When the people of Judah returned fron Babylon to Jerusalem, there must have been a whole host of matters to attend to after a 70 year absence. But the text of Ezra 3:1-7, tells us that once the seventh month of the year came, the month in which Jews observe many of the Old Testament feasts, what gained top priority in their lives was the re-introduction of the worship of God. They did this through reconstructing the altar that had been torn down and offering the required sacrifices and feasts as outlined in the Law of Moses, remembering the past and how God saved them and looking forward to the future when all nations would come to Jerusalem to worship God. Today God still desires His people to worship Him and the be those through whom the message of His grace will reach the whole world.
Archives
‘What’s in a name? (the God of His people)’ Ezra 2:1-70
After the first chapter of Ezra set the scene for the return of God’s people to Jerusalem from Babylon through the decree of the Persian king Cyrus, Ezra 2:1-70 fills in the names of the 42,000 who made the journey and came back from exile. While some may think that not much can be learned from a whole chapter of names, the very record of these names is significant in itself. These people who returned from exile were heads and members of families and will forever be rememberd for being the ‘ones that returned’. Their intention in going back was to worship God and proclaim Him to the surrounding nations. God’s people today have a similar aim. We are His missionary people, so that His name might be known all over the world.
‘The God who brings His people home’ (Ezra 1:1-11)
The story of the book of Ezra concerns the return of God’s people to Jerusalem after their peirod of exile in Babylon. In Ezra 1:11, we find a very clear picture of the sovereign rule of God who brough King Cyrus of Persia to power and ‘stirred’ him to allow His people to return back to their home land. The chapter also reminds us that God did all this to fulfuill His promises made through the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah years before. God’s people are still on a journey home. The book of Revelation (ch. 18) tells of the fall of Babylon and then the emergence of the new Jersualem (ch. 21), where God’s people will be with Him and enjoy Him forever.
‘Jude’s final word on the grace of God’ (Jude 24-25)
While the letter of Jude has been mainly about the dangers of false teaching in the church, the final verses of Jude’s letter (Jude 24-25) form a very real contrast. While the first part of Jude has been filled with warnings and calls to action, in the last verses Jude presents another side of the coin. God is able to keep His people from falling. More than that, He is also able to keep His people safe until the final day when all His people will be presented to before His throne. The secret to all of this is not found in us, but in His keeping power, and that is why all the glory, dominion, power and praise belongs to Him.
‘What to think and do about tragedy’ (Luke 13:1-9)
Theories abound as to the link between the suffering that happens on earth and the sin of people. Some say that God always punishes the worst and rewards the best. In Luke 13:1-9, Jesus put this theory to rest. When asked about the aftermath of Pilate’s depravity and the collapse of the Tower of Siloam, Jesus pointed out that the need of the hour was repentance rather than guessing the cause of the tragedy. God does not treat as as our sins deserve. National or personal disasters are a ‘wake up call’ to all, regardless of who is ‘good’ and bad’. Instead we are to produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
‘Defending, advancing and guarding the gospel’ (Jude 17-23)
Though Jude’s letter up to this point has been about the dangers of apostasy and those who are false teachers, Jude also has some helpful things to add in verses 17-23 about the best kind of counter-attack to false teaching. By using our minds and bringing to mind the teachings of the apostles, we will be able to recognise error. By giving due to attention to our hearts and keeping ourselves in the love of God and devoting ourselves to prayer, we will find God’s strengthening. By using our words to warn the lost and speak of the grace of Christ, we will also be able to share what we have found in Jesus. By doing these well we will be enabled to guard the precious treasure that is the gospel.
‘Life as the Psalm-writer knew it’ (Psalm 116:1-19)
Most people get their education at school, but life also hands out many complex lessons. The man who wrote Psalm 116:1-19 found this to be true. When faced with an overwhelmingly desperate situation in which he was threatened by death, his cry to the Lord did not go unheard. In fact, God heard his cry and came to his rescue. As a response to this rescue, the Psalm writer willingly gave himself to the Lord to be his devoted servant and to testify to His saving power. God’s people know that the problem of sin is too big for anyone to handle alone. Only God can deal with sin and its consequences, and He did this by sending His Son to the cross. Salvation comes to all who call to the Lord and because He is gracious and faithful, He hears the cry of His own and saves them.
‘Will the real false teachers please stand up?’ (Jude 12-17)
After urging his readers to be on the lookout for false teachers who had infiltrated their church and brought with them a false gospel and an empty way of life. In verses 12-17, Jude then sought to expose their character. To do this, Jude uses words that are ‘word pictures’ such as ‘trees without fruit’ and ‘wild waves of the sea’. There are five word pictures in all that lead us to see that the lives of these false teachers are characterised by selfishness, helplessness, fruitlessness, shamefulness and aimlessness. To add the severity of the picture, he gives his own warning as well as one from the non-biblical book of Enoch, that reminded his readers the need to be on guard. By telling us these things, Jude also reminds us that true teachers of theWord of God ought to be seen as those whose lives have the evidence and character of God’s grace.
‘Jude’s grim warnings about false teachers’ (Jude 8-11)
Having established that his readers were in great danger from false teachers, in verses 8-11 of his letter, Jude added to his previous three illustrations from the Old Testament by referring to three more – using the examples of Cain, Korah and Balaam. All of these Old Testament men are known for their misdeeds, rather than their righteous acts or faith. Cain was a murderer, Korah led a rebellion and Balaam sought money to lead Israel astray. By referring to these men, Jude sought to make plain the character of false teachers who not only twist Scripture but whose lives are also reflect that they do not know the Lord or follow His ways. God’s people are urged to be on guard and fight for the truth – especially that of the gospel.
‘Jude’s good ground for urgency’ (Jude 5-7)
Having established that his readers were in danger of being led astray by false teachers, in verses 5-7 Jude then proceeded to give three illustrations from the Old Testament of how God brought judgment upon those who oppose His truth. And so by reminding us of the people of Israel who died in the desert, the angels who left heaven to join the rebellion against the Lord and the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah who lived lives of sexual immorality, Jude gave a strong warning to his readers. These lessons from the Old Testament were written for us and should be noted well. God will not be mocked. His Word teaches that ‘a man reaps what he sows’.