Friday, January 29, 2016

January Quotes

We need to stay sound in doctrine, to stay safe in our morals. 
-Unknown

No matter happens, or what someone does to you, God's plan for your life can never be ruined...because God is in control.
-Unknown

When you’re in the furnace, you’re beyond the reach of those who are trying to harm you. You’re tried by fire, but you come out as pure gold.
-Dr. Bob Jones Senior

There is nothing like Christianity to make all men equal, to level such distinctions—but it levels by lifting to a lofty tableland, accessible only to humility. Only he who is humble can rise. 
-George MacDonald

There are some things you can only say to the Lord because he's the only one that can bear that much reality. 
-Jerram Barrs

God created the world out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.
-Martin Luther

We are sinfully lost people and we have a scandalously merciful Savior.
-Unknown

Silence is pure and holy. It draws people together because only those who are comfortable with each other can sit without speaking.
-Nicholas Sparks

Good leaders must first become good servants. 
-Robert Greenleaf

Accountability is more than going to a brother or sister in the Lord and confessing failure. Accountability is going to them in the middle of a battle, before we’ve fallen, and asking for their help. 
-Paul Speed

A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably.
-William Penn

As our knowledge of [God] and his infinite, transcendent value increases, we find that our esteem of ourselves as one of his beloved ones will grow as well.
-Johnson

We develop patience as we trust that God denies us what we think is good only because He has something better for us--both now and in the future.
-Joshua Harris

The evidence … the raw-bone, Biblical evidence that there was one time in your life that you repented unto salvation, is that you continue repenting until today, and continue growing in repentance.
-Paul Washer

You do not know what you are going to do; the only thing you know is that God knows what He’s doing.
-Oswald Chambers




Friday, January 22, 2016

Jonathan: "The Lord has given"

[Warning: This is a Very Long Post. ;)]

Jonathan is a character who has often captured my attention, and I have noticed him even moreso in the last two times I've read through the Bible.

One of the first times we're introduced to Jonathan, we find him in the third verse of 1 Samuel 13. After reigning for two years Saul, Jonathan's father--the king over Israel, gathered his men together to fight the Philistines. Saul commanded 2000 men and Jonanathan, 1000. Jonathan and his men raided and defeated one of the groups of Philistines encamping in the area of Geba. Here we see Jonathan old enough to command an army of men, and at the same time courageous enough to actually conquer the Lord's enemies. His father, on the other hand, handled a group of trembling Israelites who were unsure of whether or not to follow him all the way. Saul then offers a sacrifice unlawfully, out of fear of the Philistines, impatience in waiting for Samuel, and fear of losing more of his men; he finds out his "army" has dwindled to 600. Once again Jonathan's name is mentioned in that he and his father faithfully remain with the remaining men in Geba (the area Jonathan conquered). Jonathan is also one of the privileged few (the other being Saul) who owned any sort of weapon, for the Philistines monopolized the metal resources and metal-working craftsmen.

Chapter 14 tells us of Jonathan's initiative to again attack the Philistines and conquer some of the land entrusted to the Israelites through God's covenant of the Promised Land. He takes only his armor-bearer and tells no one of his plans or whereabouts, especially not his father. His companion encourages Jonathan to do all that was in his heart, saying "Behold, I am with you heart and soul" (his armor-bearer made a great companion, too, by the way; what Jonathan received in friendship, he gave back in return to others). Using his strategy and walking in the Lord's victory (the same victory God would have given Saul if he had been obedient), Jonathan and his armor-bearer kill about 20 of the "uncircumcised" [Philistines] while Saul and his men hide in the holes, caves, tombs, and rocks of the land. God intervenes on Jonathan's behalf and sends an earthquake, causing further panic among the Philistines. Saul, finding out the commotion in the Philistine camp and finally noticing that his son and his son's armor-bearer were gone, rallies his men and takes them to battle. The Israelite deserters who were among the Philistines turn and once again follow Saul and Jonathan, and men who had hidden themselves away in the caves and tombs also rejoin their king. The Lord turns the Philistines against each other and saves Israel.

The next scene is written after Jonathan and his armor-bearer's attack, but it fits chronologically after Jonathan leaves the Israelite camp, and perhaps it reveals more about his father than it does him. Saul, vowing revenge on his enemies, lays a curse on anyone who eats food until his enemies are avenged. Jonathan, of course, did not hear this vow, as he was absent, so in his travels through the forest, he finds and eats honeycomb, encouraging the people to do the same as it provided him with much needed strength and energy. The people inform him of his father's curse, and he rightly places the blame of a smaller victory on his father, saying that if the people had eaten of the spoil of the battles, they would not have lacked strength and the victory might have been greater. Later the people sin grievously, taking the spoil of the next Philistine attack and slaughtering the animals on the field and eating them with the blood (eating raw meat without draining the blood was forbidden by God). As a continued consequence of Saul's foolish oath, God does not answer Saul when he attempts to inquire of God as to whether they should attack another group of Philistines. Saul again immediately pronounces a rash oath because God would not answer him, claiming that someone had sinned and whoever it was that person would die, even if it were Jonathan. By casting lots, they find out that it was indeed Jonathan who was "guilty". Saul was committed to fulfilling his vow, too proud to go back on his word, and unable to realize the extent of his own sin, so he says Jonathan must die. However, Jonathan's leadership and faithfulness had won the hearts of the people, and the Israelites step in and ransom him from his father's decision. And they contribute the salvation of Israel to Jonathan, saying that as the Lord lived "not one hair of his head [would] fall to the ground for he has worked with God this day."

Moving ahead several chapters, through the anointing of David for the kingship and his defeat of Goliath, we once again are told of Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18. And here we find the ever familar story of David and Jonathan's friendship. After David kills Goliath, Saul calls him to the court and inquires who his father is. We only have two lines of conversation between Saul and David, and yet chapter 18 verse 1 tells us that "as soon as he [David] had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." Jonathan's friendship is remarkable, not only because of who he was (a king's son--and David was a shepherd boy from one of the least of the tribes), but because of what it required of him (a recognition that he would not be heir to the throne, and a covenantal loyalty to a man that his father hated). In his covenant with David, which included giving to David his outer robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt, Jonathan demonstrated, either consciously or unconsiously, that he was giving up all right to the throne and reliquishing the position of prince of Israel to the anointed one that God had chosen.

Jonathan, in taking on the friendship of one who would reign in the place of his father, now takes on an even more precarious position. King Saul, unable to destroy David through his own methods for the Lord gave David success wherever he went, tells Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. "But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David." (1 Samuel 19:1) So rather than obeying his father, he takes on the risk of warning his friend of his father's intentions. Not only does he provide protection for David, but he also creates a plan in order to figure out what his father was thinking about David. Working as an advocate on his friend's behalf, Jonathan reminds Saul of all the good David had done for him in fighting Saul's battles and defeating Saul's enemies. And Saul temporarily listens to the wise rational of his son. So then Jonathan reports back to David and brings David back into his father's court.

Because of the evil spirit that continually haunts Saul, he soon begins his pursuit of David again. David, in hiding, returns to Jonathan pleading to know what he might have done to cause Saul to want to kill him. Again the two friends form a plan together resulting in David remaining in hiding, and Jonathan finding out what Saul's plans are. David and Jonathan once again pledge their loyalty to each other. David, in his complete trust of Jonathan, asked Jonathan to kill David himself if Jonathan thought he was deserving of death. Jonathan vows to David that he will tell David if his father is well-disposed towards him or if Saul is still desiring his death. Jonathan also requests that if everything turns badly, that David would demonstrate steadfast love to Jonathan's descendants. And again, David and Jonathan swear their covenantal love for each other. 1 Samuel 20 recounts Jonathan's use of the feast days, a young boy, and a bow and arrow to demonstrate to David the message he had learned from his father: Saul was indeed still seeking David's death. Not only did Saul demonstrate his hatred of David, but he also cursed his son for having sided with David and tried to kill him. The chapter ends this way after Jonathan brings this message back to David:
David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, 'The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.'" And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city. 
David is continually pursued by Saul and his men. He finds food from a priest, but is betrayed by Saul's chief herdsmen, Doeg the Edomite. He flees to Gath and pretends to be insane for fear that the Philistine king would kill him. He resides in a cave and all the distressed and bitter men come to him--he leads them and they follow him. He sought refuge for his father and mother in Moab, and then lives in the forest. Saul discovers where he is and continues the pursuit. He rescues a city from the Philistines but cannot stay there for the Lord reveals to him that the city would give him up to Saul. The Bible tells us that the men who followed him were staunchly faithful to their leader. They went wherever they could go and they went wherever David went.

Pursued continually by Jonathan's father, David finds rest in the wilderness. Not likely physical rest, but mental and emotional rest from one who had pledged his loyalty to him. Jonathan came to him in the wilderness. He met David where he was, and he brought encouragement and refreshment to him.
And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, "Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you....And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remianed at Horesh, and Jonathan went home. (1 Samuel 23:16-18)
In the desert, David found relief. Jonathan tells David not to fear his father. He reminds him that David will be king, and in that reminder is the humble acknowledgement that the prince of Israel would not be on the throne. Jonathan willingly submitted to God's sovereignty as it had been revealed to him and gave his support to David in the next best way that he could. Jonathan reminded David of God's promises.

That's the last we hear of Jonathan before he dies in battle alongside his brothers and his father. And that's the last we hear of his support and encouragement to one who so desperately needed it. But his loyalty left behind a memory not to be forgotten, and his life left an example completely opposite to that of his father's.

Saul's rebellion and disobedience brought consequences that reached further than he would ever know. King Saul is finally defeated by the Philistines, killing himself in order to avoid death by his enemies. And Jonathan dies, too. A man who walked in integrity, lived in victory, loved through loyalty, and advocated for justice. He provided leadership to the Israelites, brought refreshment to a hunted king, jeopardized his royal position by going against his mentally unstable father, and gave his life (literally) in humble surrender to the Lord's will, paving the way for the next king of Israel to reign--an event he would not even live to see.

And in return for that?

David remembered his covenant with Jonathan and showed kindness and grace to his descendants.

For Jonathan's sake.


Friday, January 15, 2016

Star of Jacob, Scepter of Israel

My Bible reading plan for this month has taken me once again through the first five books of the Old Testament. Having taught through these books and read through them about 18 times now, they have become increasingly familiar to me. But yet there always has been something to learn or remember from the stories and history of God's Word.

Numbers 22 brings us to the story of Balaam, a man we often remember because he talked back to a donkey. But that's not the only important thing that happened in his life.

In the previous chapter, Numbers 21, the Israelites just finished defeating the king of Bashan, added him to the list of conquered nations, killed all the inhabitants, and took over the land. Needless to say, the king we find in Numbers 22, King Balak of Moab, is rather terrified as to what will happen to him if he's next on the line. In fact, the whole nation of Moab was overcome with fear because of the Israelites. What they didn't know was that God had commanded the Israelites not to attack Moab because they were given that land by God and they were descendants of Lot.

So Balak calls on Balaam. Balaam is noted in Scripture as being a false prophet. He practiced magic and divination, but Balak acknowledged that Balaam's blessings and curses actually worked at times. Therefore, Balak sent messengers to Balaam with money and a plea for him to come and pronounce calamity on Israel. Though Balaam did not have any relationship with the Lord God of Israel, God did speak to him. Twice Balaam refused to go with the messangers Balak sent, telling them that God commanded him not to go. The third time, the Lord permitted Balaam to go with the condition that he could only speak the words God gave him. So Balaam went...and that's when the story of the talking donkey comes in. ;) Balaam went to Balak, but for the wrong reasons and with the wrong motives. Through the angel and the mouth of the donkey Balaam is brought into submission to God's command. Three times Balaam seeks to do as Balak requires of him and curse the Israelites, but three times God prevents this and causes him to bless them instead. So here you have a false prophet, who is involved in magic and contact with spirits, but he's blessing Israel through the words God gives him. Balaam proclaims that Israel wasn't like all the other nations of the world, that she was blessed greatly by God, shown mercy because God was with her, and she would have victory over her enemies.

Balaam's fourth blessing on Israel holds an important prophecy. God uses a false prophet to foretell the coming of the long-awaited Messiah, Israel's future King!
I see him, but not now; I behold him,  but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities! (Numbers 24:17-19)
This Star of Jacob and Scepter of Israel was none other than the Lord Christ Himself. Jacob, the patriarch, in blessing his sons before his death, pronounces this blessing on Judah:
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him. (Genesis 49:10) 
The wise men inquired of Herod where the Christ was for they had seen "his star" and had come to worship Him. The star in that night sky at Christ's birth overshadowed the place where the eternal Star of Jacob was residing. John records the words of Jesus as He fulfills Balaam's prophecy:
I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. (Revelation 22:16)
And so, despite the fear of a king and the words of a false prophet, God chooses to use these men to proclaim His future Messiah who had come once before, and who would come again to rescue His people from spiritual bondage. Hope did indeed prevail despite what God's enemies tried to plan.

But that is not the end of Balaam's life, for though he failed to curse the Israelites, he caused the women of Moab to seduce the children of Israel, inciting God's anger on the nation. The Israelites engaged in immorality and idolatry with Baal forgetting the command to have no others gods but the Lord of Israel. Yet from this wickedness, hope did indeed come again for the Israelites, for Aaron's grandson, Phinehas, displayed his zeal for God in executing a man and the Midianite woman as they came near the tabernacle. For this action, the plague that had broken out on the Israelites because of their sin was stopped, and to Phinehas was granted a "perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel". (Numbers 25:13) From the line of Phinehas would come all future, legitimate high priests.

Though one day, the Israelites' Messiah did come, the High Priest who ended animal sacrifices with His one perfect sacrifice. Hope was born even out of wickedness, and vengeance was meted out to the Midianites who had incited the anger of the Lord and caused the Israelites to sin. In a similar way, Christ will return for a second time to those who look for His coming, and He will provide justice over the earth. Sin and death will reign no more, and we will fellowship together with the Giver of hope. This promise is sure and steadfast, and it will be accomplished.
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprighteness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. (Psalm 45:6-7a)

Friday, January 08, 2016

The Dark Before the Dawn

“The Dark Before the Dawn”

In dark Gethsemane that agonizing night
Darkness prevailed, suppressing the light
His closest companions, to safety they fled
As in their stead, the Savior was led

To the anguish of the cross, as a Lamb
Stumbled the innocent Son of Man
Fear gripped mortal men’s hearts
As Satan threw his fiery darts

The spiritual war remained fierce
As the King—His hands and feet—were pierced
“Father, forgive them” the Sufferer cried
Releasing men from bondage, He died

Man’s deceit, rebellion, and injustice reigned
The Righteous One was crushed, His Life was claimed
Broken hearts, grief, sorrow, and pain
His promises, His words, forgotten once again

In the heavenlies, the battle raged
As men on earth, took and laid
The Healer’s body, broken and bruised
The Master of earth, by sons of men, abused

His followers weary and wounded
The ache of sin and death was not unfounded
Three nights He was cursed for hopeless men
Their hearts, like the torn veil, were ripped. Again.

The sting of death hung over the Almighty’s grave
His enemies rejoiced…yes, the ones He forgave
The Branch of Jesse, now a broken reed
Hope was shattered, the darkness oppressive indeed

The faithful women still wounded and weary
Made their way to the tomb that held Satan’s fury
Their hearts aching, broken, and sore
Still wounded from the pain of the nights before

But at that grave at the break of dawn
They found the stone and the Savior’s body gone
“Remember His words. He is risen indeed!
There is healing and atonement for your deepest need.”

There was hope and there was healing
For the pain and thick darkness they were feeling
The suffering Savior lives to intercede
The Throne of grace is where we, and He, kneel to plead

The broken-hearted will be healed
For the Sun of Righteousness is now revealed
The weary and hurting now rise
And on eagles’ wings the fainthearted fly

Though the spiritual battle still rages
In the Word of God, it’s written on its pages
That victory, justice, and hope will prevail
For the Sovereign One’s glory shall not fail

And through the darkness, the light we see
The banner of truth and love that provides victory
Christ Jesus conquered death and has made us His own
His hope and joy through pain—“I will never leave you alone”

So to the truth of the cross and the grave we must cling
For the High Priest intimately knows our suffering
Sin, pain, and affliction in this transient life is certain
But our Comforter’s open arms meet us behind the temple curtain

So, my fellow soldiers, though the injustice and pain we fight
Victory is ours already—from darkness comes the morning bright
Stand fast in the truth. Hold on to your Lord
The inheritance of the faithful saints is your reward

The battle for justice was not given to the strong
For in our strength, it’s impossible to right the wrong
Yet our weakness is where Sufficient Grace begins
And in the Healer’s strength, the wounded warriors win

-Kaleigh Stroink (age 21)

Friday, January 01, 2016

For the New Year...

Well, today is the beginning of a brand new year. Happy New Year! :) And it's also my 165th post today. Since I couldn't think up anything particularly "inspirational" to write for the first day of 2016, I decided to share one of my hobbies here.

I don't know when I started it, but over the course of a few years I began making desktop backgrounds with verses or quotes on them. I collected pictures from family photos or just public online sources and when I found a quote or I needed to be reminded of a certain truth, I turned it into a background picture. Sometimes I used quotes from friends, past influencial preachers, authors, blog posts, books, songs...from anywhere, bascially. I've collected quotes for about five years now, so there is no way I'll ever run out of them any time soon. And so I hope these posters will be an encouragement to all of you as well. Feel free to save them for personal use if you wish.

May the Lord bless you in this next year. May He comfort and encourage you and give you your heart's desires. Hold true to what you have attained and stand firm in the Lord.

More secure is no one ever,
Than the loved ones of the Savior,
Not yon star on high abiding
Nor the bird in home nest hiding.







God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they florish.
From all evil things He spares them;
In His loving arms He bears them.






Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.









Little flock, to joy then yield thee!
Jacob's God will ever shield thee;
Rest secure with this Defender--
At His will all foes surrender.








Tho' He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne'er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.

("More Secure Is No One Ever", Carolina V. Sandell-Berg)





Standing at the portal
Of the opening year,
Words of comfort meet us,
Hushing every fear;
Spoken thro' the silence
By our Father's voice,
Tender, strong and faithful,
Making us rejoice.




I, the Lord, am with thee,
Be thou not afraid!
I will keep and strengthen,
Be thou not dismayed! 
Yea, I will uphold thee 
With My own right hand;
Thou art called and chosen
In My sight to stand.




For the year before us,
O what rich supplies!
For the poor and needy
Living streams shall rise;
For the sad and sinful
Shall His grace abound;
For the faint and feeble
Perfect strength be found.




He will never fail us, 
He will not forsake;
His eternal cov'nant
He will never break.
Resting on His promise,
What have we to fear?
God is all sufficient
For the coming year.




Onward, then, and fear not, 
Children of the day;
For His Word shall never,
Never pass away.

("Standing at the Portal", Frances R. Havergal)