[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (OVU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
[8:22
pm, 01/02/2022] S.R: πππππ π:π
"Because
of this I must lament and wail, I must go barefoot and naked; I must make a
lament like the jackals And a mourning like the ostriches."
Like
Micah, I do need to lament and weep before the Lord for the ignorance of my
people!
πππππ π:π
"Is
it being said, O house of Jacob: 'Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient? Are
these His doings?' Do not My words do good To the one walking uprightly?"
For
a genuine Christian, every instruction of God is sweet and profitable! Is it to
you and me? Hmm!
πππππ π:π
"Thus
says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; When they have
something to bite with their teeth, They cry, "Peace," But against
him who puts nothing in their mouths They declare holy war."
This
chapter is against civil and religious leaders. May I never be indicted for
this reason! These religious leaders went after greed and threat. They
proclaimed peace if they were given food. And they pronounced problems if they
weren't fed. My dad used to say the same thing regarding some evangelists in
our area that they would pray long and happily if the home they entered
prepared a meat curry, but they would be dull if it was a vegetable. π¬π
Church,
let's equally thank God when the church meal is pork or dal after the Worship
Service! π
πππππ π:π
"Many
nations will come and say, "Come and let us go up to the mountain of the
LORD And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways
And that we may walk in His paths." For from Zion will go forth the law,
Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."
In
one of the groups, I am reading the book of Isaiah. And chapter 2 has this
prophecy as well!
Let
me just copy-paste what I posted there:
ππ€ππππ π:π
"And
many peoples ππππ βπ ππ πΈππ πππͺ, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the
LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; π₯πππ₯ ππ πππͺ π₯ππππ π¦π€ ππ ππππ£ππππ πππ€ π¨ππͺπ€ πππ π₯πππ₯ π¨π πππͺ π¨πππ ππ πππ€ π‘ππ₯ππ€." For the law will go forth from Zion And the
word of the LORD from Jerusalem."
Notice
the tense. It's future tense. This is what should happen and will surely
happen!
Now,
look at what they are doing! They love to go temple. They are inviting people.
[And how many of us show up to church with friends gladly? Hmm!]
Look
at their intention: They go to the
temple to be taught and to obey exactly! [Many professing Christians don't want
to be taught. Even when they are taught, they don't learn anything, they don't
obey anything nor remember anything! π¬]
Takeaway:
Church is not for entertainment, nor for emotional satisfaction, or to meet
friends primarily. It's to know the ways of God and walk/obey them!
[1:01
pm, 28/07/2022] S.R: πππππ π:ππ
"But
they do not know the thoughts of the LORD, And they do not understand His
purpose; For He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor."
Let
the people of God be calm and continue to live righteously without desiring the
ways of the world. The Lord does care about His glory and He shall vindicate it
someday for everlasting!
πππππ π:π
"But
as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are
from long ago, From the days of eternity."
This
is concerning Christ, but God often raises man of God from an unlikely place.
May He raise up among us too! π
πππππ π:ππ-ππ
"You
will eat, but you will not be satisfied, And your vileness will be in your
midst. You will try to remove for safekeeping, But you will not preserve
anything, And what you do preserve I will give to the sword. You will sow but
you will not reap. You will tread the olive but will not anoint yourself with
oil; And the grapes, but you will not drink wine."
Ever
experienced something like this? Then, time to return to godliness and
righteousness!
πππππ π:π
"Do
not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in
darkness, the LORD is a light for me."
This
is a wonderful chapter. Even our Lord Jesus quoted this chapter in
commissioning His disciples. Not only the greatness of God but also the
goodness of God is seen in this verse and this chapter. Maybe I should preach a
sermon from this chapter one of these days!