Unclear Distinction

Mal. 1:11

"For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts."

All of nature verifies that God's name will be great among the nations and the offerings that He receives will be pure. Why? For, I am a great king, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. God's greatness is indisputable. Who can endure this great day of the Lord? Certainly, not man, for He will come like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in  righteousness to the Lord. Nothing is indistinct in the mind of God, but why is it for man?  

The problem came in the priesthood. Not only were the priests offering polluted sacrifices, that is keeping the young and strong for themselves while offering the weak and blemished to God, they were robbing God in their tithes and contributions. Obviously, there was no fear of God in their hearts even though they worked and ministered in the very house of God and dealt with the sacrifices and offerings. How sobering! How very close a person can be and still miss the mark! Not only that but they had spoken out against God claiming their was no profit in serving God. They saw the evildoers prosper and joined their ranks. How blurred were the lines of righteousness now? How marred was their spiritual vision? How easy was it for them to focus on this life and the prosperity of this world's system and lose sight of the treasures in heaven?   Peter makes it clear that I am in a kingdom of priests as well. Have I blurred the clear lines and boundaries of God? Has my vision become clouded by worldliness? Do I fear God?

Thankfully, there was another side to the conversation. It was the words of those who feared the Lord. Their words were precious to God because He paid attention and heard them. How glorious! In fact, He made a book of remembrance for all those who feared and esteemed His name. He promised to make them His treasured possession and spare their lives.When the life is rightly related to God with the vision in focus and the heart fearing God, then the distinction will be clear. Once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. Powerful! Is this distinction seen clearly in my life? Is my focus united to Him? Am I fearing Him?

Lord,
Keep me ever seeing clearly Your righteousness and Your hand on my life. Make me words be words that You treasure and keep in Your book of remembrance. Let me life be a living witness of this distinction between the righteous and the wicked.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Reaping in Tears

Ps. 126:5

"Those who reap in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him."

As I see this Psalm as following chronologically after Neh. 11-13, it is clear that the people were reaping with shouts of joy because the wall of Jerusalem was completed. Finally, after the hard years of exile, they were in Jerusalem and able to worship and obey their God. It was a joyous, emotion-packed time. It would seem that after having been through such a hard time, and having to work on the wall while fighting off the enemies, that their hearts would be set on God. But not so! Emotion is  not always followed by resolve or faithfulness!

Before Ezra left to report to the king, he had set everything in place, that is who was to maintain the house of the Lord, accept sacrifices, even down to the care of the musicians and Levites for temple worship. Sadly, while he was gone the corrupted priest did his dirty work. Into the very house of God, he emptied a room of its holy, sanctified objects to make room for their enemy Tobiah. Tobiah's insidious influence had disrupted the care and maintenance of the Levites and musicians so they left Jerusalem and went back to their homes. When Ezra returned, he confronted the sin and appointed treasurers to see to these duties. How quickly they had listened to the enemy! My enemy prowls about seeking someone to devour. Am I keeping a room for him even in the very temple of my heart? Or am I resisting and being faithful to God's words?

But then another problem surfaced. People were bringing their wares and selling them on the Sabbath. Boldly and passionately, Ezra asked, What is this evil thing that you are doing? How could they forget what had been the cause of their exile? How could they profane the Sabbath of the Lord so easily and so quickly after they were back in Jerusalem? Ezra stationed men outside the  wall and refused entrance to these peddlers. He confronted them, beat them and even pulled out their hair. Go Ezra! When things try and pull me into the markets of the world, am I fighting them with all the Spirit's arsenal? Am I willing to shame the very things that are enticing me into a love of the world?

Finally, Ezra dealt with the last problem mentioned in Nehemiah. The people had intermarried with foreigners. He reminded them of Solomon, the great king who was beloved of God. Even he was made to sin by the foreign women that He married. Ezra spoke out for right. He asked the hard questions to a people who hearts were already growing cold and hard. Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women? Ezra's heart was for God alone. Faithfully, He spoke out against evil. He confronted it with actions as well as his emotions. For Ezra, truly the Lord had done great things, and he purposed to keep the truth before his people.

Father,

Keep me always faithfully coming home rejoicing because of the great work that you have done. Help me to speak out for right, but most importantly, to keep my heart and emotions charged for you alone, unpolluted by the crafty enticements of the world, and free from entangling alliances. Keep me every and only Yours.

In Jesus name,

Amen

As One Man

Neh. 7:1-3

"And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law."

What a picture of unity--all the people gathering as one man, and for what purpose? To hear the Word of God! As Ezra read from the scroll from early morning until midday, the people remained attentive. I find it interesting that their ears were attentive. It was like they were so hungry to hear that their ears became more important than any other body part. There was no boredom or complaining that they were standing too long. Their total focus was hearing God's word.
 
Then as Ezra blessed the Lord, the people said, Amen, Amen. They agreed that such a great God who had shown so much mercy and love must be blessed, but Ezra told the people to stop their weeping because the day was holy. Why would they be weeping? Would they be seeing their true condition in light of God's words? Would their sin and the sin of their fathers be so overwhelming that they could do nothing but weep? But God has promised that those who mourn will be comforted. They were comforted because the joy of the Lord was their strength. (This joy and strength is my comfort too.) All the people went their way to eat, drink, send portions, and rejoice because they had understood the words of the Lord. What a blessing to understand the words of God!
 
On the 24th day of the month, the people gathered again with fasting and sackcloth to stand and confess their sins and the sins of their fathers. The stood up in their place and read from the book for a quarter of the day and then confessed for a quarter of the day. What a fitting response to the Word! This was half the day with no mention of fatigue! Certainly, listening and confessing takes time. How much time do I spend in confession? As I read, I should see myself in relationship to the holiness of God. In light of His presence, I am abundantly poor in spirit and full of sin. I should mourn for that sin, a mourning that should take time, but the end result is praise and thanksgiving for His grace. And that is exactly what happened next. The people were instructed to stand up and bless the Lord Your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.
 
What a pattern of corporate worship as well as personal worship! For the body of believers, it begins with unity as we draw near to listen to God's words followed by mourning and weeping over sin, then comfort in understanding His words which leads to confession and finally praise and thanksgiving. Personally, my focus must begin with a heart united to His. I must see my life and my purpose as bringing glory to Him alone. To do this I must acknowledge my need and poverty of spirit. I must confess my sin, boasting in my weakness so that the power of God may be glorified. My worship must culminate in blessing His glorious name because His power is perfected in my weakness, His grace is made strong in my dependence, His Spirit lives in my surrender.
 
Father,
Help me to listen with open ears and a receptive heart. Teach me what it means to be poor in spirit and to mourn for that sin. Make Your grace and power a reality in my life as You teach me to surrender completely.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Tactics of the Enemy

Neh. 6:9

"For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done." But now, O God, strengthen my hands."

Nehemiah and his crew were working diligently on the wall. In fact, there were no breaches left in the wall, but the doors were not set up. At this point Sanballat and Tobiah began their campaign to stop the final completion of the wall. Their initial step began with a series of letters inviting Nehemiah to come and talk with them in the plain of Ono. But the truth was, they intended to do him harm. Nehemiah simply replied, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" What a truthful response that examines the true motives of the situation! No hedging and no counter tactics, just the simple truth! But Sanballat and Tobiah were determined. They sent letters three more times which Nehemiah faithfully answered in the same way. His task could not be stopped. He was faithful to God's calling and the task at hand. He would not be deterred. 

On the fifth letter, Sanballat stepped up his tactics. In an opened letter, he fabricated a rebellion and dumped it in Nehemiah's lap saying that the Persian nations believed he was inciting a rebellion. Sanballat posed as a friend of the Persians and of Nehemiah. He offered to talk through the situation to help him figure out what to do. But why did he leave the letter opened? No doubt, to breed fear among Nehemiah's workers. But his ruse did not work. Nehemiah knew instantly that he had invented the entire scenario. He told Sanballat that his scare tactics were ineffective. He and the people would not stop their hands from working. Instead Nehemiah prayed asking God to strengthen their hands.  I love the contrast in Nehemiah's choices.On one hand, Sanballat and a fabricated rebellion and offer of help, and on the other hand, obedience to God and prayer for strength. Nehemiah's spiritual vision was spot on. He chose God.

Sanballat doesn't stop there. He engaged the help of a false prophet to go into Jerusalem and prophesy. Even though it is a prophet (of sorts), Nehemiah didn't waiver for a moment. He responded with , "Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in." What resolve! Nehemiah understood that God had not sent this prophet. Once again, instead of being afraid, Nehemiah prayed. "Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these things that they did..and also the prophet Noadiah..." Whoops, that plan backfired!!

In the face of all this interference, the wall was finished. The task was accomplished. And when all the nations heard it, they were afraid for they knew that it had all been done with the help of God! Poor Tobiah, he even began sending more letters again. He so wanted to make Nehemiah afraid. Little did he know, that God was Nehemiah's light and salvation.  I am sure that Nehemiah echoed the words of David, "The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" He did not fear what man would do to him!

Father,
Teach me to be discerning when people, things, and situations come into my life. Open my eyes to see the truth of motives and know Your will and directions. Keep me unafraid and trusting in You, my light, my salvation,and my stronghold.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Neh. 4:6

"So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work."

The people were unified in what God had called them to do, that is the rebuilding of the wall. They had a mind to work in spite of the anger and rage of Sanballat and Tobiah. Their ridicule and taunts were met with greater unity and greater work. Oftentimes when the negative comes down, the positive grows stronger. But their attack didn't stop there. Sanballat and Tobiah planned a physical attack upon the Jews. They were going to stop this effort once and for all, but it was at this time that the Jews who lived nearby came and joined the effort. So Nehemiah stationed the people by clans in the lowest spaces of the wall with their swords and spears. Nehemiah's encouraged and exhorted the people to be unafraid. Once more unity was the result. On one level they were united to fight and on the second level they were united to remember that their God was great and awesome. What was the result? The enemy realized their plans were futile. God had frustrated their plans. So the people set to work again!
 
Father,
Set me mind in Your work mode. Help my mind to be united to Yours to fight against temptation and sin and keep me ever remembering that You are great and awesome.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Courage

Ezra 7:27-28

" Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem,  and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me."

Ezra took courage because the hand of the Lord was upon him. Even though the task was daunting, he  moved ahead without fear because he operated on what he knew to be true about God, that is God's steadfast love extended to Ezra. God did this in full view of the important people in Ezra's life, the people who had temporal power over his life. But God was bigger than the king, his counsellors, and his mighty officers because He is King over all. His supernatural power put such a thing into the heart of the king. Even though the king allowed the journey and the project, Ezra knew that God was responsible for this journey. He knew that God was always and would always be sovereign. Because his life and his future was based on what he knew to be true about God, he could bless God! The same sovereign God orchestrates the details of my life by extending His steadfast love to me in salvation and sanctification. I bless His name!

Father,

Thank You for being sovereign and for showing me Your power in the lives of the people in control of this world's system. I can rest in You and Your steadfast love for me.

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Humble Spirit

Esther 8:3-5

"Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. And she said, "If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. "

 
What an example Esther demonstrates on how to appeal humbly to authority! 

• First, body language is of prime importance, and that is the first thing that the king saw. Esther fell at his feet, wept, and pleaded. There were no edges in the way she spoke. She did not have a defensive or haughty manner. She did not feel it was her right to be heard.
• Secondly, she waited for him to speak with her. Timing was of key importance. Her appeal stretched her patience to the limit.
• Third, she acknowledged his position, and the authority of his position. She honored the laws regarding him as well as the proper social conventions."If it please the king... and I have found favor in his sight, and if it seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes." 
• Finally, she presented her request. She didn't want to waste her time with the king by plunging ahead because her situation was so urgent. It had to be done right. Plunging ahead without presenting the appeal correctly could have been disastrous for her as well as her people. 

The result of her appeal was that the king listened and responded in her favor. She, Mordecai, and her people were all saved. Not only that but the Jew hating people were destroyed. What they had planned had come back upon them. Truly, what they meant for evil, God meant for good.

Father,
Give me a humble spirit so that I may speak as You would have me to speak. Give me Your grace as I appeal to others in my life.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Courage Wins the Day

Esther 4: 13-17

"Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him."

What an exciting story! Even though Esther was tucked away  in the king's harem in the palace, she was still a Jew, and therefore liable to the consequences of Haman's edict. Action must be taken, and it was up to her to do it. But before her plan was executed, she called for the backup of her people. She wanted them fasting at the same time that she was. Then she would go to the king regardless of the outcome. If he didn't extend the scepter, her life would be over, but if he did, perhaps she could save her people. Such bravery! What was its source? I am sure Mordecai raised her to have exemplary character which is evidenced in her willingness to sacrifice her life for others. Along with the sacrificial character came her courage in the face of fear. She definitely was fearful, but her courage won the day. Esther did not just live by her beauty. She didn't try and beguile or manipulate the king, instead she relied on her character, by what she knew was right.

Father,
Help me to obey You and do what is right  no matter what the circumstances. Give me this courage that stands for right even when the stakes are high.
In Jesus name,
Amen

In Faithfulness and Righteousness

Zech. 8:7-8

"Thus says the LORD of hosts: behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness."

In that day, God will restore Israel. There will be no war, but instead a sowing of peace.The vine will be fruitful, and the ground will give produce. Dew will come from the heavens. God will cause the remnant of this people to possess all things. As they were a byword to the nations before, now they will be a blessing. The picture for Israel has drastically changed because the God of salvation has come to save them. He will restore what He took apart. But the best thing of all is that He will be their God in faithfulness and righteousness.
In faithfulness because:

• The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are Justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He. (Deut. 32:4)
• He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.(Ps. 91:4)
• The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is His faithfulness. (Lam. 3:22-23)

In righteousness because:

• And He judges the world with righteousness; He judges the peoples with uprightness. (Ps. 9:8)
• Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You. (Ps. 89:14)
• And this is the name by which He will be called: The Lord is our righteousness. (Jer. 23:6b)

Thankfully, He is a God of faithfulness and righteousness for me!

Father,
Thank You for the great God that You are, for reaching down to me, for drawing me for Your salvation, for keeping me, and for promising to finish what You have begun. I know I can count on Your words because You are faithful and righteous in all that You do and say. Bless You, Lord.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Not by Might or Power

Zech. 4:6-7

"Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'"

The rebuilding of the temple, though accomplished by human hands, was not accomplished by human power. God told them that it was not by might or power but by His Spirit. It was all of Grace! It didn't matter if the builders were few in number or the surroundings were hostile, what God had declared would come to pass would come to pass without a hitch. What a great example of grace! The rebuilding of the temple was a great task calling the workers from exile to gather materials and then build in hostile conditions, yet, this is what God had declared. "And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God." The primary task for the workers was obedience, obedience to the word of God.
 
My Christian walk is not accomplished by my might or power but by His Spirit. It is all of grace! My responsibility is obedience and surrender to His will and His way. I must trust Him that His words are true and will come to pass. My humanity must be empowered by the Spirit of God to do His will His way.
 
Father,
Thank You for this grace walk. Continue to teach me how to walk in obedience and surrender without any of my might or power involved.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Too Busy for Me

Haggai 1:7-9

"Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 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. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. "

God explains their predicament precisely. Instead of building His house, they are preoccupied with their own houses. Instead of focusing on obedience to the Lord, their feet are firmly planted in the world. Even though their focus is on the world, its system, and its prosperity, it has all come to naught because God in His sovereign will has blown away their prosperity. He wants their attention so that they might see that the error of their busyness. Misdirected activity has resulted in a drought upon all that the ground brings forth and on all their labors. What must they do? Build the house of God so that He might be glorified! What a lesson for me! How many times does preoccupation with my life, my house, my circumstances trump God? Bringing glory to God needs to be my primary focus 24/7.
 
Father,
Keep my eyes wide open to the encroachments of the world. Teach me to glorify You every moment of my life.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Identity

Ezra 5:11

" And this was their reply to us: 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished."

When asked who they were, the rebuilders of the temple replied, 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth." Their identity was no longer individual. Instead the unity of the task had consumed their lives. They were servant-builders with a singular God-given task. They definitely felt the call of God upon their lives, but I think that their history made their call that much more urgent. They knew and frequently rehearsed the details of their exile. They had angered the God of heaven by their rebellious disobedience, and He had allowed them to be carried away to Babylon. Not only that but the temple itself had been destroyed as had all its gold and silver implements. With this knowledge ever in their minds and hearts, their fervor to rebuild could not be diminished.
 
The same goes for believers. With the memory of my old life and nature and my bondage to the flesh, I now move on with a heart filled with thankfulness, a heart with a burning desire to share Jesus with others, to harvest and spread His kingdom, and to eagerly await His return. Like these exiles, I should always be a servant of God first and foremost. My life is changed now. When he reconciled me, He ended my exile and made me not only His servant but His child. I am looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Father,
Keep my servant hood ever before me. Help me to share and build Your kingdom.
In Jesus name,
Amen

As One Man

Ezra 3:10-13

"And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the directions of David king of Israel. And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel."And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away."

What an emotional day! Not only was Israel able to return from captivity, but they were rebuilding the temple.It says in v. 1 of this chapter that "The people gathered as one man to Jerusalem." God's calling had created great unity among them. They only wanted to see one thing accomplished and that was the restoration of the temple of God, a process that consumed their thoughts, labors, and emotions. What great joy they felt when the foundation was laid! Uncontainable! The sound of their shouting and weeping was heard far away. This was truly the sound of obedience, obedience to the plan of God!

Father,

Keep my heart united with yours and with those You call me to labor beside. Give me the joy of obedience.

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Man Greatly Loved

Dan. 10:12

"Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God,your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words."

What a message the heavenly being brought! Daniel was a man greatly loved by God. Why? No doubt because Daniel greatly loved God, but it was also because he set his heart to understand and humbled himself before the Lord. He purposed to understand his God, to honor and obey Him, and in order to do that he had to humble himself. As I think back to the beginning of the book, I see Daniel purposing to retain his identity instead of assimilating. He chose not to eat the king's diet, and was ready to take the consequences. However, God blessed his purpose and obedience, and instead of negative results, he was advanced in the kingdom. When the law was passed to stop praying, he never wavered, but continued to pray faithfully and openly even in the face of dire consequences. But again God protected him from the lions. He interpreted dreams and gave God's message faithfully to kings. He seemed to be undaunted by the world and totally obedient to God. This is the man who was greatly loved by God.

Father,

Teach me to be faithful to what you call me to do. Give me your grace to understand Your words, to obey those words, and to be humble before You in all that I do. 

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Daniel's Prayer

Dan. 9:17-19

"Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord,make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name."

Daniel knew God. He understood His character and because of that relationship, he called out to God for mercy. What were the sins of Israel? Why did they need this mercy?

• they sinned and had done wrong, acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from commandments.
• they refused to listen to prophets.
• they transgressed the law and refused to listen to God's voice.

What did Israel deserve? What were they receiving?

• open shame
• the curse and the oath of the law of Moses
• calamity
• byword

What belonged to God?

• righteousness
• mercy and forgiveness
• confirmation of His words

What did Daniel ask God?

• turn away His anger and wrath
• listen to Daniel's prayer
• make His face shine on the sanctuary
• open His eyes and see the desolation and Jerusalem
• incline His ear and hear
• pay attention and act
• delay not, for His own sake

Why??

 "For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name."

Even though the scales were tipped massively against Israel, Daniel prayed based on what was true about God. He knew that God was merciful and gracious, and this is what Israel needed. He also included himself in the sinful state of Israel. He knew that in relation to God, his heart was full of sin too. What an amazing prayer! Daniel's life and prayer demonstrate his great love for God and his understanding and insight into the nature of God. In fact, Gabriel came to Daniel to give him understanding of the vision. During this conversation he verified that Daniel was greatly loved. He was greatly loved by God because he had a heart for God honoring God in all that he did.

Father,
Teach me to pray, deal with my sin issues, and intercede for those who are lost as Daniel did. Help me to base all I do on who You are.
In Jesus name,

Amen

An Excellent Spirit

Dan. 6:3-5

"Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, "We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God."

What a man of integrity and character Daniel was! From his beginnings as an exile, he never wavered in his faith or in his stand for God. He interpreted the dreams of kings even when the news was so devastating that his own life could have been taken, but instead he was rewarded and advanced. It was this advancement that brought out the evil in other men, men who wanted the prestige and position that Daniel had. On this occasion, the Chaldeans knew that no evil could be found in Daniel. They recognized his excellent spirit, but because their jealousy was so strong, they contrived a plan, a plan that involved what they considered was his only area of weakness, that was the law of his God. Wow! Imagine that ungodly men would know and recognize his character and his faith!Sadly, I am sure that my only area of weakness is not the law of God.

When the decree came to cease praying, he continued with his prayers three times a day for all to see. His life with God could not be altered by anything. It was who he was. The jealous Chaldeans reported him to the king, and he was thrown into the lion's den. Spending the night there proved to be a time of fellowship with protecting angels. No harm came to him! The next morning, Daniel was released and new tenants came in. Sadly, the plotting men became fodder for the beasts! The end result was that Daniel's faith and resolve revealed the glory of God to Darius the king. Darius now knew that God was the living God and His kingdom would last forever, delivering, rescuing, and working signs and wonders.

Father,
Teach me to love to pray like Daniel. Help me to be strong and true in You and through Your grace.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Purpose and Resolve

Dan. 3:16-18

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

Such resolve and purpose! First Daniel and his friends purpose not to eat the king's food rejecting the king's attempt to assimilate them into the Babylonian culture. Then Daniel interprets a dream that no other wise man could all the while giving glory and praise only to God. The result: their advancement in the kingdom. On the heels of all this, Nebuchadnezzar, filled with his own glory and purpose, builds an image that all must worship. Some of the displaced and humiliated wise men report Daniel's friends for refusing to worship the image. When they are brought before the king, they answer simply. Burn us for we will not worship the image! Their faith was in the God who had preserved them thus far. With unwavering resolve, they believed that God would deliver them from this dire circumstance. They were willing to stake their lives on it. Such belief and trust! Did they waver at all? As they felt the heat rush upon them, did they have any doubt?
 
Their faith proved genuine in this furnace of unbelievable and unbearable heat. Not only did God deliver them, but He sent His Son to be with them in a way that they not only experienced but that everyone who was there saw. What a witness for the One, True God! Their hair was not singed not were their clothes harmed. They did not even smell of the flames and the smoke. It was a glorious miracle! Even the heathen king declared a blessing upon God. All of this resolve came from an unwavering belief in a God who was worthy of ultimate trust. They knew God personally, and this relationship shaped their lives and actions. This is my God as well. What is my trust like? Am I unwavering in my resolve? When the furnace of my life is heated to seven times its normal heat, what is my response?
 
Father,
Keep me strong in Your grace. As the fires heat, help me keep my eyes only on You and Your Son.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Who knows?

Joel 2:11-13

"The LORD utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it? "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?"

Still in the face of the terrible Day of the Lord, a day of eminent danger and judgment, God offers grace. He encourages them to return with sincere hearts, fasting, weeping and mourning. Why? Because God's character is not only characterized by His justice and judgment, but it also is known for its grace and mercy. In fact, God's name is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love."  In light of this fact, the question always is  Who knows whether He will turn and relent? This is a great hope! Who knows? Always cry out for grace.

Father,
Thank You for this grace that is freely offered. Teach me to accept Your will regardless of whether it is judgment or grace.
In Jesus name,
Amen

The Lord is There

Ezk. 48:35

"The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There."

 

What an exciting conclusion to the book! All is as it should be because the Lord dwells in its midst. Life-giving water flows from the temple bringing sustenance and plenty. The land is divided, and the tribes are positioned. The judgment is over, and the land is restored. It sounds so simple, but for Israel it was not!

 

One group of people is mentioned specifically, the sons of Zadok. They kept God's charge and did not go astray when the rest of the people did. What a great reputation! How great to be known for obeying God, for following His ways, and for standing alone for God. Something to think about! If all of those around me were going a different way, would I be strong and stand alone? Would I follow God at all costs?

 

Father,

Help me to stand alone for You. Keep me strong in my dependence and obedience.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Royal Priesthood

Ezk. 44:28

"This shall be their inheritance: I am their inheritance: and you shall give them no possession in Israel; I am their possession.

The Levite priests had no inheritance in the land because God was their inheritance. Their entire life, function, and ministry was for God. An inheritance would have been something distracting for them, something for them to focus on apart from God.. In fact their lives were very prescribed in their clothing, their hair, their relationships, and in their judgments. God's priests were totally His to be used to teach His people the difference between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean. To do this they had to be holy and clean themselves. 

I Pet. 2:9 says that I am part of "A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." Similar to the Levites, my ministry and life is totally God's. Every area of my life should reflect His holiness as I proclaim His excellencies. He has "caused me to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you..."   He is my inheritance!

Father,

Help me to live like Your royal priest. Teach me to live and teach the difference in the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean. Sharpen my spiritual acuity so that I might choose You over what the world offers.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

The Sound of Many Waters

Ezk. 43:2

 "And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory."

What is the sound of many waters? The first thing that comes to mind is Niagara Falls where the sound of the water is deafening and its force so powerful that it can be deadly. So much so that for the spectator to get near to the falls, he or she must wear rain gear and be on special platforms. The falls must be approached carefully and appreciated for its splendor, majesty, and great power. All of these descriptors apply to God as well: He is a force so powerful that He is life-changing; He must be approached covered in the blood and from the special platform of the gospel; He must be worshipped and revered for His splendor, majesty and power. What an image to cherish as I wait for Jesus to call me home!
 
As the glory of the Lord entered the temple, Ezekiel had to be lifted up and brought to the inner court by the Spirit of God where He watched the glory of the Lord fill the temple. Wow! Why? God told him that he was describe this to Israel so that they would be ashamed of their iniquities, so that He could come and dwell in their midst again, and so that His temple and holy mountain would be MOST HOLY. God consistently reaches out to Israel and to mankind. He wants to save, but His holiness cannot be ignored or defiled.
 
Father,
Thank You for this image of Your glory and for revealing Yourself in all of nature. Here I see Your majesty and power as well as Your judgment.
In Jesus name,
Amen

The Most Holy Place

Ezk.41:4

"And he meansured the length of the room, twenty cubits, and its breadth, twenty cubits, across the nave. And he said to me, "This is the Most Holy Place."

I can only imagine how Ezkeliel felt at seeing the vision of the temple. After 39 chapters of judgment, the vision of the Temple must have been thrilling. It would reaffirm that God would be with His people, their temple worship would be restored. Yes, God Himself would dwell here in the midst of His people. I also see how specific the vision was, steps, measurements, directions. God's dwelling place must be a certain way.

I think that I should be correspondingly excited when I read the words of I Cor. 6:19, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,  for you were brought with a price. So glorifiy God in your body." God dwells within me! My body has become a 'Most Holy Place.' So what should my response be? Overwhelmingly, I should praise and glorify the God who gave me such a gift. I should live in awe of this greatness resident within me. It should be the guiding prinicple and supreme happiness of my life. I should also be so humbled that a God so great would fill me with His presence. What amazing Grace!

Why Judgment?

Ezk. 38:23; 39:7, 29

"So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD."

"And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel... And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD."

Though harsh, God's judgment has a definite purpose. For Israel, it was to show His greatness and holiness as well as His Lordship. Israel had been far removed from God because of their idolatry and disobedience. The result: they had been scattered among the nations. But when God's time is right, He will then turn His face toward them pouring out His Spirit upon them bringing them back into relationship with Him.

But what about judgment for the other nations? Does God have a purpose in judging them? Yes, all the nations must and will know that He is Lord. In fact, they will all bow down before Him. God is King and will reign as king. All people will bow down either because of an internal, personal relationship with God or external judgment shaping their behavior. God's will cannot be thwarted! What He declares will come to pass.

Father,

Your words are true. I believe in You and what You will say. Give me the urgency and passion to share Your love with those who do not know You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

For the Sake of His Holy Name

Ezk. 36:22-28

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.  And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God."

What a great illustration of a sovereign God! What He does He does for the sake of His name! Certainly, Israel were and still are His chosen people, as I am His chosen child, but His actions toward them and me are motivated by His sovereign will and plan. Israel profaned His name and was filthy with idolatry, yet God did and will continue to draw them together so that He might cleanse them, give them a new heart, and put His Spirit within them. It was not because they did in any way deserve it, but it was for the sake of His name. The same goes for me. I, in no way, deserve to be chosen His child, yet He did choose me. It was for the sake of His name, the holiness of His name. As with Israel so it is with me. The only way to vindicate the holiness of His great name is to put within us a new heart. We must be supernaturally changed to be His people and for Him to be our God.

Father,
My heart is full of praise as I contemplate the holiness of Your great name, and that because of it, You chose me and saved me!
In Jesus holy name,
Amen

The Human Sheep of His Pasture

Ezk. 34:30-31

"And they shall know that I am the LORD their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord GOD. And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD."

When the judgment is over, the Lord Himself will gather His scattered sheep. What a contrast Ezekiel develops between the selfish shepherds and the true shepherd! The false shepherds feed themselves instead of their sheep, eating the fat and clothing themselves with the wool. They do not strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, bring back the strays, or seek the lost, but instead they rule them with force and harshness. Because of this, the sheep were scattered over the face of the whole earth. God speaks out to these shepherds. He declares that He is against them and will require His sheep at their hand. Not only that but He Himself will gather His sheep.

By contrast when God is the shepherd, He will seek and rescue the sheep out of foreign places and bring them into their own land. He will feed them with good pasture and make them lie down. He will bring back the strays, bind up their injuries, strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong He will destroy. Justice will be on that day! And the best part of all, "I will be their God... I am the Lord; I have spoken."This same God is my Shepherd. He sought me and found me. He feeds me and sustains me. He is my God.

Father,

Thank You for being my shepherd, for seeking me when I was lost, for feeding me when I was hungry, and for healing me when I was sick. Thank You for being my God and letting me be Your human sheep.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Faithfulness of His Word

Jer. 24:14

"I am the LORD. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord GOD."

God had spoken. What He says would come to pass! There were prophecies against Jerusalem for her wicked idolatry, but there were also prophecies against Ammon, Moab, Seir, Edom, Philistia, Tyre. God's judgment came on those who refuse to hear His voice and obey. It was a sure thing! Just like all of these prophecies came true, so too, all of God's word is true. It can be counted on and relied on.
 
Father,
Thank You for being faithful to what You say. Help me to believe in Your words and stake my life on them without wavering.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Bear the Consequences

Ezk. 23:35

"Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have forgotten and cast me behind your back, you yourself must bear the consequences of your lewdness and whoring."

Jerusalem and Samaria, described as two whoring women, had played their hands beyond redemption. God had no recourse but to let the bear the consequences of their actions. Israel had become dross, dross only good for the furnace. God's wrath would gather Israel in the midst of the furnace of Jerusalem, and He Himself would put them in this furnace. The outcome: God's wrath would consume them. How horrible! God sought for a man to build up the wall and stand in the breach, but there was none. What a desolation when there is no one to stand for God, no one to do His will.

Father,

Keep me ever building Your wall and standing in Your breach. Help me to be faithful to You and Your holiness.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Rebels Reap

Ezk. 20: 13-14

"But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. "Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make a full end of them. But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out."

 
The rebel reaps what he sows! If he refuses to walk in God's ways rejecting what God says and profaning His Sabbaths, they the heavy comes down. Where is the dividing line between God's just ice and His mercy? When is enough enough? It must be in the human heart. God must know the heart of man when it is totally turned to evil, when it is beyond redemption. So why does He do this public judgment? So that His name will not be profaned in the sight of the nations. The nations had seen God be the God of Israel, and conversely, they had also witnessed their heinous idolatry. I am sure these nations felt their gods of wood and stone were stronger and more powerful, after all, who was the victor? But God will enlighten all eyes. His judgment reaches the offender and the observer. It purges out the rebellious heart and the transgressors.
 
How bad will this be? Ezk. 21 says that the news of the coming judgment will be so bad that the heart will melt, and the hands will be feeble. Spirits will faint, and knees will be weak as water. If this is so, why don't people believe and change? Why won't they listen to the prophets? Could it be their hearts were full up with rebellion and self-will? There was no room left for the mercy of God to do its cleansing work, only room for a sure and present destruction. What is my heart like? Am I allowing corners of rebellion to coexist with my obedience?
 
Father,
Show me my own heart. Bring your rebellion hunter in and let it find its prey. Give me Your grace and strength to be rid of it completely.
In Jesus name,
Amen

The Soul Who Sins Dies

Ezk. 18:19-23

"Yet you say, 'Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?' When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

"But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?"

Each person has to answer to God for their own particular life. The old defense of I was an abused child, I had a terrible home, or I was raised in an environment of evil will not be an excuse for refusing to respond to God. God looks at each individual heart. Each one must examine his or her own life in light of the call of God, an invitation freely offered.

As a sidebar, this section eases the pain of parenting when the child or children chose evil over God. All the parenting in the world cannot change the heart that is bent on doing evil. But the neat thing is that God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He offers abundant grace and mercy which is especially meaningful to the parent whose child refuses to follow God. God takes no delight in the death of the wicked. He wants all to respond to His love. God simply says, "So turn and live."  With God there must be a turning to live. A choice must be made.

Father,
Thank You for drawing me to You so that I can be Your child. Help me to shine out to those still trapped within the confines of evil. Let me be Your light to show them the way.
In Jesus name,
Amen