Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Psalm 41:1-2 Consider the Poor
1Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
2The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
I turned to this passage quite by accident today. I was aiming for Psalm 46, but mistyped and ended up here. As I read this passage repeatedly, I found myself thinking of the Occupy Wall Street movement. It is a fight for the poor and unemployed. It is a fight against oppression. It is a fight-in its most basic form- for consideration.
Corporations, politicians, and the general 1% are in a position to consider the poor. In particular those corporations that requested or accepted bailout money from the government (read: taxpayers ), should be keeping their promises to use that money to help the poor. But we do not see that happening.
Corporations want money. Politicians want jobs. The 1% want influence, if not control. Funny that's what the rest of us-the 99% and the 53%-also want. We want jobs, enough money to live, and influence in our own government. That last is supposed to be a constitutional right, though these days it seems more of a purchased privilege.
If corporations are people*, then they should read this message in God's word: Blessed is he that considerate the poor. If they create these jobs that they promised to help the poor, God says he will preserve them in times of trouble (so don't worry about that bottom line or tax liability). God says He will keep them alive and blessed upon the earth. I suppose some might think their fifth car or fourth vacation house more important, but I don't.
On the other hand, if corporations are not people… then CEOs could still benefit from some basic lessons in humanity.
*I am not saying that I believe that corporations are people. I don't. But if "you" think they are, then fear for their souls. And their CEOs.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Revival of Jerusalem
2 Chronicles 34
Last week we looked at the life of King Manasseh-the longest reigning and most evil king in Jerusalem. His wicked ways influenced his people and his son to turn away from God and do evil things. When he humbled himself before the Lord, however, that also influenced his family and people. His people turned to the Lord as Manasseh tore down the altars and cleared out the House of the Lord. This redemption, however, came too late to influence his son, Amon.
In our own society this happens regularly. Perhaps a parent is an alcoholic or abusive. The child learns that about the parent and that's what they take from it. The child then must choose to walk in those footsteps or those of another. Statistics show that a recovering alcoholic must be clean for five years before anyone truly beleives them. People watch the person's actions to see if they truly are what they say they are.
This same thing is true to the redeemed. It is true that no one can walk so long in the darkness that he cannot come to the Lord. However, the longer someone has been walking in darkness, the longer it takes for others to believe a change. Even years after we are saved, those who knew us before our humbling might not believe that change. We must show it every day and live it every day.
Josiah, Amon's son and Manasseh's grandson, began his reign when his father died. He was eight years old at this time. This means he only saw the last six years of Manasseh's life. The part of his life that centered on God is what Josiah saw. Starting in his first young years, Josiah continued his grandfather's work of removing the dark altars. Josiah ordered the priests of the Lord to finish cleaning out the House of the Lord. In the long and wicked reign of Manasseh, the Word of God had been lost. The scriptures had been lost. The book of the Law was lost. Is it any wonder that the people of Judah were also lost on the wrong path?
Josiah wanted the Word of God found so the people could truly know what God had said to His people. When the Word of God was found, he ordered it read to him. Then, immediately, Josiah gathered the entire kingdom to hear the Word of God. This is an example of a good, strong, old-fashioned Revival. Josiah knew that only the Word of God would tell the people of Judah who there were and who they needed to be.
The point I'm getting at is that we can have a positive or a negative impact on others. Those who see our sins will remember them and see us that way. Our children see what we do as what we believe. If they see us doing things we know are wrong, they might choose to follow those actions. If they see doing what we know is right, they might choose to follow those actions. We can be either a stepping stone or a stumbling block. Josiah followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, choosing not to follow his own father's evil ways. We can only hope that our influence will be a positive one in the same way.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The Life and Times of King Manasseh
2 Chronicles 33
Today I am looking at chapter 33 of the book of 2 Chronicles. This chapter was brought to my attention last week by our interim pastor. It depicts the reign of the longest reigning King in Jerusalem: Manasseh. I find interesting parallels for all of us in our daily lives in this story.
Manasseh's father, Hezekiah, had torn down the groves and high places used for pagan sacrifice and worship during his reign. In obedience to God, Hezekiah spent his reign bringing the children of Israel back to the worship of the Lord. However, when Manasseh began to reign at the age of 12, he turned a complete 180.
Manasseh started his reign by once again building up the groves and high places for pagan worship. He placed a carved idol in the House of the Lord. Most significantly, he led his people down a path of idolatry and evil. Manasseh set an example for his people by sacrificing his own children by fire to pagan gods. This is the smallest portion of what he did.
In answer to Manasseh's dark deeds, the Lord had him kidnapped and taken to Babylon by the King of Assyria. Only then was Manasseh able to see what he had done wrong and humble himself before the Lord. Only then was able to repent of his deeds and beg for a chance for forgiveness and redemption. When Manasseh was restored to his throne, he once again followed his father's example. He tore down the groves and high places, removed the idols from the House of the Lord and led his people in proper worship of God.
On the surface this might seem like a far-removed event from a long time ago. However, it has direct relations to our lives today. While Manasseh was redeemed and was able to turn things around, his surviving son, Amon, had already learned his father's evil ways. When Manasseh was laid to rest, Amon began to reign at the age of 22. He followed in his father's early footsteps, turning back to a way of idolatry. Where Manasseh reigned for 55 years and was given time to repent and redeem his reign, his son Amon was not so fortunate. His servants conspired and slew him, cutting his reign to a short two years before he was replaced by his eight year old son, Josiah.
What we can take from this is that our children see everything we do. Whether we are burning incense to a foreign God or simply watching television all the time-they see what we do and they learn it. Amon learned his father's evil ways better than his redemption. Amon acted on those evil ways and was slain because of it. What will Amon say when he faces the Lord on judgement day? My daddy made me do it? I don't think God will listen to that. But Manasseh will have to answer for it as well since he was the one who raised Amon.
As parents and even friends we are all responsible for the example we set for others. If we avoid people when they are hurting, we tell them we don't want to help. If we watch TV all day and night, we show our children that television is our main focus, not God or our children. What is your grove or idol that takes all your time? It might be television, shopping, books, food, or any number of things. What are you showing your friends and children is your main focus?
From the story of Manasseh we can learn that it's crucial that we show our loved ones what we truly hold dear. I want to show my children that they are precious not only in God's sight but in mine. I want them to know that they are more important than television or food. (Can you tell what my trouble stone is here? You got it, television!) So here are a list of the things I resolve to focus on and do to help my children and loved ones:
* Make sure I start each day with a prayer. Whether they see me pray or not, my children will benefit as will I when I begin my day in the presence of God.
* When I get home to the children, sit down with them during snack time. By spending solid time with them, they know that I love them. If I can show them my focus on them and God, they might better find their focus to finish homework quickly.
* Keep the TV off most of the time the children are awake. When they see me watching less television, they can follow my example and find better uses for their time. Like prayer and quality family time. Which am I like to remember tomorrow- a game of Sequence with the kids or the plot to yet another Law & Order?
* Pray with the kids when they go to bed.
* Call my friends when they are quiet or need help. This is a tough one for me as I get nervous about making phone calls. There's no reason for it at all-it's just how I am. It's not uncommon for me to consider that a friend might need a call when I haven't seen her in awhile. What is rare is that I actually make the call. Doing so shows my friends and loved ones that I am thinking of them. Jesus did not wait for the masses to come to him-he traveled to their cities so they could see him. I need to make the same effort.
So these are just a few of the things I have taken from 2 Chronicles 33, the life of Manasseh. I hope they help you as much as they have helped me.
Father God, forgive me this day for those things I have put ahead of you. Help me to keep my eyes on you and show my children what is truly important. Amen.
Today I am looking at chapter 33 of the book of 2 Chronicles. This chapter was brought to my attention last week by our interim pastor. It depicts the reign of the longest reigning King in Jerusalem: Manasseh. I find interesting parallels for all of us in our daily lives in this story.
Manasseh's father, Hezekiah, had torn down the groves and high places used for pagan sacrifice and worship during his reign. In obedience to God, Hezekiah spent his reign bringing the children of Israel back to the worship of the Lord. However, when Manasseh began to reign at the age of 12, he turned a complete 180.
Manasseh started his reign by once again building up the groves and high places for pagan worship. He placed a carved idol in the House of the Lord. Most significantly, he led his people down a path of idolatry and evil. Manasseh set an example for his people by sacrificing his own children by fire to pagan gods. This is the smallest portion of what he did.
In answer to Manasseh's dark deeds, the Lord had him kidnapped and taken to Babylon by the King of Assyria. Only then was Manasseh able to see what he had done wrong and humble himself before the Lord. Only then was able to repent of his deeds and beg for a chance for forgiveness and redemption. When Manasseh was restored to his throne, he once again followed his father's example. He tore down the groves and high places, removed the idols from the House of the Lord and led his people in proper worship of God.
On the surface this might seem like a far-removed event from a long time ago. However, it has direct relations to our lives today. While Manasseh was redeemed and was able to turn things around, his surviving son, Amon, had already learned his father's evil ways. When Manasseh was laid to rest, Amon began to reign at the age of 22. He followed in his father's early footsteps, turning back to a way of idolatry. Where Manasseh reigned for 55 years and was given time to repent and redeem his reign, his son Amon was not so fortunate. His servants conspired and slew him, cutting his reign to a short two years before he was replaced by his eight year old son, Josiah.
What we can take from this is that our children see everything we do. Whether we are burning incense to a foreign God or simply watching television all the time-they see what we do and they learn it. Amon learned his father's evil ways better than his redemption. Amon acted on those evil ways and was slain because of it. What will Amon say when he faces the Lord on judgement day? My daddy made me do it? I don't think God will listen to that. But Manasseh will have to answer for it as well since he was the one who raised Amon.
As parents and even friends we are all responsible for the example we set for others. If we avoid people when they are hurting, we tell them we don't want to help. If we watch TV all day and night, we show our children that television is our main focus, not God or our children. What is your grove or idol that takes all your time? It might be television, shopping, books, food, or any number of things. What are you showing your friends and children is your main focus?
From the story of Manasseh we can learn that it's crucial that we show our loved ones what we truly hold dear. I want to show my children that they are precious not only in God's sight but in mine. I want them to know that they are more important than television or food. (Can you tell what my trouble stone is here? You got it, television!) So here are a list of the things I resolve to focus on and do to help my children and loved ones:
* Make sure I start each day with a prayer. Whether they see me pray or not, my children will benefit as will I when I begin my day in the presence of God.
* When I get home to the children, sit down with them during snack time. By spending solid time with them, they know that I love them. If I can show them my focus on them and God, they might better find their focus to finish homework quickly.
* Keep the TV off most of the time the children are awake. When they see me watching less television, they can follow my example and find better uses for their time. Like prayer and quality family time. Which am I like to remember tomorrow- a game of Sequence with the kids or the plot to yet another Law & Order?
* Pray with the kids when they go to bed.
* Call my friends when they are quiet or need help. This is a tough one for me as I get nervous about making phone calls. There's no reason for it at all-it's just how I am. It's not uncommon for me to consider that a friend might need a call when I haven't seen her in awhile. What is rare is that I actually make the call. Doing so shows my friends and loved ones that I am thinking of them. Jesus did not wait for the masses to come to him-he traveled to their cities so they could see him. I need to make the same effort.
So these are just a few of the things I have taken from 2 Chronicles 33, the life of Manasseh. I hope they help you as much as they have helped me.
Father God, forgive me this day for those things I have put ahead of you. Help me to keep my eyes on you and show my children what is truly important. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)