HISTORY OF ISRAEL

GEN. ELECTION OF NATION, EX. REDEMPTION, LEV. SANCTIFICATION, NUMBERS DIRECTION, DEUT. INSTRUCTION, JOSH. POSSESSION, JUDGES, AND RUTH, OPPRESSION, 1 SAM STABILIZATION, 2 SAM. EXPANSION, 1 KINGS GLORIFICATION, AND DIVISION, 2 KINGS DETERIORATION AND DEPORTATION, 1 CHRON, PREPARATION OF TEMPLE, 2 CHRON. DESTRUCTION OF TEMPLE, EZRA RESTORATION OF TEMPLE, NEHEMIAH RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CITY, ESTHER PROTECTION OF NATION

FROM NORMAN L. GEISLER,  A POPULAR SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT,  (GRAND RAPIDS, MI: BAKER BOOKS, 1977) 84-85
VITAL VERSES TO STUDY ISRAEL'S HISTORY RELATING TO TODAY:  HOSEA 8:10; 3:4-5; 9:17; AMOS 9:15;  EZEKIEL 11:14FF

Deflected Anger

"God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day" (Psalm 7:11, ESV).
"The LORD is slow to anger..." (Num. 14:18, ESV).
"...Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger" (James 1:19, ESV).
"But now you must put them all away:  anger, malice, wrath, slander..." (Col. 3:8, ESV).
"Now the works of the flesh are evident:  ...fits of anger..." (Gal. 5:19-20, ESV).  ITALICS AND BOLDFACE MINE!

Anger per se is not sinning, but that is called righteous indignation; Jesus even expressed anger at the money changers in the temple.  God was very angry about Adam's disobedience, and when he expected to be cursed like the serpent was, it was deflected to the ground--what a relief!  God is not angry at us when we sin but angry about us--he never gets angry at people but about ideas, events, and fruits of the flesh.  If God ever got angry at anyone that person would perish (cf. Psalm 2:12).

The Word says, "A fool gives full vent to his anger."  Having temper tantrums is childish and shows lack of self-control which is a fruit of the Spirit.  The unbeliever cannot control himself as well as the believer. When a person gets angry he usually says something that will be regretted.  You cannot take back a word said in haste, it has done its damage.  We are to use words to heal and not to hurt.  We are to be sensitive to our brother's feelings and use tact and good judgment in restraining our anger.

We can get angry at the Obamacare law, but not at President Obama.  King David would not speak a harsh word of criticism against the Lord's anointed (King Saul).  Paul was caught pronouncing judgments and he said that the Law says "not to speak evil of a ruler of your people."  You can be angry and not sin, as Scripture says, and God can reign it in and keep you under control, so as not make a fool of yourself.   "Be angry, but do not sin," says the Word.  Jesus had a lot to say about anger:  He equated it with murder itself--we murder one another in spirit when we lose control of our temper and don't have patience in dealing with one another (cf. Matt. 5:22f).  Some people clearly have anger issues and must learn that the solution is repentance and living the Spirit-filled life, and not medication or anger management classes.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Taking Our Stand And Making Judgments

We must realize when we became Christians that it might cost us something; salvation is free but not cheap.  We will have to take stands when the truth or testimony of Jesus is at stake; it is the coward who stands by and stays neutral. Remember, Christians are on Satan's hit list and can even use believers for evil by inspiration or enticement.  Christ calls us to be advocates and come to the aid of each other. God can deal with someone willing to take a stand, even if wrong, but not cowards who are really weak-willed and wishy-washy.  ("Stand up, stand up for Jesus!")  Recall Pontius Pilate washing his hands of the affair.   Jesus rebukes the Laodiceans in Rev. 3:19 because He doesn't know where they stand.  We cannot be on both sides of an issue. Christians must defend each other and come to their aid when an adversary comes in aggressive attack mode.

What Satan specializes in is mind-games and psychological warfare--he likes to mess with our minds! He accuses but doesn't convict--the Holy Spirit will perform an open-and-shut case without a doubt of a sin, not just try to make you feel bad or guilty.  Does Scripture have a basis in the judgment or not?  Our judgments are not to get personal and not related to the Word by way of criticism.

Sometimes we can be right but say it in the wrong way.  Methodology is important to God ("Quench not the Spirit"), and He looks at the heart and not at the appearance as man sees--is the heart in the right place, not whether he made a mistake or did something in error.  One of the worst sins is betrayal or squealing on someone or to get personal revenge or get even--fight your own battles and if you hold something against someone, keep it between you and the person in question.  If someone is not part of the problem or of the solution it can become gossip.  If we don't stand up and defend the truth, our friends, and even what we believe in, what makes us think we will stand up for Jesus.

When we do judge we are to make sure we are right and do it in the Spirit of love ("Speak the truth in love" according to Ephesians 4:15--what is our motive?).  Remember also that Jesus also said, "When you judge, judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). When we are called to show a brother his fault or the error of his way we should avoid labeling ("You theologian!") or any insults and name calling--we must resort to Scripture and how it applies.

God will judge those who are outside the church,  but judging per se is impossible to avoid because then we would show no discernment and fall prey to the devil and be under his condemnation. If a man claims to be a Christian and is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness (cf. Gal. 6:1).   If we are too strict or harsh in our judgment (in the measure we use it shall return to us), God may hold us accountable.  Above all, we must practice what we preach and not condemn ourselves by judging someone and doing the same thing in turn as hypocrites.  If you tell someone to repent, for example, you are required to make sure you need no repentance and are righteous in God's eyes (righteousness consists in having a right relationship with God and being at peace with man as far as it is possible with you).

We must not justify our own sin (one psalmist said that the people loved their sin too much to detect it). "For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated" (Psalm 36:2, ESV).   We all have a sin which easily besets us (cf Heb. 12:1), but when we sin we show our slavery and don't demonstrate our freedom.  If you are a slave to sin, how can Jesus be Lord--"For sin shall have no dominion over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace."  "His name shall be called Jesus because He shall save His people from their sins."  Christ has set us free from the law of sin and death (cf. Romans 8:2).  Christ sets us free from our old sin nature at salvation (the old man) and restores us with a new nature in His likeness.

We are all works in progress (cut some slack!) and must realize that God isn't finished with us yet. The goal is to win him over not to alienate him or sever the relationship.  Scripture exhorts us to make allowance for each other's faults and to accept one another even as Christ has accepted us. Most believers should be willing to take any admonishment if done in the Spirit and not resent it or do unto them as they have done unto you (the "iron rule").  We conquer evil with good and refrain from reviling or insulting in return.    Soli Deo Gloria!

To Be Seen By Men

Some believers actively and openly practice their piety, even praying in public to demonstrate that they are so close to God (cf. Matt. 6:1).  Personal prayer is meant to be private and in your prayer closet, wherever that is.  Religiosity is one reason to be rejected from military service--you can't have overly religious or superstitious soldiers on the battlefront.

If a brother is caught in the error of his way, you who are spiritual restore such a one, so that he may come to the knowledge of the truth (Gal. 6:1; 2 Tim. 2:24).  We cannot be independent spiritual Lone Rangers who only listen to their inner voice and not to the what the body of Christ is saying. It is a matter of humility to submit to the authority of your brother and take advice and counsel.  If you don't listen to anyone what makes you think you'd listen to Jesus--He will not save those He cannot command (through His body the church).  We are not to be mystics either, just listening to what we feel God is telling us and ignoring others.

Our conscience is held captive to our brother's and we cannot just do what is right in our own eyes like Israel did ("In those days Israel did not have a king and everyone did what was right in his own eyes," says Judges 21:25).   We must not be accused of doing our own thing or doing things our way. "All we like sheep have gone astray, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6a, ESV).  Things are not always they look to us.

It is not unusual to have an intense hunger for the Word as a baby believer, but to make it look like all Christians do is sit around and read the Bible is a bad witness.  If you do that, do it alone and not to be seen in public.  The aim is not to fall into the condemnation of the devil and to have a witness that doesn't offend, not be an offensive Christian (Christ should be the offense--not you).  We don't say public prayers either, just to be seen by men and demonstrate our piety or religiosity.

Corporate and private prayer are different and we need to put them in their place.  Let's not be ashamed of Christ in public, but witnessing for Him has a greater impact than just being religious., like crossing yourself as Catholics do.  Many people are completely turned off by religion and its religiosity and we don't want to create barriers, but build bridges and not make pseudo-issues.  Soli Deo Gloria!