The undergirding word

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘀 𝟮𝟵:𝟭𝟴 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁; 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

The “revelation” in this verse denotes a prophetic vision – a word from God concerning the current times and circumstances of the people. There are many instances of the Lord speaking through prophets, and it was often a word of correction or judgment, in response to sin or the ongoing obstinance of the nations. It happened in addition to the written Law of Moses. And the Law of Moses – the first 5 books of the modern Bible is what “wisdom” is in the verse (the word is “Torah” – Hebrew for Law).

Taken together, the lack of a recent, fresh prophetic word is taken by people as a signal to walk away from following God, to cast off restraint, give in to temptation or go after other pursuits. It is a dangerous proposition (as the KJV states – “the people perish”).

But blessed, or happy, is the one – now pointing to the individual – who remembers the eternal word of God and maintains restraint.

In the practice of corporate faith, there is an ongoing “vogue” of the latest thing spoken and heard. The fresh word from a prophet has a crisp feel to it; a relevance and personal, contemporary touch. There is a vibrant, vital preaching or worship ministry happening, and it captures hearts and attracts many followers. Growth may be exponential and blessing abundant and rich.

But, invariably, the season ends. The Lord ends it, if for no other reason than people start to depend upon it. As Keith Green sang – “nothing lasts except the grace of God by which I stand in Jesus”.

As a result, there can quickly develop a “what have you done for me lately?” accusation towards God. But God is not duty bound to provide a constant flow of special words for people or sustain any given movement or ministry. We have been given another, more eternal and powerful word already. That is what the blessed one has, undergirding it all.

Firstly, it is necessary test for any sermon or prophecy to align with the given Word of God. Secondly, to experience prophetic words and in-season messages and on-fire ministries should not be a source of pride; yet that can and does happen. With that pride, when the experience ceases, so do faith and obedience. Being rooted and grounded in the Word is critical at those points.

And likewise, there is no room for pride among those to heed wisdom’s instruction either, for wisdom demands humility. And there is blessing or happiness in being kept safe and in faith.

Endangered place and nation

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟭𝟭:𝟰𝟳-𝟰𝟴 𝗦𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱, “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼? 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀. 𝗜𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.”

Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, with many witnesses, including Pharisees who could not deny the miraculous work. Some of them began following Jesus at that point, but others returned to Jerusalem, concerned for what this meant to their standing and security. Their words above indicate a fear of lost prominence (“our place”) and the nation of Israel itself (“our nation”).

It was presumed, then, that Jesus was as they were, power-grubbing authority hounds who lorded what they knew and what they did over the people. And of course Jesus was after political control, inciting rebellion against the Roman occupiers. Jesus had never given any indication of those claims and projecting motives was just wrong.

It’s not that Jesus would ever uphold their leadership; they ran a corrupt system of perverse and diluted spirituality. That meant they were indeed in danger of losing their “place”. But that was happening in any case for in 70 AD the nation rebelled and their entire system was destroyed, temple and all. Towards the religious practice of Jews of Israel, Jesus could be seen as more of a reformer than rebel. Yet, the authorities would have none of it.

It is upon me to not defend my position or my nation or my church or my family from Jesus. Why would I do that? Because I am afraid of the change Jesus would bring. I might lose authority or influence. My country might become “weak” in its defenses or standing among nations. I might have to eat humble pie and admit and turn my sin and patterns of control and coercion.

I may never say I’d oppose Jesus and strongly state my allegiance to everything he says or does. But in fact the Holy Spirit is inexorable in revealing ways I still cling to my own ways, possessions and importance. Prestige is a subtle yet vicious idol.

God is good and grants all humanity with fulfillment, justice and truth. We have stuff and position and blessed trajectory in life all from God’s hand. None of that is retracted or relented. The temptation and worldly encouragement is to construct surroundings and systems that protect and accumulate those blessings in ways that benefit us above all else. That’s idolatry. That’s being afraid for “our place” and “our nation”.

Christ in us is better than that and

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘀 𝟭𝟬:𝟮𝟮 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁.

that is, wealth of all kinds. Let me (and let us) rest in that.

The need for a mighty hand

Exodus 3:19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him.

Moses was speaking to God at the burning bush, a supernatural phenomenon where a fire was burning a desert shrub yet not consuming it. That miracle was non-destructive yet pointed to a spiritual presence that would be with Moses the rest of his days. He was being called to confront the most powerful man, ruling over the most powerful country, in the world.

The hesitance of Moses is predictable and it’s also inspiring that he went to do what God had commanded anyway. In the verse above God communicated that He well knew the disposition of Pharaoh. And God knew how to deal with it and him.

God knows the hearts of those who cling to power, wielding it like they are themselves indestructible. The compulsion to make them acquiescent to any suggestion, let alone command, can only be applied by something or someone stronger than they. Wars are fought to maintain the upper hand of power. And those wars needn’t be physical, they can be procedural, diplomatic or just be wars of words. Yet power is still held once they are fought – that is what matters to the kingpin.

Destructive measures are called for if the will of the one who rules is to be changed. It is unfortunate, but the measures which that one will go to are also destructive, so fire must be fought with fire. We can mourn the loss of so many others besides Pharaoh in what was to come, particularly when the angel of death came, but when you back a ruler, you share his/her pride and enforce his/her will. “Just following orders” will not hold up before justice.

So, a mighty hand would indeed compel Pharaoh and all Israel would see the wonders of God vividly and pointedly. In the merciful will of God one can surmise it was not Plan A, but to the wicked, God shows himself shrewd. Moses would say “Let my people go” but it was God speaking.

Crucifying the flesh

Scripture:

Galatians 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Observation:

In his defense of salvation by faith and not works, it was important to cite that salvation by faith is not a prescription for an unbridled lifestyle with a goal of fulfilling every base passion and desire.  Paul made a list of behaviors that are inconsistent with Kingdom living – sinful practices that his critics would identify easily from the Law of Moses.  And yet they were practices that they also indulged in, which Paul knew from his earlier life.  Contrasting those were the nine-fold fruits of the Holy Spirit.  They didn’t just contrast behavior – they contrasted behavior with attitude.  And then came the punch line above.  It is a crucifixion of passions and desires that the believer does.  THAT is the action that overcomes all the foul outworking of the flesh.  So sin is cut off at inception.  It is not allowed to fester into action since its core – the flesh, that which gratifies but does not satisfy – is to be nailed to the cross to die a slow death.  And a slow death it is, for long have people learned to lean into passions and desires, to coddle and entertain like toys.  These diversions are to be crucified by the believer, put on open display where they were formerly covered as they achieved their clandestine destruction.  This is the stuff of testimony, the glory of overcoming.  For God has so saved his children that they arm themselves with battle gear that they wield as guided tactically and strategically.  But the core work is that of replaced passion.

Application:

How does my group of flesh toys look on the cross?  Is it growing in number?  Am I leaving it there?  And it’s not just deeds I put up there, but the passions and desires that produced them.  Are those seen on the cross as well?  Have I crucified selfishness, malice, pride and anger?  Again, not just angry deeds, but anger.  I must concede it is an ongoing task.  Let me not be discouraged by the tense of the verb – “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified…” – for certainly there are passions and desires that are well-crucified and no longer reign in my heart.  And let me not lose heart in the battle against learned responses – for no one comes to Christ without a former straying from the truth.  Also, no one who would serve Christ in this world is immune from temptation.  Only let me identify such a lure by its core desire – what is it that would draw me down?  What is lacking?  What is being falsely promised?  Why is this passion so alluring to me?  Those questions deal less with the action of sin than they do with its intent.  For it is that intent that brings out the crucifying hammer in me.  Finding it, rooting it out, making its lies an open display.  THAT is the work of crucifying the flesh, for when I allow the Spirit I do that, it is a solid work of redemption.  May it be my regular and progressive spiritual exercise.

Prayer:

Father, it is your work of grace that brings me to awe and wonder.  Continue your work in me for I open myself to you.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

The humble boast

Scripture:

Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

Observation:

The corruption in Israeli society was utterly destructive. Judgment was coming as a result – awful recompense of death and exile. For in normal life, there was a constant threat of violence and crime. Deceit was part of normal speech. The arrogant, self-aggrandizing boasting was part of that deceit, but the deceit was inward as well as outward. Jeremiah cited three bases for such boasting – wisdom, might (or strength) and riches.

In each case, personal traits or personal gain was made equivalent to personal worth. And by inference if you didn’t have those traits or material gain, your worth was less. This way of thinking has been with human beings forever, and it remains with us today. The problem is not having admirable qualities or nice things, but in making the equation to their being what gives people worth. Jeremiah minces no words – there is definitely something to be proud of, something that increases people’s worth. It’s knowing and seeking to understand God, abiding in humble faith that works His traits and purposes out in life – love, justice and righteousness. This does not miss the effect of society – for it is the outworking of these traits “in the earth” that marked their full effect. God’s delight is in these; they are his signature on human motive and accomplishment, for they are actually his accomplishment.

Application:

Boasting is all around us. Even in places where it is unfashionable in its outright practice, people find ways to flaunt their goods, good-looks and personal traits. They develop ways to make people notice. Not so the people of God, disciples of Christ. Though they do wonderfully righteous and kind things, it is not to be noticed. Nor is it to put others down but rather to raise Christ up. The object of their boasting is simply being part of the Kingdom, to be able to know and understand the workings of God’s purposes on the earth. For it is the outcome of the good deeds of God’s people that injustice is erased and lives and property and dignity is restored and redeemed. So the goal is giving and not taking, emptying and not amassing. It’s not that the praiseworthy traits and possessions of wisdom, strength and wealth don’t matter. They are greatly useful in what is truly “boast-worthy”. But they are tools to be utilized along the way, not end point achievements of life. If I am blessed with money or wisdom, let it be expended in service to the Kingdom. The work of the Kingdom is also not a human socialistic program of equitable redistribution. The destruction caused by such “blessing engineering” has marred entire nations. While there is a definite ennobling of the poor, it is not as simple as giving money to the penniless – though that is part of it. It is spawning the same giving cycle in a disciple-making pattern that spans generations and cultures.

Prayer:

Father, let me boast in all you have done, are doing and will do in and through me. That can sound like a cliche at times; I only mean I want to be found doing your work for your reasons. In Jesus’ name, amen.

What is worthy and why

Scripture:

Revelation 13:4 .. and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, saying “Who is like the beast, and also is able to wage war with him?”

Observation:

Humankind needs to worship. People know instinctively there is something/someone greater than they which to deem worthy of adulation and devotion. Even if it is an ideal or an inflated, narcissistic view of their own person.

In this apocalyptic narrative, the dragon and the beast have come to power. The beast had been healed/resurrected and was awesome to behold. Given authoritative power by the dragon – as well as healed by him – the beast was without peer in wielding that power and authority over all the earth. So, the people worshiped him out of fear – a fear which became justified by future actions and decrees. They saw the beast as invincible in conflict; certainly by any human being.

Application:

Am I impressed by power? Does might or beauty or accomplishment make right or at least devotion in my heart? Certainly God is mighty. But that’s just one of the many attributes that makes Him the subject of my worship. Tribalists and the politically focused have a worship basis that ascribes governmental power above all. In the face of power like that there is either acquiescence or rebellion. That’s why God’s power is not founded in political or worldly measurement at all but in all love, mercy, righteousness and divine glory. He speaks and it is done. Though that may well be the aspiration of an earthly ruler, those rulers have a decidedly tepid and inferior power of authority. Love is God’s motive and accomplishment in reign, not subjugation or terrible fear. The story in this scripture shows that even creative power can be counterfeited, but it is the motive of the ruler that establishes the worthiness to be worshiped and nothing else. And there is NO ruler like God Almighty who sought me out by sending His Son to die in my place. May I learn to worship God alone, above and in contrast to all earthly objects of worship.

Prayer:

Father, allow me perspective to see past all earthly pursuits and power-bases and seek Your glory alone. Amen!

Thunder and rain during harvest – 1 Samuel 12:17-18 (April 11, 2013)

Scripture:

1 Samuel 12:17-18 Is it not wheat harvest now? I will call on the Lord to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king.” Then Samuel called on the Lord, and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the Lord and of Samuel.

Observation:

The people had asked Samuel to give them a king “like the nations around us” and after praying, he had done so. But the request was an evil one, for it showed a lack of trust in the God Who had delivered them for generations. And the people didn’t appreciate it; they simply wanted a human ruler. So Saul was anointed king and at this juncture, he had just led the army of Israel in victory over the Ammonite king Nahash. Now, in Israel, dry weather is the rule during the time of wheat harvest – late June to early July. And indeed, if rainy, bad weather occurred, it would have the potential of ruining the harvest due to delay or rot. So, when Samuel announced thunder and rain, even the announcement was a fearful thing. And when it came, it opened the ears of the people to hear what Samuel had to say. They had completely ignored his advice before, demanding a king over anything he said. And God Himself had told Samuel to capitulate to their wishes concerning that request. But now, even after a great victory with their new leader, their sin of distrust and self-reliance was revealed to them. Indeed, the victory provided the perfect backdrop for the lesson, for it made their request seem so wise, even though it was the Lord all along Who had delivered the Ammonites into their hands. Incidentally, perhaps as a foreshadow, Saul the new king, though filled with the Holy Spirit, did not pray prior to going to battle.

Application:

What do I insist upon at the expense of trusting God? Truly, the places of my being a spoiled brat are many, embarrassing as that may be to say. Do I think it’s a small thing to trust in my strength and pay no attention to my Deliverer? I need to have thunder and rain interrupt my harvest such that I take notice. God tolerated the sins of Israel to a point; because on the way to unfaithfulness were a number of steps marking the downward progress. His warnings are merciful, true points of tenderness designed to wake His people like an alarm clock from their spiritual slumber. Let me be careful what I insist upon before Him, for He is able and has promised to provide all I need. And He follows through on that promise in His own way and His own time. If I object to that , the at the core I am declaring myself sovereign over Him. So where can I re-establish trust today? It will involve waiting patiently; let that be settled in my expecting heart. But when He does provide, He does so in a way that builds my faith, while my own provision in fact tears my faith in God down, for I accept the false testimony that He wasn’t going to supply what I needed/wanted anyway. I run the risk of making the error of the wicked servant in the parable of the talents – calling God a miser and a cheat. No, I will do something radical this day – I will talk with God and receive His word for my life. And I will not set up a king over me to take His place.

Prayer:

Father, be my all in all today. Show me Your provision in the past and what it will be going forward. Truly You have loved me with and everlasting love and if You have tolerated my self-reliance, it was an expression of that love, patient with me and kind. I bless You for Your care for me, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Offending Artemis – Acts 19:27 (February 12, 2013)

Scripture:

Acts 19: 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

Observation:

It had been over two years since the Apostle Paul had “set up shop” to teach God’s Word in the lecture hall of Tyrannus in Ephesus in modern day Turkey.  God had done stunning miracles through Paul and the name of Jesus Christ was anything but a swear word around town.  Now, Ephesus was the home of the temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.  In service to that temple was a group of businesses that catered to visiting worshipers.  One of them, Demetrius, noticing that his business was down, made the connection between the teaching of Paul and his lower profits.  In his argument above, he showed that it was not only business that suffered, but the reputation of his profession.  For if idols made by hands were not gods, then he was implicitly deceiving people.  So, conviction concerning the integrity of his trade drove him as well, and he then cited his (and the nation’s) faith in the goddess Artemis.  Now, like all Greek deities, she had her specialties, and she was “goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, virginity and protector of young girls, bringing and relieving disease in women … “  So it was no small thing to those who had not yet put faith in Christ that miracles were taking place in His name at the expense of their faith in their patron goddess.  She was, as Demetrius said, being “robbed of her divine majesty.”

Application:

That’s right: either Christ is Lord or Artemis is and I’ll go with Christ.  It is black and white.  But even this side of faith in Christ, what challenges to my beliefs cause me to protest and riot?  Demetrius and his friends chanted “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians” for 2 hours, as if their voices alone were establishing truth.  Do I cling to my doctrine like that?  Do I denounce a brother in Christ like that?  Certainly I can hold onto what I have been taught and teach others in peace.  And certainly I can peacefully confront another – or s/he can confront me – if there is controversy.  And wherever I am sowing seed, I should expect Demetrius to object.  The god of reason, intellect and wealth is challenged by the transformative power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  None of those gods can do what Jesus did on the cross – give a new heart to believers and start a process of progressive salvation in their adherents.  In nations where other belief systems hold their people, it is no surprise to see violent actions in opposition to the Lord.  Like Demetrius, the infrastructure is not only threatened, it is absolutely going to collapse once Jesus is King in people’s hearts.  Now, there is redemption.   Demetrius could well have turned his talents into artwork for the Kingdom, though crucifixes and other adornments were shunned in the church at the time.  God gave the man talent; let me know that very well as I share the truth with the people around me.  They are fearfully and wonderfully made, but not made in order to serve false gods.  It is black and white.

Prayer:

Father, Your conviction is heavy; no one can wiggle out of it.  And there is no middle ground of faith.  Let me walk, polarized to this world by my faith in Jesus.  And let me see You at work among those around me, that You would grant me mercy and love for them even through their objections.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Received by revelation – Galatians 1:11-12 (November 5, 2012)

Scripture:

Galatians 1:11-12  I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.  I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Observation:

Paul went right after the error the Galatians had fallen into – mixing grace with law and allowing their salvation to be tainted by trying to qualify themselves before God by being circumcised and observing the letter of the Law of Moses.  In the statement above, he made the distinction between the traditions of men and the word of God.  He had been given that word given directly on his way to persecute the believers in Damascus.  So he knew the zealous purposes of the Judaizers having been driven by them even more than they.  Yet he was driven by them no longer and it was directly attributable to God’s personal and direct intervention.  That overrode his religion and set his life on the course that had brought him around the Roman Empire and to the founding of the church in Galatia itself.  So the revelation was superior to that of the testimony of those under the Law, passed down for generations.  And .. so was his new teacher – again, God Himself.  Following his fall off the horse and dramatic reversal of direction, the enlightened and Spirit-inspired perusal of the scriptures he had so diligently studied earlier had revealed Jesus throughout the Tenach, the Old Testament.   He then used the same scriptures as the Jewish teachers to advance the gospel based upon that revelation from Christ.

Application:

Do I accept the argument of people that my faith is just one of many paths made available by the words and religious practices of other people?  Do I demote its divine origin by settling for religious practice and rote recitation of law I can hardly obey?  If so I have fallen into the error of the church in Galatia, into obedience without divine relationship which is obeying mere men, however exalted in religious circles.  I need to escape the flint knife of circumcision, the dull ritual of ideological alignment, the hypocritical oppression of political correctness and platform espousal.  No, I can pray and be heard by the Creator of the universe.  All else is complete waste and tragic distraction.  At worst it will completely take me off the path God has for me.  Let me get back to the divine revelation, that simple but eternally powerful transforming Word that has been sowed so deeply into my soul.  There was no mistake there, no misguided walk into the light.  The light of God frees, it does not bind like the flashlight of human religion which looks only upon the surface.  Any obedience coming from that revelation is delightful and triumphant, NOT merely dutiful and momentarily pleasing to the masters of darkness.  For their pleasure is my ultimate cancellation while God desires me to be free indeed.  Hallelujah.

Prayer:

Search me O God and see if there be any evil way within me and let me walk in the way everlasting.  For You have known me and You have saved me.  I am Yours forever.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Gold gone worthless – Ezekiel 7:19-20 (August 29, 2012)

Scripture:

Ezekiel 7:19-20 They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing. Their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. They cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it. For it was the stumbling block of their iniquity.  His beautiful ornament they used for pride, and they made their abominable images and their detestable things of it. Therefore I make it an unclean thing to them.

Observation:

That which the people of Jerusalem thought so precious that it even defined them became worthless when judgment fell.  Nothing could be bought or bartered in the economy of desperation.  Nothing ever can be.  They had made their possessions more valuable than justice or righteousness and those possessions now showed themselves impotent.  Gold used to buy things – from the three staple needs of food, clothing and shelter to that which brought prestige and curried favor.  For those with gold to find themselves utterly destitute was a complete overthrow of society and culture.  At the point of this passage the rich were on equal footing with their former slaves and victims.  Gold and silver could not be eaten and without food, all were starving to death.  This was judgment and the most vivid kind of idol destruction.   The worship of riches had to cease in order for the worship of God to commence; though these people were far from worshiping God in their suffering.  They were in shock.  Their money had become that which destroyed their faith and thus its value needed to be destroyed before their eyes.  Indeed, the choice material for manufacturing idols was precious metals.  These were those who could afford the fanciest of worship-ware.  If one were to pray to an idol, how much better to a golden one!  Now the gold was abhorrent, worthless and a bitter reminder of their error and wayward hearts.

Application:

And where is my gold?  Where is my worship?  Do I need the best of all materials to worship well?  Does my instrumentation need to be state-of-the-art and my technology need to be that which inspires envy?  Let my heart know right now that all that is a trap.  There is no limit to the goods one can be blessed with in life.  But the more it is, the more carefully it must be kept off the pedestal of the heart.  Thanksgiving is critical in the shower of blessing; anything else creates idols and builds pride.  And if one is blessed, one must also keep the blessing flowing with growing, even reckless generosity.  If I should lose everything – I mean everything – would I on that day yet praise God my Savior as I am fond of singing?  Would I still be able to live for others?  Would I sacrifice myself or scrounge for survival at others’ expense?  It’s only a contrived scenario in the sense that I have not yet lived it; it was the scene in Jerusalem after decades and decades of rampant depravity.  Is it so different today?  How many worship their riches?  How many others live in envy?  The best thing I can to do keep my countrymen from such judgment is to be a witness of God’s grace and worship Him in spirit and in truth.  It is absolutely counter-cultural and that’s the only way to be if culture worships the wrong things.  Let me never long for judgment but instead long for all to become worshipers of the only One who saves.

Prayer:

Father, keep my heart from exalting the things of this world.  If they be tools for Your glory, so be it.  But let my heart remain yours always, even if it means I must lose all that glitters.  In Jesus’ name, amen.