The Blessing of Blessing

I was reminded this morning of God's word to King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah in 2 Chronicles 20:17:  "You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."  When we are in physical danger, realise we are powerless, and don't know what to do, our natural tendency is not to stand still.  Fear causes our minds to go in hundreds of directions, worries and cares plague us, and we forget the almighty God is with us.  In his distress King Jehoshaphat prayed to the LORD, and God responded with clarity and calm.  This most tumultuous time during the reign was to provide a great blessing.

King Jehoshaphat and the people rejoiced at the promise from God, though powerful enemies camped outside the city.  Their position was one of praise and thanksgiving, as 2 Chronicles 20:18-19 relates:  "And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. ¹⁹ Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high."  I wonder if the enemies of Israel could hear the voices and songs of praise rising from inside the walls of Jerusalem, from people who were outgunned and helpless?  They were not without hope because they trusted in God.

The next day God fought for His people according to His promise as wrought a miraculous victory.  The text says the people of Judah spent three whole days gathering the spoil from the slain because it was so abundant.  The point emphasised to me during my Bible reading this morning is found in 2 Chronicles 20:26:  "And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day."  The people went to the place where God fought for and saved His people, the valley where their enemies were slain, and where they spoiled those who came against them.  We might imagine the people called the place the Valley of Berachah because of the blessings God provided them, but that is not why:  the text states they called it the Valley of Berachah (blessing) because that is where they blessed the LORD.

Have you considered what a wondrous blessing it is to bless the LORD?  These were people who were only a day from death, yet God was with them and saved them with a mighty hand.  They were divinely enabled to stand where their enemies gathered against them and bless the LORD because He lives and spared their lives.  The destruction of enemies, wealth gained by spoil, and the prolonging of life were all temporary, but the blessing of the eternal God is forever.  What joy it brought to the hearts of God's people!  What fear came upon the neighbouring nations when they heard God fought for Israel!  What peace the people enjoyed in the land because God was with them.  David wrote in Psalm 34:1-2, "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. ² My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad."

Everyone wants a blessing, right?  We all desire good things from God.  What do you know of the blessing of blessing God, of praise, worship, and bold proclamation of His greatness?  Many enemies will come against us, and even some from within the city walls.  But through faith in God as our eyes are fixed upon Him, the battlefield can become a place of blessing because God saves and gives eternal life to those who bless His holy name.  Let's praise God for the blessing of blessing:  because He lives, we will live to praise and rejoice in Him.

Chalk and Cheese

"The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD. ²⁹ "Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?"

Jeremiah 23:28-29

There's a saying used in Australia to contrast two very different things:  "That's different as chalk and cheese!"  At a distance one might say they look similar, but a closer inspection reveals they are nothing alike.  Chalk is a form of limestone from the calcified remains of shells or algae.  Chalk has many practical uses, but is far from cheese which is edible and delicious.  They feel different when scratched with a fingernail.  The composition of chalk and cheese is a stark contrast.  If a simpleton wasn't sure which one was chalk or cheese, a simple bite test would quickly put an end to all doubt.

God revealed to the prophet Jeremiah the dreams of prophets with their fanciful interpretations and His word were as different as chalk and cheese, chaff to the wheat.  Chaff is the worthless husk threshed from the kernel which contains all the nutrients of grain.  After grain was harvested and threshed, tossing it in the breeze carried away the chaff and all that remained was wholesome food.  In Jeremiah's day there were a lot of people quite infatuated with sharing their dreams with others, claiming to have a "word" from the LORD.  It seems a majority of the time these supposed divine messages appealed to the desires of people and were contrary to God's revealed truth.  The people preferred a diet of chaff over the spiritual nutrition of God's word, but God told all who had His Word to keep speaking it faithfully regardless.  No matter how much chaff was blowing around, God's Word remained good and healthy.

God compared His Word to a fire no chaff could withstand:  in seconds a great amount of chaff would be turned to ash and blown away.  God had pronounced judgment on Jerusalem, and no amount of dreaming or interpretations would change the facts.  In due time the truth of what Jeremiah spoke would be made plain, though it was nearly rejected by all who heard it.  God said His Word was like a hammer which breaks the rock in pieces.  A hard rock can be broken by a well-directed stroke from a hammer, and God's Word is spiritual truth which shatters deceit and lies.  The rock has no means of defence as it rests in position held fast by gravity and dirt.  God's Word is active and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword which pierces hearts and reveals motives (Heb. 4:12).

If as person started a diet which consisted solely of chaff, they might be very pleased with the initial weight loss.  But before too long fatigue would set in, gnawing hunger, and unless nutritious food was eaten the body would waste away until death.  At the onset a new diet of dreams, visions, and interpretations today may be interesting and initially seem to be garnering the desired results, but like fad diets there can be a dangerous downside.  Metabolife was the rage in the States in the 90's until it was discovered the ephedra-based supplement was causing illness and many deaths.  Even as it is important to discern what is in the supplements or food we ingest, it is critical we never depart from the wholesome and powerful Word of God to sustain and guide us.  Chaff shouldn't be on the menu.  With wisdom granted by the Holy Spirit, we can know God and His Word.

God had strong words for prophets who stole His words to use as a springboard for their opinions in Jeremiah 23:30-32:  "Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal My words every one from his neighbour. ³¹ Behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who use their tongues and say, 'He says.' ³² Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," says the LORD, "and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all," says the LORD."  There were self-proclaimed prophets in Jeremiah's day, and there are many today as well who exhibit lies and recklessness in the handling of God's Word.  Their chaff can be eaten but men will not prosper thereby:  it is God's Word which leads a person to Christ and establishes us in the true faith.  Man's word and God's Word are more different than chalk and cheese.

Jesus is the Man (and infinitely more!)

I have seen the fruit of repeated failures turn out to be sweet success.  Many times professional athletes and teams fall short before they win the big game.  Failure is no guarantee teams that earn a trip to the finals every year will win when the season hangs in the balance.  Every person on the planet plays for stakes far higher than million dollar contracts and grand final winning immortality:  will we live a life pleasing to God?  If our souls are weighed in the balances by the almighty God and Judge of all the earth, will they be found wanting?

The awesome thing about the walk of faith in Jesus Christ is the redemptive value He brings to even our failures.  He perceives flaws in us we cannot see and works wonderfully to bring us to a place of recognition and repentance.  I was reminded recently how I went for an interview (and subsequently was told I was the front-runner) but quick out of the gate didn't mean finishing first.  It was a painful blow to learn the senior pastor position and visa I desired was offered to another despite my best efforts.  Looking back I can see with clarity I had begun to imagine myself suitable and capable for a work I could never accomplish.  The lesson didn't even look like a lesson at the time because of the sting.  But God brought it to a gracious and marvellous conclusion when months later the offer was made to me.  Having been humbled by the LORD, the final step of necessary preparation was done.

In the exuberance of my youth I remember saying to God, "I want to be a catalyst for you!"  His response was swift and clear:  "You're nothing but a hindrance to me."  And He was absolutely right and remains so.  In my flesh dwells no good thing, and if there is any quality fruit from my life it is His doing.  2 Corinthians 4:5-7 says, "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. ⁶ For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."  What a miracle that God would dwell within sinners He has made saints by grace through faith.  We cannot do the first of God's works to live in the way that pleases Him by our best efforts, but He sanctifies us as we follow Jesus.

I was in darkness - I was darkness (Ephesians 5:8) - but inside me the Light of the World shines.  One could say failure has led to some of my greatest successes, but the reality is not one "success" is mine:  every victory belongs to Jesus Christ my LORD and Saviour.  Even if I never was offered the job, it still would have been a lesson learned greater than money could buy because I was made more fit for the Master's use.  At times I have been deceived to think I was "the man," but Jesus is and will ever be.

Unexpected Love

Years ago when I worked at a church in the States as I unlocked the front door of the building I was accosted by a man who demanded money:  "Hey, give me five bucks."  When I declined, his demeanour became more aggressive and said something like, "This is a church, man!  And you say you love and care about people?"  Apparently I wasn't the soft target he was expecting, and I was not about to cave to a guilt trip because I didn't respond how he wanted.  In fact, it was because I cared about him I was not going to give him money to enable his addictions or embolden him to panhandle at our premises.  Love doesn't always look like we think it should.

Recently I read about when Jesus received word his beloved friend Lazarus was sick.  His  condition was dire enough to prompt his sisters to urgently send word to Jesus so He might come and heal him.  John 11:4-6 says, "When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." ⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was."  Now this was unexpected!  The penman John stressed Jesus loved not only Lazarus but his sisters Mary and Martha too because the actions of Jesus were not what we might expect from someone who cared.  We might think one could safely assume if Jesus really loved Lazarus He would drop everything to be by His side.  But God's love is revealed in unexpected ways, by waiting when we believe urgency is required, by seemingly ignoring the plight of His close friend as he lay dying.

God's love is manifested more by meeting deepest needs than in doing what we think He should.  By allowing Lazarus to die Jesus would bring many more to eternal salvation by the revelation of His deity through miraculously resurrecting he who was dead and buried four days!  I expect if you had spoken to Mary before Lazarus was raised from the dead she genuinely wondered if Jesus loved them or not.  When she heard he was coming to town, she didn't even bother to go out and greet Him so great was her grief.  After she met with Jesus His love was unexpectedly shown when he wept at the tomb of his friend.  We might have expected Jesus to be cavalier or smug knowing in minutes Lazarus at His word would emerge from the tomb wrapped in grave clothes in the presence of many witnesses.  Again, the scope of God's love reaches beyond our assumptions or expectations.

John 11:45 proves the eternal fruitfulness of Christ's love and power:  "Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him."  Had Jesus done what Martha and Mary hoped, Lazarus would have been healed and out of danger of death.  They would have confirmed in their minds Jesus is indeed a handy fellow to have around in times of trouble, a personal super-medic to call on when a family member or friend was ill - not the Resurrection and the Life!  Jesus demonstrated His love by tarrying, and He tarries today at times as well.  His tarrying may not be for a couple days but for weeks, months, and years so "the Son of God may be glorified through it."  He knows exactly what He will do and accomplish through times when we wonder if God is hearing our cries or not.  "That's fine for you to say when you aren't the one hurting or having to wait," you might say.  Fair enough, but consider how Jesus demonstrated His love by dying on the cross for the sins of wicked men:  no disciple of Jesus saw that coming, but we all rejoice in it.  He was willing to suffer pain and grief for us, and we should marvel at the fruitfulness of His sacrifice and the benefits we have received.

May the reality of God's great love towards us be established in our hearts and minds by faith regardless of our circumstances, choosing to trust and look to Jesus.  His everlasting love is infinitely greater than our thoughts, assumptions, or imagination.  His love may be unexpected but it is good and never fails.