AMOS: Mega-Themes Part 2

B. MAN’S COMPLACENCY

 

            Everyone in Israel was optimistic ... business was booming, and people were generally happy ... all except the poor and oppressed. To be oppressed is “to keep down by severe and unjust use of force or authority”. THAT is what the prosperous Jews were doing to those who were down and out. A little ‘class’ warfare is what that looks like to me. 

            When one becomes complacent they become self-satisfied and develop a false sense of security. In Israel’s case prosperity brought corruption and destruction. A true believer must always remember that everything is meaningless without the Lord leading the parade. A self-satisfied, self-sufficient attitude just may be your downfall.

 

C. OPPRESSING THE POOR

 

         Those people who were rich and powerful in Israel’s capital, Samaria, had become prosperous financially which opened the door to greed and a callous indifference towards anyone less fortunate than them. They were involved in illegal and immoral slavery which was the result of over-taxation and land grabbing. God was and is very weary of greed and will simply never tolerate injustice.

            Since God created all that is, ignoring those less fortunate is ignoring those for whom God loves and whom Christ came to save. It’s not good enough to feel bad for them, we must help them as Christ would by helping stop injustice towards them and help care for all those who are in need.

 

D. Superficial Religion 

 

         Although many Jews had walked away from real faith in God, they all still pretended to be religious.  It’s like a masquerade where everyone wears a mask to conceal their true identity, only with this they are concealing their true self and true intentions. Masks ... many of us wear them, but God sees right thru them to the heart. He knows our thoughts and motivations. We may be able to fool everyone we come to know, but we cannot fool Almighty God because he knows our deepest motivations. I called spiritual mask wearers CINO’s ... Christians in Name Only. They play at religion just as the Jews in Israel did back then.

            Being ritualistic by participating in ceremonies and mouthing words that mean nothing to us falls way short of being a true believer in Christ. God wants, even requires that we trust in Him thru heartfelt obedience and commitment. Living to impress others doesn’t impress the Lord. We must shed our religiosity in favor of devotion to the God of all things. Do not shun those who look or act different than you due to cultural or regional differences. Don’t look down on anyone, but rather befriend the least of these who can do nothing for you. No personal gain ... it is unimportant when seeking to help others. Ask the Lord what you can do to bless others, listen for His response, then do that which you’ve been told to do. Up next is the book of Obadiah. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

AMOS: Mega-Themes - Part 1

A.  EVERYONE ANSWERS TO GOD

 

            Amos was God’s chosen voice to pronounce judgment on all the nations that surrounded Israel, plus Israel and Judah as well. Their sin was continuous and unrepentant. There are consequences for every decision we make in life and the consequences of sin is judgment from the One we have sinned against. Someone told me one time that God was a tyrant because if you don’t do what He says you get punished. It not quite like that. God’s punishment is the same in many ways as a parents punishment to their child(ren) for disobeying one of their house rules. A simplistic example would be if I warned my son not to run into the street and he did it anyway, I may talk to him and give him a 2^nd chance, or I might tell him he couldn’t leave his room for the remainder of the day. Some would say I was being cruel, but on the other hand, what would someone say if my son ran into the street and was hit by a car and died. While not always, depending on who is making the rules, the rule is for the benefit of the son. They may not understand or agree, but there is a specific reason for establishing the rule in the first place. God provides rules to follow for the very same reason. Israel thought they were above all that and did as they pleased feeling that they didn’t need to answer to God at all. So when Amos warned them they essentially blew him off. 

            Sin exists in the world today and judgment is coming. The timing is unknown, but scripture tells us God is not mocked, what you sew so shall you reap. Galatians 6:7 in the Amplified version states it this way: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.”  

Israel sewed seeds of disobedience and reaped the wrath of God. God withholds His hand giving the target of His wrath every opportunity to repent, but when they ignore all the warnings God releases His wrath as a means of showing love. That sounds crazy, but justice must be served, though repentance is always available until the final trumpet sounds. Repentance and restoration can be achieved by anyone who seeks it. 

            Everyone is accountable to God for the life they live on this earth, whether they believe in God or not. God’s message of redemption is in the Bible and also is presented in a variety of ways thru today’s media. There is no excuse for not being aware of this whether you believe it or not. 

            Part 2 of the Mega-Themes from Hosea is next. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

 

AMOS at a glance

PURPOSE: To pronounce God’s judgment upon Israel (the Northern Kingdom) for its complacency, idolatry, and oppression of the poor.

THE AUTHOR: Amos

WHEN WRITTEN: Approximately 760-750 BC.

THE SETTING: The wealthy people of Israel were enjoying peace and prosperity. They were quite complacent and were oppressing the poor, even selling them into slavery. Soon, however, Israel would be conquered by Assyria, and the rich would themselves become slaves.

 

WHO WAS AMOS? - Amos was a man of God, a person whose life was devoted to serving the Lord and whose lifestyle reflected this devotion - but he was a layperson herding sheep and tending sycamore-fig trees in the Judean countryside. Amos was not the son of a prophet; he was not the son of a priest. As a humble shepherd, he could have stayed home doing his job, but God gave Amos a vision of the future and told him to take his message to the norther kingdom. Amos obeyed and thus proved he was a man of God. A fiery, fearless, and honest shepherd confronted Israel with their sin and warned them of impending judgment.

 

THE BLUEPRINT

 

1) ANNOUNCEMENT OF JUDGMENT (Amos 1:1 - Amos 2:16)

 

2) REASONS FOR JUDGMENT (Amos 3:1 - 6:14)

 

3) VISIONS OF JUDGMENT (Amos 7:1 - 9:15)

 

            Amos speaks with brutal frankness in denouncing sin. He collided with the false religious leaders of his day and was not intimidated by priest or king. He continued to speak his message boldly. 

                  God requires truth and goodness, justice and righteousness from all people and nations today as well. Many of the conditions in Israel during Amos’ time are evident in today’s society. We need Amos’ courage to ignore danger and stand against sin.

                  We must understand that things today are not all that different then they were back in OT times. Yes, the technology was obvious lacking back then, but sin is pretty much always the same. Love of fame and fortune isn’t linked to this day alone. Greedy arrogance has existed since the dawn of time. Therefore, guard your heart and stimulate your mind with God’s Word to remain refreshed and free from sin, but as John says in his first epistle, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”

Even as believers we will sin from time to time. When we ask for forgiveness we shall receive it when it comes from a sincere and sorrowful heart. Forgiveness is always available to the repentant. Fear no one but God who can condemn your soul to hell. Live for God and stand strong in your faith. 

                  Up next is Amos’ Mega-Themes ... until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

Joel: Mega-Themes

A. God’s Punishment

                                    

                  Sin is sin ... disobedience regarding God’s standard which is literally found throughout the entirety of scripture. There are no large sins or small sins, there is only SIN.  Just as the horde of locust overwhelmed the land of Judah, destroying all of their crops, so the day of the Lord shall overwhelm all those who have sinned against God. A reckoning is coming ... a day of settling accounts with the Lord. The day that will judge how we’ve lived our lives is fast approaching. The Jews in Joel’s day fluffed it off. Will you? Are you right with God, not by your own assessment, but according to God’s Word?

                  God is the One they had to reckon with, and it is no different today. We won’t have to face nature, the economy, or a foreign invader ... we will have to face the creator of all things. Just as we saw that Israel couldn’t ignore or offend God forever, so we won’t be able to do that either. Pay attention to His message now or face His anger later. This isn’t a game. Take very seriously how you live your life in the present so as not to incur His wrath later.

 

B. God’s Forgiveness

 

         God is always ready and willing to forgive and restore anyone who comes to Him with a sincere and contrite heart seeking forgiveness. Restoration comes only with sincere repentance.

As the saying goes, “Talk is cheap ... actions speak louder than words.” Look at 1 John 3:18 ... “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed, and in truth.” You must understand that God WANTS to shower his children with His love and restore them to a proper relationship with Him.

                  Forgiveness comes by turning from sin and turning to God. Doing what I refer to as “doing a 180”. You walk away from your past life. Until the final trumpet sounds there is time to receive God’s forgiveness. The Lord’s greatest desire is for you to come to Him. 

Man works so hard to make himself successful in the eyes of the world rather than seek the guidance and loving direction of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and my burden light.” Don’t strive to be like anyone in this world, for unless they know the Lord, it would be the blind leading the blind. The Jews were prideful and in turning away from God they sealed their own fate. 

 

C. The Promise of the Holy Spirit

 

                  Joel 2:28 tells of the coming of the Holy Spirit who will fall on all His people. That will be a new beginning of sorts, a new and fresh worship of God. It will also signify the beginning of judgement on all who have rejected the Lord.  

                  Once one grasps the concept that God is in complete control of all things, they will understand that justice and restoration are also in His hands. God’s love for us is confirmed by the Holy Spirit within us who has our life under His care. This is true for the Jews back them and all Christians down thru the years. Learn from the failures of the Jews and remain forever faithful to God even as He remains faithful to you. 

 

                  Up next is the book of Amos. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.     

 

Joel at a glance

Purpose: To warn Judah of God’s impending judgment because of its sins and to urge the people to turn back to God.

The Author: The prophet Joel, son of Pethuel.

When Written: Sometime between 835 - 796 BC

The Setting: “The people of Judah (the southern kingdom) had become prosperous and complacent. Taking God for granted, they had turned to self-centeredness, idolatry, and sin. Joel warned them that this kind of lifestyle would inevitably bring God’s judgment.”

 

                  “We stand in awe at natural and man-made displays of power, strength and might, but these forces pale when compared to the power of our omnipotent God. Creator of galaxies, atoms, and natural laws, the Sovereign Lord rules all there is and ever will be. How silly to live without Him; how foolish to run and hide from him; how ridiculous to disobey Him. But we do. Since Eden we have sought independence from His control, as though we were gods and could plot our destiny. And He has allowed our rebellion. But soon the day of the Lord will come. It is about this day that the prophet Joel speaks, and it is the theme of the book. ON this day God will judge all unrighteousness and disobedience - all accounts will be settled and the crooked made straight.”

 

 

THE BLUEPRINT

 

1)       The day of the locusts (Joel 1:1 thru 2:27)

 

2)       The day of the Lord (Joel 2:28 thru 3:21)

 

                  “The locust plague was only a foretaste of the judgment to come in the day of the Lord. This is a timeless call to repentance with the promise of blessing. Just as the people faced the tragedy of their crops being destroyed, we too will face tragic judgment if we live in sin. But God’s grace is available to us both now and in that coming day.”

 

                  The reoccurring theme with all the prophets thus far has been the fact that sin will be judged by God. There are no exceptions, no leniency, and no one shall escape the judgment of Almighty God. Sadly, there are still far too many people who don’t take the existence of God seriously. It’s our choice to make and it’s certainly worth the time to investigate with an open mind. For those who already know the Lord, stay the course, and do not stray off the chosen path. You are a threat to the enemy and must proceed with eyes wide open, leading with spiritual discernment.

                  Up next are the Mega-Themes found in Joel. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible. (all quotes found in this posting are from said resource.)

Hosea: Obedience vs Sacrifice

             You could say this is a spin off study regarding obeying God and giving sacrifices to Him. The latter in the end begins to become ritualistic, rather than something we do based on our love for our creator. Obeying God is following His instructions regarding how to live a life that pleases Him and benefits us the most. God knows that and we do not until God reveals it to us. That’s what faith and trust are all about. Believing and trusting in God’s ability to aid and direct us regarding the way we should go.

 

Here are eight scriptures that shine a light on obeying God rather than sacrificing to Him.

 

1) 1 Samuel 15:22-23 tells us that obedience is better than sacrifice.

 

2) Psalm 40:6-8 tells us that God doesn’t want sacrifices or offerings; He wants us to take joy in doing His will for our lives. 

 

3) Psalms 51:16-19 tells us that God doesn’t want sacrifices; He wants a broken and repentant heart.

 

4) Jeremiah 7:21-23 tells us that God’s doesn’t want sacrifices; He desires our obedience and as a result he promises that He will be our God and we will be His people.

 

5) Hosea 6:6 tells us God doesn’t want sacrifices; He wants us to show love ... He doesn’t want offerings; He wants us to know Him.

 

6) Amos 5:21-24 tells us God hates pretense and hypocrisy; He wants to see justice roll on like a river.

 

7) Micah 6:6-8 tells us God isn’t satisfied with offerings; he wants us to do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with our Lord.

 

8) Matthew 9:13 tells us the Lord doesn’t wants sacrifices; He wants us to be merciful.

 

            Notice that all the qualities the Lord wishes us to have are character traits that are exhibited by Jesus. Hence, in a nutshell, BE LIKE JESUS in your daily walk and you will be pleasing to the Lord.

 

This ends our expanded look at Hosea. Next up is the book of Joel. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

Hosea: Unfaithfulness

Spiritual & Physical Adultery Comparison

 

“Spiritual & physical adultery are alike in many ways, & both are dangerous. God was disappointed with His people because they had committed spiritual adultery against Him, as Gomer had committed physical adultery against Hosea.” ^[1]

 

A) Both spiritual & physical adultery are against God’s Law.

 

            1) Breaking God’s law while totally aware of what we’re doing will cause our heart to become hardened to the sin, thus severing our relationship with the Lord.

 

B) Both spiritual & physical adultery start with disappointment & dissatisfaction (either real or imagined) with an existing relationship.

 

            1) The feeling that God has disappointed you can lead you away from Him. Such feelings are normal because we are human, however, when endure they do pass.

 

C) Both spiritual & physical adultery start when we begin to divert our affection from one object of devotion to another.

 

            1) The diverting process is the first step to blinding us from right & wrong and THAT is what leads to sin.

 

D) Both spiritual & physical adultery involve a deterioration process ... it’s not usually an impulsive decision.

 

            1) The reason this process is dangerous is because of the subtlety with which it takes place. We don’t always realize what is happening until it’s too late.

 

E) Both spiritual & physical adultery involve creation of a fantasy regarding your new object of affection and what it can do for you, which typically ends up being a lie from Satan.

            1) These fantasies create an unrealistic expectation, but typically leads to disappointment. Fantasies are never rooted in reality; therefore we must be wary of such things.

 

            Be aware of what you are doing at all times and do not allow yourself to dabble in things that are not of God. The results are never beneficial for you.

 

“There is a way that seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death.”

Proverbs 14:12 _NKJV

 

Up next is a look at ‘Obedience vs. Sacrifice’ as it relates to the book of Hosea. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

^[1] Taken from page 1827 in the Life Application Study Bible.

Hosea: Gomer

             Gomer was a girl with a reputation. We aren’t told if she was a working prostitution or just a promiscuous young woman when she met Hosea. With the life she was leading how surprised or perhaps confused would Gomer have had to have been when instead of propositioning her, Hosea asked for her hand in marriage. Gomer’s father would certainly have agreed to the marriage to remove the blot of embarrassment from his family name.

            Although Hosea loved his wife, it would seem that Gomer was unsure regarding how she should feel about her husband. There’s no indication that she loved him, certainly not the way he loved her. She bore three children; two boys and a girl. Sadly though, Hosea had no way of knowing if they were his children or not. In spite of this he took them as his own. God gave Hosea the names that he was to give them: the first was a son who was to be called ‘Jezreel’^[1], the second child was a female who was to be called ‘Lo-ruhamah’^[2], and the third child was a son who was to be called ‘Lo-ammi’^[3].

            With all this happening in unfaithful Gomer’s live, we are left wondering how she felt about all that had transpired. We’ll never know though because scripture never reveals her thoughts or feelings. As a matter of fact she isn’t mentioned by name again after chapter 2. Hosea’s marriage to Gomer is a thinly veiled version of any believers story ... a sinner who is offered overwhelming grace.

 

*          Though we aren’t told, there is a chance that Gomer may have traded her shameful past for a faithful future due to Hosea’s sacrificial love for her.

 

*          Unfaithfulness damages our personal integrity but doesn’t prevent someone else from loving us in spite of our failure(s).

 

*          Isn’t it astounding how committed God’s love for His creation is even though He knows our propensity to disobey Him?

 

            Tomorrow we’ll take a dive in the relevant topic of ‘Spiritual Unfaithfulness’ which is represented in Hosea. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

[1] Jezreel - “And the Lord said, “Name the child Jezreel, for I am about to punish King Jehu’s dynasty to avenge the murders he committed at Jezreel. In fact, I will bring an end to Israel’s independence. I will break its military power in the Jezreel Valley.” (Hosea 1:4-5)

[2] Lo-ruhamah - “Soon Gomer became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to Hosea, “Name your daughter Lo-ruhamah—‘Not loved’—for I will no longer show love to the people of Israel or forgive them.” (Hosea 1:6)

[3] Lo-ammi - “After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she again became pregnant and gave birth to a second son. And the Lord said, Name him Lo-ammi—‘Not my people’—for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God.” (Hosea 1:8-9)

Hosea: The Mega-Themes

HOSEA: The Mega-Themes

 

                  In the very beginning of the book we find God telling Hosea to marry a prostitute. That would represent a heightened example of unfaithfulness, as Gomer slept with other men and even had children by these strangers. 

Hosea served as a prophet to the northern kingdom (Israel) from 753 thru 715 BC. Israel’s last six kings particularly evil; they levied high taxes, oppressed the poor, and promoted idol worship ... showing total disregard toward Almighty God. The northern kingdom’s sin against God was like an adulterous woman who sins against her husband (as Gomer repeatedly did to her husband Hosea).

                  When someone sins they sever their relationship with God, thus breaking our commitment to Him. While we all must answer for our sins, those who have sought God and His forgiveness are spared eternal judgment.

                  Israel’s total disregard for God and others resulted in eventual judgment for we find that the northern kingdom fell to Assyria in 722 BC.

 

Mega-Themes

 

1) The Nation’s Sin 

Israel ignored God as if He didn’t exist and was judgment because of it. They surely knew of God’s existence yet chose to ignore Him and live as they chose. Their idolatry was very much like adultery. They made alliances with ungodly neighboring nations as a means of providing protection for the people. 

Like Hosea’s prostitute wife Gomer, today’s believer can chase after many other loves ... power, pleasure, money and/or recognition. The world’s temptations can be very seductive. Do other loves take God’s place in your lives? Are you completely faithful to your God? 

 

2) God’s Judgment

            Hosea solemnly and repeatedly warned Israel not to follow Judah’s example. Because they turned away from God, Judah experienced a devastating invasion by Babylon and were taken captive for 70 years. Sin has terrible consequences.

                  Those living today must realize that God is our only true refuge from the trials and tribulations of this life. Aside from God there is no safety or security that can be found.

 

3) God’s Love

            Just as Hosea continually went after his unfaithful wife, so the Lord God comes for us. It is out of love; tender, loyal, unchanging, and undying love. No matter what is ever thought, said, or done, God still loves each one of us. 

                  Whatever a believer does they mustn’t forget God or become disloyal to Him. Do not allow prosperity/success in this world blind you from your need for God and His love.

 

4) Restoration

            Although it is assured that judgment will come against any who have sinned, repentance becomes the game changer. True, sincere, earnest repentance opens the way to a brand new beginning where God offers complete forgiveness and restoration. This is no different than the restoration the Lord provided to Israel after they turned back to Him. One illustrates the other.

                  It should be said that no amount of loyalty, achievement or honor can be compared to your loving God. And no matter how far you stray from Him, it is never too far ... God is ALWAYS ready and willing to forgive you. 

 

Up next I have several side studies tied to Hosea that I’d like to share. One is a deeper look at ‘Gomer’, another is looking at ‘spiritual unfaithfulness’, and lastly a look at ‘Obedience vs. Sacrifice’. I hope you enjoy them.  Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

Hosea at a glance + The Blueprint

HOSEA at a glance + The Blueprint

 

THE PURPOSE OF THE WRITING:  To show God’s love for an unrepentant people.

WHO IS THE AUTHOR: Hosea, son of Beeri ... note: Hosea means “salvation”.

WHO IS HIS AUDIENCE:  The people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN:  Roughly 715 BC, documenting events from 753 thru 715 BC.

WHAT WAS THE SETTING:  Hosea began his ministry during the end of the prosperous but morally declining reign of Jeroboam II of Israel ... note: the upper class were doing well, but they were oppressing the poor ... Hosea prophesied until a little after the fall of Samaria in 722 BC.

 

THE BLUEPRINT

 

A. HOSEA’S WAYWARD WIFE (HOSEA 1:1 thru 3:5) - God told Hosea to marry a woman He knew would be unfaithful to the prophet. This was to be an illustration of God’s love and faithfulness toward a rebellious and disobedient people. This is our example adopting the ways of the world by compromising our Christian lifestyles. That is being unfaithful.

 

B. GOD’S WAYWARD PEOPLE (HOSEA 4:1 thru 14:9) - As with all peoples throughout history, God’s desire was that the people of the Northern Kingdom repent of their sin and return to solely worshipping Him. We see throughout Hosea that Israel is referred to as ignorant of God, having NO desire whatsoever to please Him. As Hosea’s wife Gomer didn’t understand her husband, so Israel didn’t understand their God. Because of God’s desire for all of mankind to know Him and turn to Him daily His extreme patience comes into play, like a father with his disobedient children.

 

Tomorrow we’ll be focusing on the Mega-Themes of Hosea. Until that time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

Daniel: The Mega-Themes

 DANIEL: The Mega-Themes 

1) God is in Control

 

            Throughout scripture one thing is very clear ... God is all-knowing and in complete control of all world events. There is nothing he is not aware of and no one who is ruling over Him. If a ruler denies or defies God, He removes them. God WILL overcome evil ... NO ONE is exempt. Those who follow Him shall be delivered.

            Even though many nations seek to control the world now, one day Christ’s Kingdom will replace all the kingdoms of this ungodly, sin-filled world. As believers we must have the courage to keep our faith in God who controls everything.

 

2) What is the Purpose of Life?

 

            Daniel and his 3 friends are shining examples of dedication and commitment as they stood for their God in the face of ungodly opposition. They were determined to serve their God in spite of any daunting circumstances that came as a result of their righteous stance. The reason they didn’t give in was because they had a well-defined purpose in life.

            Our first allegiance is to be to the author of our faith and creator of man’s first breath. Our true purpose in life is to trust and obey God and God alone. We should NOT obey anyone who would like us to disobey our God. We are to stand strong in our faith in spite of our circumstances for God is aware of all we think, say, and do and also what will take place in our lives. Trust God always and lean heavily on Him.

 

3) Perseverance

 

            70 years!! That is how long Daniel served God in a foreign, hostile land. The key for him was consistency. He never let the laws of Babylon cause him or his 3 friends to compromise their faith and trust in God. 

Their witness was evident when Daniel’s 3 friends were tossed into a furnace for not bowing down to an image of the Babylonian King. A fourth body was present in the walk in furnace which was their Lord. They came from the furnace that had been ordered to be 7x hotter than usual without even a singe mark on their clothing. Upon examination they didn’t even smell of smoke. A miracle seen first-hand by ungodly people. This caused King Nebuchadnezzar to decree the following: Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.” That came from an ungodly King in a foreign land. The uncompromising testimony of the prophet and his friends turns men’s hearts to God.

I don’t think many people today understand how urgently important it is to have a high level of integrity. The American Heritage Dictionary tells us that integrity is: “A steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.” Daniel and his friends were living out the Mosaic Law in front of the ungodly and they were blessed because of it. So pray without ceasing daily and be content wherever God places you as you seek to serve Him.

 

4) God’s Faithfulness

 

            Daniel’s life found favor with his God. Because of his steadfast obedience to God’s Law he was delivered from execution, a den full of lions and enemies who hated him because of his beliefs. This book is evidence that God cares for his people and shows incredible patience when dealing with them.

            Because God has been faithful to us we can trust Him to see us thru any and all trials. Because of His faithfulness we should be steadfastly faithful to Him.

 

            The message from Daniel is very clear ... live a life that honors God and blesses others and you will have a wonderful life, followed by an eternity to continue to praise and serve our Lord. We can use the lives of all the prophets as a supplement to the life of Christ as our template to Godly living. Up next is the book of Hosea. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

Encouragement from the Prophet Daniel

Daniel 2:44

"In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever." ^NIV

^{Daniel: The Mega-Themes will be posted for tomorrow.}

Daniel at a glance + The Blueprint

DANIEL at a glance + The Blueprint

 

Purpose: Daniel is a historical accounting of the Jews in exile who remained faithful to God & shows how God is in ultimate control of both heaven & earth, directing the forces of nature, the destiny of nations, and the care of his people.

Author: The prophet Daniel.

Audience: The other captives in Babylon.

When Written: Daniel was written approximately 536 BC, recording events that occurred from roughly 605 - 536 BC.

The Setting: Daniel was taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar along with the Jewish people and were deported to Babylon. There Daniel served the government for about 70 yrs. under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius & Cyrus.

Special Feature: Daniel’s apocalyptic visions in chapters 7 thru 12 give us a glimpse of God’s plan for the ages, including a prediction regarding the coming Messiah.

 

The Blueprint

 

A. DANIEL’S LIFE - (1:1 - 6:28)

 

            These first 6 chapters are inspiring examples of how godly men ought to live what they believe even when living in a godless, worldly society. Daniel & his 3 friends chose not to eat the King’s food and refused to bow down to the Kings graven image, under penalty of death.  The food wasn’t presented in the strict manner required by the Law and according to the Mosaic Law, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3) prohibited their bowing down to such an image. That is bold faith to face certain death for not following the Kings specific decrees. 

            When we face intense, potentially life threatening situations may God grant us the same courage that Daniel and his friends had in the face of ungodly behavior. We must remain faithful to God for He alone is the one who absolutely knows what is best for us. Also remember that God’s will for us transpires the way He knows it needs to and not always the way we may want it to. Trust God in all things.

 

 

B. DANIEL’S VISIONS - (7:1 - 12:13)

 

            The visions that Daniel had gave confidence to the captives when they were told to them. God is in control of time ... history, the present and the future all fall under His complete and utter control now and forevermore. What God says thru the prophets either had already come to pass or will at a pre-ordained time. Just as the nation of Israel is favored by God and are His children, so are we. The Jews that had been exiled needed to exercise their faith and trust in their God for 70 years. We want what we want right away and if it isn’t right away we think either God hasn’t heard us or doesn’t care. This is wrong thinking. Patience is a virtue bestowed upon us by God Himself. We must cultivate it by not doubting. Rather we must allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our spirit enabling us to rest in the peace that He provides. 

            Up next are the Mega-Themes from the book of Daniel. Until then walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

Ezekiel - The Mega-Themes

EZEKIEL

 

- Ezekiel served as prophet to those exiled in Babylon from 593 - 571 BC.  

- Both Ezekiel & his people are taken to Babylon as captives. 

- The Jews became strangers in a strange land ruled by an authoritarian government.

- Due to the people’s sins, God allowed Judah to be destroyed.

- God promised to restore the land to those who remained faithful to Him.

- God NEVER forgets those who faithfully seek to obey Him.

 

The Mega-Themes

 

1) God’s Holiness - Ezekiel saw a vision that revealed God’s absolute moral perfection. God is spiritually & morally superior to anyone in creation ... in this case the corrupt & compromising society of Israel. Because of His moral perfection, he can help those who ask to live above their tendency to compromise with this world. When we focus on HIS greatness, He gives us the power to overcome sin & become a reflection of His holiness.

 

2) Sin - God’s people sinned, God’s punishment came. His punishment was used to correct the people & draw them back to righteous living. Ezekiel warned them specifically that not only was their nation responsible for sinning, each individual was also accountable to God. Christians must realize what sin is ... rebellion against God. He wants us, using our own free will, to choose to follow Him instead.

 

3) Restoration - Ezekiel provides consolation to the exiled peoples of Israel by telling them a day is coming when God will restore those who turn from their sin.  He will be their king and shepherd. They will receive a new heart to worship Him. A new temple and government shall be established.

 

When you place all your faith and trust in Almighty God you always have hope. Patience is required to see God’s restoration materialize within you as well as all around you. Turning from God is selfish and self-centered. Never think you are in any way greater than your creator. It simply isn’t possible.

 

Up next is the book of Daniel. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible