Tag Archive - Ecclesiastes

Thoughts on Judges 11

March 12, 2010 in Other with 1 Comment

We’re reading through Judges at Oak Tree Church, and I’m posting some observations from my daily readings here within a day or two after the reading. I’d love for you to join in the discussion.

Thoughts on Judges 11

So here is the continuation of yesterday’s story in chapter 10.

They said, “Come, be our commander, so we can fight with the Ammonites.” Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, “But you hated me and made me leave my father’s house. Why do you come to me now, when you are in trouble?” Judges 11:6-7 NET

This sounds a lot like the conversation God had with Israel in 10:11-16 – “Why do you come to me now, only when you need me?”

Jephthah sent messengers back to the Ammonite king and said to him, “This is what Jephthah says, ‘Israel did not steal the land of Moab and the land of the Ammonites.’” Judges 11:14-15 NET

This whole section (11:14-28) is basically a history lesson. Instead of just going into battle, Jephthah makes a wise leadership move: find out what the other side is thinking. Once he knew where they were coming from he could try a peaceful solution to the problem. It doesn’t always work out that way (like here), but it’s a great first step.

Secondly, had he not known Israel’s history for the previous 300 years, he would not have been able to answer as wisely as he did. The Ammonite king was clearly in the wrong, and it gave Jephthah more credibility with his followers.

Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, saying, “If you really do hand the Ammonites over to me, then whoever is the first to come through the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from fighting the Ammonites– he will belong to the LORD and I will offer him up as a burnt sacrifice.” Judges 11:30-31 NET

This passage throws people for a loop frequently. “Did he really do it? How could God allow that?” Notice a couple of points here:

  1. God was going to give the victory anyway. (Jephthah said, “If you really do…”) He did not command or require Jephthah to make this vow or do this thing.
  2. Solomon said, “It is better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay it” (Ecclesiastes 5:5). Even though God does not accept human sacrifice as worship, he also does not accept broken vows made to him.

Jephthah put himself in an unenviable position because of his foolish and rash vow. Some principles we should take away from this story are: 1) Many times the pain we experience in life is purely of our own doing; and 2) Sometimes God let’s us do stupid stuff just so we can learn to not do stupid stuff.

What did you see in these verses? What was important to you in Judges 11 that I did not see?

Proverbs 28

March 11, 2009 in Proverbs with 2 Comments

One proverb and a few thoughts this morning:

A poor person who walks in his integrity is better than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich. (28:6)

A lot of people are upset with Bernard Madoff because of the money he stole in that big scam recently. They’re mad at the economy because their savings and investments are worth much less than before (mine are 50% down right now). Many have a hard time believing that it will come back better than before.

What if it doesn’t? Could you be OK with that? What if you never get back your investments? Will you keep your integrity? Madoff lost his trying to get rich. Let’s not make the same mistake. God’s Word doesn’t change. Keep saving and giving as before, and God will bless your wisdom and faithfulness.

 

There are several proverbs in this chapter that have to do with government. They all have the same basic concept – when wicked people rule, the masses become poor and run away; when righteous people rule, the masses rejoice (28:2, 12, 15, 16, 28)

Now you can believe what you want about politics and policies – who’s right and who’s wrong. But here are the facts that have been rolling around in my head these last few days:

  1. Human government can not be perfect, because it is run by imperfect people – regardless of the party in charge. Every administration and congress makes mistakes – get used to it. We must pray that our leaders make wise decisions. But whether we like them or not, unless they require us to do something contrary to God’s Word, they are the rule of law under which we must live.
  2. Human government can not make everyone happy. There are over 300 million opinions in our country alone about how our government should be run. If you think you have a better plan – run for office. I might even vote for you. But know that even you can’t make everyone – or anyone – happy all of the time. Sometimes you just have to do what you think is right.
  3. Human government is temporary. In America it changes every two years – the entire House, one-third of the Senate, and state-level politicians. Every other two-year cycle might bring a new president. So no matter how good or bad you think we have it right now, it’s temporary. Only God’s rule and God’s work will last forever, so be sure you have him as your focus and priority. America will not last forever.

Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Vision, Part 5

May 28, 2008 in Vision with 0 Comments

I’m laying out my vision for our church across several posts. There are eight pieces to it. This is number five:

I envision growing believers studying the deep things of God together and living them faithfully.

“Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing. Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But just as it is written, ‘Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.‘ God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one. ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.‘” 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (NET)

People like to be “in”. During our formative school years most of us, at one time or another, wanted to be with the “in” crowd. We want to be “in” on the joke. Verizon Wireless capitalized on this when they created the “IN” calling plan.

I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I think God has actually created a void inside us that feeds that desire. Solomon said,

“God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NET)

The wording for this fifth part of my vision is that great little phrase in the passage above: the deep things of God. There are things about God that we can learn, but they are too deep to get if we are simply scratching the surface.

Think about it like a mining expedition. There are certain things that miners can get close to the surface. But the good stuff – the big ore veins – those are deep, hidden. They take hard work to find. Sometimes it takes years to find the mother lode, but when they do…!

I think learning about God is the same way. We work and pray and read and study and experience his grace and love – all the while getting closer and closer to the mother lode. And what is that? The deep things of God shown to us over time by the Spirit of God.

But you have to be “in”. An unbeliever will never get there. A believer who refuses to grow up – to mature in his or her faith – will never find it. It takes commitment and dedication – to our personal growth and to the others in our faith community.

My vision is one of believers who will work and study hard, growing each other’s hearts and minds and spirits, to find and experience the deep things of God.

I pray that according to the wealth of his glory
he may grant you to be strengthened with power
through his Spirit in the inner person,
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith,
so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love,
you may be able to comprehend with all the saints
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NET)

Continue to Part 6