Destructive Peace

This morning I was struck by a verse in Daniel concerning the future anti-christ who will deceive many by a means which seems counter-intuitive.  And this is the grave deception, that peace and widespread prosperity is a Trojan horse of destruction.  Daniel 8:25 says, “And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.”  This passage reminded me the peace offered by the world leads to destruction, and it is nothing like the peace Jesus gives.

When the children of Dan sought to expand their lands by conquering territory, they took note of the people of Laish.  Their manner of living was quiet and secure, for peace caused them to be complacent, soft target.  They did not have any fortifications or defences because they sensed no scheme or attack.  Judges 18:27 said the men of Dan consequently “…went to Laish, to a people quiet and secure; and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.”  This is a good example of how peace and absence of obvious threats works to the ruin of nations and people.

Jesus spoke of a rich man whose fields produced bountifully—more than he could store in his barns.  He thought to himself, “I know what I will do!  I will tear down my barns, build bigger ones, and be set for life.  I can take my ease and retire in luxury.”  Luke 12:20-21 tells us the response of God from the man who believed he had security in his wealth:  “But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."  A peaceful, prosperous season led to confidence in earthly riches and was more of a curse than a blessing.

In John 14:27 Jesus told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  In addition to promising to send the Holy Spirit to comfort and help, He acknowledged His followers would be hated and persecuted.  God’s people would be put out of synagogues and even killed for their faithfulness to Jesus Christ and the Word of God.  They weren’t to be unsettled or dismayed by this certain conflict, for the Prince of Peace (and princes) Jesus has given us peace free from trouble and fear.  It is peace tried in the furnace of affliction and trial which refines us and our faith as gold.  Enduring peace is the fruit of the Holy Spirit who lives in us because we abide in Jesus Christ who is our life.

The peace the world gives leads to destruction, but the peace Jesus gives destroys all fear and provides rest for the weary in all seasons of life.

Sacrifices of Our Lips

“O Israel, return to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; 2 take words with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.”

Hosea 14:1-2

I have been reading through the book of Hosea in preparation to teach it.  It is full of hard sayings because it was spoken to people hard of heart.  Because they refused to repent of their sin, severe judgment was coming from God.  God is longsuffering and patient, but the sin of Israel demanded a response of the righteous Judge of all the earth.

Israel was completely lost without hope because they forsook the LORD and went after idols.  They looked for aid from other nations who could not heal or help them.  At the same time there was hope for bent and backsliding Israel—if they would return to God and repent.  The prophet urged the people to return to the LORD their God and ask for His forgiveness.  They had sinned, but there was forgiveness and acceptance by God’s grace.

The King James Version contains an allusion to repentance from idolatry in verse 2:  “Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.”  King Jeroboam caused Israel to sin when he set up calves in Bethel and Dan.  Hosea 13:2 describes the practice in Israel when offering sacrifices to “kiss the calves.”  Instead of using their lips to kiss idols, they were urged to offer sacrifices of their lips in confessing and acknowledging their sin and to ask for forgiveness in repentance.

Confession of sin and repentance before our holy God is always in season for sinners.  Praising God when we are in unrepentant sin is abominable before God, yet confession and repentance from a contrite heart is sweet music to His ears.  We know God is gracious, but let us ask Him to receive us graciously.  Let us never approach God with a sense of entitlement because of our service or sacrifice:  should God receive us it is all of grace.  Praise God He receives and rejoices in the sacrifices of our lips.

The Most High Rules

God is willing to go to great lengths to reveal wisdom to us personally.  We are naturally senseless concerning God's wisdom, and we think all we need is for Him to say the word and it will make sense and be agreeable to us.  The fact we assume this to be true shows how blind we can be.  How many times have we been told the truth and pushed back against it because we could?  When there was nothing at stake but our pride we have resisted plain facts because we hate being wrong.

The life of King Nebuchadnezzar provides a useful example of how God is gracious and willing to go to great pains to instruct us.  Ironically Nebuchadnezzar was deprived of his sanity for 7 years, becoming in his mind as senseless as a wild beast, incapable of speech or understanding.  God warned the king of Babylon concerning his future in a troubling dream, and God also provided Daniel to interpret it for him.  God's purposes in removing the king from his throne for 7 years was also explained:  so the king would learn God rules over all and gives authority to whom He will.  It seemed Daniel saw the fulfilment of the dream as inevitable, but exhorted Nebuchadnezzar to put off his sins, walk righteously, and be merciful to the poor so a period of tranquillity would be prolonged.

A year after this divine revelation, the warning God gave was far from Nebuchadnezzar's mind as he proudly looked upon wealth and splendour of his kingdom.  Daniel 4:30-32 states, "The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honour of my majesty?" ³¹ While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! ³² And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."  Nebuchadnezzar had been judged by words from his own mouth, and God spoke words of judgment.  For 7 years the proud king would be humbled without human dignity, yet this long season of ignorance would lead to understanding which would save his soul.

When God graciously restored King Nebuchadnezzar to the throne after 7 years, no longer do we read of him boasting in himself but praising and glorifying God.  Looking at the good results of God's patient (and to us unorthodox) plans, what fault can be found in the wonders God does?  We hope for change to occur quickly and painlessly as possible, but that is the self-confident part of us which resists all change.  Because God loves us He corrects us, and though a refining season be long and distasteful God is a Redeemer and His purposes will be accomplished.  We think we can positively change in a moment or in days, but considering examples from scripture we can affirm years and decades are often employed to this end.  This proves how patient and longsuffering God is with us.  Instead of wiping us from the earth in His displeasure, He slowly and surely sanctifies.

Swift to Listen

"He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him."

Proverbs 18:13

"Think before you speak," my dad used to say.  "You have two ears but only one mouth so you should listen twice as much as you speak."  There is great practical wisdom in these sayings.  Solomon warned his son of the folly of answering a matter before he hears it.  When people came before King Solomon for judgment, he needed to listen to both sides and also consult God's Word before a decision could be made.  We are satisfied to have knowledge and to share it, but if we answer without first listening it is folly and shame to us.

Jesus provides a great example for us in His first public interaction with the scribes and Pharisees.  After Joseph and Mary left Jerusalem assuming He was with them, Jesus at 12 years of age remained in the Temple and conversed with the greatest elders and scholars in the land.  Luke 2:46-47 reads, "Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers."  Jesus is a unique case because He not only was the author of the Law but also knew perfectly the hearts and thoughts of men.  Though armed with such knowledge Jesus listened first and then asked questions.  I can be guilty of thinking I know where people are coming from before I bother to ask.

In the ancient tradition Jesus assumed the position of a teacher because He sat down.  He was surrounded by doctors, lawyers, and scribes who were astonished at His understanding and answers.  Instead of lecturing or trotting out arguments before those who gathered, Jesus listened.  How instructive Christ's wisdom in listening first is for us!  Questions and statements posed were met with questions from Jesus which revealed a depth of understanding which amazed those who stood around.  When we are asked a question, let us be mindful to ask questions before we rush to an answer.  We can answer a question correctly but miss the point of why the question was asked in the first place, aiming for heads and not hearts.

Better than providing our answer to a question, let us ask ourselves:  how and what has God spoken on the matter?  Are there biblical examples to consider?  The fool does not consider God in his thoughts, and for children of God to ignore what He has spoken is frankly shameful.  James 1:19-20 puts it like this:  "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; ²⁰ for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."  Too often we mix up the order entirely and are quick to wrath, thus rush to speak, and do not listen at all.  Praise the LORD He leads us in wisdom and provides additional opportunities to obey Him in the future.