Lilies of the Field

Looking at idolatry as we make our way through the Scriptures, we ended with 1 Kings 18 yesterday.  In 1 Kings 19, we see Elijah, soon after God’s victory showdown with the 450 prophets of Baal. Instead of doing the Rocky Balboa dance, he is running from wicked Jezebel who is intent on destroying this man of God. And he is in a state of mind to which we, as believers, can sometimes relate. Sore afraid, he runs for his life and ends up in the wilderness pleading with God to take his life. The word of the Lord came to him in a cave asking him what he is doing there? He replies, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life to take it away.” Oh, how often we can relate to Elijah here, and at the same time reading these portions of Scripture saying, “Are you kidding me? Did you not just see what the Lord has done?” In ...

Yahweh was Israel’s King, Redeemer, Lord of hosts, the Eternal One. Thus, says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.’ Isaiah 44:6 Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:4-5   “God said it, I believe it, that settles it,” was a well-known saying by Christians several years ago. The fallacy of this statement is that it doesn’t matter whether I believe it or not. Because God said it, it is settled. Period. God’s divine revelation of Himself is sufficient for man to believe in Him (See Romans 1:18-20). The problem of all unbelief stems from man’s depraved sin nature. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fo...

High treason is treason against the king. Disloyalty or treachery to one’s country or its government. Treason is any attempt to overthrow the government or impair the well-being of a state to which one owes allegiance; the crime of giving aid or comfort to the enemies of one’s government. Dictionary.com   The Israelites were guilty of not just treason, but the highest treason possible. High treason against the King of kings! He was not a tyrannical dictator. His divine government was one to which they had voluntarily submitted themselves. Israel’s government was a divine theocracy under God who wanted only the best for her.   The Levites were those called to carry out the work of judgment in order that divine government would be maintained, and that God would be known as a God of justice. The men from all the tribes had lived together as family for a long time. They had suffered together and come out of Egypt together in a great victory. The Levites knew that they must obey Go...