Psalm 83/Israel/Blessings and Curses

I've said it before, the Bible was written for our knowledge. What has happened in the past will happen again in the future. It is for us to learn from. I praise God for that. I praise God for Israel. I praise God for the Lord Jesus Christ. I praise God for wisdom and understanding.

No doubt you are hearing about the attacks taking place in Israel. Maybe it means nothing because it's overseas and not affecting your life. But don't be fooled. It will affect all our lives because God is involved. It's all about Him; it's all about turning our backs on Him. Psalm 83 describes the lament of the people of Israel. They feared invasion by their enemies. But as we see at the end, they call on God, who is always in control, for Him to destroy their enemies.

        1Do not keep silent, O God! 
        Do not hold Your peace, 
        And do not be still, O God! 
        2For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; 
        And those who hate You have lifted up their head. 
        3They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, 
        And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 
        4They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being 
         a nation, 
        That the name of Israel may be remembered no more." 
        5For they have consulted together with one consent; 
        They form a confederacy against You: 
        6The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; 
        Moab and the Hagrites; 
        7Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; 
        Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 
        8Assyria also has joined with them; 
        They have helped the children of Lot. Selah 
        9Deal with them as with Midian, as with Sisera, 
        As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon, 
        10Who perished at En Dor, 
        Who became as refuse on the earth. 
        11Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb, 
        Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, 
        12Who said, "Let us take for ourselves 
        The pastures of God for a possession." 
        13O my God, make them like the whirling dust, 
        Like the chaff before the wind! 
        14As the fire burns the woods, 
        And as the flame sets the mountains on fire, 
        15So pursue them with Your tempest, 
        And frighten them with Your storm. 
        16Fill their faces with shame, 
        That they may seek Your name, O LORD. 
        17Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; 
        Yes, let them be put to shame and perish, 
        18That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD, 
        Are the Most High over all the earth.

The enemies in the psalm you may never have heard of. But you will recognize who they are today:

Edom - Palestine

Ishmaelites - Saudi Arabia

Moab - Palestine

Hagrites - Egyptians

Gebal - Hezbollah, No. Lebanese

Ammon - Palestine

Amalek - Arabs of Sinai

Philistia - Hamas, Gaza strip

Tyre - Hezbollah, So. Lebanese

Assyria - Syria, No. Iraq

Are you amazed at the past and the present in God's Word? It is said that her enemies will strike from the north, south, east and west. Make no mistake, however, in thinking God's people will be eliminated...or that anyone can come against God...or that the land of Israel will be conquered. Do not be fooled if you think that what happens in Israel will not affect the world. With a biblical understanding it is very clear, we are in what the Bible calls the last days. We can clearly see it if we open our eyes…and ears. People can try as they might to eliminate the very name of God and we might very well be persecuted for standing for Him, but in the end, God and His people around the world will be victorious against today's enemy.

Genesis 12:3 is a phrase we hear often: "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you..." God has allowed the tiny nation of Israel and the people of that land to be survivors. Don't you think her enemies throughout her existence would have been able to utterly destroy her by now if God had not had His hand on her? Read in scripture how she has time and time again been delivered out of the enemies' hands by none other than God Himself.

It would be to our advantage to stand behind Israel. Even if our country cuts ties with her, there are those God will continue to protect…those who stand behind Israel and her people…those who understand the connection between Israel and the world…through Jesus Christ.

I might add it is always our obligation to pray for our enemies. You never know who might turn their heart over to God and be saved in the process! It's sometimes hard to want to do this, but...

Matthew 5:44-45 - But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

An Example

Jeremiah 17:5,7 -Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD."

       

Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet. He had a very big heart for Israel and could see the destruction they were headed for. They had turned their backs on God. They worshiped wooded idols which could not hear their prayers. Their hearts had hardened to the things of God. When we abandon God we lose proper guidance. Without that guidance, one seeks their own way.

Like God wanting His people Israel to return to Him, Jesus wants us, another form of wandering Israel, to seek Him. He had a big heart for people. He knew the destruction people were headed for. His heart so broke out of love for us all that He chose to die for us. He wanted then as He wants now, to be the Shepherd to the lost sheep. He set an example. 

We are like Israel when we seek our own ways in life: whatever makes me happy, whatever satisfies me. Me, me, me...not God. As difficult as it may be to hear, these are the people who God refers to as wicked people. He spits them out because they are distasteful. They do not take seriously the things of God. The LORD spoke to Jeremiah and He told him He will give man what he deserves, according to what he believes is right. 

If a person desires God, desires Jesus, and desires what He has to give, He will bless him. God does search hearts. Don't think He doesn't know whose hearts are focused on Him and on what He says. He also knows which people believe in their hearts that what the Bible says was for some ancient civilization, for that land and people called Israel, but today's culture is different...and who or what is Israel today anyway? 

Jesus came to be our example. He lived, He died and He rose again, a popular worship song states. It goes on to say, Hallelujah, for all He's done. As our example He taught the choices we make are important, as difficult as some might be. He taught how we need to give up some of the things in our lives that we so dearly cling to. He is to be our all in all. I believe He blesses us more when we give up what we think we need in this world.

He also showed us by example how we are to be set apart. He was not so well liked by those who knew Him growing up. His claims of being the Savior of the world was a hard word to swallow, even for His family. Mark 3:21 - But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”  There is division among families today for this very reason. There are scoffers.

The religious leaders were threatened by His claims and His different views. If He was who He said He was, He needed to be taken out! And so the people, all people, did just that. Hebrew priests and Roman authorities, Jews and Gentiles...people in general. Who was this Man? How could He make such claims? Even today there is division among churches because of doctrinal differences.

He set an example. He may have been crucified. He may have died but He rose again. What is that example for us? It's that phrase that Jesus used...Jesus...about being born again. This is one of those doctrines that sets churches apart. It separates by placing relationship (in Jesus Himself) over religion (man made rules). It's an issue among family and friends. But...it's an example Jesus set. It's what caused some people to scoff and others to want to kill Him. 

He is the example. He died so we might live. But in order to live we have to receive Him...by faith. And what is faith? That which cannot be seen...not our works...but what we believe in our hearts...not religion but relationship...with our Example.

It's believing what He tells us in His Word. If He tells us we must be born again, we must be born again. And if He describes what that is, it's what we must do. We cannot pick and choose what we want to believe from what He says.

He wants us to be blessed, not cursed. We cannot trust in the things of this world; we cannot live apart from God, which is living in our own way, doing only what we want to. We will have to give up some of our own things, our own ways, to follow Him. It's not about being like the others, keeping up with the Jones', but it's about separating ourselves, not always fitting in with the others. 

Jesus set Himself apart and He taught His disciples to do the same. We can't call ourselves Christians and not adhere to His beliefs and examples. Either we believe what He tells us or we believe what man tells us. Do we believe this as Jeremiah did:

Jeremiah 15:16-17 - Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand, for You have filled me with indignation.

"They Divided My Land"

Joel 1:2 - I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land. 

It's all over the news. Talks between President Obama and Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu over the boundaries of Israel and Palestine have come to a not-so-surprising disagreement. Half of historic Jerusalem is within this plan to divide and the threat to Israel's security is at stake. What the reason is supposed to be is peace but I'm certain it's misunderstanding, ignorance of, or unbelief in, some of the things the Bible tells us. But, oh, maybe it's because some would side with others who would like to see Israel wiped off the face of the earth. I guess the Jewish people are expendable. NOT.

Israel was covenanted with Abraham so many years ago, according to Genesis 15:18, On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates..." Remember, God does not lie, He does not change, so this covenant will stand no matter what might appear to be happening. Adding to this, God tells us He will bless those who bless him (Abraham/Israel) and curse those who curse him. This stands for individuals and countries. Up until the past ten years or so the United States has been a supporter of Israel. They have been our ally. Though we see this change take place, and although many don't want to see this happen, it's still part of God's will, as difficult as this may seem.

So, the annihilation of Israel ain't gonna happen, no matter how things look or what appears to be happening. Why? Because God won't allow it. Remember, He's in control, Israel IS His people; it's His land that He promised to Abraham. Psalm 105:8 - He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations...  A thousand generations? That's about 70,000 years...at least. Out of the destruction a remnant will remain.

The blessings and curses are for all who oppose Israel. Anyone who does not hold God in high esteem nor understands this would be very fine with dividing the land of Israel. Anyone who calls themselves a true Christian must understand that our roots are steeped in Judaism. We cannot say that the Church replaces Israel, nor that Christianity replaces Judaism. It's not about religion but about a relationship with Jesus. He is God. We turn our backs on the Jewish people and Israel, we turn our backs on God. We are either blessed or cursed. 

When you have received the truth (when you've received Jesus Christ) it's sometimes hard. The truth is, we have Judeo-Christian roots. Ignorance is not always bliss when it comes to our salvation and our obedience to an Almighty God. Our roots cannot be disputed. Therefore, we should respect and support the nation of Israel because they we are showing respect for God.

This land was promised to Abraham in Genesis 15:7-21. You can read about all the promises to Abraham in this chapter. The land they talked about back then might be hard to identify given what the areas were called at the time, but there are current-day descriptions that can show exactly where these boundaries originally were. Let me add that if God sets rules or boundaries, He abides by them. They are changed today because man changed them...and want them changed. He never changes...His character won't change, His mind won't change, His plan won't change...including blessings and curses.

There is yet another land. God has promised eternal life in the Promised Land to all who seek and receive Him. But that doesn't mean just because we know who Jesus is or we believe that God exists that we will get there. We don't want to miss the opportunity to live in this Promised Land.

Yes, God is going to allow a time when it appears Israel will be nearly be lost as a nation. It means we are closing in on last day events. Israel will not be completely wiped off the map as a people. It will bring about an awakening. It is God Himself who will save His people, according to Zechariah 10:6 -"I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them." God will raise up a remnant of His people at that time.

There is more to happen. This is just the beginning, yet it's revealing the end. Part of God's end time plan is many nations coming against Israel. (Why do we want to be part of that, I ask?) It must happen, however, that His people would be saved by Jesus alone when He comes in that day to save them. There's more on this but it gets complicated. We'll see how things continue...

For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.

(Zechariah 14:2, 12:3)

Cost of Obedience

Deuteronomy 28:1-2 - "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God..." 

In our Hebrews Bible study we have learned, although it's nothing new, that God is a God of covenant. A covenant is an oath. And since God is the one who covenanted with us, and since God does not lie, this oath and covenant to us from God, is sure. 

There is a catch, though. He has promised us great things...if we follow after Him, obey His commands, live our lives as unto the Lord and not the world. When we choose to agree that the things of this world are not nearly as important than Him, we will be blessed and not cursed. Of course, the greatest promise we have is Jesus Christ. And as obedient followers we will be blessed.

I was surprised, and yet not, that as I read in Deuteronomy, God was telling Israel after their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, how if they kept His commands He would do the same, bless them.

Here are the blessings He promised Israel thousands of years ago, and which, if we follow Jesus Christ today, include us:

• Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. 
• Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 
• Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 
• Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. 
• The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 
• The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. 
• The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself...
• Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you. 
• The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 
• And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath...

The cost of obedience is blessing, blessing, blessing. We can apply these blessings to our own lives and that of our country. We have seen our country blessed for so many years. We have defeated our enemies, our land has had plentiful crops. We have had enough prosperity that we have been able to lend to others and we have not had to borrow. We have always been the nation others have looked up to.

Do I see a change? I wonder why this change is happening? Do you suppose it's because we, as a country, have been trying so hard to eliminate God in all that we do? Somewhere along the way a seed was planted. That seed, which could be deceit, has begun to grow and the seeds are being scattered into the hearts of people who do not know the God of this universe, only the gods of the world. We have chosen to take on the wrong form of pride, the wrong type of wealth, the bad attitude of it's all about me and my stuff.

Forget "mother nature" and global warming. I see 9/11 as an attack by our enemy. Who's to say God hasn't lifted His hand from our nation to let us fend for ourselves for awhile? Yes, the events taking place in the Middle East are and will have an effect on us. It's part of what I see as a worldwide curse. But our God is greater than anything that takes place in this world. Thankfully, for some, we are blessed spiritually in our knowledge of this great God...if we have chosen to follow Jesus Christ. The things of the world needn't cause us worry. We realize we don't need all the things of the world because we have the one great promise.

We need to bring God back into the picture. We must see a need in Him again. If we fail to do this, all the promises listed above will negate themselves. We will be cursed. That is the cost of disobedience.

When we are in relationship with Jesus, despite anything we might encounter in our lives, we have the assurance, the promise, that He brings to us. We will be blessed...always. The things we see happening in the world today might just be the blessings turning into curses until such time as the LORD our God brings us back from the captivity we have created in our self-centered, self-indulgent lifestyles. I think that might be when He returns again.

If we are truly in the last days as so many seem to believe (including myself), we may never see the blessings again in our nation. But that doesn't mean we can't be blessed in our own personal lives just by knowing and having relationship with the Kings of kings and the Lord of lords, Jesus Christ. I'll tell you, I'm very glad this is one Promise I have. 

If you don't look forward to the future or are anxious about it because you don't know what it will hold or you aren't so sure how you will be able to put up with any disaster we might see, you might want to look up to the One where your help could come. The only way you can successfully go through with what life dishes out is with the help of Jesus Christ who wants to be your Savior.

Even in the midst of tribulation you can rely on His strength and His provision. If you look to Him He will give you a real life worth living for and a real assurance, His covenant, His oath, that you will have eternal life.

Deuteronomy 30:3,5-6 - [And the LORD your God will] have compassion on you...He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. 

Words

James 3:5 - ...the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. 

I received a bitter reminder about words the other day. Not just words, but thoughts. The words we say either speak life or death. Ouch. Big ouch. I know one person who will agree that's a big ouch on my part! It's an area I need to work on.

There have been experiments done on words, either spoken or not, on the life of rice! I'm doing my own experiment to see if it works! Two jars of cooked rice were placed into a refrigerator. On one a note was written, as best as I can recall: I love you. Rice is nice. I hope you live a long time. The other jar contained the note stating: I hate you. Rice is awful. I hope you die. Well, you don't need to guess which one lasted the longest. And these words were not spoken but written. The nice rice lasted 81 days without mold where the other one was covered in disgusting black. 

Another experiment was done with water by Dr. Masaru Emoto. Depending upon the  word spoken, the water drop would take on a certain shape.  Some were ugly when unpleasant words were spoken. Other drops took on the shape of beautiful snowflakes. 

I don't doubt these experiments but it also brings up the point of words and not only what the words are but how they sound. I have to admit my words can be brittle. Not all the time, but enough. It's something I truly need to work on. And thoughts, the same thing. And let's not even get into gossip! Why are our words a troubling issue? Why do we do this?

I think it's pride. We try to bolster our own image to make ourselves look good, to boost our self-esteem. As I have pointed out on numerous occasions, there is no one who is good. God does not look at anyone as better than the next. We so easily get ourselves so puffed up. Admit it, we all do it. Even humility in some is false. Oh, there are some who truly are humble in the eyes of God. I'm sure, though, there must still be moments of pride. It's what we do when we notice it that is important.

James 3 has a whole study on the tongue. A very hard word. We cannot bridle our tongue, he tells us. If we were able to we would be perfect. But we are not perfect. Only Jesus was. But what are we called to do? Be more like Christ. And yet we will never be just like Him because we will always struggle with sin. So the words...how can we combat this desire to speak unwholesome words? I guess for starters we bite our tongues...and let the words remain thoughts. James tells us that if we can control our tongue we can control our entire body. So, does that mean if we control our tongue we can control our thoughts? What a pleasant thought!

The tongue boasts of great things, he tells us. It's a fire that is a world of iniquity and defiles the whole body. This fire comes from hell itself, and of course, that means Satan is involved. We can tame birds and animals, even ships, but not our own tongue! It is full of poison. We both bless God and curse men with it (and some curse God with it as well). Blessing and cursing come from it. It brings nothing but evil.

I looked up scriptures about the tongue. Way more than I wanted to see. Briefly, a rundown:

Our words will either acquit or condemn us - 

Matthew 12:37

Many words equate to sin; it's good to hold a tongue - 

Proverbs 10:19

Guard your lips, guard your life or else you will come to ruin - Proverbs 13:3

Tongue brings life or death - Proverbs 18:21

Man will give account to God for careless words - 

Matthew 12:36

The words we speak come from our heart - 

Matthew 15:18

Yes, what a wretched man I am! I'm speechless. Perhaps that's for the better! I mentioned last week how complaining does not bring good. Don't we complain with words and thoughts? Oh, what a wretched man am I? Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24) This is where Jesus comes into the picture. He covers those sins...yet we are to make some attempt to overcome these faults we have. We can only do this through the power of Christ so that's why we need Him. So what will my prayer be? Lord, help me to hold my tongue and bring only the good, true and just things to mind. A difficult task ahead! And yet the good things in store at the same time. He can tame our tongues.

1Peter 3:10 - For he who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.