The Heaton File

Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. Sing to God, sing praises to His name; extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name YAH, and rejoice before Him. A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness, the earth shook; the heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, when it was weary. Your congregation dwelt in it; You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor. The Lord gave the word; great was the company of those who proclaimed it: “Kings of armies flee, they flee, and she who remains at home divides the spoil. Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, You will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.” When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Zalmon. A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan. Why do you fume with envy, you mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain which God desires to dwell in; yes, the Lord will dwell in it forever.

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of thousands; the Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place. You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, even from the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell there. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!

Our God is the God of salvation; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death. But God will wound the head of His enemies, the hairy scalp of the one who still goes on in his trespasses. The Lord said, “I will bring back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, that your foot may crush them in blood, and the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.” They have seen Your procession, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the maidens playing timbrels. Bless God in the congregations, the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. There is little Benjamin, their leader, the princes of Judah and their company, the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.

Your God has commanded your strength; strengthen, O God, what You have done for us. Because of Your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring presents to You. Rebuke the beasts of the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples, till everyone submits himself with pieces of silver. Scatter the peoples who delight in war. Envoys will come out of Egypt; Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God. Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; oh, sing praises to the Lord, to Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old! Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice. Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds. O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God! (Psalm 68; To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song.)

Our God Is The God Of Our Salvation

There is nothing to compare when it comes to the glory and the power of the Lord God. Everything in this world is a wonder to behold and the universe will remain a dark mystery as man tries to glimpse the edges of the vast emptiness of space. David knew the incredible feeling of how majestic God was as words failed to encompass the vastness of the power of the Creator. No one was greater than God was. Everything melts in the presence of the Lord. This power is not to be feared by the righteous because it is their salvation. God rides the clouds, protects the fatherless, shakes the earth when He marches through the wilderness, fills the heavens with the abundance of rain, provides goodness for the poor, defends the defenseless with His thousands of thousand chariots and rides on the heaven of heavens. Who can stand before Him?

The enemies of the Lord flee at His presence like wax melting before a fire. Rebellious hearts dwell in a parched land because there are no blessings there. Kings of armies will flee before the might of the Lord God wounded by His great power. The fierceness of God’s wrath will be a terror to those who rebel against Him but it will be a comfort to the righteous that trust in Him. David extols the people to sing songs of praise to such a wonderful and powerful God. Righteousness will bring the blessings of the Lord God upon all those who submit to Him ascribing strength to the only true Lord. Every blessing comes from the hand of the Lord and He is the God of all salvation. He is more awesome than anything man can imagine.

David’s declaration of the mighty power of God was written in the long ago but the message of his psalm still resonates today. This ancient literature is a timeless reminder that God still rides on the clouds and His unnumbered chariots continue to serve His purpose of protecting the people of God. His excellence is over the disciples of Christ who serve Him daily in faith believing that all blessings come from Him. God’s power is just as mighty today as it was when David penned his psalm. Christian’s hold dearly to the knowledge of how wonderful the mighty power of God is in the lives of all those who serve Him. He shakes the foundation of the world when He marches through the course of history showing His power and His might over rebellious men. The truth of God will march through every generation unscathed by the feeble attempts of man to change His word. He sends out His voice and it is a mighty voice heard by all that fear Him.

The knowledge of God’s glory is a powerful reminder of how great He is and how small we are. Yet, He loves us so much and protects us. His provisions come daily bringing joy to the heart to those that trust Him. He is the God of our salvation. This will never change because He is unchanging. The dark clouds of fear may loom over the horizon in troubled times but the mountain of the Lord will always rise above shining brightly the awesome glory of God the Lord. Trust in Him. Love Him. Serve Him. Let God arise in your heart and your fears will be scattered and driven away.

Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. (Luke 3:23-38)

All Lives Connect To Jesus

Genealogies are not the most exciting passages to read in the Bible. There are a lot of who begot whom and names hard to pronounce. It is hard to draw lessons from these lists found many times throughout holy scrip. Studies of genealogy are a form of a hobby for most people but to the Jew it was their identity. Coming from twelve tribes of Israel, it was vital for every Jew to know which tribe they belonged. Throughout the centuries, families passed down the lineage to maintain the structure and order of their heritage. It was not until the coming of Christ and the dissolution of the nation of Israel that tribal identity was lost. Jews today have no lineage to trace but to Abraham.

Matthew and Luke both record the lineage of Jesus. Luke is the author that takes Jesus back to Adam, declaring Jesus to be a man. His book unveils the humanity of Jesus in contrast to John’s message of the divinity of Christ. Matthew’s genealogy establishes Jesus as the son of Abraham fulfilling the seed promise through the lineage of Israel. When Luke pens the genealogy of Jesus to Adam he brings together every human being on the face of the earth regardless of skin color, nationality or language. The student of the Bible realizes that we are all brothers and sisters because we all come from Adam and Eve.

Jesus was born in the flesh as every person comes into the world. Gabriel told Mary the Holy Spirit would come over her and the power of the Highest would overshadow her as Jesus was conceived in her womb. She was pregnant for a period of nine months and while in Bethlehem gave birth to Jesus in the same manner as all women. Jesus was a baby who had to learn to walk, talk and grew into manhood in the same manner as all men. He is the son of Adam. I am a son of Adam. You are a son of Adam. We all come from the same family of Adam and Eve. Following the great flood of Noah’s day, the nations of the earth came from Ham, Shem and Japheth but we remain the same family. The tower of Babel created the nationalities and cultures of the earth but we retain the same DNA markers of Adam and Eve.

Luke’s account of the genealogy of Jesus should remind us that we ALL share in the lineage of God’s son – physically and spiritually. The Son of God left His glory and became a man of flesh to show how important every life matters to the Father. Because of Adam, we are all brothers and sisters. By the power of the word of God, Adam and Eve were formed to create a world of people. The sadness of hatred is that those we hate are those of our own family and Jesus is one of our family members in the flesh. When we hate someone, we hate Jesus. More importantly, Jesus came to bring an abundant life through His death on the cross. The Son of God died for everyone. He died for every tone of skin, size, age, gender, nationality and Jesus died for all men beginning at Adam.

Every life is precious to God. He proved it by giving His only begotten Son as a sacrifice. Hatred killed the Son of God but love brought Him from the tomb. God’s grace is offered to all men – from Adam to the precious child born today. You and I share the same lineage as we trace our heritage to a garden called Eden. Sin destroyed that happiness and continues to fill the world with hatred. Remember that Jesus is the Son of Man and we are His brethren. Love one another. Pray for one another. Be at peace with all men – all lives matter to Jesus Christ.

Few of us realize that racism is man’s gravest threat to man, the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason, the maximum of cruelty for a minimum of thinking. (Abraham J. Heschel, Address, Chicago, January, 1963)

And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. (Matthew 20:30-34)

Who Will Follow Jesus

Blindness is a terrible disease robbing the mind of the beauty of God’s creation. The eyes represent the window of the soul that without clarity make it very difficult for man to function. We seldom think of the importance of good eyesight until either age or disease mars the ability to see clearly. Some men are born blind while others incur some malady in life that takes away their eyesight. During the ministry of Jesus, blindness was a tool used by the Lord to show His incredible power of healing. Through the ages, man has been able to cure many diseases. Blindness is an impossibility to cure and this was especially true during the days of Jesus.

Matthew’s account of the blind men is parallel to the story by Mark and Luke of the healing of Bartimaeus. What is wonderful about this story is the faith of the men to consider that Jesus could give them sight. This was a clear impossibility. There was no precedent in the annuals of man that would suggest this could be done. However, hearing the man from Nazareth was traveling the road, they begged Him to consider their plight and give mercy. Their faith came in many forms. While they cried out, the crowd tried to stop them. They refused to be quiet. Jesus did not go to them but commanded they come to him (a difficult feat for a blind man). The Lord could have known what their desire would be but He requires them to answer Him. Their request was simple: they wanted their sight. Jesus granted the request.

It is difficult to imagine what feeling must have come over them as they stood before a man they had never seen and in the darkness of their blindness begged for sight. Even more incredible is the euphoria of that moment when their eyes were opened. Light poured in, the colors of the world burst into their brains and their hearts leaped within their breast. Jesus stood before them. They beheld the beautiful face of the one who saved them. What more could they do but follow Him. Their savior was standing before them and their lives were changed forever.

Sadly, the men would have little time with the miracle worker. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem and it would not be long before the eyes opened by the power of love witnessed the death of Jesus on a cross. What became of the men? The scriptures do not tell. They followed Jesus after their healing and passed into the mist of time. Their legacy reminds us of a greater cure. Sin blinds the hearts of men and there is no cure but the love of God. Every disciple of Christ has experienced the moment of the true Light coming into his or her life by God’s grace. The joy we felt as we saw the world clearly for the first time must never be lost. Following Jesus should always be a reminder of how He opened our eyes and gave us sight. The journey we follow is not to a cross but to a resurrection. Thank God for His loving power that made our healing possible. The greatest joy will be when we see Him face to face. What a day that will be.

The rewards of heaven are so great and glorious, and Christ’s burden is so light, his yoke so easy, that it is a shameless impudence to expect so great glories at a less rate than so little a service, at a lower rate than a holy life. (Jeremy Taylor, Holy Living, 1650)

And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. (Ruth 3:11)

The Virtuous Woman

The story of Ruth is a love story filled with sadness, devotion and virtuous character. Ruth was not a Jew but a woman of Moab. She and her sister Orpah married the two sons of Elimelech and Naomi from Bethlehem in Judah. Tragically, Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion all died leaving Naomi and her two daughter-in-law’s in desperate straits. Returning to Judah, Naomi exhorted her daughter-in-law’s to return to their own people but Ruth desired to remain with Naomi. Arriving in Bethlehem, the women found themselves in the fields of a wealthy relative of Elimelech named Boaz. It was at the beginning of barley harvest and Ruth went to the fields to glean after the reapers.

Boaz came from Bethlehem to see about his gleaners and noticed Ruth. He was told she was the Moabite woman who had returned with Naomi. Ruth asked to be allowed to glean the fields and Boaz instructed her to glean no other field but his own. This surprised Ruth and she asked why he was being so gracious. Boaz tells her he has heard all that Ruth has done for Naomi and how she remained with Naomi rather than live with her family in Moab. The character of Ruth preceded her as a woman of virtue.

Near the end of the barley harvest and wheat harvest, Naomi wants to secure a life for Ruth. She instructs her daughter-in-law to find Boaz and after he lies down, uncover his feet and lay down. This was not something untoward but a reminder to Boaz of an obligation of a close relative. The incident seems odd but Naomi knows the character of Boaz and Ruth that no one will be taken advantage of from the other. Following the instruction of Naomi, Ruth lays at the feet of Boaz until he is awakened at midnight. He agrees to fulfill the custom of the close relative. One of the things he tells Ruth is all the people of Bethlehem know that she is a virtuous woman. She is not a Jew but a Moabite. Earlier in the history of Israel, the men had gone after the woman of Moab committing harlotry. Ruth was not the character of the Moabites. She was an “outsider” but her reputation was righteous and pure.

The story ends with the marriage of Boaz and Ruth establishing the lineage of David and eventually Jesus Christ. Among the lessons from the wonderful book of Ruth is the character of a woman from foreign land who was fully devoted to her mother-in-law and whose reputation was evident in her life. Boaz told her the whole city knew she was virtuous woman. This did not happen by chance. As a foreigner and especially a Moabite, Ruth would have been expected to be a woman of dark character. She stood out for all of the women. Solomon posed the question, “Who can find a virtuous wife, her worth is far above rubies.” Ruth was a jewel in the crown of righteousness among women.

Outward beauty is not what is praised in the eyes of God. Charm is a deceitful attraction. The true character of a woman is a view of virtuous character. A woman of excellence is a person of inward beauty who is chaste, modest and filled with the goodness of the Lord. Ruth was such a person. Mothers should model their daughters after the character of Ruth. Wives can find a pleasant image of beauty when they examine the life of the Moabite woman. Boaz knew that. And so did God. Now that is a great story.

No beauty leaves such an impression, strikes so deep, or links the souls of men closer than virtue. (Robert Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy, II, 1621)

The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom — we have heard a report from the Lord, and an envoy has been sent among the nations saying, “Arise and let us go against her for battle.” Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you are greatly despised. 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 1:1-4)

God Among The Nations

Obadiah is a small book with a huge message. Little is known about the prophet but the vision of Edom is timeless with the message of God among the nations. Throughout the history of man, nations have exalted themselves as impenetrable fortresses of safety. Building walls around cities with impressive fortifications have given a false sense of security that no one can penetrate. Great cities like Nineveh, Babylon and Jerusalem seemed without fear and yet their destruction came at a heavy price. History is littered with the skeletons of nations who have tried to rule the world and failed. Egypt was once a super-power but now is a base nation. The Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans filled the world with their domination but only ruins of a once mighty people remain. Germany and Japan sought for world dominion leading to world wars that killed millions. The once proud British Empire that stretched from sunrise to sunset is gone.

The vision of Obadiah is a reminder that when nations exalt themselves before God, He will bring them down. Edom was a nation protected by the vast caves and high places of a difficult land. The people felt secure in their cities lifting their hearts to a prideful boast that no one could drive them out. The Lord would bring judgment upon the Edomite’s because of their rejoicing at the fall of God’s people and their pride. No nation can stand before the wrath of a vengeful God – including the nation of Edom.

God among the nations is a story as old as man. After the flood in the days of Noah, man began building a tower to the heavens and the Lord intervened. Bob Waldron points out the purpose of the division of languages was to guarantee that no nation would ever have the power to rule the world as one. Nations rise and fall according to the will of the Lord God. He will never allow one people or one nation to exalt itself for very long. When the wickedness of the people becomes too great, the Lord will bring the nation to its knees. Reading the prophets is a clear forecast of all the nations that exist today and their future. History is a clear image of how the word of God is true. When all is said and done with the kingdoms of men in ruin, the kingdom of God will still be standing as immoveable because that is the will of the Lord. Nations built by man will fall. The church of the Lord will remain intact until His return. That is God among the nations and God among His royal nation.

The State that undermines the authority of God and rejects the supremacy of the moral order is thereby destroying the strongest supports of its own authority and is on the way to ruin. (John T. McNicholas, No Wall Between God and the Child, 1947)

For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. (Hebrews 7:12)

The Ten Commandments And The Priesthood

Jewish Christian’s in the first century faced a monumental challenge from their Jewish heritage. Keeping the Law of Moses was not an infrequent occurrence but daily life in every facet of their family, work, nationality and faith. Believing Jesus was the Christ was a tremendous sacrifice learning to walk away from a law they had known since birth. As their faith turned from a devotion to Moses and the Law to the spiritual law of Jesus Christ, there were many roadblocks and hurdles they had to overcome. The book of Hebrews is a powerful thesis to the victorious faith of those who learned of the better promises in Christ serving a better priesthood.

In his argument of redemption by Christ, the author presents the problem of the priesthood being changed necessitating the change in the law. Moses was given a law by the Lord that required an established priesthood from the tribe of Levi. Aaron was the first High Priest and through the son of Jacob, the Levites became the priestly tribe. No one could serve as priests who were not Levites. The Levitical priesthood was a core element of the Law of Moses but the book of Hebrews shows the priesthood was changed. Animal sacrifices could not take away the sins of the people because Jesus had shed His blood for redemption. The Law of Moses was faulty leading to the need of a better law. Symbolically, God had shown the change of the Law when Jesus died as the veil in the Temple tore from top to bottom. There were limitations to the Law of Moses. Hebrews proves the Law of Moses has been done away with so that Jesus Christ can reign supreme as the High Priest for God’s people.

The book of Hebrews shows the Ten Commandments are no longer valid. Many in the religious world believe the Commandments are still binding today. It must be remembered the Ten Commandments were linked to the Levitical priesthood and when the priesthood was annulled, the Ten Commandments were taken away. The priesthood is necessary for the implementation of Law and the Ten Commandments are a part of that law. Without the Levitical priesthood, there can be no Ten Commandments. There is a necessary change in the law. Following the Ten Commandments is rejecting the better priesthood of Jesus Christ and denying He is the only way of salvation. In the first century, Jewish Christians struggled with keeping part of the Law of Moses and serving Christ as His disciples. Today, religious people face the same struggle trying to be a Christian and keeping part of the Law of Moses. The two are not compatible.

The Ten Commandments and the Law of Christ are at odds with one another. One serves the law of an abolished priesthood and the other flows from the side of Jesus Christ who died to establish the better priesthood of Melchizedek becoming a Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. Salvation will never come in keeping the Ten Commandments. Jesus is the only way and His priesthood is the only means of true worship.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait to shed blood; let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the Pit; we shall find all kinds of precious possessions, we shall fill our houses with spoil; cast in your lot among us, let us all have one purse.” My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird; but they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives. (Proverbs 1:10-18)

Running With The Wrong Friends

Peer pressure is one of the greatest influences upon the hearts of young people. It is not limited to the young as the older heart can fall under the same spell. The early days of forming the character of life is ripe with dangers of running with the wrong kind of people. Many lives are filled with the remorse of youth following after the influences of those who lived in wickedness. Sowing wild oats of freedom always brings a harvest of regret, misery, pain and suffering. Every generation must learn the lesson of the destructive enticement of evil friends.

From birth, a need for acceptance is a part of life. Solomon began his great book of wisdom reminding young people following the wrong kind of friends will end in disaster. So often, the heart will want to be free from the will of the parents forgetting that freedom is never found in the arms of rebellious friends. A young man will declare that he does not want his parents running his life; only to find the friends that led him astray were running his life. Everyone is a slave to something. The prodigal son who sought for freedom from his father found a different kind of slavery in the hog wallow. When sinners entice, a warning flag should remind the young soul dangers awaits.

Friends make the evil they do sound fun and exciting. Shedding innocent blood and robbing neighbors is supposed to be an exhilarating experience. Shock and dismay come when the youth is arrested and imprisoned and he wonders where the fun went. It has all been a lie. No matter how often the crime is committed, there will never be the satisfaction of enough. Life becomes a cycle of misery, fear and anger. There is no joy and there is no happiness.

Young people must be brave to refuse to walk with such friends removing their lives from these influences. There will never be the success promised by lying friends. Solomon clearly points out the only thing that is going to happen is death. So many young people lose their lives because they are at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong kind of people. The glimmering hope of a good life is destroyed because of the friends who tempt the young heart to follow the siren call of peer pressure. The answer is clear: do not walk in the path of friends who are rebellious. You will find yourself in the same pit of despair. Change friends. Live for good things. Be happy.

There’s small choice in rotten apples. (William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, 1594)

When he entered his house he took a knife, laid hold of his concubine, and divided her into twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. And so it was that all who saw it said, “No such deed has been done or seen from the day that the children of Israel came up from the land of Egypt until this day. Consider it, confer, and speak up!” (Judges 19:29-30)

No One Wins

The Bible is filled with remarkable stories. There are few that can live up to the story of the Levite and his concubine. During the final days of the judges, there was no king in the land and everyone did as they pleased. Samson has died and Samuel will appear on the scene in years to come. It was a lawless time for Israel and evil began to abound. A certain Levite had a concubine traveling through the land of Benjamin. Jerusalem had not been subdued yet as it was still a foreign town (called Jebus). Desiring not to stay in the city of foreigners, the Levite chose to stay in the Benjamite city of Gibeah. No one gave them a place to stay until finally an old man who had been working in the fields came into the city and gave them board. While they were dining, certain men came to the house and demanded the Levite be brought out so they could rape the man. The old man refused the request but finally the Levite gave the men his concubine. All night long, the perverted men of Gibeah raped the woman. When morning came, they let the woman go and she crawled back to the place where the old man lived. Her last dying act was to fall before the door and place her hand on the threshold.

When the Levite found his concubine, he took her home, cut her up and sent her body parts to all the tribes of Israel. It was a declaration of the wickedness the men of Gibeah and a demand for justice to be meted out for such a crime. The eleven tribes of Israel were incensed at the cruelty of the men of Gibeah. Drawing an army of 400,000 the decision was made to demand recompense from the tribe of Benjamin to deliver the evil men for justice under the Law. Benjamin refused. Instead, they gathered an army of 26,700 and a civil war began between Benjamin and their Israelite brothers. When it was all said and done, more than 65,000 men were dead. And for what? The men of Gibeah were destroyed along with the inhabitants. After the people buried their dead, what was gained? Nothing. Nobody won.

Sin brings misery, death, hatred, perversion and no one wins. From the first taking of the fruit in the garden to the final day of existence when the trumpet will sound, sin will strike down the multitudes of those who believe there is something to be gained. What was gained by Eve taking the fruit? Nothing. Satan is the father of lies, he is the liar of all liars, the great deceiver and the one who whispers in the ear that sin will bring great happiness and joy and it never happens – understand clearly – it never happens! For a moments reckless folly the joy expected from the fruits of sin turns putrid and vile. No one wins when they sin. It never brings joy. There will never be happiness. Death is covered with the delights of temptation. Its poison is masked by the aroma of sweetness. Horror is the only thing you will find at the end of sin’s dark tunnel.

Jesus Christ came to give life and to give it abundantly. There is only one happiness and that joy is found in the cleansing blood of His grace. He conquered sin so that we will no longer be slaves of the wiles of Satan. The devil has been defeated. He has no power but only what we allow him to have in our life. Renounce the presence of sin in your life for the death it brings. You will not win with sin. Victory is found only in Jesus Christ who destroyed the sting of death.

There was a time when sin shocked us. But as the brainwashing progresses, what once amazed us only amuses us. We laugh at the shady joke; tragedy becomes comedy; we learn to speak the language of Vanity Fair. (Vance Havner; 1901-1986)

Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; so shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall consider. (Isaiah 52:14-15)

Isaiah Standing At The Cross

The prophet Isaiah declares the image of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 in wondrous tones of love, devotion, horror, pain and sacrifice. Reading the chapter fills the mind with the terrible price paid by God’s Son. It declares the majesty of the sacrifice made by the Father allowing cruel men to abuse His Son so graphically. One cannot help but feel a sense of deep sorrow for the price paid by Jesus Christ.

As with any Bible study, it is important to see what surrounds a passage to gain a fuller meaning of the context. While the whole of the book of Isaiah declares the glory of the Messiah and chapter 53 is read frequently to remember the sacrifice of God’s Son, three verses prior to the 53^rd chapter are left out of the picture that bears heavily upon the realization of the suffering servant. The prophet writes as if he is standing beneath the cross of Jesus recording what he sees. Isaiah sees clearly the Messiah hanging on the cursed tree; He has been stricken, crowned with thorns, beaten and bruised, blood covering His body, His face bruised, sweaty, dirty, skin turned pale from exhaustion and fatigue – Jesus has been so mangled He is hardly recognizable.

Isaiah writes that Jesus’ appearance was disfigured more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men. This describes the depth of His suffering. The horrible things done to Jesus during the trials before the Romans and Jews weakened Him. Roman soldiers scourged the Son of God bringing Him near death. Scourging was a horrific means to inflict incredible pain without killing the victim. The taunt back was inflamed with ribbons of flesh torn off the bone in violent blows. Isaiah stands as a silent witness to the disfiguring of the body of Jesus at the hand of the Romans. Following the scourging, Jesus is beaten, spit on, slapped, mocked with a crown of thorns pressed deeply upon His head by the whole garrison of seasoned and cruel soldiers. Crucifixion took the suffering to the most shocking level of suffering.

The mother of Jesus stood beneath the cross barely recognizing her Son. She knew it was Him but how a mother’s eyes could gaze upon what was left of her Son is hard to imagine. Isaiah completes the picture before Jesus was born of how terrible the suffering would be. How often Jesus may have read this portion of Isaiah and thought of His own death is remarkable at best. The prophet declares that in all the suffering endured by the Christ, He acted wisely. Peter would later write how that when Jesus was reviled and suffered in such a terrible manner, the Lord did not revile in return or threaten to destroy those who were killing Him. Jesus committed Himself to His Father to fulfill the work He came to accomplish.

Do not forget to read the introduction to the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 and see a mangled body given for our sins. It was not a pretty sight. The price paid by Jesus was huge. He suffered more than we can begin to imagine. He paid the debt for our sin and paid a huge price. Join Isaiah and stand at the cross. You will not be able to look long before falling on your knees and begging forgiveness. Jesus suffered because of me. Jesus suffered because of you. We bear the guilt. He gave us redemption.

In the cross and Him who hung upon it, all things meet; all things subserve it, all things need it, it is their center and interpretation. For He was lifted up on it, that He might draw all men and all things to Him. (John Henry Newman, Parochial and Plain Sermons, VIII, 1843)

For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:5-7)

Forgetting What The Word Of God Is Doing

The beauty of the world is a magnificent canvas of spectacular views drawn upon the pages of mountains, valleys, plains, oceans and the heavens above. Each day is a testimony to the incredible vistas of brilliant colors, sounds and energy of the world in motion. Gazing upon an early morning sunrise or grasping the final rays of the setting sun, there is a complete harmony throughout the whole earth. The human body is an amazing part of the fabric called life. Without any thought from man, the heart beats millions of times in a lifetime. Eyes draw in the sights; ears perceive the sounds and the joys of taste discern a thousand different textures. The brain processes millions of thoughts remembering stories years past and hopes of the future. Everything about life is filled with the wonder of how it all works.

In the midst of all of the wonder of life and its intricate means of existence is forgotten how all of this works. Everything – from the rising of the sun and the beating of the heart – is brought together by the word of God. Planetary revolutions are held in place by the will of the Creator in perfection. The rising of the sun and its setting are determined in such precise conditions man can predict the exact moment of sunrise and sunset. As the Moon influences the waves of the seas, high tides and low tides are calculated to a precise timing. Every part of the human body is a miracle of creation allowing man to heal diseases and repair the body in wondrous ways. All of this is made possible because the word of God.

Peter reminds us of the power of the great flood that destroyed all life on earth save eight people and a boatload of animals. The flood in Noah’s day was not a natural occurrence but a testimony of the mighty power of the word of God. As the world was formed by the spoken word, so the world was destroyed when the Lord God spoke and the heavens burst forth and the waters of the deep ascended. All life was destroyed because the word of God was spoken. This same word saved Noah and his household. It is this same word that holds the world together allowing it to exist in every form today. The admonition of Peter was written two thousand years ago but the word remains the same.

Take a moment and look around at everything you see. By the word of God, it remains in place and continues as it has since the beginning of time. One day the word of God will speak and everything in this world will come to an abrupt end. In the blink of an eye, the entire universe and everything contained within will be destroyed. This destruction will be brought about by the powerful, majestic and mighty word of God.

The God and Father, who holds the universe together, is superior to every being that exists, for He imparts to each one from His own existence that which each one is. (Origen, De Principiis, c. 254 A.D.)