Holding On in The Fear of the LORD

Things are not as they seem, the times are much darker, the culture much worse, and the reality far more dire than any pessimist could conjure. Simply averting your gaze, thinking positive thoughts, or spending mindless hours in meditation will not alter the reality in which you exist one iota. There are dark forces at work in the world today creating havoc, causing confusion, and spreading destruction. Cataclysmic events and massive destruction are now a regular occurrence, the old 100 year measuring stick now reduced to months. Deadly hurricanes and supercell storms now pummel us, flooding even mountainous areas costing the lives of many and millions of dollars in damage. The 24/7 news cycle is no longer enough to explain the constant barrage of bad news, make no mistake, these events are happening, and alarmingly, with much greater frequency.

It would be enough if the events I speak of were limited to natural disasters, sadly that is not the case. We have school and workplace shootings to contend with. Laboratories and manufacturing facilities are burning for days and dispersing poisons over many miles. Water pipes are bursting flooding homes and businesses. Rape and murder are now common place in society. In fact it has become its own special form of entertainment with entire channel lineups dedicated to it, and people are watching, by the millions. Human trafficking is now a thriving and growing threat in every city and town across the country.

Things aren’t just bad, they’re getting worse. Wars and rumors of wars are spreading across the globe. The reports from these wars would make an ancient Roman blush. No longer content to shoot the enemy and leave them dead, they now cut off their genitals, rape women and children with such ferocity that it breaks bones, and then burn their bodies. Ethnic cleansing and genocide are now underway on multiple continents. Incoming missile sirens are now commonplace in cities across Europe and the Middle East. The sadistic pride and demonic lust in which this is done is truly sick, but also for the discerning, leaves no doubt where the source of this evil emanates.

You might think with all of this going on at once that it would drive people to their knees in prayer, back to their Bibles in study, and their local congregation for encouragement, fellowship, and instruction. After all, isn’t that what happened in the aftermath of 9/11? Isn’t that what normally happens after a catastrophe, whether natural or man made? It appears that is no longer the case. We have become numb to the pain and misery laid bare on emotionless screens both large and small. Churches are emptying out and closing their doors. A society distracted by war, mayhem, murder, and porn no longer have time for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

And there it is, the crux of the matter, the point of the narrative, and the moral of the story. It’s an old one…story that is. The people of this world are more enamored by the god of this world than the God of creation. The people are more interested in the condemnation of one another than the God of salvation. The people are more fascinated by their idols than the God of glory. The result of which has led us to a degrading society at every level in which women are seen as objects of pleasure and men are seen as forces of labor, and neither are seen in the image of their Maker. The fear of the Lord which has profited generations has been thrown out with the garbage, and replaced with the love of self and placed center stage for all to emulate and worship. The world goes on and the earth goes round and round until the cries of His people and the groaning of creation become deafening.

Then it stops.

And when it does stop, God leaves no doubt who put an end to it. No one is left wondering what happened. Noah, in the fear of the LORD, prophesied for over 100 years of the coming destruction. The fruits of his labor were eight souls and 2 of every living creature. Jeremiah, in the fear of the LORD, prophesied for over 40 years regarding the coming Babylonian invasion and destruction of the temple, imploring them to return to the God of Israel. Jesus, in the fear of the LORD, proclaimed repentance, forgiveness, and salvation to a people who had become “dull of hearing.” Again their temple was destroyed and His message taken to foreigners. Likewise, 2 witnesses, in the fear of the LORD, will prophesy for 1,260 days regarding the days to come. Most will mock, but many will heed the call leading up to the coming days of vengeance. It is the fear of the LORD that is foundational and transformational in the days to come. If we are to stand we must do so in the fear of the LORD.

Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

Psalms 34:11-14 NKJV

It’s a rhetorical question isn’t it? After calling us to listen to the wisdom in his teaching of the fear of the LORD (YHWH), David asks, “who desires life?” As opposed to death I think most of us would raise our hand. Next, “who loves many days,” as opposed to a short life, again, I think most of us would say ‘Amen.’ And what would we hope to see with those added days of life? “That he may see good,” not calamities, catastrophes, and disasters. We’re also probably not interested in seeing more injustice, more degradation, more detestable acts of violence and vile acts of madness. We’re looking for love, beauty, wonder, forgiveness, gratitude, and peace, or at least we should be.

Living in the fear of the LORD affects our speech, not just what we say, but how we say it. That speech affects our pursuits, our actions, and what we strive toward. An individual who speaks good and strives for good, will do good. Why would they do this? They have moved on from being lovers of self to lovers of God. Their passions have been transformed, no longer seeking and serving their selfish desires, they seek the common good looking for ways to help others, not exploit them. They now see their brother (man) and sister (woman) in the likeness of God, someone with infinite value to God and others. They are no longer a need to be met, a goal to be attained, an object to possess, they are all children of the Most High and a treasure to be adored and cared for, not lusted after.

To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion— A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:2-7 NKJV

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” One might well ask, “who among you would like to be wise?” Seek first the fear of the LORD. “Who among you would like to make better decisions?” Seek first the fear of the LORD. “Who among you would like better understanding?” Seek first the fear of the LORD.

The fear of the LORD is awe inspiring, reverential, fully cognizant, and always aware of His presence. Rather than being someone to hide from, the Psalmist hides in Him as a refuge. Rather than a terror to be avoided, the Psalmist follows Him closely and eats at His table. Rather than a distant maleficent deity, the Psalmist declares a provider and protector.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Psalms 34:8 NKJV

The fear of the LORD is a humbling of oneself and esteeming of others. It is the acknowledgment that how we treat others reflects our view of God. If we have a small and demanding view of God we will treat others the same. If we have a large and gracious view of God, we will likewise lift others up and show our gratitude.

We submit ourselves to God as the one and only Sovereign in the fear of the LORD. We know and trust the LORD. We study His Word. It is life changing, life altering, and life giving. The Word of the LORD breathes life. The prayers of those who fear the LORD accomplish much. Our submission is not a sign of weakness but of strength, for we know the deeds of Him in which we place our faith.

Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 23:17-18 NKJV

The fear of the LORD generates in us an intense and righteous hatred of evil. Our desire once for it is now changed and we seek only to turn from it. We can’t stand to watch it. Hearing it makes us wretch. Speaking of it turns our stomachs. Understanding there is always a victim keeps us from it. Clinging to the LORD and desiring no separation from Him strengthens our resolve against it.

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

Proverbs 8:13 NKJV

The fear of the LORD is a blessing. The new covenant came in the fear of the LORD. YHWH graciously gave his one and only Son to pay the penalty and wages of our sin that we would have eternal life. This He did willingly, not out of compunction, suffering a sinners death on our behalf and being laid in a sinners tomb. Only to rise 3 days later, conquering sin and death that we might live. What a blessing and privilege to walk in the fear of the LORD.

Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble.

Proverbs 15:16 NKJV

The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.

Proverbs 19:23 NKJV

In his song, Calling Out Your Name, Rich Mullins caught glimpses of God in the fertile plains, the flight of a hawk, and a flaming sunset. These moments alone with the LORD did not frighten him, but informed his knowledge of, and inspired his worship to the Creator. Our view of God may have grown too dim with all of our distractions. The roar of the world too deafening to hear God’s whisper. The constant busyness of our lives too chaotic to be still and know that He is God. But, it’s not too late…yet.

Well the moon moved past Nebraska, And spilled laughter on them cold Dakota Hills, And angels danced on Jacob's stairs, Yeah, they danced on Jacob's stairs

There is this silence in the Badlands, And over Kansas the whole universe was stilled, By the whisper of a prayer, The whisper of a prayer

And a single hawk bursts into flight, And in the east the whole horizon is in flames, I feel thunder in the sky, I see the sky about to rain, And I hear the prairies calling out Your name

I can feel the earth tremble, Beneath the rumbling of the buffalo hooves, And the fury in the pheasant's wings, And there's fury in a pheasant's wings

And it tells me the Lord is in His temple, And there is still a faith that can make the mountains move, And a love that can make the heavens ring, And I've seen love make heaven ring

Where the sacred rivers meet, Beneath the shadow of the Keeper of the plains, I feel thunder in the sky, I see the sky about to rain, And I hear the prairies calling out Your name

From the place where morning gathers, You can look sometimes forever 'til you see, What time may never know, What time may never know

How the Lord takes by its corners this old world, And shakes us forward and shakes us free, To run wild with the hope, To run wild with the hope

The hope that this thirst will not last long, That it will soon drown in a song not sung in vain, And I feel thunder in the sky, I see the sky about to rain, And I hear the prairies calling out Your name

And I know this thirst will not last long, That it will soon drown in the song not sung in vain, I feel thunder in the sky, I see the sky about to rain, And with the prairies I am calling out Your name

Gaza vs. Israel: A Biblical Survey

 

This is an ancient map of Israel during the times of Saul and David. The blue represents the areas under control of the United Kingdom of Israel. Do you see that little beige part in the southwest corner of Israel, the section labeled 'Philistia?" It has always been a problem for Israel, mostly troublesome, occasionally combative. Lots of well known Biblical heroes have done battle in Gaza i.e. Josiah, Samson, etc...Even the Ark had a stay there. Today we know that same little strip of land as "the Gaza Strip." Prophecies reveal Gaza's ultimate fate and who is responsible. This problem didn't start 20, 30, 50, or even 100 years ago. It started in Noah's time. Continue reading and find out how...

Noah’s Nakedness; Canaan’s Curse

Genesis 9:18-29 (NKJV)

[18] Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. [19] These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated. [20] And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. [21] Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. [22] And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. [23] But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness. [24] So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. [25] Then he said: "Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren." [26] And he said: "Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem, And may Canaan be his servant. [27] May God enlarge Japheth, And may he dwell in the tents of Shem; And may Canaan be his servant." [28] And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. [29] So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.

● Ham was the father of Canaan

● Canaan was cursed due to the sin of his father Ham

● Canaan’s descendants would become idolatrous enemies of Israel

● Gaza first appears in Genesis 10:19 as an outer border of Canaan: Genesis 10:15-20 (NKJV): [15] Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Heth; [16] the Jebusite, the Amorite, and the Girgashite; [17] the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite; [18] the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed. [19] And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. [20] These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands and in their nations.

• these are not only the cursed people of Canaan's curse for the scene at Noah's drunkenness, but also they are those who possessed the Promised Land which Israel as a nation needed to conquer. (MacArthur)
• the Noahic curse alone did not determine their guilt, for God said to Abram that the iniquity of the Amorites must first be complete before his descendants could occupy the Promised Land (Gen 15:16). (MacArthur)

Conflict & Gaza

Ancient Turnover

Deuteronomy 2:23 (NKJV)

[23] And the Avim, who dwelt in villages as far as Gaza—the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and dwelt in their place.)

● The Caphtorim destroyed those who lived in Gaza and settled there

● The Avim were ancient village dwellers of southwestern Palestine along the Mediterranean coast (MacArthur)

● Caphtor may refer to Crete and Caphtorim may refer to an early Phillistine group from that Island who invaded the coast, defeated Avim, and settled there (MacArthur)

Gaza and Joshua

Joshua 10:40-41 (NKJV)

[40] So Joshua conquered all the land: the mountain country and the South and the lowland and the wilderness slopes, and all their kings; he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded. [41] And Joshua conquered them from Kadesh Barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even as far as Gibeon.

Joshua 11:21-22 (NKJV)

[21] And at that time Joshua came and cut off the Anakim from the mountains: from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel; Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. [22] None of the Anakim were left in the land of the children of Israel; they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod.

Joshua 13:1-7 (NKJV)

[1] Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the LORD said to him: "You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed. [2] This is the land that yet remains: all the territory of the Philistines and all that of the Geshurites, [3] from Sihor, which is east of Egypt, as far as the border of Ekron northward (which is counted as Canaanite); the five lords of the Philistines—the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites; [4] from the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians as far as Aphek, to the border of the Amorites; [5] the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon as far as the entrance to Hamath; [6] all the inhabitants of the mountains from Lebanon as far as the Brook Misrephoth, and all the Sidonians—them I will drive out from before the children of Israel; only divide it by lot to Israel as an inheritance, as I have commanded you. [7] Now therefore, divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh."

● Joshua never conquered Gaza

● Gaza was divided into the territory of Judah

Joshua 15:20 (NKJV)

[20] This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families:

Joshua 15:20 thru the end of the chapter details Judah’s inheritance including...

Joshua 15:47 (NKJV)

[47] Ashdod with its towns and villages, Gaza with its towns and villages—as far as the Brook of Egypt and the Great Sea with its coastline.

● God has promised Gaza to Judah

Gaza Takes Samson Prisoner

Judges 16:1-21 (NKJV)

[1] Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her. [2] When the Gazites were told, "Samson has come here!" they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. They were quiet all night, saying, "In the morning, when it is daylight, we will kill him." [3] And Samson lay low till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. [4] Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. [5] And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, "Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver." [6] So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength lies, and with what you may be bound to afflict you." [7] And Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man." [8] So the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, and she bound him with them. [9] Now men were lying in wait, staying with her in the room. And she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he broke the bowstrings as a strand of yarn breaks when it touches fire. So the secret of his strength was not known. [10] Then Delilah said to Samson, "Look, you have mocked me and told me lies. Now, please tell me what you may be bound with." [11] So he said to her, "If they bind me securely with new ropes that have never been used, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man." [12] Therefore Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them, and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And men were lying in wait, staying in the room. But he broke them off his arms like a thread. [13] Delilah said to Samson, "Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me what you may be bound with." And he said to her, "If you weave the seven locks of my head into the web of the loom"— [14] So she wove it tightly with the batten of the loom, and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he awoke from his sleep, and pulled out the batten and the web from the loom. [15] Then she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies." [16] And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death, [17] that he told her all his heart, and said to her, "No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man." [18] When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, "Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart." So the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand. [19] Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. [20] And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. [21] Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.

● Samson laid with a Gazan prostitute

● Samson was seduced by Delilah

● Samson was entrapped by the Phillistines and taken to Gaza to be held as prisoner

● Samson later brought an entire temple down on those who held him prisoner and other guests (v23-31)

● Gaza. This would be the last town encountered in southwest Palestine as a traveler went from Jerusalem toward Egypt, near the coast. It was nearly forty miles from Samson's birthplace, Zorah. There, he was humiliated. (MacArthur)

Gaza and the Ark

1 Samuel 4:10-11 (NKJV)

[10] So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. [11] Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

1 Samuel 5:1-6 (NKJV)

[1] Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. [2] When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. [3] And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again. [4] And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon's torso was left of it. [5] Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. [6] But the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.

1 Samuel 5:11-12 (NKJV)

[11] So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go back to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people." For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. [12] And the men who did not die were stricken with the tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

1 Samuel 6:13-18 (NKJV)

[13] Now the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. [14] Then the cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there; a large stone was there. So they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. [15] The Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the chest that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone. Then the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices the same day to the LORD. [16] So when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day. [17] These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned as a trespass offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron; [18] and the golden rats, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and country villages, even as far as the large stone of Abel on which they set the ark of the LORD, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

● When the Philistines captured the Ark in battle they brought it, in turn, to Ashdod, the Dagon Temple, Gath, and Ekron

● God turned over their god Dagon and struck the people with tumors, and killed many

● Thus, they were forced to return the Ark

● The tribute was 5 golden tumors and 5 golden rats- representing the five cities and lords of Philistia

Solomon Conquers Gaza

1 Kings 4:20-25 (NKJV)

[20] Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing. [21] So Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. [22] Now Solomon's provision for one day was thirty kors of fine flour, sixty kors of meal, [23] ten fatted oxen, twenty oxen from the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl. [24] For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the River from Tiphsah even to Gaza, namely over all the kings on this side of the River; and he had peace on every side all around him. [25] And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

● Tiphsah ... Gaza. Tiphsah was located on the west bank of the Euphrates River and Gaza on the southwestern Mediterranean coast. These towns represented the northeast and southwestpoints of Solomon's influence. (MacArthur)

King Hezekiah and Gaza

2 Kings 18:8 (NKJV)

[8] He subdued the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.

Throughout all of this, Gaza remained Phillistine. Gaza has always been a source of constant trouble and occasional hostility. Now, lets look at the prophecies concerning Gaza.

The Prophets & Gaza

Amos 1:6-8 (NKJV)

[6] Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they took captive the whole captivity To deliver them up to Edom. [7] But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, Which shall devour its palaces. [8] I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, And the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; I will turn My hand against Ekron, And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish," Says the Lord GOD.

● Amos was not of priestly or noble descent, but worked as a "sheepbreeder" (Amo 1:1; cf. 2Ki 3:4) and a "tender of sycamore fruit" (Amo 7:14); he was a contemporary of Jonah (2Ki 14:25), Hosea (Hos 1:1), and Isaiah (Isa 1:1). The date of writing is mid-eighth century B.C. (c. 755 B.C.), during the reigns of Uzziah, king of Judah (c. 790-739 B.C.) and Jeroboam II, king of Israel (c. 793-753 B.C.), two years before a memorable earthquake (Amo 1:1; cf. Zec 14:5). (MacArthur)

● Gaza. Philistia's most prominent merchant city, ideally situated between Egypt and Israel, here used to refer to the Philistine nation. (MacArthur)

● took captive the whole captivity. They deported an entire population (cf. Jer 13:19), possibly during the reign of Jehoram (2Ch 21:16-17; Jol 3:3), c. 853-841 B.C. (MacArthur)

Zephaniah 2:1-7 (NKJV)

[1] Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, [2] Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the LORD's fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD's anger comes upon you! [3] Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD's anger. [4] For Gaza shall be forsaken, And Ashkelon desolate; They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, And Ekron shall be uprooted. [5] Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: "I will destroy you; So there shall be no inhabitant." [6] The seacoast shall be pastures, With shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks. [7] The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; They shall feed their flocks there; In the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will intervene for them, And return their captives.

● Zephaniah traces his genealogy back four generations to King Hezekiah (c. 715-686 B.C.), standing alone among the prophets descended from royal blood (Zep 1:1). Royal genealogy would have given him the ear of Judah's king, Josiah, during whose reign he preached. (MacArthur)

● The prophet himself dates his message during the reign of Josiah (640-609 B.C.) (MacArthur)

● Zephaniah's message on the Day of the Lord warned Judah that the final days were near, through divine judgment at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, c. 605-586 B.C. (Zep 1:4-13). Yet, it also looks beyond to the far fulfillment in the judgments of Daniel's seventieth week (Zep 1:18; Zep 3:8). (MacArthur)

● The expression "Day of the Lord" is described as a day that is near (Zep 1:7), and as a day of wrath, trouble, distress, devastation, desolation, darkness, gloominess, clouds, thick darkness, trumpet, and alarm (Zep 1:15-16, Zep 1:18). (MacArthur)

● Even within these oracles of divine wrath, the prophet exhorted the people to seek the Lord, offering a shelter in the midst of judgment (Zep 2:3), and proclaiming the promise of eventual salvation for His believing remnant (Zep 2:7; Zep 3:9-20). (MacArthur)

● Cherethites. Occasionally a synonym for Philistia, this term represented a people from Crete (see note on Ezk 25:16). David's bodyguard was comprised of both Cherethites and Pelethites (2Sa 8:18; 1Ki 1:38, 1Ki 1:44). (MacArthur)

Jeremiah 25:15-20 (NKJV)

[15] For thus says the LORD God of Israel to me: "Take this wine cup of fury from My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it. [16] And they will drink and stagger and go mad because of the sword that I will send among them." [17] Then I took the cup from the LORD's hand, and made all the nations drink, to whom the LORD had sent me: [18] Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and its princes, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is this day; [19] Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his princes, and all his people; [20] all the mixed multitude, all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the land of the Philistines (namely, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod);

● Jeremiah served as both a priest and a prophet (MacArthur)

● The dates of his ministry, which spanned five decades, are from the Judean king Josiah's thirteenth year, noted in Jer 1:2 (627 B.C.), to beyond the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon in 586 B.C. (Jer. 39; 40; 52). After 586 B.C., Jeremiah was forced to go with a fleeing remnant of Judah to Egypt (Jer. 43; 44). He was possibly still ministering in 570 B.C. (see note on Jer 44:29-30). A rabbinic note claims that when Babylon invaded Egypt in 568/67 B.C. Jeremiah was taken captive to Babylon. He could have lived even to pen the book's closing scene c. 561 B.C. in Babylon, when Judah's king Jehoiachin, captive in Babylon since 597 B.C., was allowed liberties in his last days (Jer 52:31-34). Jeremiah, if still alive at that time, was between eighty-five and ninety years old. (MacArthur)

● All shall drink from the cup of God’s fury

Zechariah 9:5 (NKJV)

[5] Ashkelon shall see it and fear; Gaza also shall be very sorrowful; And Ekron, for He dried up her expectation. The king shall perish from Gaza, And Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.

● Gaza would tremble in fear and be rendered bereft of its rulers.

● The cities of Philistia were terrified at the swiftness with which Alexander the Great's army was able to conquer Tyre. Then Alexander marched south, conquering all these Philistine cities and killing their national pride. (MacArthur)

Before I move on to Gaza and the New Testament I would like to include a note that each one of the prophets who spoke about Gaza also foretold of a Millenial kingdom.

● Amos 9:11-15...

● Zephaniah 3:9-20...

● Jeremiah 23: 3-8, 30-33...

● Zechariah 14...

Gaza & the New Testament

Acts 8:26 (NKJV)

[26] Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert.

• As far as I can tell, this is the only reference to Gaza in the New Testament. What follows is the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch by Philip.

It is my opinion that with this study we have just scratched the surface of this conflict and what it means. I believe this is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Please let me ask a favor of you. If this study has piqued your interest and you find additional information that you feel is beneficial to understanding this topic, please reach out and share.

Thank you and God Bless Israel!

Such Hope

How are you feeling these days? Losing sleep? Maybe a little anxious or on edge? Perhaps fearful of the future, if not for you, then your kids or grandkids? Do things agitate you easier than they used to?

All are symptoms of the massive change we are experiencing at all levels of society. The digital revolution has impacted our lives in personal/intimate ways that no one saw coming. Post-modern activism is challenging even basic truths of human physiology. Society is breaking down as people isolate themselves behind social media walls and lob word grenades at anyone that disagrees. Rioting, looting, and arson are considered healthy forms of protest. The cost of everything is skyrocketing and incomes are lagging. Culture in general is toxic and we are entering an election year when the rhetoric will only get amplified.

Make no mistake, even if you’re a well read, grounded, and otherwise laid-back Christian you’re likely feeling the effects. You don’t have to be an addicted scroller of social media, or an avid watcher of your favorite 24/7 news network, to see that most of the news is bad. And what isn’t bad is raunchy, distasteful, and vulgar. Finding a decent show to watch is akin to finding a needle in a haystack these days. Driving on the roads offers no respite as distracted drivers, juggling 3 conversations and a couple messages, can barely find the time to look at the road while they navigate increasingly congested streets.

So, “are we rollin’ downhill like a snowball headed for hell?” It certainly appears that way. By today’s barometer, Merle Haggard’s complaints seem petty in 1981…and things have only gotten worse. There is no longer even a grudgingly accepted notion of right and wrong. Morality itself is being challenged as a by-gone idea of a near extinct, self-righteous bunch of hypocrites. Standards are another casualty of a new, sophisticated, technologically superior to all other generations who have ever lived modernism in which the individual person is not beholden to anyone but themselves, and anyone who doesn’t like it be damned. We’ve seen this type of “free” thinking and living before, it didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.

Society itself wasn’t built for this. A functioning society needs stability. A well-functioning society needs a Rock. Groups, especially large ones, don’t do well on sand. Beaches are good for holidays, not to build houses on. For that we need bedrock, something that doesn’t move and isn’t subject to changing tides or time. A rock that is immovable. A morality that is beyond question. A standard that never compromises. A heart for the people, as a person and a group. 

Into the chaos of today’s Cat 5 storm of change and degradation I propose ‘the Way’ forward.

2nd Corinthians 3.1-3

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. (NKJV)

• The culture in Corinth was in a downward spiral when Paul arrived and the list of offenses was appalling: Spiritual authoritarianism, ethnic superiority, preferential treatment of the wealthy, sexual deviancy, court overuse, religiosity, spiritual gift shaming, bad teaching, and gospel twisting to name a few

• Teachers were arriving with letters of commendation from prominent leaders/teachers of the time- some legit and others not- so the people would listen to them. Did these “teachers” have anything to offer besides their letters?

• By the time of Paul’s 2nd letter to Corinth things had changed for the better, while clearly there was room to grow, the lifestyle had improved to the point others noticed, and Paul was claiming their improvement for Jesus Christ. They had become “an epistle of Christ!”

• “not on tablets of stone,” the first of many Mosaic references in the chapter as it relates to the Old Covenant coronation at Mt. Sinai

• The old covenant focused on outward obedience and was written on stone tablets, the new covenant focused on inward transformation and is written on the heart

2nd Corinthians 3.4-6

And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (NKJV)

• Paul was confident in Christ to perform such things, not of himself or his colleagues

• Paul’s trust in Jesus Christ gave him confidence and peace, not in his work or ability, but in the ability of Christ to finish what he had begun. Phil 1.6- being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ

• Paul clearly aligns and identifies himself as a minister of the new covenant

• The letter (law; 10 Commandments) reveals sin, the Spirit overcomes sin. John 1.5- the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (overcome) it.

• “for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 3,000 were killed at the commencement of the old covenant at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 32.28), 3,000 were saved (given life) at the commencement of the new covenant at Pentecost (Acts 2.41)

2 Corinthians 3.7-11

But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. (NKJV)

• To Paul the Old Covenant = Ministry of Death; Romans 7.5- For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death

• the New Covenant = Ministry of Spirit; Romans 7.6- But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter

• Old Covenant Signs of Glory- Mt. Sinai surrounded by smoke, earthquakes, thunder, lightning, trumpet blast from heaven, voice of God, Moses countenance

• New Covenant Signs of Glory- Angelic announcement, signs in the sky, virgin birth, voice from heaven, “lowly” surroundings

• The old covenant shone for a while as the shine on Moses countenance, but just as Moses no longer needed the veil, the new covenant has replaced the glory of the old

• Righteousness excels over condemnation- the old law condemned, the new Spirit brings Godly righteousness

• F. W. Grant has beautifully stated, “The glory on the face of Moses must give way to the glory in Another Face.”

2 Corinthians 3.12-18

Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (NKJV)

• Moses wore a veil in his glory, Jesus takes away the veil

• Moses hearers were blinded, Jesus returns sight

• “The Lord is the Spirit:” a trinitarian reference

• The Spirit of the Lord brings liberty out of bondage- think do instead of do not

• What exactly is “such hope”- that we are being transformed (metamorphosis- from the inside out), into the image and likeness of Christ- not by our own work- but by His work in us

• As we are occupied with the glory of the risen, ascended, exalted Lord Jesus Christ, we are being transformed into the same image. Here, in a word, is the secret of Christian holiness—occupation with Christ. Not by occupation with self; that brings only defeat. Not by occupation with others; that brings disappointment. But by occupation with the glory of the Lord, we become more and more like Him. This marvelous, transforming process takes place from glory to glory, that is, from one degree of glory to another. It is not a matter of instant change. There is no experience in the Christian life that will reproduce His image in a moment. It is a process, not a crisis. It is not like the fading glory of the law, but an ever-increasing glory. The power for this wonderful process is the Holy Spirit of God—just as by the Spirit of the Lord. As we behold the Lord of glory, study Him, contemplate Him, gaze on Him adoringly, the Spirit of the Lord works in our life the marvelous miracle of increasing conformity to Christ. (Believers Bible Commentary)

• Therefore…

2nd Corinthians 4.1

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. (NKJV)

• Because we have received such a marvelous ministry, such an audacious gift, we hope, we do not give up, we never shrink back, "we do not lose heart"- we persevere!

If you were to continue reading chapter 4 you'd see the refrain, "do not lose heart," three times. Stressful times are not a new problem. False teachers have been with us a long time. Fake news is not a novel idea. When we focus too long on our troubles and spend too much time stressing about our circumstances, we create distance between ourselves and the solution. The alternative is to seek out Jesus Christ, meditate on His word, sing His praise, reflect on His person, follow His teaching, and dwell in His presence.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4.17-18 (ESV)

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O Soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting,
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion,
For more than conquerors we are!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

His Word shall not fail you, He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Written by Helen Lemmel

Unleashing the Lion- Chapter 1: The Encounter

Return to Introduction

The Lion Stirs

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Proverbs 16.3

Commitment is what transforms the promise into reality. It is the words that speak boldly of your intentions. And the actions which speak louder than the words. (Urban Dictionary)

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A young man stands before the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus: Why are you here?

Young Man: I know why I’m here, I just don’t understand why you are doing this to me?

Jesus: What am I doing to you?

Young Man: You are sending me to Hell where I will suffer for eternity. Where I will be separated from the ones I love forever. I loved you on earth and believed you were who you said you were. Like I said before, I know why I’m here, I just don’t understand why I’m here.

Jesus: I see. You are correct, that is your destination and there is no turning back. But let me ask you again, why do you know you are here? (Prov 16.5; Gal 6.7; Matt 25.46)

Young Man: I know because somehow I’ve always known. Deep down, no matter what I’ve told others, I knew I was wrong. But I kept telling myself otherwise.

Jesus: I see. You are correct. But that is only one reason why you’re here. There are others. We’ll get to those in a second. Did I not send others to warn you?

Young Man: Yes. There are those that said it was wrong. That it was a sin.

Jesus: And how did you answer them?

Young Man: I told them you were bigger than that.

Jesus: I see. I’m bigger than that. What does that mean?

Young Man: It means that you were bigger than my sin. That no matter what I did you were so big, so loving, so much more than I could ever hope to be, that it just didn't matterl Your grace would be sufficient for my shortcomings.

Jesus: I see. So you acknowledge that it is a sin? A “shortcoming” as you call it. (1 Jn 3.4; 1 Jn 5.17; Rom 7.7-13)

Young Man: Yes, I acknowledge that. But what about grace?

Jesus: Yes, what about grace? Let’s look at that for a moment. Did you have access to a Bible?

Young Man: Yes.

Jesus: Did you read it?

Young Man: Yes.

Jesus: I see. If you had access to a Bible, and you read it, then you must also accept it as My standard of judgment in your case. Do you understand.

Young Man: Yes.

Jesus: My grace is sufficient for thee. Remember? You almost quoted it earlier. (2 Cor 12.9)

Young Man: Yes.

Jesus: And do you remember the rest?

Young Man: ...for my strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor 12.9)

Jesus: Correct. And you cite this verse as a reason for why you continued to do something that you knew was a sin?

Young Man: Yes. I thought that once I was saved it didn’t matter what I did, I would always go to heaven. You know once saved, always saved.

Jesus: I see. When I asked you earlier if you had access to a Bible, I meant did you have access to the whole counsel of My Words, not just one verse. Many wicked men throughout the ages, have taken a verse out of context and twisted it to say something it never said. Understand?

Young Man: Yes.

Jesus: So, did you have access to more than one verse?

Young Man: Yes.

Jesus: How much more?

Young Man: You know Lord. I had access to the whole Bible. All 66 books and 1,189 Chapters.

Jesus: I did know that. The reason We provided so many books, chapters, verses, and words was so that you might believe that I am the Christ, the son of God: that believing you might have eternal life in My Name. It was also so that no man would deceive you with vain words and you wouldn’t be carried about by various and strange doctrines. We knew false teachers would arise and seek to decieve and beguile you with enticing and persuasive words. (1 Jn 5.13; Jn 20.31; Eph 5.6; Heb 13.9; Eph 4.14; Mt 24.11)

That is also why We said all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Our goal was that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished and equipped for every good work. Someone’s opinions are not capable of such things, would you agree? (2 Tim 3.16-17)

Young Man: Yes. And I understand what you are saying, but this is Old Testament type stuff. I thought the New Testament was different, you know, all love, grace, and mercy.

Jesus: Professing yourselves to be wise, you became as fools. You changed the incorruptible God into an image resembling man. You changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped a God as you wanted us to be, not as We are. Our expectations did not change with the New Testament, and neither did our standard. Our expectation and standard has always been holiness. (Rom 1.22-23; 1 Pe 1.14-16)

Young Man: But we were just human, you made us that way. We were going to sin no matter what we did.

Jesus: Understand young man, We made no one to sin. It was man who sinned, We provided a remedy. The remedy which cost Us dearly. I never once thought of myself when I came in human form, born of a virgin, living a sinless life, but beaten to death, and hung on a cross, not for my sin, but for others. My blood was shed to cover the sin of man. (Ps 51.5; Jer 17.9; Rom 3.23; 1 John 1.8-10; Isa 53.4-6; 2 Cor 5.21; Rom 8.3; Eph 5.2; Isa 7.14; Mt 1.18-23)

Young Man: Yes, Yes! Thank You, Thank You! That is what I read. Your blood was enough to cover all my sin. I understand. None of us were perfect. We couldn’t live the way you did. Your blood is enough for even my sin, is it not? Your grace is sufficient for me in my weakness?

Jesus: My blood gives no license to sin. Did you continue to sin that grace may abound? I forbid it! How can one say that he who has died to sin shall continue in it? Did you not read that when you were baptized in Me, you also died with Me? That through baptism you were buried and just as I was raised from the dead, even so were you? Were you born again to live the old sinful ways you did before? Of course not! You were raised to walk in a new life. Your old life was crucified so that the body of sin might be destroyed, so you wouldn’t have to be a slave to sin no more. For he that is dead is freed from sin. (Rom 6.1-7)

Young Man: But surely you understand, your people were not the best witnesses. They favored some sins while seemingly disregarding others. They would shout some sins from the rooftop, others you could attend church for years and never hear anything about.

Jesus: They shall be held accountable, but not in the way you want.

Young Man: How then?

Jesus: The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Not fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunks, abusers, or swindlers. The works of the flesh are evident and they are: adultery, fornication, impurity, unrestrained lust, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, contentions and jealousies, wrath, selfish ambition, rebellion, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, abusers, and the like. They shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Outside the gates of heaven will be dogs, sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, idolaters, and liars. We commanded you to put to death the desires of your flesh: sexual immorality, impurity, uncontrolled passions, evil desires, and greediness. For all these reasons Our wrath has come on the children of disobedience. You cannot say you were not warned. Yes, they will be held accountable. They will be held accountable for not exposing all sin as sin. They will not be held accountable for exposing your sin. I commanded them to expose all sin. (1 Cor 6.9-10; Rev 22.15; Gal 5.19-21; Col 3.5-10)

Young Man: So you mean to tell me that no one who will be in heaven has ever done any of those things? Not even once? And if you did, that’s it, no mercy? No grace?

Jesus: Those who continued to practice such things were never mine. My sheep heard my voice, and I knew them, and they followed me. I gave them eternal life, they shall never perish, and no one was able to snatch them away from Me. Blessed are they who heard the Word of God, and kept it. We did not call people to live impure lives, but holy lives. If you loved me, you would have kept my commands. That is how I knew they loved Me, they kept my Word. And I abided in them. (John 10.25-28, Luke 11.28; 1 Thess 4.7-8; John 14.15, 21; 1 Jn 2.3-5;

For just as the works of the flesh were evident, so also were the works of the Spirit. For the desires of the flesh were always set against the desires of the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Those who belonged to me crucified the flesh with all of its passions and desires. (Gal 5.19-24)

Young Man: But that’s not what we were taught. Many, most of the teachers I heard said it was all about what you believed. If you believed that Jesus died for your sins you were good to go.

Jesus: I warned you not to let any man deceive you. You had a Bible. Only the ones that practiced righteous living were righteous, even as I was righteous. Whoever made a practice of sinning was not mine, but the devils. The devil sinned from the beginning. The reason I came into the world was to destroy the work of the devil. No one, and I mean no one, born of God continued in the practice of sin. My Seed abides in Him. He could not continue in sin because he was born of Me! (1 Jn 3.7-9)

Young Man: But I loved you Jesus. I love you now. I just knew I was saved. I thought I knew it.(sobbing)

Jesus: If you had loved me, you would have kept my commands. For whatever was born of Us overcame the world along with its temptations. Your salvation assurance was based on the witness of others, but the witness of God is greater. Assurance in one’s salvation was based on ones love for me. And those who loved me kept my commands. Those who did not love me did not keep my commands. (1 Jn 5.1-13)

I warned you. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. I warned that many will say to me in that day Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have castout many devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Mt 7.21-23)

I warned you, and now I profess, I never knew you, depart from me, you worker of iniquity. And the young man went away weeping and gnashing his teeth into a future filled only with despair and suffering for all of eternity. (Mt 7.23; Lk 13.24-30; Ps 112.10; Mt 13.39-42; Mt 25.41; Mt 25.46; Rev 20.10-15)

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It didn’t have to end that way.

Continue to Chapter 2: The Parable

Unleashing the Lion- Chapter 2: The Parable

Return to Chapter 1: The Encounter

And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Mark 4:1-20

The Meaning

The Lion teaches, and His preferred method is storytelling.

And while stories have been holding listener’s attention since the dawn of time parables have another purpose as well. Parables always seek to communicate a deeper spiritual truth, hence parables will usually compare or examine two concepts at one time. Sometimes the concepts are opposites, other times they are alike, either way there is a spiritual truth or moral lesson that is being conveyed. Typically one concept or line of thought that is well understood is being used to shed light on another that is not as easily comprehended.

You’ve probably already figured out that it takes an adept spinster to tell a compelling story and share a greater truth within the thread of the story line. In the parable we just read Jesus quotes the book of Isaiah as the reason He teaches in parables:

And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Isaiah 6:9-10

By using parables Jesus will be able to share the same great truth with everyone but each will receive their hearts desire. Some will listen, but won’t understand. Others will watch but never learn. Still others will listen and watch, but their hearts will be far from Him, hence they will not turn to Him for healing. God has revealed to Isaiah what the result of his ministry will be and in quoting Isaiah Jesus is telling His disciples to expect the same.

Those that want the truth will hear it, and in hearing it they will identify it, listen and heed it, and hold those truths close to their heart. Those that don’t want the truth will never hear it, no matter how plainly it is taught, it will only serve to drive them deeper into their rejection, not only of the plain truth, but also of the truth Himself.

Now that we understand why Jesus taught in parables, how can we learn to unlock the truth hidden within the story? Remember, typically we are comparing one element within the story to another element in real life. Let’s get our feet wet with the concept by looking at a well known Old Testament parable and see if we can grasp the deeper spiritual truth.


Rich Man, Poor Man

In 2 Samuel 11 the context is unfolded. The great King David walks upon the roof top of his residence and is taken with the beauty of Bathsheba. David inquired regarding her and finds out she is the wife of one of his fighting men. Not to be dissuaded he sends for her, they lie together, and she becomes pregnant! David seeks to cover up “Bathshebagate” by sending for Uriah, her husband and his soldier, so that he may lie with her too, and cover up this sordid ordeal.

The problem is that Uriah isn’t complicit with the plan. He feels badly that he is being wined and dined at the King’s table while his buddies are still out there fighting and dying for king and country. Uriah can not bring himself to go and lie with his wife. Having tried everything else David sends a directive to Uriah’s commander by Uriah’s own hand, put Uriah at the front lines where the fighting is fiercest so Uriah will get struck down and die. And so Uriah was struck down, and after mourning Bathsheba went to live at the King’s residence with David and bore him a son.

But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

2 Samuel 11.27

Some time later the Lord sent David’s friend, trusted advisor, and prophet of God, Nathan, to share a tale of heartache and intrigue.

And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

2 Samuel 12.1-4

The comparison is obvious right? The rich man is David, the poor man is Uriah, the rich man owned many things and David had an entire kingdom at his disposal, the poor man owned one lamb, Uriah’s wife is all he had. The rich man could have chosen any one of his lambs to prepare one meal for his guest, hence David could have chosen any woman in his palace but he chose the one that was not his to take. The rich man lost nothing, the poor man lost everything, and so it was with David and Uriah. Uriah had lost everything including his life!

The story has its desired effect, David flies into a rage and pronounces judgment on the rich man, however he still does not recognize the object of the story, Nathan has to identify David as the rich man. The revelation cuts David to the bone. David fears death but Nathan assures him that he will not die, but the son of the adulterous affair will not be so lucky. David had sinned against the Lord and dragged the name of Jehovah through the mud with his actions, David would be forgiven the sin but suffer the consequence.


Sower, Seed, and Soil

Now that we know how to listen and apply the parable let us go back to our story of the Sower and see if we can decipher the meaning and peel back the layers of application.

Before Jesus began to unpack His tale of the seed He asked those present two very important questions that we shouldn’t gloss over.

1. Don’t you understand this parable?
2. How then will you understand any parable?

This parable was either so simple that His disciples should have grasped its meaning immediately or this parable was the key to understanding the rest of the parables of Jesus. Either way it was imperative that His disciples understood it clearly. This parable not only has a direct correlation with the other parables shared after it but this parable also sets the foundation for the ones that follow as well. If you grasp the meaning and significance of this one, the rest will fall into place, miss it and you will in all likelihood miss the others that follow it as well.

A farmer throws seed.

At this point four different soils make their appearance in our story.

1. trodden down
2. rocky
3. thorny
4. good

The soils are described and their appearance distinguished by the plight of the seed each soil received. The seed that fell on the path had no chance at all, the birds quickly came and ate up the seed. That soil was fruitless! The seed that feel on the rocky soil quickly sprouted from the thin layer of soil resting on top of the rock, but then the sun came out and burned up the plant since the thin layer of soil did not contain enough moisture to nurture the plant. That soil was also fruitless. The seed that fell on the thorny soil likewise sprang up but was quickly choked out by the other plants. That soil was again fruitless. The seed that fell on the good soil grew, nurtured and protected as it was by the better surroundings. That soil produced fruit many times itself.

After Jesus’ interlude regarding the purpose of parables and reiteration regarding the importance of this one, He breaks it down.

The farmer (or sower) is not specifically identified however two options readily avail themselves;

1. the sower is Jesus, or
2. the sower is anyone who throws the seed.

I believe identifying the seed makes identifying the sower easier by elimination. The seed according to Jesus is the Word. We happen to know who the Word is:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1.1

Since the seed is the Word, which is Christ, then the sower would be anyone who spreads the Word of Christ. So we have the farmer and the seed identified, now come the soil types. The soils are representative of the heart of man. They are identified by the penetration of the seed in the soil.

The soil along the path is hard, trampled down by the feet of man going to and fro upon its surface. The seed that falls along this hard path is subject to be scooped up by birds since there is no penetration and the seed lies along the surface. The birds are identified as Satan, who soars in and scoops up the Word that was sown there. There is no repentance of the heart, no prick of the conscience, no hope for the soul, and no spring of life, and there likely never will be because there never was to begin with. The Word was never able to gain a foothold, it was removed before it could perform its work.

The soil along the rock hears but does not listen, perceives but never understands, and considers but never decides. The seed that falls on this ground makes quick progress and as long as the going is easy will continue its growth. The first sign of resistance signals the beginning of the end for this quick sprouter, it knows not how to overcome obstacles, solve problems, or weather persecution. When the plant has sucked out the last remaining bit of sustenance in the soil the growth spurt will sputter. The plant will turn back, wither, and die.

The soil among the thorns is perhaps the most tragic. The seed sown here is by all outward appearances healthy and robust, ready to burst forth with fruit at any moment. But along the way gets sidetracked by worries, wealth, and want. Worry is like a virus that left unchecked will spread voraciously into every thought, wealth has within its means the capacity to drown out the sorrows of many with the contentment that one has all they need, and the want of more has driven many to the brink of madness and delusion. The Word sown here has been believed but not committed to, the fruit promised, but never fulfilled.

The good soil holds, protects, and nourishes the seed. The seed sown here has heard, believed, accepted, and practiced the gift of the Word. It does not take the Word for granted, refuse to decide, or commit to the Word, it does all those things and more. It produces because it has an abundance of all that is needed in order to go forth and multiply. There is no argument that it heeds, no obstacle that it can’t overcome, and no distraction that changes its focus. The seed here is sold out and committed.

Lion of the Harvest

The harvest is quoted as being thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times more than was planted. This can be interpreted one of two ways. Many have looked at the yield and decided the closer one walked with God the more fruitful one would naturally be, however if we put to use another principle for studying the Bible, another alternative emerges that may better fit the passage.

In the city of Corinth division had fractured the church. Paul had swung through on one missionary journey and planted the seed of the Word of God in the hearts of people. Apollos came after and watered the seed that Paul had planted through accurate and eloquent Bible teaching. This caused many in Corinth to call themselves followers of Paul or Apollos!

In writing back to the Corinthian church Paul reminds the believers that Paul and Apollos are just servants of God who do what the Lord has given them to do. In their case Paul planted the seed, Apollos watered, but it was the Lord who made it grow. Paul goes on to say that neither the one who plants or the one who waters are near as important as God who makes the seed grow (1 Cor 3.6). Both the one who plants and the one who waters work together for the same purpose and for the same Master. Both will be rewarded by God.

In John 15.4 Jesus teaches His disciples about the vine and the branches. (I told you we would be getting dirty in this book!) Here Jesus reveals that He is the true grapevine and God the Father is the gardener. God prunes those branches that don’t produce fruit and He prunes those branches that do so they will produce even more. Jesus then exhorts His disciples to remain (reside, abide) in Him (Jesus) so that they will produce fruit. He then warns His disciples saying that those who do remain (reside, abide) in Him will produce fruit but apart from Him they can do nothing!

It is apparent from this passage that Jesus is responsible for the production of the fruit. If we abide in Him, He will abide in us and produce the Harvest. We simply need to do as He leads and directs. Note verse six where the warning is repeated but amplified, “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

There are three types of soil that produce no fruit and are in danger of being burned up, the uninterested, undecided, and uncommitted. There is one type of soil that nourishes the seed planted, that abides in the true vine, and produces loads of fruit. Which soil are you?

So we see from this passage that our focus is on the work we are doing where God is working! God will provide the increase. We also see that there are no more important people in the work of God. Whether you lead a church, teach Sunday school, prepare meals, mop floors, take out trash, or plan preschool you are engaged in the work of God and you are important. While the speaker may lead people to Christ by his words, you may lead people to Christ by your example. He plants by his sermon, you water by your work, but it is God who makes it all worthwhile.


Gifts and Talents

In the book of Matthew Jesus tells the Parable of the Talents. Jesus tells the story of three men who are entrusted with varying sums of money, gold, or talents (a talent is a form of currency used during the time of Jesus) by their Master before going on a long journey. One man is entrusted with five talents or bags of gold, another is entrusted with two, and the last man is given one.

When the master returned he called the slaves together so each could give an accounting of the money he had left with them. The slave to whom five were left had gained five more. The slave to whom two were left had gained two more. The slave to whom one was left had gained none, instead of investing, working, or earning interest he had simply dug a hole and buried the money.

Thus, it would appear that just as the Master had given his slaves differing amounts of gold or talents to begin with so it makes sense that our Lord has given each of us differing gifts and responsibilities. Some of these gifts (or talents) may have the potential to yield more than others, however the focus should not be on the amount produced. The person entrusted with more gifts (or talents) should make the most of what the Lord has given them without looking down on the one who has been given less. The point is that each slave (that’s you and me!) should do the very best with what we have been given and not be concerned with the amount of the yield. If we see yield then we are doing the work! The Lord (our Lion) will be responsible for the amount of the yield. He is after all the Lord of the Harvest!

Let’s also consider why the two slaves were able to multiply their initial investment. The answer is commitment. Who were they committed to? The master of course. What were they committed to? The master’s work. How did they go about the master’s work? One invested and the other worked, each did as they were gifted to do and produced fruit. This is how kingdom work is done!

The warning comes from the slave who buried his treasure. Not only was there no reward, but there was punishment. He operated under wrong assumptions about his master and reaped the consequences. I believe the incorrect thinking and the actions that resulted are very indicative of the way Christians think today. The Jesus of the 21st century seems to be a rather weak and unassuming figure, hardly someone who musters any confidence at all in those that follow him. But as we’ll see in the chapters that follow Jesus was not some enlightened pacifist running around trying to marshal a following. Jesus was much, much more!

Contemplate

So to wrap up our parable of the sower, the good seed sown in good soil will produce. They have heard the word, accepted it, and bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times what was sown. Our job is to remain committed to the seed that was entrusted to us, keep it, protect it, and watch it bear fruit when and where the Lord allows. Then rejoice when we see the Lord at work.

How often has something peeked your interest, i.e. losing weight, learning a different language, or continuing your education, but you never thought much about it again until a situation cropped up that made you think about it?

How many times have you actually had the wherewithal to actually sit down and make a plan to start something but after getting into it you realized there was far more to making your plan a reality that you had envisioned? So, after a couple of starts and stops you decided this just wasn’t the right time in your life for this particular endeavor.

Or perhaps you were actually on your way to accomplishing something in your life that would make a difference. You had planned accordingly, stuck to your plan, but inevitably those realities of life kept popping up. In all likelihood they weren’t little things either, perhaps it was a change in your work situation, a family crisis, or a friend going through a difficult time that stole your time and zapped your energy.

There a ton of good reasons why we fail to do the things we ought to do. I’m sure you can come up with many more than I have, but in the end it all boils down to a lack of commitment. If you are sold out to accomplish something I assure you that you will. You will overcome any obstacle to make it a reality. I’ve seen people overcome enormous difficulty to make something happen. And guess what, they aren’t any better than you are! You can do the same, it just takes commitment.

Now that we have examined the soils let’s take a closer look at the seed. Most farmers I know have a pretty good idea what kind of fruit they expect from a certain seed. You wouldn’t plant a seed for watermelon if you wanted to grow cantaloupe for instance, so you would make sure you had the right kind of seed to produce the fruit you were looking to grow.

Can we know what kind of fruit God is seeking to grow in us? Of course we can, follow me to a little church in Galatia and a letter written long ago.

Continue to Chapter 3: The Fruit