MIME-Version: 1.0 Date: Tue, 14 May 1996 08:32:27 +-200 Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel From: Teus Benschop Subject: ChrExp, The Scriptures opened, 83 To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP Status: U Contents ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Judges 5:8 - Other gods lead to war 2. Acts 1:6-9 - Christ's ascension 3. 2 Timothy 2:3 - The good soldier of Jesus Christ 1. Judges 5:8 - Other gods lead to war ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Judges 5:8 He chose new gods; then was war in the gates. Deborah sings the song, whereof our text is a part. She says: "He chose new gods; then was war in the gates." First attend unto the word "he". He, that is Israel; Israel chose new gods. Not only a few chose other gods, but nearly the whole country. By mutual consent, and with the agreement of great parts of the people, they decided to chose new gods. When a whole nation is rejecting God, but a few, the remnant, remains faithful. The greater part of that nation agrees on the rejection of their own God, and chooses new ones. When then the greater part of our nation acts wickedly, let we go on in the worship of the true God. When multitudes fall away, let we stand fast in the power of God. When our whole family chooses new gods, let us, with the help of God, remain faithful. "He", that is the entire nation of Israel, "chose new gods; then was war in the gates." "He chose new gods". Striking is the word used. He "chose" new gods. As if they had to choose! They acted as if they were at liberty to choose new gods. Was the choice theirs? Were they at liberty, on own authority, to reject the LORD, and choose new gods? Hadn't the LORD saved them? Did not God lead them out of Egypt? Hasn't He given them the land of Canaan? They thought that they were at liberty to choose, but actually, the choice was already made. God had chosen them, and their father has promised that they would continue serving Him. The choice was not theirs, but the choice was already made. The LORD was their God, and none else. They CHOSE new gods! How ungrateful to reject the living God, and chose dead ones. How proud to arrogate to themselves the free choice of other gods. Let's learn from this to not do the same. We have one God, and let we therefore not choose other ones. But some pretend to serve God, and yet they do nothing for Him. With their mouth they confess the LORD, but with their works they do as if they know Him not. This, of course, is the same as if they had rejected Him and chosen new ones. "He chose new gods; then was war in the gates". Why did they chose NEW gods? Was their old God no longer in use? Hadn't the LORD given them all what they needed? Did He not send down the rain from heaven to make the land fruitful? Did He not send down the Spirit from heaven, to make their hearts and their hands fruitful? Why then did they chose new gods? Whence was this change? Were they tired of the God of heaven and earth? The cause is that they no longer believed in the LORD, or that they no longer did love Him. Their hearts were gone after other gods, and were alienated from the one and true God. They were led astray by the many idols surrounding them. That is the danger when you forsake the true God. Then your hearts and your eyes are beginning to be opened for strange and new gods. At the same moment, your eyes and your hearts begin to be closed for the LORD of heaven. Thus the choice is made. "He chose new gods; then was war in the gates." What was the result of choosing new gods? War! For, he chose new gods, then was WAR in the gates. They had already proclaimed war with the LORD, and therefore He sent their enemies, who might war with Israel. Warring with God resulted in warring with the nations. When we serve God, and walk humbly after Him, He subdues our enemies, that they not begin to war with us. When we love God, and obey His voice, we will live in peace. Even during wars, we will be safe. It may be that some will kill the body, but yet, our souls are in God's hand, and are always preserved. But when we chose new gods, then the LORD will send enemies to fight against us. "He chose new gods; then was war in the gates." Note the place of the war God has sent. It is "in the gates". Note how far the enemy already has come. He nearly is in the city. He is fighting already in the gates, so they have already destroyed the doors of the gates. Yet a little time, and the city will be burnt down. The inhabitants will be killed and persecuted, and sold as slaves. And why? Because they had chosen new gods, and had forsaken the God of their fathers. We see what is the result of choosing strange and new gods. Let us learn from this. In the time of the Judges, the Israelites repeatedly chose new gods, and God repeatedly sent war in their gates. It repeatedly happened, and it seems me they never learnt from it. But let us learn from their example. Are you choosing or serving other gods? Be assured that the war will be terrible. Let's then serve God, and have peace. Let's pray Him that He may send, instead of war in our gates, His Spirit in our hearts. The war in our gates destroys all and everything, but the Spirit in our hearts will renew us, and make us obedient, lovers of God, deniers of self. That Spirit will adorn us with all spiritual decorations, which will make us acceptable in God's sight. Choose then: 1) New gods? Then you get wars. 2) The God of heaven and earth? Then you get His Spirit. But as for me and my house, we shall serve the LORD. 2. Acts 1:6-9 - Christ's ascension ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. "Lord", asked the disciples, "wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" They still were in the wrong opinion that Jesus had come to restore the earthly kingdom of David again to Israel. But they greatly erred. Jesus not long ago had said: "My kingdom is not of this world", Joh 18:36. Therefore it was a carnal question of the disciples. They still thought of honour, and worldly brilliance, and of a kingdom, and of they being the first in the kingdom. But Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." Joh 18:36. Lord, will Thou restore the kingdom again? "And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His Own power". We cannot look in the book of future. These things are in the Father's power, and are hidden for us. Instead of trying to search in the hidden counsel of God, let us be content with the present things. So it is with us, and so it was for the disciples. Instead of giving the disciples explanation of the future, the Lord Jesus did something totally different. He gave them an order. What order did He give them? He commanded them to preach the gospel in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you". So, they should receive power, to preach the Gospel. In the power of the Spirit, they should be witnesses unto Jesus. Not in own power should they witness, but in the power of the Spirit, after He is come upon them. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." We see that without God's help, none can preach. It is true what Paul writes to the Romans: "And how shall they preach, except they be sent?" Rom 10:15. How shall they preach, except they be send by God? How shall they preach, except they have received the power of the Spirit, and go in God's strength? And when Jesus had given orders, He was taken up to heaven. "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." Our Lord is taken up in heaven. There He is now, and rules His church on earth. The church of God is persecuted and fights its war on earth. But our Lord is in heaven, and preserves those that are of Him. So then, after the Lord had spoken unto His disciples, He was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. While He blessed His disciples, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. When Stephen was stoned, He saw Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father, in heaven. From there our Lord will come back to judge the quick and the dead. Then comes the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He has put all enemies under His feet. 3. 2 Timothy 2:3 - The good soldier of Jesus Christ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The soldiers of Christ, at least the good ones, are not at rest. They have a great struggle. They fight with evil. They endure hardness. They are not greater or more then their Master, Jesus Christ. Like Christ endured all kinds of affliction, also His soldiers do the same. Christ suffered much; so His soldiers will endure the same. To preach the gospel to all nations, the soldiers of Christ endure all things. For the elect's sakes, they endure all. To bring God's elect to the light of the truth, the soldiers of Christ go out, and bring the Word of truth to every place where Christ sends them. Paul wrote "I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." 2 Tim 2:10. Also, every false shame should be put off by the soldiers of Christ. Do not shame yourselves for the truth of the testimony of the Lord. Instead of being ashamed, be you partaker of the afflictions of the gospel. Go out in the power of God. Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Christ. When Paul was on mission, he endured persecutions and afflictions. But out of them all the Lord delivered Him. It may be that the ministers of God come in great dangers, but out of them all God will deliver them. In the case the preaching of the gospel costs them their lives, them a better part is laid up for them in heaven. The good soldiers of Christ will endure all kinds of hardness. But let they look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of their faith. He is their Example. Do they endure some affliction? Christ did the same. Are they in troubles? Christ also. Are they persecuted unto death? Christ experienced the same. Let we then look to Jesus, and learn from what He did. For the joy that was set before Him, He even endured the cross, and presently is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. When you, as a good soldier of Christ, will do the same, then also you will be set in heaven, in the presence of your Master. Consider then Jesus, while you are in difficulties, and while you are persecuted for the sake of your faith. Consider your Master, Jesus, who endured much more. Having Him as an example, and seeing the outcome, you may gather strength. Consider Him, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- chr-exp@nic.surfnet.nl "A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel" Institute Practical Bible-education http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/ipbe-home.html Written by Teus Benschop -- t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl ---------------------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/so: s-open-083.txt .