A Heart Prepared to Seek

“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” — Ezra 7:10

Ezra Reads the Law to the People — Gustave Doré public domain image

David was a diligent shepherd of his father’s sheep before God raised him to be a shepherd over all Israel[1], and Peter was an ordinary fisherman before the Lord called him to be a fisher of men.[2] Ezra likewise had to prepare his own heart and study the law of the Lord diligently before he could instruct the people and lead them to a great revival. Seek ye first the kingdom of God[3], whose mercies are new every morning[4], and do not leave your post until you have wrestled with the angel for a blessing[5].

“…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many…” Daniel 11:32-33

"Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies."

Selah.

Scripture References: [1] 1st Sam 17:34-36 [2] Mark 1:16-17 [3] Math 6:33 [4] Lam 3:23 [5] Gen 32:24-26

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” — Matthew 7:27

Image Credit: Claudio Carrozzo via Unsplash

The city of Shechem in Judges chapter 9 had two strongholds: the one dedicated to the false god Berith, and the strong tower belonging to the living God. When disaster came, those that fled to the house of Berith were trapped inside and Abimelech burned it to the ground. But those who fled to the strong tower were safe and Abimelech was crushed by the Rock of Ages.

“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his -enemies[1].”

There is the true gospel of our salvation, the blood of the lamb that cleanses from all unrighteousness, and then “there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of destruction[2].” The house of Berith was built on sand and could not withstand the evil day, and neither will any sacerdotal system or man-centered tradition.

So where is your city of refuge? Is it in Babylon, “that great city, who is brought to ruin in one hour[3],” or is it Jerusalem, who is free and a mother to us all[4]?

Selah.

Scripture References [1] Nahum 1:7-8 [2] Prov 14:12 [3] Rev 18:19 [4] Gal 4:26

The Lord Will Perfect

"The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me." — Psalm 138:8

Image Credit; Mark Potterton via Unsplash

"Most manifestly the confidence which the Psalmist here expressed was a divine confidence. He did not say, 'I have grace enough to perfect that which concerneth me — my faith is so steady that it will not stagger — my resolution is so firm that nothing can move it; 'no, his dependence was on the Lord alone. If we indulge in any confidence which is not grounded on the Rock of ages, our confidence is worse than a dream, it will fall upon us, and cover us with its ruins, to our sorrow and confusion. All that Nature spins time will unravel, to the eternal confusion of all who are clothed therein. The Psalmist was wise, he rested upon nothing short of the Lord's work. It is the Lord who has begun the good work within us; it is He who has carried it on; and if he does not finish it, it will never be complete. If there be one stitch in the celestial garment of our righteousness which we are to insert ourselves, then we are lost; but this is our confidence, the Lord who began will perfect. he has done it all, must do it all, and will do it all.

Our confidence must not be in what we have done, nor in what we have resolved to do, but entirely in what the Lord will do. Unbelief insinuates — 'You will never be able to stand. Look at the evil of your heart, you can never conquer sin; remember the sinful pleasures and temptations of the world that beset you, you will be certainly allured by them and led astray.' Ah! yes, we should indeed perish if left to our own strength. If we had alone to navigate our frail vessels over so rough a sea, we might well give up the voyage in despair; but, thanks be to God, He will perfect that which concerneth us, and bring us to the desired haven. We can never be too confident when we confide in Him alone, and never too much concerned to have such a trust."

— C.H. Spurgeon, Morning & Evening 5/23