September 5, 2012

"You Are a Man and Not God" (9/5)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezekiel 28-31.

In the following passage, Ezekiel prophesied against the arrogance of the king of Tyre:

“Son of man, say to the leader of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Because your heart is lifted up and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the seas’; yet you are a man and not God, although you make your heart like the heart of God” (Ezekiel 28:2).

The verses that follow describe the great wisdom and riches that the king of Tyre had obtained for himself (Ezekiel 28:3-5). What often happens when one obtains such wealth and wisdom is that he becomes arrogant and rebels against God. This is what happened with the king of Tyre. His “heart [was] lifted up” (Ezekiel 28:5); and he tried to make himself out to be equal with God (Ezekiel 28:2, 6). God described His attitude toward those who seek to portray themselves as being gods in the minds of the people.
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August 9, 2012

"Let Him Who Boasts Boast of This" (8/9)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Jeremiah 7-9.

“Thus says the Lord, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

Man often judges himself by his strength, his accomplishments, and his possessions. There is nothing inherently wrong with such things. In the passage above, the Lord does not condemn a man for having wisdom, might, or riches. Rather, He condemns a man for boasting in these things.
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August 1, 2012

Holier Than Thou (8/1)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Isaiah 64-66.

It is not uncommon to hear people use the phrase “holier than thou” to speak critically of those who arrogantly operate as if they are somehow better than others (or are perceived to do so). People do not appreciate it when others act in this way. The passage below shows us what God thinks about this attitude.

“Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all the day” (Isaiah 65:5).

As God described this “rebellious people” (v. 2) who would “continually provoke” Him (v. 3), one of His complaints against them was this arrogant, “holier than thou” attitude they had toward their fellow man.
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July 16, 2012

Taunt Against the King of Babylon (7/16)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Isaiah 13-17.

God was going to use the kingdom of Babylon to punish His people (Isaiah 13:1-16). After this, the Medes would rise up against Babylon and would overthrow it (Isaiah 13:17-22), resulting in God’s people being released from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 14:1-3). The people were then instructed to “take up this taunt against the king of Babylon” (Isaiah 14:4). Part of this taunt was meant to ridicule the arrogance of Babylon.

“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth. You who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit” (Isaiah 14:12-15).

The leaders of Babylon had tried to put themselves in the place of God. They failed, and God overthrew them. However, this attempt was nothing new. Babylon had its beginnings in an attempt to ascend up to heaven and occupy the place of God.
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July 8, 2012

It Is Not for You to Burn Incense to the Lord (7/8)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 26.

Much of Uzziah’s reign over Judah was marked by faithfulness and success. Yet this success eventually led the king to sin against God by assuming a role that He had not given him.

“But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

“Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the Lord, valiant men. They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, ‘It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the Lord God.’

“But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the altar of incense” (2 Chronicles 26:16-19).

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July 1, 2012

"The Arrogance of Your Heart Has Deceived You" (7/1)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Obadiah 1; Psalm 82-83.

Obadiah prophesied of the coming destruction of Edom because of their sin. They would be ransacked (v. 6), overpowered (v. 7), and slaughtered (v. 9).

Yet Edom, in their arrogance, refused to believe that such destruction could come upon them. They believed they were secure in their position and that no harm could befall them. While they were in a good strategic position “in the clefts of the rock” (v. 3) to defend against attacks, they were no match for God.

“‘The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in the loftiness of your dwelling place, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to earth?” Though you build high like the eagle, though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,’ declares the Lord” (Obadiah 3-4).

Their arrogance deceived them, causing them to think they had no reason to correct their sin for fear of divine punishment. Because of this, God would bring them down.
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February 1, 2006

Saul’s Mission Against Amalek

Death of King Agag

“Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey” (1 Samuel 15:3).

The Lord gave Saul, king of Israel, a mission. While it may not have been an easy task, it was a simple one. It was not one that Saul could misunderstand. The Lord wanted the nation of Amalek to be punished and He sent Saul on a mission to do it. Again, this was a simple task: Destroy everything. Yet Saul’s actions in carrying out that task caused him to be rejected from being king (1 Samuel 15:26) and caused the Lord to regret even making him king (1 Samuel 15:35). Let us look at some lessons we can learn from Saul that relate to our obedience to God.
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