He Has Written to Thee Excellent Things

“…That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.” — Isaiah 44:28

“Thus saith Cyrus King of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.” — Ezra 1:2

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Here we see that Jehovah God is no politician. Promises made are always kept to the letter. My study Bible dates the book of Isaiah to 740 – 680 BC, while the first return of the Jews to Jerusalem was about 537 BC! Cyrus the Great who was prophesied by name in Isaiah was not even born until 600 BC and his reign was from 559-530BC according to Wikipedia. Unbelieving scholars have to conclude that the book of Isaiah has two or more authors operating centuries apart because that is the only way a prediction like this could be made so far in advance. But those of us who believe will accept God’s stated purpose for this miracle with childlike faith:

“For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee [Cyrus] by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me…. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.”

—Isaiah 45:4-6

This was done so that we could be assured that God is sovereign over all things, that we can trust in His word. He declares it, and then He brings it to pass.

“That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightiest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?”

— Proverbs 22:19-21

Watchfulness

“And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” — Mark 13:37

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The Olivet discourse begins and ends with an exhortation to alertness. Take heed…Watch. Despite the expectations of the early church and the assumptions of both Futurists and Preterists, the teaching of the gospels indicates that we must expect a long and protracted warfare against the world, the flesh and the devil. We must run this race with patience,[1] bearing ample oil for our lamps[2].

The Lord gave Peter a glorious promise: “Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.[3]” Yet the Lord never once answered the apostles repeated inquiries as to when he would give them the kingdom. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.[4]” and again after his resurrection when he had let the disciples eat with him and touch his wounds he said, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hat put in his own power.[5]”

This is what it means to live by faith. We do not know when the Lord is coming but we persevere in the faith and let our lives be regulated by the scriptures knowing that his will for us is good. Peter was ultimately crucified by the Romans as Christ was. Like the prophets before him, he “died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.[6]”

“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

Watch.

Scripture References: [1] Heb 12:1 [2] Mth 25: 1-13 [3] Mth 19:28 [4] Mth 24:36 [5] Acts 1:7 [6] Heb 11:13

Reaping and Sowing

“And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.”

— Judges 1:7

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The principle of reaping and sowing is universal, found in all cultures throughout all ages. Some call it “karma” or natural law. It is written on the hearts of all men, “their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.”[1] It is foundational to the covenant of works given to Adam and all of his descendants.

Here in Judges we see that out of the abundance of his heart[2] Adoni-bezek a Canaanite king confirms the justice God delivered unto him through Israel’s conquest of the land. What he himself had inflected on seventy different tribes in his pride and bloodlust was now being returned to him measure for measure[3].

This is what every lost soul will say when they appear before the judgement seat of Christ by the way: “As I have done, so hath God requited to me.”

“The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works[4].”

Beware, because the scripture has concluded us all under sin.[5]God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.[6]” So if we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good[7] then we must be careful to maintain good works[8], so that we can all rejoice on the last day. To quote the prince of preachers: “The child of God works not for life, but from life; he does not work to be saved, he works because he is saved.” — C.H. Spurgeon.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” — Galatians 6:7

Scripture References: [1] Rom 2:15 [2] Luke 6:45 [3] Luke 6:38 [4] Ps 145:17

[5]Gal 3:22

[6]Ecc 12:14 [7] Ps 34:8 [8] Titus 3:8,14