Posts Tagged ‘hope’

Jeremiah (part 1: Chaos)

Posted: October 18, 2010 in Bible, Christianity, faith, prophecy
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If you’ve ever felt the tension between your current reality and the promises of God’s word, then you’ll relate to Jeremiah. His prophecies reveal God’s wonderful plan for His people and create a yearning for the fullness of redemption.

Jeremiah’s ministry spanned more than 40 years during some of the most chaotic times in the history of God’s people. Jeremiah personally witness the decline of Assyria & Egypt as Babylon rose as the regional superpower. He lived to see the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. He felt the pain of Exile as the Jews were taken into captivity. Jeremiah himself was not taken to Babylon; instead he was taken hostage by Judean rebels and forced to settle in Egypt.

The book of Jeremiah reflects the chaotic times of the prophet’s ministry and seems to be a collection of anthologies — sometimes committed to writing decades after Jeremiah originally spoke the words. Chapters 1-25, for example, are a second edition of Jeremiah’s original prophecies (the first edition was written on a scroll that Judah’s king had cut up and burned). God’s judgment was even more severe in the second edition than it was in the first!

Jeremiah struggled with his calling, sometimes felt betrayed by God, and suffered greatly even though he was faithful to the Lord. I think Jeremiah would be deeply offended by modern “prosperity” teachers who claim that faithfulness to God results in earthly blessings like power, money and easy living.

Jeremiah’s hope was firmly fixed on the future–and eternal–era of God’s kingdom. The certainty of God’s eternal blessings gave the prophet courage and perseverance in the midst of chaotic times and intense suffering.

It can do the same for you…

Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NLT)
10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

Micah (part 6: Promise)

Posted: August 17, 2010 in Bible, Christ, Christianity, church, culture, prophecy
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About 100 years after Micah’s death, the Jews were exiled to Babylon in three waves (605 B.C., 598 B.C. and 586 B.C.), then eventually released by Cyrus the Great in 538 B.C. (more on all that in future posts).

Although Micah specifically condemned the corruption of Samaria and Jerusalem in his day, his words serve as a stark warning to any culture whose economic and political systems run counter to God’s kingdom.

Is America any less immoral; syncretic; idolatrous; indifferent to the poor, weak, and powerless; self-serving; corrupt; or apathetic toward God than Israel was during the time of Micah’s ministry?

I think not.

Yet in the middle of all of this, Micah offers comfort to those who act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Micah promises a new era of God’s presence, blessing and protection under the dominion of a Davidic King (see 4:1-5:15).

When the Jews finally returned to rebuild Jerusalem and re-establish their national identity, they looked to Micah’s prophecies and were disappointed to discover that things were not as great as Micah had promised.

Many Christians today feel the same frustration:

“Jesus died for our sins, yet still we struggle. Evil still permeates the earth and the ungodly still prosper. Where is the Lord??”

My friends, don’t lose heart because things aren’t happening as quickly as you’d like. If Jesus had returned 20 years ago, I would not have been counted among His faithful remnant! I thank God for His patient endurance which gave me the grace and time I needed to come to Christ in faith.

What about you?

What if Christ had returned 20 years ago…10 years ago…or yesterday? Would you have been ready? What about your friends, family and loved ones?

Does God’s patience nullify His faithfulness or demonstrate it?

Know this: In the end, every promise God has made will be fulfilled.

Check out Micah’s prayer (7:14), God’s reply (7:15), and the prophetic promise to God’s people (7:16-20):

14 O Lord, protect your people with your shepherd’s staff;
      lead your flock, your special possession.
   Though they live alone in a thicket
      on the heights of Mount Carmel,
   let them graze in the fertile pastures of Bashan and Gilead
      as they did long ago.

 15 “Yes,” says the Lord,
      “I will do mighty miracles for you,
   like those I did when I rescued you
      from slavery in Egypt.”

 16 All the nations of the world will stand amazed
      at what the Lord will do for you.
   They will be embarrassed
      at their feeble power.
   They will cover their mouths in silent awe,
      deaf to everything around them.
 17 Like snakes crawling from their holes,
      they will come out to meet the Lord our God.
   They will fear him greatly,
      trembling in terror at his presence.

 18 Where is another God like you,
      who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
      overlooking the sins of his special people?
   You will not stay angry with your people forever,
      because you delight in showing unfailing love.
 19 Once again you will have compassion on us.
      You will trample our sins under your feet
      and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
 20 You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love
      as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.

A promise like that is worth waiting for…

Micah (part 1: Backstory)

Posted: August 5, 2010 in Bible, Christ, Christianity, prophecy
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Micah was a prophet in Judah (the southern kingdom) from 731 to 701 B.C. and was a contemporary of Isaiah (our next prophet).

Isaiah quotes Micah in Isaiah 2:2-4

(or)

Micah quotes Isaiah in Micah 4:1-3.

Like Hosea and Amos, both Micah and Isaiah spoke about the destruction of Samaria (Israel’s capital city) and the end of the northern kingdom; but unlike their predecessors, Micah and Isaiah lived to witness the fall of Israel to Assyria in 722 B.C. and the subsequent deportation of their northern cousins.

Judah was overrun by Assyrian troops in 701 B.C. and might have suffered the same fate as its northern neighbor but Jerusalem itself was not taken. Judah was let off the hook by paying tribute to Assyria and losing part of its territory to the Philistines.

Assyria would continue to dominate the ancient Near East for more than a century before being eclipsed by the Babylonian Empire.

Judah’s judgment was delayed, at least in part, because of the spiritual reforms instituted by King Hezekiah. This godly king accepted prophetic critique and was greatly used by the Lord (2 Chron 29:1-31:30).

Hezekiah’s reign explicitly demonstrates God’s willingness to refrain from judgment when His people repent.

This is the core purpose of prophecy.

Judah limped along for another 100 years or so (after Hezekiah’s reign) before God’s warnings through Micah fully materialized.

In 586 B.C. Jerusalem fell and the Judeans (“Jews”) were deported to Babylon.

Though rejected by his original audience, Micah’s prophecies became a source of hope for the exiles living on the receiving end of God’s judgment. If Micah’s prophecies of judgment were reliable, so were his prophecies of restoration.

So what has God been dealing with you about?

If your answer is “Nothing,” you haven’t been paying attention (1 John 1:8-10). Is it possible you’ve ignored the voice that’s trying to guide you into God’s blessings?

You can save yourself a lot of heartache if you’ll learn to listen closely, repent of your sins, and turn to Christ in faith.

Both Israel & Judah would tell you … SOONER is BETTER than LATER.

Amos (part 4: Hope)

Posted: July 16, 2010 in Christ, Christianity, church, prophecy
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There was a remnant of true believers in Israel that faithfully served the Lord during the time of Amos’ prophecy. Sadly, this godly remnant would have to suffer desolation and alienation alongside the rebellious.

In spite of their circumstances, Amos assured them they are the object of God’s love and reminded them to remain faithful to the Lord: “But let [your] justice run down like waters and [your] righteousness as a mighty and ever-flowing stream” (5:24).

Though exile was imminent, the Lord encouraged the remnant with the hope of restoration to the Land of Promise (9:11-15). Unfortunately for them, that restoration would not take place until the fall of the Babylonian empire in 538 B.C. (184 years after Israel’s exile to Assyria).

In the meantime, their nation was destroyed, their friends and neighbors were brutally killed, their homes were burned, and the survivors (godly & ungodly alike) were hauled off into slavery in a foreign land.

For some of you it may seem inconceivable that the covenant people of God would have to suffer the consequences of God’s judgment alongside the rebellious majority, but that misconception is the result of wishful thinking, not biblical truth.

The Bible (both Old and New Testaments) makes it abundantly clear that the godly will suffer in this world; and history confirms this reality. Consider Jesus, the apostles, the early church fathers, and the countless martyrs and missionaries that have suffered for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christian suffering continues to this day in many nations around the world.

Friends, the Christian’s reward is heavenly and eternal — not earthly and temporal. God has not promised you easy living; he’s promised you eternal life.

It’s destination – not location — that separates the godly from the ungodly.

The Christian’s hope is built on the promise of eternal rewards in the kingdom of God, made possible by the blood of Jesus Christ. Everything between now and then is just filler.

The challenge for followers of Christ in a culture that has rejected God and His Word is to remain faithful to the Lord when hell breaks loose all around us.

I’m not saying it easy; I’m just saying it’s worth it.

Hebrews 10 (NLT):

32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.

35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

37 “For in just a little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
38 And my righteous ones will live by faith.
But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

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