Talk of JESUS . com

Tag: John

  • Banquet of the King in the House of Wisdom – 7

    Banquet of the King in the House of Wisdom – 7

    A casual quest for wisdom’s banquet

    We have explored wisdom in this series for the most part from the Bible’s book of Proverbs.  Solomon’s fame, fortune and riches brought leaders to his court seeking ‘words of wisdom.’ 

    I suppose they would ask: What can I learn about the success of this wise King? Perhaps if I could be wise like Solomon I could replicate his riches.

    Powerful leaders point uninformed others to places which will keep them in their place. The masses of humanity for the most part have remained uneducated and therefore cared little about wisdom.  Even the faithful have not been told God’s truth. So few have have read the truth recorded in scripture.

    A thousand years after David and Solomon the Messiah Jesus came into this world and proclaimed:

    “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ – John 14:6

    Just like those who had come to Solomon for wisdom, people often asked Jesus about the Kingdom of Heaven, His Kingdom.

    An uncomfortable truth

    One day I saw a friend preparing for a great banquet for a wedding of important guests. As guests began to arrive in their tuxedos and gowns I asked a well-dressed guard at the door if I could enter briefly to greet my friend. The attendant guard of the door graciously agreed.

    I became increasingly uncomfortable as guests arrived, knowing that I had not dressed in the formal attire of arriving guests. We didn’t belong at this celebration for the bride and groom, which was about to begin.

    At the time I couldn’t help recalling  the uncomfortable ending of Jesus’ parable about the wedding feast.

    Just as the truth of wisdom makes us a little uncomfortable, so do the truths of death, judgment and eternal life.

    Until the days of Luther (and Gutenberg) most men could not read the Bible. Women rarely could read at all. Yet even now men and women who claim to seek wisdom fail to read the wisdom of the Bible.

    Perhaps a few will make brief inquiry about God in an uncomfortable place, a church. Doesn’t it make us feel like the uninvited wedding guest?

     Matthew 22

    2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast…

    As pointed out previously in this series:

    • “they would not come.”
    • Other servants invited them again, but the invited guests refused.
      • Some ignored the invitation and went back to work.
      • Others of the chosen killed the messengers!

    7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

    • He sent messengers to invite as many as they could find.
    • Other guests filled the wedding hall.

      Now the King enters the festivities. As he looks about the room with joy the King notices a man like me (not appropriately prepared for the great feast).

    11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants,

    ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness.

    The outer darkness of the fool

    Are you fearful? Here is the wise and all-powerful King and He judges you unfit for the feast. The King’s servants cast you into eternal darkness.

    Solomon and the Bible have had much to say about darkness, which is always contrasted with light and good.

    The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know over what they stumble. – Proverbs 4:19

    Surely the deep darkness of which Jesus speaks is Hell!

    In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

    14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

    Are you invited?

    Such a staggering thought that the King of Kings would judge your sin!  (And mine, as well.) Therefore we fear Hell, the place of eternal punishment so much deserved by all.

    In fact no reprieve can be bought, which was a catalyst of the Reformation.

    Are you an ‘outsider’ who is invited, OR do you just tiptoe in the door of the King to hear His wisdom?

    Because no family ties, riches or religious displays will get you into the banquet of the Lord, an invitation is required.

    Other wisdom of the Son

    Jesus IS the Son of Man and Son of God! Christ came to sinners as a sacrifice for our innumerable sins. Jesus frequently speaks wisdom to the crowds and Apostles, even explaining the meaning of parables.

    Have you read the Gospel? Find your invitation to the banquet of the King and embrace His righteous wisdom in this Good News for all.

     

     

     

  • Banquet of the King in the House of Wisdom – 3

    Banquet of the King in the House of Wisdom – 3

    Words of a Wise King or Prudent Messenger

    Pride leads to disgrace,
    but with humility comes wisdom. – Proverbs 11:2 NLT

    Listen, you broadcasters of contention and messengers of alternative truth. Integrity and importance no longer occupy the seat of honor in your palaces!

    Adrian Sjoberg

    Righteous kings and true messengers choose their words well, while evil broadcasts a false balance. Your impudent proclamations and contentious questions weary the ears of the righteous.

    When will wisdom return to the feasts of the leaders of nations and conversation of those subjected to your entertainment news? You stoke the fires of hatred and fuel the frenzies of division.

    Proverbs 11:

    A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
        but a just weight is his delight.

    4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
        but righteousness delivers from death.
    5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
        but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
    6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
        but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

    Remember Solomon who wrote these words nearly three thousand years ago? He began as a righteous king with good intentions, yet the king fell into sin. A great kingdom fell after having been chosen by God to represent righteousness.

    Great kingdoms of the millennia diminished into discontent and dishonor; for wisdom no longer occupied a seat in their palaces or consideration in the thoughts of their subjects.

    NEWS of the Dayexclusive report

    9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
        but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

    12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
        but a man of understanding remains silent.
    13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
        but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
    14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
        but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

    Hasn’t our focus been drawn to scandal, personalities and unrighteousness? Accusers point to what is evil in their opinion (calling it news) yet never point to righteousness in the eyes of the Lord.

    Media has become the message. Truth, importance and wisdom no longer invade media’s monetary message.

    23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
        the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

    28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
    29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

    Hear this, you evil messengers and rich rulers. It is the LORD who will judge both message and messenger. He will weigh injustice and offset lies.

    A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
    but a faithful envoy brings healing. – Proverbs 13:7

    An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. – Proverbs 17:11

    Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. – John 13:16

    I tell you haughty messengers and arrogant rulers:

    The Lord sits at the gate and sends the true message. He will weigh the words or your mouth and silence the shouts of your rebellion.

    To be continued…

     

  • Banquet of the King in the House of Wisdom

    Banquet of the King in the House of Wisdom

    The House of Wisdom

    Does not wisdom cry out,
    And understanding lift up her voice?

    Proverbs 8: NKJV

    6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,
    And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
    7 For my mouth will speak truth;
    Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

    8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
    Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
    9 They are all plain to him who understands,
    And right to those who find knowledge.

    Ah, wisdom, such a rare jewel among riches, a hidden treasure in the palaces of kings.

    Does a son of man in this 21st century even consider her value before proclaiming foolishness?

    O, that a humble King could be found, a son of man with whom wisdom occupies a seat of honor at his banquet.

    15 By me kings reign,
    And rulers decree justice.
    16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
    All the judges of the earth.
    17 I love those who love me,
    And those who seek me diligently will find me.

    Wisdom. A wise ruler surveys the land, chooses the high ground and builds upon a foundation of the Lord’s righteousness. Though cunning may sweep an evil one into a palace on shifting sand, no monument outlasts the wisdom of the Lord.

    In the Beginning

     

    22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
    Before His works of old.
    23 I have been established from everlasting,
    From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
    24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
    When there were no fountains abounding with water.
    25 Before the mountains were settled,
    Before the hills, I was brought forth;
    26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
    Or the primal dust of the world.
    27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
    When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
    28 When He established the clouds above,
    When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
    29 When He assigned to the sea its limit,
    So that the waters would not transgress His command,
    When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
    30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;
    And I was daily His delight,
    Rejoicing always before Him,
    31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
    And my delight was with the sons of men.

    John 1:

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

    10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

    Proverbs 8:

    33 Hear instruction and be wise,
    And do not disdain it…

    35 For whoever finds me finds life,
    And obtains favor from the Lord;
    36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
    All those who hate me love death.”

    Do you seek the house of wisdom and will you hear her voice?

    What word of wisdom would you with ears to hear obey?

    To be continued…