Dear KMAG: 20210110 Open Topic

This Sanctuary Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

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Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this intellectual haven that Wolf has created for us.

In the following article there are one or two statements (not from God’s Word) that I cannot see are supported by God’s Word . . . or, perhaps, I’m not wise enough to make a solid connection to God’s Word. Nevertheless, this article is a timely presentation for our times.

God Raises Up Kings or Nations
and Removes Them

“Before Him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by Him as worthless and less than nothing. To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare Him to?” (Isaiah 40:17,18 )

Civilizations come and go, and governments rise and fall. Because our Creator loves people, He also blesses each nation with a span of time so it might prosper and do well, but this blessing ends when a nation becomes degenerate, rebellious, and unfit for self-rule. When God determines that extended mercy for a nation has no redeeming effect, He marginalizes or destroys that nation.

Many Christians understand that God destroyed the world in Noah’s day because it became evil, but this is only part of the picture! God drowned all but eight people in Noah’s day to free future generations from the evil conduct that belonged to their parents and grandparents. The Lord created the Earth and it belongs to Him. He loves future generations just as much as He loves the present generation. When it becomes evident to Him that future generations will be ruined by the behaviors passed down by parents and grandparents, He wipes out the present generation. He did this in Noah’s day. In more recent times, He did this with World Wars I and II. Surprisingly, a God of love imposed these wars during the first half of the 20^th century so the world’s population would grow and flourish 75 more years before needing another world war. “But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King. When He is angry, the Earth trembles; the nations cannot endure His wrath.” (Jeremiah 10:10) ‘I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.’ ” (Isaiah 45:7)

Many Christians will not accept the premise that a God of love destroys nations when they become decadent and degenerate. (Ezekiel 14:12-21) Notice what the Lord said to Ezekiel: “ ‘Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals, even if these three men – Noah, Daniel and Job – were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness,’ declares the Sovereign Lord. . . . ‘Or if I bring a sword against that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass throughout the land,’ and I kill its men and their animals, as surely as I live,’ declares the Sovereign Lord, ‘even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved.’ ” (Ezekiel 14:13-18)

World War III is Coming!

Sooner than later, the “sword” is going to come again. World War III will occur. Tensions are mounting. Nations are preparing for war. Secret alliances are being made. Military spending has increased. And now, for the first time since World War II, Japan and South Korea are building missiles for protection. India is seeking to purchase submarines that can carry missiles. Iran is developing its military prowess as fast as possible. Israel is perfecting its use of drones. China, Russia, and the United States are in an arms race and North Korea is defying the world’s nations. Like it or not, World War III is coming; and when it does, millions of people will die.

Meanwhile at home, the United States is suffering from paralysis. The leaders are fighting each other. They are bogged down with complex domestic problems and cannot get anything done because they cannot agree on a solution. Partisanship has created a do-nothing legislature. The U.S. is facing large, complex problems so expensive that no one can offer a good solution. Many governments in the world are in a similar or worse situation.

According to the Bible, the longevity of a government is determined by its commitment to moral principles God has dictated. When a majority of people abide by these principles, God blesses that nation with prosperity and longevity. He sends the Holy Spirit to prompt honest hearted citizens to be good neighbors. The Holy Spirit helps people make good decisions because good decisions bring good results for individuals, families, and ultimately, the nation. To ensure continuity for oncoming generations, God also raises up good leaders and the result is a good government that prospers and endures. This is why King David wrote: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance. From Heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on Earth– He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse [a symbol of military might] is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.” (Psalm 33:12-19, insertion mine)

Governments are very complex organizations. In fact, they are so complicated that men cannot manage a government on their own. Of course, a man or woman can rise to the position of a king, queen, dictator, or president, but only with God’s approval. God sets kings up and takes them down according to His higher purposes. Sometimes God will raise up a king to serve as a destroyer of other nations only to destroy that king and his nation when they pass the point of no return. (Jeremiah 25:9-12) Because we cannot know or understand God’s higher purposes until He reveals them, we have to trust Him. We have to accept that He is carefully and thoughtfully managing the political processes on Earth to benefit the world. Daniel told king Nebuchadnezzar, “He [the Most High God] changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.” (Daniel 2:21,22, insertion mine)

God Does Not Guarantee a Nation Will Be Successful

History indicates that prosperity and longevity is not a guaranteed right for any nation. A nation will flourish or disappear depending on the behavior of its people and the wisdom of its leaders. God enables a nation to prosper for as long as the majority of its people are honorable, living right, and making wise choices. Think of the billions of decisions, the actions and consequences that occur every day within every nation. If a million immoral decisions are made each day, a million evil consequences will follow, because the law of “cause and effect” cannot be broken. Whatever we sow, we reap. (Galatians 6:7,8) This axiom is true for individuals and governments.

For example, when Dictator Mao Zedong implemented “The Great Leap Forward” program in 1958, he did not anticipate that his efforts to transform China from an agricultural economy into a communist society would cause mass starvation within five years. We now know that His decision resulted in the death of some eighteen to fifty-five million people! A God of love allowed Mao to make such a decision even though God foreknew the outcome and He allowed Mao to rule over China for twenty five years as dictator. This is because Mao’s choices fit within God’s plans for the future of China and the world. This is a hard concept to accept because we cannot see the end from the beginning as God does. In fact, a time is coming when God will allow the devil himself to rule over the whole world! (Revelation 13:11-18)

Jesus understood the curse of sin. He knew that evil things happen to innocent people, and He made it clear that those who cause others harm will be repaid: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.” (Luke 17:1,2) “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)

Because adults have free will and a sinful nature a nation always has the possibility of rebellion and chaos. This is why law enforcement is necessary. To help offset man’s propensity for rebellion, and to help nations grow and improve, God has given adults the ability to recognize and appreciate a need for law and order. He has also given us a “natural desire” to live in peace with one another and in harmony with the laws of the country. Paul was aware of this phenomenon when he wrote Romans 13. As you read his remarks, keep in mind that Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote this: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.” (Romans 13:1-6, italics mine)

When a nation advocates and exalts evil, a patient God removes His blessings from that nation in small steps, hoping that repentance and correction will occur. If there is no change in behavior, problems soon begin to sprout like dandelions after a spring rain. The nation’s economy flounders. Poverty increases. Sexual misconduct ruins relationships, and families and children are abused by predators. Political problems escalate until finally, war engulfs that weakened nation. One of the tell-tale signs of a nation’s imminent downfall is the arrival of poor managers. When people are put in positions of power that are self-seeking and immoral, we know the end is near because they only make matters worse. When lies and suspicion replace truth and trust, government is doomed. God is no respecter of persons. He will destroy nations that He once blessed when they become unfit for His purposes because He owns and rules over the Earth.

God Permits Rebellion Against a Cruel Government

The Bible teaches that man’s first and highest duty is to obey God. (This is why church/state governments are so dangerous.) When man’s laws run contrary to God’s laws, civil disobedience is warranted. When Jewish leaders forbade the disciples from speaking about a resurrected Jesus, “Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!’ ” (Acts 5:29) Jesus highlighted the concept of “God first” when He repeated the first and greatest commandment. He said we must love God with all of our heart, mind and soul and the second commandment is that we must love our neighbors as ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-39) Given the order presented in these two commandments, Paul’s counsel in Romans 13 could be considered a third commandment, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.”

When a government becomes cruel and oppressive, tyranny occurs and under such circumstances, God permits revolt, civil disobedience, and war. In fact, the United States came to be a nation through acts of civil disobedience and the revolutionary war. Then, about seventy-five years later, a civil war broke out between the north and the south and 620,000 people perished. In spite of all the blood that was shed in both wars, consider the results. A great nation arose, greater than England by far! A nation having fifty united states where no man is permitted to own another as a slave.

Many people have argued through the centuries (using Paul’s comments in Romans 13:1-6 and a concept called “the divine right of kings”) that revolting against government leaders is forbidden by Scripture. But Paul included an important qualifier in his remarks. Paul said, “For he is God’s servant to do you good.” When a government violates God’s laws and when leaders become dishonest, cruel, and oppressive to maintain their power, they are doing no good. God warns all government rulers that they will have to give an account for their actions. (Psalm 2:10-12)

Citizens of the U.S. are blessed to live in a country that has the finest constitution ever created, but the nation is falling apart because people have abandoned the moral principles which God requires to receive His blessings. Corruption is replacing confidence and there is no shortage of liars and predators in politics. Forty million of 360 million U.S. citizens need assistance to buy food and the median price of a home is beyond the reach of three-fourths of the population. The number of people in poverty is swelling because the middle class is disappearing. Wages are stagnant and student loans are proving to be ruinous for millions of young people. More than ever, fellow Americans do not like or trust each other; and more and more, we carry guns because we are increasingly afraid of each other. America has fallen so fast!

God Has a Solution to National Degeneracy

There is no human solution to the world’s problems, but there is a divine solution for both. The downfall of all nations is near! During the Great Tribulation a stern-faced king will arise; he will take control and utterly ruin everything on Earth – a fitting end for a world that insists on evil behavior.

*https://wake-up.org/morality/god-raises-up-kings-or-nations-and-removes-them-larry-w-wilson.html

How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord?

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.

Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

. . . for the kingdom of God is . . . righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Behold, I am coming soon.

1-6-21 Midweek Musings

Thy Will Shall Be Done

Daniel 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?”

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Proverbs 16:4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

Nehemiah 9:6 “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and You preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships You.

Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done . . .

There are many conditional promises in the Bible. God will do this if we do that. God will relent if we repent. God will answer if we pray.

Perhaps the most famous example of this in the Scriptures in 2 Chronicles 7:14, spoken by the Lord to King Solomon after the building of the first temple in Jerusalem.

Starting in v. 13 for context, it reads, “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Now, we cannot make a direct application of this verse to the USA, since America is not chosen in the sense that Israel was chosen, and God does not call our entire nation “My people.”

Yet, since there are tens of millions of His people in America, to the extent we humble ourselves and repent and pray, I believe that God will answer from heaven and mercy on our nation.

How, then, does this apply to the outcome of the elections? And, when all is said and done and the votes are fully counted, can we say, “The will of God has been done”?

I believe the answer is yes, we can say, “God’s will was done,” regardless of the outcome.

I say that because for much of this year, there has been a steady stream of prayer ascending to heaven.

The impeachment hearings drove us to prayer.

The pandemic drove us to prayer.

The protests and riots drove us to prayer.

The elections drove us to prayer.

Even now, as I write, 24/7 prayer vigils are taking place around the world – and I mean prayer vigils for America.

Millions have been crying out for mercy, for God’s intervention, for His will to be carried out in our land.

On September 26 alone, there were two massive gatherings in DC, Franklin Graham’s Prayer March and The Return.

Another large gathering took place on October 25, also in DC, focused on worship and prayer, including a special prayer meeting outside the Supreme Court.

Pastors and leaders who never prayed together have been gathering for regular online prayer meetings focused on repentance and abasement and seeking of mercy.

Churches that have gathered together despite the pandemic have devoted time in their meetings for prayer.

Another major event in DC culminated immediately before I started to write this article, with seasoned participants saying that they never seen such a prayer emphasis in their lives.

That’s why I truly believe that whatever the outcome of the elections we will be able to say, “The will of God was done.”

I know that there are some who believe that, when it comes to the leader of a nation, the will of God is always done. In other words, they believe that God sets up one leader and brings down another. And, despite the fact that we get to vote for our presidents here, they still say, “The president is the one whom God appointed to be president.”

But when Trump was elected in 2016, against all odds and with so many prophetic words saying it would happen, I wrote an article titled, “Donald Trump, President of the United States by the Sovereign Intervention of God.”

It seemed to be a clear example of God’s sovereign hand. Outside of His working, I could not see this happening.

This doesn’t mean that there was only one divine purpose involved. As David G. noted on Twitter, in his view, the Lord’s raising up Trump has been “a mercy, a judgment, and a test.”

I concur with this, recognizing multiple divine purposes in the Trump presidency.

When it comes to the outcome of the 2020 elections, with the amount of prayer and fasting that has taken place, whoever the winner is, I will be convinced that God’s will was done.

That being said, it’s possible that His answer will be the opposite of what we wanted in the short term, only to lead to greater good in the long term.

To be sure, it is possible that He will answer with great mercy, giving us time to mend our ways while our liberties remain protected.

But it’s also possible that He will answer with judgment, something to humble us and drive us to an even deeper place of contrition. Have we really gotten to the place called for in Joel 2, where we rend our hearts, where we weep and wail, where we grieve deeply over our corporate and personal sins? Could it be that, with an outcome that is to our liking, we will return to our complacent state?

Only God knows the answers to these questions. But I truly believe that He has heard our prayers for intervention and that His purposes will come to pass.

Should Trump be reelected, I will focus my energy on calling for ongoing prayer, repentance, and obedience, leading to revival in the church and awakening in the nation.

Should Biden be elected, I will focus my energy on calling for ongoing prayer, repentance, and obedience, leading to revival in the church and awakening in the nation.

Either way, I will not point to a biased media or to voter fraud or to low (evangelical?) voter turnout as the decider of the elections.

I will point to the one who sits enthroned in heaven. He is the King, after all.

*https://askdrbrown.org/library/i-believe-will-god-will-be-done

Dear KMAG: 20210103 Open Topic

This Sanctuary Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It is also a place to read, post and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion , outlined here https://wqth.wordpress.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/

Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this intellectual haven that Wolf has created for us.

God Replaces an Evil Government

On Wednesday, we saw how God intervened in the affairs of men, in this case Persian King Nebuchadnezzar, until he knew that “the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”

As an example of God intervening in the affairs of men to replace an evil government, today’s post involves God’s installment of Josiah as king of Judah. It’s longish, but I think well worth the read, particularly in view of rumored (perhaps much more than rumored) former pagan practices in the White House and possible connections to child trafficking. Also pertinent is the incident of Pope Francis accepting and placing a bowl, earth and plant, dedicated to the false pagan goddess Pachamama on the papal altar in St. Peter’s Basilica.

I don’t intend to single out Catholics here. There are many (far, far too many), Protestant religious leaders who have strayed away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ and God’s Word.

Manasseh King of Judah

2 Kings 21 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. ²He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. ³He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. ⁴He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.” ⁵In the two courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. ⁶He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced divination, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

⁷He took the carved Asherah pole he had made and put it in the temple, of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. ⁸I will not again make the feet of the Israelites wander from the land I gave their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses gave them.” ⁹But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.

¹⁰The Lord said through his servants the prophets: ¹¹“Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols. ¹²Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. ¹³I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. ¹⁴I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and give them into the hands of enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their enemies; ¹⁵they have done evil in my eyes and have aroused my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day.”

¹⁶Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

¹⁷As for the other events of Manasseh’s reign, and all he did, including the sin he committed, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ¹⁸Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzza. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.

Amon King of Judah

¹⁹Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she was from Jotbah. ²⁰He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. ²¹He followed completely the ways of his father, worshiping the idols his father had worshiped, and bowing down to them. ²²He forsook the Lord, the God of his ancestors, and did not walk in obedience to him.

²³Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated the king in his palace. ²⁴Then the people of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.

²⁵As for the other events of Amon’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ²⁶He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza. And Josiah his son succeeded him as king.

The Book of the Law Found

2 Kings 22 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. ²He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

³In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the Lord. He said: ⁴“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. ⁵Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the Lord— ⁶the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. ⁷But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are honest in their dealings.”

⁸Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. ⁹Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” ¹⁰Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

¹¹When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. ¹²He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: ¹³“Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”

¹⁴Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

¹⁵She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, ¹⁶‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. ¹⁷Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made,^[a] my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’ ¹⁸Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: ¹⁹Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse^[b] and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. ²⁰Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’”

So they took her answer back to the king.

Josiah Renews the Covenant

2 Kings 23 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. ²He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. ³The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

⁴The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the Lord all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel. ⁵He did away with the idolatrous priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the towns of Judah and on those around Jerusalem—those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations and to all the starry hosts. ⁶He took the Asherah pole from the temple of the Lord to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem and burned it there. He ground it to powder and scattered the dust over the graves of the common people. ⁷He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the temple of the Lord, the quarters where women did weaving for Asherah.

⁸Josiah brought all the priests from the towns of Judah and desecrated the high places, from Geba to Beersheba, where the priests had burned incense. He broke down the gateway at the entrance of the Gate of Joshua, the city governor, which was on the left of the city gate. ⁹Although the priests of the high places did not serve at the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem, they ate unleavened bread with their fellow priests.

¹⁰He desecrated Topheth, which was in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, so no one could use it to sacrifice their son or daughter in the fire to Molek. ¹¹He removed from the entrance to the temple of the Lord the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun. They were in the court^[a] near the room of an official named Nathan-Melek. Josiah then burned the chariots dedicated to the sun.

¹²He pulled down the altars the kings of Judah had erected on the roof near the upper room of Ahaz, and the altars Manasseh had built in the two courts of the temple of the Lord. He removed them from there, smashed them to pieces and threw the rubble into the Kidron Valley. ¹³The king also desecrated the high places that were east of Jerusalem on the south of the Hill of Corruption—the ones Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the vile goddess of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the vile god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the people of Ammon. ¹⁴Josiah smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles and covered the sites with human bones.

¹⁵Even the altar at Bethel, the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin—even that altar and high place he demolished. He burned the high place and ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole also. ¹⁶Then Josiah looked around, and when he saw the tombs that were there on the hillside, he had the bones removed from them and burned on the altar to defile it, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by the man of God who foretold these things.

¹⁷The king asked, “What is that tombstone I see?”

The people of the city said, “It marks the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and pronounced against the altar of Bethel the very things you have done to it.”

¹⁸“Leave it alone,” he said. “Don’t let anyone disturb his bones.” So they spared his bones and those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

¹⁹Just as he had done at Bethel, Josiah removed all the shrines at the high places that the kings of Israel had built in the towns of Samaria and that had aroused the Lord’s anger. ²⁰Josiah slaughtered all the priests of those high places on the altars and burned human bones on them. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

²¹The king gave this order to all the people: “Celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” ²²Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed. ²³But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.

²⁴Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the Lord. ²⁵Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.

²⁶Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to arouse his anger. ²⁷So the Lord said, “I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’^[b]”

²⁸As for the other events of Josiah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

²⁹While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo. ³⁰Josiah’s servants brought his body in a chariot from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and anointed him and made him king in place of his father.

In view of the above, I think that Pope Francis is treading on very thin ice, indeed, with his honoring of the Pachamama bowl. From LifeSiteNews and Archbishop Viganò:

Archbishop Viganò: Is Pope Francis Preparing Us To Accept The Antichrist?

December 23, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, in a new interview with LifeSite, comments on LifeSite’s report that since the first coronavirus lockdown in March, Pope Francis is not anymore using the papal altar in St. Peter’s Basilica for his public Masses, an altar which is situated on top of St. Peter’s tomb. Instead, the Pope is using another altar at the basilica. For Viganò, this papal act is symbolic in light of the fact that Pope Francis himself ordered during the closing Mass of the October 2019 Amazon Synod that a bowl of plants dedicated to the false goddess Pachamama be placed on that very papal altar at St. Peter’s. Not long after that act, the Pope also decided that he would no longer use the title “Vicar of Christ” in the 2020 Vatican Yearbook.

The Italian prelate here finds strong words about the recent developments at St. Peter’s and the Vatican.

“In my opinion,” Viganò writes, “what we are witnessing represents the general rehearsal for the establishment of the kingdom of the Antichrist, which will be preceded by the preaching of the False Prophet, the Precursor of the one who will carry out the final persecution against the Church before Our Lord’s definitive and crushing victory.”

* https://catholictruthblog.com/2020/12/27/archbishop-vigano-is-pope-francis-preparing-us-to-accept-the-antichrist/

God has been very lenient with our country considering the distance we have strayed from Him, for example, since the times of our founding fathers. It would not be far-fetched to think we are now in the midst of a divinely mandated course correction.

Hopefully, PTrump is our Josiah, and we, as a nation, will heed what Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar:
“let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

If we refuse to listen, we may soon be entering the disaster phase of God’s judgment.

1-29-20 Midweek Musings

The topic for this Sunday and the next will be God installing all authority on earth – kings, princes, presidents, dictators, despots . . . all of them. So, as some background, this post will contain two subjects that relate to that topic.

God Intervenes in the Affairs of Men

Daniel 4
⁴I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. ⁵I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. ⁶Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. ⁷Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation. ⁸But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying: ⁹“Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.

¹⁰“These were the visions of my head while on my bed:

I was looking, and behold,
A tree in the midst of the earth,
And its height was great.
¹¹The tree grew and became strong;
Its height reached to the heavens,
And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.
¹²Its leaves were lovely,
Its fruit abundant,
And in it was food for all.
The beasts of the field found shade under it,
The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches,
And all flesh was fed from it.

¹³“I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. ¹⁴He cried aloud and said thus:

‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
Let the beasts get out from under it,
And the birds from its branches.
¹⁵Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth,
Bound with a band of iron and bronze,
In the tender grass of the field.
Let it be wet with the dew of heaven,
And let him graze with the beasts
On the grass of the earth.
¹⁶Let his heart be changed from that of a man,
Let him be given the heart of a beast,
And let seven times pass over him.

¹⁷‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the lowest of men.’

¹⁸“This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”

Daniel Explains the Second Dream

¹⁹Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.”

Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!

²⁰“The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, ²¹whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home— ²²it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

²³“And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’; ²⁴this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: ²⁵They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.

²⁶“And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules. ²⁷Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation

²⁸All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. ³⁰The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”

³¹While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! ³²And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”

³³That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

³⁴And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
³⁵All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
No one can restrain His hand
Or say to Him, “What have You done?”

³⁶At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. ³⁷Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

God Governs in the Affairs of Men

In 1787 at the Federal Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at a critical juncture in the writing of the U.S. Constitution, Benjamin Franklin addressed the President of the Convention: “I have lived, Sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, That God governs in the affairs of men! We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it!’ [Psalm 127:1]

I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel; we shall be divided by our little partial local interests, our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a by-word down to future ages. And, what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance despair of establishing government by human wisdom, and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

“I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers, imploring the assistance of heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning and that one of more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.”

*http://www.learnthebible.org/thoughts-meditations/god-governs-in-the-affairs-of-men.html

Dear KMAG: 20201227 Open Topic

This Sanctuary Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It is also a place to read, post and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion , outlined here https://wqth.wordpress.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/

Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this intellectual haven that Wolf has created for us.

The Storm is upon us.
Please remember to Pray for our President.

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?
TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!

It’s time to replace
a failed and CORRUPT political establishment
with a new government
controlled by you, the American People.
~ Candidate Donald J. Trump

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

And,

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

First Things First

This is the time of year when many of us think about making some resolutions for the new year, even though we know that our efforts, in general, will meet with something short of success in far less time than we would have imagined.

So, what is it that we might put on our “shoot for success but miss” list for 2021? The most popular New Year’s resolutions seem to deal with something that will improve us personally: exercise more, lose weight, get organized, learn a new skill or hobby, live life to the fullest, save more money / spend less money, quit smoking, spend more time with family and friends, travel more, or read more.

Now, if we look at this situation as Christians, and we are, we would want to choose New Year’s resolutions that would benefit us in our Christian walk . . . such as work at developing more characteristics like those of the Fruit of the Spirit, read and study the Bible more, improve my prayer life, get involved in more church activities or be a better witness.

All those are well and good, but if we think of our lives as Christians, we wouldn’t want to choose resolutions that make sense to us but, rather, we’d choose resolutions that reflect what God wants for us.

Attempting to accomplish all things that God’s Word says Christians should be and do is a very large task, and it reminds me of making a list of things that we think are good things to do and then working off the items that are on the list. I don’t think this is what God wants to see from us. I think He wants, rather than us working off a list, is for us to change our hearts, so that the items on the list come naturally as a result.

So, thinking about resolutions this way, perhaps the items we need to concentrate on aren’t on a giant list of thousands, but could be summed up by the two greatest commandments: to love God with all our heart, mind and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

I think we’re narrowing in on our answer here. We need to concentrate on developing love in our Christian walk . . . specifically, agapé love, love that is a motivation for action that we are free to choose or reject. Agapé is a sacrificial love that voluntarily suffers inconvenience, discomfort, and even death for the benefit of another without expecting anything in return.

So, what does that specifically mean . . . to agapé God? I think it means that we should go out of our way to do what God wants, for His glory, even though at the time we may feel that it isn’t something we necessarily want to do.

And agapé our neighbors? Agapé love is patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Agapé love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Agapé love never fails. This is how we should treat those around us.

But, once again, I think I’m missing something important here. Developing more agapé love in my Christian walk is undoubtedly very important, but is that what God thinks is paramount?

Well, we go to God’s Word for the answer here. What better place to go to find out what God wants. First things must come first. So . . . what’s first?

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus, although speaking about not having anxiety over even the essentials of our lives (our food, something to drink and adequate clothing), gives us a clear priority: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness . . .”

So, OK, just what is this Kingdom of God that we’re supposed to seek first? Again from God’s Word:

“For the kingdom of God is . . . a matter of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit . . .” Righteousness first, then peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Naturally, the question arises, “How do I go about getting this righteousness?” I know that it’s not inherent in me, and I’m certainly not showing righteousness by all that I do in the world today.

Back to God’s Word. “not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ” .

The concept of faith counted as righteousness is not a new concept. Way back in Genesis, “Abram had faith in the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.”, and “For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.”

So, our righteousness comes from faith in Christ and in God. We are to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our own understanding.

Christ and the Holy Spirit are within us . . . Christ our righteousness reconciles our sinful nature with God and God’s Holy Spirit works within us to change us, well, probably in every way on our giant list of thousands . . . and more.

So, for me, my New Year’s resolution is to acknowledge Him as supreme in every facet of my life and trust Him to make those changes in me that He sees fit . . . to give the things of the world in my life to God, trusting that He will ensure that “. . . all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Now, this can’t be a “state it and forget” it resolution. My part, with the proddings and support of the Holy Spirit, is to continually recognize that it is God who is in control of my life, always, in every way, and to trust Him to lead me down the proper paths.

12-23-20 Midweek Musings

An interesting concept, but not without some difficulties, as also may be true with our understanding of some details of Luke’s narrative of the birth of Christ.

MIGDAL EDER – THE TOWER OF THE FLOCK

One of the most powerful statements in the biblical narratives on the birth of Christ is the proclamation made by the angel to shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem.

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12)

It was a first declaration of the euangelion, the Good News of the redemptive Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is remarkable to see that this first declaration made to Israelites outside the immediate family of Jesus was not given to the religious or political rulers of Israel but to shepherds keeping their flocks.

The shepherds’ fields outside Bethlehem, to this day, play a central role in the Christmas celebrations in the Holy Land. Countless tourists have visited the fields between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The church historian Eusebius linked these fields to a unique biblical location called Migdal Eder, which translated means the “tower of the flock”.

The first time Migdal Eder is mentioned in the Bible is in the account of Rachel, who died after giving birth to Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob. “Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder”, records Genesis 35:21.

This area on the outskirts of Bethlehem is also mentioned in the Talmudic writings. According to the Talmud, all cattle found in the area surrounding Jerusalem “as far as Migdal Eder” were deemed to be holy and consecrated and could only be used for sacrifices in the Temple, in particular for the peace and Passover sacrifices. There was thus a special, consecrated circle around the city of Jerusalem.

This means the shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem who first heard the Good News from the angels were not ordinary shepherds but served the sacrificial system of the Temple. These men served the Mosaic covenant, a foreshadowing of the new covenant. And these men were now confronted with the reality of the eternal light to which their ministry had been pointing all these centuries. It was declaring a new era of salvation!

The Hebrew prophet Micah also refers to Migdal Eder. “And you, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, even the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:8)

Based on that prophecy, prominent Jewish writers concluded in the Midrash that from all of the places in Israel, it would be the Migdal Eder where the arrival of the Messiah would be declared first.

That means when the angels appeared that night to the shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem, it was not just a declaration of the Good News to simple shepherds. It was a powerful prophetic sign to all of Israel. The news of that night must have spread like wildfire through the surrounding villages.

Luke records: “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” (Luke 2:17-18)

What does this all mean for us?

1) First, it is always beneficial for the Church to see that Jesus did not arrive into a vacuum, but was born into an entirely Jewish context. When Christ came in the flesh, he was born first-and-foremost to the Jewish people but would then also bring his favour and good pleasure to all men. Even though the celebration of Christ’s birth has become a feast marked almost exclusively by the gentile Church, it is important for us to see it in its historic and biblical context – as a message intended to give hope to Israel. As Zacharias prophesies at the birth of John the Baptist, this all happened to “perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham…” (Luke 1:72f).

2) Second, already from the moment Jesus entered the world the ultimate reason for his arrival was alluded to. These were the shepherds who took care of the sheep and cattle offered in the Temple – in particular the Passover sacrifices. And it was they who were confronted with the announcement that the ultimate sacrifice, which would carry away not only the sins of Israel but of the whole world, was born. Just thirty three years later, no further sacrifice was to be needed, as all those who believe in him have been “sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

3) The angelic announcement gave these simple shepherds a profound revelation of who this Messiah would be. He was proclaimed to be both King (born in the city of David) and Priest. That he was both Christ and Lord, the son of man but also the son of God. He would be the saviour of humanity but also the shepherd of all those who would follow his voice.

It was truly good news which the angels proclaimed that night long ago. But as with the shepherds, the mere knowledge of this news is not enough. They needed to act upon it and they did. They went personally to see that child and then proclaimed his birth wherever they could.

Let us follow the example of the shepherds of Bethlehem and rededicate our lives afresh to that great saviour who was born in Bethlehem. He is the shepherd of our souls (1 Peter 2:25) who died for our sins and who redeems us to reign and rule with him for eternity! This is Good News indeed!

*https://int.icej.org/news/commentary/tower-flock

Dear KMAG: 20201220 Open Topic

I think, over the recent past, that I’ve heard enough, maybe too much, of the events concerning the enormous voting fraud, and the sedition and treason involved. The seemingly endless details, sometimes conflicting, and their various interpretations; the admonitions of what the President should have done or should do; and the various predictions of the events of the future and their specific consequences have overflowed my retention capacity.

God has made it abundantly clear from His Word that He is in control of these matters, and that they will, ultimately, work out for the good of those that love Him. Ultimately . . . not necessarily what we may see or desire . . . but ultimately and all in accordance with His perfect plan.

I find it calming, comforting and reassuring to step back, up and out, of the morass of the details of the day and into some of the more basic concepts of God’s Word. So that’s what I’m going to do for today . . . just let God’s Word speak to us for a bit.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be afflicted. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered.
I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.
For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Respect God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.
For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Psalm 1
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 100
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

1 Thessolonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Philippians 4:4-6
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Revelation 22:18-20
For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

12-16-20 Midweek Musings

What we’re fighting for

Oh beautiful for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain

America, America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea

Oh beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness

America, America
God mend thine every flaw
Confirm thy soul in self-control
Thy liberty in law

Oh beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life

America, America
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine

Oh beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears

America, America
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea

Oh beautiful for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain

America, America
God shed His grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music hearted sea

Oh beautiful for pilgrims feet
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness

America, America
God shed His grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee

Oh beautiful for glory tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice for man’s avail
Men lavished precious life

America, America
God shed His grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free

Oh beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears

America, America
God shed His grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee

How the battle will be won!

Mine eyes have seen the glory
Of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage
Where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning
Of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

Chorus
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watchfires
Of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar
In the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence
By the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.

Chorus
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet
That shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men
Before His judgement seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him;
Be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.

Chorus
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies
Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom
That transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy,
Let us die to make men free;
While God is marching on.

Chorus
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

Dear KMAG: 20201213 Open Topic

This Sanctuary Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It is also a place to read, post and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion , outlined here https://wqth.wordpress.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/

Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this intellectual haven that Wolf has created for us.

The Storm is upon us.
Please remember to Pray for our President.

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?
TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!

It’s time to replace
a failed and CORRUPT political establishment
with a new government
controlled by you, the American People.
~ Candidate Donald J. Trump

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

And,

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

JOSEPH

As Christmas approaches, once again the prominent parts of the Christmas story take front and center: the visit of the angel Gabriel, Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, the trip to Bethlehem, nowhere to stay, the manger, the host of angels, the shepherds and their visit to the manger, Simeon and Anna, the star, the wise men, the escape to Egypt, the return to Israel and then to Nazareth.

A part of the Christmas story I think could stand a closer examination is Joseph, who comes to prominence as the husband of Mary. I think his character and actions should be front and center as a role model for a host of Christians.

The Bible doesn’t have a lot to say about Joseph, but what it does say speaks volumes.

The first is that Joseph was a righteous man. By this I take it that Joseph did all that was required, and perhaps more, by the Jewish religious law of the time. That he was righteous, to me, means his actions were from his heart . . . not just actions to satisfy some religious requirement.

Joseph obeyed God. Through dreams, God told Joseph that he should
1. Take Mary as his wife.
2. Flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt.
3. Return from Egypt.
4. Beware of Archelaus (so he went to Nazareth)

Joseph had no questions, didn’t ask for a sign, and didn’t object. He simply believed and obeyed – and that obedience involved traveling with Mary . . . to Bethlehem, to Egypt, back to Israel and then to Nazareth.

Other than those instances, Joseph worked, apparently quietly, as a carpenter, raising Jesus and his brothers and sisters and, also apparently, dying just 30 years or less later.

So, Joseph was a righteous man . . . that is a very big pole in the tent. That means Joseph was doing God’s will . . . doing what’s pleasing to God.

When we trust Jesus as our Savior, God sees our faith as righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

When God looks at us, He sees Christ’s righteousness . . . but that doesn’t mean we can rest on our laurels. We are still called to “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) This is an impossible task for us, but it, nevertheless, with the help of the Holy Spirit, is our goal.

Joseph listened to God and then did what God said. God speaks primarily to us through His Word, and by reading God’s Word we are “listening” to Him. It is now up to us, with help from the Holy Spirit, to put what God tells us into action.

Joseph’s profession was that of a carpenter. And He, apparently, did his work in such a manner that it was pleasing to God. Our work, too, falls under God’s will.

As Bondservants in Christ, “whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. ” Colossians 3:23-24

1 Corinthians 4:10-11 But we urge you, brethren, that you increase [your love] more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands . . .

Strive for righteousness, read God’s Word and act on it, lead a quiet life, mind your own affairs, and do your work as to the Lord. I would say that Joseph has given us quite a role model to follow.

We should keep Joseph well in mind as we get caught up in the “Be all you can be” and even the “Be Best” of the frenetic lifestyle that is pushed our way these days.

Perhaps “Be still and know that I am God” should be first in our minds these days . . . particularly in these days.

And, never ever forget that:
1. We are passing through a temporary kingdom on the way to an eternal kingdom.
2. GOD WINS ! ! !

12-9-20 Midweek Musings

Go Out in Joy and Be Led Forth in Peace

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” – Isaiah 55:12

Chapter 55 of Isaiah is rightfully named “The Compassion of the Lord.” At this point in the book of Isaiah, God’s people have been completely disobedient, but God the Father is a God of grace and compassion, so he invites them into his lovingkindness. He is restoring them so they may glorify him once again and he is blessing his people.

Verse 12 specifically commands the people to go out in joy and be led forth in peace. Why does God ask this and how do we, as believers, do this?

Go Out in Joy

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

As Christians, we are called to be joyful, which is not a natural thing for us to do as human beings. However, when we understand God’s love and his constant grace, joy becomes easier. When we truly understand God’s grace and seek him, we will find joy.

There are two reasons we are called to go out in joy in this passage: For our own sake and the world’s. When we choose to rejoice in our circumstances, our circumstances seem to change. Life is easier to tackle when you choose a positive and joyous perspective rooted in a trust for God and his promises.

“May the God of hope fill you all with joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” – Romans 15:13

Furthermore, going out in joy benefits others. The world should be able to recognize a Christian by how they love and by the joy they have. This is not to say that Christians should always act happy and pretend everything is okay – being joyful is different than being happy. Joy is trusting in what God is doing and recognizing that he has a plan. Being joyful means not letting your circumstances crush you. To choose joy is to choose hope.

The idea is that the world sees that our circumstances aren’t crushing us and asks us why. Then we can answer with the glorious news of how good our God is and the hope that we have. When we go out in joy, we allow our own souls to grow and shine the light of Christ simultaneously.

Be Led Forth in Peace

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Christians, there is so much peace in truly knowing God. If you were to read the Bible cover to cover, you would walk away with quite a bit of peace and calmness in your heart. God created you (Genesis 1:27), he forgives you (Ephesians 4:32), he saved you (Ephesians 2:8), he promises to protect you (Isaiah 41:10), he has a plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11), he is coming back one day (John 14:3) and he loves you so dearly (1 John 4:9-10).

When we allow Christ to lead us and guide our steps and our hearts, we find peace. There is peace in obedience and relationship with God. This does not mean that anxiety or fear ceases to exist though. The world is still corrupt and the enemy still exists, but when we cling to God and obey him, we will find his peace (Isaiah 32:17).

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7

When we truly have the peace of God, we stop needing answers for everything, we stop having to worry about everything going on in the world and we can simply trust in him and what is to come. When we seek his heart, we find peace, an inexplicable peace that will guide us through this life and all the trials we face.

*https://www.gcu.edu/blog/spiritual-life/weekly-devotional-go-out-joy-and-be-led-forth-peace

God Raises Up Kings or Nationsand Removes Them

World War III is Coming!

God Does Not Guarantee a Nation Will Be Successful

God Permits Rebellion Against a Cruel Government

God Has a Solution to National Degeneracy

Thy Will Shall Be Done

God Replaces an Evil Government

Manasseh King of Judah

Amon King of Judah

The Book of the Law Found

Josiah Renews the Covenant

God Intervenes in the Affairs of Men

Daniel Explains the Second Dream

Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation

Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

God Governs in the Affairs of Men

The Storm is upon us.Please remember to Pray for our President.

AND WHAT TIME IS IT? TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!

It’s time to replace a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. ~ Candidate Donald J. Trump

And,

On this day and every day –

God is in Control. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .Keep Looking Up

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

First Things First

What we’re fighting for

How the battle will be won!

The Storm is upon us.Please remember to Pray for our President.

AND WHAT TIME IS IT? TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!

It’s time to replace a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. ~ Candidate Donald J. Trump

And,

On this day and every day –

God is in Control. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .Keep Looking Up

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

JOSEPH

Go Out in Joy and Be Led Forth in Peace

God Raises Up Kings or Nations
and Removes Them

The Storm is upon us.
Please remember to Pray for our President.

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?
TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!

It’s time to replace
a failed and CORRUPT political establishment
with a new government
controlled by you, the American People.
~ Candidate Donald J. Trump

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The Storm is upon us.
Please remember to Pray for our President.

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?
TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!

It’s time to replace
a failed and CORRUPT political establishment
with a new government
controlled by you, the American People.
~ Candidate Donald J. Trump

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”