Living Word of God

God Is Not Done With Israel

Ken

God is not done with Israel. “I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1 KJV). When the LORD established His covenant with Abraham, He unconditionally promised, “I will make of thee a great nation [Israel]” (Genesis 12:2), but He further promised, “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed [the Church]” (Genesis 12:3). Both Israel and the Church were foreseen. And, no, the OT Mosaic law and feasts are not necessary for the salvation and sanctification of the Church. “In that He saith, A new covenant, He hath made the first old [literally, obsolete]” (Hebrews 8:13). Remember, humanity is equal in the sight of God — “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16) — but, He still has a special place in His heart for Israel — “Ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen” (Isaiah 43:10) — and in His prophetic program — “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). 

It was no accident that the Gospel message started first “in Jerusalem, and [then spread] in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). All the first converts to Jesus were Jews, who crucified their Messiah. “Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children” (Matthew 27:25). Peter’s instructions to the Jews at the beginning of the Church, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39), which includes the rest of us Gentiles, who have come to Messiah Jesus. 

The essence of Bible prophecy is God’s before-it-happens-certain-declarations of future events. If the OT Jews misread prophecy and missed the Messiah the first time, then shouldn’t the Church pay closer attention to prophecies to prepare for the return of Messiah Jesus the second time? “So Christ [Greek, Christos, anointed one, the Messiah] was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). Isaiah reveals God’s special relationship to Israel. “1 O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. 4 Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no saviour. 12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. 18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:1, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19). 

That “new thing” (Isaiah 43:19) prophesied by Isaiah was spoken of by Jeremiah, as well. “For the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man” (Jeremiah 31:22). “Created” (31:22) implies divine intervention. “Woman” (31:22) indicates an individual, not a collective noun. “Man” (31:22) compares to Isaiah 9:6, where it refers to God. Jeremiah 31:22 was believed by many in the Early Church as a reference to the Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14) of the Messiah: a virgin womb encircling a man without the necessity of a man’s participation, yielding the miraculous result of a Savior. As difficult to believe as this narrative, it would eventually result in Israel becoming a nation spiritually at Messiah’s Second Coming. “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8). 

Paul asked the Romans, “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision” (Romans 3:1). What strategic advantage had the Jews over the rest of the world? The Jews superiority was their possession of the Word of God. “Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God” (3:2). But, you say, Nearly everyone today has access to the Word of God, so where is the advantage? Scripture has no practical benefit to us unless understood and obeyed. “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified” (2:13). Intelligence is valuable in society, science, government, military, and business, as well. It is not what you know, but what you do with the Word of God. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him” (2Chronicles 16:9). 

We must remember, the Jews have long been the subject of prophecies: (1) that they would be subjected to the Babylonian captivity of Judah, i.e., “shall be carried to Babylon” (Isaiah 39:6), and (2) that they would be held in the Babylonian desolations for seventy years, i.e., “And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years” (Jeremiah 25:11). 

But, the Jews were also told: (1) when “Messiah the Prince” (Daniel 9:25) would appear, He would be “be cut off, but not for Himself” (9:26), answering to Christ’s atonement [First Coming of the Messiah], and (2) they were also told the Son of Man would have an “everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away” (7:14), answering to the Millennial Reign of Christ and beyond (Revelation 20:4) at the end of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:26-27) [Second Coming of the Messiah]. 

In summary, the Jews were responsible for the custodial care of the Divine Scriptures (Romans 3:2), furnishing the bloodline of the House of David for the Messiah (Matthew 1:1-17), for the political rebirth of the modern nation of Israel (1948), and providing us a prophetic clock for the reappearance of the Messiah. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25). 

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6). 

Father, You have not cast away Israel, the “apple of [Your] eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10). We pray for Your success in winning back the hearts of Your Chosen People Israel. Cause us the Gentiles to provoke Israel (32:21) to faith in the Messiah (Romans 11:11). We ask that our eyes would be enlightened, and we would not follow Israel’s former example of unbelief. May we see our victories in the immediate inspiration of Your Spirit inciting us to obedience (Ezekiel 36:27). May Jerusalem see Your peace. Messiah Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.

Behold Wondrous Things (Psalm 119:18)

Ken

“Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law” (Psalm 119:18 KJV). Only the Living God can take the blinders from our eyes to see the wonders of His Law. Self-discovery is the exact opposite of seeking the mother lode of riches from God’s Word. In these NT times, the eureka of discovering understanding from the Word of God is tied to our discovery of Jesus Christ as the Living Word. Scripture makes it easy to make the connection between Christ and His Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Rather than attempting to make Scripture a book of physical realities, we should realize our physical world is only an attempt to duplicate the realities of the spiritual world. We need to give up on becoming acceptable to the faithless world, and concentrate on the Holy Spirit showing us and through us the more important substance of the Unseen Realm.  “12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:12-13). Notice how Hebrews 4:12 fluently transitions from the “word of God is quick” to “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight” (4:13). The Word of God is Jesus!

Just look at how foolish the things of God are to this world. Do we mind looking foolish to the world? 

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1Corinthians 1:18).

“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1Corinthians 1:21).

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness” (1Corinthians 1:23).

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1Corinthians 1:25).

LORD, bless the foolishness of preaching Your Word that we might lift up Your Son Jesus as the wondrous pinnacle and point of all of Your Law and Scripture. Magnify Him, whose “name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13), to Your everlasting praise. Amen.

Directed to Keep His Statutes (Psalm 119:5)

Ken

“O that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes” (Psalm 119:5 KJV). The “grievous wolves” (Acts 20:29 KJV) Paul warned the Ephesians elders about, entered into the flock of the Ephesian Church, though they patiently struggled to maintain fidelity to apostolic doctrine, they lost their devotion to Jesus, who is the True Reason for obedience. Sadly, Jesus had to condemn the Apostolic Church of Ephesus, “Thou hast left thy first love” (Revelation 2:4). Even so, the Psalmist yearned for a devotion to the LORD, which would cause him to keep the LORD’s statutes. “O that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes” (Psalm 119:5). The form of obedience without the heart of devotion to the LORD is reprobate. But, now we have the NT gift of the Holy Spirit, who is our primary aid in keeping our focus upon Jesus. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). LORD, cause us to be ready for Your appearing. Give us a heart of devotion and love to You that we may walk in True Obedience. Return quickly, in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Joy of Our Heart

Ken

God’s words are our unspeakable joy. Are they not? Or, can they be? Even when commanded to bring the difficult message of coming judgment to fellow Judeans, Jeremiah reminded himself of the unwavering joy that comes only by embracing God’s words. “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16 KJV). Spirit of God, work to make Your words the joy and rejoicing of my heart. In the film “The Rookie” (2002), Dennis Quaid plays an older baseball rookie (Jimmy Morris) trying to make it into Major League Baseball (MLB) through the minor leagues, but he was getting discouraged. Watching a little league field of young players, he remembers his enjoyment of the game and is inspired to make another (and successful) attempt into the major leagues. The next morning, he announces to his friend, “Brooks, you know what we get to do today? We get to play baseball!” Pray that God’s Spirit would give us that kind of enjoyment in seeking Him, His Word, and His message. 

Word of God: Living and Active

Ken

Abundant, free energy. Who wouldn’t be interested in acquiring? Not fission, fusion, hydrogen, or renewable. The Word of God is alive and powerful. “For the word of God is quick [alive, active], and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder [i.e., fission] of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart [i.e., nano, small]” (Hebrews 4:12 KJV). Even in the native tongue of its present readers and hearers, power courses through the Word of God, as we dwell upon God’s thoughts. We must be far along into the redemptive history of humanity for the Word of God to be so available, yet actively maligned, ignored, undervalued, and misunderstood. The Word of God is the most powerful expression of the deepest truths of our existence. LORD, make us to value Your words as the richest treasure, the pearl of great price, that we would seek it more than the necessary food for our physical bodies. Amen and amen. 

We Practice What We Believe

Ken

In other words, we all demonstrate what we actually believe by the way we act. “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew [shō] me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew [shō] thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18 KJV). There is no mystery about our beliefs, just look at how we act. If you wonder why you don’t have certain results from your beliefs, then you are confused about how you believe. Faith is not simply willing yourself to trust God, but “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Faith is not ‘pulling yourself up by your bootstraps’; but, faith is the “gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). And, no, God does not do our believing for us, but He makes our believing “effectual [Greek, energeia, Thayer, in the NT used only of superhuman power, whether of God or the devil]” (3:7), that is, He makes our faith valuable by empowering it. And, you can tell when He is cooperatively empowering us, when the results align with what He reveals in His Word. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). LORD, empower our believing. Make our simple act of intellectual faith powerful and spiritual. Cause us to evaluate our faith by what You represent in Your Word. Cause us to actively hunger for our faith to look like what we read in Your Word. Make it so that what we believe causes us to act like what we know from Your Word. Grant to us the essential working of Your Spirit that You may conform us to Your Word — not just in letter — but in Spirit and in power. Do all of this, in Jesus’ name. Amen and amen. 

Vindication of Wisdom

Ken

“Wisdom is justified of all her children” (Luke 7:35 KJV). When Solomon proposed cutting an infant in half to satisfy the parental claims of two prostitutes (1Kings 3) or Jesus answered the resurrection denying Sadducees (Matthew 22), we miss the point, if we credit skill, diplomacy, or astute knowledge to their success. Wisdom flowing only from God can answer all of humanity’s unanswerable questions. “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29 KJV).