Month: October 2022

Proverbs makes a link between ‘Wisdom and Wealth’.

¹⁶ Of what use is money in the hand of a fool,
    since they have no desire to get Wisdom? Proverbs 17

It’s not just that the foolish don’t have wisdom, but they have no desire to get it. They’re not interested in getting it so they’ll handle the money that comes wisely. There’s an extra responsibility for those who have wealth and not everyone is equipped to deal with it.

⁴ Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
    and to insight/understanding , “You are my relative.”
⁵ They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
    from the wayward woman/wife with her seductive words. Proverbs 7

Have we ever thought of calling out to wisdom (Wisdom is referred to as ‘Her’ in Proverbs 8:1) and seeking her friendship? Proverbs 7:4 tells us to do just this.

¹⁷ I LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE ME, (Speaks of Relationship)
    AND THOSE WHO SEEK ME FIND ME.
¹⁸ With me are riches and honour,
    enduring wealth and prosperity.
¹⁹ My fruit is better than fine gold;
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.
²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness,
    along the paths of justice,
²¹ BESTOWING WEALTH ON THOSE WHO LOVE ME
    AND MAKING THEIR TREASURIES FULL. Proverbs 8

The promise of blessing is for those who want relationship and are earnestly looking for it – the casual enquirer won’t be blessed in the same measure. Proverbs 8:21

The chapter ends with an exhortation and a promise of blessing.

³² “Now then, MY CHILDREN, LISTEN TO ME;
    blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
³⁴ BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO LISTEN TO ME,
    WATCHING DAILY AT MY DOORS,
    WAITING AT MY DOORWAY.
³⁵ For those who find me find life
    and receive Favour from the Lord.

FAVOUR AND BLESSING SURELY COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT.

God bless and keep you today.

 

 

Our Focus will determine our guidance.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to or acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight or direct your paths. Proverbs 3

Perhaps these are two of the best known verses in Proverbs 3, telling us not to rely solely on our own minds, but to ask the Holy Spirit within us for His direction. Guidance is such an important thing, especially in these troubled days we’re living in. THE MORE WE TURN TOWARDS GOD’S SPIRIT, THE MORE WE’LL RECEIVE FROM HIM AND CONVERSELY THE LESS WE SEEK HIM, THE LESS WE’L HEAR HIS VOICE. The worst place of all to receive our guidance is from this world’s media, which relentlessly pours out anti God propaganda, yet so many believers feed upon their words and images every day.

The chapter begins with a father or the Father, addressing his son and exhorting him to remember his words.

3 My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but keep my commands in your heart,
² for they will prolong your life many years
    and bring you peace and prosperity. Proverbs 3

The power of Godly advice to guide a son throughout his life, to lengthen his days and fill them with blessings. Scripture verses can act as a bulwark to protect our hearts from many dangerous seductions in this world. They can strengthen us at key moments and deliver us from harm. We can always ask God to direct and show us which scriptures will help us most in the season we’re in, (God given just for us) memorise them, and feed our souls on them. The Word is Living, Hebrews 4:12 and always strengthens us within.

³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Then you will win Favour and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.

Love and Faithfulness will be rewarded, not just in eternity, but now in this world. Favour and a good name here on earth.

Proverbs 3 ends with contrasts/distinctions which God makes between the Good and the wicked.

³² For the Lord detests the perverse
    but takes the upright into his confidence. (What a Promise for us now)
³³ The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.
³⁴ He mocks proud mockers
    but shows Favour to the humble and oppressed.
³⁵ The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame. Proverbs 3

The promises are for now in this life and not just for the future.

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THE LORD IS NO ONE’S DEBTOR, HALLELUJAH.

What’s given to Him will always be multiplied back to us.

God bless and keep you today.

 

Psalm 102 reveals that God has a calendar known only to Himself and those to whom He chooses to reveal it.

The psalm begins with a cry of desperation;

¹ Hear my prayer, Lord;
    let my cry for help come to you.
² Do not hide your face from me
    when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
    when I call, answer me quickly. Psalm 102

The next section details the suffering of a man in this life. It begins and ends with the brevity of man’s life here on earth.

³ For my days vanish like smoke;
    my bones burn like glowing embers.

¹⁰ because of your great wrath,
    for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
¹¹ My days are like the evening shadow;
    I wither away like grass.

The psalmist, perhaps David, declares he feels that God has deserted him and ‘Thrown (him) aside’. But then his outlook changes and he starts to focus on the eternal nature of God and His mercy towards His people.

¹² But you, Lord, SIT enthroned forever;
    your renown endures through all generations.
¹³ You will ARISE and have compassion on Zion,
    FOR IT IS TIME TO SHOW FAVOUR TO HER;
    THE APPOINTED TIME HAS COME. 

The whole world is in a particular season on God’s calendar at this time and He is moving on behalf of His children. We may, like the psalmist, be tempted to think that God has forgotten us, but we should remember that He is our eternal God. The psalmist said that God would ‘Arise and have compassion on Zion’. Israel has been under attack from within and without for most of the time since it’s rebirth in 1948, YET GOD HAS KEPT HER. I said previously that it had been prophesied that Israel would be in the news again because God is going to root out corruption within. He’s doing the same among the nations today and many people are feeling the effects as the enemy lashes out against the innocent and vulnerable.

¹⁵ The nations will fear the name of the Lord,
    all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
¹⁶ For the Lord will rebuild Zion
    and appear in his glory.
¹⁷ He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
    he will not despise their plea.

The nations of this world have often ignored God, but there is a time coming on His calendar, when they’re going to have to acknowledge that He rules over all. The rebuilding of Israel since 1948 has been astonishing, both the infrastructure and the population. God’s plans are unstoppable, although people’s circumstances may become difficult for a time, the final outcome will be good for all who trust Him.

¹⁸ Let this be written for a future generation,
    that a people not yet created may praise the Lord:
¹⁹ ‘The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high,
    from heaven he viewed the earth,
²⁰ to hear the groans of the prisoners
    and release those condemned to death.’ 

This psalm was written for a future generation, a people not yet created. Perhaps part of it was written for this generation, to give us hope in God for these times. WE NEED TO LOOK BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS AND ASK WHAT’S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT ALL. Hallelujah

God bless and keep you today.

 

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13

It’s interesting reading the Book of Psalms, the writers and the times they wrote change, but God stays the same.

¹ YOU SHOWED FAVOUR TO YOUR LAND, O LORD;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
² You forgave the iniquity of your people
    and covered all their sins.
³ You set aside all your wrath
    and turned from your fierce anger. Psalm 85, Sons of Korah 

These men spoke of God showing Favour to ‘Your Land’ and turning aside from anger over the sin of the people.

⁴ RESTORE US AGAIN, O GOD OUR SAVIOUR,
    and put away your displeasure towards us. Psalm 85

The writer(s) calls our for God’s blessings on His people.

We heard two prophetic voices yesterday saying that once again Israel is going to be prominent in world affairs. God will begin to remove infiltrators from among His people, just as He has been doing with governments, financial institutions and even the Church. One said that this may cause a rise in anti-semitism as the Lord exposes the false from the nation.

¹⁵ Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. ¹⁶ Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the ISRAEL OF GOD. Galatians 6

Paul speaks in Galatians 6 of a people within Israel who are true followers of God. No doubt it’s the same in the Church of today, the Lord knows who are His and it doesn’t just depend on religious observance.

¹⁵ Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
    who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
¹⁶ They rejoice in your name all day long;
    they celebrate your righteousness.
¹⁷ For you are their glory and strength,
    and BY YOUR FAVOUR YOU EXALT OUR HORN (King). Psalm 89, Ethan the Ezrahite 

Another psalm writer who again speaks of those whose hearts are sincere towards God and who walk in His Favour.

The next psalm is the only one attributed to Moses and he’s given a unique title, ‘Moses the man of God’. It was obviously written much earlier than David’s Psalms and many of the others.

¹⁷ May the favour (BEAUTY) of the Lord our God rest on us;
    establish the work of our hands for us—
    yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90. Prayer of Moses the man of God.

Moses asks for God’s Favour/Beauty to rest upon Israel (Do we ever ask for this as His children – we should) and then also that God would establish the work of their hands. These are valid scriptural prayers so why not claim them for yourself. Different people from different eras, but all seeking the Grace and Favour of God for themselves and their people.

²⁴ “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

²⁷ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6

God’s Favour is always there for us in a time of great need!

Esther sought the King Xerxes’ Favour by showing him honour and respect, BEFORE MAKING HER REQUEST.

Timing was everything in the account of this attack on the very existence of all God’s people. Esther asked the king and Haman to return the next day, when she would make her request known.

⁹ Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. ¹⁰ Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Esther 5

Haman went home and boasted to his wife and friends about his wealth and honour, but he was still enraged by Mordecai. His wife told him to build a set of gallows and hang Mordecai the next morning. He BOASTED AND BUILT.

But that night (so close to Death) King Xerxes couldn’t sleep and he ordered the chronicles of his reign be brought in and read to him. Mordecai’s exposure of the plot against the King was read and he was told, ‘Nothing has been done for him’.  READING AND REWARDING, GOD’S TIMING!

Haman arrived in the court and mistakenly thought the king wanted to honour him (always thinking of himself). He was greatly humiliated when he had to lead to lead Mordecai around the city on horseback proclaiming the king delighted to honour him.

³ Then Queen Esther answered, ‘If I have found favour with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life – this is my petition. And spare my people – this is my request.

⁵ King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, ‘Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?’

⁶ Esther said, ‘The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman!’

Esther finally made her plea and exposed what Haman had done to her and her people. The King was outraged and sentence followed swiftly.

As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. ⁹ Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, ‘A gallows fifty cubits high stands by Haman’s house. He had made it for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.’ Esther 7

The king said, ‘Hang him on it!’ ¹⁰ So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.

Haman was HUMILIATED AND HANGED on his own gallows. His final destruction came because a servant of the king revealed the existence of the gallows on which he’d planned to hang Mordecai.

We are living in a day when the dark deeds of the enemies of God’s people will be exposed and there’s always a  Harbona who has that information. One day Haman was BOASTING AND BUILDING, the next day he was gone. Justice came to him very swiftly and with finality. He had greatly overstepped the mark in his attack on God’s people.

May God bless and keep us in these days when the King’s Justice comes upon men.

5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.

Queen Esther, her uncle Mordecai and all the Jews in Susa had fasted and prayed for three days and nights in preparation for her going to the King.

² When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, HE WAS PLEASED WITH HER (God’s default position for His children) and held out to her the gold sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the sceptre.

Even the Queen (Picture of the Bride, Church) needed to honour and respect the king as she went into his presence.

Two scriptures come to mind as I read about this key moment when the future of the people of God hangs in the balance.

5 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Ecclesiastes 5

Queen Esther and the Jews had humbled themselves before this encounter. Jewish people are fasting today before God and He still sees and knows it. They’re acknowledging and honouring their/our God at this time.

The other scripture is from the New Testament and therefore applies only to the Church,

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us IN OUR TIME OF NEED.

We approach God ‘dressed as it were’ in His Son Jesus and we’re invited to do so, particularly in a time of need.

Esther received FAVOUR from the king and came to him with her petition. It’s interesting that in this time of great need she honoured the king first!

⁴ ‘If it pleases the king,’ replied Esther, ‘let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.’

The king and Haman went to the banquet and he offered to give Queen Esther whatever she wanted. Esther asked them to return the next day for more hospitality and promised to make known her request.

There’s a big difference between going before the King with our ‘Shopping list of things we want or need’ and going to honour Him.

⁴ ENTER into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. Psalm 100

Queen Esther may have been ultra cautious because so much depended on her plea to the king. She also brought the source of the problem with her. The king was going to see him at first hand and make his decision right there.

God knows our deepest problems and is sympathetic and Favourably inclined toward us, but He’s always worthy of our respect and worship. We can come boldly because of Jesus, but respect and worship towards Him is wisdom.

God bless and keep you today.

This evening Yom Kippur begins, the holiest day of the Hebrew Calendar, fasting food and liquids for 25 hours.

The account of Esther and all the Jews in Babylon continues in Esther 4 when Mordecai has received the news of the king’s order to destroy all the Jews (all of God’s people) throughout the kingdom.

4 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. ² But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. ³ In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. Esther 4

God’s people were in great danger and engaged in public mourning because of the threat to their existence. Mordecai sent word to Esther, including, ‘how much Haman had promised to pay (money is often part of it) the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews’. Esther 4:7

Mordecai urged Esther to go to the King and she said he hadn’t called her for thirty days. It was death to enter the king’s presence unannounced, unless he extended his royal sceptre and granted mercy.

¹³ he sent back this answer: ‘Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?’

Mordecai told Esther that if she didn’t act on behalf of her people that God would save them another way. I’ve heard it said that Reinhard Bonke, the great evangelist in Africa, was actually God’s third choice for that role. God is looking for those who will say ‘Yes’ to His call, but won’t override our free will.

¹⁵ Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ ‘Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. (We can Fast and Pray on other’s behalf) Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’ 

Esther had made her decision, but she called on her people to support her in Fasting and Prayer. Derek Prince wrote a book called, ‘Shaping history through Prayer and Fasting’. He had a diagram of a triangle and he believed that the prayers at the peak or point of triangle could only be answered by Prayer AND FASTING. Many Jewish people will begin their fast this evening, the culmination of the ten days of Awe. They believe that at this time God decides our fate for the coming year. Believers can always seek the Lord and earnestly call out for those things which we need.

May God bless and keep you today.

Immediately God moved on behalf of His people in Babylon, the enemy responds by trying to kill all the Jews – genocide. A national emergency, but God wins!

King Xerxes, honoured Haman above all his other officials and they all knelt down at the King’s gate as the king had commanded, but Mordecai would not kneel down. Esther 3:1, 2 We in the Church shouldn’t bow our knees, a mark of our allegiance, to anyone or anything not of our God.

Haman was enraged at Mordecai;

⁶ Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. Esther 3

The enemy is still looking for the way to destroy everyone who worships God, but now he’s using modern technology.

⁷ In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

Haman sought guidance for the most favourable time to attack and murder all the Jews in Xerxes’ Kingdom. This plot wasn’t just being planned at an earthly level, but also from the occult realm. It was aimed at destroying all of God’s people and preventing His Kingdom rule on the earth.

⁸ Then Haman said to King Xerxes, ‘There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom WHO KEEP THEMSELVES SEPARATE. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. ⁹ If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.’

The customs of the Jews kept them separated from all the other peoples. That was the point Haman used to attack them to the king. They wouldn’t conform with all the others and this may well be the final test for the Church. Please God we hold fast to the Lord and don’t turn away to the ways of this fallen world.

¹³ Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews – young and old, women and children – on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. ¹⁴ A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that they would be ready for that day. 

The enemy had laid his plans, but Esther and Mordecai had been strategically placed right at the centre of power in the land. Is God doing the same in our day, moving at the centre to overturn all the enemy’s schemes? God’s plans for His future kingdom, will not be overturned in our days. God still wins, Hallelujah.

God bless and keep you today.