubit to his life's span?" God doesn't want us to worry about anything, even food. Of course, food is a necessary part of life, but God wants us to trust Him to provide it for us because He will provide it for us. He told us to consider the birds. Birds need food and water to live just like we do, and God provides it for them. Can we not trust Him to do the same and more for us? Does He not love us more than the birds? Jesus said in Matthew 10:29-31 - "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."God promises that He will feed us, just as He feeds all of His creatures. The Psalmist says in Psalm 145:15-16 - "The eyes of all look to Thee, and Thou dost give them their food in due time. Thou dost open Thy hand and dost satisfy the desire of every living thing." 

I find it interesting that when the Lord told us to consider the birds, in one of the gospel accounts He identifies a specific kind of bird. He says "Consider the ravens." The ravens don't worry about where their next meal will come from and neither should we. You'll remember another place in scripture where it talks about ravens, only rather than talking about how God provides for the ravens, in this place it talks about God using the ravens to provide for His servant. I'm referring of course to the story of Elijah, found in 1 Kings 17:1-6 which says - "Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” And the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. And it shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook." Isn't that amazing? This is a true story, it isn't some fairy tale with some hidden meaning. It's factual history. God provided food for Elijah in a miraculous way. Every morning and every evening the ravens would bring him his food. What the Lord told Elijah to do didn't seem very practical. The land was entering into a drought and so he is commanded to go and live by a brook. That will provide for his need for water, but what about his need for food? A mans gotta eat. The Lord wouldn't allow His servant to go hungry. As Elijah was living in obedience to the Word of the Lord and doing the work that God commanded him to do, the Lord declared that He had commanded the ravens to bring him food. Consider the ravens. God feeds them, and you are far more important to God than any bird. He'll provide for you. He may even use the birds to do it, but He will provide. Elijah was the servant of the Lord. He was seeking the Lords will and doing the Lords work, and the Lord provided for Him. And that's exactly what the Lord wants from us. Rather than worrying about our next meal, He wants us to seek His kingdom and do His work, without being distracted with the trivial things of this world.

Matthew 6:32-33 - "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Consider Your Ways (9-21-11)

Haggai 1:7 - "Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Consider your ways!""

The book of Haggai was written after the return of some of the Israelites from Babylonian captivity. When the people returned to the land they began to build their own houses but they left the house of God in ruins. The Lord says later on in that first chapter that they were earning wages but it was as if they were putting them in a bag with holes in it. Their wages were not profiting them. Why is that? It is because their priorities were backwards. They were seeking first their own pleasure and comfort and letting the things of the Lord take second place. And so the message of the Lord for them is "Consider your ways!" Twice in the short book of Haggai, the Lord tells His people to, "Consider your ways!" God wants us to consider ourselves. Our hearts, attitudes, actions, behaviors, mindsets, and so on. The best way to do this is to ask God to reveal to us our true state, because we're really good at deceiving ourselves, and convincing ourselves that we're really okay and don't need to change. But if you ask God to search you and reveal to you the true state of your heart He will do it. And all to often what He reveals to us isn't comfortable, but it's the beginning of a growth process. This is the pattern that David, the man after Gods own heart, laid out in Psalm 139:23-24 where he prayed - "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." God knows all things. He knows if there is something wicked in our lives that we've become blind to, and if we ask Him to reveal it to us He will.

Again, the results are not comfortable, and will most likely cause sorrow, but it is necessary. In the first letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthians he pointed out several things that they were doing horribly wrong, and when they realized this, they were sorrowful, and in 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 he says - "I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter."
Godly sorrow leads to repentance, and repentance leads to a closer more intimate walk with the Lord. The closer we get to God, the more "our ways" become more like "the way everlasting." Hebrews 12:11 tells us - "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." When we consider our ways, though it may begin in sorrow, its end is righteousness. God doesn't want us to be like the world, He wants us to be like Him. And in order to be like Him we need to daily examine ourselves and open ourselves up to allow God to search us and know our hearts and our thoughts and to reveal to us any wicked way in ourselves. And after He has shown us the wrong we need to repent of it and ask Him to lead us in the paths of righteousness, in the way everlasting.

Haggai 1:5 - Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways!"

Consider His lovingkindness (9-20-11)

Psalm 107:43 - "Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things, and consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord."

God wants us to consider His lovingkindness. This word, lovingkindness, can be identified by three basic meanings, which always interact: Strength, Steadfastness or Faithfulness, and Love. Any understanding of the word that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness. The verse quoted above where we are told to "consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord" comes at the end of a psalm that lists Gods lovingkindness to His people Israel. This Psalm follows an interesting pattern. It lists the things that God has done in His lovingkindness, and then it talks about the ways that His people have fallen short, and then it lists again the lovingkindness of the Lord toward His people in restoring them to Himself.

Psalm 107 divides itself nicely into five sections. The First four are very similar in structure to the extent that several verses are repeated word for word four or five different times.
Psalm 107:1-9 -  "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary and gathered from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; they did not find a way to an inhabited city. They were hungry and thirsty; their soul fainted within them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses. He led them also by a straight way, to go to an inhabited city. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good." 

The problem: Vs. 4-5 - They were hungry and thirsty, wandering in the wilderness.

The turning point: Vs. 6-7 - They cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses. He led them also by a straight way, to go to an inhabited city.

The proper response: Vs.8-9 - Give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men!

 

Psalm 107:10-16 - "There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in misery and chains, because they had rebelled against the words of God and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Therefore He humbled their heart with labor; they stumbled and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke their bands apart. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has shattered gates of bronze and cut bars of iron asunder."

The problem: Vs. 10-12 - The Lord humbled them by slavery because of their rebellion.

The turning point: Vs. 13-14 - They cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke their bands apart.

The proper response: Vs. 15-16 - Give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men!

 

Psalm 107:17-22 - "Fools, because of their rebellious way, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all kinds of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell of His works with joyful singing."

The problem: Vs. 17-18 - Affliction and death as a result of rebellion and sin.

The turning point: Vs. 19-20 - They cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

The proper response:  Vs. 21-22 - Give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men!

Psalm 107:23-32 - "Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters; they have seen the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths; their soul melted away in their misery. They reeled and staggered like a drunken man, and were at their wits' end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet, so He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him at the seat of the elders." 

The problem: Vs. 23-27 - The Lord has raised up a storm against those who are on the sea.

The turning point: Vs. 28-30 - They cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed.

The proper response: Vs. 31-32 - Give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men!

In every situation, whether the people were lost and wandering in the desert, or suffering the consequences of their sin and rebellion, or overwhelmed by Gods power in nature, when they cried out to the Lord He heard them and delivered them out of their trouble. And in considering these things, the proper response is thanksgiving and praise to God for His lovingkindness and His wonders to the sons of men. Simply reflecting on how the Lord has demonstrated His lovingkindness toward us in every situation in life will result in thanksgiving. This is why we are instructed to consider His lovingkindness. Because as we do so we will give the much deserved response.

Psalm 107:33-43 - "He changes rivers into a wilderness and springs of water into a thirsty ground; a fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He changes a wilderness into a pool of water and a dry land into springs of water; and there He makes the hungry to dwell, so that they may establish an inhabited city, and sow fields and plant vineyards, and gather a fruitful harvest. Also He blesses them and they multiply greatly, and He does not let their cattle decrease. When they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, misery and sorrow, He pours contempt upon princes and makes them wander in a pathless waste. But He sets the needy securely on high away from affliction, and makes his families like a flock. The upright see it and are glad; but all unrighteousness shuts its mouth. Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things, and consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord."

Consider the Heavens (9-19-11)

The word "consider" is used in several places throughout the Bible and it means, to think carefully about, contemplate, reflect on, etc. It's an interesting study to go through the word of God and look at the things that God tells us to consider. Because if God tells us to consider something, and then we actually do it, considering what He tells us to is bound to be rewarding. The things that God tells us to do are never pointless. If He tells us to consider something, then it means that there is something He wants to tell us through whatever it is He tells us to consider.

In Psalm chapter 8, David writes by inspiration of the Holy Spirit - "When I consider Thy heavens, the works of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?" This verse often comes to mind when I'm walking on the parkway on a clear night. The first thing I want to point out is that David didn't say, "If I consider Thy heavens..." he said "When I consider Thy heavens..." Back in those days they didn't have all these electronic lights and devices to keep them entertained at night. After the sun went down they had basically two choices. They could either go to sleep or they could lay there awake. I'm sure David spent a good many nights lying out under the stars and considering Gods heavens. David spent many nights out in the wilderness lying under the stars. Early in his life he was a shepherd, and he would have spent the nights out in the fields with the sheep. Later in life he spent a good amount of time fleeing in the wilderness, first from Saul and then from Absalom. Every once in a while it would do us good to go outside at night and spend time just considering the heavens.
Another thing I want to mention is that often, when I hear this verse quoted it's quoted like this. "When I consider the heavens..." But every translation I've ever read says "When I consider Thy heavens..." The heavens belong to God and He takes credit for them. The very first verse in the Bible says - "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." And on the forth day when He created the sun, moon and stars, we're told in verse 16 - "Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also." I love how it says that as though it were like a P.S. on the end of the verse. "Oh yeah, and He made the stars too." When I consider the heavens I think about how big they are, and how we are unable to reach the end of them. And to think that God created them, and is even bigger than they are because He holds them in His hand. He is so great and we are so small, and that's the same conclusion that David came to, cause he went on to say, "What is man, that Thou art mindful of him?" Since God is so big and we are so small, why does God even bother with us? It's unthinkable that God would even listen to our prayers, but He went so far beyond that. God, the God who created the heavens and holds them in His hand, became like us. He came to this world as a human being and identified with us, He died a very shameful death bearing the sin of the world in His own body on the cross in order that we might have eternal life with Him. We would do well to consider His heavens more often, and come to the realization that He is everything, and we are nothing. It's not about us, it's all about Him.

Psalm 19:1-4 - "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."

Isaac - A Christ Type (9-17-11)

Hebrews 11:17-19 - "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type."

Probably the clearest Christ type in the Old Testament is found in Genesis chapter 22. The similarities between Abraham offering Isaac as a sacrifice, and God the Father offering His only begotten Son Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for sin, are astounding.
Genesis 22:1-8 reads - "Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you." Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together."
God told Abraham to offer up his only begotten son, whom he loved. And this is exactly what God Himself did. The most well known verse in the whole Bible, John 3:16 says - "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." He offered up His only begotten Son.
God told Abraham to go to the land of Moriah and offer up Isaac on one of the mountains that He would show him. No detail is insignificant. God didn't just chose any random place for this sacrifice, He had a specific place that He wanted him to do it. The place that God showed to Abraham is the same place where God offered up His only begotten Son.
We're told that Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac, and the two of them walked on together. Just as Isaac carried the wood that he was to be sacrificed upon, Jesus also carried to the place of His execution the cross on which He was to be sacrificed. John 19:17 says - "They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha." And just as Abraham laid the wood for the sacrifice on Isaac, we're told in Isaiah 53:6 - "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." He bore our sins in His own body on the tree.
We know that God intervened right at the last moment and Abraham received Isaac back as a type of Christ. Because, though Christ really was killed, He didn't stay dead, but He rose again and once again had fellowship with the Father. And the similarities don't end there. As the account continues to unfold we can see several more similarities between the two, but I just want to mention one more. It's important when studying Scripture, not only to realize what is said, but also to notice what is not said. In Genesis 22:19 we read - "So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham lived at Beersheba." When Abraham and Isaac went up the mountain both were mentioned, but here only Abraham is mentioned as returning. Did Isaac go back with his father? I assume he did, but the Bible doesn't say that. Isaac is intentionally left out. This is significant and here's why, after Isaac is offered up as a type of Christs sacrifice of Himself, he is not seen again until the end of Genesis chapter 24. In chapters 23 and 24 Abraham, the father, is preparing a bride for his son. But Isaac is not seen again until his bride is ready and they meet one another in a field at evening, and Isaac takes his bride home to be with himself. In First Peter chapter 1 it says of Christ - "Whom having not seen you love." The church is the bride of Christ, and though we haven't seen Him we know that we will see Him one day soon. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus shall we always be with the Lord."

In closing I just want to point out what Abraham said in verse 8 - "God will provide Himself the lamb for the burnt offering." I don't know whether he realized it or not, but when Abraham said this he was prophesying of Jesus, because that's exactly what He did. God provided Himself the Lamb for the burnt offering. The spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. God in the flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord.