Talk of JESUS . com

Tag: israel

  • Balaam – Inauguration of a Politician’s Prophet – 1

    Balaam – Inauguration of a Politician’s Prophet – 1

    Prophesy of a man with eyes to see

    Numbers 24:

    “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
    the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
    4 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
    who sees the vision of the Almighty,
    falling down with his eyes uncovered:

    5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
    your encampments, O Israel!
    6 Like palm groves that stretch afar,
    like gardens beside a river,
    like aloes that the Lord has planted,
    like cedar trees beside the waters.
    7 Water shall flow from his buckets,
    and his seed shall be in many waters;
    his king shall be higher than Agag,
    and his kingdom shall be exalted.
    8 God brings him out of Egypt
    and is for him like the horns of the wild ox;
    he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries,
    and shall break their bones in pieces
    and pierce them through with his arrows.
    9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion
    and like a lioness; who will rouse him up?

    [ctt title=”Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.”” tweet=”The LORD God of #Israel” coverup=”We237″]

    Looking back on election

    Let’s look at an ancient analogy about changes of political winds all too frequent throughout history.

    The inaugural event spoken by Balaam son of Beor illustrates hope for one group of hearers present, but not those who elected Balaam to his present situation. Backing up some (two chapters), we see Balaam’s nomination by powerful men with entirely different motives.

    You may need to map out some unfamiliar geography and history for understanding this election.

    First, understand that Balaam’s journey to Moab may have been about 400 miles from Pethor on the Euphrates. Yes, even then wars and skirmishes between nations surrounding Israel frequently involved foreign intervention. Balaam’s family may have been Canaanites who migrated to Mesopotamia, perhaps even to flee from local war of invading warriors.

    Election

    Israel (Jacob) claims election by God as a people set aside for the LORD. The LORD had led Israel by the hand of the prophet and leader, Moses [Mosheh]. מֹשֶׁה

    Joshua then defeats Canaan and begins capturing the lands promised to Israel [Jacob], son of Isaac, son of Abraham.

    We now glance into these tumultuous times of trouble in the middle east, just east of the Jordan during the campaigns of Balak, Balaam, Og, Sihon and other forgotten men of the 14th c. BC.

    Balak Summons Balaam

    Numbers 22

    Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel…

    Conflict between local leaders in the middle east (nothing new) and one leader, Balak, reaches out to foreign powers to fight Israel. Some mysterious power of Balaam is known, yet what if not known is something Balaam sends back as a message.

    … So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

    These men of influence, likely with bribes for Balaam, return to Balak saying that Balaam will not come; but Balak orders them to make the long journey again promising even more riches as is typical of the diplomacy of influence.

    … God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.” 21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

    Now the seer or prophet Balaam embarks on a potentially perilous journey of many miles into unknown outcomes of the middle east.

    Balaam – Inauguration of a Politician’s Prophet – To be continued…

     

     

     

     

  • The Voice of a Shepherd in the Wilderness

    A Flawed Shepherd

    We’re flawed – very flawed; you know what I mean?

    A Shepherd is sorta an outsider, you know. The people in town wear fine clothes, woven from the well-washed wool of our flocks, yet they turn away from us repulsed by the scent of our lowly work as shepherds.

    Hills near Bethlehem in 2016 palestinian region of Israel

    Mostly we live in the wilderness just beyond Bethlehem, grazing our sheep, sleeping in solitude under the dark dome of silent star-lit nights. At night I look up to the Lord in the heavens, remembering the words of my youth.

    Traditions from our fathers recall a shepherd-king, David, of generations long gone. The old City of David just up the mountain from Bethlehem became home to a couple of thousand people. Our little town of Bethlehem now swells to nearly a thousand due to Rome’s order for our families to return for a census. Jerusalem has grown to maybe 40,000, plus Roman centurions.

    Time of the First Temple – 957-586 BC

    Solomon, son of David, built the first Temple in Jerusalem with riches from other lands. Enemies destroyed the Temple and plundered our lands, because our kings refused to listen to the Lord. Isaiah and the Prophets repeatedly warned our kings not to turn against God. They promised us hope in a Messiah, a King who would lead Israel in righteousness: but first Babylon would parade our captive leaders into foreign cities to live.

    Bethlehem road, 2016 palestinian Israel

    Second Temple rebuilt – 538-170 BC

    They allowed some of our fathers to return and rebuild Jerusalem, just a short journey north beyond these hills.

    Alexander ruled over us and the entire world nearby while our fathers adopted the language and some of the culture of our Greek captors. Egypt ruled us once more after Alexander’s death, until an Alexandrian general of Syria conquered us again.

    Herod rebuilds the Temple and Jerusalem under Rome – 38 BC

    Our grandfathers told us stories of the revolt of the priests and Herod the Great recapturing Galilee with considerable help from Rome. Rome’s powerful peace rules over us now, enforced by legions encamped across our countryside; but shepherds have little to say in these matters of power.

    Life of a Shepherd

    Our days of drudgery drag on into senseless seasons of defeat and despair. Dreams discouraged — hopes of all the years abandoned in desperate darkness for distractions of days lost in silent surrender. When we were young, times of promise never escaped our self-confidence. Now scores of years reveal a flawed flesh and failing desires.

    What hope have we beyond darkness in times of sorrow? For our remorse reminds of a past built on foundationless self-made dreams and hopes of self-earned glory.

    I did not need God!

    Who can keep the Lord’s Law or live up to men’s visions? We blame our flawed upbringing on generations of our fathers who failed in advantage over other men. I was a self-made, flawed man, with a little of a flawed plan.

    Who needs the help of another? Yet what stiff-necked soul does not cry out to God in our failure?

    I cannot face a God who knows my sin nor can I face a punishment of a God who stands in holiness against our transgressions. What savior for me — what savior for me?

    A Shepherd Recalls Scripture from Isaiah

    In solemn silence my distraught heart, heavy with hopeless, strains for gentle words of comfort whispering deeply into my soul. Lord, help me – forgive me – I can’t quite remember…

    [ctt title=”Isaiah 7:14 לָכֵן יִתֵּן אֲדֹנָי הוּא לָכֶם אֹות הִנֵּה הָעַלְמָה הָרָה וְיֹלֶדֶת בֵּן וְקָרָאת שְׁמֹו עִמָּנוּ אֵֽל׃” tweet=”A Messiah, born to a virgin” coverup=”eEdCg”]

    [ctt title=”Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14″ tweet=”” coverup=”jLQN1″]

    Immanuel, God with us; how I could never bear the thought of standing near Almighty God. Who can stand before, “God with us?” I once believed I was better than most, but now I fall before Him.

    The Messiah will be born to a virgin, pure in heart and flesh and He will not disappoint.

    I could never be like Him. Yet a voice soft as the caress of a gentle breeze describes a Savior I could hear, the only compassionate one who perfectly understands a lowly shepherd like me.

    He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,

    Or make it heard in the street;

    A bruised reed he will not break,

    And a faintly burning wick he will not quench;

    He will faithfully bring forth justice.

    Isaiah 42:2-3

    Conviction and the Cry of a Repentant Heart

    Now that my days of self-deceit have passed, indeed I am a bruised reed. My heart burns faintly with what life remains in these flawed bones and failing flesh. I cry out to the Lord.

    O God, are you gentle as a baby born humbly to a poor virgin? Lord, would you have mercy on a lowly man who lives near the beasts of your barns? What would you say to a flawed one like me?

    But this is the one to whom I will look:
    he who is humble and contrite in spirit
    and trembles at my word.- Isaiah 66:2b

    To be continued Christmas day… 

     

  • Israel’s First King – 3

    Israel’s First King – 3

    And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. – 1 Samuel 12:21

     

    Good advice for an aspiring politician (prospective leader of the people), is it not?

    A young Saul is anointed King of Israel and the heavy mantle of leadership soon burdens Saul’s shoulders.

    1 Samuel 13

    [Readers may view the entire chapter in another tab by clicking on the link above.]

    Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel.

    • King for one year
    • Raises an army of of 3000 in year two.
    • 2000 men with Saul in Michmash in hill country of Bethel [v.2]
    • 1000 men with  Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin

     

    3 Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4 And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.

     

    • a garrison is troops stationed in a town to defend it, typically a small number of the entire army.

    Saul map gibeah-micmash

    5 And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven.

     

    Imagine that after a short time in office and you announcing a great victory (really, a small battle won by your son in a border town) that you discover that your neighboring enemy, Philistia, is bringing an army of 30,000 men and 6 thousand chariots against your army of 2000 men who are mostly shepherds. choice-of-saul

    What next? Saul is in danger of immediate defeat.

     

    6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, 7 and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

     

    God’s great nation of Israel is fleeing the heathen Philistines and Saul leads those who do not desert to temporary safety.

     

    8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him.

     

    Can a dead King defend the towns of Israel from the caves of the hills of Benjamin?

    King Saul is practically impatient. Saul has had instructions from GOD through Samuel. What are they? WAIT! Wait seven days.

    Could the LORD who parted the waters of the sea and crumbled the walls of Jericho not defeat a mere army of men and horses?

    Yet Saul does not believe Samuel and the LORD are true to this time to redeem the threatened nation.

     

    … And he offered the burnt offering.

    10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11 Samuel said, “What have you done?”

     

    Can a King, President, Premier or Prime Minister lead without God?

    Yes. Throughout recorded history it happens daily and in many places.

    Yet no nation can claim God without obedience to God’s will.

    Saul has forsaken the word of the Lord. Saul has rejected the promises he made before the Lord’s Prophet, Samuel, and the people of Israel who follow him as King. Saul seeks to intercede as Priest before the LORD, usurping Samuel’s lawful role and his sworn allegiance to the will of GOD.

     

    13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue.

     

    The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

    The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart,

    and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people.

    It is clear from history and scripture that Samuel speaks of the anointing of David, a servant in Saul’s household, yet more importantly, ‘a man after God’s own heart.’

     

    15 And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.

    And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.

     

    • 30,000 Philistines on foot and
    • 6000 Philistine charioteers stand ready to attack
    • Samuel and his men left for Gilgal
    • King Saul now has only 600 men.
    • The small army of Saul departs for the battle at Gibeah
    • None of Saul’s men have spears or swords, only Saul and Jonathan! [v.22]

    What a predicament! Saul is surrounded. He is stripped of his kingdom. The King has few followers. AND GOD is NOT on his side.

    Yet in spite of all that, GOD wins the battle by the hand of Jonathan. You can read about it in 1 Samuel 14.

    The book of First Samuel is essentially the story of King Saul. David now enters in the later chapters. The timeline of Saul is approximately:

    • 1043 B.C. Saul becomes King
    • 1041 B.C. Saul’s War with the Philistines & Jonathan’s Miraculous Victory
    • 1028 B.C. Saul’s Disobedience and Samuel’s Rebuke [ch.15]
    • 1024 B.C. David anointed King [ch.16] & David kills Goliath [ch.17]
    • 1011 B.C. Saul Slays the Priests of Nob [ch.22], David flees Saul, Samuel dies
    • 1010 B.c. Saul consults a witch at Endor [ch.28]
    • 1010 B.C. David flees to the Philistines, is sent away & defeats the Amalikites
    • 1010 B.C. Saul & his sons killed in battle 1 Samuel 31

     

    A question of Legacy for Leaders

    What will be your legacy:

    O King or Premier,

    Honorable President, Prime Minister?

    What will be your legacy:

    Frail leader of men,

    Lowly servant of all?

    Compare King Saul to David, a man after God’s own heart:

     

    Psalm 18: KJV

    [[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,]]

    I will love thee,

    O LORD, my strength.

    The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

    my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;

    my buckler, and the horn of my salvation,

    and my high tower.

    I will call upon the LORD,

    who is worthy to be praised:

    so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

    A thousand years after Saul, a captive Jerusalem looked for a King like Saul to redeem them from Rome. Rather, a King of the Jews entered the gates humbly and redeemed our souls on a cross.

    Three thousand years since King Saul and war still looms large in the hills near to Jerusalem. The war of ungodly men still seeks to destroy both the power and the mercy of God.

    Christ Jesus has led the captives of sin right up to these last days.

    Our Lord and God has conquered death and calls us to an eternal New Jerusalem.

    Question to a Sinner Redeemed

    Fellow sinner redeemed,

    Will you bow down to Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior?

    Blessed be God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;

    Who is and was and will be forever.

    Amen.