Elijah and Depression

Ahab told his wife Jezebel what Elijah had done and that he had killed the prophets. She sent a message to Elijah: "You killed my prophets. Now I'm going to kill you! I pray that the gods will punish me even more severely if I don't do it by this time tomorrow." Elijah was afraid when he got her message, and he ran to the town of Beersheba in Judah. He left his servant there, then walked another whole day into the desert. Finally, he came to a large bush and sat down in its shade. He begged the LORD, "I've had enough. Just let me die! I'm no better off than my ancestors." Then he lay down in the shade and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel woke him up and said, "Get up and eat." Elijah looked around, and by his head was a jar of water and some baked bread. He sat up, ate and drank, then lay down and went back to sleep. Soon the LORD's angel woke him again and said, "Get up and eat, or else you'll get too tired to travel." So Elijah sat up and ate and drank. The food and water made him strong enough to walk forty more days. At last, he reached Mount Sinai, the mountain of God, and he spent the night there in a cave. While Elijah was on Mount Sinai, the LORD asked, "Elijah, why are you here?" He answered, "LORD God All-Powerful, I've always done my best to obey you. But your people have broken their solemn promise to you. They have torn down your altars and killed all your prophets, except me. And now they are even trying to kill me!" "Go out and stand on the mountain," the LORD replied. "I want you to see me when I pass by." All at once, a strong wind shook the mountain and shattered the rocks. But the LORD was not in the wind. Next, there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. Then there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. Finally, there was a gentle breeze, and when Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his coat. He went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. The LORD asked, "Elijah, why are you here?" Elijah answered, "LORD God All-Powerful, I've always done my best to obey you. But your people have broken their solemn promise to you. They have torn down your altars and killed all your prophets, except me. And now they are even trying to kill me!" The LORD said: Elijah, you can go back to the desert near Damascus. And when you get there, appoint Hazael to be king of Syria. Then appoint Jehu son of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat to take your place as my prophet. Hazael will start killing the people who worship Baal. Jehu will kill those who escape from Hazael, and Elisha will kill those who escape from Jehu. But seven thousand Israelites have refused to worship Baal, and they will live. Elijah left and found Elisha plowing a field with a pair of oxen. There were eleven other men in front of him, and each one was also plowing with a pair of oxen. Elijah went over and put his own coat on Elisha. Elisha stopped plowing and ran after him. "Let me kiss my parents good-by, then I'll go with you," he said. "You can go," Elijah said. "But remember what I've done for you." Elisha left and took his oxen with him. He killed them and boiled them over a fire he had made with the wood from his plow. He gave the meat to the people who were with him, and they ate it. Then he left with Elijah and became his assistant. (1 Kings 19:1-21)

This occurred just after a great victory for God. If you read the chapter before this one, Elijah had been used by God to show who the true living God really was. I will leave it to you to read that story and just set the scene for 1 Kings 19 by showing you the following verses:

Elijah stood in front of them and said, "How much longer will you try to have things both ways? If the LORD is God, worship him! But if Baal is God, worship him!" The people did not say a word. Then Elijah continued: I am the LORD's only prophet, but Baal has four hundred fifty prophets. Bring us two bulls. Baal's prophets can take one of them, kill it, and cut it into pieces. Then they can put the meat on the wood without lighting the fire. I will do the same thing with the other bull, and I won't light a fire under it either. The prophets of Baal will pray to their god, and I will pray to the LORD. The one who answers by starting the fire is God. "That's a good idea," everyone agreed. (1 Kings 18:21-24)

When the crowd saw what had happened, they all bowed down and shouted, "The LORD is God! The LORD is God!" Just then, Elijah said, "Grab the prophets of Baal! Don't let any of them get away." So the people captured the prophets and took them to Kishon River, where Elijah killed every one of them. (1 Kings 18:39-40)

King Ahab told Queen Jezebel all that Elijah had done, not as a testimony of God's power but to anger her. He didn't tell her what God had done, but what Elijah had done, as if he had performed some superior magic and not that the hand of the Lord had been in it. It was God who killed the prophets of Baal, not Elijah, but because of what King Ahab had told her, Queen Jezebel went gunning for Elijah.

You see, despite the unparalleled show of God's power, King Ahab's heart was hardened instead of softened. He refused to believe in God despite what he had just seen. That hardness of heart was passed on to Queen Jezebel when he told her what had happened. All she heard was that her Prophets of Baal had been killed. The whole story was about how God had prevailed and sent His demonstrative power and yet, all she heard was the Elijah had killed her 450 prophets. When your heart is cold and hard and hostile against God, there is very little that God can do to make you believe. If you don't want to believe, then no matter what miracles He shows you, you will remain steadfast in your unbelief. She hated Elijah because he was someone she could hate and persecute. She can't hate God because she can't hurt and persecute God, so she turns her anger and hate on Elijah who was only God's tool.

Over the centuries this missplaced anger and hatred has led to many martyrs' death. Because they can torment, persecute, torture and kill the followers of Jesus Christ, they go after them. God is who they really hate but He is beyond their control so they turn their anger on His People. And the persecution and killing of any of His Children is noted and will never be forgotten.

When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of everyone who had been killed for speaking God's message and telling about their faith. They shouted, "Master, you are holy and faithful! How long will it be before you judge and punish the people of this earth who killed us?" (Revelation 6:9-10)

So Jezebel threatens Elijah.

After all that Elijah had just seen and experienced, you would have thought he would have stood his ground and said, "Right back at ya, sister!" But, surprisingly, he ran away and hid. Now, her raging, cursing and threats were empty because nothing could be done to Elijah unless the Lord allow it for His higher purposes. And she might just have been a little afraid of Elijah after what she had heard. She could have sent guards to take him right away instead of just sending him a message. But Elijah's reaction is the surprising thing. What was wrong with him? Why would he flee in terror in the middle of the night after what he had just experienced?

Elijah became severely, suicidally depressed and afraid. What could cause this Prophet, this great man of God to fall into such a state?

• Elijah had just spent a day of intense spiritual warfare. He had watched the 450 Prophets of Baal prance around all morning, screaming and cutting themselves and begging their god to bring fire from heaven to consume their sacrifice. Then, when nothing happened, Elijah stepped up and had his sacrifice made on his altar, and even dug a trench around it and had so many buckets of water poured over the sacrifice and altar as to fill the trench. He made one plea to God and God sent fire from heaven that not only devoured the sacrifice but licked up the water.
  
• Then Elijah had been involved in killing the 450 prophets of Baal.
  
• Then he climbed Mt. Carmel.
  
• Then he prayed for rain until rain came and ended the drought.
  
• Then he actually ran down the mountain and all the way to Jezreel.
  
• Then he recieves a threat against his life and he has to flee in the night.

When you consider all he had been through, it's really not so surprising that he had a breakdown. He had to be spiritually, mentally and physically exhausted. At some point he went from running on God to running on empty. He went from spirit to flesh and his flesh was letting him down. You can do what God asks and empowers you to do but you begin to fade when you move from His empowerment to your own flesh. There comes a pivotal point where you lose your balance and are no longer relying on God but are relying on yourself.

Elijah not only ran away but he ran the wrong way. He ran into the wilderness, into a desert. If he had run TO God instead of to the waste places of the desert, he would have been blessed and replenished, renewed, strengthened. I'm not saying he ran away from God, but rather, in fear, he ran to the worst possible earthly place. A place to guarantee further depression. He could have stayed right where he was at and got on his knees and run, in a spiritual sense, to God.

He and his servant fled to Beersheba but he left his servant there and went on alone into the desert. He has isolated himself. Those who suffer depression tend to isolate themselves. I've been there and done that! He removed himself from God, from people and now, even from his servant who was probably closer to him than any other human at this time. I'm sure he thought there was no reason to further push his servant. Elijah may have thought his servant deserved to rest rather than to go on out in the desert. But he also wanted to be alone. He wanted to cry and wail and despair all by himself. He prayed that he would die, that God would just let him die right then and there. He thinks that life is over, he has done all he can do and he's tired of the fight. All his exhausted mind can think is that he's failed, has no one who loves him, he's alone. God allows him to sleep. Physical exhaustion can cause depression so it is imperative that we get enough rest when we feel depressed.

God sends an angel to give him food and water. He tenderly provides for him despite Elijah's plummeting faith. Herein may lie another physical problem. How long has he gone without proper nourishment and nutrition? Someone who is so mentally distraught and depressed may go without properly eating and this can aggravate depression. When we feel depression coming on, it is time to be sure we eat right and take our vitamins. We must make ourselves take care of our body by resting and eating right.

Elijah is ministered to by angels who insure that he rests and eats and drinks! That is how much God loves him and takes care of him! But he was still depressed. God draws him on a 40 day hike to Mt. Sinai. This walk was to remind Elijah of the 40 years of wandering in the desert before the Israelites obeyed God and began to occupy the Promised Land. And during those 40 years, they did not suffer hunger or thirst, nor did their clothes wear out, but they also didn't hear from God. During this long walk, Elijah doesn't hear from God but God is taking care of him. Even though he doesn't eat, the food God provided for him through the angels, meant that Elijah did not suffer hunger or dehydration. Elijah needs some down time and some exercise to keep him from curling up in a ball. How many times, when you get depressed, have you wanted to curl in a ball and huddle under the blankets and not get up? I have. God made sure that Elijah got rest and food but then sent him on a hike for 40 days. A time for reflection.

When Elijah reaches Mt. Sinai, God speaks to him. He asks Elijah a question, "Why are you here?" God often asks us questions to get us to think, formulate and express our feelings. It's a way to direct and focus our thoughts. Elijah is ready now to confront his spiritual depression. God has taken care of him physically and mentally and now wants to confront his spiritual depression. God is asking him "Why? Why are you here? What made you run away when you knew I was in control? Why didn't you trust Me? Is this where a Prophet of the Living God should be? Hiding in a cave?" Elijah answers:

"He excuses his retreat, and desires it may not be imputed to his want of zeal for reformation, but to his despair of success. For God knew, and his own conscience witnessed for him, that as long as there was any hope of doing good he had been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts; but now that he had laboured in vain, and all his endeavours were to no purpose, he thought it was time to give up the cause, and mourn for what he could not mend...

"He complains of the people, their obstinacy in sin, and the height of impiety to which they had arrived: 'The children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, and that is the reason I have forsaken them; who can stay among them, to see every thing that is sacred ruined and run down?'" -Matthew Henry's Commentary

He thought his work was done and he had failed to turn the Israelites back to God. He thought that he alone knew and worshipped the one true God. He was disgusted and despairing that nothing had changed. He was angry with the people. He felt alone. He felt like a failure. Sounding a little self-righteous with a little spiritual pride. You know you have pride when you think God should be doing what you want Him to do. Who are we to think we have such high knowledge and wisdom that we can direct the Lord to do what we think is best? "If everybody would just listen to me and do what I say, the world would go around a lot better!" I have caught myself in those kind of thoughts before!

This shows how twisted the thinking gets in a depressed person. I know this intimately. You are not in your right mind when you are in a depressed state. Everything looks like the end of the world. Others may look at you and think you have the world on a string but all you can see is despair and loneliness. Satan twists your thinking and makes white seem black and black seem white. For some reason you are unable to see light at the end of the tunnel, all you see is darkness. It's why I think there is something organically/chemically misfiring because you can't see clearly, it's not logical. It goes against the will to live that God has implanted in us. God makes sure that Elijah's body is taken care of before He dialogues with Elijah. Now God is reaching out to Elijah by talking to him in the voice that Elijah had forgotten. He's asking him to think and express himself. Once we speak up and arouse our minds, we are able to converse with God about our situation in prayer. God understands our every thought and wants to draw us out even if it's to express some very un-Christlike feelings. Then God will begin to show us how very wrong we are and lead us to a proper perspective.

God manifested himself to Elijah. He caused powerful winds, an earthquake and a fire to occur. These were to prepare Elijah by instilling awe and respect for God. Elijah would gain humility and reverence by these manifestations. God is in control, even of the elements! But these were example of God's power and not His actual message. Elijah forgot himself in the midst of God's Presence. For God then spoke to Elijah with a still small voice which finally penetrated his heart. Elijah covered his face in humility and shame for having fled in fear and giving in to depression. He realized he had been a coward and had fled his duty. He stood at the entrance to the cave ready to hear what God had to say and to resume his active duty status. God asks him again, "Why are you here?" Elijah repeats his complaints albeit in a more humble spirit. His heart still holds some bitterness and pride. "I've always done my best to obey you." (Other translations use the words "jealous", "zealous" and "burning for the honor of the Lord.")

God then gives Elijah some orders. He is given work to do, called back into active duty. He is to anoint Hazael to be King of Syria and anoint Jehu to be King of Israel and to anoint Elisha to take the place of Elijah. (Elijah only succeeds in anointing Elisha and it is Elisha who anoints Hazael and Jehu.) Then God tells Elijah that he is not the only one in Israel who trusts and serves the only living God, there are 7,000 who have not given in and worshipped Baal.

“The design of the vision was to show to the fiery zeal of the prophet, who wanted to reform everything by means of the tempest, the gentle way which God pursues, and to proclaim the long-suffering and mildness of His nature, as the voice had already done to Moses on that very spot; hence the beautiful change in the divine appearance” -Herder, Geist der hebr. Poesie, 1788, ii. p. 52

There are times when God works His wrath in vivid color with the crash of the wind and the dividing of the seas. But there are times when God is working in mercy, grace, goodness, kindness, patience and longsuffering. It is not Elijah who decides those times and directs the Lord. It is up to the Lord to exercise His great wisdom and direct us. There is a time for mercy but a time for judgment and God is the one in control of these things.

Then he passed in front of Moses and called out, "I am the LORD God. I am merciful and very patient with my people. I show great love, and I can be trusted. I keep my promises to my people forever, but I also punish anyone who sins. When people sin, I punish them and their children, and also their grandchildren and great-grandchildren." (Exodus 34:6-7)

He instructs Elijah to anoint Hazael and Jehu so that they can be instruments of judgment so judgment is a-comin' to Jezebel and the rebellious people but, Ahab humbled himself when God threatened him with his sin and the judgments are withheld even during the life-time of Ahab and of his son. Jezebel was thrown out her window by her own servants and her body broken on the common street. Horses rode over her and the dogs ate her.

Elijah immediately leaves and finds Elisha and calls him to the ministry of prophesy. He mentors Elisha but Elijah goes into a rather quiet retirement while Elisha begins to take on the mantle of national prophet. Elijah appears a few more important times but his ministry is drawing to a close. Then after 10 years had passed since the depression incidence, Elijah goes to Elisha and tells him it's time for him to go be with the Lord. Elisha wouldn't leave him and it is while they are together that God sends a chariot and horses of fire to catch Elijah up and take him to heaven. It is also witnessed by no less than 50 other prophets. (2 Kings 2: 1-12)

Did this incidence of depression end his usefulness to God as His Prophet? Evidently not. He was used by God a few more important times. Then he was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot instead of dying the way all the rest of us die. He was referred to by other later prophets so he was still well known. He was seen on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus by the 3 disciples. His name and ministry was used by the apostles in teaching and John the Baptist was called the Elijah that "must first come" to prepare the way of the Lord. It seems to me that Elijah may have gotten his nose seriously out of joint and it may have brought about his semi-retirement but he was still close to God, obedient to God, outspoken for God. God uses cracked pots all the time. We are none of us perfect and God very well knows this. It is important for us to learn from Elijah's depression experience.

Pastor Craig taught on this Word this morning and he said that we must learn:
A) Don't lose your focus! Our focus is to save souls and worship God. Sometimes we lose our focus, we start to think it is all about us. We become the center of our universe. Even those who are depressed are usually so self-absorbed with their misery that they have shifted their focus from God to "me". I know this because I've experienced it myself. If our every waking moment is consumed with thoughts about me, me, me even if it's "I hate myself, I hate myself, I hate myself", it's still selfish self absorption. Then there are those who get their focus on other people or other things. Elijah lost his focus on God. At some point he went from God empowered to self, or flesh, empowered and he began a free fall.

B) It's only through God. We are not in control, we don't have the power, we do not have the wisdom so we must rely on God. He and He alone can take care of stuff and we must learn to trust in Him and lean on Him. It is only ours to obey Him.

C) Don't let pride cause you to fall. Elijah was feeling self righteous and pride got to him. Pride is one of the easiest sins to fall into and I know that from experience too. It's God and God alone and He empowers us so to Him be the glory. We must keep ourselves humble.

For those who experience depression, here are the things that I recommend:
* Make sure you get enough rest.
* Eat good.
* Take vitamins.
* Take any medications your doctor has prescribed.
* Do an activity. It's too easy to lay in bed all day. Do something, one thing that makes you move around. Even if it's just to walk to the mailbox and back, or go to one store and walk through, or make one round on the trail in the park, or take your dog for a walk around the block.
* Take some time to get your mind off of the bad stuff. Watch a funny movie, read a book, watch some funny TV shows, talk to someone on the phone without mentioning your problems, etc.
* Most of all, spend time in prayer with God. He can take all the stuff you need to say. Then begin to praise Him for something. You may not feel like it but there is something. "I praise God because I am breathing. I thank God for the food and water I have today." Spend a moment in gratitude. Write down your thoughts, prayers and praises if that helps you.
* Do something for someone else. Give a hug, make an encouraging phone call, write a card, write a letter, take a meal to someone (even if it's just a bag of hamburgers and fries). Just reach out. You are still useful and needed but not if you are locked in your room and crying into your pillow.

Don't Quit In The Pit by Danette Crawford

Don't Quit In The Pit by Danette Crawford

Danette Crawford is the President of Joy Ministries Evangelistic Association and is a televangelist. If I had known this, I wouldn't have read it because I'm not a big fan of televangelists. I had found it on one of my library runs. I always check out new fiction, mystery, religion, crafts, history, true crime. This time I found Danette Crawford's book and I'm glad I did!

I already knew a lot of this but I have been going through a down time and hadn't been using what I know. This was the kick in the pants I needed. I thoroughly appreciated what she had to say and I encourage anyone to read this book. I want to buy a copy to keep at home.

When you are down, feeling low, scared, panicking... in other words, "in the pit", then turn to this book for encouragement. It was well written, easy to read, included inspiring anecdotes from her own life.

Some Trust In Horses Others Trust In Chariots

Now I know that Jehovah saves His anointed; He will hear him from His holy Heaven with the saving strengths of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of Jehovah our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Save, O Jehovah; let the King hear us when we call. (Psalm 20:6-9)

A chariot is a vehicle used formerly in war, drawn by two or more horses, and conveying one or more men each. The vehicle itself is called a "car". In ancient days it was most commonly used for war. The Jewish chariots were patterned after the Egyptian, and consisted of a single pair of wheels on an axle, upon which was a cart with high front and sides, but open at the back.









A replica being made



A chariot like Joseph might have driven to meet his family.






A chariot was first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 41. If you don't know the story it's about a young boy named Joseph. He had eleven older brothers but he was his father's favorite. His father, Jacob, gave him a "coat of many colors" which was a significant gift and one which made his older brothers jealous. Then Joseph had some dreams that indicated that his brothers would bow before him one day. Young Joseph didn't use discretion and he blurted out his dreams to his family and it made the brothers even more jealous. One day, Joseph was sent to find his brothers. When he found them they plotted to kill him. Meanwhile they threw him in a well until they decided what to do. Later a merchant caravan from Egypt came by and they decided rather than kill him, they could make some money and they sold him as a slave. They told their father that Joseph had been attacked and eaten by a wild animal. Joseph was taken back to Egypt and sold to an Egyptian officer. He did so well in the household that he was promoted to be over the household affairs. The officer's wife wanted him and begged Joseph to sleep with her but he refused. Finally she plotted her revenge and she grabbed him. He took off leaving her with his cloak. She told her husband that Joseph had tried to rape her and so Joseph was sent to prison. In prison, he again distinguished himself and was eventually trusted with overseeing things. Finally the Pharoah had a dream that he couldn't interpret. He sent for his wisemen who also couldn't interpret the dream. Someone mentioned Joseph and he sent for Joseph. Joseph prayed and God gave him the dream and it's interpretation. There would be 7 years of plenty followed by 7 yrs of famine. Pharoah was so impressed that he made Joseph second only to him. So Joseph was in charge of saving up food during the years of plenty in order for the nation to survive during the coming years of famine. Sure enough, it came true as Joseph had prophesied. When his family became hungry, old Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy food. Joseph met them although the brothers did not recognize Joseph. Sure enough, the brothers would bow before Joseph. Joseph had forgiven them and he sent for his family to come to Egypt to live. How happy they were when they were reunited.

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand. And he dressed him with fine linen robes, and put a gold chain around his neck. And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had, and they cried before him, Bow the knee! And he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without a word from you, no man shall lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah. And he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On, for his wife. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from before Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 41:41-46)

And Joseph made his chariot ready, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself to him. And he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. (Genesis 46:29)

The Israelites stayed in Egypt. At first they were treated as royalty, but they reproduced so rapidly that the later Egyptians saw them as a national threat and they enslaved them. After some 400 years, Moses was called to lead them safely out of Egypt back home. Their leaving Egypt to go back to the Land of Promise, the Promised Land, Canaan was called the Exodus. At first the Pharoah wouldn't listen to Moses' request to "Let my people go!" So God had Moses perform some miracles that tormented the Egyptians so badly that finally, Pharoah let them go. God went before them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He led them to the shores of the Red Sea.

And Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And he pursued the sons of Israel, and the sons of Israel went out with a high hand. But the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army. And they overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal-zephon. And Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel lifted up their eyes. And, behold, the Egyptians marched after them. And they were very afraid. And the sons of Israel cried out to Jehovah. (Exodus 14:8-10)

Pharoah had a change of heart and took his army with him to chase after the Jews. God led Moses to stand at the edge of the sea and raise his arms and see the salvation of the Lord.

And the Angel of God, the one who went before the camp of Israel, moved. And he went to the rear of them. And the pillar of the cloud went from in front of their face and it stood behind them. And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. And it was a cloudy and dark night, but it lit up the night, so that the one did not come near the other all night. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. And Jehovah caused the sea to recede by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the sons of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground. And the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went after them to the middle of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And in the morning watch it happened that Jehovah looked to the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the army of the Egyptians. And He took off their chariot wheels, and made them go heavily, so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel, for Jehovah fights for them against the Egyptians. And Jehovah said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea. And the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared. And the Egyptians fled against it. And Jehovah overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. And the waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. There did not remain so much as one of them. (Exodus 14: 19-28)

Later, the Israelites/Jews/Hebrews questioned and disobeyed God one too many times and God made them wander in the Wilderness for 40 yrs until the last of that evil generation died. Then He led them to Canaan, the Promised Land, the Land flowing with milk and honey. He told them He would help them overcome all the different Canaanite tribes so that the Israelites could have their land back.

The Canaanites in the valleys of Palestine had chariots of iron.


And Jehovah was with Judah. And he took possession of the mountain. But he could not drive out those who lived in the valley, because they had chariots of iron. (Judges 1:19)

Jabin, the king of Canaan, had 900 chariots.

And the sons of Israel cried to Jehovah, for (Jabin) had nine hundred chariots of iron. And he mightily oppressed the sons of Israel twenty years. (Judges 4:3)

But the mountain shall be yours, for it is a forest, and you shall cut it down. And the outer limits of it shall be yours. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and though they are strong. (Joshua 17:18)

Later, the Philistines were a thorn in the flesh of Israel.

And the Philistines gathered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people like the sand on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven. (1 Samuel 13:5)

Once the Israelites were settled they demanded a human king like the nations around them. God had foreseen this.

When you come to the land which Jehovah your God gives you, and shall possess it and shall live in it and shall say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations around me, you shall surely set a king over you, whom Jehovah your God shall choose. You shall set a king over you from among your brothers. You may not set a stranger over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, so as to multiply horses, because Jehovah has said to you, You shall return no more that way from now on. (Deuteronomy 17:14-16)

When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots, a people more than you, do not be afraid of them. For Jehovah your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 20:1)

Why didn't God want the Israelites to have chariots? Because they were war machines and it was too easy for the Jews to derive their security in the number of chariots, horses and trained fighting men rather than in God. They were suppose to trust in God and not in their army and weapons. God specifically mentions that they should not get horses and chariots from Egypt because He did not want them to go back from whence they came. God didn't want their hearts to turn back to their old ways and the ways of Egypt.

Sure enough, the Israelites demanded a human king. They were tired of their theocracy with God as their head. They got King Saul. After King Saul, there was King David.

David also struck Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. And David took from him seventeen hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but kept enough of them for a hundred chariots. (2 Samuel 8:3-4)

And David was told. And he gathered all Israel and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in order to meet David and fought with him. And the Syrians fled before Israel. And David killed the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their army, who died there. And all the kings, the servants of Hadarezer, saw that they were beaten before Israel, and they made peace with Israel and served them. And the Syrians feared to help the sons of Ammon any more. (2 Samuel 10:17-19)

King David's son, Solomon, was Israel's third king.
And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. And he had fourteen hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem. (1 Kings 10:26)

And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and out of Kue. The king's merchants received them from Kue at a price. And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. And so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, they brought them out by their means. (1 Kinga 10:28-29)

So, they had done exactly what God told them NOT to do. They had disobeyed Him. Disobedience is a human characteristic. We don't want to obey God. It is the evil nature we are born with. If we obey God, life would be so much easier. God used the nation of Israel to show us how hard hearted we all are, how rebellious and hostile we are towards Him who loves us any way. In their continual disobedience, rebellion and hostility towards God and His Ways, the Israelites opened themselves up to punishment. God used other nations to "whoop their behinds". One was Assyria.



For Jehovah has turned away the glory of Jacob, as the glory of Israel. For the plunderers have plundered them, and have destroyed their vine branches. The shield of his mighty ones has become red; the mighty men are in scarlet; the chariots flame like iron torches in the day of his preparation. And the cypresses are made to quiver. The chariots race madly in the streets; they shall run to and fro in the open squares. Their appearance is like torches; they dart about like lightnings. (Nahum 2:2-4)

God kept trying to get His people to turn from their wicked ways. He sent prophets like Nahum to warn the people and to try to turn them back from their heedless and headlong rush to hell. When they still resisted, He led other nations to punish them. Each time, they would turn back to God for a little while before going back to their old ways. Are we not so like this! God tries to get our attention, tries to speak to us, tries to persuade and woo us but we ignore His loving touches. Sometimes it takes a 2 x 4 to get our attention and to turn us from our wicked ways. The idea of punishment is to stop the person from doing what has caused them pain and go in the opposite direction. If I touch a red hot stove I will get burned. That painful burn reminds me never to do that again. Unfortunately, some people will never listen to God and accept His plan of salvation and they will continue to rush pell mell down the slippery slope to hell. It is not God's desire that any should perish. He has provided a way for salvation and the Holy Spirit is constantly trying to speak to us all and show us the way but there will be those who refuse to listen and will scorn God until the day they die. It is their own fault when they find themselves in hell. Don't be so stubborn that it takes a butt kicking to get your attention. Listen to God's voice, be ready to obey, be willing to repent and turn your heart towards the One who loves you so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross for you.

Sure enough, the Israelites not only bought horses and chariots from Egypt but hired mercenary horsemen with their chariots to supplement the Israelite army. They bought horses and chariots from other countries too. King Solomon even had chariot cities built where the war chariots were stored during times of peace. I would assume that in these towns horses were bred and trained for war, horsemen were trained for war. In those towns, the chariots and horsemen represented a livelihood. Blacksmiths, leather makers, trainers, service establishments, the housing market, all depended on the war machines.

You are in for trouble if you go to Egypt for help, or if you depend on an army of chariots or a powerful cavalry. Instead you should depend on and trust the holy LORD God of Israel. The LORD isn't stupid! He does what he promises, and he can bring doom. If you are cruel yourself, or help those who are evil, you will be destroyed. The Egyptians are mere humans. They aren't God. Their horses are made of flesh; they can't live forever. When the LORD shows his power, he will destroy the Egyptians and all who depend on them. Together they will fall. (Isaiah 31:1-3)

And their land is full of silver and gold. There is no end of their treasures and their land is full of horses; nor an end of their chariots. And their land is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made. (Isaiah 2:7-8)

I hope I'm getting your attention. So what is the big deal about chariots? It's not chariots per se. It's putting our trust in anything other than God. The ancients depended on their armies, weapons and chariots. In the Middle Ages, people depended on their armies, armor, weapons and war machines. In the Civil War, both sides trusted their armies, cannons, weapons, munitions. Today we trust in our armies and the war machines of today. Be it tanks, fighter jets, bombs, nuclear warheads, satellites, early warning systems... these are the war machines today. Our Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines are dedicated and highly trained with the most sophisticated weapons and alert systems this world has ever seen. But we should never put our trust in them. They will do their best but they are human beings. They cannot be 100% and do everything perfectly. It's humanly impossible. I have all respect for them and I know these young men and women are willing and well trained and outfitted better than any warriors have ever been in the history of mankind. But they still bleed and die. We cannot put our trust in them. We cannot depend on them for our security. We should never forget that God is our salvation. He alone can take care of us. I'm not saying we shouldn't have a military. God called the Israelites to fight the Canaanites in order to clear them from the land. So there is a place for fighting. But we are NOT to depend on men and weapons as our protectors. Our protector is God and God alone! The difference is viewing our military as being used by God for His purposes. God is the head and in God we trust. I don't tell the hammer, "Thank you" when my house is built. I thank the one who used the hammer to build my house. Our military is a tool that God can use to protect America. I can show respect to those in our military. But I bow my knees to God to thank Him for what He has done to protect America. Remember, I also pointed out that God told them not to go back to Egypt to buy horses and chariots. What does that signify for today? Maybe we shouldn't be depending on the United Nations and the UN "peacekeeping" troops from all the different countries. We have no business going back to Egypt for their help. I.e. America was formed by people leaving other countries - Europe, Africa, Asia, etc. If it's in our national best interest to go to war against Iraq and Afghanistan, then maybe we don't need the UN's permission or their support. Now, I'm not trying to get political here. If I were the President of the United States, I wouldn't know what to do. Whether to continue this war or not is beyond my understanding. I'm intelligent and I see both sides so I'm not trying to take a political stand. I am saying that we should be on our knees before God. Our President, our Congressmen, our National Advisers, our Joint Chiefs of Staff... all who have to make decisions... should be on their knees before God asking Him what to do. We should be depending on Him. We should be attempting to do what God tells us to do, i.e. obey Him. It would not be remiss for our government to call for a day of prayer on behalf of our military and what to do next. Unfortunately, we have been in such a hurry to delete God from our government that we have opened ourselves up to a big butt whoopin'! I'm scared that if we don't repent and turn back to God, we are heading for big trouble. We are asking for God's punishment when we scorn Him and demand our own way rather than His way.


This story of the Prophet Elijah is interesting. Elijah was the older prophet of God. Elisha was a younger prophet who learned under Elijah. One day, it was time for Elijah to die and go to be with the Lord. He takes Elisha with him. Here is the story:
After they had reached the other side, Elijah said, "Elisha, the LORD will soon take me away. What can I do for you before that happens?" Elisha answered, "Please give me twice as much of your power as you give the other prophets, so I can be the one who takes your place as their leader." "It won't be easy," Elijah answered. "It can happen only if you see me as I am being taken away." Elijah and Elisha were walking along and talking, when suddenly there appeared between them a flaming chariot pulled by fiery horses. Right away, a strong wind took Elijah up into heaven. Elisha saw this and shouted, "Israel's cavalry and chariots have taken my master away!" After Elijah had gone, Elisha tore his clothes in sorrow. Elijah's coat had fallen off, so Elisha picked it up and walked back to the Jordan River. (2 Kings 2:9-13)



God, Himself, is depicted as arriving in a chariot.

The LORD will come down like a whirlwind with his flaming chariots. He will be terribly furious and punish his enemies with fire. The LORD's fiery sword will bring justice everywhere on this earth and execute many people. (Isaiah 66:15-16)

The chariots of God are myriads, thousands of thousands; the Lord is among them, in Sinai, in the holy place. (Psalm 68:17)

Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers, or thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses, upon thy chariots of salvation? (Habakuk 3:8)

In Ezekiel, there is a description of the majesty of the Lord God on His Throne.

On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him there. As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning. Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them. As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel. When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went. And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads. And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body. And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings. And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings. And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking. (Ezekiel 1:2-28)

"The likeness of the living creatures came out of the midst of the fire; angels derive their being and power from God. They have the understanding of a man, and far more. A lion excels in strength and boldness. An ox excels in diligence and patience, and unwearied discharge of the work he has to do. An eagle excels in quickness and piercing sight, and in soaring high; and the angels, who excel man in all these respects, put on these appearances. The angels have wings; and whatever business God sends them upon, they lose no time. They stood straight, and firm, and steady. They had not only wings for motion, but hands for action." -Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

These beings are 4 in number in Ezekiel's vision because they have 4 faces to show. In reality, there are many more Cherubim.
"As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9-10)

We've seen how chariots were used in war and how bad things got when those ancient peoples trusted in their strong military rather than in God. We've seen how God arrives in His own chariots. I think I'd rather trust in God. Those ancient chariots are turned to dust now except for a few rickety ones in museums. But God, on His chariots of fire and salvation, still rules. One day our tanks, bombs, jets and war ships will be rusting somewhere. Our military bases will be empty and the towns that depended on them for their livelihood will be ghost towns. But God will still be on His Throne and will be from everlasting to everlasting. He never grows old, never dies. He never deserts His people. Even if He has to bring some punishment to our lives, it is only to get us to go in the right direction. It is a mere correction. We, who are His Own, His Children... We, who are saved through Jesus Christ, will spend eternity with Him in Heaven. No one can pluck us out of His Hands. Yes, I'd rather trust in Him!

Where Is The Balance? When Do You Speak Out & When Do You Keep Your Mouth Shut

Something I say all the time is, "God is in the balance." Well, I have a question for you to meditate on. Where is the balance between not speaking evil against others and speaking out to expose sin? The Bible tells us to do both. Isn't that contradictory? Actually it isn't. With careful study of His Word we can determine the balance.

Let's start with Numbers 12:
And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite (Ethiopian) woman whom he had taken (married). For he had taken a Cushite woman. And they said, Has Jehovah indeed spoken only by Moses? Has He not also spoken by us? And Jehovah heard. Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all the men on the face of the earth. And Jehovah spoke suddenly to Moses and to Aaron and to Miriam, You three come out to the tabernacle of the congregation. And the three came out. And Jehovah came down in the pillar of the cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both came forth. And He said, Hear now My words. If there is a prophet among you, I Jehovah will make Myself known to him in a vision, and will speak to him in a dream. Not so, My servant Moses. He is faithful in all My house. I will speak with him mouth to mouth, even clearly, and not in dark speeches. And he shall behold the likeness of Jehovah. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses? And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against them, and He moved. And the cloud moved from the tabernacle. And behold! Miriam became leprous, as snow. And Aaron looked on Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. And Aaron said to Moses, Oh, my lord, I beg you, do not lay upon us the sin in which we have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned. Let her not be like one dead, of whom the flesh is half gone when he comes out of his mother's womb. And Moses cried to Jehovah saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech You. And Jehovah said to Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received. And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days. And the people did not pull up stakes until Miriam was brought in.
(Num 12:1-15)

In this passage, we see that Moses had married a Cushite, an Ethiopian woman. His first wife, Zipporah, was a Midianite and he had been married to her since before God called him to lead the Jews out of Egypt. It is possible that Miriam and Aaron had taken a dislike to Zipporah and referred to her derogatively as a "Cushite." But it's more probable that Zipporah had died and Moses had re-married. Miriam and Aaron found it offensive to the national pride which characterized the Jews. Neither one of Moses' wives had been an Israelite. The Christian fathers note that the marriages of Moses with a Midianite and an Ethiopian were a foreshadowing of the Gentiles being included in God’s covenant and promises. The complaining of Miriam and Aaron was a type of the discontent of the Jews at the Gentiles being included: compare with Luke15:29-30. At this time in their history, God had specifically forbidden the Israelites to marry a Canaanite, someone from the land of Canaan. This did not include Cush, so it was evidently not forbidden by God and therefore not a problem between God and Moses. In fact, the Scripture says that Moses was meek and faithful and still in direct contact with God. But Miriam and Aaron had gotten a little too big for their britches and they spoke out against Moses. Pride is one of the easiest sins to fall into. Miriam was a Prophetess and first among all the Israelite women and Aaron was the first High Priest specifically picked by God. They fell into error by speaking against Moses. They thought they were in the right! But God privately called them on the carpet for it. God called them apart and He spoke to them and struck Miriam with leprosy.

Put them in mind to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no one, not being quarrelsome, but forbearing, showing all meekness to all men. (Titus 3:1-2)

In Titus, we are to be submissive to rulers, be obedient, meek, not trouble makers and "speak evil of no one."

Not giving back evil for evil, or curse for curse, but in place of cursing, blessing; because this is the purpose of God for you that you may have a heritage of blessing. For it is said, Let the man who has a love of life, desiring to see good days, keep his tongue from evil and his lips from words of deceit:
(1 Peter 3:9-10)

All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body. By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions. It takes strong winds to move a large sailing ship, but the captain uses only a small rudder to make it go in any direction. Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things. It takes only a spark to start a forest fire! The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person's entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed. But our tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison. My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn't right.
(James 3:2-9)

Who is the man that desires life, and loves days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:12-14)

In the abundance of words transgression is not lacking; but the one who refrains his lips is wise (Proverbs 10:19).

If we read these Scriptures and stopped here, we could assume that we should never speak against anyone. We should just keep our heads down and our mouths shut. We could see how seriously God takes gossip, evil speaking, slander, lying. Some people would concentrate on these Scriptures and be afraid to speak out against anyone. But, remember, God is in the balance! So let's look at some more Scripture.

"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture, says Jehovah. Therefore so says Jehovah, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who feed My people, You have scattered My flock, and have driven them away, and have not visited them. Behold, I will bring on you the evil of your doings, says Jehovah...For both prophet and priest are ungodly; yes, in My house I have found their evil, says Jehovah. So their way shall be to them as slippery ways in the darkness; they shall be driven on, and fall in them; for I will bring evil on them, even the year of their judgment, says Jehovah...I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My wisdom and had caused My people to hear My Words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings...I have heard what the prophets said, who prophesy lies in My name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? But they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, who plot to cause My people to forget My name by their dreams which they tell, each one to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten My name for Baal..."(Jeremiah 23:1-2, 11-12, 21-22, 25-27)

Does the Scripture above sound like God is holding His tongue, keeping His mouth shut? It sounds to me like He is using the true Prophet, Jeremiah, to tell it like it is. Jeremiah (as did all the true Prophets) had to speak the words God told them to speak and it wasn't always nice. In fact, the prophets were given strong words to try and lead the Israelites to repentance. The prophets had to confront the people and their leaders and it wasn't always pleasant.

Years later, John the Baptist started preaching in the desert of Judea. He said, "Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here"... Many Pharisees and Sadducees also came to be baptized. But John said to them: "You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? Do something to show that you have really given up your sins. And don't start telling yourselves that you belong to Abraham's family. I tell you that God can turn these stones into children for Abraham. An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into a fire..." (Matthew 3:1-2, 7-10)

In this Scripture, John the Baptist confronts the Pharisees and Sadducees. He isn't tiptoeing through the tulips! He is confrontational and he tells it like it is.

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tried to test him by asking for a sign from heaven. He told them: "If the sky is red in the evening, you say the weather will be good. But if the sky is red and gloomy in the morning, you say it is going to rain. You can tell what the weather will be like by looking at the sky. But you don't understand what is happening now. You want a sign because you are evil and won't believe! But the only sign you will be given is what happened to Jonah". Then Jesus left. (Matthew 16:1-4)

Jesus often confronted the Pharisees and Sadducees. He wasn't sweet and meek when talking to them. He stirred their pot and the rotten stink came out. He pointed out their sin in no uncertain terms.

The Sadducees did not believe that people would rise to life after death. So that same day some of the Sadducees came to Jesus...Jesus answered: "You are completely wrong! You don't know what the Scriptures teach. And you don't know anything about the power of God..." The crowds were surprised to hear what Jesus was teaching. After Jesus had made the Sadducees look foolish, the Pharisees heard about it and got together. (Matthew 22:23, 29, 33-34)

Jesus doesn't hesitate to tell them they are wrong. He was so confident at pointing out their sin that the crowds were surprised. He made the religious leaders look foolish and it didn't sit well with them.

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law are experts in the Law of Moses. So obey everything they teach you, but don't do as they do. After all, they say one thing and do something else. They pile heavy burdens on people's shoulders and won't lift a finger to help. Everything they do is just to show off in front of others. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and arms, and they wear big tassels for everyone to see. They love the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the meeting places. And when they are in the market, they like to have people greet them as their teachers... You Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses are in for trouble! You're nothing but show-offs. You lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. You won't go in yourselves, and you keep others from going in. You Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses are in for trouble! You're nothing but show-offs. You travel over land and sea to win one follower. And when you have done so, you make that person twice as fit for hell as you are. You are in for trouble! You are supposed to lead others, but you are blind. You teach that it doesn't matter if a person swears by the temple. But you say that it does matter if someone swears by the gold in the temple. You blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also teach that it doesn't matter if a person swears by the altar. But you say that it does matter if someone swears by the gift on the altar. Are you blind? Which is more important, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Anyone who swears by the altar also swears by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple also swears by God, who lives there. To swear by heaven is the same as swearing by God's throne and by the one who sits on that throne. You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You give God a tenth of the spices from your garden, such as mint, dill, and cumin. Yet you neglect the more important matters of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the important things you should have done, though you should not have left the others undone either. You blind leaders! You strain out a small fly but swallow a camel. You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, while inside there is nothing but greed and selfishness. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of a cup, and then the outside will also be clean. You Pharisees and teachers are in for trouble! You're nothing but show-offs. You're like tombs that have been whitewashed. On the outside they are beautiful, but inside they are full of bones and filth. That's what you are like. Outside you look good, but inside you are evil and only pretend to be good. You Pharisees and teachers are nothing but show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You build monuments for the prophets and decorate the tombs of good people. And you claim that you would not have taken part with your ancestors in killing the prophets. But you prove that you really are the relatives of the ones who killed the prophets. So keep on doing everything they did. You are nothing but snakes and the children of snakes! How can you escape going to hell? I will send prophets and wise people and experts in the Law of Moses to you. But you will kill them or nail them to a cross or beat them in your meeting places or chase them from town to town. That's why you will be held guilty for the murder of every good person, beginning with the good man Abel. This also includes Barachiah's son Zechariah, the man you murdered between the temple and the altar. I can promise that you people living today will be punished for all these things!" (Matthew 23:1-7, 13-36)

Again, Jesus directly accuses them and reveals their sins. He calls them snakes and tells them they are due punishment and are going to hell. He wasn't quiet. He wasn't meek. He wasn't sweet. He wasn't afraid of hurting their feelings.

Psalm 94:16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

Ephesians 5:10-12 Determine what pleases the Lord, and have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness. Instead, expose them for what they are. For it is shameful even to mention what is done by people in secret.

Then I solemnly witness before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, He being about to judge the living and dead at His appearance and His kingdom: preach the Word, be urgent in season, out of season, convict, warn, encourage with all long-suffering and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:1-2)

"Offspring of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings out good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings out evil things. But I say to you that every idle word, whatever men may speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned". (Matthew 12:34-37)

Now that we've read these verses let's see if we can determine where the balance lies.

First we should pray. Before we open our big mouths, we should pray. We want to be sure that what we are going to say is sanctioned by God. God knows when we should say something and when we should be quiet. He knows whether our words would help and heal, leading someone to repentance and pointing them towards Christ. He also knows whether our words would hurt, destroy, and bring harm to the cause of Christ.

I could be talking to a friend and say, "The grass is green." This simple phrase could be taken by my friend as, "The grass is a beautiful color and we should praise God for colors!" or, "The grass is always green and I'm sick of green and I think I'll kill myself!" I have no way of knowing how my friend will take my words but God knows.

We should also make sure that we do a spiritual inventory with God. We need to check ourselves regularly and repent for any sins that God points out to us. We don't need to wait, but to be quick in confessing and asking forgiveness. It's important that we have our own lives in order as much as we, being human, can.

We should also check our motives. If we are speaking out with a wrong motive, then we are compromising our message. It's important that we try to have the right motives. If we hate someoneand speak out just to hurt them, then we have sinned. We can have righteous anger and even hatred for sin. There is nothing wrong with this.

Psalms 119:104, Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

Matthew 6:24 - You cannot have two masters. You love one and despise the other.


God and His Son, Jesus, showed righteous anger and hatred for sin. But they did not hate the sinner. Everything God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit says or does is in love for the human being. Jesus died to save us all. He died while we were sinners. He didn't die because we are such good people. We are sinners, transgressors, full of evil and He still chose to die for us in order to save us and have a relationship with us. If God wants us to confront someone about their sin, we should be sure it's not in hatred towards a person or people. As a Christian we do not hate a homosexual but we hate the sin of homosexuality that ensnares and holds people in bondage to a sinful lifestyle. We should desire that the people be set free from their sin, we should love them enough to present them with the truth and be willing to point them towards the Savior.

We are compelled to confront sin so that people will realize their error and turn from their wicked ways. It is for their good. It is what's best for them. It is essential to their eternity. But once we've laid it out for them, it is between them and God. We have done our part by shining the light of God on a dark area and pointing them to Jesus and we must leave it to God after that.

Are we to stand up to evil government leaders, erring pastors, tyrannous authorities? If we keep our mouths closed and don't cause any trouble we would be following the first Scriptures that we read. We would be peaceful, submissive, meek, obedient and not quarrelsome and causing trouble. By doing this we could be allowing evil to multiply. If we lived in Germany during the 1930's it would mean not standing up against Hitler. If we were members of the Branch Davidians, it would mean not standing up to David Koresh as he had sex with your children. According to the latter Scriptures that we read, we are to confront evil and speak out. God would have us stand up and say something when evil is being done. I think there is a correct way to do it.

Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. (Proverbs 28:15-16)

If a ruler gives attention to false words, all his servants are evil-doers. (Proverbs 29:12)

God's Word is NOT confusing or contradictory. It must be taken as a whole. We must know the whole counsel and search for the balance.

We are not suppose to gossip and slander, be critical and mean spirited. We are not suppose to use our tongues carelessly, or for evil. God gave us a tongue and He needs us to use it for Him. Sometimes it is in correction, rebuke, reproof, warning, admonishment and shining a light. Live and let live is what we hear. When people sin, they want to sin, and they do not want to be rebuked for it because they would rather sin at that moment than follow the Holy Scriptures. But this is where the rebuke is necessary – men must be confronted with their sin if they are ever to be delivered from it. But we must do it with humility and love. Don't let your emotions get out of control. Keep calm and be willing to let angry words slide off like water off a duck's back.

"... Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt." (Leviticus 19:17)

"Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning." (1 Timothy 5:20)

Take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him. And if he repents, forgive him. (Luke 17:3)

I am not writing to embarrass you. I want to help you, just as parents help their own dear children. (1 Corinthians 4:14)

I have heard terrible things about some of you. In fact, you are behaving worse than the Gentiles. A man is even sleeping with his own stepmother. You are proud, when you ought to feel bad enough to chase away anyone who acts like that. I am with you only in my thoughts. But in the name of our Lord Jesus I have already judged this man, as though I were with you in person. So when you meet together and the power of the Lord Jesus is with you, I will be there too. You must then hand that man over to Satan. His body will be destroyed, but his spirit will be saved when the Lord Jesus returns. Stop being proud! Don't you know how a little yeast can spread through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast! Then you will be like fresh bread made without yeast, and that is what you are. Our Passover lamb is Christ, who has already been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5:1-7)
At the time I wrote, I was suffering terribly. My eyes were full of tears, and my heart was broken. But I didn't want to make you feel bad. I only wanted to let you know how much I cared for you. I don't want to be hard on you. But if one of you has made someone feel bad, I am not really the one who has been made to feel bad. Some of you are the ones. Most of you have already pointed out the wrong that person did, and that is punishment enough for what was done. When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won't give up in despair. You should make them sure of your love for them. (2 Corinthians 2:4-8)
Of course, we were glad to see Titus, but what really made us glad is the way you cheered him up. He told how sorry you were and how concerned you were about me. And this made me even happier. I don't feel bad anymore, even though my letter hurt your feelings. I did feel bad at first, but I don't now. I know that the letter hurt you for a while. Now I am happy, but not because I hurt your feelings. It is because God used your hurt feelings to make you turn back to him, and none of you were harmed by us. (2 Corinthians 7:7-9)

And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. (Jude 1:22-23)

There were false teachers in the first church, trying to seduce new Christians with their false teachings. The Apostles Paul and Peter warn the churches in their letters. Paul instructs Timothy to warn off these false teachers.

Timothy, because of our faith, you are like a son to me. I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind and merciful to you. May they bless you with peace! When I was leaving for Macedonia, I asked you to stay on in Ephesus and warn certain people there to stop spreading their false teachings. (1 Timothy 1:2-3)

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who secretly will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.
(2 Peter 2:1)

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

When do you speak out against evil? When is it right and, even, necessary to speak out? When do you expose corruption? When is it right to be bold and say what needs to be said? Jesus and the Apostles offended many. They told the truth. If we know that we ought to speak out against sin and injustice, but refuse to do so, then we are guilty of sin. For in keeping silent when we know God is urging us to speak, we are essentially giving those who are caught up in wrongdoing the impression that we support them in what they are doing in defiance against God’s commandments.

Don't be afraid to speak up and shine a light but do it the right way. Make sure you are in God's Will and have the right motives. Use your words carefully and wisely. Watch your tongue and your body language. Keep your motives pure and your emotions under control. Do not resort to gossip, slander, cursing, and other sins of the tongue. Make sure you are telling the truth. Exercise restraint and humility.

Psalm 109

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, do not be silent; for the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me; they spoke against me with a lying tongue. And they surrounded me with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. For my love they are my foes; but I am in prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. Set a wicked man over him; and let an adversary stand at his right hand, when he is judged, let him be condemned; and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few; let another take his office. Let his sons be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his sons always beg and be vagabonds, and seek food out of their ruins. Let the money-lender lay a snare for all that is his; and let strangers take the fruit of his labor. Let there be none to give mercy to him; nor any to favor his fatherless children. Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered to Jehovah; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. Let them be always before Jehovah, that He may cut off their memory from the earth, because he did not remember to do mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, and sought to kill the broken-hearted. Yea, he loved cursing, so let it come to him; he delighted not in blessing, and it was far from him. As he clothed himself with cursing, as with his robe, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones. Let it be to him as the robe which covers him, and for a girdle with which he is always clothed. This is the reward of my foes from Jehovah, and of them who speak evil against my soul. But You, Lord Jehovah, deal kindly with me for Your name's sake; because Your mercy is good, deliver me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. As a shadow when it is stretched out, I am gone; I am shaken off like the locust. My knees stumble from fasting; and my flesh is losing its fatness. And I became a shame to them; they looked on me; they shook their heads. Help me, O Jehovah my God; save me according to Your mercy; and they will know that this is Your hand; that You, Jehovah, have done it. They will curse, but You will bless; they arise, and are ashamed; but let Your servant rejoice. Let my foes be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own shame, as with a cloak. I will greatly praise Jehovah with my mouth; yea, I will praise Him among the multitude. For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those who condemn his soul.
(Psalm 109:1-31)

This psalm was written by David either while he was being persecuted by King Saul or when he fled from his evil son, Absalom. It is also prophetic of Judas and the Jews who would crucify Christ. And, finally, it has a general application to those who are saved and are called Righteous through Christ and who are persecuted by wicked men.

David was accused of things he did not do by King Saul. Jesus was accused by the Jewish leaders of things He did not do. We are often accused of things we did not do. Have you ever experienced that? Probably everybody has. It's a gut wrenching experience. Being wrongly accused especially by those who are doing what they accuse you of doing. For instance a liar calling you a liar. The injustice of it all makes it particularly hurtful. If I was a liar and someone accused me of being a liar then I might be mad but I would have to admit it was true. But to be truthful and as honest as you know how to be and then called a liar by a liar makes the wound all the more painful.

Go back and read through the Psalm again and notice all the words that have to do with our mouths.
"do not be silent"
"in prayer"
"the mouth of the wicked"
"the mouth of the deceitful"
"a lying tongue"
"words of hatred"
"he loved cursing"
"clothed himself with cursing,"
"speak evil"
"They will curse"
"I will greatly praise Jehovah with my mouth"

Notice most of the phrases about the mouth are about evil ways which people use their mouths... they accuse, lie, speak words of hatred, curse, speak evil. But David takes his cause to the Lord. He uses his tongue to pray and ask God not to be silent. Then he ends the Psalm with another way of using his tongue - by praising God!

This tells me that even when people falsely accuse you, speak evil and hatred about you, curse you, and lie about you there is a correct response. You should take it to the Lord in prayer. You don't have to get down on their level and duke it out with nasty words. In order to keep yourself sinless in this situation, do the right thing by keeping quiet and pray. Pray that God will help you, God will bless you and that God will see to it that justice is done. We can talk to God and tell Him how we are feeling. We can pray and tell God how angry we are, how hurt we are. We can dump our raw emotions in His lap. Once we've expended our hurt, then we can ask God to right the wrongs. And then finish our prayer with praise because we can know that He is all powerful, all knowing and always in our corner. David was not sinless, but his heart was right before God. Often in the psalms David confesses his own sins: “For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin” (Ps. 38:18). “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Ps. 139:23-24).

What if we have done something wrong? What if their accusations are true? I.e. what if I lie and someone accuses me of lying? It still hurts our feelings and we get mad but we realize they are right. Guess what? God may be allowing this situation and the guilt you feel to bring you to repentance. Again, go to the Lord in prayer. Ask His forgiveness. Talk to Him and get it off your chest. None of us are sinless. Once you've confessed and asked forgiveness, you are ready to ask God to take care of the situation and heal. Sometimes God calls you to do some action to complete your healing such as saying "I'm sorry" or paying something back. Obey and you will know what it is to be free and released of that sin! We've all been there. You aren't the only one that has made a mistake. By taking care of it quickly you will experience being released and having no more guilt. And don't let satan continue to accuse you after you've taken it to God and asked forgiveness. Satan loves to keep us obsessed with guilt but God loves to release us from guilt. So ask and accept His forgiveness.

Are you the one that has been using your mouth wrongly? Are you the one that has accused? Are you the one that has lied about someone? Have you spread evil and wicked rumors? Have you cursed someone? You are not alone! Yep, everyone of us so-called Christians have done it at one time or another. We are sinners saved by grace and not good works. It is so easy to use our mouths in a sinful way. But it is a sin that can be forgiven. If you know you have done these things then go to God and ask His forgiveness. He is ready to forgive a broken and contrite heart. Don't make excuses for yourself. Don't justify what you've done. Don't try to absolve yourself by saying, "They had it coming." Simply go to God in prayer and confess your sin and ask His forgiveness. Obey Him if He asks you to do something. And try to do better next time. He will forgive and forgive again and again as long as you are sincerely sorry. Oh what a wonderful God we have!

Is your heart wounded? Do you feel like David felt? Let's see what are some of his expressions of hurt were:
"I am poor and needy"
"my heart is wounded within"
"As a shadow when it is stretched out, I am gone"
"I am shaken off like the locust"
"My knees stumble from fasting; and my flesh is losing its fatness."
"I became a shame to them"

David tells God how he feels. He talks to God and lets out all the hurt and pain and even anger. It is not sinful to feel anger. But you should deal with it the healthy way. Take it to God and let God handle the situation. You can freely express yourself to Him. He's better than any psychiatrist! You can talk to another human being until you are blue in the face but they can't do one single thing to make your situation better. They can listen and pat your arm and hug you and cluck over you but when it comes right down to it, they cannot take the hurt and pain away or solve the situation that caused it. They may want to, but they can't really change things. But God wants to listen to you, He wants to hear your side of the story, He knows everything about what you are going through, He can help you with your emotions and HE CAN CHANGE THINGS! He has the power to change things! Miracles can happen!

David was so emotionally overwrought that he was weak and losing weight. He felt as though he were slowly being destroyed. When day declines, a shadow lengthens, it becomes longer and longer, till it vanishes in the darkness. That's the way David was feeling. He felt as though he wasn't important. A locust is a small, defenseless bug and if one lands on you long enough to get your attention, you can easily brush it off. David felt like that locust. He felt extraneous, unwanted, as though he were, not only unneeded, but even an irritation easily brushed off. He thought people felt ashamed to be seen with him.

I've struggled with depression of and on for my whole life. I've often felt these very things. David expressed exactly how I've felt at times. But David didn't stop there and wallow in his misery. What did he do? He prayed to God and expressed all his feelings and then began to praise God. We need to pray and then make ourselves praise. We may not feel like it, but our feelings don't have anything to do with how worthy God is to be praised. We must make a sacrifice of praise. We praise God despite how we feel. We give Him the glory due His Name! And it's not just to make God feel better. God feels just fine whether we praise Him or not. It starts to increase our faith and makes us feel better!

Why did David want all these terrible things to happen to his enemies? Isn't that sinful?

Psalm 109 is very troubling to most because it is perhaps the strongest imprecatory psalm in the psalter. David, the author of the psalm, as indicated in the superscription, calls upon God to destroy his enemies in the most horrible ways. According to Perowne, there are no less than 30 anathemas pronounced upon David’s enemies in this one psalm. Prayers of imprecation for the destruction of the wicked are to be found throughout the entire Word of God.

David is not sinless (as we mentioned earlier) but he has faithfully repented and asked forgiveness. In this particular incidence, he claims to have treated his enemies right. "And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love".

(1) God hears imprecations from those who have clean hands and a clean heart. Imprecations are effective only when we see sin as God does and when we ask Him to deal with sin as He has promised to deal with it in His Word.
(2) Imprecations are effective against those who are truly wicked, those who are not just our enemies, but God’s enemies. Psalm 109 is NOT a “voodoo” curse. You cannot call down fire on someone just because you don't like them or they cause you a problem. Imprecations are prayers for the punishment of the wicked. God knows who the truly wicked are. Proverbs says that a curse without basis has no effect: “Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, so a curse without cause does not alight” (Prov. 26:2).

Some of the imprecations are for the evil person to recieve the same punishment they have meted out so they can see what it feels like. "Set a wicked man over him; and let an adversary stand at his right hand, when he is judged, let him be condemned"

David is asking that they experience what it's like. How would they feel if the same thing happened to them. They may learn a much needed lesson and become more compassionate next time.

What about, "and let his prayer become sin"? God said that the prayers of the wicked are an abomination. Isaiah 1:15 "And when you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; yea, when you make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood." So David was praying God's own Word.

What about David's prayer that the enemies life be shortened and his family suffer? Isn't that a little harsh? Not according to God's Word, Exodus 20:5-6 "You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them. For I Jehovah your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth generation of those that hate me, and showing mercy to thousands of those that love Me and keep My commandments". David’s petition may seem harsh to us, but it is no more severe than what God taught and what He personally practiced in dealing with the wicked. And remember, these are consequences that occur due to their own sinful actions. God knows who the truly wicked are and He won't allow any curses to fall upon those who are NOT truly wicked.

Let's say that I'm a Christian who has sinned by repeating a damaging bit of gossip. As soon as I said it I realized I was wrong and I went to the Lord privately and asked forgiveness. But the person I gossiped about is really hurt and they pray an imprecation against me. God knows that I was repentant and that I'm His child and no curse will come nigh me even though I did a wrong thing. God can heal that person and He forgives me.

On the other hand, what if someone is an atheist and God knows they will never come to salvation. This person begins a campaign of bitterness and false accusations against you. That person can expect nothing but God's wrath. It's not up to us to decide if a person is unrepentant or will never accept Christ. We have no way of knowing. Only God does. So we can trust that God knows the difference between a truly wicked person and a person who has just had a bad day or made a stupid mistake.

While the prayers of David are severe, his personal actions toward his enemies was gracious and kind. If you read the stories about David's life, you will find that he was merciful and submissive to King Saul. He never took revenge on King Saul. He was merciful and forgiving to Absalom. The one time he was cruel was to Uriah and when he was confronted with that sin, he was totally and sincerely repentant.

It all boils down to this... pray, express yourself to God, praise Him and trust that He will take care of the situation. He knows how, He knows who, He knows all, He has the power and He is willing. Through prayer, Davd was relieved of his hostility. He committed the destiny of the wicked to God. Punishment and vengeance belong to the Lord. By giving up vengeance we free ourselves to love and to forgive.

Spontaneous Worship

I love worshipping like this!

How Now Shall We Live by Chuck Colson

Now How Shall We Live by Chuck Colson, published in 1999

Eleven years ago Chuck Colson wrote this book and, yet, it is very timely for today. I've had it for awhile in my TBR pile and got around to reading it this year. It is very well written and I would recommend it for anyone to read. Of course, it's on deep subjects so children wouldn't be interested but I think it would be a good read for teenagers and adults.

Our world is no longer faith based here in America. It's scary and shocking to those of us who remember a different time when believing in God was normal and attending church was what families did. It's been turned inside out. Taking our children to church on Sundays is considered abnormal now. Only freaks and stupid people believe in God. God is for the weak or "God is dead". I remember learning the 23rd Psalm, the Golden Rule, the Lord's Prayer and John 3:16 in my public school. Once a week, we had announcements over the intercom in which a short prayer was given. This was in junior high school. Even in High School (mid 1970's) we had a Bible class where I memorized all the books of the Bible and learned the basic timeline of the Bible. We had a storyteller who came to our 1st grade class to tell Bible stories using beautiful flannelboards. But, now, it's illegal to lead prayers in the classroom or mention God in any way. In order to pray, our children have to leave the school building and go to the flagpole. No more prayers in the cafeteria or before a football game. God is being systematically deleted from our government by our courts in suits brought by people who have nothing better to do and are so intolerant of other people's religion that they sue. It's offensive to them. It never crosses their minds that they should just be polite and quiet while someone prays at the ballgame and extend the courtesy of the benefit of the doubt. Instead, Christians are suppose to be polite and quiet while some atheist curses next to them at the same ball game and to give these foul mouths the courtesy of the benefit of the doubt.

For those of us who are believers, it's a harder world to live in. How do we teach our children that belief in God is honorable and intelligent? We aren't stupid, in fact, we are challenged to ask God questions and study His answers. We are taught to love God with all our heart, strength and mind. Yes, our intelligence can love God too. He created us with brains. We don't just suspend our intelligence in order to believe God. We start with faith in God despite our questions. But then our minds are opened by the indwelling Holy Spirit and we are able to learn about God and His truths and why they aren't pie-in-the-sky, in the sweet-by-and-by. They are real and it can affect us where we live. Our faith is stepping-off-a-cliff faith. It is what God requires for our salvation. We don't understand it but we believe! But, once we are saved, in that moment when our spirit is born, the Holy Spirit also comes to live within us to train and mature that new baby spirit. This is called being "born again." It is this spirit that will live forever with God in heaven. Once we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins it's work of "sanctification." Our lives become a classroom where the Holy Spirit can teach us. We are no longer cast upon the sea of doubts and circular arguments. There are answers. The Bible and the Holy Spirit have the truth that sustain us in our questions. We just have to study and read the Word and pray for guidance in our meditations.

If you ever saw Harrison Ford in his Raiders of the Lost Ark series of movies, you may remember when he was searching for the holy grail, the goblet that Jesus used in His last supper. He is in a cave and runs up on a vast chasm. There seems to be no way to get across it. But, in faith, he steps off the cliff. And, suddenly, the camera shifts and you can see the optical illusion. There really is a bridge of rock that he can cross. He couldn't see it from his position on the edge of the cliff. In his mind he is stepping off into nothing with a fall straight down. But when he makes that step, his foot finds footing on a bridge. It was an optical illusion to test his faith. So it is with us. We stand at a chasm so wide and deep and there seems to be no bridge to cross over. Our treasure is God. We seek Him and desire Him. We want to run to Him but we can't get past our doubts. It seems to be all mumbo jumbo, abracadabra. It's not logical or rational so we stand on our side of the chasm and say, "God is dead." But something tells us that if we step off the cliff, we can reach Him. "But it doesn't make sense," we think, "I have to have proof." We argue with ourselves and then we come to a decision. We will either trust in God and take that step or we turn our backs and go back to the way we've always lived. But once we take that little step, we will find sure footing on that bridge to God. It's scary as we make our way across that bridge. But God is there, He has provided a way (through Jesus Christ, the bridge to bring men to God), He desires us to take that plunge and come to Him. We may make some missteps but we will never fall to our utter destruction (hell). We took that first step of belief and now we are in God's hands and He will not allow us to be plucked from His hands. Once we get on the bridge, our mind is now able to study and learn and grow intellectually.

Colson's book is one way of learning and growing intelligently, with our minds, towards God. We can be sure enough in our faith and be smart enough to engage our culture. Their silly arguments can be met with intelligent and thoughtful rebuttal (and should be done with courtesy). Colson encourages us to apply God's truths to our everyday lives... in school, at work, in politics, in relationships, in our families, in our ethics, morals, values. We aren't just Christians for one hour at church. We are Christians through and through and every moment.

I encourage you to read this book, it's very articulate and easy to read but very deep.