2018-01-26
Good Morning Dear Ones,
The Holy Spirit directs me to write about everlasting godly principles beginning with the OT. My first citation comes from the Torah, referring to God’s provision during the 40 years the Jews wandered in the wilderness. DT 8: 3, “God made you hungry, and then, He gave you manna to eat, food that you and your ancestors had never eaten before. He did this to teach you never to depend on bread alone to sustain you, but on everything that the Lord says.” God’s words to Satan, in GN 3: 15, reveals the entire layout of both the OT and NT. “I will make you and the woman hate each other, her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring’s heel.” While the details of exactly how, this allows us to know who will vanquish the other in the end. GN 3: 21 reveals one of the most compelling truths of the Bible. “And the Lord God made clothes out of animal skins for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.” When we put this verse together with LV 17: 11 and HE 9: 22, we learn that the life of the body is in the blood, and there must be a sacrifice of blood for forgiveness.” So, GN 3: 21 is telling us that despite the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, believing and obedient mankind will be forgiven. We won’t learn the final extent of this forgiveness until Christ is on the scene, but LV 16: 1-34 and LV 23: 26-32 let us know the Jews are forgiven for one year as they commemorate the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
The story of Abraham’s obedience to God in sacrificing Isaac on the alter introduces another critical principle, in GN 22: 12-16. Because Abraham didn’t hold back his son from God, God provided a substitute sacrifice, which looks forward to His not holding back Christ on the cross from us. Training of mankind in the matter of entering into and keeping covenants began with EX 24: 7-11, with the giving and sealing of the Covenant of the Law. Later, this would be replaced as Christ’s blood was shed on the cross-the making of the Covenant of Grace [1 COR 11: 25]. In NU 16: 30, we are shown the same godly principle that is discussed in RO 3: 26-those who serially reject God, as Korah and his rebellious followers did, will suffer spiritual death. God will only tolerate so much rejection; then, He draws the line. The story of the Golden Calf idol, found in EX 32: 1-35, reveals to us that idolatry is the sin God hates the most. NU 30: 2 when combined with MT 5: 33-37 makes clear God’s will that we keep promises we make, not make promises we can’t keep, and take the making of vows before very seriously.
We get a compelling view of God’s omnipotence in the book if Joshua. God promises Joshua, in JS 1: 5, 7, and 9, that as long as the people were obedient to him, the Hebrews would be successful in taking the land of Canaan from the various Canaanite tribes. When one of Joshua’s men, Achen, in JS 7: 1-26, disobeys God, the success of taking the Promised Land is delayed, until Achen confesses his sin. The book of Judges has its own godly principles. The story of Gideon, in JG 6: 15-18, 23, and 37b is proof that God can make even the least of men successful. We can see the example of God giving a woman, Deborah, in JG 5, courageous leadership in war. God sometimes honors a Gentile, allowing her to be a part of the royal line of David - Christ’s very own ancestry-in the book of Ruth. Ruth was a Moabitess who pledged and kept faith in God as the daughter-in-law of Naomi.
God was originally displeased to have human kings of Israel, especially during Saul’s time, as seen in 1 SAM 10: 22-23, 1 SAM 12: 19, and 1 SAM 16: 1. The next king of Israel, David, replaces Saul and is “a man after God’s own heart” [1 SAM 13: 14], while at the same time a very complex man. Our first notice that there will be a royal line of David that will last forever comes in 2 SAM 7: 13-14. David’s later arrangement of the battlefield death of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, and this king’s adultery with her reveal his complexity. PS 51: 10-12 is David’s confession after the prophet, Nathan, calls him out for his sinfulness. The stories of the 19 kings of the divided northern nation of Israel brought God’s great displeasure at their idolatry and efforts to mix Paganism with Judaism. Only some of the kings of the southern nation of Judah were disobedient. These histories and principles shared from the OT will be continued next week.
PRAYER: O Lord, Your word is precious to us, and we thank You for sharing it with us. There are so many important principles, lessons, and beautiful poems in it. Over the years, You have civilized mankind and taught us to live righteously by Your Son’s model. The words of Your mouth are to be heard and never forgotten. 2 TIM 3: 16-17 reminds us that they are “God breathed and useful in teaching truth, rebuking error, and giving instruction in right living, so that the person who serves You may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.” I’m writing this prayer just before we celebrate Thanksgiving. Of all the good deeds You have ever done, sacrificing Your Son, Jesus, on the cross is the one that most impacts our lives for good. Therefore, we thank and praise You from the depth of our hearts. We endeavor to take the time to let these Biblical lessons be considered in our heads, be absorbed into our hearts, and be transferred to the actions of our hands. In Christ’s holy/mighty name, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I’m commanded by the Holy Spirit to continue with this discussion of godly principles from the Bible. Over the last 55 years, I have gone over these wonderful chapters a good, many times. Each time I learn something new, something precious to me. My students often hear me tell them that I’m deeply in love with the word of God. This love arises from the many times that I have found wise advice, avoided troubles, and loved certain prayers and passages that I repeat often. The Bible is God’s love letter to His human creation. His love can be seen throughout its pages. God has given us so many blessings! We never deserved them, but these blessings are examples of His magnificent grace. Perhaps, the most important fact about godly principles is their timelessness. The apply yesterday, today, and forever! So, praise and thanks be to our awesome Lord!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2017. All Rights Reserved.
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